The Immortal Path Values Life

The villagers discussed Bai Sui's proposal for a long time, but ultimately reached no conclusion.

Seeing this, Bai Sui did not press the matter. After all, the villagers' perspectives were indeed limited; even if Bai Sui broke it down and analyzed it for them in detail, they remained hesitant and unwilling to act, likely still hoping that Bai Sui and Kubota Noriyuki would step up to handle things for them.

From that day on, Bai Sui devoted more time to his own affairs, acting only as a competent doctor for the village and refraining from further interference.

The one who felt this change most acutely was Iwai Yasuharu, whom Bai Sui had kept by his side. Watching his master grow increasingly detached from the village, he felt truly anxious.

However, the teachings Bai Sui had imparted over the years also made him realize that the villagers were indeed the ones at fault, and his master could not be blamed for this.

Caught between the debt of gratitude for his education and the debt of gratitude for the village's past protection, he felt torn and miserable.

He had tried to speak to his master several times, but knew it would be overstepping; after all, his master owed the village nothing. In fact, one could say that most of the villagers had benefited from his master's kindness, so how could they turn around and use that kindness to coerce him?

Bai Sui naturally noticed his apprentice's unease, but he never brought it up, wanting to see how the young man would think and act.

Three months passed in a flash. Watching Iwai Yasuharu's constant hesitation to speak, Bai Sui felt quite gratified; at the very least, he hadn't raised an ingrate.

Yes, in Bai Sui's view, this was only human nature. If his apprentice had remained completely indifferent to the village and ignored its plight simply because he believed his master was right, Bai Sui would have considered him a white-eyed wolf.

After all, before Bai Sui took him in, he had relied on the village's charity to survive. Though life was hard, the village back then was not like it was now—back then, having even a scrap of food was a blessing.

If such a life-saving debt could be easily forgotten, even if the boy were loyal to him now, he would inevitably become a liability in the future.

One day, as Iwai Yasuharu was processing the herbs he had gathered in Bai Sui's courtyard, Bai Sui called him into the room and pointed behind him. "Sit."

"Yes, Master." Iwai Yasuharu complied immediately.

Bai Sui didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "I've noticed you've been troubled lately. It must have to do with the village. Tell me, what are your thoughts?"

"This..." Iwai Yasuharu froze. Although he had been mentally prepared upon entering, such an abrupt question left his mind in a whirl.

He looked up at Bai Sui's face, gritted his teeth, and said, "Master, I know this is the village's fault, but, but... can you really just..."

Bai Sui stared directly into his eyes, waiting for him to continue.

Finally, Iwai Yasuharu stammered out, "Could... could you please help the village once more? Without your guidance and teaching, the village surely won't survive the next crisis." He finished by performing a standard dogeza before Bai Sui.

Bai Sui helped him up. "Since you know the problem doesn't lie with me, why do you want me to take responsibility for the village's safety? Why? And why should I do so? What benefit is there for me?"

Bai Sui fired off a series of questions, not waiting for an answer before continuing, "You know it's unreasonable, which is why you've kept it bottled up inside without saying it, haven't you?"

"Yes," Iwai Yasuharu lowered his head.

"You don't need to act this way. I know why you're doing this: because the village helped you when you were most helpless, allowing you to survive in hunger and cold. You want to repay that debt, don't you?

Repaying kindness is not wrong, so why should you feel ashamed? It is because you aren't planning to repay the village with your own strength, but are instead asking someone else who has also been kind to you for help. That is what causes your inner turmoil.

Do you understand now what the root of your distress is?" Bai Sui continued to instruct his apprentice.

Iwai Yasuharu looked up, his eyes filled with contemplation. "It's because I'm not acting with my own strength... but, but I don't have the ability to help the village. I..."

Bai Sui chuckled. "What? Must the weak always be helped? Must the strong always help others?

Do you remember what I taught you? Heaven helps those who help themselves!

As a weak person, instead of finding ways to strengthen yourself, you pin your safety on others. Is that not a path to ruin?

As for your claim that you lack the ability to help the village, I ask you: what is the strength required to help the village? Can you tell me?"

"This... I... I understand. I will... do my best to learn from you and strengthen myself. I don't know how much power it will take to help the village, but as long as I keep strengthening myself, one day I will be able to help." Light flickered in Iwai Yasuharu's eyes; the more he spoke, the more firm and clear his resolve became.

Bai Sui nodded. "Very good. It seems you understand. However, learning from me is not the only way to strengthen yourself. Remember what I said?

Unite all who can be united. Even if the village appears to be doing nothing about the coming crisis, there are always those who are worried, just like you, wanting to do something for the village.

You can unite them, grow stronger together, and make progress together. These people, who share your goals and efforts, will be the fresh force when the crisis arrives.

And as for you, as long as you have done your utmost, you will have no regrets, regardless of success or failure—unless you failed to give your all in the process."

Bai Sui stood up, walked over to Iwai Yasuharu, and patted his shoulder. "As for the specifics, think it over carefully. You don't need to come here tomorrow; give yourself some time to reflect. When you have a plan, you can tell me, and I can offer some advice if needed."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Teacher!" Iwai Yasuharu left with his back straight, looking nothing like the dejected figure he had been lately.

Watching his apprentice depart, Bai Sui brewed a cup of tea and sipped it slowly.

Everything he said was correct, but in truth, it was because Bai Sui had already made up his mind to stay out of it. After all, he had taken on an apprentice, not an ancestor; he couldn't let his own kindness lead to his own downfall.

Bai Sui considered his moral standards to be at the peak of this era. Anything higher would be sainthood, which was neither attainable nor something Bai Sui pursued.

Although the Immortal Path values life and the Ghost Path values the end, that only means respecting life; it does not mean that death is forbidden. After all, death is also a part of the Dao.

Moreover, in his previous life, Bai Sui had already learned to respect the fate of others and let go of the urge to intervene.