Chapter 3: Permission

After stretching his limbs, the blue-robed child watched the red-robed male expectantly. Unable to hold in his excitement, the child blurted out a few words.

 

"Master! What's your next lesson?"

 

Clearing his throat, the red-robed male decided that it was time to bestow his wisdom on this adorable but ridiculously intelligent child.

 

"Disciple… have you ever been taught to ask for permission to speak?"

 

With a bright smile on his face, the blue-robed child fiddled with the lotus pendant tied around his neck. After a few moments of silence, the little boy spoke up.

 

"Master… what is permission?"

 

"…"

 

Although outwardly displaying a stern expression, the inner thoughts of the red-robed male were far from regulated. He was stunned beyond belief. This child was given a stellar education… and still didn't know what permission was? It seemed to him that a few steps were skipped along the way.

 

"Master…? Are you disappointed in me?"

 

Nervously fidgeting with the lotus pendant, the child stole glances at the red-robed male.

 

"Not with you… Mm. I could never find fault with you. Man proposes; heaven disposes."

 

Although a bit confused, the child found relief that his master wasn't disappointed in him. Feeling better about himself, the red-robed male decided that it would be best if he bestowed on the child some wisdom.

 

"Mm. Permission is something that all children must know. It's something that you ask for from your elders-"

 

"Permission is something you ask for…? Is it like a spiritual artifact… can I fly like the immortals?!"

 

The child's eyes shone with excitement and expectation as he stared at the red-robed male intently. Coughing lightly, the red-robed male flourished his right hand ending the gesture with his pointer finger and thumb forming an O while the other three fingers were folded over his palm. Grasping at his mouth with both hands, the child tried to pry his lips apart but to no avail. After about a minute of flailing around, the child sat down and pouted. His two chubby little cheeks puffed out, and he sat, holding his feet in his hands, trying to bury his face in his knees. This display of displeasure would bring amusement to any who saw it. At this point, his luxurious silk robes were slightly damp and stained from the dirty water that was on the rocky cave ground.

 

"Now… as I was saying, permission is something you ask for from your elders. You know what etiquette is, yes? Asking for permission before you speak is good etiquette toward your elders. These elders can be people in a higher position than you whether it be within your clan, in a government position, in a sect, or at a higher cultivation level. You must remember this well, for this knowledge might be able to save your life one day. Do you understand?"

 

The child nodded but immediately pointed at his mouth frantically. Sighing, the red-robed male flicked his sleeve. Able to speak once more, the child spoke up.

 

"This disciple understands! But, Master, no one in my clan has ever told me to ask for permission before… my father has always told me to speak up if I ever needed to say something. None of the elders have ever rebuked me for talking out of turn…"

 

The red-robed male was quiet. This… was truly beyond his expectations. This child's father and elders had spoiled him rotten. The fact that he isn't acting like a despotic young master yet was beyond him. Although only time would tell, the child showed much promise.

 

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"Mm. Although your father and elders have said so, it is still good to ask for permission. It is a sign of respect."

 

This parcel of wisdom was met with silence - unnerving silence. It wasn't until a few minutes of silence passed that the blue-robed child broke the silence.

 

"Um… May I speak, Master?"

 

"Mm… yes, you may."

 

"Did I do it right?"

 

"Mm. Your performance was… satisfactory."

 

Stroking his chin with his left hand, the red-robed male looked at the blue-robed child with a seemingly proud and caring expression. The child's face was beaming with joy; the red-robed male could almost feel his skin peeling off from the UV rays.

 

"We will now try a practical example. Lead the way."

 

Flicking his finger lightly, the blue-robed child was brought to his feet. The wind dried his robes and all stain spots seemed to magically disappear. Rubbing his knees, the child jumped side to side to confirm that he could walk properly before walking out of the cave.  Following steadily behind the child, the red-robed man left the cave and fully entered the light to behold the sight outside.

 

The sun showed its rays, unimpeded. Tenacious greenery grew on the mountainside, bringing a nice contrast against the otherwise barren rocky gray landscape. Before the entrance of the cave laid a circular platform, glowing emerald green moss formed in between the cracks of the marble forming an enigmatic pattern. Starting at the edge of the circular platform was a multitude of evenly chiseled steps that went around the mountain, extending through a flat layer of clouds.

 

The blue-robed child slowly made his way down the steps. His eyes were clear and focused as he paced himself. The red-robed man slowly floated alongside the child watching him in silence. After about a minute passed by, the master-disciple pair had made it into the layer of clouds. Their vision was mostly obscured, but the blue-robed child had a palm held firmly on the mountainside as he proceeded further down the mountain. The red-robed male continued to float alongside the child. His vision didn't seem affected as he continued at an even pace with the child. After the time it took an incense stick to burn had passed, a slightly impatient look could be seen on his face. The pace of a four-year-old child was a bit too slow for him. Besides, an incense stick's worth of time plus the full path up the mountain was enough training for now.

 

With a flick of his sleeve, the pair immediately appeared at the bottom of the mountain. The view from the bottom was truly awe-inspiring. The mountain seemed to extend indefinitely as it pierced through even the highest layer of clouds. If they had truly walked the full length of the mountain, at their pace, it would have taken them months.

 

Suddenly appearing on open ground, the blue-robed child stumbled. Faceplanting on the dry dusty ground, the blue-robed reoriented himself. When his feelings of dizziness finally disappeared, the child got to his feet and dusted himself off.

 

This time, the red-robed male didn't do anything and just watched the blue-robed child. The red-robed male spoke up when he saw that the blue-robed child had stabilized himself.

 

"A bird must learn to fly without help, so must a disciple learn to walk. Otherwise, the disciple would never become great. The greats are all those who have made their own path. As such even if the disciple meets the greatest master, he himself will never become truly great for all he has done will solely be following in the footsteps."

 

The blue-robed child nodded his head slowly. Thinking about it for a bit, the child was about to ask a question but was interrupted by a voice.

 

"There is no shame in following. All live on the shoulders of giants. It is through us that the wisdom of the Sages continues to live. Everything has its place in the world. There is much virtue in fulfilling your role. What shame is there in being a farmer? The troops cannot march on an empty stomach. A governor cannot govern when he is hungry. Conversely, how can a farmer farm if his fields are raided by barbarians or if his crops are stolen since there is no governor? In fulfilling your role to the fullest, the ordinary is made great."

 

Saying this, a Confucian scholar in green robes walked up to the Master-Disciple pair. His hair was tied up with a green silk band, a slight smile was present on his face, and all he had was the clothes on his back and the sandals on his feet.

 

This was quite an odd sight to see since this mountain was in a remote place. The foot of the mountain was mostly forest filled with wild beasts and the nearest town was half a day's journey away. Although there were a few villages closer, there were no roads that lead to the vicinity of the mountain. Seeing a Confucian scholar here was akin to finding a virtuous Buddhist monk indulging in a brothel.

 

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