Arrival at the Blackfeather Sect

The towering gates of the Blackfeather Sect loomed before Hei An and Wei Ren as their carriage finally rolled to a stop. Great stone walls stretched as far as the eye could see, with carvings of fierce beasts locked in battle. Disciples in black and gold robes moved purposefully across the sprawling grounds, some accompanied by tamed creatures of various shapes and sizes. The air was heavy, full of the hum of spiritual power, testifying to the might of those who dwelled within.

Hei An stepped out of the carriage and, scanning the surroundings, "So, this is the Blackfeather Sect," he thought, taking in the grand architecture and the bustling activity.. The sect itself had a feeling of power and order to it. It was not intimidating but very apparent that only the strong thrived here.

Wei Ren smirked as he caught Hei An's gaze. "Pretty cool, isn't it? Welcome to the Blackfeather Sect. This will be your home now-if you survive."

"This way," Wei Ren said, pointing ahead, and Hei An trailed after him. He led him through a series of courtyards, each larger and more elaborate than the last.

Hei An watched everything with a calm face, though his mind was running wild. "With this many people, there will also be competition.....and danger."

Wei Ren finally stopped in front of a large, stately building. Its polished wooden doors were engraved with images of powerful beasts, their eyes inlaid with shimmering gemstones. Wei Ren knocked respectfully before pushing the doors open.

Inside, a middle-aged man sat behind a large desk piled high with scrolls and ledgers. He was tall with sharp features, streaks of grey in his neatly combed black hair. His amber eyes sparkled with intelligence and authority, and the front of his robe featured a coiled serpent: he was an elder.

"Elder Huang," Wei Ren said, bowing deeply. "I have brought someone for recommendation."

The elder looked up, his piercing gaze settling on Hei An. His eyes flicked to the raven perched silently on Hei An's shoulder, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, though it was gone in an instant.

Hei An studied the elder in return, his instincts sharpening. 'I can't sense his cultivation at all,' he realized, a faint chill running down his spine. 'This person is dangerous.'

Elder Huang leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "And this young man?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.

"Hei An," Wei Ren said. "I want to spend my recommendation quota on him." He handed over a token that had the insignia of the sect on it. Elder Huang took it, glancing at it briefly before nodding.

"Okay," the elder said, putting the letter aside. "Show me your bond with your beast," he told Hei An, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Hei An nodded slightly, looking towards Xue Ying. Unspoken, the raven spread its wings and soared into the darkness of the chamber. A second later, he stood behind Wei Ren, her claws clicking delicately on the floor. Wei Ren leapt with a start, turning round.

Elder Huang's eyes widened a little, his voice barely above a whisper. "Wordless command. impressive." He folded his hands together, his expression contemplative. "Rare to see such understanding between a tamer and beast so early."

"Show me more," the elder said, nodding toward a table against the far wall. On it sat several objects: a lit candle, a delicate glass vial, and a small orb perched on a pedestal surrounded by faintly glowing runes.

Hei An nodded again silently, instructing Xue Ying. He blew the candle out with a flap of his wings and reached out to snatch up the vial precisely, placing it back in the hand of Hei An without even a single shudder. The final task would be the orb. He hesitated for a fleeting moment, feeling the trap, but he weaved deftly through the runes and emerged on the other side, the orb still intact in her talons.

Elder Huang smiled faintly and stood. "Enough. You've passed the test."

Turning to Wei Ren, he added, "Good job, kid. You've brought us a great talent this time."

Wei Ren grinned, clearly pleased with the praise. "Thank you, Elder."

The elder nodded. "Take him to complete the registration process. I'll return to my work."

As they walked out of the building, Hei An thought about how smoothly everything had gone. "That was... surprisingly easy," he muttered.

Wei Ren chuckled. "It's not usually this simple. There are more steps, but Elder Huang must have seen something in you. You're lucky."

Hei An remained silent, his thoughts swirling. "Lucky? Or just more trouble waiting for me?"

Wei Ren took Hei An to another building, this one less imposing but no less busy. Inside, disciples rushed back and forth, managing piles of scrolls and stacks of robes. Behind a wooden desk sat a young woman, her black and gold robe marking her as an outer disciple. She had a delicate, above-average appearance with bright eyes and dark hair neatly tied back. She looked up as they approached and immediately stood, bowing slightly.

"Senior Brother Wei," she greeted, her voice polite but surprised.

Wei Ren flashed a confident smile. "Hello, Junior Sister. I'm here to get this brother of mine registered as an outer disciple. Here is the letter from Elder Huang." He handed over the document.

The girl took it, turning her eyes to Hei An. She looked at him with a curious expression for a moment before saying nothing and hastening to work. She pulled out a fresh robe, a badge, and a small key.

"These are yours," she said, handing over the items to Hei An. "The badge indicates you as an outer disciple, and the key unlocks your assigned living quarters.

"Thank you," Hei An said quietly, taking the items.

The girl hesitated, then added, "Would you like me to show you to your quarters?"

Before Hei An could respond, Wei Ren shook his head, still smiling. "No need, Junior Sister. I'll handle it myself."

The girl blinked, surprised by the refusal, but nodded. "Of course, Senior Brother."

Wei Ren turned to leave, gesturing for Hei An to follow. When they emerged from the building, the girl looked after them, her mind no doubt racing. After a few moments, she whispered, "I have to tell the others about this," and scurried off in the direction of the living quarters.

Wei Ren took Hei An to a quiet corner of the sect grounds, lined with rows of simple yet neat buildings. "This is where outer disciples live," he explained. "Your quarters are small but comfortable. Here's your room."

He pushed open a door and withdrew to allow Hei An to come through. There was one small bed, a desk, and a storage chest. It wasn't opulent, but it could be used.

As Hei An set his things down, Wei Ren added, "The formal registration process for new disciples will happen in three months. Until then, keep your head down. Disciples who enter through recommendations tend to attract attention. You're already on the radar."

Hei An sighed. "More troubles."

Wei Ren chuckled. "You'll manage. Welcome to the Blackfeather Sect, Hei An."

As Wei Ren left, Hei An sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the badge in his hand. "A new chapter," he thought, his resolve hardening. "I'll use this place to grow stronger. No matter what it takes."