Relying on intuition, Ethan Brooks could immediately tell that these two people were led by the gentle young man. One was sitting, the other standing, and they did not speak to each other. The situation seemed very strange, as if the difference in their statuses could be glimpsed from this detail.

At that moment, the young man put down his blue-and-white porcelain cup and looked over at the corridor, his gaze meeting Ethan Brooks's.

The young man gave a gentle, slight smile, instantly making people feel as if a spring breeze had washed over them.

Ethan Brooks couldn't help but smile as well.

When the young man looked away, Ethan Brooks was suddenly startled.

It was another extremely peculiar feeling. This young man had no malice at all; what surprised Ethan Brooks was that he seemed to have been influenced by him without even realizing it.

For someone like Ethan Brooks, a big boss who lived by the blade, this was the real danger.

Chapter 3: A Strange Feeling

The rules at the Qingyuan Grand Hotel's trade fair were not strict, but rather quite relaxed.

Naturally, this was because those attending the trade fair were not ordinary people and generally disliked too many restrictions and rules. If this were a formal trade fair organized by some internationally renowned multinational corporation, then stricter rules would be expected. At each level, you follow the rules of that level.

The key point is that Edward Brooks is not an international tycoon—he is a brotherhood boss.

In Qingyuan, this wild land surrounded by mountains, a big brother who fought his way through blood and blades and lived by the code of the underworld, trying to align with international standards would be laughable.

Loose rules do not mean no rules.

There still had to be a host.

The host of the trade fair was neither a handsome man nor a beautiful woman, but an old man over eighty, with white hair and a youthful face, full of energy. Leaning on a cane, he slowly walked out from behind the main entrance.

Compared to his physical and mental state, the cane was definitely just a prop.

As the "tok tok tok" sound rang out, the previously noisy trading hall instantly fell silent. Everyone turned their heads toward the host's podium, each showing a look of reverence.

The name of William GrantMr. Grant was well known throughout the Qingyuan medicinal herb market.

Mr. Grant was a living encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine. Back in the Republican era, he followed his master all over the country, collecting medicinal herbs. He could recite the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and the "Compendium of Materia Medica" almost by heart.

Some even said that it was because of William Grant that the Qingyuan medicinal herb wholesale market existed.

Most of the guests here today were from the traditional Chinese medicine industry, and all held deep respect for this national treasure-level elder.

David Harris also looked at William Grant with great interest.

David Harris was the gentle young man at table twenty-seven, dressed in a light blue cotton-linen Tang suit and wearing black cloth shoes.

It was not his first time in Qingyuan, but it was his first time attending this rare medicinal herb trade fair, and half the reason was because of William Grant's great reputation.

William Grant had originally run a pharmacy, but after the Qingyuan herbal wholesale market gradually prospered, he closed his own shop. The old man made it clear that he would not compete with the younger generation for business.

But every time the Qingyuan Grand Hotel held a trade fair, the old man had to be invited to preside.

With him present, there was basically no dispute over the authenticity or age of the herbs.

As for the price, The Old Man didn't care; he let the guests negotiate among themselves. He was only responsible for verifying the authenticity and age of the herbs. In business, it's all about willing buyers and willing sellers. And for the same herb, depending on demand, buyers' offers could vary greatly.

For example, for aged wild ginseng, the price would be very different if bought for collection or for saving a life.

The Old Man could truly be called a wily old fox.

The appearance of William Grant signaled the official start of the trade fair.

The guests all hurried to their seats, holding their breath and quietly watching the white-bearded elder. In the vast trading hall, you could hear a pin drop.

The Old Man, leaning on his ox-head cane, slowly walked to the host's seat set up on one side of the hall, and his eyes slowly swept around the hall.

This was also the proper etiquette for a host.

The guests all nodded in greeting, but in reality, the old man's gaze merely swept over everyone's faces without lingering on anyone in particular. At his current status and age, ordinary people really couldn't expect to catch his special attention.

When William Grant's gaze swept over David Harris's face, it suddenly paused. His slightly squinted eyes opened a bit wider, and in an instant, a sharp light flashed from them.

Everyone's gaze followed, most of them puzzled, not knowing why The Old Man was suddenly paying special attention to this young man. Aside from his refined appearance and elegant demeanor, which clearly marked him as a well-read scholar, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.

But William Grant's eyes were different from those of these businessmen.

In his eyes, there was a faint, gentle glow slowly circulating on David Harris's slightly pale face, almost imperceptible. This was clearly a sign of someone who had reached a very high level in practicing internal martial arts.

William Grant himself was a master deeply versed in internal martial arts. Even in his eighties, he still had a youthful face and abundant energy. First, because he was skilled in the art of health preservation; second, because he had diligently practiced the Five Animal Frolics passed down from Hua Tuo for decades without interruption. His internal energy was abundant, and his vitality was strong.