Chapter 9: Liu Shuai's Master

I looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "I don't think so…"

“I can't make everyone happy" Zhou Yuan's tone didn't contain any traces of happiness or anger. "I used to believe that I chose a path that could make me rich in a short time, but no matter how hard I try, I was unable to make it better. I thought that I could make myself more outstanding with Lan Ruo, but in the end, everything happened in vain. My mother is right. Maybe I really am not a qualified son …”

He turned to be more and more insane. It was obvious that he had completely denied himself. "Don't think like that. We all know you are very good. You are nice, hardworking, and very popular, otherwise why would we come to see you? Even the director said he wants to visit you as well. "

Zhou Yuan shook his head. "It's not what you think. Let me show you something."

Zhou Yuan started taking off his T-shirt.

"Hey, what are you doing? Stop playing rogue!" I was about to stop him when his movements were getting weirder and weirder, but I suddenly saw a terrible scene.

There were many wounds on Zhou Yuan’s body, every single one of which extended at least a couple inches. The wounds covered his chest, abdomen, and both sides of his ribs. Each wound was at least an inch deep! These wounds were stitched close with needle and thread to prevent turning out, just like sewing a wound after an operation, but the stitches were made using ordinary needle and thread. The wounds were scabbed, but looked terrible. Without a shirt, Zhou Yuan was just a walking dead in Resident Evil.

“Jesus! What's wrong with you? " The first word came into my mind was self-mutilation. Many people with extremely heavy mental stress would do this, but the wound should be shallow because the pain would make them stop.

Liu Shuai looked at the upper half of Zhou Yuan's body, and he was so shocked that he could not close his mouth. “Are you insane? Call an ambulance!"

Zhou Yuan looked at us with a wry smile and waved his hand. This action pulled his wounds, some of which were pulling at the seams on the sides. "I've discovered something. As long as I don’t think about it, I won't feel pain, not only mentally, but physically as well. What my mother just said to me could make me feel very uncomfortable in the past, but now I only have reactive responses. I feel nothing pain in my heart. I've cut so many wounds on my body, but I feel nothing as long as I don't think about it. I won't leave even a drop of blood if I don’t want to. If you don't believe me, look …"

Zhou Yuan picked up the blade on the table and slashed at his own stomach. I was so scared that I snatched the blade away, “I believe you!"

Zhou Yuan, who was robbed of his blade, did not resist, but continued to sit on the small stool. Looking at his upper body, even I felt pain, and immediately passed the T-shirt to him. "Put it one, don't catch a cold."

Zhou Yuan obediently put his clothes on like a rabbit. "Look, Monkey King has an unbreakable body that could resist blade. Although I do not have that ability, but I feel no pain neither when I get cut."

"What's going on?" I came back to reality and asked Liu Shuai.

“Nothing is sadder than the death of heart”.Liu Shuai sighed, “I used to consider it as nonsense, but now I understand. 'Death of the heart’ means the death of soul. Now that his soul is gone, his physical body is still alive, but without the entanglement of his soul, his becomes too rational, just like a machine. His reacts to everything based on the experience he has gained over the years, and over time, he will learn to control his own nerves and body. That’s why he feels no pain right now. Years ago when I heard the story that Buddha cut his flesh to feed a falcon, I always felt that it was bullshit, because it must hurt a lot. While now I get the idea as I watch his status. If Buddha cultivated to an indestructible, immaculate, and pure level, then he must be able control his flesh nerves with his will, and there will be no pain at all."

"So, Zhou Yuan became a Buddha?" Even I found this conclusion odd.

"No, on the contrary, it is very dangerous. Soul, entanglement and fear are essential to a person's survival. Since Zhou Yuan does not have these things now, he is in danger at any time. " Liu Shuai noticed that I did not understand. He could tell whether Zhou Yuan was following him or not, so he continued to explain, "for example, let me ask you, is a computer afraid of being shut down?"

"No!"

"Is a computer afraid of video card switch or being opened up?"

"No!"

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't know pain. Well, because it doesn't have a sensor. That's not right either. Maybe because, uh, because it's a machine. “

Liu Shuai smiled and looked at me. "Then tell me, what is the fundamental difference between a human and a machine?"

I stared at him. Such a philosophical question had never come into my mind. "How would I know about it? You're a R & D, and I'm just a product manager."

"Actually you know it, and you told me before. It’s just that you forgot!" Liu Shuai looked at me and also looked at Zhou Yuan, "because a computer has no concept of death, but a human does."

Hmm, I seem to have mentioned that weird theory at a time we were eating and bragging. I didn't expect him to be interested.

“Live as you will die." Liu Shuai lowered his head and thought. "I did not understand either, but now, I comprehend. If there was no fear of death, then there would be no love for life, if —" Liu Shuai looked up at Zhou Yuan, "If there was no resistance to pain, then there would not be a pursuit to happiness. If a person feels no pain, which serves as a threat to life, then he would have not fear of death, or resistance to pain, neither does he have happiness or the desire to live."

The more I listened, the more I felt like I had entered into a deep pit. It seems like Zhou Yuan would cut his throat the next second.

“But Zhou Yuan wouldn't die now, right?" Liu Shuai looked at Zhou Yuan.

"I won't, because I will tell my body that I won't die," Zhou Yuan replied seriously, “However, I've been thinking about one thing lately, that what the meaning of life is.”

"You can't figure it out." Liu Shuai patted his shoulder. ”Don't worry, we will quickly return your soul to its original position. After that, you will still be that happy, sad, and lenient Zhou Yuan! You have Yan and me. Yan is a person with a lot of mana." Liu Shuai looked at me and stopped me talking.

"Let's grab some food."

… ….

When we went back at night, Liu Shuai shew a serious expression. When we arrived at the place where we should split, Liu Shuai clenched his teeth, as if he had made a huge decision, and said, "Hao Ning, go ask Yan to see if there is any way to find my master.”

"Your master?" I felt that it was strange. This brat wasn't willing to tell me about his matters a few days ago, why did he bring up this matter today? “You mean your master could save Zhou Yuan?”

"No, but he might be able to find a person who can.”

"Who is it? Even more powerful than Yan? " I was a little curious. Liu Shuai seems keeping a lot of secrets.

Liu Shuai looked at me with an unsettled expression. Finally, he spoke a word out of loud,

"Avalokitesvara!"