A hundred and four disciples stood in neat rows in a courtyard. In front of us were Lin Tan and ten inner disciples that took turns overseeing us and reading us lectures.
"A week had passed, disciples. It's time to see which of you has talent, and which is a waste of air!" Lin Tan's voice carried easily over the courtyard, even to the back lines where I and Fu Zhou stood today.
She stuck close to me ever since I taught her the Water Flower. Not something I planned for, but she was a quiet, smart, and cute child. A much better sister than any of my real siblings!
Lin Tan raised a finger. Everybody held their breath.
"First, those who couldn't make even a single petal, sit down."
One by one, people sat down, until only around thirty remained. Lin Tan nodded with satisfaction.
"I hoped for more, but this isn't too bad. Now let's see what you are worth. Come one by one!"
The first disciple who approached spent half a minute just gathering Water Qi. Then, tense like he was trying to push through a week old constipation, the boy grew two petals in his palm. He stared nervously at Lin Tan.
"After all that show, you only make two petals, Disciple? How pathetic. I hope you become an inner disciple just so you could stand on the battlefield and show this to the enemies of Purple Dragon Sect. They will all die with laughter. Next!"
The boy left, almost crying, while watching children snickered. However, everybody who approached Lin Tan became pale with anxiety.
"One petal? This is even worse than the previous person… Ah, I won't waste words. Next!"
"Two petals… is this the best I will see today? If you keep disappointing me, disciples, maybe a corporal punishment is in order. The master of punishments had been bored work recently, and this might be the time to entertain him."
And so on, and so forth. Seeing that they didn't have a chance, a few more disciples sat down, which Lin Tan also had a sharp word about.
"Brother Yujin… Maybe I should sit down, too." Fu Zhou whispered to me.
I reached out and took her hand in mine.
"Don't. You can do it, Little Zhou. I taught you, so I know you can. Believe my word, if you don't trust your own."
She nodded stiffly, and I let her go before Lin Tan paid us too much attention. His attention was rarely a good thing—however, it was impossible to avoid it if I wanted to have the Qi stones.
I watched as Fen Chun stood in front of Lin Tan with fake bravado on his face. He waved his hand and produced six slightly wobbly ice petals.
"Hm, that's the best result so far! Disciple Fen, is that right? You are a talented one." Lin Tan said, smiling down at him like a snake.
Fen Chun preened and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your praise toward this lowly disciple, Master!"
Lin Tan nodded. "Show me I wasn't too generous with it. Now, next!"
It's been a while longer until my turn arrived. I was second to the last—only Fu Zhou went after me, because she was too nervous to go in front of me.
After all, when a genius comes out to stun everyone, he must come out last. That was how it went in all the stories.
I never read stories like these, nor could I recall any of them, but I could remember the memory of reading them.
A memory of a memory of a dream of a dream… These vague recollections were so frustrating sometimes.
"Ru Yujin," Lin Tan said, when I stood in front of him. "I see you still cling to your extra dantians. Well, well, well, show us all if they actually help you with anything!"
I bowed. "Yes, Master."
With a flick of my fingers, I created a perfectly shaped icy flower with seven petals—exactly like I remembered Lin Tan doing.
A chorus of gasps flew over the courtyard.
"Impossible!" Fen Chun squeaked.
Normally he'd get a lash for speaking out of turn, but now Lin Tan didn't pay attention to him at all. His all focus was on my hand, and then on me.
The flower dissipated. I dropped my hand and stared at Lin Tan's feet, awaiting his judgment. Although I looked calm, my guts were churning nervously.
If Lin Tan said that I failed, no amount of facts will give me my Qi stones.
Lin Tan clapped his hands.
"Most impressive! Finally, someone all of you should look up at! A perfectly executed Water Flower, something none of you, simple-minded oafs, could manage! Ru Yujin, ever since Senior Brother Lin Chu dropped you on my neck, you've been beating every record. You've been a rising star, and I can't wait but fear that you will burn out way too quickly."
I sneaked a glance at Lin Tan's face and saw the sadistic upturn of his eyes. Although he was praising me now, his words carried a threat.
No, not even a threat—this was a promise of bad things to come!
"Thank you for your praise, Master," I forced out.
"It's well-deserved. Now, it looks like we have another disciple who wants to show her mettle? Come here."
Fu Zhou also showed six petals, and Lin Tan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Good, Disciple Fu, very good. Makes me wonder—did you do this all on your own? No one helped you? It's alright if they did—it's not prohibited for disciples to help each other. Was it, by chance, Ru Yujin?"
She squirmed for a moment, then eventually nodded her head.
"Yes, Master…"
Lin Tan's eyes moved to me, and he showed a smile. It made me shiver.
"I see, I see. Well, go back, little Fu Zhou."
After she returned to her place, Lin Tan addressed the disciples again.
"Rise, everybody! In today's contest, the victors are disciples Fen Chun, Ru Yujin and Fu Zhou, with Ru Yujin getting an extra prize of 10 Qi stones. Come and get your rewards!"
20 Qi stones. My rise to the Qi Foundation stage was all but a guarantee, but my joy was mixed with apprehension.
What did Lin Tan plan?
Will I survive this year, or will he extinguish my "shining star" himself?