Threads 189-Concert 1

Cultivation consumed Ling Qi’s days in the wake of her work with Zhengui. After the expedition and the flurry of activity that followed, it felt good to take some time to herself and simply grow stronger. Ling Qi focused on her physical cultivation and found herself reflecting on how much her routines had changed.

The exercises the late Elder Zhou had taught her were a thing of the past now. They had been invaluable in training her mortal body to the limit of what mere flesh could do, but in the third realm, her body was no longer bound to mortal rules. Her muscles would never deteriorate, and no matter what she ate or drank, not a single ounce of fat would ever appear on her body.

It made her wonder a bit at the looks of those like Elder Ying or the Senior Bao she had met at last year’s tournament. Appearing to hold some extra weight must be a choice, unconscious or otherwise.

Regardless, this meant that physical cultivation was not so different from spiritual cultivation now. It was different for those who focused more on their bodies and physical arts, but for Ling Qi, her regimen consisted simply of meditative movements and carefully weaving new strands of qi into flesh, muscle, and bone, steadily increasing the density of qi in her body.

These exercises were more difficult since her desperate jump into the Dream underground. Since that day, she always felt lighter, almost as if she would drift away in a moment of inattentiveness, and she had to focus more to keep her qi from simply dispersing rather than setting into her flesh.

She didn’t let it slow her though, and as the days passed, she pushed herself into the threshold stage of the bronze physique. It was the fourth of eight stages in the third realm, matching her spiritual cultivation. Although it could be said that she was halfway there, she knew that each step would be harder than the last.

However, the next day, she received a message which brought her out from seclusion.

***​

The mountaintop was empty and bleak, a field of featureless white that extended to the sharp cliff drops which descended to the rest of the Outer Sect mountain. The fruit tree which had once grown out of the rocky soil was gone, perhaps transplanted to another part of the Sect. Ling Qi could understand why. She hunched her shoulders as the icy wind shrieked across the landscape, whipping up a wall of stinging white.

The peak had grown volatile in Zeqing’s absence.

She found Hanyi kneeling beside a pile of snow covered stones that were all the remains of her childhood home. Hanyi didn’t look up as Ling Qi sat down beside her and slipped an arm around her shoulders. She sat in silence for a time, not looking at Hanyi, but at the fallen stones.

“I’m sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for.”

“It was kinda dumb to think that they’d be like Momma just because they were born from winter too,” Hanyi said, resting her chin in her hands. She’d undone the ties in her hair at some point, so her silvery hair hung down to her shoulders, fluttering lightly despite the violent wind.

“Well, you have us, for what it’s worth.” Ling Qi squeezed her shoulder. “Come up with anything good while you were up here?”

“Hehe, I’m gonna knock ‘em out at my next performance,” Hanyi boasted, although her smile was still a little wan. “What are you doing up here though, Sis? I said I was fine.”

<I think she really has worked it out mostly on her own,> Sixiang murmured, keeping otherwise quiet out of respect for the moment

“I know that,” Ling Qi said. “You can be mature when you feel like it.”

Hanyi squinted up at her. “Hey, why do I feel like I’m not being complimented at all?”

“It’s just your imagination, little sister.” Ling Qi kept a straight face. “Anyway, I came up here because Bao Qian sent me a message. He’d like to speak with us.”

“Ohhhh, I bet I have to prepare and stuff.” Hanyi grimaced. “I just want to sing. Other people should do the rest of the work.”

“Being a performer is definitely hard.” Ling Qi chuckled. “But Bao Qian does take care of most of the side stuff though.”

“I guess so.” Hanyi huffed. “He’s a pretty responsible guy.”

Ling Qi ignored the conniving look in Hanyi’s eye as she glanced at Ling Qi. Like she wasn’t unaware of her junior sister’s desire to set her up. Thankfully, she didn’t have to worry. Hanyi didn’t understand enough about humans to do anything dangerous.

<I’m… not even sure what to say about that.> Sixiang sighed.

Patting her on the shoulder one more time, Ling Qi stood up. “C’mon. Let’s head down. Your hair’s a mess.”

Hanyi stood as well, and Ling Qi realized something. She didn’t know if it had happened all at once or if it had been ongoing, but… Hanyi had grown. She was taller than Suyin now and only a bit shorter than Meizhen. Her face still had some childish roundness to it, but she could also see more of Zeqing in her features.

“You know, I think I want to try something different than braids,” Hanyi said absently.

“We’ll figure out something together,” Ling Qi said. “Why don’t we visit my mother? She’s better at that sort of thing.”

“Kay,” Hanyi agreed cheerfully.

In the end, they decided on a single plait rather than pigtails, something simple but elegant. Of course, Hanyi got excited about the idea of ornaments and wire, but that would be something for later. By the time they were done with her, the time had come to go and meet Bao Quan.

Ling Qi and Hanyi soon arrived at the clearing north of the town where he had permission to set up. The first thing Ling Qi noticed upon her arrival was that Bao Qian’s carriage had changed. Thin plates painted steel had been affixed over its top, and new formation arrays marked its shutters and wheels, heavy with the qi of metal and mountains.

<No fair. I can’t look inside anymore,> Sixiang grumbled.

“Greetings, Miss Ling!” Bao Qian called out to her as she descended from the sky, dusting off his trousers as he stepped down from the rear of the wagon where he had been seated on the steps.

“Sir Bao,” she acknowledged with a nod, releasing Hanyi’s hand as the spirit’s bare feet touched the grass. “I see you have been investing in security?”

This narrative has been purloined without the author’s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Mm. Well, the border has been a touch more dangerous of late,” Bao Qian replied. “Worry not. I’ve not encountered anything worse than unsettled beasts or spirits. I’m not a warrior, but I certainly know how to craft a surprise or two.”

“It looks kinda ugly though,” Hanyi commented idly, squinting up at the plates bolted onto the vehicle’s roof.

“I have to agree, but it is hopefully a temporary measure,” Bao Qian said, stroking his chin. “Regardless, thank you for coming, ladies.”

“It’s no trouble. I won’t find myself too busy until after the New Year’s Tournament,” Ling Qi replied, settling down on the grass as well. “What is this about though? You were a little vague in your message.”

“It’s a matter of opportunity. The performance I arranged for early in the next month, along with my efforts to spread the word and your own exploits, have resulted in some smaller holdings in the same viscounty making requests. I wanted to talk the matter over with you.”

“Oh, really? More people want me to sing?” Hanyi asked, excited.

“Indeed. We are a little helped by the year’s divinations… It is likely to be a bad winter.” Threading his hands together, Bao Qian stretched them over his head, causing an audible pop from his back. Ling Qi glanced away.

“You did say you wanted to market her performances for more practical effects too,” Ling Qi said, recalling an earlier note. “Was it that effective?”