Tian Xia PW 124: Imperial Bitches and Spoiled Dragons

[Cai]

Mist wafted through the cold morning air of Yunshan Village like an army of spirits. Frost coated the grass surrounding the pagoda, and Cai could feel her damp body starting to ache as old injuries protested the temperature. The Jinyiwei approached the pagoda, bowed in respect and apology to whomever it memorialised, and entered. The gong was large and made of bronze, with a striking mallet resting on a stand to its side. A moment later, with a strike to the central boss of the gong, a clear metallic note rang out through the village.

Cai exited the Pagoda and stood before it, arms folded, and waited for the villagers to come investigate. Basic human nature suggested that the one who gathered the courage to come speak with her would be the most likely candidate to replace Guo as headman. Silently, Cai cursed all cold weather, and gave serious consideration to an appointment down in Nanyue. Jungles notwithstanding, the weather would be warmer. Cai realised she also needed to give thought as to what to do about Piao Bai when she entered a healing sleep. Perhaps she would have to forego doing so until she had determined how trustworthy the little dragon was. To do so would be a blighted inconvenience, and her clawed ribs were not hesitant in adding their opinion to the debate.

[Long Piao Bai]

The mist swirled around Piao Bai and clung to his whiskers. He flickered in and out of view, disappearing in the white mist by virtue of his color. The front was unpleasant, making his toes cold. Piao Bai arched his back and made his way forward in a rocking, jump-like gait. Piao Bai did not like the cold, it seemed to drain his energy.

The gong, though, was a sound he knew, but in the new environment he found the sound magical and excessively loud. Piao Bai sat up and covered his ears, waiting for the reverberation to fade before moving toward Cai's scent. Piao Bai could see the pointed tips and tiles of a pagoda roof. She was there.

When he arrived, Cai was there, standing like a forbidding statue. Piao Bai approached and rose up to his haunches, placing a paw against her leg. She was warm. Ooh!

"Cai, may I sit on your shoulder while we wait? The cold... I am not used to it." Piao Bai's teeth chattered. He found manners because he figured after the last time he didn't really want to be thrown half-way across the yard. If he were his true size, he'd show her a thing or two, but he wasn't and as ignoble as it was to beg, he needed her.

[Cai]

On the topic of the cold, Cai could sympathise with the little dragon, even if she could feel the chill of his paws through the cotton of her clothing. She debated a moment, but decided that too much cold may potentially inhibit the dragon's complete recovery.

Very well, Piao Bai, permission granted. If this is a summer's morning for Yunshan, we are fortunate indeed to have missed the winter.

In the distance she could hear the creak of a door, then another, and the babble of hushed voices. Cai grimaced. If they dawdled too much her blood might very well turn to ice in her veins.

Needless to say, but I shall nonetheless: try not to scare these people. If I can convince them that the danger to their village is past, then we have a decent chance of a hot meal and an opportunity for some proper rest. I'd rather not have to trek back to the city of Shanyi without taking a day or two to recover from the trek I made to reach this wretched place to begin with.

The cold really was not doing her bandaged ribcage any favours either.

[Long Piao Bai]

Very well, Piao Bai, permission granted. If this is a summer's morning for Yunshan, we are fortunate indeed to have missed the winter.

Piao Bai couldn't agree more vigorously. He turned his head in the direction of the village when he heard the doors and voices.

"They are coming. Slowly."

A flash of light preceded the weight of Piao Bai's body on her crossed arms. From there, he jumped gently to her shoulder.

Needless to say, but I shall nonetheless: try not to scare these people. If I can convince them that the danger to their village is past, then we have a decent chance of a hot meal and an opportunity for some proper rest. I'd rather not have to trek back to the city of Shanyi without taking a day or two to recover from the trek I made to reach this wretched place to begin with.

"And, maybe a blanket?"

Piao Bai snaked his way across Cai's shoulders, like a stole. His tail curled lightly around her neck and he tucked his nose under his tail. At first, his skin was chilly, but where he touched her he warmed up quickly. He closed his eyes in contentment. His paws gripped the fabric without tearing it.

"Mmm, warm." He sounded grateful.

"Cai, why would they find me frightening? You wear a dragon on your necklace and on your skin." He was curious. He had seen all the scars and tattoos when she was naked.

[Cai]

The little dragon wasn't quite as uncomfortable or heavy as Cai had expected, though the initial chill from his scales earned a moment of ground teeth. Cai definitely agreed with Piao Bai regarding the blanket.

Indeed. A blanket, a bed, and perhaps a faster walking pace on their behalf. This cautious dawdling of theirs would be an unnecessary aggravation no matter who had rung the gong.

Cai took in and released a deep breath, then reminded herself that these people had undoubtedly lived with fear and horror on a daily basis for months. They couldn't be expected to show courage in the face of the previous night's events. On that note, Piao Bai had asked a pertinent question, and Cai gave the answer some thought. She would need to take into account that the little dragon was as much a foreigner to Tian Xia as a sailor on his first shore leave to a port city.

The vast majority of the citizens of Tian Xia have never seen one of the Imperial Tianlong family in person, much less wearing the draconic form of their imperial mandate. For the majority of citizens, the empire is simply stability and structure, a unified language and code of laws. With the pressures of their daily lives and welfare holding a higher place in their priorities, the Imperial family becomes something of an abstract concept to them: as real as a town they know exists yet have never visited. For them, the dragon motif is but a symbol of Imperial authority. To see a real dragon, no matter how small, might come as a shock to them.

Although the villagers would be grateful if they ever knew what they had not seen. Both the Yaoguai and the momentary appearance of the large black dragon would be enough to turn anyone's hair white. Cai peered through the shroud of mist, wishing another breeze would come along to disperse it. At least the still air would allow sound to carry a little more clearly.

Honestly, though, I am mostly concerned because these people have lived in abject terror for months. A dog barking unexpectedly is likely to make any one of them startle. Convincing them the danger is over might take a little effort. Ah, and the mist thickens once more it seems. I am destined to inconvenience piled upon inconvenience here in Yunshan. You seem to have much better hearing than I do, Piao Bai, so please let me know when they are closer. With your permission, I shall introduce you as my familiar. Wenli's death I shall lay at the feet of a demon now banished. These details, though inaccurate, will be more easily understood by these people than the more truthful and complex explanation.

[Long Piao Bai]

Piao Bai listened to Cai's explanation. He understood what she meant.

"I can already hear footsteps on the dirt and gravel. Is 'familiar' what you call it here? If so, yes, of course. I am your Familiar. Piao Bai fell silent.

"Calling him a demon is not so far off from the truth." Hurt and bitterness tinged Piao Bai's tone. The dragon heaved a sigh, sending a warm breath and its accompanying mist across Cai's throat. Now that he was wrapped around her like a scarf, Piao Bai's body heat had adjusted. His back was a little cold, but the warmth they shared was pleasant.

"Someone comes from your left."

[Cai]

Cai heard them a few moments after Piao Bai's warning. The little dragon's senses were indeed sharp. "Thank you, Piao Bai."

The tattooed woman announced into the mist "I am Wénshēn Cai of Yulongjing, Jinyiwei and member of the Imperial Household. Come forth and make yourself known to me." Shortly thereafter a villager with a vaguely familiar face stepped into view out of the mist, with other footsteps following not far behind.

The man, gaunt and showing signs that he too lacked sleep, bowed and introduced himself "I am Shun, Esteemed Lady. A humble carpenter of Yunshan, who you first met outside the walls of our village. Forgive us our apprehension. We did not know who, or what, had struck the gong." Shun bowed again, and held the posture, as other men and women started to appear out of the mist. Contrary to Cai's concerns, the presence of Piao Bai around her shoulders seemed to be the last thing on their mind at present. Cai curbed her desire for expedience, and advised Shun "You may stand. Let me know when all are assembled. As first to approach me, you shall carry the responsibility of spokesperson for Yunshan, and may speak at will.

Internally, Cai commented to Piao Bai "Hopefully, by cutting through some of the more formal procedures, we shall be done with this and out of the cold weather sooner. By appointing Shun as their speaker I hope to save us the headache of having to listen to a plethora of the same questions all asked in different ways.

Shun straightened, a question already making its way from his worried eyes to his mouth "Esteemed Lady, If I am to speak for us then Headman Guo is...?" Cai liked him already. Straight to the point. Well, if he felt now was the time to ask that, then the others already present must be the more respected members of the community. Cai responded simply. "Dead, yes. As is the sorcerer Wenli, and all his attendant demons. Wenli sacrificed Guo to open a door he shouldn't have, and died for his folly at the hand of the new demon he summoned. All the remaining demons I dealt with myself." It was a comfortingly dull way to assess the previous night's events, and Cai was glad of it. "I have sustained injury in my efforts, and the Headman's house resembles an abattoir. I request your hospitality for three days while I recover from my illness and scribe the writs of restitution for this village. Please feel free to discuss the sudden change of circumstance for your village amongst yourselves, then respond."

Cai waited for the villagers to finish the ad hoc conference. From the bits she could overhear, emotions and tempers were running high. While she waited, she explained to the little dragon "My role in Tian Xia, Piao Bai, is akin to that of a magistrate. I act to help maintain or restore stability, and uphold the Imperial laws, where broken by those whose abilities stand above those of a regular citizen. I am responsible for pacifying incorporeal malicious entities such as Yaoguai, apprehending or executing criminal sorcerers such as Wenli, or pacifying other unnatural entities or circumstances which might affect an area's ability to uphold its obligations to the empire. In a situation like this, where a criminal with supernatural abilities has terrorised an entire community, I have both the authority and moral obligation to grant the community a reduction to their next taxation - commensurate with the level of damage sustained by the village's ability to produce crops and function as a community. Over the next three days I shall likely sleep for two in order to heal, and spend the third writing the formal documents to aid the village in its recovery."

Shun returned shortly, cutting off Cai's internal commentary, and bowed "Yunshan Village is privileged to offer the Jinyiwei its hospitality, and suggests the choice of one of two empty households. One of these, however, was the residence claimed by Wenli at the outset of his crimes." Cai nodded. "I shall take Wenli's abode, and ensure that it does not have any traces of his evils left." She took a breath, and thanked the cold air for at least keeping her awake "Firstly, I and my Familiar Piao Bai are famished from our efforts. We would be grateful for a hot meal. Secondly, Piao Bai feels the cold strongly, so a small blanket or towel would earn my gratitude. Finally, a place to sit and discuss matters further out of the weather would be ideal. I will give you a moment to discuss arrangements."

Cai waited once again, as the villagers bowed and then entered a huddle to confer, and added an aside to Piao Bai "This has gone much more smoothly than usual. Perhaps the shock of events has rendered them more compliant."

[Long Piao Bai]

As Cai talked, he couldn't listen to the villagers and so, chose to ignore them. Piao Bai had not moved from his spot around her shoulders and neck. He even kept his eyes closed.

"That sounds an interesting job." Now was not the time for questions, though he was curious. Had that been how she'd obtained the numerous scars she wore? And why did she mar her skin with tattoos? Obviously, some skill was bound within them otherwise they would not have a pair-bond. Were there many episodes of Yaoguai behaving poorly?

"I shall take Wenli's abode, and ensure that it does not have any traces of his evils left."

"Thank you for requesting a blanket." His voice sounded tired. The chill made him sleepy. When the villagers entered their huddle, Piao Bai had opportunity to listen.

"They debate who will bring your food. Shun defends his right to be spokesperson because you nominated him. They debate the value of what they have endured. The one with the criss-crossed ties around his ankles insists Shun ask for a full relief. Watch that one. Although you have by all appearances defeated Wenli and represent your government, I have seen further provinces think themselves separate from the whole because of distance. Shun thinks that is asking too much of you. The other holds sway, but I think the rest believe in your ability. They do not want to go into Wenli's house until you have cleansed it. Ask them where the house is, I will go see."

[Long Piao Bai]

As Cai talked, he couldn't listen to the villagers, and so, chose to ignore them. Piao Bai had not moved from his spot around her shoulders and neck. He even kept his eyes closed, a little.

"That sounds an interesting job." Now was not the time for questions, though he was curious. Had that been how she'd obtained the numerous scars she wore? And why did she mar her skin with tattoos? Obviously, some skill was bound within them otherwise they would not have a pair-bond. Were there many episodes of Yaoguai behaving poorly?

"I shall take Wenli's abode, and ensure that it does not have any traces of his evils left."

"Thank you for requesting a blanket." His voice sounded tired. The chill made him sleepy. When the villagers entered their huddle, Piao Bai had opportunity to listen.

"They debate who will bring your food. Shun defends his right to be spokesperson because you nominated him. They debate the value of what they have endured. The one with the criss-crossed ties around his ankles insists Shun ask for a full relief. Watch that one. Although you have by all appearances defeated Wenli and represent your government, I have seen further provinces think themselves separate from the whole because of distance. Shun thinks that is asking too much of you. The other holds sway, but I think the rest believe in your ability. They do not want to go into Wenli's house until you have cleansed it. Ask them where the house is, I will go see."

[Cai]

Piao Bai's hearing was, as a matter of fact, exceptional. "That is useful to know. In truth, the reason I chose Wenli's house is because it means there is less risk of being bothered by the villagers while staying there. The time I take to rest will give the villagers a chance to re-establish the community hierarchy among themselves, as well as give them time to prepare their case for the writ. It is their right to make as grandiose a request as the community sees fit, but they will need to provide suitable evidence to substantiate their claims. In truth, the ones pressing for more are the ones with the correct priorities here. However, for all their bickering now, it is not something to be unduly concerned over. It is, simply, the background noise of bureaucracy. No, most important is rest and recovery. Everything else can wait once I have ensured you are supplied with food and I with accommodation."

Cai had little interest, truth be told, as to who ended up the new headman of the village. That would be formally amended at the time of the next taxation and census season and the villagers could argue over it right up until that point. All she needed to do was provide them with the formal writ explaining the situation to remove some of the financial strain placed upon them by Wenli's predations. If fortune smiled on her, she'd never see the village again in her lifetime.

"When we are finished with this meeting and have broken our fast, for my safety and the villagers' peace of mind, I will need to speak an untruth. To heal from my wounds, I must call upon the blessings of Nature's Regrowth, but doing so forces me into a state of hibernation for a brief period of time. I intend to tell these people that I am meditating to cleanse the last remnants of Wenli's spiritual presence. In truth, there are no remnants requiring cleansing - all vanished with his death. But I do need the healing of that sleep. I shall describe you as a guardian spirit, and ask that they keep you fed while I sleep. When I am recovered, and I have finished my obligations with this place, we can delve into the question of your future."

[Long Piao Bai]

Piao Bai was surprised and touched by Cai's concern. She'd asked for a blanket for him AND wanted to make sure he was fed. Maybe she IS nicer than she appears to be. Cai talked too much, in his opinion, but she was clever. He had to give her that. In exchange for her kindnesses, he gave her a compliment.

"A clever plan." Piao Bai listened in a dozy sort of way. Nature's regrowth... Guardian Spirit... hibernation... his future. This roused him.

"My future is with you. I am your Familiar."

Shun had returned. He bowed several times.

"Most esteemed Jinyiwei, we thank you for your assistance and humbly agree to your suggestions. Please allow us further time to discuss the needs of our village by taking residence in the former home of Wenli. We will bring warm food, drink, and other provisions as much as our meagre village might provide.” Shun’s tongue stumbled over the attempted formality of his words, but he managed to get out what he thought was the right things to say.

The other villagers had moved off, some to make warm food, some to find a blanket suitable for the Jinyiwei’s familiar, the others to congregate to discuss the needs of the village at Shun’s house.

[Cai]

Cai was beginning to get the impression that there were some nuances of terminology lost in translation between Piao Bai and herself. There was a hint of an entirely different understanding to the term 'Familiar' when Piao Bai spoke the word. It was also the first moment that Cai realised that she might be spending more than a brief period of time with the little dragon. What in the Emperor's name had she wrought? She was beginning to get that sick-in-the-stomach feeling caused by the sudden burden of new responsibilities when Shun distracted her with her return.

Cai offered a slight bow in response. "Yunshan village has my gratitude. I shall soon undertake a two-day meditation to cleanse any remnants of Wenli's foul works from this place. During that time I shall be fasting and am not to be disturbed. Piao Bai, a guardian spirit, will require food during that duration as he protects my meditations from unseen threats. Please do not take it amiss if he roams the village in hunt of such threats. Upon ending my meditation I will have immediate need for food and water. Dried fruit and preserved meats will suffice. Be sure to tally such items as I or Piao Bai consume so that they can be added to the writ of restitution."

Cai offered the latter as an incentive towards generosity in the short term, knowing that whatever they provided the pair would be reduced from the village's taxes. It was through such means that her Emperor engendered goodwill amongst the populace when circumstances forced them to offer hospitality to Imperial Agents. Shun bowed again "It shall be done as you request, esteemed Lady. Let me show you to the house Wenli claimed." Shun made no mention of its prior owner, and led the pair towards an unremarkable rough-hewn stone house. It was, perhaps, slightly larger than the other houses, and was close to the well. The dirt floor was covered with bamboo matting, but was otherwise sparsely furnished. The bed looked freshly made, and the linens were mostly clean aside from a fine layer of dust. As Cai had suspected, Wenli had taken over the headman's house in all but name. "This shall be perfect for my needs, Shun. Now, I imagine that the village has much to discuss beyond my and Piao Bai's requirements. Apart for a short period, when I shall be retrieving my belongings from headman Guo's house, I can be found here, and will commence my meditations in an hour."

Shun understood he'd been given permission to leave, and took the opportunity. With the obsequious carpenter finally gone, Cai sighed. Fatigue was already setting back in as her body demanded more time to recuperate. She began her preparations, shifting aside a section of the bamboo matting next to the side wall near the small stone oven, then began layering the firebox with kindling and wood from the small pile adjacent to it. "I am preparing the oven to help warm the house, Piao Bai, but after I finish placing the fuel I must retrieve my equipment from the Headman's house. My fire-making equipment is among my belongings, along with other necessities. If you wish, should the cold air start to affect you, do not hesitate to start the fire before my return." It was much easier to be patient and considerate when not drenched in gore and waiting for a bath, all things considered.

[Long Piao Bai]

When Cai bowed, Piǎo Bái flopped right along with her. He might as well be a piece of clothing for all the movement he evinced. He gave a chuckle only Cai could hear when he heard her give an excuse for him to explore the village. As if he would leave a warm fireside for cold, frosty ground!

“There are little yaoguai here and there, house spirits and the like, but they are hardly troublesome. They skitter from the room when you enter and disburse with the shadows. If any home should be cleansed it should be the Headman’s house. ”

When Cai knelt to tend the firebox, Piǎo Bái stirred and slipped from around the woman’s neck with silken grace.

”I will try, but my flame appears affected by my transition to this place.” Piao Bái looked away in embarrassment, with his nose up in the air. ”This house had been unused for quite some time.”

Little yaoguai floated through the air like dust motes as if to make his observation more accurate. The little dragon lifted onto his hind legs and reached out a clawed forefinger. The dust motes traveled toward it, gilding the tip with a soft glow and they balled up. The creatures made soft ‘meeping’ noises he found adorable.

Piǎo Bái blew on his finger and smiled, watching the little yaoguai float hither and yon. He had thought the line between here and his home to be solid, but it appeared he was mistaken. Perhaps, it was only larger creatures that could not come and go as they pleased, but the smaller ones found it easier. He wondered if it was based on resistance to the volume of Qi one had. Beitzya for example had obviously forced his way through on whatever magic he’d used to push Piao Bái through, but Piao Bái had seen the seal spark and flare as it resisted. Perhaps, with his small size, he could return home easier, but…

Piao Bái pressed his paw to his heart and looked to Cai. They were bound together. Had he had his preference, he certainly would not have picked a bald, tattooed, and scarred old woman. He wondered what his mother would say. He wondered about many things. Wait, she was going back to the headman’s house…

”I found an office on the same floor as the bathing room. There were many scrolls there and maps with markers on them. Do you suppose Wenli had plans?”

[Cai]

Piao Bai could see small spirits, even now, that Cai could not. That was interesting. Cai was the first to admit that the ability to sense and perceive the incorporeal creatures of astral origin was not an easy task. However, it had never occurred to her that there might be smaller spirits whose strength of qi was so low that they were obscured from her sight by the ambient levels of energy in the world. Still, if the little dragon started calling everything of astral origin 'Yaoguai', he'd end up giving her daily heart attacks. "The harmless creatures you describe are more properly called 'Shenqi' by us, Piao Bai, harmless or peaceful astral spirits. Yaoguai is the term we use to describe more powerful and malicious spirits which can and do cause harm to the citizens of Tian Xia. But this reminds me that I should not let fatigue dissuade me from a final examination of the headman's house before I return there." Cai also wondered what else the little dragon might see, but postponed that line of thought for after she'd finished with Yunshan village.

Cai had finished placing wood in the firebox when Piao Bai told her of what he'd found. More and more, Cai began to develop a sense of frustration that she'd let something as simple as being doused in a dead man's blood delay her from making proper work of investigating the house after Wenli's destruction. It was a laughable failure, a display of undesired weakness. "A good question. I shall look on those as well. I shall be a few minutes."

Cai sat down crosslegged. She breathed out, closed her eyes, and breathed in qi. A moment later her awareness flew forth from her body. To Piao Bai it might appear that a falcon-shaped mass of qi had shot forth from Cai's body, passing through the wall and headed directly for headman Guo's house at great speed. Traces of qi resonated throughout Cai's physical form, particularly in the tattoo on her scalp.

The Jinyiwei whisked past the bloodbath to find the office Piao Bai had spoken of. The maps were, at first glance, copies or imitations of survey maps similar to those kept by the ministry of infrastructure. The markings seemed to indicate other remote villages similar to Yunshan. The scrolls looked like ad hoc research notes. Cai would need to ensure she found all of Wenli's notes. Another quick whisk around found nothing with a strong enough qi to pose a threat to the village. Four minutes after closing her eyes Cai reopened them, then let the qi wash out of her body.

"It seems likely he did have plans. At Census time, he'd have needed to account for his presence, and prior location. There is a strong likelihood one of the villagers would have secretly asked the imperial representative from the Ministry of Revenue for assistance. Had he killed the imperial representative, a magistrate would have sent men to investigate. If the men failed to return, the magistrate would file a report for emergency despatch of one or more Jinyiwei. On the balance of analysis, Wenli was most likely determining which other villages could serve his purposes in the same way Yunshan did, perhaps planning to leave prior to the census. I will collect those maps so that the regional magistrate can have men investigate the status of each village marked. Yunshan village may not be his first victim."

Cai stood up, feeling a pressing need to obtain her belongings, so that the symptoms of the headache she'd just guaranteed herself by using the falcon tattoo would be suffered in private.

[Long Piao Bai]

"Shenqi," he repeated.

When Cai said she would be a few minutes, he thought she would walk to the headman's house and check the office when she retrieved her things. After all, he had made an effort to prepare a small repast for them to share. Instead, the world exploded all around him in color and light. It was not a blinding display, but certainly surprising. Piao Bai skittered back in a bounce, back arched, until he realized it was Cai's doing. How interesting!

Piao Bai edged closer, close enough to lift up and put his paws upon her back for a better view. He felt it when she returned to herself. What was also interesting is that he felt as if a small part of him had been pulled along, too, though he saw or felt nothing. It was just a sensation, like an itch needing to be scratched.

That was very interesting. Piao Bai wound around her, but not on her. But it seems as if you expended much energy to view something you could see in person. Piao Bai tilted his head to study her quizzically as she stood, "Did you?"