867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxivsuAMWP3
So this867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJNwCuVFvM
is finally it.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFEeMje6EP
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wgYTvn2RJ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6crGzpo7Mt
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6piazOpOwP
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLvbgUdWti
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ihk35OTVZ
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeIk4G6sXM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv3e2S720X
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetVJGMsHcM
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vRNRJbMMP
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSzagvKn0l
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpDCJ5hzdS
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBlnUiMmIX
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6RZSaPSTI
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIt9QestY7
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRfPoHd3JZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDviotTbXJ
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw2MTuGiob
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMDKR537ZY
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrzvooRaCn
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7b2QZeNNv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxnQAqik6h
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi39rtFXw92
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3ReoSOZGX
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAQQOcf39j
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UQuz98529
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWjF59Sbwt
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IgAiO5VsU
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlERJtcZyGt
him."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeNIW5wRqj
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9E8HzlXI2
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0O56sKeA3
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgL0Lmcxyv
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PHqSdiGfa
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqyQBGnDiW
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eZ25M4qij
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y9jlb5SBo
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivnXegppyi
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZMtUVewe7
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRHIGDUegs
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEfPlpgSnV
"You may pass."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bhfUDZImw
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmgdniUSlY
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIowEEvr37j
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPMJnnTstp
Serene867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFXLoBE3CK
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAZ1eZPj8X
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF4qve8Tnt
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya417C5NMu
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqziwMYpA8s
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtseyN1Y96f
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn3rWRbtoU
But the867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf3kA1JFZB
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdopUpTgMT5
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZbfLIRBZR
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLh1RCcUeC
longer. He had to keep going.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo3b6mMZEp
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG09zWtCIZ
First867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIQw7oFSdC
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlJ2ijzEo1
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBEYiZFL07
temple with their grand doors open.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASm0scJQw6
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNkbRHJCVq
The first867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGgsmxOAHT
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVJNdBTPI6
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosDdBFAFNU
light leading further in. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPq24MbXtv
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI5deMGlar
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XdJVyOd0i
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzeR7I6BNb
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmAeOilBde
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK5oxrr7Bk
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU8RYe3F59
trapped.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau6QJil1Yo
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqMwO4v2Ut
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkbnu4zvse
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSUeLtSIVn
"Calm867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ML4SCmYfh
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuNmFKSMfF
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkNbTp0CBK
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYlsiTBsfJ
words under his breath he followed the path of light.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvoGCtAE4w
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqjHxUchDH
He walked867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mUxcIRlHT
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYW1wru1Qu
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCYhlpPgY4
light, dwindling it down. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuKTKddvqq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiZ69AtGSg
"Enough."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWyKqI0zG7
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56VMkCblhn
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xlk3kCSip
the darkness and there was only light.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lu0DYnF3Y
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2hG5EtOV2
"You867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RL5gY4zYg
have come far, Bongzhon."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsc8SWFKH6
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDlkNVKC3b
Serene867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyS0WKjkV5
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97qzf2Ic0x
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWj15zo0aK
"Come,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ6Rro5KFl
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBXBcfioEb
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB67sWw10Y
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejiEWWqLkq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKqfkTg3S1
"You,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIyazrZqFY
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM61Wyjn3qq
judgement, whatever it may be"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFUFAlO7UP
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpjPt1sjUr
"I867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7GdT3eHYf
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQfYPeIGBX
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uepwJ92c5
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XylpPpnA5
"Very,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w4z55neKZ
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rjtaAFfje
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1SBpK15vg
and a small boy appeared out of the light.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jGZki6o5O
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVhSHhkBsw
"This867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YWrxIOAZy
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ccAMZiS5L
to join your order at such a young age?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKQBVHE3SZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8rOSWKHRP
Serene867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx40nKLIdH
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OdSJI3GZm
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xdBfHO3ke
provide for me and my siblings..."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdMP7KHNjq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjBFO82AXb
"Is867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJvRQlYJRu
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYP7FfC6iG
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NzWUQUf88
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoEJKpwSQD
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFVb9U7R2l
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvoFbo0Ogq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8uhdvse8k
Serene867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJujzOsPh1
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uDU6SElmX
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalgFYfdSEd
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7MnzF4kdx
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ059t5IafNc
"Do867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU694dP1Qb2
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq4LkhK1C5
leading them to ruin?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjfvg1Xy0f
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfvnuyIMCT
"Yes."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU2Bz3mCZ7
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd06pTWm0X
he would've stayed or not.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ811eegvX6A
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QJdXdYnJL
"Very867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLSVaF9NKT
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw7Y7Wa6gd
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTgm90ew7F
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBEhU4ZQE9
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrdmjS1sAm
"I867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpXhZIWQhr
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzT3btQT6n
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNHIj9akYW
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUJSydBtMd
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVIDhlXSOe
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U0AsV7pQU
"And867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcs6vFcpzd
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u8MQvzzRS
perfect in your role?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudFVyruM3f
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQl9K5syny
"I867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vEjhkF782
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDe5Tc2pVl
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0MCEXIlz3
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEzXRdzl0X
stand by them.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqoTuTNSQG
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltbq3kUfA3
"Good."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pskluQEom
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhygDWVD0GJ
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMnid2IU7k
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPznQuUJ74
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGodQWwcaV
"This867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlKu2sGt8w
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyynqhBrbfB
why did you decide to rest now?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLypomTcZH
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2y1lFv5E6
"Because867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aJfp2ENtD
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyo7bJKEE6
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEld7WgUjre
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLi9sFGvzA
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWN7UiaFwu
"Any867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXNPfKiE7Z
last words before I begin my judgement?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnQsVGSohr
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBvhQk7v6T
"No."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg3ToSmqvB
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpYiObrwIo
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1tyB0Y7Y2
"Bongzhon,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfsIrcxuHO
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMcEpQAGWQ
rest."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ615TCcaaOh
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqZGzguA5C
The light867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBy14GSbtB
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hHLtO13ig
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fOtnkYmfe
time in decades, happy and in peace.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDFhzEFtZq
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUFMw90NOb
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZQiGKMunZ
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOdTos57D1
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX50cuPpCg9
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir6oViSqSg
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa922QcPsFc
867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf0zqA6bWF
