Ethan Brooks also knew that in this place, reaching the second level of Qi training was absolutely impossible without external help, and the Chinese herbs in the pharmacy couldn't help him advance to the second level either. His only hope was pinned on the 'Silver Heart Grass' growing in the courtyard.

There was only one stalk of 'Silver Heart Grass', so Ethan Brooks wanted to keep this barely qualifying spiritual herb alive, and ideally, after it produced seeds, cultivate it in batches.

However, the growth cycle of 'Silver Heart Grass' was two years. This particular plant might have grown naturally and was only a year old. Even if Ethan Brooks took meticulous care of it, by the time it matured and produced seeds and he planted new 'Silver Heart Grass', it would take at least another three years before he could truly harvest it. Still, having hope was better than having none.

Ethan Brooks walked out of his room and unexpectedly saw a woman in her early twenties doing laundry in the courtyard. At a glance, he knew she was the woman living next door. She usually did her laundry at night—why wasn't she at work today and doing laundry during the day?

When Yvonne Green saw Ethan Brooks walk into the courtyard, a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. This shut-in guy had been living under the same roof as her for a month, and she hadn't seen him once. It was only because she had to cover some night shifts for a colleague's wedding these past few days that she finally saw this homebody. He really was quite the recluse. But he wasn't bad-looking—so why didn't he ever come out? She wondered what kind of job he did.

"Hello, my name is Yvonne Green, I live next door to you, and I work at Likang Hospital."

Yvonne Green greeted Ethan Brooks very openly.

Ethan Brooks smiled, nodded, and said, "My name is Ethan Brooks, I'm currently unemployed."

It was also the first time Ethan Brooks had seen Yvonne Green. She was a gentle and lovely woman, with a sincere smile on her face. Her hair was tied up, so he couldn't tell how long it was, but her skin was very fair. Although she wasn't as beautiful as the woman who had bought his talisman, she wasn't far off—she was a classic girl-next-door type of beauty.

"You don't go to work?" Hearing Ethan Brooks say he was unemployed, Yvonne Green couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Such a young man, in the prime of his life, not working, renting a place, and staying home every day—what did that mean? There was no broadband here, so he couldn't be gaming at home. And the way he looked at her wasn't the shifty gaze of a typical shut-in, but rather a careful, direct appraisal. Could he be a criminal?

For a moment, Yvonne Green's heart started to race.

But Ethan Brooks couldn't be bothered to care what Yvonne Green thought. He first went to check on the 'Silver Heart Grass' he had planted, then tidied up the other flowers and plants before preparing to practice a set of martial arts. But thinking of Yvonne Green nearby, he stopped, greeted her, and left the house.

Watching Ethan Brooks leave, Yvonne Green finally breathed a sigh of relief. Recalling his focused expression while tending to the plants, she thought to herself that she was being overly suspicious. Would a criminal really have the mood to fuss over flowers and plants?

Looking at his plain clothes, she could tell he wasn't wealthy. She really had no idea what he did all day.

……

Qingdu Lake Park was the closest park to where Ethan Brooks lived. Not only was it quite large, but it also had a clear, fresh-water lake. Many elderly people or fitness enthusiasts came here. Ethan Brooks had been here before, but he usually preferred to practice martial arts in the courtyard. Today was the first time he came to Qingdu Lake Park to practice.

The air here was nice, and the environment was clearly better than the small courtyard. After finishing a set of martial arts, Ethan Brooks was quite satisfied—his true energy had actually become a bit more refined. Although he was still a long way from the second level, any progress was a good thing.

"Friend, that's some impressive martial arts. I've seen a lot of styles, but I can't tell what set you're practicing—how embarrassing." As Ethan Brooks finished, a man in his thirties walked over and praised him.

Chapter 8: Housemate

This middle-aged man had also been practicing nearby earlier; Ethan Brooks had noticed him, but thought his moves were just flashy and didn't pay much attention. Now that the man had come over to greet him, it would be rude to ignore him, so Ethan Brooks just smiled slightly and said, "Just something I made up, nothing special."

Hearing this, the man gave an awkward smile. It was obvious Ethan Brooks didn't intend to get acquainted. Still, he truly felt Ethan Brooks's martial arts were impressive, probably no worse than his own, which made him want to make friends—hence his initiative.

"My name is William Parker. I can tell you come from a reputable school. My hands are itching—how about a little sparring?" Only after this man spoke did Ethan Brooks realize he was here to challenge him.

Looking at William Parker, Ethan Brooks shook his head and said, "You're not my match, so let's skip the sparring."

William Parker was stunned. Just a moment ago, this young man had sounded so modest—how could he suddenly be so arrogant? His face flushed a bit. Although Ethan Brooks's martial arts had caught his attention, to say he wasn't his match was a bit much. Wasn't he overestimating himself?