Vol Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2: Tenth Bandit
[Qing-Yun Sect]
With over 300 years of legacy, even the lowest ranked disciple was regarded as a holy existence to the citizens of [Chufung Kingdom] -- nay, the entire [Nan-Zhan Province]. Perhaps one of the most famous disciple was Xiao Jianmin, whose tales involved, on one occurrence, single-handedly infiltrating and ma.s.sacring the [Guiyan Valley]’s infamous bandit group three months ago.
Xiao Jianmin laid rest to bandits, leaving behind only one survivor out of ten. And as a celebration, all nine heads of the bandits were hung at the entrance of [Guiyan Valley]. The villagers cheered and hurrahed for their hero; however, Xiao Jianmin would not celebrate as he was determined to find that missing 10th bandit. And ever since, he searched the entire range of [Mount Yandang] for the 10th bandit in vain.
It has been told that the tenth bandit was the most mysterious of the group, and no outsider had ever laid eyes on the tenth bandit.
Sadly, what Xiao Jianmin doesn’t know is that the 10th bandit will never appear in [Mount Yandang]. You see, around three months ago, the tenth bandit has already joined the [Qing-Yun Sect] to become a new s.h.i.+di. That is if you can count Daotong as a s.h.i.+di. Hahaha.
[TL Note: s.h.i.+di: 师弟, junior martial brother, or junior apprentice brother; Daotong: 道童, lit. ‘child of taoism/daoism’. The lowest rank within Qing-Yun Sect, they do not receive any formal teachings from the elders, and are usually a.s.signed with mundane tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and farming.]
[Qing-Yun Sect]’s recruitment ceremonies occurred once every ten years in search of talents, whereas Daotong recruitment happened annually. A Datong, albeit a member of the [Qing-Yun Sect], was regarded very differently from an actual disciple. They would not receive any formal lessons from any of the elders nor received any Spirit Stones as reward for their hard work and contribution. It was estimated that there were around 10,000 Daotongs in the sect and they were often a.s.signed tasks like menial labor, such as cleaning, cooking and/or farming.
However, it wasn’t all work and no pay. The Daotongs received a one-day holiday each month and received a thin martial arts booklet t.i.tled: [Qing-Yun Sect’s Qi Formation].
After s.h.i.+jie Lin-Yun took off with Xiao-Mahn, the plump Taoist led Fang-Xing to a wooden cabin. Inside the cabin, there was a burly man with a distinctive large mole on his face. The man smiled and pa.s.sed Fang-Xing a set of cyan colored robes, a thin booklet, and a small wood block with his name engraved on it.
“Aren’t you a lucky b.u.g.g.e.r? If it wasn’t for s.h.i.+jie Lin-Yun, you wouldn’t even have a chance,” Large Mole laughed disdainfully, “with no connection, no money, no power, you belong at the bottom. Take this [Qing-Yun Sect’s Qi Formation] manual and study it well. Not everyone can have the chance to read this!
Only when you’ve mastered the first level, can you become one of the Outer Sect disciples.”
As the plump Taoist left the cabin, Fang-Xing looked around the room and found few other boys in the room, he a.s.sumed none were much older than he was. However, the boys would not let him know that and tried to cross their arms in hopes of looking much older than they actually were.
“How many stages of Qi have you mastered?” Fang-Xing asked.
“No one except for me here has felt the movement of Qi!” Large Mole proudly pointed his thumb at himself.
“How many years have you all been here?”
“I’ve been here six years! They’ve been here for at least three now.”
“s.h.i.+t! That woman lied to me,” sighed Fang-Xing, throwing the manual aside.
“What woman?” Curious, Large Mole asked.
“Who else? That Lin-Yun! She said she’ll take me as a disciple but all I get is this stupid book!” Fang-Xing clutched his fists, “look at all of you. Six years, three years, three years... What have you achieved? That lying b.i.t.c.h...”
“s.h.i.+jie Lin-Yun?” Shocked by Fang’s words, Large Mole reached for Fang-Xing’s collar and whispered menacingly, “Shut up you little brat. Do you know how much trouble we will be in if anyone hears what you just said?
Remember this: you are now in my herb field. If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west. If I tell you to jump, you ask me how high. Do you UN.DER.STAND?”
“That’s right! You’ll need to clean the stools and fill the tanks with fresh water every day now!” A boy with freckles chirped in.
‘He’s probably in charge of cleaning the stools and filling the water tank…”
“Haha, and the laundry, too! The newbie always take care of it”
‘That’s the laundry guy’
Fang-Xing faced everyone and slowly nodded to himself, “So, you’re all just bullying me?”
“Yea, so?” Large Mole slammed his arm against a table nearby, showing off the blue veins on his muscular arm, “what are you going to do?”
“Don’t you dare hit me! I-- I can scream…” Fang-Xing appeared frightened as if even a slight touch of a finger would set him off.
At Fang-Xing’s cowardice, Large Mole laughed, “don’t you worry about that. I don’t dare touch you now, but that’s different when the night falls. We’re going to shut the doors and it’ll be just you and all of us. No one... No one will be able to hear you, even if you screamed at the top of your lungs.”
“That’s right! The s.h.i.+xiong from the Yaosi Department only checks once every three months. When they’re not here, it’s all up to us,” the freckled boy threatened, “they’ll be way too busy to care about someone like you. Also… did you know that as a Daotong, you won’t be able to leave this place for ten years?”
[TL Note: Yaosi department: 药司监, it is the department or the office that oversees all herbal cultivation activities in the Qing-Yun Sect. The herb field that Fang-Xing is a.s.signed to reports to the Yaosi department.]
‘It must be his first time threatening someone. Freckled boy seems way too excited.’
“My dear brothers, please don’t hurt me. I’m a good person. I’ll do whatever you say,” Fang-Xing pitifully begged.
“Hah, thought so.”
[Herb Field]