Lotus in the Wind

Hi! We're here to sign up for the Incense Proving! Whew... we aren't too late, are we?

Don't worry. You've still got an hour before registration closes. Please sign here and fill in your team name.

Team name? Oh no... I totally forgot! We've got to come up with one right now.

How about Team "Huge Tentacles"? Sounds awesome, right?

Your taste is just as dreadful as ever... Let's call ourselves "The Artificer's Masterpiece".

Pfft, that's so lame! Your name isn't any better!

...Vita, you decide.

Little Minion... doesn't this feel familiar somehow?

Maybe humans are just wired to do the same thing over and over... Right, let's see. How about...

Minions? No way. Demon Tabethe the Red Hand isn't anyone's minion!

Hmph! The Lunos of Huaxu line up to serve under me. Just don't come crawling back when all the spots are filled!

Ahem... how about we pick something else?

Mm. That's a good one. Let's go with it.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's our registration form.

Let me check... Ms Su Yi, Ms Tabethe, and... Vita. Wait, am I seeing this right?

...Are you the young hero who helped put the Nine Chapters of Dafeng back on track during the turmoil in Haojing?

As you Huaxu folk would put it... "Indeed, this unworthy one."

So you're a big deal around here? Who'd have guessed that!

Heh. Since you were there yourself, that saves me having to explain the whole backstory.

Thanks to the reforms you helped set in motion, people are starting to rethink what ordinary folk are capable of.

That's why this year's Proving encourages contestants to take up arms and deal with the Bi'an still running rampant.

So... it's a contest to see who takes down the most monsters, yeah?

Not quite. Most Huaxu folk have never so much as held a weapon, so a pure test of martial skill would be too much.

This year's theme is "Rivalry". Think of it as a treasure hunt: the arena is dotted with caches, each hiding valuables inside. Different treasures grant different Civil Tokens, while defeating Bi'an earns Martial Tokens.

There are five rounds in total. At the end of each round, we tally up each team's total tokens. Teams that place high enough advance.

To win, you'll need to hold off the Sable Bi'an while gathering enough treasure.

Any questions about the rules?

Wow! I was just trying to help someone out, and I've lucked into something this fun!

Bury treasure and let people dig it up? You Huaxu lot must be loaded. Seriously... you just throw money around, don't you? Hee-hee... time to get rich!

Ahem... I think there's been a misunderstanding. The "treasures" are provided by an anonymous Starweaver for scoring purposes only, and must be returned afterwards.

Yeah, yeah. Borrow it, then "return it". No need to explain, I get it. Wink wink~

...Are you quite sure you've understood the rules?

Don't worry. I'll keep her in line.

Tch. Boring.

Good. That's reassuring.

The event will begin shortly. Let me know when you're ready. Best of luck to you and your team.

Ready to enter the arena?

Mister, tell us more about the story of the Four Drifters! I wanna hear the rest!

All right then, when we last left the Four Drifters, they'd sworn an oath of brotherhood by the river: young, proud, and burning with ambition. Who could've guessed...

Well, I never... The world's gone to the dogs, people are actually making excuses for Drifters now. "The Four Drifters"? Don't make me laugh.

Sir, we don't even know each other. You can't just barge in and heckle me mid-tale... that's hardly decent.

Decent? And you think it's decent to stand here peddling lies and misleading people?

Those four Drifters rerouted a river to douse a censer that had been burning for a hundred years, then torched six archive halls to the ground. Do you really believe not a single soul was harmed in the process?

They hung wenzhu fronds outside people's doors, then ambushed them and left them bleeding. They call it vengeance, but did everyone who died at their hands truly deserve it? Who gave them the right to sit in judgement and mete out retribution?

And that giant mech-bird out in the wilds, you've seen it, haven't you? That leviathan fell from the sky, smashed through embankments, and flooded farmland for miles. Whoever was behind it, "malicious" doesn't even begin to cover it.

Drifters? They're nothing but a pack of thugs, all in cahoots with each other!

That's a load of rubbish!

The Miemeng Giant Bird was built to clear waterways and improve irrigation, to help people, not harm them. And it didn't crash because of its creator. Someone else brought it down!

You don't even know the full story, so stop mouthing off and dragging their names through the mud!

Heh... So I don't know the truth, but you do? What are you, one of those Drifters?

(This is bad. If they realise who Su Yi is, someone's bound to make a fuss and land us in trouble...)

Oh, of course. It's all hearsay, isn't it? If it's all made up anyway, then it just comes down to who tells it better, so why don't we make it a storytelling contest?

Oh no... what if my story's rubbish? What if the audience stops liking me? No, no... I'd better go practise in front of a mirror. Right now.

...What's he talking about? Is he right in the head?

Who's there!? Who dares imitate my voice!?

Hee-hee... Look at this man, can't win an argument, so he starts snapping. What a clown!

You...!

Mum, come look! That man's arguing with himself!

...Huaiyuan, more people are gathering. Don't make a scene. You'll draw too much attention and spoil the plan.

...Hmph. Forget it. The Proving's about to start, I've no time for this. Let's go.

I'm sorry, Vita. I... I lost my temper.

That Miemeng Giant Bird he mentioned... it was built by my aunt, Su Muzhe.

She devoted her whole life to the craft of mechapuppetry, helping the people of Huaxu. And now, even after she's gone, people are still spreading rumours and smearing her name... I just... lost it.

It's all right. I get it. If I were in your shoes, I'd have done the same.

...Vita. I'm glad you're here.

Hey~ What about me? Don't I get a thank-you for bailing you out?

I gave that bloke a piece of my mind, then followed them and nicked something interesting from their bag~ Wanna see?

Tabethe!!! We agreed on three ground rules, remember? No stealing, not even from bad people! You don't get to break the rules whenever it suits you!

Huh? I just helped you out, and this is the thanks I get? That's cold! I'm hurt, you know.

I don't know how you slipped past the Nine Chapters of Dafeng's notice, but the Bi'an and the Magistrates of Yingtian aren't the kind you want on your tail. If they catch wind of you, you'll be in for it.

Hee-hee... so you're just worried about me! Relax. Demon Tabethe the Red Hand has her ways.

Are you sure you don't want to take a look at what I stole from them? It looks an awful lot like your mech-bird.

...That's...!

"Tabethe, no stealing!" who was that just now? And now you're not yelling at me anymore? What's that about?

Not now. We've got a bigger problem.

Every Construct Artificer leaves a signature in their work. I can tell at a glance... the mech-kite you're holding belonged to my late aunt.

But how did it end up with them? And why were they carrying it around...? Maybe their hatred of Drifters isn't just talk. There's more to it...

Huh? So that means I helped big time, right?

Then I'll tell you one more thing. I just remembered, I ran into those people the moment I arrived in Huaxu, down at the docks. They were whispering about Drifters and all that, so... yeah. That's why I got the wrong idea about you.

Well? That's useful intel, isn't it? Go on, give me a proper compliment!

...Thank you.

Whoa! No way! Miss Stern-Face actually said "thank you"!

...Don't make it sound like I'm some kind of a monster! If someone helps you, you say thank you. That's just basic manners. My aunt taught me that when I was little.

Hmph. And there goes my thank-you. Didn't even last thirty seconds... Lame.

Right. Enough of that. Back to celebrating! We still haven't tried that food stall, or that one, or the one round the corner.

You two can go without me.

There's still time before the afternoon round. I want to take a closer look at my aunt's mech-kite and see if it tells me anything.

Besides, you've got my purse anyway... Just don't stuff yourselves so full you can't move this afternoon, alright?

Yes, Muuum.

All right. We'll meet up at the arena later.

Mm. See you there.

Hot off the pan! The Ultimate Spice Showdown, now taking challengers! Finish this bowl of dandan noodles and it's on the house! And you'll walk away with a grand prize!

A grand prize?

Hee-hee. You'd better keep your word, count me in!

All right! Coming right up!

Where's Tabethe? She's still not here!?

She ran off to buy something to eat a half hour ago, and I haven't seen her since... Want me to go look for her?

Go now. We'll stay here. Let us know as soon as you find her.

Time's almost up. Is your whole team here?

Wait! I read the handbook cover to cover, all thirteen thousand words. There's a clause that says if we replace a teammate at the last minute, we can get a ten-minute extension to enter. Right?

Heh. Not many people read the rules that thoroughly.

Yes, that clause is in there. I can grant you a ten-minute extension. But if your last teammate isn't here in ten minutes, we move on without you.

Where has she got to...? Honestly, she's impossible...

I could tell from a mile away someone was stalling and wasting everyone's time. Of course it'd be you. Small world.

Don't get your hopes up. The match is about to start. That "teammate" of yours has probably got cold feet and run off.

Says the one who ran off with his tail between his legs earlier.

Ran off? Heh. Su Muzhe's supporters really are just like her: twisting the truth to suit yourselves.

...Don't you dare say another word about her!

What is happening here?

...A Magistrate of Yingtian?

Yuming? What are you doing here? Are you here on official business?

No. Personal business. I am not here in an official capacity. However, if there is a dispute, I can mediate.

...It's nothing, sir. Just a few sharp words. No need to trouble you.

If no law under the Nine Chapters of Dafeng has been broken, then I ask you both to step back and let this rest. Is that acceptable?

It has been a while.

...

Little Minion, we've got a problem! Tabethe says her stomach's playing up and she can't make it...Huh? Yuming? What are you doing here?

I came at someone's request. You were short-handed, so I was asked to step in. For fairness, I will not draw on the power of the Nine Chapters. I will fight on my own skill.

Wow! Who's doing us that big a favour?

...Someone sent you? ...I don't need help. I can manage on my own.

Uh... Su Yi...

Sorry to interrupt. Time's almost up. Either replace your teammate and proceed, or withdraw. You need to decide now.

Waaah...! Why does everything go wrong all at once!? What do we do!?

Su Yi, let's get through the match first. We can sort the rest out afterwards, all right?

...Fine. Match first.

Yuming, thank you for stepping in. We'll be counting on you in the next round.

I will do what I can.

Didn't we win? Why's everyone pulling such long faces...?

I mean... sure, Tabethe stood us up, but do we really need to be this upset?

Su Yi. We had no time to speak before the match, but there is something I need to ask.

Earlier, when you confronted that man, you mentioned Su Muzhe. What brought it on? And... are you still carrying it with you?

He slandered my aunt. Of course I gave him a piece of my mind. What, have you got a problem with that?

I do not mean to pry. I only worry that scenes like that will draw attention to the Outer Peaks.

So you want me to keep my head down at a time like this? You're saying a Drifter drawing attention right now will bring trouble to the Outer Peaks?

Save it. I don't care who asked you to come. I don't need your help. If you want to say "let bygones be bygones" and go stand with the Nine Chapters, that's your choice. I can't.

...Su Yi. You've misunderstood.

It's stuffy in here. The next round isn't for another half hour, right? I'm going out for a walk.

Vita,, I'll see you later.

Aw... how did it get this awkward...?

Vita. There are misunderstandings between Su Yi and me. If I speak again, I may only upset her further. Could I ask you to talk to her?

Sure. Even if you hadn't asked, I'd have gone anyway.

Snow, you stay here with Yuming. I'll go find Su Yi and bring her back.

Alright. Don't take too long, Little Minion.

I've been looking everywhere for you. Never thought I'd find you out here on your own, fiddling with foxtail grass. So? Are you having fun?

...Not really. The sap's all over my fingers, and that dusty, earthy smell's got into my nose. It gets old fast.

If it's not fun, why've you been sitting out here this long?

W, Well... because I haven't figured out how to go back and apologise to him... The moment I stormed out, I regretted it.

I don't even know why I snapped like that. Vita... at this rate you're going to see every embarrassing moment in my life.

Still... I'm glad you came to find me.

I get it. It's because they kept bringing up someone you really care about. Your aunt... Su Muzhe, right?

If you don't mind... could you tell me more about her? It might help to get it off your chest.

...Thanks, Vita. You're right. My aunt was the most important person in the world to me.

Let me think... Where do I even start? Maybe with the Heavenly Artisans of Su.

"The Heavenly Artisans of Su"... is that what your clan is known as?

Yes. Our clan was once one of the most renowned in the Jishu Sect... but that was before the Battle of Shuli.

I remember when I was seven. I found a set of blueprints my parents had hidden at the bottom of a chest. I built a mechapuppet from them, then ran to Mum with it held over my head, waiting for her to praise me.

She took it... turned it over in her hands again and again. I thought she'd be proud of me... and then she burst into tears.

"My daughter... blessed with such talent... why must you be born into times like these?" She kept murmuring it to herself. I didn't understand why she was crying. I just kept wiping her tears, and I promised I'd never touch mechapuppets again.

Later, I found out why. After the Battle of Shuli, when the Jishu Sect fell from power, the Xuanheng Sect treated many precious Jishu techniques as taboo and sealed them away.

Our clan survived, but only by locking our mechapuppetry away and living as if we were walking on thin ice.

I used to think I'd end up just like my parents: keeping my head down, living quietly, safely all my life. Then one day, Auntie leaned in and whispered, "You've always wanted to learn mechapuppetry, haven't you? I'll teach you."

In that moment, I knew there was no escaping it.

Auntie worked at the Mechanistry Commission back then. Whenever she had time, she'd come out to the backyard to keep me company. She'd show me the ropes, teach me how to build mechapuppets, and tell me all sorts of stories.

Do you know how I got my name?

Back then, Auntie used to tell me about the Yi-bird, a swallow that never returns to its nest. It wheels high above, free and unbound. I longed to be like that.

Auntie always longed for freedom. Little by little, she was drawn to the Drifters' ideals, so she began corresponding with them. She wanted a future where mechapuppetry wouldn't be treated like a crime.

Then one day, people found out she'd been writing to the Drifters. She left Haojing and joined the Outer Peaks. Like a Yi-bird, she left her nest for good and chased that freedom... and I was the one left behind.

Later, when I finally decided to follow in her footsteps and leave home to join the Outer Peaks, I renamed myself Su Yi. But by then... she was already gone.

While she was at the Mechanistry Commission, she designed the Miemeng Giant Bird to keep the waterways clear. After she left, no one maintained it. In time, it began to malfunction.

For everyone's safety, Auntie risked her life to leave the Outer Peaks and rushed back to the outskirts of Haojing to repair it. She was executed on the spot by a Magistrate of Yingtian. After that, people twisted the story, claiming she tried to seize control of the Miemeng and deliberately caused a disaster.

That's why you can't stand it when people smear her name, isn't it?

Exactly... sorry. I should've told you sooner why I signed up for the Proving... and what I'm trying to do.

I'm going to win first place. Then I'll stand where everyone can see me, with all of Haojing watching, and clear my aunt's name before Lord Argent. I want everyone to know this: she wasn't wrong, and neither was what she believed in.

When the Nine Chapters of Dafeng began pushing reforms and brought back the Trial by Disputation, I thought that dream was finally within reach... but it's always easier in your head than it is out there.

People didn't know what to make of the Drifters' return. Haojing even saw protests. With everything changing so fast, I can't exactly blame them for panicking.

If it were the Bi'an, we could fight it. But when it's something you can't see or grab... something like prejudice, pushing too hard just makes it worse.

Uncle Tang told me to be patient and wait for a better chance, but I couldn't. So I snuck out and signed up for the Proving.

Vita... if Auntie could see how I've been acting... do you think she'd be disappointed?

You're overthinking it, Su Yi. It's okay to be a little headstrong sometimes.

Knowing what you want and going after it with everything you've got takes real courage.

If your aunt could see you now, she'd be proud of you.

Whew... Vita, I feel a lot lighter after talking to you.

Let's head back. I still owe him an apology... I just need to figure out how to say it.

S, Stay away from me!

Did you hear that? A kid's calling for help! Come on, this way!

Are you all right, little one? Are you hurt anywhere?

I'm fine! Thank you, miss!

It's dangerous out here, so don't wander off on your own, all right? Things are still unsettled after what happened earlier. Wait until the Sable Bi'an are cleared out before you come to play outside again.

An! An, are you there!?

You silly boy... with your leg like that, what were you thinking, running out here?

I'm sorry, Auntie Xiaoxiang... It's all my fault...

Was it you two who saved him? I'm Xiaoxiang. I serve in the Ministry of Works. If you ever need help, please let me repay you.

It was nothing. Is his leg all right? What happened?

...When he was little, he was caught up in an accident.

It took his parents, and left him with a permanent injury to his leg. I've raised him ever since. That's why I'm always worried about him.

Don't say that, Auntie Xiaoxiang! I've still got you, so I'm happy!

...You silly boy.

He adores you. You can tell he really means it.

Thank you, both of you. The match is about to begin, so I won't keep you. We live in that house over there. If you have the chance, do come by, I'd like to thank you properly.

It's nothing. Take him home safely.

It's like looking at Auntie and me, back then...

That boy probably just wants to stay with his aunt forever... Just like I did.