novelraw Chapter 536 466: Life Is Like a Sandwich!
Chapter 536 466: Life Is Like a Sandwich!
"The so-called right or wrong is merely a summary of experiences by predecessors, not the ultimate truth. There are many paths in the world, and each person's path is unique; it's not that only others' paths are correct."
"Walking on someone else's path may go smoothly at first, but eventually one will lose their way at some crossroads in life."
"We must learn to be like lions, embracing courage and rebellion, embracing our true selves."
"As expected of Sister Tang." Chichu Chun's eyes sparkled as she raised her hand eagerly to respond,
"I know about the baby!"
"The baby symbolizes the state of everyone when they first arrive in this world—innocent, naïve, curious about everything, full of imagination and creativity. It's somewhat similar to the concept in Jiulong culture of 'conscience,' 'the way of nature,' and 'unity of heaven and man.'
"Hmm, how should I put it?" Chichu Chun pressed her lower lip, assuming a contemplative pose.
"After going through the humiliation of the camel, the passion of the lion, a person must return to the topic of 'self,' no longer caring about the secular gaze, starting to dissect the essence and truth of the world, not seeking joy from fulfilled desires, nor falling into despair from diminished ambition, but returning to peace and tranquility within."
"The focus of the question shifts from what I should do to what I want to do, and then to contemplating who this 'I' really is, becoming like a baby again, curious and kind to this world."
"Only when one deeply understands the self and the operating rules of objective things can they transcend the self and reach this state."
At this moment, the four girls present were slightly startled.
The same thought came to their minds: the rigid requirements for breaking through the Fourth Tier.
Transcend the self.
Unleash the Divine Gift.
They somewhat understood Xu Xiaoyou's various purposes for tonight.
Xu Xiaoyou closed her eyes in thought.
She had been pondering the question of the Divine Gift for a long time, wondering why she couldn't feel that layer of 'heaviness.' Blind confidence was self-deception; she certainly wouldn't truly think that her self-awareness was too clear. The dangers of metaphysics are fatal in this world where most knowledge is polluted, so she kept questioning.
To unravel this troubling question, she had consulted many philosophical books, whether it be Jiulong philosophy or the postmodern philosophical system of the Star of Art, yet she hadn't found the ultimate answer.
It was only then that Xu Xiaoyou formally began tonight's topic:
"Without a clear understanding of oneself, even if the Divine Gift is unleashed, the Divine Gift will appear in a highly polluted state, and eventually, short or long, the user will fall into self-questioning madness due to spiritual pollution. From ancient times until now, only one person has achieved the unity of heaven and man, entering this infant state."
"The Cyan Sage."
As the young girl's voice fell, the divine aura of life spread out, as if vines and tree veins full of vitality were growing in the darkness, caressing the heads of the girls present like a kindly old man.
Undoubtedly, this old man is the most mysterious, ancient, and powerful life in the current world.
His Spiritual Power, like an endless sea, covers this world, and reciting his name in any corner would make him aware, just like at this moment, he kindly watches over this scene.
"I wonder if the old grandpa likes sweets." Chichu Chun said.
The divine aura of life quickly dissipated, and the vines stretching in the dark retracted.
Several girls exchanged glances, Xu Xiaoyou nodded and continued, "We will have a long time to spend together in the future, now is a great opportunity for us to know each other better."
With that, she snapped her fingers, and several empty glasses emitting a chilly vapour were pushed in front of the five of them. According to the girls' preferences, different liquor was mixed and poured into the glasses in mid-air, ice cubes clinking softly, except for Chichu Chun's glass which was filled only one-third with bamboo charcoal shochu, and filled the rest with grape juice and cola.
Chichu Chun's mouth twitched slightly.
"A deep understanding of oneself is crucial, the hidden dangers of not knowing oneself can be fatal."
The four were speechless, thinking to themselves, you're the least qualified to say that.
"Returning to the original topic, when the proposition of death cannot be avoided, what is the meaning of life?"
"Including myself, we all need to answer this question, it's important."
Xu Xiaoyou added a few green olives into the liquor, her slender fingertips tracing the edge of the glass.
The four watched silently, knowing this one was somewhat neurotic; no one could figure out Xu Xiaoyou's train of thought.
"I'll start," Xu Xiaoyou said, "The meaning of my life is that even if I die, disappear, I hope to leave my mark on this world, hope people remember my name, sing about my glorious deeds."
She suddenly thought of a phrase but forgot where she had heard it before.
She said, "I hope my will does not dissipate with death, in eternity to be silent with the light, my existence not wiped by wind and dust, in fullness to grow with time, as the wind brushes over the waves of flower seas, I will fall on every land like newly bloomed flowers, thriving on ruins."
Chichu Chun was taken aback.
Newly bloomed flowers on ruins?
She seemed familiar with this phrase, where had she heard it before?
"Alright, saying these words so righteously is embarrassing, please, don't make me so awkward," Xu Xiaoyou glanced calmly at the blue-haired girl.
Tang Xin smiled serenely, "Death is not important to me, what I care about is everything I currently have, the people close to me, unrealized ideals, that Eden without sorrow, full of birdsong and fragrant flowers."
"This is the meaning of my life."
Angelina sighed lightly, knowing she couldn't escape, she adjusted her messy silver hair, lifting her head with heavy dark circles:
"Death and life hold no meaning to me. Honestly, I have no expectations for tomorrow, nor do I care what I have, just following instinct. Wherever instinct tells me to go, I go, never troubled by things I'm not interested in, if I die, so be it, living is also fine."
"Of course, if there were a way to die peacefully without any pain, I think I'd be willing to accept it, anyway, there's nothing much to regret."
"This is quite okay, think about it, those who speak of lofty ideals, sacrificing for civilization, aren't they acting on 'instinct' just like me, only they seem more noble, while I'm a bit more passive," Angelina yawned grimly, gesturing at the Milky Way with her fingertips.
Tang Xin slightly pursed her lips at this, while Xu Xiaoyou wasn't surprised. Angelina didn't really care about what happened last time when she was used, she truly doesn't care about anything.
Perhaps due to sudden interests in certain things, excitement at fighting strong enemies, or an inner wolfish genetic desire for the hunt, or perhaps anger at betrayal luring her to tear others apart.
But when this interest fades, she will return to the embrace of nothingness.
"Such a terrible thought." Chichu Chun remarked. "Why would you think that way!"
"You'll understand when you reach my age." Angelina was unconcerned.
Bai Youyou drank her glass of Red Pomegranate Ocean in one gulp, the glass wall hiding the faint flush on her face.
"Not necessarily going to die."
"Seeing death as an unavoidable proposition, that premise itself is problematic."
"If there existed a way, such as a supercomputer, that could calculate all futures where every possibility in the world would flow, perish, and resurrect like rotating galaxies."
"Then there must also exist a way for life to extend to eternity."
The atmosphere fell silent, sharp reflections glinted between glasses as they pondered about death and life, several girls fell into deep thought, a tinge of bewilderment appeared at the bottom of their eyes. Seeing the mood become somewhat heavy, Chichu Chun suddenly stood up, grabbing the sandwich on the table.
"The meaning of life is like this sandwich!"
Her action startled the four present, all curious to hear what the girl had to say.
Chichu Chun certainly wouldn't be easily intimidated by being the center of attention, she stood upright, summoning her courage.
"Life you see, is like this sandwich, birth and death are like the two slices of bread, which we cannot choose, but—"
Chichu Chun shifted her tone, pulling apart the two slices of bread, revealing the ham filling along with salad and vegetables inside.
"We can decide what filling to add between the slices, whether sweet or spicy, whether cream or crunchy, whatever we like, we can insert."
"So, since this sandwich has to inevitably have two slices of bread and can't escape being eaten, we should think more about how to add fillings. It's like how we should positively approach life, cherish everything we currently have, filling it with passion and action to make it rich and full, then happily take a big bite."
After finishing, Chichu Chun took a fierce bite out of the sandwich.
"That way it tastes good!"