Chương 12: Chapter 10 (R)

While I browse the book in front of me for the umpteenth time over the past few days, I continue with the task I've set myself of trying to recall every text I read in my previous life. Over the last month I've investigated what happened to me while studying the text, but not only have I failed to reenter that state, I've also discovered that what I believed was hypermnesia isn't actually that at all. It's something else I can't quite comprehend.

I've found that my new memory works perfectly with every text I've read or conversation I've heard from that day forward. However, I've realized I'm gradually remembering the books and texts I read previously, as well as everything I've ever heard regardless of the source. This sometimes produces odd results, like when I randomly recall voices from a film but can't summon the image of the scene, or a conversation but can't remember who I was having it with.

And that is what I've been busy with these past days, since the supposedly education-worthy-of-my-Blessing that my unreliable tutor was going to create has amounted to handing me one book after another on character and radical comprehension to memorize while he sits at his table reading one book after another. Bored with the book before me, I close it and resolve that if I want to understand anything more about the world I'm in, I'm going to have to take my education into my own hands.

At least, given Xueshi Wenxue's habits, I doubt he'll mind as long as I leave him to read in peace. Looking toward where Lianhua is, I signal for her to come over, so she rises and approaches my table.

"What do you wish, Zhāohuán Wen?" she asks in the customary formal tone she always uses with me.

"I want you to ask the librarians for a book that explains what the world is like", I tell Lianhua in a low voice so Xueshi Wenxue won't hear.

"What do you mean by that, Zhāohuán Wen?" she asks, also in a low voice, her face showing confusion, as though she isn't quite sure what I'm getting at.

"A book that tells me, for example, where our Empire is, whether we're on an island or a continent. One that says if there are other landmasses and how big they are", I tell Lianhua, crossing my fingers that the books they've had me read so far will serve as an excuse for such specific questions and that any discrepancies will be chalked up to my Blessing. Then something else occurs to me and I add "And if there's a map, bring it so I can see it."

Lianhua looks at me, narrowing her eyes for a second as though thinking something over, and for a moment I worry, but then she seems to return to normal and asks "Shouldn't you be asking Xueshi Wenxue for that?" I glance sideways at my unreliable tutor, who is still absorbed in his books, and reply "Leave him for now. I'll continue following his curriculum with whatever he assigns me, but I want to read more interesting things in between his tasks."

Lianhua also glances sideways at Xueshi Wenxue and tells me "I don't think there'll be a problem with the book, Zhāohuán Wen, but maps are strictly controlled and can only be accessed through a special request." I'd been hoping things would be different here, but it seems the custom of treating maps as military resources is universal, whether in my old world or this one. So I reply "Then never mind. The book will be enough."

"Understood. I'll be right back, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua answers, after which I see her head toward one of the omnipresent librarians who are always hovering around us, presumably to make sure we don't damage the books. Looking toward where Lianhua is, I see her apparently arguing in a low voice with one of the librarians. Although I can't hear what they're saying, their gestures are quite eloquent. Lianhua points at me from time to time, as if to emphasize some important point.

The librarian seems to resist at first, but after a while he nods and walks away. Before long he returns with a rather thick book, which he hands to Lianhua. She, wearing a triumphant expression, approaches and places the book before me.

"I hope this book proves useful, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says as she sets it on the table.

"Thank you, Lianhua", I reply, opening the book with curiosity. The title, written in elegant characters, promises a complete description of the world. As I begin reading, the book's words start revealing the structure of this new world. It is composed of a central continent surrounded by four others, which they call with a striking lack of originality North, South, East, and West.

Although the book mentions the existence of these continents, it doesn't provide much information about them, focusing instead on the Eastern Continent, which is where the Tianjing Empire, where I am, is located. The Tianjing Empire is situated on the eastern edge of the Eastern Continent, at the point farthest from the central continent. Reading this, I look up at Lianhua, who is seated beside me "Did you know our Empire is at the farthest end of the continent?" I ask.

"Yes, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies gravely.

"Though it's not something everyone knows. Commoners usually don't know about anything beyond their place of origin and the few towns or cities in their vicinity." I nod and continue reading. The book describes how the Tianjing Empire is surrounded by several sects, and that there is only one sect called the Sect of the Celestial Sun within its borders, though it doesn't explain in detail what these sects are. All it mentions is that they are an important part of the region's political and social landscape.

I pause for a moment to reflect on this and ask "Lianhua, do you know exactly what the sects are?"

"The sects are highly influential organizations that come together to pursue certain goals", Lianhua explains.

"They are very powerful and have their own system of governance and internal rules. Some are peaceful and focus on study and meditation, while others can be quite belligerent."

"Interesting", I murmur, turning my attention back to the book. It goes on to describe the empire nearest to ours, the Zhao Empire, which lies to the south of the Tianjing Empire. However, it provides little information beyond its existence and a brief mention of some border cities. After reading the entire book, two things powerfully capture my attention. The first is the scale of the distances.

If the measurements are the same as those of the China from my old world, this continent alone is as large as all of Eurasia. And there are three more continents of similar size plus a central continent that is even bigger, not counting the oceans. This means this world could be four or five times larger than Earth.

I stop for a moment to process this and it makes me wonder whether the gravity is the same as in my old world, since I have nothing to compare against and my new body will certainly be acclimated to this world. I look at Lianhua and ask, to get a clearer sense of the distances "Lianhua, how long would it take to travel from one city to another on foot?"

Lianhua seems to think for a few moments before answering "From the capital to the city of Xining, which is the nearest, if someone who doesn't cultivate walks there, it could easily take about seven days." That surprises me. In a society without fast means of transport, cities tend to be closer together both to maintain fluid trade and because of the scarcity of unclaimed land.

But the fact that it's so far away implies there's no great competition for territory with the other empire or the sects, which means the size of the world and the distances may not be far off from my conjectures. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. But something in what Lianhua said catches my attention, so I ask "You said someone who doesn't cultivate. Could someone get there faster on foot?"

"Someone with the appropriate level of cultivation would take much less time, obviously", Lianhua replies, but seeing that I'm about to ask something else, she anticipates my question and hurries to continue.

"But I can't tell you anything more for the moment as I don't have permission, Zhāohuán Wen. Even what I'm telling you now could get me into trouble." I look at Lianhua intently and ask "Does this have anything to do with what I sometimes hear about Body Tempering or Skin Tempering?" Lianhua seems to hesitate a moment but answers my question "Yes, Zhāohuán Wen, but I truly cannot tell you more. Those are your mother's orders."

I sigh loudly in protest at such flagrant concealment of information and reflect for a moment on the second thing that caught my attention while reading the book: the repeated mention of Qi density across the continents. The book indicates that the area where the Tianjing Empire is located is a region of low Qi due to its distance from the central continent, and this appears to be connected to something called the Celestial Rift.

"What do you know about the Celestial Rift and Qi?" I ask Lianhua.

"Or is that also related to cultivation and you can't tell me anything unless my mother gives you permission?" Lianhua nods apologetically "Yes, Zhāohuán Wen. I'm sorry." I nod, absorbing all this new information. This world is much larger and more complex than I had imagined. As I close the book, I decide I need to learn more about Qi, cultivation, and how they affect this world, if only to make sure what happened to my half-brother doesn't happen to me.

"Thank you for getting me this book, Lianhua", I tell her.

"It's been very illuminating."

"My pleasure, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies with a bow of her head.

"I am here to help you with anything you need."

"I know", I tell her with a smile.

"And I appreciate it greatly."

"But you shouldn't have asked her, Zhāohuán", a voice says suddenly from behind me. I turn my head to find Xueshi Wenxue looking at me with a serious expression.

"Uhh", I exclaim, not quite sure what to say, looking back and forth between Xueshi Wenxue and Lianhua while feeling like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Don't blame your nursemaid, Zhāohuán. While you were absorbed in the book I let her know she should continue with your requests", Xueshi Wenxue tells me, the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"Though I'd like to know why you didn't ask me for the book, considering I am your tutor." I glance at Lianhua for a moment, feeling briefly betrayed despite knowing she had no choice but to obey Xueshi Wenxue, before answering "You were so absorbed in your reading that I didn't want to bother you, esteemed tutor."

"Or was it because you wanted to set me aside for the time being and carry on with my curriculum while reading more interesting things in between?" Xueshi Wenxue replies, suddenly revealing he had heard my entire conversation with Lianhua.

I start to go white as my mind races through the possible consequences of what I've done, while Xueshi Wenxue continues "I know it seemed as though I wasn't paying attention to what was going on, but you shouldn't make those kinds of assumptions, especially because someone with my level of cultivation can hear you speaking as clearly as if you were right beside him." I begin to sweat at hearing the cursed word, cultivation, again.

I'm missing too much information, and as has just been demonstrated to me, because of this damned cultivation any assumption I make about anything can be completely wrong.

"And now that we've concluded your education on one aspect of cultivation, something that according to your esteemed mother you are not supposed to know and nobody has told you, why don't you tell me what you expect from me and what kind of education you want, since you seem to have it so clearly figured out?" he says, sitting down beside me and looking at me with a smile that sends chills down my spine.

I eye with suspicion the wooden tablet divided into squares and the box full of small rods that Xueshi Wenxue sets before me "Zhāohuán, as you indicated the other day, I am going to teach you the basics that students at the Guozijian learn when they first enter, even though you are still young for it. Since there is no longer any need to teach you vocabulary or reading, today I will teach you to count, and depending on how quickly you learn, I can move on to basic arithmetic."

After his introduction he begins pointing at the tablet and the rods, but the instant he starts explaining how to count and the numbers I can't help disconnecting from what he's saying and thinking that I've made a mistake. When he caught me studying behind his back a couple of days ago and asked what I wanted to study, I naturally told him: whatever all children learn when they enter school. He mentioned that students enter the Guozijian at five, but now I'm starting to think it was a mistake.

No matter how much I pretend to learn at an extremely fast rate, I'm going to be stuck receiving lessons in mathematics, writing, and probably philosophy if the education here resembles that of imperial China. I blink as Xueshi Wenxue continues his explanation of how the counting-rod system works, and I can't help shuddering inwardly.

Granted, mathematics in ancient China were highly advanced, but come on, they have books, so they could at least have invented the abacus here instead of being stuck with the primitive counting-rod system.

"Zhāohuán, are you paying attention?" Xueshi Wenxue says suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes, Xueshi Wenxue, I was following your lesson", I reply, turning my attention back to him. He pushes the box of rods toward me "Then start counting to ten, Zhāohuán." With resignation I start picking up the rods and placing them on the wooden tablet. I sigh as I toss a handful of rice to the ducks in the pond of the garden in front of our Pavilion.

It's a spot I've grown fond of visiting after my lessons at the Imperial Library to decompress, and so much so that some time ago they placed a chair here just so I can sit when I come. Even the ducks are starting to recognize me and waddle over to beg for food. I'm truly growing tired of the lessons. No one who has had to spend nearly two years attending classes that contribute practically nothing, can comprehend what I've suffered. And the worst part is I can only accelerate them up to a point.

It's one thing to pretend I learn at an abnormally fast rate, and quite another to tell Xueshi Wenxue there's no need to explain anything because I already know nearly everything he wants to teach me. I doubt the explanation of being Blessed by the Heavens could cover that. And on top of everything, not only are many of the subjects superfluous for me, but it's even worse for someone who attended school in a modern and particularly Western educational system.

Counting-rod number systems, Chinese imperial measurements for both distance and weight, and basic writing. Well, that last one may not be so bad, since it allows me to analyze this world's language more closely. But the worst are the texts resembling Confucianism, built on filial piety and respect for one's elders, where they try to brainwash you into always being loyal to the family and the clan, obeying everything the elders tell you no matter how irrational it may be.

If you grow up in this kind of environment it's something you find natural and accept without question, but for someone like me, all those lectures are little short of torture. My only relief are the history lessons on the glorious Tianjing Empire and the Sect of the Celestial Sun, which were the ones who founded the Empire in the first place.

Xueshi Wenxue keeps things from me, and when I ask about them he tells me that because I'm so far ahead in my studies there are matters he won't discuss, but at least he tells me things like the fact that when the sect established itself in these lands, it was little more than an empty wasteland full of beasts.

But it grew and eventually grew so large that a sect's form of governance was no longer adequate, and they had to create a kingdom with a ruling family belonging to the sect in order to manage all the territory. I wonder how they went from kingdom to empire, but I haven't reached that part yet, so all I can do is wait.

And to top it all off, I've confirmed something I initially considered anecdotal but which has become clearer with the passage of time: my tendency toward genuinely childish behavior, beyond when I fake it on purpose. I can only think that my body truly does affect my mind, much as when I was a baby and my instincts drove me to nurse at my mother's breast and sleep.

And although it doesn't worry me right now, since behaving like a child every now and then isn't concerning in itself and is in fact what's expected of me, making it so I don't have to be so vigilant about pretending, it presents a terrifying future for me summed up in a single word. Puberty. The mere thought that I'll probably have to go through it again is something that terrifies me, since I have nothing but bad memories of what I now suppose I must call my first time through it.

I can only hope that having a greater mental age this time around will allow me to make better decisions when the adolescent impulses inevitably arrive. I sigh, weary of my depressing thoughts, and shake the last grains of rice from my hands as I call Lianhua to come pick me up and carry me to the room they've set up as my study, where I intend to set in motion the next step toward improving my quality of life, even if only on the mathematics front.

Conjuring a brand-new number system like the Arabic one out of thin air wouldn't be the wisest idea, but inventing the abacus is still within both my capabilities and my age.