Nanowrimo 2022 - Day 21 Word Count and Best Bit (Patreon)

Sorry for the lack of updates, I did not manage to write much of anything the past few days. However! Today I powered through and wrote 3,558 words, bringing my total to 35,560!

Despite her words, Fang Lian pressed gently against Jin Xia's jaw with her fingertip, turning her gaze towards the fighting ring where Bai Xue challenged Hao Yue. Cheers echoed loudly in the hall's rafters, fists shaking the plates as they pounded the tables.

And yet, Fang Lian's tale still reached her ears. "Many millennia ago, when the lands were still new and wild, when creatures of legend roamed the continent, the gods formed the people from the trees and the stone and the waters. They came into the world weak, and afraid. They did not trust each other, for those made of stone looked different from those made of the trees, and those made of the grass were different to those of the rivers and ocean. The people could not live together in harmony, so they split off from each other, going towards the places they felt most at home. They place they were birthed from."

Jin Xia hadn't really comprehended just how tall Bai Xue was until she saw him next to his uncle and father. He towered over them by several inches. He and his uncle bowed to each other as the high king stepped from the circle, a brief moment of sportsmanship before Hao Yue struck, ducking down to sweep Bai Xue's feet out from under him. The younger man did not stay off his feet for long, rolling over his shoulder like a trained acrobat and jumping to his feet as if nothing had happened.

"The people of the stone went west, to the mountains and the valleys. But these lands were untamed, and full of beasts who preyed upon the people," Fang Lian continued, her eyes on the spectacle in front of her. "The people prayed to the gods to protect them, but the gods were weak, too tired from using all their power to create humanity. They could do nothing to protect the people of the mountains and stone."

Jin Xia could not take her eyes off the display of martial prowess taking place in front of her. Punches and kicks were exchanged with grace she'd never seen before. It looked more like a dance to her than a fight. Qui Ling and Wei Xiang's argument was nothing more than a pair of toddlers flailing their limbs in comparison. She never thought combat could be something beautiful.

Fang Lian's tale was not done though. "While they gods could not do anything, they were not the only ones who heard the people's pleas. A great white beast called the mountains home. Its paws were the size of houses, it's fangs larger than a full grown man. It's fur was white as snow. It was spotted like a leopard, yet striped like a tiger. It heard the people's cries, and took pity upon them. When next a danger came for the people, the beast intervened, fighting the danger back with claw and fang. Again and again, the great white beast came to the people's rescue. They viewed it as their savior, and began to worship the beast. But even the beast could not protect the people forever. And so, it gave the people a blessing: a champion birthed in the beast's image. An endless cycle of protectors, marked with the beasts own spots and stripes."

Hao Yue grabbed hold of Bai Xue by his shirt, pulling it up as he attempted to flip his nephew over his shoulder, but only coming away with fabric as Bai Xue slipped out of his grasp. Jin Xia gasped sharply as Bai Xue's shirt came away, revealing the leopard spots that covered the skin of his upper back and shoulders. Finally she could tear her eyes away from the fight, turning to see Fang Lian regard her like a cat would regard a wounded canary.

"Only the Great Beast's chosen one, the west's strongest protector, may wear white fur," Fang Lian told her, her smile just the barest bit too wide.

A shout brought Jin Xia's attention back to the ring, where Bai Xue had Hao Yue in a grapple on the floor. Within seconds, the groom was slapping the ground with his free hand, surrendering to his nephew's greater skill. A joyous shout erupted from the onlookers as the two men stood, laughing and embracing the other as if the last few minutes never happened.

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Fang Lian cooed with false worry. "I hope I haven't frightened you with my little story."

Jin Xia looked at Fang Lian's amused expression. Then at Bai Xue, who caught her looked and flashed her a brilliant smile. Then at the half-drank wine in her hands.

"I think I might need something stronger to drink."