Column (Ch15-Valuable Lesson from Zhao Chi)
Written by-Silver crown
Ch-15 Valuable Lesson from Zhao Chi
I was woken up by the bright sunlight that was shining directly on my face. I covered my eyesight with my right hand while dizzily shifting my head. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. For a moment, I couldn't think of anything. I looked blankly at the things around me. I was laying on a bed with a puffy and soft mattress. The glaring light shining on the bed was coming from the window with no shutter.
It was pretty bright outside, so I could see everything inside the room.
From the opening of a hexagonal door, I can see a youth who has similar features to Zhao Chi. He is a bit taller and more good-looking than Zhao Chi. He was sitting on a chair and drinking his tea in a leisurely manner.
"Rise and shine sleepy turtle. It's already bright," He said.
Hearing his voice and familiar phrase, my drowsiness went off instantly. Many events that have taken place instantly came into my head. I remembered I was knocked out by intense fatigue as soon as I relaxed for a bit.
I stepped out of the bed. The first thing I did was rearrange the bedding neatly. Since I was young, tidying up the bed has become a habit. Plus, it's rude to leave another person's bed in a messy condition. After all, he has given me a place to sleep. Meanwhile, Zhao Chi minded his own business. He didn't comment on anything. He just sipped his tea and waited patiently till I finished tidying up the mattress.
"Greeting Senior brother."
He nodded his head slightly for my greeting.
"There is a fountain. Go there and freshen up a little bit." Zhao Chi said.
I went in the direction he pointed and found a standing basin. As I come closer, a jet of water is constantly poured out of thin air forming a reverse fountain. I cleaned my face and gargled a bit of water. With no towel in my hand, I wiped my face with the cloth I'm wearing. The whip wound on my face sting a bit when I rubbed it. I stretched my sore arms and thought about what should I do for a bit. Even after a few minutes, I couldn't think of anything.
I returned to Zhao Chi who had already finished his tea. He gestured for me to sit in the opposite seat of the table. I grabbed the seat and sat down at the table. The table is rather clean, it only has a teapot on a strange thick plate and three tea cups inside an exquisite glass case.
"Do you remember what happened before you fainted, right?" Zhao Chi asked.
"Yes, I remember senior," I replied.
"Then it's good, you've been sleeping for a whole week. I even thought that you are either dead or in a coma." Zhao Chi said.
"Sorry for your trouble senior," I said while lowering my head.
"Do you find anything wrong?" Zhao Chi asked.
His face was showing a bit of playfulness. I really hate to deal with this type of person. They never told me directly what they mean. They only give other people a hint or a puzzle inside their message.
I have never been a bright person from the start. Not in this life or have even been one in my previous life. However, I found something was wrong with his words from my logical thinking. If it's already been a week, my wound wouldn't be still open and stinging. It might already form scabs. Or, if they have been healed, they will only be left with scars.
"It should only be a day or two that I've been sleeping," I said.
"Oh… you think my words aren't correct," He said.
'Isn't that obvious?' I shouted in my mind but the words coming out of my mouth said another.
"It's not what I mean. I thought it should be only a day or two when I look at the bed sheet and mattress." I replied.
"That's right, you only fainted for a night."
"..."
"In the voyage, I owed you a lot. I have learned many valuable lessons from you. Both directly and indirectly." Zhao Chi said.
He formed a fist with his right hand and covered it with his left hand. Shaking it back and forth at his chin height, he saluted in a way like he was saluting an elder. I saluted him back in a courteous manner.
"I have been living in the cultivation world since I was young. There are one or two pieces of advice I can guide you in this world as a senior. " Zhao Chi said.
"The first thing I want you to engrave in your mind is Don't trust fully. You have to think about whether it is true or false. Even with your most trusted person, you should think before you believe something."
"The world of cultivators is full of hardship and filled with tricks and schemes. You need to think twice before you accept someone's words."
"The second piece of advice is Don't show off everything you have. Being honest is a virtue but showing off everything you have is a fool's errand."
"You still need to have some tricks on your sleeve."
"Lastly, keep a sharp mind if you want to survive longer in this world." He said.
He talked about these things with a serious look. His words are obvious yet true. In this world, I am just nobody. Even though I have memories of my past life, I don't know anything about this world. What are their rules, morality, belief, and values? I can't assume that everything will be the same as in my previous world. I have to live with caution and take twice into consideration every action I might take.
Before I salute him back for his advice, my stomach growled. Zhao Chi stood up and walked toward the door. He looked at my stunned look and said
"I almost forgot you haven't eaten anything."
"Let's grab a bite first, we need to fill our stomachs before a long talk, right?"
I followed the way he led. He was walking silently so I couldn't thank him for his lesson. Zhao chi has his living compound. Including an ancient-style main house, there is also a guest house and a spacious training ground in his courtyard. After leaving the courtyard, we walked along the neatly tiled street. Along the way, I saw how the sect's roads were arranged and many strange people.
There are people with four arms. Some people have different tails and some have very pale skin. The only common thing is they all have humanoid appearances. We didn't greet each other while walking. Even Zhao Chi saw some of his acquaintances, they merely nodded towards each other and continued their way.
After walking for a bit, we arrived at a tall building. A signboard is hanging on the top of the door. It has a similar design to the heaven-purging pavilion. The first-floor (ground floor) tables were full of customers enjoying their food.
Zhao Chi climbed the stairs up to the third floor (fourth floor). Unlike previous floors, this floor has semi-private rooms with a wooden curtain covering the occupied tables. It also has a quiet atmosphere.
We sat down at an empty table. I didn't find any menu on the table. I was about to ask Zhao Chi but I was scared by a certain noise. It was a bamboo curtain flowing down by itself.
"We don't need to order, they will cook a meal depending on our condition," Zhao Chi said.
'Yo, what! You don't need to order in a restaurant? Are they reading my mind before cooking for me?'
I couldn't contain my shock but I accepted anyway. It was a cultivation world where everything was possible. Maybe this is a cafeteria where they serve a set of meals. After some time, I found something strange. I looked at him with doubtful eyes.
'Wait a minute. I almost forgot his lesson. Did he just lie to me again?'
Feeling my gaze, Zhao Chi laughed.
"Not bad, you are improving quickly." "But I'm not lying about this."
"This isn't a cafeteria, it is a restaurant opened by Seven-eyed Kraken peak. This restaurant has nine floors. Each floor has a different service and facility. You can only enter the respective floor only if you have enough status."
"On this floor, they provide the meal you need. Not a meal you choose." Zhao Chi said.
"Cough...Cough...Usually, I don't like to trick others. I only taught you a lesson since you are likely to fall for trickery and schemes."
After he finished talking, our table split from the middle. With an appetizing aroma, many salivating meals appeared from the split space of the table. It closed immediately after placing our dishes. However, My tears swelled up. I almost cry when I see the food on the table.