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

[yrsillar]

"You have not taken my advice," Gu Yanmei said evenly seated on the divan beside her. Despite her perfectly composed tone, the words still managed to sound accusing.

Gu Xiulan hunched her shoulders slightly, her lips pressed together in a thin line. Her hair hung in loose ringlets around her shoulders, unstyled and wild. She kept her eyes fixed on the wall ahead. Her sister's house was richly appointed, it's steel walls covered by tapestry and decoration. She could not say that she was appreciating the decor much at the moment though. Xiulan did not flinch as her sister peeled away a portion of burnt and ruined flesh from her arm with a surgical instrument, a pair of silver graspers etched with characters of cleanliness and purity.

Even now, her arm was a ruin, with the bandages off, it was revealed as a burned husk. If she looked, Xiulan knew she would see places where bone was visible and burned with pale blue flames. Snapping currents of lightning ran where veins should have been and sparks popped and snapped through gaps in her blackened skin. It was good that she had grown inured to the scent of burning flesh and fat. The piece her sister had removed joined the rest of the irrecoverable pieces of skin and muscle in the bowl. Only as her elder sister set her tool down and began to unroll a new set of aromatic silk bandages did Xiulan finally answer. "I made the attempt, it does not fit my Way."

"Your Way will lead to an early grave sister," Yanmei said, not looking up at her as she began the laborious process of re-wrapping Xiulan's arm.

The world was shaking apart, the sky had split open, the brewing storm torn asunder, and the rain had turned into a hail of stone from a broken mountain. Above her, Elder Sister hung on burning wings, like a phoenix from the families tales, wrapping them in heat. Ling Qi had collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, and she had dived to catch her friend before she struck the ground, ignoring the shriek of agony that the sudden motion sent through her tattered nerves.

Power washed over her, and Xiulan shivered, even through Elder Sister's aura, she could feel the crushing weight of it. The earth shook again and before her eyes another mountain crumbled. Icebreaker peak tumbled down like a childs tower of blocks, thousands of tons of stone collapsing as the full breadth of thing within was revealed. A sea of grey and black flesh, a million hungry maws and agonized eyes, rolling in madness, mindless tendrils the size of towers thrashing wildly against everything in reach. She felt her stomach churn merely from looking at it.

Her Sister's aura flared like a second sun and she was gone, a boom of thunder passing in her wake, but the warmth of her aura remained, cradling her, cradling them, protection from the madness of the world outside. She saw men and women, the soldiers who had fought with her their faces twisted in desperation and fear. She heard them praying to the great spirits and their ancestors.
For once, she felt no disdain for their fear. Beneath a sundered sky and on the rolling earth, she held her friend close and prayed as well.

"Better that than the alternative," Xiulan said bitterly.

For the first time Yanmei paused, a flicker of some emotion surfacing in her cool gaze, gone too fast to be recognized. "Foolish little sister, you are not some hero from a child's tale, fighting the world alone," Gu Yanmei said softly. "Consider the effect of your words. I know Mother gave you the same lessons that I endured."

Xiulan's lips twisted into a wry smile. "The only reason I am truly valuable to the family is the risks I have taken. Will you gainsay that, Elder Sister?"

Silence answered her question, and Xiulan lowered her eyes, only to jerk to the side as her Elder Sister's metallic fingernails impacted her temple in a perfectly executed flick. " I am not talking of politics, you insufferable girl, Father is young and hale, his position secure. Your actions affect your family. Do you imagine that Mother was not distressed enough to set the servants scurrying? That Father did not pace the throne room and make the great fires dance? That they did not consider withdrawing you immediately, face be damned? That they would not rather have a live daughter than a dead hero?"

Xiulan hunched her shoulders further and further as her sister laid into her without once so much as raising her voice or altering her tone. Her points were driven by cold logic and unshakeable certainty. "You are my sister, Xiulan. Do not so so trivialize the value of your life."

"I can't afford to fall behind," Xiulan replied in a small voice, drawing her knees up to her chest. Her elder sister's words broke what remained of her reserve. "I can't… I will not just be some irrelevant wife of a mediocre man."

"You still imagine yourself to be trailing behind… Do you truly despise that boy so much," Yanmei said. Xiulan sucked in a breath as she cinched the bandages tight around her ruined arm, letting the medicine infused cloth begin doing its work. All that remained was her hand. "Is Fan Yu really so despicable."

"He has no ambition," Xiulan hissed darkly. "He tags along on others coattails and wallows in his own mediocrity, pitying himself for his own failures. How could I not?"

Yanmei was silent as she went about the delicate task of wrapping Xiulan's hand and fingers. It would probably feel strange, if she could feel anything beyond faint sensations of pressure and pain from that hand, Xiulan thought bitterly.

"I will speak with Father, the current arrangements are swiftly growing untenable regardless," Yanemi finally said.

Xiulan started, looking up with wide eyes. "Sister, what…?"

"Do not be obtuse Xiulan," Gu Yanmei chided. "You have already set yourself upon the path to surpass most of our siblings. Do you imagine that we can afford to have you marry into another clan now?"

"Sister Lian is at the framing stage, and Xiuying nearly at completion," Xiulan replied incredulously.

"Xiuying has been at completion since before your birth, and is nearing her ninetieth year, Lian is fifty seven, and more interested in raising her new son than further cultivation, neither achieved the third realm at the age of fifteen," Yanmei replied steadily.

Xiulan opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, why was she protesting, was this not what she had hoped for, what she had strived for, suffering pain and disfigurement for?

"Do not take this as approval of your methods little sister," Gu Yanmei's voice cut through her swelling feeling of accomplishment like a scalpel. "And given the current situation at the Sect…"

Xiulan's elation cooled, thoughts of the battle coming back to the fore of her mind. Elder Zhou dead, unknown assassins creeping about the battlefields, whatever that awful thing that had emerged from the husk of the mountain had been, Ling Qi nearly dead because she had been too slow and weak, too unreliable…"

"You will have to begin preparing for the journey home soon," Yanmei said quietly, standing up from her seat on the divan. The bowl containing the ruined flesh from her arm vanished in a flash of heat.

"Wait, why must I?" Xiulan began, only for the answer to come to her before she could even finish her words.

"The Sect is at war, little sister. The Gu are no cowards, but the family cannot afford to risk the both us," her Elder Sister said, not turning back to look at her as she swept out of the room. "Rest now, Xiulan, your energies are still unbalanced."

Xiulan stared after her for a moment in silence, and then began to laugh. ...Getting what she wanted indeed.

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi was quiet, sipping her tea as she watched her friends converse. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched her mother. She saw Ling Qingge's careful, practiced poise, and the stewing concern under the facade as she answered a question of Xiao Fen's in a polite and demure voice. Though this had been an unexpected and sudden visit, her mother had been preparing herself very rigorously, had she not?

She thought back to their conversation in the hearth room, and the frustration and bitterness that had briefly surfaced there. Was she really going to suggest that her mother abandon her again? Whatever she thought she would be arguing, that would be what she was asking.

No.

Ling Qi felt herself relax, a snarl in her qi flow that she had not even noticed forming smoothing out. Even if it meant they might be in danger, she couldn't force her decisions on her family. Later, they would talk, mother and her and determine what precautions that the household would take, but they would do so together. Their staff, she would give the chance to leave, as they had not signed up for this, but family was a different matter.

"Oi, you alright Ling Qi," Su Ling spoke, shaking her out of her thoughts. The other girl's pointed canine ears flicked in a way that she knew denoted concern. "You kinda spaced out."

"Sorry, I was lost in thought, there is a lot to think about lately, isn't there," Ling Qi replied quietly.

The atmosphere at the table darkened a little, and Su Ling nodded slowly, her natural scowl deepening a little. "You're not wrong. Things are going to be rough for awhile."

"They are barbarian trash, no matter what form they take," Xiao Fen sniffed. "Even with everything that has happened in recent millenia, the empire is strong. From what I have seen, your Duchess has done much work to straighten out the fractitious rabble, which has so long dragged the Emerald Seas down."

"You would think that a Bai would know to be more diplomatic," Ling Qi said dryly.

Xiao Fen arched a scaly eyebrow. "Oh, I am not speaking of any still extant individuals. How bold of you to presume that I would make such a gaffe," she replied coolly.

Ling Qi maintained eye contact with Xiao Fen a moment longer. The girl really was well practiced at that sort of thing, wasn't she?

"My apologies if my question might seem unknowledgeable," Ling Qingge said tentativelyLing Qi glanced to the side, surprised to hear her mother speak up. "But, what do you believe the empire's response will be? Will the army come?"

"Hell if I know. Sect is gonna mobilize all the way," Su Ling shrugged. "Will the folks further away bother? Who knows, they'll probably just look to their own."

"How cynical of you," Xiao Fen replied, pouring herself a new cup. "I think you underestimate the scale of this insult, Miss Su."

"Do I?" Su Ling asked blandly.

Ling Qi was quiet for a moment, but then shook her head. "I think you do, Su Ling. It's not a matter of altruism or selflessness," Ling Qi said, remembering the studying Cai Renxiang had put her through, the picture of the Emerald Seas she had so painstakingly assembled in her mind. "It is a matter of legitimacy. If the things I have heard since I woke up are correct, this is the largest and boldest incursion since Duchess Cai ascended to the throne, even ignoring the… new enemies."

"...Ah. Well shit," Su Ling said gruffly, clearly understanding the words she had not said. "This is gonna get bloody, innit?"

"Quite," Xiao Fen said, in an incredibly dry voice. "To answer the question I believe Madam Ling was truly asking however, the Sect will likely focus on reconnaissance and defense, until the other pieces have moved into place. This town is the gateway to the Sect, the place through which its production flows into the rest of the empire. It is likely that great effort will be made to make it safe from new threats."

If only because they couldn't afford to have their 'face' damaged further, Ling Qi mused. She was thankful that the Sect had given her a home in the inner city. It was good to benefit from the structure of the Empire for once, instead of being out in the gutters and fields. "Mm, I don't doubt that the Elders are unhappy with being caught unawares." Elder Jiao in particular, for all his lax attitude, struck her as a fundamentally prideful man.

"Feh, at least their pride will do some good," Su Ling grumbled. "I guess I won't object to checking things out below. Can't let people get caught out again."

"We can discuss improving the house's security later mother. My friend Li Suyin has done a lot of development on formations," she just had to convince mother to put up with skeletons in the basement. Hopefully Suyin had refined it further, the version of the array Ling Qi knew was not sufficient for a house with full staff.

"Suyin does good work," Su Ling agreed, finishing her tea.

"I am reassured," Ling Qingge said, dipping her head. However, a moment later, Ling Qi spotted a nervous servant signalling her mother from inside the house. Mother glanced over before excusing herself to converse with the woman. Ling Qi couldn't help but overhear though. Apparently Biyu was being quarrelsome, since this was usually around the time she was allowed out to play in the garden. She glanced over at her friends, she could probably save them some trouble, it wasn't like this was some official meeting. "Would either of you be bothered if my little sister came out to play in the garden while we have our tea?"

"The hell kinda snob do you think I am," Su Ling snorted. "Just about done anyway, got stuff to do."

"Is she teethed?" Xiao Fen asked.

Ling Qi paused, caught short by the bizarre question from Xiao Fen. "...Yes?" Ling Qi answered.

"Then it is no trouble," Xiao Fen replied as if the question was totally normal. "Ah, if you would, when you see Lady Meizhen next, inform her that despite my setback, I will join her in the third realm soon. I will be prepared to serve her properly as soon as possible."

Ling Qi nodded slowly, then stood up to go speak with her Mother. She was not even going to ask.

***​

Ling Qi was in a good mood by the next morning. After her friends had left, she had spent more time with her Mother and sister and discussed what they were going to do. The offer to fund a trip back to a settlement of their choice had been extended to the staff, and Ling Qi's mild surprise, no one had taken it. Given what the women had been doing before, Ling Qi wasn't too surprised though. Ling Qi reminded herself to budget for extra space when it came time to design a proper 'panic' room for the house. They weren't family, not to her, but for mother...

-2 Green Stones

Well, she would work out the details with Li Suyin tomorrow. She had already sent a message to the other girl and received a reply, she would be happy to help. Ling Qi had even haggled her up to accepting more than cost for her work. Ling Qi chuckled to herself as she remembered the fierce battle of words against her friends generosity.

Ling Qi paused along the mountain path, peering out toward the province interior for a moment. She was still worried, still anxious, and still angry, but she had done what she could. She rolled her shoulders, grimacing at the twinge of pain from her still healing wound. It was going to linger for another day or two, the medics said. Ling Qi would be glad to see it gone, but for now, she had to head up the Inner Sect mountain to meet her liege. Cai Renxiang would undoubtedly have marching orders for her, she just wondered what exactly the Duchess had in mind.

However, as she reached the top of the cliffside path, Ling Qi paused, feeling a familiar qi. It emerged from the blank space that represented Cai Renxiang's home in her spiritual senses. She was not terribly surprised to feel Meizhen's aura, but she was not alone. A moment later, as she reached the top of the path, she saw them. Bai Meizhen was immaculate in her usual way, gliding down at the path, unmarked by the recent violence. At her side was a tall and gangly figure, Li Suyin's mentor, Bao Qingling. She could not hear their words of course, obscured by a dense web of qi filaments and the pressure of the deep, but…

The sight still seemed strange. Each time she had met Bao Qingling, the girl had been stiff, taciturn and irritable, like Su Ling except condescending and arrogant, and yet… there was something more animated about her, as she spoke she gesticulating with her hands. The sharp, jerky movements reminded her of a spider plucking at its web. Meizhen was as sedate as ever, only responding periodically, nodding or smiling faintly in response to words that Ling Qi could not hear.

Meizhen was, Ling Qi noted clinically, walking a bit closer to her side than was strictly appropriate, and the prickly Bao did not seem to find this objectionable. It made her feel odd, and the dark qi in her channels stirred sluggishly. She clamped down on it. It was unfair of her to feel that way, and she had grown past that. She was happy that her friend was making more connections.

Meizhen met her eyes then, and the girl blinked in surprise. Suddenly the pressure that surrounded the pair faded. "Ling Qi? I did not recognize you, are you well?" She asked, a touch of concern in her voice, interrupting whatever conversation they had been having.

Ling Qi smiled wanly, stopping at the top of the path. "My 'treatment' just unsettled my qi. I should be fine in a day or two. Sorry I haven't been in contact, I spent yesterday taking care of some things," so she couldn't be mad that Meizhen hadn't been at her bedside when she woke up.

"You're lucky you're as sturdy as you are," Bao Qingling said, her animated expression fading back into her usual disgruntlement now that they had been interrupted. She folded her arms under her chest, going eerily still. "And that the Sect broke out the good medicines."

Ling Qi glanced over at her, raising an eyebrow, why was she even commenting. "Oh? I'm glad that they did, but…"

"Bao Qingling has been quite busy with medical duties, in the wake of events," Meizhen cut in smoothly. "She was the one who informed me of your status."

"It was a mess," Bao Qingling said sourly. "It might have saved you, but your body reacted to the sun qi about as well as it did to the poison. I had to do a lot of cutting."

Ling Qi couldn't help but pull a face, imagining the pallid girl looming over her with a surgeons knife. Unconsciously, she reached up to rub her bandaged shoulder. "...I'm glad it went well."

The other girl cocked her head to the side, and Ling Qi noticed, not for the first time, the way the girl didn't seem to fully look anywhere with her eyes. She wasn't blind but… it was clear that she relied far more heavily on other senses than most. Despite not turning her head, she seemed to notice Meizhen's slightly sour expression. "I destroyed the tissue once the toxin traces had been strained out of course."

"Of course. How did it compare to the other toxins collected?" Meizhen asked, changing the subject.

"Manufactured for certain," Bao Qingling said. "Similar enough compositional traces that I suspect a master alchemist somewhere in the enemies supply chain."

"You think someone in the empire is supplying them?" Ling Qi asked with some concern, did they have to watch out for traitors as well.

"No," Bao Qingling replied bluntly.

"An unpopular opinion, to ascribe such sophistication to mere barbarians," Meizhen mused.

"And I already told you, where they can stuff their popular opinions. I'm not going to underestimate my enemies," Bao Qingling's lip curled in disgust and she shook her head. "Regardless. I need to get back to my workshop. The antidote projects won't finish themselves. I'll leave you to your friend, Bai Meizhen."

"I will be happy to assist you later, but farewell for now, Bao Qingling," Meizhen said, briefly dipping her head.

"Thank you for your work," Ling Qi added with a slightly deeper bow. She received a terse nod in return as the other girl strode past her, heading down the mountain path. A few moments of silence passed between them,

"I am glad you are well, Qi," Meizhen said quietly. "Please endeavor not to get so badly injured in the future."

"I'll work on it, Meizhen," Ling Qi chuckled. "I'm glad you came out unscathed as well. Were you involved in the fighting?"

"Only peripherally," her friend replied. "My situation is complicated enough that none chose to command me. I suspect that will change in the future. I have a duty to show solidarity with our allies."

So she would not be leaving the sect then. That was good. Ling Qi had already heard rumors of disciples preparing to leave. It was the worst in the Outer Sect, going by what Su Ling and Xiao Fen had said. "Ah, I saw Xiao Fen, she says she will break through soon, and be prepared to serve you." It felt weird to say, but teasing the younger girl aside, she had agreed to pass the message.

"Reassuring indeed," Meizhen said with a faint smile. Ling Qi followed her gaze down the mountain path.

"Are you sure of what you're doing?" Ling Qi asked quietly.

"As sure as I can be without broaching the matter directly with her," Bai Meizhen said. It was strange, despite the swirl of events, her friend seemed… content. "Which is… soon perhaps. War does not leave time for regrets, as they say."

"I can't say that I really understand," Ling Qi sighed. She wanted nothing to do with that sort of thing. "But I wish you luck all the same."

"And I cannot fully understand your reticence," Meizhen replied sadly. "However, perhaps life in Emerald Seas has made me soft, but… I find myself looking forward to a little youthful indiscretion. Life is to be lived, after all."

"Meizhen!" Ling Qi hissed, scandalized. She knew their words were screened, but still.

Bai Meizhen let out a soft laugh, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "My apologies Qi."

"You've changed Meizhen," Ling Qi replied after a moment. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.

"Haven't we all?" her friend replied airily. "Will you be free for tea this evening?"

"I was intending to spend it with Zhengui," Ling Qi replied apologetically. "Although… if you do not mind the setting, you're welcome. I'm sure he would appreciate a visit from Cui."

"Then we shall be there," Meizhen agreed. "Now, do not leave Renxiang waiting. She is having a stressful enough day I think."

They both made their farewells and Ling Qi turned back to her destination. She knew she had many things to speak of with Cai renxiang, but the first thing on her mind was…

[] What was known about the enemies that had attacked them
[] What the internal response of the province had been like

 

[yrsillar]

How long had it been, Cai Renxiang thought, since she had been in her Mothers court, even in spirit? Her day of birth would be next week, so nigh on ten years, it seemed, since the day that she had humiliated herself and Mother alike by failing to even withstand the Duchess' scrutiny. She had grown, if not strong, than at least durable, since that day. She would not bring shame to the Cai name today.

Though in body, she kneeled in her Argent Sect Cavern, to all of her senses, she kneeled, her head low, on the rich red carpet which lead up to her Mother's high throne, which stood at the far end of the hall. The Great Hall of Xiangmen was a vast slab of marble, a dozen meters thick and many hundreds around, grasped in the curling branches of living capital, far above the clouds. One hundred meters overhead, the ceiling of woven cloud danced in complex patterns of color, said to be modeled off the skies of the far off plains of living ice beyond the Wall, where the Diviner himself had quested in his youth. The twelve vast pillars that supported it were each carved from the bones of a slain Beast God, the trophies of the Weilu's conquest.

The throne itself was built from a single branch which breached the stone disk, ten meters wide at the base, it rose nearly thirty meters through the air, curving up in a hook to shade the throne built halfway up it's length with verdant foliage. Her Mother sat there, reclining in the cushioned throne, her radiance cast across the gathered court. The Prime Minister stood at her side, but she alone occupied the advisors platform built just below the throne. All around her was the gathered court of emerald seas. The carefully selected courtiers of the count houses and their direct viscounts rubbed shoulders with the courtly nobility, those families which occupied the hierarchy of the capital itself, and ruled over the day to day doings of its million souls. There were less of them now, if Cai Renxiang could judge from her faded memories of this place. Mother had been busy.

"And so, under the command of Core Disciple Jia Song, I led the vanguard against the northeastern outbreak," Cai Renxiang spoke clearly and concisely. Here, before her Mother, with the weight of her expectation and power resting on her back like a boulder, she did not dare waste a single breath or syllable. "Initial confrontation was successful, and the enemy spirits were driven back and slain without casualty. The initial movements were a total success."

"That did not last," Mother Spoke, and the world listened. Her words were airy and light, like a socialite commenting upon the weather, but to a cultivator of the highest realm, there were more to words than mere vibration in the air. The Duchess's statement held a sharp and terrible weight, and the Jia representative, a cyan cultivator, himself hunched his shoulders as if preparing for a blow, all of his practiced poise and cultivation rendered to naught by the mere inference of Mother's attention.

"Core Disciple Jia Song, ordered us into the breach," Cai Renxiang continued as if she had not been interrupted. The Jia were still allies, they would not suffer much censure for this, nor did she wish them to. To hold a grudge such as that was not only inefficient, but the seed of the thoughts that lead any ruler to vice. "As this was a military matter. I raised a point of contention, but did not disobey commands. We descended, and confronted the retreating enemy. It was a slaughter, however, our distraction was used to strike at the Core Disciple Jia Song, and further reinforcements waited in the tunnels. There were three casualties among the Inner disciples, one of which later became a fatality. However, in the battle an enemy commander emerged. I estimate that he was of roughly framing stage in cultivation. We dueled, and I took his head," Cai Renxiang let out a careful breath. The tunnel claustrophobic and dark, lit only by her own radiance. The darting figure in the shadows, and the envenomed edge of his knives returned to her. It was good that she had practiced so against a foe of similar mobility.

"However, the enemy we faced made heavy use of sacrificial techniques. The entity that emerged from their dead was beyond me," Cai Renxiang admitted bluntly and without shame. "It was only Mother's grace which allowed us victory." Boiling black flesh and eyes beyond counting, grasping, hungry mouths gnawing at her limbs. She remembered the traces of shen, beyond the potency of any third realm technique, punching through her defenses. Most of all, she remembered the second time in her life that Liming had truly awoken, the furious spiritual scream wiping her thoughts blank as she lost control of her limbs. The first time was a faded memory, the first and only time an assassin had dared seek her life and slipped the attention of Lin Hai.

She did not care for it. Even now, Liming seethed beneath her conscious mind, twitching threads sought to control her nerves. She still felt unclean, the total loss of control worse than any horror of the deep. Despite herself, she tightened her grip on Cifeng's hilt, and the saber qi flowed through her channels, severing Liming's angry susurrus from her thoughts.

Cai Renxiang kept her head low in the silence that followed the end of her report. The court was silent, even the wind seemed silent.That silence persisted for several torturous seconds, before it was finally broken by a tiny sound, the faint click of a lacquered fingernail tapping against wood.

"Raise your head, Renxiang," Mothers command was harsh and final, none of her affected humor present. Cai renxiang did not hesitate to do so, high on the throne of Xiangmen, Cai Shenhua was not reclining any longer. She sat tall and straight upon her throne and the radiance of her eyes swept across the court as a single one of her fingers tapped against the armrest of the throne. Each tiny click seemed to echo like thunder, and Cai Renxiang braced herself as that gaze fell upon her. Inhuman, heavy with expectation, it threatened to consume her as Mothers gaze pierced her mind, seeking, shaping, pitiless.

"You performed acceptably, my daughter. I expect you to continue to do so. In the name of the Cai, you will punish any barbarian which encroaches upon our lands," The words were like nails driven into her thoughts, and she could only nod in acceptance.

"It will be my honor to punish them in our name, my honored Mother," Cai Renxiang replied.

"Jia Xu," the named man bowed low at the waist, all but kowtowing at the mention of his name. "Inform your uncle that he needs to speak with his grand niece on matters of strategy," the humor was returning, the languid tone that colored Mothers words, but she was standing, and no one in court dared relax even a hair. "Esteemed members of my court. Pass word to your clan heads. There is another border in our kingdom which requires reinforcement. Laxity in this matter is unacceptable."

"Linqin," the Duchess said, towering over the other woman at her full height, she looked over her shoulder, and a flicker of something like an affectionate smile touched her lips. "Be a dear, and handle court for me today."

"As you command my lady," the Prime Minister replied without batting an eyelash. "May I request what business will be occupying you?"

Cai Shenhua smiled, and there was nothing kind in her expression. "It seems I have been too merciful. I will be taking a walk beneath the rootways. Arrange for soldiers to secure my route, after."

"Of course my Lady, please be mindful on your stroll," Diao Linqin replied simply.

Cai Renxiang lowered her head, pain still clouding her thoughts where mother's attention had lingered. She had been given her command, mother would be busy, and so would she.

 

[yrsillar]

"Good Afternoon lady Cai," Ling Qi said politely, bowing her head low as the door of the other girls study drifted shut behind her, nudged by the wind. "I hope your day finds you well."

"Well enough all things considered. It pleases me that you have been released from the Medicine Hall so soon," Cai Renxiang said, looking up from her task. For once, she was not behind her desk, but instead seated in one of the other chairs set around the room. Her saber, Cifeng, lay naked across her lap. The Heiress was running an oil cloth over the silvery metal, and the blade seemed to almost purr at her meticulous polishing.

"The Sect has many skilled physicians," Ling Qi agreed. "I am told that I should be in good condition within another day or two." She took a seat in a chair near to Cai Renxiang's, sinking into the soft cushioning with a sigh. Normally it would have been rude to take a seat without invitation, but the heiress didn't mind little indiscretions in private. As she settled into her seat though, she took a second look at her liege.

Although there were no obvious physical signs of it, there was a certain haggard air to Cai Renxiang as she sat there, quietly polishing her saber. She had no wounds, nor any dark circles around her eyes, not even a single split end or strand of hair out of place. Yet on some level, to Ling Qi she felt… frayed for lack of a better word. It reminded her of the tournament, that day after she had spent the night with the Duchess. "And you Lady Renxiang, were you injured in battle?" It was a little bit of a gamble, to use such familiar terms, she had never been given invitation but… Lin Hai's words returned to her thoughts.

Cai Renxiang gave her a sharp look, and in her lap, Cifeng shook imperceptibly, but the girl did not chide her. "Do not allow the demeanor of Sir Lin to corrupt you, Ling Qi. Neither you nor I are so highly placed that we might afford undue indiscretion."

"I will keep that in mind," Ling Qi replied demurely, folding her hands in her lap. Renxiang had not told her off, really. "My question?"

"I required no treatment from the physicians," Cai Renxiang replied. That was a pretty obvious dodge. Her liege really was tired it seemed. Still, she wasn't going to push her luck and press the matter.

"I'm glad," Ling Qi replied simply. "You said in your note that you had been in contact with the capital? How did the Duchess take the news?"

"I believe my honored Mother to be somewhat vexed," Cai Renxiang replied carefully. Her white gowl rippled, the 'eyes' splayed across her chest flashing with inner light, and in her mind, Ling Qi felt the low beastial growl that emanated from the other girls gown. "News of a new enemy is not going over well among the nobility."

Ling Qi hesitated a moment. "...Are they really new though? I have known about various things beneath the earth for some time, and the Elders know. Surely no one was really unaware of the caverns and the things that live in them."

"I have no doubt that they were aware enough. I have no doubt that Mother was aware as well," Cai Renxiang replied. She did not look up, instead gazing into the gemstone set Cifeng's side. Ling Qi sensed a faint pulse of sharp metallic qi, echoing through Cai Renxiang's aura. "However, that is not the issue."

It took Ling Qi a moment to mull over what she meant. "...Ah, they can't just treat it as a deadly wilderness anymore."

Cai Renxiang let out a long breath and flicked her wrist, storing the oilcloth away. She studied the blade in the light of her own radiance, before raising her eyes to meet Ling Qi's. "It is not only that. Mother has unsealed a number of archives that indicate certain interests into exploiting those realms in the most recent century."

"Wait, then…" Ling Qi frowned, thinking of her own expedition with Li Suyin.

"I find it unlikely that the timing is unrelated, and whatever else one might say, the coordination necessary to stage this attack and make alliance with several Cloud Tribes… It indicates a certain sophistication among these subterrene barbarians," Cai Renxiang continued. Pale blue thread spun into existence, reforming the sheath of her saber.

It seemed that the province Lords and the Argent Sect might have been poking at a long buried wasps nest then, Ling Qi mused, and now they had gotten stung for it. "How are the clans reacting to this? They'll rally obviously, but that only means so much."

"The Bao are the most effected, their interests mostly lie in and beneath the earth, though mostly in healthier caverns. They seem to be the most discontent, though I have not been able to ascertain why, beyond the obvious costs to their business."

"I'll look into it," Ling Qi replied. Bao Qingling's comment struck her, was there something more there? Bao Qian seemed the sort that might be in the know too, but she was much less certain of her ability to get him to tell her anything.

"My thanks," Cai Renxiang said. "Of the Meng, they turn inward as always, and my sources at court indicate that they blame other clans delvings for this, the Bao in particular. There has been a grudge between those clans since the days of the Hui, when the Bao used the chaos to expand their borders through the Meng's northern lands. It concerns me to see such fractures flaring up again."

It still struck her as strange, Ling Qi admitted, to imagine days when nobles of the same province were openly fighting each other and expanding at one another's expense. They were all people of the empire, it gave her a disquieting feeling. "...And the Diao?"

"The Prime Minister will not allow any complaints," Cai Renxiang replied dryly, and Ling Qi eyed her curiously, was that a hint of genuine antipathy, or had she just imagined things. "However some elements grumble regardless, they would rather mount proper retaliation than abandon their delvings, and the Jia clan remains in their camp. The Luo are happy enough to build their defenses I believe. If you could speak with Sir Luo on that matter, I would be appreciative."

"I will do so," Ling Qi agreed. "Will you be canceling your gatherings, or should I plan for another venue?"

"No, barring actual military need. I will not," Cai Renxiang said bluntly. Ling Qi had suspected not, it would show weakness in an unacceptable way. "Leaving all that aside however, I require your talents for a more sustained task."

Ling Qi blinked, what could she mean by that? "I will try to fulfill it to the best of my ability," Ling Qi replied slowly.

Cai Renxiang gave her a curt nod of acknowledgement. "I require you to make friends with Wang Chao. His clan is making aggressive rumblings as well, and I worry that they are beginning to drift from the Cai families orbit. While their connections to the Diao are well and fine, the Prime Minister will not be matriarch forever."

Ling Qi grimaced, recalling the boy from Cai's parties, he had not left a good impression on her, but… she would try. It felt a little odd to set out to 'make friends' with someone based on a command, but she would just have to do her best. Perhaps she could speak with him at the next gathering? "As you command, Lady Cai."

"Very good," the heiress breathed out, and the light that played around her shoulders brightened a little. "Allow me to commend the efforts you have made already," she added. "Without your show of martial prowess, the task might be impossible. Many indiscretions may be ignored in victory. You performed above my expectations."

Spoiler: Sect Rep

Argent Sect: Rank 3
-Inner Sect Disciples: 0

"Thank you, Lady Renxiang," Ling Qi replied with some surprise. "I will make sure to build on my victories."

"I am certain that you will," Cai renxiang agreed, and Ling Qi briefly caught a faint upward quirk of her lips before her expression smoothed. "There is another matter you should be aware of. My younger sister, Cai Tienli was born twelve days ago. She is in good health by all reports."

Ling Qi shot the heiress a sympathetic look. Even without being able to see it on her face, she could sense the conflicted tone in the other girls words. She began to work out her reply, but then there was a faint burst of smoke, drawing both of their eyes.

A fluttering scrap of parchment drifted down, and Ling Qi snatched it from the air. Her eyes scanned over the hastily scribbled words. Zhengui was awake.

"Is something amiss?" Cai Renxiang cut in sharply, eyeing the paper.

"No, my spirit Zhengui has just awoken though, and…" Ling Qi said quickly, eyeing the door. She didn't want to be rude, but…

"Go," Cai Renxiang dismissed, gesturing to the door. "We have covered the most important matters.

Ling Qi shot to her feet immediately and bowed. "Thank you, my Lady" However as she raised her head and began to turn away, her eyes fell on her liege again, sitting stiff in her chair. She considered the last subject they had spoken of, everything that had happened, and the frayed feeling of Renxiang's spirit. She…

[] Invited Renxiang to come out with her. Meizhen would be there later as well, so what was one more for the gathering?
[] Turned away. She had to see to her family first and foremost. Besides, she was sure that Cai Renxiang was too busy to spend the day on something frivolous

 

[yrsillar]

"We'll be having tea later, you know," Ling Qi said quietly. "Meizhen and I that is. You should come."

Cai Renxiang had stood as well, moving to seat herself behind her desk. The other girl barely glanced her way. "There are too many tasks that need my attention. Perhaps another time."

A large part of Ling Qi wanted to leave it at that, to rush out the door and go straight to Zhengui's side. Some part of her rebelled against that. "You're making a mistake."

"Excuse me?" her blunt words caused Cai Renxiang to pause, a touch of a frown on her lips.

"I can't know what happened, but you're not well," Ling Qi stated bluntly, making a point to look her directly in the eye. "It's like the tournament all over again. I can tell that dealing with your Mother hurts you. Sitting here alone won't help."

"I allow you many indulgences Ling Qi, but your presumption is getting out of hand," Cai Renxiang replied coolly, seating herself behind her desk. "As it comes from concern, I will not chide you harshly, but you are overstepping yourself. Do you not have your own responsibilities? Or are you truly so unconcerned that you have time for such meddling?"

Ling Qi clenched a fist inside of her sleeve, hurt by the implication. Of course she wanted to see Zhengui right away, but she didn't want too…

"Deliberate tactic, clumsy. She's usually better than this," Her train of thought was brought up short as Sixiang's whisper rose in her mind. For a moment, she focused inward, but the muse was already fading. Sixiang… they had sounded so tired. Ling Qi could feel her own stress increasing.

She forced herself to focus on Renxiang, she had to do things one at a time. The other girl had already looked down, focusing on some letter. "...I went to the archive and read through a copy of that book you know," she said, there was no response. "It had certain things to say about advisors who do not speak up, and rulers who do not listen."

Her liege stilled, and the light that played around her shoulders wavered and intensified. She looked up, and her expression was a frozen mask, cast in shadow by her own light. "Ling Qi. That is enough."

"Lady Renxiang. I am doing exactly what you recruited me to do," Ling Qi shot back cooly, not letting herself be intimidated. "You are hurt. I do not know how, but… you speak of foundations and building, do you think that you can afford to let yours be damaged?" Despite herself, Ling Qi really was beginning to worry that she was going to far. "I am telling you to stop working. Just come out this afternoon. Have tea with Meizhen and I. We can talk, or perhaps have a spar or… something."

She forced herself to maintain eye contact, even as a glimmer of familiar and unsettling radiance bloomed in the girls dark eyes. It faded after a moment, gone so quickly that she might have imagined it. Cai Renxiang breathed out, and all of her looming presence seemed to vanish. "...I will consider your proposal. Please go."

Ling Qi nodded and turned to leave, knowing that there was nothing else to be said. Still, as she left, she caught in the the silver eye gleaming in the lining of her gown, the sight of the other girl resting her face in her hands.

She hoped Cai Renxiang would listen.

***​

Ling Qi wasted no time in covering the distance from Cai Renxiang's home, straining her recovering meridians as she let dark qi flow through her, turning her into a flitting shadow under the belly of the clouds. She flew as fast as she could manage toward the little rocky hill where Zhengui slept.

Very soon it came into view and she began to descend, and below the rolling green and brown hills began to resolve into scrub and spindly trees. There at the top of the hill, she saw a great smoking black 'stone' and a ribbon of ashy scales, Zhengui awake and standing. She almost let herself drop then and there, allowing the grip of the world to speed her descent further. Instead, the words that drifted to her on the wind brought her up short.

"...Don't blame me you big dummy, she wouldn't let me help either!"Hanyi frustrated voice carried on the wind.

"Gui is sorry, he knows and Zhen does too," Gui said, he craned his neck upward, giving his other half a dirty look.

"Hmph," Zhen spat a stream of liquid fire, lighting the blackened brush nearby aflame, but did not respond.

Ling QI held herself in the sky, a shadow on the wind. Even as awkward silence fell, she stayed where she was.

"Big Sister tries to do everything on her own. Gui knows this," her little brother said. "We try to keep up, but Big Sister is just too fast, and Zhen and Gui are too slow."

"Gui can speak for himself," Zhen hissed irritably, staring off to the side. "Zhen is only too slow because he is attached to fat and unwieldy Gui."

Hanyi she saw, was sat on a rock in front of him, her knees drawn up to her chest. "...I thought I was doing good," she admitted. I helped Sis fight the bad guys. We sang together and I even ate a few of them, you know? But then… hmph, how is she supposed to keep her promise to Mama if she does dumb stuff like that."

That stung a little. Even if she knew that it was the best choice for ending the fight quickly…

Her mother's pained and frustrated expression flashed through her mind. She had dismissed her words confidently, back in the hearth room.

"Hanyi is pathetic when she is gloomy. Big Sister would not die," Zhen hissed. Ling Qi wished he had said that with more confidence.

"We wouldn't leave Hanyi alone," Gui rumbled, settling to the ground with a hill shaking thump.

"Tch, like I want to be reassured by a big doofus like you. You'd just sleep all the time anyway," Hanyi sniffed. "And it's not like I'm the only one sulking either, you oversized boot," she shot at Zhen.

"I, Zhen am not sulking. I am brooding. Zhen does not expect the uncultured Hanyi to know the difference," Zhen replied haughtily.

"You've been spending too much time around that snotty snake," Hanyi said with a snort, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I dunno what to do."

"Neither does Gui," the tortoise said, resting his head on the ground.

"...Neither does Zhen," the serpent admitted, his head drooping.

Above, Ling Qi continued to hover. Part of her was unsurprised. This was… something she had known, in the back of her mind, was a problem but having it laid out before her so plainly hurt a little. As much as it shamed her to admit it, from her Mother, she could dismiss it because the older woman spoke from ignorance. She had not been there in the heat of battle.

She could, she knew, formulate a similar rationalization regarding her spirits. Even now she still did not feel like her choice was wrong. Even knowing the potency of the poison, even if yanmei had not shown up, surely, Zhengui could have…

Ling Qi descended from the sky like a falling stone, the weight of her body reasserting itself. She loosened her hold on her qi, making her presence obvious. Hanyi Looked up, and Zhen's head whipped around as she landed on the earth, kicking up a plume of dust. A moment later, and she had her arms wrapped around Gui's blunt snout. "Zhengui, I'm so glad that you're awake."

She would not address their words directly. It had been wrong of her to listen in on them regardless.

"Gui squirmed in her grasp, sending a tremor through the hill. "Ah, Gui is happy too?" he replied in surprise and confusion. His 'voice' emanating from his jaws, was muffled by her gown.

"Big Sister is healthy I see," Zhen added more quietly, staring down at her.

"I told you," Hanyi said haughtily, shifting her posture to let her legs dangle off the rock. She was deliberately trying to look more casual.

"The Sect physicians do good work," Ling Qi said with a smile, letting go of Zhengui. "I…"

"Big Sister did not just arrive," Zhen said, cutting her off. "I Zhen, thought it was just my imagination, but I felt her before that."

Ling Qi's smile faded, even as Gui craned his neck to give Zhen a harsh look. "Nosy Zhen should not accuse Big Sister of things," he chided.

...She was being foolish, wasn't she? "What gave me away?" Ling Qi asked.

"Big Sister's is always embracing Zhengui when she is around. Even when she hides, even stupid Gui can feel her, if he pays attention," Zhen replied.

"If snotty Zhen does not lighten up, Gui is going to roll over in his sleep one night," Gui grumbled.

Her domain. He must be referring to the effects of her domain. She knew that the effects of her way were not as obvious as some. She had gotten used to it being all but unnoticeable. She had never considered trying to hide it. Could she hide it? "I'm sorry, but I did listen in for a little," Ling Qi admitted, straightening up. "I know it must have hurt, having to stay out of the fight like that but I really did need you to hold the line Zhengui. If the enemies had gotten past you…"

"Zhengui knows," she blinked, surprised as both of them spoke in perfect synch.

"But Sis didn't have to let the rat thing hit her at all," Hanyi accused. "I've played around with Sis enough to know that she is faster than that."

"It was the only way to ensure it wasn't going to get away and strike from the shadows again," Ling Qi replied. "You know how hard it is to find me once you lose track."

"I, Zhen, still think that Big Sister was foolish. The Burning Girl was strong too. Big Sister should trust more," Zhen replied stubbornly.

"Gui agrees," his other half replied more quietly. "Big Sister does not have to do everything hard or dangerous herself."

Ling Qi looked from one face to the next. She… had made the right choice, but choices had consequences. "I will not apologize for protecting you all. I'm sorry for getting hurt so badly doing it."

"Gui does not want her too. Just… will Big Sis promise to fight together next time. Promise not to try and do the hardest part by herself?" Gui pleaded.

Ling Qi felt a tingling in her senses. Zhengui's qi was in turmoil, hot and vital energy was bubbling, straining against some unseen barrier. It was faint, the very nascent beginnings of something.

[] She promised, even if it was hard. (Ling Qi will avoid tactics which leave out or separate her from her spirits and deliberate self sacrifice outside of actual necessity. Affects Zhengui's development.)
[] She could not make that promise, not knowing what the future could hold. (Ling Qi remains open to all tactics. Affects Zhengui's development.)

 

[yrsillar]

It hurt.

It hurt to see the resignation in her little brother's eyes and in Hanyi's lowered head. Even Sixiang's absence felt like an accusation. It hurt to see that he expected her to refuse. It hurt because so much of her wanted too. That so much of her saw this promise as a shackle and a weight, rebelling against even the idea.

There were a thousand arguments she could make for why promising something like that was a bad idea. How it would limit her ability, limit her growth, hinder her cultivation. Hadn't she decided that she would undergo any hardship to continue her path, because she would find worth at the end? Unconsciously, Ling Qi wrapped her arms around herself. She had to keep moving forward, she couldn't afford to slow down or…

...Or What?

What was she striving for?

Answers came. Memories of helplessness in the face a Hunt, of a city devouring storm, a hungry red jungle, and a shattering mountain. Most clearly, she remembered a gleaming city and radiant eyes, above everything and everyone, terrifying and enticing all at once. Beautiful. Tranquil. Untouchable. Invincible. She wanted that so badly it ached. To never fear again, for herself or anyone else.

Was that really it? The sum total of her goals? Made so stark, it seemed so… childish.

Yet, she also remembered Renxiang, with her face in her hands, and her Mother's defeated expression, even Xiulan's face forgotten in the heat of battle, twisted in helpless rage. She never, never wanted to make such an expression herself, and yet looking at Zhengui, the spirit she had raised from birth, was she going to inflict it on him?

His head was already lowering, his qi simmering sullenly. "...Gui is sorry, Big Sister, He shouldn't…"

"I promise," Ling Qi said, her voice raspy to her own ears. "I can't say we'll always be side by side, but I promise I won't leave you behind."

His head whipped up and he stared at her in surprise. "Big Sister?"

Ling Qi grimaced, a shiver going up her spine. A pain had just bloomed in her abdomen, it felt like a broken rib, a jagged fracture where the two broken ends scraped against one another. She straightened up, meeting her little brothers eyes again. "But Zhengui, Hanyi, you have to understand. I can't slow down. Not when I'm still so weak," she spoke with absolute conviction, and that conviction felt like a balm. She breathed in and out, and the sharpness of the pain faded, becoming an ache in the back of her mind.

Domain Conflict Discovered
Early Discovery reduces impact.
-0.2 Multiplier added to spiritual and physical cultivation until conflict is resolved.

"I, Zhen will not drag Sister down, and he will not let Gui do so either," Zhen said haughtily, overriding Gui's stumbling response.

"Hanyi will work hard, as long as Big Sis doesn't go away," Hanyi mumbled, looking less certain. "I'm sorry for being lazy."

"You're not …" Ling Qi grimaced again. How far had Hanyi progressed, refined her techniques, how far had she pushed herself. "I believe in you too Hanyi. I just… haven't been a very good teacher," she was still so far from ideal herself. How could she match up to Zeqing as a mentor? But, if she couldn't leave them behind… she felt her resolve harden. She would just have to work twice as hard to help them keep up. "We'll all work hard together. That's what a family is supposed to do, isn't it?" Wasn't it? She didn't really know.

"Yes," Gui agreed eagerly, stomping forward to bump his head against her, joyful light returning to his bright green eyes. "Yes! Gui will work very hard, and be the most dependable little brother!"

Spoiler: Zhengui's way

E rank Health Regeneration
May use Stamina in Dispel Tests against physical arts and effects.
May use Stamina in Resist Tests
+10 to Physical Armor of Ling Qi and Hanyi when in the same scene
Grants one grade increase to allied Stamina tests in scene
Up to three times per scene, may change the target of a enemy spiritual effect to himself. This effect cannot be used on effects used by a cultivator more than two stages above Zhengui
May reduce his size by up to two thirds and remain combat capable. All damage dealing techniques scaled down while reduced in size. (Max one rank at full reduction)

Ling Qi smiled as she felt his qi unsnarl, rippling out over her and Hanyi both. She reached down and patted him affectionately atop his scaly head. Even Hanyi gave her a hesitant smile. Still, there was someone missing.

'Sixiang' Ling Qi thought, reaching out in her mind for the bundle of emotion and sensation that represented the muse in her thoughts. 'Can we talk at all?'

"Not bad work with the kiddos," she was happy when the muse replied after only a few moments. "I'm not sure I can keep doing this Ling Qi." The words that followed were like ice water down her back.

'What is that supposed to mean?' Ling Qi thought in alarm.

'I like you a lot Ling Qi, but I'm not sure I want to see much more of this world anymore," Sixiang chuckled haggardly. They felt exhausted and drowsy.. "We can… you wanted to cultivate the Songseekers Ceremony right? We'll talk then, okay? I don't have much energy right now."

"Sister, is something wrong? Does your wound still hurt?" Ling Qi was startled out of her thoughts by Zhen, who had dipped his head low to peer into her face.

Ling Qi put on a smile. "No, it's nothing, just thinking about what we still have to do."

Zhen peered at her suspiciously, but Gui craned his neck. "Don't pester Big Sister, nosy Zhen!'

"It's fine Gui," Ling Qi said gently. "We're just going to be very busy. So… let's enjoy today. We'll have to start working hard tomorrow. Hanyi, would you like to compose with me? The boys here can be our audience."

'Ah, that sounds fun," Hanyi brightened up. "Though I don't think this dummy could tell a sour note from a clear one."

"I Zhen do not have to stand for these insults," the serpent hissed. "We have listened to Big Sister since we were small, of course we understand music!"

"Yeah!" Gui agreed. "Gui notices Hanyi missing notes all the time!"
"I don't miss notes you you jerk," Hanyi said, climbing to her feet. Her pale cheeks darkened to blush as she flushed with embarrassment. "You take that back!"

Ling Qi sighed as her spirits bickered, her dantian still ached and she still worried for Sixiang, but… she had the right thing. She was sure of it.

A whisper in the back of her mind wondered though. Would she not have been just as certain if she had chosen the other way?

This Promise has brought Ling Qi's focus down on her spirits. Please choose which spirit 'art' Ling Qi will focus their improvement on

[][Zhengui] Blooming From Ash
[][Zhengui] Blazing Blood
[][Zhengui] Verdant Ash Duality

[][Hanyi] Lonely Winter Maiden
[][Hanyi] Frozen Peak Serenade
[][Hanyi] Fleeting Spring's Chill

AN: Lil bit of a short one this time but the scene doesn't really benefit from padding I think.

 

[yrsillar]

To any who might have seen them, Ling Qi was sure they would have seemed like a relaxed and lackadaisical sight. Zhengui's hill lay shrouded in fog and mist, swirling around the rising columns of air warmed by the heated earth and Zhengui's breath. She sat atop Zhengui's shell, nestled in a seat made of soft green wood and new grown leaves. Her eyes were half shut as she played her flute, playing a slow and tranquil song. Hanyi was content to sit on the edge of Zhengui's shell, kicking her bare feet as she raised her voice in wordless song. Beneath her, her seating rumbled with Zhengui's hum, and above her, Zhen swayed, flickering blue sparks raining down gently over her with each flick of his tongue.

Yet, Ling Qi's thoughts were in turmoil. She hid it well, not wanting to ruin this brief respite, but she thought Zhen might have noticed. He had been full of questions while they were still composing. She did not know how to feel, she had discovered a flaw in her cultivation. Sixiang was exhausted, and considering leaving her. The Sect was at war. How could things become so chaotic so quickly?

She knew of course, but it seemed that months passing by with steady progress had left her unprepared for the next rough patch in the road. Even now, as she played, she thought furiously about what she could do to help her spirits grow, and to maintain her own pace. Her mind spun arguments for Sixiang to stay, reached for promises she could make, things she could do. All of it swirled round and round in her thoughts, turning into a hopeless snarl of conflicting ideas.

So, as morning turned into afternoon, Ling Qi was not unhappy to feel the approach of a distraction, and kept her peace as they approached, not giving away that she had felt them coming.

"Hmph, what a sight they make, Sister Meizhen, fogging up the entire hill," Ling Qi cracked an eye open only when she heard a soft, but imperious voice.

Above her Zhen jerked in surprise, shaken out of his music induced lull, and Gui's whole body shifted. Hanyi's song was cut off as she let out a yelp, the stable seating beneath her rocking violently as Zhengui shot to his feet.

"Quite a sight indeed," Meizhen mused, meeting her eyes from the bottom of the hill, despite the mist in the way. At her feet, Cui coiled, jade green scales gleaming like polished metal under the afternoon sun. "It reminds me of the mangrove mists on a fall morning."

"Sister Meizhen is too kind," Cui replied, giving the impression of turning up her nose, despite doing no such thing.

Ling Qi grinned, hiding her expression behind her sleeve as Zhengui trundled with all speed down the hill, the ground shaking as he emerged from the fog. Some things at least had not changed. Zhengui had always been eager to see and show off for Cui, for whatever reason.

"Lady Cui! Big Sister said that the Bai Meizhen would be coming, but not you," Zhen sounded almost giddy. Hanyi shot him a dirty look as she regained her balance on the side of his shell.

At her friends side, the haughty serpent raised her head. She had grown quite a bit, even in her shrunken form, her head rose to Meizhen's shoulder when raised from her coils. "I, Cui, was merely curious. My Sister said that something had managed to bruise even your thick skull and you were only just waking."

"Yes! Well, not Gui's head exactly, but there was a very big corpse bug, it tasted very bad," Gui rumbled cheerfully. Ling Qi leaped from his back as he trundled down the hill, drifting down on a breeze to land at the base near her friend.

"Hmph, it was I, Zhen whose fangs and venom slew the beast," Zhen harrumphed. He paused then. "Together with Linhuo."

"Is that so," Cui replied, unimpressed. Uncoiling from around Meizhen's feet to slither off. She shot Ling Qi a cool look as she slithered past, though she made no objection as Ling Qi approached Meizhen.

"I'm glad you received my message," Ling Qi said quietly as their spirits spoke. She had been vaguely aware that Cui still spent time around Zhengui, but it had always happened out of sight. Cui was still not terribly fond of her. If she was ever unsure about the Bai families capacity for holding grudges. She would have been disabused of the notion.

Meizhen followed her gaze and dipped her head in acknowledgement, but did not say anything about it. "Yes, having a specific time, rather than 'this afternoon' was certainly helpful," her friend replied dryly.

"Well I was hardly sure," Ling Qi huffed. "...Ah, I invited Lady Cai as well."

Meizhen raised an eyebrow. "I am surprised. I doubt she will come however. Cai renxiang is not one to change plans midday easily."

Ling Qi shuffled her feet uncomfortably, glancing to her side. Over at the hill Cui had swelled in size, at nearly fifteen meters long, the once tiny serpent flexed her coils with the air of one cramped from a large carriage ride. "...I may have been somewhat forceful in my invitation," she hedged, not Meeting Meizhen's eyes.

Despite that she could feel Meizhen's drilling into her. "...Ling Qi, what did you do."

"You had met her just before," Ling Qi replied, dodging the question. "She needed to get out of that office and her own thoughts."

Meizhen's stared her down, looking deeply unimpressed. "You are not raising my confidence with your avoidance, Ling Qi."

"I may have implied that she was failing to live up to her ideals by refusing help," Ling Qi mumbled, looking down. "...I'm right though," she added stubbornly. Somehow that only made the ache in her dantian twinge more.

Ling Qi was treated to the sight of the eternally elegant Bai Meizhen closing her eyes and reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Ling Qi, you cannot just speak to your superiors that way," she said in exasperation.

"It was all in private, I'm not a fool," Ling Qi replied defensively.

"Even so!" Meizhen declared in a huff. "Honestly, you are lucky that Cai Renxiang is so permissive with her direct subordinates. You take the lessons of Argent Mirror much too far."

They both twitched then, almost in perfect unison as they felt a presence on the edge of their senses. Even dimmed, there was no missing the heiress of Cai. A moment later, she arrived in a gust of wind, the hems of her gown fluttering as she descended from the sky on wings of light.

"My apologies for interrupting your conversation," Cai Renxiang said evenly as her wings scattered into fading motes. "However, this was the appointed time for arrival."

Ling Qi was deeply glad that her conversation partner had been Meizhen and so their words had not been overheard. Without Sixiang, she as unfortunately vulnerable in that fashion. "Thank you for accepting my invitation Lady Cai," she said, bowing a touch more deeply than necessary.

Meizhen shot her a very brief look before inclining her head slightly as well. "I too am pleased to see you, Cai Renxiang. It is good to allow oneself a few moments of recreation in trying times."

The other girl's eyes swept over them both. "So I am told."

Well she had showed up, and she didn't even look angry, though Ling Qi doubted she would know even if the girl was without Sixiang's help. "Ah, it has slipped my mind, but have I actually introduced you to my spirits?"

"Not directly," Cai Renxiang answered bluntly. Ling Qi, saw the other girl toying with the hilt of her sheathed saber as she spoke. A new tic of some kind? "Though I am aware of them all."

"Of course," Ling Qi replied. She supposed Cai Renxiang did fund her more physical spirits upkeep, Zhengui in particular. "Zhengui, Hanyi, introduce yourselves please."

Their own conversation interrupted, her spirits looked up. Surprisingly it was Hanyi who hopped down first, vanishing and reappearing mid curtsey, a wide smile on her face. Ling Qi was immediately suspicious. She really hoped that Hanyi wasn't in the mood for pranks.

"Hello! My name is Hanyi," the young ice spirit chirped, bowing her head low. "Ling Qi mentioned you a lot. Is it true that she got all of her pretty things from you?"

So that was her angle, Ling Qi did her best not to let her eyebrow twitch.

Cai Renxiang's expression was blank. "That is not entirely inaccurate," the heiress replied a touch dryly. Ling Qi hoped that it was a good sign.

"Ah, Lady Cai must be very generous," Hanyi said with a grin. "I wish I could have those kind of things too."

"I will mark down a stipend for equipment expenses," Cai Renxiang said. She turned her head and met Ling Qi's eyes directly.

"I will be happy to advise on the matter," Bai Meizhen cut in smoothly.

Ling Qi met Cai Renxiang's gaze and found it implacable, she glanced to Meizhen and Cui, seeing no pity, and in Hanyi there was only avarice. Even Zhengui only looked on with innocent curiosity. She was alone and outmaneuvered. "Of course, thank you for your generosity, Lady Cai."

"Hello, I am Gui!" her little brother thankfully butted in then

"I, Zhen, greet the mighty Lady Cai," his other half greeted with considerably more dignity.

"I, Cui greet the Lady Cai as well," Cui called lazily from somewhere behind them.

"It pleases me to make your acquaintance. Reports of your activities were praiseworthy," Cai renxiang replied evenly. "Good Zhengui, please continue to support Ling Qi's efforts in the future.

Her little brother practically swelled with pride, twin cries of agreement ringing out. A few more pleasantries were exchanged, but soon Zhengui trundled off to speak with Cui again, followed by a huffy Hanyi and the three of them turned to the business of tea. It was unfortunate then, that in preparing this morning, Ling Qi had not thought that she would be inviting her liege and as such had only a tea set and a blanket. Changing her loadout had slipped her mind entirely.

As she was about to articulate this though, Cai Renxiang gestured, and a well appointed table and four chairs carved from dark lacquered wood appeared on the open space at the base of the hill. The furniture tilted and shifted on the even ground for a moment, but then Ling Qi felt a pulse of earthen qi and the land imperceptibly flattened, evening out under the grass. "Maintaining the ability to set out a field office at a moment's notice is important. You have the tea I trust Ling Qi?" Cai Renxiang asked without looking at her.

Of course Cai Renxiang would keep an office suite in her storage ring, how silly of her. "...Yes. Please take your seats, you are my guests, even if this isn't my home."

The two of them took their seats across from each other as Ling Qi busied herself with the minutiae of setting the table and putting the tea to brew.

"You're third spirit, are they well?" Cai Renxiang asked. She sat straight backed in her chair, hands folded in her lap.

Ling Qi paused for a moment in the midst of brewing. "Recent events have been somewhat difficult for them. Sixiang is resting at the moment," Ling Qi said quietly. "I hope you do not take offense at their lack of greeting."

"Is it a matter of spiritual damage?" Bai Meizhen asked with some concern. "I have some supply of appropriate tinctures."
Ling Qi glanced down at the inky shadow swirling at her feet. "No, it is nothing like that," she said, her gaze dropping to the tabletop. Had she not invited Cai Renxiang out so that they could speak of their problems? "Sixiang is not a spirit of war. I am worried for them." she did not want to drag someone else's problems out though.

"I see," Meizhen said in understanding. "Spirit's of the moon can adjust themselves to many things. I am certain matters will be resolved."

Ling Qi wasn't entirely sure she liked the idea of a Sixiang adjusted to violence though. For all that she had if not embraced it, at least accepted it. Having Sixiang as a counterpoint felt important somehow.

"I cannot comment on the matter. I doubt any advice I could give would be accepted by… Sixiang," Cai Renxiang said.

Ling Qi gave her a sidelong look as she set the tea to boil and sat down. She had not really thought of the fact that her liege could probably sense the moon spirit as well as their dislike. "Perhaps. We will have to work it out, one way or the other."

"Alliances are not always easy," Cai Renxiang agreed. "Bai Meizhen, might I ask, how are the Bai reacting to news of these new barbarians."

"My grandfather is not truly concerned," Meizhen replied. "The lands of Thousand Lakes are ill suited to caves. However, surveying groups are reviewing their knowledge. Should any such holes be found, we will drown them in the endless waters of Lake Hei."

"Will the Bai be sending any assistance to Emerald Seas?" Ling Qi asked curiously.

Bai Meizhen's gaze flicked over to Cai Renxiang. "Should the duchess request it."

Ling Qi dipped her head in understanding, reading between the lines. Emerald Seas could not afford to go begging an ally for help over what was still a minor incursion. However she also did not want the conversation to drift back into politics. "I'm sure we will handle it ourselves. It is good to know your help is available though," Ling Qi said, she shot Bai Meizhen a brief pleading look.

"Of course," Bai Meizhen replied. Steam began to rise from the teapot as the script etched burner swiftly heated the water, and Ling QI began to brew the tea. She kept her eyes down on her work. "Cai Renxiang, I believe you mentioned that your sister was born without troubles. How is she?"

This time there was no outward reaction from the heiress. "Cai Tienli is in good health. Though I have not seen my sister as of yet. I have heard that she takes more after our father in mien. There were no complications following Mothers delivery. Head Physician Liao has given her a clean bill of health, and Medicine Saint Tong agrees."

Ling Qi knew Cai Renxiang's father was a member of the Diao clan, just like the Prime Minister, so she could only a picture a baby with slightly darker skin and wisps of rose pink hair. It was funny she supposed, despite her studying, she still didn't know the name of Cai Renxiang's father. It would be rude to ask though. "Medicine Saint?" She asked instead, curious at the term.

"It is a somewhat archaic term for those reach the sixth realm on a Way of medicine or alchemy," Bai Meizhen said. "Though there has been some push to use the term only for the masters of the Celestial Distillation Sect in Celestial Peaks." Meizhen sounded pretty disdainful of the idea.

"Politics aside, Saint Tong is considered the foremost expert on the care of children in the empire," Cai Renxiang said quietly. "It was somewhat unexpected that Mother requested his presence."

"Among those of the highest cultivation, birth is always somewhat fraught for the child," Meizhen said carefully. "The moment the soul cord is severed, they become their own beings."

"Indeed. However, it remains strange," Cai Renxiang said, watching the curls of steam rising from the brewing tea. "Head Physician Liao was sufficient for me."

A brief and uncomfortable silence passed over the table. Ling Qi cracked an awkward smile. "Well, the Duchess knows more than any of us, particularly about herself. Perhaps she sensed some irregularity?"

"Perhaps," Cai Renxiang allowed.

"Whatever the matter is, it is surely resolved, given the expertise at hand," Meizhen said as Ling Qi began to pour the tea. "Speaking of irregularities however…" Bai Meizhen gave Ling Qi a hard look. "Did you somehow manage to strain yourself between the morning and now Ling Qi? Surely the physicians informed you to avoid overexerting yourself."

Ling Qi shot her friend a frown. She felt Cai Renxiang look her way with a faint frown, studying her. "I've run into a little problem," Ling Qi admitted slowly, carefully filling the cups. "A matter came up, and I found myself unable to fully resolve it. I think I have found a flaw in my cultivation base." Despite herself Ling Qi's eyes drifted to Zhengui, where he, Hanyi and Cui were having their own little 'tea party' though it involved the corpse of a huge mountain beast she didn't immediately recognize. Where had that come from?

"Ah," Meizhen said with a frown. "Do not be too disheartened. Most everyone encounters a heart demon or two on their way."

"Heart Demon?" Ling Qi asked, unable to suppress a snigger. What an overwrought term.

Faint color dusted her friends cheeks at the sound of her laughter. "Honestly, it is the proper term, used for millennia. You are so uncultured at times Ling Qi."

"I'm sorry," Ling Qi chuckled. Laughing felt good. "I'm not sure I'd call it a demon, but yeah. There's… I don't know if I'd call it a contradiction, but...a conflict at least."

She carefully passed out the tea in the silence that followed.

"I was being serious," Meizhen added as she received her cup. "I… resolved such a conflict myself, not too long ago. You will be able to find your resolve and the Way forward, I am sure."

Ling Qi looked to her friend in surprise, but thinking about it… she had changed in recent months hadn't she? Grown more confident, more daring… friendlier, at least to a select few. "How about you, Lady Cai?" She asked cheerfully placing a cup in front of her liege. "Any advice on maintaining a perfect path?"

Cai Renxiang gathered the cup in her hands, and did not answer immediately. "I completed the cultivation of one of my mother's arts, just yesterday. I found no meaning in it."

Ling Qi stared at the girl. Oh. that would certainly explain things.

[] Offer Encouragement. It was only a single art, and everyone knew that a cultivator could not perfectly copy another. Like Ling Qi's own problem, it was only a bump in the path.
[] Ask her if that is really so bad? The Third realm was where cultivators set the foundations which guided the rest of their road. Of course divergences would appear.

AN: Sorry guys, can't figure out a way to offer QM guidance here without removing the point of the choice. You're gonna have to discuss this one.

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi's thoughts whirled, and she began to open her mouth to respond. She felt a sharp pain then, like someone grinding their heel into the top of her foot. She shot Meizhen a sharp look, but the girl merely sipped her tea serenely, eyes down. Ling Qi held back a grimace and sipped from her cup as well.

It gave her a moment to organize her thoughts. "You were always going to diverge a little. We've spoken of that haven't we?" Ling Qi said.

"A divergent insight is different from nothing at all," Cai Renxiang replied quietly. She took a sip herself, and Ling Qi noticed her wrinkle her nose in disatisfaction. Hopefully it was just the tea.

"That is true enough," Meizhen venturered, glancing up. "However, I believe it is not so much as you think. I cultivated several of my family earth arts before I found one which truly suited me. In the longer term, it is important for the health of a clan for its members to a reasonably wide array of Ways. The Cai are young yet."

Cai Renxiang let out a considering hum, but still seemed dissatisfied. That unreasonable, illogical response… it actually made Ling Qi feel better somehow. "And… I don't think it's really so bad," Ling Qi added, drawing a sharp look. "The Duchess Cai is incomparable of course, but… I did give my oath to follow you. We had a big dramatic heart to heart and everything, if you remember," she added, smiling cheekily.

"Hmph, still too shameless, Ling Qi," Meizhen grumbled. She looked back to Cai Renxiang, her expression softening. "Cai Renxiang our situations do not compare. However, I attempted to step into the role of my Aunt and even… even my Mother, this failed. It is only in stepping out of their shadows that I have begun to grow properly again."

"I've been feeling my way along more by luck than education," Ling Qi added gingerly, feeling the ache still resonating in her core. "But I can't help but feel like she's right. One person alone can't build a clan, no matter how powerful and talented they are." Ling Qi shifted in her seat with a frown as she felt a knot of tension that she hadn't noticed fade away.

"The Grandmother Serpent and the Fisher founded the Bai clan, but it was the Eight Daughters who created it's foundation," Bai Meizhen agreed.

Cai Renxiang looked at them both, and closed her eyes. The fabric of her gown roiled in discontent, but a sharp flare of her qi put it to rest. "...It is true that my view might yet be too narrow. My apologies, it is unlike me to be so melancholy."

"I am informed that it is appropriate for young ladies to spend their tea time making complaints," Meizhen replied airily. "Think nothing of it."

Cai Renxiang shook her head, swirling the contents of her cup thoughtfully. "Then allow me to make another one. I miss Gan Guangli," she sighed, setting the cup down with a clink.

Ling Qi winced. "I'm sorry, I know I'm not as…. Devoted in action but-"

Her liege waved a hand in dismissal. "I mean no slight toward your service. You are reliable in your way, and I knew your nature when I made my offer. Though it may sometimes be impolitic, your brusqueness has its uses."

Ling Qi frowned, trying to work out if she had been complimented or not

"You miss his counsel then?" Meizhen asked curiously, peering over the rim of her teacup.

Cai Renxiang nodded slightly, the corner of her mouth quirking down in a faint frown. "Indeed. Ling Qi is not one to hold deeper discussions on matters philosophical. You yourself do not hold much interest in the subject either."

Ling Qi glanced away taking a deeper sip from her cup. She was not going to object to that, it was entirely correct. Meizhen dipped her head shallowly in acknowledgment as well.

"Well it won't be long until he's back with us, I'm sure. Have you heard about what happened in the outer Sect while the attack was happening?" Ling Qi asked.

Cai Renxiang raised an eyebrow. "I had heard there was fighting, but I have not had time to review matters more closely."

Ling Qi grinned. "Well do I have a story for you then," She had pulled the events out of Su Ling at her own tea time, and if it would lighten the mood she would be happy to share.

After all, they would all soon be hard at work.

***​

In the days that followed, Ling Qi spent her time in cultivation and thought. She and Zhengui both required rest, and he needed time to stabilize his sudden breakthrough, so, while she rested, Ling Qi focused on cultivating the most resful art that she had. Argent genesis, the Sect's cultivation art was harmonious and serene in its exercises, and over the next week, while her meridians recovered from their scorching, she mastered the remaining exercises of the art. The Argent Qi that had settled in her dantian, grew more robust and flexible, and with every breath she spent cultivating, she felt a little less qi lost to inefficiency, and more flowing into her burgeoning domain.

Though it would never be her primary cultivation art, she did not regret mastering it. Through settling and congealing argent qi throughout her channels and dantian, she had increased her cultivation efficiency, strengthened and refined the bond with her spirits.

Recovered from her wounds, save for a small white scar across her collarbone, Ling Qi turned her attention to her base cultivation. Here, she spent time with Hanyi, the young ice spirit was glad to return to the high peaks and snow, where Ling Qi refined her physical cultivation still further, chasing and seeking Hanyi through the snowy shadows and high cliffs without the use of arts, a reminder of the way the had met.

Ling Qi spent less time cultivating her spirit, or rather, just cultivating her spirit. When she played music with her mother in the garden as the sun set, she cultivated. When she sat with Zhengui on his hill, and meditated together with her little brother, she cultivated. When she slipped through the shadows to find hanyi in whatever crevice she had snuck through, she cultivated.

It was only deep in the night, when the moon was high in the sky, that she perched on a high cliff and consolidated that cultivation, steadily expanding her dantian. Soon, she reached the foundation stage of bronze, qi solidifying in her bones and muscles to strengthen them further for the rigors of greater cultivation.

It struck her again, how great the gulf between realms was. Even without arts, her flesh was stronger than steel or stone, she could crumble rock by merely clenching her fist and with some effort, even warp or break mundane steel. She could bound across impassable cliffs as light as a feather, and learn at a ferocious rate. The Sect had bumped up their training plans, and even now she was learning the most common dialect of the Cloud tribes, it had been less than a week and already she could understand what her teachers said, more often than not.

Yet, in her mind's eye, she saw a mountain break, and a perfect city clashing with an endless lake of black. She was still so very small, and she had so many people to think of beside herself now. Her own words to Cai Renxiang echoed back to her, she couldn't be satisfied just strengthening herself.

And so, as one week turned to the next, Ling Qi had a quiet word with her family and friends, though Xiulan was still curiously absent, squirreled away with her sister on some training ground. With everyone reassured, Ling Qi flitted away in the depth of the night, off to the silent stones that stood in the Mountain vale, gravemarker for a people long dead and anchor for a nightmare both. However, it was also the site of an important lesson, and a place where the veil between the material and spirit were thin. The chaotic energies of the moon were strong here, soaked into the very stones.

Soon, Ling Qi found her favorite stone, and sat down to cultivate the Songseekers Ceremony.

She just hoped she could talk Sixiang around, but how...

When speaking with Sixiang, Ling Qi should focus on…

[] Their personal bond. They did not know each other as well as Ling Qi might like, but… Sixiang was her friend and her muse, they had shouted at the Bloody Moon for her, and helped her through so much. [Ling Qi's arguments focus on their personal relationship and growing friendship. More effective rhetoric, but downplays Sixiang's problems and may only be a stopgap. Higher chance of Positive Outcome]
[] Sixiang's troubles directly. Ling Qi was no great philosopher, but she knew that ugliness did not preclude beauty. It was true that things were hard, and Sixiang was not violent by nature but… there was still worth in the waking world. [Ling Qi's arguments focus on Sixiang's problems with recent events and how to reconcile them with their nature. More likely to lead to a long term solution. Lower chance of Positive outcome.]

In case its unclear, yes, there will be a little dicerolling to determine outcomes here, since the situation could go either way.

Spoiler: Cultivation

Spiritual Cultivation

5 8 9 4 9 3 1 6 4 4 8 6 10 4 4 6 4 8 3 7 10 5 10 3 5 9 8 4 7 1 10 1 9 8 4 7 2 6 5 6 9 4 1 10 9 6 6 2 4 10 10 5 7 1 8 1 10 5 6 8 8 5 8 6 4 4 4 6 9 10 1 8 5 3 9 3 8 4 4 3 6 4 8 2 4 5 2 5 9 7 2 6 3 2 3 6 5 9 1 5 8 3 4 3 5 3 5 5 8 1 7 3 6 4 4 9 8 7 6 9 5 7 6 7 10 1 5 6 9 5 1 6 8 6 10 4 8 7 8 6 7 7 10 2 10 6 2 10 2 7 8 9 6 5 5 5 5 9 1 3 6 3 1 5 8 10 8 6 6 8 3 4 4 4 5 3 9 7 2 3 5 1 1 10 8 7 7 2 8 7 7 3 9 9 7 8 8 6 3 6 3 7 1 6 3 6 1 1 4 4 5 8 5 5 10 2 4 6 5 1 2 1 5 2 9 1 9 9 6 4 6 1 2 8 6 4 3 6 7 8 2 1 6 6 8 7 9 1 2 5 3 5 8 7 8 8 9 8 8 6 1 3 6 5 1 4 8 5 1 6 3 2 7 10 9 6 8 7 6 9 2 10 5 1 6 2 8 6 9 6 1 2 10 7 6 2 2 5 7 2 1 1 4 9 2 2 4 9 1 9 9 4 10 3 4 5 6 1 10 4 6 2 7 6 10 2 9 1 9 5 3 9 7 8 7 10 9 10 10 1 10 10 4 1 4 7 5 9 8 6 5 5 9 1 2 9 5 1 9 3 7 3 1 6 10 9 5 1 10 7 1 1 6 5 1 10 3 7 10 2 4 4 7 2 5 8 10 9 10 1 1 9 5 3 4 7 3 10 9 2 6 9 4 4 5 4 5 8 2 4 9 5 8 7 8 4 7 10 4 6 10 6 4 6 8 9 2 2 9 10 5 6 1 8 1 7 3 5 4 4 1 5 10 10 3 7 5 9 6 8 7 7 3 2 3 2 1 6 3 1 8 7 8 10 6 9 6 8 5 2 1 7 8 10 6 10 8 2 9 4 9 7 10 3 8 4 4 8 2 8 10 1 6 8 10 1 8 7 8 4 10 10 1 7 1 8 9 9 10 9 2 10 5 3 3 2 9 8 2 2 6 1 2 3 10 3 4 7 9 3 1 1 3 3 7 3 10 7 3 1 5 6 1 9 9 5 1 9 2 4 10 9 4 1 2 6 5 7 2 3 9 4 5 1 6 2 6 8 10 8 10 5 4 2 3 4 6 5 4 10 8 3 10 4 5 3 9 9 9 2 3 10 8 8 2 5 1 7 4 10 7 4 4 2 5 9 7 3 3 10 2 3 4 1 8 10 6 8 8 4 9 2 3 8 1 7 3 1 3 6 3 1 9 6 4 6 6 10 8 1 1 1 5 6 3 2 5 8 9 4 4 9 6 8 9 6 4 1 9 9 6 1 1 7 8 5 4 4 6 3 6 7 3 10 2 7 1 9 7 1 2 10 1 9 9 9 5 3 9 5 3 7 5 3 5 4 7 8 9 3 10 4 1 4 3 4 10 5 2 6 5 4 7 6 4 6 6 10 10 7 4 2 3 10 4 7 4 1 6 2 5 7 6 5 10 10 8 1 5 10 9 9 5 5 6 10 2 4 10 1 10 3 2 2 3 8 10 6 10 7 9 4 3 4 10 4 6 7 4 10 8 2 10 4 9 6 4 10 9 3 1 10 7 4 1 9 1 2 6 10 8 7 5 2 2 4 5 7 3 10 6 10 2 6 6 10 3 1 1 3 5 1 2 1 5 4 2 7 5 9 7 4 5 3 7 7 7 1 3 9 10 1 10 3 6 7 4 10 7 5 2 1 5 3 2 1 8 5 8 4 3 6 7 8 8 3 6 4 5 10 4 4 10 6 9 7 2 2 6 9 6 7 1 1 1 4 3 10 8 10 3 1 7 9 10 5 3 5 10 7 6 6 3 6 1 1 2 4 4 10 2 10 8 5 2 1 8 4 10 8 6 3 8 4 3 9 8 6 5 10 4 10 5 8 7 7 10 1 10 4 10 4 3 7 8 6 7 7 1 9 4 6 1 3 10 5 1 9 10 7 10 6 7 6 5 5 2 5 5 4 10 4 9 4 3 8 9 1 4 9 9 8 7 9 2 8 4 5 8 5 1 8 2 9 3 9 4 7 3 8 2 4 4 10 7 6 7 5 6 2 5 5 1 1 5 3 10 10 7 8 7 9 5 10 8 9 8 3 7 10 2 10 3 5 1 1 2 9 5 10 1 2 6 1 4 10 5 4 2 3 1 10 2 7 9 1 7 7 5 6 8 6 5 3 3 6 3 4 4 10 3 6 1 8 9 4 10 3 7 3 8 9 2 1 5 10 1 4 6 7 9 6 2 3 8 6 10 10 2 6 1 4 1 1 4 1 7 5 6 5 9 3 4 10 3 10 9 5 3 7 1 3 2 4 8 1 10 7 2 1 4 3 6 7 5 1 7 1 5 2 6 3 4 1 4 8 10 5 2 5 3 2 7 4 6 4 6 7 3 7 7 8 9 2 4 4 3 1 4 9 4 1 4 10 1 9 7 3 3 1 9 5 2 7 10 9 3 5 5 5 4 1 2 2 5 8 7 9 10 3 9 3 3 4 4 6 3 1 10 5 1 10 2 4 6 3 5 8 10 9 2 3 2 6 6 8 3 3 6 2 5 4 6 9 10 10 6 2 2 7 8 4 6 9 7 2 2 3 9 1 2 3 5 5 10 10 2 4 2 7 7 8 2 2 7 1 3 4 4 4 1 2 9 8 10 8 9 3 10 10 5 1 2 9 7 3 9 8 6 2 6 2 10 8 3 8 10 8 1 4 3 3

660 Successes

Rerolling 138
7 6 2 4 2 8 3 7 7 8 7 2 8 3 8 9 9 8 3 10 8 7 7 1 1 10 5 7 4 10 5 2 5 8 6 7 8 10 5 4 7 4 7 5 6 4 5 6 4 9 8 1 7 4 3 9 3 7 8 8 6 2 9 1 2 6 9 9 6 5 4 2 8 10 8 6 6 4 1 9 4 8 1 10 3 3 9 5 9 6 4 7 9 3 9 10 10 7 8 5 3 3 9 1 3 8 8 10 2 8 8 5 8 10 5 10 2 5 7 2 2 10 8 10 4 6 2 6 4 1 10 7 4 8 9 6 8 6.

57x2= 114 successes

774 Successes total

2265/4800

Physical Cultivation
8 4 8 5 6 4 5 1 9 9 10 8 9 6 3 4 8 8 5 3 9 1 1 7 10 10 3 1 6 9 2 5 2 9 9 9 2 5 9 10 3 10 9 3 5 1 8 5 8 2 9 9 4 10 7 6 9 1 6 6 9 7 10 10 7 10 10 10 5 9 1 9 10 9 2 7 9 9 3 9 3 1 9 8 10 7 3 1 8 10 8 6 6 10 8 4 9 7 3 5 7 3 6 7 3 7 3 2 7 7 2 1 7 10 9 9 6 1 1 3 1 8 1 8 7 8 4 8 6 6 4 3 1 9 1 3 7 5 6 6 1 7 6 7 6 4 7 4 7 7 6 9 7 8 6 5 5 9 4 3 7 8 5 9 8 7 3 5 1 9 10 1 7 7 9 5 3 6 8 9 4 5 7 10 3 4 7 9 3 10 1 1 7 5 9 5 3 1 1 3 1 10 3 8 6 4 2 8 1 9 8 4 3 4 6 7 10 2 6 4 1 6 4 10 3 4 4 5 4 4 8 7 5 2 4 2 5 7 2 7 7 1 1 1 7 8 8 6 9 3 9 1 8 2 10 2 7 5 7 2 10 6 8 4 7 3 8 4 9 9 10 7 9 2 8 5 9 5 2 9 9 10 10 8 3 1 10 9 6 8 1 5 3 10 9 1 3 8 6 3 8 6 10 8 9 9 5 10 5 6 8 3 6 9 2 10 10 3 1 5 10 1 9 4 2 9 5 4 6 10 9 5 7 10 3 6 10 7 7 4 4 4 8 1 3 1 1 2 4 1 8 3 3 8 7 4 7 3 10 4 2 10 9 1 1 3 8 10 9 4 5 4 9 2 5 1 2 5 4 7 7 3 10 1 1 8 6 7 10 7 2 3 6 2 5 6 4 2 7 4 7 1 8 6 2 2 8 6 8 4 2 6 6 3 6 6 2 1 4 3 8 8 8 5 9 2 3 5 6 9 10 2 10 7 7 3 10 7 10 9 10 4 4 5 8 9 3 10 10 8 2 9 5 1 3 6 3 5 10 10 4 9 1 5 8 10 7 7 6 9 6 5 2 9 1 9 10 5 10 1 3 4 9 7 4 3 2 8 8 3 7 3 2 10 7 9 1 5 7 6 5 4 2 6 5 4 7 4 9 6 4 1 9 2 9 5 4 3 2 3 5 1 7 8 2 3 6 2 10 5 9 4 8 2 2 2 5 8 5 5 5 10 7 6 3 6 10 9 10 3 3 4 5 10 2 6 2 9 9 3 3 7 9 3 8 10 4 5 9 1 9 3 2 6 10 5 3 9 3 2 4 5 5 8 4 8 6 8 9 4 2 1 1 10 5 10 1 9 4 1 1 3 6 2 8 5 8 10 6 2 1 9 7 7 8 2 7 3 1 5 7 5 7 7 6 2 6 7 2 2 9 4 4 4 5 3 1 3 4 6 6 6 4 4 2 3 6 10 6 8 4 2 4 1 10 10 2 7 8 5 10 6 8 3 2 4 5 2 8 10 7 4 5 2 7 9 4 4 8 9 2 2 2 5 2 3 6 5 2 3 9 1 1 8 6 2 1 10 3 9 2 9 2 6 2 8 4 5 2 2 6 5 5 9 1 6 2 7 2 5 9 2 5 1 9 10 2 1 2 4 9 3 4 2 10 7 10 4 2 3 7 9 7 1 7 7 8 10 5 9 4 6 2 1 6 10 2 8 10 5 3 1 9 9 2 9 5 3 2 8 5 8 6 3 10 3 10 7 4 4 5 8 1 6 10 7 7 1 4 8 6 6 10 4 6 2 4 1 6 5 8 1 4 4 3 3 8 4 1 1 10 5 10 10 2 1 6 10 4 1 8 1 9 9 4 4 10 10 4 6 4 2 8 10 7 2 4 6 6 5 8 7 1 10 6 5 10 4 4 3 4 3 3 2 2 9 6 3 8 1 10 3 4 9 4 10 1 10 7 6 6 7 4 6 6 9 2 7 2 8 2 8 10 6 9 3 4 6 8 3 7 9 8 10 10 3 2 10 2 10 7 7 6 10 5 1 8 6 10 2 3 1 9 5 6 9 9 2 5 8 6 3 9 5 2 8 8 5 7 9 5 5 8 10 4 2 3 3 9 2 6 4 4 6 8 1 5 8 2 1 8 10 3 6 4 4 3 1 9 1 2 3 5 9 4 10 10 6 2 10 9 10 3 2 5 10 3 9 10 6 1 7 5 3 4 1 9 6 1 9 8 2 3 4 2 6 3 3 4 6 3 2 5 5 6 10 7 8 10 6 5 1 4 2 5 7 2 3 4 4 1 3 8 5 6 9 1 8 2 4 3 4 7 10 8 2 9 4 1 8 1 6 10 4 7 5 2 10 7 7 3 10 9 10 4 4 1 6 3 2 1 8 7 8 7 4 9 5 10 10 4 2 7 4 8 5 8 9 4 6 6 6 5 6 8 9 10 8 6 4 1 7 1 7 4 7 2 4 3 1 5 7 3 1 2 10 5 9 10 8 4 7 6 1 3 5 1 4 4 6 7 4 2 10 10 7 8 1 1 1 4 5 9 8 8 10 7 2 10 8 2 3 5 9 5 7 3 5 2 8 3 8 1 4 9 2 3 7 4 5 7 7 9 5 4 8 6 2 10 5 10 3 9 4 1 4 2 5 10 3 2 2 2 4 8 1 7 10 9 10 4 5 9 4 1 2 2 8 6 3 2 7 5 10 10 7 3 3 3 5 7 6 6 8 9 3 10 5 4 8 6 7 4 4 3 6 8 6 3 3 8 6 9 4 6 10 2 10 4 4 4 10 9 10 9 9 4 1 3 8 10 8

625 Successes

Rerolling 114

9 5 6 10 1 3 2 4 8 2 7 10 2 7 8 3 1 10 4 1 8 1 10 2 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 5 1 10 4 3 3 7 8 2 8 4 3 1 3 2 5 5 1 9 7 9 9 7 2 9 1 3 5 7 9 9 2 1 8 7 5 2 4 2 5 3 8 10 6 10 1 10 6 2 10 3 10 8 1 3 8 1 7 2 8 5 2 1 7 10 7 1 3 2 2 10 7 9 9 2 10 9 1 6 2 1 10 1

65x2=130 successes

755 Total

2659/2400

Foundation Bronze Achieved!

289/4800

Argent Genesis

6 10 4 1 10 5 1 7 5 5 4 8 8 4 5 8 9 7 7 5 9 10 5 3 10 9 6 4 1 4 3 6 5 6 8 5 10 9 3 7 5 9 4 2 4 8 1 2 6 7 6 4 6 3 7 8 1 4 3 3 9 6 9 4 3 6 10 5 6 4 1 10 4 6 3 8 5 3 9 1 1 7 6 9 9 4 6 1 7 10 3 6 7 1 1 10 9 2 4 4 7 6 6 1 1 8 8 7 3 8 7 3 6 5 1 6 8 8 6 7 8 1 2 6 3 4 5 1 7 10 7 3 5 2 3 7 1 10 4 3 10 2 6 5 8 6 3 6 6 8 4 3 10 5 8 3 10 5 3 6 4 9 8 1 2 3 7 3 4 2 7 3 6 2 10 3 10 2 10 5 1 3 9 1 9 8 3 8 4 5 5 8 6 5 8 7 7 6 1 10 8 8 5 5 1 4 7 2 7 7 6 7 9 6 9 8 6 1 7 9 8 2 6 5 8 5 3 4 3 4 3 2 1 9 6 3 2 4 5 8 10 2 7 1 8 5 8 3 6 6 3 5 9 1 9 6 7 1 9 9 6 4 2 8 2 7 1 6 1 5 3 2 8 1 2 5 6 1 9 3 7 4 7 5 4 7 3 10 9 1 1 5 6 2 2 10 1 2 5 1 8 9 4 6 10 6 2 7 6 3 9 4 6 7 1 9 5 3 10 3 5 10 7 1 2 1 2 2 4 8 4 2 6 7 9 7 2 2 5 10 4 3 3 9 1 5 9 7 7 9 10 2 10 8 4 1 10 5 4 4 2 7 7 9 6 5 8 7 6 2 8 2 7 3 2 9 7 1 6 6 1 5 9 10 4 2 3 4 8 6 7 1 5 5 1 10 1 8 8 8 2 6 9 8 10 1 6 6 3 1 3 3 7 1 4 1 2 6 6 1 2 4 3 6 8 4 7 8 3 4 7 4 9 6 1 8 6 9 6 8 1 8 2 8 9 5 10 2 1 5 5 4 10 7 1 9 2 7 8 5 10 4 10 1 9 3 10 6 1 7 5 1 7 6 10 5

239 Successes


Rerolling 57
1 9 6 8 4 1 3 9 9 2 1 2 4 7 7 2 4 3 7 7 3 9 8 10 1 2 2 10 5 7 5 5 7 10 4 10 2 6 1 3 7 3 6 2 9 2 4 3 7 2 9 9 1 8 10 3 10

30x2=60 successes

299x2.2=657 successes

730/650 New Dawn achieved

+11 Overflow to Physical

Spoiler: Argent Genesis New Dawn

+80 dice to Spiritual and Physical cultivation up to Green/Bronze 4
+30 dice to Meridian cultivation
+50 dice to Argent art cultivation
6 free dice of qi experience per turn up to S rank
User may bind up to grade 4 spirits
Spirit Upkeep reduced by 5 each for up to three spirits-permanent
Grants the user 1 virtual Green Stone per week(4 per turn)
1.3 multiplier to domain XP earned in a turn(Applied to turn total)-permanent
1.3 modifier to Art creation/modification XP

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi took a seat on a pale grey shore, on which lapped waves of rippling dream. She breathed in the scent of the colour sea, and it was no one thing. It was the scent of early morning mist in spring, the acrid scent of a painters tools, ink and incense, fresh churned forest loam, trod on by a hundred dancing feet. Beside her sat a tall, thin figure forlorn in expression, their waving rainbow hued hair lying flat and lank against their scalp.

"Sixiang," Ling Qi greeted quietly, smoothing her gown. It was strange, her focus was here, but she could still feel her body, feel the energies churning in her meridians as she took in the shifting tides of the moon and made them hers.

"Ling Qi," her muse greeted, not looking over at her. The spirit's voice was hoarse, and their knees were drawn up to their chest. "Didn't take you as long as I'd thought."

Ling Qi laughed. "I'm pretty tough you know. It takes a lot to keep me down."

"I know," Sixiang said. They fell silent then.

Ling Qi let the silence stretch, she did not really know what to say. Words danced through her mind, she wanted to plead, to cajole, to deny. She did not want Sixiang to go, she thought to appeal to their connection, to the sadness she and her other spirits would feel, but the words died on her lips. That wasn't really fair, it did not address Sixiang's trouble at all. Yet, she couldn't not say it. "We would miss you a lot," she said quietly. "I… promised them you know. I'll work hard with you too."

"You'll work yourself to death twice over before you take a break," Sixiang answered with a chuckle. "What if I don't want that?"

"I…" Ling Qi grimaced, the ache in her dantian sharpening, sending a spike of pain up her spine. "I can't stop Sixiang. I won't stop, the world is still so big, and I'm still so very small," she said, quiet determination in her voice.

"It will never stop you know. The bigger you get, the more of the world you'll see. It will never get any smaller," Sixiang replied.

"Even so," Ling Qi said, unwavering. "I would like if you stayed by my side. Even if things are hard now, can you really say there is nothing more you want to see of the waking world?"

Spoiler: Roll the First

Target Number 50


2 degree success

Sixiang smiled wanly. "You know, it's funny. Before I spent all of this time with you, none of this would have bothered me. What is the end of a few dreams? A song of war is as good as a song of peace, if the singer is skilled."

"Sixiang…" Ling Qi said, trailing off, she wasn't sure how to respond.

Sixiang blew an errant strand of lank hair out of her eyes, and finally turned her head to look at Ling Qi. "Will you take a stroll with me, Ling Qi? I think I've spent too much time awake. You don't sleep near enough."

Ling Qi looked down at the muses extended hand, she glanced out to the rippling sea as it drew back from the shore, and took their hand in her own. She felt herself, still cultivating among the Silent Stones. "Of course. I'll find the time, if I need too."

Sixiang smiled as they grasped her hand, a flicker of humor entering their eyes again. "I'm glad."

And then the wave crashed down upon the shore, and they were both no more.

***​

Ling Qi felt her limbs spin back into existence, and found herself on a flat and polished wooden floor. All around her dancers spun and whirled in the flickering shadow of bobbing ghost lights. Merriment and cheer filled the air. She herself now wore a gown of old and strange cut, a billowing cloud of lace and silk almost fit to drown in.

She still grasped Sixiang's hand, who now stood across from her, wearing antiquated gentleman's robes. They, no, his face had taken on a more masculine cast, and other arm was around her waist. They had joined the dance midstep, and only her quick reflexes allowed her to avoid trampling on the spirits toes. Some part of her wanted to shove them away, but it was just Sixiang. Masculine shape or no, it was all the same.

"Good recovery," Sixiang chuckled as they spun through the steps.

Ling Qi's gaze flicked across the room and down at their feet, swiftly analyzing the steps. "I know I don't don't do it in public, but you of all people should know how much I've practiced." Dancing was not so different than any other kind of athletics, not really. Even the simple stretching exercises of her Mother's cultivation art had a certain dance-like quality. It was all a matter of practiced, memorized motion.

Above, or perhaps below them, Ling Qi saw the dance floor mirrored, and a second Ling Qi danced with a second Sixiang. Which was the reflection, she wondered? For a moment, she felt as if she was looking through two sets of eyes, both staring at one another from the other side of the mirror.

"I suppose so," Sixiang mused as their dance carried them around other pairs. The other dancers were not human, not most of them. What could be taken for mask sat a glance resolved into bestial features when looked at directly, and the dancers features changed from one moment to the next. "You wouldn't know just by looking though," Sixiang said with a smile, as if laughing at some private joke.

"You haven't answered my question you know," Ling Qi said quietly as they danced. "Is there really nothing else for you?"

Sixiang's expression grew more somber, and despite herself Ling Qi was aware of the handsome lines of the currently male muses face, not so far from her own. "That's the wrong question I think," he said quietly, and they separated for the next steps.

Another set of hands clasped Ling Qi's as she spun away, and the other dancers features blurred, and became Sixiang's. "There are so many things I want to see… but I have to wonder if staying where I am is the best way to see them. I've changed you know."

"You have, but I don't think it's so bad, you used to be pretty feckless," Ling Qi teased gently, not missing a beat at the 'new' partner.

"Mm, I'm not so sure," Sixiang mused, moving in time to the phantom music that rang over tha dancers. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once, sending the curved and mirrored walls around the dance floor rippling. "I don't regret coming to care about you, but… my fear has made me less I think. It seems so much clearer here, immersed in dream."

"There is nothing wrong with wanting to live," Ling Qi replied, meeting his eyes. "Spirit or no. I understand though, it's not easy seeing so much…" she trailed off, thinking of bodies lying still in the fields, and faces covered in creeping frost. She shivered, despite the warmth of the room.

"It's because of my own fear that I feel theirs so acutely you know," Sixiang said with a sad smile. "I'm a muse, you know. I can feel what people are feeling, even when they try to throw up a mask, in combat, when they aren't even trying…"

Ling Qi was silent, lowering her eyes.

"Your world is so rigid and limited you know," Sixiang said softly. "No one knows what happens when you humans leave it, except for those who won't answer. How can you not be afraid, when you don't know if this is your last dream? So many little sparks, all clashing, none of them want to die, but they're driven to bring death to others anyway, riding on the currents of causality, old actions sending ripples downstream again and again…"

Sixiang's voice started to drift off, and Ling Qi gave his hand a sharp squeeze, drawing him back from whatever dreamlike tangent he was going off on. "I don't know about any of that," Ling Qi said. "But… even if you can understand your enemies. They're still your enemies. People want things, and sometimes what they want just can't be reconciled with what you want."

"Like I said, rigid and limited," Sixiang chuckled sadly. "But I get it, I wonder if that's the argument that you want to make right now."

Ling Qi flushed slightly and glanced away. "We aren't enemies Sixiang, we're friends. I want you to be happy, and I want you to stay, but if one precludes the other…"

Sixiang grinned in amusement and Ling Qi huffed at the obvious teasing as their dance carried them to the edge of the floor and through the curved and gleaming wall. The glasslike exterior rippled as they stepped through, then shattered, reducing their previous venue to a thousand falling sparks of color and light.

Now, they walked on a snowy path that wound through a dense forest. They were clad in mourners white, their gowns unembellished, just two in a stream of humanity that wound out of sight both ahead and behind. A soft mourning song rang through the air, punctuated by sobs from amidst the line. On the murners shoulders were countless biers, smelling of incense and oils that only just masked the scent of death.

"It might be hard for you to understand, as a human," Sixiang mused beside her. The handles of their bier rested heavily on Ling Qi's shoulders. The muse had shifted to a female aspect now, slighter and softer than the face they had worn a moment ago. "It's not like I'm unfamiliar with the bad stuff you know? Nightmares are dreams too, and more than one artist has poured their fear and anxiety onto the page or canvas."

"Then why? I want to understand," Ling Qi asked, her voice muffled and quiet. The very air of this place seemed to disallow loudness.

"It's like…" Sixiang paused, searching for her words. "Like before I could think this is fear-of-death, and this is pain-of-loss, but it was like describing what the color something was, there wasn't really any understanding to it."

Ling Qi was silent, her qi thrumming in her meridians. It really struck her then, the inhumanity of her companion. As a human, she could reconcile the things Sixiang had spoken of, but… she couldn't not really. Sixiang was a muse, a creature of thought and feeling, a conflict like this could discomfit or depress her, but to Sixiang, it was really more like a wasting illness.

Spoiler: Songseekers Ceremony

Songseeker's Ceremony
2 9 9 6 1 1 8 5 9 7 5 5 5 8 5 6 1 8 8 5 6 8 4 9 1 8 9 10 3 3 5 4 3 4 1 3 6 10 8 4 6 4 8 10 1 4 8 4 3 5 10 9 4 4 9 4 1 7 5 3 1 9 8 4 4 10 8 9 9 7 4 7 10 3 8 1 6 5 6 9 1 5 7 4 8 7 9 10 4 3 2 6 4 1 9 9 2 9 10 3 5 3 9 5 6 6 7 3 3 2 1 3 8 9 9 6 6 7 5 1 2 9 6 5 1 7 5 3 5 4 5 9 7 5 5 4 2 3 6 4 4 9 7 4 7 7 9 4 5 5 4 6 5 10 2 6 8 7 10 2 10 6 2 8 10 9 3 1 1 9 7 7 7 5 10 5 1 10 9 5 4 2 1 9 3 4 6 10 10 5 3 2 2 7 9 1 7 2 3 7 2 9 5 8 3 6 2 3 5 2 10 9 4 2 9 8 5 6 10 5 10 4 6 1 10 6 3 6 9 7 5 10 6 9 7 10 5 1 5 1 2 4 1 7 5 9 5 1 6 6 5 5 9 2 7 1 10 1 6 8 8 2 8 5 3 6 4 9 8 8 9 10 1 10 8 7 10 4 8 6 9 4 2 8 8 1 8 7 3 5 6 10 7 3 6 1 1 10 9 8 7 7 9 10 8 7 6 10 2 5 7 1 1 10 10 8 10 9 6 5 3 1 6 1 6 2 1 8 1 1 5 9 8 6 8 7 4 6 6 5 2 2 5 2 2 6 1 3 4 6 7 9 9 3 1 6 4 2 3 6 2 9 4 1 4 4 10 7 9 5 2 2 9 8 4 2 4 4 6 9 2 5 7 2 9 8 7 4 1 1 9 4 9 4 5 3 7 6 1 7 2 2 9 2 2 2 3 5 7 1 5 8 7 2 1 5 1 7 8 1 7 8 4 6 1 10 10 10 5 10 6 7 4 6 8 5 9 3 1 8 5 5 5 1 8 8 5 8 4 4 8 3 1 2 10 3 3 9 2 10 10 10 8 3 5 7 9 6 9 9 3 5 4 9 7 1 6 3 9 10 6 8 4 8 1 3 1 4 3 4 5 2 3 2 5 10 8 3 5 9 4 9 3 9 7 10 9 3 2 9 4 10 9 7 7 9 9 9 4 1 3 8 4 7 9 10 6 7 5 2 5 8 10 9 6 9 10 6 1 2 7 6 3 5 2 1 3 2 10 9 4 4 6 9 2 5 9 10 3 3 3 7 2 3 7 7 3 7 4 5 10 2 10 2 6 3 2 1 6 3 9 1 8 6 9 10 10 7 9 2 1 3 10 2 5 9 10 9 5 4 3 4 7 2 7 3 6 8 5 1 3 5 1 2 10 10 3 10 8 3 3 9 6 5 10 2 3 10 1 9 5 3 2 1 7 8 5 2 7 9 5 1 3 5 3 3 6 5 4 4 10 8 2 5 4 1 6 8 2 6 6 8 1 9 9 7 8 3 10 5 4 4 7 8 9 1 2 6 8 7 9 7 5 2 1 10 5 6 8 6 4 5 4 4 4 4 10 1 8 9 7 3 3 4 1 3 6 2 8 3 1 9 9 7 10 1 6 6 7 3 2 10 8 7 3 3 10 4 3 9 2 2 2 6 5 2 10 2 5 8 5 7 8 5 3 9 6 9 5 4 3 6 5 2 4 9 4 5 2 9 3 5 10 6 3 6 7 2 7 4 9 3 10 8 8 5 7 5 3 1 8 5 8 4 9 1 2 2 7 3 10 9 9 9 7 1 4 3 3 1 8 3 3 10 1 2 4 9 6 8 9 5 4 8 8 2 10 9 4 6 3 5 6 4 4 2 4 9 7 8 1 6 3 6 5 3 7 10 3 5 7 3 9 3 10 7 4 9 7 9 6 2 4 1 5 9 3 10 7 1 8 8 6 10 3 3 4 1 2 6 5 1 8 6 3 9 2 8 7 10 7 2 3 2 4 7 10 8 7 6 8 6 5 6 7 9 8 2 10 1 9 6 3 8 1 7 6 4 5 2 6 3 5 8 4 8 5 3 8 3 10 5 10 7 2 8 5 9 9 6 2 7 4 4 4 6 1 9 10 7 2 5 9 8 4 4 7 10 6 4 4 7 1 3 3 2 2 10 3 10 7 4 8 10 9 1 6 9 1. 489 Successes


Rerolling 89
2 7 10 9 3 3 7 7 6 5 1 8 3 10 10 5 10 9 10 5 1 3 1 7 2 6 2 1 6 3 9 9 9 10 9 3 2 6 9 9 2 2 7 4 1 6 8 3 6 9 7 6 3 8 4 5 3 7 5 10 9 5 9 9 4 7 1 8 4 2 6 5 3 2 10 5 9 8 7 4 6 4 1 9 1 4 3 5 2. 44 Successes

44x2=88

577 x1.9=1096

+90 Omake XP Refunding 8 of 9
1106

1106/500 First Song Learned
606/600 Second Song Learned

6/700 Capped until Green 4

"But you've spent enough time to have that context now. They aren't just colors on the pallet anymore," Ling Qi said. The mourning song rang out so much more clearly now. The singers poured out the laments of the dead and the hopes of the living, and though the language they sang in was foreign, she understood.

"Heh, looks like you were paying attention to the art stuff after all," Sixiang chuckled. "But, yes Ling Qi, I understand people, I can feel what they feel. Do you understand?"

Ling Qi had difficulty imagining it, she had trouble enough with her own emotions, the thought of having the feelings of others flooding her head at all times was… unpleasant. She knew intuitively that Sixiang was not just speaking of their allies, and it fed certain threads of unease that had wound through her thoughts since the day when she had killed the Bai traitor and the bandits. She lowered her eyes as the dirge rose higher. "I stand by what I said earlier. You should save your understanding for the people you care about. You have to choose what to value more and less."

"I think I get it, I really do. It's just not so easy to get the spirit back into the bottle," Sixiang chuckled. "I'm afraid Ling Qi. I don't know how to handle that."

Ling Qi walked in silence next to the muse, her sandaled feet churning the cold muddy road. Outside of the dream, she felt herself considering what exercise to begin next.

[] Melodies of the Spirit Seekers (Lean in to the problem of empathy and how to solve it. Improves Sixiang's Wind affinity. Lower Chance of Positive result)
[] Playful Muse Rapport (Try to help Sixiang reclaim their nature as a muse. Increases Sixiang's Moon affinity. Higher chance of positive result)

Spoiler: Second Song

+50 dice to Spiritual Cultivation until Green 4
+50 dice to Physical Cultivation until Green 4
+45 dice to the cultivation of Yin Arts
+35 dice to the cultivation of Moon Arts
1/10 of XP gained through permanent cultivation bonuses added to Domain XP
Grants the user 1 virtual Green Stone per week(4 per turn)
Allows the User to Bind Spirits up to Grade Three
Reduces Upkeep of Spirits by 2 per spirit
8 Qi cultivation dice per turn up to S Rank
-Increases growth rate of bound spirits(effects increasing with Bond Level)

Spoiler: Third Song

+55 dice to Spiritual Cultivation until Green 5
+55 dice to Physical Cultivation until Green 5
+50 dice to the cultivation of Yin Arts
+45 dice to the cultivation of Moon Arts
1/8 of XP gained through permanent cultivation bonuses added to Domain XP
Grants the user 2 virtual Green Stone per week(8 per turn)
Allows the User to Bind Spirits up to Grade Three
Reduces Upkeep of Spirits by 3 per spirit
8 Qi cultivation dice per turn up to S Rank
-Increases growth rate of bound spirits(effects increasing with Bond Level)

 

[yrsillar]

In the distant part of her that still sat outside atop an old and worn stone amid, Ling Qi stared down at the stick of jade in her hands, eyes glassy in her faintly dozing state. Within the jade lay the Playful Muses Rapport Art, not a Bai clan loan, but a remaining piece of Emerald Seas own storied archives, ravaged by millenia of civil war, decadence and spite. In the state she was in now, she could almost taste the strife that still clung to the art, a tinge of copper and wood smoke.

It felt familiar, the scent of burning knowledge. Had she not spent a night in such a repository once?

Ling Qi brushed it aside with a thought, as one would wave away the smoke from ones campfire, and peered at the art within the jade. She had hope that the art, patterned off Sixiang's siblings could help her understand her friend better.

"Spacing out, even now?" Sixiang asked with a small smile, drawing her back to the snowy mourner's path.

"Something like that," Ling Qi replied, ignoring the muses knowing look. "I think we've both had enough of this atmosphere, don't you think?"

Ling Qi breathed out and released the handles of the bier she bore, flicking her wrists and sending her sleeves billowing as she shook them out. The snowy path, and the mourners song shattered like so much glass, and dissolved into smoke.

They fell.

"Well someone has gotten brave," Sixiang complained as she tumbled head over heels beside Ling Qi. They plunged like falling arrows through the open azure sky. Below there was no ground nor clouds, only the endless sky, stretching on forever, above and below. Only the faintest outline of a nearly full moon marred the blue. The wind whistled past Ling Qi's ears and tugged at her gown, but the wind was an old friend.

Ling Qi righted herself, and still the grasping tugs of the wind that pulled at the hems of her gown, she grinned. "Quit messing around Sixiang."

The muse huffed, and their haphazard tumble ceased, her form flowed, smokelike until she once again faced Ling Qi, but her form had changed again. The Sixiang that looked back at her in irritation was wholly androgynous, their features a mix of sharp and soft, their multihued hair streaming above in the wind like a colorful scarf. "I appreciate the thought you know, but isn't what your doing a little high handed?" Sixiang said crossly.

"Maybe so, but I'll grasp at whatever straws I might need to help you," Ling Qi replied, crossing her arms. Her gown billowed around her as she fell, but never to the point of impropriety. "I… want to understand, Sixiang."

"I know you do, Ling Qi," the muse replied, smiling. "I'm glad you do, but I'm not sure that art can do it. It's not about being a muse, it's about applying some of our perspective to yourself. Honestly. I think you might have trouble cultivating it, with how closed off you are."

"Then show me," Ling Qi pleaded, spreading her arms. "You brought me to your memories before, you can do it again, can't you?"

Sixiang met her eyes, their eyebrows drawing together.

Spoiler: Roll the Second

Target Number 40
]
6 degrees success

"I won't ask you to change your mind. I know how stubborn you are," Sixiang chuckled. "But if you really want to understand, it'll have to be a lot deeper than last time."

"I'm pretty tough," Ling Qi replied, putting on a cocky smile. "But you know that."

"I do," Sixiang laughed. Then they were in front of her, hands resting on her temples. Their smile turned a little sad. "Change places."

Ling Qi's vision went white.

***​

It was different this time. Perhaps Sixiang had simply grown better at manipulating this place of dreams, or perhaps they were simply holding back less of the experience from her. In either case, Ling Qi felt her mind itch as she was immersed in wholly alien senses. She felt herself drowning in the sheer sensory input that flowed through Sixiang's/her senses, and it was a struggle just to remember where the line between them lay.

She lay on the table in a once neat dining room, painted in the hues of determination, loneliness, awkward longing and stinging hurt. The Human/Ling Qi lay on top of her new body, and they saw the bundle of muted, chemical soaked emotion emanating from them even in sleep. Possessiveness, black and cloying holding everything else together, coiled around a stubborn spine of flowing water, all contained in a cage of awkwardness and fear even now reasserting itself.

She saw the other one, armored in anger, girded with loss. She drifted along as they both ran off, blazing with signals of hurt and desperate clinginess. Attraction warred with loneliness in the white one, the serpent daughter. This was only the latest hurt, every moment spent with Sixiang's human was a stinging wound and balm all in one.

Ling Qi clung to the other girl with the desperation reminiscent of the fading dreams of a shipwreck survivor, yet a thread of fear ran through it all, a sharp white line cutting through the clinging dark.

They needed each other, they hurt each other. It was beautiful in it's contrast, but something about it niggled at her, She didn't like it much at all.

…

She didn't understand these humans and their world. Everything was so stiff. Fear touched everything here. No joy was unstained by by it, no determination did not keep a seed of fear at its heart. Despite that, it lent a certain something to the colors these silly, hurrying, desperate and self important creatures displayed. There was a brightness to them, a sharpness of tone and hue not present in Dream.

In other ways they were frustrating and dull, their revels seemed more like some kind of twisted game, where each human constructed their very best mask, and did their level best to talk past and through each other without an ounce of understanding. Like a dark nightmare revel, it was all sharp and hungry eyes and hidden fangs, ready to pounce on the weakest and tear them apart.

She felt a touch of something like guilt when she learned later that her actions and cajoling had gotten Ling Qi in trouble with that puppet thing that she answered too. She was not a nightmare in this incarnation, and few parts of her had been, so it was still interesting to learn these new shades of fear and regret.

Still, it seemed so odd to her, Ling Qi had tried to explain, but she just didn't understand these humans, one dream was as good as the next, why worry about the ending? They spent so much time hiding from each other instead of expressing themselves properly.

…

Stripped of their body and bond to their human, Sixiang struggled, bodiless against the cold weight of a world pressing down upon them.

[Cease] The other surrounded them, engulfed them.

For just a moment, Ling Qi became herself, and her head aching as it tried to process completely alien sensation. She felt Sixiang stir in her mind, adjusting the flow of their power.

Raw meaning pounded mercilessly against their being as a fragment of a fragment of the greater entities attention turned in on them, the command was like a thousand, thousand hooks digging into their core, restraining them. Their response was feeble but strident. [Negation. Cease.]

Their expressed will broke upon their superior like a light breeze upon a fortress wall. [Denial. Trial.] Sixiang's whole being shuddered with the power pressed down upon them. Trial. That word encompassed uncounted years of meaning. Their greater selves were as gate and wall to those humans who chose to throw away the gifts of the [Two] and join their number as spirits. It was a kindness to break their mad ambition before they could destroy their humanity, or failing that, to prepare them for its loss. As the Second Born of [She Who Was] that duty overrode all other concerns. The weight of it crushed Sixiang, stilling even their feeble struggle. They saw their humans pain and fear, but the colour was sour and unpleasant, like excrement smeared across a finely painted canvas. The growing horror and disgust for herself growing in the fragment of Ling Qi's mind was worse.

Sixiang could only watch and scream.

[Contamination. Return?] The fragment of the cold will that held them down seemed almost kind, in the understanding that filtered through its will, like soft silk wrapping a clenched iron fist.

They felt the trial fading, felt Ling Qi lapsing into oblivion. [Negation. Aid… Mine] This dream was not over, it could not be.

…

They observed the gathering dully. Scores of humans all packed into a small space, talking and laughing, enjoying music and poetry, it should have been a joy to soak in, a balm for their growing fatigue, it was not. They were better versed in humanity now, though they still waved their masks about, she could see the expression in the undercurrents now. The ones taking genuine pleasure in each others presence, the joy some of the humans found in their verbal sparring, and the connections that formed despite their masks.

If only she could say the same for Ling Qi. Whatever arts she was cultivating now, whatever she composed, Ling Qi had no intention of connecting to the people around her even a little bit. they watched their human put on a mask of frost and venom, deflecting those who tried to come near. In some they saw only anger and pricked pride, in others they saw genuine hurt as their effort to reach out was rebuffed, and gradually the colors around them curdled. They saw pride sharpen into sneers and hope fade into dull disinterest and raised guards.

They tried to offer hints and nudges, but too often they were ignored. Perhaps they could have been more forceful, but with the Nightmare still heavy on both of them, they could not find the will to do it.

Fear had taken root in Sixiang. The last thing they wanted to do was make an annoyance of themselves.

…

It hurt, to watch them fade. Each human was a riot of color and life, dreams and hopes, fears and desires. When they died, it all went out, gone like a snuffed candle. If there was a new dream waiting for them, Sixiang was no longer sure. It felt like a knife in their nonexistent flesh, twisting each time she saw it happen.

...Ling Qi was in fine form today, her enemies, these bandits did not stand a chance against her. Perhaps with more organization, and better leadership, perhaps if they had stilled their chaos and formed up from the moment of engagement, it would have been different.

They did not, and so they died. The pain of the poison coursing through their being was a pale thing compared to that.

…

They had never liked this Cai Renxiang. She was the child spawn of the greater Cai, the one who had reduced the Court of Dreams to ash, and replaced Grandmothers shrines in the [First Tree] with new and foreign spirits. Of all the peers her Ling Qi interacted with, only Cai Renxiang was wholly opaque to her gaze. She was a statuette of reflective glass, dancing on strings. Whatever her thoughts were Sixiang could not say, whatever her hopes were, lay beyond sight.

However, in that carriage, they were thankful for her. Sixiang was too weak to speak up, but conscious. Watching Ling Qi process the pain that they had felt all through the battle hurt as if they were being wounded all over again.

It was good then, that the girl was able to offer Ling Qi something, a thread to hold onto and pull herself back up. That most precious of things for humans who cultivated. Purpose.

And if, in that moment, they spied a crack in the glass, and peered at the ------- beneath, they would not say a word. Not because of the glower of the abomination the girl wore, or the threatening hiss of steel from the one at her side, but because it would be poor form to repay the one helping her Ling Qi by spilling secrets.

***​

Ling Qi sat up with a start, her breathing quick and disordered for the moment it took her to re-center herself. She cradled her head as memories continued to sift through her thoughts, a torrential flow of which she could only recall a few scraps, and yet… When she looked up and saw Sixiang sitting upon the shore of the color sea, she understood.

Spoiler: Playful Muses Rapport

Playful Muses Rapport
6 8 6 1 3 10 10 7 10 8 9 10 10 6 3 8 5 1 8 6 5 2 2 5 4 2 8 2 3 10 4 1 7 9 3 10 8 2 6 10 1 6 1 3 2 3 10 8 6 7 4 10 10 7 6 5 9 6 6 3 5 10 3 2 8 5 1 8 9 8 7 9 4 7 1 5 1 2 2 6 10 7 5 1 4 3 5 2 8 1 6 2 2 9 3 9 3 5 8 3 3 4 2 6 2 4 2 3 8 5 8 7 4 5 8 9 9 4 10 6 4 7 9 5 5 4 6 10 8 3 2 10 9 5 7 10 1 10 2 8 5 2 4 10 8 3 8 6 7 9 3 2 5 1 9 10 4 4 1 2 8 2 3 6 9 2 8 9 1 1 6 7 4 1 6 1 6 5 8 2 3 2 5 8 3 3 9 8 8 9 1 8 2 6 3 10 7 2 10 9 3 7 6 6 8 3 9 5 8 6 8 10 8 2 9 2 7 7 1 4 7 2 1 9 7 6 10 5 7 2 3 1 8 10 7 7 5 5 1 4 2 10 3 1 2 4 2 10 2 5 3 9 6 6 9 4 3 10 10 9 1 4 2 1 6 8 7 10 4 10 3 5 9 3 6 7 2 4.

138 Successes

Rerolling 25
9 2 9 7 5 5 7 1 2 6 10 2 10 1 7 6 3 5 2 9 8 4 8 9 6.

11x2=22 Successes

160x2.2=352

352/200 First Fantasy Achieved

152/300

Slowly, she turned her head away from the construct on the shore, the thing created by Sixiang for her benefit, and addressed her friend directly. "I'm sorry Sixiang," she said, bowing her head to the sea.
She saw the illusion on the shore dissolve into mist out of the corner of her eye. "Nothing to apologize for," Sixiang said, the water rippling around her bare feet. The voice echoed strangely, emanating from the whole of the sea. "I have to say… how do you manage, being so blind?"

"I don't know. How do you manage seeing so much?" Ling Qi shot back with a small smile. Even with the memories fading, and the lessons of a new art internalized, Sixiang's perspective still left her with an aching head.

Sixiang laughed, and they sat in silence for a time, the sound of Sixiang's waters lapping on the shore and the quiet sound of the wind their only company aside from each other. They did not need words as they processed each others perspectives.

"Sixiang. I'll try as hard as I can, but I can't say whether the end of my path will be worth it for you. Things are going to be hard. I'm going to hurt others and others are going to hurt me," she said quietly. "But I'd like you to share it with me. I'll need you to stop me putting my foot in my mouth too much," though she ended on a weak joke, she knew Sixiang could feel her sincerity. In the end, having understood each other, there was no point in argument. She could only say the words that were in her heart all along. She didn't want her friend to leave, but… she had to accept it if it was their choice.

Her words echoed in the sea and the waters receded, leaving her feet bare on the sand

Spoiler: Dice Roll the Third

Target Number 30 (reduced from 50 by previous roll)

"...How do you deal with being so afraid all the time?" Sixiang asked quietly.

"You already know the answer to that," Ling Qi said quietly.

Sixiang huffed, and Ling Qi sputtered as a wave came in soaking her front. "Smartass," she grumbled. "But I guess I do."

Ling Qi huffed as a burst of wind blew the water soaking her away. She refused to let Sixiang escape into comedy. "You work to make the world one where you don't have to be afraid any more."

"Even if there's no end to that path?" Sixiang asked quietly.

"Ends are inevitable," Ling Qi replied with conviction. "The journey to get there is what gives them value."

Sixiang let out a sigh and chuckled. "Wow, when I'm the gloomy one you know something has gone wrong."

"You're right," Ling Qi said with a chuckle. "What do you say? Will you stay with me, Sixiang?"

"Yes I will," the muse said, and Ling Qi felt their qi pulse and flex experimentally. "I think I understand better now, what it means to be human and not. I'm not, and I never was. You're taking your own steps away from that…. If you don't like the world, then change it huh? I guess I forgot Grandmothers power in the waking world, huh?"

"Dreams aren't just for sleeping," Ling Qi said softly. It was funny, though it seemed childish to consider, at the core of every cultivator was a dream. She might have been approaching some things wrongly. Slowly, she stood. "Sixiang, will you dance with me again?"

"Of course," her friends voice said, and a hand rose from the waters to grasp her own. "Did you have something in mind?"

Ling Qi considered as she stepped out onto the sea, feeling the qi in her legs and lungs rippling with the anticipation for… something.

Congratulations, you have succeeded in keeping Sixiang, now we move to more mechanical matters, as some of you have no doubt guessed, it is time for Phantasmagoria to gain its complete form.

[] Something fast paced and dramatic. [Empowers Ephemeral Dreamlit Dancer, shifts technique focus to movement and personal buffs]
[] Something slow and contemplative [Empowers Illustrious Phantasmal Festival. Shifts technique focus to Area of effect, group buffs and terrain control]

Spoiler: Playful Muses rapport

Potency: Green 3
Potency growth: Green 4(3), Green 5(5)
Max Level: 5
Keywords: Composure, Empathy, Manipulation, Presence, Speech, Wits
-Curiosity, Expression, Mischief, Moon, Sincerity, Wind, Yang
Needed Meridians: Head x4(1), Head (3), Head (5)
XP: 200, 400, 700, 1000, 1300

Passives

+10 to Initiative
+10 to Social Perception
+10 to Speech
+10 to Empathy


Carefree Mantle: C
Duration: Long
It is not enough to merely follow the basic exercises of this art, to learn tricks of speaking and the use of humor as a smoothing and contrasting element in their rhetoric. To truly emulate the muse, one must defy certain ingrained social behaviors and learn to wear their emotion, their intent, their very self as a cloak. Though such openness can seem frightening to the neophyte, few methods are superior in conveying the sincerity of your intent. While active, the user receives a large bonus to speech tests when speaking honestly or attempting to convince others of their sincerity, and a smaller bonus to poise.

Deceiver's Foil: C
Duration: Short
The muse is a creature of pure expression, and many tales speak of the humorous humiliations which they sometimes heap on the dishonest and insincere. Though this art does not teach such excessive methods, through this technique, one may indeed suss out those who lie to the users face and find the inspiration to trip up and foil those with dishonest intent. The user receives a bonus to Social Perception when attempting to detect lies and a bonus to speech when attempting to counter lies and misinformation

Spoiler: Second Fantasy

Passives

+10 to Initiative
+15 to Social Perception
+10 to Speech
+15 to Empathy


Carefree Mantle: C
Duration: Long
It is not enough to merely follow the basic exercises of this art, to learn tricks of speaking and the use of humor as a smoothing and contrasting element in their rhetoric. To truly emulate the muse, one must defy certain ingrained social behaviors and learn to wear their emotion, their intent, their very self as a cloak. Though such openness can seem frightening to the neophyte, few methods are superior in conveying the sincerity of your intent. While active, the user receives a large bonus to speech tests when speaking honestly or attempting to convince others of their sincerity, and a similar bonus to poise and empathy tests

Deceiver's Foil: C
Duration: Short
The muse is a creature of pure expression, and many tales speak of the humorous humiliations which they sometimes heap on the dishonest and insincere. Though this art does not teach such excessive methods, through this technique, one may indeed suss out those who lie to the users face and find the inspiration to trip up and foil those with dishonest intent. The user receives a bonus to large Social Perception when attempting to detect lies and a bonus to speech when attempting to counter lies and misinformation. When used in conjunction with Carefree Mantle, this technique functions as if it were B rank for one test.