152 Heart & Path (1/2)
In the woods, a dead deer lay beside the feet of a girl, her skin like jade. Rin lugged the deer forward and propped it against a tree, taking the dagger from her side.
Starting at the groin, she slipped her dagger's point under the skin, blade up, and cut a long slit up from the bottom of one thigh, past the knee.
She proceeded to perform this on each side as she loosened the skin around each knee and cut around the joint. Rin carefully peeled the skin off the back legs and down to the tail.
After each procedure was finished, Rin's body swayed a little as she sat down on a flat boulder to regain her breath. She stared down at her hands quietly and gripped them.
Her hands felt stiff. It had been a while since she had skinned a deer.
Truthfully, it was still a little sickening to her.
At the same time, the old, white-haired monk observed the girl's movements on the side. Hands on his knees, he propped his chin with both of his palms as he watched the girl's seemingly skillful, butchering actions.
He cast a curious, measuring gaze towards Rin. ”Say, girl, were you a butcher in your past?”
The corner of Rin's mouth twitched. While still regaining her breath, she glanced at the laid-back old man propped on top of a boulder.
With dead eyes, Rin pulled out the shining dagger beside her and looked at the old man.
”What parts do you want? Remember, you only get half.”
After heeding her words, the old man's bored eyes sparkled as he rubbed his hands excitedly.
His answer came without hesitation. ”I want the backstrap, tenderloin, rump, and sirloin tip!”
Rin visibly froze for a second. She furrowed her eyebrows and shifted her gaze to the old man, dumbfounded.
Shameless, gluttonous old man! Those were all the best, most tender pieces of meat!
If not for the fact she required his help, she wouldn't have bothered with such an impudent person.
Rin sighed deeply. ”I'll only give you the sirloin tip and rump. You pick the rest.”
As expected, the old monk's face grew sour. ”Hah? Why not all of them?”
With a lowered head, Rin was silent as she cut away at the deer's meat. The monk harrumphed. Though he wasn't very happy with the turn of events, the old monk quietly watches her slice away with precise movements.
The longer he watched the girl's actions, the more impressed he became.
As he looked at her porcelain-like face, his expression turned deep. She was so petite and light, but at that moment, she had the strength of an adult man.
She not only knew how to hunt with a crossbow but to butcher her catches as well!
The old monk stroked his chin as he fell into deep thought.
…
”Here are your shares.” Rin passed him deer meat wrapped in bleached reeds.
”Hmm…” The old monk examined the pieces of evenly cut meat with a pondering expression.
He then glanced over at the portions of meat in Rin's basket.
”Girl, did you cheat me? It looks like you have bigger pieces.”
A smile surfaced on her lips as she said, ”I dare not cheat you of what was promised.”
Rin's face was calm. Her beautiful and graceful face maintained her usual gentle smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
The old monk snorted. ”Very well.”
He grabbed the packet of cut meat, his dark eyes twinkling as if he was a child. Rin wordlessly opened and closed her mouth. She stared at him, waiting for the words she desired to hear.
”With this, will Mister Qiu promise to teach me?”
The old monk glanced up and stared at the girl, his playful expression shifting to one as calm as a crystalline lake.
At that moment, he suddenly asked: ”Tell me, girl, why do you want to grow stronger?”
Rin was slightly surprised by his sudden question. She sat calmly in her spot, her clear gaze staring at the snow-white ground beneath her.
After a brief period of dazed silence, Rin finally said, ”Once I've become stronger, those around me won't have to suffer. I want to be strong enough to protect those I care for.”
She slowly shifted her gaze, the icy, deep filled eyes staring at the old man. The old monk examined the girl's expression thoughtfully. A glint flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything.
He suddenly sighed. ”There is some truth in your words, but I don't believe that's your main reason.”
Rin blanked out for a moment. She blinked her eyes with some confusion and tilted her head.
If that was not her reason, then what was?
Although he was a little disappointed that the girl failed to grasp his words, Mister Qiu still honestly said, ”You see, if you were to look deep inside your heart, you'd see what you truly want. What you truly desire, is the same as to what your heart wants. When your heart and path follows the same understanding, then your motive to grow will improve.”
He glanced up at the sky and scratched behind his earlobe. ”Though it is true you want to protect those you care for, your heart and path are not the same, thus, your reason for failing to complete yourself. You can't mend a broken jar with missing pieces.”