681 Peering into the Heavens through Plates (2/2)

There were sounds of bickering coming from below. The person who had been hit must be coming into the restaurant to find the culprit. The Headmaster disregarded it. He looked at Ning Que and continued, ”When water gathers at the lowest spot in the sea, it will not continue to flow downwards. When the spoon lands on the ground... or on a pedestrian's head, then it will not continue to fall. This does not mean that the rule was broken, but just that another rule is coming into play.”

”If there was no external force or other rules functioning, then what kind of situation would it be? The ladle would continue to fall until it fell into the abyss. Maybe it would appear on Yama's dining table. Of course, I'm now more certain than ever that there is no Underworld. So naturally, there is no Yama.”

The Headmaster placed the empty bowl on the table and pushed it to Sangsang. Sangsang picked up the bowl and spooned mashed taro into it.

The Headmaster pointed to the bowl in Sangsang's hands. He said, ”If this table was large and smooth enough, and if the bottom of the bowl was smooth enough, and if there wasn't a girl called Sangsang who picked up the bowl, then what would happen? Like the ladle that kept falling, the bowl would keep moving forward without stopping.”

Ning Que scratched his head and asked, ”Isn't this called inertia?”

”Inertia? This is a good word for it, but I'd like to call it the conservation of rules for everything.”

The Headmaster continued, ”This is what life is as well.”

”Life?” Ning Que did not understand at all. He asked in confusion once more, ”Inertia is life?”

The Headmaster said, ”When humans are alive, they can walk, jump, think, eat, blink and shit. When they die, their bodies become rotting corpses and white bones that cannot do any of the above. Their shape, structure and characteristics have all changed.”

”We have to walk, jump, think, eat, blink and shit when we are alive to conserve our looks as human beings, and to conserve our shape, structure and characteristics.”

”This conservation is life.”

Ning Que was baffled. He asked, ”But animals can walk, jump, eat, blink and shit.”

The Headmaster said, ”But they cannot think.”

Ning Que replied, ”The yellow bull and Youngest Uncle's donkey can definitely think.”

The Headmaster said, ”But they are not shaped like humans.”

Ning Que responded, ”What if we can make them resemble humans?”

The Headmaster answered, ”If you can do something like that, then they would be considered humans.”

Ning Que shook his head saying, ”How can this be?”

The Headmaster asked, ”Why can't it be so?”

Ning Que paused and finally figured it out. Wouldn't a life that looks human and can walk, jump, eat, blink, shit and think be considered human?

”Everyone wants to stay alive. They want to retain their shape and inner existence. This is life. In broader terms, human society wants to maintain its shape and development. For example, the writing system, calligraphy and painting, and organizations. In this way, society is also a manifestation of life.”

The Headmaster said, ”A stone is alive as well. It wants to retain its shape. It is tough, so one has to overcome its toughness to snuff out its life. Water has life as well. It could be clear or turbid, or it could be a wide ocean or a little stream. To change its characteristics and to destroy its life, you have to boil it or expose it to the sun.”

”Life is a continuation of its own form. Since Heaven's Way is the rule itself, if it also has life; its life is to ensure that these rules are always effective and not destroyed.”

Ning Que did not know what to say at all at this point. It was fortunate that the dishes were served just then.

The three ate a scrumptious meal of 18 dishes.

The Headmaster kept refilling Sangsang's bowl and said, ”You have to try this dish, you poor child. You have never led a good life with Ning Que all these years and you don't know how many delicacies there are in the world, and how much fun there is out there. Just enjoy yourself with me these days.”

Ning Que and Sangsang were beyond full after having barbequed gigot and dishes from the Kingdom of Song. Luckily, the Headmaster was known to be a good eater. He cleared all 18 dishes like a hurricane.

The Headmaster drank a cup of pickled vegetable to aid in digestion, looking like he was enjoying himself very much.

Ning Que burped. He thought of what the Headmaster had said earlier, and his heart felt as burdened as his stomach. He rubbed his slightly numb face and was prepared to ask questions.

The Headmaster put down his teacup and said, ”There are two sides to Haotian. One is the one made of rules and objectivity while the second has to maintain rules and objectivity. Then, it will appear to be as alive as any living thing.”

Ning Que asked, ”So?”

The Headmaster pointed to the table littered with cups and plates and said, ”Humans have to eat to stay alive and it has to do the same.”

Ning Que looked at the plates filled with sauce and suddenly felt terrified and disgusted.