Beware Of Chicken v7c58: Enlightenment Found in the Dirt

The tournament turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable; I had never been much of an MMA enthusiast in my previous life, but who could resist watching super-powered warriors clash? Instead of twenty minutes of sweaty men grappling, it was a swift ballet of strength, speed, and skill, punctuated by the occasional surge of elemental power illuminating the arena. It mirrored the cultivation novels I adored, brought vividly to life... and indeed, it was. Furthermore, it was a tournament where not a single thing went awry. A true marvel! Everything proceeded flawlessly, and a grand time was had by all!

I could sense Mei’s genuine enjoyment as well. Hopefully, the next time the setup would include a private viewing box; I could tell she yearned to cheer for the competitors and immerse herself, rather than restraining her enthusiasm.

It actually made me feel a pang of regret for missing Tigu’s debut tournament—but I vowed to witness the next one.

As for the victor, it was quite amusing to witness a Sect openly showcasing brooms. I had come across numerous tales where a Hidden Master, disguised as a simple street sweeper outside a prominent Sect, acted as a silent guardian to a Young Master or Mistress possessing an extraordinary bloodline. While I found it rather comical, Bai Ruyi clearly treated her broom techniques with utmost seriousness—and who was I to critique? I was, after all, a mere farmer.

Moreover, Xiulan had nothing but praise for the young woman—who had demonstrated a gentle and kind demeanor even before the distribution of the memory crystals.

Therefore, while I didn’t believe I possessed many significant insights to offer, I did feel I had something that could benefit her—something that would further enhance the mystique of "Master Rou’s" Hidden Master persona.

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Bai Ruyi was on the pinnacle of elation. She had triumphed. She had proven that their brooms were not simply ordinary implements!

It was merely a minor tournament, certainly, but Master Rou had graced it with his presence… and more than that, he had been so impressed with their performance that he had personally appeared!

The entire arena collectively held its breath as Master Rou made his descent. Bai Ruyi could only observe as he strode purposefully into the arena, a subtle smile gracing his features. His gaze was not steely or unyielding, but gentle and brimming with warmth. His cultivation felt immense—so vast that she could barely perceive its boundaries, even while standing within the very heart of its presence.

“You all fought admirably,” he stated, his gaze sweeping over each competitor. His voice, deep and resonant, also carried a profound softness. He possessed no need to raise his volume, as if the very world itself amplified his words. “I trust my gifts to you will prove beneficial—my esteemed friend Wa Shi is procuring the rice and Spiritual Herbs on your behalf.”

They could all observe the sinuous figure of Lord Wa Shi traversing the sky, presumably to collect Master Rou’s promised bounty.

“We express our deepest gratitude to Master Rou for his generosity!” Ruyi exclaimed, joining her fellow competitors in a deep bow. She knew that others would likely harbor envy for the gifts bestowed today—but since the recipients were chosen by random draw by Director Huizhong, they could attribute their fortune to mere chance.

“And I believe I am indebted to you for a word of advice, Bai Ruyi. It is exceedingly rare to encounter someone wielding such a unique cultivation artifact,” Master Rou continued, approaching her with deliberate steps.

Instinctively, she tilted her head upwards to meet his eyes. Master Rou possessed considerable height. He seemed even taller than that, exuding a presence akin to the Dueling Peaks piercing the heavens. Yet, unlike those colossal mountains, he was not veiled in mist. He was open, his eyes as warm as his voice, regarding her with the same affection she recalled from her grandfather.

Furthermore, there was no hint of condescension in his tone. Nor was there the slightest trace of disbelief that she wielded a broom instead of a more conventional artifact.

She had encountered such dismissiveness so frequently of late that being in the presence of someone who wasn't perplexed or scornful felt remarkably strange. Her victory here would undoubtedly silence some critics, but… this was an acknowledgment from a true master. Master Rou perceived no flaw in their Sect’s choice of brooms! This signified that there was indeed nothing wrong with them!

“May I?” he inquired, extending his hand.

At this, Ruyi hesitated. Her grip instinctively tightened on her Sect’s treasured artifact. It was intricately linked to her Qi, recognizing her as its rightful wielder. It was nearly a nascent soul, ancient and bearing the marks of time, yet still capable of being roused to action. It had taken a liking to her, and thus far, it had refused to serve anyone else. Not even her own father, who had accepted the rejection with good humor.

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Yet, Master Rou was a paragon among masters, and so she relinquished her companion. It settled into his palm, and she felt the broom’s nascent spirit stir with a flicker of indignation—before his own Qi made contact. Then, to her astonishment, the artifact instantly calmed. It yielded to his influence, bending to his will with an action that resembled a curtsy; like a loyal servant welcoming the return of her rightful lord.

He did not bind it and yoke it to his will—there was no domination necessary. With a single touch, her artifact was obedient and mild. His control of his Qi must be so utterly sublime, since it took only a touch!

“A fine artifact. Impeccable craftsmanship,” he said, nodding at the ancient artifact in his hands, before he looked at her. “The broom is underestimated. Disregarded. And yet sometimes, that is the whole point.”

He shifted. The broom’s head was pointed to the ground, and the dust and dirt at his feet swirled.

Ruyi was instantly stunned. She was still adapting, still trying to mesh the proper techniques with the spear style she had been using most of her life, but it was slow going. Her broom was now her weapon, and she still found herself thrusting or striking with it like it had a blade instead of bristles.

…and she hadn’t actually ever even a broom before she viewed the memory crystal. The broom had been for servants—and it wasn’t like they would have allowed her to sweep anyway, before the crystal. The servants, the aunties and uncles and grannies and grandpas, said it was their job to do the little things, so she could do the big things. She had taken their words to heart, and had done her best to be a good Young Mistress. While she was no Cai Xiulan, hero of the entire province… she liked to think she had done a good job. But it had made the transition a bit difficult, at times.

Master Rou had no such problems. He moved the broom with such sublime and easy grace it was like watching her ancestors in the memory crystal all over again. His hips. His shoulders. This ancient and powerful lord… . The broom was an old and familiar friend in his hands.

Everyone else in the stands was looking at them, their eyes straining, trying to catch a glimpse of the profound wisdom he was surely trying to impart into her.

Master Rou flicked her broom, and in the center of a perfectly clean circle formed a single word in wonderful, beautiful calligraphy.

It was a bold character, and her cheeks flushed as a Master wrote that for her… yet she had only a brief second to admire the lines, for Master Rou swirled the broom again. He erased victory, and her eyes widened as it was replaced with . Its hard lines pierced her, but it was not a rebuke—it seemed almost like a warning? No, a fact of life, and it had been made out of the same dirt as victory.

There was a lesson here, an absolutely profound one, and she was so honoured that a Master of the Cloudy Sword Sect was giving it to her!

But then, too, was defeat erased; erased, and in its place, was .

And then, with another flick of his broom, there was . Unlike all the other characters, which were composed of piled dirt, this one was composed of the of dirt.

And then nothing was gone too—and in its place, was .

The broom swirled one final time, and so too cultivation was gone,replaced by a taijitu. The symbol of the dao and of balance stared at her.

Victory, defeat, everything, and nothing. It was all connected. Everything, the victory today, the defeat tomorrow, the everything she wanted, and the ‘nothing’ she had—it was all the path of cultivation, on an endless cycle. The good and the bad, the darkness and the light. The ridicule of their brooms that had made her strive all the harder, which culminated in this victory—

It was all a part of ‘life’. A cycle. The world itself was the floor—and the one who wielded the broom decided if it was dirty, or if it was clean.

Ruyi felt tears form in her eyes, that she could stand in the presence of this Master and have his wisdom bestowed upon her.

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I stared with pride at the taijitu I had made. Like riding a bike, you never forget it, I guess. This one was always the hardest to make look good, but the Taijitu formed just how I wanted it. Empty, with a full dot. Full, with an empty dot. Gramps had made me practise the damn things for hours, and it had been a really fun little blast from the past.

It kind of made me forget that I was once again the center of attention for like a thousand people, but that was getting easier and easier the more it happened.

The dirt and dust settled, and Ruyi just stared at the design. What I was trying to get was what I had told Xiulan, that everything was connected, and I hoped I hadn’t just screwed myself in front of everyone here by trying to be profound… but it had been fun.

I looked at the woman for a moment, because she seemed a bit out of it, but just when I was about to prod her, I felt her Qi erupt off her, her eyes blazing.

“This Bai Ruyi thanks Master Rou for this enlightenment!” she shouted, bowing deeply.

…okay, that was bigger of a reaction than I was expecting.

People in the audience immediately began to speak amongst themselves.

“Damn, I didn’t get it, my comprehension is lacking!” somebody said, genuinely distraught.

"I must ponder this! It surely held a deep significance!"

"Such exquisite calligraphy, yet formed from dirt and demolished without a second thought," another voice chimed in.

"That must be it! 'Complete every task with utmost perfection, even the smallest details; in perfecting these trifles, they transform into something truly magnificent!'"

Numerous gazes turned toward the speaker, eyes filled with contemplation as they inclined their heads in agreement.

…Good heavens, was I actually gifted at portraying this alleged Hidden Master persona?

A slight chuckle escaped my lips as I returned her broom. "Just as I surmised. A truly exceptional broom. Should you ever rediscover the method of their creation… I would be pleased to possess one."

"Yes, Master Rou!" she declared, offering another bow.

…Alright, I needed to temper my self-praise before my ego inflated excessively, for this role of a Hidden Master was proving delightfully entertaining!

Washy reappeared not long after, and after we handed out the remaining prizes—we then proceeded to the Verdant Blade Sect's estate within the town for tea.