An Old Friend, Grown Old

The old, aging Master had never expected that the first question this child asked would be so vast. He paused, slightly taken aback, then smiled gently. Reaching into the scrolls beside him, he found a place where they could sit, drew the child down beside him, and pointed to the child's heart. "The Dao is right here."

The child lowered his head to look at his chest, puzzled. "Right here?"

"Mm."

Master Qiu smiled warmly and nodded. The child was still confused, so Master waited for him to think it through. He was always like this. His disciples differed in aptitude and temperament, and each excelled at different things. So when they asked him the same question, they always received different answers.

At that moment, the old Master had offered the direction best suited to this child.

It was not a true explanation of the Great Dao, but it was the path that fit this child best. If he kept walking in that direction, he could find his own answer. Of course, for now, his heart was full of questions, so he naturally asked, "Why is it here?"

First awaken the heart, then open the mind; only then could one teach.

As soon as the child began to question the answer, the Master's lesson had already begun. He followed the child's natural curiosity, calmly and plainly explaining further.

"Now, a thousand years ago, the human world was divided, and the Nine Provinces were at odds. Though all were human, they turned their weapons against one another, waging endless wars and forging blood feuds. The common people suffered greatly, and other races laughed at them. At that time, Heaven was in turmoil, and the Lord of All Spirits was still young. All spirits were called demons."

"Demon Emperor Great Firmament