Chapter 21- “You Made Us Wait, Junior Brother!”

Nobody talked about that year’s spar. At least, not where Tian could hear it. Brother Fu did start assigning him big stacks of books to read, but they were all very silly. Two months after the spar, Tian finally broke down and started asking the real questions.

“Senior Brother Fu, it says here that I should cultivate the sage within and the monarch without.”

“Mmm. Quite a famous verse, yes. An excellent teaching on how to cultivate good moral character and ethical behavior.”

“Without what?”

“Pardon? Ah! It means outside. Be a sage on the inside but act like a monarch on the outside. Referring to personality, not geography.”

Tian nodded, then dove into the pile, pulling out another volume. He quickly flipped through, checked his recollection and nodded, slapping it shut. He stood sharply and walked towards the door. Brother Fu snagged his collar.

“Where are you off to?”

“I was going to burn down the villages, steal their crops and confine their women in my harem. Which, I guess, means my cell? I think it will be pretty crowded. How do you fit them all, Brother Fu? I assume they’re in the other room.”

Tian was having his lesson in Brother Fu’s little courtyard. The elder’s house only had two rooms, so it was a reasonable guess. Tian spent a lot of time here, but had never seen the inner room.

“Cultivate the qualities of a just and wise monarch, such as judiciousness, reserve and dignity. Not the kingdom founding First Generation monarch who, yes, regrettably, often allows many deplorable acts in their hunger for the throne.”

“Oh.” Tian nodded. A little bird landed on the ornamental tree and sang, notes tripping cheerfully across the little pond. “So… are they shrunk through cultivator magic, or is the room bigger than it looks or something?”

“There are no women in my house. No women in the Temple except when they visit for the spars.” Brother Fu sighed.

“But that’s not like a monarch at all. All these guys have at least five concubines, whatever they are, and one had three thousand women trapped in his cell.” Tian patted the books firmly.

“You know what? Don’t act like a monarch. Forget the monarch. I don’t know why that line is even in there. Focus on the sage. Calm. Charitable. Humble. Studious.” Brother Fu looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Tian nodded. “I know what those words mean.”

“Good! Good.” Brother Fu coughed.

“Shall I fetch your tea, Senior Brother?”

“What? No no, I’m fine thank you. I used to drink tea recreationally, you know. Still do, on occasion. Even when I am just thirsty.”

“Wow!”

“It’s… it’s not that impressive. Changing topic, how are you progressing towards Level Four?”

Tian rested his hand on his stomach, then on his tailbone. “I’d say… three more months? It’s going really slowly!”

“You are on the quick side of average, actually. The first three levels are nothing. The time spent cultivating each level will only increase, but after level four, it’s more important that you go out and start experiencing more things.”

“Why is that, Senior Brother Fu?”

“Because the entire Earthly Person realm is also nothing. What matters is breaking through to Heavenly Person. Based on my experience raising many juniors to the Heavenly Person realm, doing more, experiencing more and understanding more are all crucial to finding that spark of immortality. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it- everyone understands immortality differently. What one person understands won’t help another cross the threshold. Even if they find what sounds like the same thing, their understanding of it will be different.”

“Have you not experienced enough, Senior Brother?” Tian’s voice was soft. There was sadness in Brother Fu’s eyes, and he didn’t like seeing the old man sad. It hurt something in him that he didn’t have words for.

“I ask myself that question often. Usually as I watch the sun set.” The old man flicked away the emotion with his fingers. “Focus on the books. Learn everything you can, because once you are Level Four, we are going to start sending you on missions.”

“I’m looking forward to it. They sound very interesting. Ah. Very interesting Senior Brother Fu.”

The old man smiled and nodded slightly. “Some are, some are. Some are tedious and depressing. Can’t begin to describe how tedious grain inventory is, but someone’s got to do it.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Do they?”

“Do you like eating rice, Little Brother?”

“I do, Senior Brother.”

“Did you know that rice is a grain?”

“I did, Senior Brother.”

“Are grain inventories boring, but absolutely necessary to making sure we have enough rice?”

“I’m guessing yes, Senior Brother.”

“Good guess. Although generally that kind of inventory is left to mortal servants, like the cooking and laundry. Periodically, someone needs to go check they aren’t skimming. Grab that pile of books over there and scram. Please try to learn the right lessons from history.”

“Yes, Senior Brother. Senior Brother?”

“Yes, Junior Brother? He asked, knowing damn well what the question will be and regretting many of his life choices up to this point.”

“What are the right lessons to learn from history?”

“Good question. Figure it out.”