Chapter 5: Doctor Mo

As Han Li dangled mid-cliff, a hand suddenly gripped his waist, hoisting him upward. The senior disciple who had shadowed him now carried him effortlessly to the summit. The sun hung directly overhead—*noon*.

At the top, six children sat exhausted. Wu Yan stood beside a portly elder in a deep-blue robe, flanked by Elder Yue and Guardian Wang. Han Li's heart sank. *I failed.*

Elder Yue addressed the group:

"Seven pass. Six join the **Hundred Forge Hall** as inner disciples." He turned to the elder. "Wu Yan, first to summit, enters the **Seven Extremes Hall** to learn our secret arts."

The elder stroked his beard, nodding approvingly.

Elder Yue continued: "Zhang Tie and Han Li—though late—showed grit. Train under instructors for six months. Pass, and join as inner disciples; fail, become outer disciples."

Han Li glanced at Zhang Tie, the boy who had trailed him on the rope. The remaining children were dismissed with silver coins.

Two seniors led the group down the mountain. Han Li noticed Wu Yan still chatting with the elder.

A lanky senior sneered: "Wu Yan's only here because his cousin married Vice-Sect Leader Ma. Otherwise, he'd never qualify for the Seven Extremes Hall."

The cold-faced senior, **Zhang Jun**, hissed: "Watch your tongue! Mocking the Vice-Sect Leader means confinement!"

Han Li pieced it together: *Wu Yan's connections, not skill, got him in.*

The group fell silent, tension thickening.

In a dense forest, an elderly man emerged—gaunt, pale-haired, coughing violently. The seniors bowed deeply.

"Doctor Mo! Do you need assistance?" Zhang Jun asked, uncharacteristically reverent.

Mo surveyed the children. "I need a medicine apprentice and a herb gatherer. Those two." He pointed at Han Li and Zhang Tie.

"Obey Doctor Mo. Learning his arts is a fortune!" The seniors fawned.

Han Li and Zhang Tie followed Mo into a lush valley—**Divine Hand Valley**. Medicinal fields sprawled to the left; clustered houses to the right.

"Rest here. Meet me tonight," Mo rasped before retreating into a grand hall.

Exhausted, Han Li collapsed onto a wooden bed. *At least I'm halfway in.