Stormy Mountain Sect Chapter Six

*** AUTHOR’S NOTE***

I’ve got food poisoning, blurgh

***AUTHOR’S NOTE***

The monotony of our trip was broken a day later, when we reached (town name). “Stay at the camp,” Elder Li Mei directed us. “Inspector Crane and I will return tomorrow.”

“Of course, elder,” Senior Lei said, the other assistants bowing them away. I hastily bowed as well, the whole assembly rippling as people jerked down. Elder Li Mei nodded, and they both blurred away, moving fast enough that I could barely track them.

“Someday we’ll be that strong,” Haoyu said fervently.

“Someday,” I said.

Johnny laughed, “I’ll settle for rich and carefree. As long as I can finish refining my body, I’ll live to be two hundred. That’s enough for me.”

I laughed, “Well, I’m going to create a core and then ascend before then.”

“Sure you will,” Anthony growled at me, “and we will all defeat the (empire name) and bring peace to the kingdom. Oh, and we will all piss refinement elixir and poop foundation building pills.”

“Just because you are going to give up, doesn’t mean I will,” I told him emphatically. “Come on, let’s cultivate and prove everyone wrong on how far we’ll go.”

“Don’t you have to haul rice bags now?” Nuan asked.

I gave her a look, then sighed, “Yeah, I probably should. I’ve definitely started to feel stronger.”

“Good,” Nuan said, “I want you to be the strongest you can be.”

“Well, I do too,” I said. “So you can join me!”

The flat look she gave me made me laugh, then she sighed and rolled her eyes, “Fine.”

A small procession of people, myself, Nuan, Haoyu, Johnny, Anthony, and Xiulan included, went to talk to Merchant Bartholomew. “All of you want to borrow a rice sack and walk around the camp?” He asked.

I nodded, “Yes sir.”

“Fine. Any damage will require you to pay,” he said. “But you are welcome to work on your strength. Just remember me when you become an elder.”

I helped everyone else get a forty pound bag of rice out of his wagon, and we started our procession around the camp. This was the first time Xiulan, Anthony, and Johnny had joined me, but I’d managed to cajole Haoyu and Nuan into joining my daily workout at least twice before this.

I’d noticed that cultivating after a serious workout, like hauling a bag of rice around the permitemer of the camp several times, seemed to have a better result than just cultivating during the carriage ride. At least, it seemed to result in a faster result, even if it took an hour of struggle to get there.

When I brought that observation up with Elder Li Mei, she nodded, “Yes, cultivating after a traumatic experience will always be better. You will have subconscious insights into Qi, the human experience, and life that you are processing. Qi responds to our understanding, even if we do not realize it. This is why battle maniacs, those who seek out conflict constantly, advance the fastest. If they do not die, that is.”

“There are many who seek understanding without battle,” Inspector Crane said. “But they typically do not form a core, or even a foundation for a core. If you truly seek immortality, you will have to fight for it. Do not shy away from conflict.”

“I will not,” I told him, nodding.

The run around the camp quickly turned into the shamble around the camp. The soldier recruits ran around us, not carrying anything. On their first lap they jeered at us, but when we finished our fifth lap and dropped our loads, they were still running. I laughed at one, a young man who kept saying we were too weak, as he slowly lost ground on the rest of the soldiers. “Jerk, don’t laugh at people trying to make themselves stronger when you yourself are weak!” Haoyu shouted at him as he ran his sixth lap, now almost a minute behind his compatriots.

“Don’t antagonize them,” Nuan said. ‘He’ll make it or he won’t. Either way, making an enemy of someone isn’t worth it.”

“Fine,” he whined. “Come on, the bonfire is getting big. It’s the perfect time to cultivate.”

I patted his back then gave Nuan a hug, “Go, I’ve got my Lily still.”

Nuan turned and kissed me deeply, then ran off. I stared after her for a while, forcing the worry that we’d lose each other at the sect out of my mind. “Time to cultivate my Qi,” I told myself.

The next day passed quickly. Meals, workout, cultivation filled my day, and finally Elder Li Mei and Inspector Crane arrived. “We have another fifteen people who will be joining us,” Inspector Crane said. “Ten will be joining the soldiers, all talent three or four.”

“We have four more worker hopefuls,” Elder Li Mei said. “And one young woman who has a talent of seven with a strong Air affinity. So welcome them to our family.”

“What is her name?” Nuan asked.

“Aisling,” Elder Li Mei said. “Treat her well, for she will be the future of the sect. Just like yourself and Marc. Those with a talent of six or higher always outstrip those with lower talents, unless they give up and coast. Work hard and you will do well.”

“Of course,” I said. “And those of us with high talent will only do well if we work hard too.”

“Keep that belief and act on it, and you will go far,” Elder Li Mei said. “They will join us in the morning. This is our last recruiting stop, and our speed will pick up in three days. Be prepared to double how fast you run by next week.”

Groans sounded out, Huanyo one of the loudest. I frowned, thinking, I need to break through and finish refining my skin before then, or I’ll feel horrible about riding in the carriage while they run. Must make my benefits worth it. Locusts eat it, Elder Li Mei might kick me out if I don’t.

“Well, we’ve got a few hours until dinner,” I said. “I’m going to run around the camps a few times with my yanyuedao and then cultivate. Want to join?”

Nuan, Huanyo, and Johnny grumbled, but they got something to carry and joined me. I found another tree to cultivate next to for the evening, and ended up continuing late into the night. I still didn’t feel like I was close to advancing.

The bonfire burned bright until almost midnight, and when I was tiredly walking back to my tent I saw Nuan still sitting in lotus position next to the slowly guttering fire. “Come on,” I said, tapping her shoulder, “you need to go to bed.”

“I’m fine,” she said, but the giant yawn that covered her face immediately afterwards made me smile.

“You can cultivate more in the morning, come on,” I laughed, lifting her to her feet. I escorted her to her tent, only a few yards away from mine, and then stumbled into my bed roll.

In the morning, I spent an hour holding my weapon. I changed position from a battle stance, or what I thought was one anyway, to holding it over my head, to straight out, every few minutes in an attempt to strengthen my arms. It was hard, and I dropped the sword staff more than once. It didn’t scratch or chip though, even when it hit a rock.

“That is a remarkable weapon,” Senior Lei said.

“Uh, thank you, Senior Lei,” I responded. “It has been in my family for a few generations.”

“It should last you for a long time,” he told me. “The blade is tempered deep steel and the shaft is darkwood. You will not need to replace it until you form your core. Be careful, though.” He paused there, looking at me seriously. “You will be challenged for your weapon. There are situations where you are not allowed to deny a challenge, so you will need to be able to defend it. Thankfully, no one else here will know how valuable that your weapon is. At least, anyone that will be willing to challenge an outer sect disciple.”

“Uh, senior,” I asked. “Can you explain what it means to be an outer sect disciple versus a worker? What else is there?”

“There are many levels of involvement with the sect,” Senior Lei said. “The simplest is the worker. They are paid for their efforts and given access to sect exclusive stores and cultivation zones. Each year, they also have the option of trying to join the outer sect, though their test is harder than the one you will take.”

I nodded at him, showing I was paying attention. “Most join as workers, but those who are truly talented, like yourself, are given the option to join the outer sect. Those in the outer sect are given resources and access to specific locations that will assist your cultivation. You will be able to take different jobs within the sect that pay more and provide better benefits than the workers can. Specifically, you will be able to be trained to be an alchemist, an herbalist, a blacksmith, a formation master, or an inscriptionist.”

“Outer sect members,” he continued, “may leave at the beginning of any month, as long as they have no outstanding debts to the sect. If you end up wanting to stay longer and tie yourself more tightly to us, you may attempt to join the inner sect. There is a tournament every year to join the inner sect. Inner sect members are given even more access to training locations, cultivation spots, and cultivation aides, but they are tied to the sect. Their work quotas are lesser than the outer sect, and their main requirement is to advance their cultivation.”

“Inner sect members may also be called as the sects military force,” Senior Lei said. “That could make them join recruiting expeditions like this one, or to close a demon incursion, or to support a division of the kingdom’s forces. Outer sect members are not required to join, though there are minor penalties if you deny a request.”

“How often do the outer sect members join military expeditions?” I asked him.

“Probably twice a year. Generally, if they ask the outer sect to volunteer, it is considered only mildly dangerous,” Senior Lei said. “Inner sect members will be sent out at least once a year, and there are rewards for joining more than one. Inner sect members may leave the sect only at the new year celebration.”

“Does that happen often?” I asked.

“Yes,” he nodded. “Most inner sect members join to get extra resources and focus on advancing. Once they form their core, the kingdom will make them a minor noble upon leaving. Also, many noble families will recruit them to be new members or guards. This is especially true for young women like your Nuan. If she advances quickly, there are many noble families who would seek to marry someone of her beauty and talent to their second or third sons. Branch families might even offer her their heir.”

I gulped, suddenly worried. “Beyond the inner sect,” Senior Lei continued. “There are the core members. There are only a few positions available here, and the commitment is significant. At least a decade of service, but most often the core members join for life. In return, they are nutured even stronger than the inner sect, given every resource they could use and only required to advance their cultivation. It is from the core that new elders are selected. You do not have to worry about that, though. Not for at least two decades.” He laughed. “I do not have to worry about potentially joining the core for a long time either. Only the most talented and powerful inner sect members even have a chance.”

“Thank you, Senior,” I said after a period of quiet. I stood, processing the information given until my arms gave up, and then I planted my yanyuedao in the dirt. I didn’t even really think about what happens after I get there, I thought. Will I want to stay? Can I support my family? I know they said I could make coin from the sect and send it to mom. What about once the farm is saved and mom has enough to live for the rest of her life? Once I’ve found a cure and healed her, so she can regain her strength. What do I do then? Do I even know what I want beyond that?

I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and nodded. I’m still young. Getting mom healed, getting a good cultivation technique for Samara, saving the farm, and then getting enough money to get Summer tested early are enough goals for now. Of course, the first goal is to get into the outer sect, instead of failing and only joining as a worker. The inner sect sounded like a good goal to have eventually, but the steps to get there are the steps to get to all of my goals. I can do this.

With quivering arms, I picked up my weapon and lugged it back to the carriage. It took me a minute to get it stowed away. Once divested of the heavy weight, I took off on a run around the campsite. Five laps as fast as I could left me panting and sweating, but I was sure that I’d done them significantly faster than I could have before leaving on this new journey. “I’m getting stronger,” I told myself with a grin.

“Good,” Nuan said from behind me.

I jumped, twirling towards her, to see that she was flushed and her hair plastered on her scalp. “I didn’t even notice you,” I told her, shaking my head in self-deprecation.

“Tisk tisk. How’re you going to be a famous cultivator if you can’t even tell your friend is running right behind you?” she said, mock seriousness in her voice.

“Good point,” I laughed, then reached to hug her.

“Eww, let’s rinse off first at least,” she danced away from my reaching arms.

“Oh fine,” I grumbled. We both moved to where a barrel of water sat near the drilling soldier recruits. The sergeants had them working on forming a shield wall, holding their short spears in their right hands while interlocking their shields in their left. Every five seconds, they would step forward, stab out with the spears, then step backwards to reset themselves.

I picked up a bucket and scooped water into it, then dumped the entire thing over Nuan’s head. She spluttered at me, wrinkling her nose in a glare, before rolling her eyes. “One more,” she said. “Let me get my hair a bit cleaner.”

“Sure,” I said. This time I poured it slower, and she brushed her fingers through the hair to make sure the water got all throughout it. Afterwards, I dumped a bucket over my head.

“Hey kids,” another sergeant came over. “Next time you’re looking for something to work your muscles, take a water barrel to the stream.”

“I can do that,” I said. “After lunch okay, sir?”

“Anytime is fine,” he laughed. “We have enough for a few days on hand, even with you wasting it like you did.” His face got serious for a second. “There are three empty barrels by the second wagon. Just tell Quartermaster Hall what you’re planning on doing before you grab one.”

“Will do,” I said with a slight bow.

The sergeant nodded to me, then turned and bellowed at one of the recruits who’d screwed up a turn.

“I’m going to go cultivate by the bonfire,” Nuan said.

“And I’m going over to that tree,” I pointed to the largest tree right next to the clearing. “It’s not a spirit tree, but I felt something when cultivating by it last night. Maybe it’ll become one sooner because of me.”

“That’d be a neat harvest,” she said, then pulled me into a hug.

I kissed her wet hair, then turned and jogged over to the tree. People scurried around the campsite, cooking, cleaning and repairing clothing, and unloading and loading wagons. At least a dozen were sitting in various spots cultivating, the worker hopefuls pushing hard to advance and maybe have a shot at the outer sect. I looked around, people watching for a minute, before closing my eyes and leaning back against the tree. Controlling my breathing, I began to cultivate.