Xing Yan stumbled upon immortal destiny entirely by nature's course. It might be said that it came unbidden, like dust settling upon him. Yet the affairs of the world were unfathomable, and the human heart was hard to fathom. Xing Yan's blessing of heavenly destiny marked the beginning of Heavenly Tempering of the Heart.
Consider a man of noble character, content to dwell in a humble room. One day, the Son of Heaven heard of his virtue and pronounced it good. He bestowed upon him a grand mansion and fertile fields, a hundred yi of gold, ten pairs of jade ornaments, and several servants, and spread his name throughout court and country. As time passed, would his heart be stirred? Or would it remain unmoved?
If his heart stirred and he rejoiced, some might call it desire, others understanding. If his heart stirred but he did not rejoice, some might call it cowardice, others caution. If his heart remained unmoved yet he rejoiced, some might call it hypocrisy, others wisdom. If his heart remained unmoved and he did not rejoice, some might call it foolishness, others benevolence.
The desirous were partial to themselves; the understanding were selfless. The cowardly were full of doubts; the cautious were ever decisive. The hypocritical concealed treachery; the wise understood principle. The foolish were benighted; the benevolent knew and acted.
Xing Yan's nature was utterly unfettered. Looking back along the road he had traveled, though dust and smoke filled the sky, he still rejoiced when there was cause for joy and grieved when there was cause for grief. He always held forgiveness in his heart, yet acted with the force of thunder. He met others with utter sincerity and would not bow before the insults of the powerful. Was his heart stirred? Or did it