Chapter 10 (1/2)
The So-Called Cultivation
When the moon is still hung in the sky, Hu Sha has already woken up. She groggily puts on her clothes and shoes before mentally counting in her head: one, two, three….
At three, there is the sound of knocking from outside. ”It is 3 am. Get up.” Eldest Senior Brother's voice is still as cold as ever.
She obediently opens the door and gives him a salute, ”……… I will have to trouble Eldest Senior Brother again, today.”
Feng Di expressionlessly nods his head before walking away. Hu Sha half run as she follows his lead, might as well consider it as warm up. This is her tenth day into Qing Yuan Mountain, everything has been a routine to her.
Even though their s.h.i.+fu told Eldest Senior Brother to not be too harsh on her before he left the mountain; a bucket of blood, sweat and tears later, Hu Sha realizes that nothing has changed.
Since the mountain cannot come to her, she might as well come to the mountain; since she cannot change anything, she might as well adapt. That is Hu Sha's principle in life.
She half runs into the frozen lake and even without Feng Di's order, she voluntarily jumps onto it.
Snow and wind greets her as she runs her laps. Her skirt flutters as she runs, her steps are really light.
Right now, she can run faster than in the past. She can run ten laps in one hour. She will not be too tired even if she needs to do the horse squat after.
”From today onwards, you should run 20 laps. After that, if you can finish twenty laps within an hour, adds another ten laps.” Seeing Hu Sha trying to climb up after finis.h.i.+ng her laps, Feng Di waves her off while saying that.
Hu Sha wipes her sweat; by now, she is too tired to even get depressed. ”How long will I continue running?”
”Until you learn the art of Teng Yun.”
(TN: The art of Teng Yun is the art of riding a cloud.)
Hu Sha's eyes suddenly sparkle, ”Eldest Senior Brother, you will teach me how to ride clouds? When?”
Feng Di simply looks at her, ”Normally, after the disciple enters our sect for five years. Make your own calculation.”
Five years?! Hu Sha's shoulder suddenly sags; she doesn't even know if she will remain in Qing Yuan Mountain after five years.
Seeing the disappointment in her face, Feng Di pause for a while before saying, ”But, if the disciple is especially hardworking, it will be even earlier than five years.”
Her eyes brightens once more, if he puts it like that…..
He turns around; his back facing her. His voice is icy when he says, ”You are very diligent, better than what I expected. After your noon meditation, go and look for me in Sheng Long Platform. Everything depends on your own ability.”
Hu Sha's eyes turns moist from grat.i.tude; this is the first time she got praised by him. Finally, even this iceberg-like Eldest Senior Brother acknowledges her effort. All the bitterness she held against him is swept away; instead, he looks very pleasing to her eyes.
”Alright, stop wasting time. Go and finish your laps. If you doesn't finish it on time, I will add 5 more laps.” He waves his hand off.
Hu Sha answers him loudly and immediately continues running. She is very happy upon imagining herself flying in the sky one day. Once she gets home, she will fly for her dad to see. His chin would have fall.
Her mood is especially good that morning. She is earnest even when listening to the morning talk despite not understanding a single word said. The gold and sparkly Senior Grandfather notices her large, round eyes; perhaps he wants to give his beloved disciple a little face, today; he praises Hu Sha for being diligent in front of everyone.
After the cla.s.s disperse, Hu Sha's nose is high up there in the sky. Feng Yi pats her head from behind with a smile, ”It is really rare to be praised by Senior Grandfather. Eldest Senior Brother and I tried so hard, but he never even glanced our way.”
Hu Sha points a finger and solemnly says, ”Second Senior Brother, this is what we call 'effort'! 'Effort' ah!”
Feng Yi laughs at her before pinching her cheeks. He gently says, ”Alright, effort. I will be waiting for you to fly your way back to Zhi Yan House. Try your best, Junior Sister.”
His inappropriate action draws in whispers from people around them. Hu Sha retreats two steps and was about to complain when he suddenly walks away while laughing, ”I will leave the mountain today and will only return at 5 pm. I will have to trouble Eldest Senior Brother with Junior Sister's meditation.”
Feng Di frowns, ”Where are you going? Did the Po Jun Department ordered you to find something? Didn't s.h.i.+fu forbade you from going?”
Feng Yi shrugs, ”I want to go earn money ah. If I don't go banis.h.i.+ng demons, how will I get the money to buy food for Junior Sister?”