"Who are you? Looking for someone?" A head poked through the open door crack, sizing up the two men before asking.
"I'm your family's old ancestor..."
Old Predecessor Guo paused, mentally searching for his late friend's title and which generation back he might be. The hesitation lingered.
But in that brief pause, the gatekeeper's expression darkened, turning grim. Withdrawing his head, he barked an angry rebuke: "How dare you! Who are you, you shameless scoundrel? To speak such insolence! To insult my family's venerable Old Predecessor!"
The door, which had been opened just a crack, slammed shut with a loud bang. The speed of it startled Old Predecessor Guo, leaving him momentarily stunned and unable to react.
He was, after all, a venerable immortal. For the gatekeeper to show such utter disregard for etiquette was truly arrogant and presumptuous.
