At the entrance of the gambling Pavilion, Xi Shen, Bai Xiaofung, and Zen were together having just left the building.
*Pitter Patter* *Pitter Patter*
The sunny afternoon had turned into a rainy evening as the sun began to set.
Xi Shen turned to look at Bai Xiaofung and saw that his eyes were listless, looking as if he had lost his soul. Zen wasn’t much better than he was too.
Xi Shen shook his head and said, “Those games were rigged so you lose more than you win. Which means any way you take it you’ll only come out with fewer Spirit Stones than what you went in with.”
Bai Xiaofung had on a bitter expression at that, but he didn’t seem to take Xi Shen's words to heart and seemed as if he would try again if he had the Spirit Stones.
Zen could then be heard saying, “Brother Bai, brother Shen, since it’s getting late, are you two going to stay at an inn? How about we head back to my clan? I have my private courtyard so no one will disturb us while we have some tea and chat. I’ve been meaning to ask about the rumors going around the Celestial Academy recently, and it’ll be great to have brother Bai and brother Shen to fill me in on those.”
Bai Xiaofung paused for a moment and a hesitant expression played on his face, before he said, “I haven’t been to brother Zen’s clan yet even without close friendship, but that’s precisely why I haven’t been there.”
“Brother Bai it’s fine, even though my family doesn’t know, they would have eventually found out. I can handle their constant nagging, it’s just up to brother Bai whether your willing.”
Bai Xiaofung hearing that, turned to Xi Shen wanting to see what his decision was, after all, he seemed to not want his identity to be discovered.
Zen saw this and became curious once again.
This was the second time Bai Xiaofung had turned to Xi Shen to hear his decision. He found this rather confusing since he didn’t understand why he would need to ask his assistant for his opinion.
The first time Zen chalked it up to Bai Xiaofung being considerate, but now he was really questioning it.
Well, an assistant wasn't the right term, but he seem to only be a simple friend of Bai Xiaofung. From his surname, Zen could tell he wasn’t from one of the Major Clans so his status was lower than that of Bai Xiaofung.
‘Could this brother Shen be a talented disciple in the Academy? That would explain why brother Bai is seeing him as an equal. No, wait, brother Bai isn’t one to discriminate, perhaps this person is a common disciple with whom brother Bai has made friends. Him asking this person for his opinion is just brother Bai being himself.’ Zen concluded in his mind.
Xi Shen nodded at Bai Xiaofung and getting confirmation, Bai Xiaofung smiled and turned to Zen before saying, “Well, if we're going let’s head out right away.”
With that, the group headed for Zen’s Huang Clan. As one of the top clans in the Silent Creek city, they're very wealthy and influential. The current Patriarch was Zen’s grandfather who was in the Nascent Soul Realm.
He was also one of the few Nascent Soul Realm experts in the City.
After reaching the Huang Clan, Zen lead them to his private courtyard.
While they entered a room in a Pavilion, Zen let out a sigh before he said, “The weather is getting horrendous and unpredictable for the past months.”
“Right. It was all sunny up to the afternoon, but the weather just took a drastic turn.” Bai Xiaofung said as he followed behind him.
“The operations of nature are just as eccentric as the heavens. Both are uncaring for the ones it affects.”
*drip* *drip*
Both Bai Xiaofung and Zen, who was completely dry, turn to look at a soaking wet Xi Shen who had just entered.
With a weird expression on his face, Zen asked, “Brother Shen, why didn’t you use your Spiritual Qi to keep yourself from getting soaked?”
Bai Xiaofung who had on a weird expression as well heard Zen’s question and suddenly remembered that Xi Shen wasn’t able to cultivate Spiritual Qi. He had completely forgotten about it.
Bai Xiaofung was about to quickly make up and help out Xi Shen, but Xi Shen beat him to it as he said, “Because of our ancestors' efforts to create new and innovative things, our generation has come to enjoy a lot of conveniences. However, we have gotten so used to these conveniences, always having everything at our fingertips, that we forget about many things. We forgot, or rather, we lost the drive to create new things as well as the ability to have innovative ideas. The things we create in this period of time is just us building upon those creations of our ancestors. I want to go back to the simple times of our ancestors, to live how they lived, to experience what they experienced so I’ll find that mindset they once had. If I can do that, if I can go back to being simple, go back to the origin, I’ll be able to move from there to find a path that’s never been traversed before. A path unique to me, and me alone.”
While Xi Shen spoke he had taken off his one-piece upper robes and was squeezing the water from it outside a window.
Both Zen and Bai Xiaofung were looking at him in stunned silence.
Zen looked more dumbfounded out of the two. The words uttered by Xi Shen felt as if it was reaching into the recess of his psyche to stir up his thoughts, shaking his very core. The words played over and over in his head seeming to be a scratch recorder.
They felt extremely profound to him, so profound that it sent his mind spinning just trying to understand their full meaning.
“Go back to being simple…”
Zen had his head lowered as he mumbled those words. After a long while, he came out of his trance and looked at Xi Shen’s back with disbelief.
‘This brother, who is he? From his words alone, I can tell he has reached a high level of enlightenment of the world. He isn’t thinking like normal people.'
‘We lost the drive to create new things and the ability to have innovative ideas.’
'This immediately stuck out to me. For him to be looking at the world like he is, I wonder what he sees? Go back to the origin, what does that mean?’
Zen’s mind began racing with various questions.
‘I-I feel like if I can understand this something might happen. I feel this itch, this sensation that my cultivation in the future will become a lot easier if I can grasp this concept. I can even feel my cultivation base stir when I was in that trance. This is an opportunity.’
Zen’s eyes began to shine brightly all of a sudden.
Meanwhile…
‘Crap, I ended up just spouting a bag of nonsense to avoid his question. How embarrassing, I wasn’t even thinking, even I thought I sounded like a crazy person you could find on the streets. What origin? I can’t believe my brain came up with all that nonsense, I think it’s a result of all those exaggerated and ridiculous ancient scriptures I read in the Imperial Library.’
Those scriptures that Xi Shen read were from past cultivators, who were more like scholars and philosophers than actual cultivators. They always spoke of finding the origin or becoming one with something, something.
But those were just ramblings of senile old men who thought if they wrote fancy and eloquent phrases they could gain the reputation of a wise sage. But they're nothing but conmen performing a hoax.
Even Xi Shen could see that. There was just no way a person's entire cultivation path was moving back to some mysterious origin, whatever the hell that was.
Well, this was all Xi Shen's thoughts on the matter when he read those scriptures. Just because he understood them and could simplify them, and even mesh them together to create a wonderful sounding philosophy, doesn't mean he believe one word of them
In fact, he can't imagine anyone finding those scriptures anything but utter dog crap.
However, contrary to Xi Shen’s thoughts…
Zen cupped his fist and bowed to Xi Shen before saying, “I never knew Brother Shen was so enlightened. No wonder you're dressed in simple robes and even go without shoes, brother Shen is no ordinary disciple to speak such profound words, I was blind not to see it before.”
“Huh?” Xi Shen turned to give a dumbfounded look to Zen.
“I feel that brother Shen’s words are worth more than any silver or gold. But as selfish as this may be, would brother Shen be willing to share more of your thoughts while we drink?” Zen then waved his hand and a set of tea ware appeared on the table, that was in the middle of the room.
Seeing that Zen was taking his words to heart, Xi Shen stood there with his shirt in hand completely stumped.
Upon seeing Xi Shen’s silence, Zen took it for hesitation. In order to convince Xi Shen further, Zen said, “Brother Shen, please consider granting me this request. I know now why brother Bai placed you in such high regard. Brother Shen is extremely knowledgeable and has wisdom beyond anyone I’ve seen before, I humbly asked for your guidance brother Shen. I can feel myself reaching an enlightenment. I can’t put it in words but it might have a profound effect on my cultivation.”
Zen's expression was sincere and he was bowing at a ninety degrees angle to Xi Shen.
Seeing this, Xi Shen asked skeptically, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, brother Shen. Please grant me this request!”
‘What is this situation?’
Xi Shen asked himself, but having Zen asking so earnestly it would be rude of him to just outright reject him.
After a moment, Xi Shen said, “Fine, if you think my words will help you then we’ll have a discussion.”
Xi Shen was still a bit skeptical as he sat down with a squish, due to his wet pants.
Bai Xiaofung who had been off to the side watching this interaction, shot Xi Shen a questioning look before he sat down as well.
And with that, Xi Shen started rambling on about nonsensical topics that sounded abstruse and profound. Even Bai Xiaofung who was skeptical at first started to get drawn in. The things he was hearing from Xi Shen sounded like a scattered puzzle that he was trying to rearrange in his head, but no matter how hard he tried the puzzle felt like it just kept on changing.
Xi Shen’s words felt like they meant one thing at first glance, but after thinking about it further it becomes something entirely different.
Both Xiaofung and Zen soaked up every word Xi Shen was spitting out, as if they were words that could reveal to them the secrets of this universe.
But in reality, these were just scriptures written by old men to confuse the crap out of people. That Xi Shen took a step further by putting his own twist on it, making it even more confusing. Well, at least that's what Xi Shen thought he was doing.
*******
Hey guys, sorry for the one chapter a day from the usual two, I’m working on my dream project, a Zombie Novel! (*0*)/
I was inspired by “All Of Us Are Dead” and “Train To Busan,” and I have to say so far in writing the outline for this novel I’m really excited about getting this to you guys. Make sure to stay tuned for further updates! ;)
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