“Hey, if you're gonna space out, then get out of the way, dude,” a voice barked at me, snapping me out of my daze. I blinked, glancing around in confusion as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. Everyone was dressed in robes, like something out of a kung fu movie. Where the hell am I?

As I stumbled along with the mob of people, I tripped and fell to the ground again. My body felt different—shorter, leaner, and not quite what I was used to. It took me a moment to get my bearings and adjust to this new form. Listening to the chatter around me, I tried to piece together what was happening.

“This is my chance to become someone. I think I will have a good Qi center,” a boy next to me muttered, eyes glinting with ambition.

Most of the talk was about changing fate and something called Qi. I had no idea what any of it meant, but I decided to keep following the crowd. We wound our way up a mountain, and as we neared the top, a sprawling Chinese-style town came into view. The place was bigger than a Buc-ee’s—a sight that made my jaw drop.

At the front gate stood three old men, each with a rock in front of them. One by one, the students placed their hands on the rock, which glowed different colors before they were either let in or turned away. My turn came up sooner than I was ready for. Not knowing what else to do, I slapped my hand down on the rock. It glowed blue.

“Pass. Welcome to the Bow Clan. Take your new robes and join the outer sect,” one of the old men said, handing me a set of robes. All I really wanted was some damn sweet tea. Hopefully, they had that here.

Before I could go searching for any refreshments, a large, rotund old man stepped in front of the group. His presence commanded attention.

“Welcome, new outer sect disciples. Your starting point here is based on your Qi center, as shown by the orb. To advance to the inner sect, you must master a move and demonstrate it during the master-student event held every three months. If selected by a master, you will join the inner sect, where more resources for your training await. Begin your journey within the Bow Clan.”

With that, the old man shot off like an arrow, leaving us to our own devices. I wasn't in the South anymore, but I reckoned they had to have some sweet tea around here somewhere. I slipped on the robes, a bit awkwardly, and set off to explore my new surroundings. There was a lot to take in, and even more to figure out.

As I left and followed the signs—just weird lines, but somehow I could understand them, like some kind of witchcraft—I started climbing the mountain. The signs pointed the way to food, and my stomach growled in agreement. Maybe they got some good eatin' here and sweet tea.

Walking more in these robes, I quickly learned I hated these damn things. How y'all deal with it is beyond me. The fabric clung in all the wrong places, making it hard to move naturally. But one thing I couldn't overlook was the view. This place was like nothing I'd ever seen before, with rivers, forests, and swamps all within a mountain range. I live with weirdos now, but dang if it isn't a beautiful spot. In the far distance, I could even see smoke curling up into the sky, promising more signs of life and civilization.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The smell of food grew stronger as I walked, my mouth watering in anticipation. Finally, I reached the building where the food was served. The layout reminded me of what I'd seen on TV about prison cafeterias—lines of people shuffling along with trays, waiting their turn to be served. I hoped the food would be better than what they showed in those prison dramas.

I grabbed a tray and joined the line, my stomach growling louder now. As I moved forward, I noticed the variety of dishes being offered. Steamed buns, rice, some kind of meat stew—nothing looked familiar, but it all smelled amazing. I just hoped they had something resembling sweet tea.

As I shuffled forward with my tray, my eyes scanned for any sign of sweet tea. My hopes dimmed as I saw only a selection of strange-looking beverages. I turned to one of the servers, an older woman with kind eyes, and decided to lay on the Southern charm.

"Ma'am," I drawled, flashing my best smile, "y'all wouldn't happen to have any sweet tea, would ya? Back home, we can't get through the day without it."

She looked puzzled and shook her head. "I'm sorry, we don't serve that here."

Determined, I leaned in a little closer. "Well, if I can't get it out here, reckon I could go in the back and make some myself? I promise I'll leave the place cleaner than I found it."

Her eyes softened at my polite request, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "Alright, but be quick about it."

I followed her into the kitchen, taking in the bustling activity. The aroma of various dishes filled the air, making my stomach rumble even louder. I found the ingredients I needed: tea leaves, sugar, and a pot to boil the water. With a practiced hand, I brewed up a batch of sweet tea, just like my mama taught me. As I poured a tall glass, I took a sip and sighed in contentment. Perfect.

As I was about to leave the kitchen, a commotion outside caught my attention. Stepping out, I saw a young man in different, more ornate robes—a clear sign of an inner disciple—standing on a table, sneering down at the rest of us.

"Pathetic," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Some of you will never rise above being outer sect scum."

The room fell silent, and anger bubbled up inside me. Who did this guy think he was? I walked up to him, my Southern pride not letting me back down.

"Now hold on just a minute there, partner," I said, staring him down. "Ain't no call for talkin' like that to folks who are just tryin' their best."

He glanced at me, eyes narrowing. "And who are you to speak to me like that? An outer disciple who can't even wear his robes properly."

I straightened my back, refusing to be intimidated. "Name's Jake. And where I come from, we respect folks who work hard, no matter their station."

A murmur of agreement rose from the other outer disciples, emboldening me. The inner disciple's sneer faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Respect? Respect is earned through strength and skill, not through hard work alone," he retorted. "I became an inner disciple on my first day here. Can any of you claim that?"

His arrogance was grating, but I saw an opportunity. "Well, I reckon everyone starts somewhere. Maybe you had a head start, but don't count us out just yet."

The room seemed to shift, the other outer disciples standing a little taller, the fire of determination ignited in their eyes. The inner disciple glared at me but said nothing, hopping down from the table and walking away with a huff.

As the room returned to its usual buzz, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I grabbed my tray and finally sat down to eat, taking another sip of my sweet tea. I might be far from home, but I wasn't about to let anyone trample over me or the people around me.

"Well, y'all," I said to no one in particular, "looks like we're in for quite a ride."