Taoist Master

The Grand Taoist Final 3

Five minutes.  That was all the time she had to scrutinize, disseminate and then formulate her argument.  It was no different to the first time, only this time she was pregnant and though she was confident in her ability to finish this debate,  the stress levels began to rise when her children decided at that very moment........ to play.  

Feet, elbows, heads and bottoms, bounced about in her belly and sending her body flying up on the cushions with a gasp.  

Quickly biting it back least Mo Yuan heard her, she began to rub furiously at her belly to settle them down.  "Be good....." she whispered which did seem to help because no sooner were the words out of her mouth, then the yoga moves came to an abrupt end.  And it would have been enough, only the pain was back and slowly edging across her abdomen.  It started off lightly, but having put up with the pain for weeks, she knew it would strengthen.  So quickly rushing her mind through Pei Fangs answer, she quickly conjured a clear picture of what she could bite down on before reassembling it into what she considered to be a decent comeback.

And before she knew it, Yuan Shi was ringing his little bell to inform her that time was up.  It was much harder for her this time around, because Pei Fang would have the last word and not wanting to give him anything, she put absolutely everything she had into it.

"I would hardly deem change to be inconvenient or exhausting." she began to a deathly silence as every pair of ears there hung off her every word, while Pei Fang inwardly cringed at the direct attack. "A Taoist would absolutely see change as challenging, but never bothersome because change is an integral part of the Tao as it is life, and nor would a true Taoist advise it to be so."

"Then again, as I mentioned, perspectives are viewpoints that each are entitled to, however, your view that planning and strategizing in order to combat change, also goes against the Tao which strictly  adheres to living in the moment and allowing life to move without action." she hit him again to a deep scowl from him and a light smattering of laughter from the audience.

"Of course, it is only fair to assume that inexperience in the natural flow of things would lead one to think this, however, I would suggest that before offering advice to anyone, practice the art of not trying.  Only when one has mastered the art of allowing nature to run its course and matured enough to understand that life always moves us to where we are meant to be , can one look another in the eye and knowingly lead them astray." she openly attacked him to a hiss from the other side of the curtain and a loud audible gasp from the audience.

Even Mo Yuans mouth dropped at that bold statement and he couldn't help but wonder what on earth was going through her mind.  They had already discussed the manner of man Pei Fang was and how he would possibly react to an open attack which to his mind, she was not prepared for, but to do just that, he couldn't help but cringe for the backlash which he knew would be swift and unforgiving, but like the rest, he remained silent and hopeful that there was a point to it.

"Perspectives number 25." she said softly and drawing all attention to the curtain beside her.....  "What I think and say is merely my point of view, and as you have said, it is no matter, nothing is.  However, try not to place too much emphasis on my words but rather the message." she added with a smile at the way his energy began to unsettle beside her, the first time she had felt it from him.....  "Perspectives open the way to tolerance and understanding.  The future generations will learn from me, that no amount of strategy will deter the natural flow of life.  Not when the whole picture gives a root cause and therefore solutions.  After all, strategy is as fragile as the one that plans it and Lao Tsu did say, 'To be over developed is to hasten decay or in this case..... failure."

Finishing to a hall of deathly silence, Bai Qian leaned back against her cushions and closed her eyes to the streak of pain still edging around her abdomen which she was quietly breathing through.  And suddenly the hall erupted at the exact same time she let out a pained gasp when a particularly strong kick caught her in the ribs.  Though Mo Yuan was struggling not to punch the air at her final words, to his mind, what she had finished with was a brilliant finale and he couldn't have been prouder, the smile on his face was plastered from ear to ear.