《An Ancient's Leisure》Chapter 32
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The girls went off to play and Johnny took Leo to meet the kid.
“By the way…” Leo says as he drove the car.
“Hmm. Yes?” Johnny says as he looks out the window, feeling a little tired.
“About the aphrodisiacs… Are you making any more of those?” Leo asks. Because of the bad luck amulet, Leo now owed his friend a favor, and he had asked for aphrodisiacs.
Johnny smirks. “Why? Do you need to satisfy an urge?” He asks, teasing.
Leo lets out an awkward laughter. “I owe a friend.” He says.
“I lack ingredients. Also, I’m not sure if I’d like to continue selling those. I don’t mind the bad karma, it’s just that the source of the bad karma pissed me off. All those vulnerable girls who were taken advantage of…” Johnny says before letting out a sigh. “I wish it was me taking advantage… I’m jealous, is all. I’m not sure if it’s worth it.” He says, admitting to the matter.
Leo’s eyes widen. “My god, you’re a monster.” He couldn’t help but say.
Johnny lets out a laugh. “Yes. Yes, I am. But unfortunately the heavens have imprisoned me. I’m surrounded by so many good things, it’s suffocating.” He says, feeling somewhat bitter about his situation.
Leo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Do you not feel grateful?” He asks, feeling it was incredulous.
Johnny lets out a bitter smile. “What’s the use of gratefulness? Gratefulness is what you have when you’re dying of thirst and you have a sip of water. What sort of gratefulness can a rich man have? Just words…” He says, feeling it wasn’t any use.
Leo shakes his head. This senior of his was eccentric to no end, and he could not really understand him. Leo could only let the matter go. “I’ll get the ingredients.” He says.
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Johnny smiles. “Sure.” He says.
…
…
Johnny found a little boy sitting by himself, drinking water.
Johnny smiles and walks over. “Hey, little Nick. Do you want something else to drink? Or a donut? It’s on me.” He says.
Little Nick shakes his head. “No, thank you, sir. I’m okay with my water.” He says.
Johnny lets out a light laugh. “That’s what a man should be.” He says before sitting down.
“Are you going to turn me into a vampire?” Little Nick asks.
Johnny looks at the child’s hopeful eyes and he lets out a sigh. “Look, Nickie, becoming a vampire isn’t such an easy decision to make. I don’t dare to introduce you to that life while you’re still so young. But I’ll offer you a compromise.” He says before taking out a bound book and placing it on the table.
Little Nick looks at the book curiously, picking it up to read the letters on the front. “The Vast Heart technique?” He reads, not sure what it meant.
Johnny lets out a bitter smile. “Yes, it’s a cultivation technique. It will help you get stronger.” He says. Johnny let out a sigh. He hoped this kid would be able to make it through his tribulations with this technique. Cultivation could resolve many issues, because ultimately, it was the process of transforming the spirit. Some people are unable to resolve the issues in their lives, but a transformation spirit could completely change the situation; their difficulties could be reduced to nothing with just a change in mindset.
Johnny had picked out this technique because of the boy’s situation. The Vast Heart technique was a heart cultivation technique. The greater the heart became, the more things it could accept, and the stronger it would be. Little Nick’s situation was not an uncommon issue, there were many children in the world who were facing this problem. How would they view what their mother’s were doing? Are they degrading themselves? Is it a weakness? Could they do something to change it? These children could ask various questions, but they wouldn’t really understand. It really did require a capable heart to overcome these waves.
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“Will I really get stronger?” Nick asks.
Johnny smiles. “Yeah, kid. You will. And if you have any questions you can just call me.” He says.
Nick lets out a smile. “Thank you!” He says, grateful.
“Don’t sweat it, kid. Train hard. Your heart’s potential isn’t something to scoff at. One day, it could even contain the universe.” Johnny says before getting up. “Anyways, call me anytime.” He says before rubbing the kid’s hair and leaving.
Leo looks at Johnny and furrows his brows. What kind of man was he? He wonders. Leo lets out a sigh and follows after him.
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