The Charismatic Charlie Wade

As Jagoan and Maria descended from Greenwood Temple, Jagoan held the agarwood bracelet tightly in his hand. He was determined to decipher the meaning behind the bracelet left for him, but after much contemplation, he remained perplexed.

He decided to consider Maria’s interpretation, the twenty-eight beads on the bracelet symbolized his current age. The mysterious sender had deliberately placed these twenty-eight beads within the bracelet, anticipating that Maria would notice the anomaly and return to Greenwood Temple to investigate.

But what message did the sender intend to convey by leaving this bracelet behind?

Puzzled, they descended the mountain only to retrace their steps back up the winding mountain road.

During their uphill journey, they encountered a group of local elderly women. These women walked together, descending the mountain slowly, each carrying a basket woven from vines containing various items, including sesame oil, paper money, and earthen incense.

Observing this, Maria approached the elderly women and inquired politely, “Where are you all headed?”

One of the elderly women replied, “We heard that Greenwood Temple has reopened. We’re on our way there to pay our respects to Buddha and offer incense.”

Maria asked with curiosity, “Has Greenwood Temple been closed for a long time?”

The woman nodded, “It’s been shut for about ten or twenty years. There are fewer and fewer people in the mountains, and the temple lacks incense. All the previous nuns have left. Yesterday, the villagers informed us that a new nun had arrived, so we decided to visit together.”

Maria quickly interjected, “You may want to reconsider. The new nun at Greenwood Temple has also departed.”

“Left again? Why?” Several elderly women looked disappointed. “Why did she leave just a few days after arriving?”

Maria explained, “Perhaps she felt there wasn’t enough incense being offered here.”

The elderly women hesitated, torn between continuing or turning back. Eventually, one of them suggested, “The nun may be gone, but the Buddha statue remains. Since we’re already here, why not light a few incense sticks?”

the temple. Maria, seeing their sincere devotion, decided not to dissuade them any further. She cautioned, “Please take care, and

women, Maria turned to Jagoan and remarked, “It seems

possible they noticed our arrival or Morgana’s intention to come here, prompting

now is that they know us and Morgana quite well. They

sighed and said, “The mountains hold many secrets. If you ever get the chance to meet the mastermind behind them, you must

***

Buick commercial vehicles smoothly cruised along the road. These vehicles bore license plates from Bloomington, the capital

the most common MPVs in China, blending in seamlessly with the traffic. No one would suspect that the individuals

commercial counterparts. Undergoing systematic

at

middle-aged woman referred to as Madam sat, the very person who had left the bracelet

lady and inquired respectfully, “Madam, what are

Aurous Hill. We’ll stay at a Temple there for now, and both of you will accompany me. Upon reaching Aurous Hill, keep a low

and

asked, “Madam, whom would you like to meet next among these girls? I’ll see

“I’m interested in Nanako Ito.

said, “I’ll do my

she’s

Turk confirmed. “She’s there, along with Xion and

talents can’t compare to Nanako Ito’s. Unless they encounter a

is Japanese. If

doesn’t matter. What’s crucial is her character and intentions. Whether she’s Chinese