“Tsk, earning five thousand a month? What’s the point? Sis brought you out here to make real money... Let me tell you, you can have nothing, but you can’t have no money. If you don’t have money, wherever you go, people will bully you and look down on you. But as long as you make money, no matter what you’re doing, there will always be people crowding around you...”

The woman kept talking about the difference between having money and not.

Ethan found it noisy, put on his headphones, and continued scrolling through videos.

This scene made the fashionable woman, who thought Ethan was handsome, sunny, and clean—matching her aesthetic standards—feel dissatisfied, and she soon lost interest in bragging.

……

Over an hour later, the vehicle arrived in Shanlong City.

Compared to Yunmeng City, Shanlong City had fewer people and at first glance looked like an enlarged county town.

This was related to Shanlong City’s geographical location.

Tiannan Province was already south of Dayu, and Shanlong City was at the southernmost tip of Tiannan, with Mingguang City of the neighboring Feiyu Country just across the border.

Shanlong City was established as a southern gateway city.

Because Feiyu Country was even more underdeveloped, Shanlong City, despite its geographical advantage, had never really developed. Its weak economy was evident in its streets and buildings.

The vehicle soon arrived outside the manor where the target, Edward Reed, lived.

Originally a low-profile martial artist, Edward Reed had become famous in the past year or two, and his living conditions had improved significantly.

Not only did he now live in a manor, but he had also taken on quite a few disciples.

At this moment, the manor was heavily guarded, with many burly “disciples” patrolling back and forth.

Ethan did not enter the manor.

After arriving outside, he immediately mobilized his vital energy and performed a secret technique.

What is a secret technique!?

It is a skill that represents an extremely profound understanding of a certain realm—a secret technique.

The sensing secret technique is an almost pinnacle application of vital energy.

Using one’s own vital energy as a medium, infusing spiritual consciousness into it, the spirit moves the energy, the energy is activated by the blood, giving “vital energy” vitality, thus resonating with “similar kinds,” and in the dark, “sensing” powerful abnormal individuals.

Moreover, human thought can construct memory images, even memory palaces.

Ultimately, this secret technique manifests as a map forming in the mind, with individuals with abnormal vital energy marked as red dots.

Soon, Ethan withdrew the secret technique.

“Nothing?”

He was a bit surprised.

After thinking for a moment, he walked to the manor gate.

“Can I help you?”

At the gate, a man at least 1.9 meters tall sized him up and down. Seeing his calm demeanor and extraordinary attire, he asked.

“I have an appointment with Edward ReedMaster Reed. He’s not in the manor right now, is he? I arrived early.”

Ethan said.

With just one sentence, he precisely mentioned Edward Reed’s whereabouts, making the man unsure of Ethan’s identity.

But he still said, “Since you’re a friend of Master Reed, I’ll take you inside to rest first. How should I address you?”

So he’s really not here.

No wonder there was no response.

Ethan thought to himself.

“Never mind, I’ll come back at the agreed time.”

He said.

The man frowned, staring at him and sizing him up again.

At this moment, three young men came out from inside, chatting and laughing.

One of them, about the same age as Ethan, paused slightly when he saw him, then quickly ran over with a big smile: “Young Brooks, you’ve come to Shanlong City? Here to see Master Reed?”

Then he seemed to remember something: “I heard people say Young Brooks didn’t go to the capital for university, but started practicing martial arts instead? Interested in martial arts? Then coming to see Grandmaster Reed is the right choice. Grandmaster Reed is the number one expert in Shanlong City—his reputation and status are both well-earned.”

Ethan looked at him...

No recollection.

“My name is David Morgan, I live in Shanlong. The education here isn’t good, so my dad sent me to Yunmeng High School. I was lucky enough to have met Young Brooks before.”

The young man quickly said.

He looked at Ethan with some surprise and delight.

During the first two years of high school, Ethan Brooks was unremarkable.

In the third year, rumors spread that he was the illegitimate son of a big figure from the Su family in Tiannan—a scion of a wealthy family.

He immediately recognized such a prominent figure.

After graduating high school, he didn’t want to go to college, so he returned to Shanlong to inherit the family business. Although his family had tens of millions, compared to the colossal Su family of Tiannan, it was not even on the same level.

After a year in society, he understood the importance of connections even more. Seeing Ethan Brooks now, he enthusiastically came over to greet him.

“Hello.”

Ethan nodded.

“Are you here to visit Grandmaster Reed, Young Brooks? I know where Grandmaster Reed is at this time. We’re heading over to join the fun—would you like to come with us?”

David Bolton said with a big smile.

“Alright.”

Ethan glanced at him.

The more skilled you are, the bolder you become.

“Lead the way.”

Chapter 8: Assassination

Tens of millions in assets isn’t much in Yunmeng City, but in Shanlong City, it’s enough to become a local boss.

David Bolton drove a car worth over six hundred thousand, taking Ethan to a building sixteen stories high.

This building was made up of four towers, arranged in a perfect square.