Chapter 4 – Heartless
Uneven stone stairs are extremely dangerous on both sides. The slightest mistake could cause someone to slip and fall.
After less than half a day, Wang Lin’s legs felt like they were made of lead. He was sweating and out of breath, and it was difficult to even move. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, the path hadn’t seemed long, but now, it felt like it would never end. Wang Lin’s heart was broken. He couldn’t help but feel despair.
In front of him were a dozen physically strong boys, slowly climbing. They were all out of breath. So far, none of them had given up.
Wang Lin gritted his teeth. He knew this was his last chance. His parents’ hopes filled his mind. Just then, a boy’s foot slipped behind him. The boy fell down the mountainside with a scream.
“I surrender! HELP!”
Everyone stopped and looked down at the same time, only to see a dark light flash by. A Heng Yue Sect disciple appeared out of nowhere and caught the boy. Their bodies were seen slowly falling to the foot of the mountain.
Wang Lin’s face was pale and silent. He continued to climb upwards cautiously. Time seemed to slow down. Two days later, he could see the silhouettes of dozens of young men ahead of him.
Wang Lin didn’t know how many of his friends would give up, but he only knew he couldn’t give up. His feet were bleeding and swollen, and he felt a terrible tingling sensation every time he took a step. He still held on, using his hands to climb up.
A pale, middle-aged man floated down the stairs from the mountaintop. “Little ones, keep your hearts strong, for this path is cruel. It will not be in vain, nothing is in vain…” He let out a long sigh as he floated down past the young climbers.
The middle-aged man passed by Wang Lin. This was the sixth young man he had passed, and he was the most miserable of them all. His clothes were soaked in blood, and he was bleeding profusely. His knees and toes were injured. Wang Lin was climbing up on his hands at this point. The middle-aged man sighed heavily and asked, “My child, what is your name?”
Wing Lin’s vision blurred. The only thought in his mind was to reach the summit or die. He didn’t even hear the middle-aged man’s question. In his eyes, this small path was the only thing that mattered.
The middle-aged man looked into Wang Lin’s eyes. Deep down, he was somewhat touched. He placed his hand on Wang Lin’s head. “This child has extraordinary perseverance. It’s a shame he has no talent. What a waste, what a waste…” He looked deeply at Wang Lin, then continued down the stairs.
The following night, Wang Lin’s hands were bleeding. He left a trail of blood as he climbed the stairs. He didn’t know how he managed to hold on, but something kept pushing him forward. He felt like he could die at any moment.
The sun rose on the third day. In the distance, Wang Lin could barely see the end of the stone stairs. Unfortunately, just as the end was in sight, he heard a rumbling sound that shook his heart.
“Time’s up. Only three have passed. The rest….FAILED!”
Wang Lin let out a bitter chuckle. He lowered his head as his body slid down the stairs. His consciousness was completely fading.
The middle-aged man in black from three days ago stood on the mountaintop. He stared at Wang Lin from less than 50 meters away with a cruel look in his eyes.
Several Heng Yue Sect disciples descended from the mountaintop. They each stopped beside one of the youths on their way down and gave them medicine.
A female disciple of the Heng Yue Sect said coldly, “Senior, of the 39 examiners, 25 gave up. Only three passed the test, leaving 11 remaining.” She had also experienced this brutal test. She had relied on the martial arts she had practiced since she was a child to pass. She barely had enough perseverance. Even now, after ten years of effort, she still hadn’t become a true disciple.
The black-clothed middle-aged man had a cold gaze. He nodded slightly as his gaze swept over the eleven unconscious teenagers. “Take three qualified people and find them jobs in the future. Send the twenty-five who surrendered back to their families. As for the last eleven, wait until they wake up. Send them together to the sword spirit’s home to see if any of them have a spiritual affinity with the sword spirit. If not, send them home.”
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he walked away without another glance and looked at the young men below him.
Three days later, in the sword spirit’s mansion, eleven youths stood with pale faces. The wounds on Wang Lin’s body had healed, but the wound in his heart remained gaping. The pain of his failure continued to gnaw at his mind and body.
This sword spirit test wasn’t conducted by a middle-aged man in black, but by a man in white, someone they had never seen before. He had the same cold and cruel gaze. He looked down at the young men as if they were ants.
The man said impatiently, “This is the final test. If you can enter this room, you are qualified.”
All Wang Lin saw was a very ordinary building. The front door was open. When he looked inside, he could see swords of varying lengths.
Each young man, one by one, walked towards the house. The first one approached only 5 meters from the house. His face flushed as he struggled to get closer, but was pushed away by an invisible force.
“Not qualified! Next!” said the man in white.
Wang Lin was the seventh person in line. The previous six had suffered the same fate, being pushed away by an invisible force just five meters from the house. He smiled bitterly, and with the last shred of hope in his heart, he stepped forward.
As he approached the five-meter mark, Wang Lin was able to continue walking with ease. His heart was beating rapidly with anticipation. He took another step closer, another meter. He didn’t feel any discomfort yet.
The man in white let out a surprised “Hey!” His eyes brightened, and a hint of interest appeared on his face. He said softly, “Don’t hesitate to continue. Keep walking towards the sword spirit’s house. If you are recognized by the sword spirit, you will be accepted as a true disciple, even if you failed the previous two trials.”
The other ten teenagers standing there looked envious. They were extremely jealous of Wang Lin.
Wang Lin’s heart was tense. The look in his parents’ eyes flashed back to him as he took another meter closer to the door. Only three meters left to reach the door. Wang Lin took another step.
Suddenly, he felt a powerful force rush toward him. Wang Lin lost control of his body and was thrown more than ten meters away.
All the other youths looked at Wang Lin with mocking expressions in their eyes. They thought Wang Lin was just like them, no chance.
Laughing bitterly, Wang Lin could feel the gaping wound in his heart growing larger. The hopeful gazes of his parents slowly faded from his mind.
The man in the white shirt’s eyes turned cold again and he said, “Failed. Next.”