"Here's the five pills. Register me for the month." Wan Lin held out his hand, five grey pills in them.
Han Bo looked at him with a puzzled look "What level are you in?"
"Sixth."
This got him even more confused before he smiled, "There has been a change in rules, the fight has been made compulsory."
Meanwhile Zhang Wuji was lost in his thoughts. 'Why am I hiding? Life's pretty good as it is now, I am well respected, close to a promotion in status, so why am I hiding?'
'Wait, I should be famous by now. Even if Wan Lin didn't hear of me, Yingjie would definitely have. With his personality he definitely would have told the other two.' This realisation made him more agitated.
'It doesn't matter whether they know or not. So what if they know, why should I hi-'
THUD.
Zhang Wuji was pulled out of his thoughts and looked up. Wan Lin was lying on the ground, bleeding, and Han Bo was looking towards him with a smile.
Enraged he jumped out from behind the rock and attacked Han Bo. Han Bo had anticipated such a thing and easily dodged. "Brother Zhang, what are you doing?!"
Zhang Wuji didn't pursue him and came to Wan Lin's side. "Oi brother Wan Lin you ok." There were multiple bruises on his body and blood all over his face.
"Wuji, I heard you became Wang Bao's lackey?"
"We'll talk about that later. Let's leave here and take care of your injuries." He tried to help him up.
"No need." Wan Lin pushed his hand away. "I can take care of myself."
"Don't be stupid, you know I have good herbs."
"I don't need them." Wan Lin got up with difficulty and started walking away.
"Oi bitch, you owe me twent-" Han Bo swallowed the rest after looking at the savage look in Zhang Wuji's eyes.
Zhang Wuji turned to Wan Lin and chased after him. "Don't be stubborn, it will only delay your training."
"It is better to give up cultivation than depend on a thief."
"Don't talk whatever shit comes to your mind!"
"I can't believe I helped a thief train."
"What the fuck do you mean?!" He grabbed Wan Lin's shoulder and pulled forcefully to make them face each other. "Don't act all high and mighty You didn't teach me for free. Also who the fuck needs help from someone who couldn't last a minute against an opponent of the same level."
Wan Lin didn't reply. He just turned around and left. Zhang Wuji was left standing. He didn't try to stop him this time. He just stood. Various emotions flashed on his face. After a while, he clenched his jaw before releasing all of them in a shout while stomping violently on the ground.
*Huff Huff* He fell on his butt and breathed heavily. It took a while before his breath went back to normal. 'Fuck.' He let his back fall on the ground, looked at the clouds before closing his eyes on the middle of the road.
....
Meanwhile back in Wang Bao's courtyard.
"Senior brother Wang, Jiang Yingyue beat Yuan Zhang. She's really the rising star of the outer sect right now. She might be in the top ten in the next tournament. I think she is qualified to obtain the fortune to serve you."
"I agree. Though she isn't stunningly beautiful, her talent is enough to make up for it. She is almost as good as Wang Chong."
"Young master, do you want me to bring her?"
"No. Give this task to the new guy."
"Zhang Wuji?"
"Yes him. Tell him if he were to successfully complete the task, he will be one of my own."
"As you wish young master." Wang Chu bowed to Wang Bao and left the courtyard.
....
'I was in trouble. I had no choice.'
'Wan Lin is an overly righteous guy. That is not good in this world. Hell, it wasn't good in the previous world either.'
'Whatever I shouldn't have said that. I don't know what came over me at that point. I gotta apologise. That guy helped me when I had no way to go. Fuck how could I be so shameless.
'And then there's the Han Bo incident. Maybe it's not Wan Lin being overly righteous, maybe I'm in the wrong business.
'It's not like I'm doing any of it. It's not like I'm here out of my own will. I was forced into this.
'Man, what the fuck is happening. I wanna go home.' He opened his eyes. It was already night. He got up looked one last time at the sky, sighed and went to his room.
....
"Where have you been? Why were you not in the training grounds?" Zhang Wuji came to his room to find Wang Chu waiting for him in front of the door.
"Something came up." He was in no mood to entertain him right now.
"Wuji, young master has a task for you."
"What?"
"There is a girl named Jiang Yingyue. You might have heard of her. Young master Wang finds her suiting to his taste. Your job is to deliver her."
"What do you mean?"
"Right, she is way above your level. You wouldn't be able to handle her. This is young master's token. With this you'll be able to control some of the disciples working under him. But remember you have to do this task personally. I suggest you keep the usage of external forces to the minimum. Here take this. This would be helpful." He handed a token followed by a packet.
Zhang Wuji unconsciously extended his hands and took them. He felt the small packet. It had some kind of a powder in it. "What is this?!"
"Wuji, young master has great expectations of you. He asked for you to handle this task to-"
"What the fuck is this?!" He threw the token and the packet on the ground.
"Don't be impulsive and stupid. It is your fortune to be given this opportunity. One word from him is enough to make this happen. He just wants to-"
"What the FUCK do you think I am?!"
"A nobody. If you cut me off again, I'll cut your tongue off!" Wang Chu glared at him for a moment and continued.
"It is that girl's fortune to be looked upon favourably by young master. She will obviously be rewarded for pleasing him. Don't be foolish and let this opportunity slip. This is a test. As long as you are able to do this, young master Wang will definitely take you as his follower. Once that happens, all your cultivation needs will be covered. Even if you fail to continue in the sect, by his grace you'll be taken into the Wang family, your position will be higher than what you will ever be able to achieve in the sect. Listen to my advice and do what you are told." He left right after finishing what he had to say.
Zhang Wuji remained standing. His mind in chaos.
Fun fact: Yuan Zhang was the staff wielder in top twenty that challenged Xiao Zhimei then ranked seventh. To name him, I searched staff in a translator app I had, Pleco. Zhang means cane, very staff-like meaning. Yuan means staff, person engaged in some field of activity. Usually all names are authentic. But this one I felt was funny so named him Yuan Zhang.