Ethan Sullivan sighed inwardly: Life with high blood pressure and high cholesterol is really tough!

“I won’t take any money.”

Ethan Sullivan took a sip of boiled water, feeling as if his whole body was bathed in Buddha’s light.

The fat man shivered and said, “You must, you definitely must.”

He turned to the innkeeper and said, “Give me ten strings of coins, I’ll pay you back later.”

Apparently, this guy was considered a local tycoon, so the innkeeper didn’t hesitate at all and brought out ten strings of coins.

Damn, that’s way too heavy—I can’t carry it!

Ethan Sullivan looked at the huge bundle of money, then glanced at a few pairs of unfriendly eyes around him, and said seriously, “I really didn’t want to take it, but seeing your sincerity, fine, I’ll take half.”

Ten strings of coins weigh about forty jin, five strings about twenty. Ethan Sullivan figured he could manage to carry that much if he tried.

What a master!

The unfriendly gazes in the tavern temporarily faded away.

The fat man was so grateful he was at a loss for words, and hurriedly told the innkeeper to bring food and wine for Ethan Sullivan and his sister.

“No need, my sister and I are cultivating our minds lately. If you have any vegetables, just bring those.”

Ethan Sullivan wore a solemn expression, and Grace followed suit, straightening her little face.

Are you kidding? For the past half month, the siblings had been eating vegetarian food with that caravan. If they suddenly had a big greasy meal, they’d probably spend the night in the outhouse.

Immediately, everyone around them looked on with respect.

“Do you have paper and brush?”

Ethan Sullivan smiled kindly, like a child sitting at the feet of the Buddha.

Grace, used to this, simply ate the vegetables, then leaned against her brother to watch him write.

Ethan Sullivan’s calligraphy was excellent, bold and flowing.

He finished writing in one go, then handed it to the fat man, saying, “Follow this. Don’t eat greasy stuff anymore, eat more vegetables. Everything you need to pay attention to is written here. If you don’t listen, you’ll lose at least twenty or thirty years of your life.”

The fat man took it and looked, then was completely baffled.

“Can’t read?”

Ethan Sullivan was secretly delighted. “It’s getting late. If we don’t go now, we might not find an inn, and my sister and I will have to sleep outside.”

The fat man blurted out, “The innkeeper also runs a guesthouse. Leave it to me.”

Ethan Sullivan frowned and said, “That’s too much trouble!”

Then he explained the taboos to the fat man a few more times, and the other diners in the tavern quietly took note.

“Young sir, where did you learn medicine on Mount Mang?”

The fat man asked, seemingly casually.

Ethan Sullivan’s stomach was protesting, so he replied offhandedly, “North of Cuiyun Peak, just follow the mountain ridge for twenty li.”

After dinner, the fat man respectfully escorted Ethan Sullivan and his sister to the inn, then turned and shouted, “Prepare the horse!”

A servant hurried over and asked, “Where are you going, sir?”

The fat man said proudly, “That young man’s master must be a great sage who can bring the dead back to life. The officials in the palace have always wanted a son. If I can invite the sage down the mountain, I’ll be rich and powerful… hahahaha!”

In the inn, Ethan Sullivan was washing Grace’s feet, smiling as he said, “A few names in the annals of history, countless desolate mounds in North Mang—Mount Mang is nothing but a hill of graves.”

Chapter 0002 Orphaned Siblings

As an old uncle who had worked in many industries, Ethan Sullivan’s previous life could be considered a success. Having seen the treachery of human nature, he had also learned a lot.

The next day, he demonstrated one of his skills—using a salesman’s eloquence, he successfully joined a merchant caravan.

Along the way, he heard that some places were rebelling, but they were soon pacified.

“Kill and burn, then get pardoned, huh!”

…

When Ethan Sullivan carried Grace and looked at the Zhuque Gate ahead, tender grass was already sprouting from the ground.

“So this is Bianliang, the capital city of the Song Dynasty?”

Grace shouted, “Brother, the capital city!”

Ethan Sullivan’s mind was filled with countless images of prosperity, and he said joyfully, “Let’s enter the city.”

“Let’s go in!”

Grace cheered excitedly on his back.

He carried Grace, asking directions along the way, and finally found that uncle’s house, then…

“We don’t know any Sullivan family from Xiongzhou. Are you here to scam us…”

Cold faces, cold words.

Ethan Sullivan shielded Grace behind him, then bent down to cover her ears, and laughed heartily, “Sorry to bother you.”

Bang!

The sound of the door closing behind them.

No one knew whether Brian Sullivan was considered a martyr or a captive now—some even said he had defected.

Seeing the faces of these relatives, Ethan Sullivan knew that the name Brian Sullivan had become a stinking pile of dog crap, shunned even by family.

He carried Grace out of the alley, then explained, “Grace, they’re not our relatives.”

Grace responded with an “oh,” then hugged his neck and said, “Brother, I can walk by myself.”

She was worried about her brother, and spoke very carefully. Ethan Sullivan couldn’t help but kiss her and said with a smile, “Your brother is super strong—he can carry you forever.”

Ethan Sullivan wandered the streets with Grace in his arms. When he saw that renting a room cost at least three strings of coins a month, and only got you a single room, he realized he had underestimated Bianliang’s housing prices.

But he still gritted his teeth and rented a room.

The landlord also lived there—a friendly middle-aged couple.

He declined the landlord’s offer to help him find work, and took Grace wandering around Bianliang city.