Rewards

The crisp winter air nipped at Kai's cheeks as he made his way across the courtyard of the cultivation academy. The last vestiges of sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting long shadows across the well-trodden paths between buildings. His footsteps echoed in the quiet evening, most students having retired to their dormitories after the excitement of the qi manipulation competition.

Kai's heart raced with a mixture of pride and anticipation as he approached Master Yuvi's office. The polished wooden door loomed before him, inscribed with intricate runes that seemed to shimmer in the fading light. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and knocked firmly.

"Enter," came Master Yuvi's voice from within.

Kai pushed open the door and stepped inside. The office was warm and inviting, lit by softly glowing crystals that cast a gentle radiance throughout the room. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and mystical artifacts. At the center sat Master Yuvi behind a massive oak desk, his weathered face creased in a rare smile.

"Ah, Kai," Master Yuvi said, gesturing for him to take a seat. "I'm glad you could join me this evening. Please, sit down."

Kai bowed respectfully before taking the offered chair. "Thank you for calling me, Master Yuvi."

The old master leaned back, his eyes twinkling with approval. "First and foremost, I want to congratulate you on your victory in the qi manipulation competition. Your performance was truly impressive."

A warmth spread through Kai's chest at the praise. "Thank you, Master. I've been working hard to improve my skills."

Master Yuvi nodded sagely. "Indeed, and it shows. But more than just winning the competition, I wanted to discuss your recent breakthrough to the Mortal Qi Realm III."

Kai sat up straighter, his curiosity piqued. "Yes, Master?"

The weight of his accomplishment settled on Kai's shoulders. He had known he was progressing quickly, but hearing it laid out so plainly by Master Yuvi made it feel more real.

"Your dedication and natural talent are commendable," Master Yuvi continued. "It's rare to see someone so young advance at such a pace. I believe you have a bright future ahead of you in the world of cultivation."

Kai bowed his head slightly, both honored and slightly embarrassed by the praise. "Thank you, Master Yuvi. I'll continue to work hard and not let this success go to my head."

A knowing smile played at the corners of Master Yuvi's lips. "A wise attitude, young Kai. Now, onto the matter of your rewards."

The old master reached into a drawer of his desk and withdrew three gleaming gold coins. They clinked softly as he placed them on the desk before Kai. "These are your prize for winning the competition. Use them wisely."

Kai's eyes widened at the sight of the gold. It was more money than he had ever possessed at once. "Thank you, Master," he said, carefully collecting the coins and tucking them away in his robes.

"But that's not all," Master Yuvi said, a hint of excitement in his voice. He produced a small, ornate box and placed it on the desk. "This is something special, a reward for your exceptional progress."

Kai leaned forward, curiosity burning in his eyes as Master Yuvi opened the box. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a simple silver ring. Yet even from where he sat, Kai could feel the faint hum of energy emanating from it.

"This," Master Yuvi said, lifting the ring from its resting place, "is a defense ring. It's enchanted with protective magics that will help shield you from harm. As you continue to grow stronger, you'll face greater challenges. This ring will provide an extra layer of security."

Kai's breath caught in his throat as Master Yuvi handed him the ring. He turned it over in his palm, marveling at the intricate runes etched into its surface. "It's... incredible," he breathed.

"Go ahead, try it on," Master Yuvi encouraged.

With reverent care, Kai slipped the ring onto his finger. Immediately, he felt a subtle warmth spread through his body, like a comforting embrace. The ring adjusted its size, fitting perfectly.

"How does it feel?" Master Yuvi asked, watching Kai's reaction closely.

"I have no doubt you will," Master Yuvi said, rising from his chair. Kai stood as well, recognizing the meeting was coming to an end. "Keep up the excellent work, Kai. I look forward to seeing how far you'll go."

With a final bow of respect, Kai left Master Yuvi's office, his mind whirling with the events of the evening. The weight of the gold coins in his pocket and the comforting presence of the ring on his finger were constant reminders of his achievements.

As he made his way back to the dormitories, Kai couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He had worked hard for this, pushing himself to limits he hadn't known he possessed. 

The dormitory building loomed ahead, its windows glowing with warm light against the darkening sky. Kai climbed the stairs to his floor, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. As he approached his room, he could hear muffled voices from within. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

Yung and Meon were sprawled on their beds, engaged in animated conversation. They both looked up as Kai entered, their eyes widening with curiosity.

"Kai!" Yung exclaimed, sitting up. "Where have you been? We saw Master Yuvi call you away after the competition."

Meon nodded eagerly. "Yeah, what did he want? It must have been important to keep you so long."

Kai plastered on a friendly smile, maintaining the facade of close friendship even as a part of him bristled at their prying questions. "Oh, you know, just some congratulations for winning the competition," he said casually, moving to his own bed.

"That's it?" Meon pressed, leaning forward. "Come on, there must be more to it than that. You were gone for ages!"

Kai sighed inwardly, reminding himself to stay patient. "Well, he also wanted to talk about my advancement to Mortal Qi Realm III. Apparently, it was faster than expected."

Yung's eyes widened. "Wow, that's incredible, Kai! How did you manage it so quickly?"

"Just lots of hard work and practice, I guess," Kai said with a shrug, downplaying his accomplishment. He didn't want to risk arousing jealousy or suspicion.

"Did he give you any special rewards?" Meon asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Kai hesitated for a moment, then decided a partial truth was better than an outright lie. "Just the standard prize for winning the competition," he said, patting his pocket where the gold coins rested. He chose not to mention the defense ring, feeling it was better kept secret for now.

"That's still amazing!" Yung said enthusiastically. "We should celebrate! Maybe we can sneak into town this weekend and treat ourselves to some of that fancy food from the night market?"

Meon nodded eagerly. "Oh yeah, I've been craving those spiced dumplings for weeks!"

As his roommates launched into an excited discussion about potential weekend plans, Kai found himself growing increasingly annoyed. Their constant chatter and questions grated on his nerves, reminding him of the vast gulf that had grown between them. Kai maintained his friendly demeanor, nodding and smiling at appropriate intervals. He knew the importance of keeping up appearances, of not revealing the true extent of his growth or the changes in his perspective.

"So, Kai," Meon said, turning back to him. "What did you get up to during the two-month break? We barely saw you around."

Kai shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing too exciting. I stayed at the school, mostly. Spent a lot of time practicing."

Yung's eyes widened. "The whole break? Didn't you get bored?"

"Not really," Kai replied. "There's always more to learn, you know? Besides, it was peaceful with most students gone."

His roommates exchanged glances, clearly unable to fathom spending their entire break studying. Kai suppressed a sigh, once again reminded of how different his priorities had become.

"Well, you missed out on some fun times," Meon said.

As Meon rambled on, with Yung occasionally chiming in with his own vacation stories, Kai found his attention wandering. He absently twisted the defense ring on his finger, feeling its comforting warmth. His mind drifted to the challenges that lay ahead, the heights he had yet to reach in his cultivation journey.

The chatter of his roommates faded into background noise as Kai's thoughts turned inward. He reflected on how much had changed in such a short time.

A part of Kai relished this separation, seeing it as necessary for his continued growth.

As the evening wore on, Kai found himself growing weary of the constant conversation. He feigned a yawn, stretching dramatically. "Sorry, guys," he said. I think I'm going to turn in early."

His roommates looked disappointed but nodded in understanding. "Sure thing, Kai," Yung said. "You deserve some rest after your big win."

"Yeah, sleep well, champion," Meon added with a grin.

As he lay there, listening to the continued murmur of Yung and Meon's voices, Kai's mind raced with thoughts of the future. 

With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Kai closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him.

As the night deepened and silence fell over the dormitory, Kai slept peacefully.