.:An Adventure to Remember:.

[filialdeception]

Who: Meng Yao, Subaru Akehoshi, Rantarou Amami
What: Some basic lessons are happening in the background, but some (mis?)adventures as well. Surely nothing will go wrong in a wonderful place such as this? Other than MY growing premature grey hairs. Either way, it's Exchange Program time, bby.
Where: Lanling Proper, and Koi Tower.
When: October 11th - October 17th.
Warnings: Potential death which will happen regardless and/or violence. Disturbing themes may be mentioned because JGS exists and golden end Lanling is still questionable. Just happier.

WELCOME TO LANLING—



The city is home to what is currently the largest cultivation sect around. It is prosperous and filled with many smiling faces. There are children who run through the streets, shop owners showing their wears, and people frequenting the establishments—inns, restaurants, you name it.

At the heart of the city is an important compound, Koi Tower. It seems to unfold before anyone who comes near it majestically, starting with the stairs and ending with the peerless infrastructure. It's terrific state is more than can be described in mere words, needless to say.

There are various gardens here or there, filled with a majority of the sect's symbol and flower—Sparks-Admist-Snow white peonies.

There is also one lotus pond located on the premises, but that is located somewhere towards the inner families' lodgings, and anyone passing through had better be someone who is part of the Jin Sect or a servant lest they wish to get into trouble.

As expected there is a magnificent reception area, a banquet hall, and another more extraordinary garden that houses a painting well done by a cultivator of renown. Said cultivator can be found around the city at certain points.

On the flipside, there are cultivators who are rather stuck up, though that goes the same for a good amount of the residents. Though the Sect Leader, Jin Guangshan is rather insufferable even if he is unfortunately talented at conducting himself with grace. Then there is Jin Zixun, who is neither graceful nor talented, but far more easy to encounter.

There is also, of course, the Treasure Vault. Another place that is actually guarded periodically though there are some dips in security due to the overconfidence the people have here.

Though even in this idyllic setting, there are places of ill repute if someone were to go looking around. Such as where others would sell weapons or other...things that are illegal or frowned down upon supposedly in Lanling. Hidden deep within the forest nearby that is essentially also part of Lanling, there is even a strange training ground that has been sectioned off by members of the Jin Sect. Going further where that is concerned is something that should be avoided lest anyone would want to experience a rather trying time, putting it very lightly. At the very least they'll shoo any wanderers away as long as they don't cause trouble or try to truly sneak in.

This is a city of golden times. But it doesn't mean that is the case for those outside of it or not caught within its golden age.

But whatever the case, their ends will be the same. Though, before that, shouldn't they enjoy their time while they still can?

Comments

AND SO IT BEGINS.

[filialdeception]

The three of them arrive in Lanling on a fine day, and even at the beginning of an early fall, Lanling is relentless in its splendor.

Meng Yao is all smiles, though it's a cautiously hopeful one, and his eyes seem to reflect the golden color that is seen across the city like a blanket of unforgiving brightness.

The town is abuzz, talking about how great it is that the Sunshot Campaign has just come to an end, thanks to two heroes. He tells his two companions with a hint of bashfulness that he's one of those two heroes, though he seems to wonder what kind of title he will be bestowed with. He doesn't say that when he had arrived in Yogen, he's never heard them or his father give him one yet.

He is sure when he returns home—truly home—he'll know. Or maybe, he'll find out here.

Meng Yao has, ever since his arrival here, been wearing what he was after he took off of his disguise, and his companions look like they stand out like a sore thumb. Though he intends to procure some outfits for them at the very least (likely through shady means.)

Either way the people are too happy right now to care what they look like.

However, even though Meng Yao makes his way to Koi Tower and tells them to 'wait outside', he doesn't get too far. The guards, the cultivators, and even Jin Guangshan himself—though he does not deign to see him—do not recognize him as Lianfang-zun and so he finds himself back with the others.

It's better than what happened the last time he attempted to claim his rightful place...they just simply seem to think he's crazy. Funny how they treat who they suspect have lost their marbles different from bastards.

It also hurts that his mother is also not even recalled as a existing memory for the Sect Leader who slept around, for she seems to truly not exist in this world.

In the end, he hides the fact that he's sulking, but he manages to get his companions time to stay at a reputable inn and some clothing if they care for it at some point.

He also lets them know at some point he would like to show the two some basics, especially since they're in a familiar world, so showing them how to utilize talismans will be easier.

With all of that aside, how will his fellow companions fair in this city? Only time will tell.

((Ooc note: This functions as a separate top level to give some information about the current time. There's no need to tag into this one, though it can be used to interact with MY even though I plan to tag into whatever top levels you guys feel like putting up!))

meng yao 1

[starrypoint]

[sorry to meng yao,

but there might be a pair of familiar voices bickering nearly day one of being here. maybe day two if we're lucky. one is infinitely more familiar to meng yao than the other, but the other one is more easily recognizeable since, well, they go to school together right now.

that is: subaru is absolutely seeming like he's picking a fight, or has had a fight picked with him, over... seemingly nothing, but--

it's jin zinxun, so, who can say!!!]

S'not my fault if your belly's so big it takes up the whole street!

[mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm]

meng yao 2

[starrypoint]

[this place... is quite spiritual. and subaru knows that meng yao handles a lot of that stuff, too -- had helped the little shopkeeper once before, so maybe... maybe...

anyway. subaru'd asked for a nice place to have tea with his fresh friend and so here they are, having tea. he's just trying to figure out how to bring this up without spilling too much information that isn't his to really give, so after a lull in a conversation about "if a bird had human arms, do you think it'd swing it and wing it (hit and run) or do you think it'd be more ground based"--]

Can I ask you something kinda funky, Maimai?

[like

the bird question wasn't funky. also maimai is his nickname now i'm sorry.]

meng yao 3

[starrypoint]

[meng yao teach him talisman stuff. he's been watching him and amami go at it, and it seems pretty... fun? interesting anyway, so maybe once meng yao is done with amami for the day is when subaru slouches onto the other (whether meng yao has expressed his dislike of this or not) and whines,]

I wanna learn toooooo, Maimai! Hey hey, teach me something! I'm getting bored just watching you two!

[-- besides meng yao offered and now he's taking that offer seriously since it sounded boring before and now he's lonely]

amami 1

[starrypoint]

[subaru considers himself having a nose for trouble.

and amami is quite the adventurous person.

so they're naturally checking out the ins and outs of the city, because it's fun and out of the way of people subaru otherwise has an issue with for looking down on him (jin zixun his detested), when

they come upon a wooden box. it appears just to be a plain wooden box, not too large, something that's easy to carry and hide if needed. but it's got sort of a surprising heft to it when subaru lifts it, tilting his head curiously...]

What d'you think's inside? Gold bars?

amami 2

[starrypoint]

Mmm....

[everything here is so... interesting to subaru. there are things that are similar by different names, and things that aren't anything like he's seen before. the jewelry is the same anyway, and then there's clothing pieces he keeps looking at, and also some books he steps over at a merchant to see if anything would be interesting there...

all in all, it's actually an unusual amount of considering subaru is taking for something at the moment, since he has other souvenirs already bought for everyone else amami could think of him having bought one for.]

amami 3

[starrypoint]

[it's a clear, starry night in lanling.

the end of the week had passed, and now they lingered in the days subaru had pleaded from the both of them -- just a little longer, even if he was yearning to get back too just a little longer, because the knife sitting at his bedside right now is terrifying to think about even if he won't ever say that's the reason for it -- and

he misses keigo, misses sitting on the roof of the school, and wonders if they'd like to do that when he gets back. once he gets the courage to. it might be nice, laying together watching the stars. it won't be hard for amami to find subaru, in essence, since there's no one else out so late and he's gone often enough to the roof of the inn even if he really should not be up here.]

☆ meng yao

[sisters]

( lessons! not gonna lie, amami's pretty excited about these — it might not be something he catches onto naturally, but to build up even an inkling of the skill that meng yao has, in a place like yogen? you can't put a price on that. so when they decide on a time to set aside, amami's already made himself comfortable at a table, leaning against the surface with a smile in meng yao's direction. )

Right, actually, I had a question about those — the talismans, I mean.

( reaching in his pocket, amami pulls out a thin slip of paper with red incantations patterned across the surface, and holds it up between two fingers. his eyes are bright and practically sparkling with curiosity, maaaaybe just a little bit more excited than he should be, considering just how dangerous the spirit-attracting talisman in his hand is, but it can't be helped. it is something new to him, and that means it's something exciting. )

Came across these the other day, and I figured you might have an idea of what kind these are.

Infilitration into the Treasure Vault

[filialdeception]

[ Now, Meng Yao can't claim he's a man full of morality, but he's always been behind the idea of helping the poor and the weak. People that are defenseless and without ability to elevate or help themselves or others deserved a helping hand. Someday, he hopes he'd be able to do that on a grand scale.

But today, it'll be something smaller; yet it was still something relevant all the same.

Meng Yao had managed to get himself during their time here as enrolled as a Jin disciple, though of course at a relatively low rank. That being said, he used underhanded means to get the information he could, and may have bribed a few servants to slip in sleeping medicine for security so of course this means they're knocked out.

...not that there were many around here in particular because the Jin Sect is sadly that arrogant. So here they are in the dead of night, sneaking around, with said treasure vault literally around the corner, in disguises so that they wouldn't be immediately revealed in the event that they were stopped (think simple, dark purple robes with a head covering not dissimilar to a ninja's.) ]

Are the both of you ready?

[ He doesn't have any hangups about this anymore morality wise but he's still wondering how his current companions, or rather, would-be partners in crime are holding up... ]

Interlude ~ Lunch with Amami

[filialdeception]

[ There are many things to do in a place like this, but it doesn't mean that Meng Yao has to keep himself busy at all times. Back when he was in the Nie Sect, it was natural for him to do so as the deputy, and when he was in the Wen Sect...well, the less said about that the better, but he was definitely busy without much time for rest for different reasons.

Now that he's found himself in a world that is almost like his home one, he had felt the need to busy himself until Rantarou had proposed a break. Part of him is a little surprised he even agreed to cool down some, but he only thinks it a positive, and so here they are.

And here is Meng Yao, leading the other to a nice spot to enjoy their meal.

It's the perfect spot, what with the fact it's in a cozy spot still in the city, but on the outskirts of the nicer part. There's a river running nearby, and he sets down a particularly sizable cloth for them to sit down upon, because of course he has to come prepared in some manner. ]

Does this area look alright? Please let this one know if you find it to your liking.