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Chapter 424: The First One
🕑 Added 2024-10-31 16:21:53 +0000 UTCDuring the arduous journey of exile, many members of the Xuan Yuan family perished.
Fortunately, Xuan Yuan Haoyue and her mother managed to survive.
Unfortunately, her father and half-brother survived as well.
Upon arriving at their destination, her father and brother were assigned to work as laborers in the city, while she and her mother were left to manage the household.
Xuan Yuan Haoyue gradually learned how to navigate life in this remote, harsh place and picked up the skills to handle various household chores. She learned to haggle, to be frugal, and to make ends meet in this modest life.
Though life was impoverished, Xuan Yuan Haoyue found herself content with it.
Her father and brother, exhausted from their daily labor, had little energy left to meddle in her marriage plans, and for once, she felt at peace.
If things could continue this way, she thought, it wouldn’t be so bad.
——
At dawn the next day, the hustle and bustle resumed in the village of Shuigou.
By the time curious onlookers had once again gathered at the foot of North Mountain, forming layers of spectators, there were noticeably fewer people on the Wenxin Road. Though still crowded, the overlapping shadows of yesterday had dissipated significantly.
People speculated that many must have been sent out between last night and this morning. Though there was no way to confirm who might have passed the test, the crowd couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment that they couldn’t witness the successful candidates firsthand.
As the villagers discussed whether anyone had passed the trials of Lingxian Sect, Yuan Qing, who was stationed beneath the peach tree, welcomed the first person to pass and ascend the mountain.
Bai Shu opened his eyes to a world of white mist.
He blinked in confusion, looking down at his hands.
They were clean, with no traces of blood or dirt. Even the grime that had been embedded under his fingernails from years of begging was gone.
Then, he remembered. Before arriving at Shuigou Village, he had spent a long time washing himself by the river.
Looking back, he saw the silhouettes of countless people still standing along the peach blossom path.
So, it was all a dream? he wondered as he clenched his fists.
Had he passed, or had he failed?
Just then, a man’s voice came from within the mist.
“Congratulations, you’ve successfully passed the trial of the Wenxin Road.”
Yuan Qing emerged from the white fog, smiling kindly at the young man in his ragged clothes.
Bai Shu turned toward the voice, disbelief coloring his expression.
“I… passed?”
Yuan Qing didn’t mock his surprise. With a gentle smile, he confirmed, “Yes, and you’re the first to pass. According to the rules of Lingxian Sect, you have the privilege of choosing your master.”
Yuan Qing couldn't help but feel impressed. Recalling how many days it had taken him to pass the Wenxin Road back when he first joined, he marveled at this boy’s remarkable determination.
Pulling out a quill and a ledger from his robes, Yuan Qing asked, “What’s your name? I’ll record it.”
It took Bai Shu a moment to fully absorb the joy of his success. He bowed deeply to Yuan Qing, his face glowing with excitement.
“My name is Bai Shu, like the medicinal herb.” His name had been given to him by a traveling physician long ago, and though most people only called him “hey” or “little beggar,” he had never forgotten it.
As Yuan Qing jotted down the name on the first line of the register, he took note of the young boy standing before him.
Bai Shu, at around thirteen or fourteen years of age, was in the midst of a growth spurt. His body was tall and skinny, and his worn, tattered sleeves and trousers were noticeably too short for him. His straw sandals, however, seemed newly made, sturdy, and well-fitted.
Though his attire was shabby, Yuan Qing noticed that the boy stood tall and straight, as if by habit, like a resilient pine tree.
Seeing Bai Shu still holding his bow, waiting for further instruction, Yuan Qing quickly lifted him with a gentle wave of spiritual energy.
“There’s no need for formalities.”
He then proceeded with the formal process, asking, “Bai Shu, do you wish to join Lingxian Sect, to become a member of our sect and dedicate yourself to cultivation?”
Bai Shu didn’t hesitate. Bowing deeply again, he responded loudly, “I, Bai Shu, am willing! Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will dedicate myself to the sect and am willing to face any challenge for its sake!”
Yuan Qing, after sending a message to the Zawu Hall with a transmission talisman, closed the register with a smile.
“Follow me into the sect.”
Without further ado, he turned and walked into the mist, and Bai Shu hurriedly followed.
He thought it would take some time to reach the sect, but as soon as he stepped into the mist, the world around him transformed.
Gone was the white fog. Instead, he found himself in a lush, vibrant landscape of flourishing greenery, clear waters, and elegantly arranged red brick and green-tiled buildings. Colorful flowers bloomed in every direction, swaying gently in the breeze. Petals from the sturdy peach tree beside him fluttered down like a soft rain, adding to the picturesque scenery.
Even the humble straw hut before him exuded a rustic charm.
Feeling as if he had entered another world, Bai Shu followed Yuan Qing without a word.
Rather than give him a tour of the sect or hand out the usual newcomer’s supplies, Yuan Qing led Bai Shu straight to the dormitory area on Chujing Road.
The area was still mostly empty, with just a few large straw huts.
Yuan Qing took him inside one of the huts and explained, “After all the trials are finished, the sect will formally register the new disciples and hold a ceremony. For now, you can rest here. Meals will be delivered three times a day. There’s a formation in the hut that keeps the temperature comfortable. Rest well. I’ll leave you now.”
Seeing Yuan Qing about to depart, Bai Shu, who had been curiously inspecting the warm interior of the hut, hurriedly bowed again.
“Thank you, Immortal.”
Yuan Qing, halfway out the door, turned back with a smile. “From now on, we are all fellow disciples. There’s no need to be so formal. You can call me Senior Brother Yuan for now.”
Bai Shu gratefully replied, “Thank you, Senior Brother Yuan.”
“Oh, one more thing. You’re free to explore anywhere that isn’t restricted.”
“Yes, thank you, Senior Brother Yuan.”
After settling Bai Shu in, Yuan Qing hurried back to Zawu Hall.
“Everyone, I’m back!”
Inside the hall, in addition to the usual staff, a group of sect members who didn’t normally work there had gathered after hearing the news that someone had passed the trial. As soon as they saw Yuan Qing, they swarmed around him.
“Well? How was it? Don’t leave out any details!”
They had refrained from crowding the new disciple, worried about overwhelming him, but their curiosity had been building to a breaking point.
Seeing their eager faces, Yuan Qing wasted no time and recounted the entire experience, down to the number of patches on the boy’s clothes and the frayed edges of his sleeves. He didn’t miss a single detail, not even the state of the boy’s sandals.
He continued describing everything until he had finished recounting how he had escorted Bai Shu to the Chujing Road dormitory and left him there.
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