Chapter 4: The First Test
Dawn crept over the mountains, painting the Iron Banner Sect in a fleeting wash of gold. The air was crisp, edged with the bite of passing storms. Jiang Wei stood outside his dormitory, watching the mist recede from the training fields as the sect came to life. The stone at his wrist pulsed against his skin—a steady reminder that while he was one of many outer disciples, his path was his alone.
Bells pealed from the direction of the main hall. Doors slammed open up and down the dormitory row as disciples scrambled awake, half-dressed and groggy. Ming Xue was already lacing her boots; Yao Ping tripped over his own bedding, while Han Zhi muttered a prayer for luck. A senior outer disciple stomped down the hallway calling, "All new recruits to the south courtyard! Move if you value your place!"
The four hurried across slick flagstones, falling in with the tide of gray-robed newcomers flooding onto the courtyard. There, rows upon rows of nervous faces stared up at a raised platform where an elder in sky-blue robes surveyed them, arms folded behind his back, gaze hawklike.
"I am Elder Hui," he announced. "In the Iron Banner Sect, strength is not measured by birth or boasting, but by perseverance and result. Today you will face an initial test—nothing insurmountable, but enough to separate wheat from chaff. Fail, and you will pack your belongings by sundown."
Murmurs rippled through the ranks. Jiang Wei felt tension coil in his stomach, but forced himself to breathe slowly. The first test—what would it be? Combat? Endurance? Worse?
Elder Hui gestured, and older disciples began distributing rough-hewn wooden swords and a small stone tablet to each recruit. "This trial is twofold," he said. "First, you must demonstrate basic swordsmanship—movement, balance, discipline. Second, you will pour your will into the spirit tablet. Even a flicker suffices to stay; blankness is failure."
All around, hopeful disciples tightened their grips on the wooden blades. When the signal sounded, the field became a blur of swinging arms and stamping feet. Some performed intricate forms, clearly prepared. Jiang Wei mimicked what little he remembered from watching the older disciples train. He focused on balance: one foot forward, weight centered, shoulders square. The pebble at his wrist tingled with unfamiliar warmth as if lending guidance.
A senior disciple paused beside him, sharp black eyes studying Jiang Wei's uneven footwork. She said nothing but moved on, lips pressed thin. *Still not enough.* Gritting his teeth, Jiang Wei tried again. This time, he felt a curious alignment—body and mind joined, each movement more fluid than the last.
When it came to the spirit tablet, doubt gnawed at him. He pressed his hand to the cool stone surface, recalling Elder Hui's words: will and spirit. *What is my resolve?* Images rushed up: his late mother's smile, village sneers, the endless mountain path. Most vivid of all, the throne in his dreams and the ancient voice that haunted him.
He exhaled. A faint glimmer lit the tablet—weak, but a ripple shimmered across Elder Hui's expression. Around him, others fared worse. Some tablets flashed briefly then faded, others remained stubbornly dark. Han Zhi's tablet gave only a dull pulse, while Ming Xue's lit with a determined, unwavering glow that drew approving nods.
Elder Hui's examination was swift. Some recruits wept or begged, but the results were final: more than a dozen gathered their things, eyes hollow with defeat. Jiang Wei's group was spared, though Yao Ping's face was ashen with relief.
After the crowd dispersed, the chosen few remained to hear their assignments. "Tomorrow," said Elder Hui, "your true training begins. For now, rest, reflect, and remember: those who wish to rise must first survive."
Jiang Wei walked back to the dormitory, sweat cold on his brow, heart light with quiet triumph. He had passed—a small victory, but in this place, even small victories served as stepping stones for legend. That night, the pebble at his wrist pulsed not just with warmth, but with subtle, ancient approval.