The Inspection Office and the powerful clans would also turn a blind eye to this, and might even extort them; as long as it wasn’t too excessive, they would accept it, treating it as an extra tax paid for peace of mind.

After this delicate balance was established, the horse trails in Tongbai Mountain had been peaceful for the past few years.

Even if a few newly minted bandits who didn’t know the rules caused trouble near Huaiyuan Town, the Inspection Office wouldn’t even need to intervene—those mountain strongholds might secretly deliver the culprits’ heads themselves.

Henry Smith had regained his senses for over a month now. Watching James Smith lead patrols around Huaiyuan Town every day, or else practice martial arts, drink, and gather soldiers to gamble in the military camp, his impression of him was that of a rough, powerful man who could command respect.

However, after that conversation just now, Henry Smith realized that James Smith only appeared rough; he simply hadn’t had the chance to display his subtle cunning before.

As for Gregory Dean, who had been transferred to Huaiyuan over two years ago, he spent his days either drinking in the military camp or seeking pleasure with prostitutes in the marketplace, rarely handling official business. Henry Smith had thought he was an incompetent and muddle-headed official.

But seeing today’s situation, Henry Smith realized that Gregory Dean had likely already figured out the situation in Huaiyuan Town before taking office—he was by no means a fool.

Gregory Dean’s hands-off approach, leaving all matters to the captains and lieutenants, was actually returning authority to the local powers. By living in drunken oblivion and ignoring affairs, he could safely get through his three-year term.

None of these people are easy to deal with!

Chapter 7: Body Like a Dragon, Spear Like a Python

James Smith also wanted to follow Gregory Dean’s example and avoid Brian Walker and his servant. Of course, Henry Smith was hiding in the courtyard that afternoon, lost in thought.

Compared to the assassination attempt on Brian Walker, what truly shook him was that brief passage, like something from a historical record, that had suddenly flashed through his mind—and was verified today at Eagle’s Beak Cliff.

After regaining his senses, he certainly didn’t want to remain in Huaiyuan Town as a fool in the eyes of Andrew Smith and the others, just muddling along waiting to die. But in this world, where could he go, and what could he do?

“Creak!”

Henry Smith was squatting under the front porch, “spacing out,” when he heard a sound—the courtyard gate was pushed open from outside. Looking up, he saw the frost-haired, thin-faced Brian Walker, along with his somewhat shy and uneasy granddaughter Emily Walker, peeking in.

Henry Smith was stunned, unable to figure out why Brian Walker had suddenly come over.

“Is Lieutenant Smith at home?” Brian Walker asked.

“Seventeenth Uncle went to the drill ground. What business does Old Master Walker have with Seventeenth Uncle?” Henry Smith stared at the grandfather and granddaughter in confusion, but didn’t see the “coachman.”

“Is Madam Smith at home?” Brian Walker asked.

“Huh?” Henry Smith looked at Brian Walker in surprise, thinking that although gender segregation wasn’t that strict these days, it still seemed a bit inappropriate for an old man to suddenly come looking for Olivia Scott.

“Henry Smith, who’s looking for me?”

Olivia came over from the back courtyard. She hadn’t met Brian Walker before, so she hesitantly glanced at the grandfather and granddaughter and asked,

“And who is this old gentleman?”

“This old man is Brian Walker, greetings to Madam Smith,” Brian Walker cupped his hands slightly, then said to the girl behind him, “Emily, tell Madam Smith yourself.”

“Oh, it’s Old Master Walker!” Olivia Scott bowed and asked, “May I ask what business the young lady has with Olivia?”

Emily Walker’s beautiful face was flushed as if she were drunk. She walked in, and as she passed Henry Smith, she wished she could bury her head in her chest. Henry Smith was even more confused.

Emily Walker walked to the porch and whispered a few words to Olivia Scott, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s. Henry Smith vaguely heard “there’s blood,” and was startled, quickly asking, “Is Miss Walker hurt?”

“You fool, with ears that sharp, why don’t you become a thief?” Olivia Scott glared at him and shooed him away, “Go, go, go, this has nothing to do with you. Keep Old Master Walker company in the front yard!”

With that, Olivia Scott took the girl Emily Walker to the back courtyard.

“Emily is not yet thirteen, but she’s already grown up—this old man was caught off guard. There are no young women at the post station, so I had no choice but to come ask Madam Smith for help…” Brian Walker stood in the courtyard, giving Henry Smith a brief explanation.

Only then did Henry Smith realize what was going on, and he could only give a sheepish laugh to ease the awkwardness.

Brian Walker didn’t want to involve too many innocent people, but as long as there was hope, he couldn’t just sit and wait for death.

At this moment, he was even more eager to know who the “big brother” Henry Smith had mentioned at Eagle’s Beak Cliff really was. He fixed his gaze on Henry Smith and asked, “It seems Lieutenant Smith didn’t know in advance that this old man would encounter assassins on the way?”

After turning sixty, Brian Walker’s body had become a bit stooped, and in recent years he’d grown even thinner, making him look small and frail—especially next to the robust Henry Smith.

It was cold, and everyone was still wearing thick jackets, but Henry Smith’s arms looked muscular and powerful, while his face was fair and handsome.

Even without the encounter at Eagle’s Beak Cliff, seeing Henry Smith now, Brian Walker would find it hard to believe he was the “fool” in the eyes of James Smith, Andrew Smith, and the others!

Of course, he didn’t think James Smith, Andrew Smith, and the others had any reason to deceive him.

So what on earth was going on?