Heavenly Shae

Chapter 13: "A Mild Interrogation."

Master Long looked up from his tea as Shae entered the empty dining room of The Gilded Aurochs. "Ah! Miss Shae. You look splendid."

"Thank you, Master Long. Fairy Jani does excellent work." She twisted left then right, displaying more of the intricate folds of cloth assembled by the expert craftswoman. Its dark fabric with gold and silver highlights were an extreme contrast to Long's white sect robe, with its blue and red embroidery.

"She had time to see you? That is wonderful. I became worried when it seemed you would be late."

"She met us right away." She sat at Long's table when Yun pulled the chair out, being careful to not snag her elaborate clothing. The many folds were asking for a mishap, but Shae couldn't complain as the complex wraps revealed gold and silver cloth underneath the dark charcoal cloth. "The lateness was my own fault. I had an enlightenment from my talk with Jani."

Long smiled wide. "How fortunate! In that case I won't hold it against you, ha ha ha!"

The girl snorted then forced a normal laugh. "Hah hah. I should hope not."

"But I should thank you, since you missed the first course I was able to indulge with higher stage food a bit more than I would have."

"Well don't restrain yourself on my account."

"Oh, it's fine. Considering this is partly an apology for feeding you something inappropriate for your stage, eating the same lower stage food seems more appropriate."

"This does seem extravagant for just that. What is the other part?"

He gave a strained grin. "Well, other parts, really. Most recently you encountered a certain individual that had my appearance?"

"Ah yes, the impersonation attempt. Did you catch them? And how is that your responsibility?"

"Yes, they were discovered. Unfortunately their exact motives can't be shared as they relate to an internal sect matter. As such their actions reflect on the nearest sect Elder, me. Such things are not normally revealed to recruited prospects, or even accepted first-years until much later."

"Hmm, I had considered a sect members' involvement as a possibility. Yet, I assumed it was a petty scare tactic. Like, perhaps I had offended someone and they sought revenge, or simple adolescent bullying. But..." She tilted her head and squinted her eyes. "This sounds more... organized?"

Long broke his casual calm by holding a flat expression, and sipping his tea. "I can't really say more."

"You did just say this isn't normally revealed, and it seems like you haven't revealed anything." She hummed in thought. "So, something was revealed already? I have to assume you are referring to my encounter with fake-you. Maybe that it happened at all... Hmm, did you perhaps mean they are not normally exposed? Would other new cultivators be exposed to this while in the caravan? I mean those officially recruited to the sect, which I am not?"

"Excellent question..." He titled his head in thought, then nodded after a beat. "Yes."

"Hmm... So, an expectation of exposing sect members to disguises, and allowing members to use them on each other. Not normally suggests it's in an organized fashion... maybe structured somehow? With strict rules?" She looked up at a stone-faced Master Long. "Right, you couldn't say. Well I suppose they need some way to train. Both groups would. If this is what it looks like, then the apology is accepted." She bent slightly forwards.

"Ah, thank you, Wise Shae." He exhaled. "Truly, that was some impressive deduction. I had worried you would need more clues."

"Ha-ha, someone that needed more clues wouldn't have figured out it wasn't you in the first place. Not that they were trying that hard."

"Oh? Do tell. I didn't get the full story from Bai."

"To keep it short, they didn't seem to even know why I left Guard Tu, and were using that as an excuse to send me off. They wouldn't even engage in a dialogue. Plus they didn't have your sword, or any other sword on them."

"Heh, I don't have my sword now. Is that a concern?"

"Hmm, true but the location is different. I only have my sword now because it is peace-bonded, and it fits well with the robes Fairy Jani picked out."

"But, are you not suspicious of me now?"

"Should I be? You've not done anything to provoke suspicion, and you've shared enough details to suggest it is you. I think you wouldn't have said there are more reasons for an apology, or what they are."

"Yes, and speaking of that, and specifically your past interactions with the sect. There we find the other reasons for this apology. I'd like to assure you that not every Elder in the sect is awful at first impressions."

"Hmm, wasn't our first conversation the one where you poisoned me with fire qi?"

"I'd say it was when I gave the lecture on the geyser to your group."

"Not my group, per say. Elder Bai did explicitly ask me to stay away from them. And I wouldn't really call that lecture a positive experience." She smirked.

"Just because you took nothing from it doesn't mean you should disregard its help for others. It seems that attitude is the reason Bai asked you to stay away, isn't it?"

She squirmed in her seat a little and looked down at her own tea, which she hadn't touched yet. She took the opportunity to try it.

He nodded. "If you weren't tempered, I would be crushing you with qi pressure right now. Simply to discourage that kind of behavior."

The tea was pleasant, but with a bitter aftertaste. The experience had also been spoiled by the man's threat. "You always have physical violence to force compliance. Why not use that when meta-physical fails?" She frowned at him, no snark in her voice, just disappointment.

"We do not use violence to get our way. How dare you accuse us of being so barbaric."

"You say that as though you are innocent. You just threatened me with violence. I've seen you strike Bai. These other elders you are attempting to defend did use qi pressure as you just threatened."

"Pressure is not simple violence. It is a measure of power. You wouldn't say the mountain threatened you with violence as you walked up it."

"I could. Gravity itself is the threat of violence. Sure pressure may not be simple, it may not be as visceral as striking another. But how can it not be violent? You are using the power you have to smother another person. You just described it as crushing."

"Gravity? Bah, you are stretching your definitions."

"A threat is a threat. The source or delivery method is irrelevant. Especially when the result is pain and injury."

"The result? Do you think the result of pressure and a punch are the same? Please tell me you listened when Elder Ghon explained directed tempering to you?"

"He did, eventually. More through explaining the history of the pilgrimage than anything else."

"Tsk. Well, he never was great at teaching anything other than formations and talismans."

"Hmm, he may have lost that edge too. Could barely teach me how to make a fire starter rune."

"Tsk." He clicked his tongue and frowned at her. "Which one? No, I should ask when?"

"First week I was there."

"While you were still mortal?" The girl nodded while sipping her tea. "Then he succeeded if you got it to work at all. Mortals are not supposed to be able to make formations or talismans."

"Huh." She smacked her lips and considered the taste of the tea.

"So then, as directed tempering is repeated applications of heavy qi pressure. The exact pressure doesn't matter so long as you do not permanently injure the subject." He waved a hand in a circle, encouraging Shae to find his point.

"So, you claim to be benefiting the victim every time you enact your violence? Hah, now who is stretching? Do you take everyone that you pressure as a student? Do you return to check on them later? Inform them of their progress?" She paused to taste the tea again. The flavor was growing on her.

He frowned in silence, his own tea cooling.

"More importantly, even if I accept that your intentions are not so simply negative, could you claim the same for everyone else? At least, for the members of your sect? Is there a regular lecture for new students on the benefits of being crushed by their senior's qi? When you teach how to qi pressure, does it include restraint enough to not permanently injure, or medical techniques to repair damage?"

A kind of chill entered the room that Shae recognized as qi pressure. Not the harsh and sudden pressure she had experienced before, but the slow gradual building that started with someone opening a window to a wind that smelled like a stormfront. "Are you done?" Long asked.

"With the tea? Not quite." She sipped again, then smirked at him. "I believe Cultivator Chen was working on his qi pressure skill, perhaps I will ask him about the ways the sect uses pressure-" Shae stopped suddenly and tensed as the qi pressure in the room twitched.

Within the next heartbeat, Master Long raised an empty hand and retrieved his sheathed sword from his special item. The qi pressure didn't change again, but a gust of killing intent passed by Shae as he slammed the flat side of the weapon down onto a nearby table. Not their table, which had a very expensive looking tea set on it, but the next one over which was cleared and just within reach.

Shae felt the thrust of intent as though he swung the weapon at her, just missing her neck to maybe clip her hair or clothes. Neither were damaged as it was just intent. The chair wobbled and creaked, but seemed unharmed. A testament to Master Long's control over his strength, and the quality of the chair's materials.

The room sat in silence. None of the restaurant staff came running, no one checked in on them because of the loud noise. There were no other patrons to look over at their disturbance.

Shae slowly exhaled a very tense breath.

She firmed her resolve and inhaled her courage. "I do not expect the world to change, Master Long. My point was mainly to ask: why one violence and not another. If you wish to wield your power over another, I couldn't really stop you with actions or words. Yet, to think I will simply stand by and accept it?" She shook her head and stood. "Thank you for the tea, Master Long." She turned and stepped towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" He asked flatly.

"To get some fresh air. If you would like to continue your apology, I will be outside." She bowed a little lower than she needed to and left the room.

Shae stepped outside with a plan to walk around the block, but found Fairy Yun Linnuan standing beside a small table and single chair that matched those inside the restaurant. She smiled and poured a steaming cup of fresh tea.

"It is a chill night, Wise Shae. This will keep you warm. It's a sweeter blend than the one you just had."

"Fairy Yun. Thank you for your consideration. Though, I had hoped to go for a short walk."

"I also have jam biscuits, since you missed the appetizers." She lifted a cover to reveal an assortment of treats.

The girl sighed, a slight smirk touching her lips. "Very well."

Half way through the first Cup, Yun couldn't resist a comment. "We don't usually criticize our guests. It's just bad form, and yet..." She forced a light cough into her sleeve.

"Go ahead. I can take it." Shae nodded.

"Why start that argument? What would you do if he had struck you?"

"I would have left sooner, certainly. But, argument? Is that how you heard it?" Shae sighed. "Where I'm from, open discussion and even some arguments are natural parts of conversation. When used well, they can improve our interactions and culture. Sometimes they go nowhere, sometimes they turn into a fight, as anything could. Yet, if you don't have the conversation, how is anything supposed to change or improve?"

"You believe our ways are wrong? That they need to be changed? We have done this for thousands of years." Yun showed half a frown, but didn't sound upset.

"It's not about right or wrong. I feel that I need to challenge them. Do you put up a wall or a building, then never check the structure?" She pointed across the street. "I know that I would regret not challenging them. Change is unlikely, I accept that. But I cannot simply accept your ways as my own without dissecting why they exist."

"So, do you think you can exist in our culture without using threats of power? Direct violence aside. How can you achieve anything without at least a threat? A show of force?" Yun looked bewildered.

"I believe I can choose a different culture to exist in, you can't tell me you need to fight for every step forward in your life. Will I need to interact with that side and use threats and raw power? Of course, but I'd like to know exactly how much is needed and why I am doing it. And, how will it be perceived when I do so. How else can I learn that without directly interrogating the methods?"

"A history book, for starters." Master Long said from the restaurant's door. "The sect's libraries are rather thorough."

"Hello, Master Long. While that might answer some questions they would only cover the past reasons, not the current situation. Even assuming every question I have is recorded clearly and without bias. Though, let's not tangent into a discussion about inaccuracies in recording history before this one is resolved." The girl spoke while only half turning to glance at the man.

"Inaccuracies!? Is it your learned opinion or your ignorance that has caused such disrespect to our sect?"

"It is my knowledge of humans that has made me a critic until proven otherwise. Have you heard of the saying that history is written by the victors?"

"Yes, it is a common fault found only in bickering towns and smaller regions, not from cultivators and sects."

"While the specific impact can be argued, I take the point of the saying to simply be: recorded events are always colored and always interpreted. Interestingly, my enlightenment earlier today was on the nature of individual interpretation. We all do so regardless of intent; claiming otherwise is foolish. Even if we assume a writer has recorded the events exactly and perfectly, we then read those events and interpret them again."

Long crossed his arms. "So, you think our histories are flawed because of your interpretation of them?"

She tilted her head, then grew a wide amused smile. "Yes."

Yun snorted a laugh from a few places behind them, then quickly stifled it.

"Yes?" Long asked with an eyebrow raised.

"If my argument is valid, then that is true. Additionally, I have read a copy of the sect rules and history, however, it was an old printing. So, it has surely been revised since printing."

"What an accusation. You think we would revise our own history books?"

She smirked. "Your reaction betrays your interpretation of my words. If I was less forgiving I might hold that against you. I said that it was a history and rules book. Surely at least one rule has shifted or been reworded in that time."

"Hold what against me? Contextually, what you said was clear. Do not walk back so cowardly and blame me for what you intended."

"With all respect, Master Long. Contextually, I was making a point about interpretation, not making any accusations. We cannot help but interpret words in context. That can change easily. The sentence before or after is vital to any given meaning."

"Says you who set and sprung the trap." He huffed. "Now, did you have more points to batter me with?"

"Always, but we should refrain from this topic as it is becoming more argument than discussion. And if you wish to discard our earlier conversation as well, I can comply."

He shook his head. "This night was meant to be pleasant. How did we arrive at such antagonism?"

"I was born into this world with it," the girl stated proudly and grinned.

Yun burst into a laugh again, causing Shae's smile to widen.

Long looked sideways at her. A more evaluating glare than the moment seemed to call for.

"Oh, you meant tonight specifically? It was... when you threatened me for having a personality." She ended flatly.

He broke from his concentration to flinch at her words. "Is that how you saw it? No wonder your reaction was so intense." He frowned in thought.

"Intense? Antagonistic? Even Fairy Yun thought that I was starting an argument. This is just conversation. Do you never challenge each other?"

Yun jumped in at being named. "Of course, bouts and duels are common. Though they are kept within the same stage for fairness."

"She meant challenge ideas." Yun coughed at Long's correction. "But Fairy Yun is correct that the challenges usually stay within a stage. How can you have the arrogance to challenge your Elders?"

"Easily. I've no fear of reprisals or punishments." Shae shrugged. "Perhaps once I am a member of the sect, then I will need to step carefully. But now, you have shown me kindness and spoken casually with me. So I have taken advantage of that to gain a better understanding of your thought process and the sect's culture. For that I apologize, but I will not apologize for challenging ideas or exploring my own curiosity. Would you forgive me, Master Long?"

He paused in thought for several breaths, examining the girl again. "Perhaps, if you would sate my curiosity?"

"Ask, please. None of you ever just ask."

"You referenced it earlier, where are you from, Miss Zhi Shae?"

"That is not the right question, Master Long."

"Then where is your soul from, Wise Shae."

She gave him another amused smile which stopped abruptly when her response was not what she intended: "The origin of my soul is beyond scrutiny." Her words reverberated with power, then she stammered, "ah-uh. Wha- What I meant was-"

Yun gasped from behind them.

Long stared at the girl with wide eyes. He had raised a hand to stop her. "I did not mean to pry. Please, Heavenly Shae, you do not need to answer," he muttered through his surprise.

"What was that?" Shae looked around, confused. She was having a hard time focusing her eyes in the well lit night. Well lit? She thought and saw that a spotlight was on her table, centered just on her, but it was fading quickly.

"Breathe." Long placed a steadying hand on her arm.

She inhaled and found herself shaking.

"That is dangerous for one at your stage. Try not to force others to ask that again."

"What was it?" Yun asked from behind them.

"Some call it the voice of the heavens. Though, it is not truly that. Instead, it seems Miss Shae has been previously interrogated under heaven, and passed. This is the result; indelible proof that her words are true."

Yun gasped again, then mumbled, "Interrogated under heaven!"

The slightly less confused girl blacked out.