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