Kipeci I'm not really arguing this choice because Qingcheng has an unassailable lead over a trip to the Emei Library anyways. I'll save my argumentative energy for when I have a vague, completely unsubstantiated suspicion that Master Nie is about to drain Yang Xue of his life force so that he can become the invincible dictator of the
jianghu... unless we stop him right now by sneaking into Mount Huashan!
People really want to go to Qingcheng, and while I'd rather we focus on leads to investigate the Nine Yin Holy Art, I'm not going to push my agenda on this one as aggressively because the stakes aren't as desperate for now. You could also argue that given that the Eight Sects are searching through every rock of China for these manuals that sabotaging their conspiracy would also disorganize their efforts to look for it somewhat. And it would be nice to have a sect or two that likes us out there. So it's got that going for it.
Would you guys be up for switching to 2C? In 2C, we have Cao'er and Qilin investigate the scroll for us (Cao'er should have good rep with Emei considering how much time she spent training there and Qilin can contribute her guile and social skills, plus Cao'er can memorize the scroll) and Jing goes to Qingcheng to help out miss Song Lingshu. That way we could get the scroll, help out at Qingcheng, and not surrender the Yuchang Sword.
No, as
Baltika9 said, it won't turn out like this. I think that this strikes me as a little bit of trying to have your cake and eat it too. We should put our full efforts in either task and not try to do both things half-assed here. If we're trying to get to the bottom of a conspiracy involving poisons and various shady connections to places, we probably need Cao'er and Qilin helping us here. However, your idea to send the girls off to Emei with the Yuchang Sword in exchange for a trip to the library will probably work, though I don't like it, because you're giving away a priceless weapon that many in the
jianghu would do anything to acquire... in exchange for a trip to the Library that won't lead us to the Nine Yin technique manual by itself. Sounds like a shitty deal.
We haven't really spent much time cultivating our Yuchang Sword technique, to my regret, but then again we might be able to learn styles for it quickly with our new-found Wuxiang Qiangkun Skill. It allows us to learn techniques exceptionally quickly, so perhaps we'll have the opportunity to pick a few techniques up for it in the near future.
This I doubt. Miaozhu seems the type to respect her elders and predecessor. Now, if we go there, she will probably see the perfect opportunity to barter for the Yuchang Sword. If Cao'er and Qilin go there, then it's quite possible she would respect her predecessor's wishes and consent. Don't forget when we chose to disclose to Song Lingshu, that actually really paid off even though we blatantly put ourselves in a position of weakness by doing so. There are times when these things do pay off.
I don't know about that. If Cao'er and Qilin show up there without the Yuchang Sword, I think that Miaozhu will just refuse them entry, because she'll think that Jing is full of shit for not showing up for this personally. It's basically "Oh, he knew I'd ask about the Sword, and he sent other people to show up for him instead. No, of course I'm not going to let them into the Library. If Xu Jing has business with me, he better show up in person." We might be able to negotiate something if we show up personally and not give the sword up (despite being a Castration Nun, the old lady and her team were rather fond of us), but I don't think that she'll let Man Tiger Pig's friends in without the accompanying sword as a token of our goodwill.