The elder fell silent for a moment, hesitating over how to speak to Xia Chu.
What seemed justifiable before, a matter of lesser consequence—because after all, a life was at stake—now felt impossible to say after being scolded by Xia Chu.
Urgent footsteps sounded again from outside.
Then came the slightly panicked voice of Secretary Hu, "Commander, Mr. Huo has arrived. He's gotten into a fight at the gate because I asked the guards to wait a moment, intending to get your approval before letting him in. But he couldn't wait and started throwing punches..."
The elder's face turned unsightly in an instant, "Come in and speak!"
As soon as Secretary Hu came in, he immediately said, "Why make the guards wait at all? Once you got my call, you should have just let them through. That was totally unnecessary! Why are you still standing there? Go and bring them in!"
"Oh, oh, oh."
Secretary Hu quickly agreed in a chorus of replies, turning to scurry out.
