882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfpnspgXp6
So this882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbzvHgQ8CX
is finally it.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG3Sp7567y
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIAeUUHFog
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo28B7Oww2
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW5fpfIdzg
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7y7nnoL8P
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8PHSfgdBf
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdjvbsSJP8
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd4HTQaJW1
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEF1cTFiFf
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i06mJvkBE
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUocB92b4Hu
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOf57XGoYb
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07hrqnPBnm
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgLqR3oyW4
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLT4rAEEy9
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3RKqR5Tb7
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr7NA7b1WL
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYjTavy0ku
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOIW2DCSKN
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCELKEx0uy
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8rTuZEuCe
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcRnFez4fu
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRahByP8U0R
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzZgcHV666
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mK9knGUjm
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc5BbWa07R
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVjCAJICkP
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2rWS8I8q2
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUwTM6P85J
him."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMNdrmgLi5
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ARIh5igq9
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t4sMKY8sn
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD2GvV6m2R
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TkPUnjjxX
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouEbeMsv85
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7BEwVdsQm
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J9sUHPwTE
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg61SMmfv3
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDtmn4Az72
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmCptMcUuF
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1peAwkSam
"You may pass."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ijSjym4AG
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv5G3Vw0TS
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixdv1URq1z
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7pCRc5Uml
Serene882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD68T9nUAcs
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjJHfTCuBy
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6xXBsK0oO
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C0NvRktkH
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs55w3aNoe5
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemL7EGNaxp
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLQdD0rMVZ
But the882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yCFNx74FE
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfzkiGtS2E
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n5uJxG6UQ
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4rc862fd0
longer. He had to keep going.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp47pCZQQs
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijvj1eDGDK
First882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJzlSvuDQr
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMwNME6aXz
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mzbQLt2pj
temple with their grand doors open.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsMDiJhG28
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY5Wgz6iBq
The first882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsuKsAjXZI
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JV6HNOPcZ
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdftGUpMdqo
light leading further in. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zdJWev8ie
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTs7qurT8O
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyfSWBeIuB
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFbtVtROPz
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7qKAOBIws
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYzzu0SG4l
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnORiHAAx2
trapped.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M49Ftr4Hl
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI3LU2HIjU
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF4ipRgfXU
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbaUjgJ3v6
"Calm882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikSYTLHsWJ
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjDMk7vPNq
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0kO1oHP1y
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS03qm60S4
words under his breath he followed the path of light.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAp3PxH0Ro
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScVVw1iWvW
He walked882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra2WSI38Ug
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28u6bJyJ8F
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElu0SMrtY0
light, dwindling it down. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtyBU4P91C
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7gxlVDT5W
"Enough."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cW7AxZMER
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP99hqh6hyV
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yobjkFxF3
the darkness and there was only light.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqKACNAcCY
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV6KdJOnuz
"You882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKcNDPL9PV
have come far, Bongzhon."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EC0iIsPEE
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3A6qjiXsq
Serene882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXkV8lbv17
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu4CuAknBh
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmMPgnNRCO
"Come,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hYtJFdJSa
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPVD58bq6N
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXrzXpXI0S
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWb2BOdiT7
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNf0mq5Wmy
"You,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPzytADAr2
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Fg6k8Slz
judgement, whatever it may be"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaJU3Vjydw
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzoHX9ZRbE
"I882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOF5wP8nPI
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1szHW1Xg8
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWo02RAlOu
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3k99WN8DW
"Very,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpnHSjpCeW
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81V8Nn0eGQ
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxKM9O0rji
and a small boy appeared out of the light.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT69X8BAsT
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytjgAQpyLM
"This882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZt1K0zGA1
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ho6zZzGDl
to join your order at such a young age?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzt2gzA49V
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz3RjLHHCp
Serene882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3zr6Scj7o
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19kAM6c0mq
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rsX3I52OI
provide for me and my siblings..."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCTfsLjb2S
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOhkVFgL03
"Is882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgNfQPR1xY
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi8CVDls5m
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjor9gQNxZQ
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgilLxtojm
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMVuhhVEBX
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB1A3AOf84
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iHGBYMYJZ
Serene882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rG5HLWhu1
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1kior9JZp
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Og6iQws6G
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYcWL0aHvp
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOpcvJtao6
"Do882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pYxFCFwNJ
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGFQkBJa0A
leading them to ruin?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwwi1vaZoz
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNPUze5uku
"Yes."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnr3bZpsXS
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQv7e0HsT
he would've stayed or not.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1pQPnZoFU
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dQKzqhLeN
"Very882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4UisctGNj
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAn2IwVXFR
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXXAbS6UxQ
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwIUo71JTV
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlHFS52Ion
"I882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteRUoAw9Wb
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYTU35XUuC
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80tzvw75YX
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qRpolBxKr
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNKyshfDuE
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOhP41svqL
"And882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXCm4gw9qx
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8galdrSYg
perfect in your role?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUljzEcGR5
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqnYRgDRPm
"I882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsTKyA9drp
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb2kTx18mo
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBjuCU3J65
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JnA8cr7cW
stand by them.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvPypXlAlW
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMxAyiljei
"Good."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL8I4Yy6u6
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKATIXmkoA
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiL6IQaaMQ
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0W279kA0X
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoE1MWtikH
"This882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GnT0qWmEW
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiB0i6IJO6
why did you decide to rest now?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmxs6nvWLb
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZkA2b9nBO
"Because882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYGMKdm79x
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr81EMb97j
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAqb0JaDXS
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZU2QKicve
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ABRx2cQp
"Any882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKYNxtDHjB
last words before I begin my judgement?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczi3EuJItC
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwph09LPEFT
"No."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdT58ORqdQ
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo4cE3e2c4
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozlrsbKldi
"Bongzhon,882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVPMiaolRg
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWVSF26Dnh
rest."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3y0iga7Qb
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5JYhVw8tT
The light882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzs3WxC8vY
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe767Sid24s
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxpS7IV4O6
time in decades, happy and in peace.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5UNLFhwWc
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4hhpUapGU
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiGqn47bQU
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0cV6dfVk1
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN33M1BXEd7
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGVLEfWTMl
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCLSsF45cH
882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQwmYhtGhJ
