Chapter 4 - Sect Token
.
.
.
Gu Xuan couldn’t help but be surprised at the receptionist’s attitude but then realized that the receptionist probably already knows that he will be applying for Central District disciple position as those who probably come to the Mission Hall without uniforms are those who climb the mountain for the first time.
Gu Xuan cupped his fist and introduced himself, “My name is Gu Xuan and it’s my first time in the Central District. Senior Brother Ling… Senior Brother Zhong Wenling, the disciple in guard duty today told me to go to the Mission Hall to get my identity registered?”
Although there were only less than 100 disciples due to the number of wooden houses in the Central District, Gu Xuan still thought that the young woman might not know Zhong Wenling so he mentioned his full name.
The young woman replied, “I see, Senior Brother Zhong did? Then let me get your details first before I give you your sect uniform.”
Judging by the young woman’s tone, it seems like she knew Zhong Wenling after all, Gu Xuan simply had unfounded worries.
Gu Xuan didn’t reply and simply waited as the young woman pulled a piece of blank paper underneath her desk.
She dipped her quill pen into an inkstone with grinded ink and asked whilst looking him in the eye, “Let me ask again, just to be sure. What’s your name?”
“Gu Xuan.”
“District?”
“North District.”
“Parents?”
“Orphaned.”
“Cultivation?... Ah, it’s your first day so I assume you’ve broken through today? So 1st Layer?”
“I broke through today, yes.” Gu Xuan answered.
Although he wasn’t at the 1st Layer, he had broken through the 3rd Layer, answering her question whether he had broken through and he broke through today so technically, he wasn’t lying.
“Age?”
“14 years old.” Although Gu Xuan was mentally older due to his first life, he was physically 14 years old so even in a lie detector, he wouldn’t be detected as lying.
“14 years old?” The young woman repeated Gu Xuan’s words, her face filled with astonishment.
The middle-aged man on the side who seemed to originally be sleeping, took the book on his face and turned to Gu Xuan’s direction with a bit of surprise.
Although it was rare, it was not a one out of a thousand occurrence.
It happens once every couple of years that a diligent lower district cultivator would come up to the Central District.
The number of disciples in the lower district was at least 5,000.
Most of those who climb up are at least in their early twenties so even this could be considered quite rare.
“Yes.” Gu Xuan replied, answering the young woman’s repetition of his age.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The young woman got ahold of herself and wrote down his details faster, her handwriting still neat and clean as if she was used to it.
She then stood up and said as he left Gu Xuan’s details on the table, “Junior Brother Gu, wait a moment, I’ll go get your uniform first.”
Gu Xuan just nodded in reply and waited patiently as the young woman went away.
The middle-aged man looked at him in interest and said, “Junior Brother Gu Xuan?”
Gu Xuan turned to the middle-aged man and cupped his fist, “Yes, how should I address Senior Brother?”
The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction at Gu Xuan’s attitude. Despite being talented, he was humble. “The name’s Xia Cai, just call me Senior Brother Cai.”
“Then, Senior Brother Cai, please take care of me from now on.”
“Haha, in the near future, it’ll probably be Junior Brother Gu that’ll be taking care of me. Where in the Lower District did you come from?”
“I come from the North District, Senior Brother.”
“Is that so? I also came from the North District. Do you know the fisherman Zeng Bohai, that’s a friend of mine…”
“Yes…”
Gu Xuan occasionally laughed at the middle-aged man’s chitchat until the young woman came back so the middle-aged man stopped and said, “Then, when we meet again, don’t forget about me.”
“Of course, the Senior Brother still owes me help as his Junior Brother.”
The middle-aged man just chuckled at Gu Xuan’s sociable attitude and walked towards his desk as he said, “Then, Junior Sister Guo will help you fit your uniform and get your sect token in the Forging House.”
Gu Xuan just nodded to him and turned towards the young woman.
The young woman then introduced herself as she placed her bangs onto her right ear, “Ah, I haven’t introduced myself, haven’t I? I’m Guo Meifeng, just call me Senior Sister Guo.”
“Then, Senior Sister Guo, I’ll be in your care.”
Gu Xuan then walked towards the desk of Guo Meifeng as she replied, “Come and try these uniforms, I don’t know which will fit you better so I got two sizes that seem to fit you.”
Gu Xuan turned his attention to the Central District Uniforms on the desk. After looking through them, he chose the smaller one.
As he touched it, he couldn’t help but think, ‘As expected, the linen used in the robes in the Central District is of higher quality when compared to the robes in the lower district. The elitism is so obvious but it’s not totally a bad thing.’
Gu Xuan then tried the smaller sized uniform and after wearing it, he said towards Guo Meifeng, “This fits nicely, Senior Sister.”
“I thought it fit you too, I just wasn’t sure. If your uniform is damaged or you need a larger sized one, just come to the Mission Hall to get another one, we have a lot of standard sizes in stock.”
“Yes, Senior Sister, thank you.”
“Come and follow me. Let’s go get your sect token made in the Forging House.”
Gu Xuan simply followed behind Guo Meifeng who walked out of the Mission Hall.
The Forging House wasn’t very far from the Mission Hall so they didn’t have to walk very far before arriving.
By the entrance of the forge, a male disciple filled with sweat and his eyes closed was panting heavily as he sat on a chair.
Guo Meifeng approached him with Gu Xuan silently following from behind and asked, “Senior Brother Wei, is the Elder Chen around?”
The male disciple opened his eyes hearing Guo Meifeng’s voice and then as he recognized her, he calmly replied, “Elder Chen is inside, forging Liao Huang’s custom weapon.”
“Liao Huang?” Guo Meifeng repeated before acknowledging, “I see, Liao Huang did get back from a Sect Mission outside, receiving lots of sect points. He spent it all in a weapon huh? Thanks for your hard work, Senior Brother Wei.”
The male disciple just waved his hand in reply before turning to Gu Xuan, “He is?”
Gu Xuan was simply listening from the side but now that the spotlight was on him, he introduced himself. “My name is Gu Xuan, Senior Brother. I just climbed the mountain awhile ago, and Senior Sister Guo is taking me to get my Sect Token made.”
Guo Meifeng then introduced, “This is Senior Brother Wei Zihao, Junior Brother Gu.”
Wei Zihao nodded to Gu Xuan and he, of course, reciprocated.
Wei Zihao turned to Guo Meifeng and asked, “17?”
Guo Meifeng smiled and then replied, “14.”
“14?” Wei Zihao was slightly stunned but then nodded, “Looks like we have another promising brother who’s come up. You can just call me Senior Brother Zihao. If someone bullies you, just tell them my name, I still have some face in the Central District.”
“Then, I’ll have to thank Senior Brother Zihao for his care.”
“Um.” Wei Zihao nodded and Guo Meifeng bowed her head slightly before excusing, “Then, we’ll go first to see Elder Chen so you can have your rest, Sniper Brother Wei.”
After saying goodbye to Wei Zihao, Guo Meifeng then led Gu Xuan inside the Forging House and as soon as they went in, they heard a loud voice scolding, “Stupid! Didn’t I tell you not to touch that metal and it can only be added later?! You almost cost us all our progress! Get out!”
Hearing the scolding, Gu Xuan wasn’t surprised, it’s stereotypes that those who work in forging are like this after all, the work is very delicate and one mistake can cost more hours of work.
In his previous life, he had spent some of his free time watching this head chef who liked to yell at his chefs in anger when they didn't get something right so he understands the frustration of whomever was yelling inside.
.
.
.
