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