Wu Zhi made his way back home in his rag-tag poncho slightly embarrassed. He would try to find some clothes for himself very soon.
When he got back to his abode he found it covered in dust. It looked like someone hadn't touched it... in well eight years. He got to work immediately cleaning up the place when he heard some footsteps in the hallway. "Uh, Wu Zhi, is that really you?" someone asked form the hallway. "No Way! its really you". Wu Zhi looked back to who he thought was Shen Zhi though it was a little hard to tell. "Shen Zhi?" he asked. "So you do remember me" he replied. "We thought you had died, it was only until some teachers told us that you had went into secluded meditation that our doubts were cleared.... Man you look like a beggar, come let's get you some new clothes, a haircut, and some lunch, you can tell me all about your secluded meditation while we walk". Wu Zhi had no reason to refuse so he went with Shen Zhi to get some new clothes.
They made their way to a tailor who apparently - from Shen Zhi's words - gave them 3 free fittings before charging them with contribution points. As the sect was essentially raising a bunch of kids they had to give them some free amenities such as housing, food, teachings, and now clothes. He had his measurements taken by a nice, well - dressed man who clearly knew what he was doing. "Here are you cloths" the man responded. It took some time as they had to find one in his right size but after putting on the clothes in the dressing room he looked like a completely different person. Gone was the hobo, beggar look, now it was the scholarly and educated look. It definitely helped him out a lot, and he was going to try his best to make sure the robe didn't get dirty. After that they went to a barber had his hair cut short making him look sharper, more well put together. They grabbed some lunch at the cafeteria after that. "I didn't know the sect had a barber". Wu Zhi said. "How else are people going to get their hair cut" Shen Zhi responded. "There are a lot of amenities the sect houses, did you ever wonder why the cultivators here even have jobs like that. I'll tell you why, its Contribution Points!" he said raising his voice. "Contribution points are everything here, the sect pays you in points for doing the job required. You can also get the points for doing commissions from outside the sect. Missions we call them. you get a flat amount of points for completing the mission required. If you're good enough you can make more money that way then if you just did a regular job. But the problem is once you hit 20 years old you have to start paying the sect back for all the amenities they gave you. Everyone, unless they paid the full some up front of course, has to pay back the sect a debt of 1,000 contribution points. The sect makes it mandatory that half your wages goes back to paying this debt off. The good news is that there is absolutely no interest on this debt. It makes it possible for people then to actually pay it off even if it takes some time". Shen Zhi explained. "Huh, then how long does it usually take for people to pay the debt off" Wu Zhi asked. "It depends, if your lazy it could take a whole 11 years, but if you're really diligent and really go after it, you could complete it in 3 - 4 years. You will be spending most of your 20's paying off your tuition. But afterwards you can practically do anything you want. As long, of course, that you aren't shaming the sect or committing crimes and what not" Shen Zhi said. "Then what is there to really do after you pay off your debt?" Shen Zhi asked. "Did you not hear me? You can do whatever you want! You could become a mercenary, you could create your own sect, you could stay at this sect, try to move higher up in the ranks, go for inner disciple and or even a sect elder. You could become a pill refiner and sell your pills, or you could become a talisman, artifact, or formation master and sell your services. You could become a diviner as well and sell predictions of the future. You could do whatever you want, as long as you don't cross too many lines. However the end goal is usually either to make yourself stronger or to make yourself wealthier" he replied as he munched on a chicken drumstick. "Hmm, actually I need to get some contribution points because I'm looking for a new technique" Wu Zhi said. "Then just go pick up a mission at the mission hall like the rest of us. Most jobs that we can do our age aren't worth the pay or the time invested. Your best bet is just to go do a mission". "Then that's exactly what I'll go do". After that they talked about some of the things they did over the 8 years they haven't seen each other. "Then I bid you farewell brother Shen, I have some missions to do". "It was great talking to you again take care. Oh, and tell us dormmates the next time you go into seclusion". "Will do" he responded and went on his way.
The Mission hall was rather large and was craved out of some kind of polished stone. It looked like jade but he couldn't tell. He walked inside and started looking for a mission to take up. Shen Zhi had told him earlier that for a new qi refining technique it would take him 50 contribution points to purchase one. So he was looking for a mission that would at least get him that much.