Hmm... Shifting slightly on her rosewood settee, Supervisor Ming Zhu sucks air between her teeth. How intriguing?

Like a blazing bolt out of the blue an invitation has arrived from that crouching tiger, hidden dragon, Fen Ling.

The girl's mysterious reputation truly precedes her... By all accounts, she is not simple at all. Reputedly an extremely deep thinker that spurns the endless hurly-burly of the usual inner sect social life, for peaceful contemplation and rigorous cultivation.

True, the little fairy has on several instances issued dire threats of self-harm or hinted at rebellious discord, but that is simply playing the game... Elder Zhu bore no grudges for the occasional boorish outburst... And to be fair, Fen Ling has been circumspect compared to most of her spoiled little madams. Those older girls like to flounce about the inner court, flirting incessantly and finding trouble... Each and every one was a headache and a half!

Comparably, Fen-er has been pleasure to deal with... Or not deal with as the case may be...

Hence, Elder Zhu was most surprised when the little maid had showed up at her door. Kowtowing and entreating on her knees she may have been, but make no bones about it, this was a summons!

One she would answer out of sheer curiosity... Something momentous was about to happen, she was sure of it...

She cast an appraising eye over the little maid still kneeling on the cushion in front of Elder Zhu's huanghuali table. The girl's advanced levels and young age hadn't escaped her attention. Earth affinity, mid tier-four, she was definitely one to keep an eye on. Borderline inner court right now, but she should age a little first, mellow like a fine wine..

Elders often project a stately ethereal image of aloofness, acting as if they are above all earthly concerns... That is a complete myth! The jianghu never stopped being cut-throat and one can never rest on one's laurels!

To earn the lion's share of sect resources, one naturally has to be a lion by providing the sect with something of equal value. Identifying and securing talent is a sure way to get ahead, instantly enhancing one's own prestige and power within the sect - not to mention forging and nurturing some future allies...

Bringing beasts into the fold she’d dubbed it... For the time being, she is satisfied this little maid is squirrelled safely away within her personal demesne - away from any prying or covetous eyes! Particularly those of her sect enemey, Elder Wei... Not that he'd ever notice the little people...

Still, the tiny girl is a top-level talent. High tiers at low years... This summoning is off to an auspicious start... She chats happily with the maid as they wend their way toward the inner court, working hard to form a good impression. It never hurts to be polite and positive, something her nemesis could definitely stand to learn...

Arriving at the little house, Elder Zhu, who has been Fen Ling's supervisor for nearly three years now, carefully inspects the girl for the first time since her welcoming ceremony.

In that time, she has grown several cun taller and could now be described as average height. A pretty girl, she is however, far too athletic and lively for refined tastes... That was by the by, more importantly, according to her reports, Fen Ling passed tier-five two seasons ago, so she should be mid tier-five by now. And she was... Then she wasn't...

In front of Elder Zhu's disbelieving eyes, she advanced to late tier-five... Without actually cultivating at all... Fen Ling had been given standard sect secret cultivation method, the one they all got, so that shouldn't happen right?

"Fen-er, what cultivation stage are you at?" Might as well hear it from the horse’s mouth...

"What tier does master see?" No, not a horse at all, more like a cagey fox. One caught in a hen house and trying to talk its way out... Hmm... Intriguing...

At that exact moment, the little maid earmarked for next year's intake, Xiao Ma, approaches the table with a tray. Bobbing her head politely, she serves a fragrant tieguanyin tea, pouring the pot into two cups, before immediately retreating from the drawing room. Hmm... Iron Goddess tea? Is the girl making an ironic statement of some kind? A boast? A threat?

With her open palm, Fen Ling indicates a woven-cane chair for her supervisor. When Elder Zhu sits, the girl let out a relieved sigh and pulls a matching chair out from under the heavy huaimu kitchen table. The thick two-toned rings of the locust wood tabletop, even under the dark lacquer of the varnish, are strangely mesmerising.

After a dainty sip or two of tea, Fen Ling puts down the cup.

“Elder Zhu, do not blame me for talking too familiarly, but if I offend you in any way, I ask overseer to forgive me.”

As soon as the cagey girl opens her mouth, she immediately excuses herself. Apparently she plans to say some interesting things.

However, Elder Zhu has no qualms, this is the heart of what she is here for after all, so she doesn’t hesitate to reply in kind.

“What harm could there be simply in speaking... Or in speaking simply!”

“Then this little one will not be polite, Elder Zhu!”

Fen Ling cups her hands together in respect towards her supervisor, before earnestly asking:

“Elder, is it true that the sect is currently seeking good seedlings?”

"Ah, always..." Did she read Elder Zhu's mind earlier?

"Great, because coincidentally, this one happens to have a childhood friend from my own humble village, who has recently become eligible for the inner court..."

Oh-ho, is she about to offer her the maid Xiao Ma as a disciple?

"However, my young friend is confused and requires a senior's guidance... Naturally, this one would prefer her friend to shelter under the same nurturing umbrella as she does, with Elder Zhu...

No, her disciple appears about to blackmail her for the maid. How overbearing...

"Unfortunately, my friend is in an occupation that has caught the eye of several other elders..." Fen Ling has her head bowed apologetically...

Overbearing, but well within Elder Zhu's experiences and expectations... So what is it going to be? Pills? Herbs? Jewellery? A husband? She's heard it all before...

"Ooh, before I forget, I must thank elder once again, this time in person, for my most treasured sword of two years now, Dazzler!" With an inclination of her head, Fen Ling indicates the metal sword hanging by means of a bracket on the wall behind her.

"Dazzler has indeed been a brilliant possession, however, I am advancing to tier-six any month now and imagine I will have soon outgrown it...”

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Staring up at the blade, the girl sighs, seeming unwilling.

“Only an inscription could salvage it, and also save the immense future expenditure of a replacement..."

"He-he, no need for junior's thanks for events two years prior."

What in the world is the girl up to? An inscription requires a metal master and cost many times more than a replacement blade would? Well worth it though for the power upgrade.

"We'll see what we can do about an inscription, it just so happens a travelling inscription master with a metal affinity is due in the sect in a few months time... Maybe I can pull a few strings... Now what were you saying about your friend?"

"Oh, where was I?"

The girl is faking forgetfulness, it is unnecessary at this juncture, but a nice touch nonetheless...

"Oh of course, I'll bring my friend out to meet elder... Xiao Ma..."

Elder Zhu smiled, it has come at quite a cost, but she has acquired another future inner court disciple for the sect and additional sect credit for herself, of course...

"Bring him in!" Fen Ling grins.

Wait, what? "Him", who was "him"? No, who was he, she automatically corrects herself. She is an elder, she shouldn't talk or even think like some country bumpkin... And what does the girl mean by "Bring in"?

All her questions are instantly answered, because, at that moment, the maid returns, and she isn't alone.

There is a hulking teen boy behind her aged about 15. Oh, has this little genius girl, sitting primly across the table from her, been plucking her like a zither this entire time? Has this all been an elaborate word game at Elder Zhu’s expense?

"Supervisor Zhu, here's my friend Li Feng, whom we were talking about," Fen Ling introduces the big brute. Friend or babysitter, Elder Zhu can't help but wonder...

"This little one greets Supervisor Zhu," the big boy bows and daylight streams back into the room. Initially surprised at his size... And sex... And non-maid-ness... Elder Zhu hasn't yet checked his cultivation level, so she does so. Whoah, what? Tier six! If he wasn't 14 yet, she is onto something here...

"Li Feng, it's always a pleasure to meet one of my disciples friends!"

No, it wasn't. She couldn't think of many things worse... "Such an imposing presence, tell me Little Brother Feng, what age are you currently?"

"This one has only recently turned 13!"

Rubbish. She wasn't born yesterday and the huge lump in front of her wasn't either... Still, upon inspecting his features closer, particularly his hairless lip and chin, she could tell he was unlikely to be 15 yet... So 14 then? Still, there is an easy test for that... In the meantime, she should close the deal. Meat pies this large didn't fall from the skies every day...

"Li Feng are you prepared to accept me as your master supervisor?"

"Elder Zhu, it would be this one's great honour."

"Very good. Here, take my token and come visit my residence beside the manor tomorrow, and we'll organise the paperwork and ascension ceremony."

Elder Zhu sits back and smiles, she has hooked another flying fish that wishes to become a dragon!

She stands to take her leave, but has a sudden thought. She leans forward to whisper in Fen Ling's shell-like ear.

"What about young maid Ma over there?"

"Oh, naturally I'll consult with little Xiao when the time comes. However, with Elder Zhu's continued benevolence and generosity, how could the choice be difficult for her?"

An empty answer that hedges its bets. Elder Zhu heartily approves. This one is a natural politician - she looks forward to their future negotiations!

Turning towards the door, she makes a mental note to send more resources Fen Ling and Li Feng's way, if only to ensure she secures the maid's services next year... This way she'd be getting twice the effects for half the effort...

Hah! She's discovered two new disciples in one day - all without leaving the comfort of the inner court! It should be known, the inner court only contains between two to three hundred disciples at any one time. The intake most years, either from their triennial recruitment drive or more often through internal ascension, was anywhere between 20 and 40. So today's haul was a significant number and a triumph that has saved Elder Zhu a lot of time and effort...

Earlier, she'd been given the run around by Fen Ling, but in retrospect it felt like a refreshing mental challenge... Live and learn, as they say...

There are various different kinds of intelligence... Elder Zhu had been expecting the measured still waters runs deep sort, but had gotten a subtle yet playful spider spinning whorling webs of words... And all the while she had been the hapless fly!

At the door, she turns to look at the three figures facing her. Such strong cultivations, she can't help but ask?

"You three, all come from the same small village, is that correct?"

"Yes, elder master," the behemoth, who is nearest answers first.

"What's the name of this little village?"

"Our humble village is called Rusty Creek, elder..."

"Rusty Creek you say, hmm..." She has heard that name before... "By chance, does a boy called Liu Tong come from Rusty Creek as well?"

"Uh, yes, I seem to recall the name..." The six eyes of the three children dart fitfully back and forth between themselves in the suddenly thick silence. Finally, the the chubby boy takes a determined step forward. "May I be so impertinent as to enquire why elder asks?"

"It's just that this Liu Tong recently had a fortunate encounter... He and two his friends, also from Rusty Creek I believe, came across a group of bloodthirsty bandits a few months ago," She gives a wistful shake of her head.

"Heroically upholding the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation, not to mention the virtues of the entire righteous path, they set upon the brigands risking life and limb. Despite their foes' superior numbers, they successfully managed to drive the bandits out of our territory!"

"Excuse me elder, did you by chance hear the name of these poor brigands?" Li Feng asked.

"Big Belly Bear and his Iron Zombie gang," Elder Zhu says. "I have actually never heard of them before - I must say I'm surprised that you especially haven't heard all about it, being from the outer court and whatnot... It caused quite a stir... "

"I'm sure it did. It's such a fantastic tale... Almost like a parable..." The lummox was staring off into the distance, stroking his throat with the forefinger of his left hand.

"Anyway, the exciting part is, Liu Tong, though mortally injured, had a break through to tier-five at that time. Right now he is closing in on mid tier-five... And at only 13, he is not only a minor celebrity in the outer court, but a candidate for the inner court as well...

Elder Zhu’s eyes shine, it has been hard for her to suppress spreading such good gossip.

“He's another one I'm keeping an eye on..."

"Thank you elder, we'll definitely be keeping an eye out for him in the future too!" The burly boy frowns, lost in thought.

"Sigh...Unfortunately that Elder Wei has his beady eyes on him as well..."

"What a crying shame..." Li Feng's voice seems to come from far away.

"Still, it's too strange that all four of you come from the same Rusty Creek, there must be something in the water!"

"Uh, there is,” Li Feng mumbles. “Silt mainly, run-off from the mines up in the mountains I suppose..."

Ahh, it is fortunate that the Little Fox Fairy is in charge of these three, that big lump isn't the sharpest sword on the rack...