The walk home was made in uncomfortable, stifling silence. No one spoke a word. Wu Meiying looked like she wanted to say something several times, but she would glance at his mother each time, then slowly close her mouth as though she had thought better of it.

His father was dragging the Spotted Snow Lion’s carcass behind him, leaving a trail of blood in the snow. Magical beasts were like living treasures. Various parts of their bodies could be used in alchemy, and they had a monster core that sold for a lot.

When they arrived at the main gate, it was to find two guards standing at the entrance. Their eyes widened when they caught sight of the group.

“Welcome back, Lord Yōushì, Lady Àiliàn, and Lady Taohua. I see you managed to find your wayward son and his… friend.”

The two Wu clansmen eyed Wu Meiying with a look that Wu Jian couldn’t quite figure out, but he didn’t like it, and so he moved to stand in front of his friend, shielding her from their gaze. He didn’t want them to look at her like that. If the two noticed his protectiveness, they didn’t say anything.

“Yes, though it was not without hardships,” his father said as he hefted the massive creature, the Spotted Snow Lion, over both shoulders, as if to emphasize the troubles they had dealt with. “Tell the others they can return to their homes.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

The two guards placed their left fists in the palm of their right hands, offering a traditional martial bow, then left to inform everyone who partook in the search that Wu Jian and Wu Meiying had been found. That left the group alone again. They walked past the gate and into the clan compound.

“Well, this has certainly been an unpleasant experience,” Wu Taohua said as she looked at him and Wu Meiying with a sneer. Wu Jian looked away, causing her to scoff and look at his father. “Husband, if you don’t have any more need ofr me, I’m going to return to our compound.”

“Feel free to do so, and take this carcass with you, please” his father said, throwing the body of the Spotted Snow Lion onto the ground.

Wu Taohua bowed to his father, glanced at Wu Jian one more time, then grabbed the Spotted Snow Lion’s front right paw and left, dragging the massive creature behind her. Wu Jian didn’t want to see the bloody trail it left in the snow. He looked away.

Now that Wu Jian knew Wu Taohua was a former assassin, he realized that her walk was completely silent. He hadn’t noticed that before. Just how his father had won her over was beyond him.

“Àiliàn, tell the elders that I need them in the meeting hall. We must decide on an appropriate punishment for Wu Jian and Wu Meiying,” his father said.

His mother bit her lip and looked at him. He stared back. She took a deep breath, then leaned over and kissed his father on the cheek. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but she just smiled.

“I’ll go get the elders. Please, go easy on them. They are just children.”

His father didn’t say anything as his mother left. He waited until she was gone, then turned his cold gaze onto Wu Jian and Wu Meiying. Despite how scary his expression was, Wu Jian tried his best to shield Wu Meiying from his father’s glare. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but his father’s lips seemed to quirk briefly before his face became a stern mask once more.

I must have imagined it. There’s no way Father would smile. He never smiles.

“Come with me, you two.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

The two children spoke at the same time and followed his father to the meeting hall.

The Wu Clan compound had two large halls, one for receptions and meetings with other clans, sects, and royals, and the clan meeting hall, which was used to either reward or punish a clansman depending on the situation. It was also where his father and the elder council convened when making decisions that would affect the whole clan.

Wu Jian felt dread well up inside of him as he looked at the imposing roof of the clan meeting hall. The two dragons standing on either side of the roof looked like they were glaring at him, accusing him of committing a great crime. He was close to hyperventilating, but before he could panic, a warm hand slipped into his own and delicate fingers entwined with his.

He looked at Wu Meiying, who smiled at him as if to say everything would be all right. This helped him calm down. He took a deep breath and gripped her hand back.

They soon entered the clan meeting hall. It was a large space that could fit the entire clan if need be. His father walked over to the seat at the very end of the hall, sat down, and gave the two a glare.

“Kneel,” he commanded.

Neither of them disobeyed. They knelt on the floor and bowed their heads. Not a word was spoken. His father closed his eyes and leaned back, while Wu Jian and Wu Meiying were left in silence to wonder about their punishment.

Wu Jian was getting more nervous the longer the silence prevailed. His imagination plagued him, showing all kinds of ways his father might punish him. Would he be forced to sit on a bed of nails? Or maybe his father would flog him? The numerous possibilities kept him from being able to focus. He thought he might pass out, but then a sound came from behind him.

It was the sound of a door opening.

One by one, the elders of the family entered the clan meeting room. There was Wu Wei, the head elder of the Wu Clan. His hair was shock white and his face lined with many wrinkles. Despite his advanced age, he walked with his back straight and had no need for a cane. He was a stern man who never brooked disobedience and advocated the necessity of stringent adherence to their clan’s laws. Out of all the people present, he was the only one willing to argue with his father.

The other two were Wu Nin and Wu Jinsu. Their hair was pepper colored, unlike the head elder’s, and they were not much older than his father. Their mothers were concubines of the previous clan head, which meant they were related to Wu Wei, the former clan head’s son. Truth be told, his father was the odd man out since he was not the previous clan head’s son but someone who earned the title through combat. Both of them had a tendency to go with the flow, siding with whoever had the bigger stick. Wu Jian didn’t like them much.

His mother also came in. As the elders sat down in their chairs, she walked over to his father’s side and stood on his left.

“Àiliàn…” his father began.

“You want me to leave?” his mother asked, raising an eyebrow.

His father hesitated. “You know our rules. The women of the clan are not to interfere in decisions made by the clan head.”

“And you know that I would normally follow this rule,” his mother said. “However, I am your wife, and that is my son you’re about to punish. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to stay?”

Wu Wei clicked his tongue. “You have become quite headstrong, Àiliàn, to disregard our clan laws like this.”

“I just believe exceptions should be made for exceptional cases,” his mother countered calmly.

Wu Jian gripped the bag containing the silver lotus as his mother argued with the head elder. Everyone always said his mother was very free-spirited, very different from what was traditionally expected from a Wu clanswoman. He had never really seen it before since Wu Jian had never gotten into trouble like this. Now he was seeing it, and he couldn’t help but think his mother was amazing.

I doubt anyone else would dare talk back to Head Elder Wu Wei like this.

“Let us not set a bad example by arguing,” his father said at last. “Given the situation, I shall let Àiliàn stay, provided she does not speak out of turn.”

“I will remain silent,” she said when he glanced at her.

Wu Wei clicked his tongue, but he backed down and instead turned his stare on Wu Jian and Wu Meiying, who had remained silent while the adults were talking.

Wu Jian turned his head to see that Wu Meiying still had her head bowed. She looked much calmer than he felt. Their hands were no longer connected, and he keenly felt the loss of her warmth. He wished he could reach out and grab her hand, but he could not do so with everyone watching. It would have been seen as a sign of weakness.

“We are here to decide on a suitable punishment for Wu Jian and Wu Meiying, who snuck out of the clan compound and journeyed into West Fang Mountain despite me forbidding it,” his father said, and thus the meeting to decide their fate began.