HATRED, RESENTMENT, AND SINCERE LOVE

The nighttime always turned to be the learning session taught by Gao Qing. And as always, the lessons were held outdoors. Millions of stars lighted the sky like snowflakes in the night. They sat in the garden surrounded by grasses and trees, listening to natural music in the form of crickets chirping to each other.

"What acupuncture points have you used in this afternoon?" Gao Qing opened the learning session.

Zhu Youdun answered, "Pretty much. Hegu, Quchi, Dazhui, Baihui, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Yanglingquan..."

"Xuehai, Fengshi, and Fengchi on the back of the head," Hu Nayin also gave the answer.

Gao Qing nodded. "And how many patients are satisfied with your treatment?"

"Eeerrr, that..."

"But many of them are willing to be our learners' materials," said Zhu Su, his face glowed with happiness. "Even though they know we are beginners, but they still believe in us."

Gao Qing stared deeply into Zhu Su's eyes. Being worried that his teacher was getting angry with him, he soon added, "But of course we won't treat them carelessly, we do extra hard to give them the best result!"

"My Boy, have you noticed, how nice they are towards you?"

"Eh?"

"Yes. All of your patients like you so much. They even don't mind queuing for a long time just to get your treatment although they know that you are just a novice... as well as letting themselves as your learning materials. Does it show their kindhearted towards you?"

Zhu Su smiled. "Yes, Sir... I am so grateful, they all are very nice towards me, Heaven brings a very good Fate for me..."

"Yes. Heaven is so kind to you. So many people are nice to you. So, my Boy," Gao Qing's voice turned very serious. "Do you still want to maintain all of your negative thoughts, all of your resentment, as well as your ambitions to usurp the throne?"

Not expecting that it was the kind of question Gao Qing would ask, Zhu Su abruptly felt his tongue became numbed.

"I look it very clearly, the happiness emitted from your eyes when you diagnose the patients, when you have the conversation with them, when you give them treatment, and even when you search for medicinal plants and concoct the herbs. You like Yi so much. And now, you ruin the purity of your heart with resentment and the ambition to seize the throne. The beauty of your mind now become defect just because of that, is it to be pitied?"

"But... Sir... Is it you yourself who tell me, that you will help me to seize the throne?... I... don't get your point..."

"So, for all this time, you still don't get it?" Gao Qing asked him back. "Have you ever asked yourself, why do I instead teach you the art of Yi which has nothing to do with seizing the power?"

This time, Zhu Su soon fully understood. Yes. For all this time, what Gao Qing taught was the philosophy of life, and medical science. He never discussed even a topic about politics or the military. He indeed always asked about this matter to himself, yet his naïve mind thought that it was the basic knowledge he should manage to master before he could get to the next level, and when he reached some level then Gao Qing would teach what he actually wanted to learn.

Who knew?...

Actually, what his teacher preferred was...

"Our life is very short. In this very short life, do you still want to waste the time just for planning to usurp the throne? And it is also uncertain to be done, considering your current status as well as the location you live right now. In the end, you just have your whole life be spent on something negative if you still maintain your resentment.

"Before, I also live the same life as yours. Being angry, resentful, hateful, ill will... Day by day I spent with grieving, blaming fate, and condemning this life. I forgot to be grateful when seeing the beauty of the sun rising in the east. My heart was still burned by the flame of hatred whereas what I should do was looking at the enchanting starry night happily. When I was supposed to be thankful for the happiness in my life, I didn't do that instead. And I have lived that kind of life for years. Looking at the past, I am so regretful, why I wasted so much time just for that sucked things. The reason why I live, is not only to get angry and to hold a grudge, my life mission is greater, more valuable than that. But too late. Many years have been passed in vain just because of my unwillingness to get free from that useless emotion.

"Well, my Boy. It's still not too late for you. Do as I suggest; let go of your ambition. Not only it is impossible to be fulfilled, but more than that, it is meaningless to be realized. Speak honestly, what kind of pride do you get by possessing power? What is the pleasure of becoming emperor? The pleasure of possessing power is just that we are worshipped and frightened by others. But, will you find true happiness with being worshipped and frightened by others? In my opinion, it's far better to be liked and loved by kindhearted people. You don't need fake praise and worship, Boy, what you need is sincere love. However, no need for you to search for it anymore. Without becoming emperor, you have got sincere love, here and now.

"No matter what, you have been in Mogaung, far from those who want to kill you. So, close your book of previous life. Your previous life book in Ming has been over. Mogaung is a new life for you. Open the page of your new life, live with a peaceful life, which is full of happiness and free from resentment."

A star was flickering at the far left side of the sky, and then shot down towards the southeast. A shooting star. The night breeze blew slowly. Zhu Su kept silent for a long time. His mind was busy pondering for every word of his teacher, one by one.