Shadows of the Scarlet Lotus

The morning breeze caresses my face as I head to the Hall of a Thousand Echoes, where the disciples gather to train. The first light of the sun illuminates the stone halls and flower gardens of the Heavenly Summit Sect, but inside, the weight of uncertainty hangs over me. Today my real training begins, and although my spirit is determined, I know it won't be easy.

The hall is imposing, with carved walls that tell stories of ancient cultivators. In the center, the disciples form perfect rows as they wait for Master Hua Tian's instructions. Their white and green robes flutter in the wind, creating a contrast between the harmony of their movements and my solitary presence at the end of the line. They don't look directly at me, but I can feel the weight of their judgments. I don't need to be told; I know they still don't accept me.

Master Hua Tian stands in front of us, with his majestic bearing. His golden robe seems to radiate an authority that intimidates even the strongest. Beside him is Hua Mei, her expression serene like a calm lake. His presence is a constant reminder of what is at stake for me.

"Today, we will begin with a special test," Hua Tian announces, his voice resounding like thunder. It is not about physical strength or martial skill. This test will evaluate your connection to your spirit and your willingness to overcome fear.

Murmurs fill the room. Some disciples look at each other curiously, while others maintain their neutral expressions. I remain still, trying to understand the implications of his words. Connection with the spirit? Willingness to overcome fear?

"Come with me," Hua Tian says, turning towards a side door.

He takes us to a circular chamber behind the main hall. The air here is different, heavy and charged with an energy that makes my skin crawl. In the center of the room is a spirit formation carved into the floor, an intricate circle filled with ancient runes that glow with a faint purple glow.

"This is the Mirror of the True Heart," Hua Tian explains, pointing to the circle. One by one, you will enter the formation. The mirror will reflect your greatest fears and desires, exposing what you carry deep in your soul. This test has no winners or losers, but what you see will determine whether you are prepared for the path of cultivation.

My mouth goes dry hearing that. Reflect on my soul... I don't know if I want to face what may come out of there.

Hua Tian points to the first disciple, who steps forward confidently. He is a tall young man, with an aura of security that seems unbreakable. When he enters the formation, the runes light up, and the air is filled with vibrant energy. In the center of the circle a spectral figure appears: an imposing warrior who challenges him with a roar. The disciple seems to hesitate, but then kneels before the figure, and it disappears. As he leaves the circle, his expression is more somber, but also more determined.

One by one, the disciples advance, facing their own demons. Some return with tears in their eyes, while others seem strengthened by what they have seen. My turn is approaching, and I feel more and more pressure in my chest. Finally, Hua Tian points at me.

—Lian Zhi, it's your turn.

I take a deep breath and take a step forward. As I enter the formation, I feel a strange heat running through my body. The runes shine brightly, and suddenly, the world around me disappears. I am in an empty space, dark and silent, but my heart is pounding, as if something is about to happen.

A flash of light breaks the darkness, and a figure appears in front of me. It's... a boy. No, it's me, when I was ten years old. He is dirty, with threadbare clothes and eyes full of fear. I remember it well: it's the version of me that lived on the streets, stealing to survive, with no one to take care of him.

—Why are you here? —I ask him, but my voice shakes.

The child does not respond. He just looks at me, and his eyes fill with tears. Suddenly, the scene changes. Now I am in a field full of fire. I see Hua Mei, lying on the ground, with blood on her blue dress. I try to run towards her, but my feet don't move. A deafening roar fills the air, and a dark shadow emerges from the fire, laughing at my helplessness.

"You can't save anyone," says a voice from the shadows. You couldn't save yourself, and you won't be able to protect what you love.

I fall to my knees, feeling the weight of those words like a stone on my chest. But then, something inside me lights up. I can't accept this. It's not my destiny.

I stand up, ignoring the fear that clings to me like a second skin. I shout, letting my spiritual energy flow into my hands, and launch an attack towards the shadow. The golden light of my qi cuts through the air, dispelling the darkness. When the fire goes out, the scene changes again. Now I am standing in front of a mirror, and my reflection watches me with a serene gaze.

"You are not just your past," says my reflection. Nor are you the fear inside you. You are whatever you choose to be.

I feel an inexplicable warmth filling my chest, and the vision dissolves. When I open my eyes, I'm back in the circular chamber, standing in the center of the formation. The other disciples look at me curiously, and although they don't say anything, I can feel that something in me has changed.

Hua Tian looks at me with a slight smile on his lips, as if he had expected this result. —Well done, Lian Zhi.

I nod and take a step back, feeling like the weight on my chest has lightened. The test was not just a challenge; It was a reminder. Fears and doubts will always be there, but they don't have to define me. What you choose to do with them is what really matters.

And in this moment, I choose to move forward.