Chapter 202: Formality and Nervousness
Sun Hua’s heart rose to her throat as she stood outside the door leading to what the sect leader called his “office.” The mayor’s house was large enough to hold a similar room, but he called it a “study.” She was fairly sure that the sect would use the former term going forward based on the sect leader’s preference, so she made a point to call it that in her mind.
Though she’d been assigned to be his assistant nearly a month ago, she’d never actually spent any time alone with him. Besides being introduced to him and being handed a few minor assignments, she’d barely even seen him.
But now she’d been summoned via a blue dragon made of paper. She’d have been terrified if the sect’s rumor mill hadn’t abounded with tales of the origin of the wondrous devices.
As she stood there gathering her wits, though, she was aware that the sect leader was inside expecting her. Hesitating was stupid. Her mother would have called her a fool for making such an important man, her direct employer, wait.
Besides, her fear was silly. The sect leader had a great reputation for being kind, so there was no justification for feeling afraid.
She sighed. No rationalization, no matter how factual, could calm her nerves.
Summoning all her courage, she halted her wandering thoughts and knocked on the door.
“Come,” the sect leader said.
Sun Hua entered the room as she had been taught to do when approaching one of a much higher station. She took small steps so that her feet neither dragged the floor nor made a loud sound when contacting the floor. Moving quickly but quietly was the key. Don’t delay. Don’t disturb.
There was no furniture in the room, only a small cultivation mat on which he sat in the lotus position. As her mother had trained her to do in such a situation, Sun Hua knelt before him and cupped her hands.
“Assistant greets Sect Leader.”
To the best of her knowledge, few people if any in the village used that particular formality of referring to oneself by one’s position. It was much more common here to use “this one” or “this lowly one.” Esteemed Mother, however, had been raised outside the village and taught Sun Hua that the other form of address was more proper.