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墨書 Inktalez
Later Qin. Capital City Xianyang.
The weather was fine, and the Blossoms were in full bloom.
Only upon arriving here did I realize how prosperous Xianyang City truly was. There were numerous merchants and travelers, bustling vendors filled the streets, and crowds of people gathered for the market, creating an extraordinary lively scene. It was a thriving spectacle, far from what I had imagined. People often said that the north was somewhat barbaric, but it is indeed the birthplace of Chinese civilization, with a long history, advantageous geography, rich customs, and a broad perspective on its flourishing economy.
No wonder their king, Yuwen Qian, aspired to unify the states. Such ambition and desire are thoughts every man who reaches that peak harbors; some succeed while others fail, and some never even attempt it.
Since ancient times, only those with the capacity to embrace all rivers can ascend to the highest point and gaze over this continent, a splendid Territory.
I leaned against the carriage and dozed off for a moment; after the journey, I felt as if I might vomit my bile. I could only close my eyes to recuperate. Meanwhile, Xiao Bai lay comfortably in my arms, sleeping soundly throughout the day.
On the other hand, An Yijun was lively and energetic, like a spirited monkey. She was not content with Loneliness, pestering Lian to tell her about the places he had visited. After leaving Yan State, Lian had traveled extensively, making the world his home and gaining insights into many foreign customs. He had nearly traversed all the Southeast Asian countries, so he had plenty of fascinating stories that intrigued An Yijun.
When India was mentioned, my ears perked up. India—wasn't that ancient India?
As Lian spoke about how Indians do not eat beef due to their customs, An Yijun curiously asked, “Uncle Lian, why don’t they eat beef? I really like it.”
Lian chuckled and replied, “Because people in India hold cows in great respect. To them, cows are sacred beings that must not be desecrated.”
“Why do they respect cows so much?” An Yijun began her barrage of questions again. This child often asked questions to the point of leaving others speechless.
Lian seemed taken aback by a four-year-old's interest in such matters and paused for a moment.
Seeing his bewildered expression made me feel a bit sorry for him being teased by this Little Girl, so I lazily leaned against a corner and said lightly, “Let me tell you. An Yijun, stop bothering Uncle Lian.” I paused before continuing, “In India, there is a widely practiced religion in which cows are considered sacred as they are believed to be the mount of their main deity, Shiva. Disrespecting cows is akin to disrespecting their god. Therefore, in India, cows hold a status even higher than that of humans. More than half of the Indian population adheres to this religion and reveres cows as they would their gods; they believe each cow carries the spirit of Shiva, watching over the land of India. Their feelings towards cows are extraordinarily sacred and religious—something we find hard to comprehend. However, An Yijun, when encountering new things or other people's customs and traditions, we must learn to respect them. Only when you learn to respect others will they respect you in return. Do you understand, An Yijun?”
I opened my eyes and gazed intently at her seemingly confused expression before saying earnestly: “An Yijun, you must understand that while a person's life may be trampled upon, their dignity must never be violated.”
An Yijun nodded, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. I knew she understood.
But then, she reflexively asked, "But what does religious sentiment mean?"
I replied succinctly, "It's a kind of belief. In life, everyone has a belief that represents their ideals and dreams." I realized I was saying too much; she wouldn’t grasp it yet—she was still too young.
An Yijun nodded again.
I didn’t turn my head but sensed Lian's astonished gaze.
"Has the Young Master traveled far?" Lian asked softly. Why did she think the Young Master knew everything? Even such matters were within his knowledge. By all accounts, for a woman to achieve what she had was already a miracle; how could she still be so aware of the world beyond the Hua Xia Continent? Could he really be a god?
The little white creature that had been nestled in my arms suddenly communicated silently in my mind.
"You scared her again; she thinks you're a god now." Ever since I discovered that the little one could read minds, I also found out it could communicate through brain waves. Truly a divine beast. As long as it looked into someone’s eyes, it could discern what they were thinking.
I smiled inwardly and thought, "You know my background; those places are like an open book to me."
I glanced at the astonished Lian and said lightly, "I was not favored in my youth, so I traveled extensively. I've been to many places, even more than you have. Did you know?" Suddenly inspired, I continued, "Beyond the seas of this continent, there are many lands inhabited by different people. Due to geographical differences, their lifestyles and skin colors vary as well. There are those with yellow skin like us, others as dark as coal, and some as white as snow. Their appearances, hair colors, and features differ from ours..." Once I started speaking, I found it hard to stop.
Lian listened in stunned silence.
Meanwhile, An Yijun appeared excited, seemingly very interested in the places I described.
"The place we live is like a flattened sphere resembling an egg. If you keep walking in one direction, you can eventually return to where you started. However, that's just a hypothesis; in reality, we might spend our entire lives without completing that journey. A person can never step into the same river twice; how could one ever return to the past?" I continued to smile gently.
Suddenly, a moment of nostalgia washed over me—a longing for modern days—but now it felt like memories from several lifetimes ago.
I stopped laughing, as a strange feeling in my heart left me momentarily stunned.
Just as I was lost in thought, suddenly, the carriage that had been jolting along Xianyang City Avenue came to an abrupt halt. A servant in gray pulled aside the curtain of the carriage and respectfully said, "Young Master, we have arrived at the Relay Station. My master requests your presence."
Lian, who had been in a daze, quickly regained his composure, transforming back into the cold and taciturn person he usually was.
He lightly nodded and replied to the gray-clad servant, "Understood. You may return to your master."
Suddenly, he turned to me, gazing deeply as if trying to see through my heart and soul. In a low voice, he said, "The Young Master appeared joyful when speaking of those places, his gaze shining brightly. I have never seen the Young Master so happy. I hope that one day the Young Master can visit those places and explore that brand new world."
"Explore the world." Upon hearing this phrase, I was momentarily taken aback before my expression turned serious and I fell silent.
He spoke the very words that echoed my deepest desires. It was what I longed for most in this life—to travel the world freely and see a broader, more liberated expanse of existence.
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