Deception

"Humans are of paramount importance?" Ding Songyan repeated Yan Changqing's words. Yan Changqing nodded solemnly. "Humans are the foremost of all living beings, the head of the hundred races. How could they lack unique virtues? "You must understand, after Emperor Xuanyuan united with the Dao and before Qi of the Xia, the Heavenly Emperor was always concurrently the Sovereign of Humanity. How could there not be reason in that? "To forget humanity's strengths and merely ape mythical beasts and strange spirits is to abandon the root and chase after the branches!" Ding Songyan dared to believe three out of ten words Yan Changqing spoke at most, yet this reasoning seemed fairly sound on its own terms. Playing along, he asked cooperatively, "Then where do human strengths lie?" With his hands clasped behind his back, Yan Changqing paced forward and tapped his own head. "In intellect, in spirit, and in the Lingtai. "Skillfully use body and mind to resonate with Heaven and Earth, to summon spirits and command ghosts! In the future, if you can reach before the Heaven-Man Realm and catch a glimpse of the Spirit Terrace Realm, you will discover that as long as the root remains, you achieve twice the result with half the effort. In martial arts, one trains the 'spirit' first; in cultivation, one cultivates 'oneself' first. In this way, the Lingtai resides in the heart, and even the Great Luo is but a mystical gateway." You're jumping straight to the Heaven-Man Realm and Spirit Terrace Realm to explain human strengths—why do I feel like you're swindling me again? Ding Songyan muttered inward reservations as he listened. In his past life, if someone had talked about a business deal worth tens of millions, he would have been ecstatic. If they started talking about billions, he would have considered calling the police. Yan Changqing halted, cast his gaze upon Ding Songyan, and smiled faintly. "Ever since the end of the Han dynasty, consuming mythical beasts can only take one to the Dharma Realm; reaching the Heaven-Man Realm is exceedingly difficult. That is because pure supernatural power has waned, no longer able to mend the weakness of one's root. Don't you see? Over the past thousand years, seven or eight out of ten grandmasters who pursued that path have been trapped in the Dharma Realm, unable to advance further." Is this why Feng Yining of the Five Saints Sect chose to enter death seclusion at barely twenty to seek the Heaven-Man Realm? Ding Songyan drew a few connections. The Five Saints Sect was also one of the "Six Sects and Four Schools" of Great Zhao, its arts originating from the phoenix, granting the unique trait of enhancing one's complexion and physical appearance. Ding Songyan naturally yearned for it, but it was simply beyond his reach. His temples frosted with gray, Yan Changqing abruptly changed the subject and asked with a chuckle, "Have you ever deceived someone in a matter of great importance?" "Never." Ding Songyan shook his head reflexively. With investors, that was called a win-win! Yan Changqing burst into laughter. "It seems you are very well suited for this secret art." Dispensing with further preamble, he returned to the main topic. "The secret art this old man will impart to you also prizes the root. Its foremost principle is a single word: "'Deceit!'" Deceit? Ding Songyan felt the sharp turn almost threw out his back. So your great root is just lying? Catching his expression, Yan Changqing said with a half-smile, "Do you know why, when practicing qi, one must focus one's spirit and gather one's thoughts to guide the true qi, and why, when refining apertures, one must perform corresponding visualizations? "Building up the body to generate qi goes without saying. When you calm your mind, concentrate your spirit, and imagine thin strands of qi gathering and circulating through the meridians, the thought comes first, and only then does it become reality. Intent precedes qi. "When you visualize different diagrams—as if facing a blazing sun, plunging into an ice cavern, or beholding ghosts and gods—your soul is stimulated and naturally undergoes corresponding changes. Those changes then cause the physical body to alter as well. As true qi circulates accordingly, the apertures condense. "What does that mean? First deceive your own spirit and soul, placing it into the desired state, which in turn drives the physical body to undergo the desired changes. This is the foremost secret of cultivation." So basically, whether guiding qi or visualizing diagrams, the essence is tricking the brain into secreting the corresponding hormones and directing the body to produce the desired changes, until over time those changes permanently alter body and soul? Drawing upon his own background of knowledge, Ding Songyan framed an approximate explanation he could easily grasp. Seeing him deep in thought, Yan Changqing smiled. "If you can deceive your soul and body to accelerate their tempering, deceive them into faster recovery, deceive your true qi to circulate without end—training while walking, training while resting, where resting three shichen can equal six shichen for anyone else—then why worry about failing to finish body tempering and qi training, or failing to break through the 'Initial Realm' within a year?" Then what is the price? Ding Songyan muttered to himself, before asking with measured caution, "Good fortune leans on disaster, and disaster lurks within good fortune. There is no unmitigated good or evil in this world. Where lies the hidden danger of this secret art?" "It will consume your vitality and chip away at your lifespan," Yan Changqing said placidly. "You are only twenty; you can bear it. In the future, once you successfully craft your apertures and enter the Dayan Realm, it will naturally be restored—not to mention there are numerous divine medicines and treasures that can replenish vitality and increase longevity." Ding Songyan nodded slightly. Yan Changqing squared his posture. "This old man will recite the mnemonic formula once: "To deceive others, one must first deceive oneself; the false can become real, and believing makes it so..." While Ding Songyan thought the technique sounded remarkably like self-hypnosis, he committed it to memory in earnest, attempting to comprehend it and raising questions where needed. "A secret art is not a foundational cultivation method. For it to take effect, you must first find a martial art to practice. Otherwise, it is water without a source, a tree without roots; it will only drive you mad with delusions..." Yan Changqing offered a few final words of caution. Ding Songyan ran through the contents of the secret art once more in his mind, then asked, "Senior, what are your instructions for today? "Also, I used up a strand of 'qi' yesterday. Could you replenish it for me, so I can handle any unexpected trouble?" Yan Changqing remained completely unruffled. "Granted." The moment he spoke, the clear, hazy light piercing the mist and descending into Ding Songyan's sea of consciousness grew noticeably denser. Immediately after, a strand separated from the light and surged toward the 'seed,' merging with it as one. This Senior Yan has remarkably deep reserves. After being imprisoned for so many years and likely having his martial arts crippled, he still possesses quite a bit of 'qi'... Ding Songyan cupped his hands and voiced his thanks. Yan Changqing turned to give his instructions. "Today, all you need to do is wander around Dingjiang Prefecture city. Go wherever you please, but along the way, casually head down to the wharf once and watch the great river for a while. While watching the river, sneak three glances at Wangtianmen Island. Remember, do not make it too obvious. To deceive others, one must first deceive oneself." "Junior understands." Ding Songyan faintly sensed that Yan Changqing was beginning to set up a smoke screen. Yan Changqing said no more, bringing the exchange to an end. As the clear, hazy light withdrew from Ding Songyan's sea of consciousness, his spirit returned to full cohesion, and he advanced the story of The Legend of the White Snake to the chapter where Lady White travels to Jinshan Temple to rescue Xu Xian. Just as on the previous two days, Ding Songyan was escorted out of the secret prison, out of the small pavilion, and out of Zhen Manor. No one asked if anything seemed amiss, nor did anyone utter a word of warning. He began strolling aimlessly, cutting through streets and weaving through alleys, occasionally pausing to inspect the wares at roadside stalls. Before long, the wharf came into view, and Ding Songyan followed the turn toward it. "Second Brother Ding?" Xu Chang'an's voice called out. "What are you doing at the wharf?" Ding Songyan asked with an amused smile, just as he was about to assume a posture of admiring the river. Sporting a dark headscarf, Xu Chang'an had yet to shed his shifty, furtive air. "There's plenty of valuable cargo at the wharf, so I came to have a look." Is any of it yours? Ding Songyan glanced out of the corner of his eye toward Wangtianmen Island. "Didn't you say you quit being a thief?" "Right! Not a petty thief—I'm only going to be a master thief. Stealing cargo from the Sishui Gang and merchant firms counts as being a master thief, of course," Xu Chang'an declared, straightening his spine. "Still, my skills aren't sharp enough yet. I need to find a martial arts school and train for a few years, so I can only gaze at all these fine goods with envy for now." He turned the question back around. "Second Brother Ding, what brings you to the wharf? Looking for Eldest Brother Ding?" Ding Songyan turned sideways, feigning an appreciation of the river while actually scoping out the craggy, jagged silhouette of Wangtianmen Island. He replied offhandedly, "I've been visiting Zhen Manor quite often lately and learned a craft. Came out to practice it." "What craft?" Xu Chang'an asked, intrigued. Ding Songyan tilted his head to look at him, smiling. "Deception." "Deception?" Xu Chang'an froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Second Brother Ding, you've always had an honest nature and never been good at lying. Even if you learned a trickster's trade, I doubt you could ever use it." Ding Songyan asked with a smile, "Have you ever been swindled?" "In the past, sure. But after I took a master and learned all sorts of swindling routines, I was never duped again," Xu Chang'an said with evident smugness. "Those swindlers outside Duokang Temple trying to cheat folks out of silver or lure people into gambling—I can see right through them at a glance. Whenever you can fool me, Second Brother Ding, that's when you can say you've truly graduated in your craft." "I'll practice on someone easier to trick first, like my eldest brother." Seizing the moment, Ding Songyan cast another glance toward Wangtianmen Island and sighed. "Never mind. One shouldn't con one's own family." With that, he turned away from the wharf. Having nothing pressing to do, Xu Chang'an tagged along toward Chengyu Lane, chatting the entire way and offering critiques on the martial styles of several prominent training schools. As they passed Duokang Temple and caught sight of a squad of constables on patrol in the distance, Ding Songyan's expression suddenly darkened. "Second Brother Ding, what's wrong?" Xu Chang'an's heart skipped a beat in response. Ding Songyan lowered his voice. "I forgot something. Didn't I go to the county yamen yesterday? Brother Li told me they're planning to make an example out of you." "Me?" Xu Chang'an pointed at his own chest, shocked and bewildered. He immediately sought confirmation. "Constable Li Wu?" Ding Songyan nodded and hurried to explain, "Didn't I mention it before? Now that these alleys have lost their thief boss, the yamen fears folks will run wild. They want to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. Several of your senior apprentice brothers have already paid their respects and bribes to Head Constable Xue and Brother Li, yet you haven't shown the slightest courtesy." "I-I haven't stolen anything lately..." Xu Chang'an turned deathly pale. He hadn't these past few days, but he certainly had in the past. Though catching a thief required the stolen goods, the yamen didn't always abide by reason. Under severe torture, a 'confession' was inevitable. Xu Chang'an thought it over, trembling. "Second Brother Ding, you're like a real brother to me! Help me smooth things over with Constable Li and the others, please! I-I'll give you silver to grease their palms!" "All right. We're close friends, after all." Wearing a look that said 'say no more between brothers,' Ding Songyan slapped Xu Chang'an firmly on the shoulder. Xu Chang'an quickened his pace, leading Ding Songyan straight back to his home in Chengyu Lane. From a hidden compartment, he pulled out a heavy silver ingot, followed by a pile of smaller silver ingots and bits of broken silver. In a flustered voice, he asked Ding Songyan, "Second Brother Ding, how much do you think will be enough? Name a number, and I'll scrape it together! "My entire life savings are right here!" After finishing his anxious plea, Xu Chang'an watched as the corners of Ding Songyan's mouth slowly curled upward into an unmistakable grin. "..." Xu Chang'an gradually realized something was amiss. Ding Songyan chuckled and picked up the heavy silver ingot. "You've saved up quite a bit of silver, kid." Understanding finally dawned on Xu Chang'an. "Second Brother Ding... you're not... fooling me, are you?" Ding Songyan set the silver ingot down, patted the fellow on the shoulder with a laugh, and turned toward the door, tossing a final remark over his shoulder: "Keep your wits about you in the future." Tricking a stranger might be hard, but tricking an acquaintance—especially someone like you—is as easy as turning my palm. Xu Chang'an's face flushed bright crimson, and he wished he could dig a hole in the floor and bury himself right then and there.