"The whole detached aloof act. I don't want to boss you around, but c'mon girl. I get that it helped when you didn't know what you were doing, but you're past that. You know your manners, you know the expectations, you've even got a fancier dress than anyone else. So just engage with the people your supposed to be chatting up already! Stop treating them like an obstacle or challenge and just treat them like people."
She forced herself to relax a little. Sixiang was right in that much, she was doing herself harm by trying to act like someone else. She was Ling Qi, not Bai Meizhen or Cai Renxiang, it was time that she started acting like it. If that brought trouble… she would overcome it.
Nicely done Sixiang, great to see Qi relax a little. Feeling comfortable rather than constantly having to watch for enemies.
"You follow the path of the Grinning Moon then?"
Du Feng paused for a moment, almost missing a step. "Yes, is it that obvious?" He asked curiously.
She could feel the currents of wind and ripples of the moon in his aura, so to her it was. "Only if you have the right eyes," she replied impishly
"Ah of course, I had heard some rumors in that regard," Du Feng said, giving her an assessing look. "It is good to see that they are not just that."
Rumours about our Moon adherence confirmed. Nice to see another too.
"Moon spirits can be dangerous and unreliable things," Lin Fei added carefully. "It is unusual for a new cultivator to walk that path."
"Hmph, I resent that," Sixiang grumbled, and both of Ling Qi's companions nearly jumped.
Sixiang's so great at keeping things comfortable. Really opening up here though, it's sweet. Especially that casual banter after.
The only examples of noble betrothal she had seen thus far were Xiulan and that girl who had attacked her over Huang Da. It seemed bizarre that Lin Fei was so content.
"Getting off track, confront issues later, you have a good conversational flow going," Sixiang chided.
Kinda sad that Qi so struggles to comprehend the idea of a girl/woman being comfortable in an engagement/marriage.
Suppose it isn't surprising that a clan of moon followers will be more traditional.
These two at least weren't unpleasant to talk to Ling Qi mused as they continued toward the beasts territory, hashing out their plan. Ling Qi felt like she was was beginning to realize something. Meizhen used her mannerisms as a nigh invulnerable armor to deflect unwanted social advances, and for a time emulating her had been helpful but… it was not really her, and continuing to cling to that false face was only doing her harm.
It was a really endearing approach but it's nice to see Ling Qi starting to grow as an individual and feel comfortable enough to not need to hide behind her friends' mannerisms. Inspiration is fine but this feels a step in the right direction.
Du Feng and Lin Fei would also release their spirit beasts, a hawk and an owl respectively, to act as overwatch and messenger to the other groups as necessary.
Flying spirit, just what I'd always wanted... 😞
By the time they separate and Ling Qi was idly collecting herbs, she was beginning to entertain the seed of idea. She would probably need Xiulan's help but… she did know a few important people, 'foreigners' mostly of course, but… maybe she could set up her own little gathering in the future? It would have to be a small thing, since she still disliked the crowding of Cai Renxiang's parties, but maybe it was time to give bringing her disparate social group together another try. She wasn't quite the same confused commoner she had been the last time she had made the effort.
Wooo! Nice to hear. Would make for an interesting event and an impressive show of social growth.
Du Feng is a moon following user of wind and sabers, seems a great role model! (Except sabers should purely be a practice weapon) Glad we maintained mother hen level caution without stealing the show though, feel we did a good enough job of displaying competence without that.
[x] Let him play his game, make up for lost time and try to forge a few more lines of personal acquaintance among his group.
Nice to see LQ relax and have fun so valuing more of that over trying to push a confrontation. If he wants something I'm sure he'll get around to it eventually.
