- Location
- United States of America
Ahahahahahahahahah xD 10000 year old elder spirit tofu OP plz nerf
Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
Ahahahahahahahahah xD 10000 year old elder spirit tofu OP plz nerf
Thunderdome redux FIN
Ling Qi was tired, her limbs felt like lead, and even opening her eyes seemed like it would be a monumental effort. The dewey grass under her back and the cool night air at least made her rest comfortable though. She wouldn't mind lying here forever, not really. It was peaceful and quiet, and that was really enough given how frantic things had been.
Ling Qi frowned, finding the thought discomforting. What had been frantic? She couldn't really remember. Voices yelling, a tearing pain in her abdomen, incomprehensible sounds. It all made her so tired. She really didn't want to think about it. Wouldn't it be better to just drift away and relax? When was the last time she had slept for more than an hour at a time?
"Isn't that a little boring though?" Ling Qi's eyes snapped open as she heard her own voice speaking, but not from her own lips. She lay in the middle of a field of shining white flowers beneath a starry sky, the crooked crescent of the moon shining bright and large overhead.
She found herself staring up at her own face, it wasn't hers exactly though. It seemed older, and partially hidden behind a partially transparent black veil. Those were her eyes though, bright blue and piercing. She stared up at her own amused expression for a time, and eventually closed her eyes again. She felt like she should be feeling something, alarm maybe, but she just couldn't manage it. Her older doppelganger seemed content to simply watch her, so she could just go to sleep.
There was something wrong with that thought, but she couldn't say why.
She began to drift off, the only sound in the clearing her own breath and the soft rustle of the wind through the flowers. It wasn't to last though, she only had a moment to feel cool fingers brushing up her sides before the assault began. Ling Qi let out an indignant squawk, the leaden feeling in her limbs vanishing as she felt the other's fingers tickling under her arms. She squirmed away quickly, rolling into a crouch as she glared at the aged image across from her.
"Hm, that's a good face," older Ling Qi said, her lips twisted into an amused smirk behind her veil. "Are you sure you want to glare at me like that though? I can be pretty scary, you know?" She cocked her head to the side, and for an instant the veil across her face rippled to white, her eyes burned red, and the moon overhead wavered, replaced by an opposite facing crescent.
Ling Qi shuddered, under the sudden enormous weight on her shoulders, lowering her head fractionally. "What is even… I was resting, why are you bothering me?" She shook her head like a dog trying to shed water, and the feeling of pressure faded. "And don't touch me like that either," she snapped, feeling indignant as she looked back up at the copies face, which had changed back to normal, regarding her with twinkling amusement in it's blue eyes. She didn't like being touched, a hand was fine, but whatever that was…
She giggled, twisting away from mother's hands, knowing that she could no longer pretend to be asleep, but she didn't care much, momma was smiling today.
"Well, it's hardly entertaining to let you lie there like a lump," her doppelganger said, her expression settling into an amused smirk. "Besides, isn't it the elder sisters right to tease the younger?"
Ling Qi frowned, "I don't have any siblings." She glared at the figure accusingly, her fuzzy thoughts moving slowly, where was she?
"Don't you?" the veiled figure asked, cocking her head to the side. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter."
"What do you want?" Ling Qi shot back, growing irritated for some reason she couldn't place. "Who are you?"
"Hm, well, that's a hard question," The figure mused, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her lips. "I'm you of course, but also not really? You wouldn't understand," the older-her shrugged. "As for what I want… I guess you could say I'm curious? You aren't exactly what I was expecting. The determination is good, but you've gotten so uptight. You hardly do anything fun anymore."
Ling Qi narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking…" her thoughts seemed to clear a bit for a moment, and a spark of understanding took root. "I don't have any reason to waste my time doing things like that anymore."
Other her frowned back at her, crouched amid the flowers. "That's a lie. You just don't want to look bad in front of your little friends," she accused. "It's still there, you know. The part of you that enjoyed the challenge of theft and trickery. Don't lie. You aren't happy just letting things go either. What happened to your fangs little rat? Have the snake and the tiger plucked them out?"
Ling Qi shook her head, remembered indignation from the slights she had suffered bubbling back up. "It's… not important, and I have too much to do. They aren't worth my time. Not anymore."
"You're afraid," the moon spirit replied, eyes no longer blue, but rather solid pools of silver. "Afraid of what others will think of you," she said, sounding disappointed. "Afraid of being who you are. Do you remember what you felt when you saw that boy's face as he fell into the well?"
Ling Qi remembered the satisfaction and delight at her success well enough, even if it had been quashed by other things shortly thereafter. "I…"
"Life is boring without risk," the spirit continued. "What is the point to a trick or a scheme that has no chance of failure? If all you do is plan and train, you may as well stay home in bed. Or cultivate in a cave until you are old and grey," the figure was growing indistinct, more a shadow than a human shape now. "You have enemies now, ones you can't dismiss as beneath you. I wonder if you will have more excuses… Or if you will remember how to live free, and how enemies deserve to be treated."
"I remember," Ling Qi replied, scowling at the dissipating mist. "I just remember my other priorities too." Still, she remembered now, everything that had happened… maybe she would have to look into getting some payback. Even if she didn't steal… some humiliation might be in order.
Temporary Bonus: +2 auto successes to darkness and moon art cultivation.
She shuddered, coughing from a suddenly dry throat, and opened her eyes. She found herself staring at a polished wood paneled ceiling rather than a starry sky. Her throat felt completely parched, and her stomach throbbed with pain. She flinched as she tried to sit up and made a rasping sound as she tried to speak.
A moment later a cup of water was pressed into her hands, and she looked over seeing Bai Meizhen sitting in a chair beside the bed she was lying in. They were in a small sparsely furnished chamber that she recognized as one of the medicine halls private recovery rooms. It took her a moment to take everything in. Bai Meizhen sat beside her, gracefully setting down the pitcher of water she had just used to pour Ling Qi a cup. There was a bundle of silvery white flowers set in a vase on the table as well.
Surprisingly though, they were not the only ones in the room. Cai Renxiang was seated across from Bai Meizhen, in a chair with it's back to the wall. Her hands were clasped together over her knee, and she wore a soft grey mantle that covered her from the neck down. Ling Qi could still see the girls soft white and blue boots though.
"Did we win?" Ling Qi asked after she had taken a swallow of water, glancing between the somber looking Meizhen and the neutral expression on Cai Renxiang's face.
Bai Meizhen's gave her a reproachful look, lips twisting into a frown.
"The Sun princess was forced to yield, yes," Cai Renxiang replied cooly, not betraying any of the stress Ling Qi was certain she was feeling.
"It is always troublesome to determine just how far their kind are from defeat," Bai Meizhen replied sourly. "Barbarians such as her fight at their full vigor even an inch from death," she continued, voice cold. "Your art prevented her from recovering the qi she had spent. It was enough."
"So what happens now then?" Ling Qi asked carefully. "Did Xuan lock them up?"
"Unfortunately not," Cai Renxiang replied, a hint of irritation leaking into her harsh voice. "Her status prevents me from doing such a thing for the moment."
"So what, she just gets away with starting that huge fight?" Ling Qi asked, incredulous.
"Such is the luck of the Sun," Bai Meizhen replied, her anger barely concealed, at least to Ling Qi. "But no, not this time. She went too far this time, in planting that… corruption on the mountainside."
"Sun Liling has been removed from the Outer Peak for the moment, by command of Elder Ying," Cai Renxiang continued, the drumming of her fingers on her knee the only sign of her own emotions. "As for the others… I was unfortunately instructed that we were not to retaliate further than taking prizes of battle, the majority of which was required for immediate medical costs."
Ling Qi wasn't really certain how to feel about that, on one hand Sun Liling wasn't a problem for the moment, but it didn't quite seem like enough. She had a feeling that she had been the biggest recipient of medical costs too given the lack of gaping hole in her stomach. She glanced over at Meizhen, who looked to be having similar thoughts.
"I would however, like to thank you for your support in this matter, Miss Ling," the heiress continued. "It seems that I was too naive and soft in my efforts to date. Be assured that I will not make such mistakes in the future," she added, a touch of anger reaching her voice.
"You will have my support, Lady Cai, as we discussed," Bai Meizhen replied cooly. "It would not do to be unprepared for the barbarian's eventual return."
"It is appreciated, Miss Bai," Cai Renxiang said in return, dipping her own head in response. "It is earlier than I would have liked, but the preparations are already being made to arm and supply my enforcers. The newer crop of second realm cultivators, and older outer disciples are useful for that, you and Miss Ling are of course, exempted from the upcoming changes."
Ling Qi narrowed her eyes in understanding. It looks like she had missed some things. "I do not necessarily know all the details you might have discussed," she spoke slowly forcing herself to speak carefully despite her throbbing head. "But I would appreciate some consideration for the disciples Su Ling and Li Suyin, as they are good friends of mine."
Cai Renxiang regarded Ling Qi silently for a moment, but then nodded. "Of course, for your contributions, such a thing is more than reasonable," she allowed. "Perhaps it might be best if we discussed what will be changing in the future."
Ling Qi didn't really feel up to it, but she could hardly say no. The conversation that followed was... enlightening. Cai Renxiang had apparently been quietly organizing things among the newer second realm cultivators and the amenable older disciples, using her family contacts. She had intended to organize a proper enforcement group from their numbers to better enforce the laws she had drafted. The meeting today was going to discuss that and the rules which would be enforced. Of course, with half of the 'council' gone Cai Renxiang and Bai Meizhen were the ones whose say mattered. It all sounded pretty reasonable to her. Things like enforcing fairness in duels and ensuring that the fighters were not preyed upon by opportunists in the aftermath, and enforcing order in public areas, like during the collection of monthly spirit stones. The possibility of organizing training and providing a certain amount of resources beyond simple spirit stones for those who joined up under her seemed like a nice idea as well.
She was less sure of the tax the heiress intended to levy to pay for those services, despite the fact that she was exempted. Her tentative idea of making allowances for impoverished cultivators was met with some approval though. Defiance was likely going to be punished much more harshly though, and those who refused to knuckle under would receive no recognition or rights from her enforcers.
"This is all a lot to take in," Ling Qi grumbled under her breath as their talk wound down. She had begun to go through the contents of her storage ring while the two of them discussed details that were over her head, making sure all of her possessions were in place was a bit of a habit.
"I will leave you to your recovery soon Miss Ling," Cai Renxiang replied politely, briefly meeting Bai Meizhen's eyes. "There is only one more thing."
Ling Qi was distracted though, something was missing. She patted her sleeve and failed to find it there either. "Wait, where is my flute?"
The both of them paused a moment. "It slipped my mind," Bai Meizhen admitted. "It was broken in the melee. I will ensure you have a replacement before you leave the Hall. You really should consider a proper talisman though."
Ling Qi blinked, then clutched her blankets, a surge of vindictive anger rising in her thoughts. "...Yeah, I should," she replied flatly. "I don't suppose you picked it up did you?"
Bai Meizhen paused briefly, while Cai looked on with a hint of irritation at being interrupted. "...I did not, it was only a mundane flute," she replied slowly.
"I will have someone retrieve the pieces," Cai Renxiang offered cooly. "I apologize if it was an item of import," she added.
"I would appreciate that," Ling Qi replied distantly, thinking on the many many times she had kept the old thing intact and in her possession, despite the hardship in doing so. "I am sorry. What was the last thing you wished to discuss?"
"Nothing of great importance," Cai Renxiang replied. "I merely wished to once again extend my thanks to the two of you. As loyal members of my council it is only right that you be rewarded for your contributions. One of my honored Mothers apprentices is a core member of the sect. I intend to have a garment commissioned in thanks for the two of you, and Sir Han as well. It will take some time however, so for now, please simply accept my thanks."
Ling Qi nodded, knowing she should probably be ecstatic at receiving an item of such high quality, but she couldn't quite manage it.
Antique Bamboo Flute lost.
Gained Flute Fragments
She was out of the medicine hall by the next morning, having been healed at great expense on Cai Renxiang's funds, with a new white armband pinned in place on her sleeve. The character for Cai embroidered upon it showed her to be a member of the girls group, the gold lining showed her to be a member of the ruling council. It was a strange thing to think about. That she, Ling Qi was apparently an influential official in a pseudo government. She wasn't entirely certain what expectations the other girl had of her. She seemed reluctant to push overmuch with either Bai Meizhen or Ling Qi.
She found her thoughts continually coming back around to her flute though. It was the one thing she had carried with her through all her years in the streets, and now it was broken, snapped in half, with part of the length pulped, likely by someone's foot. She should have gotten a talisman, or at least a basic flute instead of using it in combat.
Yet she couldn't quite bring herself to buy one, even if the lack of instrument was a weakness. She did her best to ignore it for now, instead heading down the mountain to hunt the condor. After the frantic fight at the pavilion it almost seemed too simple. Her first arrow had struck it directly under the wing, puncturing qi reinforced feathers with ease. She had dodged the cutting windstorm it kicked up with hardly a thought, her second arrow had then struck home once again, this time right in the huge birds chest.
It seemed she had been underestimating herself. Looking into harder missions would probably be a good idea in the future. She had been too cautious to look at anything but the lowest of the unique missions really. In the end, the bird went down, and she collected her pay and sold off the materials.
+20 Red Spirit Stones
+1 Crimsonwing Condor Core: Grade 2
+10 Sect points
Unfortunately she wasn't able to locate Gu Xiulan to discuss the inevitable changes to their plans. She wasn't at her house or the spring, nor had she joined them for training with Han Jian even after Fan Yu had done so, the belligerent boy having finally managed to break through with his physical cultivation. Han Jian had been evasive when she pressed him on it, saying that she wanted to cultivate alone for a time. Under the effects of her Discerning Gaze though… she thought he seemed slightly guilty. She wasn't sure how to press him on it without being rude though.
In better news, Li Suyin had emerged from seclusion having broken through.
In the end, all she could do was consider her plans for the next week.
You have FIVE Major actions
[] Train by hunting with Han Jian and his group
-[] Physical or art
[] Discuss the possibility of clearing out the wolves to Cai Renxiang, it would surely be a benefit to most on the council.
[] Kang Zihao and those who follow him are no longer under anyone's protection, some retribution is in order.
[] Train at the vent with Suyin and Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study formations
[] Train with Bai Meizhen
-[] Any
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Physical
-[] Spiritual
-[] Qi
-[] Meridian (which one?)
-[] Art(Which one?)
You have THREE minor actions. TWO minor actions may be traded for one additional major one. In addition, up to one additional minor action may be attached to a Major action as a subvote, provided both involve the same character.
[] Find Gu Xiulan, see what she is up too, is she really still cultivating on her own?
[] Spend more time with Su Ling, learning harvesting techniques and getting to know the girl better
[] Spend time with Han Jian, you want his perspective on what happened
[] Approach Xuan Shi in the archive. He is the only member of the council you haven't had any real interaction with
[] Huang Da has been quiet these past weeks, it's making you nervous, look into what he's been up too.
[] Compose a new letter to Mother, try to get her to open up a little about her new circumstances
[] Oversee Li Suyin's duel. You strongly doubt that anyone will try anything untoward with you there
[] Head to the market. You need a new instrument.
-[] See if it's possible to use the fragments in the construction of a new flute
-[] Put it aside, look into other options. What is past is past
Two Hour moratorium, as usual guys. Mission board will get a proper update soon, out of time though.
Ling Qi frowned, finding the thought discomforting. What had been frantic? She couldn't really remember. Voices yelling, a tearing pain in her abdomen, incomprehensible sounds. It all made her so tired. She really didn't want to think about it. Wouldn't it be better to just drift away and relax? When was the last time she had slept for more than an hour at a time?
"Isn't that a little boring though?" Ling Qi's eyes snapped open as she heard her own voice speaking, but not from her own lips. She lay in the middle of a field of shining white flowers beneath a starry sky, the crooked crescent of the moon shining bright and large overhead.
She found herself staring up at her own face, it wasn't hers exactly though. It seemed older, and partially hidden behind a partially transparent black veil. Those were her eyes though, bright blue and piercing. She stared up at her own amused expression for a time, and eventually closed her eyes again. She felt like she should be feeling something, alarm maybe, but she just couldn't manage it. Her older doppelganger seemed content to simply watch her, so she could just go to sleep.
There was something wrong with that thought, but she couldn't say why.
She began to drift off, the only sound in the clearing her own breath and the soft rustle of the wind through the flowers. It wasn't to last though, she only had a moment to feel cool fingers brushing up her sides before the assault began. Ling Qi let out an indignant squawk, the leaden feeling in her limbs vanishing as she felt the other's fingers tickling under her arms. She squirmed away quickly, rolling into a crouch as she glared at the aged image across from her.
"Hm, that's a good face," older Ling Qi said, her lips twisted into an amused smirk behind her veil. "Are you sure you want to glare at me like that though? I can be pretty scary, you know?" She cocked her head to the side, and for an instant the veil across her face rippled to white, her eyes burned red, and the moon overhead wavered, replaced by an opposite facing crescent.
Ling Qi shuddered, under the sudden enormous weight on her shoulders, lowering her head fractionally. "What is even… I was resting, why are you bothering me?" She shook her head like a dog trying to shed water, and the feeling of pressure faded. "And don't touch me like that either," she snapped, feeling indignant as she looked back up at the copies face, which had changed back to normal, regarding her with twinkling amusement in it's blue eyes. She didn't like being touched, a hand was fine, but whatever that was…
She giggled, twisting away from mother's hands, knowing that she could no longer pretend to be asleep, but she didn't care much, momma was smiling today.
"Well, it's hardly entertaining to let you lie there like a lump," her doppelganger said, her expression settling into an amused smirk. "Besides, isn't it the elder sisters right to tease the younger?"
Ling Qi frowned, "I don't have any siblings." She glared at the figure accusingly, her fuzzy thoughts moving slowly, where was she?
"Don't you?" the veiled figure asked, cocking her head to the side. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter."
"What do you want?" Ling Qi shot back, growing irritated for some reason she couldn't place. "Who are you?"
"Hm, well, that's a hard question," The figure mused, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her lips. "I'm you of course, but also not really? You wouldn't understand," the older-her shrugged. "As for what I want… I guess you could say I'm curious? You aren't exactly what I was expecting. The determination is good, but you've gotten so uptight. You hardly do anything fun anymore."
Ling Qi narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking…" her thoughts seemed to clear a bit for a moment, and a spark of understanding took root. "I don't have any reason to waste my time doing things like that anymore."
Other her frowned back at her, crouched amid the flowers. "That's a lie. You just don't want to look bad in front of your little friends," she accused. "It's still there, you know. The part of you that enjoyed the challenge of theft and trickery. Don't lie. You aren't happy just letting things go either. What happened to your fangs little rat? Have the snake and the tiger plucked them out?"
Ling Qi shook her head, remembered indignation from the slights she had suffered bubbling back up. "It's… not important, and I have too much to do. They aren't worth my time. Not anymore."
"You're afraid," the moon spirit replied, eyes no longer blue, but rather solid pools of silver. "Afraid of what others will think of you," she said, sounding disappointed. "Afraid of being who you are. Do you remember what you felt when you saw that boy's face as he fell into the well?"
Ling Qi remembered the satisfaction and delight at her success well enough, even if it had been quashed by other things shortly thereafter. "I…"
"Life is boring without risk," the spirit continued. "What is the point to a trick or a scheme that has no chance of failure? If all you do is plan and train, you may as well stay home in bed. Or cultivate in a cave until you are old and grey," the figure was growing indistinct, more a shadow than a human shape now. "You have enemies now, ones you can't dismiss as beneath you. I wonder if you will have more excuses… Or if you will remember how to live free, and how enemies deserve to be treated."
"I remember," Ling Qi replied, scowling at the dissipating mist. "I just remember my other priorities too." Still, she remembered now, everything that had happened… maybe she would have to look into getting some payback. Even if she didn't steal… some humiliation might be in order.
Temporary Bonus: +2 auto successes to darkness and moon art cultivation.
She shuddered, coughing from a suddenly dry throat, and opened her eyes. She found herself staring at a polished wood paneled ceiling rather than a starry sky. Her throat felt completely parched, and her stomach throbbed with pain. She flinched as she tried to sit up and made a rasping sound as she tried to speak.
A moment later a cup of water was pressed into her hands, and she looked over seeing Bai Meizhen sitting in a chair beside the bed she was lying in. They were in a small sparsely furnished chamber that she recognized as one of the medicine halls private recovery rooms. It took her a moment to take everything in. Bai Meizhen sat beside her, gracefully setting down the pitcher of water she had just used to pour Ling Qi a cup. There was a bundle of silvery white flowers set in a vase on the table as well.
Surprisingly though, they were not the only ones in the room. Cai Renxiang was seated across from Bai Meizhen, in a chair with it's back to the wall. Her hands were clasped together over her knee, and she wore a soft grey mantle that covered her from the neck down. Ling Qi could still see the girls soft white and blue boots though.
"Did we win?" Ling Qi asked after she had taken a swallow of water, glancing between the somber looking Meizhen and the neutral expression on Cai Renxiang's face.
Bai Meizhen's gave her a reproachful look, lips twisting into a frown.
"The Sun princess was forced to yield, yes," Cai Renxiang replied cooly, not betraying any of the stress Ling Qi was certain she was feeling.
"It is always troublesome to determine just how far their kind are from defeat," Bai Meizhen replied sourly. "Barbarians such as her fight at their full vigor even an inch from death," she continued, voice cold. "Your art prevented her from recovering the qi she had spent. It was enough."
"So what happens now then?" Ling Qi asked carefully. "Did Xuan lock them up?"
"Unfortunately not," Cai Renxiang replied, a hint of irritation leaking into her harsh voice. "Her status prevents me from doing such a thing for the moment."
"So what, she just gets away with starting that huge fight?" Ling Qi asked, incredulous.
"Such is the luck of the Sun," Bai Meizhen replied, her anger barely concealed, at least to Ling Qi. "But no, not this time. She went too far this time, in planting that… corruption on the mountainside."
"Sun Liling has been removed from the Outer Peak for the moment, by command of Elder Ying," Cai Renxiang continued, the drumming of her fingers on her knee the only sign of her own emotions. "As for the others… I was unfortunately instructed that we were not to retaliate further than taking prizes of battle, the majority of which was required for immediate medical costs."
Ling Qi wasn't really certain how to feel about that, on one hand Sun Liling wasn't a problem for the moment, but it didn't quite seem like enough. She had a feeling that she had been the biggest recipient of medical costs too given the lack of gaping hole in her stomach. She glanced over at Meizhen, who looked to be having similar thoughts.
"I would however, like to thank you for your support in this matter, Miss Ling," the heiress continued. "It seems that I was too naive and soft in my efforts to date. Be assured that I will not make such mistakes in the future," she added, a touch of anger reaching her voice.
"You will have my support, Lady Cai, as we discussed," Bai Meizhen replied cooly. "It would not do to be unprepared for the barbarian's eventual return."
"It is appreciated, Miss Bai," Cai Renxiang said in return, dipping her own head in response. "It is earlier than I would have liked, but the preparations are already being made to arm and supply my enforcers. The newer crop of second realm cultivators, and older outer disciples are useful for that, you and Miss Ling are of course, exempted from the upcoming changes."
Ling Qi narrowed her eyes in understanding. It looks like she had missed some things. "I do not necessarily know all the details you might have discussed," she spoke slowly forcing herself to speak carefully despite her throbbing head. "But I would appreciate some consideration for the disciples Su Ling and Li Suyin, as they are good friends of mine."
Cai Renxiang regarded Ling Qi silently for a moment, but then nodded. "Of course, for your contributions, such a thing is more than reasonable," she allowed. "Perhaps it might be best if we discussed what will be changing in the future."
Ling Qi didn't really feel up to it, but she could hardly say no. The conversation that followed was... enlightening. Cai Renxiang had apparently been quietly organizing things among the newer second realm cultivators and the amenable older disciples, using her family contacts. She had intended to organize a proper enforcement group from their numbers to better enforce the laws she had drafted. The meeting today was going to discuss that and the rules which would be enforced. Of course, with half of the 'council' gone Cai Renxiang and Bai Meizhen were the ones whose say mattered. It all sounded pretty reasonable to her. Things like enforcing fairness in duels and ensuring that the fighters were not preyed upon by opportunists in the aftermath, and enforcing order in public areas, like during the collection of monthly spirit stones. The possibility of organizing training and providing a certain amount of resources beyond simple spirit stones for those who joined up under her seemed like a nice idea as well.
She was less sure of the tax the heiress intended to levy to pay for those services, despite the fact that she was exempted. Her tentative idea of making allowances for impoverished cultivators was met with some approval though. Defiance was likely going to be punished much more harshly though, and those who refused to knuckle under would receive no recognition or rights from her enforcers.
"This is all a lot to take in," Ling Qi grumbled under her breath as their talk wound down. She had begun to go through the contents of her storage ring while the two of them discussed details that were over her head, making sure all of her possessions were in place was a bit of a habit.
"I will leave you to your recovery soon Miss Ling," Cai Renxiang replied politely, briefly meeting Bai Meizhen's eyes. "There is only one more thing."
Ling Qi was distracted though, something was missing. She patted her sleeve and failed to find it there either. "Wait, where is my flute?"
The both of them paused a moment. "It slipped my mind," Bai Meizhen admitted. "It was broken in the melee. I will ensure you have a replacement before you leave the Hall. You really should consider a proper talisman though."
Ling Qi blinked, then clutched her blankets, a surge of vindictive anger rising in her thoughts. "...Yeah, I should," she replied flatly. "I don't suppose you picked it up did you?"
Bai Meizhen paused briefly, while Cai looked on with a hint of irritation at being interrupted. "...I did not, it was only a mundane flute," she replied slowly.
"I will have someone retrieve the pieces," Cai Renxiang offered cooly. "I apologize if it was an item of import," she added.
"I would appreciate that," Ling Qi replied distantly, thinking on the many many times she had kept the old thing intact and in her possession, despite the hardship in doing so. "I am sorry. What was the last thing you wished to discuss?"
"Nothing of great importance," Cai Renxiang replied. "I merely wished to once again extend my thanks to the two of you. As loyal members of my council it is only right that you be rewarded for your contributions. One of my honored Mothers apprentices is a core member of the sect. I intend to have a garment commissioned in thanks for the two of you, and Sir Han as well. It will take some time however, so for now, please simply accept my thanks."
Ling Qi nodded, knowing she should probably be ecstatic at receiving an item of such high quality, but she couldn't quite manage it.
Antique Bamboo Flute lost.
Gained Flute Fragments
She was out of the medicine hall by the next morning, having been healed at great expense on Cai Renxiang's funds, with a new white armband pinned in place on her sleeve. The character for Cai embroidered upon it showed her to be a member of the girls group, the gold lining showed her to be a member of the ruling council. It was a strange thing to think about. That she, Ling Qi was apparently an influential official in a pseudo government. She wasn't entirely certain what expectations the other girl had of her. She seemed reluctant to push overmuch with either Bai Meizhen or Ling Qi.
She found her thoughts continually coming back around to her flute though. It was the one thing she had carried with her through all her years in the streets, and now it was broken, snapped in half, with part of the length pulped, likely by someone's foot. She should have gotten a talisman, or at least a basic flute instead of using it in combat.
Yet she couldn't quite bring herself to buy one, even if the lack of instrument was a weakness. She did her best to ignore it for now, instead heading down the mountain to hunt the condor. After the frantic fight at the pavilion it almost seemed too simple. Her first arrow had struck it directly under the wing, puncturing qi reinforced feathers with ease. She had dodged the cutting windstorm it kicked up with hardly a thought, her second arrow had then struck home once again, this time right in the huge birds chest.
It seemed she had been underestimating herself. Looking into harder missions would probably be a good idea in the future. She had been too cautious to look at anything but the lowest of the unique missions really. In the end, the bird went down, and she collected her pay and sold off the materials.
+20 Red Spirit Stones
+1 Crimsonwing Condor Core: Grade 2
+10 Sect points
Unfortunately she wasn't able to locate Gu Xiulan to discuss the inevitable changes to their plans. She wasn't at her house or the spring, nor had she joined them for training with Han Jian even after Fan Yu had done so, the belligerent boy having finally managed to break through with his physical cultivation. Han Jian had been evasive when she pressed him on it, saying that she wanted to cultivate alone for a time. Under the effects of her Discerning Gaze though… she thought he seemed slightly guilty. She wasn't sure how to press him on it without being rude though.
In better news, Li Suyin had emerged from seclusion having broken through.
In the end, all she could do was consider her plans for the next week.
Strength 3/20 training, battle
Dexterity 22/30 training, battle, hunting
Stamina 3/25 training, battle
Wits 8/20, hunting, battle
Resolve 9/20 Bai training
Manipulation 8/25 battle
Politics 6/9 Cai and Meizhen
Athletics 12/15 hunting
Stealth 14/15 hunting,
Survival 6/9 hunting, training
Expression 9/12 battle
Dodge 13/15 battle, training, bai training
Archery 6/8 battle, training, hunting
Spear 2/ 3 training
Resilience 3/6 bai training
Dexterity 22/30 training, battle, hunting
Stamina 3/25 training, battle
Wits 8/20, hunting, battle
Resolve 9/20 Bai training
Manipulation 8/25 battle
Politics 6/9 Cai and Meizhen
Athletics 12/15 hunting
Stealth 14/15 hunting,
Survival 6/9 hunting, training
Expression 9/12 battle
Dodge 13/15 battle, training, bai training
Archery 6/8 battle, training, hunting
Spear 2/ 3 training
Resilience 3/6 bai training
Cai Renxiang: o
-Tentative respect
Sun Liling: oo
-Dislike, Anger
Huang Da: oo
-Dislike
Kang Zihao: oo
-Dislike
Ji Rong: o
-Wariness
Argent Peak Outer Sect: ooo
-Envy, Wary Respect
-Tentative respect
Sun Liling: oo
-Dislike, Anger
Huang Da: oo
-Dislike
Kang Zihao: oo
-Dislike
Ji Rong: o
-Wariness
Argent Peak Outer Sect: ooo
-Envy, Wary Respect
You have FIVE Major actions
[] Train by hunting with Han Jian and his group
-[] Physical or art
[] Discuss the possibility of clearing out the wolves to Cai Renxiang, it would surely be a benefit to most on the council.
[] Kang Zihao and those who follow him are no longer under anyone's protection, some retribution is in order.
[] Train at the vent with Suyin and Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study formations
[] Train with Bai Meizhen
-[] Any
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Physical
-[] Spiritual
-[] Qi
-[] Meridian (which one?)
-[] Art(Which one?)
You have THREE minor actions. TWO minor actions may be traded for one additional major one. In addition, up to one additional minor action may be attached to a Major action as a subvote, provided both involve the same character.
[] Find Gu Xiulan, see what she is up too, is she really still cultivating on her own?
[] Spend more time with Su Ling, learning harvesting techniques and getting to know the girl better
[] Spend time with Han Jian, you want his perspective on what happened
[] Approach Xuan Shi in the archive. He is the only member of the council you haven't had any real interaction with
[] Huang Da has been quiet these past weeks, it's making you nervous, look into what he's been up too.
[] Compose a new letter to Mother, try to get her to open up a little about her new circumstances
[] Oversee Li Suyin's duel. You strongly doubt that anyone will try anything untoward with you there
[] Head to the market. You need a new instrument.
-[] See if it's possible to use the fragments in the construction of a new flute
-[] Put it aside, look into other options. What is past is past
Two Hour moratorium, as usual guys. Mission board will get a proper update soon, out of time though.
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pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Definitely want to cultivate EPC and both base cultivations.
Definitely want to talk to Cai about the site.
Personally I want to hit the library for ZBII.
Minors wise:
I'm thinking duel oversight, Market, Su Ling and Gu Xiulan.
Definitely want to talk to Cai about the site.
Personally I want to hit the library for ZBII.
Minors wise:
I'm thinking duel oversight, Market, Su Ling and Gu Xiulan.
We are repairing that flute and making a proper talisman out of it. 
Vikram
!!FUN!! Containment Officer
- Location
- New Delhi
Hm... y'know, in hindsight maybe not doing anything that would impress the Grinning Moon and then choosing a bonus that involved her... is why it's such an underwhelming bonus.
Also, to those who don't wish to steal, well, how exactly do you think ignoring something a Great Spirit blessed you for is going to end? Not well for Ling Qi, I'm sure.
Also, to those who don't wish to steal, well, how exactly do you think ignoring something a Great Spirit blessed you for is going to end? Not well for Ling Qi, I'm sure.
...damn, she crossed some lines there.
Personal priorities.
Would not say no to some breaking and entering though. Stealing seems a little too risky personally, but I'd like to devote an action to rummaging through the private belongings of our fellow cultivators to see what hidden aces they may have(i.e. do a stealth recon of the female dorms without taking anything so they don't know we know about their stuff.).
And you guys heard it... from the moon spirit herself even and wasn't that a fascinating conversation. We are the hermit in the cave, never taking risks. Go forth and steal!
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Post Confinement conversations
Post-Confinement Conversations
This was how it went down.
One second he was going to shut Hat Bastard down so hard that he'd be kissing his own ass, the next reality jerked sideways. The sun leapt into a different position in the sky, the temperature spiked by five, six degrees and the damn turtlefucker vanished. In his place was a grinning, scary-as-shit redhead.
This was a problem because his body, being faster than his brain, was reacting to the unforeseen with its usual speed and made a solid effort in trying to punch the teeth out of her mouth.
This being Sun Liling, this did not work.
She caught his fist in one hand and punched him with her other.
It was a ridiculously simple motion. The fingers of her right hand encircled his fist, knuckle to palm, dragged him forward and off balance, and then her left punched over his arm, straight into the jaw. He felt his brain rattle in its cage and then he was seeing stars and tasting blood and staring into the sky.
She leaned over him, grin like a shark on her smug, smug face.
"Been a while, Rong."
He struggled to rise, but his entire body seemed to be of the opinion that it wanted to stay down for a little longer. He flopped for a bit. "Fuck off, Sun," he said, breath a wheezy rasp, I said no already."
She poked him with the toe of her boot.
"You don't get it, Rong. It's been like a year since Xuan Shi locked you up in his formations. Our blessed little Lady Cai was pissed at you for breaking her rules."
He felt his heart miss a beat. Let himself breathe in and out as he forced himself past his body's whimpering protests and turned onto his stomach, then leveraged himself onto his elbows and with a huge exhalation of effort finally sat up. Sun offered him her hand and he slapped it away before standing up.
He glared at her, straight in her pretty eyes. "You're fucking with me."
She buffed her nails and shrugged in an elegant, careless motion. "I made it to the Third Realm while you weren't around. Most of the notables did. The rest are fucking useless as per expected."
He wanted to deny it, but with how fast she moved and how effortlessly she had laid him out, he had to admit that yeah, she was Third Realm. Didn't even need an Art to see that. Then it crashed down on him: a year, an entire fucking year wasted. Xuan Shi would be that much stronger, there was no way that he'd be able to catch up, not with the gap of a year that loomed in between them, not with a guy that could just put you on ice for a year at a whim, what the double bloody shitty-
"Fuck. Fuck!" he yelled.
"Was it you?" she asked curiously.
It took him a moment to put it together. Right. His 'crime.' "Does it even fucking matter at this point?" he asked tiredly. "You know what it's like. A man's reputation follows him everywhere. Ain't any point in trying to change people's opinion of you when it's already been made."
"Says you."
"Yeah, well, you can fuck off. I'll handle this."
"With no resources? No plan? No strength?"
It was the last dig that got to him. He turned to her, grimace on his face whisper of rage roaring in his throat. "What the fuck do you want from me?"
Her shit-eating grin didn't waver a millimeter. "Same as always. I want life to be interesting. And I want your help to make it interesting."
"How?"
She plucked something out of thin air, and like a stage magician, revealed it to be an elixir. She tossed it to him. "It'll make you strong as anything for a few hours, but side effects include nausea, fainting, vomiting and burst blood vessels."
He weighed it in his hand, looked up, licked his lips. "What'll it cost?"
"Your naivety."
He blinked. "...what?"
"Dude, you've been frozen for like two weeks if that. I was - like you put it - fucking with you."
"...you, you what?"
"Seriously, it's only been two weeks. But man, you should have seen your face-"
The next hour was spent with Ji Rong trying and failing to land a blow while he increasingly looked like he was put through a meat grinder. He did manage to get in one good blow. Also, spat blood in her face. She broke his arm in two places.
Worth it.
>Sun Liling: oo
>-Dislike, Anger
Doh ho ho ho hoooo
>Argent Peak Outer Sect: ooo
>-Envy, Wary Respect
DOH HO HO HO HO HO HO
In other news, im thinking
[] Find Gu Xiulan, see what she is up too, is she really still cultivating on her own?
[] Oversee Li Suyin's duel. You strongly doubt that anyone will try anything untoward with you there
are things we definitely need to do. The rest are questionable.
>-Dislike, Anger
Doh ho ho ho hoooo
>Argent Peak Outer Sect: ooo
>-Envy, Wary Respect
DOH HO HO HO HO HO HO
In other news, im thinking
[] Find Gu Xiulan, see what she is up too, is she really still cultivating on her own?
[] Oversee Li Suyin's duel. You strongly doubt that anyone will try anything untoward with you there
are things we definitely need to do. The rest are questionable.
TheLastOne
Person of impeccable tastes (for destruction)
"Investigate Disappearances... Last week available to outer disciples." We need to get this out of the way. It's too valuable to pass up.
With our current bonus, we want to cultivate EPC, SCS, and FVM. We don't know how long it will last
That ties up four of our major actions.
We can't leave Suyin in the lurch.
We also need to commission a flute out of the remains of our old one. It isn't the talisman I had wanted to aim for next, but the flute is to emotionally important. Anything else would be really really OCC.
That ties up two of our minor actions.
With our current bonus, we want to cultivate EPC, SCS, and FVM. We don't know how long it will last
That ties up four of our major actions.
We can't leave Suyin in the lurch.
We also need to commission a flute out of the remains of our old one. It isn't the talisman I had wanted to aim for next, but the flute is to emotionally important. Anything else would be really really OCC.
That ties up two of our minor actions.
Really should do the retribution action considering what the Moon Spirit just told us.
- Location
- United States of America
Well, that was certainly a thing! Glad we won in the end, and that we got a directive from a Greater Spirit to go out and live a little. Probably should do that soon.
well three+one that can be attached to a major training one.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
Well, we are getting an OP robe for free, so...
We did well by being cautious and planning things well, but we are at a time we can't afford not to take minimal risks.
and Kang Zihao's goons don'th ave protections anymore, so we can steal from them just fine.
I think in Xiulan's case letting her work through it might be better.
Why not recon the entire dorms first? Find out everyone's dirty secrets without taking a thing to get intel...then launch targeted strikes once we know what to loot for.
- Location
- Singapore
Urgh, I'm personally more inclined for permanent removal of enemies in quests. Humiliating them just feels like a reason for them to come back for revenge. An endless cycle. Unfortunately that's not an option... . Hm, maybe if they (the enemies) can't track it back to Ling Qi, then Ling Qi could get some closure over it without that particular downside. Steal all their loot?
Edit: I wonder if exploring the mountain counts as risks?
Unfortunately that's not an option... . Hm, maybe if they (the enemies) can't track it back to Ling Qi, then Ling Qi could get some closure over it without that particular downside. Steal all their loot?Edit: I wonder if exploring the mountain counts as risks?
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- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
Guys we should take a free action to fill up Qi cards with the formless shade tech.
- Location
- his hidden lair
Because at this point I'm highly skeptical there's anything meaningful stopping Ling Qi from simply looting everything not bolted down from Kang and friends. Their perception is not going to beat our stealth, and even the formations we've seen to prevent burglary are no where near good enough to catch us.
Besides, the point is to do something reckless and mischievous, not to spend double the actions to mitigate what looks like a very small amount of risk.