Where the Wind Blows

Refinement

Returning long after training had come to an end, Ye Hua was surprised to find his entire group of men missing. They always returned after every training session tired and ready to eat then sleep. That no one was about, not even in the dining tent where dinner was waiting for them, had him quickly moving towards the training ground in bewilderment.  

Where is Die Feng? he wondered to himself.  He had left his men in his care, and he would not have kept them training past their time unless there was good cause, though the thought that the boy may have caused more trouble in his absence did come to mind.

However, on arrival, only a few of his lower soldiers were there clearing away the days activities and setting up for the following day. "Where are my men?" he asked the nearest one who was still packing away the weapons of choice.

"They headed towards the hot springs Lord Ye Hua." He said before bowing low. And though he too could have joined them, he knew he would face disciplinary action if he left his work unfinished, but he was racing through it as fast as he could so as not to miss out on the lesson that Little Blossom was giving them all, one he desperately wanted to learn.

Making his way to the path that led to the outdoor hot springs, Ye Hua didn't think too much of it. That they were bathing was not an issue, but the moment he arrived, what met him, had his mouth dropping instantly.

The first thing he was met with was an enormous pile of hair.  "What the ...." he whispered as he took several steps to the side to ease himself around the huge pile of both beard and moustache hair that had been swept into a pile and left.  With a set jaw, thinned lips and narrowed eyes, he marched through the large gate that had been left open.

There were 20 pools in total and each pool could hold up to 30 men, so more than enough room for his entire group. However, what met him next loosened the tightened jaw in an instant.

None of them were bathing, rather they were walking from one pool to the other, doing a complete circuit of every pool and back again.

But that wasn't what had his mouth open. Every single one of his men were not only clean shaven and their hair tidily pulled up into top knots, but every single one of them were gracefully gliding through the water. And in between them all and standing on a dividing wall was Zian who looked to be overseeing whatever it was he had them doing.

Moving to the side wall so he was out of view but could see everything clearly, he watched as his men moved with their arms outstretched and their heads held high through one pool before stepping out and into the next one.  Stripped down to their underwear, Zian was not only calling out instructions to individual men he felt needed a little more encouragement, while reminding them all to keep their arms and heads raised, he was clapping his small hands together to create a beat for them to march to.

Once the boy felt they were walking to perfection, he then ordered them all to drop their arms but to keep the same posture.

"Keep your heads up. True grace and refinement is in the mind and is conveyed through your thoughts. So, with your heads held high, I want you to think of a Tea Ceremony. One that might be performed at your wedding.   It is a respectful ritual, one that requires honour and respect for your wifes family and your wife." She said as the marching continued.

"Imagine she is filling the gaiwan, and hands it to you." He called out as all hands rose in the air to gracefully accept the imaginary cup from their imaginary wives.

"You smile and thank her politely, then turn and hold the cup out to her father." He said as Ye Hua then watched as his men went through the motions of smiling to the side at their imaginary wives, then turning to lift the cup to their imaginary father in laws.