The Awakening of the Awakener

Injuries

For as much that Lu Ping wanted to, he had to stand, he had to make an appearance before the rest of the disciples wondered where he had gone to, and they would wonder when he was not back at the three which they had left him at. Lu Ping needed them to stop being so suspicious. Or rather, he needed that Head Disciple to stop being so suspicious. It was getting rather annoying and Lu Ping really did not need anyone to be wondering about his true self, especially if the Sea and Mountain Gang were nearby. That would only ever spell disaster, of that he was most certain. He had to keep up appearances, and he knew that the others would wonder where he had gone, and why. This would be the only time that he would really be able to address them all at once and levy their concerns away from him instantly. He did not need anyone peaking around if he could help it.

So make an appearance he did. He had to be careful not to allow them to wonder where he had been, or what he had been up to. He also had to be careful not to let on that he had seen or heard anything. He played his part, the part he always played, and he did so, the Senior Disciple watching him with shrewd eyes that made Lu Ping want to rage against him, but he needed to keep his calm so he refrained himself. He did not really feel all that hungry after he managed to successfully convince them of his ruse that he had returned to the Windtaker's after they had not returned for some time. He had not really been all that hungry in the first place, but he had managed to force himself to eat at least once chicken leg before he swung himself off of the bench with a grace which he had forgotten to keep in check, too tired to really even notice that he was being too light on his feet as he rushed back to his cabin, the eyes of the Head Senior disciple watching him closely as he did so. Upon reaching the boarded cabin, he finally managed to allow himself to relax ever so slightly. He closed the door, and hung his head, sighing heavily. He had to be more careful. It was mere luck, today was. So many things could have easily gone wrong, and he did not want to have to deal with anything more going wrong. He did not want to really leave the Windtakers, but he knew, realistically, that it was coming time soon. Very soon. 

He stepped into the back patio, leaning against the door watching the stars above. It was a beautiful night, and he wondered just how many more that he was going to be allowed the luxury of having. He remembered the endless nights where he could barely see, the light scarcely bleeding through the thick walls of the dungeons. He closed his eyes, swallowing the memories as tears filled his eyes. Before he had managed to be rescued, he could not recall what the night sky had looked like. He could barely remember the sun, and the heat which it had given. He could not see the stars, there was nothing but darkness, pain, and anger. He had been saved, and he really did not want to have to go back. If the Sea and Mountain Gang were truly in town, he would have to be far more careful than he had ever been before. He would not allow himself to be taken, not willingly, and not while he was alive. He would rather die. He came to that realization, that death would be preferable, looking up at the glittering sky above him.

He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth slightly, swiftly returning inside the cabin. He peeled his outer and under robes off his torso, hissing slightly as the fabric slowly ripped its way off the rent skin. He groaned as he saw the blood staining the robes. He would need to wash them tonight if he did not want the stains to set in the clothes. He patched himself up quickly, and pulled on another pair of clothes, walking outside to get a water basin.

It was dark enough that he did not see the Senior Disciple trailing him, and he was far too tired to bother trying to use his senses to ensure it. 

He went to his knees, shoving the clothes into the water basin, and began to scrub at the fabric. It took a while, and the Senior Disciple watched him through all of it. If Lu Ping had truly returned as he had claimed, why did his under robes have blood on them? Why was he even washing them so late at night anyways? He had known that there was something suspicious about the other, but he could not recall Lu Ping joining the fight at all. Yet, it was obvious that he had been injured somehow, given the fact that heh ad been patching himself and he could see the way the shoulder of one side pulled tighter at the fabric, gauze, he had already patched himself up. 

Lu Ping pulled himself up, swiftly turning only to pause, eyes wide, expressions quickly molded into nothing. 

"What are you doing out so late?" The Senior Disciple asked seriously. 

"Ah, I was just doing some...laundry." Senior Disciple watched him with narrowed eyes. 

"You never do chores." 

"Well, see, that is why I do them at night. Cannot let my reputation get torn after all." Lu Ping said with an uneasy laugh and a shrug. The Senior Disciple watched as the other swiftly returned walking towards his cabin quickly. 

There was just something odd about Lu Ping. The Senior Disciple could not quite put his finger on what it was, precisely, but he certainly knew that there was something about Lu Ping that was not the norm.