Night passed in a tense, trembling hush.
When dawn arrived, Dustwind Hidden Valley felt different… cleaner.
As if the tower itself had vacuumed the sky.
The disciples gathered again outside the Trial Tower's entrance.
Some hopeful.
Some terrified.
Some pretending they were sick to avoid being chosen.
Auntie Bao saw through all lies instantly.
"Get in line, children. Master Miyu dislikes crooked attendance."
Half the sect straightened their backs on reflex.
Miyu floated down from the roof, pillow in hand, expression calm and ancient.
"...We continue."
The tower hummed like a divine washing machine.
Floor 2 lit up.
Lin Ruyin whispered, shaking, "If Floor 1 attacked our shame… what does Floor 2 attack?"
Elder Orchid answered proudly, "Posture."
Every disciple's spine popped in terror.
---
⭐ 1. Floor 2 Activates — The Path of Perfect Posture
Solene raised her hand.
The gates of Floor 2 opened with a heavy *FWOOM*.
A radiant corridor appeared inside — long, straight, impossibly clean.
Floating characters spelled:
[PATH OF PERFECT POSTURE — WALK INCORRECTLY AND BE CORRECTED]
The disciples paled.
Jin Haru mumbled, "I barely survived the mop… this is worse…"
Miyu nodded.
"...Your slouch is disrespecting gravity."
He wept.
Auntie Bao cheerfully patted his back.
"You'll come out taller! Maybe!"
---
⭐ 2. The First Victim Volunteer — Lin Ruyin
Aurelius stepped forward to volunteer again.
Miyu pointed past him immediately.
"...She goes."
Lin Ruyin froze, betrayed by fate.
"I-I didn't even do anything wrong today!"
"Exactly," Miyu replied.
Lin Ruyin was pushed inside as the door sealed shut behind her.
The corridor was impossibly long.
Every step triggered glowing runes that scanned her posture and balance.
She took one cautious step.
*DING — SHOULDER TOO TENSE*
A gust of wind flicked her shoulder.
"Ow!"
She took another step.
*DING — NECK SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED*
A gentle but humiliating chop corrected her neck.
"OW!! WHO HIT ME?!"
The corridor whispered: "Posture is life."
Lin Ruyin screamed: "STOP LECTURING MEEE—!!"
Outside, Jin Haru flinched in sympathy.
Aurelius nodded.
"This training is beautiful."
---
⭐ 3. The Torture Begins
She tried to run.
The corridor disapproved.
*DING — RUNNING? UNACCEPTABLE. WALK WITH DIGNITY.*
A thousand tiny invisible hands corrected her ankles, waist, and shoulders simultaneously.
Lin Ruyin shrieked:
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY HANDS—?!"
Inside the viewing crystal, disciples saw her wobbling like a ragdoll getting folded by unseen aunties.
Elder Orchid watched with professional pride.
"Her spine is improving."
Miyu blinked. "...Her back was crooked."
Solene nodded. "It is being fixed."
The screams continued.
Lin Ruyin: "YOU SAID 'FIXED' NOT 'BROKEN'—!!"
---
⭐ 4. Enlightenment Through Suffering
Halfway through, she started walking straighter.
Then perfectly.
Shoulders relaxed.
Neck aligned.
Back straight.
Steps elegant like a celestial dancer.
The corridor hummed.
*POSTURE CORRECT. CONTINUE.*
She walked.
She glowed.
Her aura became refined and balanced.
At the end, the final rune activated:
*YOU HAVE WALKED WITH DIGNITY. PASS.*
The door opened. Lin Ruyin stepped out — taller, calmer, practically radiant.
The sect gasped.
Jin Haru whispered, "She looks… enlightened."
Aurelius saluted.
"She has evolved into a higher posture level."
---
⭐ 5. The Second Volunteer — A Fool
Tien, the boastful cooking disciple, stepped up.
"I've mastered balance in the kitchen! This will be easy!"
He took two steps inside.
*DING — OVERCONFIDENCE DETECTED*
THWAP!
Tien flew back out like a broken noodle.
Everyone stared.
Auntie Bao sighed.
"He is not ready."
---
⭐ 6. Miyu's Direct Intervention
Seeing the disciples trembling, Miyu floated forward.
"...One more."
She pointed at a random disciple hiding behind a tree.
"You."
He screamed.
"ME?! I WAS BLENDING INTO NATURE—!!"
But fate had chosen.
He was pushed inside.
This time, the corridor activated differently.
The runes flared red.
*DING — EXTREMELY CROOKED BACK DETECTED*
Elder Orchid cracked her knuckles.
"Oh… this one will need manual assistance."
She blurred into the corridor.
CRACK
CRACK
CRACK
"AHHHHHHHHH—!!"
Outside, the entire sect knelt in prayer.
---
⭐ 7. End of the Second Floor
By afternoon, five disciples passed.
Three fainted.
One achieved posture enlightenment.
One was carried out like a retired scarf.
Miyu closed the tower gates.
"...Tomorrow. Floor 3."
The disciples gulped.
"What's on Floor 3…?"
Solene answered calmly:
"Cleansing of Emotional Clutter."
Everyone panicked.
Lin Ruyin fell to her knees.
"No… no… I don't want therapy—!!"
Aurelius sheathed his sword solemnly.
"It must be done."
Miyu hugged her pillow.
"...Tomorrow."