MEIRUO
"Geez… that old man is so wasteful." Meiruo let out a long sigh.
Every year on the eve of the Moon Festival, her Sect Master insists on preparing a feast for fifteen. And every year it was only attended by the Dewdrop Sect disciples. "Most of the brother-disciples are out on subjugation missions. We'll be stuck eating leftovers for days. And Lianhua is such a picky eater."
She scanned the list in her hand again.
Rice
Pork
Sugar
Salt
Spices
Vegetables
Apples
Pears
Persimmons
Tea leaves
Paper...
Her eyes dropped to the bottom of the list.
Wine, crossed out
Wine, crossed out again
WINE!!!, scratched over so many times the paper was nearly torn.
"I crossed it out so many times, and he still wrote it back on the list. You'd think he'd get the hint that we can't afford wine now," she muttered.
"Even a good cut of pork costs ten Ose more this week. It will probably rise again. Hunters can barely catch enough game for the city with the negative Qi outbreak in the North Forest."
She adjusted her basket and began calculating in her head.
"Since the twins are out on subjugation quests, they'll bring back some money after the Moon Festival… I can still afford a decent cut of pork. I'll just get the old man some cheap wine."
She nodded to herself.
It would work.
To Meiruo numbers had always come easily, that was why she handled most of the sect's finances and shopping.
In larger sects, this would be assigned to new recruits or servants. In her sect, even though she was the first disciple, she had to handle every menial task.
Not that she minded.
Anything was better than training or being sent out on subjugation missions.
Lately, her master had been pushing her to take on the role of Chief Disciple. It meant harder training and more dangerous missions. It was not that she lacked strength.
She was the strongest disciple of the Dewdrop Sect.
It's just that she hated training. It left her sweaty, and the brothel ladies told her that the scorching sun would give her wrinkles. Since that day, she started wearing a sun hat much to her master's chagrin.
She didn't like going on dangerous missions not because she couldn't take down the enemy. What she hated was everything else. Days on the road without bathing. Dust clinging to her skin. The stale smell that would not go away.
Becoming the Chief Disciple wasn't aligned with her goal to become a delicate flower.
If only her master would choose one of her brother-disciples.
As she walked past a notice board a crowd had formed around it.
"It's the Wind Slash Sect they're opening recruitment this week."
"They're offering 1,000 Ose a week!"
"That much? For new recruits?"
"We should try!"
"You? Your cultivation isn't even good enough for lower sects. You got no chance with the Wind Slash Sect"
"They're a branch unit of one of the Four Great Sects! Don't embarrass yourself."
"I mean isn't that better than wasting your time in a nameless sect? Might as well give it your all in a well-established one."
"If you're dreaming might as well dream high go for the Myriad Jade Sect instead!"
Meiruo slowed, glancing at a young man in the crowd. His Qi burned like the summer sun. It was wild and untamed. He looked like a walking calamity.
A thought crossed her mind.
If her master took in a new disciple, she could delay becoming Chief Disciple for about another year.
MINGZHE
A year had passed since he left home and traveled east. Now he finally arrived in another small, remote city of Aishan. He could not believe his luck. There was a recruitment happening right in the city.
He had dreamed for so long, to become a cultivator and reaching the highest summit of strength. He practically bounced with excitement as he joined the people crowding around the Wind Slash Sect recruitment board.
Coming from a remote village, he was not familiar with the sects in the city. All he knew was that to survive in this part of the world, he had to get into a sect. He listened closely to the conversation around him.
"I mean, isn't that better than wasting your time in some nameless sect? Might as well give it your all in a well-established one."
"If you are dreaming, might as well dream high. Go for the Myriad Jade Sect instead!"
"The Myriad Jade Sect? What sect is that? Do you know how I can get in?" Mingzhe asked no one in particular. His eyes were bright with excitement.
A polished-looking nobleman laughed at him. "You? Getting into the Myriad Jade Sect?"
The crowd parted and whispered. "It is Young Master Kai from the Yun family."
"No way! They say he has a high Qi-affinity with Weapon-Qi."
"Weapon-Qi? That basically guarantees a spot in a mid-level sect."
"The Yun family has been top cultivators in Anshan City for years. His eldest brother even got into the Iron Fist Sect."
Mingzhe frowned. "What is it to you if I want to join the Myriad Jade Sect?"
Kai laughed and shook his head. "You must be new here. Word of advice: do not get your hopes up. The Myriad Jade Sect only recruits from noble families. A country bumpkin like you is not even fit to guard their gate."
Mingzhe's face turned red. "Who are you calling a country bumpkin!"
Kai smirked. "You think just because you can stand here, you can get anywhere? Keep dreaming, country boy."
"You—" Mingzhe said lunging at him.
Kai didn't even flinch but he shifted his weight back half a step, his robes swaying. His foot slid across the stone in a smooth arc. Then he pivoted.
A quick two-step turn.
Mingzhe felt his own momentum betray him. His outstretched arm was brushed aside with the back of Kai's hand.
Kai took this moment to strike, which was a force strong enough to redirect Mingzhe.
The world tilted for Mingzhe and his foot missed its landing. The next thing he knew, the hard stone rushed up to meet him.
Thud.
A sharp jolt shot through his shoulder as he hit the ground, breath knocked from his chest. Dust puffed up around him.
A few people in the crowd snickered.
Kai didn't even look down. He straightened his sleeve, calm, as if stepping around a puddle.
Before Mingzhe could even get to his feet, the gates to the Wind Slash Sect recruitment manor opened. A booming voice rang out.
"Everyone! The recruitment of the Wind Slash Sect is now open!"
Kai elegantly entered as if he owned the place and the crowd surged forward after him excitement and chatter filling the air.
"That guy! I'll show him just you wait!" Mingzhe, dusting himself, crossed the gated pillar of the Wind Slash Sect recruitment courtyard.
The courtyard was massive. Stone tiles stretched as far as the eye could see, lined with training dummies, wooden weapons. Disciples of all ages ran between stations, practicing strikes and holding formation. The scent of incense mixed with sweat and the faint hum of Qi made the air feel alive.
A gong rang loudly. A booming voice echoed across the courtyard. "Candidates please proceed to the registration area! The recruitment test will now begin!"