Chapter 671

Chapter 671

What a fascinating individual, a true paragon of creation.

A chance of a thousand lifetimes, to study someone like this. Truly we are blessed by Heaven.

This marks a new Path, one unlike anything weve ever seen or discussed...

All Paths are new, this one simply operates by different parameters.

Let us stay the course rather than squabble about semantics.

Agreed. Let us take a look at the similarities, such as physical symmetry and superiority.

Better if we focused on the differences, to better understand how this Path diverges from that which we know.

Plenty of time for that later. This discovery opens up a myriad of new avenues to pursue, though it begs the question of how we never encountered anything like this before.

And how exactly are we to quantify what this is? We only see the end result and know nothing of the process itself.

A shame the subject lacks the ability to communicate... Imagine the headway we would make if not for

Exercises in imagination do nothing to further our knowledge, only bolster pride and foster delusion. Reflect on your mindset Brother, lest you stray too far from the Eight-Fold Path.

Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo.

Sitting on a stone bench with Sarankho laid out across her lap, Song felt her hopes wane as she listened in on the Brotherhoods discussion. When Monk Happy approached Mama to make his presence known and prepare for this eventuality, Song had hoped the Brotherhood would provide all the answers Rain needed to recover from his peculiar condition, but thus far, the monks had done little to live up to expectations. Putting aside the absurdity of sheltering an entire village of Defiled just outside the monastery gates, the monks didnt even seem interested in questioning Rain, Lin-Lin, or anyone else whod come with them. After showing them to their rooms, they were largely left to their own devices while the monks gathered outside in the stone courtyard to gush over the fascinating paragon of creation, Ping Ping.

Not to say she wasnt an impressive and appealing creature; Song loved Ping Pings adorable expressions and her tiny form made it that much easier to hug her, but there was something about her previous appearance that seemed so much more... natural. Even without accounting for her lovable personality and miraculous powers, there were no other turtles quite like Ping Ping in the world, not physically at least. Lin-Lin even remarked on Ping Pings appearance at the time, declaring that the Guardian Turtle wasnt pretty, with lumpy flesh and a pointy, scary looking head. This didnt stop the daring half-hare from directly hopping onto Ping Pings head when the big girl came to investigate their camp, but Lin-Lins words were true. Ping Ping was an impressive beast, majestic and awe-inspiring in her glory, but few would care to call her beautiful.

More importantly though, no one expected her to be, not if theyd seen other examples of her species like Song had on the way to Ping Yao. An alligator snapping turtle, Rain called them, and there was no mistaking Ping Ping for anything else, as she had the same characteristics, albeit in far more menacing fashion. She had two tiny, beady eyes, a curved, hooked beak, rough, bumpy skin, and an irregularly spiked shell, all of which was magnified by the sheer mass of her ponderous bulk.

This was no longer the case however, not after her transformation, for Ping Ping was no longer immediately identifiable as an alligator snapper. Most of those defining features were gone now, and had been replaced with more... aesthetically pleasing ones, which made for an overall improvement in Songs eyes, but also marked Ping Ping as a Divine Beast at first glance. Her beak was still there, but blunted and non-threatening, and her eyes were proportionally larger now making her pupils more evident within those golden pools of light, changed from the dark, almost black-brown shade theyd once been. Gone were all her rough edges and jagged spikes, leaving naught but smooth skin and rounded protrusions across her body and shell. The latter even lightened in colour, or perhaps the markings underneath were brighter and more visible now, because when the light hit her just right, it revealed a pleasing pattern of golden-brown symmetrical striations running through her seemingly solidly coloured shell.

She even had little fingers and toes now, albeit ones that were appropriate for a turtle, as opposed to the solid mass and jutting talons her hands and feet used to be, fingers she used to gently scratch the other animals at times or clutch a rabbit close to snuggle. Add to this the subtle shape of her mouth that hinted at the existence of lips without actually having any, and Ping Ping was a truly adorable creature, but far from a natural one despite not looking unnatural in any particular way. She was clearly still a turtle, but a unique variant one rather than the alligator snapper she used to be, one that almost seemed too cute to be real.

Perhaps sensing Songs unease or fretful from all the strange attention, Ping Ping ambled over with her merry little gait, another marked change from her previous selfs trundling shuffle. Stopping in front of Song to raise her head in question, Ping Ping squeaked and unleashed an Aura of comfort overlaid with a bedrock of quiet anxiety intermingled with a hint of doubt and concern. Should I be worried? She seemed to ask, but it could also be, Are you alright?, or it was even possible Ping Ping was asking both at once. A marvellous thing, this Aura of emotions, and Song was slowly but surely beginning to understand the complexities behind it.

Responding with a focused Aura of calm and reassurance, she tried to convey that all was well, but added a light touch of vigilance at the end. All was well, but one should never let their guard down, not when visiting unfamiliar places. How much was lost in translation was difficult to say, but Ping Ping seemed to understand well enough as she turned about on the spot to take in all the monks, pulsing bursts of minor suspicion to ask which one of them she should be wary of. In answer, Song simply responded with the same suspicion, but not until Ping Ping was facing her again, so as not to implicate any singular monk. Be wary of all of them, Song wanted to say, but she was also unable to provide any feeling of justification, so she followed up with a sensation of relaxed comfort to add, But no need to worry yourself too much.

Suspicion was fine, but hostility a tad much, and Ping Ping struck the perfect balance in between. Casting one last questioning look at the monks, all of whom had quieted down to watch her in action, Ping Ping huffed and turned back to rub her chin against Sarankhos furry neck, a gesture which the sweet wildcat leaned into. Patting both sweet girls on the head to complete the circle, Song belatedly noticed the smile sneaking across her face, an incident which happened more and more often of late. It used to be that her smiles felt awkward and unnatural, but she was getting used to the feeling the same way Ping Pings adorable appearance seemed strange and abnormal at first, but was now the new normal and it was the other alligator snapping turtles who looked strange in Songs eyes. How she managed to keep all emotion out of her expression seemed like an impossible feat, because the moment she felt happiness stirring within her chest, she wanted to share it with her loved ones so that they might all be happy together. So she did, utilizing her Aura to express her feelings, a far more useful tool than words or actions, and seeing how everyone else responded to her Aura, she realized shed been doing a terrible job showing her family how much she loved them.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

There were so many things they did that made Song feel loved and appreciated, she hardly knew where to begin. Mama brushing her hair and making her breakfast every morning, Papa patting her head and checking to be sure she made it back to her room safe and sound, Sister Milas casual hugs of greeting and the way she leaned into Song for comfort and companionship, she loved all these things and more, yet it came as a complete surprise to everyone else to learn just how much she loved them. This Emotional Aura was a Heaven-sent blessing, far better than any Elemental Blessing she could have received, because while the increased Martial might would have been nice, sharing just how much she loved her family through Aura meant more than the world to her. Words just seemed so... inadequate, but after thinking it through these past few months, she concluded that while the Aura was convenient, she should also put more effort into showing her love through actions in order to reciprocate how Mama, Papa, and Sister Mila made Song feel.

Her foray into cooking ended in disaster, even though Papa ate every last bite of her terrible congee, and Sister Mila hated sitting still long enough for someone to properly brush her hair, but Song kept trying to show her love and appreciation for the both of them. As for Mama, it seemed strange to say this, but she seemed happiest when given the opportunity to do something for someone she loved, like brush and style Songs hair, pick her outfit, or offer advice regarding the Martial Path. Mama had everything worked out in her own life, and derived joy from helping others do the same, so while Song worried she might be asking too much of her, Mama always insisted she was more than happy to do anything for her precious daughter.

Having discovered the generosity of these bald, robed strangers, Ping Ping, the rabbits, and the laughing birds set off to introduce themselves to the monks of the Brotherhood, all of whom had some gift or another for the darling animals. Not everyone had Spiritual Fruits to share, but even a greeting Aura was enough to set the bunnies feet to hopping, the darling creatures jumping straight up while turning left or right as a show of happiness. A binky, Rain called it, though he had no explanation for what the strange term meant or how he came to come up with it, but it worked well enough for Songs purposes, for the bunnies were binkying about the courtyard without restraint while the Brotherhood smiled and laughed in sheer delight. Some grinned and pointed while others crooned and pet the rabbits and laughing birds, with a select few even lying down on their bellies to better greet the animals. It was a strange sight to see monks acting in such an unrestrained manner, especially with how reserved Monk Happy and the Abbot had been throughout their long visit. This didnt seem like something out of the ordinary either, for the monks shared their joy as naturally as the animals, none of them even the least bit ashamed to be seen taking delight in such simple pleasures as they discussed how soft their fur was or how adorable their ears were.

Noticing Songs muted disbelief, Monk Happy winked and said, Life is about Balance, but there is no shame in taking joy wherever they might find it. This, young Rain has right, for he cares not for the opinions of others when it comes to his love of animals. And why should he? His love is pure and given without expectation, which makes it a wonderful source of joy and merriment, and even the stress and hardship that comes with it is not without benefit. Balance is difficult to find as is, but almost impossible without support, for we humans are social creatures by nature. Rain, however, is by nature exceedingly anti-social, and to say he lacks trust is an understatement at best. In fact, were it not for his love of animals, I wager he might well have long since succumbed to the darkness, and I suspect you would agree if you only considered it for but a moment, though I wonder if you will see the pitfall that lies before him.

Monk Happy wasnt wrong, but he was also trying to say more than his words might otherwise imply, which was the impression Song got from his subtle Aura. The monk was saying Rains love and devotion to his animals was his way of dealing with his darker nature, and if so, then the depths of his love also reflected the gravity of his trials and tribulations. The monk also believed that there was a flaw to this Path, but what that flaw might be, Song could not quite say. Perhaps they were worried about what Rain might do if one of his animals were to be harmed, or if his love of animals could no longer keep his darker nature in check. Either one was possible, as Rain was currently dead to the world as he sat on the courtyard floor, emanating a burdensome Aura of guilt and shame as he quietly reflected on his actions, actions Song saw as completely reasonable.

What was he being so hard on himself for? He found Defiled, and moved to kill those Defiled. That they had children with them changed nothing, for a young Defiled child was merely a soldier in training, one who was all but sure to take up arms for the foul Father.

It was shocking how far Rain went to place blame on himself, and while everyone knew he had a tendency to do so, no one truly understood how hard he took it, not until recently when he began inadvertently sharing everything he felt through Aura. It was strange, because Song thought his love, joy, gratitude, and all his other positive emotions came through loud and clear, but his guilt, contrition, despondency and general depression felt... muted in some way, as if she were only feeling the aftereffects of those emotions, rather than those emotions themselves. Even this dampened sensation was enough to shock and dishearten her, and she imagined he knew this and reserved the worst for himself, for she suspected that if he were to weaponize his negative emotions like the Enemy had, his Aura would grossly overshadow what the Demons unleashed during the withdrawal from Sanshu.

After all, didnt he admit that he sent Ping Ping spiralling into grief and Demonization after sharing his grief with her? Such a weapon was almost too frightening to unleash, and she worried what it would do to Rains soul if he should ever wholly give into depression. She herself knew the struggle all too well, because if it were not for her Oaths, she would have long since thrown herself from a window or hung herself in despair, but she was grateful she hadnt, because then she would have died never knowing what love and joy truly felt like.

Like the warm embrace of the Mother above, but even better, because for all Her power, She lacked the arms to hold Song like Mama could.

Monk Happy was still watching Song with expectant eyes, wondering if she understood his meaning, but she didnt know what he wanted from her. It was very possible that Rain was losing to his darker nature, not anger and hatred but despair and depression, yet what was Song supposed to do? Lin-Lin was better equipped to deal with this, always able to cheer him up with a smile and a hug, but even the bright and lively half-hare seemed affected by his mood, quietly resting in his arms with a distant look in her eyes, contemplating something or another inside her enigmatic mind. Perhaps Rain even sensed himself losing the fight, as these last few days, he did seem intent on befriending the groundhogs living under Healer Taduks garden, a last ditch effort to cheer himself up with new furry friends, perhaps.

The problem was, no one knew how to cheer him up, not Lin-Lin, Luo-Luo, Niece Alsantset, or even Sisters Mila, Yan, and Sarnai. Every day, he invariably sank down into the depths of depression, and there was nothing anyone could do to raise him out of it. Returning his sword worked for the span of a few hours, and so did playing with Blackjack for a little bit, but then he always went back to brooding in silence. Lin-Lins repeated attempts to rouse him only worked occasionally, much to the poor girls frustration, but if his family, friends, and floofs could not rouse his spirits, what did Monk Happy expect Song to do?

Since she couldnt come up with an answer, she simply asked, and Monk Happys smile softened as he shook his head. Alas, this monk does not know him well enough to answer this, though he does have a question for Sentinel Song. You see, this monk is a student of human nature, one who spent the last few days studying young Rain and his family. All of you are aware of the severity of the situation, can sense the conflict going on inside him, and even the bright and optimistic Lady Mei Lin fears for the worst. Gesturing at Song, Monk Happy cocked his head in question and added, But not you. These last few days, you have paid no special attention to him, while others fret and fuss over his every move. You worry not for his fate, yet you care about him, enough to direct the animals away from your bed and over to his side. This you have done every night since this monk arrived, yet nothing more, and while others might think you cold and aloof, this monk sees faith and conviction guiding your actions. You are not worried because you do not see any point in worrying. Seeing the truth of his words in Songs lack of expression, Monk Happy nodded and asked, Why?

Struggling to come up with an appropriate answer, Song merely shrugged and said, Because he is Rain. Everyone worries he will succumb to the Father, but when has he ever been so obedient? He will argue the sky is green or the sun rises in the west just to be contrary if the mood strikes him so. This trial is a difficult one, but he will overcome it, and if he cannot, then he will ask for help, even if he has to swallow his pride to do so. Giving the monk a knowing look, Song implied that was why Rain was here, because he knew he needed help that his family could not give him, and thus far, the Brotherhood had all but ignored him. When were they going to bring him to the Abbot? Or at the very least, ask about Rains condition and discuss how to best aid him?

Catching on to her meaning, Monk Happy very deliberately stifled a sigh and kept his eyes on Song, doing his best not to glance around and give away the culprits. Not all of the Brotherhood are so keen on aiding young Rain, he Sent, his smile faltering for all of an instant before returning in full force. They worry he is too bloodthirsty and will forever be unwilling to walk the Noble Eight-fold Path, and his earlier actions lend much weight to their arguments. You see, our first belief is to do no harm, and this monks brothers fear that by aiding young Rain, they will be bringing harm to others, the same as if they were to forge a weapon. The same can be said of our inaction, but this monk fears his words hold... less weight in the eyes of his brothers, for he has stood firmly on young Rains side since the beginning.

And just like that, Song understood what Monk Happy wanted her to do, even if he wasnt entirely sure he wanted it. You worry Rain will not accept your ideals, she said, loudly for all to hear, And for this, you will deny him your assistance and watch as he succumbs to darkness and despair? What if by your inaction, he were to surrender to the Fathers lies and turn against the Mothers light? Would you not still be responsible for the harm he would then cause? Judge him by his actions if you will, but if you mean to judge him by what he may or may not do, then you should do the same for the Defiled living outside your walls.

Monk Happy was not the only one surprised by her outburst, but it was far more pronounced in the other monks. Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo, one intoned, bowing his head in contrition. This one was blind, but now he sees. Our worries still hold merit, but the same can be said of anyone we assist. Would we deny a shepherd aid for fear of what he might do to his flock?

From the mouths of babes. Though this second monk only looked five to ten years older than Song herself, his youthful features bore the weight of years far beyond what they might suggest, a solemnity that spoke of years of hardship. Out of selfish concern for our own future, we have all failed to abide by the Right Effort. Regardless of the Abbots intentions or this young mans future actions, he comes here in grave need and we cannot in good conscience leave him to suffer, else to do so would be to condone his suffering.

Of course, of course, another monk said, slapping his own cheek none too lightly. To think, this one let his own pride almost keep him from helping a soul in dire need. To save a life is better than building a seven story pagoda, and as fine as the monastery might look surrounded by dozens of such structures, its beauty would be sapped away by the reminder of our own failings.

Come Brother, a third monk said to Happy, one much older than the rest, yet still taking a seat on the hard stone ground like an eager young student. Tell us what ails him so that we might discuss how to best proceed from here.

Flashing her a grateful look, Monk Happy started telling his Brothers all about Rain, starting with his life in captivity and how he was found by the People. Song would have thought the Brotherhood already knew this much, but from the looks of things, they knew nothing about Rain or his accomplishments and had trouble believing Monk Happys claims. Song was asked to chime in several times to corroborate the story or clarify a situation, but she was more than happy to do so. After all, Rain usually knew exactly what to do in order to overcome his trials and tribulations, for there was no man more blessed by the Heavens or beloved by the Mother Above.

In fact, Song was beginning to suspect that if the groundhog had been more amenable to friendship, then they might not even have needed to come all this way to ask the Brotherhood for help. A shame really, for that groundhog was an adorable creature, but stubborn and unwilling to stay above ground for long. No matter though, Rain was already feeding it at regular intervals, so it was only a matter of time before it came around and learned just how wonderful a backscratch could be.

Patting Sarankho to wake her from her nap, Song picked up Guai-Guai and brought them both to sit with Rain, Lin-Lin, and the silly bears who were still shaken from the harrowing journey here. Dont worry, she said, unsure how to show support and opting for a pat on Rains head. The monks are discussing how to best help you, so I am sure it wont be long now. Rain didnt stir, nor did his Aura change, but Song hadnt expected her words to enact any meaningful change.

Instead, she radiated an Aura of her own, one of careful optimism and determined perseverance to remind him of something she learned late: even on the darkest of nights, the dawn would never be too far off. One only needed to survive and persevere, two things Falling Rain did best.

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