"It's been several days now. Why haven't we seen the Wind Falcon from the Zhou family? By now, it should have arrived.”
In the clan’s central square, Chen Tianlu gazed at the blue sky dotted with white clouds and muttered to himself.
Two days earlier, after the clan finished harvesting the Blood Rice, the Clan Leader assigned him to constantly watch the square. He was to report imdiately the mont he spotted anyone from the Zhou family.
But after staring for days, his eyes nearly crossed, he had yet to see a single visitor from the Zhou family.
"Uncle, perhaps the Zhou family is delayed by sothing? If our clan were to sell this Blood Rice in Yong’an City, we could earn a fortune in jade coins. Even though the Zhou family is powerful, they would surely value it."
"Uncle, don't worry, the Zhou family will definitely send soone!"
A younger clansman beside him spoke words of comfort.
"Heh, you brat. Now you're the one consoling ? Do you think I don't already know the Zhou family will co?"
"Uncle, don't hit
on the head."
Inside the ancestral hall, after finishing his worship of the Divine Tree, Chen Xingzhen turned to leave, his brows faintly furrowed.
Although the clan had already harvested the Blood Rice, they could not easily convert the surplus into the resources they needed in the short term.
First, Yong’an City was now under the control of the Xie and Shi families. Furthermore, the Xie family did not send anyone during this Blood Rice harvest, which clearly indicated a change in circumstances. With the Shi family present as well, the clan had to carefully investigate the situation before making any decisions, lest they end up with nothing.
Second, the Zhou family had not yet arrived. If they sold the Blood Rice prematurely and the Zhou family later found out, the Zhou family might think the clan had withheld part of the tribute. That would be troubleso.
Even though past Zhou envoys had not inspected the tribute in detail, the clan still had to act with caution. They could not afford to give the Zhou family any reason to suspect them.
Chen Xingzhen was also concerned that the Zhou family’s envoy might bring a Wind Immortal Flower this ti.
After all, great clans were different from smaller ones, such as the Chen family.
As Clan Leader of his own clan, he could override objections and make decisions. However, in the great families, the elders held considerable power. Even matters proposed by the Clan Leader were difficult to pass if opposed by many elders. The Wind Immortal Flower was no ordinary item—within the Zhou family itself, it was surely a rare treasure.
Lifting his gaze to the boundless night sky, Chen Xingzhen stopped dwelling on it. Whatever the outco, it would be decided in the coming days.
"Thud!"
At that mont, a heavy sound landed by his ear. Chen Xingzhen’s expression tightened as his eyes snapped toward the darkness beneath the distant wall.
"Who's there?"
"Qinghe? Or Qingng?”
Staring at the blurry figure below, Chen Xingzhen asked warily.
After all, few in the clan enjoyed climbing over walls, so Chen Xingzhen could only think of Chen Qinghe or Chen Qingng.
“Clan Leader Chen, it’s !”
At the sound of a sowhat familiar voice, Chen Xingzhen froze in surprise.
"You are..."
As the figure erged from the darkness, his face gradually beca visible. Yet, even when Chen Xingzhen saw who it was, the astonishnt on his face did not fade.
“Clan Leader Zhou? How could it be you?!"
Seeing the visitor clearly left Chen Xingzhen utterly shocked, especially since he hadn't seen the Wind Falcon of the Zhou family arrive with him.
When Chen Xingzhen stepped closer to Zhou Huai'an, he was shaken to the core by his current state.
Zhou Huai'an’s face was deathly pale, and he looked disheveled and miserable. His once clean and immaculate clan robes were now stained with blood, and the family insignia was almost impossible to discern.
Chen Xingzhen would have had a hard ti connecting the man before him with the Clan Leader of the Zhou family if he hadn't t Zhou Huai'an twice before and rembered his appearance.
"Hehehe... Clan Leader Chen, this matter is a long story. Won’t you invite
inside to sit?”
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Huai'an’s pale face, though his voice carried weakness and fatigue.
Realizing this, Chen Xingzhen imdiately extended his hand.
“Clan Leader Zhou, please co in.”
"Would you like
to have the clansn bring you a fresh set of clothes?"
"Clan Leader Chen, it would be best if not too many people knew of my visit today."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xingzhen's body stiffened slightly and a more solemn expression appeared on his face.
Fortunately, the ancestral hall was not far from the main hall of the clan. Soon, the two arrived inside.
But scarcely had they entered when hurried footsteps echoed outside, accompanied by Chen Tianjing’s sowhat anxious cry.
"Clan Leader!"
Upon hearing the voice, Chen Xingzhen turned his head and saw Chen Qingyu, Chen Tianyu, and Chen Tianjing rushing over. Each of them was carrying a white bone, those were the bones previously chosen by the clan and said to rival top-tier iron weapons.
Judging by their solemn expressions, it was clear they had co prepared. This left Chen Xingzhen puzzled, so he asked,
“Why have you co?”
Chen Tianyu glanced at the indistinct figure standing before Chen Xingzhen and said,
"It was the Divine Tree that gave a warning, so we hurried here."
"Clan Leader, are you unhard?"
"I'm fine. Tianyu, go fetch a pot of tea to serve our guest.”
As he spoke, Chen Xingzhen waved his hand lightly.
Seeing that their Clan Leader was safe, the three felt sowhat relieved. Yet, when they heard him ntion the word "guest," a trace of strangeness appeared on their faces. Still, none of them intended to leave.
Being able to slip quietly into the clan without being detected ant that such a person must have extraordinary strength. If not for the warning from the Divine Tree, they never would have noticed. How could such a dangerous figure be left alone with the Clan Leader?
Just as Chen Tianyu was about to fetch tea, the figure standing with his back to the three slowly spoke.
“Make it rice wine instead.”
Hearing that sowhat familiar voice, Chen Tianjing and the others froze in surprise.
Seeing the astonishnt on their faces, Chen Xingzhen waved his hand.
"Go on. Do not let the other clansn know about this. And you two, don't just stand there."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
Realizing the visitor’s identity, Chen Qingyu and the others nodded in acknowledgnt, their expressions growing complicated.
Soon, the four of them gathered in the main hall.
Chen Tianjing poured the wine, his heart still filled with shock. Yet, at that mont, he asked no further questions. Once the wine was poured, he simply stood quietly to the side.
"Clan Leader Zhou, please."
Zhou Huai'an lifted the cup filled with rice wine and drained it in a single gulp.
As though unsatisfied, he pulled the stopper out of the wine vessel itself, raised it high, and drank freely.
With mouthfuls of rice wine pouring down his throat, a faint flush finally appeared on his pale face.
“Excellent wine!”
After several hearty swallows, Zhou Huai'an let out a word of praise.
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