Above the Sea of Consciousness

Inside the room, sunlight bathed every corner, spilling over Yu Dao’s face, which wore an expression of utter despair.

“Vegetable, do you think your father was too rough again?” Father Yu sighed softly and looked at his son.

“How could that be? Isn’t this just a special kind of education from dear father to his son?” Yu Dao forced a smile onto his bruised face.

“Ah, when your father saw his beloved son wake up again, I was so overjoyed. You know, you can’t really blame me for this, right? It’s only a shame about the shroud and hemp clothes I bought in advance, and those incense sticks, wasted, alas.” Father Yu’s face was marked by regret, both genuine and exaggerated.

What on earth did you need those things for! Just how eager are you for your son to cross over to the other side!

Wait, don’t be rash, don’t wrong a good man. What if my condition was really critical at that time? Surely parents are heartbroken seeing their child unconscious for so long.

“May I ask, Father, was I unconscious for half a month?”

“No, just three days.”

I knew it! You just wait, wait until I’m strong enough. Don’t let me catch you then!

“Father, you truly do love your son dearly,” Vegetable said with a forced smile, his last words ground out between clenched teeth.

“Not bad, not bad. Your father considers himself a pretty excellent parent, haha.” Father Yu laughed cheerfully.

“Then, Father, would you care to explain the reason behind what’s happening to your son now?” Yu Dao wanted to avoid further banter with his father; this old man hadn’t a shred of self-awareness.

“Ahem, well, it all happened because your father was too careless. Even the wisest can make mistakes!” Father Yu shook his head, full of regret.

If all wise men were like you, they’d die of shame.

“This body-tempering technique was always incomplete. I thought, no matter how strange the practice, with your father here, nothing would go wrong. Who could have guessed how deeply hidden its dangers were?”

“Deeply hidden? What do you mean?” Yu Dao tilted his head.

“Have you felt anything odd about your body?”

“If I had to say, I feel stronger, my teeth and appetite are better, everything tastes delicious, and mother needn’t worry about my kidneys—”

Before he finished speaking, Vegetable saw his father eyeing him oddly.

“Remember, you’re still just a child. As for spreading branches and leaves, your father’s enough for now. Be careful with your health, son.” Father Yu patted Yu Dao’s shoulder with earnest concern.

I was just speaking off the cuff! What do you mean by that?!

“I’ll tell mother,” Vegetable said seriously.

“Ah, do you think those incense sticks and shrouds I bought will ever be needed?” Father Yu glanced away, speaking casually.

“I’ll tell mother that father always says he loves only her, faithful unto death,” Vegetable declared, pounding his chest.

“Mm.” Father Yu nodded with satisfaction.

Have you ever seen a parent threaten their own child with incense sticks and burial clothes? Look, here he is! I swear! One day I’ll avenge myself!

“Back to the point. I didn’t ask about these changes. Anyway, you broke through your bottleneck; a great improvement in your body is only natural. I felt it just now when I was, ah, educating you.”

Ha, so you admit you were beating me, man.

“Your body after breaking through has changed greatly. At least in terms of taking a beating, you now can withstand what ten of your old selves could.”

I don’t want to be used as a unit of measurement!

“So, Father, what are you referring to?