Noble Rogue Sect

"It is I, Tai Quin."

The guard quickly lowered the lever and the gate slowly rose up. He greeted Tai Quin the moment he entered.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

Looks like Tai Quin has some authority in the Noble Rogue Sect. He led me through the Sect to the very top which was the Grandmaster's (the leader of the Sect) library. In between the entrance and library, there was a gate with five guards protecting the entrance. They all wore blue robes with brown armguards, straps and belts. Two have helmets and one of them has a leather shoulder pad strapped to his left arm. The one with the shoulder pad approached us.

"Tai Quin, eh? Welcome back. Your father has been patiently waiting for your return... I suggest going to him first."

Tai Quin nodded.

"Best not to keep my father waiting."

The guard with the shoulder pads unlocked the door with one of the keys strapped to his belt. I felt so unimportant next to Tai Quin... it was like everyone cared about him and I was just an invisible shadow. They didn't even ask who I was! Well, maybe it was for the better. We walked up to the stairs which lead to the library. Inside stood a middle-aged man with a black hood over his face. His black robe was decorated with beautiful gold patterns. When we walked in, he looked up.

"Welcome back son, I take it you succeeded in your mission?"

Tai Quin bowed.

"Yes, father."

The man looked me dead in the eyes, emitting an icy cold aura. It felt like his eyes were daggers ready to pierce my soul.

"Who is this?"

"I..."

Tai Quin interrupted me.

"He is my benefactor. The Tiger shot an arrow into my back... he defeated the Tiger with ease and saved my life."

The middle-aged man nodded in approval.

"Even though I do not like the fact that my son lost to a bandit... I am grateful to you, may I know your name?"

My name... Tai Quin and I discussed this subject many times, we both decided on the name Jun Long.

"Jun Long is my name."

"Well, Jun Long, I must reward you for saving my son, no? Let me think... how about a place in the Noble Rogue Sect, my Sect? Not only that, you would be given your own room, more resources for cultivation and a nascent profound weapon of your choice."

Tai Quin looked at me, nodding. The things he's offering sound pretty damn good... I'll accept. It's not like I have anywhere else to go.

"I accept your proposal."

"Good. Quin, show him around and get him up to speed."

"As you wish, father."

~

Tai Quin took me on a tour around the fortress, showing me the locations I needed to know about as a disciple. There were many places in the fortress, hell there was a whole underground layer! Sadly, we could not go there as my rank was too low. I was slightly disappointed, but I understood why. I would have to progress through the ranks and gain the Sect's trust to be able to access the more restricted areas. Tai Quin told me that the most important place was the mission board, where missions sent by people are collected by the sect and put on display. If disciples (sometimes masters) saw a mission that they would like to do, they would give it to an elder and the elder would then decide whether to allow the disciple to do it or not. Most missions are relatively short, while others can last up to four years!

"This is your room. Basic training starts tomorrow, make sure to read the book on the table. It will help you with understanding the structure of the sect. Take a good night's sleep, I'll see you in a hundred days."

Tai Quin said as he unlocked the door and gave me the key. He smiled on the "hundred days" part. Hundred days? Why a hundred days? Does basic training last a... hundred days?! No way...

I looked around for Tai Quin but he was long gone. Damn that Quin.

I went into my room. It was a pretty banged up room, but I didn't complain. It's an upgrade from the ground. There was a white robe placed on the bed, I picked it up. It was similar to the blue uniform the guards wore, apart from the fact that it was white. I put it to the side and picked up the book Quin was talking about.

"The Noble Rogue Sect."

Alright, let's see what's it about. I open the book and start reading.

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(Summarised)

History:

It all began when the founder, Tai Shun, was tired of the bandits that inhabited Oldtown. The bandits demanded regular payments of money and food in exchange for their "protection". Sometimes the bandits would just come down their hill and take everything they wanted from the town, without any justifiable reason for doing so. This changed when Tai Shun arrived. He saw their unjust actions, and so he annihilated them with his almighty wind arts. The Townspeople hailed him as their saviour and worshipped him. A few years later, Tai Shun would build a castle on top of the hill. This was the beginning of the Noble Rogue Sect.

He opened the sect to any local willing to join. Eventually, the number of disciplines rose to ten thousand... that's where it capped off. The Noble Rogue Sect started to have stricter requirements to join since it was rising in power. Generations later a boy named Tai Wentian shocked the entire Blue Wind Empire. Previously the highest rank the sect reached was top four hundred, but with Tai Wentian's extraordinary tournament run that all changed. Tai Wentian placed first in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament, defeating the Heavenly Sword Villa disciples (who always placed first).

Many years have passed since then, Tai Wentian is now a retired middle-aged man with three children. Two sons, Quin and Shu, who both have aspirations of becoming the leader of the Sect and a daughter, Xia, who is quite talented yet uninterested in the sect.

Structure and Ranking:

1: Trainee

Trainees are the newest of all disciples. Every disciple starts at this phase, no matter their cultivation level. To progress to the next rank, initiate, they must complete basic training which is an INTENSIVE (truly) hundred-day schedule made to prepare disciples for missions. Basic training is usually lead by an experienced master or elder. If one were to fail this training, they would have to do it again the next time it is hosted.

2: Initiate

Initiates are true disciples who can go on missions, they get a cloak and a red stripe on their hood. To reach the next rank, adept, they must complete any three missions and be Nascent Profound (or higher).

3: Adept

Adepts are the more experienced disciples, because of that, they are able to join a division. They can do this by either, doing a trial (and passing) or attending the quarterly assembly. The two available divisions are the Blades and the Guards, both are very important to the Sect (that comes later). They get two stripes on their hood.

4: Alpha

To reach this rank, an adept must perform excellently in one high priority mission (the hardest missions). There is a huge gap between adept and alpha, as most alpha's are spirit profound and above. They proudly wear their three-striped hood.

5: Master

Masters are usually graduated Alpha's (20 years old+) who have been selected by the Grandmaster himself. They train and teach disciples, sometimes they go on very important missions requested by the Grandmaster. Masters are usually peak spirit profound to mid earth profound. They wear specially made robes which are easily distinguishable.

6: Elder

Elders are retired masters who spread their wisdom to disciples and authorize missions. They also have an annual meeting with the Grandmaster where they discuss important matters. There are only four sky profound elders. They wear black robes with silver patterns.

7: Grandmaster

A grandmaster is at the very top of the hierarchy, basically the King. A grandmaster is selected from the previous grandmaster's children, which means the Tai family have always ruled the Noble Rogue Sect. (Wear black robes, which are decorated with golden patterns)

Divisions:

Guards protect the castle and the surrounding land (they also keep disciples in check) while Blades attack the Sect's enemies. The Guards (some people call them blues) are basically the defensive division while the Blades are the offensive division. Both Blades and Guards have their own hierarchies.

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This book was longer than I expected, good thing I have the Sharingan. I think...

Drop! I fell to sleep from exhaustion.

Killing beasts is one thing, but finishing a whole (large) book in two hours is another!

Luckily, Aerion got a good night's sleep... for Hell is awaiting him tomorrow.