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墨書 Inktalez
When I woke up again, my eyes were stained with tears. I looked at my father and then at my master, confirming that this was not an illusion.
It was just dawn, and the light of the Morning Star was faint.
My master nodded in satisfaction. "Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hatred, desire. Humans have seven emotions; it is our nature. The fact that you could awaken from the illusion shows you still possess some level of composure."
With red eyes, I looked at my father and hoarsely said, "Dad, I saw Mom. She looked so beautiful and spoke so gently."
My father froze for a moment, squatting down and burying his head between his legs, his broad back trembling continuously.
Perhaps for someone like my father, a farmer who had spent his life facing the dirt and turning his back to the sky, concepts of love and affection were foreign. He never spoke any sweet words but had a sincere heart that could last a lifetime.
My master coughed twice, breaking the sorrowful atmosphere in the room. "Ling Feng, if you are willing to come with me, pack your things and we will leave. If you do not wish to go, that is also fine."
I felt a bit displeased; couldn't he see that this family was in mourning? Why bring this up now?
My father wiped his tears and smiled. "Ling Feng, go with the master. I’ll be fine on my own; it will be peaceful for me."
With that, he went inside to gather my things.
Yet my father's smile was more painful than his tears; I knew he didn't want to part with me.
"Master, where are we going? Will I be able to come back?" I asked, looking up. My heart was a mix of emotions—reluctance, sadness, and a hint of excitement.
My master patted my round head. "If you wish to return, you can always come back... However, I still suggest that you come back less often. If you truly want to return, it would be best to wait until after Nine Years. That would be beneficial for both you and your father."
My master, rarely serious, seemed to convey a message I didn’t fully understand. Still, I guessed that it would be best for someone like me, who brought misfortune, to avoid burdening others.
My father packed three large bags for me. There were changes of clothes and food; he stuffed everything he could find at home into those bags, as if he wanted to send me off with all his love.
Parting was truly painful!
As my master pulled me across the threshold, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. I broke free from his grip and knelt before my father, bowing three times.
“Dad, I’m leaving. Please take care of yourself. I dreamed of Mom last night; she wouldn’t want to see you struggling alone. If you find someone suitable, marry again. When I grow up and earn money, I’ll come back and take good care of you…” I choked out.
The dim light cast shadows on the doorframe, elongating my father’s figure as he stood by the door. From a distance, he looked like a silhouette.
By the time the sun peeked out halfway, the village was already out of sight. Seeing my low spirits, my master handed me a pastry and said, “Son, a good man’s ambition lies in the world beyond; there’s no place for the sentimentality of women here. Follow me, and you’ll surely enjoy life… most importantly, there will be many beautiful girls… far better than being with your poor old dad.”
I stiffened my neck and shouted, “You can’t say that about my dad!”
My master waved his hand in concession. “Fine, fine… not that I care anyway. What do I know about the world outside?”
Children are like that; one moment they’re heartbroken over a hasty farewell, and the next they’re captivated by their master’s animated stories and gestures.
“Rustle rustle…”
A faint sound came from the bag filled with peanuts and walnuts behind me.
I turned my head quietly to look and saw a furry little head peeking out—gray fur tinged with yellow. A pair of shiny black eyes cautiously surveyed the surroundings while a furry paw reached through a tear in the bag to grab a peanut. Its sharp little mouth chewed incessantly, revealing some bloodstains on its wrinkled pink monkey face.
Looking at its appearance, it seemed to be a puppy that had just been born not long ago. However, seeing the way the monkey was devouring its food, it was clear that it was starving. But where were the monkey's parents?
I was lost in thought when the monkey seemed to sense my gaze. It squeaked and then scampered over to a nearby book, curiously staring at me.
Its cries were sharp, almost as if it had been startled, tinged with a hint of distress. My heart felt heavy, like a large stone was lodged within it. I quickly grabbed a handful of peanuts and threw them towards the monkey.
The monkey appeared to be quite bold; it swiftly climbed to the top of a tree. After ensuring it was safe, it cautiously descended to the ground to pick up the peanuts.
From time to time, it let out cheerful sounds, as if expressing its gratitude towards me.
“Amitabha…” my master clasped his hands together, his face reflecting sincerity as he chanted.
“All living things possess a spirit. Even among monkeys, there are struggles; this Monkey Kid is truly pitiable…”
My master shook his head and got up to continue on our journey. I took some more peanuts and walnuts and placed them on a rock, gesturing towards the monkey. Then I picked up my luggage and followed behind my master.
I wanted to save this monkey, but seeing that my master had no intention of doing so, I remained silent.
After walking for a while, I noticed that the monkey was following us from a distance, clutching the peanuts and walnuts I had left for it.
“Master, that monkey has been following us!” I tugged at my master's sleeve excitedly.
He didn’t turn around. “If you can entice it closer, I will allow you to keep it.”
“Entice?”
A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.
As I walked along, I playfully teased the monkey, and soon its distance from me shrank from over a hundred meters to just a few dozen.
The night in the mountains was a bit chilly. I leaned against a large tree to rest, with a fire crackling in front of me.
My master was meditating, and the flickering flames cast a solemn glow on his face, giving him an air of sacred dignity.
I thought to myself that when my master was silent, he resembled a monk quite well.
In the early hours of the morning, I was dozing off when I reached out to scratch an itch and felt something furry. Startled, I opened my eyes to find the monkey curled up in my arms, fast asleep and softly snoring.
“Master, how much longer do we have?” I asked breathlessly.
My master glanced at me and then at the monkey on my shoulder. He delivered a line that nearly made me spit blood: “If it weren’t for training you, I would have flown back long ago…”
“Flown?” I asked skeptically.
He coughed lightly and replied, “Of course not like soaring through the clouds. But it’s not much different from taking a train.”
Suddenly, my master pulled out a paper horse he had cut out from somewhere.
He chanted, “Di Wu Ji, with a heart of Buddha and righteous law, traveling thousands of miles in an instant.”
“Close your eyes and hold onto my waist tightly; otherwise, if you fall off, I won’t be able to save you,” he instructed.
I watched as the paper horse slowly inflated like a balloon, transforming into a real horse.
I couldn't help but gasp in surprise, still reeling from the shock when my master lifted me onto the horse's back.
"Keep a close eye on your Monkey Kid," my master said just as I felt my body lean back. The sound of rushing wind filled my ears as the trees blurred into a swift backdrop behind us.
I held the monkey tightly in my arms, gripping my master's waist for dear life.
Aside from the tension, I felt an overwhelming sense of ambition. Once I mastered this, I could boast in front of Er Gouzi and take Fei Fei on adventures through Daqingshan.
At that moment, I had no idea how vast the world was; this minor technique was merely a drop in the ocean.
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