"I've been thinking about this, Master," Wu Ling said. "Hall Master Bian in my sect has outlined different paths to leverage my ability as a shapeshifter. I've been trying to think about which of the options she outlined feels the most useful to me. She did say that I should eventually learn all of them, but I think my first choice should help me overcome my immediate challenges."
"While the paths outlined by your Hall Master are not poor options for many cultivators, you would do well to discard all of them," the Immortal Empress said firmly. Her voice landed on Wu Ling like the Mandate of Heaven, so firm was her will that he was terrified of defying her orders. His heart shivered at the notion of defying Hall Master Bian Xing's intentions but his very soul felt like collapsing at the idea of defying his Master!
"Your Hall Master is attempting to pull you onto her own path, to help her complete her own journey. In order to succeed in her plans, you would have to cease to think of yourself as an Artist," Hua Jue explained, gesturing at Wu Ling's calligraphy and the seven words written on the wall. "You didn't write 'Shapeshifter' on the wall. You can be assured that were she to have Awakened the way you did, she would have done so."
"But, at the time, I didn't know that I had a gift for Shapeshifting," Wu Ling said hesitantly. "I might have written it if I'd known at the time."
"For someone who travels with a Truthseer, I expect you to be more honest with yourself," she responded with mild disapproval. "If I asked you to rewrite your words today, can you truthfully tell me that being a Shapeshifter is the most important thing for you to write up there? More important than your arts, your dreams, and everything else?"
"No," Wu Ling admitted with a shake of his head. "It's a power that I have but I don't think it defines me. Rather, it's a power that I feel I need to master because the way I've been using it, I don't feel in control of myself. I don't like that feeling," he said in a voice that grew increasingly small toward the end.
"That's better," Hua Jue praised, giving Wu Ling a smile that warmed him to the bottom of his toes. "I want you to think of your next path differently than your Hall Master thinks of it. What I want you to consider are three different reasons to choose a specific second path."
"The first reason to choose your second path is so that you can walk faster down your current path," she began, holding up a single finger. "Think of it as adding wings to a tiger. You're learning to fight with your arts. You could reawaken to open a Martial path, gaining greater ability to master highly physical forms of art. Your mother has already prompted you to consider learning to dance and that's only one of many forms of art that can benefit from the body-strengthening methods of Body cultivators."
"You're also carving bone," she said. "But you could also cultivate great physical strength to carve granite and marble. Remember that the martial path isn't just about fighting, it's about drawing out the power of your Body in every possible way," she emphasized.
"The second reason to choose your second path is to make up for a weakness that you have," she continued, holding up a second finger. "Consider Scholarly applications for a moment. How often have you turned to an Alchemist for assistance preparing pigments, producing elixirs, and tending to your own battle wounds? You lack self-sufficiency."
"If you choose to," Hua Jue said. "You could reawaken as a Scholar, seizing this opportunity to address your weakness. Of course, a Scholar's mind is also a powerful tool for other parts of your journey as an Artist. If you cultivate your Mind, you'll find it much easier to recall hundreds and thousands of songs for example."
"The third and final reason to choose your second path is to go somewhere that your current path cannot reach," she said, holding up a third finger. "While I would never suggest you choose the path of a seer, it makes an apt example. Your art can do much but you cannot pierce the veil of the Heavens to see what dangers may lurk in your future. Only by cultivating your Soul and its mysteries could you hope to reveal Heaven's secrets."
"Of course, these are just examples," the Immortal Empress said, turning her attention away from her disciple's painting and fully back to him. "The question before you is, which approach feels right to you?"
"Master, I have a thought, but I'm afraid you may not approve. Will you indulge your disciple for a moment of being willful?" Wu Ling said hesitantly.
"Your Hall Master's harsh methods have left scars already it seems," Hua Jue said gently, reaching out to cup Wu Ling's face between her hands. "You are my disciple. You are a treasure among treasures, a person who I have measured and approved of. Do not think that it is only a twist of fate and the theft of a manual that allowed you to reach the position you occupy in my life and my heart."
"Countless others tried to inherit the manual I left in this Mortal Realm. They all failed. You didn't. Have faith in your own worth and ask the questions that will help you learn," she said gently but firmly, looking deep into Wu Ling's silver eyes before letting go of his face and returning to her seat.
"Master, I, I'm walking on a path that uses my art for assassination," he began, stumbling at first but gaining confidence as he continued. "As I currently am, I lack the confidence to be precise in my methods, to achieve success, and to escape afterward. I feel like this is a weakness that I have to address, but I do not know if Master would approve of this use of her manual."
"Hehe," the Immortal Empress giggled, holding a hand to her painted lips and giggling for several breaths while she looked at Wu Ling with sparkling eyes that had become crescent-shaped.
"Oh my good disciple," Hua Jue said. "While it could be considered impertinent to ask such a thing of many masters, I don't mind in the slightest. After all, while I have never used my arts for assassination in this life, there was a time when I was known as the 'Calamity Star.' In that life, I was one of the most feared assassins of the Immortal Realms," she said, shocking Wu Ling to the core.
"If you wish, I can help you learn the methods I used in that life. I should warn you, however, that if you truly wish to grow as an assassin, you may find that death and violence begin to distort your art. Keeping true to your heart in the midst of that much murder won't just demand tremendous strength from you, but from the ones you love as well."
"So is that truly what you want to use your second path for? To become a better assassin?"