"I can't believe I did it… I'm finally a sect disciple."
Mingzhe lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling of his new room. It was small, barely large enough for two narrow wooden beds placed side by side, separated by a central wooden table. The walls were plain, the wood slightly warped with age, but everything had been swept clean. A single oil lamp flickered softly on a small table, casting warm shadows across the room.
It wasn't impressive. In fact, compared to the grand halls he had imagined, it was almost disappointing.
And yet…
"Even if this sect isn't well known… so long as I work hard, I'll rise to the top!" he said, clenching his fist. "In a year's time, I might even become Chief Disciple! Then I can lead subjugation missions, travel from town to town and earn glory for the Sect!"
He sat up, eyes shining.
Then, just as quickly, the excitement faded. His shoulders sank as he slowly lay back down.
"…I hope everyone in Kuanglin is safe."
The flickering lamp blurred in his vision. Before long, sleep took him.
It felt like he had only just closed his eyes when...
THUD!
A heavy weight crashed onto his stomach.
"GUUUUUH!" All the air was knocked out of him
Lianhua landed triumphantly on top of his stomach after landing a canon-ball like attack. Lulu enthusiastically licked his face. "Hey junior disciple! Wake up! Wake up!"
"What—?!" Mingzhe wheezed for air. "It's barely dawn! Why are you causing such a ruckus?!"
He blinked, finally recognizing her.
"Hey… you're that little brat from yesterday! Has no one taught you not to disturb people while they're sleeping?"
Lianhua puffed her cheeks. "How dare you call me a brat! I am your senior disciple!"
"Senior disciple? You?" Mingzhe scoffed. "You're just a little kid!"
"I am Master's third disciple, and you are his seventh! That makes me higher in rank than you in terms of seniority!" She snapped.
"Seventh?!" Mingzhe froze. "You're telling me there are only seven disciples in this sect…?" He muttered under his breath, "…How weak is this sect?"
Lianhua's face turned red. "That's unforgivable! Don't look down on the Dewdrop Sect! Meiruo said while we're not a big fancy sect, Dewdrop Sect relies on our own abilities. And one of us is equal to a hundred low-leveled sect disciples! I, the great third disciple, can even defeat you in a duel!"
Lulu barked in agreement.
"Sure you can," Mingzhe said with a grin, casually patting her head.
The next moment—
CHOMP!
"OOOOOUCH!"
A tiny dragon pixie shot out from Lianhua's collar and bit deep into Mingzhe hand.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Lulu pulled to his side . Chichi had coiled around his arm like a living rope sinking its razor-teeth deeper on his hand. Mingzhe flailed wildly, trying to pry them off.
"Don't treat me like a kid!" Lianhua assumed a fighting stance dramatically punching and kicking the air. "Everyone, pin him down! I'll teach him what happens if he dare look down on someone like me!"
"Hey! Get off me, you little brat—!"
Moments later after the chaotic tumble, the door slid open.
Meiruo stepped in, "Lianhua, did you wake Mingzhe? Have you started on your duties already?"
"Big sister Meiruo! Yes I even had Hanhan go to the river an catch fish for today's breakfast!" Lianhua ran over eagerly to Meiruo, as if nothing had happened
"Good! Then can you do some of my duties today I'll be guiding Mingzhe around the base today." Meiruo handed her a stack of paper with intricately drawn symbols.
"Oh! Can I really go strengthen the barrier today?"
"Yes. And don't forget to collect the Qi from the stone steps and reset them." Meiruo handed her a basket of stones with a carved symbol.
"Yay! That means I can run around the bamboo forest with Lulu and Chichi today! Let's go!"
"Only if you hide Chichi and have Lulu hide his other two tails."
"Okay! Let's go guys!" Lianhua called out to her familiars.
Chichi hid inside her clothes and Lulu followed tails wagging.
"Stay within the Sect barrier," Meiruo reminded.
"I will!"
Meiruo turned, and finally noticed Mingzhe sprawled on the floor, covered in bite marks, claw marks, and tangled sheets.
"…Are you alright?"
Mingzhe looked up.
For the first time, he saw her without the sun hat.
Morning light streamed in through the window, catching softly against her features. Her skin was smooth like a porcelain doll, her expression calm and unbothered. There was a quiet elegance to her, her cheeks was flushed and her eyes had a deep sparkle to it.
Mingzhe gulped and realizing he was in a humiliating state he untangled himself from the bedsheet, flipped over and began doing push-ups.
"98! 99! 100!" he shouted. "Oh Hey! Yeah! Never been better!"
Meiruo smiled, "…Good. I hope you had a good rest. We don't usually have new disciples, so this will be your temporary bed."
"Of course! Plenty of rest! I'm completely energized!" There were very obvious dark circles under his eyes. Not to mention the bed he slept it was hard but it beats sleeping on the cold ground when he was traveling around Suyuan.
"Good," Meiruo said. "Then come with me. I'll guide you through your duties as a disciple."
Mingzhe's eyes lit up instantly.
Duties as a disciple.
This was it.
His first day as a cultivator.
He straightened his posture, chest puffed slightly. In his mind, he could already see it unfolding. Secret techniques. Sword arts. Maybe even a test of strength or a hidden manual passed down. Tournaments and subjugation missions bringing glory and gold.
He followed Meiruo with quick, eager steps.
He followed Meiruo with quick, eager steps.
"Since you're staying in the western courtyard every morning your first duty is..." Meiruo started to say.
"Patrol? Scouting? Do you need me to do some hunting?" Mingzhe said excitement in his eyes.
But Meuiruo slid the window open, "No, it's to open the windows every morning so the rooms don't get musty."
The window promptly fell off its hinge.