When I woke up, Sen’o was eating at a table in the centre of the room. He held a hand-tied book in the hand not involved in eating, his fingers skillfully flicking through the pages. I raised my arm in an almighty stretch that cracked my back satisfyingly.
“No breakfast for me?” I asked.
“This is lunch,” he said without looking up from his book. I pouted and melted out of the bed and slumped on the floor and banged around a bit. “Don’t make a racket,” he warned. There is a sick child recovering downstairs and he needs sleep.”
Naturally I stopped, I wasn’t really having a tantrum anyway. “Fine, is there any lunch for me?” I asked. He pushed a plate from just out of sight forward.
“Of course there is.”
I smiled at his miraculous falling into my trap. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
He put the book down and sighed. “If you want your cultivation technique improved, you’ll eat the food.”
I was only a little angry that he’d won again as the food was delicious. The idea of owning a superior version of my cultivation technique was even more tantalising. It might have had a hand in the food tasting so good.
After I finished I slid the bowl forward and stretched again. “Lovely,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me…” he slammed the book closed and placed it on the table. “Whatever you do, don’t lose this.”
I reached forward to slide the book my way, he placed his hand on mine. “I’m serious, don’t lose it.”
“Is it that powerful?” I asked, unbelievingly.
“Well, that… But also, do you know how long I spent writing this?” I couldn't help but giggle. I flipped the book open but he sprung forwards and closed it. “How about you start with the title?” If he had not looked so genuine I would have been deeply insulted.
I blew gently from my nose and looked at the golden title that looked to have been stamped onto the cover. BREAK MOUNTAIN.
Sure enough, it was the correct name, just as I was about to ask why I was to start at the title, I caught a glimpse of something familiar.
“You found it?” he asked. I nodded. “Follow it, concentrate.”
I concentrated and followed the golden letters. The word break held immense power. It was an overwhelming strength that convinced me that if it were the celestial heavens standing before it, let alone a mountain, I would have no doubt it would break it down.
The word mountain felt indomitable, like it might withstand a hit from the word break. I did not envy the space between the two.
I began to get lost amidst the simple complexity of such vast amounts of power. Eventually I was left with the image of a mountain, blasted into two.
“You saw it? The mountain?”
“I saw it.”
“A simpleton wrote this,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s crude and idiotic. It famously uses the least unique words of any cultivation technique at it’s class.
“Are you making fun of me?” I began but then thought about it. “I suppose, it is a bit stupid. Enough strength to break a mountain. That’s really all it is.”
“Yet, it stands above strength techniques that are infinitely more complex written by scholars whose names are revered by intellectuals throughout the celestial plane. Do you know why?”
“Strength is straightforward. You can either break a mountain, or you can’t.”
“Exactly. The words, the explanations and the instruction are second to what you gain from the qi imprinted within them. And inside that book is the most pure and untainted representation of strength ever put to paper.”
I was not a smart person, I wasn’t sharp like Safi nor calculating like Chit. I could not put together just why he was able to replicate such a marvellous technique nor did I want to. Not unless I wanted a headache.
“When can I start?”
“I know the perfect place.”
Downstairs was a lady sitting at a table. She looked reverently at Sen’o as he walked in. Sen’o put the dishes we’d eaten from in the sink and began to wash them. “Thank you for the meal,” he said. The lady went into full panic.
“Oh, please! Don’t trouble yourselves. I can clean them, my dear.”
“Please, it’s the least I could do.”
“What silliness are you saying?” She was almost crying. “You could do nothing from this point on and it would still not be the least you could do.” Sen’o kept ruthlessly scrubbing away, much to the lady’s horror.
“Then, while we’re here do you mind if we continue sleeping upstairs?”
“It would be our pleasure but please, no more washing dishes.” Sen’o laughed and finally relented.
“Fine, these will be the last.”
“Thank you, Young Master.” She bowed deeply.
“There’s no need for that, just call me Sen’o.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You won’t even give me that?” he pleaded.
“I won’t.” It was the lady’s turn to be stubborn it seemed.
“Fine, we’re going out for a bit.” The lady smiled at us and nodded.
“See you soon then.”
Closing the door behind us I looked at the humble building we’d just left and gave Sen’o a questioning face.
“I didn’t want to stay in some crummy inn, I much prefer the atmosphere of a home.”
“Well that explains part of it.”
“I healed her son, I suppose she is acting appropriately but I would still prefer she didn’t treat me like a ‘young master’.”
“Isn’t that what you are?” I asked, genuinely surprised by his revulsion of the term.
He shook his head eventually. “I’m not… Anyway, we’re going swimming.”
“Swimming?”
“The beam of light seems to disappear into a lake within the city’s walls.”
“You had a busy morning.” I scoffed.
“Actually,” he began and pointed forward. “I can see it from here.” I moved to where he was standing and sure enough, behind the house in front of us was a large body of water. “I saw a few ponds on the way here, but nothing of that size.”
“That’s Lake Esio, believe it or not, it’s not even the biggest in the city.” Finally getting a chance to be the more knowledgeable one, I led the way confidently. Much to my delight, Sen’o fell into place beside me.
“If we want to swim, we’ll have to go to the pier.”
“Did you bring a costume?” he asked. I stopped suddenly.
“I didn’t…”
“Then, shall we go and buy one first. I need one too.”
“That sounds like a fantastic idea.” I agreed wholeheartedly.
We found a shop quickly, the lakes were a main attraction for the city so it was only natural that there were plenty of shops catering to aquatic activities.
Sen’o was quick to grasp a pair of red shorts and held them in front of his waist. “What do you think?” he asked.
I smirked. “I’m going to have to see them on you.” He offered no argument and simply walked into the changing room. I waited until finally I heard the curtain draw back. Unfortunately I was not able to offer a clear opinion on how he looked in the shorts, I was far too busy staring at his abs. I was not lying when I said I only valued strength. He seemed to display a lot of it.
“Alright, it's your turn.” He threw to me a similarly coloured two piece costume that was far more revealing that the one I had intended to buy. However, he had done me a great service and therefore I was not opposed to providing him the same courtesy.
I slid out of my robe and stripped myself of my tight underclothes. I pulled the costume’s underpants on first and ran my finger round the seam to make sure it was covering all the necessary places. I was happy with the fit but the colour was definitely more popping that I would usually gravitate towards.
I struggled with the finicky top for a bit before finally being happy with how I looked. I wanted to make sure Sen’o would have as good of a time as I had.
I peeled the curtain back and walked out, a little nervously. Sen’o smiled and nodded. “You look fantastic,” he said. “Spin for me?”
I spun, slowly as I knew my arse was one of my best features and I wanted him to get a proper look.
With my pirouette complete, we purchased the costumes and headed towards the lake, our original objective. This time, we both had our costumes underneath our robes and somehow, we were holding hands. I was thankful that we were swimming as I was starting to feel hot.
Casualperv Drink water, click the
When I woke up, Sen’o was eating at a table in the centre of the room. He held a hand-tied book in the hand not involved in eating, his fingers skillfully flicking through the pages. I raised my arm in an almighty stretch that cracked my back satisfyingly.
“No breakfast for me?” I asked.
“This is lunch,” he said without looking up from his book. I pouted and melted out of the bed and slumped on the floor and banged around a bit. “Don’t make a racket,” he warned. There is a sick child recovering downstairs and he needs sleep.”
Naturally I stopped, I wasn’t really having a tantrum anyway. “Fine, is there any lunch for me?” I asked. He pushed a plate from just out of sight forward.
“Of course there is.”
I smiled at his miraculous falling into my trap. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
He put the book down and sighed. “If you want your cultivation technique improved, you’ll eat the food.”
I was only a little angry that he’d won again as the food was delicious. The idea of owning a superior version of my cultivation technique was even more tantalising. It might have had a hand in the food tasting so good.
After I finished I slid the bowl forward and stretched again. “Lovely,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me…” he slammed the book closed and placed it on the table. “Whatever you do, don’t lose this.”
I reached forward to slide the book my way, he placed his hand on mine. “I’m serious, don’t lose it.”
“Is it that powerful?” I asked, unbelievingly.
“Well, that… But also, do you know how long I spent writing this?” I couldn't help but giggle. I flipped the book open but he sprung forwards and closed it. “How about you start with the title?” If he had not looked so genuine I would have been deeply insulted.
I blew gently from my nose and looked at the golden title that looked to have been stamped onto the cover. BREAK MOUNTAIN.
Sure enough, it was the correct name, just as I was about to ask why I was to start at the title, I caught a glimpse of something familiar.
“You found it?” he asked. I nodded. “Follow it, concentrate.”
I concentrated and followed the golden letters. The word break held immense power. It was an overwhelming strength that convinced me that if it were the celestial heavens standing before it, let alone a mountain, I would have no doubt it would break it down.
The word mountain felt indomitable, like it might withstand a hit from the word break. I did not envy the space between the two.
I began to get lost amidst the simple complexity of such vast amounts of power. Eventually I was left with the image of a mountain, blasted into two.
“You saw it? The mountain?”
“I saw it.”
“A simpleton wrote this,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s crude and idiotic. It famously uses the least unique words of any cultivation technique at it’s class.
“Are you making fun of me?” I began but then thought about it. “I suppose, it is a bit stupid. Enough strength to break a mountain. That’s really all it is.”
“Yet, it stands above strength techniques that are infinitely more complex written by scholars whose names are revered by intellectuals throughout the celestial plane. Do you know why?”
“Strength is straightforward. You can either break a mountain, or you can’t.”
“Exactly. The words, the explanations and the instruction are second to what you gain from the qi imprinted within them. And inside that book is the most pure and untainted representation of strength ever put to paper.”
I was not a smart person, I wasn’t sharp like Safi nor calculating like Chit. I could not put together just why he was able to replicate such a marvellous technique nor did I want to. Not unless I wanted a headache.
“When can I start?”
“I know the perfect place.”
Downstairs was a lady sitting at a table. She looked reverently at Sen’o as he walked in. Sen’o put the dishes we’d eaten from in the sink and began to wash them. “Thank you for the meal,” he said. The lady went into full panic.
“Oh, please! Don’t trouble yourselves. I can clean them, my dear.”
“Please, it’s the least I could do.”
“What silliness are you saying?” She was almost crying. “You could do nothing from this point on and it would still not be the least you could do.” Sen’o kept ruthlessly scrubbing away, much to the lady’s horror.
“Then, while we’re here do you mind if we continue sleeping upstairs?”
“It would be our pleasure but please, no more washing dishes.” Sen’o laughed and finally relented.
“Fine, these will be the last.”
“Thank you, Young Master.” She bowed deeply.
“There’s no need for that, just call me Sen’o.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You won’t even give me that?” he pleaded.
“I won’t.” It was the lady’s turn to be stubborn it seemed.
“Fine, we’re going out for a bit.” The lady smiled at us and nodded.
“See you soon then.”
Closing the door behind us I looked at the humble building we’d just left and gave Sen’o a questioning face.
“I didn’t want to stay in some crummy inn, I much prefer the atmosphere of a home.”
“Well that explains part of it.”
“I healed her son, I suppose she is acting appropriately but I would still prefer she didn’t treat me like a ‘young master’.”
“Isn’t that what you are?” I asked, genuinely surprised by his revulsion of the term.
He shook his head eventually. “I’m not… Anyway, we’re going swimming.”
“Swimming?”
“The beam of light seems to disappear into a lake within the city’s walls.”
“You had a busy morning.” I scoffed.
“Actually,” he began and pointed forward. “I can see it from here.” I moved to where he was standing and sure enough, behind the house in front of us was a large body of water. “I saw a few ponds on the way here, but nothing of that size.”
“That’s Lake Esio, believe it or not, it’s not even the biggest in the city.” Finally getting a chance to be the more knowledgeable one, I led the way confidently. Much to my delight, Sen’o fell into place beside me.
“If we want to swim, we’ll have to go to the pier.”
“Did you bring a costume?” he asked. I stopped suddenly.
“I didn’t…”
“Then, shall we go and buy one first. I need one too.”
“That sounds like a fantastic idea.” I agreed wholeheartedly.
We found a shop quickly, the lakes were a main attraction for the city so it was only natural that there were plenty of shops catering to aquatic activities.
Sen’o was quick to grasp a pair of red shorts and held them in front of his waist. “What do you think?” he asked.
I smirked. “I’m going to have to see them on you.” He offered no argument and simply walked into the changing room. I waited until finally I heard the curtain draw back. Unfortunately I was not able to offer a clear opinion on how he looked in the shorts, I was far too busy staring at his abs. I was not lying when I said I only valued strength. He seemed to display a lot of it.
“Alright, it's your turn.” He threw to me a similarly coloured two piece costume that was far more revealing that the one I had intended to buy. However, he had done me a great service and therefore I was not opposed to providing him the same courtesy.
I slid out of my robe and stripped myself of my tight underclothes. I pulled the costume’s underpants on first and ran my finger round the seam to make sure it was covering all the necessary places. I was happy with the fit but the colour was definitely more popping that I would usually gravitate towards.
I struggled with the finicky top for a bit before finally being happy with how I looked. I wanted to make sure Sen’o would have as good of a time as I had.
I peeled the curtain back and walked out, a little nervously. Sen’o smiled and nodded. “You look fantastic,” he said. “Spin for me?”
I spun, slowly as I knew my arse was one of my best features and I wanted him to get a proper look.
With my pirouette complete, we purchased the costumes and headed towards the lake, our original objective. This time, we both had our costumes underneath our robes and somehow, we were holding hands. I was thankful that we were swimming as I was starting to feel hot.
Casualperv Drink water, click the
