Chapter 2016

Zhu Yanyi paused, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window. She continued, "The Daoist 'Nine Hardships' generally refer to these:

First, when the great medicine is not yet formed, one suffers from cold and heat. Within a year, one must change clothes for the four seasons. When true qi has not yet been born, one still feels hunger and thirst. Within a day, one must eat three meals. Those who serve the Dao suffer from the pressure of food and clothing. This is the First Hardship.

Second, heavy karmic debts from past lives flow into this life to be repaid. Even when stealing leisure from a busy life, one is still constrained by elders. Bound by respect for parents and relatives, one cannot bear to flee. One seeks peace but rarely finds spare time. Those who serve the Dao suffer from the obstruction of elders. This is the Second Hardship.

Third, one loves one’s wife and children, and cherishes one’s parents. Bonds of love and affection increase daily. The fire of worldly worries and the cart of sorrow never rest. Even with a heart seeking tranquility, it is hard to resist the environment of worry. Those who serve the Dao suffer from the entanglement of love. This is the Third Hardship.

Fourth, wealth rivals ten thousand households, and nobility reaches the highest ministers. The arrogant heart refuses to rest for a moment; the greedy only worry about having too little. Those who serve the Dao suffer from the shackles of fame and profit. This is the Fourth Hardship.

Fifth, the young refuse to cultivate. Some become ill due to weak qi; others, with stubborn hearts, never awaken. Disaster strikes the body in this life, serving as a warning to future generations. Those who serve the Dao suffer from sudden calamities. This is the Fifth Hardship.

Sixth, people consider life and death a major matter and rush to find a teacher, without choosing between true and false. Some follow those with sharp tongues; others follow those with ancient, dignified appearances. At first, they believe they have met immortals, but eventually realize they are merely profit-seeking people. Those who serve the Dao suffer from blind teachers. This is the Sixth Hardship.

Seventh, blind teachers and crazy friends point to wrong paths. They pick branches and leaves without true connection, using small, heterodox methods to guide each other. They do not know that the sun and moon, when they rise, shine brightly for all to see; thunder, when it strikes, shocks all who hear. They use the light of a torch and the croaking of frogs, flickering and chirping, which can never unite. Those who serve the Dao suffer from conflicting theories. This is the Seventh Hardship.

Eighth, one acts in the morning and changes in the evening. One sits and sets ambitions, pleased for a moment but tired of persistence. One starts with diligence but ends in laziness. Those who serve the Dao suffer from slackening will. This is the Eighth Hardship.

Ninth, one loses years in a lifetime, months in a year, days in a month, and hours in a day. In youth, one does not forget fame and profit; in old age, one always thinks of children and grandchildren. Time is limited; do not say, 'This year is passed, I will wait for next year.' Human affairs are endless; do not say, 'Today is passed, I will wait for tomorrow.' Today cannot guarantee tomorrow; can old age compete with youth? Those who serve the Dao suffer from wasting time. This is the Ninth Hardship.

These are the Nine Hardships of the Dao."

After finishing, Zhu Yanyi looked at Yan Aohan. "You told me about the Three Calamities and Nine Hardships. Do you mean they will really happen now?"

"They will not happen currently, but who knows if they will happen in the future? So I say, these earthquakes and tsunamis are indeed not serious, aren't they?" Yan Aohan looked at Zhu Yanyi.

Zhu Yanyi hesitated. She had to admit that Yan Aohan was telling the truth. Compared to the Three Calamities and Nine Hardships, the current disasters were indeed insignificant.

"Aohan, tell me honestly. Is it very likely that our planet will encounter the Three Calamities and Nine Hardships? Or more accurately, the Great Three Calamities?" Zhu Yanyi looked seriously at Yan Aohan. She knew that since he mentioned this today, he must have felt something significant.

Yan Aohan smiled lightly. "Ani, I have said you have thirty years of effort time." He did not answer directly, but his silence was more than an answer.

Zhu Yanyi was stunned for a moment, then remembered what Yan Aohan had said before: this plane would need her to complete it in the future. She had already kept those words in mind. Now, hearing him say this again, she took his words even more to heart. It seemed the changes that would happen here in the future would be very large. Even if it was not the Three Calamities and Nine Hardships, the difficulty would not be light.

Yan Aohan glanced slightly at Zhu Yanyi and knew what she was thinking. "Ani, do not think too much. Some things do not need excessive thought. Thinking too much is meaningless; it is better to let nature take its course."

"It is true that I do not need to think too much. I just need to do my own job well." Zhu Yanyi finally decided. Since some things were going to happen, all she could do was prepare.

Natural disasters and human misfortunes: human misfortunes might be avoided through effort, but natural disasters could not. If Heaven wanted to take people, no one could stop it. It was the same principle as the saying: Venerable Yanluo wants you to die at the third watch; he will not let you live until the fifth watch.

The only thing Zhu Yanyi could do currently was to minimize the loss as much as possible.

"Actually, this is good too. I will just treat it as Heaven’s test for me." Zhu Yanyi sniffed, laughing at herself helplessly.

Yan Aohan nodded very seriously. "Indeed, this is truly Heaven’s test for you."

Zhu Yanyi twitched her nose and glared at Yan Aohan. "Forget it. If it is a test, then it is a test. I don’t believe I cannot fight it."

"Your ambition is commendable." Yan Aohan praised. Only Zhu Yanyi would say such things as fighting against Heaven.

"Of course. Anyway, if I fail, I still have you. I will pull you to the front to block it then." Zhu Yanyi giggled, feeling no shame for her thick-skinned behavior.

Yan Aohan was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Yes, if it fails, I am still here in the end." Although speechless, his tone carried deep doting.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Can you two stop showing off your love in front of us three bachelors?" Ouyang Tianyun protested.

"If you have the ability, find someone yourselves," Zhu Yanyi said with a grin.

"Heh, Senior Brother does not need to look. As for me and Senior Brother Sikong, forget it. It is not easy to find," Ouyang Tianyun said directly.

Yi Yunfei glanced at Ouyang Tianyun. "What are you saying about me?"

"It is the truth. With you and Second Senior Sister, how many people haven’t seen what is inside?" Ouyang Tianyun was even more direct.

Yi Yunfei hesitated, then chuckled softly, saying nothing.

Zhu Yanyi looked at the road ahead and smiled. "Ahead is where my parents live. Do not scare them when we arrive."

"Do we look like people who would scare others?" Sikong Xuran looked at Zhu Yanyi speechlessly. The three of them were still very handsome.

Zhu Yanyi stuck out her tongue. "I am just setting the rules first, so you don’t scare people later."

As soon as Yan Aohan stopped the car, Zhu Yanyi ignored them, got out directly, and rushed into the house. "Mom, Dad, I am back to see you."

Zhu Shunyao, who was reading the newspaper, and Xie Xinlian, who was just hiding the pine nuts, were both stunned at the same time. Then they looked toward the door. Seeing the real Zhu Yanyi, they were delighted.

"Ani, you are back." Zhu Shunyao and Xie Xinlian hurried over, each grabbing one of her hands.

"Ani, you look thinner. Did you suffer outside?" Xie Xinlian asked.

"Ani, will you go back after returning?" Zhu Shunyao asked.

"Ani just came back. Why do you ask if she is going back? Don’t ask such questions; it kills the mood," Xie Xinlian said, dissatisfied before Zhu Yanyi could answer.