Eventually, between his own explanations and the comments of the sect doctors, you're able to work some of it out.
Yan Hui can't rightly be considered a cultivator, because he doesn't have a golden core. This you were already aware of. However, he can't be considered a mundane person, either. The spiritual energy that a cultivator keeps in their golden core is used to enhance his meridians directly, with a particular focus on the eyes, throat, and hands. It's always present, rather than being something he has to actively call upon.
It's damaged by his injuries right now, of course. The places where his body has to repair itself have accordingly weakened meridians; he gets short of breath easily, as you'd expect from someone with such dramatic lung damage. But it also explains why his body was able to accept and use spiritual energy while unconscious, without being in a healing trance; his body is always using spiritual energy. His qi circulates the whole of his being.
It also explains why he seems largely unbothered by the loss of his previous weapon, when a cultivator who lost their sword would suffer a serious setback in their development. Yan Hui cultivated his body directly in a way more in line with the Lan, who use spiritual instruments in addition to their swords, but to an extreme beyond that of the Lan.
It also explains his awareness, which is on a level you've never seen before. Rather than focusing qi to sharpen his senses, they are always sharpened, because his eyes and ears and even sense of balance are full of qi at all times.
That's the part that seems most exhausting to you. It's no wonder that Yan Hui is the first to react when Jin Ling starts to cry; the sound of unhappy toddler must be downright hellish to his ears. His usual response is to pluck your nephew up and rock him while murmuring or humming, often in his own language. You can't bring yourself to deny him that, even as Jin Ling starts to mix unfamiliar words into his babble; it's the only time Yan Hui gets to speak in his own language at all except to curse.
Truthfully, he's the best bodyguard you could ask for; his loyalty seems to extend to you and Jin Ling and then stops there. You actually had to intercede in order to convince him to hand Jin Ling over to his grandmother.
Only most of this do you explain to Jin Guangyao when the matter comes up in conversation between you. You don't tell him about the fiery punch or the time you witnessed Yan Hui freeze a portion of one of the ponds with arm-sized icicles. You don't trust the man that far, and even if you did, you don't trust the rest of the Jin. Let any would-be assassins find out for themselves.
"An unexpected asset," Jin Guangyao agrees, thoughtful. "I suppose in lieu of a wife, a dedicated protector serves your household well."
You can't help but grimace. The matter of your marriage comes up regularly, since your sect doesn't currently have an heir. Rather than rise to the bait, you say, "I have my hopes it can be taught, but Yan Hui still gropes for words in our language, so I haven't asked. That he's willing to protect Jin Ling is enough for me."
"Your mother's sect has a tradition of such protection, does it not? If anyone objects, perhaps that is something you can call upon," Jin Guangyao says, and that's an actually helpful thought. You were the Jiang heir, so you don't know much about the Yu practices. You'll have to look it up. For now, you nod and thank him for the suggestion.
no subject
Yan Hui can't rightly be considered a cultivator, because he doesn't have a golden core. This you were already aware of. However, he can't be considered a mundane person, either. The spiritual energy that a cultivator keeps in their golden core is used to enhance his meridians directly, with a particular focus on the eyes, throat, and hands. It's always present, rather than being something he has to actively call upon.
It's damaged by his injuries right now, of course. The places where his body has to repair itself have accordingly weakened meridians; he gets short of breath easily, as you'd expect from someone with such dramatic lung damage. But it also explains why his body was able to accept and use spiritual energy while unconscious, without being in a healing trance; his body is always using spiritual energy. His qi circulates the whole of his being.
It also explains why he seems largely unbothered by the loss of his previous weapon, when a cultivator who lost their sword would suffer a serious setback in their development. Yan Hui cultivated his body directly in a way more in line with the Lan, who use spiritual instruments in addition to their swords, but to an extreme beyond that of the Lan.
It also explains his awareness, which is on a level you've never seen before. Rather than focusing qi to sharpen his senses, they are always sharpened, because his eyes and ears and even sense of balance are full of qi at all times.
That's the part that seems most exhausting to you. It's no wonder that Yan Hui is the first to react when Jin Ling starts to cry; the sound of unhappy toddler must be downright hellish to his ears. His usual response is to pluck your nephew up and rock him while murmuring or humming, often in his own language. You can't bring yourself to deny him that, even as Jin Ling starts to mix unfamiliar words into his babble; it's the only time Yan Hui gets to speak in his own language at all except to curse.
Truthfully, he's the best bodyguard you could ask for; his loyalty seems to extend to you and Jin Ling and then stops there. You actually had to intercede in order to convince him to hand Jin Ling over to his grandmother.
Only most of this do you explain to Jin Guangyao when the matter comes up in conversation between you. You don't tell him about the fiery punch or the time you witnessed Yan Hui freeze a portion of one of the ponds with arm-sized icicles. You don't trust the man that far, and even if you did, you don't trust the rest of the Jin. Let any would-be assassins find out for themselves.
"An unexpected asset," Jin Guangyao agrees, thoughtful. "I suppose in lieu of a wife, a dedicated protector serves your household well."
You can't help but grimace. The matter of your marriage comes up regularly, since your sect doesn't currently have an heir. Rather than rise to the bait, you say, "I have my hopes it can be taught, but Yan Hui still gropes for words in our language, so I haven't asked. That he's willing to protect Jin Ling is enough for me."
"Your mother's sect has a tradition of such protection, does it not? If anyone objects, perhaps that is something you can call upon," Jin Guangyao says, and that's an actually helpful thought. You were the Jiang heir, so you don't know much about the Yu practices. You'll have to look it up. For now, you nod and thank him for the suggestion.