Interlude: The Tale of Disciple On

~~~

On breathed heavily as he lay in wait. His nails dug into his palms. It was almost time now.

On had grown up in the outer districts of Eastern Port City. He was an orphan, so his life hadn’t been the best. There were times when On had to rely on theft to get by. However, for all his misfortunes, there was one thing On took pride in.

His strength.

On was a talented child. Everyone said so, and that talent had been further honed by his harsh circumstances. He wasn’t like those pampered clan kids. For On, every day had been a struggle. There had even been times when he prevailed over older kids who had higher levels of cultivation than him.

That was how talented On was.

Eventually, On’s name started to become known to the other kids in the outer districts as someone who shouldn’t be trifled with.

That was when he set his sights on the Xiao Sect.

~~~

On breathed heavily as he stood in front of the Xiao Sect’s massive gate. If one took down that gate and chopped it, how many houses could be built? The thought was useless, yet it drifted through his mind all the same.

On shook his head. What was he thinking? Focus! He needed to focus.

The Xiao Sect’s Selection Test was only held once a year. If he failed, he could try again next year. However, the standards of the Xiao Sect became stricter the older the participant was. The difference in talent between someone who reached the Inner Realm at sixteen and one who did so at six was not something that needed to be explained.

In other words, a person’s chances of gaining admission into the Sect were at their highest when they were young.

On was barely nine. He was still in the Foundational Realm, but such a thing was okay for his age. He just needed to prove he was better than the other candidates his age to pass. That was it. Nothing more.

Of course, On thought, as he took in the crowd of people around him, such a thing was much easier said than done.

Every year, the Xiao Sect’s Selection Test was held. Every year, thousands of people from all over Eastern Port City and beyond showed up. The reason was obvious. To join the Xiao Sect was to be set for life. Even a mere Outer Disciple from the Xiao Sect was someone who commanded respect.

Once On entered the Xiao Sect, he would no longer need to worry about going hungry. He’d gain a roof over his head, training, and resources. Joining the Xiao Sect was simply the best way to succeed in life. He could have tried to take the Yun Sect’s Selection Test, but On was not someone who wanted to settle for second best.

He’d be mighty, or he’d be nothing.

Still, even as those bold words echoed in his mind, cold sweat made its way down the side of his forehead. On’s hands were trembling. He wanted them to stop, but they wouldn’t listen. How could they when On could so plainly feel the Qi of those around him?

Some of the people in the crowd were already in the Inner Realm. Certainly, they were older than him. Still, even those close to his age were far closer to his level of cultivation than he had expected.

In the outer districts, he’d been considered strong and talented, but in this crowd, he seemed downright mundane!

“Are you alright?”

Startled, On turned around and saw a pretty girl with brown hair.

“You’re talking to me?”

His voice came out more brusque than he wanted. Still, the girl nodded.

“Yeah, you looked pretty pale there. Nervous? I am too. It’s the first time I’m taking the Selection Test. Have you heard this? Even though you can take the test any number of times, people who do so are unlikely to pass since the test gets harder as you age. Well, that’s what I heard.”

“I did not need to know that,” On ground out through gritted teeth. The girl laughed nervously.

“Sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous. Hey! How about we work together? We seem to have similar cultivation levels, so if we join forces, we’ll have better chances. How about it?”

That was the first time On met Su An.

Naturally, they passed the test together.

~~~

That was how On’s life in the Xiao Sect began. He and Su An started out as Outer Disciples. No longer was he a mere street rat. On now had a place to belong. His presence was one that commanded respect.

Unfortunately, such an esteemed position was not without its downsides.

~~~

“What’s this?”

“Your portion,” the older disciple told him. He was an Outer Disciple like him, but his Qi was undeniably higher. “Surely, you were paying attention? Us, Outer Disciples, are expected to do numerous tasks around the Sect. Don’t tell me you thought you were different? Stop complaining and help carry the logs.”

That was the way of things. Outside the Xiao Sect, his presence commanded respect. Within, he was but a mere Outer Disciple. The lowest rung on the ladder.

“B-But…” On motioned to the logs he was to carry. “My pile is bigger!”

It was true. Compared to the other piles, On’s was at least twice as big.

The older disciple laughed. “Well, of course your pile is bigger. If you don’t train, how do you expect to get strong? Consider it a kindness from an older disciple.”

“But-”

Two hands fell on his shoulders. The older disciple looked down at him.

“I think you should learn to accept how things work here.” He jerked his head to the side. ”Look, the new girl hasn’t complained.”

On followed his movement and saw that Su An was indeed already carrying logs. Her pile was bigger than the others, just like his.

“You could stand to learn a thing or two from her and appreciate your senior’s kindness.”

~~~

Kindness.

What a laugh!

It was just plain bullying. Even in the Xiao Sect, such things were not uncommon. Rather, it was because it was the Xiao Sect, that it was common. All disciples were in competition with each other, and due to that competition, a hierarchy was formed. Stronger disciples who liked to push around those weaker than themselves were not unusual.

As the newest disciples, On and Su An were easy prey.

Stil, On had endured. He and Su An both had. They had done their duties while trying to draw as little attention to themselves as possible, always relying on one another. They were each other’s only allies within the Sect, and together, they had slowly grown stronger.

That was how it had been at first.

~~~

“You’re leaving?”

Su An nodded. There was a smile on her face.

“The instructor told me earlier today.” Su An kept moving as she spoke. It seemed she could hardly contain her excitement. “I’m being promoted! Starting tomorrow, I’ll be an Inner Disciple!”

An Inner Disciple.

Those from the Xiao Sect were respected all over Eastern Port City. On had heard that even in other cities, the name of the Xiao Sect was known. However, to be an Inner Disciple meant being respected in the Xiao Sect. It was a sign that one’s efforts were being noticed.

Often times, while doing chores, On and Su An had talked about the things they’d do once they became Inner Disciples. Back then, it had been a far off goal.

Now, it was becoming true.

For one of them.

“I am sorry,” Su An said as if coming to a realization. “I know we said we’d become Inner Disciples together…”

But reality didn’t work like that. Su An’s cultivation had surpassed his for a while now. This was just the natural result of that.

“It’s fine.”

What was he expecting? For her to turn down this chance? Foolishness.

“Really?”

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“You’re just going first,” On said, bumping his fist against his chest. “I’ll catch up right away!”

Su An smiled. Like always, he felt a little jolt inside when he saw that smile. He wanted to tell her.

It wasn’t the time, though.

“I’ll be waiting for Brother On then.”

Once he became an Inner Disciple, he’d tell her.

~~~

Unfortunately, he never did.

On trained and trained, but no matter how much he improved, it wasn’t enough. He was good for an Outer Disciple, but no more than that. As time passed, On became one of the strongest Outer Disciples within the Xiao Sect. Yet, he was passed over for promotion to Inner Disciple.

On was “someone who is only strong due to his age.” That was what people said about him, and year after year, he had to watch younger, more talented disciples be promoted instead of him. He who had been considered talented in the outer districts was nothing but mundane within the halls of the Xiao Sect.

At the very least, there was no one among the Outer Disciples who could bully him anymore. If anything, it was usually the other way around.

~~~

“But my pile is bigger!” cried out a small Outer Disciple with a big nose. He was one of the newest members of the Xiao Sect and needed to learn the way of things.

It was On’s duty to show him.

“Of course, it’s bigger,” On said, crossing his arms. “Us, Senior Brothers, are doing you a favor. How will you possibly catch up to us if you don’t put in a bigger effort? You should bow your head and be thankful.”

“Brother On, do you think that was wise?” One of his friends asked him later that day after they made the young disciple do the extra work.

“Why would it not be? He’s just another new disciple.”

On nodded in perfect agreement with himself. He was merely showing the new disciple how things worked. It was the way of things.

His friend did not look convinced.

“I’ve heard that kid’s older brother has been part of the Xiao Sect for a while. His brother could be an Inner Disciple.”

On scoffed. “Who cares? If it comes to that, I have friends among the Inner Disciples as well.”

Certainly, he hadn’t spoken to Su An in a while. In the beginning, she had visited often, but the duties of an Inner Disciple soon made that hard. They had slowly drifted apart.

Still, surely she’d help if he asked?

~~~

On never got the chance to find out. The big-nosed kid’s older brother hadn’t been an Inner Disciple.

He’d been a Core Disciple.