Beware Of Chicken v7c38: Reflection of the World

We certainly didn't simply tell Pale Moon Lake to 'handle your duties' and then abandon her to sort it out alone. Instead, we remained nearby for a bit, smoothly introducing her to the tasks and showing her exactly how to proceed. However, the key thing was... we learned about her. Likewise, Pale Moon started uncovering her own nature. Waking up suddenly with thousands of years' worth of accumulated beliefs about who you supposedly are was clearly quite confusing.

Confidence and resolve marked her character. She held pride without veering into overbearing arrogance. One instant, she behaved like a dignified empress, composed and peaceful—then she'd burst into lively hand movements. Her shouts would echo loudly, and she'd swing her spear and fan with wild energy. Her skill with those weapons grew noticeably better, though she hardly realized it herself, as she became increasingly comfortable embodying her full identity.

Meimei especially loved connecting with a genuine mermaid—her lower body formed a complete tail instead of legs, with silver scales running from beside her eyes along her cheeks. Her hair was... well, both like hair and beyond it. More liquid-like, resembling mist and froth rather than strands of keratin, yet functioning as hair all the same. Its tight curls evoked sheep's fleece, held loosely in a fluffy ponytail.

Pale Moon Lake took great pride in her looks and 'kindly permitted' Meiling to 'care' for her. She soon discovered her fondness for being spoiled and clearly relished it when Meimei fawned over her scales and locks. After daily training sessions ended, she'd approach Meimei slyly, fiddling with and brushing Meiling's hair to compel my wife to 'repay' the gesture.

It grew into a familiar sight: Pale Moon melting into a nearly salivating mess as Meimei massaged her scalp and buffed the scales on her face. Tianlan would occasionally participate—prompting Pale Moon to jolt upright like a startled feline upon spotting her 'liege' tending to her, cheeks flushing red.

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

My wife and Tianlan weren't the sole recipients of Pale Moon's company, however. Just bring up fishing, and she'd leap to readiness, riding along in the cart's rear with Tianlan, directing me to prime fishing locations and explaining crafting and using a Pale Moon fishing spear. She took a real shine to rod angling too—and appeared utterly intrigued that I let my catches go free, given I had no intention of consuming them.

'A valiant clash! A tribute to power! The fighter survives for another bout!' she cried out as I reeled in a catfish stretching at least twenty feet.

We also aimed to acquaint her with our companions, but only Washy could truly engage with her... claiming a peculiar tingle at the base of his skull.

Pale Moon was thrilled beyond measure at having a dragon in her waters.

'How grand and imposing! I'll create a fitting haven for his repose, earning great honor! He might even grace my court! ...That's something I do, isn't it?' she wondered, and honestly, I was clueless. I suppose such things occur in tales?

'Hold your horses there,' Tianlan warned. 'You need to focus on acting more regal first, you know?'

Pale Moon dipped her head and pumped a fist, passion igniting her gaze. 'I'll follow your directive! This Pale Moon will radiate brilliantly! Have no fear, My Liege, my Lord, my Lady! I'll repel this shadow; yes, I'll impale it with my spear and shatter it with my surges! Ahahahaha—ahem!'

One palm lifted to her lips. Head tilted skyward, lids shut. She faltered a touch at the start, so I'd rate her haughty lady's chuckle an 9/10.

Her enthusiasm burned strong.

I laughed softly and shook my head, settling beside Tianlan to observe Pale Moon zealously fanning the air. The lake's surface roiled beneath her motions. Seeing her sparked thoughts in me about the various chances and prospects she offered...

Obviously, I voiced the query lingering in my thoughts.

'What precisely is a land spirit?'

Tianlan halted and creased her forehead; her brows knit as she pondered the optimal response. Cultivation writings offered their views: wandering phantoms, embodiments of Natural Law... but truly, I sought her direct insight.

'I guess the simplest description for most of us is as a mirror,' Tianlan said, reclining to gaze at the heavens. 'Reflecting both the tangible realm and the perceptions held of us. A spirit tied to a turbulent river tends to be lively and short-tempered, stemming from the river's swift flow and the way people see it as rapid and fierce.'

'That tracks,' I responded. 'I assume looks follow the same pattern?'

'Indeed. We appear as we're imagined to appear. Should a spirit be envisioned as a boar, it becomes one. If folks depict us as human, that's our shape—but it needn't be human views alone. Spirit beasts... or even regular creatures can imprint strongly enough to shape us... . Our shapes remain flexible too. If initially viewed as a dragon by one group, but over ages they shift to seeing it as a tiger... it transforms into a tiger, with echoes of its prior form lingering. After all, there's cause for the original dragon notion, and that conviction infuses us; the earth evolves gradually, and thus do we.'

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

'Likely the most accurate phrasing,' Tianlan concurred. 'A spirit's 'aid' often merely echoes someone's faith. If a fisher deeply trusts in her, they'll spot a silvery tail leading them to refuge. They anticipate it. Provided they've shown her respect and veneration; if their sincere conviction touches her, they'll discover the rescue they desire. Likewise, if someone envisions a woodland spirit as wicked, intent on misleading them—it shall. Yet we possess our own desires. We can defy the expectations placed upon us. We can evolve...we know we can. But I'm uncertain of the limits.'

I mulled over her explanation, shifting our focus back to Pale Moon.

'—call forth a fierce wind 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 fervor, filling Pale Moon with joy.

'Is she truly capable of that?' I inquired. I knew Tianlan held destructive power, but... should Pale Moon take offense at a village, would she erase it entirely?

'She possesses the ability, yet... circumstances must grow extremely severe for her to unleash it. Her current vitality stems from our permission for it. In a thriving land, a spirit remains fully satisfied just... existing as itself. She's no mortal. She embodies the lake. Thus, she engages in lake-like pursuits.'

'So she prefers lounging and now and then unleashing tempests when excitement overtakes her?'

Tianlan let out a laugh. 'Essentially, yes. She'll convene with the fish and seals, guard the anglers, and every so often, a courtier irks her enough to stir a storm. The boundary between the world's raw forces and a spirit's essence seldom overlaps. But... at times, it might. A spirit can be provoked to fury—though it'd demand a grand, prolonged onslaught against her. Greater spirits require more time to rouse, as most threats prove too insignificant for notice.'

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

'He's a talisman spirit, forged through craft and faith in its function, but... I lent him a subtle enhancement, possible only since I lack other underlings. We typically can't select roles for those beneath us. They emerge naturally. Pale Moon Lake would claim her position through sheer scale and significance if she'd stirred independently. Yet... given my damaged state, I can bend the rules slightly.'

That seemed reasonable.

'Ah! My Liege! Behold, behold—I mean, kindly regard your devoted servant!'

'Yes, my Little Moon?' Tianlan replied. Pale Moon grinned widely.

Suddenly, she became a fish—a vivid silver one. She reverted to mermaid shape, then altered once more—this time to complete human form. This turned her splendid fluffy cloud-like hair into ordinary straight tresses, styled in a traditional noblewoman's fashion.

'A vision of elegance in every guise!' Tianlan commended.

Pale Moon let out a delighted giggle.

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Yet eventually... we had to depart. Duties elsewhere called. Fresh faces awaited.

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'Thanks once more for the boat loan, Lady Daiyu,' I told the head of the Azure Jade Trading Company. Bo and Chyou's grandmother was an elegant woman; she'd aged gracefully, much like Lady Wu.

'You're welcome anytime, Master Jin,' she answered, offering a deep bow. Her warm smile carried no trace of mere politeness, radiating true sincerity—until her gaze landed on Washy's jar. It grew round, and I sensed her longing to inspect it, though she restrained herself.

Thus, I lifted the fish's container and presented it.

'I noticed it caught your interest. Quite the stunner, eh?' I said. The copper-and-glass cloisonné jar sparkled under the sun.

The elder lady exhaled, her stare absorbing every detail. 'Oh, it's exquisite, Master Jin. A true masterpiece. That luster, that flawless glass—I haven't beheld such marvel since Sun Ken slew Boli Xin and razed his settlement.' Her tone held bitterness, a spark of loathing in her eyes.

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

'You admired his creations?' I ventured.

'Anyone who glimpsed his glass and ceramics fell under their spell immediately. I've safeguarded every item possible; I maintain a dedicated gallery to showcase them for proper appreciation, and several grace the opera house foyer for all to admire. He and his kin were authentic artisans, and their loss dims the world.'

Her words brimmed with fervor; genuine sorrow tinged her voice.

'Well, they're not gone,' I stated.

Shan Daiyu stilled. Her eyes expanded. 'You mean—this?!'

'Yes, crafted by Boli Xin's sole surviving apprentice. He resides with me.'

The woman paled, clutching her chest. 'One endures?! My—goodness. 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 teacher's art,' I suggested. I figured you were aware already—Chyou carried some pieces back.'

The elder appeared sheepish. 'We've been swamped since her arrival, Master Jin... but she ought to have presented them to me...'

Her mutterings trailed off into complaints as she sought her granddaughter.

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

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

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

The Auditor General returned the respectful gesture. '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 noted with a sly grin. Yanjing narrowed his eyes at her, irked that she'd pegged him so well.

'Manageable enough for a fellow of my stature,' he declared, lifting his chin haughtily. The trio shared a laugh. 'Hoping our paths diverge for a good long spell.'

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

'At minimum a year,' Yanjing cut in, rolling his eyes. 'You owe me a sip from your pilfered liquor reserves.'

'Steep toll, Sheng Yanjing. But generosity suits a man,' they gripped forearms and inclined heads. Then Yanjing faced Xue Ji and Suyan.

'My gratitude anew. For this,' he indicated a recent arrival from Smoky River. A woman with slit-like eyes, clad in a server girl's garb matching Suyan's.

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

The man affirmed with a nod, then addressed the final farewell waver.

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

Washy nodded vigorously.

'Safe journeys and fine meals!' he echoed.

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'Now, should you require aid, summon me at once, alright? Tianlan's command!' the diminutive earth spirit insisted.

'Yes, My Liege!' the mermaid responded boldly, resolve shining in her eyes.

With that, we boarded our cart and headed toward the Grass Sea—toward the Dueling Peaks.