"How immoral!" San Yumo spat out without thinking as the hall doors closed. The timid young man flinched but said nothing to defend himself.
"Who is this useless disciple?" San Yumo barked. Shen Guo's eyes flickered briefly, glancing at the young man's uniform. It was obvious now, San Yumo was openly mocking Jun Peak. So, the rumors about the tension between Chuangzhou and Jun Peak were clearly true.
The new disciples already recognized the crouching boy near the portal. Wearing a mask and the uniform of Jun Peak, he could only be Yu Lingyu, the clownish poet. Yu Lingyu bowed until his forehead touched the floor and spoke in a broken, trembling voice.
"Sorry, sorry! Please forgive this insignificant disciple!" San Yumo looked ready to lash out again, but a firm voice cut him off.
"Go to your place without further disturbance," Shi Xieren said gently but with authority. "Y-yes!" Yu Lingyu answered quickly and ran around the hall with his hands folded in salute toward the stage. All major disciples from the four peaks were already there, he was the last to arrive.
Seeing Yu Lingyu instead of Wei Yunhe made Shen Guo tense, but he quickly masked his discomfort with his usual cold expression.
Yu Lingyu was drenched in sweat. He disliked crowds and preferred to be alone. Da Shixiong Wei Yunhe was supposed to be here, but due to an urgent matter, he had left the peak early.
Even after being informed that the conference had begun, no matter how fast he ran, Yu Lingyu couldn't make it in time. To save their own faces, the second, third, and fourth Shixiongs threw helpless Yu Lingyu into the main hall as bait.
Wu Xuan raised his voice. "One by one, you will face your soul test. After your soul form appears, the five chiefs will choose their disciples. Please line up!"
The three hundred students were arranged into three rows of one hundred each. The hall was spacious enough to hold them all comfortably.
Six senior disciples brought in three huge flambeaux, each burning with green spiritual fire. The test was simple: the novice had to place their hand in the fire, and the flame would reveal their spirit form.
Following Wu Xuan's command, the students at the front nervously placed their hands into the flames, expecting to be burned. Instead, they felt only a strange coolness.
The flames formed the shape of a rabbit for the first student, a tiger for the second, and a fish for the third. Accordingly, they were sent to Shensheng and Chuangzhou Peaks. Rabbit and fish were among the most common forms.
All three hundred students went through the same test. Those with weaker forms, branch shapes or small animals were sent to Jun Peak.
Finally, the last three disciples of each row stepped forward. Among them were Shen Ming and Luo Cheng.
With a proud stance, Shen Ming shoved his fist into the flames. They danced for a while before forming the image of a peacock. A small smirk played on Yu Lingyu's lips. Was the soul form of the young man who gives unpleasant glances when he enters the hall really a peacock? Oh, how insignificant.
Shen Ming's face twisted with complex emotions.
"Jun Peak!" With no objection from Shi Guo, Wu Xuan announced loudly, "Next!"
Shen Ming angrily adjusted his cloak and joined the short line behind Yu Lingyu.
The next two disciples took their turns. One had a rabbit form and was sent to Shensheng Peak. Luo Cheng's flames, however, kept shifting and dancing, trying to take shape. After a long pause, a dragon appeared, stunning the entire hall into silence.
The dragon was the rarest and most powerful spirit form. Even in the renowned Wen Sect, only a few existed, Wu Xuan and Jin Long from Juyao Peak being two of them. Everyone assumed Luo Cheng would now be picked by Juyao Peak as well.
Before Sect Leader Shi Xieren could speak, Luo Cheng raised his calm voice."Sect Leader, may I choose my peak?"
Everyone was stunned, and one of them heaved a huge sigh. Shi Xieren raised an eyebrow.
Such an event had never happened before. But this student's spirit form was very rare and therefore He agreed to grant a new will. Everyone guessed that Luo Cheng was ready to choose Juyao Peak. But the next words he spoke allowed everyone to let out their pent-up sighs.
"I wish to become Jun Peak's disciple under Master Shen Guo." His voice was soft but steady as he bowed.
Wu Xuan's lips twitched. "Oh? Why Jun Peak?" Although he didn't say it mockingly, Yu Lingyu could hear the sarcasm.
With a smile, Luo Cheng looked at Yu Lingyu first, then at Wu Xuan. "I've heard it's very nature-friendly. That's why."
Shi Xieren clearly wasn't pleased. He already regretted giving the boy a choice. Still, he nodded. "Elder Shen Guo, please teach this disciple well." He didn't question Luo Cheng's decision further. Shen Guo simply nodded as Luo Cheng joined Yu Lingyu with a bright smile.
"The selection conference is over," Wu Xuan declared. "Each peak has its own rules. You will attend an internal meeting tomorrow morning. As for the rules of the Wen Sect, you don't need to worry about those for now."
"Now, greet the elders." After bowing to the stage, Wu Xuan was followed by the other disciples doing the same.
Once all the leaders left, the apprentices finally breathed out as though the heavy burden had lifted from their shoulders.
Yu Lingyu wiped his sweaty hands and turned to his new group. "I'm Yu Lingyu," he said softly. His voice was sweet and husky. "Please follow me to the peak." As he turned back to lead them, he bumped into someone and staggered back.
Blocking his path was none other than Wu Xuan. "Oh? You must be the clownish poet," he said with a mocking grin. Other main disciples joined him shortly after, making Yu Lingyu feel suffocated. He could handle insults, but being mocked in front of so many people was overwhelming.
Yu Lingyu waved a hand nervously. "Ah, yes, it's me, Wu Shixiong."
One disciple in dark red burst into laughter. It was Yi Qiu from Chuangzhou Peak."Haha! Why don't you recite a poem for us, Yu Shidi?" he sneered.
"This worthless disciple doesn't deserve the honor," Yu Lingyu replied honestly.
"Oh?" Wu Xuan leaned in slightly. For the first time, the others got a closer look at the infamous clownish poet. No one had ever seen the face behind the pleasant mask.
"Yu Shidi, why not take off your mask for your Shixiongs?" Wu Xuan asked.
"No need, no need! Shixiongs shouldn't have to look at my ugly face," he said with false cheer and no hint of shame.
"Hmm?" Wu Xuan stepped back. He wasn't the type to give up easily. When he wanted something, good or bad, he always got it. Whether today or years from now, he would make Yu Lingyu take off that mask.
Yi Qiu scoffed. "I've seen too many pretty girls already. Let us see something truly ugly!" he said with a sneer.
He stepped forward to snatch the mask, but Yu Lingyu quickly retreated. Wu Xuan smirked, clearly entertained. No matter how hard Yu Lingyu tried, he wouldn't be able to keep the mask on forever. Wu Xuan had finally found something amusing after a long time.
Yi Qiu scowled. "How dare someone so worthless avoid me? Take off that mask now!" Yu Lingyu, frightened and cornered, prepared to apologize-
But the hall doors opened again.
"Yu Shidi?" A voice called sharply. Wei Yunhe entered with a stormy face. Yu Lingyu's fear melted instantly. His Da Shixiong was here.
Now taller and even more handsome, Wei Yunhe stood like a shield. Only Wu Xuan rivaled him in presence.
"Yi Xiong, how dare you insult my Yu Shidi?" Wei Yunhe snapped, glaring at Yi Qiu. Yi tried to defend himself, but Wu Xuan cut in.
"It's my fault, Wei Shidi. Don't be angry," he said smoothly. Wu Xuan was 24, Wei Yunhe nearly 23, but there was no hint of sincerity in his words toward Wu Xuan.
"Oh? Is that so, Wu Xiong?" Wei Yunhe replied sarcastically. Only he dared call Wu Xuan 'Xiong' so casually.
Everyone in the sect knew how much Wei Yunhe treasured his little Shidi. The usually calm and composed senior only acted like a furious beast when Yu Lingyu was involved.
Wu Xuan was caught off guard for a second, but his smile quickly returned, though this time it held a deadly edge.
With a smirk, Wei Yunhe turned and left the hall with Yu Lingyu and the others without introducing himself. Even outside, his anger hadn't cooled.
"Why did you sneak into this cave? I told the second Shidi to go!" he scolded Yu Lingyu. A few students whispered in confusion. Did he just call the grand main hall a cave?
Yu Lingyu smiled awkwardly. Was Wei Yunhe acting like his mom?
Yu Lingyu remained silent, and Wei Yunhe's anger subsided in an instant. Glancing at the apprentices behind them, he offered a simple greeting and introduced himself.
Certainly, there was no need for an introduction, but he did it by the rules."Sorry, sorry, I didn't scare you, did I?" Wei Yunhe asked with a soft smile."No, Da Shixiong," Luo Cheng replied simply."Then that's very good," Wei Yunhe said, visibly relieved.
"Please go to Jun Peak with your Yu Shixiong. I'll join you soon." With that, Wei Yunhe placed a comforting hand on Yu Lingyu's shoulder and turned back to re-enter the main hall. The disciples of the other peaks still hadn't come out, and Yu Lingyu couldn't care less.
He moved ahead quickly with his apprentices, pointing out important locations in the sect as they passed, and soon led them to Jun Peak.
Out of three hundred students, only thirteen were selected for Jun Peak. How unfortunate.
Yet Yu Lingyu could see the blackened expressions of his new Shidies brighten as they approached. Jun Peak was, indeed, the most beautiful place in the Tianmen mountain range. There were separate chambers for the sect's internal students, while others were reserved for the external disciples.
Although Yu Lingyu was an Inner Disciple, he chose to remain in the Outer Disciples' cabins where he had lived since childhood. It was quieter and more peaceful there.
He divided the apprentices into chambers, reserving the largest one for three.
"Why should I sleep with someone else?" Shen Ming burst out angrily, as if someone had deeply wronged him.
Shen Ming was the son of a major business family, money meant nothing to him, like grains of sand. How could someone like him be expected to share a room?Yu Lingyu ignored him. The other disciples quietly left for their assigned cabins with their luggage, and a still-indignant Shen Ming eventually obeyed.
Yu Lingyu was mildly surprised to see only one person standing in front of him.Shen Ming's roommate?
Was this little Shidi here to complain?
"Yu Shixiong, do you remember me?" Luo Cheng asked, hands clasped behind his back.
Yu Lingyu ruffled his own hair, trying to remember."Four years ago, we met in Lilan City," Luo Cheng added helpfully.
Lilan City? Four years ago?
"Oh…"
"Are you that little Luo didi?" Yu Lingyu asked in surprise. He remembered now, once, on a mission to fend off a demonic attack in Lilan City alongside Wei Yunhe, he had come across a helpless street child begging for food. Without a second thought, Yu Lingyu had given the boy his entire wallet.
The little boy had smiled at him with bright eyes and said he would repay the kindness someday. He had been only eleven years old.
Luo Cheng lit up as he saw recognition dawn on Yu Lingyu's face."Yes, it's me, Yu Shixiong! You haven't forgotten my promise, have you?" he asked, his gray eyes sparkling.
"I haven't forgotten. It's nice to meet you again, Luo Shidi," Yu Lingyu replied with sincere warmth.
If there were anyone in this sect who didn't hate him, it would be Wei Yunhe, and this little Luo Shidi.