The Path of No return

"I will not lose, Never" 

The words came out of my lips before I could even stop them. Fear wanted to take over my body, My heart was beating so fast as if it would burst. I was standing in front of the mighty and tall gate of the Jinghua sect, staring up at the place which could change my life forever. 

A sudden, sharp gust of wind carried the scent of incense, it made the red banners which were hanging from the gate flutter. 

The mountain peaks were very tall, it stretched endlessly into the sky with their tips hidden in the white mist. 

The temple halls looked like golden palaces floating among the clouds 

Then it came, the very moment I've been waiting for. 

Around me, hundreds of hopeful candidates stood in silence. Some were sons of noble families, wearing decent and carefully made robes, Others were orphans like me, dressed in patched-up clothing, eyes filled with hunger, not just for food, but for a chance to live a better life.

A girl beside me, Lian Xue, whispered, "They said only ten of us will be chosen."

I swallowed hard. Ten. Out of a thousand.

I clenched my fists. I must win.

At the highest balcony of the temple, an elder stepped forward. He has a long white beard and piercing eyes, and as soon as he raised his hand the murmurs stopped instantly. 

"The rules are simple," Elder Jian Rong announced. He had a very deep voice which echoed across the mountains. 

 "Three trials. Pass them all, and you may enter our sect. Fail…" He paused, letting the silence hang in the air. "And you will leave with broken bones or worse. This is not a place for the weak."

I could see fear in the eyes of some candidates as they exchanged nervous glances. Others held their weapons firmly. 

I lifted my chin. I will not fail.

The first trial seemed simple. A single wooden bridge stretched across a misty abyss, connecting two cliffs. But the moment the first candidate stepped onto it, he was flung backward as if struck by an invisible force. He landed hard, groaning in pain.

Gasps filled the air.

"The Bridge of Purity," Elder Jian Rong said, "tests your heart and resolve. Those who carry doubt, fear, or impure intentions will be rejected."

One by one, candidates stepped forward. Some crossed with ease. Others were thrown back violently, their cries echoing through the valley below 

My turn came.

I exhaled deeply and stepped forward.

When my foot touched the bridge, I felt an energy building up within me, it was like an invincible force that was pushing against my chest. I was filled with doubts instantly, it came like a whisper in my mind. 

"You don't belong here."

"You are cursed."

"You will always be alone."

I felt pain inside of me, my breathing frequency reduced, it came in short gasps. 

For a moment I felt like all the hatred and fear from my past was drowning me 

Then I clenched my fists.

No.

I forced the memories away. I did not come this far to be defeated by fear.

One step. Then another. With every step, the weight on my chest grew lighter. The whispers faded. By the time I reached the other side, the world seemed clear again.

I turned back. Dozens of candidates lay pitifully on the ground, they were defeated by their own doubts. 

Silence fell. Even Elder Jian Rong looked mildly surprised.

But it wasn't him that made my breath catch, it was the man standing on the highest balcony.

Yan Zhaoxuan, the Sect Leader.

He stood tall in his white robes, his hands were behind his back, he had long silver colored hair which glitter under the sun. 

His sharp eyes fixated on me, not that of curiosity but recognition. 

It was as if he knew me.

But how?

The second trial was a battle test. Each candidate had to fight another and prove their worth.

When it was my turn , I faced Qin Wei, a nobleman's son in a green robe. His smirk was enough to make my blood boil. Fear could not escape my mind

"You should have been thrown off that bridge," he said while drawing his sword. "Don't worry. I'll fix that mistake now."

I said nothing. I simply raised my wooden staff and took my stance.

The fight began.

Qin Wei striked first, his sword gleaming as it slashed toward my shoulder. I dodged at the last second, feeling the air shift as his blade barely missed me.

He was fast. But not faster than me.

I countered, spinning my staff in a sharp arc. He blocked, but the force of my attack was much that it sent him staggering back

His smirk faded.

"Not bad," he muttered. "But let's see how long you last."

He attacked again, faster this time. His strikes came like a storm,relentless, precise. But instead of panicking, I let my instincts take over. I ducked and kept dodging his strikes 

For a moment, we were locked in a deadly dance, our weapons clashing again and again. Sparks flew as wood met steel.

Then I saw my opening.

A half-second hesitation in his stance.

I didn't waste it. I swung my staff low, hitting his legs from under him. He fell with his back , his sword flying out of his hands.

The crowd gasped.

I pressed the tip of my staff against his throat.

"Yield," I said.

Qin Wei's face twisted in rage, but he had no choice. "...I yield."

Cheers came from the crowd. I exhaled sharply, stepping back. My hands were shaking. Not from fear actually but from the sheer adrenaline of the fight.

I had won.

But before I could celebrate, I felt a cold gaze burning towards me 

I turned and locked eyes with Yan Zhaoxuan once more.

This time, his expression was unreadable. But I could feel it, something bothered him 

He didn't say a word, he stood, turned and left 

A chill ran down my spine.

Why did I feel like my life was about to change forever?

Later that night, as I sat alone outside the training hall, I heard a whisper behind me that made me freeze 

"You're not like the others."

I turned around. Yan Zhaoxuan stood there, watching me.

His voice wasn't loud, but his next words surprised me the most 

"You are not meant to be in this place" 

I stared at him, my heart beating very fast.

 "What do you mean?" 

I asked anxiously 

For the first time, the mighty Sect Leader looked almost... troubled.

"Because," he said, his eyes looking dark with something I couldn't understand, "your destiny does not belong to this world."