My Vow To My Liege: Chapters 7-9
Dec. 28th, 2021 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist and Guide
So the plot isn't BAD but is dragging a bit(*), and the canon romance stuff is barely there...but also the main character has a fiancee who is this tiny little badass mage and they are SO FEMSLASHY.
Content notes: Violence, age gap ships, suicide, slavery
(*)There reached a point in chapter 10, when, as a whole new common route plotline started, I went "How many chapters does this game even HAVE?" and carefully googled. Turns out the answer is 16.
Chapter 7
The envoy from Qi, Gongsun Yi, is PISSED to have been ignored and placed under house arrest for nearly a month, and doubts their story that ShaoJiang will recover soon from the 'poison'.
Wu ZiXu: If Mr Gongsun does not believe the Ng Palace doctor, you can write to Qi Palace. Of course I hope you will also honestly explain why the princess, who you should be looking after, broke into Ng's forbidden mausoleum and got poisoned of her own accord.
FuChai: The King of Qi is a reasonable man, we are sure he will understand :)
Ok I'm not generally into Wu ZiXu but the two of them teaming up like this is pretty great, hopefully his route has more of that and less of him being murderously paranoid.
Gongsun Yi: ...how should I account for us having been here for so many days without good news.
FuChai: We do have good news. Please inform your king of our intentions of marriage while we prepare the bridal gifts.
ShaoJiang's dagger is the perfect tool to defeat the dragon, but using it will destroy any chance of happiness in her future.
Shi YiGuang says he wants to see the situation at Tiger Hill, and when Wu ZiXu is dubious about him visiting the place where his clan died, airily says it has no significance to him.
Shi YiGuang: My Liege is so well protected.
FuChai: The Prime Minister pulls us outside in the dead of winter for a sparring match and locks us up for three days to do paperwork...so we guess we are well protected haha.
Now FuChai is the one telling ChenFeng he needs to rest more and look after his physical and spiritual injuries.
Shi YiGuang: As a doctor I have to agree.
ChenFeng: *puppy dog eyes*
Shi YiGuang: ...but it's not good for his morale to keep him locked up ;)
Goujian: I, the sinner, request to go along with Your Majesty and return to work guarding Tiger Hill.
"YiGuang is meditating, ChenFeng is trying to heal, and Goujian did not think he had the right to be in the same carriage as us and is walking on foot"
FuChai: We will not forget the promise we made with Ah-Jiu
Goujian: Ah-Jiu believes in Your Majesty.
YiGuang says his father took him to the Zheng clan village when he was young, but Zheng Dan doesn't remember him. When he realises who YiGuang is, Zheng Dan heaps on extravagant praises.
Oh wow I just realised Zheng Dan has been head priest since he was 11! He set up a sword array to deal with the "strangely scattered spiritual energy", (supposedly) not knowing his predecessors were deliberately killed to create it.
Heh I just got the Steam Achievement "Chinese is Great" for clicking on the weibo link in the main menu. Sure enough, I didn't understand a word of it, but I saw some cool looking CGs! *clicks away before I spoil myself*
The crack in the ding has gotten larger, and YiGuang says there must be a array or other spell sucking out it's energy.
YiGuang asks to be given some magical artefacts and sealed in for three days to investigate, which Zheng Dan thinks is a great idea (HMM) but FuChai worries.
YiGuang insists FuChai take the amulet, worried that whatever is affecting the ding will hasten her Seal's blackening.
Wu ZiXu thinks this is all a plot by YiGuang to break the dragon free as revenge. FuChai gets angry about how he never trusts her judgement.
Wu ZiXu: Since you know Shi YiGuang so well, I'm sure you know that three years ago, during our war with Yue, he treated their wounded soldiers and advised GouJian to surrender when we were about to achieve a pyrrhic victory.
FuChai: ...he did not tell us that, but it is the behaviour we would expect.
Wu ZiXu: GouJian said he found YiGuang when he was looking for a doctor for you, but they met three years ago. One lied and the other stayed silent. It is a conspiracy!
When she still believes in YiGuang, Wu ZiXu spits that she is naive and she angrily reminds him that she is his king. He stalks out and things between them remain tense for several days. FuChai feels terrible, it's the first time they've had a real conflict in all the years they've worked together.
I guess this really is just one long common route and now I've reached the Wu ZiXu section. Let's see if you can win me over, old man! *is 5 years older than Wu ZiXu but shh*
ShaoJiang is semi-conscious, and seems to be having pleasant conversations with someone in her dreams. FuChai sees her crying apologies to her older brother.
"I wipe the tears away from the corner of ShaoJiang's eyes and lament the fact that a lovely girl like her would look so adorable even when she is crying. I don't know if her brother has read my letter regarding marriage..."
FuChai I get that you're into her but now is not the time.
FuChai gets word that Wu ZiXu is marching with soldiers to Tiger Hill and furiously goes to stop him. But when she catches up his expression is troubled and he points to a growing miasma covering the hill. Everyone he's tried sending into it was paralysed with pain and an inability to breathe.
ChenFeng has the idea to swim in up the stream, with bags of air.
FuChai: Prime Minister, if anything should happen to us, we will need you here to support the Kingdom on our behalf.
Wu ZiXu: If anything should happen on Tiger Hill, what kingdom would there be for me to support?
They find a haggard GouJian, who says he was attacked by the guards, now undead monsters, and lacked the strength to get down the hill to report it.
GouJian: Your Majesty, you cannot continue, even to save Mr XiShi! It is too dangerous!
Wu ZiXu, thinking the exact same thing: How dare you question the Kingdom of Ng >:(
Fire barely keeps the miasma and monsters at bay. The temple is empty, and monsters threaten to smash through the doors. The secret entrance has been left open.
Yiguang sits motionless in front of the ding, at the centre of a spiderweb of silver strings. He is sickly and unresponsive, and FuChai decides he must have gone inside the human sacrificial array.
Wu ZiXu gets very angry at the idea of FuChai going into the array, convinced it's a trap, but she insists. She grabs the strings, bloodying her hand, and finds herself in an empty city.
Chapter 8
It is a similar city to before, possibly the same.
Undead soldiers prowl the streets, seeming to look for something, stopping sometimes to let out a disturbing howl.
A deep voice instructs the soldiers to search for "the intruder" and says "A sickly cat like you might as well give up". FuChai sees a giant white tiger protecting the cracked city gates, nearly dead under the feet of a cow-bird monster called the QiongQi.
Suddenly FuChai remembers that five years ago the head priestess, YiGuang's mother, called forth a white tiger from the ding just before the end. Is it the spirit of the ding?
FuChai hides in the gate tower, a palace strung with huge chains hung with magical letters. She finds YiGuang trapped within the chains, he says he doesn't know where Zheng Dan is and someone broke the spell he was using to try to bring back the powers of the ding.
He says the city is the ding itself, and if the gates are broken the dragon will escape.
I took a little break to write up the Chapter 4-6 post and decided to see how many CGs I've seen, as a measure of how much of the game is left, and I have seen 5/28?? I have seen 2/15 scenes marked as GuaJian specific?? THIS GAME COST ME TEN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS.
Undead soldiers swarm the room. FuChai cuts herself to the bone to free YiGuang and give him the power to fight and her blood flows out as golden light.
YiGuang wears a gentle but scary smile as he thanks FuChai for saving him. Then he gestures to the QiongQi and it BOWS TO HIM LIKE A DOG AS HE CLIMBS ONTO IT'S BACK????
YIGUANG
I TRUSTED YOU
I LIKED YOU
WTF
FuChai and I flash back to all the times Wu ZiXu pointed out that Shi YiGuang has good reason to resent Ng, has shown himself loyal to Yue, and showed up just as everything started going bad. SORRY OLD MAN MAYBE YOU WEREN'T JUST PARANOID.
Is this all a Yue plot with Goujian?? They both seem sincere in wanting the best for FuChai but also...had a lot of sad expressions when they said that...
OR MAYBE THIS IS ALL A MISUNDERSTANDING AND IT'S A NICE BIRD COW MONSTER
Fuchai: Are you not going to protect the city? The Kingdom of Ng will fall!!
YiGuang: That has nothing to do with me :)
Fuchai: Do you not remember the promise you made me? D:
YiGuang: Is it not funny? Just a few casual words from me can trick you into bringing me to the sword pond :)
MY GOD. IT REALLY IS A SEXPIONAGE OPERATION. God damn you got me good, game.
YiGuang laughs and waves as he flies away. FuChai can only stare at him in shock.
But then at the last minute she is rescued by the fish spirit, and 'a figure with flowing sleeves' captures YiGuang. Is it the real YiGuang and that was Zhang Dan in disguise or something?
OH. IT WAS THE DRAGON GOD HIMSELF, getting her to free him from his prison. Sneaky bastard.
Ok, YiGuang is as nice as he always seemed to be. Woulda been interesting if he wasn't but this is fine too!
This is the spiritual realm. The human sacrificial array is the battle-torn area outside the city gates.
YiGuang fails to persuade the tiger to retreat with them, but then it sniffs FuChai and gives her a big wet lick: it likes the kings of Ng.
The Dragon God attacks! YiGuang's voice actor is doing his best but they didn't bother drawing any evil expression sprites for YiGuang so the gentle face is kinda undercutting the maniacal ranting.
FuChai slashes her arm and calls on the power of Heaven. The Dragon God tries to flee but YiGuang ties him with silver strings and the gates of the city collapse on him. YiGuang gets the tiger to enter the amulet and pulls FuChai with him onto the fish and they escape along a silver string in a flash of white.
She wakes in excruciating pain. She, YiGuang, and Wu ZiXu watch in horror as the ding splits apart, its surface becoming rusted and dull. ChenFeng and the soldiers quickly join them, retreating from the strengthened monsters and miasma. YiGuang creates a barrier of water to protect everyone. (including Goujian?)
The dark voice repeats it's curse: "Your nation will crumble, families will be torn apart, everything you treasure will turn to ash". The Dragon God is free.
Zheng Dan: My Liege is now more aware of your limits :)
FuChai: You won't fool me again with your false faces, beast!
Zheng Dan: All your ancestors treated me like a sovereign god, but your generation calls me a beast. How hurtful :)
YiGuang: Zheng Dan is the beast. The protective sword array was just for show, he cast an array to steal the ding's power five years ago and has been siphoning it off ever since.
FuChai: D:
Zheng Dan: ^_^
Wu ZiXu: We sealed you once, we will seal you again!
Zheng Dan: Well then, I'll be waiting ^_^
And he raises his hand to send a wave of monsters to attack.
There's a bunch of magic and fighting and YiGuang breaks the array Zheng Dan was using to steal the ding's power. The Dragon God is severely weakened and this part of his soul is almost used up. He smiles coldly and shoots a sword at FuChai, who is paralyzed by the pain of her Seal.
But then she feels arms around her. Goujian has taken the blow. Bleeding, he weakly says "I couldn't see you die. Perhaps... this is for the best." She screams.
A furious Shi YiGuang pulls the swords in the ground towards him with silver thread, and calls on the energy of his dead clan to attack Zheng Dan.
Zheng Dan says "Remember, little girl of the Ng clan. Death is not the best punishment." and then his body tears apart. The remaining miasma forms into a dragon, but not as large as the one five years ago. The dragon, mist, and monsters all vanish.
FuChai holds Goujian's bloody body, swearing "The evil deed that you've done today will be avenged a thousand time over!" and then blacks out.
She wakes to the news that YiGuang managed to save Goujian, and is now at Tiger Hill preparing for the Dragon God's next attack. Even Wu ZiXu admits there's not much point mistrusting him now.
Wu ZiXu is shaken by Zheng Dan's betrayal, but says mortals have little chance to outsmart a thousand year old dragon.
It seems likely that 'Zheng Dan' was a portion of the Dragon God's soul that managed to escape the ritual, and killed and impersonated the real Zheng Dan. Wu ZiXu thinks the Zheng clan were in on it or they'd have noticed their relative's off-ness by now.
ChenFeng has made himself sick looking after FuChai, and she and Wu ZiXu insist he go rest.
Oh WOW. So. Wu ZiXu asks FuChai if she trusts him, and says what he has to say is for the good of Ng. Then he reminds her of her oath to her father. To find artifacts to destroy the dragon god, and...
FuChai: CONTINUE THE BLOODLINE?? I will not endure the insults of three years ago D:<
Wu ZiXu: It can be anyone who takes your fancy. A peasant, fishmerman...
FuChai: WTF D:<
Me: ARRANGED MARRIAGE TROPES?? :D
Wu ZiXu: Once we have confirmed your pregnancy, I will dispose of the man. So you cannot choose GouJian, Shi YiGuang, or any other minister of Ng.
FuChai: You still don't trust GouJian or Shi YiGuang? You would have us sacrifice ourselves?
Wu ZiXu: I am taking responsibility for the mistake I made with Zheng Dan, and that is why I am trying to convince my Liege to be more guarded. A leader must plan for the long term.
FuChai pulls down her robe to reveal the seal on her chest, now with two of the five petals turned black. What is this "long term" he speaks of?
FuChai: I'm already a dead man walking. Does it make you happy to make my life even more miserable? To insult me like this, am I even human to you? Your life is empty and you surround yourself with suspicion, is that what you wish for?
Furious, he shouts back "I only wish for the peace and prosperity of Ng and my Liege!"
"In that moment, the tall, handsome, confident Prime Minister has become a withered old man"
Wu ZiXu: You are right, my life has been void of joy since the Kingdom of Chu killed my family, and I fled to Ng. Who would have thought the former king of Ng would not only trust a Chu defector like me but take revenge on my behalf? I have nothing left to repay the favour but my life and loyalty. His last wish was for me to take care of you, and you dare say that I want to make your life miserable?
Fuchai apologises, aware of her own debt to Wu ZiXu. But he just laughs bitterly and things between them become strained.
ShaoJiang is awake! She says the reason she went to Tiger Hill is that she sensed a dark presence and wanted to investigate, but then was caught by the followers.
YiGuang: Did you see a young handsome priest?
ShaoJiang: Yes. Although he was good-looking, he scared me.
Fuchai: Princess ShaoJiang is a powerful mage to see through his disguise.
ShaoJiang, blushing: I-is that so...
(The whole oddly sexy teen priest thing is funnier now that I remember that this company's earlier game is all about sexy monks)
She also gets blushy around YiGuang. That's fine, they can all get group married.
ShaoJiang, shyly: Thank you to Lord Ng for saving me over and over. I...I hope that I have not failed in my mission to forge an alliance between Ng and Qi and for the blessed union between Lord Ng and I.
It suddenly occurs to Fuchai that ShaoJiang is looking at her as the young man she intends to marry, and she feels awkward.
Ooh my first choice that isn't obviously aimed towards one dude or another: tell YiGuang what happened with Wu ZiXu or not. I think I'll tell him. It feels like a YiGuang vs Wu ZiXu choice and I'm aiming for Goujian so no need to overthink it.
Fuchai: I am too selfish to be a good king, and unworthy of the Prime Minister's faith in me.
WAIT. Another choice came up a few lines later, and I realised this and the previous one both have YiGuang's face, when all previous choices had two different faces. Am I on the YiGuang path??
Well that's...fine, I guess! But I'm going to go back and make the YiGuang choice way back in the village then skip back to the previous choice and save there. It would be annoying to have to replay even more later, and I want to feel like this FuChai is most into YiGuang if that's the route we're on.
Still not sure HOW I ended up on the YiGuang path rather than Goujian when I have taken every possible pro-Goujian choice and the only other choice was whether to look for clues with Wu ZiXu or ChenFeng. Maybe some important plot point only happens if you go with Wu ZiXu? Maybe Goujian is only unlocked later?
All questions for future Sean, since this Sean is apparently romancing YiGuang!
The scene in the village if you pick to say goodbye to YiGuang is exactly the same until the end, when they hold hands as she hands back the amulet, and stare into each other's eyes.
Everything else seemed the same as I skipped back to the first choice of the YiGuang path and made a save.
And I'm still going to pick to tell him the truth, because honest communication is important in relationships!
"I thought that I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my short life with YiGuang. But I can't use him like a tool. If I truly care about him, then I cannot drag him with me to the grave."
She is going to defeat the dragon god and then set YiGuang free like a fish into the ocean.
He says she is not the girl he knew in the past. Even though she is rash, she is self sacrificing, benevolent, and loyal. He came back because he chooses to serve under such a king.
Wu ZiXu helped teach her to become such a king, but it is inevitable that such a stubborn teacher and student will quarrel.
FuChai thanks him, and says all of them will work together to bring peace to Ng.
Chapter 9
FuChai promises Goujian that while now is not a good time to persuade the Prime Minister, she will eventually send him back to Yue. He smiles bitterly and says he understands it is not her decision alone.
He now knows the full truth about Ng's relationship with the Dragon God, and offers to get his clansmen to search Yue for followers.
The King of Qi is dead, poisoned by Minister Tian!! The Tian clan wish to set up ShaoJiang's young nephew as a puppet.
FuChai promises a distraught GongSun Yi that Ng will honour the engagement and protect ShaoJiang. But she's aware that the situation may not be simple, depending on how things shake out in Qi.
There's smoke from ShaoJiang's chambers, and she says she'll kill herself if anyone comes in?? She tells FuChai she's just burning letters to her brother, and that her final wish is to be buried in Qi with her brother D:
Fuchai kicks the door down to see ShaoJiang with a dagger to her throat, crying that she doesn't want to see any more of her family and kingdom be destroyed.
ShaoJiang: I know Lord Ng is gentle, but I beg you would let me have my final wish.
Fuchai: We are not who you think we are.
And then she grabs ShaoJiang and presses the knife in harder. As ShaoJiang struggles Fuchai says "Do not worry. If you stab yourself here, you will not have to suffer for long. But since you will be dead, you will never know how we deal with your body."
The knife pierces ShaoJiang's skin and she screams. Her maids run to protect her.
Fuchai, dropping the knife: Princess ShaoJiang, it is only when you have truly tasted the peril of a life or death situation that you truly broaden your horizons.
ShaoJiang stares at her for a moment and then runs crying into her arms. Fuchai strokes her head gently. After a while ShaoJiang squirms in FuChai's arms 'like a civet cat' and the maids feel awkward and take their leave. YEAH I THINK IT'S SHIPPY TOO, MAIDS.
"The little civet cat" goes rigid and then says "Lord Ng...you..."
FuChai: We were only scaring you. Do not worry.
ShaoJiang, blushing: That's not it...
GAME.
"I've long passed the age of ignorance. The Prime Minister and ChenFeng have always been broadminded and frank about such things so ShaoJiang's action does not faze me."
ShaoJiang whispers "Why?" and FuChai calmly swears her to secrecy and explains.
ShaoJiang: It must have been so difficult.
FuChai: It was at the start. I had to learn a lot very quickly.
ShaoJiang: Are you not scared of someone finding out?
FuChai: I'm too exhausted to worry. What has me worried is being a good king, and fulfilling my brother's wishes. I will protect what they treasured in their stead.
ShaoJiang: You are not how I imagined you to be. You are better :)
GAME
She hugs FuChai tightly and then quickly falls asleep in her arms. Fuchai gently places her in bed and leaves the room.
I'm glad Fuchai and Wu ZiXu are working things out but also...how did ShaoJiang feel any boobs under that armour...
FuChai: ShaoJiang reminds us of our younger timid, weak self. Is that not why you stabbed us?
Wu ZiXu: I anguished over your misfortune, but I was also angered by your unwillingness to fight.
FuChai: We are here as the King because you have worked hard at protecting and supporting us. The Prime Minister is like a father to us. That is something we will never forget. That day, we spoke thoughtlessly...please forgive us.
Wu ZiXu: Then will you take my advice?
FuChai: We have thought about it. But if the Dragon God is not defeated soon, we may not have ten more months to live.
They take each others hands, and agree that though their opinions may differ, their hearts are as one.
ShaoJiang and YiGuang go through the documents at Tiger Hill and find something useful. Wu ZiXu has instructed that YiGuang not be allowed on Tiger Hill but this time just comes along instead of causing an argument.
Huuuuuh now a purely Wu ZiXu choice? Guess I'm not necessarily on the YiGuang path after all! Well, never mind, going back to an earlier save is too much trouble, let's just keep going.
Wu ZiXu is DEEPLY DUBIOUS about YiGuang's new 'totally safe' purification array powered by FuChai's blood.
On the walls of the misty city, YiGuang explains that the tiger/ding and phoenix/dagger are protecting the same city. So what does it represent?
FuChai leans over a bannister to look at the city, still crawling with undead, and YiGuang and Wu ZiXu both grab her by the waist.
Wu ZiXu: Shi YiGuang, there are things you should let go of as soon as possible, for your own safety and freedom.
YiGuang: I will let go when it is time. But Prime Minister, if you hold too tightly, the precious little bird in your hand will suffocate to death :)
ShaoJiang: *cough* So, since Lord Ng is curious, shall we explore the city?
FuChai: Can we get rid of the evil aura by killing these undead soldiers?
YiGuang: My Liege, do you not recognise them?
FuChai and Wu ZiXu are horrified to realise the undead wear the armour of Ng and Chu. They are restless spirits from the decades-long war for the ding that took place between Ng and Chu, unmourned and without purpose.
FuChai: There are no restless Shi spirits.
Wu ZiXu: I cannot speak for the others, but the priest and priestess were good friends of mine, and were as determined as the former king to save the kingdom of Ng. They died for a noble cause and then were venerated after death.
FuChai: You also watched Shi YiGuang grow up as a child. We hope you can watch over him, without bias, as an elder and friend of his parents.
Wu ZiXu: I understand.
Since FuChai and Wu ZiXu's weapons vanished when they entered the array, ShaoJiang clears a path with her phoenix.
The phoenix (loyal to ShaoJiang) nuzzles the tiger (loyal to FuChai) ;) ;)
Wu ZiXu: It's beautiful :)
ShaoJiang: The male phoenix was even more beautiful. He was the sprit of my brother's knife. But he died to protect me, so it's my fault my brother... ;_; Lord Ng! I hope you will send your army to execute my revenge.
Wu ZiXu: Princess, revenge is a long and arduous journey, and in the end, all you are left with is emptiness. You are still so young. Are you sure you are ready for a lifetime of hardships with no rewards?
ShaoJiang: If there is no revenge, life is meaningless.
FuChai points to the mountains of dead left by her father's own war.
FuChai: Win or lose, the cost of a war is thousands of lives. As the King of Ng, we will not endanger the lives of our citizens, and do not wish to see your kingdom in such a state either.
TEN FOOT TALL SKELETON ATTACK!!
Wu ZiXu: You said this would be safe >:(
YiGuang defeats it with the power of the tiger, now healed, and the TRUE DING OF VIRTUE. Because the ding they've been dealing with all this time is a fake!!
ShaoJiang explains: the true ding was broken into five sacred artefacts, four legs and a body. The phoenix leg became the twin daggers. The white tiger leg became part of the false ding. This is a secret of Qi she didn't feel able to share until now. Her true motivation for coming to Ng was to reassemble the true ding to prove that her brother had the mandate of heaven.
And as a result of her actions, her brother is dead. She says Ng can have both daggers if they help her retake Qi and have her revenge.
YiGuang: That is your family's heirloom, would you really part with it?
ShaoJiang: I grew up in troubled times where everything you love is a flash in the pan.
YiGuang turns the phoenix into a little sparrow and hands it to ShaoJiang saying "In the midst of a chaotic world it is even more important to treasure what you have."
She cradles the little bird in her hand and cries.
YiGuang: Apologies, my Liege, I've lost you your chance at the Phoenix dagger.
FuChai: We would be lying if we said we do not want it. But there are many ways to borrow the power of the Ding of Virtue other than seizing it for our own selfish ends. Otherwise, would we be any better than the Dragon God?
The tiger encourages FuChai to get on its back and come to the gate it had previously been defending.
Another giant skeleton, made of undead soldiers!
YiGuang tells ShaoJiang to keep it busy, on her phoenix, while FuChai and Wu ZiXu keep the tiger out of the way by patting it. Then YiGuang rides the amulet fish and takes down the skeleton with string. It's quite a mental image haha.
YiGuang sings away the evil aura and I think the undead spirits sing along. They dissolve into stardust which heals the broken city walls, the lonely spirits finally having a place where they belong.
The group returns to the real world. YiGuang directs FuChai to use the dagger to drip her blood on the ding, which loses it's rusted appearance. But it's still not safe for the tiger to return.
Wu ZiXu swears everyone to secrecy, especially against telling Goujian.
YiGuang intends to go to HaoJing, ancient capital of Zhou, the place where the ding was broken into pieces. ShaoJiang wants to come along and help.
FuChai: But it's so dangerous.
Wu ZiXu: Since my Liege wants to appoint Shi YiGuang as Head Priest, you should have more faith in him.
Oh NOW you believe in him.
ChenFeng seems unhappy that FuChai went out without him, but bitterly says it's not his place to complain as a servant.
FuChai: But you're obviously unhappy.
ChenFeng: My Liege, since when have you ever taken my mood into account? Other than being loyal, I am of no use...
His eyes seem blank and strange.
YiGuang has something to talk to her about and I have the choice to agree or follow ChenFeng and...DAMMIT I REALLY DO WANT TO ROMANCE GOUJIAN TIME TO GO BACK TO A PREVIOUS SAVE.
"Skip seen text" stopped working even though the dialogue seems to be identical >:( The odds of there being new Goujian content when he's not even onscreen seems low so I'm going to chance skipping all text.
Time to check on ChenFeng!
He feels useless, when she has done so much for him. She points out that he has been her friend, and saved her when her uncle tried to kill her three years ago D:
ChenFeng: You hate the sacred seal...but that does that mean you need to hate yourself? You don't treasure you life! D:< ...I have overstepped my bounds.
FuChai: No, you are not just FuChai's bodyguard, you are a friend and brother to Ah-Yu. Although I hate being a monster that is neither male nor female, being bitter about it will not help. I will embrace being the King of Ng so we have a chance of defeating the Dragon God. I put myself in danger not because I want to die, but because I wish to live.
I GUESS SHE'S ALLOWED TO BE CIS
*quietly keeps imagining her as at least a little non-binary*
ChenFeng: Ah-Yu. Can you promise never to leave me behind again? I'll probably go mad if I cannot see you or protect you.
She holds up her pinky to swear but he takes her hand and says she has been dragged under by enough vows. His only hope is to die before her.
A few days later, Goujian says his contacts have sent word that Qi is sending ships to attack Ng, and offers the Yue fleet to help.
FuChai thinks this is the perfect opportunity to send Goujian to Yue and strengthen their alliance. But of course Wu ZiXu thinks it's a trick.
So the plot isn't BAD but is dragging a bit(*), and the canon romance stuff is barely there...but also the main character has a fiancee who is this tiny little badass mage and they are SO FEMSLASHY.
Content notes: Violence, age gap ships, suicide, slavery
(*)There reached a point in chapter 10, when, as a whole new common route plotline started, I went "How many chapters does this game even HAVE?" and carefully googled. Turns out the answer is 16.
Chapter 7
The envoy from Qi, Gongsun Yi, is PISSED to have been ignored and placed under house arrest for nearly a month, and doubts their story that ShaoJiang will recover soon from the 'poison'.
Wu ZiXu: If Mr Gongsun does not believe the Ng Palace doctor, you can write to Qi Palace. Of course I hope you will also honestly explain why the princess, who you should be looking after, broke into Ng's forbidden mausoleum and got poisoned of her own accord.
FuChai: The King of Qi is a reasonable man, we are sure he will understand :)
Ok I'm not generally into Wu ZiXu but the two of them teaming up like this is pretty great, hopefully his route has more of that and less of him being murderously paranoid.
Gongsun Yi: ...how should I account for us having been here for so many days without good news.
FuChai: We do have good news. Please inform your king of our intentions of marriage while we prepare the bridal gifts.
ShaoJiang's dagger is the perfect tool to defeat the dragon, but using it will destroy any chance of happiness in her future.
Shi YiGuang says he wants to see the situation at Tiger Hill, and when Wu ZiXu is dubious about him visiting the place where his clan died, airily says it has no significance to him.
Shi YiGuang: My Liege is so well protected.
FuChai: The Prime Minister pulls us outside in the dead of winter for a sparring match and locks us up for three days to do paperwork...so we guess we are well protected haha.
Now FuChai is the one telling ChenFeng he needs to rest more and look after his physical and spiritual injuries.
Shi YiGuang: As a doctor I have to agree.
ChenFeng: *puppy dog eyes*
Shi YiGuang: ...but it's not good for his morale to keep him locked up ;)
Goujian: I, the sinner, request to go along with Your Majesty and return to work guarding Tiger Hill.
"YiGuang is meditating, ChenFeng is trying to heal, and Goujian did not think he had the right to be in the same carriage as us and is walking on foot"
FuChai: We will not forget the promise we made with Ah-Jiu
Goujian: Ah-Jiu believes in Your Majesty.
YiGuang says his father took him to the Zheng clan village when he was young, but Zheng Dan doesn't remember him. When he realises who YiGuang is, Zheng Dan heaps on extravagant praises.
Oh wow I just realised Zheng Dan has been head priest since he was 11! He set up a sword array to deal with the "strangely scattered spiritual energy", (supposedly) not knowing his predecessors were deliberately killed to create it.
Heh I just got the Steam Achievement "Chinese is Great" for clicking on the weibo link in the main menu. Sure enough, I didn't understand a word of it, but I saw some cool looking CGs! *clicks away before I spoil myself*
The crack in the ding has gotten larger, and YiGuang says there must be a array or other spell sucking out it's energy.
YiGuang asks to be given some magical artefacts and sealed in for three days to investigate, which Zheng Dan thinks is a great idea (HMM) but FuChai worries.
YiGuang insists FuChai take the amulet, worried that whatever is affecting the ding will hasten her Seal's blackening.
Wu ZiXu thinks this is all a plot by YiGuang to break the dragon free as revenge. FuChai gets angry about how he never trusts her judgement.
Wu ZiXu: Since you know Shi YiGuang so well, I'm sure you know that three years ago, during our war with Yue, he treated their wounded soldiers and advised GouJian to surrender when we were about to achieve a pyrrhic victory.
FuChai: ...he did not tell us that, but it is the behaviour we would expect.
Wu ZiXu: GouJian said he found YiGuang when he was looking for a doctor for you, but they met three years ago. One lied and the other stayed silent. It is a conspiracy!
When she still believes in YiGuang, Wu ZiXu spits that she is naive and she angrily reminds him that she is his king. He stalks out and things between them remain tense for several days. FuChai feels terrible, it's the first time they've had a real conflict in all the years they've worked together.
I guess this really is just one long common route and now I've reached the Wu ZiXu section. Let's see if you can win me over, old man! *is 5 years older than Wu ZiXu but shh*
ShaoJiang is semi-conscious, and seems to be having pleasant conversations with someone in her dreams. FuChai sees her crying apologies to her older brother.
"I wipe the tears away from the corner of ShaoJiang's eyes and lament the fact that a lovely girl like her would look so adorable even when she is crying. I don't know if her brother has read my letter regarding marriage..."
FuChai I get that you're into her but now is not the time.
FuChai gets word that Wu ZiXu is marching with soldiers to Tiger Hill and furiously goes to stop him. But when she catches up his expression is troubled and he points to a growing miasma covering the hill. Everyone he's tried sending into it was paralysed with pain and an inability to breathe.
ChenFeng has the idea to swim in up the stream, with bags of air.
FuChai: Prime Minister, if anything should happen to us, we will need you here to support the Kingdom on our behalf.
Wu ZiXu: If anything should happen on Tiger Hill, what kingdom would there be for me to support?
They find a haggard GouJian, who says he was attacked by the guards, now undead monsters, and lacked the strength to get down the hill to report it.
GouJian: Your Majesty, you cannot continue, even to save Mr XiShi! It is too dangerous!
Wu ZiXu, thinking the exact same thing: How dare you question the Kingdom of Ng >:(
Fire barely keeps the miasma and monsters at bay. The temple is empty, and monsters threaten to smash through the doors. The secret entrance has been left open.
Yiguang sits motionless in front of the ding, at the centre of a spiderweb of silver strings. He is sickly and unresponsive, and FuChai decides he must have gone inside the human sacrificial array.
Wu ZiXu gets very angry at the idea of FuChai going into the array, convinced it's a trap, but she insists. She grabs the strings, bloodying her hand, and finds herself in an empty city.
Chapter 8
It is a similar city to before, possibly the same.
Undead soldiers prowl the streets, seeming to look for something, stopping sometimes to let out a disturbing howl.
A deep voice instructs the soldiers to search for "the intruder" and says "A sickly cat like you might as well give up". FuChai sees a giant white tiger protecting the cracked city gates, nearly dead under the feet of a cow-bird monster called the QiongQi.
Suddenly FuChai remembers that five years ago the head priestess, YiGuang's mother, called forth a white tiger from the ding just before the end. Is it the spirit of the ding?
FuChai hides in the gate tower, a palace strung with huge chains hung with magical letters. She finds YiGuang trapped within the chains, he says he doesn't know where Zheng Dan is and someone broke the spell he was using to try to bring back the powers of the ding.
He says the city is the ding itself, and if the gates are broken the dragon will escape.
I took a little break to write up the Chapter 4-6 post and decided to see how many CGs I've seen, as a measure of how much of the game is left, and I have seen 5/28?? I have seen 2/15 scenes marked as GuaJian specific?? THIS GAME COST ME TEN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS.
Undead soldiers swarm the room. FuChai cuts herself to the bone to free YiGuang and give him the power to fight and her blood flows out as golden light.
YiGuang wears a gentle but scary smile as he thanks FuChai for saving him. Then he gestures to the QiongQi and it BOWS TO HIM LIKE A DOG AS HE CLIMBS ONTO IT'S BACK????
YIGUANG
I TRUSTED YOU
I LIKED YOU
WTF
FuChai and I flash back to all the times Wu ZiXu pointed out that Shi YiGuang has good reason to resent Ng, has shown himself loyal to Yue, and showed up just as everything started going bad. SORRY OLD MAN MAYBE YOU WEREN'T JUST PARANOID.
Is this all a Yue plot with Goujian?? They both seem sincere in wanting the best for FuChai but also...had a lot of sad expressions when they said that...
OR MAYBE THIS IS ALL A MISUNDERSTANDING AND IT'S A NICE BIRD COW MONSTER
Fuchai: Are you not going to protect the city? The Kingdom of Ng will fall!!
YiGuang: That has nothing to do with me :)
Fuchai: Do you not remember the promise you made me? D:
YiGuang: Is it not funny? Just a few casual words from me can trick you into bringing me to the sword pond :)
MY GOD. IT REALLY IS A SEXPIONAGE OPERATION. God damn you got me good, game.
YiGuang laughs and waves as he flies away. FuChai can only stare at him in shock.
But then at the last minute she is rescued by the fish spirit, and 'a figure with flowing sleeves' captures YiGuang. Is it the real YiGuang and that was Zhang Dan in disguise or something?
OH. IT WAS THE DRAGON GOD HIMSELF, getting her to free him from his prison. Sneaky bastard.
Ok, YiGuang is as nice as he always seemed to be. Woulda been interesting if he wasn't but this is fine too!
This is the spiritual realm. The human sacrificial array is the battle-torn area outside the city gates.
YiGuang fails to persuade the tiger to retreat with them, but then it sniffs FuChai and gives her a big wet lick: it likes the kings of Ng.
The Dragon God attacks! YiGuang's voice actor is doing his best but they didn't bother drawing any evil expression sprites for YiGuang so the gentle face is kinda undercutting the maniacal ranting.
FuChai slashes her arm and calls on the power of Heaven. The Dragon God tries to flee but YiGuang ties him with silver strings and the gates of the city collapse on him. YiGuang gets the tiger to enter the amulet and pulls FuChai with him onto the fish and they escape along a silver string in a flash of white.
She wakes in excruciating pain. She, YiGuang, and Wu ZiXu watch in horror as the ding splits apart, its surface becoming rusted and dull. ChenFeng and the soldiers quickly join them, retreating from the strengthened monsters and miasma. YiGuang creates a barrier of water to protect everyone. (including Goujian?)
The dark voice repeats it's curse: "Your nation will crumble, families will be torn apart, everything you treasure will turn to ash". The Dragon God is free.
Zheng Dan: My Liege is now more aware of your limits :)
FuChai: You won't fool me again with your false faces, beast!
Zheng Dan: All your ancestors treated me like a sovereign god, but your generation calls me a beast. How hurtful :)
YiGuang: Zheng Dan is the beast. The protective sword array was just for show, he cast an array to steal the ding's power five years ago and has been siphoning it off ever since.
FuChai: D:
Zheng Dan: ^_^
Wu ZiXu: We sealed you once, we will seal you again!
Zheng Dan: Well then, I'll be waiting ^_^
And he raises his hand to send a wave of monsters to attack.
There's a bunch of magic and fighting and YiGuang breaks the array Zheng Dan was using to steal the ding's power. The Dragon God is severely weakened and this part of his soul is almost used up. He smiles coldly and shoots a sword at FuChai, who is paralyzed by the pain of her Seal.
But then she feels arms around her. Goujian has taken the blow. Bleeding, he weakly says "I couldn't see you die. Perhaps... this is for the best." She screams.
A furious Shi YiGuang pulls the swords in the ground towards him with silver thread, and calls on the energy of his dead clan to attack Zheng Dan.
Zheng Dan says "Remember, little girl of the Ng clan. Death is not the best punishment." and then his body tears apart. The remaining miasma forms into a dragon, but not as large as the one five years ago. The dragon, mist, and monsters all vanish.
FuChai holds Goujian's bloody body, swearing "The evil deed that you've done today will be avenged a thousand time over!" and then blacks out.
She wakes to the news that YiGuang managed to save Goujian, and is now at Tiger Hill preparing for the Dragon God's next attack. Even Wu ZiXu admits there's not much point mistrusting him now.
Wu ZiXu is shaken by Zheng Dan's betrayal, but says mortals have little chance to outsmart a thousand year old dragon.
It seems likely that 'Zheng Dan' was a portion of the Dragon God's soul that managed to escape the ritual, and killed and impersonated the real Zheng Dan. Wu ZiXu thinks the Zheng clan were in on it or they'd have noticed their relative's off-ness by now.
ChenFeng has made himself sick looking after FuChai, and she and Wu ZiXu insist he go rest.
Oh WOW. So. Wu ZiXu asks FuChai if she trusts him, and says what he has to say is for the good of Ng. Then he reminds her of her oath to her father. To find artifacts to destroy the dragon god, and...
FuChai: CONTINUE THE BLOODLINE?? I will not endure the insults of three years ago D:<
Wu ZiXu: It can be anyone who takes your fancy. A peasant, fishmerman...
FuChai: WTF D:<
Me: ARRANGED MARRIAGE TROPES?? :D
Wu ZiXu: Once we have confirmed your pregnancy, I will dispose of the man. So you cannot choose GouJian, Shi YiGuang, or any other minister of Ng.
FuChai: You still don't trust GouJian or Shi YiGuang? You would have us sacrifice ourselves?
Wu ZiXu: I am taking responsibility for the mistake I made with Zheng Dan, and that is why I am trying to convince my Liege to be more guarded. A leader must plan for the long term.
FuChai pulls down her robe to reveal the seal on her chest, now with two of the five petals turned black. What is this "long term" he speaks of?
FuChai: I'm already a dead man walking. Does it make you happy to make my life even more miserable? To insult me like this, am I even human to you? Your life is empty and you surround yourself with suspicion, is that what you wish for?
Furious, he shouts back "I only wish for the peace and prosperity of Ng and my Liege!"
"In that moment, the tall, handsome, confident Prime Minister has become a withered old man"
Wu ZiXu: You are right, my life has been void of joy since the Kingdom of Chu killed my family, and I fled to Ng. Who would have thought the former king of Ng would not only trust a Chu defector like me but take revenge on my behalf? I have nothing left to repay the favour but my life and loyalty. His last wish was for me to take care of you, and you dare say that I want to make your life miserable?
Fuchai apologises, aware of her own debt to Wu ZiXu. But he just laughs bitterly and things between them become strained.
ShaoJiang is awake! She says the reason she went to Tiger Hill is that she sensed a dark presence and wanted to investigate, but then was caught by the followers.
YiGuang: Did you see a young handsome priest?
ShaoJiang: Yes. Although he was good-looking, he scared me.
Fuchai: Princess ShaoJiang is a powerful mage to see through his disguise.
ShaoJiang, blushing: I-is that so...
(The whole oddly sexy teen priest thing is funnier now that I remember that this company's earlier game is all about sexy monks)
She also gets blushy around YiGuang. That's fine, they can all get group married.
ShaoJiang, shyly: Thank you to Lord Ng for saving me over and over. I...I hope that I have not failed in my mission to forge an alliance between Ng and Qi and for the blessed union between Lord Ng and I.
It suddenly occurs to Fuchai that ShaoJiang is looking at her as the young man she intends to marry, and she feels awkward.
Ooh my first choice that isn't obviously aimed towards one dude or another: tell YiGuang what happened with Wu ZiXu or not. I think I'll tell him. It feels like a YiGuang vs Wu ZiXu choice and I'm aiming for Goujian so no need to overthink it.
Fuchai: I am too selfish to be a good king, and unworthy of the Prime Minister's faith in me.
WAIT. Another choice came up a few lines later, and I realised this and the previous one both have YiGuang's face, when all previous choices had two different faces. Am I on the YiGuang path??
Well that's...fine, I guess! But I'm going to go back and make the YiGuang choice way back in the village then skip back to the previous choice and save there. It would be annoying to have to replay even more later, and I want to feel like this FuChai is most into YiGuang if that's the route we're on.
Still not sure HOW I ended up on the YiGuang path rather than Goujian when I have taken every possible pro-Goujian choice and the only other choice was whether to look for clues with Wu ZiXu or ChenFeng. Maybe some important plot point only happens if you go with Wu ZiXu? Maybe Goujian is only unlocked later?
All questions for future Sean, since this Sean is apparently romancing YiGuang!
The scene in the village if you pick to say goodbye to YiGuang is exactly the same until the end, when they hold hands as she hands back the amulet, and stare into each other's eyes.
Everything else seemed the same as I skipped back to the first choice of the YiGuang path and made a save.
And I'm still going to pick to tell him the truth, because honest communication is important in relationships!
"I thought that I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my short life with YiGuang. But I can't use him like a tool. If I truly care about him, then I cannot drag him with me to the grave."
She is going to defeat the dragon god and then set YiGuang free like a fish into the ocean.
He says she is not the girl he knew in the past. Even though she is rash, she is self sacrificing, benevolent, and loyal. He came back because he chooses to serve under such a king.
Wu ZiXu helped teach her to become such a king, but it is inevitable that such a stubborn teacher and student will quarrel.
FuChai thanks him, and says all of them will work together to bring peace to Ng.
Chapter 9
FuChai promises Goujian that while now is not a good time to persuade the Prime Minister, she will eventually send him back to Yue. He smiles bitterly and says he understands it is not her decision alone.
He now knows the full truth about Ng's relationship with the Dragon God, and offers to get his clansmen to search Yue for followers.
The King of Qi is dead, poisoned by Minister Tian!! The Tian clan wish to set up ShaoJiang's young nephew as a puppet.
FuChai promises a distraught GongSun Yi that Ng will honour the engagement and protect ShaoJiang. But she's aware that the situation may not be simple, depending on how things shake out in Qi.
There's smoke from ShaoJiang's chambers, and she says she'll kill herself if anyone comes in?? She tells FuChai she's just burning letters to her brother, and that her final wish is to be buried in Qi with her brother D:
Fuchai kicks the door down to see ShaoJiang with a dagger to her throat, crying that she doesn't want to see any more of her family and kingdom be destroyed.
ShaoJiang: I know Lord Ng is gentle, but I beg you would let me have my final wish.
Fuchai: We are not who you think we are.
And then she grabs ShaoJiang and presses the knife in harder. As ShaoJiang struggles Fuchai says "Do not worry. If you stab yourself here, you will not have to suffer for long. But since you will be dead, you will never know how we deal with your body."
The knife pierces ShaoJiang's skin and she screams. Her maids run to protect her.
Fuchai, dropping the knife: Princess ShaoJiang, it is only when you have truly tasted the peril of a life or death situation that you truly broaden your horizons.
ShaoJiang stares at her for a moment and then runs crying into her arms. Fuchai strokes her head gently. After a while ShaoJiang squirms in FuChai's arms 'like a civet cat' and the maids feel awkward and take their leave. YEAH I THINK IT'S SHIPPY TOO, MAIDS.
"The little civet cat" goes rigid and then says "Lord Ng...you..."
FuChai: We were only scaring you. Do not worry.
ShaoJiang, blushing: That's not it...
GAME.
"I've long passed the age of ignorance. The Prime Minister and ChenFeng have always been broadminded and frank about such things so ShaoJiang's action does not faze me."
ShaoJiang whispers "Why?" and FuChai calmly swears her to secrecy and explains.
ShaoJiang: It must have been so difficult.
FuChai: It was at the start. I had to learn a lot very quickly.
ShaoJiang: Are you not scared of someone finding out?
FuChai: I'm too exhausted to worry. What has me worried is being a good king, and fulfilling my brother's wishes. I will protect what they treasured in their stead.
ShaoJiang: You are not how I imagined you to be. You are better :)
GAME
She hugs FuChai tightly and then quickly falls asleep in her arms. Fuchai gently places her in bed and leaves the room.
I'm glad Fuchai and Wu ZiXu are working things out but also...how did ShaoJiang feel any boobs under that armour...
FuChai: ShaoJiang reminds us of our younger timid, weak self. Is that not why you stabbed us?
Wu ZiXu: I anguished over your misfortune, but I was also angered by your unwillingness to fight.
FuChai: We are here as the King because you have worked hard at protecting and supporting us. The Prime Minister is like a father to us. That is something we will never forget. That day, we spoke thoughtlessly...please forgive us.
Wu ZiXu: Then will you take my advice?
FuChai: We have thought about it. But if the Dragon God is not defeated soon, we may not have ten more months to live.
They take each others hands, and agree that though their opinions may differ, their hearts are as one.
ShaoJiang and YiGuang go through the documents at Tiger Hill and find something useful. Wu ZiXu has instructed that YiGuang not be allowed on Tiger Hill but this time just comes along instead of causing an argument.
Huuuuuh now a purely Wu ZiXu choice? Guess I'm not necessarily on the YiGuang path after all! Well, never mind, going back to an earlier save is too much trouble, let's just keep going.
Wu ZiXu is DEEPLY DUBIOUS about YiGuang's new 'totally safe' purification array powered by FuChai's blood.
On the walls of the misty city, YiGuang explains that the tiger/ding and phoenix/dagger are protecting the same city. So what does it represent?
FuChai leans over a bannister to look at the city, still crawling with undead, and YiGuang and Wu ZiXu both grab her by the waist.
Wu ZiXu: Shi YiGuang, there are things you should let go of as soon as possible, for your own safety and freedom.
YiGuang: I will let go when it is time. But Prime Minister, if you hold too tightly, the precious little bird in your hand will suffocate to death :)
ShaoJiang: *cough* So, since Lord Ng is curious, shall we explore the city?
FuChai: Can we get rid of the evil aura by killing these undead soldiers?
YiGuang: My Liege, do you not recognise them?
FuChai and Wu ZiXu are horrified to realise the undead wear the armour of Ng and Chu. They are restless spirits from the decades-long war for the ding that took place between Ng and Chu, unmourned and without purpose.
FuChai: There are no restless Shi spirits.
Wu ZiXu: I cannot speak for the others, but the priest and priestess were good friends of mine, and were as determined as the former king to save the kingdom of Ng. They died for a noble cause and then were venerated after death.
FuChai: You also watched Shi YiGuang grow up as a child. We hope you can watch over him, without bias, as an elder and friend of his parents.
Wu ZiXu: I understand.
Since FuChai and Wu ZiXu's weapons vanished when they entered the array, ShaoJiang clears a path with her phoenix.
The phoenix (loyal to ShaoJiang) nuzzles the tiger (loyal to FuChai) ;) ;)
Wu ZiXu: It's beautiful :)
ShaoJiang: The male phoenix was even more beautiful. He was the sprit of my brother's knife. But he died to protect me, so it's my fault my brother... ;_; Lord Ng! I hope you will send your army to execute my revenge.
Wu ZiXu: Princess, revenge is a long and arduous journey, and in the end, all you are left with is emptiness. You are still so young. Are you sure you are ready for a lifetime of hardships with no rewards?
ShaoJiang: If there is no revenge, life is meaningless.
FuChai points to the mountains of dead left by her father's own war.
FuChai: Win or lose, the cost of a war is thousands of lives. As the King of Ng, we will not endanger the lives of our citizens, and do not wish to see your kingdom in such a state either.
TEN FOOT TALL SKELETON ATTACK!!
Wu ZiXu: You said this would be safe >:(
YiGuang defeats it with the power of the tiger, now healed, and the TRUE DING OF VIRTUE. Because the ding they've been dealing with all this time is a fake!!
ShaoJiang explains: the true ding was broken into five sacred artefacts, four legs and a body. The phoenix leg became the twin daggers. The white tiger leg became part of the false ding. This is a secret of Qi she didn't feel able to share until now. Her true motivation for coming to Ng was to reassemble the true ding to prove that her brother had the mandate of heaven.
And as a result of her actions, her brother is dead. She says Ng can have both daggers if they help her retake Qi and have her revenge.
YiGuang: That is your family's heirloom, would you really part with it?
ShaoJiang: I grew up in troubled times where everything you love is a flash in the pan.
YiGuang turns the phoenix into a little sparrow and hands it to ShaoJiang saying "In the midst of a chaotic world it is even more important to treasure what you have."
She cradles the little bird in her hand and cries.
YiGuang: Apologies, my Liege, I've lost you your chance at the Phoenix dagger.
FuChai: We would be lying if we said we do not want it. But there are many ways to borrow the power of the Ding of Virtue other than seizing it for our own selfish ends. Otherwise, would we be any better than the Dragon God?
The tiger encourages FuChai to get on its back and come to the gate it had previously been defending.
Another giant skeleton, made of undead soldiers!
YiGuang tells ShaoJiang to keep it busy, on her phoenix, while FuChai and Wu ZiXu keep the tiger out of the way by patting it. Then YiGuang rides the amulet fish and takes down the skeleton with string. It's quite a mental image haha.
YiGuang sings away the evil aura and I think the undead spirits sing along. They dissolve into stardust which heals the broken city walls, the lonely spirits finally having a place where they belong.
The group returns to the real world. YiGuang directs FuChai to use the dagger to drip her blood on the ding, which loses it's rusted appearance. But it's still not safe for the tiger to return.
Wu ZiXu swears everyone to secrecy, especially against telling Goujian.
YiGuang intends to go to HaoJing, ancient capital of Zhou, the place where the ding was broken into pieces. ShaoJiang wants to come along and help.
FuChai: But it's so dangerous.
Wu ZiXu: Since my Liege wants to appoint Shi YiGuang as Head Priest, you should have more faith in him.
Oh NOW you believe in him.
ChenFeng seems unhappy that FuChai went out without him, but bitterly says it's not his place to complain as a servant.
FuChai: But you're obviously unhappy.
ChenFeng: My Liege, since when have you ever taken my mood into account? Other than being loyal, I am of no use...
His eyes seem blank and strange.
YiGuang has something to talk to her about and I have the choice to agree or follow ChenFeng and...DAMMIT I REALLY DO WANT TO ROMANCE GOUJIAN TIME TO GO BACK TO A PREVIOUS SAVE.
"Skip seen text" stopped working even though the dialogue seems to be identical >:( The odds of there being new Goujian content when he's not even onscreen seems low so I'm going to chance skipping all text.
Time to check on ChenFeng!
He feels useless, when she has done so much for him. She points out that he has been her friend, and saved her when her uncle tried to kill her three years ago D:
ChenFeng: You hate the sacred seal...but that does that mean you need to hate yourself? You don't treasure you life! D:< ...I have overstepped my bounds.
FuChai: No, you are not just FuChai's bodyguard, you are a friend and brother to Ah-Yu. Although I hate being a monster that is neither male nor female, being bitter about it will not help. I will embrace being the King of Ng so we have a chance of defeating the Dragon God. I put myself in danger not because I want to die, but because I wish to live.
I GUESS SHE'S ALLOWED TO BE CIS
*quietly keeps imagining her as at least a little non-binary*
ChenFeng: Ah-Yu. Can you promise never to leave me behind again? I'll probably go mad if I cannot see you or protect you.
She holds up her pinky to swear but he takes her hand and says she has been dragged under by enough vows. His only hope is to die before her.
A few days later, Goujian says his contacts have sent word that Qi is sending ships to attack Ng, and offers the Yue fleet to help.
FuChai thinks this is the perfect opportunity to send Goujian to Yue and strengthen their alliance. But of course Wu ZiXu thinks it's a trick.
