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[bringingdowndisaster]

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[gentledawn]

"You're right." Xingchen hears that hard edge and knows there is pain underneath. A lot of pain.

"Just like I can't know what I would do if I was in an avalanche. What you've gone through... It's going to take time, but you can heal." because of the strength and resilience Xue Yang has already shown, "I believe in you."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang shudders again and grips at Xiao Xingchen's robes. "I don't want to do that again," he whispers, tucking his face against the older boy's shoulder.

[gentledawn]

"You won't. Never again." Xingchen promises firmly, "I'm with you now. We're going to be strong Cultivators. We will help people, Xue Yang."

He hugs the younger boy to him.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang wants to believe Xiao Xingchen. Wants to believe that he's free from the streets, from everything he'd been forced to do, but trust is hard. He's lowered his guard around Xiao Xingchen, but that doesn't mean that he's ready to put his full trust in him.

"I want to be strong..." he murmurs. So that no one can ever hurt him again, or make him feel small and powerless.

[gentledawn]

"You are strong." Xingchen smiles into Xue Yang's cute face, already smitten with the boy. He wants to be a good friend and protect Xue Yang while he needs it.

"With steady meals and physical training, you will be strong enough to face any foe." he nods at the practice swords resting against the wall in the corner of the room, "We use those so we don't hurt one another."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang gives a very determined nod. He'll train, get strong and get back at those who had hurt him. He imagines hunting down Chang Ci'an... Now, that's a satisfying thought. He'd already imagined many violent scenarios involving that man, but it's even better to imagine himself as a full-fledged cultivator doing it!

"Can you show me some techniques?" he asks.

[gentledawn]

"We don't fight inside." Xingchen touches Xue Yang's forehead, casting a spell that will keep him warm even in the snow, "Change into these robes..."

Rising, he pulls out some thicker robes from an armoire. After handing them to his friend, he goes to gather the blunt weapons.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang takes the offered robes and puts them on. Oh... to have had something like this in Kuizhou. He'd never go cold again. If he really can stay here... maybe he won't have to worry about that ever again.

He follows Xiao Xingchen over to the blunt weapons. He's never held a sword before, not even a practice one, so this will be interesting...

[gentledawn]

In Xingchen's mind, yes, this is a done deal. Xue Yang is staying where he can be warm and safe and taught. He chooses two of the "swords" and smiles at his little friend.

"Come on." he pushes open the door and leads the way outside to a training yard. The snow has been cleared off, so they won't slip. Then he holds out one of the "swords", nodding to Xue Yang encouragingly.

"Everyone has a different grip depending on your comfort level and how you want to balance the blade."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang takes one of the practice swords. It's not very heavy and it seems to fit decently well in his hand. He uses his right hand of course. It's his dominant hand, but he also doesn't trust his left.

He lets it rest across his shoulders as he follows Xingchen to the training yard. Luckily there is no one else there. Xue Yang doesn't want to be watched while he's learning. "How do you hold yours?" he asks.

[gentledawn]

"Like this." Xingchen demonstrates, holding out the practice sword and arranging his hand as if he held Shuanghua, "I keep my grip loose, but strong. If you tighten up, your hand can begin to ache and you risk dropping your sword or having it taken from you."

His eyes travel to said left hand.

"You have one hand you can depend on. Treat it well."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang pays close attention to how Xiao Xingchen is holding the practice sword. Loose, but strong... He nods and tries to mimic the grip the older boy had demonstrated. "How's this?" he asks as he shows him.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen beams at the almost perfect mimic. This boy is exceptionally bright! And a natural with a blade.

"Your hand is smaller than mine. Let's try to spread your fingers...just a little...to give you better balance." he rearranges Xue Yang's hand with gentle touches.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang nods and lets Xiao Xingchen correct his grip on the sword. It does feel better that way. "Okay, what do I do now?" he asks. There is a very determined look on his face.

[gentledawn]

"Now I want you to mirror me." Xingchen steps back, growing serious (though he adores that determination), "We are going to work on your muscles."

The motions are simple, but they exercise all the muscles Xue Yang will need.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang is a fast learner. He always has been when it concerns something that actually interests him. He ends up mimicking Xiao Xingchen's movements quite well, though he doesn't have the same strength as the older boy does.

He keeps going though, even when his muscles start to ache.

[gentledawn]

"Alright, alright... Enough." Xingchen begins to worry after awhile, his hands coming to rest on those sore muscles. He gives the other boy some healing energy and smiles down at him.

"You will catch on in no time. But we must take it slow." for the sake of the Xue Yang's growing body.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang pouts just a little, but he does stop when prompted. And he can feel the ache in his muscles... well at least until Xiao Xingchen touches him and gives him some of that warm healing energy.

"Fine," he says with a sigh.

[gentledawn]

"You've had a hard day." Xingchen reminds him, wrapping an arm around Xue Yang's shoulders, "I recommend you have a hot soak and then get ready for dinner. I can show you our animals after. They are so cute this time of year."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"Mm... okay." He leans into the older boy, suddenly feeling just how tired he actually is. "What kinda animals do you have?" he asks. He hopes they don't have dogs.

[gentledawn]

"Sheep, cattle, a few horses..." Xingchen begins, grinning, "And cats. Since the sheep are protected by talisman, we don't need dogs to keep the wolves away. In our barn, the cats keep the other animals company and they hunt mice."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"I like cats..." Xue Yang says softly. He'd made sort of allies with a couple of street cats in Kuizhou. He chased away dogs that tried to steal food from them or hurt their kittens, and they sometimes brought him food.

[gentledawn]

"Me too and ours are very friendly." Xingchen beams at those soft words, "We had a litter last Spring and they were adorable. I had a hard time leaving the barn."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang brightens a little at the thought of kittens. "There was a cat who had kittens that I helped protect from some dogs that tried to eat them." He feels proud of that. The cat had been a rare friend on the streets, so it had only felt natural.

[gentledawn]

"Then you are already a friend to cats. They will show you their secrets." which are all really adorable. All the soft spots in the barn are known to them, for example, and they will share them with their friends.

Xingchen leads them inside and to the baths. He fills a tub with steaming water and smiles.

"Get undressed and soak."