On their way out, Mingliang talked to Jim and Anton, “I have to stay around the last crime scene. The amount of energy is abundant there. I need to get as strong as possible in six months. Can you arrange that?”

Anton couldn't make a decision and turned to Jim.

Jim decisively answered, “I'll arrange that for you. Is it going to be you two? You and your disciple?”

Mingliang answered right away, "No, make it three. Me, a friend and my disciple."

They arrived at Jim's car, he unlocked and then opened the door, "Do you think all that old man said are true?"

"I believe him. My father and my mother believe this person. They would without any doubt entrust him with their life. Besides, all the information is fit with my suspicion.", Mingliang threw himself on the back seat, that was his favorite spot.

A flash of doubt passed on Jim's expression. Mingliang couldn't see that, but Anton did. They were exchanging glance for a few seconds. Hidden by his body, Jim made a gesture with his finger, pointing at his forehead. But Anton hesitated, he shook his head and shrugged his shoulder.

"How bad would it be? You know it better than me? Do you think we can stop them?", Jim couldn't stay quiet any longer.

He didn't believe all the stories, but even if it all was about a group of deluded people, living their delusional grandeur, the consequence still a disaster. What if they blew a bomb in a famous ancient temple like Borobudur or Prambanan?

There was silence in the car, Jim had started the engine, and now they were on their way back to the last crime scene.

Mingliang answered it short and without room to wiggle, "No."

Anton and Somad lowered their head in despair when they heard Mingliang's answer. Only Jim still waiting for Mingliang next words. He knew Mingliang wouldn't give up so easily.

He was right.

Mingliang spoke again after a while, "But we still got a glimpse of hope, if we could stop the ritual before it started. I can't tell you how to convince your people, but you got to convince them. Would be better if you can involve people from the army. You do that, and I'll do the best I could too."

"That's our only chance."

"One they started the ritual..., we've lost the battle."

Jim wanted to think that Mingliang was exaggerating, but deep inside he believed the young man. He quietly calculated all the possibilities. He had several good relations in the upper echelon. The story and the suspicion was too absurd to accept by any man with common sense. But Jim believed, with some polishing, he could make these people support his move.

"I think I could get the anti-terrorism force work on this. If you can help me to give them some hints, or even rumors, it will help me greatly to convince them.", after making some plan inside his head, Jim spoke to Mingliang.

Mingliang thought about his persona in the online forum, "Would a forum on the internet good enough for that?"

Jim gave it a thought then nodded his head, "Yeah, with my lead and some evidence we have right now, I could spin it to a convincing story.

He added, "Heheheh, all we have to do is, leave them few pieces of puzzles. Their imagination will do the rest."

Anton stole a glance to his older partner. He never saw this side of him. Somad secretly gave a thumbs up. Mingliang saw his disciple and a smile formed on his face.

When he saw they would soon arrive at their destination, his face turned serious again. They got six months. It was enough for him to complete the 2nd and 3rd layer of Xuan Wu body. But that wasn't enough. He browsed over his memory. There were many skills and techniques to choose.

They arrived and walked toward the entrance when Mingliang's phone rang. He checked on the caller and quickly accepted the call, "Sari, where are you now?"

"Hmm... okay... wait a minute.", Mingliang turned to Jim, "My friend is coming here. Is that okay?"

Jim asked back, "The one you talked about when you need my permission to live in this house?"

Mingliang nodded to affirm, and Jim refreshingly gave his permission, "Hmm, give me her description and name. I'll tell my people to let her in."

As they entered the house, Mingliang talked to Sari and gave her the address of the house, "Yeah, I'll be waiting here."

"Hmm..."

"Yeah sure, there are fours of us here.", Mingliang turned to Jim and Anton, "You guys will have lunch here too right? She'll stop by McD's drive-through on her way to here."

Anton gestured to Jim to answer his question, Jim scratched his chin, thinking for a second, "Okay, say thanks to her then."

"Yup. 4 people.", Mingliang back to his phone and informed Sari.

"Uh...", Mingliang turned again, "Any special order?"

"Anything, just get us anything.", Jim quickly answered.

"They said anything. Yeah. Thanks a lot."

"Hmm... sure. Okay, see you later."

Mingliang hung up the phone and turned to the other, “She'll be here in 30 to 40 minutes.”

Anton slapped his shoulder, “Alright, nice to have girlfriend huh?"

Anton slapped his shoulder, “Alright, nice to have girlfriend huh?"

"She's not my girlfriend.", Mingliang rolled his eyes. Throwing banter at each other, they got into the house. No police officers guard the house anymore. Forensic team had cleared up the house. Only the police line was left barring the house entrance.

Mingliang asked Anton, "You will leave the house just like that?"

Anton smiled, "You think we have men power to keep watching here for weeks? Besides whatever clue, there is, the forensic should already find it out."

Jim added, "Once in a while, someone would take a quick look during their patrol. It's rare, but I'll tell my men so they know about you."

Looking at the room, Somad asked to Anton, "Will it be okay if we clean up the room."

Anton hesitated, but then Mingliang got involve, "We can use other room. I'll just create some array to control the flow of the energy. So it will move toward that room."

"Hmm, that would be better.", Anton nodded and then he added, "Actually, we just need to get permission from the forensic team."

Jim nodded, "You get it before this evening. So tomorrow we can get someone to clean up the room."

"Okay, I got it.", Anton agreed right away.

“Also ask someone to check who has the right to this house.”, Jim added.

“Oh, I asked about it yesterday. Irwan is taking care about it now. Do we want to have lunch here?”, Anton looked around the room. The forensic team had cleaned the room. But it still had traces of the murder everywhere.

Jim turned to Mingliang and Somad. They were the one who needed the room. Mingliang checked the time on his phone, "Sari should be here soon. You're right, let's wait for her somewhere else."

They closed the door to the room, leaving the stench behind. Anton led them to the back porch. It has a long wooden table and bench, perfect for a small group of people to have lunch. The air was fresh. There was a small garden with a koi fish pond. Anton saw a pack of fish food next to it. He opened it and threw some for the fish. Somad watched them happily. He tried to feed them too and having fun watching them.

Jim and Mingliang watched Anton and Somad played with the fish. Jim took a pack of cigarette out of his pocket and offered to Mingliang, "Want one?"

Mingliang stared at it for a second before he shook his head, "No, and... I would appreciate it if you don't. I can't stand the smoke."

Jim watched his cigarette and sighed. He took one and slipped it to his lips, but he didn't light it though.

Mingliang smiled, "Thanks."

"Hm.", Jim nodded his head. There was a period of silence before he asked, "Do you have another lead? How's the translation going?"

"Another lead?", Mingliang turned to look at Jim's expressionless face, staring at the garden, "No. Not for now."

Mingliang observed Jim's face, trying to guess what he had in mind, "You don't believe me don't you?"

There was a hesitation before Jim answered, "I believe you."

Mingliang fixed his eyes on him, Jim still looking at the garden, ignoring his stares and Mingliang laughed, "Hahaha, no you don't. You don't believe me."

"Hey, don't worry. I'm used to it.", Mingliang patted Jim's back.

"I know you're not a con man, and I trust you...", Jim shrugged his shoulder.

"But..., you think all I said is just some superstitious. Maybe I'm a bit delusional.", Mingliang resumed his words.

"That's right.", Jim nodded. Mingliang could see a corner of his mouth upward. They looked at each other and laughed.

Jim held the cigarette with his fingers. He sighed and decided to put it back to its pack, "I don't care whether it's true or not, because I know these men believe in it. I learn how they think through you, and that will give me a chance to catch them. That's what matters."

Mingliang turned and looked at Anton and Somad, who pretended heard nothing. He turned back to Jim, "You know detective, we'll have a better chance to stop it from happening if you believe me."

"Stop the ritual? Stop the killing? I don't see how it's going to make a difference.", Jim shrugged his shoulder.

"Stop the merge of two worlds. You don't believe it. As long as you don't, you won't take it seriously enough, and we only have a slim chance to succeed.", Mingliang didn't laugh this time.

Jim heard the seriousness in his voice and turned to him. They stared at each other for a while, then slowly Jim took his gun and showed it to Mingliang, "We got this. We won't hesitate to use it against murderers."

Mingliang shook his head. He didn't blame Jim, but he worried. Mingliang didn't have the confidence to stop the merging of two worlds. Their enemies had gained support from many from supra-natural communities, while his allies didn't even believe in it. A few months ago, he wouldn't worry about it, but now, the situation was different. Just a couple of weeks ago, he would have no chance against a gun.

'But now..., Wait...?', suddenly Mingliang got an idea.

"Shoot me.", suddenly Mingliang turned to Jim.

He got everyone's attention. Jim frowned, "You know I can't."

"I'll show you that you don't stand a chance unless you believe me.", Mingliang stood in front of Jim.

Anton and Somad couldn't pretend anymore. They stopped playing with the fish and had their attention focused on Mingliang and Jim.

"You don't believe in supra-natural power. I want to show you that I can stand a bullet. If that can't convince you, I don't know what could.", Mingliang insisted.

Anton stared at them two in horror. In the other hand, Somad watched it in excitement. He couldn't wait to see how his teacher would blow their mind. Jim couldn't hide his surprise for a few seconds, but he quickly got control over his expression.

Jim snorted and shook his head, "You're crazy. What if I shoot you? Then you bleed to death, and I'll end up in prison for life for that."

Mingliang held his hand forward, "Shoot my hand. I won't die from it."

Jim and Mingliang were staring at each other. No one could guess what was passing through Jim's mind right now. Slowly Jim took his gun. His eyes never left Mingliang's expression. He saw Mingliang calmly waited for him to shoot his hand. Anton wanted to stop Jim, but, he could not find a word to stop them when he saw their expression.

Somad had full confidence in Mingliang, but he couldn't help to have his heart beat faster.

Jim put his gun's muzzle, right on Mingliang's hand. He pushed Mingliang's hand slightly, so his bullet wouldn't hit his body after passing through his hand.

"Ready?", he calmly asked Mingliang.

"Do it.", Mingliang nodded his head without hesitation. He would hesitate if Jim pointed his gun at his body. His skin might hold, but his bone might crack from the impact. It was different with his hand. There, he had the defensive runes etched in the skin, muscles, and bones.

Anton saw that Jim was not bluffing and bumped Somad's shoulder to get his attention.

"Cover your ears.", said Anton to Somad, as he covered his ears.

Somad turned and saw him covering his ears. The boy without any hesitation followed his example and quickly returned his attention to his teacher and Jim.

Jim noticed it all from the corner of his eyes. There was a moment of hesitation, but when he saw Mingliang's confidence, Jim knew he had to do it.

"Bang !", without even a flinch, Jim pulled the trigger.