After leaving Gu Tianren's wooden cottage, Chen Ping'an looked up at the sky and saw the blazing sun hanging high overhead. It was exactly noon.
Old Hua and Old Xuan had been waiting outside the cottage all along.
When they saw Chen Ping'an emerge, they hurried forward to greet him.
"Ping'an, how did it go?"
This meeting with the ancestor was surely for an important matter. As Gu Family Elders, they naturally had to show their concern at the first opportunity.
Chen Ping'an merely smiled faintly and said no more, giving them only a look.
Seeing this, the two naturally did not press further.
Chen Ping'an's meeting with the ancestor had been unlike usual. It had lasted quite a while, so it was likely no ordinary matter.
This was not a place for idle chatter either. With matters weighing on their minds, the two walked outward with Chen Ping'an.
It was already noon. There had previously been an invitation to stay for a banquet, so they did not return to the Hall of Elders. Instead, they found another place and prepared to chat at leisure.
Along the way, the two exchanged a few casual remarks and naturally brought up Gu Qingcheng.
Chen Ping'an had previously gone there to see Gu Qingcheng, and now the ancestor's summons had delayed him for quite some time. Naturally, they wanted to learn a few details.
Of course, the details were secondary. What truly mattered was Chen Ping'an's attitude.
"Ping'an, did things go smoothly this time?" Old Hua asked carefully.
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly and shook his head without saying much.
During this visit, he had not even seen Gu Qingcheng. Naturally, he could not call it smooth. Yet if he said it had not gone smoothly, that would be equivalent to shifting the pressure