"Ugggggh I can't believe I missed that," Sixiang complained. Their voice was directly in her mind again, their rapid descent from the cloud line making physical speech impossible for the moment.
It was surprising Ling Qi thought. She hadn't known if she could manage a conversation like that. Not until she'd done it. But she did think she'd done well? Her nerves were manageable. It helped to just think of the words as a bit of a playful game, rather than something serious. And of course, being able to turn to work when they hit an awkward moment helped.
She was proud of herself.
"I'm proud of you, you dork," Sixiang huffed playfully. "Pff. 'You're fascinating.' Look at that guy going right for the kill. I didn't think that guy was so aggressive."
He had walked it back a bit later, but she wasn't sure how much of that was avoiding coming on too strong? Either way, it had been an interesting experience.
The wind whipped past her ears, tugging at the hem of her gown. Behind them were the mountains of the Sect, below was the spread of White Cloud Town, the settlement at the Sects entrance, where her family still lived. She spiraled down, descending in a looping curve that took her well outside the walls, to avoid any panic with the cities guardians, all dutifully manning the walls with their eyes on the sky.
She landed upon the road outside the front gate, a low realms bowshot distant, and the air beside her shimmered at Sixiang manifested. Colorful bubbles boiling out of Ling Qi's sleeve, bursting into glittering sparks that resolved into Sixiang. Their form was a little more comported, feminine now, with a glittering gown of shifting colors that was actually proper in its coverage for once.
"Looking to make a good impression on mother?" Ling Qi asked dryly.
"Don't wanna spook her at the first real meeting huh?" Sixiang said, smirking. Their hair still drifted in a halo around their head.
"Well, if its what you're comfortable with," Ling Qi said, briefly examining Sixiang's form. "...Are you taller than me?"
"Oh man, what's that look? I think I'm in danger," Sixiang laughed, and their frame shrank by a handspan. "And here I thought you didn't like being the tallest one in every room."
"It just felt strange," Ling Qi huffed. "Come on, we have a bit of a walk if we don't want to disrupt anyone."
She was still someone the guards recognized and so there was no pause at the gate, beyond an examination of Sixiang, but Ling Qi was not concealing her qi, and so their bond was obvious. The town looked to be in good spirits, despite the threats still looming. It was reassuring, the feeling that the Sect still had security well in hand.
The comfortable manor home was just how she'd left it really, the compact walls around the grounds shading the interior from the street outside. The guards at the door greeted her, and she entered without a ward, examining the improved defensive formations. The Sect must have put out some funding for that. Mother wouldn't have made a decision like that without informing her. A glance inside saw the household in the routines of their day. Biyu was upstairs, in her Mother's study with the woman herself. There were four other tiny, flickering signatures of awakened qi now too.
"In the front then?" Sixiang asked as the gates shut behind them.
Ling Qi considered, there was no one sweeping the path right now, though it was still clear. "Let's not disrupt everyone's day yet. I wish I could have given mother a more exact time."
Sixiang tilted her head. "Ah… got it."
She took Sixiang's hand, and stepped into her mother's office.
To Ling Qingge's credit she only barely startled. Even if Ling Qi was careful to project her presence forward first, letting even her mother's untrained senses feel her coming.
Her mother sat behind the desk of her study, hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her sharp intake of breath was the only sign of her startlement. "Ling Qi, you are earlier than expected."
"I was able to wrap things up quickly, Mother," Ling Qi said, bowing her head.
"Sis!"
Ling QI turned and caught Biyu as the little girl threw herself at Ling Qi, hugging her around the back. She'd been at a little playtable strewn with paints. She was sure her dress would be stained by her little sisters paint smudged hands if it were normal."Biyu! Have you been good?"
"Yes! I've been good. I paint a lot," the little girl chirped, squirming in her grasp. Then she caught sight of Sixiang and her eyes went wide. "Whose that?"
She saw her Mother staring too. "This is my friend Sixiang. They're visiting too. Mother I have already introduced them, but…"
"I'm only just trying out this body thing. I did say hi before though," Sixiang said.
Her mother's eyes flicked to the side, the older woman searching her memory. "I… see. You are my daughters spirit then?"
"Mhmm!"
"Your hair is floating," Biyu said.
"It sure is! Looks cool huh?" Sixiang said cheerfully.
Biyu stared at them. "Messy. Good girls comb."
"Being bad is fun sometimes though."
"Sixiang no," Ling Qi scolded.
Her mother still looked a little concerned as Ling Qi straightened up, a hand still resting on Biyu's head. "Mother, it's really good to see you again."
"It is," Ling Qingge agreed standing up. "Welcome back, Ling Qi, I am glad to see you well. Miss Sixiang. You are welcome too."
She didn't bother correcting her mother. Trying to explain Sixiang's nature was a bit outside their scope right now.
"Thanks much," Sixiang said. "Honestly, Ling Qi's the one who pulled me along. I was gonna leave this time for you guys."
"Even if you haven't seen them, Sixiang has been with me every time we have seen each other. That they can walk around now in the open just means they have no excuse to keep being shy," Ling Qi said.
"I confess I don't fully understand," Ling Qingge said. "But my welcome stands. Ling Qi how have you been?"
"Busy. Tremendously busy," Ling Qi said wincing. "There is so much work to be done that I can barely describe it."
"She's not kidding," Sixiang said, drifting back behind her, cedeing the 'stage'.
"Well, I understand that you have set yourself a very difficult task. Do you regret it?" Ling Qingge asked, coming out from behind her desk. At her knee, Biyu squirmed, clearly getting a bit bored with all the talk.
Ling Qi patted her little sisters head. "No I don't. No matter how difficult it gets. It was the right choice."
"Then you can only complete the work you've taken on," Ling Qingge said. "Things have been well here. There have been no incursions and the Sect has been improving the towns security."
"I saw," Ling Qi said. "You told me there was some success with the households cultivation?"
"Yes, thank you for your generosity there," Ling Qingge said, dipping her head, she bent down, picking up Biyu and nestling the girl in the crook of her arm. There was no struggle to it, despite Biyu's growth. The benefits of even a little cultivation. "There were four who showed some ability to draw on the spirit stones after the trial period."
"I see, that's very good," Ling Qi said. Even minor talent wasn't strictly common. Most people simply couldn't cultivate at all, from what she understood, even if showered with spirit stones. Though some more dangerous methods could induce the ability. "Who are they?"
"Min Leidi is the oldest at fourteen."
"The shrine girl?" Ling Qi wondered. Zhengui had mentioned the girl who had built his shrine in the garden.
"Lei-lei is nice!" Biyu chirped.
"Her Nanny's granddaughter. She had been attempting to get the girl into the temples before, but…"
Ling Qi nodded, understanding. She understood that Biyu's Nanny was her mother's friend, a woman who had been… promoted to their workplaces administration with age. Even then the stigma still stuck though. "I see, and the others?"
"Zhang Shu is twelve, and the son of one of our more senior maids," Ling Qingge continued. "I am told he is already pestering some of the Sect guards when they take their breaks for refreshment. He is an excitable boy."
Not unexpected, many of Mother's friends were older and had their own children.
"The other two are too young to begin properly, by my readings and your advice. So I have just taken note of them for now. One is Zhang Shu's younger sister Zhang Feng, who is eight years old. Then there is Dong Chyou, who is eleven. Her mother is our cook."
"Continuing light exercises for the younger ones are probably fine. Have any of them actually awakened?"
"Only Min Leidi, though I believe Zhang Shu may be close. I do not have your senses," Ling Qingge said.
"Mama, can I show Sis my pictures yet?" Biyu interrupted.
Her mother gave her a look.
"Soon little sister. Mama and I just need to talk a little more," Ling Qi said. "Did you plan something for me to greet and congratulate them?"
"I had some notions, but I had hoped for your input."
"Hm, should be something fun huh? Why not make it a big party for everyone. You can hire some outside staff so it's not just making work for them. Garden out back is big enough," Sixiang suggested.
"That would be difficult and expensive. Could it not also incite jealousy?" Ling Qingge wondered. "My thought was a dinner feast for the four children and their families, where you might speak about their duties, Ling Qi. This combines reward with establishing their position and duties"
Sixiang tapped their chin. "Mm, I guess that could work too. I guess others might be jealous of the attention, but making it a happy thing for everyone instead of just a few seems good to me. Seems like it would encourage everyone to work hard and try to prepare their sprouts when they get a bit bigger?"
"I can see both points," Ling Qi said. "Although, perhaps we could use Zhengui's garden. There could be some benefit to establishing their cultivation base there? I could make it a basic lesson too?"
"A solemn procession would have value for instilling the importance of their duty," Ling Qingge said.
"Party!" Biyu exclaimed.
"See, little sis gets it," Sixiang chuckled. "I dunno though, I feel like making 'em traipse out into the woods will take away from the congratulations bit? A big dinner for family is better than that I think."
"Well, I think Mother is right that I'll need to speak to them no matter what as… a leader," Ling Qi grimaced. That still felt weird, but she was the head of the Ling Clan and that would only become more of an actual thing as time went on.
[ ] Make it a quiet affair, a feast for the successful candidates and their families
[ ] Make it something more open, the whole household invited out to the gardens for a celebration of success.
[ ] Make it a more solemn affair, a procession at the site she and Zhengui had built up
