Chapter 698 - 147: The Ministry of Rites’s Scramble for People, Promotion, and the Exchange Delegation

Zhang Deming, who had just fought a Three Talents Great Demon with such flair, felt like he was about to fall apart by the time he returned to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower.

’Etiquette...’ Only now did Zhang Deming truly understand what it meant to be an Upper Sect, what a ten-thousand-year Inheritance entailed.

Even putting on a pair of socks was a particular affair. ’Right now, I feel nothing like a carefree immortal. It’s just one trivial damn thing after another!’

Mentally and physically exhausted, he headed back to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower. Before he even arrived, another person came up to greet him.

Wang Qian, who had been following him the entire time, glanced at Zhang Deming’s weary expression. In a rare move, she stepped forward, blocked the person with an icy look, and said, "Master is tired. If you have business, please discuss it tomorrow."

Song Huidong paused slightly, looking Wang Qian up and down.

"You may step aside," Zhang Deming said, glancing at Wang Qian.

"Master, if you are truly tired, I can come back tomorrow. However, when I do, a whole group of the Dang Family’s Children might be coming with me," Song Huidong said with a faint smile, looking at Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming waved his hand. "It’s fine. I’ve just been pushed around all day and am a little weary, that’s all."

"Haha, that’s just your temperament, Master. Back in the day, our peak had more than its fair share of chaos. Master Guk, in particular, tormented a few disciples from the Ministry of Rites so much during his promotion ceremony that he drove them to tears," Song Huidong said with a laugh.

Zhang Deming: "..."

’I’d love to throw a tantrum and mess with them too, but I’ve only got a day or two. If I don’t play nice and start causing trouble, things really won’t get done, will they?’

’The disciples getting punished would be a minor issue. But I’d be the one making a fool of myself in front of All of Hongmeng, and I’d be the one to suffer for it! You’d have to be out of your mind to cause trouble for others in a situation like this!’

"Senior Brother Song, what did you need to see me about?" Zhang Deming asked.

"Master, it’s time to change how you address me!" Song Huidong said.

"It’s fine, we can stick to our old titles," Zhang Deming said dismissively.

"We should still change it. After all, my master and you, Master, are to be called martial brothers. It wouldn’t be proper for you to address me that way," Song Huidong insisted, rare for him to go against Zhang Deming’s wishes.

This small matter revealed the place Gan Zili held in the other’s heart. He was truly a teacher and a father figure to him, respected not for show, but out of genuine reverence.

Zhang Deming fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. You’re the first Senior Brother I’ve had who’s so eager to become my Nephew!"

"Haha, Master, you’re really..." Song Huidong laughed and shook his head.

"Coming to find me at a time like this... is it about the Child Attendants?" Zhang Deming asked.

Song Huidong nodded and stopped beating around the bush. "Previously, because of how my master and Master Yuee were treating you, I had assumed that you, Master, were taking the path of a Spirit Nurturing Master.

"That’s why I wanted to place some people with you ahead of time. For one, I had my own small selfish reasons. For another, I was afraid the Sect Leader would place his own Child Attendants by default. The Dharma Transmission Hall loves to pull that kind of stunt.

"After all, it’s a vacancy on our Spirit Nurturing Peak. As the one in charge here, I have to look out for our own peak, right?

"That’s why I kept trying to push people on you the last time we were out. I never expected that I’d still fail to grasp my master’s intentions.

"Before I could even get anyone placed, you were set to become the Peak Master. So, to keep the Sect Leader from installing his own people, I had no choice but to wait here for you.

"Master, no matter how much you may dislike it, you still need Child Attendants for your left and right. It’s a requirement for the grand assembly the day after tomorrow."

Zhang Deming nodded and said decisively, "Bring them over for me to have a look."

Hearing this, Song Huidong smiled. "Shall we talk inside?"

Zhang Deming froze for a second. Just as Song Huidong spoke, a group of no fewer than twenty children began to file out from the Guardian Cliff entrance.

’I thought he just wanted to place someone close to him, but looking at this spectacle, he’s really doing this for the good of the peak!’

Zhang Deming gave a wry smile. "Nephew Song, you’re not planning to fill my entire tower, inside and out, are you?"

Song Huidong smiled. "This is just to give you more options, Master. After all, I am insisting that you take someone.

"If I had just assigned someone directly, you probably wouldn’t be comfortable with that, right? After all, they will be your Child Attendants, not mine."

Zhang Deming glanced at Song Huidong, then deactivated the Array of the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower and stepped inside. Behind him, a uniform line of eight-year-old children followed in perfect unison.

Zhang Deming went to the front of the tower and sat down in the small courtyard. With a wave of his hand, he set out a tea set. Wang Qian immediately stepped forward and began to carefully brew the tea.

Song Huidong glanced at Wang Qian again. Zhang Deming smiled and said, "I took her in during my recent trip to the mortal world. She’s had a hard life."

At Zhang Deming’s words, the icy-faced Wang Qian’s tea-brewing movements trembled slightly before returning to normal.

"Master, are you telling me this because you intend for me... to take her and teach her?" Song Huidong asked uncertainly.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes. I plan to make her one of my Child Attendants. I’ll just pick one more from these children, and that will be enough. Although she’s a little older, she’s still of a suitable age."

"For the assembly as well?" Song Huidong asked with a frown.

"Why? Is there a problem?" Zhang Deming asked.

As Zhang Deming looked at him in surprise, Song Huidong nodded. "Yes, a small one."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "This is a grand occasion with numerous points of etiquette. One day is not nearly enough time to learn them all. It won’t matter much for you, Master; after all, as the Peak Master, no one will ridicule you for being a little casual.

"But this girl, having come from the mortal world, needs proper instruction. Plus, there’s a lot a Child Attendant needs to pay attention to. So, I suggest you hand her over to me for training first, Master. You can find someone else to fill the position temporarily."