Han Zhanjian stood stiffly among the gathered crowd, the noise of the great hall fading into a dull hum in his ears. His eyes never left his elder brother, Han Zukong, who stood at the center of attention.
The Sword Shandian Sect's envoys were preparing the test once again, and the Han Family elders were whispering excitedly among themselves. But Han Zhanjian's heart was heavy, and his thoughts were anything but calm.
He studied Han Zukong carefully. Every movement. Every breath. Something was wrong. The man standing there looked like his brother, sounded like his brother, but there was something missing—or perhaps something added—that he couldn't quite understand.
Earlier, before all of this, Han Zukong had been arrogant. Loud. Overconfident to the point of being unbearable.
