The wind was still that morning, as of the mountains themselves were holding their breath.
Master Zi Chen stood alone upon the jade stone platform, hands clasped behind his back, looking at the rising sun from the east. His white robe with silver trim fluttered softly in the breeze that whispered through the pine trees surrounding the training ground. A mist curled along the edges of the mountain path, coiling like an old dragon resting between the cliffs.
"They should have arrived at this time."
Master Zi Chen whispered, looking at the sun. It looks like he was waiting for someone to arrive at the training ground, Master Zi Chen then closed not because he was meditating but become he had enough of waiting.
Beneath the silence a tension brewed. The kind that came before thunder.
Distant footsteps broke the stillness.
First to arrive was Jún, a all grown up Jún, mostly in his younger teenage years, with a quite strength in his posture, wearing a sharp royal black colour robe, he stepped onto the training platform with a so called respectful bow, his dark hair tied in a neat topknot.
'Master!' Jún said in firm tone.
Master Zi Chen opened his eyes, sharp and clear as ice on winter pond.
"You are late Jún." Master Zi Chen said softly.
"But Master..... Liang also haven't arrived yet. I came earlier than him."
Jún said without any hesitation, believing the fact that he arrived before Liang so he has arrived earlier. Master Zi Chen stayed still and had a gentle grim on his face.
"So you mean if you came earlier than Liang that means you have arrived early?" Master Zi Chen asked.
Jún was still for second at a time he he had no answer for it, but he was son of Xiú so he was excellent in doing arguments.
"I didn't meant that Master, I just wanted to tell you that I am being punctual than him also I don't want you to wait for me."
Jún continued, Master Zi Chen turned around and looked at Jún with calm snow like eyes. He politely replied.
"I am glad to hear that Jún, that you respect me a lot."
Jún smiled believing that he made Master Zi Chen realize that he is his most loyal student and also to give punishment to Liang as well but Jún himself doesn't realize the fact Master Zi Chen himself is a very intelligent person.
As if summoned by fate's cruel sense of timing, the sound of wooden sandals and calm but fast footsteps echoed from the path. Master Zi Chen and Jún looked at the direction where sound of wooden sandals were coming.
Liang appeared, he is also now grown up, he is mostly nine years old now, his head is bald, wearing a normal saffron color, long round collar robe with long sleeves panling lanshan and calm and soothing smile on his face making him even more cute and gorgeous. The morning mist around him also following him in his path.
"Good Morning Master." He greeted Master Zi Chen and bowed respectfully while Jún was looking at him with envy in his eyes just like in his childhood.
"Good morning Liang." Master Zi Chen greeted him as well.
"You have been late." Master Zi Chen said but Liang didn't even tried to explain anything to Master unlike Jún, he quickly admitted his mistake.
"I am sorry Master for being late and kept you and brother Jún waiting."
Liang humbly apologised to both, Master Zi Chen was ready to accept his apology and it was looking like he was going to forgive however Jún had different ideas he wanted to see Liang getting humiliated.
"Master, Liang has arrived, now will punish him for being and made us wait for this long?"
Jún was instigating Master Zi Chen to punish Liang but since Master Zi Chen was a true Master he calmly answered.
"As you say Jún but before that I want to know the reason for being late."
Master Zi Chen looked at Liang and asked.
"Liang, can you tell me the reason for being late today?"
Liang respectfully nodded his head and gently replied.
"Master, I came out of my room and was walking in the corridor, suddenly on my way I saw a cobweb right around the corner in the corridor. On that cobweb a little ladybug was stuck, that ladybug was struggling to free herself from the cobweb, after sometime I saw a spider, inching closer towards that struggling ladybug, I realized that the spider was coming to eat the ladybug."
Master Zi Chen was carefully listening to Liang while Jún was also listening but he was believing that Liang is making up a story just to escape punishment.
"Then what happened Liang?" Master Zi Chen asked, Liang continued.
"The ladybug was then trying even more harder after seeing the spider inching closer so I decided to help the ladybug."
"Then how did you helped that ladybug?" Master Zi Chen asked to which Liang answered.
"There was a table with a vase kept on it, I picked up the vase and placed it on the floor, then I pushed the table underneath the cobweb. I stood up on the table and raised I hand to help the ladybug..... but Master.... then I stopped....."
"Why..... what happened Liang?" Master Zi Chen politely.
"He must got scared of the spider."
Jún giggled and made fun of Liang, Master Zi Chen looked at Jún and this time his glaze wasn't that calm like his glaze was telling Jún to be quite. Jún seeing that glaze from Master Zi Chen immediately went quite.
"Yes.... now tell me Liang why did you stopped?" Master Zi Chen, Liang then answered.
"Master, I stopped because I thought if raise my hand towards that ladybug it will destroy that cobweb as well. I don't wanted to do that."
"So..... did you saved the ladybug or not?" Master Zi Chen asked to which Liang calmly answered.
"Yes Master, I saved the ladybug. I remembered your lesson about keeping calmness in tough situations. I kept my calmed and slowly raised my two fingers towards the struggling ladybug. I gently cradled the ladybug between the tip of my fingers, made sure she doesn't get hurt, then I slowly pulled the ladybug out of the cobweb. This is how I saved the ladybug from being eaten by spider Master."
Master Zi Chen after hearing from Liang how he saved the ladybug made him proud. He was glad how Liang use his taught lessons in his life. He gently patted his head started praising.
"Very good Liang, I am so proud of you. You are so little but still you think like a mature person."
Master Zi Chen praised Liang and Jún was in shock because he believed that just like him Master Zi Chen will not believe Liang and will punish him instead but now everything was happening opposite to his wish. He felt little bit humiliated however he still didn't backed down and continued to argue.
"Seriously Master, you believe in his so called saving the ladybug story, can't you see he is lying to you just escape the punishment?"
Jún believed that Liang was lying, Master Zi Chen calmly looked at Jún he wanted answer him but before he say something, Liang humbly replied.
"I am not lying brother Jún, seriously I was saving the ladybug."
Liang said it politely, he had no intentions of proving Jún wrong instead he wanted Jún to believe in him but Jún wasn't believing, instead he arrogantly questioned him in taunting manner.
"Huh..... and what proof you do you have which make me believe into your story, that ladybug which you saved?"
Jún asked, it was looking like Jún will prove him wrong, Master Zi Chen was also speechless because he believed that Liang has no strong proof but Liang suddenly said.
"Yes brother Jún, I have brought the ladybug herself, look."
Liang raised his right and showed it to Jún and Master Zi Chen and after what they both saw they couldn't believe on their own eyes.
They saw the ladybug calmly sitting on the finger tip of Liang's hand.