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>Previously on Legend of Wulin Hero:

>Feng Tiankong, Lightning Tiger, Son of Feng Renshu, Storm Dragon, had agreed to fight Junzi Society's Yang Meilin in the next bout of the tournament.

>However assassination attempt by Tang Clan killers that night lead Sky to discover a massive army encamped barely a day's March away from Chengdu.

>Returning to Yuan Clan Palace, Sky and the other Wulin sects demanded of Yuan Shengli an explanation, only to discover the shocking truth; the Yuan Clan master had been planning rebellion against the Ming Empire for some time!

>Now an punitive force of Imperial Army closes in on Chengdu...

Yay. It begins.

>"What are we going to do now?"

Xiao Jian's question hangs over the collective heads of everyone in the room like the sword of a court executioner.
Yuan Shengli may be the instigator, of this rebellion, but in a sense he's made accomplices out of everyone here.

You don't know much about Imperial Law, but you know a little about armies; your father once said that "an army is a big clumsy hammer of a weapon; it's heavy, powerful, defenses and armor not specifically tailored to fight it are useless against it, and it isn't very precise about what it kills."
Right now the Yuan Clan is the man about to be hit by such a hammer, and you all just happen to be nearby.

Apparently these great heroes of the Jianghu all had the exact same solution in mind; "go to our rooms and think about how to proceed".

"This is so stupid," you say aloud to Duan Lei and Zhu'er, who are packing what little belongings you have have.

"Which part?" Lei asks.

>WDYS?

>"I just week in Chengdu wasting my time." [Irritation]

>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129830
>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129830
>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129830
>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129830
>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]
I don't think the time Sky spent in Chengdu was wasted, even though he didn't get any clues on his father's whereabouts.

>>38129830
>>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129830
>"Nobody seems to actually know what to DO now." [Confusion]

>>38129907
precisely during our time here we have gained waifus and rivals, and most importantly MIGHTY KAMUSHIN

>>38129943
Sky did not gain MIGHTY KAMUSHIN, he merely attained the right to ride him.

>>38129993
Yeah, if anything MIGHTY KAMUSHIN gained Sky.

>>38129993
*to be his sidekick

"This. This whole thing. An Army parks itself outside the front gates and then we go to our rooms to think?" you say, annoyed and perplexed.

"Well it's not like there's a simplistic solution, Sky," Zhu'er points out. "Yang Shengli isn't acting out of greed or a news for vengeance; he's sorta protecting his territory the way a lot of sects here do. A lot of Wulin groups and xia oppose corrupt officials...he's kinda just doing it on a larger scale."

"She's right Bro; I've fought corrupt ministers and other sorts of Ming Empire douchebags before," Lei agrees.

"But opposing the Empire itself is ALSO a serious case of interacting heavily with the secular world," Zhu'er elaborates, "which is frowned upon usually, and he dragged us all into this by proxy thanks to him attempting to make alliegences with our groups behind our backs. So nobody's sure what to DO here since he's doing right and wrong at the same time."

"We should probably leave Bro," Lei suggests. "The Imperial Army is not someone I want to fight all at once. Numbers can beat even the most skilled xia, and they also have crazy stuff you can't even imagine. You ever seen a cavalry charge? Or a fire lance?"

"No," you admit with a shrug.

"Right, because you're still standing here and not blown to a million pieces," he agrees, packing away some traveling food.

"What do YOU want to do Sky?" Zhu'er asks curiously, sitting on the side of the bed you lay on.

>"I want to fight."

>"Is there some way to negotiate this with the Army?"

>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130187
>"Is there some way to negotiate this with the Army?"
It just seems silly that an entire city is going to be besieged because of one man's actions.

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba and get the fuck out of here"

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130187
>>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."
>"But even so, I can't just leave the friends I have made here. Is there some way to negotiate this with the Army?"
Secondary goals are a thing too.

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130210
It's a Chinese peacekeeping tradition!

>>38130187
>>"I want to fight."
we shouldnt just roll over let a dying empire do what it wants

>>38130229
this is good

>>38130187
>"I want to fight."

>>38130187
>>"I want to fight."
"A lot of innocent people will die here. That's a thought that does not rest well with me."

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."

>>38130187
>"I just want to find Ba."

Get home from school, Wulin Quest is up. Feels good man.

"I....I don't KNOW what I want to do!" you admit; gritting your teeth.
"I want to find Ba more then anything else but nothing that's going on here has anything to DO with him. But Honglan and Zhengzhu are friends, and so is Brother Genshu. Ma Huizhong and Yang Meilin aren't so bad either."

"What about Qiu Qiang and Xiao Jian?" Lei asks.

"They can go screw," you say off-handedly, before continuing. "So I don't want them hurt. And I get the feeling the general who's in charge isn't going to be real precise about attacking the city, so a lot of innocent people could die. I'm just not sure what I can actually DO here to change it. This isn't some problem I can just hit. Or maybe it is and I just don't know who I have to hit? I dunno..."

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"Perhaps this dilemma stems from some deeply rooted internal conflict within yourself, Hero Sky?" comes a voice below the window where anyone could sir unseen.

"GAH!" you cry just as Lei and Zhu'er say "JEEZ!" and "YEEP!" respectively.

Brother Genshu's bald, smiling face is in the window.

"Amitbha, almsgivers!" he says cheerfully

"What are you doing here?!" you ask, regaining your composure...sort of. He quirks his head to one side, perhaps a little confused.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I got here?"

You glower at him. "Fine....how did you get here?"

"I've been sitting here the whole time."

"AAAAAARRRGH!"

>>38130655
Genshu is best monk.

>>38130655
YAY! Best monk in da room!

>>38130716
But he's still outside.

>>38130724
Shit. I am way too tired.

>>38130744
Perhaps this exhaustion stems from some deeply rooted internal caffeine within yourself, anon?

>>38130774
I just woke up an hour ago after only 3 hours of sleep and don't believe in coffee.

"Why are you here anyway?" Zhu'er asks, raising a green eyebrow.

"Ah yes, the great-" Genshu begins, but Zhu'er interrupts him.

"Shut up."

"But I was-" he protests, and she intereupts again

"I know. Shut up and answer my question," she says without any humor in her voice whatsoever.

"You're no fun," he pouts before answering. "I'm here to tell you that the Shaolin Sect will be leaving Chengdu as soon as possible. The Heaven Sword Alliance as well, most likely."

>WDYS?

>"What? Why?" [Inquiring]

>"So why tell me?" [Motives]

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]
We can already guess why they're leaving.

>>38130816
>>"So why tell me?" [Motives]
obviouswhy the would not want to get ivolved

>>38130816
>>"What? Why?" [Inquiring]
The other option sounds a little too unintentionally dickish to me.

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]

>>38130816
>>"So why tell me?" [Motives]

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]
We should git out too.

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]
He'll probably just say something along the lines of "Is it not proper to tell a friend when one is about to leave?" or something like that, but might as well ask.

>>38130816
>"What? Why?" [Inquiring]

>>38130852
>implying Sky isn't being intentionally dickish
That's his default coping mechanism, man.

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?"

>>38130816
>"So why tell me?" [Motives]
If I could write-in I would simply state that the Shaolins GTFO Chendu, maybe we should do as well.

I mean, how many dynasties and rebellions have been outlived by the Shaolin Temple?

Exactly.

>>38131033
>*if the Shaolins GTFO

"Yeah? I mean, I'll figure out in a little while anyway, so why tell me? We could say goodbye later you know," you point out.

Genshu turns around and sits down facing the garden, so his head is just below the window and thus invisible from the inside of the room.

"I tbought you might want to know that before making any decisions about what to do," he confides. "You have skills and the intelligence to apply them, so your actions here can change a great deal. It might even change our decision to abandon people to the Imperial Army's tender mercies if applied properly."

He's speaking casually, but his meanings are hidden, as per usual.

"So...you're saying rather then doing nothing I should do...something?" you say waving your hands about, unsure of what he even means.

"You mentioned your father was your Sifu?" he says, and him mentioning Ba makes your hair stand on end a little. "I won't claim to know the man, but I imagine if he applied his power and strength in a precise way, he could change things as well. You are his son, are you not?"

You pause at his words, running through what they mean in your mind.

"Just....food for thought is all," he says, getting up and leaving for his quarters.

"What did he mean?" Zhu'er says, having picked up on the subtext but not aware of what it implied.

You are silent for awhile, thinking.

Ten minutes later you open the doors to Yuan Shengli's war room (easily pushing past the guards).

"I want to try and negotiate on behalf o Chengdu," you bluntly say to him.

Shengli stares for a second, and then laughs, surprising all his guards that have spears leveled at you.

"You really are good at finding ways to surprise me Lightning Tiger!"

>>38131033
Actually the Shaolin Temple has been burned down so many times in so many rebellions (they THEY started no less) that it became something of a joke between my friends that most wuxia stories begin with "so one day somebody burns down the Shaolin Temple".

>>38131120
"Oh, the Shaolin temple burned down, it must be Tuesday."

>>38131120

Can't even begin to imagine the absolute mayhem that must be their insurance policy talks about fire damage.

>>38131095
>I imagine if he applied his power and strength in a precise way, he could change things as well. You are his son, are you not?
Genshu sounding real suspicious here.

>>38131120
So what are we waiting for? Let's get on with the rebellion and get the Shaolin ablaze. Gotta keep that soil fertile.

>>38131120
"Shaolin Temple's burning down,
burning down, burning down,
Shaolin Temple's burning down,
My fair xia."

"So why do you want to negotiate on behalf of Chengdu to the Imperial Army, Hero Sky?" he asks, leaning on the war table.

>WDYS?

>"Because you seem pretty caught off-guard and you look screwed otherwise."

>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>"I have my own reasons, just like you have yours."

>>38131280
>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280

>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."
The third line doesn't sound too Sky-ish to me, the first one is hardly anything more than an insult.

>>38131280
>>"I have my own reasons, just like you have yours."
i think we should keep our motives hidden people might try an manipulate sky if they think he has a weak spot for his friends.

>>38131120
So, our terms will be that Chengdu gets better treatment and Shengli ceases his rebellion on the condition that the Shaolin Temple is burnt down?

>>38131280
>>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131340
a shadowrunner sky is not

>>38131280
>"Because I have friends here and your little war is going to hurt the city."

>>38131280
>>"I have my own reasons, just like you have yours."

By the way OP, I have actually played the game where you got the image of Sky and Meilin from. I don't know if you knew but they were the OTP in that game and became a really great couple as well. Man even though they are different people it stills feel a bit awkward.

>>38131340
He's not gonna have us negotiate "for reasons."

Presently we're negotiating with him, we're effectively negotiating with all fucking parties, in fact, and anything less than transparency is going to eliminate whatever little trust they could possibly have.

>>38131369
no but im paranoid.

>>38131390
Like I said; I have a very strong mental image of nearly all of these characters, but I can't draw at all, so we both just gotta deal I guess.

>>38131343
Actually if what was said is true, the imperial army might also be in a tight spot. They absolutely cannot afford a loss military terms or in face. Fail or take to long to reconquer and other cities start seriously considering rebellion. Plus for all they knowr Ba is waiting in the wings for them to commit so he can do who knows what.

>>38131441
Failure also means generals getting beheaded because muh military law.

But can the army leave, and report that everything is fine and there is no rebellion?

Will a peace treaty signed by a no-name country bumpkin help?

>>38131441
I feel the need to note that most assume Storm Dragon has been dead for two decades (most people just can't conceive of such a powerful man vanishing for no reason) and he never actually did anything related to the secular world, just the Jianghu.

So most of the Imperial Court is unaware of whom Storm Dragon even is, except for people who keep up with Wulin affairs.

>>38131497
Well -somebody- who is pulling the strings is clearly aware who he is, else we wouldn't have had to deal with Tang assassins.

>>38131483
>>38131497
There is the person commanding the army and the person controlling the army. One at least wants to know where Feng Renshu is. You don't ask the whereabouts of dead men. And the difference in those two positions can be exploited.

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"A lot of people are going to end up dead if we do it your way. I don't know much about military tactics but I know enough about fighting to know that when someone knows everything about your capabilities they often have a decisive advantage, and the Tang Clan helped plan EVERYTHING, right?" you note.

He sighs, and then nods, though his aide seems shocked at his honesty.
"Indeed. Since they sold us out I'm having to redraw all of my battle plans and strategies, since Tang Shijing created nearly all of them."

"But you're going to fight anyway," you say. Not a question.

"Yes. I have my principles, and I stand by them. Like you do, I imagine," he adds with a smile.

"When you fight at such a disadvantage you'll probably loose, and all of Chengdu and everyone in it will pay the price. Just to be clear; I DON'T agree with what you're doing," you state firmly "Your plan relied entirely on everything going perfectly, and even then soldiers would have died in battles you orchestrated. You may have had good reasons, but your methods aren't to my tastes."

You pause and sigh. "But I can't just and let people die because Tang Shijing screwed you either. So I'm negotiating on your behalf. I think I have some ideas on that actually."

"Really," he says, sounding not quite convinced.

"Didn't say it would be easy," you admit with a hapless shrug. "But you have to promise me that my friends Zhu'er and Duan Lei will not be harmed while I'm away."

He looks shocked.
"You seriously think I'd do that?"

"I don't know WHAT you'll do."

He stares at you for a second then nods. "You have slept under my roof. You have eaten my food. You are a guest in my city. And to be perfectly honest I like you quite a bit besides, Lightning Tiger. I would NEVER harm your friends."

You nod.

"Then let's hope this works, because my only other idea is an even shittier one," you say, turning around.

"That's honestly a bit hard to believe, Hero Sky," he says with a laugh as you walk out.

>>38131798
One of these plans involves dueling the army's commander, doesn't it?

>>38131944
The commander would have no reason to accept a duel, however.

>>38131998
That's why it's such a bad plan.

A short while later you're talking to Duan Lei and Zhu'er.

"So basically you're marching you into the middle of a huge hostile enemy army even though you're not really affiliated with neither side, and hoping that as a neutral party they won't just capture or kill you outright and then somehow negotiating a ceasefire between the two groups despite barely having knowledge of either and then hoping they listen to you?" Zhu'er says dryly.

"Well....," you say, scratching the back of your head. "When you sound it all out in order like that it sounds kinda stupid...,"

"Because it IS stupid, Sky!" Zhu'er points out.

>WDYS?

>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

>>38132031
>>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

We don't have a real plan this time.

>>38132031
>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

>>38132031
>>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"
cocky sky is a go

>>38132031
>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"

>>38132031
>>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"
As shitty a plan as it is, it's still better than letting a lot of people just die.

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."
Our current plan is the same as always: WING IT!

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."
Let's hear what the smartass girl here has to say before we ignore her.

>>38132031
>"Get any better ideas? I'm pretty open to suggestions right now. I'm gonna crash their plans with no survivors"

>"Yeah, but I actually have a REAL plan this time!"

>>38131540
Aren't Tang assassins are a part of the Jianhu? If so, they'd be aware of who Storm Dragon is.

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

>>38132031
>"Got any better ideas? Because I'm pretty open to suggestions right now."

"So you have a better plan then?" you ask, folding your arms.

"Yes," she says firmly. "We run. None of this has anything to do with us, as you pointed out earlier. We leave, and we keep looking for your father. Yuan Shengli made the mistake of the river muddying the waters of the well, and it's not your job to try and fix it, especially if it gets you killed in the process."

"That's your plan?" you say in disbelief. "Run away and let the problem resolve itself? That's not a plan, that's doing nothing at all!"

"You're saying that because you're talking like anything outside of living and keeping your people happy matters, Sky. I've NEVER had anything...anyONE worth protecting," she points out, her face solid. "Now I do. And I will always take the option that results in keeping them alive and happy. Everything else is a luxury, period."

"So even if people die here, as long as you live you're okay with it? Nothing else matters."

"No. YOU have to live too," she says. "You and Lei. If there was something we could do that was likely to succeed I'd pick that, but you're going to fight and die on principles alone. That's pointless."

"What about all you said to me about the Wulin being all about fighting for your principles?" you point out, using her own arguments against her.

"LOOK at me!" she says, near tears, pulling at her green hair with her green nails. "LOOK at what happened to me! I was TORTURED by my family for my ENTIRE LIFE! My father died for his pride! My Grandfather poisoned me day after day after DAY to ensure my internal energies were strong! I was married off to a sociopath all because I needed to produce an heir! When I BLEED, the blood is POISON! All of this was for PRINCIPLES! Honor! Loyalty! The Clan! Legacies! Heritage! Do these things JUSTIFY what happened to me, what happened to my LIFE!?"

You don't have anything to say.
You're not sure what you COULD say.

>>38132396
>Go full nuclear

>>38132396
What about
>"I'm sorry. I understand how you feel, and you're fully justified in feeling so. But me, I'd much rather die for something than live having stood aside and done nothing."

>>38132396
>They just weren't the right principles.

"Lei," you say, turning towards your sworn brother.

"Yeah Bro?" he asks. He's not arguing you out of your choice. He understands.

"Keep her safe. And if you can get out of the city. She's right about this not involving us, not really," you say.

"Sure thing Bro. I know a place we can go to," he says with a solemn nod.

"Sky!" Zhu'er cries, realizing she can't sway you.

"Good. I'll see you after this. I'm not going to die here," you say determinedly.

"Sky! Listen to me!" Zhu'er says as Lei holds her back.

"I'm not staying gone forever. I WILL find you both again," you say with a nod, turning away and walking into the garden.

"SKY! WAIT!"

You lean your head back and cry out into the wind; "KAMUSHIIIIIIN!"

"SKREEE!"

"SKY!" you hear her crying now. "PLEASE! I LO-"

You don't hear what she says as you leap over the wall and land on Kamushin's back as he takes off into the clouds.

"SKYYYY!"

>>38132396
Fleeing is not entirely devoid of merit, but both from an utilitarian and principlefaggotry point of view, it simply doesn't sound like the best either.

Genshu didn't want us to flee, did he.

And what do poisoners even know about honor?

>>38132574
yay wulin love stories how tragic they can be.

>>38132598
It's a LOT harder for me to emotionally torture my characters then you'd think.

Confucius says: xia who falls in love in the Jianghu cannot climb back up.

>>38132574
We should give her the dick when we get out of this mess.

>>38132574
great no we going to be looking for Ba, Lei, and Zhu'er

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>>38132676
Yes. Oh yes.

>>38132676
We really should have arranged a place to meet them before we left. Sky still doesn't have this whole "planning for the future" thing down, does he?

>>38132676
implying Zhu'er & Lei wont come looking for us

>>38132676
>>38132699
Part 1 of this quest: searching for Ba with Lei and Zhu'er
Part 2 of this quest: searching for Lei and Zhu'er with Ba

>>38132724
No, he just sort of leaps headfirst into things and works it out by his gut feeling as he goes along.

Just like a true wulin protagonist!

>>38131998
You don't really "accept" a thunderbolt hitting you either.

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"What about YOU? You going to go on some big rant about what I should do now?" you sardonically ask your avaian companion.

Kamushin says nothing.

>INTERLUDE

As the human rode with Mighty Kamushin on how snowy white wingspan, the Great Condor mentally noted how lucky the silly fleshy two-letter was that Kamushin took time off of his busy schedule fighting the Cloud War with the Roc Kings of the Western Deserts and negotiating treaties with the Thunderbird Chiefs across the Great Water to the East.

He reminded himself that respecting and charitably aiding the works of the lesser creatures of the world was one of the Seven Virtues of the Avian Lords, even if sometimes they were annoyingly ignorant about things.

>INTERLUDE END

"Thanks buddy, I knew you'd understand!" you say, glad to have at least one other person who's totally on your side.

>>38132932
Oh, Kamushin, you never stop being awesome. Though given how awesome you are, I have to wonder how you got in that trap in the first place. Was there something throwing you off your game that day?

>>38132932
Kamushin's a real bro for taking time off for our little troubles.

>>38132932
Kamaushin you're the real MVP

>>38133001
A tasty rabbit in the snare.
Also, a shiny bauble.

>>38133247
two of the greatest vice to any being
shiny things and food

>>38133247
I'd expect him to be able to see past such obvious bait. But what do I know? Maybe he was just getting off a ten thousand kilometer flight back from his summit with the Thunderbirds, and he was just too tired to realize what was going on.

BRB everybody, gotta do some housework.

>>38133420
Okay. See you later.

Hey Wulin Sage, first time posting, I caught up on the quest on the weekend and it was great. I have a few questions about Wuxia reccomendations. For instance, I'm interested in both Condor Heroes and The Swordsman (or Smiling Proud Wanderer, which is the same if I understand correctly). But which are the better versions? The former has 2003 and 2008, and the latest version of the latter seems to have been criticized for changes and casting.

Also, any other do you recommend starting with? What worries is me that some of this stuff seems too soap-operaish, and I'm more interested in the cool action than the romance. Anything with particularly good choreography?

Lastly, any movie reccomendations? I've only watched the mainstream stuff (HTCD, Hero, Flying Daggers and Golden Flower).

>>38133446
The 2008 Condor Heroes series definitely changes certain characters to be slightly more sympathetic, Yang Kang, Wanyan Hongli, and Ouyang Ke especially, but honestly this isn't such a bad thing; in the original stories all are kind of fairly boring asshole villains who's intentions are obviously villainous, and even more so are seemingly villains because all have strong elements of foreign culture in them. Kang and Hongli are Jurchen-culture influenced thus evil, and Ke is from the Western Regions and therefore more foreign then Han.
The new Swordsman series is even MORE heavily changed from the original plot, but frankly it's so gorgeous looking that I'd still recommend it (it's lead character, Linghu Chong is one of the major inspirations for Sky).
Unfortunately there's no way of getting around the soap opera stuff: wuxia is in effect a soap opera where instead of getting cancer or leaving because the cast member got too old the other half of the cast kills them in swordfights.
For more action-oriented, try True Legend, Iron Monkey (fuck yea Donnie Yen), Kung-Fu Hustle (there's a TON of classic wuxia references hidden in there despite it being a comedy), Storm Riders and Storm Warriors (a pair of films based off a Hong Kong comic that was probably the single biggest influence on this quest) Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (in case you want to try and follow the insane troll logic wuxia detectives employ yet somehow still crack cases), and The Four (think wuxia X-Men) and it's sequels.
For manga, there's about three series that REALLY capture the feel of wuxia; Tenjou Tenge (once you get around the T&A it's basically the story of a decades-lasting philosophical martial arts feud that gets complicated only in a way wuxia can get), The Breaker, and Veritas (a pair of Korean manwha that have the same initial premise but evolve in very different ways and was big structural influence in this quest)

>>38133827
Too bad Veritas will never get finished... I liked it when the villainess reveals that she's playing a bigger game than anyone else could have imagined. She totally ruses the entire cast, inlcuding her allies.

>>38133884
Veritas and The Breaker influenced me despite their modern setting's simply because ultimately their story is just as unbelievably stuffed with backstory, characters and subplots as ANY Classic wuxia, but rather then exposit the entire plot all at once in some awkward history-bookish fashion they manage to deliver their plot in bite-sized doses so you have time to chew instead of trying to gag the entire thing down all at once.

I became convinced in my arrogance that I could write a classic wuxia in a classic setting that does the same sort of thing as a way of introducing the genre to people unfamiliar with it.

>>38133827
Thanks, will look those up. I've actually watched some of those movies.

Also, I forgot. Strange Hero Yi Zhi Me I, is it any good? At least the premise of wuxia heist sounds awesome on paper.

>>38134022
It's basically Robin Hood and his Merry Men except there's four of them and it's China.

Each of the characters has a specialty (Planning Leader Guy who fights with a saber, Sword Girl who has great Lightfoot skills, hidden weapons guy who's great at disguise, and huge guy who hits shit real hard).

It's got a Sherrif of Nottingham, a Friar Tuck, and King Richard's Shitty Brother character even.

>>38133987
Veritas is also worth reading for its MC's, um, attitude. Not exactly your average honorable xia archetype.

>>38134101
Veritas and The Breaker are both notable in that in the case of both of them their main characters aren't REALLY their main characters, though in New Waves finally Shiwoon BECOMES the main character.

Tenjou Tenge does the same thing; there's this shitty little douchecanoe of a hero, and then ALL the flashbacks and backstory end up having nothing to do with him (though his involvement is still extremely plot-important) and revolve around an entirely different character.

Anyway, back and posting

>>38134073
Sold.

>>38134153
Masataka Takayanagi a Best.

>>38134153
Yeah MC of Veritas pretty much stumbles into the plot after having inherited the... lightning powers... from his master.

Hmm.

>>38134282
Like I said; the structure of both influences this quest heavily.

>"A young martial arts student's master has a complicated hidden past he's not aware of and the student stumbles onto this elaborate backstory while simultaneously ruining and or breaking the long-laid and excessively complicated plans and grudges of decades before."

>>38134331
And said master was called the Lightning Tiger.

>>38134331
Hopefully we can avoid the constant beat down being applied to Shioon for the time being.

>>38134368
Hilariously, I had totally forgotten about that part when I wrote this story.
Tiger is the Zodiac equal and counterpart to Dragon, so the comparison seemed nifty.

Storm Dragon was picked because of the Storm Riders series reference, as was Sky's name (Feng=Wind, Tiankong=Heaven/Sky) just as the main heroes of Storm Riders are named "Wind" and "Cloud". The dragon part because....dragons. Obviously.

>INTERLUDE

Li and Wan weren't complicated men, by any means. Both were footsoldiers in the Imperial Army, and both had been that way for almost three years now. Both had joined up for the same reason; they were good at physical tasks, followed orders well, and the pay was reliable enough. Li was from a little farming village just south of the Yangtze, while Wan was from a city north of it.

They had bonded over their shares duties that they often did for the officers; in this case, guarding the front of the camp where the tents were set up.

"Why are we even HERE anyway?" Li asked, leaning on his spear.

"Beats me. I don't think foreigners are invading, so the lord of Chengdu is probably rebelling or something," Wan replied.

"Okay, but I thought that the local governer of Sichuan was in the camp. He's like, on our side?" Lu pointed out.

"Yeah, but the nobles aren't. I don't think?" Wan replied, shrugging his ignorance away.

A silence lay between them for awhile.

"If it's Jianghu thing like some of the guys are saying, why don't some of our officers deal with it?" Li continued to inquire. "I mean, that guy from Hong'a unit is a Xia, right? And a few others too?"

"Yeah, but they're officers too, so they've got duties they can't abandon to just go fight in that big tournament," Wan pointed out.

"Okay, then what about the Jinyiwei?" Li continued.

"Sssh! Do you want one of them to hear you?!" Wan said, lowering his voice.

"No, but don't they usually deal with Jianghu problems?" Li whispered back. "I mean, it's why nobody sees what they're doing, right?"

"I dunno! I don't WANT to know!" Wan says, shaking his head. "All I wanna do is stand here and guard the front of the camp and then enjoy my break later!"

"Alright, alright!" Li relented.

>>38134823
Another pause.

"What if it's about-" Li began again but both stood slack-jawed as a massive shape, all wings and white feather's descended majestically from the clouds to hover near them, it's gigantic wingspan sending the grass at their fest rolling in waves and causing nearby tents to flutter.

From atop this massive bird a young man lept off with a saber tied to his back, and walked away with a wave to the massive animal who flew back off into the heaven's whence it came.

"Hey, do you know where the officer's tents are?" the young man asked as he walked up to them. "I'm here to negotiate."

".....up near the middle of the camp, the red and gold ones," Li said eventually.

"Thanks, I can find my own way there," the youth said politely and walked right past them into the camp.

Another pause.

"You know what? You're right. I don't really want to know all that bad," Li agreed.

>INTERLUDE END

>>38134917
Oh Kamushin, you da real MVP.

>>38134917
Li will lead a long life.

Unless he is planning to get married after this war is over.

You walk through the camp, finding your way through the tents and getting strange looks but generally seem not to be stopped by anyone.
I guess the theory is that if you make it past the guards you're supposed to be here or something?

You eventually come to a grouping of tents, some more ornate and matching the description of the officer's tents, but also some black ones just nearby with the Jinyiwei symbol on them.

>WDYD?

>[Officer's Tents]

>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>[Officer's Tents]

>>38135303
>>[Jinyiwei Tents]

>>38135303
>>[Officer's Tents]
the officers might be more reasonable than the kun fu gestapo

>>38135486
Yeah, but we want to keep this in-house. And the kung fu gestapo is more likely to negotiate with us.

>>38135303
>>[Jinyiwei Tents]

posting, may take a sec

As you approach you push open the flap, speaking as you do so.
"Hey, I don't suppose you guys know-"

The response is so swift you barely have time to register it. First a trio of throwing weapons fly through the air and snuff out candles, leaving the tent dark as objects that were previously held seem to drop in mid-air.

You feel someone behind you grab your right arm in a chin na lock, to which you reflexively respond by tossing him over your shoulder, landing two lightning-quick blows on his stomach as he flies overhead and lands on the table!

Another figure closes with a spinning kick to your face, which you dodge with a duck before spinning into one of your own, striking his head with your left foot before stopping the movement of another to your right with a kick to the shin and a hard right hook!

You back away and launch an elbow strike into the gut of someone to your left and grab him into a headlock and draw your saber from it's scabbard on your back, waving it around!

"Hey hey HEY!" you say loudly, interrupting the sudden attack. "HERE TO NEGOTIATE!"

"Wait," a familiar voice says.

The candles light back up, and you see Bai Tiexin, Steeleyes standing in the room. There's ten other officers of the Jinyiwei here, with three sprawled out from where your blows hit them down.

"Hero Sky. You show up in all the oddest places, don't you?"

>WDYS?

>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>"You usually greet your guests like this?" [Flippant]

>>38135981
>>"You usually greet your guests like this?" [Flippant]

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'
time to be serious.

>>38135981
>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
Hey WS I've been meaning to ask. Why do you end so many lines with a "!"? Well, it's my first quest thread, so maybe it's a staple of 2nd person narration?

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
>"You usually greet your guests like this?" [Flippant]

>>38135981
>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu."

>>38136087
Wuxia has lots of characters being angry, nervous, shouting, or otherwise exclaiming things.

Hence, exclamation points.

>>38135981
>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]

We should probably let the guy in the headlock go as well.

>>38136124
Sorry, I meant description lines. As in "you do x!".

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'
Gotta be serious here.

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'

>>38135981
>>"I'm here to negotiate as a neutral party on behalf of the Yuan Clan and Chengdu." [Formal]'
then throw the guy you're holding as punctuation.

"I'm here as a neutral party," you explain. putting away your blade. "I came to stop this army from killing half of Chengdu just to get to the Yuan Clan."

They all look at Steeleyes, who nods and they put their various weapons away.

"Thanks," you say to him, but he nods to your left arm, and you realize you still have the constable. in a headlock.

"Oh! Sorry guy," you say, releasing him.
"S'alright," he coughs out.

"Apologies for the hostile reaction. We don't expect visitors here. Most people have a nearly superstitious fear of the Jinyiwei," he explains, going back to the war table.

"Gee, I can't imagine why," you say in a droll tone as you walk away from the enterence. "You guys put such a friendly atmosphere on in here. What with the stealthing and the candle thing and the trying to kill me in the dark."

"You lived didn't you?" Tiexin notes, sounding fairly unconcerned.

"Not for lack of trying on your part."

"Best start negotiating, Hero Sky, before we start playing the finger-pointing game."

>WDYS?

>"You came to Chengdu to spy, didn't you?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

>>38136536
>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

>>38136536
>>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

>>38136536
>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]
Though if I were to guess, it would be that they trust Tang Shijing about as much as they should, not at all.

>>38136536
>>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

>>38136536
>"Why are you so edgy?"
Get into the real topic.

>>38136536
>"You came to Chengdu to spy, didn't you?" [Inquire Steeleyes]

>>38136536
>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]
We know he came to spy. Perhaps his target is more the scholar and less Chengdu, but he was clearly there spying on something.

So ask the question we don't yet know the answer to.

>>38136536
>>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

>>38136536
>>"Why are you so edgy?" [Inquire Jinyiwei]

"You guys are a little edgy for being in the middle of your own camp in broad daylight surrounded by your own army," you point out.

"Jinyiwei are ALWAYS 'edgy', as you put it," Tiexin explains. "It's part of our training. As spies and constables we must always be vigilant and wary of all thing that no detail might slip our notice."

"And?" you say, knowing there's more to it.

He pauses before answering, his eyes narrowing. "And we're not used to working so openly. I cannot stress enough that this is NOT 'our' army. I'll send a runner to the officers in command that you wish to negotiate," he says, nodding at another constable to moves out of the tent.

"So you didn't call this down on Chengdu?" you ask, still somewhat suspicious.

"No. We tend to work more....efficiently," he says euphemistically. You keenly remember how "efficient" he was at that brothel run as a criminal safe house. Sure did kill a ton of people in there.

"Right. So then who did? And if not you, then why are you even here?" you ask.

He thinks on that for a second, and you suspect that for once he doesn't have a solid answer.

"I've been asking myself that exact question since the order came down to accompany the army to Chengdu. We do not usually work with the army, and we have no idea where the information they're operating on is coming from," he says, his voice carefully neutral.

"The Tang Clan gave it to them," you say simply.

"That seems illogical. The Tang Clan benefited greatly from their collaboration with the Yuan Clan, and there's no reason for them to change sides," he points out skeptically.

"That you KNOW of you mean. I don't claim to know why they betrayed the Yuan Clan, but they sent assassins after me last night and ran here and Tang Shijing is gone from Yuan Palace.

"Why would they attack you?" he says, raising his eyebrow.

"To be fair I sorta called them out when they were watching me," you admit with a shrug. "Maybe they thought they had to kill me to keep me silent, I dunno."

"Hm. I wasn't aware the Tang Clan was even working with the General," he admits, holding his chin in thought.

"So...nobody knows around here why they attacked me then?" you ask, carefully dancing around the subject.

"No. No one around here even knows who you are, unless they've been listening to rumors about the tournament. If the Tang Clan tried to kill you you'll have to ask them why," he says, waving it off.

Huh.
So for some reason they HAVEN'T told anyone about your father. You try to think of a reason why, but nothing comes to you, which means you're probably missing yet another piece of information.

Story of your life recently.

>WDYS?

>"So if you aren't in command, who is?" [Inquire Army]

>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

Negotiate.

>>38137270
>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]
Also they led me here, you'd have been undiscovered until you attacked otherwise.

>>38137270
>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

>>38137270
>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?"

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]
It would be good to have him sway them from the inside.

>>38136536
>Why so edgy?

Also, have the Yuan officially announced their rebellion yet? If not, having this declared an unfortunate misunderstanding will be a lot simpler.

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]
Perhaps... you are being manipulated.

>>38137270
>Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?

Mention that there's something especially fishy about a full army being called out to besiege a major city in an important province without any coordination with the secret police. It stinks of a power play that's abusing Imperial authority.

>>38137270
>>"Doesn't it bother you that you're basically as in the dark as me?" [Negotiate Steeleyes]

"So even though you're a Captain in the secret police, and monitoring the Jianghu and dealing with threats that arise from it is specifically YOUR job, you have as little information as to what's going on as I do?" you say, spelling it out for him. "I mean, is this how you would deal with the head of the Yuan Clan being rebellious?"

"No," he says quickly. "A commando team to attack Yuan Shengli in his home, an infiltrator who poisons his food, or a long-term infiltration by an Invisible Hell Killer who poses as a trusted aide for a long period of time and then strikes when his guard is down. Those methods are far more efficient, less noisy and invasive."

You shudder a little at how fast he came up with those solutions.

"Come on, there's gotta be a way to resolve this situation without the entire army destroying Chengdu. Don't you have any pull here?"

"I told you, no. We're not even controlled by the same ministries; this entire force is under the direct command of General Lu Kang," he explains, sounding frustrated.

The name sounds familiar; he was the name of that army general that had some kind of grudge against Ao Zhengzhu's father, but you can't remember why exactly they had one.

"Well can HE be reasoned with?" you ask trying to find a way around this dilemma without bloodshed.

"You...obviously haven't heard of Lu Kang," he notes, without much humor. "He's a famous general and a mighty warrior, but he's not exactly big on things like 'retreating' or 'finesse' or 'sparing innocents in his way',"

"Right. And the dude who's reputation involves 'sack the city and kill everyone in it' was brought into a situation where just ONE person in one clan was the cause of the problems here and you don't think that's a LITTLE bit suspicious?"

>>38137829
so if the emperor is a Liu Bei expy and the Pirate king is Guan Yu, is the General Shang Fei?

File: Spoiler Image (1.3 MB, 1800x2000)

1.3 MB JPG

>>38137829
"I KNOW it's suspicious!" he snaps at you suddenly. "But my orders were to pull back; my officers here aren't even here on orders anymore. We should've dispersed and gone back to our individual duties days ago!" he finally admits. "We've already exceeded the boundaries of our original orders, and I can't investigate the Tang Clan or General Kang without an order from the Ministry of Justice. It's that simple."

"What were General Kang's orders precisely?" you wonder, thinking hard.

"A simple one; 'kill the rebel Yuan Shengli'. But General Kang will interpret those orders however he-" he begins, but the Jinyiwei officer he sent off comes in and bows.

"What happened?" Steeleyes asks, sensing his distress.

"The Army just picked up camp! They're attacking the city as we speak!"

"What?! They just sent in Hero Sky to negotiate!!" Steeleyes shouts, the first time you've heard him raise his voice.

"I know! I reported it to the General's officers and he told me to leave, and then the General just got on his horse and gave the order to march! The gates of Chengdu were already open, they had traitors on the inside!"

"Shit!" you swear rushing out to see the army leaving in an organized formation, and fires already coming from Chengdu.

It's led by a MASSIVE man around as all as Ironheart was, with huge red plumes on his helmet and carrying a gigantic halberd as a weapon waving his army on down in front near the city gates.

>>38138034
Oh god are we gonna fight a Lu Bu?

We're gonna fight a Lu Bu aren't we?

>>38138078
You mustn't pursue Lu Kang.

>>38138095
Well we're going too, the Tiankong express has no brakes.

Alpha Strike on the commander, I think.

Also, calling it now: Ironheart is Chai Hu from the Valentine's Day special.

>>38138150
That could be. I mean, there are plenty of other reasons for a man to be called "Ironheart" than that he can literally turn into metal, but it would explain his recognition.

>>38138095
Is that advice or a mortal kombat reference

Isn't Yang Meilin's father Lu Kang? Or did I remember it wrong.

>>38138244
neither! Its a dynasty heroes reference

>>38138078
If we ever get the chance and don't, I will be incredibly disappointed with /tg/

>>38138389
Indeed.

We'd get stomped so hard buy my god it would be one hell of a fight! Maybe even get a new drinking buddy out of it!

File: buddhist-palm.jpg (73 KB, 640x288)

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>INTERLUDE
The soldiers battered at the doors to the temple, the screams and smells of fire.
The citizens huddled inside, trying to keep as far away from the doors as possible, as if the meters between them and it would buy them a few more moments of life. Perhaps it even would.

The solid oak caved in, and soldiers rushed into the temple, carrying spears and sabers, but stopped when a group of simply-adorned monks let by a younger monk with his palms pressed together standing in front of them.

"This is a place of peace and the Buddah, good almsgivers. We request that you leave it in peace," the young monk said, though the monks behind him wielded weapons and took up fighting stances.

The officer wielding a saber moved forward, brandishing it. "If you don't want to die monk, then remove yourself from this place!" he demanded brusquely.

"Amitābha, almsgivers. I give you another chance to leave," the young monk said, his face still serene.

"Kill them too," the officer ordered, causually waving his sword in the direction of the monks. "When they're dead look for anything valuable and pile it outside."

"Amitābha!" Genshu said, on final time, as his eyes opened and he began....to visibly glow. "It is said that the Buddah could only wait three times...but I am not the Buddah, and have less patience then he."

"What-" the officer began but was interrupted.

Genshu spun once the glow reaching a brightness that was hard to look at directly.

"BUDDAH!"

He thrust his right palm forward, and a sound came from everywhere, like a gong ringing in the very air.

"PALM!"

Outside the temple, a group of soldiers were going through another house when what seemed to be a wave of human beings was blasted out of it, flying through the air as if the invisible hand of deity had a swatted them out like flies.

Out followed a young monk as over three dozen human bodies sprawled in front of him struggled to stand.

"Amitābha, almsgivers. Shall we continue our conversation out here?"

>>38138514
In this thread, Genshu somehow becomes more awesome.

>>38138580
Remind me to never piss off anyone who worships the big fat golden guy.

They might suddenly bitchslap me with a hand so mighty it can shake the belly of the Buddah.

>>38138611
They don't worship Buddha, they revere him. Big difference. Also, the "big fat golden guy" image of him is actually not the Buddha they revere. The classic Buddha is Gautama, an Indian prince who forsook his status and lived as a vagrant preaching on the nature of suffering. The fat laughing Buddha is Budai, a later figure who also attained enlightenment. Buddha is a title, not a name, so there's often some confusion between the two.

Question: does Lu Kang know of Feng Renshu?

>>38138809
erry bruddy knows of Feng Renshu
Unless they were, like, raised under a rock on the top of a remote mountain somewhere

File: Xiao Jian.jpg (595 KB, 709x1043)

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>INTERLUDE

The body fell in two very neat pieces, like it had been bisected at the shoulder.
When it fell into a gory mess on the open street, it landed right next to the twenty others he had killed.

The unit soldiers backed away, terrified of the young man, and Xiao Jian sighed in his irritation.

"I told you, you will not harm these people, or my fellow sect members. Leave now before I have to kill you," he stated simply.

He glanced down at the pile of corpses.

"Well, MORE of your anyway."

The officer leading the unit marched up, shoving one of his sergeants. "The hells is wrong with you men?! He's a single man!"

"He...he cut all those other men apart without even touching them!" the Sergeant said.
"He hasn't even drawn his weapon yet!" another soldier confirms.

"I only draw my sword for foes worthy of it's edge," Xiao Jian explained for what seemed like millionth time in his life. "You are just a chore that seems insistent upon dying today. I will still give you a chance to leave with your lives and go elsewhere."

"Charge him! All at once! Or I WILL have you all killed for disobedience!" the officer shouted, and the men began to approach then slowly began to speed up.

"He has no sword! OVERWHELM HIM!" the officer cried, leading the charge down the bloody street.

"A statement made out of ignorance," Jian said to himself, rising his pointer and index finger and pointing them forward as he would a blade, and he began to recite the first words of the Dao of the Sword.

"I am the bone of my sword....."

The oncoming unit of soldiers arrived within seven feet of him, and he slashed his fingers sideways.....at leveled at their neck.

>>38139133
Holy shit he know's swordlessness.

>>38139133
Really, it's their own fault. If a member of a sect sometimes known as the "Sword Fanatics" hasn't drawn their blade yet, they probably don't need to. That's pretty much the only case in which a Heavenly Sword wouldn't have their sword drawn, because they don't need it. Whether they're not intending to fight or just because you're not worthy of it.

>>38138514
>>38139133
Have they not heard about the tournament going on?

>>38139390
They have but they're more afraid of their officers and batshit insane general. They're either killed horribly fighting their enemy or by their own leaders.

I just wonder what the shadow puppeteers get out of all this. The sects could be declared enemies of the empire for this possibly. It'd effectively kick off a civil war if that went down. I'm not really sure whats going to happen but theres ALOT of shit going on. Does the Tang Clan want this to happen?

FYI sage, this quest is so good, it made me Reinstall Age of Wulin. goddamn it why

>>38139463
Does the Tang Clan want to start a civil war? Almost certainly based on their actions.
What, exactly, they stand to gain from a civil war is beyond me at this point.

>>38139390
They might not, actually. But even if they do, knowing there are powerful xia around and understanding how dangerous that is on a personal level aren't necessarily linked. The sort of violence a xia is capable of is mind-boggling. It's hard to internalize how deadly the competitors in the tournament are when you can't wrap your mind around it. It's like being told that someone can punch as hard as a howitzer. You know that's scary, but until you see them knock over a wall with a flick of their wrist you're not going to respond rationally to the warning.

>>38139480
Isn't that like a super grindy-grind grind fest?

>>38139503
They're assassins, who will the empire turn to in order kill wuxia when the army and Jinywei fail?

>>38139549
Its chinagame.exe make great have fun time! It wants to be WoW And Eee with horrific P2W mechanics. And, tragically, it's the only kung fu mmo on the market. don't fucking say swordsman, that's just reskinned wow it scores points for... um.. trying to be different? its hella strange.

File: ChinesePaladin5_Prequel_C(...).jpg (779 KB, 1134x835)

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>INTERLUDE

The ships of the small Dragon Clan feet loaded themselves with feeling citizens of Chengdu. Fishing boast and other water craft on the river were fleeing as well, protected an organized by the Dragon Clan.

At the helm of the massive ornate dragon-headed flaship stood Ao Zhengshu and Sho Eiji.

"Princess!" a crewman came, bowing before her.

"Report!" she commanded imperiously, her eyes still glued to the river port.

"We have discovered that the invasion force is led by Lu Kang!"

She sighed in frustration.
"Then we cannot engage him. Even my father would have difficulty engaging that animal in battle. And the casualties will be enormous," she stated, mostly to herself, before her commanding voice returned.

"Continue evacuating the civilians. As soon as each ship is full, launch immediately, and do not wait for orders. Repel Imperial Army troops as necessary," she commanded. As the crewman ran off, she spoke again to Eiji.

"It's disgusting how the Ming treats it's subjects. Where is the hand of the honorable man my father once swore brotherhood to?" she questioned.

"Princess, this 'honorable man' betrayed you and tried to kill you as a small child, forcing your father to flee the Imperial Capitol," he pointed out.

"I am aware of that Eiji. I simply-" she paused, hearing a loud screeching sound over the city that somehow carried through over the sounds of battle and death.

A white bird of massive size flying over the walls from outside the city.

Zhengzhu's imperious voice broke and she felt waves of nearly uncontrollable emotion assail her at the sight of the mighty creature even from afar, for she knew who it carried.

"Lord Sky...," she whispered, following it's flight to the Yuan Palace.

>>38139554
Not sure I wanna go that level of shadowruns yet.

It'd stand more to reason they're either setting up a powerplay to control the empire, or just want a civil war because it'd drive up business for them since suddenly alot of nobles want other nobles dead.

Though they do seem to want to get their mitts on Ba. I don't know why though or what it could mean yet.

>>38139657
Ba= X Lu Bus, he could force peace down everyone's throat, which is counter to their goals.

Where X is the amount needed for you to shit yourself.

Wulin I'm just gonna say it.

Don't you ever sell the rights to this for some kind of saturday morning cartoon or movie. they'd just butcher this awesome you're crafting. Seriously where the hells Sky going?! He can't be possibly thinking of taking on Lu Kang...oh who am I kidding he'd do that in hopes of stopping the fighting if he can defeat their leader. Its exactly what he would do alongside jumping straight into the city's defense.

and i'd have to pay monies I don't got to see it if its a movie.

>>38139657
Honestly this is looking less and less like a betrayal to me as time goes on. The Tang just forced the hands of everyone Yuan Shengli wanted to recruit. They have also just put Lu Kang on an active battlefield which might end up being a good place to assassinate him.

You leap off Kamushin and dash through the palace gardens, making your way to Yuan Shengli's war room.

You saw what was going on in the city; the fires, the fighting; you stopped maybe a dozen times to help fight off soldiers, evacuate civilians, and save lesser xia groups pinned by soldier units.

No matter how much you did it could never be enough. Too many soldiers. Too many men. Too many dead.

You find Shengli in the Great Hall, ordering his clan about.

"Send another unit to the harbor to protect the fleeing civilians! Get more to the Dugong District, we need to contain them there! And where the hell is my sword!?" he demands just as an aide brings him the golden-handled weapon.
He looks up to see you.

"Hero Sky. A valiant effort, but it seems you were unable to stop the battle," he says sadly. "Escape now. Find your father."

"There's a way to stop the battle," you say, yoir voice level and calm.
You remember; the mountains, your cabin, the training with father. Don't think; act.

Like thunder from Heaven.

"How?" he asks.

>EARLIER

"You said there was ANOTHER way to stop the battle?" you say, turning to Steeleyes. "Is it killing Lu Kang?"

He shakes his head.
"No. Once the battle had begun, chain of command takes over. The only way to stop the attack now is if we can render the Imperial Army's involvement meaningless. We need to fulfill the Imperial Command that brought the Army here. Even Kang won't defy it once the letter of the law is appeased; he's an animal but he's cunning enoigh to know that the law is the only thing stopping him from being a common warlord."

"The Imperial Command?" you say.
You know what he means though.

"For the good of Chengdu, for the people in it, for the Wulin sects in it's walls, for the stability of the Sichuan region..."

>PRESENT.

"I must kill you, Yuan Shengli."

>>38139884
If they fucking did shadowruns of that level. manipulating the sects into joining the rebellion by tricking the imperial general sent to end this into doing what he does best like this..attacking the sects in the process and slaughtering a city full of innocent people. its so polarizing and would.. I...wat... Thats fucking shadowruns tier alright. Holy shitballs if thats truth I'm gonna have my jaw on the floor it sounds too outlandish and nuts!

>>38139953
I knew this was going to happen. It's the logical solution. If they're here for Yuan Shengli, get rid of Yuan Shengli and they won't have any reason to stay. Pretty cold, but...it's not like he didn't bring this down on himself.

>>38139953
Full sickcunt.

>>38139953
Ooooooooooo snap. Okay I didn't expect that kind of... god damn man I ain't sure how to feel about this!

But..its him or an entire city and a civil war in the empire. I guess Sky's chosen the greater good.

No Hong lan interlude? Shame

It makes sense, although once Yuan is dead then Sky will be in some serious shit. Him murdering a such a well known man will probably spread to the entire Jianghu, perhaps even marking him as a dog of the government, which is a problem by itself.

>>38140086
Especially considering that he was Yuan's guest and received his hospitality. It's not going to be the best thing to have associated with him.

>>38140086
Not to mention Yuan Said he had a daughter. Guess who is gonna come lookibg for revenge

Eh, there’s probably ways to bullshit somebody's death using daoist medicine or something.

>>38140147
well sure, but Sky doesn't know how to do that shit. his knowledge consists entirely of punching things and dodging acorns

>>38140147
Assuming Lu Kang is as ruthless as others say, he will probably want his head and present it to the emperor. It is bit of a famous tradition.

No way out of this

>>38140109
Depends if word of how Shengli used his tourney as a method of recruitment, tried to tie all the sects into his personal war with the empire, and consequently had an entire city burn like this.

If anyones guilty of causing all this its him, you could say every innocent that dies is his fault.

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Shengli looks almost....unsurprised.
His court around him on the other hand looks shocked beyond words.

"You'd do the Empire's dirty work for it?" he asks.

"No. I'd save your people from the man who is killing them to keep them through his actions," you say, your voice still level.

There's a pause, and Shengli still grips his sword, but he doesn't draw, he doesn't even look ready to fight.

"You may be one of the new Top Ten Young Heroes, Hero Sky, but I don't need to recognize your challenge. If I order it, they'll strike you down, delay you long enough for me to kill you where you stand."

"You'd refuse an official challenge?" you ask. You knew he would. He leaves and bleeds his ideals; he won't die before seeing his beloved Sichuan free.

"An official challenge from a newcomer? A nobody? You are a powerful but nameless xia-" he begins, but you interrupt him.

"I HAVE a name," you say, raising your voice so that everyone here can hear it. "I have my FATHER'S name."

You draw your saber from it's back, reverse your grip and put your left hand forward, two fingers pointed out in a combat stance.

"I am Feng Tiangkong, called Lightning Tiger, Son of Feng Renshu, called Storm Dragon, former Wulin Mengzhu. I challenge you again, Yuan Shengli. Do you accept?"

>>38140266
Oh shit son.

>>38140266
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

DAMN SKY YOU BOLD MOTHERFUCKER!

I WISH I HAD THE HAPPENING DEFCON THINGS NOW WE JUST HIT DEFCON 1

>>38140266
Is Storm Dragon a "former" Wulin Mengzhu? I thought that since he never formally left the jianghu he still would have that position if he wasn't presumed dead. Or is Mengzhu a temporary title, like "Commodore" or "Force Commander"?

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>>38140266
SHEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIITTT!!!

>>38140334
I feel like all of these apply.

>>38140266
Ha, Sky breaking the news now means rumor will definitely spread after this. It also means Zhu'er will hear it and is probably going to go through the age old conflict of "I love the son of my father's killer."

It is going to be a doozy.

>>38140266
Shit, just got serious.
holy fuck.

>>38140349
Rumors are GUARANTEED to spread after that.

>>38140349
Well, see, to be properly a convoluted clusterfuck of a wuxia story, Yuan'Er has to have some kind of betrothal claim to Sky (probably due to his father ducking out on one) because only 1 girl potentially marrying her father's killer just isn't complete.

>>38140395
Not if Sky kills everyone in the room. But I can't see him doing that.

>"It Has To Be This Way" intensifies

>>38140456
No, we save that for when we fight someone using Chai Hu's style. Especially if Chai Hu and Ironheart turn out to be the same person as was guessed up-thread.

>>38140415
Watch Sky marry them all at the end, that's not exactly something new to the genre anyway.

Jing Yong's last novel's MC had 7 wives at the end and he slept with all of them at the same time at one point. Wuxia can be lewd as fuck.

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For the first time since you saw him, Shengli looks well and truly shocked and speechless, along with everyone else in the hall.

Then Shengli throws back his head and begins laughing. Loudly. Without shame.
His entire court looks at him, obviously perplexed and confused, but he doesn't stop.

The laughter has a seemingly endless number of emotions tangled up in it, but most of all he is truly amused by this final development.

When he stops he looks at you with the broadest and most genuine smile you've seen in your entire life.

"Sheng," he says, to his aide, who nervously nods. "Evacuate the entire Clan. Keep my daughter safe."

He doesn't take his eyes from you, and he keeps smiling.

"Life is pretty funny, isn't it?" he says mirthfully, bringing up his scabbard in front of him. He begins to slowly draw the blade, showing razor-keen steel.

"I, Yuan Shengli, Chief of the Yuan Clan accept the challenge of Feng Tiankong," he says solemly.

He takes up a combat stance, his sword pointed downward.

"You want Sichuan? Take it from me!"

>FIGHT!
>WDYD?

>Move up, test his defenses!

>Move up! Form One!

>Form Two! Try to catch him off-guard.

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140583
>Move up, test his defenses!
We know NOTHING about his style, we can't make any assumptions.

>>38140583
>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140583
>Form Two! Try to catch him off-guard.
he has been watching every single of our fights we always start by testing defences.
we need every advantage we can get.

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

We know nothing about him, yet he watched Sky fight 2 battles already.

>>38140583
>Fom two! Catch him offguard. Go full nuclear

>>38140583
>>Form Two! Try to catch him off-guard.
We've got a time schedule to meet here.

He laughs.

Am I missing something from earlier quests? I only joined in after Wulinsage's hiatus ended.

Is this at some irony I don't know about or is he just laughing at the sheer dumbluck odds of being challenged by the son of the Storm Dragon?

>>38140583
>>Move up, test his defenses!

>>38140715
The cosmic irony of him not realizing who we were earlier and grasping what the Tang tactician said to him. Dealing with that boy is like catching lightning.

>>38140715
Our dad was a super-badass that came out of nowhere one day and fucked shit up, then disappeared.

>>38140747
>"Even you succeed, you still get burned."

>>38140715
Feng Renshu was kind of a legend. The kind of legend that comes down from the heavens, bitchslaps everyone and disappears without a trace for 20 years.

>>38140715
It seems to be the later. Realizing that "oh shit, no wonder this kid is so good" is such a worrying reveal that he can either laugh or cry, and laughing hurts less.

Is that all the votes then?

>>38140830
I think most of your audience is still picking up their jaws after they fell onto the floor Wulin. shit just got real in an epic way.

The Legend of the Lighting Tiger begins!

Can we measure up to Ba's standards or will he throw acorns at us?

>>38140879
Ba will never stop throwing acorns at us. It'll be this cute visual gag when we finally find him. Tiankong stares his father down, unsure of what to say to the man after all this time...and then gets an acorn thrown at his head. It'll be hilarious.

>>38140879
Nah, he will just throw us in a pit with tigers.

>>38140924
I finally found the right one!

>>38140922
>Close your mouth Sky, you look ridiculous.

>>38140953
I'm telling you, that's where he went: To train a tiger in Heaven's Blessings style so it'll be a proper challenge for his son. He was not expecting Sky to become a figurative Lightning Tiger to match his literal one.

>>38140977
Honestly, that would be incredible. All of this build up and plot. "Sorry kid, I couldn't think of a good way to peace out for a bit to find an awesome tiger without you following me. You overthrew a country while I was gone? I thought I told you no fighting"

>>38140977
Posting now.
And we're nearing the post bump limit, but I am not stopping tonight until we're done with this.

>>38141036
Normally I'd be all for that, but I'm fighting off a pretty bad cold (I only stopped throwing up yesterday) and probably won't manage to last out the thread. I've got to get some sleep, it would be dumb to even try staying up any later. So good luck fighting Yuan, guys.

>>38141036
I AM WITH YOU TO THE END MY BROTHER

>>38141036
Let's keep rolling then.

>>38141036
We ride the lighting into the abyss! Our fight timer shall be decided by how long it takes us to fall off page 10!

A pause covers the room as tension fills the air, both of you waiting for the other to make a move.

But you never had much patience.

You dart forward as fast as your Lightfoot can propel you, and your swing your saber in a reverse-handed grip!

He effortlessly parries, still smiling at you.

You drop low, switching your grip and slashing at his legs, which he again easily parries, and then you switch it up, planting a palm on the floor and sending a flying kick right to his face!

He steps back, and you push off with your hand so you fly into the air above him, gaining leverage!

Your blade falls down and he parres it aside and you fall back to your feet!

"Why are you holding back? Show me what Storm Dragon taught you, Lightning Tiger!"

>WDYD?

>Form Two!

>Form One!

>Keep testing him! No defense is perfect!

>>38141417
>Keep testing him! No defense is perfect!

If this fails Form2

>>38141417
>Form Two!

>>38141417
>>Form Two!
inb4 baited.

>>38141417
>>Form One!

>>38141417
Fine, you want to see Form 2, I will show you Form 2. Pray you do not regret it.

And yeah, total bait. But what else are we going to do here?

>>38141417
> Keep testing him...

>>38141417
>Form Two!

>>38141417
>Form Two!

>>38141417
>Form One!

No time for this, there isn't too much reason to hold back right now. He already knows what Sky is capable of so there is 0 reason of not using heaven's blessing. Without the forms then it looks like he is not threatened enough to use his real skills as well, which makes endless a bit moot.

>>38141417
>>Keep testing him! No defense is perfect!
first find the weak point then hammer it home.

>>38141417
Form fucking Two!

>>38141417
>Form One!
Form One is made for bypassing parries. It's the best option right now.

>>38141496
>>38141417
on second thought....

>Keep testing him! No defense is perfect!

>>38141417
>Form One!

>>38141417
>Form One

Why yes I know he's probably baiting us but we don't have time to piss about every second another innocent person dies!

We have to live up to the Lighting part of our name or fail in our task.

>>38141417
>>Form One!

>>38141417
>Show me what Storm Dragon taught you, Lightning Tiger!
Throw an acorn at him.

>>38141641
Changing my vote to this. We will become the acorn master.

>>38141676
WulinSage doesn't allow write-ins. Though if he did, this would definitely be my vote.

>>38141641
Yesss with a snappy one liner.

>>38141676
>>38141708
>>38141709
That... wasn't a serious vote, guys. Besides, he's already past acorns. He's in the pit with the Tiger.

>>38141641
If wulin can shove that in as a snappy one liner I'd die laughing

"But I don't have any acorns!" The confusion on his face would be worth it.

>>38141732
I'm aware. But being told to use what our father taught us does kinda revolve around acorns. And yeah, snappy one liner would be good here.

You exhale, and bolt forward, a sound like distant thunder cracking through the hall!

>"TRAVERSING THE INSTANT PATH!"

You jet forward and clash your blade into his as he parries at the last second!
"I thought so; you can only move in straight lines when you do that, can't you?"

You force him back, striking as offensively and unpredictably as possible as you try to overwhelm him through sheer force!

"Not bad...you're unpredictable, flexible, you don't even seem to have forms!" he compliments, befor striking back on his own!

He is FAST! It's all you can do to dodge him!

You leap back and he places another stance, his blade flashing golden with his internal energy!

"One of mine now!"

>"GOLDEN KIRIN: KIRIN STRIDING SKY!"

You barely bend backwards as waves of golden cutting qi scar the ceiling and split apart under his massive internal force!

You spin back and activate Form One, lightning streaking from the edge of the steel and he...dodges it, lightly.

"And any time someone parries that, they get shocked. Your whole style..it's all about taking apart xia, isn't it? What kind of MAN was Storm Dragon that he developed a style to kill his own?" he wonders.

You smile, and then HIS grin falters briefly.

You flick something at him, a bolt of electric force streaking out and striking him in the guts, shocking him and knocking him back!

An acorn falls from the place where he was struck.

"Heh. You DID ask me to show you what my dad me, didn't you?"