Ling Qi’s slightly warped reflection stared back at her from the pink tinted metal of her new knife before disappearing under the oiling cloth in her hand. It had been an impulsive and expensive purchase, but Ling Qi couldn’t really regret buying the set. The knives were rather pretty and better than her old, increasingly broken set.

  Of course, then she had ended up buying a new bow as well. Ling Qi was not used to having the money to simply buy things she wanted without much thought. It was a strange feeling, and it made some part of her uncomfortable like she had done something wrong. At the same time, she had worked hard, hadn’t she? She deserved to buy something nice every once in awhile. A little frivolous spending was a fair reward for what she had accomplished……

  Was this how Xiulan felt when she bought a new dress solely because she liked the cut? Ling Qi thought it might be. She brushed her finger over the polished metal of the wavy blade and smiled before slipping it into the hidden sheath on her wrist. Just this once, she would try not to overthink things.

  As she picked up the next knife in the set that lay in a gleaming line across her desk though, she caught a faint movement in the air by her window and looked up in caution. She blinked in surprise as a paper doll bearing the seal of the Ministry of Communications fluttered through her window. It was the size of her hand and folded to look vaguely like a bird. It circled her twice before landing on her desk and promptly unfolding. A moment later, the paper disintegrated with a weak flash, leaving behind a letter.

  Ling Qi turned her attention to the letter. The plain wax seal gave way easily, and Ling Qi unfolded the letter.

  Ling Qi smiled slightly. The letter felt more personal this time; she was glad Mother was easing up on the apologies and self-deprecations. The warm shape under her desk that had been keeping her feet cozy shifted then and gave a hungry little cry. She would write back to Mother soon, but for now, she had a hungry child to take care of, a meeting to attend, and then a lot of cultivation to do. It was going to be a busy week.

  ***

  “Miss Ling!” Gan Guangli’s booming voice greeted her as she approached the pavilion. “I would congratulate you on your part in bringing down the foul miscreant, Yan Renshu.” The broad-shouldered boy bowed his head to her, his metal clad hand clasped over his heart.

  Ling Qi felt a little awkward at the loud and sincere declaration. “It was hardly any trouble. I could hardly just let him carry on with a scam like that, right?” she replied, dismissing the praise.

  The tall boy nodded seriously as he straightened up. “Indeed. It is our duty as Immortals to be sure that no such corruption can take root,” he said gravely. “Still, fine work deserves praise,” he added, expression lightening.

  “Well, thanks,” she replied, a little lamely. “Er, am I early for the meeting, or ……?”


  “Ah, my apologies,” Gan Guangli said, stepping aside. “Lady Cai will receive you now, Miss Ling.”


  The council pavilion’s furniture had been rearranged to accommodate smaller meetings, and Cai Renxiang waited for her at the top of the steps, seated much as she was the last time the two of them had met one-on-one. Her presence seemed greater now, even with the harsh light that backlit the heiress at low ebb, barely a halo around her dark hair. The fabric of her white and gold gown seemed to ripple like a thing alive, and Ling Qi could feel the attention of the spirit in the cloth. The wings of the ‘butterfly’ splayed across Cai’s chest felt more like eyes than ever.

  Also, unlike their last private meeting, another girl stood by, head down as she served out tea to the two places set at the table. It looked like her stock had risen since then. Ling Qi stopped at the top of the pavilion steps and gave her best proper bow. Best to be polite. “Lady Cai, thank you very much for agreeing to meet me on such short notice.”


  “It is a small enough thing for you to request,” the heiress said evenly. “Please, sit and avail yourself of the tea. It is a fine blend, if I may be trusted as a judge of such things.”


  “Thank you,” Ling Qi replied, keeping her head bowed for a moment longer before straightening up and taking a seat. She took a polite sip from the steaming cup in front of her. It wasn’t bad; there was a bit of spice to it that she didn’t recognize, but then again, tea mostly tasted the same to her. “I did not have the chance to follow the aftermath as closely as I might have liked. How was the response to the revelation?”


  “Many of those held in unjust and false bondage were furious of course,” Cai Renxiang answered, appearing satisfied as she lifted her own cup. “And, with proof so solid, none could gainsay my words openly. Obviously, those who truly oppose me were unmoved, merely denouncing the villain themselves and claiming ignorance of his dealings.”


  That was about what she had expected. “I am guessing Sun Liling was among them?” Ling Qi asked carefully, briefly glancing at the girl who had served the tea as she bowed and left.

  “Princess Sun was among the loudest in announcing her opposition,” Cai Renxiang agreed a touch sourly. “She made it quite clear that such villainy should not be an excuse for my ‘tyranny’ to spread. She was among the fastest to gather up Yan Renshu’s stray followers.”


  “We still got the majority though, right?” Ling Qi asked, before wincing at her own lack of decorum. “I mean, we were still able to prevent most of his victims from being further taken advantage of?”


  Ling Qi caught a touch of a smile on the heiress’ lips before it was hidden by the teacup.

  “Of course. The Princess Sun’s efforts aside, few saw reason to refuse my protection. Enough about that trouble for the moment. That will be the focus of next week’s council meeting. I believe you had a proposal?”


  Ling Qi nodded, taking a moment to go over her request in her head again as she did. The tea made a good cover for the pause. “I recently acquired a large asset, and I was hoping you could aid me in making the most of it.”


  “Oh? Would this be related to the pill furnace which vanished from Yan Renshu’s holdings?” Cai Renxiang inquired, putting down her cup and leaning back in her seat. “The boy in charge of that facility was quite distraught,” she added, meeting Ling Qi’s gaze evenly.

  Ling Qi smiled sheepishly. “That’s the one,” she replied a bit nervously. “Please do not hold that against me. At the time, it was enemy property.”


  “I am not so poor as to demand that my agents take no spoils of their own,” Cai Renxiang said without heat. “I am not the avaricious tyrant that our enemies speak of.”


  “Of course not,” Ling Qi hurried to reply. “I was just unsure of the protocol.”


  “Understandable. Such things vary widely.” Cai didn’t sound like that pleased her. “Know that I have no intention of being the sort of leader which demands such tribute.”


  “I am glad for your generosity,” Ling Qi said slowly, studying the other girl’s serious expression. She didn’t think the heiress was lying. In any case, it meant she could go ahead. “I propose to offer it to our production students to use at a markdown from the Production Hall’s fees. In return for your help in protecting it and enforcing the fees, I would offer you a fair portion of the fees involved.”


  “Oh? Would it not be better for our faction to allow its use freely? I would be able to compensate you fairly,” Cai Renxiang questioned. Ling Qi felt something odd in her words. It wasn’t dishonesty, but…… more like it was a leading question?

  “I have friends who are pillmakers and who have earned a personal furnace,” Ling Qi explained. “I do not want to undercut their livelihoods and hard work that way. I imagine they aren’t alone in their position either.” She didn’t necessarily care about people in the marketplace who might have their own furnaces, but there was no reason to piss them off. “By making it free to use, it would disrupt things at the market a lot too.”


  “Acceptable reasoning,” Cai Renxiang said. “I would have you speak with my subordinates in charge of finances regarding the exact details, but I find your proposal to be reasonable.”


  “Thank you, Lady Cai.” Ling Qi had to fight down a grin. She was sure she would not have to worry about spirit stones for the rest of the year now!

  “You are welcome,” the other girl said with a tiny nod. “Would you, in turn, answer me a question?”


  Ling Qi blinked. “Ah, of course, what did you need?”


  “What do you intend to do in the future?” the heiress asked simply.

  Ling Qi hadn’t really thought about it. She knew she had years of army service ahead; it seemed pointless to plan beyond that. Although she would receive an Imperial writ, she had no idea what that really meant in practical terms. “I’m still considering it,” she replied after a moment. “After all, I don’t know what opportunities I’ll have yet.”


  “Allow me to offer one then,” Cai Renxiang said warmly, meeting her eyes unflinchingly. “Join me. I have no doubt that you will achieve the third realm in a matter of weeks or months. Your talent is obvious, and your recent escapades have cemented the truth of your ability in my mind.”


  “I am already a member of your council,” Ling Qi pointed out dubiously.

  “A temporary and impersonal relationship,” Cai Renxiang acknowledged, the ever-present light behind her building in brightness. “I would instead offer you a place as a direct vassal of the Cai clan, a position similar to that which Guangli will enjoy, pending his breakthrough.”


  Ling Qi fell silent, trying to figure out where the catch was and why the heiress would be offering this. “I am flattered, of course,” she said to buy herself time. “But I am unsure as to why you would trust me with such a position. Wouldn’t the Lady Duchess need to approve such offers?”


  Cai Renxiang’s gown rippled slightly, shimmers of gold moving through the white. “My purpose in this Sect is twofold: to gain experience with authority, and to build my own base of power,” the heiress replied frankly. “To that end, the Duchess has granted me certain privileges, including the ability to offer direct vassalship. As for trust……” Cai Renxiang said, a considering tone entering her voice. “Bai Meizhen speaks well of you.”


  Ling Qi felt a spike of irritation. “Is that so?” There was no way they were that close.

  The glowing girl across from her furrowed her brows, studying her face. “You misunderstand. It is not her good word, so much as the insight those words give me, along with my own observations. I am aware that you feel little to no personal loyalty toward me at the moment.” Cai Renxiang spoke confidently and without doubt…… and seemed unbothered by her words.

  “Why then?” Ling Qi asked warily, hands resting on the table, her tea forgotten. There wasn’t much point in denying it when the other girl so clearly believed it.

  “Because what loyalty you have is beyond reproach,” Cai Renxiang said without hesitation. “That is a trait which is difficult to find in retainers, your other abilities aside,” she continued, leaning forward. “I am capable of earning such loyalty with time, if you would grant me the opportunity.” Cai Renxiang spoke with absolute conviction.

  Now, Ling Qi just felt uncomfortable. “I have to think about this.”


  “I do not expect an answer right now,” Cai Renxiang agreed, the light behind her dimming. “Please consider it for the future. I shall ask again when you achieve the third realm.”


  Ling Qi made her excuses soon after that, departing the meeting place to hash out the details of the pill furnace agreement with the production disciples who would actually oversee it. She got a pretty good deal, considering that she was offloading pretty much all of the work involved. Ling Qi would receive forty percent of the profits and retain full ownership of the furnace, meaning she could take it back at any time, although she would have to give a week’s notice before doing so. She also had the right to blacklist users, just in case someone decided to piss her off.

  Despite the success, she still felt uncomfortable. She didn’t really like the Cai heiress very much. She was stiff and unyielding, and to be frank, Cai Renxiang unnerved her a little bit. All the same, the offer from the Cai heiress wasn’t one she could easily discard. She wondered just what the girl thought would be involved in ‘earning’ her loyalty. It was a bit bizarre to be praised for something like that when all she did was stick by her first friend.

  Ling Qi found herself unable to get very far in her meditations that night, distracted by thoughts of a future that she had never even considered.

  Threads 114-Intermission 4

  There was a dull thunk as Ling Qi’s head struck the surface of the table.

  “Quit sprawling over my table,” Su Ling grumbled.

  Ling Qi cracked one eye open, peering at the girl sitting across from her. “Aren’t friends supposed to be more sympathetic to this kind of thing?”


  “I don’t even know where to start with what you told me,” Su Ling said bluntly. “I don’t get it. from what you said, the guy is the most harmless sort around. Besides, don’t you have other folks you can talk to about this kind of thing?”


  Meizhen was currently deep in collusion with Bao Qingling. She had checked. Suyin was busy with the elders, and Cai Renxiang…… Ling Qi made a face. She wasn’t going to try and talk about this with Cai Renxiang. “I’d think you of all people would understand where I’m coming from,” she moaned sitting up. Su Ling was, after all, the one whose past was most similar to hers.

  Su Ling gave her a hard look, her pointed ears twitching. Then, deliberately, she bared her teeth, the fangs of a predator. “I’ve never worried about that particular thing,” the girl said a moment after, and her sharp black nails clicked as they drummed on the table. “A bunch of assholes with torches and clubs deciding to get rid of the monster once and for all? Sure, but not what you’re talking about. Never really had a thought for my virtue.”


  Ling Qi looked at her friend. “I guess you’ve never really been completely helpless,” she said. She hadn’t really thought about the difference in their conditions.

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Su Ling said. “Just that I’ve never really had that fear. After all, my mother’s the monster. My dad was the victim.”


  “That’s one thing I’ve never understood,” Ling Qi said, leaning back in her chair. “Why do you care about your father? You never met him, obviously.”


  Su Ling shrugged. “Maybe he woulda been a drunk or a layabout, maybe he woulda been the best dad ever. I’ll never know, will I? So fuck that bitch for taking him.”


  “You really have to watch that language, Baroness Su.”


  “Don’t you start,” Su Ling replied darkly, making a disgusted face. “I have no idea how I’m supposed to deal with that.”


  “Pretend that you know what you’re doing, and study like mad in the background,” Ling Qi suggested.

  “Speaking from experience?” Su Ling asked dryly.

  “Yep,” Ling Qi replied with a grin. “Seriously though, congratulations, Su Ling.”


  “Yeah, yeah, I never thought I’d make Inner Sect.” Su Ling sighed.

  Ling Qi patted the other girl’s hand in commiseration.

  ***

  Ling Qi stretched her arms overhead, enjoying the light of the early morning sun. The twinge in her back had faded, and she was once again approved for cultivation. Sitting atop Zhengui’s back as they trundled down the mountain path, she found that she was actually looking forward to this gathering.

  Below, she could see the brightly colored pennants marking out the edges of the grounds Wang Chao had rented out. It seemed like the setup had gone well. Most of the field was left open for cultivation activities and sparring, but a small pavilion had been erected at the far east end, which would contain tables laden with refreshments and a few temporary meditation chambers for those who needed privacy for some cultivation.

  She had, on Cai Renxiang’s advice, helped with the planning for that part. She could already see a half dozen odd disciples, including Wang Chao, clustered near a sparring circle, having a discussion. There were a few spirit beasts already present as well, a pair of dogs, a big tawny mountain cat, and a preening eagle. The only one which stood out to her was the horse-sized shaggy black mountain goat that she knew belonged to Wang Chao.

  The other beasts gave the creature and its tall curling horns a wide berth.

  “Are you excited to get some exercise, Zhengui?” Ling Qi asked.

  “Yes!” Gui agreed, but she couldn’t help but notice that his cheer was a little strained.

  “I, Zhen, doubt that there will be much to learn here,” Zhen scoffed.

  “Don’t be like that. We’re here to work together and meet some new people,” Ling Qi scolded. “Just remember that we’re here to enjoy ourselves, too. You’ve earned some fun, you know?”


  “It would be fun if Hanyi was here,” Gui grumbled.

  Ling Qi frowned. “I know, but she is very inspired right now.” Hanyi had been withdrawn since their return, and she was hard at work composing something. Ling Qi didn’t want to interrupt her because she recognized that sort of fugue.

  Sixiang whispered.

  “Please, Zhengui, let’s try to enjoy ourselves, okay?” Ling Qi asked.

  “Zhengui will try,” he replied, but he didn’t seem enthusiastic.

  She hid her frown, trying to think of what else she could say, but soon, they were no longer alone.

  She glanced up as she felt someone approaching from one of the other paths. It only took her a second to recognize Alingge, the girl she had met at Luo Zhong’s party. She was dressed much the same as always in a surprisingly scant combination of tunic and skirt, but she had replaced her white fur cloak with one of darker red. She rode on the back of a tawny female deer fitted with a saddle but lacking a harness.

  “Ling Qi,” Alingge greeted as her mount cantered up beside them. “Honored Zhengui, it pleases me that you emerged from your hunts unmarred.”


  “It pleases me, too,” Ling Qi said wryly. “It looks like you’ve been busy. Is that a trophy?” she asked, nodding to Alingge’s cloak. It looked to be made from the pelt of one of the cloud barbarian’s horses.

  “Yes, my deployment was successful as well,” Alingge agreed. “The raiders did not pass us.”


  As they spoke, Zhen had met the eyes of Alingge’s mount, and they appeared to be having a staring contest. Zhen preened, looking proud and fierce, but Alingge’s companion merely looked placid.

  “Congratulations,” Ling Qi said. She could listen to what Zhengui was communicating, but there was no need to pry.

  “Your praise is welcome, though your deeds are the greater ones. Regardless, let me apologize for my rudeness. This one is called Sembidun,” Alingge introduced, patted the neck of the deer she rode.

  The beast turned her eyes to Ling Qi. “
”


  “It is good to meet you,” Ling Qi said politely, and she subtly tapped Zhengui’s shell.

  “Gui greets Whispering Wind and the Beastkeeper too,” Gui said.

  Zhen remained haughty, but at least he lowered his head a little.

  “Is Sembidun your only spirit beast?” Ling Qi asked curiously. “Or are your others not coming today?”


  The two of them looked briefly at one another. “She is my heart companion,” Alingge explained slowly. “My pact with the others is different. This is not a matter which I may explain.”


  Clan secrets, Ling Qi understood.

  “I won’t press,” Ling Qi reassured her. “I apologize if I gave offense.”


  “I have taken none,” Alingge agreed. “But let us not tarry longer. The field awaits.”


  ***

  “Miss Ling! Welcome. I was just discussing our program with our junior peers,” Wang Chao greeted bombastically as they approached.

  A few of those gathered, who were most certainly older than Ling Qi, looked mildly irritated.

  “Oh, you’ve decided on that already?” Ling Qi asked. She had ceded planning of the actual training to Wang Chao since that was what she had originally planned to ask for his help with.

  “Yes,” he said, just a little pompously. “While we will spar together obviously, I was thinking that between the two of us, we could demonstrate to our peers the two extremes of high level cultivator combat. Singular overwhelming physical force for myself and……”


  “Encompassing spiritual field effects for me,” Ling Qi said, finishing in the pause he gave her. “I think that will work nicely with the arts I am intending to cultivate.”


  “Hoh, you have something new in mind, Miss Ling?” Wang Chao asked.

  “Lady Cai is generous,” Ling Qi explained. “I cannot yet make my own arts, so she elected to see the gap in my capability filled.”


  “The Cai are indeed generous to those who earn it,” Wang Chao agreed seriously. “And from what I have heard of your expedition, you have certainly done that.”


  “Your own deeds were admirable as well.” Ling Qi knew this dance well enough by now. She had checked up on it. Wang Chao had indeed done well in his assignment to defend one of the inner passes, so she didn’t even have to embellish. Still, she felt Zhengui shifting impatiently beneath her. “But I am sure everyone is looking forward to a little exercise.”


  “Yes, yes, of course,” Wang Chao agreed. “So, this is the schedule I have worked out for the morning……”


  Such was the beginning of Ling Qi’s cultivation routine for the month. Over the next few days, she began to cultivate two arts she had received in her Cai-gifted arts package, the Unstoppable Glacier’s March and the Beast King’s Savage Dirge, while working on coordinating her tactics with Zhengui.

  Each day, she found a few more people trickling in, most of whom were in the appraisal and foundation stages. This was most helpful for the open sparring section of the day. It meant that she always had sparring partners to match with when practicing her developing arts.

  ***

  Ling Qi’s fingers came down on the holes of her flute, sounding the deepest note possible. Before her, the three disciples who had advanced through the tangle of Zhengui’s grasping roots and Paradise Ramparts blanched as a snowstorm screamed around her.

  The force of the note rippled out, freezing the moisture from the air as she took a single step forward in time with the next note.

  The frontmost attacker, a young man at foundation, planted the butt of his spear in the ground as he was driven backward, heels and spear alike digging furrows through the writhing earth. The young man to his left was less lucky. Forearms shrouded in crackling storm clouds crossed in front of his face to block the worst of the cold, but he was flung backwards to slam into one of Zhengui’s ramparts with a meaty thwack. The girl on the left in her pale green gown at least managed a controlled flight as she was flung away like a leaf in a storm, the twin iron fans in her hand guiding the wind currents enough that she sailed through a gap rather than directly into the thorny wall.

  The Unstoppable Glacier’s March art had come to her as naturally as breathing. It was an art that sought to capture the crushing inevitability of the eons long migration of the great entities of ice in the Wall from which the rivers that wind through and water the Emerald Seas were born. She had mastered the first stanza easily, and the refinement of the second had not been much harder.

  As the second boy struggled to pull himself away from the wall, Ling Qi felt the earth rumble as Zhengui followed in her footsteps, and grasping roots rose to pin him in place.

  The disciple with the spear lunged, the polearm in his hands burning like a brand. She swayed to the side, and it passed her head. Ling Qi took another step and was inside his guard. The chorus of the Grinding Glacial Melody sounded again, and he tumbled backward.

  The other boy, trapped against the wall, let out a cry of pain as icy wind and pressure crushed him into his restraints. He fell as molten venom impacted his chest in a burst of sizzling steam.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the other girl again, gliding on currents of wind to strike at her back. Ling Qi’s fingers danced, and she played a very different stanza. Pitched high, the wild melody transformed into the piercing shriek of an enraged eagle. The sun overhead, already dimmed by her Mist and Zhengui’s ash, went out, shadowed by vast wings.

  The phantom summoned by her song, a mighty raptor with a wingspan twice the height of a man and more with plumage of dark grey and pale blue, beat its wings once and dove. The girl cried out as she was seized in gleaming silver talons and carried away back into the depths of Zhengui’s killing field.

  The Beast King’s Savage Dirge was a more difficult and complex piece, one which did not so easily flow for her. Nevertheless, it was potent. An art supposedly composed for the last Weilu dukes, the ballad memorialized the eight Beast Kings who came together in council of war and marched to bring down the Horned Lord and the Diviner’s descendents. The Eagle God’s Defiance technique summoned the aerial phantom, fastest of the Beast Kings and lord of those who flew and preyed on the world below.

  She saw the spear-wielding disciple’s expression fall as beasts of black mist began to rise from the ground in thick ranks, their yowls and barks drowning out all sound. Claws and fangs glistened with rime. Primal War Calling was not like the Dissonance technique, summoning scattered nightmares to worry and distract; reminiscent of the muster of beasts across Emerald Seas by the Beast Kings for the final march, the call summoned the shades of long dead beasts from the shadows that would viciously attack enemies within range.

  Ling Qi stood surrounded by a howling regiment, and the shadow of her little brother loomed over them all.