Tian dropped into meditation the second he got back to the guest room. The Lark might not have thought she could teach him much, but he knew that was a him problem not a her problem. Every word from an expert at her level would have meaning, and while she might not be his friend, she probably wouldn’t mislead a junior just for fun.
The first thing that came to mind was the music. Those few notes she plucked were all things she thought he could relate to, things he had, to some extent, seen. The sheer weight of her technique, the shen and qi packed into her playing, doubtless was a major factor. He should keep his ambitions at an appropriate level. But the fact was, she picked those scenes for him. Then she specifically mentioned that the instrument wasn’t what was important. What mattered was him.
She picked scenes they both understood. That was the next key part. You couldn’t play what you couldn’t… His vocabulary broke down as he groped for the right words. It wasn’t about understanding, exactly, or having experienced, exactly. It was about having an emotional sense of it. Maybe. You have to have some understanding and experience of it, even if it was second or third hand knowledge, if you were going to have that emotional grasp of it. Otherwise, how would you have an emotion to express? The thought felt shallow. There was more to what she said.
The flute was not the qin, and he needed help expressing the notes of courage and grief. That, to him, implied that his understanding of those concepts were shallow, and that his attempt to find them in the flute the way he could find them in the qin was misguided. The flute was too… for some reason, he didn’t like the words ‘simple’ or ‘basic,’ which was a hell of a thing to worry about when she specifically said the instrument wasn’t the important thing.
Flutes were primal, and spoke with the voice of the dao. His qi, carrying his meaning, his understanding. Not neatly divided into heaven, earth and human, nor into specific notes for each element, and especially not notes for grief and courage.
There were many daos, but there was only one Dao. All paths lead to the same destination. Tian had the sudden image of travelers on the road, each cupping their hands on either side of their eyes, narrowing their vision and looking only at the ground directly in front of their feet. They walked a narrow path, not seeing the great road they were on. On the one hand, it meant it was easy to walk forward. No dithering from side to side, distracted by endless sights, colliding with the other walkers.
No matter how far you walked, you would reach your end before you reached the end of the great road. And when you were queuing up for Granny Meng’s elixir in the underworld, what would you remember? Your feet? The little pebbles you walked over and the great stone that forever barred your path? The daoist behind you had widened his eyes. His path reached an end, too, but he could step around some of the boulders.
Tian laughed. He really was an arrogant prick. Not even Level Nine, and he’s thinking deep thoughts about the great truth of the dao. Because he would definitely know so much better than everyone else walking the dao with him. But… there was something to it, he was sure of that.
What did Liren mean to him? Grief and courage. Grief, courage, and the chance to walk further down the road, helping each other over and around the boulders.
There was probably more to get from what she said. Doubtless he had missed the most important things. Still, the Lark was admirably direct about one thing. Tian pulled out the yellowed paper and gently opened it. The handwriting was a bit messy, but the pictures were clear. Tian raised his flute to his lips, and slowly began to practice.
It was a day later when he was summoned again. Burning Heaven and Brother Brightheart, the crow, would be sent up to see the White Peacock, bringing their human companions with them. Martial Uncle Gen and his swan companion would remain here. It seems that the Dawnlight Lark did find someone she could teach among them.
Uncle Gen would remain a person of the Ancient Crane Monastery. Tian had thought too much. The hegemons further up the mountain weren't interested in stealing from the juniors below. They were quite interested in accumulating merits and transmitting their daos, and yes, having people they could send on chores was very useful too. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and not without warmth. It was more akin to Brother Fu teaching him in the Temple, than his struggling through the wasteland. Or so Uncle Gen said, anyhow.
Besides, the Dawnlight Lark had offered to heal his old wound. He had been convalescing for a very long time now. He was quite ready to be well again. What could Tian do but cup his fist and congratulate him?
The Dawnlight Lark had them all board a flying boat. It was very different from the ones Tian had seen before- this one was made from paper. She pulled folded paper from her storage ring, gave it a shake, and the boat popped out. Then the little paper boat expanded to fit all of them. It was quite bizarre to watch, and Tian wanted one badly. He could imagine casually taking one out on the river, and then acting indifferent as everyone gasped when it folded up and leapt back into his hand.
Being domineering took preparation. You couldn’t call it vanity. The boat was made from paper. Very economical, very humble. Very.
Liren still wouldn’t look straight at him. He could feel her gaze on him when his back was turned, but she still refused to sit behind him when they boarded the boat. She didn’t want to sit next to him either. Tian knew his feelings of guilt were utterly irrational. The pain stabbed his heart anyway.
This was unacceptable. It was hard to have an intimate conversation when your every word and thought was being overheard. He would have to find a way to get at least the semblance of privacy regardless, because he was completely unwilling to put up with this. Whatever she saw was an illusion. Time to push past it, talk through it, whatever it took.
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The little paper boat floated upwards, drifting through a layer of clouds and skimming over wide pines. The qi density up here was so high, Tian was certain he wouldn’t be able to endure it if he were off the little boat. He could see an iridescent eggshell of light surrounding it. The colors shifted and shimmered, moved by winds he could not feel.
Tian knew perfectly well they were flying past beasts of unspeakable power and wisdom, but he couldn’t see any of them. He had the feeling that the boat was shielding him yet again. As though the mere sight of such beings was enough to endanger him. It was a sobering thought. As was the thought that they might not be all beasts. After all, the Monastery wouldn’t exactly advertise unaffiliated humans living way up the mountain. Presumably such experts valued their privacy, and the Sect valued its status as “Rulers of Ancient Crane Mountain.”
“Oh, that’s why.” Tian muttered.
“What is?” Burning Heaven asked.
“Starsieve said that other kingdoms and sects would nibble at our territory, but they wouldn’t go too far and not that much would actually change in terms of our borders. It seemed pretty unlikely. Well, what if it’s not our borders that are at stake here, but the mighty ones living higher up on the mountain?”
Burning Heaven thought it over for a minute. “Taking the whole kingdom as its cultivation ground. Gathering merits by stabilizing things up to a certain point, just by sitting still. Very… enlightened.”
Tian nodded. “Practically the definition of a sage. Sits around and by virtue of existing, everything is ordered well. Or at least better. Now, strictly speaking, you can’t call it being domineering, but at the same time-”
Burning Heaven started nodding along. “It absolutely is. The pose of not posing, the deafening cry of remaining silent, I see it. Of course, to be effective, one must be strong enough. One must cultivate a certain aura, imprinting a domineering image in the minds of others before they actually see you. How profound! This trip is already worthwhile!”
Tian was sure he didn’t see the Dawnlight Lark stagger while perched on the side of the boat. It must have been a trick of the light.
The little boat sailed up over the mountain, soaring higher and higher. Tian watched the landscape below with fascination. It had changed from a mix of trees into just pines and firs, then-
“What happened here? Who damaged the mountain?” He gasped.
“Mmm?” Mourning Cry looked over. “Nobody. That’s normal for mountains.”
Tian shook his head. The trees all ended in a nearly perfect line, as though some mighty being had chopped down with their saber and said “Nothing past this point.”
There was a belt of grey rock, then, “Is that… I read about this. That’s snow, right? I think I remember it from when we went through the mountains to the Five Elements Courtyard.” Tian muttered.
“Hehe. Yep. It’s very nice to play in. You will enjoy it. Well, probably enjoy it.” Mourning Call twittered cheerfully. Tian suddenly had his doubts. It looked brilliantly white, the sunlight almost blinding on it. Smooth and soft textured from this high up.
The snow seemed to shiver and twist with the wind. Then twist a little harder and-
“What… is that?” Liren asked, her voice hushed. Tian doubted she knew she was speaking.
The ground was a sea of colors, greens and blues and pinks and whites, and every color the eye could comprehend, coming from blooming trees, blazing flowers, flowing grasses, birds of endless colors and beasts radiating such power that even through the light shell protecting the boat, it hurt to even glance at them. A paradise, high on the mountain. A true paradise and a riot of color and a swirl of such elemental power that his mind simply could not comprehend what he was seeing. There were buildings there, he was pretty sure, but he couldn’t possibly describe them. Just trying to look straight at the holy land made his eyes water and burn.
“That is Myriad Colors Holy Land. Home of the White Peacock as well as numerous experts staying as his guests, and with a bit of luck, where you will be living and studying for a little while.” The Dawnlight Lark answered, a smile in her voice. “Treasure every second you are here. I’m a disciple, and even I can’t casually visit this place.”
She hopped around to face them. “A few rules- no violence whatsoever, for any reason. If you have any doubt that your action could be interpreted as violence, assume it is. Second- speak when you are spoken to and only when you are spoken to. Salute seniors when they pass, but unless they address you, don’t say anything. Your teachers, should one accept you, may grant you permission to speak otherwise, but never assume that permission extends to even a blade of grass or falling leaf, let alone any of your seniors. You may speak to each other, so long as you do so in private, at your guest quarters or some other place you have been given leave to speak freely.”
Tian would very, very much like the opportunity. The Lark glanced at him, and continued. “Related to that, you must wear these necklaces at all times while within the Holy land, and return them when you leave.” Slim crystals, seemingly uncarved and tied to leather thongs, floated over to each of them.
“These necklaces will isolate you from virtually all the various energies ambiently floating within the paradise. What remains will be safe for you to cultivate with, once you adjust. You have been wondering how I am reading your minds? Part of it is that I’m not. You are shouting your thoughts at me, constantly. It’s harder for me not to hear you than to hear you. The necklaces will mute your mental voices, and will shield you from casual observation from those at the Heavenly Realm and above. They will not stop someone from intentionally reading your mind with focused effort, however.”
Tian slipped it over his head without a single stray thought. As far as he was concerned, these necklaces were no different than divine artifacts.
“Lastly, you may take what you can from the Holy Land. Whether that’s wisdom, fruits, grass, people, whatever you like. So long as you can actually do it, and pay the corresponding price. Often that price isn’t anything terrible- overcoming a trial to take fruit from a tree, for example, or a display of strength to pluck a blade of grass. Other times, the price is rather severe. Make sure you fully understand what you are getting into before accepting any gifts, or teachings, or snagging a leaf blowing on the wind. Trickery falls under the prohibition against violence, incidentally, so don’t expect to be deceived by people. Nor should you dare try to deceive them. However, most deadly of all is self deception, and no law can prevent it.”
She let her words sink in. “Obviously, very, very little in the Holy Land will be suitable for you, and most things will be simply inaccessible. Most things and people would be difficult or even fatal for you to approach, let alone acquire. As would their teachings. The enforced concealment and separation is entirely for your safety, but do not confuse the present things with safe things. Or people. Exercise caution, prudence and restraint. Everything else is common sense, or things you will learn along the way.”
The boat settled down next to a wide elm tree, a few birds and beasts gathered below it.
“And here we are. And here you go.”