The mist of dawn lung to the monastery walls, swirling like restless ghosts. Jianyu tightened his grip on the wooden sword in his hands, his breath steady but shallow. Around him, monks moved in synchronized silence, their staff strikes echoing like a steady drumbeat. He stepped into the training yard, his body still aching from the previous day´s drills.
Jianyu adjusted his stance, mimicking the fluid movement of the monk before him. His strikes were heavy , unbalanced and the staff in his hands felt unwieldy. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn´t stop. Each strike sent a jarring vibration up his arms, but he gritted his teeth and pushed harder.
"Loosen your shoulder," the monk instrutor said, his voice calm but firm. "you move like a man carrying the world on his back."
Jianyu swung again, this time overcorrecting. The staff slipped from his hands, clattering to the ground. His face burned with frustration as he bent to retrieve it.
" I can´t ," Jianyu muttered , his voice barely audible. "If I loosen up... everyhting will fall."
The instructor paused, studying him for a long moment. "Then let the weight guide you," he said simply, stepping aside.
Jianyu nodded adjusting his grip. This time , his strikes were smoother, the weight of the staff feeling less like a burden and more like a natural extension of his body. He didn´t notice Tian watching from the shadowsm a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
The sharp hiss of whetstone on steel broke the silence of the monastery´s garden. Tian sat on a low bench, his dagger gleamin in the pale morning . Each stroke was deliberate , his eyes focused on the dagger´s edge.
The Abbott approached , his footsteps soundless on the stone path. He stopped a few paces away, folding his hands in his sleeves as he watched Tian work.
"The boy is progressing," the Abbott said, his voice calm. "His spirit is strong."
Tian didn´t look up. "His spirit isn´t enough."
The Abbott tilted his head, his expression serene. "And you? Are you prepared or not, it doesn´t matter. The boy lives. That´s all that matters."
For a moment , the Abbott said nothing . The , in voice barely above a whisper, he replied, "But for how long?"
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the training yard. Monks paired off, their movements a blur of precision and power as wooden sticks clashed with sharp, rhythmic cracks. Jianyu stepped into the center, his eyes scanning for an opponent.
A younger monk stepped forward, his face calm but focused. Jianyu nodded, gripping his stick ttightly as the two circled each other. The monk struck first, a swift , controlled swing that Jianyu barely managed to block. The force of the blow sent him few steps back, but he recovered quickly.
"Focus!" Tian called from the sidelines. "Watch his feet, not his weapon!"
Jianyu griitted his teeth, his eyes shifting to his opponent´s stance. The monk lunged again, his movements smooth and deliberate. Jianyu deflected the strike, pivoting on his heel to deliver a counter attack. His sword connected with the monk´s stick, but the angle was wrong- he lost his grip and the sword clattered to the ground.
Before Jianyu could react , Tian stepped into the yard, tossing him another sword. "Again," he commanded, his voice sharp.
The sparring intensified. Tian´s strikes were fast and unrelenting, forcing Jianyu to think quickly. Each time Jianyu faltered, Tian spoke in measured tones:
"A blade´s silence is its power. Strike only when the moment demands it."
Sweat poured down Jianyu´s face, his arms trembling with effort. But as the sun dipped lower, his movements became more calculated, his strikes more precise. When he finally landed a blow against Tian´s sword, he stepped back lowering his weapon.
"Good," Tian said , his tone unreadaböe. "But don´t think for a second that you´re ready."
Night fell over the monastery like a heavily shroud. Tian and a young monk patrolled the walls, their footsteps muffled against the cold stone. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth.
Tian froze, his eyes narrowing as he spotted flickers of light in the distance. Torches , moving steadily through the forest below. His grip on the hilt of his dagger tightened.
"They are coming," the monk whispered, his voice barely audible. "For the boy?"
Tian shock his head. "No."
The monk hesitated. "Then what they searching for?"
Tian remianed silent. "I don´t know, but Its better to be safe than sorry."
The library was a sanctuary of silence. Jianyu wandered between the rows of shelves, his fingers brushing over the cracked parchment of ancient scroll. The faint glow of a single lantern cast long shadows across the walls.
In the corner of the room , an old chest caught his eyes. He knelt, pulling it open to reveal a neatly sealed scroll. The Lin family crest was etched into the wax, and Jianyu´s breath cuaght in his throat.
Unrolling the scroll, he scanned the lines of elegant script. The words were cryptic, but certain phrases stood out: "Allies in the shadows" and "A debt to be repaid."
"What were you hiding , Father?" Jianyu whispered, his brow furrowing.
A soft voice broke the silence. "Knowledge is both a shield and a weapon," the Abbott said , stepping into the room. "Be careful how you weild it."
The courtyard buzzed with quiet urgency. Monks moved swiftly, securing the gates and readying their weapongs. The air was heavy with anticipation, the faint sound of distant voices drifting from the forest.
Tian strode into the courtyard, his expression grim. "We found suspiscious movements in near by forest." he said."We need to remain vigilant tonight."
The Abbott nodded, issuing commands to the monks. Jianyu stood at the edge of the courtyard, clutching his wooden sword. Fear coiled in his stomach, but he forced himself to stay still.
"Stay in your room tonight , don´t come out."" Tian said, approaching with a firm yet gentle tone. "And be careful."
Jianyu met his gaze, fire flickering in his eyes. "I want to help too, he said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.
Tian´s gaze softened, but his voice was firm. "Not yet, Jinayu. Stay back and watch tonight."