ic inbox, ryslig.

[daozhangs]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, XIAO.XINGCHEN. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** XIAO.XINGCHEN has joined 018.07.154.55 <XIAO.XINGCHEN> You have reached Xiao Xingchen. <XIAO.XINGCHEN> I am often away from my laptop, but I will do my best to answer as soon as I'm able.

Comments

[legbreakings]

Of course I want to keep you informed. [ Curt, again, but firm. Xiao Xingchen is the first one from his world to join him here, the first cultivator, and even if he didn't genuinely like the man he would still consider him a natural ally. That he does like him promises the cooperation might even be pleasant. All the better. That it is a fellow cultivator keeping records will make it easier, too, they can communicate in a common language, no confusion about terms or backgrounds. ]

I would appreciate it if you could keep records for us. Available to others who are on our side, too, and maybe they too would contribute. Most of what I have learned I have only learned by chance, when I asked about an off-hand mention. The ones who have been here for long don't consider that we don't know as much as they do.

[daozhangs]

( as the earliest sounds of boiling begin to rumble within the kettle, jiang wanyin explains what he'd like such a record to accomplish, earning a considering brow-knit from xingchen. )

Is there a simple means by which to copy such records and make them available to the others, or would it be done by hand? ( he's not entirely sure quite how many allies they have, but the latter sounds like quite an undertaking.

meanwhile the kettle begins to whistle, and he once again grabs his sleeve to reach out over the stove and turn off the burner, swapping the kettle to a cool one before collecting a couple of the hand-bagged teas most similar to that which was served in their homeland and depositing them in the kettle. )

[legbreakings]

[ Well, thing is that he hadn't thought that far, so he hesitates and remains silent while he mulls over that, just watching Xiao Xingchen work on preparing their tea. ]

I don't think copies would be much help, since they would have to be kept updated along with the original. And it would be far too much work. I also don't think there is a list or any kind of formalized alliance of those who stand against the Fog... at least not anymore. No, I think it might be easier if you keep the records, and permitted others to read them, in exchange for contributing their own information.

[daozhangs]

( xingchen listens, nodding thoughtfully. he's not entirely positive of the practicality of having to hunt him down just to consult the records, but he can understand the reasoning. )

In exchange? ( that part did catch particular attention, because - ) And what if they have no information to share? ( this is, perhaps, the same subtle debate he has had with many a cultivator in the past - does a person not deserve protection just because they can't pay for a cultivator's services? does a person not deserve to know of their situation even if they have no insight to contribute? )

[legbreakings]

They must have something to share [ he counters briskly, not particularly interested in lingering on this point. He can see where Xiao Xingchen is going and that's alright for a daozhang but it's not how a sect leader can afford to think. Sects provide a service and they expect to get paid for it. ] I suppose it's different if they actively contribute to our cause but if it's just idle curiosity they should give something in return. It's only fair.