Forge of Destiny Threads 518-Borders 2

Even Meng Duyi harbored his own prejudices. Then again, the same could be said for even, or perhaps especially, a master expert in agricultural toxins.

"Beyond that, our intention is to officially establish our shipbuilding endeavors into several dedicated workshop spaces. Numerous proposals and requests have arrived from individuals whose expertise was instrumental in crafting the temple boat, so we are merely approving and investing in their skills. The remaining resources will be allocated to further experimentation with clay as a reagent, now that you have resolved the initial procurement challenges."

"And to provide employment for the skilled craftspeople you recruited from Xiangmen," Meng Duyi added in conclusion.

They arrived at an opening in the dense treeline, revealing a vast expanse of stony, gravelly terrain, a landscape painted in shades of brown and gray, interspersed with patches of a dull white, indicative of frost.

"Allow me to inquire, what is the function of governance in the lives of the populace?"

"Where is the demarcation?" Ling Qi rephrased the question. "Cai Renxiang would assert that the purpose of government is to serve as the structural framework upon which all other societal elements are built. Its primary function is to provide order and form to the patterns of people's lives."

"I am convinced she would elaborate on her perspective more eloquently if I were to pose the question to her directly," Meng Duyi remarked with a touch of dryness.

"Fair point," Ling Qi chuckled, her voice seeming to echo faintly across the gravelly expanse. She turned, drifting backward, contemplating the boundary between the pine forest and the stony field. Its nature was permeable. Tree roots stretched outward into the increasingly rocky and nutrient-poor soil, seeking sustenance that was scarce. The demarcation between the two zones wasn't defined by rigid separations or fundamentally different elemental compositions, but rather by a subtle shift in environmental conditions.

Fragile.

"I do not claim to possess profound insight into this subject, but I believe Lady Cai is largely correct. We bear the responsibility to safeguard the lives within our protective boundaries, both literal and metaphorical. It is incumbent upon us to mediate their conflicts, and we are obligated to ensure a certain baseline level of prosperity for them. Providing the fundamental necessities for survival is not exceptionally difficult."

"Intriguing."

"Will you not delve into an analysis and explanation of the potential pitfalls and complexities?" Ling Qi inquired, tilting her head. They had reached the heart of the gravel field, where sparse, hardy grasses and young shoots were defiantly emerging from the arid ground.

"That is a discussion you would be better served to have with your sovereign lord, I surmise. While geomancy offers valuable perspectives, its principles are of a more advanced nature. My intention was to ascertain your innate inclinations. Regarding boundaries."

"Boundaries," Ling Qi affirmed, accepting the redirection back to their primary topic.

"In this existence, all entities are defined by separation," Meng Duyi stated, turning to face her. His boots sank into the damp gravel, leaving visible imprints upon the terrain. "However, there is also connection. We are comprised of two integrated parts, what is now termed yin and yang, the Unnamed Mother and the Unnamed Father. Every entity embodies both fundamental essences."

"Separation is an intrinsic element of their creation," Ling Qi concurred. "When the Mother existed in solitude, she was incapable of bringing forth anything other than herself."

"Precisely. To grasp the nature of borders and limitations, it is crucial to understand their distinct characteristics. We must discern where they present a clear division and where they are merely faint lines drawn upon the sand, and how these distinctions can transform one into the other."

Meng Duyi gestured towards the southern mountain range. "Observe there, the heavens and the earth appear to form an abrupt demarcation."

"And yet, it is a boundary that is breached with every beat of a bird's wings. I suppose this crossing depends on whether one perceives it as earth meeting sky or solid matter interacting with air," Ling Qi mused.

"The reality is not as straightforward as it may initially seem, no. For the purpose of this illustration, let us consider solid matter and air," Meng Duyi responded. “What delineates the boundary between these two?"

Meng Duyi resumed his walk, and Ling Qi followed in his wake. She pondered her response, listening to the rhythmic sounds of his footsteps and the tapping of his staff, while observing the tracks he left in the chilled, muddy gravel.

"I might propose motion as the defining factor. The inherent characteristic of solid objects is their inertia; they remain static unless subjected to an external force. Conversely, most forms of air possess a natural inclination towards movement, as wind Qi inherently resists stillness," Ling Qi contemplated aloud. “The wind sweeps across the mountainside, disturbing the dust. This airborne particulate could be considered to exist at the boundary. Perhaps heat would serve as a more fitting answer? An intensely hot flame can liquefy stone; a profound cold can even solidify the wind."

"An understandable response from an individual who cultivates ice and has witnessed the power of sovereign flame. You refer to it as heat, however. Is there no distinction between flame and ice? Are they merely opposing manifestations of the same underlying principle?"

Ling Qi furrowed her brow, sensing something amiss despite the logical consistency. Though she understood ice could inflict burns, this was merely a linguistic nuance. No matter how she manipulated the frigid qi within her channels, it could never generate flame or increase temperature. However, Xiao Fen's peculiar flames operated by siphoning heat from their targets, paradoxically chilling them even as they burned.

"... Hmph."

It was an unrefined sound, yet in the presence of only the old man's gaze, she felt no shame in losing composure.

"My conclusions were ultimately the same."

"Were they indeed?" Meng Duyi halted his steps, turning slightly to face her.

"Is it that cold and heat are merely different manifestations of stillness and motion, which ultimately stem from yin and yang? Is that the essence of what you meant to convey?"

"The reactive and the active, expansion and contraction, stasis and dynamism – these constitute the most fundamental elements of all qi, and by extension, the world. They are the two essential components from which all things are fashioned," Meng Duyi affirmed. "It is a concept both simple and intricate. Fundamentally, the manipulation of boundaries involves altering the concentrations of yin and yang, either by enclosing or expelling energies."

"Or by adjusting one's own qi to filter through," Ling Qi realized, her thoughts drifting to her stealth techniques, her dances, and her evasive maneuvers. All of them involved slipping between different states.

“Understanding the characteristics of a boundary is the initial stage for advanced techniques. Until now, I presume you have operated by adhering to the established frameworks of techniques within various arts, or through the direct manipulation of physical arrays,” Meng Duyi stated.

“I'm not certain 'brute' is the most fitting description.”

“Inscribing characters or connections, or directly disrupting the flows within an array's physical manifestation.”

Ling Qi couldn't discern if he was deliberately overlooking her attempt at humor or playfully engaging with it. “Yes, teacher. My movement art includes several methods for traversing obstacles and bypassing secured areas, such as storage rings and vaults.”

“Aside from your dreamwalking technique?”

“Distinct from that, yes.”

Ahead, Meng Duyi stepped onto a wind-swept expanse of bare rock that protruded from the gravelly terrain. His pace slightly increased.

She hastened to follow, her skirts billowing as she moved, only to slam face-first into air as unyielding as hardened steel. Instinctively, she attempted to dematerialize and flow through, but it felt akin to attempting to pass gravel through a fine sieve. Further exertion might cause her to shatter.

She stumbled back a step, glaring at the old man as she rubbed her nose from the impact.

“You sought trials. We can delve deeper into discussion as you attempt to navigate this one.”

“So, does this challenge invalidate my previous points about air and stillness?” Ling Qi inquired irritably, her nose aching from the collision. While she endured far worse from Renxiang's strikes during spars, the unexpected nature of this encounter was still jarring.

“Not entirely. You are correct. Wind is fundamentally a medium of movement; imposing rigidity upon it goes against its inherent nature.” The geomancer tapped his staff against the stone. “Are you so certain that is what I have accomplished?”

She eyed him cautiously, reaching out tentatively to feel the barrier. Under a gentler touch, it initially felt like fabric stretched taut across an opening, yet it stopped her completely. It offered no sensation of heat or cold, possessed no discernible texture, nor could she detect any foreign qi. Only the ambient presence of the natural wind, subtly influenced by water and scattered motes of earth, was perceptible.

“I cannot state with absolute certainty. A cultivator of your spiritual realm could easily deceive my senses, regardless of my efforts,” Ling Qi observed. “However, if it were insurmountable, it would negate the very purpose of a test.”

“Precisely. Nothing involved in this barrier is beyond your capacity to perceive,” Meng Duyi replied cheerfully, stroking his beard.

That did not preclude the possibility of difficulty in perceiving certain elements, or of missing crucial clues, Ling Qi mused. His statement was technically accurate, yet she had learned how easily such truths could be bent. She dragged her hand along the surface, following the boundary of her reach.

It was not uniform. It twisted and undulated. In some areas, she could extend further, while in others, her reach was limited. It curved outwards to the maximum extent of her grasp. Tracing its contours, she discovered its shape to be peculiar, jagged, and irregular.

“All boundaries permit a degree of passage, a point we have already discussed. However, you will find that the configuration of a boundary is intrinsically linked to its composition and the underlying intention behind its creation. Why are the borders between cultivators' territories typically delineated by a stream, a gorge, or some other natural formation?”

Ling Qi ascended, her feet lifting from the earth as she cautiously progressed. Beyond the peculiar buzzing sensation, an additional feeling emerged. Could it be solar qi and heaven qi? Though always present in trace amounts, they now felt more substantial, as if a powerful thunderstorm or a brilliantly sunny noon had just passed.

"It's because the demarcation is evident and challenging to alter subtly. Boundary stones imbued with the qi of more advanced cultivators or spiritual domains can fulfill this purpose too. I suspect the reason is that they are essentially separating human desires, thus a clear visual representation is crucial."

"I concur, to a degree. Why exactly is constructing a completely flat roof, or worse, one that curves inward, a poor choice?"

"Because the cumulative weight of snow or rain will prove too much for it to bear," Ling Qi responded. She was now a good full body length above the ground, and the barrier remained unyielding. Her gaze fixed on the sky, she watched a cloud gracefully bifurcate around a column of solid space. "The form is dictated by its function. The intent is to repel the elements and their effects."

"Is that the sole purpose of a roof?"

"No. However, a house as a whole, separating its inhabitants from the external world, is not intrinsically tied to its physical configuration… I believe."

"Multiple boundaries can coexist within the same area. Are they not, in essence, a single entity?"

It was reassuring to confirm that simply flying over the barrier was not an option, though she had harbored doubts about such an easy solution. Despite her utmost efforts, she could perceive no discernible difference, except at the point where her hand extended to its limit. The barrier didn't even impede the airflow. This peculiar column stretched endlessly into the heavens, its edges in a constant state of flux. It had caused the cloud to split into two trailing wisps, and a gentle drizzle descended through it.

Ling Qi pondered with intense focus.

What insights did these characteristics offer regarding the barrier's intended function?