Tribulation

The air was calm, and the space around them was indistinct. The only thing visible in the endless void was a Weiqi board, with two people seated at opposite ends, engrossed in an intense game.

"It's your turn," said a young girl who looked no older than nine, placing a white stone in one of the corners—following a well-known opening.

Mingyao, the girl sitting across from her, reached into her bowl of black stones, contemplating her next move. Should she attack the piece or claim another corner? She wasn't sure how she ended up in this strange place, but one thing was certain—she was going to play to win.

The last thing she remembered before arriving in this void was wandering through an expansive bamboo forest at night, the cold wind biting at her skin.

She was lucky enough to spot smoke in the distance and followed it, eventually coming upon a house standing alone in the depths of the forest. Desperate for warmth and perhaps some food, she rushed toward it and knocked on the door. But as soon as it opened, she found herself in this strange place, seated before a board with a child waiting at the other end.

The girl promised to grant Mingyao whatever she needed—but only after they finished a game of Weiqi. Mingyao tried to ask for help and understand why a child was alone in such an isolated place, but the girl refused to answer any of her questions. The only way forward was through the game.

Thus, the game began.

After much deliberation, Mingyao chose to claim another corner. It was too soon to attack."I see you are as cautious as ever," the girl remarked, studying Mingyao's move before placing her own stone. It landed near Mingyao's—close enough to threaten her position but not enough to provoke immediate retaliation.The comment unsettled Mingyao, but she pressed on, focusing on her strategy building up her territory. As the game progressed, an odd sense of familiarity crept over her. The child's style, her attitude—it was as if they had played before. But how?Then it happened. A crucial part of Mingyao's territory was suddenly at risk. She searched desperately for a way to keep her group alive, but there was no escape. Accepting the loss, she shifted strategies. The girl placed her next stone and captured Mingyao's territory.

Lightning struck.

The darkness that surrounded them was replaced by a blinding white flash. A bolt of energy surged through Mingyao, burning her skin, but instead of heat, an overwhelming cold spread through her veins. It was as if ice had replaced her blood.

The girl smirked. "I forgot to mention—this is a test by the heavens. A tribulation."

"A tribulation?" Mingyao asked, confused. "Isn't a tribulation only for masters in Obsidian who are about to become grandmasters?"

"It is," the girl replied. "But look up."Mingyao followed her gaze and saw nothing but void. "There's nothing there.""Not with your physical eyes," the girl corrected still looking intently. "Use your spiritual sight."Skepticism filled Mingyao, and frustration bubbled to the surface. She stood abruptly, prepared to walk away, but there was nowhere to go. Only emptiness stretched around them. No door. No exit. Just the girl and the board.She turned back, her voice loud and expression scrunched. "Let me out. I'm done with this game."

The girl met her gaze calm. "Remain calm. If you wish to leave, you must first finish. As I said, once the game is complete, I will grant you anything you desire."

"Are you holding me hostage?" Mingyao snapped.

The little girl studied her, unfazed by her anger. "This is a divine tribulation. Once you start it, you must see it through. Until you finish the game, there is no leaving."

"What gives you the right? I didn't activate this! And besides, didn't I already have a tribulation?"

"All will be revealed once you finish the game."

"I don't want to play your stupid game!"

"Calm yourself, prince. This is unlike you."

Mingyao was caught off guard but calmed herself before reiterating her words. "Can you stop this? I didn't ask for any tribulation."

"But you did," the girl replied curtly.

"When? How?"

"When you called upon your old abilities as a grandmaster, heaven decided to give you this trial. Now sit, and let's finish the game."

Mingyao hesitated but sat once more. Her eyes analyzed the board—she was at a disadvantage, her territories crumbling. But she saw a way to turn things around. And she had to, because if this game was a tribulation, losing could mean losing her life.

The game continued. Mingyao recovered quickly, seizing a vast amount of territory. She appeared to be gaining a huge advantage—or so she thought. Once she captured a large territory and her position seemed secure, the color of the pieces flickered and shifted. The pieces that had been black were now white, and those that had been white were now black.

"What is this?" Mingyao asked, confused. "What happened to my pieces? Why are they suddenly white?"

The girl grinned. "These are my pieces. Those are yours," she said, gesturing to the board.

"But... but that's cheating..." Before Mingyao could finish, another bolt of lightning struck her. The cold burrowed through her body, and her mind ached from the sheer effort of thinking. Her vision blurred, and her ears felt as though they were underwater. The air suddenly became so thin that it was hard to breathe. Then, after a while, the pain eased.

"You need to look with your true sight if you want to win this game," the girl said, pointing upward once more.

Mingyao was confused. How was she supposed to win this game? It seemed as though she wasn't allowed any advantage of any kind. "Look with your eyes, she says..." Mingyao murmured to herself.

"Yes, look with your true sight. It's that simple."

"And how do I do that?"

"Through energy. Just as the blind can perceive a world beyond their sight, you too must achieve this. Let's start with me. Can you see my true form?"

"Your true form? What, you're not a nine-year-old girl? I suppose that's obvious. So, what is your true form?"

"Use your eyes to peel away the deception they show you. Reality is made up of layers upon layers. You must sift through the lies to uncover the truth. See with more than your eyes—see with your ears, your mouth, your nose, your skin—and most importantly, see with your energy. It will reveal the truth hidden within the lies."

Mingyao was confused by the mysterious girl's words, but she focused on her guidance and did her best to follow. She tried to connect with all her senses.

At first, all she could hear were their voices and the sound of stones on the board. But soon, she began to hear the whistling of the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the swaying of branches. Her nose, once only aware of the scent of the wooden weiqi board, now caught the earthy aroma of the soil, the fresh scent of the woods, and the crispness of the forest air. Her skin felt the gentle caress of the breeze, and her mouth tasted the sweetness of nature's air. Finally, her eyes beheld the night sky, where a full moon hung above, surrounded by a canopy of sparkling stars.

The void was no longer empty; they were outside, deep in the woods, playing beneath the stars.

"Good. You've managed to peel back a part of the layer. Now, feel the energy of the world around you, then look back up at the stars," the girl instructed.

Mingyao was confused. Was she supposed to manipulate qi? But she couldn't sense any qi flowing through her. She felt like a normal mortal again. Feel nature's energy… what does that even mean? she wondered. Then it struck her—perhaps it was about feeling the energy coursing through all her senses: the energy in her nose, mouth, skin, ears, and eyes, and seeing the world through them.

She tried, but at first, it was difficult to sense anything, making her feel foolish. But slowly, bit by bit, she began to perceive the energy, feeling it flow. Then, the stars in the night sky revealed themselves in layers, many of them connected by tangled trails.

"You finally see it," a familiar male voice echoed in her ears.

She quickly turned toward the source of the voice.

"Master?"

"You've finally found me."