“I told you, that package was a treasure!” Brian Brooks was anxiously pondering how to become a disciple and learn skills, and impatiently scolded, “What’s the point of saying all this? The master is gone, he didn’t even bother to give me a chance to be tested!”

“This…” William Brooks was scolded until his face turned red, hesitated for a moment, then braced himself and added, “But young master, you didn’t mention wanting to become a disciple just now! I thought, maybe the master didn’t disdain to test you, but rather, he disdained to associate with the likes of us!”

“How is that any different?!” Brian Brooks stomped his foot, his eyes brimming with tears from grievance.

On the surface, he looked rather mature, but in reality, he was just over eighteen years old (counting by the traditional Chinese method). So, being turned away for the first time, it was inevitable that he felt discouraged. As for the family retainer William Brooks, he was an old hand at this, and seeing his young master so upset, he immediately comforted him cautiously, “It’s not the same. He refused to visit the manor, but he didn’t refuse to travel with you. Young master, if you take us and follow along, don’t mention visiting again, just say it’s on the way, and then adapt as needed. In my observation, although Master Xiao Zhang’s background is mysterious, he doesn’t seem hard to get along with, and he’s a bit awkward in social situations. If I’m not mistaken, this is probably his first time leaving his sect. At a time like this, if you can take the initiative to offer him some help, it would be a timely favor for him!”

“That’s right, young master, a good woman fears a persistent man!”

“Nonsense, it’s called ‘sincerity can move even metal and stone!’”

……

Owen Brooks, Ethan Brooks and the other cloth-headscarved retainers also crowded forward, all talking at once to give Brian Brooks advice.

The most dangerous thing is deceiving oneself. Many phone and internet scams in the 21st century aren’t even that sophisticated. But some people will fill in all the gaps for the scammer themselves, and nothing can stop them.

It was the same in the Tang Dynasty of the 8th century. Peter Bolton’s actions and words didn’t match those of a true master at all. But Brian Brooks was desperate for guidance from a master, and every item of clothing and belonging on Peter Bolton was something Brian Brooks had never seen before.

So, after recovering from the blow of being turned away, the wealthy young master Brian Brooks strode after Peter Bolton with long, determined steps. He left his mount to Owen Brooks and Ethan Brooks to take care of, afraid that riding would make him seem aloof and offend the master!

“If we can bring Master Xiao Zhang back, even if he’s not a true master, just figuring out where his clothes and belongings come from would be a great achievement for the Ren family! If we can find craftsmen to replicate them, our family business will definitely reach a new level!” Watching his young master Brian Brooks’s devout back, the retainer William Brooks let out a long sigh of relief, his face full of satisfaction. “Maybe the master will reward my hard work and immediately relieve me of my drudgery, transferring me to be a shopkeeper in Chang’an!”

After so many years of accompanying Brian Brooks in search of masters, he was already tired and weary. Owen Brooks, Ethan Brooks, Jacob Brooks and the others felt the same!

“Caw, caw, caw…” A few crows, returning from foraging, flew overhead, cawing as they dropped several blobs of bird droppings!

Chapter 8: Everything in the Books Is a Lie

“Sorry, sorry, you’re the one who’s sorry, your whole family is sorry!” Just as Brian Brooks was racking his brains, wondering how to make a good impression on the master, the “master” in his eyes, Peter Bolton, was kicking at clumps of dirt by the mountain path, cursing under his breath with no regard for his image.

Earlier, he had decisively refused Brian Brooks’s invitation and chosen to part ways—not because he’d drunk too much rice wine after strenuous exercise and lost his senses.

Nor was it because he’d been so shocked that he lost his composure and acted recklessly.

The reason he chose to quickly separate from them was his wariness of a group of strangers in a completely unfamiliar environment.

Having just arrived in the Tang Dynasty, with no friends or family, and being in the wilderness, reason told him he absolutely could not entrust his safety to the moral standards of a group of strangers.

Although those strangers had come after hearing his cries for help, kindly treated his wounds, and offered him rice wine, who could guarantee that their invitation didn’t hide any ill intent?

Besides, what virtue or ability did he, Peter Bolton, have to deserve being treated as an honored guest by a young noble of the Tang Dynasty upon first meeting?

As the saying goes, “Unsolicited kindness is either treachery or theft.” So, the more enthusiastic Brian Brooks and the others were, the more uneasy Peter Bolton felt.

This uneasiness was closely related to his personal experiences growing up. It also partly came from his careful observation of Brian Brooks and the others.

He had noticed more than once that the slovenly doctor in the blue round cap kept secretly staring at him, scrutinizing every piece of clothing, even his backpack, belt, and shoelaces!

That look was definitely more than just curiosity; it faintly revealed a greed that was desperately being concealed. It was as if he wanted to strip Peter Bolton naked and make him walk bare under the setting sun.

Especially when he emptied his backpack, the slovenly doctor in the blue cap practically wanted to stick his head inside. At that time, the only thing in his backpack that could be seen was a copy of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” its cover covered in gravel and mud, and it was the original English edition.