Chapter 699

Chapter 699

Standing firm before a deluge of anger, animosity, and general indignation, it occurs to me I probably shouldve expected the Brotherhood monks to have access to Emotional Aura and prepared accordingly.

I still dont understand why there are different variants of Aura running around, or why the general population of the outer provinces are only aware of the standard vanilla Aura, but this is just more proof of the Imperial Clan doing everything they can to keep the outer provinces ignorant and weak. Combined with my recent revelation regarding the true reason why we cremate our dead, as well as the knowledge that forbidden human jerky can help one ascend to Divinity, and Im starting to wonder if Im fighting for the wrong side. Not to say I have an urge to consume the flesh of my enemies and wear clothes and jewellery fashioned from their remains, but knowing Ive allied myself with the lesser of two evils is not a great feeling. We all want to be the hero of our own stories, but when you take a step back and realize youve been fighting for the wrong reasons, well that just opens up a whole host of unsavoury comparisons.

Which of course sets off a deluge of conflicted emotions, ones I have no choice but to share with the gathered monks of the Brotherhood. A good thing theyre all riled up though, because Im gonna need them to be emotionally charged for what I have in mind.

The Noble Eight-Fold Path is simple in concept, but complex in execution. Scanning the crowd without seeing any one individual in particular, I bring to mind a conflict that might well have defined who I am today. To better explain my thoughts and perspective, allow me to first share with you a tale. As some of you may know, I took part in a conflict in Sanshu involving a Defiled army hiding in plain sight as bandits and rebels, but the story is not so simple as it appears. What you may not know is that the Defiled bandit leader, Yo Ling, was a former Major of the Imperial Army who turned to crime when he received word his parents had been cast out of Sanshu and into the wilds, where they died of exposure before word of their plight could reach him.

There are no gasps or mutters to greet my reveal, and I suspect some of the monks already knew this, but there are enough looks of confusion and interest to bolster my confidence and continue. In Yo Lings eyes, his actions were justified, taking up arms against a corrupt regime who drove his parents to death. Banditry was just a means to an end, and what harm was there in stealing from those who profited from exploiting the helpless? His brother, Liu Gan, admitted that their initial plan was to gather wealth and power to oppose the Empire and carve out a piece of paradise, one where the common people could live without fear of their noble oppressors, and yet you all know how it ended. So I asked myself, Where did it all go wrong? How did Yo Lings noble cause devolve into an unrepentant desire to cause chaos and bloodshed no matter the cost?. Scanning the crowd for my loved ones, I see Taduk standing with Lin-Lin and Li-Li at the back of the crowd, here to support me in my endeavours once more, and my heart warms at the sight of their smiling faces, especially Li-Lis rare, contented expression. Willing myself not to get distracted, I continue, One of the last things Yo Ling said was that he would rather see the whole world burn than let things stay the same, and it scared me how much I sympathized with this sentiment. If my loved ones were harmed due to Imperial meddling, I can easily see myself following in those same footsteps, taking up arms against the Imperial Clan in order to defend or avenge my family and friends.

Seeing Taduks sorrowful smile almost breaks my heart, for I see in it more grief and heartache than I can ever imagine. No doubt he too has suffered from the attentions of the Imperial Clan, perhaps hunted like Guan Suo had been on account of his heritage, and I can only pray that his peaceful days have not come to an end because of me. Then again, thinking back to the night Mahakala passed away, I suspect Taduks status was something of an open secret, seeing how the other Divinities allowed him a seat at their table alongside a cup of tea possibly poured by Shen ZhenWu himself. Actually, now that I think about it, there were a lot more clues sprinkled about, like how he meditates while asleep and never learned the Forms, yet is somehow a Medical Saint who can Cloud-Step with the best of them. Then theres the fact that even Divinities seek him out for Healing, and a whole host of other nuggets and tidbits Id just plain missed. Hang on Is Fungs half-weasel manservant, Fu Zhu Li, also a Divinity? He showed up when Guan Suo, Gang Shu, and the Abbot came back from their battle against the Enemy Divinities, and while he was unable to save poor Guan Suo in the end, it still speaks volumes to his skill that he was able to even try.

Stop getting side-tracked Rain. Focus on the here and now. Turning my attention back to the crowd, I continue, Yo Lings story is not unique, for there was also Mao Jianghong, the traitor Guard Captain of Sanshu opened the gates to the Defiled army and now serves as the Enemys Marshal. That last bit is news to everyone present, as I only learned it after becoming Legate and was told to keep it to myself, but my Imperial Dao Protector hasnt been around for months now, so fuck him and his instructions. An in-depth investigation after the fact uncovered that Mao Jianghong lost his entire family to a bandit attack, one orchestrated by the Merchant Council of Sanshu. You see, the Mao Family was earning too much money without paying their proper dues, so the Merchant Council took it upon themselves to eliminate the competition. Jianghongs life was saved by a nearby mercenary unit, who were only in the area because they were following the trail of a different group of bandits and therefore had not been expected. His sister was saved too, but she took her own life a few days later, after which Jianghong sold his familys holdings and joined the Guard. No doubt to ensure others would not have to suffer the traumatic events he himself went through, but his new station only opened his eyes to the rampant corruption throughout the city, which we assume led him to throw in with Yo Ling and Butcher Bay. What would I have done in his place? Something similar no doubt, and that scares me more than anything else.

Again, there is no reaction from the crowd, but at least I still have their attention. Now let us go back even further, to a more personal conflict of mine. At the age of sixteen, I was invited to take part in the Heaven and Earth Societys Contest of Champions, an event for youths of the Northern Province to show their mettle and be rewarded for their efforts. On the surface at least. In truth, its mostly a means for the Society to showcase their own young talents and brag about their future potential, so when my friends and I eliminated several parties of Society competitors, we were then set up for failure. After rewarding us with valuable elixirs and Runic rings, the Society arranged to have my party killed and robbed by bandits on our way home in order to reclaim their gifts without losing face. During the escape, I fought and killed a man, and in doing so, earned the ire of his uncle, one Ming Zhong Lang. Never mind that several people in my party almost died several times during our escape, myself included, or the fact that the Society were the aggressors and therefore reaping what theyd sown. Ming Zhong Lang cared nothing for the facts and led a group of mercenary warriors to assault my homeland. Without going into too much detail, I stifle a sigh and say, I killed him and found his journal. In it, I discovered how much he cared for his deceased nephew and realized the lengths he would go to for love of family. Again I wondered what I would do in his place and could not fault him for his decisions.

Having said this much, I finally take a deep breath and turn towards the guardian monks, specifically the oldest looking one who is clearly their leader. Not one hour past, I spoke with this monk here, and he said something that made me think. Sin begets sin, which I suppose is where most of you believe the people above went wrong. You of the Brotherhood would argue that Yo Ling, Liu Gan, Mao Jianghong, myself, and countless others succumb to sin because we seek to right the wrongs of the world through bloodshed and violence, and sin only begets sin. Am I wrong to say this?

Not wrong at all, Monk Bones declares, and the crowd chimes in with a chorus of agreement. The first step along the Noble Eight-Fold Path is to accept the Right View, that our actions and beliefs have consequences after death. For this reason, we adhere to the Right Resolve, which is to renounce worldly desires and dedicate ourselves to an ascetic lifestyle, one in which we do no harm, whether it be through speech or action. Thus do we hold true to Right Speech and Right Action, by accepting the Right Livelihood and Right Effort. Each step along the Noble Eight-Fold Path brings you to the next, and such is our Path defined.

An admirable undertaking. Trying to sound as sincere as can be, I bow my head out of respect for their praiseworthy intentions, even though I wholeheartedly disagree with the direction theyve taken. And yet, herein lies the difference in our opinions, for I feel the Brotherhood has lost sight of their goal starting from the first step, overlooking the consequences of your actions in favour of your own selfish pursuits. Pausing for a moment to let the angry muttering grow and die out, I meet the gaze of each and every monk who seeks to challenge me, and I do not back down. Credit where credit is due, the monks do not collectively toss me out on my ass and instead wait for me to explain myself, which is more tolerance than I would find anywhere else in the Empire.

Which is half the reason why Im doing this, because Im pretty sure they wont flatten me like a pancake, not before hearing me out first. Then they might flatten me, but the other half is because I have two Ancestral Beasts in my corner and an Emperor Turtle to boot, so my haters can get rekt. You forsake the Three Desires and accept the Four Noble Truths, the last of which states that the Noble Eight-Fold Path is the route to salvation. For the sake of this discussion, let us say this is all correct, and that I wholeheartedly agree with the above statements. Despite knowing this will ruffle their feathers, I cant bring myself to accept the Four Noble Truths, and not just because I enjoy sex, fame, and alcohol more than I should. Theres just an underlying difference in perspective that I cannot get around, but that is a discussion best left until later. Even if I agree that the way forward is to seek Nirvana, what is the purpose of doing so? To ascend to the next world and what? If life is suffering, what difference will it make, whether we exist in this plane or the next?

Nirvana is not the goal, Brother Rain, Monk Bones replies, looking serious as Ive ever seen him, But rather the reward. An ultimate state of release, freedom from the cycle of life and rebirth. Life is suffering, but only because it is impermanent, a fleeting and ephemeral existence to experience before wiping the slate clean to begin anew. Suffering without purpose, one might even say, for mere survival is but a temporary respite in a lifetime of trials and tribulations.

Well that just makes things even worse. And what will you do if the next plane is no different from this one? Life by definition is a struggle for survival, this remains as true for a Divinity as it does for a lowly ant, all of us just eking out a means to survive upon this world we reside in, so who is to say things are any different elsewhere?

In this matter, there is no recourse for reconciliation, Monk Bones replies, and even Monk Happy, who supposedly supports me, nods his head in agreement. Such is our belief, that Nirvana is the freedom we so desire, for only a True Divinity can have the power to break free of the shackles of mortality. If this is not so, and at the end of my Path, I find Nirvana is unattainable or even non-existent, then at least I will have lived the best life possible, one as free from harm and sin as humanly possible.

Fair enough. Mahakala made the exact same argument, so I suspected I would arrive at this particular impasse and move on instead of trying to convince them that their faith is wrong, because there is no arguing against faith. Honestly, I dont even think theyre all that wrong, because they do live lives free of harm and sin, or at least they endeavour to. Instead, I try a different tack and go back to discussing their methods instead. Then let us put aside our disagreement regarding your goals and focus on the Brotherhoods methods once more. You seek Nirvana by following the Noble Eight-Fold Path, part of which states that you must live in a manner that causes no harm. For this reason and others, the Abbot brought the Brotherhood into the Arid Wastes and built your monasteries away from any and all civilization, far from the temptations of the mortal world. You even castrate yourselves to do away with distraction, but I cannot accept this as proper. Do you believe that the absence of temptation is the same as wilful denial?

Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo. Pressing his palms together in prayer, Monk Bones lowers his head to ponder the question before coming up with a response. Perhaps you are correct in this, Brother Rain, he eventually replies, much to the chagrin of his fellow monks, but there are a few heads that nod along in agreement. One cannot truly deny temptation when there is no temptation to be denied, but our exile from the mortal world was not entirely self-imposed.

Surprised by the Sending, he just barely manages to keep from jumping out of his skin and steps forward before regaining his calm. Er hi all, he begins, awkward as hell and visibly nervous to anyone with eyes as he straightens up to speak. Im err... Jorani. Dunno why I introduce meself, as ye all know me. Least I think ye do, as Ive met ye all at least once or twice, but just in case, err.. Im Jorani. Resisting the urge to palm my face, I commit every iota of self-control I possess towards keeping a straight face and unamused Aura, but only succeed by the barest of margins. Anyways, Jorani continues, wholly aware of the hidden smiles and stifled laughter by the shade of his scarlet cheeks, Ye probably also know Im one of the bossman err Falling Rains err... the Legates... well, soldiers I guess. Friend too. Comrade in arms? Were close, is what Im sayin. I met him in Sanshu when he captured me and put an end to me bandit ways, and I been with him ever since, so I figure I know him better than most. Clearing his throat, he glances down at his feet in the least convincing manner possible and says, So err... well, bein honest, I know the bossman was mostly talkin out his ass and got a lot of what the Brotherhood does wrong, but he was right about one thing; fer all the talk about saving lives bein better than buildin pagodas, the Brotherhood dont do much of either.

...I shouldve picked someone else to speak. Anyone else. Even Taddy wouldve done a better job. Ral wouldve been more convincing, and Ive known Pong Pong to be more eloquent. God damn it Jorani...

Still unwilling to meet my eyes, Jorani turns to face the crowd, though from where he stands in the middle left, theres no way he can face everyone at once. Now this aint a criticism, not really, he continues, smoothing his robes to hide his nervous tics. I mean, aint no one obligated to do charity, ye know? Gotta look after you and yers first, amirite? Cept... that aint how the bossman sees things. There aint no one more charitable than he is. Couldve saved himself a lot of grief and heartache if he learned to ignore pain when he sees it, but even though hes the toughest son of a err, toughest man I know, hes a softie when it comes to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Its like hes compelled to help wherever possible, and thats because in his mind, he is. Hes strong, so hes obligated to look after those weaker than him. Hes rich, so hes obligated to help those less fortunate. Hes educated, so hes obligated to teach as much as possible, thats just the way he sees things. Dont know why he is the way he is. Maybe its on account of his time as a slave, or mebbe its cause hes the Medical Saints student, but whatever the reason, he sees it as his duty to help people, and Ill be damned if thats not why Id follow him into the Fathers Maw and back out again without thinking twice, and so would any soldier in his retinue. Finally daring to meet my gaze, Jorani looks up to me with a sheepish smile. Hes a good man, he is, and thems a rare breed, especially for someone in his position. He looks out fer the little guy, you know? Even the ones who might not necessarily be on his side, so when he says the Brotherhood aint doin enough good, keep in mind hes gauging by his high standards, and there probably aint anyone who measures up.

After a long and almost uncomfortable silence, Monk Dumbo is first to speak once again, reiterating the same question he asked before. Then... what would you have us do? Before, he asked in challenge, to mock and denigrate my lifes choices, but now, he genuinely wants an answer.

Sadly, I dont have one, not one I can give without regret. Truth be told, I dont know. I envy your lives here and regret having brought violence and bloodshed to your doorstep. I wish we lived in a world where you were free to peacefully pursue your Dao, but calamity has come to humanitys doorstep and we cannot afford to ignore it. The Abbot knows this and tried to rally you all to your cause, and while I remain ignorant of the details, would I be correct to assume you rejected his call to arms and have decided to remain neutral in this ongoing conflict? The monks exchange looks, but in the end, Monk Happy is the one to respond, offering a single nod to confirm my suspicions. Do any of you know what he had planned? Again, more looks exchanged before Monk Happy shakes his head, which is pretty much what I assumed. The Abbot seems like a fairly hands off leader, a guy used to just doing his own thing while the Brotherhood runs itself. Not the best leadership model, but its worked thus far, and if he were more determined to see his vision through instead of letting others choose their own Path, he probably couldve rallied the Brotherhood behind him without any real effort.

Gesturing towards the comatose Abbot once more, looking so frail and weak upon his cot, with his brows drawn and jaw clenched even in sleep. Theres a good chance Im responsible for his current frustrations, given how Ive been bashing the Brotherhood for a good while now, but to be fair, they kinda deserve it. Also, I needed to make the monks feel lost and doubtful, so theyll subconsciously rely on the Abbot again. Well, this is the result of your neutrality. Your Abbot stood up against the Bristleboar Divinity, the same man who slew his Senior Martial Brother, and the traitor Wisdom moved to keep him in check. Some of you might disagree with his actions, believe he allowed his emotions to cloud his judgment, and you might even be right, but that does not mean he is no longer fit to be your Abbot.

When did we claim he wasnt? A squinty eyed monk is first to voice his displeasure, but Mole, Dumbo, Bones, and several others join in soon after. Caught off-guard by their vehement denial, I glance at the Abbot and stifle a sigh, only now realizing how internalized the Abbots struggle has been all this time. With his twin status as Abbot and Divinity, this was probably enough to isolate him from his fellow monks who hold him in too-high esteem, meaning he only had Mahakala and Vyakhya to talk to. The former was angry with him while the latter betrayed his trust, so I guess the Abbot was just starved for companionship even though he had several monasteries filled with brothers to talk to, all alone in a crowd of strangers who were supposed to be his family. Thats heartbreaking in so many ways, and I feel the urge to run over and give Taduk a hug, because I bet thats how he felt before hiding his identity. Oh gods, Pong Pong too, with no Divine Turtle friends to hang out with, running all over the Azure Sea in search of a place to call home.

Immortality is not for me. Id much rather live a mortals life and die long before my loved ones, so I never have to mourn a single one. Thats the dream, one that supersedes even bear hands, a normal, boring, happy life, filled with love and joy aplenty.

Upon hearing the chorus of support for their comatose leader, I put aside all stray thoughts and encourage the monks to speak up, to make their trust and devotion known, because this is exactly what the Abbot needs. He claimed he had no people to love or care about, and so he had nothing left to live for, but thats clearly not true. Condensing my Aura to match the monks energy, I use it to entice Kukku and Tai Shan over as well, who promptly nuzzle the Abbot close in a darling display of affection. Rakky utters a little growl until Pong Pong does something to make him stop, but even then, the diffident tiger remains rooted in place while feigning indifference, though I notice he keeps the Abbot in sight at all times.

Monk Happy is the first to catch on to what Im trying to do, and he unleashes an Aura of faith and devotion directed towards the Abbot. Several other monks join their Aura to his, while those incapable of doing so take up their drums and chant. Only now do I realize the Sutras are some sort of verbal focus for their emotions, an audible Rune if you will, though the comparison is not exact. Turning my attention to the Abbot, I Send, These people love and respect you, but more importantly, they need you to guide them. Even if they do not accept your word as law, it does not mean youve failed them. In fact, I would say it means youve succeeded, because your goal was never to gather followers to your cause, but like-minded comrades to join you on your Path.

This is what I learned from helping Li-Li repair her Core, that trust and goodwill can go a long way towards Healing. Why is that? Something Grandpa Du said once comes to mind, that Aura is a metaphysical expression of courage or intimidation, whereas a Domain is in many ways an extension of Aura, in that it is a metaphysical expression of authority bestowed by the Heavens'. So what is an internal Domain, the barrier that keeps Chi from affecting another person directly? I likened it to an immune system for the metaphysical body, the parts we dont know about that allow us to use and control Chi, but it might also be that within our bodies lies our own personal demesne, a space separate from the Heavens within which we hold full autonomous authority. We are the lords of our own domains essentially, and while this line of thought leaves many questions left to be asked and answered, theyre not all that important right now. The important thing is that Taduk said that in order to bypass this natural defense, the easiest way is to convince the patient that you hold no ill-will, which is easier said than done, because this requires an implicit trust that goes above and beyond what most people are capable of. Now, while I myself might not hold the Abbots trust, surely so many monks expressing their devotion and heartfelt admiration should be enough to win him over, right? I dont know how to Heal without attempting to seize control, a flaw I am unable to correct in any short amount of time, but now Im asking him to trust me for their sake, a plea delivered through Aura and quite possibly Domain. Just like there are emotional variations of Aura, why cant there be different degrees of Domain, sort of like temporary permission to take control within a limited degree of authority.

In short, Im backpacking on the packets of trust and goodwill being sent by the Brotherhood and asking the Abbot to trust me enough to give me limited remote access to his Domain, where I can maybe do a bit of troubleshooting and help him fix whats wrong.

Its a long shot, but like Taduk said, a drowning man will grasp at anything in order to survive. Muttering a small prayer in hopes that this is enough, I take the Abbots hand and close my eyes before opening myself to the Heavens. Drawing the power of Creation and Destruction towards me, I close off my Core and divert the Heavenly Energy towards the Abbot, using not just my own Aura and the remaining usable Heavenly Energy left to me, but also the Auras of all the gathered monks, as well as their directed, soothing chants which fill me with daring confidence. For a second, the Energy of the Heavens wavers in place, and I fear it will soon escape my control and return to the world without ever affecting the Abbot, but then his Core opens to receive my aid, and the torrential surge sweeps me off of my feet.

Seconds, minutes, hours, or even days, how much time passes, I cannot say as I ride the fine line between struggle and surrender to bend the Energy of the Heavens to my Will. Though the details escape me, I know things are going well as the Abbots body greedily consumes everything I have to throw at it. His physical and metaphysical wounds far more extensive than I even imagined, but where there is a will, there is a way, and I am nothing if not stubborn. Without warning, the storm breaks and the deluge stalls, a sudden release that catches me off guard as the tension just flows out of my body. Landing in a soft embrace of warmth and serenity, I slip into the dark oblivion of restful slumber, knowing Ive finally done something right. The Abbot should be back on his feet in no time, and if not, I can just pop over to the nearest battlefield and Succ some Spectres to refuel before coming back to finish. No fuss, no muss, and with all my ducks finally in a row, I can rest easy knowing there are no immediate fires which need putting out.

Now all thats left to do is go back to the Citadel, snuggle some quin pups, reclaim my place as Legate, and work with Shuai Jiao on a plan to drive the Defiled out of Central before embarking on our crusade to retake the Western Province.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Chapter Meme