The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 107 - Second Lesson

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Hweiru knew that she was different since she was two. Her parents moved from one mission to another as she grew up. She never really had a stable home or a regular routine. She never went to school like the other young Lan Clan children and was taught by her father how to read and fight. She never had friends her own age and always had a hard time fitting in.

When Grandmaster Qiren suggested to Wuxian that he send Hweiru to join the school in Cloud Recesses, he initially thought it was a good idea. After a week of attending, the teachers there complained that the little girl was too advanced for her age and was having a hard time fitting with the other children. The master who's managing the study groups suggested that they continue to teach the child at home. Wuxian was somewhat disappointed. He wanted his daughter to have friends and mingle with her clan peers.

Grandmaster Qiren offered to teach the girl for the time being and she's been attending learning lessons with him every other day. Qiren enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter and Hweiru loved the advanced material Qiren was willing to teach her.

Hweiru was listening to her grandfather recite a passage about the virtue of temperance when a thought occurred to her. She waited until he was done with the passage and asked: "Grandfather, if a cultivator kills while fulfilling a mission, is he or she considered a murderer?"

Qiren thinks of it for a second then says: "There are acceptable reasons to take another's life."

Hweiru: "Can you tell me?"

Qiren moves to sit near her and says: "As cultivators, our goal is to achieve control. The more power we harness the better we get at containing it with meditation and practice. Cultivation is not for the faint of heart. We use it to contain and restrain the evil in this world and to tame the wild. Sometimes things get out of hand and we resort to terminate rather than restrain. That's why we teach you ethics and morals so you can grow up and choose the right way to solve problems."

Hweiru nods, so he continues: "With that said, a cultivator resorts to killing righteously in three acceptable manner: Self defence, protecting the frail and as a last resort."

Hweiru frowns: "What is considered a last resort?"

Qiren: "Imagine a night hunt where none of your techniques and talismans work in containing a possessed man. Would you walk away since you have exhausted all your defensive moves or stay and switch to offence."

Hweiru: "Stay."

Qiren: "Once you decide to go on the offence, drastic measures might lead to death. It is argued that the death of a few is justifiable only to save the many. We call that: the last resort."

Hweiru ponders on his words for a few seconds and asks timidly: "Grandfather, have you ever killed anyone?"

Qiren smiles sadly at her: "Unfortunately, I have."

When he catches a passing look of shame in her eyes, he remembers the state she arrived in at Cloud Recesses. He gently takes her small hand in his and asks: "Have you?"

Hweiru hesitates for a few seconds then nods.

Qiren tried his best not to show his shock and said: "Would you like to tell me about it?"

Hweiru shakes her head. He tries again: "Was it for one of the reasons I mentioned were acceptable?"

Hweiru nods. He smiles warmly at her: "Then you have nothing to worry or be ashamed of. You are a cultivator in the making after all."