Side Chapter: Qing Ruo Elder Hall (1). The Requests.

The image of the Nine Elders were gathered in the Elders Hall but none of them were truly present. Only Deng Shui was, sitting on an elevated crystal throne.

His amethyst eyes twinkling as he rested his cheek on his knuckles. His legs crossed one over the other.

Below him were 10 elevated seats with 10 flags behind them. To hid right were the 5 odd number seats. To his left were the 5 even seats. And between them was a walkway covered in a purple carpet.

However, no one was sitting in any of the 10. The other Elders were only present as spell bodies and they didn't bother to make those sit.

"So, are we going to give in to their requests?"

Though they could communicate through Qi. The 6th Elder asked his fellows.

"My cousin won't leave it be if we don't."

And the 8th Elder chuckled at his own statement.

"Indeed, he would probably storm the Hall if we didn't."

"That would be a little troubling."

"Lord Ruo?"

The 2nd Elder asked in his grating voice. And Deng Shui who had been mostly silent spoke.

"Let's go over them a final time. Give your final bits of support or retorts."

With that, the 2nd Elder began announcing the student and their request randomly.

"Ming Xie's request for a bigger house."

"I believe we should deny it."

Quickly the 6th Elder spoke up.

"It's fine, it is about time we upgrade the living space of the Lower Ring members of Class 1-A."

The Third Elder retorted in her usual gentle tone.

"It is the luxury we are pushing the future students to aim for."

And the 7th Elder supported her decision as he usually did.

"As, if desire is what determines potential."

"No one knows what determine potential yet."

Deng Shui raised his hand in a gesture to return to the topic. And so the Elders voted. At a 2-7 vote, Ming Xie would be getting a better place to live. So, she would no longer be living out an inn.

"We should do the same for Lou Jian. He has been living on the care of a family friend."

"Little Sister is such a caring individual. But I'm sure that Lou Jian has some sentimentality with that person as such it's best if he stays with them."

Contested the 6th Elder.

"Brother An is only saying that to avoid the cost."

Her irritation clear the 3rd Elder scowled at the 6th.

"As the Elder in charge of our treasury, it is my duty to cut-cut all unnecessary expenses."

"How is it an unnecessary expense to better the life of one of our own clansmen?"

As the 6th and the 3rd were pointlessly arguing in his sights, Deng Shui gestured for silence.

"Ming Xie will get her house. Lou Jian, Seung Do, and Ming Xie will have their own place in the Minor Cultivator Ring once they successfully graduate."

"Lou Jian's request for money."

After Deng Shui weighed in the 2nd Elder announced the next person.

"No."

Seeing that only the 6th Elder was against it. Lou Jian would be getting his request.

"Since Seung Do did not request anything we'll leave it to Mou Lin to decide what he should get."

With no objections, the 2nd Elder continued.

"Hou Dun's request for the Ton Family's wine shop in the Upper Mortal Ring."

"Hearing how they so blatantly use their child for politics, is just as unpleasant as the first time I heard it."

"It is a common tactic, my dear sister. Denying it would make us look like hypocrites. And though we are all hypocrites we do try to be secret hypocrites."

The vote was unanimous. And knowing full well who the next vote was for the 7th Elder continued.

"A blatant power play gaining irrevocable authority to cut into an enemy's profits and demonstrate the influence their heir is already giving them. But all that is fine because."

And then paused to allow the 2nd Elder to announce it.

"Hou Xiang's request to prevent the Hou Family from arranging any marriage for her. For as long as she proves herself competent."

Before continuing once more.

"Their daughter gave us an opportunity to suppress them a bit. The Hou Family was already in talks to sell off their daughter and have made more than a few promises. Now they'll have to go around appeasing or burning bridges. And we will use the whole joke to meddle on the account of; untrustworthiness and inability to govern."

"They will eventually gain a second wind though. They have been adamant about sticking out."

Suggested the 5th Elder but Deng Shui waved it off. The 2nd Elder then moved onto another request.

"Xuan Yi's request for one of his father's coats."

"Cute."

A third 0-9 vote.

"Tan Cui's request to have classes at home."

"Denied."

The 10th Elder immediately shut down the request and the other Elders were fine with letting him.

"Dai Tian's request for Class 1-A to have full access to the Jadeite Cave."

"Once again, If he had asked for this himself it would be impressive."

The 8th Elder gave a soft sound of disappointment.

"My Son has yet to see his classmates as competitors."

The 9th Elder explained while making a similar sound.

"With the way my cousin is teaching them, I doubt any of them do. The whole point of the evaluations was supposed to have them compete. He even went and bought pills for the entire class. Turning it into an as long as you cross the line kind of thing. Sometimes that cousin of mine is such a headache."

"Sorry, Brother Yue. I should have realized his intentions."

Apologized the 3rd Elder as she gave a little bow.

"It's not your fault. The one to blame is my troublesome cousin."

"These kids potential are higher than we expected. When we thought only one person would pass the first expectation all of them did. With the way they are it is probably best to leave things to Instructor Lin. He is our Top Instructor after all."

The 1st Elder spoke up for Mou Lin.

"At the very least I have faith in his eyes."

Added on the 5th.

"And not in his many years of teaching?"

The annoyance in the 8th's voice evident as he asked the 5th.

With another argument ready to break out Deng Shui silenced the Elders.

"Since you all fell off topic so fast. I'm guessing that none of you have any objections."

"As long as someone competent is watching over their use of it and members of the Medicine Hall are stationed nearby."

With that Deng Shui gave the 2nd Elder leave to continue.

"Fan Hua's request to invite foreign scholars for some of the evening classes."

"We've already agreed that evening classes are not that important. As such this is an unnecessary expense. And our clan can do without outside influence."

"Our clan is not so poor that we can't hire these people. Ideals are not a disease our youths won't be indoctrinated by just hearing them."

Spoke up the 3rd Elder in defense of her daughter.

"Vote."

At a 4 – 5 Fan Hua's request would go through.

"And now the most troubling request. Xuan Yu wishes to see Xuan Shen's garden."

"That thing is there so no."

The 5th Elder spoke up immediately.

"He is Xuan Shen's son. Even if his potential makes him useless. So, far he has taken in stride."

Commented the 1st.

"Except for the bit about getting drunk down in the Lower Mortal Ring."

Mentioned the 8th.

"Ignoring that none of his behavior seems too problematic. Just letting him view it should pose no harm."

Said the 1st.

"It would reflect badly on us if we didn't."

Said the 7th.

"As long as Ara Ko is there I'll relent."

Added the 3rd.

"That thing is there, so I am firmly against it."

Said the 6th.

"The risk of something happening to it is too much."

Said the 5th.

"Ara Ko is the Head of our Guard. I doubt anything will happen under her watch."

Reinforce the 1st.

Deng Shui gestured again and then they voted. The results came out 4 -4 as one person had yet to vote.

"Brother Chu?"

4-5, Xuan Yu would have his request met.