Standing atop the walls of Shi Bei beneath the pouring rain, Baatar flashed his grin at the hordes of Defiled surging in from all sides.
A dire situation indeed, but an exhilarating one as well, for soon, he would set out with his son at his side to do battle against the Enemy as equals and comrades rather than rely watching over him from afar. Truly a day worth rembering, though he never expected it to co so soon, especially since his daughter had yet to have her chance. No matter though, for the girl would have her day soon enough, and she was no doubt proud as a mother hen regarding the boys staggering achievents. As was Baatar, though he was a little disappointed he wouldnt have his wife and daughter with him while bringing little Rain out into battle as a Peak Expert, because Mother knows he could use all the help he could get. Alas, the girl wasnt quite yet ready to stand at his side on the battlefield, while his rose had no doubt been held up by Shuai Jiaos plots and machinations. A debt to be settled another day, but for now Baatar had no choice but to bring the boy out into battle by himself, and he was not sure how to best approach this.
The problem was that their fighting styles were too similar for their efforts to sh well together. Just as two tigers could not share a mountain, two forceful and aggressive Warriors would find it difficult to fight side by side without getting in each others way. Regardless if you were a Peak Expert or otherwise, fighting alongside an ally would not result in an additive increase in effectiveness. One plus one did not necessarily equal two on the battlefield, because neither Warrior was able to unleash their full potential while fighting so close to their allies. Of course, the sa went for the Enemy, but there were always more Defiled than Imperials on the battlefield, aning fighting alongside your allies was prudent at the very least, if not necessary. Even if you couldnt bring out your full strength, being limited to eighty percent for the full battle was better than dying early on to a knife in the back.
Hence why most Peak Experts of note would raise a personal retinue of guards familiar with their styles. Only then could one ensure that their allies could fight alongside them without hindering them in any way, with one domineering Peak Expert becoming the focal point while the others supported in their own way. There were always exceptions to the rule, of course, as so Peak Experts fought alone, while others learned to fight in perfect sync with their comrades, but a truly equal partnership on the battlefield was a rare thing to find. Baatars old friends, the Wedded Exarches Bralton and Erien were one such example, while the siblings Song Qing and Song Jian another, so effective on the battlefield that their combined efforts was greater than the sum of their parts. The fact that the Enemy had gone to such great lengths to kill both pairs here in Shi Bei was a testant to how powerful their cooperative efforts could be, and Baatar was determined to avenge his fallen friends and allies no matter the cost. He himself was no stranger to this phenonon, for if he had his beloved rose fighting here alongside him, he was wholly confident that Bai Qi would have not only failed to injure him in that first ambush, but the traitor general would have also been skewered upon Sarnais spear. Though he was the stronger of the two, she had an uncanny grasp of rhythm and timing which allowed her to pick out the opportune monts to strike, counter, and retaliate, aning anyone who dared underestimate her would be in for a rude awakening. On top of this, she knew how to best direct Baatars aggression and how to rein him in when necessary, allowing him to focus on fighting and nothing else while she guided him through the battlefield and guarded his flanks in perfect harmony.
Then again, perhaps not, for the last ti theyd fought alongside one another in this manner, Sarnai took grave injury and fell into a coma. It was entirely his fault, for hed pushed too hard and moved too quickly which left an opening which allowed a Demon to take him by surprise, and Sarnai threw her spear at it to save him, leaving her defenseless against the second Demon still lurking in the wings. That was only two short years ago during the last siege of the Northern Wall, and Baatar was not so willing to risk losing his rose again. They had precious few years left to them already, so it would be best if she stayed safe and sound, though the trials and tribulations of Heaven would not allow it.
Cursing how quickly ti flowed by, Baatar refocused on the matter at hand. Easier said than done with the bloodthirsty wolf screaming to slaughter every enemy standing before him, but the patient hunter told him to wait for the opportune mont, and he knew which of them to heed here. With nothing but ti on his hands, he set himself to planning for his inaugural battle with the boy once more, but there were only problems and few solutions at hand. The biggest issue was that little Rain had progressed too far too quickly, leaving all his peers and wives far behind. Without capable allies who were familiar with his style to fight alongside, this ant Baatar and his retinue would have to watch over the boy instead. Not an issue for the others since the boy fought in a similar manner to Baatars, a bold and domineering style that focused on lightning quick aggression and decisive killing blows ant to end the match as quickly as possible, but now he had to co to terms with how he would behave while fighting alongside his son. Better to have the boy adjust his style to support Baatar, but he wanted to see the Warrior Falling Rain had beco and discover the limits of his current strength, which ant letting him take the lead.
A man capable of cutting down a Divinity, yet not strong enough to battle a Peak Expert in single combat. A strange combination to be sure, but that was how little Rain described himself, though not in so many words, and the boy was always one to disparage his own efforts and achievents. Naarans perspective was only marginally more useful, as he agreed with the boys statents. That traitor monk could have beaten him bloody if hed been willing to lift a finger, but the boys not without promise. Treat him as a slower, less experienced and more hesitant Gerel whos twice as reckless and hits about a hundred tis harder if given three full seconds to prepare. That was all Baatars old friend had been willing to say, indicating that hed see for himself soon enough, which was both infuriating and understandable at the sa ti, since Naaran had only seen a brief glimpse of the boys strength and wanted to avoid colouring Baatars perception any more than necessary.
Glancing over at his old friend, he felt his grin grow even larger as he spotted a matching smile etched across Naarans face, a rare sight to be sure. It was good to see him smile again, and he had every right to be happy and proud, even if there were those who would claim otherwise. Nosy and ddleso know-nothings who had no stake in matters at hand mostly, but life had not treated Naaran well, and Baatar was more than happy to share this mont with one of his oldest and truest of friends. The man had been denied his glory in youth, lost his wife soon after, then was abandoned by the rest of his family in a dark turn of events. At least now he had sothing to live for besides Kharuul, for even when Naaran rode with the Iron Banner, he only did so to get away from the village where hed loved and lost so much.
Those old emotional wounds had been ripped open during the siege of the Central Citadel, and he was liable to take new ones here in Shi Bei today, but for the mont, Baatar could see the shadow of the man his friend used to be, and for that, he gave thanks to the Mother Above.
Gerel was also lurking quietly in Concealnt sowhere nearby, but he was less adept at managing his rage. Not without reason considering Naaran had so many more years of practice, but several tis today alone, Baatar had been forced to physically rein Gerel in before anger overca reason. The young man pushed himself too hard to make up for mistakes which were not his own, even if he would never care to admit that was his primary motivation, and just like little Rain, he demanded too much of himself. A sha they never got along, but it was hardly unexpected for two dragons to butt heads, though in this aspect they were more akin to stubborn billy goats who were too stupid to do otherwise. Perhaps the two of them would nd fences in the heat of combat, though Baatar wouldnt put money on it given Gerels panicked reaction to Rains offer of a drink. Neither one of them were willing to face the truth just yet, and Baatar was just glad young Gerel was willing to serve as honour guard for little Rain.
For the Imperial Clan to withdraw their Death Corps and Royal Guardians was all but spitting in the boys face, and once the matter with the Defiled was settled and done with, Baatar hoped the outer provinces would take note and re-evaluate their relationship with the absent Emperor. Though the eastern province had largely funded the war efforts thus far, it was coin obtained by taxing the outer provinces, so what was the point in paying taxes in the first place? Better to keep the coin for themselves than continue tithing to a scheming sovereign sitting on the sidelines to see if the other provinces were worth saving, to say nothing of the black-hearted scoundrel Shuai Jiao who even now refused to show his face. North and South had co out in full support of Central once the West fell, but in spite of this, the venomous local politicians were unwilling to put aside their sches. Were it not for the innocent people of Central, Baatar would have no qualms about turning around to head ho and leaving the whole province for the Enemy, because between Bai Qi and Shuai Jiao, he respected the forr far more than the latter.
One dread of helping the people and lost himself by taking things too far, while the other claid to help the people yet only cared for himself. Hardly a competition really, and while the Emperor might be too high to reach, Shuai Jiao had no such protection from Baatars inevitable retribution.
Assuming Mother didnt kill the scheming snake first, but that wasnt likely. She loved the Empire too much, not just the people and the provinces, but the concept itself, that of a singular nation of people working together to the betternt of all. Uniting the people of the Saints Tribulations Mountains was the result of her idealistic dreams and showed that it was possible, but it required soone as brilliant, hard-working, benevolent, and altruistic as Akanai of the People. Alas, there was no one else like her, and there might never be, aning the Sentinels might well fall apart after her death. Baatar would fight to keep it together, but only to keep the mory of his ntor and mothers dream alive, and not because he believed in the ideal himself, aning that if he took up the mantle of Chief Provost, it could only end in disaster.
Little Rain would be better suited for the role, for he shared Mothers dreams and ideals, except he dared to dream even bigger and didnt limit himself to the mountains alone. A dangerous prospect that, putting him at odds with n and won of power who were comfortable with the status quo, including the Emperor himself. All along, Baatar had hoped the boy would learn his limits before he overstepped them, but now, little Rain was akin to a Divinity and capable of enabling other Divinities to unleash their full strength, aning his once preposterous dreams might now be within his reach.
Such exciting tis they lived in, and things would only get more exciting in years to co, but first, Baatar had to ensure his sons survival in this battle here today. Turning his attentions to the boy, he saw him heave a small sigh and waver on his feet while hiding a grimace of pain, a display which set Baatars heart to racing. For the boy to show discomfort at this ti ant that a normal man would have long since collapsed in pain, or at least close enough to it. Unable to stop himself, Baatar reached out and placed his hand on the boys shoulder to steady him in place, a bad habit to get into for n of their status. Though they were currently shrouded in a veil of Concealnt which few could pierce, it was always good to behave as if everyone could see you at all tis when out in public, if only to avoid doing anything shaful. A lesson the boy had yet to learn, mostly because he was utterly shaless, but truth be told, Baatar found this sort of attitude refreshing more than anything else. He himself wished to hold his roses hand while out in the market, but between her fixation on the apparent difference in their appearance and the silly expectation that only won with loose morals would allow any sort of physical contact in public, Baatar had no choice but to bend to public opinion.
Not little Rain however, who held his wives hands and embraced them in full view without a care in the world for who might see them, a trend many youngsters had adopted much to the chagrin of the older generation. New waves would inevitably overtake the old, though Baatar thought he had a few years yet before the boy reached his current heights.
A feat only possible because the boy refused to admit that he was human and at tis needed to rest.
Thanks Dad, the boy Sent, wasting his Chi when he should otherwise be conserving it, so Baatar waved it off and threw up a Sound Barrier instead. His own Chi reserves were woefully low, but it would take at least an hour of dedicated ditation to make enough of a difference, as he lacked the boys ability to gather Chi as easily as breathing.
Which in retrospect made Baatar feel a little foolish, since the boy could waste as much Chi as he pleased and replenish it almost instantly, but it was too late for regrets now. So many things to keep in mind when dealing with little Rain, for he walked a unique Path all his own. You are not resting, Baatar began, resisting the urge to stroke the boys hair or thump his back with pride. Now that you have beco a pillar of the Empire, you will need strength to hold up the Heavens for others. It will not do for them to see you fall and falter now, not after so grand an entrance.
And what an entrance it was, standing upon the prow of ship riding a hundred-tre-tall wave of water as it ploughed its way through the desert sands, a tale he would never grow tired of telling for as long as he should live. Sarnai would be sour at having missed so magnificent a display, but considering it took the boy less than two years to bind so much Water Chi, then surely she would have a chance to see it the next ti around. Mother in Heaven, the implications of his abilities were almost too staggering to comprehend, for now he theoretically possessed strength enough to wipe out any city or stronghold within two-hundred and fifty kilotres of the Azure Sea, if not further. Even though the boys good nature would never allow him to engage in such reckless destruction, his enemies would hardly sleep easy with only his kind intentions to keep them safe, and Baatar looked forward to seeing how they would behave moving forward. The smart ones would capitulate and work with the boy instead of against, but those too stubborn to accept which way the wind was blowing would be troubleso to deal with indeed. No matter though, for if the boy was too soft-hearted to kill whoever needed to be killed, Baatar was still strong enough to hold up the Heavens for him.
Or slaughter the boys foes with sword and pole-axe in hand. Whichever was easier and more convenient.
Not even a little put-off by Baatars gruff tone, the boy grinned and lied, Ill be fine. A bold boy, lying to his father like that, but he was nothing if not bold despite seemingly ready to topple over from turning his head too quickly. Theres uh a lot more stuff that Mila never ntioned, and Im not sure how to explain, but I can do more standing here than I can with sword in hand.
A monts thought was all it took to arrive at the right answer, showing just how out of sorts the boy truly was. You are doing what you did in JiangHu, Pan Si Xing, and perhaps other battlefields as well, using your Natal Souls to assist the soldiers of Shi Bei.
The look of surprise said it all, but it was quickly replaced by amused relief, because now he knew he had soone supporting him. Yea pretty much. Got it in one. Guess my head hurts more than I thought.
Another bad sign, actually admitting he was in pain, considering the last ti hed done so was soon after shattering his Core in Sinuji. That being said, Baatar was pleased to learn that the boy was so grossly mistaken and a laugh escaped from his lips. Good, good, he began, so happy to still be capable of helping his boy. And here I worried you had progressed so far that I no longer had anything worth teaching. Unable to help himself, he draped his arm over the boys shoulder and pulled him close for a half-hug, and it felt so natural and normal for them to stand side by side on the battlefield like this, not just as father and son, but as ntor and Disciple as well. Listen well, boy. The first lesson you must learn is that no man is an island, not even one as powerful as you. As a commander, you take on too much responsibility, and in doing so, you put your soldiers and comrades at risk. If you falter and fail, then they will die, for they have placed their trust in your commands, so you must place your trust in their abilities. This is a lesson you know well, one you have put to good use in your business endeavours, but one which has not translated into your war efforts.
Despite scanning the surroundings for signs of Concealed Wraiths or worse, Baatar knew the boy was scowling as he shuffled his weight from foot to foot, unable to contain his pique because he believed his fathers advice to be wrong, but was too respectful to point it out. To this end, Baatar t the boys eyes with a smile and gave him tacit permission to speak up. I can help them win the battle this way, was all the boy could muster, a weak argunt which even he didnt wholeheartedly believe, which is why he was quick to add, Or at least reduce the number of casualties.
There it was, Baatars soft-hearted fool of a son, and he loved him all the more for it, but the boy was not suited to be a General and commander. There were tis when difficult decisions needed to be made, and little Rain was incapable of making them. At what cost, son? Seeing the boys confusion, Baatar steeled his heart and pressed on, for this was a lesson the boy needed to learn. Imagine if you had a weapon that could win this battle outright, but doing so would cause famine to sweep across the Empire and kill millions through starvation. Would you use it?
No, of course not.
Even if our defeat here was written in stone?
Again, the boy opened his mouth to answer imdiately, but then he stopped to consider it. Yes, he replied after giving it so thought. I an, yes, I would not use that weapon. Its one thing to die in war, and another altogether to die to famine.
Yet if we were to lose here, the Defiled would be free to run rampant throughout the West and possibly even break through to Central. Stifling a sigh as the boy settled in to argue the facts, Baatar continued speaking so as not to give him a chance. The fact of the matter is that a famine can be weathered, but a Defiled victory here in Shi Bei would an the deaths of every last Westerner still resisting, including those we rescued from Pan Si Xing. Knowing this, you would still refuse to use the weapon? Baatar had almost been tempted to leave those people behind, but he could not give an order which he himself would refuse to follow. Looking back on it now, even if his eyes were not amber and he was not of the people, Baatar liked to think that he would not have brought the boy back to his slavers, for doing so would have gone against everything he stood for. Back then, hed thought the girl weak for wanting to protect a stranger she barely knew, but he saw this for the strength it was, the strength to stand for what she believed in, and a strength little Rain shared.
He showed it now, holding fast to his conviction in spite of having no leg to stand on. Thats I dont know. Good, good, the boy was thinking now, rather than complaining about unfairness or arguing the details. The logical thing to do would be use the weapon, because wed save more lives in the long run than those we lose to famine, but life isnt just about numbers. Even if less people die, that doesnt justify causing a famine. Being the lesser of two evils doesnt make it the right choice.
Alas, the boy was wrong in this, and Baatar had no choice but to explain why. We are not speaking of life, boy, but war, and war is nothing if not about numbers. Given the choice, I would use the weapon in a heartbeat, because death by starvation is a better alternative to leaving the West to the Enemy. Forcing himself to look the boy in the eyes, Baatar mustered up every scrap of confidence he had and stood strong before his sons hurt and disappointed stare. You value the lives of your soldiers and do everything you can to preserve them, which usually is the mark of a good commander, but sotis, lives must be spent in order to ensure even more lives can be saved.
The boy had no argunt for this, so instead, he tried to argue the circumstances, pointing at himself and saying, One mans strength to save hundreds, if not thousands of soldiers seems like a good trade to .
And there it was, the boys greatest failing of all, his propensity to undervalue his own achievents. Perhaps, if that one man were anyone other than you. Shaking his head with a smile, he patted his sons head and said, You will find this an unpleasant truth to bear, but war is an unpleasant affair, so heed and do not argue before considering my words carefully. Your life is worth more than the hundreds or thousands or even millions of lives you might save expending your strength in this manner. It matters not how many soldiers you lead to Insight or how many commoners you guide to beco Martial Warriors, because you have reached a level of strength which no number of crossbows, spears, or even cannons could ever match.
It was difficult for the boy to stay silent, but he heeded Baatars advice all the sa, and it was easy to see him turning over the statent in his head, and even easier to see that he agreed in spite of himself. If the Enemy should for whatever reason choose to break the Treaty, little Rain was the only person capable of keeping the Enemy Divinities from wreaking untold destruction upon the Empire and turning Shi Bei in to a second Arid Wastes, to say nothing of a deterrent against the Enemys hidden stockpile of Anathema which they had yet to utilize. Seeing the boys crestfallen expression as he struggled to accept the truth, Baatar stifled a sigh and patted his sweet son on the back. You are a kind boy and always have been, a trait which I admire greatly. To have seen and suffered through such darkness yet erge better for it, I dare not claim I could do the sa.
There was the carrot, but now ca ti for the stick, one Baatar could not bear to use while looking at his son. But as you said before, rcy to ones enemies is cruelty to ones self, and you can no longer afford to be so cruel. The Enemy has co with the intent to slaughter us all, while our allies have left us here to die, but I have faith in the n and won of Shi Bei. Gesturing at the soldiers fighting bitterly along the walls, Baatar continued, I believe in their ability to hold these walls and stand firm against the Defiled tide, for these re foreign tribesn are nowhere near enough to break them. Soldiers will fight and die, but they will hold nonetheless, because they know that this is a price which must be paid, as this is only the beginning.
Glancing down at his son, Baatar saw just how hurt and lost the boy was, so unwilling to accept things as they were and determined to overturn convention upon its head. There might co a day when he succeeded, though Baatar would hesitate to say that crossbows and cannons would change war for the better, but he would adapt or die as needed. The boy was so talented and brilliant beyond his years, but it would take ti for the world to co around to his radical ideas, ti he would have aplenty if hed managed to beco sothing akin to a Divinity in longevity. This is your stage, son, Baatar concluded, just brimming with pride as he held his boy close and did what he could to soothe the pain of the truth, Where you will soon show the world your newfangled strength, but you must wait until it cos your turn to fight. Soldiers against soldiers and Generals against Generals, such is the way of war as it stands, and you are no longer a re soldier.
For once, the boy nodded and accepted Baatars lesson without uttering a word of dispute, or at least he did until he realized what had just been said. Wait what? You expect to go out and fight? Likefight fight? Glancing around in a panic, he stuttered and said, But. Uh Grand-ntor told to sit tight, so
She did, Baatar replied, fighting the urge to also glance around, only to do so under the guise of sweeping for Wraiths, And I would never dare tell you to disobey her, but there are exceedingly rare occasions in which she might be overly cautious. Only because she loves and cares for you, he quickly added, just in case Mother was actually listening sohow, because she was never one to spare the rod and spoil the child, even if said child was over eighty years old. And her warning was ant to keep you from pushing the limits of a Divinity, whereas I want you to display your strength as a non-Divinity to bolster the spirits of the soldiers. eting the boys eyes with an impish smile, Baatar found an equally mischievous smile awaiting him. Surely you are curious about the limits of your strength too, and here, I can be right there by your side as you test them.
Nodding along in silent agreent, the boy fell quiet once more as he watched the battle unfold, and this ti, Baatar knew his son was only idly watching because he could not for the life of him stand still. It was simply his nature, his chaotic mind reflected in his jittery actions, sothing they all once thought was a sign of lacking focus, but had since been proven untrue. It wasnt that the boy was incapable of focusing on the task at hand, but that most tis, he had no need to focus and could afford to let his mind wander as he pleased without negatively impacting his performance. Thats why ditation had been so difficult for him at first, because he found it boring and unbearable to still his thoughts, the sa way a Peak Expert accustod to Cloud Stepping would find galloping on horseback slow and tedious. A sign of a strong mind perhaps, which was in line with the boys most recent claims regarding a Balance between body, mind, and soul, though Baatar still had yet to wholly comprehend everything written in his sons seemingly indecipherable notes.
Thus, it ca as no surprise to Baatar when, not five minutes after promising to rest and recuperate, the boy found himself no longer able to stand idly by. Dad, he began, with a saccharine inflection that was nowhere close to what one might hear in little Milas voice when asking Father for a favour, but had the sa general intent, and damn Baatar if he wasnt dying to fulfill his sons every request. I know you said I should rest, but stamina wise, Im all topped up and ready to fight. Im just a little overdrawn on Chi, so I should be fine so long as I stop using it. In spite of himself, Baatar grunted and nodded in agreent before hearing what else the boy had to say, which was a mistake because he added, If thats the case, then is it alright if I showed myself and said a couple words to the troops, to inspire them or sothing?
Dangerous, truly dangerous, for there was no doubt in Baatars mind that the Enemy would stop at nothing to kill little Rain. In fact, the siege of Shi Bei almost seed to have been tailor made to keep the boy isolated in ng Sha, though there still remained the mystery of why Hongjis scouts stationed outside the walls had been unable to inform anyone of the citys plight. Until little Rain inford them, the soldiers of ng Sha had been blissfully unaware of an all out offensive here in Shi Bei, which ant there was most certainly foul play afoot, but they would have to wait before settling those debts. Regardless, for the boy to show himself and say a few words the first was foolish and the latter unwise as in spite of many laudable qualities, he was not a man who inspired confidence through words or actions. That being said, the boy was not only the Legate and technically Baatars superior in the chain of command, but he was also sothing akin to a Divinity, so preventing him from following his hearts desires might well impact his performance later on. Divinities were an emotional bunch, always ones to follow their whims, as evidenced by Taduk and i Lins personalities, the latter of which Baatar only recognized after listening to Milas rendition of events in ng Sha.
A second Ancestral Hare, one wholly unrelated to Taduk. If so, then the eccentric Healer was a better man than any of them knew, for the urge to mate and procreate was a powerful one indeed, one that drove all life on this world as they knew it.
As for the boy, hed always been one to do things his own way, ignoring all their attempts to get him to stop cuddling the pets in full view and refusing to adhere to any reasonable fashions, so regardless of what Baatar said here and now, the boy was liable to do as he pleased regardless. As you wish, he said, stifling a sigh and signalling his guards to be on the alert as he dropped his Concealnt, only to find that the boys shroud was still in place. It fell after a monts consideration, for the boy needed to consciously dispel it rather than actively maintain it, which led to him forgetting he was Concealed in the first place. A staggering difference to behold in action, and Baatar was humbled by it, so he fell in line beside his son with Bloody Fang and Crescent Moon at the ready, watching the skies and stones for any sign of threat.
To his credit, the boy didnt speak much or even at all as he strode along the back of the battlents and allowed his presence to speak for him. While he himself was not much to look at, soaked to the bone in his plain black robes which lacked any and all finery and his hair pulled back in an unadorned bun, the presence of his three Spiritual Weapons floating alongside him spoke volus to his strength. The sword and shield hovered to his left and right at the perfect height for him to reach out and grasp, while his glaive bobbed along behind him in an almost whimsical manner, floating this way, then that as if seeing the sights yet never straying too far out of reach. Anyone who knew anything about retrieving weapons from afar would be gobsmacked by this display of consummate skill, for a large part of moving your Spiritual Weapons without touching them was utilizing montum and other forces to overco inertia. You werent so much moving the weapons with your mind as you were guiding them back to your hands before any physical forces acting on the weapon were spent, but little Rain made it appear as if his weapons had minds of their own, which Baatar only now realized was an actual possibility given the boys penchant for using Natal Souls and Keystones.
This was enough to impress most of the rank and file, though Baatar supposed the giant wave the boy rode in on had been impressive enough, but the true marvel of Falling Rain was only noticeable to Peak Experts of exceptional perception. Baatar himself could only barely sense the depth of his sons Presence, a deep and unfathomable ocean that appeared and disappeared like a mote of dust skirting in front of your eyes, yet there was no mistaking its existence. Difficult to describe it to soone lacking the ability to perceive it, similar to trying to describe colours to the blind or music to the deaf, but Baatar always regarded this Presence as a taphysical baring of fangs, a perceptible threat and warning to rivals and prey alike regarding the strength of the individual in question. Most Martial Warriors were too weak to emit a Presence of their own, or perhaps they instinctively hid their Presence so as not to alert others of their existence. The old wolf of the Mountains had a majestic Presence indeed, one unrivalled by any other Divinity Baatar had ever seen, but in contrast, Taduk barely had any Presence at all, to the point where even another Divinity might not recognize him for what he was.
As for the boy? His Presence was not quite at the level of the old wolfs, nor was it a match for Hua Lies, though there were tis when he ca close enough for it not to matter. Other tis, however, the boy was every bit as ordinary as Taduk, and even the lowliest Martial Warrior could sense this, for their disbelief was etched across their faces as they watched their Legate calmly stroll by. Not because they were skeptical, but because they could hardly contain their amazent that soone so young and ordinary in appearance could be a true dragon among n.
It was clear the boy had a destination in mind however, for he soon turned and politely made his way through the line of soldiers to stand closer to the fighting. All this effort just to watch Hongji fight, Baatar was unable to fathom his sons line of thinking, for even though the man was an exemplary commander, his personal strength left much to be desired. While still a Peak Expert, his mastery of the Forms was woefully inadequate compared to his peers, for his Movents were as plain and ordinary as they ca. The sceptre in his hand was more reminiscent of hamr than mace as he raised it high and smashed it down on Defiled head after head, while the best thing one could say about his footwork was that it was clean and ordered, though so would call it simple and basic. It wasnt that Hongji was doing anything wrong, for his Movents were textbook perfection, but they lacked any and all elegance or artistry, anything to mark those Movents as his own. The only thing that stood out about him was his Ethereal Palm, which was more interesting in theory than it was practical in combat, as the man himself demonstrated by throwing out a palm which failed to even knock a common Defiled off the battlents.
In short, Hongji was a basic Peak Expert, as low in the rankings one could go whilst still remaining a Peak Expert.
Making him perfect for little Rains intended purpose, as Baatar soon realized when the boy opened his mouth to speak. Well fought, Commander Hongji, he said, his words carrying clearly over the din of battle yet lacking the intense, boisterous quality that everyone associated with Speaking. I see youve been hard at work improving your Ethereal Palm, and the results are impressive indeed. Not at all, to the point where a good portion of the crowd and even Hongji himself wasnt sure if the boy was being facetious. If I could be so bold as to offer a word of advice? You appear to be experinting with transformations of the Ethereal Palm with limited success, but you are too fixated on the form of the palm itself. Chi is Chi, and your Domain is your Domain, so there is no real need to shape them. Using his hands to demonstrate, he explained, When you punch, your fingers form into a fist almost naturally on instinct. The sa happens when you slap, scratch, poke, or chop, your hand forming the shape best suited for this particular purpose without any real need to guide it.
There was a power to the boys voice that compelled everyone to listen, even as Baatar fought against it in order to remain guarded against ambush, but this sa compulsion seed to affect the Defiled as they slowed to listen and watch. The boys hand punched softly at empty air, only to turn into a palm, a claw, a spear, and a blade, not in form but in function as he moved through these seemingly innocuous motions, and Baatar could almost see the secrets of Heaven hiding within them, as if these were new Movents of a Form none of them had ever seen. Your Chi and your Domain are the sa way, so when you move to strike, you need not put so much effort into shaping it, for much like your hand, your Chi and Domain already know the optimal shape to take once your Intent is made clear, or will learn it with practice and experience.
Truth be told, Baatar had not even known Hongji had been experinting with transformations, though it made sense given little Rustrams recent staggering progress along the Martial Path, thanks to a mont of Insight obtained from reading Hongjis notes. The Commander no doubt had recognized his own handiwork and been disheartened to see soone so young surpass him in a skill of his own creation, hence his efforts to elevate his own skills in secrets. Hongji was nothing if not prideful, but deserving of his pride, for he worked harder than anyone else when it ca to planning for the worst, even harder than little Rain at his most paranoid. Seemingly having arrived at a breakthrough thanks to the boys guidance, Hongji let loose with a victorious cry as he raised his sceptre high, only to bring it down as inelegantly as he did before.
A blow which killed not only the Defiled tribesman who was directly struck, but seven more standing nearby. In addition to this, three others suffered blunt trauma injuries to their upper torsos, denoting that theyd been within Hongjis range, but not so close as to be fatally struck, though the nearby soldiers quickly redied this with the cold application of steel. As for the boy, he was still speaking as if sitting across a table from Hongji and expounding on the Dao of Domain Plating.
A lesson Baatar paid close heed to, for he too wished to learn this skill, though the boy was all too vague about the specifics. Not without reason, as he could easily do more harm than good by guiding others so recklessly, but there on the wall before Baatars eyes, he saw three Domain-Capable Martial Warriors also find Insight and unleash their unique attacks, while Hongji cackled with wild delight and killed every Defiled standing before him with a wave of his hand, which threw out an invisible blade that sliced his foes from hip to hip.
When the boy finally stopped speaking, he looked no different from before, which was better than looking worse. Seeing Baatars skepticism, the boy feigned innocence and said, I wasnt using Chi or Heavenly Energy, just regular old brainpower. Ive been thinking about Domain Plating a lot, since it seems like a really versatile skill and having so Chi armour would just be great. I havent quite gotten the hang of it just yet, but I also havent really had ti to experint.
There was more to it than that, boy, Baatar Sent. Those words they were not your own.
What? I didnt steal them from anyone. I dont think Ive even heard anyone talk about Domain Plating before.
No, boy. Rolling his eyes at his sons staggering lack of piety, Baatar subtly indicated the Heavens above and Sent, What I ant is that your speech seed Inspired, in a way.
Huh It was clear the boy was displeased to hear it, for he had an innate aversion to all things religious, though Baatar understood it well enough. If hed suffered through what the boy had suffered, he too would have begged the Mother Above for rcy, and he might well have grown to hate Her for leaving him to suffer so. I guess thats possible, the boy begrudgingly admitted, though he was quick to add, But it could also just be the fact that Im less separated from the Heavens, I guess? Closer to Heavenly Energy in its raw and natural form maybe? Though it does beg the question if theres any cost to Insight. sacrificing my Natal Souls seems to help others find Insight, and I already know theres a hidden cost to that, so is it possible that Insight is an exchange of soul for knowledge?
The first part of the boys statent sent a chill down Baatars spine, and he wanted to berate himself for allowing the boy to waste his ti so. Sit down and ditate, he instructed, not even bothering to Send. Not here. Back of the battlents. Now.
Uh Allowing himself to be hustled along under a shroud of Concealnt, the boy asked, Why?
Because of what you said. Seeing the boys confusion, Baatar gathered every scrap of patience left to him and said, If you truly are closer to the Heavens and able to find Insight, then you should stop wasting it on others and focus inwards on yourself. Doubly so if this Insight cos at a cost, because you, my son, have strength aplenty, but no earthly idea how to use it.
Oh. The boys eyes widened. Oh! Oh damn! Unwilling to waste even a second more, he plopped down on the battlents where he stood and crossed his legs in ditation, finding Balance so easily it ca upon him before he took his next breath. Chuckling to himself as he felt the Energy of the Heavens stir around the boy, Baatar turned to face the Enemy and stood careful guard over his son.
Now, he was even more excited to see how the boy fought, but every second of ditation might well an another Insight to propel him along his Path, and Baatar was rely pleased to have been a part of it.
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