He opened his mouth and the first thought that immediately shoot through Kous head was “How can someone so old still have all his teeth! And they are white too!” There were many old men with long white beards in the streets but they either had no or just a few yellow teeth! The man on the podium just about to speak his first word… he stopped in the middle. “Welc…” his serene and aloof expression switched between the need to cry and laugh at the same time - his eyes just barely passed over Kou for a moment as he saved himself from embarrassment with a cough “Welcome, at my Ancient Cloud Sect, I’m the grand elder, all of you may call me grand elder Zhou.” After his stumble before the grand elder quickly fell back into his aloof and serene appearance. “In the following 2 years - there will be basic courses for everyone to attend at their own leisure, in these 2 years every contact with the outside world is forbidden, you will stay in the outer sect and the surrounding mountains.” he continued on as his eyes wandered over different people making them shiver a little.

“In these two years, there is also a ban on any conflict in the outer sect, each and every single one of you may have the chance to bloom and grow in these 2 years.”

He left out that after these 2 years there would be duels robbery and worse, while murder and crippling was forbidden in the outer sect - not much else was, those without power would be stomped into the ground being the stepping stones for others to raise even higher in power, this was how this world worked after all. No matter what background you may have if you had enough power nobody would be able to push you down. “The two basic courses will be split in spiritual and physical, while they will run over these 2 years, many of you may not be able to attend if you don’t put in the adequate effort, as tests will be given every so often and those that fail may not attend the courses again.”

This was quite easy to understand, those people that were not able to put in an effort and keep up with their peers would slowly be weeded out until just the elite stayed behind. Even Kou had no problems understanding this at all. “Each and every single one of you will get one yellow spirit stone each weak until you’re cultivation level rises, you can also perform sect missions in the outer sect area to ears extra spirit stones, pills - extra lessons or even access archives - or art pavilion, these missions will be handed out on the outer sect market down the mountain.”

He went on and on about a few more rules that did not seem too important to Kou, just one thing struck her - that people had to live in pairs - that meant her house would get another person in it soon - she was a little nervous about that fact. Then after half an hour of talking they were freed, apparently, girls and males were not allowed to live in one house together - and the choice of house was free? First, come first take.. apparently - As Kou went on her way to her tiny house far down the mountain - she clearly saw how a few people almost leisurely strode to the big mansions - nobody did try to take those away from these people.

It stroke Kou as odd for a moment before she could guess that these people probably had important family backgrounds - so she quickly abandoned the idea of moving somewhere else. When she came to her house she pleasantly realized that nobody else was here yet so she quickly entered. She had locked her door before - but she still checked on the spirit stones.

She had a lot of them, and she found it rather funny that those rich people, even if they found out it was her could not do anything against it for 2 years! After all, if they said anything they would admit to breaking the rules! Not that Kou would go about throwing her wealth around. Still, it was quite funny. The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting in the front room staring at the door, Kou was a bit antisocial and had not made any effort talking with her fellow students at all, she had hurried back home immediately. It was way into the evening when a knock was heard and Kou.. somewhat timidly opened the door. In front of her was a girl about half a head taller than herself, she was pretty in every aspect, glossy black hair that reached down to her behind, a remarkably slender figure for a child and two deep red eyes. Even her voice was pleasing to the ears even if her tone was lacking emotion

“Is there still a free room here?”

Kou was taken aback a little, she herself was scruffy tiny and had dirty white hair and yellow eyes - if anyone told her she was pretty she would’ve laughed at him. Still, she would not deny that there was room here and simply nodded leaving it to the other girl if she was willing to even live with someone such as Kou.

The girls somewhat cold gaze brushed over Kou for a moment, and she immediately felt judged, but the girl simply nodded “I will stay here if it is all the same for you, my name is Xiu Shihong.” With these words she stepped in, she did not have any luggage at all with her just the sect robe on her body. Kou quickly stepped out of the way, her heart thumbing awkwardly fast - she had never much interacted with other girls or children in general therefore her voice was a bit higher pitched then she would’ve liked. “Kou.. Uwh..Yun Kou.. just Kou is fine…” She mumbled. The apparent familiarity that the other girl offered her immediately had Xiu Shihong raise an eyebrow slightly “It should be Miss Yun for now.” Her voice carrying a hint of amusement with it as her eyes wandered around - the place was tiny - but it was apparently enough for her.

Kou froze for a moment, that was right... Yun was how other people would call her not Kou, she did know that - heck she called miss Hei miss Hei did she not? She wished to bury herself into the ground right now and just stood there motionless for a bit. The other girl's eyes wandered around more noticing a few plant pots already carrying mountain flowers, in the back garden were also a small batch of spirit grass already growing - letting her gaze fall back on Kou after taking in everything. “Would you show me the free room?” “Will.” Kou answered simply - and went ahead showing Xiu Shihong the empty room, it was untouched and in normal condition. “Good - Miss Yun, if you have any rules that you would like to establish you should speak up now.”

Kou tilted her head to the side nodding slowly “Well.. I think we should not enter each other's rooms… unless invited? Everything else should be shared, yes?” This was mostly to hide the fact that her chest was full of spirit stones - but she thought it was a good rule in general too.

Miss Xiu nodded slowly “That is fine by me - also if someone uses the meditation room for a long time it would be preferable to inform the other first, so nobody gets disrupted in cultivation.”

And so after establishing simple rules, the girls each departed for their room, Kou did not quite know what she felt about having a roommate, but she could’ve probably gotten someone worse, Miss Xiu seemed to be rather polite and calm.