After Bai Sui made his proposal, the villagers discussed it for a long time, but ultimately reached no conclusion.
Seeing that, Bai Sui didn't press the matter. After all, these villagers really had limited experience. Even after he'd laid everything out for them, they still hesitated and refused to act. Perhaps deep down, they were still hoping that he and Kubota Noriyuki would step in whenever trouble arose.
From that day on, Bai Sui devoted more of his time to himself. As for the village, he simply did his duty as a doctor and stopped interfering beyond that.
The one who felt this most keenly was Iwai Yasuharu, who had remained by Bai Sui's side. Watching his master grow increasingly distant from the village had him worried sick.
Yet Bai Sui's teachings over the years had also shown him that the villagers were indeed at fault. He couldn't blame his master for what had happened.
But caught between the kindness of his master's teaching and the village's protection, he felt deeply torn.
Several times, he'd wanted to urge his master to help, but he knew that would be asking too much. His master owed the village nothing. In fact, most of the villagers had benefited from his kindness. How could they turn around and use that kindness to pressure him into repaying them?
Bai Sui had naturally noticed his apprentice's unease, but he never brought it up. He wanted to see what the other man would think and do.
Three months passed in a flash. Seeing Iwai Yasuharu repeatedly hesitate to speak, Bai Sui felt gratified. At least he hadn't raised an ungrateful wretch.
That was how Bai Sui saw it: this was only natural. If his apprentice had never mentioned the village, believing his master was in the right and turning his back on the villagers entirely, Bai Sui would still have considered him an ungrateful wretch.
Before Bai Sui began teaching him, Iwai Yasuharu had survived only thanks to the village's charity. His life had been hard, but the village back then wasn't like it was now. Having anything to eat at all had been a blessing.
If someone could so easily forget a debt for having their life saved, then even if he was loyal to Bai Sui now, he would surely become a source of trouble in the future.
That day, Iwai Yasuharu was in Bai Sui's courtyard as usual, processing the herbs he'd gathered.
Bai Sui called him inside and pointed to the seat behind him. "Sit."
"Yes, Master," Iwai Yasuharu replied at once.
Bai Sui got straight to the point. "You've seemed troubled lately. I imagine it has to do with the village. Tell me, what are you thinking?"
"Well..." Iwai Yasuharu froze. He'd been somewhat prepared when he came inside, but the abrupt question still left his mind in disarray.
He looked up at Bai Sui, then gritted his teeth and said, "Master, I know the village is at fault, but... but... can't you..."
Bai Sui met his gaze and waited for him to continue.
At last, Iwai Yasuharu stumbled through the words. "Could... could I ask you to help the village again? Without your guidance and teaching, the village won't make it through the next crisis." He then performed a perfect dogeza.
Bai Sui helped him to his feet. "If you know the problem isn't mine, why are you asking me to take responsibility for the village's safety? Why should I do it? What would I gain?"
Bai Sui fired off question after question, not expecting an answer. Then he went on, "You know it's unreasonable. That's why you've kept it bottled up instead of saying it aloud, isn't it?"
"Yes." Iwai Yasuharu lowered his head.
"You don't need to be so ashamed. I understand why you're doing this. When you were at your most helpless, the village helped you survive hunger and cold. So you want to repay it, don't you?
"There's nothing wrong with repaying a kindness. Why should you feel ashamed? It's because you're not planning to repay the village with your own strength. Instead, you're planning to ask someone else who has also helped you for assistance. That's what's troubling you.
"Do you understand now what lies at the root of your distress?" Bai Sui continued teaching his apprentice.
Iwai Yasuharu raised his head, deep in thought. "It's because I'm not doing everything I can myself... 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? Those who help themselves will be helped by Heaven!
"When you're weak, instead of finding a way to grow stronger, you entrust your safety to others. Isn't that just asking for death?
"As for your claim that you lack the ability to help the village, let me ask you this: what kind of strength would be enough to help it? Can you tell me?"
"I... I understand. I'll do my best to learn from you and strengthen myself. I don't know how strong I need to be to help the village, but if I keep working to grow stronger, then one day I'll be able to help." A light shone in Iwai Yasuharu's eyes. The more he spoke, the more determined and clear-headed he became.
Bai Sui nodded. "Good. It seems you understand. But there's more than one way to grow stronger; learning from me isn't your only option. Do you remember what I told you?
"Unite everyone you can. Right now, the village may seem to be doing nothing about the crisis ahead, but there are surely people who are worried and want to do something for the village, just like you.
"You can bring them together and grow stronger with them. Those who share your goals and work alongside you will become a vital force when the crisis arrives.
"As long as you do everything you can, you won't regret it, no matter whether you succeed. The only way you'd regret it is if you held back."
Bai Sui rose and walked over to Iwai Yasuharu, patting him on the shoulder. "As for what you should do, think it over carefully. You don't need to come here tomorrow. Give yourself time to consider it. Once you have an idea, you can tell me, and I can offer some advice if you need it."
"Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Master!" When Iwai Yasuharu left, his back was straight. He was no longer as dispirited as he'd been lately.
Bai Sui watched his apprentice leave, then brewed himself a cup of tea and savored it slowly.
Everything he'd said was right, but the truth was, Bai Sui had already decided not to get involved. Iwai Yasuharu was his apprentice, not his ancestor. Bai Sui couldn't let his own kindness drag him down.
He considered himself already at the highest level of morality this era had to offer. Anything beyond that would be sainthood, which was beyond him and not something he aspired to.
It was said that the immortal way cherished life, while the ghostly way cherished death. But that only meant life was valued; it didn't mean death was forbidden. After all, death was also part of the Dao.
Besides, in his previous life, Bai Sui had already learned to respect other people's fates and let go of the urge to help.