The police who had been busy all night had gone to bed, but the high-level officials of WW Province couldn't sleep. They began discussing the entire matter early in the morning.
While the police were still confused about the situation, the higher-ups had basically figured it out. This was because Zhang Zhongmou was sitting among them, with the director and deputy director on either side.
"So, you helped the CEO of Apple Company purchase the Yangping Zhidugong Seal, and this Yangping Zhidugong Seal is still in the hands of this Mr. Jobs?" After communicating with Zhang Zhongmou, the high-level officials said with a frown.
"That's right. Moreover, if we don't stop him, in six hours, he will be boarding a plane and leaving with the Yangping Zhidugong Seal!" Zhang Zhongmou said.
"This is quite troublesome!" Both of them felt a headache. According to their original plan, they would naturally catch the culprit and publicly execute him, demonstrating their capabilities to the public. However, this little thief turned out to be an American, the CEO of Apple Inc., a guest of the US President, and one of the most famous business elites in the entire United States. They didn't know how to proceed. Could their dogs bite their master?
"Chairman Zhang, could you please discuss with Mr. Jobs and withdraw this transaction?" XX asked.
"That's not a problem, but if I may be so bold, Mr. Jobs's intentions are very clear, and I'm afraid he won't withdraw this transaction!" Zhang Zhongmou shook his head.
"Let's at least try, otherwise, how can we explain it to the media!" XX sighed, and finally personally went to the hotel where Jobs was staying.
Meanwhile, Jobs had just woken up from his sleep. Perhaps it was because he had completed his mission, but Jobs had slept exceptionally well. It was the best sleep he had since leaving Longhu Mountain. He slept for eight consecutive hours, a duration that many young people at BAT could only dream of.
In fact, Jobs had seen the relevant news reports last night and even heard the sirens several times. However, Jobs was not affected at all. He was an American; would his own dogs bite him?
Therefore, Jobs slept very peacefully, and his accompanying staff also made normal arrangements for the plane and so on.
However, just as Jobs finished breakfast, his secretary came to report that XX had arrived.
"What is he here for?" Jobs was a bit displeased, but given the other party's status, Jobs still let XX in. The two of them sat directly opposite each other across a dining table.
"Did you have breakfast? I'll treat you. This is authentic Nanchang mixed noodles, made by a chef specially brought from Nanchang. You can't eat such authentic Nanchang mixed noodles in WW!" Jobs proactively invited.
"Thank you!" XX, thinking of creating a harmonious atmosphere first, took a few bites of the noodles and said with a smile, "Mr. Jobs, have you recently purchased a seal?"
"Yes, I have," Jobs nodded and admitted very frankly.
"This, there is something you might not be fully aware of, and that is this item is very special. It has a very profound historical significance in our Chinese religious culture! You may not have heard of our Taoism; it was founded over three thousand years ago by..."
"Taoism, founded by Patriarch Li Er, also known as the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord of the Three Pure Ones, who descended to the mortal realm over 3,000 years ago!" Jobs interrupted XX before he could finish, saying, "I know all these things you're talking about!"
"Yes... that's good! Daoist priest..." XX's expression froze, and then he realized that something seemed to be wrong.
"Mr. Jobs, did I hear you correctly? Did you say 'channel' or something, like channels on a radio or television..."
"My Daoist name is Daqiao, a 64th-generation Zhengyuan Great Thousand Daoist priest of the Zheng-yi Longhu Celestial Masters Sect!" Jobs very directly stated his full title and straightened his body.
It was then that XX noticed that Jobs was actually wearing a Daoist robe.
Because the Daoist robe was black, and Jobs had been sitting in a chair with only his upper body exposed, while XX was a bit nervous, he had mistaken the robe for a suit at first glance.
Only when Jobs sat up straight did he realize that the other party was actually wearing a Daoist robe. This Jobs had truly become a Daoist priest!
"So that's how it is. No wonder Mr. Jobs wanted this item!" XX finally understood why this American would be interested in the Yangping Zhidugong Seal, which was so unrelated to him.
But this didn't make sense either. If Jobs was from the Longhu Mountain Celestial Masters Sect, then he would be even less likely to steal the Yangping Zhidugong Seal. Wasn't this betraying his ancestors?
"Mr. Jobs, do you have some misunderstanding with the Daoist priests from the Celestial Masters Sect? We can resolve these misunderstandings first. How about I host a gathering at my home so we can sort things out?" XX suggested.
"What Daoist priests? I am a true disciple of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Masters Sect. These people are merely traitors who have abandoned their faith and even their ancestral home. There is no need for me to meet with them!" Jobs flatly refused, and XX's heart sank completely at that moment.
It turned out that Jobs was a Daoist priest from Longhu Mountain, so his acquisition of the Yangping Zhidugong Seal clearly meant he intended to take it back to Longhu Mountain. For XX, this was undoubtedly the worst possible outcome.
XX would rather have the Yangping Zhidugong Seal smashed to pieces on the ground than see it return to Longhu Mountain!
Frankly speaking, if the person in front of him were a Chinese person, regardless of their status or position, XX would have immediately ordered an action. But the person opposite him was an American, and a famous one at that, which made XX sweat all over.
"Are you feeling hot?" Jobs smiled slightly. "If that's the case, I won't keep you any longer!"
"Mr. Jobs! I apologize, but you cannot take this Yangping Zhidugong Seal away!" XX said to Jobs, his eyes glaring with anger, summoning the greatest courage he had ever possessed.
"Are you serious?" Jobs retorted.
"Of course!" XX gritted his teeth and said.
"I'm sorry, but you probably can't do that. I am a US citizen and enjoy the protection of US law. If you wish to restrict my personal freedom, please file a lawsuit and application with a US court. Before that, no one can restrict my freedom! I can go wherever I want!" Jobs said domineeringly, then stood up, leaning on his cane, and looked at XX, "Sir, I will be boarding my flight in five hours. If you intend to stop me, use these five hours to sue me in court. Remember, it must be in a California court. Courts in other states have no jurisdiction over me!"
"..." XX stared blankly at the departing Jobs. He wanted to be angry but found with helplessness that he didn't even have the courage to be angry.
"Should I forcibly restrict his departure?" XX began to seriously consider this question, but he was very hesitant, fearing that doing so would truly offend the Americans. But if he didn't stop him, wouldn't he lose face?
Just as XX was in a dilemma, a phone call came in. Seeing the name, XX's head began to ache, as it was from the US diplomatic department.
After the call was connected, it was indeed about Jobs's matter. However, the other party's attitude was very friendly, merely reminding him of the US's stance and the issue of face.
If this phone call still left XX hesitant, then two more calls from the US followed, one of which was even from the fifth-ranking official in the US, which completely stunned XX.
What was even more terrifying was that the internal affairs of WW also began to cause trouble, with everyone accusing XX of being disrespectful, causing international astonishment, and losing face. How could they let the Americans be wronged? Was this how they were supposed to act as dogs?
Therefore, at 3 p.m. that day, Jobs boarded his flight to Singapore on time. Even though the Yangping Zhidugong Seal was placed directly in his briefcase and was detected by the security personnel, the entire process was without any hindrance. Jobs successfully took the Yangping Zhidugong Seal away.
Under the suppression of a certain hand, all the media within WW were silenced. It seemed that overnight, no one cared about the issue of the Yangping Zhidugong Seal anymore.
It wasn't until a week later that Longhu Mountain was filled with red flags and colorful banners, with thousands of Daoist priests collectively returning to their ancestral home to celebrate the return of the Celestial Master's treasured Yangping Zhidugong Seal, which had been missing for decades!
"Daqiao, my teacher did not misjudge you. On behalf of all the Daoist friends of the Celestial Masters Sect, I express my sincere gratitude to you," Zhang Jintao, Jobs's adoptive teacher, said emotionally at the ceremony, holding the Yangping Zhidugong Seal.
Honestly, he had never imagined in his life that this treasure would actually return to Longhu Mountain, to the place he had stayed for thousands of years, during his lifetime. He felt that he had lived up to the ancestors of his maternal grandfather's family.
"Master, you are too kind!" Jobs quickly said, then hesitated and asked, "Master, my merit should be quite substantial, right?"
"Your merit is immeasurable!" Zhang Jintao immediately said, "Don't worry, the Ancestor will not ignore you. He will definitely protect you in heaven!"
"Uh..." Jobs nodded, but the idea of being protected in heaven sounded like "God be with you," which felt somewhat unreliable!
Was this really useful?
Jobs still had some doubts in his heart, and then his phone rang. The person on the other end of the line said excitedly in English, "Sir, we've found it! We've found that crucial compound. If everything goes as planned, you can prepare for surgery in two weeks!"
"Ancestor above! Forgive me! Forgive me!" At this moment, Jobs completely knelt down!