Elder Jian smiled as he looked at everyone and said, "First, congratulations to all of you for passing the Green Dragon Gang's assessment. Next, we will prepare to return to the Gang.
There are 105 of you who passed the assessment this time. You will return to the Gang in these remaining eight carriages. Everyone, get in."
Everyone boarded the carriages, and after about an hour's journey, they finally saw Green Dragon Mountain.
The Green Dragon Gang was located within Green Dragon Mountain, a vast mountain range with continuous peaks.
When the convoy arrived at the Gang's entrance, two Disciple guards came forward to inquire. Upon learning that Elder Jian was bringing the Disciples who passed the assessment to the Gang, they immediately saluted and allowed them to pass.
The convoy drove into the Green Dragon Gang, and the young ones in the carriages were filled with wonder.
They saw Green-Robed Disciples practicing swordplay;
There were a few Black-Clothed Disciples hurrying by;
There were Gray-Robed Disciples cleaning, and so on.
Everyone was dazzled. When the convoy reached a canyon, it suddenly stopped. Immediately, someone shouted loudly, "We've arrived! Everyone out!"
After getting out, they saw Elder Jian whisper a few words to Protector Zhang, then he disappeared in a few flashes.
Protector Zhang then stepped forward and announced loudly, "Listen carefully, everyone, I'll only say this once. This place is your home from now on.
You will stay here for one year. After one year, there will be an assessment. Those who pass the assessment will be promoted to Green-Robed Disciples.
For those who fail the assessment, as you just saw, those Gray-Robed Disciples cleaning are the result of failing the assessment.
Therefore, for the next year, you cannot relax for a single moment. Seize the time to improve yourselves.
Here, you will be given two taels of silver as a monthly allowance.
Once you become Green-Robed Disciples, your treatment will greatly improve. Various Elders and Protectors will come to select Disciples.
Two hundred feet or so east of the newcomer area, on your left-hand side, there is a Supply Hall.
Tomorrow, you will go to collect your Gang uniforms, monthly allowance, and identity tokens.
The houses to the north are where you will live, four people per room. You can choose them yourselves in a moment.
The building to the east is the lecture hall, where you will study.
The large building to the west is the mess hall, where you will eat.
The plaza to the south is where you will practice your cultivation.
Remember, starting tomorrow, things will get serious. The first three months will be for learning literacy and the history of our Green Dragon Gang.
Classes will begin at Chen Shi in the morning and Shen Shi in the afternoon every day. A reminder: no one here will supervise your studies. If you don't go to class, no one will care.
However, if you fail the assessment, you will become a servant of the Green Dragon Gang. For your future, I hope all of you will study diligently.
Also, the Gang rules state that new members must complete three full years before they can return home to visit relatives.
Official Disciples have three opportunities to visit relatives a year, while servants only have one.
Alright, you all go familiarize yourselves with the environment and choose your rooms."
Lu Yun excitedly pulled Liang Zi and said, "Come on, let's go check out the living quarters first."
When they arrived at the housing area, many people were already choosing rooms. Each room had a number.
Lu Yun looked at the central rooms, which had already been taken, and immediately said, "Let's go directly to the rooms on the very edge and take a look."
No one had come to this side yet. Room number eighteen. Lu Yun said to Liang Zi, "This one. Although it's a bit out of the way, it's quiet."
Liang Zi said indifferently, "It's the same everywhere." Then, the two of them, carrying their respective bundles, moved in.
Soon after, a giant man arrived at the entrance. He was dressed in coarse linen, about nine feet tall, and asked somewhat shyly, "Are there any empty spots here?"
Lu Yun looked at the giant man, truly shocked for a moment. His height and build made him practically a human Tyrannosaurus Rex.
He then said, "There are two spots left."
The giant man asked with a hopeful expression, "Then can I stay? Because of my height, I went to a few rooms, and they all refused me."
Lu Yun smiled after hearing this and said, "It's alright. Pick a bed. We're not that particular."
The giant man was delighted to hear that he could stay and said, "Thank you, you are truly good people."
The giant man chose a bed next to Lu Yun, put down his bundle, and then excitedly grinned and said, "My name is Tang Biao. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Immediately after, he added with a worried expression, "I'm from a mountain village. You don't mind, do you?"
Lu Yun smiled after hearing this and said, "My name is Lu Yun, and his name is Lu Liang. We are also from a mountain village, and from the same village, in fact. Being from a mountain village doesn't necessarily mean one is inferior.
Here, you still have to rely on yourselves. I hope everyone in this room can stick together in the future, otherwise, it's easy to get bullied."
Tang Biao nodded in agreement after listening intently.
After a while, another person arrived. This person was dressed in luxurious silks and satins, with a jade pendant at his waist, and he loudly shouted with a flamboyant air, "Are there any empty spots left?"
The three people in the room simultaneously looked up at this seemingly Young Master-like fellow.
This fellow seemed to realize his voice was a bit too loud, and then embarrassed, he quietly asked, "Are there any empty spots left?"
Lu Yun then said, "Judging by your attire, you must be from a wealthy family.
The three of us are all from mountain villages. It wouldn't be suitable for you to stay here, would it? Why aren't you looking for other Young Masters? How did you end up here?"
This guy let out a 'heh' and said, "I don't want to live with those guys who are always bragging and only know how to boast. It's uncomfortable."
He said with a grin, "I think you guys are great. Do you want me to stay? I see there's still one empty spot."
While he was still talking, a large bundle had already been dragged in by him. Lu Yun heard this and said, "Suit yourself. If you want to stay, then stay."
After he put away his luggage, this guy smiled and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Qin Yu. What are your names?"
Lu Yun looked at this familiar fellow and said, "My name is Lu Yun;". The giant man said, "My name is Tang Biao;". Liang Zi said, "My name is Lu Liang."
Qin Yu looked at Tang Biao with a surprised expression and asked, "What did you eat to grow so tall?"
Tang Biao didn't know how to answer the question, scratched his head, and smiled, "I don't know either."
Lu Yun looked at the sky and smiled, "It's getting dark. It's almost dinner time. Let's go see what good food there is."
Qin Yu exclaimed loudly after hearing this, "I've been hungry for half a day! Let's go, let's go!"
The four arrived at the mess hall and saw many people already eating their meals. They quickly went to get food, found a random table, and started eating heartily.
For the three from the mountain village, the food in the mess hall could be described as very rich, and they ate with great relish.
Qin Yu had been frowning since he started getting food, and it was the same while he was eating.
Lu Yun looked at him and asked, "What's wrong? Not to your liking?"
Qin Yu nodded and said, "It's far worse than the food at home."
However, his uncooperative stomach kept rumbling.
He sighed and said, "To learn skills, I can only make my stomach suffer a bit."
In the end, hunger outweighed taste, and he also started eating heartily.
After dinner, when the four returned to their room, it was already dark. With nothing else to do, the few of them sat together and chatted casually.
They heard Qin Yu complain that the mess hall food was too bad, how good the food he used to eat was, and how he wouldn't have come to this horrible place if it weren't for his father.
His father had gone to great lengths, begging and pleading for a long time, to get him this spot.
When he came, his father had warned him that if he didn't learn real skills, he should die in the Green Dragon Gang. So, he had no choice but to come, as he was forced.
At this point, Qin Yu looked at the three and suddenly asked curiously, "How did you get your spots?"
Heh, the origins of Lu Yun, Lu Liang, and Tang Biao's spots were surprisingly consistent.
They were all recommended by relatives, which left Qin Yu speechless.
Everyone went to bed after chatting late into the night.
Lu Yun tossed and turned in bed, thinking about all the things that had happened, and he couldn't help but feel immense pressure.
He silently told himself that he must be promoted to an official Disciple. As he thought about it, he slowly fell asleep.