The child, visibly tired, yawns softly and looks at his new teacher with heavy eyes, then whispers, "Shizun?".
His greeting is marked by respect and a certain form of gratitude, even if he still seems a little lost in this new context. Everyone says he is his shidi after all, so— At least he seems to know the basics of Chinese titles.
Heart attack!
"No, don't listen to what the others say, I'm not your shizun, that kind of thing isn't decided like that, it's... daozhang, that'll do."
The poor guy is a little embarrassed. Him, a shizun? No, no, no, he's nothing like a master. A master is supposed to have greater knowledge and experience than his disciple, which is not the case here.
"Yes, is there something you want?"
Sakeru, visibly disappointed at having misaddressed Shoi-Ming, shakes his head slightly, indicating that he has nothing to add. He then stretches out on the futon and, exhausted by the eventful day, quickly falls asleep.
The next morning, soft light filters through the paper windows, gently illuminating the room where they are resting. The first rays of sunlight paint golden reflections on the walls, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Sakeru, still sleeping, breathes peacefully under his blanket. His long jet-black hair rests tenderly on his cheeks. A serene expression can be seen on his face, as if he were at ease despite the uncertainties surrounding his mother.
The air in the room is calm, disturbed only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the garden and the sweet singing of birds. Everything seems quiet, unlike the day before. Sleeping within the sect is much better than sleeping in nature or an inn, that's for sure.
It is in this atmosphere that a new day begins. Shoi-Ming receives a message from one of the sect's disciples. The two important NPCs have just returned! Apparently, it was a fierce battle.
Oh! So the two were together after all, perfect. Jun Hie wasn't able to pull off his schemes. He feels reassured and breathes a sigh of relief.
He can't leave the child alone. If he wakes up and doesn't see him, he might panic. He's still so young.
He absolutely must talk to Zi Xuan to find out more about this child, especially his parents.
Shoi-Ming waits patiently, resuming his paper crane folding and concentrating on infusing them with a little of his Qi. He doesn't always succeed, but he persists in trying to make it work. So much so that the GM pops up in front of him.
[ You have gained +1 in Qi mastery. You can now send messages by infusing pieces of paper with Qi. ]
Yes, he knows, that's what he's already trying to do. Finally! Uttering a faint "yes!" quietly so as not to wake the boy, he smiles broadly.
If he can at least do that to warn when he's in danger or pass on information, it's already a big step forward!
These are basic things that young disciples learn from the beginning, he admits, but he prefers to be enthusiastic about small things rather than become discouraged by such thoughts.
Next, he will have to learn how to channel more energy into the talismans to activate them. That will certainly take several days. Ultimately, his rest will allow him to train actively, which is not a bad thing.
As Shoi-Ming continues his activities, Sakeru slowly wakes up, his eyes squinting slightly in the morning light. He sits up on his futon, still a little sleepy, and runs a hand through his hair.
Something seems different... Does his hair seem longer than yesterday? No, it must be an illusion, perhaps because he had tied it back the day before. Yes, that must be it.
Without wasting any time, Sakeru gets up and walks over to Shoi-Ming, as if he were already accustomed to his presence.
He follows him everywhere, his large, curious eyes watching his master's every move with admiration. He even clings to his dress, like a little chick close to its mother, seeming to seek a little comfort and security in this new environment.
Overall, the protagonist seems happy to be there, even if he remains a little reserved and shy.
Well, Shoi-Ming didn't think he would settle into this place so quickly. The little boy is so cute that he lets him hold on to him—he must feel bad and a little homesick being away from his relatives.
Shoi-Ming smiles tenderly at him as he watches him. He puts some sheets of paper in front of him and even a book that isn't too complicated for young disciples, explaining methods for concentrating his Qi in specific parts of his body, such as his legs or hands, so that he can defend himself better.
"I'm going to be away for a few moments, I'll be back soon. In the meantime, why don't you try making another crane? You can try making a boat or a frog first, it will be easier."
He takes out another book that shows how to do it step by step with some drawings and so, he leaves the pavilion.
Yet his steps soon come to a halt and his eyes widen when he sees a familiar figure.
No—it can't be.
Getting closer, he squints. Sure enough, it is her. His wife.
Well, not Shoi-Ming's wife, obviously, he's not married or anything, no—his own wife, in the RPG.
Oh my God, he's shocked. What is she doing here? Isn't she part of The Shining Tiger Sect? Seeing her again gives him a strange feeling, like poison creeping insidiously into his body.