The morning air was surprisingly quiet for being the latter half of spring. The sun shone bright in the sky. On the Azure Peak disciples did not rush to finish a forgotten task or mend clothing. Instead, the majority actually did as the name implied and rested.

  But in the Inner Sect, hidden on one of the tallest roofs, sat the sect Elders and the Sect Master sipping tea. To most it would seem like they had lost all sense of decorum, meeting on a roof instead of at a table. But the honored founders had established this tradition, so that those charged with leading the Sect be forced to look at what their decisions would impact.

  The eight Elders and the Sect Master were discussing the progress of the previous year's recruits. Yun Ting, the elder responsible for overseeing the recruiting process, his masked visage unchanging, tapped a slender finger on his teacup. "The initial intake shows promise," he stated, his voice a calm rumble that cut through the spring breeze. "We have a gratifying number of applicants demonstrating a keen interest in alchemy, their foundational knowledge surprisingly robust. And in herbalism, we've seen an abundance of individuals with a natural affinity for the earth's bounty, many already possessing a rudimentary understanding of healing properties, which warms my spirit."

  Songhua, Mistress of the Golden Fang sect's Medical Pavilion, nodded with a gentle smile, her own teacup held delicately. "Indeed, Yun Ting. The budding healers show a remarkable resilience, their desire to mend and alleviate suffering evident even in these early stages. It bodes well for the future of our compassionate arts. I've already identified a few with a particularly bright spark, a natural intuition for diagnosing ailments and a steady hand for intricate procedures." She gestured vaguely towards the sprawling grounds below, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "This new generation, they carry a vibrant energy, a willingness to learn that fills me with optimism. I have a feeling many will exceed our expectations and bring great honor to the sect."

  Yun Ting inclined his head, the mask obscuring any expression. "The numbers are encouraging, but the true test lies ahead. Yet I share your optimism, Songhua. The foundation is strong, the potential palpable. Each candidate represents a seed of future growth, and it is our duty to nurture them, to guide them towards their brightest futures. The winds of change are blowing favorably for Azure Peak, and I believe this recruitment cycle will mark a new dawn of prosperity and skill for our esteemed sect."

  The Sect Master, a stoic figure whose gaze seemed to pierce through the sunlit haze, finally broke the harmonious flow of conversation. His voice, though gentle, carried the weight of command. "Yun Ting," he began, his eyes sweeping across the verdant expanse below, "your report is most encouraging. Yet the path to true mastery is rarely without its trials. Were there any among this springs aspirants who presented... complexities? Those whose paths might deviate from the expected course, requiring more than simple guidance?" His question hung in the air, a subtle challenge to the elder's seemingly flawless assessment.

  Yun Ting's masked countenance betrayed no emotion, yet his momentary hesitation before responding confirmed the Elder's probing question had hit a nerve. "Sect Master" he acknowledged, his tone unruffled, "while most candidates have shown remarkable talent and commitment, five have developed... unusually. They've each achieved a full disciple's output shortly after induction, a considerable accomplishment. However, their means and the context of their swift ascent invite scrutiny. Thus, they are presently under discreet inquiry by Disciple Yue." The reference to Yue, renowned for her keen mind and relentless pursuit of facts, lent significant weight to the developing circumstances.

  A murmur rippled through the assembled elders, a collective intake of breath that underscored the gravity of Yun Ting's disclosure. Songhua’s gentle smile faltered for a fleeting moment, her eyes now reflecting a flicker of concern. The promise of a new dawn, so brightly painted moments before, now carried a shadow of uncertainty. The Azure Peak, built on a foundation of rigorous discipline and unwavering integrity, demanded answers when such anomalies arose.

  The serious atmosphere was suddenly shattered by a flute. It wasn't playing a song but rather playing each note in turn. This was not that unusual, as some choose to pursue musical interests on rest days or when they have free time. What was surprising was that each note carried a trace of wood Qi that grew with each repetition.

  The Sect Master and the eight Elders, their gazes previously fixed on the distant horizon, now turned towards the source of the disturbance. As a pipa joined in, its melody accompanied by a subtle yet discernible surge of fire Qi, a collective shift occurred. The Sect Master rose slowly, his stoic demeanor unchanged, and gestured towards the grounds below. The elders followed suit, their curiosity piqued by the unusual convergence of elemental energies emanating from the quiet disciples.

  Descending from their elevated vantage point, the group moved with a practiced efficiency. They approached the area where the music originated, a small clearing on the outside of the sect where five figures with instruments were now gathered. From the roof top they saw the flute player, a young man with short hair and an agile form, continued to play, the wood Qi emanating from him in a tangible aura in time with his notes. Beside him, a young man coaxed fiery notes from the pipa, the flames of his affinity dancing in the air, illuminating his focused expression. The harmonious interplay of wood and fire Qi, once subtle, now pulsed with a distinct power, resonating with the very earth beneath their feet.

  As the musical ensemble continued, a third instrument, a yaogu played by the shortest of the five and the first woman, joined the symphony. With its arrival, a wave of earth Qi rose up through the clearing, nurturing and solid, creating a foundation for the fire and the vibrant green of the wood. The remaining two individuals, another man with a set of metal bowls and a slim woman with an erhu, joined adding metal and water to complete the cycle. The Sect Master and the Elders watched, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

  Songhua’s gaze sharpened. Her eyes, which had previously held a gentle warmth, now registered a distinct recognition as she surveyed the five disciples. They were the individuals who had sustained grievous injuries during the spring equinox examination, a demonstration gone awry at the hands of Jian Li. The severity of their wounds had been considerable, leaving several to question their future within the sect, let alone their ability to ever achieve full disciple status.

  The Sect Master, his brow now subtly furrowed, observed Songhua's reaction. Yun Ting, ever watchful, noted the shift in the Medical Pavilion Mistress’s demeanor. The convergence of elemental Qi, a phenomenon rare even among seasoned cultivators, was now complicated by Songhua’s dawning realization. The swift progression of these five recruits, dismissed by Yun Ting as an unusual incident, now carried a different weight. Their ability to manifest such potent elemental energies, particularly after such traumatic injuries, presented a stark deviation from expected recovery trajectories, warranting a deeper investigation into the circumstances of their healing and their subsequent development.

  "I wonder," the Sect Master said as he watched, "If they are aware of the physical impact of awakening an elemental affinity while still in the first stage of the Earth realm."

  Elder Yun did something surprising. He laughed. "Little Yue informed me they had only ignited their dantian within a month or two before they came here, and none come from clans with cultivators." The rest of the Elders were suddenly filled with mirth.

  "I do think I will be watching the aspirant's morning exercises tomorrow." The Sect Master said, even as the nine watched each of the musician's hair shifted from the usual dark colors to sudden vibrant shades that matched the type of Qi they had produced.

  Quest Complete: Find Your Dao

  Objectives:

  Awaken your affinity: Wood

  Select a Cultivation method: ????

  Reward: Access to the Points Store

  Bonus: For completing both objectives simultaneously, you get either a combat, crafting, or healing manual.

  The message before my eyes should have been something to celebrate. A major achievement. Except for one thing.

  My hair. My beautiful, normal, dark black hair. Now it was almost an eye watering shade of vibrant malachite green. All because I’d had the audacity to… well, to test a silly theory my friends had. The flute, my new bamboo flute, had unlocked my wood Qi, and apparently, this was the celestial decree for such an event: permanently dye your hair a color that screams “look at me, I’m a walking Chia Pet!” The rest of the band, my fellow musical anomalies, were sporting equally garish hues – Chen, all fiery orange and red; Tang, a solid, earthy brown; Qin, a glinting silver; and Lijiang, a shimmering waterfall of blue. We were a walking, talking rainbow after a particularly aggressive paint fight.

  Lijiang was a tempest of nervous energy. She paced a narrow strip of the Medical Pavilion floor, her erhu and bow held like a shield, her blue hair, the color of a deep ocean on a clear day, shimmering with each agitated movement. Her words tumbled out in a rush, a torrent of worry about the repercussions of our sudden, undeniable transformation. "What will they say? What if this is… a curse? We were injured by Jian Li. And now… this. They'll think we cheated, that we aren't worth the effort to even finish the year."

  I reached out, fingers resting on her arm, a silent plea for her to pause her spiraling thoughts. "Lijiang, breathe," I urged, my voice softer than I intended. "Remember what we felt? It wasn't just music; it was… Qi. Pure Qi following the music. Our hair," I gestured vaguely to my own verdant mane, "it's just… a very visible side effect. We need to be honest. We’ll explain the theory, the accidental experiment. They're healers; they'll understand that sometimes, the path of cultivation isn't as straight as a perfectly drawn line." Chen, his fiery demeanor softening, added his own reassurance, "We’re in this together. Whatever happens, we face it as the Azure Peak’s most colorful disciples."

  The weight of Lijiang’s fear pressed down on me, a palpable force that seemed to wash away even Chen's humor. The question of our future within Azure Peak, so bright and full of promise just days ago, now hung precariously in the balance.

  “Come, Lijiang,” Qin’s voice, usually laced with a dry wit, was now laced with a gentle urgency. He stepped closer, his metallic grey hair glinting under the dappled sunlight, and placed a reassuring hand on her trembling shoulder. “This worry serves no one. Instead, let us consider the future. We have been granted access to the Points Store. What manual do you think would be best? A combat manual, perhaps, to hone our defenses? Or a crafting manual, to perhaps make artifacts?” Tang, her earthy brown hair catching the light, chimed in, her gaze steady and thoughtful. "If they are going to punish us, we should try planning our next move. Perhaps a healing manual, to demonstrate our continued commitment to the sect's principles, even with these… unforeseen developments." Their words, seemed to break Lijiang’s spiral and get her into a planning mindset.

  As we were trying to figure out what each of us should get, Elder Songhua entered causing the five of us to stand and bow to her. "Look at you children," Elder Songhua said in a humorous tone, " so anxious to achieve success!"

  Memories of my mother in this world saying the same thing every time I skipped a step flashed through my mind at her words.

  Qin was the first to respond, "Elder are we in danger, medically or of being cast out?"

  Songhua sighed before waving a hand to a sitting area. "Sit down and I shall teach you." We rushed to obey, Lijiang in the center with Qin and Tang next to her and Chen and I at either end.

  "To begin," the Elder said, "your hair changing color is not sign of a health issue. Nor is it evidence of some violation for which you will be punished." That caused a relieved sigh to escape from each of us. "It is permanent and is rather the heavens way of helping identify those who seek out an affinity with an element before completing the second stage of the Earth Realm. There are many theories as to why this happens, from a mark of geniuses to punishment for the overly enthusiastic."

  Chen was the first to recover from the revelation. "I think I remember a few exam administrators with different colored hair, but I thought it was a trait of their family. How rare is it for a cultivator do go through this?"

  Elder Songhua nodded at him, "Among independent cultivators I would say one in ten. Those from clans or some sects are more likely to awaken an affinity early as they wish to ensure techniques can be passed down. The Jian clan, start their children with ice Qi once their dantian ignites, resulting in the majority of the clan having hair as white as a blizzard." A shiver ran through me when she mentioned the Jian Clan. While they didn't control the sect, given it was founded and maintained as a meritocratic hierarchy instead of a hereditary centered one, they were still a well-respected clan. The clan gaining prestige off the talents of the prodigy Jian Li. The one who...

  Pushing those thoughts away I brought my focus back the lesson. "...and while it is wise to be cautious of any cultivator you may fight, those with unique hair color are slightly easier to predict based on the shade of their hair." Elder Songhua finished. I tilted my head in confusion.

  The others must have been just as confused because she said, "Remember how each element has a yin and a yang version?" that got several nods. "Well, the shade of hair matches the person's yin or yang disposition."

  "So, because Qin has hair more like silver instead of steel..." Chen started

  "That indicates he is more aligned with yin metal. Actually, all five of you seem to be yin aligned in your affinities." she answered his unfinished question. "If your hair was yellow and orange instead of red and orange that would indicate yang alignment. In this case it's like comparing the sun to a kitchen fire. Both keep people warm and help to see, but the sun is so big it draws attention while there are many kitchen fires used every day, so they don't draw as much attention."

  I thought for a moment before asking "What happens if a person with a yin fire affinity has a fight against someone with a yang fire affinity?"

  Elder Songhua thought for a moment before saying "Either the more powerful or more skilled will win. However, I have heard of such fights where they were evenly matched. It is said both combatant's hair changed shades and their alignment was shifted to neutral."

  "Did they have a Qi equivalent of a lightning strike?" Tang asked, causing everyone to look at her.

  "I did not hear if they went through a tribulation, if that is what you mean." this caused Tang to shake her head.

  "I get it." Lijiang said, "It's like how in a storm clouds are constantly moving, full of yang energy. And the earth is still, full of yin energy. When they both reach their limits that energy finds the spot where they are closest and surges forth as lightning, bringing both back into balance."

  Her example caused a moment of shock. Chen smirked before saying "Who knew lightning was the earth and sky dual cultivating." That earned him several slaps from Tang and Lijiang.

  Elder Songhua dismissed us then and asked that we not cause Chen enough harm for him to actually need the medical pavilion.

  After lunch I found myself once more outside the sect walls. This time I was alone thinking about the reward for the quest. As much as I would love a manual on making something cultivation related, my mind kept going back to Jian Li. The fight. I chose a combat manual. If the majority of cultivators focused on fighting, then I was going to need something to protect myself with.

  A small booklet appeared in the grass before me. I quickly opened it. The Fragrant Breeze Step was the name of a technique.

  "Wood is the element of growth and of spring. By using this formation, one can channel these properties to call forth the most protective of defenders. A shifting shield to ward off any foe" This sounded perfect. However, there was a drawback. It required precise Qi movement, wood Qi, and a wood aligned instrument. Holding the book in one hand and my flute in the other I did not actually play the tune it required. I practiced everything but didn't bring it all together. I would practice until the next rest day. Or if I could find a Senior Disciple to supervise. Attempting it alone could be dangerous. But I now had hope of surviving if I had to fight.