>>37970885
ITS TIME!!!

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>>37970885

Aw yiss

>>37970885
Fuck yeah, it's back.

>>37970885
yesss! I watched the legend of condor heroes series because of this thread, it was so good!

>>37970885
Oh fuck you're back

>>37970885
Fuck yes!!

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>>37970885
>PREVIOUSLY, ON LEGEND OF WULIN HERO

>Dad: "Sky, I is dad!"
>Sky: "Dad I love! I is Sky!"

>Dad: *vanishes in a mysterious storm, leaving only questions and fraternal dissapointment*

>Sky: "NOOOOOO!!"

>Sky: "Quest for answers and vengeance maybe! I'll work it out as I go I guess?"
>Zhu'er: "That's stupid and you're stupid and my hair is green and I'm stealing your fish kthnxbye."
>Sky: "Oh hell naw."

>Sky: "Chengdu is the shit and also smells like impending violence."
>Duan Lei: "Bro."
>Sky: "Bro?"
>Duan Lei: "Bro!"
>Sky: "Bro!"

>BRO ACQUIRED!!

>Sky: "I'll enter this tournament because reasons!"
>Brother Genshu: "Amitbha, Almsgiver!"
>Sky: "I hate you so much. I wish I could hate you to DEATH."
>Genshu: "And I forgive you for that."

>Zhengzhu: "Lord Sky!"
>Qiu Qiang: "Arrogance!"
>Zhu Ai: "Precocious!"
>Jian Shen: "Arrogance, but politer about it."
>Ma Huizhong: "Let's all be friends!"
>All: "No."

>Ironheart: "I know your dad somehow and TOTALLY am not going to be a boss later."
>Sky: "Peed."

>Honglan: "Tits and feminism! Not mutually exclusive!"
>Sky: "Actively ignoring you."

>Steeleyes: "JUSTICE."
>Sky: "Jesus Christ that's a lot of dead people."

>Yuan Shenlin: "Remarkably friendly, but kinda shady too."
>Sky: "I'm cool with that actually."

>Kamushin: "SKREEE!"*
>*Translation: "Holy fuck I love being awesome."

>>37971155
Its the best day ever, well maybe not, but your running, YYEEAAHH!!! Also nice summary. Also are you sure its SKREEE and not WRYYYY?

>>37971155
Yes. I agree with the contents of this message.

Lightning Tiger returns!!!

>>37971155
Two Words: Chinese electric Batman. Wait....

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>>37971251

Oh man it's been a while I'll need to go through the character pastebin for a refresher on some of these moonrune names.

I have no idea what the hell Im seeing here. However if he really IS Chinese Electric Batman this should be interesting.

>>37971155
Best recap. No qualifications, just the best.

>>37971155
>no ANDAAAAA
u wot m80

>>37971339
Well he is chinese, his martial arts are about lightning, and batman... well I think his parents are deeeeeeeead. No not really we think his father is alive just abducted.

Hell, yeah, been waiting for this quest.

YES! Sage, you're back! My favorite quest has come back from the grave! Hyyyyyype!!!

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You stand with your arms crossed in the impressively sized grand hall of the Yuan Clan Palace; leaning against a table that some nights ago was covered in food.

You're tapping your booted foot in impatience, having been summoned here by the man housing all the Top Ten Young Hero hopefuls some twenty minutes ago. Your allies and rivals have all gathered already, but Yuan Shenglan himself had still not made an appearance.

You hear a familiar "Tch!" on the opposite side of the room from you where Qiu Qiang stands, in a similar state of impatience, bandages still covering parts of his face and limbs from your previous duel.

"Is it customary in Sichuan to summon your guests for a meeting only to keep them waiting half an hour without even wine or refreshments to occupy them?" he says loudly enough to be heard by all in the room.

You can't help but agree, much as it pains you to agree with the Iron Asshole on anything.

Jian Shen stands with his arms crossed behind him, his eyes closed stoically and makes no indication of having heard, but the others look similarly annoyed or worried. Only Zhengzhu also openly voices her discontent along.

"Indeed," she says, flinging back her lustrous black hair (how does she even GET it that shiny?). "The Yuan Clan master has already been most unconventional in his habits of hospitality, but when he's INCONSISTENT about too I draw the line."

Ma Huizhong speaks up as well, clearly trying to keep the peace.
"Lord Shenglan is the head of one of the most prestigious clans in the Wulin, which must take a great deal of management to run. It's perhaps not surprising he's delayed."

Yang Meilin nods in agreement. "In fact it's surprising he held this tournament in the first place."

Qiang isn't mollified.
"Then send a servant, a maid, a bloody peasant from outside whom he gave a tael to! SOMEONE to come here and tell us why he interrupted my training!"

>>37971598
Training? Shouldn't you be resting?

>>37971598
Honglan sighs and straightens her hair. "Are we REALLY going to star arguing right here inside the great hall as soon as we begin speaking? That's rather childish isn't it?"

Qiang grits his teeth. "No one asked your opinion, woman, and I see no value in it."

>WDYS?

>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>"This IS getting ridiculous. If we're here to decide who fights who next do we even NEED him?" [Press the Matter]

>[Stay Silent]

>>37971641
>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>>37971641
>>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]
Fite me. (you'll lose again)

>>37971641
>[Stay Silent]
>[Snark internally]
Wonder where Genshu is right now.

>>37971641

>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>>37971641
>>[Stay Silent]

>>37971641
>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>>37971641
>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]
Sky strikes while the iron is hot

>>37971641
"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>>37971641
>>"Color me not impressed." [Needle Qiang]

>>37971641
"This coming from the guy who lost in the first round of the tournament," you shoot back, unable to help yourself.

"Watch yourself Lightning Tiger," Qiang growls, gritting his teeth more and clenching his fists as he glowers at you. "Don't think because you have a single victory against me means you're my better forever. One day soon I'll surpass you and then my vengeance-"

"I swear, do you have like a box or something where you have a set number of words that you pre-approve of that you use to string together your sentences?" you interrupt, shaking your head. "Your letters to your wife must be weird. 'Dear Pathetic Weakling; Anger feel my rage, training, weakness superiority. Power, you are nothing, fear my Iron Palm. Vengeance Will Be Mine. Love, Husband."

He's gritting his teeth so hard that you can see veins in his neck.

Yang Meilin begins to snicker a bit, as does Honglan, Zhengzhu. Even Ma Huizhong smiles, trying to cover it with a cough.

"I don't get it," Zhou Ai says aloud. Her elder school sister shushes her.

>>37971956
(audience) "Ooooooh!"

>>37971956
First Wulin Hero quest of the year, life is good

>>37971956
>Drop being kung-fu master embark on grand campaign of snark comedy. Retire with riches and bitches.

God damn you could smell those burns in the depths of hell I bet.

>>37972077
He could form a comedy duo with brother Genshu, and they'd be UNSTOPPABLE!

>>37972119
He wouldn't be able to take being the one being trolled all the time, though.

>>37972077
We can't do it as well as Genshu tho

THE HOBO IS BACK!

>>37971956
"I swear Lightning Tiger, one day I will BREAK-" he begins before surprisingly Xiao Jian interrupts him.

"Quiet. We are guests in another man's household and arguing like petty fools is beneath all of us," he says quietly but firmly. "If we cannot converse civilly then we should remain respectfully silent."

"And you think YOU are the judge of how I should behave, Swordsman?" Qiang says, looking over at the Heaven Sword Alliance heir.

"Only if you make me," the swordsman says in the same tone of voice without even unfolding his arms or opening his eyes. "But I would rather you not."

Qiang calms down at that, his fists unclenching, saying nothing, and you raise an eyebrow.

You didn't really think ANYONE could make Qiang back down by just talking to him. Hell, you practically had to shatter every bone in his body before he gave up.

"Lord Sky, do you not think this situation is intolerable as well?" Ao Zhengzhu says, walking up to you. "I find it highly inappropriate for a host to leave his guests so obviously in the dark."

>WDYS?

>"It's a little bit aggrevating, yeah." [Agree]

>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]

>>37972146
>mfw we will never be master of the snark because monkbro already is
>mfw we instead become his disciple in the ways of snark
>mfw I'm surprisingly ok with this

>>37972303
>>"It's a little bit aggrevating, yeah." [Agree]

>>37972303
>>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]
Nothing my master didn't put me through several times. Patience being a virtue and all that.

>>37972303
>>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]

>>37972303
>>"It's a little bit aggrevating, yeah." [Agree]
No way are we gonna call that shifter a nice guy.

>>37972303
>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]

>>37972303
>>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]

>>37972303
>[Agree]

Maybe I've been on too many shadowruns but the only reason I could think of doing this for is to stage something crazy. Is this gonna be surprise NINJA BONANAZA SLUGFEST and he shows up clapping about a good show or something?

>>37972303
>"It's a little bit aggrevating, yeah." [Agree]

>>37972303
> [Shrug it off]

>>37972303
Agree

>>37972303
>>"I dunno. It's a little rude, but he seems like a nice enough guy otherwise." [Shrug It Off]

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>>37972303
"I'm sure he's got his reasons," you say with a shrug. "He's paying for all this stuff out of his own pocket, so it's not like he'd leave is hanging without a decent reason. I mean, what's he get by blowing all the cash he's already spent and then deliberately offending us?"

She ponders that before answering. "I do not know. But the Yuan Shenglin's motives have always been unfathomably to the Dragon Clan. He has wealth, influence both in the Wulin and outside of it, allies in the other three New Clans of the Wulin, and yet always seems to actively seek more influence and allies. And then apparently does nothing at all with them. If his goal is simple greed for money and power then apparently he has no desire to actively apply the wrath and power he gains."

"Can't I just like making friends?" comes the voice of your host suddenly from the staircase leading higher up into the palace, walking down with a broad smile.

"I apologize fornally to all the heroes gathered here," he says, bowing with the Wulin Salute. "I was delayed by a surprise visitor and had to make appropriate accommodations for his arrival, in accordance with his station."

"We accept your apologies," Ma Huizhong says, returning the salute before any of you can say otherwise. "Will these esteemed visitors be joining us?"

"He will indeed," Shenglin says with a smile, stepping aside. A familiar man in black steps out of the shadows next to him and walks down the staircase with him.

"May I present young hero Bie Tiexin of the Jinyiwei!"

>>37972666
Ahahaha, so he IS going to participate.

>>37972666
is that the guy from the beggar sect?

>>37972741
The secret police. The guy we helped earlier.

Sorry for the delay, my phone thought it was a stellar idea to delete an entire 2000 character post for no reason.

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>>37972666
"Steeleyes? What are you doing here?" you say in surprise as the constable walks down with the steps.

"Greetings, Hero Sky. Or perhaps I should call you Lightning Tiger now? Your nickname is certainly getting famous around Sichuan."

"Lord Sky, you KNOW him?" Zhengzhu says, clearly surprised by both the constable's presence and your familiarity with him.

"Sorta." you admit. "We met a few days ago, just before I fought Honglan. I tangled with some local criminals he was chasing."

>WDYS?

>"What are you doing here anyway?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]

>>37973185
>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]

>>37973185
>>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]
WE can already figure out why he's here.

>>37973185
>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]

>>37973185
>>"What are you doing here anyway?" [Inquire Steeleyes]
She's a pirate princess, should be obvious to us why she's nervous.

>>37973185
>>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]
>>37973238
Except she basically has diplomatic immunity for the time being.
Or she likely would have been captured by bigger fish than steeleyes.

>>37973185
I love how Sky keeps already knowing all these people that you wouldn't expect a nameless xia to. Honestly, at this point I figure that people have to be guessing he's of a notable lineage not because of any skills he's portrayed but just because it's so improbable that he already knows everyone.

>>37973185
>"What's got you so nervous?" [Inquire Zhengzhu]

>>37973294
Recalling people's reaction to her arrival at the harbor, I'm not too sure about any guaranteed diplomatic immunity.

>>37973296
Who Sky is and isn't is actually something of a popular rumor in the Wulin right now. Nobody knows anything about him other then he's extremely formidable in combat and he's got some kinda fuck-off huge bird. The fact that he knows important people kinda hasn't left rarified company of the TTYH group yet, as not many are privy to his conversations.

"What's wrong with you?" you say with a raised eyebrow.

Steeleyes answers before she can reply. "She is nervous because as an Imperial cobstable I am sworn to arrest or kill all lawbreakers," he explains. "Since the Dragon Clan is not only an organization of pirates but rebels to the Imperial crowns her own activities notably are within my jurisdiction of arrest."

Honglan speaks up next. "The Jinyiwei does not have an unambiguous reputation in the Jianghu either, constable. Many brave heroes have fallen or been captured to be sent to rot in Black Hell Prison simply for defying a corrupt Imperial official."

"All of which is irrelevant. If the Dragon Princess worries that I might attack her here, her judgement is as impaired as her loyalty to the Empire. The Jinyiwei di not advertise our presence to those we arrest. That defeats the entire purpose of it," Tiexin says, brushing their concerns off like they don't matter. "I am here in an observatory manner."

"You mean you are not here to participate, presumably," Xiao Jian guesses.
"Correct. I have no personal interest in the title of one of the Top Ten Young Heroes, but I have been ordered to observe who participated and who triumphs over who."
"Say what you mean, constable," Qiang grunts. "You're here to SPY on us."
"Spying is done in secret, and I am openly presenting myself to you all," he corrects the Iron Palm Sect head. "It IS accurate however to say that I am gaining intelligence for my superiors."
"Where they can their judgements about us behind closed doors back at the Capitol?" Honglan accuses.
"Correct," he acknowledges without shame. "An intelligence network is not useful unless it relays accurate intelligence. And since everyone here is fully aware that the Jinyiwei has such a network and the event was a public one, it was deemed appropriate that I reveal myself to you all on this assignment out of polite respect."

"Your 'polite respect' is rather similar to a 'veilee threat'," Zhengzhu comments dryly.

"That too," Steeleyes admits with a shrug. "Those who take it as a threat and those who take it as a respectful gesture reveals a great deal about them, I find."

>WDYS?

>"Can we be done with the paranoid stuff for one day?" [Dismissive]

>"And where do I fit into this intelligence report?" [Questioning]

>>37973895
>>"And where do I fit into this intelligence report?" [Questioning]

>>37973895
>>"And where do I fit into this intelligence report?" [Questioning]

>>37973895
>"Can we be done with the paranoid stuff for one day?" [Dismissive]
We can have him observe us in secret or observe us openly. I, for one, enjoy the transparency.

>>37973895

>"Can we be done with the paranoid stuff for one day?" [Dismissive]

>>37973895
>>"And where do I fit into this intelligence report?" [Questioning]

>>37973895
>"Can we be done with the paranoid stuff for one day?" [Dismissive]

>>37973895
>[Questioning]
With comical eyebrow waggle and possible insinuations that some noblewoman will be wooed by our fighting skills when we win.

Because why not fuck with people. Snark gods be appeased!

>>37974007
Bad news; the information reports go to eunuchs.

Hey I made it in time for Wulin Quest!

>"Can we be done with the paranoia"

>>37974038
Salutations and welcome.

>>37974025
Aww. Still want to screw with him a little. One of our best martial forms is snark-wu-shu! Its a shame to let it rust over!

Besides he's a friendly guy (sort of) he might let something slip about what the upper class thinks of us.

>>37974118
The upper class never meets or associates with him, not do they see his reports.

China's not a feudal society the same way Europe was; it's centerally governed by a bureaucratic caste.
They have aristocrats of sorts in the form of wealthy or respected families, but functionally from a political standpoint these are second-class citizens; the official hierarchy goes
The Huangdi (Emperor)>Emperor's Immediate Kin>Imperial Eunuchs>Scholar-Bureaucrats>Everyone Else

>>37974025

See, when you put it like that, I try my best not to say something like "His superiors really must not have any balls to send a lackey to do their political spying instead". You're making this really hard, Sage. I can't be expected not to make these awful jokes if you keep giving them up like this.

>>37974243
Yeah, to work with the Imperial Palace you kinda have to make some serious sacrifices.

A pair of them you might say.

>>37974280
Oh my. I see what you did there.

I'm not exactly a historyfag so I didn't even realize you were serious. Thats a source of nonstop jokes if I ever saw it.

>>37973895
>"Can we be done with the paranoid stuff for one day?" [Dismissive
holy shit did not even realize that this was running am i to late?

>>37974343
TIME FOR AN ANCIENT CHINESE GOVERNMET PRIMER!

The theory is that the Emperor is in absolute charge (in a sense that most western monarchies almost never were), with the eunuchs doing much of the palace central management so that they cannot father any competing dynasties on Imperial wives, empresses, or concubines, while the majority of the Empire is managed by the scholar-bureaucracy whom anyone can join once they pass the national exams.

This way the ones working with the Emperor are both dutiful and loyal as they have sacrificed the ability to have a family (family being one of the highest virtues in Confucian society), while the rest of the stuff is done only by educates and learned men who would make wise judgements.

In practice, not so much.
Since the Emperor had not one, but TWO large organizations managing the entire empire for him how much he actually participated was really up to his own personal volition, which many did not see much need to do. The Eunuchs were freed from making families, but instead they often could effectively become the only Imperial authority that mattered depending on how active the Emperor was or how well informed they kept him.
The scholar-bureaucrats all had to pass the national exams, but that's rather like the SAT Test or something; it doesn't mean the person is a good worker or decent person, and since after they passed there was no internal monitoring of their loyalty or even if they were doing their job properly they were prone to corruption from wealthy individuals.

In theory the system was about absolute loyalty to an absolute Imperial power who was aided by absolutely loyal aids and educated individuals managing the rest of the empire.

In practice...not so much.

>>37974652
This BTW is why the PROC's recent corruption scandals is really shaking up the Party's support in a lot of places; removing corruption is all well and good, but having a large monolithic government that can be manipulated by paying off the right people is kind of a tradition in China.

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REMOVE EUNUCHS

>>37973895
>"And where do I fit into this intelligence report?" [Questioning]

"So how about me then?" you ask Steeleyes, unable to help your curiosity.

"What about you?"

"What does your intelligence report say about me? I mean I'm in it too, right?"

Steeleyes looks at you cooly before answering.

"You're a xia of great skill with no noticeable prior activity in the Jianghu. Your only allies appear to be ones you've made here recently in Chengdu. You have no notable lineage, clan, or sect in the Wulin, yet you defear veteran fighters with fearsome reputations and long legacies with impressive flair," he recites.

"I estimate that there are three likely possibilities; firstly that you are simply an anomoly as sometimes happens in the Jianghu a unique genius in the Wulin. Secondly, that you are ignorant of your true martial heritage and that you have a greater history you are not immediately aware of. Thirdly, that you are simply lying about who you are to conceal your true objectives and motives."

You raise an eyebrow but inwardly wince. Every single one of those guesses is accurate to some degree. Your father was as far as you know a strange anomoly in the Wulin. You initially at least we're totally unaware that your father was Feng Renshu, called Storm Dragon. And even after you found it out you've kept the truth to yourself before you truly can figure out the full implications behind it.

>>37975051
Poker Face. We has it.

You notice the other Young Heroes in the room staring at you after Bie Tiexin's thurough analysis. They all simply assumed the first of the three possibilities was the correct one. Now they're wondering if the other two have any truth in them.

You give a simple shrug in response to their probing gazes and Tiexin's questions, provoking a "Harrumph!" fron Qiang.

>WDYS?

>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>>37975232
>>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>>37975232
>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]
I know this will end in tears, but I can't resist.

>>37975232
>>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>>37975232
>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]
A simple shrug is the only response Steeleyes's analysis deserved, and since we've already shrugged...

>>37975232
>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>>37975232
>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>>37975232
Which do you think it is

>>37975232
>[Inquire Yuan Shenglin]
TRANSPARENT SUBJECT CHANGE TIME.

>>37975232
>>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]
After all how others see you says much about them.

>>37975381
Clever.

>>37975232
>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>>37975232
>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]
"It's probably number two, seeing how my father always refused to talk about his past, but I don't really know. Tell me if you figure it out, I'd appreciate it."

>>37975381
But does it say more or less than how others CLAIM they see you?

>>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

For the exact same reason as
>>37975381

"The back of the back is the front."

>>37975381
He is probably going to say he doesn't make assumptions of the truth, merely looks for facts. One must shape theories to shape facts, not facts to shape theories.

>>37975424
I try

>>37975504
>>37975541
Regardless QM called me clever for it, I am content.

>>37975486
we should not actually tel him anything,the longer the authorities dont know what to make of us the better

>>37975232
>>"So is that it? 'Let's all meet the new guy'?" [Inquire Yuan Shenglin]

>>37975486
Why, would you say that.
We have the name lighting tiger.
We seems to appear just like our father out of no where.
There are already things that link us to him. And you want to add more.
Our father made allies. But he also made enemies, you remember the killing he did indiscriminately?
I am sure many clans may still be pissed with that.Especially if their clan head was killed like a bug on a windshield.
Dad was a fucking boss.

>>37975232
>"Which do YOU think it is?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>>37975669
Because the people who voted to ask him about our place in his report, in front of everyone else, already doomed us to being found out. We might as well accept it.

"How about you constable? Got a personal theory?" you inquire.

His reaction is rather surprising and somewhat less stiff and official.
He gives a careless shrug and answers quickly, like he didn't even have to think about it.

"To be perfectly honest, I hadn't thought about it and couldn't care less about who you may or may not really be," he admits. "Neither your features or your skills match the descriptions of any outstanding criminal warrents in the Jianghu or crimes with no currently known culprit. That either means you haven't committed any crimes or you've covered your tracks so well that even our intelligence network and records can't find a trace of their existence. In the former instance you aren't a criminal. In the latter it's impossible for me to prove you're a criminal and acting upon the assumption that you are one without any hard evidence is ridiculous. In both instances whoever you really are or aren't isn't actually my problem."

You see the rest of the hall sigh and make disgusted "are you kidding me?" sounds after that tense letdown, except for your host, who actually starts chuckling a bit.

You smile at their reaction, and to your surprise Tiexin gives a slight smile back.
You think he was playing a bit of a joke on them.

>>37975232
And which do YOU THINK IT IS

Liu Bei, pls

>>37975860
>Tiexin gives a slight smile back

Ultimate ruselord. Oh I bet he's got theories he just doesn't want voice them in a big crowded room. And is probably one of the bigger bro-tier guys we know about.

Or he seriously just doesn't care.

Guys smarter then I thought he was.

>>37975860
The number of contenders for the throne of the Troll King increases yet again!

>>37976014
Actually I hope we get a chance to setup a scene like that. All the snarkiest folks we know, a bar, and enough booze for the most ultimate throwdowns of snark to occur. Winner is the one who's burns set the bar on fire with their epicness.

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>>37976070
>yfw everyone ends up getting too drunk to properly snark
>yfw it ends up like pic related, only with alcohol instead of noodles and verbal sparring instead of physical

"Not that all this speculation about Hero Lightning Tiger's possible true identity isn't fascinating," Xiao Jian says in a tone of voice that suggests he finds in anything but, "but the introduction of Steeleyes to the group is not the original reason we were called here, by your own admission."

"Indeed!" Yuan Shenglin says, stifling his laughter. "I came to announce that after yoir days of rest, the next set of matched of the Top Ten Young Heroes Tournament begins tomorrow, and that you must decide amongst yourselves whom will fight whom, as before!"

Everyone in the room begins to size each other up.

>WDYD?

>[Talk to Ma Huizhong]
>[Talk to Yang Meilin]
>[Talk to Zhou Ai]
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]
>[Talk to Bie Tiexin]
>[Talk to Xiao Jian]
>[Talk to...actually, fuck that. You beat him already anyway]

>[Challenge Hero]

>>37976287
>>[Talk to Zhou Ai]

>>37976287
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]
ayyy gurl

>>37976287
>>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976287
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976287
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976287
someone we haven't introduced ourselves to. (this is a supporting vote for whoever wants to claim it)

>>37976287
>>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976287
>Talk to..actually fuck that You beat him already

You sir are a funny bastard. I wonder how the rest of them will look as we climb up the ranks if we keep winning.

But in all seriousness
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]
because its a fucking landslide and anything else aint happening. you guys really like this one don't you?

>>37976287
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976287
>[Talk to Kamushin]
No, wait, that came out wrong.
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

>>37976389
We've introduced ourselves to all of them, actually.

>>37976287
>[Talk to Ao Zhengzhu]

[Lord Sky intensifies]

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You decide to talk to the Dragon Princess and go over to your...whatever she is to you. Friend you guess?

"Well that was odd," you begin and she immediately rounds on you and upends your train of thought.

"Are you a secret undercover agent of the Jinyiwei?" she says urgently with an alarming amount of intensity.

"What," is all you can manage.

"Answer me," she says seriously, her beautiful face screwing up in seriousness. "If our association is to continue I must know the truth of this."

"What? No. Why?"

"Because I was trying very hard to think about who your true identity might actually be and why couldn't Steeleyes identify you despite his legendary investigative prowess," she explains.

"And...therefore by a fairly....unique brand of logic," you say figuring it out at length, "you assumed I was a secret Jinyiwei plant to befriend you because...Bie Tiexin was the closest person standing next to me, right?"

She pauses before answering.
"You capture ships at sea by sailing at them then slaying everyone who doesn't surrender."

You suppose that's her way of saying "I am not a very good non-linear thinker."

>You suppose that's her way of saying "I am not a very good non-linear thinker."
Sideways thinking is the new moe

As an aside, interesting how the names change slightly now and then. For example Bie Tiexin is Bai Tiexin on the pastebin.

>>37977002
That's my fault.
Mandarin is not among the languages I speak, so making names sound correct in the language is difficult for. Yuan Shengli's name is one of the trickiest.

It IS Bie Tiexin (Bie is a family name, Tiexin is a given name who's character's mean "iron-hearted", which is sort of a very masculine name).

Also my phone's autocorrect seems to want me to spell them a certain way.

>>37977002
You kidding I'm amazed he keeps track of them as is. You toss these damn things at me I'd go....MOON RUNES AND JIBBERISH THE LOT OF THEM! MAKE UP YOUR OWN! GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Seriously the chinese name system intimidates me. Not only in how it works but how it has so many repeating parts.

Plus I'm terrible with names so even regular ones I'm used too are hard to remember. These ones would drive me insane in 5 mintues

>>37977116
I take notes.
And I always remember the nicknames/literal meanings first.

>>37977116
Its okay, I have trouble with these guy's names too and I can do most of the Three Kingdom guys in my sleep.

Guan Yu is faggot

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"Okay," she says, sounding relieved. "My father would be most cross with me if I had begun to associate with a Jinyiwei spy."

"Can't imagine why," you say dryly.

"Really? I thought it was a rather straightforward matter actually," she says in a confused tone.

"I was kidding."

"Oh. Oh! Hah! My Lord Sky's humor often evades me initially. My father does not employ humor as often as you do."

"I figured," you say, rolling your eyes. "Is it going to be problematic with you and Steeleyes here? I mean, I know you're...I mean...,"

"The daughter of an outcast insurrectionist who is using piracy to wage an indirect war on the Ming?"

"Yeah. That."

"Bie Tiexin's investigative skill is legendary, but in this case there is nothing for him to investigate. I am here purely to participate, and so nothing he sees will inform him of anything other then how incredibly outclassed he is in battle-prowess," she says proudly.

"And your humility too, don't forget that."

"I suppose that too, but I can't think of any situation where humility is a good weapon," she says, furrowing her brow and pondering the query. "My father always says humility is for those with nothing to be humble about."

"Uh-huh. Well, that's good to hear. I was worried about you for a minute."

"Truly?! My Lord Sky was worried for my sake!?" she says, her mood changing again.

>WDYS?

>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

>"So who should I fight next?" [Subject Change]

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?"

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]
Oh, girl has it bad.

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

>>37977615
>>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]
Misunderstandings: the misunderstandening, espisode VIII

>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

LET IT BEGIN!

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>>37977615

>>37977615
>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

Is Sky close to Kid Goku level with women or something?

He seems kinda dense for being so quick witted earlier.

>>37977895
His contact with women has been rather limited. He literally grew up on the mountain with his father (currently we do not know what happened to his mother).

>>37977895
>>37977937
it's also somewhat on purpose, he's aware that they're interested in him, he's just unsure how to juggle both them and his quest for his father, so he deals with it by pretending to be more obtuse that he really is to delay his women troubles.

>>37977895
A little bit. He knows that Zhengzhu (and Zhu'er, and Hong Lan, and possibly Yang Meiling, too) are interested in him. He's not that dumb. But he's bad at reading the individual cues and has no idea when what he sees as just being friendly is interpreted as something more.

>>37977895

Remember his interactions with his dad? That was the majority of all other human contact he's had for all of his life up until now, asides from some friends in the village. His dad also sucked at lying and extremely straight forward.

How do you think someone raised like that is going to respond to women in general, let alone women in ancient China?

>>37977937
So that would be a very literal yes, he's EXACTLY as skilled with women as Kid Goku.

>>37977895
Sky is extremely intelligent, but literally grew up on a mountain with next to no contact with anyone outside of his father and one friend he knew in the village valley.

He's very, very intelligent, capable of analytical thinking and excellent deduction once given appropriate information, but unfortunately has very little knowledge of both normal society and the social rules of the Wulin beyond the basics. He tends to ask a lot of questions because he's in the dark about a lot of things other people know.

And he knows next to nothing about women, and has difficulty dealing with them.

>>37978013
By the way, will we eventually learn who his mother is, and where she is?

>>37978013
If he keeps up this he's going to frustrate those women so hard they think the only way to get his attention like THAT is to beat him in combat.

I wonder which one goes for it first... or if sky learns how to woo females before it occurs.

Actually that'd be a hilarious moment if it happened.

>>37978003
He's considerably less stupid then Goku is otherwise though.
Certainly he's poorly educated, but he learns and retains information at a spectacular rate so long as he has is given it in the first place.

In this he is actually rather UNLIKE his father, who was sort of a shockingly honest strsightforward thinker with little or no imagination, which he made up for with quite literally godlike levels of martial arts skill.

>>37978065
The identity of Sky's mother is a plot point, yes.

EVERYTHING is a plot point, actually.

If you look very closely, very little I ever about the characters or the setting is ever idle speech, and all of it foreshadowed later plot developments, such as me dropping Storm Dragon's name early on, Duan Lei's troubles with women, and more stuff you haven't figured out yet.

>>37978157
So basically.. All of the shadowruns? All of them?

>>37978211
Go back to /srg/, yeesh.
No running shadows here, ey?

>>37978079
>quite literally godlike levels of martial arts skill
Yeah, I'm still having trouble coming to terms with that. It raises worrying questions about the people who took him. Granted, they outnumbered him, and he was out of practice, and he might have had to hold back for fear of hurting Sky once he showed up...but still, the fact that they could either knock him out or force him into a position where he had to surrender is absolutely terrifying. Feng Renshu might be the strongest xia to ever live, but his captors can't be any slouches. Getting him back is going to suck.

>>37978211
Shadowrun ALL THE THINGS!

>>37978225
Well if you're telling me to read into every little detail you're going to get a level of paranoia on par with srg yeah.

Besides running in shadowy dark places is fun! Until you hit a wall or something.

>>37977615
>>"Sure Zhengzhu. Why wouldn't I be?" [Confused Affirmation]

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>>37970885
hyyyyyyyypee

>>37978229
Every time I see this I kinda chuckle.
It's kinda funny nobody figured it out yet.
>>37978283
Paranoia isn't the word: not everything is a hint at a THREAT, but everything is a hint at a greater (or at least lengthier) story (much like in real life I suppose) behind it.

>>37978337
So they didn't rely on force but kidnapped mom?

>>37978337
You mean he went willingly?

I can imagine only a few things that would make him go willingly.

>>37978375
See >>37978371

>>37978371
No.
>>37978375
Closer. But still no.

It boils down to six words really.

>>37978401
our dad is the big bad?

>>37978401
I'm guessing he didn't want to, but had no choice, then.

>>37978401
"We know where your son is."?

>>37978401
Six words...

"His wife took him back home."

>>37978401
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn"?

>>37978401
"Don't you think he looks tired?"

>>37978436
Still one of the most moving stories I've ever read.

>>37974708
Couldn't the eunuchs adopt, though? I seem to remember that Cao Cao was adopted by a eunuch and that's why he was Cao Cao and not Xiahou Xiahou.

>>37978401
Sky, fuck you and this mountain

>>37978401
"Mighty Kamushin, to me! We fly!"

>>37978489
Okay, I got a good laugh out of this one.
And sorry; you'll not get any more outta me on the subject yet.

>>37978401
"Your father is dead. Come home."

>>37978542
"Feng Renshu, I am your father."

(dark side bla bla emperor bla bla)

>>37978578
"Your Emperor summons you, Storm Dragon!"

"Well," you say, backing off a bit, "I mean, why wouldn't I be? It's not like I know a whole lot of people, and you're one of the nicest to me, so if you had to throw down with someone like Steeleyes I'd be kind of worried, especially over something like this dispute thing you and your dad had with the Emperor. Seems to me that he'd rather spend his time catching actual criminals, not get involved in politics."

She smiles prettily. "My Lord Sky is always so sensible. The Jinyiwei has opposed us before, but mostly the Dragon Clan fights the navy and the army. Oh, and anyone with things we want," she says almost as an afterthought.

It's a bit disturbing how high seas robbery is the thing she brushes off. You guess daughters of famous ex-Imperial Admirals have different priorities.

"Thanks, I guess? I don't have a lot of friends, and I'd much prefer not to loose one of them, I suppose."

"Would....Lord Sky like to meet my father after the Young Heroes Tournament is over?" she asks, almost bashfully.

>WDYS?

>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]

>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]

>>37978991
>>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]
ABANDON SHIP

>>37978991
>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]

>>37978991
>>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]

>>37978991
>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]

Hey, maybe her father can help us find our father!

>>37978991
>I suppose that couldn't hurt

I know a few things about Eastern Dragon Heretics. This is a good idea.

>>37979087
I have a feeling that we wouldn't be getting off his island without attending a marriage ceremony.

>>37978991

>I suppose that couldn't hurt

>>37978991
>>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]
One thing at a time.

>>37978991
>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]
we gonna inevitably meet himevenyually anyway

>>37978991
>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]

Ao Guang seems like the sort who'd keep informed about happenings on the mainland. He might be able to help us.

>>37979124
The Mighty Kamushin makes for an excellent escape plan if it comes to that.

>>37979124
Marriages are fun, who's the lucky girl? You say that like it wouldn't be a happy day that winds up with cake for everyone.

>>37978991
>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]

>>37979199
Well yes but Kamushin Escape would scuttle our friendship with Zhengzhu.

Or, actually, make her more determined to come after us and drag us back to the altar (or whichever way they do their ceremonies in ancient China).

>>37978991
>I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]

>>37978991
>"I kinda...have other stuff to do. I still need to find my OWN father, remember?" [Redirect]

>>37978991
I suppose that couldn't hurt

>>37978991
>>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?"

I'm smelling samefag here.

>>37978991
>>"I...suppose that couldn't hurt?" [Agree]

>>37979500
>I smell people who don't agree with me here
We've got 44 unique posters.

>>37979563
I'm just saying. Two opposing posts seem to pop up pretty fast.

>>37979563
Talking like that'll get him angry anon but yeah 44 poster IPs and not even close to that in votes.

Even if he has a point about the timestamps. some of them came in clusters pretty tight. Lets just hope anons are good people unless we skyrocket past our unique IP count.

"I don't see why not. He might be able to help me find dad if I'm lucky...," you say, pondering the possibilities.

"I'm certain he would too, especially once he meets you and sees how great your strength is! He'd be inclined to grant you all sorts of things!" she says happily, though you have the sneaking suspicion that she's not talking about finding your father.

"Anyway, that's for then, this is now. I gotta figure out who I'm fighting next anyway, otherwise I'd felt like I'd given up halfway," you say, changing the subject back to present matters. "I'm glad Bie Tiexin isn't fighting. I get the strong feeling he doesn't mess around much."

She nods in agreement. "The Jinyiwei are not known for being merciful combatents. Only the Tang Clan assassins and the Bloody Ghost Faction are as ruthless in combat of the heterodox wulin groups."

"Who?"

"Not important," she says with a shake of her head. "In any case, you must pick your own challenges, Lord Sky. I will be waiting eagerly to see whom you choose to battle with."

>[Choose Your Challenger]

>>37979754
Monk Girl is slightly more used to men now, right?

Let's see if she still gets stage fright.

>>37979754
So, who do we not want to fight?

>>37979754
Yang Meilin
thats the spear girl right

>>37979754
Ma Huizhong. Because he seems like a nice guy and we haven't had much interaction with him.

>>37979895
Yang Meilin is the spearwoman and the Junzi Society hopeful for the Top Ten Young Heroes.

>>37979754
the spear girl.

>>37979754
Ma Huizhong

>>37979754
>Yang Meilin

>>37979943
I can't remember, didn't we agree to fight Xiao Jian at some point? It's been a while, I'm not sure if we agreed to fight or if we just bristled at each other.

>>37979754
Voting for Yang Meilin

>>37979754
Yang Meilin

>>37979982
Sky and Xiao Jian didn't get along, but otherwise didn't promise to fight each other next.

Since this isn't an elimination l-based tournament it's more a matter of who you choose to fight first, with everyone expecting to fight everyone eventually.

>>37980086
What the current score is? Anyone else with a victory streak like Sky?

>>37980158
Sky has definitively beaten both Qiu Qiang and Li Honglan.
Ao Zhengzhu and Li Honglan fought to a draw, but later Honglan beat Zhou Ai.
Ma Huizhong fought Yang Meilin to a draw, and also fought Xiao Jian, to whom he lost.

That is the summary of the current match-ups that have happened as of yet. Xiao Jian is favored to win, but Sky has won more actual matches so far.

>>37980287
We've gotta save Xiao Jian, really ratchet up the drama as each of us develop.

>>37980287
The beggar sect guy is a no-show and Genshu has declined to fight... so that should be all then covered.

>>37979754
Yang Meilin

Looks like Yang Meilin it is then.
I must stop for today, but I shall archive this thread as I usually do.

For those of you who are newer, reading the archive is encouraged, as it will help you get your bearings on the admittedly quite large cast of characters and the various subplots going on.

>>37980433
See you next time, WulinSage. Thanks for running.

>>37980433
Thanks for running!

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>>37980433
Aww yisss, spear versus sword incoming!

>>37980433
when will you be running again?

>>37980549
Possibly tomorrow, but no promises.
Check the Twitter, 'tis what it's there for.

>>37980612
Allright thanks for running this Wulin I really enjoy it (especially Sky's snark)

>>37980433
Great session, Sage! My only complaint is that there wasn't any Genshu.

>>37971598
>Iron Asshole
I bet that is an actual technique

>>37971598
>"Indeed," she says, flinging back her lustrous black hair (how does she even GET it that shiny?)
We should ask, no seriously. we should.
I want some hair care advice here
its not enough to be the best xia, we must also be the best bishie

>>37971956
>One day soon I'll surpass you and then my vengeance-"
>>37972303
>"I swear Lightning Tiger, one day I will BREAK-"

I want to try to actually convince him to not go for killing/crippling us.
Some sort of
>You are a worthy opponent and I learned much from fighting you. As I am sure you learned from fighting me.
>actually trying to kill or cripple each other is such a waste. Sure, it might happen in heat of battle, but if you win then it is a waste to finish off your opponent.
>I am sure I won't win all our bouts. You will develop counters, and score a victory, should I survive then I will do the same and start winning again. We can have a friendly rivelry that will push us both to excellence.
>Killing will just end said rivelry and deprive you of a worthy opponent. And if you actually convince me that you truly mean to kill or cripple me in the case that I lose, I might have to resort to doing the same to you