The morning sun lazily stretched over the Azure Mist Mountains, painting the peaks in soft gold. Ravi Mishra wiped the sweat off his forehead and stared at the steep stone path leading up to the Bamboo Leaf Sect.
"Why does every sect have to live on top of a mountain?" he muttered. His bag was heavier than he expected, mostly filled with old clothes, half-eaten snacks, and a small, slightly suspicious-looking donkey that insisted on following him everywhere. "Couldn't the cultivation world have elevators or, I don't know, flying scooters?"
The donkey snorted. Ravi flinched. "Stop judging me, I haven't even made it past the gate yet."
At the summit stood the sect gate: a leaning bamboo arch with peeling paint. Above it, in jagged brush strokes, someone had written: "Bamboo Leaf Sect — May Your Qi Survive." The wind whistled ominously through the bamboo, and one of the bamboo planks creaked threateningly.
"Well… sounds safe enough," Ravi muttered.
Before he could take a step inside, a sudden CRASH echoed behind him. He spun around to see an elderly man sprawled under a pile of broken roof tiles. The man's long white hair stuck out in all directions like a cloud caught in a thunderstorm.
"Welcome, young one!" the man called, waving weakly. "I am Guru Gopal, proud master of Bamboo Leaf Sect!"
Ravi cautiously approached. "Uh… hello, Master Guru Gopal. I'm Ravi Mishra, here for the disciples' entrance test."
Guru Gopal groaned, standing shakily. "Yes, yes… the entrance test! Very well, show me your spirit root!"
He pulled out a glowing crystal orb, held high, radiating a faint blue light.
Ravi stepped forward, took a deep breath, and placed his palm on the orb.
Nothing happened.
Then, with a tiny fizz, the orb flickered once. Twice. And then… BAM! The orb exploded in a spectacular shower of glittering shards, sending Ravi flying backward into a pile of leaves. The donkey brayed loudly, jumping on top of him.
Ravi coughed. "Was… that supposed to happen?"
Guru Gopal's beard twitched. "Never… in three centuries… has the orb… exploded like this." He collapsed on the ground with a faint thud.
The donkey snorted. Ravi sat up, rubbing his sore back. "Look, I'm sorry… I think my chaotic energy must've—"
A voice shouted from behind them. "Did someone just blow up the sacred spirit orb?!"
From the training courtyard came a young woman, her long hair tied neatly in a braid, eyes wide in shock. She pointed at Ravi. "Who are you?! Are you… a genius?"
Ravi blinked. "Genius? Me? No, I think—"
CRASH! The training hall roof collapsed completely, sending two disciples running and one flying into the bushes.
Ravi waved weakly. "I think I'm just unlucky…"
The young woman raised an eyebrow. "Unlucky? That… might be a genius-level bad luck. Follow me, maybe Master Gopal can explain."
Guru Gopal groaned, dragging himself to his feet. "Explain? There's nothing to explain. You're either a divine accident… or the universe's punishment."
Ravi's heart sank. "Either way, I'm probably going to get expelled."
But then… one of the elder disciples stepped forward. He was tall, muscular, and scowling. "You destroyed the orb? You think you can join Bamboo Leaf Sect now?"
Ravi nodded sheepishly. "Uh… yes? I was hoping… maybe I could… train here?"
The disciple stared, then slowly blinked. "Huh. Somehow, everything you touch turns into… unexpected miracles. Maybe you're… special?"
Ravi's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?"
The young woman giggled. "Looks like you're our new prodigy… by accident."
Ravi sighed. "I knew it. I can't even make it through the gate without causing trouble."
---
The "Entrance Test" Disaster
Guru Gopal waved a hand. "Very well, Ravi Mishra. You may attempt the first test: the Qi Gathering Exercise."
Ravi followed the instructions, spreading his arms and closing his eyes. The other disciples moved gracefully, their qi flowing like rivers, forming beautiful light patterns.
Ravi's qi… immediately formed a small tornado that sucked leaves, pebbles, and a stray chicken into a spinning vortex. The chicken screeched. One disciple lost his robe. Another was stuck in a mud puddle.
The vortex grew bigger. Ravi panicked. "Uh… maybe I should—"
BOOM! The vortex exploded in a glittering cloud. Ravi landed in a bush. The donkey, loyal as ever, landed on him again.
Everyone stared.
Guru Gopal scratched his head. "Remarkable… I've never seen anyone produce qi… like this before. You… might actually pass."
Ravi groaned. "Pass? I barely survived. And I think I ruined everyone's robes."
The young woman handed him a stick of incense. "Welcome to Bamboo Leaf Sect. Here, disaster is talent. Try not to die today."
---
The First "Sect Hero" Moment
Later that day, a group of bandits tried to sneak into the sect, thinking it was an easy target. Ravi, carrying nothing but his bad luck and a half-eaten snack, was wandering the courtyard when one bandit tripped over him. Then another slipped on the puddle Ravi had accidentally created.
Before anyone could react, the bandits were flung into a pile of hay, a fountain, and a training dummy—all by pure accident. Ravi coughed. "Uh… I saved the sect?"
Guru Gopal stared, mouth agape. "Yes… yes you did. Accidental, but… you're now a hero."
Ravi groaned. "I just wanted to survive the first day…"
The young woman patted him on the back. "Don't worry, Ravi. Around here, accidents are considered divine talent."
Ravi looked at the sky. The sun was setting, painting the bamboo leaves golden. Somewhere in the distance, another roof creaked ominously.
And Ravi knew, deep down, that tomorrow… his bad luck would strike again.
---
Epilogue
That night, Ravi lay on a rickety wooden bed, the donkey curled up beside him. He whispered, "I just want to meditate… maybe cultivate a little… and stay alive."
The donkey snorted. Somewhere outside, a bamboo plank fell with a loud CRASH.
Ravi sighed. "Of course. Welcome to Bamboo Leaf Sect."
And so began the legend of Ravi Mishra, the cultivator who breaks everything… but somehow survives.