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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.
*awkward laughter*
GAN CONFIRMED! GAN CONFIRMED!
Lol get fucked Sun
"You'll need his support for the moral high ground when you turn on me"
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Future Days: A strange meeting
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
Future Days: A Strange Meeting
With a crash Ji Tang hit the ground hard enough to drive the breath out of him. The start of the spar had just been called and already he was on the ground. Typical. A hand reached down towards him and while he tried to pull air into his lungs Ji Tang grabbed it.
"Easy there." Gan Jian said in his normal booming voice. "Don't panic, just relax. Let the air come to you."
It was harder than it sounded, Ji Tang thought, but he was well used to such situations by now. "How long did I last?" He said as his breath came back to him.
"About two seconds." Gan Jian replied, voice as booming as always.
With a groan Ji Tang let go of Gan Jian's hand and fell back to the ground. "Just two seconds." He said.
"Better than last time." Gan Jian said, his bulk crashing down next to him. "You are improving."
"Improving." Ji Tang said snorting.
"Last time it was one second." Gan Jian said. "If you keep doubling your rate of improvement with each spar you'll soon outstrip me!"
Ji Tang sighed at the poor attempt of humor. He knew matching Gan Jian was impossible. If there was a seed of combat inside him then Gan Jian was already an oak tree. "What am I even doing?" He said as he stared up at the crisp blue sky.
"Ji Tang," Gan Jian said, "I know you will never be a combat expert, but each second you last is another second help can come."
"That's not what I am thinking about." Ji Tang said.
"If it's about your cultivation then you shouldn't worry either." Gan Jian said. "You've already reached the peak of red and gold. The truce isn't even up yet. Your progress has been remarkable."
"That's kind of you to say." Ji Tang said as he thought back to the titans of their year, those already in yellow and silver. Those like Gan Jian. Still it was nice to hear the words, however untrue they might be.
"You usually leave your melancholy until after physical training." Gan Jian said. "What weighs down your soul today?"
Turning towards Gan Jian, Ji Tang could see the serious face setting like stone upon the other boy. He knew that look, and knew he wasn't getting away from this conversation.
"Thoughts of home." Ji Tang admitted as he turned back to the sky. "You know I was supposed to become a clerk before my talent showed itself."
"You've mentioned it." Gan Jian said.
"I was so happy to learn of my talent. So happy to have a choice. So happy to be different from my father. But even though I am happy to walk a different path than my father, I still want him to be proud, you know?"
Gan Jian simply hummed in agreement.
"My father always said, ever since I was a kid, that 'violence is the choice of weak men'." Ji Tang twisted around to look at Gan Jian who was openly frowning now. "I know that isn't true." Ji Tang said as he raised a placating hand. "But it was something my father said often." He turned back to the sky. "Even when I was beaten, my lunch was stolen, my books ruined. I would cry to him, beg him to let me learn how to fight back. Each time he would shake his head and forbid me from striking back." Ji Tang raised his hand and swept across the spars still happening. "Now each time I think about how to swing my fist, or lash out with my leg, I see his disappointed face." He sat up and buried his face in his arms, uncaring who else saw. "How can I be a cultivator, and be someone that my father would approve of?"
"An intense question." Gan Jian said as he stood up and dusted off his pants. "There are many paths a cultivator can take. I've seen how formations sing to you, a future is there for you, but if you are concerned about physical combat, I believe I can help."
"Oh?" Ji Tang said as he rose too.
"Meet me after class, I would like to introduce you to someone."
There were two more spars in the class, each one Ji Tang lost, but just as promised Gan Jian was waiting for him at the edge of the training grounds.
"Who are we going to meet?" Ji Tang said.
"A friend of mine." Gan Jian said as he strode towards the mountain. "I've been meaning to introduce you two for a while, but I've never had an excuse for you to meet her."
"Her?" Ji Tang said, suddenly very aware of how dirty and sweaty he was. "Should we clean up first? Perhaps…"
"Don't worry about it!" Gan Jian said. "You'll clean up nicely after walking through the waterfall."
"Waterfall?"
The waterfall, contrary to Gan Jian's stories, was modest in all aspects. The slippery rocks leading up to the cave would have proven challenging months ago, but with a gold body Ji Tang found no issues in scrambling across them to the cave. And what a cave it was.
Shelves lined the edges of the cave held up with iron. On those shelves were vases and other pieces of pottery. Each was dyed deep with rich colors. Blues from the depths of the sky, whites of the first snow, reds of crimson blood. Just looking at all the colors made Ji Tang's head spin, but what made it spin even more was the girl sitting in the center of the cave.
Sitting on a small stool, the girl was hunched over a potter's wheel made of dark iron. Fingers caked in clay were coaxing a block of clay into the correct shape and flickering blue lights danced along her arms. Her face was obscured by her black hair as it fell down to and past her shoulders.
"Snow Fox!" Gan Jian said, voice booming through the small cave. The answer back was a dagger of ice whipping past, drawing blood from his ear.
"Use your indoor voice when I am working, please." The girl said, not even looking up from her work. "That said, how can I help you?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." Gan Jian said, his voice much more controlled. "I have a friend I think you could help. Ling Jaromila please meet Ji Tang. Ji Tang please meet Ling Jaromila."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ling… Jarmia." Ji Tang said, trying his best to say the strange name properly, but even as it came out he flushed with the realization that he mangled it.
"Oh?" Ling Jaromila said. "Not a bad attempt for a first try." She stood up, the potter's wheel behind her slowing down. "It is a pleasure to meet you too, Ji Tang. You may call me Ling Jing if it is easier for you."
Ji Tang nodded and his expression firmed. "If you will allow me, I would like to keep trying, Ling Jaromia."
Ling Jaromila hummed with what was perhaps approval. "Closer." She said. "Now what is the problem I can help with?"
Gan Jian nodded encouragingly at Ji Tang and gestured for him to speak. He swallowed, and with his heart hammering explained what he had told Gan Jian.
"Something useful for physical confrontations that uses minimal violence? That sounds right up Koliada's alley." Ling Jaromila said. She sighed, turning back to Gan Jian. "You know that communication outside the sect is restricted."
"Of course." Gan Jian said. "I would never ask you to break the sect's rules."
Ling Jaromila sighed again. Then she turned back to Ji Tang. "You have a handsome enough face, I suppose. One moment." She curled her hand in a fist, like she was going to knock on someone's door, then rapped her own head. There was a grimace and then she shivered. "It'll be about a week before a manual and some instructions will be available."
"Ah.." Ji Tang said. "This one thanks.."
Waving him off Ling Jaromila turned back to her potter's wheel. "Yah, yah. Don't worry about it. You're not the one that owes me a favor. But now that you know where I am, don't be a stranger. If you need help or advice drop by. Or even just to talk. The only guest I've had so far is a fool," She shot Gan Jian a withering look, "who leaves much to be desired as a guest."
"The fair lady wounds me!" Gan Jian said, voice back to his normal bellow. "My heart bleeds as your words flay my soul!" He leaned dramatically against the side of the cave wall, just in time to avoid another thrown dagger.
"Get out." Ling Jaromila said as another dagger appeared in her hands.
Gan Jian laughed and dragged Ji Tang with him as he jumped out of the cave and into the river below.
A.N
Omake for @yrsillar
With a crash Ji Tang hit the ground hard enough to drive the breath out of him. The start of the spar had just been called and already he was on the ground. Typical. A hand reached down towards him and while he tried to pull air into his lungs Ji Tang grabbed it.
"Easy there." Gan Jian said in his normal booming voice. "Don't panic, just relax. Let the air come to you."
It was harder than it sounded, Ji Tang thought, but he was well used to such situations by now. "How long did I last?" He said as his breath came back to him.
"About two seconds." Gan Jian replied, voice as booming as always.
With a groan Ji Tang let go of Gan Jian's hand and fell back to the ground. "Just two seconds." He said.
"Better than last time." Gan Jian said, his bulk crashing down next to him. "You are improving."
"Improving." Ji Tang said snorting.
"Last time it was one second." Gan Jian said. "If you keep doubling your rate of improvement with each spar you'll soon outstrip me!"
Ji Tang sighed at the poor attempt of humor. He knew matching Gan Jian was impossible. If there was a seed of combat inside him then Gan Jian was already an oak tree. "What am I even doing?" He said as he stared up at the crisp blue sky.
"Ji Tang," Gan Jian said, "I know you will never be a combat expert, but each second you last is another second help can come."
"That's not what I am thinking about." Ji Tang said.
"If it's about your cultivation then you shouldn't worry either." Gan Jian said. "You've already reached the peak of red and gold. The truce isn't even up yet. Your progress has been remarkable."
"That's kind of you to say." Ji Tang said as he thought back to the titans of their year, those already in yellow and silver. Those like Gan Jian. Still it was nice to hear the words, however untrue they might be.
"You usually leave your melancholy until after physical training." Gan Jian said. "What weighs down your soul today?"
Turning towards Gan Jian, Ji Tang could see the serious face setting like stone upon the other boy. He knew that look, and knew he wasn't getting away from this conversation.
"Thoughts of home." Ji Tang admitted as he turned back to the sky. "You know I was supposed to become a clerk before my talent showed itself."
"You've mentioned it." Gan Jian said.
"I was so happy to learn of my talent. So happy to have a choice. So happy to be different from my father. But even though I am happy to walk a different path than my father, I still want him to be proud, you know?"
Gan Jian simply hummed in agreement.
"My father always said, ever since I was a kid, that 'violence is the choice of weak men'." Ji Tang twisted around to look at Gan Jian who was openly frowning now. "I know that isn't true." Ji Tang said as he raised a placating hand. "But it was something my father said often." He turned back to the sky. "Even when I was beaten, my lunch was stolen, my books ruined. I would cry to him, beg him to let me learn how to fight back. Each time he would shake his head and forbid me from striking back." Ji Tang raised his hand and swept across the spars still happening. "Now each time I think about how to swing my fist, or lash out with my leg, I see his disappointed face." He sat up and buried his face in his arms, uncaring who else saw. "How can I be a cultivator, and be someone that my father would approve of?"
"An intense question." Gan Jian said as he stood up and dusted off his pants. "There are many paths a cultivator can take. I've seen how formations sing to you, a future is there for you, but if you are concerned about physical combat, I believe I can help."
"Oh?" Ji Tang said as he rose too.
"Meet me after class, I would like to introduce you to someone."
There were two more spars in the class, each one Ji Tang lost, but just as promised Gan Jian was waiting for him at the edge of the training grounds.
"Who are we going to meet?" Ji Tang said.
"A friend of mine." Gan Jian said as he strode towards the mountain. "I've been meaning to introduce you two for a while, but I've never had an excuse for you to meet her."
"Her?" Ji Tang said, suddenly very aware of how dirty and sweaty he was. "Should we clean up first? Perhaps…"
"Don't worry about it!" Gan Jian said. "You'll clean up nicely after walking through the waterfall."
"Waterfall?"
The waterfall, contrary to Gan Jian's stories, was modest in all aspects. The slippery rocks leading up to the cave would have proven challenging months ago, but with a gold body Ji Tang found no issues in scrambling across them to the cave. And what a cave it was.
Shelves lined the edges of the cave held up with iron. On those shelves were vases and other pieces of pottery. Each was dyed deep with rich colors. Blues from the depths of the sky, whites of the first snow, reds of crimson blood. Just looking at all the colors made Ji Tang's head spin, but what made it spin even more was the girl sitting in the center of the cave.
Sitting on a small stool, the girl was hunched over a potter's wheel made of dark iron. Fingers caked in clay were coaxing a block of clay into the correct shape and flickering blue lights danced along her arms. Her face was obscured by her black hair as it fell down to and past her shoulders.
"Snow Fox!" Gan Jian said, voice booming through the small cave. The answer back was a dagger of ice whipping past, drawing blood from his ear.
"Use your indoor voice when I am working, please." The girl said, not even looking up from her work. "That said, how can I help you?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." Gan Jian said, his voice much more controlled. "I have a friend I think you could help. Ling Jaromila please meet Ji Tang. Ji Tang please meet Ling Jaromila."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ling… Jarmia." Ji Tang said, trying his best to say the strange name properly, but even as it came out he flushed with the realization that he mangled it.
"Oh?" Ling Jaromila said. "Not a bad attempt for a first try." She stood up, the potter's wheel behind her slowing down. "It is a pleasure to meet you too, Ji Tang. You may call me Ling Jing if it is easier for you."
Ji Tang nodded and his expression firmed. "If you will allow me, I would like to keep trying, Ling Jaromia."
Ling Jaromila hummed with what was perhaps approval. "Closer." She said. "Now what is the problem I can help with?"
Gan Jian nodded encouragingly at Ji Tang and gestured for him to speak. He swallowed, and with his heart hammering explained what he had told Gan Jian.
"Something useful for physical confrontations that uses minimal violence? That sounds right up Koliada's alley." Ling Jaromila said. She sighed, turning back to Gan Jian. "You know that communication outside the sect is restricted."
"Of course." Gan Jian said. "I would never ask you to break the sect's rules."
Ling Jaromila sighed again. Then she turned back to Ji Tang. "You have a handsome enough face, I suppose. One moment." She curled her hand in a fist, like she was going to knock on someone's door, then rapped her own head. There was a grimace and then she shivered. "It'll be about a week before a manual and some instructions will be available."
"Ah.." Ji Tang said. "This one thanks.."
Waving him off Ling Jaromila turned back to her potter's wheel. "Yah, yah. Don't worry about it. You're not the one that owes me a favor. But now that you know where I am, don't be a stranger. If you need help or advice drop by. Or even just to talk. The only guest I've had so far is a fool," She shot Gan Jian a withering look, "who leaves much to be desired as a guest."
"The fair lady wounds me!" Gan Jian said, voice back to his normal bellow. "My heart bleeds as your words flay my soul!" He leaned dramatically against the side of the cave wall, just in time to avoid another thrown dagger.
"Get out." Ling Jaromila said as another dagger appeared in her hands.
Gan Jian laughed and dragged Ji Tang with him as he jumped out of the cave and into the river below.
A.N
Omake for @yrsillar
NANI? STANDO!
- Location
- Space between realms
- Pronouns
- He
LEZ GO GAN GAN GANGLI
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
As soon as he declared this I knew GG was going to pull a turnaround on him. The fact that he'd taken Gan's behavior at face value and dismissed him as a fool, when we know he's more thoughtful and self-aware than that, meant he wasn't keeping an eye out for any secret weapons, which are usually to be expected in these matches. He fell into the big guy's trap as soon as he revealed himself.
- Location
- the internet
Makes me wonder how Gan will stack up to LQ now. I know he's still a stage behind her but if they dulled without spirits, it could be pretty close... 🤔
These damn light cultivators! That was amazing from Gan. The group combos will be epic.
If they duelled without spirits, Gan would bite the dust, since he doesn't have dispels, and LQ will hit and run until the stars fade.
TimEd
Meteor maker
I doubt Gan Guanli has no dispels, but we just spec'ed LQ so that even if he does it would still be worthless unless he's Renxiang levels of dispels.
I wonder if our arts could even move him if he's got time to ramp up? The spectral eagle might have difficulty pulling him at all, while I think the Glacier would have a better chance of shoving him back a step or two?
I wonder if our arts could even move him if he's got time to ramp up? The spectral eagle might have difficulty pulling him at all, while I think the Glacier would have a better chance of shoving him back a step or two?
- Location
- The Space Between
So Lu Feng is actually an archetype that has hard countered Gan Guangli's consistently throughout the years. GG has consistently been playing a rush-down game with a whole slew of support options as well, trying to intervene and tie-up opponents while making sure his allies survive long enough for him to beat down the threats they can't handle. In a 1v1, Lu Feng has consistently tied up GG with his spacing build and completely shut out GG's ability to fight.
On the battlefield GG has beaten Lu Feng by playing better with others, but Lu Feng still had a good matchup so long as GG didn't have minions or other sorts of support.
This GG was willing to be still, to support his allies proactively and be prepared to intervene when an opening presented itself.
This GG was a heavy punish grappler that combo'd Lu Feng from near 100 to 0 off of one grab.
This GG is incredibly powerful as an out-front and in-the-open commander.
Lu Feng looked childish here.
GG used seemingly mundane words to taunt him into a loss. He explained the virtues of his Way, and plowed through your counterpoint of "lol but I'm a winner and you aren't" by saying "You fool! Being Virtuous is how I define winning! Thus, I'm already a winner" and then combo'd him to oblivion.
Sun Shao saw Liling lose and pushed forward the timetable he'd get married and she'd become "adopted"
What will the leader of the Lu say to this double loss hmm? Can't blame your teammates or the enemy's teammates for that performance, you just got outplayed. Good luck Lu Feng. Can't imagine strangler figs are particularly merciful or empathetic things
Sun can't get a single W *where it matters*.
Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
That's him! That's our Boi!
The Muscle Man does it again!
The Muscle Man does it again!
- Location
- Colorado
Lu Feng got knocked out in the preliminaries the first time, Sun Liling had to actually exert herself a bit to beat us, she lost to her clan's old rivals; and then finally Lu Feng, even with an entire extra year to prepare, went down to his first peer level opponent.
That counts as zero wins in every way that matters. Which I suppose means I agree with you? This got away from me a little.
- Location
- Finland
Beyond "getting trounced" or "morals", Lu Fengs argument has another problem to it.
"Victory excuses anything" might work, for a while, in a leader (Hui did manage to stick around for a bit), but Lu Feng is not a leader, and is not going to be anytime soon, except in a very small scale, and he needs to worry about dozens of ally peers who won't, can't, trust him and are therefore unlikely to aid him unless they are forced to.
And he also needs to worry about superriors who are unlikely to consider him trustworthy, and are probably less likely to aid him become more powerful, and might even pro actively get rid of him before he becomes too powerful to be a threat.
"Victory excuses anything" might work, for a while, in a leader (Hui did manage to stick around for a bit), but Lu Feng is not a leader, and is not going to be anytime soon, except in a very small scale, and he needs to worry about dozens of ally peers who won't, can't, trust him and are therefore unlikely to aid him unless they are forced to.
And he also needs to worry about superriors who are unlikely to consider him trustworthy, and are probably less likely to aid him become more powerful, and might even pro actively get rid of him before he becomes too powerful to be a threat.
Double fists!!!!
Cultivation principle conflicts. It is interesting how authors incorporate dialogues during fights into world mechanics.
I wonder how many remembered Huis at that line "You have to protect followers" - "Only victory matters, and caring about weaklings is for weak" and so on.
West plays violent and pragmatic, those who do not hide behind false nobility and authoruty, but Butterfly is not Snake here, Spider is more like Snake here and Lu Feng could gather bunch of Hui-loving (damn how it read for russians) jerks.
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He is loyal to just the Sun. That doesn't exactly reassure anyone under him that he'll look out for their interests and not waste their lives unnecessarily, or that he wouldn't abandon them when things get tough. He doesn't inspire trust, quite the opposite. If he is ever a part of an allied force under someone, neither his commanders nor his peers can trust him to stick to the script and not go rogue if he thinks it advances his or the Sun interests.
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I think he's probably as loyal as the average noble, who is using the sect to get ahead. However he's got his job lined up in Western Territories so he doesn't have to make nice with the Emerald Sea nobles.