The Weight of a Single Choice
[First Person POV]
I felt as if I were under an invisible wave of pressure.
Elder Long Bai was asking me to decide someone's future. Even if there was only a 0.0001% chance of Long Chen's result changing after retaking the test, the weight of that decision pressed on me.
And if I denied Long Chen the chance to retake the test, effectively destroying his future, I would carry the guilt forever.
After thinking for a while, an idea came to me—to allow Long Chen to stay as an outer sect disciple for one month. If he showed talent in cultivation during that time, he could remain. If not, he would be asked to leave the sect.
I walked forward with steady steps, stopping close to Elder Long Bai. He stood like an unshakable mountain—a towering man, easily two meters tall, with broad shoulders that made him seem even larger. His deep blue robes, embroidered with golden dragon patterns, billowed slightly in the breeze, exuding authority. A thick beard framed his sharp jawline, and his piercing eyes carried the weight of experience, like a predator that had seen countless battles. Though middle-aged, his body was built like tempered steel, and every movement radiated restrained power. When he spoke, his deep, commanding voice made even the air feel heavier.
By comparison, I was only 1.75 meters tall.
"Elder, I have a suggestion. But I will tell you first—if you believe it is acceptable, then you may convey it to Long Chen," I said, my voice loud enough for Long Chen and the others to hear.
Elder Long Bai nodded, and I lightly tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to bend down.
As I explained my idea, his already content expression deepened with approval. When I finished whispering, he looked me up and down, scrutinizing me.
"Um... Elder, if it is not a good suggestion, then it's okay," I added hesitantly, seeing the way he examined me from head to toe. My voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
"You are not only intelligent but also possess terrifying cultivation talent," he remarked.
"Thank you for the praise, Elder," I replied, feeling flattered by his words.
Cough!
The testing platform elder feigned a cough, pulling everyone's attention back to the ongoing discussion.
Meanwhile, Long Chen was growing more anxious with each passing second. He had no idea what Xu Mo and Elder Long Bai were discussing.
"Alright, it's decided. Long Chen, you will be made a temporary outer sect disciple for one month. If you reach the first realm of cultivation within that time, you will become a permanent outer sect disciple of the Hidden Dragon Sect," Elder Long Bai declared in a single breath.
"What?"
"Damn, Long Chen is lucky to have Xu Mo as a friend!"
"Yeah. If Long Chen actually proves himself in cultivation, it would mean the talent stone was wrong for the first time ever."
"Lucky him."
Murmurs spread throughout the crowd.
They knew this was my suggestion, yet they also disdained Long Chen slightly, thinking him ungrateful.
Despite my decision, an unsettling feeling lingered within me. Was letting Long Chen into the sect truly the right choice?
[Long Chen's POV]
I was surprised by what Xu Mo had done for me.
But just as positive thoughts about him began rising in my mind, something clouded my judgment, twisting my gratitude into jealousy.
Xu Mo would get the chance to meet the Sect Master.
[Long Chen, what happened? Why the long face all of a sudden?]
"Nothing... Master, do you really think I have talent in cultivation?"
I asked the voice residing within the ring on my middle finger.
This was the greatest opportunity I had ever received—the soul of an ancient cultivator dwelled within my ring. In his final moments, he had been betrayed and forced to flee. But in the end, he was trapped by his enemies. Using the last of his strength, he allowed his soul to break free and hide inside a ring that had fallen from the corpse of one of his foes.
[Of course. How could I be wrong?]
"Then why didn't the talent stone react to me?"
[I will tell you once you are strong enough.]
[But for now, try to befriend Xu Mo and strengthen your relationship with him.]
"Why?"
[Just know that his cultivation talent is slightly below yours.]
"What?!"
The force that made the entire sect tremble and caused earthquakes… has a talent lower than mine?
I couldn't understand it. The talent stone was becoming more mysterious in my eyes.
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails turned white.
Why did I have to start from the bottom while Xu Mo was given a higher position? When I—clearly—had more talent than anyone here?
[Isn't it fun? The world underestimates you, but you continue to rise against all odds, crushing those who look down on you.]
I thought about my master's words for a moment.
"Yes, you are right, Master. Thank you for your guidance."
[Remember—the tallest tree faces the strongest wind.]
With that, my master's voice faded. He was low on spiritual energy and had to enter deep slumber from time to time.
The sun had begun its descent, sinking behind the distant mountains. Its light painted the sky in hues of orange and crimson, casting long shadows across the land.
Boom!
As dusk arrived, the remaining aspirants were thrown out of the sect gates. Those who had talent were already taken away by the testing platform's elder.
It was a depressing sight. The elongated shadows of the failed aspirants stretched out before them as they descended the mountain, their dreams crushed.
The successful candidates, on the other hand, remained inside the sect gates, laughing and celebrating their newfound status as disciples of the Hidden Dragon Sect.
Meanwhile, those who had failed walked with their heads lowered. Their loved ones' faces flashed through their minds—how would they explain that they weren't even qualified to cultivate?
Among this group of rejected aspirants was the girl who had falsely accused Xu Mo of harassing her during their climb to the sect.
Out of nearly a thousand hopefuls, fewer than a hundred had been selected.
"Life does not strike with fairness, nor does it reward the deserving. It merely turns, indifferent to our struggles, leaving us to carve our own destiny amidst its relentless tides."