Pathway

Chapter 7: Coming Of Age [2]

"How's your day in the farm with your grandpa?"

Zhang Xiu Ying asked as she glanced at her smiling son.

"It was great, ma, and grandpa taught me many things."

"I trust your grandfather to do that. He's the wisest man I've ever seen. His words are heavenly treasures so don't ever forget what he taught you. They will surely make you wise in your dealings. Okay, anything you might want to teach me too?"

Zhang Xiu Ying stared at her son with a wide smile.

"Ma. What can I teach you that you don't know already? But, I can repeat what grandpa taught me and that's to be humble."

"Oh yes, you need to be. Before you start thinking you are the primordial king of the universe."

Zhang Wang Jing laughingly joked as she clutched her chest, which caused the rest of them to join her in laughter.

After they had all had their fills of the food and the table had been tidied, Zhang Wang Jing turned to her grandson.

"Ju Feng come with me."

"Yes, grandma."

Ju Feng walked with her grandmother to the outside of the cave. Zhang Wang Jing held Ju Feng's hand and with two steps arrived at the top of the knoll. It was a flat top knoll containing four stone stools. Sometimes, the family would gather here to spend their time together in the grace of nature.

To the front right part of the land was the millet farm, to the front left part was the goat farm, to the small rear right part was the practice area and to the other was the pond.

"I know you've been here many times, Ju Feng, and you have seen the landscape many times. Today I want you to enjoy the scenery in a different way. Your grandfather already taught you about humility. The farms showed you to claim nothing about your talents or any other benefits you have above others but rather consider them to be the grace and gifts of creation."

Zhang Wang Jing looked at her grandson compassionately.

"There are three things I want you to keep in your mind, Ju Feng. Humility, courage and discipline. It takes courage to show humility. Courage to know when you are wrong, courage to ask for help, courage to seek advice, courage to open your heart to learn. Courage to know when, how and why to stand up for yourself and for others. Courage to help you respect the lives of others."

Pointing her finger towards the right side, she continued.

"Look at the practice area, that is where we train in martial arts and mystical arts. We practice them to be able to defend ourselves and people we care about, still, they are arts that can take lives. It takes courage to NOT take lives of people even your enemies. All lives are precious. Discipline will let you keep these in your mind. You have to discipline your mind not to forget all these, Ju Feng."

"Thank you grandma, I won't forget them, I promise."

Moving towards one of the stone stools, Zhang Wang Jing glanced at her grandson and gestured towards the stools.

"Come and have a seat."

She took out a mug of milk and two cups from her spatial sac. The mug was inscribed with runes to prevent milk from getting spoilt. She filled the two cups and gave one to him.

"Thank you grandma, that's why I love you."

Said Ju Feng, with eyes and nose crinkling.

"Aha."

Zhang Wang Jing grinned widely, her eyes set on her grandson.

"I have a gift for you, Ju Feng. I bought it for you in advance before you were born."

She took out the crystal pagoda and gave it to her grandson.

"This is beautiful grandma, what is it called?"

Ju Feng asked curiously.

"A pagoda. They are used for meditation. They calm the mind and frame it for meditation. But, this one is different or told so, anyway. It's said to be a gate to seven realms. They are filled with different amazing treasures. All you need to do, is to continue meditating in the presence of the pagoda, anywhere you are. And the gate to the seven realms with treasures will open to you."

Ju Feng was totally jawed. He was staring with raised eyebrows at the pagoda. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Seven realms! Treasures! He was only five years old, but his grandma already placed a huge responsibility on him. He set his jaws tight and with a grimly determined face, he gleamed at his grandmother and fell to his knees with his head bowed.

"Thank you grandma, I won't disappoint you. I promise to work hard."

"I know. A step at a time. I'm already very happy with you."

From then on, time flew fast. Before they knew it, they had spent two hours on the knoll top and decided It was time to go back. They left the top and arrived at the cave entrance in a blink of an eye. Ju Feng quickly went to his room and sat in a lotus position. Crunching one needle-edge-sized blue crystalline in his mouth, he prepared himself for the impending energy that was about to implode inside him. Unlike before, he clenched his teeth as he strived hard to hold the energy in his dantian while staring the crystal pagoda placed in front of him.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wang Jing went to look for the others to discuss the developments. They had laid a foundation a receiving heart that they hoped would help him to discern for himself in the future. When a child was growing up, many other things would snake their ways into the young heart. Only a good foundation could, probably, help. From now on, they could only hope his mind stayed unyielding to life's negativity.

Seconds later, she found the others in the cultivation chamber.

"He's now ready."

Zhang Wang Jing nodded her head in confirmation as she looked at them.

"True. His mind is really remarkable for his age."

Zhang Li Qiang smilingly agreed.

"He has a very patient and receiving heart. It's the perfect time to commence his training. What do you say, Xiu Ying?"

"You are my parents. If you agreed, then yes. His body is so full of energy and the Chi energy in his dantian is already more than the average. Yes, we should commence his training."

They all agreed to start his training the following day.

That night, Ju Feng dreamt of a world of ethereal lights of many colours. The following morning, he woke up to his hand holding the crystal pagoda firmly to his chest. He couldn't remember when he fell asleep and how he was still holding the pagoda in his hands. He quickly cleaned his mouth with a willow twig soaked in salt water and washed his face before dressing up.

"Good morning ma, grandma, grandpa."

"Good morning son."

"Good morning to our grandson."

His grandparents responded in unison.

"Did you sleep well?"

Asked Zhang Xiu Ying with a raised brow and amused look.

"I slept well, ma. I even dreamt of beautiful lights."

"That was a peaceful mind, son. A truly clear mind. That's why you need to meditate more."

"Yes. Meditation unlocks the mind, Ju Feng. It's truly like beautiful lights. Very peaceful indeed."

"We have something important to tell you, Ju Feng."

Voiced Zhang Li Qiang with a bright smile to the anxious look of his grandson."Your training will start from today."

"We will be taking turn to train you in Chi cultivation, martial arts and mystical arts."

Zhang Wang Jing quipped in. She smiled at her daughter who followed queue and moved closer to her son, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"After eating your breakfast, you will follow your grandpa for your martial art training. After your martial training, you will follow your grandma for your mystical art training. And when you are through with your grandma, you will come with me for your Chi cultivation."

Ju Feng felt as if his heart would explode into a million fragments. He looked at his mother and grandparents with teary eyes before tilting his head backward with a yell.

"YES!"

Then fell to his knees. He too would one day fly on a sword like his grandpa, walk on air like his grandma and be like his mother with flowers of feathers.

"I will work very hard. I won't disappoint you."