Standing outside the ancestral courtyard, Qiu An and the clan master, Qiu Yong, lingered in silence, their expressions stiff and unpleasant.
The quietness around them only made the heaviness in their hearts more suffocating.
Frequently, the two men exchanged bitter smiles.
Neither of them could have predicted that the great ancestor would cast them out so unceremoniously, all because of a single boy.
An outsider.
For men of their status, to be treated this way felt like a great slap across their faces. But they dared not voice their dissatisfaction.
Half an hour dragged by in this tense atmosphere.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, the sharp and impatient voice of their ancestor broke the silence.
"What are you two doing out there? Come in immediately!"
The words rang in their ears with a weight that made both men subconsciously lower their heads.
Sigh!
Unwillingly, the two men released deep sighs, the sound almost identical as it slipped from their mouths.
