Chapter 120: The Black Dragon Casino

"I don't believe it. I hate being used more than anything, so I need to get this straight. If you have no designs on me, what do you mean by this 'mission' you speak of? Don't you dare lie to me!" Long Fei stared directly into Song He's eyes, not blinking once, determined to see if the man would try to deceive him.

Song He replied calmly, "I would never lie to you. In fact, I told you why I chose to pass this on to you over a decade ago."

Long Fei was stunned. His thoughts raced, and he asked with a mix of frustration and surprise, "Are you talking about that 'When the Phoenix appears, the Green Dragon shall flourish' line? That same load of superstitious garbage?"

Song He nodded and laughed, "Precisely. It is because of this prophecy that I have waited so many years. I finally waited long enough to see it come to fruition. It seems our paths are deeply intertwined; consider it my good fortune."

"You talk about prophecies, and that little Japanese man talks about prophecies—is there really such a thing in this world?" Long Fei finally believed him, though he felt a sense of being toyed with by fate, realizing he was an important part of a prophecy he hadn't asked to be a part of.

"Young friend, this prophecy has existed for hundreds of years. Not only do the successive masters of our Maoshan Sect know it, but so do the heads of the Yin-Yang Path where Abe Hiromi resides. I suspect even that little monk from Qingzang knows it, and, of course, the Dragon Lady you are acquainted with. Every person who knows this prophecy is a part of it. I was skeptical myself, but as the years passed, events unfolded exactly as foretold. Abe Hiromi is a stubborn man, and that little monk from Qingzang will certainly not sit idly by and let this prophecy be fulfilled," Daoist Song He said with a sigh.

Long Fei's mind was in a whirl, yet he felt a surge of excitement and curiosity. "Tell me more about this prophecy. And who is this little monk from Qingzang?"

"Heaven's secrets cannot be leaked. I have already said too much. Why must you know everything? Remember, man proposes, but Heaven disposes. As long as we each fulfill our own responsibilities, does it matter if the prophecy is true or false? I only hope that you will commit fewer sins in the future. Debts of sin incurred in this life must be repaid in the next; the cycle of reincarnation is absolute." Song He spoke with grave seriousness, performing a formal Daoist salute toward Long Fei.

Long Fei grumbled, "Damn it, 'Heaven's secrets cannot be leaked' again. You old fogies are all the same—none of you are any good, always telling only half the story. Fine, have it your way. I was used by the Old Man for years, and now that he’s dead, no one is going to use me anymore. Even if the Old Man came back to life, I wouldn't listen to him. I want to live my own life. What is rightfully mine, I will seize, and whoever tries to stop me—I will cut down gods and Buddhas alike!"

Long Fei had long wanted to vent these feelings, though he had no one to share them with. Even though he was cursing, he felt that Song He was actually a decent person, and talking to him felt safe, as he was a man detached from worldly affairs.

Song He shook his head and softly chanted, "Immeasurable Life Buddha!"

After venting, Long Fei felt much better and laughed out loud. "Alright, since you've waited for me for so many years, teach me how to cultivate spiritual power. Once I’ve mastered it, the next time I run into that guy Abe Hiromi, I’ll show him what I’m made of. I’ll pull his pants down and spank him!"

Song He began to pray for Abe Hiromi in his heart. He knew that even if he didn't teach Long Fei, the young man would eventually discover these methods on his own. It was part of the prophecy that Long Fei would one day soar to greatness. Since he had accepted the prophecy, he had to follow the ancestral teachings.

He felt a pang of pity for Abe Hiromi. A grandmaster who had fought him for years only to eventually fall to Long Fei—but since the prophecy was linked to the Yin-Yang Path, Abe could not escape the shackles of fate.

He proceeded to teach Long Fei the techniques and mantras for cultivating spiritual power. Long Fei did not disappoint, memorizing them in a remarkably short time. Song He laughed, "As expected of the Pure Yang physique. It seems you truly are the Green Dragon; this is indeed fated. My friend, let us part ways for now. We shall meet again."

Seeing Song He about to leave, Long Fei suddenly remembered something and called out, "Hey, Daoist Song He, I have one more thing to ask."

"You want to ask about the Dragon Yang Divine Art, don't you?" Song He asked with a chuckle.

Long Fei was stunned. Damn it, another prediction.

"Since you know what I want to ask, just tell me. Is it a powerful martial art? Who knows it? Is this also part of the prophecy?" Long Fei fired off a string of questions.

Song He smiled. "Yes, it is part of the prophecy. Don't worry, do not force things; you will have the opportunity to learn it in the future. Only by reaching the peak of the Dragon Yang Divine Art will you truly be able to defeat Abe Hiromi and that person from Qingzang. By the way, the world is full of talented and strange people far beyond your imagination, so it is best to remain low-profile for now. Fortunately, you have the Phoenix by your side and that woman from India backing you, so you should be fine. Farewell!"

With those words, Song He leaped, covering over five zhang in a single bound, far exceeding Long Fei’s current speed. Long Fei wasn't surprised—the man was over a hundred years old, so such skill was expected. Still, he complained, "You stinking Daoist, you said learning spiritual power would be enough to deal with Abe Hiromi! Are you trying to trick me?"

From the distance came Song He’s laughter: "I didn't trick you. Even if you can't beat him yet, you'll be able to save your own life. Once you master the Dragon Yang Divine Art, then you can defeat him!"

"Dragon Yang Divine Art, Dragon Yang Divine Art... damn it, who knows where this thing is!" Long Fei cursed loudly to himself.

Dinner had been early, but due to the delay, the streetlights were already glowing. Long Fei dashed into the coral woods, used his light-body techniques for a few minutes, and reached the road. In the distance, the beach glittered under the lights, and the Seaside Hotel stood brilliantly illuminated. Long Fei had no time for the scenery; he flagged down a taxi, heading for the Black Dragon Casino—the biggest casino in Japan and the headquarters of the Black Dragon Society.

The Black Dragon Casino was renowned as the largest in the country. Its clientele consisted of three types: high-ranking government officials or those with such connections; business tycoons with bank balances exceeding 10 million US dollars; and underworld bosses. As the largest criminal organization in Japan, the Black Dragon Society operated in the shadows for political reasons, while groups like the Yamaguchi-gumi, Inagawa-kai, and Sumiyoshi-kai operated more openly. In truth, the Yamaguchi-gumi’s head, the "Godfather of the Japanese Underworld," Watanabe Fangzheng, was merely a puppet of the Black Dragon Society.

The Black Dragon Hotel, while prestigious in Ise City, was more low-key than the Seaside Hotel. It never advertised, relying on its "regular" high-end clientele to generate massive wealth. The hotel had six floors, with the top three dedicated to the casino.

The casino floor was a bustling hub of activity. Guests used electronic cards to exchange funds for colored chips representing different values. If one won, the casino facilitated payouts through various international bank transfers.

Long Fei walked into the hotel with a swagger, heading toward the elevators. Two tuxedoed attendants bowed and asked in Japanese which floor he wanted. Long Fei feigned ignorance, and when they switched to Mandarin, he requested the fourth floor. After presenting his membership card and passing a security check, he was directed to the fourth floor.

The fourth floor was packed, filled with wealthy men and women behaving with uncharacteristic abandon. Long Fei searched the crowd for Jenny, but she was nowhere to be found. Not even a familiar face appeared. He frowned, wondering if everyone had gone to the sixth floor—and if he had arrived too late.