Chapter 478: The Path of Dao
Chapter 478: The Path of Dao
Bang!
The body of the man in the windbreaker fell to the ground, his face already a blur.
"There's a strange feeling... An Extraordinary One? Belonging to some secret power? Most likely sent by my good tutor."
Fang Xing let out a cold laugh.
Precisely because he had his suspicions, knowing there was a bigger fish to fry, he didn't bother keeping this one alive for interrogation.
However, at this moment, searching the body was necessary.
He squatted down and felt around the windbreaker-clad man, finding 34 Black Sol and 17 Lurbi, all neatly packed in a silk wallet.
In addition, there was a revolver, also a Black Serpent Model 2, which seemed better maintained than the one in Fang Xing's hand.
Lastly, there were several small vials.
One of the vials contained a mysterious society member's potion that was surprisingly down-to-earth.
"I thought I'd find something like a 'Holy Relic' or 'Talisman,' but all I got were guns, knockout drugs, and a bit of money... What's the difference between this and an ordinary kidnapper?"
Fang Xing couldn't help but complain.
Even with his Steel Body, not to mention knockout drugs, even if the revolver were fired at his head, he would likely emerge unscathed.
"Forget it... I should go have a chat with my good tutor."
...
Night.
Montaque Dean, as a tutor at the Black Ring Private Mechanical College, earned an exceptionally generous salary, allowing him to lead a relatively decent life.
The villa occupied a sizable area and even had a small garden.
In the garden, the most abundant plants were rosemary and wormwood.
Fang Xing had visited a few times and knew that this tutor was unmarried, a believer in celibacy, and instead of hiring a maid, he was registered with the 'City Household Service Association,' which sent cleaners at regular intervals.
Initially, Fang Xing thought it was due to the tutor's reclusive nature.
But now it seemed that it was all for the sake of covering up his secret society activities.
Montaque Dean arrived at the small villa, took out a brass key, and unlocked the door.
Just as he was about to turn on the gas lamp, a cold gun barrel pressed against the back of his head: "Don't move!"
Montaque Dean's body trembled, and he obediently raised his hands: "Sir... I didn't see your face. If you need money, there's 1000 Black Sol in the second drawer of the redwood desk in my study..."
Click!
The gas lamp was turned on, bathing the room in a soft, golden light.
"From your heartbeat and breathing... You recognized me a long time ago, didn't you, Tutor Montaque Dean?"
Fang Xing didn't hide his intentions, and Montaque Dean's face twisted into a bitter smile as he turned around.
"Yes, but I don't know why..." Montaque Dean's face was filled with bitter laughter: "Fang Xing... You have a bright future ahead of you. Think about your friends, think about your family... If you ever need help, just ask, and I'll do my best to assist you."
"Future, friends, family... I don't care about any of that," Fang Xing said with a cold laugh.
Montaque Dean's heart sank.
He had mentioned these things to make Fang Xing hesitate, but he never expected that his student would suddenly become so distant... even cold-blooded!
It was as if he had never truly known this excellent student.
"That book, 'Beauty of Machinery,' was given to me by you, wasn't it?"
Fang Xing pressed the gun barrel against Montaque Dean's head, as if ready to fire at any moment: "And the person who was tailing me... you sent him too."
"I don't understand what you're talking about..."
Montaque Dean's expression was filled with confusion and doubt, putting on a flawless performance.
Bang!
In response, Fang Xing twisted his wrist and struck Montaque Dean with the butt of the gun.
Montaque Dean felt like his head had been hit by a hammer, and his whole body went limp. He felt dizzy, and even a line of blood trickled down from his eye corner, nose bridge, and all the way to his mouth. He licked it and found the taste salty.
"Do you think I'll believe that?"
Fang Xing let out a cold laugh, but deep down, he felt disappointed.
According to his suspicions, this Montaque Dean, even if not the leader of this mysterious force, should at least be a mid-level member!
But this was it? In terms of physique and mental abilities, he was no different from an ordinary person, and he didn't possess any special abilities.
Fang Xing had even prepared to shoot him in the head and was ready for him to transform into a flesh and blood monster.
But instead, this Montaque Dean seemed like a genuine ordinary person!
No!
After tasting his own blood, a feverish look appeared on Montaque Dean's face, and he grinned: "It seems you've made up your mind about me, Fang Xing, my good student. What do you want to do?"
"Mystery, extraordinary... I saw that forest, I saw that gate..."
A similar fervor and desire appeared in Fang Xing's eyes: "I need... I need more... What exactly is it?"
He desperately needed a guide in the field of Mysticism.
Of course, this fervor was all an act.
If an ordinary person were to enter that Inner World for the first time, they would indeed become fanatical and irrational.
"You entered that forest...?"
Montaque Dean was a little surprised. "Your talent in 'Machinery' truly exceeds my expectations... To become a 'Wanderer' on your very first encounter with the scriptures is beyond my imagination!"
"Machinery? Wanderer?"
Fang Xing's heart stirred.
"There are six paths to the extraordinary, and 'Machinery' is one of them... Those who linger at the edge of the Forest of Mysteries, unable to enter the 'Indeterminate Gate', are known as 'Wanderers' or 'Apprentices'..."
Montaque's voice deepened. "Only by passing through the Indeterminate Gate can one become a true 'Extraordinary Being', undergoing changes in both body and mind, and harnessing the power of Mysticism... It took me three years to approach the Thirsty Forest through repeated dream entries, and another two years to catch a glimpse of the Indeterminate Gate... But the offerings demanded by the guardian spirit were beyond my means, so I could only linger outside the gate..."
'Damn... Who in my family would understand this? I thought I had stumbled upon a powerful secret society, but it turns out they're even more clueless than me!'
Fang Xing's heart was filled with a torrent of complaints that he didn't know how to express.
Although he had known that the extraordinary was in decline in this world, the extent of it was still hard to imagine.
'Wait, maybe it's just that Montaque's sect is really weak...'
'Even those sects without mystical power can deceive their followers into giving up everything, even their lives... Now, with a genuine trace of extraordinary power... Even a glimpse in a dream is enough to prove many things. It's understandable that the believers would become more fanatical, and forming a small group makes sense.'
Fang Xing quickly calculated and continued his interrogation. "So... you sought me out?"
"Yes, an offering is required for a Wanderer to enter the Indeterminate Gate and become a true 'Extraordinary Being'! This is the experience of our 'Circle of Wondrous Machinery'," Montaque said with a hint of longing.
"The Circle of Wondrous Machinery, which means that among you, there is a true 'Extraordinary Being'! And he follows the Machinery Path... Are there other mystical paths besides the Machinery Path?" Fang Xing had a strong understanding ability.
"Indeed, the one who truly possesses extraordinary power is our leader - 'Silver Ring'..." Montaque sighed. "As for other paths, I don't know much either. I've only heard of the 'Blood' and 'Stone' paths... The Blood Path specializes in the way of flesh and blood, while the Stone Path is adept at transformation, and there are legends of the Philosopher's Stone that can turn stones into gold..."
"Very well, you're being cooperative."
Fang Xing still pointed the gun barrel at Montaque.
It had to be said that this revolver was indeed useful, at least in terms of intimidation.
Although Fred's fists were stronger than gunfire, Montaque didn't know that.
Holding up his fists was less intimidating than pointing a gun at the other person's forehead, so this was indeed more cooperative.
"I admit... I had some ill intentions at first, but I've repented. I truly value your talent, and I wanted to recruit you into my organization... We can explore the mystical together, pursue the extraordinary, and create the most perfect machinery..." Montaque said sincerely.
Fang Xing fell silent for a moment, then spoke up. "Are there other extraordinary scriptures like that book, 'Mechanical Beauty'?"
It was clear that he wasn't planning to join, but he still yearned for the mystical and the extraordinary!
"Of course, I have another book, a true advanced treatise. It's in my study." Montaque nodded.
"Take me there!"
Fang Xing followed Montaque to his study and watched as Montaque naturally walked towards the desk.
"I set up a small mechanism here to deal with possible searches."
Montaque explained as he twisted an ink bottle on the desk.
After a few regular turns, a hidden compartment suddenly opened on the wall next to it.
Inside the compartment was only a black notebook and a golden pen that seemed to be used for note-taking.
"This is a scripture I transcribed from our leader - 'The Way of Wondrous Machinery'..."
Montaque introduced while picking up the black notebook and the golden pen.
He handed the black notebook to Fang Xing and played with the golden pen, clicking the pen cap.
Bang! Suddenly, a flash of firelight appeared.
This seemingly ordinary golden pen turned out to be a delicately crafted mechanical creation, and it was a disguised firearm! Although it only had one bullet, it was enough to turn the tide at a critical moment!
A sinister smile appeared on Montaque's face.
Extraordinary beings on the Machinery Path were skilled at creating various precision machinery, and this 'Firecannon Pen' was a reward from the leader for his outstanding performance.
This time, it indeed proved to be a godsend.
However, Fang Xing, the person with the mark on his forehead, didn't even flinch.
"Oh? A firearm disguised as a pen? That's quite creative..."
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(End of Chapter)
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