Shifting her gaze to the other’s face, the Samuel Green before her was tilting his head, his eyes blazing as he looked her up and down without pause. Through the empty sleeve, she could see the sweat hair in his armpit at a glance... Grace Harper's face flushed red, and she quickly turned her back, softly reminding him, “All the kidnapper’s things are here. Aren’t you going to go through your clothes?”

This murderer had a head of short hair, as if he’d been a monk just a few months ago and his hair had only recently grown out.

Samuel Green’s way of bowing was very strange, and his demeanor and expression were nothing like a normal person’s. Yet, this very person, draped in such ill-fitting clothes and appearing in such an inappropriate setting, when bowing to Henry Brooks, showed not a trace of humility, as if he and Henry Brooks were equals—only now did Grace Harper believe that he might really have been beaten senseless by the kidnappers.

“No need to look. My clothes won’t be here,” Samuel Green answered clearly.

The little girl across from them immediately picked up the conversation, quickly adding, “How could the kidnappers leave anything that might reveal our identities? Even these clothes I’m wearing are new. When the kidnappers caught us, they stripped us and made us change into new clothes—the two old ladies lying over there were the ones who helped us change. The clothes we took off were all burned, and any good silk was sold along the way.”

Miss Harper stared blankly, wide-eyed, and asked Samuel Green, “Weren’t you unconscious the whole time? How do you know your clothes aren’t here?”

The little girl looked at Miss Harper and explained confidently, “I told him—he asked about his clothes just now, and I told him.”

Alice Benson called out his Daoist name, interrupting everyone: “Everyone, I’ll return to my own quarters first. Now that this has happened in the temple, I’m afraid the abbot won’t escape a lawsuit. After this, the temple’s reputation is ruined, and few will come in the future. I’ll go pack up first. If the authorities summon me, please find me in my quarters.”

At this, no one could offer comfort or advice, so they could only watch silently as Alice Benson took his leave.

After Alice Benson left, Henry Brooks finally remembered his companions: “Ah, in the peach blossom grove... Did the kidnappers have lookouts outside? The leader is still out there, and there was such a fierce fight here... Quick, go check the peach blossom grove.”

Chapter 6: A Name Is a Problem...

Samuel Green blinked and looked toward the courtyard gate...

For a split second, Henry Brooks felt as if the courtyard wall of the Lotus Courtyard had vanished, and he could see straight into the depths of the peach blossom grove.

But in the blink of an eye, everything returned to normal so quickly that he thought it must have been a hallucination... Henry Brooks rubbed his eyes: An illusion, it must be an illusion. The wall is clearly there—how could it disappear?

Samuel Green chimed in with a grin, “Your companions are probably sneaking some of your wine. Ah, is your family’s wine famous?”

Henry Brooks shivered, “Just kidding... You mean they’re all fine? That’s good, that’s good. The smell of blood is heavy in this courtyard; it’s probably not a good place for the ladies... Ah, Liao Wu, quickly take a few people to watch the temple abbot—don’t let her escape... We’ll all go to the main hall to settle in. Have Zhang San take a few men to guard this courtyard and protect the crime scene—no unauthorized people allowed in or out.”

Miss Harper tightened her hold on the little girl in her arms and quickly said, “I’ll carry this child first. As for those sleeping children, we need to find a way to wake them up.”

Former Wuwei Army soldier Edward Clark interjected, “For those who’ve had too much knockout drug, a splash of cold water will wake them. Miss Harper, stay here and help us wake those girls. We’ll go protect the women and hide in the main hall.”

Seeing the carnage left by the kidnappers, recalling their terrifying skills, and realizing that this fearsome killer now stood on his side, Henry Brooks suddenly stopped fearing the return of the kidnapper leader. He casually took the saber from his waist and handed it to Samuel Green, earnestly saying, “Take this—you might need to fight again soon... We’re all counting on you. Guard this courtyard for now. I’ll take people to the main hall to detain the abbot and settle our companions.”

Miss Harper quickly added, “Leave someone to help fetch cold water from the lotus pond and help me wake those unconscious girls.”

So, Henry Brooks left an attendant behind and took his leave. The attendant went to fetch water, leaving only Miss Harper, the killer, and the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl in the courtyard.

Miss Harper felt a bit awkward, especially seeing the other’s bare feet wandering around so nonchalantly, and thinking of how he wore nothing under his robe, her face flushed again and her eyes darted about involuntarily.

The girl leaning by the door had already stepped outside. Now, she took Samuel Green’s hand and stopped by each corpse, as if admiring the slaughter. With a look of satisfaction, she pointed at one of the bodies and said, “It was this one. One of the sisters refused to obey and called for help on the road. This person was the one who tormented her. Afterward, she disappeared—no one knows if she’s alive or dead... Sister, good and evil always get their due. Your vengeance has been repaid today.”

Samuel Green led the little girl over to Miss Harper. Miss Harper looked a bit flustered and, almost instinctively, asked, “Madman, even if you can’t remember your own name, you should at least have something to call yourself, right?”