Don't quest at work. Those TPS reports arent going to complete themselves you know.

Huh, our internal and external arts have improved. How much time has passed?

>BOOK 2: STARTING FIRES

The Jiangu and Wulin have always been places of rumors and suppositions. Wise men have often said that the fastest way to loose a secret is to tell to bored women with many friends or any xia at all.

So perhaps it's not surprising the endless flurry of stories in the Jianghu two months after the Battle of Chengdu, particularly surrounding the mysterious xia known as Feng Tiankong, Lightning Tiger.

"I heard the first thing he did when he arrived in Chengdu is start cavorting with the Five Deadly Venoms before turning on them!"

"I heard when he found out there was a den of criminals and thieves inside Chengdu in the Blue Heron Inn he didn't even hesitate; he proclaimed 'any man who would let such thugs hide in his own city is a coward, and that no evil should be suffered to live, before killing them ALL with arrows and skill alone!"

"I heard he traveled to Chengdu on a giant bird made of thunder and lightning that only he can command!"

"I heard he broke apart the ranks of the minor contestants in the Tournament without a sweat, and then dismissed them all as being 'not worth the weapons they carried'!"

"I heard he consorts with pirates and nobles alike, uncaring of what anyone says, and should they question his choice in friends he slays them with bolts of lightning on the spot!"

"I heard he was completely undefeated in the tournament, and that none could touch him in battle no matter how famed or skilled!"

"I heard that when the battle began he not only saved over dozen minor sects and groups by slaying hundreds of soldiers, but he later killed a man more righteous then any of them! Who can know a man who acts so wildly!"

"I heard the Imperial Court has yet to issue a death warrant on him because they're too afraid of what he might do if they did!"

>>38172484
Ha, let's add one more: "All the mysteries surrounding the Lightning Tiger are at least half true!"

>>38172484
at least they seem to have forgoten about the wierd sex

>>38172653
Thank god for small miracles.

"I heard that the ONLY THING Lightning Tiger fears is acorns! What, don't look at me like that, it's just what I heard!"

The rumors about Feng Tiankong seemed to get more outlandish with each telling, and swiftly separating fact from fiction became an impossible task.

Of those whom were actually AT Chengdu, few claimed to have truly known thd young man, and many refused to speak of the battle so soon afterwards, though many of the minor factions there expressed quiet gratitude towards his valor in saving them from Imperial soldiers when they were asked, while others publicly swore vengeance upon him for so humiliating them in the preliminary matches.

The only thing all the tales had in common was that nobody seemed to know where he was, though many claimed to have spoken with him at least once...albiet while often giving conflicting descriptions about his looks and personality.

Many in the Jianghu wondered; where is this mighty xia, and what great deeds or nefarious plots could he be doing now?

>>38172707
And now we get a cut to Sky doing something ridiculous and/or embarrassing.

>>38172707
>Many in the Jianghu wondered; where is this mighty xia, and what great deeds or nefarious plots could he be doing now?

im going with lost and hunting for food any one else got any ideas.

>>38172179
So Golden Qilin Sword Skill is an external art but it has named specific techniques like an internal art? Interesting. I look forward to seeing them used.

>>38172707
>while others publicly swore vengeance upon him for so humiliating them in the preliminary matches.
foreshadowing the glorious return of Li Shenshu of the Wolf Manor

"I am just....SUPER fucking lost aren't I?" you ask Kamushin, looking around ar the wilderness around you, standing on a tall granite rock surrounded by forests and hills.

The great condor nods, much to your irritation.

"I mean, traveling way high up on a giant bird seems like such a rad idea, but holy crap it's hard to figure out where stuff is when you're up there!"

The Mighty Kamushin shrugged it's massive wings.

"Okay, but YOU have eagle eyes. I should've stopped to get a map before leaving Chengdu. I mean, I even remember there was a mapmaker right next to the inn I first stayed at. I can't believe I didn't think of that. I don't even know how BIG the Empire is. Am I even IN it anymore!?"

The Mighty Kamushin shrugged again.

"At least I got you to talk to. Even if your conversational input is somewhat limited," you, hopping off the tall rock you were on.

The Mighty Kamushin shrugs it's wings again.

"You...ARE actually responding right? You aren't just doing stuff with your wings because you need to stretch?"

There's a pause as you and the huge bird state at each other.

Then the Mighty Kamushin shrugs his big wings again.

>>38172847
called he was lost.

"At least I've had time to practice the manual Shengli gave me," you say, removing the laquered wooden scroll case which contained the techniques Yuan Shengli had become famous for.

You feel a twinge of guilt at remembering him, even now.

"Turns out it's a LOT easier to learn this stuff when it's written down and the directions are clearer and nobody's throwing acorns at you. I mean it's only been a couple of weeks and I've already got a lot of the fundamentals! Which is good because I was sorta lacking in refined sword techniques," you admit.

Putting the scroll away you look around.
Time to get back to work again.

>WDYD?

>Get some breakfast.

>Start traveling again.

>>38173135
>Get some breakfast.

>>38173135
>>Get some breakfast.
searching while hungry is not a smart move

>>38173135
>Get some breakfast.

>>38173135
>Get some breakfast.
I know it's not likely to happen, but I really hope we somehow find Zhu'er and steal some fish from her.

>>38173135
>>Get some breakfast.

>>38173135
>>Get some breakfast.

>>38173135
>>Get some breakfast.
Why travel hungry, when you can easily NOT travel hungry?

You decide to go foraging and hunting, a task which you are most adept at. Though you miss the delicious cooking of Sichuan (especially that spicy pepper stuff), you're hardly going hungry out here, and it's even easier to find food out here then it is back in Nine Village Valley.

You begin leaping among the trees like a monkey, swinging and flying from branch to branch as you look for a decent meal.

Eventually you see a good-sized water deer lapping at a stream, and you leap upon it with all your might, swiftly applying your great internal strength to break it's neck as swiftly and as painlessly as possible!

The process of skinning and setting up the fire by the streak takes some time, but eventually you get a nice fire going with meat roasting on it.

[BRB, must do some chores]

Also, forgive if the mood switch is jarring; I figure after all the seriousness of Book 1's climax a bit of humor and lightheartedness wouldn't go remiss.

>>38173668
Nah, it's working fine. There's a bit of a disconnect inherent in changing chapters like this, switching the tone works in this case.

>>38173593
So, Sage, why does Golden Qilin Sword Skill have Techniques, like an Internal Style, while it, itself, is an External Style?

>>38173839
Possibly because it is channeled through your weapon, or maybe it requires you to enact specific sword movements to function. That's my guess anyway

>>38173839
i think its because Carefree Saber is a no-form style like Sky fights but Golden Qilin sword skill is a proper from style with openings that sky would find and exploit in a fight

>>38173839
>>38173917
Is it just my mistake, or isn't it supposed to be "Golden Kirin"?

>>38174052
Kirin is the Japanese spelling, I think. But yes, it was Golden Kirin in the last thread.

>>38173839
Heaven's Blessing's is somewhat unique, in a number of ways.
Most Internal Styles don't HAVE techniqies; it's just a breathing method that forms the basis of your internal energies, and is sort "always on". There's no movements or forms because it's just breathing.
Heaven's Blessing's is also like this, but it also has specific applied methods besides this; it teaches one technique that has several unique applications.

Most "forms" involve movement, therefore are external techniques.

>>38174150
This is correct.

I used Kirin before realizing there IS no "K" sound Mandarin basically, at least not as extensive as there is in Japanese.

>>38174300
So that's why our Heaven's Blessings is so dangerous. Since it does not require specific movements, it has no tells.

God Sky has got to be a pain to fight

>>38174300
So, it's not a case of Golden Qilin Sword Skill being different, it's a case of Heaven's Blessing's being different?

Do most External Styles have Techniques, then?

>>38174405
Correct.
It also can apply the techniques in almlst any fashion, though much of Sky's unpredictability comes from his formless fighting style as well.
>>38174416
Exactly.
Carefree Saber has none because (as it's name implies) it's an extremely loose style that relies on heavily refining basic principles along the concepts of speed and efficiency defeat complicated forms.

You smile in the simple contendedneas of a man knowing his belly shall soon be filled as the fire roara and crackles under sizzling chunks of meat.

You'd offer some to Kamushin, but he almost always hunts for his own food (if he even needs it; Great Condors are supposed to be immortal, you remember), which leaves more for you. The meat will dry especially well too, making it good for travel.

You eventually perk your yead up from the fire and raise an eyebrow, standing up from the side and moving away to improve your vision; you feel at least one presence in the woods nearby.

>WDYD?

>[Wait for him/her to come out, if it wants to.]

>[Invite him/her over to eat.]

>[Challenge him/her, xia to xia.]

>>38174650
>[Invite him/her over to eat.]

>>38174650
>>[Invite him/her over to eat.]
They'll just be embarrassed later on when if they fail to steal our fish.

>>38174650
>[Invite him/her over to eat.]

>>38174650
>[Invite him/her over to eat.]

>>38174650
>[Invite him/her over to eat.]
Seems most like Sky.

>>38174650
>>[Invite him/her over to eat.]

>>38174650
>[Invite him/her over to eat.]
We keep meeting people while cooking, I think that if Sky ever does the Washing Hands ceremony he should open a restaurant afterwards.

Some quick questions:

Will Sky remain the protagonist in all the new books?

Have the players ever surprised you with their choices?

Will we get more information on the origin of the Wulin/Wuxia fiction itself? Through the story itself I mean.

Presently, Sky has to find Ba, Zhu'er, Duan Lei, Yuan Shengli's daughter, the one responsible for the mess at Chengdu. How can he manage to do all of these?

How strong is the Golden Kirin Sword Style?

"There's more then enough for two if you're hungry!" you call out, your voice echoing.

There's silence at first but you ear rustling nearby to your left, and you face it. A man in simplistic rugged clothing with a spear comes out, looking curious.

"You speak Han?" he says, sounding rather surprised, speaking the Han language himself.

"And some Tibetan, but mostly Han. Why wouldn't I speak Han?" you ask curiously. You can feel his air now that you can see him directly, and while he's got some internal strength it's not much.
He looks physically really fit though, so obviously no slouch there.

"Oh good!" he says with a swift exhale. "I thought you were one of them! Your clothes were so fancy and you were armed, so I didn't know WHAT to think at first."

"I'm not one of them, I'm one of me," you confide.

"Is it seriously okay if I eat?" he asks, and you nod.

"No problem. I can catch more food later, and I doubt even the pair of us could eat a whole water deer,"

"Ha! Fair point!" he says, sitting down and laying down his weapon.

>WDYD?

>[Inquire "Them"]

>[Introduce Yourself]

>[Full Introduction]

>>38174951
>>[Inquire "Them"]
lets not scare them

>>38174900
Yes, yes, not sure what you mean, with great difficultly and strong enough to make Yuan Shengli famous over time.

>>38174951
>>[Inquire "Them"]

>>38174951
>[Inquire "Them"]

>[Introduce Yourself]

>Ask about his name

>>38174951
>[Introduce Yourself]
It's only polite. Sky may be an uncouth savage, but even he understands that.

>>38174951
>[Introduce Yourself]
>[Inquire "Them"]
For shame anons, not introducing yourselves before asking questions..

>>38174978
How much would the story have differed had we chosen to go to the the officer's tents instead of the Jinywei's tent?

>>38174951
>>[Inquire "Them"]

>>38174951
>[Inquire "Them"]
I'd like to know where in Tianxia we are.

>>38174951
>>[Introduce Yourself]

>>38175040
You wouldn't have met Steeleyes again and you'd have met Lu Kang personally.
There'd also differences in Sky's growing reputation and further consequences down the line from where we are now.

Choices do not always have immediately visible consequences, as anyone can tell you.

>>38174951
>[Inquire "Them"]
>[Introduce Yourself]

>>38174951
>>[Inquire "Them"]
>[Introduce Yourself]

>>38175148
Thought it would be something like that. Thank you.

>>38175183
I'm personally into the VN-style choices, which all seem to amount to immediate "Die", "Do Not Die", "Date" or "Do Not Date" sorta stuff.

The folks on here made so many different choices initially that I had to re-write the entire climax of book 1 for a month and a half, and also change everything that happens AFTERWORDS because of it.

>>38175239
Oops?

>>38175239
I like immediate consequences mixed with long term consequences personally.

>>38175239
As a wise man once said "no campaign plan survives contact with the player characters"

"I'm Tiankong, Sky," you introduce as he sits down, and he slaps his forehead and laughs.

"Sorry, completely forgot to introduce myself! I'm Bolin!" he says with a nod, "pleased to meet cha!"

"Who has you so jumpy?" you ask, keeping your eyes on him but searching for any more presences in the woods.

"You know, those nutcases with the fire," he says, touching to see if the meat is hot and recoiling his hand with a hiss when he finds it is not.

"No? I'm kinda lost, actually, and new in these parts besides," you explain.

"Oh?" he says, clearly surprised. "You must be; practically everyone's heard of the Holy Flame Cult around here, weather they want to or not!"

You nod, and keep your face blank, remembering your father's tumultuous history with the villainous foreign cult.

>WDYS?

>"Do I look like one of them to you?" [Curious]

>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>"So why are you out here then?" [Inquire Bolin]

>>38175504
>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>Bolin
And now I can't not picture him as a fat dude who can lavabend

>>38175504
>>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38175504
>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

File: LEGEND-OF-KORRA_Bolin.jpg (67 KB, 258x363)

67 KB JPG

>>38175543
Bolin is not fat

>>38175504
>"Oh, those guys. I thought they were gone?" [Inquire Flame Cult]
>"So why are you out here then?" [Inquire Bolin]

>>38175582
Never saw that series.
It means "Gentle Rain" and it's genuinely thought of as kind of a farmer's name.

>>38175582
>tumblr-angles shot
>not fat

>>38175609
>Never saw that series
Good. You're really not missing anything.

"Oh, THOSE guys!" you say, rolling your eyes. "I've heard of them. I thought they stuck mostly around Yuenan?"

"We'll we're in southern Huguang now, Hunan. We're so close to the southern lands that they can travel here pretty quick," he points out.

Hmm. Hunan, the southern region of Huguang is Duan Lei'd old stomping grounds.

"Besides, they've been getting REALLY aggressive lately, ever since two months ago. Folks think it has something to do with the army moving through Sichuan back then after the Battle of Chengdu,"

You sputter in surprise.
TWO MONTHS? You thought you were up here for a week or two at BEST! You were so busy hunting and focusing on studying the Golden Qilin Sword Skill that you didn't notice!

"Ugh, Zhu'er's gonna KILL me....," you mumble.

"Huh?" Bolin intones with a raised bushy eyebrow.

"Nothing," you respond with a shake of your head. "So...right after the Battle of Chengdu then huh?"

The fact that the cult your father led an army to cripple suddenly starts getting active again after you publicly reveaked yourself seems like WAY too much of a coincidence to you.

"So are you a traveling nobleman or something who got lost?"

>WDYS?

>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]
Our services might be needed.

>>38175930
>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

>>38175930
>>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]
>>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

>>38175930
>>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]
>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]
Don't mind the clothes, they were given to me.

>>38175930
>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

>>38175930
>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]
>"Looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Deflect]

>>38175930
>"Or something who got lost. Yeah. I'm looking for some friends I lost awhile back actually." [Blatant We're-Not-Discussing-This-So Don't-Even-Try Deflection]

>>38175930
>"I'm a xia. No faction." [Honest]

"Ha! No," you say smiling. These clothes Zhu'er got you confuse everybody apparently. "I'm an independent xia."

"That explains your weapon then. The Flame Cult guys tend to wear real fancy clothes, though more foreign then yours, so that's why I was confused," he agrees with a laugh.

"I'm actually looking for some friends I lost awhile back and got lost myself," you explain to the roughshod man. "Have you seen them? A girl with green hair and nails and a xia in red with a saber? The guy in red drinks a lot. Like...a LOT."

"Hmm....no green hair, but the red guy sounds familiar. Sounds a bit like Duan Lei, the Swiftest Saber in Hunan," he says, thinking.

>WDYS?

>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

>"So you haven't seen either then?" [Deflect]

>>38176373
>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

>>38176373
>>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]
He's my sworn brother.

>>38176373
>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

>>38176373
>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

>>38176373
>>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]
Bro!

>>38176373
>>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

>>38176373
>>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]
we are on a bro-trip now

>>38176373
>"Yeah, that's the guy." [Honest]

"That's him, yeah," you nod.

"Holy crap!" Bolin says, his bushy eyebrows rising up past his shaggy hairline. "YOU know the Swiftest of Hunan?"

"He's my Sworn Brother actually," you admit.

"Well don't that just beat all!" he exclaims as he takes a piece of venison and begins eating. "Duan Lei's kind of a local legend around here, you know what I mean? Even me and my brothers have met him once! He's been around half of the region and had tons of famous duels! Totally worthy of being one of the Top Ten Young Heroes!"

"Sounds like him," you say with a smile.

"I didn't know he even HAD a sworn brother!" he says, scratching his chin and thinking hard about it.

"It just happened awhile ago. We met in Chengdu and kinda bonded," you explain.

He slaps his leg and laughs.
"My brothers will DEFINITELY want to meet you then! They're xia too, and one if them has been a friend of Duan Lei for years, so they might know where he is!"

"Really?" you ask, somewhat surprised as you gulp down deer meat.

"Sure. I'm not nearly as strong as Eldest Brother though. We're part of the Jianghu ourselves, but a pretty minor group. Most of the Wulin down here near the Yuenan frontier is pretty small."

>WDYS?

>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]

>>38176691
>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]

>>38176691
>>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

This will end in violence, but it'll probably get us some info.

>>38176691
>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>>38176691
>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>>38176691
>>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>>38176691
>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]
Am I the only one who doesn't trust Bolin?

>>38176691
>>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>>38176759
No.

>>38176691
>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]

>>38176759
No. I'm also wondering why he was spying on us instead of simply avoiding us if he thought we were a Flame Cultist.

>>38176691
>>"So you'll take me to this brother then?" [Ask for Aid]

>>38176759
Bolin might be okay, but his brothers are definitely "friends" with Duan Lei.

>>38176759
I'm not too worried. Even if he is just throwing us into an embush, we can make it out easily.

That said, we should probably keep an eye on him.

>>38176691
>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]

>>38176691
>"I didn't realize Lei had so many friends down here!" [Surprised]

>>38176817
>I'm not too worried. Even if he is just throwing us into an embush, we can make it out easily.
I dunno. Just because we can beat other Xia in a fair fight doesn't mean we can necessarily beat them in an unfair fight, especially if we don't intend to push ourselves right to the limit fighting them.

>>38176876
I was thinking more along the lines of 2nd Form + Kamushin. They sure as hell ain't catching up with us.

>>38176929
Fair enough. I suppose they could put us in a situation where we can't 2nd Form our way out and Kamushin can't get to us, like, for instance, leading us into dark, winding cave.

But it's not like they were planning this so far in advance, right?

What are the odds of that?

File: 1382611683371.jpg (59 KB, 576x367)

59 KB JPG

>>38177014
How about just not entering dark winding caves, or other similarly unfavorable environments ?

It's all gonna be fine.

"So wait, you'll help me out then?" you say, genuinely surprised.

"Well, I can't help, I never met the guy. But Elder Brother did and knows him pretty well, and owes him a debt of gratitude. Elder Brother's really serious about keeping his debts, so he'll probably honor it and help you just once. He might be a little cross about though," he says with a wince.

"Why's that?"

"Like I said, he takes his debts REALLY seriously," he says with gravity. "And if you trade in on Lei's favor with him he might get pissed, because there's not any real proof that you were the guy...what if...what if Lei comes back and calls in that favor later himself? Elder Brother would be furious!"

>>38177119
...so why can't we just do something else for him in exchange?

This is even assuming that the dude can help us in the first place.

>>38177119
"I can prove he's a friend. He taught me quite a bit of his style."

>>38177196
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgHNtzxO0y8

>>38177196
...wait, wouldn't showing them Carefree Saber still mean we have to fight them?

>>38177283
Nice meme.

Looks like I might have to stop for today; I tried to post the last response I did seven times before captcha worked, and this response NINE times before captcha worked.

My internet service must be having a shitty day or something.

>>38177489
Did you reboot whatever you were using? That helps sometimes.

>>38177509
I was about to try.
If that doesn't work I'll let you know.

>>38177540
Okay, I think we're good for now.

>>38177642
awesome sauce.

>>38177642
Nice.

>>38177642
good shit.

>>38177642
Huzzah!

"Well I can prove I know Duan Lei at least," you say, thinking on the dilemma. "I know his Carefree Saber Style and can demonstrate it too. And if that's not enough I can do a favor in return. Help fight these Flame Cult guys maybe, I dunno. I'm a pretty swift hand with a sword myself, so if you need an extra man I can lend an arm or two."

"Hmm.....that might work actually...," Bolin says, scratching his chin in thought. "It might irk him just a LITTLE that he's returning the favor second-hand (Elder Brother's real particular about doing things above board), but if you prove you know him like you say AND do a favor? No way he could refuse that kinda offer. Good thinking!"

"If he still doesn't want to help it's not like I'm any worse off. Even telling me exactly where I am could help," you admit.

"What exactly where you doing out here anyway?" you ask, curious.

"Hunting," he says with a nod, lifting up his spear to show you. "Me and my brothers aren't great farmers or anything, and we live down here in the boonies so we gotta eat somehow, right?"

>WDYS?

>"Well, what if I WAS a Flame Cult member?" [Curious]

>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>"Your brother seems...kinda intense...." [Nervous]

>>38177873
>>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>"Your brother seems...kinda intense...." [Nervous]

>>38177873
>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]
>>"Your brother seems...kinda intense...." [Nervous]

>>38177873
>>"What's your faction name anyway, before I forget?" [Inquire Faction]

>>38177873
>Parenthetical speech

What wulin technique is that?

"What's your sect called anyway?" you ask, realizing you probably should've asked before seeing as how important that is in the Jianghu.

"Not a sect," he says, shaking his head. "We're a loose family group, the Bao Clan. We aren't huge or anything. Way down here most of the major Central Plains Clans don't have much influence or do with us since we're closer to Yuènán then we are any of ancient capitols."

"Is that always bad?" you ask, curious as to how the social politics of the Wulin work.

"No, some clans can become pretty powerful by being away from the Central Plains actually; away from Imperial authority means you can have more authority yourself. Some of the factions in Xiyi are basically the government there for instance, and the Yuan Clan was like that too in a bunch of ways. But the frontiers near Yuènán isn't that safe even at the best of times, since we're not always at peace with the southern tribes, and with so many southern tribes united under the overall banner of the Flame Cult it means a lot are outright hostile. This was true even before they started acting up again. And everyone almost got to thinking the new Zhurong wasn't going to be as bad as the original...," he says, sounding somewhat despondent.

>WDYS?

>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>"Let's go meet your brother once we're done here." [Travel to the Bao Clan]

>>38178347
>What do you know about the cult, anyway?
We're gonna have to meet up with these guys at some point. It's Wulin Destiny.

>>38178347
>>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38178347
>>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]
Be honest - do you really expect us to pass up on exposition?

>>38178347
>>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38178347
>[Inquire Ye Olde Flame Cult]
Seriously if this isn't related to our dramatic reveal I dunno whats going on.

What the hells a Zhurong anyway?

>>38178347
>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38178347
>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38178401
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhurong

>>38178347
>>"What do you know about the cult anyway?" [Inquire Flame Cult]

>>38178396
>Be honest - do you really expect us to pass up on exposition?

I like to give you the option at least.

>>38178546
If theres anything I learned about this. Its that if you give Sky all the puzzle pieces he will craft the ultimate jigsaw puzzle and craft a story of legend.

Plus not knowing shit is how we ended up having to kill Shengli seems like.

"So, what's up with the Flame Cult anyway? Nobody seems to be able to tell me much about them," you note, and much to your surprise Bolin shrugs.

"Back when they invaded they kinda didn't explain themselves very much," he recites, thinking. "I know the Bao Clan fought them (I was little back then) and dad died doing it, but they weren't real communicative, right? They just burned down villages and demanded tribute and slaves. Some folks up north think they were basically just acting like Jianghu foreigners always do, but I think it was just their leader," he confides.

"Zhurong?"

"Right. He was completely insane. He seemed to want to defeat every head of every clique in the Wulin, and make all the others his subjects or slaves. He seemed to change his mind on a whim, and would burn alive anyone who annoyed him but then would sometimes reward relatives. Nobody knows where he came from, but Yuènán is a safe bet, or even Khmer. Maybe he was kicked out of the Khmer Empire's version of the Wulin? Who knows?"

"But he taught his followers lesser versions of his martial arts style, enough to make a lot of them really dangerous. Most were Miao or Yue folk, but eventually Han joined in too once they saw how powerful his followers had gotten. Buncha cowards you ask me," he says dismissively.

"But the new one wasn't so bad?" you say, knowing the story of the death of the first Zhurong by now.

"Maybe not the right way to put it," he says waving his hand back and forth in an "eeeh" expression. "It's not like the Flame Cult is less hostile, it's just that the new Zhurong is a lot less aggressive with the expansion, probably because he's less powerful I'm guessing. Nobody's even see him in person and the Flame Cult's lack of expansion thinks it means he spends all of his time just trying to keep all the tribes he's unified from completely falling apart, as often happens when a strong leader dies."

"Nobody's even SEEN this new guy?" you say, surprised at that. You have a hard time imagining being scared of someone you can't even see.

"There's actually a really persistent rumor that the new Zhurong is dead and someone is manipulating the Flame Cult from behind the scenes. Would explain the sudden mood switch they've had anyway."

>WDYS?

>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>"Have you ever fought the Flame Cult?" [More Flame Cult]

>>38179260
>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179260
>"Have you ever fought the Flame Cult?" [More Flame Cult]

Inb4 the new leader of the manipulator is Sky's mom.

>>38179260
>>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

lets move on shall we

>>38179260
>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179260
>"Have you ever fought the Flame Cult?" [More Flame Cult]

>>38179260
>Head to Bao Bao Bone House
I think we've learned enough and from their name its obvious what their style is if we have to knock some heads together.

Mystery deepens though. Who could this mysterious leader be?

Does he toss acorns?

>>38179260
>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179260
>>"Have you ever fought the Flame Cult?" [More Flame Cult]

>>38179260
>>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179342
I was wondering the same thing.

>>38179260
>>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179342
>>38179432
Honestly doubt it's Ba, but mom did come from that region........ maybe a cousin?

>>38179493
No, she did not, actually.

Ma Suzheng came from Xiyi, the Western Regions as she said in the Valentines Special. In modern parlance this is the region around modern-day Xinjiang Province and eastern Khazakstan, which BTW is a really fascinating cultural region in a number of other ways.

Yuènán is a different area entirely to the far south of China (the name literally means "Beyond South) where Vietnam, Burma, and Thailand are located now.

>>38179260
>>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179493
Who's to say she's not the one manipulating things!
>>38179260
>>"Shall we go meet your Elder Brother?" [Head to Bao Clan]

>>38179260
>"Have you ever fought the Flame Cult?" [More Flame Cult]

"So you wanna go meet your brother?" you say, getting up and wrapping what's left of the meat.

"Sure just...you know, be polite, okay? He's real ornery sometimes," he suggests nervously, taking his spear.

You walk with him through the forest, which is rather warm for winter, and has crazy trees and animals you've never even seen before. Your father once talked about how diverse nature is, mentioning "the southern jungles", and this must be the kind of place he meant.

Eventually you arrive at a clearing, and see a huge jungle region covered in huts and other houses, built into trees and on the ground. Tons of roughshod-guys with weapons patrol the area, like soldiers waiting for trouble.

One of them hears you approaching and points a spear as he shouts "Declare yourself!"

"It's me you ass!" Bolin shouts back. "I've brought a guest with me too! He knows Duan Lei personally as it turns out!"

The other spearman raises an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah? Bullshit. How?" he asks.

"Sworn Brother!" Bolin says happily.

"This place is pretty ragged," you mention, impressed at how it's holding together against the assault of the wilderness. "Almost looks like a bandit camp or something."

There's a pause.

"Waitaminnute...." you mutter, narrowing your eyes just before you feel something REALLY heavy and hard hit the back of your head and you fall unconscious!

>>38180134
Goddamnit, Sky...

>>38180134
FFFFFFFFFFF- YOU GUYS ARE GETTING THE LIGHTING WHEN WE GET OUT OF THIS!

Well, Boling never said they liked Duan Lei, just that they owed him a debt. We probably should have asked what kind of debt.

>>38180134
Dammit Sky I love you but sometimes you're just so dumb...

>>38180134
This is still well within our predictions.

Hey, look at it this way: Now we have an excuse to show off our new Golden Qilin Sword Skill. I want to see what that looks like when Sky does it. With whatever internal energy technique Yuan Shenjing used, it produced arcs of golden cutting chi. Sort of a sword beam thing, I guess. So what happens when you use it with Heaven's Blessings? Should be fun to find out.

>>38180164
Well, it might not be a bandit encampment... It could be a group of Guerrilla fighters or something.

I don't think that Duan Lei would hang out much with bandits. He'd probably kick their asses first for being thieving shits. But he might have been more of an idealist in his bad old days, before he got his heart crushed.

>>38180337
The guy could've just been lying.

>>38180134
>Sky
>Getting surprised by some random ass when he is easily one of the best fighters
Come on Sage, this doesn't make sense.

>>38180368
Or he could have been telling the truth and still be a bandit. He never said that his clan's relationship with Duan Lei was a positive one, just that they owed him a debt. Could be a debt of revenge for messing with their operations.

>>38180368
I'm trying to stay positive here, and you're not helping...

>>38180407
Also we took a hit of that guy that had iron palms, we should be able to stand a hit in the back.

>>38180407
You know how that Shonen DBZ logic thing where everyone that is "ranked below" you is automatically an irrelevant threat?

You know you only EVER see it in Shonen series and it's not actually especially represented in any other example of media?

>>38180468
lol its like you've never seen a wushu story before
gentle taps to the back of the head render even the most powerful boss-monsters unconscious for hours.
If they didn't know it was about to happen, otherwise it does nothing.

actually this might be for the best we can wait for Lei to come and "save us" then we rejoin him problem solved.

Yea, as ridiculous as it sounds. This kind of thing is actually a staple in wuxia genre. Doesn't matter how badass you are, as long as you not cream of the crop then a knock on the head will knock the MC out.

You wake up later with a headache and to find you arms tied up to some kind of large pole sitting on a wooden raised platform sticking out of the dirt, still in the Bao Clan Village.

"You know," you say to no one in particular. "I'd like to say this turn of events has hugely surprised me, but it's really par for course at this point."

"Really?" comes the voice of Bolin, who walks around from the other side of the pole.

"Yeah. I mean it'd be really nice if someday I asked for help and someone just you know, GAVE it to me without clubbing me to sleep and tying me up or sending assassins after me or leading me to an inn full of hardened criminals or anything. But that's probably too much to ask, isn't it?"

He shrugs, leaning on the spear he had. The flat of it's wide blade has some blood on it.

"Life's full of give-and-take, you know?" he says by way of explanation.

"From the looks of this place," you begin, glancing around at the group that's surrounded the pole. "It's more 'take' then 'give' with you guys."

He laughs.
"You're a pretty funny dude. Not many people manage to be funny while tied up. It's not a situation that's conducive to humor I guess."

"What can I say? I'm good at finding the silver linings in stuff," you say drolly.

>WDYS?

>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?" [Joking]

Also I believe it is a pressure point? You guys ever watch movies where somebody poke another person's body in some very specific spot and suddenly they can't move? Kind of like that.

>>38180623
>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>>38180623
>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?" [Joking]

>>38180623
>[Question Bolin]
Much as I want to joke we need to figure a way out of this. Come on Sky time to use that super brain of yours to unfuck this.

>>38180623
>>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?"

>>38180623
>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?" [Joking]

return of the snark

>>38180559
>lol its like you've never seen a wushu story before
H-Haha y-yes I have read a wushu story before.
>>38180623
>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>>38180623
>>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]
then
>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?" [Joking]
Which will hopefully distract him.

>>38180623
>>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]
detective sky returns

>>38180623
>"So you're going to...what...rob me and kill me and eat me?" [Joking]

>>38180623
>>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>>38180623
>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>>38180623
>>"So, you guys ARE bandits, right?" [Question Bolin]

>>38180471
I think anon's just surprised that a trained warrior, who was able to sustain countless injuries and can channel the fucking storm, just got knocked out by being bashed on the head once. Didn't even see the attack coming.

I get what you were going for, but it feels kinda contrived.

>>38180901
It's just one of the contrivances of the genre (lots of genres actually)

>>38180990
I know, but it's really really jarring to me. One of the Ten Strongest Xia, the one who fell Yuan Shengli alone, just got knocked out by some random thief, without even putting up a fight.

>>38181041
Surprise attacks are a bitch.

>>38181041
We're not one of the 10 strongest Xia.
We fought 2 rounds of an junior-league invitational.

>>38180901
Xia are fundamentally human beings in almost all instances.

They can be injured many times while still remaining active, but you'll notice these injuries all are with less-then-immediately-lethal weaponry in less-then-lethal locations; bruises, broken ribs, slashed arms and legs, that sort of thing. These are things that NORMAL people can fight past to maintain functioning, in fact.

Many times in wuxia stories character's receive injuries in far more severe locations (in one, a deep stab to the abdomen), and the injury is so bad it pretty much cripples him from fighting for the next eight chapters, and seriously hampers him long after that, and things like internal organ damage (a really common trope in wuxia) pretty much remain an ongoing plot point for the rest of a book in many cases.

If you stab a xia, shoot a xia, or otherwise puncture or seriously hit a xia's vital points, he bleeds and suffers injury just as badly as a normal person.

The reason maneuvers like Qiu Qiangs Iron Body Skill are potent are specifically BECAUSE they allow someone to function way past the point of normal collapse and why Iron Shirt skills that render your skin unbreakable are impressive techniques for the exact same reasons.

Otherwise armies wouldn't be a threat to any xia at all, simply because the attacks they used were a "lower level" then the xia in question.

>>38181071
I think he meant "Ten Strongest of the Generation", which we nominally are just by making it into the tournament. Though that thing was heavily politicized, so it's hard to tell how accurate it is.

>>38181123
Yes, that is what I meant. My bad.

>>38181117
That's good to know for next time I guess.
I simply expected one's body to be significantly strengthened by his training, considering it allow you to break physic and summon lightning and shit.

>>38181227
Nah man, it an't DBZ or nothin'

File: m night shamamalama.jpg (8 KB, 171x253)

8 KB JPG

>>38181117
Dude, we basically got chumped by Bandit Yamcha. If he's this completely fragile and unaware of enemy attacks, I'm honestly suprised he beat the first Yamcha at all.

>>38181227
You can't really train the back of the head.

>>38181286
Ba can

>>38181286
Well, OBVIOUSLY the correct solution is to go completely bugfuck paranoid, since any random shmuck can take you down with a blow to the back if the head.

This is probably why Ba isolated himself from contact with the rest of the world barring his son, bad experiences with blows to the back of the head.

>>38181123
Sky is definitely in the Top Ten Young Heroes rankings right now.

However, his skull is made of bone and his muscles are made of meat and when you club him right in the base of the skull where it meets the spin with the flat of a spear he suffers injury the same way a normal person does.

Most "fighting genre" stuff people do these day allow their protagonists to take a level of punishment that pretty flatly would kill any protagonist in a wuxia series, but don't kill other fighting genre protagonists because of the whole completely different viewpoint Japanese stuff (and it's always Japanese stuff) takes on the subject matter.
>>38181307
No, actually, he can't.

>>38181286
No, you cannot. That does not change the fact that most settings with that kind of power level have warriors capable of taking far more punishment.

Is it a bad thing ? No, in fact I kinda like it, but it definitely took me by surprise.

>>38181339
>Not letting a Ba joke happen

Wow you're actually kinda miffed here aren't ya? I was just kidding around with>>38181307

And maybe derailing this with Ba antics, they seem to cure any level of angry

>>38181333
Or wear a helmet.

>>38181333
Actually, that's kind of why a lot of high-end masters get real subtle real fast in public; otherwise they'd be challenged constantly every single day, and while their skill certainly makes injuries LESS likely, they don't make their injuries any less severe.

Eventually you slip up or some unscrupulous bastard plays unfair and then you get real hurt and then someone ELSE challenges you and so on and so forth.

The guys who can just "NOPE" injuries are usually absurdly powerful compared to the other characters, because even powerful types fear assassination and foul play, which often desperate foes or rivals will resort to when they realizing beating their rival in a fair fight is impossible!

>>38181339
>No, actually, he can't.
Hah, this just confirms my theory. Masters don't train themselves on mountains to get stronger, they're hiding because they know anyone can hit them on the back of the head and take credit for 'beating' a master!

We must escape so we can become a hermit to prevent this from happening again!

>>38181415
Learning Iron Body or an equivalent should really be on our list of things to do then, before we get into even more dangerous situations.

"So either you're bandits and this is your bandit village or all my friends are going to pop out from behind corners and yell 'surprise' and throw me my birthday party," you say, looking at the gathering of thuggish looking men.

Bolin's eyebrows raise.
"Is it seriously your birthday today?"

"No."

"Oh. Whew!d Because I was gonna say I'd feel really bad for sucker-punching you in the back of your head if it was," he says, exhaling in relief.

"It felt more like you sucker SPEARED me on the back of the head, as a point of fact," you correct, nodding at the bloody flat of his weapon.

"Is 'speared' still the right verb when I used the flat? I thought that specifically meant like, 'stabbing' something?" Bolin asks, thinking on it.

"Huh. I dunno. Maybe if I HRRRRRRRGH!" you suddenly grunt, veins popping out of your neck as you strain every muscle in your body against your bonds!

Bolin raises an eyebrow.

Eventually you stop, exhaling a bit.

"You were trying to distract me with talk before flexing real hard and busting out of those ropes weren't you?" Bolin says, sounding a bit amused.

"Yeah, kinda...," you say sheepishly, trying to see what kinda knot they used on this thing as you turn your head. It's like....REALLY tight.

"Yeah, good luck. That rope's triple layered and you'd need a good-sized axe to cut through it,"

"It's a little TIGHT isn't it? Kinda hard to breathe?" you point out, annoyed.

"You mean 'kind of hard to breath and circulate my qi to increase my strength?" Bolin asks, still smiling.

You're silent for a moment.

"Well...that might have been an enjoyable side-benefit, yeah," you say.

"I wouldn't bother anyway. I saw how you were built; lean but strong. You're fast as hell I'd bet, but you can't do things like smash boulders with just your brute muscle force or tear apart quintuple-braided ropes layered four times with your bare hands either."

>>38181713
Can we burn them off with a pulse of lightning?

>>38181770
You create lighting from your body by circulating your qi...which is breathing.

>Reroll character
Obviously we're fucked.

>>38181846
Obviously the bandit leader is another waifu. Do you not get how this works?

>>38181713
This whole turn of event is making me question Sky's supposedly high intellect.

>>38181846
That's kind of how it feels, isn't it ?
But hey, maybe we can concentrate really hard and still do our breathing thing ? Maybe ?

>>38181805
Yeah, but we don't need that much lightning. We don't need to burn it all off at once, just get them smoldering so they fall apart. If we can get just a little chi circulating we should be able to set it off. What's this stuff made of?

>>38181884
>>38181846
Just wait for Lei to come and save us
we get back with our Bro and Zhu'er

>>38181713
Can we ask him how much he hates our bro for doing this? He's obviously planned ahead probably for our lovable sworn brother.

I mean come on we aren't even really worth robbing so this is obviously a personal matter that we accidentally set off by telling him about our friend.

I'd ask to throw in a bondage joke but Sky's too naive for one.

>>38181955
uuhh we did have like 30 silvier taels on us which just one can buy a large house and then some

>>38181955
>we aren't even really worth robbing
Except for, yknow, that one scroll we got from Shengli, with his entire technique explained in detail, and all the money we were carrying.

Fucking oops

>>38182002
Oh so we WERE worth robbing! Here I thought otherwise and Sky was a bum!

Now we kinda have to do something on principle don't we? Ah well.

First we gotta talk our way out of this or stall long enough for dramaticus ploticus to save our hero.

"You used QUINTUPLE-braided ropes?!" you ask in disbelief. "Out of...what is this, some kind of wood fiber?"

That's the stupidest thing you've ever heard. It would take hours and hours to make ropes this thick out of wood fibers. You could tie down a rampaging tiger with that.

"Yup. It's a slow-burning wood too!" he says cheerily. "So even if you COULD breathe enough to circulate your qi (it took us awhile to figure out how tight it could be without suffocating someone while still restricting breathing), if you lit it on fire you'd burn yourself alive before they fell apart!" he says proudly, which makes you think this whole rope thing was his invention.

"...how would anyone want to set a rope on fire by breathing?" you ask, totally lost.

"Wow, you weren't kidding about being from elsewhere, huh? The Flame Cult have some kind of crazy internal art that excites their Yang chi until it ignites when they expel it from their body, so they make fire. Don't ask me how." he explains.

Wait....a purely Yang-manipulation-based technique?
That...ALMOST sounds like your Heaven's Blessings method, somehow....isolating Yang rather then rotating Yin and Yang after separating it like you do....

Your head is lowered in thought as you begin pondering the implications.

"Umm....excuse-" Boli begins, but you interrupt him.

"Shut the fuck up, I'm thinking....could I do that?" you mumble. "Maybe if I...no, that wouldn't work, that cancel the Yin and I'd boil to death in my own fluids, wouldn't I? Shit, there's gotta..."

"Um....hey look, if I could-"

>WDYS?

>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>"Sorry, got a little distracted." [Refocus]

>>38182184
>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>"Sorry, got a little distracted." [Refocus]

>>38182184
>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]
Goddamn Bolin, we are trying to invent a new technique here!

>>38182184
>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]
Fuck you Bolin, ou weren't worth our damn deer meat.

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>[Irritation]
Unless you're either going to untie these bonds and return my stuff shutup and let me THINK! MAD GENIUS WAITS FOR NO MORTAL XIA OR OTHERWISE!

I wonder if he was gonna be nice or realized Sky was suddenly trying to figure out an escape method he hadn't thought of. I doubt it. Unless this is their idea of meeting people and they're freaks bigger then Ba and his training methods.

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

Hopefully I'm not too late

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

>>38182184
>>"Kinda busy thinking here!" [Irritation]

"I said shush you, I'm thinking. This is kind of more important then this shit," you say, waving your head around at the bandit camp and then going back to pondering.

"Well, hey now-" he begins.

"Wait," you say, looking up at him. "Do they move a lot?"

"I...what?"

"The Flame Cult fighters who make fire. Do they move a lot?"

"Uh...yeah they kinda do? They use lots of really physically aggressive foreign combat styles...knees and elbows and punches, real savage stuff?"

"They'd HAVE to, wouldn't they?" you mumble "I can rotate my energies when standing still but they'd need to keep moving to make sure their Yang is hyperactive...,"

You need to thank Zhu'er next time you see her. Her brief lessons on qi metaphysics really help with this stuff. You know enough to do pressure-points and understand qi flows, but not enough to do medicine, which at this moment doesn't matter anyway; this is an internal energy flow thing!

"Aren't you going to ask-" he begins, but you interrupt him again.

"What you're doing with me? No thanks, I figured that out just before when you hit me," you say, going back to ignoring him.

"What?! Bullshit!" he says in disbelief.

"You're bandits but you didn't kill me," you begin impatiently reciting. "And you know Lei. He's a chivalrous xia and was a peasant farmer himself, so he's less likely to be a former member because he's part of the class worst affected by bandits. I could tell you weren't lying about anything you said which is why I didn't get suspicious of you until it was too late. That means your Elder Brother really IS honest in the sense that he's an 'honest thief' and he probably took
Lei defeating him pretty seriously. Since he's an aboveboard guy he'll only try to get his revenge by publicly challenging him to erase his humiliation in the Jianghu. How am I doing so far?"

The bandits all look at each other flabbergasted.

"Therefore when you heard I was his sworn brother you knocked me out without killing me to use me as s hostage to lure Lei out so Elder Bao can fight him in a rematch and hopefully win. Maybe use me as a hostage to make him loose but the genuine fear in your voice talking about your brother's temper leads me to believe that defying his orders like that would really piss him off because he wants a fair fight. All of which is a COMPLETELY stupid plan because I have NO idea where Duan Lei is right now, which I ALREADY told you, and it's not like he stays in one place long enough for a post office to find him and I'm betting none of you can write ANYWAY, right!?"

They all pause.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'."

>>38182766
Ah, there's that smartass we all love. Even when he's fallen into a trap, he's still picking apart his enemy's motivations and plans to the point that they feel like the stupid one in the exchange. Classic Sky.

"How the hell did he figure that out?" one guy with a saber asks after a second.

"Yeah, even I didn't know that was the plan, I though Bolin was just capturing him 'cause he was rich?"

"Holy shit I actually CAN'T write! He can READ MINDS GUYS!"

You sigh and roll your eyes.

>WDYS?

>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>"Now let me out of here or I'll get out on my own and people will start getting hurt!" [Threaten]

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>>Negotiate Peacefully

Hah. They're fucking morons I love it.

>>38183032
>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183089
>Hah. They're fucking morons I love it.

To be fair Bolin isn't too bad but one and all they're poorly educated, and Sky's whole style is based around analyzing patterns weaknesses, hah.

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183153
The guy who thinks we can read minds as opposed to just realizing we know he's never had access to formal education is genuinely an idiot, though. And I love him. Can we have him as a sidekick?

>>38183220
Sidekicks aren't allow sidekicks, it's against regulations!

>>38183220
I want him to follow us around and just be generally amazed whenever we show profound insight.

>>38183275
I thought we were an animal companion?

>>38183032
>>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

>>38183220
what Wulin is trying to say is MIGHTY KAMUSHIN won't allow his sidekick to have a sidekick.

"Alright now go get your boss," you say, waving your for Bolin or whoever to go get someone important.

"Why SHOULD I?!" he asks, clearly irritated at having been so obviously mentally shown up by you.

"Because I can say exactly five words to him and get myself free peacefully and nobody gets hurt, or I can say one proper noun right now and get free myself violently which ends in a lot of you dead and messed up," you say flatly, without any humor at all.

Bolin narrows his eyes.

"I think you're bluffing," he says after a second of thought.

"And I think you're an idiot. Which one of us has guessed right about everything the other one does so far?" you say sarcastically.

"I'll go get Elder Brother. You guys watch him," he says, walking off.

You sigh, willing to wait a few more minutes for freed.

One of the bandits watching you walks over, scratching his beard.

"So....CAN you read minds, or not?" he asks after a second, his saber leaning on his right shoulder.

You roll stare at him in disbelief for a second.

"Sure, why not."

"So then...what am I thinking about right now?"

"You're wondering about if I can really read minds, what my plan is, what the five words are, and what a 'proper noun' is. In no particular order."

"Holy shit."

"Also you became a bandit because you thought it would be easier then farming and you've been drinking in the last hour."

"Holy. Fucking. Shit." he says, clearly impressed.

You sigh exasperatedly.
Never mind. You want out now.

>>38183032
>"Go get your boss, I want to negotiate. I have something he'll want to hear." [Negotiate Peacefully]

With a side order of messing with the illiterate bandit, please.

>>38183587
Ah comic relief.

>>38183611
wish granted, bro.

File: Slowpoke.png (419 KB, 3333x3244)

419 KB PNG

>>38183611
I'll slowpoke myself, thank you...

>>38183587
Sky should set up an agency and become the Wuxia Detective.

>>38183778
There are many of those already, he'd have too much competition.

>>38183858
>>38183778
We could be buddy cops with Steeleyes.

>>38183921
That would be pretty cool since Steeleyes is pretty much an Inquisitor.

Eventually a huge barrel-chested man in similarly dirty clothes with a wild salt-and-pepper beard with a large axe resting on one shoulder walks up.

"So where the hell is he?" he growls, looking around until he sees you.

He lumbers up to you, and you can see how much raw muscle he's packing; he's definitely physically stronger then you are, and from the feel of his air his internal energy isn't slouching either. He's not as powerful as you or any of the other top ten young xia, but when combined with his muscle power he's certainly a force to be wary of.

When he leans over to look at you, his beady black eyes glimmer with cunning as well; you're not going to trick your way past this guy, so you just have to hope he's as straightforward as you think he is.

"So you're the smartass who's been tricking my boys?" he growls, his breath spicy-hot with some garlic-heavy food he was eating and full of strong wine smells.

"Yes and no," you answer.

"Come again?"

"Yes I'm a smartass, no they're not being tricked. I'm still tied up, obviously."

>WDYS?

>"So you have a grudge with Duan Lei?" [Inquire Boss}

>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>>"So you have a grudge with Duan Lei?" [Inquire Boss}

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

Captcha: Gamer
Nah,, captcha, Sky is a playah.

>>38184065
>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38183921
>One's a lightning hobo mountain man who doesn't play by the rules
> The other's a by the book detective from the capital
> The fight crime in "Jianghu Heat"

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184065
>>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

>>38184170
I'd pay to watch that shit.

>>38184065
>"You're an honorable man, right?" [Straight to the Point]

"Introductions first. I'm Tiankong, Sky," you say seriously.

"I'm Bao Boqin," he says back, seeming to appreciate your directness. "At least you have manners."

"Actually I'm told I'm rather tactless, but that's not really important right now. You keep your debts and pay them back, right?" you ask.

"An honorable man does, doesn't he?" Boqin says, tracing a finger down his cheek. "See this? It's a scar your sworn brother gave me in our last fight. Next time I pay back that debt."

"You keep your debts to EVERYONE?" you ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Everyone. Regardless of who and when," he says proudly, standing up and stroking his messy salt and pepper beard.

"What if they die or vanish or whatever with their debt unfulfilled?"

"They'd damn well BETTER not!" he growls.

"And if they do?" you press.

"Then their children pick up the debt. I'll be lenient and give them a chance to make amends or repayments within their abilities though. I'm not a cruel man," he claims boldly.

"Hm. Good stuff," you say nodding.

"So how about these five magic wor-" he begins and you interrupt him.

"My father is Feng Rengshu."

There's a hushed pause around the bandit hideout.

>>38184511
Man, you get a dramatic response from the reveal just once and now you can't wait to tell people. it's going to lose its impact if you keep doing this, Sky.

>>38184550
what? nah, this won't get old for, like, years!
Plus, it'll be a sweet pickup line.

>>38184649
Yeah, because Sky needs one of those. He's had such bad luck with women so far.

>>38184669
How many is Sky up to now? 5? 7?

>>38184669
the absolute worst luck he needs every advantage he can get.

>>38184550
Sky's using it as a weapon right now. More importantly what kind of honorable self respecting fighter like Bao Boqin will pass up a chance to fight the Son of the Storm Dragon? I think I get what Skys up to. If his sworn brother can't show up to pay the debt because he's busy doing god knows what he'll take up the debt himself and fight an honorable duel for his freedom and to settle a score.

At least I think he's that clever. Sky's a mixture of genius and Bob from Reboot. He's smart as hell but he never has a plan.

>>38184708
Keep in mind, that's the number of women who have punched sky, not slept with him.

>>38184781
These don't really contradict each other.

Bao Boqin leans, looking you right in the eyes for a second. Then he turns around and walks off the platform.

"Cut him loose," he commands.

"What?!" Bolin says, clearly disbelieving.

"You heard me," Boqin says, as the other men obey.

You inhale, regaining your breath and circulating your energy, gripping your fingers to run circulation back through them.

"Thank you Chief Bao," you say respectfully.

"Don't thank me yet," he says quickly, turning around, and placing the head of his axe on the ground, his hands over the pommel. "You're going to have to prov-"

You interrupt him again clenching your right fist hard, lighting crackling through it for all to see and a sound like thunder ripping through the air briefly.

The whole bandit camp with the exception of Boqin jumps back in surprise.

"Satisfied?" you ask, folding your arms.

Boqin's face is serious, but the response you get is even more impressive then you thought!

Boqin gently gets to his knees, lays his axe beside him...and kowtows.

"Chief Bao Boqin of the Bao Clan humbly requests the Son of Storm Dragon forgive his family and siblings for treating him so poorly in his house!" he says, face to the dirt!

Everyone's flabbergasted...including you.

"What are you waiting for IDIOTS!?" he shouts at his men. "APOLOGIZE!!"

They all of them, all thirty or so, (even Bolin) scramble to get down right beside their boss!

"THE BAO CLAN APOLOGIZES FOR IT'S BEHAVIOR!! WE BEG FORGIVENESS" they all cry at once.

You aren't sure what to say.

>>38184781
With Sky hatred and love are basically the same thing. He's charming like that, a great big hatefuck magnet. You want to pummel him but by the Tao does his face just scream handsome and disease free!

And I'm positive all his accidental woo'ing of ladies will catch up to him at a later chapter where he's literally on the run the entire time from the women he's met trying to either kill him, tie him down to a bed, or trapping him in a corner trying to explain their feelings and he's having none of it.

>>38184903
Well this is a pleasant and probably not healthy in the long term surprise.

>>38184937
That actually happened a few chapters ago, remember?

>>38184937
Except he openly said to them that he couldn't focus on romance at this point of his life due to his mission to find Ba, he will probably give the D to Zhue'r soon anyway.

>>38184962
Really? I only came into this back when the Hiatus was over. I've been too busy to risk the perils of suptg working and having a life.

Seriously its like crack. you just go in for one thread and suddenly its 4 am and you're scrambling for whatever caffine you got to get through your morning workshift.

I really oughta go find that chapter though it sounds hilarious.

>>38185001
>he will probably give the D to Zhue'r soon anyway.

Note to self: Pick up some internal arts to deal with poisons.

>>38185004
This is kind of a continuity-based game, so reading earlier chapters will help explain not only a lot of other stuff but a lot of the metaphysics.

>>38185004
Here we go: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/36797831/

>>38184903
>You aren't sure what to say.

How about "Nah guys, it's cool."

>>38185056
Oh, and part 2, I forgot we went long that day: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/36815798/

>>38185001
Zhengzhu is best girl though

>>38184903
"How about you help me with a small request of mine and we'll call it even with no hurt feelings?"

>>38185056
>>38185082
Thank you. I'm not even past the opening parts and I'm already having chuckles. I might need to put this off though I gotta be moving at the asscrack of dawn. Morning shift sucks sometimes.

"Y-yeah sure, you're forgiven, no worries!" you stammer out.

Boqin gets to his feet, and picks his axe back up.

"So how do you know I'd let you go if you said you were Storm Dragon's son?" he asks, curious.

"Bolin talked about fighting the Flame Cult," you point out, nodding in his direction. "This part of the province is pretty close to Yuènán as well, which means it would be right in the path of the Flame Cult's rampage. You're bandits but that doesn't mean you were on good terms with them, which meant you'd have to fight them. Since this is WELL within the territory they logically could've begun to conquer before hitting the Central Plains, your home ground effectively would be occupied by the Flame Cult and you'd either have run or been fighting a fruitless war against superior numbers behind enemy lines."

He nods, following you.

"This means you'd be indebted to Ba after he helped push back the Flame Cult and it's extremely unlikely you had chance to repay it since he disappeared soon after. Since he's gone and even I don't know where he is, the debt transfers to me, ergo you let me go."

Bolin just stares with his jaw-dropped.

Boqin looks at you fiercely, slowly walks over then claps both of his hands on your shoulders hard enough for you to wince, and you wonder if perhaps you pressed your luck too far.

"wwwwwwwwWWWIIIIIIIIIINEEEE!" he shouts, and then begins laughing, hugging you to one side as you walk deeper into the village in his bone-crushing grasp.

You guess you've made a new friend.....

>TO BE CONTINUED

>>38185202
Sky's the best at making friends.

>>38185202
Great run today Sage! Thank you.