The East 62nd Street (previously referred to as Wutong Street) was named after a 500-year old Wutong tree in a yard somewhere down the street. This Wutong is 500 years old and is still alive, as it has endured all kinds of natural and unnatural calamities during its half-thousand-year life.
William wore a clean white shirt a short cut hair and a weak smile on his face. He appeared calm and new-equipped, in sharp contrast to the way he had appeared on Mount San Juan Teotihuacan.
During this new age, he reasoned that he had to adjust to the contemporary lifestyle.
Hey, kiddo, who is it you are looking? said a forty-something drunken man lying on a reclining chair in the yard. The courtyard, enclosed by over a dozen bottles and heaps of rubbish, had long since since lost the calmness and beauty of half a century ago.
Is still Christopher Wright about? The man who had been guarding the courtyard 50 years before, was the one William requested regarding the matter, Christopher Wright.
"He's dead!" the drunkard looked at William and beckoned him off, "When you have no business elsewhere go there.
When William looked at the Wutong tree, he said, Are you his son?
"What's it to you? Scram!" The simmer-drunkerd got a bottle and hurled it at the feet of William.
The bottle was broken, and William did not even tremble.
In the course of the years, William had travelled in innumerable renowned rivers and mountains across the globe. This tree of Wutong was one that he had planted with his wife 500 years ago.
Since the time immemorial up to today, regardless of the ruling administration, no one had the guts to interfere with this Wutong tree.
"I want to buy this place." William did not intend to implement force. He did not want to use violence in this peaceful and prosperous period of his life.
The drunkard lifted himself slowly, and looked William up, after which he dismissed him by laughing. Do you have any idea how this place is worth? Kid. Will you be able to afford it, even if I sell?
"Name your price." William replied with a smile. At any time, although he did venture into different industries trying out new ways of life, he never worried about money since there were the times he had to buy something.
"50 million dollars! Pay all at once." The drunkard burst out into a loud laugh, and struck another bottle on the feet of William, "Go, kid!
William disregarded him and sat down on a stone bench between the Wutong tree.
He didn't have any money on him.
Still, he thought that money was soon to come.
You have not yet given respect, and do not hope to be, when you say so! The drunkard attempted to rise but with his hangover, he fell and crawled into the heap of bottles in a heap of disgrace.
William did not even look at him as the bellowing of an automobile engine was heard in the courtyard.
The courtyard was only visited by one car. Five old men alighted, and their bodyguards were at every turn of the road, so that nobody could come anywhere in the court.
Should these five people happen to come in front of this old yard, the upper-class tycoons would likely be too frightened to talk.
The older elder who came out was Anthony Carter. He owned a number of oil fields in other countries now owned substantial investments in global energy projects. Some foreign heads of state too were forced to treat him with courtesy.
However, as he stepped out of the car and gazed upon the Wutong tree in the courtyard he shivered unconsciously.
David Taylor did his worst in the old house on Mount San Juan Teotihuacan last night. They did not do that then, and now they are meeting William; how could they not be nervous?
What happens when William believes that they have other hidden agendas? What should they do with such a situation?
The four other men left the car and stared at each other discomfortably.
Theoretically, they should have no fear since they are in such a position. But William was different.
They were under the wing of William, and only heard a little of him. Nevertheless, they have had their way to the present day.
In the missing years of William they also inquired into his whereabouts and came upon an amazing finding in some unofficial books.
What they had found that perplexed and horrified them: the fact that William appeared to have existed thousands of years!
William has left a mark in many countries and historical dynasties around the world.
The great ancient doctor Hua Tuo had composed an epistle to the commemoration of his teacher, and in his annexes Leonardo da Vinci wrote that, when a youth, he had been instructed by a boy. The teenager was also young when he was old and he did not change.
Still farther away, they even have a description of the timeless teenager in Chinese Shang Dynasty oracle bones inscriptions.
All this was leading them to William.
Had William been only a gifted and strong man, he would grow old and die like them, and had nothing to fear.
"Let's go!" Anthony Carter flashed a shadow in his eyes, and led the way to walk into the yard.
The other four elderly gentlemen did not hover either and went following Anthony Carter into the house.
They saw a young man in the yard, in addition to the drunk man cursing on the ground.
As William turned slowly around to take a glance at them their hearts nearly sprang out of their throats.
Even after 50 years his peculiar demeanour and look did not change though William changed his clothes and his hairstyle.
What the heck are you old men doing in my house? The drunk man rose and took a bottle and pointed it at Anthony and others.
The face of Anthony changed dramatically. This is what no one dared to speak to him like over several years.
At this point, he intended to kill.
But just now, as William said carelessly, he is the present owner of this house. I intend to purchase his house at 50 million. Who will pay?"
"Kid, who are you fooling? This bunch of old men? Can they afford 50 million?" The man under the influence was not purchasing it. To tell the truth, 50 million was simply the price that he shouted out. He had not planned to sell, or even thought William was able to buy it.
Ok, Master, I will pay, Anthony came forward and took a checkbook and promptly wrote a 50 million check. "This is a Citibank check. You can cash it anytime..."
The drunkard got the check and looked at it, laughed coldly, crumpled it, and threw it into the face of Anthony. "You're fooling me, I want cash!"
Anthony was about to explode. This was the only time someone had thrown something in his face in all his life.
William said calmly, however, "Give him the cash.
Anthony could not dare to defy the will of William and bowed to him saying, Yes, Master!
You dumb bastard, are you shooting a movie here? Calling him master? By the way I tell you, do you want to shoot a movie here, without paying anyone is not going home to-day! The drunkard man took it as a joke. It was too absurd of an old man in his seventies terming a young man master. Other than shooting a film, he could not find any other explanation.