Chapter 13: Trouble

Nothing happened...


Wrong...


Wrong, wrong!


"Thi-this isn't right, something should have happened!"


Panic started to settle into Yao Tian's mind. Dozens of questions would pop up as well as reasons why he couldn't achieve a breakthrough.


Is his talent so bad that he requires even more Qi pills?


Maybe the effect would take place after a while?


Maybe he has already broken through and just didn't notice?


Did he eat all his vegetables

.
.
.

"Wait, what?" Damn, he was already losing his mind!

"Calm down Yao Tian, remember what dad thought you. Panicking never solves anything!" Despite uttering those words Yao Tian couldn't but worry about his current condition.


The assessment will be tomorrow and it is only natural that people with the best cultivation and talent would be chosen by different sects and other organizations.


His brother was already at the last stage of the 'Body Reinforcement Realm'!


It was practically guaranteed that he would be chosen by the sect's bigshots.


"Maybe I am looking too deep into this problem. I probably just need to concentrate more and cultivate for longer periods." Yao Tian returned to his cross-legged seated position and focused his being to the utmost level.



"..."


Just like before, he felt nothing.


Taking in such a vast amount of Qi pills should have at least shown the slightest bit of improvement. But not for him, it was almost as if...


As if something was missing.


"Well isn't that just perfect."


A piece of the puzzle that was either missing or which never existed in the first place.


All that amount of Qi from pills simply dissipated from his body after healing his muscles. There was no other additional effect.


"What will I do tomorrow?" He mumbled


Under the blue moonlight illuminating the Yao sibling's room. Yao Tian could be seen holding his head while sitting down deep in his own thoughts.


Already guaranteed to have a sleepless night.


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"Put it higher!" Shouted out an elder looking man with a fat stomach.


"Like this?" Replied back a young-looking fela who seemed to work for the fat man.


"Hey, watch it! You nearly broke the statue, you dimwit!"


"Shut it, man, I am not paid enough for this!"


"You are not even being paid, son! This is what family does to help!"


"That's exploitation, deadass!"


"Don't speak to your father like that, you ungrateful bastard!"


"Takes one to know one!"

Both constantly argued back and forth to the point of forcing away some of the other workers nearby.


Everyone currently was preparing the central plaza, located just beneath the giant pagoda for the upcoming event.


Everything had to be perfect, important guests, and powerful cultivators from all around the country, would attend today's assessment.


But there would also be other normal spectators and they had to prepare so that anyone could come.


Near the place, a group of people was watching on with curiosity or out of boredom the preparation process.


Among them was Song Shou giving the Yao siblings a small tour of Redwood.


"Behold, this is the place where both of your life will forever change. It is also officially known as 'The Selection Test! ' " Said Song Shou grandiosely.


"The Floating Sea Sect,


The Rumbling Mountain Sect,


The Enchanting Forest Sect,


The Raging Wind Sect,


And many other smaller sects will attend today's event. So each of you better do your best to try and impress any of the elders.


If one of you gets the fortune of being chosen by one of the big 4 then trust me, you'll be set for life! " Song Shou strongly emphasized at the last point.


"Isn't it better if we were accepted in the smaller sects? We don't have any powerful background or any ancient ancestry to speak of. " Asked Yao Tian curiously.


"The thing is, yes, it won't be easy to stay in one of the big 4 sects due to your lack of background. But I would still recommend you to become accepted into one of them. It is because you will get many times the number of resources, compare to any of those smaller sects.


Also, you will also have a certain status, this will help both of you a lot when you're travelling. And other loads of benefits only found in one of the big sects."


After walking around for a bit Song Shou decided to let the siblings explore Redwood by themselves and enjoy what it had to offer.

But before that, he gave them a stern warning. "One last thing before we separate. Remember, if you ever encounter or come across someone wearing purple or gold-coloured robes. STAY. AWAY."


Aside from the serpent incident in the Jade Forest, this was the first time Yao Tian ever saw his friend with such a grave expression before.


"Why?" Yao Tian couldn't help but ask.


"Those people are clan heirs, young masters, or other members with high positions. They are not the most understanding of people. A lot of the time they let the power associated with their position and status get to their head and in most cases cause a lot of problems for others."


This was odd in Yao Tian's opinion.


"So why don't people stop them?"


Song Shou sighed a bit inside. As wise as his friend was he still had his naïve moments and way of thinking. Guess it was natural, Yao Tian was still a 14-year-old kid after all.


"They can't, cause the clans behind them are not to be provoked. They have powerful backing"


Not elaborating further Song Shou separated from Yao Tian and Yao Bao to take care of his own affairs.


"So... Can we get something to eat Tian? I'm very hungry."


'Oh, right! They haven't had any breakfast yet.' Thought Yao Tian.


Yao Tian took his brother and wandered around town to find a place to eat.


They passed through many places. Some sold exotic dishes from all sorts of beasts and rare herbs that Yao Tian never heard of or seen.


The only problem was that the price was too expensive. They were only given a handful of copper taels.


Sufficient enough to get something to eat in their current area.


So the Yao Siblings just ate at a small dumpling stand.


From his passing thoughts, Yao Tian remembered some of the details Song Shou provided him during their time together.


You wouldn't know from the low priced dishes as well as the abundance of food nearby that most of the meat actually came from dangerous beasts found nearby.


These beasts were strong enough to fight against many men in his village. Of course, his father could kill one alone, but still for there to be so many amounts of it sold so cheaply here showed that the city didn't lack strong hunters.


Heck, Yao Tian wouldn't be surprised if they were even cultivators among them.


'Guess even the powerful ones need money to survive and also this dumpling is quite delicious.' Absentmindedly thought Yao Tian.


"Hey mister, I know that this meat came from wild beasts. Can you tell me which one is it?" Asked Yao Tian to the stall owner.


"Oh! You must be new here kid. Let me tell ya something, most of these games are hunted and sold to us by the Lin family. In fact, many businesses from big to small are actually owned by the Lin family in the west district. While the other districts are occupied by the other major families." The old man was quite enthusiastic with his explanation.


"The other families are the Nie family in the north, the Meng family in the south, and the Tang family in the east. The latter is considered to be strongest one in terms of strength, wealth and other things."


Nodding his head in understanding Yao Tian said to the owner with a deadpan. "This is interesting and all, but you haven't told me what beast this meat came from."


"Oh me and forgetful brain! This must be my old age. Who knows how long I have till death, till all my senses fail me leaving behind an empty husk. Truly how cruel life is buhuhu!" The stall owner out of nowhere started crying with crocodile tears, he was clearly avoiding the topic.


'Why is he avoiding my question?' Thought Yao Tian while suspiciously inspecting his 'pork?' dumpling.


'What the heck are we eating!?'


While they continued eating their spicy pork dumpling? And Yao Tian contemplating calling the town guards for investigation this suspicious old man's stall, a loud noise caught everyone's attention.


* Crash! *


"How dare you serve young master Lin such trash!?"


A loud crashing sound came near the stand where Yao Tian and his brother were eating at.


When looking at the source of the disturbance they witnessed a fat middle-aged man on the ground with what seemed to be a shoeprint on his face.


Aside from his nose bleeding the man didn't seem to be heavily injured and it showed when he immediately got up and kneeled to the people coming out of the store.


"M-My sincerest apologies, young master! But our store is really out of Phoenix Feathered Eagle dish so we had to substitute with the jade Magpie one."


As the fat middle-aged man continued to apologize while kowtowing, 2 people walked out of the destroyed door of the store.


The first person was a huge bearded man with a ferocious face. It was covered with scars, which came from many battles in the past. He wore a short-sleeved robe showing off his buff arms.


Most noticeable was a green tiger etched into his left upper arm all the way to his shoulder.


The man was followed by a young-looking boy probably around the age of Yao Bao as he still had chubby cheeks from his baby fat.


He wore a luxurious purple-coloured robe that Yao Tian remembered from the warning Song Shou gave him.


'That must be the problem-causing person that Song Shou spoke of.' Not trying to intervene Yao Tian watched on from afar how the situation would end.


"Young master Lin We, this lowlife is trying to ruin your chance at surpassing everyone at the selection test. Having served you low-quality food would have caused unknown problems and prevented you from performing at your best!" The big man explained to his young master.


But the young master seemed lost on what to do, it seemed. So he looked up as his protector for advice.


"So what should I do Uncle Chen? The food wasn't bad and he does not seem like a bad person" Lin We said after seeing the pitiful state of the fat man.


"Young master We, it is important to punish those who don't properly serve our Lin clan. Our members are required to be perfect and strong we can't have our cultivation be obstructed due to the action of a foolish man. Remember what your father said, young master."


A surprised face appeared on Lin We's face before he became serious and ordered his bodyguard.


"You are right Uncle Chen. I shall follow father's teachings give this man a proper lesson."


As Mo Chen approached the trembling and injured store owner.


A voice suddenly stopped him in his steps.


"Wait!"


Yao Tian resisted the urge to facepalm. "Should have known."