Chapter Three
“You’re lying,” Snake said, wiping sweat from her brow as she paused in her work of weeding the Whispering Gardens. “No man can be that tall. And seriously? Covered in freckles? What was he, diseased or something?”
“That’s what I said,” Heron said, Egret’s twin brother flashing him a triumphant smirk.
The three and only Outer Disciples of the Whispering Glade Sect had been sent to the gardens by their seniors to meditate upon the origins of life and the fruits of labor and patience. Or in other words, to fuck off and leave them alone for a while.
In fairness, however, the High Gardens of the Whispering Glade were beautiful. Built many, many centuries ago by the Sect’s founders atop the highest branches of the great Guardian Mangroves for support, perhaps several li of fields stretched as far as the eye could see. Meandering chaotically with the twists and turns of the mangrove branches that the great Qi-infused platform lay upon, it was only here that the sun’s rays could provide nourishing life to the crops above the shadows and mist of the Whispering Glade. Furnished with hundreds of years of loamy soil dredged from the wetlands and watered by an ancient system of aqueducts that collected rainwater, the gardens had long been under the care of the sect’s Outer Disciples, providing life and nourishment for all.
Too bad it's such tedious fucking work, Egret thought, rolling his eyes at the stupid grin on his twin’s face. Dumbass. “I’m not lying, Sister Snake. The Stranger was massive. He was built like a mountain!”
“Even so, no true cultivator should be so large,” Snake said, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder as she spoke. “He’s likely just some lost farmhand. The Elders will have sent him packing on the morrow, be sure of it Junior Brother.”
Egret stiffened at the insult, eyes flicking to his brother. A silent agreement passed between the two boys before they turned to face their fellow Outer Disciple as one.
“Your Junior Brothers thank you for your wise words, Senior Sister,” the twins intoned, speaking and bowing low to the ground as one.
Snake smirked. “At last you pair of idiots have accepted my superiority over— What the fuck did you just throw at me?”
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Heron and Egret burst into laughter as their fellow disciple squealed in outrage at her dirt-covered robes, the pair packing another set of dirtballs for a second volley when a stern voice interrupted them.
“Insightful meditations, Disciples?”
Shit.
As one, the trio came to heel, bowing low to Elder Qiang who suddenly stood in their midst. “Yes, Elder!”
How does he always know to appear in the worst moments? Egret bemoaned, preparing himself for the inevitable punishment. Just please don’t make me unclog Elder Xiao’s toilet again!
“I’m sure you doubtless have many questions regarding the recent arrival of the Sect’s . . . guest.”
The words were spoken with the same cold and deadly precision that Elder Qiang always used, yet this was not his usual pre-punishment speech. Don’t get hopeful yet, Egret told himself, schooling expression. Hope is a dangerous thing with Elder Qiang.
“Yes, Elder,” Snake ventured, her normally haughty voice now wavering before the Elder’s dangerous aura. “So, he is a . . . guest?”
A frown flashed across Qiang’s face, causing Egret’s stomach to wrench. “That remains to be seen. Elder Xiao believes he may be worthy as a potential Disciple of our Whispering Glade.” The Elder paused, killing intent spiking through his normal perfect control and causing each of the trio to burst into cold sweats. “I mean to ensure such a disgrace does not occur. I expect each of you to do your duty on the morrow and show this mortal the power of cultivators. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Elder!” the trio shouted, bowing once more.
“Good. Continue with your duties then. I shall see each of you at Arm’s training tomorrow.”
And with that the Elder left as quickly as he had appeared, disappearing amidst the tall stalks of the Heavenly Herbs that the disciples tended to.
By the Ancestors, does that man scare the shit out of me, Egret thought, sharing a knowing look with his twin.
“Guess you were wrong, Sister Snake,” Heron said, elbowing the smaller girl. “Not a farmhand afterall.”
“Hmph. We shall see about that. I intend to live up to the Elder’s desires and banish this guest from our sect. There’s no place for barbarians here and I, Disciple Ru “Snake” Daiyu shall be the one to handle this affront to our sect.”
Egret rolled his eyes, sharing yet another conspiratorial look with Heron. As one they bent down, arming themselves with their deadly balls of mud.
“Don’t you idiots fucking dare!”
That afternoon there was little meditation performed in the gardens.