As the carriage got deeper into the Jade City and into the "Ravenous One-Eyed Tiger" Sect's territory, more and more passersby and Merchants would stop in their tracks, turn towards the carriage, and bow. Out of respect, but probably out of fear as well.
The carriage stopped, but Lei didn't need that to realize that he had arrived.
It was different than any other building, which made it obvious.
'The Ravenous One-Eyed Sect's... What am I supposed to call it? Building? School? Or hideout since it's a Sect? In any case...' Lei found it truly marvelous, perhaps mostly because of the obvious difference with the other buildings.
Ui Feng ordered Lyu to stop the carriage once the cabin was in front of the doors.
The entry to the Ravenous One-Eyed Sect's hideout. Thinking of it as a hideout was rather tough for Lei, as it was obvious that the Sect wasn't trying to hide.
Tall tall walls encircled the area, and imposing dark doors, on which golden one-eyed tigers that menacingly stared at the outside had been carved, separated the Sect from the Rest.
'Fifteen... Twenty meters tall?'
After stepping out of the cabin, Lei realized how truly huge the walls, the hideout, and the Sect were.
Ui Feng shouted orders and the Disciples jumped onto the front of the carriage. The stables were on the left, and outside the walls.
Lei watched as the carriage got further and further away, before it turned at the corner and disappeared.
'With the doors at the center, the width would be... About five hundred meters?'
Ui Feng rubbed his hands together and smiled.
"Shall we go in, Young Zhao?"
"Yes."
Ui Feng walked towards the large and thick doors before placing his hands against those doors.
'Since he sent the Disciples away with Lyu, I'm guessing it's pretty important for him to enter alongside the Young Master. That's fine, I suppose.'
Not without exerting much effort, the doors were moved.
Ui Feng pushed and pushed, until drops of sweat formed on his forehead.
The Young Master's eyes widened, his Personal Instructor grunted, and the doors were opened wide, revealing, a dozen steps beyond the doors, a statue of a leaping one-eyed tiger.
'Ravenous. It really looks ferocious...' Lei commented internally, his eyes studying every detail of the statue.
The craftsmanship was amazing. Amazing enough that even those who do not know much about statues think so of it.
'Wow...'
Beyond the statue, a vast training court of cobblestones polished smooth by the years and years during which countless Martial Artists stepped and trained on that court. This, Lei thought, was the heart of the Sect.
The break of dawn was approaching, yet a handful of Disciples could be seen stepping into the training court. They couldn't be seen too well, as they stood hundreds of meters away.
'That's way too big!'
On the sides of the training court as well as on the opposite side of where the doors were, large pavilions with sweeping, curved roofs stood tall.
From those on the right, groggy Martial Artists were stepping out.
Into those on the left, which Lei thought of as less sophisticated in design but also less imposing in size, energetic Servants went. Amongst other things, they held broomsticks and empty buckets.
At the break of dawn, the Servants' job was done. The training court had been cleaned during the night. It was now time for the Martial Artist to put the area into use.
Ui Feng stepped forward and so did Lei.
The statue of the leaping tiger revealed itself to be one of twin tigers. One leaping towards the outside, and one towards the inside. It was truly impressive how symmetrical the statue had been made. Indeed, when facing either tigers, it was impossible to guess that there was another behind it. Identical in detail, size, and ferocity. Warning to the outsiders, inspiration to the insiders.
Following his Personal Instructor's example, the Young Master cut through the middle of the training court and walked towards the larger and more sophisticated pavilions that were opposite the entry.
The Disciples bowed, paid their respects, and greeted. The Young Master ignored them, as did Ui Feng.
Unlike the other pavillions, those towards which Lei and Ui Feng walked were separated from the training court by a wide staircase of about thirty steps.
Upon stepping into the pavilion chosen by Ui Feng, Lei was taken aback by the thick scent of incense that filled the air. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was unexpected. Rows of stone pillars supported the lofty ceilings, and countless silk banners adorned the walls.
The maze-like structure was starting to confuse Lei who, because he was unfamiliar with the numerous cuts and turns, was trying to memorize as much of the pavilion as he could.
Servants and Disciples greeted and bowed. Neither reacted.
But after a bit more wandering, Ui Feng slowed down.
He was about to stop, which is why Lei asked.
"Who's that?"
He felt it was a safe question to ask.
"One of those pesky Elders, Young Zhao." Ui Feng whispered as he bowed.
The Young Master did the same, though he didn't bend his back or lower his head as much as Ui Feng did.
The Elder was, as one might expect, an old man who seemed to be about 80 or 90 years old. He was, in truth, much older than that.
'Shit...' Lei cursed internally, as the Elder stared with a confused expression.
But that expression only lasted for a fraction of a second. The Elder smiled and bowed, pleasantly surprised to see the ruffian that Zhao Laohu was paying his respects.
The Elder then walked closer, shook the Young Master's hand with both of his, congratulated him for passing the Trial of Solitude, and told the Young Master that it was a great honor for both himself and the Sect.
Overall, Lei was pleased by the interaction. It was short and sweet, respectful and honest.
"I'm sure you must be tired, Young Zhao."
"I am."
"Let's take you to your quarters. I'm sure sleeping on a bed after so long will feel great. I will order the Servants to prepare a feast to celebrate your safe return. Any dish you would like them to make in particular?"
"Everything."
"Young Zhao?"
"I want everything that can be prepared by tonight." The Young Master answered with a smile.
His Personal Instructor chuckled.
"It shall be so, Young Zhao. The best drinks of the Jade City will be served as well."
Five minutes later, a door was shut behind the Young Master.
It was a single room, but it was the size of a whole apartment!
Lei looked around for a bit.
'What to do...?'
The next second, a strange shade painted the air that filled the room reddish.