Work Prophet
Chapter 641 - 14: The Gods’ Banquet

Chapter 641: Chapter 14: The Gods’ Banquet

The moment he saw the girl, Han Bin couldn’t help but be taken aback.

He hadn’t been able to see the person’s face at the door before, but the dress and build definitely matched up with the Caucasian girl in front of him.

Of course, there was another possibility that Third Era had found a double who looked very much like Tang Mengjia to deceive him.

But then again, as was previously said, this wasn’t a television show; it was almost impossible to do something like that on short notice, and more importantly, there was no point.

After discovering his infiltration, Third Era could have simply called the police. Han Bin was in the wrong to begin with, not to mention that he would probably be suspended very soon and would have to face criminal charges.

Sensing the confusion in Han Bin’s eyes, the Angsa girl then took the initiative to speak up.

"I hear that in your country there was once a mythological tale. During the Jin Dynasty, there was a very bold person. He found a large cave on a mountain near Luoyang. Inside, it was pitch black.

"Unable to contain his curiosity, he decided to take a look. So, he prepared a very long rope and brought a food basket with him, filled with enough rations for several days.

"Following that rope, he kept climbing down. He climbed for a long, long time, but he still couldn’t reach the bottom of the cave."

The girl spoke in English. However, just like with the two Italians he had encountered downstairs, Han Bin found that he could understand every single word spoken by the person opposite him, despite his elementary school level of English.

"Later, he exhausted his strength and could no longer hold onto the rope, so he fell down. It was unclear how long he fell for, but just as he started wondering if the cave had an end, with a bang, he hit the ground."

"Did he die?" Han Bin asked.

"No, he just fainted temporarily," the girl answered.

"But if that cave was really as deep as you say, he would definitely be dead from the fall."

"This is just a mythological story, Officer Han. You shouldn’t expect it to have a very tight logic. If you don’t have any other questions, then I shall continue..."

Han Bin shook his head, so the girl went on, "After a while, the man woke up and found that he wasn’t injured, just a bit hungry since he had been falling for a long time.

"He found his food basket nearby, ate a few dumplings, regained some energy, and continued on his way.

"However, as I mentioned before, this was a pitch-black cave without any light, and he could only feel his way forward bit by bit. Moreover, the further he went, the terrain grew more rugged and narrow...

"He couldn’t walk any longer and had to crawl. He crawled like this for several days before he finally saw a faint light.

"Thus, he quickened his pace and arrived at a cavern. The scent of rice wafted through the air. This starving man struggled to follow the smell, looking for its source.

"In the end, he found the source to be the very earth beneath his feet. Disappointed yet extremely hungry, he hesitantly grabbed a handful of soil and put it in his mouth.

"Ah, the soil smelled like rice and tasted like rice as well. It was delicious. So, he sat there and ate to his heart’s content, even taking off his clothes to pack a big bundle to carry on his back.

"He continued on his way. With the soil that tasted like rice, he walked for several more days until he came upon a city.

"It was more magnificent than any city he had ever seen, resplendent with gold. The inhabitants were thirty feet tall and had glowing white wings, playing music that was exceptionally rare in the world."

"What exactly are you trying to say, and why can’t you just come out and say it?" Han Bin said with a frown.

"A little patience, Officer Han, because you’re about to face the biggest choice of your life, and I’m trying to help you understand your current situation," the girl spoke leisurely.

"I’ve heard your country is known as the Land of Manners, so could you please stop interrupting me now?"

Given the unclear situation, Han Bin could only nod in agreement with her for the time being.

The girl was very satisfied and clapped her hands twice. The young Indian man beneath her also adjusted his posture, allowing her to sit a bit higher.

She continued, "He entered that city, met the tall beings inside, and shared his experiences with them. Those tall beings were very kind and good people.

"One of the tall beings said to the unexpected visitor, ’Come with me, and I will fill your hungry stomach.’ Afterwards, the two went to a courtyard with a huge tree.

"Beneath the tree was a goat tied up. It had a long beard that reached the ground. The tall being then said to the man, ’Go stroke the goat’s beard.’

"The man went over and stroked it three times. The first stroke yielded a dazzling Big Pearl, the second stroke a slightly less lustrous and smaller medium pearl, and the third stroke a plain and small ordinary pearl.

"The tall being took the first two pearls and had him swallow the third one. His belly felt full at once, and he looked radiant.

"Amazed by the place, the man asked the tall being where this was and if he could settle down here.

"The tall being refused and told him to go back and ask Zhang Hua, then pointed him in a direction, telling him to walk straight that way. In the end, when the man exited the cave, he found himself in Jiaozhi, a thousand miles from Luoyang.

"It took him several years to return to his hometown, where, in the marketplace, he met the knowledgeable Zhang Hua.

"Zhang Hua told him that the earth he had eaten was actually the saliva spat out by a Dragon from the lower reaches of the Yellow River, which could fill one’s stomach. The underground city he had reached was called Nine Pavilions, and those tall beings were its Earth Immortals. The goat was called Chi Long.

"As for the three pearls he had acquired before, swallowing the first would grant him eternal life, the second would ward off diseases and prolong his life, whereas the third one only served to satisfy his hunger.

"After hearing this, the man was filled with regret. But then he thought that surviving great disasters without dying was already a huge stroke of luck and wondered what else there was to be dissatisfied with, so he made peace with it.

"Alright, my story is finished," the girl said, "You shouldn’t have come here, Officer Han."

"Indeed, by the law, I shouldn’t have..."

"No, I mean you don’t belong here, not in Nine Pavilions. No matter the price you’ve paid or the hardships you’ve endured along the way, you don’t belong here."

Han Bin chuckled lightly, "Neither are you any Earth Immortals, just a bunch of people playing at mystery."

Angsa, the girl, didn’t argue. "Swallow the third pearl and treat this as a bizarre dream, then go back home. Your family and friends are waiting for you; don’t keep them waiting."

Han Bin glanced at Xu Mengyuan, who had been silently standing aside. "You plan to just let me go like this, not worried that I’ll talk once I’m outside?"

"That’s Public Relations’ job, nothing to do with me," Xu Mengyuan shrugged and walked to the desk to pour a cup of tea.

At that, Han Bin wasted no more words and turned to walk outside. But just as he was about to leave the room, he stopped in his tracks. "What if I don’t leave?"

"What?" the girl took the tea Xu Mengyuan handed her and took a light sip.

"According to the story you just told, there are two more pearls, right? One grants immortality, the other wards off all diseases," Han Bin said.

"Oh, you shouldn’t be so greedy."

"You seem to be in charge, you should be able to explain everything that happened tonight, right?"

"We operate on a democratic system. The six directors make decisions together, but according to the board’s rules, you’re right. Since you’ve made it this far, I can tell you the truth—if you genuinely want to know, that is.

"But then my story will have been for nothing. Sometimes, ignorance isn’t such a bad thing, especially when the truth is far from what you imagine in your mind.

"I’ll state it again, we’re not bad people." While speaking, the girl stood up from her "chair" with an elegant and confident demeanor.

"On the contrary, we are gods, trying to prevent disasters and save humanity. You have trespassed into the gods’ banquet, Officer Han."