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- Jul 6, 2008
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Tea Meeting
The first thing you notice is the warmth of the sun on your face. Opening your one good eye, you notice that you are lying in the back of an alleyway. You groan – your body hurts all over. You remember getting into a fight with the Sword Demon at the Zhou manor last night and little else. There had also been a strange dream of belligerent screaming men wearing little furred hats while riding on ponies, but you had no idea whatsoever what it all meant. Climbing to your feet, you steady yourself against a wall. You needed to return to the inn quickly; the girls must be worried.
***
Cao’er flies into your arms almost angrily. Faced with her reproachful, teary stare, you cannot help but apologize. “I’m sorry. It was a bit more troublesome than I expected.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it,” sighs Yunzi. “We went to the Zhou manor to look for you but they said you had left immediately after the fight. What did you do to the place? It is in shambles.”
“I can’t exactly remember… but since I have these,” you place the Chixiao Sword and Qixing Longyuan Sword that you had found lying next to you on the bed, “I must have won, somehow.”
“That seems to be the case. When we got there, they were burning the Sword Demon’s corpse,” says Armaiti. You wonder if he was given a proper burial afterwards. You scratch your head, attempting to remember the details of the fight and failing.
“…alright, Jing?” asks Cao’er anxiously.
“Yes, I’m alright,” you smile. No point worrying them for now. With the Sword Conference on the horizon, and three of the Great Swords now in your possession, there might be more danger headed your way soon. “I’m just exhausted from the night’s activities. With a bit of rest, I should be back in perfect condition.”
“…strange,” she mumbles, and turns away without a further word.
You look around the room. Yifang and Lingshu are probably out meeting with the nuns, while Xuezi is in a corner, eyes closed in meditation. “Where’s Qilin?”
“She should be in the tea room downstairs,” says Yunzi. “You should probably let her know that you are back. She was worried sick all night.”
“So were you, Holy Maiden,” adds Armaiti, who is instantly met with vehement denial.
You would have liked to stay here and rest for a bit more, but Yunzi is right. Nodding, you head out of the room and towards the stairs. Still feeling slightly dizzy, you grip the railings firmly as you descend. You reach the doors of the tea room. You can hear Qilin’s voice coming from within. Without thinking, you knock briefly and push the doors open. “Qilin, I-“
“Ah, you have returned,” says Tulu Huodu calmly. “Please, have a seat. Your timing is perfect.”
“Just the man I was waiting for!” Chi Tianxie is in a cheery mood as usual, it seems.
Master Zhang only gives you a firm, authoritative nod. He means that you should sit.
Qilin gives you a look of utter defeat as you take a seat besides her. “Well, at least you’re alive,” she mutters to herself.
“What’s going on?” you whisper.
“You have the worst timing, dear. Now we can’t run.”
“So, back to our discussion, Zhang,” says Tulu Huodu. “Now that your disciple is back, things have become a lot easier to talk about.”
“As I have said,” replies Zhang Jue as he lowers his cup, “his decisions are his own to make.”
“It is, but you are his guardian. It is only right that we seek your permission first,” says Chi Tianxie.
“You can ask him yourself.” Master Zhang gives you a smirk that clearly signals his amusement.
Clearing your throat, you address Qilin’s father and uncle. “Yes, what is it that you want to ask me?” Of course, you already know. Qilin was right – it’s too late to run now. You should never have come down here.
“When are you going to marry my niece?” Tulu Huodu comes at you bluntly.
“It’s been quite a while now… I know we aren’t some respectable orthodox sect, and people may even think of us as immoral, but I don’t want my daughter to waste away the bloom of her youth without a proper spouse. It’s time to take responsibility, kid,” points out Chi Tianxie.
“Father, it isn’t-“
He raises his hand. “You can’t be too patient with men, my dear daughter. I thought I taught you better than that?”
“Y-you can’t mean to tell me that the two of you came to Yangzhou just for this?” you ask in disbelief.
“Of course not. There are other matters, ones that we will discuss later.” Tulu Huodu shakes his bald head slowly, and then fixes you with his golden eyes. “It was just a coincidence, but one that suited my purposes. Qilin is at a mature age… She is already twenty. It is time for her to begin taking on responsibilities, even if it is a small part.”
“That’s right,” agrees Chi Tianxie, stroking his bushy beard. “So. What’s it going to be? If you want to have the marriage now, I’m all for it. We can always throw a big bash once the two of you are in Guizhou, but at least we can conduct the ceremony right now, just to make things official.”
You cast a glance at your master. Perhaps… no, he’s grinning at your plight. No help will be forthcoming there.
***
A. You agree to take responsibility and marry Qilin immediately as your first legitimate wife, consolidating your link to the Wudu Cult. It is the right thing to do, and it is not like you dislike the idea. If you refuse to marry here, Tulu Huodu and Chi Tianxie would likely be displeased with you. Not to the extent of poisoning you, of course. Hopefully.
B. You attempt to delay the wedding. The Fire Temple will not be pleased if you actually put another woman before their Holy Maiden in a legitimate ceremony – in fact, you suspect that they might be outright offended. Besides, there are still plenty of things you are concerned about. You cannot let marriage tie you down just yet.
C. You tell Master Zhang, Tulu Huodu and Chi Tianxie to fuck off. Who do they think they are, butting into your personal life?
1. You do it politely.
2. You do it rudely.
The first thing you notice is the warmth of the sun on your face. Opening your one good eye, you notice that you are lying in the back of an alleyway. You groan – your body hurts all over. You remember getting into a fight with the Sword Demon at the Zhou manor last night and little else. There had also been a strange dream of belligerent screaming men wearing little furred hats while riding on ponies, but you had no idea whatsoever what it all meant. Climbing to your feet, you steady yourself against a wall. You needed to return to the inn quickly; the girls must be worried.
***
Cao’er flies into your arms almost angrily. Faced with her reproachful, teary stare, you cannot help but apologize. “I’m sorry. It was a bit more troublesome than I expected.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it,” sighs Yunzi. “We went to the Zhou manor to look for you but they said you had left immediately after the fight. What did you do to the place? It is in shambles.”
“I can’t exactly remember… but since I have these,” you place the Chixiao Sword and Qixing Longyuan Sword that you had found lying next to you on the bed, “I must have won, somehow.”
“That seems to be the case. When we got there, they were burning the Sword Demon’s corpse,” says Armaiti. You wonder if he was given a proper burial afterwards. You scratch your head, attempting to remember the details of the fight and failing.
“…alright, Jing?” asks Cao’er anxiously.
“Yes, I’m alright,” you smile. No point worrying them for now. With the Sword Conference on the horizon, and three of the Great Swords now in your possession, there might be more danger headed your way soon. “I’m just exhausted from the night’s activities. With a bit of rest, I should be back in perfect condition.”
“…strange,” she mumbles, and turns away without a further word.
You look around the room. Yifang and Lingshu are probably out meeting with the nuns, while Xuezi is in a corner, eyes closed in meditation. “Where’s Qilin?”
“She should be in the tea room downstairs,” says Yunzi. “You should probably let her know that you are back. She was worried sick all night.”
“So were you, Holy Maiden,” adds Armaiti, who is instantly met with vehement denial.
You would have liked to stay here and rest for a bit more, but Yunzi is right. Nodding, you head out of the room and towards the stairs. Still feeling slightly dizzy, you grip the railings firmly as you descend. You reach the doors of the tea room. You can hear Qilin’s voice coming from within. Without thinking, you knock briefly and push the doors open. “Qilin, I-“
“Ah, you have returned,” says Tulu Huodu calmly. “Please, have a seat. Your timing is perfect.”
“Just the man I was waiting for!” Chi Tianxie is in a cheery mood as usual, it seems.
Master Zhang only gives you a firm, authoritative nod. He means that you should sit.
Qilin gives you a look of utter defeat as you take a seat besides her. “Well, at least you’re alive,” she mutters to herself.
“What’s going on?” you whisper.
“You have the worst timing, dear. Now we can’t run.”
“So, back to our discussion, Zhang,” says Tulu Huodu. “Now that your disciple is back, things have become a lot easier to talk about.”
“As I have said,” replies Zhang Jue as he lowers his cup, “his decisions are his own to make.”
“It is, but you are his guardian. It is only right that we seek your permission first,” says Chi Tianxie.
“You can ask him yourself.” Master Zhang gives you a smirk that clearly signals his amusement.
Clearing your throat, you address Qilin’s father and uncle. “Yes, what is it that you want to ask me?” Of course, you already know. Qilin was right – it’s too late to run now. You should never have come down here.
“When are you going to marry my niece?” Tulu Huodu comes at you bluntly.
“It’s been quite a while now… I know we aren’t some respectable orthodox sect, and people may even think of us as immoral, but I don’t want my daughter to waste away the bloom of her youth without a proper spouse. It’s time to take responsibility, kid,” points out Chi Tianxie.
“Father, it isn’t-“
He raises his hand. “You can’t be too patient with men, my dear daughter. I thought I taught you better than that?”
“Y-you can’t mean to tell me that the two of you came to Yangzhou just for this?” you ask in disbelief.
“Of course not. There are other matters, ones that we will discuss later.” Tulu Huodu shakes his bald head slowly, and then fixes you with his golden eyes. “It was just a coincidence, but one that suited my purposes. Qilin is at a mature age… She is already twenty. It is time for her to begin taking on responsibilities, even if it is a small part.”
“That’s right,” agrees Chi Tianxie, stroking his bushy beard. “So. What’s it going to be? If you want to have the marriage now, I’m all for it. We can always throw a big bash once the two of you are in Guizhou, but at least we can conduct the ceremony right now, just to make things official.”
You cast a glance at your master. Perhaps… no, he’s grinning at your plight. No help will be forthcoming there.
***
A. You agree to take responsibility and marry Qilin immediately as your first legitimate wife, consolidating your link to the Wudu Cult. It is the right thing to do, and it is not like you dislike the idea. If you refuse to marry here, Tulu Huodu and Chi Tianxie would likely be displeased with you. Not to the extent of poisoning you, of course. Hopefully.
B. You attempt to delay the wedding. The Fire Temple will not be pleased if you actually put another woman before their Holy Maiden in a legitimate ceremony – in fact, you suspect that they might be outright offended. Besides, there are still plenty of things you are concerned about. You cannot let marriage tie you down just yet.
C. You tell Master Zhang, Tulu Huodu and Chi Tianxie to fuck off. Who do they think they are, butting into your personal life?
1. You do it politely.
2. You do it rudely.
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It's always wife No.1 vs wife No.3.
