Chapter 711: The Monk and the Beautiful Woman Speak in Whispers

The monk and the beautiful woman were speaking quietly.

February 18: The monk and the beautiful woman were speaking quietly.

Outside the window, the moonlight was pure, and a goose flew past beneath the pure moonlight. I do not know where that goose came from, nor where it is flying to. The moonlight is vast, the heavens are vast, the earth is also vast; all the journeys on earth, under the cover of the moonlight, look vast, and walking is vast.

Vast heavens and earth, ah, where is the road? Never mind whether it's vast or not; let us speak our own words and do our own deeds. For now, let us forget others and also forget ourselves.

The night is about to fade, and the moonlight and starlight in the sky are growing dimmer and darker.

My spirit is looking around in all directions.

The reason I am looking around is: did I not know earlier that youth has already passed? Yet youth outside of myself remains firm: the moon is bright and the stars are sparse, geese and sparrows fly south, circling the tree three times, which branch can I rely on? Bright starlight, pure moonlight, waiting for the sprouts are the stiff, dead branches, containing the nurturing of beautiful peach and plum trees, the confusion of the heart, the confusion of the smile.

This is only because of that elusive youth—hatred without reason, love shy and hesitant; yet what exactly is youth? And has the dream of childhood faded? On nights with the moon, are we no longer—just wishing to be a little spirit with wings? Yet my spirit admonishes me: 'She taught me not to use my own words—"Yesterday I had…." "Tomorrow will…."—to measure time, for you do not know what will happen tomorrow, so just make the most of today.'

"So, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have its own worries; each day's difficulties are enough for that day."

"So, yesterday was merely a fleeting time that cannot be returned; 'Abandon me, yesterday cannot be kept'; and 'the future' is an era I could never reach."

But now I understand: every moment before me contains all of time, including time that is anticipated, hoped for, wasted, achieved, proven. The place where I stand, this place, includes all places; each leg of my journey is merely to arrive at the present place?

However, Africa too!

But why?

Furthermore, what else?

"That infinite space, and infinite time, what will they bring you in the course of my life?"

Ah. Sorry, friend, because I gazed at the beautiful moonlight outside the window, I spouted a few nonsensical remarks. My words were utterly without reason, devoid of color; my singing had no tune; she remained silent and soundless.

Friend, do you understand?

Ah, I was only thinking of my own speech, forgetting Lin Meimei and the scabby-headed monk. Listen, that scabby-headed monk is whispering with Daiyu…