It's hard.
His eyes felt heavy, as if filled with lead, and opening them was a struggle. His mouth was dry, he was dying of thirst. And his throat… his throat burned like hell; a little more and he would have cried.
Adding to his torment, the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and the cloyingly sweet aroma of the blue flower crown resting on his head.
How did this happen? It hurts. Remember, remember! So, they offered me a drink… Damn, I should've refused. It was the first time I had ever drunk, but the wine was so delicious! I couldn't help myself: just a little, then a little more, until I got this nasty hangover… Ah! My head!
"What a mess…"
A voice echoed through the musty space, but he couldn't understand where it was coming from — his senses were dulled, making him feel as if he were floating.
"Aah!"
"Again!"
Thud.
"Get up, you bastard! How dare you be late again?!"
"I can't…" he barely managed to whisper with dry lips.
"How much did you drink yesterday?"
"I don't know."
"Idiot. What were you thinking, getting drunk like a pig? Obviously not with your head, because it's empty."
"I'm sorry…"
Tu Heng lay on the floor again, warming the dirt beneath him with his body heat. Dirt for a floor. How poor… How poor. As soon as I become a cultivator, I'll move into a luxurious palace, and then a beautiful wife won't be far away…
"Huh?"
"Stop dreaming. Let's go."
A calloused hand grabbed him by the neck and hauled him up. Before he could react, his body was lifted and thrown onto a broad back. His head rested on a stone-like shoulder, and the wreath bounced comically but stayed in place, continuing to emit its cloying sweetness.
"A chance like this only comes once in a lifetime. Don't miss it."
"Thank you."
No one else spoke. Rushing out of the house on the outskirts, Zheng Te, carrying his burden, sprinted toward the Nan coast, leaving a small dent with every step.
***
The soft murmur of water echoed along the coast. The residents of Windy had gathered in the same place where yesterday the village youth had dug everything to pieces. But now — as if by magic, perhaps the magic of cultivators — the shore had regained its original, untouched appearance.
Yet this time something was different: along with the residents of Windy, a crowd of birds, large and small, had gathered on the coast, as if distant relatives had come to visit. Their collective song created a hellish cacophony that hurt everyone's ears. They crowded together, shed fluff, and behaved barbarically.
One bird, as tall as a grown man's knee, ignored all decency, walked up to Zhude, and looked at him arrogantly with its thin black eyes. It lifted its head proudly, shook its three colorful feathers — and bit his hand.
"Ah!"
He jumped back, nearly falling.
"Damn bird!"
Zhude was already rolling up his sleeves, ready to retaliate. But despite his fury, the bird wasn't afraid. On the contrary, it spread its wings, fluffed the feathers on its chest, and approached step by step, letting out a guttural hiss.
"Stop, brother."
"Go away, Zhuge. I have unfinished business with this bird. Today, only one of us will remain on this shore — her or me!"
"No, just look."
Holding his brother back, Zhuge pointed to the main flock. In the center stood three disciples from Luo He.
And at that moment, the only female disciple looked at them. She smiled faintly and waved her finger in their direction. Zhude grimaced, clutching his head, and moved away from her gaze, throwing an angry look at the bird — which responded with a vicious caw. Zhuge bowed, fist to palm, then followed his brother out of sight.
"Cute boys," she said, turning to Ma Jian.
He was struggling to tie a cloth marked with a cross around the neck of a long-necked bird. It twisted, turned, and fluttered constantly. All Ma Jian could do was wipe the sweat from his brow and glance nervously at the last member of their small team.
"Don't worry, head boy. As you can see, we didn't have time to prepare either." Sun glared at Ma Jian, who lowered his head and stopped looking their way. "So it would be hypocritical of us to scold Tu Heng for his tactlessness."
"Your nobility knows no bounds. Once again, I apologize, Lord Sun. Tu Heng is a good boy, just a little wild. I'm sure he'll apologize in person as soon as—"
"Headman, Tu Heng has arrived!"
"Oh, really. Let me see this rascal…" He stopped mid-sentence.
Several boys of Tu Heng's age were wrestling him away from Zheng Te. But due to someone's carelessness, Tu Heng fell into the mud again. They quickly lifted his swaying body and tried to set him on his feet, but he staggered and fell once more.
"Zhude, grab him!"
Zhe Ming shouted as he ran to Zheng Te.
"Is he okay? Can he continue?"
"I don't know. The little bastard drank too much. So, while there's still time, try shaking him up — maybe it'll help."
Hearing this, Zhe Ming sighed. "At least we still have time."
"I'm done!" Ma Jian threw his arms up joyfully.
"Excellent. Everyone, please come here," Sun called out.
"Or not," Zhe Ming muttered, shaking his head. He waved for the others to follow.
"The test will take place in the nearest forest to the west. Follow them and don't stray: the journey won't be long."
When he finished, Sun and the two disciples headed in the indicated direction. Behind them, the flock of birds rose into the sky, loudly flapping their wings as they soared after the three. Then the villagers set off, carrying bags, bows, and bundles of cloth. Behind them walked the young participants, deliberately slowing down to give Tu Heng time to recover. The birds circling overhead occasionally glanced at the wreath on his head.
***
The wet shore gave way to a grassy path, gradually overtaken by vegetation. The farther they went, the more low trees and signs of animal activity they saw. But the hunters noticed that wildlife seemed to have vanished: no tracks on the path, no familiar rustling from the bushes.
Others looked back now and then — including Tu Heng. Holding on to Zhude, he trudged along, slowly sobering as he glanced at the nature around him. The smells of foliage, clean air, and distant life refreshed his mind a little.
Gradually, he steadied himself, now holding on to Zhude more out of caution than necessity.
Thank all the gods in this world.
Tu Heng's eyes almost gleamed: to fail the sect entrance trial just because he got drunk like a pig… I'm afraid I would've killed myself the next day.
Fortunately, the young body he inhabited had almost recovered, and by the time they reached the end, he would be completely fine—
"Ah!"
A sharp sting above his ear. He turned.
Flapping tiny wings, a little bird — the size of two palms, fluffy, with button eyes and a head like a stone — stared at him. The blue-and-yellow bird's eyes burned with greed, saliva dripping from its beak. Without hesitation, it lunged straight at the wreath on his head.
"You little pest!"
"Chick-chick-chick!"
"Aaagh!"
Zhude watched the battle with a frown. The man and the bird were evenly matched: one could swing his arm, the other could only peck and scratch. A senseless conflict, born of nothing, escalating into a deadly feud.
At least there's something to entertain me, he thought, observing the small war.
Soon others noticed too. Many of Tu Heng's peers — who had been silent under the pressure of the upcoming test — began glancing over. They tried to hide their laughter and whisper predictions about who would win: Tu Heng or the fat little bird.
"We're here!" came the shout from ahead.
Everyone stopped — including the combatants. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tu Heng delivered a final slap to the bird's head, sending it tumbling to the ground with a squeak.
"Pee!"
"Yes!" Tu Heng clenched his fist triumphantly, looking down at the fallen bird with condescension. The blue bird didn't respond: with one last cold glare, it flapped its wings and flew toward the cultivators.
"Enough games. Let's go," Zhude said, dragging him forward.
They went to the front row, where all the participants were already gathered. In front of them stood Sun, surrounded by a flock of about sixteen birds.
"Your third test: catch a bird and take the cloth tied around its neck."
"Huh?"
Only now did Tu Heng realize that the birds circling overhead had pieces of cloth with crosses tied around their necks — including the blue one.
"But unlike the previous trials, this one has several restrictions," Sun continued, raising his finger. "First: you cannot seriously injure or kill the birds. Second: you cannot transfer the cloth you obtain to someone else. We have methods to find out if you do, so don't try."
He glanced at each of them, and Zhe Ming stepped forward.
"Lord Sun, forgive me, but… won't this test be too difficult for ordinary people like us? Birds can fly, after all."
"Don't worry," Sun answered. "Birds, like you, have their limitations. First, they cannot leave the forest. Second, they will not fly above the treetops. This confines you and them to an area of twenty li. It is completely safe — we have already taken care of the wild animals there."
"Any more questions?"
"No, Lord Sun," Zhe Ming replied, returning to the others.
Sun nodded, then waved his hand. The birds flew into the forest.
"Then the test begins. Go, and don't miss your chance."