Zeqing's Final Trial

Zeqing's final trial was one of endings and beginnings. Instigated by Zeqing's inevitable death, and seemingly a desire to allow Hanyi to have an existence outside of Zeqing, this trial was the most dangerous and difficult trial that she has created for Ling Qi. The goal was simple, to escape Zeqing's home with Hanyi while Zeqing died. Zeqing would assist Ling Qi as far as she was able, to prevent Ling Qi from being instantly consumed in the fury of the storm.

Ling Qi chose to give Hanyi a piggyback ride, in order to prevent their separation during the storm. While the decision proved its own challenges, given Hanyi's ever-increasing weight during the trial, it proved prudent as the storm violently attempted to split them apart and Hanyi was able to give accurate information on how Ling Qi was to proceed through the warping manor.

However, the storm and the warping manor were not the only dangers to endure in the trial. Indeed, as Zeqing's death continued apace, aspects of Zeqing tried to keep Hanyi from leaving. The first of this was Ling Qi being enthralled with a scenario from her past which defined her and leads to suffering as well as a scenario of impossible perfection with friends and family all happy with no cares in the world and completely devoted to Ling Qi's desires. While Ling Qi was able to escape these scenarios and realize the falsehood of them, it allowed her to impart upon her domain an aspect of family and home she had never fully contemplated before. That one person's desires cannot, alone, make a family.

Confronting what Ling Qi called a muscle spasm created by Zeqing's very nature and desire rebelling against each other, Ling Qi affirmed her determination to persevere through trials and tribulations for the sake of family. Ultimately succeeding in escaping the collapsing house, Ling Qi watched Hanyi give her goodbyes to Zeqing with Zeqing imparting a last gift to the daughter she loved. ''Ling Qi gave a faint nod of acknowledgement to the muse’s words and moved over to Hanyi, kneeling in the snow herself to wrap the young girl in a hug. “I’m sorry junior sister,” she said quietly. “But… she was happy at the end, wasn’t she?” “She was,” Hanyi sniffled. “She said she was proud of me, and...and she was glad she got to see me grown up.”''