[x] Try to cozy up to the loose cultivators in the noodle shop. Loose cultivators always know the best gossip (they need to in order to survive)
Going to go with this, they say youth is the time to make connections and while I'd like to visit our bro he isn't exactly subtle and we don't know yet the info Fong and Gao have collected or the mission offered by the older man may require subtlety so best leave options open.
"And nephew's only interest in Baoxing town is to find such youthful escapades and any . . . " Master Li paused and then coughed in a blatantly false manner as he continued, "fortuitous encounters that may arise."
Hook. Line. Sinker. "Would uncle know how nephew could find such luck?"
The old man smiled, seemingly genuinely this time, even as he steeped his fingers together. "This old uncle might, he might indeed. But of course, no treasure is without hardship."
Hua Yin chuckled amicably, "Uncle is, of course, correct. But even Daoists may pick up a shovel."
"Of course, of course. This uncle knows of an adventure that nephew and his companions might like. But tonight, you and your friends will meet uncle at the Pot and Flame at ten. It's an inn at the center of town. Be discreet."
By this point, it was midafternoon. Hua Yin turned down another busy street and saw a group of guards surrounding someone familiar. Over and over again, the guards were yelling out, "Make way for the young master!" And of course, the crowds parted. The young master was a cultivator about Hua Yin's age, tall with a sculpted physique highlighted by his obviously tailored robes. He was strutting down the street with his hands clasped around his back. Two steps behind him walked another familiar face. This man looked put upon, as if every day were an endless drudge of constant, unwanted tasks. The first was Cho Wusheng, a guy that Hua Yin had thought was just a wandering cultivator, albeit at Pinnacle Initiate. The two had dueled and become friendly acquaintances after fighting one another over an inn room. The servant following Cho Wusheng was named Fu Zhu and seemingly had no cultivation.
The disciples had been silent before they sat down at the open-air restaurant. Earlier, Ming Xue had wanted to speak, but he had told her to hold off until they were farther away from Master Li's house. As soon as their butts hit the seats, Ming Xue said, with absolute venom in her tone, "Sweetheart?! Fiancée?!"
Hua Yin chuckled nervously as he tensed every part of his body, readying himself to get hit. "It was just part of the game! It meant nothing."
Ming Xue laughed at Hua Yin's trepidatious face. Hua Yin was pretty sure this was most mirth he had ever heard from Ming Xue. Once she managed to get herself under control, she said, between chuckles, "The look on your face, hehe. Don't worry brother Hua Yin. I've seen my father negotiating in such ways and others more recently." She shrugged, "I don't have the head for it, and I was annoyed at first. But I'm not stupid. I didn't understand much except that last part. Anything I need to know?"
[X] Try to cozy up to the loose cultivators in the noodle shop. Loose cultivators always know the best gossip (they need to in order to survive).
Ya know what, everybody goes king fu fighting is fine too. I wanna build up connections within the wandering bands of cultivators to build up our Papercut rep and have an information web among our peers.
@warumono what's Hua Yin's general knowledge about the loose of cultivators outside the sect?
[X] Try to cozy up to the loose cultivators in the noodle shop. Loose cultivators always know the best gossip (they need to in order to survive).
Ya know what, everybody goes king fu fighting is fine too. I wanna build up connections within the wandering bands of cultivators to build up our Papercut rep and have an information web among our peers.
@warumono what's Hua Yin's general knowledge about the loose of cultivators outside the sect?
Minimal first hand. He's heard alot of rumors about them just as part of life, including all the big names. But he has read a lot of cultivator novels and definitely romanticizes the idea of the wandering cultivator, going on adventures and rescuing people. He does know that they are very quick to establish hierarchies and very quick to come to blows, though there are unwritten rules not to kill each other. Further, his father absolutely hates them because they're generally a troublesome and rowdy crowd, getting into fights and participating in minor crimes and generally being outside the social order even more so than sect cultivators.
It's pretty alright since Hua Yin's not really detecting anything from Master Li in the first few exchanges. Though once he does get into the groove and success builds up, more of the ??? should be revealed.
It's pretty alright since Hua Yin's not really detecting anything from Master Li in the first few exchanges. Though once he does get into the groove and success builds up, more of the ??? should be revealed.
[X] Write-in: Split up
-[X] Ming Xue heads back to the Fairy to wait for the guys and recharge her Qi in the mean time.
-[X] Hua Yin goes to speak with Cho Wusheng at the Velvet Dream.
I really think we should try to make contact with Cho. We made a friend last time, and he was desperate for peers. He would definitely aid his, and that would bring his clearly a hidden master servant into play, which can't but aid our odds in the fight to come.
I liked the social combat, but we really should have gotten something , anything at all from the other guys rolls. To not even see how many dice he was rolling was strange. we should have gotten something as we went.
A loud crash of thunder pealed as the rock disintegrated into dust. The low thrum of rope cutting air resounded as it made its way up and around Ming Xue's lithe body before she swings around in another spin, tucking around and springing herself up and into the air. Her red hair fluttered in the wind like a banner as her body's built up momentum sent her meteor hammer's heavy metal head out and into to the next rock. A sharp thrum,
The imparting rebound of metal rock and sound forced her to move again lest the loss of force renders her weapon limp and feeble. She winds and turns again, letting the movement sink deep into her bones.
Another voice cuts through her motions.
"Sister Ming, is this really all you do when Sister Ling isn't dragging you around?" asks the inquisitive voice of Lao Ai. The girl sits upon the nearby rock- one of her former targets, the once ovoid shape cracked into halves upon which the girl sits, hands idly picking through its innards. No doubt for interesting nuggets lodged within for another project.
Ming Xue gave the question some thought, her body moving thoughtlessly to in a formless kata that kept her hammer swirling in an orbit.
Of course she hasn't, she took quests, explored the Sect grounds for her own cultivating needs. Every hour not spent in acquiring resources is spent into martial mastery.
Her foundation needs to be solid as bedrock before she Ascends. But as she thinks back to the progress of her fellow disciples, maybe…
The crafter sighed, "Come on, we still have some daylight left. Even with the exams on the horizon we both need to unwind. I'm going to the markets." Turning around she hopped off the rock and turned back into the direction of the town far and below them, casted as it is in the Noontime light; an interplay of the bright greens and against muted red bricks and greys of civilization.
The Fallen Noble wordlessly took a stock at the many broken boulders strewn about before wrapping up her weapon around her arms, trailing after her.
"What do you mean these cost over four points!? I've been through here and it was always just at two for a batch! You know, what, I'm moving to the next stall." Lao Ai huffed as she swung around, leaving the stall owner shrugging in resignation over a failed pitch for vellum.
Ming Xue got off the corner she used for leaning, muting almost all the prior conversation in barter gibberish. She admittedly found talk boring, not really interested in the nuances. What she did do best after all was scaring the would be ne'er do wells from making a move towards the crafter girl. Three moments ago, there were two who tried their hand at the approach and one pickpocket- the first two were solved by a blank stare and the last, well a good strong stone sent to his hands from hers truly would serve as an apt lesson.
Suddenly Lao Ai's arm was thrown her around her shoulders pushing her down- "Duck!" she whispered.
There! A few stalls beside them was Hua Yin his hair was neatly tied and beneath the stalls the Fallen Noble knew, was his distinctive sword. He was heading straight for the market's bulletin board.
Noting that they've hadn't been spotted Lao Ai immediately started shadowing, all thought of shopping completely forgotten. Ming Xue rolled her eyes.
Carefully they trailed after him seeing him stick a post within the board before turning into the direction of the Dormitories.
A quick walk over later saw them reading Brother Hua's neat charcters in paper:
"Mou, so the hide I'll be working on won't even have a great story behind it!" Lao Ai pouted.
"Sister Lao, you know as well as I how close the exams are. I doubt Brother Hua would have enough time as it is to keep up his status within the sect."
"He's incredible isn't it?"
"Hmm?" Ming Xue tilts her head in askance.
"Half a year ago he could barely fight and now he's regarded as one of the best among us."
"He did it with hard work and dedication. You could do it too you know, if you'd dedicate more time into cultivation."
The Crafter snorted "Even with your effort you haven't broke through yet."
Build it strong, and deep. So that should Qi will not be a crutch that you shall rely soley upon.
Lao Ai immediately bit her lip cringing. "Sorry, look let's just get back to shopping alright? We're supposed to be us winding down from our studies."
Somehow, Ming Xue was roped into carrying the purchases as crafting reagents were piling on. Once the Crafter's demands for those were done, they'd moved onto the various nick-knacks and baubles. Lao Ai was leading more often than not into the various hawkers that plied their wares.
Then Ming Xue saw it.
A whalebone brush, in laid with silver.
A muted hum, smooth tines that rake across her scalp in the steady hands of her mother Treachery and loss. An all consuming anger.
Unbidden an errant hand thoughtlessly came up to her unruly mop of blood-red hair.
A sharp commotion broke her thoughts.
"HELP THIEVES!" A ruckus around the corner as figures literally flew by, stalls scattering in their wake.
Lao Ai nodded at her- quickly chaperoning her to a nearby now bustling guard's outpost before handing the purchases in her fellow's safekeeping. She sprinted after wards, Qi flowing into her movement technique, Gazelle's Leap quickly giving her a boost in catching the ruffians.
Despite the foolishness in trying to steal within a cultivator's walking distance from the Sect, fools would unfalteringly find a way to try and one up Sect justice. A smile crept up her face as a dark glee arose from the depths of her core.
Her body flips in conjunction with her hands whiping out her meteor hammer, movement and qi accelerating her weapon beyond what a mortal can-
The Fallen Noble finds herself walking back towards where she left the Crafter.
Blood splattered across her the sleeves of her robes, but none of it was hers.
The fight was good, draining- but relieving in a way a binding too tight for so long had finally been loosened after a long day. Justice has been done, the thieves dealt with; their stolen goods reacquistioned and rightfully returned.
Listlessly she walked back towards where she first saw the whalebone brush, but her heart sank when the stall owner had told her the brush was sold quite recently.
She walks back to find Lao Ai organizing; The smaller girl looking comically small against the backdrop of her purchases as she commandeered the local guards to help her move them. A small smile greeted her as the girl spotted her, said smile turned to a frown as her eyes alighted on her robes.
Ming Xue held up her bloodied hands "It's fine, I'm not hurt."
"Still Sister Ming, you are filthy! At least let this Sister treat you for dispensing justice." The Crafter looked at her over for a moment- searching something, before resolving in a nod that has a dainty, yet dexterous hand revealed a package held out for her. The girl's other hand drifted up, nervously scratching her cheek.
"I saw you look at the brush so I thought w-w-well" the girl stuttered before taking a deep breath.
"What I meant to say is; Thank you, Sister Ming ,for protecting me and our fellow Wildflowers. I know you dislike like being subordinate to anyone- but know I cherish you as a friend."
The Fallen Noble stared at the Whalebone Brush, fingers trembling, but before she could reach out, Lao Ai suddenly yanked it out of her reach.
"Uh-uh, Sister Ming. First off you need a bath before your hands tarnish this work of art!"
[X] Write-in: Split up
-[X] Ming Xue heads back to the Fairy to wait for the guys and recharge her Qi in the mean time.
-[X] Hua Yin goes to speak with Cho Wusheng at the Velvet Dream.
[X] Try to cozy up to the loose cultivators in the noodle shop. Loose cultivators always know the best gossip (they need to in order to survive).
This one definitely fought me, especially since the last chapter took a lot out of me and because there were so few votes. I feed off of all you players, so please remember that votes and discussion keep the quest going.
----
Hua Yin shot a look at the other table of cultivators, which consisted of a young woman in her early twenties with bright orange hair and a very big man with a bald head and a shaggy salt-and-pepper beard. Hua Yin was thinking about approaching and speaking with them because they were cultivators. Loose cultivators were known to have the best gossip, or so the rumors and cultivator novels said. The young woman actually had the higher cultivation, being in the Mid-Initiate Realm while the man was in the Low-Initiate Realm. The pair were armed, the woman with a jian on the table beside her, and the man with two-handed war hammer resting its handle on the bench the cultivator was sitting on.
The younger woman actually caught sight of Hua Yin looking at them. She gave Hua Yin a coquettish smile before looking away. The man, noticing the woman's gaze, turned his head to look over at Hua Yin and Ming Xue. He gave Hua Yin a nod. In an almost paternal way, the bearded man waved the pair of disciples over.
Hua Yin got up, encouraged by the seemingly friendly reaction. He threw a pair of coppers on the table to cover the meal and nodded to his companion. Ming Xue stood when Hua Yin did, eying the other pair in an assessing manner. The pair walked over casually to the other cultivators, but they nevertheless seemed to draw attention. Hua Yin was fast enough to see that more than one of the customers looked at the two sets of armed cultivators, and immediately attempted finish their food as quickly as possible or get the bill.
The loose cultivators stood as the disciples approached. They both raised their arms up in martial salutes, fists in palms. The bearded man spoke first, his voice a rumble, "This Luo Zu, called Black Bear, greets his fellow Daoists."
The young woman was next, "This Xi Ning greets her fellow Daoists."
Hua Yin returned the gesture, saying, "This Hua Yin, called Papercut, greets his fellow Daoists."
Ming Xue did the same. "This Ming Xue greets her fellow Daoists."
The pair of loose cultivators exchanged looks at Hua Yin's epithet. They made room for the disciples and the one called Black Bear ordered wine for the table. As everyone sat, the woman Xi Ning was the first to speak, "This one is in the middle of the Initiate Realm. May this one know how far along the path her fellow Daoists have walked?"
Hua Yin and Ming Xue exchanged looks. Hua Yin motioned for Ming Xue to go first while he thought about whether it was wise to share the truth. There was actually no real reason for him to hide his cultivation and being cagey might be seen as rude. It was one thing to blast his aura and advertise that he was an Awakened cultivator to the entire town, but it was another thing entirely merely to say it in a conversation between cultivators. Further, though he didn't know much about the niceties of loose cultivators, this seemed to have a ritualistic quality to it. After Ming Xue said that she was in the Low Initiate Realm, Hua Yin answered, "This Hua Yin has attained the middle of the Spirit Realm."
Black Bear raised an eyebrow and Xi Ning blinked a few times. She smiled at Hua Yin, eying him up and down before giving another martial salute and saying, "Junior greets senior."
Hua Yin returned the salute but said, "This Hua Yin should be calling you both seniors. This one has merely had seventeen years old in this life."
The older man had a canny look in his eye as he seemed to pay even closer attention to Hua Yin. The woman seemed to mutter something under her breath. With Hua Yin's excellent hearing, he thought he made out, "That pretty? He must be Awakened."
Addressing the bearded man, Hua Yin replied, "Please let us forego formality and speak plainly. It is good to meet fellow Daoists."
Xi Ning asked, "Is the young master truly Papercut Hua Yin?"
Black Bear laughed in a booming voice, "To be so young and yet so advanced, of course, the young master is Papercut Hua Yin. The stories make much more sense now that we know the young master is in the Spirit Realm."
The woman added, "Young master is so gifted! Let this Xi Ning pour young master a drink."
Hua Yin accepted the drink reluctantly, knowing that refusal was as good as a slap in the face. He grimaced at the taste before putting down the shallow bowl of rice wine. "Please, Ms. Xi, Mr. Black Bear, just call me Hua Yin. We are all new, let me pour you a drink."
Black Bear and Xi Ning smiled brightly. The group, including Ming Xue, drank together. Black Bear smacked his lips before saying, "Mr. Hua, are you here in town on business? If Mr. Hua needs any recommendations, this Black Bear knows the town like the back of his hand!"
"Oh? Mr. Black Bear, I had thought you were a wandering cultivator. My martial sister," Hua Yin gestured to Ming Xue, "and I are exploring and seeking any fortuitous encounters we may find."
Black Bear beamed, "Ahhh, I remember the days when I traveled the roads looking for my path. I have long settled down here in Baoxing. Ning'er and I work for the town lord. He's been hiring Daoists, if you're looking for some work temporarily. I am sure the lord would pay, especially for a young talent like you Mr. Hua."
Hua Yin shook his head, "We aren't looking for any work." Hua Yin furrowed his brow, "Why is the town lord looking to employ Daoists?"
Black Bear looked like he wanted to spit, but a glare from the noodle shop's proprietress stopped him. He swallowed in a sheepish manner, giving the owner a glance before replying to Hua Yin. "It's because of these damned raiders. All the caravans and towns in the autonomous zone are bringing in guards and Daoists so they aren't attacked."
Xi Ning grimaced as she added, "And of course, they leave the villagers to fend for themselves and get attacked." She brightened as she looked at Hua Yin, "Except, of course, when handsome young Daoists come to save them."
Hua Yin smiled, "Standing up for mortals is the duty of all the righteous."
"But the Papercut has not just stood up for one village. Rumors say you've fought raiders all across the autonomous zone."
Black Bear nodded, "Mr. Hua, we've heard many stories about your adventures. I've spoken to some of my caravan guard companions who passed through villages that Mr. Hua has saved. Mr. Hua is truly a righteous Daoist."
Hua Yin's mind raced. As far as he could remember, he'd saved only one village. In retrospect, it did seem like his reputation had gotten bigger than he'd initially expected it could have gotten. And then he remembered that Renxing could change her appearance and always seemed to enjoy needling him about his nickname . . .
But that was for later, "Great gratitude." Hua Yin smiled again at Black Bear and Xi Ning. The brunette woman giggled and blushed. "My friend and I have just arrived in Baoxing recently. Are there any major figures we should know? We of course want to give them face."
"Well, there's the town lord. He's supported by clans from the Empire and has a decent sized force of mortals and Daoists." Black Bear considered for a moment, "The other major players are Master Li and the Bei Consortium."
"Oh? Could you tell us about them?"
"Of course, it is only right that fellow Daoists share information after all. Master Li is the strongest cultivator in town, though no one knows his exact cultivation. He claims to be at the Pinnacle of the Spirit Realm, but I've heard Master Li is actually in the Profound or maybe even Earth." Black Bear lowered his voice as he said, "They say he was a Broken Tree cultivator who was expelled from the sect. Master Li enjoys playing the benevolent uncle, but I wouldn't cross him if I were you."
"What's a powerful cultivator doing in the autonomous zone?"
Black Bear chuckled, "Of course he's here because he's one of the most powerful cultivators around." Black Bear became more serious as he continued, "There just aren't that many competitors so long as he keeps his head down. The Empire's Broken Tree and the Purple Silk Kingdom's Golden Eagle Tumen suppress any cultivators in the autonomous zone that are too powerful. That's what makes the autonomous zone so safe for young Daoists like yourself Mr. Hua."
Hua Yin was fascinated and made sure to look fascinated. He had never heard any of this before. "What does Master Li do for the town?"
"He runs a lot of the trade. He has his finger in most of the pies in town. " Again, Black Bear leaned in as he said, "I've heard he's trying to suppress the Bei Consortium."
"What are the Beis doing in the autonomous zone? I thought they were Empire merchants."
Black Bear and Xi Ning snorted as Black Bear said, "What aren't they doing? Anything that's illegal in the Empire, they try to produce here and then try to smuggle into the Empire or the Kingdom. Mostly mortal drugs but some cultivator materials as well." Black Bear looked like he wanted to spit again.
"You don't seem to like them very much. Is there any reason they haven't been kicked out?"
"They have too much money and too many cultivators. They're wise enough not to draw too much of the Broken Tree or the Golden Eagle's attention, and they have the numbers to make it a fight for even the town lord to kick them out." Black Bear grimaced, "And if the town lord did kick them out, they'd just gather their forces and maybe topple the town lord."
"How do they have so many Daoists in their ranks? If they are so unrighteous, why work for them?"
Black Bear gave Hua Yin a look of pity as he said, sighing, "Mr. Hua shouldn't call them Daoists. They're the lowest type of cultivator, seeking only money, power, and pleasure. The Beis hire any cultivators that come from the Tenth Heavy Foot and some of the other Legions. They pay them top dollar and ship them to far flung places like this. The soldiers get paid well, and out here, being even a middling cultivator gives you power." Black Bear shrugged, "Most of them are rabble. They're merely bullies who have been taught to cultivate."
"Does no one stand up to them?"
"The town lord and all the village heads get paid to look the other way. If their foot soldiers get too out of line, Ning'er and I and many of our fellow Daoists suppress them." Black Bear shook his head as he continued, "No one upsets the balance because there is money and power to be had."
"Do the Beis deal in slaves?"
Black Bear grimaced as he said, "There's rumors that they do. But if there was evidence that they were taking slaves from the villages that pay tribute to him or if they're stupid enough to import slaves from the Empire, the town lord would come down on them." Black Bear seemed to force down a shudder as he said, "No one in the autonomous zone wants a Broken Tree hit squad to 'accidentally' get lost."
Xi Ning nodded as she added, "I saw a Broken Tree patrol destroy a village that was housing bandits. The idiots were stupid enough to kidnap a little brother of a Broken Tree disciple. And then, even stupider, they didn't give him back when it was demanded." Xi Ning grimaced as she said, "There was no mercy. The village was wiped out. All that's left is overgrown ruins."
"Is the Broken Tree so brutal?"
Black Bear shrugged as he said, "Not so bad as the Golden Eagle. The Broken Tree will just kill you. The Golden Eagle will crucify you or drag you behind their horses."
Xi Ning shook her head before pouring another round of drinks for everyone, "We've talked too much about unpleasant things." She smiled coquettishly at Hua Yin as she said, "How has the road treated Mr. Hua, Ms. Xue?"
Hua Yin grimaced. "We stopped by the town of Guangdong on our way here. It's burned to the ground. Ming Xue and I were too late to stop the raid, but we managed to rescue some girls who'd been taken."
Black Bear shook his head with an angry look. "Damned Purple Silk barbarians. I hope Mr. Hua showed them the difference between Heaven and earth."
Hua Yin didn't say anything, and neither did Ming Xue. The hard look in both their eyes told enough of the story.
Xi Ning immediately tried to change the subject when she noticed Hua Yin's expression. She looked at Jianshu, which was leaning on the table next to Hua Yin. "Mr. Hua, that's a beautiful sword. I'd love to see it unsheathed."
Hua Yin had the premonition of trouble as he smiled nervously, "Of course, you'll definitely see it later, but first, I'd love to hear about you, Ms. Xi. I'd love to hear how a fairy like you ended up in Baoxing.
Ming Xue smirked at Hua Yin's answer.
Xi Ning, however, shot Ming Xue a glare before turning back to Hua Yin. There was a predatory look in her eyes as she said, "And I'd love to tell you about it. And if we don't finish the stories now . . . we can always finish them tonight."
Hua Yin gulped as Black Bear and Ming Xue exchanged looks before chuckling.
----
Hua Yin and Ming Xue made their excuses to leave as the sun set. Ming Xue seemed to have some sort of understanding between them as they communicated via facial expressions, smirking and laughing in turn as Hua Yin tried to fend off Xi Ning. The pair of disciples only managed to get away once Hua Yin said that he'd try and take Xi Ning out for dinner. Unlike with Lao Ai, Hua Yin recognized that this was a date. He wasn't sure he wanted to actually follow through with it however. Xi Ning was relatively pretty and she was fit, as befitting a cultivator, but she looked at Hua Yin like a tiger looks at a rabbit. Hua Yin shuddered slightly.
Ming Xue was smug the entire walk back to the inn and kept making jokes about unsheathed swords.
Once they returned to the Dancing Fairy, they saw Gao Jin and Fong Zhou waiting for them at a table in the common room. Fong Zhou had a tea pot in front of him while Gao Jin was obviously drinking bai jiu. The two sitting disciples nodded and smiled in greeting respectively. Once Hua Yin and Ming Xue had sat down, Fong Zhou asked, "Brother, sister, what happened with the village?"
Hua Yin grimaced. "Raiders. We rescued some girls who'd been taken, but most of the village was burned down."
Fong Zhou cursed, "Purple Silk bastards. I hope you made them pay."
Hua Yin nodded once, saying, "They have been consigned to their next lives."
Gao Jin snorted in amusement, "Yin, you could just say you killed them."
Hua Yin grimaced but did not reply to the statement, instead saying, "Have you heard any news? We got your message that you were visiting one of your cousins, brother Fong Zhou?"
Fong Zhou replied, "Yes, brother Hua Yin. I remembered that one of my aunties had married someone around here and had a son. I met him a few years back when the family had a gathering. He's a town guard now."
Gao Jin snickered as he looked at Ming Xue, "Heard you had some fun with some guards."
She shrugged as she replied matter-of-factly, "They deserved it."
"Don't doubt that. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Heard you kneed one of 'em so hard in the balls, they came out his mouth."
Ming Xue smiled at Gao Jin as they seemed to share a moment. Meanwhile, Hua Yin and Fong Zhou both winced at the mental image.
Hua Yin shook his head as he said, "Returning to the topic at hand, brother Fong Zhou, what did your cousin tell you?"
"A couple of things. First, he told me to be careful of someone named Master Li. Apparently, Master Li is some big shot cultivator and one of the powers in this town. He also told me to stay away from the Beis. When I pressed him, he said that he'd heard some of the Beis talking about some shady deal tomorrow night. He thinks that if there's business someone wants to keep out of the town lord's eyes, they'd do it in the village of Chixing. It's about three hours travel from here at mortals walk, so about half an hour for us. I think that's our best bet to find those slavers."
Hua Yin's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Did you tell your cousin you're from the Broken Tree?"
Fong Zhou shook his head, "I told him we were loose cultivators, but he probably knows I'm lying. My family's been legacy disciples of the Broken Tree for generations."
Hua Yin grimaced but said, "That is . . . unfortunate, but there's nothing to be done now." Hua Yin sighed before adding, "We actually met Master Li. He has excellent aura control, so he's at least in the Spirit Realm. But likely higher. He offered us information if we did some work for him tonight. Conversely, we could choose not to. Rest tonight, head to Chixing in the morning and scope it out."
Gao Jin shrugged but said, "Still don't know if that's where the deal's gonna be. I still say we pick up a Bei and see if we can't get 'em to squeal."
Fong Zhou shook his head as he said, "I don't like criminals either, but I like the idea of torturing someone for information even less. Further, where would we even take them?"
Gao Jin replied, "Don't think it'd be that hard. So long's we pick up the right target, I'd make 'em squeal quick."
"I personally think the best thing we can do is head to Chixing. I talk like a local. I might get someone to give us some hints on what's going on. And I'm hesitant to work for this Master Li character. My cousin did not have a good opinion of the man."
Gao put in his two cents, saying, "A night in might get that shit Yin took outta his system. Operatin' at night while high ain't the smartest." He shrugged as he said, "But havin' one a' the town bosses owe us a favor might be useful. 'long as we don't get stabbed in the back."
Hua Yin asked, "I know you haven't met the man, but what do you think the likelihood of that is?"
"Low. Good number a' cultivators in town, but didn't see no one above Initiate. And it's stupid fucking with unknown cultivators like us, not when there's four a' us." Gao Jin motioned at Hua Yin, "Look at how pretty ya are, Yin. Only an idiot'd think you wasn't a cultivator."
Ming Xue snorted and said, "There's plenty of idiots. Though, we met this loose cultivator who definitely thought Hua Yin was pretty."
Gao Jin gave an evil grin as Hua Yin facepalmed. The former gangster asked, "Yin's got himself a girl? Honestly, thought his balls hadn't dropped yet or he wasn't interested in ladies."
Hua Yin pursed his lips but didn't manage to add anything to the conversation before Ming Xue said, "Just this loose cultivator who wanted him to call her Ning'er and kept trying to get him to agree to a date." She grinned evilly, before saying, "She kept wanting to see his sword."
Both Fong Zhou and Gao Jin snickered, "Maybe he should go on a date. Get us some more information."
Hua Yin shook his head and looked to Ming Xue, asking, "Back to the topic at hand, what do you think we should do sister Ming Xue?"
She replied, flatly, "I don't have an opinion. This isn't my area of expertise. Anyways, it's your mission, brother Hua Yin so you have to make the calls."
What does the crew do?
[ ] Have an early night and head to Chixing in the morning.
Hua Yin recognized that some of it could've been Thieves' Cant and some of it could have been courtly sign language, but there were other signs he didn't recognize.
[X] Meet with Master Li later in the night.
[ ] Have an early night and head to Chixing in the morning.
Toss up between these two. Curiosity says to go with Li, but there's a high chance they will regret it.
Master Li probably has the best info, probably doesn't want anything too bad (he surely realizes we're Broken Tree), will get us some semi official town backing (Lord apparently draws the line at slavery) and could give our lil guy a chance to unsheathe his sword after
going to go with seeing master li, killing is one thing but torture another line I don't see crossing, at least not yet and not with the mere brutish methods of pain but with qi arts of mind intrusion and mentored if needed.
Also if the Bei Consortium continues to be our enemy in the future having a connection to this master Li can be potentially helpful as even settled cultivators can smell blood in the water and leap to scavenge some gains if need be in the future.
There's cozying up to cultivators, then there's flashing up the Papercut hype with all the attention it brings. We need more streetsmorts from Brother Gao Jin at this rate.
"Ahhh, I remember the days when I traveled the roads looking for my path. I have long settled down here in Baoxing. Ning'er and I work for the town lord. He's been hiring Daoists, if you're looking for some work temporarily. I am sure the lord would pay, especially for a young talent like you Mr. Hua."
Hua Yin shook his head, "We aren't looking for any work." Hua Yin furrowed his brow, "Why is the town lord looking to employ Daoists?"
They say he was a Broken Tree cultivator who was expelled from the sect. Master Li enjoys playing the benevolent uncle, but I wouldn't cross him if I were you."
Good thing he's not totally holding enough of a grudge on the Tree, but enough he'll use us to his own ends. Tbf, we'll be doing quite the same as well. Fortunately we have a common goal in wanting the raiders and slavers gone.
Hua Yin grimaced. "We stopped by the town of Guangdong on our way here. It's burned to the ground. Ming Xue and I were too late to stop the raid, but we managed to rescue some girls who'd been taken."
Ha! At this rate Hua Yin's gonna need Ming Xue to teach him how to dress up stylishly in handsome robes and styles- she seems to pull off the Commandery lord's regal vibe pretty well.
[X] Meet with Master Li later in the night.
I'm intrigued, want to see how this will go- especially when it'll synergies well in meddling the Bei and eventually kicking them off the area.
