Beginning of Cultivation
Chapter 21: What is the Path?

Chapter 21: What is the Path?

Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang were currently on their way to the capital city, initially heading towards the nearest fortress. As they approached the town gates, Yue Guang asked:

"Are you sure we are on the right path? Perhaps we should ask someone here."

When Jun Wu Xiao heard that, he did not refuse. Even though he was confident that he would not make a mistake, he had to check again to be sure. He said:

"Alright. Let’s ask someone then."

Just then, a young man passed by, and Jun Wu Xiao immediately called out:

"Young brother, could you help us with directions?"

The youth, with his refined features, turned to see a man in tattered clothes standing before him, looking no different from a beggar. But the strange thing is that he doesn’t feel hate, on the contrary, he feels like this is the person he has been waiting for for so long.

Do not misunderstand, the young man was neither homosexual nor did he have a predilection for beggars. Rather, he had the feeling he had been waiting for someone, not knowing who, for a very long time.

"Certainly, there’s no problem. Ask whatever you need to." the young man replied.

"Thank you." Jun Wu Xiao said.

After confirming their location and ensuring they were indeed on the correct path, he smiled and said:

"See? I told you we were on the right track."

"Indeed. But it’s still wise to ask the locals, just to be sure. After all, if you had been wrong, we would’ve wasted even more time unnecessarily." Yue Guang replied.

As they were about to leave, the young man stopped Jun Wu Xiao and said:

"Please, senior, accept me as your disciple."

Both Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang were taken aback by his request, unable to understand why this young man would want to become Jun Wu Xiao’s disciple.

Jun Wu Xiao was slightly perplexed, as this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

"Young brother, are you mistaken about something? Why do you wish to become my disciple?" Jun Wu Xiao said.

"When I saw you, senior, I felt that you were extraordinary. I get the feeling that you are much stronger than ordinary people. That’s why I want to take you as my master, to become as strong as you." the young man explained.

Hearing this, Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang were momentarily stunned because, from an outsider’s perspective, they appeared no different from ordinary people. Yet this young man who had never cultivated could instinctively sense their true nature, which was indeed an oddity, perhaps even fate.

Seeing the young man’s earnest expression, Jun Wu Xiao decided to consider accepting a disciple for once. However, he felt it necessary to test the young man first, as he didn’t like to be in a relationship with someone he didn’t find interesting. He said:

"If you can perceive that, then I will give you a chance. Answer my question, and if I am satisfied, I will take you as my disciple."

The youth, delighted at being given a chance, responded seriously:

"Please ask, senior."

"Very well. Tell me why you wish to become stronger?" Jun Wu Xiao asked.

Without hesitation, the young man answered:

"I want to be stronger to protect all things and the world order."

Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang were so astonished by his reply that their jaws dropped. They couldn’t understand how someone with no apparent strength could harbor such a grand ambition.

To make sure he hadn’t misheard and that the youth wasn’t merely speaking nonsense, Jun Wu Xiao asked:

"Why would you want to do that?"

The young man laughed and said:

"Ha ha ha. Isn’t the world and all its creatures beautiful? What’s wrong with wanting to protect it? Even if it faces no immediate dangers, who knows what the future holds? To protect all beings and the order forever after is my Path, and it is the reason for my existence."

After hearing this, the two felt that his words, they also feel that it is not a problem, but there is a huge problem. There was no issue with the youth’s dreams and purpose in life, as it is natural for people to have dreams and aspirations.

However, his use of the word "forever" made them feel very peculiar. It seemed he was not merely speaking metaphorically about protecting the world for his lifetime, which might span over a hundred years, but literally forever, implying an endless future.

The strangeness lay in why the words of one individual would make them feel this way. It seemed illogical, as ordinary people lived just over a century, but they truly sensed an infinity in the young man’s declaration.

"Can you explain to me what ’Path’ is? I really don’t quite understand." Jun Wu Xiao set aside his bewilderment and continued his inquiry.

Indeed, he did not truly grasp what the ’Path’ was. He was curious because it seemed to him not to be something trivial.

The young man began to explain:

"’Path’ is a road, but it’s not an ordinary road that we walk on. It is a special journey, or you could say, a special choice that follows a person to their ultimate destination. This special path does not necessarily have to be something profound but must be the most suitable for the individual. The Path cannot be learned, it can only be realized after experiencing myriad things in life. No matter how long a person lives, if they do not realize their own Path, they are just like a lost soul wandering endlessly, living a life without meaning, and then dying. One might say if a person does not realize their Path, their life is only half-lived. The other half remains unfound, and they do not seek it. Realizing the Path is neither difficult nor easy, the most important thing is to find the Path that best suits oneself. As long as a person upholds their Path, it will accompany that person until that person dies. But in life, pursuing your Path is the most meaningful thing."

Yue Guang and Jun Wu Xiao listened intently, having never deeply considered this issue before. After hearing the explanation, Yue Guang felt slightly different from Jun Wu Xiao. She faintly sensed that she had her own Path, but at the moment she couldn’t think what it was. Meanwhile, Jun Wu Xiao sighed and said:

"What exactly is my Path? I can’t figure it out right now, nor can I realize it. It seems that there’s no correlation between strength and realizing the Path. Ordinary people can realize their Path, while I, despite long cultivation, still feel nothing."

Yet, he had no reason to be disheartened, as he still had plenty of time. Not being able to realize the Path now did not mean he would be unable to in the future.