Chapter 11:

Chapter 11.

Sects.

Sects represent martial might in its purest form in this world, fighting men and women that dedicate their lives to Advancing through the Realms of Cultivation and Achieving Immortality. It is there where I wish to go and gain power for a very simple reason.

There your birth means less than everywhere else, as while there are still those born in nobility or power, the tyranny of tiers is absolute and no matter how powerful one’s family is those of a lower tier of cultivation need to pay respect to those of a higher one.

“Are your preparations done Tai?” Mother asked.

I turned to her, from my bed as I looked over the wicker backpack and leather pouch I’ve prepared with all of the things I might need for the Trials.

“I think so mother, could you help me check to make sure? I was just doing my final checks.” I answered.

Shu Su, my mother, proceeded to do just that and listed the items she and I talked I would need.

“Change of clothes and sleeping bags.” She listed off.

I looked over it and put them in their appropriate spots. The clothes were two brown pairs of pants and three white shirts. The ‘sleeping bag’ as a bag with two sheets in it, one thin to rest on and another one thicker to sleep under Both of them were a deep brown to not need much washing.

Everything was chosen to require as little maintenance as possible to last me as long as possible.

“I have them.” I answered.

We’ve talked of the exact list I need for a long time and she like me memorized it as I prepared to go and take the Sect Trials.

I didn’t know what they consisted off, except a written test that few could tell me of, as those that passed it weren’t around to tell me what it was about, and those that once tried it could note read, but there has to be more to it and so I prepare.

“Knife, sharpening stone, hatchet.” She continued.

They were there.

“One Knife, one sharpening stone, one hatchet.” I answered.

These were expensive as they are made out of steel and it took my family and I some time to gather the taels for it. The knife was the most expensive as it was a good quality one meant for cooking. The hatchet too, was meant for cutting wood and the sharpening stone was a necessity.

They weren’t anything special but they were useful

“Water flasks.” She continued.

Those would have to be tied to my belt rope. I’ll put them on last.

“I have two, Bao should have two.” I replied and showed them to her.

We’ll drink some of the water in them on the way and refill them where we can.

“Fire starters, cooking pot, bowl.” She continued.

I showed them to her before putting them into the bag. All of them except the bowls, Bao is to take those with her. She noticed the lack of bowls and frowned.

“Bao is to take the bowls, I don’t have that much room.” I explained.

She nodded, both of us had to carry different things. Bao would have to carry a lot more food, the fishing rod as well as extra clothes for both of us.

The pot was the most important of it all and the largest, in fact it was so large it had to stay outside the backpack. It could be used to cook food, and to cleanse water and as an improvised weapon if needed be despite it being only large enough for three portions.

“Brush and ink and paper.”

A trap question, I can only take two of those with me.

“Brush and paper, but I do not have ink, it does not travel well as the container spills easily, I have some charcoal I could use to write if they don’t offer me any ink and some taels to buy any if I do find some.” I replied.

It would not surprise me if some would try to prevent country bumpkins from becoming cultivators by not giving us paper or a brush, it happened once during my great grandfather’s time for some official exams and now everyone knows to bring something they can write with.

“A second pair of shoes, rope.”

“Have them both.”

Rope is never not useful and having spare shoes just makes sense. The shoes in the backpack were the same as those I was wearing, black leather boots of a warrior in service of the Empress. On each of them was emblazoned a single lemon tree, the emblem of the town guards.

Each were a gift from them as they paid for it as an investment and a sign of loyalty to the Empire.

If I succeed then I will bring honor the guards of the Seventh Yellow Hill Town, if I fail and survive then I will be joining them. Either way, wearing them was allowed and something all of my father’s friends, and I suppose my own now as well, demanded that I do.

The backpack was getting heavy now.

“Food.” She observed with a raised eyebrow.

Was she expecting me to have that prepared too? We need to keep it in storage to prevent mold and rats and insects from getting to them. I can’t just walk with it wherever.

“That’s what I still need to get.” I admitted.

“We’ll go do that once we’re done with this.” She continued with an impish smile.

Wait do I need more?

I have food, change of clothes, sleeping bags, weapons, utility tools, rope.

“A kiss and hug from your mother my little great mountain.” Mother declared and proceeded to give me just that.

She kissed my forehead and caught me in a hug which I reciprocated.

“I’ll miss you, You, Xia and Father.” I declared as I held back tears.

“No matter what happens return alive, you and Bao both. I don’t want anything more from both of you.” My mother demanded with steel in her life.

The hug ended and she looked deeply into my eyes and I found myself that I couldn’t speak.

“Promise me.” She demanded again.

I couldn’t look away from those eyes. They demanded something from me that I wished to give, but it was difficult to put into words.

“I promise, I promise that both of us will return alive and well and together.” I swore.

Her eyes didn’t waver as she too made a promise to me.

“And I promise that you will find a home here, no matter what happens. Now go, continue making your father and I proud.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Your parents finished grilling you as well Bao?” Tai asked.

I nodded sheepishly at that.

“Bai too.” I admitted.

It was embarrassing, even if it made me feel all warm inside. I am almost eighteen, I’ve been a woman for more than two years, I should not be treated as I can’t pack my own things!

“That’s how they show they care. Mother did so for me as well and father would have joined in too but he was too tired from night shift to wake up.” Tai said with a shrug.

“It’s embarrassing still, treating me like I can’t pack a backpack.” I whined.

Tai chuckled at that and patted his own.

“Yes, but these backpacks can mean the difference between life and death if I am right and the test nobody returns from is some sort of survival test.” He said simply.

His was larger than mine and more filled in too. Mine was filled primarily with food and food related things such as bowls ,rice sticks, spoons and the like while his was filled with the heavy things.

He looked like one of the Warriors of the Banner with his backpack and guard boots and spear. All he lacked was the armor, which according to the books I read was the most expensive of it all.

“I’ll miss them and miss this embarrassment.” Tai declared.

I nodded at that and by unspoken agreement we headed towards the edge of the village.

“It would be funny if we pass the written test and find out we don’t need all this.” I said to break the silence.

It was a comfortable silence, but I didn’t like silence, not when it was only my own thoughts that are filling it. They don’t tend to be the most encouraging or kind, but speaking, reading, writing or drawing tends to chase them away.

We reached the barrier from them outside world. No, it wasn’t a barrier, not a physical one at the very least.

It was an empty house, a house that was empty before I was born that delineated where the village begun and ended. I’ve passed it many times before without thinking, but this time?

This time it felt different, as if these were my final steps and anything that comes after will be the beginning of something new.

Tai as always walked past it one calm step at the time as if he didn’t care for any boundaries or limits, just the slow inexorable advance of time mattered to him and due to this he walked, lest time advance faster than him, but to me? Boundaries defined my life.

I was born between generations, the youngest child, one whose parents didn’t know how to read and each time I wished to know and be more I found limits and boundaries I couldn’t pass alone.

“Getting cold feet Bao?” Tai shouted as he turned back towards me.

“Never!” I shouted and raced towards him.

Tai always helped me push past these boundaries by encouraging me, encouraging me to learn how to draw, finding teacher and convincing her to teach me and more. What’s one more boundary?

“I was just taking in the view, as I won’t be seeing it for a long time.” I shamelessly lied as I once again walked in lockstep with him and off we went.

The big and tanned barbarian of a man I call husband laughed at that.

My footsteps were heavier than even before and yet my heart felt as light as a feather, for I knew that no matter what comes I’ll have my mountain there with me.