text; un: xiaoxingchen

[mingyues]

[ xiao xingchen is not someone who feels the urge to ask questions often. not of others, and even less so of strangers. for this, however, he'll make an exception, even if the words are hard to parse. ]

I have been thinking
The people that we are in this place, the people we become —
Is there a chance in this world for those who are destined to commit evil?
Or is it futile to expect that anything will change when we return to our worlds?

And if it is futile then... does anything we do here matter?

Comments

[downswing]

My deeds are not yours.

My answer is not yours.

[mingyues]

Good and evil are clear enough. Balance. Fate.

[downswing]

Then name the going rate.

Three deeds of goodness here, for each evil committed away.

[mingyues]

A life for a life. An eye for an eye.

[downswing]

Save one for each one spoiled.

[mingyues]

And for the death of a soulmate, how many should be saved?

[downswing]

Name your rate, master.

[mingyues]

No rate seems enough for that. Blind or not. Accident or not.

[downswing]

Live to make amends.

[mingyues]

I promise to do so.

And.
Forgiving others and accept the amends they make is far easier than forgiving myself.

[downswing]

As ever.

[mingyues]

I cannot even accept Zichen's absolution of my sins.

[downswing]

To wallow is indulgent. Begin here:



Do not kill within Cloud Recesses. Do not fight without permission. Do not commit acts of promiscuity. Do not go out at night. Do not make noise. Do not walk too fast. Do not laugh for no reason. Do not sit with a disgraceful pose. Do not eat more than three bowls. Be a filial child. Organise work properly. Diligence is the root. Morality is the priority. Harmony is the value. Learning comes first. Do not take your own words lightly. Do not act impulsively. Do not give up on learning. Make sure to act virtuously. Do not forget the grace of the forefathers. Be careful with your words. Be respectful and humble. Be loyal and filial. Be amicable and united. Be of one mind. Train your body and your mind. Stop the bad habits. Be strict with yourself. Be easy on others. Do not hold grudges. Love and respect yourself. Maintain your own discipline. If others win over you, do not envy. If other lose to you, do not look down. Do not be wasteful. Do not create damages. Love all beings. Honour good people. Steer away from bad men. Respect the filial ones. Destroy the five poisons*. Nurture aspirations. Uphold the value of justice. Shoulder the weight of morality. Embrace the entirety of the world. Perform acts of chivalry. Have courage and knowledge. Have courtesy and integrity. Have affection and gratefulness. Have wins and losses. Be fair, and they will follow you. Be trustworthy, and they will believe you. Be mighty, and they will die for you. Take the straight path. Reject the crooked road. Earn trust. Believe sincerely. Have a strong will and anything can be achieved. Win friendships with kindness. See friends as neighbours. Be just. Be generous. Be ethical. Be grateful. Be loyal. Appreciate the good people. Wake up at 8 of the morning. Do not be picky about food. Have a proper posture. Do not be overly happy. Do not be overly sad. Do not exaggerate. Do not use bad words to hurt others. Do not spread empty words. Do not break promises. Do not form cliques. Do not speak ill of others. Do not live extravagantly. Do not build wealth by using others, for this wealth won’t last. Help the underprivileged Do not argue with your family, for it doesn’t matter who wins. Speak meagerly, for too many words only bring harm.

[mingyues]

[ he reads those rules with attentiveness. of course he recognises them as principles of the lan sect —

his upbringing on the mountain is both similar and not. ]

Those rules you have shared with me will be taken to heart. I will try to do better.

YOU ARE WELCOME

[downswing]

It is what we most closely cherish.

HE CAN'T ANGST IF HE'S MEMORISING 3000 RULES SO

[mingyues]

My master was always sad when speaking of your sect. But... ah. Their weight will help ground me in this world, though I wish to do nothing more than allow myself to drown.

: )

[downswing]

The craven's way. No.

[mingyues]

I promised Zichen I would not.

[downswing]

Promise yourself.

[mingyues]

I cannot trust to keep a promise made to myself.

[downswing]

You left your master too early.

[mingyues]

I did. I see that now.
I

I should have never left the mountain.

[downswing]

You should have left it strong.

[mingyues]

I thought I was

[downswing]

Steel yourself.