On a certain cloudy day, Wu Sheng took a stroll in the mountains. The old man decided to meditate on a rock he passed by.
After a while of productive meditation, he was interrupted by a peculiar boy. The boy had red eyes and pitch black hair, like darkness itself. But the strangest thing about him was his aura. It was almost inhuman.
So, intrigued by the boy and the talent he saw within him, Wu Sheng took him along to the sect he instructs at...
"Welcome to the temple at the end of the world."
Zeldris is absolutely baffled. A huge structure just appeared out of nowhere...
How could he not be?
However his expression quickly turns numb. This is maybe the 4th or 5th big suprise in the past 3 days? He's quickly getting tired of being suprised.
"Come." Wu Sheng prompts him to follow. Entering the huge double doors of the outer wall.
When they enter, they come across a beautiful sight of ancient Chinese style houses and the stone paths connecting them. The area is covered in neatly trimmed greenery and plants. Different kinds of flowers bloom in the spaces between roads. Very unusual to see such a sight on top of a mountain.
Wu Sheng walks with his hands behind his back. His long, gray hair, tied into a ponytail behind him. While Zeldris quietly follows.
"This is the sect of Wudan. A special place of martial arts, where the best martial art techniques of all of humanity are amalgamated." Wu Sheng explains while walking. The old man looks incredibly dignified as he does.
"Based your appearance and accent, you don't seem to be from this part of the world. Yet you managed to get lost in this place..." Wu Sheng states and playfully glances at the boy behind him.
Zeldris understands the implied question and decides to be truthful.
"I found an insignia that took me to this mountain range. And after walking around for a few days, I found you." He explains.
"I see... Then it seems fate has brought you here, after all."
Wu Sheng leads Zeldris past the houses and through the gates of another wall. Zeldris looks around curiously the whole way.
It feels like he has been transmigrated inside a Chinese cultivation novel.
The two soon come upon a temple-like structure and acend it's stairs.
Wu Sheng stops just shy of the temple doors. He clasps his hands and bows slightly. "Sect master, I've returned."
Suddenly a voice echoes around the area. "Come in."
Wu Sheng proceeds to open the door quietly and indicates Zeldris to follow him.
The insides of the temple are wonderous. Big, red, balloon-like lanterns hang from the ceiling, and the temple has big red pillars supporting the roof. Those pillars have large banners covered in writings.
Wu Sheng leads Zeldris to a different room, where an androgynous man is sitting on some sort of padding. In his hands is a cup of tea.
The man has a simple, yet intricately designed robes covering his slender, almost frail physique. He looks quite young, around 20 years old, yet his long, silk like hair is pure white in colour. The air around him is elegant and ethereal, as he sips the tea in his hand with his eyes closed.
"This elder greets sect master." Wu Sheng bows again.
"Mm. Who have you brought." Sect master awknowledges Wu Sheng without looking at him, keeping his eyes closed and bringing the topic to the boy beside the elder.
"This is a boy I found while meditating in the mountains. Or rather he found me. I believe fate has brought him to us." Wu Sheng explains mystically. Zeldris still doesn't understand what fate this elderly man is on about. Did today's horoscope tell something about him?
"Mm." The sect master hums and takes another sip of his tea. Then he turns his head towards Zeldris and opens his eyes.
Zeldris immediately feels pressure unlike anything he has ever felt. The gaze of the sect master makes him sweat profusely and want to vomit. There is something seriously strange about his black eyes. It's like they're containg vast amounts of divine power.
"I see..." He mumbles, withdrawing his gaze from the frightened looking boy and asks. "What is your name boy?"
After collecting himself, Zeldris responds. "...It's Zeldris."
"Mm. Has Elder Wu Sheng told you what kind of place this is?" He asks. The sect master has a rather soft, quiet and calming tone. Yet his words are clearly heard by everyone in the room and full of authority.
"I understand this is some kind of place to learn martial arts." Zeldris speaks.
"Mm. Close enough. Have you thought about joining." Sect master doesn't waste words. Taking a sip after speaking.
"Can I join just like that?" Zeldris questions the implied meaning with slight intrest.
"Elder Wu Sheng is a respected elder of our sect. If he has brought you here, he has deemed you have the necessary qualifications to join." He explains. Leaving a lot of things unsaid. Like the fact that the sect master doesn't care at all.
Zeldris looks at the old man beside him, who's face has become a bit less irritating. "I see..." Zeldris muses, copying the two mysterious men.
Zeldris thinks for a bit. He has watched a bunch of cultivation movies and Chinese movies in his life. So he has an idea what kinds of things go on here and what kind of place this is.
To survive in this kind of world, he needs power... A lot of power.
Zeldris glances at the sect master again. Seeing the white haired man not even hold his eyes open anymore.
'I want power like that...' He thinks.
But even without all that, as the alternative is to wander around the mountains, waiting for death, Zeldris really only has one decision to make...
"In that case I would be honored." He bows, clasping his hands. Imitating the way of greeting from Wu Sheng.
Zeldris's cultivation movie knowledge comes in handy here. He has some idea of what kind of mannerisms and habits these people possess. This is of course assuming that this place is like the movies depict in the first place.
But considering the slight smirk on Wu Sheng's elderly, hippie face, he's spot on with his assumption...
"Elder Wu Sheng..." The sect master states.
Understanding, he bows like Zeldris. "Yes, sect master."
Then turns to Zeldris. "Follow me."
They head out of the temple and walk into another area of the sect, into some sort of building complex. Entering a courtyard in the middle of it.
The centre of the courtyard has a fountain, with small trees around it. Beside the fountain are 4 people. 3 of them children, around Zeldris's body's age. The only adult in the group seems to be teaching something to those kids.
"Disciple Hong." Wu Sheng calls out to the adult.
Turning and seeing the elder, disciple Hong clasps his hands in greeting. "Disciple Hong greets respected elder." The 3 kids quickly imitate Hong.
Disciple Hong is a burly man, with big muscles. He has long black hair, tied into a ponytail and a face radiating violence. Even though he is clad in sect robes, that look elegant and calming, the air around Hong is ruthless. Like a violent beast, pretending to be civilised.
"We have a new member joining our sect today. He will be in your care from now on." Wu Sheng states. Pushing Zeldris forward gently, but firmly.
Hong's eyes fall upon the boy. His clear blue eyes, with black, swordlike eyebrows create an interesting contrast. Making his face appear like a piece of artwork.
"Disciple Hong understands." He nods.
"From now on, he will be your master. Learn well." Wu Sheng looks at the boy, leaving behind those words and walking away.
When Wu Sheng is gone, Hong immediately has Zeldris change his clothes.
Zeldris comes out wearing a beige tunic and pants, along with black shoes. Standing next to the 3 kids.
The kids look at the newcomer. Fierce expressions on their faces. Making Zeldris think about the time he saw child soilders being trained.
'Is the training here really so brutal for these kids to look this hardened?' He muses in his mind. Being blissfully ignorant of just where that old geezer had taken him.
Hong has a certain moniker that he's earned in the sect. Having to do with the way he trains his disciples. 'The blue eyed demon'- is what they call him.
If Zeldris knew where the elderly man had brought him, he would attempt to choke that hippie to death...
Hong stands imposingly in front of his disciples. His chest puffed out and his hands behind his back.
"From now onwards you will be called 'Four' or 'Number Four'. Do you understand?" Hong tells Zeldris.
A bit confused, Zeldris nods indifferently.
"Do you understand." Hong asks again, narrowing his eyes and putting some pressure on him.
"Yes, master." This time Zeldris answers correctly.
This reminds him of his days as a young man, trying to become someone in the mob. The way you are treated as a low level grunt is harsh and uncaring. Especially in the beginning.
"Now listen up. I will only explain this once. What we train here is the body, the mind and the spirit. All of those combined make up an energy that we call 'Aura'. The more refined, powerful and sharp your aura becomes, the stronger you become..." Hong explains, making a pause to let it land. Then continues.
"Someone who uses Aura is called an aura expert. And aura experts are divided into tiers. Which in turn are divided into low, mid, high and peak."
"So for example: I am a tier 5, mid stage aura expert. When you unlock your aura, you will be a tier 1, low stage aura expert. Currently there are 9 tiers. Our sect master is one of them, being a tier 9, low stage expert."
Hong ends his explenation, looking at Zeldris.
The boy looks sharp as ever, easily understanding Hong's explenation. It's a simple concept to understand anyway.
"Now... Let's start with your training."