A figure emerged from the innermost house. The newcomer had snow-white hair and beard and wore a loose, dark-purple robe. Six embroidered spikes adorned the broad cuffs, each forming a circle with an extremely intricate and delicate pattern.
The Bamboo Village chief, Ao Zhang, had arrived. The wrinkles on his face did not make him look old; instead, they made him appear even more stern.
The chief's command to leave immediately deflated the child named Stone. Pouting, he retreated to the side, clearly both respectful and afraid of the chief. In truth, the chief was his grandfather. His full name was not Stone, but Ao Stone.
"Guest, please come inside."
Chief Ao Zhang showed no hostility. He was not overly warm, but he was by no means unfriendly.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Baha answered. It was prepared to play the villain to the end. Its earlier probing had most likely displeased Chief Ao Zhang.
"Lord Lie, you should come too."
"Huh? Me? I'd better not."
The white-clothed youth, Lie, had just been preparing to slip away, but he turned around and scratched his head with a smile.
"You brought the guests here. You can't be discourteous."
"Ah~, I knew it."
Lie walked forward a few steps and rested one hand on Little Ao Stone's shoulder. Little Ao Stone visibly shuddered. He had actually been preparing to slip away too, but Lie had caught him. Good brothers shared hardships~
"Don't even think about slipping away."
"I-I still have to practice my sword..."
As Little Ao Stone struggled, he was dragged into the innermost house in the courtyard.
Compared with the other stone-and-thatch houses in Bamboo Village, this one was larger. Its roof was peaked like the character for "person," with slopes covered in straw on both sides. The grayish-yellow