Torsten Hewson
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v4c12.2: Induction part 2
🕑 Added 2023-05-23 04:35:22 +0000 UTC“Ah, how lucky you are! Your man is already in the Inner Sect!” Yushang complained as she walked with Ri Zu towards the pavilion that would decide their placements in the Sect. The woman had her hands clasped behind her head as she walked, her sword slung across her back. “I wish I was so talented, but this village girl has to do things the slow way!”
Ri Zu rolled her eyes as Yushang complained. She was rather like Tigu. Energetic and relentlessly cheerful… if a bit much. Ri Zu didn’t know exactly why Yushang was so friendly, but Ri Zu couldn’t sense any duplicity from the girl.
Ri Zu had been quite worried when she didn’t hear Bi De’s morning cry, only to find his room empty. Yushang had found Ri Zu, worried—and the girl’s eyes had become serious.
“So, where do you want to start looking for him?” she had asked.
For that… well… she was tentatively a friend.
Ri Zu hadn’t been planning on making any. This was ‘enemy’ territory, after all, but Yushang was a recruit just like them. Perhaps she would never be like the rest of this sorry lot.
Of course, Ri Zu had just been about to go and get Yun Ren when Bi De had returned with news—he had already been elevated into the Inner Disciples for his prowess.
“Of course. Brother Bi De not being in the Inner Sect would have been stranger. The examiners would have to be blind to miss his talent,” Ri Zu said after a moment, trying to sound like a ‘proper’ cultivator.
She had an excellent guide in Xianghua.
“Indeed!” Yushang said. “Just as a woman would have to be blind to miss those abs. Unf.”
“Yes, and his abs are very—” Ri Zu cut herself off and glared at the girl who looked entirely too innocent. Ri Zu reevaluated the brat as a friend.
“Hey, hey, don’t look at this poor Sister like that! He's beautiful! Is looking such a crime?” she whined.
Ri Zu sighed. She was getting a bit… too jealous. Bi De was not the kind of man to go off with hussies.
“Ri Zu supposes she can’t blame you,” Ri Zu admitted, and Yushang brightened up.
“Good. See? Our first fight is resolved already! We’re becoming better sisters.” Yushang hugged Ri Zu from the side. Ri Zu nearly flinched at the action, but there was no ill-intent, just like Tigu. Ru Zuy sighed and allowed it. “And good sisters share things, yes?”
Ri Zu almost nodded, but she realised what Yushang had said just in time. Then Yushang was doubled over as Ri Zu jabbed a pressure point in her wrist.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Big Sister! Yushang yields! She yields!” the other woman yelped.
Ri Zu removed her finger, and Yushang straightened up while shaking her arm. She was still smiling like she had won.
“You are far too much like Ri Zu’s Master.” Ri Zu huffed.
“This Yushang is an honest sort, and won’t deny her desires!”
Ri Zu lifted her chin and sniffed, “Shameless.”
“Absolutely!”
Ri Zu snorted and shook her head, but smiled. Yushang giggled.
“What did we miss?” a voice drawled, and Ri Zu looked up at Yun Ren. Her friend was with Fat Han. The corpulent, bearded young man had a small smile on his face.
“You did not miss anything,” Ri Zu said primly. Yun Ren looked like he did not believe it at all, but didn’t press. “You know about Brother Bi De?”
Yun Ren and Fat Han nodded.
“An Inner Disciple already. I would expect nothing less from the man who so swiftly defeated an Examiner,” Fat Han declared. “But it is a shame we must bid him goodbye so soon after hardly knowing him. He seemed a decent fellow.” Fat Han took out several tea eggs. He caught Yushang staring at them, and sighed before offering them around.
“Thank you, Brother! I’ll get you a hundred tea eggs in repayment for your generosity!”
Fat Han snorted.
“Why would we have to bid him goodbye?” Ri Zu asked as she took a tea egg.
Fat Han shrugged. “My brother had a companion who he spent most of his time with. But alas, as soon as he reached the power he needed to enter the Inner Sect he left my brother behind and acted like he knew him not. A sad state of affairs.”
“...he would not do such a thing,” Ri Zu stated.
“Truly? Well! Then we must have supper together again! And Biren, you must show me more of your images, they were exquisite! Your diligence in capturing this section of the mountain’s majesty is quite something.
Yun Ren smiled and nodded. “Thanks. It's a beautiful place—and your brother is here too?”
“Indeed. Our family has been contributing members to the Outer Sect for three thousand years! Our family’s history says one of my line has died honourably in every major conflict the Shrouded Mountain Sect has been in.” He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Which is why this Fat Han aims for the Artifact Pavilion, rather than a Fulmination Squadron.”
Ri Zu couldn’t help but let out a bark of laughter at the morbid humor, nor could any of the others.
“Now, remember to choose the North Wind Pavilion,” Fat Han said, grinning. “It has the best dorms for the Outer Sect disciples. Avoid the West Cloud Pavilion if you can. And if we all choose the north, we could even be neighbors!”
“North Wind sounds great,” Yun Ren said.
“North Wind!” Yushang cheered.
“Thank you for the information, Brother Han. Ri Zu will definitely repay you.”
“It always pays to be friends with a Spiritual Doctor,” he said agreeably, his smile getting wider still.
Soon they reached the main pavilion along with the rest of the new initiates.Like every other pavilion, it was… gaudy. There was not a hint of nature so far that Ri Zu had seen, everything controlled and corralled until it fit the demands of the Masters of the mountain. If it did not fit, it was ruthlessly culled and replaced.
Everything was gilded, or engraved. The stairs leading up to the main dais were inlaid with gold. And massive light crystals, currently unused, could be used to make it look like day even in the darkest night.
Everything was crafted towards appearances. It almost seemed insecure to Ri Zu. Master Shen had a few recordings of the CloudySword Sect. That place was stark granite and simple green tiled rooftops. It looked more like a monastery than a sect… yet they were the ones who were stronger than the people who boasted all this wealth.
They waited about ten more minutes before another thunderbolt heralded an official’s arrival.
“Welcome, Disciples! You have passed but the first of many trials yesterday! Today, you shall choose your Sect Placements, and undergo their initiation rituals!”
There was some murmuring from those gathered at the news.
“If you do not meet the requirements, or are not chosen at this time, worry not, for you shall not be expelled. The Mountain Pavilion always has need of those who can work!” His voice boomed out, loud and commanding. “In addition to placements, there shall be lessons on the history of our noble Shrouded Mountain Sect! These are mandatory! Our noble Sect was born out of the conflict with demonic foxes, and like our honourable ancestors we must keep up the hunt so that no evil may infest out Howling Fang Mountains! Selected readings by our Honoured Founder, as well as the Philosophies of Lightning, will be distributed! Memorization of these is similarly mandatory!”
“Aww, man,” Ri Zu heard Yun Ren and Yushang mutter together.
“That is all! There will be another test in one month’s time if you are not selected for any placements this day. Now, listen well to my Brother Disciples, as they tell you the virtues of their sections!”
More bolts of lightning fell, and intent hammered into all of them. The men and women standing up at the front were in the Spiritual Realm, one and all.
The biggest of them stepped forwards first, his muscles bulging and his blonde hair spun gold.
“Come one and all brave heroes! The Fulmination Squadrons are where you can truly rise to the top! We are the best and most elite fighting force in these Howling Fang Mountains! If you lack courage, look at the ground with shame!” His voice boomed, as boisterous as his appearance.
“Join the Guardians of the Fangs! Range far and wide, hunting down Spirit Beasts! This is only for the most rugged and noble of resilient souls!” A grizzled looking woman demanded, an axe slung across her back, and an eyepatch concealing half her face.
“What they truly mean is brave the mountains in the ass of winter by yourself,” Fat Han snorted.
“The Artifact Pavilion is only for the most discerning and wise of disciples. Few of you have what it takes,” a woman who was bedecked in jewels and rings declared dismissively.
Ri Zu’s eyes focused on the man who simply said, “I will be accepting but one of you Outer Disciples into the Medical Pavilion. Do not waste my time,” The man, who was cold and imperious, looked directly at her.
“Well… Good luck to all of us, eh?” Yun Ren said.
“Which one are you going for, Brother Biren?” Fat Han asked.
“I’m going to try for the Guardians of the Fangs,” Yun Ren said.
Ri Zu paused at the news. That would take him out of the Mountain though—ah, he was planning to intentionally fail.
Her Brother Disciple was a wily fox. He wanted to intentionally join those who were not looked at too much. Master Jin had always said nobody questioned a maintenance worker who looked like he knew what he was doing.
“Fulmination Squadron, here I come! Get ready to hear the name Yushang as the top scoring aspirant!”
Ri Zu just turned to the Medical Pavilion. There, hopefully, she would have access to any strange cases or things that could indicate demon corruption, while Yun Ren went into every nook and cranny.
Maybe… maybe Yushang and Fat Han wouldn’t be adverse to sharing either.
Ri Zu just hoped they all passed Shen Yu’s test—no, she shook her head. They would find demonic taint, or they would not. They would do their best… and that was all they could do at the moment.
She just hoped that Bi De would be fine, so deep into the middle of this Sect…
=================================
Zang Zhong raised an eyebrow at the red-haired man who was bowing politely to him and grimaced. He was seated in his… office, with some companionship. He hadn’t been expecting any visitors today.
A newbie who had caught an Elder’s eye? Who had been instantly elevated to the Inner Sect? Who had achieved his strength without the massive resources the Shrouded Mountain Sect could provide?
He was dangerous, that much Zhong could tell. His foundation oozed stability even from here, and despite being elevated so swiftly not a hint of discomfort showed on his face or his body.
…This was the sort of man who came in and surpassed all who he looked upon.
The kind of man who would get resources lavished upon him for his insane growth. So, the most logical thing to do was suppress him here and now.
Especially because his woman was not even trying to be subtle about the way she was eying up this preening cock.
Zhong smirked at the handsome bastard. “Very well then. Welcome to the Inner Sect. Each and every member of the Sect has to contribute to its glory. You can tend to the gardens, can’t you?”
It was the worst sort of busy work. Having to use Qi on plants others could refine, instead of using it on yourself.
The red-haired man actually smiled. “Of course.”
“And there are repairs that need to be done in the treasure house. We can’t trust lowly Outer Disciples around such treasures, can we?”
“I am a dab hand at carpentry.” Bi De replied.
Zhong rolled his eyes. He wondered how long Bi De’s mild temperament would last.
=========================
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Next Chapter— its time for a montage about life in the Sect. and maybe why Yushang is so friendly...
Editors: Massgamer, Aaron “Pastafarian” Sofaer
Comments
S10NN4CH
Hey! Just an edit suggestion -- “Good. See? Our first fight is resolved already! We’re becoming better sisters.” Yushang hugged Ri Zu from the side. Ri Zu nearly flinched at the action, but there was no ill-intent, just like Tigu. {{Ru Zuy}}-> (Ri Zu) sighed and allowed it. “And good sisters share things, yes?”
James C
The Ba Si Bu Shi vest convinces them all that it's a demon chicken FOX.
Len
OMG THIS!!!...it NEEEDS to happen....Pokes Casual...POKE!! POKE!! THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN
John D Jones
Regarding the Shen Yu/Yushang bit, recall that we have a character named Xiulan and one named Xianghua. The names are a bit similar (both starting with an "X") but they're two different characters. I'm pretty sure Yushang is just kind of understandably Bi for Be Di and Ri Zu.
JohnJohn2195
Yushang could just be a shen yu fangirl. living the way he wanted his successor to only instead of a son like he expected them to be its a daughter.
Awesomepossum15
Xang Li was a young master, the son of an Elder, so probably someone who was never in the Outer Sect to begin with. And multiple people have said Yushang is either Shen Yu or Nezin, but I just don't get why? It might be Nezin's style (and absolutely nothing about Shen Yu has indicated he has any interest in pretending to be a newbie disciple, let alone turning into a woman), but there are 40 new SMS disciples plus all the current members- there are tons of opportunities to introduce new characters who might be fun and make the world more real- and making one of the only 2 named disciples secretly someone we know already would actually make the world seem smaller.
Old Dog
I'm sure they will say it is a demon chicken.
Sivartius .
I'd rather they be forced to watch as the Foxes openly parade into the innermost shrine, take the fox cores for burrial & the ancient fox artifacts, and then the foxes split up & half move in with the Ren family's Tribals, & the other half settle around Jin's farm & Hong Yaowu
Runcible Technician
Lol. Oh no! Maintenance and farming! That ending was pretty good.
Forrestt
Disciples scouring the mountain looking for "that damn chicken" would be hilarious.
Victor Segura
So, the friend of brother's Fat Ham was Zong Li-Lu ban wasn't it? And Is Yushang Shen Yu in disguise, no?
Qahlz
Isn't "repaying anything x-fold" common in cultivation cultures? It's been mentioned in several cultivation novels/comics I read.
Anzer'ke
Nah, Lu Ri was saying that all their plants were spirit plants and so forth. Thing is, they're wasting it all on appearances.
BigBro Bluesman
Look with this as it is I'm more sure Bi De will in the end enjoy his time i mean he is his father's son in the end
Nick DiRubio
The wealth on display is probably surface level. It's mortal stuff, gold and jewels. Any cultivator sect worth its salt knows that these things are fleeting and superfluous.
V01D
With all the wealth they use, perhaps they’ll teach them the value of Investments.
V01D
Lightning power = electricity. I’m sure I don’t need to go into detail how Fa Ram would grow from having access to it.
Andrew Denton
I'm amused at the dicotomy of oozing stability.
Ichypa
Part of me wants to see Yun Ren go full Task Failed Successfully and get recruited into a double secret elite unit tasked with scouring the mountains for demons, while Bi De is the one who does all the humble janitor tasks as the other Inner Sect disciples desperately try to break his spirit with menial labor.
BlueMage_VT
The Big D
Ichypa
Given how ready to wipe the SMS from existence Shen Yu was for something that was only tangentially their fault, I’m sure that once Elder Zang finishes his road trip to the Azure Hills to Fuck Around, it’s going to take active intervention by Jin to keep the Finding Out phase from the rest of them from being very short and very violent.
matthew gilley
My guess is integration. Like how Yum Ren mixed light and shadow I'm guess he will be able to incorporate lightning. And the leadership of the mountain will be strongly reduced, there will be a purge (that may or may not cause problems depending on time) and the foxes descendants will be brought into the mountain. Working together (on threat of death). The kind of thing he grandson would like, a happy ending except through the threat of incredible violence instead of mutual respect. Lol
SilasDrekken
I said dissolve because killing them all doesn't sit right with me, we've seen that some of them aren't bad people. Kill or break the cultivation of all of the shitlords and disperse the rest of the sect members to go find a new path in life (most will probably just go to a different sect).
D J Meigs
So Bi De is given the same job Rou had. Plus it’s essentially Fa Ram work. It’s an honour for this lowly sect to benefit from the teachings of his master.
Old Dog
Now all that has to happen is for Bi De to drop back into his normal form, greet the sun with a call to wake even those in closed door cultivation and then return to his human form before anyone sees him or finds him. As always, thank you for the chapter.
TwoRavens
Also the fact that a fox managed to get past their detections is probably going to cause a bit of an uproar.
Caleb Reusser
Dissolving actually seems like more of a headache to me. If Gramps is going to make the sect go away, it is going away. Why take the effort of politics?
BelligerentGnu
I don't know about that. Gramps is certainly capable of just flat-out eliminating the sect, dissolving it can't be much harder.
Awesomepossum15
Dissolving the sect entirely seems like a real long shot to me. However, the internal shake up of "your entire history that most of you have believed for your multiple centuries of life has been a lie" will probably cause some... scisms.
CrazyExplorer
Or maybe be reedemed. Maybe Zang Zhong looks like a jerk now, but Bi Di will be a good influence on him a will become bros. (I imagine that when Bi De is praised for his skill at menial works, Zang Zhong will try to do them too because he is competitive, and slowly learn to be more humble).
SilasDrekken
Is anybody else secretly hoping that when all is said and done Shen Yu dissolves SMS and the foxes get their mountain back?
SilasDrekken
Safe to say the Zang family will probably need to be purged from the sect by the time Shen Yu’s audit is over. If they ever hope to truly regain their “Righteous” sect status.
CrazyExplorer
No. Thats Elder Zang Zeng. Who is on his way to the Azure Hills at the moment. This may be one of his sons.
Cyrus McEnnis
I'm sure that the righteous & upright cock of Fa Ram would never stoop to stealing from another's coop.
Samantha Sandlin
Isn't Zang Zhong the father of the boy that Lu Ban took over? The one who is being controlled by his demon concubine?
Awesomepossum15
Have we met Zang Zhong before? SM's characters were kind of drip fed through Lu Ban's chapters and interludes here and there, I'm never sure. For instance I had to go back to the aftermath of the Dueling Peaks chapters to check if we'd met the Elder that Bi De spoke to last time.
Ibn Nuh
I'm sadge that initiates.like was taken down
Pamela Gillespie
The sect worships strength, pretty sure how he grows will not matter, although I can see Zhong spitting blood cause he would lose face if he tries to reassign bi de
JohnJohn2195
Probably shen yu cause i just remember him having the line of I'll repay anything a hundred fold and the line with the tea eggs made the connection for my brain.
carebear90
Or Shen Yu or Nezan in disguise, having fun trolling the 'young ones'?
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
Brian P.
I’m not convinced Ri Zu is correct that he’s trying to fail. He needs to visit certain sites on the mountain to get pictures and information for Nezin, going outside of the halls is perfect for that.
Brian P.
It’s all good, he’ll be taking inventory of all the valuable plants and treasures in the sect. You know, so that he knows what to steal.
totalynotanonymous .
Calling it Yushang as either incredibly bi to get at Rizu or a spook.
Nicholas Grey
Fair point, fair point. I can totally see him “failing to fail”, just for comedy’s sake. Like, “Ok, I’ve got to score as low as possible while plausibly being someone who passed the entrance exam…”, and having his personal power calibration be so far off that he accidentally breaks their 300-year-old records.
Parker Groseclose
I'm pretty sure all the women (and several of the men) want the D
BargleNawdleZouss
I just hope that Yun Ren fails hard enough. As an experienced hunter, the Guardians of the Fangs would be his natural role if he really was trying to fit in and succeed.
Sadly, given the state of the sect, it’s probably more likely that the elders would think worse of Bi De seeing him thrive with such work, than if he chafed under it.
Konstantin Lisitskiy
Yushang wants the D
I love it. I actually chuckled at the garden and carpentry assignment.
GameJunkie999
What's funny is that fuckboi Zhong is gonna be eating his word when Bi De does the jobs so well the Elders are asking for tips on how he tends to the gardens.
Paul S.
Expecting Bi De to break under menial work instead of thrive... You made a losing bet there mister.
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