Old Brooks sighed. Even the master who had taught him the art of physiognomy back then didn’t dare to defy fate and change someone’s destiny, let alone him with his meager skills. Even if he wanted to help Frank Quinn, he simply didn’t have the ability.

Chapter 0004: Compensation

Old Brooks was already eighty-four years old this year. Having weathered many storms in his life, he wasn’t afraid of suffering heavenly retribution or losing years of his life for trying to change someone’s fate.

It’s just that such techniques, even the master who had taught him physiognomy back then, couldn’t perform them. Even if Old Brooks wanted to help Frank Quinn, he simply didn’t have that kind of power.

“Dad, are we just going to let him go like this?”

Hearing his father’s words, Second Brooks, who had failed to take on a disciple, was momentarily stunned.

The Bajiquan passed down in the The Brooks Family lineage follows the tradition of the legendary spearmaster Li Shuwen, making it the most authentic form of Bajiquan. If Frank Quinn hadn’t yet developed internal strength and only learned some basic moves, it wouldn’t matter much.

But now, Frank Quinn had clearly begun to grasp the fundamentals. If he couldn’t be accepted as a disciple, then according to the rules of the martial world, the skills Frank Quinn had learned should be taken back.

“Second, there aren’t many people willing to learn martial arts these days. Don’t hold on to such narrow-minded sectarian views anymore.”

Old Brooks naturally understood his son’s thoughts. He shook his head and said, “Back then, Master Yang Luchan secretly learned from Chen Changxing, and it became a well-known story. Your grandmaster accepted disciples regardless of their background. Why can’t I do the same?”

“Dad, I was wrong!”

After being scolded by his father, Charles Brooks was left speechless, because the story his father mentioned was known to almost everyone in the martial world.

Yang Luchan was the founder of Yang-style Taiji. He loved martial arts from a young age, but because his family was poor, he had to work at the “Taihe Hall” Chinese medicine shop on Xiguan Street in Guangping Prefecture.

The shop was owned by Chen Dehu, a native of Chenjiagou, Jiaowen, southern Henan. Seeing that Yang was diligent, honest, and capable, Chen sent him to work at his hometown in Chenjiagou.

At that time, Taiji master Chen Changxing was teaching at Chen Dehu’s home. Yang greatly admired him and wanted to become his disciple, but he was busy with work and also feared Chen wouldn’t accept him. Although he knew the taboos of the martial world, his eagerness to learn made him secretly observe the training sessions and memorize some moves, practicing them in private when no one was around.

Later, Yang Luchan’s actions were discovered by Chen Changxing. Seeing his potential, not only did Chen not blame him, but he also boldly set aside sectarian prejudices and martial world taboos, allowing him to formally study Taiji in his spare time. This was how Yang Luchan became a great Taiji master.

“Grandpa Brooks, Master Brooks, thank you!”

Hearing the old man let him go, Frank Quinn, suppressing his disappointment at not being accepted as a disciple, bowed deeply to the two of them and turned to leave.

As for what Old Brooks had just said about his short life, Frank Quinn didn’t really understand, but even if he did, he wouldn’t care. Having wandered with his younger sister for years, he had long since stopped fearing heaven, earth, or ghosts—his courage was far from ordinary.

Just as Frank Quinn was about to step out of the courtyard, the old man suddenly said, “Kid, come earlier next time. There’s always enough food for one more at home!”

“Grandpa Brooks, I still have a younger sister.” Frank Quinn shook his head, declining the old man’s kindness.

“Silly boy, just bring her along, can’t you?”

Old Brooks sighed. He had long known about Frank Quinn’s family situation. It was just that, because Frank Quinn’s face was so unusual, the old man had never stepped in to help. But now, with his own end approaching, he wasn’t afraid of anything anymore.

“Thank you, thank you, Grandpa Brooks!”

Hearing the old man’s words, Frank Quinn suddenly stopped, his thin body trembling. He could refuse help for himself, but if it meant his sister could live a stable life, he was willing to pay any price.

Slowly turning around, Frank Quinn knelt before Old Brooks in the courtyard, kowtowed respectfully, then got up and disappeared into the night.

After Frank Quinn left, Charles Brooks looked at his father and said, “Dad, I think this kid is loyal and values relationships. Why are you still unwilling to accept him as a disciple?”

“What do you know?”

The old man waved his hand and said, “This child’s bone structure is extraordinary. If he can survive his destined calamity, he’ll either become a sage who saves the world or a hero in troubled times. But in my opinion, the latter is more likely…”

Jack Brooks had lived a life of hardship, only returning to his roots in old age. He didn’t want his descendants to go through the same. No matter how talented Frank Quinn was, he didn’t want to get too deeply involved.

But in the end, the old man was kind-hearted. Seeing how pitiful Frank Quinn and his sister were, if Frank Quinn really did meet with disaster in the future, he wanted to help the girl and have the The Brooks Family raise her.

……

“From now on, I won’t have to leave my sister alone at home at night…”

Although he hadn’t become a disciple, Frank Quinn was still very happy. It wasn’t because their dinners were now taken care of, but because he wouldn’t have to leave his sister alone at night to secretly learn martial arts.

You know, if it hadn’t been for Da Huang protecting them recently, their “home” would have almost been broken into by a mentally unstable person. For several days, Frank Quinn had been on edge.