Jia Jingzi never showed his students any demonstration of his legendary techniques. His teaching relied almost exclusively on observation and enigmatic advice. He kept his distance, sitting on a bamboo chair or leaning against a tree near his pavilion, his eyes half-closed.
The disciples practiced their techniques in front of him, sometimes for hours, hoping for a word, a sign, or a reaction. When Jia Jingzi deigned to speak to them, his remarks were as simple as they were intriguing, often leaving them perplexed.
"You strike with force, but your heart hesitates. The shadow you create has not yet found its light."
"Your reflection is stable, but why does it seem to flee with every movement? Dig within yourself, not around you."
Most of the time, Jia Jingzi remains bedridden in his pavilion, a place he strictly forbids anyone to approach. His disciples have never seen the inside, and even the most senior members of the sect hesitate to approach it.
On the rare occasions when Jia Jingzi does leave, he moves slowly and frail, aided by a simple stick, but his piercing gaze shows no sign of mental weakness.
The members of the sect suspect him of spending his days in deep meditation or fighting his spiritual illness. Some even believe that he may be preparing an ultimate technique to one day pass on his legacy, but none of them dare ask the question.
In reality, there is only one who truly trains: Xiao.
The little prodigy, who seems to take his master's advice very seriously and tries to understand it as best he can.
This is far from an easy task.
But he always approaches it with conviction and respect. He is only interested in learning, certainly not in the other disciples who do whatever they want.
Because Ye has a hard time getting started with his studies, he is more eager to go see the shizun as soon as he comes out of his pavilion than anything else. Since it is a rare opportunity to see him, he wants to make the most of his presence.
But not by following his teachings, rather by taking care of him.
He is always there, making him tea, asking him if he wants anything, if he is okay, if he wants him to prepare a remedy for him. Only when he is told to start training does he do so.
And finally, there is Chuang.
Chuang, who stays under a tree, lounging around, doing nothing. Sometimes he opens his eyes and goes to observe the insects. Often, he sits on a chair and draws on a scroll. He has only limited interest in Jia Jingzi.
From time to time, he comes to see him to ask a question. Then he goes back to his exercise. Chuang does many things, but not really what is expected of him; he does not train at all.
Once again, the master has stepped outside.
With a wave of his hand, the doors of the pavilion close behind him, preventing anyone from peeking inside. His clothes are very modest, a single white robe, his hair is unkempt, and when he stands on his bamboo stick, he could almost be mistaken for a beggar. Yet he is indeed their shizun.
As he leaves, he pats Ye on the head, who is the first to come and see him, giving him a beautiful smile.
"Can you go and fetch my chair and call your martial brothers? This shizun has something to tell you today."
It's been a while since they've seen him—his breaks are more or less long, but still. However, the master always looks so serene, like the reflection of calm water on a crystal.
The young boy nods cheerfully and hurries off to fetch the chair first so that his shizun can sit down, then finally bring the others back.
Xiao arrives first thanks to a little short-distance teleportation technique and stands proudly for a moment with his chin raised before bowing respectfully to his master.
Next comes Ye, who brings Chuang along, who is more being dragged than anything else. Finally, Ye lets go of him and bows again, and the other boy finally realizes that the other two are staring at him, so he bows in turn, and in unison they say:
"Shizun."
Jia Jingzi nods at Xiao's teleportation, showing his satisfaction for his hard work. He also thanks Ye with his famous "good boy" and sits down on his trusty chair, which has never failed him before.
"Thank you for being here, my shidi. As you know, this year will be very special as both the Thousand Reflections Trial and the Celestial Mirror Ceremony will be held. These are two very important events for our sect that you have not yet experienced."
He paused, looking at each child to emphasize his words. He admired his baby chicks for a few moments, but quickly... his smile is replaced by sadness and resignation, as if a terrible pain were tearing at his heart.
"Although I am an incredible cultivator, I am still a poor teacher... Your progress has not been what it should have been, and it is my fault for not being able to be by your side when you need me so badly..."
He took a breath, then exhaled.
"If this continues, you will not be able to participate in the Thousand Reflections Trial... and waiting another ten years could harm your cultivation, as the early years are the most important... So I am thinking... of entrusting you to another master."