Ningyan's body felt utterly spent.
Every muscle screamed as though he had run for days without rest. His limbs were heavy, pulled tight with lingering strain, and when he finally dragged in a breath, his lungs burned as if he had barely survived drowning.
It took a long moment before the pain receded enough for him to notice a calm, steady flow of energy wrapped gently around his core.
Slowly, Ningyan forced his eyes open.
Glowing emerald serpent eyes stared back at him from behind crooked spectacles.
His breath caught.
Lan Meishan looked exhausted.
His glasses sat askew on his nose, and while his robes and hair remained immaculate, the strain showed in his face.
He sat in a meditation position directly in front of Ningyan, who realized, belatedly, that he was seated the same way.
Two of Meishan's fingers still glowed faintly, releasing a steady stream of core-strength energy into Ningyan's abdomen.
"You're awake," Meishan said.
