The Brink of Admission

  John Lee stood in the courtyard, the morning sun casting long shadows over the ancient stones.

  The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, a stark contrast to the tension he felt in his gut.

  He had been waiting for hours, each second stretching like elastic, pulling at his nerves.

  Master Wu's words echoed in his mind, leaving him with an unsettling mix of hope and dread.

  What fresh hell awaits me now?

  he thought, glancing at the jade amulet in his hand.

  The swirling colors within it seemed to dance, a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

  Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him.

  John turned to see Liu Feng, his face twisted with jealousy and anger.

  Liu's eyes were venomous, and his fists were clenched at his sides.

  "Listen up, John," Liu hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.

  "You better head home now. This place isn't for you. No one wants a failure like you around."

  John's blood boiled, but he kept his composure.

  He had faced bullies before, in both worlds, and he wasn't about to back down now.

  "Is that so, Liu Feng?" John retorted, his voice steady.

  "You forget, I'm not just some nobody. I'm different. I have something you don't—modern knowledge and a bit of street smarts."

  Liu Feng's face darkened, his eyes narrowing to slits.

  "You think you're better than us? Just because you come from another world? You're nothing but a fraud, a cheat. You won't last a day in here."

  John laughed, a low, confident chuckle.

  "Oh, I'll last. I'll do more than that. I'll become a full disciple, and I'll prove to everyone, including you, that I belong here."

  Liu Feng's hands shook with rage, his knuckles turning white.

  "We'll see about that. This isn't over, John. Far from it."

  John met Liu's glare with a calm, unwavering gaze.

  "Bring it on, Liu. I'm ready for whatever you’ve got."

  Liu Feng turned on his heel and stormed away, his footsteps heavy and angry, the ground almost trembling beneath him.

  John watched him go, a small smile playing on his lips.

  This is just the beginning, he thought.

  And I won't let anyone stand in my way.

  Just as John was about to head back to the waiting area, he felt a sudden chill.

  Something was off.

  He turned around, his senses heightened, and caught a glimpse of a dark figure lurking in the shadows.

  "Is that all you've got, Liu?" John called out, his voice firm.

  "Come on, let's finish this."

  The figure hesitated, but the tension in the air was palpable, a prelude to the storm that was about to break.

  The figure emerged from the shadows, revealing not Liu Feng, but a glint of steel.

  A hidden dagger, flung with deadly accuracy, whizzed past John's ear.

  He ducked instinctively, the wind of its passage rustling his hair.

  Not so fast, Liu, he thought, adrenaline surging through him.

  He was expecting a confrontation, but this cowardly tactic caught him off guard.

  Before he could react, another blade sliced through the air, aimed at his legs.

  This time, John was ready.

  With a swift move, he sidestepped the attack, the dagger burying itself harmlessly in the ground.

  "Playing dirty, eh?" John called out, his voice echoing in the courtyard.

  He knew Liu Feng was hiding nearby, watching from the shadows like the rat he was.

  "Come out and face me, if you have the guts!"

  A figure stepped out from behind a large ornamental rock.

  It wasn't Liu Feng.

  Zhao Yun stood there, his face a mask of disapproval.

  He held another dagger in his hand, the twin of the ones that had just been thrown.

  “Liu Feng, enough!

  ” Zhao Yun’s voice was sharp, laced with authority.

  He glared in the direction Liu Feng had been lurking, “This isn’t how we settle things in Qing Xuan.

  ”

  Liu Feng, face contorted in a mixture of rage and frustration, emerged from his hiding place.

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  “Stay out of this, Zhao Yun!

  This doesn’t concern you.

  ”

  “Anything that threatens the peace of Qing Xuan concerns me,” Zhao Yun retorted, his eyes fixed on Liu Feng.

  “Master Wu has already made it clear that John Lee is under his consideration.

  Attacking him now is not only foolish, but a direct challenge to Master Wu's authority.

  ”

  Liu Feng’s fists clenched and unclenched, his anger palpable.

  He shot a venomous glare at John, then spat on the ground.

  “This isn’t over, Lee.

  You’ll regret this.

  ” He turned and stalked away, defeated and humiliated.

  Meanwhile, inside the grand hall, the air was thick with tension.

  Master Wu sat at the head of the long table, his face impassive.

  Elder Zhang paced back and forth, his voice echoing in the chamber.

  "This is preposterous! We cannot allow this… anomaly to join our ranks. His methods are… unconventional, to say the least. Who knows what kind of chaos he will bring?"

  "Elder Zhang," Master Wu said, his voice calm but firm, "we have tested him thoroughly. His potential is undeniable. His… unique perspective could be an asset to Qing Xuan."

  "An asset? Or a liability?" Elder Zhang scoffed.

  "He manipulates the very essence of Qi in ways we've never seen. It's… unsettling.”

  Master Wu remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the swirling patterns of the jade amulet in his hand.

  The same amulet John Lee had used during his test.

  "Perhaps," he finally said, a cryptic glint in his eyes, "perhaps it is time for Qing Xuan to embrace a little… unconventionality."

  He placed the amulet on the table.

  Its swirling colors seemed to pulse with a hidden energy.

  "Wang Tao," Master Wu said, his voice low, "summon John Lee. It's time…" He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled elders, "…to make a decision."

  John Lee stood in the courtyard, the morning sun casting long shadows over the ancient stones.

  The air, fragrant with blooming flowers, offered a stark contrast to the knot of tension tightening in his gut.

  Hours had crawled by, each second an agonizing stretch on his nerves.

  Master Wu's words echoed in his mind – a disquieting blend of hope and apprehension.

  What fresh hell awaits me now?

  he thought, his fingers tracing the swirling colours within the jade amulet, a kaleidoscope of unknown potential.

  A shadow fell over him.

  John turned to find Liu Feng, his face a mask of jealous rage.

  Venom dripped from his eyes, his fists clenched tight.

  "Listen up, John," Liu hissed, his voice a venomous whisper.

  "You better head home now. This place isn't for you. No one wants a failure like you here."

  John’s blood boiled, but he maintained a cool exterior.

  He’d dealt with bullies before, in both his lifetimes, and he wouldn’t back down now.

  "Is that so, Liu Feng?" John retorted, his voice steady.

  "You seem to forget, I'm not just some nobody. I’m different. I have something you don’t – modern knowledge and a healthy dose of street smarts."

  Liu Feng's face darkened.

  "You think you're better than us? Just because you come from another world? You're nothing but a fraud, a cheat. You won't last a day in here."

  John chuckled, a low, confident sound.

  "Oh, I'll last. I'll do more than last. I'll become a full disciple, and I'll prove to everyone, including you, that I belong here."

  Liu Feng trembled with barely contained fury.

  "We'll see about that. This isn't over, John. Far from it."

  John met Liu’s glare, unwavering.

  "Bring it on, Liu. I'm ready for whatever you’ve got."

  Liu Feng spun on his heel and stormed off, his heavy footsteps echoing angrily across the courtyard stones.

  John watched him go, a small smile playing on his lips.

  This is just the beginning, he thought.

  And I won't let anyone stand in my way.

  He turned to return to the waiting area, but a sudden chill prickled his skin.

  Something felt wrong.

  He spun back, senses heightened, catching a flicker of movement in the shadows.

  He saw a dark figure lurking, partially obscured by a large stone planter.

  He couldn't be sure, but the tense energy radiating from the figure suggested it was Liu Feng, attempting a sneak attack.

  "Is that all you've got, Liu?" John called out, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

  "Trying to ambush me? Come on out. Let's finish this."

  The figure hesitated, frozen in place.

  The air crackled with anticipation, the silence pregnant with the promise of violence.

  Then, a voice, not Liu Feng's, cut through the tension.

  "What's going on here?" It was Zhao Yun, stepping out from behind a nearby pillar, his brow furrowed in concern.

  He glanced from John to the shadowy figure, then back again.

  "Liu Feng, is that you?"

  The figure in the shadows shifted, then reluctantly stepped into the light.

  It was indeed Liu Feng, his face a mask of frustrated anger.

  He glared at Zhao Yun, then at John, before spitting on the ground and stalking away without a word.

  Zhao Yun approached John, a look of concern on his face.

  "Are you alright? What was that about?"

  John shrugged, forcing a casual smile.

  "Just a little misunderstanding. Liu Feng seems to be having a bad day." He glanced towards the direction Liu Feng had disappeared in, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  This wasn't over.

  Not by a long shot.

  But for now, he had a more pressing matter to attend to: the impending decision of Master Wu and the elders.

  His future in the Qingxuan Sect hung in the balance.

  The sun beat down on the courtyard of the Azure Profound Sect, baking the stone tiles to a shimmering heat.

  John Lee stood, a solitary figure amidst the bustling activity of aspiring disciples.

  His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the uncertainty that gnawed at him.

  Master Wu’s words, “further investigation,” echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the precariousness of his situation.

  He’d explained, as best he could, the anomaly in his Qi manifestation.

  He’d spoken of scientific principles, of energy conversion, of concepts utterly alien to this world of cultivators and mystical arts.

  He’d seen the flicker of disbelief in Elder Zhang’s eyes, the skeptical frown etched deep into his weathered face.

  He’d also seen a spark of curiosity in Master Wu’s gaze, a hint of open-mindedness that offered a sliver of hope.

  Suddenly, a shadow fell across him.

  Liu Feng, his face contorted in a sneer, stood before him, arms crossed.

  “So, the charlatan still lingers,” Liu Feng drawled, his voice laced with contempt.

  “Still clinging to your pathetic lies?

  ”

  John clenched his fists, fighting to maintain his composure.

  He knew Liu Feng was looking for any excuse to discredit him, to sabotage his chances of joining the sect.

  “I’ve told the truth,” John said evenly, meeting Liu Feng’s gaze.

  “Whether you believe it or not is your prerogative.

  ”

  Liu Feng’s sneer deepened.

  “Truth?

  You speak of truth when your very existence is a fabrication?

  A peasant like you, with no discernible talent, daring to aspire to join the Azure Profound Sect?

  Preposterous!

  ”

  He leaned in, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper.

  “This isn’t your world, outsider.

  Leave now, before you find yourself in deeper trouble than you can imagine.

  ”

  John met his gaze unflinchingly.

  “Threats don’t scare me, Liu Feng.

  I’ve faced worse.

  ” He allowed a small, almost imperceptible smirk to play on his lips.

  "Besides, wouldn't it be more entertaining to watch you squirm when I succeed?"

  Before Liu Feng could retort, Zhao Yun appeared, placing a hand on Liu Feng’s shoulder.

  “Leave him be, Liu Feng.

  Master Wu will decide his fate.

  ”

  Liu Feng shot Zhao Yun a venomous glare, then turned and stalked away, muttering curses under his breath.

  Zhao Yun offered John a small, apologetic smile.

  “Don’t mind him.

  He’s just… ambitious.

  ”

  John nodded gratefully.

  “I appreciate it, Zhao Yun.

  ”

  Hours crawled by, each one an eternity.

  Finally, Wang Tao emerged from the main hall, his face impassive.

  He surveyed the remaining candidates, his gaze settling on John.

  “John Lee,” he called, his voice resonating across the courtyard.

  John’s breath hitched in his throat.

  This was it.

  “Master Wu has reached a decision,” Wang Tao continued.

  “Despite the… irregularities… in your Qi manifestation, your performance in the other tests has been deemed… satisfactory.

  ” He paused, drawing out the suspense.

  “You are provisionally accepted into the Azure Profound Sect as an outer disciple.

  ”

  A wave of relief washed over John.

  It wasn’t a full acceptance, but it was a foothold, a chance to prove himself.

  He bowed deeply.

  “Thank you, Master Wang Tao.

  I will not disappoint you.

  ”

  As he followed Wang Tao into the sect, John couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a long and arduous journey.

  He glanced back at the courtyard, at the hopeful faces of the other aspiring disciples, and at the spot where Liu Feng had stood, his eyes burning with resentment.

  He knew the challenges ahead would be immense, but he was ready to face them.

  He had come too far to give up now.

  He was on the brink of admission, and he would seize this opportunity with both hands.