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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

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Spilled Pearls

- Chapter 29 - ao3 -

“In the future, you should send your children to the Cloud Recesses for me to teach,” Lan Qiren said. He was sitting with Wen Ruohan on one of the rooftop gardens in the Nightless City, watching the moon and stars from a pavilion placed there for that purpose; their bodies were pressed close together, and it felt as if they were far away from all the things that were familiar. “You and Lao Nie both, and naturally I’ll come visit with you often as well, bringing my nephew. Between the three of us, we might even be able to teach them how to be proper human beings.”

Wen Ruohan laughed in his ear and pressed his lips to his cheek – he had taken to kissing him at random, spontaneous, as if still overwhelmed by the fact that he now had the right to do it.

“I will,” he promised. “I agree, I think they’ll turn out better that way…you would really have me educate your precious little A-Huan?”

“If I’m willing to entrust myself with you, why not him? Anyway, I can teach him music, and with the aid of the other teachers in my sect the sword in the Lan sect style, but you can teach him much more than that. You know how to look at the world and see it for what it is, and then bend it to your will, make it sing to your tune. He’ll be sect leader in the future; he needs to learn that, and you can teach it to him.”

“I can, and I will,” Wen Ruohan said, then thought for a moment and asked, “What does Lao Nie bring to the table?”

“Flexibility, mostly.”

Wen Ruohan barked out a laugh. “He certainly has that.”

He didn’t even sound bitter about it any more.

Lan Qiren smiled.

“In the meantime, I will handle the rest of it,” Wen Ruohan added, and Lan Qiren looked at him in silent question. “Come now, Qiren. Did you really think that I would allow you to remain caged in the Cloud Recesses your whole life?”

Lan Qiren paused. That was the sorest part of his heart, his most painful misery, but he didn’t think Wen Ruohan would bring it up casually. If anything, he was a bit more afraid of what Wen Ruohan might get into his head to do about it – there was very little Wen Ruohan wouldn’t dare.

“Da-ge –” he started warily.

“No, no,” Wen Ruohan said, lightly scolding. “Little Lan, be serious! I already rejected the opportunity to cage you here at the Nightless City, playing only for me, despite how much I longed to do so. I refused to do it – me, refusing myself – because I knew it would only make you sad. Do you really think I would allow other people a privilege that I have denied myself?”

Lan Qiren did not laugh, but he dearly wanted to. It might be the first time he’d ever wanted to laugh about his situation – not even Cangse Sanren had managed that. “Has anyone told you that you are extremely self-absorbed?” he asked instead. “Arrogance is forbidden. Do not be haughty and complacent.”

Wen Ruohan smirked back at him. “All true, little Lan, but don’t forget your favorite: Do not tell lies.”

Self-absorbed, narcissistic and arrogant, Lan Qiren concluded, and there was no helping it. It was clearly a terminal case.

He used his sleeve to hide his laughter.

“What are you planning, exactly?” he asked once he had recovered. “If you harm my sect, whether directly or indirectly by denying them my services, I would be even more upset than if you tried to lock me away in here.”

Wen Ruohan waved a hand dismissively. “Do you think me so incapable? I have already begun making arrangements. Discussion conferences may only be once or twice a year, being as they are tremendously irritating to arrange, but there’s no reason that we of the Great Sects should not recognize our greater duty towards the smaller sects, and not to mention our obligations to protect the mortal world –”

“You know that it exists, then?”

Wen Ruohan ignored him. “The resources of cultivation clans are limited, and the world large. There are many places which would benefit from aid that do not see any simply because they are far away or tucked in inconvenient places, and no sect lives nearby – naturally, it is our duty to fight evil no matter where it is encountered. Lao Nie has already agreed that it is critical that the sect leaders demonstrate our sincerity by fulfilling this duty in person, leading by example.”

Lan Qiren’s heart had already felt as if it were overflowing with warmth, and it felt even more so now, almost squeezed to pain by how much joy was there. More than he had known he could contain.

Bad luck in brothers, he thought to himself - but oh, he had such good luck in friends!

“I see,” he said, thankful that his usual neutral tone concealed how happy he felt. “And naturally, where you and Lao Nie go, Sect Leader Jin cannot be far behind in his eagerness not to lose out, and where three of the five Great Sects lead, naturally the rest cannot be far behind. So I, too, will be obligated to...what? Go out on night-hunts in inconvenient places?”

“The world is too large, and the number of cultivators too few – and at any rate, there’s no point in setting up a full night-hunt which draws in every person from a thousand li for a few paltry fierce corpses or a ghost or two. I propose, instead, that we would send cultivators out alone, in pairs or in small groups, to wander for a few months through the remote places in the world and clean them up. Then, at the next discussion conference, the Great Sects could jointly agree that whoever was most enterprising would receive a reward, and naturally, stories of various exploits could be exchanged – ”

“Ah. Another reason for young men and women to gather and boast of improbable exploits.”

“Think of it as giving them more opportunities to win glory,” Wen Ruohan said. “And stop talking down about ‘young men’; you are a young man. Naturally you are also qualified to go out to do such things. Required, even: if our Great Sects do not set a proper example, who will?”

“Mm. A proper example. Even if I coincidentally happen to spend more time playing music than hunting demons?”

Wen Ruohan’s eyes were bright. “Even so. And naturally, you could always bring along someone more powerful to do the demon-hunting for you…”

“How convenient.”

Wen Ruohan smirked. “Do you doubt that I will be able to make it happen, little Lan?”

“No,” Lan Qiren said, then added, honestly: “I think you could take over the world if you wished.”

“Naturally! But it would be quite irritating, I think, if I had to also ensure that both you and Lao Nie did not disapprove of my methods…” He paused, lips twitching. “By coincidence, while we’re discussing convenience, I was thinking that it would be dangerous to send all those wild and reckless young men out there without proper support. Surely it would be only reasonable to set up a few convenient places here and there, not so far away, to provide them with supplies and a place to rest and recover –”

Convenient places that would fly the Wen sect’s flag and spread its influence, Lan Qiren presumed. Lanling Jin would be furious – using wealth to buy influence was their favorite technique, and they resented other people copying it – and would immediately insist on establishing their own set of “supply stations”, and then the rest of them would have to catch up and make their own. Yet another expense, and the Great Sects would need to do more than most; it would probably wreck havoc with the Lan sect’s annual budget.

On the other hand, well the remote parts of the world really did need the help. One of the Lan sect’s newly recruited guest disciples had been talking about a place not far from his hometown that specialized in making coffin goods; it was, according to him, the most inauspicious place that could possibly be imagined…

Not a place anyone might want to go, unless they truly were intent on traveling.

Lan Qiren smiled once again. He thought he might never stop smiling.

“Indeed,” he said, trying to sound dry and rational. “Very coincidental. No one will doubt that this is nothing but a scheme to expand your reach and power, rather than any personal motive.”

Wen Ruohan did not answer, but instead, matching a smile of his own to Lan Qiren’s, pressed his lips against Lan Qiren’s once more.

After a little while of silence, Lan Qiren cleared his throat and asked, “Do you intend to tell people?”

He was not referring to Wen Ruohan’s plans for the future.

Wen Ruohan understood.

“In time,” he said. “As much as I would love to shout that you are mine and I am yours from the rooftops and perhaps have bulletins be posted to every town -”

Lan Qiren grimaced. It would be one thing if he thought Wen Ruohan was exaggerating for romantic effect, but unfortunately it would be just like him to engage in that level of over-the-top grandstanding.

“– but your position is not yet certain, and my reputation is too questionable. People would make assumptions and spread malicious gossip, and I – I would not harm you to please myself.”

“Sweet-talker.”

“It’s not sweet-talking when it’s true,” Wen Ruohan protested, although he was chuckling. “When you are more renowned as a teacher than a sect leader, when little A-Huan is old enough to have passed the worst stretches of childhood – then we will announce it, and let the rest of the world choke on it if they like. You, me, Lao Nie…hmm. Jin Guangshan will probably think we’re concealing a conspiracy and ask to join in.”

Lan Qiren gagged. “I refuse,” he said. “I don’t care if I’m not physically involved, neither you nor Lao Nie are allowed to even think about it. That man has visited so many prostitutes that one might be forgiven for thinking he believes that the road to immortality is paved with venereal disease.”

“…thank you, that was an image I did not require.” A pause. “Jiang Fengmian –”

“Remember when he punched me in the face in a fight over a girl I didn’t even want?”

“It wasn’t a serious suggestion.” Wen Ruohan chuckled once more and pressed another kiss to his cheek. “Some years ago now, I swore to your Cangse Sanren that I would do right by you. I ought to invite her here and show her that I’ve made good on it.”

“You haven’t made good on it.”

“I haven’t?”

“No. Such a promise is fulfilled through the keeping – if you want to do right by me, there is no one singular moment that would qualify, but rather a continuing obligation.” Lan Qiren smiled up at him. “I’m sorry, da-ge. You’ll have to continue to do right by me for the rest of our lives.”

“I will,” Wen Ruohan said, and smiled back. “It would be my pleasure.”

-END-

#mdzs #lan qiren #wen ruohan #my fic #my fics #spilled pearls

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baolau · 7 years

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vacationsoup · 7 years

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/hoi-an-calling/

Hoi An Calling

Explore this vibrant yet relaxing city nestled on Vietnam’s central coast.

[fshow photosetid=72157679097491174]

Hoi An is a quaint little town in central Vietnam that is a well-established stopping spot on the route from northern to southern Vietnam (and vice versa).

Despite being heralded for its shopping, crafts and food it still retains its quiet and relaxed charms; it does not feel over-run by tourists as other places in Vietnam sometimes do. This is largely thanks to the town’s pedestrianised centre, no vehicles are allowed in the centre during the day, which makes it a perfect place to explore on foot.

If you’re in Vietnam you must make sure to allow at least a couple of days for this town; go shopping, eat delicious foods, or go and explore the beaches and natural attractions that are within easy reach of the town centre. Plus the nightlife is not bad either – there is something for everyone here so come for a few days and you may find yourself staying for weeks. To give you a bit of a taste of Hoi An we’ve explored some of the city’s top attractions below.

Shopping

Hoi An is the ideal place to get your gift shopping done at any time of the year. The town is full of pretty things, souvenirs, toys, trinkets, pottery pieces, artwork and above all else clothes. Its streets are filled with little craft and artisan workshops selling intricately decorated pottery pieces, hand-woven quilts, brilliant fabrics and vibrantly coloured lanterns. As you wander around you are immersed in a rainbow of colours and a buzz of people selling their wares, displaying little flying toys in the air, bubbles tumbling down the street. It is quite intoxicating and despite being quite busy Hoi An still feels relaxed thanks to its pedestrianised centre.

Although it is great for buying all kinds of beautiful things, Hoi An is a real haven for clothes and accessories. Within Vietnam it has gained the name ‘tailor town’ and it is very easy to see why: there are tailors not just on every corner but literally streets full of tailor shops sitting side by side. This is the place to come if you want to get a suit, a dress or a shirt or anything else tailor made for a decent price but still at a high quality.

Walk into any of these shops and they have catalogues of designs and styles for you to choose from; then choose your fabric from the hundreds of rolls that line the walls and after measurements are taken you leave them to it. Twenty-four hours later you can come back and have a fitting, any final alterations will then be made and the next day your bespoke outfit is ready to go. It is quite astounding how quickly things get done here and yet how good the quality is. Alternatively they will also copy items of clothing so if you have a shirt the shape of which you really like they can recreate it in a variety of colours and/or patterns for you.

Eating

All that shopping can be exhausting so you’re sure to want a pit stop to refuel and you’re in luck – Hoi An has seriously great food with lots of delicious things to try and places to eat. There is something for everyone here; there are some really good Western places if you’re looking for some familiar comfort food like a pizza, burger or spectacular brunch. There are also lots of really nice cafes overlooking the river serving famously good Vietnamese coffee and pastries, it almost feels Parisian in ambience. However, there is nothing quite like the local delicacies. Firstly you could stop at almost any street food stall and you’re sure to come across a tasty snack to keep you going but there are also lots of top quality Vietnamese restaurants in Hoi An, here are a couple of our top choices.

Broadly speaking, the bánh mì is the Vietnamese sandwich, which is made up of a baguette filled with various meats, salad bits and chilli sauces. However, it varies massively from stall to stall let alone from North to South Vietnam and therefore you never quite know what to expect when you order one. However, Hoi An is famous for its banh mi – you’ve got to go and have one, it is a taste sensation. Madam Khanh is known as the banh mi queen and can be found at 115 Tran Cao Van, Son Phong, TP. Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam. For less than 1 USD (20,000 VND) you can enjoy the delights of a tasty and authentic banh mi and you’ll want to come back time and again.

Minh Hien Vegetarian Restaurant is a cute little vegetarian place that serves up great food in a quaint setting. The walls are adorned with Vietnamese novels and comics, almost like sitting in a library; the glass topped tables have bus tickets and traveller’s passport photos pushed beneath them. The food is very fresh, traditional and tasty. We recommend the Hoi An noodles which are like a pho but with thick rice noodles, fresh mushrooms and crispy tofu – truly delicious. It can be found at 50 Tran Cao Van, Son Phong, Tp. Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam.

Location

Hoi An is a key stopping point on a trip from one end of the country to the other sitting between Da Nang and Hue on the backpacker’s trail. It enjoys an almost beachfront location and its surroundings have plenty to offer visitors. Hire a bike (motorised or pedal) and you can be at the beach in minutes. Hoi An Beach is a stretch of pristine white sand that allows for views right over to Da Nang and beyond and is peppered with restaurants, cafes and bars to allow for a fun day (and night) out. In fact there are plenty of day trips around Hoi An; for the sun-worshippers and beach lovers it is only half an hour’s drive to Da Nang – another coastal Vietnamese town with large quiet beaches and an old French colonial port. You can also take a boat to Cam Nam Island, a small serene island that has stunning views and no motorised vehicles, or Cham Island, a cluster of eight islands that form part of the UNESCO recognised Cu Lao Cham Marine Park.

For those who are more into culture and interested in history there are several travel agencies that offer half day tours to the nearby My Son Sanctuary, a collection of ancient abandoned Hindu temples that were built between the 4th and 13th centuries that are now a UNESCO recognised heritage site. Another day trip can be taken to the Marble Mountains, a collection of five mountains that have tons of hidden tunnels and caves, the peaks offering panoramic views covering miles of Vietnamese coastline, flat lands and mountains. Don’t forget the several local fishing villages with their round bottomed boats and authentic restaurants. Hoi An’s location gives visitors a wide range of opportunities to explore a range of local attractions.

A few extra suggestions

Now we’re sure that the above article will have you ready to book your tickets to Hoi An right now but in case you need any further persuasion of the delights that Hoi An has to offer below we’ve compiled a few extra suggestions of things you won’t want to miss out on in this city.

Hoi An’s Old Town is always supremely beautiful but its crowning glory comes each evening at dusk when the lanterns are lit in the centre of town. Each evening hundreds of multi-coloured lanterns are lit and glimmering candles floated down the river, the sight is breathtaking.

If you are planning on getting something tailor-made go to Tina Design; these sassy and funny ladies have a keen skill and a comprehensive customer service. No matter what you’re looking for they can do it and you will leave (probably with more than you intended to) feeling very well dressed. Find them at 39 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An 0510, Vietnam.

If you’re looking for a bit of night life then there are nightly bar crawls that draw in backpackers from the town’s many many hostels. These can be fun although a bit crowded. If you’re not keen on following the group there is one bar that is truly unique and worth checking out. Mr Bean bar is a bar like any other except it is themed around the English comedy character Mr Bean. The walls are adorned with his image and funny clips play silently on a large screen, it proudly claims to be the world’s only Mr Bean themed bar – it is a truly unique experience.

0 notes

vacationsoup · 7 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/hoi-an-calling-2/

Hoi An Calling

Explore this vibrant yet relaxing city nestled on Vietnam’s central coast.

[fshow photosetid=72157679097491174]

Hoi An is a quaint little town in central Vietnam that is a well-established stopping spot on the route from northern to southern Vietnam (and vice versa).

Shopping

Eating

Location

A few extra suggestions

0 notes