"Well, since you are already working on rituals, we should focus on Chi for now. Unfortunaly there isn't much of formal studies on Chi, other than an acient scroll written by a panda sage, so you will have to rely on your intuition, but Bao did say you have an affinity for this, and you managed to perfectly perform rituals, so I believe you will have no problems." You say. "Chi is deeply personal, to the point where it's difficult for any two people to use it in the exact same way. It's the force that most embodies 'you', so that's why everything is vague on it. You're the type of person who likes to understand everything they come across, and it'd be difficult to understand something you can't even feel...so let's focus on that. Feeling chi, both your own and the chi of others. For many, it's a journey of a lifetime to even discover who they are and another lifetime to even be able to feel and then tap into it. There are few people in this world who can do so and I wouldn't be surprised if you can count those people on both hands."

"And you think I can do that? In less than a year?" Ming asks doubtful.

You shrug. "I think you can do it. Sometimes talent is something you discover. Not everyone knows what they can and cannot do. The biggest step to mastery is the first one. How can you ever know if you're not willing to make the leap?" Ming stirs her now cold soup and pets Xin Lan with her free hand. The rabbit simply sits still enjoying the attention and says nothing. Ming seems to gather her thoughts and looks down at Xin Lan.

"So what does Chi feel for you?" She asks. Xin Lan shrugs.

"I dunno. Never used the stuff." They say. "Not my deal."

"Really? Tai Lung and Ren do. I thought you'd know just like them." She says. "You should practice with me."

"I probably shouldn't. I would over shadow you and then you'd only be discouraged." They tease. Ming ruffles Xin Lan's ears.

"That settles is. We'll be training partners." She says. "If you don't show up then I'll never share my food with you and you'll never be allowed to cuddle up with me at night."

"You'd never do that." Xin Lan replies as they look up at Ming.

"Try me." Ming says with a grin. As the two stare at each other, you hear a soft knock at the door and see Renshu step inside with his hands full, menus in one arm and plates on the other.

"Hello." He says gently as he places a plate with a large slice of pie infront of you along with a menu. He gives you a smile as squeezes your shoulder with his menu filled hand as he serves everyone else. "I've pull this pie out of the oven. It's made with vegetables found mostly native to this mountain." He explains. "Hopefully their hardiness adds to the flavor of the dish."

"Thanks." You say as you risk a small pat on Renshu's hand. Xin Lan scurries off of Ming's lap and into their seat as they eagerly await their food. Ming sets her half empty bowl aside and opens her menu again to look for something else to order...or at least attempting to. As casually as she could she asks, "Hey Ren...what's Chi like for you? Tai Lung was just telling me about it." Renshu picks up her bowl and gives her a soft smile, his eyes sad.

"I'm afraid it's best you don't know anything about my techniques. I'm blessed enough that you can stand to call me family. Give how subtle and personal Chi is, I simply can't stand to imagine you losing what makes you pure." He says quietly as he pets her head. "However, I have full confidence that however you go about it, you'll make us more than proud." Ming seems somewhat conflicted about that answer but doesn't push the issue. Instead she orders something else and asks you,

"What about you Tai Lung? What is Chi for you?"

>What do you say?
>A barricade. Something that you use to stop the tide of evil by forcing them to cease what they're doing.
>Absolution. You take the anger and pain of those who would do wrong. Shoulder their burdens for them so that they can see clearly once more.
>Redemption. You force people to feel what they inflict on others so that they can see the consequences of their actions and find a path forward.
>Write in.

>>5029377
>Reflection. As every force pushes, so it has to be pushed. Inner peace is as much the understanding of your own heart as the heart of others.
Because that's how the benevolent fist works.
Also remember to archive theast thread boss.

>>5029616
Last thread, not whatever word theast is.

>>5029377
>it used to be power. Control. Stop, be still, I commanded it and made others obey. But then it changed, as I changed, it stopped being about control and became Absolution, I wanted to stop hurting people, to stop pain and halt evil, protect rather than break. I must thank tigress for that, she gave me the position and opportunity to realise this ideal, and Renshu's presence made it important to get right. And that was where the change occured, facing a woman I didnt want to hurt and showing my best doubter the truth of my belief.

So does Tai Lung have a character sheet yet?

>>5030834
Nope.

But I'm sure of we are tismic enough we can compose one

>>5030834
No, but I can make a list of styles and our inventory that I remember.
I don't feel like combing through the archive to find everything, so there may be mistakes
Tai Lung, friend of the wind
Master of Leopard style, Dragon Style, atleast knows many others.
Knows how to do Chaotic Meditation, has the barest basics of the benevolent fist.
Can do Chi strikes, astral project, travel to Eureka, absorb wiunds from others, sense emotions and talk to sprites and spirits, being fluent in wind and knowing a bit of water.
Has the mysterious stranger hat, scarf and robes are ragged, tailor is making a not-assasin creed travelling clothes with cloak, that can work for both winter and summer.
Money is not counted and barely mentioned, so fuck if I know.
Should I try social links too, or a making sheet for other characters?

>Talking about archives, last thread still haven't been archived.

I tried to make a character sheet. Never really panned out. You're welcome to give it a go though. I'd love to see what you guys think. Also work sucks. I'll get to writing.

"It used to be power. Control. Stop, be still, I commanded it and made others obey. But as I changed, it changed. It stopped being about control and became absolution. I wanted to stop hurtin gpeople, to stop pain and halt evil, protect rather than break. But not everyone can be saved through words. Some people feel like they're too far gone or have lost themselves to the darkness within. It's for these people that I have to show them what they're doing. Show them a reflection of who they are so that they can find the path to better themselves." You say. "Chi is not a tool to use. It's something more deep and personal. Something that comes from within and is a part of who you really are. You can't lie about it or make it seem like something else. It's the truest expression of someone."

Ming goes quiet and the only sound that can be heard is the soft chewing of Xin Lan as they fill their cheeks with pie. "So then what would be mine?" She asks as she watches the small bunny. "I'm betting Xin's would be food."

"Food is me and I am food." They reply as they reach out to steal a bite from Ming to which she simply pins down Xin Lan's fork with her own.

"I don't know. That is something you'll need to discover on your own. It's a long journey and what you might discover right now could simply be the base of the mountain. As you study yourself more and as you learn more about Chi, you may soon see more to it than you originally thought." You explain.

"I wonder what Ren didn't want to tell us." Ming asks outloud once he returns to the kitchen to make everyone's order.

"That's something personal to him." You say. "If he doesn't want to say it then I suspect that he still needs time to process it himself. Perhaps he wants to find something else."

"You know, don't you?" She asks but you remain silent. You didn't feel like it was right to talk about Renshu's past without his permission. Instead, you decide, in your infinite mercy, to shift the attention to you.

"A-anyways, I...umm...I was talking to Renshu and I...suggested something that could help the buisness." You begin, wondering how to phrase this or perhaps soften the incoming storm.

"Well, what'd you say?" Xin Lan asks as they continue to wrestle for their fork.

"I...well I...maybe suggested he try to do a couple's night?" You say sheepishly. "So people don't think he's going after women." You quickly add. The room goes quiet once more and your two friend stop fighting with their utensils only to turn and stare at you.

"A...date night?" Ming repeats.

"Ooh...you gonna ask Stripes out for a date?" Xin Lan teases. "Is that the cover for this?"

"N-no! I just thought that it would be a good way to help! He's worried about what's going on and I think we should do something." You stammer. "I just...don't know how to go about it. There are a lot of rumors."

"Rumors we can handle." Xin Lan says. "It's not like they're true anyways."

"We'll need a way to spread word about the event too." Ming says. "Maybe pass out flyers or something like that."

"I was thinking Renshu stays behind in the kitchen though." You admit. "That way people don't take it the wrong way."

"But isn't the point for people to see what kind of person he is?" Ming asks. "I don't think it'd look good for him if all he does is stay in the kitchen and avoid everyone."

"She's got a point, big guy." Xin Lan says. "If the host spends all his time out of sight, it's gonna make some people suspicious."

"So what do you suggest?" You ask. "I mean he has to be in the kitchen, he's the only one who knows the recipies." Xin Lan thinks for a moment.

"That's a tough one." Ming admits. "It's not like we can stuff everyone into the kitchen."

"No. But we can stuff the kitchen into the dining room." Xin Lan replies. "Or we can host it outside. Think of it like a show. People can watch Stripes cook. He can chat with the guests or one of us can deliver messages to him. That way the people can interact with him but he doesn't need to leave his post and people know that any replies we give him are from him. He's entertaining his guests, feeding them, chatting. Just what a good host will do. Plus there's the enterainment value. No one else in the city cooks infront of their guests and makes a show of it."

>What do you say?
>Write in.

>>5031022
>I think it would be best if the kitchen is put as far away as me as possible, unless you want the guest to be poisoned, or burned alive.
>Maybe we could put a window to the cooking area though, so the guests can see him working, and know when I go to talk to him for his advice. He should also try to welcome people and say the goodbye. Maybe we could merge a myterious aura with a welcoming and a master chef.
Third time shilling my plan, I won't mention it anymore after this, because it would be too autistic even for me
>>5025003
Also third time reminding to archive the last thread, it's still on page 9, but better to be safe than sorry

>>5031038
Your autism game is weak.

But yes, I am in support of it.
Maybe get the canapes and starters done inside, but the main and desserts can be served out in the main hall.
Make it a spectacle.

>>5031038
>
>>5031065
Buns will be getting their date night. All 5 of them.

>>5031038
I do need to point out that if you want to set up Xin with brown bun for a date this event, Xin won't be able to run information during the event. They'll be with brown bun and it'd be pretty rude if the snow princess keeps leaving her table to talk to her brother.

"I think it'll be best if I'm as far away from the kitchen as possible. Unless we want a mass murder on our hands." You say.

"Oh right..." Ming whispers. "Tai Lung does have that super power. He might cause all the food to explode or something."

"Ok so the big guy isn't allowed in the kitchen." Xin Lan agrees. "I'll talk to Stripes while you man the tables. We can have him chat with the guests that way. Once they get more comfortable and things start to ease up, then maybe Stripes can go out and thank everyone. Maybe we'll have him do a small show outside for dessert or the final course. First we'll focus on quelling the rumors. Maybe spread word that this event will be like nothing anyone has ever seen before. We want people to be curious enough that it'll push them past their apprehention. We can't really pass out rumors and fix everyone's ideas. It'll just make a mess but we can give reason enough to want to visit. Then when the guests have a great time, it'll be them who will be spreading their version of the truth. The city will be more willing to believe it's own people than planting rumors here and there. Especially when there is real evidence to corroborate it. Perhaps we can set up more events later in the year. We can really get a good reputation for this kind of thing. You and Ming can man the tables while I run information." The rabbit thinks for a moment. "We'd need some good food though. Stripes's regular dishes won't do..."

"Ming could look up local customs for dating." You suggest. "If we show the people we care about their traditions then it'll give them more reason to like us."

"Ooh I know a few cook books from the library!" Ming says excitedly. "I can copy some of them and ask around for date stuff. We might be able to set up some decorations as well to add to the mood. I think I saw a few books about traditions here. It might have the information we need."

"Excellent." Xin Lan says. "We got a plan coming together." They give you a smile and you shiver. You recognized that smile. "And we'll find sometime for you to be alone with Stripes, don't worry. It is date night after all. Wouldn't be good if the power couple didn't get some time to themselves for making out."

"I-...we wouldn't- I mean we don't..." You start as your face grows red hot.

"Xin, don't tease him like that. It's not nice." Ming giggles. "I'm sure Tai Lung and Renshu make enough time to make out while we're doing our own thing. Maybe they've even moved past that and consumated their relationship."

"Not you too..." You mumble as you hide your face in your hands. You were fairly certain that you misconstrued your death as a sign of self sacrifice rather than a premonition that your friends would be your real killers.

---

You pass the time talking about idle things over your meal as you ussually do. Talking about things like people acting like fools in the market place, new lessons learned, and various ideas and goals you had for your time here. Eventually, you all settle down with the happy heaviness of being full. As Xin Lan stretches and looks ready for a nap and Ming idly reads through one of her many books, you realize that there is still time in the day to do something else.

>What do you want to do?
>Go and talk to the friends of the attackers. They're probably still at the game hall.
>Go speak to Renshu about your lessons in cooking.
>Go speak to Sangpo about your idea in the Spirit Realm.
>Find the brown rabbit and have him ask Xin on a date. The couples night would be perfect for it. Plus a bit of revenge wouldn't hurt...or perhaps you might pick up something you can use in romance...hopefully.
>Grab Ming and get started on some extra trianing.
>Write in.

>>5031325
>Ask about lessons.
If it is early evening, let's do this. If mid day.

>Wish renshu good luck and head to talk to the friends of the attackers.

>>5031324
>Find the brown rabbit and have him ask Xin on a date. The couples night would be perfect for it. Plus a bit of revenge wouldn't hurt...or perhaps you might pick up something you can use in romance...hopefully.
>Go and talk to the friends of the attackers. They're probably still at the game hall.
Talking to the monkey is not time sensitive, and it's not like he is going anywhere.
It's shame since I really want to do it but I voting to delay it.
>>5031319
In that case we should chaotic meditate to pick up the gossip, or atleast be one running the tables.
Ming can be the one that goes to the kitchen and talk to him. This is a even better idea since it ahould stop our passive from ruining the food.

>>5031333
>>5031448
So what's the plan? Training Ming or brown bun shenanagins? Or try and go for the game hall?

>>5031718
I want to go find the brown bunny and set up the date than go to the mahjong place.
The first one shouldn't take that long. Hopefully.

>>5031718
Go for the game hall, We can do the other stuff later.

I disagree with the brown bun thing, fun as it is. We kinda need Xin for the info running.

But I'm willing to roll a d2 for it.

>>5031745
We can do the info gathering and Ming can do the info running.
Since we are making a show of Renshu cooking, she wouldn't be able to be much help on the kitchen anyway.

At least you both agree on seeing the attackers friends. So we can do that first and you can decide what to do next?

>>5031760
My only concern is with the proficiency.
Xin knows what to do, we decidedly don't. But hey, if it's that simple even we can do it, we can get a few pointers and do it ourselves.

>>5031768
Sure, it gives us more time to debate our course while also moving the show along.

>>5031768
Sure thing boss.
>>5031813
Well, Xin was supposed to be the one gathering info right? So if we just tryvto chaotic meditate while serving the table, we would get all the details.
Than we can pass it off to Renshu through our psychic link, and he passes it to Ming, and she is the one that guves the advice, since she is the more compacionate one.
She can be the owner's/chef's assitant who gives his messages and regards in his place while Renshu is showing oof his cooking.

>>5031828
Also Renshi should be able to filter the info, he is the one that taught us how to deal with the overwhelming feeling while meditating right?
I think this way might actually even be more effecient than than the original idea actually.

>>5031813
I suppose it depends on how much you want Xin's involvement in delivering info. Because TL can gather info with chaotic stuff and Ming can certainly pass any questions or statements to Ren as well as relaying that back to the customers. Prior to the couple's night, Xin can certainly go around spreading info and counter rumors. It's just if you want to set him up with a date with brown bun then they can't really leave their table.

Of course even with chaotic meditation, TL is still limited by his own social skills. Which while comptetent due to his marital arts training are obvisouly not on par with the rabbits'.

>>5031831
>>5031828
Slight worry that this would distract renshu and deliver the curse.

Something to discuss with him I suppose.
Hey, once we are done with the gabling den, we can sit outside and try to talk to Renshu, see how far our telepathy reaches.
Then would be a great time to check.

You decide to go and do a bit more investigating while things were peaceful. If experience had taught you anything is that these things tend to blow up if left unmonitored. You say goodbye to your friends, take a few minutes to cool off after Renshu sneaks another peck on the cheek, and make your way towards the area Xin Lan told you about. The building was a rather plain one, nothing remotely like the various buisnesses you've seen in the main market place. The only sign that revealed the building's intent was a small sign above the door that said "Games" though the faded nature of the wooden board implied it might have said more.

Various benches and small tables were lined out infront of the place but the majority of the noise came from within. It wasn't the loud revelry that you hear from bars but rather the noise that came from several different conversations going on at the same time, like a market condensed into one building. You approach the entrance and only earn a few passing glances from a few older patrons who were busy with their games of mahjong and cards. While not something you considered inviting, you prefered it this way and as soon as you enter the hall the air changes. It was lively and comforting with people of all ages playing board games, chatting, or simply hanging around and enjoying the day winding down.

You look over the small sea of people but can't really manage to pin down anyone suspicious. It seems like you are going to do this the old fashioned way and do some investigating.

>How do you search for your targets?
>Find someone who looks like they're in charge. Ask them about the men.
>Wander around and search. Surely after yesterday's events, these men would want to keep to themselves. You could look that way.
>Ingrain yourself with the people. Play games and chat. Perhaps someone knows the men you're looking for.
>Write in.

>>5031845
>Look for people close in age and look to the men from the attack, it should narrow our search by assumption.
>Then look for someone amongst that sort of people who everyone else is showing deference too, or who is the powerful personality among that group. They are likely to make the most friends.

>>5031844
Hey, if sending tips to him would distract him, than it would be a doomed idea from the start.
Not only that but talking to him would mean entering the kitchen, and risking people hearing the gossip.
>>5031845
>Ingrain yourself with the people. Play games and chat. Perhaps someone knows the men you're looking for.
Activate gossip hearing mode.

Also I just archived the last thread, hope I didn't fuck up anything.

>>5031890
>>5031855
Easy combo. Ingratiate ourselves with the target demographic.

>>5031907
Operation market analyst Tai Lung is a go.

>>5032032
Market analysis shows that striped bun is wife. Snow bun is wife. Alchemy cat is wife. Dragon Cat is wife. Dragon is wife. Lynx cat is wife. Tigress cat is wife. And to appeal to all audiences, TL will marry all of them.

Capitalist end.

>>5032580
The true capitalist end is to ignore all waifus and sell marketable plushies based on their characters.
#dragonwarriornairegrindset

>>5032586
Xin invents the copyright and becomes a mechant thus starting the sequel: Merchant Quest: Cuddling the big guy to death. With Xin as the protag.

>>5032789
>Xin invents copyright
Turns out she was part mouse all along. Being taller than normal was just an unexpetected mutation.

>>5032933
Hey Xin might have been evil but not that evil. Now they're just TLs and Mings wife. So brown bun has competition. I think he should learn how to fight with greatswords to keep up.

>>5031855
>>5031890
Been dealing with work and a cold. How about I post something for a change. Can't follow TL way if I wallow in misery on my bed all day...unless I have some buns and cats to keep my company. Thinking of which, maybe I should look to investing in a pet like a dog. Small bright light in a shitty day. Just like you anons.

>>5033471
Hang in there boss, don't let the curse get you down.

>>5031890
I completely forgot to say thanks for the archive. I checked it and it looked good to me. I mostly worry about tags and numeration to be honest. I just like that one tag gives the whole series in order.

>>5033488
I forgot to put a full stop at the end of the description and it has been haunting me since than.
I just copypasted the tags from the other threads, I was worried that it would break them, but thankfully it didn't happen. I also first misread the intructions and manually dowloaded the thread, than I saw the form at the end of the page and felt like I was retarded.

You decide that the best course of action was to simply play games and talk to people rather than wander around. A large 6 and half foot snow leopard would definitely stand out if you simply moved around the building.

You recall something Xin Lan once said something about social infiltration.

It's not like just sneaking around. The point isn't to not be seen because the moment you are spotted it's obvious you're not supposed to be there. The point is to be seen and glossed over. You see windows everyday but do you ever actually see them? No. You just pass them over. So that's what you gotta be. A background fixture. Something people get used to and passively ignore.

You wander over to a table with an empty chair. The table was mostly filled with women but at the moment you didn't have the luxury of choice. If you spent more time looking around then you'd probably noticed as someone not really looking to play games. Nonetheless you do extend your perception slightly to get a better feel of the players here. "Mind if I join you ladies?" You ask. There were 10 tables. All filled with people of various ages. Half of them have men of the right age range. 4 of those contain only men. Potential targets to hit.

The women at the table erupt into excited tittering. "Oh my, how can we say no to such a handsome gentlemen."

"I hope you go a bit easy on us ladies. We might be a bit distracted." Another laughs.

"Nonesense. In mahjong, I'll show you all no mercy." The last woman says. "Now you might be a good looking man but you're no match for my husband. After all there's more to wooing ladies than just looks."

"Oh come now, Ceba. We're all having a bit of fun." The first woman says as the three begin to set up the game and hand out starting tiles. You give a polite smile and nod.

"Of course, just a nice game of mahjong. I hope that won't be a problem." You say as you look at your tiles and suddenly realize that you have no real skill in the game. You knew the basics but nothing beyond that. It dawns on you that if you want ingrain yourself in the building, you might need to actually learn.

>What do you do?
>Just play and chat. Win or lose you might get some information.
>Explain that you're a beginner. Perhaps the ladies might give you some tips and it could be a good icebreaker.
>Cheat. Xin tends to get tons of information by becoming the center of attention. Just like he did with cards at his favorite spot. Might work for you too.
>Write in.

>>5033497
Yeah, the archive steps are a bit confusing at first. I was always nervous doing it for the first few threads.

>>5033503
>Explain that you're a beginner. Perhaps the ladies might give you some tips and it could be a good icebreaker.
>"I've never been interested in board games, but after the third time I've met another martial artists that spent their free time on mahjong, I just needed to see what was so special about the game"
We have met a bunch of retirees that said they played mahjong, and all of them fought, so might as well use it as an ice breaker.
Also it might impress the women, which means that we can find out which of the four tables gets more jealous or start trash-talking us, which menas there are most likely to be our target group.

>>5033519
Wait who's the 3rd? There's Chen, Chuanli, and who else? Though I'll be honest, I do like the running gag of retired fighters playing mahjong but hating it simply because it's what's expected of old people. Although I think Chuanli was indifferent to the game though Jin always gave him shit for playing.

>>5033597
I don't remember who was the third, but I also couldn't remember Chuanli's name.
Maybe it was just Jin and I mixed cards with Mahjong, or was some other old man before.
Anyway, the number itself is the less important part, we can just say some, a few or many in it's place.
Keep up the gag, I find it funny

>>5033503
>explain we are a beginner
>Use an ice breaker
Maybe something like "I've found that most of my martial friends seem to enjoy the ebb and flow of the game, so why not have a crack at it?"

Also
>Go to majhong place to sort out and find info about who organised a mob to beat up our bae on the accusation of stealing women from husbands
>Immediately sit down in a table of women and light hearted tease/fliting begins
I feel like we are not sending out our intended message, Kek.

>>5033620
Ok, in the bar that the Kai family thugs were frequenting, they were playing mahjong and cards, it was the first mention.
Xin don't know tge rules of mahjong, she told us that while we were a guard in Taishi.
Ming likes board games and cards, and is quite good at them, she told us during the guerrila warfare.
The husband of the paint seller in Taishi plays mahjong, also Ming bought some tiles and cards to play on the road.
Chuanli played mahjong because he was retired, Jin says it's boring.
Renshu says he likes mahjong but actually hates it.
The friends of the troublemakers play mahjong.
Chen plays mahjong but is bored of it.
There it is, all of the quest's Mahjong lore in order of appearance.
I think it was because of the mention of the triad bar, since I was sure it was someone in Zhengyi that played it.

>>5033627
TL's dating prowess is the yin to his cooking's yang. When he attempts to cook, he burns all that he sees. When he does not attempt to flirt, he is the smoothest man in existence. He's a master of kung fu so naturally his friends skills are slowly being absorbed by simply seeing them over such a long period of time. Xin would be proud of him.


Also another example of being Ren's reflection seeing as he can do both...or something.

>>5033635
Anon you're a mad lad when it comes to the game's lore. I truly appreciate it.

>>5033660
The quest is good, so it's worth the little effort of looking through archives to confirm things.

>>5033658
>Yin, feminine energy, is his flirtatious and smooth nature.
>Yang, masculine energy, is his inability to cook.

I've no idea why, but calling his strengths by the opposing names of what the chinese would have classified them as broke me. Unintentional high brow implicational humour is fantastic.

That being said, Ren can flirt in the same way that james bond can get married. Sure he can do it at a stretch, but it's not an instinctive part of his power level.
He must ascend to 9th golden pan house husband before he ever manages to reach sacred law "flirt."

Waaaaaait. I'm down the rabbit hole now. Is that why TL is such a prude? Indulgence in flirtatious or social behaviour is his deathly bane because he has that much natural skill and charisma, that it's allbbeing bottles up with nowhere to go, so any usage of it against him poisons his meridians and body, damaging his bodily cultivation and seas of chi?

>>5033698
He has to eat some magical reagents and use his internal cauldron to purify himself.
It's the only way.

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>>5033698
>>5033704
In my shame I must admit I have absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about and thus I cannot join in the memes. I apologize.

>>5034056
It's terms and cliches present in Xianxia/cultivation novels.
There is no shame in being a young juniour, even the most powerful immortal was one once before being a grandfather.

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>>5034244
the starter pack

>>5034443
Thanks anon. Although all I know of cultivation and the like are those shitty annoying ads for chinese mobile games which secretly I enjoy because of the bad translations and cheesy quality. Kind of like B movies.

>>5034469
Being trashy and a guilty pleasure is the whole point of cultivation novels, atleast for me.
Kind of like a manga that goes on forever, is kind of generic and bland, but at the same time has bunch of weird and cool ideas and setpieces.
So it's just chinese One Piece, but as an entire genre. Also everyone is a asshole, even the heroes.

>>5034484
>>5034469
Honestly, Original Tai Lung is ACTUALLY what you'd expect to see from a xianxia protagonist.
Dickish, willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants, betrayed by people close to him which spurs him to take his (personally justified) revenge that goes way too far, insanely powerful compared to just about everyone else, autistic enough to master every single scroll in his "sect compound" by the time he's 20...

>>5034520
That's true, he even gets to kill hundreds or thousands of innocents bystanders for no reason other than that they were mortal, weak or in the way.
He just needs to discover a secret technique, have a powerful unique bloodline or find an ancient artifact out of nowhere and it would be the complete package.

>>5034632
Uuuuuuh
>Chaotic meditation integrated into Benevolent fist fighting style. From the film, stunning Chi strikes.
>The only known chinese Snowleopard.
>The dragon scroll.

Package complete.

>>5034668
Now anon, that's new Tai Lung, not old.
Although being the only snow leopard could give him enough bullshit that he came from a bloodline that challegend tge Dao and were struck down.
The dragon scroll is obviously the reward at the end of the first major arc, after he defeats Oogway, the dragon-turtle and patriarch of the Jade Palace Sect.
Than the next big arc is going down the hells to take down the judges, ao he can become stronger to get vegence against the heavens.

>>5034484
I like one peice. Or at least the setting. But back to buns and cats adventure. When is hien coming back? I miss our son. Writing.

>>5034734
Hien is coming back when he marries that strong tsundere smith childhood friend gf and gives us grandchildren.

>>5034746
But she's not a tsun tsun. She openly claims that she's gonna marry the man and any woman who wants to marry Hien needs to surpass her in being a good wife. Just like the eviroment she was raised in. You prove yourself and surpass those who are better than you and you do it with your own talent, hardwork and effort. No hand me downs, no leg ups. She doesn't run the family forge because she's the heir to it. She runs it because she surpassed all other smiths and without her dad's help.

I think we had a discussion about this but I can't for the life of me remember the term I was given. Either way, I think we need bunny snow leopard hybrids first. Just to drive An Bo's mother mad.

>>5034757
I think we reached an idea that she is tsun for the normal stuff of being in a relationship.
So she gets flustered in doing ladylike things, but if she acts like a tomboy she is full of confidence.
Because it's funny, cute or something, it's been a long time.

File: o9C4h.gif (1.38 MB, 260x173)

1.38 MB GIF

"Before we start, I do want to say that I am a beginner. I've never actually been interested in board game but after I've met a few other martial artists that play, I figured I needed to see what was so special about the game." You say as the woman gather their own tiles and study them.

"Oh honey, don't worry. We'll go easy on you. Here I'll go first." She says sweetly as she grabs a tile and slams it on to her side of the table with a definitive clack. The ringing sound sends all your senses into a frenzy instantly and you feel a massive aura of ill intent. You quickly look up and half expect to see your fellow players to be weilding weapons or taking up stances as they try and ambush you but all you see is something perhaps far more sinister.

Each woman bore the look of intense concentration that you had only seen while fighting to the death with the various villians you had fought before as they looked at the pile of tiles and their own. It suddenly dawns on you that there was a reason there was one open spot when you arrived. This was no mere table. This was a warzone...

---

The women, despite their lies of going easy on you, played mahjong with the fury only matched by Shenlong and the guile of the rabbits' old order. As you struggled to even begin to comprehend the various strategic feints and overlaps in strategies, the women around you waged a war of uncomprhensible depth. Perhaps one that not even the spirits could hope to understand.

Even with such an intense battle playing around you, the women were actually quite sweet and very easy to talk to. They often gave you tips and basic information of the game and you were astonished that they could hold such pleasant conversations while attempting to destroy you and all your precious tiles. One could even confuse this for a kind of chaotic meditation, if only because your mind was still trying to comprehend the near infinite possiblities that the tiles held.

"I hope you've been enjoying yourself here in the city dear." One of them says as . "I know we're a bit out of the way but we always strive to be good hosts to the poor souls that climb the mountain. Such a dreadful trail if the stories are true."

"It was a hard climb." You admit as you struggle to choose a tile, though even with your slow plays the women would always politely wait for you to choose. No doubt using the time to both chat and plan several steps ahead. "But I had faith in my companions and that they would help me through."

"See. That's just what I was saying." The second woman says. "The trial might be difficult but it builds character and helps weed out those who might not be as nice to have in our city. I say we should embrace the privlidge it is to come here."

"Ah but we were born here. So it's not really fair or even our place I would say." The third woman, Ceba, said. "Even so, I do think that we should at least try to make our visitor's stay a comfortable one. They did go through so much to begin with."

"If it's any consolation. I have been enjoying my time here." You say as you pick a tile at random. "I've learned a lot about myself and about topics I don't think I would have ever thought I'd find information on elsewhere. Perhaps not even via my own studies."

"See? By going through these hardships, visitors can appreciate our city more. Not only to behave properly but to take full advantage of the reason they're here. After all, those who don't follow their ambition to the fullest are the ones who fall off the mountain of progress." The second woman concludes as she swaps out tiles.

You look at your set of tiles and still have very little idea of what you're doing. While the women didn't seem like the kind of people who would kick you out after losing a game, a small part of your pride didn't like how handidly you were being bested. You needed some kind of edge. A way to keep up at least.

>What do you do?
>Try and cheat. You could attempt to increase your senses to try and track tiles, see your opponent's tiles, perhaps even arrange the board to your favor while reshuffling and swaping your own set.
>Beg Renshu for help. Hopefully you can communitcate with him at this distance. He knows how to play the game well despite his hatred of it.
>Just continue to lose. Perhaps the women will take pity on you.
>Write in.

>What topics do you want to discuss? You guys are just having a civil conversaion after all.
>Write in.

>>5034802
>Count the combos that have already been played and what they are greater than. If we keep losing, we know what not to do later.

>Discuss propriety, "so if everyone had to climb up here, then you think we would be more comfortable with eachother? Hardship binding us together and preventing people from going out and causing trouble, like what happened a few days ago?"

>>5034802
>Yet an abundance of ambition is the greatest mark of one that would seek to rise without care. Although a certain degree of stuborness was important, the real test was to properly prepare, discover the secrets of the mountain, and avoid the traps and false paths put there. Because the Library is menat as a place of knowledge, and even the Five would fail if they sought to just climb it without a thought.
>>5034922
Support the counting

>>5034922
>>5035042
As Tai Lung is being destroyed in mahjong, the buns and Ming plot behind his back to embarass him during couple's night. Mostly Xin but Ming thinks it's funny.

But I'll be free to do a write up in a few hours. Keep this game going.

File: xi1czt89p6v71.jpg (93 KB, 640x960)

93 KB JPG

Also it's apperantly snow leopard day today. So have a handsome Tai Lung.

>>5036328
He is hansome

>>5036328
>>5036341
I hate work. I can finally write. Also that image I posted of our handsome lady killer? It's not a photo. That's handpainted with pastels and color pencils.

"Yet an abundance of ambition is the greatest mark of one that would seek to rise without care. Although a certain degree of stuborness was important, the real test was to properly prepare, discover the secrets of the mountain, and avoid the traps and false paths put there. Because the Library is menat as a place of knowledge, and even the Five would fail if they sought to just climb it without a thought." You say as you look around the table for anything that could help you. Certainly you could try and contact Renshu for help but at the moment, it didn't seem like that much of a big deal other than your pride stinging. Instead, you think it's best to keep an eye on the flow of the game. Mark down what tiles have been taken and used and which remain. Perhaps you can use this to your advantage. You remember a very heated arguement between Ming and Xin Lan over card counting and whether or not it was considered cheating. Ironically, it was Ming who didn't consider it a cheat and despite Xin Lan's ability to count cards themselves, it seemed the two were on oppoiste ends of the arguement.

In either case, you decide that it would be ok to do so here if only to give yourself and edge against these professionals. They might even be doing the same thing themselves at this level of play. "Ambition is not a mark of anything sweetheart." The first woman says as she grabs a tile. "Amibition is merely what gives rise to one's effort and will to suceed. Temperance and restraint is what governs what you're thinking of. Even the greatest heroes have great ambition."

"So do the vilest villians." The second woman says. "But I think the young man has a point. It's not just ambition that drives people but effort. No matter how ambitious someone is, it doesn't matter if all they'll do is laze about. The climb does test those challenge it and I think for the better. It teaches some fundamental skills even if it's as simple as showing a person they are not ready to ascend."

"So if everyone had to climb up here, then you think we would be more comfortable with eachother? Hardship binding us together and preventing people from going out and causing trouble, like what happened yesterday?" You ask. The women seem to perk up.

"Trouble? Do you have some gossip to share? I didn't think you the type." The first woman teases.

"Did we get a new batch of visitors?" The second one asks. "I hadn't heard anything."

>What do you say? This can be a good chance to start asking your questions.
>Write in.

>>5036720
>Gossip and rumour travel faster than the wind. It's good to keep an ear out for it. But I was talking about the restraunt who's owner got assaulted, some group of fools led by some drunken moron got it in their heads their wives were cheating on them. What was his name. . .

We can leave that thread for them to jump on. If none of them know, we can remember it and tell them

>>5036670
No way, really? That seems far too photo realistic to be a a pastel.

>>5036720
>I don't know of there are any new batch of arrivals, but some drunks assaulted the owner of the new restaurant. Apparently they thought all of their wives were cheating on them with him. Thankfully some customers with a backbone were there to stop them before something really bad happened.
And the really bad would be Renshu breaking their spines.

>>5036670
Holy shit that's impressive, I can barely wrap my head aroud entry level perspective and shadows.
Hopefully this artist gets recognition and money, it's way better than modern art.

>>5036835
>>5036909
taking these and writting.

>>5036910
But anon.
It is modern art.

>>5037328
Depends if if you use modern in meaning time or a school of art.
Although the correct term I should be using is to complain about post-modern art. We still don't have widely accepted names or schools for them sunce they are contemporary.
Also I meant to write what passes of as modern art instead of just modern art, but I'm an idiot that forgets key words and doesn't spellcheck.

"I don't know of there are any new batch of arrivals, but gossip and rumour travel faster than the wind. But I was talking about the restraunt who's owner got assaulted, some group of fools led by some drunken moron got it in their heads their wives were cheating on them. Thankfully some customers with a backbone were there to stop them before something really bad happened." The women look at you in interest.

"Where did this happen?" The first woman asks, intruiged.

"As if having drunks is bad enough. Now they're attacking innocent buisness owners." The second woman says. "No doubt they were locals. I'd never think of travelers doing such a thing."

"It was in that new diner that opened up." You say offhandedly. "The Warren I think."

Recognition appears in the women's eyes. "Oh that little place? I've been meaning to go there." The first one says.

"It's just the coziest little eatery." Ceba says happily. "A bit small but the food is comfy and honestly I think that adds to the charm. Even with the people there, it has an almost quiet kind of feeling."

"Oh so you've been there? And you didn't think of bringing us?" The second woman jokes. Ceba waves her hands dismissively.

"Oh, you should've seen the lines dear. It's almost an exclusive club in it's own way. But I know the owner, bless him. Runs the whole thing himself. He cooks, cleans, and even serves. Frankly the idea of him trying to commit adultry like that is ludicrus. The poor man doesn't have the time. Not that I couldn't see why some would think that mind you. Such a mysterious and quiet man. Almost straight out of those new novels that's taken the city by storm. But this, it's just foolishness." Ceba turns to face you. "And you say that you know the person behind this?" She asks.

"Well I've heard a name being thrown about." You say, as you feign a foggy memory. "I can't quite recall the name but I know he's some kind of well known drunk. All he does it work odd jobs and spends that money on drink." The women's noses wrinkle in disdain.

"Oh yes. We know who that is." The first woman says. "He's quite well known around the city, but you don't need to concern yourself with that dear. He's simply a trouble maker. Still..." She pauses. "It doesn't seem like him to set something like this up."

"Too true. Pema is simply too lazy to think of something out side of alcohol and food." The second adds and she pats your arm. "But tell us, how'd you find this out? Did they tell you why that old drunk wanted to do something like this?"

>What do you say?
>Tell the women about what you found out. Maybe they might be able to help.
>Divert the conversation to the men you're looking for. Perhaps they can help you find it.
>Lie and say you weren't told.
>Write in.

>>5037354
>Inform the women that we actually found someone who seemed like a friend of Pema's who got told that more people were meant to show up for the beat down. Ask if any of the friends of those arrested play here.

>"While it's none of my buissness rightly, I've something of a personal stake in seeing this resolved."

Cautious with what we give out. But not a lie yet.

>Straight out of the novels.
XIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!

>>5037354
>It was a few friends of mine that found out all of this, and they have a personal stake in the matter.
>They also found out that it was suposed to be bigger, but some quit at the last minute. And that the ones that got cold feet play mahjong here daily. So if you know any here that are drunks, that complain about their homelife, or that have some very angry friends.
>I have no intention of hurting anyone, I just want to have a talk with them, maybe learn a few things. Because I also doubt that a professional drunk telling rumors could be the ringleader behind it all.

>>5037394
The group was suposed to be bigger
And after angry friend, add a it would be very hepful.

>>5037374
>>5037394
Writing.

"It was a few friends of mine that found out all this, and they have a personal stake in the matter." You say, the game now coming to a stop as the women listen in to your story. They lean slightly forwards as if you were sharing some kind of clandestine meeting, hoping to conceal the words within your small table. "And given that they're my friends, I suppose that it's become something of a personal stake of my own. At the very least to see it resolved, not that it's none of my buisness rightly." You tap a mahjong title on the table as you speak. To the women, it must seem like you were tense and perhaps righteously so. However, the truth of the mater was that you were choosing your words carefully and were simply thinking of how to proceed.

"That's not all." You add. "I was also told that the attack was meant to be bigger."

"How horrifying!" The first woman interjects.

"Fortunately some of them backed out in the last minute. And I was told that those that didn't partake play mahjong here daily." You continue. "So if you know any here that are drunks, that complain about their homelife, or that have some very angry friends it would be very helpful. I have no intention of hurting anyone, I just want to have a talk with them, maybe learn a few things. Because I also doubt that a professional drunk telling rumors could be the ringleader behind it all."

The women cast glances at each other. "Honey, I know that this must be something personal but maybe you should leave it to the guards."

The second one nods. "I understand wanting to help your friends but it's not worth getting in trouble over it. I agree that maybe you should leave it to the guards who are hired to handle these kinds of things."

"I don't know of any drunks here." Ceba admits. "We have children here as well. Anyone who comes in while under the influence would be immediately thrown out. But..." She lowers her voice to a whisper. "We do have group that tend to get real loud. They might be the men you're looking for." She quietly points to a table in the corner of the room. The table was crowded as 5 men were huddled around it and playing a game. It might just be the air of consiparcy around the table or perhaps the way they were described but they did seem to have a particular air about them.

"Do you know if they drink alot?" You ask.

The women shake their head. "We've never seen them drunk before but you know that it's always the one day of drinking that gets you into the most trouble."

>What do you do?
>Write in.

>>5038055
>I wont say a bad word about the
Guards. But there is something to be said for a deeper look into things.
>Do any know Pema, as a friend that it?

>Well sorry for bringing the energy down, why not another game?

Have another game with them, then excuse ourselves and investigate this other group.

>>5038055
>I have bothing agaisnt the guards, but by the look of things they are treating it as a already solved case. Not that I blame them mind you, this town is so peaceful and the incident so simple, that by all accounts the idea of some sort of shady deals to hurt a newcomer bussines owner shouldn't cross their minds.
>Anyway, sorry for using you all like this, and to bring down the mood. How about another game? I think that I picked up a few of the basics, so it should be slightly smaller slaughter.

The plan is to talk to the other men. Have them start a buisness and then proceed to assault them on their grand opening. Also spread rumors on how uncool they are because they don't have adventure romance novels loosely based on their likeness/adventures.

>>5038096
That's right.

>>5038063
>>5038078
Actually to give me a bit more to work with. How do you approach the men? What do you want to say?

>>5038125
If there is an open space, take a seat or bring on to sit down.
If not then may as well stand over them.

I think it best to open with "hello gentlemen, I'd like to have a few words with you." And keep playing if we managed to sit down.

>>5038125
I was thinking of going to another group first, playing a game, than jumping to theirs.
Than we can use the excuse we are just trying to meet everyone and learn mahjong, since we are new here.
But that excuse can also work if we go directly, we can say we saw that the womens table was the only one open or something.

>>5038149
Of they have an open space, sure.

If not, then being more direct is better I think.

>>5038220
Yeah, the plan depends on it.
Should we try to use chaotic meditation on this next round to see if we can pick up anything in their table? Should be useful either way.

>>5038234
It's a possibility. Get the baseline of their disucssion before and after we enter scene.

That being said, it's not likely for then to just be talking about what we want to know.

>>5038800
That was the idea, to know what they are talking about before we go shpve ourselvea into their group. They may be even be talking baout us too, given how much they like complaining about men talking to women.
Although if they do slip some of the good gossip, that's a nice bonus.

>>5038063
>>5038078
Alright. Write up time.

"I have nothing against the guards, but by the look of things they are treating it as a already solved case. Not that I blame them mind you, this town is so peaceful and the incident so simple, that by all accounts the idea of some sort of shady deals to hurt a newcomer bussines owner shouldn't cross their minds." You say as you push aside your tiles. "Not that I assume any of you know of the supposed ringleader."

"Sorry dear but we tend to keep away from people like him." One of the women says. You nod.

"Fair enough. How about another game to chase away the sour mood?" You ask as you begin to help set up the table once more. "Hopefully now that I have my bearings, it won't be as easy of a win." The women finish setting up the board and you all begin to play another game. Despite your previous talks, they return to their usual gossiping. So and so is now pregnant and is looking to name their child something uncommon, ideas for the upcoming summer festival, or perhaps simply seeing two people spending perhaps a bit too much time together to pass off as friendly encounters. You simply listen politely and nod every so often. Despite keeping up with their chatter, you quietly open your senses a bit more and survey the room every so often. The men in the corner are still playing together, though now they switched to a card game though you're unconcerned what kind. While they talk among themselves, their expressions don't give away any sense of consipracy or secrecy though they do look rather tired. The women's chats move on to sharing recipies, a topic you wish to avoid for now, and you attempt to try and listen in on the men as they speak to one another.

Your attempts bear no fruit as you hear everything and everyone else at the same time. Given that your new technique is meant to take in all information at the same time, it makes sense that you'd have some difficulty narrowing things down while attempting to percieve all but it simply means that you'd have something else to train on. Being able to hone in and fixate on something specific with extreme detail might be increadibly handy. You return to the game at hand and unsurprisingly, you lost though this time not nearly as badly as you did before. You smile at the women and return your peices. "Thank you for the games but I'm afraid I have to excuse myself. Maybe we'll play again some other time."

"You're always welcome at our table honey." The first women says.

"Of course, we can always help you with other things. I know of a few girls looking for husband." The second teases. You mask a cough with small laugh and shakes your head politely.

You pause for a moment before decideing, as a sort of apology, to add. "I'm sorry but I'm already taken." The women burst into excited giggling and begin to quickly ask you for more details but you leave them be to gossip among themselves with this new found information. Perhaps that might make up for the rather heavy topics you ruined their day with. You stride over to the men's table in the corner of the room. Though many seem to ignore you as you walk past their games, the men quickly take notice of the rather muscular man walking over to their table. They look up from their cards and seems to measure you up, something of a foolish notion given that none of them were in what you considered good shape. A thought that makes you wonder how these men thought they were even a match for Renshu. Perhaps it was the heat of the moment and the fact that your friend always seemed to wear clothing that made him look thinner than he really was.

As you arrive to the table, you see there is no room for you to sit with them. As it seems, they even had to pull a few extra chairs to be able to fit them all. "Can we....help you?" One of the men asks with an air of suspicion.

>What do you do?
>Confront the men. Say you know what they were involved in.
>Ask to sit with them. Say you are getting to know people here.
>Tell the men you want to take this outside. No need to get everyone in the game hall invovled.
>Write in.

>Politely break their legs and start interogating them.

>>5039534
Hmm. . >>5039546 Tempting. Tempting. But nah.

>Ask if we can have a seat, or failing that, a chat.

We don't need all of them, just a few. Hell, maybe even one.
But I sense that they are not stupid enough to send only one person with us to talk if they know anything.

Still, no need to be threatening. It's about the use of bodylanguage again. Standing completely unafraid and inquiring politely will confuse their [heh] animal brains. might make them clam up though.

>>5039534
>Ask to sit with them. Say you are getting to know people here.
>>5039546
Let's break their spirit instead.

So, what do you guys want to ask the men? Want to do some small talk to ease into things or pull the good intimidating presence like we do to press for info. Full on bane tactics. "And you think this gives you power over me?"

>>5040531
I want to be friendly, while giving an intimidating aura.
Make them confused, that this giant witha posture of a killer is being a incredibly kind man.
I don't even know if it would be useful, but it would be funny.

>>5040535
It would be funny.

"May I sit down" in the softest voice we can imagine.
>Body language saying I'm going to murder you all, little bastards.

So much confusion. But yeah, be nice and polite and have a posture to intimidate everyone you meet.

>>5040535
>>5040681
Alrighty. Time to be the most polite killer ever. I think stripes would be proud. Writing.

Captcha: M00D8 why yes. Yes it is a mood.

"May I sit down?" You ask quietly. It wasn't hard to appear intimidating. It never really was given your stature and build. All you had to do was stand a bit straighter, look at the men in the eyes unflinchingly, and simply tense your body a bit to appear immovable. The men tense up slightly and it takes them a few moments to collect themselves. Of them speaks up though they keep their voice low for some reason.

"No. Sorry. Can't fit anymore chairs." He lies. You were sure that they could fit in at least one more person of your size in. It would be a tight squeeze but you could squeeze in. You take a step forward, slowly whittling down the safety in distance they had. Despite their best efforts, the men still shy away from you and lean slightly in their chairs.

"That's alright." You say in the same quiet tone. Your tone is light and pleasant as you speak casually, a sharp contrast to the rather ominous energy the softness of your voice carries. The men seem unsure of how to proceed and you wait a few moments for their minds to conjure out ideas before you break the silence of your group once more. "I just wanted to talk. Get to know the people here. A friend of mine reccommended this place and I've recently developed and interest in various tabletop games. I'm afraid I've never had much time to enjoy them in my youth. If not, then I'd always like to chat."

The men look at each other, unsure of how to respond. Clearly, you were an imposing figure, casting a long shadow on their table but you weren't doing anything. Not to mention, you stated your intentions which of themselves were not threatening either. But there was something definitively threatening about you and their instincts were telling them so. Still, it was impossible to say no. Either out of fear of your reaction or the simple fact that there was enough games taht 6 people could enjoy, and cards being one of them. After a tense silence, another finally speaks up.

"W-what do you want?" The man asks as he attempts to sound commanding but failing to hide the stutter in his voice.

>What do you say?
>Write in.

>>5040812
>Like I just said, just to hang out and chat. This is not only my first time, but my first in any mahjong place.
>I tried playing a bit with the ladies over there, but turned out they are a bit too fierce for a complete novice like me, so I decided to watch a game at another table before trying my hand again.
>Your group seemed very lively, so I came over here. Who knows, maybe we will become friends. Having friends is always good, they always have your back when bad things go down afterall.
This is probably too big and need to be cut, but the idea is to explain our intentions, and inderectly call out that we know what they did.
I don't know if we should keep the friendly neighbourhood serial killer vibe, but it has been entertaining so far.

4chan ate my post.
Feck.

But my idea is keep up the act, and repeat ourselves. We want to get to know people and have a chat.

Pull a spare chair up and sit down, we will have to be a bit further back from the table to have space, but with a card game we can suggest poker like we did with Xin.

But I like >>5041145 "having friends" thing, so I'd rewrite it to be said after the game starts.

"I like making friends, games are good for it. Who knows, we may become friends. Can never have too many good friends, they always have your back when bad things are afoot."

Less implicating anything, just freaking them out a bit more. If we freak them out enough, by the end they will be willing to answer out questions to make it stop."

So I got to drop the act or maintain it. Both agree to say you're here to make friends. I just need a decision on what tone you wish to use.

>>5041332
I'd pose that we don't drop it, for the simple reason that it is both funny, but also that changing the tone immediately will further unbalance them and create a sense that they have no idea where to stand.

Which lessens the power and leverage we have.

For clarities sake, I am >>5041151

>>5041334
Huh, ID didn't change like a rabid schizophrenic like it usually does.

>>5041332
I didn't say to drop the act, I'm just not sure.
So the other anon said to keep it, so we keep it.

>>5041334
>>5041343
Fair enough. Just clearing things up.

>>5041345
It's alright boss, it's better to be safe than sorry afterall.

File: CJS3WKyzvy-7X12bpTt1p15Y4(...).jpg (96 KB, 720x538)

96 KB JPG

Have a striped bun. Time to get writing.

>>5042038
What a perfect image, he is even near a white and brown bunny.
Also know as his sister and his brother-in-law

You turn around and take an unused seat from a nearby table with a polite nod. These men were hiding behind numbers and though they were showing their unease you felt that it was time you showed them that their numbers held no power over you. You set the chair a small distance from the table and take a seat. Even with you sitting, you still tower over the men. It was almost comical how small the chair was for you but still, no one was laughing. "Like I said, I just want to hang out and chat." You say, maintaining your quiet politeness. "I tried playing with the ladies over there, but it turns out they're a bit too fierce for a new comer like me. So I decided to look for another group to join. You guys seem like a lively bunch, so I came over here. Who knows..." You add as you lean forward and grab the deck to shuffle, forcing integration into their group and showing that they had no real say in the matter. "...Maybe we'll become friends. Always good to have them. Especially when you suspect something sinister is afoot."

You let the words hang as you begin to deal out the cards to each person. No one really moves or says anything as the atmosphere in the air becomes tense and frigid. "I know a bit of poker. You guys know poker right?" You ask as you finish dealing cards and begin to set up the flop, the first three open cards for the group. The men can only really do is play along with you as your large size keeps them penned in to the corner of the building. Any attempts for any one of them getting up and leaving would involve moving past you and being in your line of sight. You all play the game in absolute silence, with the men glancing at each other every so often but still no one would speak or attempt to communicate beyond the basic poker calls. As fun as it was to watch them men be uncomfortable, you figure it would be best for you to start up conversation even if it was demanding answers.

>What do you say?
>Write in.

>How do you play poker?
>Cheat. You're dealing, you're pretty sure you can set yourself up for winning...or someone else to win a suspicious ammount.
>Play fair. You are here to make friends after all.
>Play agressive. While still following the rules, you do have enough of an intimidation factor to suggest that perhaps its not in the group's best interest to beat you.
>Write in.

>>5042223
>Play fair.

"Have you been playing long? The intricacies are still a bit beyond my mastery. It's a good game when you want to waste time a while.

You all seem very quiet, why dont we break the quiet a bit. What's your name?"
Address the next man in the circle, get names going, then a few comments on the plays of the individuals. Once we settle them down, or they stop buying our attempts ot break the ice, shift to attack.

"Have you heard of a rumour going around? About some new restraunt in town."

Then watch the reactions. They will tell us what we need, by where their mind goes.

>>5042223
>Play fair. You are here to make friends after all.
>Use out trademarked tactic, believe in the heart of cards.
>Do you all come here often? I didn't even know the city had a mahjong palor until my friend told me. I usually only play in bars.
>Not that I know much about the city you see, I'm quite a new arrival, around half an year give it or take. Are you all native, or did any of take the climb as well?
>Oh, now where are my manners, we should have started with names. Mine is Tai Lung, you may have heard of it. What about yours?
Look at them straight at the eyes while talking, don't even bother looking at the cards.

>>5042333
What's the play there chief?

Trying to put them more on edge? I think we can start to bring the point around by now, they're shit scared and consider us to be a serious threat to their security.

>>5042422
Sure, we can ask about the restaurant.
I was trying to probe them for info before going for the finishing blow.

>>5042441
So swing for yours, but then have the restraunt one.

I think we should hold the name as a trump card to jack their stress right back into the roof when they chill out.

If we never have to, let'do it as we leave. Should shock them into running to their buddies.

>>5042531
How about we leave the name asking for last, after the restaurant? We do the round of names and give our as the last one?

>>5042546
Sounds about right.

I'd ideally like to keep it as a trump, but if we drop it before asking about the attacks then it can still work.

>>5042555
Sounds good to me, so we withold the name for now.
We only ask when we are avout to leave, or need it to use intimidation.

>>5042580
That's right.

It's a gun with one bullet. We dont want to waste the shot.

Think I pulled a shoulder blade muscle. Hurts to cough or bend down. Who know that was connected to so many things. It's annoying but I'lld deal with it. So just to consolidate. We're gonna talk, ask about the diner, then do a name call?

>>5043210
Basicaly yeah, the name call and drop is if we we leave or need to get more info, if we stay to talk a bit more we wil hold our hand.
Atleast tha what I think the comprimese we reached yeasterday.
I miss the other players, where did they go? It's back to just two anons again.

>>5043217
That's right.

>>5043210
And oh dear Luo. Have you been vanishing Hungry ghosts again?

>>5043217
>>5043226
Might be my slow posting desu. It's really turned the quest in a slog. There's days where I consider just putting the whole thing to rest to be quite honest.

>>5043241
Please don't boss, it's the best quest. Not on the best on the site, not the best going right now, just straight up the best quest period.

>>5043241
That sucks man. I hope it gets better for you man.

we'll get throught it. always have right?

>>5043282
Always have.

This being said, We've had over a year of frequent posting, so your time of slowness can be remidied in a number of manners.
My suggestion is set a goal of writing fluff pieces on the side, or perhaps just in your head to keep engagement going for yourself. It's how I got through my slog phases and back into passion.

Then again, giving it deep consideration and making sure you are deciding on a good day, that you need to take a rest for a bit can be good for you as well.
Bottom line is, we love the quest but it's ultimately up to you man.

>>5043293
I could do some side story stuff. Always like just thinking of other characters. Like Tigress and how she's going to create a anti TL task forces so that Ming never ascends to Empress.

>>5043296
Bah, she is a fool who never sees Mount Tai.

Ming is to ascend as the left hand of the third son of the Emperor! Cultivator magical girl.

besides, it may alleviate the slog with discussions, which I admit is on us. Removes the impetus that this is a void to fill your stuff into.

>>5043293
Anon is right, since the quest started you have posted one or two updates per day for a nore than an year, only this past month you have slowed down.
And I don't blame you boss, real life takes priority afterall.
Just a piece of advise, don't try to start another quest on the side, or fo into big perspective switches where we spend a month as another character, obly to junp to yet another one that is bot the mc. I saw many QM try to rekindle their passion like that, and it only made tge quest become convoluted or they never came back to the main thing and it died.
Maybe some small omakes about how Tigress, Hien or Luo are doing? Whitout any of our input, just straight up creativity in one post or two every once in a while, I don't know.
Be strong boss, we will persevere.

>>5043296
>>5043300
Oh nice, we had the smae idea while I was writing.
I feel like my suggestion is more valid now.

>>5043301
Quite. Straight creativity, rather than muddled in Anon madness.

>>5043304
>>5043303
That's what I meant, just short stories or chats. Nothing that impacts the main quest or takes over. But more like "hey this is what this person is up to."

As you shuffle for the next round of cards, you speak up. "Have you been playing long? The intracicies are still a bit of beyond my skill level but it's still a good game if you want to waste time for a while. Funny thing though is that even in my travels I don't often play when I'm resting." Once the cards are dealt you simply leave your hand on the table as you look at each man in the face. Leaving things to luck always seemed to play out well for you so you feel like you can rely on this tactic one more time. A few mumbles come around the table, mostly noncomittal responses but it was a foot in the door. "You come here often? I didn't even know the city had a mahjong parlor until a friend told me. I ussually only play at bars. Sure beat having to deal with drunks though, right?" You say good naturedly as you place a large hand on the back of one of the nearby men. He visibly jumps as he gives you a rather nervous smile.

Again you get more vague responses as everyone plays. You toss a few more cards onto the table. "Not that I know much about the city you see, I'm quite a new arrival, around half an year give it or take. Are you all native, or did any of take the climb as well?" The men all shake their heads and you assume them to be natives. You flip your cards over to reveal a winning hand. "\Well let me tell you that the climb was quite brutal. Blizzards, dark caves, hot tempratures. Kind of makes reaching here all the more worth it. And even being here there's tons of things I'm learning about the city. So many people, so many places to see. Did you guys hear the rumor? There's a new restraunt in town. I curious as to what it's like." The men seem to go a bit more silent after that.

"Y-yeah. Heard it was pretty bad though. Something about terrible food. Think a few customers got sick." One of the men speak up and receives glares from his companions.

You capitalize on this opening by asking, "Oh really? Can't imagine that a restraunt would last that long. Isn't the owner doing something to make this right? The people deserve justice." The men around you just shrug.

"I mean we don't know anything." Another says, "But I would think that someone like that doesn't care about anything but the money. I hear the owner slept his way into owning the shop. Something about sleeping with the mayor. The place is in prime real estate. How else would a stranger get to buy it?"

"What do you mean?" You ask feigning ignorance. "Isn't he one of you guys? A native? I won't be staying here for long so I assumed that other visitors wouldn't have time to want to run a shop or buisenss."

"Nah, this guys is an outsider. Only trying to make money of us hard honest folk." A third man asks. You nod as you take in this new information. If it wasn't worrying him, you might have used this information to make jokes at Renshu's expense. For now, it would be best to try and get more out of the men.

>What do you say?
>Write in.

>>5043375
>They managed to talk their way into a mayors office, then into bed with them? Must be a danger for others, someone with a tongue like that. I'd hope he isn't going to ruin this city, I've only just got here.

Feigning concern is an excellent way in. Our deadpan danger impression can be turned to our advantage then. Steadily shift into incredilousness as we ask about his "crimes". And if they lead us on to "he's a womaniser" or a variant thereof, and let the calm of our voice get a bit more "dangerious"

>He does what?! And nobody has done anything about this yet?
Lets get them to admit to Pema's actions. If they do, then we can express disbelief that the drunk we've heard of found this out himself. He's a drunk and an idiot, tie it back to our bar anecdote, who ruined a few good nights out.

If they don't lead us with the womaniser line, we'll need to come up with something else.

>>5043386
But as they say in the clinton administration.

Ladies and gentlmen, we gottem!

>>5043375
>You know, someone should do something about it, rally the people and protest in fornt of the place, maybe even in front of the office. Such corruption is unaceptable in a place that is suposed to be enlightened.
>But probably should be a pillar of the comunity, and be very careful to be a peaceful demonstration. Imagine if it turned violent? It would undo all the goodwill and just divide the city.
>And than disreputable people, rumormongers and rich men could form mobs to take whatever they wanted. I've seen such horrors once, and the city was only saved once the Five arrived.

Part of me really wanta to say
>Slept with the mayor? I didn't think the old monkey had it in him. I'll have a word with him before leaving, giving priviledge for favours is no way to run the Sacred Library. And he was so kind and wise when he welcomed me too, we really can't trust first impressions after all.
Fake that we are confusing the exarch with the mayor, and that we have talked to him, but I doubt it would be a good idea other than let them know they fucked up bad.

>>5043407
Hmm, I like it, but perhaps lets not give them ideas.
"They should do something about it" already feeds them the idea but doesnt saddle us with conspiracy.

Especially since if they did, we would be the men crushing them

>>5043442
I wanted them to realise that they fucked up and went the wrong way, since Pema is a disreputable rumormonger, not a pullar of the community, and that they went straight up to violence without being civil first.
Like saying you already fucked up idiot, but indirectly.

>>5043448
I see the thrust now. Perhaps attack them instead by praising that they got their information from a reliable source, get them to name drop him?
Since as it reads to me, you are giving them a step by step to accurately hurting Renshu.

Actually. If we go with your proposal, we can suggest they get the "valiant pillar of the community who found out" the outsider to lead the protest.

Leads us as gullible and impassioned, while leaving them to figure out that they trusted the news of a drunk. And if they didnt, Pema namedropped someone else.

File: Spoiler Image (19 KB, 300x400)

19 KB JPG

Is this the part where TL drops the line "And that's my rabbit you're messing with. Don't mess with my buns"?

Also have bunny buns.

I also just realized by laws of the quest. Xin Lan can carry TL to their honeymoon suite as easily as the big guy can carry the bun despite being a third his height. That thought makes me giggle.

>>5043499
Nope.

I prefer "now that you're of no use to me. Yuppie ki ay motherfucker."

>>5043510
It's like peter dinklage body dropping the rock

>>5043519
no doubt it'd be less about being romantic and more about Xin showing off and embarassing TL.

>>5043499
Nah boss, it's when we drop this:
https://youtu.be/cNgxyL5zEAk
Through the name drop.

>>5043524
Stripes wanted him home by nine. But meditation takes a lot out of you

>>5043596
Knowing TL, the man is still mediating and Xin wants to 1.Not have his brother worry and 2. Wants to see the absolute confusion on the big guys face when he's in unfamiliar surroundings.

"You teleported. I dunno how you did it but I saw it with my own eyes. There was a glow of golden energy and then you were gone."

>>5043609
"I have chaotic meditation Xin, good try though."
"Actually, I wonder if teleportation would even be possible"
And so Tai Lung, Ming, Bao and the masters of Eureka spent the next 3 months trying to teleport.
They succeded, but only with bread.

Doing a small short story on the side. Thought everyone's favorite mother should get some love. Just kidding, no way I'm channeling An Bo's mom. That's like asking for trouble. Ming and Xin would be fun though.

>>5044216
Oh, I thought you would write about Hien's mother in heaven looking at her son's hijinks.

>>5044226
Now that would be a good story. If a bit sad.

So what's the plan then? I get you're trying to insinuate that they fucked up bit the write ins sound like you're kind of trying to get them to do it again. Which sounds very 4d chess of TL to control an angry mob by pretending to be it's head.

>>5044238
The intention would be to try and get them to say someone tries to do something, and than try to pass that it should be done peacefully with someone that is a good person.
Than immediatly dash their hopes by saying if a drunkard started the violence first it would taint the movement and kill it at it's infancy.
Basically drill them for info, get them to say if it was only Pema, if he said something about another person telling him, than give them hope, than deatroy that hope by showing they already fucked it up.
I'm on the fence if we should end by implying we talked with the exarch and than name drop ourselves too, just to rub salt ont he wounds.
I think the other anon can explain better.

>>5044238
It's very 4D chess, but the general idea is

"Well who's doing something about this?" to get them to try and crack out a name or reveal their involvement in the mob.
"You should find the reasoned and principled pillar of the community who did this to lodge a formal complaint or protest" to make them realise they took the words of PEMA as truth. Which should send them into shame, if they have any sense.
"I'm glad that resonable, sensible people are noticing this problem. Imagine if disreputable or malicious individuals were highjacking your concerns. Imagine the liberties and damage they could do under a false guise of rightiousness" sorta thing, to point out that if they are wrong about this then a lot of bad can come of it, while seemingly having a rosey view of the whole affair as they are telling it so they don't think we are against them.

so it's not giving them instructions, it's proposing a motion which, if they actually tried to have carried out would reveal just how in the wrong they are.
If they tried to make an official complaint, they would need to say they got told by a drunk that a newcomer was sleeping with their lives but the drunk doesn't remember when he saw it, who told him it, and has only met said newcomer to punch him. it's patently ridiculious and nobody would listen to such absurdity, and we want them to hear how absurd it is.

>>5044253
Ah! So you're basically logicking out their actions infront of them so they realize how fucking dumb it sounds out loud. I get it, I dig it. Makes sense to me now. Writing.

>>5044275
That is completely what we are doing, while saying it in a manner that we sound completely supportive.

It's quite fun to watch pennies drop.

>>5044253
I knew you could explain it better.
That was the idea, shame them by showing a good logic, and how they did every single step wrong.
The person that started is drunk, it was just rumours, it was a mob, it was only a group without the larger population and it jumpes directly to violence.

>>5044285
And doing it indirectlt, by just following the logic on a peaceful, smart man,and showing support, so the shame they will feel is self realized. Kind of like a socratic method of debate, make the person reach the conclusion.
The fact we are doing it all while still maintaing serial killer mannerism is just an icing to the cake, like they thinf we are here ro break their bones but we are acting like a damn philosopher.

>>5044289
Nobody ever said deranged lunatics and murderous mad men were ever not philosophers.

They actually write quite a bit of philosophy to excuse their actions. Still, you're right. We're radiating killer energy and acting like an ardent lover of due course. It's hillarious.

You listen to their "greivences" and lies as you nod your head in flase agreement. It seemed that despite their misgivings and terror about you, they were quiet eager to turn what they perveiced to be a threat against someone they didn't know.

Just dump your problems on someone else/ You think to yourself as you are now dealing and playing the card game on auto pilot. "Someone should do something about it." You say, your tone unchanging. "Like the guards for instance. Or perhaps someone should bring this up to the city meetings. I was told in the station that people could air their greivences there and discuss them in public." You deal out a few more cards as the men regard you carefully. "But if this person has had relations with the mayor, the highest pillar of the community then perhaps that avenue might not be possible." You stroke your chin, a habit you've always seen your father do and though you always saw it as a sign of nervousness perhaps in this instance it could be seen as contemplation.

"No...we as a community must rally together. We need to show them that we won't stand for this kind of corruption in the city. After all we are supposed to be a place of enlightenment." You continue in a measured tone. The men's interest seems to increase as the game at the table comes to a halt. "Yes...we should do a protest of some kind. We rally behind a figure head. Someone enlightened and trusted by the community. Clearly we should find someone everyone respects and have him represent us. After all without someone with the community's backing, we'll just be another angry mob. Not only that but we have to be nonviolent. If we break the law, we only have given our opponents more ammunition to use against us. Not only that but the authorities have legal reasons to put a stop to our efforts despite how good willed they maybe."

The men nod as you speak though given their previous state, you're unsure if they're become more afraid of you or even more uncomfortable. "But tell me, who informed you of this corruption? Surely they could be our leader. Someone who knows this kind of information must be a well reasoned and respectable man."

The men say nothing and quietly shuffle in their seats, instead opting to try and bury themselves in their cards.

>What do you do?
>Try and press the men for the name. Perhaps they can bury themselves further. Perhaps they can give you more information. Given how talkative they've been, you're not sure.
>Put and end to the act. Tell them you know everything and you won't tolorate something like this again. A message they can take back to their other friends.
>Continue your train of thought and excuse yourself. Leave them with what you said to mull over.
>Write in.

>>5044359
>Let them stew for a few minutes. "What's with the quiet? can you not remember the hero of the community who found and tried to expose this corruption through telling you?
Oh I see, I'm terribly sorry"

Pause for a moment.

>"He must be sat around this table, a very humble hero of decency. No need to be quiet about it, I won't take it as bragging. This is about decency."
Lets just give them that to suck on. And try not to laugh.

>>5044359
>Come on my would-be-friends, are you all not hardworking, honest men? There is no problem in sharing who this ilustrious man is so I can seek to talk to him myself. Afterall, not only am I a newcomer to the city, but I know only parts to this story, I can be the one to spearhead this movement.
>Unless you are all put off by my fire, in which case I hope that you would forgive this stranger. I've been know to become VERY passionate against those who would do injustice. Never strike first, but be the wall that evil break itself against.
>Let is see who won this round, we can't let this dreadful topic stop our fun, can we?

I want to leave the name drop and the we are a friend of the wind and talk to sangpo for last.

>>5044398
This is just bullying them at this point.

hehehehehe.

Our two posts flow wonderfully together, so this is just going to be one long torture scene.

Ming is pretty tall for a cat. A fact of which she was bullied as a child for.

>>5044557
Who the hell bullies tall people? Angry manlets?

>>5044562
Angry, petty little girls who think their destinies lay far beyond what it really does. Ones who discarded humility and compassion for a momentary influx of false power. Basically girls Xin is going to beat up should they learn who they are.

>>5044576
Ah, yes. I tend to forget girls can get pretty vicious with the bullying.
I don't thing Xin needs to beat anyone up, Ming should have enough ability and confidence by now to verbally destroy them.

You quietly look at your cards as you let the atmosphere settle. "What's with the quiet? Can you not remember the hero of the community who found and tried to expose this corruption by telling you?" You ask as you look straight into the eyes of every man at the table. "Surely he must has sat with you, this humble protector of decency. No need to be quiet about it, I won't take it as bragging. This is about decency. If anything this is bringing to light an unsung hero to the greater population." The men fidget with their cards as they try to pretend to be interested in the game. You quietly tap on the table with your cards. A light consistent sound to simply enforce the notion of time. To bring to light how long they are keeping quiet.


"Come now my would-be-friends, are you all not hardworking, honest men? There is no problem in sharing who this ilustrious man is so I can seek to talk to him myself. Afterall, not only am I a newcomer to the city, but I know only parts to this story, I can be the one to spearhead this movement. Unless you are all put off by my fire, inwhich case I hope that you would forgive me. I've been known to become *VERY* passionate against those who would do injustice. Never strike first, but be the wall that evil breaks itself against." You say somewhat proudly. When the men continue to stay silent, you add, "Well then let us see who won this round, we can't let this dreadful topic stop our fun, can we?" You flip over your cards to reveal a pair of aces, an unbeatable hand. You give the men a friendly grin.

"Well it seems like fate is on my side, gentlemen. No hard feelings?" You ask. The men shrug and shake their heads, now doing the best to try and conceal themselves as best as they could in their very open space. Perfect to finish this conversation.

>What do you say?
>Tell the men, that the rabbit is your friend and you happen to have a particular attachment to the him and you don't like it when people mess with your friends.
>Leave without saying anything. Let them dwell on what you said.
>Insinuate you know when people are lying and you don't like it when people lie. Especially when it involves unwarrented attacks.
>Write in.

>>5044614
>Ah, I see the problem now. In my haste to try and make new friends I forgot the most basic of manners! I'm Tai Lung, you may have heard of me, and I hope it was only the good parts.
>Anyway, it seems that is already late, and my blunder has silenced my companions, so I must go. I must remember to talk with the exarch about how he lets the city be run before I go. Such a shame, he seemed to be a wise and good man when he personally welcome me into the city, I must take that as a lesson to not believe rumours and first impressions about someone before taking action.

>>5044614
I want answers, not ashamed silences!

>Ah, I see the problem now. In my haste to try and make new friends I forgot the most basic of manners! I'm Tai Lung, you may have heard of me, and I hope it was only the good parts.
We can stop playing Poker, we all know the games are over now.
>You know, I've heard another rumour. About another outsider and his friends who came to this city and who was recently attacked by a mob of men who were riled up and led on a ruccus by a drunkard named Pema. New as I am, even I know that name, and instead of resorting to his basest urges, the outsider didn't break bones or cause a rukus, He. Hmm, 4 maybe 6 hours in guard custody with a split lip was the time spent? with the ensuing days dogging him with slander after slander so easily confused for this other outsider who none have met and seemingly woven from the strands of every low life sediment within the collective imagination. So while you know nothing about this depraved money hungry shop peddler, perhaps you can tell me why my boyfriend got struck across the face instead of doing as he so dearly wished and breaking the offending hand.

I'm not sure at what points our serial killer vibe should shift to "You've done stepped in it retards" but I do think we should shift to our "I'm telling you off voice" of authority for.

>"So tell me, Who put Pema up to it."

>>5044631
>>5044871
so which are we going for?

>>5045301
Let me change the the other anon write-in a bit, so it's less agressive.
Don't want to start a fight here and all.
>Well, I guess from your silence you really are the good friends I was looking for. You know, I was hoping you all had given up on the plan because you realised it would be a mistake, not of cowardice. Anyway, I didn't come here for vengeance, but to know what Pema said about the person who told him the rumours.

After they tell everything.
>Here's a tip for you: You shouldn't believe every rumour and first impression about people, you should fact check it all first. Even the lowst acolyte of the Sacred Library could tell you that.

>>5045342
Fair enough. I was going real agressive like.

I accept with this compromise, moving from our name to "silence tells me you are the good friends"

>>5045358
If we weren't in the middle of a parlour/park, were avoiding justifying the rumours, or getting i more trouble with the guards, I would have no problem being very agressive.
Perhaps we will get to punch the ringmaster.

>>5045380
But anon, we're the ringmaster. After all we need to rally people against the corruption for our new "friends"

>>5045380
I suppose.

We could ask them to step outside and answer our questions, or they can answer them in here.

>>5045342
>>5044871
>>5044631
We are very very disappointed. Very. Gotta channel Ming.

You wait a few more moments before speak. "Well, I guess from your silence you really are the 'good friends' I was looking for. You know, I was hoping you all had given up on the plan because you realized it would be a mistake, not of cowardice. However, I didn't come here for revenge, but to know what Pema said about the person who told him the rumors." You say dropping all pretenses and speaking in a quiet flat voice, one that bore no humor for any attempts to get out of this, and tossing your cards into the pile of the middle, all of them slotting in perfectly between the planks of wood and standing on edge. "So, what did the drunk tell you?"

The men look around you in fear as you lean back into your seat and cross your arms. "I can wait all night gentlemen. Rest assured, your wellbeing is safe. I simply want to go after the real people responisble. Clearly, you 5 have enough sense, or at least cowardice, to know when something is a bad idea. You may have be part of the plotting group but given that you didn't actually go and get anymore involved than that then I have no reason to do you any harm. Next time, I would suggest you go to the guards rather than hide away with your mouths shut but that's just a suggestion. Now..." You say again as you lean forward and place your elbow on the table. "About my question..."

The men do their best to drag their chairs away from you and huddle up in their corner, now clutching their cards as if they were a talisman to ward you away. Luckily for you, it seems that you at least have frightened them into speaking. "H-he didn't say anything." One of them squeaks. "All he did was just ramble on about the some guy who was stealing men's wives and how he was sleeping with the mayor. We were all a little drunk at the time. But he brings this bottle. The good stuff and he pours us all a drink. This stuff was strong too, no wonder it's so expensive. By the time we all stopped trying to get as much of the stuff as we wanted, we were so drunk that we were willing to listen to anything the guy said."

"What did he say? Even drunk as you were, what could he have possibly told you that made any kind of sense?" You ask.

"Well at first it was just general garbage. That all women were bad and that they couldn't be trusted. But then...then he started talking about real detailed stuff." Another man says. "Specific names and couples. Thinking back, he could have just been making it up. The man works all over town. He could have just heard a group of people arguing or maybe just memorized a few of the couples and used them as fake examples."

"I'm guessing these were the partners of the men who did go through with it." You surmize. To your surprise, the men shake their heads."

"No...it wasn't any of us. But by the time he was done, we were all so sloshed that we belived him that he said our wives were also seeing the guy. You gotta belive us. It was just us being stupid drunks." The first man says. "So we plotted there. What we'd do and the like. By the time we were done just fantasizing about revenge, it was nearly morning and I could barely see a few feet in front of me. I can't even remember when the bar man threw us out because we were on the streets drinking and plotting still before we all gave up and went home. I'm guessing the others didn't go home and decided to wait it out..."

"And where did Pema get this information? You can't tell me he didn't just come up with it on his own." You say.

"He never said." The second man says. "I don't even know if we asked. All he kept going on about is how we have to stand up for ourselves as men. Maybe he mentioned something about being told this. I can't remember. But I think one of us did." The second man's brows furrow as he thinks as if his life depended on it. "Y-yeah...I think we did but he just avoided answering. Tried to be this leader or hero that he had come up with this plan himself."

"What else did he say? How did he afford the drink? You said it was valuable. Pema can barely afford alcohol as it is."

"I-I don't know! We asked. By the dragons did we ask. But all he said is that he had received it as a gift from a friend. I think it was the same one that might have told him about the rumors. We all figured he stole it while doing his errands. Sometimes shops and buisnesses let him to clean up or to carry things. I've never heard of him stealing before, it's not like he can afford to lose what little jobs he got. But because this was booze we were talking about...well maybe he finally broke down and did it."

You furrow your brows and think. This was pretty much all that Xin Lan told you about. There had to be more to this. Something they had to know. In the end, you're not sure if you can ask anything else. These men were clearly too drunk during that night to know anything usefull. So the best you can do is ask, "Was there anything unsusual about that night besides what you told me?"

"No. Not really. Other than the drink was really good." One man admits. "It was like we couldn't get enough of the stuff. I know it's high class but I've never felt like that about any other drink before." You nod as you lean back. That was about the best you were going to get out of them, you figured. Perhaps you should have sent one of the rabbits to do it. Then again, they would probably fair just as well and it wouldn't do much good for Renshu to confront his attackers. You stand up and your voice takes a more reproachful tone.

"I see. Well, let this be a lesson for all of you. You shouldn't belive every rumour and first impression about people, at the very least figure it out for yourself. Even the lowest of acolytes here can tell you that. And clearly, you need to think twice about drinking as well. It's not lead you all to any good paths so far. You've already taken the first step by not going through with your plan. Now take the next one. Rise above that. Be better." You say before sighing and adopting a rather frighteningly friendly and naive attitude. "Anyway, it seems that is already late and I must go! I must remember to talk with the exarch about how he lets the city be run before I go. Such a shame, he seemed to be a wise and good man when he personally welcome me into the city, I must take that as a lesson to not believe rumours and first impressions about someone before taking action as well, shouldn't I? Ah! But where are my manners? I'm Tai Lung, you may have heard of me, and I hope it was only the good parts. I just came in with my 3 three friends a few months ago. I think you might like them as well! Especially my boyfriend. His cooking is to die for! He recently opened a diner in the market district. Tall rabbit with stripes. I hope you can come and try it out sometime. Trust me, it'll be an experience you'll never forget..."

You turn and leave the men to process that information, you got what you came for. As you head out, you make a quick stop by the women's table as they continued their idle talks. "Oh hello deary. How was your game? I hope those men weren't too rude."

"No, no. They were fine gentlmen. A bit too quiet in my opinion but not everyone can be a friendly as you three." You say as the women giggle.

"Well, we're about to have our last game for the day. Did you want to join?" Another woman asks.

You shake your head. "Oh no. I just came to let you know that you might want to hold off on visiting that new diner." You lower your voice to whisper and the women lean in closer in curiosity. "Now, you didn't hear this from me but I'm really close with the owner of the place. And they're planning a nice little couple's night. Seeing as how you were all so welcoming, I thought I'd give you a heads up. Keep your ears and eyes open so you can snag reservations for you and your spouses early as soon as they are available. My recommendation is near the windows. At night you get the nicest view of the market district. The setting sun hits it just right and the stars afterwards just look amazing at that angle. Maybe...let the men of the house think they thought that plan up if you know what I mean." At this, despite your attempts to keep it a secret, the women immediately erupt into chatter. With a polite smile, you wave the women goodbye and head out into the streets.

---

By the time you arrive back at The Warren the sun had completely set and those self same stars glittered in the night sky like gems. You make your way to the back entrance out of habit and as you push open the door to the kitchen, you see the two rabbits with their back to the door. The tips of Xin Lan's feet poke out from under their dress as they playfully bat at their brother's ears with their own while hanging off their brother's back, their small arms wrapped around Renshu's neck. "And seeing as I'm your cutest little brother, I think you should make me some sweets." They say, resting their chin on their brother's shoulder.

Renshu chuckles as he continues to stir at something to cool it. "Well, given that you are my little sister. I think you should know to heed your elder brother's warnings. Especially those regarding ruining your appetite."

"Oh come on Stripes. You made us pies. What about late night snacks?" Xin Lan asks. As you approach, both sets of ears swivel towards your direction and the elder rabbit turns both of them to face you. "Oh hey big guy. Took you long enough." They say with a smirk. "Did you do more witch craft? I told Stripes you were probably meditating."

"Not this time." You say as you sniff. "Somthing smells good."

Renshu gives you a warm smile. "Would you like some hot chocolate? Ming and Xin Lan were planning to race over to the bakery for some pastries to accompany it."

"And I think he should make them himself." Xin Lan counters.

"No, you wish for me to make you extra so you can have a secret stash." Renshu says, batting at Xin Lan's ears. "Now, climb off. Ming is already coming down the stairs." Xin Lan grumbles, their plans foiled as they leap towards the door to the stairs and startling Ming as she exited.

"Xin! Don't do that! Not everyone has super senses you know!" She scolds as she hugs the rabbit.

"You'll learn. Don't worry. Eventually you'll come around to the idea someone always wants you dead." They grin. Ming makes a disapproving sound.

"We'll be back soon." She says. "Hopefully they still have some of those swirly breads." Both Ming and Xin Lan wave their goodbyes leaving you and Renshu alone. Renshu hands you a cup of warm drink and the two of you take a seat. It hurt you to see him like that. With black stiches running down his lip, and occasionally seeing the ones in his mouth. You take a sip of the hot chocolate, letting it's warmth seep into your belly as Renshu speaks.

"You know..." He says quietly. He takes a seat next to you and offers you a chair which you accept. Staring at the contents of his own mug he continues. "I can't...I don't ever know when I'll ever stop saying thank you."

"You don't need to." You say. "You never do."

Renshu smiles softly. "I see Xin Lan and realize how far they've come. Their smiles are geuine. Their laughs so real. You don't...know how much of a wound it was to see them do it. To hear them say it...only for it to be all a lie. Others couldn't tell but I could. Their words were hollow. They were missing something...and now that something is back. I think...if I were to die right now, I'd be happy knowing where they are. Who they're with."

You gently put an arm around Renshu. "No one of that talk. No one is dying. I don't think Xin would ever forgive you for all the missed breakfasts he'll never be able to steal from you."

"Oh I'm sure he'd find a way to claim them from me. No matter where I was." Renshu rubs his thumb on his mug and you sense uncertainty from him. Doubt or conflict.

"What's wrong?" You ask gently. "You're troubled."

Renshu sets his mug aside and leans into you. You feel yourself get a bit warm but you tighten up your hold on him just a bit. "Do you think I'll ever be able to travel with you to the other side?" He asks.

"You mean visit the spirit realm? I mean-"

"No." He says, empathically reading your feelings. "Tai Lung...I know that someday you'll leave us. If not through death then you'll head to the spirit realm. Just as your master did. By leaving all ties behind and fully leaving this plane. Never in my mind has there been a doubt that you won't ascend to that height of enlightenment. I want to know...do you think I'd be able to follow? Do you think I'd be able to go with you? If only so Xin knows I'm not truly gone. So he can visit...or is that too selfish?"

>What do you say?
>Write in.

That's a big post right there.

>>5045866
>Oh it's very selfish. But then again, I dont think your ancestors deserve the honour of your company. But I think you can do it, either through the way I will with enlightenment or through some trick that you rabbits are always pulling out of nowhere, sorcery and alchemy being what they are.
>Part of my research could be of use here, but that is something for later. Tbe bottom line in all this is that it's possible if we try and I'm willing to give you my full support.

>>5045866
>Well Renahu, you are right, I did promise to Bao that I would ascend to Eureka one day. But, like master Oogway, I will only do it at the twilight of my life.
>I was hoping that I would be join me. Not only you Renshu, but Ming and Xin aswell. I wanted to leave this talk for the far future, when we had complete our pilgramage, achieved inner peace and visited Eureka atleast once, so that you could make an informed decision rather than just agree out of loyalty to me.
>So to answer your question, I have no doubt that you will be able to, just like I'm certain that achieve your redemption in the eyes of the Great Judge, and find peace within yourself.

>>5046057
Renshu, and you would join me.

>>5046053
>>5046057
Stripped bun can't come with us. He needs to conquer hell and becomes it's new emperor while TL conquers heaven. That way all planes are ruled by the crew. Writing.

>>5046358
And Ming conquers earth right?
Xin gets to conquer the sea.

>>5046360
Exactly. Though Xin will probably murder you if they're made to command the sea.

>>5046377
It's her eternal punishement.
The bully must be bullied.

>>5046377
TL: Dont be such a. . Wet towel Xin.

>>5046444
Angry wet bun noises ensue.

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>>5046453

>>5046458
I imagine that was Xin's reaction upon being told they now rule the seas.

"Yes that is quite selfish." You muse. "But then again, isn't doing anything for the people you love selfish as well? To favor them more over everyone else? Just like anger, sadness, violence, and all other things many people consider negative at face value, it's how you express them and use them that matters. You're right though, I made a promise to Bao that I would return to Eureka permanantly someday but that is not something I plan to do until the twilight of my life. But I was hoping that you and the other's would join me. Even eternity in a new world would be rather hollow without the people who journied with me for my entire life. So to answer your question, yes. I always planned that you would. Maybe it wouldn't be enlightenment. It could be some trick that you come up with rituals an alchemy as we always seem to come up with but I don't think I ever planned to go on alone." You gently squeeze Renshu's shoulder and give him a smile. "I was planning on having this conversation when we had found the Pools and acheived inner peace. Maybe after we traveled to Eureka at least once. So you could make an informed decision rather than just agree our of loyalty to me."

Renshu chuckles. "I think the things I do for you go beyond loyalty now." He says. "Though I'd be lying if I said that being with you wasn't partly the reason. Still..." He admits. "I can't help but worry about Xin more often now that things are more peaceful. I find my thoughts drifting here and there during my down time. To things I never cared about before. Things I once thought were unimportant."

You chuckle and ruffle Renshu's ears. "Funnily enough, I went through the same thing." You say. "It comes with the territory of being a good person. It never gets any less surprising. Still, it's a nice milepoint to look back on. Being able to tell that you care about things beyond yourself or bringing harm to others. It might not be society as a whole, but it's a step forward." At that Renshu makes what you assume is a happy sound but he says nothing. The two of you sit by the warm stove in your ussual way. With a nice quiet and enjoying one another's company. Part of you wonders how normal people have a relationship but another part of you simply enjoys the fact you have your own ways. Its after a while that you sense Ming and Xin Lan coming up to the door and though you feel the instinct to let Renshu go, you decide to keep on holding him and weather whatever storm would come.

"We're back!" Ming announces as she pushes open the door with her back as she holds several bags in her arms. "Sorry we took so long. A certain bunny wanted to buy the whole store." She says.

"I did not!" Xin Lan replies as they leap over Ming's head with a pair of bags in their own arms. "A certain kitty wanted to go and buy up the whole market district."

"If by buying the whole district you mean picking up a few odds and ends to keep your brother's buisness running then yes, I did." Ming counters as she sets the bags on a counter, still not noticing the two of you. "I couldn't find much. Most places were closed but I managed to get a few things here and there."

"Maybe we should leave them alone." Xin Lan says with a smirk on their face. "Looks like we interrupted something." Ming turns around to look at the two of you then lifts the small rabbit on the counter.

"They're enjoying each other's company." She says simply, though she couldn't hide the gleam in her eyes. "If you're going to make a joke about everything you see, you might as well start with the fact they're breathing the same air as you. Now help me find the sweet bread. No doubt you put it under everything with how you pack your things."

"I know how to pack food!" Xin Lan says as they being to dig through their purchases. "Maybe you go the bags wrong!"

Renshu sighs and gives you a bemused look as he stands, pulls your head into a hug before kissing your forehead and going to help the others leaving you red faced and flustered as always. "Perhaps I should help before you two tear my kitchen apart." He says as he begins to search.

---

"So what did you get anything out of them then?" Xin Lan asks as they drink their hot chocolate. All four of you had retreated to the more spacious private dining area on the second floor and though there was no fireplace, the designer of the building had ingeniously run the pipes of the oven and part of the chimney through the room. The ensuing heat of the fires below radiated off of the material both were made of and warming the rooms of the second floor of the building. You recall Ming explaining it all to you when she first explored the building as you and Renshu renovated the space.

It's actually really amazing. They took into account the fact that even up here it's always cold enough to need heat. So even in the hotter months like right now, having a fire going on all day won't make these rooms stuffy or unbearable. Basically they took advantage of the enviroment. No extra fires needed, no chance of smoke spilling out of into the rest of the building. Even the fireplace and oven downstairs were designed to be left alone overnight without the risk of burning the building down when unattended. It's genius.

You had made a mental note to ask Ming to figure it all out incase you wanted it for you house but for the present, you had some questions to answer.

>What do you tell your friends?
>Write in.

>>5046469
>Not much new, butvit helped confirm our suspicions. They didn't premeditatecthe attack, Pema had gathered them the night before, and they all drank until the morning. Pema had very specifc knowledge of household problems, but none of them were about the group itself. Also, it seems that they couldn't stop drinking from the bottle Pema had. They tought it was just because it was a very good bottle and that he learned the rumours while doing odd jobs, but he refused to tell answer about it when they questioned that part. I think that someone spiked that drink with something, and told Pema the details so he would start trouble, probably in exchange for something.
>Also I met a nice group of ladies that played mahjong like vicious generals. They realky enjoyed the idea of the couple's night when I told them, so it might be very sucessful.

>>5046494
Sounds about right. I want to make a joke about the situation, but I can't think of one. Oh well.

Just support.

>>5046570
We were very popular with the ladies? That the rumours are that we are taking wifes now? We are nore confortable aroung women? Maybe that they were very silent? Ashamed?
I can't think of a good joke, so I'm goi g to just throw these ideas at you, maybe it will help.

>>5046572
The joke is that TL is an old lady who like mahjong. Just like all the other old kung fu masters.

>>5046590
"I may be getting old but I decided to try Majohng" is a decent joke.

But I want to allude to us being a serial killer without. . I got it.

Shift to how we were acting when we tell them this part.

"I decided to search up a lead and thought it was best to be friendly. But xin is rubbing off on me." Cue transition to killer talk
"And when I asked to play, they all started getting quiet. So I asked them all, do you want to play a game?"

Make the context and shift of our tone and expressions the punchline.

>>5046494
>>5046570
taking this. Writig.

"Not alot that we didn't already know but they did confirm our suspicions. They didn't plan the attack, Pema had gathered them the night before and they drank until morning."

"So drunks being drunks." Xin Lan says as they nibble on some cookies. You shrug.

"Pema seemed to be privy to a lot of details regarding the issues between couples but nothing regarding the group itself. The only thing that stood out was that it seems they couldn't get enough of whatever drink Pema had. Odds are it was spiked with something but despite that, Pema refused to answer where he got the drink or who informed him of everything he knew. More than likely it whoever altered the drink also told Pema the details so he can start trouble, probably in exchange for something."

"What could he possible want? Or rather, what would anyone gain from doing this? Running Renshu out of buisness?" Ming asks. "Is he really that really big of a threat?"

"Of course. It's the reason I was bred." Renshu says amused. "To be a threat. Be it in battle, in the shadows or in buisness." He jokes. Clearing his throat, he add more seriously, "It is quite possible that the older buisnesses do not like a new one upsetting the status quo. Given how hard it would be to open a new buisness, especially in a well established city where it's premier markets have already been established, any previous owners of this building simply failed or more than likely no one has even attempted to take over this place beyond the original owners. Add how well the diner is flourishing and it would be quite a shock. Maybe they never even considered the fact that they could simply end my small diner by out preforming me with superior service."

"So, what, it's just a bunch of old geezers who don't like the idea of competition?" Xin Lan asks. "The owner of that bar did like to host parties. Might be how all the buisnesses come together to talk about how to run their places."

"I wouldn't doubt that. It seems, much like Kung Fu, there is some kind of etiquite on opening a new shop." Renshu thinks out loud before smiling serenely to himself, a smile you knew too well to hide dangerous intent. "However, given that now have openly attacked me and made no attempts at a peaceful resolution then they have declared war. As such I will destroy them. Their business’ lives are forfeit." He looks at you and says, "I'm sorry but I'm afraid there's only so much restraint I can have."

"W-what are you going to do?" Ming asks.

Renshu takes a sip of his drink before responding. "I made a vow to the people I love. I would live as a normal person. I don't intend to break it if that is what you fear. However, I'm afraid I'm not so self composed as to allow this to go unpunished. As I said, they might be surprised that my shop is doing so well and, as is anyone who will face me, they are correct in being afraid of me. I've been playing nice. Holding back. Now, I'm afraid they will face me as I face anyone. Without remorse or mercy. If they wish to live then they will need to rise to the challenge but I'm afraid years of complacency will have left any competitive spirit atrophied. A fact I will take full advantage of to leave their shops empty and their food stocks full." The large rabbit's ears flick. "It's quite like a fight to the death and I look forward to the fight."

"Well...I guess that is a much healthier approach to it than trying to sabotage your opponents." Ming admits. "Just...don't overwork yourself. Remember, you're more important to us than keeping this place alive."

"Don't worry. I already have a solution." Renshu says. "I'm hiring some help. And I already have someone in mind."

You look at Renshu. Despite all this confidence and bravado, you could see the truth. This was worrying him. You're not sure in what way but he was scared. Perhaps this was the only way he knew how to cope. To fight. At the very least Ming was right. Renshu was trying to cope in a much healthier way than simply trying to smash or kill whatever bothered him. Still, part of you wished he simply spoke openly about how he felt to the others. Either way, you speak up, "That reminds me. I met a nice group of ladies that played Mahjong like veteran generals. I let them know about the couple's night and they seemed really open to the idea. Hopefully they help spread the word around."

"Wow big guy, you really are becoming old. Now you're playing mahjong? Next you're gonna want to go live up alone in a mountain." Xin Lan teases.

"I'm pretty sure I'm stuck with you for life." You say.

"That's right. We're engaged after all." Xin Lan replies.

"I just wish I could examine that bottle." Ming says. "I'd like to examine what was in it. Might help us with some clues."

"It should be up on a roof somewhere." Xin Lan says idly. "I just kind of left it there. I'll go grab it. Not like anyone climbs their own houses."

With that, you and your friends spend a few more hours talking before ultimately heading to sleep. Whether or not there will be some kind of buisness war was uncertain but you go to be hoping that at the very least you can get to the bottom of all this.

>What do you do next? You have 31 weeks left.
>Write in.

>>5047619
>Attempt to improve our cooking.

May the dragons have mercy on us all.

Once that promise to Bao is done, to prove even we can improve, then lets put our other shit on hold, let the classes run themselves for a bit and
>Work to integrate our friends perspectives into the new style

I think it should only take 5 or 10 weeks.

>>5047619
Shit, I forgot what we were doing before this, we even had a plan or something.
I think we were going to finish going to the next level? We had stutied the scroll from the panda right? Also might be the best time to talk with Sangpo about the Eureka masters, before something else happens to drag our attention away.
I think it was to progress, give another shot at the gators, than either progress again or develop the benevolent style.

>>5047623
Oh yeah, we had the cooking.
How about we talk to sangpo since it doesn't take time, than improve our cooking since it has a time limit, than finish our study on chi and present our fiding, and than develop our style?
We can use the rest of the time for any loose ends.

>>5047627
Sang Po, yes.

I think we should try improving our cooking, and hope that Bao didn't notice all the bullshit stealing our attention.
Then develop the style while we have the chance.

Then do the advancement.

. . . Do you think we should have listened to our friends about taking on too much?

>>5047632
Nah, free time are for normal people, not for the avatar of a bunch of autists on a Macau fishing net repair IRC.
>>5047619
Boss, is the next step the one we have to start taking duties for the library? It's important for me to decide if we should try advancing or getting the style first.

>>5047651
We should get the style first anyway.

>>5047654
I was thinking of trying to get the teachers-in-training before we went of to learn from our friends, to minimize any problems with the class being cut down to one day per week all of the sudden. Maybe make it a trial run to see if it would work even.

>>5047651
Good question. Yes, rank 3s are expected to take on minor clerical duties around the city. Those that can't do that or if there is none available are expected to teach others such as kids and the like.

>"Those that acheive the third rank as asked to assist around the city in some minor clerical duties. Others are asked to act as teachers and instructors for the children and adolescents. When you reach the 4th rank, we're required to take some position in helping around the order. As you probably already know, I'm in charge of the dorms for levels below me. I mostly handle things such as keeping track of food stores, keeping rooms maintained and well kept.

>>5047660
Also, your kung fu classes don't count for this lads. You're teaching kids yes but the intent is to help give the younglings a proper education...before Ming comes to cut them all down in the name of her empire.

Of course, you are welcome to attempt to argue otherwise. It's just that what was said is expected of the role.

>>5047666
Well shit, in that case I guess it's style first. We really need to hurry up an train some of those teacher candidates while we still can.

Unless we become Tai Lung, physical education teacher, teaching kids the proper moral values, how to respect the students, chi and self-defense.

>>5047666
Teaching kids respect and self confidence is a noble goal. And we can do geography

Guess who the fuck has just came back with a big belated surprise.

Here's what was promised
https://vocaroo.com/1h40gKJcqpqE

And a quick afterword from me.
https://vocaroo.com/1ht3ZDJo3tHe

Just so I have it in text form, I apologize for making a big ol silence for those that were interested in the project. I had problems in need of brushing away and a bad work ethic I need to bash out. But that ain't the real apology anyways. The real apology is what I made for y'all

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>>5048147
You're alive! An 15 whole minutes of voice acting. I guess I got what to listen to while cooking. But what will you do now? This was your big project besides the D&D stuff right?

Captcha: 0a0 YA

Even the bots are excited.

>>5048147
Vocarooanon lives!

>>5048154
Yes Luo, right on the money. This one is Recovery. Previously named Recovering that which was Lost. This is the BEEG ONE. I put a good bit of effort into it, especially the editing because my voice work has been gettin a bit bad lately.

>>5048156
You're goddamn right I live. I'm just real bad at time management and get sucked up in stuff

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>>5048159
Hey, you're not the only one. I can feel the real life stuff getting in the way. Still, it's good to have you back though. Hope we can see you around more often.

Perhaps this picture of the buns will entice you to stay.

>>5048160
I really do try. My activity on 4chan in general as of recent has been practically non-existent but I wanna change the fuck outta that because everything else online and offline is giving me some strife. The bunnies are great reasons to keep the activity up too. Can't forget the Bunnies!

On that nice thing to wake up to. What is the plan? I think we're on cooking for our competition with Bao?

>>5048174
Samgpo because it's free than we are setting the Sacred Library on fire.
Hopefully if our students survive this hell week we can find a few good teacher candidates so we can spend the other turn mastering the power of violent pacifism.

>>5048181
Oh dear. Well I'm sure Stripes will enjoy watching your hands at work as his house burns down so there's that. I'll get to writing then.

"You want to do what?"

The old man's tone was rather complex. A mixture annoyance, grumpiness, icredulity, and amusement. You find yourself standing in The Exarch's chambers once more though unlike last time, you had found the old monkey hanging from one of the many rolling ladders that were lined up against the almost impossibly tall bookcases. How he managed to find anything in any sort of reasonable time was beyond you but you assume that he might have some kind of technique or system to assist with that. Or perhaps he had simply memorized every single book in his collection. If so, you then begin to wonder what was the point of having them all here.

Pulling yourself away from these thoughts, you reply, "I want to help Master Oogway and the other Masters establish some kind of home or school in the spirit realm. One where they can invite or at least receive anyone else who arrives there. Perhaps as a resting home for those exploring the lands to come back to and speak with friends. Not to mention a place for discussion and philosophy."

The old man looks at you. "So you want to colonize the Dragon's lands?"

"No." You reply quickly. "That's why I'm asking for your help. We wanted to ask permission and we heard you had brokered a deal with the 4 dragons to create this city. I was hoping you could use your experience to help us figure out what we can do."

The old man characteristically take his time to climb down the long ladder and squint at you. "Flattery won't get you anywhere." He says as he tugs at his bear. "I'm far too old for it. Heard every trick in the book. Probably written one too."

"So is that a no then?" You ask.

"I didn't say that." Sangpo says as he begins to write something down. "But, your idea is quite unique give the fact most people are happy enough to be able to visit the lands while alive. You have heard the various tales about greed and ambition right? I think the most recent one is about Tai Lung. Quite interesting."

You're unsure if this is a slight against you and if Sangpo was trying to get a rise out of you. Given how old the man was, you doubt anything he says is as simple as a grumpy old man saying whatever he wants. "You mean the tale of a young snow leopard that grew mad with power but then learned he gained far more from humilty and compassion than through taking what he wanted? Yes, I think I have. So that's why I'm asking you. I simply don't know as much as you and I want to defer to the expert." You think for a moment. "Shenlong says he hasn't seen you in a while. Maybe you can use this time to catch up."

The old man goes quiet. "Hmm...old green scales still remembers me. I guess it has been a few centuries since I spoke to that old lizard. Who knows how long that is on his end. Not that it matters much to someone who time is blind to."

"Well...if that's not enough. It's a good excuse to not be bothered by the goings on in the city." You joke. The old man tightens his lips in what you think is supposed to be a smile.

"No so blind now are you boy?" The old man muses. He stumps past you, his cane stamping on the ground with every step. "Well...I suppose I could take a small buisness trip. Need to assess the spiritual balance of world. You can see yourself out can't you?"

---

"Beloved...while I appreciate your...enthusiasm with trying to cook. Perhaps you might be kneading the dough a bit too hard?" Renshu asks as he eyes your large hands in a mixture of excitement and worry. You look down at the mass of dough on the counter.

"What's wrong with the dough?" You ask.

"Well...maybe you didn't hear me but I said that you can overknead dough. After that it gets a bit too firm." He says taking the lump and attempting to stretch it. The dough doesn't stretch very far before it tears in two. "We let the heat from the oven do the hardening so to speak." He says amused and placing the dough back. "So...how about we start over...again."

You nod quietly and try not to see the various failures around you. Noodles you had left in the water for so long that they dissolved, rice that you manage to burn while trying to add veggies, and somehow, a soup that you manage to burn the ingredients for. Renshu takes your hands and laces his fingers with yours. Despite all this, he seemed to be enjoying himself. "At the very least you're getting better. We only had to put out a single fire. What do you wish to try this time?"

>What dish do you want to attempt?
>Something simple. Noodles or a soup?
>Something with a few parts that come together. Like shrimp fried rice.
>Something quite complex. With tons of small ingredients and spices.
>Write in.

>>5048240
I've a cunning plan

We make something so painful to eat, that it disguises the pain of our food.
Like Guangs soul destroying spicy food.

>>5048251
I've got it.

Spicy Char grilled veggie soup.
We always burn things anyway, lets make it a speciality!

>>5048147
My man. When that insanity accusation kicked in, I got lost in it.
Fucking magnificent.

>>5048240
MEAT BUN.
The only way for Tai Lung to learn is to put all of his emotions and faith into it. What greater feeling than his love for that food?

>>5048344
You know what, fuck it.

We'll make it with love. Because love tastes like charcoal.

>>5048380
Well, it can be a very spicy meat bun.
Very well done is the type of cooking, people just have plebian taste.

>>5048344
>>5048380
>>5048389
Meat bun! Meat bun! Our love, our courage, the lone meat bun to shatter the tastebuds!

>>5048299
I'm glad you liked it! The final section was one of my favorite parts to make. Alot of behind the scenes shittery happened though

Anyways I've got a bit of an announcement. I'll be mostly chilling until December hits when it comes to Recovery. I'll write the script and iron it out but at my leisure instead. I may take the time to finally get around to the Hien one shot I promised so long ago, or some fun short prologue things or shorts pertaining to Recovery. I have ideas that would be way quicker and easier. At least in theory, y'all know me. Also OOH MEAT BUN!

>>5048629
I need to get to listening to it. Super hyped now that it's out but alas, irl always comes to drag me back. Still, plenty of time during the weekend.

>>5048654
Well, when you get around to it make sure to tell me what ya think!

So who votes for Xin to be the first taste tester.

>>5048958
Eh fuck it. Let's bring'm in as our first vi-i mean taste tester. What could possibly go wrong?

>>5048958
Well, they are the least likely to die.

I'm sorry little one.

>>5048973
>>5048984
And thus you have set the bun on the path to join forces with tigress to murder you.

You give Renshu a weak smile. "Well...what about meat buns?" You suggest. "Can't go wrong with that. Right?"

"Well it'd certainly give you more practice with dough." He says. "And at the very least I'd be happy to know that you can make bread. Let's go grab some more flour." Renshu lets go of you hands and turns to grab another sack of flour. For a moment, you find your hands to feel emptier than they should be as if they missed your partner's hands in them. Confused by this slighty betrayal of stoicism by your more faithful of apendges, you turn to look around the messy kitchen and begin to move all your failures to the stone sink and garbage. Best that you kept your mind busy for now. As you do so, you grab a bag here and a jar there for what you think you'll need for the dish. There's a clatter behind you and you see Renshu placing a bowl on the counter.

"The most essencial ingredient for meat buns is the dough. The bun itself must be fluffy and soft but firm enough to hold in the meat. Because the meat itself is marinaded the sauce will soak into the bread and we must take care that it does not seep the whole way through or else we will begin to burn our food." He adds with a tone of amusement. "Now, let us begin." He says handing you the ingredients. You gingerly take the bowl and everything else. You had done this once before but you could never really figure out how much of everything you needed. Luckily, Renshu was there to guide your measurements and hands. "Ok, now we need to knead the dough." He says taking your hands into his and guiding them as you both hold on to the dough. "It's balance." He says gently as his whiskers brush up against your arm and you feel yourself get a bit warm. "You have to use force to get it to comply but too much and it becomes unyeildy."

"Sounds like something out some kind of scroll of wisdom." You muse.

"They do say that a way to a man's heart is their stomach so perhaps there might be some truth to that." Renshu chuckles as he lets go to allow you to do it on your own. "I'll go grab the rest of what we need. Remember, if it gets too sticky, then use more flour."

You nod and continue to work the dough. It does feel a bit clingly but nothing to bad. As you work on the dough, something catches your eye. A small bag of white powder that you don't think is flour but you definitely didn't put in your dough mixture. Your heart skips a beat as you wonder if you had messed up again and forgot to add an ingredient. You grab a bit of it and taste it. Salt. Did salt go into this? You couldn't quite remember.

>What do you do?
>Sprinkle some of it in. Couldn't hurt to do so. Maybe it'll mask the inevitable flavor you'll ruin.
>Grab a fistful. If you forgot something important then you need then you better add it now and add extra to make up for it.
>Ignore it. Best to not add it in. Hopefully you're not wrong about this.
>Write in.

>>5049029
>Add two spoonfulls.
Is looking a recipe online technally cheating?

>>5049046
Yeah. It kind of is but I figured someone would. I'm doing it just to know how to make the dish.

>>5049052
In that case I'm keeping the two spoons instead of looking a recipe.
Sprinkling seems too little for me and TL's hand are too big for a whole handful.

>>5049029
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Going off my old education, By the time you have dough, it's a bit late to add the salt. So. . .

>Sprinkle some of it in
You'd only need like a half spoonful at the very most.