Soulbound: Chronicles Of A Shadow Assassin-Chapter 43: The Best Mage
The gentle lapping of the waves against the shore accompanied Jiang Yichen’s rhythmic movements as he sat on a rock, kicking his legs against the tide. The water’s cool caress enveloped his skin, refreshing him. His robes, pulled up above his knees, remained dry as he sat there, enjoying the moment.
"Woah!" Jiang Yichen’s eyes sparkled with excitement, his gaze fixed intently on the water as he kicked his legs against the tide.
"What are you doing?" The sudden sound of Mingyu’s voice behind him made him jump, his heart racing with surprise. He turned back to look at Mingyu, who was holding two rods, one in each arm, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement.
"The water is so cold. Almost freezing," Jiang Yichen said, chuckling in amusement like he was having the time of his life.
Mingyu raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Of course it’s cold, so why are you sitting there? I brought you to the Crystal Cove lake so you could train, not play around."
Jiang Yichen stood up from the rock, his movements fluid as he walked towards Mingyu, still grinning from ear to ear.
"I used to not be able to handle extreme temperatures," Jiang Yichen said, his eyes shining with pride. "But look at me now, even though I’m shivering, I can still stand. My spiritual core must have really been unsealed."
Mingyu smirked, his expression hinting at a deeper understanding. "That’s just one of the little benefits of an active spiritual core. If you master your spells diligently, you will neither feel cold on ice, nor hot when walking on fire."
Jiang Yichen’s curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "What were you like before you transferred your soul into this body?" His voice was laced with fascination. "I had heard many rumors since you were so infamous, but I never actually saw you in person. I heard you were pretty strong."
Mingyu scoffed, feeling belittled by Jiang Yichen’s remark. "I was not just pretty strong," he said, his voice dripping with irritation. "I was extremely strong."
"Hmm. Extremely... I see," Jiang Yichen said, his tone playful.
"In order to become the best mage there is, you must go through several steps," Mingyu began, his voice filled with conviction. "First, the ability to harness your inner power, gathering them together. This is the foundation of a mage’s strength, and it’s essential to master this step before moving on." He paused, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
"Second, the ability to wield and command with four basic elements using spells. This is where a mage’s true power begins to manifest."
"And lastly, the ability to combine both step one and two, creating a powerful force—one which you must be able to control," Mingyu continued, his voice rising with excitement. "I’m a mage who has mastered all three steps," he declared, beating his chest with pride. His chin was raised, and his eyes shone with a sense of accomplishment.
Jiang Yichen’s response was laced with sarcasm. "Ooh! Not many in Huayang have been able to master all three. I guess you really did live up to your name."
Mingyu detected the sarcasm but chose to ignore Jiang Yichen’s childishness. "Yes," he said, his voice steady. "I always moved silently like a shadow, and the heads of my enemies fell to the ground where I passed. I was Mingyu, the Shadow Assassin."
As he spoke, the wind blew against his red coils, giving the moment a dramatic flair. All of a sudden, he dropped one of the rods on the floor, and held the other one in a fighting stance, imagining the rod as a sword.
He ran a circle around Jiang Yichen, who was caught off guard. His movements were fluid and precise, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.
Unknown to Jiang Yichen, Mingyu was lost in reverie, reminiscing the old times when he was still his powerful self.
"I walked on air like I was flying, and the wind blew with my praises as I passed by," Mingyu continued, still immersed in his reverie. He twirled with the rod, swinging it mid-air, before landing on his feet, hitting the water squarely with the rod, making water splash everywhere.
Jiang Yichen watched with his mouth slightly agape, mesmerized by Mingyu’s display. Even without Mingyu’s moves being infused with spiritual power, it was still an impressive sight to behold.
It was like watching a graceful sword dance, except that it was with a rod and not a sword. The sound of the rod slicing through the air was music to Jiang Yichen’s ears, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at Mingyu’s skill.
"If I did this move with the right spell, I could summon precious rain from the skies," Mingyu said, his eyes blazing with intensity as he gazed at Jiang Yichen. His voice was filled with conviction, and his words seemed to carry a sense of authority. "I’m Mingyu, the best mage in this land, who even has the power to create rain and..." But before he could finish, Mingyu’s words were cut short as he suddenly fell on his knees, holding onto the rod to maintain his balance, while breathing haggardly in exhaustion. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Jiang Yichen was already immersed in Mingyu’s entertaining display, almost believing every word that escaped Mingyu’s lips, when Mingyu suddenly began gasping for air.
Jiang Yichen’s eyes widened in alarm as he quickly moved towards Mingyu, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, but Mingyu immediately raised his hand in a ’stop’ gesture, his eyes flashing with a mix of embarrassment and determination. He was the master among the two, and he couldn’t let himself be weak. Spiritual power or not.
"I’m fine," Mingyu said, still breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "All I did was run around for a bit, but it feels like my lungs are about to explode."
Jiang Yichen stayed put, watching as Mingyu struggled to stand up on his own. Once Mingyu stood up, he groaned as he clutched his lap, immediately going back to a crouch position.
Concern flashed in Jiang Yichen’s eyes as he asked, "What is the matter, now?" But he still kept a little distance, respecting Mingyu’s wish.
"Cramps! Fucking cramps," Mingyu cried, his face contorting in pain.
Jiang Yichen’s eyes widened in amusement. "You have cramps?" he asked, trying to stifle a smile.
"These legs are so skinny, weak, and cannot even stand the cold. What a useless body!" Mingyu complained, feeling aggrieved.
Jiang Yichen finally moved closer to Mingyu, but he didn’t help him up. Instead, he crouched down beside him. "Be careful," he said, his voice laced with a hint of teasing. "You are no longer Mingyu the Shadow Assassin. You are Yinzhi, a servant of the Jiang family. You shouldn’t run around like you did earlier. You could get hurt."
Mingyu angrily blew the strand of hair that was sticking to his face, close to his lips. "I feel so miserable," he sulkily said, being honest with his feelings.
Jiang Yichen pressed his lips to a thin line, looking at Mingyu as if sympathizing with him. But in the next second, he suddenly smacked Mingyu on the back, non-too-gently.
Mingyu gasped from the force of the hit, immediately turning to look at Jiang Yichen with wide eyes. ’What was that for?!!!’ The silent question was pasted on his shocked expression.
"Do not feel miserable," Jiang Yichen said with an encouraging smile on his face. "You have me."
Jiang Yichen’s attempt to cheer Mingyu up only resulted in Mingyu glaring at him, the expression on his face, the one of someone who had just heard something absurd.
Jiang Yichen coughed to clear his throat, and smoothly changed the subject. "Let us begin the training now that my spiritual core is unsealed. But first, I’ll go put my boots back on. The floor is too cold against my feet." With that, he stood up to go out and get his boots, leaving Mingyu to nurse his wounded pride.
Mingyu wasn’t one to easily forget things, though. Once the cramp in his legs ceased, he stood up while still holding the rod and walked towards Jiang Yichen, whose back was facing him. His eyes narrowed, and a hint of mischief danced in them. And then, with a precise aim, he aggressively threw the rod at Jiang Yichen’s backside.
