Chapter Nineteen: Why Me

"The Temple of the Sun is the final remnant of the Fire-Worshipping Sect, established with the sole aim of releasing the sealed demon Iblis. For over a thousand years, the influence of the Temple of the Sun has steadily shrunk, until it survived only in remote Iranian mountains and a small area in northern India. It remained so until several decades ago, when a new and powerful leader emerged—Hadi—the scar-faced man you, Yunfei, saw that day. That scar was a souvenir left by the Guardian of the Great Mosque in Mecca, when Hadi tried to sneak in at midnight."

"The Guardian of the Mosque? So he has supernatural abilities too?" Liu Yunfei was surprised to find there were quite a few people with such abilities in the world.

"Indeed. The great Muhammad, foreseeing that the followers of Iblis would never give up after his death, divided the sealing power among twelve loyal disciples. As long as they lived, Iblis would remain imprisoned. These twelve disciples have passed down their powers through generations, choosing successors before each one's death. For a thousand years, they have never left the Great Mosque in Mecca. But this too is a legend; it is said that breaking the seal is no simple matter."

"Oh? So what must I do?" Liu Yunfei hadn't expected his mission would involve participating in religious conflicts; it all seemed rather troublesome.

"Don't worry, my dear Chinese friend, Liu Saleh," the old king interjected gently. "Owari is my only grandson. He has been deceived and blinded. All you need to do is accompany him and prevent him from coming into contact with those devotees of the demon." The old king's eyes shone with grandfatherly affection.

Later, the old prince explained to Liu Yunfei that, compared to other branches of the Saudi royal family, the old king's line was rather fragile. Though he had many daughters, he had his only son late in life, and that son did not have Owari, the king's only grandson, until he was nearly thirty. The son then died a few years ago, leaving the old king doting on his sole grandson.

"Then why choose me?" This was the question that puzzled Liu Yunfei most.

"As I mentioned, since Hadi became the leader, the Temple of the Sun has grown rapidly. It now has followers throughout Europe and much of the Arab world. Most of their new members are Arabs, and the sect is so secretive that even among those close to us, many are covert adherents." The old prince spoke quickly. "That is why we need someone who is not a Muslim."

"Why not choose a white man then?" Liu Yunfei asked.

This time, the old king answered personally. "Dear Yunfei, had you not appeared, we would have asked our good friend, the current Director of the CIA, Belglight, for help. But we trust your abilities more than the CIA's, and more importantly, I heard you can change your appearance to look like other people. So, we hope you can disguise yourself as an Arab, and in doing so, investigate what the Temple of the Sun wants with my grandson—what their true scheme is."

"You want me to look like an Arab?" Liu Yunfei was a little taken aback.

"Yes. Haven't you always wished to keep your existence a secret? But remember, protecting Owari is the most important thing. Discovering the Temple's plot is secondary—if you can't, it's fine," the old prince added.

"Very well, I'll do my best. I can guarantee the safety of His Highness's grandson, but as for the rest, I'll only try my best." It was hard to refuse after receiving such generosity.

"Then rest for the next two days, get your affairs in order. We also need to formulate a comprehensive plan," the old king said.

With a two-hundred-million-dollar bank draft in hand, Liu Yunfei followed the old prince in bidding farewell to King Abdullah, left the palace, and went to the royal guard barracks. There, he found a room and handed over the still-unconscious kidnappers for interrogation.

On the way back, Liu Yunfei was preoccupied with a single thought: I've just come into two hundred million dollars—what should I buy? How should I spend it?

Seeing Liu Yunfei at a loss, the old prince laughed. "Brother Yunfei, you should return home and transfer the funds to your own account. If you fear the amount is too large, you can open an account at a Swiss bank and withdraw cash whenever you need it. You're so quick—you come and go like the wind. I turn around and you’re gone!"

"That's true. I was just thinking, if I wire the money home, it could attract attention. I'll go to Switzerland right away," Liu Yunfei replied.

"But transferring to China is also possible. I have a few young princes in Hong Kong who deal in stocks and investments. They can help you transfer the funds openly into your personal account," the old prince continued.

"I'll deposit it in Switzerland first, then transfer it to China later—that's more convenient," Liu Yunfei decided. He was still wary of the Arabs. If he transferred the money directly through them, they'd know all his secrets. After all, he'd only known the old prince for two days.

At the old prince's residence, the prince went to spend time with his four wives. Liu Yunfei returned to his room, wary of hidden cameras, turned into a fly under the covers, and then slipped out.

He leapt upon his Somersault Cloud and, in an instant, arrived in Zurich, Switzerland's largest city. It is one of the world's foremost financial centers, with over 350 banks and branches gathered there.

For centuries, Swiss banks have been renowned for their strict secrecy, which is why people from all over the world trust their money to Switzerland. Swiss banks are considered the most reliable in the world; it's estimated that a quarter of all private wealth is kept there. If your deposit is large enough, you can even open an anonymous account.

At the Swiss bank, Liu Yunfei received the highest level of service: a dedicated deposit manager, a private VIP room, and swift completion of all transfer and deposit procedures. A poised and elegant manager brought him a prestigious VIP gold card, while the bank's deputy general manager followed with a large bundle of dollars, explaining attentively, "Honored Mr. Liu, this exclusive VIP gold card allows you to withdraw and spend money in any country or region worldwide. Its prestige isn’t just about wealth—it signifies status. Swiss Bank is honored to serve the Saudi royal family."

Walking out of the Swiss bank with the card, Liu Yunfei felt elated—this must be what it feels like to be favored by the gods. He recalled how, when he first entered, the bank staff had looked down on him, a young Chinese man, and it made him indignant.

Calculating the time, Liu Yunfei figured his parents had just gotten home. He decided to call them—otherwise, they would worry, and he really couldn't find a good excuse for not coming home after so many days.