Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)

[yrsillar]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

Plan Summoning and Leadership
-[X] Greater Qi Card (x3), Dragon's Endurance Pill (x5), Bountiful Earth's Blessing (x1)
-[X] One Card Loaded with Crawling Horror with three Additional Worms summoned, One Card Loaded with Hundred Ring Armament overcharged with 5 additional people, One Card Loaded with Appropriate Buff provided by Cai Renxiang

"That will be all I need," Ling Qi finished with a bow toward her liege as they prepared to leave the girls outer sect home for the visitors grounds below.

"I see, you intend to alter your usual strategy then?" Cai asked absently as they stepped outside, her feet lifting from the ground a moment later. The light emanating from around her head and shoulders made the evening shadows flicker wildly.

Ling Qi followed suite a moment later, allowing herself to luxuriate a bit in the sheer ease with which she could maintain flight in the other girls presence. "I just wish to keep my options open," she replied. She wasn't quite sure of exactly how she would approach her battle with Ji Rong yet after all. "I hope my last request wasn't to presumptuous by the way…?" She added carefully.

Cai Renxiang kept her eyes forward as they soared silently toward the foot of the mountain, the cool night air tugging weakly at the hems of their gowns. "It is unusual, but not unheard of. You have earned that much favor. Rather, given my resource restrictions, such a thing is only reasonable. Allow me a time to consider which my techniques might complement your skills best."

Ling Qi let out a near silent sigh of relief, she hadn't been sure if asking for a Qi card charged with someone else art was inappropriate or not. "I see, moving on then… What are your plans for your Mother's gathering, my Lady?"

"We will present ourselves to Mother first of course," her liege replied as their flight path began to angle downward, toward the twinkling lights of the ostentatious tents and homes built up in the visiting area, heading toward the vast construction of white silk which now sat at its head. "After which, I will speak with those dignitaries I have not yet had time to visit. I cannot give an absolute itinerary."

"How surprising," Ling Qi said lightly. "That must bother you a great deal."

"Quite," Cai Renxiang replied, a subtle sour note in her voice. "You will attend to me for the duration of the party. I am certain you know the required etiquette."

"I do," Ling Qi replied, repressing the urge to sigh, this was going to be a long night, wasn't it.

"Recall that this is to your benefit," Cai Renxiang reminded her, briefly glancing back as they neared the long carpet spilling out over the grassy field from the entrance of the Cai's great pavilion. "Good impressions upon those I will speak too will serve you well in the future."

"I remember," Ling Qi said, repressing a huff at the reminder as they alighted on the carpet. "I did well yesterday, did I not?"

"Hmm, I suppose," Cai Renxiang allowed. "Just do not go drifting off," she added with a tiny touch of dry humor.

Ling Qi held back a grumble as she smoothed her gown. She was not that bad. The two of them entered the pavilion a moment later, the two guards flanking the entrance saluting and bowing in unison, their polished armor and white plumed helms gleaming in the resplendent light radiating from within.

The interior of the grand pavilion nearly took her breath away. In the center was a great marble fountain, water rising and falling in glimmering spouts from the mouths of entwined dragons picked out in lifelike detail at their center. Smaller fountains dotted the grounds as well, and from the frothing waters rose glimmering rainbows that cast shifting light on the crowd below. The pavilion was well furnished as well, long tables groaning under the weight of delicacies lined the rear of the tent and well upholstered couches and chairs surrounded the various fountains, occupied by chatting nobility.

On the far left of the tent there was a raised stage, where a beautiful woman in a many layered gown played a serene melody on a harp as large as her body, while pair of dancers in trailing silk scarves performed on either side of her, the motions of their limbs and the silken fans in their hands perfectly symmetrical.

She didn't have much time to observe though, as Cai Renxiang proceeded further in without pause. Ling Qi put her focus on maintaining the proper distance and poise. Two steps behind her liege and just slightly to her left. Head very slightly tilted down and back straight, her hands clasped in front. It was still a little awkward, since she was so much taller than Cai Renxiang, but that couldn't really be helped.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose as they moved further in, exchanging polite greetings as they went. She was more used to the riot of spiritual sensations now, but even here, among so many nobles, she could feel Cai Shenhua's presence bearing down upon her, an oppressive weight draped about her shoulders, and it only grew more intense as they reached the Duchess herself, seated upon a long plush cushioned couch beside Minister Linqin.

Ling Qi shuddered as those empty pools of colorless radiance which served as the woman's eyes chanced across her face, ducking her head a little more. The Duchess had seemingly shed the outermost layer of the gown she had worn this morning, leaving the pale marble-like skin of her shoulders exposed, though the floaty silks and lace which remained left her figure tastefully ambiguous.

As Cai Renxiang smoothly bowed to her Mother, Ling Qi did the same, though her bow was much lower of course. It took a moment to drag her attention away from the Duchess, and note that the woman was not alone. Seated in a wide arch around her were a great many people who made Ling Qi very nervous indeed. To her left sat Bai Suzhen and Bai Meizhen, the older of which was studying them cooly over the rim of a teacup, and the younger of which was studiously not paying her any mind. To her right where a pair of heavily garbed figures with wide tortoiseshell patterned hats, seated in individual chairs. Those would be the Xuan admirals she had heard about presumably.

At the 'bottom' of the arch was Guo Si and one of his guards, and opposite him was a massive bear of a man, with wild red hair and a short beard of the same shade, his bare and muscular arms thrown out casually over the back of his couch. It was very hard not to feel as if all eyes were on her, even if she knew they were looking to Cai Renxiang.

"Greetings, Mother," Cai Renxiang said formally. "Your humble daughter presents herself for your inspection."

"So you have," Cai Shenhua replied lightly, the light of her gaze falling upon Renxiang's back and casting her face in shadow. "Hm, still using that same style I see. Really, you should do something different once in awhile, young lady. That austere look of yours…" the Duchess sighed, resting her cheek in one hand.

Ling Qi did her best not to twitch nervously, that really wasn't the response she had been coached to expect in this kind of situation. Thankfully her liege seemed more prepared for her Mother's actions.

"My apologies Mother," she said evenly, maintaining her picture perfect bow. "I did not feel that I had the time or skill required to make worthy changes to your designs."

"I suppose so," the monstrous woman said lightly. "We will have to have a little Mother and Daughter time tonight then. I am certain you will look stunning on the morrow," Ling Qi couldn't help but feel a pang of pity at the nigh invisible tremble in Cai Renxiang's hands which came in the wake of those words.

"But I am being rude," The Cai matriarch said brightly. "Raise your head and greet our guests."

Ling Qi carefully straightened up a beat after her liege, though she kept her eyes down as was appropriate given the company, following Cai Renxiang's lead as she offered shallower bows to each of the guest groups in turn. "Honored guests, thank you very much for attending," she intoned. "As you know. I am Cai Renxiang, and this is my retainer and attendant, Baroness Ling Qi. I hope you have all enjoyed your stay in the Emerald Seas thus far."

Guo Si smiled, bowing his head in return as he answered first. "The trip was worth every step, I assure you, Lady Cai, the beauty of your home is beyond compare."

The red haired giant let out a rather uncouth guffaw, pinning the Guo scion with a look of amusement. "The entertainment has been a bit lacking," the mountain-like man said baldly. "Though your girl gave the closest thing to an amusing show Guo, your youngest generation is slipping Bai Suzhen."

The aforementioned woman's shot the red haired man the sort of look Ling Qi had only seen on the faces of wealthy women encountering the filth of the street. "As crass as ever I see, Zheng Po," Bai Suzhen replied coldly. "My niece has a kind heart, that is hardly a fault in moderation."

Ling Qi had to struggle to maintain her even expression at that statement. Bai Meizhen was her best friend, but to call her kind…

"Now, now, do not get distracted now," Cai Shenhua said lightly, raising a cup to her lips. The clear glass in her hands glimmered, the rainbow hued liquid within shifting hypnotically. "You are greeting my daughter, not airing old grievances." Ling Qi had to struggle to keep her shoulders straight as the weight of the woman's aura spiked.

The Zheng man simply grinned at her though. "As you say matriarch," he laughed. "Young Cai, I look forward to your matches going forward. The young Gu looks like she will at least put up a fight," he then shot a sly look the Guo scion's way. "The ladies of Golden Fields are at their best when they are trying to kill you after all."

"I will be sure to take your compliment home, Sir Zheng," Guo Si replied blandly, crossing his bare arms over the fine vest he wore. "My aunt will surely be glad that you remember her."

Bai Suzhen ignored the two mens byplay to look straight at Cai Renxiang, only briefly glancing over Ling Qi. "You have done well young lady, despite some early obstacles. I am certain you will give my niece a good match," she said, briefly resting her hand on Meizhen's as she spoke.

"I look forward too facing you on the field of battle, Lady Cai," Meizhen said smoothly, dipping her head very slightly to the other girl.

"A more impressive sight I am sure we will not see this year," Guo Si agreed, ending his staring contest with the Zheng.

"Your words are too kind," Cai Renxiang replied in the beat of silence that followed. "I will be certain not to disappoint any of your expectations."

"You have been very quiet, sir Xuan Ci, sir Xuan Ce, do not tell me that you have fallen into torpor on us," Cai Shenhua. "Have you been enjoying the festivities?"

"Nay O radiant one," the leftmost of the heavily closed men spoke. His robes shrouded him almost entirely from view, the space between his high, stiff collar and the lower edge of his hat only just enough to leave his stormy grey eyes visible, along with a band of pale flesh marked by black scales. "Mine brother and I agree…"
"...Thine governance has been a great boon to this weary land," the other said, his voice softer than his brothers. "Though, we admit…"

"That the dance of limbs and blades are not to our interest," his brother finished. Ling Qi found herself stiffening then as his gaze fell on her, the sight of a storm tossed sea, frothing and violent flashed before her eyes. "This one is most curious where thine daughters hand found a Brother in these southern climes."

"It is a matter the Sect would prefer not be aired openly," Cai Shenhua replied smoothly, saving her the need to try and explain.

"We shall have to share words with the venerable Yuan Shen, in that case," the second brother said, turning his gaze to Ling Qi as well. "This one shall hope he needs not inform the young lady of the honor she bears."

Ling Qi bowed more deeply. "Zhengui is precious to me. I have raised him from his egg with diligent care. I do no not intend to give him anything but my best."

"Zhengui?" the rightmost brother asked, his stern voice sounding faintly bemused. "I see."

Ling Qi's cheeks flushed slightly. "It… ah, his name…" Suddenly the pun did not seem quite as funny.

"It is fine, young wraith," the leftmost brother replied. "Worry yourself not over such things."

"Hah, so even the Xuan have a sense of humor, how surprising," The Zheng man laughed, glancing at Ling Qi briefly.

"You mistake reserve for humorlessness, as always," Bai Suzhen said with a sniff.

Cai Shenhua smiled thinly her radiant 'eyes' narrowing. "Well, my daughter. I am satisfied with your greeting. You are dismissed for the moment, see to our other guests and ensure that they find our hospitality acceptable."

Cai Renxiang bowed deeply to her mother once more. "As you command Mother. It was my honor to be allowed to greet such esteemed guests. Ladies Bai, Sir Zheng, Sirs, Xuan, Sir Guo, please excuse me."

As they left Cai Shenhua and the highest ranking guests behind, Ling Qi allowed herself a tiny sigh of relief as the weight on her shoulders lessened. Just standing there in their presence had been stressful. Being ignored completely by her best friend hadn't felt good either.

"Do you require a moment?" Cai Renxiang asked, pausing to look over her shoulder at Ling Qi.
"No, I am fine," Ling Qi assured her. "Please don't delay on my account." The last thing she wanted was for the other girl to give her mother reason for complaint.

Cai Renxiang replied with a tiny nod, turning her gaze forward once again, resuming her path back toward the more crowded parts of the pavilion. The next few hours passed in a blur of names and faces as Cai Renxiang made her way through the guestlist, trading pleasantries and small talk. Ling Qi found occasion to speak much less than her liege, but all the same, maintaining the mask of stiff politeness and subservience was exhausting. It was like studying law all over again. She was sure that she was going to forget half of the people she had met tonight, if only due to the blandness of the wrote exchanges which passed between them.

How was it that so many people who she could feel were all unique, their auras a riot of color and imagery turn into the same faceless crowds with which she was much more familiar.

"Grandmother says that you humans make your little social rituals for the sake of peace," Sixiang said casually as Ling Qi headed for the refreshments. Cai Renxiang had noticed her wandering attention it seemed, and set her the task of retrieving drinks for the both of them. She was grateful for the break.

'I'm not sure I see the connection,' Ling Qi thought glumly as she looked over the array of tea blends, ciders, and watered wines available.

"Well I didn't understand what she meant either, before," Sixiang admitted. "But… I think I might be starting to see. After all if a few spirits tear each other apart over after offending each other, it's no big deal, you know? You humans don't get better from that kind of thing though."

'I suppose," Ling Qi thought, placing her order with the attendant. Renxiang could have her tea, Ling Qi preferred something cold. Briefly, she wondered if she had developed that from her association with Zeqing. 'If everyone acts the same on the surface, I guess it reduces clashes,' it was a grudging thought, and it bothered her a bit though.

"Mm, well I don't disagree, it seems awfully boring," Sixiang mused in response to her mood. "I wonder if it's really the best way… Things weren't like this in the oldest days."

Sixiangs musing faded into her thoughts as Ling Qi headed back toward the beacon that was Renxiang's aura, two cups in her hands. Weaving through the crowd was second nature, the verbal acknowledgement of the people she was slipping around was less so, but she supposed she was growing used to it.

However, as she approached her liege, she paused. She was no longer speaking to the viscount functionaries she had left her with, but rather…

[] One of the Xuan Admirals, enigmatic in his heavy robes.
[] Zheng Po, the boisterous scion of Ebon Rivers ducal house.

AN: Sorry this one was a little late. One more update for the afterparty and then we'll be heading into the next round.

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi paused for a moment as she saw the company Cai Renxiang was in. One of the Xuan admirals stood with her, indistinguishable from his brother. Ling Qi held back a grimace, hopefully she could avoid a situation in which it became clear that she couldn't tell the two of them apart. Unless…

"Sorry, I couldn't tell you either," Sixiang replied to her unspoken query. "I'm pretty sure that they're doing that on purpose."

Not unexpected Ling Qi thought glumly, resuming her stride. It wouldn't do to stand here gawking, she would just end up looking rude that way too. So, fixing her expression into one of pleasant subservience, Ling Qi returned to her liege's side.

"My apologies for my interruption, Lady Cai, Admiral Xuan," she said demurely as they turned at her approach, lowering her head in a bow. "Your request, my lady," she added holding out the drink Cai had sent her to retrieve.

"Thank you, Ling Qi," the shorter girl replied politely, accepting the cup of steaming tea. "Lord Xuan Ce, please continue," Ling Qi fell in appropriately a step behind her as the other girls attention turned back to the high ranking guest.

"Enough words have I spoken of the avaricious Jin already," the man replied, briefly glancing at Ling Qi. "Mine brother and I trust that the withered channels tying the great wood seas to the harbors of the north shall see their blockages crumble."

"I will do all in my power to ensure it, should Mother choose to trust me such responsibility," Cai Renxiang replied evenly. "And I will speak with the Bao on the matter in any case."

"We are thankful," the heavily cloaked man replied, his hat tilting slightly at his nod. "Treacherous is the sea of imperium when sailing alone."

"As you say Lord Xuan," Cai Renxiang said. "My honored Mother understands the value of strong ties in times of trouble, and I have personally witnessed the steadiness of your house."

"The hatchling," The older man chuckled, his laughter little more than a rasp. "Yes, mine grand nephew has exceeded the measure laid for him by elder eyes," there was a twinkle of amusement in his storm grey eyes. "It is this old ones hopes that the young miss will offer him support in turn."

"Xuan Shi is a valued ally," Cai Renxiang agreed. "It would be my pleasure to do so."

Ling Qi kept herself from fidgeting through an effort of will, as the two of them spoke, keeping herself alert by surreptitiously noting the faces of the guests passing nearby, she could not match names to most of them, but she figured it would be good practice regardless. She was careful not to let her attention wander too far though, and she was glad for it as the Xuan's gaze turned to her.

"And what of you, little Baroness," the man asked. "I would hear your thoughts on the young one."

Ling Qi's eyes widened marginally and she felt a thrill of alarm. Why was he asking her? She was acquainted with Xuan Shi but they hardly knew one another well. "Sir Xuan is a dedicated and hard working young man," she said with only a slight pause. "While we have not had many opportunities to speak, he has provided me with helpful advice on the matter of caring for Zhengui. He is a good ally and a credit to your house."

Cai gave her a faint look a of approval out of the corner of her eye, so she hadn't screwed that up too badly. Still, she couldn't help but feel that the elder Xuan looked faintly disappointed, which was alarming. There was no sign of it in his voice when he spoke next though. "Yes, the precious one," he chuckled instead, making Ling Qi flush slightly. "Perhaps thy wings should carry the two of you north in the future. It would do the child good to meet his kin."

"I would have no objection," Cai Renxiang said smoothly. "Though I would need ask that you not borrow my retainer for too long Lord Xuan."

"I am no thief," the older man huffed, glancing at her again. "...Yet I must express disappointment in mine grand nephews lack of rigor in some matters," the man said with a sigh.

"Your words are too kind. I would be pleased to visit your lands alongside Zhengui in the future," Ling Qi said politely. "I am undeserving of such attention."

"Hmph, this suthron dance can be tiring," Xuan Ce grunted, for the first time showing a bit of irritation. "Perhaps to those without Sight your words might be true. Portents swirl about this place, forming the seeds of a hurricane, and yet I see you clearly amidst the gathering winds. The Star Child and Moon Wraith both will know no simple future."

Ling QI swallowed thickly at the ominous words, sharing an uncertain glance with Cai Renxiang, who responded carefully. "...My retainer and I will both thank you for sharing your Sight, Admiral Xuan."

He waved a hand dismissively, very slightly shaking his head. "Nay, I will take no thanks for such a prediction," he replied heavily, turning his attention back to Cai Renxiang in full. "Allow me to commend thy sharp eyes one last time young lady Cai. However, this one must attend to other business."

"I will take your kind words to heart, Admiral Xuan. Please enjoy the rest of the evening," Cai Renxiang replied evenly, bowing at the waist as the older man took his leave.

Ling Qi let out a breath as he vanished into the crowd, glancing down at the cup of cider she held, now growing warm in her hands. "...Should I be worried?"

Cai Renxiang frowned slightly, pausing to finally take a sip from her cup. "Divinations regarding the future are hardly reliable," she said quietly. "Regardless, did you not know that the path you have chosen to follow me on was treacherous?"

Ling Qi nodded, she supposed that she did. "I suppose I should study up on northern customs then," she said, changing the subject.

"In the future perhaps," her liege replied, turning to lead her elsewhere in the pavillion. "Such a visit is far away, and the present yet demands your attention."

"Of course," Ling Qi said straightening her shoulders, mentally preparing herself to return to a state of polite blandness. "What is our next appointment?"

"The Lord Xu," Cai Renxiang replied idly. "I will require your presence for only a short while longer, Ling Qi."

She carefully did not express her gratitude for that, simply nodding in response. It would be good to get out of here. Even if she was growing used to it, the presence of so many powerful cultivators was still giving her a faint headache.

Soon enough, Cai Renxiang made good on her word, dismissing her for the evening and returning to her Mother. Looking at the other girls back as she went… Ling Qi wished that she could offer some words of comfort, but there were none she could speak in such a public place, given the reason for the girl's stiff shoulders and blank expression.

As she flitted away into the night, little more than a scrap of shadow passing beneath the stars, Ling Qi could not help but ponder on it. Though she had for a long time, resented her mother a great deal, with the unfair mindset of a child… some part of her had never really doubted the woman's affection for her. Yet for all that she was powerless, in the past and especially now, Ling Qi could not rely on her for anything, not really.

The thought was sour, but Ling Qi could not help but think it. Cai Renxiang though… Her Mother was strong, as strong as it was possible to be and still walk the material world. Only a bare handful of people could even question her authority, let alone force her to do anything. Ling Qi still envied that, at least a bit. Yet, she could not envy Cai Renxiang, having looked into that woman's eyes.

Who could even tell the difference between affection and cruelty, coming from something like that?
So as she landed without a sound before the doors of the house she had arranged for her mother, and passed wordlessly by the Sect guard at the gate, Ling Qi felt only a faint relief. The light tingle of the houses alarm formation passed over as she slipped inside, recognizing her qi and falling quiescant, and welcoming her home, such as it was. She followed the faint light and sound of fire toward the houses sitting room. It was a rather chilly night, for a mortal Ling Qi thought absently.

She found her mother seated by the fire in a soft chair, a book open in her lap. In a moment, she saw the weariness in the older woman's drooping eyes, and also the determination to stay awake, and the faint worry in the lines at the corners of her eyes. Very deliberately, Ling Qi placed her next footfall to make the floorboards creak. "Sorry I am so late mother," she said softly, entering the room.

Her mother had looked up at the sound of her footfall, and a faint smile broke out on her tired face as Ling Qi spoke. "It is nothing to show concern for Ling Qi. I am sure that important matters occupied your time," she replied ruefully, shutting the book in her lap as she stood.

"That is only so much of an excuse," Ling Qi replied wryly, crossing the room in a few long strides to wrap her slim mother in a carefully controlled hug. "I made it into the Inner Sect Mother."

Ling Qingge twitched for a moment at the sudden contact, as she often did, but all the same a moment later she felt her Mothers small hands come to rest on her back. "I am glad for you. Does that mean that you have won your… tournament?" She asked, sounding a bit awkward.

"Not quite," Ling Qi said, withdrawing from the embrace after another moment. "I and seven others have qualified for the Inner Sect, now we will fight to determine our starting rank."

"I see," the older woman said, looking up at her with some concern. "I… it feels strange to me still, to hear my daughter speak so easily of fighting. I…" she trailed off looking uncertain as to how to express her concern.

"No one gets hurt too badly," Ling Qi replied, adjusting the truth a little. "My friend Xiulan had the worst of it today and she will be fine by morning. The Sects physicians are very skilled."

"Of course," Ling Qingge replied, sounding relieved. It made Ling Qi feel a little bad, but there was no good to be had in getting into the gory details. It would only distress her mother for no reason. "...Is it the duels which take up the whole day?" the older woman asked, pulling her attention back to the present.

"No," Ling Qi admitted. "I have been attending parties and meeting all sorts of people," she added with a grimace. "I almost wish it was more duels. I have so many letters to pen abstaining from different offers."
Her mother smiled, seeming a bit more comfortable with this topic. "I see. I am glad your lord is taking care to give you such a good grounding. Does she already have someone in mind for you?"

"Not yet," Ling Qi replied, feeling a little evasive. "That sort of thing… it's probably for the best to wait. I will only get more valuable in the future after all," she still felt kind of gross, saying things like that.

Ling Qingge looked pensive. "I suppose so… I believe I had a cousin who awakened. She was not groomed in the same manner as the rest of us."

"Right," Ling Qi agreed, swiftly seeking a change from the uncomfortable topic. "How is that going by the way, have you felt anything yet?"

Now it was her Mother's turn to look uncomfortable. "A certain warmth, a time or two, but no more. I fear you are only wasting resources."

"It's never a waste," Ling Qi replied firmly, meeting her Mothers eyes. A few red stones was a paltry cost for giving her Mother a chance to live truly healthy and well. She would give her family as much health and luxury as she could afford. "...Please Mother, keep trying. I don't want to…" she looked away, not finishing the sentence.

"I will not waste your generosity," Ling Qingge replied quietly, looking away. "Let us not speak of such things though," she continued with a weak smile. "Please, sit down. Tell me a little of your victories."

Ling Qi recognized the effort to change the subject, she had done the same a few moments ago after all., but just smiled going along with it. "You're right, no need to talk about heavy things right now…"

Her Mother might be but a mortal, but sitting here by the fire, telling, slightly embellished stories of the last couple of days… she found that it didn't matter. She was glad to have family again.

[] Battle Plan

-Alright voters, it is time to vote on your battle plan for facing Ji Rong in the next round. Same rules apply as the previous battle votes. Keep it to a basic tactics outline. There will be a six hour moratorium on voting.

Also this is the art contained in the card given to you by Cai Renxiang

Greater Qi Card: Stores a single technique of three dots or lower indefinitely. Techniques stored are used as with the casters full baseline dice pool. Talisman bonuses and auto successes are not included. The user must be within the same cultivation realm as the caster. 3 charges.
-Absolute Empyreal Dictate
The burning radiance of the stars lights in the user's eyes, burning away the shields which grant their target succor from their own inadequacy, and leaving their unworthy souls bare before primordial radiance. On activation, the user initiates a dispel clash targeting a defensive art in use by an enemy with a four die bonus, on success the target suffers one point of lethal semi perfect damage and cannot activate the same art in the following turn. Regardless of success, the user receives a six die bonus on any spiritual attack made in the following turn.

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi wasn't quite certain what to think of the girl standing next to her. There was something a little different about Cai Renxiang this morning, and she was not certain that she liked it. She wasn't referring to the change in look, not really, though it was a little unsettling, given how unchanging the other girls appearance had been for the last year.

Though it was still obviously Liming from the crimson wings formed of folded cloth still splashed across her chest, the dress spirit had been obviously altered. It had in some ways been simplified, the wide billowing sleeves were now drawn in, cinched tightly around it's wearers wrists. The cut of the whole thing seemed more boyish, despite the way it clung to her chest and hips even more tightly than ever. The lower hem even ended a few inches above the ground, leaving exposed the white, high heeled boots Cai Renxiang wore underneath, with a long cut up on side showing that they rose to her knees, when the powder blue under-layer shifted.

Ling Qi glanced again at the other girls face, the touch of cosmetics was incredibly light, but still rather stark given their previous lack. Rather than playing down her sharp, unforgiving features though, it somehow gave her an even more imperious and forbidding air. Even her hair had changed, twin braids held by white ribbons framing her face in the front while the rest spilled down to her lower back in a smooth waterfall free and unstyled

She couldn't help but notice that Renxiang's eyes held an unsettling emptiness compared to when they had parted last night though.

That said, Ling Qi turned her attention to the arena ahead, she couldn't afford to gawk at the other girl in public. Sun Liling and Shen Hu were mounting the stairs which lead into the first arena already, overseen by Sect Head Yuan. He had already given a short speech, extolling the virtue and strength of the eight disciples to the audience, as well as urging them to give their all now, for the honor of their families, the Sect, and the Empire.

Sun Liling wore a cool expression today, strolling into the arena at a casual pace. The simmering anger that Ling Qi had seen in her demeanor yesterday was nowhere to be found. Shen Hu on the other hand, had an expression equally as passive as it had been yesterday. Yet, Ling Qi could not help but notice the more serious set of his shoulders, and the other little signs of tension in his frame as the combatants offered polite bows to one other.

"You know, it's funny, a few few days ago, I'd never heard of ya," Sun Liling said casually as she straightened and lowered her hands, her bow having been more of a nod of acknowledgement.

"Hm, well. I thought the mountain would be a bit too noisy, you know?" Shen Hu replied as the air began to shimmer. "I like to take things at my own pace."

"Heh, I guess that's fair enough," Sun Liling replied, rolling her shoulders in that eye catching way she had. "I'm surprised ya didn't get rusty, just wandering out in the woods."

"Well, the beasts around here are a little weak," Shen Hu admitted easily. "They can still make good opponents if you handicap yourself," he continued, falling into a wide defensive stance. "It's surprising how much of a fight they can put up when you limit yourself."

She laughed, not bothering to take a stance herself, though Ling Qi noticed her fingers curling, preparing to grasp the haft of a spear as the terrain solidified around them. "Well, I guess your not lacking courage," she said, a smirk finding its way onto her face. "Gotta say, I still think your training plan is flawed."

They stood now on the shore of a small lake, only a hundred odd meters across, with a small burbling stream feeding it. The stream passed between them, where they stood on the grass shore, dotted with only a handful of trees.

"Hm, probably," Shen Hu admitted, breathing in deeply as he opened his hands and extended his fingers claw-like. "I won't be an easy opponent though."

"You've got a good attitude at least," Sun Liling said idly, subtly shifting her feet.

A thunderclap stirred the faint morning mists shrouding the lake then, and the two figures blurred.

Shen Hu's forward foot dug into the mud, and the rich earth at his feet shattered in his wake as he launched himself forward, bubbling mud and marsh reeds pouring from his shoulders even as glittering diamond claws grew to encase his outstretched fingertips. The crimson princess merely grinned in the face of the charge though, her green eyes gleaming with open bloodlust. Blood gushed from her palms, crawling up her limbs to form gauntlet and vambrace, even as her terrible black barbed spear took shape. Even as her own feet launched her backward, she drew her arm back, and in the blink of an eye launched the spear, screaming through the air like a newly launched arrow.

A great granite slab shimmered into existence in front of Shen Hu, as wide and tall as a full grown man. In the next instant, the blurring missile struck it's surface and shattered, sending a spiderweb of hairline fractures across it's surface.

...Only it didn't. Ling QI grimaced, restraining the urge to rub her eyes as the spear simultaneously struck Shen Hu's shield and warped past it, it's straight arc bending at a sharp angle once, and then again to shoot past his defense and dig a bloody line across the wide eyed boys shoulder even as he arrested his charge to dodge,

As Sun Liling landed lightly on the extended branch of a leafless tree, Ling Qi caught a faint, split second fluttering of her eyes, any hope that the Sun girl had suffered a setback died though as qi flared from the center of her forehead, and the thousand rainbow patterned leaves of a vast lotus flower flickered into sight behind her like a mighty banner.
"Tricky," she said, clicking her tongue as the armor finished forming across her chest, and twin skeletal arms grew, from beneath her own, clutching jagged blades. "You've got a second spirit after all."

Shen Hu, for his part, didn't respond, now fully encased in the hulking form of his earth spirit. With even his head submerged, Shen Hu seemed to be entirely fused with his beast, and impression made all the greater as it's limbs swelled, taking on muscular definition, and half meter long spines of black crystal erupted from its back and club like hands. Lanhua's footfalls shook the earth as thundered toward the Sun princess.

It was not content merely charging though, as the tree Sun Liling had landed on tilted drunkenly, the soil at its roots softing as grasping muddy hands rose to clutch at the girls limbs. She laughed, launching herself from the branch, her voice now distorted, reverberating within the fanged maw of the three faced demonic helm that now covered her head. "You've made another mistake, you know!" She exclaimed, bloody mist erupting from channels all across her armor as she spun gracefully through the air, avoiding the grasping hands and launched spikes of crystal as easily as Ling Qi herself had, if not moreso.

Ling Qi felt it then, a ripple of disquieting qi that spread outward from the now fallen tree that Sun Liling had stood upon. The very air shimmered with it… or perhaps something else. Brightly colored flowers bloomed from now swiftly rotting bark, and spread outward, devouring grass and soil alike in a multichromatic carpet. It reached Lanhua's thick, trunk-like feet only a few seconds later, despite the beasts alarmed step backward.

She winced as the beast, who had suffered everything she had rained on it in near silence, let out a warbling scream, a great gash of a mouth opening across it's upper body as hungry rootlets dug into its muddy flesh, and new flowers bloomed, crawling swiftly up the earthen pillars of the beasts legs. Lanhua tore it's feet from the writhing ground, leaving behind head sized chunks of mud in the grasp of the hungry rootlets. Yet it wasn't enough to escape, already new blooms of vibrant green were swelling with cancerous life across the beasts pockmarked legs.

Almost as if to add insult to injury, a blurred, six armed form fell on the beleaguered spirit from above. A barbed spear dug into muddy flesh, whipping and darting in a red blur, digging great furrows to seek the flesh beneath, and a mighty arm, raised to swat away the foe, fell with a crash to the earth, cleaved from it's body with a single stroke of a mighty black bladed axe. Lanhua's torso bubbled then, and Shen Hu emerged, gleaming crystal talons raised, only to crash against two upraised curved blades dripping wetly with sizzling sanguine fluid.

Still, the weight of the clashed forced her away from the thrashing Lanhua, whose wet, bubbling screams had not stopped. The brightly colored growths blooming across the spirits body wriggled and writhed, spreading with impossible speed, and even as she watched, the dusky skinned Dhartiri, bloomed from the other spirits back, woody stems and soft roots alike flowing together to form bare limbs of inhuman beauty. The jungle spirits beatific smile didn't change at all despite the other spirits wailing.

Lanhua dissolved then, mud and reed disintegrating back into earthy qi that flowed back into the scowling Shen Hu's navel. He stood at the ready in a vast field of flowers now, flanked on one side by the near naked Dhartiri, and on the other by Sun Liling. The princess' armor had evolved since Ling Qi had seen it last. She still held her twisted, thorny spear easily in her two true arms, but the curved blades held in the false limbs below had grown smoother and more refineed, as well as longer, and now, a third pair of arms, seemingly thick with muscle, sprouted from above her natural limbs. The right hand held the massive curve bladed black axe which had taken Lanhua's arm so easily, while the left was empty, it's hand held near her face, palm out and fingers straight, as if half in prayer.

"That was unnecessary," Shen Hu said flatly, ignoring the bloody cut on his shoulder.

"Well, what can ya expect?" Sun Liling's reverberating voice answered. "Waving a meal like that in front of my poor spirit's face?"

The boy's lips were set in a thin line as he he turned on his heel and charged, crystal claws outstretched toward Liling's smiling spirit. Sun Liling blurred forward, but the slab of gray rock that was Shen Hu's domain weapon shimmered into existence, blocking her path with a crash. Yet concern never appeared on the spirit Dhartiri's features as black claws slashed through the space where her head had been. The curvaceous creatures spine bent, silken garments fluttering as she escaped the path of Shen Hu's attacks, leaving him to catch only a few strands of dark hair.

The air around them shimmered with spreading pollen as the spirit fell back before him, still smiling gently, and when next Shen Hu's crystal claws rose, they met twisted talons of thorn and wood, scoring deep wounds that wept glistening sap. The sound of shattering stone heralded the end of his advantage though, as Sun Liling fell upon him like a crimson meteor. To his credit, he held under her initial assault.

...Yet for all of his ability, Ling Qi could see that he was losing. Even as black greaves formed over his legs in a desperate attempt to even the number of limbs, wounds opened across his arms and chest. Sun Liling was simply overwhelming in her speed and strength, and worst still, Ling Qi could feel still more power flooding into the demonic girl, powered by the melodic voice of the jungle spirit Dhartiri, who in the wake of her partners assault had simply leapt lightly back, escaping the battle, her limbs already swaying gracefully through the movements of an eye catching dance even as her rich voice rose in a foreign song.

Ling Qi felt a spike of irritation, watching it.

The battle was not really in question by that point, unable to break her guard, nor to get away, Shen Hu had no path to victory. As she watched, Sun Liling danced around him, the staggering complexity of her five limbed assault impossible to follow with her eyes. It was to Shen Hu's credit that the battle lasted near two minutes from there.

"The winner of the days first round is Sun Liling, by right of knockout," Sect Head Yuan announced as Shen Hu slumped to the ground, dissolving into glittering lights along with the terrain, voice rising over the cheers of the crowd.

She met the eyes of the princess for moment as the red haired girl hopped lightly down from the raised arena, her monstrous armor and cruel armaments dissolving like so much smoke. There was no anger there, nor elation from victory, despite the easy smile on her lips. Only a stony determination. The moment didn't linger, as Sun Liling returned to her place at the far end of the line, and Ling Qi herself was called forward along with her opponent.

She marched silently with practised poise to the arena, alongside the boy who had once been a commoner like her, without giving him a more than a glance. Some trace of a thuggish swagger remained in his steps, but it seemed that even he had learned to move with more dignity. Soon enough, they split apart, moving to face one another from opposite sides of the arena.

"You know, it's funny," The scarred boy commented idly, cracking his knuckles. "I don't think we've ever actually had a conversation before."

"Is that so," Ling Qi replied aloofly, standing ready with her hands at her sides, affecting an attitude similar to her best friend.

"Yeah," Ji Rong replied evenly. "Ya know why I never tried to talk to you, back at the beginning?"

"I couldn't guess, Baron Ji," she said blandly. "I am sure you were very busy."

He grimaced, giving her a sour look. "Tch," he scoffed, not otherwise responding to her words. "I thought I had you pegged. I'd seen people like you before."

"Do share your insights," she drawled, narrowing her eyes as the formations began to activate, shrouding them in shimmering lights.

He returned her flat look. "You were a rat," he replied. "To weak to fight, to scared to join up with anyone. The kinda person who'd trip a friend up if it meant getting a few more seconds lead on the guard."

"How rude," she replied coldly, feeling stung despite herself. He wasn't wrong after all. "Do you think I haven't seen your type before, Ji Rong," she continued. "Swaggering bullies who get their friends together to pretend at authority, so they can feel like they control something?" She finished with a scoff. "How many streets did your gang claim as its fief?"

"Not very many," Ji Rong replied with a lopsided smirk that carried a note of bitter nostalgia. "Xizhou is barely a city."

"Did you have a point then?" Ling Qi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not sure, if I'm bein honest," he replied, cracking his neck as the lights began to coalesce into solid terrain. "Guess I'm just curious what made you change."

"...You are much less angry than I was expecting," Ling Qi admitted, giving him a suspicious look.

"Oh, I'm still pretty pissed," he admitted mildly. "We're enemies, and you're just as cruel as the rest of your lot, and you're not that big idiot Gan," he met her gaze steadily, cracking his knuckles. "If that jackass whose been tutoring me made one thing stick, it's that I can't lose my temper against an enemy who might be stronger than me."

Ling Qi frowned at him, electing to ignore the last part of his statement, as gratifying as it was. "I don't think your group has any right to call us cruel."

Ji Rong snorted, giving her an incredulous look. "Right, tell that to the poor sods who had the misfortune to cross 'Miss' Bai's path," he drawled, spitting the term of ostensible respect. "The reason you get to pretend to be better is cause you won. Just like everyone else."

"Only one side was fighting for something besides their own pride," Ling Qi replied as the shape of the terrain began to solidify around them, they stood at the top of a large hill in a lightly wooded scrubland, the sky bright with the colors of sunset. "But this conversation is pointless, isn't it?"

'Suppose so," Ji Rong admitted, a lopsided grin spreading across his face as he raised his fists into a guard stance. "Gonna break your face now." He said cockily, his usual demeanor returning.

Ling Qi scoffed, and thunder boomed.

Her flute formed in her right hand, and Zhengui began to take shape in front of her, a dark shadow in the grass. Even as she raised her hand to bring her flute to her lips though, she found herself staring point blank at the knuckles of Ji Rong's right hand, thick rings of bronze, arcing with electricity adorning them. She had a bare instant to flood vibrant wood wi through her spine and activate Ten Ring defense before it crashed into her nose.

Even as she moved with the force of the blow, reducing the impact, stars exploded in her vision, and she felt something in her face snap. She tasted blood on her lips as she retreated, avoiding the follow up blow by leaping over it, her gown fluttering in the wind as she landed on the far side of the now solid Zhengui.

Above them, their clash was reenacted, a wailing sword with a spiralling blade meeting a flashing golden mirror in a cacophony of noise and light.

How long had it been since she her nose had been broken? The idle though scurried across her thoughts as she began to play, suppressing the twitching in her muscles and nerves from the lighting flooding her body. He had chipped her front teeth as well, she thought, adjusting her playing for the slight change. Zhengui cried out in fury as her mists rolled over the battlefield, and superheated ash mingled with shadow haunted mist. The cherry red embers greeted her like an old friend and the cool, slick feeling of moon-aligned qi quelled the lightning seizing her muscles.

It wasn't enough though, Ji Rong was back in her face in an instant, the scent of his burning sandals reaching her nose as he landed lightly a top Zhengui's shell, a quick jab snapping Zhen's head back, and away while his follow up caught her in the shoulder, his fist shrouded in blinding actinic light.

She had to fight against her own muscles as they tried to become rigid with the voltage flooding them until Sixiang could act, and only the protection of Deepwood Vitality and her armor prevented the damage from being worse. Yet, as she met her enemies eyes in the moment before he leaped away to avoid Zhengui's retaliation, she saw surprise there. He had been hoping to overwhelm her entirely.

So it was with a bloody smile that she summoned a qi card into her hand in preparation. Not yet though, were her minions unleashed. Instead, she spun away limbs swaying to an unheard tune, and flooded the field with laughing, dancing phantoms. A riot of color and light spilled from her, casting the sunset hill in lurid color as fairies danced in the sky and elfin figures reveled on the ground.

At the same moment, she brought the disparate parts of her Thousand Ring's together, and activated the Hundred Ring's Armament. Rippling green light spilled across her limbs, coalescing the faint vital aura into something more solid, for Ji Rong navigated the tittering grasping figures with the light of heaven burning in his eyes. This time, when he rounded on her again through the thickening ash illusions and mist, embers burning in his hair, she raised her arms to block the lightning fast jab aimed for her face.

Their limbs met with the crack of a millenial tree struck by heaven's fury, and though her arm trembled and her feet were driven back through the dirt, gauging furrows in the ground, she held. The surprise in his eyes was worth the bruise she could already feel forming across most of her forearm. As he withdrew, recovering his balance, the card in her hand flashed and sizzled, and from the earth, hissing grey worms the length of her arm sprang. He was driven back then, shadows shredding the wide sleeves of his shirt, while spearing roots tore his already damaged sandals asunder and hissing worms leaped ugly, toothy maws agape at him, chasing the boy through the ephemeral revel. He moved with incredible alacrity still though, none of these lesser assaults penetrating his guard. A crack of thunder rang through the eerie music as he drove Zhengui's tortoise head face first into the ground with a kick, pushing her little brother back.

Yet it still gave Ling Qi room to breath, and even as the card in her hand flashed again, summoning still more of the foul worms of the earth, she let out a wordless shout, carried on a surge of flowing fiery qi that washed over her Zhengui and her summons alike infusing them with a burning vigor.

Ji Rong did not simply allow himself to be pushed back though, she saw the determination in his eyes as he hardened his guard, standing firm under the multi-headed assault of the trap she had laid for him. She felt the surge of qi a fraction of a second before the scarred boy bellowed a warcry and heavenly qi surged. Eyes burning with the blue light of lightning and hair spiked up with static, the sheer force of his unleashed spirit was like s small explosion, blowing the worms circling him away in a blast of crackling wind, even as he batted aside a burning glob of venom spat by Zhen, suffering an angry burn across the entirety of his forearm for the effort.

His fist slammed into her gut a moment later, and Ling Qi tasted blood as lightning erupted from her back, charring a black line across the hillside. Despite pain she felt, Ling Qi glared at the glowing boy, and before he could withdraw his fist, blew single note from her flute. It was a thing of absolute cold, the song of winter condensed into a single rattling wail like a blizzard howling through a dead city.

Bolstered by the wisps of qi circling his limbs, left by the failed attacks of her spirit and summons, it struck with terrible force, patches of flesh on Ji Rong's chest turned black and cracked, weeping a sluggish stream of blood and hoarfrost spread across his limbs, leaving him to stagger back off balance.

Golden light flared then, and the sound of shattering glass echoed across the hillside, Ling Qi saw Ji Rong's weapon, the golden mirror falling to pieces, leaving her own blade to zoom through the air where it had been. Her eyes widened then as she turned them back to Ji Rong who was straightening up, rejuvenating qi melting away ice and shrinking the patches of frostbitten flesh.

She grimaced, as she leapt back, darting back into Zhengui's ashfield and putting her little brother between them again. They were not done yet. Renewing her mist, she weathered his next assault, feeling a painful crack as the bone in her blocking forearm fractured… and yet, she felt a surge of confidence as Ji Rong was punished for blowing past her summons, being driven back by gnawing teeth and biting shadows yet again. Her reserve of qi was lower than it had been in a long time, from weathering his blows and activating her defense, but…

A silent command sent the qi reserved in the worms surging, and they struck as one, a hissing carpet of writhing flesh… and Ji Rong missed a step, his bare foot sliding a few centimeters too far, right into the waiting grasp of one of the half dozen worms assaulting him. The hissing beast coiled around his leg in an instant, and for a single second, her opponent was held still. Grasping roots seized his other ankle.

In that moment of vulnerability, Ling Qi finally was able to make distance and then the revelers laughter boomed, and phantom hands grew all too solid. With some satisfaction, she saw Ji Rong's eyes widen even as lightning charred the worm on his leg to ash. His next attack went wide, a boiling beam of plasma going wide, and sending giggling fairies spinning in the heated channel of air it left in its wake.

Then the wailing of her flying sword struck and staggered him, and the hands of a pretty spirit with the glittering multifaceted eyes of an insect grasped his, spinning him away in a wild dance. She heard him shout the noise drowned out by laughter and music. Lightning flashed, but it brought only a giggle from the spirit restraining him as he found himself spun into the grasp of of a laughing man-beast.

In only another minute, Ji Rong fell, his already badly drained of qi failing him.

The moment that Ling Qi felt his qi cease resisting her, her trembling legs collapsed under her, bringing her down to one knee. Taking a shuddering breath, Ling Qi forced herself to straighten up as the terrain and her arts began to fade.

Her left arm was broken, a hairline fracture that sent sharp pain with every movement. She could taste blood in her mouth, and a terrible burn scarred her stomach and back… but she had won. She felt a foreign yet familiar qi tugging at her own then. In it's soft yet insistent touch, she could feel the presence of Xin.

She supposed a trip to the infirmary probably was in order… but, did she really want to miss the other fights?

[] Accept and allow yourself to be taken to the infirmary
[] Decline, you can suffer a little pain to support your friends

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi allowed her eyes to drift closed, and accepted the pulling sensation tugging at her meridians. Staying behind while injured would likely just distract Meizhen anyway. Her friend did always get so agitated when she was hurt after all. By the time she had completed that thought, she could feel the pain fading, and her awareness growing fuzzy. Vaguely, she felt Zhengui returning to her, his warmth offering comfort as she drifted off.

She had won, and she could allow herself a little pride for that.

With that thought, her consciousness faded.

"Hmph, so she is not entirely a fool then," Ling Qi's eyes snapped open as the familiar irritable and harried voice of an old man reached her ears. Blinking, she quickly tried to reorient herself, old instincts almost making her leap back up in a crouch. However, she found her limbs heavy and her muscles slow to obey. She was lying down in a soft bed, under the light of a paper lantern shining with a soft gray light. As she watched, the light pulsed briefly, sending the shadows cast by the characters painted on its sides dancing across the room.

...Elder Jiao?" she asked fuzzily peering at the shadowed figure standing at the foot of her bed. She felt a cool touch on her hand then, and looked to her left to see Xin, seated comfortably on a chair beside her bed. The moon spirit smiled at her attention.

"Sturdy enough not to go into shock without her qi holding the damaged area together, the Lantern will be enough," the old man said in a clipped tone, not looking at her, but instead scribbling a note in the folio in his hands. "The rest is disciple work then." Xin shot him a sour look as he turned away.

She grimaced, glancing p at the moon spirits face, and then Elder Jiao's back, which was already beginning to lose corporeality. "Elder Jiao, sir. I want to thank you for your offer, even if I couldn't take it," she had not had a chance to speak with Xin, let alone the the Elder, since she had made her choice, she could not let this opportunity to settle things pass.

His shimmering outline paused in its fading, and grew solid once more as he turned to look at her over his shoulder. "I have not the slightest idea what you are talking about girl. Perhaps that boy knocked something loose with his fisticuffs?" he said with a sneer. "But… perhaps as your esteemed Elder, I might offer some advice on your chosen career."

Ling Qi blinked, taken back by the bitterness in the Elder's expression. "...I would be most thankful, sir?" She half asked, glancing at Xin, whose smile had faded.

"I know much of reformers, and you have chosen a miserable path," he replied blandly. "There is neither happiness nor satisfaction to be found as a shadow. Be mindful in choosing what you are forced to discard on the roadside of the Way." He had faded away by the time his last words echoed in the small stone room.

"...He wasn't angry at me," Ling Qi said, half to herself, looking at Xin, who remained at her bedside, holding her hand.

"He was not," the spirit said sadly. "Excuse him, these past weeks have been stressful. When the things we retired to leave behind come to our doorstep, it is a most vexing experience."

With her thoughts as fuzzy as they were, she wasn't quite sure what Xin was talking about. Did she just mean all the nobles? "I understand," she replied.

"Does she, niece?" Xin asked lightly, glancing at a point about two centimeters above her eyes.

"She's still a little concussed, Auntie, and Uncle's toy isn't helping," Sixiang replied helpfully. "Sorry I wasn't more help back there," she added apologetically. "That flashy guys tricks weren't something I could do much about."

"S'fine," Ling Qi mumbled, looking up at the ceiling. "Where's Zhengui?"

"Sleeping," Xin replied. "Letting excitable children romp around a patient is not the best idea," she said with a slight smile."

Ling Qi blinked drowsily. That was right, she could feel him, a little napping ball of warmth. It was just hard to concentrate. "I really am sorry," Ling Qi said after a moment, looking up to meet Xin's eyes. "No one would tell me anything about the Inner Sect though, and I wanted to be able to meet Meizhen still, and...and Cai Renxiang's not a bad person you know? She really means what she says, and the… the opportunity..." she was babbling, she knew, but it was hard to stop.

Xin looked sad, but not reproachful. "Hush, dear. You need not explain things to me," she sighed. "This has been a most unusual year, and not wholly in a good way. Our treatment of the Outer Sect has been more… hands off in recent years than we might like," Her silver eyes gleamed oddly in the dull light of the lantern. "In exchange for certain favours."

Her blurry thoughts couldn't help but turn to a certain terrifying woman. "Is that why Elder Jiao is so angry?"

"He has had his fill of scheming, that husband of mine," Xin replied with a musical laugh. "But no more of such things. You've done very well, you know."

Even in her state, Ling Qi could tell when a subject was being gently closed. "Thank you, I couldn't have come so far without you and your sisters."

"Perhaps, or maybe another spirit might have snatched you up," Xin said lightly. "Might I add that I found it adorable when you chose to take my greater self as a patron for my sake?"
"I didn't…" Ling Qi denied, color rising on her cheeks. "Not just for that," she mumbled.

"Even if you do not fit us very well just yet, it is never wrong to cultivate curiosity," Xin said gently. "And, the seeds are there, did your pulse not quicken, at least a little, when you reached the bottom of the tomb?"

Ling Qi nodded slightly, thinking back to that day. She had never really been able to afford curiosity before, in Tonghou, she couldn't afford much of anything beyond immediate gain.

"There you go then," Xin said with satisfaction. "Nurture the wonder of discovery, and you might grow to be a scholar yet," she grimaced then, looking up. "Ah… and I need to go. The next patient is arriving soon."

"Goodbye Xin," Ling Qi said quietly.

"Farewell for now Ling Qi," the spirit replied. "You are not leaving the Argent Sect just yet."

She vanished in a glimmer of starlight, and Ling Qi was left to drift off, under the drowsy light of the lantern.

---

Slowly, Ling Qi found consciousness returning to her, the foggy logic of dreams seaguing into the solidity of waking. She didn't have long to contemplate it though.

"Big Sister is awake!" Zhengui's excited thoughts blasted away the remnants of sleep. "Did you see it Big Sister! I caught him! I did! Even after he kicked me!"

'I saw,' Ling Qi thought groggily. A silent, immaterial nudge from Sixiang brought her to awareness of the other presence in her room. 'You did great little brother, just give me a moment.'

Opening her eyes, she looked to the side, her eyes drawn by the light shining down on her face. Cai Renxiang looked back at her, expression neutral. The girl was seated at her bedside, hands folded neatly in her lap. "I see the medical apprentices estimates were correct," she said without feeling.

"My apologies for not offering the proper respect," Ling Qi responded, peering up at the other girl, searching her expression. That unsettling emptiness remained, but… it seemed lesser, perhaps that was merely wishful thinking though. "Your own match went well then?"

"You are excused," Cai Renxiang replied absently. "My duel with the Gu daughter was completed honorably, with my victory."

Ling Qi paused an awkward silence forming between them. "Lady Cai," she began carefully glancing around the empty room. "Are you well?"

The girl's gaze sharpened, her brows drawing together as she frowned. After a moment, she looked away. "Is it so obvious?"

"Perhaps not to everyone," Ling Qi replied carefully. "You seem troubled."

Her liege's expression twisted into a grimace. "No doubt Mother has already planned for my showing of distress," she muttered, more to herself than Ling Qi. "I can only hope that she does not see it as meriting punishment regardless."

Ling Qi looked away, feeling a twisting in her stomach. That helpless feeling… she hated it, but there was nothing she could do for the other girl in this situation. "I do not think you were lacking in composure," she posited, looking back. "You said your match went well?"

"I granted Gu Xiulan the appropriate mercy for a lower ranked potential ally, and she understood the situation," Cai replied, her expression evening out. "As I had been instructed."

Ling Qi could admit she felt a bit of her worry drop away. "I believe you should be fine. It was only my familiarity and proximity which allowed me to see your mood."

The other girl nodded stiffly. "I see, I suppose there is no purpose in fretting now," she mused. "In any case, I wished to ensure you were well. You have done honor to my name and yours today."

Ling Qi's lips twitched upward in the ghost of a smile. "You are too kind Lady Cai. I only performed as expected."

To her relief, the corner of the heiress' lips quirked up as well. "Quite so, a mere ruffian could hardly be expected to keep up with your dance."

Despite the cheer, in her expression Ling Qi could not feel very happy though. Clear of distractions, she had finally understood why the look in the girls eyes had unsettled her. It was look she remembered well, from her earlier life, looking back from bruised and downcast faces, and one she had feared that she would wear one day. It was wrong for someone like Cai Renxiang to look like that.

Pushing those dismal thoughts away for the moment, Ling Qi continued smiling, though she could tell that Cai had noticed her troubled thoughts. "I am glad I did not fail to live up to your expectations, Lady Cai."

"Yes," the heiress replied, giving her a searching look. "My expectations," she said her frown returning, and with it that unsettling hurt. "On the morrow, you should know that it is acceptable for you to surrender once the princess has struck you a solid blow."

Ling Qi blinked surprised at the almost unnoticeable edge of concern in her voice. When she smiled, it was more genuine this time. "Thank you Lady Cai. But I intend to continue until I am unable."

Cai Renxiang closed her eyes for a moment. "You must wish to see Bai Meizhen savage me," she said dryly.

"I am a big girl," Ling Qi replied with an almost petulant huff. "Bai Meizhen will understand my resolve."

"I suppose she might, at that," Cai Renxiang mused, shaking her head. "Very well, I will not gainsay you on this."

"I don't want her to win," Ling Qi admitted quietly. "Even if I can't beat her. Every trick she uses on me is one that she cannot surprise either of you with."

"I see," the other girl replied. "Then I commend you on your resolve. You have no obligations to me tonight, so feel free to rest as you need."

"I am still feeling a little sluggish," Ling Qi sighed. Her arm, which had been broken still felt kind of numb, and her whole midsection felt tingly. "Are any of my other friends here?" She asked, only to wince at her slip.

Cai Renxiang did not respond to it though, her expression not changing a bit, though the light radiating from her did shift, sending the shadows in the room dancing. "Gu Xiulan is recovering as you are. The other two girls went to attend the ceremony for the winners of the production tournament."

Of course Meizhen couldn't openly visit her, Ling Qi thought a touch bitterly. Her dark thoughts were swiftly banished by the feeling of Zhengui's warmth in her thoughts, her little brother snuggling close at the feel of her discomfort. "Are there any events I should know about tonight?"

"You are free of obligation, as I said," Cai Renxiang replied. "If you wish it however, there will be an event allowing our seniors in the Inner Sect to meet and mingle with us, there will be another after the post tournament rankings have been announced however."

Ling Qi hummed thoughtfully. In truth she wasn't exactly looking forward to another social event, and she had not gotten to cultivate in days. There was not enough time for a proper session… but perhaps in meditating on her matches thus far, she could refine her techniques, if only a little. Her match with Sun Liling loomed after all.

"I will leave you to your choice," her liege said, standing up with a rustle of cloth. Smoothing her gown, she began to move toward the door. "Be well Ling Qi."

"You as well my lady," Ling Qi replied, turning to watch the girl go. "...And, hang in there. The tournament is coming to an end soon."

She paused at the door, looking back. "As you say," she replied, her voice stiff and perhaps a touch awkward.

Then she was gone, and Ling Qi was left to her thoughts.

[] Remain at rest and meditate on your victories thus far, seeking insights
[] You have made a good run at being sociable, best continue, perhaps some of your tutors will be there?

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi let her eyes drift shut, relaxing into the comfortable softness of the bed beneath her. She had been doing her duty thus far, meeting people, attending events, and acting like a proper lady… or something close anyway.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, you've held up pretty well," Sixiang teased.

"Yes! Big Sister is great!" Zhengui agreed, though it was clear he didn't really understand what she was thinking about.

Ling Qi let out a small laugh under her breath. "The point is, I think I've earned an afternoon off, you know?" She mused aloud. "No one can blame me for getting a little cultivation in."

"Sure," Sixiang said, amused. "You shut in."

Ling Qi simply let out a huff. "Quiet you, I'm diligent is all."

"Zhengui will cultivate too, so he can protect Big Sister tomorrow!" Her little brother cut in excitedly.

Ling Qi did her best to mask the spike of worry at the thought, instead surrounding the young spirit with a feeling of encouragement. No matter what, they were going to be going through a lot of pain tomorrow.

"Well, I'll leave you two workaholics too it," Sixiang replied faintly, fading back into the back of her thoughts.

Giving only a slight nod in response, Ling Qi quieted her thoughts, and turned her mind inward, toward the flows of her qi, and the cycles of energy within her body. Slowly awareness of the outside world faded away, sequestered to a corner of her thoughts, and taking with it her sense of time. It was no wonder, Ling Qi thought that older cultivators could vanish into meditation for years, decades or even centuries.

Even back in the second realm, hours could vanish in a flash, and even whole days could go by if one wasn't careful. She suspected that feeling of distorted time would only grow with her cultivation. These thoughts were but distraction though. Slowly, she began to cycle the energy in her dantian, sending her thoughts racing along her opened meridians with the flow of her spirit. She could feel the marks left by her injuries still, faded by the power of the Sect's medicine as they were. A feeling of jaggedness, halfway up her forearm, where the bone had broken, and a messy snarl in her abdomen, where lightning had surged through her still fragile organs.

She understood now why Elder Jiao had mentioned the possibility of her going into shock. Her stomach and viscera had received ruinous electrical burns, and though reflexive qi flows had allowed the damage to be ignored, it likely would have grown worse with time. She might have been unconscious for the rest of the day. Thinking of her wounds turned her thoughts to her defense, and her actions in her last fight. She had stood her ground against Ji Rong, accepting blows instead of retreating and dodging, as was usual for her, changing her tempo in an effort to throw off whatever counters he might have devised.

Thousand Ring Fortress had allowed her to do so, if at cost. Ling Qi had somewhat conflicted feelings on the art, if she was honest. It was powerful for certain, it's quality something she could not contest, and yet… it was at odds with so much of skillset. No, rather, the personal portion was, the ability to toughen her allies so greatly would be a potent tool in her usual tactics. Briefly, she wondered how Gan Guangli would have fared, with such an art bolstering everyone. Perhaps she would have faced him instead of Ji Rong today.

Letting that thread of thought drift away, Ling Qi turned her thoughts back to the simmering channels of vital qi that flowed through her spine and spread outward from her heart, and changed the cycling of her qi from the basic exercise of the Eightfold Ceremony to the more rigid and regimented practice demanded by the Fortress. Subsuming her thoughts into the pulses of qi, Ling QI allowed all other thoughts to fade.

Unyielding Vitality. That was the core of the Thousand Ring Fortress, a defense that would grow back more quickly than it could be damaged, that could weather any storm or assault. Even if it broke under siege, so long as a single drop remained, the fortress could return to full strength in time, just as a forest could regrow from a single seed. She had not fully mastered it yet, and so some portions of that power were missing.

Yet its defense was rigid and unbending, it belonged to the sort of stout arboreal guardians which would shatter before bending… and that was not her. She had played at such, today and in previous training, but in the end, that mindset, of holding ones ground no matter what and refusing to fall back… it was just too alien. Ground could be surrendered, and people could retreat. It was better to let an enemy push you back and in doing overextend themselves, than to repulse them with sheer force.

Or so she thought anyway.

To truly change an masterful art such as the Thousand Rings Fortress was beyond her but… perhaps applying its lessons elsewhere was not. In the opening rounds of a battle, she had to choose whether to put her effort into becoming one with shadow and slipping away, risking great damage, or channeling her effort into armor, trading on the certainty of a weakened attack… if that could be solved...

With a new focus, Ling Qi concentrated her thoughts on that idea.

By the time Ling Qi opened her eyes night had fallen, but she had succeeded. The ability to defend from more potent arts had been etched into the very core of her spirit. It was sloppy, lacking the structure granted by a full art, less efficient than her Ten Ring Defense art, but, with this, she could improve her early defense, without having to sacrifice her opening offense to as great a degree.

Sitting up in bed, Ling Qi stretched her arms overhead, feeling invigorated, the last soreness from her wounds having faded. Peering around her temporary room, Ling Qi could not help but smile. On the stand by her bed was a little basket, full of flowers, sweets and distinctly wood scented pills. The note laying in the center confirmed her thought. Li Suyin had seen that she was deep in cultivation, and elected not to disturb her, leaving instead her congratulations and a little victory present.

Ling Qi grinned as she let the first of the pills dissolve on her tongue, the rich flavor spreading as quickly as the vital warmth of the medicinal energy. Perhaps she could improve her efficiency even more by morning like this.

Spoiler: Insight Gained

Ling Qi may expend three qi to gain a point of semi perfect defense, up to a maximum of three points

---

Morning came before she knew it, and once again, Ling Qi found herself standing before a great crowd of the Empires nobility, the weight of their combined spiritual power leaving the air heavy, even without the pitiless light of the Duchess Cai shining down from the very highest box.

She stood now on the opposite side of the arena from Sun Liling, who had just lightly hopped onto the stone platform, skipping the stairs entirely. The red haired girl was smiling a friendly, easy going smile that absolutely did not reach her eyes. It set Ling Qi on edge immediately. Nonetheless she offered a proper bow of respect toward her opponent.

Sun Liling's smile didn't fade as she returned a much more perfunctory bow. "I really have to praise you, you know?" She said brightly as she raised her head.

"... You are too kind, Princess Sun," Ling Qi replied warily, eyeing the dangerous girl across from her. "I can't imagine what one of your stature would praise one such as me for."

"You're too modest, Ling Qi," Sun Liling said, her smile growing sharp. "Why, you're practically a living example of what the Sect's are supposed to do you know? Someone as talented as you woulda been wasted as a mortal."

"Don't get put off balance," Sixiang whispered.

"Thank you very much for your kind words, Princess," Ling Qi replied somewhat mechanically, not quite able to keep all of the bewilderment out of her voice. "I am more than honored to here so praise." Something wasn't right. By now she was sure that the story of the years events had spread to everyone watching. Sun Liling so openly praising an enemy who had caused her so much trouble would make her look bad surely. Was she just trying to seem generous, and clean up her tarnished reputation? Ling Qi doubted it, but…

The other girl nodded amicably, not breaking eye contact for a moment. "Right. I just wanted you to be sure you know?"

A bad feeling began to stir in Ling Qi's thoughts. "Of what Princess Sun?"

"That I would be taking you seriously, from the start. I think you've earned that," she replied lightly.

Oh.

As the formations mists rose, and and solidified, forming a maze of roots beneath her feet and a sweltering sun above her head, shining through the high tropical canopy of a thick jungle landscape, so overgrown that a man might hardly be able to pass through between any given pair of tree trunks, Ling Qi could only stare at her grinning opponent.

She needed a plan.

Two hour moratorium, this has been discussed a lot already so I think two hours should be enough.

[] Plan

Same format as the previous fight guys

 

[yrsillar]

Thunder boomed, and time slowed to a crawl.

Standing atop a tangled root network, she saw Sun Liling's left hand clench, her sharpened, green painted nails digging into the soft flesh of her palm. Wetly gleaming strands of crimson bloomed, stretching out into a spiralling helix, all in the space between eye blinks. Crimson liquid became dark metal and thorny barbs.

Ling Qi was already moving, the shadow of the canopy deepening and swallowing her up as her fingers and toes trailed off into dark mist, joining with the shadows themselves. Zhengui's spirit streamed from her dantian, heavy qi beginning to solidify into his sturdy body, even as she reached into her ring with a thought, bringing life to a score and more of empty eye sockets.

Yet she was too slow. The spear had already flown from her hands, a streak of sanguine light screaming through the air toward her chest. As it's barbed tip reached to impale her, Ling Qi flickered, her form scattering into mist and shadow as she appeared half a meter to the right. Yet it wasn't enough.

Though she was expecting it, it still hurt her eyes as the air itself seemed to scream, warping under the weighty of bloodthirsty qi, and the spear tore across her lower ribs, shredding silk and flesh alike, even as she twisted away from its new path, and blunted the majority of the tearing barbs with layer upon layer of vital qi.

It was only a minor wound though, Ling Qi thought distantly, through the fugue of battle, it was only the beginning. Zhengui's weight cracked the roots beneath his feet as he solidified, and an echoing ghostly shriek erupted from her storage ring as her Ossuary Horror burst forth. It was an ugly thing, an eagle sized construct in the shape of a bird, crackling black energy forming pinions over its skeletal wings.

Sun Liling merely regarded her with a raised eyebrow from her perch though, her spear having returned to her hands, and the beginnings of her armor crawling up her arms. Ling Qi's focus though, remained on the brief flickering pulse of qi she had felt emerging from the girl as the battle began, slithering down into the roots under their feet to blend with the ambient qi.

To her right, Zhengui stamped his feet, and let out a twin mouthed cry, unleashing a billowing fountain of ash that washed over the nearby area, and to her left, the horror circled upwards, letting out another echoing shriek as the cloak of qi granting it a facsimile of feathers rippled green and vital qi sank into all three of them, strengthening bones and flesh with dense wooden qi. Around Ling Qi, Ten rings of defense rippled, and joined one hundred rings of armament, hiding Ling QI's slender figure from sight beneath a coruscating armor of qi.

For an instant, she met the crimson haired girls green eyes, and saw curiosity and excitement, tempered by anger and wariness. Then, as the bloody armor crept up over her shoulders and began to spread across her chest, she exploded into motion, wood shattering beneath her feet as she rocketed toward Ling Qi, barbed spear outstretched.

Ling Qi ghosted soundlessly backward, into Zhengui's ash, light footed even under armor that would make a grown man stagger if it were solid and real, but the princess was too fast to be avoided so easily. In only a moment, the girl was on top of her, barbed spear blurring and spinning through the air in a complex dance that bit and jabbed again and again, it's haft flexing to slip past her defenses, and growing rigid when the butt slammed home in brutal, bludgeoning blows.

Their battle, Ling Qi thought, desperately pushing her reflexes to their limit, sounded like a thousand axes being taken to an old oak at high speed. Yet, under the storm of blows, her armor held, it cracked, energy wavering as entire chunks shattered, and she was faintly aware of a ragged stretch of cloth from her gown floated away on the wind of their movements, exposing part of her legs. Yet she did not bleed, even a bit.

Her Ossuary Horror was not so lucky, she became aware of its plight only as the sound of shattering bone reached her ears, at the same time that she felt the connection to the armor she had extended over it snap, the half second glance she could afford to spare it caused her eyes to widen. Through the falling ruin of bones and qi, a gleaming emerald disc flew, spinning through the air, already on a returning arc that would carry it to her.

The wailing song of her own domain weapon joined the din only a moment later, it's song sending the jade chakram off its course by a few crucial centimeters. She could feel it's acidic, hungry qi from here though, eager to dissolve and break armor and defense. She grimaced as Sun Liling's darting spear carved a furrow through the regenerating armor on her forearm, coming a hair's breadth from piercing flesh. She had to hope that her own weapon could last at least a handful of passes with it. At least her friends would know what sort of domain weapon the Princess was using.

She took some satisfaction in the tiny signs of frustration in her opponents expression though, as the spread of her armor had slowed to a crawl. The ornate breastplate was fully formed, and her arms wholly armored, but the tassets and leg guards were only half formed and her helm incomplete. The girls eyes narrowed as they met hers though, and Ling Qi's stomach dropped as she felt a flare of dark, sickly bloodlust. The only visual sign of change was a blood vessel bursting in the girls right eye and the grimace that hardened her expression. Her crimson armor exploded forward in growth an instant later, completing itself even as skeletal limbs began to sprout from her shoulder blades.

Ling Qi fell back before the storm of blows that followed, reforming her armor, dissolving into shadow, and using every other trick she could think of as Zhengui diligently spread his ash far and wide, just like she had instructed him too. All the while, she did her best to keep track of that slithering trail of qi, sneaking beneath the earth.

In the instant that she felt that presence spike, she screamed a silent warning to Zhengui through their connection, and leaped backward with all of her might, rocketing away from Sun Liling as a thousand reveling phantoms burst from every shadow and surface, filling the jungle floor with a riot of psychedelic light. The very moment her feet came in contact with one of the pillar like trunks of the jungle trees, she pushed off again, rocketing away into the the growing revel as the trunk cratered beneath the force of Sun Liling's barbed spear.

Beneath her Zhengui, despite her warning was retreating from his position, his shell aglow with heat and qi within his ash. The ground beneath his feet roiled, stabbing rootlets scrabbling at his feet and grasping hungrily at his shell. As Ling Qi closed the distance, Zhengui let out a cry of pain as wooden claws dug into his stony underbelly, and shoved him up and back. Zhengui landed with a crash aq second later, legs kicking in the air as the roots and underbrush withered and burned under the heat of his shell.

Dharitri rose from where he had been, elegant and graceful as ever, save for the oversized, jagged wooden talons which replaced her hands. The spirit looked up a moment later, and met Ling Qi's determined gaze with a beatific smile as hungry roots rose to dig into her little brother.

That expression didn;t change as the temperature plummeted and plants died, withering under the unrelenting cold of deepest winter, but the spirit did dance back, out of range , smoothly falling back with nothing more than a bit of glistening moisture on her caramel flesh to show for the assault.

It gave time for Zhengui to recover though, Zhen's muscular coils flexing and rocking the stranded tortoise back into a mobile position, even as the young serpent grumbled complaints about Gui's weight through their connection. Ling Qi could not afford to give him any further attention though, as she spun to face the crimson warrior once again bearing down on her. The image of a thousand petaled lotus blazed like a banner behind Sun Liling, and a light like a star blazed from the brows of the three demonic faces of her helm, parting the revel around her like a fading morning mist.

Once again, Ling Qi retreated under a rain of blows, grimacing as she felt her layered armor shuddering under the vicious blows. Gashes opened in her gown, baring flesh, and she could feel the protective enhancements of her gown fraying and thinning, even as she felt a throb of pain from her connection to her domain weapon as green jade clashed with black metal, and metal gave way, creaking under the strain.

She needed to hurry.

A Silent command sent to Zhengui caused one of the ashfields to flare hotly and scatter in a phantom wind, and the so far minor wounds Ling Qi had suffered faded, blood fading into shadowy dust and flesh knitting back together in an instant. In that moment, she once again locked gazes with Sun Liling, whose eyes gazed at her from the back of a demonic maw.

Emerald light blazed around both her and Zhengui as she activated the Thousand Rings Unbreaking for the time in real combat. Vitality flooded her limbs, and even as she fell back before the girls next attack, she found herself less easily pushed onto the back foot of their exchange.

Yet, she couldn't forget about the other enemy here, as a wave of shimmering multihued dust washed over her and Zhengui both, mingling with the ash floating in the air and the light of the fading revel to create patterns of dazzling light. The very instant that her thoughts began to grow fuzzy though, wild, moon scented qi flooded through her meridians, cleansing the clinging pollen.

Zhengui was not so lucky though, she felt his thoughts going sluggish and confused, even as she saw both of his gazes fall upon the smiling Dharitri and light up with childish delight and adoration. Scowling, she activated her Deepwood Vitality technique herself, replacing broken armor and cleansing the effect with a pulse of wood qi.

Zhen's eyes narrowed immediately, and Dharitri spun to the size to avoid the sizzling glob of white hot venom that shot through the space where her face had been a moment ago. Once again, Ling Qi disengaged from Sun Liling. This time, fading into a shadowy wraith, shooting into the shadow of a great tree that had fallen over Dharitri. The card Cai Renxiang had gifted her flashed into existence in her hand, and flared white as she brought it to activation. A blazing radiance washed over the smiling spirit, and the air around her burned, something filmy and immaterial that Ling Qi had not even noticed before wavered and faded, and Dharitri's form wavered, reappearing half a meter to the left of where she had been before.

In that moment though, Ling Qi was too slow to dodge the howling spear that slammed into her shoulder a moment later, it's passage sending the hair of the spirit she had just attacked fluttering as it paced mere centimeters from her head. Rapidly spinning barbs ripped into her layers of defense, tearing through one after another, shredding qi and silk alike, and though they slowed it, and deflected it's path, Ling Qi cried out as a line of heat and pain was drawn across her upper arm from the deflected spear.

Ling Qi grit her teeth even as a second throb of pain hit her from the spinning, wailing weapons darting about overhead. She was almost out of time, and her qi was growing depleted, drained from keeping so many blows away from flesh. Yet she still had her best opening, even if Sun Liling's damned spirit was still smiling at her, even with its defenses stripped, though there was was a glimmer of something else in its eyes.

In a flash, Ling Qi raised her flute, and before the card she had dropped even touched the now frozen ground, she played the notes of the Frozen Soul Serenade. Bark shattered, plants withered, and the wind howled at the sudden onset of cold, and Dharitri staggered back, raising her talons as if to ward off the song even as lovely skin blackened and wrinkled. The staggering spirit let out a an inhuman howl of pain as its body jerked from a second assault, Zhen's fangs digging into her thigh and filling her veins with molten venom.

Ling Qi had only a moment to feel elation before the haft of a spear slammed into her gut, and nearly folded her in half. Only the power of the Thousand Rings Unbreaking prevented the monstrous blow from smashing her bodily through the tower-tree behind her, and allowed Ling Qi the luxury of scrambling back, desperately parrying the biting edges of the twin curved blades now seeking her blood.

Even as she sought an opening to escape, Ling Qi felt the formations woven throughout her gown flare and sputter as a jagged blade laid her stomach bare, a flap of silk waving uselessly in the whirlwind generated by her enemies attacks. They faded and went dormant a moment later, and barely a second later, Ling Qi heard the shrieking sound of metal being rent asunder, and the remains of her domain weapon rained down onto the jungle floor.

Behind the relentless Sun Liling She saw Zhengui struggling as Dharitri retaliated. The spirits beautiful face had warped, cheeks splitting open all the way to its ears to reveal a maw full of jagged fangs, and frostbitten flesh was flaking away to reveal the barbed skeleton beneath as she fell upon Zhengui in a rain of frenzied blows. Only the protection of Thousand Rings Unbreaking giving him any chance at all as rootlets and grasping talons alike failed to find purchase on his shell.
It looked like she wasn't going to get to use the second part of her plan, Ling Qi mused to herself as two more limbs formed, powerful and hulking above Sun Liling's shoulders. However, that didn't mean she needed to give up on the first part. Darting the right, Ling Qi wove through the storm of blows rained down on her shoulders, coming away bloodied but unbroken, and in the moment that she became free, she played her song once again.

Dharitri made a sound for the first time in the battle as the cold slammed into her unprotected back. The bloodthirsty spirit let out a shriek that cracked bark and sent Ling Qi's ears ringing as she crumpled to one knee, barely warding off Zhen's snapping fangs with her increasingly thorny talons.

Then a missile struck her back with the force of a giant's fist, and Thousand Rings Unbreaking shattered like glass, sending her sprawling forward at the sudden lack of support. She had but a moment to see the emerald disc spinning away as she scrambled back to her feet before a black axe blade slammed into her chest, making her ribs creak even as the majority of the blow was absorbed by her flagging qi. The darting twin blades came next, slashing across her throat in a shower of green sparks and leaving behind thin lines of blood.

The spear came last, shattering the last of her qi defenses to punch into her recently healed abdomen, and out of her back in a spray of blood.

As her vision faded, Ling Qi took satisfaction in the fact that Liling's expression was not happy at all.

Under the soft grey light in the medicine hall, Ling Qi dreamed…

[] Of a wisp of moonshadow which could never be captured
[] Of a winter storm, whose bite cut through even the warmest coat
[] Of a young sapling, who survived no matter how harsh the storm

 

[yrsillar]

Once, there was a shadow.

Frail and ragged, fleeing light and dark alike.

Afraid that she would vanish at their touch.

After many years, the shadow found her way to a misty mountain.

On the misty mountain, the shadow found her hunger, and sought the company of a lonely serpent, sheltering in her nest.

Furtive and fearful was the shadow still, but with that first taste, her fears hold loosened.

Flitting freely still, the shadow met many others; a hesitant tiger cub, a jittery spider, a scarred fox, a blooming flame, and others as well.

Under the faces of the moon, the shadow grew and prospered, taking on the silver hue of her patron.

She was not without troubles, a greedy bat sought her and was rebuffed, her wanderings brought ruin to a bitter worm, deep beneath the earth, and her bond with the serpent brought with it an enmity with a mad hound and an eager sunflower.

In the end, the shadow never forgot her first lesson. To move was to live, and though she had learned to seek higher things, the core of her had not changed.

So the moon-shadow danced, free and flickering among friend and foe alike.

To move was to live, and she would never allow herself to be unwillingly chained…

But neither would she escape alone, not any longer.

Spoiler: Insight Bonus

A temporary bonus will be applied to the cultivation of arts involving themes of motion in the next thread.

Exact details remain in flux at the moment

Ling Qi grimaced as she settled onto the padded seat beside Cai Renxiang. Her entire abdomen still throbbed painfully, though the medical disciples had assured her that she was recovering well. She simply needed to refrain from any strenuous activities for the next day or so, while the foreign qi and blood was purged fully from her body.

She glanced at her liege as she tried to find a comfortable position. She had been unconscious for most of the day before and had of course missed the other match, lost instead in half remembered dreams of dancing starlight and the wind in her hair.

"So, things ended like this then, my lady?" she said mildly, breaking the silence between them. They were alone in the box as of yet. Their seats were set directly below the central box where Cai Shenhua would be seated later, if several levels down.

"Miss Bai was quite formidable," Cai Renxiang agreed, looking briefly down at her. The central seat of the box was positioned to be just slightly above the others. "It is no surprise that a scion of such a venerable clan would surpass me in matters which are not my specialty."

Ling Qi hummed, not needing Sixiang's whispers to hear the things said between her actual words. Their matches ending had been prearranged, probably as a counterpoint to the demonstration match at the beginning of the tournament. Probably to avoid Sun Liling gaining too much advantage by her opponent in the finals having to go all out in the round before.

"Ah, I'm becoming useless already," Sixiang lamented. "What am I to do…"

'You could always cultivate, instead of lazing around,' Ling Qi thought, amused. Her thoughts were less crowded today, since she would not be fighting, she had given Zhengui permission to go visit Hannyi and Zeqing today. He had not been in the best of moods on her awakening… her injury had seen to that, but her little brother was as irrepressible as he always was in the end.

"Still not sure that was the best idea, poor little fella isn't feeling all that useful at the moment either," Sixiang pointed out.

'I know,' Ling Qi thought, a small frown crossing her expression. 'Letting him sit still and stew all day won't help though.'

Out loud, she continued her conversation with Cai Renxiang. "Are you satisfied with that, my lady?" She asked, giving the other girl a sidelong look.

Folded neatly in her lap, Cai Renxiang's hands twitched, as if to clench, though the motion never got that far. "I had thought so," the other girl said in a low voice. "...But I have been reminded that power must come first, for anything else to hold meaning," she spoke calmly, but Ling Qi could detect a lingering edge of bitterness there. "I will redouble my efforts in the Inner Sect."

"I will not disagree," Ling Qi replied mildly. "Strength is the key to accomplishing anything, but it is still only the means, not the end."

Cai Renxiang made a sound of agreement, though she didn't look back down at her. "Of course, you need not remind me of such a basic thing."

"Forgive my musing," Ling Qi replied. "I was only thinking aloud. I look forward to reaching greater heights with you in the Inner Sect," and even if she had lost yesterday, Ling Qi could feel proud knowing that she had gotten this far in only a year.

"I suppose you have proven yourself quite a grindstone," Cai Renxiang said, her tone briefly becoming light.

Ling Qi grimaced. "Please do not remind me," she pled. "I do not intend to be forced into such positions so easily in the future."

The other girl made a small sound of amusement. "As you say. In any case, the stands will be filling soon. Let us leave personal matters aside for the moment."

Making a sound of agreement, Ling Qi fell silent as the stands around them filled. Their box in particular quickly became home to a number of young faces, a few of which were familiar to her. Bao Qingling was here, looking as dour as ever, wearing the same shapeless utterly concealing clothing that she always did, if a set free of medicinal stains. There was a girl she had known briefly, from a single tutoring session regarding the mixing of wood and wind elements. After her was a boy who shared the narrow features and spindly build of the Luo representative she had greeted on the first day of the tournament.

It quickly became clear that those seating themselves around Cai Renxiang were inner disciples associated with the clans of Emerald Seas. Thankfully though, there was not time for more than introductions and pleasantries before Sect Head Yuan took the stage far below.

"For the final time this season, I offer my welcome to the Argent Sect's Outer tournament," the elderly head announced, his voice easily audible despite the distance. "The Sect's fortune has been truly inordinate this year, for the crop of talented youths we have had the pleasure of raising has been beyond all expectations. I am certain that we shall feel the effects of this years competition for many years to come."

Ling Qi knew the man wasn't exaggerating, she honestly felt a tiny bit bad for those who would come in the next couple years. It would be some time before the competition for Inner Sect entry evened out to a more normal level.

"We come now to our final match," Sect Head Yuan continued. "Both participants have shown ability far beyond the standard of their age, and each is a credit to their lineage, the Sect, and the Empire as a whole. However, a tournament may have but a single winner, and so we come now to the final round. Please give your full attention to the young disciples before you, for they have earned that regard, at the least."

Ling Qi's hands clenched in her lap as she saw the small white figure of Bai Meizhen walking toward the arena beside the bright swatch of red and green that was the Sun Princess. She would win, Ling Qi thought. The idea of Meizhen losing to that cocky girl was unconscionable.

Against her will, memories of that day early in the year surfaced, of Meizhen seated amidst the rubble of their first home, gown tattered, bleeding from many wounds. That fight had been a draw, but… it had also been the only time in which she had seen her friend in a state of physical vulnerability.

"I won't tell you not to worry, but she'd probably be happier if you were confident in her, you know?" Sixiang pointed out in her thoughts.

Ling Qi let out a quiet breath and forced herself to relax, as the Arena began to activate, Sixiang was correct.

Below, the two finalists came into sharper focus as the formations activated, allowing Ling Qi to see and hear them as clearly as she would if she stood right outside the arena.

The two girls stood silently across from one another. Sun Liling's dislike for her enemy was barely veiled, her lips set in a scowl and her eyes narrow. Bai Meizhen's expression was as empty and cold as the night sky overlooking Zeqing's home.

"I'd apologize for breaking your toys," the princess said coldly as the mists engulf them. "But let's be honest, it's not really that important, is it?"

"I have no patience for prattle, child of Sun," Bai Meizhen replied frostily. "Be silent and wait for the matches start."

Sun Liling let out a small laugh. "Just saying, you know, didn't see you anywhere near the recovery rooms yesterday, or even the day before. Then again, that's just how the Bai are, isn't it? More snake than human, hiding in your holes and lakes. Looking down on everyone without a forked tongue," Sun Liling sneered. "It'd be more surprising if you did show any loyalty to a friend."

Ling Qi glanced around as an uneasy murmuring rose from the disciples around her, she had thought that the girls words seemed a little over the edge of rudeness. Ji Rong had been cruder perhaps, but that was expected to a degree. She also became uncomfortably aware of the looks cast her way.

Bai Meizhen's expression remained blank and unperturbed. "I have no need to explain myself to you," she replied coldly. "Nor is there any meaning in discussing loyalty with you," venomous contempt very nearly dripped from her final words.

Thunder boomed then, ending the exchange before it could go any farther.

The field that formed for the two girls to do battle on was unlike any that had come before it. Under an open blue sky marred with only wisps of cloud, there was an endless field. No trees or upraised stones marked it, and not a single blade of grass grew there. Instead, stretching in all directions was the crumbling, freshly upturned earth of well tilled field before the planting.

Ling Qi supposed that it was the closest thing one could make to a perfectly fair battlefield, though wouldn't the fertile earth give Sun Liling and her spirit a slight advantage?

She didn't have much time to ponder that as both girls acted. Dark water simultaneously poured down Meizhen's back and rose, rippling to cast her face in shadow. The silvery strands of her whiplike sword appeared, coiled in one hand, as Bai Cui appeared around her feet, poisonous green scales standing out brightly against the dull background.

At the same time, Sun Liling stood, relaxed as Dharitri materialized in a shower of shimmering pollen behind her, perfect visage once again set in an easy smile. Ling Qi couldn't help but frown as she watched, why was she materializing the spirit in full view? She understood a bare moment later as the red haired girls hand clenched and her spear formed in her hands… barbed point rising away from her opponent.

Ling Qi's eyes widened in comprehension only a moment before the barbed point punched into and through the spirits back, erupting in a shower of black tinged blood from Dharitri's back. The spirit only continued to smile though, even as blood poured from her lips, and her smooth flesh withered and dried. Crimson armor practically leapt across the princess's limbs, covering her arms and upper body in the blink of an eye.

Meizhen's golden eyes only narrowed though, as Cui's head rose, swaying from her coils and opened her mouth baring fangs the length of daggers. As she released a bone chilling hiss and spat a mass of sizzling near-black venom though, Ling QI noticed something glimmering amid the noxious mix.

Sun Liling leapt away, a flick of her spear sending her withered spirit flying away from the fight as the haft spun in her hands to bring its barbed tip, still wet with Dharitri's blood, to bare. As the venom struck the ground though, Ling Qi caught the sound of clay shattering amidst the sizzle of the venom, and water gushed explosively forth. There was a muffled boom as the earth cratered under the sudden pressure of many hundreds, if not thousands of liters of water emerged, miniature whitecaps spreading outward across the surface of the newly formed lake.

Bai Meizhen though, head yet to move an inch, save for her eyes, which tracked the arc of her enemy through the air as Cui uncoiled, slithering toward the watery pool she had just created. As Ling Qi watched, the inky blot of darkness as Meizhen's feet flickered and moved. Tendrils of shadow spread like a tracery of veins across her pure white gown, even as her mantle of water grew darker and more solid. She got a single glimpse of veins of shadow reaching up her pale throat, before it happened. Even weakened by distance and formation, raw animal terror sent a chill down her spine, and in the arena, the very air around her friend distorted visibly under the weight of her qi, half glimpsed phantasms of terror and pain taking shape in the flows of the wind, the rippling water, and the rising dust.

She saw Sun Liling grimace visibly in midair, even as her blood armor finished encasing her feet in sharp toed boots of blood metal, it's many sharp edges highlighted in a green that Ling Qi had never seen before on the girls armaments. Her grip on her spear grew white knuckled as a star was born again on her brow, the multihued petals of a great lotus blooming into life behind her. The very instant that her feet touched the muddy earth, her long legs flexed, and she launched herself forward with thunderous force, shattering the ground beneath her feet in a plume of dust as she rocketed, spear first toward Meizhen.

Meizhen's ribbon blade unfurled with a crack like thunder,it's metal strands carving air and earth alike as they lashed out toward Sun Liling. The princess wove through the striking blades with impossible agility, her red spear blurring as haft and point spun, deflecting biting heads of silvery metal. In an instant, they passed one another, with a sound like a boulder striking a lake.

As Sun Liling and Bai Meizhen spun to face one another again, Ling Qi saw the faint red stain on Meizhen's hip, where cloth had already repaired itself. In the instant of peace that came as the two girls sized one another up, there was another blast that shook the earth from further away. Ling Qi looked aside to trace it, and found herself looking upon a field of colorful flowers, torn apart by the introduction of another pool of water and an emerging serpent, It seemed, that one way or another, the girls spirits would be checking one another until one fell.

The moments respite ended then, with the sound of metal striking stone. Above the two girls heads a wide bladed silver sword struck a spinning jade chakram and screamed, sparks showering down on the combatants below as the weapons struggled for supremacy.

Below a spear and two blades clashed against the tongues of a serpentine sword, and this time it was the crimson princess who felt the bite, the armor on her left arm cracking and the force of the whip-like strike that carved a rapidly purpling bloody line across her bicep. Sun Liling only let out a grunt of exertion though, her muscles flexing beneath her tanned skin as brackish purple and red liquid was forced from the wound and armor restored itself. Neither girls face was visible any longer, one hidden in the maw of a demonic helm, and the other shadowed by a hood of cold water, leaving only golden eyes visible.

For a moment, they circled one another amidst the clangor of their battling weapons, and the hissing and screeching of their spirit beasts. It lasted but a moment though as Liling's spear flared with bloody light and she leaped back, drawing her arm back for a throw. Bai Meizhen shifted her stance in response, presenting a narrower profile as her black mantle rippled and expanded, engulfing her lower body entirely in bubbling whitecapped waters. As the spear flew, Meizhen loomed tall, rising on liquid coils, and darted to the side, blurring before Ling Qi's eyes, spiralling darts of envenomed water launching themselves back in retaliation.Yet Sun Liling's twisted spear could not miss so easily, as Sun Liling slashed her friends counterattack out of the air with her jagged swords, space fractured and the red spear reappeared, mere centimeters from Meizhen's chest. Liquid shadow roiled across her gown, the tracery of veins which had spread rising from cloth and growing thicker and more solid as spearpoint slammed into it with a thunderous retort.

An eerie wail rose, raising the hairs on the back of Ling Qi's neck as shadow and spear strained against one another for a moment. In the end, both shattered in a flash of light, the broken spear reforming in Sun Liling's hand, and the shadow web fading back into ragged lines, a jagged hole left in its pattern.

Then a streak of green carved through the air, slashing through the girls mantle in a spray of water tinged with red. For a moment, Meizhen's defense bubbled violently, destabilized, but it lasted less than an eyeblink. The pale girls golden eyes narrowed at her opponent, now finally falling to earth with two new limbs forming on her shoulders. In an instant, the crimson princess raised her twin curved blades, just in time to meet the silver blur that struck her like a meteor, driving her the rest of the way back to the ground, with a muffled boom as her feet dug a meter deep furrow in the dirt.

One black blade snapped under the pressure, and the second cracked, before the haft of her spear slammed into the side of the wide curved blade of Meizhen's flying sword, forcing it from its course. Yet, as her final two arms finished forming, she was for a moment, off balance. Yet Meizhen did not advance on her, and her ribbon blades remained at her side. Instead, her golden eyes gleamed with malicious light, and the weighty feeling of pressure and terror still flooding the arena redoubled, and took on a different edge.

It took Ling Qi a moment, and the surreptitious activation of Discerning Gaze to understand what Meizhen was doing, but, with her senses enhanced, she could make it out among the natural flows of qi in the area, twisting threads of something invisible and without scent, a toxic qi just barely discernible even to spiritual senses filling the air for more than a hundred meters in every direction.

It's effect became obvious in the sudden stiffening of Sun Liling's, and the palsied clenching of her real hands on the haft of her spear. Yet it only seemed to anger the girl more as her jade chakram came spinning back to slam into Meizhen's domain blade with a metallic shriek, knocking it from the course of it's follow up blow. The single one of her six arms which stood unarmed flared with a rainbow of light, washing over her form in cleansing waves as she launched herself once again toward Meizhen.

They met in a cacophony of clashing blades, Meizhen moved with serpentine grace, the watery coils granted by her abyssal mantle art removing any pretense of moving like a human being as her ribbons met Liling's repaired armaments with thunderous cracks. Yet not for a moment did Liling's assault let up, her false limbs bulging with greater bulk, forcing plates of armor apart to expose muscle fiber formed entirely of glowing green qi. Metallic ribbons tangled and mired her blades, seeking to rip them from her hands, but instead of being disarmed, the princess let out an almost bestial snarl, ripping them back with enough force to force meizhen off balance, if only for a moment.

In that moment, the massive blade of Liling's axe swung down, slamming hard into Meizhen's liquid armored shoulder. The mantle dented inward, bubbling ferociously as it held back a force that was cratering the ground beneath their feet.

Then Liling's armor cracked, brightly glowing vents opening in her armored shoulders, and with a sound like a sudden gale drove her downward in a spray of blood like misshapen wings. Meizhen's mantle was cloven through, and the blade of the axe bit into flesh and bone with an ugly crack.

To her credit, the pale girl let out only a low hiss of pain as her right arm spasmed, nearly losing her the grip on her weapon, but then something happened, and Sun Liling screamed, stumbling backward as she raised her false limbs defensively. She only understood what had happened a moment later, as a trickle of sizzling milky white fluid ran down the demonic jaws which framed Sun Liling's face.

Ling Qi did not think she would see the day when Bai Meizhen would literally spit into someone's eyes.

Despite that, she was feeling uneasy, the wound Meizhen had suffered was the more serious one, she thought, as Sun Liling was even now recovering, while her friends grip on her weapon remained shaky as the stain of blood running from her shoulder spread across the front of her gown. As rippling waves of multihued light went out from Sun Liling's sixth hand, Bai Meizhen went on the offensive for the first time.

She darted forward, crossing the distance between them in an instant, as the ribbons of her blade shimmered and melted liquid, fusing together into a single gleaming violet length of metal. With an earsplitting crack, it struck, twisting like a hungry serpent between the multitude of weapons that rose to block it, and slashed across Sun Liling's chest, carving through her breastplate, and the flesh beneath with equal ease. At the same moment, the air around her darkened, and the twisted phantasms formed in the whorls of wind and the patterns in the dirt screamed like a chorus of the damned.

Under the assault, Sun Liling fell back, batting aside the second strike of Meizhen's urumi, as well as the third, but after that, her heel struck the mud at the edge of the artificial pool created in the opening moments of the bout… and Cui struck.

Deadly fangs dug into Sun Liling's back of Sun Liling's knee, and the girl snarled in fury and pain. The butt of her spear slammed into Cui, sending the serpent spinning away in the dirt, and then, flaring with a blinding red light, the point of her barbed spear slammed into the ground.

Ling Qi saw Meizhen's eyes widen in alarm for but an instant before the light engulfed the area, blinding her. When her vision returned, the field was much changed. The pool was gone and in its place were a forest of red black stakes, studded with the yellow blooms of sunflowers. In its center stood Sun Liling, bloodied but unbowed, with a twisted caricature of a woman made of wood and vines who must have been Dharitri.

Sap wept from blackened wounds across its skeletal form, and the wide fanged grin on its skull like head hardly resembled the spirits beatific smile, but her qi was much the same, if greatly weakened.

On the other hand, bloody gashes marked Cui where spearing stakes had ripped open her scales, and her form was even now fading, and Bai Meizhen's aura felt dangerously depleted.

The silence of the standoff was broken by the crack of breaking stone, and the thump of the two shorn halves of Sun Liling's domain weapon falling to earth. As Meizhen's newly freed blade shrieked triumphantly through the air toward her enemies, Dharitri's talons grasped Sun Liling's shoulders, and her muscles bulged with the infusion of qi, even as Dharitri's form crumbled into wooden detritus. Sun Liling bounded out from the sunflower forest, switching her spear into a single handed grip as a second bloomed in her newly free hand. She ignored the blade as it carved a deep wound along her flank, the arterial spray of blood solidifying into another spear, quickly snatched by one of her lower arms as it abandoned its curved blade.

Her other arms were doing much the same, axe, sword and prayer were discarded as Sun Liling launched herself into the air over the defensively coiled Meizhen, wielding six barbed spears that glowed like the evening sun. Ling Qi saw her friend raise her free hand in warding, water springing from her fingertips with a waterfalls roar.

Then the spears fell, and split, and split again, six becoming a dozen, and a dozen becoming a score and more, all aimed for a single target. For the second time in the match Ling Qi found herself briefly blinded by the light of their impact. As her vision cleared she saw only a rising dust cloud at first, but quickly, her eyes zeroed in on the only spot of color.

Sun Liling stood shakily, her armor crumbling from her form, and her sharp green eyes darting too and fro through the dust. She looked pale and haggard, almost frail, standing there with only her two true limbs left, though even now, Ling Qi could feel the trickle of qi flowing back into her channels. There was no sign of Meizhen though, amidst the dust of the deep crater where she had stood. Only the gleam of her flying sword lying in the dirt.

The mud beneath the princess' feet rippled.
For one such as her, even that was a fair warning, her heels digging into the dirt as she backpedaled as quickly as her shaking limbs could carry her.

What emerged from the dirt hardly resembled Ling Qi's best friend, her normally stoic features twisted into a rictus of hate, and her perfect white hair tangled and stained with mud and blood, her hands reaching out like claws from shredded sleeves, she looked more like a snake demon than a young girl. Though even as her hands grasped Sun Liling's forearms, and they both went down, tumbling in the dirt and mud, Ling Qi noticed that her gown was surprisingly intact, mostly red and brown at this point, but even now she could seen the sleeves reweaving themselves from tattered scraps.

As the veins in Sun Liling's arms burned red with poison, her knee rose and slammed into Meizhen's stomach, where a deep red stain marked a wound, and Meizhen hissed in pain even as she maintained her deathgrip on the girls arms. For a moment, they struggled against one another, until Sun Liling freed one arm and her knuckles slammed home once, twice, then a third time, hammering Meizhen's rapidly bruising cheek and bleeding lips.

Not for an instant did her friends grip loosen though, an inhuman hiss rising from her throat, as in the moment where Liling was pulling back her fist for another punch, she snapped her own head forward. For a second, Ling Qi thought that Bai Meizhen was going to headbutt the other girl, but…

Instead, her jaw distended, and Ling Qi caught the glitter of fangs in the moment before her best friend dug her teeth into another girls throat. Sun Liling screamed, and her fist smashed with renewed force into Meizhen's cheek reddish green flash, finally disloging her.

As Sun Liling rolled onto her hands and knees, her limbs trembling, Ling Qi winced as she vomited blood and less identifiable fluids. Still, she stared hatefully at Meizhen as she rose, toxic blood dripping from her wounds and blackening her veins. Qi no longer flowed into her from her surroundings."You… damned snake," she whispered hoarsely, "What'd you…"

"Did you believe..." Bai Meizhen wheezed, her voice slightly lisped by her bleeding lips. "That the Bai would not develop counters to the abominable fusion of imperial and barbarian arts, you arrogant tart?"

"You think we're gonna lose to a few measly…" the red haired girl slurred as her eyes rolled up in her head and she collapsed, already dissolving into mist.

The tournament had ended.

There will be one more update coming to finish things off, but no vote here. Figured I should give you guys something instead of making it all one big update.

 

[yrsillar]

The ceremony in which they had received their rankings had been overly long and grandiose in Ling Qi's humble opinion. She was perhaps biased though, burned out from so much time making nice with an ever growing number of people via the same polite gestures and words, over and over again. Yet, despite the lengthy reception, and speeches, and meetings with other Inner Sect disciples, Ling Qi had left with a feeling of satisfaction.

Eight Hundred Thirty, that was to be her initial ranking in the Inner Sect. It placed her as fourth among the combat tournaments disciples, and sixth overall, counting the production disciples. Bai Meizhen, as the winner of the tournament, had received the rank of Eight Hundred, the highest possible rank for a new Inner disciple, with Xuan Shi, as the best of the production track, taking the rank of Eight Hundred One. Sun Liling and Cai Renxiang had been awarded the ranks of Eight Hundred Five and Eight Hundred Ten respectively. The second place production disciple and the last new disciple ranked above her had been a boy she did not recognize named Du Feng.

Ranking above Eight Hundred Fifty, but below Eight Hundred Twenty Five, she would receive a stipend of ten yellow spirit stones every week, and the rights to a home and cultivation site centered around one of the first Inner Mountains middle quality Argent Vents. In addition to that, ranking above Nine Hundred gave her the right to attend freely the lessons of the Elders on the first mountain, and peruse the first floor of the Inner Sect's arts archive freely.

Yes, she could certainly be satisfied with that, at least until she had time to read the rules handbook she had been given and plan for increasing her rank. She certainly didn't want to be one of those disciples still stuck below Eight Hundred when next year's batch of tournament winners came in.

Unfortunately, that would have to wait. The Duchess had called for them, in the wake of the ceremonies end.

She kneeled now, forehead pressed to the plush carpet which lined the floor of Cai Shenhua's temporary accommodations. Cai Renxiang kneeled just ahead of her, allowed to raise her head from the ground, but no more. The Weight of the Duchess' presence pressed down on Ling Qi blurring her vision and granting the white draped room they were in a dreamy sort of quality. The woman herself lounged in the center of the room, lying upon a powder blue divan. The Duchess seemed to have no care for propriety in this moment, wearing what Ling Qi could only call a loosely wrapped shift, that rode up scandalously with the crossing and uncrossing of her marble white legs.

"Eight Hundred Ten," the woman mused, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand as she looked down upon them, the light of her gaze burning on the back of Ling Qi's neck, despite not resting directly upon her. "Hardly a beautiful number. Are you satisfied with it, my daughter?"

"I am not Mother," Cai Renxiang replied keeping her eyes on the ground. "It will serve well enough as a first step in the coming year, however."

The lounging Duchess gave a thoughtful hum, drumming her gold painted fingernails on her hip. Ling Qi shivered as her gaze briefly passed over her, feeling the silent Sixiang shrink further into the back of her thoughts. "A good attitude," she said easily. "You have made errors and miscalculations, in both this year and your preparations for it," she said bluntly.

"Your daughter can only apologize for her failings Mother," Cai Renxiang said quietly, lowering her head. Ling Qi resisted the urge to squirm in discomfort, it did not feel right, being here right now.

"So long as you acknowledge them," the radiant monster said, in a tone that could almost be construed as kind. "Despite certain childish stumbles, I am satisfied. Your time in the Sect has given you valuable experience to carry into the future," she said, her words punctuated only by the soft sound of fingertips drumming on half divine flesh. "It is for that reason that I have spoken to Sect Head Yuan. You will be spending an additional year in the Inner Sect."

Ling Qi blinked, keeping otherwise still, feeling confused by happy nonetheless at this revelation. She would have another year to enjoy the fruits of her labors and to spend with mentors like Zeqing.

"As you wish Mother," Cai Renxiang replied. "May I know what you wish for me to accomplish, given the additional time?"

"You will achieve a rank above Five Hundred Twenty Five by the end of your stay," Cai Shenhua replied, the light radiating from her gaze intensifying. "I would place your sights higher, but there is no purpose in demanding impossibilities of you," Ling Qi shuddered at the woman's tone. It was playful, yet there was an edge of cruelty to it, made all the worse for the lack of any malice. "Not yet."

"It will be done Mother," Cai Renxiang replied immediately.

"Of course it will be," the woman replied languidly. "In regards to your boy, the one who failed," The Duchess continued. "I expect him to maintain the shape of your Outer Sect order in the following year. He will enter the Inner Sect at a rank no less than your current one in the next tournament. If he cannot even manage that, I will assign you a superior vassal."

"...I will convey your words to his ears Mother," There was a fraction of an instant's hesitance in Cai Renxiang's voice this time.

"As for you… Ling Qi was it?" Cai Shenhua said lightly, her burning gaze falling fully upon Ling Qi's back. "Raise your head, you have performed well, and proved the worth of my daughters judgement."

"This one is humbled beyond words at your regard, honored Duchess" Ling Qi said, carefully raising her head from the carpet, but keeping her eyes down, as her liege was doing.

"Good, I feel little need to offer you specific instruction," the ruler said lightly. "End your time no more than five ranks beneath my daughter."

"Of course, Duchess Cai," Ling Qi replied evenly. She could do that.

"What a good girl you are," the woman said with a throaty chuckle. "Lastly, in eighteen months, the next competition between my provinces three Great Sects will take place. I expect you to assemble a suitable group with which to win the junior division."

Ling Qi frowned, she knew that there were competitions between Sects, but that didn't sound like a tournament, not if they needed a group.

"I will not disappoint you Mother," Cai Renxiang replied immediately. "I thank you for offering me such chances to raise our family's name."

"You are welcome, now go. Your new sister is being somewhat disagreeable," the Duchess said lazily gesturing toward the exit to the room.

Ling Qi waited, preparing to rise just after Cai Renxiang did, but after a beat, the girl remained wear she was. Surprisingly, she saw the weaker light which radiated from Renxiang grow brighter, if only fractionally. "Mother, may your humble daughter ask of you a question first?"

She felt more than saw the Duchess' radiant eyes widen fractionally. "Hoh? Very well. You have earned that much."

"I simply wish to understand Mother's reasoning in taking aligning so openly with the Bai clan, and making true enemies of the Sun," Cai Renxiang said humbly, her gaze remaining steadfastly on the ground.

"Do you believe I have made an error? I thought you fond of Miss Bai," Cai Shenhua replied lightly.

"I only wish to share your wisdom Mother. I would never presume to believe that a friendship between children would drive such choices," Cai Renxiang said simply.

The older woman laughed, a rich throaty sound, that echoed in the hazy interior of the room. She sat up then, in a single smooth motion, her loose robe clinging only precariously to her shoulders after the sudden movement. "True enough, though, do not sell your efforts short my daughter. Your friendship offered a seam in the armor of ancient indifference of that clan."

"I am glad to know that I was of some small use to Mother," Cai Renxiang replied.

"But I have not answered your question, have I?" Cai Shenhua mused. "It is true that the Sun are dangerous and powerful. Sun Shao retains many friends in Celestial Peaks, and the Jin stand firmly on his side, forever jealous as they are of their absolute control of the empires harbors being interrupted by the Bai. Though his children are dead, there are many nephews, nieces and cousins who may yet carry the banner of the Sun family as well," she said, a sharp smile on her lips. "And Sun Shao's weaknesses are also his strengths, his sentiment, passion and tactics lead to the sacking and conquest of the Temple Cities, and brought low Bai Fuxi and his sons."

Ling Qi listened carefully, knowing that when it came to imperial politics, she was still woefully ignorant.

The Duchess's smile faded then. "Indeed, the departed Emperor An saw that man for what he was, a chance that would only come once in history. Yet, in the end the opportunity has run out. Tell me what you know of the relationship between the Zheng and the Bai, my daughter."

"Their enmity runs deeper than history," Cai Renxiang replied slowly. "They have been rivals since the day that Bai Xiao Lin slew Zheng Fu from ambush at Jinyu Pass."

"Correct of course, if not wholly right," Cai Shenhua tutted. "It is true that clan was pleased to see their rivals humbled. However, there was a limit to that. In the end, the Bai and the Zheng are the last remnants of pre-imperial days. There is a kinship there, even in the depths of enmity. Once, the Ministry of Integrity might have risen as a counterbalance to eventual Zheng interference, but their rising star losing his Way ended that path. As things stand, a realignment was inevitable. Do you understand then, Renxiang?"

"...I do Mother, thank you very much for explaining in such a way that I might understand," Cai Renxiang replied, rising to her feet. As Ling Qi followed her out, she couldn;t help but feel troubled.

The future was not going to peaceful, was it?

AN: Alright, with this, we come to the end of the first 'book' as it were. You've been a great audience, and I look forward to continuing in a new thread. While I take some time to rebuild the system into something with a lot less dice, we will be on hiatus, but I won't leave you guys out to dry. I'm going to be periodically releasing worldbuilding pieces and character interludes as we go along, so stay tuned in!

Finally, because I know people will want to know, and they won;t want to wait for next years ranking charts, here is a list of the ranks of the disciples who made it to Inner (minus the production disciples Ling Qi doesn't care about of course)

800: Bai Meizhen
801: Xuan Shi
805: Sun Liling
810: Cai Renxiang
825: Du Feng
830: Ling Qi
840: Li Suyin
845: Ji Rong
850: Shen Hu
855: Kang Zihao
860: Fu Xiang
875: Yan Renshu
890: Gu Xiulan

 

[yrsillar]

It was over at last.

Bao Qingling allowed herself a sigh of relief as the entrance to her workshop closed overhead, shutting out the light and noise of the outside world. Thick gloves and heavy boots dissolved into wisps of qi, allowing her to feel the welcoming thrum of the threads beneath her fingers and toes, as she descended the tunnel. The wispy threads of qi spread invisibly through the air around her faded away, unnecessary here in her nest.

Vibration and movement of the air on her skin carried all of the information she needed. Bianzhi was deep below, near the underside of her nest, fangs deep in a struggling wind spirit's core. Her meal was in the lowest reaches of the third grade, she noted idly, going by its pleading. Her workroom was just as she left it, her furnace's formations set an idle burn that would purify the reagents within in preparation for a new batch of elixirs. In the little tunnels of the lower nest Bianzhi's sons and daughters sported with Li Suyin's constructs, making a game of the testing the skeletal things reactions and programming.

It was comforting to be back here, where every thread was an extension of her senses. Bianzhi's awareness brushed against her own, mingling with hers through the medium of their shared work. Yes, there were few things which could match the feeling of being perched in ones web after an extended time skittering about outside.

It had not, she could admit, been as bad as her time before the sect. She still remembered vividly her life in that hatefully bright and crowded estate. She remembered her many episodes quite clearly. The shaking, being unable to breath, weak mortal eyes blurring with tears as her chest grew tight and her extremities grew numb. She remembered the feeling of being surrounded and crushed by the weight of the presence of the people around her.

Her alterations to her senses helped, she suspected. With her arts active, she could not see the mocking faces and looming intent of threat in those around around. Experiencing the world in a primarily tactile and spiritual fashion served as a successful filter, even if the practice necessary to ensure that her eyes and expressions still behaved properly had been irritating. This week could, therefore, only be classified as a success.

Yet her mood remained a sour one. Her brother, Bao Quan was still convinced that she could be 'fixed' and made normal. He cared for her and genuinely so, she understood that. Yet he made not the slightest effort to understand her, simply assuming that she would be better if she was just as bright and gregarious as the rest of them. A Bao who could not gaily talk a dragon into selling its jewel was not a Bao at all, after all.

It was infuriating.

Then there was that Zhiqiang, who, for all that he had given her a useful warning, grated on her nerves as well. He was, in her opinion, the sort of irritating man who thought himself the cleverest one in any given room. That the texture of his aura was an abrasive and intrusive thing, masked under a veil of silken obsequiousness.

Perhaps if she had not met him in any place other than this, she might even have taken that veil as truth. No, he wanted something more from her, saw their transaction as a beginning rather than an end. She was familiar enough with the type, and his request a few days later confirmed it.

She paused then, hanging loosely from the ceiling of the main hall. Her attention brushed over Li Suyin's workshop, where the skeletons of beasts twisted into the shape of men, and garbed in drifting silks performed the menial labor of packing up her things.

It had been a strange mood which had led to her taking a 'student'. She had chosen to oversee the Outer Sect's medicine hall out of a desire for the truly staggering number of Contribution Points which the position offered, despite the troublesome and time consuming nature of it.

Yet, during the exams, she found herself moved from her utter indifference. If it had merely been a pang of sympathy for a girl curled in on herself, weathering the bluster and bullying of the trash around her, it would have ended there, a fleeting flash of emotion, quickly forgotten. Yet, as she oversaw the test, she sad seen something else. Shaking hands ruining a delicate cut, a stumble spilling a limited reagent, and other little things. Each of them occurring shortly after downcast blue haired girl had passed by.

It was nothing above the threshold for which she was meant to prevent, and so she had said nothing as a the shy, mutilated girl had ruined the chances of a half dozen entrants. It was ultimately, the shame and self loathing she had seen in the girls eyes as she turned in her utterly perfect finished project that had decided things.

There was nothing wrong with putting trash in its place, and everything wrong with suppressing your true self for the sake of mere social expectation. That was the reason behind her idolization of the Duchess Cai after all. How could she do anything but admire the woman who had, rather than bending to fit the world, instead bent it to fit her.

Shaking her head very slightly, Bao Qingling moved on, descending into the lower tunnels, a brief and rare smile crossing her pale lips as Bianzhi's grandchildren skittered over her hands and face, the ticklish feeling of tiny legs on her skin quickly spreading across her arms and neck as they welcomed her home. Li Suyin had some ways to go yet. She was still held back by shame, refusing to admit to the pride she took in ruining her enemies.

As she dropped from the ceiling, casually slowing her slide down the sloped tunnel leading into Bianzhi's nest with one hand, Bao Qingling felt the last of her irritation ebb. Yes, even the unpleasant parts of this week had proven fruitful. Her student was in the Inner Sect. Her brother, for all of his misplaced concern, had conveyed Fathers satisfaction with her work, and commensurate increase in allowance.

...And, if a fellow who took such pride in his senses as Zhiqiang had failed to notice, then the drugs suppressing her cultivation and qi were, if not foolproof to her peers, then close. None would suspect the advances she had made this year.

With the contributions she had earned this year, a rank in the upper five hundreds was in reach.

AN: Drive by Interlude!

 

[yrsillar]

Inner Sect Challenge Rules

1. All combat between Inner Sect disciples is to occur under official challenge rules, unless under immediate supervision by a Sect Official or Elder
a. Disciples may apply for training passes to engage in private sparring. All involved parties must be present during the application process.
2. Disciples of superior rank may not challenge disciples of inferior rank.
a. In the case of insult or harm requiring a satisfaction, this rule may be waived, if approved by a Sect Official or Elder.
b. Challenges of the above type must be supervised by an Official or Elder, Challenge costs are also waived, and no change in rank occurs.
3. A disciple may not challenge the same target more than once per month.
4. Upon issuing a challenge through official channels, the challenging disciple must place a portion of their total Contribution Points as collateral to the challenge.
5. Upon receiving a official challenge, a disciple may choose to refuse it. If they do so, a number of points equal to the collateral will be deducted from their total, and the collateral will be refunded to the challenger.
a. A disciple may not refuse a challenge if the number of points placed in collateral exceeds their total
6. Upon acceptance of a challenge, the disciple of superior rank will be given a choice of challenge types to pick from by the Official or Elder providing oversight to the challenge.
7. Should the disciple of superior rank win, ranks are unchanged, and the collateral is added to the disciples Contribution point total.
8. Should the disciple of Inferior rank win, their collateral is refunded, and they receive the superior rank at the beginning of the next ranking period. The loser of the challenge will be dropped to the next rank, reducing the rank of all disciples beneath until equilibrium is reached.
-Ex: Disciple 810 is challenged by disciple 825 and loses. Disciple 810 becomes disciple 811, 811 becomes 812 etc. until disciple 824 becomes the new 825
9. All rank changes are held until the end of month processing, and come into effect on the first day of a new month.
a. In the case that a disciple who won a ranking challenge would be pushed down by the above process, their rank will be skipped during that month's processing.
10. A disciple who has lost a challenge during the course of a month may not be challenged again until the next ranking period.
11. Repeated instances of frivolous challenges or other behavior subverting the rules may result in disciplinary action, upon review by a Sect Official or Elder.


Sect/Contribution Points

1. Contribution Points are separate from Sect Points, though they may be earned simultaneously for some tasks.
2. Sect Points may be spent on various sect services, or offered as reward for others to do such by any disciple of the Inner Sect.
3. Contribution Points may only be given or transferred by Elders or Sect Officials.

Rules of Conduct

1. Disciples of the Inner Sect may not enter the Outer Sect mountain, unless given dispensation.
2. Disciples of the Inner Sect are to minimize direct interference with Outer Sect disciples, regardless of location. Exceptions may be applied for.
3. Disciples of the Inner Sect are obligated to defend Sect grounds in the case of barbarian attack, and cooperate with the Sect military. Failure to do so will be considered military desertion or sabotage, and charged appropriately under Imperial Law.
4. Disciples of the Inner Sect are to maintain the dignity and reputation of the Sect at all times. Failure may cause loss of Contribution Points or reduction in rank.
5. Disciples of the Inner Sect may not cross Imperial borders without specific dispensation and approval.


AN: so here's some red meat food for discussion, these are the Inner Sect rules I've codified so far, the list may grow later, but I'm pretty solid on these ones going forward.