928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhznWSMF0p
So this928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o9ZBtthxu
is finally it.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1sWF499t7
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBfJ4fLCWf
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvHiDk8LCF
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPA1mSFd1r
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKnRqV9MKg
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXjrgvIZE6
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyunVcenHiD
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVle6LuknYC
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC7u7lK67K
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0CTT0EvX8
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtfbokNcMP
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvixvpKeuTH
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FoAhvLJbT
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiszLC8v9k
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMYtKTgiZC
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc59vxYf41W
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvAQqLuVNp
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH6OJCHJDO
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh5BNGzeRv
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8gGoU0QAL
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZTxqP7MYa
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5goUej9ey
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fL1BMA4oK
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWXGvf7ZoR
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB69PFZrTX
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRANYor5VdP
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr1YSSuLwa
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrsmWSWaYL
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLlX9Ln3FL
him."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs3QmdMIJ9
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGsvrKJDHV
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYHRq7vYKW
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMy5afLbWS
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUgATZ2JG7
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnHDgPao04
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7q8JmQfaT
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzRdOsvJoa
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgINYROv9W
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlINIAZv1kb
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fgmTGWcvR
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0rwNOGQUN
"You may pass."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ7k4MA8ze
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UvbQBC1B2
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06K41uGi9o
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDohDy3xi9
Serene928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7bbD7sGh8
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgaYN6GNof
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbpT59iV2A
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy0UpyNayH
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfNdOSUb8g
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzPhSjmF61
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x6LyO3ArI
But the928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzUxfOh2EB
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk78I1mekh
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyrqErWBfO
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL6wSyzA5v
longer. He had to keep going.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc8jV5xrM3
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfdHy0IF2s
First928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOvgGXUVSE
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvlNqzXCqQ
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sPqzSaHbw
temple with their grand doors open.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl7NY9YgeW
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNEHn2PEXD
The first928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDVfKkWJ2o
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2oFlt6phC
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCfyAzTvvD
light leading further in. 928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GGvupxvCf
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ75C134xr
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW6uqexVJV
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmJFq1JOiN
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tf5Fqk4px
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIIVYDGEnh
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHNOivM2Kd
trapped.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ypIKSvLqJ
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5hoQjDRsU
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K5KCy5uWL
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2SmrATomj
"Calm928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpecJqMsiT8
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvJhuukUsX
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXrDJzdEpF
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrcVnYZYT8
words under his breath he followed the path of light.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjJTmkFSJI
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMwGogLNH1
He walked928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANrflF3NMF
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG5qK3h4l1
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse7deHUKsO
light, dwindling it down. 928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYwhDEZV1K
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRq8SbDQ7K
"Enough."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB32D5QzW0
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynYiWD56Ws
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOZVugs8Qw
the darkness and there was only light.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrIoqgg39b
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6an2D0qkn
"You928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGqpTONrFG
have come far, Bongzhon."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcemquHk5t
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU1ht0Lf2y
Serene928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsctpEuSof
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu9ZWfXQfR
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iFsUUGwqc
"Come,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzpyMDabU2
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNb4lL0ISG
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVI0ZDhyaL
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh5zAPRpCt
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW0kE0wagp
"You,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s9yjsxZLO
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgnEJf189n
judgement, whatever it may be"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9Vvpwe9uV
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc0jJ4XIr6
"I928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOVeWChIXi
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWmJDdHAFG
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGTYQzEm8L
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlHj6XzSHm
"Very,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnKDReGGjn
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU8D8p0wer
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OMTTM6YMC
and a small boy appeared out of the light.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEQpnSZJKC
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHrrHFoLGl
"This928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88WS8G4eoE
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqhN6718qB
to join your order at such a young age?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3LrhmLexz
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64kZwuOxaX
Serene928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhGSu8SfJR
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbWI2ety1J
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWET0zUl8a
provide for me and my siblings..."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TdT32LdpB
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB8krYfqXz
"Is928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbCNqomYEe
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrmqjR669A
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasX6u90b4S
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBF6GCPotZ
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZVx2NxVPh
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssE2qmqwR9
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB5yzUKJLB
Serene928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9hIBc1pxo
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAskuXqLzl1
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTNYV40Y3s
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfobB6J3dLY
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIZOhg3Glw
"Do928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ340TUzByHL
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLZrM3LHYj
leading them to ruin?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNL3R4zBYu
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhplahylFp
"Yes."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztKm7ShQO9
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1rX6vgjFO
he would've stayed or not.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHaMY9Awrv
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnG1qMef47
"Very928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKj6opod8M
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AWuA8mr78
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnQkuwEDuq
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjSVYgfY3a
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1266tlScM
"I928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbtPydSXOf
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDF0Wu63Ch
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqBRNecn2p
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdKWyWABfl
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOK02Q4LVd
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZJdcgnsPt
"And928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixrx6tLyub
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gJ1npvRrO
perfect in your role?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxASb9fPql
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsPqolV3KV
"I928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN0oNl9j0D
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVT3tRu8dE
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStP3QT4KJI
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z5pkyeg3z
stand by them.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35hAdC5Fsr
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkjD9m3Imx
"Good."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF7FpdPMWn
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8ldAokhpb
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1IBOLKfZs
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9XjCrqFXz
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyAZ90y15N
"This928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4omc8POFwL
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrXqQvu6r3
why did you decide to rest now?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kcsBGC3Mk
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKi1q6Sd9S
"Because928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGpHgG8Ev1
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp28kAp4F7o
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcovtzh9I7y
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJNqASy0k8
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYeR9CMn7O
"Any928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7404MJXOBx
last words before I begin my judgement?"928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOoR9ohb8e
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssN0iTh6Su
"No."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLnrqw90FT
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwZ1UHc9pt
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTADjDdFBK
"Bongzhon,928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbXBb0ap5c
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7AK23mY07
rest."928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSMIrZfsFH
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qHtsi0Tcy
The light928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqd1fFsi3F
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNoEzawQNW
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkjge0zjzF
time in decades, happy and in peace.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cmDUmzKyd
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjR28EfiJO
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8doVsbOsW2
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSDAjObIK8
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80gjVupNx1
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwahRPAIyJ7
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dP6LUOKXw
928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0uzjZ9B8D
