AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thestewardsaid,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“You’retooi

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Tch.”

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inodded.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Panting,Iasked,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Oh?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”