Qi Like Tar

Paike wasn't the only one who noticed. Taka stiffened slightly beside Paike and muttered just loud enough that only Father might have overheard. "So that's their game?"

He might have been out of practice at social events, but even he knew that, among the prominent families of the empire, events like this served many purposes. One of the most prominent and important was to act as a place where the younger generations could find favorable matches.

Father called it 'speed dating,' even if no one really knew what that meant, as there was nothing fast about it.

The Kongs participated, of course. It would be rude not to, let alone remove a chance for their own children to meet kids their own age. Mother always emphasized that it was for them to make friends. And if they happened to have someone catch their eye, she could see what their family was like.

Paike was pretty sure that about half the families took that approach. Some, though, were aggressive about trying to use it to form and solidify alliances.

He wondered what way this sect did things.

Before he had a chance to think more, and once they all stood behind their seats, Sheng Gou stood and cleared his throat. It was a soft sound, but it still echoed through the hall. Paike could sense no use of qi, so it may have been just skill that cut through all the whispered conversations.

"Families of the Hidden Peak Sect, please join me in welcoming our dearest friend who helped us in our greatest time of need, Mister Kong!"

There was a cacophony of scraping benches as the entire hall stood up as one and bowed deeply to Father.