The meeting began with Chóng Fēi's well-prepared words—while usually he spent most of his time cursing. The soft rushing sounds of brushes and scrolls followed.
The leaders exchanged their opinions and ideas about the executions. The chamber hushed with talking.
Both Lìngxiāo and Chóng Fēi heard them.
But Lìngxiāo mostly kept his mouth shut with his most polite smile while his jaw was tight, not doing more than just nodding at whatever Chóng Fēi decided, while his mind raced on how he could save those kids.
The desire grew with every second, and he badly wanted to leave or have any distraction. Even Mō Qīn got so bored that he didn't realize when he slipped back into his necklace.
"Can ten out of twenty girls be out of this case based on how low their sin was? The birthrate is getting low here, Gōngzǐ." One of the young males said.
Chóng Fēi tilted his head, his finger twisting a stubborn lock of his hair while he chewed a lozenge lightly at the corner of his mouth to get some relief from the cold. His eyes were sharp. "This one is critical. Talk to him directly when he returns. I do not have the permission to do extremely major things yet."
Then he thought for a bit. "But I would recommend keeping the children in a healthy environment as much as possible and having at least..three children."
Then he reminded firmly, like he had a personal problem with it, "With the same partners, of course."
He almost whined at the next words. "Try to be loyal, you all. Just because my zhù fù does..does not mean you have to too. He has to carry all of you into his head..and he is not even married again."
Some women giggled, saying things into each other's ears, some men nodding to themselves as if this was totally out of their knowledge.
"As you say, Gōngzǐ." The man sat down, a little..embarrassed too.
"Got that you got it already." Chóng Fēi muttered while writing down something.
'He speaks right sometimes..but the place is wrong..nor is it working any better.'
Lìngxiāo sighed, lightly pushing back his hair.
"Hm?" Chóng Fēi turned to him with a questioning hum that said: right?
Lìngxiāo just nodded without proper mind. But here he was more annoyed at others than at Chóng Fēi.
Those elders too were clueless too?!
'What is new in it even?'
"Can the dates of their execution be moved earlier, Gōngzǐ?" A young adult woman spoke, her tone dark.
"No." Chóng Fēi answered short and dry. "Zhù fù has said it would not be changed. It would create difficulties." He sniffed, rolling his eyes at her. "Why do you bother changing it, may I know?"
"Some of the children who have grown up to eighteen..some have tried to run away and harm common people. That is why." The woman answered. "I believe you have heard this recent news."
"Of course I do." Chóng Fēi muttered, now his legs seeming to go up to the table instead while crossed. "But those were half-Gusu citizens. Somehow got into our boundaries quietly and then raised their children with the pure Yínglòu cultivators here."
Lìngxiāo turned at Chóng Fēi. Those news were always curiosity grabbers for him for raising up not liking them. But here at the same time he couldn't blame because he didn't know what might be out of his knowledge, and also..they perhaps seemed wanted to feel like a 'human' which Gusu cultivators seemed almost erased from their existence.
The remaining ones from the past were removed, and also removed even when they tried to grow back.
"Oh, yes. I forgot to announce." Chóng Fēi sat up straight.
"Zhù fù has recently written three-hand-long documents about it. Soon there would be actions on it into our town. They would be punished and also be used as they tried to do to us in the past." Chóng Fēi added.
Others nodded to each other, satisfied. "We will wait for the launch, Gōngzǐ."
'I do not know how long I can just sit here like this..'
Lìngxiāo watched them while bored. Hoped to have some balance from the heaviness. This was unnecessarily unhealthy.
He felt bad for Chóng Fēi.
Things went on like this for a little longer. About thirty minutes. Though the topic was heavy, the chamber wasn't hot yet because Lìngxiāo was still biting his cheek, smiling, nodding, and replying short.
Sometimes they politely saved their noses.
Sometimes Chóng Fēi made any scroll fly away by the power of his sneeze that some of the other leaders and disciples would get shaken every time he did it. Some chuckled faintly under their sleeves while catching the scrolls like flowers—mostly young females who were already dreamy enough about Chóng Fēi and now newly interested more on Lìngxiāo too.
"Dear Dancing Blade! Catch!" One young female in Chóng Fēi's age fetched the scroll to Chóng Fēi like some old friend.
Chóng Fēi caught it but with no reaction or interest. He looked more like 'done' with life by the cold. He put it down with a huff.
"Keep some respect. My zhù fù has not officialed anything with you to me.." He muttered. "We are talking about something else here."
"You would dance with your sword again at the archery game if I do?~" She teased, and nobody said anything—she was from the second most powerful clan in this town.
Chóng Fēi's eye twitched faintly, like he was holding back his curses since this girl was casting lovey-dovey moments while here he was trying to sit without sneezing and finish the meeting.
"I would rather be isolated at my clan." He quipped dryly. "A. L. O. N. E."
"Alone With me?!" Her eyes sparkled.
"Could you shut up!?" Chóng Fēi pressed the middle of his temple. "Oy! Her right hand! Keep her shut for at least an hour!"
She pouted as her right hand pulled her back gently while trying to explain not to annoy him more.
Lìngxiāo blinked thoughtfully, sitting while checking the hand fan which actually had blades with it. The chemistry really was something here. They were back-to-back type.
He had to say—he really smiled in real within the masked smile.
'Perhaps..the matter is about other significant.'
He looked at that girl carefully. She had elegant maroon hair and light blue eyes, wearing a black robe which hugged her body because—totally a gothic siren out of myth.
But yeah, he didn't dare notice anything more even accidentally.
'Well..she somehow matches with him. He could be a little kind with her..or..'
'Maybe he is still disturbed or..cannot move on from that two-years-old matter.'
And then another young woman near Lìngxiāo's age was smiling, smirking, and winked at him. Lìngxiāo's smile pressed into a thin line.
Before anyone could do anything simple, Chóng Fēi spoke again, standing up. "All the women, out!" He pointed sharply at the door.
"Why?!"
"Excuse me?"
"I am a leader too!"
"I am my clan's only female leader!"
They insisted.
"Sadly, you are distracting us." Chóng Fēi bit out. "Only one woman here is the only clan leader, right? So only she stays and the others will be outside until we are done."
Then he turned at the other males. "Am I right, gentlemen..?"
"Of course, Gōngzǐ."
"The matter is serious."
"They do matter but they are not helping."
"They can just have summarized decisions of what we do."
Then he turned at Lìngxiāo. His voice lower a little than earlier. "You?"
Lìngxiāo blinked, unprepared—at least here. Nor was he having any big distraction here.
Because he did wish someone was here to balance the air because if the matter seriously started, he would not be able to go against his own nature or rules and do anything which might not be in their rule at will—but true—and then Chóng Féng would create more conflict on him before he was even done with this case, which would leave a mark on his career.
While he might be probably just sent here to hear those depressing, unhealthy things which were already boiling his blood up.
While dressed like any wax doll.
So he spoke both on their side and with polite rage. "If you all feel discomfort by their presence, then you may expel them. I am nobody to speak anything if my words have no weight."
"What did you.." Chóng Fēi blinked like dust had gone into his eyes, his mouth parted, his head tilting towards Lìngxiāo lightly. He didn't get the chance to finish his words.
But then he moved to the right side to sneeze again, then turned at him after cleaning his face.
His voice was professional here too while it was dry at the title mostly. "What are you implying, Lìngxiāo Gōngzǐ?"
Lìngxiāo stood up with the hand fan. Chóng Fēi's gaze followed as his height rose. He stayed calm as always and looked at him. His smile was knowing but sharp. "You know what I mean, Gōngzǐ?"
"Oh no, look at them!"
"I have no words to say. Understand the rest!"
A few hushed whispers from the females spread.