"Not unless they had volunteers." You say. "It's obvious the statues are used as some kind of key to this. The way it seems to drain everything from you. No doubt it's probably siphoning Chi. It's the only way this all makes sense."

"They'd...good gods..." Hien whispers as he falls to his knees, wide eyed and in shock. "What cruel madness is this..." You say nothing. The only thing you knew to do was to go back down the path. "Where are you going?" Hien asks bleakly.

"I want to study the statues some more." You say.

"What good could come of that?" He replies. "Tai Lung, we're out of our depth here. I'm afraid there isn't anything we can do now and I don't think any good could come from messing with those monstrosities. It's time we simply leave. The rest of China needs us, needs you. I'm sorry but we can do nothing for these people right now. I agreed to look around some more in the hope we could find a solution but now I know we cannot find one. All we can do is hope they understand that we have a duty to those that still look to us."

"No. I just need some time. I can try and sense them. Maybe I'll get some more information from this." You say, not turning to face Hien.

"What information?" Hien asks and you pause. "What exactly are you looking for?"

"I don't...know. Just some way to stop this." You snap back.

"What way? What do you think you can find?" Hien asks, his voice growing firmer. "You said those statues seemed to drain everything away. You said that must be how they gathered the energy from this. What else do you think you'll find if you try to push your spirit into that kind of device?"

"I'll know when I do this." You say curtly.

"How will you know?" Hien continues.

"Why are you asking me this?" You snap. "I'm trying to save these people!"

"Are you?" Hien asks sharply. "I see it in your eyes. Like you're trying to make this go away. Like you're trying to undo all this. My friend, we cannot help them. Not right now. Not you and me. There are other people out there that do need us. People who have no idea what will be happening and if we do not move, then we may be too late to shelter them from what has occured here." The young lord stands and offers his hand to you. "Let us be off. To find your friends and to find a way to save our countrymen. For those we could not save. For those that may yet live."

>What do you do?
>Ignore Hien. He doesn't understand. He didn't live here with these people and get to know them. He can go off and be a hero if he wants. You won't rest until you fix this.
>Ask Hien for just a bit more time. You're on to something. You know it. You just need some more time.
>Leave with Hien. His speaks the truth. Regardless of what you might find, you'd have no real way to tell if it's relavent or if it can be used.
>Write in.

>>5242414
>Leave with Hien. His speaks the truth. Regardless of what you might find, you'd have no real way to tell if it's relavent or if it can be used.
we aren't good enough to do this. I would only attempt this with reshu or someone else as qualified.

>>5242414
>Leave with Hien
>Try and explain ourselves, it is all of our fault. We let this happen over a broken leg. A business quarrel.

>>5242414
>Leave with Hien. His speaks the truth. Regardless of what you might find, you'd have no real way to tell if it's relavent or if it can be used.

>>5242613
Oh and
>We should still keep the statues and all the evidence. The empire has proper exorcist that will know.
>Normally I would try it anyway, just to know in case it helps in the future, but tye reason I wasn't able to help during the attack because I devides to risk myself to heal a boy's broken leg. We can't afford risking me going into another coma right now.

>>5242420
>>5242577
>>5242613
Getting back into things. Writing.

"It's my fault." You say. "I could have stopped this if I was around. A small boy got caught up in a stupid quarrel I had with a buisness owner. Fell down in the caves and broke his legs and who knows what else. He didn't deserve that. I did the only thing I could do. I didn't know I was going to be unconcisous for so long. If only I was awake...I have to make up for this."

"Tai Lung, everyone would tell you that no one could have seen this occuring. You did what you thought was best under the current circumstances." Hien consoles. "You're not to blame for this and if it weren't for you, things could have gone much worse."

"I didn't do anything." You say.

"What about your friends?" Hien asks. "If it wasn't for you, then they wouldn't be here in more ways than one. You trained Ming, and even if she didn't fight, I'm sure her medical knowledge saved some lives. What about Xin Lan and Renshu? If it wasn't for you, they surely would have continued their lives in darkness. You taught them to use what people would consider evil talents for good and we both know they're worth at least a few batallions each. You know better than anyone that actions have consequences but sometimes it doesn't have to be directly because of your current actions." You remain silent for a while.

"I still want to try and take some evidence with us." You say after a while. Hien frowns.

"I'm not sure if it's safe to take any of the statues of with us. However, I can't deny that being able to bring evidence or something to be studied by those more knowledgeable than us would be a boon." He says. "But how would we transport it. There didn't seem to be any kind of container they used. It was all on their person. Undoubtly, the things didn't have any effect until activated. Making it only more horrific knowing that their owners had no idea what they were carrying. And if they did..." Hien shakes his head.

>What do you do?
>Put a statue in your bag. Perhaps it will have lesser effects if it's not in direct contact.
>Somehow place it in a box or chest. A sturdier container might do the trick.
>Hide as much of the evidence as you can. It's possible that people can come back here and try to hide what happened.
>Write in.

>>5243065
>Hide as much of the evidence as you can. It's possible that people can come back here and try to hide what happened.
Is it finally time to use the false library red herring for something?
>Take one or two statues with you, wrap them cloth, put inside one of those jar that Ming used for the light, and put them inside a box. Better to be safe than sorry.
It might help whoever the empire sends if they can inspect or study it before come over.
I hope they don't have a way to track the statues, like some sort of sense or connection it would make this pointless.

>>5243065
>Place it in a box or chest, then string that between a chunk of wood.

Like a hobo's bag or a peliquin.
That way it's not near us, but we can carry it. Between us or otherwise.

>>5243130
>>5243131
Trying to carry a statue at a distance. Writing.

"Let's think about this." You say as you stroke your chin. "It's clear that the statues, don't affect us at a range. We've walked through the entire city and have never felt any effects of them. Not even when manipulating the bodies or fighting them. So it must be that we have to be in direct contact with them for the effect to get to us." You pace a bit. "So...it might be possible for us to carry these back if we can manage to do it without being in contact with them. Perhaps in a large box or if we can carry the bundle at a distance."

"You mean like on a stick? Akin to some training weights? Or balanced on both ends like water buckets?" Hien asks.

"Exactly. If we can tie a box or bundle at the end of a stick we can carry it safely...at least thats the theory. However, I want to move more than just one. We need to hide a few of them."

"You're worried that they might get stolen?"

"In a sense. There's nothing stopping from our opponents coming back and attempting to destroy any evidence of them being here and the methods they used to defile this place. We have to prevent them from trying to hide their methods if we'll be sending people back here to investigate. Preferably with an army." You say as you make you way down the path and to the fallen tree, snapping off one of the thicker branches and cleaning it up a bit with Renshu's knife. "There's a false version of the library some ways down the mountain. Apperantly it was used as a part of the test to see if people had the tenacity to continue or investigate. Our enemies are probably aware of this and we can use that to our advantage. If we hide things there, they will probably look over it knowing where the real city is." You explain. You feel a bit silly as you set down a small rag and then gingerly tap one of the statues onto it, careful to keep an eye out for any changes to you, then pull the rag up by the corners to tie to the stick. You hoist the stick over your shoulder and take a few test steps. Nothing seems to happen. "Well it seems to be ok." You say. "Looks a bit odd from a distance but I'd rather it be odd than have this effect us."

"Perhaps we should avoid villages and the like as we travel. Lest a curious individual gets their hands on it or we accidentally have it hit someone." Hien notes as he follows suit and begins to collect a few more of the statues in a ruined shirt before grabbing his own branch. With a nice bundle gathered, the two of you make the precarious trek down the side of the mountain itself rather than taking the caves to get to the ruins of the false library. Without the snow clouding your vision, it was only a matter of endurance of which you had plenty of.

On an enormous outcrop stood what looked like the ruins of a small village, even smaller than the ones you had seen this far north. Worn away by time and weather, you could only just make out what the buildings where supposed to be with the biggest being the supposed library. Compared to the real thing, it was almost laughable to imagine anyone falling for this but given the secretive nature of the place, you couldn't fault anyone for thinking that the home of a recluse group of people being a simple building.

You take Hien's larger bag of statues and bury them within the remains of the library's building taking extra steps to make sure it looked undisturbed even after you covered it all up again. With your task done, you and Hien make your way down the rest of the mountain. Once at the foot of the mountain, all you had to do was decide where your journey would take you.

>What do you do?
>Go find Ming. Traveling with a such a large group of people can't be that fast. Even after a month of travel, they had to be close by. Someone had to had seen them.
>Try to find out the significance of the coin Xin left you. It must be a hint of some kind but this is no ordinary coin. Perhaps you can find information on someone who can help you with it.
>Head to the capital. You need to tell the Empress of the war to come. You only hope that your reputation doesn't get you killed on sight.
>Write in.

>>5243449
>Head to the capital. You need to tell the Empress of the war to come. You only hope that your reputation doesn't get you killed on sight.
Trust Hien's plan. Also if our presence does end up making a fuss, our friends wil hear about whereaboits anyway.

>>5243449
>Head to the capital. You need to tell the Empress of the war to come. You only hope that your reputation doesn't get you killed on sight.

By the way, I archived last thread.
I think this is the fourth or fifth time, did I accidentaly turn into the quest's unofficial archivist?

>>5243503
You just might have. Welcome to the team?

>>5243449
>Head to the capital
They will have coin Smith's there, as well as the fastest couriers in the empire.

>>5243449
>>Head to the capital. You need to tell the Empress of the war to come. You only hope that your reputation doesn't get you killed on sight.

>>5243449
>Head to the capital. You need to tell the Empress of the war to come. You only hope that your reputation doesn't get you killed on sight.
if we make a big enough stink they will find us... plu when we get out of here we may be able to reconnect to reshu.

>>5243489
>>5243492
>>5243689
>>5243971
>>5244048
To the capital. Writing.

The capital. That was the priority and your friends would understand why you didn't immediately go looking for them. However, there was also the Feng family, China's greatest blacksmiths. If anyone could help you find the secrets behind the coin, it could be them. The journey south would be a long one, even for a group as fast as yours. You and Hien opt to make a quick stop at the town not to far away from the mountain to stock up on materials to resupply for a few more days rather than rely on the megre scarps you saved from the ruins.

"It would be best if one of us stayed behind at camp to keep an eye on our...cargo." He says eyeing the small bundle of statues hanging from a stick. "It would be safer that we avoid taking them into populated areas as much as possible."

"Well then which one of us is going into town?" You ask. Hien gives you a sheepish grin.

"I'm afraid if I enter right now, I doubt I'll be allowed to leave." He admits, your roll your eyes and set your bags down.

"Alright. But at least set up camp while I'm gone." You say. "I'll get food and we'll spend the night here to rest. After that, we'll travel as much as possible to get to the captial, your home." You say with a smirk. "It only now hits that I'm actually traveling with royalty. What will your family think knowing you've been spending time with criminals?"

Hien tugs at his collar and blushes slightly. "It's not really like that. I'm only really royalty due to birth. It's not like I have a real position in the palace. If I was any other noble, I doubt I'd have as much command as I am given. It's only because of my father being the Emperor."

"And now you've run away from home in search of adventure. Now I can see why the girls like you. You're basically right out of a fable." You chuckle. Leaving Hien to stew in his embarassment, you make your way into town. As you walk through the streets, you notice the quiet following you. Luckily you can see people making their way around town, albeit nervously. Others duck back into their homes or behind alleys as you make your way to the markets. An air of anxiousness hangs heavy through your walk until something catches your eye. On the wall of one of the stores was your reflection. A large wanted poster with your name.

Wanted for
Murder, Destruction, Terrorism, and Evading the Law:

Tai Lung

If seen, avoid at all costs and report to the nearest authority.

As you read the finer details of the poster, you hear someone attempting to sneak up on you. With no unnatural silence to aid them, you easily discern their location and turn to face them. A weasel, armed to the teeth, is surprised to see you turn to face them but they quickly gain their composure. "Looks like my hunch was right. You're a tough man to find, Tai Lung."

The few villagers brave enough to peek out flinch at your name. "You're not the first one to say something to that effect." You reply but you refrain from mentioning that it didn't end well for them. "Let's not dance around the subject. How did you know I was here and what do I need to do to make you leave me alone. I have more important buisness than to play around with would be bounty hunters."

"Straight to the point. I can respect that." The man says as he draws two blades. "All of China knows of your escape. It just so happens that I was the only one smart enough to track you down. Starting from the most obvious, I knew you'd go back to your home town for revenge. From there it was a simple matter of following the sightings of a snow leopard around. Frankly, even then it was difficult. For someone as large as you, you seem to be able to vanish without a trace. I must admit though, fate seems to be against you. I heard of a few idiots pretending to be you and your friends in this village. It was here where I asked around and wouldn't you know, asking around the villages I heard that you were looking for the Sacred Library. It would only be a matter of time you returned to resupply and this was the closest place to the mountains."

"If you asked around, you know that I'm not the man the posters claim to be." You say. "As weak as it may sound, I have changed."

"That doesn't change the fact that you're a wanted man. A wanted man that will make me a fortune once I turn you in." The weasel replies. "Now, we can do this the easy way or we can induldge your bloodlust a bit and I can take you down with force."

You look around at the scared villagers. A fight here wouldn't do much good for your reputation and you couldn't risk being held up in jail in some city. You doubt that you'll be taken all the way to the capital. You're more suprised that you didn't expect news of your escape to finally reach the rest of the country after a two full years of your escape.

>What do you do?
>Ask to go get Hien. He's royalty and he could probably tell the man to stand down. Though that could make it worse if it's seen as kidnapping royalty.
>Try and intimidate the man. You have a reputation. It's inccorect but it could be something you can use to your advantage. However, like everything it can have reprecussions.
>Simply try and escape. If you won't fight, you can put your skills to other, nonlethal uses.
>Quickly knock the man out. It'll give you more time to make some distance.
>Write in.

>>5245664
>For a man that got so much right, you also got much wrong. I have already been to the Sacred Library, my redemption has been accepted by Exarch Sangpo and I have learned the Dragon Style. I have come down to bring a message to the Empress and ghe five, who have let me go when I helped then in Zianghu.
>But if you want a fight so much, I cam give you one. China is going to need soldiers soon, so consider this a conscription.
Knock him out and kidnap him, once we get to camp Hien will explain things. This is porbably a dumb idea.

>>5245697
Why would he care about the library. Let’s not just kidnap people.

>Quickly knock the man out. It'll give you more time to make some distance.
We're here to get supplies. We won't be here long.

>>5245664
>I will be gone in a short while little weasel. You are nor my match and I am not bloodcrazed as I was two years ago. Let me be, and this will be the end of it.
>When he refuses, take him down quick and as painlessly as possible.

>>5245852
The library thing is more for the bystanders than him.
And the kidnapping is retarded and I know it, but I'm keeping.

>>5245902
Oh, for why I even thought of it in the first place, he clearly is a good tracker an good at following rumours, and as a bounty hunter he would know how to fight atleast a little bit, so he xould be useful. He clearly cares about money, so the chance to "work" for Hien could convince him.
Basically, I wrote something to try and minimize the reputation hit of knocking him out, but then had that idea, said fuck it and stiched it in because I didn't want to throw away the other part.

>>5245664
>>Write in.
Let him arrest you. once he gets his bounty reward we break out.

>>5245935
. . . No.
Why would we delay ourselves that much? With THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF CHINA! on our backs?

>>5245852
>>5245875
Looks like the basic knockout wins. Writing.

"I'll be gone in only a short while, little weasel. Like I said, I have something more important than to get into random fights with strangers. Something that even The Furious Five must know about. I am no longer the man that I used to be. Let me go, and this will be the end of it." You say as keep an eye out for any other surprises and for bystanders. You hear a nearby roof creak slightly as someone shifts their weight, the faint sounds of chain links clinking in a nearby alley and the strain of a bow string being slightly pulled back. "We both know you're no match for me." You say firmly.

"We both know it's not about who you are but what you're worth. I catch you and I'll practically be nobility. It's a bit of a shame I can't kill you. Make it much easier but we all have to deal with the hands we're dealt." The man says. The two of you stand there, tension in the air rising, both of you tensing up, getting ready to leap, and the people around you holding their breath as they wait for the one thing that would set it all off. Another creak and everything becomes to a blur.

Your body moves on instinct, months of no longer needing to conciously take in all the information around you kicking in, and you grab a nearby barrel full of apples to hold out infront of you as a shield. The two blades sink into the wood as the weasel leaps to attack you. You wrench the barrel to the side, pulling the weapons out of the man's hands and sending fruit everywhere. You throw the barrel behind you, striking the bowman aiming at your back with it just before he lets go of the arrow. You twist your body around to grab the net that was thrown at you from the roof atop the weasel with on hand, trapping him, and the arrow with the other as you spin in place. The arrow is quickly sunk between two chain links and pinned to a nearby wall as it's owner stepped out and swung them at you. You take the chain in both hands and pull the hapless dog towards you, right in to a Chi strike to the chest. They crumple to the ground, paralyzed but unharmed.

The weasel struggles with the net. "This isn't over! There's more of us you know! All of China will be wanting to catch you! You'll never outrun what you did!" He shouts in frustration. You move forward, towering over the smaller man and crouch next to him.

"I know. All I can hope is that I have enough time to make up for it." You say before quietly tapping his temple and knocking him out. The townsfolk all timidly look out from their hiding places and the sounds of running indicate that whoever was on the roof was trying to escape. There was no point in going after them. Even the guards seem reluctant to approach you.

"I just wanted food." You say quietly and taking advantage of the reluctance. "But I made a mess instead." You grab a few apples around you, a paltry meal but you've had worse, and leave a small bag of money on the floor to pay for it and any damages. With your goods secured you leap onto a roof and into the woods. You were thankful that you were far faster than the average person as the distance between where you left Hien and the town would take them a few hours to cross.

You land and make your way towards the small crackling fire you companion had started. "I just managed to get the thing going." He says. "I thought you'd be out longer."

>What do you say?
>Tell Hien to pack his things. You need to leave now.
>Take sometime to rest. You'll be pushing yourselves alot in the morning.
>Send Hien to buy the rest of your supplies. Hopefully the townsfolk are more open to him.
>Write in.

>>5246200
>>Take sometime to rest. You'll be pushing yourselves alot in the morning.

>>5246200
>Take some time to rest
>"Bounty hunters, that's a nee experience for me."

>>5246200
>Take sometime to rest. You'll be pushing yourselves alot in the morning.
>There was a bounty hunter, we are going to need to supply in the next town that you haven't performed yet.

>>5246613
>Support

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nice quest QM. been reading up for the past few months, I'm at where tai lung wakes after his 4mth nap. hope to join the real-time game soon! have a shitty drawing

>>5246243
>>5246430
>>5246613
>>5246691
Take a rest. We'll probably need it. Writing.

>>5247011
Thanks for giving the quest a chance! Glad you've been enjoying it and hope to see you voting when you catch up.

>>5247011
ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

>>5247011
He attack
He protecc
But most importantly,
He make Tai Lung spill spahgett

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>>5247066
Totally not spilling the pasta.

"There was a bounty hunter." You say as you sit down next to the fire and dropping the megre supplies you go. "We had a brief fight but it seems like news of my escape has finally reached all over China. Why didn't you tell me?" Hien gives you a look of shame and fiddles with instrument.

"I had heard rumors and talks of people wanting to capture you but...well you're you and with your friends, I never expected anything to come of it. Then when we finally reunited...well what you told me about what happened to the library became a priority." He admits.

"You'll have to be the one to buy supplies then. We can't get side tracked by a bunch of people trying to make a name for themselves off of my capture. So are there any towns you haven't preformed at? Last thing we need is a group of women forming their own group to capture you." You say trying to lighten the mood. Hien gives you a small smile.

"If the risk of people attempting to apprehend you will be an issue. Then I think it might be time for me to shed my disguise." Hien says.

"It might be a better idea if you don't. Last thing we need is people thinking I kidnapped you." You say.

"Then we will need to plan out our journey in more detail if we wish to avoid attention." Hien replies and pulls out a map. "It might just be better to focus on larger cities than villages. With a higher population, it would be easier to avoid attention by hiding in crowds. Not to mention, many people will be used to more...outlandish figures in public. Not only that but we may hear information regarding the others. I highly doubt Ming, Xin, and Renshu will simply stay put without you. Plenty of people that need help and plenty of things that need doing."

"Villages might be faster however. All we need to do is have you go in and buy things then leave. We may spend no time investigating the others but we can arrive at our destination faster." You counter. "Once we're at the captial then we can start looking for the others."

"The capital might come with it's own set of problems." Hien points out. "The truth is one thing, but so is your reputation. We will be battling against that with the nobility. Not to mention that once you're there, you won't be leaving for a while. I'm sorry but I cannot simply order the guards to ignore your forever. Eventually, someone in actual power will be forced to apprehend you. Due to public outcry or honor. If we intend to head to the Palace then I suggest you make sure you've settled everything you can...you may even have to come to terms with the fact that you will be going to prison again."

>What do you say?
>Tell Hien that you won't let that happen. You'll do your best to keep injuries to a minimum but you will fight to remain free if it means you can defend your homeland. Even if it means you have to fight the entire military and be on the run.
>Say that going to prison is the least of your worries. If that happens, then so be it. You have faith that he will find the others and they will do the right thing.
>Tell Hien that this means it is time for the two of you to part ways. He can carry the message while you go on the run. Perhaps you might be able to organize a regroup in the future but both of your goals cannot be compromised.
>Write in.

>>5247155
>I won't let that Happen Hien. Injuries will be kept to a minimum, but I shall not be restrained when the danger is so real.
>Besides, I'm counting on the shock to travel far and wide. An indisputable sign that I am alive.

We'll take him to the Capitol, cause a commotion and then withdraw to the valley, ming should be there swiftly.

Or maybe not. . Maybe we should just follow Hien until we get news of the Buns, or we are near to the valley to wait for ming.
>Show Hien the coin

>>5247155
>Tell Hien that you won't let that happen. You'll do your best to keep injuries to a minimum but you will fight to remain free if it means you can defend your homeland. Even if it means you have to fight the entire military and be on the run.
>I have already been imprisoned too many times, and every single time it happened, everything gotten worse while I had to wait and convince the jailers to let me finally solve the problem. And no, I won't accept a "this time it will be different, those past experiences mean nothing", like the mayor said it, a child got their bones broken and the library burned.

>>5247160
Also what this anon said, starting a ruckus is part of the plan.
Hien will just have to warn the Empress that every single soldier trying to capture an ally is one letting an enemy agent do as they please.

>>5247160
>support

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>>5247155
>>Tell Hien that you won't let that happen. You'll do your best to keep injuries to a minimum but you will fight to remain free if it means you can defend your homeland. Even if it means you have to fight the entire military and be on the run.

had free time today, finally caught up.
design is freaking hard

>>5247164
And maybe this is a loont to actually vocalise. Whenever we are restrained, shit goes down the drain. Enough is enough.
>Are you saying you are above the law?
I'm saying we have better things to do than let the world go to shit, so we ain't going back in anymore.

>>5247603
Good job anon, it's nice to see we have someone to take on the drawfag mantle, specially since you are better at it than I was.

>>5247603
Holy shit, thats awesome.

>>5247160
While it seems like the votes are to accompany Hien to the captial, I could use some clarification. If the plan is to take Hien to the capital and cause a commotion then withdraw to the valley then why even go to the captial to the first place? It would be much easier to simply split up and head to the valley with less risk of fighting the guard. Unless there's something more specific you wished to do in the capital?

I love causing trouble and giving Ming more reasons to hit us but I feel like I'm missing some details here. More than likely I didn't read the write ins correctly.

>>5248097
My plan is to go to the capital and help Hien, but refuse to back down. If we do end up causing a commotion and have to go to the valley, than it's a win. If we manage to stay there and Ming, the Five and maybe one of the bunnies than it's also a win.
Not only that, but I want the rumours to be spoken through the enterity of China and that would spread quickly, so it could grab the attention of Xin, Renshu or any potential mongol agent that we could. Basically, the guards aren't a risk, it's part of the plan.

>>5248097
As >>5248119 says. We want to go to the capital, and we do want the empress to heed us and her brother and so on. We WANT this to work out fine.

But if they are insistent on our capture. If they cannot hold themselves back through one reason or another then we arent going to submit.
The noise and shock that will create serves a purpose for us anyway, but it isnt our original desire.

>>5248135
The official term is a Xanatos Gambet, where every possible outcome of the plan benefits you.

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>>5248136
The only reason it's technically not a complete Xanathos Gambit is that we don't win in the case we get killed.
But if we get imprisoned instead, the empire has an excuse to have us work for them as Military penal service without losing face. Hien and Shifu would have to work their magic to convince the Empress, but I believe in them.

It's ok anons. This can become Ming quest, where so goes about learning dark magics and becoming supreme ruler of asia. Then it can revert to back to TL quest where he simply hug the evil out of her.

>>5248199
I'm afraid we need to slap evil out of people first and foremost.
The hugs come after making people realise how UTTERLY STUPID THEY ARE BEING!

>>5247160
>>5247164
>>5247366
>>5247603
>>5247708
Telling Hien that we won't allow ourselves to go to jail. Who else will look after the buns? Do you think Xin Lan can cook for themselves? They'd starve.

>>5248405
How *Did* they survive before us, and the advent of family cooked meals.

To go back would be torture, I think.

Sorry, something pulled me away. Back to writing.

"I'm sorry, but I won't let that happened again. I'll do what I can to keep people unharmed but I must remain free and protect China. Even if it means that I remain a fugitive on the run. Moreso than now. I've tried to follow the law as I lived but it seems every time I allow myself to be restrianed terrible things happen. I've done things that I can probably never atone for and perhaps I do deserve to die in a cell but I know that I can do better out here than in some cave." You say as you toss a stick into the fire.

"If only such deeds could erase your past. There are some in power that would want nothing more than for you to die. Either for their own promotion or out of patriotism. I...am I afraid that even if I could, I would not order your release. It goes against why we have a system of laws in place. Of course, I'd demand some alternate way of serving your sentence. There isn't a fiber of my being that doesn't agree with what you say. Truly you can be a force for good and desire to do so. To deny China someone of your caliber's help is not just foolishness, it's arrogance. All I can promise is that I will do everything I can to make them see that and if you choose to escape...then perhaps there may be someone there to help." Hien says with a smile.

"If I must fight my way out of the capital, then there will be no need. I don't want to drag you down with me." You say. "Though I appreciate the offer. For now, I think I'll focus more on convincing your sister that there is war on the horizon. We can cross the idea of escape when it arrives." You lay on your back. "Get some rest, we'll be traveling as hard and fast as we can afford to. We can't be delayed."

Hien nods and adds another log to the flames. "Then let us hope that the winds grant us speed." He yawns as he prepares his own sleeping bag.

---

"Ok, but at least try this." An eager voice says. You know this voice and yet for the life of you, you can't make out their features. Only what what in their hands. Hands that feel increadibly gentle and soft as you take what they offer, though it is done without your concious effort.

"Ming, I don't even know what that is." You say gingerly hold the glass of...whatever it was a safe distance from your face. The smell did not help endear you either.

"I know what it is. It's poison! I've seen it before. It's supposed to rot your intestines and make you bleed through your skin!" Another voice says, you look around to try and find the source and yet nothing comes to mind. It was as if they both existed and did not at the same time.

"It is not! Xin that's not even a real poison...It's a dietary drink, I'll have you know. It's good for you and helps you recover energy after a long work out. Speaking of which, you haven't worked out much since we got here have you? You need to keep up your training or your body won't keep it's muscle mass." The first voice says. "We need to devise a new regimen for you."

"We don't need a new one." The second voice says authoritatively before taking on a smug and mischevious tone. "I'm sure Stripes can give the big guy the 'workout' he really wants. If he's not willing, I'm going to have to take the initative." The second voice adds as you feel a weight on your shoulders.

"I'll be fine." You say calmly, despite the fact you were looking around desperately trying to get a look at the two voices. "What I do is enough to maintain what I have. Classes, training you, and I'm even making sure what I eat is appropriate. I've done this for over 40 years, you know." You tease.

"I know...but still I can't help but we're forgetting something." The first voice says gently, thoughtfully. "Like...somethings wrong."

The second voice takes a more serious tone. "Ming's right. Don't you feel it too big guy?..."
---

You open your eyes with a start but remain still. Everything in your body was screaming to not move and to listen. It was early twilight and the sun was just begining it's rise. The whole forest around you was dead silent save for one thing. Every so often, you'd hear it. A soft rustle here and there in the bushes and grass. Though it was brief, your keen senses detect a pattern almost immediately admist the ambience. They only occured when the winds shifted and the leaves on the trees rustled as if attempting to hide them. But the noises were too uneven and inconsistent to be movement caused by the breeze. Someone or some people were sneaking around.

>What do you do?
>Wake Hien up. Someone had tracked you down or stumbled upon your camp. It was time to confront them.
>Go and find whatever is making the sound alone. Let Hien rest.
>Wake Hien up and pretend nothing is wrong. Try and catch them off guard while you prepare for your morning.
>Remain still. See if they come closer or if they are merely some villager that is wandering the woods. It could simply be a woodcutter or someone looking for firewood.
>Write in.

>>5248624
>>Wake Hien up. Someone had tracked you down or stumbled upon your camp. It was time to confront them.

>>5248624
>Wake Hien up. Someone had tracked you down or stumbled upon your camp. It was time to confront them.
>But try to do warn Hien in an indirect way, so both of you can confront them offguard.

>>5248624
>Remain still. See if they come closer or if they are merely some villager that is wandering the woods. It could simply be a woodcutter or someone looking for firewood

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>>5248624
>>Wake Hien up and pretend nothing is wrong. Try and catch them off guard while you prepare for your morning.

>>5248624
>Wake Hien and pretend nothing is wrong
Thanks dream Xin.

>>5248802
Good job anon.
But isn't Hien's fur suposed to be more white/grey, hence why people kept thinking he was our son? I may be wrong though, and I don't want to go archive hunting to check a nitpick.

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>>5248957
easily amended. (digital art really is a boon that way.) but I think it looks less interesting.

>>5249128
No prob, Ming is a bit Lynx like and she is more brown, so it's not like you can't make one in the future.
I also think that the idea that a prince being somewhat plain looking without all the clothes and decorim is cool. Also fitting with the whole false identity as a bard thing he has.

>>5248627
>>5248646
>>5248802
>>5248878
Pretending like nothing is wrong outwardly. Preping for an attack. Writing.

You stand up and stretch, careful to appear off guard should whoever was wandering around was keeping an eye on you, then you go and nudge Hien's shoulder. The young man makes a half awake noise and attempts to hide under their blankets. It was rather funny all things considered. You wonder if growing up in the palace made him more accustomed to waking up late or if he once woke up early, given what you knew about how much they studied growing up, only to break that habit when they realized that being a wanderer meant they could wake up and sleep whenever they chose. "Come on. Even Ming knew to wake up early to prepare for travel. It wouldn't do for someone like you to be seen being lazy." You chuckle as you shake Hien harder. Once you see him getting up and rubbing his eyes, you move over to restart the small campfire.

"Had I known otherwise, I might have confused you for one of my tutors." Hien says surprisingly goodnaturedly. He stands and begins to do a series of basic exercises. A wave of nostalgia comes over you as you take a moment to see him do a series of push ups. You remembered when you used to start your days doing the same. Another breeze blows through and you center yourself in the present before daydreaming. "It wasn't uncommon for one or two of them to give me a similar lecture despite me arriving earlier than them."

"Well, you should prepare yourself for the greatest of all lectures once you arrive with me." You say as you attempt to warm up something for the two of you to eat. "Reminicing aside, we best get moving soon. The more distance we travel the better." You continue as you hand Hien a sharpened stick to try and warm up some of the dried foods you had. "I'm not even sure how we'll do on supplies. The bounty hunters might have been a one time thing but given the nature of it all. The reward might attract more fools than warriors."

"One would think the target itself would dissuade them, rewards aside." Hien says.

"Greed is a powerful thing. Not to mention that outside of the valley people might think the tales to be exaggerations. Especially considering that it's been twenty years. The very people after me were more than likely children at the time." Hien gives a small scoff.

"You paint yourself as an old man. You're far from that." He says.

"So everyone seems to think so. Nonetheless, we should keep our eyes out. Opportunists might try and strike at any moment. If even half the tales are believed, then they may try and use a surprise attack to even the odds." You say, though as you do so you motion towards the direction of the walking by sweeping your tail in that direction, tip to the ground. "So keep your senses sharp. Listen for oddities in your locale. Things the ambience cannot hide. Look for anything sticking out, espcially in crowds. Different clothes or mannerisms."

Hien raises a cup to their mouth to drink as they eye the bushes behind you. "It seems like the rabbits have taught you a thing or two." They say idly.

You snort. "No. More than likely it's a certain bunny insisted on reminding me of practicing lessons I once set aside. Lest I find them invading my personal space and climbing on me."

"You make it sound like a bad thing and yet your eyes speak of something different." Hien chuckles. The two of you continue to eat your meager meal and chatting. All the while, the sounds of sneaking slowly made it's way closer to the two of you. Who ever was behind it was very patient as they continued the pattern of using the breeze to muffle their movements though they had yet to show themselves. Part of you almost wished it was Xin Lan sneaking up on you, attempting to get atop your shoulders and tease you.

>What do you do?
>Write in.

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>>5251605
>physically catch the stalker
unrel: what are ming's, xin lan's, and renshu's eye colors?

>>5249130
>I also think that the idea that a prince being somewhat plain looking without all the clothes and decorim is cool.
based, picrel

>>5251698
Xin's eyes are scarlet, which I've been told is something only found in albino rabbits. Renshu and Ming have sky blue eyes. Given how Ming has been voted to be a big Chi user, it maybe that her eye color may change. Just like Kai's did and just like how Bao's did.

Loving the art as well.

>>5251698
That's sweet bruh.

>>5251605
>make eye contact with Hien, and gently flick our eyes to the spot of the hidden stalker. Try and make him understand to not react.

>>5251605
> Confront the intruder.

>>5251997
This first, and then
>>5252212
>>5251698
This.
Also good work drawfag.

>>5251698
>>5251997
>>5252212
>>5252381
Find the sneak, then confront them. Writing.

File: Meteor_hammer.jpg (1.36 MB, 3648x2736)

1.36 MB JPG

You continue to monitor the movements nearby, listening as they come closer and closer. Though you continously glance over to the direction of the movement, whatever is making the noise does not make an attempt to appear or attack. Perhaps they were waiting for you to look away or be at a bigger disadvantage? You didn't have time to play around with any would be bounty hunter or assassin. You stand up and begin to put out the fire, surreptitiously motion to Hien to get ready to move towards the stalker in the bushes.

You pour water onto the fire dousing it with a loud hiss and using the tactics of whoever was following you, use the noise to mask your own movements as you and Hien dash towards the bushes. It seems like you and the sneak were of similar minds as the two of you leap at one another just at the same time. You and the weasel collide in mid air, becoming entagled as you find yourself wrestling for control of a three section staff. You can't help wonder how many weapons this man had and you were honestly surprised how persistent they were. Was it their greed? You didn't know but at the moment, you didn't have time to think about it. With a grunt, you snap the center section of the weapon in two before tossing the weasel aside.

You hear a rattling sound as you see a chain whip arcing in your direction, only to be shattered with one swing of Hien's sword. "I take it this is the bounty hunter you spoke of?" He asks.

"Yeah, didn't take him to be this persistent. Everyone else stays down after the first time." You say as you get up. The weasel stands up, drawing two metal spheres attached together with a long chain. A meteor hammer as it's called. "I can't just let my meal ticket get away." He says. "If I let you go, then my reputation will take a hit and I can't have the competition knowing I've gone soft."

>What do you do?
>Write in.

>>5252854
>go for a feint. when he attacks dodge and grab the weapons chain. use our superior strength to pull him to us or force him to let go.

>>5252888
Support

>>5252888
Support.

>>5252888
>>5253080
>>5253667
Support- I mean writing.

The weasel swings both ends of the weapon around him at different angles. A common tactic mean to disorient and confuse opponents. Such a strange weapon seemingly had infinite angles to attack. Even a simple throw could be abruptly changed by extending a limb or the body into the chain and changing the angle as the chain wraps around.

Even you didn't have much experience facing such a weapon despite your intimiate training with it. Practioners of the metero hammer were rare given that it was far simpler to master a sword or a spear which only gave credence to the bounty hunter's experience. Still, your last engagement with the man proved that you held the edge over him physically. Case in point, the bounty hunter loops the chain behind him and throws both ends of the weapon at you. As you dodge the first mace he quickly kicks at the chain of the second causing it to abruptly change in angle. You instinctively kicked the second away and leap backwards to create more distance and prepare your next attack. "Lay your weapons down. You're clearly out numbered and outmatched." Hien says as he moves to position himself in a flank.

"Sorry kid. But I have a job I want done. My only target is the snow leopard. Take your chance and leave while you can. I don't have time for small fry." The weasel says while throwing a mace at Hien. You take the chance to step in to the gap and attack but the weasel twists around to change the angle of the attack once more towards your head. You duck and fake a swing at his head. Predictably the weasel ducks and spins to retaliate with his weapons but you grab both heads of the maces. Tearing the chain free from the bounty hunter's hands, you find yourself blinded when he leaps away and drops a flashbang. The ringing in your ears is quickly overlapped by a sharp pain in your gut and as you feel around, you find three needles embedded into your abdomen. You tear the needles out of your stomach but already you feel the muscles there stiffening. Gritting your teeth, you try and force your muscles to work. Slowly the sounds of fighting come back to you and the white blindness gives way to color and forms.

You can make out the blurry shapes of Hien and the weasel attacking one another. It takes some concentration but you can barely make out what might be tonfas in the bounty hunter's hands. "You're clearly skilled. Why come after us?" Hien asks. "Have you not heard of a snow leopard helping the people around here? Saving towns from being razed? There are other criminals that you can go after. Those that refuse to change their ways."

"Others might take you up on that kid. But money is money and this is the biggest pay I'm going to get. Plus...I can't help it. I'm a sucker for a challenge." The man replies as he twists the handles around and uses one of the weapons to bat away Hiens blade. "Though I guess I am prone to underestimate my targets but I never make the same mistake twice."

"Nonetheless, greed does not suit you. We don't wish to fight you and we mean no one any harm. Is there no way to stop this?" Hien asks as he dashes to one side and deflects something though your vision is still too blurry to see what it is. Whatever it was, smoke soon explodes and envelops the two of them. You take a step forward despite the feeling of stiffness slowly spreading through your limbs.

>What do you do?
>Tell Hien to run. You can handle this fight and you've faced these tricks before.
>Leap into the smoke. Together you and Hien can take advantage of the blindness to surprise the bounty hunter.
>Tell Hien to drop his disguises. Let the bounty hunter know he's facing the son of the emperor.
>Write in.

>>5254145
>use chi strikes on ourselves to relax the muscles to counteract the paralyzing toxin.
>Leap into the smoke. Together you and Hien can take advantage of the blindness to surprise the bounty hunter.

>>5254159
Support.
We can convince him once he is down, cucking a man out of a challeging fight is against the Kung fu code

>>5254159
+1

>>5254159
+1

>>5254159
>>5254222
>>5254226
>>5254247
Writing.

>>5254159
Using our lifeforce to force our body to relax.

That's. . Either going to work or it's going to paralysed us faster. It's funny though.

>>5254281
honestly, if he doesn't get the clue to fuck off after this I say we break one of his legs and dump him off at the next village. it would make us a lot harder to track down if he can only go at half speed.

You jab your fingers into your stomach, hoping that you can be able to do something about the paralysis creeping through your body. You attempt to make your body more limber by doing what you would normally do to release those that you had paralyzed with Chi. You feel the effects of the poisons fade away or more accurately, your body loosens up and becomes more limber though now you feel the poisons spread throughout at a much faster pace, no longer being impeded by your body's instincts. You don't know how long you'll be able to move freely as you're certain that once the effect ends, you will feel the full potency of the poison. You only hope that by that time, you've managed to purge the toxin away.

Pushing worry out of you mind, you leap into the fray and delve into the growing smoke cloud. Your opponent was laden with weapons and various other equipment, which meant it would all be clinking and clattering as he moved. A perfect way to keep track of him while blinded. You quickly move to flank the weasel as you work with where you remember seeing Hien last. There is no sound of fighting, though you can hear that of movement. It's doubtful that the young lord had any experience with fighting in these kinds of conditions so you quickly move to end the fight before he came to any real harm.

You hear the clattering of items against the thick armor the man wore, the subtle sound of Hien's blade cutting through the air as you navigate the smoke cloud. You can hear the bounty hunter backing up and attempting to leave the cloud, only using it as a distraction as they attempt to gain a more advantageous position. Their retreat, however, only serves to your advantage as you dash out of the smoke with him and manage to catch him off guard. Once again, you strike him with Chi and paralyzing him. He falls to the ground, unmoving and defenseless. Moments later, Hien manages to escape the smoke cloud, coughing and trying to wave it away.

"Is it done?" He asks as he looks around. You nod.

"It's over." You confirm as you look at the weasel. "He's persistent this one and we can't have him following us all over China."

"Unfortunately, he legally has the authority to chase you. As irritating as that is. Should we do anything more to him, we'd only be adding more charges to your record. Not to mention, we would be proving everyone's perception of you right. Wouldn't look good if we attacked an defenseless man. What can we do?" Hien says looking between you and the bounty hunter.

>What do you say?
>Hang the man from a tree with his chains. It should take him a while to get free and by then, you'll really be long gone.
>Tell Hien to take him back to town. The villagers like him and would probably believe a story about him attacking unprovoked. A few days in jail will help you get away.
>Use the man to your advantage. He says he's only in it for the money and he's clearly skilled. Perhaps he can be paid to do something for you or to simply look away.
>Simply leave. The less you interact with the man the better.
>Have Hien order the bounty hunter to help you. He is technically your ruler.
>Write in.

>>5254625
party member get.
>Ask Hien if it would be possible for him to hire the bounty hunter to escort us to the capital.
>if not have hien travel to our next destination. while we cleanly break one of the weasels' legs (so it will heal fine) and dump him off at town.

>>5254625
>Wrap him in his own chains
>Well, now that you got your challenge, we can talk.
>I'm going to the capital, to warn the Empress about the Mongols destroying the Sacred Library, and raising the corpses as nore soldiers. There is a war in the horizon, and we are going to need every skilled man, and you more than have proven yourself as both a tracker and fighter.
>But if the idea of dooming China doesn't bother you, than I'm pretty sure tgere will be more than enough glory and riches for those that help save it.
>And for proof? My friend here is Prince Hien, he travels the lands disguised as a bard to know the needs of the people. That's why I believe his sister would even hear what we have to say. And being part of his entourage would make you stand out, compared to just being a conscripted soldier when the inevitable invasion comes.
My first autistic post of the thread.

>>5254906
this but let's question the weasel before Hein reveals his identity to be safe.

>>5254625
Question weasel:
>name
>who is your competition? are they also hunting us?
>how'd you get into bounty-hunting? is and was this your full time profession?
>what's your opinion on ((political question that allows us to gauge how he regards the royal family))?

>>5255055
All good ideas anon.
Maybe we should get Hien to do the interrogation/questions? He is more charismatic after all

>>5255089
yeah, that's better. the weasel would likely be more resistant talking to his prey, and Hien would be able to gauge patriotism better. Hien should conduct it "alone" (them not realizing we are there).

>>5254906
>>5255055
So just tie him up and question him then?

>>5255300
Tie him, question him, and depending on the answers we can give him the pitch or dump him somewhere.
So first part of these two posts
>>5254841
>>5254906
Full on this one
>>5255055
And filing the second part of those ones for next update.
Also asking Hien for help with the interrogation, aince he has a way with words.

>>5255315
works for me. I'll get to writing.

You take the chains of the meteor hammer and begin to tie up the bounty hunter. "At the very least we can slow him down again." You mutter as you pull the chains around the trunk of a tree. Once you were done, you take the remains of the shattered staff and use them to pin the chains to the ground. A few Chi strikes later and the weasel is released from their paralyzed state. "There you got your challenge. Now let's talk." You say.

"We both know that not what I meant about a challenge. This won't end until you're caught." The man says. "Once you get a taste of a real challenge. The first in many years. You just can't let go. Don't tell me a man of your caliber hasn't yearned for a real fight. Something where you have to push yourself to the fullest to succeed?"

On some point, the man had a point. There were times when you did wish for a real challenge. Something that made you push yourself to your limit where you felt the real thrill of possibly losing. But those wishes were gone in the past, along with the desire to prove to everyone you were the strongest. Now, your strength was a tool not something that defined who you were. "I'm afraid that you fail to provide that for me. As we've seen twice over. Maybe it's time you realize that you're no match for me." You reply pointedly.

The weasel chuckles. "Just a bit of rust. A few years of slacking. I'll catch my stride, don't you worry. Or rather you should. If not, then I have no problem enjoying this little hunt on my own."

"Like I told you, I don't have time for this. If you must know, we're on our way to the capital to deliver a message to the Empress. The mongol tribes of the north are forming an army and trying to war with China once more. What's more is that they're raising the corpses of the dead to do their dirty work for them. You're clearly skilled and we're going to need people such as you. Of course, if the thought of innocent people dying and lives being torn apart doesn't give you enough incentive, I'm sure you can find riches and glory by working for the Empire." You say with finality but the weasel burst out in laughter.

"I've been around the block quite a few times. Caught myself some of the worst of the worst and heard just about every excuse there is but this is honestly the best one yet. Do you honestly believe anyone would buy that? War? Dead bodies? The northerners haven't done anything in generations. Why would they now? I'll admit, I might have bought it with the help of a few drinks but the living dead? Nonesense. The stories never mentioned you had a sense of humor." He laughs. "This will be quite the hunt then." You scoff and walk off. Making a show to appear frustrated.

"You can handle him. I'm going for a walk." You say as you step into the bushes. Once out of sight, you quickly sneak around the camp and edge closer to listen in. You hope that Hien has the initative to try and speak to the man. For a while there's nothing. Just the sounds of chains rattling as the weseal experiments with them. Hien for his part has taken a seat and started to tune his instrument. You sit there for what feels like an hour with Hien idling around and tending to the campsite among other things. As you begin to wonder if you made a mistake, the weasel speaks up.

"I don't suppose you could let me go?" He asks. "You said so yourself, I haven't done anything illegal."

"I'm afraid not." Hien replies as he pokes the fire. "However I must admit that you do seem to be far more jovial than I would assume a bounty hunter to be. Especially one chasing Tai Lung." The weasel studies Hien for a moment with a critical eye.

"You've never felt it have you?" He asks.

"The thrill of the hunt? No I don't suppose I have. Even going after someone, it was always a job. Nothing more." He says.

"No. The thrill of a passion long thought gone. That spark that everyone else seems to have. That thing that gives you a reason to wake in the morning." The bounty hunter says. "Ask the old man. He knows it. You can see it in his eyes. Dead. Hollow."

"I'm afraid that you are mistaken. There is reason behind that look, however I only wish it was a missing drive behind it. Though, I must ask. How long have you been a bounty hunter? You speak of this as many veteran craftsmen talk about their trades."

"I've been doing this all my life. Perhaps nearly a decade. A sort time I suppose but it very quickly became dull work. Soon criminals all began to blend together. They became predicable, their crimes all the same. After a while, it all became a chore. No one to match wits with. No one to match strength against. Can you imagine the money I've made from chasing those that hid from the empire? At first I was proud of course. I caught those that the guards and military couldn't. The clever, the strong, the vile. But once you learn how to do it...it all become repetative."

"So what makes Tai Lung any different?" Hien asks but the weasel laughs again.

"Do you really need to ask? He's Tai Lung. Master of every martial art. The one who was going to be the Dragon Warrior before the whole mess in the Valley of Peace. You don't just get to be that if you were just simply strong. You need cunning. Guile. You have to be the best. And then I heard he escaped. Can you imagine that? I knew some people who were guards there. 1000 men. All beaten. Then the mad man chooses to return to the scene of the crime and deafeat not only the Five, but the Dragon Warrior himself! It was as if the Gods had blessed me the day I heard it. The more dangerous game in all of China. And for a very hefty price too if the rumors are true."

Hien stops idling around the fire and looks at the bounty hunter. "I've never heard of a price being put on his head. Certainly bounty hunters started stirring. One can only assume that the Empire would pay handsomely but nothing offical has been said."

"Oh no. Why would they? You place a price on that man's head and all of China would turn inside out to hunt him. Why not a day goes by when some fool decides to pick up a pitchfork and torch to try their hand at bounty hunting...and then are never heard from again. Imagine if every half wit with an eye for a way to get rich quick turns their eye on the biggest murderer known to the public? How's the good Empress every going to write that off? But I got contacts...and word around the Palace says that the Empress herself placed the bounty. That's why they want him alive specifically. My bet is that she wants to be the one to bring down the axe herself."

"That...that doesn't sound like the Empress." Hien says slightly take aback. "Nearly everyone says she's quite compassionate and kind." The weasel nods.

"True. True. I won't deny that but see...this one is personal." The weasel says in a voice so low that you had to strain to hear it from your distance.

"What do you mean?"

"Well...like all things. Rumors are abound. Some say that Tai Lung stole a precious treasure of the royal family. Some gift of the dragons. Others say he snuck into her chambers and stole her maidenhood. And the less optimistic simply think she's trying to save face for his escape."

"But you don't believe it?" Hien guesses. The bounty hunter shakes his head.

"Nope. All too wild or mundane. Treasure can be replaced or lied about. If anyone was daft enough to enter the Empress's bedchamber, the entire army would be looking for him. As for saving face? An Empress has better things to do than chace the whims of peseants."

"So what is it?"

"Her brother. It's quite tightly kept for now but word around the palace is that her youngest sibling has gone missing. He was rarely seen in anyway, something about being sickly but now he's completely dissappeared and that Tai Lung is behind it. My guess is she wants to find out where he is...or avenge him. The bounty is simply a way to get it done without alarming the nation. Well I don't evny the madman who would kidnap royalty but that's not my job."

"You...are quite well connected." Hien says as he tries to maintain his composure. "Who exactly are you?"

"A no one in particular. Most poeple know me as Chaoxian."

"Chaoxian? The man who captured Shunyuan Shan of the 30 Beasts Gang? Tao Ting the Mad Alchemist? Your stories are known all over China!" Hien says in surprise.

"All of them quite boring." Chaoxian says dismissively. "Although, I suppose you now know what I mean about rekindled passion if such tales are considered boring to me."

"But...why would someone like you even need to resort to bounty hunting now? Surely if you had asked the royal family directly, then they would have rendered more aid. I've heard even the great General would have liked you in his ranks." Hien asks. Chaoxian makes a dismissive gesture or you assume to be one given how bound he was.

"I'd much rather work independantly. Royal backing pays well but there's too much litigation and I don't want to get tied up in some noble's schemes for power." The weasel says.

"I heard you had help though. Who were the others? Who else is trying to hunt us down?"

"Some no name kids trying to make a name for themselves. Once they realized they bit more then they could chew, they backed off. Less competition, less messy deaths. They were lucky I volunteered to be the one to go face to face with the man. But...most of the big players are interested for better or worse. There's the Xiang sisters. Zhaohui of course, Cheng Lei of the Iron Skin, and several others. Too numerous to name really. Some of us even think that the noble houses have hired their own people as well. Your buddy has a real nice target on their back. Rather lucky that I was the first you met and is willing to be open when being interrogated."

"And yet you answered." Hien says.

"Why make it easy? The hunt is far more satisfying if you have some advantage too. Make of the information what you will."

>What do you do?
>Step out of the bushes. It's clear the farce is over.
>Stay hidden. Maybe Hien will ask something else. (What do you ask?)
>Sneak up on the man and knock him out again then leave.
>Have Hien reveal his identity.
>Write in.

>>5255488
>Return from our walk.
>Ask him about the poision he stuck us with. If he refuses to answer, just KO him and let's scoot.

>>5255488
>>Stay hidden. Maybe Hien will ask something else. (What do you ask?)
hey as long as we've got the make-words-come-out-of-NPC's-mouth power:
>You're too late, Chaoxian. I've already captured Tai Lung. He's even coming with me willingly. Remember what he said about delivering a message to the Empress? He actually believes that.
>Though, I wouldn't mind having some backup if he wakes up to the ruse. If you accompany us, I can split the bounty with you. (Start offer with 25%)

>>5255488
>Stay hidden. Maybe Hien will ask something else. (What do you ask?)
>Well, you are clearly skilled and resourseful, can't deny that. However, you missed a little problem, Tai Lung is absolutly horrible at subterfuge. What he just said about going to the capital? It's true, or atleast he fully believes it.
>I have a bit of influence at the capital due to a few friends in high places. All I have to do is make sure is that he gets far enough so that a simple guard don't snag him out of my hands. Either he is speaking the truth or he delivers himself to the Empress, and either way I get something out of it.
>But since you are so hellbent on following us, how about we simple share the rewards? Normally I wouldn't offer this, but one of his companions is the Butcher of Japan, and if pay attention, they are all missing. I need someone to keep and eye out, and I'm a bard, not a tracker.
>But first things first, that poison you used on him, what is it? And do you have an antidote? I would rather not have to carry a man that karge all the way to the capital.
I tried my best to not directly lie, so that when Hien reveals himself it's not a complete break of trust.

>>5255971
>Support

>>5255971
(same anon as 9P1tToPe) it's not neccessary to have Hien reveal himself. If Hien wants to unmask himself we should be forthcoming about it instead of starting with a ruse.
I'm hoping with my plan Chaoxian doesn't find out until we get to the point it doesn't matter.

>>5256142
I too don't want Hien to reveal himself until we are in the forbidden city. Still, it's going to happen there, and I'm trying to minimize the possible grudge.
My write-in is basically just yours, except I tried to be lie by omission instead of directly.
Also a bit of 7y3a5E3r's too. I'm a hack, but I don't hide it.

>>5256149
A lie's a lie. I'd rather keep the details given to the weasel to a minimum so there's less chance to mess them up.
those lies, given little detail, even sound real, Hien having warned TL he would let them enact judgement there.

>>5256141
i'll change this vote to instead support.
>>5255759

>>5255759
>>5256307
>>5256149
Alright, so what exactly are you guys offering the bounty hunter? Selling out husbun? Telling him that Hien already captured Tai Lung? Or just hiring him to come with us for a fake reward?

Asking him for an antidote is clear and so is keeping Hien's identity hidden just a bit longer.

>>5257430
Tell them that TL is already "captured", and to offer to hire him for part of the "reward".
Hien can try to pay him for real when he gets to the capital though. I added the Renshu bit not as selling him out, but to explain why he would make the offer, but it seems other anons don't want that.

>>5257467
>I added the Renshu bit not as selling him out, but to explain why he would make the offer

I gottcha, I was just poking a bit of fun and making it sound more dramatic. Otherwise, we won't get hired for another season!

>>5257477
Drama is meaningless on a hypersensationalised stage!

This isnt the Ming X Xin soap opera, that's a channel over! Keep it classy!

>>5257621
>Inb4 Ming and Xin are actually dating.
I'm getting to writing.

>>5257628
But you established in the 4th season that the baby was Hiens' evil twin brother Hein.

>>5257640
Yeah but that's the subplot leading up to the TV spinoff which will be endlessly refrenced in season 7 of the main series. Then there will be the cross over movie and possibly an interprative dance play thing in broadway.

>>5257646
Will it come out before or after the spin-off where the characters are the teenager children of the original cast, that flops and everyone pretends never existed?

>>5257668
you have to wait ten more years for the nostalgia to kick in, then you make the characters younger to draw in new audiences. Trust me it works every time.

>>5257672
That one is the sequel/reboot, that youtubers will make with hour long videos saying how it was the concept done right.
Until the series gets milked again and people say that they never liked it in the first place.

>>5257689
Don't forget the spin off where it takes place in a High School fantasy setting to try and attract the Young Adult audience and the series of YA novels that followed suit.

"Well, I suppose it's time to let you know that you're too late. I've already captured Tai Lung. He's coming with me willingly. That whole thing about the message to the Empress? A lie. One that he actually belives." Hien says. "With that, I need to ask, do you have an antidote for whatever you hit him with? Last I need is him dropping dead or me having to carry him all the way back to the captial."

Chaoxian scoffs. "First off, as a professional, I of course have the antidote. A dead target is worth less than a living one and only an idiot deals with poisons and not have a way to deal with it if it's used against them. Secondly, I'm already being generous. Let's not play the subterfuge game while things are still friendly. It's clear you defer to Tai Lung for direction. I haven't made a living off of hunting criminals to not see where the head of an organization lies. There's nothing in the way you two interact that belies you simply playing the fool."

Hien frowns. "Think of it how you will but I was willing to offer 25 percent of the reward to help me bring him to the capital. Not to mention he still has his companions to go after. One if I recall has a rather large reward off seas in Japan."

"Right...and I suppose you know where these people are?" The bounty hunter asks and though his tone was unimpressed, you could see the glint of interest in his eyes.

Hien shakes his head. "I'm afraid not. I'm guessing they caught wind of being tracked and split up. I've not been able to get anything of their location from Tai Lung. Though I had heard they convinced a girl to travel with them. I doubt she had any idea of who they really were."

"Hmm...so I've heard. Some kind of healer from the rumors." Chaoxian says.

"I'm guessing she was a front of sorts. A way for them to seem legitimate but if anyone might have clues to their whereabouts it would be her." Hien says. "If they were traveling then she would know of what their final destination would be."

"So what? You want to track the others down and split the reward?" Chaoxin asks. "If what you say is true, you already took away one of the few reasons I'm here in the first place."

>What do you say?
>Say that the money is still good. Offer 25 percent for Tai Lung and the split the others evenly. It's only fair.
>Say that money isn't the full reason you're doing this. You just want to put a criminal away. Offer to hire him to track down the others then rendezvous to team up.
>Say that the others are just as skilled as Tai Lung, even more so when it comes to hiding. If he could find Tai Lung then the rabbits will be the true challenge of a life time.
>Say nothing more and simply leave him there after taking the antidote.
>Write in.

>>5257759
>Say that the others are just as skilled as Tai Lung, even more so when it comes to hiding. If he could find Tai Lung then the rabbits will be the true challenge of a life time.
>Well, I was originally worried about one of them finding me, can't exactly parry a blade while you sleep and by what he said, Tai Lung was the one holsing the rabbits backs. But perhaps finding them first has more merit.
>So you have two options: Tag along, keep an eye out and help stop any other hunters from taking him and we can worry about the others later, or go hunting the pair right now and rendevous at the capital. I guess you can't also deny, I take your antidote and you just waste everyones time trying to bring a bounty to were it's already going.

>>5257759
oh no we sold out husbun and Ming! and said that the message to the Empress was a lie.
at least we fixed the "persistent" problem. but this isn't much better
now the challenge is to play the cards down right. Chaoxian is extremely intelligent, making it hard. goals: prevent him from hurting us, the bunnies, or developing negative views towards the royal family.
Can't think of any likely way that would avoid all. If we say TL is bait for his friends, the weasel will follow us, hired or not, and if we say anything other than that, he'll hunt them down. I say leave it to the bunnies to defend themselves....
>I can't track the others down while bringing Tai Lung in.
>Good luck if you wish to hunt his companions.
>Tai Lung returns from his "walk", demands antidote from Chaoxian, knocks him out and we go on our merry way
how far's the capital, in minimum travel days?

>>5257759
>The buns are as skilled as Tai lung, moreover in stealth.

I dont see how this backfires honestly. He either succeeds and we get them back. Or he finds them and we get the info.
Or he fails and he isnt our problem

>>5257759
>Say that money isn't the full reason you're doing this. You just want to put a criminal away. Offer to hire him to track down the others then rendezvous to team up.
>Say that the others are just as skilled as Tai Lung, even more so when it comes to hiding. If he could find Tai Lung then the rabbits will be the true challenge of a life time.

If we mention the rabbits are a challenge...
>Plus...I can't help it. I'm a sucker for a challenge.
Should we encourage him to chase them?

>>5257806
Captial is about 3 months away with how fast you're running and pushing yourselves. From the captial, it's roughly 4 months. Assuming you're traveling with Hien. If you're going at it alone, then 2.

So the gist seems to send then bounty hunter to search for the bunnies only and to get back to you with information? PLay on his boredem and looking for a challenge to do it as well.

>>5260117
That's the idea.

Super-stealthy mega assassins are amazing sport.

>>5260156
That or you've just sent them something to hunt. Writing.

>>5260199
then it's a win-win. either he finds the bunnies or he gets hurt and is out of our hair.

"I can't track the others while I'm taking Tai lung in." Hien says. "However, if you want a challenge then you severely underestimated the rabbits he traveled with. They are masters of stealth. Far more than Tai Lung could ever be. Go back and ask about them where you found out about Tai Lung. The two could vanish in plain sight never to be found again. I've seen it done right infront of my eyes. If you want a challenge like no other then that's your greatest challenge. What's more threatening to a hunter that two other hunters? You find the location of those two and we can regroup to take them down. Easiest way to do that is to get them to believe you'll take them to Tai Lung. Direct them to the Valley of Peace. There we can have support of The Five. They'll be more hardpressed to do their duty as heroes than to ask for the bounty. Easiest trap to set. All you have to do is find them and convince them you mean no harm."

"You make this sound like some kind of sale. Trying to sweeten the deal." Chaoxian says.

"Isn't anything involving money a buisness?" Hien replies. "I'll loosen the chains for you. All I need is the antidote and we can move forward. Just pretend you're still bound until we're out of earshot and leave. Tai Lung will still think you're no longer a threat and you'll be free to presue the others. Since you're doing most of the work, you can keep majority of the bounty seeing as you're doing most of the looking."

"And if I refuse?" The bounty hunter asks.

"Then you'll stay stuck here until you figure out how to get out and Tai Lung will probably want to personally search you for the antidote you have. Odds are, given how angry he can get, you'll be far worse off than simply agreeing with me." Hien replies nonchalantly. "Now hurry up and tell me, before he decides to come back." You hear the chains clatter slightly as the bounty hunter tries to test them, either to try and escape or simply to test the bonds and Hien's deal.

"Fine." The hunter says somewhat grumpily. "Back pocket." He grunts.

"I hope so." Hien says as he moves behind the bounty hunter. "I don't need to tell you what will happen if this isn't an antidote. I've heard that years of torture in prison unlocked some kind of healing power in Tai Lung. I don't know if it's true but it he finds out you just gave him more poison and he lives. I'm not sure even I can stop him."

"Here's to both our sakes then." Chaoxian says. Hien takes the bottle and pockets it before sitting down. You give it a few more moments before appearing once more from the bushes. Hien tosses you a small bottle.

"Antidote. I searched him while you were gone. It's about the only thing he gave up unfortunately." He says. "What are you going to do with him? We can't leave him here."

"Guess not." You say as you move to tower over him. You tear the chains free and slap the man in the side of the face, hitting him with a chi strike and knocking him out.

"Was that really necessary?" Hien asks, dropping the act.

"No but you did send him out after my bunnies. I didn't want to make it too easy for him." You grunt.

"Unfortunately, it was the only way to keep him busy while we return to the capital. I'm sure they'll understand or more likely never be found." Hien says. "But they might infer we're looking for them." You don't say anything.

"I'll...simply leave him a few details to help his search." Hien adds sheepishly as he quickly scrawls a note. With nothing else going on he awkwardly asks, "Shall we be going on then?"

>How do you travel? How often do you stop at places to resupply and listen to news?
>Write in.

>>5260306
we are going to need some information.
like where are we now? where is the capital? How far away is it? Are there any major stops or barriers we have to go through? what would the fastest way to travel be?

>>5260312
Hey what is this? Make an informed decision quest? Give me a bit and I will answer those questions.

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>>5260306
>>How do you travel? How often do you stop at places to resupply and listen to news?
>as quickly as possible, stop every week or as needed
Picrel is crazy, and probably expensive, but should be fast. We can go by water for the rest, great cities are always built on the coast or riverbank.

Or basically we need a map to plan course.

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>>5260322
You forgot your snow princess! Drawing a quick map. something I didn't really do to keep things vague and not really have to worry about the details. Also to cover the fact I know absolutely nothing about China. Guess it's biting me in the ass now. However, I will say that traveling at fast as you can will not take long. Beijing is far more north than I remember in geography class.

So. The Valley of peace is in southern China. To get to the capital (Beijing), it's probably 2 months of travel as for major stops or barriers? Nothing much other than the ussual and now bounty hunters. There's no form of blockades or the like on the main roads. Other than perhaps some patrols of military making their rounds or perhaps moving to the next location, China is in a state of peace so there's no real reason for them to be on any kind of alert...other than for you but compared to the war you want to prevent that's not much. Fastest way would be simply to go by foot...or fly I guess if you want to try that anon's idea though you'd have to convince a bunch of birds to do it for you and given your wonderful reputation that will be an adventure on it's own.

From the Capital to the Valley of peace however, is a much longer trip and that one can be taken many ways. You can return via the ocean as you did before and circumvent majority of the continent that way, or try and leverage your speed and take the striaght route there. Boat is slower in comparision but it beats having to deal with an entire country of people and only a handful of crewmates. You're still in the northern most part of China, right at the village at the base of the mountain where villages there are small even compared to those in central china. Basically the only thing between the wilds of mongolia and the fledgling villages of northern China is the mountain range there...and the great wall.

Apologies in advance to all the geography buffs I killed via my own stupid mapping of the country.

>>5260348
would it be faster to use the dirt roads between villages/cities or to brave the wilds?

>>5260348
>Boat is slower in comparision
what, how?
one of the mostly useless things I learnt in school was that during the gold rush, people from the east coast tried to get to california. going by land with wagons on a mostly straight path took the same time as going by sea when sailing around the tip of south america. unless both currents and wind hate us there's no way going by land is faster

>>5260359
your forgetting kung fu running.

>>5260362
can't run constantly, while a ship sails while we are asleep. and can Hien kung fu run?

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>>5260359
Because I'm very very bad with maps and have never really been charting stuff for this very reason. Basically was following the old adage of shortest path between two points is striaght through.

Here's a rough map I made. If we take the boat route we took in reverse. We do cut through a lot of travel but we go at the speed of boat not magic kung fu naruto run. In my brain, magic running is faster simply because somehow Tai Lung got to the valley of peace in such a short amount of time from a mountain range. Movie made it seem like it was a few days. So following that logic, I just thought it would be faster to go on land.

Hien can do Kung Fu run. He can do most Kung Fu things in the genre save for the fact that he's much much slower than you. In fact, he's slowing you down as is. Plus I didn't take into consideration you'd bring him to the valley of peace. If that's the case, then yeah boat is faster. Your son needs to rest more often than you.

Tl;dr, QM is shit at maps and never used them for that reason. Increase in travel priority is causing me to regret dozing off in highschool.

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>>5260400
huh, never noticed beijing was in the "neck" of the chicken.
looked some stuff up and there's a river that passes through beijing muncipality. so plan:
fly to river
sail down river (with birds), get off near beijing
fly to beijing

unless for some reason magic kung fu run is faster, then we do that way.

unironic could we have paraglided from the sacred library?

>>5260400
looking at your map the closest place of importance would be Xilinhot and if we travelled by road (assuming major roads from china modern-day exist now because I'm too lazy to look up ancient Chinese roads) the quickest route (by major highways) would lead to Zhangjiakou and then Beijing which would be a 7hr drive.

behold my autism. a 541 km (336.16 miles) 123 hr (5.13 days) walking path. (thank you google satellite maps)

travel south from Xilinhot heading to Wuritusumu, then Sanggendalaizhen. then Zhenglan Banner, follow the Shandian river until you cross near Da Beiyingziand travel south to Yushugou. then follow the road to (and cross the river again) Daxiyingcun and then Shandianhecun. cross the river for the third time and head to Sirenwacun from there you can head to Guyuan County (to stock up on supplies) and go through the mountains following Baihe River until you hit Ximenwai.

continue following the river until Jiuzhancun and the Yunzhou Reservoir. cross the river again to Yunzhoucun then hit Guanmenkou or Qiangou. then you can go to Datugou for resupply. follow the river again to Chicheng County. cross then follow the river at Yangtianxiang.

hit Shangmashancun and leave the river heading southwest for a while before hitting Shangjiabao Village. travel south until you hit the river again crossing at Taizidi. travel east until you hit the beginning of a mountain pass and follow it until you hit Dongjiagoucun.

go through the mountains again until you get to Jiuxianzhen. from there you hit the Badaling Great Wall Toll Gate. go through the gate and the mountain and you have arrived in northern Beijing.

>>5260306
Let's go full run at the capitol, the route I leave to other anons.

But actually stopping to listen for rumours and shit, give it a day over every week

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>>5260306
Just strap Hien on our back and run like the wind, making pit stops at smaller towns, avoiding cities or villages, and let Hien be the one getting the supplies when we stop.
>>5260400
You forgot one of the biggest part of why boats are rge kinfs of transportation: Rivers.
Almost every major city in the world is either on the shore or at the bank of a sailable river. China for example has the Yellow and the Yantzhe rivers, two of biggest sailable rivers in the word. But in this case we would take a smaller one from Bao Hai gulf to lead to Beijing.
But this is without magic kung fu running, of course.

>>5260754
unfortunately, if you want to get to Beijing by river our only reasonable choice would be to walk to Xilinhot and then walk to Zhangjiakou. from there you can ride the Yanghe river until it meets the Sanggan river. follow those rivers east until you arrive at the bottom of the Guanting Reservoir. from there ride the Yongding which will lead you to the western edge of Beijing.

>>5260754
note that we should be sailing down the river(s) instead of up. it would be more direct (we are at the base of a mountain after all) as well as faster (current).

So I think it's running that's the plan? suggestion on using river boats as well. That's something that slipped my mind.

>>5261348
Whichever is quickest. We are barely stopping for rumours or supplies as it is.

>>5261348
if were using boats i would recommend the path I talked about here >>5260912

"We travel quick and we travel light..."

Travel was quiet and quick paced. Although you followed the main roads, you oft noticed how empty they were. No merchants, no wanderers, not even the odd guard here and there. Perhaps the sense of solitude was excacerbated by the fact you and Hien slept as far as the main roads as you could to avoid anyone attempting to cash in on your bounty. Or perhaps it was the weather. The nights were chilly though not so much as the nights up in the Sacred Library. Still, it was the cold breezes and icy dew in the mornings that reminded you of autumn's arrival and even though the trees were still sporting a healthy shade of green, the fact that they would soon turn shades of gold and brown only seemed to hammer in the feelings of solitude the season evoked.

Night especially seemed to plague you. Each time you dozed off, memories of your friends would fill your dreams. They were simple recollections. Small, unimportant events that you would have left aging in the farthest recesses of your mind had they not borne life in your sleep. Things such as teaching Ming a new stance or workout, taking Xin Lan for a walk and trying to avoid them knocking you into the lake. None seem to bear the prophetic nature of the first time you dreamt of them but rather than providing comfort for the times to come, they gnawed at you and left you yearning. As if a hole was left in you that did not seem to heal or fill. Worst yet was the fact that despite weeks of travel, none ever bore the face, mention, or even tangential connection to Renshu. As though he had never existed, your beloved never once graced your dreams.

Before, you'd have been relieved at such a notion but now such a revelation only brought worry to you. Could it be a sign that he was no more? You certainly hadn't felt his presence in your mind since you awoke. Nor could you feel any of the spirits that hung around him. Wouldn't he order one to stay with you? To keep an eye on you?

Mercifully, none of this affected your ability to be well rested. After every dream, you always awoke well rested though this never stopped you from quietly sneaking a long look at the medallion you were gifted. Despite all these things plauging your mind, none of them ever took precedent to the matters of the living. You still needed food and water and you still needed to be informed about the world around you. Very rarely you would send Hien into a village or town to listen to the local gossip while purchasing supplies. Every time, however, he would return with nothing of note. Either some rumors of Tai Lung buring a town that was still standing and robbing them, stories of bounty hunters looking for Tai Lung or some local gossip of the town itself such was so and so secretly having an affair with a certain renegade snow leopard. As far as the rest of China was concerned Tai Lung was the only thing important to them and thankfully it seemed that some people were on your side.

Words of your deeds had also spread around the nation and there were some, albeit few, people that seemed to believe in your redemption or at the very least more keen on giving you some space and allowing you to live as you pleased so long as you did not bother them. In truth, even the more wild of rumors were good news in your ears. It mean that there were no more raids or mass destruction. For now it seemed that the Mongolians had ceased their activities in China.

You did feel bad about one thing, however, and that was Hien. The two of you spoke rarely and only to ever plan out a route or discuss some course to take. You could see it in his eyes that he wished to speak beyond the unfortunate and current affairs but you simply couldn't make yourself do it. Although he was your friend, and thankful as you were to travel alongside him, you simply could not open up to him about your worries as you could the others. It just didn't feel right and he didn't seem to want to press the issue. Eventually he did finally break down and speak up a few weeks into your travels.

"So you're planning on heading into Mongolia with the others?" He asks attempting to bridge your lack of communication with your current goals.

"Yes." You say simply and then judging this to not be an adequate response add, "Although if I had a choice I would leave Ming behind. She shouldn't see war up front."

"But she won't allow you." Hien surmises.

"No. She'd either make us take her, follow us, or simply travel there on her own and try to find us. In the end, it'd simply be much safer to have her come along with us."

"It sounds like the others have managed to inherit your stubborness." Hien jokes.

"I suppose so. Maybe they do it to get back at me for mine." You muse. "Or maybe that just to do it because it's the only way they can survive."

---

Your travels soon become more cautious as you approach the captial. More and more often you see people coming down the road. Traders coming and going towards the big city or travelers heading to other towns. The heart of China was more interconnected than even the Valley of Peace of which always had plenty of visitors and traders. You begin traveling off of the mains roads entirely to avoid patrols and travelers but even so you needed to stop for supplies.

During one of these stops, Hien returns rather short of breath and far too early for him to have finish his purchases. Excitement seems to shine in his eyes as he returns.

"People are talking about a girl." He begins before you can even begin to ask. "They say she's able to heal almost any injury she encounters. Everyone was paying her for her services but even so she never seemed to sleep in any inn. She just appeared in the morning to offer her services and vanished in the night. A few people have said she's done this before in a few towns away. She simply vanished in to the forest and wasn't heard from until the next appearance. All accounts however, always mentioned a worried look on her face and her always looking over her shoulder as if waiting for something. Think it could be Ming? Should we check it out?" He asks.

>What do you say?
>Say that it's too risky for you to walk into a town so close to the capital. You'd be recognized immediately. Send Hien to spend a few days there alone.
>Say that it's too much of a coincidence. Ming said she was heading to the Valley of Peace. Why would she be near the capital, especially if she's trying to hide an entire city of refugees.
>Say that this may be the one chance you get to find her and you won't lose the opportunity. Try and find a way to disguise yourself and head in to search.
>Write in.

>>5261750
>Disguise ourselves and enter in the morning after.
A large cloak would do us well, and though I doubt this is Ming it is good enough of a chance.

>>5261750
>Say that it's too risky for you to walk into a town so close to the capital. You'd be recognized immediately. Send Hien to spend a few days there alone.
>Disguise Hien just in case.

>>5261758
+1

>>5261758
>Support

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>>5261758
>>5262016
>>5262103
Going incognito. Our disguise shall be as Tigress's brother...No wait!

You sigh. This was too good to be true. A healer with the same description as Ming's talents? Clearly it must be some impostor like before or perhaps some kind of trap. Your story was well known by now and someone attempting to capture you would clearly try and pose as your friends. Still, you could not shake the feeling of something bad happening if you didn't look into it. "Alright, but we'll need a disguise. I already stand out quite a bit as is."

"Don't worry. I think I have just the disguise for you." Hien says confidently.

---

"I don't think I've ever seen a tail this long. It's making it rather difficult to hide." Hien says as you swish your tail out of the way of his hands.

"I don't know. It's always been long-" You say and immediately stop. Out of habit you look around for Xin Lan, waiting for them to make a pass about you in bed or your endowment. Hien looks at you rather confused.

"Nothing. It helps me keep balance." You say shaking your head and changinge the subject. "This isn't really what I had in mind when you mentioned a disguise." You say as you look around you. You were covered head to toe in the various clothing the two of you picked up on your journey. Very little of you was exposed and you felt rather like a fragile object being prepared for a long journey rather than looking like someone else. In some ways, you felt like you were more conspicuous than simply walking in in regular clothing.

"My apologies but...well your spots and fur color make it rather obvious that you're a snow leopard and it doesn't take much for people to assume that it's you. Correct or otherwise, it would be sure to cause a panic. We can use this to our advantage and simply say you're ill and looking for this miracle healer. At least with the clothes we can say you're a tiger or something similar. They tend to be...almost your height." He explains. "Now please...hide your tail."

You grunt and grab your tail before stuffing it up your shirt and wrapping it around your chest. "Excellent. We can also use that as an excuse to say why you can't speak." Hien adds.

"I don't think many people know what I sound like." You say. "You're having fun with this aren't you?"

"Where I can have it, yes." Hien admits. "Now. I think we're good to go. Maybe hunch over a bit and pretend you're in pain."

If your face wasn't covered in a large scarf, you'd be frowning at the young man but as it was also covered with a straw hat, the only thing that could be seen was your eyes. With some reluctance, you hunch over and follow Hien towards the village.

---

Village was a bit of a misleading name as the settlement was jam packed with carts, people, homes and buisnesses. Just shy of a city itself Changshaoyingxiang stood proud as part of the Chinese empire. The sounds of market owners calling out their wears, carts rolling around and people chatting from every single angle assault you and you soon find yourself back at a home setting. "I don't think the girl has been seen today but I think we should start looking around." Hien says.

"I thought you would have asked that already." You says.

"I may have gotten a bit excited to tell you." Hien admits.

>What do you do?
>Go and ask around the market. It's the best place for idle gossip.
>Hit the bars and taverns. Your reliable source for information.
>Try and find a temple. If someone is a miracle healer then perhaps they would reside there.
>Write in.

>>5262330
>Try and find a temple. If someone is a miracle healer then perhaps they would reside there.

>>5262330
>Hit the bars and taverns

we can also spread our own affliction around to draw them out.

>>5262361
>Try and find a temple. If someone is a miracle healer then perhaps they would reside there.

>>5262361
>>5262393
Looking for a temple. Writing.

File: download (2).jpg (12 KB, 278x182)

12 KB JPG

Incidentally, snow leopards really do have long tails. Just look how long it is on our fluffy boy.

It doesn't take you too long to find a temple in the settlement and many people, though wary, were not hesitant to give you the location of the place. Like many temples, it was not dedicated to a single diety with many smaller shrines scattered throughout it's grounds to compensate thus matching the theme of the village being a traveller's hotspot. You and Hien make your way, albeit slowly, towards one of the the people who were working around the temple. They weren't dressed as priest or acolytes but they seemed to care enough about the place that you think they could give you some help.

"Excuse me sir, but my friend and I had heard about a healer going around the villages. We heard she was here and were hoping she could help us." Hien says motioning vaguely towards you. "But we don't know where she resides. Could you help us find her? We thought she might have practiced here. We had heard she worked miracles."

The elderly man wipes his brow and straightens up slightly to focus on you two. "Ah, you're not the only one asking about the girl. I'm afraid I have to tell you what I've been telling everyone all day. We've not seen her all day. Normally she makes her rounds from here to various other parts of the village. Mostly the market place and a few parts at the edge of the village. Then she simply wanders off. No one really knows where she goes but it's mostly up to her when she arrives and leaves."

"Does she treat everyone? Are the tales true? Can she really heal any injury?" Hien asks.

"Well I've never heard her say no to anyone. Not that she speaks much to begin with." The old man says. "But from what I've been told, everyone she treats is healed of their ailements. Aches, pains, even cuts and bruises are mended. I've seen it myself, it's like she places her hands on them and soon their ailments are gone. It's a miracle."

"So she can help my friend. What's her name? How can we find her?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. She rarely talks and never about herself. As I've said, she comes and goes on her own terms. Hopefully she shows up today." The old man continues. "What exactly is wrong with your friend? Maybe I can find another healer to help you."

You frown, this still seemed to be too good to be true. Granted you were able to do something similar but this involved hurting yourself. You've never heard of anyone being able to simply heal people with no reprecussions and you doubt that Ming could do anything like that. Perhaps if she had advanced in her training but you're unsure how much she got done in a few months. Maybe she had a breakthrough. Even so, you were looking for your friends not miracle workers.

>What do you do?
>Leave. This was a waste of time and you have more important things to do.
>Stay quiet. Let Hien answer that question. It's his disguise after all.
>Ask the old man about the girl. Hien had mentioned she constantly looked on edge. Perhaps something is wrong.
>Ask if the girl is accompanied by someone else. It seems strange for a single girl to be wandering around China alone.
>Ask about the others who have been asking for the girl. Is that normal knowing that she has a schedule?
>Go somewhere else to look for the girl. Maybe she's decided to go somewhere else in town.
>Write in.

>>5262900
>>Stay quiet. Let Hien answer that question. It's his disguise after all.

>>5262898
>Stay quiet. Let Hien answer that question. It's his disguise after all.

>>5262900
>Stay quiet. Let Hien answer that question. It's his disguise after all.
>Meditate or pray. You need to try and regain your peace, and it helps your cover.

>>5263140
did we lose our peace I just thought we couldn't see shen long because the library was fucked. We literally had to go to hell to lose it the first time. I would say it was bullshit if we did.

>>5263380
I don't think we lost our inner peace, but there is something weird going on, since we can't sense any spirits, Renshu or other things.
Not being able to go Eureka because of Shenlong is understandable, so I want to check if we couldn't see any spirits because of the ritual at the library. Either all the spirits withdrew from the world and everything is going to go to shit soon, or we are blocked.

>>5262898
>>5262900
>Ask if she is a tiger, or a cat. [Prompt hien to do this. Somehow.]

>>5262903
>>5262985
>>5263140
Writing.

>>5263380
You didn't loose your inner peace. You just haven't been able to sense anything at the Library nor your friends. Though the latter is more of the case that they aren't near you as your sensing range has a limit though it is greater now. You could sense the entire mountain last you tried.

You did sense spirits and sprites when you tried it off the mountain though they seemed fewer and more listless though they still went on about their duties.

All three of you remain awkwardly silent as you don't say anything. It might have been that Hien was expecting you to say something but given that it was his idea to simply wrap you up in clothing and stuff your tail up your shirt, and the fact he was having so much fun, you decide to let him answer. It was his disguise after all. Hien for his part waits patiently until you look down at him and he realizes you weren't going to speak. "OH! OH! I'm sorry, but my friend doesn't speak much. Loss of his...voice because of the fire you see. He's lost all his fur and is covered in horrible burns. The scars still itch him and his joints pain him." He says a bit too hastily. "We were hoping perhaps this healer could relieve him of his pain if not let his fur return to him."

The old man studies you for a moment, unsure of what to make of you two before giving you a rather confused nod. "Well...if it's pains you need help with. I know of an acupuncturist who can do something about that."

"I- uhh...am afraid my friend is deathly afraid of needles! Yes, that. See, he was set on fire by some bandits while traveling. Sharp objects tend to scare him so, often leaves him unconsolable." Hien blurts out. "Perhaps if there is some medicine you could suggest? Something to ease the pain and help him sleep?" You glare at Hien.

"Well...there's a nice herbal shop in this little alley I like to go to. They tend to stock up on things normal shops don't really deal with. Maybe they can help. It's on the the corner of the marketplace in the alley behind the glassware and clothing shops." The old man says.

"Thank you." Hien replies and quetly nudges you to move. "We'll be going now and hopefully the healer will be here tomorrow." He says. The two of you quickly make your way away from the temple.

"Burns? Bandits?" You whisper incredulously. "I think you're story telling needs some work."

"I think it was sufficient. You're a poor soul with all your pains. Just...don't let anyone see your fur." Hien mumbles.

"I'm starting to regret this more and more. Come on. Let's get moving." You say.

"We should at least ask around a bit more. Seems like the temple wasn't the only place she visted. We can't just give up now." He insists.

"Fine. We can give it some more time." You say.

>What do you do?
>Settle it once and for all. See if you can sense the girl. If you can then you'll know if it's Ming or not.
>Go to one of the other places to ask. They might have different information.
>Leave. The more you hear about this girl, the less you think it's Ming.
>Write in.

>>5263901
>>Go to one of the other places to ask. They might have different information.

>>5263901
>See if we can sense her
>try the bars.

We need to see what kind of animal she is.

>>5264222
Btw my bet is still master Tigress.
Our last confrontation was certainly enough for her to discover inner peace

>>5263901
>Settle it once and for all. See if you can sense the girl. If you can then you'll know if it's Ming or not.
>Go to one of the other places to ask. They might have different information.
Tavern

>>5263901
>Go to one of the other places to ask. They might have different information. The market, maybe she will need to by supplies soon.

>>5264046
>>5264222
>>5264322
>>5264419
Looks like we got a tie. We can do both. Writing.

The quickest way to get this done was to simply head to the major places of gathering for information. Though the girl might not worked there, the people would congregate and talk making it easier to hear some news. Though you go to various places, the news is mostly all the same.

"She can cure anything! I had this bad leg, ached during the rainy seasons, now I can walk on it again like normal."

"She didn't speak much. Mostly only to ask what was wrong with folk. She seemed kind enough though. Wish I could have given her more. Cured my little girl. Always had trouble breathing."

"I never see her eat or sleep. I don't think she even visits the markets for food or drink. She's gotta take care of her own health too...or maybe she can cure the hunger away."

"She's always covered in tons of clothing. It's not that cold outside. Maybe she's trying to stay unassuming. Doesn't really help much when she's going around helping people like that."

"I think she's a runaway. Always had a shifty look on her. Can't trust her. It ain't right to be able to do these kinds of things and playing god. It'll bring trouble, mark my words. Of course all cats are like that."

"She's clearly some kind of fraud. There's no way those powers are real. I bet she uses some kind of trick or drug."

"I hear she sleeps in the woods. Dunno why, tons of people would offer her some kind of room here."
---

"Seems like everyone has an opinion, one way or another." Hien says as the two of you idle around the market area. "Though everyone seems to be in some kind of agreement that the girl tends to keep to herself and generally tries to stay out of sight. Doesn't sound like Ming at all."

"No. It seems that we're just wasting our time then." You say. "We should get going."

"Maybe but...doesn't it sound like she's in some kind of trouble?" Hien asks. "Most people wouldn't hide in the woods or do all this unless they were trying to stay hidden."

"If she's trying to hide then why come out at all. Perhaps she just wants to be mysterious." You say. "In anycase, this doesn't concern us."

"You were never one to turn away at trouble." Hien says. "Why stop now? It could really be Ming."

You sigh but don't say anything for a moment. "...Fine. Let's just end this once and for all." You say as you feel out with your senses. If this was Ming, you'd have sensed her earlier but it could be that you're our of practice. You calm your mind and reach out for...whatever it was that you felt out. As the sounds of the market slowly fade away, you're quickly shocked back into reality. There were two things you sensed. Neither of them seemed to be your friends nor spirits and yet there they were on the precipice of your mind. Somehow you could sense things that you didn't know. Everyone else in the city was unknown to you as it always ways but these two presences were strangers to you. One seemed to be wandering around the city and the other seemed to be far off in the woods.

You don't have much time contemplate this when you hear some commotion in the distance. A group of thugs brazenly walk into the market place, shoving people aside and attempting to draw attention to themsleves. "I hear there's a pretty good healer in town. Anyone mind telling me where she is?" The leader asks though his tone clearly indicated that the question wasn't one he would allow to go unanswered.

>What do you do?
>Go search for the person you sensed in town.
>Search the woods for the person you sensed there.
>Confront the men and let them know their place.
>Write in.

>>5264899
>Search the woods for the person you sensed there.
they said that she sleeps in the woods. and w are to close to our objective to cause trouble.

next chance we get we should try and talk to boa

>>5264899
>Stay and watch the men. If they cause trouble, deal with it. If they dont, seek the one in the forest.

Too close or not. We can't close our eyes to trouble.

>>5264899
>Search the woods for the person you sensed there.
>Ask Hien to keep an eye on these trouble-makers.

>>5264899
>stalk the men
they'll lead us to her

>>5264911
>>5264985
I think going to the woods won?

>>5266104
So it did.
To the woods we go, and I hope they don't cause any trouble.

>>5266132
We'll have Hien keep an eye on them. He's a good diplomat.

>>5266157
He's also good enough to duel all of them and win.

He isn't us, but 5 people is nothing to him. Especially since he can fight mostly blind.

You stand up straighter and begin to leave. "Where are you going?" Hien asks in confusion.

"To the forest." You reply. "I sensed something there. Keep an eye on these fools. I'll be back." Hien makes some motions of protest but stops when he realizes that you weren't heeding them. Failing to stop you, he simply waits in a street corner and watches the men as they began to flaunt around. Everyone else seems to be doing the same as no one in the market place notices you leaving. You can't do much until you're well into the forest or risk being seen breaking your disguise. Once the tree line obscured you, you quickly remove all the excess clothing that was strapped on to you save for Renshu's cloak of which you've gotten into the habit of wearing. Tail finally free from it's confines, you soon pick up the pace and begin to delve deeper into the forest. Following your extra senses, your travels slowly lead you along the river that ran besides the village as well. Not surprsing given that a camp near fresh water would be the best place to live. Still, you were a bit surprsied at how deep in the woods this presence was if it really was the girl. Not many people were acustomed to traveling off the main roads and much less used to living in the wilds.

Relying on your training of being unconciously aware of everything around you, you lose yourself in the ambience of the wilds. It was slightly amusing to you that such a technique could be used to daydream while still being on task and you wonder how much it would ruin Xin Lan's plans to try and mess with you when it appeared you were distracted. Soon enough, the smell of burning wood hits your nose and the sounds of splashing hit your ears over the normal sounds of moving water. You slow your pace and begin to sneak your way towards the camp. Part of you felt rather uneasy about all this. It was as if you were trying to do something untoward to someone you expected to be a young woman but you didn't want to risk her being frightened and running away.

You shift your path to be more in the forest than the slightly open river and push past the trees. It's only a few more moments when the last of the trees blocking your vision part and you see a small, but crude, camp set up. More importantly, in the river was the bare back of a young woman facing you as she bathed herself.

You quickly hide behind a tree, face on fire from seeing the nude woman. Realizing what you've done due to your new abilities, you now have a perfect image of the girl permenantly burned into your memory. As you desperately try to settle your embarassment and fuitely try to delete this mental image, you note that you saw numerous scars riddled across the girls body. From burn, to cuts, to tears, it seems like the girl had suffered every kind of wound imaginable.

>What do you do?
>Write in.

>>5266274
well, does she look like Ming?

>>5266341
It's not. This is a grey cat. Ming is brown. Thought I put that down. My bad.

>>5266274
>Leave the woods, pretend we were never there
>Get back to Hien and wait for her in the village
I still want to talk to her. How does she heal so well? And if it's the same method we use, how'd she learn to use it?

>>5266274
>Retreat about 100 Paces, then start heading back towards her camp, singing on top note and not bothering to hide our tread.
>We want to know why we sense what we do

TL, get yourself together. You are gay for fuck sake, you only saw her back.
STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!

>>5266442
>support

>>5266546
he's not gay he's Bi.

>>5266442
>>5266592
Heading back. Gonna need to apologize to everyone that you memorized such a lewd act. Writing.

You cover your face and quickly hurry away, lest you see anything else. Fortuntely, your skills simply allow you to follow the exact same path in reverse without needing to see. At the least you can confirm that the woman is not Ming. Once you were a sufficient distance away from the camp you quickly and sheepishly put your other clothing back on. You spend a few moment longer trying to settle down although your perfect memory makes it rather difficult to do so until you force yourself to not think about it. Turning your focus on the situation you left Hien with, you quickly make your way back into town. Hopefully the men only restorted to being loud to try and get what they wanted.

As you head back into the market place, you realize your hopes were misplaced. There are several smashed stalls and the stains of what look like the remains of produce all over the street. Several townsfolk were already cleaning up and moving broken planks of wood to be thrown away or recycled. You find Hien in the same street corner looking around somewhat anxiously but there is no sign of the thugs which you assume were behind this. Walking up to your friend you ask, "Trouble?"

Hien looks up at you with a small look of relief. "Unfrotunate but not unexpected." He says. "Luckily they were able to be subdued quickly and there was minimal damage. Let us leave this place to discuss what to do next." He says hastily before attempting to leave.

"What of the men? Did you already have them taken to the guards?" You ask slightly confused and moving to follow. You take a few steps when you hear something approaching you, far too quiet to be someone walking normally. You turn around, ready to face whoever was sneaking up on you.

"No. I took them personally." Tigress says, eyes glaring at you. "Though it's unfortunate that you're skill hasn't dulled one bit." You turn to face Hien who was wincing slightly.

"Sadly, I was not I who took down the men but Master Tigress who did." He explains.

"And it seems your corrupting influence has not waned either." She adds. "One would think that whatever last shred you could call humanity would at least tell you to leave someone of th ruling family alone."

You stand stunned for a moment. Was this the other presence you felt? If so...why? Taking a few seconds longer that you wanted you manage to speak. "How did you find us?" You ask.

"I didn't. Not unless fate deemed it so." Tigress replies.

"Then why are you here of all places." You ask. Tigress's face takes a rather odd shape. If you were anyone else, you'd had thought it had darkened in malice but to you, it looked like a child who didn't want to share a secret. Perhaps it was your recent upset in the forest clouding your judgement but it was rather cute in a dangerous sort of way.

"She's-" Hien starts but Tigress cuts him off.

"I was told to go to the captial to discuss something that would threaten China itself with the Empress. I was also told that The Five would be there as well. Not to mention you though I had hoped to post pone our meeting longer. Frankly, I found it dubious at best that any of this was real given that your wife told me but now that I've confirmed this information with Lord Hien I've no intention to stop now. Hopefully, your punishment follows swiftly. If the danger comes to pass China has no need of you running around adding to it's misery. Nor the people you consider family." She explains. Hien takes on a pleading look. "Right now, I have someone I need to find."

"Master Tigress please...Tai Lung is a valuable warrior and his friends are too. We must all band together to face this threat." He says but neither you not Tigress pay him and mind. You were far too busy clinging to a single word. Wife.

>What do you say?
>Ask, no, beg Tigress to tell you where Xin Lan is. If this were any other situation, you'd have found it very funny that she fell for the oldest claim in their book but now, you're despreate to hear anything about them.
>Say that whatever the Empress decides, you'll do what you have to do. If you'll be a criminal for life then you'll break the law to save lives.
>Say only one thing. The one thing she'll listen to. "I think you're family."
>Write in.

>Tai Lung sees a naked person and spills his pasta
In a dark shadowy corner somewhere in China, a certain bun suddenly feels the urge to tease and embarass the big guy to see him blush but realizes that they can't and aren't worthy of his attention or affection and that makes them sad.

>>5266794
>Ask, no, beg Tigress to tell you where Xin Lan is. If this were any other situation, you'd have found it very funny that she fell for the oldest claim in their book but now, you're despreate to hear anything about them.
because to be honest far as I remember they barley interacted before Tai lung was sent to prison.

>>5266794
>Ask, no, beg them to tell us where they were.

Shes not quite family. At best she is an adoptive sister who hates us.
No, if this was any other situation, I'd vote to ask her about her chi skills.

>>5266794
>Ask, no, beg Tigress to tell you where Xin Lan is. If this were any other situation, you'd have found it very funny that she fell for the oldest claim in their book but now, you're despreate to hear anything about them.
Forgot to vote last time.

>>5266794
>>Ask, no, beg Tigress to tell you where Xin Lan is.
>Who are you looking for?

>>5266794
>Say that whatever the Empress decides, you'll do what you have to do. If you'll be a criminal for life then you'll break the law to save lives.

>>5266846
>>5266876
>>5267103
>>5267236
We gotta know where our sneaky bun is. Hopefully they haven't gone full red hood on us and are murdering for justice. Writing.

>>5270139
You know the red hood is the shittiest comicbook line!

Tigres is going to use this to hurt us, I know it. She's a good person, but we are the one black cloud that has always hung over her, and we have just presented a dagger in our side for her to twist and yank as she desires.

"Xin? You've seen Xin? Where are they? Are they ok? Was their brother with them? What about Ming?" You ask, unable to help yourself. "Tigress, please...I need to find them." Tigress's eyes widen slightly, taken aback, before they return to they're usual glare and full of doubt and suspicion.

"And why should I-" She begins before Hien cuts her off.

"Because I told you to." He says, his face hard. "If you can't find the compassion you claim Tai Lung should have then as your ruler I order you to tell him. Those three mean more to him than his own life. They're the only ones in his life that decided to give him a geniune chance at attempting to be a better person and making amends for his past. They push him to atone and he pushes them to be better than they are. His family's history may be stained in blood but I've seen what those two rabbits have done and it's not unlike what you and your friends do. Perhaps even better because of what they are. Who better to judge then those who have been judged themselves? They know what it's like to be in a dark place in their lives and they know what it means to be offered another lease in life. So, either you do it because you know it's the right thing to do or I'm ordering you to tell him."

Tigress's eyes widen again, confusion evident behind them slowly giving away to anger. Still, she doesn't defy Hien and speaks. "I didn't find them." She says, ears flattened as she looks away. "They approached me, arrogant as ever in Zhengyi while I was there buying supplies. Like I said, they warned me of war coming to China. It a stupid outrageous lie so of course I didn't believe it at first."

"Then why-" You start before Tigress glares at you.

"Because they said if I didn't come I'd be worse than you. A murderer for letting thousands of innocent people die becuase I failed to do anything." She grunts. "That you'd at lease die swinging than stand around and let someone get hurt because you stood around doing nothing. That and they threatened to kill The Five. 'If you value the life of your friends then you'll go otherwise you'll never see them again. They'll be waiting for you in the captial.'"

"They didn't mean that." You say. They couldn't have. "But it shows you how serious the situation is. If Xin is willing to make you think that to make you come to the capital it means they're taking the situation seriously. If anything they're heading to the Valley of Peace to warn the others as well. The double meaning behind their words is obvious. Either you come to the capital or you risk losing everyone should they die in battle. Deaths that perhaps you might be able to prevent if you're with them. Ignoring the threat to China is tantamount to sending them to their deaths...Was Xin ok at least?"

"I don't know. You seem to be able to read the rabbit better than anyone else can." Tigress says, though her eyes show that she's hiding something.

>What do you do?
>Ask Hien to make her speak. What she may be hiding could help you find Xin.
>Talk to Tigress. Try to make her understand. If you have Hien keep ordering her around she'll only continue to resent you. Maybe seeing you this worried can make her open up. (What do you say?)
>Try not to push Tigress. Change the subject. It seems like she's trying to process some conflicting emotions.
>Leave. You know where Xin Lan might be going or at least where they were. You might find clues there. Go after them
>Head to the capital. At least you know Xin is alive. Maybe they might show up there as well.
>Write in.

>>5270272
>Try to make her understand.
"The great Library is destroyed Tigress, A great bear of mongolia named Aleskar burned it to the ground and the ground was then desecrated, The head librarian died to them, and now my family has scattered to the winds doing what they do best.
They don't know that I'm alive, because of my failure the city has burned, my beloved is dragons knows where and I've no idea where either sister of mine is at current.

You owe me nothing and you hate me for reasons I can't ever take back or make right no matter how much I try, I've ruined my second chance. But I hope and pray, Beg and plead that you aren't like me.
Please, was there something else? Anything else?! Anything at all about them at all? I can't. . I can't risk losing them forever."

Fully throwing ourselves on her mercy, with an edge of the hysterical.
If she says no again, then accept it. Maybe we are seeing things. Maybe the guilt will blossom. But no matter what is said; thank her. Profusely.

Pride and ego can burn in a ditch if it means ever getting our family back.

>>5270272
>Try not to push Tigress. Change the subject. It seems like she's trying to process some conflicting emotions.
>invite her to travel with us to the capital.
>Head to the capital. At least you know Xin is alive. Maybe they might show up there as well.

Not voting here because I'm not erudite enough to put what i want into words at the moment.
I can't help but get the feeling that we're going to meet a certain Bat again sometime soon, as part of this war. His arrogance would never allow HIS china to be conquered by Mongols, so I think it'd be entirely possible that he ends up freed one way or another. By himself, or by others seeking additional aid against the invading force with their backs against the wall. I could see Xin going for it if they thought tai lung wasn't going to come back in time, if I'm being honest. It's a pragmatic approach when lacking one of the greatest fighters of all time, especially when He Ling only gets stronger with each opponent he takes down with his techniques, which is pretty fuckin' good against an army.

Either way, one day we'll see the bat again. Mark my words. He's a valuable pawn to anyone that knows about his abilities, even the empress could reasonably consider it with the right...assurances. Maybe even trying to keep him in line using less than savory methods, like offering an antidote to a poison given to him.

Speculation complete

>>5270387
He's too dangerious to be let loose, and if he is permitted to feast on the Chi of the mongolian armies, plus any poor bastards he finds on the way, he will become nigh unstoppable.

The Empress will know that.

>>5270416
That's why you would employ assurances, anon. The equivalent of a ticking timebomb inside someone on a deadman's switch, but less literal.
He'd be a great last resort if he could be controlled. Is that a dangerous line of thinking? Absolutely. But the temptation is there, the 'logic' is sound to those who might not know the FULL extent of what Chi can accomplish.
After all, he's mighty, but he's made of flesh and blood. He's not invincible, he was taken out before. These are little things that can be used to justify using him to win a war if one's back was against the wall.
It all depends on just how desperate the situation devolves into, I suppose.

>>5270272
>Talk to Tigress. Try to make her understand. If you have Hien keep ordering her around she'll only continue to resent you. Maybe seeing you this worried can make her open up. (What do you say?)
>Tigress, the reason why we are all separated, why I'm here running with the prince, is because the Sacred Library has been destroyed. The exarch, a friend of Shenlong has been killed, sealing Eureka due to Dragon's great grief, and the whole town has been desacrated so an army of the dead marches on top of it. Not only that, but it was the mongolians that did it, and the library certantly had a copy of the scroll that we stopped the other army from gaining.
>It burned, and I barely know what happened, because I was in deep meditation after using chi healing to heal the wounds of a child, one that was hurt because of my own failure and hubris.
>I beg of you, accompany us to the capital. Should it be only me and Hien that approach, they will believe that I kidnapped him, and there will be only more unescessary conflict. But with you, there will be doubt.
>I know you so not trust me, and if I weren't one of the only ones that know what happened, I would ask of you to be Hien's companion to the capital.

>>5270336
+1

>>5270304
>>5270336
>>5270468
>>5270628
Talking. We're not allowed to punch girls with no shields. Writing.

"Tigress, the reason we're all seperated is not by choice. The Sacred Library is gone. Burned to the ground and defiled by a mongolian army. They are the ones threatening China and I think the library was just a sign of things to come. The others don't even know I'm alive and I barely know what happened. The city burned around me while I was busy recovering from healing a young child who was hurt because of a stupid dispute between me and his mother. You don't owe me anything and you hate me for reasons I can never take back or make right. I know I've ruined whatever chances I have but I hope and pray that you aren't like me. Please...was there anything else? Anything!? I can't lose them. I just can't..." You say falling to your knees and gripping your head. Passersby briefly stop to look at your group but you pay them no mind. They didn't, nothing mattered when it came to protecting your loved ones. "They're the only family I have. I just...want to know if they're ok..."

Tigress clenches her fists and grits her teeth. "Thats it? Years of pain and suffering you pushed on people. A punishment you gladly avoided so you didn't have to make things right. For what? So you can remind everyone that you abandoned you first family? So that you can pretend you have any right to talk about worry or compassion. You don't deserve happiness. You never will. I can hope for many things. That you simply die right here. That every night you sleep, you're constantly reminded that everything you think is going well for you is a lie. Just some way, some how you can feel one ounce of misery your existence places upon me and the people around you. But no, it seems your corrupting influence manages to convince everyone otherwise. From the honorless criminals of China to even the son of the Emperor himself. I hate you Tai Lung. From the moment I was adopted and I learned about you, I hated you." Tigress says, her voice cracking and attempting not to break. Even in your tormented state, you can make out the body's reflexive hiccuping as one tries to hold back sobbing. She turns to leave but stops. "The rabbit tried to hide it but there was no mistaking the fear in their eyes. Of what I don't know but it was enough to keep them from sleeping. No amount of bluster could hide the bags under their eyes. Assuming what you said is true, I'd say they've been running in fear with little sleep. From what I cannot say but you should know better than anyone they wouldn't give up any information as to where they were going. They had no bags or travel gear so it's clear they probably weren't eating much either. That or they had been living in the city. Given the fact they tracked me down, I highly doubt it. As for the others, I didn't see them so I have no idea." With that, she begins to leave.

"Wait!" Hien shouts. "Will you not come with us?" He asks. "Together we can present a better case. At the very least, we won't be stopped by every guard should we bring Tai Lung in. I'll not ask for his sake that you help us, your greivences with him seem to extend far beyond what I can do to make any attempts are remedying the situation. However, if this is how you wish to see it, we can use him to convince the noblity the seriousness of the situation. If both a member of the Five and China's greatest criminal both agree that there is something at stake here even they cannot deny something must be done. Even so, some kind of judgement will have to be passed onto Tai Lung. He cannot simply walk in and expect to leave with his crimes unspoken for. Of this, I'll give you no orders to do anything. I simply wish to do what's best for our country."

Tigress pauses for a moment. "No." She says simply.

"No?"

"I will head to the capital but on my own time. I'm no longer one of the Five and I do things my own way. As I've said before. I have buisness here. Do what you want. It doesn't seem like anyone but me cares anymore." She says and begins to walk away once more.

>What do you do?
>Try and talk to Tigress some more. (About what?)
>Leave. You have to head to the capital.
>Go and try to find Xin. Where would they go if they were afraid? To hide? Or to complete whatever task they had in mind?
>Show Tigress the coin Xin left you. Perhaps in her travels she heard of it.
>Write in.

Spoilers but writing someone who's having their worldview shattered and desperately trying to cling to it is hard without them coming off as a cold heartless asshole. Or maybe it's better they do come off like that.

>>5271933
>Show Tigress the coin Xin left you. Perhaps in her travels she heard of it.
after that.
>Leave. You have to head to the capital.
> Tell Hien that after we make our case to the empress I have to find Xin.

>>5271933
>Dont show them anything. Just let them leave.


Oh no, Xin is feeling guilt.

>>5271960
+1

>>5271933
>You're no longer one of the five? What happened?

>>5272306
we already know she left after we beat her ass using our inner peace. I forget what her replacements name was but I know she was a cat, maybe a linxs

>>5271933
>Show Tigress the coin Xin left you. Perhaps in her travels she heard of it.
>Your hatred of me is justified Tigress, but never let it control you. I know what it will lead to. And I'm not using me as an example, but other martial artists. I know you will achieve inner peace someday, just be sure it's the right one. Father deserves to have atleast one clean child.
I just hope that the mongols didn't ressurect another ghost from Xin's old order.
That would suck.

>>5271935
She should. It's not fair what she has had to put up with, and I'm glad she is on her own spiritual journey.

If only it was under better circumstances.

>>5271960
>>5272252
>>5272863
Showing Tigress the coin. Writing.

"I-I found this coin." You say hastily as you dig into your makeshift bag to pull out the old jade coin Xin Lan had left you. "Or at least Xin left it along with a few notes. Nothing was mentioned about it in them and I think they left it more as an afterthought. Maybe they changed their mind about something, I don't know. Hien and I can't really find any meaning behind it but maybe you heard of something in your travels?" You say holding it out. Tigress glances over her shoulder to look at it clearly contemplating something heavily, enough that an ackward silence begins to fall. Eventually Tigress looks away once more.

"It's ancient. So clearly it's not meant to be traded in the conventional sense. Perhaps it's a form of identifier. The kind only shown to the right people or at the right time. Plenty of criminal organizations use them. The question is what kind of organization did your rabbit belong to and why would they lead you to it?" She asks.

"Whatever organization they belonged to is long dead. They saw to it and their brother is a testament to it." You say. "I doubt Xin would want us to find them even if they did."

"Perhaps not directly. But maybe an offshoot?" Hien thinks outloud. "Often times criminal organizations are too big to self regulate or move without drawing unwanted attention. Perhaps the medallion is meant to lead us to something that worked with their old group but was not a part of it."

"It's obvious your rabbit wants to be found. That coin might be meant for someone with the information to do so or at least the means." Tigress says.

"An information broker?" Hien asks. "Yes, it would make sense that a group like that would have at least on in their employment. But where to find them..."

"Your brother is the General of China's military. He'd be the one to ask in regard to criminal activity." Tigress says. "If that's all..."

>What do you say?
>Say that you can still try the Feng Family Patriarch. As loyal as he is to the royal family, trying to ask Hien's brother might force him to take actual action against you where as the blacksmith family is only obligated to do so out of their sense of honor. They might be more easily convinced to look away.
>Go seek Hien's elder brother. Tigress is right, the general of China would have a vested interest in the security of China and thus have informants and information networks all throughout the nation.
>Let Tigress know of your plan. Perhaps she might be able to help you decide on your next course of action...maybe. Hopefully she can help you decide which man to ask.
>Write in.

>>5273097
>Write in.
Do nothing.

>>5273097
> let her go.
is Hien's brother in the capital if so.
> Tell Hien we'll be visiting his brother first. if we're lucky he will back us up when we make our case to the empress.

>>5273097
>Thank tigress and let her leave
>Tell Hien we wish to ask the Smith's first.

They might know.

>>5273097
Say that you can still try the Feng Family Patriarch. As loyal as he is to the royal family, trying to ask Hien's brother might force him to take actual action against you where as the blacksmith family is only obligated to do so out of their sense of honor. They might be more easily convinced to look away.
>Thank Tigress and let her leave. Also they her that If the person she is looking for has an aura of energy, there is a grey cat sleeping in rhe forest.

>>5273304
>>5273518
Sure, I'll add mine to yours.
Help tigress out, she's given us enough.

But not eating, barely sleeping, alone? Xin is probably either worried sick about us/their brother and mind, about how we will react to their killing again and the Guilt of killing someone without the peace that they had.

I'll add >>5273518 to my vote >>5273241

>>5273097
>>Thank Tigress and let her leave. Also they her that If the person she is looking for has an aura of energy, there is a grey cat sleeping in rhe forest.
>Go seek Hien's elder brother. Tigress is right, the general of China would have a vested interest in the security of China and thus have informants and information networks all throughout the nation.

>>5273899
You are missing the point, Hiens brother is slow, very important and not really someone we can punch and get away with it.

The Feng family are rowdy, rambunctious and loyal, like we are, but their patriarch is claimed to be of the Triads. He himself probably has a few or more direct contacts and awareness, for quicker returns.
Or we can satifsy ourselves that he isn't actually former triad.

And if he turns up nothing, his brother's the next up.

>>5273951
Even of he isn't triad, his family business means he should have more contact with things all over China, so higher chances of knowing about a information broker.

>>5273955
We dknt really want to spread this coin around in untrustworthy circles.
Its dangerious

>>5273974
It's not to give the coin away, but ask the fanily patriarch.
I'm saying that since he has so much contact, there is a higher chance he knows what it is, or someone that would.

We are tied for either the General or the Smith. But we can let tigress know the girl is in the woods.

>>5273992
My plan is to hit the smith first. If he tells us nothing, hit the general.

It's easier to escape from the smith than it I'd the GENERAL OF CHINA.
Though it gives me great joy to imagine the guards fanning out, wondering where the super criminal would hide. and then they get the report that we decided to fuck around inside the forbidden palace.

alright, changing my vote to smith

Smith it is. Writing.

"Thank you." You say as you do your best to put in as much feeling into it. You really were thankful but you were worried that her animosity towards you would cloud her judgement. "If the person you're looking for is the healer girl, you'll find her in the forest. Just follow the river against it. She has a small camp built there so I don't think she's going anywhere for a bit. More importantly if you wish to remain unlike me then please, let your anger go. It doesn't mean you have to forgive me but if you continue to hold on, it'll fester and soon you'll learn to wear it. Once you do, it'll become comfortable like a worn glove and you'll soon forget that it is even anger. After that you'll look for other ways to remain angry, and it'll pull those around you as fodder. If you don't abandon that then you will be following my footsteps and we will end up being one and the same. It's said that the fool learns from their own mistakes but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others and you're no fool Tigress." You put your coin away and begin to leave. "Oh and one more thing? Learn to voice your emotions, especially the small annoyances. At least with your father and Po. Its a major weight off your shoulders."

As you expected, Tigress says nothing but simply continues on her way. There wasn't much you could do or say to change her mind and knowing from experience, that was a journey and decision a person had to make on their own especially if they traveled alone. "Let's go find this smith." You say. "He was our first choice after all."

"He's not just a smith. He's [/i]the[/i] smith." Hien says as the two of you leave town. "In terms of skill, he'd be the equivalent of you in the blacksmithing world. The man all smiths only dream of beating or becoming. Very few even get to work for him, and only a handful with him. The rest are simply there to take up the bulk of the work and even then he demands perfection of them. He does own the largest black smithing forge in China."

"That should be expected if he was your father's personal smith and now your sister's. Although...perhaps you might be a bit biased." You say lightly. Hien gives you a confused look.

"I've seen the treasures he's created single handedly. Even saw the blade he made for Grandfather when he first proposed his challenges to him. It was as if gemstone was turned to liquid then frozen solid once more. The blade itself was as if made from brushstrokes being so fine and pure. His talent is no exaggeration." Hien insists.

"And yet, did you not mention he had a daughter? You're best friend as I recall...Perhaps you have a reason to laud the man's talents?" You joke. Hien's face drains of color as you chuckle.

"I'm afraid you must be mistaken." Hien stammers. "Yan Feng...is a rather determinded woman. Much like her father, she allows nothing to stand in her way of her goals and gives no quarter to those who would stand in her way. I'm afraid she requires no honeyed words for what you're implying and would only threaten me should I attempt to give them without sincerity. No, if she had her way then we both would be wed and living in the captial. Although she'd be running her own forge as she topples her father's empire hammer strike by hammer strike." He shivers.

"Ah, so you two are betrothed already." You muse.

"W-well...in her eyes we shall. In her eyes, there are none more suited to be the wife of the Emperor's son than her. Anyone else who wishes to try will have to best her." Hien admits. "It's...a rather intimidating combination of having both her mother's political cunning, her father's force of will and work ethic to accomplish her goals, and the loyalty to the royal family that only the Feng Family has."

"So the perfect wife then. The sharpness of the blade to cut where your diplomatic methods fail. Perhaps she is right after all." You say. "Does she know what you've been up to recently? You said you visited her to repair your sword right?"

"I...suppose given the fact we are going to their home...I cannot hide it anymore." Hien says with a sigh. "Truthfully, my health may be in danger. You see, I may have broken a promise to her and escaped her clutches."

"Now this I need to hear."

"If I must make a long story short. Yan was quite upset that I brought to her a ruined blade when I neglected to use the one she had gifted me for my birthday. More importantly, once word had reached my sister that I had returned home. She had given the Feng Family orders to keep me safe and wait for the royal guard to come and take me home. As you can imagine, Yan took this request personally and well...once I heard of that I had not choice but to escape or I would never be able to travel again. Not once I was back home in the palace. So...I may have promised Yan that I would remain at her home and not to run off then once the cover of night dropped I picked the lock to the window and fled." Hien explains rather sheepishly. "I truly wanted to see the country. To learn about my people. It's one thing to hear about their plights and delegate but to truly understand what my countrymen need I need to experience it first hand. Sunsun and Da Fai didn't have that luxury. They were groomed from birth for their roles as Empress and General. To have them simply leave for some kind of jaunt through the country would leave China in disarray. That's why only I can do it. I'm not as important as they are."

"Any yet it seems like they all share a great concern for your safety." You say. "Is it really fair to them for you to disregard that?"

"It's not that I disregard nor hate it...I just simply wish to help them in my own way. If it means breaking into bandit camps and freeing prisoners or cross blades with criminals then so be it. Perhaps I'm not destinted to live in a palace." Hien admits.

>What do you say?
>Say that learning about the population first hand and taking advantage of a lack of duties is good but what's the point if it's not put into use? Perhaps Hien is running away from his problems as you once did.
>Say that Hien's fate is his own and not his family's. He is free to do as he wishes though it does sound that his friend would be more concerned about his safety than she would let on. You've met more than enough people to know when someone is hiding their real feelings behind boldness.
>Suggest that Hien has taken some time to explore that he should now take some time to live in the palace and speak with his family about his place in the world. He is the son of the emperor and blessed by the Great Dragon of Fire. Surely there must be something he can do.
>Write in