922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB549e6dHT7
So this922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRMlhIoBnd
is finally it.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs8yOgjARV
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleLbohqMtP
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgTdFl3sHT
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A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAulca4SUE
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt8xdLH2t1
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Iqh5Kh7sa
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs171eAm9Mt
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOWd0P0XhJ
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5U7BdPHF7
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEnXCMOdTt
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqmhHzg3j1
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkLymKx1O0
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1INEvD1iL
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKoWBWwof9
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk438hhwS5
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWxzcWSVDX
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1GWuXaLLe
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHXEp8rKV2
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81oxfQjK3u
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh2afJ7WnK
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtXZJ3WpO0
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQg0jPVJqT
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvRBP7fGK
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhwB6UPe9Y
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC0AXb0d8n
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduDAhfezpe
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfynRFI7PIm
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb5C3w5qVl
him."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6hqEw4lbY
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8J1n1yh2t
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6ZdZjfiiL
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJgAAf9jtb
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5pD3bpmH5
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiUy2Tj94e
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqteiwy0N3
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGFnQm7utC
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfIFrd4fLz
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi9a2ocjqD
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAuwdBB6lb
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxosIFhuC3O
"You may pass."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T7XskHXsY
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JgkwvQIDU
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRkFNRdYb3
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjnmbfu3SQ
Serene922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzLDVggVKJ
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JOXm4KOeZ
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ttKhgSB7p
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gLKkbpgrx
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES8LXS6TnL
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIVfBj6Qqd
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63TsuDVh5h
But the922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5NtVmZe5y
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0fjGxPdWz
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkT9Utaft1
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ilsOmjEAO
longer. He had to keep going.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sdcRhcqsv
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEzGhMsKXE
First922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5ITeOLGDl
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uRAkBlcfA
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjYTY4QaeE
temple with their grand doors open.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKiqgO6xLx
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfZ9Kroy9p
The first922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEQo3sqSNW
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2z26Fg5cq
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66wtr2MW8j
light leading further in. 922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQAQviX2Wj
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLanU55Ngh
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMsQ9ZXVyG
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fMBoy8JtV
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I1Be38J91
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy979OmExmn
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoqk8uRQ7K
trapped.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdu0TlTBLb
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaUgVx3tPM
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjqsq8715X
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSp5j71ERp
"Calm922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvrIcf2M1P
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPJ0KfsVNJ
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX2r537evP
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeadRk7dBt
words under his breath he followed the path of light.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNik8fcdZvI
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOGCP6cYku
He walked922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWv161mO0Q
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMGLrU2Nxd
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wy2wim1G4
light, dwindling it down. 922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQlRQY74LA
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gUHfhjSNI
"Enough."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUcGrMpLmF
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebQZKVvs7b
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gKDR7lesV
the darkness and there was only light.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eb5co5qMv
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7owQXXrDYA
"You922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPLwXPXbKK
have come far, Bongzhon."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG7RSCMcXN
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzldfv6Is09
Serene922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA4opzwi5Z
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGLM33Q8me
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0yOjL4Ehs
"Come,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXQJgzWcSI
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFD8AXPYgM
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy4ZQiBaP4
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY1pwREhf4
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7PKZhCoRw
"You,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdiVaHOcwd
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC1cV3YogR
judgement, whatever it may be"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAqGd2DLF0
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzhWHGuTCb
"I922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sx2DEaaqA
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzjs6vKEjd
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiizNAzIsv
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8zgzCCn7v
"Very,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5gPFZ4IPj
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZzLgmofKJ
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssZL8ap4KU
and a small boy appeared out of the light.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp04ZVsC0u
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntGg1FHbTT
"This922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ch1C1QEnt
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYCvatnRVl
to join your order at such a young age?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPEZ6eT6br
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnZa4IACxt
Serene922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMI7Oi1xHG
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwxhDKa3HL
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kg4JmZiwd
provide for me and my siblings..."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlnQp7GyUE
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuXARp5kdG
"Is922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS6yalyX8J
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ksqrSt6CY
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNEuWc5ISv
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUe1p7Z0sT
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTryenasWB
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsBL703EjQ
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzIrZ869AX
Serene922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU83xF6Qw3
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMNnWGGEYv
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOvLW2TzZd
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ig3xbCrr9
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN7Lr3rh6Z
"Do922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUKe7rrgYy
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxvE7nTslA
leading them to ruin?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrz8RLoLYm
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIeLSwvhxq
"Yes."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6ae68zxVg
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y1Z29UidT
he would've stayed or not.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Ya1VKyc6
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpJzE8VPX8
"Very922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwd2kXsfh8
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQHrgTzXVl
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtEfBQMh1X
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sA3clcpr4
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvVMxHzwpi
"I922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYv2uZ4QCO
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfPDlMqJfM
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzxqrPSeL5
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H8v8zOKDi
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpvaDDpDoI
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cKQTHtWL8
"And922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufnmMUnMwo
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGZUyHy9kL
perfect in your role?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7vrzUn0Gw
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdHmABR22V
"I922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9057wBopU
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLrJD4RlJ3
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGTQK0NRaM
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNpu1frt2E
stand by them.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhG2InLOF6
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pjdc4YOFA
"Good."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF5KQyXvw0
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDabekCJ2lV
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAwcrpJZ21
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmXaEc5KuB
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyOPvTpXn0
"This922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4GStCxbNS
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJHliKPiN6
why did you decide to rest now?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ekdxS3Yg
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30Zxcz80Hu
"Because922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sb5e4GTCc
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDahkqlwCY
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmV5J9duWX
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHzBexRKz4
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LxaPKXCcv
"Any922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUWDEPXiQF
last words before I begin my judgement?"922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeGdAzHAok
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOpA8Mwhll
"No."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIy0aq5XN3
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnlBLUxEjB
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsBVXXz0MP
"Bongzhon,922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0wzweuiMr
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP97c7JulOq
rest."922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipKYVBHKjx
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0spT6L1VBD
The light922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92SBig0c3R
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj73Ud4bDzx
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH1smK1af4
time in decades, happy and in peace.922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H9wRjMWfc
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDgluNFL65
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3jUbM4d4J
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXanqTYc2cx
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcaoy0ITQW
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE8vbD9OJQ
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1vLt9vVmD
922Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmtWugRmp3
