Chapter 2: Wisdom

As the red-robed male took strides in the direction of the laughter, his surroundings began to distort and blur. Sceneries of vast fields of golden wheat, tall mountains that seemed to pierce the heavens, desolate plains, scorching deserts, and a battlefield littered with the corpses of an age long gone - each blurred by with a step. After a few strides, the red-robed male was surrounded by darkness on three sides with a single source of light at his front.

 

At his feet was an uneven stone floor, water dripped steadily from the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. It was a small and gloomy cave; one unfit for living.

 

Despite this, the red-robed male continued his steps toward the light undisturbed. As he proceeded closer to the light, one could start to make out a small figure in a seated position. The laughter rang out once more. If one listened closely, they would find that the laughter originated from this small figure. A few moments later, the red-robed male's steps came to a stop behind the small figure's back.

 

The small figure was a child. A male, of about four years, give or take two months. He was rather small for his age, but this was not due to any malnourishment. He had delicate features that were borderline effeminate. His delicate skin was white and smooth. His eyes were a sky blue.

 

The child's clothes were made of blue silk and had silver embroidery on the sleeves. Just from his clothes alone, one could tell that he came from an affluent family. But, he also held in his hand a small ebony toy sword. Worth more than its weight in gold, even aristocrats would be reluctant to use it for something as frivolous as a child's toy. Evidently, this child was the treasure of some dignified family.

 

"Master, master! Look at what nanny gave me!"

 

Shock flickered through the red-robed male's eyes, but he continued to calmly watch the little boy get on his feet and turn towards him. Stumbling over to the red-robed male over the slippery rocks, the child fell to his knees. The child reached for the string that tied a rusty dull jade-inlaid lotus pendant around his neck. Fumbling, he untied it and presented it to the red-robed man with both hands.

 

Holding his left palm in front of him, the pendant was gently picked up by the wind and dropped onto the face-up palm. With his right hand, the red-robed male gently drew a circle on the pendant with his index finger. Once the finger finished its circle, the jade gem in the middle of the pendant started to emit a dull glow. As this glow grew stronger, the metal surrounding the jade started to change as spots of gold appeared among the rusted metal. Within moments, the pendant had become fully gold with dancing dragons and phoenixes etched with passionate detail and the jade inlay had become flawless.

 

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he watched all of this happen. The red-robed male inspected the pendant for a few more moments before a breeze picked the golden lotus and dropped it back into the hands of the blue-robed child.

 

"Truly… a protagonist."

 

"A protagonist…?"

 

"That is something that you will learn about in the future… focus on what's at hand. I have restored your pendant. Do you have anything to say to your master?"

 

The red-robed male's expression continued to stay calm. In the eyes of the child, the red-robed male was unfathomable. Those brown eyes seemed vast like an ocean; nothing would be able to disturb them in the slightest. A sage, a being at the top of the world in both wisdom and strength, the greatest role model of all, his greatest goal. To the young child, the red-robed male was all these things and more.

 

"This undeserving disciple gives his deepest gratitude for master's benevolence."

 

The child's eyes shone with adoration as he kowtowed to his master. Unfazed, the red-robed male continued to question the child.

 

"Did you learn anything from watching when I restored your pendant?"

 

Taking this question very seriously, the child closed his eyes. His eyebrows started to scrunch up in intense concentration as he desperately searched his underdeveloped mind for an answer. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes, shining with enlightenment. Bowing his head and cupping his hands, the child eagerly asked the red-robed male.

 

"Master! This disciple would like to share his enlightenment!"

 

As if stroking a beard, the red-robed male held his left hand on his chin and gave a brief reply in affirmation.

 

"En."

 

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"This disciple believes that master was giving disciple a life lesson! By turning a piece of rubbish like that old pendant into this magnificent piece of jewelry, master is telling me that even the lowliest are able to transform into something great! All beings under heaven are equal. Sagehood is open to all as long as one desires it with enough strength!"

 

After a pause, the child bowed his head even further.

 

"This disciple asks master to correct me if I was wrong."

 

A soundproof barrier was erected around the red-robed male as he started to mutter to himself.

 

"Is this really a four-year-old child?! When I was four years old, I was still playing with my toys without a care in the world… This child seems to already be at the level of thought that I developed in high school. Even if he is a son of heaven… isn't this a bit much…?"

 

A self-deprecating smile could be seen on his face for a mere instant before his calm demeanor was quickly restored once more.

 

Sweat had already started to form on the child's face. He was encompassed in worry as it had taken a while for his master to respond to him. He was only four years of age. With his limited wisdom, he was bound to be scolded by his master.

 

The soundproof barrier was removed. The red-robed man raised his left hand and coughed lightly.

 

"En. You have understood master's intentions perfectly… Master would like to ask where you learned to say such words?"

 

Ecstatic, the blue-robed child responded with much enthusiasm.

 

"I read this yesterday! Nanny taught me these words and I thought that they sounded very wise. Since master is wise, his intentions must be like that of these words!"

 

Relieved, the red-robed male exhaled the breath he didn't know he was holding.

 

"Good… good. You are a good disciple."

 

After a few minutes of silence, the child spoke up.

 

"Master… may I raise my head now?"

 

"Mm… you are a filial disciple. You may raise your head."

 

The child immediately raised his head and put his hands back at his sides, although he was still on his knees. Then once more, he spoke up.

 

"Master. May I stand? My knees are getting tired."

 

"Mm. You may stand."

 

Getting off the cold damp stone floor, the child started to stretch his limbs and get into a comfortable standing position.

 

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