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.

rest in the tent while

quizzed Alder, “Is the

and still not tire. Furthermore, I must guard the mother plant of Pu’er tea. If someone were to uproot it, I’d

either. Consuming that leaf invigorated me, making me feel

it was nearly equivalent to a quarter of the Life Saving Pill’s potency. This could sustain an average

illness during this time. The mother plant’s leaves might not grant her added longevity, but they provided boundless vitality. There

point in assembling the tent and so, they sat together

he had kept people at arm’s length. Even his wife, Lydia, remained unaware of his identity

held all of Omas’s secrets. The same

she’d adopted countless orphans, sharing her secret of immortality with a select few she deeply trusted. Aside from her wards,

As dawn approached, their conversation continued, painting a vivid picture of

turned to Alder, “My Anne, shall we be

haven’t told me about your encounter with Morgana on Hong Kong Island, narrowly escaping her

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

declared, “It’s time to head to

tea, he suggested, “Miss Clark, your

approached the soil, she paused, exclaiming, “Look, Young Master! The leaves you plucked last night

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

his amazement, “It’s not uncommon for leaves to regrow after picking, but at this speed? Truly remarkable. The mother plant’s vitality must

if we plucked all

quietly but firmly, “Sir, let her leaves grow

his words, “Miss

carefully unearthed the mother plant, preserving the roots, and moistened the soil with