Trial and a Disaster

The next morning, the day of the recruitment trial:

"Brother hurry or we're going to be late!" Xian Fei shouted at Xian Hu who was being much calmer despite Xian Fei who was darting around the place getting ready to leave.

"Xian Hu he's right it takes an hour to get there and you only have an hour and a half left!" Xian Bai added as he gathered his sons together along with his wife.

"You too take care and remember it doesn't matter if you pass we will be waiting patiently for you here." Xian Ming said as in a motherly tone which washed their worries away as she gave them both a kiss on the forehead and handed them both a pouch of coins and some food. She then waved them goodbye and as they ran towards the carriage she put her hand on her heart and whispered "Be safe." To which her husband comforted her as they saw their children off.

On the carriage:

A few other kids besides the two Xian brothers were on the coach all around the ages of 11-14.

"Brother are you ready?" Xian Fei said as he stared at his brother intensely.

"Hn." Xian Hu merely nodded.

"Ok, now you lot be good until we arrive." The coachman said as they rode into the distance leaving the village behind.

an hour later they arrive at a bustling market place where many kids were running around along with their parents but all the attention of the market seemed to be focused on one area.

"Now we're here you all make your way to the stage and line up don't cause trouble understood! I will wait for you all here so be sure to hurry back after you receive your grade." Coachman Bing informed as the many kids then scurried along to where all the other people were.

Walking past the empty market stools they followed a path where no one dared to stand. As the kids continued to walk they noticed many staring intensely at them and at the end of the path was a line of many other kids leading to a large marble stage. On this stage were three tall people, one a young man around 20 years old wearing a white and blue robe with a sword in a scabbard to on his waist. The next disciple wore the exact same robe but this disciple was a woman with beautiful silver hair and bright purple eyes but those eyes seemed to be indifferent to the entire world. The last seemed to be an elderly man with a long beard his robe was black and white instead of blue and white but he also had a sword to his waist. All three had one thing in common besides them being from the immortal sword sect it was the immortal sword sects logo on the back of their robes, it was a logo that was purple with three swords, one centred and two diagonal encompassed by a single circle.

In the middle of the arena just behind the three people the immortal sword sect was a floating crystal that shined brightly under the rays of the scorching sun.

The elder then stood forward as merely said "We will now commence the test, each child is to come forward after being called forth, you will put the money the male disciple Yu Feng before touching the crystal to which I will tell you if you have passed or not. If you fail you can return to your homes and live your normal lives. If you pass write your name on the list the female disciple Ai Ju holds then make your way to your homes to bare farewell before coming here once again at the same time tomorrow. If you happen to not show tomorrow then you will be denied access and will have to wait until our next recruitment in 5 years if you are eligible. Now let the trial begin!"

The trial then began with many kids going up and the excitement of the crowd and children was immense. The first child then went up and touched the crystal to which there was no response.

Yu Feng then said "Fail."

After half an hour, around 100 children had gone up it showed the passing rate was only 10% however, now it was Xian Hu's turn.

"Here I go brother." Xian Fei said as he walked up towards the crystal.

"Good luck!" Xian Hu shouted as his brother handed his bag of coins to Yu Feng.

Xian Fei then nervously placed his hand on the crystal and with it the crystal began to glow, brightly unlike any before him that had passed.

"Haha~ a genius in this place who would believe it." The elder blurted out dumbfounded at the result before him.

Ai Ju then said, "Elder Jin we must continue there aren't that many kids left anyway."

"Oh my bad, let's continue." The elderly man said to which Xian Fei then wrote his name down before walking down and waiting for Xian Hu .

Xian Hu then handed his coins as he walked towards the crystal and just before he put his hand on elder Jin asked "Are you that boys brother?"

"Y-y-yes sir." Xian Hu responded quickly and nervously stuttering profusely as he felt an intense pressure fall on him. Although this was not from the old man it was from the intense gazes of the many in the crowd who began to whisper amongst themselves.

"If one brother is a genius the other must be too."

"Their parents must be so proud."

And many other remarks could be faintly heard.

Elder Jin then said, "Oh nothing I was just curious please go ahead."

With his hands shaking intensely Xian Hu placed his hand on the crystal and at that moment the crystal faintly glowed.

"Sigh~ his talent is just ordinary I guess." Could be heard from the elder who sighed with disappointment.

"W-what." Was all that came from Xian Hu's mouth as he realised he was much inferior to his brother and felt ashamed of himself.

But as he was feeling down Ai Ju whispered "At least you passed look at all the kids who didn't."

With this remark, Xian Hu was instantly back to his joyful self as he then said "Thank you." before heading down to join his brother.

"Did you see that brother we both passed!" Xian Hu said as he joined his brother.

"I can't wait to tell our parents quick let's go back!" Xian Fei replied.

"I think we were the last in the village to go too so we should hurry back to join the rest to get back quicker." Xian Fei added as they both rushed back.

Upon their arrival, they saw the many depressed kids being cheered up by Coachman Bing. As Coachman Bing spotted them he noticed their joyful smiles to which he then asked "What were your results?"

"We both passed! And they even said Brother Fei is a genius!" Xian Hu blurted out in excitement wanting to let the whole world know what had happened.

"HAHA~ at least some people in our small village passed." He said proudly forgetting about the other children who began to cry even louder now.

The sun was now setting and it was late at night and as the village came into sight so did the smoke and the faint but violent flickering lights that seemed to be growing.

"Coachman what's that over there?" A child asked curiously staring at the village.

"N-no way a fire?!" Coachman Bing said in surprise as he then violently whipped the reign causing the horses to nearly double their current speed. Coachmen Bing then whispered, "Please let it only be a fire."

As they arrived at the village faint screams could now be heard and light sinister laughing with the sound of metal clashing. The scent of blood was begging to fill the air with smoke now completely enveloping the village.

With this realisation Coachman, Bing warned us all "Stay here!" As he then moved the coach into tall grass hidden from view. He made sure to then put a blanket over all the children before he pulled a sword from the front of the coach as he walked away.

All the children now understood the situation and the many who were crying before had lost their voices, all they could do was wipe their snot and tears with faint wailing noises which they tried to hold in which made an ugly and pathetic sight to see. Xian Fei was also shaking in fear with tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"Don't worry father and the other villagers are strong they will won't die." Xian Hu said reassuring the many children because at this moment seeing his brother who the elder called a 'genius' crying he knew that he had to step up and be a good brother.

After 10 minutes which felt like an eternity to these young children the noises then began to die down until silence.

Everyone could hear their own heartbeats and their unsteady breathing with the slight sniffling from some children.

Suddenly!

"Please don't kill my husband! I BEG OF YOU!" A familiar voice of a woman who use to have a soothing voice was now shrieking and full of fear.

Xian Hu and Xian Fei then looked at each other and both said in unison "MOTHER!"

Xian Fei was the first to dart out of the carriage as Xian Hu then looked at the children and done a hand sign and whispered "Stay!"

He then chased after his brother but cautiously as he observed the surroundings...