Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Just as the atmosphere eased slightly, a few figures timidly emerged from the roadside at the foot of the mountain. They were three or four ragged, thin-faced boys, the oldest no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, and the youngest looking only eleven or twelve.

They hesitated, their eyes darting around. When they saw the Qingyun Mountain gate and Shen Mo and his group waiting there in the distance, they huddled together in fear, pushing each other and not daring to go forward.

"They're here!" Shi Tie's eyes lit up, and he was about to greet them.

"Wait." Shen Mo raised his hand to stop him and instructed in a low voice, "Don't frighten them. Junior Sister Xiao, go and speak gently."

Su Xiao understood, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He slowly stepped forward and greeted them softly, "Young brothers, are you here to register for the Qingyun Sect's assessment?"

Seeing that it was a pretty young woman with a gentle voice, the boys immediately relaxed a little. One of the bolder boys stammered, "..."

"...Yes, yes... Immortal Master... We, we saw the notice... saying that they don't consider aptitude... Is that true?"

Before he could finish speaking, another thin boy beside him timidly added, "I...I don't have spiritual roots...is that okay too?"

His eyes were filled with a humble hope, as if he were grasping at the last straw.

Su Xiao felt a pang of sadness, and said in an even gentler tone, "Of course it's true. Our Qingyun Sect values ​​character and temperament, not spiritual roots. Since you've come, it's fate. Come, would you like to register your names and origins here?"

Under Su Xiaochun's gentle and persuasive guidance, the boys lowered their guard slightly and followed her to the table, where they scribbled their names in a crooked and unsteady manner.

They were all poor children from several villages near the foot of the mountain. They didn't even have formal names; they were given nicknames like "Dog Boy" or "Iron Egg."

Looking at the few childish and distorted characters on the roster, and then at the ragged but innocent and eager boys in front of him, Shi Tie felt a lump in his throat and immediately turned his head away.

A-Yuan's eyes reddened slightly as she whispered to Shen Mo, "Sect Leader, they...they're so pitiful..."

Shen Mo gently patted A Yuan's head, looking at the young men with tender eyes, and sighed inwardly: This is the truest portrayal of low-level cultivators, no, or even just mortals who yearn to enter the immortal realm.

He stepped forward, not asking about spiritual roots, but gently inquiring, "You've traveled a long way, haven't you? Are you hungry? A-Yuan, go and fetch some dry food and water."

This simple act of kindness overwhelmed the boys, who repeatedly waved their hands in refusal.

But when A Yuan handed them warm water and flatbread, they still wolfed it down, their eyes showing a more genuine affection for Shen Mo and the others.

As the sun rose higher, seven or eight more figures appeared in the open space in front of the mountain gate, in addition to the few timid village boys who had arrived earlier.

Most of them were in similar situations to the previous ones: ragged clothes, pale faces, and terrible aptitude. Most of them had pseudo-spiritual roots or no spiritual roots at all, and would have been kicked out of any sect.

They gathered together, appearing uneasy, a stark contrast to the bustling, vibrant scene at the Lin family's house down the mountain.

Looking at the mere dozen or so people, Shi Tie felt both heartache and discouragement. He felt heartache for the children's plight, but discouragement because it seemed that it would be extremely difficult for the Qingyun Sect to recruit any "good seedlings."

He squatted down to one side, sighing, and idly scratched the ground with a twig.

Su Xiao continued to patiently and meticulously register each person who came, gently inquiring about their family situation. Her gentle and polite demeanor made these teenagers, who had suffered so much prejudice, feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

A-Yuan busied herself helping to fetch water, her little face full of seriousness.

Shen Mo observed everything without becoming impatient. The truly "destined" people might be among these seemingly hopeless individuals; they simply needed to be patiently discovered.

Just then, from the end of the mountain path came a series of heavy and hurried footsteps, accompanied by heavy breathing.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, robust young man with dark, shiny skin striding towards them, panting heavily.

He wore a coarse cloth jacket covered in patches, was drenched in sweat, and had several fresh scratches on his muscular arms, but his eyes shone with an alarming urgency.

The boy rushed to the mountain gate, ignoring everyone else, his gaze fixed on Shi Tie, who was squatting on the ground. He suddenly stopped, and due to inertia, he took two more steps forward before finally regaining his footing.

His chest heaved violently, his mouth agape, but he couldn't speak for a moment because he had run too fast. He could only point an excited finger at Shi Tie.

"Iron...Iron...Brother Tie! It really is you!" The boy finally caught his breath and let out a thunderous roar that made everyone's ears ring.

Shi Tie was startled by the loud voice and stood up abruptly. When he saw the person's face clearly, his dark face instantly lit up with great joy. He rushed forward and slammed his large, fan-like hand heavily onto the boy's sturdy shoulder with a dull thud.

"Da Niu! Zhang Da Niu! What brings you here, kid?!" Shi Tie's voice was filled with unbelievable joy.

This burly, dark-skinned boy was none other than Zhang Daniu, Shi Tie's childhood friend from when they grew up picking up slag and raiding bird nests in the nearby mines!

Both of them were born with superhuman strength and had huge appetites. They came from poor families and were so close that even sharing a pair of pants wouldn't be enough for them.

Later, Shi Tie caught the eye of the wandering Mo Yuan and was brought back to Qingyun Sect, while Zhang Daniu stayed in the mine, barely making ends meet with his strength.

"I...I heard in the market that the Qingyun Sect is accepting disciples! And they don't even check aptitude! I thought, since you're here, Brother Tiezi, I...I thought I'd try my luck!"

Zhang Daniu was so excited he was incoherent, his dark face flushed red, "I knew it! Brother Tiezi, once you become a Celestial Master, you definitely won't forget me!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Tie's eyes instantly reddened. He grabbed Zhang Daniu's neck and choked out, "Good brother! How could I forget you! You've come at the perfect time! You've come so well!"

He grabbed Zhang Daniu and ran excitedly to Shen Mo, his voice trembling with excitement as he pleaded:

"Sect Leader! Sect Leader! This is my childhood friend, Zhang Daniu! Just like me, he's strong, can eat a lot... no, I mean, he's capable!"

"He's an honest man, absolutely trustworthy! You...you should take him in! I guarantee it with my life!"

Zhang Daniu also knelt down with a thud, kowtowing three times to Shen Mo. He raised his face, his eyes filled with utmost pleading and fear, and said:

"Immortal Master, please accept me! I'm strong! I can do any heavy or tiring work! I'm not afraid of hardship! Just give me some food and let me follow Brother Tiezi!"

Shen Mo sized up the young man before him. He was tall and strong, with muscles and bones that were far more vigorous than ordinary people; he was indeed a good candidate for physical training.

Although his spiritual root aura was weak and almost non-existent, his honest, righteous, and clear-eyed appearance made people feel good about him.

More importantly, his sincere friendship with Shi Tie is especially precious in this indifferent world of cultivation.

Shen Mo did not immediately agree, but instead asked in a deep voice, "Zhang Daniu, my Qingyun Sect is poor, and cultivation is arduous, far from the carefree life you imagine in the immortal caves. Why do you cultivate immortality?"

Zhang Daniu paused for a moment, scratched his spiky short hair, and replied in a muffled voice:

"I...I didn't think that much. I just wanted to be with Brother Tiezi, have enough to eat, and not be bullied. I'm strong enough to help the sect leader with his work!"

His answer was simple and unadorned, even somewhat naive, yet it revealed a deep sincerity.