"William Reed is the foremost reclusive master within the thirteen counties of Wu Prefecture, known for his benevolence and high reputation, deeply respected by officials, commoners, and people of the martial world alike. If we can persuade him to intervene, there will surely be no problem. However, William often wanders the land, as elusive as a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail. Fortunately, William's chief disciple, Mr. Green, is usually at the temple, and in Gusu County he is quite well-connected, acquainted with the leaders of all the major sects, and is known for his warm-heartedness. I will prepare a generous gift and go to ask for his help, so he can make the introductions. This matter is sure to succeed."

Mr. Thompson tightened the thick fur coat around himself, took the hand of the young girl suffering from a cold, hailed a large sedan chair carried by four men, and got in with Mrs. White.

Surrounded by a crowd of servants and old maids, several porters lifted the sedan chair and swayed their way toward the west gate of Gusu County.

Not far from the west gate wharf stood the Hanshan Daoist Temple.

Mr. Thompson left two trusted servants to watch over the rice shipment, then took Mrs. White, the girl, and a group of servants and maids into the Hanshan Daoist Temple to seek an audience with Mr. Green.

……

Ethan Brooks had been at the wharf, anxious as if his eyebrows were on fire, watching a group of porters get work while he, with an empty stomach, couldn't find a job.

He had unintentionally overheard the conversation between Mr. Thompson and Mrs. White as they were leaving.

He hadn't paid much attention to most of it, but one line caught his ear: "The Medicine King Sect recruits new disciples every twelfth lunar month!"

This made Ethan Brooks's heart pound.

The Medicine King Sect is recruiting apprentices?

He wondered what the requirements were—could someone like him, born to a fisherman's family, become a disciple of the sect?

But these were just fleeting thoughts in Ethan Brooks's mind.

Distant water can't quench present thirst; he still didn't know where his next meal was coming from tonight.

Ethan Brooks searched for work at the west gate wharf for half a day without success. His stomach was growling with hunger, and as the sun dipped westward into the afternoon, he had no choice but to try his luck inside Gusu County, hoping to find a way to fill his belly first.

Chapter 004: Tianying Inn

From the west gate wharf, it was less than half a li toward the county town to reach the Hanshan Daoist Temple.

The temple's entrance was solemn, with red stone walls and black glazed tiles exuding an air of austerity, and the grand bronze doors were imposing. Pilgrims came and went, incense smoke curled thickly, and the place bustled with prosperity.

Hanshan Temple had a history of over a thousand years, but it had always been neither hot nor cold, not particularly famous.

It wasn't until the current abbot, William Reed, took over the ancient temple twenty years ago and personally presided over the promotion of immortal arts that Hanshan Temple's reputation soared and its incense offerings flourished.

Ethan Brooks had heard the elders among the fishermen in Zhouzhuang say that this William Reed possessed great magical powers, able to walk on waves across great rivers and lakes, knew all things under heaven, and could divine with his fingers with unfailing accuracy—truly formidable.

William Reed was recognized as a peerless master, his name resounding throughout the thirteen counties of Wu Prefecture. Even the county magistrate, if he wished to see William Reed, would have to personally visit the temple to pay his respects.

However, in recent years, William Reed rarely stayed at Hanshan Temple, instead traveling the world and befriending other great masters.

Ordinary people, unless extremely lucky, could hardly ever see him at the temple. Usually, visitors to Hanshan Temple could only pay respects to one of William's five chief disciples or his many students.

The legend of William Reed filled the twelve-year-old Ethan Brooks with immense awe for Hanshan Temple.

More than ten years ago, when Ethan Brooks was just born, the old abbot William Reed had once treated him for an illness and even bestowed his name upon him.

Ethan Brooks was full of admiration and curiosity for Hanshan Temple, but had never had the chance to go inside and take a look, which he regretted.

Now, dressed in tattered clothes, he dared not enter the ancient temple, but only bowed respectfully from a distance as a token of gratitude. He thought that if he ever became wealthy, he would come back to offer incense.

Ethan Brooks passed the temple and walked another half li, soon entering Gusu County.

The main streets of the city were even more bustling and lively than the west gate wharf, with carriages of all sizes rolling by in an endless stream, crowds of people everywhere—a far cry from the remote Zhouzhuang.

The main street was lined with all kinds of clothing shops, general stores, pharmacies, money exchanges, pawnshops, blacksmiths and weapon shops, jewelry stores, restaurants, inns, and more.

Of course, there were also street vendors carrying their wares and beating gongs, hawking goods along the road, and troupes performing at street corners for money.

By comparison, Zhouzhuang had only a few small general stores and butcher shops, with none of the upscale shops or street performances.

Every time Ethan Brooks came to Gusu County, he was dazzled by the sights and envied the people who lived there. He always wished that one day he could live in such a prosperous place.

But it was always just a wish—he never dared take it seriously.

Now, forced to leave his hometown and come to Gusu County to make a living, he was so worried his hair was turning white.

To survive in such a bustling place as Gusu County was difficult in every way. Just finding a job to earn money for food and a place to sleep were two major problems.

He had only eaten a cold, hard cornbread on the way to the county, and after traveling for most of the day, he was famished and exhausted.

Ethan Brooks went from shop to shop along the city streets, willing to do any odd job, but no shop wanted to hire a boy of just over ten years old, and he was turned away everywhere.