Dual-wielding! 100x proficiency, I'll grind my way to godhood!

Chapter 341 Please Sit

As soon as the threshold was crossed, everyone paused for a moment.

Outside the door is Los Angeles.

Beyond the door lies another world.

Facing us is an artificial mountain, made of Taihu stones, with interconnected openings.

Living water seeps out from the cracks in the rocks at the top of the mountain, flowing down the stones into the stream below, tinkling and gurgling.

Behind the artificial hill is a bamboo grove, which rustles in the wind.

Beyond that was another white wall, with a moon gate opening into it, perfectly round without a single sharp angle.

There are two crooked and ancient trees on either side.

Rhodes stood in the doorway and stared for a full three seconds.

He has visited the estates of many wealthy people.

Fountains, sculptures, shrubs trimmed into animal shapes—it's all the same old stuff.

He couldn't name any of these things in front of him.

But I just couldn't take my eyes off it.

"Everyone, feel free to look around."

The ghost followed behind, its voice smug.

"To be honest, I supervised the entire renovation process."

He stretched out his finger and pointed at each item one by one.

"The stones, trees, bamboo, and tiles on the wall, piece by piece, were all transported from China. The bricklayers were paid by the day, and their wages were more expensive than my lawyer's fees."

Ava, carrying her briefcase, had already reached the stream.

Amy and the other two had already taken out their phones and were snapping pictures of the moon gate.

Victoria stood still, her gaze sweeping from the artificial hill to the bamboo grove, then back to the white wall, and she let out a soft breath.

Chen Mo slowly walked around and stopped in front of the moon gate.

It's like stepping into a landscape painting.

Think back to that original Western-style manor, with its lawns, fountains, and marble columns.

That's called a manor?

It's just a warehouse with gilded edges.

That billion was well spent.

Chen Mo said to the ghost beside him.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"Serving you is no trouble at all."

The ghost bowed slightly.

After everyone admired the scene from the doorway for a while, Ghost clapped his hands and raised his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, just a reminder that this estate is very large; this is only a corner of the entrance. The real scenery is inside."

He pointed to the roadside.

There were two white sightseeing electric vehicles parked there.

"Please get in the car."

Rhodes followed Chen Mo into the car in front, while the five women got into the car behind, and Naga drove.

The electric scooter glided away silently.

The road is paved with bluestone slabs, and bamboo groves line both sides.

The stream follows the path, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right.

A flock of waterbirds were startled from the stream and fluttered over the roof of the car.

Rhodes remained silent the entire way.

Having worked in intelligence his entire life, this was the first time he had ever felt like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city, alone in someone's home.

After a long while, he leaned back in his chair and spoke.

"Mr. Chen, I must admit, this estate has exceeded my expectations."

Chen Mo looked ahead, admiring the surrounding scenery.

"That's normal. This is something nurtured by thousands of years of Chinese culture; it's unique in the whole world."

"When your United States was founded, our Song Dynasty had already been gone for hundreds of years."

He paused.

"You have money; you can buy stones and trees, but you can't buy culture."

Rhodes shook his head.

"Mr. Chen, I disagree with that."

"The things we truly cannot buy are precisely what we possess. The modern world is defined by Western civilization. Technology, institutions, wealth—everything is defined by us."

Chen Mo chuckled.

What you're describing is essentially a civilization of robbery.

Rhodes frowned: "Mr. Chen..."

"I'm asking you."

Chen Mo interrupted him.

"At the height of China's power, Zheng He's fleet numbered 20,000 men and made seven voyages to the Western Ocean. What did they carry on board? Silk, porcelain, and tea."

"What do your fleets carry when they set sail? Guns and Bibles. They plunder wherever they go. Colonialism, slaves, and Native American scalps."

"The looted items are piled up in museums, and that's called civilization."

Chen Mo looked at him.

"Our things are made by ourselves. Your things are stolen."

Rhodes opened his mouth, but after a moment he spoke.

"But at least for now, we set the world order."

"order?"

Chen Mo smiled.

"Your order is all about beating anyone who disobeys; doesn't it involve bombing the place first before talking about democracy?"

Rhodes didn't say anything more.

It's not that I'm at a loss for words.

These words are all true.

He turned his head to look at the bamboo grove by the roadside.

In the car behind, Amy craned her neck to look ahead and asked in a low voice.

What are they talking about?

"have no idea."

Sofia kept taking pictures with her phone and gave casual answers.

The ghost gripped the steering wheel and suddenly chuckled.

"Boss, what you said really resonated with me."

"I've been obsessed with Chinese culture for so many years, and the more I learn, the more I realize that I've only scratched the surface."

As he drove, he pondered and spoke slowly and deliberately in Chinese:

"Life has a limit, but knowledge has no limit."

He laughed as soon as he finished speaking.

"Learning has no end."

After the car had been driving for a while, the bamboo forest suddenly parted to the sides.

Several buildings came into view.

With upturned eaves and corners, green bricks and gray tiles, and doors and windows all decorated with carvings.

At first glance, it looks like it was taken from an ancient painting.

From the car behind, Amy exclaimed "Wow!"

Victoria also sat up straight.

They were used to seeing mansions in the United States, but these houses in front of them didn't seem to fit the description of mansions at all.

Wait until the car comes to a complete stop, then walk closer to take a look.

The glass is double-glazed, and once the door is opened, the room is brightly lit and fully equipped with modern amenities.

The outside is like a painting.

The painting depicts life in the 21st century.

Everyone got off the car.

Chen Mo called out to the ghost:

"I have something to discuss with Mr. Rhodes privately."

"clear."

The ghost understood and turned to look at Naga.

"Please take these ladies into the main house and settle them in first."

Naga nodded, then turned and left.

Five women followed behind her.

Amy glanced back at Chen Mo, hesitated, and was pulled away by Sophia.

No one spoke the rest of the way.

Naga led the way, his steps light and quick.

The women looked at each other, none of them daring to speak first.

The ghost led Chen Mo and Rhodes toward the stream.

There is a pavilion by the stream, with upturned eaves at all four corners. Inside the pavilion is a stone table and two stone benches.

A complete tea set was already laid out on the table.

The ghost rolled up his sleeves, boiled water, scalded the cups, added tea leaves, and poured water, his movements fluid and graceful.

Two minutes later, two cups of tea were pushed in front of the two of them.

"Please enjoy your meal."

He bowed and retreated, his steps neither fast nor slow, disappearing behind the bamboo forest in the blink of an eye.

There were only two people left in the pavilion.

Chen Mo remained silent, as did Rhodes.

One drinks tea, the other watches the stream.

Rhodes looked at the stream, but his peripheral vision kept lingering on the man across from him.

From the moment he entered until now, this person has been smoking, admiring the scenery, and bickering, completely relaxed.

But those two people at the door, either one of them alone, would be enough to keep someone up at night.

The more relaxed the host was, the less the guest dared to relax.

Chen Mo picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Just say what's on your mind. Don't waste time."

Rhodes followed his example, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

His brows furrowed immediately.

He shook his head and put the teacup back on the table.

"I don't like the taste."

I still prefer coffee.

There was a two-second silence in the pavilion.

The stream flows past the pavilion, tinkling and gurgling.

Rhodes put down his teacup and looked up at Chen Mo.

"Mr. Chen, I hope you can come with me to the Special Affairs Bureau."