Not long after that, Gao Rong declared himself rested. He certainly seemed energetic enough for the climb. We started at the same time, taking it slowly and carefully. "So, apprentice brother Du," I said, "you've never attempted the trial at the 4th checkpoint, either?
"Yeah, never reached it. So I have no idea what it is. My brother refused to tell me anything, too. Said it was an unwritten rule of the King of the Mountain contest not to talk about the three checkpoint trials with anyone who hasn't passed them."
"Just an unwritten rule then? At least there's no Taboo curse. Those are annoying."
"You have a Taboo curse on you?"
"Two, actually. To do with stuff that happened in the Mortal Heaven."
"Shouldn't be—" Du Wuhan paused, straining a bit to move to the next hand and foot holds, "—too hard to get them removed up here, then."
"Maybe so," I grunted, keeping up, "but it's pretty much on the bottom of my to-do list right now."
