Lou Ben was home and was able to see Qi Shuang adding the finishing touches of a simple meat and rice meal.
"My mother taught me to cook. She said that when it comes to creating and offering, to not only put your love into it, but also leave your mind empty."
Qi Shuang smiled as she saw Lou Ben come home.
Lou Ben asked if he would ever get the chance to meet her parents.
Qi Shuang smiled, but inside her eyes was a tear forming.
"No, my parents are no longer alive. They offended people they could not afford to offend."
"Although my parents passed away, I am lucky to still be alive."
"Often times when people are offended, they are not left with a single descendent."
Qi Shuang cried as she recalled the smile on her mother's face.
Lou Ben once had a wife and children; he was not an idiot in comforting a weak person.
He approached her and embraced her as she mixed the meat stew.
"Qi Shuang, your parents took good care of you. Take care of their memories and don't forget their names."
Lou Ben had already decided to embrace his new partner.
There were no underhanded tricks in the easy life the two live.
He cannot go and discredit her love, nor can she.
They will be seeing a lot of each other.
Qi Shuang finished cooking and brought everything to the table for both to eat.
She saw that Lou Ben had taken three books and paid no mind.
She thought Lou Ben had yet to give up on trying to learn to read.
Many people that taken books from the library to do the same, it all ended the same. No one returned to checkout another.
Lou Ben saw her smile and understood that she might think his arrogance should be young age.
He didn't blame her.
He wanted to talk to her about what he found interesting about the three books.
"Qi Shuang, did you know I found these in the library, they were so far apart, but together they complete a whole story."
"The books talk about a figure who is on the search for a wish granting crystal."
"What do you think of this kind of children's story?"
Qi Shuang was surprised, although she knew it might not end well when it came to Lou Ben trying to read, she didn't expect him to be able to get it so quick.
She thought that if he brought children's books then it must be because he was able to read them, even if it was at a slight margin.
"Lou Ben, you were able to read these?"
"Not entirely, Qi Shuang, I can vaguely understand the story as I flip the pages. I think over time I can read without having to think too hard."
"Who knows, maybe I can teach you in the future. After I understand the basics, it should help us organize the library better."
Lou Ben talked about his understanding of the books and how he is not really reading it but feeling the essence of the author.
Qi Shuang nodded her head in amazement as he spoke.
The night ended the same as the last, as the two lovers grew closer day by day.
Lou Ben was growing fond of Qi Shuang. He mentioned joining the disciple competition to see if he has any luck and skills.
He has spent so many months inside this new world and has yet to make any discernible progress towards any goals.
He was more fearful that it would end the same way his last life on Earth was.
The circumstances in front of him already closely resemble the same aspects of simple work and family matters.
This time he wanted more, and in the dark room holding onto the curvy figure of Qi Shuang on his chest, a sparkle in his eye emerged.
Even if his luck was maxed out, he knew tomorrow would be interesting. He was not interested in the prize.
To become outcome dependent is what he wanted to achieve.
He looked at the naked figure of Qi Shuang and noticed that he was a far way off from this.
Thinking of tomorrow and the events that will take place, he thought "they're going to test us to see if we have what it takes. All I know is that I have continuously rode the trend of this world to get to where I am now."
"If I can gain more knowledge, maybe I wouldn't need to depend on being given a helping hand."
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The morning started the same as the other, only this time Qi Shuang was left at the library.
The disciple selection was underway.
At the entrance of the palace stood the twin pillars.
In the middle was fog that reached the sky.
Numerous strong men entered.
There was no line outside.
When Lou Ben entered, there was a giant stadium-like arena.
It would be best to describe it as a colosseum.
The walls encircled the many people and as Lou Ben entered, he was drowned in the massive storm of people gathered.
"There is this many people available to come today?"
Lou Ben looked around and saw that there was no space.
He was shoulder to shoulder with people giving him no space to breathe.
Steward Wen Guoliang seemed happy to see the numerous amounts of servants that came and showed their interest to be so loyal to master Xiao.
It warmed his heart.
"Servants!"
"The first step in your long journey today, will be a test of will!"
"Turn your head to the left!"
"Now turn your head to the right!"
"These are your competitors!"
"These are your brothers!"
"But today only one person will receive the life changing gift to be taught by master Xiao!"
Everyone screamed after steward Wen Guoliang pulled at their heart strings.
The people around them are all loyal to master Xiao, for the most part everyone lives the same life.
Steward Wen Guoliang was trying to have the people acknowledge that this is a competition that will set you aside from the people around them.
After a moment to let the people feel the might in his words, he threw a white crystal.
The crystal had a single line that ran around the middle from the top to the bottom.
It floated towards the sky and radiated white light down the people.
Steward Wen Guoliang looked down and continued to announce "Who ever leaves their circle will be eliminated. No need to fight. No need to feel anger. You may even speak to each other, if you stay in your circle!"
As steward Wen Guoliang finished announcing the rules for this first test, the white light formed around every person that was packed closer than a can of tuna.
Everyone looked around at each other and shrugged their shoulders as their gaze met the person closely connected to them.
At this point steward Wen Guoliang finished his speech "You must not leave the circle. All those that wish to continue must remain standing. Whoever leaves the circle will be teleported out. Anyone that pushes another, will also be teleported out!"
Lou Ben heard these final words and understood the point of this test.
He spoke inwardly "It's not only a test of will, but also resilience. The longer we stand the longer our bodies get tired. The stare down between people in all directions, and the feeling of being suffocated…"
"This test is not easy. As soon as you leave the circle you forfeit."
Steward Wen Guoliang no longer spoke.
The roar of the colosseum went on for hours before anyone made a budge outside their circle.
"Where do you work?"
"Do you have any children?"
"Did you hear the first elder passed and this is why they wanted to have a disciple for master Xiao?"
People talked back and forth, until the first person was eliminated.
*DING
Everyone shifted their heads towards the source of the sound.
Immediately as a few others lost their focus and let their bodies move away from the sound, a wave of people was eliminated.
The reason was because this sound of being eliminated was not one that was simple.
The bell sound didn't come from the outside world.
The sound came from inside their mind.
The bell sound reverberated and shook their focus from the outside world as the people tried to shield their ears from this deafening sound.
The wave of people being eliminated did not bode well for them.
*DING
*DING
*DING
Every second the once easy-going strongmen started shouting to make it end.
The more people that got riled up, the more the bell shook their concentration, separating their mind from their body.
It was as if they were inside a dream they could not wake up from.
Inside this dream they were being chased, and the harder the tried to run, the closer the feeling of death approached.