Seven Chances

Chapter 10: Exam Countdown

Slowly but surely, Lang Qingli began to build up her social relationships again, namely with the disciples that Lang Xue'ai, Guan Lingying, and Chang Binran had introduced to her. She felt like she could often see herself reflected in Linghu Qiuwei, which made her a good friend that was easy to get along with. Lang Qingli and Linghu Qiuye shared a like for books and literature, making their relationship all the more stable. While she occasionally found Nangong Ruobai a bit too over the top with his immaturity and silliness, that didn't stop him from being an overall likeable person.

"Say, when we get pulled into Qianyang's military forces, what position would you want the most?" Linghu Qiuwei brought up one afternoon.

"I don't know," Guan Lingying mumbled nonchalantly. Linghu Qiuye displayed her agreement with a nod of her head.

"I'm pretty sure we don't get to choose, but I would... Okay, frontlines and infiltration would be quite the frightening task, defence (especially watchtower) would be okay, and healing would definitely be the safest, but in all honesty, I don't want to do healing," Lang Qingli said slowly, weighing her choices carefully. "My medicinal skills are... passable, but I don't really enjoy it. So like, I wouldn't complain too much as long as I'm not assigned to medicine. My older sister, Yanxiu, is also enlisted right now, but she is still in training and hasn't sent any letters yet."

Lang Xue'ai, Guan Lingying, and Lang Qingli all exchanged sad smiles.

"In that case, I hope I can do medicine," Chang Binran sighed fervently.

Lang Xue'ai thoughtfully tapped her fingers on the hilt of her sword. "Well, I agree with Qingli, but just swap out healing with array defence. Arrays will forever be the death of me."

Unlike the rest of the group, Nangong Ruobai answered without hesitation, and somehow even with excitement. "Frontlines!"

The younger of the Linghu twins stared at him like he was crazy (he kind of is, after all..). "Out of all the positions there are, you'd seriously choose the most dangerous? I'd rather stick to watchtower defence and shoot arrows at people."

"My older brother and sister are going to be fighting on the frontlines once their training is complete," Nangong Ruobai argued. "I want to be there to fight alongside them."

Zhai Changxiao nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. And even though I hate to agree with and be stuck with Qiuwei, she's right on this one; I'd like to be on watchtower defence too."

As her friends continued to discuss their soon-coming conscription, Lang Qingli thought that they really had no idea what serving in the army during a war would be like. In all honesty, she herself seriously couldn't say anything either, since she didn't know what it would feel like. Her uncle, who was the master of the Guan clan, was in the army as a general, but his letters that came every so often didn't disclose much about what it was like. On top of that, she didn't know anybody who enlisted, then returned, so that wasn't helpful either. Even if her friends didn't seem particularly worried, Lang Qingli felt that it did make some sense. The war for land and resources against Kunmeng, which had been going on for almost fifteen years, had never been brought further than Xiucheng City, which was still a good distance away from the capital, where the majority of them resided.

* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° .*

Months later, all two hundred thirty-four junior disciples of Shisu River were gathered in the main hall of the palace. Madam Lang stood at the front of the group, with five of the sect's elders standing in various places against the wall.

"All disciples who will not turn fifteen by year's end may exit," Madam Lang commanded.

About a fourth of the disciples filed out of the hall.