"Blue-and-white script, modeled on the calligrapher Ji Shaoqing of the Former Han," Ming Qitian said. "No one used this script after the Jin."
Understanding dawned faintly on Pei Ye.
Ming Qitian continued, "In fact, the writing throughout the preceding text is in the Jin style, and even-"
She rubbed a page between her fingers. "This Sharkskin Paper is over a thousand years old, too."
"..."
"This is knowledge used in interpreting texts." She smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter if you don't understand it right away. But knowing this, we must now take the meaning of these two characters from their usage in the Jin."
"What do they mean?"
"They're Daoist terms. 'Nature' is a person's foundation, and 'destiny' is what Heaven bestows. Used together, they often refer to the essential characteristics of a thing, rather than its 'life.'"
"...So that's it."
"The metaphysical vogue flourished during the Jin. People loved discussing the Dao and discoursing on its mysteries. The sword's author wasn't deliberately misleading anyone by choosing 'nature and destiny' for his sword verses; it truly was a common expression then." Through her words, a fragmentary booklet of unknown provenance gradually became clear and comprehensible. "But the literary fashion of the time favored beauty and splendor, so he habitually added a little fine brushwork when composing his lines. The last two lines should mean-'True intent lies hidden in dim and shadowy places; to illuminate it clearly, nature and destiny serve as the candle flame.'"
Pei Ye nodded dazedly. "So 'nature and destiny' doesn't mean the sword practitioner's life, but the fungi's 'nature and destiny.'"
Ming Qitian smiled and nodded. "Yes. So it is precisely asking you to comprehend the essence of the Earth Immortal. I think that over hundreds and thousands of years, they must have had their own gentle