Luxin gazed at the moon, water dripping feom his eyelashes as his body soaked in the small lake. He lived outside of Kailuo City in his master's house and the Taizen River was a few short breaths away. His muscles glimmered under the moon as hus dragon tattoo wrapped from his back to his heart. His master personally placed it on his back using a heated needle and black ink. He could still remember the smell of cigarette smoke from his master's pipe and the mysterious energy that seemed to flow from every acupoint he placed a needle in. The tattoo wringled in the reflection of the lake as if it were swimming through it.
'It still stings…' Luxin thought. The tattoo had been there for years, but on nights like this a burning feeling lingers on his body. He could see puffs of steam rising from the surface of the water.
"Uncle Jin said not to worry about it, but…" A crease stretched across his forehead. The idea of changes occurring within his body that he did not know angered him. Despite his rage boiling within him, his eyebrows only slightly furrowed like a wronged child, highly contrasting his intimidating appearance.
With his body burning under the moon, he stayed in the river longer than usual. Humming a tune, he kicked the water lightly beneath him, but he soared softly like a dove onto gliding in the wind onto a nearby branch. If Uncle Jin could see him now, he'd be baffled.
"I won't be able to hide my improvement for much longer…" He said, his breath curling in the cold. He had reached the level of "treating water like land" in the [Moon Fiend Dance] allowing him to tread on water. Only the peak amongst his generation could do something similar through other means. "If Uncle Jin finds out, my training near Kailuo City will end, and we'll depart somewhere suitable for offensive techiques…" Although the dance contained offensive and defensive techniques, they paled in comparison to the might of techniques passed down in noble families and sects. This technique was only meant to be a movement skill to supplement battle techniques, but Luxin felt as if the technique was a bottomless pit, sucking him further into its intricacies the more he danced. He had researched and found not a single clue about this technique. Sinking in deep thought, he looked over the forest for a brief second, closed his eyes, and perked his ears.
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Under the ebbing of the lake and ruffling of the trees, he heard barking in the east.
"There!" Luxin vanished and maneuvered towards that sound in haste. Within moments, a small creature came into view biting onto something.
"Bini." He bent down to pet the dog's head. He grabbed the notebook from Bini's mouth and took the pencil in the spine out. "Thanks."
Luxin leaned against the tree and admired the scenery in front of him. A family of blue ducks quietly played in a small pond. In this dense part of the forest, the moonlight could only cut through a bit of the leaves from the trees high above. However, a few beams penetrated the night, providing a beautiful contrast. The birds appeared to buzz in reverie. Luxin could feel awed as he looked at the black, yellow-eyed dog.
The forest was big and stretched from Kailuo City all the way to Fangouhai Sea in the west. Yet, Bini could always find a new place to inspire him; all while hiding his notebook from his master.
Bini laid his against Luxin's thigh. "Get some rest." Luxin said, softly rubbing the dog's stomach. His voice was deep and rough, yet a special charm was held within. Bini shuddered in ecstacy as if a warm blanket was placed on him on this cold night.
With Bini on his right, and his notebook on his left, music notes flowed through his pencil and soft melody escaped his mouth.