When the sun was about to set, shimmering orange above the seemingly endless seas, Uncle Jian told her to stop and dress appropriately for dinner.
After all they were invited and worn and torn, several times sweat through clothes was no dinner attire with the captain.
Tang Yin ran back into her room, doing a quick wash-up and changing into one of her more complicated, fancier outfits.
A blue two-piece dress: a knee-length silken dress in dark blue with a pattern outlining moonflowers in silver thread—courtesy of Yu Hua’s perfectionism—with a high waistline.
Above it, a loose sky blue shirt ended slightly above the dresses waist line, with long flaring sleeves embroidered in the same patternof her skirt, only now in dark almost black blue. She switched from her training gloves, made of simple, unembellished black fabric, to a black pair made of delicately woven lace.
Since it was a formal occasion, she braided her hair into one large braid, which she twisted and fixed tightly with a hairpin and left a singlar smaller braid to fall down over her shoulder, trailing to her waist.
All of her dress was Yu Hua’s work. Over the years, he had made several fancier pieces for all of them. According to him, working with his hands was as good as meditating, and he was good at what he did so whenever the ocassion passed by they wore it and told everyone who wanted to know who the fabulous designer was.
Slipping into comfortable shoes with a binding that criss crossed up her lower leg, she tied a bow at the end and stepped outside.
“You clean up nicely,” Uncle Jian pointed out mustering her. She shrugged her shoulders and stuck out her tongue.
“Of course I do. It’s not like my usual clothing is suited for fancy dinners,” she retorted and marched past him. He hummed in agreement as a young man led them into the captain’s mess.
The captain looked to be in his mid-forties and wore a large black mustache. A pair of clear brown eyes lighting up the weathered face as he saw them. He was obviously already waiting for them for a while now.
When they arrived, he stood up and shook their hands in greeting. Tang Yin felt hers engulfed by his—it was calloused and warm.
Next to him, a young boy—maybe fourteen or fifteen—was seated who looked like a younger version of the older man.
Must be the Captains son.
“It is my honor to meet the two of you,” the young boy said, offering a light bow toward them. His curious gaze wandered from Uncle Jian to Tang Yin and remained on her.
They settled down, and several dishes were brought out by a few sailors.
“Our cook went out of his way today after I told him we would be inviting honorable spirit masters to dinner,” the captain told them with a smile.
“Say, Master Jian, how old is your student?” the captain asked, and Uncle Jian smiled.
“Tang Yin is twelve,” Uncle Jian answered truthfully. Tang Yin often was mistaken even for a touch younger even.
“So young! I believed her older, from how she moved during training and what I could observe,” the captain exclaimed, surprised. His son smiled beside him.
“I will soon be fifteen,” he said. “I’m enrolled in the Sea Master Academy as a spirit master. May I ask where you are enrolled?” he asked her curiously, and she nodded.
“Shrek Academy,” she told him, and he blinked, tilting his head.
“I’ve never heard of that academy,” he said, surprised. Tang Yin shrugged, well she would have been more surprised if he knew of Shrek.
“It’s a fairly small elite school, so few hear of it—even among land masters,” she said, continuing to eat and ignoring him.
“Elite school?” he repeated, sounding excited. “If it’s not rude of me to ask, what is your level?”
She blinked and sighed so much for eating in peace.
“I’d prefer not to speak about that.” She informed him.
“I’m level twenty-three,” he said with a confident smile. “One of the best in my generation. Please—I’m too curious. I hardly ever get a chance to compare myself to a land spirit master.”
She sighed again. Alright—there went nothing.
“I’m level forty-two,” she told him, and the table went silent.
“Forty-two?” the boy asked, staring at her like she had suddenly grown a second head.
“Yes,” she nodded, then continued eating. The captain, too, swallowed hard and stared at her as she calmly chewed her food.
“Wow... You’re on par with Spirit Hall’s golden generation.” the boy said, admiring her now openly. "I didn't even know that was like...possible."
The captain looked between his son and her, and then a glint entered his eyes as he beamed at Uncle Jian.
Tang Yin felt uncomfortable as she looked at Uncle Jian seeking help. He gazed at her.
He said and she threw a stink eye at him. Well there was at least something she could do. If she was being mean that is. Seeing Uncle Jian smiled smugly at the other and she decided.
Alright she was going to be mean today.