Threads 115-Intermission 5

“I think they’ve had enough, Miss Ling!” Wang Chao’s voice echoed from outside the mist. Ling Qi glanced at the remaining young man, who was nodding fervently.

They had been at this for a while.

Lowering her flute, Ling Qi let the phantoms fade. “You can let up, Zhengui,” she said, turning to face her little brother.

Behind Zhengui was the hastily constructed stone “fort” that was the object of the exercise. Around them was a maze of ash clouds and root ramparts, which he had raised over the course of it, choking off approaches more and more while Ling Qi flitted around buying him time.

It had been an enjoyable little exercise.

Ling Qi smiled as she rested a hand on his blunt snout. “Good work. I think our strategy worked pretty well.”

Gui didn’t look fully pleased. “Big Sister was holding back.”

Ling Qi snorted. “Of course I was. Everyone was working with new arts. That was the point. It’s important to practice my new arts to fully understand them.” She hadn’t even gotten to starting to learn her replacement for Thousand Ring Fortress yet. “With this practice, you’re improving your ramparts, too. You’ve gotten much better and faster with them.”

“Foolish Gui should cease doubting his own power,” Zhen hissed. “We are mighty, and we will only grow mightier still.”

“A good attitude to have!” They both looked up as Wang Chao spoke, striding through the withering remains of the walls. “I must say, it is a good thing that between your beast and I, repairing the landscape is so easy.”

Ling Qi turned to him and bowed. “It is good to let loose without worry.”

“Using our explosion is fun,” Gui muttered.

“It is enjoyable to watch,” Wang Chao agreed, turning to survey the other disciples, who were only now climbing to their feet. Those who had more notable injuries were heading back to the pavilion where a medical disciple was waiting. “It would have been a better test if your enemies had better tactics,” he added with a frown.

“I wouldn’t blame them,” Ling Qi replied. “It takes a lot of drill to turn random cultivators into a unit, doesn’t it?”

“It does. Perhaps I am being unreasonable,” he pondered. In a much louder voice, he called out, “That was fine work facing a stronger foe, everyone!”

There was a ragged cry of agreement.

“Will I be facing you soon, Sir Wang?” Ling Qi asked.

“I intend to put on a proper lesson and spar tomorrow,” Wang Chao agreed, turning back to her and Zhengui. “Your beast has taken quite well to my words on battlefield control.”

“Mister Avalanche gives good advice,” Gui agreed, seeming to perk up. “Gui was not sure he could control so many walls at once.”

“It is not my personal specialty, but I remember my lessons. You will be quite a boon to any battle with a little coordination, even if you lose focus easily sometimes, Sir Zhengui. Being able to set and manipulate the approaches of a battlefield is very useful.” Wang Chao grinned. “And of course, Miss Ling is quite frightening in her ability to deny enemy cohesion.”

“Not frightening enough I think,” Ling Qi said, thinking back to the underground fort and the enemy commander who had so easily denied her.

“Hah, Miss Ling is too modest. You are a very frightening woman indeed, according to most!” Wang Chao laughed.

Ling Qi frowned. Somehow, the way he said that made it seem bad.

“Big Sis is the scariest one,” Gui said proudly.

That just made her feel worse.

“Hey, you get the reputation you earn,” Sixiang teased.

Ling Qi huffed. “I think I need a few moments to cultivate my reserves back to full, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. I think I would like to slake my thirst myself,” Wang said affably, turning away. “Will you join us in the pavilion after?”

Ling Qi considered, eyeing the other end of the field where Alingge and the disciples’ spirit beasts were gathered. Despite her efforts, Zhengui had not been particularly social yet, and she did want to speak with the girl about some things. If anyone could help her work through her conundrum regarding her spirits, surely it was someone who even Zhengui called “Beastkeeper.”

While she was supposed to be here primarily to influence Wang Chao, she was also going to spar with him tomorrow.

“Yes, I will be along shortly,” Ling Qi said, dipping her head deferentially.

“Very good. I will see you there,” Wang Chao said with a grin. He really seemed to be enjoying himself at these gatherings.

As he strode away, Ling Qi turned back to Zhengui and held back a frown. She could tell that her little brother was still discontent. “I’ll only be gone for a little while. Do you think that you’ll be fine?”

“Of course. Big Sister should not doubt,” Zhen hissed. Gui remained silent.

Ling Qi studied him. “Zhengui, you really are doing well, okay?”

“Gui is glad,” he said, but it didn’t feel sincere.

<You’re not going to get anything by pressing right now,> Sixiang murmured.

Ling Qi didn’t like it, but Sixiang was right. Still, she reached out to pat Zhengui on the head, trying to convey the pride she felt in his ability. He pressed his head against her hand before turning and lumbering away to begin spreading ash to restore the field.

Ling Qi sighed and sat down to meditate and recover her qi. If a silver wisp escaped the hem of her dress to hide among the tall grass and keep an eye on Zhengui, no one was going to notice.

***

A few minutes of meditation did much to help her center herself and prepare for interacting with others again. Honestly, the people here were a relatively straightforward lot. The disciples consisted of a few baronial scions, as well as the children of soldiers and crafters, here to raise their family’s status or deepen connections to the Sect.

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It was not exactly a gathering of the politically connected.

It was with that thought firmly in mind that she entered the pavilion.

Outside, Zhengui was still wandering the field, idly scattering ash and regrowing burnt plant life. There were a handful of other disciples out there, still sparring or talking, as well as Alingge and the many spirit beasts, but none seemed inclined to approach him.

She hoped he wouldn’t spend the whole time alone.

“Welcome, Miss Ling. Feeling recovered?” Wang Chao asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Ling Qi smiled politely. “I am. I hope everyone else is feeling well, too.”