EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Their father is a common potter cultivator. They aren't a noble family, aka they get even less resource than barons.
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
did they pay admission though? well, there were some comments in the beginning that made me believe that those who make it into the sect without admission are abnormal. I think this is more or less canon. maybe the ma sisters are the exception?
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EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
yeah I remembered that scene, just wasn't sure. thanks for that.
I've said all that about screening and breeding, but it might be that the cultivator's lifespan negate the need for there to always be a successor. if that's the case with the admission of commoner nobles - that everything mostly depends upon resources, I wonder how long it'll take before an uprising and change in government. in France before the revolution there were lot's of new nobles that constantly surpassed the old ones who had nothing but pride at the time, thus slowly changing the societal values until a famine caused mostly because of decadence made the commoners revolt. in America the merchants were just becoming independent and after separating themselves from the monarchy, the lines were fading until it became less clear. in other european countries it took the world wars while in britain the monarchy just slowly lost it's power.
in here probably lots of new nobles, and I think that them and ranxian and her reforms for bettering the lives of the commoners might be a catalyst for creating a republic storywise. it could be very interesting. I call for a revolution!
in here probably lots of new nobles, and I think that them and ranxian and her reforms for bettering the lives of the commoners might be a catalyst for creating a republic storywise. it could be very interesting. I call for a revolution!
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Cecylene
Eternal Idea Engine
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Pronouns
- He/They
Just for reference in case you hadn't been following this quest for a while this is not a theoretical idea, Yrs confirmed on the Discord a couple years ago:
The only way to ensure you have high talent is to have a lot of kids, more kids is more chances for high talent. Clan building is all about getting the arts, resources, and connections necessary to capitalize on the Talent that you have and being able to quickly determine who is and isn't talented enough to warrant the cost of pushing them base Green 1. Once you have consolidated your basics for jumping on your heirs, then it becomes simply a matter of having enough Clan members to achieve an even distribution curve and then you have your core of average Talent 4's and 5's to really get the Cyan+ train going at full bore.
- Location
- The Temple of the Winds
Seems like the job of specially crafted arts with a large amount of easily identified "levels".
Having your kids spent a standardized amount of time cultivating one such art would give a good idea of the kids' natural talent at no cost aside from the minimal amount of spirit stones, and the kids' time.
Snake and Spider Part 3
When was it, Bao Qingling wondered that she had grown used to having a peer in her workshop? She listened to the swish of a gown over the sound of clinking vials and the rustle of bundles of herbs being moved. The co habitation with Li Suyin had not been comparable. There, the roles were clear. She was the master and Li Suyin the student.
The imperious serpent who had made herself at home here was not the same at all. It was her workshop, and Bai Meizhen respected that and deferred to her on these grounds. Their relationship remained frustratingly unclear however. The Bai's skill and knowledge matched hers in the field they shared, so neither was the student or assistant.
She still did not know what the Bai wanted from her, but she had given up on investigating the matter. Her aid and company was invaluable. Even if on occasion Bao Qingling had to spend time clearing her head of the useless musings born by physical reactions. The minor loss in productivity were outweighed by the aid in her work and inspiration to her cultivation. For now, she would simply take advantage of the assistance. Given recent events, it was required.
Hm, perhaps that was the source of her comfort with the situation. It was a well known phenomena that shared experience in lethal combat bred familiarity. Bao Qingling scowled as her fingers danced over the cluttered table top, snatching the next sample out of the disorganized container. She had not expected her workshop to come under serious attack. Her defenses had been lacking.
"It is unlike you to fall behind in your tasks," Bai Meizhen said.
Bao Qingling paused, but did not bristle as she would at such an accusation otherwise. "Certain familial matters have recently overtaken my time. My apologies for seeking your assistance with such menial tasks."
"I see," Bai Meizhen said over the clink of glass. "It is no bother."
There were so many tissue and fluid samples that required review. Bao Qingling had been confident in taking the load that she had, but that had been before those wretched letters had started coming.
"Betrothals," Bao Qingling bit out. She did not even bother to hide the venom that dripped from her voice. She regretted voicing such bile, it was pointless and she would only be chided for childishness. "So many suitors, all seeking to ask after my health, to express their concern. To make their offers again. As if I could not maintain my own safety."
That was not even considering the persistent pest right here in the Sect.
She felt Bai Meizhen still, and the thrumming threads of Bao Qingling's senses twisted and broke under the brief pulse of pressure that the other girl exuded.
"I was not aware that you were so sought after," Bai Meizhen said quietly, with a voice like a knife.
It was pleasing, to be understood for once. Despite herself, Bao Qingling felt a thread of satisfaction. Bai Meizhen, it seemed, shared her irritation with such nonsense. Bao Qingling closed the sample container a touch harder than was necessary, and the sound echoed dully through the workshop.
"There are always those seeking connection to the Bao, and my Father is not a particularly fecund man," Bao Qingling said bitterly. "I am his last unmarried child, and so the wolves circle, desperate for a scrap of favor from the wealthiest man in the province. It has nothing to do with me."
Of that she was quite certain. She had met few of her suitors in person, but in every instance their vapid pleasantries and clear disinterest in her work had made it difficult not to scream at them. It was saying something that Luo Zhong was among the best of them. For all of his irritating persistence, he at least respected her abilities, if not her person.
"That seems unfortunate," Bai Meizhen said stiffly. "Perhaps you should speak to your father about… quality control."
Bao Qingling frowned again, closing the latches on the sample case. One click followed after another as she activated the sixteen locks, and a pulse of heat warmed her hands as the security formation activated. Ready for shipment. Unfortunately she was not able to feel much of the satisfaction at a completed task. "It is my responsibility."
Father had granted her the control to make her own decisions in the matter. If she gave that up, or offended too many, he would take it back.
"It is merely unfortunate then," Bai Meizhen said quietly. Bao Qingling turned toward her, striding over to observe as she finished her own case.
"It is inevitable that my suitors will only be interested in my familial wealth. I lack any attractive personal qualities to a partner," Bao Qingling replied flippantly. She was perfectly comfortable with herself naturally, but she was aware that both her appearance and personality were distinctly suboptimal by standard measure. She knew because it was at least partially by design.
She could, if she was stubborn, and valuable, avoid the nonsense altogether. She had a great uncle who had never married. She had never met him, since he was both a clan Elder and only rarely emerged from the labyrinth of tunnels, gears, steam and clockwork that he made his home.
It was aspirational.
Bao Qingling leaned in as she studied Bai Meizhen's work, every sample was tested, organized and properly arranged. Through her threads, Bao Qingling felt the precise and graceful movements of her fingers, and the scent of Bai Meizhen's hair reached her nose.
It was something exotic and floral. Pleasant. Discard.
"Hmph, if one of them was like you, perhaps it would not be so bad."
The sound of her own heartbeat was loud in Bai Meizhen's ears. Bao Qingling peered over her shoulder, a step closer than was really appropriate. It was, in Bai Meizhen's opinion, a victory for her efforts to familiarize herself with the other girl. But by the Eight did it make things difficult in some ways. Bai Meizhen placed the last sample in the case, and began to arrange the packing. She had decided that she wanted more than friendship some time ago. She was even quite certain this time, that the target of her affection was at least slightly attracted to her in a physical sense.
Still, it was hard to move past the fear born, that night by the lake.
But she had promised herself that she would move forward. So, when Bao Qingling said those words, her response came to her lips almost unbidden. "It is truly a shame that I am not in position to press my suit."
There was a pause, and then a snort. Bao Qingling let out a rare bark of laughter. "You are not usually the type to jest, but even I must admit to the quality of your timing."
Bai Meizhen squared her shoulders, half turning so that she could meet the other girls half focused eyes. "I am not joking. Your intelligence and dedication to your tasks are most admirable. I would not object to courting you if I could."
Bao Qingling wry expression slowly became blank. To Bai Meizhen's distress, she saw a shift in the girls body language, closing her off. "Stop. It is not amusing anymore."
"Neither are you as unlovely as you think. Though you work hard to avoid flattering yourself, it is not truly effective," Bai Meizhen pressed on instead.
"Stop mocking me," Bao Qingling said. "Why are you doing this now?"
Bai Meizhen closed her eyes for a moment, her grip on the edge of the specimen case tightening. The wood groaned. Why was this so hard?
"Because of the attack on the Sect," Meizhen admitted quietly. Her eyes remained shut.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Bao Qingling now sounded more nonplussed than anything.
"It reminded me that we do not have all the time in the world," Bai Meizhen said. "And you gave me an opening to strike."
Bao Qingling was silent.
"I am attracted to you, you dense girl," Bai Meizhen said, opening her eyes to glare up at her. "How much more plainly must I state it?"
"I do not understand what you think you have to gain out of doing this," Bao Qingling said coolly. "I was already prepared to return the favors you have given me."
"...What are you speaking of?" Bai Meizhen asked. "Do...you believe that I was seeking some favor from you?"
Bao Qingling's blank stare was her answer.
"Bao Qingling," Bai Meizhen began, speaking slowly. "I began spending time with you in order to indulge my hobbies. I continued doing so because I enjoyed your company, and in time more."
"...I do not believe that that is your only reason," Bao Qingling scoffed, crossing her arms. She looked away, and Bai Meizhen saw discomfort in her frame.
"Will you allow me to show you then?" Bai Meizhen asked quietly.
The other girl gave her a suspicious look. "What do you intend?"
Bai Meizhen turned to face her fully. Her mouth was dry. Was she really going to be this bold again? "I propose a kiss. Do you think I could fool you with such a thing?"
Bao Qingling was off balance, visibly so. Bai Meizhen stepped forward. Bao Qingling stepped back. Even if this was not a battle, she knew that she had to press the attack.
"You can't be serious," the other girl muttered, still not looking at her. "Fine, if you wish to push this far with this, I will call your bluff."
Bai Meizhen felt a thrill, both fear and anticipation as she stepped up. It was only then that she realized a problem.
"Well?" Bao Qingling challenged, looking down at her.
"You're too tall," Meizhen muttered, looking away, she felt her cheeks burning. "You-that is. You would need to bend down."
Her voice sounded so horribly awkward that she half wished to fall into her own shadow and disappear.
"Oh," Bao Qingling said, once more off balance. "...Fine, I won't give you an excuse to back out."
Bao Qingling lowered her head. Bai Meizhen raised herself on her toes.
Their lips met.
It wasn't like the night on the lake. There was no drawing back, no fear, no perceived disgust.
She hadn't made a mistake this time.
The imperious serpent who had made herself at home here was not the same at all. It was her workshop, and Bai Meizhen respected that and deferred to her on these grounds. Their relationship remained frustratingly unclear however. The Bai's skill and knowledge matched hers in the field they shared, so neither was the student or assistant.
She still did not know what the Bai wanted from her, but she had given up on investigating the matter. Her aid and company was invaluable. Even if on occasion Bao Qingling had to spend time clearing her head of the useless musings born by physical reactions. The minor loss in productivity were outweighed by the aid in her work and inspiration to her cultivation. For now, she would simply take advantage of the assistance. Given recent events, it was required.
Hm, perhaps that was the source of her comfort with the situation. It was a well known phenomena that shared experience in lethal combat bred familiarity. Bao Qingling scowled as her fingers danced over the cluttered table top, snatching the next sample out of the disorganized container. She had not expected her workshop to come under serious attack. Her defenses had been lacking.
"It is unlike you to fall behind in your tasks," Bai Meizhen said.
Bao Qingling paused, but did not bristle as she would at such an accusation otherwise. "Certain familial matters have recently overtaken my time. My apologies for seeking your assistance with such menial tasks."
"I see," Bai Meizhen said over the clink of glass. "It is no bother."
There were so many tissue and fluid samples that required review. Bao Qingling had been confident in taking the load that she had, but that had been before those wretched letters had started coming.
"Betrothals," Bao Qingling bit out. She did not even bother to hide the venom that dripped from her voice. She regretted voicing such bile, it was pointless and she would only be chided for childishness. "So many suitors, all seeking to ask after my health, to express their concern. To make their offers again. As if I could not maintain my own safety."
That was not even considering the persistent pest right here in the Sect.
She felt Bai Meizhen still, and the thrumming threads of Bao Qingling's senses twisted and broke under the brief pulse of pressure that the other girl exuded.
"I was not aware that you were so sought after," Bai Meizhen said quietly, with a voice like a knife.
It was pleasing, to be understood for once. Despite herself, Bao Qingling felt a thread of satisfaction. Bai Meizhen, it seemed, shared her irritation with such nonsense. Bao Qingling closed the sample container a touch harder than was necessary, and the sound echoed dully through the workshop.
"There are always those seeking connection to the Bao, and my Father is not a particularly fecund man," Bao Qingling said bitterly. "I am his last unmarried child, and so the wolves circle, desperate for a scrap of favor from the wealthiest man in the province. It has nothing to do with me."
Of that she was quite certain. She had met few of her suitors in person, but in every instance their vapid pleasantries and clear disinterest in her work had made it difficult not to scream at them. It was saying something that Luo Zhong was among the best of them. For all of his irritating persistence, he at least respected her abilities, if not her person.
"That seems unfortunate," Bai Meizhen said stiffly. "Perhaps you should speak to your father about… quality control."
Bao Qingling frowned again, closing the latches on the sample case. One click followed after another as she activated the sixteen locks, and a pulse of heat warmed her hands as the security formation activated. Ready for shipment. Unfortunately she was not able to feel much of the satisfaction at a completed task. "It is my responsibility."
Father had granted her the control to make her own decisions in the matter. If she gave that up, or offended too many, he would take it back.
"It is merely unfortunate then," Bai Meizhen said quietly. Bao Qingling turned toward her, striding over to observe as she finished her own case.
"It is inevitable that my suitors will only be interested in my familial wealth. I lack any attractive personal qualities to a partner," Bao Qingling replied flippantly. She was perfectly comfortable with herself naturally, but she was aware that both her appearance and personality were distinctly suboptimal by standard measure. She knew because it was at least partially by design.
She could, if she was stubborn, and valuable, avoid the nonsense altogether. She had a great uncle who had never married. She had never met him, since he was both a clan Elder and only rarely emerged from the labyrinth of tunnels, gears, steam and clockwork that he made his home.
It was aspirational.
Bao Qingling leaned in as she studied Bai Meizhen's work, every sample was tested, organized and properly arranged. Through her threads, Bao Qingling felt the precise and graceful movements of her fingers, and the scent of Bai Meizhen's hair reached her nose.
It was something exotic and floral. Pleasant. Discard.
"Hmph, if one of them was like you, perhaps it would not be so bad."
***
The sound of her own heartbeat was loud in Bai Meizhen's ears. Bao Qingling peered over her shoulder, a step closer than was really appropriate. It was, in Bai Meizhen's opinion, a victory for her efforts to familiarize herself with the other girl. But by the Eight did it make things difficult in some ways. Bai Meizhen placed the last sample in the case, and began to arrange the packing. She had decided that she wanted more than friendship some time ago. She was even quite certain this time, that the target of her affection was at least slightly attracted to her in a physical sense.
Still, it was hard to move past the fear born, that night by the lake.
But she had promised herself that she would move forward. So, when Bao Qingling said those words, her response came to her lips almost unbidden. "It is truly a shame that I am not in position to press my suit."
There was a pause, and then a snort. Bao Qingling let out a rare bark of laughter. "You are not usually the type to jest, but even I must admit to the quality of your timing."
Bai Meizhen squared her shoulders, half turning so that she could meet the other girls half focused eyes. "I am not joking. Your intelligence and dedication to your tasks are most admirable. I would not object to courting you if I could."
Bao Qingling wry expression slowly became blank. To Bai Meizhen's distress, she saw a shift in the girls body language, closing her off. "Stop. It is not amusing anymore."
"Neither are you as unlovely as you think. Though you work hard to avoid flattering yourself, it is not truly effective," Bai Meizhen pressed on instead.
"Stop mocking me," Bao Qingling said. "Why are you doing this now?"
Bai Meizhen closed her eyes for a moment, her grip on the edge of the specimen case tightening. The wood groaned. Why was this so hard?
"Because of the attack on the Sect," Meizhen admitted quietly. Her eyes remained shut.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Bao Qingling now sounded more nonplussed than anything.
"It reminded me that we do not have all the time in the world," Bai Meizhen said. "And you gave me an opening to strike."
Bao Qingling was silent.
"I am attracted to you, you dense girl," Bai Meizhen said, opening her eyes to glare up at her. "How much more plainly must I state it?"
"I do not understand what you think you have to gain out of doing this," Bao Qingling said coolly. "I was already prepared to return the favors you have given me."
"...What are you speaking of?" Bai Meizhen asked. "Do...you believe that I was seeking some favor from you?"
Bao Qingling's blank stare was her answer.
"Bao Qingling," Bai Meizhen began, speaking slowly. "I began spending time with you in order to indulge my hobbies. I continued doing so because I enjoyed your company, and in time more."
"...I do not believe that that is your only reason," Bao Qingling scoffed, crossing her arms. She looked away, and Bai Meizhen saw discomfort in her frame.
"Will you allow me to show you then?" Bai Meizhen asked quietly.
The other girl gave her a suspicious look. "What do you intend?"
Bai Meizhen turned to face her fully. Her mouth was dry. Was she really going to be this bold again? "I propose a kiss. Do you think I could fool you with such a thing?"
Bao Qingling was off balance, visibly so. Bai Meizhen stepped forward. Bao Qingling stepped back. Even if this was not a battle, she knew that she had to press the attack.
"You can't be serious," the other girl muttered, still not looking at her. "Fine, if you wish to push this far with this, I will call your bluff."
Bai Meizhen felt a thrill, both fear and anticipation as she stepped up. It was only then that she realized a problem.
"Well?" Bao Qingling challenged, looking down at her.
"You're too tall," Meizhen muttered, looking away, she felt her cheeks burning. "You-that is. You would need to bend down."
Her voice sounded so horribly awkward that she half wished to fall into her own shadow and disappear.
"Oh," Bao Qingling said, once more off balance. "...Fine, I won't give you an excuse to back out."
Bao Qingling lowered her head. Bai Meizhen raised herself on her toes.
Their lips met.
It wasn't like the night on the lake. There was no drawing back, no fear, no perceived disgust.
She hadn't made a mistake this time.
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- Location
- Charlton, NY
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Is this sentence backwards?
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
this is such a same-sex romance cliche and i don't give a shit, i am here for it
HELP THIS IS TOO CUTE I AM DEAD
I actually gotta applaud Meizhen for what I think is the opposite of indiscretion; she handled that encounter pretty gracefully, I think.
Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
These cute fucking dorks.
I love them so much.
I love them so much.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Oh noooo finding love (that might be true) during a war? I can see how this ends....
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- Location
- UK
Indiscrete youthfulness returns!
I love our bestie.
I don't think we've ever seen her be this much of a dork lol.
I have an image Qingling's giant spider spirit is just sitting on the ceiling watching all this with a side of popcorn.
Such a wonderful side story!
I love our bestie.
I don't think we've ever seen her be this much of a dork lol.
I have an image Qingling's giant spider spirit is just sitting on the ceiling watching all this with a side of popcorn.
Such a wonderful side story!
Nah not popcorn, Fried breaded rabbits, she even made enough to share with Cui.
GET IT GIRL