【Beginning】
After the ascetic became the Sage of the West, he would often think about his youth, particularly the moment the white tiger had lunged at him. At that time, he had enlisted in the army upon receiving the Holylight’s summon. All he wanted was to fulfill his duty to his hometown. He never thought he will journey down the path of Taoist cultivation, and the fact that he would kill Baihu and become the Sage of the West was even more unanticipated.
He had reported to his army group worriedly, and settled in the camp under the orders of his superiors. The next day, the training officer had the soldiers line up in formation, before beginning his training lecture.
Drill Sergeant: Future warriors of Holylight City.
Drill Sergeant: Tell me, what is the weapon of a warrior?
Soldier One: The Holylight Sword.
Drill Sergeant: Wrong. It is actually this plain-looking armor.
Drill Sergeant: A suit of armor that fits your body would grant you success in battle.
Drill Sergeant: But an ill-fitting suit of armor would hinder your movements.
Drill Sergeant: Armor is your most precious weapon as only the alive can swing a sword.
The drill sergeant led the recruit to the training chamber’s entrance and told them their first test is to choose a suit of armor. Looking around, the ascetic saw a lone blacksmith in his own heavy armor embellishing a new suit of armor with the Holylight City crest. The entrance to the training chamber was just behind him.
The armorer worked silently as the recruits pushed and shoved their way into the training chamber. The ascetic stayed outside, his attention focused on the shining suits of armor that neared completion. He stood there unconcerned, but when he tried to start a conversation with the armorer, the only reply he got was silence. Thinking that the armor could not simply run off, he decided to head into the training chamber for a quick tour only to find a single suit left on the floor. It was then that his companion emerged out of breath and told the ascetic that no suits of armor remained.
Still, the ascetic remained unruffled. Out of curiosity, he reached down to pick up that sole remaining suit of armor. The armorer in protective gear was staring in his direction when suddenly, there was tremor emerging out of the armor as a radiant beam of light hit the ascetic in the eye.
The ascetic immediately leapt back in fright as a tiger had manifested itself without warning from within the armor. At the same time, the soldiers heard the commotion and rushed out of the training chamber. Some were already wearing helmets, but the others only had their vambrace on; yet, all prepared to fight the tiger alongside the ascetic.
【Before Battles】
Soldier A: There is no need to be afraid. Everyone, charge!
Soldier A: We can defeat it even without weapons.
Soldier A: We are the future warriors of Holylight City!
【Enemy Dialog】
Armorer: Those yet to be armored, be ready for your destiny —
Armorer: To die at the claws of Baihu.
【End】
Drill Sergeant: Every year, there would be recruits who are eaten by Baihu...
Drill Sergeant: ...because they are not wearing armor.
Drill Sergeant: Only a few were killed this year; not bad.
Drill Sergeant: The survivors are the elites of Holylight City.
Drill Sergeant: You are the pride of Holylight City.
The recruits cheered at the drill sergeant’s words as if they had just emerged triumphant after a major battle. The sole exception was the ascetic in whom the thought to withdraw from the army emerged. In this test of life and death, he had hidden behind his companions as he watched other new weaponless recruits sacrifice themselves on his behalf. If it were not for the armorer who knocked out the ferocious tiger before it reached him, the ascetic would have likely been torn apart.
In his view, the fact that the valiant perished while the weak were accoladed was not the ascetic’s expectations. He was unsatisfied both with the drill sergeant's training style and its results. After a few days, he left the battalion and decided to follow an older ascetic master; from that moment on, he began his journey of ascetic self-cultivation.