Chapter 485
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Chapter 485
Though Joranis decision had already been made, he pretended to consider the matter of becoming an initiate for a few days more, mostly so as not to arouse suspicion. In truth, joining the Penitent Brotherhood wasnt much different from joining a gang, or at least thats how he saw it. You couldnt just stroll in and ask to sign up, because whether you were talking about bandits or monks, deep down, people were a suspicious lot. Nothing put a man on their guard faster than a stranger acting overly familiar, so he needed to be welcomed in by someone they trusted, rather than ask to be let in. While the old Healer had already extended the invitation, accepting too readily might raise doubts, so what he needed to do was to make them convince him to join, rather than the reverse.
A minor difference, but sometimes it was the little things which mattered most.
Truth be told, convincing the monks was easier than Jorani thought. All he had to do was express interest by asking questions and even the most reticent and closed-lipped monks would jaw on about the benefits of joining up and how hed fit right in with them, though no one would say exactly why. It made sense once he thought about it though, because their life wasnt an easy one, so in a way, convincing him to join was like reaffirming their decision to do the same, though some arguments were more persuasive than others. After three days and countless sermons, Jorani figured it was about time to join the Brotherhood.
As an initiate mind you, because hed sooner cut open his belly than cut off his cock.
There was more to becoming an initiate than the old Healer let on, including a whole ceremony where they questioned his motives and shaved his head, but having inquired about it all in advance, Jorani was adequately prepared for both. All he had to do was tell the truth, and he did. He wasnt certain he wanted to join, but he was curious to know more. Aspects of their life truly did appeal to him, and he could see himself as a monk, though he kept mum about how hed be a terrible monk who ate meat, drank wine, and frequented brothels. Thankfully, the Oath only required he verify hed spoken true and didnt ask if he spoke the entire truth, which was a pretty basic oversight in his opinion, but then again, there couldnt possibly have been many others like him who wanted to fake their way into the Penitent Brotherhood.
Hell, the Brotherhood wanted initiates so badly, theyd forcefully conscripted the bossman sight unseen, and Jorani got the feeling that if he waited any longer, something similar might happen to him too...
Taking vows of celibacy and poverty were simple enough, since he had no way of breaking either while stuck in the Arid Wastelands, and his Oath to keep the Brotherhoods secrets didnt bother him in the slightest, but shaving his head almost brought Jorani to tears. By custom, he had to shave his head himself, but between the tears and quivering, he must have nicked himself a half-dozen times before Happy finally stepped in to finish the job, and the result was as horrible as Jorani imagined it. He wasnt exactly vain, but he couldnt get over how bumpy, uneven, and almost pointed his head looked, like he were some sort of cone-headed freak of nature, but the others assured him he would get used to it in time. At least they didnt have anything against facial hair, so he immediately started work on growing a beard, though he still had to run a razor over his scalp every morning.
With all the pomp and ceremony out of the way, his lessons began immediately. This had been the part he dreaded the most, because he wasnt exactly great at reading or writing, but it wasnt as bad as hed thought. The monastery had a library filled with books and scrolls which he was encouraged to peruse, but since all of the monks could recite those books contents from memory, most of his lessons were delivered through sermons and lectures while doing some mindless chore or another. Every morning, after meditating, self-flagellating, and eating, one of the monks would put Jorani to task chopping wood, carrying water, tilling fields, or whatnot, while educating him on whatever subject matter theyd prepared for the day, with little rhyme or reason to it all. One day, Eyebrows would go on about the principles of morality, and the next, itd be the old Healer lecturing about the first practice of the Eight-Fold Path, the right view. Happy preferred to focus on the seventh practice, right mindfulness, while another aged ascetic Jorani had named Bones would go on and on about self-restraint and all the inadvertent evils a person might do over the course of normal life, laying out all the missteps hed avoid by following the Eight-Fold Path.
Honestly, it all seemed so... defeatist. In the eyes of the Brotherhood, this world was a prison, one made to contain and punish their eternal souls, which seemed at odds from the loving and nurturing Mother. Their justification for this amounted to the Brotherhood was the path to salvation left here by loving Mum, meaning in order to escape this prison, one simply had to abstain from pretty much everything enjoyable. No killing obviously, but also no sex, drinking, gambling, lying, cheating, or stealing either, because all of this was self-harm and just as bad as harming others. Saving a life was good, but not if its a life saved through violence, which for the life of him, Jorani couldnt understand. So a man walks into a village carrying a sword and says, Im going to kill everyone here. If I walk over and knock him out, thats bad?
Yes, Happy replied, nodding as if it made perfect sense. Violence in any form is wrong, so the right mindfulness would be to approach the man and talk him out of his violent ways.
What if he doesnt say anything? Like, I come across him already chopping people up?
Then you can stand in front of the man and block his attacks while speaking.
What if hes stronger than I am?
Then do what you can to help others escape.
What if it were Defiled instead?
Happys smile faltered as if taken aback by the question, which seemed kind of odd to Jorani until the monk asked, Do you mean the killer is Defiled, or those who are being killed are Defiled?
The killer, obviously. Who would ever want to save Defiled?
Then the questions took a turn for the strange. Are the Defiled not alive? Happy asked, and though his smile was still there, it wasnt as open and friendly as before. Do they not eat and breathe the same as any other creature? Why would you not afford them the same chance at life?Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
But theyre murderous, mindless killers. Ye try savin em, and theyre liable to gut ye and eat ye when yer done.
...Because he lacks the right view?
Beaming with pride, the old Healer proclaimed, Exactly! The right view is both the simplest and most difficult step within the Eight-Fold Path, because at its very core, it is a requirement to study the Truth. This is because even though the Truth itself is immutable, our perception and understanding of the Truth is ever changing. When presented with proof, the Brotherhood will take up correct views and abandon incorrect ones, which involves long, lengthy debates on the matters in which all parties must be convinced. Chuckling, the old Healer added, In a way, considering the many meanings of Xiu (), one could argue that the Truth is what we make of it.
The Truth is what we make of it... That sounded pretty nice, but also a little strange.
Indeed. Nodding sagely, the old Healer said, As with many things, faith and conviction are the key to success. I will not lie to you and say the Brotherhood holds all the answers, nor can I say our path is unequivocally the correct one, but I will say I truly believe that we are closest to the Truth.
Pausing his demonstration, Jorani mopped his brow and asked, But what if yer wrong?
There was no frown or glower as hed expected. Instead, the old Healers wrinkled smile widened even further until his eyes disappeared within the folds of skin. Then so be it. At worst, I will have lived my life in accordance with my tastes and morals. The ascetic lifestyle appeals to me, a simplistic existence secluded in the mountains and away from the ugliness of humanity. Greed, deceit, anger, lust, and pride, though weve yet to wholly banish these poisons from our minds and hearts, I know I sit amongst people who strive to be better each and every day, something the Abbot seems to have forgotten in his haste to meddle in worldly affairs. Such meddling has already cost us the life of his Senior Brother, but this will not dissuade him from his foolishness, and nothing we say can sway him. Know this: the life we live here, more than anything, is what it means to be a Penitent Brother, Jorani. Even if our Path is proven flawed tomorrow, then there is nothing lost. I will continue living as I do now and ponder the mysteries of the new Path presented to us, and if it is not to my tastes, then I will strive to progress along my current Path for as far as I can.
A stubborn stance, but almost admirable in his conviction and dedication to the cause. When the old Healer spoke of the ugliness of humanity, it made Jorani wonder what the old Healer had gone through to become so disappointed and distraught. Perhaps he lost his family, or maybe he was betrayed by someone he trusted, but whatever it was, it must have hurt deeply to drive him to such extremes.
Then again, was it really extreme? Having lived like this for almost two months now, Jorani found he rather enjoyed the simple, undemanding life. While the work was onerous and the lessons difficult, no one ever asked for more than he could give and he rarely went unsatisfied. While he still craved meat and a drink, the thrill of gambling paled in comparison to working up a good sweat while accomplishing something meaningful, even if it was as simple as gathering firewood to heat the baths or complex as replacing the roof shingles. It was peaceful here, and with no one to be afraid of and nothing to worry about, even someone as paranoid as Jorani could relax and enjoy himself.
It wasnt half bad.
The lecture continued while Jorani practised the Forms, and the Insights flew into his head while he pondered the mysteries of the Eight-Fold Path, his strength increasing by leaps and bounds thanks to meditative introspection and insightful guidance from the Old Healer at his side. When their lesson came to an end, the wrinkled monk placed his hand on Joranis shoulder and said, Youve many questions which show youve put serious thought into these matters, but they also reveal your doubts. Before Jorani could voice a denial, the old Healer sternly shook his head. It matters not. Doubts are good, so long as you approach things with an open mind. I, and the other brothers, hold high expectations for you, because we see the signs and know you yourself have touched upon the truth, though Brother Happy says you have no recollection of the event.
What do you mean Ive touched on the Truth? If he had, then it was barely a brush of the finger, because Jorani was as basic as one could get and still call themselves a Martial Warrior. No Aura, no Natal Palace, no nothing or anything, just a soldier and his weapon, a long, flaccid rope.
It matters not. Smiling, the old Healer gestured for Jorani to continue Demonstrating the Forms. What has happened once will happen again, and then you will understand why I believe the Brotherhood is correct.
Jorani wholeheartedly wanted this to be true, and he went over the old Healers every word while he went through the Forms. The goal, the Dao, the Truth, the lifestyle...
Hang on. Turning around, he asked, Ye knew about the Dharmapalas death? I thought ye said Wugang and Yelu Shi only asked to speak to the Abbot? If they told ye the Dharmapala died, then why would they need to go and find the Abbot themselves?
Oh? Waving Joranis question aside, the old Healer continued Demonstrating the Forms, but stayed quiet for a half-second too long. Wugang knows each monastery governs itself, and that it could be some time before I come in contact with the Abbot, so he left to contact him in person.
...Ye also said Wugang didnt know there was more than one monastery.
Ah. After another half-second pause, the old Healer sighed and uttered a single word.
Shit.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 485
Though Joranis decision had already been made, he pretended to consider the matter of becoming an initiate for a few days more, mostly so as not to arouse suspicion. In truth, joining the Penitent Brotherhood wasnt much different from joining a gang, or at least thats how he saw it. You couldnt just stroll in and ask to sign up, because whether you were talking about bandits or monks, deep down, people were a suspicious lot. Nothing put a man on their guard faster than a stranger acting overly familiar, so he needed to be welcomed in by someone they trusted, rather than ask to be let in. While the old Healer had already extended the invitation, accepting too readily might raise doubts, so what he needed to do was to make them convince him to join, rather than the reverse.
A minor difference, but sometimes it was the little things which mattered most.
Truth be told, convincing the monks was easier than Jorani thought. All he had to do was express interest by asking questions and even the most reticent and closed-lipped monks would jaw on about the benefits of joining up and how hed fit right in with them, though no one would say exactly why. It made sense once he thought about it though, because their life wasnt an easy one, so in a way, convincing him to join was like reaffirming their decision to do the same, though some arguments were more persuasive than others. After three days and countless sermons, Jorani figured it was about time to join the Brotherhood.
As an initiate mind you, because hed sooner cut open his belly than cut off his cock.
There was more to becoming an initiate than the old Healer let on, including a whole ceremony where they questioned his motives and shaved his head, but having inquired about it all in advance, Jorani was adequately prepared for both. All he had to do was tell the truth, and he did. He wasnt certain he wanted to join, but he was curious to know more. Aspects of their life truly did appeal to him, and he could see himself as a monk, though he kept mum about how hed be a terrible monk who ate meat, drank wine, and frequented brothels. Thankfully, the Oath only required he verify hed spoken true and didnt ask if he spoke the entire truth, which was a pretty basic oversight in his opinion, but then again, there couldnt possibly have been many others like him who wanted to fake their way into the Penitent Brotherhood.
Hell, the Brotherhood wanted initiates so badly, theyd forcefully conscripted the bossman sight unseen, and Jorani got the feeling that if he waited any longer, something similar might happen to him too...
Taking vows of celibacy and poverty were simple enough, since he had no way of breaking either while stuck in the Arid Wastelands, and his Oath to keep the Brotherhoods secrets didnt bother him in the slightest, but shaving his head almost brought Jorani to tears. By custom, he had to shave his head himself, but between the tears and quivering, he must have nicked himself a half-dozen times before Happy finally stepped in to finish the job, and the result was as horrible as Jorani imagined it. He wasnt exactly vain, but he couldnt get over how bumpy, uneven, and almost pointed his head looked, like he were some sort of cone-headed freak of nature, but the others assured him he would get used to it in time. At least they didnt have anything against facial hair, so he immediately started work on growing a beard, though he still had to run a razor over his scalp every morning.
With all the pomp and ceremony out of the way, his lessons began immediately. This had been the part he dreaded the most, because he wasnt exactly great at reading or writing, but it wasnt as bad as hed thought. The monastery had a library filled with books and scrolls which he was encouraged to peruse, but since all of the monks could recite those books contents from memory, most of his lessons were delivered through sermons and lectures while doing some mindless chore or another. Every morning, after meditating, self-flagellating, and eating, one of the monks would put Jorani to task chopping wood, carrying water, tilling fields, or whatnot, while educating him on whatever subject matter theyd prepared for the day, with little rhyme or reason to it all. One day, Eyebrows would go on about the principles of morality, and the next, itd be the old Healer lecturing about the first practice of the Eight-Fold Path, the right view. Happy preferred to focus on the seventh practice, right mindfulness, while another aged ascetic Jorani had named Bones would go on and on about self-restraint and all the inadvertent evils a person might do over the course of normal life, laying out all the missteps hed avoid by following the Eight-Fold Path.
Honestly, it all seemed so... defeatist. In the eyes of the Brotherhood, this world was a prison, one made to contain and punish their eternal souls, which seemed at odds from the loving and nurturing Mother. Their justification for this amounted to the Brotherhood was the path to salvation left here by loving Mum, meaning in order to escape this prison, one simply had to abstain from pretty much everything enjoyable. No killing obviously, but also no sex, drinking, gambling, lying, cheating, or stealing either, because all of this was self-harm and just as bad as harming others. Saving a life was good, but not if its a life saved through violence, which for the life of him, Jorani couldnt understand. So a man walks into a village carrying a sword and says, Im going to kill everyone here. If I walk over and knock him out, thats bad?
Yes, Happy replied, nodding as if it made perfect sense. Violence in any form is wrong, so the right mindfulness would be to approach the man and talk him out of his violent ways.
What if he doesnt say anything? Like, I come across him already chopping people up?
Then you can stand in front of the man and block his attacks while speaking.
What if hes stronger than I am?
Then do what you can to help others escape.
What if it were Defiled instead?
Happys smile faltered as if taken aback by the question, which seemed kind of odd to Jorani until the monk asked, Do you mean the killer is Defiled, or those who are being killed are Defiled?
The killer, obviously. Who would ever want to save Defiled?
Then the questions took a turn for the strange. Are the Defiled not alive? Happy asked, and though his smile was still there, it wasnt as open and friendly as before. Do they not eat and breathe the same as any other creature? Why would you not afford them the same chance at life?Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
But theyre murderous, mindless killers. Ye try savin em, and theyre liable to gut ye and eat ye when yer done.
...Because he lacks the right view?
Beaming with pride, the old Healer proclaimed, Exactly! The right view is both the simplest and most difficult step within the Eight-Fold Path, because at its very core, it is a requirement to study the Truth. This is because even though the Truth itself is immutable, our perception and understanding of the Truth is ever changing. When presented with proof, the Brotherhood will take up correct views and abandon incorrect ones, which involves long, lengthy debates on the matters in which all parties must be convinced. Chuckling, the old Healer added, In a way, considering the many meanings of Xiu (), one could argue that the Truth is what we make of it.
The Truth is what we make of it... That sounded pretty nice, but also a little strange.
Indeed. Nodding sagely, the old Healer said, As with many things, faith and conviction are the key to success. I will not lie to you and say the Brotherhood holds all the answers, nor can I say our path is unequivocally the correct one, but I will say I truly believe that we are closest to the Truth.
Pausing his demonstration, Jorani mopped his brow and asked, But what if yer wrong?
There was no frown or glower as hed expected. Instead, the old Healers wrinkled smile widened even further until his eyes disappeared within the folds of skin. Then so be it. At worst, I will have lived my life in accordance with my tastes and morals. The ascetic lifestyle appeals to me, a simplistic existence secluded in the mountains and away from the ugliness of humanity. Greed, deceit, anger, lust, and pride, though weve yet to wholly banish these poisons from our minds and hearts, I know I sit amongst people who strive to be better each and every day, something the Abbot seems to have forgotten in his haste to meddle in worldly affairs. Such meddling has already cost us the life of his Senior Brother, but this will not dissuade him from his foolishness, and nothing we say can sway him. Know this: the life we live here, more than anything, is what it means to be a Penitent Brother, Jorani. Even if our Path is proven flawed tomorrow, then there is nothing lost. I will continue living as I do now and ponder the mysteries of the new Path presented to us, and if it is not to my tastes, then I will strive to progress along my current Path for as far as I can.
A stubborn stance, but almost admirable in his conviction and dedication to the cause. When the old Healer spoke of the ugliness of humanity, it made Jorani wonder what the old Healer had gone through to become so disappointed and distraught. Perhaps he lost his family, or maybe he was betrayed by someone he trusted, but whatever it was, it must have hurt deeply to drive him to such extremes.
Then again, was it really extreme? Having lived like this for almost two months now, Jorani found he rather enjoyed the simple, undemanding life. While the work was onerous and the lessons difficult, no one ever asked for more than he could give and he rarely went unsatisfied. While he still craved meat and a drink, the thrill of gambling paled in comparison to working up a good sweat while accomplishing something meaningful, even if it was as simple as gathering firewood to heat the baths or complex as replacing the roof shingles. It was peaceful here, and with no one to be afraid of and nothing to worry about, even someone as paranoid as Jorani could relax and enjoy himself.
It wasnt half bad.
The lecture continued while Jorani practised the Forms, and the Insights flew into his head while he pondered the mysteries of the Eight-Fold Path, his strength increasing by leaps and bounds thanks to meditative introspection and insightful guidance from the Old Healer at his side. When their lesson came to an end, the wrinkled monk placed his hand on Joranis shoulder and said, Youve many questions which show youve put serious thought into these matters, but they also reveal your doubts. Before Jorani could voice a denial, the old Healer sternly shook his head. It matters not. Doubts are good, so long as you approach things with an open mind. I, and the other brothers, hold high expectations for you, because we see the signs and know you yourself have touched upon the truth, though Brother Happy says you have no recollection of the event.
What do you mean Ive touched on the Truth? If he had, then it was barely a brush of the finger, because Jorani was as basic as one could get and still call themselves a Martial Warrior. No Aura, no Natal Palace, no nothing or anything, just a soldier and his weapon, a long, flaccid rope.
It matters not. Smiling, the old Healer gestured for Jorani to continue Demonstrating the Forms. What has happened once will happen again, and then you will understand why I believe the Brotherhood is correct.
Jorani wholeheartedly wanted this to be true, and he went over the old Healers every word while he went through the Forms. The goal, the Dao, the Truth, the lifestyle...
Hang on. Turning around, he asked, Ye knew about the Dharmapalas death? I thought ye said Wugang and Yelu Shi only asked to speak to the Abbot? If they told ye the Dharmapala died, then why would they need to go and find the Abbot themselves?
Oh? Waving Joranis question aside, the old Healer continued Demonstrating the Forms, but stayed quiet for a half-second too long. Wugang knows each monastery governs itself, and that it could be some time before I come in contact with the Abbot, so he left to contact him in person.
...Ye also said Wugang didnt know there was more than one monastery.
Ah. After another half-second pause, the old Healer sighed and uttered a single word.
Shit.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 485Though Joranis decision had already been made, he pretended to consider the matter of becoming an initiate for a few days more, mostly so as not to arouse suspicion. In truth, joining the Penitent Brotherhood wasnt much different from joining a gang, or at least thats how he saw it. You couldnt just stroll in and ask to sign up, because whether you were talking about bandits or monks, deep down, people were a suspicious lot. Nothing put a man on their guard faster than a stranger acting overly familiar, so he needed to be welcomed in by someone they trusted, rather than ask to be let in. While the old Healer had already extended the invitation, accepting too readily might raise doubts, so what he needed to do was to make them convince him to join, rather than the reverse.A minor difference, but sometimes it was the little things which mattered most.Truth be told, convincing the monks was easier than Jorani thought. All he had to do was express interest by asking questions and even the most reticent and closed-lipped monks would jaw on about the benefits of joining up and how hed fit right in with them, though no one would say exactly why. It made sense once he thought about it though, because their life wasnt an easy one, so in a way, convincing him to join was like reaffirming their decision to do the same, though some arguments were more persuasive than others. After three days and countless sermons, Jorani figured it was about time to join the Brotherhood.As an initiate mind you, because hed sooner cut open his belly than cut off his cock.There was more to becoming an initiate than the old Healer let on, including a whole ceremony where they questioned his motives and shaved his head, but having inquired about it all in advance, Jorani was adequately prepared for both. All he had to do was tell the truth, and he did. He wasnt certain he wanted to join, but he was curious to know more. Aspects of their life truly did appeal to him, and he could see himself as a monk, though he kept mum about how hed be a terrible monk who ate meat, drank wine, and frequented brothels. Thankfully, the Oath only required he verify hed spoken true and didnt ask if he spoke the entire truth, which was a pretty basic oversight in his opinion, but then again, there couldnt possibly have been many others like him who wanted to fake their way into the Penitent Brotherhood.Hell, the Brotherhood wanted initiates so badly, theyd forcefully conscripted the bossman sight unseen, and Jorani got the feeling that if he waited any longer, something similar might happen to him too...Taking vows of celibacy and poverty were simple enough, since he had no way of breaking either while stuck in the Arid Wastelands, and his Oath to keep the Brotherhoods secrets didnt bother him in the slightest, but shaving his head almost brought Jorani to tears. By custom, he had to shave his head himself, but between the tears and quivering, he must have nicked himself a half-dozen times before Happy finally stepped in to finish the job, and the result was as horrible as Jorani imagined it. He wasnt exactly vain, but he couldnt get over how bumpy, uneven, and almost pointed his head looked, like he were some sort of cone-headed freak of nature, but the others assured him he would get used to it in time. At least they didnt have anything against facial hair, so he immediately started work on growing a beard, though he still had to run a razor over his scalp every morning.With all the pomp and ceremony out of the way, his lessons began immediately. This had been the part he dreaded the most, because he wasnt exactly great at reading or writing, but it wasnt as bad as hed thought. The monastery had a library filled with books and scrolls which he was encouraged to peruse, but since all of the monks could recite those books contents from memory, most of his lessons were delivered through sermons and lectures while doing some mindless chore or another. Every morning, after meditating, self-flagellating, and eating, one of the monks would put Jorani to task chopping wood, carrying water, tilling fields, or whatnot, while educating him on whatever subject matter theyd prepared for the day, with little rhyme or reason to it all. One day, Eyebrows would go on about the principles of morality, and the next, itd be the old Healer lecturing about the first practice of the Eight-Fold Path, the right view. Happy preferred to focus on the seventh practice, right mindfulness, while another aged ascetic Jorani had named Bones would go on and on about self-restraint and all the inadvertent evils a person might do over the course of normal life, laying out all the missteps hed avoid by following the Eight-Fold Path.Honestly, it all seemed so... defeatist. In the eyes of the Brotherhood, this world was a prison, one made to contain and punish their eternal souls, which seemed at odds from the loving and nurturing Mother. Their justification for this amounted to the Brotherhood was the path to salvation left here by loving Mum, meaning in order to escape this prison, one simply had to abstain from pretty much everything enjoyable. No killing obviously, but also no sex, drinking, gambling, lying, cheating, or stealing either, because all of this was self-harm and just as bad as harming others. Saving a life was good, but not if its a life saved through violence, which for the life of him, Jorani couldnt understand. So a man walks into a village carrying a sword and says, Im going to kill everyone here. If I walk over and knock him out, thats bad?Yes, Happy replied, nodding as if it made perfect sense. Violence in any form is wrong, so the right mindfulness would be to approach the man and talk him out of his violent ways.What if he doesnt say anything? Like, I come across him already chopping people up?Then you can stand in front of the man and block his attacks while speaking.What if hes stronger than I am?Then do what you can to help others escape.What if it were Defiled instead?Happys smile faltered as if taken aback by the question, which seemed kind of odd to Jorani until the monk asked, Do you mean the killer is Defiled, or those who are being killed are Defiled?The killer, obviously. Who would ever want to save Defiled?Then the questions took a turn for the strange. Are the Defiled not alive? Happy asked, and though his smile was still there, it wasnt as open and friendly as before. Do they not eat and breathe the same as any other creature? Why would you not afford them the same chance at life?Read latest chapters at novelbin.com OnlyBut theyre murderous, mindless killers. Ye try savin em, and theyre liable to gut ye and eat ye when yer done....Because he lacks the right view?Beaming with pride, the old Healer proclaimed, Exactly! The right view is both the simplest and most difficult step within the Eight-Fold Path, because at its very core, it is a requirement to study the Truth. This is because even though the Truth itself is immutable, our perception and understanding of the Truth is ever changing. When presented with proof, the Brotherhood will take up correct views and abandon incorrect ones, which involves long, lengthy debates on the matters in which all parties must be convinced. Chuckling, the old Healer added, In a way, considering the many meanings of Xiu , one could argue that the Truth is what we make of it.The Truth is what we make of it... That sounded pretty nice, but also a little strange.Indeed. Nodding sagely, the old Healer said, As with many things, faith and conviction are the key to success. I will not lie to you and say the Brotherhood holds all the answers, nor can I say our path is unequivocally the correct one, but I will say I truly believe that we are closest to the Truth.Pausing his demonstration, Jorani mopped his brow and asked, But what if yer wrong?There was no frown or glower as hed expected. Instead, the old Healers wrinkled smile widened even further until his eyes disappeared within the folds of skin. Then so be it. At worst, I will have lived my life in accordance with my tastes and morals. The ascetic lifestyle appeals to me, a simplistic existence secluded in the mountains and away from the ugliness of humanity. Greed, deceit, anger, lust, and pride, though weve yet to wholly banish these poisons from our minds and hearts, I know I sit amongst people who strive to be better each and every day, something the Abbot seems to have forgotten in his haste to meddle in worldly affairs. Such meddling has already cost us the life of his Senior Brother, but this will not dissuade him from his foolishness, and nothing we say can sway him. Know this: the life we live here, more than anything, is what it means to be a Penitent Brother, Jorani. Even if our Path is proven flawed tomorrow, then there is nothing lost. I will continue living as I do now and ponder the mysteries of the new Path presented to us, and if it is not to my tastes, then I will strive to progress along my current Path for as far as I can.A stubborn stance, but almost admirable in his conviction and dedication to the cause. When the old Healer spoke of the ugliness of humanity, it made Jorani wonder what the old Healer had gone through to become so disappointed and distraught. Perhaps he lost his family, or maybe he was betrayed by someone he trusted, but whatever it was, it must have hurt deeply to drive him to such extremes.Then again, was it really extreme? Having lived like this for almost two months now, Jorani found he rather enjoyed the simple, undemanding life. While the work was onerous and the lessons difficult, no one ever asked for more than he could give and he rarely went unsatisfied. While he still craved meat and a drink, the thrill of gambling paled in comparison to working up a good sweat while accomplishing something meaningful, even if it was as simple as gathering firewood to heat the baths or complex as replacing the roof shingles. It was peaceful here, and with no one to be afraid of and nothing to worry about, even someone as paranoid as Jorani could relax and enjoy himself.It wasnt half bad.The lecture continued while Jorani practised the Forms, and the Insights flew into his head while he pondered the mysteries of the Eight-Fold Path, his strength increasing by leaps and bounds thanks to meditative introspection and insightful guidance from the Old Healer at his side. When their lesson came to an end, the wrinkled monk placed his hand on Joranis shoulder and said, Youve many questions which show youve put serious thought into these matters, but they also reveal your doubts. Before Jorani could voice a denial, the old Healer sternly shook his head. It matters not. Doubts are good, so long as you approach things with an open mind. I, and the other brothers, hold high expectations for you, because we see the signs and know you yourself have touched upon the truth, though Brother Happy says you have no recollection of the event.What do you mean Ive touched on the Truth? If he had, then it was barely a brush of the finger, because Jorani was as basic as one could get and still call themselves a Martial Warrior. No Aura, no Natal Palace, no nothing or anything, just a soldier and his weapon, a long, flaccid rope.It matters not. Smiling, the old Healer gestured for Jorani to continue Demonstrating the Forms. What has happened once will happen again, and then you will understand why I believe the Brotherhood is correct.Jorani wholeheartedly wanted this to be true, and he went over the old Healers every word while he went through the Forms. The goal, the Dao, the Truth, the lifestyle...Hang on. Turning around, he asked, Ye knew about the Dharmapalas death? I thought ye said Wugang and Yelu Shi only asked to speak to the Abbot? If they told ye the Dharmapala died, then why would they need to go and find the Abbot themselves?Oh? Waving Joranis question aside, the old Healer continued Demonstrating the Forms, but stayed quiet for a half-second too long. Wugang knows each monastery governs itself, and that it could be some time before I come in contact with the Abbot, so he left to contact him in person....Ye also said Wugang didnt know there was more than one monastery.Ah. After another half-second pause, the old Healer sighed and uttered a single word.Shit.Chapter Meme
