Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 964 Moriarty's Legacy (asking for monthly tickets!)

The cold, white moonlight penetrated the mist that had not yet dissipated and fell on Aiwass, as if it had condensed into frost.

After Oswald left, he still stood there, looking at old James. He said nothing, and did not move. He was like an ice sculpture.

“—It’s my problem.”

Old James suddenly spoke up: "I didn't expect that Mr. Oswald would react so strongly after knowing that incident."

"which one?"

"Little Yulia. Where I came from, where I'm going... these things are not secrets. I have told him for a long time. I never keep these boring secrets from people around me, just like I do with you. It's just that some people are not qualified. If they know the truth, they will only feel pain or be powerless... I will never tell them things that they can't bear.

"The citizens from Avalon don't need to know how the slaves in the southern continent live, and the civilians from Iris don't need to care whether Avalon and Star Antimony are going to go to war. No matter how things turn out, they can't change anything, and their knowledge will be meaningless and will only add to the pain."

To know is to suffer. Just like himself.

The old man's brows relaxed slightly as he said this, revealing a helpless smile: "I thought he would get angry, scold me, or accept it in silence - everything is for the greater good. After all, when I threatened Edward, he also chose to remain silent.

"But I didn't expect that the truth would pierce his heart. He still stood straight, saying nothing. But blood flowed from his eyes, and his back gradually became hunched. In an instant, he seemed to have aged ten years... I mean ten years in human terms."

At this point, old James sighed: "I was wrong. And that might be a warning, or a beginning..."

The adoptive father obviously did not think that his actions were beyond sacrificial.

As a self-proclaimed "savior" and a good young man recognized by Cardinal Loki, James naturally has the potential to devote himself to the Tao. He believes in necessary evil and premature death... For him, in order to activate Aiwass's potential, letting Yulia hatch the phantom demon in her body and letting her be "killed" by the phantom demon in her body in a way that cannot be resurrected is an acceptable price.

It's just a life.

In the face of the end of the world, any price seems so pale and meaningless - no matter how brilliant, wise, lovely, just, or loved a person is, the unit of his life can only be "one".

Compared to the tens of billions of living beings, compared to the hundreds of thousands of years of history, compared to the immeasurable future... any price paid is worth it.

all.

If you can see a person clearly, you won't be afraid of him; if you know when a person will die, you won't be angry with him. Old James always looks down on all living things with a compassionate attitude... That perspective is more like a "god" than a "brave man". This is also the reason why he never panics or gets angry when he encounters anyone or anything, and is always calm and rational.

Because he doesn't care.

But now it’s different…

"The 'future' has changed, hasn't it."

Aiwass raised the corner of his mouth: "Of course, for you... it should be 'history'."

"——Did you do the 'Ritual of the Tail Ring'?"

Old James had a serious expression on his face and asked earnestly, "This answer is very important to me. I... beg you to tell me."

Hearing this, Aiwass smiled even more happily.

He looked at old James - his face was half expectant and half rejecting. Even old James himself didn't know what kind of answer he wanted.

He wanted to change the future, but he was afraid of the future being changed. In the final analysis, he just wanted to change the future in his own hands.

I consider myself the protagonist of the era...

...This hypocritical attitude is so similar to myself.

Thinking of this, the smile on Aiwas's face gradually faded.

"Look, do I have that ability?"

He spread his hands and said calmly, "No.

"But I know that this was a conspiracy by Huan Tiansi. He has been preparing for this scene for at least tens of thousands of years."

"...I guessed this possibility. After all, his name was once the Heavenly Master of Samsara."

Old James did not lose control.

He just nodded slightly, as if accepting the answer.

The old man looked up at the night sky.

In the originally dark night, there is violet as the background color.

Ever since the Snake Father began his "final transcendence", the color of the night sky has become paler day by day.

After a long silence, the old man suddenly said: "Do you know your shortcomings, Aiwass?"

"Why," Aiwass laughed, "are you judging me, Father?"

"You are very mature." Old James looked at Aiwas quietly: "This is your shortcoming."

"Because it's inconvenient for you to use me?" Aiwass asked back.

"Correct."

Unexpectedly, Old James nodded calmly and said, "My so-called 'utilization' is actually cultivation. What they want to do is what I want them to do. This is not because I found them, but because I cultivated them.

"Everyone needs someone who understands, Aiwass. Sometimes when you are bruised and battered, you just need someone who understands you to have the courage to move forward. And in order to keep this person who understands you, they often give up their own direction of progress... This is how I manipulate others."

As if imparting his experience, old James patiently and meticulously disassembled his "experience":
"What kind of people a child meets and what kind of things he encounters will determine what kind of person he will become in the future. Talent can change a person's basic character, while experience can change his soul. No one is born holy, no. I have seen many saints, and even more villains... What they have in common is that they have experienced a lot of suffering.

“It’s just that some butterflies can break out of their cocoons, while others die in their cocoons.”

He looked at Aiwass, his clear eyes showing worry: “But you are different, Aiwass.

"——You are too mature. Although adults can be changed, they are far less malleable than children. Because of this, it is more difficult for adults to be enlightened and make progress than children. Adults have learned to endure pain and not cry, so it takes greater pain to make them unbearable."

Hearing this, Aiwass narrowed his eyes slightly and his face gradually became gloomy.

"Is this your defense? Because I am too mature, I need greater suffering to hurt me? That's why you attacked Yulia?"

Cards appeared one after another from Aiwas' fingertips, and then disappeared one by one. He looked like a magician, or a dealer shuffling cards with one hand.

"You can understand it that way."

Old James just said calmly: "Don't you think so? Your progress is too slow, much slower than the people around you.

"When Sherlock got his family's approval, he came to terms with his awkward self; when the little queen got courage and supporters, she was able to move forward. They're all chasing you, Aiwass.

"What about you? You're just going to stand there and let them catch up?"

The words were sincere, yet seemed to have a magical power to bewitch people.

Every word and sentence reflects what Aiwas is worried about and anxious about.

"…Is this how you usually manipulate others?"

Aiwass felt his heart waver for a moment, and his expression gradually became calm.

The so-called "poker face" does not necessarily mean having no expression on your face, but rather not letting others judge what cards you are going to play from your expression. The smile on old James' face is essentially a poker face.

Following the example of old James, a gentle smile slowly appeared on Aiwas' face.

He even did better than old James - he had a genuine warmth, a light that came from his heart for others, which was completely different from the cold and sweet taste of James that lingered in his throat like cold sugar water.

"If I didn't know how to change myself, I wouldn't be here at this time and in this place."

Aiwass said, and then asked, "Why are you here? The fragments of Wu Tiansi should not be of any help to you."

"Because it helps you."

Old James said gently: "I want to collect it for you - I guess you won't believe this reason."

Aiwass raised his eyebrows and didn't say anything.

"But the truth is almost the same... because I want to know what you are doing. The current 'history' is beyond my understanding, but you seem to know more secrets than me. So if I follow your trajectory and find the things you want to find in advance, I can lead you to where I want to put you. As long as I am one step faster than you, I can be faster every step."

At this point, the old man smiled bitterly and said, "But I really didn't realize that you would appear here at this time. The Stargazing Tantra didn't tell me where you were going... But every night when I look at the stars, I will predict your future.

"Is it because the Lord of Scales and Feathers has obscured your tracks? Or is it that all of this is an idea you came up with 'today'? In any case, you are trying to evade my detection."

Old James said frankly: “So when I saw you appear here, I already knew everything.

"When I can't see the future...I actually see the future. You have already surpassed me."

As he spoke, old James clenched his cane slightly.

Two balls of azure light ignited at the bottom of his pupils.

His voice and the low curse sounded at the same time: "Evans, from now on you are Moriarty.

"I have an experience, a legacy, or maybe a painful lesson...

“What you hear may not be true, what you see may not be true, and the memory of your own experience may deceive you.

"——Don't trust too much what you know about the [future]."

As the words fell, the magic suddenly condensed.

(End of this chapter)