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“…Oh, I get homework?”
CHEONGMYEONG immediately leans in.
“READ IT. IF IT’S BORING, YOU’RE PROBABLY SAFE.”
DUGU QIUBAI
“…If it is boring, it is probably foundational.”
LIN YUE
“…If it is foundational, it is probably important.”
The scroll unfolds.
It is aggressively mundane.
Water the Outer Sect herb plots (do not overthink it)
Sweep the East Path (ignore any ‘philosophical wind’)
Deliver meal trays to senior disciples (do not comment on their aura distortions)
Attend “Introduction to Not Breaking Reality by Accident” seminar
The last line is underlined twice.
RANDOM GUY
“…There’s a seminar for that?”
THE GOURD
“…There used to be many seminars for things people assumed were obvious.”
THE GRASS
“…Then people stopped assuming anything was obvious.”
A pause.
“…We adapted.”
WUKONG, suddenly appearing upside down from a tree branch:
“HAHA! I TAUGHT THAT SEMINAR ONCE! IT WAS CANCELLED AFTER SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY INVENTED A NEW LAW OF EXISTENCE MID-LECTURE!”
CHEONGMYEONG
“…Of course you did.”
RANDOM GUY
“…So my job is… chores?”
LIN YUE
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And restraint training.”
DUGU QIUBAI
“And consistency.”
THE SYSTEM
“Primary objective: maintain stability through non-interference.”
A pause.
“Secondary objective: do not become interesting in ways that require emergency containment.”
RANDOM GUY
“…That second one feels targeted.”
CHEONGMYEONG
“IT IS. YOU PASSED. MOVE ON.”
Later.
He is sweeping the East Path.
Nothing tries to enlighten him.
The wind passes normally.
The stones remain stones.
Even the shadows behave like they’ve signed a mutual non-aggression pact with reality.
A passing disciple stares at him.
Whispers:
“…Is that the new guy?”
“…Yeah. The stable one.”