Western Mountains' Disciple Pavilion.
Mu Zhong stood in the extremely huge Reception Area of the Disciple Pavilion.
There was the natural faint scent of incense and the expected low buzz of conversations between newly accepted disciples, elders and so on.
The Reception Area is situated adjacent to the hall, serving as the space where disciples undergo their initial orientation. Even after a disciple has been accepted into a sect, some take the time to deliberate on their decision to join. Alternatively, others engage in closed-door cultivation and opt to officially join the sect later, deeming that their cultivation base has reached its peak through independent efforts.
So, several disciples that were accepted over three months ago were only now concluding their acceptance process to formally become sect members.
There were several Outer Sect Elders elegantly dressed in robes.
They greeted some of the new disciples and gave them the symbolic tokens of their sect membership, including uniforms, identification tokens, and a map of the Outer Sect's territories.
Of course, it was a lot more than that.
Yang Wei emerged from one of the private rooms, wearing the deep blue uniform of the Dragon Blossom Sect; it was one of the many variations of the Spirit Harmony Peak's official attires. He proudly adjusted the fit of the robes and then styled his long snow-white hair into a neat ponytail.
Nearby, Mu Zhong leaned against the wall, clearly bored.
"You can take your time, Junior Brother."
He yawned heavily and then placed his hands on his waist.
Yang Wei chuckled, "Alright, I am almost done."
After several minutes, Yang Wei finally stepped out, his hair elegantly fastened.
Mu Zhong smiled and gestured towards Yang Wei, "You look great in Spirit Harmony Peak attire. What do you think?"
Yang Wei tightened the hairband and straightened the white collar of his robes. In a way, he looked like a child who had been given a fresh pair of clothes even if he subconsciously tried to hide that expression.
I'll be honest, I somewhat prefer it to the robes Lingxi gave me, sure, they belonged to her brother and it holds a lot of sentimental worth, but fashion wise I'm not the biggest fan of overly dramatic robes... Still though, when I become a big shot cultivator I'll probably have to wear those...
Keeping his gaze steady, Yang Wei replied to Mu Zhong's gentle question,"It's decent. Many cultivators I've seen are full of themselves, but it's hard to deny their sense of style. I didn't expect the uniform to be this good for an Outer Sect disciple."
Mu Zhong chuckled and suggested, "Let's grab a few more things from the receptionist to complete the look, shall we?"
Yang Wei hesitated and then keenly observed Mu Zhong. He rubbed his chin, as if contemplating before speaking, "When you mentioned treating me to something good, I actually assumed we'd be going to a restaurant, but now I'm getting the full treatment of an Outer Sect disciple. It seems a bit much, don't you think?"
Mu Zhong laughed heartily and looked at Yang Wei, "Well, I did promise you something good, didn't I?" He flashed a soft grin, "Trust me; this is exactly that."
Yang Wei cleared his throat, trying to find the right words to express his true intentions to Mu Zhong. "Alright, that's cool," he began, "now that you've told me answer I love hearing, can you now tell me the real reason you're doing all this? You know, the truth."
Mu Zhong threw his head back and burst into laughter. "You really are something else," he chuckled. Walking over to Yang Wei, he slung an arm around his shoulder and winked as he lifted his index finger. "For both our sakes, I can't tell you much. But I will say that Chief Mu is involved in all this."
"So, Chief Mu is trying to pull strings to get me into the Outer Sect without going through the exams?"
Yang Wei asked, trying to make sense of the situation.
I mean, that's probably the only reason, right? Why else would the Chief of a Peak from an upper-class sect want with me if not that? I'm guessing Lingxi has already spilled the beans about me, and he knows my strength. So, he wants me in his Peak to amp up its reputation, and, in turn, his and his clan's too.
Mu Zhong shook his head and explained, "My father could easily get you into the sect with a snap of his fingers. But the main issue is managing the gossip and, most importantly, how my little sister would react to it."
"Lingxi?" Yang Wei sought clarification. "Shouldn't she be pushing for me to join the Outer Sect as soon as possible, considering she's like my tour guide in this world?"
Mu Zhong nodded. "Yes, I guess she should be doing that. But, Lingxi is a by-the-book kind of girl. She can't stand underhanded tactics or undeserving means to get ahead. If she finds out, she'll make a big deal out of it. Although my father is strict, he has a soft spot for his daughters."
As Yang Wei absorbed this information, he hummed thoughtfully and rubbed his chin. "To be honest," he admitted, "participating in the Outer Sect competitions has been an insult to my pride. I would have preferred to join the sect directly without going through all that."
Mu Zhong patted Yang Wei's shoulder and assured him, "Don't worry about that. We already have a plan for that."
Yang Wei was fairly surprised by this. "Wait, you really have a plan for that?" he asked; his tone showed that he wasn't entirely convinced it was one getting excited over.
Mu Zhong kept his arm wrapped around Yang Wei's shoulder and guided him as they walked. "Yes, I do," he answered with a smile. "From all I've seen so far, Mu Lingxi believes in you. She told me that with the same dedication you put into that magic of yours, that if you were to channel that same energy into cultivation, you could become a powerful disciple of the Outer Sect."
"Hm." That was all Yang Wei had to say.
With an even bolder smile and a gentle nudge, Mu Zhong added, "That's a piece of cake for someone who could easily defeat a 2nd Path Cultivator, right?"
"I suppose," Yang Wei nodded; he looked puzzled. "But how does that solve the issue we're currently facing? Considering all that you've said so far, I fail to see the difference between this and ranking up in the normal fashion," he remarked.
Mu Zhong playfully tapped the side of his head and grinned. "That's because you didn't let me finish," he chuckled mischievously, and Yang Wei returned the devious smile.
From afar, they would look like two brats who were up to no good. Evidence of that was the way newbie disciples and a few Outer Sect elders looked at them as they casually discussed.
Mu Zhong continued,
"If you perform exceptionally well in the Outer Sect competitions, my father can use his influence to make you a Core Disciple of the Spirit Harmony Peak."
Yang Wei's face lit up with realization. "Oooh, so no one will complain if Chief Mu promotes me based on my Outer Sect performance," he mused.
"That's right," Mu Zhong confirmed.
Shortly after, they exchanged a small high-five to seal the deal.
As the excitement faded, Yang Wei's smile waned. "But won't Lingxi be disappointed that we used underhanded tactics?" he pondered.
Mu Zhong paused, rubbing his chin in contemplation. His own smile had equally faded away. "Hmm, I guess you're right, it is a bit shameless," he conceded, and Yang Wei agreed with a nod.
But just then, there was a gushing snickering sound from their mouths as their cheeks puffed up. It was as though their mouths were full, but more accurately, they were holding back their laughter.
Their reservations was merely another expense for comedy.
The two men burst into laughter, poking fun at Mu Lingxi's unshakeable moral code.
Their laughter rung through the halls as everyone stared at them.
Yang Wei's laughter was cut short, and he turned to Mu Zhong with a curious look. "Wait, what's a Core Disciple?" he asked.
He was so caught up in laughing that he'd forgotten to ask the most important question.
Smiling at Yang Wei's question, Mu Zhong paused, cleared his throat, and then held up four fingers, explaining gravely, "In the Dragon Blossom Sect, disciples are ranked into four categories - the lowest are just called disciples, then there's Inner Disciples, and Core Disciples, and finally, the Elite or Honoured Disciples."
Yang Wei's eyes widened at the new information. "Oooh, interesting," his eyes were already piqued with interest as he urged, "go on."
Mu Zhong continued, "The Core Disciples are superior to the Outer Sect Elders, treated with special care, and entrusted with the sect's future. They're kind of like the very pillars that may uphold and lead the sect and the cultivation world as a whole."
"Wow," Yang Wei exclaimed. "That's fascinating. Well, I appreciate the information."
Gently waving his hand dismissively, Mu Zhong said, "No, no, there's no need to thank me, if you think about it, it's somewhat my job." Then, he gently pat Yang Wei on the back and asked him, "So, is there anything else you'd like to know?"
Yang Wei shook his head but then remembered something and snapped his fingers. "What about an Elite Disciple?" he asked eagerly.
Before Mu Zhong could answer, a female voice called out, "Junior Sister, be careful!"
Suddenly, Yang Wei's ear twitched.
His acute senses picked up an unusual sound.
Yang Wei turned to see a woman rushing towards them, trying to stop but ended up twisting her ankle, careening into him. Just as she braced for impact, she collided with Yang Wei roughly.
Right after, the woman's fat ass descended haphazardly before crashing on Yang Wei's face.
His face became an unwitting cushion for her misfortune.
Her voluptuous form from thick, pearly thighs to a cake-sized buttocks found a peculiar yet oddly sexy perch on Yang Wei's face. The tenderness of her meaty backside against his face cushioned her rough landing.
"AHHNNNN~!"
A sharp moan involuntarily blasted out of her slowly parted mouth.
With the lady having such an impeccably large buttocks, the rift of her sumptuous ass was pressed softly yet forcefully against Yang Wei's mouth and nose.
Yang Wei, caught in this unforeseen but enjoyable circumstance, attempted to move.
It was just the subtlest of movements.
A mere shift of his nose.
But the way the smooth, tapered end of his nose rubbed against the tight contours of her bulging buttocks made her feel a "hot" sensation. It was heavily similar to a blunt rod poking against her soft, fleshy meat; a sensation she had yet to sense before.
The woman, eyes tightly shut, succumbed to the unexpected pleasure as a sweet, languid melodic moan escaping her lips, "Ahhhnn~~," she breathed, fingers clenching onto the fabric that adorned her thick, luscious thighs.
Hm, soft... Yang Wei thought.