At that time, he didn’t think too much about it.

　　So much so that...

　　“They’re really dead.”

　　Ethan Brooks looked at Adam Carter.

　　Not only Adam Carter, but that sturdy man had also stopped breathing.

　　He had killed two people.

　　In his previous life, this was something utterly unimaginable.

　　But now, it had become a clear reality right in front of him.

　　The terrifying lethality of a martial artist was displayed to the fullest in this moment.

　　“So I’ve already... become this strong!?”

　　Ethan Brooks muttered to himself.

　　Silence.

　　He was silent for about ten seconds.

　　He looked up again.

　　“Being strong is good. Only by being strong will no one be able to crush me like an ant at will. Only by being strong can I live the life I want, and spend my days in the way I like.”

　　Ethan Brooks collected himself and walked out of the alley.

　　...

　　In this world, there is a special situation called martial artist vendetta.

　　War-level martial artists even have a license to kill.

　　As long as it doesn’t cause social unrest, a few deaths are nothing out of the ordinary.

　　If the people don’t report it, the officials won’t investigate.

　　Especially for underworld kingpins like Adam Carter, who have enemies everywhere—if they die, there’s no official power that will care.

　　So Ethan Brooks calmly took the No. 2 bus back and checked into a hotel.

　　As for the injury on his right hand...

　　A good night’s sleep would fix it.

　　If not, then just sleep again.

　　The night passed peacefully.

　　The next day, the two of them went to the bus station and took a bus back to Wuhe City, encountering no obstacles along the way.

　　Adam Carter was the strongest member of the Jiang family, a pillar-like figure. The sturdy man was also a top expert of the Jiang family. Both were killed in a head-on confrontation. With such fierce enemies, it was not Ethan Brooks who should be worried, but the remaining members of the Jiang family.

　　After nearly two hours on the road, the two of them returned to Wuhe City without incident.

　　Shortly after entering the city, the bus stopped, and a commotion could be heard outside. Faintly, one could make out phrases like “Ceding territory and paying indemnities—where is the kingdom’s dignity?”, “Oppose the hegemonic actions of the Aurora Empire!”, “We, the people of Xiya, are not afraid to bleed, not afraid to sacrifice,” and so on.

　　“There’s another protest. Sigh, how many times is this just this month? War? It’s not going to happen. Both Xiya and Aurora are huge countries with populations over a hundred million and territories over a million square kilometers. They won’t go to war so easily.”

　　A few people in the seats ahead were chatting.

　　“The royal family is so spineless. They’re being bullied right at their doorstep and don’t even dare to fight back. All they do is protest verbally. Now the border has been pushed back by the Aurora people for dozens of kilometers. I say, if Aurora dares to attack us, we should fight back without hesitation. So what if our national strength is a bit weaker? At worst, we’ll go down together.”

　　“Exactly. If Aurora wants to fight us, they’ll lose a chunk of flesh too. Besides, they have so many international rivals. If they get bogged down in a war with us, those countries definitely won’t just stand by.”

　　“Dignity isn’t won through negotiations, but with fists.”

　　“There’s no way there’ll be a war. Not in this lifetime. The royal family only cares about their own pleasure and enjoyment, not the lives of us commoners. Now, the Aurora people are privileged in Xiya, running rampant, and the officials don’t dare to do anything. If this keeps up, Xiya will become a vassal state of Aurora sooner or later.”

　　The discussion rose from the front, and most of the people on the bus were voicing their complaints about the Xiya royal family.

　　Over the years, the royal family’s actions, bureaucratic ways, and repeated concessions to the Aurora Empire had left people utterly disappointed in them.

　　The vehicle entered the bus station. Ethan Brooks and Grace Brooks got off, took a city bus to the old district, and entered their home.

　　At home, besides his father Henry Brooks, there was also a sturdy middle-aged man.

　　James Brooks.

　　The second son of Second Grandpa, younger brother of Jack Brooks, uncle to Olivia Brooks and Olivia Brooks, and likewise...

　　A pillar of the Baili family line.

　　“Qingfeng, you’re here.”

　　James Brooks looked at Ethan Brooks, a smile in his eyes. “Your second grandpa already told me about you. He said our Baili line has produced a true dragon—two days to develop strength, truly remarkable. I was tied up with some trouble recently, so I couldn’t come back sooner. From now on, if you have any questions about martial arts, just ask me directly...”

　　After speaking, he looked Ethan Brooks up and down, his eyes lighting up. “What a strong young man! How’s your Thunderous Thirty-Six Forms coming along? Can you finish it within ten minutes?”

　　“I can.”

　　Ethan Brooks replied.

　　“Good.”

　　James Brooks slapped his thigh in excitement. “Good lad! You’ve truly stepped into the door of martial arts! Train well, work hard. With your talent, you might develop your vital energy and blood in two or three years. If you go on to cultivate your qi and spirit, that would be incredible. Our Baili line will finally have a worthy successor. By then...”

　　Before James Brooks could finish, Henry Brooks quickly changed the subject: “Xiaodie, how did things go in Sumen City? Did you get the copyright deal?”

　　Clearly, he wasn’t keen on letting James Brooks and Ethan Brooks talk too much about martial arts.

　　“It’s done!”