"After a long journey we've finally arrived."
"Hehe, is that Jade Dragon Mountain where the Wind Jade Sect resides?"
Far in the distance, a huge mountain with its peak reaching the clouds could be seen. The whole mountain was covered with lush greenery, and the cloud above the mountain was jade green and shaped like a seated dragon.
After about a month of traveling, they finally reached Wind Jade Sect. "Thankfully it was a smooth journey, even the ferocious tigers didn't harm us." The caravan guards rejoiced. they knew they would be getting paid since they completed delivering the slaves. As such, the fatigue on their faces was replaced with joy.
Some were even thinking of having a drink and eating, but the young slaves weren't thinking of any of these things. After all, they were now entering a prestigious sect and had no idea what will happen to them, It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that their lives were now being handed over to others.
The caravan soon reached the gates below the mountain. The gates were very huge and made of wood. If one looked closer, they would be able to see a jade green dragon carved on the wooden gates, but most people wouldn't be able to see it because of the moss growing on the gates. Behind the wooden gates were huge stairs made out of stone. The stones had cracks in them and moss growing on them; it was very evident these stairs had seen good and bad days. They seemed to go on endlessly, reaching the peak of the mountain. Most ordinary people wouldn't dare try to climb it, it seemed as though they were specially made for martial masters.
"Well now what?"
"Don't tell me we have to climb these stairs to get to Wind Jade Sect?"
"No way, these stairs are as big as a person."
The caravan guards were confused about how they would reach the top of the mountain.
"Sigh, there's no way for us to climb these stairs. Perhaps a martial master might show up, so let's wait a bit."
"Right, if Lord Chi Huan says so." Even though Lord Chi Huan was optimistic on the outside, inside he was feeling bitter. After all that effort of trying to form a business link with the Wind Jade Sect, his hopes were crushed by these huge stairs.
"I was a fool to think I could do business with the great Wind Jade Sect, sigh."
"So these are the slaves under Elder Feng Ming?"
Just as Village Lord Chi Huan was sighing, a delicate voice came from behind them.
Immediately, the slaves and the caravan guards looked toward the voice and saw a middle-aged woman dressed in green jade attire. There was nothing extraordinary about her looks, and though she looked like a mortal, her voice was calm, and it seemed as if she could read minds because of how calm she was.
"Welcome to Wind Jade Sect, everyone. I'm Feng Jing..."
"Huhhh, we've finally arrived."
Just as the calm woman was introducing herself, a bunch of other young men and women showed up, interrupting her. But the woman did not get mad, remaining calm as if an ancient body of water trapped in a cave; no one would notice her if they did not look her way.
"Who are you guys? And are these slaves? What are slaves doing here?"
"Don't tell me they're also planning to join the sect."
Immediately, the second group of people gathered at the gates started discussing among themselves as they looked down on the slaves.
"Hmph, what could slaves possibly achieve by joining the sect?"
"Everyone..."
As the second group of young people were talking among themselves, the caravan guards as well as the slaves were looking at the woman and not paying any attention to this new group of people.
"Hello, I'm Chi Huan. I'm in charge of these slaves. Elder Feng Ming has entrusted me to deliver these young slaves to Wind Jade Sect."
Lord Chi Huan wrapped his fist in his palm as he greeted the woman and explained the reason he came to Wind Jade Sect.
"Only the disciples of Wind Jade Sect are allowed to climb these stairs. I understand Elder Feng Ming has entrusted you with these slaves, but your task ends here."
"These slaves are disciples?"
One of the young men who arrived earlier yelled out in shock, but none paid him any mind as most people were looking at Feng Jing and Village Lord Chi Huan.
"Yes, I understand. But..."
"Open the cages so the slaves can go and climb these stairs."
The woman did not let Village Lord Chi Huan fish for benefits but immediately cut him down, and as smart as Chi Huan was, he did not pursue the matter but simply gave up. Even though the woman never revealed herself to be a martial master, he had a vague idea and chose not to offend her.
As the slaves were being let out of their cages, the new group of people noticed the young man who was tied flat on his chest. His face was pale and he looked dead. In their one month of journey, they were only fed dry pieces of bread and water. Though most of the other slaves looked half-dead, he was far worse compared to them.
They all asked themselves what he could possibly have done for him to be treated like that.
"As for you guys who came to become disciples of Wind Jade Sect, you will also have to climb these stairs, but you can choose not to if you don't want to."
The woman looked toward the young men and women, her eyes as calm as ancient water trapped in a cave.
The group of young people looked at each other and then at the huge stairs again, each stone as big as a thirty-foot-tall boulder, seeming to go endlessly up the huge mountain. They all swallowed their saliva in fear.
"I will climb these stairs too."
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a handsome young, energetic-looking man stepping up from the crowd of young men and women. The young man had long black hair that reached to his waist and was dressed in white clothes, and on his forehead was a white headband.
"Hao Jun, are you sure you want to climb these stairs? Who knows how many days it would take you to reach the top"
Just then a young woman stepped up from the crowd of people her eyes full of worries for the young man, all the people watching could see the girl was really concerned for the young man's safety,
"We've been traveling for months and already spent a fortune, I can't afford to go back empty handed, I might as well risk it all"
The young man was sighing in his heart they had spent a fortune to get to wind jade sect but just like village lord Chi huan they too had their hopes crushed by the huge stairs.
Feng Jing looked towards the young man and the other people that came along with him, her eyes did not have a hint of pity, she slowly shifted her gaze towards the young slaves, who seemed like dried up tree branches that had stayed in the summer heat for days.
"What are you guys waiting for?" climb these stairs and reach the top, this is the only path open for you"
All of sudden the woman's tone changed from calm to fierce, as a gust of jade-green wind blew from beneath her feet, the graceful calm looking woman was nowhere to be found, some of the young slaves, dropped down on their knees trembling in fear.