Jaerdean wrote:The Group
Nuoben shrugged, replying casually, "I taught him in Changsha, yes, but sent him to Ye for further teachings in a few minor things I am no good at. He returned to finish learning from me, and has never stopped. The flickering fingers are a means of communication, hand signs that represent words. In a sense, we're cheating the rest of you in this room by holding both a public conversation, and our own little private one. Isn't that right, Yaba? As for testing you, I test for many things. First and foremost, when sitting down with an alchemist, it is wise to assume everything is poisoned. Wine hides the taste of most poisons exceptionally well, water hides them the least."
The aged warrior had heard something to that effect from Yindun Zhe... the old man rubbed his chin recalling in what context... that's right! Yindun Zhe mentioned his father disliked wine for that very same reason! So that would mean... "Nuoben, do you know Master Zhe's father? Your reasoning for hating wine was precisely the same as Master Zhe mentioned to me, on his own father's reasons." Mi Zun took another sip of water, still yet ignoring Kong Pei's existence in this room . "So you're speaking in another language, basically? What a marvel! I had never heard of anything like it!
As it became apparent that Mi Zun's expression seemed to darken at the sight of the newcomer, Nuoben looked from Mi Zun to the new arrival, and back. First a grin flitted across his face, then he bubbled into laughter that slowly abated. "You mean to say, Yaba, that you brought Dugu's puppy in here? Plan to let him off his leash, perhaps?" the old man retorted to Yindun Zhe, who watched with a curiously dispassionate expression. After Mi Zun made his question known, Yindun signed to Nuoben again.
The old man's grin seemed to fade, a look of near shock replacing it. "That's a little...bold...isn't it, Yaba?" the old man replied. Yaba made his reply curt and simple; he slammed his fist on the table top, rattling the ink bottle nearby, as well as causing the liquids in the pitchers and cups to sway. "Okay, okay.
Once again in a time where Mi Zun has become aware of Kong Pei... His brooding was instantly interrupted as Yindun Zhe slammed his fist on the table. He was certain that his attitude had put a damper on things but... this man...? He listened grudgingly as Nuoben spoke the mute's words for him.
"Mi Zun, Yaba wants me to remind you that this is not to turn into a brawl. As yet, this man has done nothing in this room to offend anybody, and any bodily harm--not much else can be done to him, can there?--regardless, any bodily harm, unprovoked, will result in returning the favor, of that Yindun Zhe promises. To everybody in the room.
"This man has shown more common sense than anybody else who attended the trial so far, has he not? He asked if his presence would offend, and has yet to ramble on some belligerent manner."
The withered warrior sighed and rubbed the back of his head, as he glared at Kong Pei before turning back to Yindun Zhe. "That is understandable, Master Zhe. I would dare not raise a fist with a child and lady in the room. As for my speech... I am only an argumentative fellow. If a point comes up which I disagree with, then I am afraid I must speak up. It is simply my nature.
Nuoben watched as Yindun continued, sometimes with both hands, to explain. Nuoben continued to interpret as well. "Yaba invited you here for the same reason he came here; to rest after such a trying day, to share water or wine. You must know that Yaba never took a side in the trial, only tried to point out the guilt on both sides, and offered that to speed the trial, the prisoners should be killed quickly or set free.
The old traveler thought inwardly
"Yaba sure is rather vocal today, I guess it makes sense, as to the company kept in this room but.. It is no matter. I will try not to speak badly of the man, though the man he had sent to his death was only hours ago! Now is not the time for that... as Master Zhe has said, now is the time for rest, put those recent memories behind us..." He took another long sip of water, as Mi Jia hopped back onto her father's shoulder, plainly uncomfortable with the new entrant into the room.
"He assumes that his friend here can understand that, if Mi Zun can tolerate Yaba's company after that, Mi Zun should be able to tolerate yours. Besides, as there are two sides to every story, only animosity and hatred can be bred when only one side gathers and broods senselessly. Yaba also points out--his threat aside--that it would be rude to leave without having one cup of tea or water, or whatever it is you drink, since he did invite you, and the fact that Mi Zun has a daughter nearby means he shall remain calm, at least enough to allow that much courtesy. Isn't that right, master Zun?" After finishing, Nuoben looked at each in the room, his expression curious. As an afterthought, he added, "Those were his words, by the by, not mine."
Mi Zun nodded to Yindun Zhe, "Wise words, wise words... I allowed myself to be caught up in my own emotion. A large fault of my own. I will make no action towards Kong Pei, though that does not mean that I will not debate with him over a code of honor and ethics, if his words so do provoke me to do so."
Carpevis wrote:
Pei inclined his head in agreement with the concept expressed, if not necessarily the wisdom of the implementation. He had no fight with this Mi Zun, even if the man loathed and despised him. He didn't want to be rude and refuse to share refreshment with people he did know, but at the same time, he knew how he would feel if a man he thought responsible for the death of someone close to him - even if he didn't swing the blade himself - were to share his table. The best thing to do was face it head on. It was an elephant in the room, and he was going to mention it.
"I would hardly paint myself as an innocent man," Pai acknowledged, taking a seat. "Though my guilt, like General Liu's, was based in doing my duty. The difference lies in who is the victor and who is the loser, as the victors will write the history as the victors want it to be remembered. At least so it has been in times past.
For as much as Dugu Qiusheng harped this man as a man given to "justice" for the people lost at Wan, his thought process was all too similar to Yindun Zhe's own. Mi Zun's glare faded, was this man not a sycophantic deluded fool as was the rest of Dugu's administration? It caused Mi Zun to rub his bearded chin in wondering. He responded in turn to Kong Pei. "Yes, that is the way of things. You are a bit more perceptive than you let on in the trial Kong Pei. To the victor goes the spoils and one of those spoils are the annals of history." He was expecting to argue with this man, to shame him into submission, but his words thus far had been sensible. Mi Jia had in turn let go of her father's neck as she simply sat atop her father's shoulder, watching the strange disabled man go on.
"However, as all who were captured were not executed, as you argued Master Yindun , it would appear that some measure of the guilt of the officers accused was indeed taken. Despite the outcome for General Liu and two others, the rest were set free. Even accounting for my testimony, that would have effected only one individual. I won't call it justice, but I wouldn't call it indiscriminate, either. If all were equally guilty, have any of you wondered why there were only three executed? Why THOSE three?"
Looking at the man who glared at him with such anger straight in the face with his one good eye, Pei stated reasonably, "Forgive me for opening fresh wounds, Master Mi, but my testimony alone could not account for the deaths of three, or even the death of one. In fact, had my testimony counted for anything, all would have been executed. It may not be justice, but it certainly isn't uncommon. Such is the fate I would expect should I be captured. Such is the fate any of us could expect in a similar situation - those of us who are in service to a particular Lord. It is what normally happens when the victor wishes to purge the land of those who could once again take up arms against them if set free.
"So why only three? What distinguished those three from the others? Do any of you know? Or have you given that any thought at all?"
The wanderer sadly nodded his head, as he tried to explain the reasonings he believed each were executed. Before so doing he took a long sip of water. "I know nothing of this Zei Zao, or what his crime was, from the speed in which he was executed I am to assume that is because he had done something to deeply offend Dugu Qiusheng. Xun Dianrong was executed for being the man who carried out the Torching of Wan, a man that deserved the death he was dealt. Liu Ju was killed as an example, to show that not everyone will escape, and in the words of Minzhe Jian "He is a commander, therefore must pay for his men's faults". Dugu Qiusheng and his cronies tried to justify it in several different ways, none of them convincing. Do understand, it is not his death that bothered me so much, other than the absence of refute towards Qu Shiyin and my own defense of the man. They killed him then tried to justify it, that in my mind is not justice, but mere sophistry of the issue."
