I Explore Urban Legends - Chapter 77: The Fasting Challenge (Patreon)

Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something strangely familiar about Brooks. The man’s pretentious way of speaking was irritating enough to make him want to mess with him a little.

He gave Taylor a look, and she nodded in understanding.

The two stood up, picked up their equipment, and walked to the front.

Brooks was still explaining to everyone how to breathe properly. When he saw Liam and Taylor approaching with such a formal setup, he froze for a moment.

Liam held out a microphone.

“Hello. I’m a host at a television station in Boston. I’m very interested in what you’ve been saying, and I’d like to discuss it with you in greater depth.”

Brooks immediately caught on. He felt as though his big opportunity had finally arrived, but since he had no idea how television stations actually worked, he still asked, “Will this interview be broadcast on television?”

“Of course. If everything you’ve said is true, I guarantee you’ll become famous across the country.”

Brooks immediately broke into a satisfied smile.

That was exactly what he had been waiting for.

“Absolutely. No problem. I can demonstrate the proper meditation posture and explain the key points right here.”

Hearing that Brooks was going to demonstrate it himself, the hippies around him became excited as well.

Everyone moved to a lawn on the estate and sat down cross-legged.

“First, our bodies have been damaged by polluted air for so long that our spiritual awareness has been severely weakened. We need to relearn how to breathe properly, just like this. Follow my movements.”

Brooks’s abdomen repeatedly expanded and contracted, which looked rather strange at first glance.

But Liam recognized it as a form of abdominal breathing. It increased oxygen intake and could help relieve stress.

Apparently, Brooks did know a few real things. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have managed to fool so many people.

Brooks tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and began breathing deeply. His whole body seemed to contract and expand with the rhythm of each breath.

Everyone copied him.

By the end of the morning, quite a few people felt remarkably relaxed after practicing the breathing technique.

But some of them were already getting hungry.

“Children, hunger is perfectly normal. What you’re feeling is simply your body’s dependence on food. Only by overcoming that dependence can you truly purify your body. This is a necessary step toward absorbing energy from the air.”

The vague explanation managed to convince quite a few of them.

A handful of people had started to grow suspicious, but even they felt it was worth trying a little longer.

Liam and Taylor, however, had no intention of joining them.

The two simply went back to the car and brought out a large amount of food.

When they returned, they sat down nearby and started eating as though they were having a picnic.

It was one thing to endure hunger when there was no food around.

But with Liam and Taylor eating right in front of them, several people immediately began swallowing hard.

Seeing this, Brooks tried to encourage them.

“This is the critical stage where we purge the toxins from our bodies. Let’s keep going together.”

Then he looked at Liam and Taylor with a hint of irritation.

“Liam, do you think everything I’m saying is a lie?”

Liam was still chewing as he answered with an innocent expression.

“What you’re saying is certainly interesting. But Taylor and I still have to turn all this into a television program. That takes a lot of time and energy, so we can’t join your training right now.”

Brooks was left speechless.

For the moment, promoting himself was more important, so he stopped arguing.

And so everyone sat there, watching Liam and Taylor eat while trying to endure their own hunger.

By the afternoon, quite a few people had reached their limit and started leaving.

Sitting around talking big and showing off was fun.

Actually starving themselves was another matter entirely.

Brooks sighed.

It seemed his publicity stunt had failed, and even he began to have a few doubts about himself.

Then he noticed that Liam and Taylor still hadn’t left, so he approached them curiously.

“What do you think of the atmosphere here? How do you think it’ll look on television?”

Liam immediately clasped his hand with a broad smile.

“Your philosophy is truly groundbreaking. Don’t worry. Once this airs, it’ll cause a sensation.”

Hearing that, Brooks’s confidence returned at once.

“My meditation method is powerful enough to change the entire world. All I need is a platform, and I’ll become the savior of humanity.”

“That’s excellent, Mr. Brooks. That’s exactly the kind of confidence you need.”

Liam suddenly became visibly excited.

“But television needs something dramatic. Why don’t we turn this into a challenge and see exactly how many days you can go without eating?”

The moment he said that, everyone who had been growing bored suddenly perked up.

This was far more entertaining than simply sitting around starving, and they immediately began chiming in.

“Yes! That’s a great idea. This challenge will make the Breathing Master famous around the world!”

“Exactly! No one’s ever done anything like this before!”

Brooks’s expression shifted between pale and green.

He suddenly realized that he had backed himself into a corner.

At this point, admitting he was a fraud might get him beaten senseless by the people standing around him.

But he obviously couldn’t actually stop eating.

“My abilities have already reached the highest level. I don’t need food anymore. But wouldn’t filming something like this cost a fortune?”

Liam walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry. These are all art school students. They can help you with the challenge.”

Everyone immediately gathered around and began offering suggestions.

If there was one thing these people had plenty of, it was free time.

Brooks had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree.

Fine.

At worst, he could secretly sneak some food when no one was looking.

And if he managed to keep the challenge going for even ten or fifteen days, it would still make fantastic publicity.

He was doing it.

“All right. I accept the challenge. Come back tomorrow with proper recording equipment, and we’ll begin filming officially.”

Brooks had noticed that Taylor was only carrying a personal video camera.

His plan was obvious. Get everyone to leave, eat a proper meal while he still had the chance, then hide food throughout the estate.

But Liam had no intention of giving him that opportunity.

He had already brought professional recording equipment in the car in case something unexpected happened.

Taylor called over several classmates and began moving the equipment.

The students rarely got the chance to handle professional gear, so they immediately started examining it with curiosity.

After showing them the basics, Taylor walked over to Liam and whispered, “Liam, that guy’s obviously just a con artist. Are you really going to waste your time here?”

Liam didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he raised his head and slowly scanned the entire estate.

Then he said, “There’s something interesting about this place. Remember those people we saw meditating this morning? Count them.”

Only then did Taylor realize what he meant.

She walked around the estate, took another look, then returned with a startled expression.

“You’re right. I think a few of them are missing. Could they have just gone home?”

Liam gave her a meaningful look.

“My hearing is very good. Aside from us, no one has driven out of this estate today.

“And those people we saw meditating? I don’t think they were in any condition to walk out of here.”