New Elder.

As the murmur of excitement slowly faded, Fang Yuan's expression grew colder, more composed.

His sharp gaze swept across the younger generation and then up toward the elders, pausing ever so briefly on the empty spots left behind by those who had been banished.

Since the banquet last night… too many seats had gone unfilled.

Too many voices silenced and it was not by battle, but by judgment.

Elders who had once stood proud beside the clan's banner, now gone. Their names stripped from the records for siding with his uncle in that bitter internal fracture.

Was it the right choice?

Their loyalty to his uncle had been unwavering—right to the bitter end.

Not a single one of those elders had come to beg forgiveness, nor had they asked for a second chance.

It was as if they were determined not to follow him, no matter the cost.

Fang Yuan shook his head.