The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Omas found no reason to turn down Maria’s plea. The Shiwan Mountains posed formidable challenges for a woman like Maria, but with Omas by her side, those difficulties seemed insignificant.

With this in mind, Omas agreed, saying, “In that case, we’ll embark on this journey together.”

Maria beamed, excitement evident in her voice, “Thank you, Young Master! I promise not to be a burden.”

Omas chuckled softly, settling onto the ground beside the mother plant of Pu’er tea. “Let’s wait here for a while. Once dawn breaks, we’ll unearth this young plant and head to the airport.”

Seated by the lakeside, gazing at the serene surface of Heaven Lake sparkling under the moonlight, Omas turned to Maria and posed a quiet query, “Master, do you think that heavy rain we just experienced was real or merely an illusion?”

Omas pondered, “Was it an illusion? What do you think?”

Maria mulled over the question briefly before responding, “I sense it’s somewhere between reality and illusion.”

Omas’s brow furrowed in thought, “Aren’t those two options mutually exclusive?”

Maria shook her head gently, her eyes distant, “I feel as though it’s both true and false, real and unreal, false and real.”

Omas’s lips curved into a smile, “Tomorrow morning, you could ask the villagers nearby if they heard thunder and rain last night. The commotion was so intense; it’s unlikely they’d be oblivious to it.”

Maria nodded in quiet contemplation, her voice barely a whisper, “It seems like it won’t be that straightforward…”

Then, she turned her gaze to Omas and teased, “It appears the servant girl’s mind tends to complicate things.”

Omas responded with an unconcerned nod, glancing at the camping gear he had brought.

inquired, “Miss Clark, after all your traveling, wouldn’t it be a good idea to rest in the tent while I keep an eye on the mother

“Is the

could go a month without sleep and still not tire. Furthermore, I must guard the mother plant of Pu’er tea. If someone were to uproot it, I’d

feel fatigue either. Consuming that leaf invigorated me, making me feel incredibly refreshed. Fatigue is the last thing

nearly equivalent to a quarter of the Life Saving Pill’s potency. This could sustain an average person for a year or more,

until she turned five hundred. She would remain free from illness during this time. The mother plant’s leaves might not grant her added longevity, but they provided boundless vitality. There was no

vitality, neither felt the need for sleep. Omas saw no point in assembling the tent and so, they sat together

relished these exchanges with Maria. Ever since his parents’ passing, he had kept people at arm’s length. Even his wife, Lydia, remained unaware of his identity and strength. Those in his close circle gradually learned more about him, but he never disclosed the

all of Omas’s secrets. The same

select few she deeply trusted.

As dawn approached, their conversation continued, painting

to Alder, “My Anne, shall

encounter with

smile hinted at stories yet to be shared, “Young master, I’d love to share, but

“It’s time to head to the

“Miss Clark, your expertise in tea cultivation should be employed to unearth

hand approached the soil, she paused, exclaiming, “Look, Young Master!

he had plucked the previous day. He marveled, “They’ve grown so

after picking, but at this speed? Truly

if we plucked all her

let her leaves grow undisturbed for now. Allow her

grinned, reassurance in his words, “Miss Clark, fear not.

plant, preserving the