Afterwards, they diligently served the bowls and chopsticks, then stood by the dining table, watching Ethan Brooks eat while drooling.

Mr. Smith was half-lying by the door, craning his neck and staring eagerly, also watching Ethan Brooks eat while drooling...

Damn it...

How am I supposed to eat like this?

How can I even swallow my food?

With a face as dark as charcoal, Ethan Brooks took out a piece of paper and a pen.

“Swear on your inner demons, invoke the heavens and the righteous path, bind yourselves to the law of cause and effect, write an IOU, and press your handprint; you owe two hundred and fifty taels for medical expenses, plus room and board until recovery, about four hundred and fifty taels, rounding up to five hundred taels. I’ll give you brothers three months to repay the debt, with principal and interest totaling twelve hundred taels. Sign and leave it here. If you don’t sign, get out. The choice is yours!”

The muscles on the faces of the Mr. Smith brothers twitched for a long time, but in the end, they accepted with darkened faces.

Dr. Brooks’s terms were certainly harsh, and the restriction of never being able to go back on it for all eternity was even more severe, not to mention the outrageously high interest rate...

But, the two brothers, at the end of their rope, had no choice but to accept.

Having experienced the ways of the world, the two of them understood very well that Ethan Brooks’s approach was already an act of kindness, giving them a way out!

The two brothers had nothing to their names, nor any outstanding skills. Throwing them out to fend for themselves would have been the most beneficial course of action for him.

And with one gravely injured and the other as weak as paper, they would be dead from cold and hunger in at most ten days, their bodies never to be found.

In times like these, ordinary labor is the least valuable thing!

The brothers’ faces showed both regret and relief. With a mix of frustration and secret joy, they quickly signed, pressed their handprints, and made their vows...

Then, they settled in the patient ward at the back of the clinic with a clear conscience.

To their surprise, they even found cotton quilts. Lying on the bed, they couldn’t help but sigh in relief and gratitude.

“Truly black-hearted...”

The brothers, one after the other, let out a sigh of relief.

...

(2)

Ethan Brooks didn’t keep these two out of kindness.

Ethan Brooks’s so-called kindness had long since been fed to the dogs as he gradually came to understand this chaotic world.

After dinner, with nothing to do, it was the perfect time for a chat.

Mr. Smith was checking his Jun Tian Mirror, sighing repeatedly: “You know, this thing can only take things out. If only we could put our own stuff in and take it out whenever we wanted... That would be so much better. Feels like a waste.”

Mr. Smith and Ethan Brooks both chuckled.

Wishful thinking.

If that were the case, wouldn’t it be the legendary storage space? With so many assassins in Jun Tian Shou, the fact that it works as it does now is already unimaginable.

If everyone got a storage space... ha.

Let’s just say, you’re dreaming... not even in your dreams would it be that good.

Ethan Brooks cut off Mr. Smith’s fantasy with a single sentence.

“What are your actual names? Don’t tell me you’re really just called Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith?”

“Of course not! We have real names. ‘Old Three’ and ‘Old Four’ are just our rankings in the family...”

“Rankings? So you must have at least two older brothers, Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith, right?”

“More than just two brothers, we even have a sister. But girls don’t count in the boys’ ranking. Second and third sisters are older than Old Five and Old Six, but Old Five and Old Six are still called Old Five and Old Six...”

“Second and third sisters? Old Five and Old Six? Mr. Smith, your father, is really something. Impressive, impressive!”

“Oh? Sir, do you know our father?”

“No, no, I don’t. Let’s get back to your real names!”

“My name is Charles Smith, and Old Four is David Smith.”

Mr. Smith said proudly, “These are the names we gave ourselves after venturing into the world. You see, when you’re out in the world, you need a resounding name. It’s not like at home where it doesn’t matter what you’re called. I call myself Whirlwind Blade, Whirlwind Blade Charles Smith, and Old Four is Snowflake Blade David Smith.”

Self-given names?!

Mr. Smith is actually getting all literary now?

Whirlwind Blade, Charles Smith...

Snowflake Blade, David Smith...

Looking at these two rugged faces, mouths so wide you could almost see their stomachs...

Ethan Brooks’s lips twitched instinctively, and the muscles on his face spasmed a little as he said, “I’ll just keep calling you Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith, it’s less of a tongue-twister.”

“Whatever, it’s all the same to us.”

Remembering his identity as a man of the jianghu, Mr. Smith also started referring to himself in the third person.

“Sigh...”

Ethan Brooks let out a sigh.

...

“That Jun Tian Shou organization of yours... is it really so free? No rules or restrictions? No organizational secrets to keep?”

Having been in this world for over ten years, Ethan Brooks was extremely cautious. No one but himself knew that he was the assassin Wen Rou.

But such low-key behavior had another consequence: his information, intelligence, and even his understanding of the organization were far inferior to others.

Because he never asked, and if he happened to overhear something, it was a bonus. If not, he never forced it.

He never deliberately investigated, nor did he ever seek out information.

He just checked the iron token for mission updates every day, took on suitable tasks, and whether he completed them or not, he always returned quietly.

As the saying goes:

He pays no heed to the world outside his window, focusing solely on diligently practicing the art of killing.