Lijuan is wrong, of course, Sizhui is terribly interested in that woman. He can't quite put his finger on why, but these particular rumours definitely pique his interest - he can look past simple superstition, of course, and he puts far more stock int he words of the woman who said Qing came to her aid... he wondered if she was perhaps a rogue cultivator, but she certainly didn't dress like one, and these women didn't seem to think that was the case. He didn't know of any rogue cultivators who wouldn't tell people.
"Thank you for all your help" he tells the women pleasantly "would you please be able to spread the word that I would like everyone to stay inside tonight? I understand I have no authority here, but if you could find a way to ensure that happened, it will allow me to work without fear of anyone getting hurt. I think I will be able to lure the ghost and put them to rest."
Once he has their agreement, and directions to an inn, he goes to get himself a room and prepare for the evening's hunt. Wei-qianbei piled half a dozen new inventions on him with varying levels of usefulness, so he sorts through everything to find what he'll actually need. Given that he suspects this is just a resentful spirit, he doesn't imagine it's going to take too much - unless, of course, the souls of those killed by it are also not at rest.
In the end, he keeps the assorted talismans he needs close, but leaves the inn with only a lure flag and his qin, not wanting to overcomplicate things. He finds a space just outside of the village to activate the lure, settles comfortably on the ground with his qin and waits.
And waits.
It starts to rain. Heavily.
By the time the ghosts emerge and are drawn to his lure instead of the sleeping villagers, Sizhui is soaked through to the skin and shivering slightly, not wanting to use his spiritual energy to keep warm when he doesn't know how much he'll need for the battle. It turns out to be the correct choice - the battle is short, but tiring, and Sizhui uses almost all of his energy to finally banish the ghosts. He is content that he has done his duty, saved the remaining villagers and protected the town, and earned his right to become a senior disciple in the process - but mostly he is tired, and cold, and absolutely ready for his bed. It is only a few hours until dawn, and Sizhui stumbles back to his room at the inn with the chill seeping into his bones.
It's only the Lan traditions absolutely ingrained in him that get him to change into proper sleeping robes when he gets to his room, but he still falls into the bed with wet hair - and a wet ribbon around his forehead - so he really, really shouldn't be surprised that he develops a fever during the night.
Not that he's really all that awake to actually notice it when the morning comes, instead it is the maid who realises, coming in with his breakfast and noticing how flushed the young master looks, how his sleeping robes are soaked with sweat.
It's only a matter of time after that before Qing is called to the inn.
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chiming
Re: okay :)
Date: 2022-07-19 09:49 pm (UTC)From:Lijuan is wrong, of course, Sizhui is terribly interested in that woman. He can't quite put his finger on why, but these particular rumours definitely pique his interest - he can look past simple superstition, of course, and he puts far more stock int he words of the woman who said Qing came to her aid... he wondered if she was perhaps a rogue cultivator, but she certainly didn't dress like one, and these women didn't seem to think that was the case. He didn't know of any rogue cultivators who wouldn't tell people.
"Thank you for all your help" he tells the women pleasantly "would you please be able to spread the word that I would like everyone to stay inside tonight? I understand I have no authority here, but if you could find a way to ensure that happened, it will allow me to work without fear of anyone getting hurt. I think I will be able to lure the ghost and put them to rest."
Once he has their agreement, and directions to an inn, he goes to get himself a room and prepare for the evening's hunt. Wei-qianbei piled half a dozen new inventions on him with varying levels of usefulness, so he sorts through everything to find what he'll actually need. Given that he suspects this is just a resentful spirit, he doesn't imagine it's going to take too much - unless, of course, the souls of those killed by it are also not at rest.
In the end, he keeps the assorted talismans he needs close, but leaves the inn with only a lure flag and his qin, not wanting to overcomplicate things. He finds a space just outside of the village to activate the lure, settles comfortably on the ground with his qin and waits.
And waits.
It starts to rain. Heavily.
By the time the ghosts emerge and are drawn to his lure instead of the sleeping villagers, Sizhui is soaked through to the skin and shivering slightly, not wanting to use his spiritual energy to keep warm when he doesn't know how much he'll need for the battle. It turns out to be the correct choice - the battle is short, but tiring, and Sizhui uses almost all of his energy to finally banish the ghosts. He is content that he has done his duty, saved the remaining villagers and protected the town, and earned his right to become a senior disciple in the process - but mostly he is tired, and cold, and absolutely ready for his bed. It is only a few hours until dawn, and Sizhui stumbles back to his room at the inn with the chill seeping into his bones.
It's only the Lan traditions absolutely ingrained in him that get him to change into proper sleeping robes when he gets to his room, but he still falls into the bed with wet hair - and a wet ribbon around his forehead - so he really, really shouldn't be surprised that he develops a fever during the night.
Not that he's really all that awake to actually notice it when the morning comes, instead it is the maid who realises, coming in with his breakfast and noticing how flushed the young master looks, how his sleeping robes are soaked with sweat.
It's only a matter of time after that before Qing is called to the inn.