Chapter 6: Entrance Trials

Wang Sheng's room was in the main house, separated from his senior sister's earthen bed by only a thin wall and a cloth curtain.

Qing Yanzi, who lived in the next room, took Wang Sheng on a quick tour.

The side room, like the main house, was modestly furnished. It contained a water tank, a wooden bed, an old, small LCD TV, and a laptop covered in a thick layer of dust.

Clothes were haphazardly piled in the wardrobe, including several dirty Daoist robes that hadn't been washed in who knew how long.

Back in the main house, Wang Sheng noticed that the wooden bed prepared for him had a quilt that faintly carried his master's scent. It was likely taken directly from Qing Yanzi's bed. Although a bit embarrassed, he chose to quietly appreciate his master's kindness.

After resting for about an hour, he was called to the courtyard by Qing Yanzi.

His senior sister had dragged a grand chair to the doorway to avoid the sun, her feet swinging back and forth happily.

"Per the rules, you must undergo a testing period before officially becoming my disciple. You are facing these trials not because your parents paid the persuasion fees."

Qing Yanzi had already changed out of his only decent set of robes because it was too hot to wear layers.

"Be mentally prepared, and don't overexert yourself," Qing Yanzi added with a smile. "If you find it too difficult and want to leave, I won't force you to stay."

"As long as you don't kick me off the mountain, Master, I won't give up no matter what," Wang Sheng responded seriously.

"Good. You've got some youthful spirit in you," Qing Yanzi said with a nod. He gestured at a stone mill in the corner of the courtyard. "See that mill over there? Do you know how to use it?"

"I've seen it online before."

"Excellent. Then get started. Mill those two sacks of wheat into flour before lunchtime."

"Got it!"

Wang Sheng sprang into action, rushing over as if preparing for combat. He first examined the mechanism carefully. The two heavy millstones, he realized, worked together to crush the wheat into flour. It reminded him of scenes from old TV shows.

After pouring the grain into the hole at the center of the mill, he grasped the handle and began to push. As the teeth of the millstones ground together, a small trickle of flour emerged—this was ancient wisdom at work.

It wasn't as difficult as he had expected.

Wang Sheng pushed in steady circles, gripping the end of the wooden handle to conserve energy.

Seeing this, Qing Yanzi nodded approvingly. "Not rushing, not restless. Good temperament."

The Dao master then turned. "Little Xuan, the cold's gone. You can come out and practice now."

"

Mm!

" came a cheerful response from inside.

Mu Wanxuan nimbly jumped out of the house.

Wang Sheng couldn't help but glance at her, noticing that his senior sister appeared somewhat underdeveloped. A fleeting thought crossed his mind.

How can I help her improve her nutrition?

Through the courtyard gate, he spotted his master and senior sister seated cross-legged on two smooth stone stools in front of the house. They remained still as they quietly entered meditation.

A surge of excitement welled up in Wang Sheng's heart.

So it's true! Despite the lack of primal qi, the tradition of cultivation remains! Even if Qing Yanzi, like other Dao masters, treats this meditation as a process of calming the mind, the accumulation from years of practice must be insane!

No wonder they'll become far stronger than the average person once the primal qi resurges!

Wang Sheng grinned. Feeling more energized, he buried his head back into his work.

If he could pass the trials, his master could finally teach him some cultivation techniques.

Although he had unexpectedly connected himself with two of the top-ranking experts, Wang Sheng couldn't bring himself to rely solely on their protection. Hence, nothing was more important than becoming stronger himself.

Even if he couldn't surpass his senior sister, he couldn't afford to lag too far behind. Aiming for the Heavenly Rankings felt too ambitious for now, but the Earthly Rankings, Mortal Rankings, and even the Newbie Talent Rankings seemed attainable.

One step at a time

, he thought, steady and focused.

After about two hours of meditation, Mu Wanxuan opened her eyes and began humming tunes from over a decade ago. She strolled over to Wang Sheng's millstone, silently watching him grind the wheat.

"Hey." Wang Sheng, drenched in sweat, looked up sheepishly with a smile. His chapped lips instantly caught Mu Wanxuan's attention.

Mu Wanxuan blinked, then jogged back to the house and soon returned with a large bowl of warm water in both hands. She didn't spill a single drop.

She held it out to him. "

Mmm!

"

"Thanks, Senior Sister," Wang Sheng croaked, his throat burning. He eagerly gulped down two large mouthfuls, his hands trembling slightly as he held the bowl.

His senior sister tugged at his sleeve and pointed to the house. Wang Sheng just smiled and shook his head.

"I'm only halfway done. I'll finish my task first. You should go inside, Senior Sister. Don't stay out in the sun."

Mu Wanxuan glanced at Qing Yanzi, who was still meditating outside, then smiled helplessly. Instead of going inside, she ran to fetch a small stool and sat in the shade, watching Wang Sheng push the millstone.

Even though Wang Sheng had four months of physical training and a decent foundation, this was his first time doing such labor. By the time he had finished milling two small bags of flour, his back ached so much that he could barely straighten up.

Luckily, Qing Yanzi wasn't a heartless master. Lunch was pretty good—he bought vegetarian buns and noodle soup from the Purple Cloud Temple canteen.

Wang Sheng hadn't eaten so much in a long time. After finishing the meal, he slumped in his chair, not wanting to move a finger. Still, as the youngest disciple, it was his duty to clean up. Reluctantly, he dragged himself up and tidied the bowls and utensils.

Afterward, the three sat in the courtyard's shade, sipping tea.

Qing Yanzi smiled. "Thanks to the support of two refined patrons, we can be a bit more comfortable for the next few months. Wanxuan, it's about time we got you some new clothes, too."

Two refined patrons...

Wang Sheng almost choked on his tea. He never would have associated his parents with something as elegant as the word "refined."

"

Mmm...

" Mu Wanxuan shook her head. She pointed at Qing Yanzi, then at Wang Sheng, and then tugged at her sleeve as if to say they needed new clothes more than she did.

Qing Yanzi chuckled. "I've got plenty of clothes, just too lazy to wash them. Every year, the officials at the Wudang Mountains hand out new robes, and I always snag a few extra sets."

"Master, I can pay some tuition," Wang Sheng sincerely offered.

Qing Yanzi waved his hand. "I get a monthly stipend. Until last month, I used it to buy herbs for your senior sister, which made our budget a bit tight. Starting this month, though, we won't have to worry about food and other essentials.

"You're not officially my disciple yet. If you make it through, then when you formally join, your living expenses will be my responsibility. Even then, cultivating on the mountain doesn't cost much. And when we're not busy with cultivation or martial arts, we can always take on some side jobs."

Side jobs...

Wang Sheng's imagination ran wild.

Are they selling secret martial arts scriptures in bulk?

Wang Sheng facepalmed while Qing Yanzi smiled smugly, looking very confident.

"You can nap for now. In the afternoon, go down the mountain to see your parents and ease their worries," his master instructed. "On your way back, buy two cases of bottled water—get the cheapest from the shop below. Here's the money."

"Yes, Master."

Instead of arguing about paying for it himself, Wang Sheng just accepted the crumpled fifty-yuan bill.

I've never earned my own money before; everything I've spent came from my parents. It doesn't really count as self-reliance. If I showed off with my parents' money, Master might not like it.

Qing Yanzi gazed at Wang Sheng with even more approval. His unofficial disciple was becoming increasingly likable.

Wang Sheng, however, didn't dare fall fully asleep. Worried he would miss any wake-up call, he opted to sit cross-legged on his bed, meditating and attempting to clear his mind.

From the outer room, Qing Yanzi lifted the cloth curtain and peeked inside. Noticing Wang Sheng meditating, he smirked and turned to his female disciple, who was absently holding an ancient book while lost in thought.

"Look at your junior brother. He looks pretty serious," Qing Yanzi remarked with a hint of amusement.

Just as the words left his mouth, a thunder-like noise echoed from the inner room. Wang Sheng's head lolled back. He then slowly slumped against the wall and collapsed onto the bed.

"

Pfft!

" Mu Wanxuan burst into laughter.

"Can't even handle a compliment, huh?" Qing Yanzi laughed as well.

***

Around 3:00 PM, Wang Sheng stepped outside, finding his master guiding his senior sister through a series of martial fist techniques.

Watching a few moves, Wang Sheng couldn't help but be secretly amazed.

Their fists and palms flowed like water, seemingly already harnessing some unseen force in the air. Moreover, every motion was natural and harmonious, blending effortlessly with the surroundings. It was so mesmerizing that it was impossible to look away.

The sight stirred something deep within Wang Sheng's heart.

Once I get through the trials, I'll be able to meditate and practice those techniques with Master, too.

Though still a bit tired, thinking about the future energized Wang Sheng. He jogged out of the courtyard.

After heading down the mountain and chatting with his parents for a bit, Wang Sheng told them about the conditions on the mountain and asked them to buy him two new bedding sets.

Noticing that it was getting late, Wang Sheng soon hurriedly left. He still had to carry supplies back up the mountain.

Following Qing Yanzi's instructions, Wang Sheng ran down to the supermarket at the foot of the mountain and bought two cases of the cheapest bottled water. He tied them up with thick rope and, ignoring the curious gazes of nearby travelers, carried them through the gate of the Wudang Mountains.

What Wang Sheng didn't know was that his silhouette had caught his parents' attention. His emotional mother's eyes reddened with tears.

"That kid... What's gotten into him?"

"Maybe this is his way of escaping the stress of school. It's probably our fault for not paying enough attention to him, Honey."

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The two sighed softly and leaned on each other. Standing at the entrance of their hotel, they watched Wang Sheng disappear into the distance. Afterward, they spent the next half minute in silence.