Dark Fate, Chapter 264 (Patreon)

Chapter 264 – Great Sage

Zhang Hu was not a brave man. He knew this, and accepted it. He would not say he was a coward, but he knew he was not particularly brave, either. Instead, he was, like most men, in that middle zone.

There was no shame in that, in his opinion. Not all men could be heroes, but any man could be craven. Fear was not a bad thing, in the end. It was the mind warning of danger, after all. If one truly felt no fear, then they would be a fool, rushing to an early grave, wasting their potential. The wise man felt the fear, understood it, and then worked with it to step forward while guarding against the worst outcomes.

Zhang had long ago decided that the difference between a Hero and a Fool was that the Fool ignored the dangers, assuming that they would be fine, or that things would work out somehow. The Hero, on the other hand, believed in their strength, and the necessity of the task. Both of them, however, were blinded by their beliefs, and set themselves upon the path to an early grave. The Heroes and Fools one read about in stories were the few exceptions who lived long enough to make a wider impact, the ones who got the lucky cǎipiào in the lottery. Most never reached that point. It was not the path of wisdom to try and be a Hero.

Of course, this did not mean one should be a craven coward, and meekly submit to all around them, either. That, too, was not the path of wisdom. A man who stood for nothing was one who would fall for anything. There was no safety in such a life, only the illusion of it, and the constant fear. The cowardly man would walk the road to damnation and cry that they had no choice, but the truth was that they chose to never make a choice, and do only what they were told.

He also did not subscribe to the belief of asceticism. Oh, the discipline and self-mastery parts of those beliefs held great value, that much he would freely admit. But facing intentional hardship and suffering and giving up all pleasures was masochism, not enlightenment. There was no value in a life that was mere existence, instead of actually living.

The true path to wisdom lay in the middle road. Neither brave nor cowardly. Neither ascetic or hedonist. Acknowledging all that the world had to offer, and accepting it all in equal measure. One had to be the willow, growing strong roots to anchor yourself in the realities of life, while maintaining the flexibility to bend without breaking under the harshest storms. That was wisdom.

Of course, Zhang did not expect anyone, least of all himself, to achieve true enlightenment in a mortal life. That was not possible for humans, but there was value in trying. So long as you strove to be the best version of yourself that you could be each day, it did not matter, in the end, whether you were brave, or strong, or anything like that. So long as you picked yourself up when you stumbled and fell, you were still walking the path of enlightenment.

Zhang Hu

The Dàshèng

Level 32 Monk / Scholar

Titles: Wise One, Adaptable, Self-Sufficient, Reforged Soul, Unique

Looking at his [Appraise] information caused him to smile, if only for a moment. It was three years ago when he found the [Staff of the Great Sage], resting on a stone in a hidden chamber of the [Singing Caves] dungeon. As a Monk and a Survivalist, he’d been able to move through some of the weaker dungeons on his own. He enjoyed testing himself, both his body and his mind, as he used tricks, traps, and cleverness as much as strength to overcome the foes the dungeon threw at him. But he’d changed the moment he picked up the staff.

His body had been purified by the staff, all physical imperfections and signs of age wiped away. Well, not all. His hair had gone white, and grew long and straight, as did his beard, giving him the look of a sage out of ancient stories. His Survivalist profession had burned away, and was replaced with Scholar, as well, giving him a wider array of knowledge, and the increased Intelligence to use it.

The staff, which had been a simple black wooden rod, one hundred and seventy-five centimeters long, transformed, as well. Now, it was two meters in length, and while it looked and felt like it was made of wood, it was stronger than steel. A cap of bronze appeared on one end, and a headpiece with a heavy orb on the other.

The headpiece changed to one of five colors at his command, one for each of the five elements. Silver was for Metal, and made his strikes stronger and his defense against weapons near unbreakable. Blue was for Water, and it allowed him to wound creatures of Fire, but its main use was allowing him to breathe and move underwater like he was born to it. Green was for Wood, and it helped him against plant creatures, but also helped surround his body with clean, breathable air, no matter the situation. Red was for Fire, and gave him fire attacks, and great resistance to fire of any sort. And Yellow was for Earth, which gave him a near immunity to magical attacks, and heightened regeneration so long as he was touching the ground or floor.

Zhang’s view of the world had changed that day. The Mantle of the Dàshèng, the Great Sage, gave one knowledge and strength, yes, but it also gave him perspective. He knew that people would seek his power, to use it for their own ends. He had no intention of being anyone’s pawn.

He retreated from city life, but he did not abandon the people, or his humanity. Oh, there was part of the Mantle that was just fine sitting on a flat rock by a waterfall, as he was doing now, and meditating. However, Zhang did not go that route, for that was not true wisdom. True wisdom required both the mind and the body to be active, and at peace. One did not get to that point with meditation alone.

That is why he made his way to Hualong Town, in Guangxi, and began living there. The town was far enough from cities that there were no crowds to bother him, but close enough that it was not abandoned, after the System created monsters everywhere. He helped protect the town from monsters, and offered training and advice to the people who came to his home. And he did not shy away from companionship, be it friendly drinks at the bar or something of the more carnal variety. As those he trained gained levels, they sought out new experiences, further afield, they brought the story of the Great Sage living in Hualong Town, living a life of pleasure and purpose in equal measure.

People began traveling from further and further afield to meet with him, and train under him. He did not take any disciples, and he formed no sect, like in those cultivation novels. Instead, he kept his wisdom and his training simple and practical, giving his visitors a foundation to build off of, and then sending them back into the world, to find their own truths, their own wisdom. Most promised to return, when they found their answers.

This rising fame drew more attention. First from Adventurers, then the government, and then those who still venerated the ancient ways. Which is why Zhang was not afraid when his morning meditation by the waterfall was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching. He had been expecting a visit sooner or later. It was inevitable, once people started talking about him.

“You are the one they call Dàshèng Zhang?”

Zhang opened his eyes. In front of him was a proud figure, like a cross between a monkey and human to his eyes, wearing traditional armor, and carrying a staff equal to his height of two and a half meters. He knew without needing to ask that this was the Monkey King, who had helped save Beijing during the pirate attack.

Zhang bowed his head respectfully, but did not rise from his seat upon the flat stone, or move the [Staff of the Great Sage] from where it rested against his shoulder. “I am called that, yes, by both those who meet me and the System. And I greet you, oh Qítiān Dàshèng, the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong.” He reached into his [Bag of Holding], and pulled out a bottle of baijiu, and a pair of eared cups. “I regret that I only have store-bought drink with me, which cannot compare to what is served in the Jade palace, but would you honor me by sharing a drink, Venerable One?”

The Monkey King looked at him for a moment, and then laughed, sitting cross-legged across from him on a whisp of cloud, his staff resting upon his shoulder. “We came here to see whether we had to put down an upstart rival, seeking to claim our illustrious title. But respect deserves respect in turn! And we shall not fault a mortal for only having mortal drink at hand.”

Zhang smiled as he poured the drink into the two cups. “I thank you for your understanding, Venerable One. I have never claimed to be more than what the System made me. And I certainly have not the courage to strike my name from the Book of Life and Death! Such things are best left for those with the courage and audacity to take on the gods. For myself, I will be the willow, anchored strong, flexible enough to bend and not break.”

“Hmph. You are no coward, though. You would not speak so openly to this Sun Wukong as such without some metal in you. You would be bowing and scraping, like those who come seeking our protection or our favor. This kind of supplication pleases us, of course, but it grows dull when overused. You, however, speak as equals to us, while also showing respect due our station. That is a rare thing in mortals.”

“Your story has grown over the many years, Venerable One, and been told many times in many languages. People all around the world have heard some form of your tale, by now. And while details shift and change over time, ever are you known to be one who answers insults sevenfold, at least, which is why those who come to you do their best not to offend you, Venerable one. As for myself? The stories also say that you are honorable, and seek no quarrel with an unworthy foe, so long as they have given you no offense. Since I am not a foe worth your time, and I am seeking no favor from you, all I need do is offer respect, in such a way as a monk like I can.”

“Hah hoh! This Sun Wukong likes your spirit, Zhang. But why is one such as yourself in this village in the mountains? Could not the Mantle you bear offer greater advantage amongst the ignorant fools of the cities?”

“You are not wrong, Venerable One. A portion of my Mantle does desire to go into the cities, and bring enlightenment to the masses. However, how can one truly bring others to enlightenment when one has not reached it themselves? No mortal can truly become enlightened, for there is always more for them to experience and learn.

“Thus, the most one such as I can do, is offer a starting point for those seeking the path, but they must find their own way. Because I know this, my Mantle is content. Because I accept it, I am closer to enlightenment than I would be in the cities.

“And there is another truth about the cities. The more people who know of my Mantle, the more others will try to use it, and me, for their own ends. And as I do not have unrivaled power like one who Equals Heaven, I would avoid the temptations and obligations of such a life.”

Zhang smiled, and said, “And my life here is not so bad. There are monsters to slay, to keep my body in shape and challenge my spirit. There are quiet places like this one, where I can meditate and bring my mind into balance. There are people in the village, should I wish to share a drink, or a tale. I have people who come to hear my wisdom, allowing me to set them on the path to enlightenment. The children come to me, to learn the basic tools they will need to defend themselves when they are older. And there are women who are more than happy to learn the techniques I have in bed, thanks to my [Carnal Arts], and they regularly come to ‘train’ and sate my lust. What more does a mortal man need?”

“Good! Good! This is the way a sage should be! Not those inflexible dolts or those sanctimonious tryhards. But we see you have a staff, as do we. What say you to a spar, when the bottle is empty between us?”

“Nothing would please me more, Venerable One, than to witness the techniques of the Qítiān Dàshèng for myself, without suffering your wrath. But first, we must empty this bottle, no? Ganbei!”