【2】TeEtryTrialsTeLife-BoudTecique

lymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

    Timepassed.

    Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

    “Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

    “Oh?”

    Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

    Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

    “Tch.”

    Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

    Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

    Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

    Thestepedhishaly.

    “gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

    Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivine