Views of the Universe from a Starskiff: The Xianzhou Zhuming (Part 2)

@Karylrz_

A chapter from the travelogues left behind by Baiheng, famous pilot of the Xianzhou. It records her entire trip as an ambassador to the Xianzhou Zhuming.

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The kid called Yingxing turned out to be a short-life species and an Outworlder. It took some time buttering up this shy kid before I learned what he was up to (he seemed a little insecure, but kids would always need a little encouragement before opening up to you).

Just as Elixir Seekers rush to the Luofu in a neverending stream, so too is the Zhuming up there with Pier Point and Screwllum for academics (or any other metonym for academic excellence). Countless Outworlders come to the Zhuming from all over the galaxy to study, and most return to their homelands afterward to disseminate those learnings. But not Yingxing. He has no homeland to which he may return.

His homeland was destroyed by the Borisin and transformed into one of their weapons nurseries. I knew what kind of ending that meant. This kid's family were treated like pieces of meat as they were used to feed the mechabeast. And upon arriving at the Xianzhou, so fresh from escaping the clutches of death, this child pledged to strive toward one goal only and one goal only: To research new weapons technology for the Cloud Knights to root out those terrifying and malicious monsters. He is incredible at his work, earning accolades as a craftsman from a young age.

"However... Other Xianzhou masters tell me, I've still got a long way to go."
"It's not that I'm lacking in enthusiasm or motivation..."
"It's just that I can't keep living on and on like they can... So my knowledge is always going to be limited."
"Maybe I'll never even live to see the day my parents are avenged."

Seeing his dejected look even left me feeling dispirited.

"Ignore all those old guys. Pfft, Xianzhou masters? They're just jealous of you!"
"Short-lived geniuses who burn brilliantly then die out are actually a dime a dozen in the Genius Society! Their achievements are still glorious all the same. What difference does it make to your career whether you're a long-life or a short-life species?"
"Just focus on what you want to do, and let fate take its course."

The kid seemed to have a brighter expression on his face. Suddenly, he shook his head once more. "But don't ignore everything from those old guys! Master Huaiyan... He respects me a lot, and has taught me a lot, too!"

Such hatred, such piteous life experience, such precocious endowment... I couldn't help but pat the kid on the head. But he seemed to see right through me in a second, covering up my hand with his own and patting it in relief. As if suddenly returning to his senses, he remembered the purpose of his visit.

"Uh... Um... My master urged me to take you on a visit to the Flamedisk Forge Palace."
"Should we get down to business and talk about the reinforcements and weapons?"
"I... I'm just passing on Master Huaiyan's orders."

"Smelt for a thousand stars; quicken with a hint o'steel. Fight for light, fight for might; and guard both hearth and meal." These couplets hang in adornment in the main hall of the Flamedisk Forge Palace.

The Records of the Early Nation shows that an unknown emperor of the Primeval Imperium days once gifted the master craftsman of the Zhuming, Yang Di, with a weapons-casting mold in honor of its maiden voyage. To this day it remains, passed down through the ages to be pride of place in the palace. Some sixty or seventy percent of all the Xianzhou's armory comes from the artisans of the Zhuming — and the Flamedisk Forge Palace is the foundational base of the Zhuming's Artisanship Commission, in which you now stand.

My peers on the trip were perplexed by this strange arrangement. Had Huaiyan brought us here to show off how precious his forged weapons were, and to use that as a bargaining chip with the Yaoqing? Did he send a kid because he's planning on rejecting us?

These conflicting thoughts in my head made me irritable. You can't just go complainin' on somebody else's turf — that's something my great-grandma always taught me. I made up my mind there to not express any dissatisfaction until Huaiyan met with us.

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Pub: 21 Jul 2023 10:25 UTC

Views: 3700