Published: March 8, 2025
The old man looked at the character, chuckling bitterly as he said, “Little friend, you’ve really given me a difficult problem. On the same day, three people consecutively measuring the same character; are you trying to ruin my reputation?”
Chu Yang smiled and replied, “Elder's reputation is cast in bronze and iron. Ordinary people cannot bring it down.”
The old man laughed heartily, saying, “It’s a pity little friend, you are not an ordinary person.”
He emphasized the words “ordinary person” as if hinting at something else.
As he spoke, he picked up the paper, examined it closely, and exclaimed, “What a fine character! Truly, it is like iron writing and silver hooks. In it, there’s an underlying sense of battle and a chilling killing intent. Amongst it, the sea of blood and mountains of corpses, scattered white bones, the setting sun and the cold wind, and the extinction of countless clans! Upon seeing this character, it’s as if I’ve glimpsed the folded Nine Heavens!”
He raised his head and looked at Chu Yang, smiling, “Little friend, the bloodshed in your life must be quite severe.”
Chu Yang smiled and said, “I would like to ask the elder to clarify.”
The old man’s expression became serious as he asked, “May I ask, what do you wish to measure?”
Chu Yang calmly replied, “Since others are asking about the future, naturally, I too wish to measure my future.”
At this statement, the expressions of those present turned peculiar.
First, a white-clothed person came, wrote the character “天” (heaven), and inquired about their future; then a girl sat down, wrote “天” as well, and asked about her future. Now, another youth sat down, still writing “天,” again asking about the future!
Today’s events had truly opened their eyes.
The old man sighed with a bitter smile, “This future... this future... ha ha ha... Little friend, can’t you ask something else? Isn’t this making it hard on the old man?”
Chu Yang smiled and replied, “For others, it may be difficult, but for the elder, it surely is not difficult.”
The old man laughed, “For the sake of this sentence, the old man must do his utmost to preserve my reputation.”
He held the character, examined it from left to right, gestured with a straw several times before sighing, “The white-clothed person wrote a character full of arrogance and ambition. The young lady, on the other hand, wrote lightly and gracefully, ethereal and uncertain. However, the character you wrote is different from both of theirs—heavy and substantial, with a chilling killing intent.”
He raised his gaze, looking at Chu Yang, “Though the white-clothed person is arrogant, he still possesses a sense of reverence for the heavens! The young lady wrote gracefully, but still holds respect for the heavens. But you…”
Chu Yang calmly asked, “Me? How so?”
The old man sighed and said, “In your heart, there is no heaven!”
In your heart, there is no heaven!
This sentence jolted Chu Yang, and he smiled while asking, “Does the elder believe that heaven truly exists?”
The old man smiled and replied, “Of course it exists!”
Chu Yang pressed on, “If it truly exists, then where is heaven?”
The old man furrowed his brows, “Heaven is, naturally, above!” He pointed up and said, “Three feet above your head is the blue sky!”
Chu Yang smiled, “Is there any proof?”
The old man frowned, “What more proof is needed!”
“Heaven is immeasurably high, how can there be an extreme?” Chu Yang questioned.
“Nothingness also!” the old man answered gently with a smile.
“If there is nothingness, then how can there be heaven?” Chu Yang scoffed.
The old man was taken aback, staring at him for a moment before gently shaking his head, “I will not argue with you!”
Chu Yang burst into laughter.
After a moment of silence, the old man said, “You are currently in a phase opposite to heaven. There will come a day when you develop a sense of reverence for ‘heaven’ in your heart; only then can you advance further in this world. This back and forth... is the ultimate truth!”