Audio link established.
Juren did not wait. He spoke quickly, because he could already feel the hesitation building inside his chest.
"Do not go any further."
His voice rang through the corridor, soft but firm. The sound hit the walls, rolled back at them, and settled over the four elders like frost.
Xu Qianghua stopped mid-step. His boot hovered above the deck for a moment before lowering quietly.
Wuying lifted his head as if he were listening to something only he could hear. Xin did not turn, but his posture changed. Han let out a slow breath, the kind that signaled readiness rather than fear.
None of them reacted with panic.
None stepped back.
They paused, waiting to see why the voice sounded like someone trying to hold something together with their bare hands.
Juren spoke again. His tone was steady, but beneath it, something was tight. Something human.
