As the five of them left the estate, Shen Junan surprisingly lagging behind, they bounded across a lush meadow, and skipped over flat stones and calm creeks. Zhi Mu apparently wanted them to come closer to the sheep, as a tree right next to a few of them ever came closer.

All the while, Ren was observing the movement of the other four. Xin Jing looked like she was flowing across the ground, her spirit molding itself into the area of her next step. The muscle-bound Han boy looked like he didn't even use an art to ease his movement, and followed simply by virtue of his powerful body. Shen Junan meanwhile, looked like he was running a marathon, which stunned Ren, as he was not only a Novice, but also a recognized prodigy. The glasses wearing boy, pumped spirit through his veins, reinforcing his body, but to Ren it looked like his body was somehow rejecting it, making the other boy have to work even more arduously on infusing his muscles with spirit.

Looking ahead, Ren could see Zhi Mu jump across the environment, his threads of spirit latching onto the ground and stabilizing him, while he only made small movements and crossed his arms behind his back.

They all came to a stop before a tree that was latching onto a boulder, a few sheep grazing nearby. Shen Junan, looked like he was going to collapse, and the Han boy had thrown him over his shoulder, carrying him the last meters.

Shen Junan was breathing heavily and leaning on the tree, a sheep baaing at him. "You... didn't have to carry me, Han Ting, I can run on my own." The boy said, while trying to compose himself.

Han Ting looked at him like a kicked puppy. "You were just so slow, and looked so defeated. Sorry Junan." The big boy said, with a small, innocent voice, making Ren do a double check of him. At least one head taller than Zhi Mu, he was around the height of Xiao Ai, his muscles showing, as his robe somehow seemed too small for his frame, but his face held an expression without any guile.

As the boy with the body of a man grown sat down next to the heaving Shen Juan, and started petting the sheep to his left, Ren's attention was once again drawn to the boy wearing glasses. In his confusion, he culdn't help blurting out his immediate thoughts. "Why is he even here? He looks and feels so weak." Ren said it in a quiet voice, and not malicious at all.

Shen Junan looked at Ren like he had just kicked him in the shin, glaring while laying down, but there was no true bite behind it.

Han Ting only looked sad, and didn't know what to say, while Xin Jing appeared to have had a similar question on the tip of her tongue, and crossed her arms.

Zhi Mu only looked on impassively at first, but as no one seemed to continue the conversation, and they simply looked at each other, he took pity on them and started explaining with a sigh. "What the idiot is too proud to say is that he suffers from a rare disease." Zhi Mu paused, to look at them, cowing each of them with his gaze. "A Heavenly Binding, it is often called, and normally this affliction results in simply not being able to cultivate, as the body rejects the very idea of cultivating spirit. Some who suffer from such a binding even die very early on, while most others, as I said before, become cripples that can not tread the road of cultivation."

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Here the boy made a grand gesture, his hands spread wide, but eyes closed. "Our boy, Shen, had the inordinate luck to not only survive this binding, but also be able to cultivate, and while he, as you so nicely put it, Brother Ren, is indeed weak in body, his spirit is something else. He can extend his senses farther than most Adepts, and the reach of his spirit, as well as his control is at least thrice as good as a normal Novice could manage. Those are the reasons for his status as a prodigy. The only downsides are his weak body, and what is a direct result of this, his very likely inability to ever become a Grandmaster."

As Ren and Xin Jing let the explanation sink in, Shen Junan began sitting up, and scratched the sheep next to Han Ting behind the ears, slowly returning to a mild expression, and even smiled in contentment.

"But why would he be unable to become a Grandmaster, there should be multiple arts to strengthen Shen Junan's body, right?" Xin Jing asked hesitantly, and this time it was Han Ting who answered her.

"There might be some kind of art out there, but in our sect there exists no such wonders, that would be usable with his condition." Han Ting shook his head in dismay.

"I will simply have to come up with one by myself." Shen said, without turning from the sheep or changing his expression, but Ren thought that his spirit was more agitated, as he spoke. "That is also why Elder Cloudgrass is still so positive about my chances, arts can be created, and every Grandmaster has to adjust his arts to fit his individual preferences anyway. I will just have to do it faster." The boy said.

"And without having ever had any success with body arts, might I add." Zhi Mu said, while picking up a wooden branch, that was lying around, and leaned it against his shoulder. "Don't get me wrong, though, it is commendable, but you will likely not prevail in your endeavour, glasses."

Before anyone could say anything more, Shen simply waved Zhi Mu off. "Just let it rest, it is my problem to deal with, and none of your concern." He turned, and already looked as if he had recovered significantly, the sheep now snuggling into his side. "Getting back to what should really matter. Why did you drag us out here, Brother Zhi?" Shen asked, not unkindly.

Zhi Mu's face actually lit up as he was asked. "I am glad that you asked my junior brother. As we are the new generation of prospective leaders for our generation, designated only by the most esteemed of Masters, of course." He made outrageous gestures with his impromptu staff, swinging it about, and talking in an obviously sarcastic voice. "It is only proper that we must convene in isolation, as our status demands." Xin Jing was even nodding along with him, not recognizing that the boy was only fooling around.

Seeing her nodding along, made Zhi Mu stop swinging the branch and instead touch his hand to his forehead. "You are not the brightest candle, are you?" He said without turning to anyone. "Anyway, the real reason is still close to this." Ren wondered how often Zhi Mu was going to fool around when it came to somewhat serious questions. "We should get to know each other better. And before you say anything, yes we knew 'of' each other already, with the exception of Ren, but we are nowhere near the level of closeness as the elders for example. That is what should be changed."

He looked to each one of them, only getting blank faces in return. Evidently they were not really the best when it came to socializing, or suggesting some activities.

Zhi Mu sighed again. "It is still early in the day, we'll find something to do, surely. If we don't, there is always tomorrow!"

A sheep behind Ren baaed agreeably.