At noon, the scorching sun blazed like a fiery furnace, its fierce rays piercing straight down onto the vast earth like countless sharp swords.
Chen Hanlin and his companions stepped into the main hall and looked around. The interior was decorated with exquisite elegance. The carved beams and pillars seemed naturally formed by heaven, so ingeniously crafted that they took one's breath away. On the magnificent folding screens, embroidered flowers, birds, fish, and insects were so lifelike that they seemed ready to break free from the silk and dance and play joyfully. The luxurious carpet laid upon the floor felt like stepping onto soft, gentle clouds with every stride, offering an incomparable sense of softness and resilience.
At this moment, several people were already seated in the hall. Right at the front sat an elderly man clad in a brocade robe. His gaze was as deep as an abyss and as sharp as a cold sword; he leaned heavily on a carved walking stick with both hands. Even without a trace of anger on his face, he naturally radiated an air of awe-inspiring dignity. The young men and women beside him—the men handsome and clear-browed, the women breathtakingly beautiful—wore bright, dazzling clothes that shone like brilliant rosy clouds. Their expressions inadvertently revealed a hard-to-conceal arrogance. Several middle-aged men seated on the right were huddled together, whispering and chatting, casting glances from time to time at Chen Hanlin and the others who had just a…
Chapter 28