Chapter 3: Chapter Three: The Seven Mysteries Sect

The smell inside the carriage was clearly unpleasant, which was hardly surprising given that a vehicle meant for barely a dozen children now crammed in nearly thirty. Though children were much smaller than adults, the interior was still suffocatingly crowded.

Han Li shrewdly shrank his thin frame into a corner of the carriage, stealthily observing the other children inside.

The children here for the entrance examination clearly fell into three categories based on their clothing and backgrounds.

The first group consisted of the silk-clad youths seated in the center of the carriage, surrounded by most of the other children.

This boy was named Wu Yan, thirteen years old—the oldest in the carriage. His age had technically exceeded the limit, but he had a cousin who married a powerful figure in the Seven Mysteries Sect, so the age issue was easily resolved. Wu Yan’s family ran a martial arts school and was quite wealthy; he had trained in basic fist and foot techniques since childhood. Though not particularly skilled, they were more than enough to overpower children like Han Li, who possessed only brute strength and had never trained in martial arts.

Clearly, children like Wu Yan—wealthy, influential, and with some martial skill—naturally became the de facto “big brothers” of most of the children in the carriage.

The second group were the children clustering around Wu Yan. They came from all walks of life—some from shopkeeping families, others from laboring households, some from artisan lineages… but they all shared one trait: they had grown up in towns and had, to varying degrees, learned from their elders how to read people’s expressions and pursue advantage. Thus, they clustered around Wu Yan, calling him “Master Wu” on one side and “Big Brother Wu” on the other. Wu Yan appeared long accustomed to these titles and greatly enjoyed them.

The third group were children like Han Li—those from remote, impoverished villages, where families lived off the land and water, barely scraping by. There were only five or six such children in the carriage, their demeanor timid and hushed, never daring to speak loudly. They stood in stark contrast to the others, who laughed and shouted without restraint.

The carriage departed from Qingniu Town and raced westward, stopping at several more locations to pick up additional children, finally arriving at Cai Xia Mountain—the headquarters of the Seven Mysteries Sect—on the evening of the fifth day.

As soon as all the children disembarked, they were utterly captivated by the colorful beauty of the sunset over Cai Xia Mountain. Only when the Guardian Wang urged them did they snap out of their awe and continue forward.

Cai Xia Mountain was originally called Luofeng Mountain. Legend said that in ancient times, a five-colored phoenix landed here and transformed into the mountain. Later, visitors noticed its extraordinary beauty at sunset, as if draped in colorful clouds, and renamed it Cai Xia Mountain. Of course, since the Seven Mysteries Sect took possession of it, outsiders were no longer permitted to freely admire its splendor.

Cai Xia Mountain was the second-largest mountain in Jingzhou, surpassed only by Bai Mang Mountain in size. Its range stretched over ten li in every direction, featuring more than a dozen peaks, all steep and treacherous, each now occupied by a branch hall of the Seven Mysteries Sect. The main peak, Lu Ri Peak, was especially formidable—towering and sheer, with only a single path winding from base to summit. After establishing their headquarters here, the Seven Mysteries Sect erected thirteen hidden or visible watchposts along this path, rendering it utterly secure and impregnable.

Han Li, while observing his surroundings, followed the line ahead when suddenly the procession halted, followed by a loud, hearty voice.

“Brother Wang, why are you only now here? You’re two days late.”

“Master Yue, we were delayed on the road. I apologize for troubling you so much.” Guardian Wang stood before the crowd and bowed respectfully to an elderly man with a ruddy face, his earlier arrogant demeanor vanished, replaced by a servile smile.

“How many batches of disciples have you delivered to the mountain so far?”

“The seventeenth batch.”

“Hmm!” Master Yue gave Han Li and the others a casual, sweeping glance.

“Take them to Qingke Courtyard. Let them rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, we begin selecting qualified disciples. Those who fail must be sent down the mountain promptly, so they don’t break the mountain’s rules.”

“Yes, Master Yue.”

As they climbed the stone steps, all the children were thrilled, yet none dared speak loudly. Though young, they all knew this place would determine their fates.

Guardian Wang led the way ahead, smiling and greeting everyone they met. It was clear he had many acquaintances within the sect and was well-liked.

Most people they encountered wore green satin robes, some carrying swords or knives, others bare-handed but with bulging waistbands—no one knew what they concealed. From their bearing and movements, it was evident these individuals were agile and possessed considerable martial skill.

Han Li and the others were taken to a relatively low peak, where a cluster of earthen huts stood atop. They spent the night there. In his sleep, Han Li dreamed he wore brocade robes, held a golden sword, and wielded peerless martial arts, thrashing the blacksmith’s son—who had always beaten him in the village—until he was utterly humiliated. He awoke the next morning still savoring the glory of the dream.

In the morning, Guardian Wang did not let them eat breakfast. He directly led them to a steep slope below the mountain, densely planted with bamboo. There, the same Master Yue they had met yesterday, along with several other unfamiliar youths, awaited them.

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