Liu Chan and the others had assumed they would be leaving this place for the city, but to their surprise, Qiu An led them deeper into the courtyard.
The courtyard had not yet been completed. Many craftsmen slept within it, while construction tools and stones lay scattered everywhere. The moment one entered, the place felt cramped at every turn. As they walked, snores occasionally drifted out from the tents beside them.
Liu Chan's complexion had improved considerably by now. Following behind Qiu An, thoughts raced through his mind. At times, he considered taking the chance to flee, but whenever he recalled the scene of Qiu An making his move earlier, he suppressed those restless thoughts.
After a few more steps, they reached the depths of the courtyard, where there stood a barely assembled room. Its doors, windows, and other fittings had yet to be completed; it was little more than a rough outline.
At the door, Qiu An stopped, turned to the people behind him, and said, "Go in." Then he stepped aside and stood to one side.
Liu Chan froze. After hesitating for a moment, he exchanged glances with the others and saw the same anxious, wavering look in every pair of eyes. Their expressions weighed on his heart, making him realize that if he did not step forward and become their pillar, their thoughts would rise and fall like seven buckets drawing water, and in the end they would scatter into a mess—making whatever came next even harder to face. With that thought, he took a deep breath, and his expression calmed considerably. "Junior brothers, junior sister, take off your masks." Hearing this and seeing Liu Chan's expression, the others felt somewhat reassured. They obeyed and removed the black cloth from their faces, revealing three men and one