William Sullivan felt a faint comfort in his desolate heart. Though he was unfortunate, at least he didn’t want his younger brother to be in trouble as well. “Stay and talk with me for a while.” He was only afraid that Henry Sullivan would go looking for Matthew Clark, so he found an excuse to keep Henry Sullivan with him.

At this moment, Brian Miller also hurried over. Seeing that everything here was calm and peaceful, he was utterly puzzled. Brian Miller knew Henry Sullivan too well and was certain that Henry Sullivan would never let things go so easily.

Henry Sullivan said, “Big brother, I’m going to have a few words with Brian Miller. You rest for a bit, I’ll be back soon.” He took Brian Miller out of the courtyard, whispered a few words to him, then took out those three taels of silver and gave them to Brian Miller, before returning to the house.

William Sullivan didn’t see Henry Sullivan give silver to Brian Miller, but seeing his younger brother listen to him, a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Brother, do you still remember what mother said when she died?”

Henry Sullivan replied, “Mother said that we brothers must depend on each other, and that I should listen to you, big brother.”

William Sullivan gave a sorrowful smile. “Yes, brother, your temper isn’t the best, but you really do listen to me. Before she left, mother told me that the one she worried about most was you. She asked me to look after you, to find you a wife, so that she could rest in peace. But… big brother is useless, I’ve let you down. Now… it’s you who has to help me get a wife…”

Henry Sullivan lowered his head and said, “Big brother, you’re the person I’m closest to in this world. I’ve been mischievous since I was little, always getting into trouble, and every time I caused a mess, you had to take the blame. Big brother, in your whole life, for this good-for-nothing brother, I don’t know how many beatings and scoldings you’ve taken, but you’ve never once scolded me. I only raised two sheep—how could I ever repay your kindness?”

William Sullivan sighed, “Silly brother, why talk of kindness between us? I know you love martial arts. A few years ago, a Mr. Foster came to the county, his skills were good, but I had no money to hire him to teach you. I’ve always felt bad about that. You don’t blame me, do you?”

Henry Sullivan looked up, “But I stole your money to buy wine for that Mr. Foster, begging him to teach me some skills. Big brother, you don’t blame me for that either, do you?”

Hearing this, William Sullivan wanted to laugh, but it pulled at his injured leg, making the corner of his mouth twitch. He said, “I knew long ago, but I’m afraid that money wasn’t enough anyway. Sigh… brother, I was just afraid you’d get into trouble, so to keep you occupied, I had you raise sheep. This past year, your temper has improved a lot, and I’m very happy. Once my leg heals, we’ll raise a few more sheep to sell, and when we have the money, I’ll find you a wife. Then, even if I die, I can face our parents in the afterlife.” As he spoke, he was still smiling, but his heart was filled with sorrow. Xiao Qing had been taken by Matthew Clark, and William Sullivan knew there was no way to get her back. His heart was already dead; he only wanted to find a wife for his brother, then he could let go of everything.

Henry Sullivan said, “Alright. Big brother, thank you.”

As the two brothers chatted, Brian Miller hurried back again and called from outside the courtyard, “Henry Sullivan, come out for a moment.” Henry Sullivan left the house, spoke a few words with Brian Miller, then went to the well to fetch a bowl of water. Returning to the house, he said, “Big brother, you must be thirsty. Have some water. Brian Miller and I will be in the courtyard, splitting the firewood we chopped a few days ago.”

William Sullivan took the bowl and nodded, “Alright, but you mustn’t go out. I’ll be watching you from inside!”

Henry Sullivan nodded and slowly walked into the courtyard, giving Brian Miller a meaningful look. Brian Miller helped carry out the dry branches and rotten wood from the woodshed. Henry Sullivan took up the axe and chopped a few times, muttering, “The axe is dull, needs sharpening.” He ground the axe on the whetstone for a while, then tried splitting wood again. Seeing this, William Sullivan felt greatly relieved. He had finished the bowl of water, and after a while, suddenly felt his eyelids growing heavy. He thought he’d just close his eyes and rest for a bit, but unexpectedly, he fell asleep.

Hearing the snoring from inside, Henry Sullivan slowly turned his head, tucked the now gleaming axe into his belt, and suddenly knelt down before Brian Miller. Brian Miller was startled and said, “Henry Sullivan, what are you doing?”

Henry Sullivan said, “Brian Miller, aren’t we brothers?”

Brian Miller nodded vigorously, “Of course we are. Ever since you helped me fight when you were seven, we’ve been brothers.”

Henry Sullivan said, “You’re an orphan, and my brother and I have lost our parents too. All these years, though we’re not blood brothers, we’ve always treated you as one. You know my temper—this time, even if I go against my brother’s wishes, I have to go. Otherwise, what’s the point of living?” It turned out that although he had promised his brother not to leave, he had secretly instructed Brian Miller to buy knockout drugs and put them in the bowl of water for William Sullivan.

Brian Miller said, “Henry Sullivan, just tell me what to do. I’ll risk my life to help you get justice!”

Henry Sullivan shook his head, “You don’t need to come with me. What you need to do now is immediately hire a big cart, take my brother to the Sheep Grazing Slope twenty li north of the county, and wait for me there. If by dusk I still haven’t brought Qing’er to the Sheep Grazing Slope, you must take my brother and head north, toward Taiyuan Prefecture, and flee far away. Never come back. The world is vast—you don’t have to stay in Xihe to survive. Brian Miller, I’m begging you…”