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

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Nah, the Wife thing was something engineered by that Hui husband Diao Linquin had. We see that in the sidestory that he intentionally cultivated Lady Diao as a conduit to do exactly what Shenhua is doing with her, to be the tether that would connect him to the world even when he ascends to White.
No, he wanted Linqin to perfect his fucked up garden.
Yrsillar said:
She was meant to become hm... an artificial Boddhisattva basically, both as the ultimate art piece and also as a way to bring his 'garden' into total alignment with his will by showing the 'flowers' how they could reach his twisted flavor of nirvana in utter passivity.
 
Nah, the Wife thing was something engineered by that Hui husband Diao Linquin had. We see that in the sidestory that he intentionally cultivated Lady Diao as a conduit to do exactly what Shenhua is doing with her, to be the tether that would connect him to the world even when he ascends to White.

No, this is incorrect. She's a perfect wife, but in an 'administers the family' sense, not a 'provides her spouse emotions' sense. Whatever Shenhua did to retain her love for Linqin was something else entirely.
 
lol it's nice to see that I am not the only one arriving at the wrong conclusion that hijacking that The Perfect Wife project was an ingredient of Shenhua's ascension.
Let's hope the actual cheat manages to be as badass as using your butch rizz to break the teacher you've always had a crush on out of her abusive het marriage.
 
lol it's nice to see that I am not the only one arriving at the wrong conclusion that hijacking that The Perfect Wife project was an ingredient of Shenhua's ascension.
Let's hope the actual cheat manages to be as badass as using your butch rizz to break the teacher you've always had a crush on out of her abusive het marriage.
High-jacking it probably did contribute to the revolution. If nothing else, it got her a dedicated, high-level supported that brought her clan along. And the human connection/aspect probably helped bring everyone together.
But it wasn't what made her shoot up so fast (though teaching to her RAGE Against The Heaven might've been an important step on her journey, but that's just the nature of Adventures, be they Ling Qi or Shenhua Adventures).
 
Question: If Ling Qi was (peacefully, so something that can be demonstrated on a practice field) showing off one big combat Art of hers/move, what do you think she'd choose?

For the purposes of showing off.
 
Year 45 Month 13 Arc 3-1 Futures
"...I want to know how the descendants of Tsu the Diviner… Tsu the uniter, who walked far and spoke to countless peoples, descended into fearful isolationism," after trailing off, Ling Qi found herself reordering her words, trying to better express her thought. She knew it still wasn't any kind of easy or narrow question still.

Meng Dan let out a long sigh, pinching his nose between his fingers even as he chuckled. "Remind me not to invite you to any kind of symposium in the west. You would have us in a fistfight in minutes."

"Ah, but we would win. Probably," Ling Qi said.

She paused, reconsidering. "...As long as Elders were not involved."

"Yes, I think we've both had quite enough of that," Meng Dan said dryly.

"Is that a narrow enough subject though?" She asked, smile fading as she brought the conversation back from teasing.

He was silent for a minute, and she turned back to the view of the cloudy sea far below them, eyes following the gaps where the she could just barely make out smudges of green and brown, so many kilometers below.

"Finding any answers to that beyond baseless speculation will be a difficult task, but not one that is beyond me. I accept your challenge, Ling Qi."

She glanced back over her shoulder. "That isn't the point of the request."

"Isn't it?"

She flicked her gaze away from his. She supposed there was no getting around that. She knew she was not giving an easy task here.

"I'll have something to show you myself, a… historical source you'll enjoy, so don't consider it merely an obligation," Ling Qi said. If anyone else would want to pick at Huisheng's blossom filled skull it would be Meng Dan.

His eyes lit up with intrigue. "Oh, now I am even more curious. As if I needed more motivation."

"I don't settle for minimums," Ling Qi said brightly. "We should probably head back up though. I think Sixiang might be in the process of convincing Yinhui of doing something unwise."

"I am both intrigued and frightened," Meng Dan laughed, rising from his seat and once again offering her his hand. "But I think we had best nip that in the bud."

"I agree, we both have enough on our plates already," she agreed, taking his hand.

This had been a good end to the day.

***​
"I appreciate the prompt return of these reports," Cai Renxiang said, accepting the bundle of scrolls Ling Qi held out.

"You knew exactly what you were doing," Ling Qi accused, smiling.

"If personal matters do not interfere with a duty, I see no reason not to allow my subordinates to complete their own tasks while performing mine," Cai Renxiang said bluntly. "I judged the two of you had significant matters to discuss."

"You make it sound so dry. I now have another young man courting me, and it will be in official capacity soon," Ling Qi said, resting her face in her hand.

Cai Renxiang studied her, brows drawn together. "You are not as distressed by this as I had assumed. It was my intent that the work task would keep things professional. Was this so?"

Ling Qi slid herself into the seat across from Renxiang. The little office in the manor was practically a copy of the one Renxiang had at the manor, cut down in size. Her friend did not shy from simply repeating what worked.

"Where it wasn't, we did that on our own after the last show," Ling Qi said, before pausing. "N-not that there was anything untoward, we merely went to the hanging gardens afterward to talk."

Cai renxiang's eyebrows, which had been steadily climbing toward her hairline, ceased their rise. "I see… You have changed."

"..I have. It's not a thing I will run away from… that I need to run away from," Ling Qi said, shaking her head. "But enough of that. I'll navigate that matter in the future… How did things go for you?"

She knew Cai Renxiang had spent much of the day at her clan home… that was to say, the Ducal palace.

"I did not meet Mother directly today," Cai Renxiang said crisply, letting the previous subject go. She was thankful. Bai Meizhen would surely have grilled her over it all. "Though I will later in the week, when she observes some of the ceremony rehearsals. "Although…"

Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow, Renxiang didn't usually trail off like that. "Although what?"
"It seems we may have… related troubles for once," Renxiang said, frowning.

She blinked, paused to parse that. "You mean…?"

"It seems my own betrothal is to be announced at tail end of these proceedings," Cai Renxiang said. "I suppose the Empress must require further assurances of Mother's allegiance, given the Bai alliance."

And given the Empress had deigned to attend if only in through multipresence…

"I know the Princes are all wed already. A grandchild then?"

"Great Grandchild or a grand nephew, I know no more than that yet. It seems even now there are some final discussions."

"...Which do not include you?"

"Why would they? It is not as if my opinion would have any affect on Mother's decision."

Ling Qi winced. Renxiang wasn't even bitter really, she stated that so matter of factly. She wasn't even putting on a strong face. To Renxiang that was simply a statement no different than commenting on the color of Xiangmen's leaves.

"Overall, I believe it is a good thing. My time will be further divided by the requirements of a betrothal, but ultimately this can only be seen as a sign of favor. This should benefit us greatly," Cai Renxiang said. "Although we will need to take into account that my fiancee will be observing us for the benefit of the throne as well."

"...I hope they are someone you get along well with, Renxiang."

Her liege looked up from her desk, and this time, Ling Qi caught the faintest flicker of disquiet. "I as well. It would be troublesome otherwise."

Ling Qi let those words fade into silence. She did not know what she would do if she were in Renxiang's position, but she knew she would not be half so calm or accepting of it. Even with her resolution she had found in the nightmare, the thought of the decision being wholly out of her hands turned her stomach.

…But then, Renxiang had told her before her opinions on marriage. A contract, no different than any business matter or alliance save in the details and the length of the term. It was funny back then, she hadn't really believed those were Renxiang's real thoughts, It was simply too different and alien from her own thoughts, stripped of the fears that gnawed at her heels.

Her friend WAS a bit anxious, but it wasn't about the same things Ling Qi would be.
Honestly. These eyes she'd cultivated made the world seem so strange sometimes. No wonder most people had such trouble really holding in their mind that other people could be so different than themselves.

"Well, I know you'll handle any wrinkles that adds to our planning, and I will be hear should you ever require my words or advice," Ling Qi said.

"It is appreciated. I have concerns, but the more stringent requirements of matrimony are some years off yet," Cai Renxiang replied. "A child of the imperial seat will be prepared for this as well. It is the purpose most are borne for."

She tilted her head, considering that… It was true wasn't it. The Imperial house needed to maintain connections with every duke, their own counts in the Celestial peaks, and even amongst their own branches. Marrying out, marrying in…

She sighed, she'd not thought she would ever feel pity for royalty. She resolved to bury that feeling well and deep. She doubted it would be appreciated. "Well my congratulations. I assume I should keep this to myself?"

"Yes."

She nodded, studying her friend, searching for any sign of distress or even anger her mind insisted that there must be, hidden behind a well crafted facade. If it was there though, it lay even deeper than her eyes could see.

Renxiang shuffled the scrolls Ling Qi had given her aside, either unaware or uncaring of Ling Qi's search, and instead tapped the desk once, bringing a fressh trio of neatly stacked scrolls out of storage, along with a plain but well polished coffer, which she then pushed across the desk toward Ling Qi.

She blinked, reaching for them reflexively. She felt the faint waft of pure, neutral qi just barely radiating through the shielding layer of jade dust set into the security formations on the container. "Ah, my stipend..?"

"Yes, among other things," Cai Renxiang said. "While I will continue ordering your general cultivation regime pills and elixirs from the Cai clan stocks, you will have enough funding to invest in more artisianally crafted cultivation boosters."

Ling Qi cracked open the top scroll, her eyebrows climbing as she saw some of the numbers there.

"...And I have included a significant rebate toward the funds you put toward Shenglu's initial development as well."

Mother might choke on her tongue if she saw this. She would have to figure out how to gently break these numbers too her. Though frankly, she had no idea what she was even going to do with it…

"In the other scrolls, I have included a number of suggested investments. You need not follow any of them, but I would suggest putting some amount into these. Money, like cultivation does few any good when it is lying still," Cai renxiang said dryly, anticipating her thoughts.

She grimaced, This really wasn;t in her field of expertise.

"You may of course delegate as much or as little as you like. Madame Ling has a clear head for these things in my judgement, given her cultivation."

Now she just frowned at Renxiang, now she was just being made fun of. She could tell. "I can certainly think of a few projects to spend on," she huffed.

"Such as?"

"...The salt grotto up on the plateau, its too far away for Shenglu to work on yet, but it is an excellent site for my cultivation," she sniffed. "Assuming I have my ladies guarantee that it will be part of the eventual Ling clan lands."

She put on her best haughty noblewoman's voice.

"I see, for your leal service, I will gladly make this guarantee," Cai Renxiang replied, with only a small hint of an unserious drawl.

She stared at Ling Qi. Ling Qi stared back.

"...I have many thoughts! I need to determine which are worthy of speaking," Ling Qi sniffed.

"Of course. Until then, consider my suggestions, and perhaps make the materials available to Madame Ling as well. Perhaps you may make some arrangements in your time here in Xiangmen. Investments in the capital are valuable."

"I am thankful, Renxiang. I know I've not had the time to learn much of such things."

"You have been focused on other fields. Despite my tone this is no jest, it would be best to shore up the foundations of your house," Cai Renxiang said. "A clan cannot coast on the heavenly fortune of its founder forever."

…She supposed that was even more true of the Cai. "Of course, thank you again, lady Cai, I will look into these carefully."

Personal Wealth 800 Green Stones

Monthly Income: 63 Green Stones

Gross Income: 115
Cai Stipend: 100 Green Stones
Zhengui Fertilizer: 10 Green Stones
Hanyi Revenue: 5 Green Stones

Monthly Upkeep: 52

Cultivation: (20 base-12Cultivation Art) 8
Zhengui: 30 Green Stones
Hanyi: 5 Green Stones
Qiyi: 2 Green Stones
Sixiang: 5 Green Stones
Household: 2 Green Stones

Drugs are represented as dice added to your xp progression for base cultivation. The results of these dice rolls are added to your cultivation art and any site bonuses before being multiplied by talent.

The total bonus granted by Drug Dice cannot exceed half of your cultivation art baseline. You may purchase maximum dice equal to your Third realm stage. Special Pills/Elixirs may bypass this, as indicated in their descriptions.

Drug Dice are purchased at the start of each turn from your personal wealth

Similarly, Sites will give either flat XP or dice to be rolled when determining cultivation

Personal Wealth is measured in Green Stones. You have a strong starting pool of personal wealth, but your monthly income comes almost entirely from your Cai stipend right now

The largest current factor in personal wealth is Cultivation Upkeep. Cultivation Upkeep equals 4 times your current highest cultivation stage So AT G5 your upkeep is 20. Additional factors such as the upkeep of your household and holdings also figure into this in addition to any other long term investments and ongoing expenses.

Cultivation Sites will operate off of similar rules, providing additional dice to roll and special effects based on where you focus your cultivation.

Consider how much you wish to spend on drug dice each month, as going forward we will balance the finances mini game with chances to make investments or household purchases which will affect the story going forward. Also additional third realm cultivators in the Ling clan(and hopefuls thereof) may be granted drug dice as well. Though this is not yet active.

The basic Drug Dice prices are below. Depending on availability, your investments, and reach the available dice and the maximum buyable will change over time. Special pills(and their dice) will also crop up from time to time.

d4=3 GS
d6=6 GS
d8=8 GS (Max 5)
d10=10GS (Max 3)

AN: So once you've taken a look at the spoilered posts above, please indicate how many Drug dice you would like to purchase with Ling Qi this month.

[ ] Your plan here
 
Hmm, about half of our net income on personal growth, the other hand tucked away for future development and investments as our default setup, assuming no major investments are on the horizon?

Maybe a budget of 33 GS worth on personal growth right now, leaving us with 30 a month for building our nest egg up, which we draw on for major investments?
 
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May your future husband love Excel and PowerPoint
Why would they? It is not as if my opinion would have any affect on Mother's decision."
I wonder at that. You are the heir now in full RenRen. You are not a doll to be pushed around and propped up. I think your mother would not mind you asserting yourself to some extent.

Though given how you view marriage maybe you don't care enough to try
 
Ahhh, the drugs return. Is Ling Qi addicted to cultivation or the drugs that spur them forward? Questions for the sages.

It's the cultivation. Thus sayest I, the sages.
 
We'll be starting simple but I feel like this should be a good way to have some mechanical depth without messing with the narrative flow of as much. Also making sites interesting and useful to engage with but we'll get to that.

The much maligned inventory tab will be getting a total overhaul tomorrow.
 
Wow... Zhengui is going to be a chonky boy.

No wonder there are so few Xuanwu if this is the upkeep they need to keep growing at the green stage. That's just monstrous. Left unattended, they would have to be walking ecological disasters, consuming everything in their path. Or they grow very slowly and Zhengui is speed running it.
 
"...The salt grotto up on the plateau, its too far away for Shenglu to work on yet, but it is an excellent site for my cultivation," she sniffed. "Assuming I have my ladies guarantee that it will be part of the eventual Ling clan lands."
How adorable. She hasn't yet realized that the whole guacamole will be Ling clan land once Renxiang isn't running it anymore, an outcome she made inevitable once she installed Zhengui as Spirit King.
 
Okay, here's my thinking:

[] Plan: Good Shit
-[] 4d8 [32 GS]

If we do it half spend, half save like Alectai suggested, this seems like the best way to go. The mean is slightly higher than 3d10.
 
How adorable. She hasn't yet realized that the whole guacamole will be Ling clan land once Renxiang isn't running it anymore, an outcome she made inevitable once she installed Zhengui as Spirit King.

It's why Ling Qi is such an adorable bean from the perspective of a leader, she gets invested giga hard and doesn't make unreasonable demands in turn.

EDIT: But yeah, spend half, split the other half in half, one of those into savings, the other into an Investment Fund to turn into more money over time. We can use our Savings as a piggybank for major projects or Surprise Expenses.
 
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