The mountains stretching for hundreds of miles around Qingyuan have always been home to various Miao and Yao tribes, and since ancient times, the Miao and Yao people have had a tradition of gathering medicinal herbs. Master once said that, back in the day, that reclusive expert he met in the mountains was actually a herb gatherer who had just returned from the most mysterious witchcraft region deep in the mountains. Because of their fateful encounter, the expert gave him this life-saving prescription.

The so-called witchcraft region deep in the mountains was something Ethan Brooks had only heard about; no one had ever truly been there, and it was hard to say whether such a place even existed. It was only said to be the most mysterious place, where witchcraft and poisons ran rampant, miasma filled the air, and whether man or beast entered, none would return alive.

Such rumors existed all over the world in times when science was not advanced, especially in poorer, more backward, and less civilized regions, where similar tales were even more common. However, Ethan Brooks had indeed never heard of anyone fully exploring the hundreds of miles of mountains around Qingyuan.

The depths of Miao territory have always remained shrouded in mystery.

After several trips deep into the mountains, visiting village after village, Ethan Brooks was left deeply disappointed.

But it wasn’t entirely fruitless.

In a tiny, remote mountain village deep in the mountains, Ethan Brooks finally heard an old herb gatherer in his seventies or eighties mention Wuyang Wood. The old man told this well-dressed city visitor that, according to ancient lore, Wuyang Wood was a supreme yang divine wood, but in reality, it was not a tree, but a type of vine. It absorbed the essence of underground fire and thus became the ultimate yang wood.

Ethan Brooks was left utterly confused.

Although he wasn’t highly educated, he was still a civilized person living in modern society, and he really didn’t believe in such obviously “legendary” tales.

Moreover, the old herb gatherer had only heard of it and had never actually seen real Wuyang Wood, let alone provide Ethan Brooks with a specimen.

He returned empty-handed.

Even so, Ethan Brooks’s faith in the prescription’s effectiveness only grew stronger. Of the dozen or so herbs listed, not a single one was ordinary; all were extremely rare and precious. Especially after learning that the miraculous herb “Wuyang Wood” truly existed in the world, Ethan Brooks’s confidence became even more resolute.

Now, everything was ready—except for the crucial final step.

All the other herbs had been gathered; as long as he could find Wuyang Wood and decoct and take it, perhaps he could resolve the hidden danger lurking deep within his body.

But where exactly was this Wuyang Wood?

Ethan Brooks slowly opened his palm, and a patch of bluish-purple stung his eyes. The bluish-purple bruise in the center of his palm, which had been only the size of a peanut five years ago, had now grown to nearly the size of a walnut. The old, stubborn master had made it perfectly clear: when the bluish-purple color covered the entire palm, it would mean the medicine’s backlash had reached its peak. By then, it would be either death or crippling injury—even a god couldn’t save him.

Five years!

At this rate, Ethan Brooks feared he wouldn’t survive another five years.

Where on earth was this damned supreme yang divine wood hiding?

Henry came over.

Ethan Brooks quickly closed his palm.

He didn’t want anyone to see the bluish-purple patch in his palm. It was like a martial artist never exposing his own weak spot—his “life gate”—to an enemy without protection.

Not even a trusted confidant like Henry was allowed.

Even though, in this world, there probably weren’t many people who had even heard of the name “Yanluo Medicine Hand.”

With the advancement of technology and ever more powerful firearms, traditional martial arts had long since declined, fading from the mainstream and only appearing in movies, TV, and novels.

“Henry, who introduced those two people?”

Ethan Brooks put the pipe back in his mouth and asked calmly, his gaze falling once again on the young man and woman, though he no longer stared at the girl’s face—he always felt that looking too long would make him dizzy. The girl was indeed pretty, but not quite a breathtaking beauty. Besides, Edward Brooks really wasn’t interested in pretty girls these days.

Nice to look at, but not to touch—could get you killed.

But he had to figure out where these two came from.

Edward Brooks guaranteed the absolute safety of every guest, but not without conditions. The prerequisite was that he had to know the background of each guest. Old customers were fine—they had names, companies, and could be checked easily. But if they were strangers, they had to be recommended by someone familiar, and the recommender couldn’t be a nobody.

If anything happened to a guest here, or if someone caused trouble, Edward Brooks would need an explanation.

Others would also need to give Edward Brooks an explanation.

Henry followed his gaze, paused for a moment, and said, “Huh, they look unfamiliar…”

Ethan Brooks’s expression immediately darkened. He said coolly, “Find out.”

Edward Brooks did not like hearing such things.

What exactly is your job, Henry?

Since I’ve put you in charge of this place, you need to get the background of every guest clear for me.

“Sigh…”

Henry felt a chill in his heart, nodded repeatedly, and turned to run off.

Seventh Master was usually quite easygoing and didn’t put on airs in front of the brothers. But that didn’t mean you could slack off. If you really made him angry, no matter who you were, you’d be in serious trouble.

Ethan Brooks looked toward the man quietly drinking tea.