The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Chapter 18 Written By Unicorn Slippers edited by DramaPanda Song Bai kept up her guard as the small band of warriors fanned out in front of her, the men loping ahead while Li Luo maintained a slower pace alongside her. She tried to study the woman without being too obvious, sneaking in glances when Li Luo was distracted by one of her men or a particularly outspoken villager. She was shorter than Song Bai and had the same raven hair and chestnut eyes as the residents of this settlement, but there was something more fierce and regal about her that was indefinable. Her black leather tunic and pants hugged her form, the dusky color-scheme broken up only by her knee-high, fawn colored boots. Her shoulder armor and wrist guards were thick and heavy, and were decorated with interlocking symbols. She carried a sword in her right hand and a long, curved dirk was sheathed at her waist. She was beautiful and intimidating, and Song Bai could see why Shi’s older brother had desired he...

Chapter 17 Written By Drama Panda and Unicorn Slippers Xun Ru and Tao Min walked stiffly through the silk stalls of Sanctuary, each affecting the menacing attitude of a Fire Tribe soldier on patrol. They took turns flinging hostile glances at the cowering merchants, who quickly looked away in the hopes of avoiding a confrontation. The crowd milling through the streets all had the same hollow, powerless expression, and it made the Earth Tribe Captain’s blood boil to see his people so dispirited. Though he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword until his knuckles grew white, he managed to keep his anger in check. He was just thankful that they had not passed through the street that housed his own family’s leather shop. He could not face his parents disguised as a Fire Tribe soldier, no matter the cost of revealing his true identity to them.

Chapter 16 Written By UnicornSlippers Edited By DramaPanda Silence lay over the forest like a dense, woolen tapestry, the stillness split open only by the sound of thundering hooves. Song Bai clung to her mount as she raced past the trees and she felt the frigid wind sting her eyes and slip down her throat, making it hard to breathe. The stallion’s muscles rippled and his chestnut mane whipped around like a tousled blaze as they charged towards the gate to Earth realm. Through the clusters of gnarled bare branches, she could see the sun sinking low on the horizon. Time was running out; Soon night would be upon them. She urged the horse forward with a firm press of her heels into his ribs, and she felt the pull and stretch of the gallop quicken beneath her. Her long hair streamed out behind her like a sable pennant, the magic used to disguise her appearance having been spent long ago. As the world rushed by in a tumble of chaotic images, she suddenly caught a flash of movement ...

Chapter 15 written by UnicornSlippers edited by DramaPanda Xing Jiu sat at a plain wooden desk in his room, bent over a book he had retrieved from the Imperial Library earlier in the day.  The manuscript was bound in bronzed leather, cracked and dry with age, and smelled faintly of mold and dust.  The original stitching was barely holding it together, but the words written on the spine were still clearly visible: Descendents and Guardians: A History of the Ancient Clans.   He sat back in his chair and stretched, bleary-eyed from scanning pages for several hours for any mention of the Blood Red Lotus or Earth Tribe.  Predictably, he had found nothing, and he rubbed his temples in frustration as he considered returning to the Library for more research. The world abruptly turned upside down as he was suddenly launched into the air and sent tumbling like a leaf in a blizzard to the far side of the room.  He crashed into stone, a frosty magical noose ...

Chapter 14 written by UnicornSlippers edited by DramaPanda Xun Ru wiped at the sweat running in minute rivulets from his forehead with a grubby sleeve, cursing softly under his breath. It was hot today, and though he was relieved to be free of the bone chilling cold of Ice realm, he was uncomfortable in the oppressive heat hanging over the forest. He looked back at his Ice Tribe companions and chuckled.  If he was uncomfortable, they were downright miserable.  Zhanshi’s hair hung in damp locks, his face shiny with the sheen of perspiration. He did not complain, but periodically glared at Xun Ru balefully as if he was to blame for the inhospitable weather.

Chapter 13 NSFW!  Written by UnicornSlippers and Drama Panda The following afternoon, Xing Jiu strode into Mirage Hall, mouth set in a grim line as he mentally prepared himself for a verbal battle with Shi. He was exhausted and irritable, having spent most of the past four days either traveling or worrying about Lan Shang. He knew that sneaking off to his room to steal a few hours of sleep would probably be a more prudent course of action right now. The respite would clear his mind and allow him to better handle the capricious young Ice King, but he needed to confront Shi now before he lost his nerve. Xing Jiu rounded a corner and spied Wu Zan and a young woman talking in a shadowy alcove at the lower end of the hall, the recessed area marked by a vaulted ceiling and the dim outline of narrow pillars. The woman was leaning back against the wall and smiling coyly, while Wu Zan twirled a length of her dark hair languorously around his finger. Xing Jiu saw him lean in...

Character Bios for "A Cypress in Winter", Ice Fantasy Fanfiction Character bios are based off of the original Ice Fantasy TV series / current fanfic, with character observations from previous POTUP recaps included for entertainment. Feel free to add your own character interpretations in the comments. It’s Ice Fantasy, people! Magic mushrooms are welcome! New character bios will be added as the story progresses. Characters listed in order of appearance/mention. You might want to check out Mao Jiang. He’s hot. Written By UnicornSlippers Song Bai First Appearance: Chapter 1 Third daughter of the King of Earth Tribe and an Imperial concubine. Very strong in Earth magic. Young and stubborn. Raging hormones because she needs to mate. Was very attached to her father. Willing to sacrifice anything to help her people. Is extremely attracted to Xun Ru physically, but is also fascinated by Shi. She is unsure if she wants Xun Ru to take care of her virginity probl...

Chapter 12 Written by UnicornSlippers Shi and Song Bai sat across from one another, both picking at the food on their plates and not making eye contact. When they first sat down, Shi had poured them two more glasses of wine, but he hadn’t touched his own. His head was still fuzzy from the last glass and he didn’t want to blurt out anything else he would regret later. Song Bai had finished her glass several minutes ago, seemingly unaffected by the potent alcohol. She was eyeing the nearly empty bottle wistfully, so Shi finally spoke up.

Chapter 11 Written By UnicornSlippers and Drama Panda Consultation by WS and Charistia As Shi and Song Bai approached the table, he let go of her hand and reached for the bottle of Ice Wine, quickly filling both glasses with the lucent, apricot colored liquid. He offered her a glass and she murmured her appreciation, taking it from him and tipping it to examine the color in the vanishing sunlight. Shi downed his glass in one gulp and Song Bai’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she shrugged and followed suit, drinking her own wine in a single swallow.

Chapter 10  Written By Drama Panda and UnicornSlippers Consultation By Charistia Xing Jiu looked around his room at the palace on Seven Bay Island and felt a great unease. He had left Snow Blade City in haste and had been highly infuriated. After Shi had practically commanded him to abandon Lan Shang, he had gone to her and tried to tell her in not as many words why they would have to be apart for a while. Contrary to the common belief among the palace residents, Lan Shang was no fool, and she had read between the lines. She had become furious with Xing Jiu and had gone off in a huff. When Wu Zan told him that she had slapped Shi he had immediately gone to search for her. The sight of her crying her eyes out made him feel like the lowest of the low and he resolved accompany her on her journey back to Seven Bay Island, where she would be out of Shi’s immediate reach and back among her own people.

Chapter 9 Written By UnicornSlippers Editing By Drama Panda, Charistia, SakiVI Song Bai pressed her back against the closed door of her room, the rattling boom from the forceful slam still reverberating in her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut and struggled to slow her breathing. There was too much happening all at once and her head was swimming, filled with images of raging fires consuming Sanctuary, Xun Ru’s hurt expression, and the Ice King’s chameleon eyes. She was shattered with worry and fatigue and yearned for her father’s warm embrace. Although it was already mid-morning, she decided to lay down and try to get some rest. As she fought back the panic threatening to sweep over her, Song Bai removed the immoderate gown she was wearing and tossed it in a corner. She rummaged through the clothing she had been given, choosing a plain, comfortable sleeping gown instead of the diaphanous garment she had worn the night before. She crawled into the nest of white pillows and blan...

Chapter 8 Written By UnicornSlippers Editing By SakiVI Consultation By Charistia Shi sat in his room in Mirage Hall, once again toying idly with chess pieces strewn in front of him. He was feeling unsettled this morning. He had sent for Lan Shang, intending to explain to her his reasons for sending her back to Seven Bay Island, but she had left Snow Blade City without a word as soon as the sun had crested the frozen horizon. Upon hearing of her departure, Shi had sent a senior maid to fetch Xing Jiu from the Imperial Library, but he was also nowhere to be found. Shi did not dislike Lan Shang or desire to make her unhappy. She was his second cousin and the only living blood relative that he had left. He knew how deeply she had loved Kasuo, and that love had bound her in misery to Snow Blade City for over a decade. He had trouble believing that her stubborn commitment to the memory of his brother had been erased by a tenderness towards Xing Jiu. No matter the outcome of their...