Threads 407-Courtesies 2
"Liming has been restless. It was quiescent during the summit, but as months have gone by, its temperament has only grown worse," Cai Renxiang said. "I suspect I will not be able to advance beyond the sixth stage of the green realm without finding a solution."
The crimson and yellow fabric splayed across her chest, the beastly eyes of Liming, rippled visibly, silk straining.
"I have the matter in hand," Cai Renxiang said sharply, meeting her concerned eyes. "This does remind me, though; your own gown should be repaired in two months' time."
"I am glad for that," Ling Qi said slowly.
She absolutely was. She was grateful to the tailors who had worked so hard to give her a mundane wardrobe, but she wanted her real dress back.
However, her mind was not on that. Her friend was bound to her own dress in many painful ways. It was her guardian, but also, her jailor. Renxiang hated it. She hated that Liming could, at times, control her.
At the same time, Ling Qi remembered the figure with glass eyes and Renxiang's face, its mouth stitched shut with adamantine thread. A part of her pitied that.
"Renxiang, what do you intend?"
"A meditation and struggle as the last. My resolve against Mother was enough last time, but…"