Chapter 366 Fa Zheng 2
In this way, the number of Great Impermanences supporting the Governance movement rises to three, which is not so big compared to the Transcendentalism movement with four Great Impermanences.
However, it seems that only Fazheng truly cares about governing the world; Jian Feixian and I are just here to join in the fun.
Thinking about this, I suddenly realized something. That is, without Fazheng, the concept of "governing the world" might not have been able to survive in Luoshan in the first place, or even have appeared at all—because the Divination Master had said that "governing the world" and "transcendentalism" were actually rhetoric that originated from Fazheng.
In other words, the concept of "governing the world" was likely created by Fazheng. Even the term "transcendentalism" may have been created by Fazheng as a concept opposed to "governing the world" in its initial stage, and then appropriated by the divination masters.
This "ism" and that "ism" don't sound like words that a great impermanent being, who is completely unrelated to politics, would play with, unless there happens to be a special great impermanent being with a strong political consciousness who started this trend among all the great impermanents.
What is happening in Luoshan today is less a clash between two different ideologies and more a situation where a dissident suddenly appears in an organization that should have only one ideology (i.e., the ideology of transcendence), and this dissident, relying on his popularity and leadership, has forcibly created an internal conflict.
So why did Fazheng do this?
Does he have a deeper motive?
I think the reason he confessed to me that he was the mastermind behind the Humanitarian Affairs Department was to show me his sincerity. He knew very well that appearing sincere would be a better way to win me over, and I certainly fall for that. Since that's the case, I decided to play along and ask a few more questions. I figured he wouldn't mind revealing more to me.
So I voiced all my doubts, and Fa Zheng paused for a moment, then showed a hesitant expression.
"You asked me why I established a system of governance..." he said, "It wouldn't hurt to tell you. In fact, I've already told Jian Feixian, and it wouldn't be fair not to tell you."
"But you might not believe the reasons I give. Many people see me as a cunning and ruthless person, even as a schemer who manipulates countless plans behind the scenes. I don't deny those rumors, because I do have many schemes planned in private. From your perspective, I probably wouldn't believe that such a ruthless person would have such reasons."
I said, "It's okay. I'm mentally prepared."
For the almost omnipotent Great Impermanence, most wishes in this world can be fulfilled easily, and most things can be obtained in a few words.
Power, wealth, beauty, fame, health, lifespan... From commoners to emperors, all the tangible and intangible good things that humankind has pursued throughout history are readily available to the Great Impermanence, and sometimes the other party will even deliver them to your door.
That is to say, only those with impure fates are troubled by special reasons and have to worry about health and lifespan. Recently, he even accidentally lost his reputation because of me. He is a special case, while Fazheng obviously does not belong to this category.
When people like Fazheng are asked what they want to pursue, their answers are usually not things that ordinary people can imagine.
Despite having prepared myself mentally for all of this, Fazheng's answer still exceeded all my expectations.
"I want others to think I'm a good person and to sincerely thank me," Fa Zheng said calmly.
I almost didn't understand what he said at first, but after I did understand, it was really just as he said, and it was hard to believe that his reason was just that.
"—Just like that?" I asked. "Why?"
"There's no other reason, it's just because I want to do it," Fa Zheng said. "I've always liked it when people thank me, so I try my best to do good deeds so that I can get a thank you from them afterward."
"When I was young, I had other interests. I wanted power, wealth, beauty, fame... But as my power increased and all those desires were satisfied, I stopped being attached to them."
"The only thing I can't get tired of is this initial desire, so now I basically only act for this."
"Perhaps this desire is somewhat similar to the pursuit of fame, but I don't really want to be enthusiastically praised by the world, nor do I want the power to command a huge following. As long as those I have helped can, once or twice in their future lives, casually recall that they were once helped by me and are willing to smile for it, that is enough. That is the only reward I want."
"I don't need to have my name etched in history, nor do I need to be praised or famous... I don't need anything else."
As he spoke, a hint of emotion seemed to creep into his voice, "Many people find me hard to understand, but... is it really that hard to understand?"
"It might indeed be a bit difficult to understand," I said.
"Is that really so? Zhuang Cheng, you must have been thanked by others before, and you must have felt happy and wanted to be thanked again, right?" Fa Zheng said. "Besides, you should have your own pursuits. I can sense a similar feeling in you to mine."
"You didn't get to where you are today simply because of circumstances; you have a clear will. Although I don't know exactly what you're pursuing, it must be a desire that's hard for ordinary people to understand."
"But Zhuang Cheng, is what's burning in your heart really some kind of incredibly difficult and incomprehensible desire?"
His words really touched me.
Yes, although my friends, such as Chang'an and Zhu Shi, occasionally express their incomprehension of my yearning for adventure, and many others simply define me as an oddball and a madman, I have never thought that my heart is so unconventional.
Ultimately, I just wanted to throw myself into an adventure as exciting as a fantasy story. This is a thought everyone has had; most people have probably lay in bed fantasizing about experiencing incredible adventures, falling asleep more than once accompanied by such fantasies. What urged me to act was nothing more than this childish, simple thought that anyone could empathize with.
My decision to take action was not based on any complicated background or reason. Even if others ask me why I did it, I can only say, "There's no other reason, I just wanted to do it."
Perhaps Fazheng and I are the same kind of people.
Gradually, I accepted Fazheng's reasoning, and then realized something deeper.
"I see... Is this also your method for winning people over?" I said, "'After reasoning with them,' it's time to 'appeal to their emotions'?"
“That’s right.” Fa Zheng nodded frankly. “However, what I said was also the truth.”
It's effective precisely because it's the truth. I might have just gotten myself used against by someone else.
That was pretty much the end of the conversation. We chatted briefly for a few more minutes, and then Fa Zheng concluded, "Well then, I need to go and prepare for the attack on the Humanitarian Division. You should continue to rest."
"See you next time," I said.
As my senses withdrew from the entire Luoshan headquarters area, the cinema audience scene I had imagined vanished like a dissolved ink painting. The scene around me transformed back into a sanatorium room.
I was mentally processing the words Fazheng had said earlier when, after a moment, there was a gentle knock on the door.
I could sense that it was Asaho standing outside the door. As I responded, Asaho slowly pushed the door open with her body. She carefully carried the plate in both hands and walked to my bedside.
The plate held what she wanted to make for me. I looked at it curiously and found it was a steaming little cake. Soft and fluffy, it wobbled slightly like pudding, sprinkled with a lot of white sugar, and gave off a fragrant aroma.
There may have been some minor mishap during the making process, as the shape of this little cake is very irregular and looks crooked.
Ma Zao said shyly, "I forgot to ask you what you like to eat, so I made this."
"...What is this?" I asked.
"I only vaguely remember how to make it, and I don't remember what it's called, but the chef said it's called egg custard," she said.
To be honest, I'm quite surprised.
My only expectation of her was that she wouldn't make any culinary disasters. My stereotypical impression of Asaho's past life was that "this bug is actually edible, and it tastes like chicken after you cut off its head," so even if she made food that didn't care about taste or texture, I could accept it if the presentation was terrible. I never expected her to serve up such a proper dessert.
I took the plate and fork, then used the blunt edge of the fork to cut off a small piece of the soft cake, stuck it in my eye, and examined it closely.
This was actually made by Ma Zao? The Ma Zao I know is completely different from this soft, hot cake.
"Are there cakes in the apocalypse?" I wondered.
"No...no."
Ma Zao looked at the egg custard with some confusion. She said, "At least I don't remember it. But when I saw the ingredients, for some reason the recipe suddenly popped into my mind, and my body seemed to have some impression of it as well. Some of the movements just came out naturally."
(End of this chapter)
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