"Of course!" — the woman chirps, not capable of disguising the excitement in her voice — "Just give me a second to notify Brother Fan beforehand." She goes into the room meant for staff servicing the Mission Hall and closes the door. You wait, yet your patience soon starts to run thin as the woman takes way more than a second to return: half an hour at least, from what your sense of time can tell you. When she returns, her appearance drastically differs from how she looked before: her lips seems to be redder, her skin fairer, her lashes longer and her eyes — bigger and more distinct. Even her previously flat chest has become larger and more noticeable. *choice #"You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble for me." "It's not for you!" — the woman blurts out and blushes furiously immediately after — "I just… I just felt like it." You chuckle and shake your head in amusement. "I totally believe you. Come on, lead me to wherever Hao Fan is." "Yes, yes, please, follow me." #"Seriously? Do you think I have nothing better to do than waste my time while you doll-up?" *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 1 "arrogant" "+" "Sor-sorry…" — the woman apologizes, her head kept low. You roll your eyes at her. "Hurry up, lead me to wherever Hao Fan is." "Yes, yes, please, follow me." #"Someone likes Hao Fan a bit too much, doesn't she?" "I don't!" — the woman blurts out and blushes furiously immediately after — "I just… I just felt like doing it." "Uh-huh." — you chuckle and shake your head in amusement — "I totally believe you. Come on, lead me to wherever Hao Fao is." "Yes, yes, please, follow me." #Keep silent. You make no comment on her changes: something that she's grateful for, as the woman already has blushed furiously underneath your inspecting gaze and would rather avoid any further embarrassment. "Lead me to wherever Hao Fao is." "Yes, yes, please, follow me." *page_break Meet Hao Fan The two of you walk through the sect, passing rows after rows of houses that Inner Disciples live in. You near one of the last buildings, one that almost neighbors the district of Core Disciples. You see the girl beside you take a deep breath before she knocks on the door. "Senior Brother Fan?" — the woman shouts as her small fist taps the hard wood — "I've brought Senior ${polite_address} ${mc_name} to you." In a minute, the door opens and you find Hao Fan, impeccably dressed and with the same gentle smile on his lips. "Welcome, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}." — Hao Fan greets you — "I appreciate you visiting me so soon after your enrollment into the sect." "Please, come in." The woman from the Mission Hall also, perhaps subconsciously, takes a step forward and only then does Hao Fan acknowledge her — by raising his hand and halting her in her tracks. "Thank you for you help." — he says, not taking any notice of the efforts she has put into her appearance, and gives her a polite nod — "You can return to your duties now." The woman swallows hard as she raises her head — "Senior Brother, I won-wonder if you'd someday, if you'd like to…" Hao Fao interrupts her. "I have to entertain my guest. We'll talk later." The hands the woman so nervously had clasped together go limp and she hurriedly agrees just to avoid the awkwardness. "Then I'll be going now?" — she asks, glancing at Hao Fan with the hope of him attempting to stop her. Hao Fan, however, stares at her without a word. She manages a small smile, bows and leaves. "Wait." — stops her Hao Fan and the woman turns around eagerly — "Tell Sister Yutong that I'll be a bit late for our usual chess match." "Oh…" — the woman mutters, her shoulders dropping — "I will convey your message, Senior Brother." She bows again and goes away. This time — without coming back. You notice Hao Fan sneering at her departing figure. *fake_choice #"Brother Fan seems to be quite sweet, enticing girls like honey attracts bees." "More like I appeal to annoying flies." — #"That girl is quite infatuated with you, Brother Han." "Lucky me." — #Don't comment. Hao Fan snickers — "Truly, what is it she expects will happen? I don't even bother learning the names of people so [i]insignificant[/i]." *comment relationship points *choice #"You don't have to be rude about it." *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 1 "elitist" "-" *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 2 "-" The look in Hao Fan's changes, an apologetic expression covers the conceit he has just displayed. "Please, forgive me. That was inconsiderate: the stress must be getting to my head, it's been a difficult week." — he replies contritely — *set haofan_nice true #"Such low-borns are too stupid to understand the obvious." *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 1 "elitist" "+" *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 2 "+" "You don't have to tell me twice." — Hao Fan replies, not covering his conceit. He's glad that you turn out to be someone same-minded. — #"The heart wants what the heart wants." "I didn't think ${polite_address} ${mc_name} is such a romantic." — Hao Fan replies — #"Yet, it doesn't stop Brother Han from manipulating her feelings to his own advantage." *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 1 "manipulative" "+" *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 2 "+" Not hearing a reprise in your reply, Hao Fan gives you a look that speaks of kinship, a look shared between two similarly minded people. "${polite_address} ${mc_name} is quite perceptive." — Hao Fan praises — "Why don't we proceed with the point of this meeting? Step inside." Hao Fan guides you into a room with a chabudai — a floor-table — and a bunch of pillows near it. "Do sit down." — says Hao Fan — "I'll be out in a minute." As Hao Fan goes into another room — for beverages, you presume — you make yourself comfortable on the floor. You glance around, wondering how many people have been inside these beige-colored walls, sat on the same spot you do and stared through the same window at the beautiful landscape of the mountain outside. "Have you heard of Wish Fulfillment Tea Leaves?" — Hao Fan asks as he returns, carrying a tray with a pot and two cups on it. *temp heard_about_leaves false *gosub_scene cslib_string find history "basic_plant_knowledge|" *if cslib_ret > 0 *set heard_about_leaves true *choice #"I haven't." "Then you're in for a treat." — Hao Fan smiles — "They produce an exceptionally magical tea. It will bolster your body with the power of nature, improving the area you wish to strengthen the most. It's a shame it works only once. Though, I suppose, it's hard enough to find as is." *selectable_if (heard_about_leaves) #"I have." *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 1 "+" "An exceptionally magical tea." — you answer — "Capable of bolstering the body with the power of nature, improving the area that lacks the most. I haven't had it before, however." "You are indeed knowledgeable, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}." — Hao Fan smiles — "It's a shame it works only once. Though, I suppose, it's hard enough to find as is." #"Why the fuck would I care about some stupid leaves?" Hao Fan laughs. "Indeed, there are more important things in life than plants." — he smiles — "Though you shouldn't disregard the power of nature. These leaves produce an exceptionally magical tea, capable of improving the area of your body that you feel lacks the most. It's a shame it works only once. Though, I suppose, it's hard enough to find as is." "I had to trade a feather of the Four-Winged Eagle to bring you this gift." — Hao Fan shakes his head — "They all say that the Alchemy Elder's disciple is shy and timid, but that girl certainly becomes a devil when it comes to business dealings." "Do tell me how you enjoy the taste of it." Tradition of Tea Drinking is central to the culture of Celestial Empire: refusing to partake in it without a good enough reason will offend your host, no matter how congenial they may be. *choice #Drink the tea. You sip on the hot beverage, letting the heated, almost scalding liquid pour down your throat. It's surprisingly sweet, with an aftertaste of what seems like peach remaining in your mouth. As the tea traverses your body, you can feel it's miraculous power waiting for release. All you need to do is concentrate on where you want to focus it. *choice #Focus on muscles. *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "str" #Focus on bones. *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "con" #Focus on ligaments. *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "agi" #Focus on eyes. *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "per" "Thank you, Brother Han." — you commend him — "This tea is truly great." "Ha, then my efforts in accruing it haven't gone to naught." — he responds — *label conv_after_tea_drinking "You are probably curious as to why I invited you, are you not? Besides the usual politeness, of course." "I am indeed." — you nod — "Do explain, Brother Fan." "First of all, I should explain who I am and what position I hold in the sect." "As you already know, I'm an Inner Disciple — but you would be hard-pressed to find someone as influential as me amongst disciples of the same status." "I'm not the strongest — ranked only 241th on the Ranked Ladder — and I'm far from being the most talented. But, let's just say, that I'm friends with those who are. The amount of connections I have, even most Core Disciples would pale in comparison." "In truth, I could've had a very easy life, become a Core Disciple, become a Xiantian and enjoy my hundreds years of youth." — he says, becoming quiet by the end. He clenches his fists and raises his head, his eyes revealing his indignation — "Unfortunately, the Heavens have decided otherwise." "With my affinity, there is no hope of ever undergoing the Second Rebirth and, subsequently, there is no hope of becoming an Envoy or Enforcer. I will forever remain as lowly disciple, performing lowly tasks that the higher-ups couldn't be bothered about. I will see as Martial Artists ten, twenty, fifty years my junior would surpass me and force me to call them 'seniors'. No matter how hard I work or train, my efforts would have no result." — he chuckles self-deprecatingly — "Even you, someone who just entered the Sect, is already regarded higher by the Elders than me." His voice raises, becoming clear and determined. "I, Hao Fan, refuse to remain a nobody, to be a secondary character even amongst the secondary characters." *choice #"I'm sorry, your situation is truly unfair." "Thank you, but I don't need your pity." — Hao Fan says — "I only wish for an opportunity." "What is it you want from me then?" *label what_haofan_wants "I've heard about the results of your Blood Test. Most of the people who matter have, actually. You and your affinity are the latest gossip of the sect." "There is no doubt in anyone's mind that, given sufficient time, you'll become a Core Disciple. Maybe even a Prime, though that position will be, no doubt, contested by the Celestial Heir." "Most, including me, are also sure that you would breakthrough to Shangtian, perhaps in record time." — Hao Fan continues — "Which is why I'd like to cast my lot with you, until you outgrow my usefulness." "I will help you as much as I can for now and, when you become a Core Disciple, I'd be the first to join your faction. All I ask in return is a privilege to enjoy the benefits your large shadow would bring in the future. To use your name and its future prestige to secure my own position." *temp what_can_haofan_do true *label what_can_haofan_do *choice #"I agree." *set mc_sect_minion "Hao Fan" *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 5 "+" "Great!" — Hao Fan exclaims — "I promise you won't regret it." He hands you a seashell, engraved with symbols whose meaning you cannot grasp. "This is a Whisper Shell. I have a second one with me. If you want to contact me, just say something into the shell and I would hear it." — he explains. "Now, how about we finish our tea? It's getting cold." *page_break *selectable_if (what_can_haofan_do) #"What can you do for me?" "Whatever you need, I'm sure I will find a way to accomplish." — Hao Fan answers — "I can get you pills at half their cost, I can manage whatever secular affairs and businesses you have, I can locate whoever you want me to locate. I can do anything, as long as it doesn't harm my own reputation by being outright evil or indecent." *set what_can_haofan_do false *goto what_can_haofan_do #"I don't need you." *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 2 "-" "That's unfortunate." — Hao Fan regrets — "Well, at least I hope we could remain on friendly terms." "How about we finish our tea then? It's getting cold." *page_break #"What do you want from me?" *goto what_haofan_wants #"Get to the point. Who cares about your life-story?" "You're right. Nobody does." — Hao Fan says —"That's exactly what I want to change." *goto what_haofan_wants #Don't drink the tea. Hao Fan becomes confused as you don't drink your cup of tea. "What's the matter?" — he questions. *choice *selectable_if (heard_about_leaves) #"I'm allergic to Wish Fulfillment Tea." *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "manipulative" "+" *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 14 *if (stat_check) His expression turns doubtful, his brows scrunching together as he inspects you for signs of a lie — but doesn't find any. In the end, he puts the tray on the table and, as a sign of politeness, also leaves his cup full. "Strange. I've never heard about anyone being allergic to it… But our world is full of weird things, isn't it?" *goto conv_after_tea_drinking *else *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 6 "-" Hao Fan snorts. "You come into my home, refuse my generosity and lie straight to my face?" He raises his voice, a wave of anger sweeps away his charming amiability. People in the Jianghu do not tolerate [i]disrespect[/i]. "Get out out then. What's the point of this meeting if you break the trust between us from the beginning?" — he glares at you — "I won't see you out." Presented with no other choice, you stand up and leave, your meeting with Hao Fan ending in a spectacular failure. *goto_scene free_roam #"I don't accept drinks from strangers." *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 6 "-" Hao Fan snorts. "You come into my home, refuse my generosity and accuse me of poisoning you?" He raises his voice, a wave of anger sweeps away his charming amiability. People in the Jianghu do not tolerate [i]disrespect[/i]. "Get out out then. What's the point of this meeting if you don't have enough trust me in to drink my tea?" — he glares at you — "I won't see you out." Presented with no other choice, you stand up and leave, your meeting with Hao Fan ending in a spectacular failure. *goto_scene free_roam #"I don't want to drink tea." *gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 1 "impulsive" "+" *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion 13 6 "-" Hao Fan snorts. "You refuse my generosity because you [i]want to[/i]? Who do you think you are?" He raises his voice, a wave of anger sweeps away his charming amiability. People in the Jianghu do not tolerate [i]disrespect[/i]. "Get out out then. What's the point of this meeting if you don't consider me worthy of respect?" — he glares at you — "I won't see you out." Presented with no other choice, you stand up and leave, your meeting with Hao Fan ending in a spectacular failure. *goto_scene free_roam *goto_scene free_roam