RE: Puzzler's Space - Lesson 1: Spring's Spirit Departs
09-12-2017, 03:46 AM
The flat cloud had lain over the region for several months, now, and waking up to darkness had become standard fare for the ordinary folk. There was, of course, the issue of the famine, but there was plenty of food to be found in the vermin that now lay dead in the field.
Thus, it was only expected that a plague was now stirring in the small town of Five Hill Tower. It was the scene of starvation and pestilence which greeted Liu Kui and Ban Songqi as they walked through the formerly cheerful community.
"Traveler," cried out one of the afflicted, who grasped feebly at Ban Songqi's robes, "you who pass through without illness, help - help me!" Fingers closing around the cloth, the one who wore sores in place of skin suddenly tore with an unexpected vigor.
But this was not Ban Songqi. These were not Ban Songqi's robes.
Puzzle 6: Upon returning to your private garden, you find that a stranger has trespassed and left a net of gold upon your moon-cloud flowers. You place the net upon the flowers and realize that you did not plant the flowers, for they had been present for five centuries. Why have you gone to the garden?
Suddenly, a great clap shook the air, and it seemed that the sun had torn in half.
The flat cloud drew into itself, curling like heated sheet-metal, and rolled downwards into the caves and the mountains of the earth.
The ------------- was present. It perfused the air, the water, the earth, in a fit of ------.
The sick one fell away in the color of ----- and observed that the Layering of the Skies was unveiled. For it was the face of the Spring which bore its eyes down from the upper firmament, and separated the yet-youthful from the yet-dying.
"The next shall overturn all which come after," the great face proclaimed, and exhaled a violent breath. The ------ tore through the afflicted and crumbled away the village to ash. In a brief moment, the final enlightenment, the Hidden Truth of the Myriad-Eye Monk, became revealed to all life. Great Conquerer Tai-Yin rose from the fields of the Northern Plains in a great billowing duststorm and proclaimed emptiness into the heavens. The sphere of the earth turned over in protest, throwing the famed poet-warrior into the waters above, dormant for yet another hundred and eight years.
Thus was Five Hill Tower taken up into the skies.
Puzzle 7: In the event that a scroll containing the teachings of the Fourth Seer has impacted the eyes and subsumed the dreams of an unwilling student, what should be done about their remaining lifespan?
Liu Kui stirred, dreaming of round-fruit, moving shoeless feet under the thin blankets. A great battle raged around the ramshackle cottage.
The door flew open with a crack - wind like howling wolves sprinted through the opening and chased itself through the small space, stirring up papers and dust and Liu Kui's blanket alike.
Unable to continue sleeping, Liu Kui sat up from the bed, grabbing the blanket from the air, and stood upon the floor.
Ban Songqi walked in from outside, with a cloak held in the arms instead of wrapped around the body.
"You took my shoes," commented Liu Kui.
Ban Songqi nodded, returning them from age-worn feet, and placed the cloak upon a nearby stand.
Slipping on the shoes, Liu Kui looked outside.
It was merely cloudy - the flat cloud had gone.
Ban Songqi, noticing that Liu was gazing towards the open door, nodded. "We will visit Six Hill Tower."
Puzzle 8: An old saying follows: "The stout ear which listens to the voice of rabbits grows large. The narrow eye which gazes upon the grazing auroch grows wide. Yet, attend to your hands, for they do not..." As you know, the many modern completions of this saying have been colored by inaccurate falsehoods. What is the original completion?
After school-reading: Why did Liu Kui not arrange the scattered papers once Ban Songqi had returned?
Thus, it was only expected that a plague was now stirring in the small town of Five Hill Tower. It was the scene of starvation and pestilence which greeted Liu Kui and Ban Songqi as they walked through the formerly cheerful community.
"Traveler," cried out one of the afflicted, who grasped feebly at Ban Songqi's robes, "you who pass through without illness, help - help me!" Fingers closing around the cloth, the one who wore sores in place of skin suddenly tore with an unexpected vigor.
But this was not Ban Songqi. These were not Ban Songqi's robes.
Puzzle 6: Upon returning to your private garden, you find that a stranger has trespassed and left a net of gold upon your moon-cloud flowers. You place the net upon the flowers and realize that you did not plant the flowers, for they had been present for five centuries. Why have you gone to the garden?
Suddenly, a great clap shook the air, and it seemed that the sun had torn in half.
The flat cloud drew into itself, curling like heated sheet-metal, and rolled downwards into the caves and the mountains of the earth.
The ------------- was present. It perfused the air, the water, the earth, in a fit of ------.
The sick one fell away in the color of ----- and observed that the Layering of the Skies was unveiled. For it was the face of the Spring which bore its eyes down from the upper firmament, and separated the yet-youthful from the yet-dying.
"The next shall overturn all which come after," the great face proclaimed, and exhaled a violent breath. The ------ tore through the afflicted and crumbled away the village to ash. In a brief moment, the final enlightenment, the Hidden Truth of the Myriad-Eye Monk, became revealed to all life. Great Conquerer Tai-Yin rose from the fields of the Northern Plains in a great billowing duststorm and proclaimed emptiness into the heavens. The sphere of the earth turned over in protest, throwing the famed poet-warrior into the waters above, dormant for yet another hundred and eight years.
Thus was Five Hill Tower taken up into the skies.
Puzzle 7: In the event that a scroll containing the teachings of the Fourth Seer has impacted the eyes and subsumed the dreams of an unwilling student, what should be done about their remaining lifespan?
Liu Kui stirred, dreaming of round-fruit, moving shoeless feet under the thin blankets. A great battle raged around the ramshackle cottage.
The door flew open with a crack - wind like howling wolves sprinted through the opening and chased itself through the small space, stirring up papers and dust and Liu Kui's blanket alike.
Unable to continue sleeping, Liu Kui sat up from the bed, grabbing the blanket from the air, and stood upon the floor.
Ban Songqi walked in from outside, with a cloak held in the arms instead of wrapped around the body.
"You took my shoes," commented Liu Kui.
Ban Songqi nodded, returning them from age-worn feet, and placed the cloak upon a nearby stand.
Slipping on the shoes, Liu Kui looked outside.
It was merely cloudy - the flat cloud had gone.
Ban Songqi, noticing that Liu was gazing towards the open door, nodded. "We will visit Six Hill Tower."
Puzzle 8: An old saying follows: "The stout ear which listens to the voice of rabbits grows large. The narrow eye which gazes upon the grazing auroch grows wide. Yet, attend to your hands, for they do not..." As you know, the many modern completions of this saying have been colored by inaccurate falsehoods. What is the original completion?
After school-reading: Why did Liu Kui not arrange the scattered papers once Ban Songqi had returned?
Where has spring gone,
feathered with storm,
with wake of grey
and colorless cries?
End of Lesson 1.
feathered with storm,
with wake of grey
and colorless cries?
End of Lesson 1.