Chapter 7 - Coming Of Age [2] (1/2)

”How's your day in the farm with your grandpa?”

Zhang Xiu Ying asked as she glanced at her smiling son.

”It was great, ma, and grandpa taught me many things.”

”I trust your grandfather to do that. He's the wisest man I've ever seen. His words are heavenly treasures so don't ever forget what he taught you. They will surely make you wise in your dealings. Okay, anything you might want to teach me too?”

Zhang Xiu Ying stared at her son with a wide smile.

”Ma. What can I teach you that you don't know already? But, I can repeat what grandpa taught me and that's to be humble.”

”Oh yes, you need to be. Before you start thinking you are the primordial king of the universe.”

Zhang Wang Jing laughingly joked as she clutched her c.h.e.s.t, which caused the rest of them to join her in laughter.

After they had all had their fills of the food and the table had been tidied, Zhang Wang Jing turned to her grandson.

”Ju Feng come with me.”

”Yes, grandma.”

Ju Feng walked with her grandmother to the outside of the cave. Zhang Wang Jing held Ju Feng's hand and with two steps arrived at the top of the knoll. It was a flat top knoll containing four stone stools. Sometimes, the family would gather here to spend their time together in the grace of nature.

To the front right part of the land was the millet farm, to the front left part was the goat farm, to the small rear right part was the practice area and to the other was the pond.

”I know you've been here many times, Ju Feng, and you have seen the landscape many times. Today I want you to enjoy the scenery in a different way. Your grandfather already taught you about humility. The farms showed you to claim nothing about your talents or any other benefits you have above others but rather consider them to be the grace and gifts of creation.”

”There are three things I want you to keep in your mind, Ju Feng. Humility, courage and discipline. It takes courage to show humility. Courage to know when you are wrong, courage to ask for help, courage to seek advice, courage to open your heart to learn. Courage to know when, how and why to stand up for yourself and for others. Courage to help you respect the lives of others.”

Pointing her finger towards the right side, she continued.

”Look at the practice area, that is where we train in martial arts and mystical arts. We practice them to be able to defend ourselves and people we care about, still, they are arts that can take lives. It takes courage to NOT take lives of people even your enemies. All lives are precious. Discipline will let you keep these in your mind. You have to discipline your mind not to forget all these, Ju Feng.”

”Thank you grandma, I won't forget them, I promise.”

Moving towards one of the stone stools, Zhang Wang Jing glanced at her grandson and gestured towards the stools.

”Come and have a seat.”

She took out a mug of milk and two cups from her spatial sac. The mug was inscribed with runes to prevent milk from getting spoilt. She filled the two cups and gave one to him.

”Thank you grandma, that's why I love you.”

Said Ju Feng, with eyes and nose crinkling.

”Aha.”

Zhang Wang Jing grinned widely, her eyes set on her grandson.

”I have a gift for you, Ju Feng. I bought it for you in advance before you were born.”

She took out the crystal pagoda and gave it to her grandson.

”This is beautiful grandma, what is it called?”

Ju Feng asked curiously.

”A pagoda. They are used for meditation. They calm the mind and frame it for meditation. But, this one is different or told so, anyway. It's said to be a gate to seven realms. They are filled with different amazing treasures. All you need to do, is to continue meditating in the presence of the pagoda, anywhere you are. And the gate to the seven realms with treasures will open to you.”

Ju Feng was totally jawed. He was staring with raised eyebrows at the pagoda. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Seven realms! Treasures! He was only five years old, but his grandma already placed a huge responsibility on him. He set his jaws tight and with a grimly determined face, he gleamed at his grandmother and fell to his knees with his head bowed.