The School of Li
Of course knowledge is not inherently dangerous. It has no ability to stab you with a knife or shatter your dantian. The danger from knowledge is what man can use it for, and for some knowledge, the danger far outweighs any possible benefit. As demonstrated by the sanction and censure of the rouge Li and Ling researchers; the Mocking Puppet Parasite should never have been created.
-- Teng Zhi, Formations Expert in the School of Li
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Many shy away from our school of work, this is true. A perverse reflection of Cai's works, the mockers say, fit only for dregs that can not muster the skill to work on true art, true beauty, and true glory. Their words have some merit, but their hubris and arrogance blind them to the reason for the School of Li, which we will touch on momentarily. Similarities can certainly be drawn between the wondrous work of the Cai and their students and the work of Li. One makes the artificial and gives it life and purpose. The other takes life and purpose and twists it into something artificial. But this is where the similarities end, for the work of Cai and the work of Li strive for very different goals and to further compare them is to do a disservice to both.
It is here, I feel, that a discussion of the history for our School is necessary, both to demonstrate why it diverges so widely from the more traditional formation or medical work of the Empire and to make a point as to what the true goal and nature of the School of Li is. It is traditionally noted that our foundations lay with Elder Li Suyin of the Argent Peak Sect, specifically with her work as an Inner Sect Disciple of that very same sect when war broke out between the Emerald Seas, the Cloud Tribes of the Wall, and the Ha'yth'kai of the Underearth. Recognizing very early on in the war her talents, acumen, and character, the Argent Sect invested heavily in her work and arranging others to study and learn from her efforts. Such attention proved decisive in their efforts to hold back the Ha'yth'kai beneath them as well as their efforts to mitigate the enemy's overwhelming advantage beneath the earth.
Tools of war, of environmental mitigation, and other potent workings soon were being churned out of Li Suyin's workshops at an astonishing rate. Her fellow students struggled to match the insights that Li Suyin regularly achieved and were subsequently directed to refine and optimize Li Suyin's discoveries while the sect directed her to delve even deeper into the research needed to create advantages against their new foe. Under their instruction and patronage, Li Suyin did just that. Melding traditional Imperial formation knowledge and experience under the Argent Sect's Talisman Department, ancient and forgotten methodologies of the Old Hill Tribes and the new resources and materials extracted from the Sect's holdings and expeditions into the Underearth Li Suyin broke through barrier after barrier to her research. The rate of her research and findings only compounded with liberated knowledge of the Ha'yth'kai inferior versions of formations and the use of surrendering Ha'yth'kai city-states tributed wealth distributed to the Argent Sect.
However, such research and accolades may well have stayed within the Argent Sect proper if not for Li Suyin's skill in acquiring friends in high places throughout the Emerald Seas. Her previous tutelage under a scion of the Bao allowed her to more easily spread her creations throughout the greater Empire through their connections with the Celestial Peaks, Ebon Rivers, and Golden Fields. Furthermore, connections with prominent Cai Clan vassals, most notable the nascent Ling Clan, allowed her to ply her research through the trade routes created via the political machinations of the Emerald Seas, Thousand Lakes, and Savage Seas. While it is true that her name and research efforts did spread far and wide outside of the Emerald Seas, her true seat of acclaim would always remain within her home province given the ruling authorities' interest in suppressing the Ha'yth'kai and extracting useful materials from their tributaries.
This startling early success led others to seek to emulate her work, forming the foundations of the School of Li. It is unfortunate, then, that the foundation set by Li Suyin would be ripe for abuse by those of less moral character than the founder. Terrible creations were created through the advancement of Li Suyin's work, but future researchers were less careful in the shackling of their creations to the will of the creator. This lack of foresight and care lead to various disasters within the labs and workshops of those who followed the School of Li, culminating in the failure of a joint project between members of the Li Clan and Ling Clan which created the Mocking Puppet Parasite. While I will not go into detail regarding the failures of the work, reprisal from the Imperial Throne was swift and brutal. Only the quick disavowal of the project and the researchers by both the Ling and Li clans, an unprecedented occurrence, allowed the School of Li to survive complete censorship and dismantling.
Our school of thought is still slowly regaining the prestige and influence that we once had before that disaster. It is true, though, that our goals from the very foundation of the school have not changed. To take that which is ugly and abominable and making something useful from it. This was exemplified in the latest attempt by a Ha'yth'kai city-state to secure their freedom through violence. Duke Cai Guang, in his wisdom, authorized the utilization and release of the Li vaults to suppress the city-state. Horrors and abominations were released from their shackled pens and fell upon the Ha'yth'kai, sweeping aside their defenders and warriors. Due to the actions of those produced creatures, only minor casualties occurred when the suppression expedition followed the trail the creatures created.
It is upon this history that a follower of Li's School builds their future. We work upon that which others look upon in disgust for the betterment of the Empire. Ours is not the work that is celebrated by the masses, and indeed many express fear for our art, but it is undeniably useful. Even the Emperors and Empresses who have ruled our Empire have used the cultivation aids our school has produced, especially in conjunction with other aids, for the clearing of meridians. So do not be discouraged by the mockers who understand so little of our work and compare it to the work of the Cai's. Take heart that our work has supported the Empire in a multitude of ways. Do not despair regarding the restrictions imposed upon us by the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Integrity. Rejoice in the fact that our art has such potential that others must restrict our avenues of research to feel comfortable with our progress.
A/N:
@yrsillar another omake for the omake throne! This one is about a possible future where the work of Li Suyin is only the beginning of an entirely new school of thought regarding the intersection of formation and medical knowledge. I hope you enjoy the read!
