Lou Zen sat quietly in his room when the door creaked open. His mother, Lou Ho, stepped in — her face calm but eyes filled with concern.
> "Zen... your father is calling you to the Ancestral Hall," she said softly.
Without a word, Lou Zen stood up. As he stepped out of his room, the warm sunlight poured over the Lou Estate, bathing the gardens and stone paths in a soft golden glow. The breeze carried the scent of old pine, and birds chirped somewhere above the tiled rooftops.
Lou Zen took a deep breath and began walking toward the Ancestral Hall — a sacred place where only important matters were discussed.
The hall stood tall and ancient, carved with dragon patterns and runes that glowed faintly under the morning sun. Inside, the floor sank slightly while a raised platform held a large seat — there sat Lou Jin, the family head, and Lou Zen's father.
Below, on the lower floor, the elders of the Lou Family sat in their respective places.
The First Elder, named Lou Li, was a stern-looking man in his fifties, with sharp eyes and a wise aura.
Next to him, the Second Elder, an old man with a hunched back and deep wrinkles, was known as Lou Le — the oldest living member of the family.
Suddenly, the large wooden doors creaked again — and Lou Zen entered.
His footsteps echoed on the stone floor. He walked straight to the center of the hall, stopped, and then gave a deep respectful bow toward the elders.
> "Lou Zen greets the Elders."
He then turned to the platform and bowed to his father.
> "Greetings, Father."
Everyone stared in silence as Lou Zen stood tall in the center. Something important was about to be announced...
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