The young man in white, upon seeing this scene, sneered even more and said to the young man in the blue robe, “Truly a country bumpkin who’s never seen the world, sent away with just a few copper coins.” With that, he didn’t spare Adam Brooks a glance, and together with the young man in blue, headed straight upstairs. He then gave a faint order: “I don’t want any food from your restaurant, I’m just borrowing your place. My attendants will come up to serve me later. The waiters here smell too strong—don’t let them come near me.”

The waiters in the restaurant were all fuming with anger. They ran a restaurant—if they weren’t clean, how would they get customers? Being insulted by this young man in white, they all felt indignant. But the restaurant manager was experienced and knowledgeable; Adam Brooks looked like he was just making trouble, but these two young men clearly had significant backgrounds, so he quickly signaled the staff to keep quiet, and even he himself didn’t go up to provoke them.

Not long after, more than a dozen servants came up, carrying food boxes, wine, felt rugs, cushions, and other items, completely ignoring the restaurant staff. One who looked like a steward, with a very arrogant attitude, instructed the manager, “Our young master has booked this entire restaurant. Hurry up and send the other guests away, and do not receive any more customers, lest it gets too noisy. Our young master dislikes that.”

Adam Brooks took the manager’s money and left at once. Young masters with such arrogance were always from powerful backgrounds. If he had already cultivated the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique to a high level, with great skill and courage, he could afford to be a bit temperamental and compete with them in arrogance. But now, all he could rely on was the third level of Iron Bone Technique and a sinister magic artifact, the Five Yin Pouch, so he simply pretended not to notice their airs, especially since this had nothing to do with even half a copper coin for him.

Adam Brooks strode out of the restaurant in a few quick steps, thinking to himself, “These two young masters may act arrogant, but sooner or later they’ll run into real trouble. Still… it’s strange, both of them have a faint fragrance about them, and their mannerisms seem a bit effeminate.”

After all, having done plenty of banditry, Adam Brooks was quite experienced and sharp-eyed. Even with just a quick glance, he noticed some subtle details. But since these two young masters had nothing to do with him, and his attempt to stir up trouble in the restaurant had failed, he was already thinking of other options and didn’t dwell on it.

After leaving the restaurant, Adam Brooks patted his now slightly rounded belly, pondering whether to try another method or simply find a different restaurant, when suddenly he heard a coquettish, charming voice, as if it could seep right into a man’s bones.

“Isn’t this Seventh Chief? Why didn’t you come with Mr. Clark to the magistrate’s residence last night? You made your big sister worry for so long.”

A soft, boneless hand landed on Adam Brooks’s shoulder. Without turning around, Adam Brooks knew it was the third leader of the Bamboo Branch Gang, Emily Thompson. He gave a dry laugh and replied without thinking, “Every day when it’s time, I just have to sleep, or else I’ll feel unwell for days. Maybe Second Brother Clark saw I was already asleep and didn’t call me.”

Adam Brooks lied without the slightest guilt. Emily Thompson glanced at him and giggled, “True, you’re still young, can’t handle staying up late. Just as well, I have something I need… little brother, your help.” That day, Emily Thompson hadn’t paid much attention to this kid, and now she couldn’t recall Adam Brooks’s name, so after a slight hesitation, she just called him little brother. This woman was not shy at all, pulling Adam Brooks along as she walked.

Adam Brooks wanted to struggle, but the strength in Emily Thompson’s hand was astonishing. Even with his three or four hundred pounds of arm strength, he was still dragged along, unable to resist.

Adam Brooks cursed inwardly, thinking, “This woman is definitely trouble. What does she want with me? Whatever it is, it can’t be good… And her martial arts are so strong, I can’t break free at all. No wonder the second-in-command said her skills are no worse than the chief’s.”

Emily Thompson dragged Adam Brooks right back to the restaurant he had just left. She was clearly well-known in Poyang Prefecture; as soon as she entered, the manager and several waiters hurried out to greet her, speaking with great respect and repeatedly addressing her as Third Madam. The manager, especially, seeing Adam Brooks and Emily Thompson return together, secretly wiped a cold sweat and thought, “Good thing I was sensible and didn’t argue with this young man. If I’d known he was raised by the Third Madam, I should have tried even harder to please him.”

Toward these people, Emily Thompson put on a different demeanor, responding only briefly before asking about the two young men who had gone upstairs earlier. The restaurant manager dared not hide anything and immediately led Emily Thompson and Adam Brooks to an elegant private room upstairs, deliberately calling out at the door, “The Bamboo Branch Gang’s Third Madam has arrived.” From inside came a crisp, pleasant, yet slightly youthful voice, “Then let her in. We’ve been waiting for her long enough. What’s with this Third Madam, putting on such airs?”

Adam Brooks was instantly alarmed, thinking, “The Bamboo Branch Gang is in cahoots with the local governor and wields great power, yet this kid doesn’t even take them seriously. Who on earth is he, to be so arrogant?”