Huamu Ran's wife, Madam Shu, clutched their son to her chest with a wail that echoed across the courtyard.
"My son! My precious son! Look at what they did to him!" she screamed, rocking him back and forth even though he was twenty seven years old and far too large for such dramatics.
Huamu Ye whimpered, "Mother, careful… it hurts… stop squeezing…"
She ignored him and cried louder.
"Who dares… Who DARES touch my son!"
Huamu Ran's face turned dark. His hands clenched so hard the joints cracked loudly. His expression, normally placid and calculating, twisted into something ugly.
"Who did this? Elder Bai! REPORT AT ONCE!"
Elder Bai, who stood rigidly near the entrance with several injured guards behind him, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
