Chapter v14c4

Do you know what it takes to have the eyes of a Roc?

The boy shook his head again.

“You can only see far if you fly high. That’s why you need the wings of a Roc!”

The memory resurfaced, vivid and clear. His master continued,

“I will give you those wings. Soar! If you cannot cross the mountains that stand in your way, you cannot see the world beyond. If you do not have the strong wings to pierce the clouds, you cannot see the world above. Flap your wings like a Roc, and gain the eyes that see through and embrace all things in the world. That is the gateway and the shortcut to the Holhwang Realm!”

He had sensed murderous intent, knowing there were further steps beyond, but he had given up, acknowledging his limitations. It was difficult to assess oneself objectively. But to understand others, one had to first understand oneself. One had to be able to see oneself clearly.

He had been a good student from the start, a quick learner. Perhaps.

“Are you asleep?”

“N-No, sir. Of course not.”

The boy wiped his mouth with his sleeve, a natural gesture.

“Hmm… Ryu-yeon!”

“Yes, sir?”

“Listen carefully!”

His master said gently, his eyes smiling, but his voice laced with a chilling intent.

“There are stages to seeing.”

He had emphasized this point repeatedly.

**The First Stage: True Sight**

Seeing things as they truly are.

The first step, where one’s eyes, blinded by worldly distractions, finally open. One becomes able to see things objectively, without being swayed by biased opinions or preconceived notions. One develops one’s own judgment, free from external influences. One gains a fair and impartial perspective, able to assess both oneself and others accurately.

**The Second Stage: Broad Sight**

Seeing things broadly.

One develops a wide field of vision, unhindered by fixed ideas or limited perspectives. One becomes able to absorb and process vast amounts of information, expanding one’s capacity for understanding.

One learns to appreciate diversity and the vastness of the world, becoming less hasty in making judgments.

**The Third Stage: Deep Sight**

Seeing things deeply.

One delves into the essence of things, seeing beyond the surface, noticing even the smallest details. One becomes able to perceive the subtle, unconscious movements of others, understanding their true intentions. One begins to realize that intuition is often more valuable than conscious thought. Insight begins to blossom.

Only after reaching these three stages can one be considered to have entered the realm of the Mind’s Eye.

**The Fourth Stage: Penetrating Sight**

Seeing through things.

One gains the ability to see through the essence of things instantly, a penetrating vision. It is also known as Insightful Sight. One can process and analyze vast amounts of information in an instant, extracting the core essence, like a gem hidden within a rock.

One becomes convinced that intuition is more valuable than conscious thought, because one can feel things accurately, with unwavering certainty. The most difficult challenge at this stage is distinguishing between true intuition and false intuition.

One also begins to see things that are invisible to ordinary eyes.

Between the third and fourth stages, one begins to perceive the flow of energy, though not completely. And upon reaching the fourth stage, Penetrating Sight, one becomes able to perceive the flow of energy that permeates the universe, the energy that connects all things. With this secret knowledge, one can predict the movements of others!

However, if one’s vessel is too small, one will be overwhelmed by this influx of information, leading to a mental breakdown. This state is commonly known as “madness.” One loses oneself, becoming one with the energy of the universe. Therefore, it is crucial to first expand one’s vessel, to make it a Great Vessel.

**The Fifth Stage: Space-Transcending Sight**

Seeing beyond space.

One gains complete understanding of everything within one’s field of vision. This is the first step to mastering space.

**The Sixth Stage: Time-Transcending Sight**

Seeing beyond time.

As the name suggests, one gains the ability to see beyond time, to see the future. It is said to be a stage that can only be reached through secret teachings.

The fifth and sixth stages are collectively known as Space-Time Sight. However, the ability to slow down the perception of time, a lesser form of Time-Transcending Sight, can be achieved between the third and fourth stages. Most warriors consider the fourth stage to be the ultimate goal. But there are a few who have reached the realm of Space-Time Sight.

It is said that those who reach between the sixth and seventh stages transcend life and death, gaining the ability to interfere with the laws of the universe.

**The Seventh Stage: The Ultimate Stage, Divine Sight**

Seeing God.

One encounters the God within oneself. The inner universe and the outer universe become one, the part becomes the whole, and the whole becomes the part. Through the secret of the Unity of All Things, one realizes that there is no separation between anything.

It is said that at this stage, one can see everything in the world, understand the essence of all things, and find the answers to all questions. It is also known as the Eye of Truth.

The final stage, attainable only through ultimate enlightenment. It is the realm of Divine Transformation, where one becomes one with God. One does not simply understand the Dao, but becomes one with it. It is said that with this eye, one can escape the cycle of reincarnation and attain enlightenment and nirvana. And ultimately, one becomes God.

“…This is the infinitely profound world that lies beyond the simple act of ‘seeing.'”

His master continued, oblivious to his disciple’s comprehension.

“It seems simple, but the first stage is actually the most difficult. To see things truly, one must shed all preconceived notions and biases, and approach things with a pure and open mind. It is said that without a righteous heart, one cannot see things truly. It is a difficult stage for humans, who are constantly influenced by their environment. Those who blindly follow the crowd, regardless of their own beliefs, are still at the basic level. It’s absurd to rely on others for your own judgment! Do they feed you? Well, there are some who blindly accept whatever they’re given, without even checking if it’s food or feces. Those are the people who sleepwalk through life. Do you want to be like them?”

“No, sir! Are you crazy?”

Bi Ryu-yeon answered honestly. The thought of becoming such a mindless drone was horrifying.

His master nodded.

“The surprising thing is that there are countless such people in the world. Your judgment might coincide with others by chance. That’s fine. But it’s completely different from blindly accepting someone else’s judgment as your own. There are some who claim to have done the former when they’ve actually done the latter. Do you know what their defining characteristic is?”

Bi Ryu-yeon shook his head.

“They’re weak to authority.”

“Authority?”

“Yes, authority! They grovel before authority figures. Some even go so far as to lick their boots. They believe that whatever an authority figure says is true! And they try to burn anyone who disagrees! Because they want those authority figures to think for them. They can’t stand it when someone insults their surrogate thinkers! Filled with righteous indignation, they lash out at those who challenge their ‘authority’ – they often have delusions of grandeur – determined to punish the heretics.”

“Isn’t that just foolish?”

Bi Ryu-yeon said, his face incredulous.

“Yes, it is!”

His master agreed.

“I’d rather strive to establish my own standards of judgment than participate in such a puppet show. It’s much more beneficial.”

His master’s words were harsh.

“Are there really so many foolish people in the world? It’s so obvious if you just think about it for a moment.”

He couldn’t understand it.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, have you forgotten what I just said? Those people don’t need to think. They have others to think for them!”

“Oh, right.”

He finally remembered.

“You remember now?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good, then let’s move on!”

His master explained that the first stage was the most difficult, which was why it was so hard to attain the Mind’s Eye.

“The most important thing is to have the courage to break free from your preconceived notions and the willingness to see things truly. But to function in our Biryu Sect, you need to reach at least the third stage. Otherwise, you won’t be able to keep up with the complex movements of the Biryu Swordsmanship.”

His master always had unreasonable demands. It seemed his ability to read minds was a result of his own struggles.

His master stared at him intently, his gaze piercing his mind like a beam of light. And then he asked, his voice serious,

“How far do you think you can go?”