A Post-Apocalyptic Journey to Another World

Wang Ruilong's 40,000 yuan was almost all spent by Zhang Xi. Although his good friend didn't mention it, Zhang Xi was getting anxious and wanted to see how to make money during the summer vacation. He wandered around the streets aimlessly for a while, and finally decided to work as a food deliveryman at a fast food restaurant.

Zhang Xi earned 50 yuan delivering takeout all day under the scorching sun. "When will I ever be able to pay it back?" he sighed as he continued delivering. Even a small amount of money is still money.

Early that morning, Zhang Xi had just arrived at the fast food restaurant when he heard the duty manager's distinctive shrill voice: "Zhang Xi, Zhang Liang, you two, go to Mingyue Villa and deliver 100 meal sets. This is a big order, don't be late!"

Zhang Xi and Zhang Liang got busy, loading the freshly made meal sets onto the truck, and Zhang Liang drove towards Mingyue Community.

"Brother Zhang, a villa isn't a factory, why do we need so many set meals?" Zhang Xi asked curiously as soon as he got into the car.

Zhang Liang had a buzz cut, was in his thirties, and was thin. His eyes were always darting around, making him appear mercenary and slick.

"Zhang Xi, you've come to the right person. Do you know who lives at No. 25 Mingyue Villa?" He glanced at Zhang Xi sideways and said with a hint of pride, "Do you know Master Huang Lin? He's a world-class Qigong master who has treated presidents of many countries! I heard that Master Huang Lin is the reincarnation of Xuanhuangzi, who came to the world to save people. Once his merits are complete, he will return to heaven to continue being an immortal!"

"Is it because he's the reincarnation of Xuanhuangzi that he eats so much?" Zhang Xi deliberately feigned ignorance and teased, thinking to himself, "What kind of qigong master? I'm a superpowered person!"

"Master Huang is giving a sermon to his core disciples today, and we're just bringing them food," Zhang Liang said with a touch of pride. "Master Huang never eats fast food. You weren't here yesterday, but I listened to a bit of his sermon; it was excellent. Look, I even bought a scripture that he personally blessed, saying it will protect me. It only cost a thousand yuan." As he spoke, he pulled out a small booklet, waved it, and then quickly put it away, treating it like a precious jewel.

Zhang Xi glanced at the booklet; the paper was rough, and he estimated that 500 yuan could print a thousand copies.

He was speechless for a moment. What a rip-off! A tattered booklet that costs 5 cents is being sold for a thousand dollars!

Wait, the money!

Zhang Xi's eyes darted around, and his entire demeanor instantly became as slick as Zhang Liang's: "Brother Zhang, you're really lucky. I also want to have a master bless my home. Could you introduce me? I'll remember your kindness."

"Hey, don't be so polite, we're practically brothers! Just follow me from now on." Zhang Liang thought about what the master had told him yesterday—that each additional disciple he recruited would bring him more merit. He felt a surge of pride, and even the car seemed to speed up.

Mingyue Residential Area in Pingyuan City, despite its name, is actually a large villa complex. In Pingyuan City, where land is extremely valuable, only wealthy businessmen or relatives of high-ranking officials can afford to live here.

Villa No. 25 occupies nearly 1500 square meters. The main building of the villa is in a retro style, surrounded by high walls. Inside the yard, there is a swimming pool and a rockery. On a lawn in front of the rockery, nearly a hundred people are sitting cross-legged. These people are fanning around a middle-aged man sitting on a stone platform. This man is Huang Lin.

Huang Lin's appearance was nothing like the legendary ethereal and otherworldly demeanor. He was balding, had bulging goldfish eyes with heavy dark circles, and a beer belly; he was a typical overweight middle-aged man.

He was speaking loudly: "The world has fallen into depravity, and Heaven is punishing us. The end of the world is coming. Heaven will cleanse this world, and the monsters appearing in various places are proof of that! Before I was reincarnated, I was ordered by my master to save those with affinity and avert the disaster of the end times."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xi's heart skipped a beat. This guy had mentioned the apocalypse! With these questions in mind, he decided to stay and see what was going on.

Master Huang quickly finished explaining his theory. At this moment, Zhang Liang approached Zhang Xi and said, "Quick! Stand up higher! It's time for the master to bestow blessings and consecrate the statue. If you're lucky, you might be chosen!" After saying that, he straightened his back.

Huang Lin squinted and casually pointed to the crowd below. A bald man immediately stood up, his face beaming with joy. This bald man was in his forties and used a cane, clearly lame in one leg.

Huang Lin first laid the bald man flat on a soft cushion. Then, Master Huang suddenly opened his eyes wide and began to gesticulate wildly. After gesticulating for a while, he clapped his hands and shouted, "Ha!" He then quickly ran his hands over the lame man's limping leg twice, before standing up and letting out a long breath. He turned around, picked up a towel, and wiped his sweat: "Alright, stand up and walk a few steps."

Upon hearing this, the bald man slowly stood up, without even taking his cane, and simply took two steps forward.

Then, tears streamed down his face, and he knelt down on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly with a loud "slap, slap," so hard that his forehead was smeared with the juice of green grass: "I will never forget the Master's grace of giving me a second life!" A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd, followed by a round of applause.

Master Huang's expression remained unchanged. He strolled to a landscape stone at the edge of the lawn, gently pressed it with his hand, and with a "crack!" the stone split in two. The applause grew even louder, and people shouted in unison, "Master Huang! Master Huang!"

A satisfied smile finally appeared on Huang Lin's face. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the moment. He gestured for everyone to quiet down, then turned and sat down in a grand chair.

Just as Huang Lin sat down, a middle-aged man sitting in the front row stood up: "Fellow Daoists, the master has spent the last few days using his magic power to make a batch of protective talismans, each costing only 500 incense sticks."

People rushed to buy them, and Zhang Xi also bought one. The amulet was exquisitely made, with a crimson talisman drawn on bright yellow paper. He couldn't understand it at all, and of course, he didn't want to understand it; it was just an introductory fee.

After buying the amulet, Zhang Liang led Zhang Xi to Huang Lin: "Master, this is my colleague Zhang Xi. He has long admired you." "Greetings, Master!" Zhang Xi greeted him respectfully.

"Well, good. Since we're all here, it's fate that brought us here." Huang Lin glanced at Zhang Xi and didn't bother to say anything more. There was nothing of value in a child like him, so it wasn't worth wasting his breath.

The middle-aged man who distributed the talismans was said to be Huang Lin's eldest disciple. He then led everyone to a large hall in the villa. Zhang Zhangxi followed at the back of the crowd, queuing to enter the hall. He went to the broken landscape stone, touched the broken edge, smiled, and felt reassured.

The hall was enormous, nearly two hundred square meters, decorated in an antique style, like a traditional Taoist temple. A middle-aged man led everyone to a wall covered with banners and group photos. The photos quickly drew everyone's attention; they featured familiar faces—top movie stars, wealthy businessmen, and even government officials.

The middle-aged man stopped in front of one of the particularly large framed group photos, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone recognizes this person, right? That's right, this is Gao Xiang from the Ministry of Transport, Minister Gao! Last year, Master Huang cured Minister Gao's long-standing ailment, and the two have become good friends ever since." Another round of applause rang out from the crowd.

The event ended quickly, and Zhang Xi and Zhang Zhang packed up and went back to report.