Perhaps acting on Cao Tingzhu's ingratiating suggestion, the Brocade Guard resourcefully brought over several clean wooden tables and chairs and set them securely beneath the eaves by the main entrance.
A pot of coarse tea sat on the table, wreathed in steam.
Chen Xiaojun naturally took the seat of honor, tapping his fingertips lightly against the tabletop; Chen Mu sat leaning against the edge of the table with his arms folded; Gu Yuanchao stood respectfully at Chen Xiaojun's side.
A dozen or so meters away, everything in the Central Grounds proceeded in orderly fashion:
Zhu Wuneng conducted precise tests and directed the children into separate lines, while Qiu Qingquan, An Mingyuan, and Ma Liang handled registration at temporary tables. The children queued before the three according to their martial souls, making the proceedings quieter and more orderly.
The line before Ma Liang, in particular, was so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard.
The children who had finished registering quietly withdrew to the open space on the left, sitting cross-legged in small groups to rest. The fear in their eyes gradually faded, leaving only curious glances.
Beneath the eaves on the right, however, the young women remained huddled together. Their haggard faces were hidden in shadow, their still-scarred hands clasped nervously, forming a stark contrast with the relaxed youths on the left.
"Like everyone else?" Gu Yuanchao froze, thinking he had misheard.
Then, seeing Chen Xiaojun's calm gaze, he understood and asked, "Young Master, do you mean to... temper his disposition first?"
"Yes." Chen Xiaojun nodded slightly. "A lone wolf that has roamed the wilderness alone for too long becomes wild and difficult to tame. That is both a strength and a weakness. Too much isolation makes it hard to fit in and easy to