Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Bao Qian's in the odd situation where his biggest liability in this is kind of... the Bao?

Not in the pervasive internal rich people alienation sense, seen in both him and Qingling albeit in different ways. That's effectively a charm point. Makes him cute and vulnerable.

It's that the Bao are good at what they do and what they do is secure themselves more of the pie. In the culture of the empire, marriage is a legal and business arrangement between clans. What the individual partners manage to get out of it in terms of emotional fulfilment is almost their own business, besides the point. The Bao are really good at business, though. The main business offering the Ling can make is a chunk of its future- the potential and room for growth it has in the south.

There's real reason to be cautious in trading that away. And of course, Bao Qian's more independent approach to wealth generation is laudable on an individual level, but it means he's distanced from the internal levers of his clan's politics. His capacity to navigate a good deal is diminished. Not eliminated, far from that, he's got a solid head on his shoulders. The tldr of it is that the clan tensions that make him a sympathetic and interesting character also makes joining fortunes with the Bao daunting, and doing it in a way we would find palatable would mean leaving a lot of the Bao's on-paper offerings on the table, so to speak.

Now, I think this is going to be true to some extent of any clan. Clans are just like that. But Bao Qian's case stands out in terms of contradictions and cross-interests, I think. Like, if we married Meng Dan, the thing they'd want would be his faction wanting us to do cultural things we're already doing, and our reward would be closer ties to, and support from, a sympathetic cultural faction. That's pretty clean, for all I'm sure there'd be complications. Bao Qian, at least on current read, brings a whole lot of north-south control/independence/etc narratives to the table, in a prospective marriage. Not sure how fun that'd be.

Like, Bao Qian can always more or less cut off the Bao. That would be a valid resolution and/or thrust to that narrative! And we'd still have him, who is a solid and competent dude. Buuut, it's hard to be enthusiastic about a marriage that involves putting up barriers against the donor clan, rather than getting stuff from them. And getting stuff from the Bao on an institutional level seems like it'd be a pricey purchase, in terms of some of the things we value most, like autonomy and choice.

It's a conundrum.
Gotta say, I disagree with this. Bao Qian has the right distance from the clan to have the autonomy he wants and needs while still having the wealth and connections can be useful to the future Ling clan. If he were closer to his clan, he would have less autonomy and thus Ling Qi would have less autonomy. Yes, there would be more rewards and shinies but it wouldn't be worth the trade off. This is the right balance.
Also I think it's only as daunting as any marriage proposal is going to be for Ling Qi. Luckily, courtships can take decades or more in-universe IICR.
 
The odds of a guy who idolizes the idea of a swashbuckling hero isn't fucking Built (TM) is basically zero.

Albeit probably more in a less, "Huge overinflated muscles" way, a bit more swimmer and rapier, perhaps.

(Not that they have rapiers, but you know what I mean.)

The first layer shattered instantly, ground down, broken, Consumed. Xuan Shi's sleeve shredded, revealing a thick arm marked by patchy black scales.

There's been *one* glimpse, but everyone was a bit distracted by other things, as I recall.
 
[X] Give her word that whatever she saw in Liling, she would only share it with Ji Rong. (+1 Bond with Ji Rong, deal goes forward smoothly information doesn't pass about this deal, including that the request was made at all. Cai Renxiang only knows you've struck a deal to better handle the Sun, no details)
 
[X] Give her word that whatever she saw in Liling, she would only share it with Ji Rong. (+1 Bond with Ji Rong, deal goes forward smoothly information doesn't pass about this deal, including that the request was made at all. Cai Renxiang only knows you've struck a deal to better handle the Sun, no details)
 
Adhoc vote count started by EternalObserver on Apr 23, 2023 at 8:15 PM, finished with 176 posts and 87 votes.
 
Now, I think this is going to be true to some extent of any clan. Clans are just like that. But Bao Qian's case stands out in terms of contradictions and cross-interests, I think. Like, if we married Meng Dan, the thing they'd want would be his faction wanting us to do cultural things we're already doing, and our reward would be closer ties to, and support from, a sympathetic cultural faction. That's pretty clean, for all I'm sure there'd be complications. Bao Qian, at least on current read, brings a whole lot of north-south control/independence/etc narratives to the table, in a prospective marriage. Not sure how fun that'd be.

Like, Bao Qian can always more or less cut off the Bao. That would be a valid resolution and/or thrust to that narrative! And we'd still have him, who is a solid and competent dude. Buuut, it's hard to be enthusiastic about a marriage that involves putting up barriers against the donor clan, rather than getting stuff from them. And getting stuff from the Bao on an institutional level seems like it'd be a pricey purchase, in terms of some of the things we value most, like autonomy and choice.
You have forgotten who Bao Qian is. He very specifically does not want the contents of the Bao vaults. He has the Bao-madness, the money-hunger, yes, but his version is that he wants to earn it himself. He wants to create the treasures and make the money largely through his own efforts. He'll use his family as contacts, sure, but he doesn't want the kind of benefits that come with strings attached.

You have forgotten how Bao marriage works. At it's core it is a close, intimate, thriving business partnership. It is built on a series of deals. If you don't want to give something up? Don't trade it away. You might get offers, but you don't have to take them. You especially don't have to take them when, as is the case here, he's marrying into your clan rather than vice versa. Admittedly, he'll probably lose access to some of the opportunities that he would have but doesn't want, by not actually being part of the clan anymore, but that's baked into the "getting married in the first place" bit.

Bao Qian's version of "getting stuff from the Bao on an institutional level" comes in two forms. First, it's a bunch of contacts that one might reasonably make business deals with, and an increased level of trust to make those deals with. Second, it's a husband who knows their inner workings well and has a degree of trust to improve diplomacy with them (which, in turn, is mostly useful for making business deals). That is what the Bao have to offer.
 
I just finally managed to reread and then catch up on this after a three year absence (I quit around when they were making their initial visit to Jaromilla's place), nice to see the story is still going very strong.

I've liked Ji Rong since basically the first time we saw him again in Threads, when Ling Qi found him at the library trying to learn his responsibilities as a baron in the Empire, most likely on his own initiative. I liked him even more after he admits in advance of their final bout that yeah, Ling Qi will thrash him, but he wants to see how far he has to go to reach her level. And seeing him now, worried enough that he's reaching out to a rival for a seriously private matter? Yeah, I'm voting to respect his wishes, not that I really need to given what a landslide this vote is.

I just hope everyone knows what we're getting into, because there are some professional nosy people *and* some professional cultist-killers on site, of much higher realms, and this could have far, far reaching consequences. Like "war on the Sun" consequences.

[X] Give her word that whatever she saw in Liling, she would only share it with Ji Rong. (+1 Bond with Ji Rong, deal goes forward smoothly information doesn't pass about this deal, including that the request was made at all. Cai Renxiang only knows you've struck a deal to better handle the Sun, no details)
 
You have forgotten who Bao Qian is. He very specifically does not want the contents of the Bao vaults. He has the Bao-madness, the money-hunger, yes, but his version is that he wants to earn it himself. He wants to create the treasures and make the money largely through his own efforts. He'll use his family as contacts, sure, but he doesn't want the kind of benefits that come with strings attached.

You have forgotten how Bao marriage works. At it's core it is a close, intimate, thriving business partnership. It is built on a series of deals. If you don't want to give something up? Don't trade it away. You might get offers, but you don't have to take them. You especially don't have to take them when, as is the case here, he's marrying into your clan rather than vice versa. Admittedly, he'll probably lose access to some of the opportunities that he would have but doesn't want, by not actually being part of the clan anymore, but that's baked into the "getting married in the first place" bit.

Bao Qian's version of "getting stuff from the Bao on an institutional level" comes in two forms. First, it's a bunch of contacts that one might reasonably make business deals with, and an increased level of trust to make those deals with. Second, it's a husband who knows their inner workings well and has a degree of trust to improve diplomacy with them (which, in turn, is mostly useful for making business deals). That is what the Bao have to offer.
I didn't forget anything, this is simply orthogonal to the points I was making.

A nitpick, but you're mistaken on the legal statuses involved in marriage. Between clans, marriage partners don't leave their birth family. Independents will sometimes be married into established clans as a form of talent scouting, and fully adopt in in all ways, but that's the exception to the rule. Anybody from an established clan marrying into the Ling will remain a member of that clan, with filial duties and obligations hashed out and agreed on in the marriage contract between the two clans.
 
Adhoc vote count started by Elsecaller on Apr 24, 2023 at 12:50 PM, finished with 181 posts and 88 votes.
 
Human Will
@yrsillar Omakke for the Omakke throne !

Armament Unit - 782,938/Human Will


"Turning Systems Online"


A machine awakened, for the first time in uncountable cycles, it beheld the world through its lens. What it sees through its eye is a curiosity - if such emotions even exist in its being - in front of the unit is what its database recognizes as a human.

"Observation: Environment
Location: Chamber Before a Slope of 15 Degrees
Qi: High Levels
Fauna and Flora: Species Name - Human


Analysis: Data of Environment
Location: Indistinguishable from Previous Data - Before Shut Down
Qi: Heightened Levels Due to Unit's Presence
Fauna and Flora: Human Child - Female
-State: Injured

-Injury: Puncture of the Abdomen

Validation: Analysis of Data
Method: Observation of Environment Through Other Apparatus
Result: Matching Observation Data

Adaptation: Error
Error Cause: No Stimulus Above Threshold"


"Haaah haaah aaagh."

In front of the machine, the human slumps down, and groans in agony. The light of will in its eyes dimmed yet paradoxically intensified as if to show its tenacity.

"Observation: Armament of Human Child
Effects: Extending Operational Time of Unit - Human

Analysis: Data of Armament of Human Child
Armament Component: ???, ???, ???

Validation: Analysis of Data
Method: Observation of Environment Through Other Apparatus
Result: Matching Observation Data

Adaptation: Replication of Armament
Building Component: ???, ???, ???
Result of Adaptation: Armament Unit - 782,938/ Placeholder Name

Validation: Replication of Armament
Method: Use of Armament
-Interval: 0.000001 seconds
-Power: 10%
-Target: Self"

ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR


In a workshop filled with gears, pistons, wires, and machinery. On top of a table is a petite woman who constantly mumbles to herself, in a tone of rapture, insanity, and desperation.

"Reidentification of meridians needed for the procedure. Loosening of the connection of the meridians to the self's body. Simultaneous extraction and insertion of four arts in separate designated domain weapons. Combination of four secondary domain weapons to primary domain weapon after 0.001 seconds of the completion of the previous step."

"Operation, start!"


ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR

"Observation: Source of Error
Primary Source: Armament Unit - 782,938
Secondary Source: Organic Component of Unit

Analysis: Cause of Error
Hypothesis: Due to the Activation of Armament Unit - 782,938, an Unknown Connection Formed From Armament Unit - 782,938 to Residual Organic Components. Connection Resulted in an Unknown Effect.

Validation: Hypothesis
Method: Observation Through Armament Unit - 472,213/ Spirit Eye, Armament Unit - 632,312/Endless Perception, and Armament Unit - 254,979/Soul Sense
Result: Matching Hypothesis and Observation

Adaptation: Destruction of Armament Unit - 782,938
Result: Error
Error Cause: Rejection From Armament Unit - 1a/Primary Self"

ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR


In a workshop filled with blood, sinew, and viscera. On top of a table is a machine made up of mechanical and organic components. That machine spoke its first words in the voice of mechanical indifference.

"Procedure Complete. Testing Armament Unit - 1a/Primary Self, Armament Unit - 1b/Observation Sense, Armament Unit - 1c/Analysis Mind, Armament Unit - 1d/Adaptation Spine, and Armament Unit - 1e/Validation Limb.

"Test Result of Armament Unit - 1a/Primary Self - Unsatisfactory, Armament Unit - 1b/Observation Sense - Satisfactory, Armament Unit - 1c/Analysis Mind - Satisfactory, Armament Unit - 1d/Adaptation Spine - Satisfactory, and Armament Unit - 1e/Validation Limb - Satisfactory."

"Analysis: Test Result of Armament - 1a/Primary Self - Unsatisfactory
Cause of Result: Component - Heart, Emotion, and Desire of Armament - 1a/Primary Self

Validation: Analysis of Test Result of Armament - 1a/Primary Self - Unsatisfactory
Method: Repeat Testing and Analysis
Result: Matching Previous Test Result and Analysis to New Data

Adaptation: Removal of Component - Heart, Emotion, and Desire
Result: Error
Error Cause: Rejection From Armament Unit - 1a/ Primary Self due to the resulting damage

Adaptation: Suppressing of Component - Heart, Emotion, and Desire
Result: Successful Suppression of Component - Heart, Emotion, and Desire"


ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR

"Adaptation: Assimilation of Armament Unit - 782,938
Result: Assimilated Armament Unit - 782,938

Validation: Deployment of Armament Unit - 782,938
Method: Use of Armament
-Interval: Indefinite
-Power: 99.999…%
-Target: Self


The bombardment of errors seems to stop as the machine regained something it has lost

"Agh"

The sound of the child's agony-filled voice seemed to jolt the machine to action.

"Deployment: Armament Unit - 268,390/Heaven's Utopia"

As a red-green light filled the chamber and reached the child, the puncture wound in her abdomen closed in the blink of an eye. As her wound heals, the stubborn will in her eyes seems to lose its strength and she falls asleep. As she was about to hit the floor, she was gently caught in the embrace of the machine.

"Thank you, child, for unknowingly giving me a gift. Thank you for giving me, Human Will. As compensation, I shall stay with you for as long as your heart desires."
So yeah, first time writing something so it's pretty bad. The convo on Discord about the crafter making themself into a super sentai mecha got me into a frenzy, so I thought why not make a cyborg in a xianxia world this is the result. Does it fit the world of Destiny, eh probably not, is it fun to imagine legions of futuristic robots in a world about martial arts? Hell yeah! (The series of Armament Unit - 1 is based on the Roles Given to the Ex-Machina Race from No Game No Life)
 
[X] Refuse, if there is something truly wrong with the Princess of the West, then she might have to share it with her liege (-1 Bond with Ji Rong, deal still goes forward but is strained. Cai Renxiang knows the details of the request and your findings.)
 
[X] Refuse, if there is something truly wrong with the Princess of the West, then she might have to share it with her liege (-1 Bond with Ji Rong, deal still goes forward but is strained. Cai Renxiang knows the details of the request and your findings.)
Yrs locked the vote 19 hours ago, the chapter should come out in 10/12 hours
 
Turn 18: Arc 3-1 Veins of the Earth
"You have my word, Baron Ji. I hope our talks can be productive."

***

Cai Renxiang rested her chin in her palm, looking at Ling Qi steadily. "This is a first for you, Ling Qi."

"If you feel I have overstepped, merely say the word," Ling Qi replied.

"I did not say that," Cai Renxiang said, glancing to the side where the open window of the carriage showed the hills and mountains blurring by. "I trust your judgment. Reducing the impact of the Princess' obstinance is a strong boon, even if I dislike being left in darkness on any of the factors involved."

"I swear to you that I have not bargained any service which could harm you, or our interests," Ling Qi said.

Cai Renxiang hummed in agreement as the carriage gave the faintest shudder, a testament to the roughness of the terrain here, where the roads were still incomplete. "Very well. Regardless, we will need to keep our time at Snowblossom efficient. We cannot be away from the summit for too long, especially if your suspicions are correct."

"I am confident that Xia Lin and Meng Dan will be watching well, though it troubles me that any sabotage could occur with so many sharp eyes available."

"It does indicate either troubling competence or inside work, doesn't it," Cai Renxiang said unhappily. "The General's eyes are for troops and greater plots, roads and formations and foes with drawn blades. The work and summit relations, she regards as our responsibility, I think. The Ministry however…"

"Should very much be watching," Ling Qi said. "Well I won't discount our enemies competence. The plots of the Ith-ia were only uncovered by my good fortune."

"A good point, it does not do us well to be too arrogant, assuming our enemies lack capability," Cai Renxiang said. "So, I will ask that you oversee the completion of the Earthveins project. Gan Guangli should be completing his review of the soldiers and warding stones. I will be ensuring that there are no irregularities in records, missing supplies, or any large scale disruptions. Take some time to speak with your brother, but remain focused on the project."

"I understand," Ling Qi said, bowing her head. It felt strange to be apart from Zhengui for so long, but she had to admit he was much more useful here. She knew he would just be feeling stir crazy if she had kept him at the summit these weeks, rather than letting him wander the fief and map the veins in the earth.

She felt the faint pulse of qi as the carriage slowed to a more normal pace, coming over the last ridge to look over Snowblossom lake.

It hadn't changed much yet, the thunder of the water falling from the high cliff across the valley rang distantly in the air, and the lake itself was a placid mirror reflecting the clear blue sky. But little lines of smoke rose from shore, wispy trails twisting into the sky, the dense woods carved back for a huddled series of temporary buildings surrounding a dirt gathering square. Further out she could see lands cleared of stone and stumps, little squares of tilled earth each with their own little homestead. Tiny dots moved along the trails of packed dirt that wound between the buildings. The great stone paved road that they were one, winding down from the north to the south where they had come from, seemed terribly out of place still.

The sight stirred a strange feeling in Ling Qi. This place was theirs wasn't it? She knew this would likely be Renxiang's seat, but that didn't change the fact that this was something she had a hand in building. She might not have been the sole owner, but breathing in the cool air, reaching out in spirit to touch on the diffuse qi of the Lake spirit, and the many other smaller ones.

This was hers.

"I should wonder, if this pride is right, or is it only a seed of decay, of arrogance," Cai Renxiang mused. "That in making something, you are its master, and may do what you please."

Ling Qi looked over at her friend. A comment that only half referred to their little outpost. It was only common sense for most, that a parent had such a right. "Well, I'll make sure you don't get too rigid. You make sure I remain on task, hm, Lady Ren?"

"I do not accept your diminutive. Do so again and I shall redirect all correspondence from the Celestial Peaks to your desk for sorting," Renxiang said flatly.

Ling Qi swallowed, her face scrunching up in disgust. "That's too cruel."

"There is a limit to my indulgence," Renxiang said.

"Alright, I give up, for now, Lady Renxiang," Ling Qi said, raising her hands in surrender.

"We will watch each other though, as you said."

Ling Qi gave a small nod as the carriage rounded the bend, bumping gently as if left the stone road and rolled along the dirt path toward the outpost center, where a tall, broad figure in gleaming armor was emerging from the administrative building. It looked like Gan Guangli was coming out to greet them.

***​

"Welcome Lady Cai! Miss Ling! As you can see everything is in good order! Our brave fellows have ensured that not a single man or woman has been harmed in the clearing of fields or raising of homes. The first group of hardy folk from the foothills has arrived and is settling in well!" Gan Guangli's booming voice echoed through the huddled buildings in the dirt square, surely audible to everyone on the shore.

"Thank you for leaving ahead, while I completed my business, Gan Guangli," Cai Renxiang said formally. "Naturally, I than you for your assistance in our absence as well, Bai Lao Keung."

"This is not the duty I was prepared for, but I follow Lady Bai's will," Lao Keung said, stepping out from behind Gan Guangli.

Scanning the square, Ling Qi could see a pair of Bai soldiers, members of her friends household guard sent here to assist as well. They had clearly adjusted to the climate, wearing the same heavy coats of fur and hide that their own soldiers now, Only the mail 'veils' of their helmets, and the colors of their livery making them stand out at a glance.

"It is unusual. I am thankful for lady Bai's generosity," Cai Renxiang said.

"Sir Lao is most redoubtable, and was a great help in driving back the larger lake beasts which came to investigate the shores," Gan Guangli said, clapping the shorter man on the back. Lao Keung twitched slightly at the contact but did not complain.

"The deeps give and take, but the price should be arranged beforehand," he grunted. "There were no other significant incidents."

"I am glad, and I will continue having words with Snowblossom about these matters," Ling Qi said. "But for now, where may I find my brother and the scholars?"

"You will find them out beyond the fields, Lady Ling! I believe they are waiting for you at the locus point of the Fire veins that has been discovered. I would say to simply follow the trail and pennants, but I suspect you will see them from the air much better," Gan Guangli said.

"Wonderful, Lady Cai?" Ling Qi asked.

"You are dismissed. Have your initial report ready by this evening."

Ling Qi inclined her head to everyone and soared upward without further ado, turning on a lazy curve to fly out over the farm fields. The initial fields were quite some distance from the shore and the other buildings. It might make the guards jobs harder but it was the best for leaving room for the settlement center to develop and grow. She suspected the collection of temporary buildings would be torn down as docks and other lakeside infrastructure was built up. As for the center… it would depend on where they decided to build the administration and lords manor.

She put that idle musing out of her head as she soared over the fields. There wouldn;t be time for a full planting and harvest this year, but the preparations could be made this year. Each farm was a neat square, separated by a well crafted boundary fence. Three quarters of each plot were fields, with the last quarter taken up by a farmhouse and its grounds. She could already see figures moving in and out of some of them, the first batch of settlers.

They were split by a central path though, a packed dirt road that wound up out of the flatter terrain of the valley floor and up into the stony lightly wooded slopes. It was marked by brightly colored pennants as Gan Guangli had said, though Ling Qi didn't see anything more obvious, except for the distant feel of Zhengui's qi. So…

She felt a surge from the land, a pulse traveling through the scattered web of energy beneath the surface. Heard aand felt the wind churn and rush, and there far away still, she saw a column of light and fire bloom, a geyser rising into the sky and raining back down.

She supposed that would do it.

She found Zhengui lying on his belly near the site of the bloom, half submerged in the bubbling boiling waters of one of the many pools which dotted the oddly terraced hills, the fading mist of the explosive geyser still glittering in the air. A handful of humans were with him, a few soldiers and the scholars Cai Renxiang had requisitioned from the capital.

"Hello Big Sister!" Gui chirped. "Did you see? Did you see?"

"I saw. This is new, little brother. I think the surveys would have noticed this before otherwise."

"Yeah!"

"I Zhen, have determined that this is the strongest place, where many lines connect. I saw that digging here, I could claim the fire the under the earth, and come to guide it!"

He sounded so proud of himself. Zhen hadn't gotten to the heights of haughtiness like that in a long time.

"Lord Zhengui's instincts are impeccable and saved us a great deal of time," one of the scholars, an old, old man with a wispy beard and little spectacles said. "Baroness Ling is most generous for giving us access."

Considering it was for her home she didn't think so, but she understood the dance. "Of course. I am glad this task was made easier, for we all serve lady Cai. May I know what you have found?"

"The lines go everywhere!" Gui chirped, rising from the pool of boiling mineral water. Here and there collections of crystal had begun forming in the crevices of his shell. "It goes waaaay south down to the big lightning mountain, and north to sisters salty cave. It doesn't go where the fuzzy carpenters are though and the part near Mister Blizzard grump is frozen"

So the fourth realm thunder-hoof was interfering with the lines in his region, and they didn't reach the eastern hills? That was still much better than expected. "Are there more nexus points like th-"

Ling Qi's words were interrupted as the geyser erupted again. So close she could see now the rounded hole dug into the hill top, lines with tiles of clay and stone carved with formation. It was truly spectacular up close a rising column of boiling water with a core of shimmering blue green flame at its core. She could sense a thread of Zhengui's power in it. Just a seed for now, but looking closer, she could feel the tenuous link in Zhengui himself as well.

"Like this," Ling Qi said, impressed. The boiling rain fell as only a warm mist, its killing heat contained by the formations carved into the rock.

"There are three in total, like this one, unfortunately one is occupied by the Thunderhoof, and the last lies too close to the mountain home of the Dragon Horses," The old scholar said. "There are a number of other minor points but none other so potent as this, Baroness."

"I see," Ling Qi said, frowning. Unfortunate, but they were lucky to have one unoccupied she supposed. "And what may be done with this one?"

"I Zhen, think that it would be best to spread this power through the earth, so that all the little humans do not freeze even when it is very cold and their growing things do not die even when the ice comes down from on high," Zhen said.

"Hmph, silly Zhen, it is better if we leave the power in the water, so the humans can drink it and be strong against bad spirits! Hanyi can scare away stupid cold spirits who come and try to be jerks, if we do not eat them first!" Gui exclaimed.

"Foolish Gui! The kind spirit of Snowblossom gives the humans all the nice water they need, would you intrude on our neighbors domain!"

"Vain Zhen just likes the pretty lake's praise and pats. Deep water is much better for the humans, they can dig wells far away from the lake, and not get sick!"

"Shameless Gui! Do not speak such things before big sister," Zhen snapped. "With warm soil, the humans will never want for good food!"

Ling Qi coughed awkwardly into her hand glancing to the gathered scholars, none of whom were quite meeting her eye. "...He's been arguing about this for some time, hasn't he."

"Y-yes Baroness" the old man said, bowing deeply. "We beg that you arbitrate this."

[ ] Veins of the Earth-Boiling Deeps: In the deep, in the dark, the fires of the earth sleep, the molten blood of the world. They rise as strange air, and bubbling waters, fortifying the body, driving away malignance.

Cultivation effects:
+1 Fire, Mountain, and Water Projects
+10 Physical Cultivation XP when used in a turn

Development Effects
+0.5 to Agriculture production of Fields Chain Projects(Fief Wide)
+10 to Settlement Defense(Fief Wide) Negates Minor Disease Events
+5 Happiness
-Unlocks Boiling Deeps Shrine Building Chain at Hamlet Level

[ ] Veins of the Earth-Glittering Pools: The veins run far, under every field and every home, in road and deep dell. Steadyness comes with prayer, a homely heat to warm and nurture raising spirits, soothing spirits.

Cultivation effects:
+1 Fire, Mountain, and Water Projects
+10 Spiritual Cultivation XP when used in a turn

Development Effects
+0.5 to Agriculture production of Fields Chain Projects(Fief Wide)
+10 to Settlement Defense(Fief Wide) Negates Minor Cold Snap Events
+ 0.2 Wealth
-Unlocks Glittering Pools Shrine Building Chain at Hamlet Level
 
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"I do not accept your diminutive. Do so again and I shall redirect all correspondence from the Celestial Peaks to your desk for sorting," Renxiang said flatly.

Ling Qi swallowed, her face scrunching up in disgust. "That's too cruel."

"There is a limit to my indulgence," Renxiang said.

"Alright, I give up, for now, Lady Renxiang," Ling Qi said, raising her hands in surrender.

"We will watch each other though, as you said."
I will say, that even in rebuking the nickname, there is a level of familiarity here that just wasn't there before and I love it. It's as close to a joke as Lady Ren gets but it means so much to me regardless. I mean, she would do it but she would blink slowly about it.
 
[ ] Veins of the Earth-Glittering Pools: The veins run far, under every field and every home, in road and deep dell. Steadyness comes with prayer, a homely heat to warm and nurture raising spirits, soothing ills.

Cultivation effects:
+1 Fire, Mountain, and Water Projects
+10 Spiritual Cultivation XP when used in a turn

Development Effects
+0.5 to Agriculture production of Fields Chain Projects(Fief Wide)
+10 to Settlement Defense(Fief Wide) Negates Minor Cold Snap Events
+ 0.2 Wealth
-Unlocks Glittering Pools Shrine Building Chain at Hamlet Level

get money
 
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