Chương 73: Chapter 70 - Senior Brother Song

It was another drizzly morning, and another day of early waking to practice with Wook. With a few small differences compared to years past. Namely, who was involved.

"Tae, you're doing the second form wrong, you need to widen your stance," Wook groused.

"Your thighs should be set further apart."

"Oh. I can do that ~ " Tae trilled, thrusting a hip out. He was for once dressed in a proper practice deel and tight pants instead of his usual fancy guzhuang, and it really accentuated the motion. In reply Wook swept Tae's feet from under him, and Tae hit the ground with a whoof of escaping air. Wook followed this up by straddling his older brother and pummeling him in the chest and face. He followed each blow with an offhand comment.

"If you – Smack – don't widen your stance – Pow – you can get your legs – Smack – swept out from under you!" Tae desperately held his arms over his face.

"I yield! I yield!"

"An enemy won't let you yield!" Ever since Song's return five days ago, Tae had taken to joining them for morning sparring. He was quite a bit slower on their runs, and couldn't keep up with any of their muscle-building exercises, but he was trying. Beside them, Song was also teaching a new trainee. ["Since I'm the first apprentice, you'll need to call me Senior Brother Song from now on,"] Song explained as he went through the first and second forms of the Stellar Crane in the practice ring.

Cyrus's reply from inside his mindscape was clipped. ["I'm not doing that."] Song gave a mental gasp of horror. ["Do you have no respect for our Master or the bonds he's created between us??"] ["Fine... Senior Brother Song."] ["Pardon? I didn't hear you. Could you say that again?"] Song's smile was brighter than his dantian. ["You sound like Tae,"] Cyrus replied sardonically. ["No I don't."] Song's grin was instantly wiped away. Surely his elder brother hadn't been rubbing off on him… ["Damn straight you do. And shouldn't you be focusing on the qi technique at this point? It's been, like, a week, and we've already muscle-memoried the form to death. I'm sitting in here banging my qi into shape, so you should do the same."] ["Practicing the form helps me visualize."] Song dropped out of his stance and went to grab a drink of water from a bucket. He took a deep sip of the life-giving liquid and sighed. ["I'm cycling my qi through the upper Shaoyang as Master instructed, but I just can't comprehend the technique itself."] ["Hey. It's complex stuff. Your big-brained master is talking some serious quantum mechanics,"] Cyrus encouraged. ["How does a bird understand things like that anyways?"] ["It just shows how amazing Master is,"] Song said with pride, then needled, ["And your explanations weren't helpful at all, Junior Brother."] The second technique of the Stellar Crane – Crane Strikes Through Ripples – worked off the principles of light's multi-faceted aspects.

As his Master explained it, light both rippled and struck, appeared in the wrong place in water, could give life and burn it away, and was in short capable of being many things all at once. By properly applying the same principles to his attacks, they would become nearly impossible to block. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

After multiple nights, Master Crane had gotten frustrated at Song's complete incomprehension, complaining about the 'limitations of human senses' before flying off and demanding that Cyrus take over. It hadn't gone well. ["Once again. Light is a particle, you understand that."] Song nodded. They'd been over this a dozen times in the past week. ["AND it's a wave."] ["How is it a wave?? Why does my Starlight Bridge work if it's a wave!?"] ["I don't know! I was a business major! I just know light is a wave and a particle, and that you can know where it is or what direction it's traveling but not both."] ["Ugh. You're the least useful Junior Brother ever!"] ["Says the helpless Senior Brother!"] While Tae and Wook tussled on the ground, and Song and Cyrus tussled in his head, off to the side they had a small bemused audience. Mae sat on a pile of oiled furs laid haphazardly on the mud, her porcelain chin in her lap.

Song's eldest brother Juwon sat behind her, his face a mask of consternation as he tried to brush her fine strands of jade hair. On the grass beside them were a half-dozen broken bone and wooden combs. The stone that now formed her flesh and hair wasn't as stiff as one would expect, still flowing and moving properly, but it was tough, heavy, and cool to the touch.

"I'm sorry, Mae," Juwon said, frowning as another comb snapped in Mae's shoulder length locks.

"I think we'll need to commission a metal brush for your hair." Mae's chin rested in her hands while she watched her cousins practice in the yard.

"But that'll scratch it."

"Maybe we can ask them to blunt the edges? I'm not sure what to do outside of obtaining a treasure comb made of demonic porcupine quills." Juwon chuckled. He patted Mae on her head and she leaned into it for a moment before pulling away. She'd become much more comfortable walking around over the past few days, especially since the rains kept most of the village indoors, but she was still wary of others touching her ceramic skin.

"Why are you just watching, Cousin Juwon? Shouldn't you be practicing too?" Mae asked, her eyes narrowing and her tone turning serious.

"You aren't loafing, are you? Mother says that your effort is your one redeeming quality. You shouldn't copy Cousin Tae." Juwon choked. Then he laughed.

"I mustn't disappoint Aunt Haru." Mae nodded.

"Mhm. You should spar with Cousin Wook. He always looks like he's bored; Song and Tae just aren't good enough, and you and elder brother are always busy."

"You little rascal!" Juwon's hands crept down to viciously tickle Mae's sides and she squealed with laughter.

"You just want to see me fight so you can report back to Seojoon!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Mae giggled, desperately trying to pull away. Juwon sighed and stood, cracking his back and stretching his arms.

"I'll do it, but not for you Mae. I'm curious how my brothers' martial arts have improved." So saying, Juwon marched into the training ring. He wore a bright orange deel today, though the rains had stained it a darker hue. His oiled boots kept his feet dry and warm, and gave him good traction in the squelching mud. His three younger brothers looked up at his approach, and all gave differing greetings as matched their demeanours.

Wook a curt nod, Song a short respectful bow at the waist, and Tae waved his fingers from down on the ground.

"Get up, Tae," Juwon grunted.

"And Wook, it's not training if it's just a beating."

"It is if he needs a good beating," Wook said blithely, nailing Tae once more in the ribs, before standing and offering him a hand up. Tae gratefully accepted the hand, then tried to pull Wook down into the mud. It was as effective as a dog pulling a cart. Wook snorted and yanked his older brother up effortlessly, holding him dangling above the ground. Tae fruitlessly kicked at his stomach. Wook ignored the light taps to his abdomen, asking, "Why're you here, Juwon?"

"Can't a brother join his siblings at the training grounds?" Juwon asked innocently.

"Without all your hangers on?" Wook raised a brow.

"I'm not sure you have the time. What's this really about?" Juwon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I think it's been too long since you've had a beating yourself, Wook. You forget your place."

"I was getting bored bossing these two around," Wook grinned, planting Tae back on the ground with a squelch. He shifted into the first form of the Way of the Ram, his legs spread wide and his arms placed ready to make a grab. Green Wood qi slowly suffused his arms as he activated the second technique of the Lee Family martial arts – Mother's Wooden Brace.

"Perhaps you should do the honours yourself, ~eldest~ brother." Juwon similarly entered the first form, his motions more elegant and refined than Wook's overbearing movements. His arms similarly began to glow with inner green qi.

"As your senior, I'll give you the first three moves. If you can make me admit defeat, I'll tell you why I'm here." Tae and Song slowly sidled out of the ring, moving to sit with Mae on her furs. Tae fairly collapsed on them, and Mae gave a note of complaint. ["Will they be okay?"] Cyrus asked, worried. ["Yes."] Song replied. ["Juwon needs to work some things out, and Wook is the best one to help. The two of them were always good at talking with their fists."] ["If you say so."] The world held its breath, and the pitter patter of rain was the only sound in the ring. Then a drop fell before Juwon's eyes, obscuring his vision for the briefest of instants. And Wook struck.