(no subject)

[emperorssmile]

Guess who got the Nie sect’s approval to start our own sect!

I figured out how to mitigate some of the dangers of using sabers, too. I left a couple prototypes in Nie Huaisang’s hands. It’s an amulet that acts as a filter for the yin energies. We won’t know how well it’ll work for a while, but it should work in theory.

Comments

[emperorssmile]

We’ll give our kids and disciples a good life.

And it’ll be a place for non-cultivators, too.

[shangba]

Wei Ying. You need not convince me.

[emperorssmile]

I know that.

I guess I’m still convincing myself.

[shangba]

You think yourself unworthy.

[emperorssmile]

It’s not that!

Okay, maybe it is that.

I know I can do it. I want to do it. With you and me together, we can keep everyone safe, even if trouble arises.

[shangba]

Trust in me, who trusts in Wei Ying.

[emperorssmile]

You’re right. If I was on the wrong path, you’d be the first one to tell me so.

[shangba]

Fear nothing.

[emperorssmile]

How could I fear a thing when I have you?

It’s still early. We’re going to start traveling now instead of waiting until morning.

[shangba]

You will stay to enjoy Huaisang's company?

[emperorssmile]

He’s actually coming with us for part of the way. Apparently, the best drink house he’s ever been to is in a town on the way.

He’s going to Lanling to meet with Jin Ling.

[shangba]

Nie Huaisang corrupts my husband.

[emperorssmile]

He boasts that the house wine is better than Emperor’s Smile, so how could I refuse?

[shangba]

He lies.

[emperorssmile]

That’s what I’m thinking, too. But there’s only one way to find out.

[shangba]

My self-sacrificing husband.

[emperorssmile]

If it’s any good, should I bring some back with me?

It’s strange. This new Nie Huaisang doesn’t seem at all like the guy I met studying in Cloud Recesses or the head shaker he’d been pretending to be. I don’t think he’s got malicious intentions anymore, but it’s hard to trust him.

[shangba]

...you do not owe him forgiveness.

[emperorssmile]

I won’t forgive him unless it comes from me. For now, we’re allies, but that could change at any point. I’ll be watching my back around him.

[shangba]

He has worried you.

[emperorssmile]

It would be naive to trust him completely, but you could say the same for most politicians.

I just hope to stay on his good side.

[shangba]

And he on the Patriarch's.

[emperorssmile]

You’ve got that right.

I’m still getting to know the real clan leader Nie. And he’s getting to know me, too. I won’t forgive him for Mo Xuanyu’s death or for putting the kids in harm’s way, but he seems satisfied with the outcome of his revenge.

There’s nothing we can do about the past now. I’ll play nice as long as he doesn’t involve innocent people in anymore secret plots.

[shangba]

Perhaps he too does not forgive our blindness to his brother's hurt.

[emperorssmile]

That’s possible. And we did try to keep Jin Guangyao alive.

I just hope he doesn’t have grievance against Zewu-Jun. Things could get messy if he does.