"Second bow."
Little White Tiger, Xiao Yuan, and Old Ninth kowtowed again.
Their foreheads touched the ground, and they did not rise for a long time.
"Second bow, to our brothers' parents and wives."
"I, Little White Tiger, am powerless. I have failed all your families."
"I'm taking your men away."
"After we leave... you can erect cenotaphs at home. At least... you'll have something to remember them by."
Rustle.
The words had barely fallen.
The onlookers dropped to their knees as one.
Crying filled the scene.
They were the families of the Lei Zi, the families of these fighters.
Children's cries, women's sobs, and elders' sighs mingled, stabbing into Little White Tiger's heart like knives.
"Husband, go without worry. I'll look after Gouwa and take care of your parents."
"Darling, come back alive. We'll be waiting."
"Husband, take care of yourself."
These Lei Zi had families too, people they cared about.
Beneath their identities as Lei Zi, they were also the pillars of their households.
Not every Lei Zi was alone in the world.
Most had been driven by necessity, choosing to live on a knife's edge to support their families and give their wives and children better lives.
Crying filled the scene.
Little White Tiger's tears ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground.
He did not dare raise his head or face these elderly people, women, and children.
"Eighth Master!"
A low shout rang out.
The crowd stirred and parted to make a path.
An elderly man, well advanced in years, walked forward with a cane.
"Dad..."
Xiao Feng's expression changed. Startled at first, he then called softly, "Don't make trouble. I... I decided to go myself. It's not Eighth Master's fault."
"You little bastard, get out of the way."
The old man shoved his son