A Test of Patience
One morning Tianhai was sitting in the training ground the sun barely coming up the shadows stretched across the stone his body was soaked in sweat his legs were killing him from all the stance training but there was this little spark inside him like a quiet pride each time he moved the Qi in his body felt smoother like a river finally flowing the way it was meant to
He wiped his face his breathing shallow and tried to straighten up he'd been at it for hours and the sun was already higher in the sky just as he was thinking about taking a break a voice broke through his thoughts
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You've come a long way Elder Jian Xuan said his voice soft
Tianhai jumped not expecting him to be there the elder was standing at the edge of the training ground looking calm like he had been watching Tianhai for a while there was no judgment in his eyes just approval
Master Tianhai said bowing his head without thinking
Don't bow to me Jian Xuan said a small smile tugging at his lips We're equals here not master and servant
Tianhai blinked surprised by his words Equals he said slowly feeling the weight of it he had never really thought of it like that in his past life he was always at the bottom forgotten looked down on the idea of being an equal to someone like Jian Xuan it felt weird almost wrong
But the elder was waiting for Tianhai to say something Tianhai just nodded thinking about it maybe this would change how he saw himself but he wasn't sure how yet
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Thanks Master Tianhai said not really thinking about it more out of habit than anything
Elder Jian Xuan moved closer his robes moving like they were alive Just call me Xuan when we're alone he said quietly You're more than just a disciple to me His words didn't sound like much but there was something in the way they hung in the air between them
Tianhai's heart skipped he didn't know what to say the elder's words always felt deeper than they seemed But Tianhai didn't know how to answer this time either he just bowed his head again mostly out of respect
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The Gathering Storm
During their sparring Tianhai noticed the biggest changes as his cultivation grew so did the people he had to face stronger opponents showed up and each one tested him in ways he didn't expect Xue Wei that disciple from the other elder was always looking to challenge Tianhai pushing him hard every time