(MC POV)
The day of the Festival arrived and everyone in the Sect was obviously looking forward to it.
The people from the former Phoenix Sect had already arrived last week considering they were technically Heaven Sect members too, so they were here to help set up earlier in the week. But today would be the day where the other Sects started to show up.
Thus, almost everyone was gathered at the Grand Courtyard awaiting the arrival of our first guests.
Sect Master Qing had gone to the entrance to welcome the visitors alongside a few other Masters and Elders, but the weirdest thing was that I wasn't expected to join them there for some reason?
When I asked, Sect Master Qing merely said that having me at the very entrance would cause congestion there and slow down people from entering the Sect.
Not sure why that would be the case but I decided not to argue and simply waited in the Grand Courtyard alongside my disciples and the rest of the Sect.
Lian Li joined me at my side with a smile, "I've almost forgotten the first time we went to our first Sect Showcase Festival, Master."
I grinned, "It has indeed been a while, hasn't it? I believe this would be the first Sect Showcase Festival for most of you isn't it?"
A number of them nodded their heads, namely everyone who had become my disciple after Eris.
I shrugged, "It's a shame you guys can't participate though. I'm sure that would have been a sight to see."
"What does one usually do in a Sect Showcase Festival anyway?" Tsuki asked while looking around the Grand Courtyard.
Bait grinned, "Oh!! Aye' can answer dat'! It's basically a dick measuring contest for Practitioners!"
Lian Li and Manami nodded in agreement while the others just looked confused at what Bait just said.
I suppose that's one way to put it since it was technically true…
She waved nonchalantly at them, "You guys will get it soon enuff' when the thing starts. Then ya' can see for yerself' how stupid it is~"
I cleared my throat to get their attention, "Be that as it may… I want all of you to pay attention to it when it starts as you might be able to learn something from the people participating as well. Some of them might have incredible talent like yourselves."
"Yes, Master," All of them bowed in response.
Unexpectedly, I felt a nudge coming from my neck and I realised it was Xun Guan trying to get my attention.
She hasn't been talking much for a long time since I never got the chance to be alone for a while now.
"Master… Do you think I can participate too?" She whispered in my ear, taking care not to let the others notice her presence.
I connected us telepathically, 'You want to join the Festival?'
'Umm… Would that be a problem?'
'Not really, I'm just surprised to hear that you're actually interested in joining it. What brought about this sudden interest?'
'Forgive me, Master… But I just felt that maybe I might be getting a little rusty since it's been a while since I was last involved in a fight of some sort. If I don't practise my skills, I fear I may turn incompetent in the future…'
I chuckled at her, 'You do know that you don't actually have to protect me anymore? I won't mind if you decide to just be your own person instead of being my clothes either.'
'But… But Master…I like being your clothes…'
'Is it because you get to touch me inappropriately whenever you want from this position?'
'... Yes.'
As though to prove her point, I felt the sensation of several hands roaming around my body.
Well I already knew that this was her goal anyway so that was no surprise.
There wasn't any reason to reject her so I decided to give her permission to participate. I even helped her create a new persona that she could use to masquerade herself as a new Student Practitioner of our Sect.
That was when the Practitioners from other Sects started filing into the Courtyard, most of them looking around in surprise when they realised the size of our Grand Courtyard had miraculously expanded by several times.
Most of them immediately turned towards my direction after that, correctly assuming that the phenomenon was caused by me.
Then the greetings started where supposedly prominent members from other Sects came to speak to me.
"We finally have a chance to meet, Master Lin! I am Sect Master Dao of the Tian Sect."
"Master Lin, it is an honour! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sect Master Pei of Eternal Sect."
"Master Lin! I am Master Ho of the Shuai Sect!"
"Master Lin!"
"Master Lin!"
…
I had to weather through the long line of people queuing up to meet me while I smiled and nodded politely at them. So this was why Sect Master Qing didn't want me at the entrance…
Well they came all this way so I guess I could at least show them some courtesy and it's not like they're trying to be rude anyway.
"Oh, Master Lin! I am… Eh?"
The next person to come towards me stopped abruptly when Iris stepped in between us, my white haired lover blocking me from his view.
"Ufufufu~ Master is a little tired now so how about everyone head to their designated seats, please?"
Eh? Iris?
Surprisingly, everyone in the line did not even try to protest and simply turned around and left after bowing to me.
"Ara, ara~ If Master does not want to deal with this, you need only tell them you know? No one here is belligerent enough to insist on disturbing you when you tell them not to~" Iris informed me helpfully.
I smiled at her, "Well, I know that. I'm just trying to be nice, that's all."
Manami giggled from behind me, "Ufufufu~ Master truly is too kind. No need to worry, that's why we are here~"
And for that I am always thankful.
Right as I thought of that however…
"Announcing the arrival of her Majesty, the Empress!"
Are you serious?! What in the world are you doing here, Guiying?! Don't you have an Empire to run instead of coming to a Sect event like this?
Oh wait, she did say that she had things prepared where she could just up and leave anytime she wanted…
Whatever, you're the Empress, so do what you want…
I was expecting a sort of dignified entrance as expected of an Empress, but what I got was…
"Maaaasssstteeeeerrr!!"
A girl flew through the gates and collided straight into my chest, her arms wrapping around me immediately while her face started rubbing against me.
"I missed you!!!"
Guiying… You're still the Empress… Please carry yourself with some dignity…
As though that wasn't enough…
"Huuuussssbaaaaannndddd!!"
Really?! Even you?!
Aren't you already living inside the Sect anyway, Luna?!
Ugh… I should have known this Festival would be anything but a normal one…
Who else is going to show up next?
Oh wait… The other countries are coming too right?
Oh no…
