Chapter 995: United Against Outsiders
When Sage Cihang made the announcement, many Deputy Hall Masters who were used to taking notes quickly put away their brush and paper. Of course, all voice retention talismans and image recording stones were also prohibited.
Sage Cihang gestured for her secretary, Qian Wan, to activate the privacy barrier in the hall before continuing, “In principle, this council should have been hosted by the Beichen Hall. However, since Beichen Hall’s Sage Qingwei is currently overseeing the Fenglin campaign and cannot spare the time, I must step in to handle it. Next, Deputy Hall Master Lu of Beichen Hall will present the specifics.”
Qi Xuansu realized that this session was indeed no ordinary matter.
Beichen Hall was often mentioned alongside Fengxian Hall, but the former was part of the Three Great Halls not only because it commanded some military power but also because its jurisdiction was broader than the latter.
Though it was often said that Tiangang Hall dealt with external affairs while Beichen Hall handled internal ones, the term “internal” was only relative to Tiangang Hall’s completely external focus. In reality, Beichen Hall managed both internal and external matters, including suppressing traitors, gathering intelligence, and inciting rebellions. However, the Daoist Order rarely emphasized Beichen Hall’s external functions due to its shady nature.
The fact that Beichen Hall should have led this session indicated that there would be some confidential information disclosed. If it were an internal issue and Beichen Hall’s leader was absent, Fengxian Hall would have taken over. Since Tiangang Hall was stepping in instead, it was clearly an external matter. Linking this with Qian Wan’s earlier mention of “Westerners,” Qi Xuansu immediately realized it must involve the Holy Court.
Since entering the Daoist Order’s upper ranks, Qi Xuansu had mostly dealt with various internal struggles. This was the first time he was encountering an external matter of such nature.
Deputy Hall Master Lu was Beichen Hall’s Chief Deputy, the right-hand man of Sage Qingwei, showing the importance of this matter.
Deputy Hall Master Lu said, “I am here to brief you on an important matter. Apart from absent Deputy Hall Masters, who will receive a written notice through the joint council, all others below the rank of Deputy Hall Master are to receive only oral transmission. No written documents and records are allowed. The situation should only be known to Daoist priests who will be directly involved.”
After this opening, Deputy Hall Master Lu got to the point. “Some of you present are already aware or have been directly involved in this matter. But since most of you are unaware, I shall explain the situation.