My worn-out cloth shoes stepped onto the mirror-like bluestone pavement, looking completely out of place. I pressed hard against the bundle in my arms; inside it were all my worldly possessions and my hopes for the future. Today, I finally stepped through the gates of the Wu Family, a cultivation clan renowned throughout the world for alchemy and artifact crafting.
My name is Kong Chen. I am an orphan, an insignificant nobody desperately struggling to change his destiny. Every five years, the Wu Family recruits a batch of outer disciples to impart the foundational arts of alchemy and artifact crafting. I spent three years preparing just for this day.
"You're the newly arrived outer disciple?" A crisp voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see a young woman standing not far away. She wore a light purple dress, her raven-black hair gathered up with a white jade hairpin, and a trace of curiosity danced across her delicate face. Could this be Wu Mengli, the eldest young miss of the Wu Family? Rumors said her natural talent was peerless, and at only fifteen years of age, she was already a formidable expert at the Qi Condensation Stage - 7th Layer, unmatched among her peers.
I steadied myself, bowed to the young woman, and said respectfully, "I am Kong Chen, greetings, Miss Wu."
Wu Mengli nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on me for a moment. She seemed quite interested in the bundle in my arms, but ultimately she said nothing, turned around, and led me deeper into the courtyards.
Passing through several exquisite courtyards, we arrived before a quaint-looking room. Wu Mengli stopped, pointed at the room, and said, "This is where the assessment takes place. Go on in, the elder is already waiting inside."
I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. There was only one elderly man in the room. His hair and beard were completely white, yet he was full of vigor, and his piercing eyes seemed capable of seeing right through a person's heart. He sat in a sandalwood chair, and on the table before him lay several items—some unknown medicinal herbs, as well as bizarrely shaped ores.
"You are Kong Chen?" The elder spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful.
"This junior is he," I replied respectfully.
"I hear you have studied the arts of alchemy and artifact crafting for three years. Do you have the confidence to pass my assessment?" The elder picked up a medicinal herb and gently sniffed it.
"Although this junior is dull-witted, I have been diligent. I dare not claim absolute certainty of passing, but I will certainly give it my all," I said with a firm tone.
Next, the elder began my assessment. First, he asked some basic knowledge regarding alchemy and artifact crafting, such as the principles of the mutual generation and restriction of the five elements, the characteristics of various medicinal ingredients, the melting points of artifact crafting materials, and so on. I had long since committed these questions to memory and answered them fluently. Upon hearing my replies, a look of approval appeared on the elder's face, though he said nothing. Instead, he produced a few more items and asked me to identify their types and uses.
I remained calm and collected, carefully observing each item. Relying on the knowledge and experience I had accumulated over the past three years, I gave accurate answers one by one.
Finally, the elder's gaze landed on the bundle I had brought with me. He asked, "What is inside your bundle?"
"Reporting to Elder, inside are some medicinal herbs and ores I gathered myself. They are the fruits of my alchemy and artifact crafting studies over the past three years," I answered truthfully.
"Oh? Bring them here for me to see." The elder seemed to have grown interested.
I hurriedly opened the bundle and laid its contents out on the table one by one. The elder carefully inspected every single herb and piece of ore, and the expression on his face gradually grew solemn.
The elder put down the final piece of ore in his hand and remained silent for a long time, the atmosphere seemingly freezing in place. My heart fluttered with anxiety, wondering whether these "fruits" of mine had caught his eye.
At last, the elder raised his head, a trace of hard-to-detect appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Not bad. While these herbs and ores can hardly be called precious, one can tell you are a thoughtful person." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Starting today, you are an apprentice in the Wu Family's artifact crafting workshop. I will impart everything I have learned throughout my life to you. I hope you will not disappoint me."I was overcome with excitement and hurriedly knelt to kowtow. "Disciple Kong Chen pays respects to Master!" Just like that, I officially became a disciple of the Wu Family. My master arranged for me to stay in a small room next to the forging chamber, saying it would be convenient for me to seek guidance and study at any time. To my delight, Wu Mengli’s room was right next door! I secretly rejoiced, thinking that I would have plenty of opportunities to see this beautiful senior sister in the future.
After getting settled, I was invited to attend a banquet the Wu Family held for the new disciples. During the banquet, I met many young men and women of similar age; they had come from all over to join the Wu Family, each with their own purposes. I talked happily with them, and we soon hit it off.
"Brother Kong, I’m Li Qingfeng from the Qingyun Sect. From now on, we’re brothers!" a sturdy youth said to me heartily, holding up his wine cup. "I am Lin Wan'er. It’s a pleasure to meet you," a gentle and beautiful young woman also toasted me.
I returned their gestures one by one, trading toasts and chatting about our respective experiences and aspirations. Wu Mengli also appeared at the banquet. She was still dressed in her simple, elegant robes, but there was a hint of a smile at the corners of her eyes. I noticed her gaze occasionally landing on me, and a ripple of emotion stirred in my heart.
As night fell, I returned to my room. Lying in bed, reflecting on everything that had happened that day, I felt both excited and uneasy. I was excited because I had finally fulfilled my wish to become a disciple of the Wu Family, but uneasy because I knew the heavy responsibility on my shoulders and understood that I had to work even harder to live up to my master’s expectations.
Just then, a slight sound came from the room next door; I knew it was Wu Mengli’s room. Her clear and ethereal face surfaced in my mind, and my heart was filled with curiosity: what kind of story did this seemingly cold senior sister have? Outside the window, the moonlight was hazy and the insects were chirping incessantly. I lay in bed, but I had no desire to sleep. While becoming a disciple of the Wu Family was certainly something to be happy about, I also understood that this was merely the first step in a long journey. The Wu Family was famous throughout the world for their forging, and every disciple was exceptionally gifted; it was no easy feat to stand out among them.
I tossed and turned, Wu Mengli’s image appearing in my mind against my will. At the banquet, though she was quiet and reserved, her every movement exuded a noble aura, distinct from those vibrant, lively girls, making her appear even more aloof and refined. I thought to myself: what kind of unknown past does such a favored daughter of heaven possess?
Just as I was letting my imagination run wild, a faint "clink-clank" sound suddenly came from the next room, like the crisp ringing of metal colliding. My heart stirred—could Wu Mengli be forging? Driven by curiosity, I walked to the wall on tiptoe and pressed my ear against it.
The sounds became clearer, accompanied by faint fluctuations of fire-attribute spiritual energy. I could be almost certain that Wu Mengli was forging in the room next door. I marveled at this in secret; so late at night, instead of resting, she was still practicing. Such diligence and hard work were truly admirable.
I listened intently, trying to distinguish what she was refining from those subtle sounds. However, aside from the clashing of metal and the burning of flames, I could make nothing out. "Could I be overthinking it?" I pondered to myself. "Perhaps she is just practicing basic techniques."
Just as I was about to give up on eavesdropping and go back to sleep, a soft cry came from the next room, followed by the sound of panicked footsteps, as if something had fallen to the floor.
I was startled. Worried that Wu Mengli might have had an accident, I didn’t even think before rushing out the door and pounding on her door, "Senior Sister! Senior Sister! Are you alright?" Yet, my cries went unanswered. The room became even quieter, with only the sound of faint breathing drifting through the door crack.
I was anxious and desperate, yet I dared not break in, fearing I might disturb her. "What should I do? Should I go find Master?" My mind was locked in a fierce internal struggle, unable to make a decision.