The morning light was faint and pale.
Chen Yang stood in the courtyard, gazing at the home where he had lived for over twenty years.
The roses he had planted with his own hands along the corner of the bamboo fence were in full bloom, and a few early-rising bees hummed and danced around the crimson blossoms, unwilling to leave.
"Have you made up your mind?" Zhao Yanran's voice came from behind him.
Chen Yang turned around and saw her standing alone at the gate. The three Senior Brothers were nowhere to be seen — they had likely stayed inside, unwilling to come out.
"I'll go up the mountain with you," Chen Yang said calmly.
Zhao Yanran's eyes instantly lit up with joy. She stepped forward quickly and grabbed his arm. "Really? Wonderful! Chen Yang, I won't let you regret this decision."
Just then, the three Senior Brothers sauntered out from inside the house.
Senior Brother Yang let out a cold snort. "Junior Sister Zhao, don't forget his status. A mortal with no foundation whatsoever — being allowed to serve as a laborer at the Verdant Wood Sect is already an enormous grace."
"Senior Brother Yang is right," Zhao Yanran said quickly, releasing Chen Yang's arm, her tone respectful. "But please, Senior Brother, for Yanran's sake, look after him a little."
Senior Brother Lin glanced at Chen Yang, a faint, barely-there smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "But of course. It's getting late — we should be on our way."
Chen Yang had nothing much to pack. He took only two changes of coarse cloth clothing, wrapped them in a cloth kerchief, and carried them in his hand.
He took one last look at the small courtyard, locked the wooden gate, and tucked the key beneath the stone slab at the entrance.
The four of them were already waiting outside the courtyard.
Senior Brother Yang reached into his sleeve and produced a small wooden carved boat. He tossed it into the air, and the little boat grew with the wind, transforming in an instant into a flying skiff large enough to hold five or six people. It hovered three feet off the ground, radiating a faint blue-green glow.
"Get on," said Senior Brother Yang. He leaped aboard first, then reached out and pulled Zhao Yanran up as well.
Senior Brother Lin followed right behind, landing on the skiff with effortless grace.
Senior Brother Li glanced back at Chen Yang, his tone impatient. "What are you standing there gawking for? Do you expect us to personally invite you?"
Chen Yang tried to imitate their movements and leaped toward the skiff, but being unfamiliar with such things, he nearly stumbled and fell. Fortunately, Zhao Yanran caught him in time.
The three Senior Brothers looked on with undisguised contempt.
The flying skiff shot into the sky, and Chen Yang lurched, grabbing the side of the skiff to steady himself.
The wind howled past his ears. The village below grew smaller and smaller — the rice paddies became a patchwork of green and yellow squares, and the river wound through them like a silver ribbon.
This was the first time he had ever looked down upon the place where he had lived for over twenty years. It was also the first time he had ever truly left this land.
Zhao Yanran quietly moved to his side and murmured, "The Verdant Wood Sect is a renowned cultivation sect in the Eastern Region. Its rules are strict. Since you're new here, remember to watch your words and actions, and do not offend any of the sect's disciples."
Chen Yang nodded, his gaze still fixed on the mountains and rivers sweeping past below.
After roughly four hours of flight, a vast and majestic mountain range appeared ahead — towering peaks rising one after another, wreathed in swirling clouds and mist.
The flying skiff headed toward the tallest of the peaks. As they drew closer, Chen Yang could make out a sprawling complex of buildings along the mountainside — upturned eaves, ornately carved beams and painted rafters, all of it magnificent and imposing.
The flying skiff touched down smoothly on the plaza before the sect's main gate.
Disciples on guard duty came forward at once, bowing respectfully. "Senior Brother Yang, Senior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Zhao — welcome back."
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Chen Yang followed the four of them off the flying skiff. He looked up and saw a grand ceremonial archway, upon which three bold, vigorous characters read "Verdant Wood Sect," shimmering with a faint golden radiance in the sunlight.
Beyond the archway stretched a long flight of stone steps, winding upward with no end in sight.
A strange, refreshing fragrance drifted through the air, filling the lungs with a sense of clarity and ease.
"Junior Brother Li, take him to register at the laborer quarters," Senior Brother Yang instructed, not even sparing Chen Yang a glance. His tone softened considerably when he turned to Zhao Yanran. "Junior Sister Zhao, let us return to Jade Bamboo Peak first — our master has surely been waiting for some time."
Zhao Yanran hesitated, glancing at Chen Yang as if she wanted to say something but held back.
Senior Brother Lin chuckled softly. "Junior Sister Zhao, rest easy. Junior Brother Li will take good care of your... old acquaintance."
The words "old acquaintance" were spoken with a particularly meaningful weight.
Only then did Zhao Yanran nod. She stepped quickly to Chen Yang's side, drew a smooth, warm jade token from her robe, and pressed it into his hand, whispering, "Keep this safe. If you run into trouble in the sect, show this token — others will know you are under my protection."
The jade token was warm to the touch, engraved with delicate cloud patterns and the character "Yan."
Before Chen Yang could respond, Senior Brother Li was already urging him impatiently. "Let's go. The laborer quarters are to the west — it's still quite a walk."
Zhao Yanran was ushered away by the two Senior Brothers along a small path heading east, glancing back at Chen Yang again and again.
Senior Brother Yang's arm settled casually around her waist — a gesture both intimate and possessive.
Chen Yang tightened his grip on the jade token, his fingernails pressing into his palm.
"What are you staring at?" Senior Brother Li said coldly. "Junior Sister Zhao is now a disciple of an Elder on Jade Bamboo Peak, and the cultivation partner of both Senior Brother Yang and Senior Brother Lin. She is not someone a mere mortal like you can covet. Keep up!"
Chen Yang silently pocketed the jade token and fell into step behind Senior Brother Li.
They walked along a stone-paved path to the west, passing several courtyards along the way. Occasionally, disciples in blue robes passed by — all bowing respectfully to Senior Brother Li, while casting curious or contemptuous glances at Chen Yang.
The further west they went, the more modest the buildings became, and the refreshing fragrance in the air gradually gave way to a mixture of other smells — cooking smoke, medicinal herbs, and even the scent of livestock.
At last they arrived at a wide but cluttered courtyard. Several laborers in gray short-hemmed garments were busy at work — some chopping firewood, some hauling water, some drying medicinal herbs in the sun.
A pudgy middle-aged man hurried over with a wide smile plastered on his face. "Senior Brother Li, what an honor! What can I do for you?"
Senior Brother Li gestured toward Chen Yang. "New laborer. Find him something to do."
The stout man looked Chen Yang up and down a few times, then nodded with a bow. "Of course, of course — the medicine garden happens to be short a pair of hands."
Senior Brother Li gave a satisfied nod, then turned to Chen Yang with an arrogant air. "Junior Sister Zhao is kind-hearted and has secured you a livelihood. You had best make the most of it — keep your head down and don't cause her any trouble."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
The moment Senior Brother Li was out of earshot, the stout man's demeanor changed entirely. He straightened up and looked Chen Yang over with a sidelong glance. "New here? What's your name? What did you do before?"
"Chen Yang. I farmed," Chen Yang answered simply.
"Hmph, another one who got in through connections." The stout man sneered. "My name is Wang — I'm the steward of the laborer quarters. The rules here are simple: do as you're told, no slacking, no wandering off, and absolutely no offending the immortal masters. Otherwise—"
He drew a finger across his throat.
Chen Yang nodded in silence.
Steward Wang waved over a young boy. "Xiaodouzi, take him to the South Wing to get settled, then report to the medicine garden."
The boy called Xiaodouzi was about fifteen or sixteen, slight and sharp-eyed. He led Chen Yang toward a row of low-roofed buildings, eyeing him with curiosity. "Did you really get in through connections? Whose pull did you use?"
Chen Yang didn't answer, and instead asked, "What do they do at the medicine garden?"
"Tend to immortal herbs and spirit plants — the most backbreaking work there is," Xiaodouzi said with a pout. "But it's better than hauling water and chopping wood. At least you get to absorb a bit of Spiritual Energy."
After settling in his sparse quarters, Chen Yang followed Xiaodouzi toward the medicine garden.
As they passed along a narrow path, Chen Yang suddenly spotted three familiar figures in the distance — Senior Brother Yang, Senior Brother Lin, and Senior Brother Li, with Zhao Yanran in their midst.
They appeared to be about to enter an elegant little building. Senior Brother Yang had his arm around Zhao Yanran's waist, leaning down to murmur something in her ear.
Zhao Yanran's cheeks were flushed, and she gave a soft nod.
Just then, Senior Brother Li's voice drifted over on the wind, faint but audible: "...Tonight we'll continue purging the poison for you. The Passion Gu toxin is no small matter — it requires three sessions of Spiritual Energy harmonization each month to fully eradicate it..."
Senior Brother Lin laughed. "Junior Sister Zhao, rest assured — your Senior Brothers will spare no effort in helping you rid yourself of the poison completely."
Senior Brother Yang gently tilted Zhao Yanran's chin upward, his tone tender. "After tonight, the rest of this month will be free of worry — you can focus entirely on your cultivation."
Zhao Yanran nodded shyly, allowing Senior Brother Yang to press a light kiss to her forehead.
Chen Yang stopped dead in his tracks. His fists clenched tight, his fingernails digging deep into his palms until thin lines of blood seeped through.
Xiaodouzi followed his gaze and suddenly understood. "Oh, you're looking at Senior Sister Zhao? She's quite the celebrated figure in the sect — not only exceptionally talented, but also the cultivation partner of three inner disciple elites at once. Word is it has something to do with curing a poison... tsk tsk, what extraordinary luck with women. Enough to make anyone envious."
The four of them disappeared into the little building together, the door closing softly behind them, shutting out the world.