Stormy Mountain Sect Chapter 3

***Author’s Note***

Midweek chapter! Still a slow entry into the story. Let me know what you think!

***Author’s Note***

The sun peaking over the horizon woke me up, my head pounding. “Ugh, definitely should not have had some of those drinks,” I said while massaging my neck. The smell of breakfast cooking made me grin, and then my face fell. “I’m going to miss my family.” I shook my head, then immediately regretted that. It took me five minutes of fumbling about to get dressed. His sisters were already gone, probably helping mom cook and doing the daily chores necessary for life on a farm.

Finally, he exited the bedroom and entered the main room of the house. Mom was cooking over the stove while Summer cut vegetables next to her. The sizzling of eggs cooking made my mouth drool. “Marc, good to see you up,” mom said cheerfully. “Normally you would have been awake for an hour already.” Her loud tone made me wince. She noticed, then laughed lightly while shaking her head. “I should have known that was too many drinks. I am sorry.”

“No, it is my fault,” I said. “I am going to get some water. Can I help?”

“Call for your sister to come in,” mom told me. “The rinse water bucket should be clean enough to dunk your head in too. I find that helps.”

I smiled and gave her a tiny nod, all I could do without my brain leaking out my ears. I slowly exited the house and found the two barrels. Bending over, I followed mom’s advice and dunked my head. Splashing a few times made my head hurt more, but cleared up my mind and perceptions a bit too. A few drinks from the drinking barrel started the process of healing, and I walked out into the steadily rising sunshine. “Samara!” I bellowed out, then grimaced. Nothing to it, I thought, “Time for breakfast!”

“Coming!” I heard her call back. I dunked my head again, drank some more water, and then went inside. Mom and Summer refused all offers of help, and forced me to sit.

After sitting down, Summer brought me a cup of tea, then impulsively hugged me. “I’m going to miss you,” she said, tears in her voice and eyes.

“I’ll miss you too,” I told her, pulling her into a tight squeeze. “You be good for mom and Samara, okay?” She nodded jerkily against my chest.

“Come on, sis,” Samara said. “Let him eat.” She walked into the room and grabbed two plates from mom, shuffling them to the table. Summer hopped away from me and got the other two. Mom smiled at all of us then limped over to the table and sat.

We ate joyfully, enjoying each other’s company one last time. When all the food was eaten, mom nodded at Samara. “I have been saving this for the last two years,” mom said. Samara came in from the bedroom holding a seven-and-a-half-foot long yanyuedao. The six-foot staff had an eighteen inch long curved blade attached to the end. The tip of the blade was curved back, allowing for some stabbing but it was mostly a slashing weapon. A deep green tassel was attached to the shaft where the blade met it, hanging down almost two feet. She was slightly struggling with it, her cultivation high enough to give her the strength to hold it but not to wield it with ease. I need to get a good cultivation manual for her, and be prepared to get one for Summer too. Maybe I’ll be able to earn enough to test Summer early? That’s really expensive, though. Only the nobles really do it. “This was your great-grandfather’s. He was the last of our family to create a Cultivator’s Core. The weapon is infused with a bit of his essence. His son, your grandfather, inherited it, and then your father.” She smiled sadly at the weapon, and Samara looked wistfully at it.

I stood and took it from Samara, only to nearly drop it. “Heavy,” I said. “I do not know when I will be able to use this.” I gulped. “Why didn’t we sell it?”

“I would only have sold it if we were in danger of dying. This is part of our family’s history and legacy, and you’ll use it to great extent, I know. To use it, advancing to the Bone stage of Body Refinement is probably the minimum,” mom said. “But I believe you’ll get there quickly.”

“I am only partway through the Muscle stage after a year,” Samara said, “but you should be able to advance faster at the Stormy Mountain Sect.”

“Don’t worry, sis, as soon as I can, I’ll look into getting you a better cultivation technique,” I promised her.

“You better,” she said, then lightly stuck my shoulder. “Be safe. I’ve heard that the sect can be a dangerous place.”

I looked at her curiously, “I mean, I’ve heard that they make everyone fight a lot, but I thought they’d have healers and guidelines to make sure no one died.”

The bells of the town rang out twice, qi enchantments projecting the sound outward to the bordering farms. “You have better go,” mom said. “You still need to visit Smith before meeting the elder. Don’t forget your hunting bow either.”

“Won’t you need it?” I asked.

“We have another, and you can send us some of your wages to buy one if you really want to,” Mom said. “But a bow gives you options until you can condense your Qi. Now, get ready and go.”

I stood then gave her a tight hug. “I will find a way to help you heal,” I whispered devoutly. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Now shoo, and write to us as often as you can,” she said.

I nodded, then picked up my backpack, my bow, and the new yanyuedao. I slung my bow and backpack onto my back, but I had to grip my father’s weapon with both hands and the new yanyuedao. I had to grip it with both hands, making getting out the door awkward until Summer ran past me and opened it for me. She made a funny face, causing me to laugh and smile sadly. “Okay,” I said. I took ten steps out of the door, then turned around. Planting the butt of my new weapon on the ground, easy to do with the weighted spike on the end, I bowed at the waist until I went below ninety-degrees. “Mother, sisters, until we meet again.” I held the bow for a ten count, and then straightened up.

Of course, when I tried to pull the yanyuedao out of the ground it wouldn’t budge. Laughter met me as I finally yanked it out. I gave my family a mock glare, looked at the sun, and went, “Time to run!” I turned and ran, pushing myself to make it to town as fast as I could. Still, by the time I got there, I was down to only an hour until the time to meet Elder Li Mei. I skidded down the main road, dodging people and carefully keeping my blade high, even though it was covered by a leather scabbard.

Just as I turned onto the street Smith’s shop was on, an older woman stepped to the side unexpectedly in front of me. I wrenched my body sideways, barely able to dodge her, and then guided my collapse such that my yanyuedao didn’t hit anybody on the way down.

Cheerful laughter echoed from in front of me, and then Nuan was there to help me up. “That was clumsy of you,” she said brightly.

I scrunched my nose at her, then turned to the older woman. “I’m sorry,” I said, bowing slightly to her, “Did I injure you in my haste?”

“I am fine,” she said, her voice scraggly. “Run along now, and be more careful with big pointy sticks.”

“Of course,” I smiled sheepishly. “So Nuan, have you gone to Smith’s yet?”

“No, I was just on the way. My brothers didn’t want to let me leave,” she said. “Especially Bingwen.”

“Well, he is only four,” I said. “And you dote on him endlessly.”

“He’s just so cute!” she laughed. “Did you go to Smith’s yet?” she looked meaningfully at the weapon in my right hand.

“No, this was my father’s,” I told her “Mom gave it to me.”

Nuan put her hand on my arm. “That is sweet,” she said. “Come on, I want to see what Smith is going to give us!”

I shook my head and grinned, but followed her as she pulled at my elbow. We entered Smith’s shop, where Brannon, his son, was sharpening a woodcutting axe. “Marc, Nuan,” the twelve-year-old boy said, standing up. Even three years younger than I was, he was still taller and broader than me, having been learning how to smith since he was a child. “Da said you should head into the back.”

“Thanks, Brannon,” Nuan smiled at him, and the kid blushed.

She brushed past him, then I patted his shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. She has that effect on everyone!” I said.

I pushed into the back and saw Smith carefully gauging the temperature of a bar of metal. He saw us out of the corner of his eyes, but he didn’t stop. It took five minutes of heating, hammering, and cooling the future weapon before he set the sword blank aside. “About time you showed up,” he said, his deep voice boisterous. “I almost thought you had forgotten about my offer.”

“A free weapon from the town’s best smith? Of course not,” Nuan said.

He laughed. “Let me see. For you, Nuan, hmm. Fire affinity, so we do not want to have any wood in the construction. Ah yes, this,” he walked to the side of his forge where dozens of weapons hung on pegs. He pulled out three jian, straight-bladed double edged swords. They were different lengths, though only by a few inches. “Come over here,” he waved her over.

Nuan walked over and he had her hold her arm out. He held each blade up, comparing the length to her arm length, then handed her one. She stepped back and swung the weapon about after checking where I was standing. She held it like she knew what she was doing. “This is very good,” she said. “The balance is better for me than my father’s sword.”

“He has said you are a natural. I expect that will do you good at the Sect. Give the nobles hell for me, eh?” He said with a grin. After Nuan gave him a nod, he turned to me. “Hmm, I was going to offer up a spear given your wood affinity, but your mom gave you Eric’s guando. That is still an option, or I could give you a jian or dao as well. A side arm is always useful, in case an opponent can consistently get inside your guard. A long-spear or pike might be useful for hunting. I have heard that the disciples often arrange for trips into the Stormy Mountains to hunt spirit beasts. A bow would be good as well, but I do not have any here. I recommend both of you get a bow soon.” He spoke while pulling a belt and scabbard off the wall for Nuan’s sword and handing them to her.

“What about a dagger or skinning knife?” I asked.

“I can do that,” he said. He went and grabbed my choice, checking size a couple of times, before I took the final result. The knife ended up having an eight-inch blade, longer than I thought was practical but I decided to trust Smith, since probably knew more than I did anyway. “Always good to be ready in case someone closes inside your guard. Now, same command to you, boy. Do well, make our town proud, and become a cultivator of legend, eh?”

“Of course,” I said, carefully adjusting my hands and bowing.

“You should go quickly,” he said. “They will be leaving soon. You do not want to have to run to catch up, now will you?”

“Thank you again,” I said. Nuan thanked him as well, then we turned and left. A quick jog across town had me huffing, not used to running and carrying so much stuff. We reached the designated location, just in front of the mayor’s house and town hall. A small crowd was gathered there, including Haoyu and Ling, the first girl who’d been tested. I moved over to say hi to Haoyu, who kept looking to the edge of the crowd where his mom was watching teary-eyed.

The fourth bell rang only a few minutes after Nuan and I arrived, giving us just long enough to catch our breath and greet a few people. Elder Li Mei and Inspector Crane exited the building, looking over us. Mayor Sandberg followed. Inspector Crane turned to the mayor, “Thank you for your town's hospitality. I will return next year.”

“Safe journeys to you,” Mayor Sandberg said, bowing deeply to the visiting dignitaries. He turned to us, “Bring honor unto Sandberg, and your families. I look forward to hearing about your amazing successes.”

“If you are joining either the army or the Stormy Mountain Sect, follow,” Inspector Crane said. He and Elder Li Mei walked down the stairs, then took off at a jog. There were twenty young people, all between fifteen and seventeen, who joined Nuan and I in running after them. They gradually sped up, though they didn’t look like they were doing anything but a light jog. The rest of us were almost sprinting after them, barely keeping up with them.

We ran for twenty minutes, clearing two miles out of town. The group slowly spread out, with Nuan and a seventeen year old boy in the lead. I doggedly held on just behind my girl, both hands occupied with the weapons I was bringing. Behind me, Ling, Haoyu, Ning, and Byron, four of my compatriots, were running, less burdened than I was.

Finally, we slowed down and stopped, meeting a large group of youngsters, a dozen uniformed troops, and two people wearing the same robes as Elder Li Mei, though they had a green sash to her blue. She broke off from the group and met those two, who bowed to her then presented her a cup of something.

Inspector Crane looked at us. “Pathetic,” he said. “But that is why you have joined us. To change from your pathetic lives and become something great. Those of you seeking to join the military, follow me. Otherwise, wait here for Elder Li Mei.”

Five people broke off to follow him. The majority, including all but one of the older adolescents, stayed. After a few minutes of discussion with the other sect members, Elder Li Mei finally turned to us. “You all have decided to undertake the trial to enter the Stormy Mountain Sect.” Her two assistants had run off when she turned to us. “If your talent is a five or below, form a line in front of me. The two of you with a six or higher, come stand over here.” She gestured to her left.

Nuan and I were the only ones to move to her side. Everyone else lined up as directed. Haoyu gave me a wink from his spot in front of Elder Li Mei. The two sect assistants arrived at her other side. They were holding a stack of scrolls. “This is the Cleansing Breath cultivation technique. It is given to all members of the sect. From this moment on, you are a worker of the Stormy Mountain Sect,” she said. “When we arrive in one month, you will integrate into the sect and be given a place. In a few years, you will earn the right to challenge for a position in the outer sect, increasing your rewards and your responsibility, if you have performed admirably. If you have managed to learn the technique to the third level by the time we arrive, you may be allowed to take the outer sect trial this year. If not, you have three years to prove yourselves worthy.”

She handed every person in line a scroll before turning to us. “Miss Nuan, for you, I have the Passionate Breath technique, a rank three cultivation technique specifically for those with a Fire affinity. Regardless of your progress, you will be able to take the outer sect trial, but the better you learn the technique, the farther you will go. Beyond simply entering the outer sect, you may be able to earn additional starting credits, new techniques, and personal instruction from Elders, depending on how far you advance.”

“I will do my best,” Nuan said, her shoulders square and face serious.

Elder Li Mei smiled at her, then turned to me. The last scroll was handed to her. “This is the Springtime’s Breeze technique. It is a rank three cultivation technique specifically for a Wood affinity. It is the most appropriate thing that I have to give to you,” she said.

I bowed as I took it from her, “I will work diligently to learn this and excel.”

“Good,” she said. She looked at both of us. “Your talents are high. Once we are back at the sect, many resources will be given to advance you through the Body Refinement tier of cultivation. Work hard, and you will be able to become a Qi Condensation cultivator before the year is out. Once there, you will be a true cultivator, and will be able to earn many more credits and rewards. Take advantage of the next few weeks, as it will be the last time for a long while where you will be able to ask an elder for advice on your techniques.”

“We will,” Nuan and I chorused. “Thank you.”

“Go, place your items on the carriage. You two will ride with Inspector Crane and I for today. Learn your techniques well, or this will be the last time you ride,” she commanded.

Nuan and I hurried to the carriage. It was immense, and pulled by horses that were almost ten feet tall. They gave off the same pressure that the spirit beasts in the woods did, from the one time I remember ever seeing one. The coachman helped us store our gear, and we climbed in. There were four rows of seats, and I went to the rearmost one. Nuan sat beside me, and we both cracked open our scrolls and began reading.