Threads 266-Perceptions 3

Home. It still eluded her. The house in the sect town wasn’t really hers. Tonghou had certainly never been home. But this, she had built, a little retreat where she could cultivate her arts, bully her juniors, and trade pointers with her peers.

<One of those activities is not like the others,> Sixiang noted dryly.

Nonsense, Ling Qi thought. “Ah, it looks like some of our more honored guests are here,” she said aloud.

The slight pressure of her best friend’s aura cocooned her, and beside Ling Qi, Wang Chao straightened up.

“Lady Bai, I am honored you accepted my invitation,” Ling Qi said, bowing low.

“You do us much honor,” Wang Chao echoed.

Bai Meizhen smiled politely at them both. Her gown was glittering white like newly fallen snow, and subtly patterned with scales with a pale blue sash around her waist. Her long white hair fell free and unstyled. In her shadow was Xiao Fen, who wore the same fierce expression as always, even if her pale yellow eyes flinched away when she met Ling Qi’s grin. She wore all black naturally, and she wore her hair in a braid wrapped in metal wire.

Skulking behind Xiao Fen was a young man she’d seen last after training Xiao Fen once, the commoner friend Xiao Fen had made, as instructed by Bai Meizhen. He didn’t look like he’d suffered too much for the friendship, but he did look much like how Ling Qi had felt this time last year, eyes darting everywhere and fidgeting like he didn’t belong.

“I was pleased to accept it. With my cooperation with your lady going forward, it was only reasonable,” Bai Meizhen said formally. “Though the form of this gathering is a little unorthodox.”

Bai Meizhen glanced out over the field, taking in the wandering spirit beasts and open air.

“Haha, we decided it would be a good idea to show off what we in the Emerald Seas are all about!” Wang Chao said enthusiastically.

“It is good to see other provinces expressing themselves,” Bai Meizhen demurred. “May I…?”

“Of course,” Ling Qi said.

Bai Meizhen’s shadow shimmered and rippled, and a spade-shaped green head and sinuous coils emerged. “Let me introduce Bai Cui as well then. It has been some time hasn’t it, Cui?”

The serpent reared up on her coils until her head was even with Ling Qi’s. “It has. This is pleasing.” Cui’s voice had matured, sounding less like a fussy girl, and more like a fussy lady.

“Zhengui is in the center,” Ling Qi offered.

“Hmph, as if I, Cui, cannot feel him burning. He is loud,” Cui derided, lowering herself back into the grass and darting off, much to the relief of the two servers moving forward to offer drinks to the human guests.

“Allow me to introduce my other companions as well. This is Bai Xiao Fen, my cousin and handmaiden,” Bai Meizhen said as she graciously accepted her cup. “And this is Liu Xin, a worthy talent she discovered in the Outer Sect.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both!” Wang Chao said, stepping forward. “Welcome to Lady Ling and I’s gathering. Please, eat and drink as much as you like. We have some small events and contests too, so look forward to that!”

Xiao Fen bowed formally and silently, but Liu Xin faltered a moment, staring at Wang Chao before hastily bowing himself.

Ling Qi acknowledged Sixiang’s snickering with a small smile. “Welcome. I hope you can find some help and new friends here since my duties will be taking yours away.”

The awkward young man bobbed his head in another partial bow. “Y-yeah. Thank you.”

“Wang Chao, do you want to introduce them around? I think these are our last guests.” She met Meizhen’s eyes and tilted her head. Later, she conveyed.

Her friend nodded. “Of course. Sir Wang, would you?”

She silently thanked her friend for giving Wang Chao some face as they moved deeper into the garden.

Ling Qi herself turned and took a step, rematerializing in one of the larger squares within where the ground had been cleared and a great bonfire was burning in the center surrounded by people dancing, some enthusiastically, some awkwardly. There, she spotted among the dancers her former bodyguard locked arm in arm with Gan Guangli’s friend. Her former bodyguard’s twin sister, and former bodyguard herself, stood along the edges clapping in time with the music. Other acquaintances were scattered about.

But there was one person she was here for at the moment.

“Miss Ling,” Xuan Shi said, tipping his patterned hat.

“Ling Qi is fine,” she replied simply, eyeing him. His robes were dark green, hemmed in silver today. He wasn’t wearing those talisman gauntlets of his either. “This is not where I would have expected you.”

“Fire warms, even if one does not stand face to face with the flame.”

“But it can be cold in the back,” she rejoined. “Regardless, I am glad you came.”

“Sir Wang is convincing. The avalanche carries all in its path forward.”

“It does.” Ling Qi considered him for a long moment. The truth was that they both knew there was reason to speak with him beyond friendliness. Bai Meizhen’s presence represented the tacit support of the Bai for this negotiation. His presence could do much the same on behalf of the Xuan.

“I wonder, has your companion taken you out for any strolls?”

“Feet of mud do not walk as lightly as ones of snow,” Xuan Shi said wistfully. “Nor do numerals and gears mesh well with dreams.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I’m not sure I agree, but even so, there are adventures to be had if I am wrong.”

He turned, giving her a patient look.

“A stroll on the other side isn’t out of reach. I did promise a trip to revelry once, but do you have another dream in mind?”

“Offer to a starving man a banquet, and speak the question ‘which dish first’?” Xuan Shi asked wryly.

“You don’t need to decide today, and I do recommend the Moon’s revelry for a first trip.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve treated you shabbily, and you can help us,” Ling Qi replied, not dressing her words up.

“This one has received the kindness he deserves in dreaming so thoughtlessly.”

“I won’t pretend to fully understand, but I can say that there are new horizons out there. Even if the answers weren’t what you liked, what remains at the Sect for you?”

“The last volume was not here. Did you know this, Lady Ling?” Xuan Shi looked at the fire, the music and the sound of voices nearly washing out his words.

“The elder never finished his books then?” Ling Qi asked to clarify.

Xuan Shi nodded. “A disappointment.”