Heavenly Dao Child - Chapter 322

Ryuu laid on the grass surrounded by all sorts of critters of the garden ranging from squirrels to various types of bird as the chirped and mewled around him without a care of the world while he contemplated on the entire situation as he remembered a conversation he had with his grandfather during his previous life.

~flashback

Toshiro looked at a young Keitaro with a small smile on his face as he spoke, “Kei I understand what you are coming from, some people are such vile that it is better to get kill and be done with it but an eye for an eye make the world blind.”

Keitaro scoffed at that as he spoke, “So what are you saying we should let those criminals get away, you forget grand pa that turning a blind eye to a crime is tantamount to committing it.”

Toshiro gave an amused look at him as he spoke, “To err is human and to forgive is divine.”

Keitaro was incensed at that as he spoke, “So you saying we should forgive this criminals?”

Toshiro sighed at that as he spoke, “A person who is scamming a group of hard working people and cheats them out of money and a boy barely in his teens stealing to feed his hungry younger brothers both are stealing so what kind of punishment would you recommend them?”

Keitaro was taken aback as he spoke, “Why would I punish the kid, in fact I would try to help him out as for the scammer throw him in jail.”

Toshiro chuckled at that as he spoke, “You see that is why justice is difficult the child is having a hard time and is forced to act as such but unfortunately in some countries he would receive the same punishment as the scammer.”

Keitaro had his eyes widen at that as Toshiro continued, “As such you have to learn to differentiate between crimes the reason and many such things and then punish them accordingly, and you have to learn to forgive, as such nowadays many countries no longer use the word jail or prison but rehabilitation center or correctional facility, which help people to reintegrate into the society as proper people.”

Keitaro eyebrows scrunched in thought as he spoke in a confused tone, “So how do I decide who is should forgive and who is should not.”

Toshiro had the same smile in his face that made Keitaro believe that nothing is possible for his grandpa as he spoke, “Well only those who repent are worthy of forgiveness.”

Keitaro tilted his head in confusion as he spoke, “So I should forgive anyone who says, ‘I am sorry’.”

Toshiro snorted at that as he replied to him, ” ‘Sorry’ a nice word invented by the English but no dear child in order to earn forgiveness a person should always be ready to show by his act not by words only.”

At his answer a 10 year old Keitaro was even more confused causing Toshiro to snort at that only to grumble as Tsume shouted to him, “Oi you old fool stop confusing him and help him to understand.”

Toshiro gave a placating look to his wife spoke to Keitaro, “Let me tell you a story Kei.”

Upon hearing that Keitaro eyes widen as he sat straight eagerly waiting for the story.

Toshiro took a deep breath as he began, “Long long time ago in ancient India there lived a king named Ashoka, he was a very cruel man who loved none, he killed his own older brothers to inherit the throne to become the king after his father’s death.”, Keitaro’s eyes widen at that in disbelief he could not believe that brother would kill his own brothers the idea made him sick at the same time he knew that no matter how mean his older brother was he would one day treat him and love him like a older brother, he then turned towards Toshiro as he continued, “He was so cruel that people used to shiver by his name the only person whom he tolerated and cared for was his younger brother then one day he declared war on a neighboring kingdom and killed so many that the river near the battlefield turned red with blood.”

Keirtaro was now horrified at that how could such a cruel and insane murderer existed, Tsume simply sat beside Ryuu her as she gave him a small hug calming him as Toshiro spoke again, “His younger brother who adored and looked up at his brother in disgust as he left his brother becoming a monk to serve the people and try to reduce their sorrow, Ashoka did not take his brother leaving him well but it also for the first time in years opened his eyes to look at horror and atrocities he had caused wherever he looked he saw death and death only people crying for their loved ones by then he was known as Ashoka the Butcher in many places because of the mass slaughter he caused.”, Toshiro took a deep breath as he spoke to Keitaro, “So now tell me Keitaro what should we do to a person like that.”

Keitaro looked at his hand for a minute before he spoke with distaste in his voice, “having him suffer the highest punishment according to law of the land.”

Tsume snorted at that as she spoke, “The law of the land during those times was what Ashoka would dictate, and so do you think he could let himself be punished as such.”

Keitaro’s eyes widen at that as Toshiro patted Keitaro’s head lovingly before he spoke again, “He did punish himself, he gave away a life of luxury that a king usually lived and started living like a simple man, he then started working for the betterment of his people by helping them in each and every way to the point that some of his advice and laws are still followed today, not to mention the fact he became a champion for peace the very same person who caused a mass slaughter preached about peace and happiness to the point the ‘butcher’ was became to known as a ‘righteous’ and even to this day his rule after he started his penance was known as the Golden Age of ancient India and during that time some people including his former enemies praised him, loved him and deify him not because of fear but because the fell in love with kindness, the honesty and because of his tireless work to make the world a better place.”

Keitaro gulped his grandfather’s word with eyes and mouth open wide as he spoke, “So grandpa, we should forgive people who are showing remorse and are willing to change for the better, now I know what you mean.”

Ryuu wiped out the tear from his eye as he let out a soft chuckle, ‘I really missed those small talks.’

In his previous life the closest thing to mother and father were his grandparents and this life well he does not even know how is birthparents look like and his aunt and even his teachers are more of parents to him with the love and care they showered to him and now they are hearting because he was being stupid as such he abruptly stood up as a few of the small animals resting on him took tumble and as they glared at him Ryuu gave them a apologetic smile as he spoke, “Sorry sorry, you know you all are right I am being a colossal idiot and now I am going to set everything right so wish me luck”, with that he disappeared from their sight.

As Ryuu moved towards the residency of his teachers and their family he could practically feel the sadness in the air, ‘I do not know why you did that and I do not want to criticize you but give me strength to at least take away a bit of their guilt and sorrow this is too much and unhealthy.’

Ryuu went towards Sylvana’s room as he knocked the door hard as a loud yell came from inside, “LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!”

Ryuu sighed at that before he spoke in a cheerful tone, “Big sis is something wrong? You promised me that you would spar with me today and you are very late as such I came to check on you.”

As he spoke silence descended on the corridor as if the entire world had been muted when all of a sudden the door was swung open as a red eyed Sylvana stepped out and from the smell it seemed she had been drinking she looked at Ryuu with disbelief in her eyes as she shakily raised her hand to touch him only for Ryuu to hold his nose and speak with disgust, “You stink.”

Sylvana did a double take at that as she spoke with a frown, “What do you mean by…”

Ryuu spoke with a frown while still holding his nose, ” You know what I mean, you stink and now go and wash yourself I will be waiting for you at big sis Shamiran’s place, I have yet to visit her after that terrifying ordeal now go and don’t’ waste time.”

With that Ryuu left a dumbfounded Sylvana behind who gawked at him as thought ran through her mind, ‘I must be hallucinating why would Ryuu come here and …’, her musing was cut short by a shout from Ryuu, “Big sis will you be coming or not, and better getting that stinking smell off of yourself.”