Threads 346-Clan 1

<Ugggggh, I can’t believe I missed that,> Sixiang complained. Their voice was projected directly into her mind again, their rapid descent from the cloud line making physical speech impossible for the moment.

It was surprising, Ling Qi thought. She hadn’t known that she could manage a conversation like that. Not until she’d done it. But she did think she’d done well. Her nerves had been manageable. It helped to think of the words as a bit of a playful game, rather than something serious. And of course, being able to turn to work when they hit an awkward moment also helped.

She was proud of herself.

<I’m proud of you, you dork,> Sixiang huffed playfully. <Pff. ‘You’re fascinating.’ Look at that guy going right for the kill. I didn’t think that guy was so aggressive.>

He had walked it back later, but she wasn’t sure how much of that was Meng Dan avoiding coming on too strong. Either way, it had been an interesting experience.

The wind whipped past her ears, tugging at the hem of her gown. Behind them were the mountains of the sect, and below was the spread of White Cloud Town, the settlement at the sect’s entrance where her family still lived. She spiraled down, descending in a looping curve that took her well outside the walls to avoid any panic or conflict with the town guardians, all dutifully manning the walls with their eyes on the sky.

She landed upon the road outside the front gate, a low realm’s bowshot distant, and the air beside her shimmered as Sixiang manifested. Colorful bubbles boiled out of Ling Qi’s sleeve, bursting into glittering sparks that resolved into Sixiang. Their form was more comported, feminine now, with a glittering gown of shifting colors that was actually proper in its coverage for once.

“Looking to make a good impression on my mother?” Ling Qi asked.

Sixiang smirked. “Don’t wanna spook her at the first real meeting.” Their hair still drifted in a halo around their head.

“Well, if it’s what you’re comfortable with.” Ling Qi briefly examined Sixiang’s form. “Are you taller than me?”

“Oh, moons, what’s with that look? I think I’m in danger!” Sixiang laughed, and their frame shrank by a handspan. “And here I thought you didn’t like being the tallest one in every room.”

“It just felt strange,” Ling Qi huffed. “Come on. We have a bit of a walk if we don’t want to disrupt anyone.”

She was still someone the guards recognized, and so, there was no pause for inspection at the gate beyond an examination of Sixiang. Since Ling Qi was not concealing her qi, their bond was obvious. The town looked to be in good spirits, despite the threats still looming. It was reassuring, the feeling that the sect still had security well in hand.

The comfortable manor home was just how she’d left it, the compact walls around the grounds shading the interior from the street outside. The guards at the door greeted her, and she entered without a ward, examining the improved defensive formations. The sect must have funded that. Mother wouldn’t have made a decision to do so without informing her. A glance inside saw the household in the routines of their day. Biyu was upstairs in her mother’s study, along with the woman herself. There were four other tiny, flickering signatures of awakened qi now too.

<In the front then?> Sixiang asked as the gates shut behind them.

Ling Qi considered. There was no one sweeping the path right now, and it was still clear. “Let’s not disrupt everyone’s day yet. I wish I could have given mother a more exact time.”

Sixiang tilted their head. “Ah… Got it.”

She took Sixiang’s hand and stepped into her mother’s office.

To Ling Qingge’s credit, she only barely startled. Ling Qi had been careful to project her presence forward first, letting even her mother’s untrained senses feel her coming.

Her mother sat behind the desk of her study, hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her sharp intake of breath was the only sign of her startlement. “Ling Qi, you are earlier than expected.”

“I was able to wrap things up quickly, mother,” Ling Qi said, bowing her head.

“Sis!”

Ling Qi turned and caught Biyu as the little girl threw herself at Ling Qi, hugging her around the back. She’d been at a playtable strewn with paints. She was sure her dress would be stained by her little sister’s paint-smudged hands if it were normal.”Biyu! Have you been good?”

“Yes! I’ve been good. I paint a lot,” the little girl chirped, squirming in her grasp. Then she caught sight of Sixiang, and her eyes went wide. “Who is that?”

She saw her mother staring too. “This is my friend Sixiang. They’re visiting too. Mother, I have already introduced them, but…”

“I’m only just trying out this body thing. I did say hi before though,” Sixiang said.

Her mother’s eyes flicked to the side, the older woman searching her memory. “I… see. You are my daughter’s spirit then?”

“Mhmm!”

“Your hair is floating,” Biyu said.

“It sure is! Looks cool, huh?” Sixiang asked cheerfully.

Biyu stared at them. “Messy. Good girls comb.”

“Being bad is fun sometimes.”

“Sixiang, no,” Ling Qi scolded.

Her mother still looked concerned as Ling Qi straightened up, a hand still resting on Biyu’s head. “Mother, it’s really good to see you again.”

“It is,” Ling Qingge agreed standing up. “Welcome back, Ling Qi. I am glad to see you well. Miss Sixiang, you are welcome too.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

She didn’t bother correcting her mother. Trying to explain Sixiang’s nature was outside their scope right now.

“Thanks much,” Sixiang said. “Honestly, Ling Qi’s the one who pulled me along. I was gonna leave this time for you guys.”

“Even if you haven’t seen them, Sixiang has been with me every time we have seen each other. That they can walk around now in the open just means they have no excuse to keep being shy,” Ling Qi said.

“I confess I don’t fully understand,” Ling Qingge said. “But my welcome stands. Ling Qi, how have you been?”

Ling Qi winced. “Busy. Tremendously busy. There is so much work to be done that I can barely describe it.”

“She’s not kidding,” Sixiang said, drifting back behind her, ceding the stage.

“Well, I understand that you have set yourself a very difficult task. Do you regret it?” Ling Qingge asked, coming out from behind her desk. At her knee, Biyu squirmed, clearly getting bored with all the talk.

Ling Qi patted her little sister’s head. “No, I don’t. No matter how difficult it gets, it was the right choice.”

“Then you can only complete the work you’ve taken on,” Ling Qingge said. “Things have been well here. There have been no incursions, and the sect has been improving the town’s security.”