884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOh9qFsjF7
So this884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSaN7wKX0T
is finally it.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdGW2WvpEt
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PFk4hOnz1
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L1NOSfODI
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTbchczwLR
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YI78qHRfG
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41QEjDTLyh
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNEwgX4HQ5
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzbyg8wXA
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv4WPC7Jxp
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NvzAPb7MS
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q3cxqbKJS
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqbjVsszPh
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiSSqfLQyM
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQagiEzig98
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm4ZHMaR5Y
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSOX8WEffv
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidFfGrawNy
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7GamwWSgi
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwAUcrcP6v
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmfMb3Cl08
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbd3ZhHn73
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2f5FJGBNK
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7kphoam1q
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRlCSg99LU
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UDbvg35wz
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgJ4ufHodq
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12WUzbJ5dU
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoPcNtERqs
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O0rrCCH0d
him."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JZLTvPHPB
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HYJEtoKTT
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cEqXTrbnp
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu8KxlhNu6
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlePptgBqv
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKQyGYa74M
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJsd7Gf9fD
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8PezK09Y6
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hv10v34Gk
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgrpe4fXhN
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikmlau8qf5
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OLsCL6vjN
"You may pass."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWkRksMLvJ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE9hTOQ7o4
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJynVOGS1LI
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF6IL3DBL6
Serene884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6svMPj95sa
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpZCfIM8ej
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpvlKP7bos
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyyhuq4ODW
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSplYZg4BAZ
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEirOe5JbGi
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuU2PSiDjF
But the884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnbUbHNFhV
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRPCFJ2vaR
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwbPmdveik
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFetqDMFb82
longer. He had to keep going.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLo1dSCixH
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W6BLen97g
First884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvajDzPRRZj
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxjNfCokkA
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXPkMgUokv
temple with their grand doors open.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm4NvaxkTs
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yiO6iOmIc
The first884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYBH5RpHEi
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ZCbBhh8j
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcCQadSOzr
light leading further in. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqB0GXGYoh
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jqAqHgajn
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeybjpXm1I
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDeeNLrmJp
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ36eJR8yN
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTunOfbhyl
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSXpymCmxG
trapped.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tcvQWWKcd
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoX73T7JGm
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96i28OrVMV
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqR1svQBeq
"Calm884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0ViFgfA1r
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1WxmDMS7r
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQqFkvJaTX
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtUUQ0GU3c
words under his breath he followed the path of light.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACXkbZUPTQ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAMMYjSsbF
He walked884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLG0ZY4gyh
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvQ0OW7U4j
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHXSGZM2GB
light, dwindling it down. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv8UDroIRB
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQAU20rTrS
"Enough."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyuyl0OIV1
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9OxY8xWLw
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgiJThhoYT
the darkness and there was only light.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzT3Z6KfMf
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAA9aj7pu8
"You884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4pdeVSVW8
have come far, Bongzhon."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox3LNOdxZ2
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegFVazN8XO
Serene884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD81x66ZhUh
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAlMk9Fbk6
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwSo1lbAlz
"Come,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFECznVCRoj
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzXENA7n1X
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOT8gDAEBT
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVclB58IORW
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0eulLDKbi
"You,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1Wd2RdY4O
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5sXCBbK53
judgement, whatever it may be"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE8g3EyOVM
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3dakAQrXo
"I884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvBkhY2Pzg
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXs3fya1ze
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS389WVIugr
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrx6LMasmM
"Very,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9r7a6cVxy
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhfvg4sLHT
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrrywsb1sm
and a small boy appeared out of the light.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWoNWZ4aun
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LB8pRCSku
"This884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4OSFIflAN
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqANU2Tdhjb
to join your order at such a young age?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuzcHxTwfB
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa8rgaFIjP
Serene884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XBX4vUiZO
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQsXDWAwDk
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrMcBSHmxg
provide for me and my siblings..."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAWQ10lnGE
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJuUQoStqq
"Is884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvVTfnyvno
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s0C2ps3yA
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mrh6khqcd
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvy8szkdbZ
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S61r4fav5
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnHjUmbcuF
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg5kjPf7bk
Serene884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLniI68G4B4
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjuEl60btt
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHwodjZYAU
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGddVV1WgxU
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm81n6Uznv
"Do884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJHvPRCBDy
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjzEi6Tkb3
leading them to ruin?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGvKC6JO4S
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcmSR1LUKh
"Yes."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc1hSfBKr5
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciUTrJduCo
he would've stayed or not.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3JoegDgfN
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTjdsxSqim
"Very884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s02L1NZsk
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RGQ3oGjHH
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WVuAR78Sj
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcwsOEixOg
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhwzLvF5eH
"I884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKnu88kkBG
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU25mM6Jba
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyJGcR0eF9
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy4XiwM4t7
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGeJDRQvZO
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9RVF8JGzq
"And884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpYbfCHh14
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yZ8zhQPIv
perfect in your role?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkBZQNABNi
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXHsnvgKGT
"I884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhCEjHF1nD
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviB9xAqK5k
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN3Plno3eH
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu9diEKkgG
stand by them.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRwl6HgbNX
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrb9eihP73
"Good."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y1iYqBuwC
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOg2CUNH8Z
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFQkwy5XcB
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2F8wey0vJ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkZQhCY0DE
"This884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhleNbiUhl
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ZAA4BLB2
why did you decide to rest now?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyGuWw7LeG
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstgTV6kEb7
"Because884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiR0TZSDrL
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D7ZZsiyzi
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CQxWgtBeC
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v4qPJzTNb
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfYe28d8dP
"Any884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2YG57Iyyl
last words before I begin my judgement?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCk8My6b9y
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIjkNMifHK
"No."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUF0RR23ev
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmlqxF7OBp
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgttllVIun
"Bongzhon,884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhsVmgq4gj
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAgL39MIvd
rest."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRVCi6bOTb
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyE4cXYtF6
The light884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0HBrmxb93
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rS9cXsbn4
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlEuCGlxjD
time in decades, happy and in peace.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4NjVDYMan
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ6VeUTGAG
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABvqSJF39x
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qDdeZOPC0
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Sw2F11ZLn
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mGKaJWc2N
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MPZtSI51Z
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtDaFdMqPV
