Nine woven bamboo baskets stood there, each labeled with a na and filled with stones.
Among them, the stones in Tang Sans, Tang Yins, Dai Mubais, and Ma Honjuns were the largest, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuquing, Ning Feng, and Oscars were mid-sized, and Ning Rong's basket was the smallest.
They lifted the baskets on their backs and then started to run slowly.
The Grandmaster and Flender were watching after them. Shrek's director walked out from the shadows looking after his students.
"Being forbidden from using spirit power and running such a distance with weights, isn't that maybe a bit too harsh?" Flender asked the grandmaster.
"Well, one cannot achieve great things without trials and tribulations. I carefully calculated their conditions. It won't kill them. But eating a breakfast like that without expecting paynt for it? That being said, do you think if they don't share the bad as much as they share the good, they will beco companions that trust each other with their backs?"
Flender raised both hands in defeat.
"All right. Do as you see fit. I know you care about them, maybe more than I do. But I remind you our funds are limited."
The grandmaster snorted coldly.
"Indeed I am aware. But do you truly think I am like you are magnificent spirit Sage that cannot even hold their funds together?"
Flender growled.
"Just you wait and see."
"I will do so. That being said did you hear about Tang Yin wanting to leave, to head to Heishen island." The grandmaster asked Flender who stilled.
"Tang Yin? Truly? Damn, does that an the twins will part ways? I was hoping for a possibility of spirit fusion between them since they are twins. But isn't she a bit young for such a giant step?"
"She is." The grandmaster agreed. "But I think it is the right thing to do on her side. For her own growth, or else she will always rely on her brother."
Flender started laughing. "But one can't bla her; her brother is pretty reliable. But I see the point. Still, it's a pity. She had been the most promising student with her brother that I have ever seen, and if she started being half as ambitious as him, she would easily surpass him and have shocked the spirit world already with her talent and cultivation speed."
"I don't think rising this high so soon benefits her." The grandmaster said his gaze turned to Flender. "On the contrary. The only reason Tang Yin completes so much physical training, I believe, is because her body has great difficulty handling her spirit power."
"You an imbalance? That is as rare as a diamond on a sand dune and she would never make it to her age, especially not when training to be a spirit master." Flender said shrugging his shoulders. "A bit of trouble, I can believe that, but imbalance is as good as impossible, and if you are right, and she has imbalance, then I'd say she has the devil's luck and will grow into a bigger monster than her brother or anyone else the spirit master world may have ever seen."
The grandmaster remained silent as Flender walked away.
--
With bamboo baskets on their backs, Tang San and Dai Mubai led their small group. Once they had started running and completed the first kilotre, they realized that the punishnt would be harsh.
"Mubai let's stop a mont." Tang San said in the middle of running and stopped.
They hadn't made it very far yet and were still sweating. Even those who regularly trained in similar ways.
Even though the two of them had already consud a lot of spirit power, physically they were among the top of Shrek. Tang Yin and Ning Feng were already a few tres behind them and even further back were Xiao Wu, Oscar and Ma Honjun with Zhu Zhuquing following them close behind and Ning Rong Rong in the back.
"Little San, why?"
Dai Mubai stopped, looking at Tang San puzzled as Ning Feng and Tang Yin caught up shortly later.
"Ten laps is not a short run," Tang San told him. Do you rember? Before we set up, the teacher said that we were a team and had to complete this punishnt together. Ning Rong Rong, Ning Feng, Sis, and Zhu Zhuquing are being punished with us. Apart from doing twelve Laps, we also have to finish this together. He isn't just punishing us; he is having us exercise."
"A Spirit master's foundation is their body." Tang Yin said panting. "I can literally hear this mantra of his right now." Next to her, Ning Feng was nodding in agreent.
"Right. He is also testing us. Testing out fellowship. We are a team. In terms of physical strength, those of us who regularly exercise on a daily basis for quite a while might be able to manage it. But the others may not. We must think of a way for everyone to complete this test together."
As the Grandmaster's direct disciple, Tang San knew his teacher best. Hearing these words, Dai Mubai gave a slow nod.
"Maybe you do have a point. Let's wait for the others to catch up. We'll talk over it."
The others caught up quickly, and Tang San again explained his reasoning.
Oscars brows wrinkled for a mont.
"I think Tang san is right. Grandmaster is testing us. The baskets are filled differently, he might have calculated our physical fitness and within the possibilities of what we can accomplish while pushing to our limits and boundaries."
Oscar felt the strain, and Tang Yin agreed with him. Not only could she see the Grandmaster doing it, but it made perfect sense, considering the weight of the basket on her back.
"Can't we just cheat then?" Ma Hongjun suggested. "If we secretly eat a bit of little Aos recovery sausage, who can tell."
"Cheat?" Oscar unhappily glared at Fatty. He could already guess how that would end.
Tang Yin's face also spoke volus about the issue. "I wouldn't," she said. "I tried it before, and it didn't go well. It makes things worse, actually."
Xiao Wu nodded in agreent, and Ning Feng agreed with her wordlessly assuring the others thus that cheating on one of the Grandmasters' tests was a bad idea.
"I did tell you it is a bad idea." Tang San snorted. "Either way we'd better not cheat. Rather, I'd suggest we take turns when running with weight. Oscar, give your rocks."
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