Chapter 2: Anticipation

Jin woke up early, as he usually does. He’s body was quite sore, but that was nothing unexpected. He was hungry. He wasn’t good at skipping meals, but yesterday’s circumstance didn’t allow him much choice in that regard.

He took the bath first thing in the morning. His bath consisted of dropping a couple buckets of cold water over his body. Once he was finished, he dressed up, took the stairs and navigated towards the kitchen.

To his surprise, mother was already there, and she already had been preparing a meal for him. Jin couldn’t help but smile as he sat at the table, waiting impatiently.

“I’m sorry for yesterday, mother.” - Jin said apologetically.

“Dear son, don’t scare your mother like that.” - she said, as she handed him a bowl of porridge - “Isn’t there enough incidents over the mountain? Not only are you always a step away from tumbling down to your death, there are yaks, sheep and snakes that are all too likely to help you find yourself in peril. It is no place for a child, especially at night.”

Jin nodded.

Mother sighed.

“We’ve received a word from the main clan. The enrollment for cultivation houses will take place at the main clan town in two days.”

Jin stiffened a little. Then smiled.

“Then you must prepare to let your son go for a little longer than a single evening” - Jin jeered.

“I know you plan to enroll, but you know my thoughts on this. The chances are small that you have aptitude for cultivation, I would not want to see you disappointed. Neither your father or me had it. Either way I don’t believe going that path is any better than having a simple life in this village.” - she sighed. - “You shouldn’t be in such a hurry to rush into the world.”

“Mother, it saddens me that you have so little faith in your own blood. In two days it’ll be proven that I, Zhen Jin can join a cultivation house and become an expert.”

The mother just sighed again and smiled at the naivety of her child.

“You’re right son, your mother will believe in you.”

After Jin thanked for a meal, he went outside to do some work in his garden. He was very meticulously caring for it. It was here, after all, that he managed to grow the dancing grass. Unlike other plants, it was a rank 1 material, meaning it was more vibrant than other plants, and had its uses in cultivation. This village was at the right altitude and had the proper conditions for the grass to thrive, and Jin wasn’t disappointed. His substantial amount of this grass started off just from a few individual clumps of the grass found higher in the mountain. He was quite proud of his gardening skills by now.

After a couple hours, he took another bath and navigated towards the village’s day care. This was where most of the kids under 12 years spent their time, the building was quite big, it had a playground for smaller kids and a couple fields for older children to play games at.

On his way, he noticed a tall lean boy heading there too, quite a bit ahead of him. Jin’s eyes immediately sharpened, as he lurched into the sprint.

The boy quickly noticed that somebody was gunning for him, and he himself started sprinting towards the daycare. They were equally fast, and so it was Bei who got in front of the building first. As soon as he noticed an adult around, Bei suddenly relaxed and stopped running, Jin catching up to him right quickly.

“I don’t want you two to start anything today, especially so early in the morning!” - the old man said.

“Sir, I never intended to start anything. I was peacefully coming to this place when this madman started chasing me for no reason at all.”

Jin just cast a glare towards Bei.

“Sir, I was just planning to tag him, as I was the one losing the game yesterday.”

“I don’t mind and I don’t care so long as there is no fuss! If I see you wrestling or beating each other up, BOTH of you will get it from me! Now get inside, we’ll be starting the lessons soon. You better behave or I won’t let you into the caravan for the upcoming event in the main clan town.”

“Yes sir.” - replied Jin, while Bei just smiled mockingly from behind the old man

Soon after they started their class. It was neither big nor small, it had 24 other children the same age as Jin and Bei.

“Alright, settle down. As you may know, the enrollment to cultivation houses for our clan will take place in two days. How many of you plan to enroll?” - the old man asked plainly.

Everyone raised their hands. Well, everyone besides Bei, who likely simply didn’t see a need to raise his hand.

“Hmph, good. Then let me explain the schedule for the event. You should know this already, but not everyone will be able to join a cultivation house. Each house’s representative will personally accept or reject enrollment request from a clansman. This year, there will be 3 houses competing for our clan’s young talent. It’s going to be the Southern Alliance’s branch, Nan Liang Mountain house, the Gale Valey house and finally the Beast Mountain house. If your first pick doesn’t accept your request, you can try at the second house and then the third. If all three reject your request, you should give up on being a cultivator, and invest your time in other activities than cultivation - and let me tell you straight, the aptitude requirements of the houses are not low, so it is going to be the fate of most of you, Only 5 to 10% of applying clansmen get accepted every year, it is unlikely this year will be any different.

The caravan will be here tomorrow, and will set out at 10pm to make it to the clan’s town in the morning. Make all the necessary preparations in advance.”

After this introduction, the class continued as normal.

“Jin, you should loosen your brows from time to time. Sometimes I’m afraid it’ll be stuck like that.” - Bei jeered during a break.

“I’ll never furrow my brows again once we finally go our ways in two days, and I will never have to see you again.” sneered Jin.

“Don’t be so prickly my friend, what house will want to enroll you if you’re like that? Look at your ever calm and collected best friend. If they knew of my talents, I’m sure it’d be them coming to me, not otherwise.” Bei smiled.

Jin sneered again, and didn’t answer. The longer he talked with him, the deeper under the skin Bei could get. At some point, he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

The classes have finished without an issue. Jin stayed behind as he was on the cleaning duties this month, so he had to prepare the class for tomorrow’s session. There wasn't

much to do, he was done in 20 minutes.

“Hey Jin, come over here for a minute.” - one of his peers has called him over.

Jin frowned. There were 3 of them. The three musketeers, Rui, Gan and Opi. Always together. More like three rogues in reality.

Jin followed them to hear of their next “great plan”.

“You guys want to tempt some more fate before the event? Don’t do it, the old man is not joking. If he decides you’re just going to shame us, he’ll not let you go. And I’m sure you’re on top of his list.” - said plainly Jin, his hands folded.

“Don’t disregard us so quickly.” - said Rui - “This is something we should do before the event.” “So we can get some nice things at the clan’s town.” - explained Gan.

“You see, we heard our orphan friend has earned himself a small fortune.” - Rui revealed their target

Jin’s frown deepened.

“Apparently he sold a Gusu this morning.” - said Opi.

“We thought maybe we could convince him to spread his wealth a little.” - Rui chuckled

“I heard it was 10 stones.” - Rui added.

“No, it was 15.” - Gan interjected.

“15?! Damn.” - Opi gasped

“What do you think?” - Rui finally asked again - “He’s an orphan after all. We only need to avoid the old man. He never tells on anybody, so if we succeed we’re all safe and good.” - Rui continued.

“And rich” - Gan added.

“You in?” - Rui asked the third time.

“You three morons. Why you have to find me for your stupid schemes?”

Jin lost his patience. He wasn’t angry. He was just very annoyed.

“You think I’m going to become a thief for some measly couple stones?! YOU THINK that YOU can use ME to get YOUR COUPLE STONES?! AND I TOLD YOU A HUNDRED TIMES NOT TO CALL HIM ORPHAN.” - snapped Jin.

“AND ABOVE ALL, IF YOU WANT TO ROB HIM THEN DO IT BEHIND MY BACK SO I’M NOT BOTHERED, NOT TRY TO GET ME TO HELP YOU, YOU USELESS IDIOTS”

Jin heaved a sigh. Only god almighty or his mightiest servants might be able to fix guys like these three.

He massaged his temple.

“I’m telling the old man. You better prepare your most innocent faces when he looks for you.”

Jin turned around, as he felt a blow to the back of his head.

He flinched. There was little power behind the blow. He turned around.

It was Rui.

“No you’re not!” - he shouted.

Jin looked at him.

“So you want to play? Fine, I’m not telling the old man.” - “I’m going to be in more trouble than you after this, after all.”

Jin pounced on Rui, starting with a kick in the stomach. The boy had next to no reflexes, the kick hit the target, and he immediately had a fit of coughs, as he also started crying loudly.

Jin looked at the other 2.

“You guys with him?”

None of them answered, just ran away.

Jin sighed. He was a fool. Now he needed to somehow explain this, he knew these boys. Even though they planned on robbing their fellow classmate, they’ll be quicker than anybody to report the misdeeds of others, if they didn’t like the person.

“Might as well drag this one to the old man…” - thought Jin. And so he did. He waited for Rui to finish his fits. He wasn’t hit that hard, he was mostly just playing it to dramatic effect.

“Enough, let’s go. You tell the old man that you’re not feeling well and you ate something bad, and I’ll tell him nothing of your little plan. You tell him of me kicking you in the gut, I’m telling him my story.”

Jin went back inside the building, navigating towards the old man’s office, dragging Rui by the hand.

Once they got it, of course, Rui immediately started talking about how Jin bullied him. Jin was quiet, waiting for the old man to respond?

“Is this true?”

“No sir, it is not the truth.”

“Care to explain then?” - the old man asked in a severe tone.

“I stayed after the classes to prepare the room for tomorrow’s session. After I left the building, Rui invited me over, and explained his, Gan’s and Opi’s plan to rob Bei. They heard that Bei got 15 stones by selling Gusu today morning. When I told them I’m reporting this to you, sir, I was struck by this boy as I barely managed to turn toward the office. I retaliated, Gan and Opi ran away. Now I came here to report back on the whole matter.”

The old man started massaging his temple.

“All 4, detention tomorrow.” - he said plainly.

Jin sighed in relief. He absolutely cannot risk any more trouble for 2 days.

Jin bowed and left the office, while Rui tried to convince the old man of the unfairness of his decision.

Jin finally left the building, and went straight home. He wouldn’t even chase Bei if he’d see him, he already sold the Gusu after all. Jin’s heart stirred when he thought about him and the incident again.

“Calm down. No use crying over spilt milk” - he tried to cheer himself up.

He really didn’t want any more misadventures.

At home, he ate a big meal and spent the rest of the day quietly in his room, as he was imagining all kinds of opportunities he was going to get as a cultivator.

The night was as beautiful as yesterday’s. Bei as usual practiced his instrument, but Jin didn’t plan to interrupt the boy tonight. He just enjoyed it, and went to sleep.

The next day went rather event-less, except for Jin and the three other boys staying after school to clean up the whole building as their detention activity. The three boys were lazily doing whatever they are supposed to do, only increasing their output whenever an adult came by. Jin sneered when he noticed them. He could respect them if they worked properly. He could also respect them if they worked lazily no matter if somebody is looking or not. These guys were total rogues to the core though. Only either a blind man or a saint would believe in their sincerity.

The idiots were grinning at him, apparently very proud of their antics, calling him a loser and what not.

Jin just shook his head. Idiots through and through.

In the end, the three boys together didn’t match Jin’s output, he had done most of the work himself, after some more disdainful smiles, targeted at him, they could finally part their ways after the old man had examined and approved of the effort.

At the gate, he noticed a tall, lean boy. He was casually leaning his back against the wood, clearly waiting for somebody.

Jin ignored it and just kept going. He was hungry, the building was big, it took well over 2 hours to clean it up. It’d take much less if not for the idiots.

The boy smiled at him as he approached the gates.

“My foolish friend, I heard you’ve been assigned a detention? You shouldn’t be getting in trouble, it’d sadden me if you missed the event tomorrow.”

Jin just furrowed his brows and marched on, as if he hadn’t really noticed a person talking to him.

Bei followed him, humming some sort of melody.

The mother was outside, taking care of the laundry. When she noticed Jin and Bei, she smiled. She invited Bei to join them for the dinner.

“Ma’am, I couldn’t impose myself on your household” - Bei replied.

“Nonsense, I cooked too much anyway, as usual.”

“In that case, I’d love to join.” Bei bowed, and smiling followed Jin into the house.

This was usual Bei’s antics. Jin knew very well Bei had followed him because he wanted to freeload on the food. And he’d never, never actually ask straightforwardly if he could join. It’s always in this roundabout manner.

They sat at the table, and had their meals served.

“So, why are you so late today? You usually come pretty much on point for the dinner, did anything happen? Don’t make your mother worry.”

“We needed to help around the school today.” - Jin said curtly, not wanting to elaborate on the subject

“Jin and three other boy’s got themselves into detention. Apparently they got into a fight.” - Bei explained immediately, not showing any hint of joking.

“Is this true?” - Jin’s mother looked at him, her brows furrowed now, and her arms folded. Clearly she already concluded it is.

Jin didn’t answer. He continued eating with less and less enjoyment, as he glared at Bei. Bei pretended not to notice, and was enjoying his meal without a care in the world.

“Yes.” - Jin finally answered.

His mother shook her head.

“What am I to do with you. Always getting into trouble. You should follow Bei’s example more, he’s such a well behaved and mature boy.” - she gestured at Bei.

“The food is delicious ma’am. Your cooking skills are excellent.” - Bei interjected the silence, to punctuate Jin’s mother’s point.

“You are such a darling Bei. Since you are good friend’s with my son, I hoped some of your behaviour would rub off on him. All my hopes so far ended up in vain.” - she exclaimed, as she shook her head.

Jin has finished his meal. His mood was quite sour.

“Can I have seconds?”

“There’s no more left. You can eat some bread if you’re still hungry.”

“Of course there’s not. There’s never enough food to his satisfaction when Bei barges in uninvited.” - thought Jin.

He took some bread and started stuffing himself with it, anger building inside of him. It was always like that. Bei’s presence never boded well for him. It either meant trouble or a full on fight coming up to him. A lot of the times both. And Jin always, always and always gets the short end of the stick.

He’d love to pounce on Bei right here and right now. But Jin knew, he’s not even allowed to tell Bei off, or he’ll just be in more trouble with his mother. He couldn’t let his anger out, instead, it has been building layer upon layer deep inside of him.

Truth was, he couldn’t even leave the room until Bei decided to leave, because his mother thought that’s the proper behaviour.

“Are you too going tomorrow the the clan’s town to get enrolled?”

“That is correct ma’am. Actually, everybody is going, nobody wants to miss a chance to become a cultivator.”

“What’s so good about becoming a cultivator anyway? --- Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, it is a wonderful profession, and your parents have been the most wonderful and capable people.” - Jin’s mother interjected herself

“Mother, you’re starting the topic again. You promised you’ll support me. Wouldn’t you be happy to have a wonderful and capable son?” - Jin said, albeit a little stiffly, not being able to suppress his annoyance and anger completely.

“Yes, yes, of course.” - she gave a sigh. - “Don’t be so grumpy, and loosen the frown a little from time to time, or it’ll get stuck.” - she added, misinterpreting Jin’s stiffness being directed at her.

Jin finished eating. Bei was still on his meal, happily chatting with Jin’s mother while throwing lots of sneaky, curved balls to undermine him within the conversation.

“Thank you for the meal.” - Jin said, as he moved his plates over to the sink, and sat back again.

Bei has finished eating soon as well.

“Thank you for the meal again, I couldn’t be more jealous of Jin having a luxury of such delicacies served to him every day.” - he said sincerely as he bowed.

“Darling, no need to be so polite. You can come and join us anytime.” - Jin’s mother replied, as her eyes watered a little.

She was a very sensitive woman.

Bei finally left, his mother gave him a proper lecture about getting into fights, as she couldn’t do so when they had a guest. Jin left the house quickly, to let her mother cool down and focus on other matters, he himself checked on his little garden and took a short stroll up the mountain, to wind down himself.

He didn’t take long, before an hour was gone, he was back at home. He had taken a bath and lied on his bed. He was excited. The caravan was prepared and ready to set out just outside the village gates. Jin was about to start preparing himself. He didn’t need much, just a bag with a couple sets of clothes and some daily necessities. Once he packed these, he should be good to go.

“I’m set.” - Jin notified his mother - “I’ll visit in a year.” - he added, grinning

“Just behave well in the town, and don’t make any trouble. The town is much bigger than our little village here, and you never know what kind of people you encounter. And stay with your group.”

Jin nodded, when they were near the village gates, he gave his mother a hug and left the gates towards the caravan.