Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

[X] She could use a more human perspective. Even if her friends and family were not musically talented, they could give her feedback and advice.

Aww, interesting. I like punk rock cultivator gal. I wonder how her raging against the machine and getting crushed led to a animosity towards the Cai, though. She's clanless and on her own, so it's pretty unlikely that Shenhua personally crushed her. Guess she ran into some Cai loyalist in the Sect and came out the worse for it? But why hitch that defeat to the Cai? Who knows, maybe she is just literally sore about The System and is leery about anyone working with The Man (well, woman in this case).

Also, Cai robe has a silly scary DRM, and Renxiang slowly gets why Meizhen doesn't even comment on Ling Qi's luck anymore. Adorable.

Regarding the composition challenge, I'd say Zeqing would be the safe bet. Zeqing's style and themes resonate better with Ling Qi and come to her more naturally. See Ling Qi's earlier attempts to compose something new.
While being a gloomy girl is cool, and I like Ling Qi keeping some of that, I also don't want to make it her sole focus and expression though. So I'd actually go with Sixiang if they weren't so shaken up currently. Sixiang's style would definitely push Ling Qi out of her comfort zone and it might help her grow and develop further. It would make the challenge harder though, I think.

I am a bit ambivalent about composing with inspiration from friends or family. As good as Ling Qingge is as a mortal musician, she is... well, a mortal musician. No real help there. I'd say this route would be the purest Ling Qi, though. One where she forges... erm, composes... her own path and music. From her own experiences, friends and circumstances. Not guided by the Dreaming Moon Fairy or the Winter Spirit of Ending. Ling Qi did make some attempts at composing so far, but her success was a bit limited. I am not sure she is really quite there yet and ready for it. But if you don't challenge yourself, how can you ever grow?

I think all three approaches are valid, but I am leaning the most towards friends and family. Simply because it sounds to me the most one that is like 'forging your own path', and that's kinda what Ling Qi is doing currently. Both Cultivation wise, and personality wise.

I do wonder if Ling Qi can work her recent experiences in the Forest Encounter into her composition. Expressing her questions, and doubt, or the visceral horror and helplessness she felt. Not sure if appropriate, but it would be a strong, raw message at this time, full of honest emotion. It might also give Ling Qi some catharsis and a way to if not deal with these experiences, at least express them and get a bit of closure on them.

[X] She could use a more human perspective. Even if her friends and family were not musically talented, they could give her feedback and advice.
---[X] Weave a song about the rage of a King, the slaughter of a people and an terrified wisp caught within.

Six seems to be in a bad way right now, I want to help her get out of her funk.

So the choices seem to be a compromise between growth and excelling with what we have now, tbh.

In some ways I'd rather not be caught up with other issues during challenge time and just hit mama Z for some knowledge, but I don't actually want our big clash here to taste like her brand of darkness. While LQ shares some impulses with her she's not actually that... that.

Family would be a way to bond(?) with our new household, introduce ourselves and show that we value their input or something but I... have that on a lower priority than the balance between progressing up the ranks, growing as a musician, cultivating new bonds with a cultivator in the same string, and sorting out our moongirl.

Again, not so happy with the possible choices, but in the end I think ...

[X] Sixiang was her muse and her friend. Ling Qi was tired of being ignored. She would get Sixiang's attention and help.

[X] Sixiang was her muse and her friend. Ling Qi was tired of being ignored. She would get Sixiang's attention and help.

[X] She could use a more human perspective. Even if her friends and family were not musically talented, they could give her feedback and advice.

I am picking this pption because I believe it's the most likely to end our funk by reaffirming our links to our friends and familly.

[X] She could use a more human perspective. Even if her friends and family were not musically talented, they could give her feedback and advice.

[X] She could use a more human perspective. Even if her friends and family were not musically talented, they could give her feedback and advice.

Music is about communicating your true feelings and Ling Qi's problem isn't in technical skill, which she has, but in knowing what she wants.
And Sixiang isn't very helpful there because we already know how they handle that. "do what feels good at the moment."
And Zeqing for all that she's a great mentor, would emphasize the part of Ling Qi she's uncomfortable with.

Sundancer said:

Aww, interesting. I like punk rock cultivator gal. I wonder how her raging against the machine and getting crushed led to a animosity towards the Cai, though. She's clanless and on her own, so it's pretty unlikely that Shenhua personally crushed her. Guess she ran into some Cai loyalist in the Sect and came out the worse for it? But why hitch that defeat to the Cai? Who knows, maybe she is just literally sore about The System and is leery about anyone working with The Man (well, woman in this case).

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I think in the process of crushing some rebels Mama Cai squashed some civies as a by product and Yu Nuan's family suffered as a result. Which would explain the grudge and punk rock attitude. Govt excess is shit punks fucking hate speaking as somebody who was somewhat in the scene in the late 90s

veekie said:

Music is about communicating your true feelings and Ling Qi's problem isn't in technical skill, which she has, but in knowing what she wants.
And Sixiang isn't very helpful there because we already know how they handle that. "do what feels good at the moment."
And Zeqing for all that she's a great mentor, would emphasize the part of Ling Qi she's uncomfortable with.

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its not so much Ling Qi can't communicate her feelings it's thst she's really good at communicating her feelings of isolation, loss, and desire for people in her life. Where she sucks at is happy feelings since she's "a gloomy girl" as Six puts it. Ling Qi doesn't always want to be the frontman for the Cure but it's what she's good at

[X] Sixiang was her muse and her friend. Ling Qi was tired of being ignored. She would get Sixiang's attention and help.

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Im passing this vote, since otherwise i would just be voting for all choices anyway...

I can already tell, Yu Nuan hot mixtape gonna bring down the house (of Cai)!

Shit gonna be on fiah!

Suddenly breakdancing!

move your body come on everybody! untz untz


anyway, I started daydreaming and come up a wild delusion, Yu Nuan is ling Qi and zulans' love child from the future! ....ya know.... because music and fire...
...

[X] Sixiang was her muse and her friend. Ling Qi was tired of being ignored. She would get Sixiang's attention and help.