Chapter 60 (2/2)
“I didn’t expect this to happen! It was just a random idea the other day. I really just wanted to get rid of them. I didn’t put in much thought and allowed things to get worse!”
“Huh?” Li Changshou was startled. “I’m asking you… about one-third of the spiritual fish that are missing in the lake.”
Lan Ling’e froze. Then, her body bent and twisted, and she sat still there.
She brought this upon herself. She had confessed to everything.
…
More than a year ago, after Liu Yan’er had left with her two junior brothers, something happened the next day.
Liu Yan’er informed w.a.n.g Qi that she would report to her master and the Peak Leader beforehand. Then, she would use a trick and tell Liu Sizhe that she was pregnant, hoping that Liu Sizhe would stop bothering her. She did not want Liu Sizhe to have a duel with w.a.n.g Qi.
The two of them had not been seriously injured from the duel and were considered on par with each other. However, they had been punished by the sect because of having a private duel.
Liu Sizhe had been punished with 20 years of seclusion and could not set foot outside of the Du Lin Peak.
w.a.n.g Qi had also been punished by having his monthly allowance suspended for three years. He then became Dao companions with Liu Yan’er and cultivated at the Little Ling Peak.
“Senior Brother… I was wrong…”
“How were you wrong?”
“I shouldn’t have… given Senior Sister Yan’er this bad idea without considering their reactions.” Lan Ling’e responded with her head down. “As a result, it caused all three of them to be punished by the sect rules.”
Li Changshou pursed his lips and scolded her, “It really took you just a few years to spit out everything I’ve taught you over the years.
“Forget it!
“That’s the way you are. I shouldn’t expect so much from you. Forget it.”
“Don’t… don’t just forget about it! Senior Brother, just request anything from me!”
Lan Ling’e panicked. “I’ll never get into trouble again!
“Don’t give up on me, Senior Brother!
“I’ll cultivate quietly by your side from now on, and I won’t say a word to any stranger!”
“So tell me again, where have you gone wrong?”
Lan Ling’e’s eyes were red, and she was at a loss for words. “I.. I…”
“You shouldn’t have bothered with other people’s issues!”
Li Changshou poked his finger on the table and said with a sigh, “Do you know whether Liu Yan’er’s marriage destiny is to marry Liu Sizhe or w.a.n.g Qi?
“One has been secretly in love with her for 100 years, while the other has known her for a few years. Why would Liu Yan’er hesitate? Why couldn’t she reject Liu Sizhe harshly? It’s because she’s hesitant.
“Liu Yan’er is already 156 years old. Could she still not think of any other ways?
“It’s not that she cannot, but she doesn’t want to!
“This is equivalent to directly extinguis.h.i.+ng someone’s path, making her originally undecided marriage destiny a fait accompli.
“It doesn’t matter if you were to follow others’ fate, but if you were to change the fate of others, you would have to bear the karma from the three of them.
“How much of your own luck have you destroyed!
“Don’t always think you’re the smartest and have the best ideas. No one is much dumber than someone else. Only humans like to pretend to be smart!
“This matter is the best portrayal of your unstable mind.”
Lan Ling’e pursed her lips and said with a trembling voice, “Senior brother, what should I do to remedy this?”
“You’ve done too much wrong. Later on, go and apologize to Senior Sister Liu Yan’er and beg for her forgiveness.” Li Changshou leaned back on the round-backed chair and rubbed his eyebrows. “It seems you still don’t quite understand.
“I’ll give you the simplest example.
“If Senior Sister Liu Yan’er and Junior Brother w.a.n.g Qi fall out in the future, who will she blame first?”
Lan Ling’e furrowed her brows and replied in a low voice, “Me, the outsider… who came up with the idea to help her reject another person.”
Li Changshou said with a bitter laugh, “So why interfere in someone else’s private affairs?
“Who could explain the word ‘love’ even since ancient times?
“This isn’t a necessity for cultivating the Dao to seek longevity. What you think about most every day is also this matter. In the long run, you will only waste your qualification and comprehension.
“After you’ve offered an apology to Senior Sister Yan’er, you should also reflect well. When Liu Sizhe comes out of seclusion, so will you.”
Li Changshou stood up and said again, “This time, you will not be punished much. Take a slate and copy the Steadiness Sutra 300 times.
“When you really understand your mistakes, find Liu Yan’er, and apologize to her.”
With that, Li Changshou’s expression darkened, and he was about to leave with his hands behind him.
Lan Ling’e shouted again, “Senior Brother, there’s one more thing.”
Li Changshou couldn’t help but walk back. He raised his hand to press down on her head, rubbing her head a few times. While expecting better from her, he messed up her hair that she had carefully combed up.
“What other troubles have you gotten into? Can you tell me everything at one go? I’m easily frightened out of mind by you!”
“I didn’t cause any trouble. This is sort of an unexpected benefit. I really only got into this trouble…”
Lan Ling’e whispered, “It’s about Master’s injury back then. Because of Senior Sister Yan’er, I heard a rumor…
“Senior Brother, come closer.”
She mumbled everything to him.
Li Changshou leaned over to listen for a while before he had a slight frown. He soon returned to normal.
“Don’t bother about this matter. Copy the Steadiness Sutra first. Apologize and find me at the Pill Chamber.”
“Okay,” replied Lan Ling’e, watching her senior brother drift off to the Pill Chamber.
She was done for. Her senior brother’s impression on her had regressed at least ten years…
Then, she sighed faintly and carried the meditation cus.h.i.+on to the willow tree.
She took out a slate and a Dharmic carving knife. She rubbed away the tears at the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand and lay down with her messy hair before silently copying a certain sutra written by her senior brother more than ten years ago.
After writing it once, she wiped her tears again. She erased the mark on the slate and continued writing a second time.
The willow branches dangled, caressing her hair that was swept by the wind as if they were supervising her homework.
…
Steadiness Sutra.
Primordial Times—Anonymous
Mind your own business; immortals are already established, and it is hard to compete.
In the face of injustice, ponder your own strength; in times of trouble, reflect on yourself.
If you have many friends, you will face many issues; if you have a few friends, you will avoid calamity.
Do not make an enemy, for it will be dangerous to do so; strike first, and you will perish next.
Do not restrain yourself, do not be afraid of yourself; you will be peaceful when everything is steady.
When one diverts in cultivation, one retreats and advances; one gains opportunity and plans accordingly.
How tragic that a former good old man was plotted against.
With demon powers, there are many schemes. After being knocked unconscious, one would be thrown into the iron pot.
The old tribe was imprudent but has a heaven-defying power. Nothing can be done about it.
The ancient tribes forcefully fought over luck, but eventually grew lonely.
Both were divided into Heaven and Earth and fell after being provoked.
New men arise and wish for rituals and music. They become sages, and there will be many wise men.
My generation has escaped bad luck, has a complete path to immortality, and obtained the Dao Fruits.
Be steady in all things and reject karma. Avoid forcibly taking over something, and one can be happy.
Avoiding natural disasters requires change, and avoiding man-made disasters is trouble-free.
Approach the Dao and brighten the path of immortality. The Steadiness Sutra will accompany you.
…
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