"This one is a bit more complex," the silver-haired woman said, pulling out a separate page. This one depicted a collection of five intricately carved bracelets, linked together to be worn as a single piece.
"You mentioned that she used calligraphy to command the power of the elements," Armorer Dian said, waiting to receive a nod from Liang Xiong before she continued. "That reminded me of something else that commands the power of the elements. These bracelets would be carved from the branch of a Songwood tree."
"Each bracelet is carved in a way that corresponds to one of the elements the Songwood tree is best known for manipulating; earth, wind, rain, thunder, and fire," she continued. "The armament is flexible and could be used to both defend and attack. If the woman you're courting is more likely to fight by your side than hide in the rear then this would be your best option," the silver-haired woman advised.
"This is the one," Liang Xiong confirmed, his heart beginning to beat faster as he imagined presenting such a gift to Wu Ling. Already in his mind's eye, he could imagine the interlocked bracelets adorning her slender wrist, flowing with spiritual energy as she rushed into danger beside him.
It was one of the things that most captivated him about Wu Ling. She was graceful and feminine in a way that few women in his sect managed to be. The tight press of a battlefield didn't lend itself to the sorts of graceful sword maidens that could be found in places like the Pure Edge Sword Sect.
Yet, despite her feminine grace and charm, Wu Ling was a woman who would wrestle a Burning Yang Sun Bear into submission. She would stake her life on her capabilities to protect the people who depended on her.
To Liang Xiang, the combination meant that he could dedicate his life to a partner who would not only be able to fight beside him, but would understand why he fought and took the risks he did. He wouldn't leave her behind to go to war, rather, they would go to war together.
"Lady Wu would never hide behind others if she could take the fight directly to her enemies," he said with conviction. "The way my sister speaks of her fighting off an empowered Burning Yang Sun Bear during the eclipse, I can't see her as someone who would be content to hide while others fight."
"Don't get excited too quickly," the older woman cautioned, hearing the enthusiasm in his voice that had been lacking when she presented her first design. It was good that she'd produced a design that resonated with the young Soldier, but would he be able to retrieve the materials she needed in order to make it?
"How much do you know about Songwood trees?" Armorer Dian asked.
"Very little," Liang Xiong admitted. His elder sister, even though she didn't study spirit beasts as her primary scholarly pursuit, likely knew much more about them than he did. "I know that they're in the Forest of Mist and that they're the unquestioned lords of the forest. They can live for centuries and they have incredible mastery of the environment," he said, listing the few things he'd heard during his last campaign.
The farming community of Soft Grass wasn't far from the Forest of Mist and over the years enough of the locals had ventured into the dangerous forest to return with a number of tales about the mighty trees. Liang Xiong wasn't one to believe every piece of folklore he heard, however. Since none of the cultivators he spoke with in Soft Grass had actually seen a Songwood tree, he treated anything they said as tall tales that might possess a few grains of truth.
"That's a good start," Armorer Dian acknowledged. "Songwood trees can grow to a height of more than one hundred meters, but most of them tower even higher than that because they use their mastery of earth to raise the ground beneath them up into great mounds and pillars," she began.
"The older a Songwood tree gets, the more it can influence the elements. With each century the tree lives, it forms a face on its trunk," the older woman continued. "Each face has mastery over a single element under the tree's command. If you try to fight a tree, especially an older tree, it's like fighting multiple Sorcerers at the same time."
"Worse," she added in a stern tone. "Anything under its boughs is compelled to submit to the mighty tree. If you want to chop one down, you not only have to fight against its powerful mastery of the elements, but you have to do so while it actively suppresses your will to do so. The most powerful Songwood trees can even turn men against their own companions, forcing them to slaughter each other."
"That," Liang Xiong began before pausing, considering his words carefully as he imagined fighting such an unreasonable foe. "That sounds horrifying, but you wouldn't have offered this up if it was beyond my means to attempt," he said, feeling that there must be more to this powerful tree than what the armorer had explained so far. "What's the method I should employ against a Songwood tree?"
"There is a method and it's both frightfully simple and at the same time, very difficult," Armorer Dian explained, smiling when she saw the young Soldier thinking things through instead of assuming that his strength would be sufficient against the mighty trees. The trial they'd set for him wouldn't just test him as an individual. He would have to demonstrate his capabilities as a leader if he wanted to succeed in this expedition.
"A Songwood tree can be placated with music," she explained. "If the music is played well enough then you can earn its approval. Do that and you may be able to bargain with the tree for a broken branch."
"Just a branch?" Liang Xiong asked, surprised that it would be so simple. "So, you don't need me to chop one down?"
"A branch is already difficult to achieve," she said with a shake of her head. "The last time the sect chopped down a Songwood tree was on an expedition led by a Champion, seeking his opportunity to reach the fifth stage and become a Martial Hero. He brought two columns of fighters along with him, plus a column of support staff, and several other early-stage Champions and late-stage Warriors."
"Did he succeed in becoming a Hero?" Liang Xiong asked. Martial Heroes were the only ones qualified to become Grand Elders in the Inner Sect but he couldn't think of any Grand Elder who had become a Hero by chopping down a tree.
"No, he didn't," the silver-haired woman said sadly. "The expedition succeeded in that we were able to harvest a Songwood tree over three centuries old, but the War Leader along with two of his closest friends and half the other fighters who accompanied him died in the battle," she said softly, looking into Liang Xiong's eyes to ensure that the young man understood the weight of the terrible loss.
"These trees aren't to be taken lightly," she emphasized.
For several moments, Liang Xiong sat in silence as he considered the task Armorer Dian had placed before him. As long as they didn't need to fight the tree, there was no reason to believe the tree would kill them. But before they confronted the tree, they first had to reach the place where it grew. Then, once they trekked deep enough into the Forest of Mist to find a Songwood Tree, they had to convince it to give up one of its branches. And that negotiation hinged on being able to placate it with a song.
"Do you know what kind of song we should play for the tree? Should I bring some of the pipers and drummers from the sect?" Liang Xiong asked. His mind was attempting to put together a strategy to accomplish the mission but when he thought about bringing musicians along, he realized that it would be impossible to accomplish with just himself and a musician.
There were too many other threats in the Forest of Mist and he couldn't defend a musician by himself and advance through the dangerous wood. He'd need to find at least one or two more companions to protect the vulnerable musicians unless he could find a musician who had reached the second stage and reawakened as a martial cultivator as well.
"Don't bother with our musicians," the silver-haired woman said bluntly. "The musicians of the Purple Thunder War Hall learn music to stir the blood and enhance martial discipline and coordination among troops. They're entirely unsuited to this," she said flatly.
"Instead, you should bring the woman that you're courting with you. That way she can play music for the Songwood tree," she suggested. "In my experience, while some women appreciate a surprise, a strong woman like the one you describe likes the chance to participate in selecting and preparing a piece of jewelry or other item that they'll wear. And it will give you a chance to bond with her in danger," she added with a wink. "That's not a bad thing for you."
"I can't," Liang Xiong said. "If it was a second gift after she accepted my intentions, then maybe I could bring her. But this is a first gift meant to demonstrate my sincerity. If I need her help just to obtain something to prove my intentions then the sentiment would become hollow," he explained. "Besides, she's currently on an expedition of her own."
"Well, in that case, I suggest you consider your options for putting together a small warband," Armorer Dian suggested. "If you decide that it's too much, then perhaps you should lower your standards for the level of gift you wish to give her. The kinds of armaments made by Exceptional Artists require exceptional resources," she explained, wondering if the young Soldier would give up at the first obstacle.
"There's no shame in retreating from this challenge," she added, reaching out and resting a hand gently on his shoulder. "Only you can decide how far to push yourself to prove your worth to the woman you wish to court."
"I know," Laing Xiong said, bowing in thanks to the Artist. "I'm going to speak to a good friend. If he'll join me then I have confidence that we can at least safely make the attempt."
"Nothing is ever safe when it comes to expeditions like this," Armorer Dian reminded him. "Do your best to mitigate the risks, fight as hard as you can and the rest is up to fate. Remember that, Soldier Liang, and good luck."