Qingfeng Village, Zhenwu Continent.
Situated in a remote corner of the world, the village was effectively cut off from the outside world barring the annual convoy which gave the villager some news about the region.
"Ming! Wake up, It is morning !" shouted an old buff man with a mane of graying hair.
A young boy blearily rushes down the stairs to sit down with his grandfather at the breakfast table, hitting the edge of the table once before sitting down. "You brat, why don't you learn something from cousins and wake up in time to help out your uncles with work..." grumbled Yu Zhongwei as he started to eat soup and bread.
"Hmph! Yu Cheng probably doesn't even know why we wake up early and as for Yu Hao.." Yu Ming replies, only stopping with a dissatisfied face when he saw his grandfather giving him a warning glace and starts to eat his breakfast.
Yu Ming quickly rushes towards the door to leave as soon they finished breakfast, only stopping when Yu Zhongwei asked "Are you still collecting money for that trip of yours ?".
"What trip ?" Yu Ming runs out even quicker with an unreadable expression after replying in an even tone.
Yu Zhongwei sighed and continued to wash the dishes as a middle-aged man with a long scar arrived saying "Just saw the little rascal rushing out. Is he going to that Wang Wei's house again? ".
"Let him be, Xiang. Tell me about the harvest. Do we have enough for the tax next month? "
Yu Xiang sat down with a nonchalant expression, " We should have enough for the convoy next month."
After a brief silence, Yu Xiang spoke again, " Father... That Wang Wei is a witch. I don't know why old man Han allowed her to stay in this village but I want to stop Ming from mingling with her. Who knows what curse she may bring to our family."
"What witch, did Li Mei feed you some garbage again? For your own sake, don't say this in front of Wang Wei. She's no witch, She is an immortal master!" replied Yu Zhongwei as stopped drying the plates and turned around to glare at his idiotic son.
"What!" Yu Xiang stood up shocked. "Don't spread it around." sighed Yu Zhongwei as Yu Xiang nodded mutely, silently sitting back.
Meanwhile, Yu Ming stood outside a run-down house, knocking on the door while vibrating with excitement.
A hastily dressed woman with disheveled black hair opens the door.
"Damn brat, how many times have I said you to not bother me in the morning, " she says as irritation flashes across her face.
"I just wanted to help you out with your chores," replies Yu Ming with a faux innocent face.
"I will deal with you once I get presentable, you can start in the meantime." The lady, Wang Wei walks back into her room and slams the door shut as Yu Ming follows behind her and enters the kitchen to take care of dishes.
After an hour of hard work and cleaning the house, Yu Ming sits down to patiently wait for Wang Wei. After another 30 minutes, Wang Wei finally opens the door in a clean white dress and sits down to have a meal.
"You still make such bland meals." She grimaces as she eats. "Big Sister Wei, My cooking has been praised even by Aunt Mei. Clearly, your taste is the problem," replies Yu Ming proudly.
She gives a side eye while eating, " So, Why are you waiting again? I don't have any more stories about Qi Cultivation anymore. Just go home ."
"Come on, do you really have no more stories ? " pouts Yu Ming. After a brief moment of silence, Wang Wei states, "Ming, if you don't have the money for the convoy, these stories would mean nothing ."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Yu Ming grins, "I have already collected the 3 silvers needed for the convoy! "
Wang Wei raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed and yet suspicious at the same time, "I hope you haven't stolen them."
"Of course not !" Yu Ming replies loudly and adds with increasing irritation, "I worked hard helping around in the village to earn this."
"Okay, then be careful that they aren't stolen from you by others."
"No worries. I have sewn them into my pouch to hide them." Yu Ming gets even prouder.
After hearing a few more tales, Yu Ming goes back to his home to help his uncle Yu Wei and cousin Yu Cheng with farming.
His 2nd Uncle Wei is not a man of many words and allows Ming to return to his house for dinner once he finishes his part of the work.
By the time of dinner, Grandfather Yu Zhongwei has also returned from work and cooked a vegetable stew as meat isn't easy to procure in this remote region.
As both sit down to have dinner, Yu Zhongwei informs, "The convoy from Huanxi Town is arriving in a month at most... Are you really planning to take an uncertain journey for the Test? You have to know that, many people die from beasts in the village every year. What's more, your possessing an aptitude for cultivation is even more farfetched. "
"Big Sister Wei said that the convoy is protected by guards and is safe. " Yu Ming states with a stubborn expression.
His grandfather just shakes his head in disappointment, "Very well. Let this be a lesson for you. Once you find that you have no aptitude for cultivation you will come around."
He adds, "You better collect the money needed on your own, I am not going to waste 3 silvers just for you to take a vain trip to Kaiqi City. "
A month passes by in a flash. Today, the alarm bell reserved for welcoming convoys rings throughout the village.
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Yu Household
"Just go. I know you won't stop even if I say no." Yu Zhongwei mutters the last part as Yu Ming excitedly runs towards Wang Wei's house to bid her goodbye, having already bid his farewells to his family.
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Wang Wei's House
Wang Wei is waiting outside her house with a cold expression as Yu Ming runs toward her excitedly.
"Take this pouch and go, consider it my thanks for never disturbing my sleep again. " After throwing a small cloth pouch towards Yu Ming, Wang Wei quickly enters the house and shuts the door leaving Yu Ming with no chance of saying farewell.
After processing everything that happened, Yu Ming loudly shouts "Thank You, Big Sister Wei!! " and quickly leaves with an awkward and embarrassed face when neighboring people gaze at him curiously.
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Village Outskirts
As Yu Ming finally reaches the convoy with a nervous heart, he searches around for the leader, Chen Wei.
After spotting a plump middle-aged man talking with old Village Head Han, Yu Ming heads straight towards them.
Yu Ming quickly asks for a seat in the convoy to Huanxi Town and hands over 3 silvers as Village Head Han looks on with raised eyebrows.
"I never thought Zhongwei would give you a single copper for the Aptitude Test. " Village Head Han speaks with a surprised look.
"Hehe, the idea of cultivation is worth at least in golds, let alone silvers. Being a cultivator, you would know this best, Sir Han."
Village Head Han replies with a self-mocking head shake, "Once you start cultivating, you will know that no wealth can allow those without the talent to ever amount to anything."
"I will be waiting in the convoy. Goodbye, Old man Han! " having heard enough of Village Head Han's depressing talk, Yu Ming takes his leave.
Yu Ming quickly checks his ticket which has "4" written on it and enters the 4th carriage.
As Yu Ming enters, he notices 5 more children in the carriage. Out of the 2 girls and 3 boys, he greets the 3 he knows;
"Greetings Chen Li, Zhang Xin, and Li Wei! "
Chen Li is the village's darling daughter; her father is a wealthy businessman and thus she can easily go for the test.
Zhang Xin is from a branch of the great Zhang Clan from Kaiqi City; Their Clan Rule demands all descendants be tested for cultivation talent.
Li Wei is just a friend who met a wandering cultivator 3 years ago when he was 9 years old and has been finally allowed by his family to leave for the city. The cultivator once mentioned that Li Wei has cultivation potential.
"Greetings (Yu) Ming "replies all three, with Zhang Xin and Chen Li being merely polite and Li Wei being ecstatic that he has found a familiar face.
As none of the other two respond, the 4 familiar faces start excitedly discussing their journey.