Chapter 121 Chapter 121 [VIP]
On her birthday, Meghan went to the club as usual, meditating, playing, and practicing Tai Chi with Richard Long.
Richard did know many martial arts and was a truly world-class martial artist, but he did not teach them to Megan, not only because the child had almost no talent for martial arts, but also because he noticed the contradictions in her.
She is a child of the stars, who slowly awakened years after landing on the earth. Even though her body is over ten years old, her mind and will are even more fragile and ignorant. Moreover, she spent most of her time in Arkham Asylum, where she could not learn how to reconcile with the world.
When looking at the materials, Richard felt that she was moving faster, but from daily conversations he knew that no one was urging her. It was just her anxiety that made her keep moving forward, catching up like flying, absorbing knowledge, improving her cognition, releasing and showing more of herself.
These behaviors would consume Megan's energy and wear down her soul, so Richard wanted her to slow down - there was no need to use this time to achieve anything. He didn't arrange physical training for Megan every day, but he continued meditation and Tai Chi, just to give her more time to empty her mind and take a breath.
Even though everything Megan has experienced before has helped her grow, there are always signs of forcing things. If she is not allowed to slow down, she will run out of energy sooner or later. By then, even if the Joker tries to find a way... it may be of limited effect.
Richard knew that today was Megan's birthday, but he didn't make any special preparations.
After meditation in the afternoon, they both sat cross-legged on the floor of the quiet room, their figures one big and one small, of different heights. Richard asked patiently and gently, "How are you going to spend your birthday?" He wanted to ask Megan what she thought.
The child sitting next to him hunched her back, resting her elbows on her knees and supporting her face. This was an unhealthy posture for the spine, but she only did this occasionally and kept her head held high on a daily basis, so it didn't affect the shape of her spine at all. Richard didn't deliberately ask her to change it. This child's nature was not a big problem that needed to be corrected.
Megan stared at the floor tiles in front of her, but she wasn't actually looking at anything. She was just in a daze. When she heard Richard's words, she reacted very slowly.
Nothing to do with romance
She felt her head was empty. When she raised her head and looked around, she saw a low window next to her. Richard had taken her to a window where he had sealed the original window hole with bricks and cement, and then he had broken down the wall to chisel out a new one and installed a frame and glass. Because of its low location, when they were meditating, sunlight would shine in from there. When she was in a daze or ran to the window to play, she could easily see the scenery outside.
The club is neither big nor small, but there is a courtyard in the middle where some plants are planted that can survive even without care. The trees are not tall and are obviously not old enough, but in summer they are lush and make light rustling sounds when the wind blows. Sometimes birds stop on the branches and sing, and the weeds underneath grow vigorously, looking full of vitality.
Megan looked at the tree outside, but felt her own gentle breathing. She said, "I want to go out and play."
How to spend your birthday?
Megan didn't know. She felt a little confused and slightly panicked. It was as if a birthday was something she had to respond to and deal with, but she had never experienced it before. So she was left at a loss, and in the end, she just wanted to...
"I want to go out and play." Pretend this is a day like any other.
Richard understood what she meant and looked at her for a long time. Finally, he said gently and generously, "Actually, I guess your father will prepare it for you. You can look forward to it from now on."
"Don't be afraid, Megan. You have to learn to look forward to today and tomorrow. There are many people and things waiting for you. As long as you go with the flow."
No matter how she responds, they will arrive as scheduled, maybe better, maybe worse, but Megan has someone to look after her, so the people and things that come are destined not to bring danger to her, so all she needs is a good attitude.
Richard was responsible for teaching Megan how to exercise her body, but since he realized the child's psychological problems, he couldn't help but counsel and enlighten her, and he did this kind of thing quite a lot. He was deeply versed in philosophy and had taught several vigilantes, helping them to explore their own hearts, balance their inner and outer selves, and truly master their own power. Now he did the same with Megan.
Even though Megan was just an ignorant and weak child who had not learned martial arts from him, he never slacked off or looked down on her and patiently guided her;
Even though she is the daughter of the Joker, Richard knows rationally that Megan is not responsible for any sin. Besides, the Joker is the culprit of all the vicious events. It is hard to say whether they are lucky or not to be father and daughter. Megan's future is unpredictable because she is under the absolute control of the Joker. As long as the madman wants, he can change and kill her at any time.
He had thought a lot since he accepted this student and did not intend to treat her harshly. He used to be full of passion, but he went astray because he knew that his heart was not at peace. He had done things like stealing. He became a disciple of a legendary master and had a bad temper after learning martial arts. He went through the most passionate years with others, but he finally chose to retire.
Was he kind in the past? Asking whether a martial arts master who has earned a worldwide reputation through his strength and punches and kicks is kind or not is nonsense.
He is like this himself, so why should he make things difficult for a child?
Richard raised his hand and gently placed it on Megan's shoulder. A noticeable smile appeared under his golden beard. He comforted and encouraged her, "Learn to look forward to it. At the same time, the choice you make will not be wrong - then go and have fun."
He had finished speaking and stood up to leave. Megan watched his back disappear outside the door. She sat there for a while and then ran to the window. The low window was very convenient for her to move. She put her arms on the window frame and raised her feet to climb up easily. However, there was a height difference between the ground inside and outside the window, so she had to be careful to land safely.
Megan climbed through the window into the courtyard, reached out to touch the small tree, walked around there a few times, and then walked out of the club.
She walked down the street, randomly choosing a direction and taking a slow pace, greeting the bushes and wild cats on the roadside. She didn't like dogs, so she turned away when she saw them.
Most of the houses in Gotham's downtown area are old, but there is a gap between the rich and the poor among the residents. Some community properties are still there and the exterior walls have been repainted, while some buildings look like they have been standing there for decades. Even the windows are of styles that were popular only years ago, such as stained glass. They are embedded in arched window frames and have long become dull after being weathered by wind and rain. From the outside, it is impossible to tell whether anyone still lives inside.
Megan looked around curiously, and her mood gradually calmed down.
The wind started to blow, and gusts of wind blew past her hands, stretching her fluffy, curly hair, and then continued around her, brushing the grass by the roadside, blowing up the tattered advertising cloth on the roadside, and carrying some light plastic garbage into the sky. The wind was happy on its own, but it also swept up many things to dance with it.
The child standing in the wind stopped, turned her head and looked in the direction where the wind came from. Then she walked towards that direction and started her journey of chasing the wind without any warning.
They stopped to play along the way. She passed by a park and picked up a stone she liked, then walked into a commercial street and bought an ice cream from a roadside food truck. It was a bit cold, so she frowned unhappily and didn't finish it. She also tried to grab a doll, but failed after several attempts.
Megan continued to walk, walking alone on the street, weaving through the crowd. She raised her head and looked up, and her eyes were filled with many faces and scenes in the world, but it was difficult for them to leave any trace in her eyes, and in the end they remained clear and bright.
[She seems to be out of tune with this world. The hustle and bustle cannot affect her. Instead, she enjoys the quietness of being alone, immersed in her own world. Only occasionally does she respond and remember what is happening outside, and then still maintains her peaceful attitude.
She doesn't argue with the world, nor does she fight against fate. Because everyone's destination is death, she knows she's on this path and isn't dissatisfied or resentful. In her palm rests a formless, free bird, its snow-white wings growing from her soul. Together, they are visitors from heaven.
Her gaze is a silent hymn, and wherever it stops, good news comes. When she is alive, she is a messenger walking on earth; when she passes away, she will return to heaven.
Her soul was pure and spotless, she was the beloved child of the Lord, but unfortunately she was favored by the devil.
Fate is a spindle with the most painful power, which can easily make the soul fall into a deep sleep.
…
【The devil took away the Lord's beloved Son, but gave her new life.】
Megan didn't know where she was. When she looked back at the road she had come from and then looked ahead, she was completely unfamiliar with the current environment.
It was already evening, and the night was falling like a cover, leaving only a dim glow on the side of the sky where the sun had set.
She could no longer find any pedestrians around her. This place was remote, with weeds growing on the roadside and the sounds of insects and birds chirping. Megan looked around and when she raised her head again, she saw a familiar figure.
The wind blew the grass and also blew the long hem of his clothes. He slowly approached and then stopped moving. His vague silhouette seemed to be wearing a top hat and holding a cane. He was neither hurried nor anxious, and waited leisurely for her to come over, obviously certain of her reaction.
Megan didn't realize that she was smiling and expressing her happiness. She ran over with her short legs and grabbed the clown's hand. As usual, he was wearing leather gloves today, and the touch felt a little loose, but Megan didn't care.
She moved closer to the clown. She looked happy when she ran over, but now her behavior was completely the opposite. She pouted and seemed a little aggrieved.
The Joker stared down at her, the already forced smile on his face becoming even more hideous. His smile never felt real, as if it was just his mask, his disguise, which had long become the iconic performance of the Joker character. When the arc that almost reached his ears appeared on his pale face, the sense of terror was doubled.
He looked at the child. She would be eleven years old today, but this was not her real birthday.
Today was just the day she was picked up by the clown. Later, we found out her detailed background and learned that she was eight years old at the time, so her age was simply confirmed.
The Joker never asked Megan if she remembered the past. Her state when he picked her up and her subsequent reaction proved that her mind was empty. If she could remember anything, even the Joker would be surprised!
The child he picked up had nothing. Even if she woke up later, she would only have everything he had instilled in her. Only this was the best gift he had ever received, and he succeeded.
The clown said, "Come on, kids, we should go back."
The author has something to say:
This is a heartwarming story about Megan taming a wild clown (×) (Tian Gang!)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
