Mark Wood walked steadily, not looking back as he said, “Don’t listen to that kid’s nonsense. Godfather was old, his injuries never healed, and though it happened suddenly, there were signs. Just this morning, after Little Rose got up, she found Godfather wouldn’t wake, got so scared she started babbling, shouting everywhere that ‘the demon fox killed him.’ She’s calmed down now and says the demon fox was just a nightmare.”

“Little Rose herself was one of the omens of Godfather’s passing,” Gavin Wood said with a laugh.

“Show respect for the dead. Watch your mouth. When you join the Jinyiwei, you’ll need to be even more careful with your words and actions.” Mark Wood didn’t like his thirty-sixth brother’s flippant jokes.

Gavin Wood secretly stuck out his tongue.

The gate and eaves of the Zhao residence weren’t grand or ornate, but the grounds were large. Over a dozen adopted sons who hadn’t yet set up their own households lived here, and with the servants, there were nearly a hundred people.

As soon as the news of the death spread, Evelyn Smith’s friends and relatives rushed over. The street and courtyard were packed with people, all sighing and lamenting.

Gavin Wood was the thirty-sixth in rank and unmarried, so he shouldn’t have set up his own household. Two years ago, he insisted on moving out on his own, and no one could stop him.

Mark Wood felt he had convinced his thirty-sixth brother, so he hurried off to greet Godfather’s friends.

Gavin Wood made his way slowly through the crowd, nodding to acquaintances. After passing the screen wall, he found even more familiar faces in the courtyard. As soon as they saw Gavin Wood, seven or eight adopted brothers rushed over, surrounding him. Ignoring the presence of outsiders, they all whispered at once, “Who do you support, Eldest Brother or Fifth Brother?”

“Huh?”

Someone tried to pull Gavin Wood away, while others grabbed his other arm, all jostling for his attention.

“Godfather is gone. We need someone to take charge. Eldest Brother is the obvious choice—we should all listen to him. He’ll be back from Tongzhou soon.”

“Eldest Brother is too timid by nature; he can’t hold this family together. Fifth Brother is fair and has the best relationship with the Jinyiwei superiors. He’s the right one to take charge.”

Gavin Wood couldn’t shake them off, so he dragged them toward a corner to get out of the way, then said with a wry smile, “Since when did my opinion matter so much? Besides, didn’t Godfather leave a will? We should just follow his arrangements.”

One adopted son pushed through the crowd, staring at Gavin Wood. “Godfather mentioned a will, but no one’s found it. It’s with you, isn’t it?”

Gavin Wood was surprised. “Why would it be with me?”

“Godfather only mentioned your name before he died—there must be a reason. If it’s not the will, what else could it be? Thirty-sixth Brother, just tell us: who did Godfather appoint to take charge, Eldest Brother or Fifth Brother?”

Gavin Wood had only one thought: Yesterday I was carefree, and today I’m caught up in all this? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone out to eat—I’d have slept through it all.

Before he could answer, a disheveled woman suddenly ran out from the back courtyard, pointed at the crowd of adopted sons in the yard, and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Demon fox! Demon fox! You’re all demon foxes!”

Chapter Three: Can’t Escape

The shouting outside continued. Gavin Wood took advantage of the chaos to slip into an empty room, sat down on a chair, let out a breath, and planned to rest for a while.

The door creaked—someone else came in.

Gavin Wood glanced up but said nothing. It was a stranger, a boy of sixteen or seventeen, dressed in blue with a small cap, smiling. In the current atmosphere of the Zhao residence, he seemed a bit out of place, but not unpleasant.

“Women are always such trouble,” the boy said, looking around. “What is this place, with so many swords and blades?”

Weapon racks lined both sides of the room, filled with sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. In the corner lay a few bows, crossbows, and unsheathed blades.

“The training hall,” Gavin Wood replied, not getting up or asking about the boy’s identity.

“I see. Quite a collection of weapons.”

“Yeah. When Jinyiwei colleagues come to visit, none of them dare enter this room.”

“Why, are the Jinyiwei afraid of weapons?”

“They’re afraid they’ll have to arrest the master of this house.”

The boy burst out laughing and slowly walked up to Gavin Wood. “You’re one of Captain Zhao’s adopted sons. Why aren’t you out there helping?”

“Staying out of the way is the biggest help I can offer.”

The shouting outside rose and fell, but Gavin Wood acted as if he didn’t hear it.

“True enough. Captain Zhao had many adopted sons, but there’s always a hierarchy. With Eldest Brother Shane Wood away, Fifth Brother Mark Wood usually takes charge. Besides, there are a few of Captain Zhao’s old friends around. Surely they can handle a mere maid? By that logic, the people outside really are just making trouble.”

Gavin Wood didn’t respond. For him, rest meant rest—even conversation felt exhausting.

The boy circled the room again. “The chair you’re sitting on—was it Captain Zhao’s?”

“This is the Zhao residence. Everything here belonged to Godfather.”

“Heh, I mean, was this chair Captain Zhao’s seat before?”

“Yeah.”

“Was he strict with you all?”

Gavin Wood glanced at the boy. “If he caught you, you’d get a beating. If not, nothing happened. Now he’ll never catch us again.”

The boy shook his head with a smile, walked a few steps away, picked up a saber from the floor, swung it twice, then tossed it back down. “Maybe Captain Zhao’s spirit is watching you from above.”

“So what if he is?”

“Aren’t you afraid of angering a restless spirit?”