The Awakened Are Always Happy, Part Two

Dai Mubai felt as though his soul had been torn out. Jodio's words were the ultimate humiliation, a complete rejection of everything he was. His heart had shattered.

For the past nine or ten years, he had been a favorite of heaven, the third prince of a royal family, a man everyone envied. He was extraordinarily gifted and even had a fiancée he had never met—well, not never. They had probably seen each other a few times. The first half of his life had been one long streak of wins, the perfect example of being born into the right family.

But his entire family believed in Social Darwinism, and even a favorite of heaven could be crushed and sent fleeing. Now Jodio had utterly outdone him. Dai Mubai's convictions were crumbling, and he could barely hold himself together.

Yes, he was trash. A worthless bastard. The ultimate, unbeatable worthless bastard.

"But I still hope we can be friends." Jodio slowly rose and walked behind Dai Mubai.

"Just as a god is destined to save the world, and just as your mother is the first person you think of when you're hurt. Dai Mubai, do you want to be my friend? Are you willing to make that your goal, steel yourself, and pursue it bravely?" Jodio bent slightly and spoke softly beside Dai Mubai's ear.

"Why? Aren't I trash?" Dai Mubai asked weakly.

"You are. But even trash has its grades. Do you know the difference between burnable and nonburnable garbage? Between rags and fruit peels? Lift your head and look me in the eye, Dai Mubai. Do you know why I'm willing to be your friend?" Jodio asked.

"Why?" Dai Mubai raised his head in confusion and looked at Jodio with his mismatched eyes. Jodio's eyes were unusual: his irises had a fractured pattern, with dark red at their centers. Staring into them made Dai Mubai dizzy. Even his breathing grew slow and gentle.

"Because of your courage in the face of death."

"Did you think that was what I'd say?" Jodio slowly walked to the window and looked at the Soul Master who had hurried out of a carriage.

"It's because of resolve," Jodio said.

"Even a moment of resolve will do. It's what I admire most: the willingness to risk everything to drag down those who stand above you. It's magnificent. Every time I see it, I can't help wanting to see it again. But it's too precious. I can't rely on it as a source of strength." With his back turned, Jodio gave a dark chuckle.

"Those with resolve are always happy, Dai Mubai. Do you have the courage to pursue your own happiness?" Jodio asked again.

"Before you brainwash me, I want to ask something. Why must people with resolve be happy?" Dai Mubai asked, looking up.

"Resolve means understanding everything you're committing to, including the consequences of your own words and actions. As I said, when a farmer resolves to raise his children, he has already accepted a life of poverty and toil," Jodio answered with a smile.

"From then on, he can immerse himself in the happiness of that understanding and of raising them. It's like a writer spending twelve hours a day on a work he loves, a painter coughing up blood to create a masterpiece, or a Soul Master pursuing the pinnacle of power. They overlook every hardship along the way and savor the encouragement of readers, the admiration their paintings receive, or the freedom their strength brings.

"Dai Mubai, what is your resolve? What are you willing to devote yourself to?"

I want...

I need...

I desire...

Countless thoughts swept through Dai Mubai's mind. At last, his resolve took shape.

"I want my family, my wife, my friends, and my brothers! I want them all to be free from the torment of killing one another and from every hardship!" Dai Mubai sprang to his feet and shouted toward the sky as though swearing an oath.

"Jodio! Please guide me!" Dai Mubai said with utter sincerity.

"Great." Jodio smiled. He turned and sat down again, his expression returning to its cold, unapproachable calm.

"Stand behind me. A guest is coming," Jodio said quietly.

"Huh? What? Oh!" Dai Mubai did not understand at first, but he immediately got up and hid behind the curtain with Ma Hongjun. Seeing how quickly Dai Mubai caught on, Ma Hongjun waggled his eyebrows at him, then struck a Kars-like pose, head held high, hands on his hips, and legs crossed.

Dai Mubai found it hard to keep a straight face, but he recalled the pose he had seen earlier that day and, deeply embarrassed, stood like Esidisi, staring at the door.

"I'm terribly sorry I'm late." The tall, thin Soul Master across from Jodio smiled and bowed slightly in apology.

"No matter. An honored guest is always entitled to arrive late," Jodio said with a gesture.

"Beer, spirits, red wine, green tea, black tea. What would you like?" Jodio asked calmly, remaining in his seat.

"A glass of wine," the man said with a smile and a nod.

"Lord Jodio, my name is Tong Bei, and I'm the owner of the Spirit Bone Compendium you're looking for. To be honest, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw you. I never expected you to be so young..."

The Soul Master named Tong Bei gauged Jodio's Soul Power and let a trace of disdain curl his lips. A mere Soul Elder. With my strength as a Soul Ancestor, I could subdue him with a flick of my hand. Hmph. Whether he buys it or not, he'll pay today!

"How did you get in touch with my subordinate, Mr. Tong Bei? Forgive me, but I'm a cautious man. I'm wary of strangers." Jodio raised one palm in a gesture of refusal as he asked.

"I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire, a merchant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Does that answer satisfy you?" Tong Bei asked, producing an indistinct token.

"So you're an honored guest from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Jodio gave a soft snort and sank back into the sofa, lazily propping his head on one hand.

"Fifteen hundred Gold Soul Coins, Mr. Tong Bei. Do you think that's a suitable price for a book?" Jodio asked bluntly.

"But it's an illustrated guide to Spirit Bones, Lord Jodio. I don't think you can put a price on that," Tong Bei said with a beaming smile.

This man looks like trouble, Dai Mubai signaled to Ma Hongjun with his eyes.

Obviously. If he walks out of here on his own two feet tonight, I'll be impressed, Ma Hongjun signaled back.

"When I like something, I pursue it with everything I have. When I don't, I won't give it a second glance, no matter how fine it is," Jodio said.

"Nine hundred Gold Soul Coins. Let's call it the start of a friendship." Jodio picked up his teacup.

"Lord Jodio, the fifteen hundred Gold Soul Coins aren't just for the book. They also buy my silence," Tong Bei said with an unchanged smile.

"Do you know what this guide is worth? Do you know what kind of people usually need one? Most of them already possess a Spirit Bone and want to find out exactly what they have," Tong Bei explained.

"Fifteen hundred Gold Soul Coins, and I won't tell a soul you bought my guide. That's fair," Tong Bei declared with conviction.