Turn 12: Arc 3-3
"Sir Wang, what is troubling you so?" Ling Qi asked, leaving Nie Ai behind as she approached her fellow event organizer. In the end holding back was silly, she didn't gain anything by leaving him out of the loop.
"Hm, Oh Miss Ling, thank you for coming quickly," Wang Chao said, looking up and blinking owlishly. He must have been deep in thought indeed. "I've just received some requests to attend that I want your input on is all."
Ling Qi cocked her head to the side curiously. "Really?"
"Yes, yes, I know we agreed that we could be spare about invitations," Wang Chao agreed. "But it isn't just some run of the mill disciples asking here."
"Who is it then?" Ling Qi asked, feeling the rumbling of the earth in her ears, she extended her own qi, cloaking their words in figments of inane small talk.
"It's that Luo," Wang Chao grunted. "It's true that we've got a handsome of his folk here, but I doubt its just benign interest. I can't fathom what he's up too, but I know that man is a plotter!"
Ling Qi pursed her lips, Luo Zhong had not left her with the best of impressions, though she didn't think him malicious. "I'm a little unsure, it is possible that it's a good will exercise. If he just wanted to spy for some reason it would be easy enough to ask one of his people who already attend," she pointed out.
"Well of course, and it's not as if we're up to any skullduggery here, just good honest exercise," Wang Chao grumbled. "Luo Zhong isn't the type for that sort of thing though."
"Perhaps not," Ling Qi admitted. "It's more likely that it has something to do with me."
He gave her an uncomprehending look.
"I spend most of my public time here, it's the most reasonable place to contact me without it seeming like untoward stalking," Ling Qi pointed out. "My recent business was quite high profile."
"Oh, right, your trip," Wang Chao muttered. He seemed dissatisfied with her answer and Ling Qi had to hold back a sigh.
"Naturally, he wouldn't want you to get too much advantage from our friendship," Ling Qi said.
He blinked and his brewing frown cleared up, becoming a grin. "Aha, of course! Yes, that cunning hound. Trying to use me to get back to you after he was too boorish to keep your company. Why I have half a mind to refuse him now!"
"Is it wrong that I think this guy is weirdly cute?" Sixiang mused. "But I also feel kinda sorry for him."
Ling Qi didn't acknowledge Sixiang's musing. "Well I don't think a delay in answering is unreasonable. You don't want to appear too high handed either."
"Mm, you're right," Wang Chao said, rubbing his chin, he squinted up at her. "Are you comfortable with his coming? If he wants to question you, he could make himself a nuisance."
And there Ling Qi supposed was the reason that she did not mind Wang Chao so much, despite his flaws. He did have something of a good heart. "I can handle myself," she said lightly.
"Right, right, no offense meant Miss Ling," he said. "Well, that does bring up the second request. Lady Bai asked if it would be alright for her to attend from time to time. Why did she not just ask you?"
"At a guess, I'd say she was just trying to be proper. You are the higher ranking one here, even if I am her friend," Ling Qi said. She was a little mystified that Meizhen would bother, but her friend was becoming more outgoing.
"Of course, whatever you can say about the Bai, they abide by propriety in their way," Wang Chao said furrowing his brow. "Do you… think it is safe? The Bai are not known to be friendly, even in the sparring ring."
Ling Qi had to close her eyes, although it annoyed her to hear her friend stereotyped, she had to admit that there was a kernel of truth in that. "I can speak with her. Bai Meizhen has spent enough time in the Emerald Seas to learn our etiquette. She is my friend, so I'm sure she'll be most interested in testing my skills."
Wang Chao nodded in understand. "You are a brave one Miss Ling."
"You are too kind," Ling Qi said dismissively. "Was that all that troubled you?"
"Yes, and I'm glad you helped me clear my mind," Wang Chao chuffed. "How about we attend the pavilion, get a drink and then we can have a little spar. I have a new technique I perfected against the barbarians."
"Certainly," Ling Qi said politely. Although, sir Wang have I had the chance to tell you about my trip?"
"No, I don't think you have," Wang Chao said amiably as they began to head to the pavilion. "Something about descending the frozen pit beyond the Wall?"
"It was a little more eventful than that," Ling Qi chuckled, letting their words spill out into public once more. "The exciting part begins in an odd little valley deep in the middle of the Wall…"
By the time she was done telling the story, she had attracted quite a little gaggle of listeners over by the refreshment table. It was… kind of fulfilling, feeling the admiration of the crowd for her storytelling.
"Nothing like an appreciative audience to make you feel good," Sixiang chuckled.
"That's certainly an adventure!" Wang Chao said as she finished, and the crowd broke up into gossiping cliques. "Pah, to think there was one of those traitors out there lurking about. Even if he was a corpse it's good that you took care of it!"
Ling Qi laughed. "Well that was hardly the most important part."
"Mm, yes, these White Sky… You are certain they are what they claim? It's not unknown for tribes to puff themselves up," Wang Chao said, crossing his arms.
"There were too many signs of more advanced living," Ling Qi said. "Even if they exaggerate a little, they're definitely not just another Cloud tribe."
"Fair enough," Wang Chao said. "You do hear some things from the north now and then, so it isn't impossible. Be careful though Miss Ling. You can't let yourself be tricked by foreigners."
"Lady Cai and I will be most careful," Ling Qi said. "Actually, I had been meaning to ask you. Do you think you could put me into contact with those in the Wang clan that might be able to help with the project? The Duchess is giving my lady some advisors, but you know how her grace is."
Wang looked thoughtful resting his chin in his hand. "Hm, hm her Grace does prefer self sufficient. If you intend to settle the mountains, then the Wang would be a good ally to have! Do you know where your land would be?"
"Close to the meeting point to be built in the valley no doubt," Ling Qi said. "If I had to guess…"
"You'll be given some of the land the Sect has taken," Wang Chao said. "Their charter means they cannot expand without the permission of the Empress and the Duchess, so the conquered lands go to the Cai. It seems we will be neighbors Miss Ling!"
Ling Qi blinked as he pre-empted her. It seemed Wang Chao was familiar with thew legalities. Cai Renxiang had determined the same thing. The new lands were Cai by default, and had no one to administrate them. Putting them in the region was the obvious solution.
"Perhaps, Sir Wang, though it would be more accurate to say Lady Cai will be your neighbor. But, my question…"
"OH right," he said pounding a fist into his palm. "I don't mind writing a letter to my father and siblings at all. Some might think you a little too radical, but you've given me some confidence in Lady Cai. I will definitely convey that to my family!"
"Thank you very much, Sir Wang. I appreciate it a great deal," Ling Qi said.
"Although, Miss Ling," he said thoughtfully.
"Yes?" she asked curiously.
"Do you think you might speak with Lady Cai on my behalf? Praise from the heiress for my progress would go far toward letting me get Fathers attention," Wang Chao said.
"I think that can be arranged. Lady Cai trusts my judgement," Ling Qi said politely. "So, why don't you tell me of your own feats while we head out to the sparring yard?"
Wang Chao grinned broadly as they made their way out of the pavilion. "Ha! Well, I was at the head of the third roadworks company, overseeing the construction of a bridge when the nomads came for us…"
Wang Chao Bond increases to 2
TBC on Tuesday
"Hm, Oh Miss Ling, thank you for coming quickly," Wang Chao said, looking up and blinking owlishly. He must have been deep in thought indeed. "I've just received some requests to attend that I want your input on is all."
Ling Qi cocked her head to the side curiously. "Really?"
"Yes, yes, I know we agreed that we could be spare about invitations," Wang Chao agreed. "But it isn't just some run of the mill disciples asking here."
"Who is it then?" Ling Qi asked, feeling the rumbling of the earth in her ears, she extended her own qi, cloaking their words in figments of inane small talk.
"It's that Luo," Wang Chao grunted. "It's true that we've got a handsome of his folk here, but I doubt its just benign interest. I can't fathom what he's up too, but I know that man is a plotter!"
Ling Qi pursed her lips, Luo Zhong had not left her with the best of impressions, though she didn't think him malicious. "I'm a little unsure, it is possible that it's a good will exercise. If he just wanted to spy for some reason it would be easy enough to ask one of his people who already attend," she pointed out.
"Well of course, and it's not as if we're up to any skullduggery here, just good honest exercise," Wang Chao grumbled. "Luo Zhong isn't the type for that sort of thing though."
"Perhaps not," Ling Qi admitted. "It's more likely that it has something to do with me."
He gave her an uncomprehending look.
"I spend most of my public time here, it's the most reasonable place to contact me without it seeming like untoward stalking," Ling Qi pointed out. "My recent business was quite high profile."
"Oh, right, your trip," Wang Chao muttered. He seemed dissatisfied with her answer and Ling Qi had to hold back a sigh.
"Naturally, he wouldn't want you to get too much advantage from our friendship," Ling Qi said.
He blinked and his brewing frown cleared up, becoming a grin. "Aha, of course! Yes, that cunning hound. Trying to use me to get back to you after he was too boorish to keep your company. Why I have half a mind to refuse him now!"
"Is it wrong that I think this guy is weirdly cute?" Sixiang mused. "But I also feel kinda sorry for him."
Ling Qi didn't acknowledge Sixiang's musing. "Well I don't think a delay in answering is unreasonable. You don't want to appear too high handed either."
"Mm, you're right," Wang Chao said, rubbing his chin, he squinted up at her. "Are you comfortable with his coming? If he wants to question you, he could make himself a nuisance."
And there Ling Qi supposed was the reason that she did not mind Wang Chao so much, despite his flaws. He did have something of a good heart. "I can handle myself," she said lightly.
"Right, right, no offense meant Miss Ling," he said. "Well, that does bring up the second request. Lady Bai asked if it would be alright for her to attend from time to time. Why did she not just ask you?"
"At a guess, I'd say she was just trying to be proper. You are the higher ranking one here, even if I am her friend," Ling Qi said. She was a little mystified that Meizhen would bother, but her friend was becoming more outgoing.
"Of course, whatever you can say about the Bai, they abide by propriety in their way," Wang Chao said furrowing his brow. "Do you… think it is safe? The Bai are not known to be friendly, even in the sparring ring."
Ling Qi had to close her eyes, although it annoyed her to hear her friend stereotyped, she had to admit that there was a kernel of truth in that. "I can speak with her. Bai Meizhen has spent enough time in the Emerald Seas to learn our etiquette. She is my friend, so I'm sure she'll be most interested in testing my skills."
Wang Chao nodded in understand. "You are a brave one Miss Ling."
"You are too kind," Ling Qi said dismissively. "Was that all that troubled you?"
"Yes, and I'm glad you helped me clear my mind," Wang Chao chuffed. "How about we attend the pavilion, get a drink and then we can have a little spar. I have a new technique I perfected against the barbarians."
"Certainly," Ling Qi said politely. Although, sir Wang have I had the chance to tell you about my trip?"
"No, I don't think you have," Wang Chao said amiably as they began to head to the pavilion. "Something about descending the frozen pit beyond the Wall?"
"It was a little more eventful than that," Ling Qi chuckled, letting their words spill out into public once more. "The exciting part begins in an odd little valley deep in the middle of the Wall…"
By the time she was done telling the story, she had attracted quite a little gaggle of listeners over by the refreshment table. It was… kind of fulfilling, feeling the admiration of the crowd for her storytelling.
"Nothing like an appreciative audience to make you feel good," Sixiang chuckled.
"That's certainly an adventure!" Wang Chao said as she finished, and the crowd broke up into gossiping cliques. "Pah, to think there was one of those traitors out there lurking about. Even if he was a corpse it's good that you took care of it!"
Ling Qi laughed. "Well that was hardly the most important part."
"Mm, yes, these White Sky… You are certain they are what they claim? It's not unknown for tribes to puff themselves up," Wang Chao said, crossing his arms.
"There were too many signs of more advanced living," Ling Qi said. "Even if they exaggerate a little, they're definitely not just another Cloud tribe."
"Fair enough," Wang Chao said. "You do hear some things from the north now and then, so it isn't impossible. Be careful though Miss Ling. You can't let yourself be tricked by foreigners."
"Lady Cai and I will be most careful," Ling Qi said. "Actually, I had been meaning to ask you. Do you think you could put me into contact with those in the Wang clan that might be able to help with the project? The Duchess is giving my lady some advisors, but you know how her grace is."
Wang looked thoughtful resting his chin in his hand. "Hm, hm her Grace does prefer self sufficient. If you intend to settle the mountains, then the Wang would be a good ally to have! Do you know where your land would be?"
"Close to the meeting point to be built in the valley no doubt," Ling Qi said. "If I had to guess…"
"You'll be given some of the land the Sect has taken," Wang Chao said. "Their charter means they cannot expand without the permission of the Empress and the Duchess, so the conquered lands go to the Cai. It seems we will be neighbors Miss Ling!"
Ling Qi blinked as he pre-empted her. It seemed Wang Chao was familiar with thew legalities. Cai Renxiang had determined the same thing. The new lands were Cai by default, and had no one to administrate them. Putting them in the region was the obvious solution.
"Perhaps, Sir Wang, though it would be more accurate to say Lady Cai will be your neighbor. But, my question…"
"OH right," he said pounding a fist into his palm. "I don't mind writing a letter to my father and siblings at all. Some might think you a little too radical, but you've given me some confidence in Lady Cai. I will definitely convey that to my family!"
"Thank you very much, Sir Wang. I appreciate it a great deal," Ling Qi said.
"Although, Miss Ling," he said thoughtfully.
"Yes?" she asked curiously.
"Do you think you might speak with Lady Cai on my behalf? Praise from the heiress for my progress would go far toward letting me get Fathers attention," Wang Chao said.
"I think that can be arranged. Lady Cai trusts my judgement," Ling Qi said politely. "So, why don't you tell me of your own feats while we head out to the sparring yard?"
Wang Chao grinned broadly as they made their way out of the pavilion. "Ha! Well, I was at the head of the third roadworks company, overseeing the construction of a bridge when the nomads came for us…"
Wang Chao Bond increases to 2
TBC on Tuesday
