Emissary Mystique

Emissary Mystique is the second part of the Trailblaze Continuance chapter Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue (I). It automatically begins after completing Homecoming Wardance.
==Steps==
# Head to the Palace of Astrum to see the General
# Leave the Palace of Astrum with Yanqing
==Dialogue==
===Head to the Palace of Astrum to see the General===
;(Enter the Palace of Astrum)
: Jing Yuan: It's been a long journey, Elder Huaiyan. Thank you for your presence.
: Huaiyan: Heh, don't mention it. Thank you for taking the time to welcome me.
----
;(Approach Jing Yuan and Huaiyan)
: Yanqing: General, I've brought our guests from the Express. I'm sorry for my bad timing. I didn't know you were meeting a guest, General.
: Jing Yuan: Don't worry. You're just in time. It's been a while, my friends from the Astral Express!
: How's everything going, General?
:: Jing Yuan: All is well when you have friends coming from afar.
: I dreamed about you on Penacony.
:: Jing Yuan: Oh? Well an honor to be in your dreams, my friend.
: Did you miss us?
:: Jing Yuan: Sure, how couldn't I have? It's not often we find such moments to reunite and enjoy one another's presence.
:: March 7th: Since when did (Trailblazer) and General Jing Yuan become such good buddies, Dan Heng? They seem to be having a great time.
:: Dan Heng: A lot must have happened without our knowledge. At least I hope that's the case...
: Jing Yuan: Allow me to introduce you to General Huaiyan. He's the Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou Zhuming, known as the Flaming Heart.
: Huaiyan: Hehe, no need to be so formal. I'm just a tourist here, no different from other tourists who've come to attend the ceremony.
: Jing Yuan: Elder Huaiyan is not only one of the Arbiter-Generals but also the Furnace Master of the Artisanship Commission. Besides his martial skills, he excels in forging various weapons. Such talents are unique, even among the Arbiter-Generals.
: Huaiyan: Be it Arbiter-General or Furnace Master, these are merely titles given to me long ago. I've retired several times already, but with the current change in circumstances, the Marshal has called me back to duty, and I had no choice but to answer the call.
: Huaiyan: Well, in the end, I'm to blame. Living such a long life naturally brings its share of disapproval.
: Dan Heng & Yanqing: It's an honor to meet you, General Huaiyan.
: March 7th: It's my honor to meet you, General Huaiyan...
: Glad to meet you, General.
: Huaiyan: No need to be all formal. Today I'm just a guest on the Luofu, the same as all of you.
: Huaiyan: So, these three are the ones you mentioned, Jing Yuan? The heroes who helped you with the Ambrosial Arbor Crisis?
: Jing Yuan: Indeed. There's Dan Heng, March 7th, and (Trailblazer)... Without their help, I'm afraid the Luofu might not have easily overcome this crisis.
: Huaiyan: So, the Imbibitor Lunae's reincarnation has returned to the Luofu and will attend the Wardance. I'd love to have a drink with you should the chance present itself.
: Dan Heng: You're more than welcome, General Huaiyan.
: Huaiyan: And this young friend is...?
: Jing Yuan: Yanqing, my apprentice. He remains by my side as my retainer due to his youth, which I hope will season him with experience. He will stand for the Luofu's Cloud Knights in the upcoming Wardance, ready to take on all kinds of challenges.
: Huaiyan: Great, great! It's a real treat to see so many talented young people around here today.
: Huaiyan: Oh, I almost forgot... This is my apprentice, Yunli...
: Yanqing: It's you!
----
: Yunli: Oh, it's you. Hello.
: Huaiyan: Oh, you two already know each other? Guess we don't need any introductions then!
: Yanqing: What a coincidence! I was afraid I'd have trouble finding this girl.
: Huaiyan: Oh? Now you've piqued my curiosity... Tell me, how did you two become acquainted?
: Yanqing: She helped me capture the escaped borisin prisoners at the Starskiff Haven. Allow me to express my gratitude for you, but when you left... you took my Flying Sword with you.
: Yunli: Your Flying Sword?... Oh, so that's why I found a dagger in my bag. Turns out it's yours.
: Yanqing: Yes, it is. Now that we've met again, I hope...
: Yunli: Nope, that won't do.
: Yanqing: Won't do?
: Yunli: You want your sword back, right? Well, you can't just take it back. On the Zhuming, when you lose your sword on the battlefield, you have to reclaim it on the battlefield.
: Yunli: As for this little sword, it was supposed to strike that escaped borisin prisoner, but unfortunately its owner's agitated state caused fly off like a kite with a broken string, and it missed its target.
: Yunli: By the way, if I hadn't caught it and helped it hit its mark, that borisin prisoner would have gotten away.
: Yanqing: Hold on a sec, Yunli. You took my sword without even asking, and now you're refusing to give it back?
: Yunli: ...Heh, so much for Luofu swordmasters.
: Yanqing: What did you just say?
: Yunli: If you just stepped up and took your sword back from me fair and square, I would have totally respected you. But nope, you tried to play it down, expecting me to just hand it back to you like it's nothing, in front of everyone...
: Yunli: With all due respect, you don't honor your sword, so you don't deserve it.
: Yanqing: Hasn't anyone told you that taking without asking is stealing? If you want to settle this with swords... Fine, let's have a one-on-one duel right now...
: Jing Yuan: Yanqing.
: Yunli: Well, that's more like it. Just be careful, because I'm not as easy to handle as the borisin.
: Huaiyan: You too. Be quiet and apologize to Yanqing!
: Yunli: Hey, whose side are you on, Grandpa?
: Huaiyan: I... um... I don't take sides!
: Jing Yuan: It's a small misunderstanding, and an apology would be too much. I've heard about the Zhuming's incredible swordplay and craftsmanship, most notably the legendary Flamewheel Octet. Seeing Miss Yunli, who is among those ranks today... Well I must say, she definitely has that fiery edge.
: Huaiyan: ...Such grandiose names. Some folks love to spin these fancy titles, trying to set the Cloud Knights apart. Yunli is still just a young girl, a bit awkward and hot-tempered. So please forgive her if she's being rude.
: Jing Yuan: Well, everyone, Elder Huaiyan and I have some business to discuss. For now, Yanqing, why don't you entertain our guests and take Miss Yunli to the inn?
: Jing Yuan: I'll find another chance to talk with you all. I'd like to express my gratitude to the Astral Express for helping the Luofu during the crisis.
: March 7th: That's so kind of you. I mean you've already thanked us so many times.
: Huaiyan: Please forgive me for coming at an inconvenient time.
: Dan Heng: You needn't apologize, General Huaiyan.
: Huaiyan: Alright, Yunli. Take this opportunity to clear things up with Yanqing.
: Yunli: Yeah, yeah, it's better to make friends than enemies, but I won't be heading to the inn just yet... I want to visit Lingsha. She just arrived on the Luofu and could use some help settling in.
: Jing Yuan: Yanqing, once you've helped our guests get settled, go to the Artisanship Commission for me. I've heard about the attack and the detainment of the IPC ship. Qingzu sent word that the IPC members are protesting and wish to have their cargo back.
: Jing Yuan: See if you can calm them down. Don't get aggressive. Just make it clear that the Xianzhou Luofu has no intention of violating their rights.
: Yanqing: I'm on it.
===Leave the Palace of Astrum with Yanqing===
;(Talk to Jing Yuan and Huaiyan, optional)
: Jing Yuan: I'm sorry for Yanqing's rudeness.
: Huaiyan: Not at all. Taunted by Yunli like that, even a training dummy would be angry. You've taught your apprentice well. If it were me in my younger days, I'm afraid I'd have drawn my sword and fought.
: Huaiyan: Yanqing can understand your concerns. On the other hand, Yunli is still a naive girl who's only interested in swordplay. Honestly, I brought her here to participate in the Wardance because I want to broaden her horizons.
;(Talk to Yunli, optional)
: Yunli: This trip is totally worth it. Compared to the Zhuming, the Luofu is so much livelier.
: Yunli: But it's a shame the Luofu swordmasters don't seem that great...
: Glad to meet you, Miss Yunli.
:: Yunli: Glad to meet you, too. Are you here to participate in the Wardance?
:: I'm just a tourist attending the ceremony.
::: Yunli: So, you're not a participant? You look like you know your way around a fight.
::: Yunli: Well, you can still sign up. The Cloud Knights' ring is always open to outsiders.
:: Can outsiders participate in the Wardance as well?
::: Yunli: Of course. To honor martial arts, the Cloud Knights' ring is always open to outsiders.
::: Yunli: If you can defeat the ringmaster selected by the Xianzhou, you'll not only win rewards and prizes but also be making a name for yourself.
::: Yunli: Sounds tempting, doesn't it?
: What's the "Flamewheel Octet" the general spoke of?
:: Yunli: That's how outsiders refer to my peers in the Zhuming Cloud Knights and the Artisanship Commission.
:: Yunli: We all train under Grandpa's guidance, learning the art of craftsmanship and swordplay. That's how we got that title, I guess.
:: Yunli: Just don't mention it in front of Grandpa. He always says that empty titles bring pointless challenges and conflicts. We Zhuming swordmasters pride ourselves on the success of the group over the individual.
: Aren't you coming with us?
: Yunli: I have some things to do. Besides, little Yanqing doesn't seem too happy about me tagging along.
: He shouldn't have said you "stole" his sword.
: But you did take his sword...
: Yunli: You're right. I "took" it with my skills, so I guess you can say I'm a robber or something. How dare he imply I'm a thief. Totally different!
: Yunli: Besides, the sword seems scared of its own master. I'd like to ask him – you claim to cherish your sword as your life, yet you don't even recognize the state it's in right now?
: Yunli: I didn't intend to keep his sword. I was planning to take this chance to return it to him, but now I've changed my mind.
: Yunli: I'll give that poor flying sword some proper maintenance. I won't consider returning the sword unless he learns how to say "please," "hello," "thank you," and "sorry."
: Yunli: So he can forget about it for now!
:You scratch your head, feeling a tingling sensation on your scalp at the thought of the impending troubles Yanqing will face. While you're distracted, the young girl has already wandered off on her own, her whereabouts unknown.
;(Talk to March 7th and Dan Heng, optional)
: March 7th: Hey, Dan Heng, I thought all the Xianzhou generals were like Jing Yuan...
: March 7th: But that General Huaiyan, he looks... so thin and scraggy, as if even a light breeze would knock him over. Is that old man really an Arbiter-General?
: Dan Heng: Each Xianzhou ship has its own division and specialty within the Alliance, not all of the Arbiter-Generals are good at leading the charge. You heard what Jing Yuan said, right? General Huaiyan was once the head of all the skilled craftsmen on the Zhuming.
: There appears to be more than meets the eye.
:: March 7th: Don't you find it strange, (Trailblazer)? Do Xianzhou people age? I rarely see any old people on the Xianzhou ship, and when I do, they're usually travelers.
:: March 7th: But... General Huaiyan looks like an ordinary old grandpa. Is he really a Xianzhou general?
: Why does he look so old?
:: March 7th: Yeah, you've noticed that too. It's really weird... Do the Xianzhou people age? I rarely see any old people on the Xianzhou ship, and when I do, they're usually travelers.
:: March 7th: But... General Huaiyan looks like an ordinary old grandpa. Is he really a Xianzhou general?
: Perhaps he's a robot.
:: March 7th: Like Madam Herta? Hmmm, that would make sense. Anyway, it's really weird for a Xianzhou native to look so old.
: Dan Heng: Good question. He's right there, so why don't you ask him yourself?
: March 7th: Nah, I'd like to live a little longer.
: Dan Heng: We should leave. General Jing Yuan asked Yanqing to entertain us, so obviously, he has important matters to discuss. Let's not waste any time here.
----
;(Talk to Yanqing)
: Yanqing: This is the report Qingzu just sent me. Let me take a look...
: Yanqing: ...
: Yanqing: ...
: Yanqing: Looks like the general has given me a tough challenge. He wants me to try and help put the IPC's mind at ease.
: Is this some kind of test from the general?
: Yanqing: Well, it's not exactly a "test." As Cloud Knight officers, we not only learn the art of war and martial arts but also occasionally have to handle diplomatic disputes.
: Yanqing: It's just, you know... Talking things out isn't as straightforward as duking it out with weapons on the battlefield. This is especially true when you're up against the IPC, with their non-stop corporate babble.
: Yanqing: Well, let's not worry about that for now. Shall I take you to the inn?
: Let's go.
: Not yet.
----
:
: Jing Yuan: It is the Luofu's honor to have you in attendance at the Wardance.
: Jing Yuan: Yet, the fact that a simple martial arts ceremony has attracted esteemed generals from the Zhuming and the Yaoqing implies intentions beyond mere spectating. Might there be any specific instructions from the Marshal?
: Huaiyan: You're overthinking it, Jing Yuan. As I said, I'm here to broaden my granddaughter's horizons. I have no ulterior motives.
: Huaiyan: However, I have no clue what the Yaoqing Arbiter-General has in mind.
: Huaiyan: Do you remember when you accepted this position? I told you that an Arbiter-General's battlefield goes beyond the physical one. You'll need to lead and manage everything on the Xianzhou... The title of Arbiter-General holds a weight far greater than its literal meaning.
: Huaiyan: So many years have passed, and you've done well. However, longevity for the Xianzhou people can be a curse. Living too long means that every mistake you made will lurk in the shadows, and one day, they'll eventually catch up to you.
: Huaiyan: The Marshal knows . As for the Merlin's Claw of the Yaoqing...
: Huaiyan: ...She has come specifically for you.
: Huaiyan: Speaking of which, why hasn't she arrived yet? They say the Merlin's Claw strikes like lightning. Being late isn't her style.
: ???: That's not true, General Huaiyan. She's been here a while, but I'm sure you've heard of her unbridled nature.
: ???: As soon as she disembarked from the starskiff, she mentioned having something to attend to and simply disappeared.
: Jing Yuan: You must be the messengers from the Xianzhou Yaoqing, I assume.
: ???: We are Jiaoqiu and Moze, retainers of the Merlin's Claw. It's an honor to meet you in person, Arbiter-Generals.
: Huaiyan: Now, this is interesting. A guest who doesn't come to visit but sends a message instead. What does she mean? Tell me, what could be more important to her than coming here?
: Jiaoqiu: Master heard about a spectacular view in Scalegorge Waterscape. I believe she went there to enjoy it.
: Huaiyan: A "spectacular" view? Hah! Did you hear that, Jing Yuan? This person is being sarcastic.
: Jiaoqiu: Please do not misunderstand me, General Huaiyan. I was simply stating the truth. Master thought it would be inappropriate to keep you waiting, so she sent us here...
: Jiaoqiu: Once she's finished with admiring the scenery, she'll personally come and apologize to the both of you.
----
:
: Yanqing: Drat, I forgot to ask Yunli to return my sword...
: I'll go get it back for you.
:: Yanqing: No need to bother. The Zhuming envoys won't be leaving the Luofu anytime soon. I'll ask for it later when we meet again.
: I don't think you'll ever get your sword back!
:: Yanqing: Unacceptable! Every sword is precious to me!
:: Yanqing: If it weren't for the general's interference, I would have taught that shameless girl a lesson in swordplay...
: Yanqing: By the way, I don't know if it's just me, but the general seemed a little... hmmm, reserved? Could it be because of Elder Huaiyan's visit?
: March 7th: Reserved? Really?
: Yanqing: Maybe I'm just overthinking things.
: Dan Heng: No, you're not. When I entered the Palace of Astrum, I realized that the messenger from the Xianzhou Zhuming was actually the Arbiter-General himself. So, the messenger from the Xianzhou Yaoqing must be the Merlin's Claw herself, I presume?
: Yanqing: That's right.
: Dan Heng: That's what makes this entire thing so unusual.
: March 7th: What's so unusual about it? They simply received an invitation from Jing Yuan, just like the Crew, right?
: Dan Heng: The Wardance is just a small festival, and now we have two Arbiter-Generals from other Xianzhou ships here. I'm afraid they're here for something more.
: Dan Heng: Maybe they've come to hold Jing Yuan accountable for the Ambrosial Arbor Crisis?
: March 7th: Hold him accountable? Come on, didn't the Luofu fall victim to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and the Antimatter Legion? Why would they blame the victim?
: Dan Heng: Dan Shu's rebellion and Phantylia's scheming are merely one side of the story to the other Arbiter-Generals of the Alliance. Only a single piece of incontrovertible evidence remains, creating an endless source of potential complications.
: Yanqing: The Ambrosial Arbor.
: Dan Heng: Yes, it's undeniable that the plaguemark, which was subdued by the Xianzhou Luofu, has resurfaced. But was it really a conspiracy instigated by the Antimatter Legion, or does it indicate a traitorous intent from within the Luofu, implicating Jing Yuan himself?
: Dan Heng: Once the spark of suspicion is kindled, it proves hard to extinguish.
: We can vouch for Jing Yuan, though.
:: Dan Heng: The general must have had that in mind when he invited us to attend the Wardance
: No wonder we were called back for the ceremony.
: March 7th: What was I thinking, seriously. Here I was looking forward to a carefree and enjoyable trip, but it seems wherever we go, drama is just around the corner.
: Yanqing: Aww... I was so excited. I thought those Arbiter-Generals were just here to see the ceremony...
: Yanqing: By the way, I heard that an alchemist from the Zhuming diplomatic ship has arrived, and rumors say that she's to be the new Cauldron Master of the Alchemy Commission on the Luofu.
: Dan Heng: An alchemist from the Zhuming serving as the Cauldron Master on the Luofu? While it's not unheard of, the timing itself...
: Yanqing: Thanks to your words, Mr. Dan Heng, now I finally see the underlying tensions.
: Yanqing: The general is under tremendous pressure right now, but I was completely oblivious to his troubles... How naive of me!
: March 7th: Come on! Don't think like that! Leave the adult matters to the adults. Even if you wanted to do something for the general, it's not like you can do anything.
: Yanqing: ...
: March 7th: Uh, did I say something wrong again?
: You're a real master of conversation!
: Please, March, just keep quiet.
: Yanqing: Miss March is right. I don't have the skills to share the general's burdens at the moment.
: Yanqing: ...Still, I'll do my best to follow his instructions. Let's go. Once I've taken you to your accommodations, I need to go to the Artisanship Commission to handle the IPC's protest.
: March 7th: He looks like he has a lot on his mind. We can't just let him go alone... Why don't we accompany you to the Artisanship Commission?
: Yanqing: This... is too much trouble. While I appreciate your kindness, dealing with the IPC workers could be tricky... I'm afraid this will cause trouble for the Express...
: March 7th: No worries! We're pretty experienced in dealing with the IPC! You've heard of the Ten Stonehearts, right? We've dealt with quite a few of them, right, (Trailblazer)?
: Brag all you want, but don't drag me into this.
:: March 7th: Hey, who's bragging? Anyway, this time it's just a few ordinary IPC workers. Surely you don't think they'll be even trickier than Aventurine, do you?
: You're a real master of conversation!
:: March 7th: Yeah, exactly... Uhm, are you being sarcastic?
: Stop, stop! I don't want to end up in an IPC lawsuit.
:: March 7th: What's with you turning into a scaredy-cat? I didn't see you worrying about lawsuits when you wrecked that giant mech.
: Yanqing: Well, since you're willing to help, I won't decline your kindness. Let's head to the Artisanship Commission and meet them.
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ru:Приезд вельможей, намеренья ложные