"!"

  "Huph!"

  "Hiek!"

  An audible gasp went round the crowd, some were scared and some were merely surprised.

  "What's happening? How long has it been since our clan has lost one of its elders?"

  "The latest elder to die in our clan was from years ago. Although many elders has sustained serious injuries and retired, not one elder has died in the last ten years, what is going on?"

  "Could it be, assassins? Beast tide?"

  "Wonder which elders were they?"

  The crowd began to whisper among themselves and the sound was getting louder and louder by the seconds.

  "Quiet!"

  "!"

  At the angry sound of the clan leader, the crowd fell into complete silent once more. After a moment of silence, the clan leader spoke once more, expressionlessly:

  "Ahem, as you may know, this is the first time the clan has lost its elders in the last ten years."

  After pausing for a while, he continued.

  "Recently we have spotted many suspicious activities going on around of village vicinity. So I appointed two of our elders on secret missions to investigate. Just as they were about to return home and report this matter, they were ambushed on the way back and sustained serious injuries. Although me and many of our elders have rushed in as soon as we received the call for reinforcement, we didn't made it in time to save them and they died after giving me the Projecting light sounds Meng which recorded their investigation."

  "The results of their investigation showed us that the Chu clan that moved into the mountain nearby hundred years ago are planning for war to expand their territory. What I'm telling you is that war is near and we should be prepared for what's coming." The clan leader said without a change in his expression.

  After half a moment, the crowd broke out into discussions again, this time louder than ever.

  "The Chu clan? What clan is that? I've never heard of them."

  "It's that Chu clan that moved into a mountain next to ours a hundred years ago or so. I heard they were forced to moved there by an enemy or something."

  "My grandfather told me that at that time they were really weak when they just moved in. That mountain next to ours has bad soil and were not suitable for crop. To add more problems, beast activities over there was also higher than ours. At that time they were humble enough to send gifts and subsidiaries to us so the previous clan leader just left them be. To think they would bite the hand that feeds them."

  "Ungrateful bastards."

  "But which honourable elders are those two? They gave their life for the clan, I'm sure their family will be proud of them."

  "I would take their places without a second thought if I was also an elder."

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Despite the loud discussion and disorder of the clansmen, the clan leader and clan elders only stood still at their places and did not say anything this time.

  After quite a long while, the noise began to soften down as the crowd regained their order.

  After a moment of silence, the clan leader announced once more:

  "As I've said earlier, these two elders have sacrificed themselves for the clan and contributed greatly, providing us with valuable information, preventing unknown disaster and tragedies. Although they might have passed away, their spirits will be with us and watch over us together with our ancestors." The clan leader paused, then spoke again with a serious face authoritative tone.

  "As per the clan rules made by our first generation ancestor stated, those who contributed to the clan shall be rewarded and those who harmed it shall be punished. For our fallen clansmen, we shall buried them in the clan's graveyard and engrave their name in the ancestral hall. Their remaining family members shall receive sixty thousand Core essence stone, two houses and four family of servants as compensation and reward for their loyalty to the clan."

  Upon hearing the clan leader, the crowd broke out into an uproar.

  "Did I hear it wrongly? The clan is giving them sixty thousand Core essence stones and two houses, four family servants no less!!? I wish my brother took their place..."

  "Tf?"

  "I misspoke, I misspoke..."

  "Whoever it is, they will live a luxurious life now, lucky for them."

  "I know right? Not to mention the houses and servants, just those sixty thousand Core essence stones could last a lifetime. They're f*cking loaded."

  Many people in the crowd said with excitement and envy, but some kept their silence and spoke nothing.

  Contrary to the crowd which were quite excited and lively, the elders on the other side, all wore dark and gloomy expression, some sad and sympathetic.

  After a while, the clan leader raised his hand and two people walked forward, lifting the blankets up.

  The blankets were lifted up, revealing a pair of corpse belonging to a man and a woman.

  The male corpse has quite the handsome face and the female even more so. The male corpse has his left arm and his right foot missing while the female has a large hole in her belly.

  The moment their faces were revealed, everybody present instantly knew who these two people are.

  "Isn't that..."

  "Shen Jiang and Shen Lin? How could this be..."

  "They were the rising star of our generation, together they even killed an early rank four and stood their ground against peak stage rank four demonic Meng cultivator to retreat. How could they fell here?"

  "That's impossible, they're the elite of our clan right there, reaching rank 3 at only 22 of age. How could the likes of Chu clan has any chance against them?"

  "Looks like things are not as simple as they look..."

  "Wait, if this is Shen Jiang and Shen Lin, doesn't that means..."

  Before the people could put their thoughts together, the clan leader called out with a loud and deep voice, his face still as serious as ever.

  "Now the person who will be receiving the compensation of sixty thousand Core essence stones, two story of bamboo houses and four family of servants. Shen Jiang and Shen Lin one and only son..." The clan leader paused briefly and close his eyes for a moment before opening them and spoke again.

  "Shen Tian Yi, come out."

  "!!?"

  "???"

  "Who tf is that??"

  "..."

  There are many kind of expressions of people in the crowd. Some were confused and puzzled, some felt sad and pity towards the son of the two elders, some wore expressionless face, but most felt expectant and curious as to what kind of incredible person the son of two prodigies will be.

  Just then, they felt a shift in the crowd as people made way for someone. Everyone finally got a clear view of that person when he finally made his way in front of the clan leader and two corpses.

  What stood in front of them was neither a teen nor a young adult, but a little kid 5 years of age. Everyone was shocked as realization drawn upon them, many people turned their head and looked away as they don't want to witness what's happening.

  "What the... Isn't he just five?"

  "Poor kid...

  Just then, the clan leader called out.

  "Shen Tian Yi, I am truly sorry for your lost. You may not understand now child, but we must keep moving forward." The clan leader closed his eyes for a long while in silence.

  When the clan leader opened his eyes again, the air around him changed, and so was the looks in his eyes.

  What seemed like a strong individual full of authority a while ago was now just a sad, and kind elderly neighbour as he looked at the kid.

  "Be strong, child." He muttered, then turn around back to the hall as the elders made way for him.