Belated reviews:
Ling Qi blurred to the side, and a hand shrouded in ash grey fire speared through the blurred afterimage where her eye had been. The gleaming saber in her right hand swept up to deflect the other girls second hand away from her throat, and Ling Qi smoothly transitioned into a thrust, and her opponent glided back, riding her own shadow.
Ling Qi: "The most optimal timetable is to achieve as many things you need to in a single action. When you are teaching you can train. When you're playing you can train. When you are sleeping you can train."
Xiao Fen eyed her warily over her hands, returning to the tight defensive guard of her initial stance as curling streamers of grey fire rose from her hands. Ling Qi smiled faintly, returning back to her own open starting stance, her saber held out to one side at middle height. She had finally found something useful to do with her blade training. Cai Renxiang had begun to walk her through the basics, but with Xiao Fen, using a saber served as a good handicap.
She couldn't really directly teach the girl, since they used different arts and had different styles, but they had found that Xiao Fen was able to gain some insights into her Sidewinder's Step art merely by observing Ling Qi's movements in combat. "Ready for another round?" Ling Qi asked.
Oh so THATS how Senior/Elder training works. Being able to see a more experienced cultivator USE a related, more powerful technique lets you improve your own.
...why am I surprised when so many arts and techniques come from observing natural phenomenon and distilling them into techniques to begin with?
"I do not tire yet," Xiao Fen replied evenly. She seemed much more relaxed when fighting.
"Which is ironic," Sixiang said silently. "Considering how vicious she is."
Bai Xiaofen lunged, carried by a shimmering stream of shadow. Bai movement arts, she had learned, seemed to treat having legs as a handicap to be overcome. Xiao Fen's offensive was fast and unrelenting. She struck with knees, elbows, fists, and feet without discrimination, getting close and staying close. Even her defensive moves were geared to flow directly into more offense. Her every strike was aimed at some sensitive portion of the body, and her spearhand strikes were made to stab and tear like a beast's claws.
She fights like a skating Ultraman.
Also translating that into mechanics she has a melee beatdown debuff style, intended pretty much to surf into a would be assassin in close quarters, and either destroy them or inflict enough debuffs that her primary can finish the job.
Just barrage through defenses to drill through.
Fire and Darkness together would PROBABLY evolve to some kind of grappling technique later. Both are very 'clingy' and passionate elements.
Of course, while Xiao Fen undoubtedly exceeded her in melee skill, Ling Qi remained far faster than her. Over the course of the last month, Ling Qi had refined her ability to move without movement. No longer did she need to expend energy flickering from one position to the next. Instead she wove through Xiaofen's merciless assault with minimal movements, leaving a trail of shadowy echoes in her wake that obscured her true movements. Though her skill with a saber average at best for a cultivator, she nonetheless flowed through the smooth and sweeping motions of the movements her liege had taught her, transforming the momentum of her twirling dodges into powerful blows.
Ling Qi now casually leaving afterimages.
Weathering a series of rapid jabs, and blocking a sneaky upward knee, Ling Qi pulsed her energies, driving back the consuming gray flames that tried to catch on her blocking hand. Xiaofen's fire arts were very different from Xiulan's flashy maneuvers. They were low burning and clung tenaciously to anything they touched. All fire devoured, but the fires Xiao Fen made were hungry and consumptive in a way that exceeded that. Ling Qi could already see the way the girls arts would evolve, from striking at physical frailty to spiritual ones. The way her fires could be thrust into an enemies channels the way her fingers would drive into the softer parts of an enemies flesh.
Stealth bonuses too, and the Napalm technique should let her quickly slap on some nasty debuffs and powerful damage over time before moving onto the next opponent.
Wouldn't be surprised if she had fire based poison effects too.
"What is the news on the Outer mountain?" Ling Qi asked lightly, catching a foot aimed for her jaw and shoving the other girl back with the raw strength of her cultivation. They had already been sparring for some time, so it was time to begin moving on to other business.
Xiao Fen narrowed her eyes as she fell back into a low guard, her shoulders bobbing back and forth like a serpent looking for an opening to bite. "Gan Guangli is maintaining his grip. He has reached appraisal stage," she struck without missing a beat, coming in low, her charge zigged and zagged, but Ling Qi saw through the initial low feint and brought her free hand up to deflect the leaping elbow strike aimed at her temple, and retaliated with a spinning slash that struck Xiao Fen across the chest, sending out a ripple of qi.
"You're getting frustrated. Tone down the recklessness," Ling Qi commented idly.
Xiao Fen let out a very unladylike grunt of acknowledgement as she landed and rose sinuously back into her starting stance. "His position is poor. His enemies are disunited however, and he makes those who attack him directly hurt. He uses my aid liberally in that area. I would be offended by his presumption, but there is a great deal of trash in this Sect that has forgotten its respect. The other factions fear to strike and weaken their position against the others. It is all very barbaric."
Gan's keeping up in cultivation, but I'm not sure where he's finding the arts to go further. The next breakpoint takes insights and the Archives are going to be a pain for him.
Looks like the Order isn't doing so hot, if its sliding back to factionalism, but we knew that was going to happen. He needs a couple more Greens to back him up.
I wonder just how many people are dumb enough to cross her like that. Is it something else paraphrased?
Her 'student' looked briefly rebellious before relaxing her stance. "...He has found a spirit. It's exact nature is hidden, but it seems the immaterial type. I suspect the details will be in the missive for your liege. As to the rest… The spirit kin you showed an interest in broke through. A number of Lu Feng's subordinates sought to break into her workshop, and found themselves facing an irate partial third realm. That one has a satisfactory attitude toward enemies," Xiao Fen said with a touch of approval.
"What did she do?" Ling Qi asked in morbid interest, letting her saber vanish back into her ring.
"I do not know the details, but they had to be dug out of the mountainside by their compatriots and spent a week in the medical hall,"
An intangible spirit to cover his Spiritual weakness. Probably Perception and dispels. Its a good pair for him.
Su Ling hitting Green is fantastic though, a good chance of seeing her next year. Wonder how her changing Lake to Mountain is going, Lake + Fire => Foxfire, so Mountain + Fire => Volcano?
The best part is that a BAI thought she was being adequately brutal. I suppose attacking a crafter in their workshop is just plain asking for it.
Having to be dug out of the mountainside points to her Mountain switch being successful as well, the Su Ling we knew was Illusions and Fire, not much piledrivering of foes into the mountainside.
Xiao Fen replied with a shrug. "Unfortunately the Golden Fields group is having some fortune as well. The Han Scion has reached the Green Soul Realm as well, though it is said that his effort was long and fraught. However, neither of his subordinates have had such luck."
Ling Qi had some mixed feelings about that, on one hand she was happy for her friend finally breaking through, but on the other Gan did not need more competition.
Han Jian getting there was a given ever since he started cultivating seriously. Han Fang probably won't be far behind I think, but Fan Yu continues to be irrelevant.
I dare say Fan Yu's inferiority complex is likely going to redouble. Now he has no excuses. The Golden Fields no longer has distractions, rivals or politics. They stand alone as they wished.
He still can't make it.
"And our enemies?" She asked, leaving those thoughts silent. "You mentioned that Lu Feng has reached the third realm, what about that Jin."
"He appears to be maintaining neutrality. His interest lies toward the production tournament by all accounts," Xiao Fen said with a frown. "It is a facade, I am sure. It is the way of the Jin to present a friendly face to all, while plotting in their hearts. It is to be expected, from a house which was handed their position as they were."
Ah, a merchant.
He was still a wild card then, that was a little troublesome. "Well, thank you for your work," she began, only to pause as she glanced to the side, sensing another human presence approaching. That was strange, she had taken them to an out of the way place on purpose… In front of her Xiao Fen stiffened in alarm. Ling Qi broke into a grin, Sixiang laughed.
"I should return then,' Xiao Fen said stiffly, making to turn away.
"Why don't I walk with you?" Ling Qi replied cheerfully, appearing at her side in a swirl of shadow.
"That is not really necessary, Senior Sister," Xiao Fen replied, but there was already a note of defeat in her tone.
"Not at all," Ling Qi said brightly. "Though it looks like we already have company."
#Bully senses tingling.
Time to tease the cute junior.
"Yes," Xiao Fen sighed.
"...Xiao Fen? Is that you up there?" a wary voice called out from the woods. "I don't really have the hang of this art yet…"
"Your senses do not fool you Liu Xin," Xiao Fen said stiffly.
...Liu?
Any relation to THOSE Liu?
I was wondeirng if they'd show up
The boy that stepped out of the woods was an average looking sort. He wore the Sect's silver robes, though it was clear that the set he was using were a talisman. He had short black hair tied into a topknot and a somewhat handsome face, though he was rather skinny and gangly in build. His grey eyes widened when they landed on Ling Qi, and he hastily bowed. "Oh, uh, that's what that was," he muttered to himself. "That is, my apologies for interrupting Senior Sister."
Built like Ling Qi, beanpole.
Misses the context like she does too!
"It's no trouble," Ling Qi said in amusement, running an assessing eye over him. Fire and earth were his choices from the look of it. Early second realm, so talented, but not too talented, or at least not too lucky.
Clingy, Passionate and Community oriented.
He cultivates the Way of the Husbando.
"Why are you here Liu Xin?" Xiao Fen said bluntly.
"Ah, I just figured you shouldn't walk back alone," Liu Xin replied, his eyes darting from Ling Qi to Xiao Fen's irate expression. Lu's guys are out in force."
Sixiang laughed, and Xiao Fen's eyebrow twitched. "How dutiful of you junior brother," Ling Qi said with an ill concealed grin. "Though Xiao Fen has spoken of how dutiful you are."
Ling Qi: [Channels Moon Sempai] "This is kind of fun"
Like, she literally copies his verbal tics here lol.
The younger girl shot her a look that could have melted steel, if her cultivation was a little higher. "Your concern is appreciated," she replied stiffly. "But you have only risked yourself pointlessly."
"I'd have gotten away if it came down to it. I'd rather be around to watch your back," he glanced at Ling Qi in worry. "You ... tend to start fights when you come back from these."
I think a lot of people feel like that after sparring with Ling Qi. Can't find her, can't find yourself, can't hit her, and when you finally hit her you can't hurt her.
After that finding somethings which would actually stay and be punched properly is so satisfying...
Ling Qi did not waste much time as they began to return to the sect, as she continued to assess Liu Xin. "So, Xiao Fen is a little reticent when it comes to talking about you, Liu Xin. You came to the Sect on a military scholarship?"
The young man gave her a wary look, unconsciously inching away from her inspection. "...Yes, seemed like a good deal. I was probably going to enlist anyway."
"Why is that?" Ling Qi asked curiously. In Tonghou few people wanted to join the army, given that the death rates for new recruits were so high.
Huh, didn't expect that.
I'm guessing maybe a lot of these new recruits are freshly awakened Reds who feel invincible compared to a mortal and then get killed?
Sort of expected better compensation at least.
@yrsillar
Care to clarify?
"Dad disowned me a year before the ministry guys came," he replied with an uncomfortable shrug. "Seemed like the best deal."
Getting disowned this young is unusual, and extremely odd. You'd normally see disowning only happen in cases of bringing major shame to the family(generally felonies and the like, and rare even then), or maybe being found to be born of infidelity.
"You are from the capital, right? What is it like living there? I have not had the chance to visit yet."
"Well I'm from the root districts. So I've never seen the upper or even middle city up close," he replied slowly. "It's… peaceful I guess, normal. Or at least I thought it was," the last was muttered under his breath, too low for a normal person to hear. Xiao Fen gave the sky a long suffering look.
Ooo, fellow frog in well! Hi!
Ling Qi hummed thoughtfully. "I admit… I'm actually curious about what its like to live directly under Duchess Cai. I have only met her grace once, but… it left an impression. What do you think of her?"
"Smooth," Sixiang said drolly, as Liu Xin shot her an alarmed look and glanced to Xiao Fen.
"Miss Ling is a direct subordinate of Cai Renxiang, the Duchess' heir," the Bai handmaiden said. "She is merely being blunt. Just answer honestly. Lying will only make you look foolish."
Liu Xin: "She actually MET THE DUCHESS?!?!?!"
Ling Qi raised her eyebrows, looking to Xiao Fen, who looked blankly back. On her other side, Liu Xin still looked worried. "Uh… Lady Ling, that's a hard question to answer," he hedged.
"I suppose it might be," Ling Qi allowed, considering the Duchess. "I apologize, but you have my word that your answer will remain private."
He remained silent for a time, before finally shrugging. "...I feel like my answer needs some context," he said finally.
"Then give it," Xiao Fen said dryly.
It still took another minute before he spoke again, looking down at the ground. "Some of the older folks still tell stories about the time she came down to the rootways," he finally said. "And I don't mean she sent a bunch of guards. She came in person. It terrified people. People disappeared in the thousands. It wasn't just thugs and smugglers either. Gramps said that of the whole ministry of trade, only him and a couple other junior clerks were left. Something like two thirds of the guards ended up with their heads on spikes over the barracks. Something like one in ten people got shipped off, and only maybe half of 'em showed back up in the army later."
If you want something done right you need to do it yourself. Living in a world famous kleptocracy somewhat makes you wish that could happen for real sometimes.
She's a White who got there long before she could just accept the status quo as normal and that you can't fight the inevitable.
It actually seemed discerning too, for such a heavyhanded approach.
Going by those statistics:
-The ministries were the most corrupt, with no excuse but greed. Those who could not finger a superior's pressure or orders for it got disappeared.
-The guards were the next most corrupt, as they were the day to day face of the state and thus the most accessible for bribery and collusion.
AND we got new context on Ling Qi's thought that the army had an unusually high casualty rate for new recruits: just how many of those new recruits were from ministry officials being sent to a penal legion?
Ling Qi's eyebrows climbed toward her hairline. "...I guess things got pretty chaotic after that."
"It didn't though," he said with a shrug. "Folks say she ran everything herself for years and it worked just as well as before. Things got better far as I can tell. I used to think things were just normal but… I've talked to people from other cities. Other cities don't have kitchens that'll serve you three meals a day and dorms full of beds to sleep in without asking for a coin. They don't get physicians coming through every other month to check up the wounded and the sick. There's a bunch of things that just… don't exist in other cities, so even if I didn't before..."
And now we know why for the first six years of Renxiang's life she never saw her mother. Shenhua was singlehandedly Bureauracy-ing her capital. By herself.
AND running public welfare systems.
That couldn't have made her popular with the upper class though. All those stuff costs manpower and they're the ones who can pay for it.
Ling Qi didn't say anything, just furrowing her brow. It sounded rather bizarre to her. Liu XIn gave her another worried look. Seeming to interpret her silence badly. "So the point is... I know a lot of people like to say things about her ladyship when they think she isn't listening, but I'm not one of them, really. I wouldn't trade her for any other ruler in the Emerald Seas."
He wasn't just saying that either. Beneath the awkward babbling, Liu Xin really did believe his words. Ling Qi was not quite certain what she had expected, but it wasn't that. "Please calm down. I trust your words," she said soothingly. Even if he was afraid, he also seemed to genuinely admire that terrifying woman. The same way one 'admired' a bolt of heavenly lightning that struck down the wicked. She shook her head. "...Well in any case, I should be going," he said glancing up at the sky. His impromptu little speech had ruined the mood for teasing anyway.
Liu Xin has successfully protected Xiaofen from teasing.
She would make up for it at Xiao Fen's next session.
...RIP Xiaofen
If she were to be honest with herself, Ling Qi was dreading this. Even if Luo Zhong had invited her in good faith, which she was not completely sure of, she was still going out to spend the afternoon with a bunch of people who were contemptuous of her at best. Frankly she got enough of that at Cai Renxiang's regular gatherings.
"You're going in with a bad attitude again," Sixiang warned. "I know I didn't exactly help with that last year, but I got better. Have you?"
Ling Qi breathed out, Sixiang was right, she was working herself up before things even got started. Even if she was right, approaching the hunting party in such a negative frame of mind would only hurt her. No, she needed to approach this as if it really was a friendly invitation. She needed to act as if she was not forcing herself to be there, and in doing give insult to her host. Attending to things like this was the most basic of the duties she had accepted. If she could handle going ahead alone to fight an army of bandits and a renegade noble, then by comparison, this should be simple.
Think killing bandits was easier.
And the attitude issue was probably no small part of how her relations are so bad, because they can see she doesn't want to be at the event which they would fight over to be IN.
"Just quit winding yourself up you big goof," Sixiang said with a sigh. "So what if they don't like you? None of them know you, they dislike the idea of you. Just be yourself and if they still wanna be assholes then you can start plotting their downfall or whatever."
"That's a little too flippant," Ling Qi muttered under her breath. Still, Sixiang had a point, she took a moment to adjust her breathing and bring herself to calm. Serenity was the name of the game. She was a noblewoman, she was unruffled by petty rumors and jibes, she did not have the jitters over joining a gathering of peers more intimate than Cai's impersonal parties.
"That's the spirit," Sixiang chirped.
[Channels Meizhen] is not the solution to every social encounter!
Meizhen is the shut in cultivating dork of her family!
Luo Zhong was the one who immediately drew her eye of course. As a formation stage cultivator, he was by far the most formidable presence. He was at the center of the group, leaning against the fluffy side of a massive hound.
Dang, thats a big jump in power towards the top of the rankings.
Luo Zhong's spirit companion was a stoutly built creature, with a short blunt snout and extremely thick fur, particularly around the neck. His fur was black, fading to a lighter grey at the paws and snout. The hound's head rose to Luo Zhong's shoulder, even laying down as it was, and he was not a short man. Between the hound and the man, their presence overwhelmed most everyone else present.
So fluffy!
There were only about a dozen disciples present, most of which were only at the early stages of the third realm. A few were at the second stage, but of the other disciples present, only two drew her attention even as half as strongly as Luo Zhong himself. One stood at the edges of the group, fussing over the half dozen odd other spirit beasts present, a mixture of stags and horses of varying breeds. She stood out from the other disciples by her scandalous garb. She wore a white sleeveless and backless garment and dark grey pants, and a thick cloak of white fur hung from her neck, covering her shoulders and back. She had short brown hair and skin of a similar tone to Ling Qi. Two red tattoos, shaped like fangs marked her cheeks.
Ling Qi: "Mooks, mooks, mooks, elite mooks, ooo a tribal pokemon master."
Wonder if there are challenges where the cultivators must compete using their spirits only.
The other was a young man deep in conversation with a few other disciples. He was clearly trying to look like the picture of clean imperial nobility, with black hair bound in a tight topknot but his features did not quite match. He was square jawed and tanned, with a hint of stubble along his jawline and slightly wild eyebrows that gave him a permanently angry look. He wore light armor lacquered forest green over padded cloth of a darker shade.
And Traditional Noble Dude
"I am surprised that you found the time," the rough faced young man said sauntering up beside Luo Zhong, trailed by a few of the others. "I would have thought you had not a free moment to find." The way he stood by Luo Zhong told her that they were familiar and probably not so distant in status.
"It is true that I am very busy due to the expectations that Duchess Cai has laid upon my shoulders," Ling Qi replied evenly. "However, I can make time when an invitation is extended."
Luo Zhong merely laughed, a not unpleasant sound. "I am glad that you were able to find a free moment Miss Ling, but excuse my rudeness. It seems I have not introduced you to the other guests," he gestured to the young man at his side. "This is my friend Wu Jing, of the eastern Wu clan, viscounts of the Russet Valley region."
The boy gave a short bow, just within the bounds of respect. Ling Qi matched him with an even smile. If she remembered her studies the Wu were a horse breeding clan, a remnant of one of the larger southern clans destroyed in Ogodei's invasion. She continued to nod and smile as Luo Zhong introduced the other young men and women, most were the children of established barons, with a one or two individuals like her, who had presumably signed up to take lands in Luo territory.
So Wu Jing is leaning somewhat prickly. Polite, but just barely.
Sounds like someone who was offended previous, but is keeping it civil out of respect for his host.
As the introductions began to putter out, Ling Qi found a hand thrust out toward her. If she had not recently spent time studying old cultures of the Emerald Seas in the Moon dream she probably would have been confused. Instead, she clasped the offered forearm, and held in the wince as the girl she had spied caring for the beasts squeezed back with excessive strength.
"...And this is Alingge of the Daigiya," Luo Zhong introduced, looking faintly amused, as if he could sense her discomfort.
Alingge meanwhile, starts on a positive note. Looking like her people and knowing the right cultural cues scores a few points.
"You are the one who humiliated the Chu, yes?" the girl asked bluntly, giving her an appraising look.
Ling Qi blinked, but restrained the urge to break eye contact. "I do not know if I would use the word humiliated," Ling Qi demurred.
"Mocked her aspirations and crushed her without taking a blow in return," the girl sniffed. "If this is not humiliation, I fear your definition."
Ling Qi: "But I wasn't trying to humiliate her. Just win with a minimum of effort. Also she was noisy"
"Your words were somewhat excessive, whatever your personal grudges," Wu Jing commented idly. "One should have more decorum in a public duel."
The girl, Alingge shot him an unimpressed look. "We speak of the Chu. No indignity is too great to be heaped upon them. The Daigiya will spit upon them for ten generations for their cowardice. Have the survivors of Wu forgotten the grave of Patriarch Ce?"
"...No," Wu Jing admitted. "It is perhaps a poor hill to stake my flag upon. I apologize Miss Ling. I meant only to warn you against making foes too easily."
Yep, Wu Jing DEFINITELY has a Problem with Qi, if he reflexively put her down for talking shit about a mutual enemy.
Also just how bad did the Chu fuck up back then?
"And that is sufficient," Luo Zhong cut in smoothly. "Now, while we wait for our last few stragglers, might you tell us a tale of your excursion with Lady Cai? The rumors have gotten wild."
Ling Qi dipped her head in acknowledgement, surreptitiously eyeing the disciples around them as she began to speak and they began to chat. Most of them still regarded her with suspicion or well concealed envy. She saw it whenever she spoke in a way that implied closeness or familiarity with Cai Renxiang. Luo himself though… she thought he was sincere.He was giving her a chance to make her case to the disciples aligned to him.
"Even that Wu guy seems to be hedging his bets more than anything," Sixiang hummed.
So Ling Qi told her story, and watched her listeners. She embellished very little, and the only outright lie was the official one, that the Bai they had encountered was merely a renegade from a local baronial house, seeking to abscond with the treasure trove arts in the shipment. She did not know how the Duchess and the Bai were enforcing that lie, but she was going to stick to it.
Can't help envy, beyond establishing that they can't change it and...the important secondary part: that they have a chance of influencing Renxiang through her.
Wonder what the rumors WERE anyway.
Finishing the tale, she accepted Luo Zhong's invitation to sit down with him. There was a tense moment when his hound got up to loom over her, leaning in to sniff her face suspiciously. However, she faced the hound without blinking and after a moment the beast let out a satisfied whuff and laid back down without a word.
Doggo can smell truth?!
She sat down one of the camp chairs set up nearby, next to Alingge and across from Luo Zhong himself. "Excuse Ta, Miss Ling. My old friend is a wary sort," The Luo scion said as he sat down, on the reclining beasts back, practically sinking into the fur.
That sounds a lot more comfy than Zhengui!
So fluffy!
"I would expect nothing less," Ling Qi replied easily. She had been worried that the dog might decide to slobber on her, when he had let his dark purple tongue loll out, but thankfully it did not come to that. "I am sure he means only to protect you."
"As any cultivators spirit should," Alingge said, to some muttered agreement. "Will your Xuanwu be joining us?"
"I am afraid not," Ling Qi replied.
"Any troubles?" Wu Jing asked idly. "The incident with you and that Yu girl caused some talk."
"Looks like not everyone's buying the story," Sixiang murmured.
"Yu Nuan was very helpful, allowing my spirit to challenge her and gain experience," Ling Qi replied lightly. "But no, Zhengui is too young for more sedate events like this. I am afraid he would probably disrupt things too much with his youthful enthusiasm and bulk," if he could get the hang of shrinking back down to a mere few meters, perhaps they could talk.
"This is unfortunate," Alingge said with a frown. "I had wished to see a legendary beast in person."
Ling Qi: "Zhengui is excellent Social Equipment! He works on Xuan Shi and now he works on Alingge!"
