Hu Chan was just about to argue, but Qin Siyang said again, "You owe me so much, and I haven't even pressed you for repayment. I'm already being more than fair."
"You might be thinking that after the blessing ceremony, you can try rebuilding your power inside Zephyr Church, and maybe then you won't be under my thumb anymore."
"But," Qin Siyang smiled a little, "Hu Chan, you don't want Protector Yu to fail to get the Titan Foxtail inner leaf fragments, right?"
Hu Chan froze on the spot.
He hadn't expected Qin Siyang to say that.
After a few seconds of silence, he forced a smile and asked, "Director Qin, what do you mean? Didn't we already agree that after I accompany you out of the safe zone to hunt gods next time, you'll give me the remaining Titan Foxtail inner leaf fragments?"
"Things are different now," Qin Siyang said, "Back then, we only had a deal of two trips in exchange for the fragments. But now—"
"You owe me more and more, yet you have no reliable collateral with me. I'm really worried you'll run off."
"Director Qin, Brother Qin…"
Qin Siyang smiled as he poured a glass of water for him, "Calling me dad won't help. Holy Son, we're both smart. Don't use things like 'trust our relationship' or 'trust your character' to convince me. You should understand my concerns are completely reasonable."
Hu Chan's originally fawning gaze slowly turned cold, "Then what does Director Qin want before you'll give me the Titan Foxtail fragments?"
"Take it slow. At the very least, during our next trip out of the safe zone, I won't give you any."
Hu Chan took a deep breath when he heard this and clenched his fists, "Alright. I understand."
"Before ten tomorrow morning, I hope Director Qin can arrive at United Government Academy."
Then he got up and left Qin Siyang's room.
Qin Siyang sighed, "This Holy Son changes his face really fast. Doesn't hide it at all."
After Hu Chan left, Qin Siyang picked up the speech manuscript and started reading it carefully.
"I'd better rehearse properly. I'll need to speak off-script and show off my style in front of Zephyr Church's believers."
He acted immediately.
Qin Siyang turned on the conversation shield and practiced passionately in the room, making large additions and cuts to the manuscript according to his own speaking habits. He had to make sure nothing went wrong.
This was also the personal rule he set for himself: keeping things balanced.
Normally he could slack off however he wanted.
But every public appearance, every formal event, could not be messed up.
Qin Siyang practiced from the afternoon until night. During that time, under Wen Shu's remote supervision, he ate a simple dinner.
———
[Blue Star Calendar, June 24, 2010]
[Western calendar, Thursday, International Olympic Day.]
[Summer calendar, Gengyin year, fifth month, thirteenth day, suitable for building beams, suitable for building embankments]
Wearing formal attire, Qin Siyang rode in a special car with Zhao Longfei toward United Government Academy.
Before even entering the campus, he saw the overwhelming banners and signboards promoting the Zephyr Church blessing ceremony.
Seeing the massive setup that had been put together in just two days, Qin Siyang couldn't help saying, "Principal Zhao, that's really efficient work."
Zhao Longfei shook his head, "Doesn't have much to do with me. I just provided some manpower. Everything was arranged by Hu Chan, and he paid for it."
"Principal Zhao, how did you get United Government Academy's people to agree? Was Principal Shao Xiaoju willing?"
"He wasn't at first."
"And then?"
Zhao Longfei yawned, "Then I paid him a visit at his home, and he happily agreed."
"You… isn't he the older brother of Shao Xiaozhan, the vice president of Cloud Lotus Chamber of Commerce? You dared to offend him like that? Aren't you afraid Cloud Lotus Chamber will increase pressure on our Zhao Chamber?"
"Hey, just because they're brothers doesn't mean they're close. Whether they're close or not isn't based on what it looks like on the surface, but on how things are actually done."
"Not close? Principal Zhao, say it clearly."
"Our Zhao family and the three major chambers have been opposing each other openly and secretly. Many think there will definitely be a showdown between us. If you were Shao Xiaozhan, and you loved your older brother deeply and were tied together by life and death, would you really be willing to throw him into the Zhao family's base camp?"
"So the brothers actually aren't on good terms?"
Zhao Longfei nodded, "Although there's no intel confirming it, based on what we see now, it's almost certain. After all, family shame shouldn't be made public."
The blessing ceremony venue was set up in the main plaza of United Government Academy.
After they arrived, the two took their seats in the front row of the guest section.
No one knew how Hu Chan promoted it, but the plaza was packed with people watching the ceremony. Many even had to stand due to lack of seating.
Qin Siyang also noticed that three camera positions were streaming the event at the same time. And at the side, there was a large screen showing a live feed from the main Zephyr Church hall in Region 8.
Sitting at the very front in the display were Red Robe Protector Chris and Blue Robe Protector Jin Shengyu.
It was obvious both protectors' smiles were stiff, and their eyes carried anger. They were clearly displeased that Hu Chan could host a blessing ceremony remotely from Region 7.
At ten o'clock sharp, the ceremony officially began.
As the Holy Son and the highest-ranking figure on the surface of Zephyr Church, Hu Chan gave the opening speech.
On stage, wearing a dark gray robe, Hu Chan spoke with ease, "This time, I set the external venue at United Government Academy because all of our church brothers are praying for the blessing of the God Zephyr, hoping for good exam results for their family and friends."
"I believe that standing in one of the top academies inside the safe zone and praying to the God Zephyr on everyone's behalf will let the God Zephyr feel our sincerity even more!"
In his heart, Qin Siyang exclaimed, 'What a guy.'
He obviously got beaten so badly he couldn't return to his home in Region 8, but now he framed it as doing a favor for the believers.
Qin Siyang looked again at the screen showing the main church hall. Chris and Jin Shengyu's faces were practically green.
"Today, to make sure our church brothers' wishes receive more attention from the God Zephyr, I specially invited the one blessed by Him, Qin Siyang."
"I believe all of you have heard of Qin Siyang. He was originally an ordinary orphan from the safe zone. But early this year, he awakened a sequence ability. In less than half a year, he has claimed all kinds of treasures. Now he is not only the top scorer of South Glory University's special admissions, but also the newly risen vice president of the Zhao Chamber of Commerce!"
"He is the lucky one chosen at random by the God Zephyr, and the Good Luck Ambassador I worked so hard to bring here for everyone. Now, let us welcome Mr. Qin Siyang to give a speech!"
Qin Siyang adjusted his tie and stepped onto the stage under everyone's gaze.
He looked over the sea of people and then glanced at the main hall's screen, smiling slightly, "To be invited by Holy Son Hu Chan to attend Zephyr Church's blessing ceremony is a great honor for me."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.