Chapter Ten: The Hui Spirit Test

The crimson sun rose in the east, and the paper boat descended upon a clearing in the forested mountains. Led by the patriarch, everyone set out toward the county city.

For most of the children, this was their first journey far from home. At first, they remained awestruck by the grandeur of the city, unable to break free from its impact. After only a few steps, they clustered together, eagerly sharing their impressions. Their excited chatter filled the air.

The elders did nothing to restrain them, listening with gentle smiles. Occasionally, they would interject with a teasing remark, and amid the laughter, the city gate soon appeared before them.

Gu Weiyu gazed at the long “dragon” of people outside the city gate. There were twice as many people entering the city today as there had been on her last visit, and among them were many children about her age. She couldn’t help but wonder to herself: could these children, too, be here to take the clan’s spirit root test?

Nearby, someone began to ask questions about the frog-beast. Most people, having heard the tales, felt uneasy, and even the little ones fell silent, no longer daring to chatter.

Those entering the city all obediently handed over their entry coins, which bored the frog-beast so much that it sprawled idly on the ground.

Once inside, the patriarch led them straight past the marketplace and toward the eastern part of the city. Last time Gu Weiyu had come, she’d only visited the market and nowhere else, so she observed her surroundings with fresh curiosity.

“In Qin County, there are four great families: the Gu, the Lu, the Yun, and the Lian. Our Gu family has a legacy stretching back a thousand years, with an unbroken line of descendants. Our heritage runs deeper than any other family’s. Look—every shop on this street belongs to the Gu clan…”

Grandfather Patriarch clasped his hands behind his back, adopting a grand, commanding pose as he recounted the illustrious history of their family to the group of children at his heels. In that moment, the children were filled with admiration, and the old patriarch seemed more dignified than ever.

Standing off to the side, Mu and Uncle Agen watched expressionlessly: The patriarch is showing off again!

Even so, Gu Weiyu listened with eager interest. But just then, a discordant voice cut through the air, interrupting the patriarch’s boastful tale. “Grandfather Patriarch, if that’s so, why do we all live in Qingshan Village instead of here in the city?”

The patriarch’s expression froze. He glanced at the innocent, clueless child and his face grew somber. “That’s because we have no spirit roots, or only impure ones. Naturally, we have no right to live in the city.”

“If we have spirit roots, can we live in the city?” another quick-witted child immediately asked.

The patriarch stroked his long beard and nodded. “Yes, if you have spirit roots, you can live in the city.”

At once, the children grew restless. The city was so big and lively—they all longed to live there!

“Enough, everyone quiet down! We’ve arrived!” The patriarch, spotting a spacious, ancient mansion up ahead, waved his hand. Gu Weiyu looked up.

Whitewashed walls, black-tiled eaves, a vermillion gate, and two imposing stone beasts crouched before the entrance. The red doors stood wide open, and a young man in black robes stood just within.

“Gu Yong of Qingshan Village greets the Chief Steward,” the patriarch stepped forward and said respectfully.

Gu Hui emerged from within, his gaze warm as he welcomed the group inside. “Uncle Yong, you’ve arrived? Please, come in!”

Then another man, clad in grey, appeared and led them into a large courtyard.

The courtyard was already filling up. The elders greeted familiar faces, gathering together in conversation. The children waiting for the test stood awkwardly at first, wide-eyed and silent, but soon began to make friends with those nearby.

Gu Weiyu looked around. The houses were built from blue stone, with windows and doors painted red and carved with scenes of birds and flowers—elegant and refined. In the center of the courtyard stood a raised platform with a stone table atop it. She was about to take a closer look when a cheerful voice sounded at her ear.

“My name’s Ahua, from Yanchazhai. What about you?” Standing beside Gu Weiyu was another little girl, the first to break the silence.

“I’m Ayu, from Qingshan Village,” Gu Weiyu replied, turning to Ahua with a gentle smile, and the two began chatting.

Several more groups arrived afterward. It seemed the old patriarch was right about one thing: the Gu clan’s branches were indeed flourishing. In this courtyard alone stood over a hundred children, all six years old.

As Gu Weiyu conversed, she kept a keen eye on her surroundings. She was quick to notice a middle-aged man in dark robes appear at the gate, with Steward Gu Hui standing respectfully behind him. Just as Gu Weiyu glanced over, the man in black happened to lift his eyes and look her way.

Startled, Gu Weiyu quickly bowed her head, trying to blend in. The man stroked his beard and smiled, then turned to say something to Gu Hui before leaving.

Gu Hui stepped onto the central platform. Behind him, a man in grey carried a peculiar round disk. Gu Hui gestured for quiet, then announced in a clear voice, “The spirit root testing will begin shortly. Please be patient, everyone.”

The courtyard fell silent at once. The disk was placed carefully on the stone table. Gu Hui picked up a register. “I will call your names. When you hear yours, come up to the platform. First, Gu Qinglin from Songshan Village.”

A little boy stepped forward, nervous as he walked onto the platform.

“Put your hand on the disk and focus all your attention,” instructed Gu Hui.

The boy did as told, placing his hand on the disk and holding his breath, concentrating with all his might. But the disk remained utterly inert. He looked up at Gu Hui, confused.

“No spirit root. You may step down. Next, Gu Qingjiang from Songshan Village.”

The first boy, Gu Qinglin, looked disappointed as another boy took his place.

“Put your hand on the disk…” Gu Hui repeated. Gu Qingjiang placed his small hand on the disk, but again, there was no reaction.

Gu Hui showed no surprise. This was perfectly normal—children born to mortals or those with impure roots had only the slimmest chance of possessing a spirit root at all. If even ten children in this courtyard had a spirit root, it would be remarkable, and that wasn’t counting the impure ones!

The testing went swiftly. Over a dozen children in a row were found to have no spirit root, and the rest waiting in the courtyard grew increasingly anxious.

Some, upon learning they had no spirit root, even burst into tears. One child wailed, “My chicken leg—waaah!” Clearly, his elders had promised him a treat if he turned out to have a spirit root.

“No spirit root. Next, Gu Weihua from Yanchazhai.” At this, the little girl who had just befriended Gu Weiyu stepped up onto the platform. She reached out and placed her hand gently on the disk, which immediately began to glow faintly with a misty, five-colored light.

Gu Hui glanced at Gu Weihua and smiled. “Fivefold spirit root. All values below twenty. Next, Gu Qinghan from Qingshan Village.”

Though fivefold roots were impure, it was still better than none at all. Ahua beamed as she stepped down, and her family rejoiced—she was the first child today to show any spirit root at all!

Gu Weiyu smiled at Ahua as she walked past, then looked toward the platform. Her turn was coming soon, and she found herself holding her breath in anticipation.