Strength and Honor?

"Strength and honor!"

A vein bulged on the upper right of my face, just a bit above my eye.

'Are they for real?' I thought, gulping down my saliva as I scanned the nice, even rows of cultivators, all smashing their fists into their chests as if they were trying to perform self-inflicted CPR.

"Strength and honor! Strength and honor! Strength and honor!"

The men and women continued to scream, standing at attention while bashing their fists against their hearts as I approached.

Thankfully, Clarie and Chihiro were spared this treatment, left to wait in the gallery of Leila's private sparring ground, where, according to Leila's own words, we need not worry about anyone spying on us.