The Anticipated Awakening Ceremony

The youth was thin, shorter than Mu Di Lan. His face though was a photocopy of Di Lan's features. The only difference between them was the feminine voice and the mole on their delicate face — Di Lan's mole is on the lower corner of his left eye, while this young teenager is on the lower corner of his right eye.

One must have to really observe the difference.

As Di Lan turned his head to look at this young man, a complicated look flickered across his face.

"Di Lang, my twin little sister..." He raised his eyebrows, his expression returning to that of warm inquisitive look. Mu Di Lang lowered her head and looked at her own feet; this is her signature stance.

"I saw that big brother's window was wide open, so I thought I'd come in here and close it. Tomorrow is the Awakening Ceremony, it's so late and you haven't gone to bed yet big brother. If Uncle and Aunty knew, they would probably be worried."

Di Lang was always ashamed in front of Di Lan. Even though she had the same looks as her older brother, she felt that she was some kind of a burden.

They were born from the same mother at the same time, and yet why is there a big difference between them? Her older brother had been endowed with gleaming talent, while she herself was as ordinary as a stone.

Everyone around him would say, "This is Di Lan's little sister-" when they mentioned him. His aunt and uncle would constantly tell her to learn from his older brother. Even when she looked into the mirror sometimes, she would feel disgusted as she saw her own face!

These thoughts had been ongoing for many years, accumulating day and night deeply into her heart. Like a giant stone pressing against her heart, these few years Di Lang's head lowered more and more, and she also grew quieter. But of course, Di Lan doesn't know about this.

"Worried…" Di Lan was warmed at the thought of his aunt and uncle. He could still remember clearly how his parents of this world had both lost their lives in one of the clan missions. When he was only 5 years old, he and his little sister became orphans.

In the name of upbringing, his aunt and uncle grabbed hold of the inheritance left behind by his parents.

But, of course, the twins does not know this.

Because, despite the crookedness of their aunt and uncle, the two were given a good life.

With that he couldn't help but warmly nod at his younger sister. "Thank you, my dear little sister. Good night."

Di Lang's heart shook. She could feel the kindness and sincerity of his brother, yet she can't shake off the feeling that he was distant.

Under such a gaze, she felt like she was always being left behind in the darkness whenever she was about to catch up, unable to see his back which was being covered by his shadow that was casted by the blinding light at the distance.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, big brother." Don't know what to say anymore, Di Lang slowly closed the door and left.

+++++++

The patrolling night watchman banged his hammer against a large bronze bell in a rhythm. This means that his watch has ended and the day watchman will take over his watch. This also means that it's time for the villagers to start their day.

The sounds spread into the high pillar houses; Di Lan opened his dry eyelids while his heart silently thought, "Its already the hour before sun rise."

He had been lying in bed thinking for a long time last night. His mind was very active and kept wandering. He probably only slept for a little over two hours. His body and mind were still shrouded in exhaustion, he can't help but think how cultivators doesn't need that much sleep according to the books that he've read.

Immediately, he shoved away the thick silk blanket and got up neatly. He opened the window and found that the spring rain had stopped.

The mix of fragrance of the earth, trees and wild flowers greeted him. Di Lan felt his head clear, the sleepiness washing away cleanly. Right now, the sun was still about to rise, the sky still bluish gray, not dark and not that bright.

Looking around, the tall houses made of green bamboos and woods contrasting with the mountain, was a sea of pale green colour.

The tall houses had at least three floors; it was the mountain folk's unique structure of a house. Due to the mountain's uneven terrain, the first floor is massive wooden stakes; the second floor is where the people reside. Di Lan and his twin sister Di Lang stayed at the second floor.

"Young master Di Lan, you're awake. I will go upstairs and wait for you to wash up." At this moment, a maiden's voice floated up from downstairs.

Looking down, Di Lan saw his own personal servant – Chu Zi Mo.

Her looks were only slightly above average, but she dressed up well. Chu Zi Mo wore a green and black robe with long sleeves and trousers, had embroidered shoes on her feet and her black curly hair was tied into a bun. Her body from head to toe radiated youthful vitality.

She looked happily at Di Lan while carrying a basin of water, and walked upstairs. The water was warm enough to wash the face. After rinsing his mouth, he used a guava twig with snow salt to clean his teeth.

Chu Zi Mo waited gently, her face wearing a smile and her eyes lively as spring. After he was done, she helped Di Lan dress, her plump breasts rubbing against his elbow or his back a few times during the process.

Di Lan's exhausted mind and body was like injected with vigor; his heart was racing.

When Di Lang came over he was in time to see Chi Zi Mo smoothing the creases on the clothing of Di Lan's chest. Her eyes had a flicker of envy.

These years living together with his older brother, she also had a servant waiting on him. However, her servant was not a youthful girl like Chu Zi Mo but her mother

A fat old strict woman, Mother Chu. The caretaker of the entire household – having full trust of her aunt and uncle, her authority was not small.

His aunt and uncle's biased love to Di Lan was no secret in this household. Originally, she did not even have a servant to wait on him. It was Di Lan who decided to take the initiative and ask for one for Di Lang.

"Alright, I can take it from here." Di Lan gently brushed away Chu Zi Mo's soft small hands. His clothing had long been tidy; she was just trying to seduce him.

To Chu Zi Mo and the brightness of her future, Di Lan's possibility of having a Gold Grade talent was huge. If she could be even just his concubine she would be able to elevate from servant status into master – it was quite a big step.

"Thank you, Zi Mo." Di Lan adoringly looked at Chu Zi Mo as he tidied up his own sleeve cuffs. Chu Zi Mo pouted adorably, feeling that today Di Lan's puzzling behavior was becoming more distant. She wanted to reply in a spoiled way but she doesn't know how to, her mouth opened and closed a few times before she ended up saying 'yes' and retreating obediently.

"Are you ready?" Di Lan smiled as he asked her little sister.

"Yes." Di Lang replied in a light manner. She was standing at the doorway, her head bowed down to look at his feet.

Di Lang was actually been awake an hour or two before the alarm of the night watchman, too nervous to fall back asleep. She quietly got out of bed and got ready a long time ago, her eyes having black circles.

Di Lan chuckled as he nodded. Sometimes, he was not clear about his younger sister's thoughts. He approached her and warmly touched her chin, gently lifting it up, and he lightly said, "Chin up, my dear little sister. Today's the day that the bright pearl will shine."

Di Lang got only befuddled with the statement of his brother. With this expression, Di Lan could not help but chuckle once more. "Have faith in yourself, my dear little sister."

Thus, the twins left the house. On the way they bumped into many youths of similar age, all in groups of twos and threes, quite clearly heading to the same destination.

"Look guys, those are the Di twins." Their ears could pick up the small cautious talk. "The one walking in front is Di Lan, I love his book, Sea of Monsters," some of them emphasized.

"So that's him. You can tell that he is really nice but then you get the feeling that he is unapproachable, just like the rumors say." Someone said in a sour tone filled with jealousy and envy.

"Hmph, that is the demeanor of a genius!" Someone coldly replied against the person, hiding a sort of dissatisfaction.

Di Lang listened nonchalantly. She had long been accustomed to this kind of discussion. Her head was low once more as she followed quietly behind her older brother.

By now the sunrise had peeked over the horizon, casting Di Lan's shadow over his delicate face. The sun rose gradually, but Di Lang suddenly felt like he was sinking into darkness.

This darkness was coming from the light of his older brother. Maybe in this life, she would never be able to escape from being a shadow of her brother.

She felt a swelling pressure on her chest making his breathing difficult. This damned feeling was even making her think of the word 'suffocate'!

As the sun rises in the sky, the very thick mountain fog was slowly gtting pierced by the sun rays, revealing the whole place that they are in right now.

Over a hundred 12 to 13 year-old youths gathered in front of the clan pavilion. The clan pavilion was part of the village hall, reaching four storeys and having sharp tilted roofs; it was heavily guarded. Before the pavilion was the square, and in the pavilion was the shrine of the Mu Yue ancestor memorial tablets. Every generation of clan head had lived in the pavilion. With every major ceremony or big incident, the clan elders would gather and discuss meetings here as well. This was the entire village's authority central.

"Good, all of you are here in time. Today is the Awakening Ceremony; it is your life's greatest turning point. I won't say much, just come with me." The one responsible at the moment was an elder of the village academy. His beard and hair were white and he was in high spirits as he led the young teenagers into the pavilion. However, they did not go up, but were led down into a huge door made of stones.

As they arrived, the elder made some blurry hand signs which made the stone door rumbled and creaked open.

"Follow me, children." The elder casually entered following down a contructed stairs made of stones. As everyone finally entered the door, the Awakening exam began.