Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

Thestewardsaid,

Inodded.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Panting,Iasked,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Timepassed.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestepedhishaly.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“You’retooi

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Hetinued:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Tch.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”