A shake and bang, followed by a set of feet shuffled on stone.

With it, the lesson came to a complete halt.

It was hard not to notice more people gathering, more and more sliding feet and muffled voices.

One voice stood out among the rest.

A loud voice talking down, in a nonstop stream of yells that would destroy anyone’s ability to think.

Hao doubted he could learn much more for the day anyway; His head was full.

Dozens of new words, and speech patterns, “If you are accepted into the sect today, do it with grace, Young Master.” Meiqi said.

Hao doubted he would be “accepted”; it seemed a handful of elders wished he was not there or acted like he was dust under the rug.

He tied the mortal mending pill bottle on the blue cord that held his hair, leaning on the door, checking anything else he thought he should.

The spirit-holding bag was tied to his chest, hidden underneath his robe.

He managed to figure out how to work it just enough to get the two elder’s tokens inside.

It took a lot of practice just to get those little tokens in and out of the bag.

Everything was ready except for Hao.

The sun was eating up the sky.

A person did not need to go outside to want to find shade.

The door popped open and Hao stepped outside, stuttering forward.

He was trying to find the right face before he left the threshold of the building.

He was told to play a role that fits his reputation; what reputation?

Hao did not have a reputation; a few people would just know that someone rang the bone-shaking bell.

Those who were quick with rumors would hear the words servant.

The servants would like that. No one else would.

Most of the sect didn’t know what the bell was, only the name; they were just like Hao in that regard.

Hao would not tell the women who walked from the door with him, but even with his deeper understanding of these games, he would not change to play them.

I will play only myself… a bit more flair if I need it.

That did not mean he was going to let the lessons he was just taught go to waste, not if he needed them.

His shoulders just left the door when the source of the loudest voice landed nearby.

Steps from the wood path that connected the door of the buildings in the row, each canopied to block the rain.

Where the heavy man landed, dust puffed from the stone tiles, a dozen steps in front of Hao.

It was the second time he landed on the stones.

The dust was just enough to block vision. Hao did a greeting similar to the one he had copied long before.

A half-bow, now practiced many times, alongside a few others ‘greetings’ he would not use.

His feet were together, his hands cupped in front of him.

“Greeting Senior,” Hao said, his head held high.

“Haha, I told Young Friend there is no need for such formalities. Rumors of last night’s ring of the bell have spread like a summer forest fire. No one knows the name or face yet,” Taoyi said.

The words of the man who brought Hao to this place, away from the bell in haste, gave Hao a slightly ironic comfort. To not be known for something he did.

Hao did not show it, he slipped into a smile Hao himself did not know.

“I would like to thank Senior for showing me to the room. It made my trip to the elders short. But I don’t know Senior’s station yet. I hope I didn’t cause you trouble.” Hao said.

I wonder which of us is trying to gain more.

“Haha, no need to worry, this was housing for disciples long ago. Now servants use it during sect events. I think I told Young Friend I am a hall leader and the Servant’s Hall is my charge. You might be able to tell by the riff-raff behind me.”

Taoyi turned his body, showing the people in blue robes leading a line of men and women in white robes.

Some had faces as pale as the cloth they wore; Hao thought he recognized someone.

“It just happens that this place is closer to the halls where the Elders like to hold their meetings.”

Taoyi walked forward toward Hao.

“Speaking of which, you didn’t provoke any of the elders, did you,” Taoyi said.

The man’s mouth was still laughing, but his eyes scanned over Hao’s face.

Hao kept his expression calm; he had practiced before when Senior Ya mentioned it to him before.

The skill was further reinforced by this morning’s training from Meiqi.

Provoke? Judging by the faces of one or two of them, I think I am well past ‘provoked’.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“No, no, nothing like that. At least not intentionally. The Fourth Elder seemed to dislike my sense of humor. Some of the others liked my stories. Many of them made quite funny faces when I presented a gift in front of them.” Hao said.

“Good, good. Young Friend is indeed good, but he misunderstands. A relative of the Fourth Elder was the star of yesterday’s disciple recruitment. I can still remember the face of the Elders when the bell rang. It was actually the First Elder who just accepted the same man as a disciple that sent me to retrieve you.”

Taoyi laughed through half of his words, sharing his spittle with every stone nearby.

Hao stepped down to the stones and Taoyi up towards Hao once again.

It was the first time Hao saw him in such clear light.

“Today, the First Elder is accepting that disciple in a ceremony; that is why there are servants being shuffled up here.”

He was wide-chested, large in the belly, youthful for the title ancestor, and handsome compared to his voice and demeanor.

For the first time since Hao met him, he spoke quietly, “The two mortals did not cause you any inconvenience, I hope.” Taoyi said, nodding at the building.

The two women, Wu Meiqi, and Wu Zhengqi, were standing at the door frame, both grown adults showing the timidness of children in front of the giant of a man, non-mortal in stature.

Hao looked back at them. The demanding teacher who just taught him to talk and dance appeared to shiver under the man’s eyes.

“In fact, their help was invaluable. Without them I may have met the Elders with impurities on my skin, flesh, and blood in my hair,” Hao said.

“They provided me more than I could ask for.”

Taoyi put on an odd face, looking at the women and then at Hao. Putting on an obnoxious smile.

“It’s good that they were of help. But I can’t say I share my young friends’ taste in women. I can hardly find any use for them.” Taoyi said. Enjoying his own words.

Hao had to close his eyes to the comment, worried what they might show.

Should I slap this man? This is as good a time to die as any other. And to think I was enjoying talking to him for a moment.

“Does Senior not want them? I could take them in if you wish.”

Hao’s eyes reopened, both examining every inch of Pao Taoyi’s face as he worked up a response.

Much of the man’s actions and responses were mapped out and planned for by the two Wu women.

Taoyi went from a tall straight stance to a slouch, his feet moving in a small pattern, his hands moving as three fingers pointed.

“Ha! Junior Hao, it’s not a bad idea. You are allowed servants, but you do not have a cave; they would need a play to stay to serve you,” Taoyi said.

His smile is as awkward as his movements. The entire display was distracting.

“Could I not stay here? This place is unused, is it not? Those people will leave soon, right? Senior is the leader of the Servant’s Hall, I know well Senior can grant that.” Hao said.

Hao was quietly eager to test the cards given to him by the Wu women.

“Yes, I will not lie to Junior. They are only here until the in-name disciple situation is finished. They will probably be gone by tomorrow afternoon. But there is another problem, the Fifth Elder is in charge of where disciples stay. I, I can only deal with Servants you see.”

Taoyi grew to have a radiant smile of white teeth, proud of his wit with words.

Hao reached into his robes, digging around his chest, hiding his actions from Taoyi.

He tapped his chest. It took a minute to get the bag to activate.

Finally, finding it, Hao almost exhausted himself to get the Fifth Elder’s token out of the bag; the Second Elder’s staying inside.

Hao slid it up from the collar of his robe. His face was still steady.

He flashed the token to Taoyi for just a second, seeing an instant change.

A beaming, friendly smile grew on his face. More teeth show than before.

“Senior, please, do not worry, I would not put you in a hard situation. I already have plans for my cave, but I would like to stay here until the fifth elder approves.” Hao said.

All of what he said was true; The cave he wanted to stay in was in the mining area with the treasure inside. The one he dug himself and planned to keep quiet about as long as possible.

Taoyi’s eyes lit up when he looked down at the badge, the word ‘Fifth’ on its face.

A reaction, nearly unnoticeable unless you were looking for it.

Taoyi once again changed, his ‘concerned’ face melting away like a sheet of ice under the bright sun.

“Haha, young friend, you seemed to have found favor with the Elders. Was there a disciple-ship on the table?”

A few steps away, the man was inspecting Hao so closely Hao thought he could have licked his eye.

“Ayia, Senior Taoyi, most of what happened in that hall won’t be shared — I dare not say too much with my mouth.”

Hao’s expression pulled down to a practiced emptiness.

Taoyi became quieter again, close to solemn, juggling his tongue in his mouth.

“Well, there is just one more problem with these two in particular. I am a sort of guardian to them. I may jest about them, but they are descended from a relative of a distant relation. They call me Ancestor, so I must make sure that they are well treated.”

Taoyi started to pace, getting further from the door the women were standing in.

Hao walked alongside the man.

“Is Senior indeed their Ancestor? It seems like fate has been kind to us. They had mentioned their ancestor. I was hoping to make a deal with him, but if it’s Senior, that makes things easier.”

Hao kept pace, walking at the larger man’s side, putting the badge back inside the bag on his chest.

“Junior Hao, surely you’re joking. It’s not like I can simply sell them; I worry about their well-being.”

“Buy them? Of course not. How can Senior’s blood be simply bought and sold? To ensure they are well kept; I could pay them a wage.”

The man stopped his pacing. “Before we talk of this any further, I should send these disciples and servants on their way.”

Hao looked over at the group again.

The people split up the blue robes going back down the mountain path.

The gray and white robes entered the empty buildings. Again Hao thought he recognized a few of the blank faces, empty of thought, walking in stuttered steps.

I can think about it later; focus on the task at hand.

“Senior Taoyi, the servants are capable of finding a roof… Are you still unsatisfied with my offer?” Hao said.

Taoyi’s ears perked up—The man forgot to hide the creepy smile before he turned.

“Little friend, you are making things awkward for me. The grayed one is a musician; her songs warm my residence when guests arrive. The other works in the medicine hall; her talent in healing is not bad. I could not give them over forever.”

You said you had no use for them.

“Very well, how about this Senior: paying their wage will be quite hard to start with, so I was planning on giving them some of my reward from the Trial… To make up for any losses, when they return, Senior can take what they have no use for.” Hao said.

Hao was wondering if the man was as the Wu women described.

“Haha, brother indeed has a generous heart. If he is so kind, how can he worry about them any longer?”

“So Senior Taoyi accepts?”

“Yes, little friend can keep them for a while, no more than two years. There is another they may mention, but she is a disciple. I can not offer her even if she works under me. She will have to stay in my services.” Taoyi said.

Both men looked over at the women in the door.

Hao could see Zhengqi’s face as pale as snow.

This was the result they all expected, the one Meiqi told him to expect. A bitter result that the two women had already accepted, for now.

“I see no problem. I only know the two.” Hao said.

“Good, yes good!” Taoyi said, turning into a paragon of joy and happiness like a lottery fell in his lap.

The man did not know the only thing he would receive would be meat and blood from a malformed beast.

“Since little friend… Hao and I have become good friends, how about I show him to the mission hall?” Taoyi said.

“I dare not reject Senior’s kindness; I will accept the offer,” Hao said.

Only half of his words came out when Taoyi placed a big hand on Hao’s shoulder.