Chapter 89: Understanding the Way, do not speak of Heaven

That evening.

Zhuang Buran lay on the bed, his mind immersed in the depths between his eyebrows, and he saw a faint, illusory half‑body arhat statue.

"To save all beings in one lifetime, or to save one person in a lifetime, there is no difference; it is also compassion. Having repaid the Heavenly Eye, may you not forget your original aspiration and attain the Bodhisattva's true fruition."

The blue‑clad youth spoke softly:

"Able to see the joys and sorrows of the six realms' beings in this life and the next, and to perceive all worldly forms without obstruction."

A strange hue flickered across his face:

"It turns out that besides the ordinary meridians, the human body possesses a subtle flow of meridians—exactly thirty‑one of them, and their nature is utterly different from the ordinary meridians; they ought to be called hidden meridians!"

Zhuang Buran's smile grew wider, and he thought:

"In the world there are myriad supreme arts and many masters; one might as well adopt a fresh identity and cultivate the so‑called Heavenly Way."

Four years later.

Since Yang Guang ascended the throne, being fond of grand achievements, he launched repeated foreign campaigns, indulged in extravagance and lust, built palaces and villas on a large scale, imposed harsh taxes, reduced the people to utter misery, and even brought forth bands of bandits.

Thus, heroes and strongmen from all regions rose in revolt, declaring themselves kings, and the Sui dynasty no longer retained the prosperity of its founding days.

At Emperor's Stepping Peak, in the square,

Many disciples of the Cihang Hall Quiet Abbey stood watching nearby; some had shaved their heads to become nuns, others kept their hair while cultivating.

Only because Shi Feixuan, as the present‑generation world‑walking inheritor of the Cihang Hall Quiet Abbey, wished before descending the mountain to give a stern lesson to her junior brother, who harbored a rebellious streak at the back of his head.

Then, seeing the two confront each other on the field, the young woman in her twenties wore a light‑green long robe that fluttered in the breeze, exuding boundless grace and ease; she gazed down at the clear stream, composed and unperturbed.

She bore an elegantly shaped ancient sword on her back, which added a touch of heroic vigor, as if reminding others that she possessed peerless swordsmanship.

The other was a fifteen‑ or sixteen‑year‑old youth in blue robes, yet he bore an extraordinary aspect: his skin seemed congealed from ice and snow, his hair fell like a silver waterfall, his eyes were clear as a deep pool, and his whole person carried an ethereal, immortal aura, as if viewing distant mountains through a thin gauze.

Were it not for paying close attention to his Adam's apple, judging solely by his bearing and appearance, one would call him a nation‑toppling beauty of unparalleled grace.

"Junior Brother Qing, since two years ago you contracted a strange illness and your hair turned white overnight, as if your vital energy had been greatly depleted; have you recovered now?"

Shi Feixuan showed a look of pity:

"I would not wish to win without proper martial prowess."

The blue‑clad youth's tone seemed tinged with mockery:

"Senior Sister, why do I feel you are growing ever more swollen? You merely have swordsmanship surpassing your teacher—how could it almost make me think you have attained the Sword Heart Penetrating Brightness realm?"

As they conversed, their vital energies clashed unseen, like invisible divine blades striking, causing the nearby disciples of the Cihang Hall Quiet Abbey to feel their hearts leap with alarm.

"Since your hair turned white overnight, we have never crossed swords again; I do not know whether you have entered the Sword Heart Penetrating Brightness realm."

"If I recall correctly, since I reached the Heart‑to‑Heart Mutual Understanding realm, you have been my defeated subordinate."

The blue‑clad youth spoke in a gentle tone:

"Therefore, whether or not I have entered the Sword Heart Penetrating Brightness realm, the eventual outcome will ultimately be no different from before."

"Junior Brother Qing, the older you grow, the less I find you lovable compared to before; that little girl who first came up the mountain and evoked pity has completely vanished without a trace."

"Alas, I also do not know whether the maiden who once had her hair cut off by my sword and wept in private can still be seen today."

As they talked to this point, their auras burst forth like thousands of needles and arrows in all directions, so that even distant disciples of the Cihang Hall Quiet Abbey felt their skin as if pricked by needles, instinctively stepping back a few paces.

"Junior Brother Qing, you are becoming ever more disagreeable." Shi Feixuan uttered each word, her eyes flaring brighter and brighter until they blazed like flashing swordlight.

"Likewise."

Zhuang Buran chatted leisurely, yet his gaze gradually coalesced—first like mist condensing into water, then water condensing into a pearl, murky and lustrous, without edge or point; no matter how sharp the opponent's eyes, a single meeting left them like a dying spark at dusk, all sharpness gone.

At this moment, both gathered their vital energy into their eyes, although they had not yet truly exchanged blows.

Yet their gazes were already like long spears and great shields, engaging in distant offense and defense, seeking each other's openings; though it seemed like casual talk—you a word, I a word—mutually revealing youthful secrets, it was in fact deliberate, meant to disturb the enemy's mind.

Then, if either party's mind is disturbed and their gaze relaxes, they have already lost more than half.

"Junior Brother Qing, do you know what the Heavenly Way is?"

"Senior Sister, what are your lofty views?"

"The Heavenly Way is a fixed law, just as after sowing, the edges of a wheat field always sprout some stubborn weeds; these weeds continually encroach on the wheat's growing space, and when they reach a certain number and draw the farmer's attention, they are cleared away."

"Then the remaining weed seeds are buried again in the soil, mixed into next season's grain, and continue to expand—thus the cycle repeats endlessly."

"The growth and destruction of these weeds lie not in themselves but in the wheat field itself: they grow because they are buried in the field, and they perish because they affect the field; even before they break the surface, their fate is already sealed."

"Hehe, Senior Sister, after going on at such length, you surely aren't trying to tell me that some things are already fixed and therefore not to be fantasized about, are you?"

"Since you already know, I need not explain further—my worldly‑hearted Junior Brother Qing."

"And Senior Sister, do you understand that the nature of weeds is to keep growing, their instinct is to keep expanding, and they never know their own destruction—whether it stems from damaging the wheat field, or from being unable to see or comprehend it?"

"Junior Brother, if weeds one day gained wisdom, they could cease growing before damaging the wheat field and before attracting the farmer's notice; in that case, would they not have comprehended the Heavenly Way of their own world?"

"Hahaha, Senior Sister actually is teaching me how to seek the Heavenly Way."

The blue‑clad youth clapped his hands and laughed loudly:

"Senior Sister, do you also realize that in the world of weeds it is impossible to discover the existence of the wheat field; no matter how it cycles, it can never perceive how the wheat field is constituted."

"This is the constancy of Heaven's course: it does not exist for Yao's sake, nor perish for Jie's sake."

His eyes, though filled with a murky intent, seemed to have substance; he exhaled slowly, like a heavy blunt object, pressing against Shi Feixuan's mind.

"Just as you, Senior Sister, have descended the mountain to enter the world, the Heavenly Way exists not because of a benevolent ruler, nor does it vanish because of a tyrant; it is simply because its eye holds no notion of right and wrong, good and evil."

"Moreover, as you said, it is merely the law of the endless cyclical operation of heaven and earth."

"Junior Brother, are you criticizing the great task of saving all beings that our sect bears?" Shi Feixuan's eyes flashed, then blazed again, driving back the blue‑clad youth's gaze.

"Understanding the Way, do not speak of Heaven's mandate; cultivating, do not seek the True Scriptures." Zhuang Buran said leisurely:

"Senior Sister, you still do not understand."

"If cultivation is not for the sake of obtaining the True Scriptures, then what are we cultivating?" Shi Feixuan's face grew solemn:

"What, then, are the True Scriptures?"

Zhuang Buran spoke in a calm voice:

Cultivation is for seeking to become a Buddha, while enlightenment is the awakening of self-consciousness, in knowing.

The so-called true scripture is the method that can achieve Nirvana tranquility; therefore, this method can only rely on enlightenment, not on cultivation.

Their gazes advanced and retreated like this, sometimes attacking, sometimes defending, sometimes like two swords entwining, sometimes like a sharp spear breaking a shield, sometimes showing weakness, sometimes showing strength; the marvel of their changes surpasses swords and blades.

Suddenly, behind Shi Feixuan, the treasure sword was drawn.

She gripped the sword hilt, and with a swing, like spring wind turning to rain, warm and moist, peaceful; where the sword qi reached, it seemed to carry the compassion of saving all beings, wishing to make the enemy feel awe, unconsciously enveloped by this harmonious qi, lowering half of their defenses.

(End of chapter)