Dustwind Hidden Valley was silent.
Not peaceful-silent.
The kind of silence people make
right before their entire life flashes before their eyes.
Because today…
The disciples faced:
**FLOOR 7.**
The question mark floor.
The unknown floor.
The "my instincts say run" floor.
Tien was shaking so hard the ground vibrated.
Lin Ruyin clutched her mop like a holy relic.
Aurelius sharpened his sword with surgical seriousness.
Jin Haru was already writing his will.
Solene gently raised a hand.
"Dustwind disciples… prepare yourselves."
The tower pulsed ominously.
A glowing message appeared:
[FLOOR 7 — THE FINAL TRIAL]
[DIFFICULTY: ???]
[CONTENT: ???]
[FAILURE PENALTY: ???]
The disciples collapsed in collective terror.
Auntie Bao giggled.
"Oh, fun!"
Miyu floated forward with her pillow.
"…Begin."
---
⭐ 1. The Floor Opens — And Everyone Regrets Existence
The gates split open with a *FWOOOOOM*,
releasing a strange, unsettling energy —
Not evil.
Not chaotic.
Something far worse.
**Orderly.**
Too orderly.
The disciples squinted into the light.
Inside…
They saw…
A gigantic banquet hall.
Perfectly clean.
Perfectly symmetrical.
Perfectly decorated.
Jin Haru blinked.
"…Is this… a party?"
Lin Ruyin whispered:
"Why do I feel more scared than when fighting demons?"
Auntie Bao gasped.
"Oh! I know this one!"
Aurelius looked confused.
"Elder Bao… what do you mean?"
Auntie Bao smiled sweetly.
"This is the **Courtesy Trial**."
Every disciple screamed.
---
⭐ 2. The Final Trial: Courtesy
Glowing text appeared above the banquet:
[THE FINAL TRIAL OF THE TOWER
IS COURTESY
BE POLITE
BE GRACIOUS
BE SOCIALLY NORMAL
OR FACE CONSEQUENCES]
Tien passed out immediately.
Lin Ruyin clung to Jin Haru.
"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE—!!"
Solene suppressed a laugh.
"I believe this is Master Miyu's way of…
…encouraging growth."
Miyu blinked.
"...Social filth is still filth."
---
⭐ 3. The Rules of Doom
A long scroll unrolled in midair.
RULES OF FLOOR 7:
1. Sit properly.
2. Speak politely.
3. Compliment others without lying.
4. Accept compliments without crying.
5. Use chopsticks correctly.
6. Don't drop food.
7. Don't insult anyone's ancestor.
8. Don't talk about the weather in a panicked way.
9. Don't spill tea.
10. DO NOT LOOK AWAY WHEN SOMEONE SPEAKS TO YOU
11. DO NOT RANDOMLY SHOUT "WHY"
12. DO NOT PANIC. SERIOUSLY. STOP PANICKING.
Tien screamed:
"WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THAT—!!!"
The tower shook disapprovingly.
---
⭐ 4. The First Victim — Lin Ruyin
Lin Ruyin was politely pushed inside.
She bowed as required.
Except she bowed too deeply.
She headbutted the table.
*BONK.*
The tower dinged:
[COURTESY ERROR — TABLE ABUSE]
She panicked.
[COURTESY ERROR — PANIC]
She tried to recover.
[COURTESY ERROR — RAPID BREATHING]
She apologized.
[COURTESY ERROR — APOLOGIZING INCORRECTLY]
Then she spilled tea.
The banquet exploded.
The room shook violently.
Lin Ruyin was ejected through the door like a fired arrow.
She landed in Aurelius' arms.
"I—I failed…"
Aurelius bowed.
"You fought bravely."
---
⭐ 5. The Second Victim — Tien
Tien was dragged in unconscious.
The tower revived him with a slap of light.
He sat at the table.
A smiling illusion served him tea.
Tien whispered:
"Be normal. Be normal. Be normal."
The illusion asked:
"How are you today?"
Tien replied:
"I AM A POTATO."
[IMMEDIATE FAILURE]
Tien was launched out so hard he landed in the lake.
---
⭐ 6. The Third Victim — Jin Haru
Jin Haru entered, trembling.
He sat properly.
Held chopsticks correctly.
Smiled politely.
The illusion complimented him.
"You're looking well today."
Jin Haru's brain collapsed.
His mouth said:
"I—I—THANK YOU—I—YOU—LOOK—UH—GOOD—TOO—SORRY—FOR—EXISTING—!!"
The illusions stared.
[COURTESY ERROR — APOLOGY FOR EXISTENCE]
The floor exploded beneath him.
He rocketed out the tower screaming.
---
⭐ 7. Aurelius' Trial — A Perfect Gentleman
Aurelius stepped inside confidently.
He bowed flawlessly.
Poured tea at the perfect angle.
Complimented the illusions without exaggeration.
Used chopsticks with warrior-level precision.
Smiled politely without being creepy.
Solene whispered:
"Amazing… he is socially competent…"
Tien, drying off in the lake, screamed from afar:
"SHOW-OFF—!!"
The chamber chimed.
*PASS*
---
⭐ 8. Miyu Enters — And Reality Breaks
Suddenly, the runes on the wall glowed gold.
The tower requested:
**MIYU ENTERS THE COURTESY TRIAL**
Everyone gasped.
Auntie Bao covered her mouth.
Lin Ruyin whispered:
"Oh no… polite Miyu might break reality…"
Miyu floated inside.
The illusions greeted her.
"Welcome, honored guest."
Miyu blinked.
"…Hello."
The illusions asked:
"How is your day?"
"…Clean."
"And how do you find the banquet?"
"…Clean."
"And may we pour you tea?"
"…Yes. Clean."
The illusions nodded approvingly.
But then…
One illusion accidentally spilled a drop of tea.
A single drop.
A microscopic drop.
Miyu stared at it.
Slowly.
Silently.
Anciently.
The tower trembled.
Illusions trembled.
The drop evaporated out of fear.
The chamber chimed:
*PERFECT SCORE — SOCIAL DOMINANCE ACHIEVED*
Miyu floated out.
"…Clean."
Everyone bowed.
---
⭐ 9. Ending — The Tower Reacts
The Trial Tower shook.
Glowed.
Then—
A giant message appeared in the sky:
[TRIAL COMPLETE]
[ALL FLOORS CLEARED]
[REWARD: MIYU'S CHOICE]
Disciples fainted.
Aurelius knelt.
Solene smiled proudly.
And Miyu, hugging her pillow, spoke:
"…Tomorrow.
We give more cubes."