Beware Of Chicken Chapter 291 v7c38: Reflection of the World

Obviously, we didn't simply tell Pale Moon Lake to handle her duties and abandon her to manage alone. Instead, we remained nearby for a while, gently guiding her through the process and showing her the ropes. But most importantly… we connected with her. And Pale Moon began to truly understand her own nature. Abruptly regaining millennia of preconceived notions about one's identity was bound to be somewhat bewildering, after all.

She displayed assurance and resolve. Dignified, yet without excessive haughtiness. One moment she behaved like a majestic sovereign, composed and tranquil—then she erupted into animated gestures. She bellowed at full volume, and brandished her spear and fan wildly. Her proficiency with her armaments grew noticeably, though she scarcely realized it, as she became increasingly comfortable embodying her true self in every way.

Meimei especially relished bonding with a genuine mermaid—she possessed a complete tail instead of legs, with silvery scales running from beside her eyes along her cheeks. Her hair was… unusual, somehow both like hair and not quite. It flowed more liquidly, more like mist and froth than strands of protein, yet functioned as tresses. Its tight curls resembled wool from a sheep, and it was loosely contained in a fluffy ponytail.

Pale Moon Lake took great pride in her looks and 'generously permitted' Meiling to 'serve' her. She soon discovered her fondness for indulgence and clearly savored it when Meimei effused over her scales and locks. She began approaching Meimei after our daily training sessions, fiddling with and brushing Meiling's hair to ensure my spouse would 'have to reciprocate'.

It grew into a frequent sight: Pale Moon melting into an almost drooling mess as Meimei massaged her scalp and buffed the scales on her face. Occasionally Tianlan participated as well—though Pale Moon would jolt upright like a startled feline upon spotting her 'sovereign' tending to her, cheeks flushing red.

This only fueled Tianlan's eagerness to taunt her follower.

My spouse and Tianlan didn't monopolize all of Pale Moon's attention, however. Just hint at fishing, and she'd leap to readiness, riding along in the cart's rear with Tianlan, directing me to prime fishing locations and demonstrating how to craft and wield a Pale Moon fishing spear. She also took a strong liking to angling with a rod—and appeared utterly intrigued by my habit of freeing my catches, given that I had no intention of consuming them.

'A valiant clash! A tribute to prowess! The fighter endures to battle anew!' she cried out upon hauling in what must have been a twenty-foot catfish.

We attempted to acquaint her with our companions too, but only Washy could engage with her… claiming he sensed a peculiar buzz at the nape of his neck.

Pale Moon was simply thrilled at the presence of a dragon in her waters.

'So grand and imposing! I shall provide a fitting haven for his repose, and earn great renown! He might even grace my assembly! …I can manage that, can't I?' she inquired, and honestly, I was clueless. Such things occurred in legends, perhaps?

'Hold your ambitions in check for now,' Tianlan admonished. 'Focus on grounding yourself here first, alright?'

Pale Moon inclined her head and pumped a fist, fervor gleaming in her gaze. 'I will obey your directive! This Pale Moon shall radiate brilliantly! Have no fear, My Sovereign, my Lord, my Lady! I will repel this shadow; yes, I will impale it with my lance, and shatter it with my surges! Ahahahaha—ahem! Ohohohohoho~!'

One palm lifted to her lips. Chin tilted upward, lids shut. She faltered slightly at the start, so I rated her aristocratic laugh an 9/10.

She was definitely invigorated.

I laughed softly and shook my head, settling beside Tianlan to observe Pale Moon zealously flourishing her fan. The waters swirled about her. Seeing her sparked thoughts in me about the various prospects and chances she offered…

Of course, I voiced the query weighing on me.

'Precisely what constitutes a land spirit?'

Tianlan halted and furrowed her brow; her forehead creased as she pondered the optimal response. Cultivation scrolls proposed their theories: wandering phantoms, embodiments of Natural Order… yet I preferred hearing it straight from her.

'I guess the most fitting description for most of us is as a mirror,' Tianlan elaborated, reclining to gaze at the heavens. 'Reflecting both the tangible realm and the perceptions held of us. The essence of a turbulent stream tends to be lively and quick-tempered, owing to its rapid flow and the common view of it as swift and furious.'

'That tracks logically,' I responded. 'I assume forms follow a similar pattern?'

'Indeed. We appear as we're imagined to appear. If a spirit is envisioned as a boar, it manifests as one. If mortals envision us as people, we become that as well—but it needn't be human. Demonic beasts… even ordinary creatures at times forge deep enough imprints to define us… us. Our shapes are equally adaptable. If initially folks regard a spirit as a dragon, but across ages they shift to seeing it as a tiger… it becomes a tiger, albeit with echoes of its prior guise lingering. There's purpose in the initial draconic image, after all, and that conviction infuses us; the earth shifts gradually, and thus do we.'

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'Spirits lack shape until bestowed one?' I pondered aloud.

'Likely the truest phrasing,' Tianlan concurred. 'A spirit's 'aid' often merely echoes someone's conviction. If a fisher devoutly trusts in her, they'll spot a silvery tail leading them to refuge. They anticipate encountering it. They trust it'll appear, should they honor and revere her; if their faith touches her and rings true, they'll discover the rescue they crave. Conversely, if one deems a woodland spirit wicked and prone to misleading—it will. Yet we possess our own desires. We can defy the expectations of our nature. We can evolve… provided we grasp that we can. But the extent of such change eludes me.'

I absorbed her explanation, and we redirected our focus to Pale Moon.

'—conjure a tempest to strike it down, and a wave spanning ten Li to hurl back the gloom! Such is the deed of I, the Lady of the Lake!' she proclaimed, hand on waist, spear thrust forth like a triumphant warrior. Meimei applauded with vigor, filling Pale Moon with joy.

'Is she capable of that for real?' I wondered. I knew Tianlan held destructive power, but… if Pale Moon grew wrathful toward a village, would she erase it from existence?

'She possesses the ability, but… circumstances must turn gravely severe for her to unleash it. Her current vitality stems from our permission to express it. In a thriving landscape, a spirit remains utterly satisfied just… existing as itself. She isn't mortal. She embodies the lake. Thus, she engages in lacustrine pursuits.'

'So she prefers lounging and sporadically unleashing tempests when her enthusiasm overflows?'

Tianlan laughed. 'Essentially. She'll convene with the fish and seals, she'll safeguard the anglers, and now and then a courtier irks her sufficiently to provoke a storm. The divide between the world's raw materiality and a spirit's essence seldom merges. But… at times it does. A spirit can be incited to fury—though it demands an extraordinary, prolonged assault upon her. The grander the spirit, the more enduring it must be, since most onslaughts are too trivial for notice.'

'And the General? He's no lake or peak.'

'He's an amulet you fashioned, convinced of its efficacy, but… I lent him a minor enhancement, feasible only sans other underlings. We seldom select roles for those in our stead. They simply exist. Pale Moon Lake, awakening independently, would claim her station by virtue of her scale and significance. But… given my damaged state, I can bend rules slightly.'

That seemed reasonable.

'Ah! My Sovereign! Behold, behold—I mean, kindly regard your devoted retainer!'

'Yes, my Little Moon?' Tianlan inquired. Pale Moon grinned broadly.

And suddenly she transformed into a fish. A vivid silver fish. She reverted to mermaid shape, then altered once more—this time to complete human form. This rendered her splendid fluffy cloud-hair into ordinary straight strands, styled in a traditional aristocrat's fashion.

'A vision of loveliness in any guise!' Tianlan commended.

Pale Moon tittered.

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Yet eventually… we needed to depart. Duties called. Fresh encounters awaited.

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'Much obliged for the loan of the vessel, Lady Daiyu,' I expressed to the head of the Azure Jade Trading Company. The grandmother of Bo and Chyou was an elegant woman; she had matured gracefully like Lady Wu.

'Always, Master Jin,' she answered, offering a deep bow. She flashed a charming grin devoid of any sales pitch, radiating pure sincerity—until her gaze landed on Washy's container. Her eyes expanded, and I discerned her longing to examine it, though she restrained herself.

Thus, I lifted the fish's vessel and presented it to her.

'I noticed it piqued your interest. Quite the stunner, eh?' I queried. The enameled copper-and-glass jar sparkled under the sun.

The elder lady exhaled, her gaze feasting on the view. 'Oh, it's exquisite, Master Jin. A pinnacle of craftsmanship. That luster, that flawless clarity in the glass—I haven't beheld such marvel since Sun Ken slew Boli Xin and razed his settlement.' Her tone carried bitterness, and a spark of loathing flickered in her eyes.

I hesitated. That was Noodle's master's name, right?

'You admired his creations?' I probed.

'All who viewed his glass and ceramics fell under their spell immediately. I've safeguarded every item possible; I maintain a exhibit hall to showcase them properly, and a few grace the opera house's entry, allowing everyone to appreciate their splendor. He and his folk were authentic artisans, and their loss diminishes the realm.'

As she uttered this, the fervor in her voice rang clear; she seemed truly grieved.

'They're not wholly gone, though,' I noted.

Shan Daiyu stilled. Her eyes grew wide. 'You imply—this?!'

'The sole remaining disciple of Boli Xin crafted it, yes. He resides with me.'

The lady appeared on the verge of swooning, clutching her chest. 'One survives?! My word—heavens. We scoured everywhere—I dispatched searchers. Master Jin, might I…?'

'I'll set up an encounter. Or perhaps escort him here, to meet the admirer of his Master's artistry,' I assured. 'I figured you were aware already—Chyou transported some along.'

The senior woman flushed with chagrin. 'We've been swamped since her homecoming, Master Jin… but she ought to have presented them to me at least…'

Her mutterings trailed off into complaints, and she went hunting for her granddaughter.

I believed Noodle would appreciate witnessing the esteem for his village's output, especially with a key figure in the Azure Hills devoting a whole gallery to it.

Daiyu bowed once more. 'Master Jin, words fail to convey my appreciation for this.'

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'Wishing you luck and prosperity, Sheng Yanjing,' the Lord Magistrate intoned.

The Auditor General returned the salute. 'I'll likely require it,' he muttered. 'What a tangled affair.'

'Yet you deem it resolvable, else you'd have fled by now,' Lady Wu remarked with a sly grin. Yanjing narrowed his eyes at her, irked that she read him so well.

'It's manageable. For someone of my stature, at least,' he declared, lifting his chin. The trio shared a laugh. 'May our paths diverge for a long spell.'

The Lord Magistrate grinned. 'Ah, but I relished your presence. We could revisit my ledgers—'

'At minimum a year,' Yanjing cut in, rolling his eyes. 'You can buy me a round from your hoard of pilfered spirits.'

'A steep toll, Sheng Yanjing. But generosity befits a gentleman,' they gripped forearms and inclined heads. Then Yanjing faced Xue Ji and Suyan.

'Gratitude once more. For this,' he indicated a recent arrival from Smoky River. A lady with slit-like eyes, clad in a maid's garb matching Suyan's.

'Care for our Da Lin properly, Sheng Yanjing,' Xue Ji instructed.

The fellow nodded resolutely, and addressed the final well-wisher.

'And you, Master Dragon. Safe journeys, and fine meals.'

Washy nodded vigorously.

'Safe Journeys and Fine Meals!' he echoed.

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'If anything arises, summon me at once, got it? Tianlan's command!' the diminutive earth spirit insisted.

'Affirmative, My Sovereign!' the mermaid responded sharply, resolve burning in her eyes.

With that, we boarded our cart and departed for the Grass Sea—heading to the Dueling Peaks.