A month had passed since I'd started working in the herb gardens.

  The evaluations that Senior Sister Liu had mentioned had began two weeks ago.

  I still didn’t know exactly what they entailed, but from what I could gather, they were usually short one-to-one meetings with her.

  Most of the disciples would come out with relieved smiles, clearly, they had met her standard.

  But a few village recruits weren’t so lucky.

  Some were reassigned to the servant quarters to work as manual laborers.

  Others that were deemed completely useless were sent back to their villages,

  As for my meeting, I didn’t know when it would be scheduled, but I hoped it would go well when it finally came.

  The good news was I was getting used to sect life.

  I'd fallen into a comfortable rhythm.

  After mandatory classes, I spent a lot of my time gathering herbs with Lin Mei.

  Not only because it was safe, predictable work which actually paid decently, but I found that I enjoyed it more than I expected.

  It quickly became my favourite part of the day.

  And it didn’t hurt that I’d managed to accumulate around a few hundred contribution points over the month, which I'd immediately converted into spirit stones. Some of which that I used for my cultivation, and others that I kept hidden under the floorboard since I didn’t have a fancy storage ring to hide things in.

  I had roughly made 40% progress toward Qi Condensation Stage 2, which seemed painfully slow but was apparently "above average" for someone at my level so I was pretty happy with it.

  So yeah, things had been going well. A little too well.

  And unfortunately, it couldn’t continue like that because today was the day I'd been dreading since Senior Sister Liu announced it three days ago.

  Sparring day.

  It was the worst part of MMA classes back on Earth.

  Since I wasn’t particularly talented and didn’t have as much time to practice as some of the other students, it mainly consisted of me getting my butt kicked.

  That probably explains why I only lasted six weeks before returning back to a safe, painless hobby like reading.

  I waited in the training courtyard for Senior Sister Liu to arrive and start the class.

  Right beside me were Lin Mei and Wei Lin.

  Yeah, over the past month, the merchant’s son still hadn't let me go.

  The guy would appear randomly at meals, during breaks, even when I was just taking a simple stroll in the gardens.

  "He's like a very persistent spirit," Azure told me one evening. "Maybe you're being haunted."

  That was actually a pretty good way of describing it.

  Since none of my attempts to escape him worked, eventually I just decided to give the guy a chance.

  At first, if I was being honest, I didn't like his merchant attitude.

  Everything felt transactional, calculated.

  But then I realized something: it was actually easier to be friends with someone when you knew exactly what they wanted.

  Wei Lin wanted connections, wanted allies, wanted to build a network.

  He was upfront about it.

  He wasn’t two-faced.

  I didn’t have to worry about some secret agenda or backstabbing.

  At worst, he would end up selling me some technique or resource that I didn’t actually need.

  Whenever I asked him why he hung around with us, he’d say something like “I see potential in you two.”

  There was a brief moment where I considered the possibility that he might have discovered my true identity. Maybe he had noticed some discrepancies in my actions, gaps in my knowledge that Ke Yin should have known, or something else that indicated that I wasn’t originally from this world.

  It didn’t take long to discard that line of thinking.

  If another Qi Condensation cultivator figured out that I was a transmigrator, the Sect Elders would have undoubtedly found out too. They were at levels of the cultivation world that were far beyond mine, with senses and abilities that I couldn't possibly fathom. If there was something wrong with my soul, the Sect Elders would have already sensed it. And I probably would be getting soul-searched right now rather than standing here waiting for sparring class to begin.

  So yeah, Wei Lin ended up joining me and Lin Mei, forming our own little group.

  The village girl with a talent for herbs, the transmigrator trying not to die, and the merchant who was always trying to sell people stuff.

  Seriously, the guy had somehow acquired a stash of spirit stones and low-grade cultivation pills that he'd offer to other disciples "at a discounted rate, since we're friends."

  Lin Mei found it amusing.

  I found it exhausting.

  But having allies (or maybe even friends) was better than being alone.

  "I hope we get good sparring partners," Lin Mei said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "I’m a little nervous about this.”

  "Don't worry," I replied. "You are better at the sword forms than half of the other recruits."

  "Ke Yin is right," Wei Lin joined in. "You have natural talent. All you need is more confidence. Which you can get if you buy some combat techniques...”

  Lin Mei rolled her eyes at me as Wei Lin continued taking about the different discounts he had going on; however, I could tell that the tension in her shoulders had gone a little.

  Before we could tell Wei Lin that we were poor and not interested, Senior Sister Liu appeared.

  She arrived the same way she had on the first day, standing on a sword that flew through the air and disappeared into particles of light the moment her feet touched the ground. Each time I witnessed her perform that feat, my brain strained to comprehend that it was actually occurring.

  People don't fly on swords. Physics didn’t allow for that.

  But this was not the Earth, and clearly, physics operates differently here.

  "Outer disciples," Senior Sister Liu's voice rang throughout the entire courtyard without her shouting. "Today you will participate in your first sparring session. Today is not about winning or losing. Today is about assessing what you have learned and identifying your weaknesses."

  She motioned behind her and three figures emerged.

  These were Inner Disciples, I realized. They would be our sparring partners.

  The first was a young woman named Xu Ling.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  She had the kind of smile that instantly made you feel less anxious.

  The second was a young man named Tan Wei. He maintained himself with perfect posture, his expression was stern but not unkind. He seemed to be the type who took everything seriously, but would not go out of his way to make things more complicated than they needed to be.

  Serious but fair.

  The third was Zhou Ming.

  He was a large and muscular man, and his face resembled that of a statue. But, it was not his physical appearance that concerned me. It was the way he looked at us. There was contempt in his eyes, as if we were merely insects that had wandered into his path and he couldn’t wait to crush us.

  Great. The guy's a typical bully.

  "Every sect needs one, apparently," Azure observed. "It's practically a requirement."

  "You will each spar with one of the three," Senior Sister Liu explained. "Keep in mind that they are at least a few stages ahead of you. Don’t try to defeat them. Just try to stay in the battle for as long as possible and show the inner disciples and everyone else what you have learned."

  She began calling names and pairing us into sets of three.

  I watched as the first trio stepped forward. One battled Xu Ling, one battled Tan Wei, and one battled Zhou Ming. Poor guy who was paired with Zhou Ming looked scared to death, and he had a legitimate reason to be.

  Zhou Ming did not simply defeat his opponent. He toyed with him, allowing the outer disciple to believe he had an opportunity to counterattack before effortlessly swatting away his attacks and countering with blows that were clearly stronger than necessary.

  The outer disciple stumbled off afterwards, and Zhou Ming looked somewhat disappointed that the battle had ended so quickly.

  "What a pleasant individual," Azure said flatly. "I'm sure he has many friends."

  I almost snorted out loud at that.

  The next three stepped up.

  I studied each of them, attempting to learn what I could from observing their battles.

  Xu Ling was as gentle as she appeared to be. She allowed her opponents to attack, then redirected their energy and placed them in positions where they had little alternative but to surrender. She didn’t harm or humiliate any of them. She simply illustrated the superiority of her technique and control in a way that everyone could learn something.

  Tan Wei was systematic. He would test his opponents using basic attacks, determine their weaknesses, and then systematically exploit those weaknesses until they were defeated. He was clinical. He was efficient. He was not cruel. He was effective.

  Zhou Ming continued to be a jerk. He attacked every opponent with excessive ferocity, leaving them battered and bruised. He seemed to take particular pleasure in defeating opponents who attempted to be clever or displayed any hint of confidence. Those were the individuals that he made certain to demoralize as severely as possible.

  I really hoped I would not be paired up with him.

  “Lin Mei, Zhao Kun, and Bai Chen,” Senior Sister Liu called out.

  Lin Mei took a deep breath and walked forward.

  Zhao Kun and Bai Chen, two clan disciples, joined her.

  Lin Mei got paired with Xu Ling.

  That was a relief.

  Xu Ling was perfect for a first sparring session.

  The spar began, and I had to admit, Lin Mei performed far better than I had anticipated.

  She used the defensive forms we had practiced previously, moving lightly on her feet and avoiding over-extending any of her attacks. Between exchanges, Xu Ling complimented Lin Mei's footwork and provided her with guidance.

  When the spar concluded, Lin Mei was smiling, although she had lost, she had gained something from the experience, and that was what really mattered.

  “Wei Lin, Huang Jing, and Feng Yu,” Senior Sister Liu called out next.

  Wei Lin nodded slightly at me before heading towards the front of the courtyard.

  He was paired with Tan Wei.

  From the moment the spar began, it became apparent that Wei Lin had received training from his family. His movement patterns were polished and refined in ways that most of the village recruits couldn’t replicate.

  Tan Wei pressed forward with a series of quick jabs, testing Wei Lin's defense.

  Wei Lin blocked the first two, then suddenly his footwork shifted into something different. He pivoted on his back foot, rotating his body at an angle that made Tan Wei's next punch sail past his shoulder by inches.

  In the same fluid motion, Wei Lin's hand shot out in a strike that looked like it was aimed at Tan Wei's throat but stopped just short, his palm open.

  Tan Wei had to take a half-step back to reset his stance.

  The inner disciple's eyes showed a flicker of respect.

  The spar continued for another minute, with Wei Lin demonstrating several more variations of that same flowing, redirecting movement. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective. When the match ended, Tan Wei actually had to expend some effort to defeat Wei Lin.

  “You have a solid foundation,” Tan Wei told Wei Lin. “Continue to cultivate and you will go far.”

  Wei Lin bowed and rejoined Lin Mei and me with a smirk.

  But instead of just standing there quietly like a normal person, he did what he loved most.

  "Did you see that?" Wei Lin said, a little too eagerly. "The Flowing Water Form. Very effective for redirecting an opponent's momentum."

  "It was impressive," Lin Mei said politely.

  "Very useful for disciples at the Qi Condensation Realm," Wei Lin continued, and I could already see where this was going. "Doesn't even need spiritual energy, just proper body mechanics and timing."

  I kept my eyes on Senior Sister Liu, wondering and worrying when I would be called on to fight.

  "I happen to have a manual," Wei Lin said. "I could sell it to you both for, say, fifteen spirit stones each?"

  "We only get ten spirit stones a month," Lin Mei pointed out.

  "Right, right," Wei Lin nodded quickly. "How about eight spirit stones then? That's a very generous discount."

  "We're not interested," I said flatly, still watching the courtyard.

  "Four spirit stones," Wei Lin said, his voice dropping to a more urgent whisper. "Come on, Ke Yin, you saw how effective it was. Imagine if you could use that against—"

  I tuned him out completely, focusing on the three disciples that had gone forward for their turn.

  Song Xiang was a bit of a typical cultivation prodigy. Tall, elegant, beautiful in a classical sense; the kind of man that made female disciples sigh dreamily. His presence was what really drew my eye though - there was something about him that felt important. As if the universe itself has decided that he was important.

  "Master, you're staring," Azure commented.

  "I'm observing," I corrected.

  "You're staring."

  “Song Xiang, you will spar with Zhou Ming,” Senior Sister Liu announced.

  Zhou Ming was smirking.

  He was probably thinking this was going to be an easy win - another recruit to crush.

  Song Xiang and Zhou Ming both bowed before the match began.

  As soon as Senior Sister Liu said “begin”, Zhou Ming threw a straight punch.

  Song Xiang slipped the punch, his foot work was flawless, and he shifted his weight perfectly as he turned away.

  Zhou Ming followed with a low kick.

  Song Xiang checked the kick with his shin.

  The impact was loud enough that it echoed through the courtyard.

  "Did you hear that?" someone mumbled behind me. "He actually defended himself properly."

  Zhou Ming's expression changed a little, and he charged forward with a combination.

  Jab, cross, body hook.

  Song Xiang's defense was strong. His elbows were tucked in, and he parried the cross while absorbing the hook on his arm. He immediately counterattacked with a straight punch of his own that hit Zhou Ming on the shoulder, causing the Inner Disciple to take a half-step back.

  The courtyard fell silent.

  Zhou Ming had actually taken a step back.

  Zhou Ming's face was red with rage. He lunged forward, throwing a hard overhand right.

  Song Xiang pulled back, the punch missed by mere inches, and quickly threw a stiff jab that caused Zhou Ming's head to snap to the side.

  "No way," Lin Mei breathed beside me.

  Zhou Ming was moving much faster now. He increased his speed with his higher cultivation level.

  He faked a high punch and kicked low.

  Song Xiang lifted his leg to defend against the kick, but this time Zhou Ming used the contact to get closer and throw an elbow.

  Song Xiang raised his forearm to block the elbow and then created distance with a teep kick to Zhou Ming's midsection.

  The Inner Disciple took another step back.

  "That is actual technique," Wei Lin said, sounding surprised. "Not just cultivator strength."

  Zhou Ming's look of disdain was gone, and he was now barely containing his anger.

  He threw harder and more aggressive strikes with more killing intent behind them.

  A spinning back fist that could seriously injure most Outer Disciples.

  Song Xiang ducked under the back fist with ease and countered with a leg kick that made Zhou Ming wince.

  Zhou Ming’s eyes narrowed and he charged forward.

  "He's going to hurt him," someone whispered nervously.

  But Song Xiang didn’t seem worried.

  Zhou Ming jumped into the air and threw a superman punch, putting all of his energy into it.

  Song Xiang deflected the punch with his forearm and immediately struck Zhou Ming's chest with a palm strike.

  Zhou Ming was knocked back multiple steps, clutching his chest.

  "Enough!" Senior Sister Liu called out.

  That was the end of the spar.

  Zhou Ming was standing there, breathing harder than he should have been, his face red with anger and humiliation.

  As for Song Xiang, he seemed normal, he just gave a simple bow and walked off.

  The courtyard erupted in soft murmurs.

  "Wow!"

  "He actually beat an Inner Disciple..."

  "Who is that guy?"

  "That was incredible," Lin Mei said quietly. "How can an Outer Disciple fight like that?"

  "I've heard rumors about him," Wei Lin leaned in closer to us, speaking softly. "Apparently he isn't even from the Eastern Continent. He came from far, far away, running from something."

  "Running from what?" I asked.

  “Nobody knows for sure,” Wei Lin shrugged. "But people talk. Some say his Clan was destroyed by rivals. Other say he was betrayed by someone close to him, maybe a brother or sworn sibling.”

  "Maybe he saw something he shouldn't have," Lin Mei suggested. "Now powerful enemies are after him."

  "Or he might be the last survivor of an ancient bloodline," Wei Lin added. "Possessing a technique or treasure that others want. I wonder if he would be willing to sell it. For the right price, of course."

  I nodded slowly, ignoring the last part.

  They were probably right.

  Everything about him screamed protagonist. The mysterious backstory, the incredible talent, the calm confidence despite his circumstances. If this were a cultivation novel, he'd absolutely be the main character.

  Which made me... what? A side character? Background NPC?

  That wasn’t reassuring.

  “Ke Yin, Liu Han, and Chen Shu,” Senior Sister Liu announced, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  This was it.

  It was finally my turn.

  I walked forward, my heart racing.

  The other two joined me, they were both clan disciples that I had seen around, but I had never really spoken with them.

  Senior Sister Liu looked at the three of us, then at the three inner disciples.

  “Ke Yin,” she said, and my stomach dropped because I could tell what was coming. “You will spar with Zhou Ming.”

  Of course I would be the one picked to face the bully.

  And not just any version of Zhou Ming, but the angry humiliated version.

  The version who would absolutely be looking to take out his frustration on someone, and that someone was unfortunately me.

  Zhou Ming's eyes locked onto mine, and his smirk was back.

  But this time there was something darker behind it.

  Yeah, this just reminds me why I hate sparring.