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