Li Yan blinked and suddenly burst into laughter, "The elder speaks his mind; I harbor no such intentions. In front of so many people, you need not cut me off like that. Please, get up."
Li Yan's words were light, but their underlying meaning merited careful consideration. Black Old Axe's demeanor left him somewhat nervous, and seeing Li Yan's casual and composed attitude, his confidence waned even more. With Li Yan's support, he floated up to his feet.
The average age of the Red Flag soldiers was about thirty, and these men were the most supportive of Li Yan. However, those over fifty who could no longer fight, whose prestige remained substantial, feared that Li Yan would mistreat the descendants of the Zheng Family with an overweening ambition to monopolize the Five Flags. Black Old Axe was straightforward, but his attitude reflected the sentiments of the Five Flags elders towards Li Yan.
