Finally returning to the city of Myrhhwar was like a shock to each of these young cultivators. They had been in the wilds for so long that they had almost forgotten about civilization for a short time. As they entered the city from the docks they split off in two different directions based on their sect.
Yun and Long Wuying both headed for the Hunting Hall side by side, while Fang Niu, Xing Zhenya, and Zheng Xinya all went to the Iron Warriors Sect. When everyone separated so too did the Elders. One Elder had remained with them from each sect, so the only Elder returning alone to his sect was the one from the Bone Tool Sect.
Walking back to the business that served as a front for the sect, the Wooden Taphouse, none of the three said anything at all. When they finally entered the hidden stairs to go down into the sect hall Elder Lei finally spoke,
"Both of you did very well, third and fifth place is quite the impressive results considering your ages. Yun, you've just turned nine in the past few days, correct? Your cultivation is truly impressive for your age. Wuying is already nineteen and he's at the same cultivation level as you are!"
Yun just nodded politely, but inside she was distracted. How was her good friend, Zhu Cai, during all this time? They'd been in the wilds for half a year already and she was worried that such a lunatic crafter as Zhu Cai would have not slept at all while going through the incredible resources she brought back.
Finally, before they reached the first floor, Elder Lei pulled Yun aside and sent Long Wuying on his way.
"Yun, do you remember what I told you before this tournament?"
"Yes Elder, you told me that I wasn't ready to be a direct disciple yet."
"Correct. I believe that we have crossed that bridge. It's time for you to receive more resources from the Sect, as well as more responsibility. You've just been told that you would be a central figure in the upcoming conflict, so you need to focus on growing stronger to fulfill your role. The Hunting Hall Sect does not fight on the front lines like the Iron Warriors Sect in these conflicts, but on the back lines. We invade the opponent's territory and raid their bases, burn their supplies, and destroy their camps. Ours is not a job of direct conflict, but of sustained secret conflict."
Yun looked at Elder Lei in some level of shock. Raiding? Assassinations? Burning camps? This is not what she expected to be doing in a war situation.
"Now, in light of this, come with me to the council chambers to receive your new position."
Leading Yun to the depths of the Sect, Elder Lei took her before the Elders in the large chamber at the bottom of the stairs. All the present Elders came out from their chambers and surrounded Yun and Elder Lei while he performed a standard Disciple acceptance ceremony. In the next ten minutes Yun felt like she was in a dream, things kept moving around her, but she was in a daze.
The next day Yun still couldn't quite believe what had happened, she was still in a sort of shell shock, and so when she went to visit Zhu Cai's space she wandered aimlessly trying to remember where to go for a good hour before she could wake herself up enough to get where she was aiming to go. Knocking on the door, as expected, there was no response, just a rhythmic banging sound echoing from far off.
Pushing the door open, Yun saw Zhu Cai off in the distance hammering away mechanically at something on her work bench. After walking most of the way across the room Yun stopped and coughed twice to get her attention.
"Cai'er, are you planning to keep hammering away when this Yun is finally back? How can you have such a thick face?"
The hammer fell once again, but didn't rise. Stiffly, with eyes that weren't focused, Zhu Cai turned her head and looked at Yun.
"Thick face? I've been slaving away for six months so I can improve your gear and you show up now and think I'm shameless?"
"How can you not be when your friend has to barge into your room to get your attention? This Yun tried knocking but you were in another world!"
"Come here, let me show you another world you little rascal!"
At that Zhu Cai charged towards Yun seemingly crazily. At the last second she dove forwards, wrapping her arms around her best friend, and tackling her to the ground. In an indignant, yet muffled, voice Yun spoke to her.
"So you really did miss this Yun. What a way to show it."
With a few well placed harrumphs Yun pushed the wiry Felis off of herself. Zhu Cai might be thin and tall, but she was incomparably heavy for her appearance. Her body didn't seem to gain muscle size, but instead just compacted it within the same space as it had always been, raising the density of her muscles and weight at the same time.
"Have you gotten heavier, Cai'er? But how could you, you never stop working to eat!"
Zhu Cai put on an indignant face before responding, "How could you say something so mean, Yun'er? Maybe you're just weaker than before!"
After sticking her tongue out at her best friend for a moment they both started laughing at each other.
"Come here, Yun'er, tell big sister Cai about your adventures in the big bad woods!"
Zhu Cai gestured for Yun to follow her into the back room while she grabbed some food and tea for them both to enjoy while they talk about what happened over the past six months.