When Chen Jen and King Ching Chi arrived back at the cave they found Tzu-yu badly beaten and their few possessions scattered and slashed. “What has befallen you, my friend?!” exclaimed Chen Jen.
“I was assailed by bandits,” replied Tzu-yu. “And when they saw we had so few possessions of worth, they beat me, thinking we had money secreted away. What they
did not take they destroyed in their spite. It is hoped that one of them can read for they have taken all our books.”
“It is a shame they were not well hidden!” exclaimed King Ching Chi.
“But they were,” replied Tzu-yu. “I hid them where they could never be lost.”
“But where could that have been, since they were indeed lost!?” retorted King Ching Chi.
“I hid them in the world and they are still there,” replied Tzu-yu. “And if the bandits do not read them, they will be sold and someone else can read them.
But alas, they saw that I did not live alone, and I think they intend to return, thinking that our money was all with you.”
“Then it is best that we depart,” said Chen Jen, “for there is no value in us too being beaten with none left to assist either ourselves or you.”
“And where shall we go?” asked King Ching Chi.
“We will go to the Forest of the Dark Sages,” said Tzu-yu.
“And where is that,” asked King Ching Chi, “for I have never heard of such a place?”
“I have no idea,” replied Tzu-yu. “Nor do I know if such a place exists.”
“But then we will surely get lost!” exclaimed King Ching Chi. “How is it that we can go where we know not where, when it may not even exist!?”
“As for getting lost, those without a definite destination, how can they be lost? And those without a goal will find the goal-less goal within,” answered Tzu-yu.
“And should it happen that we find ourselves lost,” added Chen Jen, “this would be a wonderful blessing. For those who do not know themselves lost are most to be pitied. But those who understand what it is to be truly lost stand at the very threshold of the gateless gate and stand to realize what can never be lost. For this, indeed, is the Forest of the Dark Sages.”
This post is part of a series. To view the index, go here.
“I was assailed by bandits,” replied Tzu-yu. “And when they saw we had so few possessions of worth, they beat me, thinking we had money secreted away. What they
did not take they destroyed in their spite. It is hoped that one of them can read for they have taken all our books.”
“It is a shame they were not well hidden!” exclaimed King Ching Chi.
“But they were,” replied Tzu-yu. “I hid them where they could never be lost.”
“But where could that have been, since they were indeed lost!?” retorted King Ching Chi.
“I hid them in the world and they are still there,” replied Tzu-yu. “And if the bandits do not read them, they will be sold and someone else can read them.
But alas, they saw that I did not live alone, and I think they intend to return, thinking that our money was all with you.”
“Then it is best that we depart,” said Chen Jen, “for there is no value in us too being beaten with none left to assist either ourselves or you.”
“And where shall we go?” asked King Ching Chi.
“We will go to the Forest of the Dark Sages,” said Tzu-yu.
“And where is that,” asked King Ching Chi, “for I have never heard of such a place?”
“I have no idea,” replied Tzu-yu. “Nor do I know if such a place exists.”
“But then we will surely get lost!” exclaimed King Ching Chi. “How is it that we can go where we know not where, when it may not even exist!?”
“As for getting lost, those without a definite destination, how can they be lost? And those without a goal will find the goal-less goal within,” answered Tzu-yu.
“And should it happen that we find ourselves lost,” added Chen Jen, “this would be a wonderful blessing. For those who do not know themselves lost are most to be pitied. But those who understand what it is to be truly lost stand at the very threshold of the gateless gate and stand to realize what can never be lost. For this, indeed, is the Forest of the Dark Sages.”
This post is part of a series. To view the index, go here.
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