Heavenly Shae

"Are you going to have her teach you a whole kata routine, or will you actually buy something?" The woman's voice made both Shae and Shu jump and turn towards it.

Sitting on one of the nearby chairs they found an older cultivator in casual brown and green robes. She had a teacup in her hand, with a matching pot on the table. She raised an expertly shaped eyebrow and sipped the tea.

"Ah, um, sorry, Senior." Shae rushed out, fumbling with the podao until she could bow properly. Of course, Shu had managed it faster and without fumbling. "Uhm. I haven't actually checked if I can afford this..." She flipped the sword around looking for a price tag, then realised there might not be one. "Or, err, I guess I do need some arrows, just to practice with."

The older woman paused and tilted her head. "What length and draw weight? And what stage of qi do they need to work with?"

Shae clamped her eyes shut and covered them with her left hand. "Uhhh, whatever matches a recurve for my height, but with higher draw weight, and just mortal arrows are fine."

"Pff. Well, at least you're not looking for cleansing stage arrows. Serious crafters hardly ever bother making them for the early stages."

"Huh? why not?"

"Because they don't make them for the higher stages either. They're all custom jobs for each qi type and technique, just like they are for each bow and draw strength. Just too many variations, which is another reason cultivators don't bother with bows. So much easier to just throw a technique at something. As the saying goes: even a lost soul would have a hard time cutting fate with arrows." She smiled wryly and sipped her tea while looking at Shae.

"Eh, um." Shae looked over to Shu, who was staring at the older woman with a slightly confused expression.

"Anyway, I don't actually work here, I'm just looking for you." She pointed at Shae.

Shu snapped her fingers. "Oh! Elder Haifen, I almost didn't recognise you." She bowed again, lower this time.

The elder smirked. "Well this is supposed to be my off day."

"Ah, greetings, Elder. What can I do for you?" Shae bowed again.

"More of a 'what I can do for you' situation. I was going to send a letter to your suite, but fate landed us in the same area and I noticed your rather unique qi signature." She sipped her tea. "I was recently in a meeting with Master Long about your cultivation situation. Well, the meeting wasn't exclusively about you, so don't get a big head. Yet, he mentioned you haven't been properly assessed and are cultivating off instinct and feel." She frowned slightly.

From the edge of her vision, Shae caught Shu grimacing at that. "That's correct, Elder. So, I'll need a spirit root test? I was surprised they didn't do that at administration when I arrived. Oh, but aunty Mei mentioned something... Ah, right, I can't use my right hand for that because of the cleansing." She looked down at her right arm and ran her left over it. Then saw splotchy patterns on that arm from the other divine qi accident. "Err..."

Haifen shook her head. "That test wouldn't tell us much at this point. Any cleansing disrupts the readings. Aspected qi even more so. Who knows if it even would have worked with your..." she waved her fingers in Shae's direction, "other nonsense."

Shae nodded. "Okay, so?"

Shu limply swatted at her shoulder.

"Ow. Oh! Sorry." She coughed into her sleeve. "What do you advise, Elder Haifen?"

The elder snorted and sipped her tea again. "You'll be scheduled in for an absorption test. Which is: how much qi you can soak up in a set time, or similar idea, depending on the case. I assume you have some free time?"

"Err, yes." She looked at Shu and the woman just gave her a subtle head shake, so she looked back. "I'm a little busy right now- oh, but you said today was your day off. Right then, whenever is convenient for yourself, Elder." She dipped her head as a partial bow.

"How considerate of you. I don't need to be there for it... Although, it's not a bad idea." She looked up and sipped her tea. "First thing tomorrow morning. Cultivator Shu can point out the cultivation array facilities. If it goes well we can go over your cultivation manual options. And importantly, make sure you have room in your Dantian to absorb qi for a few hours."

"Yes, Elder. Shouldn't be a problem." Shae nodded.

"Good. Any questions while I'm here?"

"Uhmm..."

Shu moved to draw their attention. "Elder Haifen, am I correct in assuming you'll be the head instructor for this coming year?"

"Ah, yes. I could have introduced myself more formally, I suppose. Wise Shae, I'll be your head instructor for your first year here. That means you come to me if you have any issues regarding classes, other students, and even elders. I understand you intend to challenge a few classes, a course list is available at administration, it doesn't really change year to year, only the teachers." She paused to inhale, and sip some tea. "If you didn't know, it's a good idea to prepare for the challenge tests. You can do so at the library once you receive a sect token."

"Oh! I already have one! Researcher Colorful Koi and Master Long put in the request." She dug out the jade torus and held it up.

"Ah. One of the experimental versions. Makes sense, I suppose."

"A-hem." Shu shifted her weight and joined the conversation again. "Speaking of, I'd like to put in a complaint on behalf of Junior Shae. Elder Fengi of the Mission Hall displayed clear prejudice against her because she believed Shae was receiving preferential treatment."

"Hmm. A bold claim. Can you prove it? And does Junior Shae agree?" She raised an eyebrow and lifted her cup to smell the tea.

Shae shrugged. "Elder Fengi was obviously upset and appeared to make decisions with the intent of subtly punishing me. I'd guess it was all within her preview as Mission Hall elder. I think she was shifting her dislike of Master Long onto me. Falsely believing I was his favorite, which is hilariously absurd if you know our past." She chuckled then coughed into her sleeve. "Ehrm. I think I made my reply clear enough. She might file a complaint about me." She shrugged again. "I don't know her personality that well, but having another elder step in on my side might just harden her opinion."

Shu was staring at her with wide eyes. "Hells, I didn't think you got that much out of it."

Haifen snorted again. "Snrk. Quite the surprising analysis. Did she do anything specifically inconvenient?"

Shae shrugged for the third time, mostly with her shoulders since she was still holding the podao.

Shu nodded. "As Wise Shae said. It was all within her purview. Though, she did suggest that Shae would have to continue completing missions. Likely because Researcher Koi awarded her mission credit."

"Hmm. Let me see?" She waved an open palm towards Shae.

"Huh? ... Oh, the token." Shae jumped and moved quickly to put it in her hand.

Elder Haifen held it in her palm and looked up at the ceiling. "Hmm. Two credits? If it was just one you might have a good excuse to avoid it." She bobbed her head left and right while humming. "And how did they already...?" She shook her head. "Well. There's at least one sign of what you said, but not enough to take action. Like you guessed, if I step in that only lends weight to her favoritism argument. Especially if I do so right away." She handed the token back and sipped her tea. "Doing a mission or two might actually appease Elder Fengi. There should be a few you can manage. If she starts refusing to allow you to take them, or cutting your rewards, come talk to me."

Shu shifted and looked between them

"Relax, Junior Shu. I'll have someone keep an eye on it. This will also allow you to gain more sect comp and mission credit before the year begins. A rare opportunity that many would like."

Shae slumped into the podao. "Uhgh, I already have so much to do."

Haifen snorted and shook her head. "Well, you can start by moving this training session to the arena. There are training weapons there which are the same size as that."

"Ah, right. I guess I don't really need it unless one of those missions is to go kill deadly rabbits." Shae looked up at the sword and flipped the blade over like she was looking for something on it.

Shu nodded to the elder again. "Any suggestions for Junior Shae's weapon choice, Elder?"

"Hmm. Given your performance at Gatewash, I'd wonder if you might be compatible with sword qi?"

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Shu raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut.

Shae scrunched her face up. "Ugh, Sword Bai tried to explain it to me in Minlin, kind of just gave me a headache. I'm not sure it fits."

"Snrk. Sword Bai? You must mean Elder candidate Bai, specifically the sword cultivator. They do have an interesting way of describing their own connection to strangers." She lifted her cup again, but only inhaled deeply through her nose. "Probably for the best, lightning-sword cultivators are hellishly powerful and usually get assassinated before getting past core stage."

Shae's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? We have to worry about being too strong?"

Haifen shook her head. "Not really. Sword cultivators are unique because they can fight above their stage. They also have a particularly odd sense of... Well, a-hem. I shouldn't be so free with my tongue to impressionable ears." She smirked.

Shae and Shu exchanged a glance, neither seemed to know exactly what the elder meant.

"How do you feel about whip blades or chain weapons?" Haifen asked.

Shae tilted her head side to side. "I can see the advantage with lightning qi. Even a glance could deliver a substantial shock, and wrapping a weapon with it becomes very dangerous. To them." She wobbled her left hand while hefting the podao in her right. "Don't think they really take advantage of my strength, though."

"Hmm, don't underestimate the strength needed to swing a chain around at high speeds." Haifen tilted her head and raised her cup towards Shae.

"She could try the meteor hammer?" Shu pointed.

"Snrk." Haifen smirked. "Not as her first chain weapon."

"Fine, fine. There's variety and strength involved. Guess I'll have to try them. Thanks for the input, Elder." She looked up at the sword again. "I'll probably try almost everything eventually. This does seem fairly easy, though."

Shu smirked. "Hah. Say that again after a few spars. There's a lot more strategy and tactics in close combat. Reach weapons make it simpler, the longer they are, to a point of course."

Shae grimaced and grunted, "Ugh, we're going to be sparring? Like, as a class?" Then she took a deep breath and sighed. "Sooo much to learn and practice."

The other two women chuckled.

"Well, I should be on my way." Haifen stood and with one motion, swept her tea set into her storage ring.

"Thank you for your time, Elder." Shu bowed.

"Yes, thank you, Elder Haifen." Shae matched her.

"Stand up you two, I'm supposed to be off duty." She said and walked away.

The pair took the elder's hint and left the shop. Shae asked if they should buy something small. However Shu said not to: "It's kind of an insult. It says you felt you owed them something and don't plan on returning. It's better to just be interested and leave. If they believe in their goods, they know you will return."

The rest of their market trip went smoothly. Shae only spent some of her smaller coins buying them lunch from the food stalls, while Shu found a few well priced things to buy. She explained that she liked to keep an eye on the market. "Just a habit from the family," she said with a shrug. Yet Shae could tell that she really enjoyed it, especially the bargaining.

Afterwards, they swung by the arena to grab Nalin and Kensu. The pair needed to clean up and grab lunch so Shu insisted Shae do one solid set of qigong practice while they waited.

Shae must have made one too many mistakes, because once the first set was done Shu insisted they continue their exercise until the others returned.

Unsurprising to Shae, even a full hour wasn't enough to wear her out while she kept her qi cycling.

The four mirrored their earlier situation: the exercising pair needed to clean up before leaving, forcing Nalin and Kensu to wait.

Once they had set out, Shu turned out to be an excellent tour guide, pointing out hidden shortcuts through tree walls and behind buildings. The one behind the cafeteria was particularly interesting, since it was through the garden they used for fresh herbs and spices. However, the rules for that one were a little tricky. You couldn't use it while they were harvesting or nurturing the crops. And you had to stick to the main path, which wasn't always obvious because it wound through the dense forest.

Shu explained that nature qi abhorred the tight spacing and forced order of a normal garden or field structure. Not quite enough to make those crops suffer, but enough to make higher end ingredients taste just a little off.

This was also their introduction to the lecture halls and the long term housing. The lecture hall turned out to be close to the hotel building, separated by a forest section and a few outdoor amphitheaters. Shu explained that they would be used in the summer for guest lecturer overflow.

The housing was primarily stacked pagodas. Each student received a whole floor, with the lowest being a shared space. Pagodas were set out in circles of seven, with a courtyard or pond in the center. An empty eighth spot served as an entrance to each group. You could cut around and outside, but the dense bushes and plant life acted as walls. Shu explained that the exact placement of each person per pagoda had a lot of rumors surrounding it, but none could be confirmed. "So don't listen to them."

While all three of the new students thought the housing complex was sprawling, they were even more surprised by the cultivation array buildings. At least, after Shu explained that it was as large as the housing, but mostly underground.

"Because qi flow is very important, the only way to ensure even qi flow across the whole array was to bury it. There are, of course, exceptions for things like air qi." Shu pointed over the forest to a building that must have been a dozen stories tall. "That circular tower is hollow and said to be reserved for wind cultivation. Though only the top few floors are perfect for the task. When the weather is rough they use it for cloud and storm qi too. Supposedly. I've never seen it happen enough to make sense." She shrugged. "We only have a couple of those cultivators anyway, yet I think they must collect qi somewhere else, too."

They entered the main building briefly, just so Shae could find it again later. Yet didn't stay as there was a decent lineup and they didn't want to wait.

"Eh, I'll come back tonight." Shae shrugged. "We can book last minute, right Senior?"

Shu nodded reluctantly. "They prefer reservations, but you should be able to find something. If you end up with a really special aspect and can't take in normal qi then they usually set out a schedule for you. Cleansing's easier, though."

They stopped by a few other places and finished at the top of the Shattered Falls. Since it was near sunset the place was already busy with small groups of cultivators traveling there. Some didn't bother making the full trip and were already sitting here and there on padded mats that they must have brought with them.

Small jagged islands of rock were spread out before them, flat topped as though they clearly once fit together into a flat plane. The river flowed down the mountain and split at each island, its current shattered over and over into crisscrossing streams that whistled instead of roared. Shae expected sprays of water and messy erosion tearing the islands apart, yet each was sharp and clean as though the mountain had only broken yesterday.

Little bridges and paths connected the rocky islands, and most had been developed to have benches and plant growth. Torches were set out and lit along the paths. Burning with an orange that will pale in the oncoming sunset, yet be thanked each time the cultivators make the return trip in the dark. Those closest to the falls had fewer paths, or were roped off when they did have them.

The main path dove towards the middle of the island group and Shae spotted a sign as they passed through an ornamental blue and red torii gate.

She sighed. "Great, another great place outside that I probably can't meditate in."

Shu grimaced. "Yeah. Someone will step in almost as soon as you close your eyes. Try not to have enlightenments here either."

Nalin smirked and chuckled. "Heh, like that's going to be an issue."

Shu raised an eyebrow at her cousin, then pointed at Shae. "For this little brat? It might be."

Shae crossed her arms and pouted.

"Heh?" Nalin asked and looked between them. "Wait, so that joke when we first met? You were serious?"

Shae shrugged. "Maybe."

"You had better believe I'm following up on this later." Nalin poked the shorter woman in the shoulder. Eliciting a swat to the hand, and then a smirk.

"Tsk. No fighting." Shu smirked at the pair. She pointed ahead of them at the next island. "This is my favorite spot."

Shae could see the lush green island before they had even crested the highest point of the arching bridge they were on. She could understand why Shu liked it. The taller plants blocked the view of other islands, yet didn't interrupt the pleasant noise of flowing water nor the fresh atmosphere of the area. As the bridge dipped towards the island the path wound sideways and out of view.

Shu stuck out a hand and stopped suddenly. "Someone's already there."

A breath passed before Nalin asked, "But it's a public space, right?"

Shu let her arm down slowly and relaxed. "Technically. Stay here, I'll go check it out." She nodded sternly and disappeared into the foliage.

Shae and Nalin exchanged a curious glance.

"Well, Sisters-" Kensu started.

"AH, fuck! You're still here?" Shae jumped and spun towards him, catching her balance on the bridge's railing.

"A-hem. Well, not for long. This one will take his leave here. Thank you for obliging this one, and please thank Senior Shu for the excellent tour." He bowed then turned slowly to walk away.

"Thanks again for the spar, Brother Kensu." Nalin called after him. "Same time tomorrow?"

He paused to look over his shoulder with a smile and nodded. "I would like that very much."

Shae stood awkwardly, trying her best to hide a li-wide smirk from both of them with her sleeve.

A full two breaths passed before Nalin looked at her. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

Nalin squinted her eyes.

Footsteps on the bridge brought their attention to the returning Shu. "Uhh, the island is reserved for seniors today." She shrugged. "Sooo, I guess this is the end of the tour. Oh, and the monk boy left, good. You two can just- uh- go find another island, they're all pretty good." She looked up at the sun, still a good half-hour from setting, and pointed at it. "Better go quick, before it starts."

"Right." Shae said skeptically. Noting a few loose strands of hair pulled free and what might have been wrinkled robes that were perfect earlier. "Riiight." She nodded quickly and tapped the side of her nose. "Thanks so much, Senior. Let's go, Nalin." She grabbed the taller woman and failed to pull her away.

Nalin briefly seemed confused, then shrugged and bowed. "Thank you, Senior cousin." Then she let Shae pull her away.

"Oh!" Shu seemed surprised. "Uhm, don't forget qigong practice Shae! Twice a day, hold her to that cousin Nalin!" Then she turned and bolted back onto the island.

Shae gawked. "Betrayal!"

"Heh, hehe," Nalin giggled. "Don't be dramatic, it's good for you. Will help you grow big and strong!"

She grabbed her robes over her heart in a fist. "Ack! Double betrayal!"