Mo Yuan and Shao Wan (三生三世十里桃花) - Vol. 1 [COMPLETED]

Chapter 17

written by Chimera and kakashi
Edited by JoAnne

Father Immortal said that since Shao Wan was new to philosophy she and Mo Yuan could study together. "These last few years, Mo Yuan has cultivated patience and stability. He should be a good helpmate," he concluded, stroking his beard.

Poring over philosophy with His Royal Celestialness was not high on Shao Wan's list of priorities. In fact, it was so far down the list that she'd probably be dead and soul scattered before she got to it. She glanced to her right. Going by the crease between his usually placid eyes, Mo Yuan didn't exactly present a picture of patience and stability at the moment. So he did not like this arrangement any better than she did, Shao Wan noted.

She smiled. "We will work hard, Master."

The two students bowed. When he straightened, Mo Yuan had cleared his face of all signs of discontent. The silent, obedient son. Typical.

Father Immortal had left and Mo Yuan was standing there arranging scrolls on the desk. Shao Wan stretched her limbs. Mo Yuan sat at the table and looked at her expectantly. She cracked her knuckles. Rolled her neck. Mo Yuan continued to look at her.

Shao Wan's patience ran out. "What, you're waiting for me to sprout extra heads?" she snapped.

Mo Yuan sighed and laid his finger on the scroll he had unrolled on the desk. "We can start with this one."

"Whatever floats your boat, Celestial," she yawned. "Just start talking."

Mo Yuan began reading from the scroll. Ye heavens, it was boring. The Celestial idiot rambled on about another idiot asking the Buddha where favor bestowed bears great fruit, paving the way for the Buddha to launch into a long winded analogy about army candidates so that he could then spell out which traits made a person worthy or unworthy of honor.

To her it sounded like interminable over-thinking. Trust these uptight old fogies to make even a subject as invigorating as war tedious. Why complicate something that was as clear to her as day and night? Trusting your gut was how you survived, being one with the senses; effortlessly grasping your environment was how you fought, and going by your instinct was how you won. Instead of needing to be reigned in, her passions were what made her as quick as lightening during fights.

Yet, she did need Father Immortal's instruction. She'd come to the school, after all. Well, she was listening, wasn't she? But sitting still was torture. The emptiness of the classroom in the fading sunlight pressed in on her. Her fingers twitched to be active, to hold a weapon, to smack Mo Yuan's mouth shut. Halfway through, she picked up a sword and started practicing forms - there was never a bad time to improve her swordsmanship. She welcomed the familiar calm that enveloped her as she settled into her stances.

Changing poses, Shao Wan realised that Mo Yuan had been silent for a while. The bastard must be outraged that she was disrespecting the sanctity of the classroom. Ha! An outraged Mo Yuan was good; she must be doing something right, then.

Shao Wan took her time before looking up. His eyes were fixed on her. She glared at him. "What? Moving helps me focus better. My legs were about to fall off from the numbness."

Mo Yuan didn't say anything. He turned back to the scroll and went on reading. His calm acceptance was all the more annoying. Was the man dull at everything except sparring? Shao Wan gritted her teeth and imagined every sword thrust going through Mo Yuan's face.

Mo Yuan finally reached the end of his spiel. "Therefore, it doesn't matter which clan you're from. To bear fruit you have to abandon sensual desire, ill will, sloth and drowsiness, restlessness, anxiety and uncertainty, and cultivate virtue, concentration, discernment, release, knowledge and vision. That is how you can progress as a warrior and a leader."