Chapter 28: Accepting Mediocrity and Appreciating Yourself
Li Huozi has never been a representative of "other people's children". He has mediocre qualifications and a dull mind. His starting point was not so bad that people looked down on him, but he was not so good that people looked up to him.
Because there were geniuses like Zhui Du before him, he could only work desperately and tirelessly. He worked harder than anyone else, but he could only barely reach the upper-middle level of the younger generation of the Wuya tribe, and could not even touch the corner of genius. As for himself, because he worked too hard, his body was almost broken and he had to rest for a long time.
In the Wuya tribe, his peers who knew about his situation couldn't help but discuss his situation behind his back.
——"After all, I am not a genius. No matter how hard I try, I can never catch up with a genius. I can't even touch the shadow of chasing poison"——
——"This level is not bad, it has surpassed most people. Look, I can't even compare to him..."
——"Hey! After all, if you work so hard and don't get any results, then you're just a complete waste, right? What a pity. For ordinary people like us, no matter how hard we work, our limit is probably just like Li Huozi..."
——"It's so annoying, why can't God give us a talent like chasing poison!!"——
Invisibly, he has become the highest representative of ordinary people.
Perhaps only Li Huozi understood the sadness and pain in this. He had been suffering in his heart and unable to let go.
In front of others, he always pretends to be indifferent to other people's opinions. He has a simple mind and is innocent. This is his external image.
But does he really not care? The real Li Huozi is sensitive and prone to internal friction.
Before he left to chase the drug, he was not even fifteen years old. He could not face everyone's thoughts calmly or look at everyone's judgment objectively.
And he also knew that chasing drugs would not do it.
Zhui Du thought he was hiding well, but as he spent every day with Zhui Du, he could see the loneliness in Zhui Du's eyes.
Why was he lonely? Li Huozi smiled bitterly. Perhaps it was because he wasn't a genius. He couldn't find anyone around him who could resonate with him...
Until Zhui Du was judged as a criminal by the Wuya tribe and expelled from the tribe, no one was allowed to mention Zhui Du. The voices of others talking about his talent gradually dissipated with Zhui Du's departure.
No one compared him with a genius anymore. Even as time passed, many young people gradually forgot about Zhui Du.
but......
Li Huozi was not happy about this. He became even more miserable and his heart knot became heavier.
He knew that if he didn't take action to change himself, he would fall into the abyss of pain.
So, without telling his master, he secretly did a bold thing. He left the Wuya tribe and cast an insect-banning spell on himself. With only some boxing and kicking skills to protect himself, he embarked on his wandering journey alone.
Without the ability to control insects, he became a very ordinary third-rate warrior. He opened an ordinary insecticide shop in an ordinary small town, specializing in expelling insects for small households suffering from insect infestations.
He lived an ordinary life, came into contact with many ordinary people, and did ordinary chores, day after day, and even gradually forgot that he actually came from the mysterious tribe of Wuya.
Later, because the business was so good, he had to hire an assistant. The assistant accompanied him in running around, and their relationship gradually became closer.
After finishing work, the two found a roadside stall and ordered two large bowls of wontons. After eating and drinking their fill, they started a brief chat.
"Boss, I think you are a really outstanding person."
When Li Huozi heard this, he said "Hey" and teased:
"You want a raise? I've already added a little to the amount you wanted, and you're still not satisfied? Do you want more?"
The assistant was at a loss for words when he heard this, and replied:
"No, boss, am I that kind of person?! I'm giving you this evaluation seriously."
"Oh? Then tell me, what are my strengths?"
"Why would I ask? You're a generous person, you're quick to pay, and your insecticide skills are incredible. I'm still trying to figure out where those insects will linger based on their habits.
And you seemed to have opened your third eye and noticed it immediately. Is there anyone in the world who can do what you do?
Li Huozi lowered his head and smiled helplessly. Zhui Du's face suddenly appeared in his mind. He said:
"There's someone whose skills are far superior to mine. You just haven't met him yet. If you did, you'd probably think my skills are just so-so and I don't deserve to be called excellent."
"So what? Boss, let me ask you, is he able to keenly perceive everyone's inner thoughts and is he willing to help?"
This question surprised Li Huozi a little.
He pondered for a moment, recalling that Zhui Du had always thought that he was a stubborn person with a bad temper, and had never discovered his true face.
"cannot."
"Then let me ask you again, if he met someone who was not as good as him, like me, would he be willing to tolerate me, respect me from the bottom of his heart, and treat me as a person of the same kind as him?"
Li Huozi still shook his head. The reason why people like Zhui Du feel pain is that they think others are not talented enough, cannot match him, and are not qualified to be his companions, so they feel lonely.
"That's okay, boss. Even if I met him, I might admire his abilities, but I think after comparing you with him, I still think you are better than him."
"Why?"
"Is that even a question?" The assistant was puzzled and replied as a matter of course, "Excellence is never a single criterion. He may excel in one aspect, but that doesn't mean he's far better than you in other aspects!
Boss, I see that you have been in an oppressive environment for a long time. In that environment, your excellence is always judged by a set of prescribed standards.
So you have no idea what a great person you are.”
——
"What exactly do you want to say? Do you hate me? Do you think I'm the source of your pain?"
When Zhui Du heard what Li Huozi said, he frowned and asked a question.
"Of course not." Li Huozi smiled slightly and continued:
“I just wanted to make a suggestion.
Chasing drugs, in fact, if you don’t judge people by their strength, perhaps you would have had many true friends when you were young.”
Inexplicable!!
Zhui Du made a final decision in his heart after hearing this sudden conversation with Li Huozi.
Li Huozi could naturally guess what was in Zhui Du's mind. With his back to Zhui Du, he showed a relieved smile on his face, and his eyes and brows became much gentler.
"It's been ten years since we started chasing drugs, and we've all been growing."
Ten years later, chasing drugs is no longer lonely.
He finally made friends with like-minded people, learned to trust others, and put his back to others.
After ten years, Li Huozi finally untied the knot in his heart that had accumulated over the years.
He accepted his mediocrity, and at the same time knew how to constantly explore his own strengths and advantages and learn to appreciate himself.
They are all growing.
When Zhui Du heard Li Huozi's last words, his heart was unconsciously moved.
This time, Zhui Du did not complain in his heart. He just said "hmm" softly, which was considered as his agreement.
"We're here. Just walk straight ahead a few dozen steps."
Li Huozi stopped and turned around and left under Zhui Du's gaze, passing by him.
"Thank you." Zhui Du said in a low voice.
“No need.”
Li Huozi lowered his eyes. It was a rare and unprecedented thank you to such an arrogant person like Zhui Du, and his heart was calm.
Now, he just wants to end everything quickly and return to that ordinary town to be an ordinary insecticide shop owner.
——
After Li Huozi left, Zhui Du followed Li Huozi's instructions and walked forward. After walking about fifty steps, he saw an old man standing in the distance with his hands behind his back, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Coming?"
Ximen Naimo, Zhui Du's master, raised his eyes, glanced at Zhui Du, and asked.
"Here I come."
Chasing the drug, Ximen Naian, the former disciple and adopted son that Ximen Naimo had spent countless efforts to train, replied.
After finishing speaking, the two looked at each other in silence.
After a long while, Ximen Naimo finally asked:
"Any plans to come back?"
The drug chase remained silent.
Seeing that Zhui Du was silent for a long time, Ximen Naimo knew the answer.
In an instant, Ximen Naimo seemed to have aged a lot. He sighed and said, "Never mind. I'm old now. It's normal for you young people to have your own ideas."
After saying this, Ximen Naimo turned around and prepared to leave.
He didn't know what else he could say to Zhui Du.
Before Zhui Du arrived, he had thousands of words in his heart that he wanted to tell Zhui Du, but when he really communicated with Zhui Du face to face, all those thoughts disappeared.
He suddenly felt that it didn't matter whether he said it or not.
As long as everyone is safe, everyone is okay, and everyone is alive and well, it doesn’t matter even if everyone lives in their own place and never sees each other again in this life.
“Master!”
When Zhui Du saw Ximen Nai Mo preparing to leave, he immediately called out to stop him.
Simon Naimo didn't look back, nor did he even stop, he just slowed down his pace and asked, "What's the matter?"
Perhaps, because they would never meet again in this life, Zhui Du mustered up all his courage and told Ximen Nai Mo what he had been hiding for many years.
"Master, you have always been a very important person in my heart. I care about you more than anyone else in the Wuya tribe.
We have different philosophies and concepts, and there is a huge gap in our thinking. I realized this a long time ago...
Perhaps, in this lifetime, we will never have the same ideas and concepts...
but! !
But even though there are so many differences and frictions between us, it still doesn’t stop me from caring about you!!
Master, I have never been tired of you, and I have never disliked you.
I...I...I love you so much!
You are like a father to me, someone who cannot be ignored or shaken!"
Strong emotions gushed out in an instant, chasing the poison, no, Ximen Naian looked at Ximen Nai Mo's back, and finally could not control his surging emotions. A lot of heartfelt words came out directly, no longer restrained.
As soon as the words fell, even though they couldn't see each other's expressions, they both shed big tears.
"I see."
After a very long time, Ximen Naimo forced himself to suppress his emotions, calm his mind, and spoke in a calm tone.
After he finished speaking, without waiting for Zhui Du to say another word, he immediately used his Qinggong skills to speed away.
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