“Tch.”
Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.
Timepassed.
“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”
Hecalmlyexpined:
Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.
Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”
Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.
“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.
Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”
“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”
Breathless,Irecimedtrol.
“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”
AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?
ThispceistheAsuraRealm.
Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.
Hetinued:
“You’retooi
Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.
ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.
Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.
Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.
Themountaiobesappingmystrength.
Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.
“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.
Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.
tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”
Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”
“Oh?”
“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”
“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.
Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.
Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.
So,Icalledforth“me.”
Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.
Halftheeffort...?
“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”
“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”
TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”
Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:
Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.
“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”
“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”
Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.
Panting,Iasked,
Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:
Thestewardsaid,
But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.
Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.
Inodded.
Thestepedhishaly.