Blake Whitman waved his hand: "It's not a bother at all, Young Master Parker, you really don't need to say that. My Hua family has the teachings of Ming Wuxianjun to uphold, and guarding this Peach Blossom Isle, it is our duty to keep the peace and help others, regardless of the time or circumstance."

He paused, then said, "I heard from the disciple receiving guests that Young Master Parker is here to see Mr. Brooks?"

Logan Barrett nodded. "Yes."

"Mr. Brooks is quite accomplished in the arts of soul and dream, which is widely known. Most who come to my door seek him for this reason. However... I wonder if Young Master Parker has heard that Mr. Brooks only saves people after seeing the patient in person—you must bring the person here."

"I have." Logan Barrett pointed to himself. "That person is me."

Blake Whitman was taken aback.

He couldn't help but size up Logan Barrett, saying, "But, Young Master Parker, you really don't look the part."

Those who come to the Hua family seeking Ethan Brooks are usually suffering from soul damage—some have had part of their soul devoured by evil spirits and barely escaped with their lives. Some have been afflicted by forbidden or demonic arts. Others have gone mad from improper cultivation.

Such patients are either dull-witted or insane.

Someone like Logan Barrett, who speaks coherently, is indeed rare.

Blake Whitman asked, "Then what is your situation, Young Master Parker?"

Logan Barrett: "My living soul has possessed another's body, squeezing out the original owner. I wish to consult Mr. Brooks to see if there's a way to send me back."

For those in the immortal sects, body-snatching is common, as is fate-swapping, or summoning gods and spirits. But what Logan Barrett described was something none would touch.

Blake Whitman asked a few more questions. Seeing that he answered openly and without concealment, he said, "I understand. Mr. Brooks is nearing the end of his seclusion and will emerge tomorrow. For today, please rest here on Peach Blossom Isle, Young Master Parker."

Being allowed to stay meant there was at least some hope, so returning was possible.

While Blake Whitman was speaking with the disciples, Logan Barrett took the opportunity, under the guise of drinking tea, to tilt his head and wink at Owen Fletcher, silently mouthing, "Thank you, Immortal."

Owen Fletcher was busy holding his sword and packing up a puppet, his gaze sweeping briefly over Logan Barrett's lips.

***

They were assigned to the western corner of Peach Blossom Isle.

The disciple receiving guests explained: The Hua family has many disciples in training, and every day before dawn they have lessons. To avoid disturbing their rest with the sound of swords, the guests were placed as far from the disciples' hall as possible.

Nearby were the library and the Hall of Tranquility.

The former was Blake Whitman's personal library, not used by the disciples. The latter was where Ethan Brooks lived, attended only by a few cleaning and medicine-serving disciples.

Overall, it was indeed peaceful, but an unexpected incident occurred—

While several disciples were helping tidy up the guest room, a figure darted in, shouting "Ah! Ah!" in a crazed manner, knocking over a chair and a basin of water.

"Hey—"

"Aiden! You can't run around here—"

"Weren't you supposed to keep an eye on him? How did he barge into the guest room! He even injured the sect master today with his recklessness!"

"Ah, what can we do? He hasn't calmed down at all these past two days—his sword energy is wild, and he's so strong! The sect master won't let us be too rough with him, but if we're too gentle, we can't restrain him at all!"

Logan Barrett didn't want to interfere, so he just steadied a staggering young disciple and moved aside with Owen Fletcher.

The crazed person had disheveled hair, his age indiscernible, unable to speak, only able to cry out "Ah! Ah!" in a hoarse voice.

At one point, he reached out to grab Logan Barrett. Owen Fletcher gently blocked him, instantly dissipating all his strength, and then the disciples dragged him away with much effort.

"Young Master Parker, sorry for the disturbance," the disciple said apologetically as he cleaned up the mess.

"Who is he?"

"He used to be Mr. Brooks's medicine-serving disciple, the most talented and gifted one. Later, after some trauma, he became like this—it's been many years now."

"Mr. Brooks's disciple?" Logan Barrett asked.

"Yes." The disciple quickly added, "Oh, no, no, our master is very skilled in soul and dream arts, please don't misunderstand—it's not that he couldn't cure him, it's just that this disciple's madness is too unusual."

The disciple seemed to think that just saying "unusual" wasn't convincing enough, so he added, "Because the one who hurt him was that great demon Logan Barrett."

"Who?"

"Logan Barrett." The disciple repeated in a lowered voice.

Logan Barrett instantly fell silent.

He instinctively turned to look at Owen Fletcher, only to find Owen Fletcher's gaze already on him.

"Aiden really has terrible luck." The disciple rambled on in the room, telling the story of Aiden to yet another guest.

He said that Aiden used to be Ethan Brooks's most prized disciple, always by his side, especially during alchemy, living in the Hall of Tranquility day and night.

Back then, a guest came to Peach Blossom Isle, seeking Ethan Brooks's help with some matters. The guest looked every bit the noble young master, elegant and dashing. From the sect master down to the youngest cleaning disciple, no one suspected anything was wrong; on the contrary, everyone liked this guest.

At that time, Ethan Brooks was busy refining a certain medicine and couldn't spare the time, so he let the guest stay on the isle for half a month.

But in that half month, Ethan Brooks lost his father, brother, wife, and daughter—all four lives.

That day, Aiden ran madly to the hall, stumbling, crying and screaming, covered in blood and reeking of demonic energy.