Zhang Xiaofan woke up groggily. He stared blankly for quite a while before slowly sitting up. The past surged into his heart like a tidal wave.
Like a nightmare!
"You're awake. That's good then." A voice came from the doorway as a person walked in.
Zhang Xiaofan raised his eyes and recognized Song Daren, whom he had seen on Tongtian Peak. He was tall and rugged-looking. Given his current state of mind, for some reason, seeing this familiar person brought him a measure of warmth.
"Big Brother Song," Zhang Xiaofan called out.
Though Song Daren was a large man, at this moment he couldn't help but feel some pity. He walked to the bedside, reached out and rubbed Zhang Xiaofan's head, and said gently, "Little Junior Brother, don't be sad. From now on, we are one family."
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback. "What do you mean, one family?"
Song Daren smiled and explained how Tian Buyi had already accepted him as a disciple. Of course, he didn't know about the minor dispute that had occurred between the elders of the Qingyun Sect in Jade Clear Hall on Tongtian Peak that day.
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan was momentarily lost. To a rural youth like him, the Qingyun Sect was truly on par with immortals. He had never dared dream that one day he would have the opportunity to enter the Qingyun Sect. However, this was not a price he was willing to pay.
He gritted his teeth. In the end, he knew overthinking was useless and opened his mouth to call out, "Senior Brother Song."
Song Daren smiled and nodded. "Good, good. Little Junior Brother, you've slept for a full day and night. I suppose you're hungry?"
Zhang Xiaofan hadn't noticed before, but upon hearing this, his stomach immediately rumbled twice.
Song Daren laughed. "Come, Little Junior Brother. Let's first get something to eat. Along the way, I'll tell you about our branch, and then we can go together to pay respects to Master and Shiniang, and meet the other senior brothers."
Zhang Xiaofan nodded and got out of bed. Only then did he notice that the room he was in was quite similar to the Qingyun disciples' quarters on Tongtian Peak, but seemingly even more spacious.
As Song Daren led him outside, he said, "Our Dazhu Peak is different from the other branches. Our numbers are quite sparse. Even with you added now, the total is no more than ten, so the rooms are comparatively spacious." Speaking thus, he walked out the door. It was a similar small courtyard. A few steps further out of the courtyard, there was also a covered corridor, but here everything was visible at a glance—only a dozen or so rooms, far inferior in scale to Tongtian Peak.
Zhang Xiaofan followed Song Daren toward the kitchen. From his mouth he learned that the Dazhu Peak lineage, ever since the fourth disciple under Patriarch Qingye, Zheng Tong, up to the current Tian Buyi, had spanned six generations. The situation had always been thus—few in number. Among the current generation of teachers, besides the branch head Tian Buyi, there was only another martial aunt, Su Ru, who was Tian Buyi's wife. They had a daughter, Tian Ling'er, thirteen this year, two years older than Zhang Xiaofan. Therefore, Zhang Xiaofan was truly the littlest junior brother here.
And among Tian Buyi's disciples, Song Daren was the eldest senior brother. Below him in order were Wu Dayi, Zheng Dali, He Dazhi, Lü Daxin, and Du Bishu.
Zhang Xiaofan committed them to memory carefully. "Oh, Senior Brother Dayi, Senior Brother Dali, Senior Brother Dazhi, Senior Brother Daxin, Senior Brother Dashu..."
Song Daren laughed. "It's Senior Brother Du Bishu."
Zhang Xiaofan was startled, only then realizing. He couldn't help asking, "Why is this sixth senior brother different?"
Song Daren said, "Originally he was indeed called Dashu, but say it a few more times and listen."
Zhang Xiaofan murmured, "Du Dashu, Du Dashu, Du Dashu..." Understanding dawned on him, and he immediately laughed out loud.
Song Daren also laughed. "You get it. Actually, Master doesn't much care, but Shiniang was quite annoyed. After being called it a few times, she said Junior Brother Du was disrespectful to his teacher and the Dao, and wanted to teach him a lesson. It scared Junior Brother Du half to death, and he hurriedly begged Master and Shiniang to change his name for him. Later, Shiniang gave him the name 'Du Bishu.' Say this name carefully a few more times."
Zhang Xiaofan said softly, "Du Bishu, Du Bishu, Du Bishu..." He snorted and doubled over with laughter.
Song Daren had indeed intended to make him laugh to slightly alleviate his grief. Seeing Zhang Xiaofan happy, he was quite pleased in his heart. He laughed, "Sixth Junior Brother had a gambling habit before entering the sect. Later, by chance, he was brought up the mountain by Master's guidance. Although he no longer gambles for money, he usually loves making bets with people for fun. Shiniang's action also carries a warning meaning."
Zhang Xiaofan had the heart of a child; his smile bloomed, and his sorrowful mood faded considerably. Seeing the eldest senior brother was so kind, his original fear and terror toward the future gradually settled.
After eating in the kitchen, Song Daren brought Zhang Xiaofan to Dazhu Peak's main hall, "Shoujing Hall." The entire Dazhu Peak lineage of the Qingyun Sect was gathered in Shoujing Hall at this moment. Red bricks paved the floor, red tiles and stone pillars. In the center of the great hall, a large Taiji symbol was carved into the ground. Overall, it was quite simple and unadorned.
Two chairs were placed before the hall. Two people sat in them—one was Tian Buyi, the other was a quiet, dignified beauty who looked to be in her thirties, graceful and charming. Standing beside her was a little girl with delicate, pretty features and a pair of watery bright eyes, extremely lively and lovable.
As for the other five male disciples, they stood in a line at the lower end, some tall and some short, some sturdy and some thin. At this moment, their gazes all fell upon Zhang Xiaofan.
Song Daren walked to the front of the hall and said respectfully, "Master, Shiniang, this disciple has brought the little Junior Brother."
Tian Buyi grunted, rather impatient, but the beauty Su Ru looked at Zhang Xiaofan a couple more times and said, "Daren, he's slept a day and night. I'm afraid he's long been hungry. Take him to eat something first."
Song Daren said, "Reporting to Shiniang, I already took the little Junior Brother to the kitchen to eat earlier."
Su Ru nodded, glanced at Tian Buyi, and said no more. Tian Buyi snorted coldly again and said, "Begin."
Zhang Xiaofan didn't understand what was happening, but he heard Song Daren whisper softly behind him, "Little Junior Brother, quickly kneel and kowtow to accept Master."
Zhang Xiaofan immediately knelt down and kowtowed over a dozen times—thud, thud, thud—heavy and loud.
"Heh heh." It was the little girl Tian Ling'er who couldn't help laughing out loud. Su Ru smiled and said, "Good child, nine kowtows are enough."
Zhang Xiaofan uttered an "Oh" and only then stopped. He raised his head. Everyone saw that his forehead was red and couldn't help laughing. But in Tian Buyi's eyes, Zhang Xiaofan was simply unbearably stupid. At the thought of having to teach such an idiot in the future, his already rather large head seemed to swell another circle.
"Alright, that'll do," Tian Buyi said in an extremely bad mood, waving his hand. "Daren, you take him under your wing first. The sect rules and precepts, as well as some introductory Dao methods, you teach him first."
Song Daren responded, "Yes," then hesitated somewhat and added, "But Master, the little brother is still young. This entry-level disciple's coursework..."
Tian Buyi rolled his eyes and said, "Do as said." With that, he stood up and walked toward the rear hall without looking back. The disciples all bowed together and said, "Respectfully sending off Master."
Once Tian Buyi left, before anyone could speak, the little girl Tian Ling'er had already darted in front of Zhang Xiaofan and scrutinized him carefully with two glances. Zhang Xiaofan saw her adorable, lotus-like face swaying before his eyes. Though young, she was already the makings of a beauty. When he was in Caomiao Village, he had never seen such a beautiful girl of the same age. His face involuntarily flushed red.
"Ha," Tian Ling'er said as if she had discovered some treasure, pointing at Zhang Xiaofan and laughing loudly, "Senior Brothers, look! He blushes when he sees me!"
The hall erupted in laughter. Zhang Xiaofan's face grew even redder. Su Ru walked over, laughing and scolding, "Ling'er, you're not allowed to bully your Junior Brother."
Tian Ling'er made a face, paying no mind to her mother's words whatsoever. She straightened up and said to Zhang Xiaofan, "Hey, hurry up and call me Senior Sister."
Zhang Xiaofan felt a surge of anger in his heart, but seeing Tian Ling'er's bright eyes and white teeth, her moving figure, he felt a moment of confusion and couldn't help but call out, "Senior Sister."
Tian Ling'er had always ranked last on Dazhu Peak. Now she actually had a Junior Brother even younger than herself, and she was extremely delighted. Assuming an old-fashioned, lecturing air, she said, "Good. Little Junior Brother, you have to listen to your Senior Sister from now on."
Zhang Xiaofan responded meekly, "Yes."
Su Ru pulled her daughter over and said, "No acting out." Then she said to Song Daren, "Daren, the little Junior Brother is still young. That coursework will probably be somewhat strenuous for him. Take extra care of him."
Song Daren said respectfully, "Yes."
The other five disciples stood nearby, laughing and joking, their gazes darting around with an air of schadenfreude.
At that moment, Su Ru suddenly made a very strange movement, rotating her head in a circle as if loosening her muscles and bones—a great departure from her consistently dignified demeanor up until now. In an instant, the laughter of the Dazhu Peak disciples died out completely. Every one of them was dumbstruck, with expressions of impending doom.
Su Ru cleared her throat and said, "You all..."
"Shiniang!" someone called out. It was Song Daren, sweat on his forehead, shouting urgently.
Su Ru frowned. "What is it?"
The remaining five Junior Brothers also asked in unison, "Eldest Senior Brother, what are you doing?"
Song Daren said urgently, "Shiniang, the little Junior Brother has just entered the sect. This disciple has received Master's orders to teach him the sect rules, precepts, and introductory coursework. I'll be busy with that now."
Su Ru pondered briefly and nodded. "That's true. You may go."
"What?" The remaining five Junior Brothers shouted in unison.
Song Daren let out two dry laughs. Without another word, he stepped forward and picked up Zhang Xiaofan. Before he could ask anything, he immediately headed outward, saying, "Little Junior Brother, let your Senior Brother find a quiet place to first teach you our sect's rules..."
Tian Ling'er laughingly followed, greatly amused. From behind they heard someone curse loudly, "Eldest Senior Brother, how shameless you are!"
"Coward!"
...
Zhang Xiaofan heard this in his ears, greatly puzzled. He thought to himself: the Eldest Senior Brother is teaching me the sect rules, so why is he being called a coward?
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard Su Ru's stern shout. Her voice was cold, clear, and pleasing, like snapping ice or cutting snow: "Silence."
The hall immediately fell completely silent.
They only heard Su Ru say, "You worthless fellows. The moment you see I'm going to test your cultivation, you're terrified to this degree. In another five years will be the Qingyun Sect's once-in-sixty-years 'Seven Peaks Martial Meet.' Last time, you already nearly angered your Master and me to death. If you don't work hard this time, the two of us will die of shame before our fellow sect members! Come now, all five of you attack together..."
Song Daren ran faster and faster, striding with great strides straight toward the rear mountain after exiting the hall. Zhang Xiaofan lay on his shoulder as the trees on both sides whooshed rapidly backward, extremely fast. Behind them, Tian Ling'er had at some point summoned a vermilion jade silk ribbon. Its body was a faint amber color, nearly transparent, emitting streaks of red light—clearly an immortal's magical treasure. At this moment, Tian Ling'er stood leisurely atop the red silk. With a casual guiding gesture from her hand, the Amber Vermilion Silk carried her flying into the air, closely following behind Song Daren.
When had Zhang Xiaofan ever seen such a miraculous thing? Beyond amazement, he saw Tian Ling'er riding the wind, incomparably elegant, and his eyes immediately revealed boundless admiration.
Tian Ling'er saw his expression in her eyes and was immensely pleased. She drove the silk forward to come beside Zhang Xiaofan, traveling alongside him, and said, "So, am I very amazing?"
Zhang Xiaofan nodded desperately. "Yes, yes, yes, yes! Senior Sister, you are truly amazing. To think you can stand on a red cloth strip and still run so fast!"
Tian Ling'er was dumbfounded, then suddenly realized what he meant by "red cloth strip." She spat in anger but couldn't help laughing out loud. "You big idiot!"
Zhang Xiaofan was bewildered. He only heard Song Daren laughing up ahead: "Little Junior Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? That 'Amber Vermilion Silk' is the famous magical treasure Shiniang refined in her youth. Its marvels are boundless and its power immense. Even within our Qingyun Sect, it is a renowned immortal's magical treasure. How could it be some... some red cloth strip?" With that, he laughed heartily.
Zhang Xiaofan's face was completely red. He secretly raised his eyes to look at Tian Ling'er and saw her looking at him with a grin, two small dimples showing by her cheeks.
After hurrying like this for a while, the three arrived before a small hillside in the rear mountain. Song Daren stopped and set Zhang Xiaofan down. Tian Ling'er also descended to the ground. With a withdraw of her hand gesture, the "Amber Vermilion Silk" seemed to possess spiritual intelligence, automatically rolling up and coiling around her waist, looking just like a pretty red belt.
This hillside was covered in bamboo—thick and thin, forming forests and groves, very lush. However, upon closer inspection, the bamboo here was different from the ordinary kind. At the nodes, they displayed black coloration.
Song Daren pointed at this bamboo grove and said to Zhang Xiaofan, "Little Junior Brother, it is our Dazhu Peak lineage's rule that newly entered disciples must come here every day to chop bamboo. You are still young. For the first three months, cut down one tree per day. As for thickness, suit yourself."
When Zhang Xiaofan first heard about the entry-level coursework, and that Su Ru wanted Song Daren to take care of him, he had thought it would be some terribly difficult task. He hadn't expected it to be ordinary firewood chopping. He was born in Caomiao Village, a farming household, and had followed the adults up the mountain a few times to chop firewood. His heart immediately eased greatly, and he showed a smile. "Eldest Senior Brother, I've chopped firewood before. Don't worry."
Seeing his appearance, Song Daren hesitated to speak but smiled. "That's good then. We'll walk back slowly. I'll point out the path we came by, so you can come yourself later. Along the way, I'll also explain the sect rules and precepts."
Tian Ling'er laughed from the side. "Eldest Senior Brother, why did you run so far in such a hurry only to say some trivial things, and now you want to walk back slowly? Are you afraid of getting beaten by my mother?"
Song Daren's face reddened. He ignored her and only said to Zhang Xiaofan, "Little Junior Brother, remember well. The first rule of our sect is to foremost respect one's teacher..."
Actually, in the Dazhu Peak lineage of the Qingyun Sect, the branch head Tian Buyi was lazy by nature. Though he cared about face, he had always been too lazy to discipline his disciples. Generally, he would only teach Dao techniques and methods before ignoring them completely, letting the disciples cultivate on their own. But his wife Su Ru was competitive by nature, fond of martial activities, and quite famous in her youth with an illustrious reputation. After marrying Tian Buyi, her temperament had already been greatly restrained. But first, she frequently couldn't resist the itch to fight, and second, the disciples under her were rather disappointing. In the "Seven Peaks Martial Meet" grand competition that the Qingyun Sect held every sixty years, after several consecutive sessions, the Dazhu Peak disciples lost battle after battle. Besides the Eldest Senior Brother Song Daren occasionally winning one match, the rest ended in total defeat, becoming a laughingstock throughout the Qingyun Sect.
Su Ru had been strong-willed her whole life. How could she endure this anger? Thus, she would frequently take action on behalf of her husband Tian Buyi to "teach" this group of disciples. Though her exterior was gentle and beautiful, her temperament was quite hasty, and her cultivation was extremely high. With one slip, she would beat these disciples until they scurried about with their heads in their hands, covered in cuts and bruises. As a result, everyone feared this beautiful shiniang far more than that short, fat master.
By now the hour was late. The sun had fallen to the west, and the evening clouds on the horizon were brilliant. The sunset shone upon Dazhu Peak. This one adult and two children walked slowly toward the front of the mountain. From the buildings at the front of the distant peak came long howls of dogs from time to time, interspersed with the sharp cries of pain of some poor fellows.