IC Inbox for Erku

[illicitly]

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	» Age: 30s » Species: Human » A5 Card: Open » Seeking: Companionship, mainly. Friends, allies, and lovers, also welcome. » Preferences: Likeminded men and women. Not too old, not too young. » Interests: Fashion, art, calligraphy, antiques, poetry, politics, astronomy, bird collection, strategy games, and erotic literature. » Bio: Single sect leader seeking potential wife and cultivation partner, sexual companionship, and business associates. Additional benefits available.
	base code by photosynthesis
	Nie Huaisang

Comments

[illicitly]

[Huaisang looks up, greeting the man with a gracious smile befitting a host. It's true that that they hadn't had time to properly meet or get acquainted back then. His hands had been full with militia matters, securing allies, and Jin Guangyao's sudden arrival back then. And then he'd fallen prey to the irresistible call of sea that had somehow carried him home.]

It is a pleasure to meet you under less hectic circumstances. I hope that you've been able to live comfortably here since I've been gone.

[The title is something he'll have to do something about soon, he thinks. His older brother's arrival changes some things. Not that Huaisang minds the prospect of stepping down at all. He could use the reprieve and he'll have all the authority and responsibility he never wanted when the Augur releases him again.]

[tangyuan]

Thanks to your generosity.

[ He inclines his head again, all due respect and politeness and nothing more, before lifting it again and meeting Nie Huaisang's eyes. ]

Regarding your absence, there are security issues that need to be discussed. [ Pleasantries out of the way, he tucks his arms behinds his back again and moves straight to business. ] As the keeper of this domain, it's important that you're aware of the changes Master Shen and I have made.

[illicitly]

[Huaisang nods his agreement, equally professional and composed. Under his present circumstances, there's little need to continue his charade of incompetence.]

What alterations have you and Master Shen made to the keep since I have been gone then? I've yet to do a thorough sweep of the grounds to inspect things. If you like, you can accompany me and show me these additions as we move along.

[tangyuan]

[ Ming Yi nods and turns to start walking to the fortified chamber he and Shen Qingqiu had selected. ]

They would be difficult to detect on your own. The fortifications are spiritual in nature.

[ Although Nie Huaisang is a sect leader, meeting him now, the Earth Master can tell at a glance that he's not exactly abounding in spiritual power even by a mortal cultivator standards. Though, maybe he can still sense the spiritual arrays guarding the small, previously unused room Ming Yi leads him to, strengthening the walls and reinforcing the door from the inside. If not sensing, there's still a vividly red talisman pressed to the surface of the door.

Ming Yi pushes the door open with a single hand, and reveals...a room that is still empty. ]

I was told this keep was intended as a fortress. This room was chosen as its entry point for the distance shortening array.

[ He continues inside, as if to show more of the empty room. With the door open, the barrier around the room is likewise opened, but the solid presence surrounding the interior of the room is now more obvious. ]

It's maintained off the central network, but Master Shen placed additional defenses to account for an unexpected breach.

[ Ming Yi also added defenses, but he doesn't mention that. Nor does he explain the rationale here. ]

[illicitly]

[It's true that his spiritual power is low compared to most cultivators, especially for the leader of a great sect. However, Huaisang has honed what skills he does have to a razor sharp edge within his limitations. Spiritual arrays and talismans became something of a latent interest of his after Nie Mingjue's death and he was left on his own and a possessed arm to wrangle until he could find help he could trust. He's capable enough of sensing the fortifications by focusing on the hazy traces of spiritual energy he can detect at a glance. Huaisang can also tell immediately that the work is far beyond anything he's capable of doing. Not even his best array work can compare.]

I see. Thank you for your efforts. They are greatly appreciated. And yes, you are correct. It was intended to be a safe, secure home for us all in the event of more monster invasions.

[The rationale certainly doesn't need to be explained to the man who'd spent the entire duration of his stay being threatened by Xue Yang or in fear of the giant statue commanders attacking and forcing them out of his home.]

What is a distance-shortening array? I don't believe i've heard of that one before.

[Sure, he can intuit the purpose from the name of it alone but that doesn't tell him much in the way of details.]

[tangyuan]

[ Ming Yi nods, and there's no trace of surprise or derision on his pale face as he proceeds to answer: ]

It burns a vast amount of spiritual power; it's not a spell that would be widely used among mortal cultivators.

The spell itself allows for fast travel between locations. [ Indeed, as the name implies. ] There specific points established across the island that can be accessed freely through the network, and there's one other point outside the network you need to be aware of. There's not a map of this island yet, but I'm sure the locations I've connected to will be familiar enough to you.

[ It's not a technical explanation, but Nie Huaisang isn't a junior official of the Earth Master who needs to know the finer details. ]

Since you aren't aware if the array yet, I'll teach it to you when it's convenient for you.