Chapter 630
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Chapter 630
What does the Dao mean to you?
A simple enough question, but one Hideo struggled to answer. According to his daft old Mentor Juichi, the Martial Path was the means through which Martial Warriors utilized the Energy of the Heavens against the Enemy, but Monk Eyebrows who voiced the question was not asking about the Martial Path, but rather the Dao itself. It was a topic covered early on in every Martial Warriors life, but children were expected to simply accept the explanation for truth without questioning it. As far as Hideo understood it, the Dao was found in anything and everything, for it was the underlying essence which made up reality as everyone knew it, and study of the Dao would reveal the Path to Divinity, but again, this textbook answer was not what Monk Eyebrows was asking for. The gangly, thick-browed teacher was specifically asking what the Dao personally meant to Hideo, and for the life of him, he could not come up with a suitable reply.
The Dao simply was, and that was the end of that. It existed, but only as an abstract concept, not something he pondered or deliberated on. Though the Martial Path was written Wu Dao (), he never paid much thought to the etymology, the same way he didnt wonder why tea was called tea or why a house could also be called a manor, dwelling, residence, or so many other different terms. They were simply words used to describe a thing, and for Hideo, the Martial Path was merely the term he attributed to his pursuit of Martial strength, the principles of combat and Chi manipulation which he used to rise above his peers and step into the ranks of the Hwarang. Beyond that? Why did it matter?
Such was the mindset of Mitsue Hideo, the Imperial Warrior and Disciple of Mitsue Juichi, but that person no longer existed. The Hideo of today was a different being altogether, an enlightened man whod seen past the lies spread by the Imperial Clan and embarked upon a new Path, which made this a question worth pondering. What did the Dao mean to him? I do not know, Hideo sheepishly answered, head hung low in embarrassment.
Were it Juichi across from him, the old fool would have sighed and made some pithy comment about how his time was valuable and Hideos comprehension lacking, but Monk Eyebrows merely nodded in approval. Good, good. There is no shame in ignorance, Junior Brother, for there is so much to learn, how can any one person know everything? However, to admit ignorance and do nothing to correct it is to embrace wilful ignorance, so this monk will endeavour to help you arrive at an informed conclusion.
This was how they spent most evenings, discussing anything and everything which came to mind in search of the Truth. Much of it tied back to theological doctrines such as the Three Desires, Four Noble Truths, Noble Eight-fold Path, and so on, but Eyebrows arguments were always grounded in truth and logic, with his religious musings thrown in at the end. Today, however, Monk Eyebrows surprised Hideo by beginning with the theological portion instead. Let us first do away with the idea of the Mother and Father, he intoned, and for the life of him, Hideo couldnt understand why. What sort of monk began an argument by doing away with his religious figureheads? Smiling at Hideos surprise, Monk Eyebrows explained, We humans are a prideful lot, so we tend to view everything through our uniquely human perspectives, but who is to say the Mother and Father were ever human? Even if they were, who is to say with certainty that they are the creators of this world? The tale is one told throughout every corner of the Empire, of how the Mother gave birth to the four Elements, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water, and worked with these primal forces to create the world as we know it. She began with Fire in the core, Earth for the land, Wind for the air, and Water for the oceans, and from there, through the melding of all four elements, She gifted the world with life. This is the tale you were taught, correct?
Hideo nodded, but then he was struck by a glaring discrepancy, one Monk Eyebrows no doubt was leading up to. If the Mother created the World and gifted it with life, then how could She have been human like us? She could not have ascended from this world and created it as well, only one or the other.
Indeed. Beaming as he nodded in approval, Monk Eyebrows scratched at the newly grown stubble covering his chin, and for a moment, Hideo marvelled at how young this wise monk appeared. Most of the monks who defected from the Brotherhood were aged at best, while their leader and figurehead was positively decrepit, but Monk Eyebrows could be mistaken for a man in his early thirties, young enough to be Hideos older brother rather than his Teacher and possible Mentor. Despite his youthful appearance, Monk Eyebrows eyes revealed the depths of his experience, as did the respect he commanded from his fellow brothers, so Hideo suspected his youthful looks were just that, and that the Monk was far older than he appeared. As you say, it does not make sense for the Mother to be both Creator and ascended Divinity, for if She made the world, from where did she first ascend? There have been arguments made that the Mother Above is the Creator, and that she ascended from another plane of existence or created a new world out of nothingness, the reasons for which vary. Some say our reality exists within the Mothers Natal Palace, and we are each but a figment of Her hallowed imagination. Others claim this world to be a prison for damned souls to redeem themselves, or even a training ground for Martial Warriors in which the end goal is to ascend to Divinity and aid the Mother in Heavenly battle against the Fathers foul minions, but for our discussion today, the origins and purpose of our world has no bearing on the subject, so let us set it aside for another time. All that matters is that there are the Heavens above, the earth below, and we are but mere mortals who seek to ascend.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Though he nodded in agreement, Hideo tucked away everything Monk Eyebrows just mentioned so he could peruse at his leisure later, for he found it all fascinating to the extreme. Knowing or not knowing would have no impact on his Martial Strength, but Monk Eyebrows encouraged Hideo to indulge his curiosity and said he should experience everything that life had to offer, which was a strange thing for an ascetic to say. While he was only an initiate, Hideo intended to join the ranks of the Brotherhood in time, so he did his best to live by their precepts, but apparently this was not the way. He wholeheartedly believed in the Brotherhoods teaching, and had individually concluded what Monk Eyebrows, Gen, and several others had shared with him, that the Path to Divinity was not in divesting oneself of emotion, but in understanding and experience the full breadth of the human experience without losing control of ones self. The Razors edge as Gen and his mysterious Mentor called it, logic and emotion in perfect harmony and indulgence balanced by restraint, this was his new Martial Path, one he would see to completion.
Thus, when questioned as to why he would encourage Hideo to ignore the precepts and indulge his curiosity, Monk Eyebrows gave Hideo a knowing look and explained, This monk lives the life of an ascetic for two reasons. The first reason is the fifth facet of the Noble Eight-Fold Path, Right Livelihood, which itself is an extension of the First facet, the Right View. The Right View is that our actions have consequences, so we must endeavour to do no harm. The Right Livelihood means to live a life in which noharm is brought about by our decisions, whether it be through direct actions or inadvertent consequences. Among other things, this means to abstain from eating meat, forging weapons, and partaking in any product produced by slavery or some other means of coercion, for all these can give rise to harm, whether it be the weapon used to kill or the slave beaten to work. As such, this does not apply to you, someone who has yet to take the vows of the Brotherhood and set forth on the Noble Eight-Fold Path, so you need not concern yourself with this just yet, as you must first learn to walk before you can run. Secondly, and more pertinent to your situation, this monk abstains from worldly pleasures because it falls under one of the Three Poisons, Raga, or greed and sensual attachment. However, this monk encourages you, Junior Brother, to go forth and experience the red dust of the mortal world in order to better prepare you to leave it all behind, for how can one let go of that which they have never held? How can one know the true burden of sacrifice without ever knowing what they have given up? Only then will your suffering have meaning, and drive you along the Path to Divinity.
All of which fit perfectly with Hideos new Martial Path, so he set out to do as instructed, indulging his curiosity wherever he may before repenting alongside his fellow brothers every morning, chanting the Sutras as they collectively whipped and beat their own flesh while reflecting upon past experiences. Biting into a thick, juicy morsel and feeling the warm juices stream over his tongue, charging into battle with the heady rush of excitement coursing through his veins, resting in the arms of a lover and listening to her beating heart race, then slow, then still, Hideo relived these moments each and every day, until he grew numb to those experiences which once overwhelmed him beyond all measure. Some days he focused on other, darker emotions, the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Dastan Zhandos or the betrayal he felt when his father Hiroshi revealed his true strength, and during those moments, as he ruminated upon the highs and lows of his life whilst embroiled in physical suffering, Hideo found a new Balance, a superior Balance, and while he had yet to unlock any secrets of Heaven, he knew it would only be a matter of time.
If a mere upstart farm boy like Gen or a tribal slave like Falling Rain could do it, then why not Mitsue Hideo?
Very well, Hideo said, bringing his thoughts back to the matter at hand, what the Dao meant to him. If we do away with the concept of the Mother, then what are we left with?
The Dao. Flashing a knowing half smile, Monk Eyebrow gestured at the ground below, the sky above, and everything else in between. The Dao is in everything, in every blade of grass and gust of wind, every mote of dust and speck of light. Think of Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water not as you know them, but rather as a representation of all the fundamental forces of the universe, all moving as dictated by the Dao to create everything beneath Heaven. The Dao is within you, within me, within all living things and without, for without the Dao, there is nothing but the Void.
Seeing his frown, Monk Eyebrows paused his sermon and waited for Hideo to put his question into words, one which he struggled to voice. Eventually, he found what was bothering him and asked, If the Dao is everything, then why is it so important to know what the Dao means to me, specifically? Is that not your answer?
It is an answer, Monk Eyebrows replied, still wearing that same half-smile, But it is not your answer, nor is it mine, because your interpretation of everything is not the same as mine, the same way my Dao differs from yours. This is not a criticism, but a fact of life. Earlier, this monk said that we humans have uniquely human perspectives, but each of us in turn have our own unique experiences which further colours our personal perception. I have seen more and lived longer than you have, but I will never know what it is like to be born into the Mitsue Family, just as you will never know the childhood of a Defiled tribesman.
Rocking back at the unexpected proclamation, Hideo almost leapt to his feet and drew his weapons, but he stilled himself at the last moment. Apologies, Senior Brother, he said, offering Monk Eyebrows an embarrassed seated bow. Its just
Imperial Indoctrination? Wearing a grin which made him look even younger, Monk Eyebrows waved aside Hideos apology and continued, You expected me to look differently, I suppose? Mangled skin, protruding brow, giant fangs and such, a monstrous, twisted sort of human, or at least one physically discernible from the people of the Empire, no doubt, but alas, our peoples are more closely linked than your Emperor would ever care to admit. Yes, I was born outside the borders of the Azure Empire, and I say this without pride or disdain, but your sins pale in comparison to mine, Junior Brother. I found my way into the Empire by sheer happenstance, and once here, I raided, plundered, and pillaged my way through the Western Province until my entire tribe was hunted into extinction and I was forced to flee into the Arid Wastes to escape certain death. It was there the Wisdom found me, caught in a race to die of thirst, starvation, or exposure. He took me in, helped me master my impulses, showed me the ways of the Brotherhood, and convinced me to take up the Noble Eight-Fold Path. Reaching over to pat Hideos shoulder in a warm, familiar gesture, Monk Eyebrows added, And now, this monk hopes to do for you what the Wisdom did for me, so I thank you for offering me this opportunity.
For Monk Eyebrows to thank Hideo for the opportunity to teach him warmed his heart in ways he never expected. This was what a Mentor was supposed to be like, helpful and nurturing rather than haughty and hurtful like Juichi, or absent like Hiroshi. Saving all these feelings to parse through later, Hideo choked back his tears and silently nodded back, unable to speak for fear of being overwhelmed. It was a curious feeling, a mixture of friendship, camaraderie, and almost paternal affection, so by all rights, he should indulge and experience it, but he couldnt bring himself to do it because well, he wasnt sure why. There was simply a sense of foreboding lurking behind all these warm, happy sensations, and a voice warning him to turn away and never look back.
So he did, because he feared what further introspection might expose, and he did not wish to risk the happiness he had now.
Pushing aside all his disquieting thoughts, Hideo thought on the message Monk Eyebrows was trying to convey. It was merely a different way of saying each Warrior must forge their own path, except it applied to everyone rather than just Martial Warriors and actually explained why, rather than hand-waving the reasoning aside by saying, Such is the way of the Martial Dao, as Juichi was so fond of doing. The Dao was different for everyone, because they all perceived it differently. It was as simple as that. This is why youre always going on tangents about other possible theories, Hideo exclaimed, having picked up on this just now. To tell me there are other possibilities so as not to colour my perception.
Chortling as he waggled his bushy namesake, Monk Eyebrows replied, Of course. One must always be open to other possibilities, Junior Brother, because what is True for one may not be True for another, and it is up to you to discover your own personal Truth. That is why we are Cultivators, because we pursue the Truth, and through this, seek to understand all Daos under Heaven and ascend to Divinity.
So where to go from here? Continue blindly following the Brotherhoods precepts, or forge his own Path? The answer was simple, or so Hideo thought, but just to be sure, he asked, What is the purpose of the Eight-Fold Path?
Taken aback by the question, Monk Eyebrows carefully deliberated his answer before replying. According to the Fourth Noble Truth, the way to Nirvana lies in living ones life according to the Eight-Fold Path.
Which is?
A higher plane of existence.
And why do you seek Nirvana?
To break free from the chains of mortality and escape the cycle of reincarnation by ascending to Divinity.
Theyd already covered all this, but now that Hideo had confirmed it, he asked one more question. Knowing what you know now, if you were nearing the end of your life and still had yet to come close to ascension, which would you prefer? To enter the cycle of reincarnation and continue forward in a new life, or to wipe the slate clean and begin anew, free of the karma which binds you?
Understanding dawned on Monk Eyebrows face and he fell into silent contemplation. A clever initiate you are, he murmured, glancing at where they last saw the Wisdom. To think, this monk failed to consider his Mentors perspective. Indeed, for as Hideo had seen with Juichi, the older one was, the more they feared death, for they had that much more to lose. I must think on this more, Monk Eyebrows said, offering an apologetic smile, But for now, this monk would choose to wipe the slate clean. His eyes took on a haunted expression as he ruminated on his past, and Hideo truly believed that the monks sins outstripped his own. My earliest lessons were not in language or numbers, but on how to make use of every part of a human body. I rendered fat into an unguent to protect us from the harsh sun, smoked meat into jerky to fill our bellies, harvested bones to fashion into killing tools, and tanned flayed skin to fashion headwraps for our faces, oftentimes while my victims still drew breath. This was all before I learned to fight, and I learned so much more in years to come, but I would forget it all in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. When I came to the Empire, I thought it was paradise on earth, a land of plenty where all could prosper and thrive, but how wrong I was, for here, there is only suffering in a different form. Now, I seek Nirvana in hopes it will provide what the lands of the Empire could not, but knowing my goal has never been within reach Stopping to cast his gaze to the sky, Hideo saw the glint of tears streaming down Monk Eyebrows cheeks. Having been a slave to my instincts stained in the blood of my sins, and having suffered through the years to keep from sinning again, I believe oblivion would be preferable to another lifetime like mine. It is cruel of the Heavens to expect so much of us, burdened as we are. Perhaps I committed some heinous sin in a past life, for which I was punished for by being born Defiled and subjected to all my trials, but if that is Heavens Will, then perhaps it would be better if there is no Heaven at all.
This was also how Hideo felt, for despite reliving and suffering through the experience each and every day, he still yearned to taste Eri-Himes flesh once more and feel her beating heart still against his cheek. The memory haunted him yes, but it tempted him too, and he feared he would live like this for the rest of his years. So too would he be haunted by the aching disappointment and boundless love in his fathers eyes, and the knowledge that his actions led to Mitsue Hiroshis death. Things could have gone differently, with Hiroshi and Hideo working as father and son to prop up the Mitsue Family after Juichis death, but that was no longer possible, all because of a single mistake.
Falling Rain should have lived and died as a slave, but by rejecting his fate, he ruined Hideos in turn. The Heavens were cruel and unjust, for Hideo had done no wrong and now suffered for the sins of another, and he refused to suffer under them for any longer than necessary. Tell me about Anathema, he demanded, hungry for more knowledge. What is it? How will it wipe the slate clean?
It is as it sounds, Monk Eyebrows whispered, still crying silently to the sky. A substance, for lack of a better word, which consumes the Dao wherever it might be found, and renders that which is left behind to nothingness. It is the antithesis to Heaven, the Destroyer and Unmaker, and the Uniter holds the secret to its... creation. Why he does not use it against the Empire and render reality into nihility, this monk cannot say, only that the Uniter sees some value in prolonging this meaningless suffering.
After pressing the weeping monk for more details, Hideo stopped to comfort Monk Eyebrows while considering what hed just learned. Already, Hideo could think of several reasons why the Uniter wouldnt use Anathema to defeat the Empire, the most obvious one being that he didnt have enough yet. Anathema was inert until activated by sunlight, but quickly died out if left without enough to consume, which meant in order to utilize such a weapon effectively, it would be best to stockpile enough to end the Empire in one fell swoop. Given that the Bristleboar Divinity had a part in its creation, Hideo pieced together that it required some amount of death or suffering to create Anathema, judging by the rumours of tortured, tormented slaves left at his properties who had to be put down following Zhu Chanzhus defection from the Empire.
Knowing this, Hideo set forth with a new goal in mind, though on the surface, it seemed no different from the old one. He would fight alongside the Uniter and help him conquer the Empire, at which point, the Defiled and Chosen would tear themselves apart and leave almost nothing behind. If at this point, the Uniter had yet to deploy Anathema, then Hideo would steal the secret for himself and render the world to the Void, with the help of his brothers and the Wisdom.
Not solely for himself, but for the world and all souls suffering within, for it was nigh time to put an end to the endless trials and tribulations.
Striding through camp in search of Gen, Hideo found him hard at work persuading Imperial prisoners to turncoat against the Empire, but from the looks of things, he wasnt very successful. There was a time when Gen would Orate to an entire City filled with Imperial Citizens, and by the end of his speech, the audience would turn out in droves to join the Chosen, but alas, those days were long past. Now, Gen would be considered lucky if he could convince a horse to drink, much less sway an Imperial soldier over to the side of the Enemy. According to the Wisdom Vyakhya, it took passion to Orate, genuine belief in ones cause, but even the most passionate zealot would grow jaded with time, and it seemed Gens passion was fading. There was a time when Hideo considered Gen a rival, but since then, the farm-boys control had slipped and he was beginning to come apart at the seams. What? he snapped, only just noticing Hideos presence despite having been standing in striking distance for some time.
Not that he would have attacked, considering the twin-forms of armoured Demons standing at Gens side. Chieftain Vithar, Hideo stated, wondering what anyone saw in this empty shell of a man, one filled with rage, loathing, and little else. Where was he deployed? I seek to join him on the battlefield, alongside a retinue of my own. For Hideo would need more allies than just the fractured remnants of the Brotherhood to overthrow the Uniter, and Vithar was as good a place to start as any.
Oh? Appearing out of the shadows with Chosen guards flanking him, the commander of the army regarded Hideo with some curiosity, his gentle voice and kindly eyes entirely at odds with his vicious reputation. So the wayward son of Central thinks he can command troops in my army? What do you know of tactics, boy?
Were it anyone else, Hideo would have cursed him for a fool, but this honey-skinned man here was a Living Legend in his own right, and therefore worthy of respect. Whats more, he sensed a kindred spirit in this wise commander, an aged hero who could no longer stomach the Empires atrocities and struck out on his own. There was no sign of surrender in this mans eyes, no loss of control or change in demeanour despite his new allegiance, and though Hideo had only ridden in his army for a handful of weeks, it was clear the commander was no Defiled Imperial.
No, he was much like Hideo and Eyebrows, a man who sinned and corrected course before it was too late. Now, he was burdened with regrets, but strong enough to resist temptation once more as he set out with a new goal in mind. Were Hideo more familiar with the man, he would have sought a place at the commanders side rather than Vithars, but now, Hideo had a chance to prove himself to this most famed of Western Generals. Next to the Lord of Martial Peace, this one knows nothing, but he is eager to learn and begs only for the chance to prove himself.
Humility and ambition will serve a man well, no matter the occupation. Clapping Hideo on the shoulder, Colonel General Gongsun Qi smiled and said, Then come, Mitsue Hideo, and let us speak of your esteemed Mentor. I will come to blows with him soon enough, and would care to study him beforehand. Answer my questions to my satisfaction, and I will bestow you command of five-thousand Chosen, and together, we will bring everlasting peace to the Empire.
Hideos instincts were right. This man would make for a formidable ally once the Empire was dealt with, for their goals were firmly aligned, and who better to usher in a new age of nihility than the Lord Of Martial Peace himself?
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Chapter 630
What does the Dao mean to you?
A simple enough question, but one Hideo struggled to answer. According to his daft old Mentor Juichi, the Martial Path was the means through which Martial Warriors utilized the Energy of the Heavens against the Enemy, but Monk Eyebrows who voiced the question was not asking about the Martial Path, but rather the Dao itself. It was a topic covered early on in every Martial Warriors life, but children were expected to simply accept the explanation for truth without questioning it. As far as Hideo understood it, the Dao was found in anything and everything, for it was the underlying essence which made up reality as everyone knew it, and study of the Dao would reveal the Path to Divinity, but again, this textbook answer was not what Monk Eyebrows was asking for. The gangly, thick-browed teacher was specifically asking what the Dao personally meant to Hideo, and for the life of him, he could not come up with a suitable reply.
The Dao simply was, and that was the end of that. It existed, but only as an abstract concept, not something he pondered or deliberated on. Though the Martial Path was written Wu Dao (), he never paid much thought to the etymology, the same way he didnt wonder why tea was called tea or why a house could also be called a manor, dwelling, residence, or so many other different terms. They were simply words used to describe a thing, and for Hideo, the Martial Path was merely the term he attributed to his pursuit of Martial strength, the principles of combat and Chi manipulation which he used to rise above his peers and step into the ranks of the Hwarang. Beyond that? Why did it matter?
Such was the mindset of Mitsue Hideo, the Imperial Warrior and Disciple of Mitsue Juichi, but that person no longer existed. The Hideo of today was a different being altogether, an enlightened man whod seen past the lies spread by the Imperial Clan and embarked upon a new Path, which made this a question worth pondering. What did the Dao mean to him? I do not know, Hideo sheepishly answered, head hung low in embarrassment.
Were it Juichi across from him, the old fool would have sighed and made some pithy comment about how his time was valuable and Hideos comprehension lacking, but Monk Eyebrows merely nodded in approval. Good, good. There is no shame in ignorance, Junior Brother, for there is so much to learn, how can any one person know everything? However, to admit ignorance and do nothing to correct it is to embrace wilful ignorance, so this monk will endeavour to help you arrive at an informed conclusion.
This was how they spent most evenings, discussing anything and everything which came to mind in search of the Truth. Much of it tied back to theological doctrines such as the Three Desires, Four Noble Truths, Noble Eight-fold Path, and so on, but Eyebrows arguments were always grounded in truth and logic, with his religious musings thrown in at the end. Today, however, Monk Eyebrows surprised Hideo by beginning with the theological portion instead. Let us first do away with the idea of the Mother and Father, he intoned, and for the life of him, Hideo couldnt understand why. What sort of monk began an argument by doing away with his religious figureheads? Smiling at Hideos surprise, Monk Eyebrows explained, We humans are a prideful lot, so we tend to view everything through our uniquely human perspectives, but who is to say the Mother and Father were ever human? Even if they were, who is to say with certainty that they are the creators of this world? The tale is one told throughout every corner of the Empire, of how the Mother gave birth to the four Elements, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water, and worked with these primal forces to create the world as we know it. She began with Fire in the core, Earth for the land, Wind for the air, and Water for the oceans, and from there, through the melding of all four elements, She gifted the world with life. This is the tale you were taught, correct?
Hideo nodded, but then he was struck by a glaring discrepancy, one Monk Eyebrows no doubt was leading up to. If the Mother created the World and gifted it with life, then how could She have been human like us? She could not have ascended from this world and created it as well, only one or the other.
Indeed. Beaming as he nodded in approval, Monk Eyebrows scratched at the newly grown stubble covering his chin, and for a moment, Hideo marvelled at how young this wise monk appeared. Most of the monks who defected from the Brotherhood were aged at best, while their leader and figurehead was positively decrepit, but Monk Eyebrows could be mistaken for a man in his early thirties, young enough to be Hideos older brother rather than his Teacher and possible Mentor. Despite his youthful appearance, Monk Eyebrows eyes revealed the depths of his experience, as did the respect he commanded from his fellow brothers, so Hideo suspected his youthful looks were just that, and that the Monk was far older than he appeared. As you say, it does not make sense for the Mother to be both Creator and ascended Divinity, for if She made the world, from where did she first ascend? There have been arguments made that the Mother Above is the Creator, and that she ascended from another plane of existence or created a new world out of nothingness, the reasons for which vary. Some say our reality exists within the Mothers Natal Palace, and we are each but a figment of Her hallowed imagination. Others claim this world to be a prison for damned souls to redeem themselves, or even a training ground for Martial Warriors in which the end goal is to ascend to Divinity and aid the Mother in Heavenly battle against the Fathers foul minions, but for our discussion today, the origins and purpose of our world has no bearing on the subject, so let us set it aside for another time. All that matters is that there are the Heavens above, the earth below, and we are but mere mortals who seek to ascend.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Though he nodded in agreement, Hideo tucked away everything Monk Eyebrows just mentioned so he could peruse at his leisure later, for he found it all fascinating to the extreme. Knowing or not knowing would have no impact on his Martial Strength, but Monk Eyebrows encouraged Hideo to indulge his curiosity and said he should experience everything that life had to offer, which was a strange thing for an ascetic to say. While he was only an initiate, Hideo intended to join the ranks of the Brotherhood in time, so he did his best to live by their precepts, but apparently this was not the way. He wholeheartedly believed in the Brotherhoods teaching, and had individually concluded what Monk Eyebrows, Gen, and several others had shared with him, that the Path to Divinity was not in divesting oneself of emotion, but in understanding and experience the full breadth of the human experience without losing control of ones self. The Razors edge as Gen and his mysterious Mentor called it, logic and emotion in perfect harmony and indulgence balanced by restraint, this was his new Martial Path, one he would see to completion.
Thus, when questioned as to why he would encourage Hideo to ignore the precepts and indulge his curiosity, Monk Eyebrows gave Hideo a knowing look and explained, This monk lives the life of an ascetic for two reasons. The first reason is the fifth facet of the Noble Eight-Fold Path, Right Livelihood, which itself is an extension of the First facet, the Right View. The Right View is that our actions have consequences, so we must endeavour to do no harm. The Right Livelihood means to live a life in which noharm is brought about by our decisions, whether it be through direct actions or inadvertent consequences. Among other things, this means to abstain from eating meat, forging weapons, and partaking in any product produced by slavery or some other means of coercion, for all these can give rise to harm, whether it be the weapon used to kill or the slave beaten to work. As such, this does not apply to you, someone who has yet to take the vows of the Brotherhood and set forth on the Noble Eight-Fold Path, so you need not concern yourself with this just yet, as you must first learn to walk before you can run. Secondly, and more pertinent to your situation, this monk abstains from worldly pleasures because it falls under one of the Three Poisons, Raga, or greed and sensual attachment. However, this monk encourages you, Junior Brother, to go forth and experience the red dust of the mortal world in order to better prepare you to leave it all behind, for how can one let go of that which they have never held? How can one know the true burden of sacrifice without ever knowing what they have given up? Only then will your suffering have meaning, and drive you along the Path to Divinity.
All of which fit perfectly with Hideos new Martial Path, so he set out to do as instructed, indulging his curiosity wherever he may before repenting alongside his fellow brothers every morning, chanting the Sutras as they collectively whipped and beat their own flesh while reflecting upon past experiences. Biting into a thick, juicy morsel and feeling the warm juices stream over his tongue, charging into battle with the heady rush of excitement coursing through his veins, resting in the arms of a lover and listening to her beating heart race, then slow, then still, Hideo relived these moments each and every day, until he grew numb to those experiences which once overwhelmed him beyond all measure. Some days he focused on other, darker emotions, the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Dastan Zhandos or the betrayal he felt when his father Hiroshi revealed his true strength, and during those moments, as he ruminated upon the highs and lows of his life whilst embroiled in physical suffering, Hideo found a new Balance, a superior Balance, and while he had yet to unlock any secrets of Heaven, he knew it would only be a matter of time.
If a mere upstart farm boy like Gen or a tribal slave like Falling Rain could do it, then why not Mitsue Hideo?
Very well, Hideo said, bringing his thoughts back to the matter at hand, what the Dao meant to him. If we do away with the concept of the Mother, then what are we left with?
The Dao. Flashing a knowing half smile, Monk Eyebrow gestured at the ground below, the sky above, and everything else in between. The Dao is in everything, in every blade of grass and gust of wind, every mote of dust and speck of light. Think of Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water not as you know them, but rather as a representation of all the fundamental forces of the universe, all moving as dictated by the Dao to create everything beneath Heaven. The Dao is within you, within me, within all living things and without, for without the Dao, there is nothing but the Void.
Seeing his frown, Monk Eyebrows paused his sermon and waited for Hideo to put his question into words, one which he struggled to voice. Eventually, he found what was bothering him and asked, If the Dao is everything, then why is it so important to know what the Dao means to me, specifically? Is that not your answer?
It is an answer, Monk Eyebrows replied, still wearing that same half-smile, But it is not your answer, nor is it mine, because your interpretation of everything is not the same as mine, the same way my Dao differs from yours. This is not a criticism, but a fact of life. Earlier, this monk said that we humans have uniquely human perspectives, but each of us in turn have our own unique experiences which further colours our personal perception. I have seen more and lived longer than you have, but I will never know what it is like to be born into the Mitsue Family, just as you will never know the childhood of a Defiled tribesman.
Rocking back at the unexpected proclamation, Hideo almost leapt to his feet and drew his weapons, but he stilled himself at the last moment. Apologies, Senior Brother, he said, offering Monk Eyebrows an embarrassed seated bow. Its just
Imperial Indoctrination? Wearing a grin which made him look even younger, Monk Eyebrows waved aside Hideos apology and continued, You expected me to look differently, I suppose? Mangled skin, protruding brow, giant fangs and such, a monstrous, twisted sort of human, or at least one physically discernible from the people of the Empire, no doubt, but alas, our peoples are more closely linked than your Emperor would ever care to admit. Yes, I was born outside the borders of the Azure Empire, and I say this without pride or disdain, but your sins pale in comparison to mine, Junior Brother. I found my way into the Empire by sheer happenstance, and once here, I raided, plundered, and pillaged my way through the Western Province until my entire tribe was hunted into extinction and I was forced to flee into the Arid Wastes to escape certain death. It was there the Wisdom found me, caught in a race to die of thirst, starvation, or exposure. He took me in, helped me master my impulses, showed me the ways of the Brotherhood, and convinced me to take up the Noble Eight-Fold Path. Reaching over to pat Hideos shoulder in a warm, familiar gesture, Monk Eyebrows added, And now, this monk hopes to do for you what the Wisdom did for me, so I thank you for offering me this opportunity.
For Monk Eyebrows to thank Hideo for the opportunity to teach him warmed his heart in ways he never expected. This was what a Mentor was supposed to be like, helpful and nurturing rather than haughty and hurtful like Juichi, or absent like Hiroshi. Saving all these feelings to parse through later, Hideo choked back his tears and silently nodded back, unable to speak for fear of being overwhelmed. It was a curious feeling, a mixture of friendship, camaraderie, and almost paternal affection, so by all rights, he should indulge and experience it, but he couldnt bring himself to do it because well, he wasnt sure why. There was simply a sense of foreboding lurking behind all these warm, happy sensations, and a voice warning him to turn away and never look back.
So he did, because he feared what further introspection might expose, and he did not wish to risk the happiness he had now.
Pushing aside all his disquieting thoughts, Hideo thought on the message Monk Eyebrows was trying to convey. It was merely a different way of saying each Warrior must forge their own path, except it applied to everyone rather than just Martial Warriors and actually explained why, rather than hand-waving the reasoning aside by saying, Such is the way of the Martial Dao, as Juichi was so fond of doing. The Dao was different for everyone, because they all perceived it differently. It was as simple as that. This is why youre always going on tangents about other possible theories, Hideo exclaimed, having picked up on this just now. To tell me there are other possibilities so as not to colour my perception.
Chortling as he waggled his bushy namesake, Monk Eyebrows replied, Of course. One must always be open to other possibilities, Junior Brother, because what is True for one may not be True for another, and it is up to you to discover your own personal Truth. That is why we are Cultivators, because we pursue the Truth, and through this, seek to understand all Daos under Heaven and ascend to Divinity.
So where to go from here? Continue blindly following the Brotherhoods precepts, or forge his own Path? The answer was simple, or so Hideo thought, but just to be sure, he asked, What is the purpose of the Eight-Fold Path?
Taken aback by the question, Monk Eyebrows carefully deliberated his answer before replying. According to the Fourth Noble Truth, the way to Nirvana lies in living ones life according to the Eight-Fold Path.
Which is?
A higher plane of existence.
And why do you seek Nirvana?
To break free from the chains of mortality and escape the cycle of reincarnation by ascending to Divinity.
Theyd already covered all this, but now that Hideo had confirmed it, he asked one more question. Knowing what you know now, if you were nearing the end of your life and still had yet to come close to ascension, which would you prefer? To enter the cycle of reincarnation and continue forward in a new life, or to wipe the slate clean and begin anew, free of the karma which binds you?
Understanding dawned on Monk Eyebrows face and he fell into silent contemplation. A clever initiate you are, he murmured, glancing at where they last saw the Wisdom. To think, this monk failed to consider his Mentors perspective. Indeed, for as Hideo had seen with Juichi, the older one was, the more they feared death, for they had that much more to lose. I must think on this more, Monk Eyebrows said, offering an apologetic smile, But for now, this monk would choose to wipe the slate clean. His eyes took on a haunted expression as he ruminated on his past, and Hideo truly believed that the monks sins outstripped his own. My earliest lessons were not in language or numbers, but on how to make use of every part of a human body. I rendered fat into an unguent to protect us from the harsh sun, smoked meat into jerky to fill our bellies, harvested bones to fashion into killing tools, and tanned flayed skin to fashion headwraps for our faces, oftentimes while my victims still drew breath. This was all before I learned to fight, and I learned so much more in years to come, but I would forget it all in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. When I came to the Empire, I thought it was paradise on earth, a land of plenty where all could prosper and thrive, but how wrong I was, for here, there is only suffering in a different form. Now, I seek Nirvana in hopes it will provide what the lands of the Empire could not, but knowing my goal has never been within reach Stopping to cast his gaze to the sky, Hideo saw the glint of tears streaming down Monk Eyebrows cheeks. Having been a slave to my instincts stained in the blood of my sins, and having suffered through the years to keep from sinning again, I believe oblivion would be preferable to another lifetime like mine. It is cruel of the Heavens to expect so much of us, burdened as we are. Perhaps I committed some heinous sin in a past life, for which I was punished for by being born Defiled and subjected to all my trials, but if that is Heavens Will, then perhaps it would be better if there is no Heaven at all.
This was also how Hideo felt, for despite reliving and suffering through the experience each and every day, he still yearned to taste Eri-Himes flesh once more and feel her beating heart still against his cheek. The memory haunted him yes, but it tempted him too, and he feared he would live like this for the rest of his years. So too would he be haunted by the aching disappointment and boundless love in his fathers eyes, and the knowledge that his actions led to Mitsue Hiroshis death. Things could have gone differently, with Hiroshi and Hideo working as father and son to prop up the Mitsue Family after Juichis death, but that was no longer possible, all because of a single mistake.
Falling Rain should have lived and died as a slave, but by rejecting his fate, he ruined Hideos in turn. The Heavens were cruel and unjust, for Hideo had done no wrong and now suffered for the sins of another, and he refused to suffer under them for any longer than necessary. Tell me about Anathema, he demanded, hungry for more knowledge. What is it? How will it wipe the slate clean?
It is as it sounds, Monk Eyebrows whispered, still crying silently to the sky. A substance, for lack of a better word, which consumes the Dao wherever it might be found, and renders that which is left behind to nothingness. It is the antithesis to Heaven, the Destroyer and Unmaker, and the Uniter holds the secret to its... creation. Why he does not use it against the Empire and render reality into nihility, this monk cannot say, only that the Uniter sees some value in prolonging this meaningless suffering.
After pressing the weeping monk for more details, Hideo stopped to comfort Monk Eyebrows while considering what hed just learned. Already, Hideo could think of several reasons why the Uniter wouldnt use Anathema to defeat the Empire, the most obvious one being that he didnt have enough yet. Anathema was inert until activated by sunlight, but quickly died out if left without enough to consume, which meant in order to utilize such a weapon effectively, it would be best to stockpile enough to end the Empire in one fell swoop. Given that the Bristleboar Divinity had a part in its creation, Hideo pieced together that it required some amount of death or suffering to create Anathema, judging by the rumours of tortured, tormented slaves left at his properties who had to be put down following Zhu Chanzhus defection from the Empire.
Knowing this, Hideo set forth with a new goal in mind, though on the surface, it seemed no different from the old one. He would fight alongside the Uniter and help him conquer the Empire, at which point, the Defiled and Chosen would tear themselves apart and leave almost nothing behind. If at this point, the Uniter had yet to deploy Anathema, then Hideo would steal the secret for himself and render the world to the Void, with the help of his brothers and the Wisdom.
Not solely for himself, but for the world and all souls suffering within, for it was nigh time to put an end to the endless trials and tribulations.
Striding through camp in search of Gen, Hideo found him hard at work persuading Imperial prisoners to turncoat against the Empire, but from the looks of things, he wasnt very successful. There was a time when Gen would Orate to an entire City filled with Imperial Citizens, and by the end of his speech, the audience would turn out in droves to join the Chosen, but alas, those days were long past. Now, Gen would be considered lucky if he could convince a horse to drink, much less sway an Imperial soldier over to the side of the Enemy. According to the Wisdom Vyakhya, it took passion to Orate, genuine belief in ones cause, but even the most passionate zealot would grow jaded with time, and it seemed Gens passion was fading. There was a time when Hideo considered Gen a rival, but since then, the farm-boys control had slipped and he was beginning to come apart at the seams. What? he snapped, only just noticing Hideos presence despite having been standing in striking distance for some time.
Not that he would have attacked, considering the twin-forms of armoured Demons standing at Gens side. Chieftain Vithar, Hideo stated, wondering what anyone saw in this empty shell of a man, one filled with rage, loathing, and little else. Where was he deployed? I seek to join him on the battlefield, alongside a retinue of my own. For Hideo would need more allies than just the fractured remnants of the Brotherhood to overthrow the Uniter, and Vithar was as good a place to start as any.
Oh? Appearing out of the shadows with Chosen guards flanking him, the commander of the army regarded Hideo with some curiosity, his gentle voice and kindly eyes entirely at odds with his vicious reputation. So the wayward son of Central thinks he can command troops in my army? What do you know of tactics, boy?
Were it anyone else, Hideo would have cursed him for a fool, but this honey-skinned man here was a Living Legend in his own right, and therefore worthy of respect. Whats more, he sensed a kindred spirit in this wise commander, an aged hero who could no longer stomach the Empires atrocities and struck out on his own. There was no sign of surrender in this mans eyes, no loss of control or change in demeanour despite his new allegiance, and though Hideo had only ridden in his army for a handful of weeks, it was clear the commander was no Defiled Imperial.
No, he was much like Hideo and Eyebrows, a man who sinned and corrected course before it was too late. Now, he was burdened with regrets, but strong enough to resist temptation once more as he set out with a new goal in mind. Were Hideo more familiar with the man, he would have sought a place at the commanders side rather than Vithars, but now, Hideo had a chance to prove himself to this most famed of Western Generals. Next to the Lord of Martial Peace, this one knows nothing, but he is eager to learn and begs only for the chance to prove himself.
Humility and ambition will serve a man well, no matter the occupation. Clapping Hideo on the shoulder, Colonel General Gongsun Qi smiled and said, Then come, Mitsue Hideo, and let us speak of your esteemed Mentor. I will come to blows with him soon enough, and would care to study him beforehand. Answer my questions to my satisfaction, and I will bestow you command of five-thousand Chosen, and together, we will bring everlasting peace to the Empire.
Hideos instincts were right. This man would make for a formidable ally once the Empire was dealt with, for their goals were firmly aligned, and who better to usher in a new age of nihility than the Lord Of Martial Peace himself?
Chapter Meme
Chapter 630What does the Dao mean to you?A simple enough question, but one Hideo struggled to answer. According to his daft old Mentor Juichi, the Martial Path was the means through which Martial Warriors utilized the Energy of the Heavens against the Enemy, but Monk Eyebrows who voiced the question was not asking about the Martial Path, but rather the Dao itself. It was a topic covered early on in every Martial Warriors life, but children were expected to simply accept the explanation for truth without questioning it. As far as Hideo understood it, the Dao was found in anything and everything, for it was the underlying essence which made up reality as everyone knew it, and study of the Dao would reveal the Path to Divinity, but again, this textbook answer was not what Monk Eyebrows was asking for. The gangly, thick-browed teacher was specifically asking what the Dao personally meant to Hideo, and for the life of him, he could not come up with a suitable reply.The Dao simply was, and that was the end of that. It existed, but only as an abstract concept, not something he pondered or deliberated on. Though the Martial Path was written Wu Dao , he never paid much thought to the etymology, the same way he didnt wonder why tea was called tea or why a house could also be called a manor, dwelling, residence, or so many other different terms. They were simply words used to describe a thing, and for Hideo, the Martial Path was merely the term he attributed to his pursuit of Martial strength, the principles of combat and Chi manipulation which he used to rise above his peers and step into the ranks of the Hwarang. Beyond that? Why did it matter?Such was the mindset of Mitsue Hideo, the Imperial Warrior and Disciple of Mitsue Juichi, but that person no longer existed. The Hideo of today was a different being altogether, an enlightened man whod seen past the lies spread by the Imperial Clan and embarked upon a new Path, which made this a question worth pondering. What did the Dao mean to him? I do not know, Hideo sheepishly answered, head hung low in embarrassment.Were it Juichi across from him, the old fool would have sighed and made some pithy comment about how his time was valuable and Hideos comprehension lacking, but Monk Eyebrows merely nodded in approval. Good, good. There is no shame in ignorance, Junior Brother, for there is so much to learn, how can any one person know everything? However, to admit ignorance and do nothing to correct it is to embrace wilful ignorance, so this monk will endeavour to help you arrive at an informed conclusion.This was how they spent most evenings, discussing anything and everything which came to mind in search of the Truth. Much of it tied back to theological doctrines such as the Three Desires, Four Noble Truths, Noble Eight-fold Path, and so on, but Eyebrows arguments were always grounded in truth and logic, with his religious musings thrown in at the end. Today, however, Monk Eyebrows surprised Hideo by beginning with the theological portion instead. Let us first do away with the idea of the Mother and Father, he intoned, and for the life of him, Hideo couldnt understand why. What sort of monk began an argument by doing away with his religious figureheads? Smiling at Hideos surprise, Monk Eyebrows explained, We humans are a prideful lot, so we tend to view everything through our uniquely human perspectives, but who is to say the Mother and Father were ever human? Even if they were, who is to say with certainty that they are the creators of this world? The tale is one told throughout every corner of the Empire, of how the Mother gave birth to the four Elements, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water, and worked with these primal forces to create the world as we know it. She began with Fire in the core, Earth for the land, Wind for the air, and Water for the oceans, and from there, through the melding of all four elements, She gifted the world with life. This is the tale you were taught, correct?Hideo nodded, but then he was struck by a glaring discrepancy, one Monk Eyebrows no doubt was leading up to. If the Mother created the World and gifted it with life, then how could She have been human like us? She could not have ascended from this world and created it as well, only one or the other.Indeed. Beaming as he nodded in approval, Monk Eyebrows scratched at the newly grown stubble covering his chin, and for a moment, Hideo marvelled at how young this wise monk appeared. Most of the monks who defected from the Brotherhood were aged at best, while their leader and figurehead was positively decrepit, but Monk Eyebrows could be mistaken for a man in his early thirties, young enough to be Hideos older brother rather than his Teacher and possible Mentor. Despite his youthful appearance, Monk Eyebrows eyes revealed the depths of his experience, as did the respect he commanded from his fellow brothers, so Hideo suspected his youthful looks were just that, and that the Monk was far older than he appeared. As you say, it does not make sense for the Mother to be both Creator and ascended Divinity, for if She made the world, from where did she first ascend? There have been arguments made that the Mother Above is the Creator, and that she ascended from another plane of existence or created a new world out of nothingness, the reasons for which vary. Some say our reality exists within the Mothers Natal Palace, and we are each but a figment of Her hallowed imagination. Others claim this world to be a prison for damned souls to redeem themselves, or even a training ground for Martial Warriors in which the end goal is to ascend to Divinity and aid the Mother in Heavenly battle against the Fathers foul minions, but for our discussion today, the origins and purpose of our world has no bearing on the subject, so let us set it aside for another time. All that matters is that there are the Heavens above, the earth below, and we are but mere mortals who seek to ascend.Follow current novels on novelbin.comThough he nodded in agreement, Hideo tucked away everything Monk Eyebrows just mentioned so he could peruse at his leisure later, for he found it all fascinating to the extreme. Knowing or not knowing would have no impact on his Martial Strength, but Monk Eyebrows encouraged Hideo to indulge his curiosity and said he should experience everything that life had to offer, which was a strange thing for an ascetic to say. While he was only an initiate, Hideo intended to join the ranks of the Brotherhood in time, so he did his best to live by their precepts, but apparently this was not the way. He wholeheartedly believed in the Brotherhoods teaching, and had individually concluded what Monk Eyebrows, Gen, and several others had shared with him, that the Path to Divinity was not in divesting oneself of emotion, but in understanding and experience the full breadth of the human experience without losing control of ones self. The Razors edge as Gen and his mysterious Mentor called it, logic and emotion in perfect harmony and indulgence balanced by restraint, this was his new Martial Path, one he would see to completion.Thus, when questioned as to why he would encourage Hideo to ignore the precepts and indulge his curiosity, Monk Eyebrows gave Hideo a knowing look and explained, This monk lives the life of an ascetic for two reasons. The first reason is the fifth facet of the Noble Eight-Fold Path, Right Livelihood, which itself is an extension of the First facet, the Right View. The Right View is that our actions have consequences, so we must endeavour to do no harm. The Right Livelihood means to live a life in which noharm is brought about by our decisions, whether it be through direct actions or inadvertent consequences. Among other things, this means to abstain from eating meat, forging weapons, and partaking in any product produced by slavery or some other means of coercion, for all these can give rise to harm, whether it be the weapon used to kill or the slave beaten to work. As such, this does not apply to you, someone who has yet to take the vows of the Brotherhood and set forth on the Noble Eight-Fold Path, so you need not concern yourself with this just yet, as you must first learn to walk before you can run. Secondly, and more pertinent to your situation, this monk abstains from worldly pleasures because it falls under one of the Three Poisons, Raga, or greed and sensual attachment. However, this monk encourages you, Junior Brother, to go forth and experience the red dust of the mortal world in order to better prepare you to leave it all behind, for how can one let go of that which they have never held? How can one know the true burden of sacrifice without ever knowing what they have given up? Only then will your suffering have meaning, and drive you along the Path to Divinity.All of which fit perfectly with Hideos new Martial Path, so he set out to do as instructed, indulging his curiosity wherever he may before repenting alongside his fellow brothers every morning, chanting the Sutras as they collectively whipped and beat their own flesh while reflecting upon past experiences. Biting into a thick, juicy morsel and feeling the warm juices stream over his tongue, charging into battle with the heady rush of excitement coursing through his veins, resting in the arms of a lover and listening to her beating heart race, then slow, then still, Hideo relived these moments each and every day, until he grew numb to those experiences which once overwhelmed him beyond all measure. Some days he focused on other, darker emotions, the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Dastan Zhandos or the betrayal he felt when his father Hiroshi revealed his true strength, and during those moments, as he ruminated upon the highs and lows of his life whilst embroiled in physical suffering, Hideo found a new Balance, a superior Balance, and while he had yet to unlock any secrets of Heaven, he knew it would only be a matter of time.If a mere upstart farm boy like Gen or a tribal slave like Falling Rain could do it, then why not Mitsue Hideo?Very well, Hideo said, bringing his thoughts back to the matter at hand, what the Dao meant to him. If we do away with the concept of the Mother, then what are we left with?The Dao. Flashing a knowing half smile, Monk Eyebrow gestured at the ground below, the sky above, and everything else in between. The Dao is in everything, in every blade of grass and gust of wind, every mote of dust and speck of light. Think of Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water not as you know them, but rather as a representation of all the fundamental forces of the universe, all moving as dictated by the Dao to create everything beneath Heaven. The Dao is within you, within me, within all living things and without, for without the Dao, there is nothing but the Void.Seeing his frown, Monk Eyebrows paused his sermon and waited for Hideo to put his question into words, one which he struggled to voice. Eventually, he found what was bothering him and asked, If the Dao is everything, then why is it so important to know what the Dao means to me, specifically? Is that not your answer?It is an answer, Monk Eyebrows replied, still wearing that same half-smile, But it is not your answer, nor is it mine, because your interpretation of everything is not the same as mine, the same way my Dao differs from yours. This is not a criticism, but a fact of life. Earlier, this monk said that we humans have uniquely human perspectives, but each of us in turn have our own unique experiences which further colours our personal perception. I have seen more and lived longer than you have, but I will never know what it is like to be born into the Mitsue Family, just as you will never know the childhood of a Defiled tribesman.Rocking back at the unexpected proclamation, Hideo almost leapt to his feet and drew his weapons, but he stilled himself at the last moment. Apologies, Senior Brother, he said, offering Monk Eyebrows an embarrassed seated bow. Its justImperial Indoctrination? Wearing a grin which made him look even younger, Monk Eyebrows waved aside Hideos apology and continued, You expected me to look differently, I suppose? Mangled skin, protruding brow, giant fangs and such, a monstrous, twisted sort of human, or at least one physically discernible from the people of the Empire, no doubt, but alas, our peoples are more closely linked than your Emperor would ever care to admit. Yes, I was born outside the borders of the Azure Empire, and I say this without pride or disdain, but your sins pale in comparison to mine, Junior Brother. I found my way into the Empire by sheer happenstance, and once here, I raided, plundered, and pillaged my way through the Western Province until my entire tribe was hunted into extinction and I was forced to flee into the Arid Wastes to escape certain death. It was there the Wisdom found me, caught in a race to die of thirst, starvation, or exposure. He took me in, helped me master my impulses, showed me the ways of the Brotherhood, and convinced me to take up the Noble Eight-Fold Path. Reaching over to pat Hideos shoulder in a warm, familiar gesture, Monk Eyebrows added, And now, this monk hopes to do for you what the Wisdom did for me, so I thank you for offering me this opportunity.For Monk Eyebrows to thank Hideo for the opportunity to teach him warmed his heart in ways he never expected. This was what a Mentor was supposed to be like, helpful and nurturing rather than haughty and hurtful like Juichi, or absent like Hiroshi. Saving all these feelings to parse through later, Hideo choked back his tears and silently nodded back, unable to speak for fear of being overwhelmed. It was a curious feeling, a mixture of friendship, camaraderie, and almost paternal affection, so by all rights, he should indulge and experience it, but he couldnt bring himself to do it because well, he wasnt sure why. There was simply a sense of foreboding lurking behind all these warm, happy sensations, and a voice warning him to turn away and never look back.So he did, because he feared what further introspection might expose, and he did not wish to risk the happiness he had now.Pushing aside all his disquieting thoughts, Hideo thought on the message Monk Eyebrows was trying to convey. It was merely a different way of saying each Warrior must forge their own path, except it applied to everyone rather than just Martial Warriors and actually explained why, rather than hand-waving the reasoning aside by saying, Such is the way of the Martial Dao, as Juichi was so fond of doing. The Dao was different for everyone, because they all perceived it differently. It was as simple as that. This is why youre always going on tangents about other possible theories, Hideo exclaimed, having picked up on this just now. To tell me there are other possibilities so as not to colour my perception.Chortling as he waggled his bushy namesake, Monk Eyebrows replied, Of course. One must always be open to other possibilities, Junior Brother, because what is True for one may not be True for another, and it is up to you to discover your own personal Truth. That is why we are Cultivators, because we pursue the Truth, and through this, seek to understand all Daos under Heaven and ascend to Divinity.So where to go from here? Continue blindly following the Brotherhoods precepts, or forge his own Path? The answer was simple, or so Hideo thought, but just to be sure, he asked, What is the purpose of the Eight-Fold Path?Taken aback by the question, Monk Eyebrows carefully deliberated his answer before replying. According to the Fourth Noble Truth, the way to Nirvana lies in living ones life according to the Eight-Fold Path.Which is?A higher plane of existence.And why do you seek Nirvana?To break free from the chains of mortality and escape the cycle of reincarnation by ascending to Divinity.Theyd already covered all this, but now that Hideo had confirmed it, he asked one more question. Knowing what you know now, if you were nearing the end of your life and still had yet to come close to ascension, which would you prefer? To enter the cycle of reincarnation and continue forward in a new life, or to wipe the slate clean and begin anew, free of the karma which binds you?Understanding dawned on Monk Eyebrows face and he fell into silent contemplation. A clever initiate you are, he murmured, glancing at where they last saw the Wisdom. To think, this monk failed to consider his Mentors perspective. Indeed, for as Hideo had seen with Juichi, the older one was, the more they feared death, for they had that much more to lose. I must think on this more, Monk Eyebrows said, offering an apologetic smile, But for now, this monk would choose to wipe the slate clean. His eyes took on a haunted expression as he ruminated on his past, and Hideo truly believed that the monks sins outstripped his own. My earliest lessons were not in language or numbers, but on how to make use of every part of a human body. I rendered fat into an unguent to protect us from the harsh sun, smoked meat into jerky to fill our bellies, harvested bones to fashion into killing tools, and tanned flayed skin to fashion headwraps for our faces, oftentimes while my victims still drew breath. This was all before I learned to fight, and I learned so much more in years to come, but I would forget it all in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. When I came to the Empire, I thought it was paradise on earth, a land of plenty where all could prosper and thrive, but how wrong I was, for here, there is only suffering in a different form. Now, I seek Nirvana in hopes it will provide what the lands of the Empire could not, but knowing my goal has never been within reach Stopping to cast his gaze to the sky, Hideo saw the glint of tears streaming down Monk Eyebrows cheeks. Having been a slave to my instincts stained in the blood of my sins, and having suffered through the years to keep from sinning again, I believe oblivion would be preferable to another lifetime like mine. It is cruel of the Heavens to expect so much of us, burdened as we are. Perhaps I committed some heinous sin in a past life, for which I was punished for by being born Defiled and subjected to all my trials, but if that is Heavens Will, then perhaps it would be better if there is no Heaven at all.This was also how Hideo felt, for despite reliving and suffering through the experience each and every day, he still yearned to taste Eri-Himes flesh once more and feel her beating heart still against his cheek. The memory haunted him yes, but it tempted him too, and he feared he would live like this for the rest of his years. So too would he be haunted by the aching disappointment and boundless love in his fathers eyes, and the knowledge that his actions led to Mitsue Hiroshis death. Things could have gone differently, with Hiroshi and Hideo working as father and son to prop up the Mitsue Family after Juichis death, but that was no longer possible, all because of a single mistake.Falling Rain should have lived and died as a slave, but by rejecting his fate, he ruined Hideos in turn. The Heavens were cruel and unjust, for Hideo had done no wrong and now suffered for the sins of another, and he refused to suffer under them for any longer than necessary. Tell me about Anathema, he demanded, hungry for more knowledge. What is it? How will it wipe the slate clean?It is as it sounds, Monk Eyebrows whispered, still crying silently to the sky. A substance, for lack of a better word, which consumes the Dao wherever it might be found, and renders that which is left behind to nothingness. It is the antithesis to Heaven, the Destroyer and Unmaker, and the Uniter holds the secret to its... creation. Why he does not use it against the Empire and render reality into nihility, this monk cannot say, only that the Uniter sees some value in prolonging this meaningless suffering.After pressing the weeping monk for more details, Hideo stopped to comfort Monk Eyebrows while considering what hed just learned. Already, Hideo could think of several reasons why the Uniter wouldnt use Anathema to defeat the Empire, the most obvious one being that he didnt have enough yet. Anathema was inert until activated by sunlight, but quickly died out if left without enough to consume, which meant in order to utilize such a weapon effectively, it would be best to stockpile enough to end the Empire in one fell swoop. Given that the Bristleboar Divinity had a part in its creation, Hideo pieced together that it required some amount of death or suffering to create Anathema, judging by the rumours of tortured, tormented slaves left at his properties who had to be put down following Zhu Chanzhus defection from the Empire.Knowing this, Hideo set forth with a new goal in mind, though on the surface, it seemed no different from the old one. He would fight alongside the Uniter and help him conquer the Empire, at which point, the Defiled and Chosen would tear themselves apart and leave almost nothing behind. If at this point, the Uniter had yet to deploy Anathema, then Hideo would steal the secret for himself and render the world to the Void, with the help of his brothers and the Wisdom.Not solely for himself, but for the world and all souls suffering within, for it was nigh time to put an end to the endless trials and tribulations.Striding through camp in search of Gen, Hideo found him hard at work persuading Imperial prisoners to turncoat against the Empire, but from the looks of things, he wasnt very successful. There was a time when Gen would Orate to an entire City filled with Imperial Citizens, and by the end of his speech, the audience would turn out in droves to join the Chosen, but alas, those days were long past. Now, Gen would be considered lucky if he could convince a horse to drink, much less sway an Imperial soldier over to the side of the Enemy. According to the Wisdom Vyakhya, it took passion to Orate, genuine belief in ones cause, but even the most passionate zealot would grow jaded with time, and it seemed Gens passion was fading. There was a time when Hideo considered Gen a rival, but since then, the farm-boys control had slipped and he was beginning to come apart at the seams. What? he snapped, only just noticing Hideos presence despite having been standing in striking distance for some time.Not that he would have attacked, considering the twin-forms of armoured Demons standing at Gens side. Chieftain Vithar, Hideo stated, wondering what anyone saw in this empty shell of a man, one filled with rage, loathing, and little else. Where was he deployed? I seek to join him on the battlefield, alongside a retinue of my own. For Hideo would need more allies than just the fractured remnants of the Brotherhood to overthrow the Uniter, and Vithar was as good a place to start as any.Oh? Appearing out of the shadows with Chosen guards flanking him, the commander of the army regarded Hideo with some curiosity, his gentle voice and kindly eyes entirely at odds with his vicious reputation. So the wayward son of Central thinks he can command troops in my army? What do you know of tactics, boy?Were it anyone else, Hideo would have cursed him for a fool, but this honey-skinned man here was a Living Legend in his own right, and therefore worthy of respect. Whats more, he sensed a kindred spirit in this wise commander, an aged hero who could no longer stomach the Empires atrocities and struck out on his own. There was no sign of surrender in this mans eyes, no loss of control or change in demeanour despite his new allegiance, and though Hideo had only ridden in his army for a handful of weeks, it was clear the commander was no Defiled Imperial.No, he was much like Hideo and Eyebrows, a man who sinned and corrected course before it was too late. Now, he was burdened with regrets, but strong enough to resist temptation once more as he set out with a new goal in mind. Were Hideo more familiar with the man, he would have sought a place at the commanders side rather than Vithars, but now, Hideo had a chance to prove himself to this most famed of Western Generals. Next to the Lord of Martial Peace, this one knows nothing, but he is eager to learn and begs only for the chance to prove himself.Humility and ambition will serve a man well, no matter the occupation. Clapping Hideo on the shoulder, Colonel General Gongsun Qi smiled and said, Then come, Mitsue Hideo, and let us speak of your esteemed Mentor. I will come to blows with him soon enough, and would care to study him beforehand. Answer my questions to my satisfaction, and I will bestow you command of five-thousand Chosen, and together, we will bring everlasting peace to the Empire.Hideos instincts were right. This man would make for a formidable ally once the Empire was dealt with, for their goals were firmly aligned, and who better to usher in a new age of nihility than the Lord Of Martial Peace himself?Chapter Meme
