It was a little over two li from the Five Contemplations Hall to the water source. The trip there had been easy, but on the way back, the two large buckets were filled with mountain spring water, each weighing around a hundred jin. Though the bodyguards were reasonably strong, some began to flag after only a short stretch. Monk Mingsheng led the way, his arms extended horizontally and a bucket in each hand, striding as swiftly as if he were flying. No matter how the mountain path rose and fell, his two buckets remained perfectly balanced, not a drop spilling from them.
Hu Xiaotian followed close behind. At first, he had failed to find the right balance and spilled a few drops of spring water, but he soon got the knack and likewise strode along with long, swift steps. His internal cultivation already surpassed Mingsheng's. Heavy as the buckets were, they were no burden to Hu Xiaotian at all.
The bodyguards had nothing like their ability. Never mind extending their arms horizontally-simply carrying a bucket in each hand had already exhausted them. Since leaving the Imperial City the previous night, they had not had a proper rest. Besides standing watch, they had spent the night lighting fires and chopping wood. After all that, Hu Xiaotian had forced them out to fetch water before dawn. They had not even been given carrying poles, and the buckets were twice the size of ordinary ones. Inwardly, they cursed Hu Xiaotian as a twisted, skin-flaying taskmaster who showed no consideration for their toil.
Caught off guard, Zuo Tang slipped and fell to the ground, buckets and all. Every last drop of water spilled out.
Hu Xiaotian stopped and turned to look. Far from feeling sympathy at Zuo Tang's sorry state, he nearly laughed aloud.