RE: Puzzler's Space - Lesson 1: Spring's Spirit Departs
09-10-2017, 02:35 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-10-2017, 02:41 AM by Kaynato.)
A flat cloud hovered in from the west, casting the landscape into darkness. Yet this was not a rain-cloud, for it was too flat to contain two days worth of rain. The farmers yelled and struck at their altars to the deities of agriculture, but the flat cloud merely continued to loom.
After three weeks, the darkness had become unbearable. Lamentations rose up from the dwellings of all, and collected together in a great morose chorus.
Liu Kui was at the market with Ban Songqi when this cacophony became known as an infestation of the ears and a consistent, dull pain in the head.
"It is a flat cloud," consoled Songqi, "and not your health, which has yet to fail. This troubles us all."
Liu Kui replied, "Yet, this will surely affect the presence of round-fruit in the markets. Observe: We have not seen it after several hours of searching." For Liu Kui, this was of utmost concern - the presence of round-fruit shared a deep connection with the Spirit of the Spring, and that there was such a lack indicated a terrible deficiency in its health.
Songqi, who secretly held a worldly enjoyment of well-prepared round-fruit, became sullen and did not speak for the rest of their time at the market.
Puzzle 4: What is the punishment for allowing a woven mat into the market?
It was not three-thirds into their return that the two were met by a nameless travelling merchant, whose profession was known by the thick wrappings that obscured any human features.
"I have brought," began the merchant, "the finest jewels under heaven."
But Liu Kui and Ban Songqi continued forward.
The merchant followed in suit, continually hounding the two with further requests. "I have brought the most delicate linens on the earth. I have brought the seeds of the legendary flame-tower tree, the hidden gold of the faraway Shining Wall." Pocket after pocket was unveiled, and brilliant and mysterious goods were presented one after another.
It was when the so-called square-fruit was presented that Ban Songqi motioned for Liu Kui to stop.
"Which assassin are you," Songqi sternly put forth, "to have acquired this variety of goods, and to have targeted us so for such a time?"
The nameless merchant only smiled, casting down the great cloak within which was hidden that great assortment of items, revealing a body entirely covered in text.
Songqi had expected this, for only the School of the Twenty Flocks would dare craft the unnatural square-fruit - and indeed, upon the body of the supposed merchant were the writings of the Twenty Flocks, which described the exact manner of their own inscription. Unable to resist, Songqi was drawn into the script, unable to fully trace their paradoxically self-referential nature.
Liu Kui, not having paid attention to the scene, stooped down and picked up a square-fruit, carving off its edges with a knife, and passed it in front of Songqi.
"There it is." commented Liu Kui, "To think that we were fortituous enough to meet this kind merchant!"
Songqi blinked twice, taking up the carved fruit, and without inspection, placed it into the back-basket.
The two carefully stepped around the kind merchant, who was called Ying Zhong, and completed the journey without further interruption.
Puzzle 5: Your teacher announces that in three days, the Trial of Green Sand will begin. Yet, you do not have coverings for your feet. From which of the epics of the Stellated Valley General, who marches yet in the grave, should you transcribe your death-poem?
After three weeks, the darkness had become unbearable. Lamentations rose up from the dwellings of all, and collected together in a great morose chorus.
Liu Kui was at the market with Ban Songqi when this cacophony became known as an infestation of the ears and a consistent, dull pain in the head.
"It is a flat cloud," consoled Songqi, "and not your health, which has yet to fail. This troubles us all."
Liu Kui replied, "Yet, this will surely affect the presence of round-fruit in the markets. Observe: We have not seen it after several hours of searching." For Liu Kui, this was of utmost concern - the presence of round-fruit shared a deep connection with the Spirit of the Spring, and that there was such a lack indicated a terrible deficiency in its health.
Songqi, who secretly held a worldly enjoyment of well-prepared round-fruit, became sullen and did not speak for the rest of their time at the market.
Puzzle 4: What is the punishment for allowing a woven mat into the market?
It was not three-thirds into their return that the two were met by a nameless travelling merchant, whose profession was known by the thick wrappings that obscured any human features.
"I have brought," began the merchant, "the finest jewels under heaven."
But Liu Kui and Ban Songqi continued forward.
The merchant followed in suit, continually hounding the two with further requests. "I have brought the most delicate linens on the earth. I have brought the seeds of the legendary flame-tower tree, the hidden gold of the faraway Shining Wall." Pocket after pocket was unveiled, and brilliant and mysterious goods were presented one after another.
It was when the so-called square-fruit was presented that Ban Songqi motioned for Liu Kui to stop.
"Which assassin are you," Songqi sternly put forth, "to have acquired this variety of goods, and to have targeted us so for such a time?"
The nameless merchant only smiled, casting down the great cloak within which was hidden that great assortment of items, revealing a body entirely covered in text.
Songqi had expected this, for only the School of the Twenty Flocks would dare craft the unnatural square-fruit - and indeed, upon the body of the supposed merchant were the writings of the Twenty Flocks, which described the exact manner of their own inscription. Unable to resist, Songqi was drawn into the script, unable to fully trace their paradoxically self-referential nature.
Liu Kui, not having paid attention to the scene, stooped down and picked up a square-fruit, carving off its edges with a knife, and passed it in front of Songqi.
"There it is." commented Liu Kui, "To think that we were fortituous enough to meet this kind merchant!"
Songqi blinked twice, taking up the carved fruit, and without inspection, placed it into the back-basket.
The two carefully stepped around the kind merchant, who was called Ying Zhong, and completed the journey without further interruption.
Puzzle 5: Your teacher announces that in three days, the Trial of Green Sand will begin. Yet, you do not have coverings for your feet. From which of the epics of the Stellated Valley General, who marches yet in the grave, should you transcribe your death-poem?