Fu Yilan loosened the cloth wraps around her chest. They had been pressing on her bountiful chest for a few hours now, and it was getting unpleasant. Hidden in an alleyway, she took a few deep breaths, having not been able to do so while hiding her breasts. Fu Yilan adjusted the loose robes she wore to hide her curves. Dirt had been smeared on her face, and a long time without washing had made her hair look like a bird’s nest.
It was a necessity though, ever since her body had started growing. Living on the streets meant that the hand of the law was usually further away than the hand of a leering beggar. One that was stronger than her. Fu Yilan shivered as she thought of the times she hadn’t managed to get away in time. She took deep breaths, trying to calm down. Memories bubbled up, of how she had been pushed down, unable to do anything. Of how another beggar walked past, ignoring what was happening. Fu Yilan bit her lip, pushing away the thoughts.
She tightened her chest wraps once more before stepping out into the street. It was spring, rays of sun banishing winter’s dreary gray. Luckily, it wasn’t all that cold in winter, but the sun shining and the shorter nights made her feel safer outside.
Fu Yilan was eighteen by now, and the shrine no longer handed out food to women her age. She was now an adult and forced to survive on her own. Up until that point she had been surviving on those shrine meals and whatever her big eyes and quivering lip could get her. Most establishments didn’t like beggars digging through their trash for left over meals, but they let Fu Yilan scavenge for bites to eat.
She had tried to apply for training at the different local shops. Smiths, woodworkers, weavers, and others alike however had denied her the chance to learn a proper craft. Either they already had too many children to teach, or they just despised her because she was a beggar. Fu Yilan could see the looks they threw at her. In the end, it came down to one simple fact. She was not good enough to enter into their home, to learn from them, be around them. She was to be confined to the trash.
There was also a brothel in Three River Town. Women with loose clothes stood by the entrance, inviting in any who looked at them, and those who didn’t. Looking down at herself, Fu Yilan knew she would probably be hired. But she knew how the town’s people looked at the women working there, selling their bodies to get by. She didn’t like it. Shivers ran down her back when she thought of pleasing men, similar to those beggars she had to be so careful of. No, it would not happen!
That was why she would be going to the local sect, to see if she had the necessary talent to cultivate and shed her mortal chains. Children usually got tested earlier, joining the sect at the age of fourteen if they had the talent. Fu Yilan didn’t have anyone to take her up the mountain. With life beating her down constantly, she had decided not to bother with it. The heavens didn’t seem to want her up there.
But now she was desperate for a path forward. It was either this or selling herself. And she knew which one she preferred. Rinsing off the worst of the dirt on her face from a gourd she carried by her side, stolen from a nameless drunk who’d died in an alley two years ago, she made her way out of town up the ten thousand steps to the gates of the Shifting Grass sect.
It took several hours before she arrived at the top, sweat pouring down her face. The sect’s name was written on the large green signboard above the gate. Knocking on it, a middle-aged, bearded cultivator pulled it open. Disdain dripped from every word as he asked her what a beggar girl like her was doing at their gates. The glare, accompanied by a missing tooth made her flinch back for a moment. But this was it. The moment she had been working up to.
“This Fu Yilan wishes to have her aptitude tested! Please, honorable cultivator.” She bowed, hoping for the best. In the end, it all relied on this man’s whim.
“You’re three days late for the testing, girl,” he replied, grinding his teeth. Fu Yilan stayed bowed. It was clear that he was not a fan of the prospects of additional work. She clenched her hand in bow, heart sinking slowly. It had all been for naught. She shouldn’t have come here! “Fine, come in. One more won’t make a difference.”
A smile bloomed on Fu Yilan’s face. “Thank you, thank you so much honored cultivator. May the heavens smile upon you!” He just waved his hand at her.
Fu Yilan was led through an elegant courtyard with neatly trimmed trees and bushes lining the gravel pathway. Passing by a large training ground, paved with square blocks of stone, the building he took her into was rather small. Crates were stacked high.
“Ignore the crates. We don’t keep the room cleared outside of the trial phase. The phase that you missed.” Fu Yilan could feel the man getting annoyed, but she didn’t know what she could say to help him feel better. To be on the safe side, she didn’t say anything. “Ah, there it is.”
He pulled out a circular disc with five needles sticking up. “Put your hand on top and let each needle prick your fingers simultaneously. It might be an unusual feeling, but it’ll pass.” He said it with a monotony that implied having said that line numerous times already.
Fu Yilan did as she was told. Slowly, the disc lit up. Her heart started to beat quicker. “Is that light a good sign?”
“Yes. Passable foundations. Now hold your hand there so we can find out which element you’re most aligned to.” The disk turned blue, with pinkish streaks going through it. “Water aligned. Slight wood as well, but mostly water. Ignore those pink streaks though. Might be related to your body’s foundation, but we don’t have testing equipment for that here. Had it been golden streaks or sparks, then we would have sent you to the main sect. Pink, however, is usually–“ He wanted to say something, caught in the routine of inspecting. Then he stopped. “Never mind.”
Fu Yilan however was barely listening at that point. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a giddy grin on her lips. She could be a cultivator. She could join the sect! This was the best day of her life.
“I’ll show you to the sleeping halls. Men and women separate, though we don’t have many women here in the first place.” She knew why. Women were expected to stay at home, bear children, and care for the family. It was part of the reason no one had allowed her to learn their craft, she was sure.
When they arrived, the cultivator who had been leading her around stopped in front of the door. “Cover your ears for a moment.” Fu Yilan did as she was told. “Old hag Chen, come out! We have a new sect mate!”
Half a minute later, an old lady with a bent back came shuffling out the door. “Shut your trap Young Hu! I can hear just fine.” She looked over to Fu Yilan. “So, this the new one?” Her eyes scanned over her body, making her feel like she was being undressed by the old woman. “Not bad,” she grinned.
“My name is Fu Yilan, honored senior.” Fu Yilan bowed, and old lady Chen just nodded back.
“Just call me Grandma Chen. Follow me, I’ll show you to your room. And Little Hu, back to the gate with you.” She sounded annoyed, but the cultivator, apparently named Hu, just snickered and walked away. “You room will be the last one on the left, back here. Washrooms are here in the middle. No alcohol and no men in here. Understand?” Fu Yilan nodded dutifully. It was her first hour in her new sect. She wouldn’t antagonize the second person she’d meet.
“It’s dinner time right now, that’s why you probably didn’t see anyone on your way here. At the moment, there are three other female disciples here in the Shifting Grass Sect. You’ll probably see each other this evening or at tomorrow’s morning training.” She wrinkled her nose as she took another look at Fu Yilan. “There are robes in your room. Get cleaned up. You’re absolutely filthy. I’ll get you a bite to eat.” Then Grandma Chen turned and shuffled away. Fu Yilan smiled at her retreating back.
It had been a while since Fu Yilan had last taken a bath. It was safer for her to look as dirty and unappealing as possible while being homeless, so that what she had done. It was also the reason why it took a lot of scrubbing to remove the layers of dirt from her body. Using a brush she tried to get her hair under control. It was an arduous process, but by the end of it, her dark brown hair was wonderfully untangled and wavy again. It looked the nicest it had looked in years.
Pale skin appeared beneath all the scrubbing. Despite living on the streets, her body had kept fat stores in her chest, hips, thighs, and behind. She squeezed, and it was incredibly soft. Maybe it had something to do with her body’s foundation, that Brother Hu didn’t seem to want to elaborate on.
Excitement returned in a wave. She was going to become a cultivator! It still didn’t feel real. As though the heavens were playing a cruel trick on her. Hugging herself tightly, Fu Yilan breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Relief, happiness, and uncertainty about what the future might bring warred with each other within her heart.
Drying herself off, she retied her chest wrap, then slid on her issued sect garments. A light green and white fit together nicely, sitting loosely on her body. Fu Yilan spun once to enjoy the feeling of the washed cloth on her skin. It was miles better than the rags she had arrived in.
Returning to her room, a bowl with cold rice and some greens stood on her bedside table. Despite being very small, only meant for sleeping, Fu Yilan loved her room. It was so much better than the corners she had to squeeze into. Banishing the memories, she tucked into her meal. A few tears escaped as she ate.
The next morning, a knock on the door woke her up. Then it opened and a girl that looked like she was a bit younger than Fu Yilan. Her face was a bit too long, and she had a sneer on her face. “Get up, morning training starts in fifteen minutes!” Fu Yulin rushed out of bed. Her chest wrap had stayed on during the night, out of habit. Quickly slipping into her robes, she hurried after the girl.
“I’m Li Mingxia. Call me sister Li. But remember, I’ve been her longer, so technically I’m your senior. Understand?” Fu Yilan just nodded. “They want me to tell you this, so remember it because I won’t repeat myself. Earthly realm one through three you call sister or brother. All on the same level. Realm four through seven you call senior brother or senior sister. Everything above is an elder of this branch.”
Fu Yilan had several questions burning holes in her tongue, but they had arrived. And she was scared to interact further with Sister Li. She seemed to dislike her, and was most likely stronger as well, being a cultivator. Her street-honed instincts told her to steer clear, and she listened.
They joined the other forty third class disciples in the last row, and heads turned to look at the new arrival. There was only one other girl there, apart from the one that had picked Fu Yilan up. She had truly underestimated how little society thought of women.
A burly man stood at the front and started counting. With each number, a different stance was taken. Fu Yilan tried to mimic the others best she could, but they were all cultivators, while she was still a mere mortal, not having broken through yet. It was a rough hour.
Afterwards, she laid on the cold stone, drenched in sweat. The others were breathing heavy, while she could barely move. The other girl bent down, offering a helping hand.
“You must be the new Sister. You alright? It’s really tough in the beginning. Especially if you haven’t broken through to the earthly realm yet.” She spoke quietly, shyness radiating off of her. Letting herself be pulled up by the girl’s surprising strength, Fu Yilan smiled in thanks.
“I’m Fu Yilan. Yes, I just joined yesterday. What do you mean, Earthly Realm? I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“Ah, I’m so sorry. Gao Dongmei. Call me Sister Gao.” She almost stumbled over her words. “Yes, the Earthly Realm is the first level of cultivation. Split into different stages, from one to ten. I’ll show you to the scripture pavilion where you can get cultivation methods and techniques. You will be given a month to break through to the first stage of the earth realm, otherwise you will be thrown out. But I’m sure you’ll manage.” Sister Gao smiled at Fu Yilan, calming the worry her words had caused.