Within Qing Xu hall, the eight disciples were brought up to stand in front of the peak masters, each six meters apart from each other. Ji KeQing and the other 60 more qualified disciples all already had a new home. They stood to the side, watching and smiling faintly. The important figures of each peak along with Wen RenMu were also present.
Xi Fang spoke slowly: âYouâve worked hard to climb all this way. Your effort is commendable. Itâs unfortunate that there are many Qing Xu sword sect disciples, too many for the s.p.a.ce that we have left. Therefore, we have a proposal. Only eight peaks still have room to receive a single new disciple.â
As the eight individuals listened, they immediately relaxed. However they still didnât know which peak they would enter and still felt somewhat anxious.
Xi Fang looked around at the eight individuals, saying: âYou eight are equally matched when it comes to apt.i.tude and cultivation. At this time, Yu Rong peak, Ba Zhan peak, Huang Hua peak, Hong Xiu peak, Bei Yan peak, Nan Yan peak, Hui Shi peak, and Xi Zhu peak each have one spot. (1) According to custom, you will have an opportunity to compete in order to formally be accepted as an apprentice.â
His paused and saw the eight disciples scatter, each to one of the eight pillars which had its own small blue flag inserted into the side bearing the name of one of the peaks. Xi Fang spoke: âWhichever flag you get is the peak that youâll be able to enter.â
Naturally everyone wanted gifted disciples, however these eight mediocre talents werenât worth fighting over. These last few disciples barely had sufficient qualifications to be accepted into the sect and so they grabbed the opportunity to be formally become a disciple. These people were said to be no good and even a burden. Rather than to forcibly divide them up amongst each peak themselves. It was better to see what their own desires were. If they had acquaintances on any of the peaks, it would be better to leave them to their guidance.
At this time, a man in white clothes and another in black entered Qing Xu hall. Not wanting to disturb Xi Fang, they politely stood to the side. Standing by them, a disciple mocked them in a low voice: âSenior brother Liu, Senior brother Jun, why are you here? Your shifu hasnât arrived yet.â
These two men were Liu QianMo and Jun YanZhi. Liu QianMo looked at the backs of the eight new disciples, his vision lingering momentarily on Wen Jing: âSect Master Xi asked me to come over, saying that Hui Shi peak would be taking in a new disciple today.â
âOne of these eight people.â
The disciple laughed, âRegardless of what your shifu prefers? Why the sudden request to accept a disciple?â
Liu QianMo didnât respond.
Currently, Hui Shi peak only had nine disciples. However, in three years time, each peak would be required to send ten disciples for a.s.sessment. As the lead disciple of Hui Shi peak he was deeply concerned. After some thought, he felt there was no other way than to stealthily request from Sect Master Xi that the next time the sect opened its gates, that they would recruit some disciples for Hui Shi peak. Since they would be placed, it was likely that the apt.i.tude of these disciples would be poorâŚâŚ
Ah, could it be he still needed to pick one out?
The disciple whispered with a smile: âOnce you pick one out, Iâm afraid that theyâll burst into tears.â
Liu QianMo became angry after hearing that, but there was nothing he could say in return, and so with a cold face he was forced to tolerate it. He was here today to recruit a disciple, not to allow himself to get angry and start arguing. The back of that youngster really resembled Lu Jing from Qing Quan villageâŚ..
Jun YanZhi was indifferently looking at Lu Jing while thinking, when by chance he saw him turn his head. Their eyes met. With a blank look, the youngster foolishly stared back.
Liu QianMo smiled: âIt really is Lu JingâŚ..â
He looked at the boyâs expression and then looked at Jun YanZhi, his brow wrinkled a bit as he softly teased: âEh, this foolish young man seems to worship you. Thereâs no harm in using your s.e.x appeal and sacrificing yourself so that he would be willing to join us. Your attractive appearance is also one of your good points.â
Jun YanZhi smoothly changed the subject: âEldest senior brother, what explanation are you going to give shifu for accepting a tenth disciple?â
Liu QianMo frowned: âSect master Xi will be placing him. Shifu wonât be able to say anything. If shifu is unwilling to accept him, then I will accept him as a disciple myself.â
âŚ.. at the most, the punishment wonât exceed a few days of confinementâŚ. there wasnât any need to bring the topic up again, it only made him feel uncomfortable.
âLiu QianMo and Jun YanZhi never would have thought the Lu Jing they rescued in Qing Quan village possessed the rarely seen in a millennium Three Yang body. Numerous peak masters repeatedly fought over him and eventually he was taken in by Tian Heng peak. Because Liu QianMo was worried about the peak a.s.sess.e.m.e.nt in three years and being short of the ten people required, he requested Xi Fang a.s.sign a disciple to Hui Shi peak. No one was willing to take their flag and after one of the disciples was ultimately defeated, they unwillingly, without any better option, he had to accept the Hui Shi peak flag and follow after Liu QianMo.â
ââexcerpt fromăA Calamity for All Living Thingsă Chapter 13
Wen Jing touched his nose, clearly aware that no one would be willing to grab the Hui Shi peak flag. Lu YunFei had desperately wanted to ascend to the heavens with one step, but he himself was determined to enter Hui Shi peak.
A Qing Xu disciple spoke with a clear voice: âYou are limited to the time of one incense stick, begin!â
The eight individuals did not stop to think and immediately rushed out. The atmosphere suddenly became lively. Within Qing Xu hall, everyone was full of smiles as they quietly commented. Almost as if they were watching a play they observed the actions of those eight individuals. Of the eight, three charged off to Xi Fangâs seat of Yu Rong peak. Two others rushed over to the wealthiest of the peaks, Zhan peak, and promptly began to scuffle together as they fought fiercely. One who didnât like fighting, quietly headed to Xi Zhu peak, and without any compet.i.tion, took the flag. You Si, standing and watching for a while, calmly headed to Bei Yan peakâs flag and pulled it down. Wen Jing laughed to himself. He had long ago rushed to Hui Shi peak.
A few people in the crowed cried out with shocked voices: âLook, someone actually went for Hui Shi peakâs flag.â
Liu QianMo was ecstatic. He said quietly to Jun YanZhi: âThat silly young man of yours really wanted to come join us!â
Jun YanZhi, without batting an eyelid, said: âHeâs not my silly young man.â
Liu QianMo ignored him, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he attentively watched Wen Jingâs every movement.
Wen Jing had never learned any movement techniques. He was also young and rather short. He looked up at the flag inserted into the pillar high above him. He jumped several times but was unable to reach. The crowd roared with laughter. Fortunately, no one was interested in coming over to compete for the flag. Grabbing onto the pillar, he used its carvings for support as he climbed up little by little. Liu QianMo watched anxiously, rooting for him in secret.
Just then, a grey figure suddenly appeared, leaping up to grasp the handle of the flag.
Wen Jing was shocked. He cried out âAhâ. Panicking, he grabbed at the sky blue flag and fell simultaneously with the grey clothed youth. The grey clothed youth spoke with an angry voice: âGive me the flag!â Without an explanation he shot a green light at Wen Jing. Wen Jing, rolling and crawling, hurriedly dodged the dangerous strike still clutching the flag to himself.
In Qing Xu hall everyoneâs jaws had dropped. A few young disciples quietly whispered.
âTo unexpectedly have two people fighting over Hui Shi peakâs flag, what on earth is going on?â
âWouldnât they normally avoid it unless they had no other choice?â
âAh, no one is interested in Hong Xiu peak.â
Liu QianMo almost couldnât believe it. He had mixed feelings. He was worried for Wen Jing, but also thrilled to deathâŚâŚ. people were actually willing to fight each other to join Hui Shi peak.
By this time, of the eight peaks, six flags had already been won. Wen Jing and this grey clothed youth were fighting for Hui Shi peakâs flag while only Hong Xiu peak remained as lacking attention. Hong Xiu peak had a long history. The first head of the peak was considered to be Qing XuZiâs most exceptional disciple. However, due to being framed for partic.i.p.ating in the sect war, he was compelled to run away. For the past several thousand years, Hong Xiu peak had been mocked by the heavens, its talents withered with no sign of improvement. The current peak master Zhao ZhuTian was very short and fat. At this moment he had narrowed eyes and a bad expression.
Liu QianMo said to Jun YanZhi: âMaster Zhao is very concerned with saving face. It seems he must be very angry that no one wishes to join Hong Xiu peak.â
Jun YanZhi didnât respond. Sure enough, with a cold snort, Zhao ZhuTianâs short and shout body abruptly leapt into the air and grabbed Hong Xiu peakâs flag. With a crack the flag snapped and he threw it to the ground and sped away.
Wen Jing yelled at the grey clothed youth: âWhy do you want to join Hui Shi peak?â
âHui Shi peak? Donât lie to me!â The grey clothed youth angrily responded.
It was only Yu Rong peakâs flag that hadnât been won. In a blink of the eye the other six flags had been won. One onlooker noticed this youngster at that time began to crawl up the pillar. He had panicked and believed that the remaining ignored flag belonged to Hui Shi peak and so ran to take it away.
âAre you blind! This is Hui Shi peak!â
âBulls.h.i.t!â
Although he said this, the grey clothed youth was still unconvinced and unfolded the flag only to see written the two words âHui Shiâ on its surface. He cursed, released the flag, and turned around to rush at a different pillar. Wen Jing hastily pulled the flag to himself and smoothed out the wrinkled surface.
The grey clothed youth ran a few steps only to see the pillar empty and a broken flag bearing âHong Xiuâ on the ground with its master nowhere in sight. Stunned for a moment, with utter panic, he anxiously returned in order to steal the flag in Wen Jingâs arms. How shameless! Wen Jing stubbornly clung to the flag. Without a flag, he wouldnât be able to enter Qing Xu sword sect. The grey clothed youth cried out in anger and shot out a fierce green ray of light. This was the most low-level attack technique, Piercing Ray.
From not very far away came a shout: âLu Ling, watch out!â
âd.a.m.n it!â Wen Jing yelped.
He didnât know any techniques, how could he defend himself?! Frightened half to death, Wen Jing evaded to the best of his ability, only to end up mercilessly getting hit by the green light again and again. When would it end?
Just then a Qing Xu sect member called out with a ringing voice: âThe time of an incense stick has ended!â
Hearing this, the disciple nearly burst into tears from rage. He became even fiercer and wished he could kill Wen Jing on the spot. Wen Jing was miserable. His shoulder, carelessly hit by the green ray, immediately felt a stab of pain.
His image, helplessly running for his life, as Wen Jing desperately escaped here and there provoked a few people to quiet laughter. In a split second, a sudden white light poured forth from the side causing the grey clothed youth to cry out in alarm. Wen Jing stared at the source and saw the silhouette of a young man standing in front of him. Like a kind of wordless cool breeze, he blocked movement of the grey clothed youth: âPlease spare this little brother.â
Liu QianMo promptly spoke up: âReporting to the clan head, Hui Shi peakâs flag has already been won! I ask the clan head to make a determination!â
Xi Fang indifferently looked towards the mild and refined man in black clothes. With a lingering voice that spread through Qing Xu hall he said: âThe outcome has been fixed, no need to continue fighting.â
Wen Jing promptly hugged the flag as he got to his feet, patting the dust off of his body. He held his shoulder, his face lighting up like a peach blossom. The grey clothed youth froze blankly in place for a while as he shed a few tears before he also stood up.
1. I looked at the peak names and I was pretty iffy on the meanings, stuff like North Goose and South Goose, Elegantly Red, Jade Appearance, Eight chops, Thin Bamboo, Chrysanthemum, etc. So I left them in the original pinyin. *shrug* I also changed them over to peak instead of feng to make it more clear that these are different mountains.