Chapter 273: That Head Grew From Buttocks
Ximen Chuimaopi got up and solemnly bowed to me three times again.
I waved my hand impatiently and said politely, “Don’t always be so reserved, just be more casual.”
Damn, this guy is really serious. I was just being polite to him, and he actually took it seriously. He reached into my plate, grabbed a handful of peanuts, and started crunching them in his mouth. While chewing, he casually said to me;
“Okay, then from now on, I’ll just be myself around you, alright? And then we’ll be like brothers, treated as buddies.”
As soon as he finished saying that, I immediately turned cold and got up, launching into a series of flying kicks.
“Go to hell! Do you think I’ve given you too much freedom? Can’t you understand what’s being said or not?
You want to learn from me, and you want me to treat you as a buddy? Screw you.
Do I owe you anything? Let alone that you’re just my newly accepted subordinate, even if you were my childhood friend, I wouldn’t indulge you!
I cultivate for myself, and I help those who are destined to be helped. Have you been drinking yourself stupid or something?
I just told you about respecting your teacher and valuing the Dao, and you’ve already forgotten it after a few drinks?
What are you thinking about? Is that head of yours attached to your butt?”
Seeing that I had turned hostile so quickly, Ximen Chuimaopi was scared and squatted on the ground, not daring to look at me. He dug his toes into the ground, his awkward demeanor was indescribable.
Looking at his pathetic state, I became angry. I mean, you can be honest, but you can’t be stupidly honest, can you? Even if you consider me your teacher and friend, you can’t go too far in front of me.
Today, I happened to be in a good mood, so I just gave you a few kicks and a scolding. If I were really angry, I wouldn’t say another word to you. You wouldn’t be worth my attention ever again.
After kicking him a few times, not too hard or too light, I returned to my seat, dropped the cold expression, and smiled compassionately, “Have you learned your lesson? Drink if you want to, but only if you can stay sober. If you get out of control when drinking, remember this, boy: you’re never to touch this stuff again in your life!
To be a cultivator and be controlled by alcohol, acting recklessly and speaking without restraint, what kind of cultivation do you have left?”
Seeing my expression return to normal, Ximen Chuimaopi quickly kowtowed, “Teacher, teacher, please don’t be angry. I was just overcome by alcohol and my mind was clouded. I kowtow to beg your forgiveness.”
Saying this, the fellow proceeded to perform a series of vigorous kowtows.
This time I didn’t stop him. Let him kowtow, what else could I do? Kowtowing might make him remember, and not suffering a bit would just make him get carried away again, which wouldn’t be good.
This shows he has decent character, as he could recognize his mistakes in time and bravely admit and correct them.
Those who are stubborn and unrepentant would absolutely not look for problems within themselves but would blame everything on others. That is truly being finished!
The value of a person lies in self-awareness, and their confusion lies in indulging their impulses.
This temperament isn’t about one’s true nature or primal self; it refers to acquired personality habits. If one is guided by such habits in their actions, their destiny is sealed. You don’t even need to look; knowing their personality, you can guess what they will say and do with your eyes closed.
By giving him a lesson, I am actually helping him, and at the same time, observing him.
I’m observing whether he truly regrets his mistakes, examining his true nature through his subconscious actions and his gaze.
For those who follow me, their true nature is the most crucial aspect.
It’s like me back in the day, oh dear, when was that? Right, right, it was in one of my lives when I was in school. I was very rebellious and mischievous then. When I made mistakes, even if the teacher kicked me or reprimanded me, I would still be happy and cheerful, giggling, and wouldn’t get angry. Instead, I felt it was nothing. Because I was reasonable, and I was indeed too mischievous in front of the teacher, so getting a kick or two was fine. I wouldn’t hold a grudge over it. I would just forget about it.
If Ximen Chuimaopi, knowing he had gone too far, still didn’t turn back, then I would definitely send him packing as far away as possible, because he would lack the understanding of principles.
Cultivation without understanding principles leads to a lack of illuminating the mind and seeing one’s true nature, ultimately resulting in nothing. Only by first understanding principles, then attaining enlightenment, and breaking illusions can one see their true heart and understand what they are truly like. Only after becoming oneself is the beginning of cultivating immortality.
Otherwise, if one is always controlled by worldly illusions and selfishness, no matter how capable or famous they become in the mortal world, they will not attain the Great Dao in the end. They won’t even know where they will be reincarnated in the next life, and whether they will come back is uncertain.
Don’t think coming into this world is a bad thing; those who have cultivated before will progress further upon return. Besides, it’s not like you can just come if you want; it requires fulfilling a vow. Without sufficient virtue, one cannot come to the Human Realm.
But how come some people with no virtue have also come? Those are souls from other realms who have cultivated well. They are unaware of this and are still dominated by their animalistic and ghostly natures, losing control. Hehehe, they will face death and Dao annihilation. Not only will they not regain what they previously cultivated, but it will be as difficult as reaching the heavens to become human again.
There are thousands upon thousands of idiots in the world; half of them come from the Animal Realm and the Ghost Dao. The other half is divided again: half are ordinary people and half are immortals. Among immortals, there are also demons and ghosts. Only a small number come from heaven.
Ximen Chuimaopi kowtowed for three days and three nights. I didn’t say anything and went upstairs to sleep, but my spiritual sense was always observing him.
After seeing me go upstairs, he turned and continued kowtowing towards the upper floor. He kowtowed for forty-nine days. Fortunately, he already had some cultivation, and his physique was vastly different from that of an ordinary person; otherwise, such kowtowing would have killed him.
Speaking of which, Wukong was also rejected when he went to learn immortal arts, kneeling at the door for a year before getting his wish.
My indifference towards him is twofold: firstly, it is a trial for him, and secondly, in this process, as he continuously kowtows, the impurities within his body will be cleared. This is not a bad thing at all, but rather beneficial.
It’s like ordinary people making a long pilgrimage, kneeling all the way towards a famous mountain. In this process, it might look foolish to outsiders, but it is actually beneficial exercise for the body. By prostrating oneself with five limbs, one unconsciously places themselves in the most humble position, thereby eliminating inner arrogance, presumption, confusion, and greed.
Once a person’s mindset becomes peaceful, their metabolic system will adjust. This form of worship is like stretching and bone-setting through appropriate full-body exercise, stimulating the body’s acupoints, ensuring smooth and balanced qi and blood circulation throughout the body, promoting physical and mental ease, and enhancing immunity. Through repeated flexing and extending, the flexibility of all joints is improved, achieving the effect of invigorating blood, strengthening the body, and unblocking meridians.
