The Path Unending (A Cultivation Quest)

A/N: A big thanks to the 35 people who have pledged to me on Patreon! If you'd like to join them, you can do so here.

Commission time, people! Today's commissioner asked for something a bit different. He wanted to see something on the day of Zhi's birth from the point of view of another Kong. I looked at it and thought, 'huh. Why not go full tiny person?'. The following is the result.
----------------
On an ordinary day, there is nothing more in the world that Kong Cui enjoys more than wandering through the cramped buildings that make up the Kong Compound. There is always something for her to see- or better yet, something for her to do. Just yesterday, she had gotten to help unload a barge at the docks! Sure, the boxes were bigger than she was, but she had still managed to lift the little one all by herself! She did such a good job that the Captain gave her a whole bronze talent to spend however she wanted! And the day before, there was a travelling peddler who was so happy that she liked her candy that she had given Kong Cui a little doll, just for her! Oh, and the day before that, she got to watch Mother wrestle a giant octowasp that wanted to make a nest in the walls.

...really, Kong Cui much preferred the peddler. The octowasp was funny to look at, but she can cuddle her stuffed fluffy whenever she goes to bed!

But today, Kong Cui has no time to stop and greet the peddlers or help at the docks. She cannot even go over to the river and find out what's living under that big stone- and she knows that something is underneath it. No, Mother has told her that she'll have to save the stone for later. For now, she's got responsibilities to do.

One day, she'll ask what 'responsibilities' are. But today, she has other questions in mind, all of which she chirps out at Mother as she trots along in her wake. "Mother? Mother?" she calls at the back of Mother's knees. "Where did my cousin come from?"

From the angle Kong Cui is standing at, she can barely glimpse the twitching of her Mother's mouth. "Ask again when you are older, Cui," she replies.

"But I want to know now!" Kong Cui responds, folding her arms over her chest. Who does Mother think she's talking to- Kong De? Kong De has got rocks in his head; Mother can refuse to answer his questions all she wants! But Kong Cui is smart enough to understand anything Mother can tell her! She's big and strong! Her fifth nameday was last month! Mother should have more faith in her. "Tell me, Mother! Please?"

Mother snorts in the way that always means she's hiding a laugh, even though Kong Cui hasn't said anything funny at all. "No," comes the short response. When Kong Cui breathes in deeply to resume her pleading, Mother lifts a hand to ward her off. "Ask your fathers."

"I did!" Kong Cui responds proudly. "But they all told me different things."

Mother stops abruptly, a lowered hand barely keeping Kong Cui from running into the back of her knees. "What, exactly, did your fathers tell you?"

Kong Cui glances up at her Mother and wracks her brain, struggling to remember everything that she was taught. "Father said that Cousin Zhi was brought to Auntie Ru and Uncle Shu by a big snake! They wanted a baby and went outside to the garden! They asked the snake that lived there if they could please have a baby, and they asked nice enough that the snake went and got one for them!"

The little girl pauses and strokes her chin, deep in thought. "Wouldn't the snake just eat Cousin Zhi though? Why would he bring him to Auntie Ru and Uncle Shu? Father's sources may be wrong."

She doesn't let her mind linger on the possibility of her Father being incorrect- such an idea is clearly faulty and not to be entertained. "And Papa said there was no snake at all! He says that Auntie and Uncle went into the garden, but they went there to plant a seed. They took real good care of it and when it grew, Cousin Zhi was there!"

Mother looks like she is holding in another laugh. "Seeds were certainly planted," she muses absently.

Kong Cui nods sagely at her Mother's words. She knew that Papa had the best information!

"And what about your Daddy?" Mother asks a moment ago. "What did he tell you?"

The little girl stares up at her Mother, eyes wide and imploring. "He told me that I should ask you."

Mother sighs. "Of course," she mumbles. Then she reaches down and takes Kong Cui's hand, stepping forward and guiding her daughter along with her. "I… your Papa was closest. It… let us just say that your Aunt and Uncle made your Cousin."

"Like… in Uncle Shu's workshop?" Kong Cui asks, mind racing as she pictures her Uncle hunched over his loom. "Did he… did he weave Cousin Zhi? Or maybe he forged him? Oh! He carved him out of wood! Captain Zhang says that no ship is complete without a lady made of wood onboard! Of course they can make boy wood people too-"

The second youngest Kong freezes in place. "Mother? Is Cousin Zhi a ship?"

As Kong Cui works through the existential dread that comes from suspecting that she is now related to a boat, Mother leads her off the road and into Uncle Shu's house. But there are no fewer people within the house than there are outside. The normally quiet building is packed from wall to wall with Kongs of all shapes and sizes.

Family members Kong Cui has only ever heard of fill the waiting hall and they mingle with those that she sees every day. Auntie Shufen is talking with Uncle Bai, Auntie Yun and Auntie Yun are sitting next to each other and laughing, and even Uncle Qiu has made it! He's sitting near the hearth, telling everyone around him what he's seen in the Waste and for a moment, Kong Cui wants to go listen to his stories.

Then she notices that Cousin De is sitting next to him and she loses her interest. Uncle Qiu's stories are the best, but even they are not worth listening to Cousin De and his bragging about how he's already carving a journeyman level, as if that's something to talk about!

So instead, Kong Cui sticks with her Mother. Mother is also glancing around the hall, eyes scanning to see who is here and who was unable to make it. Eventually, she seems to see something surprising, and she tows Kong Cui over towards the side of the room. There, a petite woman with dark red hair awaits, and Kong Cui is suddenly thrilled that she didn't run over to Uncle Qiu.

Uncle Qiu may have stories, but Lady Ning always has presents.

Today may be an exception, however. Though she offers a low bow to Mother and a fond smile to Kong Cui, she makes no move to dig in her pockets for something fun. Instead she stands in silence, waiting for Mother to speak first- something which Mother wastes no time in doing. "Where's Fang?" Mother asks curtly.

"Lord Fang has already visited with Shuren and Lady Ru," Lady Ning replies easily. "In the aftermath of their meeting, he discovered other, pressing matters that will sadly keep him occupied for quite some time."

The petite woman stops for a moment and adjusts the spectacles perched on the bridge of her nose. "I am unsure precisely what transpired when Lord Fang offered Shuren his congratulations. I suspect that he may have offered a viewpoint he has presented previously. Should you share his thoughts, I would suggest not voicing them today."

Mother snorts as Kong Cui inspects Lady Ning's hands. Nope, no present has popped into being yet. Maybe it's still in her pockets! "Fang may be a boor, but he is not wrong. Little ShuShu is strong in the blood, yes, but that's no reason to rush out the heir. He's only years from the Warlord's Step; waiting to…" Mother pauses and glances down at Kong Cui. "...waiting until after would have been the smartest decision."

"Lady Bi, I understand and respect your thoughts, as do Lady Ru and Shuren," Lady Ning responds. "But if I may beg forgiveness for speaking boldly, I must say one thing."

The small woman straightens up until she is meeting Mother's gaze. "You may share those thoughts, but only a fool would voice them a day after my lord's first child has been born. Should you decide that you must be heard, you will likely also find pressing business that will take you far from Harmony. I believe that Shuren has been attempting to break into Everstand recently. Such an endeavor could only benefit from trusted and experienced hands such as yours."

Mother clicks her tongue in the same way she does when talking to stupid people, even though Lady Ning's not stupid. She and Lady Ning stare at each other for a moment, before Mother sighs, " I'm no fool," she finally says, but she nods slightly to Lady Ning. Then she straightens up and glances away, taking in the milling crowds. "How long must we wait before we are permitted to meet the… heir?"

"Not long at all," Lady Ning answers cheerily, all traces of her former steel forgotten. "Shuren asked that you and the little lady be moved to the front of the queue the moment you arrived." She stops, a small smile growing on her face once more before she turns to Kong Cui. "And do not think that I have forgotten you, young miss! I made something just for you- as long as you're not too big and strong to get gifts from one such as I."

"No! No!" Kong Cui chirps. "Please can I have it? Please?"

"Only if you've been good lately," Lady Ning responds. "Lady Bi, has little Cui earned a new toy?"

Mother shakes her head and sighs. "You are going to spoil the entire generation," she mutters. "But yes, Cui, you can have it!"

Kong Cui lets out a cheer as Lady Ning twists her finger and produces a small ball of glass. She passes it to Kong Cui who stares at it avidly, watching colors twist and wind within it's clear confines. As the young girl watches, the colors move, separating and pressing against the walls- and when Kong Cui moves her hands apart, each moves away with a globe containing a single color. "Wow!"

The toy is enough to keep Kong Cui entranced as she and her mother wait for Shuren's last audience to end. Soon enough though, Kong Ping strides back into the waiting room and Mother takes his place, towing Kong Cui along with her. The two move through the halls and up the stairs until finally, they are at Auntie Ru's bedroom door.

It cracks open before Mother can even knock. Uncle Shu, looking far more disheveled than Kong Cui has ever seen him, pushes it open as they arrive. "Hurry," he whispers to Mother. "He just woke up!"

Mother heeds Uncle Shu's words and pushes forward, almost jogging into the room and nearly lifting Kong Cui from her feet. When they stop, it is in front of Auntie Ru's bed. Kong Cui's aunt does not seem any less unkempt than her husband, but Kong Cui's focus is all on the small bundle clutched in her arms. It waves it's tiny, pudgy arms around and lets out a gurgle, drawing a smile from Auntie Ru.

"A good omen," the bedridden woman sighs. "He has been far less congenial to our other visitors."

Kong Cui peers at him. He's… he's so small. And he's not made of wood! Kong Cui grins and looks up at her Mother. "He's not a ship, Mother!"

That draws stares from both Uncle Shu and Auntie Ru, stares that Mother waves off with a mumble of "It is a strange story."

Auntie Ru simply shakes her head. "No, Cui, he is not a ship. This is your cousin Zhi."

Kong Cui darts to the side of the bed to get a better glimpse. One hand tentatively reaches out- and finds a finger locked in a tight grip. Behind her, Uncle Shu lets out a relieved sound and Auntie Ru's smile only grows wider. "He likes you, Cui!"

"Of course he does," Mother answers without shame. "It is a good sign that one so young exhibits such excellent judgement."

Kong Cui doesn't hear her Mother. She barely hears her Aunt. All of her focus is on the baby in front of her. Slowly, she reaches out with her other hand and pokes Zhi.

...where did he come from? Was he grown in a tube in a refiner's shop? Or maybe he was formed from some sort of clay? If Kong Cui goes out to visit the garden, will the snake bring her another tiny cousin?!

This requires experimentation.