Chapter 63: The Cunning Aric
Aric stood at the center of the clearing, the flickering light of the torches casting long shadows across the faces of those gathered around him. The air was thick with tension, the kind that comes only after a hard-fought battle or a crushing defeat. The members of the Bai and Zhen families, along with representatives from the Feng and Tang families, stood in a semi-circle, their expressions a mix of exhaustion, grief, and simmering anger. All eyes were on Aric, who had managed to capture their attention with his calm yet commanding presence.