The sun was already getting dark, it had already set behind the mountains, the air was beginning to get thinner with that slight edge that announced winter, it wasn't a piercing cold yet, but it was enough to redden the tips of your fingers, the dry leaves still crunched under your feet, but the sky, paler, no longer retained the heat of the sun for long, after a long talk, Jing Shao asked his disciples to go and rest, the children, already very tired from their training, said nothing more, said a formal farewell and left.
The air was sharp, a chill that seeped into the bones and made each breath feel like smoke in the darkness. Jing Shao still sat on the eaves of his house, looking at the faint light of the stars through the mist that formed when he exhaled. He reflected for a while on the progress of his disciples. He knew that they had improved more than he had imagined at first. His training was beginning to bear fruit.
But he felt that maybe it wasn't enough, so he thought of a place. It was a cave that his own Shizun used. It was rich in spiritual energy. When he and his younger brother started cultivating, his Shizun had personally taken them.
The air was fresh and smelled of pine and damp earth. It was the beginning of winter when the wind began to rush through the trees, but it still didn't hurt his skin. Jing Shao was 10 years old when he started farming. His younger brother, two years younger than him, stumbled behind him with clumsy steps, his fingers red from the cold but his eyes shining with excitement. "If we don't go faster, Shizun will leave us," said Jing Lian. "Shhhhh! Shizun said if we make noise, the crows will get scared," whispered Jing Shao to his younger brother. Up ahead, a man dressed in white robes and with green eyes. His steps were light; his footsteps were inaudible as he walked. His senses were sharp, so he realized that his two disciples were behind a bush, laughing and panting, trying to scare him.
"What are you doing there? Come out and stop playing." This Shizun of yours always had a bad temper, so they were used to his scolding. After nodding in disappointment, they continued walking. After a short walk through the mountains, the interior of the cave was humid. There were vines outside the cave. After cleaning a little and putting down a comfortable blanket, the three of them began to cultivate in seclusion.
Remembering her childhood days Jing Shao had a fit of nostalgia she would give anything to go back to those days she wanted to put her thoughts in order she felt that maybe the cold of the night wasn't so cruel anymore she went into the house after a while she heated some water and made some green tea she didn't want to think about it anymore after pouring herself she stared at the steaming tea for a while she drank it in one sip her tongue was red it was burning from drinking such a hot tea all at once but that couldn't matter less at that moment she walked slowly to her bed she wanted to hide under the quilt but she didn't she just lay down and curled up in a ball Jing Shao didn't cry she couldn't cry anymore after so long
He was alone in the dark, it was so dark, it was so cold, guilt, regret filled his mind, he was trembling slightly, he was scared, but there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, he could only force himself to close his eyes and sleep until he couldn't think about it anymore, that's all he could do.
The next day the sun filtered through the high branches casting patches of golden light on the ground. The morning was fresh, a little chilly with the air smelling of dry leaves and damp earth. Jing Shao opened his eyes slowly, his body still somewhat numb from the night before. He sat up slowly. He didn't want to think about it anymore, so he didn't.
He got up slowly, he knew that his disciples would arrive soon, so he quickly changed into a warmer and cleaner pair. He saw the small clay pot of green tea from the night before. The tea still had a light ginger scent, so he decided to heat it up again. He looked for some slices of bread that he had already prepared to eat. Today the morning was very quiet, there was light and he was at home. He wanted to earn some money to pay for the trip to the kingdom of Tianmeng. It would be a long trip and he didn't have enough money. He thought to himself: "If I sell some objects he obtained on his travels and some figures made of spiritual energy, I could get some money." He was still absorbed in his thoughts when he heard knocks on the door.
Jing Shao: "Come in"
The door opened, bringing with it the morning sun illuminating the interior of the house. It was his two disciples. They both wore the uniforms Jing Shao had given them. Mei An wore a big smile as usual. "Shizun, we've arrived," Mei An said. "This disciple greets Shizun," Mei Lin said. Although her face was serious, her gaze was relaxed. She even seemed happy, but there was no way to tell.
Jing Shao smiled.
Her smile was sincere and very warm.
"Shizun, what's wrong?" Mei An asked.
"It's nothing. I'll be out in a bit. You guys start farming. When I get back, I'll teach you new sword techniques." He said this while packing up some items he had in a trunk that Mrs. Mei had given him. He left for the town a little hurriedly.
"Jie, jie, don't you think Shizun is acting a bit strange today?" Mei An said to her older sister.
"Hmm, I can tell," Mei Lin said, glancing at the door.
The road to the village was narrow and full of stones. Jing Shao walked slowly, with a cloth bag tied to his shoulder. Inside he carried some carved wooden amulets and a couple of ancient objects that he had gathered from his travels. The town had not fully woken up. The market opened slowly with the first merchants taking out their tables, shaking the dust off their fabrics and lighting oil lamps. Despite the fact that it was early in the morning, Jing Shao did not pay much attention so he continued walking. The air smelled of freshly baked bread, dampness and wood smoke.
Jing Shao placed a blanket on the ground near a medicinal herb stand and on it he distributed his wooden carved figures: small dragons, cats, tigers, and some miniature swords. He also placed some amulets to one side. He closed his fists and spiritual energy sprouted out. Out came a small golden rabbit made with spiritual energy. Then he made some flowers and some butterflies.
A child stopped to look and then an old woman. It wasn't long before more and more people started arriving, attracted by the golden glow the figures gave off. They didn't ask much, they paid with small coins or rice. Someone even offered her a bowl of hot soup.
Jing Shao didn't talk much, he just nodded politely, he picked up the coins carefully and returned them with his hands together as a sign of gratitude. When there was almost nothing left on the blanket, he gave a soft sigh. He put away the money and the remaining objects. The sun was already beginning to set. He returned and bought some bread, some dried tea for the children, and some new bandages.
The way back became a little complicated. The wind was strong. He climbed the mountain in silence. He noticed some ghosts. He got rid of them and returned home on time. The children continued farming. They hadn't stopped all day. Jing Shao came in and saw them but didn't interrupt them. He was thinking that he had to make more figures tomorrow.