Most of the new disciples went home Friday evening.
Yiru and Lanyue left before sunset.
Gao left after visiting Chen Shun.
Shun remained in recovery.
Xueyin stayed in the Outer Court.
So did Chen Ba.
He had considered going home.
Then he imagined sitting across from Aunty Ning and asking why a wound through his abdomen had disappeared.
He still did not know how to begin that conversation.
So he stayed.
Saturday morning, Chen Ba reached the Mission Hall shortly after it opened.
The attendant looked up.
"You again."
"Morning."
"White mission?"
"Probably."
The attendant pointed at the board.
"One mission today."
"I know."
Outer Court disciples could accept only one mission per day.
Finishing early did not allow another.
Chen Ba approached the board.
Xueyin was already standing at the Yellow section with a mission slip in hand.
"What did you find?"
She passed it over.
Yellow Mission — Red Pine Ridge
A pack of Stoneback Jackals has occupied a secondary route used by Chen Clan herb gatherers.
Two gatherers injured.
No deaths.
Estimated pack size:
Six to eight.
One mature alpha.
Objective:
Eliminate the pack.
Confirm the route is safe.
Recover proof of completion.
Minimum team size: three disciples.
Reward: 240 Achievement Points.
Chen Ba read the final requirement.
"Three."
"That's the problem."
"You want it?"
"The reward is good."
For Xueyin, it would be a second Yellow mission.
Her first had been the northern quarry with Gao, Yiru and Lanyue.
They had entered expecting a normal assignment.
After encountering the dead moving where they should not and seeing the back of an unknown monster deeper inside, the four had immediately retreated.
They returned safely and reported everything.
They had not fought it.
Chen Ba had never taken a Yellow mission.
He looked around.
No third thirteen-year-old disciple was present.
"Can we register with two?"
"No," the attendant called from the counter.
"What if we find the third before leaving?"
"Find the third first."
Xueyin returned the slip to the board.
"Tomorrow."
"If it's still here."
"If not, we choose another."
They each selected a White mission instead.
Chen Ba's Saturday assignment was another routine hunt.
He completed it without incident.
Mission Complete: +40 Achievement Points.
Xueyin returned from her own White mission later that day.
+40 Achievement Points.
The remainder of the afternoon went into practice.
Chen Ba worked on Thunder God's Three Steps.
First Step.
Crack!
Land.
Again.
Crack!
Cleaner.
The Second Step remained the wall.
First burst.
Land.
Transfer Qi.
Redirect.
Too slow.
Again.
This time his calf locked.
The Black Pole struck the ground and stopped his fall.
"Again."
Across the training ground, Xueyin practised Phantom Wind Dodge.
Neither interrupted the other.
They trained until evening.
Sunday morning, Xueyin found the Yellow mission still hanging on the board.
Chen Ba arrived soon after.
"We still need three," he said.
The entrance opened.
Chen Gao walked in with a travel bag over one shoulder.
Xueyin turned.
Gao stopped.
"No."
"I haven't said anything."
"You don't need to."
She placed the Yellow slip in his hand.
"We need three."
Gao read it.
"Red Pine Ridge?"
"Yes."
He looked at Chen Ba.
"Your first Yellow?"
"Yes."
For Gao, it would be his second.
His only previous Yellow mission was the same quarry assignment as Xueyin.
He dropped his travel bag beside the wall.
"Fine."
Xueyin took the slip back.
"Good."
"You're not supposed to decide for me."
"You said fine."
"After you decided."
Chen Ba moved Gao's bag away from the walkway.
Gao stared at him.
"You're helping her now?"
"It was in the way."
At the counter, the attendant inspected their three tokens.
"Chen Ba. First Yellow mission?"
"Yes."
"Xueyin?"
"Second."
"Gao?"
"Second."
The attendant placed the slip flat.
"Allocation."
The mission offered 240 Achievement Points.
Xueyin answered first.
"Eighty each."
Gao nodded.
"Fine."
Chen Ba agreed.
The attendant recorded it.
"Fixed at acceptance."
His brush moved across the ledger.
"If the clan awards bonus points beyond the stated reward, you may decide how to divide those additional points."
"If the mission is incomplete and the final reward is reduced, you may decide the allocation again."
He tapped the original entry.
"But if the mission is completed normally for the stated 240, this split stands."
All three nodded.
The attendant stamped the mission.
"Registered."
Then he looked at Chen Ba.
"Stoneback Jackals aren't dangerous because of individual strength."
He tapped the estimated pack size.
"They circle. Probe. Separate."
"If one retreats, check the others before chasing."
Gao folded his arms.
"We know."
The attendant looked at him.
"You've done one Yellow mission."
Gao stopped talking.
"One."
He handed back their tokens.
"Your retreat at the quarry was the correct decision. Keep that judgment."
Then he waved them away.
"Leave together. Return together."
Red Pine Ridge lay several hours southeast.
Xueyin carried the map.
Gao carried most of the shared supplies.
Chen Ba carried the Black Pole.
After an hour, Gao asked,
"Who's leading?"
"No one," Xueyin replied.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
Gao looked at Chen Ba.
"You decide."
"This is my first Yellow mission."
"So?"
"You two have more experience."
Gao laughed.
"One mission."
"Still more."
Xueyin folded the map.
"Our experience was seeing something we couldn't handle and leaving."
"Useful experience," Chen Ba said.
Gao looked at him.
"How?"
"You didn't die."
Gao considered that.
"Fair."
Chen Ba continued,
"We decide together."
Neither objected.
By midday, Red Pine Ridge rose ahead.
The herb-gathering route cut between two forested slopes.
Damaged baskets lay near the roadside.
Xueyin crouched beside several paw prints.
"Stoneback."
Chen Ba studied the overlapping tracks.
"More than one pass through here."
"Then the den is probably close," Gao said.
He unslung the Earthcleaver.
They followed the trail uphill.
Soon, the birds stopped calling.
The three halted.
A growl came from the trees.
Gray-brown fur crossed between two trunks.
Another shape appeared behind them.
Then more.
Chen Ba counted.
Six smaller jackals.
A seventh climbed onto a fallen pine farther uphill.
Larger.
Stone-like plates covered its shoulders and spine.
The mature alpha.
"Seven," Gao said.
Xueyin loosened the Scarlet Coil.
"They've already surrounded us."
Chen Ba drew the Black Pole.
"Stay together."
"And don't chase," Xueyin added.
Gao sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Probably because you keep needing to hear it."
The first Stoneback Jackal lowered its body.
Then lunged.
Lightning Qi entered Chen Ba's calves.
First Step ready.
The battle began.