## Chapter Three: The Journey to Crimson Lotus
The three days leading up to their departure passed in a blur of bittersweet farewells and burgeoning anticipation. Azure Cloud Village, usually a hub of simple routines, became a flurry of activity around Yan Zhen and Lin Feng. Villagers brought small gifts – dried fruits, finely carved wooden charms, woven satchels – tokens of their affection and hope for the boys who were venturing into a world beyond their comprehension. Yan Zhen, with his open heart, accepted each offering with genuine gratitude, his eyes shining with the innocent belief that he was carrying the hopes of his entire community. Lin Feng, ever the perfect mirror, echoed Yan Zhen's appreciative smiles, offering equally heartfelt thanks, though his mind was already calculating the potential utility of each item, the subtle connections he could forge.
Yan Zhen's parents, their faces a mix of pride and apprehension, fussed over them constantly. Yan Zhen's mother packed them an absurd amount of pickled vegetables and dried meat, enough for a small army. "You'll be away from home, my dears. Eat well, stay strong," she admonished, tears welling in her eyes as she hugged Yan Zhen tightly, then pulled Lin Feng into an equally fierce embrace. "You look after each other, boys. You're brothers." Lin Feng, buried in her embrace, managed a convincing sniffle, his arm going around Yan Zhen's shoulder as if for comfort.
"Don't worry, Auntie!" Lin Feng piped up, his voice cracking slightly with feigned emotion. "Yan Zhen and I are like two peas in a pod! We'll stick together, no matter what!"
Yan Zhen, always the optimist, chimed in, "Yeah, Mom! We're gonna come back super strong and protect everyone!"
The morning of their departure dawned with a rare, cloudless sky, the kind that promised a journey bathed in sunshine. A thin mist still clung to the mountain peaks, gradually burning off to reveal the ancient, rugged forms they were soon to cross. A single, distinct figure appeared on the village path – a young man, barely older than themselves, clad in the deep crimson robes of the **Crimson Lotus Sect**. His aura was subtle, yet undeniably profound, suggesting a cultivation level far beyond anything the villagers had ever witnessed. He carried a long, elegant staff that hummed with faint spiritual energy.
"Greetings, villagers of Azure Cloud," the messenger said, his voice calm and clear, yet holding an undeniable authority. "I am Disciple Ming from the Crimson Lotus Sect. I have come to escort the chosen ones, Yan Zhen and Lin Feng, to the sect."
Yan Zhen gasped, grabbing Lin Feng's arm. "Whoa! He's already so strong! And he's just a disciple!"
Lin Feng's eyes sparkled with a mix of awe and playful daring, matching Yan Zhen's enthusiasm. "Right? I bet he can fly on that staff! You think he'd let us try?" He shot a hopeful, childish look at Disciple Ming.
Disciple Ming offered a faint, almost amused smile. "Such enthusiasm. Perhaps one day, with diligent cultivation, you will." He gestured down the winding path. "The journey to the Crimson Lotus Sect is arduous. We should depart at once."
The farewells were quick, choked with emotion. Yan Zhen, ever the warm-hearted one, gave his parents a final, lingering hug, promising to write (though no one in the village could read or write beyond basic characters). Lin Feng mirrored his friend's earnest promises, pressing his own forehead against Yan Zhen's mother's shoulder, acting every bit the dutiful, saddened child leaving home.
As they finally turned onto the path, leaving the familiar faces and mud huts behind, Yan Zhen gripped Lin Feng's arm, his eyes wide. "This is it, Lin Feng! No turning back now!"
"Yeah!" Lin Feng pumped his fist in the air, a wide, excited grin splitting his face. "Finally, real cultivation! No more boring chores, just awesome powers!" Internally, he relished the thrill. *The stage is set. Let the unraveling begin.*
The journey was indeed arduous. Disciple Ming set a relentless pace, traversing rough mountain trails, crossing swift rivers, and camping under star-littered skies. For Yan Zhen and Lin Feng, accustomed to the slow pace of village life, it was a brutal awakening. Their simple training from the village elder barely prepared them for the sheer physical endurance required.
Yan Zhen, despite his natural talent, often struggled. His boundless energy sometimes turned into reckless haste, leading to stumbles or misplaced steps. He'd huff and puff, his face red with exertion. Lin Feng, while also pushing his young body to its limits, moved with a surprising, almost unnerving efficiency. His steps were measured, his breathing controlled, a stark contrast to Yan Zhen's more overt struggle. But whenever Yan Zhen looked his way, Lin Feng would offer a sympathetic grimace, a shared sigh, or a whispered, "Man, my legs feel like jelly too! This guy's a machine!"
One evening, after a particularly grueling climb, they settled down by a small fire. Yan Zhen, sprawled out, groaned. "I thought I was strong, Lin Feng. This is way harder than fighting bears!"
Lin Feng chuckled, playfully nudging him with his foot. "Right? Bears are easy! But hey, you always push through, Zhen! You never give up. That's way cooler than just being born strong, you know?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I bet that's why Elder Wei picked us! You for being super tough, and me for... well, I dunno, maybe for being your amazing best friend who tells hilarious jokes?" He winked.
Yan Zhen laughed, a genuine, tired laugh. "You're always there, Lin Feng. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Same, Zhen!" Lin Feng said, clapping him on the back. Inside, a tiny, satisfied coil tightened in his chest. *Dependency, checked.*
Disciple Ming observed them from a distance, his expression unreadable. He saw Yan Zhen's raw, untamed spirit and Lin Feng's quiet adaptability. He saw the genuine bond between them. He made no comment, simply continued to lead.
As they ascended higher, the air grew thinner, the forests gave way to craggy, windswept peaks. The spiritual energy in the atmosphere became noticeably denser, a tingling sensation in their skin. This was the true cultivation world.
They passed by a few other small groups of hopefuls, also being led by older disciples from various sects. These kids were often more refined, wearing finer clothes, clearly from more prosperous towns. Yan Zhen, always a bit oblivious to social niceties, would wave enthusiastically or try to strike up a conversation. Lin Feng, on the other hand, would subtly observe the other disciples' cultivation level and the quality of their spirit roots, his mind quickly assessing potential rivals or future pawns. He would subtly guide Yan Zhen away from too much interaction if he sensed a genuinely dangerous peer, or push him towards someone who might make Yan Zhen look good by comparison.
"Look at that kid!" Yan Zhen whispered excitedly one afternoon, pointing at a boy who was effortlessly scaling a sheer rock face. "He's amazing!"
Lin Feng nodded, feigning wide-eyed admiration. "Wow! He's super agile! But... maybe a bit showy, don't you think? Like, he wants everyone to see him. Real strength doesn't need to shout, right? Yours just *is*, Zhen." He puffed out his chest, mimicking Yan Zhen's usual stance. "Quiet confidence, remember?"
Yan Zhen frowned, watching the other boy. "Yeah, I guess you're right. He does look like he's trying to impress someone."
Days bled into a week, then more. The journey was long, exhausting, but also filled with moments of youthful wonder. They saw soaring beasts, strange glowing flora, and ancient ruins partially swallowed by the mountainside. Yan Zhen, always the more expressive, would gasp and point, his excitement infectious. Lin Feng, too, would voice his awe, but often with a slightly more analytical observation, which Yan Zhen would then echo as if it were his own profound thought.
They learned to rely on each other. Yan Zhen's natural instincts in the wild were sharp, often sensing danger before Lin Feng's more analytical mind could process it. Lin Feng, in turn, was the master of small comforts – knowing which herbs soothed aching muscles, or how to subtly distract Disciple Ming to allow Yan Zhen an extra minute of rest.
One evening, as they were nearing their destination, Disciple Ming finally broke his silence as they sat around the fire. "Your bond is unusual," he observed, his gaze fixed on their faces. "Most who come to the sects are solitary, driven by individual ambition. Yet, you two... you rely on each other implicitly."
Yan Zhen grinned, throwing an arm around Lin Feng's shoulders. "He's my best friend, Disciple Ming! We're sworn brothers! Always together!"
Lin Feng returned Yan Zhen's grin, a picture of innocent devotion. "Yeah! He's the brawn, I'm... well, I guess I'm the brains that help him figure out which berries aren't poisonous!" He winked at Yan Zhen, who playfully nudged him. "We just make each other better, sir! He keeps me brave, and I... well, I keep him from accidentally punching trees instead of practicing his forms."
Disciple Ming's lips twitched, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. He merely nodded slowly, then returned to his quiet meditation.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived. The **Crimson Lotus Sect** wasn't a single peak, but a vast complex of ornate pagodas, sprawling courtyards, and shimmering cultivation gardens carved into the side of a colossal mountain range. Spiritual energy swirled visibly in the air, forming faint, colorful mists that clung to the ancient buildings. Massive, stylized lotus flowers, carved from crimson jade, adorned gates and plazas. It was breathtaking, overwhelming, and utterly unlike anything they had ever seen.
Yan Zhen stared, his jaw literally dropping. "Whoa... Lin Feng... Look at this place! It's even bigger than in Old Man Li's stories!"
Lin Feng's eyes, too, widened in genuine awe for a moment, the sheer scale of the sect briefly overwhelming even his calculating mind. But quickly, his inner focus returned. This was it. The true stage. "It's incredible, Zhen," he murmured, his voice laced with the same childlike wonder as his friend's. "Our new home. Let's make sure we make a *big* splash here, okay?" He clapped Yan Zhen on the back, a surge of exhilarating anticipation coursing through him.
Yan Zhen grinned, his spirit already soaring. "You bet, Lin Feng! Let's show them what Azure Cloud boys can do!"
As they stepped through the massive crimson gates, leaving the mundane world definitively behind, Lin Feng looked around, taking it all in. *So many people. So many opportunities. And so many women.* His smile widened, completely unnoticed by Yan Zhen who was already pulling him towards the bustling disciple common areas. *This is going to be so much fun.* The game had truly begun.
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