Chapter 3- Proof of Growth

Tian groaned. “I didn’t think everyone knew about that.”

Sister Sia laughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve. “It’s a small monastery these days. The “secret prize” for winning the Earth Realm Tournament wasn’t a secret for very long.”

“Still though.” Tian grumbled. He had never liked being watched, and liked even less the notion of people knowing when he came into money. His commitment to appearing perpetually broke might drive Liren to the very brink of insanity, but he felt it was worth it for the extra degree of safety.

Liren picked the spear up off the table and felt the balance. She tapped it a couple of times on the ground, then looked over at the clerk with a raised eyebrow.

“Go on, give it a couple thrusts.” Sia encouraged Liren.

Liren dropped into a spear guard, then made a few very routine thrusts. It was nothing more than aiming with the front hand while pushing and twisting with the back hand. Every soldier in the army could do as much. When Tian had tried, Liren covered her eyes and said she couldn’t bear to watch. There were subtleties to it, and he just didn’t see them.

“Did they add weight to the butt? That end cap is… hundred refinement iron, I think.”

“Well done, Sister Hong! You are exactly right. The idea is that it keeps the head nimble, since you aren’t looking for cutting power. On the other hand, if you did want to club something with the spear, having a heavier butt end will add power to the blow. However, the most important thing was maintaining the proper balance of the spear, which I think you will agree was achieved perfectly.”

“Hmm. Mind if I take it out back? Brother Zihao will want to test his new rope dart. I might as well test the spear.”

“Please! Right through that door. I’ll make you some barley tea. It’s a hot day today. Easy to get overtired.”

The two trooped out while Sia rushed off to make tea.

“You really, really need to learn how to tell people it ain’t going to happen.” Liren murmured, her lips barely twitching.

“She’s a nice girl. No need to bully her. Besides, she is good to you. Nothing wrong with being nice back.” Tian was helpless. Ever since puberty hit, he had gone from being what he knew was a rather ugly child to being told he was an increasingly handsome teen. “Pretty” was the term he heard most often, which didn’t fill him with warm, yang feelings. It never really felt real to him. “Handsome” meant the tall, muscular brothers from the temple, filled with the blazing yang qi he lacked. Though he was happy to see his yang qi growing in other ways.

“I think it’s debatable which of us is bullying her, if either of us are. Alright, let’s see what you bought and what I’m being sold.” Liren started running through a spear drill, getting a feel for the balance. Tian did something that would have looked moderately insane to people who didn’t understand how he used his rope dart- he untied the hank, and shoved the whole of it inside his robe.

He almost collapsed from the sudden comfort. It was like sinking into a hot bath after a tiring day.

“Did you just moan?” Liren stopped mid thrust.

“NO.”

“It really feels that nice?” Liren looked askance.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Tian crossed his arms and looked away.

“Tian. Brother Tian. Brother Zihao, even. I can see your robe shifting around. It’s no use going still now. You are controlling the rope dart with your mind aren’t you?” Liren asked, with a sister’s merciless accuracy.

“Any use of a weapon is controlling it with your mind, if you think about it. How else do your hands know what to do?” Tian went for the diversion.

“Mmm. Philosophical. Also, I can see it trying to sneak out the back of your collar. I don’t know why you thought I wouldn’t see it. But I do.”

Tian looked away even more firmly. But he couldn’t help it. The rope dart snaked up and around his collar, dipping down into his sleeve. His eyes fluttered. It just felt so nice. So right. Like stretching after sitting for hours, or waking up after a serious nap.

Liren coughed.

“Alright, yes, it really does feel that good.” Tian muttered. “I’ll get used to it. How’s the spear?”

“Not as good as your rope dart. Must be the difference between buying custom and buying off the rack. Eh… I dunno. I’m going to run through the dummy a couple of times.”

“I’ll do the same.”

Tian waved his hand like he was being melodramatic at the torso shaped wooden target. The dart struck from his sleeve like a viper, smashing a hole three inches deep in the enchanted ironwood.

“Damn that’s nice!” Tian grabbed the end of the rope and hauled it back. This time he properly spun the dart around his body, building momentum and sending the dart out again with real strength and speed. The target clanged and slid backwards. He had punched right through the enchanted wood.

He hauled the rope back, noticing how smoothly it disengaged from the target. “Let’s see the new features,” He muttered. He stepped back a few paces, putting him ten feet beyond the notional range of the dart. This time he used Snake Head Vine Body a little differently, stretching outward through the dart. It felt odd to the point of being disorienting, but he had the uncanny sense of his arm stretching out to poke a hole in the target. And it did.

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Tian followed up the cast with another new trick. Instead of retracting, the dart sent out tendrils into the wood. Thin but terribly strong wires extended from the rope and burrowed into the wood. Not very far, just an inch or two. Tian looped the rope around his arm and hopped back. He could have passed his rice bowl through the hole his dart left behind.

“Very nice!”