Chapter 367
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Chapter 367
Sequestered within his Natal Palace, Goujian immersed himself in study and contemplation of the Truth. So simple, yet too profound, the Truth was a self-evident principle of life so obvious he wondered how he never saw it before now. Balance and Imbalance, Untainted and Defiled, all lies spread by the self-styled Emperors of humankind. So many lies used to complicate and confuse, hiding the Truth beneath a thin veneer of so-called facts and evidence. Insight, Enlightenment, Awakening, and Inspiration were chief among their lies, four separate terms for what amounted to a single, all-encompassing process.
Goujian called it Heavens Impartation, a process he experienced as he travelled away from Nan Ping to escape the Monks wrath.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
Though his physical body lay in the cramped confines of a hidden compartment aboard a smugglers ship, Goujians mind sat submerged within a sea of infinite knowledge. A thousand voices spoke at once, conveying so much information he could barely process even a ten-thousandth of its bounty and retained far less, but even these tiny crumbs were enough for him to take great strides along the Martial Path and break through the limits of mortality. Small wonder the Monk never aged a day in sixty years of life, for he Rejuvenated himself using the Energy of the Heavens. Not Healing using Chi, but a renewal with pure, unaltered Heavenly Energy, replacing parts of his body bit by bit like pieces on a ship until nothing of the original remained. He imagined it was akin to how an Ancestral Beast first formed its human body, though he couldnt know for sure. A slow and gradual process, were Goujian to look into the mirror, he would look unchanged and would remain so for months to come, but already his stiff joints and aching bones had faded away, his body healthier and hardier than ever.
This was the first Truth hed touched upon, the secret to longevity and possibly even Immortality, yet he sensed even greater Truths hidden away, gated behind comprehension he had yet to acquire. What other miracles could Heavenly Energy be used for? From where did this knowledge come from? It could be the collective wisdom of all of humanity, or perhaps hed touched the mind of a sleeping god, but whatever it was, Goujian knew the Imperial Clan had done everything they could to keep it for themselves.
And for this gravest of sins, they must pay.
Master, the arrangements have been made and night is upon us. Our contact awaits.
So soon? How long have we been travelling for?
Its been nine days since we left Nan Ping, Master.
Nine days spent ruminating on the Truth, yet for Goujian, it felt like mere minutes since he closed his eyes. Opening his eyes, he found his eldest disciple standing over him with with a pensive look in his eyes. Having raised him from young, Goujian could tell Wen Zhong was displeased by his instructions. The boy had always been a free thinker and never shied from questioning his Masters decisions, a habit Goujian had always encouraged despite the headaches which so frequently came with it. None of your brooding looks boy, he Sent, ignoring how this boy was an aged man of fifty-five years with tired lines around his eyes and a wisps of grey in his beard. Youve never been one to hold your tongue, so why start now?
Reaching down to help his Master out of the compartment, Wen Zhong stayed on his knees and asked, Master, will you not rethink your decision? There will be no turning back once this is done.
Legs still dangling inside the hidey hole, Goujians chest tightened upon hearing his Disciples doubts. Pulling the boy into an embrace, he held him tight in an unfamiliar gesture of affection. Master has failed you, he said, his voice hoarse from days spent in silence. I once believed our cause moral and our purpose just, but I was wrong. I see this now, and I beg forgiveness for leading you and your brothers astray. I do not blame you for your doubts, but know this: I have seen the Truth. Together, we committed all manner of atrocities in the name of peace and Balance, a lie fed to us by the Imperial Clan so they could keep the power of Heaven to themselves. They drew a line in the sand and told us everyone on the other side is the Enemy, and we foolishly believed them.
Master...
Hush boy and let me say my piece. Releasing his disciple, Goujian fell to his knees and kowtowed in apology, his head striking the wooden deck with a heavy knock. Taken by surprise, Wen Zhong released his grip on his sword and moved to stop him. Lacking the strength to push his disciple away, Goujian wheezed, Leave me be. Ive sinned greatly by killing so many Chosen of Heaven, but greater is my sin of drawing you to this false cause. I should have cut your throat as a child and spared you a life lived following me along my dark path, for then at least you could have died with a clean conscience. I have wronged you boy, and I fear nothing I do can ever fix it.
Our cause was moral and just, Wen Zhong declared, refusing to let Goujian continue kowtowing. When you found me, I was a gaunt, mutilated child lying in a carnal pit of death and depravity. You picked me out of that pit and nursed me back to health. You bandaged and fed me, washed and clothed me, all before holding me close as you brought me out to identify the Defiled bandits who raped, tortured, killed, and ate my family. Distress etched across his aged face, Wen Zhong asked, And now you call the Defiled the Chosen of Heaven?
Horrified by the misconception, Goujian shook his head in vehement denial. No, no, you mistake me boy. The Defiled are an aberration, but one I suspect of the Empires devising. The Defiled have their own path to strength, one which draws on base emotions such as anger, lust, and hatred. Meanwhile, the Empire touts Balance and Purity as the one true path, a repression of all emotions down to an almost neutral end. Any who diverge from this must be Tainted and become Defiled, but why must it be one path or the other?
Such dangerous information shouldnt be said out loud, but Goujian yearned to scream it for all to hear, imbuing his voice with Chi just so more people would understand. Think on it. Two diametrically opposed paths, one of moderation and the other indulgence, yet in the end, these paths share too many similarities to overlook. What can we do that the Defiled cannot replicate? Without waiting for an answer, he pressed on, eager to assuage his eldest disciples doubts. I now see that true power lies not in Balance or Imbalance, but, strange as it may sound, in both.
Wen Zhongs lack of comprehension grated on Goujians nerves, but he pressed on with his explanation, knowing his eldest disciple was not a foolish man, merely a stubborn one. You see, the Imperials feed us a grain of truth all to better hide their lies. The difference between medicine and poison is often merely a matter of dosage, and such is the case with Heavenly Energy. Where the Defiled take too much and lose themselves to emotion, we are taught to take too little by closing our emotions off and converting Heavenly Energy into Chi. Balance, true Balance is not about control of ones emotions, but surrender to them. Embrace love and joy, give in to anger and hatred, for only then can one be wholly in tune with nature and command the Energy of the Heavens. Scoffing, he added, It would not surprise me to learn the Defiled are another Imperial creation, made to keep us from rising up to challenge their might.
Strange as it might sound, this was the proudest moment in Goujians life. Hed trained them to believe in their intuition no matter what others might say and always come to an answer through logic and reasoning. Even though he, their Master and father figure, gave them a direct order, they still had the presence of mind to ask, Why? and reached their own conclusion. A splendid bunch who would have served the Empire well after his Death.
A shame it was that same Empire Goujian now sought to destroy. In a way, this was his fault for having raised his sons too well, so the least he could do was give them a warrior's death.
Pressed back by their relentless assault, he retreated step by precious step, knowing full well the ships confines were ill-suited for his fight. Worse, hed spent nine days immersed in cultivation and was sorely lacking in sustenance, ironically surviving only because his Disciples had cared for him. Perhaps earlier today, one of them had spoon-fed him gruel and water, yet here they were, fighting desperately to kill the man who raised them.
Trials and tribulations indeed.
Catching Sochuns blade with his hooked sword, Goujian moved his second disciple to block the path of his eldest. Never one to hesitate, Wen Zhong stabbed through his Junior Brothers arm in a desperate attempt to take his Masters life, knowing the odds no longer lay in their favour. Sadly, brilliant as Wen Zhong was, no one understood him more than his Master. Cleanly dodging the thrust, Goujian released Sochuns blade with a flick of his wrist, and with a single, horizontal slash, took the lives of both his Disciples. Panting with exertion, he checked them both and saw that hed been mistaken. Wen Zhong still clung to life, having avoided instant death by the barest of margins. Taking a seat beside his eldest disciples fallen body, he cradled the boys head and held him close, watching as the blood flowed out of Wen Zhongs neck and the light faded from his eyes. His chest swelling with pride and heart heavy with grief, Goujian noted all his conflicting emotions, believing it would serve him well to study them. He would need strength to face his Imperial foes, and his greatest allies now lay dead at his feet.
Well, not all of them. Once Wen Zhong was dead and gone, Goujian glanced and nodded at his sole surviving disciple. Come. Weve kept our guests waiting long enough.
What of the bodies? Yuanyin asked, though he still followed closely on Goujians heels.
Leave them for the ships captain. Hell know what to do. As much as hed like to leave their corpses intact, he couldnt afford to leave a trail for the Monk to follow.
Cloaking his presence to escape notice from the dock guards, Goujian brought Yuanyin off the ship and out into the wilderness, travelling a short distance west before he finally found his bearings. By the time they reached the meeting area, he was what most nobles would call fashionably late. I apologize for the delay, he said, greeting his guests with a clasped fist, only then noticing his sleeves were soaked in blood. Well, no matter. Not like these particular guests would mind. You must be Mao Jianghong. Your infamy precedes you.
His guest grinned lazily in reply, a handsome man who looked no different from any other noble of the Empire. That means much coming from the Confessor. I must admit, Im curious why a man with your reputation wanted a meeting with a known traitor of the Empire, or how you even knew I was here. Goujian glanced at the young man beside Jianghong, but the former Guard Captain of Sanshu waved his hand dismissively. Dont worry. Gen here is trustworthy, you may speak freely.
Very well. Clearing his throat, Goujian found his next sentence more difficult to utter than he'd expected. I seek an alliance with your faction to overthrow the Emperor.
As Sun-Sin would say, the arrow had been loosed.
Laughing in derision, Jianghong shook his head and asked, Surprising, and not at all what I expected. Your motivations aside, I must ask, what makes you think we even need you? Our strength is greater than you could ever imagine.
Let him help, Gen said, nodding in approval. Hes like us. Hes seen the Truth.
Thank the Heavens. Goujian had guessed correctly. These two werent Defiled.
They were Chosen, just like him.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 367
Sequestered within his Natal Palace, Goujian immersed himself in study and contemplation of the Truth. So simple, yet too profound, the Truth was a self-evident principle of life so obvious he wondered how he never saw it before now. Balance and Imbalance, Untainted and Defiled, all lies spread by the self-styled Emperors of humankind. So many lies used to complicate and confuse, hiding the Truth beneath a thin veneer of so-called facts and evidence. Insight, Enlightenment, Awakening, and Inspiration were chief among their lies, four separate terms for what amounted to a single, all-encompassing process.
Goujian called it Heavens Impartation, a process he experienced as he travelled away from Nan Ping to escape the Monks wrath.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
Though his physical body lay in the cramped confines of a hidden compartment aboard a smugglers ship, Goujians mind sat submerged within a sea of infinite knowledge. A thousand voices spoke at once, conveying so much information he could barely process even a ten-thousandth of its bounty and retained far less, but even these tiny crumbs were enough for him to take great strides along the Martial Path and break through the limits of mortality. Small wonder the Monk never aged a day in sixty years of life, for he Rejuvenated himself using the Energy of the Heavens. Not Healing using Chi, but a renewal with pure, unaltered Heavenly Energy, replacing parts of his body bit by bit like pieces on a ship until nothing of the original remained. He imagined it was akin to how an Ancestral Beast first formed its human body, though he couldnt know for sure. A slow and gradual process, were Goujian to look into the mirror, he would look unchanged and would remain so for months to come, but already his stiff joints and aching bones had faded away, his body healthier and hardier than ever.
This was the first Truth hed touched upon, the secret to longevity and possibly even Immortality, yet he sensed even greater Truths hidden away, gated behind comprehension he had yet to acquire. What other miracles could Heavenly Energy be used for? From where did this knowledge come from? It could be the collective wisdom of all of humanity, or perhaps hed touched the mind of a sleeping god, but whatever it was, Goujian knew the Imperial Clan had done everything they could to keep it for themselves.
And for this gravest of sins, they must pay.
Master, the arrangements have been made and night is upon us. Our contact awaits.
So soon? How long have we been travelling for?
Its been nine days since we left Nan Ping, Master.
Nine days spent ruminating on the Truth, yet for Goujian, it felt like mere minutes since he closed his eyes. Opening his eyes, he found his eldest disciple standing over him with with a pensive look in his eyes. Having raised him from young, Goujian could tell Wen Zhong was displeased by his instructions. The boy had always been a free thinker and never shied from questioning his Masters decisions, a habit Goujian had always encouraged despite the headaches which so frequently came with it. None of your brooding looks boy, he Sent, ignoring how this boy was an aged man of fifty-five years with tired lines around his eyes and a wisps of grey in his beard. Youve never been one to hold your tongue, so why start now?
Reaching down to help his Master out of the compartment, Wen Zhong stayed on his knees and asked, Master, will you not rethink your decision? There will be no turning back once this is done.
Legs still dangling inside the hidey hole, Goujians chest tightened upon hearing his Disciples doubts. Pulling the boy into an embrace, he held him tight in an unfamiliar gesture of affection. Master has failed you, he said, his voice hoarse from days spent in silence. I once believed our cause moral and our purpose just, but I was wrong. I see this now, and I beg forgiveness for leading you and your brothers astray. I do not blame you for your doubts, but know this: I have seen the Truth. Together, we committed all manner of atrocities in the name of peace and Balance, a lie fed to us by the Imperial Clan so they could keep the power of Heaven to themselves. They drew a line in the sand and told us everyone on the other side is the Enemy, and we foolishly believed them.
Master...
Hush boy and let me say my piece. Releasing his disciple, Goujian fell to his knees and kowtowed in apology, his head striking the wooden deck with a heavy knock. Taken by surprise, Wen Zhong released his grip on his sword and moved to stop him. Lacking the strength to push his disciple away, Goujian wheezed, Leave me be. Ive sinned greatly by killing so many Chosen of Heaven, but greater is my sin of drawing you to this false cause. I should have cut your throat as a child and spared you a life lived following me along my dark path, for then at least you could have died with a clean conscience. I have wronged you boy, and I fear nothing I do can ever fix it.
Our cause was moral and just, Wen Zhong declared, refusing to let Goujian continue kowtowing. When you found me, I was a gaunt, mutilated child lying in a carnal pit of death and depravity. You picked me out of that pit and nursed me back to health. You bandaged and fed me, washed and clothed me, all before holding me close as you brought me out to identify the Defiled bandits who raped, tortured, killed, and ate my family. Distress etched across his aged face, Wen Zhong asked, And now you call the Defiled the Chosen of Heaven?
Horrified by the misconception, Goujian shook his head in vehement denial. No, no, you mistake me boy. The Defiled are an aberration, but one I suspect of the Empires devising. The Defiled have their own path to strength, one which draws on base emotions such as anger, lust, and hatred. Meanwhile, the Empire touts Balance and Purity as the one true path, a repression of all emotions down to an almost neutral end. Any who diverge from this must be Tainted and become Defiled, but why must it be one path or the other?
Such dangerous information shouldnt be said out loud, but Goujian yearned to scream it for all to hear, imbuing his voice with Chi just so more people would understand. Think on it. Two diametrically opposed paths, one of moderation and the other indulgence, yet in the end, these paths share too many similarities to overlook. What can we do that the Defiled cannot replicate? Without waiting for an answer, he pressed on, eager to assuage his eldest disciples doubts. I now see that true power lies not in Balance or Imbalance, but, strange as it may sound, in both.
Wen Zhongs lack of comprehension grated on Goujians nerves, but he pressed on with his explanation, knowing his eldest disciple was not a foolish man, merely a stubborn one. You see, the Imperials feed us a grain of truth all to better hide their lies. The difference between medicine and poison is often merely a matter of dosage, and such is the case with Heavenly Energy. Where the Defiled take too much and lose themselves to emotion, we are taught to take too little by closing our emotions off and converting Heavenly Energy into Chi. Balance, true Balance is not about control of ones emotions, but surrender to them. Embrace love and joy, give in to anger and hatred, for only then can one be wholly in tune with nature and command the Energy of the Heavens. Scoffing, he added, It would not surprise me to learn the Defiled are another Imperial creation, made to keep us from rising up to challenge their might.
Strange as it might sound, this was the proudest moment in Goujians life. Hed trained them to believe in their intuition no matter what others might say and always come to an answer through logic and reasoning. Even though he, their Master and father figure, gave them a direct order, they still had the presence of mind to ask, Why? and reached their own conclusion. A splendid bunch who would have served the Empire well after his Death.
A shame it was that same Empire Goujian now sought to destroy. In a way, this was his fault for having raised his sons too well, so the least he could do was give them a warrior's death.
Pressed back by their relentless assault, he retreated step by precious step, knowing full well the ships confines were ill-suited for his fight. Worse, hed spent nine days immersed in cultivation and was sorely lacking in sustenance, ironically surviving only because his Disciples had cared for him. Perhaps earlier today, one of them had spoon-fed him gruel and water, yet here they were, fighting desperately to kill the man who raised them.
Trials and tribulations indeed.
Catching Sochuns blade with his hooked sword, Goujian moved his second disciple to block the path of his eldest. Never one to hesitate, Wen Zhong stabbed through his Junior Brothers arm in a desperate attempt to take his Masters life, knowing the odds no longer lay in their favour. Sadly, brilliant as Wen Zhong was, no one understood him more than his Master. Cleanly dodging the thrust, Goujian released Sochuns blade with a flick of his wrist, and with a single, horizontal slash, took the lives of both his Disciples. Panting with exertion, he checked them both and saw that hed been mistaken. Wen Zhong still clung to life, having avoided instant death by the barest of margins. Taking a seat beside his eldest disciples fallen body, he cradled the boys head and held him close, watching as the blood flowed out of Wen Zhongs neck and the light faded from his eyes. His chest swelling with pride and heart heavy with grief, Goujian noted all his conflicting emotions, believing it would serve him well to study them. He would need strength to face his Imperial foes, and his greatest allies now lay dead at his feet.
Well, not all of them. Once Wen Zhong was dead and gone, Goujian glanced and nodded at his sole surviving disciple. Come. Weve kept our guests waiting long enough.
What of the bodies? Yuanyin asked, though he still followed closely on Goujians heels.
Leave them for the ships captain. Hell know what to do. As much as hed like to leave their corpses intact, he couldnt afford to leave a trail for the Monk to follow.
Cloaking his presence to escape notice from the dock guards, Goujian brought Yuanyin off the ship and out into the wilderness, travelling a short distance west before he finally found his bearings. By the time they reached the meeting area, he was what most nobles would call fashionably late. I apologize for the delay, he said, greeting his guests with a clasped fist, only then noticing his sleeves were soaked in blood. Well, no matter. Not like these particular guests would mind. You must be Mao Jianghong. Your infamy precedes you.
His guest grinned lazily in reply, a handsome man who looked no different from any other noble of the Empire. That means much coming from the Confessor. I must admit, Im curious why a man with your reputation wanted a meeting with a known traitor of the Empire, or how you even knew I was here. Goujian glanced at the young man beside Jianghong, but the former Guard Captain of Sanshu waved his hand dismissively. Dont worry. Gen here is trustworthy, you may speak freely.
Very well. Clearing his throat, Goujian found his next sentence more difficult to utter than he'd expected. I seek an alliance with your faction to overthrow the Emperor.
As Sun-Sin would say, the arrow had been loosed.
Laughing in derision, Jianghong shook his head and asked, Surprising, and not at all what I expected. Your motivations aside, I must ask, what makes you think we even need you? Our strength is greater than you could ever imagine.
Let him help, Gen said, nodding in approval. Hes like us. Hes seen the Truth.
Thank the Heavens. Goujian had guessed correctly. These two werent Defiled.
They were Chosen, just like him.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 367Sequestered within his Natal Palace, Goujian immersed himself in study and contemplation of the Truth. So simple, yet too profound, the Truth was a self-evident principle of life so obvious he wondered how he never saw it before now. Balance and Imbalance, Untainted and Defiled, all lies spread by the self-styled Emperors of humankind. So many lies used to complicate and confuse, hiding the Truth beneath a thin veneer of so-called facts and evidence. Insight, Enlightenment, Awakening, and Inspiration were chief among their lies, four separate terms for what amounted to a single, all-encompassing process.Goujian called it Heavens Impartation, a process he experienced as he travelled away from Nan Ping to escape the Monks wrath.Updated from novelbIn.comThough his physical body lay in the cramped confines of a hidden compartment aboard a smugglers ship, Goujians mind sat submerged within a sea of infinite knowledge. A thousand voices spoke at once, conveying so much information he could barely process even a ten-thousandth of its bounty and retained far less, but even these tiny crumbs were enough for him to take great strides along the Martial Path and break through the limits of mortality. Small wonder the Monk never aged a day in sixty years of life, for he Rejuvenated himself using the Energy of the Heavens. Not Healing using Chi, but a renewal with pure, unaltered Heavenly Energy, replacing parts of his body bit by bit like pieces on a ship until nothing of the original remained. He imagined it was akin to how an Ancestral Beast first formed its human body, though he couldnt know for sure. A slow and gradual process, were Goujian to look into the mirror, he would look unchanged and would remain so for months to come, but already his stiff joints and aching bones had faded away, his body healthier and hardier than ever.This was the first Truth hed touched upon, the secret to longevity and possibly even Immortality, yet he sensed even greater Truths hidden away, gated behind comprehension he had yet to acquire. What other miracles could Heavenly Energy be used for? From where did this knowledge come from? It could be the collective wisdom of all of humanity, or perhaps hed touched the mind of a sleeping god, but whatever it was, Goujian knew the Imperial Clan had done everything they could to keep it for themselves.And for this gravest of sins, they must pay.Master, the arrangements have been made and night is upon us. Our contact awaits.So soon? How long have we been travelling for?Its been nine days since we left Nan Ping, Master.Nine days spent ruminating on the Truth, yet for Goujian, it felt like mere minutes since he closed his eyes. Opening his eyes, he found his eldest disciple standing over him with with a pensive look in his eyes. Having raised him from young, Goujian could tell Wen Zhong was displeased by his instructions. The boy had always been a free thinker and never shied from questioning his Masters decisions, a habit Goujian had always encouraged despite the headaches which so frequently came with it. None of your brooding looks boy, he Sent, ignoring how this boy was an aged man of fifty-five years with tired lines around his eyes and a wisps of grey in his beard. Youve never been one to hold your tongue, so why start now?Reaching down to help his Master out of the compartment, Wen Zhong stayed on his knees and asked, Master, will you not rethink your decision? There will be no turning back once this is done.Legs still dangling inside the hidey hole, Goujians chest tightened upon hearing his Disciples doubts. Pulling the boy into an embrace, he held him tight in an unfamiliar gesture of affection. Master has failed you, he said, his voice hoarse from days spent in silence. I once believed our cause moral and our purpose just, but I was wrong. I see this now, and I beg forgiveness for leading you and your brothers astray. I do not blame you for your doubts, but know this: I have seen the Truth. Together, we committed all manner of atrocities in the name of peace and Balance, a lie fed to us by the Imperial Clan so they could keep the power of Heaven to themselves. They drew a line in the sand and told us everyone on the other side is the Enemy, and we foolishly believed them.Master...Hush boy and let me say my piece. Releasing his disciple, Goujian fell to his knees and kowtowed in apology, his head striking the wooden deck with a heavy knock. Taken by surprise, Wen Zhong released his grip on his sword and moved to stop him. Lacking the strength to push his disciple away, Goujian wheezed, Leave me be. Ive sinned greatly by killing so many Chosen of Heaven, but greater is my sin of drawing you to this false cause. I should have cut your throat as a child and spared you a life lived following me along my dark path, for then at least you could have died with a clean conscience. I have wronged you boy, and I fear nothing I do can ever fix it.Our cause was moral and just, Wen Zhong declared, refusing to let Goujian continue kowtowing. When you found me, I was a gaunt, mutilated child lying in a carnal pit of death and depravity. You picked me out of that pit and nursed me back to health. You bandaged and fed me, washed and clothed me, all before holding me close as you brought me out to identify the Defiled bandits who raped, tortured, killed, and ate my family. Distress etched across his aged face, Wen Zhong asked, And now you call the Defiled the Chosen of Heaven?Horrified by the misconception, Goujian shook his head in vehement denial. No, no, you mistake me boy. The Defiled are an aberration, but one I suspect of the Empires devising. The Defiled have their own path to strength, one which draws on base emotions such as anger, lust, and hatred. Meanwhile, the Empire touts Balance and Purity as the one true path, a repression of all emotions down to an almost neutral end. Any who diverge from this must be Tainted and become Defiled, but why must it be one path or the other?Such dangerous information shouldnt be said out loud, but Goujian yearned to scream it for all to hear, imbuing his voice with Chi just so more people would understand. Think on it. Two diametrically opposed paths, one of moderation and the other indulgence, yet in the end, these paths share too many similarities to overlook. What can we do that the Defiled cannot replicate? Without waiting for an answer, he pressed on, eager to assuage his eldest disciples doubts. I now see that true power lies not in Balance or Imbalance, but, strange as it may sound, in both.Wen Zhongs lack of comprehension grated on Goujians nerves, but he pressed on with his explanation, knowing his eldest disciple was not a foolish man, merely a stubborn one. You see, the Imperials feed us a grain of truth all to better hide their lies. The difference between medicine and poison is often merely a matter of dosage, and such is the case with Heavenly Energy. Where the Defiled take too much and lose themselves to emotion, we are taught to take too little by closing our emotions off and converting Heavenly Energy into Chi. Balance, true Balance is not about control of ones emotions, but surrender to them. Embrace love and joy, give in to anger and hatred, for only then can one be wholly in tune with nature and command the Energy of the Heavens. Scoffing, he added, It would not surprise me to learn the Defiled are another Imperial creation, made to keep us from rising up to challenge their might.Strange as it might sound, this was the proudest moment in Goujians life. Hed trained them to believe in their intuition no matter what others might say and always come to an answer through logic and reasoning. Even though he, their Master and father figure, gave them a direct order, they still had the presence of mind to ask, Why? and reached their own conclusion. A splendid bunch who would have served the Empire well after his Death.A shame it was that same Empire Goujian now sought to destroy. In a way, this was his fault for having raised his sons too well, so the least he could do was give them a warrior's death.Pressed back by their relentless assault, he retreated step by precious step, knowing full well the ships confines were ill-suited for his fight. Worse, hed spent nine days immersed in cultivation and was sorely lacking in sustenance, ironically surviving only because his Disciples had cared for him. Perhaps earlier today, one of them had spoon-fed him gruel and water, yet here they were, fighting desperately to kill the man who raised them.Trials and tribulations indeed.Catching Sochuns blade with his hooked sword, Goujian moved his second disciple to block the path of his eldest. Never one to hesitate, Wen Zhong stabbed through his Junior Brothers arm in a desperate attempt to take his Masters life, knowing the odds no longer lay in their favour. Sadly, brilliant as Wen Zhong was, no one understood him more than his Master. Cleanly dodging the thrust, Goujian released Sochuns blade with a flick of his wrist, and with a single, horizontal slash, took the lives of both his Disciples. Panting with exertion, he checked them both and saw that hed been mistaken. Wen Zhong still clung to life, having avoided instant death by the barest of margins. Taking a seat beside his eldest disciples fallen body, he cradled the boys head and held him close, watching as the blood flowed out of Wen Zhongs neck and the light faded from his eyes. His chest swelling with pride and heart heavy with grief, Goujian noted all his conflicting emotions, believing it would serve him well to study them. He would need strength to face his Imperial foes, and his greatest allies now lay dead at his feet.Well, not all of them. Once Wen Zhong was dead and gone, Goujian glanced and nodded at his sole surviving disciple. Come. Weve kept our guests waiting long enough.What of the bodies? Yuanyin asked, though he still followed closely on Goujians heels.Leave them for the ships captain. Hell know what to do. As much as hed like to leave their corpses intact, he couldnt afford to leave a trail for the Monk to follow.Cloaking his presence to escape notice from the dock guards, Goujian brought Yuanyin off the ship and out into the wilderness, travelling a short distance west before he finally found his bearings. By the time they reached the meeting area, he was what most nobles would call fashionably late. I apologize for the delay, he said, greeting his guests with a clasped fist, only then noticing his sleeves were soaked in blood. Well, no matter. Not like these particular guests would mind. You must be Mao Jianghong. Your infamy precedes you.His guest grinned lazily in reply, a handsome man who looked no different from any other noble of the Empire. That means much coming from the Confessor. I must admit, Im curious why a man with your reputation wanted a meeting with a known traitor of the Empire, or how you even knew I was here. Goujian glanced at the young man beside Jianghong, but the former Guard Captain of Sanshu waved his hand dismissively. Dont worry. Gen here is trustworthy, you may speak freely.Very well. Clearing his throat, Goujian found his next sentence more difficult to utter than he'd expected. I seek an alliance with your faction to overthrow the Emperor.As Sun-Sin would say, the arrow had been loosed.Laughing in derision, Jianghong shook his head and asked, Surprising, and not at all what I expected. Your motivations aside, I must ask, what makes you think we even need you? Our strength is greater than you could ever imagine.Let him help, Gen said, nodding in approval. Hes like us. Hes seen the Truth.Thank the Heavens. Goujian had guessed correctly. These two werent Defiled.They were Chosen, just like him.Chapter Meme
