Chapter 21

As night fell, Qi Yunhe arrived at the crescent moon pond to guide his disciples in their cultivation, and mentioned that the disciples of Lu Shizhong and Zhang Jinghe had all gathered. The head disciple of Xian Du Sect, Xun Ye, would come to visit them the next day.

Qi Yunhe, the unkempt one, Lu Shizhong with his long beard, and Zhang Jinghe in his yellow robe, these three were all outer disciples of Xian Du Sect. Every three years, they selected a batch of trial disciples and taught them the basic Daoist techniques.

Yue Zhiwan reported to his master about Xu Li's arrogant behavior.

Lu Shizhong's lineage had eight disciples, and Xu Li was the fourth. He was always accustomed to luxury and found the Ming-numbered stone room too crowded. He wanted to live alone and initially set his sights on the Yang-numbered room, but Lu Shizhong rejected him. Zhang Jinghe was nearby, so he didn't dare to think about the Cang-numbered room. While he was throwing a tantrum, he saw Yue Zhiwan and others. Xu Li remembered Yue Zhiwan, who had served as his stable boy in the northwest border army. In Xu Li's eyes, a mere servant doing menial tasks didn't deserve any respect. He demanded that they give up the Ying-numbered room.

Yue Zhiwan didn't dare to agree but was forced by Xu Li's tyranny to kneel and beg. The Song brothers couldn't stand it and rushed forward to argue with him. They were stopped by Xin Laoyao, who bullied them. If Wei Shiqi hadn't arrived in time, it would have been hard to know how it would end.

After hearing the details, Qi Yunhe didn't show any indignation. Where there are people, there is a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry). Conflicts among trial disciples are common, and as long as they don't go too far, the elders usually don't intervene. He just reminded Wei Shiqi that it's fine to fight, but not to kill, maim, or damage the meridians and acupoints. Beyond that, if you fight, you fight; if you can't win, hide and cultivate. When you become stronger, come back and fight again. However, being too aggressive and combative can leave a bad impression on the elders, and the balance is up to you to grasp.

"Seventeen, you did a good job today," he praised Wei Shiqi at the end.

Qi Yunhe didn't blame Yue Zhiwan for being servile, and Yue Zhiwan didn't take it seriously. The Song brothers, however, were muttering to themselves, thinking that the eldest brother lacked the backbone of the second brother.

Wei Shiqi took out a piece of animal skin and asked his master. He said he had hunted some game on Tian Du Peak, which looked like a rat but was the size of a hare. Qi Yunhe recognized it as a brocade rat, a common small animal in the mountains that feeds on fruits and roots. It has a short lifespan, gives birth to a dozen or more offspring at a time, and can grow to about five pounds as an adult. Its fur has a yellow brocade pattern, which can be tanned to make gloves and boots.

Song Qi widened his eyes and asked in surprise, "Brother, brother, you ate a rat?"

Wei Shiqi looked at him, finding it hard to explain, "This isn't a rat, it's a brocade rat."

Song Qi was confused, "A brocade rat is just a rat!"

"…Brother, have you seen an ox plowing the fields?"

"Seen." Although Song Qi came from a wealthy family and didn't work the land, he had seen yellow oxen and water buffalo.

"Then do you know about rhinos?"

Song Qi proudly said, "Yes, in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, rhino horns can be used as medicine."

"Oh." Wei Shiqi didn't say anything more.

Song Qi was completely baffled, while Song Ji covered his mouth and chuckled, his stomach hurting from laughter.

"Alright, get some rest early. Build up your energy, and don't be rude in front of your uncle tomorrow."

Before leaving, Qi Yunhe glared at Song Qi, "A rhino isn't an ox, and the old Daoist isn't your father."

Song Qi understood the first part but not the second. He didn't dare to ask his brother and looked at his younger brother and sister. Qin Zhen smiled but said nothing.

The next morning, as the first light of dawn appeared, Yue Zhiwan fetched water, gathered firewood, and started the fire. He cooked porridge in a large iron pot and turnips in a small iron pot, preparing breakfast. Everyone knew that the head disciple would come, so they got up, washed, and took their bowls and chopsticks from the woodshed. They served themselves porridge and ate turnips and salted sauce, having a simple breakfast.

Xu Li patted Yue Zhiwan's shoulder and said, "You're good at doing menial tasks. From now on, chopping wood, fetching water, cooking, and cleaning will all be your job."

Yue Zhiwan didn't take offense and readily agreed. The disciples of the Lu and Zhang lineages looked at him with disdain, having seen people without backbone and ambition, but never someone who willingly degraded themselves. The Song brothers felt sorry for their brother and turned away, not looking at him. Wei Shiqi, however, didn't look down on Yue Zhiwan. He knew that those who could endure had their terrifying aspects.

It wasn't the first or the fifteenth of the month, and on Xian Yun Peak, Xun Ye struck the cloud board to gather the inner disciples and listen to Lu Shizhong and Zhang Jinghe evaluate the new disciples. When it came to Qi Yunhe's lineage, he took over.

By mid-morning, after the meeting in the Three Pure Ones Hall, the gates of Chang Ying Temple opened, and the Xian Du disciples dispersed in groups. Xun Ye, Lu Shizhong, and Zhang Jinghe descended Xian Yun Peak to visit this year's trial disciples. Xun Ye led the way, followed by Lu Shizhong and Zhang Jinghe. As they walked past the trial disciples, Xun Ye occasionally asked a few questions, and those questioned were flattered, their faces beaming with obsequious smiles.

Wei Shiqi found it amusing, remembering his first day of military training at university when the party secretary visited the base to greet the new students. He thought, times change, but human nature remains the same.

Xu Li, however, was frivolous and complained to Xun Ye about the harsh conditions on Tian Du Peak, saying he couldn't sleep well, eat well, and had no maids to serve him, making Lu Shizhong somewhat embarrassed. He glared at Xu Li, but Xu Li didn't take it seriously, grinning and looking at Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen kept her head down, her eyes fixed on her nose, and her mind on her heart, showing no reaction.

Xun Ye knew that Xu Li was Deng Yuantong's nephew, with four innate acupoints and a metal affinity, and had decent potential. He gently said, "As long as you form a Daoist embryo, all of these will be yours."

Xu Li grinned and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Uncle."

Xun Ye looked at him deeply, seeing the shadow of Deng Yuantong on his face. He believed that with Deng Yuantong's methods, he would surely send his nephew into the inner sect.

Xun Ye intentionally or unintentionally ignored Wei Shiqi and Qin Zhen, showing no interest in the two disciples mentioned by his junior brother Qi. This was out of caution—Zhang Jinghe always maintained a neutral stance, but Lu Shizhong's attitude was ambiguous, and Xun Ye wasn't sure if he would side with Deng Yuantong.

Xun Ye's visit to the trial disciples was just a formality, a gesture. He didn't think that a few questions could reveal a person's character. The waves of time would wash away the weak, and he wondered how many would still be in Xian Du after three years. They didn't understand the difficulty of forming a Daoist embryo. On Xian Yun Peak, there were only sixteen inner disciples, and among the outer disciples performing labor, there were only thirty-three.

After Xun Ye left, Lu Shizhong and Zhang Jinghe stayed behind to teach their disciples the *Taiyi Foundation Building Scripture*. Wei Shiqi didn't plan to stay at the foot of the mountain and asked Qin Zhen if she wanted to go to the Bitter Spring to cultivate. Qin Zhen disliked Xu Li's lecherous gaze and readily agreed.

Wei Shiqi greeted Yue Zhiwan, fetched some flour, salt, and vegetables from the woodshed, packed them in a bag, and carried it on his back. He held Qin Zhen's hand and headed for Tian Du Peak.

Xu Li jumped out to chat, "Where are you going?" His eyes kept darting to Qin Zhen, feeling itchy.

Wei Shiqi ignored him, lifted Qin Zhen onto his shoulder, and disappeared into the dense forest, swaying left and right.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Sister, wait, I'll go too…" Xu Li's voice grew faint, far behind.

Qin Zhen sighed, troubled, "This guy is really annoying, like a fly." She was usually polite, but this time she spoke ill of someone behind their back because she was familiar with her brother and didn't need to hide it, and she was truly annoyed by the constant harassment.

"Next time, tell him you're a good person…"

"Will that work?"

"No, it's just a joke."

Qin Zhen thought for a long time but didn't find it funny.