Chapter 93 – Art of Survival (IV)

Chapter 93

Art of Survival (IV)

Frankly, what the hell does that mean?

They were made, but they don’t exist?

Okay, fine, I know what it means; I just hate that he got off on a technicality of semantics.

That does bring up an entirely different question–it’s not that the art itself is impossible to make, apparently, but for some reason it doesn’t ‘exist’, more specifically.

Hm.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a few reasons–maybe there’s the idea of ‘Dao Purity’, as in never changing how ‘Dao’ made you. Sort of reminiscent of religions back on Earth that disallowed tattoos and piercings and such. Maybe the idea is that the ‘pinnacle’ could not be reached if the body was tainted with.

However, I doubt this is the reason; Long Tao wouldn’t have otherwise ‘requested’ it if he believed using it would prevent him from reaching whatever heights he was chasing.

Maybe there’s some higher court somewhere that strictly forbade the creation of such art for one reason or another?

Haah.

Guesswork, guesswork, guesswork. This ain’t high school, art isn’t Janie, and the question isn’t whether she’d be down for skinny-dipping in the middle of November.

I glanced down at the drawn, thick tome within my robes. It’s by far the thickest I’ve made–some hundred pages, actually. It’s kind of insane, if you ask me. Those kids will have to study with their eyes glued to the pages, and I already achieved the Intermediate mastery just because.

Fairness? Of course it doesn’t exist. Then again, their talents, even with my absurd cheats, are so far beyond mine that they don’t get to bitch and moan.

I decided to share it with everyone, even Light and Hua. By now, I’d be a fool not to realize Light was probably escaping with me, and if Dai Xiu is coming, so is Hua. And while I could exclude him, since he wouldn’t really stand out either way, I just decided to go all in.

My future depends on them, one way or another. We can dance our dance forever, where our fathers keep discovering new things continuously, and it’s gonna be amazing, but whether I make anything of myself in this world is dependent entirely on them, and for that, I have to believe they won’t shank me in my sleep or something.

Thus, I gathered everyone in the ‘living room’ and pulled out the thick tome, placing it on the table.

“In fifteen days, our sect will go to a war,” I started. “I don’t know what will happen then or after. In that regard, this is an art that I’d been hanging on to my whole life as a last resort.” Long Tao rolled his eyes almost invisibly, and Hua perked up, while the three kids seemed rather interested all of a sudden. “However, if you choose to learn it, you must promise me to never disclose it to anyone else. Not just for my sake, but for all your sakes, too. No one outside this room can ever even know this art exists. When you memorize it, destroy it. Are you willing?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I expected a bit of hesitation–after all, if I were in their shoes, I’d hesitate if someone told me the art is so dangerous its very existence cannot be revealed. Alas, I’d underestimated the survival instincts of my disciples.

“I’m willing!”

“Willing, of course!” Dai Xiu and Xi Zhao shouted practically at the same time.

“I can’t tell even the Sect Master?” Light asked.

“… no,” I banked on it, glancing at her eyes. She seemed to smile faintly before closing them. “You have to gain initial mastery before the war’s begun. It will be hard–harder than any other art I’ve taught you. But I believe in all of you. If you all agree, feel free to start examining it.”