I don't think Liling would agree with that.
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.
And this is how Sun Shao's Way's idea of "Family" is completely irreconcilable with Ling Qi's.
I see in this backstory many opportunities to talk Sun Shao to death via breaking his Way.
Not a problem, due to that difference.
- Location
- Colorado
This predates Shenhua by over two centuries.
So Jiao was almost certainly very busy, but just with normal duties that came with founding an entire new ministry. Paperwork, investigating corrupt nobles, assassinating Xianxia protags, etc.
DangerKitty
shoddy writter
- Location
- lala land
tbh i would have greatly preferred that over cai shenhua's perfection schtick.
I think she could have been, but Shao took her choice away. She might yet regain it, but that would be an uphill struggle and once there she still has the actual hard part of dealing with, at minimum, the Sun Shao, the Sunflower Goddess and the Bai. Honestly if she can pull that nigh impossibility off she deserves the victory.
Bai Fuxi's big mistake was not inviting Sun Shao to join him as family.
TOGETHAAA, WE WILL DEVOWAAA THE VERY GODS!
TOGETHAAA, WE WILL DEVOWAAA THE VERY GODS!
An and Jiao might very well have known about the cannibalism but chosen not to do anything against it. When one cultivator practices cannibalism it's a crime and when an army practices it it's a threat, but if that threat is far away and directed at their political enemies then why would they act on it? Cannibalism is proscribed because it's distasteful, harmful to civic harmony, and a possible threat to imperial authority. It's not something the Emperor is by law required to act upon and if said Emperor believes it's more advantageous to wait and try to use Sun Shao as leverage against the Bai then he very well may.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
You say this, but probably in Fuxi's mind he did- and in Sun Shao's mind he did, too.... until Sun Shao's actual family got killed, and he had to revise his belief or got a waybreak.
Sun Shao doing stuff was just after An got into power, which means it was after An's wife got killed by presumably a Bai. It's very possible An being a white by then already meant he couldn't really hate the Bai anymore, but it's also very possible a lot of his way to get to white was "fuck the Bai".
"Fuck the Bai" sounds like a pretty extended component of people's Way, though not so much as "fuck the Hui".
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Suddenly thinking Shao coming for a personal visit could be less aggression and more earnest. Shenhua has means for homosexual reproduction so why not make a play for the heirs of the scariest Whites to have a marriage contract?
Funny that the brutality of the Butcher does seem reminiscent of Yao and something that would be lauded in his home province if he were a closer relation. Cannibalism for power and a fanatics drive for their in group though, don't think that'd be worth emulating to be honest. Hopefully Shenhua's cheat is more palatable, though probably too craft heavy to be doable for LQ unless there's a musical translation.
Huh, is this new information? That the sunflower goddess, shield and chain of the Sun, is the product of the western jungle's queen and the sage emperor rather than the queen herself.
- Location
- USA
No. The old Jungle Goddess/Priestess got down and busy with the Sage, popped out a kid and then used that resonance to kill the Sage. That's pretty old information, and something Ling Qi pointed out to CRX to point out to Shenhua, who probably knows, but it's good to point out anyways.
Shenhua and Shao meeting is either going to be a nightmare for us, or a nightmare for everyone.
Bonus 10: Death of the Sage - Forge of Destiny
… and so the brute Qin, supported by his own mountain savages, the monstrous bandits of Zheng, and the peerless blades of the Bai, struck down the last (...)
www.royalroad.com
This is what we knew from before.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I was under the impression he didn't last long enough for a kid to be produced, that he died their first night.
Thanks for that, guess it's been long enough ago for me to misremember.Bonus 10: Death of the Sage - Forge of Destiny
… and so the brute Qin, supported by his own mountain savages, the monstrous bandits of Zheng, and the peerless blades of the Bai, struck down the last (...)
This is what we knew from before.
Huh, guess Shao resembles more than one ancient butcher in his actions.
Still confusing though. New Goddess born of the sacrifice, spirit of the priestess living on. I would just take it as an ascension where there's a typical questionable level of continuity if not for Shao calling her the trueborn daughter of the Sage and his heir.
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
The dragon emperor was REALLY big on being sexual powerful, having multiple wivies, conquering others and forcing them to give up a powerful woman or women as wives or concubines. Thus it is not out of the world for their "marriage night" result in conception of a child. The Forest Queen used the connection formed by the conception and forced marriage to then kill the dragon emperor. She was just as powerful as he was and able to hold off the might of the entire empire at the time with just her people.
- Location
- Spain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Aaaahhh I'm really 100% team cloud nomads
they hunt dragons 🤷♂️
they hunt dragons 🤷♂️
Snakes bad, Dragons bad, Jungle bad
Return to tree 🌳👍
Return to tree 🌳👍
- Location
- Washington
It's two part though. Family Is Everything, but also Everything For Family. Which means family itself is on the chopping block of For Family. It's low on the list, but it's still on the list.
Re: the exact genealogy of the Red Goddess, it's not exactly unusual for the line between "demigod/child of god" and "aspect of that god" to be a little blurry. If I had to make a concrete prediction I'd guess the exact mechanics are something like "child immediately ascended all the way to aspect because of the power of the act itself."
Sage Emperor: FUCK Everything!
Red Jungle: Fuck EVERYTHING!
Sunflower Goddess: FUCK EVERYTHING!!
Sun Shao(Prism): Fuck Everything for FAMILY
Sun Shao(White): FUCK EVERYTHING for FAMILY!
Oliver_Twister
Idea-Man, He Who Shits Ideas
- Location
- West Africa
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This is really random, but the Ling Clan's full name is the South Emerald Seas Ling Clan, and that is unacceptable.
Sure, Ling might be a common surname, but our Ling clan should be THE Ling clan, not a Ling clan. The other Ling clans should rather take extra names so that people won't think they're US.
Thanks for listening to my TED talk.
Sure, Ling might be a common surname, but our Ling clan should be THE Ling clan, not a Ling clan. The other Ling clans should rather take extra names so that people won't think they're US.
Thanks for listening to my TED talk.
DeusExBritannia
Red-White-Black-White
- Location
- Texas
"The strongest man in the world is only meat after all. To surpass him, you must merely become the strongest butcher."
- Location
- France
Just reach White and send a polite letter. The problem will solve itself
Turn 15: Arc 4-1 Law
"So, how bad do you think the damage is going to be?" Ling Qi mused, looking out the window of the carriage as it began to get moving, the outlying buildings of the Sect village beginning to roll by.
"Ha, well I saw a lot of sour faces, back there, but you knew what you were getting into," Sixiang laughed. They sat cross legged on the bench opposite of her, their image clothed in an old weilu costume. Sixiang's black eyes glittered with amusement under the horned headdress. "You've gotten so bold. Every time I start to wonder you remind me why I stick around."
"Don't pretend you ever doubted," Ling Qi said haughtily, turning up her nose. "I am the great master of ceremonies, left hand of the new Cai! My performances are always beyond compare!"
Sixiang snorted at her, and Ling Qi broke down into laughter.
"Riiight, my apologies young mistress," Sixiang drawled. The walls of the village passed them by replaced by the evenly spaced and trimmed trees which lined the northern road. "But yeah, I'm sure plenty of your fellow kiddies are sending letters flying home. And folks you've made nice with will notice."
Ling Qi composed herself, expression growing more sober. "It's fine, I know I was going to upset some people, but, if what we are working toward finds success, we will upset them regardless. Signalling to our allies and making possibilities known to those who have not chosen a side is important."
"Yeah, I'm sure Meng Diu and Meng Dan will be pleased with the support. Specially since Hanyi's tour is going over so well."
"It'll take time to see how this really works out, but I have no regrets," Ling Qi said. There was a faint rocking motion as the carriage hit the straight part of the road and picked up speed. "But lets get to the next bit of business."
"Right the weasel who messed with our little sis," Sixiang said, nodding smartly. The headdress slid down over their eyes.
"Our?" Ling Qi said, raising an eyebrow.
"Aw come on, of course it's our," Sixiang said, nudging it up to reveal an eye. "So, Haishan, right."
"That's the one, smaller city, on the same old trade route Tonghou is, but further south," Ling Qi replied. "Who was the ruling viscount?"
"Uh, I wanna say Xu, yeah its Xu," Sixiang said. Middling for viscounts, there is a fifth realm patriarch, and the head looks like he'll make it in his lifetime, a handful of fourths, healthy crop of thirds."
"Right," Ling Qi said, considering the reports she'd read. "No major problems with the city."
"No obvious ones," Sixiang agreed. "Family mostly plays the Diao line for politics. Considered kind of wishy washy."
"Probably not directly involved then, unless they're hiding a lot of passion," Ling Qi sighed.
"You never know," Sixiang said with a shrug.
"Right, and the subordinates of Diao Hualing we were meeting up with were…"
The Ministry of Laws offices were a set of squat dour buildings inside of a two meter high curtain wall. The interior courtyard was clean and well swept, and clerks and other low ranking officials moved with purpose along the paths. She was met at the gate by a pair of guards, and to her amusement and mild discomfort, announced as a noble guest.
Dozens of people in the middle of their work all stopping to bow and give respect would never stop feeling strange, Ling Qi suspected. She was shown then to the eastern building, to a waiting room and proffered refreshments, which she refused politely.
"Notice anything in particular," Ling Qi said, scanning the plain beige walls. Her eyes fell on the scrollwork on the decorative wood which lined the joins between the walls and the floor. Formations, simple little things. Improved airflow, temperature control, enhancement of the building materials. No listening formations, a few to contain and dampen sound from inside the room.
It was as the guard had said, a room for meeting with important guests, ones who might be offended at others listening to their words.
"Nobody who seemed particularly fishy. Some curious folks, wondering about a relative big shot showing up," Sixiang said, their voice manifesting right in her ear.
"Same, I didn't detect anything like guilt or fear from anyone present," Ling Qi said quietly. It was probably as Diao Hualing said, the slowness of the investigation likely came down to simple institutional sloth and inertia. "If there are collaborators they were either not present, or unaware of what my presence means."
She held up a hand to quiet Sixiang's response as she felt an approaching aura. A cultivator just barely into the third realm. A dim, but even light, that felt like the sweeping cone of light from a lantern, cautious and careful.
She did not stand, at her rank and cultivation it wouldn't be right.
There was a quiet knock on the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, revealing an older man in plain black and gray robes. With strands of silver at his temples and shot through his trimmed and pointed beard, he appeared to be forty or fifty. His face had some lines around his mouth and at the corner of his eyes, but his posture was still strong, and he bowed smoothly to her hands clasped in front of his chest. "Baroness Ling, my apologies for your wait. I am Pan Xi, District Officer of the third rank. I was given your case after Lady Diao's interest was made known."
"I see," Ling Qi said, gesturing for him to enter. As he did, closing the door behind him, she examined the man out of the corner of her eye. "I am curious which of your juniors was responsible beforehand."
"Please forgive this one," he replied turning back to her and bowing lower still. "Our duties are unending and the young may lack the knowledge to prioritize every case effectively. This one will accept any chastisement Lady Ling may have."
Smooth, practiced, calming. The attitude of one who very regularly dealt with volatile tempers. He wasn't just trying to steer her, she thought. He really was accepting responsibility for his subordinates.
"Shielding them too," whispered Sixiang's voice.
She couldn't say she disliked that. "It is nothing, please raise your head. I understand that my case may not have seemed in need of the most immediate response."
"Lady Ling is gracious and patient," Pan Xi raised his head and gestured toward the chair opposite hers. "May I?"
She nodded, allowing him to sit. "Tell me about the suspect."
"Yan Shenyi," the older man replied swiftly. A flick of his wrist brought a sheaf of papers to hand, which he spread across the table between them. "Nephew of a well off mortal merchant, who was able to purchase him a place in a local ministry education program. Talented enough for minimal cultivation, but middling as such candidates go. He rose to the point of being a fourth ranked clerk at the ministry of communication over the course of his forty year career. He reached the third realm at the age of thirty one, but has shown little progress since..."
Ling Qi nodded along listening but her eyes fell on the man's name spelled out at the top of the dossier on top. It felt familiar.
"Detective, did this man have a relative at the Argent Peak Sect?" She asked.
He paused. "Yes, he did, though I understand that the disciple Yan Renshu passed away this last year. That was a narrowing factor in the investigation. Although the Sect is not the most transparent institution…"
"We had conflicts, but they were old well before that," Ling Qi said. "Nor was I involved in the operation where he met his end. I was engaged in the battle of the Starstone Caldera."
"Of course," the man said, bowing low in his seat. "It was merely considered that a grudge may have existed. This act was most… impetuous even considering the likelihood of a more powerful backer."
"...Possible," Ling Qi said. She found it hard to believe anyone could have liked Yan Renshu well enough to hold a grudge over him, but… family. "Do you have any leads on a backer by the way?"
"I am afraid not, we hope to do so with his interrogation, though that will likely require the case passing to Lady Diao directly," Pan Xi replied.
So he did expect the ultimate source to be 'above his pay grade' so to speak, Ling Qi thought.
"Very well. So how precisely do you wish for me to involve myself?"
"On that matter there are some choices. Given your talents, we had hoped that you might aid us in observing him and his movements over the course of the next few days," Pan Xi said, folding his hands in his lap.
Ling Qi frowned. "Will my arrival not have tipped him off?"
She tilted her head then, listening to Sixiang's whisper. "No, that is the point, isn't it. He's already shown himself to be impetuous, you want to see if he reveals anything in his panic."
"Lady Ling sees," Pan Xi said. "There is some risk in this, that he might have some method or preparation, or that his employer might act to clean up loose ends."
"Though that itself could be revealing."
The detective inclined his head. "As you say. That said, on this matter I will defer to Lady Ling, if you demand it we will proceed with the procedures for arrest immediately, now that we have your presence as a guarantor."
[ ] Move to arrest Yan Shenyi immediately, interrogation will have to do for information gathering. (80% success. May result in limited intelligence gathering)
[ ] Accept Pan Xi's proposal, and observe Yan Shenyi's movements and actions over the next few days before moving to make the arrest. (60% success, may grant better intelligence opportunities.)
"Ha, well I saw a lot of sour faces, back there, but you knew what you were getting into," Sixiang laughed. They sat cross legged on the bench opposite of her, their image clothed in an old weilu costume. Sixiang's black eyes glittered with amusement under the horned headdress. "You've gotten so bold. Every time I start to wonder you remind me why I stick around."
"Don't pretend you ever doubted," Ling Qi said haughtily, turning up her nose. "I am the great master of ceremonies, left hand of the new Cai! My performances are always beyond compare!"
Sixiang snorted at her, and Ling Qi broke down into laughter.
"Riiight, my apologies young mistress," Sixiang drawled. The walls of the village passed them by replaced by the evenly spaced and trimmed trees which lined the northern road. "But yeah, I'm sure plenty of your fellow kiddies are sending letters flying home. And folks you've made nice with will notice."
Emerald Seas Lower Nobility: -1
-Luo Clan: 1
--Imperial Conservatives (20%): -2 -> -3
--Imperial Moderates (20%): 0
--Weilu Moderates (55%): 1 -> 2
--Old Tribes (5%): 2
-Wang Clan: 1
--Imperial Moderates(40%): 0
--Imperial Conservatives (10%): -2 -> -3
--Weilu Moderates (50%): 1
-Meng Clan: 0 -> -1
--Weilu Conservatives(50%): -1
--Weilu Reactionaries(25%): -2 -> -4
--Weilu Reformers(25%): 2 -> 3
-Diao Clan -1
-Jia Clan: 0
-Bao clan: 1 -> 0
Celestial Hills: -2 -> -3
North River Jing: -1
Western Fens: -1
Eastern Plains: 0
South River Jing: -1 -> -2
Foundations: 3
Thundering Hills: 1 -> 2
Central Valley: 1
Capital City, Xiangmen: 2
Southern Clergy: -2
North River Jing: -1
Western Fens: -1
Eastern Plains: 0
South River Jing: -1 -> -2
Foundations: 3
Thundering Hills: 1 -> 2
Central Valley: 1
Capital City, Xiangmen: 2
Southern Clergy: -2
--Imperial Conservatives (20%): -2 -> -3
--Imperial Moderates (20%): 0
--Weilu Moderates (55%): 1 -> 2
--Old Tribes (5%): 2
-Wang Clan: 1
--Imperial Moderates(40%): 0
--Imperial Conservatives (10%): -2 -> -3
--Weilu Moderates (50%): 1
-Meng Clan: 0 -> -1
--Weilu Conservatives(50%): -1
--Weilu Reactionaries(25%): -2 -> -4
--Weilu Reformers(25%): 2 -> 3
-Diao Clan -1
-Jia Clan: 0
-Bao clan: 1 -> 0
Ling Qi composed herself, expression growing more sober. "It's fine, I know I was going to upset some people, but, if what we are working toward finds success, we will upset them regardless. Signalling to our allies and making possibilities known to those who have not chosen a side is important."
"Yeah, I'm sure Meng Diu and Meng Dan will be pleased with the support. Specially since Hanyi's tour is going over so well."
"It'll take time to see how this really works out, but I have no regrets," Ling Qi said. There was a faint rocking motion as the carriage hit the straight part of the road and picked up speed. "But lets get to the next bit of business."
"Right the weasel who messed with our little sis," Sixiang said, nodding smartly. The headdress slid down over their eyes.
"Our?" Ling Qi said, raising an eyebrow.
"Aw come on, of course it's our," Sixiang said, nudging it up to reveal an eye. "So, Haishan, right."
"That's the one, smaller city, on the same old trade route Tonghou is, but further south," Ling Qi replied. "Who was the ruling viscount?"
"Uh, I wanna say Xu, yeah its Xu," Sixiang said. Middling for viscounts, there is a fifth realm patriarch, and the head looks like he'll make it in his lifetime, a handful of fourths, healthy crop of thirds."
"Right," Ling Qi said, considering the reports she'd read. "No major problems with the city."
"No obvious ones," Sixiang agreed. "Family mostly plays the Diao line for politics. Considered kind of wishy washy."
"Probably not directly involved then, unless they're hiding a lot of passion," Ling Qi sighed.
"You never know," Sixiang said with a shrug.
"Right, and the subordinates of Diao Hualing we were meeting up with were…"
***
The reports had been a little unfair to the city of Haishan, Ling Qi decided. They had painted a picture of a run down backwater, and put her in the mind of her birth city. However, the gates of Haishan were well maintained. Its outer wall was in good repair, and though there was a shabbiness to its outer districts, she did not feel the same malaise here that she was familiar with from her youth. The streets were clean, the people looked upon the guards with only moderate fear, and there were few beggars, even at the edge of her senses, so they hadn't simply been driven away from her route into the deeper alleys preceding her visit to the Ministry of Law compound.The Ministry of Laws offices were a set of squat dour buildings inside of a two meter high curtain wall. The interior courtyard was clean and well swept, and clerks and other low ranking officials moved with purpose along the paths. She was met at the gate by a pair of guards, and to her amusement and mild discomfort, announced as a noble guest.
Dozens of people in the middle of their work all stopping to bow and give respect would never stop feeling strange, Ling Qi suspected. She was shown then to the eastern building, to a waiting room and proffered refreshments, which she refused politely.
"Notice anything in particular," Ling Qi said, scanning the plain beige walls. Her eyes fell on the scrollwork on the decorative wood which lined the joins between the walls and the floor. Formations, simple little things. Improved airflow, temperature control, enhancement of the building materials. No listening formations, a few to contain and dampen sound from inside the room.
It was as the guard had said, a room for meeting with important guests, ones who might be offended at others listening to their words.
"Nobody who seemed particularly fishy. Some curious folks, wondering about a relative big shot showing up," Sixiang said, their voice manifesting right in her ear.
"Same, I didn't detect anything like guilt or fear from anyone present," Ling Qi said quietly. It was probably as Diao Hualing said, the slowness of the investigation likely came down to simple institutional sloth and inertia. "If there are collaborators they were either not present, or unaware of what my presence means."
She held up a hand to quiet Sixiang's response as she felt an approaching aura. A cultivator just barely into the third realm. A dim, but even light, that felt like the sweeping cone of light from a lantern, cautious and careful.
She did not stand, at her rank and cultivation it wouldn't be right.
There was a quiet knock on the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, revealing an older man in plain black and gray robes. With strands of silver at his temples and shot through his trimmed and pointed beard, he appeared to be forty or fifty. His face had some lines around his mouth and at the corner of his eyes, but his posture was still strong, and he bowed smoothly to her hands clasped in front of his chest. "Baroness Ling, my apologies for your wait. I am Pan Xi, District Officer of the third rank. I was given your case after Lady Diao's interest was made known."
"I see," Ling Qi said, gesturing for him to enter. As he did, closing the door behind him, she examined the man out of the corner of her eye. "I am curious which of your juniors was responsible beforehand."
"Please forgive this one," he replied turning back to her and bowing lower still. "Our duties are unending and the young may lack the knowledge to prioritize every case effectively. This one will accept any chastisement Lady Ling may have."
Smooth, practiced, calming. The attitude of one who very regularly dealt with volatile tempers. He wasn't just trying to steer her, she thought. He really was accepting responsibility for his subordinates.
"Shielding them too," whispered Sixiang's voice.
She couldn't say she disliked that. "It is nothing, please raise your head. I understand that my case may not have seemed in need of the most immediate response."
"Lady Ling is gracious and patient," Pan Xi raised his head and gestured toward the chair opposite hers. "May I?"
She nodded, allowing him to sit. "Tell me about the suspect."
"Yan Shenyi," the older man replied swiftly. A flick of his wrist brought a sheaf of papers to hand, which he spread across the table between them. "Nephew of a well off mortal merchant, who was able to purchase him a place in a local ministry education program. Talented enough for minimal cultivation, but middling as such candidates go. He rose to the point of being a fourth ranked clerk at the ministry of communication over the course of his forty year career. He reached the third realm at the age of thirty one, but has shown little progress since..."
Ling Qi nodded along listening but her eyes fell on the man's name spelled out at the top of the dossier on top. It felt familiar.
"Detective, did this man have a relative at the Argent Peak Sect?" She asked.
He paused. "Yes, he did, though I understand that the disciple Yan Renshu passed away this last year. That was a narrowing factor in the investigation. Although the Sect is not the most transparent institution…"
"We had conflicts, but they were old well before that," Ling Qi said. "Nor was I involved in the operation where he met his end. I was engaged in the battle of the Starstone Caldera."
"Of course," the man said, bowing low in his seat. "It was merely considered that a grudge may have existed. This act was most… impetuous even considering the likelihood of a more powerful backer."
"...Possible," Ling Qi said. She found it hard to believe anyone could have liked Yan Renshu well enough to hold a grudge over him, but… family. "Do you have any leads on a backer by the way?"
"I am afraid not, we hope to do so with his interrogation, though that will likely require the case passing to Lady Diao directly," Pan Xi replied.
So he did expect the ultimate source to be 'above his pay grade' so to speak, Ling Qi thought.
"Very well. So how precisely do you wish for me to involve myself?"
"On that matter there are some choices. Given your talents, we had hoped that you might aid us in observing him and his movements over the course of the next few days," Pan Xi said, folding his hands in his lap.
Ling Qi frowned. "Will my arrival not have tipped him off?"
She tilted her head then, listening to Sixiang's whisper. "No, that is the point, isn't it. He's already shown himself to be impetuous, you want to see if he reveals anything in his panic."
"Lady Ling sees," Pan Xi said. "There is some risk in this, that he might have some method or preparation, or that his employer might act to clean up loose ends."
"Though that itself could be revealing."
The detective inclined his head. "As you say. That said, on this matter I will defer to Lady Ling, if you demand it we will proceed with the procedures for arrest immediately, now that we have your presence as a guarantor."
[ ] Move to arrest Yan Shenyi immediately, interrogation will have to do for information gathering. (80% success. May result in limited intelligence gathering)
[ ] Accept Pan Xi's proposal, and observe Yan Shenyi's movements and actions over the next few days before moving to make the arrest. (60% success, may grant better intelligence opportunities.)