"Uh, Lord David Bennett, please, with your great magnanimity, don’t tease a youngster like me anymore, alright? If you have any orders, I will obey without question." Brian Carter gave a wry smile and bowed. If he were really driven off the boat, he would hardly escape the deadly hands of the Nanyang Liu clan. This old fox—who knows what else he wants to squeeze out of him.

"Heh, do I seem that old? In Guanzhong, I’m the dream lover of many people, you know." David Bennett said with a cheerful smile.

Brian Carter couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected to meet such a witty and humorous middle-aged man in this era. It made him feel a bit more at home in this time. If he had ended up in the Song or Ming dynasties, with their conservative customs, he’d probably have been bored to death.

Chapter 9: Pointing Out the World

"Yes, yes, Lord David Bennett, I suppose those who admire you are all those mature, still-charming ladies locked away in their boudoirs, right?" Brian Carter plucked up his courage to reply. "If I get the chance, I’ll definitely visit Jingzhao to experience the splendor of the grand capital."

This was truly Brian Carter's own thought. Since he had come to this world, it would be a shame not to visit Chang’an. Although Chang’an had been devastated by the likes of Huang Chao and Zhu Wen, decades had passed, and it was said the city had mostly recovered. Merchants from the Western Regions, Persia, and Arabia were once again gathering in Chang’an, goods from East and West converging there. While it couldn’t compare to the peak of the Kaiyuan era, it was already a world apart from the devastation after the disasters.

"Heh, if you want to visit Chang’an, you are more than welcome." David Bennett glanced at the young lady, who was gradually recovering from the shock of the Liu clan’s assassination attempt, but then his tone shifted subtly: "But right now, what we want to know most is—where do you really belong? Don’t tell me you’re just a wandering scholar or a roving swordsman. Trust my wisdom to see through at least a little."

Brian Carter sighed inwardly. It always came back to this topic. The Xu family of Guangzhou might not even be worth mentioning among the great clans like the Li family of Guanzhong. As a minor local power holding just one prefecture, they struggled for survival and were constantly threatened by bandits and rebel armies. It seemed hard to believe he would serve such a small family. Still, the Xu family had indeed shown some kindness to the original Eric Carter, though the current Brian Carter was no longer the same person.

"Clerk-attendant to the Governor of Guangzhou, Brian Carter."

"Guangzhou? The Xu family of Xu Wangting in Guangzhou?" After a moment’s pause, David Bennett was a bit surprised.

Guangzhou was tucked away in a corner of Henan Circuit. In terms of ranking, the Xu family was hardly a prominent clan, holding only one prefecture at most—a local gentry family. Given Brian Carter's earlier performance, it was hard to understand why he would serve as a mere clerk-attendant in such a small place.

"That’s right," Brian Carter replied calmly.

"Is talent in Guangzhou so abundant that someone like you can only serve as a clerk-attendant?" David Bennett asked, unconvinced.

This fellow’s martial skills were impressive enough, but he also understood the arcane arts, which was rare.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible for someone skilled in martial arts to also know the arcane, but in his eyes, this guy’s martial skills were only average. The real issue was his deep understanding of the surrounding situation. In just a few words, he had pinpointed the core of many problems. Such analytical and judgment skills were not something just anyone could possess.

If even a scout could have this level of ability, then Guangzhou would be truly unbelievable, and David Bennett found it hard to believe.

"Lord David Bennett overestimates me. I, Brian Carter, am just a man in plain clothes, only a bit more familiar with local affairs, nothing more. It’s not a matter of being over- or under-qualified." Brian Carter said, a bit embarrassed.

If it weren’t for his knowledge of history and the fact that Eric Carter had worked in intelligence, how could he have bluffed the other party? They really thought he was some kind of prodigy.

"Plain clothes? In these troubled times, does the Xu family still care about such empty titles and rituals?" David Bennett sneered dismissively.

What right did the Xu family have to insist on distinctions between scholar and commoner? Even the Li clan of Guanzhong was letting go of such things now, let alone a mere Xu family.

"Uh, Lord David Bennett, you flatter me. I really don’t deserve it."

"Brian Carter, if you’re interested, I could recommend you. My clan leader is eager for talent. With your abilities, you would certainly be highly valued. What do you say?"

David Bennett's sharp gaze fell on Brian Carter. He believed that with his own reputation and the status of the Li clan of Guanzhong, no matter how talented Brian Carter was, he would be tempted.

Brian Carter was indeed a bit moved.

Since coming to this world, he had inherited Eric Carter's memories. The Li clan of Guanzhong controlled Chang’an, an international metropolis, with thriving industry and commerce. The surrounding five prefectures—Tong, Hua, Qi, Qian, and Bin—formed a strong defensive ring. The fertile lands of the Qin Plain stretched for hundreds of miles, and they enjoyed the legitimacy of the Tang imperial line. If he had stuck to his original plan upon arriving in this world, it would have been a great place to serve.

After a long silence, Brian Carter finally shook his head. "Lord David Bennett, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but I owe a great debt to the Xu family. If I were to leave quietly like this, I would be scorned by the world. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see me become a man who betrays trust and righteousness. I can only accept your good intentions in my heart."