Chapter 68: To Ascend is Human; to Fall is Also Human (Part 3)
Hong Hong-Er whipped around, stuffed his face in Xie Lian's chest and wailed.
This wailing contained no words, utterly meaningless, and nothing like the sound of sobbing but nevertheless hair-raising dreadful. Without looking at who it was, it would sound like the desperate cries of a full grown man breaking down, or the struggling of a small beast with its throat cut open by a knife, as if only by immediate death could he be relieved. Anyone can make such a sound, it just shouldn't be coming from a child of ten years. Everyone was shaken.
A moment later, Guoshi said, "I mean it. It's best to let go."
Feng Xin finally came to and yelled, "Your Highness! Let go! Be careful of..." But in the end he didn't have the heart to continue.
"It's fine." Xie Lian said.
That Zhu-ShiXiong however, was quite concerned for His Highness' welfare, and saw that Hong Hong-Er was smearing blood and snot all over Xie Lian's white robes so he ran over to pull at that young child, berating, "Little kid, you can't!"
Yet the harder he pulled, the harder that young child held on to Xie Lian, refusing to let go no matter what, using both his hands and feet to grip on, screaming "AAHHH". Three to four more people came forward to try and rip him off but instead that made him hang on to Xie Lian like a little monkey. Xie Lian found it both funny and pitiful, and held Hong Hong-Er with one hand, gently rubbing up and down that emaciated small back in comfort, while raising the other hand, "Nevermind. Don't worry, let him be."
Some moments later, after feeling that the child in his arms stopped struggling and quieted down, Xie Lian asked the people close by in a low whisper, "Was anyone else hurt in the Xian Le Pavilion fire?"
"No." Mu Qing replied, "There were only us inside at the time."
As the Xian Le Pavilion was burnt to a crisp, Xie Lian could no longer stay. After making sure that it was only the building that was burnt and not any of the people, those who came to help put out the fires started to help clean up the vicinity, feeling rather distraught at all the charred precious gems and treasures. Xie Lian wasn't concerned, however.
The things he used daily were a little more intricate, but other than that Xie Lian didn't really have anything of importance stored inside the Xian Le Pavilion. The most precious items were his collection of over two hundred treasured swords, but they were made of durable metals unafraid of fires, since they were all forged in flames anyway, so they were all unharmed. After having dug them out himself, Xie Lian stored them temporarily at the Si Xiang Pavilion that belonged to the Guoshis (State Preceptor).
As for Hong Hong-Er, he was still firmly holding on to Xie Lian, and after having cried himself to exhaustion, fell asleep. Xie Lian had wanted to bring him down Mount Taicang to find a safe place to settle him, but the Guoshi asked him to make a visit to the Si Xiang Pavilion first, so Xie Lian carried the child over too.
Tucking that young child in the divan, righting the covers, Xie Lian dropped the bedside curtain and backed out of the room with Feng Xin and Mu Qing in tow. "Guoshi, is that child's fate really that terrifying?"
The Guoshi pursed his lips, "Why don't you think for yourself, after he's appeared, what's all happened?"
The three were quiet. The moment that young child appeared he'd fallen off the city wall before the eyes of millions, forcing the Shang Yuan Heavenly Ceremonial Procession to cut short after having only made three rounds. When he appeared again, Qi Rong was dragging him through the streets in that horse carriage in rage, causing a riot, made Feng Xin break an arm, and Xie Lian butted heads with the king, making the queen roll tears. This time, all the resentful spirits of Mount Taicang broke out of their seals within the black pagodas and even burnt down the Xian Le Pavilion. Misfortune was indeed following after him like a shadow.
"Is there any way to break this?" Xie Lian asked.
"Break this?" The Guoshi said, "What do you mean? Change his fate?"
Xie Lian nodded. The Guoshi said, "Your Highness, you haven't learned the art of fortune telling from me, so when it comes to matters like these, you really don't understand anything. If you did, you wouldn't have asked."
Xie Lian was taken aback and sat himself up straight. "Please enlighten me."
The Guoshi thus took the teapot on the table and poured a cup, "Your Highness, do you still remember that day when you just turned six, when his majesty and the queen bade me to enter the palace to tell your fortune, that one question I asked you?"
Watching that steaming cup of tea, Xie Lian pondered, "Did you mean, the two people and the cup of water?"
That year, the Guoshi had asked Xie Lian many questions in order to help tell his fortune. There were questions with answers, and ones without, and with every answer Xie Lian gave the Guoshi would change ways to praise the boy, making the king and queen smile with pleasure, and many exchanges from that conversation were later passed around as delightful stories. But there was one question to which when Xie Lian answered, the Guoshi made no commentary.Very few knew of the details, not even Feng Xin, nevermind Mu Qing. That question was "Two People and a Cup of Water".
The Guoshi spoke, "Two walked the desert, about to die from thirst, and there was only one cup of water. The one who drinks lives, the one who doesn't, dies. If you were a god, who would you give that cup of water to? – Don't speak yet, I'll ask the other two and see how they answer."
The last part of his words were directed to the two standing not too far behind. Mu Qing contemplated and responded cautiously, "May I ask who those two people are, what their natures are like, and what of their merits? A decision can only be made once all the details are known."
Feng Xin on the other hand, answered, "I don't know! Don't ask me, tell them to decide amongst themselves!"
Xie Lian "pff"-ed and laughed. Guoshi admonished, "What are you laughing about? Do you remember how you answered?"
Xie Lian schooled his expression and said solemnly, "Give another cup."
Hearing this, between Feng Xin and Mu Qing, one twisted his expression, the other lowered his head, as if they couldn't bear to listen. Xie Lian turned his head back and said in all seriousness, "Why are you guys laughing? I'm serious. If I was god, I would definitely give another cup."
The Guoshi gently shook that cup of tea in his hand, and the tea swirled in the cup, as if alive. He continued, "All the fortunes in the world, good or bad, are limited. Just like this cup of water, there's only so much. Once you've drunken your fill, there'd be no more left for others. If one receives more, the other must receive less. Throughout the ages, all conflicts are borne from the fact that there are many in this world, but only one cup of water, and no matter who it's given to there'd be a good reason. You want to change fate? It's difficult but not impossible. But if you change that child's life, someone else's life will also be changed, and more grudges shall be created. Once upon a time you said to just give another cup of water, just like today how you wanted to choose a third path. Your intention is to expand the source; a beautiful thought. But, I will tell you, it's impossible."
Xie Lian listened silently but disagreed wholeheartedly, still he didn't rebut. "Thank you, Guoshi, for your wisdom."
The Guoshi drank that tea, smacked his lips and said, "Don't trouble yourself. Wisdom or not you don't listen anyway."
"..." Having been seen through, Xie Lian softly cleared his throat. "Guoshi, earlier today before the Great Martial Hall, in a moment of passion, this disciple has offended you. Please forgive me for my affront."
The Guoshi shook out his sleeves and smiled, "You're my proud disciple, and the Crown Prince, how can I not forgive you? Your Highness, I can tell you that you are the most beloved by the heavens I've ever seen."
Xie Lian didn't understand, so he listened closely. The Guoshi continued, "You have the talent, the ambition, the heart, and you're not afraid of hard work. You have a prestigious background yet a compassionate nature. No one is more suited for the title "Darling of the Heavens". Still, I am worried about you. I'm afraid there will be a trial you won't be able to pass."
"And that is?" Xie Lian asked.
"Although you've already achieved such a high level, there are some things you are still far from understanding, and others can't teach you. Just like how today at the Great Martial Hall, that speech you made, that bit about not worshipping god or something, although very few were able to think that far, that you were able to reach such thoughts at such a young age is already impressive. However, do not think yourself the only one who have had such thoughts in the world."
Xie Lian's eyes widened slightly. The Guoshi continued, "The things you spoke of today were already spoken by others decades, maybe centuries ago, but their words never took form; their voices were too small, so not many heard. Have you ever wondered why that is?"
Xie Lian hummed and replied, "Because even if they thought of it, they never acted on it, and weren't determined enough."
"And you? What makes you think you're determined enough?" The Guoshi asked.
"Guoshi, do you think I can ascend?" Xie Lian asked.
The Guoshi gave him a look and said, "If you can't ascend then no one can. It's only a matter of time."
Xie Lian smiled, "Then, just you watch." He pointed to the sky, "If one day I ascend, I will for sure do all that I said today, and become a power to behold!"
Feng Xin and Mu Qing, who were standing behind him, having heard his declaration, both unconsciously held their heads higher. Feng Xin's lips curved upward, and the light shining in Mu Qing's eyes were exactly the same as Xie Lian's. The Guoshi nodded, "Very well, I shall wait and see – however, I don't think it's a good thing for you to ascend too early. Let me ask you, what is The Path?"
Xie Lian inclined his head, "As you have said, that which is walked is The Path."
"That's correct." The Guoshi said, "But, you haven't walked enough. So, I think it's time for you to take a walk down the mountain."
Xie Lian face lit up. The Guoshi continued, "You're seventeen this year. I will permit you to descend Mount Taicang, and gain some experience through travels on the outside."
"That's excellent!" Xie Lian exclaimed.
Every day spent at the royal capital, just thinking about the king, Qi Rong, and many others, Xie Lian couldn't help but feel crabby. Plus, having such a glamorous Xian Le PavilIon be torched, he wouldn't be able to avoid another bout with his parents. If he could go further away, he could focus on walking his own path.
Just then, the Guoshi added, "Your Highness, throughout the ages there's been a saying that's passed down like it's the ultimate truth, but it's actually wrong, only no one had ever noticed."
"What saying?"
"When humans ascend, they become gods; when humans fall, they become ghosts."
Xie Lian gave it a thought, "Is there something wrong with that?"
The Guoshi replied, "Of course it's wrong. Remember: When humans ascend, they are still human; when they fall, they are still, human."
Xie Lian chewed on those words and the Guoshi patted him on the shoulder and glanced behind, "In any case, as for that child... Don't let it worry you too much. Everyone has their fate. Many times there won't be a way to help just because you want to help. If anything happens, we'll deal with it then. Go out and experience the world. I pray that when you return you will have matured."
However, that very night, outside everyone's expectations, that child escaped from the Huang Ji Pavilion and disappeared.
And what was even more outside of everyone's expectations, after his travels, at the age of seventeen, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Xian Le, Xie Lian soundly defeated a nameless ghost at the Yi Nian Bridge, and just like that, he ascended to the heavens amidst the roars of thunder and lightning.
It was the shock of the three realms.
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●Suika Notes on Ascension: The idea of Ascension is a Taoist one.
The basic gist of it is: All gods and immortals are mortals and other beings who cultivated deeply and attained enlightenment. Their bodies are shed the troubles of a mortal body, and is removed from the corporeal world. 'Heaven' is only an imperial court for the enlightened ones, and other than the administrative ones like the Jade Emperor, etc, many watched and protected over an aspect of the celestial and mortal realm (eg. love, marriage, a piece of land, etc.). There are also carefree immortals who'd just wander the world and help mortals as they go, or hermit deep in the mountains.
However, there is a formless will (Dao) of the universe that guides the world's destinies. Thus, things like fate and such are beyond a god's ability. It's the will of the universe that deems when a mortal is fit for ascension, and will send forth a 'heavenly calamity', usually a blast of thunder and lightning, to test the mortal. If the mortal passes, they ascend to become a god.
There are three different levels of godhood:
- the lowest level is godhood after death
- the mid level is godhood after living on earth for an insane number of years
- the top level is ascension in broad daylight, before the eyes of all.
For the top tier, the will of the universe usually picks those who have done deeds so great they have shocked the wheel of fortune, or have the potential to change the course of history. It's amoral; the question of whether the deed is right or wrong is not figured into this, which is why earlier in the book, MXTX said there's usually a lot of bloodshed involved.
A/N: Xie Lian attained enlightenment and shed his mortal body. He did not die. Everyone knew because of the thunder and lightning.