Xue Mingzhan observed him for a moment before giving a slight nod that carried both permission and expectation.
"Speak," he said.
Liuxian turned toward the courtyard, and in that movement the atmosphere seemed to shift, as though the attention of everyone present was pulled into alignment with him whether they wanted it or not.
When he spoke, his voice carried naturally without effort, not raised, not forced, simply clear enough to fill the space between tables.
"Good evening," he began, his tone calm enough to make it clear he had no intention of engaging in emotional argument. "It seems there are many thoughts and interpretations regarding tonight's events, so I will address them directly."
He paused briefly, letting the silence settle rather than fill it.
"First, do not compare me to Shen Zihao. We are not the same kind of man, and we are not operating on the same level."
