Chapter 196 — Merit
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 6
Zhou Yixuan glanced at the people shuffling along around them and said, "Are all the living creatures of the world fools? Of course not. Only at the threshold of life and death, who knows how many cannot bring themselves to trust in themselves, and would sooner listen to another's comfort. When I point out the way for them, most of what I say concerns the latter half of their lives, and how much better it will be than their lot today. With words like these, they pay their silver and their hearts are set at ease."
Xiao Wan suddenly said, "Grandfather, did you really read that from physiognomy, or were you just making it up to fool them?"
Zhou Yixuan smiled faintly. "I made it up."
Xiao Wan and the Wild Wolf Daoist exchanged a glance, and for a moment neither could find a word to say.
Zhou Yixuan lifted his head and gazed at the sky, at that vast and drifting firmament, and after looking long he said leisurely, "A calamity such as this may come once, but never twice—otherwise even the Heavenly Dao would not permit it."
Having said this, he turned back and laughed. "That being so, the days to come will surely be far better than these present days, when we know not whether we live or die—so I can hardly be called a liar. On the contrary, all along the road I have comforted and counseled countless folk tossed about and driven from their homes; who knows how many were reborn to hope, how many dead ashes flared again, at a word from this old man. Can those monks and priests, cooped up in their temples all day chanting sutras and invoking the Buddha, ever match such merit as this?"
He reached out and patted Xiao Wan on the head, his face all immortal air and righteous dignity, bearing the full look of an old man's compassion for the world and his resolve to save it—the tragic grandeur of one who would descend alone into hell to deliver all living things. Even the fact that he had pocketed so much gleaming silver was a matter of great righteousness: not to take it would be to fail the saving of men, and to take it was the act of utmost mercy—such was the weathered, upright air about him as he sighed and said:
"Life, truly, is lonely."
For a time no one made a sound; all around fell into utter silence.
Zhou Yixuan frowned, drew his gaze back down from the high, distant firmament, and lowered his head to look about him.
"Hey, you two—what are you walking so fast for?"