"No matter how much society develops, humans are still humans, and the more society develops, the more the energy of human beings is dispersed. Therefore, the more society develops, the more it can bring out the deepest philosophy of the ancients. That is why the followers of the three major religions have always looked at the scriptures of over two thousand years ago as a beacon on the path of life. Countless people have repeatedly studied the scriptures and works of more than two thousand years ago just to get more inspiration from them." Nanako pursed her lips, looked at her toes, and then looked at Master Jeevika. After a moment of silence, she awkwardly raised her thumb and muttered, "S-Su—go—e." Su—go—e was the pronunciation of sugoi in Japanese, which roughly translated to "Wow, so amazing". Master Jeevika was an excellent scholar before he became a monk. In addition, he had already been enlightened and had traveled for years. It was no exaggeration to say that he was well
Master Jeevika was bewildered by Nanako's consecutive defensive responses. He was not ignorant and knew that this was Nanako's way of rejecting him. While feeling regretful, he reflected, "I saw that she had extraordinary spiritual potential. If she was willing to convert to Buddhism and concentrate on researching the scriptures, she would surely gain a deeper understanding of the teachings, which would benefit all followers. But as it turns out, this was my wishful thinking—" With this thought, he sighed, "Oh, please forgive me. Mrs. Wade asked me to help her achieve enlightenment, and yet I have been entirely focused on persuading her to convert to Buddhism." So, he silently recited a few scriptures and then said, "I'm so sorry for being ignorant. Please forgive me." Nanako gently nodded. "It's alright, as long as you don't try to persuade me to become a nun again." As she spoke, she carefully took a silk pouch from her pocket and asked, "Master, would you still bless and c
Master Jeevika said, "Let me put it another way." Then, he solemnly guided, "When you open your eyes, you are just standing on the earth, looking at the sky before you. When you close your eyes and enter the unconscious realm, the earth will become a globe before you, and everything is within your view and control." Nanako frowned confusedly. "I've figured out a little bit of the introspection method, but... I never had the feeling of closing my eyes and looking at the universe." "Oh?" Master Jeevika exclaimed. "Do you know the introspection method?" Nanako nodded. "I know a little bit, but I'm not sure if it's really it." "Can you tell me how you did it?" Master Jeevika asked. Nanako thought for a moment and said, "I practice martial arts, and by circulating essential qi through all my meridians, it feels as if every meridian in my body is within my view." Master Jeevika shook his head upon hearing this. "This is not the true introspection. What you're describing is a fo
However, at that time, neither Nanako nor Charlie knew what this state of mind meant. Master Jeevika was agitated, even a bit excited. He couldn't help but pace and mutter, "She is a gifted genius! She could find the Sea of Consciousness all by herself! I would never have found a way to enter the Sea of Consciousness if I didn't have a mentor to guide me." At this moment, even Ashley was shocked. She had heard from her subordinates that Nanako's martial arts progression was rapid and that she was a genius, so she thought that Nanako should be the person with Charlie who had the best chance of enlightenment. This was the reason why she had asked Master Jeevika to guide Nanako to enlightenment. But it had never crossed Ashley's mind that Nanako herself was already halfway to enlightenment! Her heartbeat quickened, and she stared at the monitor in astonishment. In the hall, Nanako couldn't understand why Master Jeevika was surprised that she could enter the Sea of Consciousnes
When Nanako thought that she might become the same kind of person as Charlie, she became excited. She looked at Master Jeevika and asked respectfully, "Master, can you please advise me on how to truly attain enlightenment?" As she spoke these words, she felt a deep sense of uncertainty. She believed that in today's society, it was already common to keep something up one's sleeve. Even in ordinary martial arts, no sect or family would reveal their inner teachings to outsiders, let alone such a higher level of cultivation. Despite that, she wanted to give it a try, because she felt that since Master Jeevika had shared so much with her, perhaps he would be willing to tell her a bit more, allowing her to gain greater clarity. Master Jeevika took a deep breath and said, "Miss, you are a gifted genius. I can't sit back and watch your gifts be wasted. Actually, you have essentially found the key to enlightenment, but the only mistake you've made is that after rising to higher realms,
Suzanne answered with a smile, "It took you only six months to attain enlightenment. I think it will take Miss Ito two to three years at the most." Ashley gently shook her head and said, "I beg to differ. Nanako is more talented than me. It might take her less time than it did me. Maybe she can succeed within a month." "Really?" Suzanne gasped in surprise, "You think so highly of her." Ashley nodded. "She is more pure than most adults. The purer a person is, the easier it is for them to attain enlightenment." At this moment, Nanako had come to the futon in the hall and sat cross-legged. Then, she closed her eyes, skillfully mobilized her essential qi and divine sense, and entered the introspection realm. Since she had already mastered the entire process of introspection, she easily returned to the Sea of Consciousness. At this point, the Sea of Consciousness was still as calm as before, without any waves. Nanako pushed her divine sense upward. The higher she went, the far
Master Jeevika didn't think much of it when Nanako said she wanted to try again. Nodding in agreement, he suggested, "If you wish to successfully enter the unconscious realm, relinquishing the seven emotions and six desires is the most reliable approach." Nanako was silent for a moment, murmuring, "What's the point of living if one cuts off all emotions and desires?" Without hesitation, Master Jeevika replied, "Only by eliminating emotions and desires can one have the chance to become enlightened and better serve to guide and save others." Nanako shook her head and replied earnestly, "Forgive me for being blunt, but isn't single-minded devotion to Buddha also a form of attachment? And constantly thinking about saving others—isn't that another form of desire? There's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to guide others, but not everyone is dissatisfied with their current life. If someone lives happily and contentedly, what need is there for someone else to 'save' them?" She cont
At this point, a thought suddenly popped up in Nanako's mind. "The Sea of Consciousness is in my body, in my purple abode. So, it should understand me best that I can't give up the seven emotions and six desires. If it still requires me to give up the seven emotions and six desires in order to merge with it, then that itself becomes an insoluble paradox. "Does that mean that my divine sense has no chance of merging with it? If that's the case, I'll never be able to attain enlightenment ever." At that moment, Nanako's divine sense once again fell into the silent and picturesque Sea of Consciousness. The powerful impact smashed her divine sense into the depths of the sea and caused her divine sense to be severely damaged again. The entire sense had no power to resist. Then, the enormous pressure of the Sea of Consciousness swept over her once more and carried her divine sense to the surface of the sea. At this point, Nanako felt a touch of despair—not because two failed attempt
Bitterness swelled in Elaine's heart as she really didn't think that Matilda was doing so well for herself.The fact that Matilda was worth millions alone made her far superior.At the same time, she was also rejoicing that she had never actually met Matilda. If Matilda asked how she was doing directly, how would she respond?In the end, Matilda was no Hannah Queen.Elaine would actually feel accomplished if she compared herself to Hannah.On the other hand, Matilda eclipsed Elaine in every way—she was more beautiful, kind, smart, and knowledgeable. Even her figure left Elaine dead in the water!It was as pointless as comparing a hen to a peacock!Whenever she thought of her, she could comfort herself that she had stolen her man even if she couldn't measure up in any way.But now, Jacob was completely insignificant to Matilda while Elaine still treated Jacob like a trophy.Even as a sense of inferiority seized her, Charlie sighed. "Come on, you should understand where Jacob is
"Exactly!"Charlie agreed, striking the metal while it was hot. "To be honest, the years Matilda spent in the States would be wasted if she was actually still interested!" "She's a Wall Street veteran who'd definitely have met so many successful men! Why would she be interested in a loser like Jacbo Wilson? It's not like she returned from the States after thirty years to help the poor, don't you agree?"Charlie then finished with a sigh. "The way I see it? You're the only one who'd be interested in him."Jacob heard that from behind the wall and was left absolutely fuming and humiliated.He was the only one who knew that Matilda had come back for him—even if she was worth millions now.However, he just didn't have the spine to divorce Elaine and get together with Matilda.He presumed that it was no rush and that he could just give Elaine the silent treatment—who knew, she might just give in and ask for a divorce herself, and then, he would have no issues getting together with M
"Her real lover?!" Elaine exclaimed in shock. "What are you talking about?"Charlie put on a serious face as she said, "Matilda came back to Oskia for her one true love, who is now her fiance. His name is Yolden Hart, a top economist who's now a lecturer at Aurous Hill University, who was invited all the way from the States. He's a professional manager and used to work in Wall Street, so he'd be qualified to be a CEO in any Fortune 500 company…""Professional manager?" Elaine pouted. "That still means he's a wage slave!"Charlie laughed. "Don't underestimate professional managers now. Just look at Apple Inc.'s CEO—the man earns around a hundred million USD per year, and that's over seven hundred million in Oskian dollars!"Elaine was left gaping, unable to imagine how a wage slave could earn so much.At the same time, Charlie continued, "To be fair, Professor Hart wouldn't earn that much, but 50 million per year is still no sweat for him. Do you get the amount of money we're talki
Elaine appeared taken aback, and she promptly demanded, "You've met Matilda too?!"It was only then that Claire realized she had let the cat out of the bag, and she suddenly didn't know what to say. "Oh… Uh… Mom… I, uh… didn't?"Nonetheless, Elaine was suddenly pressing her menacingly, "If you've never met her, how would you know she's a serious person?!"As Claire stayed silent, Elaine broke down in tears. "No… You're lying to me too! Aren't you?!"While Claire was left at a loss of how she should salvage this mess, Charlie suddenly entered and said, "Claire didn't—but I did.""What?!" Elaine was left staring at Charlie, stunned.Still, she soon demanded, "Y-You've met Matilda?! Did Jacob take you with him to see her?""Yes," Charlie admitted, nodding.Elaine snapped right then, and she bellowed, "Then why didn't you tell me?! To think that I've always done right by you, treating you like my own son, but you wouldn't tell me that Jacob is cheating on me! Y-You disappoint me!"
Jacob certainly left Charlie speechless—the man might get kicked out of the house, but he was more worried about his car.Sighing in exasperation, he told Jacob, "Look, if it fails, I won't be able to get you a nice place, let alone leave the Cullinan with you."Jacob blurted out, "But why—""Don't forget—I'm still living in this house even if you're gone!" Charlie explained, his expression dead serious. "If I let you have a nice place and the Cullinan, God knows how terrible a grudge your wife would hold against me. I need to have a sense of self-preservation too!""If I got you a rundown apartment, I could at least defend myself even if she gets upset about that. I mean, I can't let you sleep in the streets, can I? Claire and I would be guilty of abandoning our elders."Seeing the serious look on Charlie's face, Jacob breathed a long sigh as he clapped him on the shoulder, groaning mournfully, "Oh, I get it. I wouldn't want to upset Elaine if I were in your shoes too…"Charlie
Charlie sighed. "I told you it'd blow up, Dad, but you had to doubt me.""I wasn't doubting you," Jacob promptly defended himself. "I thought I might catch a lucky break—"Charlie cut him short, "Fair enough. Then, how are you going to handle this? I can try to stop Mom from going to that wedding and prevent her from getting in the hall even if she went, but what's going to happen to the both of you? Do you want a divorce or do you want to stay with her?"The light in Jacob's faded as he shrugged and sighed. "If I could divorce her, I would've—and I would be living happily with Matilda now. What company would I have if I did it now? Do you think Elaine would let me stay in Thompson First, with that attitude of hers?""In the end, I'd be chased out without a place to stay, and I can't suffer the humiliation of moving back with my mom and brother, can I? Hell, they might not even take me back!""So, that's a no?" Charlie pressed.Jacob smiled wryly. "At my age, even if I could, I w
Hearing that Elaine was threatening suicide, Claire exclaimed urgently, "Take me to her now!"The traffic police officer quickly nodded. "Come on!"As the traffic police officer quickly led Claire to Elaine, Charlie arrived just then and gave chase after leaving the luggage by the entrance.Stopping them, he asked, "Excuse me, officer—where's the gentleman who came with Madam Parker? May I see him?""And who are you?" The traffic police officer asked."I'm his son-in-law," Charlier replied. "I was thinking that while my wife talks to her mom, I can talk to my father-in-law, make peace, and take them both home.""Oh, that'd be great!"The traffic police officer exclaimed and quickly beckoned at a colleague, "Come over. Take this gentleman to Jacob Wilson!""Okay!" The other traffic police officer was also quite enthusiastic.Charlie entered the room where Jacob was first, immediately seeing a disfigured Jacob taking deep puffs of his cigarette.Another traffic police officer w
Charlie frowned in thought for a while, before saying, "Well, there is a plan, but I can't vouch for the chances. I also need you to cooperate with me and not let anything slip, or everything will go to waste. Can you do that?""I can!" Claire nodded, determined, before quickly asking, "So? What's the plan?""Well, it's not specific," Charlie replied. "We just have to improvise as we go along. Let's just head in for now!"-They left the airport and took a cab to the traffic police's headquarters. Just as she entered, they saw their Cullinan parked outside.Charlie sent Claire in first while he carried her luggage before following.Meanwhile, Elaine was wailing in her room, "I've been married to him for years! Suffering so much pain and humiliation, only for him to hook up with an old flame behind my back! Is it wrong if I struck out?"The traffic police officer was on the verge of a breakdown, but he still said patiently, "Ma'am, I've told you many times—what he did was wrong
Claire wasn't all that experienced in love and hence didn't know how a person caught in a love triangle would think or why they would experience such terrible mood swings.Still, Charlie's explanation gave her a general idea, and she sighed, "Actually, Dad looked really bad when Matilda came back. He was so obsessed with her that he didn't care if Mom was alive—even bringing her home for dinner. I'd be seething if I was Mom."Charlie sighed in exasperation. "Well, let's not loiter about. Let's go to the traffic police station.""Yeah!" Claire nodded, before holding his arm, "If they're there, that means they're safe, and they won't be fighting with those officers around. So, let's not head over so quickly."Charlie raised a brow. "What are you getting at?"Claire sighed, clearly troubled. "We have to think—how are we going to alleviate this crisis? If it's really as you say and Mom has mostly guessed it right, this fight might just be the start. At best, that fight on the highway