Those who Chose

Morning arrived with much noise.

Not the quiet rustling of wind or the murmurs of waking villagers, but the sound of boots striking stone, voices carrying authority, and of torches being extinguished as daylight began to bleed across the village.

He opened his eyes.

The ache in his body remained, deep and persistent, but it was no longer overwhelming. His breathing was now steady, his flesh heavier and denser than the day before.

It was enough.

Outside, the excitement amongst the townsfolk spread quickly. Many doors creaked open, villagers stepping into the streets, whispering and pointing.

"They've come."
"The Black River Sect"
"Which families will be chosen this year?"

He rose slowly and stepped outside alongside the rest.

The sect's procession stood at the village entrance. Five disciples in robes marked with a river sigil stood at the forefront. Their expressions were indifferent, eyes passing over the villagers as if they were livestock.

Behind the 5 stood an elder, his robe deeper in colour and his presence heavier. Even without releasing any Qi, the air around him felt suppressed.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The villagers bowed hastily.

"Those between the ages of twelve and sixteen, step forward," the elder said calmly, his voice carrying across the mass of people effortlessly.

A line of people formed.

He took his place near the back, there was no need to stand out.

The prodigal boy, however, stood near the front.

Clean clothes, straight posture, clear ocean-blue eyes filled with anticipation. When the elder's gaze brushed past him, it lingered a fraction longer than on the others.

It appears Heaven had already guided the hand.

The test began.

A disciple placed a palm-sized stone onto a wooden table, glowing slightly.

"Place your hand atop the stone," he instructed.

One by one, the children stepped forward, each producing a variant of light.

Some caused faint flickers, others produced nothing at all and were dismissed immediately.

Then the destined boy stepped up, touching the stone.

It flared brightly, a dazzling green light emanating from it.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, the elder nodding slightly.

As expected, the boy was taken aside and the chain of people carried on moving.

One after another, people failed.

Then it was his turn, placing his hand on the stone.

Nothing happened, the glow did not appear.

The disciple frowned as the elder's gaze sharpened briefly, moving on.

Rejected.

He withdrew his hand calmly and stepped back, but he was not finished, this was only the beginning of the tests.

Most of the village dispersed, disappointment heavy in the air.

The elder rose his voice again.

"There is a second evaluation."

The elder's gaze swept the group and stopped on him.

"You. Step forward."

The elder gestured for him to strike a boulder, one the size of his own body.

This was a crude test, not of Qi, but of flesh. But, this was just as he had experienced, having prepared for this moment by cultivating Body Reinforcement.

He clenched his fist, giving it all he had.

One strike.

The elder's eyes narrowed as he perceives a fissure on the boulder, proceeding from the point at which the boulder had been struck.

"Interesting. Very Interesting."

Above the clouds, Heaven hesitated.

And for the first time,

The Path Forked.

No thunder roared, no sign descended from the heavens. To the villagers watching, it was no more than a cracked stone and a silent elder.

But to Heaven, something had gone terribly wrong.

The elder stepped closer, eyes fixated on the fractured testing stone. His fingers brushed the surface lightly; the crack was shallow and uneven, not the result of brute force alone.

He observed it closely and straightened, looking at the boy.

"You have not cultivated, yet your body has already undergone the process of refinement. Interesting."

Murmurs rose amongst the villagers all beliving it was impossible.

Body refinement required methods, resources and guidance, the village had none of these.

He lowered his head slightly, enough to appear respectful.

"I work hard labour."

The answer was incomplete, but not false.

The elder studied him for a while, then turning to his disciple saying, 

"Test his Endurance."

The disciple hesitated, then nodded.

Another heavy stone was brought forth; it was another crude and unrefined method. It was placed onto his arms without ceremony.

The weight pressed down instantly, driving pain through his shoulder and spine, his legs trembling and his breathing stuttered.

His breathing technique which he used during cultivation slipped into place naturally, to ease the pain slightly. Still, his muscles screamed and groaned under the pressure of the stone. However, his stance began to stabilise.

Minutes passed.

Sweat dripped from his chin.

Another minute.

The prodigal boy shifted uneasily, watching this unfold.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

"Enough. I have seen enough." The elder finally said.

The stone was quickly taken away, his arms dropping, numb and shaking. He swayed twice, then steadied himself.

It was sufficient he hoped, that the elder could hopefully recruit him.

"This one is not favored by Heaven." he said, the words landing heavily.

The destined boy's face changed to show a tinge of fear.

"But, he is also not rejected by it." 

"Including him will change nothing, but excluding him may."

"Prepare him with the others."

And within a moment, the decision was made.

Above the clouds and firmament, probabilities shifted, each opportunity being calculated.

Somewhere within Heaven's deep and vast will, something took notice.

He lowered his gaze, hiding the faint curve of his lips.

He had gone down the forked path,

and this time,

He was walking it first.