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

[yrsillar]

The garden had turned out well, Ling Qi thought. Thankfully the rest of hanyi's tour had been much less stressful. Traveling a circuit of the valley viscounty, she had the opportunity to speak with many more minor nobles, cementing an overall good impression. More importantly though she was able to see Hanyi's smaller performances.

Out in the countryside the rites she took part in were not on stages surrounded by nobles, but in old growth groves, at important lakes and in the center of fields, and though they held a respectful distance, they were open to the public.

Ling Qi had never been familiar with priestly rites and organized festival days. In Tonghou very few temples and shrines existed in the outer city. There were the quiet men and women who oversaw funeral rites and scattered shrines out in the agricultural lands. The people of the outer city had their personal rites, like the thieves whose slapdash shrine to the Grinning Moon she had observed once. The Liu clan was content to leave it at that though.

So it had surprised Ling Qi, to see so many mortals gather for those services. Even if they were dull to her senses, there was a certain solemnity that had struck her as she watched the rites performed in the face of the coming winter, with Hanyi's song drifting through the air. The scent of candles held tightly in hundreds of hands burning, of softly lit lanterns heavy with offerings drifting down the mountain streams, of incense and prayers whispered too softly for mortal ears to hear.

The closest thing she could compare it to was watching the new roads carved into wild earth.

"Ah, Big Sister is back!" Gui's voice reached her as she stepped into the shadow where two slender trees came together in an arch and emerged in the center of the garden where the boiling mineral springs heat sent streamers of steam into the evening air. Earth and stone shifted, gravel falling as Zhengui rose from the depression, the nest he had dug out for himself, his footfalls sending ripples through the bubbling waters.

"That's right," Ling Qi said with a smile, reaching out to pat him on the head, he was half her height at the shoulder right now, the size the garden had been designed for. "There were some snags, but Hanyi's tour went well."

"I Zhen suppose I will have to congratulate her then," the serpent said haughtily. "But she is not the only one who has been working hard. Look upon our work sister!"

Ling Qi looked behind them to the garden surrounding the mineral spring, the bright colors of the flowers contrasting with the cool shadows and drifting mist. Shaped stones had been raised throughout the garden center as well, silent silhouettes in the steam and mist. They were a little crude, and Ling Qi couldn't quite work out how they had been shaped. Passing Zhengui, she knelt down in front of the closest. It seemed like it was only a boulder at first glance but a closer look revealed that the low slung stone was shaped roughly like a tortoise.

"How did you make this?" Ling Qi asked brushing her fingers over the shaped stone. Already moss was growing over it, in the crevices that provided it detail.

Zhen puffed up with pride and for once, Gui seemed to do the same. "Well, Gui had the idea when he saw some crafty-humans. Since Gui can make wood very hard to burn, he can make 'molds' if he really tries."

"And I, Zhen can easily produce molten stone. Glass too will be within my reach," Zhen said proudly.

"Mm, glass is weird, every time we tried it was ugly and cloudy," Gui grumbled. "Rock is better."

"Hmph, glass would be more beautiful, if Gui could digest things properly," Zhen hissed.

"It's a great idea," Ling Qi said, cutting off their argument before it could really begin.

"Heh, he's pretty creative," Sixiang piped up, their eyes materializing over her shoulder to look over the sculptors. "Gotta admit, even I thought you needed hands to do sculpture."

"Yes, Gui is very smart," he chirped, earning a complaining hiss from Zhen. "I wanted to make one of everyone but Hanyi and Big Sis are hard. The Sixiang is harder."

"Wouldn't look right with rock anyway," Zhen grumbled.

"Hm, hm, I bet I could figure out some tips now that I think about it," Sixiang mused.

"Probably, we did need to add ward stones to the garden anyway," Ling Qi mused, their presence kept malicious spirits out, but if they let anyone in it would be good for the developing spirits of the gardens to have boundaries. "Sculptures would be more interesting than just stone posts."

It would be good practice Ling Qi thought. Between the Dream realm and thresholds, and the creation of this garden, Ling Qi was beginning to come back around to her formation craft. Warding stones were something any noble needed, providing the boundaries between the lands of man and spirit. Her exploration of Dream had given her some insights and renewed interest in the subject though.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Formations Dabbler evolves to

Liminal Carver(G) 1: Your formation craft works best with the things in between. Not barriers or locks, but in doorways, thresholds and borders.

"Mm, Zhengui will keep making them better then," her little brother agreed happily.

Ling Qi nodded and stood, anything else interesting happen while I was away?" she asked.

"Um, I don't think so. I went to play with Mr.Avalanche and the Rockhead, but I spent most of my time here." Gui said.

"That's good, you had fun?" Ling Qi asked, strolling to the edge of the mineral spring. They had come a fair way from blowing up the hilltop.

Zhen made a hiss of agreement as he moved up beside her, his presence making the bubbling water snap and hiss more violently. "Sister, do you like the garden, really?"

Ling Qi blinked. "Of course Zhengui, we'll get better with practice, but I think it turned out really well."

Gui scuffed his foot across the flat stone that lined the pools edge. "But Gui knows Big Sister couldn't do everything she wanted with her art."

Ling Qi frowned. It was true that she had intended to work with the Winter Hearth Resounding Art, with the idea of cultivating it alongside Zhengui. She had of course, and the art had advanced, growing past the early stages, but at the same time, it never felt like the cornerstone of what she was working on.

"Well of course not, you had me helping too," Sixiang chuckled. "This has been a really fun project, you know?"

Ling Qi shook her head turning to meet her little brother's questioning gaze. "I wanted to cultivate that to make the garden better, but our ideas changed. I… don't really regret that."

Besides, although she had not gone through with actually altering the art, she did have some ideas for it still. Perhaps it was a little inefficient of her to change course like that but… this was more important.

Spoiler: Mechanical

New Winter Hearth Resounding Project unlocked.

Zhengui looked at her for a long moment. "Okay."

They looked out over the garden in silence for a few minutes in comfortable silence before Zhen spoke again.

"When can we show grandmother and little sister the garden, Sister?" Zhen asked.
"Hm, we'd need to finish up a few things, but we can probably show them before the tournament starts," Ling Qi said thoughtfully. This was a place for Zhengui, but also because of that a place for kin. It would be safe

"Actually…" Gui began, trailing off. "No, nevermind."

"Well, that's unusual," Sixiang murmured.

"Speak up Gui," Ling Qi said curiously. "What's wrong?"

"Gui wants the other's to come. The shrine-maker, the dancer, and the others who talk to us," Gui explained slowly. "Um, Gui has made this place, but more people should come."

Ling Qi frowned for a moment, he wanted some of the staff to come too. That was…

...That shouldn't have surprised her.

She'd seen it after all, on her tour with Hanyi, Mortals gathered, and spirits exalted. She had been in someone else's lands, participating in someone else's rituals. But she wouldn't always be. People would follow the rituals she laid down, those people who would be living under her power.

"Big Sister?" Gui asked,sounding worried.

"That's a good idea, Zhengui," Ling Qi said,patting him on the head. They're our people too huh? Even if they're not family."

He brightened up."Yeah! Even if this is just the first try, this is the place for Gui,"

"The place for Zhen," his other half echoed.

"And for Big Sister," they said together. "Our people should come!"

Ling Qi nodded absently. "Well we have some work to do then. You'll need to work on some more sculptures and I'll work on inscribing warding arrays on the ones you already did."

"And I'll work on placement," Sixiang said cheerfully.

Ling Qi hummed in agreement. She had to wonder though, how did she want to handle this.

[] Talk with your mother and Zhengui, select the best among your household for the first tour of the garden (Zhengui's cult trait leans toward exclusivity and tighter bonds. Alters LQ's choices for Power expression)
[] Make of this a festival, the first of its kind, all of your household may come. (Zhengui's cult trait leans toward inclusion and wider bonds. Alters LQ's choices for Power Expression.)

 

[yrsillar]

"A festival?" Ling Qingge asked, pausing in the act of setting down a plate of pear slices in front of Biyu.

"Mm, well that might be overselling it a little," Ling Qi admitted. "But it's the best word I can think of for gathering everyone together like this."

"Momma!" Biyu complained, reaching up to grasp fruitlessly at the plate from her raised seat.

Ling Qingge blinked and set down the plate, drawing a happy cry from Biyu as she grabbed at the the first slice of fruit. Ling Qingge patted her fondly on the head, even as she frowned thoughtfully at Ling Qi.

They were in the dining room, the door to the gardens open to let in the increasingly rare warm air. Mother and she had tea set out for them, while Biyu now had her snack.

"Why, if I may ask?" Ling Qingge said after a moment.

Ling Qi shifted under her mothers searching gaze. "Its for Zhengui. I don't know how much you ever learned of spirits,but he's growing. This is the kind of thing he needs."

"I will not pretend to understand completely, but I would have thought that it would just be Biyu and I," Ling Qingge said carefully. "He is… part of the family after all."

Mother sounded a little uncertain, but she was educated on how noble families worked Ling Qi supposed.

"Go see Big Turtle?" Biyu asked through a mouthful of pear, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Yes, you'll be able to see him soon," Ling Qi said. "Do you think Nanny and the others would want to see him too?"

Biyu frowned, contemplating her question deeply. "Scary. Big Turtle should be Little Turtle."

"We have considered that," Ling Qi said looking up at her Mother. "It would be voluntary. I do want you to make sure everyone understands that."

Ling Qingge merely furrowed her brow further. Ling Qi understood that such words held little meaning. When one who held so much power over you spoke of 'voluntary' actions who would really believe them, in their heart of hearts?

...That too was a consequence of power.

"I know I am not really involved with them, and they don't know me. But you do Mother, do you think they can trust you?" Ling Qi said.
"I know you would not put any of them in harms way on purpose, Ling Qi. I will do my best to convey that to everyone. You wish to do this next week?" Her mother said.

"That is the most time I can give for this, since the next day will be the tournament. I'm still not the best at making plans for other people," Ling Qi said wryly. "Ah, Even if they're not working please make sure they know their wages will remain the same."

The last thing she wanted was even a sliver of resentment infecting proceedings.

"Yes, of course," Ling Qingge said with a small sigh. She was smiling though. "Do you have any other surprises to spring on your old Mother?"

"Welll…" Ling Qi said drawing out the word, earning a look of mock horror from the older woman and a giggle from Biyu. "No… nothing else unexpected."

There were countless concerns that would be on her shoulders in the near future, but for now, she was pleased to just have a quiet tea time with her family.

But, as she left in the afternoon, she found herself standing outside the gates,looking up at the sky. They'd positioned and inscribed the sculptures Zhengui had already made, and twisted the flows of qi to thicken the mist about them cloaking their simple details, but there was still quite a lot to do.

Especially if they were accommodating twenty odd mortals instead of only a few.

"Are you really okay with that? It seems like a weird decision for you," Sixiang said.

Ling Qi hummed in agreement, strolling down the street toward the town's gate at a mortal speed. It was a strange decision, but it wasn't for her.

"Ah, I guess the little Big guy was really excited about more people huh," Sixiang mused.

His eyes, both sets had lit up when she announced her decision. She didn't truly understand it, anymore than she understood how Hanyi could be so irritable with crowds and yet so comfortable on stage, drawing energy from her audience to perform more smoothly than she ever did in their practices.

"There's a lot of power in an audience," Sixiang said quietly. "In any crowd really."

Ling Qi thought of roads carved in mountains, and and endless cities built in towering piles, descending beyond sight in the depths of dream. Small pieces, making something greater and greater still.

"I'm not one for the great crowds," she said quietly, passing down the slowly emptying streets. "But it seems my siblings are. That's fine I think."

...Trying to drag others along her Way was probably futile, wasn't it?

Yet, Ling Qi found, she couldn't yet come to a conclusion. She had seen a brief window of war. She had walked in the dusty streets of history and taken the tiniest measure. She had witnessed the adulation of a people over the course of a week long tour. What she was doing with Zhengui was another piece, she thought, perhaps the last one to find some satisfaction for the festering itch that had been in the back of her mind for months.

"Come on Sixiang," she said. "Zhengui's expecting us."

***
"Oh, Gui is so excited!"Her little brother said, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Foolish Gui is too undignified," Zhen hissed. "At least try to be serious!"

Ling Qi smiled faintly as Zhengui bickered with himself, looking out into the mist filled paths of the garden. They had finished the last of the wardings in good time, leaving the last few days to decide exactly how this all was going to proceed. She had tried to invite hanyi to participate as well, but her other spirit had taken one look at the garden and said it wasn't her place. That hadn't stopped her from hanging around and critiquing though.

Now, with evening falling on the last day, Hanyi was acting to guide her family and household to Zhengui's hill.

"I think Zhen is right this time," Ling Qi said. "It's important to be serious for the first part."

"Big Sister is right," Gui said stilling himself with an effort. "But its gonna be hard. Why do we have to wait at the center?"

There was a bit of childish complaint in his voice.

"Because you're the king of the garden. Sixiang and I are the guides," Ling Qi admonished gently.

"Obviously," Zhen hissed haughtily. He had been the one to insist most firmly on the idea. "Besides, foolish Gui will be busy controlling the trees! Do not be distracted and ruin Zhen's first festival."

"Gui is more worried about snotty Zhen scaring people and being mean," Gui grumbled. "Gui will do his part!"

"Hmph, do not imply that Zhen would be so careless around Little Sister," his other half hissed.

Ling Qi closed her eyes knowing that it was just his nerves that brought out his bickering side.

"They're almost here," Sixiang whispered.

"It's time Zhengui," Ling Qi said aloud.

"Okay Big Sister!" they said together, and for once she could hardly tell their voices apart.

Ling Qi dispersed herself into the shadows, traveling to the entrance of the garden.

She saw them belong, a dark patch on the green grass, snaking its way toward the hill. At the head of the line was hanyi, walking with her head held high. Just behind her walked her mother and holding Biyu's hand. Behind them was the rest of the household, escorted by a handful of the Sect Soldier's whose service she was still renting. Watching them, she saw in their faces and postures a mix of trepidation, wariness and curiosity. It was likely the first time that most of them had been out beyond the warding stones of a city or road.

She remained silent as they reached the base of the hill and paused, looking at the garden. From the outside it probably looked a little ominous a crown of pale trees atop an otherwise scrub free hill, shrouded in a low lying mist, the needles and leaves of the densely planted trees whispering in the wind. At the entrance of the garden where Ling Qi stood were two sculptures, the best Zhengui had managed yet. A pair of stout stone tortoises that rose to the height of Ling Qi's weight, recessed back into the treeline so that their silhouettes could loom in the mist.

Ling Qi stood still as they ascended the low incline of the hill, until at last Hanyi and her family stood before her, their household just a little ways behind.

"Senior Sister, I've brought everyone," Hanyi said formally in a sweet voice.

"Good job Junior Sister," Ling Qi said politely. "Mother, little sister, welcome to the garden."

"We are pleased to come, my daughter," Ling Qingge said. Biyu stayed quiet, looking up at the lights winking in the darkness behind Ling Qi with wide eyes.

Ling Qi turned her gaze to the other women, who had shuffled into loose order, keeping their heads bowed before her. "And to all of you, for easing the lives of my family and all of your work, know that you are safe and welcome here, under the protection of Ling. We are here to tour the gardens and honor the one who brings us safety this night. Each of you, take one of the lanterns I have provided and we will begin the procession."

She gestured to her right, where a low finely carved container held around a score of small wooden lanterns formed from naturally grown wood. She presented the first to her Mother, and to her credit Ling Qingge did not startle as a dull red light flickered to life behind the lattice of roots. The lanterns were simple things, inscribed with the character for light on the inside and infused with enough power for even a mortal to light them for a few hours. As the women of the household quietly shuffled forward to take their lanterns, dotting the growing darkness with lights of many colors, Ling Qi crouched down before Biyu and presented the special smaller lantern Zhengui had grown for her.

As warm yellow light bloomed inside it, and Ling Qi closed her little sister's hands around the handle, she smiled. "Hold on to this tight, okay? This first part might be a little spooky, but just remember, nothing will hurt you while Big Sister is here."

"Kay Siss-y" the little girl said in a small voice, holding tightly to her lantern.

Ling Qi looked up at her Mother and nodded, rising to her feet. She turned, dissolving into shadow and appeared once again on the path between the tortoise statues. She clapped once for attention. "Now, follow and remain on the path, and turn your thoughts to the future."

As Ling Qi stepped under the eaves, she released her grip on her domain, letting her spirit flow out to fill the space around her as her flute materialized in her hands. The mist thickened and rose swirling about at around the knee height, but the path remained clear to any following her, the lantern light, fueled by the qi she had infused in the wood cut through the darkness easily as she began to walk.

Her mother followed a step behind, hand in hand with Biyu and all the rest trailed behind, silent but for murmurs she was sure they thought were quiet. Ling Qi smiled faintly as she raised her flute to her lips and began to play. The sound of strumming strings joined the first notes of her flute thereafter, played on the wind by Sixiang.

It was a somber song, but to Ling Qi it felt familiar. Winter wind in dusty street, the scent of alleys and crowds. It was exhaustion and long days work, it was lingering hunger and aching muscles. It was hardship, and it was song everyone here knew save for Biyu.

The women here were not her family, it was unlikely she would ever look at them that way, but if Ling Qi closed her eyes and lost herself in memory, understanding was not so far out of reach. The first path in the garden wound leisurely through the perimeter, lined with pale trees whose eaves came together above. White and black flowers grew amidst their roots, the monochrome colors glittering under the light of the lanterns that cut through the mist.

The song continued all the while as they walked, and a cold winter breeze blew, causing some to shiver. She could feel spirits beginning to lower under the weight of the music.

As the misty path continued ahead, on the left a pair of thick dark pines groaned as they pulled apart, and Ling Qi turned into the resulting passage. Beyond was the first of the flowerbeds mist reflected off of petals of a dozen colors, lighting the way ahead even before the lanterns followed. A new part of the song began and the flute and the strings were joined by a heavy, regular beat that vibrated the earth.It was simple, Zhengui wasn't much of a musician after all, but the thump of the earth and the pulse of his qi changed the somber sound to something more upbeat. It was hardship rewarded and the hope of something better, a farewell to what had come before.

It was, Ling Qi thought not really her song anymore. As she strode into the flower field, following the narrow gravel path that wound through it, she observed her family and the servants. Biyu's wonder filled look warmed her chest as did the unstressed posture of her Mother's shoulders. The rest, brought her some satisfaction, but nothing more.

She was a cold person, and a selfish one. Her love was only for the ones closest to her.

Her little brother, however, was warm. Both expressions of his being were things of vitality and life. It had started to creep in on her when they interacted with Wang Chao and the others. Zhengui joined the other spirits cheerfully, he interacted willfully. He liked people.

Ling Qi was a cold person, but she coveted warmth, as surely as any wraith or Snow woman. Some part of her wanted to jealousy keep his affection for herself.

That was why she had decided to do this. She knew that the mere echoes of the war had been frightening for the mortals at its edge. She knew that there was uncertainty even now, and trepidation at the arrival of so many nobles. Raising the spirits of so many, of people whom she had no deep connection was beyond her.

It was not beyond Zhengui though. It was something only he could do for her.

As with the spirits of the valley viscounty, power was not enough.

[] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power may spring from many sources.
[] Power III: Without Power one can hold nothing and accomplish nothing, but power grants no meaning of its own.

 

[yrsillar]

Spoiler: Progress

Power Advances to Rank III 2/ 5 Progress toward rank 4
Power III: Power is absolute, but comes in different forms. What is strength in one context may be weakness in another.

Rather, her conception of power was too small. Flashing light and shattering cold were obvious, but in the end, power was the ability to change the world around you. And,while violence was the easiest and simplest way to achieve that, it wasn't the only one.

Ling Qi paused for a moment, standing still in the middle of a ring of raised stones which sat at the center of the flowerbeds The bright yellow and red flowers that bloomed there did not bend under her tread, as the song she played rolled on, and slowly, tentatively her family and household began to walk the circular paths through the flowerbeds encouraged by the song. It was pleasant, watching something she had put so much work into appreciated. It wasn't like Renxiang's noble gatherings where even if her music was enjoyed there was a perfunctory sort of feel to things.

Although she probably couldn't put all the blame on her audience for that.

"I don't think you ever put anything less than your all into your music," Sixiang whispered.

Perhaps, but nonetheless she hadn't really taken their appreciation as a goal. Perfunctory was the right word, Ling Qi thought.She watched through half lidded eyes as caution began to give way to the urging of the music. The servants talked quietly among themselves observing the flowers, some crouching down to look more closely. Off to her left, her Mother knelt by the edge of the path to pluck a flower and weave it into Biyu's hair. The flower sprouted back near immediately. Those closeby saw, and with many glances back toward Ling Qi for any objections, began to take flowers for themselves.

For a few long minutes Ling Qi let it go on, playing in time with the rumble of Zhengui's qi and the soft strings Sixiang played on the wind. Finally though the time for the next phase began. With one last rumble, Zhengui's part fell silent and the air at the north end of the flower field shimmered, several trees fading into drifting mist to reveal a winding white path leading further in. Ling Qi took a single step and dematerialized, reforming at the entrance of the new path. She very carefully didn't smile at the sudden,surprised jerks of those who had been looking at her.

She began to walk, shaping the sound of her melody on the wind to make the direction of her presence obvious, taking small steps until everyone was following her once again. The winding pathleading into the center of the garden narrowed the procession, leaving room for only two people to walk abreast. In the shrouding mists outside the path, color and light flickered refracting the light of the lanterns. Ling Qi saw nothing but blurs, but she knew as the song moved into the next phase, moving from reward to yearning that those who peered into the mist saw reflected there the objects of yearning motivation for future labors.

If she closed her eyes, she could feel them all. Though their spirits were small and weak, the coal of Want smoldered in every soul. It was from that yearning that the tiny threads of qi she could feel twisting their way toward the center, toward Zhengui arose. Want was the source of faith, the desire to to be safe, to have good fortune, for the world to make sense. Even malice hurt less than apathy.

"Hm, hm I bet you could have some pretty long debates about that," Sixiang murmured. "But yeah, you can see it now right? Even small things matter in their way. Belief moves things, it births me and my cousins and shapes the Hearth. Big folks make more splashes, but little folks move things in their own way."

Ling Qi didn't respond or interrupt her song, but it did make her think. She had been cultivating the Phantasmagoria of Lunar Revelry Art since she had begun dreamwalking with Sixiang, and she had come to wonder how Joyous Toast fit with the rest of the art. How did it work and empower other arts, drawing great power from seemingly nowhere. But, this was it wasn't it? The Liminal Realm was naught but thoughts and dreams and faith, the shape of the technique merely created a channel with which to draw upon that for an instant.

She saw in her mind's eye the flows of the technique, the patterns of qi that she saw now existed only to simplify its use. In that moment, she understood the truth of the technique. No phantoms nor music were needed, really, only a moment where narrative and reality could overlap.

Spoiler: mechanical

Echoing grandeur Project finished

Joyous Toast evolves into...

Lunatic Crescendo
Potency G2
Type: Empowerment
Duration: Stunt

The realm of dreams is the land of faith and belief, thought and yearning. In twisting the border of reality and dream you may draw a trickle of that belief into reality, a song, a strike or anything else of your fancy at a moment of dire need or significance, empowering them with the might of belief. Increases the potency of technique used by yourself or an ally by up to 5 depending on the actions dramatic value.
Can only be used once per scene.

She thought she understood just a bit how the Hui had become so twisted, if the arts of dream were so core to their clan. It was always so easy, to accept an attractive narrative.

They walked the path for several minutes as the song rose and fell, until at last two new lights broke the darkness ahead of them, marking the end of the path where two trees their bark the color of soot, with heat glowing in its crease. Crimson leaves danced with embers that clung to their edges but never seemed to burn.

Beyond lay the spring, its water bubbling merrily,light from the burning trees glinting off the water along with the silvery light of the moon, cool mist churned at their feet rising in wispy edies on the heat generated by the bubbling water.The path here, entering and splitting around the spring and the stony outcropping which stood opposite the entrance, it was not stone or gravel, but living vines woven together into a smooth path. Under her feet, Ling Qi could feel the pulse of a tremendous heartbeat. The others could feel it too.

But they hadn't the time to do more than whisper of it before greater concerns distracted them.Zhengui rose from the pit nest he had dug for himself, gravel and dirt splashing into the bubbling water. He did not conceal his true size here, towering over them nearing five meters at the shoulder and ten front to back. He towered over her, he towered over all of them, and as his eyes opened, four more points of light in the dim center of the garden, Ling Qi's song rose to a crescendo, and the melody finished.

Ling Qi stepped forward to the edge of the pool and turned for the first time allowing her footsteps and the swish of her gown to be audible. "Behold, the guardian of the Ling, Zhengui. He who is precious, he who protects. Bringer of renewal from hardship! I bring you all here tonight to do him honor and in turn to honor you for your service and devotion!"

Ah she felt so ridiculous, making proclamations like this. She tried her best to ignore the faint smile tugging at the corners of her Mother's lips.

"Zhengui loves the family, and Zhengui guards the family. Good fortune and health will come to all within our house," her little brother spoke, for once without any silliness or bickering, his voices were deep and booming in the confines of the garden, two voices speaking as one. "Zhengui says that all here are good, and all here are friends. Even if you are not family, Zhengui will protect you too."

"So come now, relax and celebrate, for a year is ending and a new one lies ahead," Ling Qi said, spreading her arms wide. Partake of the fruits of the garden and be rested for the future."

Sixiang's twisted the air and cast a glow on the trees which filled the gardens inner circle heavy with fruit of many kinds all carefully checked for safety of mortal consumption. On the carefully arranged ground there were thick blankets laden with drink and good food. And the faint flakes of drifting ash in the air burned briefly green and restorative qi rippled out. She saw the moment that it filled the women here, aches, weariness, the daily wear and tear of mortal life soothed away.

Ling Qi stepped away from the center, vanishing into shadow as she watched them slowly, tentatively begin to spread throughout the garden center. Most went to Zhengui first bowing low and offering respects. They might have to arrange something for proper offerings next time. Maybe food, a dish cooked by the supplicant themselves? It seemed like an idea.

"Mother, how did you find me so easily?" Ling Qi asked curiously, glancing up as she sensed the older woman's approach. Ling Qi had retreated back behind Zhengui, to the shadow of the trees.

"You were not trying very hard," Ling Qingge replied, earning a raised eyebrow from Ling Qi. "And Sixiang gave me direction."

"Sissy is a pretty fairy," Biyu said solemnly. "Nice garden!"

"I'm glad you appreciated it little sister," Ling Qi said with a faint grin.She looked back to her mother. "...What did you think?"

"Your song was beautiful, and the garden fantastical," Ling Qingge replied.

"Do you think it was too much for them," Ling Qi said, glancing back to where her household, their household was beginning to filter out through the garden core. She watched one girl tentatively dip her feet in the water at Zhengui's urging. The temperature didn't harm her in the slightest thanks to the power of their domains in this place and soon the girl was joined by a much older woman, Biyu's most regular nanny.

"I think your routine may need some polish and refinement. A formalized offering would make many more comfortable with your generosity" Ling Qingge said, echoing her earlier thoughts. "But no. This is not too much. This… is good."

Ling Qi hummed to herself as she watched her mother look out over the garden. It was a small thing, doing this acquiring the fruit trees and the drink, but it was worth the effort she thought, for her Mother's sake if nothing else.

***
It was only later after her family and their people had departed, that Ling Qi was able to relax a little, leaning back in the crook between a pair of the dull spikes of Zhengui's shell.

"You enjoyed that quite a lot didn't you," Ling Qi said idly.

Gui made a sound of agreement muffled and distorted by the bubbling mineral water he had immersed his head in gulping down great mouthfuls.
"It was good for I, Zhen to receive the acclaim I deserve for once," Zhen said,nuzzling at her side.

Ling Qi nodded shallowly, letting her hand rest on his eye ridges. "We'll have to work on something even better for next year," Ling Qi.

"Big Sis wants to do this again?" Gui asked curiously raising his head from the water.

"Festivals are supposed to be regular you know," Ling Qi chided lightly.

"Hm,the dates probably going to be up in the air for awhile," Sixiang mused aloud, their voice emanating from nowhere in particular.

"It should be near the end of the year," Zhen said.

"I agree," Ling Qi said. "But the exact day… Yes, we'll have to be flexible."

"Until we have our real home," Gui chirped.

"Until then," Ling Qi said quietly. There was a small thrill to that. Even now with two years as an Immortal, she had only known borrowed homes. The Sect housing,the manor in the village. None of them truly belonged to her."

"I think you could probably buy the place in town at this point. You've probably invested more than it was originally worth," Sixiang said idly.

"That's true," Ling Qi mused. She might need it one day after all. Biyu would probably need to attend a Sect. Keeping up that relationship might assuage any hurt feelings from recent actions.

...Well it would depend on what Biyu wanted, in the end.

It still felt strange to look so far ahead. Ling Qi the street rat, scrabbling for the next day's bread, still lived in her heart and mind. "Thank you Zhengui."

Zhen's tongue flicked out sending a plume of ashy smoke up into the clear night sky. "What does sister thank Zhen for?"

"She thanked Zhen and Gui," Gui grumbled.

"For all this, I never would have thought of it on my own, and I couldn't have done it on my own," Ling Qi said, gesturing around her.

"Gui should thank Big Sis for indulging Gui," her little brother replied bashfully.

Ling Qi let her eyes drift shut for a moment."I'm not just talking about the garden. You know I love you, right Zhengui?"

She kept her voice light but saying it out loud felt odd.

Zhengui was quiet for some time. "Yes, Zhengui loves Big Sister too."

"Thank you," Ling Qi said. "But… your Big Sister is selfish you know, I love my family, but I don't think I can love land and people, not like you do. So thank you for helping me with that. I think I'd be very bad at Baron-ing on my own."

"Big Sister is good at anything she tries," he replied stubbornly, both voices overlapping.

"You're good at flattery, who taught you that?" Ling Qi said playfully, sitting up.

"I can probably take the blame for that one," Sixiang said, conveying a smirk without even lips or a face.

But really that was what it came down too wasn't it? You couldn't just be strong in one way, not if you wanted to hold onto anything human. She had to get stronger, she had to keep racing for that radiant pinnacle, so that no one could ever threaten what was hers. But if she left everyone behind, she only crumble in the end. Even if Zhengui, Hanyi and everyone else ended up far behind her she still needed them, doing all the things that she in her solitary power, could not do. It wasn't enough that they merely be able to make their own choices, her choices and theirs needed to come together.

Spoiler: mechanical

Heart Demon Lifted
Community 2/5

She felt a knot of tension in her chest uncoil, and Ling Qi looked up into the silvery light of the moon. "When we find our home, let's make it a beautiful one, okay Zhengui?"

"Yes Big Sister!"

Arc End

AN: Okay sorry for the wait folks, no vote this time, but I will be releasing the updated cultivation menu tomorrow and updating the front page.I will also be releasing the new Omake reward rules. On monday we will have the first update of the tournament and the social planner tutorial.

Spoiler: Zhengui

Cultivation:
Foundation Green (9)
Foundation Bronze (9)

Primary Concepts: Community, Growth, Power, Renewal
Secondary Concepts: Cycles, Destruction

Absolute Vitality (G): 10
The flesh of the Nameless Mother is resilient, even the mightiest cataclysm may only scar the surface of the world, never slay it. You hold a fragment of a fragment of that endurance, the embodiment of nature's renewal made flesh. Where you are wounded flesh knits, where your bones are broken your fire binds them back together, when your spirit gutters you find unlooked for fuel. So powerful is your vitality that it even radiates out to buoy your allies enhancing their own protection and stamina. Any damage which fails to slay you or drive you into dormancy will be recovered by the end of a scene unless this trait is blocked or nullified. Primary Armor

Earthflame Lord (G): 5
The serpents fangs drip with the scorching fire of the earth's heart, empowering every bite and attack with a venom which turns blood to fire and flesh to cinder. Your shell burns with the heat of a newly woken volcano. All the flames of earth are your domain, in your gut, stone becomes magma, soil and sand become glass, and the heat that sleeps in the bones of the earth rises at your command. Primary Offense

Verdant Ash Duality (G): 5
You embody the burning magma which erases life and the fertile ash and soil left in its wake. You Destroy, you Renew, you Grow. You are two minds and you are one. In battle you may act half again as often as other individuals.

Artillerist's Eye (G): 3
You have trained hard, worked hard, strived for a skill beyond your nature. This is the result. You may aim your attacks at truly far distant targets with significant accuracy

Prince of the High Garden (G): 1
In the realm of spirit your name is a tiny whisper. You will whisper the verdant places, the hills and the valleys in the land which is highest in all the world. In this cruel and wicked world, your people will be safe and joyous. You are small yet, and your kingdom but a dream.


Active Abilities:

Paradise Garden: G4
Type: Bind or Root or Support, Construct or Zone
Duration: Special
A highly versatile technique which grows roots, vines and trees from the earth around you. With this technique you may attempt to bind or immobilize enemies, deflect attacks meant for your allies or create large constructs such as walls or domes. Each construct requires a new activation of the technique but lasts for the length of the scene. Other activation types are Short Duration, but may be used in succession to maintain their effects.

Eternal Roots: G2
Type: Dispel, Support
Duration: Scene

When this technique is active anytime Zhengui acts without changing position, he may attempt to remove a negative technique effect from himself and nearby allies when taking another action.

Ashfall: G3
Type: Healing, Zone
Duration: Scene

Zhengui shrouds himself in swirling ash, which burns and obstructs enemies in its range. Allies find the ash never touches them and swirls away to leave their vision clear. Zhengui may choose at any point to dispel this technique to grant a burst of healing vitality to allies in range

Volcanic Shot: G4
Type: Fire, Damage
Duration: Stunt
Gathering stone and soil in his stomach, Zhengui melts the matter into molten stone and glass before ejecting it as a missile as a distant foe. Zhengui is immobile while using this technique but may target any enemy in the scene. Where the molten missile strikes foes nearby are damaged by the splash.

Paradise Forge: G4
Type: Fire, Area
Duration: Stunt/special
Channels fire into the earth, awakening the latent volcanism in the memory of stone. The powerful flame qi pressurizes the molten stone forming beneath the surface until it explodes upward in a rolling ring of eruptions. The technique targets adjacent enemies first and then in growing concentric rings

Alternatively, Zhengui may instead cause the technique to activate down straight line from his location damaging everything between himself and the target in a narrow line.

 

[yrsillar]

Under the new system non-cultivation actions are divided into two categories. These categories are Professional and Personal. Professional actions are those which involve the duties of your position as Baroness and Retainer of the Cai. These will typically seek to advance political goals, expand your social power and pursue major projects for yourself or your liege. Because you are Cai Renxiang's retainer, one of your professional options will be locked to a specific action or small set of actions required by her. Professional actions will be the primary source of Questlines and the advancement thereof.

Personal Actions on the other hand are as named personal projects. Investigations into your own matters, interacting with friends and aquaintances outside of professional contexts, etc. Personal projects also include Exploration and Investigation actions. These actions will be tagged. Exploration actions are spent surveying a selected area for sites of interest or for further exploring sites already found. Investigation actions are for studying treasures or specific things, typically in search of cultivation aid or insights into arts

Exploration and Investigation actions will often be part of other personal actions to give them interaction with other characters. Some however will be blank and you may be able to vote to include characters from a curated list.

Exploration and Investigation actions will include a d100 roll without a DC to decide the outcome of the action. Higher numbers will result in more thorough and rewarding results. Some explorations or investigations may take multiple actions to complete.

The final aspect of personal actions to consider is synergy. Often personal actions will state that they synergize with a professional action. This means that choosing both in your turn plan will improve the results of the professional action in various ways.

For the tutorial period, exploration and investigation are locked since this arc only covers the tournament. The number of Personal and Professional actions you will have in a given turn will vary based on the length it covers and any other obligations taking place in that period.


For the purposes of this Tutorial you will have four professional actions(1 retainer locked), and two personal Actions.


Professional Actions

• Wang Clan Solutions: You have many reasons to pursue strong connections with the Wang Clan. Their knowledge of the Wall and its environs, their proximity to your project and eventual lands, and even their dependable reputation. You have already made a connection here and now it is time to leverage that. Begins the Mountain Halls Quest line. Advances the Old Road/New Road Quest. Chance of Raising Wang Clan reputation.
• Meng Clan Inroads: You have at least gotten the attention and approval of one faction of the isolationist Meng clan. However there is much you do not know of them and where your sponsors stand in their clan. It is time to gather more intelligence, you can't fight on a battlefield you cannot see. Begins the Labyrinth Lords Quest Line. Reveals reputation and faction composition of the Meng. Chance of Raising reputation with ??? Meng faction.
• Luo Clan Herding: Your experiences with the Luo clan have been mixed, but you can hardly ignore them. They do not dislike you, and so it is only sensible to gauge how far they may support your actions. Begins the Houndmasters Questline. Updates faction information with the Luo. Chance to acquire a new Luo contact.
• Diao Clan conciliation: You have earned some minor ire with the counts of the central Emerald Seas, they took the implied connection to foreigners and the older people of the Emerald Seas as an insult. See if it is possible to sooth some feelings and shore up your reputations. Begins Garden of Sinners Questline. Reveals faction information on the Diao. Stabilizes reputation at current level
• Jia Clan Discovery: The Jia have rarely entered their mind, their lands and interests far from yours. You know only the most basic of information about them. Investigate and establish where they stand. Begins the Heavenly Bureaucracy Questline. Reveals faction information of the Jia. Chance of raising Jia Clan reputation
• Bao Clan Welcome: The Bao have been very supportive in general, and very generous with their offers. You do not know if you will seek to deepen your connection to the idiosyncratic clan of traders and craftsmen, but you do wish to know more of them. Begins the Glittering Halls Questline. Reveals faction information of the Bao. Chance to acquire resources for future projects.

Retainer Action

• Attend to the Cai: Your liege has meetings with the Bai delegation and her own mother's traveling court ahead, attend to and support her in navigating it all. Characters: Cai Renxiang, gan Guangli, Bai Meizhen, Xiao Fen, Cai Shenhua

Personal Actions

• The Craftsmen's Tourney: You don't have much interest in this competition yourself, but you know Li Suyin does, and you have not had a chance to spend time with your friend in too long. Settle in relax for a moment and just enjoy some time with your friends Characters: Li Suyin, Su Ling, Sixiang, Bao Qingling. Synergizes with Diao Clan Conciliation
• Boulders and Bluster: Wang Chao and the others in your little training group might not be friends precisely, but you've grown a little fond of them. Spend some of your free time at the tournament following up with some of them and their families. You could take this opportunity to introduce Xuan Shi too, he needs every good contact he can get. Characters: Wang Chao, Luo Zhong, Xuan Shi, Zhengui. Synergizes with Wang Clan Solutions
• Diamonds and the Rough: You have not often seen bao Qian really at work, your curious to see what he is like, what masks he wears with other people about. Plus, hanyi needs to promote herself and this gathering is quite the chance. You'llpull Yu Nuan along too, if she wants into the Ling then she needs to deal with this kind of thing too. Characters: Bao Qian, Hanyi, Yu Nuan. Synergizes with Bao Clan Welcome.
• Travelers Corner: It seems Meng Dan is among the visitors, you find him deep in discussion with Xia Lin and another face you have not seen in some time. Liao Zhu is back on his feet it seems,nothing seems to keep your Senior Brother down. Characters: Meng Dan, Liao Zhu, Xia Lin. Synergizes with Meng Clan inroads

So with the menu above, votes on the turns action should be structured like this. In the vote plans please just use the bolded title of the action rather than the full blurb. Since there is only one retainer action for the tutorial you don't need to vote on that.

[]Plan Name
-[] Professional
-[] Professional
-[] Professional
-[] Personal
-[] Personal

 

[yrsillar]

"Our itinerary is set then," Cai Renxiang said. Ling Qi was familiar enough with her liege to detect the satisfaction in her cool voice.

"Well and truly organized my Lady," Ling Qi said agreeably, leaning back in the seat across from her. On the desk between them lay a meticulously written document. Thin, straight lines divided clean white paper into a grid and in each section, small, neat handwriting laid out dense information in brief words.

It was, Ling Qi thought, the sort of thing that only Cai Renxiang would take such satisfaction in.

"She's almost as weird as you," Sixiang whispered wryly.

Ling Qi let the corner of her lips quirk up in a smile. Said the rippling lake of dream and fantasy that lived in her head.

"You find something amusing?" Cai Renxiang asked, letting her chin rest on her hands.

"Just Sixiang and their jokes," Ling Qi said dismissively. "Thank you for taking my preferences into account, Lady Renxiang."

"Gratitude is unnecessary. I laid out the tasks which required aid, and you selected from them," Renxiang dismissed. "Although I found your selection of the Diao surprising."

Ling Qi hummed to herself, tapping her fingernails on the desktop. "Hm, We have our troubles with them, but I think I'm better suited for addressing them. Your own reputation with them is fixed."

Prime Minister Diao Linqin did not care much for either of them, Ling Qi knew, but she was much more irrelevant in the Seventh Realm cultivators eyes. It would be less difficult for her to make some basic inroads.

"Reasonable," Cai Renxiang agreed. "I will trust you to at least discern where the average Diao's opinions lie."

"I still think you should let me do a little manifesting, I'm good at making friends," Sixiang grumbled.

Ling Qi didn't think that was a good idea. "I'm a little more worried about the things you've told me I missed. You could have contacted me earlier, you know."

"I judged that it was better for you to complete your personal business," Cai renxiang said, arching an eyebrow. "What good would it have done you to know that my Mother has delayed her arrival time"

"Well, it wouldn't really," Ling Qi said unhappily. "Still I don't like surprises. She didn't tell you why?"

"Just that a matter encountered on her route had required her attention," Cai Renxiang said, frowning herself. "She will only be delayed until this evening. I have been assured she will make it to the planned feast for our Bai guests."

Ling Qi nodded, glancing worriedly out the window of the study. She saw only an early morning sky kissed by the first rays of the sun. She didn't seen a second sun on the northern horizon, so surely the matter couldn't have been too critical. "...and the other surprise you had for me?"

Renxiang let out an actual sigh. "You worry too much Ling Qi. While it is strange for my father to be called to the same place as Mother, this does not change our plans, beyond my needing to pay my respects before we begin today's meetings."

Ling Qi studied her friends face. She saw nothing but a faint exasperation. Perhaps earned given that this was the third time Ling Qi had broached the matter. Maybe it was because she only knew the Duchess, but there was something that itches at her about her liege's dismissiveness.

"As you say my Lady," Ling Qi said.

"On that note, we must be going soon, if we are too maintain the schedule. Make your arrangements and meet me at the entrance to the fairgrounds within the hour.

***

Ling Qi walked with her hands hidden in her sleeves. She had adjusted her gown a bit for the occasion. She had shed her mantle in favor of a light, airy pibo of pale blue silk, and altered the color to a mix of midnight blue and black. She had extended the train and added a bit more lace to the hems and her sleeves as well. Her hair was styled up, a silver ornament of a grinning crescent shining in her hair. It had taken some help from Sixiang to get just right. Overall her look was the sort of traditional style more favored by the Bai.

Cai Renxiang walked a step ahead with her hands folded behind her back. The only change she had made to her appearance was to bind her hair in a single tight braid that glittered with rose gold thread that caught the early morning sunlight, seeming almost to burn. Still, even that much change was surprising for Lady Renxiang.

The Pavillion of the Cai loomed high, overshadowing all others even in the early morning standing only half raised as workmen huffed and sweated, moving support poles the size of entire trees and bolts of white and gold cloth bigger than wagons. The central part of the pavilion was already raised, two pennants one in the imperial colors and the other in the Cai's already fluttered from its high peak. They entered the dazzling interior,passing by silent white plumed guards and immediately stepped from grass to polished marble tile. It extended under their feet in every direction, polished furniture and stages were being hauled into place for guests and performers. In the center there was high fountain of gently spraying water surrounded by a ring of greenery and color. Workers and functioners paused and bowed paying their respects as the two of them passed, heading for the small group of people standing before the central fountain.

Ling Qi did not know what she expected from Cai Renxiang's father, Diao Luwen, but the man Renxiang stopped in front of wasn't it. He was a small man, his head barely coming up to Ling Qi's chin, with a a face handsome in a sort of academic way and a narrow shouldered build. He wore a black ministers cap on his head, and a few curls of dark brown hair poked out from underneath. His complexion was a few shades lighter than hers.

"Hm, hm no this is all wrong," he fretted, gesticulating toward the half set up display in the center of the pavilion, his glittering green robes swished with the quick motions of his hands. "The angles of these walking paths are utterly wrong in relation to the celestial pathways of qi veins of this region. Do you wish to make ill feelings and rivalry linger here in the very center of the arrangement instead of flowing naturally from the space? Imbeciles, imbeciles all, if you cannot handle even so basic a task I will have to finish the arrangement myself!"

Ling Qi stood behind Renxiang as the short man berated the men, experts of the third and fourth realm all for almost a full minute, spitting orders and terms that she almost recognized from her studies in formations and geomancy. In front of her Renxiang waited patiently. Ling Qi found it difficult to read the man's aura, it was tightly controlled and internal, but every time he waved his hand, wrenching up and rearranging tiles at a gesture, or sprouting meticulously shaped plantlife or shrubbery in newly cleared spaces, she felt as a if she had just tried to read a page from one of Renxiang's denser mathematical texts.

They stood there for a full minute, completely unnoticed, until Renxiang startled Ling Qi by clearing her throat, and fluctuating her own qi very slightly, in the lull between orders being given.

Diao Luwen paused,glancing over his shoulder at the two of them. For just a second, Ling Qi saw his eyes and they were dense circles of burning green formations arrays and numbers. Then he blinked and they were merely vibrant green but wholly human.

"Hm, hm who interrupts my work," he asked absently. "Terribly busy, thought my apprentices could be trusted with prep work, which they were clearly not."

"It is Cai Renxiang, father," her liege said calmly. Ling Qi bowed her head along with Lady Renxiang, though hers was lower. "Your daughter wishes to pay her respects before proceeding with other duties."

Diao Luwen turned to face them fully, his eyebrows drawing together as if he was trying to remember something.

"Oh yes, I remember now, you do attend this Sect," he said absently, as if recalling a meal from the day previous. "Well, hm, Inner Sect then? Very good. I am sure your Mother is proud."

Perfunctory, those words could not be said to be anything but perfunctory. There was no feeling at all behind them, save perhaps boredom. In truth he was barely even looking at Renxiang, his eyes wandering to the works behind her. His gaze brushed over Ling Qi and his brows drew together again. "Who is this then, were you allowed a handmaiden?"

"This is Baroness Ling Qi, my retainer," Renxiang said, raising her head. "Who has done much work to advance the interests of the Cai."

"Has she," he said, squinting at her. Ling Qi felt a prickling sensation like she was being measured, weighed and numbered. "Oh, yes, the one involved with those barbarians. Heard you killed one of those Hui vermin who had manage to run off to the wall."

Interest sparked in his eyes and Ling Qi found herself the uncomfortable under his focused gaze."You dabble in Dream work yourself I see, gates and thresholds? Not a bad focus for a young girl just building her house."

Ling Qi's gaze flickered to her lieges direction, why was her father focused on Ling Qi? Lady Renxiang's blank expression was unhelpful. "I have only just begun to study such things," Ling Qi said carefully. "Although I was under the impression that Liminal works were out of fashion."

"Of a kind, of a kind," he dismissed, waving a hand, his palms and fingers were cracked and calloused like a workmans, at odds with the rest of his appearance. "The geomancy of Towns and cities is about directing the flows of energy properly, that includes manipulating what thoughts and feelings linger in the region's spiritual realm. So many old settlements are laid down with misunderstood principles, lazy and cheap formatting or at times I suspect active malice, it's been a terrible drain on the province you know. I am working to repair that as best I can, but you see what I have to work with."

He shot a venomous look over his shoulder. Apprentices redoubled their efforts

She glanced at Renxiang again, still no help. "I see, Sir Diao is an architect and geomancer then?"

He sniffed haughtily. "I am an urban planner, young lady, not a mere architect. It was my duty to modernize whole cities and towns."

"My apologies, Sir Diao," Ling Qi replied.

"It's nothing," he said, squinting at her again. "I smell Hui on you girl. Did you take any artifacts from the one you killed?"

"We acquired a great deal of treasure," Ling Qi said slowly. "But most is being reviewed and catalogued for auction. All I have right now is a brush."

"Give it here a moment then. I won't have some child getting their fingers blown off or mind melted by one of their tricks. Enough of that in their trashy settlements and bunkers," Diao Luwen grumped. "I suppose I'll have to trust the auction houses on the rest."

She shot a helpless look to Renxiang, whose expression had become thin lipped. She offered a tiny shrug. Ling Qi flicked her wrist producing the paintbrush that had been stored in her storage ring resenting it to Renxiang's father.

He took it, muttering to himself as numbers and characters formed in the air around his fingers. The brush glowed briefly in his hands and then he handed it back. "Hmph, no surprises. Personal use item I suppose. Be wary of any spirit that arises from that thing."

"I have no personal use for it," Ling Qi said. "My family is very new though so it seems foolish to waste a talisman of such potency."

"Maybe, if that's the case, leave it in your home and not that ring. Let it absorb better feelings, use it for mundane painting even," he said dismissively. "It is potent, I'll give you that. Infuses paint with Law, makes more potent qi constructs."

Spoiler: mechanical

Dreamwriter's Brush
+3 to Primary Offense Trait with appropriate arts
Shen Infusion: Improves the use of shen in creating constructs imbued with certain Laws. You do not fully understand this function yet.

"...thank you for your advice, Sir Diao," Ling Qi said taking the brush back and dematerializing it back into storage.

Diao Luwen nodded once,turning back to Renxiang. "Hm, hm I got distracted there. I acknowledge your respect, and you've fulfilled your duty. Go on and let me get back to my work."

"Of course father," Cai Renxiang replied seemingly unperturbed at being largely ignored by her own father. "It is my hope that your work goes well."

He grunted an agreement, turning back to his apprentices and they did the same, heading back for the entrance. Ling Qi shot a look at Cai Renxiang, her brow furrowed.

...It wasn't her business. And even if she were to make it so, this wasn't the time.

"Oh darn, tact? I've been slacking," Sixiang huffed. "For what its worth, I think the guys just totally focused on work. Like that's his entire Way focused. Well work and hating Hui."

Ling Qi made a noncommittal hum. "So, we need to meet the Bai delegation next right?" Ling Qi said cheerfully. "Do you just want me to accompany you and back you up, or do you have a further role in mind?"

"I would like you to interact with the lower caste individuals first," Cai Renxiang replied. "They have brought more given the expectations that Bai Meizhen will be assigned to our project. I would like you to inspect the personalities among them and act as a guide. You will rejoin Bai Meizhen and I in the stands when the preliminary begins."

Ling Qi hummed an acknowledgement.

AN: So I'll admit this probably should have been posted together with the turn vote since its doesn't have a vote itself. However I just really did not have the ability to do so this week. But I thought this was better than making up a half baked choice here. So enjoy and prepare to meet a whole bunch of sneks

 

[yrsillar]

AN: So going a little out of order here with the commissions but This one is definitely more appropriate for where we are in the story.


The first strike would be with the blade of the ninth sword law, striking at the intersection of Discipline and Pride, where untempered ego rotted the roots of the General's Sovereignty. Piercing this defence, her heart pearl would be wounded, allowing unleashed passions to degrade all further decisions.

"On this matter my authority supersedes yours sister," Bai Suzhen said calmly. "And being blunt, I find your objections to be irrational besides. My efforts will grant the army of Zhengjian access to superlative equipment."

"At what cost, sister?" asked her cousin, arching a perfect eyebrow. Like her, Bai Zhilan appeared by every physical metric as a paragon of the White Serpent. Her white hair spilled all the way to the ground, stopping just short of touching the base earth to be carried by invisible wind. A single dark violet flower was its only adornment.

The second strike would be with her primary armament, its eight ribbons would strike to sever the strings between the General and her Lieutenants. Failure was probable on the initial strike, but the attempt would place the General on the back foot.

"To use foreign goods to arm the first and greatest of our armies, even those crafted by a 'master' such as this Cai, is an insult to our clan, Bai Suzhen. Others have accepted the deals you have made, for they have been trades of trinkets and common goods. This agreement is beyond the pale."

"Father does not seem to believe so," Bai Suzhen replied absently, running a gleaming fingernail along the grain of the wooden desktop which filled the larger part of her office. Zhilan stood opposite her, stern faced and unamused. Bai Zhilan was unfortunately a figure she could not ignore. She too stood in the seventh realm, though Suzhen doubted her ability to attain the eighth. Her way held too many fault lines.

However, this did not stop those who opposed her from rallying at her cousin's call. It truly irritated Bai Suzhen, that tradition called for her to call such a blunt instrument 'sister'. "Bai Suzhen, it does not do you good to draw attention to your manipulation of our Clan Head's declining faculties."

"That is a most bold thing to say, Bai Zhilan," Bai Suzhen replied, letting the general's name drip from her lips like venom. So Zhilan and her supporters were already willing to make such statements. Concerning. Her father was a cruel man. He was a bitter and angry man. Most of all, he was a tired man. However, no rot had yet touched his soul

Most irritating.

The third strike would require her to wield the seventh blade, anointed in the Sovereignty of Clan, to sever at the root the blood that bound them and enable her to act without restraint.

"It is the only reasonable answer to why he would give approval to such an agreement. It still shocks me that you would even dare voice a proposal to trade any part of Grandmother's body to an outsider," Bai Zhilan replied, golden eyes narrow.

"One vial of powdered scale shavings, in exchange for five hundred sets of tailored gear crafted by the most skilled talisman maker of our age, and a further thousand sets of equipment made by her apprentices? It is an easy deal to make," Bai Suzhen replied, steepling her fingers in front of her face. "No, it is your sentimentality that I question Bai Zhilan. As if Grandmother Serpent, or Fabled Yao would disapprove of sharpening our fangs with every resource available when war is coming."

"Our ancestors would be shamed that you deem the Bai clan so weak as to require the aid of half-barbarous savages and their abomination of a queen to do so," Bai Zhilan said coldly. "But I see, as ever, that your brittle mind of steel is beyond reason. Know that your growing madness will not be unopposed."

"I would not have expected anything else. I welcome your aid in being sharpened for the headship, sister," Bai Suzhen replied.

The worst thing, she supposed, was that her cousin's opposition was not even born wholly from the intrusion into her sphere of influence, the army. No, genuine ideology fueled the greater part of her rage.

How troublesome.

The other woman turned on her heel, silhouette narrowing down to a blades edge as she vanished from Bai Suzhen's office, leaving behind the two silent guards, fourth realms the both of them, who had accompanied her to the doorway. Bai Suzhen's eyes fell upon them.

For them, the first strike would also be the last. The man's stance was too loose and he had a deformation in his respiratory pearl which would shatter under a single thrust of the second sword law, slaying him instantly. The woman's guard was weak on the right side, and her understanding of the Law of Steel flawed, a single palm strike would shatter her. Brittle blades both. How shameful.

The both of them bowed low, their faces pale as they made excuses and followed their Mistress.

As the door of her office closed, Bai Suzhen closed her eyes and for a single moment allowed herself to grit her teeth. It often felt that she would need to fight her fellows as much as the accursed Sun to lead the Bai from these trying times.

She sat in silence for a time meditating on the actions she would need to take to shore up her support in the face of more openly hostile opposition.

A gentle knock sounded on her door.

"Who comes," Bai Suzhen said without opening her eyes.

"It is but humble Lushen, with the lady's tea."

She knew of course, but it was...pleasureable to play at mortal foibles in this case. "Be welcome and enter."

Her husband silently drifted through the door of her office, scentless, transparent vapor slipping between the cracks in wood and formation to appear before her. He was a small man, half a head shorter than her and thin even for a Bai, His complexion was a shade darker than hers, touched by the sun, and his hair hung in loose ringlets to his shoulders, a shade of violet so dark that it could have been mistaken for a Xiao's black in the right light. His face was as narrow and handsome as any proper Bai man, and a pair of small spectacles perched on his nose, which he adjusted as he bowed low, keeping the tea tray level with his chest.

The first strike would not be needed, for there was no threat to kith or kin here.

"You are two minutes and fifty seven seconds later than the appointed time," Bai Suzhen said without heat.

"I apologize, my lady wife. I was caught up in a fascinating bit of experimentation," Xia Lushen of the Violet Sea Snakes replied.

"More fascinating than our luncheon," Bai Suzhen said, leaning back in her chair as he placed out the tea. She inhaled the scent of the leaves. A relaxing blend.

"I would never imply such, I am but an absent minded craftsman. Forgive me Suzhen," he said.

"Do try to be better, Lushen," Bai Suzhen replied, and he bowed again, but his smile never left. It was that quiet confidence that had endeared her to the genius of the Violet caste in the beginning.

Well, that was not entirely true. Witnessing the work of engineered disease spirits in destroying the encroaching jungle flora of the north had been the first thing to bring him to her attention. Such death, wrought without a single soldier's boots upon the tainted earth, was a work of art.

Personal affection had come later, with time and understanding. Xia Lushen understood, better than any save her sister Meilin, the urgency of undoing the complacent corrosion which had so weakened their clan.

"I was delayed somewhat, the palace is in a bit of turmoil," he commented absently, pouring out their cups. He sat down upon a drifting strand of vapor which curled around his body, emitting from one of the many vials and flasks which poked from the pockets and pouches which studded and hid among his voluminous sea grey robes. "I take it your cousins are moving?"

"They are," Bai Suzhen said, and in the privacy of her husband's company she allowed herself to vent some frustration. She had underestimated just how much support rivals like Zhilan had been able to gather and the sheer strength of the isolationist thought which ran through her people. She was gaining strength and support. As the southern roads were repaired and rebuilt and the riverboats began to flow, prosperity was coming back to the Thousand Lakes.

But it was slow. As the incident at the border with that idiot green caste child showed, stupidity could move with the speed of a lightning bolt. The problem was that she had not broken through to the Eighth realm yet. The same stubborn conservatism which dogged her heels now would ensure obedience from most of the White Serpents once she had achieved the pinnacle of might.

"Power and victory need no excuses," Xia Lushen said absently as her words slowed to a stop.

"Indeed, yet to rush for ascendance is also foolish," Bai Suzhen said sourly. The previous heir of the clan had shown that, crippling themselves and plunging all the way to the barest beginnings of the Sixth realm.

And in the end despite everything she was not looking forward to taking that last step.

"I understand what you must do, this has been coming for many decades, Suzhen," her husband said calmly.

Those of lower cultivation did not often understand well what it meant to achieve the highest realm. But she was of the seventh. She had glimpsed that summit and she knew its truth. She had already sacrificed so much to rise to where she was, carving away everything which did not fit the Sovereign she had become.The Eighth realm stripped even more than that.

She was the White Blade Devil, The Carver of Roads and Rivers, wielder of the Sovereign word Prosperity. Yet she remained Bai Suzhen. To take the next step would be to surrender even that and become her Law in totality.

"I wonder at that, our ally in the south raises many questions with her existence," Bai Suzhen said.

"Suzhen, it is best not to contemplate another's ascension, that way is futile," her husband sighed. "Particularly with that one."

Suzhen made a sound of agreement and yet she could not forget. She had seen behind the mask of flesh the being which had once been, seen the word which was at her core. It was not a word which should have allowed its wielder love.

That woman was an aberration among aberrations though, Lushen was right. "I hope at least that you will care for my niece when I am no longer able. I know you desired children and I have regretted not being able to accommodate that."

"Naturally," Xia Lushen said. "I am looking forward to meeting her, come this year's end."

 

[yrsillar]

The Bai delegation's arrival point was less attention catching than the grand pavilion being set up by the Cai, but no less ostentatious. A coachhouse worth of carriages and black furred horses tended to by a small army of servants were set out to one side of a literal mansion that had certainly not been there the previous day. Three stories high with tiered elegantly curved roofs tiled in a midnight blue that seemed to ripple like the gentle surface of the lake. The soldiers arrayed outside were not garbed like their Emerald Seas counterparts, favoring instead looser robes worn under a curraise of metal arranged like scales, and well fitted armored gloves.

Renxiang and Ling Qi were not left to wait outside for very long. News of their arrival was carried instead by a blank faced doorman in robes of deepest black, his face marked by patches of black scale. Passing through the door of that mansion, it was all Ling Qi could do not to visibly shudder. There was death carved into these walls, into the doorway itself, thrumming in the very air. Death and unwavering eyes. Ling Qi would not care to enter this place uninvited, even with all the time in the world to prepare.

Inside, the mansion was well appointed despite the low threat in the air that kept the hairs on the back up her neck up. The halls were wide and well lit, the walls grown over with some kind of carefully cultured flowering ivy which gave off a soothing scent. The sound of softly running water filled her ears, and she saw in glimpses of side rooms many small fountains and artificial waterfalls.

The room they were shown too was a spacious chamber, lit from above by warm, bright light. The light was cast by a single large stone affixed to the ceiling, glowing with a hot yellow light like a miniature sun. It put out as much heat as light, and combined with the artificial waterfall built into the rear of the room, it filled the room with a sticky summer heat more intense than what Ling Qi was used to. In front of the churning pool into which the water fell was a long polished table lined with many seats.

Ling Qi's gaze flicked to Meizhen and Xiao Fen first, the two of them were seated to the left side of the table. Well Meizhen was seated, wearing her Cai gown and the sash that had been gifted her by Bao Qingling. Xiao Fen stood at attention behind her seat. The younger girl had achieved the third realm since Ling Qi had seen her last.

At the center of the table, in a high backed seat was a White caste Bai woman she did not recognize. She wore a glimmering pale blue gown that seemed almost liquid in texture, her white hair was gathered in a series of elaborate looping braids which fell over her shoulders and down her back. Yellow eyes peered down at them from a face rounder than Meizhen's more angular features.

Ling Qi remembered the advice Meizhen had given her in their planning for this.

"It is important among my kin, even more than the rest of the empire to show the proper deference to one's superiors in rank and strength. However, it is just as important to not allow deference to become subservience, at least among nobles. If you act the servant, you will be treated as a servant."

So Ling Qi cast her eyes down, fixing her gaze on the Bai Ambassadors thin, unpainted lips. However she did not bend her neck any further, nor shudder at the wave of animal terror that clawed at her subconscious. That at least she was well practiced with.

You're the only one who would say that," Sixiang grumbled, sounding rattled.

"Ambassador Bai Xilai," Cai Renxiang greeted. Ling Qi made her bows alongside her liege here. "It is my honor to welcome you to the Argent Sect, I regret only that my Mother's arrival was delayed. I hope you will accept my company in her place until this is rectified."

Under half lidded eyes, Ling Qi scanned the others present at the table. Directly to Bai Xilai's left, between her and Ling Qi's friends was a calmly smiling man with deep violet hair, airy grey robes and a wispy figure. He was looking at them with a sort of indulgent curiosity, adjusting the small glass lenses that sat on his nose. Her attention didn't linger on him though because there was someone standing behind him.

A tall figure in black silks, yellow eyes peered at her from behind an opaque black veil. She could make out no more than that about them, their features shrouded in shadow. Just looking at them made Ling Qi feel like a knife's edge were being run across her skin. They were death wrapped in silk.

"It is unfortunate, but matters of governance must come before the indulgence of outsiders," Bai Xilai said. "As her grace's heir you are an acceptable substitute until this evening."

"Thank you for your indulgence, Lady Bai," Cai Renxiang said eloquently, keeping her head bowed for another beat.

On Bai Xilai's right past several Bai functionaries sat a man Ling Qi struggled for a moment to place. It was only when the man glanced her way did his plain, tired features snap into focus. Hou Zhuang, Meizhen's Father, who she had met at last year's tournament.

"For our good allies, the people of the Emerald Seas, such a small thing does not require thanks, but please, sit. We intend to enjoy a small meal before the days activities. You and your second are welcome at my table."

Ling Qi felt the Bai matron's gaze briefly flick toward her. Ling Qi felt for a moment as she were sinking deep into a dark lake, pulled down by the current,water spilling into her lungs. She mastered herself, not allowing a single visible twitch in her stance. The feeling faded. There was no approval or even acknowledgement in the woman's gaze, not really, but neither was there any disdain.

She chose her seat to the left of Cai Renxiang, who sat down across from the ambassador. Here too she remembered Meizhen's words.

"The seat directly to the left of a lord is the most honored, indicating great trust and admiration for martial ability. Seating to the left in general is a sign of favor. In this we favor great Yao, whose left hand was his favored one."

Ling Qi stole another glance at the man seated to the Ambassadors left, who had turned to quietly speak with Meizhen. The chilling shadow behind him still watched the two of them with unblinking eyes.

Bai Xilai rang the delicate crystal handbell which sat on the table in front of her, signaling subtly hidden side doors in the room to open and begin disgorging servants. "Allow me to make further introductions. To my left is the Master Scholar Xia Lushen, husband to Heiress Bai Suzhen."

The thin man's gaze turned back to them and he smiled good naturedly. "Young Lady Cai, Baroness. It pleases me to meet you."

Ling Qi returned the pleasantries. Xia was… the Violet Coral caste, sometimes referred to as sea snakes. They were the Bai clans scholars and astronomers as well as their shipbuilders and navigators. They were obviously different from the local Xia, who were a hill tribe before General Xia Ren took an imperial name.

"It gladdens me that Lady Bai trusts our province so," Cai renxiang said politely.

Ling Qi thought that was a little silly considering his shadow, but niceties were niceties.

"The Duchess Cai is most reliable," Xia Lushen replied. "But I am merely pleased at the opportunity to visit my niece. And, if I may indulge myself, a chance to study the artifacts from these underground creatures."

Ambassador Xilai waited a beat after he finished speaking to continue, an unusual display of respect from a White Serpent to a lower caste, according to what Meizhen had told her. She supposed that he was Bai Suzhen's husband though.

"I need not introduce my niece naturally," Bai Xilai continued,gesturing to Meizhen. "It is known to me that you are good friends."

For a moment, Ling Qi was confused, but then she recalled being told that in public settings all members of a caste referred to each other in direct familial terms. Members of the same generation were brothers and sisters unless married and the younger generation were all nieces and nephews unless they were the older Bai's actual children. This was, according to Meizhen, to foster internal unity. Considering the other things Meizhen had implied, Ling Qi thought the practice had failed at that long ago.

"You are correct, Ambassador, Bai Meizhen has been a steadfast ally throughout my time in the Sect," Cai Renxiang replied. "She has been instrumental to my success."

"Lady Cai gives too much praise," Bai Meizhen replied demurely.

"A Bai should always accept praise which is due," Bai Xilai said, finishing the little verbal dance. "Such is learned from experience however. Experience I am glad she will soon receive."

"The Bai clan has agreed to participate in my outreach then?" Cai Renxiang asked.

"Lady Suzhen has given it due consideration and agrees that it will be a good experience for her niece," Bai Xilai replied. Ling Qi very much noticed that she said nothing about the viability of the project itself. There were limits to politeness it seemed. As servants began to stream in setting out the dishes, Ling Qi's gaze turned to the right, studying the other two attendees sitting between Bai Xilai and Hou Zhuang, who sat furthest to the right on their side of the table.

They were both fairly young at Ling Qi's guess it was hard to know just by looking with cultivators, but Ling Qi judged them no more than eighteen or nineteen, and she was getting better at figuring that out. The one directly to Bai Xilai's right was a tall, willowy young man, even sitting down. He had an aristocratic, handsome face, and long black hair that fell to his shoulders shot through with streaks of deepest violet. His yellow eyes were fairly striking, she thought he might actually be wearing a touch of eye shadow. He reminded her of Lin Hai, in style, with closely fitted blue and grey clothes.

She judged him to be of the same caste as Xia Lushen.

The second was probably the biggest Bai she had ever seen. He probably had a centimeter or two on her, with a much more solid build than his kin. He wore armor much like the guards outside, but with the sleeves absent. This left his heavily muscled arms bare, save for a pair of bronze bands around his upper arms. His skin had a ruddier tinge than the other Bai, and his arms and hands, particularly his knuckles were covered by dark red scales. His features were more masculine to Ling Qi's eye, but still held some of the aristocratic sharpness she expected from a Bai. His dark brownish red hair was shaved near to his scalp though.

His caste was obvious, The Red Python, considered the lowest caste besides the Grey -the mortals-. They were typically laborers and craftsmen in more common fields, with a fair number serving as the foot soldiers of the Bai's armies. However his cultivation was no less than his companions, sitting firmly at the sixth step of the green realm.

"On my right are two of the candidates the clan has selected to be a part of her retinue. Xia Anxi is well recommended among his generation as an expert astrologer, speaker and singer," Bai Xilai praised, gesturing to the young man to her immediate right.

"An interesting choice," Cai Renxiang said. "I have no reason to doubt your words of praise."

"It is my understanding that there are interesting things in the far south's sky," Xia Anxi said with a thin smile. "And that these foreigners hold some esteem for musical talent."

"It is more the particulars of my style," Ling Qi said, speaking up for the first time. "However I am certain your assistance to Lady Meizhen will be invaluable."

"Is that so," he mused. "Well I might like to hear a demonstration of your style then Baroness, and see for myself."

"The other," Bai Xilai said, cutting him off more swiftly, "Lao Keung. Lady Suzhen has sponsored him specifically as a promising officer, and due to certain circumstances judges that he will be best served completing his training for that role leading my nieces guard detachment."

Lao Keung did not smile as he dipped his head. Ling Qi thought she saw a glimmer of black humor in his eyes. "It is an honor to so directly serve the great White Serpents. I look forward to adding my own small strength to guarding the expedition's safety. I hope to learn from your experiences with foreign foes and battlefields."

"And lastly, there is Hou Zhuang, who is here to observe as well," Bai Xilai finished dismissively.

As she finished speaking everyone fell silent to allow the servants to lay out the meal, and Ling Qi considered what she should do going forward. Cai renxiang would continue engaging with the Ambassador. All of them, Meizhen, Renxiang, and Ling Qi, had agreed that she would be better served helping to sound out the lower status members of the delegation. It would be harder for Meizhen to really get anything out of them so she was not only helping their expedition, but also her friend.

She glanced between the two of them and considered what topic to try and open conversation with.

[] Speak of the journey through the Wall, the landscape and sky and spirits. [Sets starting bond with Xia Anxi to 1, Lao Keung to 0.]
[] Speak of the foe beneath and her own experience delving into their uncanny realm. [Sets starting bond of Xia Anxi to 0, Lao Keung to 1]

 

[yrsillar]

Ling QI listened as Cai Renxiang and the Ambassador continued to trade pleasantries and smalltalk,with Xia Lushen sometimes cutting in, or Meizhen answering a question or making a comment. She did wish she could just chat with her friend, but that would come later when they weren't in such a formal situation.

She watched the servers set out the refreshments. They did smell good. Ling Qi only recognized a few of them, fish had never been common in Tonghou. Now she saw more types than she could name, in as many different styles, steamed, roasted, fried, even raw. She eyed a platter stacked high with some kind of orange shelled bug… things that were still twitching. There were a few non fish dishes as well, she recognized cuts of venison and pork arranged artfully and drizzled with some kind of rich red sauce.

There were, she noticed no vegetable dishes. Spices, sauces and garnishes were the only non meats on the table. She recalled a conversation long ago with Bai Meizhen. The Bai were, after all, half serpent, predators by nature.

"The Bai are generous," Ling Qi said, turning her eyes back to the two young men. She pitched her voice low to avoid interrupting the conversation of her superiors."I admit I am a little spoiled for choice. Do you have any recommendations?"

"The dishes served on the black plates are suitable only for Bai stomachs," Xia Anxi said lightly. "While the toxins add a kick I enjoy, you would not, I think."

Ling Qi eyes the plate in front of him on which sat cubes of fish skewered on what looked awfully like organic spines. She was not inclined to make a fool of herself trying something that would hurt her.

"The abalone," Lao Keung said shortly, gesturing to a series of small shallow bowls on a nearby platter, each one was filled with a dark brown sauce in which she saw a type of meat she didn't recognize.

"Ah, as a coral I cannot object to recommending our shellfish, its a bit simple though," Xia Anxi chuckled, biting through the skewering spine on one of his chosen meals with a snap. Something black and sizzling dripped onto his plate, and Ling Qi was quite certain she saw it etching the porcelain. "I might suggest the prawn."

"Simple is good, at times. But the prawn is good too. I suggest the cooked platter," Lao Keung said. There was a faint crunch as he twisted the head from one of the orange bug things, which she supposed was a prawn. She watched him pop the still twitching body into his mouth.

"Thank you for your advice," Ling Qi said. She took one of the little bowls and took a moment to try a piece of the meat. It had a strange texture unlike anything she'd had before, but it was very tender. She eyed the other platter indicated, stacked with what she now supposed were more 'prawn' already stripped of their heads and shells and battered. She tentatively took two of those as well.

"So, if I may ask, what do you already know of the enemies here," Ling Qi said politely.

"The nomads have begun coalitioning again, a concern certainly," Xia Anxi said lightly. "The Bai do have some minor dealings with such barbarians, but that is more my companions field."

"I do not have experience in the south, nor did my father or mother," Lao Keung said shortly. "The Asp's rangers deal with such strays."

Asps, those were the Green, Ling Qi recalled. A memory surfaced of horrified golden eyes freezing over.

"Ah yes, I suppose it would be, forgive my ignorance," Xia Anxi said politely. "I have studied what texts we have on the nomads. I am certain our hosts will provide us with more."

Lao Keung grunted an agreement, twisting the head from another prawn with the faintest crunch. "But there is a more dangerous foe, isn't there?"

"More dangerous in that our knowledge of them is lacking," Ling Qi said. "It is best not to underestimate the nomads in the center of their power."

"It is true that a cornered rat fights the most fiercely," Xia Anxi said. "I imagine the fact that they are so hard to corner must make them that much more vicious when you do."

"Just so," Ling Qi said. "But as you've said there are many sources for knowledge on the nomads. Experience with these newer enemies is harder to find."

"Ah, but it is known that you are among those with such knowledge is it not baroness?" Xia Anxi said with a smile, resting his hands on his chin.

Lao Keung merely watched her silently.

"It is true," Ling Qi said, not humbly but with firm confidence. "I discovered and helped eliminate one of their assassins the day that Elder Zhou passed, and I was among the party which scouted their home ground."

"Significant accomplishments, from what I have heard. How do they fight?" Lao Keung asked.

Ling Qi frowned, buying herself a moment by sampling another pice of the 'abalone'. How should she go about describing it.

"Set the narrative you want to tell, and fit your description to support it," Sixiang murmured.
"Flexibly," Ling Qi said slowly, allowing Sixiang to help her guide her words and expressions. "They fight flexibility. The assassin I faced first was my equal or better in the arts of stealth. It was only through certain brash action that I was able to leave them open to my fellow disciples crippling blow. Some might have called it reckless even, but against such tactical superiority…"

"Victory often comes to the brash,' Lao Keung agreed.

"Only with much waste," Xia Anxi said idly.

"A good general must spend her resources like tokens of rare jade, but spend them she must," Lao Keung replied back with a coolness in his expression.

"Hm, that explains the budgets of Zhenjian I suppose," Xia Anxi jabbed back. "But Baroness, continue. Why then do you describe them as flexible, it sounds as if the foe you faced was anything but outside of the physical sense."

"Because such assassins are only one tool in their arsenal," Ling Qi said. "From speaking to others who fought and my own experiences under the earth, they are a very adjustable foe. Sometimes they come with great hordes of beasts guided by a few masters who grow powerful off the deaths around them. At other times they form disciplined ranks, make use of assassins, or powerful cultivators of spiritual pain. I have seen them raise a legion of flying mounts, and I have seen one of their officers track us even in the realm of dream."

"You make them sound like imperial armies," Xia Anxi said mildly.

"That isn't a bad comparison," Ling Qi agreed. "In kind if not in quality. That is my point, they are a foe with well varied tactics and tricks, unlike many barbarians."

"Interesting," Lao Keung said, looking at her now. "What would you say is their greatest disadvantage then?"

Ling Qi pondered that for a moment. "...I would say their inability to operate freely on the surface, but we have that disadvantage as well in their home ground."

"Yes, rather a wash isn't it," Xia Anxi hummed, drinking from a cup of some kind of clear wine. "I imagine that is why your Duchess chose subjugation. It really wouldn't be worth the trouble to go further, would it?"

Ling Qi nodded absently. "It's their organization I think. I wasn't able to discern a central leader. I suspect they might not even have one. That will weaken and slow their responses. More than that though, it's their lack of unity."

"You did not make that sound like a problem when describing their military," Lao Keung said curiously.
"I don't refer to that level. They are, according to her Grace, a collection of city states, can a city or even a few cities really stand against a province in the long term?" Ling Qi said. "Strength and bravery are important, but I have learned how important resources are.

It was the weight of resources that allowed her to keep up her own cultivation. It was access to endless libraries and resources which put those like her Meizhen permanently ahead of her, although such things could only supplement talent.

But if her liege, or Meizhen or even sun liling had dealt with her situation would they truly be so far ahead?

"Hm, if that is the position of the Cai, I understand why Lady Suzhen chose to ally with your Duchess," Xia Anxi said.

Lao Keung looked disgruntled for a moment, but it passed as swiftly as an eyeblink. "...It is not a bad base on which to build your thinking. Don't underestimate a foe just because their resources are poor."

"That was not my intent. These barbarians are still quite dangerous," Ling Qi replied. Her chosen main course was gone, and so she was left with these 'prawn'. It seemed weird to her to eat with her hands at a formal dinner but glances around the table had shown her this seemed appropriate for a few of the dishes. Hiding her disquiet, Ling Qi bit into one and blinked at the savory taste of the meat under the spiced batter.

"You think that they will threaten the diplomatic forces directly?" Lao Keung asked.

Ling Qi took a moment to finish chewing and took a small drink from the cup a servant had poured for her, chilling the watered wine as she took ahold of it. "I think that even a barbarian would understand the threat of an enemy gaining more allies."

"True," Lao Keung said, a smile briefly tugging at his lips. "Too often we forget that our enemies do not want to die."

"If you are acting properly, their opinion on the matter should be moot, no?" Xia Anxi drawled, but she could tell his attention was wandering back toward the ambassador and her liege.

"As if reality is ever so easy," Lao Keung scoffed.

"I generally agree," Ling Qi said carefully. "As one of my elders has said, the world is not a go board, there are no players, every piece moves itself."

Xia Anxi nodded noncommittally.

Loa Keung gave an approving grunt. "I would like to hear a bit more, Baroness. Would you give some details of your journey under the earth?"

She did so, not embellishing the tale by too much. She did leave out her observations of the shishigui's river settlement though. She still wasn't certain of how she felt about that.

But the brief meal was soon winding down. Servants were taking away the food that remained and there was quite a lot of it. That bothered her, just a little, in the corner of her mind. The girl who had lived on scraps and leavings abhorred such waste.

"I think the servants get the leftovers," Sixiang mused. "Least that's what I get from skimming doubt anyone would be that pleased with tossing good food."

Ling Qi hadn't thought of that, but she supposed it made sense. The Bai were not kind by any measure but she supposed deliberate wastefulness was not one of their vices. She let that idle thought drift away as she turned back to her liege and the Bai Ambassador, they would be accompanying them to their box to view the preliminaries. She supposed she would have to decide who to focus on when watching though. The obvious ones were Gan Guangli and Xiao Fen.

[] Gan Guangli, your ally and fellow retainer, you could talk him up a bit, and spin your looking away from Xiao Fen as having no doubts a Bai will pass the preliminary.
[] Xiao Fen, your brief student and best friends handmaiden, Renxiang will no doubt be supporting Gan Guangli, and you can talk up your support for her throughout the year.

 

[yrsillar]

It felt strange, to be among the audience rather than down on the field, Ling Qi thought absently, moving to take her seat in the Duchess' observation box. It was set high in the stands, overhanging the lower seats. Its thick walls constructed to dampen sound and qi from the outside as well as contain the power within from flowing out.

The older cultivators took the largest and most comfortable seats, just below the empty throne of living wood and metal reserved for the Duchess, but even the seats at the balcony's edge left for them were luxurious constructions of polished wood and comfortable silk cushions. Cai Renxiang was behind her seated with the Ambassador and Bai Suzhen's husband. She tried to ignore the deathly presence that accompanied him. Although… should there not have been someone else as well?

She dismissed the idea as a bit of anxiety caused by her company and settled into her seat. Bai Meizhen sat on her left side and the two young men on her right. In this scenario Meizhen had told her, putting her at the center was something of an intimidation play. Not malicious really, but just… habitual to the Bai. Ling Qi retained her pleasant smile, and allowed a bit of her own qi to leak out, adding a real chill to the air to go with the spiritual one.

"The high air in the Wall is bracing, isn't it?" Ling Qi said idly, looking down onto the four tournament platforms and the green fields.

"I have found it clears the mind well," Bai Meizhen replied.

"I am sure it only takes some acclimation," Xia Anxi chuckled. He was seated beside her, and leaned imperceptibly away from her chill.

Ling Qi turned her head just a little, and raised her eyebrow a hair.

The young man beside her pursed his lips for the briefest moment and settled into his seat, lazily letting his hand fall on the armrest beside hers. Ling Qi kept her expression neutral, but allowed herself a little smirk in her mind. Respectful, but never subservient, as Meizhen had said.

"Snakes aren't the only ones who can play games," Sixiang snickered.

On his other side, Lao Keung sat down as well, looking a bit uncomfortable as he settled into the thickly cushioned seat. "What standouts can we expect to be worthy of watching, Baroness?" He asked.

"There is your own Xiao Fen of course, but I doubt she will find challenges here in the preliminary," Ling Qi said politely.

"I should hope not," Bai Meizhen sniffed haughtily, crossing her hands in her lap.

"It would be terribly rude," Ling Qi said dryly. Given the Duchess' machinations she felt it extremely doubtful that the Sect would not arrange for Xiao Fen to find herself in a preliminary with any of the other genuinely troublesome entrants

"Rude, yes," Lao Keung said neutrally. "Is it expected for all the matches to be so polite?"

"Doubtful," Ling Qi said. "Between the previous year and new talent rising, there are more third realms than there are Outer Sect slots."

"How prosperous," Xia Anxi said. "I am sure the Sect is almost troubled by such overflowing abundance."

"Most likely," Ling Qi replied blithely. "I would recommend keeping an eye on Gan Guangli. As my fellow retainer he is no doubt eager to make up for the errors of last year."

"It is most unfortunate that he found his footing troubled by unwanted weeds," Bai Meizhen said coolly. "I wish your fellow good fortune, Baroness Ling."

"My thanks, Lady Bai," Ling Qi said.

"Weeds hm," Lao Keung said.

"Such troublesome things," Xia Anxi commiserated.

"As someone who has recently begun to dabble in the art of gardening, I must agree," Ling Qi said innocently. "But look, Sect Head Yuan is about to begin speaking."

The speech was not so much different from last year, a greater emphasis on unity and looking forward perhaps but not so different. However Ling Qi could not help but feel that some of the energy had gone from the old man's voice, some of the drive.

It worried her, for if she could notice, surely most all of the audience could.

Soon enough the Outer Sect entrants were streaming into the arenas. There were… even more than last year .She would have thought the number of greens would be discouraging. Perhaps the Sect had bolstered their spirits in some way. She counted twelve Green cultivators just in the time of the speech. Gan Guangli and a young man beside him, one of the twin sisters who had been her bodyguards last year, Han Jian and Han Fang, Lu Feng and two others wearing western colors, Xiao Fen and a tall, muscular girl who she felt she ought to recognize, plus two other older looking disciples. She let that thought drift away as she focused on Gan Guangli, standing in the upper right ring, as the formations went active and the stage transformed.

She could sense its function a little more now, the way it created a bubble in space by disrupting the qi in the area, weakening and stretching its bonds. She didn't let herself get distracted by that for now though.

Gan Guangli appeared at the top of a high cliff overlooking a rushing river, running fast and whitecapped through a cleft in two mountains. A part of the wall? Most likely. He stood still for only a moment, his white and gold armor gleaming under the sunset. The cloak of fourth realm spidersilk he had acquired on their journey billowed behind him in the wind, and she saw that it was now edged in gold and embroidered with crimson butterflies, the symbol of the Cai.

Then his hand rose to his ear, and Ling Qi saw his lips move. "Report Location."

She wasn't able to hear whatever response he was undoubtedly hearing as he rapidly scanned the landscape around him. She could feel the communication though, trace the expression through the air like shimmering threads, going out to nearly a half dozen others. A young man in armor similar to Gan's though of much lower quality, leaping from river rock to river rock with a spear on his shoulder. There, Ma Lei, one of the pair of sisters who had once 'guarded' her in the outer sect, standing in a cave with her hand on the cool stone wall. Other faces,who she couldn't even pretend to recognize.

"So many allies, It is difficult to see him failing," Xia Anxi said idly, his voice echoing a little from outside the bubble.

"Part of his task was to maintain Lady Cai's control of the Outer Sect. That his network is extensive is a sign of his success," Ling Qi said idly.

Gan Guangli himself continued to hold his hand to his ear as he turned toward the mountain rising behind him and began to climb in swift, bounding steps. Plumes of dust rose from cracked stone with each leap, carrying him higher and higher up the slope. Moving back until his soldiers could take care of more of the opponents? No Ling Qi realized as he reached a wide plateau overlooking the whole of the artificial battlefield, that was what she would do.

"My cousins don't do subtle," Sixiang drawled.

He turned on his heel, and she saw liquid gold gleam in his eyes as he clapped his hands together, and three further thunderous claps followed. The sun rose over the mountain, and blazing light obliterated every shadow and veil on the upper mountain, drawing startled cries from disciples who had been trying to hide. Her own stealth arts could have resisted that, but certainly it would be hopeless for a second realm.

"Hm, he has learned I think," Meizhen said idly. In the arena, a figure burning with golden sunlight leapt like a meteor from the riverside, his own third realm cultivation drawing her attention. His spinning spear sending a pair of disciples dogging his heels down to crash into the rushing mountain waters. Stone bubbled and melted, and Ma Lei rose on a pillar of clay, her spirit bearing the signs of several failed breakthrough attempts. The wind whipped and three more of Gan's soldiers dropped to the cliff he had originally stood upon in formation.

"It is not a commanding officer's duty to stand beside his men, but to be the rock upon which their efforts turn," she finished. "It is good that our allies understand this."

Ling Qi understood what Gan Guangli was doing, standing up there like a beacon, his sun shrouded allies arrayed on the mountain a tier below. He had displayed that hiding was impossible, he had gathered his allies. Now the remaining disciples could make two choices, join hands to topple him, or be hunted down like dogs one by one. Worse, in this setting, they would look very pathetic if they refused such a blatant challenge

It might be called foolish, even arrogant, but Gan Guangli couldn't afford to simply succeed at this tournament. Under the Duchess' challenge, he needed to excel.

"Too bold a strategy, but this is a tournament. Glory is more important here," Lao Keung mused.

"Glory is always important," Xia Anxi drawled. "If you do not make sure that the extent of your power is known, you will always be challenged by little nits."

He hadn't changed entirely though Ling Qi mused. His height was still mounting, his broad shoulders expanding. His domain weapon, three pairs of phantasmal golden hands clapped in prayer behind his back, was still the same, though the hands were more solid, more defined than they had been when last she saw them.

It took a few tense minutes before the thought which had come to her percolated through the other disciples in the arena. Gan and his fellow disciples stood serene on the sunlit mountain waiting for their challenge to be answered. It didn't take long. Multihued arrows shot from the mouth of a cave across the river toward the other third realm, and shadows resolved into a half dozen shadows resolved into figures dashing up the mountain as well, their weapons flashing in the light.

A tasseled spearhead blurred splitting three arrowheads and though the energies in them flashed, blasting the stone and earth to send the cliffside crumbling into the river,the spearmen emerged from the smoke running backward up the sheer cliff unharmed. His foes struck their cries drowned out by crumbling stone, their own weapons blurring.

One of the golden hands clasped behind Gan Guangli thrust forward, and the flashing spear became a falling meteor, shattering the weapons which it's edge. Further down the mountain, Ma Lei and other disciples fought against a growing, desperate swam of their peers, techniques and weapons burned and blurred through the air, tearing up the weedy flora and scraggly trees that clung to the mountainside. Four against a dozen or more, they fought ferociously, but they were still being pushed back.

A second of the hands behind Gan Guangli thrust out, and the flesh became steel. A warhammer struck her former bodyguards chest, and bounced away with no more impact than a feather. Her own fist, gleaming metallic and white struck out with a thunderous boom that sent her opponent tumbling down the mountain.

All around the mountain the scene repeated itself, small groups of Gan Guangli's followers fighting against many times their number, and each time they were pressed, a golden hand would strike the air, with a sound like a temple gong and they would be shored up, holding and pushing back their foes.

"That is quite good, I wonder how many groups he can keep track of with that art. Six like the hands, or are they only a distraction?" Lao Keung mused. "Theatre for enemy scouts."

"His followers are doing well enough against the rabble I suppose. I wonder though. I thought I smelt blood going in, where are those disgusting little sunflowers hiding," Xia Anxi mused.

"...They're coming in swiftly," Ling Qi said idly. It took Sixiang guiding her eyes to see them, since her own perception arts didn't penetrate the tournament ring. Sixiang could feelthem by their thoughts, eager and bloodthirsty. They were coming under the earth in burrowing roots, Gan Guangli didn't seem to have detected them yet.

She felt the qi on the mountaintop shift, a haziness in the air, and a beautiful song on the wind, a restful song, a playful song. She saw soldiers falter, and blows slip through their guard.

Gan Guangli's fist, his real one, snapped out and struck the air. There was an immense crack and for an instant, Ling Qi saw spiderwebbing cracks around Gan Guangli's fist, spreading through empty air, leaking spiritual power into the material world. The song transformed into a garbled screech of random sound, the haze dispersed like mist in a hurricane.

"Yeah you know that's how you interact with a song, just punch the melody till it stops sounding right," Sixiang grumbled with dissatisfaction.

And the moment he did, Ling Qi felt wood qi surge under the mountain and brilliant green lances erupted under his subordinates, thick spires of plant flesh that unfurled as they reached air, opening into sticky frame fanged maws that snapped shut around nearly half of his followers. Only the spearman struck back, tearing apart the stalk of his attacker in a spray of stinking sap.

They immediately began to retract, dragging their captives down into the earth. The other disciples who remained, surged forward to take advantage.

For the first time in the match, Gan Guangli let out a familiar bellow as he knelt and punched the ground beneath him. Three golden hands slammed down into the rock as well, and plateau shook. A moment later, blazing golden radiance showed through the cracks in the stone and a tremendous golden hand erupted from the earth, dragging with it a mass of green flesh, spasming roots and tendrils. The hand squeezed and the knot of flesh at its core split apart like a rotten melon, spilling out two figures. One was a young woman with tanned skin and dark red hair, ringing bells attached to every loose edge of her flowing dress. The other a lithe young man, in form fitting armor of beast hide, pale green bracers of living wood and plant life on his wrists

From now limp jaws, his followers tore themselves free. Plummeting back to earth to join their fellows. Below, Gan Guangli, grown to over four meters in height, leapt upward with a earthshaking boom, golden hands arrayed into fists. Two crossed in front of him, catching a stream of smoking poisonously green liquid. Two clasped in prayer, the ringing of a temple gong dispelling the creeping illusions Ling Qi could feel forming in the air. Two more golden hands, and two fists of flesh struck the plant wielding young man all across the body.

Within two seconds Ling Qi had lost count of the punches thrown, within three, Gan Guangli and the westerner had struck the earth in a plume of rockdust, and the sounds of striking fists did not stop.

"Good show," Xia Anxi said, amused. "It might be a bit crude, but I can appreciate some simple flexing."

"It is good that he did not allow them even a small victory," Meizhen sniffed. "Trash should remain where it belongs."

Lower on the mountain, Gan Guangli's followers had reduced their odds to more even ones, and as sunlight bloomed again, stiffening spines and putting weight behind their blows, it became clear that if the other disciples had an opportunity to bring them down, it had passed.

And when they finished, and joined their commander the girl from the western territories had no chance.

"Well, it seems your fellow has overcome his bout of misfortune," Xia Anxi said, leaning back in his seat.

"I can't judge his abilities fully from this scenario, but it does seem he knows his followers well," Lao Keung said quietly. Down below in the tournament field, Gan Guangli was speaking and gesticulating to his followers on the broken mountainside, as one by one the second realms bowed and made their forfeits. "They do not resent him at all."

"He is their better," Xia Anxi shrugged.

Lao Keung grunted.

"He is heavily involved with their drilling," Ling Qi said quietly. "He has improved a lot at discerning value."

Like Zhengui, Gan Guangli had something she lacked. She sincerely hoped that he succeeded in the Duchess' test. Cai Renxiang needed more than she had to give, if she was going to achieve her goals.

Her liege gave no outward sign of her true feelings as she chatted with the ambassador about the matches, but Ling Qi knew that seeing this first hurdle overcome so completely had to be a balm on her mind.

Soon, the matches were over and only the winners remained. In the first ring Gan Guangli and Gun Jun, the spearman. Given his friendliness with Gan Guangli, she took a moment to scrutinize his face and remember his name.

In her head, Sixiang snorted.

In the second ring were a boy she didn't know and Han Jian, her… probably friend from last year. Although with how long it had been, she didn't know if the word still applied. The third ring held Xiao Fen, and an older Green realm whose name she didn't recall, and the last held the muscular girl and another green she didn't know.

That was the first round of the preliminaries done.

AN: Due tolength I'm finishing here, next segment will have a vote.

 

[yrsillar]

Ling Qi looked down at the rings filling for the second round of the preliminaries with mild interest. In this set there were even fewer people who she knew by name. Han Fang and Ma Jun were both acquaintances from last year. Looking at Han Fang caused her to pause, staring at the squat young man beside him, recognition flickered, Fan Yu Xiulan's former fiance. She had never much cared for him, but by the end most of her dislike had guttered out into pity. It looked like he had managed to achieve the bronze physique, if only barely, so perhaps Xiulan's… final exit from their arrangement had helped him focus?

The last person she recognized was Lu Feng, Sun Liling's subordinate from last year. She had never interacted with him much, but he had been instrumental in defeating Gan Guangli in last years tournament, and had been heading his opposition this year. She wished him the illest luck.

"Hm, anyone of interest in these rounds?" Xia Anxi asked. "I see one of the grandsons of the Butcher's pet Lu, but none who might oppose him in his ring."

Lu Feng was, unfortunately, a match for Gan Guangli at the third step of the third realm, according to his reports. She assumed the Sun family had been funnelling him resources as well.

"There is the Han scion," Ling Qi said politely. "We were sparring partners once or twice last year and he has a good tactical mind. I might also suggest the zither girl in the third ring with bells in her hair."

Ma Jun looked more confident and less shrinking than the last time Ling Qi had seen her, having achieved a full third realm breakthrough. Her gown was a little more flattering, and Ling Qi had seen her trading flushed smiles with that other fellow, Gun Jun, as they passed one another in the intermission. She supposed that Gan Guangli wouldn't let anything untoward happen under his watch.

"What marks that one out from the rest of the early green contestants?" Lao Keung asked

"She was something of a subordinate of mine, and it looks like she has been both hardworking and fortunate in the last year," Ling Qi said idly. "I wish her luck is all, excuse the personal fancy."

Lao Keung hummed under his breath.

"Does the baroness intend to assemble a troupe?" Xia Anxi asked, amused. "I have heard of the efforts you have gone through to promote your bound spirit's song."

"That is not my intention, but collaboration with other musicians is enjoyable from time to time," Ling Qi said. "I have a small group, would you would care to join us in the future?"

"Perhaps, it might be entertaining," Xia Anxi hummed. She wasn't entirely sure if he meant it or not.

Below, the matches were starting.

Ling Qi looked down, switching her attention from one scene to another in turn. Ma Jun, slipping behind a a colonnade of rock formations in a fungi litten cavern, her fingers beginning to pick out the first notes of a song. Han Fang, speeding through a forest of scrubby trees in a river valley, as a large feline shape emerged from his shadow, and Lu Feng, standing in a flower filled meadow with his eyes shut and his arms crossed over his chest,

These matches, Ling Qi thought did not have the same tension, the majority of the third realms seemed to have been in the first set, although, scanning the arena's she was quite sure that there were still at least two in each, although many were only partially in the third realm like Fan Yu.

"What a lovely beast," Xia Anxi mused. "The black tigers of the east are often reluctant partners from what I hear. The Han prefer the more bombastic breeds."

Ling Qi focused in on Han Fang as his hammer bent another disciple over double, and the lithe black tiger at his side licked one of its paws, streamers of dispersing mist the only sign of the unfortunate disciples own companion. She, the beast was female, then sped past both human's a blur of crimson eyes and black fur to shred apart a crooked tree with a swipe of her paw, and a hair raising roar, sending the disciple hiding in it tumbling through the open air.

"Han Fang is unusual, he is more like a Viper for his cousin, the heir's son," Meizhen explained calmly.

"Hoh, how sensible," Xia Anxi said.

"Hm, it looks as if you have a follower in more ways than one, Baroness," Meizhen continued.

"Oh?" Ling Qi wondered, turning her eyes to follow her friends gaze.

In her own ring, she saw a spear thrust through Ma Jun's chest, and the sharp head emerged from her back in a burst of pink and crimson. The sound of a zither, and the soft ring of bells echoed in the cavern as her whole frame came apart into into an expanding cloud of brightly colored petals and blossoms. Her opponent, a girl with dark hair a boyish clothes spun her spear desperately wind blasting away the densest cluster of petals, but it was not enough, and where the whirling blossom's touched skin they left behind thin cuts and a soporific scent. The girl with the spear spun, searching for Ma Jun in the cloud of flowers and shot off, carving a cooridoor through the mass to strike at the shadowed figure of Ma Jun.

Again, it exploded into petals and this time the girl was too slow to deflect the descending wave of blossoms.

"Hm, she's really come far," Ling Qi said, the aesthetic was certainly different, but she felt a little flattered anyway.

"You must be a frustrating foe," Lao Keung mused.

"I try," Ling Qi said. "If I infuriate the enemy enough, they may forget my lady's saber."

"A fatal error indeed," Meizhen said, the corners of her lips quirking up in a smile.

"Your subordinate is entertaining," Xia Anxi allowed. "Although I find it difficult to enjoy while that westerner is mocking his match."

Lu Feng still stood in the clearing, in the same position. Here and their beads of blood marked the swaying grass around him, but he was largely unruffled. His strategy it seemed was to simply let his opponents fight, striking only those foolish enough to come close. It was valid certainly, to not show any of your abilities without need. He didn't have Gan Guangli's additional objectives.

It still nettled her, just a bit, even if she knew it was illogical.

"Look at you acknowledging your biases," Sixiang drawled. "Don't let your guests know."

Ling Qi rolled her eyes, and beside her Xia Anxi chuckled. "Yes, it is quite rude to the sect, isn't it?"

"It would be more polite to put on a show," Ling Qi demurred.

"It would better fulfill his objectives to crush our Xiao, and your Gan however," Lao Keung said calmly.

"A fair point, Sun Liling and her churls have learned from last years mistakes," Bai Meizhen said coldly. "It would be grand for our enemies to all be fools, alas, the world rarely complies with such wishes."

"It is true, Lady Bai, but look at what fodder he has been given. Some style would not be amiss," Xia Anxi said carefully. "Although I should not be surprised that a westerner should be so ungrateful to his hosts."

Meizhen hummed to herself, and inclined her head minutely. "My words were no rebuke."

Ling Qi watched Xia Anxi relax a little out of the corner of her eye. It was hard to remember that her best friend was very permissive for a white serpent Bai, and the experiences of those such as Xia Anxi and Lao Keung would reflect that.

Below, the matches were beginning to wrap up, the other green in Lu Feng's ring, an older young man with a boar spirit, defeated the last second realm. In Ma Jun's ring, disciples had given up on hunting the swiftly moving storm of flower petals and song and turned to fighting for the other slot, and in the last, Han Fang and his tiger hunted down the second to last disciple. Ling Qi glanced at the fourth ring and was surprised to see Fan Yu standing there, his face still sullen even in victory.

As she turned to focus toward the Sect Head, Ling Qi felt a tap on her shoulder. By the time she had turned her head, she realized that the sound of the stadium was gone, and the world was grey. She met the tired eyes of middle aged man with too many lines on his face and grey in his hair. At that moment, she remembered Hou Zhuang, who had been here the entire time.

"Apologies for the interruption Baroness," said the man, Bai Meizhen's father. "But I need your attention for a moment."

Ling Qi frowned, eyeing the greyed out world, she saw an image of herself still facing forward and speaking with the others, saw the other young Bai still talking, although it all seemed slow. "Of course, sir Hou," she said carefully. "If I may ask…"

"It is something of a personal matter," he said quietly, and she saw his eyes drift toward Meizhen, who was watching the matches below with an understated disinterest. "We spoke last year, and I found it very helpful."

Ling Qi frowned, thinking through foggy memories, their exchange had been brief, just a few words, traded on Meizhen's well being. "Sir Hou, it is not worth speaking of."

"Maybe, but allow this old man to be sentimental, just this once," Hou Zhuang said. "She is… happy now, this I see. You are part of that."

"...Only a small part," Ling Qi said, eyes straying to the sash her friend wore around her waist. "We helped one another in the beginning, but she has found her own way."

"Nonetheless, my gratitude," Hou Zhuang said, and once again he tapped her shoulder. Ling Qi felt a tingle through her storage ring and swift inspection made her realize that a neat sheaf of papers and letters had appeared within, along with inkpots and containers full of wax. "I have heard that your correspondence has been troubled. There are ways, ciphers and seals of dealing with such. I have penned you a few primers"

"My thanks," Ling Qi said slowly, whatever else could be said of him Hou Zhuang was a fifth realm who she suspected specialized in spycraft. "I-Thank you very much for your instruction."

"It is a trifle," said the old man. "There are some observations on your province and its people as well. Names of those who are too proud of their homes to treat with foreigners, but who love the Cai more than their own lords and elders. If you reach out to them, as the hand of the young miss, they will take it. I hope I am not overstepping in suggesting such dishonorable talk?"

His smile was a wasted thing, bereft of joy.

"No," Ling Qi said. "And I do not think it is dishonorable to keep an eye on things like this."

"I once knew a young woman who thought the same," Hou Zhuang said idly, scratching at the slightly untidy stubble of his chin. "Open or closed, communication is the bane of conflict. That understanding of others is the key to prosperity. Call us spies, or diplomats, or ambassadors, the result is the same. Two groups know one another better, slights are avoided and violence uneccessary."

He breathed out a sigh. "Forgive an old man for rambling."

"I'm not sure if she was wrong," Ling Qi said softly, turning back to the arena.

"Kind of you to say," he said, his humorless smile unchanging. "But there is one last thing. Your project in the south requires support. I have been authorized to share a small part of my own efforts. Which of the great count clan's would you care for a dossier on?"

Those words… This wasn't entirely personal then. As she thought that, she felt a whisper of feeling on the back of her neck, the edge of a blade. She saw golden eyes behind a black veil out of the corner of her eye. Bai Suzhen, offering some small aid. Ling Qi considered her own plans for the tournament and wondered which of her intended targets she needed help with the most.

[] The Wang Clan
[] The Diao Clan
[] The Meng Clan

The selected clan will have the success chances of rolls during their arc increased by 10