"Dad, what's more important?" a boy asks, his eyes curious, yet already weighted with a question beyond his years. "Making lots of money or… giving back to the world?"
It was a memory that Liu Zheng held close, a conversation he'd once had with his father on a quiet Saturday night when he was just 15. The room had been filled with a calm warmth, a cozy kind of silence broken only by the gentle rustle of paper and the distant hum of the night outside. He had heard many conflicting opinions on both topics so he thought that asking his father would be the best option.
The father sighs, his face gentle but serious, as he looks at his son. He takes a moment, as if choosing his words with care.
"Both are important, son," he begins, "but one of them leaves a mark on the world that money alone never can."
The young Liu Zheng furrows his brow. "So… which one should I focus on?"
"Focus on the kind of life you want to look back on," the father replies. "If all you have is money, your life might feel full, but it won't be rich. Find a way to do both, if you can. Have dreams, be passionate about them and earn everything you want, a grand house, car or anything but when you are at a point in your life when you have made your foothold in this world, make sure the world becomes a better place because you were born in it."
The words came washing over him like an echo—strong, grounding. With a smile Liu Zheng replied "I understand. I won't disappoint you, Father."
Sunlight poured gently across his face as he opened his eyes, a small weight lingering from the memory, knowing that his family is far away now, and could never meet them again. Or perhaps... someday.
It has been 3 days since the incident so those elders might visit today though it doesn't require much preparation.
Su Yan lay beside him, deep in sleep, her expression peaceful and undisturbed. Careful not to wake her, he slipped out of bed, his thoughts still churning from the dream.
Giving back to the world, he mused silently as he sat on the roof of the orphanage, the place where he grew up in. Below, children were sparring in martial arts under their instructor's watchful eye, their movements echoing with the sounds of discipline and dedication.
How strange, he thought, a twinge of disappointment settling in. In all this time, it never even crossed my mind.
He gazed at the scene below, feeling a strange sense of detachment, as if his life had taken on a shape he could barely recognize. Many strange things happened which he never thought about before. It was almost too easy to adapt to killing, to flying through the skies as if it were second nature. which was something my previous and even my current self in way could only dream about, fighting came so naturally to me.' His brow furrowed. What am I becoming?
Liu Zheng continued in his trail of thoughts 'If we remove fighting which should come natural to me as I have lived and trained here for more than a decade, flight, killing and worse how i tried to manipulate Yang Kai into serving me is something I have never tried before in both my lives.'
With a deep breath, he let his thoughts settle, knowing there was only one place he could turn for answers.
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A few moments later,
"So you're telling me," the distorted voice began, faintly mocking, "you have a problem that you are a genius who can learn everything quickly and adapt to anything even if it is completely new and foreign to you?"
Liu Zheng sighed. "This isn't about genius. That helps in learning, analyzing or creating martial arts, arrays or alchemy but not in adapting to killing, battle and flying, and even if it does. I don't think that's the real reason, it feels different, something deeper"
Liu Zheng did not show it but Zangetsu could feel that his heart was a bit troubled. "If you can't figure it out, maybe you're not as smart as I thought," he taunted
"What do yo—""
"It's because you are a hollow. A Dark spirit is called dark for a reason, not just because of the nature of our qi. We are famous for one more thing."
"Instinct."
"Bingo. Survival, battle, the art of killing—these aren't just skills for you. They're in your very essence. Everything that relates to it will come naturally to you as well. Including the things you mentioned before, your qi will recover faster, You'll find true qi, saint qi, even source qi come naturally to you. Mastery over Shi, Yuan mastery control and domains will arrive like second nature. That's the advantage of your bloodline, one rooted in pure instinct."
"So how pure is mine?"
"Its probably in the upper grades. You cultivation is still quite low, you will only know as you continue to grow. It doesn't provide any extra abilities other than the ones you already know but you get the point, right?"
"I see." The revelation stirred in Liu Zheng's mind, each piece falling slowly into place.
Sensing his partner's unease, Zangetsu softened, offering a rare moment of reassurance. "Don't overthink it, King. You're growing stronger, and that's all that matters."
He understands how Liu Zheng but for him what matters the most is that his partner remains safe and for that he need to continue becoming stronger.
Liu Zheng smirked, amused by his friend's brusque attempt to comfort him. "So, any trouble from our 'guests'?" he asked, changing the subject.
Zangetsu's voice turned sly. "Let's just say... I've handled it."
With a chuckle, Liu Zheng bid him farewell. A static noise was heard as he disappeared from his place.
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The river was calm, the old man's fishing line drifting aimlessly in the clear water. The stillness was abruptly shattered when suddenly something crashed into the river. Water scattered around everywhere, yet the old man remained dry, a thin veil of energy shielding him.
"Looking for answers, Liu Zheng?" he asked without turning.
"Yes," Liu Zheng replied with a grin. "Which is why I let you in on our conversation. I thought a wise man's insight might help."
The old man gave a wry chuckle. "It's been weighing on your mind, hasn't it? This... struggle between who you are and who you're becoming. A dream can do that."
Liu Zheng nodded, his thoughts trailing back to his father's words. He began explaining the dream, relaying the moments of doubt it had awoken.
The old man listened intently, then spoke, his voice steady. "It's not strange for you to feel uncomfortable with how quickly you have changed and how your current self is something you would never be able to show to your parents. You think your actions have been too selfish since the day you came here, am i right?"
Liu Zheng nodded "Yeah. While I know that the change was necessary, to a great extent since the rules of this world are different from the one I came from or you can say there are no rules except survival of the fittest yet It feels like the change has been too sudden, if it continues just like that and I never evaluate my actions. I might end up becoming a monster that I myself won't recognize."
"Liu Zheng, It is already praiseworthy for someone raised in this world to evaluate their actions with suffering any direct consequences but that is only partially true for you. The lives you have taken already deserved their end. I would've been the first to stop you otherwise so you don't need worry about yourself going astray as long as I am with you."
Zangetsu continued, "What's bothering you now is that the dream you had yesterday made you remember the morals and ideals you used to hold in your previous life which will only hold you back in this world or might even kill you.
As you said this world has rules—survival above all else. But don't let this world erode the core of who you are. Find other ways to be the person you wish to be, even if it means adapting those ideals.
"What do you mean by other ways?"
"That is something you have think for yourself."
Zangetsu's words eased the tension in his heart while also making him realize that even though he was a little bit good in cultivation, he was still a bit immature in the matter of hearts.
His gaze drifting to the distance as he considered what "other ways" he might pursue to remain true to himself.
A sudden surge of qi signatures interrupted their conversation, each one unfamiliar and bristling with hostility. Liu Zheng straightened, preparing to leave. "Looks like we'll have to continue this later. I have guests to greet."
"Before you go," the old man called after him, his tone solemn, "I want to ask you one thing."
"What is it, Old man?"
"Have you truly accepted this world?"
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Cultivation - Immortal Ascension 5th Stage
Body Cultivation - Top Rank Mysterious Grade
Combat Power:
- Unrivalled in Immortal Ascension(Base-Fused Shikai)
- Transcendent Realm 2nd Order (Bankai-fused)
Sharingan - Mangekyou Sharingan