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

"You're enjoying the atmosphere I see," Ling Qi said airily, stepping out from between a pair of passing disciples and a nearby food table. She hadn't been standing anywhere close to either a moment ago, but it was her party and she could ignore space and distance if she liked.

"Just basic host rights, that is," Sixiang agreed.

Xiao Fen naturally did not jump, but she did stiffen and that was enough. Besides, Liu Xin jumped high enough for the both of them whirling around with wide eyes.

"It is a most energetic gathering, Lady Ling," Xiao Fen said, barely turning her head. "Wild even."

Was that sass? Ling Qi wondered, tilting her head. Xiao Fen had definitely improved since she saw the girl last. "I have sampled many types of hospitality," she replied dismissively. "Some energy makes more intense and lasting impressions, don't you think?"

"Definitely not what I was expecting," Liu Xin said, glancing around.

"You imagined something a little more formal I'm guessing," ling Qi said.

He nodded, glancing at her nervously.

"That might be more normal, but there are limits to that kind of thing," Ling Qi said."Where did your Lady go, by the by Xiao Fen?"

"Lady Bai had some private discussions to attend to," Xiao Fen replied flatly. Her eyes scanned around cold and burning. Nearby disciples flinched at her examination and hurried along.

Well, one could only expect so much progress.

"Well why don't you attend me for a time. There is a talisman demonstration going on in in one of the eastern sections. That might be more interesting to you?"

"Yeah?" Liu Xin asked, perking up. "I've wondered what the Inner Sect scene'd be like."

Xiao fen pursed her lips and glanced at her friend. She looked to Ling Qi, and seemed to struggle for a moment. "Acceptable."

"Well come along then, Liu Xin, while we walk, how were things in the Outer Sect during those last days. I want to hear all about it," Ling Qi said, ushering them along with an amused smile.

It wasn't wholly for the purpose of picking up tidbits to tease Xiao Fen with, although that was a benefit. Liu Xin, who was as much out of place as she had been at the beginning really did need the help to loosen up, and it worked. His words came easier with every sentence that met an attentive ear.

Things had gotten chaotic toward the end of days in the Outer Sect, though after direct battle was made verboten by the war, the striving against the Sun allies took on a subtler character. Contests of skill, constant work to undermine one another or cause members to shame their factions became the norm.

In truth Xiao Fen had ended up in a troublesome position. Her instinct toward… finality often caused trouble, though apparently Meizhen had talked her through less brutal conflict resolution.

…Well it wasn't really possible for the Bai to get a worse reputation in that regard, so any kind of improvement was probably good.

It didn't take long even working through the crisscrossing hedge rows to reach the correct field, and Ling Qi heard the sounds of their destination well before they reached. Wang Chao might be very slightly cannier than he looked, but he matched Gan Guangli's loudness honestly.

"Bwahaha! You look absurd Liang He!"

Ling Qi tilted her head curiously as they rounded the last corner, coming into view of the display field. Here the grass had been removed with prejudicine by both Zhengui and Wang Chao's spirit beast, leaving behind well packed but dusty earth. There were fewer disciples here, but all around the perimeter hedges were the stations of the invited crafting disciples. All from the lower five hundred.

It had meant excluding Suyin, but that girl hardly needed the advertisement, and it let her talk with the girl about the lower ranking crafters that she thought could use a hand. It all worked out.

There in the center of the field was Wang Chao, holding his stomach as he howled with laughter. Near him was the source. Liang He, his friend, the handsome swordsman she had dueled for rank once stood balanced on one foot, he had a thin, guardless sword in each hand. Another pair attached backward to his elbows, one clutched in the crook of his knee, and another stuck to the bottom of his boot. The last he had clenched in his teeth. They were all connected to him via a subtle wire-like aura of sharp edged sword qi. As she watched he tensed his one free leg and jumped up, performing a flip with each blade flashing out in a complex cutting arc that made the wind howl.

He landed back on a single foot to the more restrained laughter of the other disciples present, and the nervous and embarrassed smile of the dark skinned young man Ling Qi took to be the craftsman.

Liang He relaxed and the swords fell with a clatter snapping into a bundle as if drawn to each other on the ground. "The quality of each blade is good, superb balance and steelwork."

"More for a dancer than a warrior though," Wang Chao chuckled as Liang He scooped up the bundle.

"Yes," Liang He agreed, proffering them back to the crafter kindly. "But it is only a proof of concept yes?"

"Yes Sir Wang, Sir Liang, I am only testing my ability to craft a single talisman from many pieces. The finished project should fly rather than needing such contortions," the disciple hurried to say.

"Well, maybe market this to the entertainers to pay your way eh, I'd pay to see a full sword dance with that set up," Wang Chao laughed before his eyes fell on her. "Ah! Lady Ling, come to see what's about? I had heard you were down a talisman."

"I'm not in the market just yet," Ling Qi demurred, dashing any blooming hope in the eyes of the disciples. It was more polite than saying that she was certainly looking for something with a quality outside of their reach.

…She wasn't even sure what she was looking for exactly.

"I was just showing some friends about," she continued, stepping aside to give her companions. "May I introduce Lady Bai Xiao Fen, and Lord Liu Xin?"

She felt the young man looking so perturbed by the title, but he was technically a baron now, though she understood that without backing like hers his title meant even less just yet.

Fortunately most eyes fell on Xiao Fen, who scanned the crowd like a warrior judging threats. She bowed stiff and precise. "It is my honor to attend. Please do not put the demonstrations aside for my sake."

"Ah yeah, that's a real good trick, taking advantage of the natural attraction between the qi in that particular alloy right?" Liu Xin offered.

Eyes turned to the other crafting disciple who nodded tentatively. "Yes, you have sharp eyes sir Liu, to notice without a close inspection. Do you work with metals as well?"

"I like ceramics more, but you should be familiar with the basics of everything, right?" Liu Xin said.

"It's wise to have a grounding in a few fields," one of the observing disciples agreed. "But spreading yourself too widely is foolish."

"Well, I think Miss Xiao Fen can speak for his skill," Ling Qi said, turning to Xiao Fen.

The other girl shot her a look then replied stiffly. "Liu Xin's skill is not inferior to the common works of the Thousand Lakes."

Liu Xin shot her a look of fond exasperation, and some of the disciples looked confused, but a few, those from more established and knowledgeable families she suspected, looked outright poleaxed for a moment.
Bai pride was a thing.

"Well, do you have any of your works on you?" One of them asked as Ling Qi took a step back.

The young man frowned. "Just some basics… ah Xiao Fen, you still have some of those knives I made for you?"

"A few," Xiao Fen replied, a flick of her wrist brought three shimmering silver knives, held blade first between her fingers, proffering them toward the others.

Liang He was the one brave enough to take them, with Wang Chao looking on bemused.

"Interesting shape, these barbs, I'd say they were meant to catch and tear flesh, but silver is a bit soft for that and a weapon in general," Liang He said, balancing the point on one of his fingers.

"It is for the absorbative properties. Silver is the metal of the moon, and its properties are heavily yin, it absorbs other qi well. I don't want to presume, but poison…?"

His question, spoken carefully, was directed at Xiao Fen.

"My cold fire, but it is the same principle," Xiao Fen replied. "The barbs provide additional contact points for the embers to catch in the enemies qi."

"Hm, the metalwork is a bit shoddy though isn't it?" Wang Chao said plucking the dagger from Liu Xin's hands, full of bubbles and faults, though they're a bit odd…"

"They're meant to break," Liu Xin said, straightening up stiffly. "They're made for her but they can take most forms of corrosive qi, it builds up in the bubbles and faults, soaks the metal really thoroughly."

Wang Chao squinted, and then grinned. "Aha! Then boom! You said you work with ceramics, but you mean explosives don't you! Knew you had the feel of a blast miner about you!"

Liu Xin rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little flushed, and Ling Qi took another step back, fading into shadow, and then vanishing through the hedge as the conversation went on. She hadn't been able to tease Xiao Fen as much as she'd liked, but maybe this was better for now.

"My thanks for your intervention."

Ling Qi gave her friend, Bai Meizhen, and friendly nod. She was loitering under one of the arches on the other side of the hedge Ling Qi had used to exit the field, she stood alone, but not shrouded in fear. The aura of terror that had been Bai Meizhen's trademark since the first day of the sect simmered in her eyes, and under her skin, controlled utterly.

"I'm starting to get the hang of little nudges," Ling Qi said. Was this what Xin so enjoyed indulging in?

"I am trying to instill Xiao Fen with a little more initiative but it is a lengthy task," Bai Meizhen agreed. "But it is good to see you again, Ling Qi."

"I have been busy, Ling Qi acknowledged, falling in beside her friend as they began to walk. "Have you ever been to Xiangmen? It's beyond description."

"My carriage stopped there on the way to the Sect," Bai Meizhen said. "While it cannot compare to Lake Hei, it is truly impressive."

"What have you been doing Meizhen?" Ling Qi asked casually confident that between her and her friend, no one here would overhear them.

"Arranging my business with the Bao, reviewing my subordinates abilities, studying your reports of these foreigners and keeping an ear to the courts through my teacher."

"She is still here?" Ling QI said, thinking of the Bai Ambassador who was tutoring Meizhen.

"She will remain at the Duchess side. Convenient, giving my own posting," Bai Meizhen said.

"I'm still a little surprised you're getting away with that," Ling Qi said.

"Some are already calling our clique 'little Xiangmen' it is mostly derisive for now, but not wrong," Bai Meizhen said. "It falls in and out of practice, but placing your heir in a position to oversee your province in miniature is not unknown. My Aunt is pleased enough to extend the game for her ally."

"I suppose she's selling it as part of the resettlement efforts?" Ling Qi said blithely.

"My, you do pay attention now. Yes, young Bai are being encouraged to 'rough it' more to show leadership outside of the palaces. There is some resistance…"

"But 'stopping the youth from getting soft' is never a hard sell with the sort who usually oppose her?"

"Just so," Bai Meizhen laughed, as they approached the central field where many of the spirits were gathered around Zhengui. To Ling Qi's amusement Cui was coiled up on his shell and Zhen was all but vibrating with anxiety.

They stopped near the edge of the field, to not interrupt. Ling Qi glanced at her friend."So, has it been decided yet, where you'll be staying?"

"The Argent Sect has graciously offered to host us. They are already undergoing a major building expansion and adding a fortified embassy is not difficult," Bai Meizhen's lips twisted in a sardonic smile. "And the Sects are ostensibly neutral among the provinces already."

"The throne approves?" Ling Qi asked worriedly.

"I do not think it does precisely," Bai Meizhen said neutrally. "Which is why we are considering other options. There is the meeting site itself of course…"

"But also our 'little Xiangmen'," Ling Qi finished

"Once there is a settlement worth the name anyway," Bai Meizhen said with a small smile. "Likely the meeting point for now. But, perhaps the Bai might be of aid to our allies still?"

"Oh?" Ling Qi said.

"How long has it been since we walked into danger together Qi? I feel some youthful hotheadedness, it must be said."

"Ah, and it would distract from other indiscretions," Ling Qi smirked. "Well there are a few places that might be good for cooling heated blood."

"Superb," Meizhen replied. "Ah, by the bye, which of my retainers would you prefer to be my liaison since I cannot be on site yet?"

Ling Qi considered, thinking back to the time spent in the Bai's company at the tournament. If she had to pick it would be…

[ ] Lao Keung, the stolid soldier(opens the characters participation in various actions)

[ ] Xia Anxi, the prickly diplomat(Opens characters participation in various actions)