"Sit, close your eyes, stay quiet, relax your body, concentrate, empty your mind, and don't think about anything."
I repeated to Ona the basic techniques of meditation that Master Kong Yi once said.
"...It feels so difficult. I don't know if I am meditating at all."
Ona followed the instructions and tried for a while with her eyes closed before quickly giving up. Of course it was not that simple.
"Patience, there are no shortcuts in practicing meditation. Qualitative changes will only occur over time. Although some people have tried to meditate in the ice and snow, or under high-pressure waterfalls, and have achieved good results, but they rashly try these without any foundation."
This approach will only be counterproductive."
I told Ona not to worry, everything must be done in a cyclical and gradual manner, although I am not a good example of cyclical and gradual progress.
【Gulu Roul————】
A small but clearly audible sound suddenly sounded in this quiet night. It was obvious that the owner of the sound was hungry.
"Uh, sorry, I'm going to find something to eat."
Ona felt a little embarrassed and was about to stand up and look for something to eat.
"Eat this. The safest and most stable way to get the energy needed for Yuanli is to get it from food. Eat more, practice more, and if you persevere, you will make progress."
I took one of the last two cans of potato stew out of my backpack and handed it to her.
"Oh, thank you. Don't you want to eat?"
Ona asked slightly as she took the can in surprise.
"I'm not hungry yet."
I shook my head and said it didn't matter. In fact, I didn't feel hungry yet. Most of the time, I only needed to eat one sufficient meal a day. Maintaining three meals a day was just out of habit and to satisfy my appetite.
"Really? Then I won't be polite."
Ona simply used one finger to open the seal of the can of potato stew without any effort at all. She was truly a retired female soldier.
"Why didn't I meet you earlier? If I had met you earlier, maybe I wouldn't have to retire."
Ona said while eating potato stew with the fork that came with the can.
"How long have you been retired?"
It seems that Ona really likes life in the military, but even if you met me earlier, I might not be what you expected at that time.
"How long have you retired? I don't remember exactly. It's probably been a year."
Ona licked the corner of her mouth and said, this inadvertent action was inexplicably tempting.
"Do you regret carrying out that mission?"
I retired a year ago. I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Ona, at that time I was just an unknown ordinary college student. Even the school was not a particularly famous university, let alone knowing the unscientific wonders of Yuanli.
Something happened.
"...No, I don't regret it. I am very proud of myself for being able to carry out that mission."
Ona was silent for a while and looked at me before answering.
"That's enough. People always gain something when they lose."
I said, taking out a bottle of water from my backpack and handing it to Ona.
"Hey, you always feel like a philosopher."
Ona smiled and took the bottle of water and said.
"My father was a philosopher, but I am not."
I also took the last bottle of water and unscrewed the cap and took a sip.
"Does your father know that you are an explorer? I remember that the identity information of explorers is generally not made public."
Ona asked as she drank some water and wiped the corners of her mouth.
"They don't know, and they can't know, because they are no longer in this world."
Why do I say these words to Ona, but I do miss them very much. Fortunately, at least I still remember their appearance. If they were still alive, would they support me in taking this path?
"...I'm sorry, shouldn't I ask this question?"
Ona put down the bottle of water in surprise.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm going to go over there and investigate."
The fire was still burning, because some more firewood was added in the middle, and there was still some time before the rest. I put on the clothes that had been dried and got up to go check out a place. I had always been concerned about it.
It was a huge building, standing quietly behind the strange sapling, not far from the other side of the lake. Its exterior was covered with vines, covered with moss and fallen leaves, exuding ancient and vicissitudes of life.
The mysterious atmosphere.
"Wait, I'm going too."
Ona also got up and followed.
This time we did not wade across the lake, but took a detour to the building. What is very incredible is that no dangerous creatures attacked us even after staying here for a long time. I think this area is under the mysterious changes.
The city of Kork is also quite special.
"I recognize this place. This is the Metropolitan Library, which was established in July 2018. I have been to this place before, but in my impression, its door should not look like this."
Ona gently stroked the door of the library, which was the only one not occupied by vines and moss. The simple and heavy wooden door was six meters or more high and more than three meters wide. It was completely opposite to the modern automatic door design.
.
"I don't know if it's locked or not. Let me try to see if I can open it."
Ona took a deep breath, put her hands on the door and pushed forward with all her strength. At the same time, she also exerted force with her feet. However, after holding on for a while, the door did not move at all.
"No, it's too heavy. There's no sign of movement at all."
She soon gave up. Her strength was not enough to push the door open.
"Stand back, I'll do it."
I walked to the door. Ona followed the instructions and took a few steps back to look at me. I put my hands on the door and tried to push it. It was indeed very heavy, but it felt like it wasn't locked.
"How, can it be done?"
"Let me try."
Both feet and hands exerted force at the same time, concentrating the power on both hands to push forward. The ancient wooden carving door began to make a "rattling rattling" friction sound, and gradually opened a gap, and wind blew out from the gap. It was very good.
It looks like it should be fine. Although it is indeed heavy, it can be pushed open with a little effort.
The gap that opened the door became wider and wider, and soon it reached a space big enough for one person to enter.
"Wow, how strong are you?"
Ona said in surprise, following me into the library.
"It's just a matter of practice. You can do it in the future too."
I looked around. The lighting system in the library had failed, but the surrounding walls, bookshelves, and even the handrails of the spiral staircase were covered with luminous plants. Although it was not very bright, at least it could be seen clearly.
There are still many dark corners in the library.
"what is that?"
Ona looked in one direction and suddenly asked a question.
PS: hallo! Mina-san! I'm here again! This time I bring you another book to read! "The Story of Shanlin University" sounds weird and exciting. You might as well go
Let’s take a look! The two recommended books both have the word “山” at the beginning. What a wonderful fate.