Chapter 64: Immortality Club

Hearing Li Chengfeng's words, Li Ping'an's eyes lit up, "Uncle, have you found the answer?"

Li Chengfeng sighed: "I think I found it, but I need to see the person in person to confirm it."

Combined with his previous question, Li Pingan immediately guessed: "Is the answer related to Grandpa Zhang?"

Li Chengfeng nodded. "If my guess is correct, Grandpa Zhang must have made a wish to the stone statue while he was taking a hot spring bath. The wish was to pray for his wife's life to be prolonged."

Li Pingan was surprised and asked, "Is the stone statue woman so powerful that she can extend people's lifespan?"

Li Chengfeng shook his head and said, "It's not the stone statue lady who is powerful, but Grandpa Zhang."

He looked in the direction of Grandma Zhang and said slowly, "Do you think that making a wish to the gods will come without a price?"

What's more, the stone statue woman has not yet become a god.

Li Pingan asked nervously, "What's the price?"

Li Chengfeng replied: "Since he wished to extend the life of others, the price would naturally be his own life span."

"Ah!" Li Pingan exclaimed, "Does Grandma Zhang know?"

"It's probably unknown." Li Chengfeng sighed.

In fact, he kind of understood why Grandpa Zhang did this.

After all, when people get old, their children are not often around, and their spouse is the only one who can accompany them through the last part of their journey.

Grandpa Zhang’s idea was very simple: if Grandma Zhang passed away before him, what would be the point of him staying in this world?

Li Ping'an was silent for a moment. She didn't expect that Grandma Zhang's resurrection was actually due to borrowing Grandpa Zhang's life span.

She said solemnly, "So the hot springs here can cure all diseases because someone made a wish to cure their loved ones of their illnesses, and the price was their own lifespan, right?"

After saying that, he immediately found a contradiction and asked, "That's not right. What's the matter with the longevity village here? Are all these long-lived elderly people blessed by their relatives?"

Li Chengfeng shook his head. "The reason why the Longevity Village is so popular is because the spiritual energy here is relatively rich. To put it in the common words of this world, the feng shui here is relatively good and it nourishes people."

He thought of the ancient legend he had seen in the hot spring hotel and sighed, "Perhaps in ancient times, an immortal really came down to earth, fell in love with a mortal woman, and then when he left, he changed the spiritual veins underground, making this place a paradise."

However, as long as the stone statue woman did not do anything to hurt anyone, it had nothing to do with him whether it was a religious offering or a paradise on earth.

This time, the task given to him by the Supernatural Administration was only to investigate the cause of the hot spring anomaly. Now that the cause has been found, Li Pingan and others' social practice during the summer and winter vacations is almost completed. As long as they wait for Grandpa Zhang to come back and confirm that his life span has indeed been transferred to Grandma Zhang, this hot spring trip can be successfully concluded.

Soon, Grandpa Zhang came back from outside carrying a plastic bag.

As soon as he saw him, the younger generation of the Zhang family immediately stepped forward to take the bag from his hand, opened it and looked at it, and immediately complained: "Grandpa, why did you buy so many health products again? I told you that these are useless."

Grandpa Zhang glared at his grandson and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Your grandma survived because she took the health supplements I bought. Besides, they gave her noodles and eggs for free. Where can you find such a good thing?"

He snatched the bag from his grandson's hand and said, "If you don't eat it, we will."

The descendant of the Zhang family looked at him helplessly. It was obvious that he had argued with him about this issue many times. He didn't want to argue anymore, so he changed the subject and said, "Grandpa, someone from the provincial capital came to see grandma and wants to talk to you."

Grandpa Zhang frowned and said, "Someone from the provincial capital? What for?"

He followed his grandson's instructions and looked in the direction of Li Chengfeng, not seeming to want to chat.

Li Chengfeng took the initiative to step forward and said, "Hello, Grandpa Zhang. I just heard you say that Grandma Zhang came back to life after taking the health supplements you bought. Is this true?"

Grandpa Zhang immediately found a fellow traveler, took Li Chengfeng's hand and began to talk, "That's right, that's right, it was the health supplements I bought that made him better. They didn't believe it and insisted that it was the hot springs that worked. I've lived here for more than a hundred years, how could I not know what the hot springs are good for? They're all scamming tourists from other places, I never go there."

Li Chengfeng was surprised and asked, "Didn't you take Grandma Zhang to the hot springs?"

Grandpa Zhang nodded and said, "I haven't been there. I don't believe that hot springs can cure all diseases. Only my health products can cure all diseases."

The grandson of the Zhang family next to him was obviously hearing this explosive news for the first time. He opened his mouth and said, "Grandpa, didn't you say you were there?"

Grandpa Zhang turned his head away, his eyes dodging, "Oh, it's all over, why are you still talking about that..." He quickly changed the subject and said, "And the doctor said it was fake death or something, it's all nonsense, death is death, what's the difference between real death and fake death? My wife has seen the Black and White Impermanence, don't you think so, old lady?"

Grandma Zhang answered with full energy at the mahjong table: "Anyway, one was wearing white and the other was wearing black. I didn't know if it was the Black and White Impermanence. One of them pushed and the other pulled, and I woke up."

Grandpa Zhang turned to Li Chengfeng and answered confidently: "Young man, you heard it, it was the Black and White Impermanence who took my old lady away and sent her back. Fortunately, I gave her health supplements, which saved her life."

"Young man, do you take health supplements too?"

Li Chengfeng smiled and said, "I've lived too long and have tried a little bit of everything."

Grandpa Zhang got angry when he heard this: "You've lived too long? How can you live as long as I have at your young age? How old are you this year?"

Li Chengfeng was afraid of scaring him if he told him, so he just smiled and passed it off.

Looking at the health supplements in his hand, he asked, "Grandpa Zhang, can you show me the health supplements?"

"Of course." Seeing that someone was interested in his health supplement, Grandpa Zhang immediately handed it over and introduced it, "Let me tell you, this health supplement is incredible. It is definitely not a scam. If you take it, you can live forever."

"Wow, so amazing." Li Chengfeng took the health supplement and looked at it, then asked casually, "Grandpa Zhang, where did you buy this health supplement?"

Grandpa Zhang said happily: "Young man, do you want to buy it too? Come on, I will develop you into my downline. If you buy from me, I will give you a discount."

The younger generation of the Zhang family was immediately displeased when they saw their grandfather openly developing downlines. They stepped forward to stop him and said, "Grandpa, what are you doing? This is a leader from the provincial capital. The health products you mentioned are pyramid schemes. They are all scams."

Being stopped by his own grandson, Grandpa Zhang was so embarrassed that he pointed at his grandson's nose and cursed: "What's the point of pyramid schemes? I only know that when my wife and I were not sick, we went there every day to punch in and get free noodles and eggs. They never forced us to buy anything."

He waved the newly-earned noodles in his hand and almost poked his grandson's nostrils with them.

The younger generation of the Zhang family said helplessly: "Cheap goods are not good. They give you some free gifts just to get you to buy health products. They also say that they don't force you to buy health products, but you buy several boxes at a time. They have already earned back the money they spent on the egg noodles..."

The grandfather and grandson were arguing happily, and neither of them was willing to give in.

Li Chengfeng, who was standing next to him, suddenly changed his expression after Grandpa Zhang took out the free noodles.

He interrupted their argument and said, "Grandpa Zhang, did you also get this noodle from the place where you buy health products?"

When Grandpa Zhang heard Li Chengfeng speak, he immediately abandoned his unfilial grandson and turned enthusiastically to developing his future downline.

"Yes, yes. Not only can we get noodles and eggs by signing in and punching in every day, but the teacher will also give us health classes. We can learn a lot every day. Young man, are you interested in health care?"

Li Chengfeng nodded and said, "As you get older, you naturally need to start taking care of your health."

Grandpa Zhang agreed very much, and pulled Li Chengfeng aside and whispered, "Young people like them don't understand the importance of keeping in good health. They smoke, drink and order takeout every day. I'm afraid they won't live past my age in the future."

He thought he was speaking softly, but to others it sounded like a loud bell.

The younger generation of the Zhang family watched helplessly as their grandfather dissed them, but they were unable to refute.

Li Chengfeng smiled and said, "There are probably not many people in China who are longer lived than you. By the way, can you take me to the place where I attend the class?"

Grandpa Zhang didn't expect that his first time developing downline would be so smooth. He was so excited that he didn't even have time to eat. He wanted to take Li Chengfeng to visit the place where he checked in and studied every day.

Li Chengfeng and a few others followed Grandpa Zhang and walked around until they arrived at a resettlement community.

In the deepest part of the resettlement community, there is a billboard hanging outside a house with five large characters written on it.

This is where Grandpa Zhang signs in and clocks in every day.

"Eternal Life Club." Li Chengfeng read out the words on the billboard word by word.

Being a mortal, he dreams of immortality. It seems that the person who founded this club is quite ambitious.

"Why is it called this name?" he asked curiously.

Grandpa Zhang replied, "Because the Taoist priest Wu Changsheng, who founded this club, is truly an immortal who can not only know the past, but also the future."

"Immortal? Interesting." Li Chengfeng showed a smile and followed Grandpa Zhang's footsteps into the Changsheng Club.

The club was converted from a private house and was filled with desks and chairs. There was a projection screen on the front wall and a small podium next to the screen.

It seems that this is where the teacher teaches the health class.

When Li Chengfeng and others arrived, a class was about to end. He was fortunate enough to listen to the teacher's passionate speech for a few minutes and confirmed that this was a pyramid scheme organization that sold health products and the teacher was just an ordinary person.

So why are the free gifts that clubs hand out to senior citizens cursed?

Li Chengfeng frowned and asked, "Grandpa Zhang, do you know where the noodles here come from?"

This stumped Grandpa Zhang. "I don't know. But does it matter? It's just ordinary longevity noodles. It doesn't matter where it comes from. I've eaten it before, and it's not expired or spoiled."

Expiration and spoilage are minor problems, but eating this longevity noodle may shorten your life.

Li Pingan noticed that Li Chengfeng was unusually concerned, so he pulled his sleeve and asked quietly, "Uncle, is there something wrong with the noodles?"

Li Chengfeng nodded. "There's something wrong with the noodles that Grandpa Zhang got. Maybe the free eggs are also problematic. Someone has set up a spell on them, or a curse, which will suck people's lifespan."

As the saying goes, free things are the most expensive things. Grandpa Zhang thought he was getting free noodles and eggs, but he didn't expect that they were actually exchanged for his life.

Li Pingan exclaimed, "Trading your life span for noodles, this is too outrageous."

"It's not so much outrageous as it is a huge loss." Li Chengfeng said, "Since Grandpa Zhang can exchange his life for Grandma Zhang, he can also use his life to exchange for noodles. It's just that he may not know about it, or he may have signed a contract with someone under deception."

"Oh, that Grandpa Zhang is so pitiful." Li Pingan showed a sympathetic look, "He finally managed to save Grandma Zhang. If Grandma Zhang continues to eat the cursed noodles, wouldn't it be a waste of her life?"

Li Chengfeng nodded: "Yes, this is equivalent to making wedding clothes for others."

If this continues, it won’t be long before the Zhang family will have to prepare for another funeral. ”

He looked around the entire Changsheng Club and said in a deep voice, "I want to see what this Changsheng Club is all about."

After finding no useful information in the Changsheng Club, Li Chengfeng, Li Pingan and the other two said goodbye to Grandpa Zhang and returned to the hotel.

After returning to the hotel room, he called Qi Xiang.

"I want to report a crime."

Qi Xiang recognized Li Chengfeng's voice and said speechlessly: "...Uncle, if you want to report a crime, why are you calling my personal phone?"

Li Chengfeng smiled and said, "It's not necessarily you who will answer the call if you call 110."

Qi Xiang: "...Tell me quickly, what case do you want to report?"

Li Chengfeng got straight to the point: "We are now in the hot spring town. We have discovered a suspected pyramid scheme den called the Changsheng Club. Many elderly people have been deceived. We request the public security bureau to send police to arrest these fraudsters."

Qi Xiang on the other end of the phone listened to his words, paused, and then said: "Uncle, why did you go to the hot spring town?"

Li Chengfeng: "On a business trip."

Qi Xiang: "You went to the hot spring town on a business trip? Then how did you find out about the Changsheng Club?"

Li Chengfeng glanced at the three little ones in front of him and said decisively: "Qi Yu discovered it when he was doing social practice activities during the winter vacation."

Hearing Qi Yu's name, the person on the other end of the phone held his breath, "Qi Yu is here too."

Li Chengfeng handed the phone to Qi Yu and motioned him to say hello to Qi Xiang.

Qi Yu turned his head and resisted: "What? What does it have to do with me?"

Li Chengfeng achieved his goal, and raised the phone to his ear again, saying to the other end of the phone: "Yes, Qi Yu is here too, and investigating this Changsheng Club is related to whether Qi Yu can get a high score in the winter vacation social practice."

As soon as he said this, the three little ones in the room immediately looked at him with surprise.

Li Pingan was just about to say, "Uncle, this has nothing to do with our winter vacation social practice..." when he saw Li Chengfeng raise his finger to his mouth and mouthed, "Trick him."

So it automatically muted itself immediately.

She blinked her eyes and whispered to Qi Yu: "Brother Xiao Qi is so pitiful~"

Zhang Dongyang exclaimed: "As expected of you, Master. You are really amazing."

Qi Yu snorted and turned his head away, not wanting to make any comment.

Sure enough, when Qi Xiang heard about Qi Yu's winter vacation social practice, his breathing suddenly became heavy. "How far have you investigated? You said that they are a pyramid scheme scam. Do you have any evidence?"

Li Chengfeng said lightly: "I am just an ordinary citizen. I am only responsible for providing clues to the case. Isn't it your job to find evidence?"

Qi Xiang was silent for a long time, then said helplessly: "We have noticed this pyramid scheme you mentioned a long time ago. In fact, it is not only in the hot spring town, but has already appeared in City C. It can be said that it has blossomed all over the province."

"What? The Longevity Club has spread all over the province?"

Thinking about the cursed noodles being circulated wildly throughout the province, Li Chengfeng suddenly felt that the matter was a bit serious.

Qi Xiang sighed and slowly told him the information he had learned.

“This Changsheng Club is called a club, but in fact it is more like a religious group.”

"Relying on hot spring therapy, we gradually attracted the elderly to join us and the business has grown stronger."

"This religious gang first used the banner of health preservation and gave away free egg noodles and other gifts to attract the elderly to clock in and force them to attend classes."

"They then promoted their own health products, and then further brainwashed people, promoting the concept of immortality."

"Finally, he was recruited as a cultist and given tasks to do, asking him to recruit others to join the group."

"Religious organizations grow little by little in this way."

"Old people who don't have their children around and who have also experienced pain and illness are more likely to be brainwashed."

"Not only will their money be defrauded, but religions may also use them to commit crimes, which is a huge hidden danger."

Li Chengfeng frowned and said, "Such a big hidden danger, shouldn't the Public Security Bureau find a way to eliminate it as soon as possible?"

Qi Xiang: "We also want to eliminate this hidden danger, but we have no evidence. In a society ruled by law, everything must be based on evidence, and we can't just arrest people at random."

That's true.

Li Chengfeng asked: "Is there nothing you can do about them?"

Qi Xiang: "We tried many ways to find evidence of their crimes, and even sent undercover agents to infiltrate this religious gang, but unfortunately all failed."

"The identities of the people we sent over were quickly exposed, and their lives were almost in danger. They seem to have a unique way to tell whether you are truly sincere in joining the organization."

So, now the public security bureau is helpless.

Qi Xiang said helplessly: "We can only strengthen the safety awareness education and anti-fraud propaganda for the elderly, and then let their children do more work for them, so as to cut off the further development and growth of this organization from the root."

After listening to Qi Xiang's introduction, Li Chengfeng had a general understanding of what kind of organization the Changsheng Club was.

He asked, "Can you send me the address of Wu Changsheng, the founder of the Changsheng Club?"

Qi Xiang said cautiously: "What are you going to do? This is a citizen's personal privacy, you can't tell outsiders casually."

Li Chengfeng said: "Maybe I can help your police station solve this case."

Qi Xiang asked: "How to solve it?"

Li Chengfeng thought for a moment and said, "I'll go talk to this Taoist priest Wu."

Qi Xiang thought it was some kind of solution. "Talk? What's the point of talking to him? Can he change his ways and become a new person just by talking?"

Li Chengfeng said seriously: "Maybe he will turn himself in."

"Uncle, stop joking." Qi Xiang said hurriedly: "I have something else to do. I don't want to chat with you anymore."

Looking at the hung up phone in his hand, Li Chengfeng sighed.

He originally wanted to get Wu Changsheng's address through formal channels, but he didn't expect Qi Xiang to refuse to believe him. It seemed that he had no choice but to resort to abnormal means.