Spinning Webs
A most delightful opportunity had arrived.
Nearly fallen into my lap, really.
A young man muttered almost happily to himself, idly toying with a faux-man-chu as he walked through the grey area that lay between the Inner Sect and Outer Sect territory of the Argent Peaks. Oh ho, yes. The rumors had been flowing constantly, and a little birdie had literally been loose lipped about a certain wealthy noble with whom an unbacked Cultivator could develop a connection and understanding. Yes indeed. The Sun thing had been a bust, I mused, especially after he had confirmed just how rotting that sinking ship was with the Princess herself, and that meant only one thing!
Time for more networking!
It was this decision which brought me here, to the bottom of a rocky valley, footsteps unhurried as even with closed eyes the world around me was still as obvious as ever. The Inner Sect disciple didn't even need to rely on any particular skills to find my destination - all that was needed was to have Brother Wind tell find where the screaming wind spirits were - and within what felt like mere moments a large construction came into view.
A webbed, cocoon-like workshop attached stubbornly to the side of the valley, from which billowed all sorts of exotic smoke and detritus from the crafting process. As prodigious as the my sensory skills were, it would be better to avoid finding out too much about what was at work in that madhouse, and with that decision in mind I stepped forward, bowing politely towards the bizarre structure holding a similarly bizarre individual.
"Sect Brother Zhiqiang greets Sect Sister Bao!" I call out, bowing deeply, "This one seeks to hold council with you, if time and circumstances permit." And if that misanthrope does not, I have my ways to make her listen. Oh yes. Someone like her would not have heard of the gossip I was aware of, and if my understanding of the Bao siblings characters was correct...Then there was leverage to exploit, for sure.
No answer was forthcoming, but that was fine: I could wait.
Hours ticked by as I held my bowing pose, and Brother Wind busied himself by desperately corralling the formless first realm wind spirits away from the oversized web which had proven to be the bane of so many of their kind. Ah, but what else should I expect from a gossipmonger, to be anything other than a busybody?
Time still passed as the Sun began to set, and even so a veritable cloud of the wind spirits had gathered around me, the result of Brother Winds own efforts to save the mindless, irreverent things from the inevitable course of their fates as being the food of some oversized arachnid. But that was fine, I held little doubt that a spirit which survived off taking sustenance from such a trap would allow that deprivation to go unanswered.
The first stars appeared in the sky before I detected a response; a hatch at the very top of the structure sliding open. My senses cast upon it revealed a ladder leading into it's claustrophobic depths, and with a nod of thanks I approached the unwelcoming cliff face. Heavenly Qi launched from me, two arrows which sank deeply into the top of the cliff and another at it's foot, tethered together by a ghostly flickering of Qi, split into two threads. A tap of the foot sifted the earth at my feet, and a comfortable platform was raised, quickly attaching itself to the crude pulley system I had constructed.
It took only moments before I had ascended to my destination, and for the sake of propriety I took a few more as I carefully entered the lair of Bao Qingling.
"So." The willowy woman before me stated without preamble, "Why are you here?"
I settled myself into a seat at what I assumed was a sitting room, and after noting a lack of tea being prepared decided that was fair enough before going straight to business, "I have some information you may be interested in, and would like to propose a deal."
My pale, raccoon-eyed fellow Disciple narrowed her eyes, "And who are you again?" With a flourish, I produced a jade slip with my name, business, and contact information. Gloved hands snatched it from my grip, the action so smooth as to be nearly mechanical, and it was but a moment before she glanced back at me.
"I think I've heard of you."
"Only good things, I hope." I say, a winsome smile as my free hand returns to pawing my facial hair.
"Not particularly." Bao places the slip into a pocket, "So what's the information?"
I consider my approach, now that I've made the necessary introductions. This woman was straightforward. Painfully so. If I tried to dance around the subject and dragged out the conversation I'd only rankle her, which was the exact opposite of what I wanted. However, if I gave her the information I had, and framed it correctly...She'd likely just give me what I wanted as a matter of course. That made things simple.
I took a deep breath.
"It's come to my attention that before the week is through, your Honored Brother intends to drop in on you to see how you're doing." I say bluntly, and watch as Bao's face blanches, "Given that he appears to have initially been here to negotiate deals with the Guo and their vassals while providing face to the Cai, this turn of events was likely due to a spontaneous decision on his part."
Whatever uninterested apathy that had existed within her gaze was long gone, the Spider-woman now intently focused upon me, "So my fatass of a brother is coming." Gloved fingers flexed, the scaled leather creaking slightly from the motion, "When."
I shrug, "It's unknown, exactly, when he will find the time to come visit. But given the schedule of the tournament, there are only so many opportunities that will arise."
Dark eyes glance to the side in annoyance, as the craftswoman before me begins going over the nature of her projects, which ones she can afford to leave abandoned, which ones she can afford to leave around for her sibling to take a potential interest in, and any other number of factors. Ordinarily, I'd be fascinated as well, but the cultivator before me had a certain reputation for how much she valued her privacy. For all my flaws, I was not so curious as to pick a fight with a near-peer in the center of her power, no sir.
I intended to keep my true strength a secret for just a bit longer, after all.
"I would like to offer my services in this matter." I continue after a moment, drawing Bao's attention back to me, "I would hope to have an opportunity to chat with your Honored Brother, and while under ordinary circumstances I don't think you would be able to take proper measures on short notice..." I stroked my beard once again, "I'm sure that will be less of a concern if your Honored Brother finds his time eaten up in conversation, thus limiting the time he could spare from his
very busy schedule."
"Go on."
"It is nothing complicated." I continue, "Through my own means I could give you an early warning for when your brother is on his way, and I could 'coincidentally' be in the area, you provide a suitable context and excuse for he and I to meet and converse, I take up as much of his time as I can, and you don't have to worry about him having enough opportunity to violate the privacy of your workshop." I raise an eyebrow at the infamously needley woman before me, "Does this deal sound like it's to your liking, Sect Sister?"
Bao Qingling stands up, staring at me, "I can reach you with the information on that slip you gave me, correct?"
"Absolutely."
She nods, "I'll consider it." A boot raises up, as if to stomp before pausing in the air, "One last question: What made my brother decide to be nosy all of a sudden?"
I shrug, "Something about the visit from Cai Renxiang's newest retainer. That commoner girl, Junior Sister..."
Ling Qi, thank you, Brother Wind, "Ling Qi, I think it was."
The raccoon-eyes before me narrow, "Thank you for the information, Sect Brother." The boot stomps down, and then the woman's bizarre spider spirit grabs her and drags her deeper into this screwed up funhouse of a workshop.
Well.
That had been a productive way to spend the evening!
