《A Symbol Of Peace [A Xianxia Fantasy of Growth and Bloom]》


 Chapter 1- Hey, You. Youre Finally Awake

    The hot twilight sun was giving way to the gentle breeze of the evening. The inhabitants of Reed Village all gave a collective sigh of relief, their sweat evaporating under the rapidly cooling air. The summer months were always difficult, the heat sapping away the strength of the populace and making them groan about getting out to work. But it was also the best months of harvest for the village, especially for the spirit rice that only grew during this season.


    It was on such a summer evening that Yu Feng found himself manning his family''s trading post in the village market. It had been a bountiful harvest this year, and the sacks of spirit rice beside him would help his family live for the next few months comfortably at the least. They were by no means wealthy, but having one of the biggest plots of land in the village made it so they always had enough food and basic necessities.


    Yu Feng glanced towards the setting sun, squinting his eyes against the glare that escaped over the market entrance. The Immortals are late, he thought. Their village was one of the countless under the authority of one of the Great Sects that governed the land, and the spirit rice they cultivated was their primary source of food. Being mortals, the people of Reed Village weren''t allowed to consume the spirit rice, but Yu Feng''s family usually grew enough that they too were able to eat some once in a while.


    The noise of angry shouting drew his attention towards the entrance of the market. The village Head seemed to be arguing with a group of people dressed in black robes. He strained his ears, trying to hear what the commotion was about, but he could only catch a few words. "...for Immortals" ... "not welcome"... "extra doesn''t matter"


    The Head suddenly turned on his heels and started stalking away, anger evident on his face, when there was a sudden flash of steely light. He continued walking for a few more steps, before a thin spout of red spurted from his neck, and his head rolled off his body. The now headless body took a couple more steps, before falling to the ground, blood pooling beneath it. The lead Black Robe now had a sword in his hand, which was dripping small droplets of blood onto the ground.


    There was a singular second of silence. Then one person screamed, which devolved into a cacophony of voices. Then the stampede started, as people rushed to get out of the market, the Black Robes cutting down anyone who was closest to them.


    Yu Feng was swept away by the tide, panic filling his face. Who were these people? Why had they started killing everyone? Questions swam in his mind as he hurriedly tried to find a hiding place. No place seemed safe enough to protect him. His eyes wandered, until they rested upon his family barn a bit of a ways away. There, he thought. That''s a good place, and should also have something to use as a weapon.


    Now free of the frenzied crowd, Yu Feng''s feet thudded down the dirt road leading to the barn. In the distance, he could still hear screams and shouting. His calves burned with exertion, leading him away from the killing as fast as they could. A few minutes of running later, he finally reached the barn. It was locked, and Yu Feng fumbled with the key for a few seconds before inserting it into the keyhole and clicking the padlock open.


    The dusty, still air of the barn greeted him as he opened the door just enough to let him inside. He slipped in, and quickly enshrouded himself in the darkness, latching the doors closed. Navigating his way through the familiar space, he quickly came upon a corner that held all the farming tools he had grown intimately familiar with.


    Eyes now growing used to the darkness, he searched through the tools, before finding a sickle. Pressing his thumb against its blade, he drew a drop of blood, judging it decently sharp. Finding another corner, he hid himself behind some sacks of rice, the sickle gripped tight.


    Yu Feng silently prayed to every God, Immortal and ancestor he knew of, hoping nobody would come to the barn. His heart beat too large inside his chest, the fear producing phantom pain in his ribs. He was glad that none of his family were at the village, having gone to visit his Mother''s family in the nearest town. He could at least be assured of their safety.


    As he was worrying about his family''s well-being, a loud thud knocked him out of his thoughts. His heart jumped into his throat with another bang, as the barn doors strained against its latch. He turned his sickle in his hand, the sweat making the handle slick, when with a final bang the latch broke, and the doors opened inward.


    Yu Feng shivered as a gust of air rushed inside, making the robe of the figure in the doorway billow. It was rapidly turning dark, but he could make out that the person was part of the group that had attacked the market.


    "Come out little rat, wherever you are," a man''s voice called out from the robes, making Yu Feng jump slightly in place. It was harsh and full of vicious glee, mocking his predicament.


    Well, this is how I die I suppose, Yu Feng thought morbidly as the man stalked closer and closer to his position. The man inched ever closer, when he suddenly stopped, and gave the air a loud sniff. His shadowed face transformed into a victorious smile as he called out to his hiding prey.


    "I can smell the blood on you, little rat~" he said in a sing-song voice, making Yu Feng''s blood grow cold. He involuntarily glanced down at his thumb, where a drop of blood still lingered on the small nick he had made with the sickle.


    His heart grew heavy, and he cursed his misfortune, when the sounds of the man''s footsteps started travelling away from him. He peeked out from his hiding spot to see the robes travelling to the opposite side of the room. It was a bluff, was all Yu Feng could think in relief.


    Knowing he would not have a better chance than this, Yu Feng slowly crept out of his hiding place, stalking his attacker''s back, his feet silent on the dusty floor. Quiet as an assassin, he lifted his sickle and swung downward at his back, trying to take him by surprise.


    The next second, he could feel the hard floor beneath his back, and a burning, burning pain in his gut. Fighting to open his eyes through the pain, Yu Feng saw the man in black robes standing over his body with a manic look on his face. He could see the sword that was now stuck in his stomach, stopping the blood from flowing too fast.


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    "Ohh you rat, did you really think I was bluffing?" he said in a patronizing tone. "I''m a disciple of the Eternal Willow Sect. A puny mortal like you was never going to catch me by surprise. It''s just always so much more fun to play with your prey before you catch them, you know?"


    He leaned down close to Yu Feng''s face, his breath unnaturally hot on his cold skin. "And you, my little rat, were such good prey. Why, if not for me smelling where you were, you might even have got me!"


    Yu Feng''s eyes grew wide at the man''s words. Of course, he was an Immortal. He never had a chance against him.


    The man was of middling age, probably in his thirties, but the mad look in his eyes was one Yu Fe had never seen on anyone, of any age. It was an unnatural madness, and as he stared into the man''s eyes, Yu Feng was certain that he could expect no mercy.


    His hands were splayed onto his either side, but his right still held the sickle loosely. And so, with the last dregs of his energy, he swung it right into the neck of the Immortal on top his body.


    The man''s eyes went wide as he felt the sickle digging into his neck, Yu Feng''s hand slipping off the handle, devoid of any strength. He stood up over Yu Feng with shaky legs, blood spurting in small bursts through the wound, as he raised a disbelieving hand to it. He opened his mouth slightly, but blood started bubbling out along with his air. Quickly shutting his mouth, he shakily fumbled for a pouch at his belt. His movements were growing more panicked now, as he desperately searched for something in the pouch. His mad eyes shone with relief as he pulled out a small round ball the size of his thumb. But his hands, slippery with his blood, lost grasp of the ball, were it went tumbling down onto the floor near Yu Feng''s head.


    Yu Feng, watched all this occur out of the corner of his now fading vision. He saw the ball roll centimeters from his eyes, and could hear the Immortal''s panicky movements towards him. And with nothing but a final act of defiance in mind, he snapped his head up, taking the ball covered with blood and dust into his mouth, and crushed it between his teeth.


    He could hear the Immortal give out a small groan of despair, and fall down at his feet. Yu Feng''s body was growing colder and colder, with the only source of warmth being the blazing heat that was his stomach wound. It was in such a way that Yu Feng closed his eyes to the soft light of the moon shining onto his white, bloodless face.


    <hr>


    "Huh, now that''s an interesting sight!"


    Yu Feng knew he was dead. It was slightly heartening to know that the old stories about souls existing were true. He was able to think and form thoughts, so perhaps he was in the afterlife. Then why did it feel like he had been kicked by a horse, then dragged around on the hard ground for miles?


    He blearily opened his slightly crusted eyes, blinking slightly as the moonlight hit them. The dark ceiling of his barn greeted him, and it was then he realised he must still be alive. It was a miracle. His entire body was heavy as lead, and there was still a dull, throbbing pain near his abdomen.


    "Hey, you. You''re finally awake."


    Yu Feng twisted his neck so fast that he popped a few joints. His eyes found feet right in them, covered in leather sandals. Travelling upward, he saw a blue skirt, embroidered with gold patterns, over a white top which was covered by deep, rich blue vest. And on top of this ensemble was a man whose face immediately filled Yu Feng with a deep sense of calm. Perhaps it was his eyes, a tranquil, bluish green that reminded him of the pond nearby on a spring day. Or maybe it was the soft and curious smile that was on his lips, gazing at Yu Feng as though he were something very interesting.


    Yu Feng opened is mouth, but accidently inhaled a bit of dust and started coughing violently. The suddenness of the dust attack gave him a jolt of energy, through which he managed to sit up, ignoring the pain in his stomach. As the coughing subsided, he groaned out weakly, "W-who are you?"


    The well-dressed man gave him a short bow. "The name''s Li Qian, disciple of the Thundering Crane Sect, and one of the Regional Sub-Managers of the outer province."


    Yu Feng''s eyes widened slightly. Thundering Crane Sect was the Great Sect they traded spirit rice with. One of their disciples being here means the Immortals from their sect must have arrived, and that the guy in front of him was an Immortal too.


    Yu Feng was nervous about meeting one, but it was overshadowed by the now growing anger in him, so much so that some slipped into his voice, "You are late."


    His eyes immediately widened, realising his mistake. Oh great. Escaped death from one Immortal, just to get myself killed by another. All because I can''t keep my stupid mouth shut, he panicked. His mouth started to form an apology, but before he could do so, the Immortal bowed again, lower than before.


    "On behalf of the Thundering Crane Sect, I apologize for all the misery and loss of life you have gone through. It was due to our negligence that this event occurred, so rest assured that our Sect will take full responsibility and compensate you for the losses incurred."


    Yu Feng''s brain came to a sudden stop. He could not believe his ears. An Immortal was apologizing to him. Him, the son of a lowly, mortal farmer. Something must be wrong with the world. He had always heard from his father and other village people, that the Immortals who came to trade for the rice were haughty and arrogant, and that the villagers always had to tip-toe around them. And here was an obviously important Immortal -if his title was anything to go by- bowing before him and saying sorry.


    Yu Feng quickly put up his hands in a placating gesture and said, "No, no. I don''t deserve this. I''m completely fine see. Only suffered a little..."


    As he was going to point at his gut, where her knew the sword wound was, he could only see ripped cloth, and a completely fine stomach, albeit a bit pink in the skin. His eyes must be playing tricks, because he was pretty sure there was supposed to be blood pouring out of the wound. Amazed at this miracle, he wondered aloud. "How?"


    "That would be because of this," the disciple said, drawing Yu Feng''s attention back to him. He reached into a pouch on his belt, and drew out a small ball the size of a marble. The smell of herbs immediately wafted into Yu Feng''s nose, and he breathed in deeply, feeling slightly invigorated. "This here is a High Grade Healing Pill," he continued. "If I''m not wrong, you ate a lower quality version of this pill, which helped mend whatever injuries you may have had. Good thing too. If you had eaten what I have in my hand, you would have burst into red paste."


    Yu Feng gulped loudly. He had been lucky. Very lucky. All that had been going through his mind when he ate the pill near his mouth was not giving his enemy an escape, and had no thoughts about his own life. Luckily, he survived. Still on the floor, he got up slowly, and gave the Immortal a small bow. "Thank you for the explanation, Honored One."


    The Immortal waved a hand calmly. "No need for that. It is our fault you were in this situation in the first place. You did very well in surviving, and killing another cultivator, weak as he was." Yu Feng''s face flushed at the praise. The Immortal looked outside the barn, and upon seeing the night sky said, "Well, time to be leaving."


    He turned and started walking to the barn door, Yu Feng watching his back. At the door though, he turned around and asked Yu Feng, "Aren''t you going to come? We are wasting moonlight."


    Yu Feng looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "Umm, Honored One, I am... unsure about why I am to accompany you?"


    Only the slightest look of confusion crossed Li Qian''s still face, before he gave Yu Feng a new destiny. "Well, you are a cultivator too, aren''t you? And probably without a master too. I''ll bring you to the Thundering Crane Sect to learn how to be a proper cultivator."

 Chapter 2 - I Will Be Back

    "Huh?" was Yu Feng''s intelligent response.


    Taking a few seconds, his mind finally caught up to Li Qian''s words, and his face went through a range of emotions, going from confusion to amazement to finally settling on shock. Still not believing his hearing, he managed to ask, "W-wait a minute! Are you saying that I am an Immortal? Like you, and like h-him over there?" He gestured to the Eternal Willow Sect''s disciple he had killed.


    "Cultivator, not Immortal," Li Qian corrected. "That is a rumor among the mortals that is not entirely... untrue, but there is a lot more to it than you can imagine right now. But you will hopefully learn in time. As for being like me, I certainly hope you can be. I believe humbleness is a virtue, but I would be being falsely modest if I didn''t say I was one of the better cultivators out there. And if you ever become anything like him over there," he glances at the slain man with a hint of apathy, "I will personally kill you myself."


    Yu Feng swallowed visibly. The man before him seemed pretty calm and nice, but he was reminded that it wouldn''t take more than a flick of Li Qian''s finger to end his life. Hoping that curiosity would not kill the cat, he gave voice to his doubts. "But how can I be a-a cultivator like you say? I''m just the son of a farmer."


    Li Qian tapped his foot against the ground, and glanced outside again. Giving almost an imperceptible sigh, he said, "Tell you what, why don''t we walk back to the village? I''ll try to answer your questions along the way."


    Thinking for a second, Yu Feng nodded his agreement. Li Qian did not seem like a bad guy, and if he had wanted to kill Yu Feng, he already would have. So Yu Feng thought it was safe enough to accompany him.


    Seeing him nod, Li Qian moved towards the body that was lying on the barn floor. He walked with a sort of fluidity, yet stillness that sent a shiver up Yu Feng''s spine. It seemed as if he was there and not at the same time. Rifling through the body, Li Qian produced a bag from within its robes.


    Glancing inside, he nodded in satisfaction before tossing it to Yu Feng. "That''s a thank you and a reward for killing him. I would hold on to it until we enter the sect. You will understand their benefit then." He then proceeded to take the dead man''s sword and cut off his head, which disappeared into nothingness along with the sword.


    Yu Feng eyes grew wide as saucers at the display of magic. Opening the pouch, he saw what looked like twenty white stones the size of his thumb, all glowing slightly. Closing the pouch, he secured it tightly to his belt, and also picked in his sickle that was lying on the floor. Grimacing at the blood that covered it, he wiped it in the dead man''s robes, and slipped that too into his belt.


    Li Qian was by now waiting at the door, the moonlight reflecting slightly off the gold embroidery on his clothes. Seeing that Yu Feng was done, he walked out of the barn, Yu Feng hurrying slightly to catch up to him.


    Now that they were in the night clearly, Yu Feng could make out more of this man''s features. Li Qian was handsome, there was no doubt about that. He certainly would not leave any lady wanting. But there was also a sense of... distance in his face that Yu Feng could see. His hair was jet black and hung to his shoulders, but was tied up in a small bun at the top, with a single jade needle running through. He looked like a noble.


    While Yu Feng was scrutinizing him, Li Qian started, "You wanted to know how you could be a cultivator, correct?" Yu Feng nodded, breaking himself out of his reverie and paying rapt attention.


    Seeing that he was listening, Li Qian continued, "Us cultivators possess a sort of energy that only we are able to absorb. We call it Qi. It is what separates us from the mortals, and what allows to be what you term as ''Immortal'', though that is incorrect in reality. We just live a lot longer than mortals, so much that we might as well be ''immortal''. It also allows us to be stronger than what is possible."


    Yu Feng was fascinated. He had always thought that Immortals were these untouchable beings that should never be crossed, and hearing about what makes them different actually pulled away some of the mystique. He interrupted Li Qian excitedly, asking, "So you''re saying that I too possess this... Qi inside me?"


    Li Qian curved his lips slightly. "Yes you do. Or at least have the ability to absorb it. What''s more interesting is the fact that it seems that you already have quite a lot inside you. Why you haven''t exploded into smithereens intrigues me, but I''m sure the Elders at the sect can give us some answers."


    Each revelation about this world of cultivators made Yu Feng''s heart thump with fear. It seemed like everything was surrounded by death. Hearing about the sect though, Yu Feng''s heart grew a little unsure. "What about my family?" he asked Li Qian. "I can''t just leave without telling them. They would think I died in the attack. And what about the villagers? There was more than one attacker!"


    "You can leave a letter to them," was Li Qian''s reply. "It is urgent that we get back to the sect as quickly as possible, and your village is so far away that you would not survive the road if you tried to make it on foot. Its better to leave with us now, and you can come back when you are a little stronger. As for the villagers, I did not come alone. Juniors from the sect accompanied me, and should be done cleaning up everything by now."


    Sighing in relief at the safety of the villagers, Yu Feng considered his offer. While he did not want to leave his family, he would be a fool not to recognize the opportunity that he was being provided. Being an Immortal had all that he had thought about when he was a child, and while that dream had been snuffed into his teenage years, it had popped right back up again. Making up his mind Yu Feng agreed to Li Qian''s words. "I understand. I''ll need some materials to write with though."


    Li Qian nodded. With a wave of his hand, a small book and a quill appeared into existence. Yu Feng, having seen this ability before, thought of all the magics he could learn once he joined the sect. His decision was seeming more and more worth it with every odd thing Li Qian did.


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    He had walked this path up to town enough times in his life that he did not have to pay attention to where he was stepping. Taking a moment to admire the self-inking quill, he gathered his thoughts before starting to write on a blank page in the book.


    Dear Father, Mother and Chen-er,


    I know this is sudden and completely unexpected. Immortals above, it was the same for me. But I have been given an opportunity to pursue a path that I never thought would be available to me. I''m sure you would have heard from the villagers about the attack by now. I do not know if they realized, but the ones who attacked the village were Immortals, or cultivators as they call themselves. One of them came after me, and while I almost died, I managed to take his life in the process! I know you must be in disbelief right now, but I swear my words are true. I survived, and was found by another cultivator. But Li Qian is part of the Thundering Crane Sect, the Great Sect that governs us. And he told me that I have the talent to become a cultivator! I can imagine the expression on your faces, because I too had it.


    But Li Qian told me that to be a cultivator, I must go to the sect and learn their ways there. And that means that I have to leave home. I know that it is unfilial of me to not wait for your return, but this is a chance that may never come by me again. I hope that you understand my intentions, and do not blame me too much. And Chen-er, do not cry, all right? I will visit once I''m strong enough to make the journey back on my own, I promise you. It may take time, but I swear I will be back. Just wait for my return.


    Your unfilial son,


    Yu Feng


    By the time Yu Feng was done writing, tears were prickling the corners of his eyes. It hurt to say goodbye, even more when they were not her. But he knew it must be done. Looking up from the book, he noticed that they had finally arrived back at the village proper. There was an eerie silence hanging over the place, as if it was haunted by some ghosts. Which may very well be true, Yu Feng shuddered, thinking of the deaths that had occurred today.


    Within a minute, him and Li Qian had reached the market. They were preceded by a trail of destruction and bodies, all lying in various states of dismemberment. Yu Feng''s retched slightly in his mouth as he say the head of the butcher sitting in the dirt, its eyes lifelessly staring into the night sky. He thought of his daughter, who used to run around the town with her little gaggle of misfits, chasing dogs and causing mayhem. A wave of sadness passed over him.


    In front of them, they could hear a small commotion. It sounded like arguing, whose source soon became clear. In the market''s center stood a group of people, dressed similarly to Li Qian but not completely. They did not wear the intricate vest that was part of Li Qian''s attire, instead opting to just wear the white undershirt, along with the long flowy skirt. From what he could make out, it looked like there were five of them, three men and two women. The two women and one of the men seemed to be arguing.


    "We have to go look for Senior Brother. What if he was injured?" one of the women was saying in what looked like close to hysteria.


    The second woman backed her up. "Yeah, its been too long. It should not take this much time to care of some Qi Condensation weaklings."


    The man sighed, running a hand down his face, "And that''s why I''m saying we should stay here and prepare our defenses. If there was someone out there strong enough to hold up Senior Brother, we would have to give everything just to survive."


    At this point, one of the other men who were standing back watching this argument unfold spotted Yu Feng and Li Qian coming into the market. With a soft whistle, he grabbed the attention of the others, and jerked his head over to them.


    The women''s eyes grew wide, and so fast that Yu Feng missed it, they rushed over to Li Qian, with simultaneous cries of, "Senior Brother, you''re safe."


    "I mean, why would you not be. There''s no one stronger than you here."


    "Yeah, we didn''t mean to cast doubt on your abilities. You just took too long, and we were concerned for your safety is all. Please forgive us."


    The man who was arguing with them, just looked up into the night sky, as if asking the heavens what he had done to be in this situation, while Li Qian watched with the same still face. Suddenly, as if just noticing his presence, the women''s sights fell on Yu Feng.


    "And who is this puny mortal?"


    Putting a hand on Yu Feng''s shoulder, Li Qian gave them a hard stare. "This here, is Yu Feng. He''s going to be your Junior Brother from today. He managed to kill one of the Eternal Willow disciples on his own and also has the potential to cultivate, so he deserves a chance to be taught by the Sect."


    The demeanor of the two women shifted instantly. The suspicious frown were replaced by sweet smiles so fast Yu Feng got whiplash. "So you''re a new Junior Brother? Its nice to see new blood coming into the Sect. "


    Yu Feng just nodded dumbly, not daring to speak around these Immor-cultivators that were definitely more powerful than him. The men in the back looked over at him appraisingly, then nodded in satisfaction, as if he had just passed a test. Yu Feng suddenly very conscious of his body. While he was of average height, his toned body cultivated by working endlessly in the fields looked to be bursting with power. Quite unlike these... Senior Brothers? who were thinner, and had skin fairer than anyone he had seen in the village have. The same could be said for the Senior Sisters. They were almost too fair, but had an ethereal beauty about them that made their jet black hair fall in glossy waves. Yu Feng felt incredibly out of place with these individuals.


    Glancing at Yu Feng, Li Qian stated, "We shall be leaving now. You can give your letter to Junior Brother Tian here, who shall be staying back taking care of some logistical issues." The Senior Brother who had been arguing with the Senior Sisters winced slightly, but stepped forward and gave him a small smile, hand outstretched. Placing the last word his family would have of him in this unknown mans hands, Yu Feng was left with a sudden feeling of emptiness in his gut.


    Perhaps sensing Yu Feng''s emotions, Li Qian gestured at the others, and the quickly gathered together. With another wave of his hand, a large, elaborate carriage materialized in front of them.


    Yu Feng''s eyes almost popped out of his sockets with how wide they went. This was the most blatant display of the magics the cultivators wielded till now. The carriage was larger and more beautifully constructed than anything he had ever seen before. Almost the size of a small house, it was made with sparkling wood that swirled in intricate patters all over the framework, and the decoration on the outside made it seem like something a king would ride in. The strangest part about it was that there was no place to rig the horses.


    As he was staring at the carriage in disbelief, the other Senior Brothers and Sisters all climbed into it one by one, until only Li Qian was left standing at the door.


    "Aren''t you going to come in?"


    Shaking of his wonder, he slowly climbed inside the carriage, where rich upholstery greeted him. He sat down in one of the various free seats near one of the windows, as Li Qian climbed in and shut the door behind him.


    Li Qian then made a weird sign with his hands, and the whole carriage started shaking, as if it had suddenly come to life. Yu Feng through the window watched in amazement as the carriage slowly lifted off the ground, floating higher and higher above Outer Reed Village. He was able to cast one last glance at his home, before there was a small jerk and the landscape beneath them started tearing past at incredible speeds, those inside the carriage not feeling an inch of it. As he watched the valleys and rivers stream past, Yu Feng thought of just how long it would be before he was able to return.

 Chapter 3 - Power and Portents

    Fields gave way to mountains and hills, hiding valleys glimmering with moonlit lakes and small, snaking rivers. Off in the distance, an expansive forest spread from the base of the tallest mountains Yu Feng had ever seen, their peaks hidden in the clouds. He watched all this go past in fascination, taking in the first view of the world outside Outer Reed Village.


    "Hrm-hrmm," someone cleared their throat inside the carriage, drawing Yu Feng''s attention back to its inhabitants. Li Qian was sitting in the seat farthest from him, while the other Senior Brothers and Sisters were staring at him like he was a very interesting specimen.


    As he tried to figure out what to say, Li Qian began, "Now that we are safe and can talk freely, it is important you understand as much as you can about your situation. Tell me, what do you know about the Thundering Crane Sect?"


    Yu Feng thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Not much," he admitted. "The maximum I know is that they govern the region, and that we pay tribute to them in exchange for protection."


    Nodding his head, Li Qian said, "I expected as much. That makes my task much easier, but much harder for you. But first, introductions are in order. These two here, are Wang Ya and Yu Lei." He gestured at the two women. "And the silent ones are Zhao Bao and Zhao Shun. They are brothers."


    The now named individuals all nodded at him as they were introduced. It was disconcerting how unbothered they all seemed, when he had heard stories from the villagers of how high and mighty Immo-cultivators were. As if sensing his thoughts, Li Qian offered an explanation.


    "Mortals are just that, Yu Feng. Mortal. They are innumerable, always there, and thus expendable. It is nothing but a fact of the world that we live in. Us cultivators on the other hand are one in a million, rarer than finding a needle in a haystack. That is why most of the cultivation world looks down upon those that fill the masses."


    A bitter taste filled Yu Feng''s mouth as he listened to Li Qian''s words. He was not so young to be unable to understand the disparities that existed in life, but to be so blatantly shown its workings did not feel right to him. He still remembered the day when his father had been slapped by one of the bigger merchants in Inner Reed City, and had said nothing. This was similar, but different, as there was no way the mortals could ever voice their dissent.


    Li Qian sighed. "It is deplorable, yes. The mortals are the backbone of our world, yet cultivators look down upon them. But that is where the Thundering Crane Sect differs from the majority of our brethren. We are primarily a military sect, and that has led us to being one of the strongest powers on this Tianlan Continent. In exchange for resources from other places, we provide them with security from external threats, which means we also protect the mortal population of the place. We realize that our existence depends on each other, and we try to protect this relationship as far as possible."


    Yu Feng was quiet for a moment. "Does that mean you were the ones in charge of the protection of Outer Reed Village?" he asked the group at large, accusation evident in his voice.


    Li Qian was still, but Wang Ya and Yu Lei flinched slightly, struck by his words. The brothers were silent as before, but Yu Feng could see a trace of sorrow enter their eyes. When no one offered an apology, he continued in anger, "Because you were late, almost the entire village lost their lives. The Village Head was cut down right in front of us. Now what will happen to his family, huh? What will his son do, if he even survived?"


    Wang Ya''s face twisted with sadness, but she replied in an equally sharp tone. "Well, it wasn''t our fault we were late, all right? It was that stupid Tian Tan who had messed up the ledgers, which caused Senior Brother Li to crack down on us." She was gripping her dress tightly, crumpling the blue fabric of the skirt. "And don''t forget, you are not a disciple of the Sect yet. You are essentially still a mortal, and will address us with the respect we deserve."


    "Wang Ya."


    Her mouth shut immediately, as if clamped down by a pair of tongs. Breathing suddenly became difficult as the air inside the carriage seemed to grow solid. It felt as if Yu Feng''s entire body was weighed down by a mountain. Turning his head with difficulty, Yu Feng saw the first real sign of emotion on Li Qian''s face since he had met him. His lips were drawn thin as he fixed Wang Ya with a smoldering stare, and the stillness in his eyes was now a churning ocean.


    "It is the second time today that you''ve committed an offence. Your first was when you called Yu Feng a ''puny'' mortal. You''ve been part of the Sect for a year now, yet you forget our mission. Mortals are human, like we are, and we depend on them for tasks we would otherwise not do. And still you seem to harbor this feeling of superiority. I may have excused if it was just that, but it has been a day of repeated transgressions by all of you."


    Wang Ya''s face was stricken with terror as she stared into the ground, not daring to meet Li Qian''s eyes. The other three disciples seemed to be struggling against the heaviness too, their clothes damp with exertion.


    "Your second mistake was throwing your Sect Brother to the wolves instead of apologizing for your actions. You share equal responsibility in what happens around your posting, no matter who''s mistake it was. That is our ethos as part of the Thundering Crane Sect. You may come from a country that treats their mortals like less than animals, but that will not be tolerated as long as you are under my command. Rest assured, word of this will be reaching Elder Lin."


    As suddenly as it had appeared, the pressure in the air vanished. Yu Feng took in a huge breath of air, his body still trembling as he looked at Li Qian with fear. This. This was the power that cultivators were renowned and feared for, what put them above mortals. While Li Qian did preach about their symbiotic relationship, Yu Feng had no false ideas about how easily he could be discarded and killed. He was just a single mortal among many, after all.


    Wang Ya and the others too sank back into the upholstery shakily. Looks like the experience had affected them a lot more than him. Li Qian was sighing heavily, rubbing his forehead between his fingers.


    Turning to Yu Feng, he said in a assuring voice, "I have already apologized to you, but I do so again for our tardiness that cost many their lives. Rest assured, these four and Tian Tan will be receiving their appropriate punishment when we return to the sect."


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    Yu Feng managed to nod somehow, missing the glare Wang Ya shot at him with lowered eyes.


    "Continuing off from where we diverged," Li Qian started explaining, "As I said, we are one of, if not the strongest Sect on this continent. We house countless cultivators, acting both as an academy and as our base of operations. As a new recruit, you will not be expected to do anything but cultivate for a while, until you are deemed strong enough to actually do something of value. Everything else about how the sect works will be explained after you join, as it is too much to get into now."


    Yu Feng digested the information given to him slowly. He largely understood what was said, but he still had a doubt.


    "But what exactly is cultivation?"


    "''What exactly is cultivation, Senior Brother''," Li Qian corrected. "You must address your superiors in the sect with proper respect. These four do not count, as they are still the lowest level of disciple and military rank, so you are equal to them until you prove yourself better. As for cultivation..." he trailed off, deep in thought.


    "I explained to you what Qi is, correct?" he started. Yu Feng nodded in agreement eagerly. "The process of taking in this Qi is called cultivation, and those who can do this are called cultivators. There are different stages that a cultivator has to progress through as they take in and refine Qi, each being stronger than the last. The first is Qi Condensation, and that is what the majority of the cultivators in the world are at. Following that is Foundation Establishment, and after that comes... Well, you need not worry about the third stage for now."


    "Each stage offers different benefits, mainly an increase in lifespan. That is the perhaps the reason we are called ''Immortals'' in the mortal world. Some old monsters have been known to live for more than a millennia."


    Yu Feng''s eyes grew wide at that number.


    "I do not want to give away too much right now, as you would be better off learning from the instructors at the sect," Li Qian continued. "But," he said, and his gaze grew serious now, "the sect is competitive. So much so that it is impossible for those who do not put in the effort to survive. And so I want you to give it your all, understand?"


    "I understand," Yu Feng said, gulping loudly. All this sounded too crazy to be true. Cultivators, Sects, military, all this was something he had never encountered before, and trying to wrap his head around it all was giving him a headache.


    Sensing his turmoil, Li Qian said in a soft voice, "Get some rest for now. It will be a few hours before we arrive at the Sect, and you will need your energy for all that will come next." Saying his piece, he walked over to one of the rooms on the other end of the carriage, and closed the door behind him. The other disciples too followed him into their own spaces, Wang Ya eerily silent.


    Left alone in the main carriage, Yu Feng turned his gaze outside the window once again, watching as the distant landscape changed shaped as they swept along to wherever they were going.


    <hr>


    In the market square of Outer Reed Village, three figures stood talking with another well-dressed person. The well dressed man seemed to be conveying something, speaking in a loud tone while the three figures bowed slightly towards him. Reaching into his pocket, the man drew out a piece of paper.


    The woman in the group reached for it with trembling hands, opening it. After a minute, she started sobbing loudly, shoving the paper into the chest of the father, while she knelt down to hug the girl. The daughter was confused about everything. "Oh Feng! Why did you have to leave? Why did you have to go to this cutthroat world, where you may not survive? What did we never not give you, to make you happy?"


    The man perused the letter, and too emerged with moist eyes, crushing the letter in his palm. Wordlessly, he too knelt down to hug what was left of his family. The girl asked him in a soft voice, "Pa, where is big brother? Why did he not come to greet us?"


    The woman started crying even harder, and the man murmured into his daughter''s ears, "He is gone Chen-er. He is never coming back again." This made the girl start bawling too, and now the entire family was huddled in the market, crying in grief.


    The well-dressed man looked at all this happen with nary an expression on his face. Suddenly, as if drawn by some unknown presence, he sharply turned his head towards the rooftops of the houses that enclosed the market.


    There, on top of one of the houses, stood a figure. They were silhouetted by the shining moon behind them, but their black robes were unmistakable to the observer, as they billowed in wind that was not present. Growing weary, the man in the square drew a sword out of the scabbard that was fixed to his blue skirt, its edge glinting with sharpness in the moonlight.


    Before he could even speak a word though, within a blink, as if he had teleported, the person in black robes was behind him. Their face was still hidden in shadow, but they now had a blade pressed against the other cultivator''s neck. And with a languid stroke, the well-dressed man''s head was separated from his body.


    The family on the ground quivered in fear at this display. The person in black robes walked over unhurriedly, as they seemed unable to move. he moved closer and closer, before the father jolted, as if struck by lightning. He rushed at the attacker with a cry, raising his hand in a punch. But before his fist could reach the man''s face, it fell to the ground. He too dropped to his knees, clutching his bloody stump, not noticing when his head was cut off.


    The mother screamed. Pushing the child away from the figure, she cried, "Chen-er. Run as far as you can. Find help, keep yourself safe. I''ll hold him off."


    The girl ran, stumbling on the stones in the ground, while her mother too was beheaded behind her. She ran, and ran, and ran, but the market entrance still seemed too far away, while the figure grew closer to her with each step.


    Finally, the person reached her, and swung their sword from behind, holding her head up by its hair while her body collapsed. They clutched it in one hand, and turned around so that the light of the moon finally hit his face.


    There, Yu Feng saw the face of the cultivator he had killed, staring with lifeless eyes, blood absent from the dead expression.


    He woke up with a start, heart hammering wildly, drool caked in his mouth where it was smushed against the glass of the window.


    The dead faces of his family swam through his mind, always replaced randomly with the face of the dead cultivator. It stared into his soul, as did his family''s, blaming him for their deaths. His heart pounded in his ribcage, and the air was growing hotter and hotter. He clutched at his chest, as the air he was breathing grew thin, his vision swimming.


    He fell to his knees, his body trembling as the images refused to leave his mind. The world was just his thoughts, with nothing else intruding. He could feel the dead cultivator behind him, swinging his blade, and he knew he was going to die. And so he closed his eyes, accepting his end.


    Instead, he felt a warm hand fall on his shoulder. "Calm down Yu Feng. Take a deep breath. Just like that. Keep breathing and focus on my hand."


    Yu Feng followed the instructions, feeling his heart slow, the breaths coming easier with each inhale. Turning his head, he saw Li Qian standing above him with a look of understanding on his face, mixed in with pity. "That man was your first kill, wasn''t he?"


    Yu Feng dipped his head, ashamed at his weakness. All of the days events were finally catching up with him now. He had killed a man, and left for a new life without even saying goodbye to his family. What if something like his dream actually happened? Who would protect them? What is someone as strong as Li Qian attacked, because he had killed that disciple?


    His breathing started to grow erratic again, when he was brought back to reality with a sharp pain on his shoulder. He could feel Li Qian digging with his palm, the pain focusing his thoughts onto his body. He was damp with sweat, and his lips were completely dry.


    "You will get used to it," Li Qian said in a soft voice. "You will have to, or you will not survive past your first year in the sect. It is hard, yes, but you must do it."


    Yu Feng stayed silent. Sighing slightly, Li Qian said, "Freshen yourself up. We will be there within the hour, and you want to be presentable." With that, he left Yu Feng in the main room, his head swirling with worry, and the faces of his dead family.

 Chapter 4 - Those Too Weak

    The first rays of sunlight were peeking in through the windows of the carriage, and the disciples were starting to come out of their rooms. The Zhao brothers gave him a nod each, and Yu Lei managed a small smile. Wang Ya ignored him completely.


    Li Qian was the last to join them, looking completely fresh. Yu Feng envied him his careless grace, and the perfect face he had, even though he must have just woken up. Seeing them all waiting for him, Li Qian addressed them.


    "We will be there in a few minutes. You four," he turned to the elder disciples, "will go and meet Elder Lin as soon as we land to collect your punishment." Producing a small scroll into his hands - Yu Feng would never get tired of seeing that trick - he handed it to Yu lei. "This contains my report on whatever happened, and evaluations. If something happens to it, you will be facing even worse consequences."


    Nodding, she reached for the scroll with both hands. "I understand Senior Brother."


    "As for you, Yu Feng." Li Qian looked at the new recruit, "You will follow me as we get you registered and situated. There are things you must understand, and stuff you need to acquire."


    Yu Feng bowed slightly. "I understand, Senior Brother."


    Their gathering was interrupted by a large shriek outside their carriage, making Yu Feng clap his hands on his ears. Looking outside the window, he saw what looked like a crane flying along with their carriage. But it was unlike any crane that he had heard of before. For one, it was bigger than any bird had a right to be. It was almost half the size of the carriage. Its plumage was also tinged with streaks of purple, its legs a deep violet. But the thing that made it so fantastical was the ripples of lightning that jumped over its body, its wings leaving a tail of purple static as it easily kept pace with their carriage.


    It regarded them with oddly intelligent eyes for a few more seconds, before rising up out of sight with a flap of its impressive wingspan. Yu Feng rushed to the window, but it had disappeared from view.


    "That was a thundering crane. A fledgling if I''m not wrong," Li Qian called out from behind him. "It is rumored that many millennia ago, the Thundering Crane Immortal had one as her bonded companion. That was where she got her title. The mountains around our sect are their nesting ground ever since the Immortal and her companion settled down here."


    Yu Feng was fascinated by the crane. Li Qian said it was still a fledgling, but it was easily able to keep pace with the carriage. He wondered how much bigger and faster the adults would be.


    "Time to slow down a little," Li Qian said, making a sign with his right hand. The boat lurched a forward, before slowing visibly, so that the clouds were not just white blurs anymore. "Yu Feng, look out the window in a few moments. The first time is always the best, I''m told."


    The other cultivators, even Wang Ya, gave a small smile, as if remembering a fond memory. Yu Feng turned to look out of the window again, trying to peer through the misty clouds.


    At first, he could not see anything through the obfuscation. Then the cloud''s parted, the sun''s rays shining through them, and Yu Feng forgot to breath.


    *Transcendental.* That was the only word he could think of to describe the view below him. Nestled between a huge mountain range, was a lush, green valley. He could see large lakes shimmering in the sunlight, with tiny dots taking on and of from the surface of the water. Rivers flowed from the mountains whose peaks were hazy and blurry to his eyes. A huge waterfall foamed into one giant lake, which then split of into snaking canals throughout the expansive greenery. In this jungle were clearings, where he could see human structures, small blips moving about them. To top it all off, there was a giant pagoda in the middle of the valley, half as tall as the smallest mountain.


    Yu Feng took it all in, his eyes darting to and fro. The carriage slowly started descending from the sky, and the details grew clearer and clearer. They were approaching a sort of port, where different, larger vehicles were parked. He saw a boat, something that looked like a giant needle, and a ship many times larger than the carriage they were in.


    As they grew closer, he could people bustling about, clearing a space in the port where they could land. Li Qian expertly steered the carriage into the spot, and they landed on the ground with barely a jerk. Yu Feng had a sudden urge to start clapping but he shot it down, as he saw the rest of his companions grow serious.


    The door to the carriage opened, and a few steps descended from a hidden compartment. Wang Ya, Yu Lei and the brothers fretted over their robes, while Li Qian made another sign with his hand, and the carriage powered down. With that, Li Qian started to exit the carriage, motioning for the Yu Feng to follow him. The rest of the group followed behind him.


    The first thing that hit Yu Feng was the noise. It was a lot quieter up in the sky, he realized, with only the slight hum of the carriage being a constant. Here, it was like an explosion of various sounds and voices and just the general hubbub that accompanies a busy place. He could hear people calling out to each other, going about carrying large boxes and parcels from one place to another.


    A young man, wearing robes similar to Wang Ya and the rest, came up running to them, his head buried in a notepad.


    "Okay, soo, you are not scheduled for arrival today. Please state your name and pur..pose..." his voice trailed of as he caught sight of who was leading their pack, his eyes widening.


    "Senior Brother Li. I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to h-hold you up. Of-Of course you can arrive unregistered. Let me just note down your name and-" he started rambling, flipping pages on his pad rapidly.


    "It''s alright Junior Brother," Li Qian help up a hand. "My companions and I have somewhere to be, so I would appreciate it if you could put the carriage in my spot."


    The other disciple bobbed his head like a chicken. "Of course, Senior Brother. Whatever you say." He rushed off, giving a deep bow to Li Qian, shouting orders at workers dressed in rough garb.


    Li Qian turned to the group. "You four know where you need to go. I''ll expect a full summary and report by tonight." The four disciples nodded, and walked off into the crowd as one, Wang Ya shooting Yu Feng one last look through the curtain of heads. "As for you," Li Qian looked at Yu Feng, "Follow me. We have some ways to walk."


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    Yu Feng nodded, and stepped in behind Li Qian as they started to make their way through the crowd. It was a bit of a struggle to move, but there was an odd pulse of ''something'', originating from Li Qian as the center, and everyone in a small radius stopped what they were doing and turned to stare the the two.


    "Is that" - "Senior Brother Li Qian is here~" - "Who is that behind him?" - "feels like a mortal." - "...illegitimate child?" - "I''LL MURDER WHOEVER STOLE SENIOR BROTHER LI."


    Li Qian was unbothered by them and continued moving forward, the crowd parting like a curtain in front of him. But Yu Feng could not help shy away from the stares, bowing his head so that his face was hidden. None of the crowd gave them problems, but he could feel a slimy coating crawling all over his skin, and he did not like it at all.


    They quickly exited the port, leaving the noise behind them, and stepped onto a forest path. Yu Feng wanted to ask so many things, but he was unsure whether it would be rude to speak or not, seeing how the crowd reacted to Li Qian. Glancing over his shoulder, Li Qian noticed his conflicted face, and gave an imperceptible sigh. "Ask your questions, if you must. We are alone here."


    Yu Feng started, not realising he was being so obvious. Hesitantly, he asked, "How important of a person are you really, Senior Brother?"


    Li Qian was silent for a few moments. The early morning sunlight filtered in through the canopy as they walked on the peaceful path, one behind the other. "You might remember," Li Qian replied, "that I had said I was one of the better cultivators. While that would be true for my cultivation level, my... status is also not insignificant."


    He paused for a moment, as if considering his words carefully. "My grandfather... is the Chief Elder of the Sect. You can think of him as the right hand man of the Sect Head. That is the primary reason why so many in the sect act so subservient. But that does not mean I did not work hard to reach where I am today. Those who say that I rode on his coattails," his mouth turned in a slight frown, "have paid the price for their words."


    Yu Feng absorbed this new information. He had been right, in a way. Li Qian could be called a noble, atleast according to cultivator standards. But the more he found out about the man in front of him, the more nervous he grew around him. Maybe sensing his thoughts, Li Qian said with conviction, "My status is not what matters Yu Feng. In the world of cultivators, power is all that exists, and those too weak to seek it. But remember, in our sect, power and righteousness go hand-in-hand. I believe that you have the potential, Yu Feng. It is up to you whether to fulfill it, or die as one of the masses."


    Thinking for a moment, Yu Feng nodded. "I understand, Senior Brother." Yu Feng had no idea about what was to come, but it would not do good to let down the expectations Senior Brother Li Qian had of him. He thought of his family, and his nightmare. If he became powerful, like Li Qian was, his dream would never occur. And so, with a new conviction in him, he trudged down behind Li Qian through the forest path.


    After walking for about fifteen minutes in the gentle silence, they came to a large clearing. Grey stone comprised the floor, looking like the natural extension of a forest into a ruin that was surprisingly well kept, bar the moss that grew between cracks. Across the clearing, was a building, as big as the townhall in Outer Reed Village. It was well-made, with polished wood and gleaming tiles on the sloping roofs. Above the door hung a sign in stylish calligraphy: Recruitment Center.


    The clearing was completely devoid of people, with only the clacking of their shoes sounding on the stone floor. They were greeted by a dark interior, which was immediately illuminated by glowing torches that lit into being as soon as they stepped inside the threshold. A wooden desk stood before them, with no one behind it, a door leading off to somewhere inside.


    They stood waiting for a few moments, before the sound of hurrying footsteps sounded beyond the door, following which a young man came bursting through it, panting heavily.


    "W-who is it at such an un-godly h-hour. Don-t you know that the center is closed until the new season starts next year? You better give me a proper reasoning about why you woke me up, or -"


    "Or what, Junior Brother Shi?" Li Qian said with a slight amusement.


    Hearing the voice, the man in front of them stopped his rambling and finally looked at his visitors. Eyes widening, he jumped into such an impressive kowtow that Yu Feng was sure there was something cultivator-y going on with that movement.


    "Forgive me, Senior Brother Li. I did not expect you here today. Please excuse this mistake of mine, and please don''t let word of this reach my master. I will be flayed alive if he got to know I accidentally disrespected *you* of all people." There was a visible shudder that ran through his body at the mention of his master. But the way he addressed Senior Brother Li made Yu Feng think that they were close.


    As he got up out of his kneeling position, Yu Feng regarded the man in front of him carefully. There was a very unkempt look to him that contrasted all the cultivators he had seen so far. His hair was all over the place, reaching his shoulders like a lion''s mane, and there was stubble that heralded the signs of an impressive beard. His body too was built differently. Yu had to crane his neck slightly to look at his face, and his robes stretched over bronze skin, with palms looking like they could crush rock.


    As Yu Feng was perusing this man, he too was being given a curious look. "And who may this be, Senior Brother Li?"


    "This is Yu Feng," Li Qian gestured at him, and he gave a small bow. "I found him during a mission near the south-western border, and I believe he has the potential. So I require your assistance in getting him evaluated and settled in."


    Looking him up and down, the Shi person nodded. "I am Shi Qiang. It is a pleasure to meet one who has been spoken for by Senior Brother Li. But Senior Brother," he turned towards Li Qian, "the recruitment period ended a month ago. To be enrolling a new disciple at this stage..."


    "You need not worry about that. I rarely exercise my authority, but I feel this may be worth it."


    Shi Qiang gave a nod. "Then I guess there are no problems. One surnamed Yu," he addressed the mortal, "Tell me, do you know much about cultivation?"


    Yu Feng shook his head. "Not much Senior Brother," (Was Senior Brother the right honorific?) "only what Senior Brother Li has told me. That cultivators take in Qi, and that there are different stages that must be progressed through."


    "Hmm, that is correct in essence. But, the way you cultivate also depends on various other factors."


    Shi Qiang moved out from behind the desk, and opened a door off to the side that Yu Feng had not noticed before. He gestured for them to follow, and as they walked down a long hallway, he continued his explanation.


    "In our body, there is a network of channels called meridians. Just like how our veins funnel blood, these meridians allow for the passage of Qi through the body, and enable its absorption. Not everyone is born with meridians, but those who are find they are eligible for cultivation."


    They reached a small room, not bigger than the living room of his home. In the center of the room was a pedestal on which sat a jade slip. They gathered around it, and Shi Qiang placed a hand over it, causing it to glow slightly.


    "There are also different physiques that speed up or slow down cultivation, depending on the type of physique it is. Those in the right environment will find that their body allows them to cultivate a lot faster than the average cultivator."


    Removing his hand from the slip, he gestured at Yu Feng. "Place your hand on that slip, and it shall tell us your attributes."


    Nodding nervously, Yu Feng walked up to the pedestal, and placed his hand over the jade slip. He did not feel anything, but the slip emanated a bluish-yellow light, lighting up the inside of his hands and allowing him to see his veins.


    A few seconds later, Shi Qiang called out to him. "That''s enough. You can remove your hand now."


    Yu Feng took away his hand, and the light died down immediately. Looking back he saw Li Qian and Shi Qiang poring over a piece of paper that had appeared in their hands. There was no expression on Li Qian''s face, but Shi Qiang''s was going from interest, to curiosity, then finally settling on confusion.


    He reached the bottom of the paper, and gave Yu Feng an unreadable look.


    "Well, there''s good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

 Chapter 5 - New Home

    "Umm, I wouldn''t really know the difference between the two...?" Yu Feng clarified with a hesitant smile.


    Shi Qiang gave a booming laugh that made Yu Feng jump. "That''s true! Well, it shall be upto me to explain everything I guess, unless you want to do the honours, Senior Brother?" He looked toward Li Qian, who shook his head and gestured for him to go ahead.


    "Very well then. Come here and read this," Shi Qiang thrust out the piece of paper at Yu Feng. He received the parchment with both hands, and almost nervously started reading it, wondering what he would find. As he went down the paper, his brow grew more and more furrowed. This is way too detailed, was his thought.


    Name: Yu Feng


    Age: 15


    Height: 6''1


    Weight: 67 kgs


    And the paper went on and on, detailing stuff he didn''t even knew existed. It even mapped down his tooth cavity down to the correct tooth, which Yu Feng confirmed by pressing on it, inciting a wince of pain.


    "Skip past all that stuff," Shi Qiang urged. "The important details are at the bottom."


    Taking his advice, Yu Feng skimmed past the rest of the page, finally landing on a section labelled: Cultivation Attributes.


    Attributes: Earth 70%, Water 30%


    Meridians: Robust


    Physique: NA


    Capacity: >Large


    Cultivation: Qi Condensation 2


    "Okay so, good news first. You have a nice foundation, if I do say so myself. Your meridians are strong, which means they can handle taking in more Qi from the environment," Shi Qiang lectured, as he pointed at labels on the paper. "And your capacity for Qi is big. Like very big. Its been years since anyone came by with this much storage. And having two attributes is also not too bad. Gives you more options."


    The explanation was giving Yu Feng more questions than reading the paper did. Attributes for what? And what the heck were meridians? But Shi Qiang was on a roll by now, so he could not interrupt even if she wanted to.


    "Now onto the bad, or rather, confusing news. You, my young friend, do not have a physique, which is actually pretty normal. But what''s strange is the fact that you have the Qi reserves of a second stage Qi Condensation cultivator. Which, given the fact that Senior Brother Li Qian picked you up near the border and that you''ve not cultivated for a single day in your life, makes it very unusual."


    Looking at Yu Feng, he asked with a bright smile, "Did you get all that?"


    No, I absolutely did not, he wanted to say. Instead, he nodded dumbly. Sighing, Li Qian put a hand on his compatriot''s shoulder and said, "Curb you enthusiasm a little. And try to explain from the beginning."


    Shi Qiang grumbles in frustration. "But there''s so much to it, that if I started now, we would be here till the evening." He tapped his foot impatiently against the floor, his chin resting in his hand, before slapping a fist onto his palm.


    "I''ve got just the idea. Go back to the reception, I''ll be there in a few," he said in excitement, before speeding off down the hallway and into another room. Yu Feng and Li Qian made their way down to the entrance in silence, while the sounds of what suspiciously sounded like things falling came from a room.


    They did not have to wait long before Shi Qiang came returned, clutching a small, leatherbound book in his hand. He proudly presented it to Yu Feng. "The answer to all you questions!" he exclaimed.


    Yu Feng took a look at the title. It said: Cultivation Basics - From Mortal to Immortal, by Vikas Rajan. Opening it, he saw long paragraphs and diagrams detailing parts of the body, and an index that divided the whole book into chapters.


    "This has fallen out of use in recent years," Shi Qiang said as Yu Feng perused the book. "We adopted a more lecturing model to teach new recruits, but for one who doesn''t know whit about anything, it should be perfect for you."


    Yu Feng felt slightly insulted at the words, but he knew he could not refute them. He had entered a world he knew nothing about, and knowing what to do could only help him in the long run. So, he bowed deeply, and thanked Shi Qiang. "Thank you Senior Brother, for the advice."


    Shi Qiang nodded pleasantly, before turning to Li Qian. "I assume we are done here Senior Brother?"


    Li Qian shook his head. "I have some work to take care of urgently, as we just returned from a mission. So I''d like you to take Yu Feng to the barracks and get quarters assigned to him. Also, keep my involvement in this quiet."


    Yu Feng was slightly confused, while Shi Qiang had a look of understanding on his face. "Ahh, the old rumor mill," he sighed. "Very well, I''ll take him there."


    Li Qian nodded in thanks, before turning to Yu Feng. "You have been given an opportunity that many would give their lives for. See to it that you do not squander it."


    Yu Feng bowed deeply. "I understand Senior Brother. I thank you for everything." And he was deeply grateful. While leaving his family and home behind stung, being a cultivator was all his childhood dreams had comprised of.


    Inclining his head to each of them, Li Qian turned towards the entrance, and disappeared in a small gust of wind that ruffled their robes.


    Shi Qiang sighed in exasperation, "That showoff."


    Turning towards Yu Feng, he said, "Well then Junior, shall we get going?"


    Yu Feng nodded in affirmation, and together they stepped out of the Recruitment Center onto their next destination.


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    <hr>


    Taking another forest path, Yu Feng and Shi Qiang continued walking to wherever they were headed, Shi Qiang humming a merry tune. The sun had come up slightly now, but the coolness of the forest air only made it seem like a very pleasant day. He could hear birds chittering hear and there, and even spotted a few deer roaming around in between the trees.


    "Ughh, its so weird walking slowly," Shi Qiang complained on the way. "We could be there in minutes, but your poor body wouldn''t be able to handle the speed."


    "I''m sorry, Senior Brother," Yu Feng dipped his head, not really sure what he was apologizing for.


    "No no, it''s not your fault really," Shi Qiang grumbled good-naturedly. "Gives me a chance to get a slow start to the day too."


    According to Yu Feng, he would have been in for a slow start regardless, seeing how cranky he was when they woke Shi Qiang up, but he chose to keep his mouth shut.


    After about half an hour of walking, they finally exited the forest, to a large opening bare of trees. Yu Feng had not noticed this while walking, but they were now near the base of a small mountain, probably the smallest he had seen surrounding the valley the Sect was situated in. As his eyes travelled upwards, he saw that there was a road that travelled up the mountain, and that there were small houses that were situated, growing more and more fancy the further up his eyes could see.


    At the base was some sort of a small outpost, which was being manned by a disciple, dressed in robes similar to Wang Ya. As they drew closer, his eyes widened a fraction as he spotted them, but was replaced by a small smile as he bowed deeply towards them.


    "Senior Brother Shi! Good day to you. What brings you to the barracks today?"


    "Good day to you too, Junior Brother Shen," Shi Qiang boomed. They reached the outpost, which was just really a small stone booth which the other disciple was manning. Gesturing towards Yu Feng, he said, "Due to some unexpected circumstances, Yu Feng was unable to apply to the Sect during the yearly entrance exams. But he was found to have talent, so we are taking in him a bit later than usual."


    The Shen guy raised his eyebrows slightly, but did not argue. "I understand, Senior Brother. So you want me to do the regular?"


    "That would be appreciated," Shi Qiang nodded. To Yu Feng he added, "Shen Yao here will answer all your questions, and get you settled in. I unfortunately need to get back to cultivating."


    Though nervous at being left with the unknown man, Yu Feng bowed to Shi Qiang. "Thank you for your help Senior Brother."


    Shi Qiang nodded to both him and Shen Yao, then jogged back down the path where they had arrived from, leaving Yu Feng alone.


    "So, what''s your story?" Shen Yao''s voice addressed him from behind.


    Yu Feng stumbled. "Umm... so... I don''t know where to start.."


    Shen Yao smiled. "It''s fine really. I was just pulling your leg. Senior Brother Shi entrusted you to me, so rest assured I will take good care of you."


    Yu Feng was not assured. Shen Yao seemed normal by all standards, but there was something that put Yu Feng off. There was something predatory and snakelike about that smile. His face was just slightly too pale from the normal complexion Yu Feng had observed on cultivators.


    Not waiting for a response, Shen Yao went back into the outpost, and dug around under the counter for a few seconds, before emerging with a couple sets of outfits. "Your sect robes," he said to Yu Feng, dumping them in his arms.


    "Now how much do you know about the Sect?" he asked Yu Feng.


    "Senior Brother L- Someone explained the basics to me," he replied, wincing at his almost slip of tongue. "That we are a military sect, and that we offer manpower to other places in exchange for resources. I am not aware of the inner workings of the sect though, Senior Brother."


    "Not Senior Brother," Shen Yao shook his head. "We are at the same rank. But I guess I should explain what ranks are first, shouldn''t I?"


    He gestured for Yu Feng to take a seat on one of the chairs at the outpost, and settled into one himself. "So, you know about the different stages of cultivation, right?" he started.


    "Yes." Li Qian had explained that bit previously.


    "Good. So, there are different ranks of disciples in the sect, and what rank you are depends on your cultivation level. For example, I am a Qi Condensation level cultivator, and thus am a Outer Disciple. Foundation Establishment cultivators like Senior Brother Shi are Inner Disciples. And there is a rank above that, of True disciples, that frankly is impossible for you to reach, unless you are insanely talented, or make significant contributions to the sect."


    "But how does one identify what tier of disciple one is? That''s where the robes come in handy. Outer Disciples have just this plain garb, whereas inner disciples have a blue vest. I''ve heard that True Disciples have embroidery specifically tailored to each person, but my sources may be mistaken."


    Yu Feng''s eyes widened slightly. So Li Qian was a True Disciple.


    "And above the disciples are Elders. They are our teachers and commanders, when a military issue serious enough requires for them to take command. And that''s about it on the ranks in the Sect. Oh, and there''s the Chief Elder and Sect Head, but nobody has seen them for quite a few years," Shen Yao finished.


    *So I''m at the bottom of the ladder here,* Yu Feng mused. Wang Ya and the rest were Outer Disciples, but they were posted near his village. So that meant that he could maybe go back and visit sooner than he thought.


    As he was lost inside his mind, Shen Yao got up and started to walk up the mountain path, calling out to Yu Feng. "Come, Sect Brother. I''ll show you to your quarters."


    Shaking himself out of his reverie, he followed Shen Yao. "What about cultivation? When do we start that?" Yu Feng asked his guide.


    "That might be a problem," Shen Yao admitted. "The entrance exam got over a month ago, and your batch of recruits has already been training for a month."


    Yu Feng despaired. He was already behind in terms of knowledge, and now he would also be behind in his cultivation. Seeing the emotions on his face, Shen Yao hastily comforted him. "Don''t worry too much. For most, cultivation is an arduous task, and its difficult to progress. You will not be too far behind. And the Elders will surely help if you ask for it. They are a nice sort. Well, most of them," he muttered as an afterthought.


    Within a minute, the stopped outside a small, nondescript looking door that was set into the wall of the mountain. Producing a key from inside his robes, Shen Yao handed it to Yu Feng and gestured for him as if to go ahead.


    Yu Feng opened the door, and was almost disappointed to see a small single room, with just a bed, mattress and a desk and chair. There were not other effects save a small window that let in light, and an incense burner on the desk.


    "It''s not much, yes," Shen Yao shrugged. "But you are a starting disciple, so this is all you have access to. As you continue to prove yourself in the sect, your accommodations will improve."


    Yu Feng did not care much. While his room was slightly bigger back in the village, there was a different quality to the air in here. It was almost harder to breathe in, but not uncomfortable. He took in a deep breathe, and felt a wave of energy wash into him.


    "That''s the Qi you are feeling." Yu Feng turned to look at his companion. "There is a greater concentration here on the mountain, and it gets better the higher up the mountain you go. That''s why a good abode is integral for cultivation. Although," Shen Yao frowned, "it seems the concentration here is better than that of other''s in the same tier. I wonder why?"


    He gave Yu Feng a suspicious glance, but he could only shrug helplessly. Yu Feng barely knew anything about this stuff yet, so he did not have any answers.


    "Well, its nothing worth getting worked up over," Shen Yao let go of the matter. "I will leave you for now. Do not forget to come to dinner. The mess is the large building a bit of a ways up the path. You cannot miss it."


    Yu Feng gave him a slight bow. "Thank you guiding me, Sect Brother. I will see you at dinner."


    Nodding slightly, Shen Yao closed the door behind him and left Yu Feng alone in the room, now his home for whatever period of time in the future.

 Chapter 6 - Scum of the Earth

    INTRODUCTION


    To cultivate is to transform the self, reach from the material to spiritual, from mortal to immortal. Not all are destined for this greatness, for the opportunity to embark on this journey to the top, and those who are, find they do not know where to begin. This book of mine, I wrote to guide those who may be confused, misinformed or just seeking validation of their path. These words that follow are the distilled knowledge of our ancestors who tread upon this path of cultivation, all without anyone to guide them.


    To understand cultivation, one must first understand the nature of the world that we live in. To the ordinary mortal, the world they look at is purely physical, affected by the Laws of Earth and Heaven. But there exists an energy, a sort of connector between the physical world and the spiritual plane. We call this Qi. Qi exists everywhere, affecting everything in the world. And those that can look at and breathe in this Qi are called cultivators.


    But what makes cultivators different from mortals? When a person is born, they have a chance of possessing something known as meridians. These can be thought of as another set of veins that exist in the body. But what makes meridians different, is that they exist both in the physical and spiritual realm. Think of them as the veins that make up our soul. These meridians help the regular mortal interact with the Qi around them, breathe it and immerse themselves.


    While the meridians are half physical, the network they form in the body and soul is of great import. All the meridians in a body intersect at a point slightly above the navel called the dantian. This dantian exists purely in the spiritual, and can be thought of as the heart of the soul. Cultivators take in Qi through their meridians, and store it in the dantian, and can use the stored Qi to do extraordinary things.


    It has been found that there are only ten meridians that exist in a cultivator''s body, and it is impossible for someone to be born with more than this number. Each of these meridians has the attributes for one of the elements that encompass the world. When Qi travels through these meridians, it is transformed into the attribute that the meridian is. It can also draw in Qi faster when cultivating in an area that is rich in its respective element. More about the attributes can be found in the chapter on meridians (pg35).


    Once a cultivator becomes situated with their meridians, it is time to start cultivating. The first realm of cultivation that all cultivators must pass through is called Qi Condensation. This realm is divided into three stages. They are called Meridian Enforcement, Dantian Opening and Solidification. One must pass through all three before they are ready to take the step towards the next stage. More on the stages of Qi Condensation can be found on its chapter.


    _________


    QI CONDENSATION AND ITS STAGES


    The three stages of Qi Condensation are the first step of any cultivators journey. They must be passed through sequentially, and any faults in the previous stage''s completion can lead to significant troubles in future cultivation stages.


    The first step is called Meridian Enforcement. It is very self-explanatory, but also said to be the most important part of Qi Condensation. Meridians are like veins, and thus they too are weak, and can collapse when stressed too much. If they are not reinforced, the amount of Qi that later stages require would lead to them bursting. Thus, reinforcing them is of utmost importance. One can do this by slowly taking in Qi from the surroundings, getting their meridians used to the feeling of Qi lining through them, and eventually lining the meridians with Qi. This then helps them handle the flow of Qi more easily.


    The next step, also called the second stage of Qi Cultivation is called Dantian Opening. Once the meridians have been reinforced, our spiritual pathways are ready to handle more Qi flowing through them. Till this stage, the dantian had been acting as an auxiliary component, just letting the Qi pass through it. In this stage, one must construct porous membranes at the point each of the meridians connect to the dantian. This will allow the Qi to pass into the dantian, but it will be up to the cultivator whether to let it out. The capacity of each dantian is different, and the bigger the capacity, the more time one spends on this stage. But it also helps form a better foundation, so it is not as bad as some may think.


    The final stage of Qi Condensation is called Solidification. In this stage, the cultivator must use the Qi they have gathered, and solidify it to form a base or a platform. Why this platform must be formed will be explained in the next book, but it is extremely important that it be to the cultivator''s satisfaction. This platform can be modelled after anything the cultivator fancies, but they must remember that their path in the vast Dao is set once the base is formed, unless one disperses their cultivation and begins anew. One can start to use cultivation arts from this point onward to aid the formation of their base.


    For more on cultivation arts, and the next stages of cultivation, refer to the next book in this series.


    __________________


    Yu Feng tore his eyes away from the pages of Cultivation Basics with a sigh and stretched his back until it popped. Sitting on a chair for hours at once was not something he was inclined to do, but seeing that he did not have any other task, he had gotten to reading the book Senior Brother Shi had given him.


    It was interesting, to say the least. Yu Feng was by no means an intellectual, but he felt that he had largely managed to understand the books contents. His father had taught him how to read and write, preparing him to take over the family ledgers, so he did not have the difficulties many others in his village would have had. Yet his unfamiliarity with the academic terms used in the book had him stumbling multiple times.


    But if he was understanding the writings correctly, then he had a long way ahead of him. The process of reinforcing the meridians on the chapter dedicated to them sounded excruciating. And he had to do that for ten of them. Dantian Opening was a matter he did not think of looking towards yet.


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    Shutting the book close, he noticed the shadows flickering inside the room by the dying sun, and lit the lamp on the desk, casting a warm light. He thought of the invitation Shen Yao had extended to him for dinner, and supposed he should start making his way there soon.


    Looking over his sect uniform, he debated whether to wear it or not. Shen Yao had been wearing one, but it was while he was on duty. He lifted an armpit and sniffed it, grimacing slightly. Shrugging of his casual clothes, he donned the sect uniform, its skirt hanging loosely around his ankles, and the shirt almost barely tight on his torso, accentuating his build.


    Exiting his new place of residence, he started making his way up the mountain path, admiring the view of the sect as he went along. The valley was largely dark, and wasn''t high up enough yet to see all the clearings. But he could spy the port in the distance, flickering light merrily shining upon the flying ships moored there. In the center of the valley stood the giant pagoda Yu Feng had seen from the ship. There were no lights on it, but it seemed to almost exude a staticky blue aura, like there was lightning dancing on its features. It was largely made of white wood, but was accentuated by material that glowed blue and purple.


    Eventually, he came to a large outcropping that was set a bit aside the main path, a building in set on it. It was well-lit and seemed to have an air of hospitality that Yu Feng had only associated with Granny Feng''s small restaurant back in the village.


    Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door, stood for a second, then pushed them inwards. Immediately, he was hit with a blast of noise that the door had been muffling till then. Hundreds of kids around his age sat on tables in the large building, the aroma of food thickening the air.


    A few glanced towards his direction when he entered, but went back to eating immediately, chatting with their companions. Though a few did keep their eyes trained on him. He looked around with an almost nonchalant expression that was completely at odds with his inner feelings, looking for a place to sit where he would not make a fool of himself, when a voice called out to him.


    "Yu Feng, over here."


    Glancing to his right, he saw Shen Yao sitting with a group of people, waving him over. His companions were looking at him with slight interest, while the crowd around him had devolved into hushed whispers.


    Warding off his nervousness, he made his way to their table before stopping and offering a small bow to the group. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Yu Feng."


    "Sit down, sit down," Shen Yao smiled, drawing over a chair for him. "I had been wondering where you were, and whether to send someone to fetch you."


    "Thank you for looking out for me. I was just caught up in a bit of reading, and did not notice the time pass."


    Shen Yao smiled in understanding, looking very much like the image of the helpful guide. Yet, Yu Feng thought there was something slimy about the way he looked at him.


    "Aren''t you going to introduce us, Shen Yao?" a boy from the group asked as Yu Feng sat down.


    Talking to the group at large, Shen Yao presented Yu Feng. "Everyone, this is Yu Feng. He is a new recruit who has just arrived to the sect today, so please make him feel welcome. Yu Feng, these are my merry band of companions."


    They all nodded at him as he gave them a small greeting. "New recruit, at this point in the year? Why didn''t you join the exams that took place last month?" the man who had asked for his introduction enquired. He had a slightly weedy look to him, with brown hair that trailed to his shoulders.


    Yu Feng hesitated. He did not know how much to say, especially considering the how Shen Yao had talked about True Disciples. He did not want to implicate Li Qian if he somehow messed up. In the end, he decided on omitting details instead of lying.


    "To say the truth, I did not know I could cultivate before this," he started. "Only when a few cultivators had come to my place of residence for a task did I come to know that I had the potential. They were the ones who brought me here."


    "That is interesting. Where do you come from that the news of the sect exams did not reach you? And who brought you here?" his interrogation continued.


    But before Yu Feng could answer, Shen Yao jumped into the conversation. "That would be Senior Brother Shi. The one who tested us. Remember?"


    The group nodded in understanding, their attention diverted from Yu Feng. Shen Yao slightly reprimanded them, "You have been interrogating the poor soul, but you have not yet provided your names."


    The brown haired man laughed in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head. "My apologies," h said to Yu Feng. "I am named Gong Wei, of the Gong Clan."


    "I am Cao Zhi," a slightly pudgy, raven haired girl went next. One by one, the rest of the table introduced themselves to Yu Feng, even those who had not been part of the initial conversation. Someone brought him rice, grilled meat and broth, and soon he was swept up in the chatter around him. They all seemed very nice and friendly, even to an unknown quantity like him. He supposed Li Qian might have been slightly paranoid when he had warned him about the competitiveness of the sect.


    As everyone was mingling and having a good time, Yu Feng noticed another person out of the corner of his eye. He was sitting alone at the far end of the dining hall, and there was no one around his general vicinity, as if he was isolating himself on purpose. He had dark, curly hair, and he was looking at the food with his slightly amber eyes as if it had personally wronged him.


    Nudging Shen Yao, he asked, "Who is that?"


    Looking over to see where Yu Feng was pointing slightly, Shen Yao''s gaze grew chilly. Yu Feng may have imagined it at that instant, but it seemed like his pupils had become slits, like that of a snake.


    "Oh, him!" Shen Yao spat with venom. His outburst drew the attention of the group, and they all collectively looked over at where he was looking. The temperature in the immediate surroundings seemed like it dropped suddenly, with how hostile their gaze had become.


    "That, Yu Feng, is what we call scum of the earth. His name is Xian Chen, but we prefer to call him Toad," Gong Wei said.


    "You see Yu Feng," Shen Yao said loudly, making sure his voice carried across the room, "Someone thought that they could reach above their station and inconvenience others. Xian Chen had the gall to claim that he was engaged to the True Disciple Ling Qi, and continue spouting that nonsense even as she was tested and showed incredible talent. It was only her master''s mercy that his life was spared and he was allowed to cultivate. I would suggest not associating with his type, as it would only sully you."


    The disciples all around him hooted in laughter, pointing and mocking Xian Chen in the corner. There were a few others dispersed throughout the hall that were not participating, but neither did they seem inclined to stop the show.


    Xian Chen glowered in anger, before getting out of his chair with a large scraping sound, leaving the hall with his food unfinished. As he was leaving, Yu Feng caught him clutching an amulet around his neck tightly, muttering to himself in anger all the while.


    Once he was gone, the hall grew a little quieter, everyone returning to their own conversations. Turning to Yu Feng, Shen Yao said, "Really Yu Feng, it would be better if you did not go around him. He would only cause harm to you. He is slightly crazy, always muttering to himself."


    Yu Feng thought back to Xian Chen''s face, and felt like he had to disagree with Shen Yao there.


    He seemed rather alone, was his thought. But he shrugged, and went back to interacting with his new peers. They were there before him, so he guessed it would be alright to listen to their words.

 Chapter 7 - Wu Tao

    A loud knocking woke Yu Feng up from his slumber, his back aching slightly. The insides of his eyelids were whitened slightly with the sun directly shining on them. He blinked blearily, confusion swimming in his brain at his location. Then the events of yesterday came rushing back to him, and he shot up in his bed, his back groaning at the sudden movement. The bed did not agree with him.


    The person was still knocking at the door intermittently. "Yu Feng, please wake up, or you shall be late for your lessons," a voice called out.


    Swinging his legs out of the bed, he brushed his robes down and opened the door. For a second, he was unable to place the name of the person before him, before realising it was Gong Wei, one of the people from Shen Yao''s group.


    Seeing him emerge, Gong Wei gave him a small bow. "Good morning Yu Feng. I hope your sleep was restful?"


    "Uhh, yeah it was fine," he replied, stifling a yawn.


    "Good. Shen Yao sent me to remind you that lessons for the day shall be starting in half an hour, so you should get ready."


    Yu Feng glanced at the rising sun, blinking slightly in its glare. He bowed towards Gong Wei, thanking him. "Thank you for waking me up. I shall join you guys in some time."


    Nodding amiably, Gong Wei jogged off up the path, most likely to his quarters. Turning back into his room, Yu Feng let out a sigh. Yesterday was real. His family must have reached the village by now, and found out he had fled. How would they react?


    Slightly offset from the path was an outhouse and a natural spring, where Yu Feng freshened himself up. Donning his sect robes, he exited his house and started walking down the mountain path. Near the outpost was about a group of hundred students, all standing about restlessly. Spotting Shen Yao and his gang among them, he made a beeline, not wishing to interact with anyone else.


    Clocking Yu Feng coming over, Shen Yao smiled and called out loudly, "Good morning Yu Feng! I hope my messenger reached you?"


    Yu Feng cringed slightly. The last thing he wanted was attention. He knew he was going to make a fool of himself in his lessons, and the less people who knew him, the better. Reaching the group, he bowed slightly and greeted them. "Good morning everyone. Gong Wei did wake me up, Shen Yao. Thank you for looking out for me."


    Shen Yao waved his thanks off. "It''s what I would do for anyone who needed it."


    Unbidden, the thought of Xian Chen and his scowling face entered Yu Feng''s mind, but he swept it away. He was making friends. No need to antagonise them unnecessarily.


    "Everyone, ATTENTION!"


    Like a sleeping beast that had come to life, everyone around Yu Feng snapped to their feet in one smooth movement. Shen Yao grabbed his shoulders hard from behind, and forced his body to follow the motion. Gong Wei to his side put a finger to his lips discreetly, eyes continuing to stare ahead.


    Yu Feng''s confusion was only deepened when they all started marching forward as one entity, Yu Feng somehow emulating their movements clumsily. From behind, he caught Shen Yao whispering to him.


    "Just keep following what everyone is doing. They take discipline in this sect very seriously, and you do not want to test the instructor''s patience. It''s north worth it."


    Yu Feng nodded stiffly, indicating he had heard the instructions, and put some more effort into copying the group''s rhythm. Soon, he was marching in time, their feet thumping as one against the stone pathways in the forest.


    A few minutes of marching later, they emerged into what looked like a training field. Disciples spread themselves into neat rows, following an unknown structure. Yu Feng found himself beside Gong Wei and a girl with deep brown hair, marked with silver streaks.


    Looking ahead, Yu Feng had to blink multiple times to make sure what he was seeing was correct. In front of the rows of students stood a giant of a man. And he was not a normal giant like Yu Feng, who was generally taller than most people. No, this man was more than two heads taller than Yu Feng, so much so that he could look over the entire group easily. His hair was a wild shock of red, and his beard too was long, reaching almost his waist, cinched with a clip at the end. He was completely topless, which showed off his brutish body, riddled with all sorts of scar lying on top of sinuous muscle. His hands seemed like they could encircle a man''s torso and crush it like a grape.


    "GOOD MORNING RECRUITS!!"


    Yu Feng was embarrassed to say that he flinched. But the giant was loud, and it felt as if his voice had penetrated a part of his ears that had not heard noise before. As he was recovering, the group of students all shouted as one.


    "GOOD MORNING INSTRUCTOR WU TAO!!"


    The man gave a booming laugh. "HAHA, YOU ALL SEEM ENERGETIC TODAY. HOPE YOU ARE READY FOR SOME GOOD EXERCISE!"


    The faces of those around him twisted in phantom pain and displeasure, but they all still collectively responded, "YES INSTRUCTOR WU TAO."


    The man grinned, his expression completely at odds with his intimidating body. "Good. But before we start, is there a recruit here named Yu Feng?"


    Yu Feng looked around for a second before realising it was he who was being called upon. Panic hammered in his heart, as Gong Wei looked at him with interest. Slightly trembling, he raised his hand in the air, above the heads of the others.


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    "There you are. Come forward young man," their instructor commanded.


    The crowd around him parted evenly, allowing him passage. Trying a smile, but only managing what he was sure a grimace, he stepped through the group. The crowd was not talking, but curiosity was evident on their faces. He reached the instructor, all the while staring at the ground,  not daring to look up. He must have messed up somehow, even before the first day started.


    "Look up young man. I''m not going to eat you alive."


    Slowly raising his head, he met the eyes of the barbarian before him.


    A roar so loud that it shook the heavens rang through the air. A dragon, the size of a mountain swam through the air, its green eyes burning with wrath. Its jade scales glittered in the sunlight, a dangerous beauty all over. A white mane drifted along with the wind, originating from its head, where rested two horns of pure bone wood.


    On the ground below, far from the heavens where this dragon travelled threateningly, the earth was bending around a singular point. A man stood in the center of a crater larger than a city, rubble rising in the air, going against the Law of the Earth. A blood red aura pulsed over hi body, bathing the surroundings in a red hue. The cry of various beasts and demons roiled in that aura, begging to be unleashed. The giant gave a huge battle cry, his blood-like hair and beard flowing in the aura. Grinning madly, he crouched, tensing his legs for a jump.


    One second, he was there on the ground. The next, the crater had expanded even more, cracks running deep into the earth, while a red comet shot through the air at a blistering pace. The dragon regarded this comet with imperious fury, and opened its mouth, a bright green light glowing within. A split second later, a beam of green liquid energy lanced through the air, right at the comet. They collided in midair, but the comet cut through the beam like a large rock in the middle of a river, splitting the energy apart. The remnants of the beam bore into the earth, drilling into the earth deep mines. The comet meanwhile, unimpeded, reached the dragon.


    It collided with the underside of the dragon''s snout with a boom that was heard all over a hundred mile radius. There was silence for a second, then the clouds were scattered violently with the battle as the center. The dragon went streaking through the sky, faster than the comet had been, while air rushed into the now vacuum, bringing with it rain and thunderstorms. Off in the distance, behind the man''s back, lay a city, its inhabitants safe and worry free.


    The vison ended, and Yu Feng''s knees buckled, but he managed to steady himself before he could fall to the ground.


    "Ho? Not a bad seed!" the man-god above him exclaimed. Yu Feng once again raised his head, but did not dare to meet his eyes. This was a cultivator. This is the power that lay at the end of the road, able to shape the landscape and change the weather.


    "Young Shi Qiang told me about you. Said that you enrolled yesterday, so you needed some extra instruction. Well, for this class''s basic purpose, there is not much to improve upon in your regard," Instructor Wu Tao Told him. The crowd in the back seemed to be trying to hear their words, but somehow it seemed that the man had kept their conversation magically private.


    "Thank you f-for the praise, Instructor. But may t-this one ask what the class is about? This one apologises for his ignorance." Yu Feng bowed low, his voice trembling slightly as he said these words.


    The giant looked over at the crowd for a second, then shrugged, deciding that they could wait for a minute more. "This class is for new recruits to cultivate their body," he explained to Yu Feng. "Meridian Enforcement is painful, and an unprepared body will find it tough to handle. So I train your bodies in this class, to prepare you for that step."


    "But you," he poked Yu Feng with a finger, "have a good foundation already. Looking at your body, I''d say you are used to physical labour."


    Yu Feng nodded slightly, then said with a small voice, "That is correct, Instructor. This one has worked on a farm since childhood."


    Instructor Wu smiled at him warmly, as if understanding perfectly what his concerns were. "Do not fret, young Yu Feng. In this sect, discipline and ability take precedence over origin. You are all equal in my eyes."


    Yu Feng let out a breath he didn''t know he had been holding. He had been afraid that the instructors would be subservient to nobles, but he was happy to know that was not the case.


    "But, that is to not say there is no room to move forward," the instructor said again loudly. "Wait here on the side."


    Leaving a bewildered Yu Feng behind him, Instructor Wu Tao stepped forward and addressed the group.


    "Recruits Shen Yao, Cai Lingxin, Ma Ping and Xian Chen, please step forward."


    The four people stepped out from within the crowd with slight confusion on their faces. Shen Yao was there, his slightly too pale face even more pronounced in the sunlight, while Xian Chen stood there with his perpetual scowl. Cai Lingxin turned out to be the girl who was standing beside him, and Ma Ping was someone who was of similar build to Yu Feng, just like an inch taller and very, very tanned. They all lined up in front of Instructor Wu Tao respectfully, and bowed low.


    Waving Yu Feng over with a hand to join them, Instructor Wu regarded them with an appraising eye, before nodding in satisfaction.


    "You all are currently above the standards that this class requires for you to pass, and thus, will not learn anything if I put you with the others. Instead, you will be doing some special exercises of my own creation," the man instructed.


    At first, they were confused, before bowing in unison. "Thank you for your generosity, Instructor Wu Tao."


    "Don''t thank me yet," he grinned evilly. "Once you are done, it will be a miracle if you are able to walk straight." A chill shot down the five''s spines, and the rest of the recruits looked at them with a mix of envy and pity.


    With the introductions done, the class began in earnest. While the rest of the recruits ran laps around the field at a blistering pace, the five special ones stood in the center, waiting for their instructions.


    Instructor Wu Tao showed them a pose, and they were supposed to copy it best as they could. He stood on one leg, hooking the other behind him like a scorpion tail, and bending his back so his torso was parallel to the ground. Demonstration done, he then asked his students to hold the pose for one minute.


    The next couple hours were hell for Yu Feng. He was made to twist his body in shapes he didn''t know a body could hold, and shown the meaning of pain to muscles which he didn''t even know existed. The rest of the five were also in a similar position, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Shen Yao seemed more adept at the flexible stuff, while Yu Feng and Ma Ping beat him when it came to endurance. Xian Chen and Cai Lingxin were equally balanced.


    By the time training was done, Yu Feng was ready to move on to the next life. He lay on his back, panting heavily, the sun shining through his eyelids as sweat dripped all over him. He groaned in protest when two arms hooked themselves under his, and lifted him to his feet bodily. He was like a puppet, just following the motions, as Gong Wei and another of Shen Yao''s group led him and Shen Yao to a nearby stream to wash up.


    Disrobing, he just plopped into the wait high stream, floating in its gentle waters as the water washed away his sweat and cooled his body. If everyday was going to be like this, he would be a corpse before long.


    Soon, he washed away the grime, and put on the sect uniform, and followed the rest of the recruits to another part of the sect, to take on the next lesson. He just wished it would not be as exhausting as this.

 Chapter 8 - Connecting With Nature

    A few minutes of arduous walking later, the group of students emerged into a large clearing in the forest. The floor was entirely grass, unlike the training field, and there were mats laid all over the ground. Though the trees were at the edge of the clearing, their canopies extended into the space, casting cool shadow over their faces, providing relief after the exhausting exercise.


    At the other end of the clearing, on a large, felled tree trunk was sitting a woman. Jade green robes flowed over her body, with wisps of white silk trailing her arms and shoulders, floating ethereally in the air behind her like a halo. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun, with what looked like a miniature of a violin bow keeping it in place. A veil covered her eyes, yet she stared at the group with unerring accuracy as a a small smile adorned her face.


    "Good morning students. I hope your day goes well," her soft voice rang throughout the clearing.


    Unlike with Instructor Wu, the group was a lot quieter in replying this time. "Good morning, Instructor Yin."


    She waved a hand at them, gesturing to get settled on the mats. "I''m sure you all know what to do. Please get started immediately."


    All the recruits moved around, sitting down on mats randomly, Yu Feng hurrying to do the same. He spied everyone sitting in the lotus position and closing their eyes, and copied them, feeling very foolish the entire time. He had no clue what they were supposed to be doing, and was debating whether to interrupt the instructor or not when a calm voice called out to him.


    "You must be Yu Feng, correct?"


    Opening his eyes, he found the Instructor Yin standing right in front of him, looking very much like the image of a wood nymph. Trying to hurry out of his sitting position, he replied, "Yes Instructor Yin. I am Yu Feng."


    Before he could fully rise however, a small hand rested on his shoulder and pushed him down into position with ease. Yu Feng had a feeling that even if he had tried to resist, there would have been no way he could''ve done so.


    "All the instructors had been informed that there was a new student, and that he would require our attention," Instructor Yin explained. Yu Feng thanked whoever it was that had spread the word, because he for sure did not have the courage to ask for the help himself.


    "You do not understand the purpose of this exercise." It was not a question. Yu Feng nodded anyway. He could just see the outline of her eyes through the thin, lavender veil, but there was something about her gaze that just made Yu Feng want to go along with what she said. There was an oddly hypnotic rhythm to the way she spoke too, like the melody of a song. Yu Feng chalked it up to strong cultivator things, like the vision he saw in Instructor Wu''s eyes.


    Instructor Yin moved behind Yu Feng, and he felt her settle onto the ground behind him. A warm hand pressed onto his back, and he involuntarily straightened his spine.


    "Close your eyes," Instructor Yin commanded. He did so, shutting out the world around him, save the feeling of the hand on his back, and the soft mat under his legs.


    "Right now, we are meditating to find the nature of our meridians in our body," Instructor Yin started. "You must have been told about how are body is comprised of ten meridians, and the various places they occupy in the body. We have one in each limb, one in our spine, one for each of the senses save touch, and the last in our heart."


    As she spoke, her musical voice drifted from in and out of Yu Feng''s senses, his breathing getting slower and longer. "Before one can reinforce their meridians, they must understand its attribute and placement. Your previous class was about preparing your body for the next step. This one is about understanding how to take that step."


    "You must clear your mind, and focus inwards. Open up your body to all its senses, and let them fight naturally amongst each other."


    Though Yu Feng was completely relaxed, he was having a little trouble with clearing his mind. In this soft state, memories of his family and village slipped in and out of his thoughts. He started to twitch a little, the sunlight seeming too bright to his closed eyes. He was about to open them, when deep within his heart, it was as if a chord was rung. It was a clear, pure note not accompanied by anything else, yet it filled Yu Feng''s mind with calm. It was as if no thoughts existed in his brain anymore.


    As he reached this state, he first heard more. He could hear the soft twittering of the bird in the tree to his right, and the call of a monkey way off in the distance. Next were the smells, of spring grass and the pleasant perfume that Instructor Yin was wearing. He took this all in, letting it fill his mind. He was calm, yet he was unable to believe he had been missing so much of the world before.


    Sitting on his mat in utter peace, it seemed like his body had started connecting to the earth. Somewhere in the back of his mind there was confusion, but he let the melding continue. The earth called to him, connecting him to the ground through his spine. His body could feel the slight tremors the breathing of his fellow disciples caused in the ground, and the unnaturalness of Instructor Yin''s presence, like she was not even on the ground. He felt the grass growing, the small organisms building colonies under their feet and living and surviving. He had become the earth.


    He was reveling in this sensation of oneness, when the connection was abruptly severed when Instructor Yin removed her hand. The cacophony of nature switched to silence, as a stiffness mixed with warmth seemed to originate from his back, rooting him to the earth.


    Opening his eyes, he found Instructor Yin standing above him again, smiling softly.


    "Looks like you found your spine meridian, and its attribute."


    "Earth," Yu Feng stated.


    Instructor Yin nodded. "Indeed. Stability, natural growth and steadfastness."


    Yu Feng took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "It felt like... I was just an extension of the ground under. Like I was everything, everywhere, all at once. And that I did not want to move. At all."


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    "That does happen," Instructor Yin agreed. "Meditating brings to fore sensations that are repressed, and connects us to the spiritual plane, to Qi. Thus it is natural to get immersed in it. What one must not forget is that they are sentient, and not nature."


    Yu Feng bowed awkwardly while sitting. "This one will carve your advice deep into his heart."


    Instructor Yin gave him a tiny nod and started walking away, presumably to check on another disciple. A soft whisper entered Yu Feng''s ears as he closed his eyes, ready to get back into meditation. "Do not be disheartened that you arrived late. Cultivation is a journey that must be taken one step at a time. Many get stuck on a floor, but as long as you persevere, you will succeed. You have a talent. Utilise it well."


    Smiling softly at the words, Yu Feng settled his heart and mind, once again ready to connect with the earth, and see what other joy nature brought.


    <hr>


    It was the loud grumbling of his stomach that disrupted Yu Feng''s meditation. He was jolted out of a very nice conversation that two birds seemed to be having, and was rather annoyed. He had always had good patience. Working on a farm helped with that, but the effects of meditation were magical.


    He saw the others too start emerging from their concentration one by one, and concluded that it must be time for the class to finish. Instructor Yin was nowhere to be seen, yet the class seemed unperturbed, so he guessed it must be normal. Spotting Shen Yao, he waved to his new...friend? before standing up with some difficulty. His legs had fallen asleep, so he gave them a few good smacks with his fist to bring some feeling into them.


    "How was your first go at meditation?" Shen Yao asked as Yu Feng approached. Stretching slightly, Yu Feng replied in a slightly breathy voice, "It was... surreal. I could hear and feel so much."


    Shen Yao laughed lightly, slapping his arm a little. "Yes, the first time was the same for a lot of us. Tell me, did you figure anything out about your meridians?" There was an unexpected gleam of curiosity in his eyes as he waited for Yu Feng''s answer.


    For a second, Yu Feng was unsure whether he should reveal the details, but seeing no harm in it, he acquiesced. "Earth attribute, spine meridian."


    A thoughtful look entered Shen Yao''s face as he heard that answer. He looked Yu Feng up and down like a butcher evaluating a prize cut of meat. It made Yu Feng slightly uncomfortable.


    "Yes, I can see that," he nodded. His eyes flicked onto a point behind Yu Feng. He waved someone over, and they were joined by Gong Wei, who had a sour look on his face.


    "What''s got you twisted?" Shen Yao inquired.


    "That Toad-" Gong Wei spat, "-discovered another meridian. Fire this time, right hand. I heard him bragging about it to Cai Lingxin as I was walking past. That''s already three different elements he has."


    Shen Yao''s face darkened. "Truly a toad lusting after swan''s meat. First slandering a True Disciple''s reputation, now harassing Cai Lingxin. He''s just the last surviving member of a dead clan. Does he really think a Cai, someone of an Elder Clan, would give him the time of day?"


    Gong Wei nodded vehemently. "It''s almost as bad as commoners trying to rise above their stations. Satisfaction is a virtue that is lost on the plebians."


    The discussion was making Yu Feng increasingly uncomfortable. Aiming to shift the topic, he said, "Should we go eat something? I don''t know about you both, but that all that exercising has me starving."


    Both of them jumped slightly, likely having forgotten that Yu Feng was even there. Shen Yao coughed a little, while Gong Wei smoothened his robes. "Yes, yes, let''s go," Shen Yao agreed. "I too am quite hungry."


    Together, the three of them set on the path back towards their residence, Yu Feng following the two. The silence was comforting, but an urge kept nibbling at the back of Yu Feng''s mind. Not being able to resist after a minute, he sped up to walk beside Gong Wei.


    "Gong Wei, what did you mean about commoners not knowing their place? I fear I may have misunderstood your intentions."


    Gong Wei looked at him with slight confusion, as if not understanding his question. Rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile, Yu Feng clarified, "You see, I am a commoner. My family has been farming for generations, so I was a little confused about your comment."


    Understanding dawned on Gong Wei and Shen Yao''s faces. Waving his hands placatingly, Gong Wei replied, "I''m sorry if you took any offence, Yu Feng. You are a cultivator of course. You are different. And I am sure your family is perfectly lovely."


    Yu Feng stared at him, as if waiting for him to continue, while Gong Wei grew more and more flustered. Shen Yao sighed, putting a hand on Gong Wei''s shoulder. "I think what he means to ask is your view on commoners, Gong Wei, and your reasoning behind that comment. Am I right, Yu Feng?"


    Yu Feng nodded. Ohh-ing in understanding, Gong Wei put a hand under his chin, staring ahead as they walked.


    "Hmm, where to begin?" he said to himself. Turning to Yu Feng, he started, "I come from the Gong Clan, one of the Elder Clans. The Elder Clans is a set of clans that were established by the first Elders of the Thundering Crane Sect, and they govern regions of land under the purview of the sect."


    Seeing that Yu Feng was listening intently, he continued, "For the past few years, our clan has been managing our region happily. But recently, there have been many uprisings by the mortals, trying to overthrow the local governing bodies. They claimed that there was corruption, and that they were being oppressed. But when investigations were done, nothing of the sort was found. It was just a matter of them being unsatisfied and angry, so they tried to rebel. So you may be able to understand why I was a little strong with my words."


    Yu Feng tried to wrap his head around the reasoning. He could see Gong Wei''s point, though he did not like to admit it to himself. But as someone who had lived like the commoners previously, he knew that was not the entire story. He had heard many a case from the villagers about how officials in the Inner Reed City were backstabbing hooligans who just wanted more money and power.


    Why, he remembered the case of the old lumberjack. He owned a patch of the nearby forest, and used it to provide for himself. But due to some herbs there, it caught the eye of a noble in the city, and he was coerced into selling it for a pitiful sum, not being able to voice his complaints.


    But seeing Gong Wei so strong in his convictions, he did not feel it was worth it to start an argument right there. Bowing slightly, he apologised. "Sorry for questioning you, Gong Wei. As a commoner myself, the point hit a little close to home."


    Gong Wei coughed in embarrassment. "I too, am sorry. I should be more mindful of my words."


    Yu Feng nodded, accepting the apology. Shen Yao just sighed in exasperation, and then bodily tried to drag them to the dining hall so that they could fill their stomachs.


    After a hearty meal that left him full of energy, Yu Feng retired to his room. It was slowly growing dark by now, so he lit the lamp on his desk and settled in to read Cultivation Basics again.


    He was halfway through the topic about attributes, when the sounds of people shouting reached his ears. Closing the book, he cocked his head and listened. It sounded like it was coming from right up the path.


    Deciding to investigate, he exited his abode, and jogged up the pathway. He rounded a corner, and was greeted to a very strange sight.


    Shen Yao, Gong Wei and others of his friend group stood near him, all of them looking angrily ahead. Right in front of them stood Xian Chen, whose face was twisted in anger, with Cai Lingxin right beside him.


    Shen Yao shouted loudly, "Do you never learn, Toad? We had warned you before to not step out of line, yet here you are harassing Cai Lingxin. We demand you leave her side this instant!"


    Xian Chen goaded, "Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?"


    Shen Yao fumed silently, pondering what to do, when he caught sight of Yu Feng. His face twisted into a victorious smile as he called out, "Yu Feng. Come here and help me teach this bastard a lesson."

 Chapter 9 - Enemies and Friends

    Indecision coursed through him, freezing him to his spot. The entire crowd was looking at Yu Feng expectantly, waiting for him to back Shen Yao up. Meanwhile, if looks could kill, Yu Feng would have been dead several times over with how hard Xian Chen was glaring at him.


    He took a deep breath. Yu Feng did not know what the situation was, but he supposed he should stand with Shen Yao, right? He had been nothing but helpful after all, so he was inclined to trust him more. Meanwhile, Xian Chen, while not having given him a bad impression, also had done nothing to earn a good one.


    He stepped through the crowd, the people parting easily to let him through, and stood beside Shen Yao, facing Xian Chen and Cai Lingxin. Her expression was a mix of guilt and anger, which gave Yu Feng a bit of pause. That was not the face someone who was being harassed would make.


    Standing beside Shen Yao, he asked his friend, "Is it true that Xian Chen was harassing her? I would like to know the whole story, if you do not mind sharing."


    Still not looking away from his adversary, Shen Yao spat, "What''s there to know? We were all walking together, minding our own business, when we spotted the Toad accosting Miss Cai. She clearly looked uncomfortable, so we decided to intervene. If he had apologised, we would have let the event be, but he refuses to own up to his doings."


    "Why would I own up to something I didn''t do, you bastard?" Xian Chen retorted.


    "Do you deny that you had intercepted Miss Cai on the path, with no prior invitation from her, and started troubling her?" Going Wei too jumped into the argument.


    "Yes, but I was just asking her about-"


    "See my friends, he admits it," Shen Yao exclaimed. The crowd roared its approval back.


    This whole thing was giving Yu Feng a headache. He understood things were bad between Xian Chen and the rest of the recruits, but had never realised by just how much. While Xian Chen and the others continued to argue, Yu Feng was trying to come up with a solution to resolve this peacefully, when he caught Cai Lingxin''s expression.


    She was biting her lower lip slightly, and her hands were shaking a little. Every so often, she tried opening her mouth to speak, but flinched slightly whenever one of the others raised their voices more. Cocking an eyebrow, Yu Feng put a hand on Shen Yao''s shoulder, signalling him to stop.


    "I have a solution Shen Yao. Why not just ask Miss Cai for her version of events, and then chart our next course of action."


    By now, Shen Yao''s pale face was flushed with anger, making it seem as if steam would start rising out of his ears. At first, he opened his mouth like he was going to berate Yu Feng, but seemed to decide against it at the last second.


    Taking a few deep breathes, he tried to calm himself down. "That... is a good idea. Let''s do as you say."


    Turning back to Xian Chen, he addressed the supposed victim for the first time. "Miss Cai, I am so sorry you had to suffer Xian Chen''s presence. But is it not true that he was harassing you against your wishes?"


    Cai Lingxin seemed rooted to her spot, the attention too much for her. The silver streaks in her hair flashed slightly in the rising moon, as she opened her mouth slightly and mumbled something. "...no....not really...didn''t do anything."


    Everyone cocked their ears, but her whisper barely reached Xian Chen, that''s how quiet she was.


    "Miss Cai, I''m afraid we missed that. Could you please repeat yourself?" a muscle twitched in Shen Yao''s forehead.


    She took a deep breath and repeated her answer, voice still trembling a little, "I-I said, X-Xian Chen did n-not do anything. We were just d-discussing meridian at-attributes."


    Shen Yao and the others were caught a little flat-footed, while Yu Feng just sighed. He suspected it was something like this. He didn''t know what their problem was with Xian Chen, but they seemed incredibly biased against him.


    Shen Yao urged her again, "But Miss Cai, are you sure? Xian Chen has a history for slandering women''s reputations. Who knows how he would twist your time spent together."


    At his words, a little anger seemed to enter Cai Lingxin''s face at last. "Let me assure you, Xian Chen has been a perfect gentleman so far. It is you lot who are behaving like scoundrels."


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    "B-but-" Shen Yao started to protest again, when Yu Feng put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. On his side, Gong Wei too indicated to Shen Yao to stop. His face going through a range of emotions, Shen Yao finally stamped his foot around and turned around with a huff, intending to leave.


    Yu Feng sighed in relief, the situation being somewhat toned down. He was happy they had not come to blows.


    As they made to leave, a gleeful voice called out from behind. "Yes, run away like the cowards you are."


    Shen Yao tensed slightly under his hand, but Yu Feng kept him walking. They were finally done, and he was not going to give in to a few taunts and jabs.


    "And you, the one named Yu Feng. What kind of dog have you been raised as-"


    "Xian Chen, stop," Cai Lingxin cried out.


    "-to be so good at following your master''s orders?"


    Yu Feng''s feet halted, Shen Yao too stopping in his tracks. The pale man winced slightly as Yu Feng''s palm dug into his shoulder, but he was suddenly released harshly, stumbling forward a little. Turning around, he saw Yu Feng striding with his large body towards Xian Chen, who had a vicious smile on his face.


    "Get you with that, did I? What''s a goody two shoes like you gonna do anyways?"


    Yu Feng did not stop advancing, and with each step he took, Xian Chen''s expression grew slightly more unsure. Within seconds, Yu Feng was now chest-to-chest with Xian Chen, looking down at him with his greater height. Anger danced across Yu Feng''s normally calm faces as he faced Xian Chen.


    "You can insult me," Yu Feng began. "I do not take much offense to that. I''ve heard worse than whatever your small mind could come up with. But-" he poked Xian Chen in the chest with his finger hard enough that he took a step back, "- if you ever dare say anything about my family, or how they raised me, I will make sure to show you how a broken nose feels."


    He stared at him for a second more, before leaving Xian Chen and Cai Lingxin standing there. He stalked past Shen Yao and Gong Wei, the former of whom gave him an interested look, before he reached his living space and slammed the door behind him.


    Leaning against the door, Yu Feng took a deep, shuddering breath, his mind now catching up to what he had done. He shouldn''t have lost control like that. Now all he did was antagonise Xian Chen, and maybe even Cai Lingxin. He also essentially went against Shen Yao''s wishes, who clearly wanted to gang up on Xian Chen.


    He slid down the door, resting his head between his knees. God, its barely been two days and he already had made one mistake after another. His family had always been a point of pride for him, and the kids in the village had learnt not to take shots at them. But he would have to learn to control his temper here. He was pretty sure the people in his batch of recruits could not do much to harm him, but stronger ones...


    Shaking his head slightly, he got up off the floor, and turned off the lamp, not in the mood for reading anymore. He decided to apologise to Shen Yao and Cai Lingxin tomorrow. Shen Yao deserved a better friend, and the girl was just caught in the cross-fire. As for Xian Chen... only if he apologised first.


    He drifted off to a fitful sleep, body still aching from the day''s exertions, his family swimming in his dreams.


    <hr>


    Gong Wei did not have to wake Yu Feng up the next morning. His sleep was disturbed enough that the first rays of sunlight falling through his window were enough to wake him up.


    Getting refreshed and dressed, he trudged down to the outpost on the bottom of the residence mountain, where he found Shen Yao and Gong Wei chatting. Looks like they had an early start to the day too.


    Yu Feng wondered on how to approach this? Eventually he just decided to be straight with them and hope for the best. Hailing them from a bit away, he slowly walked up to them and gave them a low bow.


    "Good morning to you two."


    They both looked at each other in amusement at that gesture, but decided to play along. "Good morning to you too, Yu Feng. I am surprised we didn''t have to wake you up today too," Shen Yao jested.


    Yu Feng shuffled his feet in embarrassment. He waited a couple seconds before deciding to just get to the heart of it.


    "I.. uhh... would like to apologise to you, Shen Yao. For yesterday."


    Shen Yao raised an eyebrow. "Whatever do you mean?"


    "Well, I think I got in your way, right? You wanted me to help fight Xian Chen, yet I stopped you from doing so. And then instead, I was the one who almost took things too far."


    There was silence between the three of them for a second, before Gong Wei sighed in exasperation. "Knew something like this would happen. Yu Feng is too straight laced to not worry about yesterday."


    Yu Feng flushed red while Shen Yao laughed lightly at his plight. Walking up to the larger boy, Shen Yao placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don''t worry about it. It was our fault too, for getting into a situation based on preconceived notions. And it was not fair of me to drag you into a situation that had nothing to do with you. So I''d like to apologise too, if you will accept it."


    "But-"


    "No buts," Shen Yao said firmly. "Either accept it, or we can''t call each other friends anymore."


    Yu Feng was trying to wrap his head around all this. Here he was, trying to apologise for his mistake, but was being forced to accept one instead. The world had gone strange.


    Realising that there was no way out of this, Yu Feng smiled softly and replied, "Only if you accept mine."


    Shen Yao laughed and clasped his hand while Gong Wei shook his head fondly on the side. "If you two are done with your melodrama, I suggest we review what we were taught in the class yesterday, before the others arrive."


    Both Yu Feng and Shen Yao''s faces paled a little at the thought of going through Instructor Wu''s exercises again today. With a groan, they sat down around Gong Wei, who started lecturing them upon the importance of body cultivation, looking down at them with an air of smugness.


    He wasn''t even part of Instructor Wu''s special lessons, both Yu Feng and Shen Yao thought as one.