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墨書 Inktalez
The wind poured in through the window, carrying a hint of chill, as if an invisible hand gently caressed my cheek.
I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant twinkling lights. Those points of light resembled countless indifferent eyes, watching my solitary figure. A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, making my breathing labored.
The lights outside sparkled like scattered diamonds in the night, seemingly brilliant yet devoid of warmth.
In my mind, the system's voice remained clear: "Your life has been altered; the truth has emerged, but the path to correction has only just begun." This sentence pierced me like a sharp thorn, each word scraping against my nerves, sending waves of pain coursing through me.
My hand trembled slightly as I tightly gripped the platinum brooch. Its cold touch felt like winter frost, seeping into my skin and forcing me to stay alert, leaving no room for complacency.
“Su Qing…” I whispered the name, my voice laced with anger and pain, as if I were chewing on a bitter pill. My jaw clenched tightly, nearly breaking under the pressure.
Once a symbol of “Sisterly Bond,” it had now transformed into endless irony and shame, igniting waves of tearing pain deep within me.
What she stole was not only my life but also my trust in humanity; even the last remnants of innocence were trampled beyond recognition.
Memories surged like a tide, recklessly crashing against my sanity, tearing open scars that had been deliberately sealed away.
Yet all I could do was grit my teeth and endure, refusing to drown in it. Each image from the past was like shattered glass, piecing together a fragmented world in my mind.
The facade of kindness that Su Qing had donned once allowed me to trust her without suspicion. Now, the ugly face beneath that mask lingered before me like a snake flicking its tongue.
---
The next morning, I woke early and meticulously prepared myself. The woman in the mirror looked exquisite; every eyebrow was perfectly shaped. Yet the exhaustion and coldness hidden in her eyes were truths that even the thickest makeup could not conceal.
“Starting today, I will reclaim everything that belongs to me,” I murmured to the mirror, my voice low and resolute—like a vow or perhaps self-hypnosis.
In that moment, as I looked at myself in the mirror, there was an unfamiliar determination and ruthlessness in my gaze.
The system did not respond, but I could feel its presence—like a cold shadow watching over me, always reminding me: Don’t stop; don’t retreat.
I opened the wardrobe and rummaged through to find an old box at the very bottom. The wooden texture of the box had been eroded by time, its edges cracked as if it might fall apart at any moment.
Gently opening the box, a faint scent of camphor wafted out, revealing several old photographs inside—pictures of me at sixteen with my parents.
The photos had yellowed with age, yet the smiles captured within remained bright and vivid. Those smiles were like a warm ray of sunshine on a winter's day, making one yearn to reach out and touch them, though the warmth could never be felt.
As I gazed at the innocent version of myself in the photo, I couldn't help but reach out to gently touch that youthful face. As my fingertips brushed against it, a sharp pain surged from deep within my heart, like a rusty dagger reopening old wounds.
“Weiwei,” a voice echoed in my mind, sounding both like my own and as if it came from some unfathomable depth within me, questioning me as if judging my very soul.
Regret? Perhaps… If I hadn’t trusted Su Qing so blindly, if I hadn’t been so naive, if I had been more vigilant about human nature…
But does it matter to say these things now? I closed my eyes, placed the photo back into the box, and shut the lid, sealing away all that bitterness and pain.
The past cannot be changed, but the future can be controlled—this is what the system told me, and it is the only truth I must believe.
---
On this day, I decided to visit a temple. Not to pray or seek divine intervention, but to calm my inner turmoil and prepare for the plans ahead.
The temple was located in the outskirts, accessible via a winding path leading up to the mountain top, flanked by dense woods. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Walking along the gravel path, my shoes made soft scraping sounds that mingled with distant birdsong, enhancing the tranquility of this serene place.
A faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, like gentle hands caressing my heart, easing some of the tension caused by anger and anxiety.
The temple's entrance showed signs of wear; its once intricate lotus carvings were now faded and worn by wind and rain.
The Abbot was an elderly monk who greeted me with his palms pressed together. “What troubles you, benefactor?” His voice was calm and soothing, flowing into my heart like a gentle stream while carrying an indescribable strength that made one want to shed their facade and reveal their innermost feelings.
“What is good? What is evil? How does one do good?” My voice was soft yet carried an almost stubborn force, piercing straight to the heart.
He paused for a moment before slowly responding, “Good and evil have no definitive answers; in this world, they are even harder to distinguish.”
“Why is it difficult to discern?” I pressed on, locking eyes with him, unwilling to miss any subtle expression.
He smiled slightly, his expression carrying a hint of worldly insight and compassion. "Have you ever heard the story from ' The Four General Teachings'?"
I shook my head, and he continued, "A Confucian Scholar asked Monk Zhongfeng, 'What is the distinction between true and false? The Buddhist teachings on good and evil are like shadows that follow us. Yet, some people are virtuous but their descendants do not prosper; others are wicked yet their families thrive. The Buddha says this is absurd!' Zhongfeng replied, 'When emotions are not purified and the true eye is not opened, it is common to mistake good for evil and to point to evil as good. Should one not reflect on their own confusion instead of blaming heaven for the discrepancies in retribution?'"
He paused for a moment before adding, "What benefits others is good; what benefits oneself is evil. If harming or cursing someone serves to benefit others, then such actions can be deemed good. Conversely, if respecting or honoring others serves only to benefit oneself, then those actions are evil. The truth of good and evil lies entirely within the heart."
He took a brief pause, looking at me with profound eyes. "Do you understand the meaning behind this?"
"I do not."
"The truth of good and evil must be discerned from what benefits others versus what benefits oneself. Zhongfeng's argument emphasizes examining the public and private aspects of one's heart—one's intentions—naturally assessing the truth of good without hastily judging others based on superficial societal standards. This is a matter of direction and a standard by which we measure the value of goodness. Many people find joy in doing good but fall into worldly standards. To do good requires wisdom."
His words enveloped my thoughts like a fog, compelling me to ponder deeply.
---
Inside the temple, I inadvertently witnessed the Abbot offering blessings for a Scavenger Granny, while another woman, dressed lavishly and adorned with jewels—a Fat Woman—complained discontentedly, "Master, I donated over a thousand dollars; why did only a little monk offer me a simple blessing?" The Abbot clasped his hands together and looked at the Scavenger Granny, saying, "She donated her entire income of twenty yuan today; naturally, I must personally bless her. The fullness of goodness does not lie in the amount but in the sincerity of the heart."
The Fat Woman was left speechless, her face flushed with anger as she stormed away. I found myself thoughtfully gazing at the frail yet resolute figure of the old lady.
Beside the Merit Box, I hesitated for a moment as I looked at the cash in my hand before ultimately deciding to donate it all.
"Ding! Virtuous Ability has accumulated 10%." The system suddenly announced.
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