Chapter 589: Chapter 164 Harry’s Story_4
The dinner was incredibly rich, full of delicacies that Harry and his family could only afford during festival days. Harry’s wife was as hospitable as ever. Knowing that Xiao Huan would stay and live with them, she was incredibly excited, insisting on adopting Xiao Huan as her goddaughter. Xiao Huan, who had been in a constant state of sorrow, showed the hint of a smile on her pretty face, thanks to the warmth of Harry’s family. She appeared more vibrant and cheerful. Seeing Xiao Huan slowly fitting into Harry’s family, Ah Dai felt relieved.
Deep into the night, when everyone else had gone to sleep, Ah Dai and Harry stood in the courtyard. Looking up at the starry sky, Harry asked, "Ah Dai, where are you planning to go now?"
Ah Dai was taken aback, shook his head and said, "I don’t know. The world is so big, yet there seems to be nowhere for me."
Harry smiled faintly, "How can you say that? At least the Tian Gang Sword Sect is your home! If you don’t want to go back, you can stay here. We can wait until the competition of the four Sword Saints, and then go to the Tian Gang Sword Sect together."
Ah Dai responded grimly, "No, I don’t want my sadness to affect you. I’m still not fit for the peaceful life in Hak Village."
Harry said calmly, "My child, only you can resolve the sorrow in your heart. The dead have passed on, but the living must keep on living. The deceased have just departed to another world; their souls will not disappear. Like your friend, she had faced many hardships in our world, but perhaps her soul will lead a happier life in the next world. This is not something you need to worry about, there is a divine plan at work. Let me tell you a little story. Once, there was a rich man who was very stingy. He was miserable not only to others but to himself as well. He barely ate, wore ragged clothes, and was reluctant to spend a single copper coin, wishing to squeeze every last bit from it. Finally, when he reached the age of seventy, he became the richest man in the world. However, his body had utterly deteriorated due to years of malnutrition. He built himself an enormous underground tomb with all his money and waited for death there, believing he had achieved the ultimate happiness. But when he was on his deathbed, all his past misdeeds replayed in his mind. He realised that wealth is impermanent; one can’t take it to the grave. All the money he had accumulated could not bring him any joy. Suddenly enlightened, but it was too late. He died in regret, and his luxurious tomb, built with all his money, ended up being a haven for grave robbers."
After listening to Harry’s story, Ah Dai had a revelation, as if understanding something, but could not articulate it, he murmured, "Uncle Harry, do you mean...?"
Harry didn’t answer him, his voice was still calm, "There was a young man who was always causing trouble from a young age, giving his parents unending worry. He was the youngest child in his family. When he turned eighteen, his parents were already in their sixties. One day, his village was hit by the plague, and it took away the lives of his aged parents. His parents’ death made him realize how important they had been to him. He continuously wept and made promises beside their bodies, but no matter what he did, it was of no use. His parents were gone and nothing could change that fact. At that moment, an elderly man approached him and asked, ’Are your words of any use now?’ The young man answered, ’I hope my parents’ souls can rest in peace in Heaven.’ The elderly man scoffed, ’Their souls can’t hear you. You didn’t cherish them when they were alive, what’s the use of these words now? Everything you’re doing is in vain.’ The young man was confused; he didn’t know what to do. He looked at the elderly man and asked, ’What should I do now?’ The old man uttered six words and then floated away. After hearing these six words, the young man understood everything. From that moment on, he became a useful person in the village, always willing to help anyone in need. Five years later, the old man reappeared, told the young man that he had passed the test and took him away from the village. The old man led him to a large mountain and handed down a set of Unmatched Martial Skills." Turning to look at Ah Dai, Harry’s eyes sparkled with tears. He sighed, "That young man was me, and the elderly man was my mentor. He enlightened me during my sorrow, leading me to who I am today."
Listening to Harry’s story, Ah Dai trembled slightly. He whispered, "Uncle, what were the six words your mentor said to you?"
Harry took a deep breath, gazed at the starry sky, and said, "Go on, you should leave. I hope I can help you realize something, just as my mentor did for me. The six words he told me were, ’Cherish those who are alive.’" With that, a flash of light, and Harry’s figure disappeared.
Standing in the courtyard, Ah Dai’s heart filled with a whirlpool of complex emotions, murmuring, "Cherish those who are alive, cherish those who are alive." Although he hadn’t fully comprehended the meaning of the phrase, under Harry’s guidance, his heart didn’t feel as heavy anymore. Looking back at Harry’s room, he muttered, "Thank you, Uncle Harry. Please take care of Xiao Huan." After uttering these words, Ah Dai invoked his fully restored True Qi, floated into the air, and sped off in a certain direction.
