"So, as the next official sect leader—a dàoist—I would wish to change things which feel right to me." Chóng Fēi said again.
"He—" A man shut his mouth tightly with wide eyes and pointed at them with a shaking hand.
"Are you serious, Gōngzǐ?!"
"Do you even have respect for the tradition?"
"How can you be so disrespectful!"
They gasped in surprise and disbelief.
Chóng Fēi blinked blankly. But final. His expression betrayed no hesitation. "No, I do not. All I want is a fine judgment system and my throne. I do not give a damn to those pathetic rules which 'perhaps' worked before. Not today."
"You are listening to another exorcist?!" Someone among the crowd cried out again.
Other people's eyes darted over them in that judgmental look again.
The 'another exorcist' word seemed to visibly make Chóng Fēi's eye twitch. Already having enough distance, he took a step away from Lìngxiāo's side.
Lìngxiāo cleared his throat, also taking a small step away.
"Eh, What. Do. You. Mean by another exorcist??" Chóng Fēi bit out.
"I do not even listen to my zhù fù." Chóng Fēi raised his chin, indirectly pointing at Lìngxiāo. "He said it because I also wanted to see if my thinking goes any closer to a non-citizen of this town—who was never a heir, but just a humble man."
His hand slammed flatly over the table. "I did not know if those authors were official or not, because our literary field lacks it in the dumbest, most frustrating way. But I was suspecting it, yet paralyzed because of my damn position. Or I would have rewritten all of the rules by myself long ago."
Everyone stared at Chóng Fēi like he was someone else. No words left to say for them, more than curses they couldn't use.
"So, this is just the start." Chóng Fēi said again, his tone commanding and promising. "I will start taking action on this rule specifically from today. Today's session ends here."
He took a large hammer at his side and hit the grand bell beside his table with a loud sound.
He added, almost like he was in a hurry to put the courtesies back home, eyes shut, chin up, lips pressed into a thin line. "You all may take your leave. Go, go, go..."
Everyone, even those who were used to it, shut
their eyes at the sound, like the announcement physically hurt them, as they slowly started to leave.
"Do not just put my words into your ears and then let them go." Chóng Fēi called them from behind in his arrogant, careless tone. "Inform the prison guardians right NOW. Release the children. The rest is our work.."
"Yes, Gōngzǐ."
"Your order on our hands.."
They replied a little dryly, but accepting.
Lìngxiāo just stood there silently, but his smile was soft and pure. For once, he felt grateful that he couldn't stop smiling at all..or everyone would have seen how suspiciously happy he was, like any of those kids already waiting there at the prison, having no idea how much things had changed here.
"Indeed?" Chóng Fēi crossed his arms, muttered to Lìngxiāo.
Lìngxiāo looked at him, almost the same way others had looked at him when he announced it.
Chóng Fēi blinked, his expression stubborn and still red at his ears and cheekbones as he quickly added, "I did not forgive you for the unnecessary trip in the rain and the force-injection of the needles outdoors.."
Lìngxiāo couldn't help but let out a faint chuckle—a genuine one. "Well, indeed. The rest is our work."
Chóng Fēi exhaled, he seemed bored while putting another lozenge in his mouth for his throat. He took out his own silver round watch.
"It is time. The tea break." He muttered before looking back at him while going down from the stage to the doors of the empty hall. "This runny nose and sneezes are annoying. Our own discussion would be there."
"Oh yes, indeed." Lìngxiāo followed him, carefully coming down with his gorgeous robe. Then added, "May I return after changing?"
Chóng Fēi paused near the door of the upstairs, looking down at him thoughtfully.
Then answered, "No."
Lìngxiāo blinked, surprised by the decision. "But, Gōngzǐ.."
"Do you have anything more to wear?" Chóng Fēi asked suddenly.
Lìngxiāo shook his head slowly: not good enough as he might be expecting...
Chóng Fēi raised his eyebrows with shut eyes as he turned to the door to open it. "Zhù fù has left a plenty of robes..for you—for presentations like this. Get freshened up. You will find another one in your chamber in time."
Lìngxiāo parted his mouth silently in another wave of surprise.
'Was this one not enough..to have more? Is Féng Xiānsheng really alright? Or has he mistakenly written my name on the boxes..?'
His cheeks felt warm just by the thoughts, and Mō Qīn's mischievous laugh came from his necklace.
'Mō Qīn you..'
He gave his necklace a light tap.
"Ouch! Sorry Gōngzǐ! It must be really a mistake!" Mō Qīn answered, muffled from inside, but still buzzing with a chuckle.
Lìngxiāo almost huffed faintly, not knowing how he would hide his embarrassment.
Before he could swallow down this much, Chóng Fēi added, "Just..sometimes match up with my status. Those idiots would think you are my servant or something. All of them don't know you by face."
Lìngxiāo blinked twice tightly at him. An act of: what?
'Servant? Does the robe look this old? I bought it one or two years ago..I was supposed to bring more before I was summoned here. Things here are not as good as they used to be too..'
'But still..why would he call me this? I am older than him, and I am no longer what I was.
'He doesn't even know who I am. He never needs to.'
'I just do not show my pride on the high status. What is the point of doing it if the last address is grave?'
His left hand twitched, like he would slap again.
"Don't..give me that look." Chóng Fēi muttered, half arrogance and half almost fear of the slap. "Just do as I said. It is..also an order."
With that, he left first, leaving Lìngxiāo behind.
Lìngxiāo exhaled, his forehead resting on his hand, shaking his head to himself.
"As you order, Gōngzǐ.." He answered into the empty hall, which echoed back to him.
"Don't. Be. Late." Chóng Fēi's voice was muffled from the other side of the door, before it vanished.
Lìngxiāo stood straight again, held his robe so that it doesn't come under his boots and walked up to the stairs to go back to his room to be prepared for this another meeting.
But this one wouldn't be as heavy as he had felt here some minutes ago.
***