That fateful day began like any other day in the Crimson Essence Sect. Up before the crack of dawn, sip from blood pets, meditation and cycling, self-exercises, morning ablutions.
By dawn, those who are rostered for hunting duties have packed their gear and left for the forest, while the previous day's team have returned and passed their catch into the hands of the Sect retainers to be bled, dressed, processed and ultimately brought to the nearest town Hei Mao Cheng for sale.
Those who are not in the hunting roster gather in the courtyard for morning practice under the supervision of an Elder or (very occasionally) the Sect Head Xue Xinghua herself. After morning practice, everyone goes to the Sect abbatoir for a full drink of blood from the freshly-caught game, followed by another round of meditation and cycling and the mid-day meal at the communal kitchen.
In the early afternoon comes individual lessons with the Elders (for disciples who had earned commendations for meritable conduct) or very rarely with the Sect Head (for disciple who is the Young Mistress); self-exercises for everyone else; and reading and writing classes for illiterate disciples.
Then came one hour of free time which most used to get some rest before the exertions of the late afternoon, but which you devoted to calligraphy and painting practice at the insistence of the Sect Head.
In the late afternoon was sparring, sparring and more sparring, until sundown and a little bit after that. One-on-one spars. One-on-many spars. Mass group spars. Spars with fists, with staves, with blunted spears and knives, with unblunted ones during the growth seasons for medicinal herbs when there was sufficient to spare for training injuries.
The final activity of the day was the evening meal, evening ablutions, one last sip from blood pets, meditation and cycling, and then to bed and blessed sleep you went.
A tranquil life, a peaceful life. A good life.
