Future Days: A Meeting
Lijuan tapped her foot against loose soil as she leaned on her small home's outer wall. The sun was nearing its peak and the winter chill was melting away. It would never reach the temperature she was used to in the further north of the Emerald Seas but at least it wouldn't be a miserable walk. The only thing left now was for her roommate to leave. Honestly, what was taking her so long. The thought just finished when Ling Mei walked out of the house. Lijuan had to focus on not gaping like a dying fish.
Gone was the soot stained face, the form fitting stitched leather and the bare-feet. In their place was a demure girl draped in a small lake of pale blue silk. Small ornaments chimed as Mei shifted some errant hair. Lijuan looked at herself in embarrassment. Her simple unadorned disciples robe looked terribly underdressed next to the shifting silk her roommate had pulled from somewhere.
"Don't worry yourself too much," Mei said, spying Lijuan's sudden nervousness, "This is my attempt to get out of a lecture."
"A lecture?"
"Yes, I'll explain on the way."
Mei started walking down towards the town and Lijuan nearly tripped over her own feet trying to catch up with the abrupt movement. The plan for today was to walk to the sect town to meet Mei's mother. Maybe that was a bigger deal than Lijuan first thought. Why would Mei completely change her outfit to meet her mother?
"So, about the outfit change?" Lijuan asked as they started their descent.
Mei sighed. "My mother loves me very much, but has very strong opinions on propriety. No bare shoulders, no exposed arms, and no ankle flashing."
"You flash your ankles all the time," said Lijuan, "You run around barefoot."
"Yes, and I endured many lectures about it before coming to the sect."
"Ahh, so by dressing up like this your mother will be convinced you do this all the time. I see."
Mei shook her head. "My mother knows. My hope is that this token gesture will mollify her enough that I will get to skip the lecture this time."
Lijuan tilted her head. "How would your mother know? The truce ended only a couple of weeks ago and if it got you in trouble I doubt you would write about it to your mother."
Mei smiled. "Because I am part of her family."
Lijuan looked at Mei hoping for more of an explanation but none seemed to come. She sighed and looked up at the bright blue sky. Mei was often like that. Mei knew so much about this world of cultivators but sometimes things came up and Mei would just shut down. Nothing to it but to move on. "Why did you invite me for this visit anyway. I know we are friends and all, but…"
Mei tilted her head towards the sky in thought. "How much do you know about the Ling clan?"
Lijuan shrugged her shoulders before kicking a pebble. It rocketed off into the woods on the side of the path. She really needed to remember her strength now, she thought with a wince as the pebble dented a tree. "Not much," she says, as she turned back towards the path, "You're a small clan and are direct retainers to the Cai."
Mei hummed and skipped over a slightly larger pebble. "All right. Going back to your first question, I'm inviting you because I know you are getting frustrated. It feels like everyone is pulling ahead and you're struggling to catch up, right?"
Lijuan fixed her eyes on the town ahead. Mei's words boiled inside of her. Lijuan had nothing. She managed to get a pass to the outer sect library, but only the first floor. Looking at the arts in there made her feel like a joke. They were laughable compared to some of the arts she had seen being used in training and in duels. Of course she could get better arts, but that meant getting sect points. That took time. Time that everyone else relying on their families used to get further ahead. That left her behind. To make up ground, better arts would be needed. Those would cost sect points, starting the whole cycle over again. It was infuriating. Those pricks laughed behind her back. Laugh where they thought she couldn't hear them. She left like a pig, running around a sty, thinking she was getting somewhere when all she was doing was throwing mud on herself and anyone that got close. She kicked another pebble. It shattered into dust. Then she saw Mei's concerned face and smiled back at her. It was faint and hollow.
"Anyway," Mei coughed into her fist, "I wanted to show you what was possible, I guess? How far even a first generation cultivator could get. After all, my mother is a first generation cultivator, too."
Lijuan almost tripped. Mei's mother was a first generation cultivator? Mei whose percussion like footsteps brought forth living roots to restrain foes, and whose voice incinerated things around her? "Really? You're a second generation cultivator?"
Mei nodded, before frowning a touch. "Technically yes, but my mother has a younger sister that started her cultivation way before I was born, so a lot of problems that first generation clans have teaching the next generation were ironed out before I came around. So, second and a half generation?"
Lijuan snorted. "Still, I can't believe cultivator clans grow in power so quickly, if you're only a second and a half generation cultivator."
Mei shook her head as they passed by the front gates of town. "The Ling clan is enormously different from most newly raised clans. I won't bore you with all the details, but Mother worked exceptionally hard to ensure the Ling clan's foundations and fortunes."
Lijuan glanced sideways at her best friend. "Do you think I could do the same?"
Mei nodded. "You are talented. You might not feel this way, but a double breaththrough into yellow and silver as the truce ended is beyond breathtaking. You just haven't been lucky."
Lijuan's eyes twitched. "And what does luck have to do with anything?"
Mei kept looking forward. "Luck can be just as important to a cultivator as raw skill. To reach the highest heights you need both. So, I hope to give you a little luck."
Lijuan shivered. Both from the chill of the winter air and the crypticness of Mei's answer. How could someone give luck?
Conversation drifted towards gossip as they walked through the town. Trading gossip, like about a love triangle between some older disciples and a new disciple, soothed Lijuan's nerves. Laughing about other peoples' problems kept her own thoughts from darkening and before long they were standing before the tallest inn of the town. Outside, several guards wearing the same colors of Mei's dress stood at attention. Mei nodded to the guard closest to the door and after the man bowed to her dragged Lijuan inside.
The vast emptiness of the inn echoed as Mei and Lijuan entered. Lijuan looked around at the empty seats of the inn's restaurant, the lack of staff, and the stillness of the place. Had the Ling clan cleared out the entire place just for this one meeting? How much would something like that even cost? A twitch of movement in the corner of her eye caused her to jump. Beside the stairwell two more guards stood. They hadn't been there before and even as Lijuan watched they seemed to flicker between being normal people or a writhing shadow. Lijuan swallowed. Mei went and stood before them. They looked her over and then gave a brief bow. Then Mei stood on the first step of the stairs and looked back.
"Lijuan? Coming?"
Lijuan gave a shallow nod and went to stand before the guards. Her movements felt awkward and stiff as she tried to copy the effortless pose that Mei had shown. After she reached the same spot Mei had stopped at she paused. One of the guards glanced her way and she shivered. A tingle, like when her father was drunk and looking. Then it was gone. Both guards gave a nod, much shallower than the one to Mei, and Lijuan walked up the stairs with Mei.
The chill of winter was getting worse Lijuan noticed as they started to climb. How could this inn be the best inn in the town if it didn't keep the cold of winter out? As she climbed though she began to realize that the chill she was feeling in the air wasn't from the weather outside. It certainly wasn't cold enough outside to cause frost to bloom on the walls. Beautifully frost patterns started appearing as they ascended. Lijuan rubbed her arms. She should have felt much colder if frost was appearing, but she didn't. If anything she started to feel slightly warmer. What was happening?
At the very top of the inn the frost was thick and snowflakes flashed into existence for a moment before vanishing. Yet Lijuan still only felt the slight chill of a winter morning. The door leading to the only room this high up was guarded again by shadows of flickering existence. They didn't stop Mei as she opened up the door.
Lijuan saw a vast blizzard. The wind roared as the blizzard spun to create an insurmountable barrier. Truths whispered out from the blizzard. Frost and snow bloomed into existence in the wake of the truths. Lijuan heard them clearly now. She would die alone. Cold winter winds would flay what they could and freeze the rest. Beyond the blizzard, Lijuan could just barely see a palace. Made from an eternal glacier with roots of an everlasting tree weaving through. Lights glimmered from the palace. Warmth, music, dancing, friends, family. It was all there in that palace. Why did she have to die out here in the cold?! She wanted to be in there!
Then Lijuan blinked. The blizzard was gone. The vast palace of ice and trees disappeared. In their place sat a beautiful lady. Hair sparkling like the night sky and a skin tone that reminded Lijuan of people in her home city. The eyes were shards of glacier ice and Lijuan could only bear to look at them for an instance. The reminder of the blizzard she had seen hummed in her mind. Next to the lady hovered a block of jade carved to show strange twisting shapes.
"Greetings honored Mother." Mei said.
Lijuan twisted towards Mei. This lady was Mei's mother? She didn't look like she could be over thirty. How young was she when she had Mei?
"Hello Mei. I see you dressed up for the occasion. That won't get you out of a lecture though. You really need to consider propriety more."
Lijuan could see Mei grimace.
"But this doesn't appear to be the time for that. You brought a guest after all."
Mei sighed in relief. "Of course, mother. Apologies for my rudeness. This is Lijuan. She has been a good friend to me ever since we choose to room together. Even after the truce ended she stood with me in some minor duels. Lijuan this is my honored mother, Ling Qi."
Lijuan almost snorted. They had been minor duels but all she really did was stand there. Mei was the one who's drum-like steps and clear voice settled those matters. Decisively.
"I see." Ling Qi said. "It makes me glad to meet my daughter's friend. It may be a touch much to ask, but please try and remind my daughter to wear suitable clothes."
Lijuan bowed deeply. "I will try my best."
Ling Qi laughed. "It may be a burden, and those burdened should be rewarded for their efforts."
Lijuan glanced nervously at Mei, but Mei looked unconcerned. This conversation had taken a sharp turn.
"You practice fire and water arts, do you not?" Ling Qi asked, dragging Lijuan's attention back to her.
"Ah, yes."
"Mei, are the sites Lijuan has access to suitable for practicing such arts?"
Mei bowed her head. "She has access to a hot spring as well as a minor water site. She has been taking sect missions and if she has discovered more suitable sites I would not know."
Ling Qi raised her eyebrow before turning to Lijuan. "Do you have any more potent sites than a hot spring and a minor water site?"
Lijuan bowed her head, avoiding those eyes of ice. "I have found what feels like a potent fire site in some caves a fair distance from the sect."
Ling Qi smiled. "I think I know that site. It is a good find. I don't think the Gu have any members in the outer sect this year so you should be fine to use it." Ling Qi's hand shifted. The air remained still, showing no sign of passage, but a hand now rested on the carved block of jade. Ling Qi hummed and the fingers danced silently over the jade. The block twisted like some of the puzzle boxes Lijuan had seen at the market. Yet infinitely more complex. Pieces shuffled and slid in ways Lijuan refused to believe possible and at the end three small slips of jade had left the block, which looked no smaller.
"Unfortunately, things need to be done in order. I can't give a gift to any outer sect student without the elders raising a fuss about 'undue interference'. I can give a gift to my daughter though. So, please accept this gift Mei. I hope it will make your time at the sect better."
Mei reached out a hand and Ling Qi dropped the three jade slips. "Thank you for the kind gift mother." Mei said as she twisted towards Lijuan. "I have come into possession of some arts, Lijuan." Mei said dryly. "It is unfortunate that they don't seem well suited to me. Would you like to look at them? Perhaps they will serve you better."
Lijuan's eyes darted between the two. Was this really happening? Was she really going to receive some arts out of the blue? Why?
"There are games happening above you child." Ling Qi said kindly. "You are just at the right place and time to benefit. Call it luck."
Lijuan reached out for the offered slips of jade. Was this what Mei was talking about earlier? Giving someone luck? She took the jade slips and stashed them into her robes.
"Now, I think it is time for some time with just my daughter." Ling Qi said. "Lijuan, in the dining room you will find some food prepared for you. Please enjoy. We should only be an hour up here."
Lijuan looked at Mei, who flashed her a thumbs up, so Lijuan bowed deeply to Ling Qi and walked out of the room. At the bottom of the stairs, as promised, a full meal sat, still steaming. Before eating though, Lijuan pulled out the jade slips and wriggled her qi into them.
The first was "Triumphant Geyser's Eruption". It was a movement art requiring leg and arm meridians. It propelled the user forward shrouding their form in scalding steam. If someone was unfortunate enough to be in the way then water would blast them away and fire would scorch them.
"Boiling Visions" was the next. It was a head and arms art. Focusing on water's ability to see the path of least resistance and fire's ability to grow without warning it promised to unleash sudden and punishing attacks at the opponents weakest point.
Finally, Lijuan's hands trembled as she read it. It was a cultivation art. "Meditations on the Pools of Ningxia". These pools of Ningxia, according to the slip, were vast pools of water that roiled ceaselessly from the heat below them. The deeper pools were dangerous to even cultivators, but many pools were soothing and even healthy for the body. The vast interconnected pools had a complex system of flowing water that when meditated on offered insights into the movement of qi in the body. Besides techniques becoming quicker to train and use it also helped create new meridians and improve a body's healing speed. Eventually it promised to help draw in the natural qi of water and fire.
Each of these arts went to the peak of yellow. With these she didn't need to worry about falling behind for a long time. She would be able to take more dangerous missions sooner and get tutoring to catch up to the others without first having to get new arts! Lijuan hurriedly ate some of the food arrayed before her before diving back into the jade slips to start learning the first steps. This was her chance!
Time ticked away as Lijuan studied the three arts. She didn't have any red stones on her so she just focused on memorizing the steps needed. A tap on her shoulder drew her from her study and she gave a sheepish grin to Mei.
"Sorry about that," Lijuan said, "I was just so excited to start looking at these arts."
Mei smiled. "I understand," she said, "I was the same way when I first got my arts. I've finished meeting with Mother so let's head back up the mountain."
Lijuan smiled back. "Sure."
Winter's chill had vanished during the meeting and the walk back up the mountain was pleasant. About halfway up the mountain Lijuan asked the question that had been itching her ever since they had left the inn. "Mei, how strong is your mother? You said that she was a first generation cultivator but she seemed so strong."
Mei nodded. "Mother is about the same level as Elder Guo, the one who taught us physical cultivation."
Lijuan would have tripped if she was still a mortal. "Your mother is as strong as an elder?"
"Yes. That's one of the reasons I wanted you to meet my mother. It seemed like you were becoming frustrated with the clear path some of our fellow disciples are walking. So I wanted to show you that even first generation cultivators can reach great heights climbing the mountain of cultivation."
Lijuan remained silent for a time looking up at the bright sky as she walked. "Do you think I could reach those heights?" She asked.
"I don't know. You have talent, but you need more than talent to get to those heights. You need luck as well."
"And so you gave me some." Lijuan said softly. "I won't forget this kindness, but I am nervous. What games was your mother talking about when she gave us these arts?"
Mei glanced away, embarrassed. "The Ling clan is a newly raised viscount clan. Mother is looking for some military successes to showcase our clan's power. So she gave you some arts through me. This is heavily discouraged in the sect. Something about too much interference or some nonsense." Mei coughed. "Anyway, the sect will demand concessions from Mother. Mother will offer to take up military responsibilities along the wall near the sect. This will allow her greater chances to showcase the clan's power. At least that is the reason that Mother told me during our meeting. I'm pretty sure there is more going on, but Mother did not talk about it."
"So in the end I'm just a piece on a board." Lijuan said.
Mei shrugged. "Most people are when it comes to the higher levels of politics. There is nothing wrong with smiling and accepting gifts. You can at least take comfort in that you've played your part and nothing more is expected of you."
"Really?"
"Yes, my mother said so herself."
"That doesn't really comfort me." Lijuan said.
Mei smiled. "You wouldn't know this, but my mother does not lie. She is sincere in everything she does and says."
Lijuan looked at Mei. "I don't know if that's possible. Doesn't everyone lie at least sometimes?"
"Most people. But not my mother."
"That sounds very strange."
"Perhaps, but then every cultivator that reaches those heights is likely very strange. Anyway," Mei said, "race you up back up! Last one back has to put away the dinner dishes." With that Mei dashed off.
"Hey! You can't have a head start!"
The day ended with Lijuan tiredly putting away the last of the dishes and setting up for meditating on her new arts. Tomorrow was a new day and she wanted to start it with new arts!
A.N
Omake for the Omake throne
@yrsillar
I really enjoyed writing this piece. Please enjoy and share and critiques you have. They help me become a better writer.
