Forge of Destiny Nov Bonus: Snake and Spider (3)

Bonus: Snake and Spider (3)

When was it, Bao Qingling wondered, that she had grown used to having a peer in her workshop? She listened to the swish of a gown over the sound of clinking vials and the rustle of bundles of herbs being moved. The cohabitation with Li Suyin had not been comparable. There, the roles were clear. She was the master, and Li Suyin the student.

The imperious serpent who had made herself at ho here was not the sa at all. It was her workshop, and Bai izhen respected that and deferred to her on these grounds. Their relationship remained frustratingly unclear however. The Bai’s skill and knowledge matched hers in the field they shared, so neither was the student or assistant.

Bao Qingling still did not know what the Bai wanted from her, but she had given up on investigating the matter. Bai izhen’s aid and company was invaluable, even if, on occasion, Bao Qingling had to spend ti clearing her head of the useless musings born by physical reactions. The minor loss in productivity was outweighed by the aid in her work and the inspiration to her cultivation. For now, she would simply take advantage of the assistance. Given recent events, it was required.

Hmmm, Perhaps that was the source of her comfort with the situation. It was a well known phenona that shared experience in lethal combat bred familiarity. Bao Qingling scowled as her fingers danced over the cluttered table top, snatching the next sample out of a disorganized container. She had not expected her workshop to co under serious attack. Her defenses had been lacking.

“It is unlike you to fall behind in your tasks,” Bai izhen noted.

Bao Qingling paused but did not bristle as she would otherwise at such an accusation. “Certain familial matters have recently overtaken my ti. My apologies for seeking your assistance with such nial tasks.”

“I see,” Bai izhen said over the clink of glass. “It is no bother.”

There were so many tissue and fluid samples that required review. Bao Qingling had been confident in taking the load that she had, but that had been before those wretched letters had started coming.

“Betrothals,” Bao Qingling bit out. She did not bother to hide the venom that dripped from her voice. Then, she regretted voicing such bile; it was pointless, and she would only be chided for childishness. “So many suitors, all seeking to ask after my health, to express their concern. To make their offers again. As if I could not maintain my own safety.”

That was not even considering the persistent pest right here in the Sect.

She felt Bai izhen still, and the thrumming threads of Bao Qingling’s senses twisted and broke under the brief pulse of pressure that the other girl exuded.

“I was not aware that you were so sought after,” Bai izhen said quietly with a voice like a knife.

It was pleasing to be understood for once. Despite herself, Bao Qingling felt a thread of satisfaction. Bai izhen, it seed, shared her irritation with such nonsense. Bao Qingling closed the sample container a touch harder than was necessary, and the sound echoed dully through the workshop.

“There are always those seeking connection to the Bao, and my Father is not a particularly fecund man,” Bao Qingling said bitterly. “I am his last unmarried child, and so the wolves circle, desperate for a scrap of favor from the wealthiest man in the province. It has nothing to do with .”

Of that, she was quite certain. She had t few of her suitors in person, but in every instance, their vapid pleasantries and clear disinterest in her work had made it difficult not to scream at them. It was saying sothing that Luo Zhong was among the best of her suitors. For all of his irritating persistence, he at least respected her abilities, if not her person.

“That seems unfortunate,” Bai izhen said stiffly. “Perhaps you should speak to your father about... quality control.”

Bao Qingling frowned again, closing the latches on the sample case. One click followed after another as she activated the sixteen locks, and a pulse of heat ward her hands as the security formation activated. The samples were ready for shipnt. Unfortunately, she was not able to feel much of the satisfaction at a completed task.

“It is my responsibility.”

Father had granted her the control to make her own decisions in the matter. If she gave that up, or offended too many, he would take it back.

“It is rely unfortunate then,” Bai izhen said quietly. Bao Qingling turned toward her, striding over to observe as Bai izhen finished her own case.

“It is inevitable that my suitors will only be interested in my familial wealth. I lack any attractive personal qualities to a partner,” Bao Qingling said flippantly. She was perfectly comfortable with herself naturally, but she was aware that both her appearance and personality were distinctly suboptimal by standard asures. She knew because it was at least partially by design.

She could, if she was stubborn and valuable to her family, avoid the nonsense altogether. She had a great-uncle who had never married. She had never t him since he was both a clan elder and only rarely erged from the labyrinth of tunnels, gears, steam, and clockwork that he made his ho.

It was aspirational.

Bao Qingling leaned in as she studied Bai izhen’s work. Every sample was tested, organized, and properly arranged. Through her threads, Bao Qingling felt the precise and graceful movents of her fingers, and the scent of Bai izhen’s hair reached her nose.

It was sothing exotic and floral. Pleasant. Discard.

“Hmph, if one of them was like you, perhaps it would not be so bad.”

***

The sound of her own heartbeat was loud in Bai izhen’s ears. Bao Qingling peered over her shoulder, a step closer than was really appropriate. It was, in Bai izhen’s opinion, a victory for her efforts to familiarize herself with the other girl. But by the Eight did it make things difficult in so ways.

Bai izhen placed the last sample in the case and began to arrange the packing. She had decided that she wanted more than friendship from Bao Qingling so ti ago. She was even quite certain that this ti, the target of her affection was at least slightly attracted to her in a physical sense.

Still, it was hard to move past the fear born that night by the lake.

But she had promised herself that she would move forward. So, when Bao Qingling said those words, her response ca to her lips almost unbidden. “It is truly a sha that I am not in position to press my suit.”

There was a pause, and then, a snort. Bao Qingling let out a rare bark of laughter. “You are not usually the type to jest, but even I must admit to the quality of your timing.”

Bai izhen squared her shoulders, turning so that she could et the other girl’s half-focused eyes. “I am not joking. Your intelligence and dedication to your tasks are most admirable. I would not object to courting you if I could.”

Bao Qingling’s wry expression slowly beca blank. To Bai izhen’s distress, she saw a shift in the girl’s body language, closing her off. “Stop. It is not amusing any more.”

“Neither are you as unlovely as you think. Though you work hard to avoid flattering yourself, it is not truly effective,” Bai izhen pressed on instead.

“Stop mocking ,” Bao Qingling said. “Why are you doing this now?”

Bai izhen closed her eyes for a mont, her grip on the edge of the specin case tightening. The wood groaned. Why was this so hard?

“Because of the attack on the Sect,” izhen admitted. Her eyes remained shut.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Bao Qingling now sounded more nonplussed than anything.

“It reminded

that we do not have all the ti in the world,” Bai izhen said. “And you gave

an opening to strike.”

Bao Qingling was silent.

“I am attracted to you, you dense girl,” Bai izhen said, opening her eyes to glare up at her. “How much more plainly must I state it?”

“I do not understand what you think you have to gain out of doing this,” Bao Qingling said coolly. “I was already prepared to return the favors you have given .”

“What are you speaking of?” Bai izhen asked. “Do you believe that I was seeking so favor from you?”

Bao Qingling’s blank stare was her answer.

“Bao Qingling,” Bai izhen began, speaking slowly and distinctly, “I began spending ti with you in order to indulge my hobbies. I continued doing so because I enjoyed your company, and in ti, more.”

“I do not believe that that is your only reason,” Bao Qingling scoffed, crossing her arms. She looked away, and Bai izhen saw discomfort in her fra.

“Will you allow

to show you then?” Bai izhen asked.

The other girl gave her a suspicious look. “What do you intend?”

Bai izhen turned to face her fully. Her mouth was dry. Was she really going to be this bold again? “I propose a kiss. Do you think I could fool you with such a thing?”

Bao Qingling was off-balance, visibly so. Bai izhen stepped forward. Bao Qingling stepped back. Even if this was not a battle, she knew that she had to press the attack.

“You can’t be serious,” the other girl muttered, still not looking at her. “Fine. If you wish to push this far with this, I will call your bluff.”

Bai izhen felt a thrill, both fear and anticipation as she stepped up. It was only then that she realized a problem.

“Well?” Bao Qingling challenged, looking down at her.

“You’re too tall,” izhen muttered. She felt her cheeks burning. “You – that is, you would need to bend down.”

Her voice sounded so horribly awkward that she almost wished to fall into her own shadow and disappear.

“Oh,” Bao Qingling said, once more off-balance. “... Fine. I won’t give you an excuse to back out.”

Bao Qingling lowered her head. Bai izhen raised herself on her toes.

Their lips t.

It wasn’t like the night on the lake. There was no drawing back, no fear, no perceived disgust.

She hadn’t made a mistake this ti.