A Possible Future in the Gu house
As the vault doors creaked open Gu Lin felt her eyes widen. She would have to work on that. Mother always had control over her reactions. Something else to add to her checklist. Grandpa's cane clicked pleasantly against stone as he stepped into the warm air of the vault. She followed right behind and craned her neck. Beautiful weapons hung next to carefully protected tomes. Wonders she had only dreamed about arrayed themselves around her in a choreographed dance frozen in time. This was only the first vault. She couldn't even imagine what the greater vaults held. Finally grandpa's voice broke the rhythm of his cane.
"This is the first of many vaults. Someday, if you prove worthy, you will be allowed to pick something from here. This is a taste of what may come. Since you have shown proper motivation in the arts of cultivation the family has decided to offer you greater incentives. You have reached red soul, but don't be content. The first step is never the hardest."
Gu Lin bowed demurely and said, "Of course Grandfather. I will take your words to heart."
Grandpa turned his head and smiled. "Go on then. Scurry off. I will be right behind you. If you have questions I will answer."
Gu Lin smiled back. The ritual was over and now she could have fun. She dashed off through the frozen dance with laughter bubbling from her throat. She was a cultivator now! Jumping from display to display Gu Lin dashed through the vault looking at anything that caught her eye. Finally, she collapsed onto the warm stone and tried her best to pant past her smile. Grandpa's face shaded her as he leaned over her.
"Well that was an exciting run." Grandpa said. "I haven't seen someone have that much energy in the vault in a long time. Are the stones still warm?"
Gu Lin nodded vigorously. Her hair, having become disarrayed, whipped around her.
Grandpa snorted. "If your mother saw your hair now she would have a fit. Lucky for us she isn't here." Slowly he laid down on the stone. "Which means I can get away with this! Ahh… this feels good on my back. You almost tuckered me out there with your running little spitfire."
Gu Lin twisted her neck and smiled at grandpa. She knew that was a lie. Grandpa was the strongest. Before she could go back to enjoying the warmth of the stone she saw something almost sparkle past grandpa's bald head. "What's that grandpa?" She asked.
"Hmm..?"
"That. Right there." Gu Lin got up and walked over to the small display case. Inside, resting on a velvet pillow, was a small pendant. It was carved to look like a dancing flame and had a wonderful array of different reds. From pink near the edges all the way to an almost black crimson near the base. The only thing that seemed to flaw the delicate piece was a faded section near the middle. It looked like a thumb had rested on that spot so many times that the colors had faded.
"Ahh… that piece." Grandpa's voice broke through her trance. "It's a wonderful little piece isn't it."
"What's it do grandpa?"
"It plays a song."
"A song?" Gu Lin looked around. "That's it? That doesn't sound very…"
"Interesting?" Grandpa chuckled. "Perhaps not. But it was a valued treasure of your ancestor Gu Xiulan."
"Xiulan owned this!" Gu Lin felt her cheeks heat up as she realized she had yelled right at grandpa.
"Hahaha! Yes your hero Xiulan. I still remember when you kids would fight over who got to be Xiulan in the little games you played." Grandpa's sudden pose made Gu Lin throw her face into her hands. "I am Xiulan. I shall burn away your evil!"
"Grandpa!!" Gu Lin whined as she peeked through her hands. "That's so embarrassing! I'm not a kid anymore! I'm a cultivator! I don't do that kid stuff anymore."
Grandpa's gnarled hand mussed her hair up even more. "Sorry sorry." He said with a smile. "Would you like to hear the song?"
Gu Lin nodded through her hands as she struggled to control her blush.
"Alright."
With the pendant in his hand a lovely melody began to play. It sounded nice, but something itched at Gu Lin. There was something that she was missing in the song. As she looked at grandpa's pleased face she knew he could hear something that she couldn't. When the song finally petered out she asked her question.
"Grandpa…" She started hesitantly. "That was a very nice song, but why…"
"Why is it in this vault?" Grandpa said. "The paths of cultivation are beyond counting. We of the Gu focus on the strength and purity of flame to guide us, but not every family does so. Some cultivators have music as part of their path. To those cultivators music is far more than just sound. Just as fire is far more than just heat to a Gu. To truly hear the message left behind in this recording you will need to be at a certain level of spiritual strength."
Gu Lin nodded at grandpa's words. "I think I understand grandpa."
"Hmm… I don't think you do, yet. Someday you will. But not today. Enough talk of things above your years. There is another reason this recording is in the vault."
"What is it grandpa?"
"What do you know of the ancient cultivator Ling Qi?"
Gu Lin blinked at the sudden shift in topic. "She was an immensely strong cultivator that founded the Ling family. We have been strong allies with them since their inception. Going on trade missions to their home is considered a mark of honor and gives those that go a chance to meditate on the rare aspect of fire the Living Mountain possess. Beyond that I do not know much."
Grandpa fiddled with his beard before responding. "Good good. That is all true, but a key part of Ling Qi's path was music. Some who incorporate music into their paths leave many recordings of themselves behind. Not so with Ling Qi. Each recording that she left is sought after by those that wish to study her works or simply collect her songs. The recording we just used is the first one she ever made."
Gu Lin scrunched her nose. "So some people think the song is valuable?"
Grandpa chuckled. "I wonder how many hearts would break at the dismissive tone you took at Honorable Ling Qi's work. But, yes. Every century or so some collector will approach us and offer great treasures for the recording."
"Why haven't we sold it than?" She asked.
Grandpa smiled down at her. "The message the song gives was meant for Xiulan. Even though ancestor Xiulan is long gone we respect her wishes. It is a link between us and the trials our ancestors endured to become the symbols they are today. Soon you will learn even more about your hero and her adventures."
"When grandpa!?" Gu Lin could feel her energy returning as they turned away from the small pendant resting on a velvet cushion.
"When you finally finish your math assignment I think."
The groan echoed in the vault long after the doors closed and the light giving formations turned off.
A.N
Omake for the Omake throne
@yrsillar
It's been a while since I wrote an omake for this story but this idea wouldn't leave me. Please enjoy!
