"How did it go? Everything all right?" Chen Qinglin asked as he came over after the three of them had finished their tests.
"Ah, you three got off easy. I'm the only one with below-average talent," Zhong Qing sighed.
"Brother Zhong, why sigh? We're all merely average. We're hardly any better."
"Talent doesn't determine everything."
"Sooner or later, I'll catch up with those people who have superior talent," Xin Shuming declared confidently.
"Let's work hard together." Qi Hanwen looked cold as ever, but still came over to say a few words.
"Thanks. It's just my first time seeing so many people better than me, so I got a little emotional. I'll treat you all to drinks another day."
"Sounds good! Hey, when they assign us rooms, let's pick some that are close together."
"We're all from the same county. If we stick together, we can look out for one another and avoid getting bullied. We can also spend time together."
Since getting to know the others, Xin Shuming had become the most talkative of the four.
"That sounds good. We may not want to bully anyone, but we still have to guard against being bullied ourselves." After hearing Xin Shuming's suggestion, Zhong Qing agreed that it was a good idea.
"These are the vacant courtyards. Pick one." The group arrived at the housing assignment office, where a long line of disciples waited.
"How about this one? It's a little out of the way, but the space in front is fairly wide. We just need to tidy it up." After discussing it, Zhong Qing pointed to a spot on the map.
"All right. Yunqing Courtyard, Building 414." The clerk took out a key and recorded their names.
When they arrived, they found a small courtyard far from the others.
There were four rooms inside, and a fairly large open space in front, where they could practice martial arts, chat, and talk about their dreams and ambitions.
It suited their needs quite well.
After moving in, they cleaned the place, then chatted in front of the courtyard.
"I heard a few more people with superior talent showed up later. Elders from the various peaks took them in as disciples, and they became Inner Disciples right away."
"While people like us have to reach the Inner Qi Realm before we can become Inner Disciples. It's just not fair!" Xin Shuming complained bitterly to Zhong Qing.
"Be content. At least we don't have to start out as Servant Disciples. Those Servant Disciples can't spend all their time practicing martial arts like we can, and they only get one Body Tempering Pill a month."
"They also have all kinds of chores to do every day. Sure, the sect gives them a chance to advance, and they can shed their Servant Disciple status once they reach the Body Tempering Fourth Level."
"But they're swamped with chores every day, have no resources, and no one to teach them martial arts. It's tough." Zhong Qing sighed sympathetically.
"I'm just not willing to accept it," Qi Hanwen said coldly, leaning against a tree nearby.
"Instead of talking about all that, why don't we cut down the weeds in the open space and clean it up? Then we can use it as a courtyard." The three looked over. Chen Qinglin was dragging a huge boulder.
"Hey, Qinglin, where'd you get that rock? What are you planning to do with it? You're not going to hit me with it because you're unhappy with me, are you?"
"If I did something wrong, just tell me and I'll change. Could you put the rock down first?"
Chen Qinglin shot Xin Shuming a look. "Less talking. Get to work, or I really will smash your head in."
"Yes, yes, big brother! Your little brother will get right on it. Just take it easy." Xin Shuming grinned.
Zhong Qing watched them and covered his face, at a loss for words. When he turned to Qi Hanwen, he saw that the other man had already drawn his sword and was sweeping through the weeds.
Seeing that, Xin Shuming followed suit and drew his own sword. "With sword in hand, I'll mow down the grass and sweep all before me! A glorious mess, harmony at home..."
"..." Zhong Qing said nothing and joined in.
To their surprise, it was like discovering a whole new world. They actually had a great time working.
Before long, they had cleared a large patch of ground.
Chen Qinglin set down the boulder, drew his sword, and shaved off some of its sharp corners. It would do as a stone table, more or less.
After clearing the space in front of their courtyard, the four headed to the dining hall.
The food on the first floor was delicious and plentiful. It was all ordinary food, but they could help themselves for free.
The food on the second floor was different. It offered Spirit Rice and Exotic Beast Meat, but neither was free.
Spirit Rice contained traces of spiritual energy and could speed up the buildup of Blood Qi. Exotic Beast Meat was rich in energy, replenishing what was lost through martial arts practice and boosting Blood Qi.
When they arrived, the dining hall was noisy.
Disciples from every corner of the land gathered to chat. The four got their food, found some empty seats, and sat down to eat.
"The food on the second floor is way too expensive. You actually have to pay with Spirit Stones! Are they crazy? One Spirit Stone is worth a hundred taels of gold, or ten thousand taels of silver."
"Brother Shi, watch what you say. The sect grows the Spirit Rice and raises the Exotic Beasts itself. You can't buy them outside. This is a benefit for the sect's disciples."
"Brother He, we're all from Yunzhou. Why not join us and stand together?"
"The Cloud Dragon Society was founded by the Young Prince. He's already at the Body Tempering Ninth Level and will probably break through to the Inner Qi Realm and enter the inner sect soon."
"On top of that, two other experts at the Body Tempering Ninth Level are backing the Cloud Dragon Society. If you join now, the Young Prince won't treat us unfairly. This is a chance you can't pass up, Brother He."
"Ahem. Actually, I've admired the Young Prince for a long time. Since he thinks so highly of me, I'd be honored to join."
"That's what I like to hear, brother! Now we can fight side by side again."
"Gentlemen, would you mind if I sat here?" Chen Qinglin, who had been busy enjoying the lively chatter over his meal, looked up.
The newcomer wore a blue silk brocade robe embroidered with clouds and pine trees. An exquisite jade pendant hung from his waist.
"Please, go ahead. This is where everyone comes to eat."
"Ah, but there is a first-come, first-served order."
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ning Jingyuan, from the Ning Clan of Cangwu County, Cangzhou. Sorry to intrude, gentlemen." He bowed to them.
"It's no intrusion. It's nothing to worry about."
"Yes, please sit down, Young Master Ning. You're much too polite." When he bowed, Chen Qinglin and the other three stood and returned the gesture.
"We're also from Cangzhou, but from an obscure county in Cangzhou Changyang Commandery. We're not from any prominent family, so we don't deserve such a grand gesture, Young Master."
"Ah, Brother, you're mistaken. Now that we're here, we're all disciples of Qingfeng Mountain. There's no question of anyone being higher or lower, noble or lowly!"
Ning Jingyuan chatted animatedly with Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing, while Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen focused on their food.
Chen Qinglin had no idea what this so-called Young Master Ning wanted, but he didn't bother thinking about it.
Qi Hanwen was naturally aloof and didn't say a word.
"I wonder if Brother Zhong and the others have joined any organizations?" After chatting for a while, Ning Jingyuan noticed that Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen were almost done eating. He dropped the previous topic and asked Zhong Qing.
But his gaze was fixed on Qi Hanwen and Chen Qinglin.
That afternoon, he had gathered information on this batch of Qingfeng Mountain disciples.
He knew which of them had above-average talent, and he had come for Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen.
As for Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing, he could take them in along the way.
"Not yet, Young Master Ning. We spent the afternoon cleaning our courtyard. What are these organizations you mentioned?" Xin Shuming replied without a hint of caution.
"It's like this: I've organized a Mutual Aid Society for people from Cangzhou. We help one another and stand together through thick and thin."
"Would you gentlemen be willing to join?"
They might be country bumpkins from a small place, but he didn't mind. He was short on people right now.
They ought to be grateful and join with a bow of thanks!
Ning Jingyuan couldn't imagine why these fellows would refuse. They knew nothing of the world. Once they joined, wouldn't they be at his mercy?
Qi Hanwen had finished eating.
"I'm heading back."
He got up and left without giving Ning Jingyuan a second thought. The dining table fell quiet for a moment.
"That's just how Hanwen is. Please don't take it to heart, Young Master Ning."
"It's all right, it's all right." Though Ning Jingyuan resented Qi Hanwen for slighting him, he put on a magnanimous front.
"Young Master Ning, the four of us just got here and don't know much yet. We'll need to go back and think it over. Sorry." Seeing that Qi Hanwen had gone, Chen Qinglin spoke to Ning Jingyuan.
"I was thoughtless. Take your time deciding, gentlemen. No need to rush to give me an answer. I won't keep you from your meal." Ning Jingyuan finished speaking, then rose and went elsewhere.
"Qinglin, we..." Xin Shuming started to say.
Chen Qinglin stopped him. "Eat first. We'll talk when we get back."
"Okay."
He glanced at Zhong Qing and saw that he seemed tempted. Apparently, Young Master Ning's offer had appealed to him.
Since Zhong Qing hadn't answered on the spot, he probably didn't know enough about Young Master Ning yet.
Chen Qinglin ate without letting anything show. He wasn't going to interfere. After all, the four of them had only known each other a short while, and he wouldn't influence the choices the others made.
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