American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

"You're too kind. Given the friendship between our two families, it's only natural for us to help each other." Lai Hengli laughed heartily, naturally leading the conversation.

"I'm just passing on what I've got; the real hero is this kid. Don't be stingy." He reached out and grabbed, and the earth's magnetic field seemed like an invisible hand, pulling Zhu Mingyao, who was hiding to the side eating snacks, over.

“That is only natural.” The usually arrogant old witch nodded and bowed, surprisingly giving a bow to a junior, who was so surprised that he quickly returned the bow.

Her bright eyes swept over the blonde girl, and she said with a slight upturn of her red lips, "On behalf of the entire Sisterhood of Witches, I solemnly promise that, without harming the fundamental interests of the association, I will grant you any request at any time. You can think about it later."

"How could I possibly accept this..." Zhu Mingyao said politely, but inwardly he was overjoyed. The sect leader was truly a wise and experienced man with rich experience in the martial world. His idea was indeed correct. By having Hualian return the lost item, he had turned one favor into two, which was a perfect balance between public and private matters.

"By the way, with your extensive connections in the south and Mexico, have you found out the whereabouts of that... [gold coin]?" Henry Lai asked casually.

Fiona raised an eyebrow knowingly: "You old fox... Don't worry, witches always repay kindness and grudges, and they would never hide anything from you."

She covered her mouth with a sly smile, her eyes sparkling like a young girl's.

"In fact, there is a clue. However, due to its antiquity and the fact that the item is imbued with the power of the ancient Aztec gods, conventional divination and location techniques are almost useless. It took us a lot of effort to find some information."

Removing her light, feather-thin silk gloves and putting on the [Merlin's Ring] on her right index finger, the witch felt the familiar, surging magic power and took a deep, contented breath. Delicate threads of light climbed and twisted on her embroidered golden robes, weaving into various spell circuits before dissipating into shimmering light.

"At the end of the colonial era, independence movements were surging and war was raging everywhere. The last Spanish governor of Mexico, Rafael, was tyrannical and plundered gold and silver treasures everywhere. He wanted to make a last fortune to take back to his country. He organized a caravan to transport the treasure, but it was intercepted during the transfer."

"So what we're looking for should be mixed in with that batch of treasure?" The old feng shui master stroked his shiny black mustache, astutely grasping the key point in her words.

“Absolutely correct… The other party is a righteous superhuman who did not keep the valuables for himself, but generously returned them to the victims, leaving only one item with evil power to prevent innocent people from being harmed, and that is the cursed gold coin!”

"Centuries ago, during the low ebb of the elements, even superhumans had to risk their lives to fight against the colonists' army. This predecessor truly had the spirit of an ancient hero. I wonder if he left his name behind?" Henry Lai gave a thumbs up, praising sincerely.

"His fame in the supernatural world has long since faded, but he has been remembered for centuries in secular folk tales. Even today, his story is still told in literary works, and it is said that someone is planning to adapt his story into a movie. You may have heard of it before..."

Humanity's admiration for heroes who uphold justice and seek revenge has remained constant throughout history. Fiona, being a woman, possesses more delicate emotions, and her face revealed longing as she parted her lips slightly.

"That was the rebel against tyranny, the protector of the Mexican people, the masked swordsman with unparalleled skill."

—Zorro!

Chapter 324 Chapter

Night descends from the horizon, dyeing the clear sky a deep blue-purple, with countless stars scattered among them, shining like millions of tiny diamonds. At the same time, various neon lights on the ground illuminate, adding a touch of liveliness and excitement to the tranquil night.

"We are truly sorry, young and handsome sir. Please forgive our lack of hospitality. We look forward to welcoming you to the celebration party once the witch school has been renovated."

With a smile as bright as a flower, Fiona saw the young man off at the gate. Then, leading a group of beautiful women, she turned and left in a hurry. The defensive barrier was activated, and a chaotic mist suddenly enveloped the entire manor, as if to drive them away, a stark contrast to her previous courteous demeanor.

Zhu Mingyao was not surprised by this. He simply smiled, mouthed goodbye to the two girls, got into the luxury car that was waiting respectfully to the side, and drove away.

The magical maze constructed around the Ring of Merlin is the witches' most precious asset and the fundamental reliance that allows this group of seemingly weak women to suppress their rivals and occupy the wealthy lands of the southern states.

During the time they were lost, the pressure they endured, both openly and secretly, was unimaginable. The first thing they did after getting the treasure back was to rebuild it.

After completing a series of negotiations, the busy Henry Lai returned to Los Angeles by private jet as soon as the luncheon ended. The fact that he waited until all the guests had left before starting construction showed his great manners.

"Sir, are you going back to the hotel?" The driver smoothly turned onto the highway leading back to the city.

"Let's take a stroll around the shopping street." Seeing that it was still early, Zhu Mingyao casually suggested. Last Halloween, monster attacks ruined the holiday, turning what should have been a great vacation into a disappointing one. Now that they had some free time, they could have a couple of days of fun.

……

……

"My dear friends, open your eyes wide! In my shop, treasures that once only existed in dreams will now be presented to you in their true form!" A passionate voice introduced the items to a group of tourists with great intonation.

"A blood-stained garment inhabited by ghosts... a sacred amulet that brings good fortune... and of course, the most popular one... here!"

The lovable-looking Black boss stretched out his chubby hand and, with feigned mystery, lifted a transparent glass bottle and gently shook it, revealing a clear, pink liquid inside that shimmered with a hazy glow.

"What is this?" A young brown-haired woman curiously pulled out the stopper, and a strange, sweet rose scent immediately wafted out, making her heart race.

"Legend has it that witches' love potion, if you just apply a few drops before a date, you can easily win over your sweetheart." The black man made an exaggerated expression, startling everyone, but his next sentence revealed the truth.

"Okay, to be honest, the base ingredients are rose essential oil and hormonal perfume, but it's true that it was blessed by a voodoo sorcerer."

"Don't worry unnecessarily, there are absolutely no harmful narcotics here. I'm a fully licensed and legitimate store!" As if to confirm his words, a flower-like phantom seemed to flash and disappear in the bottle.

The magical effect, coupled with seemingly honest words, immediately dispelled many people's doubts, prompting customers to generously open their wallets.

"Scott!" A stern, deep voice called out, and the Asian boy in the black tracksuit trembled, reluctantly and quietly withdrawing the banknotes he had taken out.

A rough, large hand patted his shoulder, and a man wearing a beige cowboy hat stepped forward. The muscles on his imposing square face were relaxed, and his graying beard was somewhat unkempt, sticking out in a fluffy manner. Behind his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes were gentle yet firm.

"Do you remember what I taught you? Only the Father in heaven is the one and only Savior."

“It’s just a tourist souvenir, and besides, Dad, you’re not a pastor anymore…” The boy pouted, slightly dissatisfied.

Upon hearing this, the man's face darkened, revealing a hint of sadness. He picked up the silver cross he wore on his chest and kissed it lightly.

"No matter where I am or what my status is, the Lord will always sit in my heart."

The white girl with medium-length brown hair frowned slightly, secretly tugged at her clumsy brother, and gave him a reproachful look.

"You idiot, you're bringing that up again."

“Katie, don’t blame your brother. It’s this old man who’s such a spoilsport.” The man forced a bitter smile. “You guys stay with the tour group a little longer. You’re leaving early tomorrow morning. I’m going back to rest now.”

"Dad, we're tired too, let's go home together." The girl sensibly helped her father up by the arm and led her reluctant brothers out the door.

"Hmm, there's a hint of holy light?" Zhu Mingyao, who happened to be passing by as he came in from outside, glanced at the man before looking away.

This level of divine blessing is merely what ordinary clergy members receive through years of devout prayer. At most, it can only purify their mind and body, and is still a far cry from the standard of the extraordinary. There is no need to pay any attention to it.

"Boss Jerome, business is booming!" he greeted the black man with a grin.

"...I'm sorry to have made you laugh. It's just a little illusion trick to earn a few meager wages." After seeing off/deceiving the customer, Jerome served tea and snacks with great enthusiasm, chatting with his distinguished guest with a beaming smile.

"It's good that Beverly and the others went to Golden State. They should have more opportunities to make money. If it weren't for my age and reluctance to give up my family business, I would have thought of going to another place to avoid it for a year or two."

"Things should calm down soon," Zhu Mingyao comforted him gently.

"I hope so. You probably don't know, but recently there have been..."

"Hmm?" Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Mingyao suddenly raised his eyebrows, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof and looking towards a certain place.

"How arrogant! They strut around the bustling city, using mental magic to search back and forth. Where do these vampires get their guts? Do they think the local church is dead?"

"Please don't act impulsively." Jerome hurriedly tried to put out the fire, fearing that this powerful figure might anger him and cause a conflict, thus implicating him as an innocent bystander.

“It’s what I was just about to talk about.” He carefully filled a cup with hot chocolate.

"Those guys are said to have some connections, and their actions are officially approved. They've been making a racket in New Orleans for two months, seemingly looking for something."

Aside from that, they didn't engage in any harassing behavior, so although everyone was annoyed, no one paid any attention to it.

Hearing his explanation, Zhu Mingyao squinted and thought for a moment, but finally decided to give up the pursuit. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. Since it was an official's lackey and had not done anything wrong, he could not arbitrarily call for its beating and killing.

……

……

Inside the budget hotel, the brown-haired girl and her family finished dinner, returned to their room, and took a hot shower to relieve their fatigue.

"Phew!" Katie flopped onto the bed, her curvaceous youthful body rising and falling with the spring mattress as she let out a comfortable sigh.

This trip, intended to help her relax, didn't seem to have much effect; her father still looked melancholy, which troubled her greatly.

The girl opened the necklace pendant and lovingly stroked the gentle and beautiful woman in the photo, tears welling up in her eyes.

Even though a full year has passed since their mother's unexpected death, deep wounds still remain in the hearts of their family.

It wasn't just her father Jacob who was like this; she and her brother Scott were just deliberately avoiding it. Even though they were both adopted orphans, their bond of more than a decade made them no different from their biological family.

Enveloped in sorrow and grief, the girl slowly drifted off to sleep, clutching a photograph of her adoptive mother.

As time passed, the half-moon outside the window gradually rose to its zenith. A shadow in the corner of the room suddenly trembled, then silently lengthened and bulged, transforming into a hazy black trench coat, draped over a slender and athletic figure.

"I'm sorry, young lady, please get some rest for a few days. I need to borrow it..."

A whispered apology escaped from her delicate lips, and her clear, cold eyes, like moonstones, shone brightly in the darkness.

Chapter 325 Search, Departure

Visitors to New Orleans often immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant nightlife, so hotel restaurants typically have only a few guests in the early morning.

"Aren't you going to eat?" The metal knife and fork sliced ​​through the omelet, and the golden, fragrant custard oozed out. Scott yawned sleepily and pointed to the barely touched breakfast in front of his sister.

"I went to bed a little late last night, and I don't have much of an appetite now." The girl's eyes were lowered, like a calm and peaceful water lily.

"I'll pack some milk and jam bread to eat on the way if I get hungry." She smiled gently, stood up gracefully and walked to the counter, speaking softly in a low voice.

The slightly overweight hotel owner held the remote control, her eyes glued to the television. She casually pulled out a few paper bags, completely absorbed in the breaking news broadcast.

"...According to the latest news from our reporters on the scene, the two robbers who stole a huge amount of bearer bonds from a bank in Abilene, Kansas two days ago are still at large. According to witnesses, they were briefly seen in Tahoeca, Texas, around noon yesterday. After robbing a convenience store, they killed a patrol officer and kidnapped a female teller."

The perpetrators were extremely brutal, and the police have issued an arrest warrant, urging nearby residents to be vigilant and to call 911 immediately if they have any information…

As the host's serious voice rang out, two lifelike, simple sketches appeared on camera.

Both were white men, around the same age, in their thirties or forties, and their features clearly showed signs of Latin ancestry.

The one on the left has a slightly high hairline, a large face with thin-rimmed glasses, and tightly pursed lips. His seemingly peaceful face seems to carry a hint of madness.

The man on the right has a slightly darker complexion, a high nose, deep-set eyes, and well-proportioned features, exuding a mature masculine charm. A large, abstract flame-shaped tattoo on the left side of his neck adds a touch of fierceness and wildness to his demeanor.

"Haven't they figured out the criminal's identity yet? May God bless those innocent souls." The former pastor came down the corridor, glanced at the television, and muttered as he pulled up his denim hat.

"Hey kids, are you all packed? We should get going." He dragged two huge suitcases and moved with faltering steps.

Seeing this, the girl smiled sweetly and obediently walked quickly to meet her father, sharing half of his burden.

"Everything else is in the car, the bill is settled, and I even left a tip. Now let's hurry up and get going. If we don't have any trouble on the road, we should be able to reach Big Bend National Park before evening... Scott, you glutton, wipe the grease off your mouth, we're off."

Listening to the well-organized arrangements, Jacob raised his white eyebrows slightly, nodded with some surprise, and felt very gratified, as if his daughter had grown up a lot in an instant.

"...This station will continue to follow up on the report." After the program ended, the proprietress still stared intently at the screen, ignoring the noisy advertisements that lingered in her ears. She looked rather strange. After a moment, she suddenly moved and her eyes regained focus.

The woman touched her forehead as if waking from a dream. "I was really engrossed in watching. What did that little girl say again?"

She looked around, trying to find the figure that had already left, and tried hard to recall what the other person had told her.

"Oh, right!" the woman exclaimed, clapping her hands in realization. "She extended her room for two more days, bought some things and left them inside, and also instructed that no one be allowed to go in..."

As the guests began to arrive for their meals, she shrugged, put aside the little incidents, and started her busy day.

……

……