Torsten Hewson
patreon
v5c67: This Too Shall Pass
🕑 Added 2024-11-10 05:33:08 +0000 UTCChapter is now edited
============================
==========================
On the third day, there was finally some semblance of peace. The guests were fed and watered, the laundry was done, the house had been swept… and Pi Pa was at a loss at what to do now. Her Master had told her to rest. The others were about their own business, resting and recuperating.
Pi Pa was seated upon the porch, overlooking the frozen river. There were no corpses being burned on the lawn. The stench of rot and decay was absent from her nostrils.
Instead, there was gently falling snow covering the scars of her home. A white blanket so dense; it looked like the battle had never happened in the first place.
Today, the terror felt like a bad dream, but like every one of her nightmares, it lingered, straying into the waking world. The inside of her mouth still felt slimy, almost greasy from the demonic essence she had consumed. It felt like her meridians were caked in mud—like a chimney caked with soot from burning improperly dried wood… but unlike the others, the demonic filth left only its aftertaste; burned, consumed, and turned into impurities.
In the center of her chest, lashed and yoked, she could feel it, the Void. Even now it churned under its restraints. It had gotten a taste for what it could have and even now it wanted more.
She opened her mouth, and the mass of Qi in front of her fit only to be consumed. No matter if it was Chun Ke. The Qi had smelled so delicious—
Pi Pa shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. She swallowed the thick saliva that had pooled in her mouth. It tasted of acid and bile. She had rejected the Beast of the Void. Rejected It so harshly that she had changed into a human.
She had been grateful to her Master—he had kept her busy and her mind off everything that had happened. Each moment she was cooking, she was cleaning, she was serving, was a moment she did not have to think. She could ignore the monster in her chest—and what she had done.
Even now, it swirled in her thoughts, spiraling and spiraling. What if she did it again? What if she did it again—?
“May I join you, Sister?” The voice made her jump, and she turned, wide-eyed, to where Bi De stood. He was once more a rooster, the form she knew him best as, a proud cock. He wasn’t wearing his vest, for it was ragged and barely holding together, but he did have on his necklace of silver. It was charred and singed, and the pendant had been partially melted.
He smiled at her.
Pi Pa hesitated for a moment. She nearly told him to go, that she wanted to be alone, but she would have been lying. So instead... she nodded.
“Ah, a wonderful spot you have chosen,” he declared, and to her surprise he hopped up onto her leg, settling down on her thigh. Instinctively, her hand settled onto his back. He was warm, and soft and… comforting in a way she could not describe. He smiled up at her. “Behold, the power of being this small. One can always claim the best seats! Though, I suppose most ladies would not complain if I did this in my other form, hmm?”
“Oh? Would Ri Zu be happy about that, you knave?” Pi Pa managed a small smile at his bad joke.
The rooster paused, and then looked disturbed. “Mayhaps I should not joke about that kind of thing…” he muttered.
Pi Pa left out a soft snort… but the humor quickly faded, drawn into the Void.
Silence descended upon them. She simply looked at the snow again, as did Bi De. The white powder continued to fall, blanketing the world and muffling the sounds of life. Occasionally, they heard a laugh, of scraps of conversation from nearby, but Pi Pa was cold and numb to it all.
Bi De took a deep breath. “You are hurting, Sister. I am no Chun Ke, but please tell me what ails you. I can see the guilt and fear that haunts your eyes.”
Pi Pa grimaced at the words. Her shoulders slumped, but the earnestness in his voice… she and Bi De had never been the closest. It was her own desire, for she had disliked him due to his past actions leading to her husband’s current state. Only recently had she begun thinking of him as a friend again.
Yet he had never thought that way. He had always been ready to help her, and had given her space because she desired it.
And maybe, because of the distance between them… that was why she bowed her head and looked away.
Pi Pa took a deep breath.
“I’m scared. I’m scared of this thing within my chest. I’m scared… that I’ll hurt our home, hurt it more than I already have,” she whispered.
Bi De’s wing extended, laying on her shoulder. “Sister… the Void is indeed fearsome, I know its power personally, but Sister, it is contained. I can feel the locks you have placed on it. You are in control—”
“I'm not,” Pi Pa interrupted, brushing his wing away. Her eyes snapped back to his. “You were not there, you were not… Bi De, I did as much damage to the forest as our enemies did! The section where we used to walk, where we sat under the summer sun and had picnics… it's gone, Bi De. It's gone.”
The trees looked like shattered ribs. Some had their tops missing, others had simply fallen over from the massive chunks torn out of their sides. She could still feel the crunching of the bark between her teeth. Perfectly smooth semi circles were torn out of the rocks and even the earth itself hadn’t been spared, scooped up and consumed.
Everything had gone into her maw. Everything had been used to satiate the hunger.
“It’s not that I lost control. It's that I let it out. I wanted to do it. I wanted it to end. I wanted everything to disappear… and so I let the Void use me, and it hurt our home. I nearly hurt Chun Ke.”
She glared at him, feeling the churning vortex within her breast pulse.
“You have hurt our home, yes. As have I,” Bi De replied, calmly. “Out of us all, you know my sins the most, Sister. What I allowed Chow Ji to do and what I did myself to the hens. I drank their blood, I ruined our crops, and I wanted to do it. For power. For myself. Is what I did unforgivable?”
Pi Pa looked away, the sudden rage draining away as quickly as it had come. “...no. For a long time I thought it was, but… you made a mistake. A mistake you would never repeat.”
“Thank you, Sister. It means much to me to hear you say that,” Bi De said. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead into her cheek. “And in what you just said… lies the answer. You won't do it again, without extenuating circumstances… and if you do, you won’t hurt us. The proof is there already. Nearly, in the end, means nothing. You did or you did not. And when you were at your weakest… you did not.” Pi Pa’s breath hitched in her throat. Bi De knew. He knew the feeling of guilt, of hurting what he loved. “These travels of mine… they’ve given me perspective. They’ve taught me many things. But Pi Pa… every time I journey forth and see more of the world, I am once more glad it is here where I call my home. I am once more glad that my Master is my Master… and that you are my brothers and sisters. The world is so full of darkness and suffering—but we can choose to make it better, to help others. It is often times difficult, I admit. In no way is your path going to be easy—but I trust you. We all trust you. And sometimes, the trust of someone else is all you need. What did our Master say that one time? ‘Don’t believe in yourself. Believe in us, because we believe in you’—and this too shall pass.”
She wrapped her arms around the ball of feathers on her leg and pulled him to her chest.
“Look at you, always stealing from our Master’s sayings…” she accused, her voice thick.
Bi De laughed. “Can one steal what is given freely?”
“I suppose not,” Pi Pa whispered, hugging him tighter. Something hot and wet pooled at the corners of her eyes. “But what about the others. Will they…?”
Would they feel the same way?
“Sister, I had to kowtow before our Master and invoke my right as First Disciple to be the one to speak with you first—Wa Shi put up a surprisingly fierce fight,” the rooster stated. “Our beloved Pi Pa has many admirers.”
“And Chun Ke?” Her voice was quiet.
“These thoughts would have never crossed his mind in the first place, Sister. You know that,” Bi De said, before his voice turned pensive. “Though he did say something about ‘finding something’ that would cheer you up this morning, and we haven’t seen him since-”
Bi De cut himself off as they both felt it, a swelling, swirling pulse of Qi. It felt like the caress of falling blossoms in spring, like the warm grass under summer’s sun, like the leaves crunching underfoot in fall, and the snow under one’s back on a cold winter’s day.
========================
Wife was sad. Wife was hurting.
Chun Ke walked through the forests, his trotters taking him on paths well-worn and new, the land having changed as a result of the recent battle.
Normally, Chun Ke would be at her side… but the others wanted to cheer her up too. All of their brothers and sisters were concerned. All of them wanted to be the one to reach out.
And sometimes, one needed somebody else to lend a hand.
He knew that Brother Bi De would help. The chicken is a good egg, he thought with a small smile.
But still, he had made a promise to his wife. A promise he intended to keep. She had transformed into a human.
He turned his gaze to the world. Some of the changes were bad. He checked on the little friend birds, carefully guiding them away from the land that was still poisoned.
Some were good. He spotted the foxes, yipping happily at all the new den sites from the fallen trees, and come spring, new growth would reach for the heavens.
And some simply were. He bowed his head and paid his respects to friend mole’s last tunnel. His fur was grey from old age, and he lay as if he was sleeping.
He wandered the lands they called home, far and wide… until the scenery began to change. The world became like a dream as his body and his soul kept walking on different paths. He trod along golden roads, cracked and splintered. He checked in on Big Little Sister, fast asleep—and smiled.
Then, he turned his gaze. Far, far away was a mountain. His destination. He started walking.
He traveled through ravines deeper than the deepest ocean and through caves that could swallow cities whole. He strode across plains that stretched from horizon to horizon. He waded through lakes and rivers that had no end. He marched through a forest whose trees were so tall he couldn’t see the tops. He swam the length of a great sea.
He was fine in this form. He had no true desire to become human. He was content with his life on this earth.
He reached the great mountain and began his ascent. He climbed for an eternity and a moment. The footing was treacherous, yet not one step faltered. He grew impossibly heavy as the world tried to drag him back down, but he did not break stride. The wind howled and tried to tear him free, yet not even the fiercest gales could move Chun Ke Shan.
For an eternity and a moment, until he was finally at the summit… and the end of his tether, the pieces of gold in his soul that connected him to the earth. If he jumped, he could fly away off the top of the mountain and to the stars above. He had been there many times before, flying free while he dreamed, before the earth had graciously given him a tether.
He was content with living here and dying. He had no desire for immortality. He had no desire to defy the Heavens.
But for this, for the wish Pi Pa had… he would defy everything if he had to.
If he had to. There were always other ways. Better ways than force, in a lot of cases.
Chun Ke bowed, his forehead pressed against the ground, bowing to the Heavens.
“Please,” he said simply.
He was weighed and measured. His deeds and his oaths were taken into account. All things of Chun Ke were considered.
A gong rang out, its reverberations shaking the Heavens and the earth.
========================
They had all felt it. All of them had felt the pulse of Qi. Pi Pa was on her feet, her hand held in front of her chest, and Bi De on her shoulder.
All of them were waiting.
A shadow moved… and then a man strode out from the forest.
He was enormous, taller than their Master by his head and shoulders. A bushy mane of rust red adorned his head, a wild crown down to his mid back. His face was rough and wild and intimidating, with three massive scars that dragged from his forehead, down across his eyes, and to the opposite cheek—but his eyes. His eyes were the colour of the warm earth, and brimming with an inner peace that softened all his edges.
His body was as thick as a tree trunk, with a thick layer of fat all truly strong men had. Another brutal scar adorned his side, just under his ribs, where bandages had loosened, but something else caught all of their eyes.
“It appears Brother Chun Ke is, as always, the wisest among us,” Bi De said, stroking his wattles.
He was wearing some of their Master’s clothes. They were obviously too small for him, but they preserved his modesty.
Pi Pa could only stare.
He looked upon her.
Chun Ke smiled. It was warm and bright as the sun.
The Void was replaced by that warmth, and finally grew quiet.
The only thing Pi Pa could think was how wonderful the world was, as tears poured from her eyes and her husband happily took her into his arms.
=============================
=============================
Human Chun Ke
Editors: Massgamer, BargleNawdleZouss
Comments
Timothy Dana
It’s goes like this: Pretty Wife, Pretty Live, Happy Wife, Happy Life. Best Life is with Best Wife…. Still workshopping it
Timothy Dana
Maybe it’s a love letter he writes to his Pretty Wife that recommends him for the role
Timothy Dana
I think chunky acknowledgement from the heavens should indicate that he has been recognized as a junior member of the celestial court…. Maybe a scribe, that would be funny. Funnier when the emperor realizes that he has to treat chunky as a peer( the heavens acknowledges Peppa as the Noble Lady she clearly is)
Daniel Barnhizer
Chun Ke always understood the dao
Mrtotoro
So, was that an insinuation to ChunKe being able to ascend to Nirvana whenever he wanted to?
MatrixM
His own monologue has mentioned he finds it hard to think sometimes.
MatrixM
I completely forgot that was a thing in Veritas. MAN it sucks so bad that was cancelled and unpopular in Korea. It was similar to Act 1 of The Breaker but nowhere near as successful such that the manhwaga had to work part-time at a fast food place to pay bills iirc (according to the scanlators). So we were left with a rushed end that didn't make a lot of sense and hinted at a season 2 that never came... I never read his newer stuff, it took ages for those to come out.
Michael Zalesny
Who loves eating table scraps
Alex Rahr
When Chun Ke was outmaneuvering the artificial demons, Huian eventually figured out that he wasn't moving any faster than usual, just moving as if the terrain wasn't in his way. The 'great mountain' might not be that far away (or even necessarily that big). Less than a day's travel. Still, Shenhe and her team almost have to have heard it.
Akki
Shou is going to realise Jin is the prodigal student he always wanted. Then he's going to bemoan how Shen Yu got to him first.
Emily Gurnavage
Also fair, but those quick side POVs woulda been fun lol.
Jonathan V
The heavens will be heard by exactly whoever the heavens want to be heard by, and not one person more, because Cultivator Bullshit
Laura Hemly
Chun Ke's gentle farewell to his old friend brought a tear to my eyes. It was such a clear way to show Chun Ke's kindness to *all* the forest creatures!
Emily Gurnavage
As im re reading this chapter again, I gotta wonder at this bit: A gong rang out, its reverberations shaking the Heavens and the earth. It then says the gang all heard of it, but doesn't mention past that specifically. It sounds like something *all* cultivators (if not everyone, period) of the world should feel/hear, and so now I am wondering if they *did* and we just didnt get a side peek of that yet. Like a scene of the Son of Heaven jerking upright in his throne, or Shen Yu stumbling in the snow from the shock of someone getting Heavens approval, etc etc. Thats the same gong / qi pulse for someone ascending, no? Anyway, random rant over. The implications I hadn't thought of before demanded to be shared.
Stuffed Duck
R.I.P. friend mole
Joseph Guillory
Why can't he give best hugs and be the best pillow?
Steven.Riske
(Nod), control is a good motive. My head was going in the direction of her hating her pig form. But that didn’t make much sense because it’s the void she hates not being a pig. I wonder what kind of conversation Tigu and Pi Pa would have of having a dark part of themselves that they don’t like.
WeirdingtonEsq
Chunky, the Bodhisattva of Fa Ram.
dapple26
I need some art.
Devon Theriault
I'm not crying your crying!
Demian Buckle
Chun Ke is my favourite character, the gentle giant with a heart open to all caring for the littlest to the largest creature.
KnightRider007
Miantiao doing glass stuff or Pi Pa doing maid stuff could be cultivator bullshit telekinesis. James’s question on the other hand, is a very reasonable query of “What the hell position was he in?”
KnightRider007
In fairness, Tigu and Yin literally didn’t care. Tigu was still in her “nudity is the default” stage and Yin… is Yin.
KnightRider007
Drones are male, but many, many authors (including CF occasionally) do refer, mistakenly, to worker bees (female) as drones. “Drones” in the technical sense when referring to swarming insects, means the fertile males. But “drones” in the *social*, general-use sense, often means “mindless workers/labourers”. So it’s easy to see why that might mistakenly get applied to the extremely industrious female worker bees.
Xavier Harris
In regards to beehives. All the workers and soldiers are female. But are not capable of reproduction. Drones are male. And die fertilizing the eggs of the queen.
WolfKnight22
It feels more like andre the giant to me
Cranky Otter
I think her other form scared her. She does want kids with a spark, but for timing I think she felt that changing her form, away from a ravening void beast covered in gaping maws that considered devouring Chun Ke, to the furthest she could be different would give her more distance from loss of control until she had a better handle on her capabilities vs desires vs demands of her form. Not that she didn’t still have the void but adding extra buffer of being in and learning a new form (human) may (or may not) have made it harder to go feral. So I think she thought it made her safer around her loved ones.
Often Irrelephant
The Lord of the Lake obviously did - it's how we ended up with Xianghua
Often Irrelephant
All hail the spiral
Alex Ingraham
@Gwyn Tsuu has been temporarily banned for her cursed "cake" pic 😜 Jk jk don't @ me people... lol
Alex Ingraham
@Peter Gerganov B-but think of the cost! Is best hugs really worth losing best pillow!?!? 😂
Alex Ingraham
I mean, they've been described as being Yin and Yang, so anything that perfectly balances it to make things the best they can be. PB&J comes to mind for some reason... probably cause I'm hungry lol
Truedragon5374
Hey wisdom is wisdom, no matter where you find it.
Mark Greenberg
I had the same problem earlier when Wa Shi kowtowed to TLM and his wife for being late reporting everyone was safe. His dragon face is like a dog or aligator. Putting his forehead to the ground means his snout is underneath him, pointed back along his body or he's laying on his back with the top of his head on the ground.
NameGame
In my mind, Chun Ke is basically Brian Shaw.
Sean Ulrich
I assumed it was because of the formation. Everyone got juiced up, Gou Ren even had his monkey bloodline awaken. So wanting to be human for kids + UNLIMITED POWER!!!
TeTra
Chad Ke
octav
And this here is our resident dragon and dishwasher.
Evander
Love the direction. I'm looking forward to Jin repairing the dragon veins with Chunke before the earth spirit wakes up.
Caoimhín
True. Well, when first meeting Chunky, Shen Yu was reminded of monks who practiced cultivation in their own way and tried to achieve Nirvana. So maybe Chunky is like those monks, and his style is closer to Buddhism than Taoism? PS: an interesting fact is that nearly every single person of Fa Ram has their own self-created cultivation style and techniques, the way Shen Yu envisioned for Jin "A man's foundation must be himself"
John D Jones
Re: clarification on the Herald's location Aw, I was hoping for some extra TLM freakouts. Oh, well.
Peter Gerganov
Don't know about romance novels but I'm sure he gives the best hugs now.
Gwyn
Among Heavens and Earth, Chunky alone is The Honored One, lol
Gwyn
Everyone is going on about Jin's wisdom and our guy is just pulling on all the best gems from anime.
Dominic Antonio
Ohhhh is the theming for Pi Pa and Chun Ke an unstoppable force and an immovable object? I just realized that now 😅
Mikah Burdette
I think he’s respecting what they call themselves
Jon Dough
Love how all cultivators are all "challenge the heavens!" And Chun Ke basically says, "nah, I'll just stroll on in".
Jon Dough
That's how I read it too! Like he already knows the "path", and knows he could break his tether.
Andy
Worker bees are female. The drones are male bees (which do nothing except mate, and only have a single sex chromosome)
Truedragon5374
So good to hear someone quote Saint Kamina. May his brother's drill pierce the heavens.
Alex Hignett
Chun Ke is brother nature
Cindermoth
Aren't all the drones female?
Mutekun
Chun ke may be a little slow but he would probley of had the easiest of time changing into human considering how often he visit tan lan even when he is awake and he wouldndo anything to make his wife happy so nothing would of stopped him
Paul Boros
Wa Shi is going to draw a response
ENK
What I'm thinking of now is that there's great potential for a bamboozle of the cultivators when they arrive. They get to come to Fa Ram and meet all these various people with kinda funny names. And then the bombshell hits: They're all spirit beasts.
Alex L
I really want to see Shou the Plant Elder talk to Jin abt his crops
Blake N.
Minor note of inconsistency, but didn’t Chunky actually think in terms of the English versions of all their names in his previous POVs?
Fullmetal
Love it when you describe the more fantastical stuff. Always gives a sense of wonder.
Fullmetal
Wholesome.
Npad11111
The same way Pipa is able to bring trays of food, write calligraphy, and mend clothes, without thumbs.
Npad11111
Yessss!
Npad11111
Wedding arc let's go!
Npad11111
What do you mean, Washi already got his second form. Just so happen to be dragon form instead of lowly human form. Haha. Doubt he'll get a human form I think.
Timothy Dana
Sounds like cultivators wanted to suppress spirit beasts…
Javier Hernandez
Veritas, yes.
MasterKronus
Would that manhwa be Veritas by any chance?
glalizas
I always interpreted it as him just focusing on what is important to him and excluding all else. Why use three words when two will suffice, why struggle for more when you have obtained true happiness. I think he only seems slow because he is never in a hurry.
Matt
I can’t stop seeing him as Andre the giant now, which is awesome! Maybe with Mongolian features and those soft eyes.
Geoffrey Sullivan
Truly, Chun Ke is the most *Canadian* of Jin's disciples - he simply *asks nicely* for what he wants. :)
Spencer Miller
It’s the only way for spirit beasts to have a child that is certain to be sapient.
leopard eye
Let's hope their room is soundproofed. Pi Pa might be a squealer... Pun intended.
Efram Manechiwz
In a truly outstanding chapter that line was the best.
Daniel Jungbluth
I base this on absolutely nothing, but perhaps due to her original form being warped by the abyss with all those eyes and mouths, she defaulted to human form due to…Cultivator BS?
Steven.Riske
That makes sense of why she wanted to be human. But why now, why did she transform at the end of a battle and not at some other time?
Meredith
typo collection: "Sister…he void is fearsome." he → the "Something hot and wet pooled at the corners of ehr eyes." ehr → her "He travveled through ravines deeper than the deepest ocean. " travveled → traveled Thank you for the chapter!
Daniel Jungbluth
They touched on it in an earlier chapter. She was worried if they had children as pigs they would be pigs without the spark.
Zachary Bender
That’s kinda how I read it as well. He has gained true enlightenment just by being him
Caoimhín
Jin's wisdom: "Always remember a clean pair of socks" Chunky's amendment: "Always remember a clean pair of pants.
Caoimhín
Safest way to ensure their children have the Spark. The issue was addressed in Vol 4 Chapter 30: The Heart and Soul. Chunky and Pi Pa had a date and had a conversation about the subject.
Just A Dude
Yup; Bodhisattva would be the correct term.
Caoimhín
Yeah, from the imagery used, one could argue that Chunky ascended Mount Tai and directly asked Heaven for help. If you want to go beyond, it's even possible to argue that in a sense Chunky kowtowed before the Jade Emperor himself and asked for a favor. The Emperor of Heaven itself judges Chunky worthy and the gong signifies the Imperial Court's proclamation.
Just A Dude
100%. Gurren Lagann is the best Cultivation anime after all.
Just A Dude
So what I'm hearing here is Chun Ke has already achieved the enlightenment needed to ascend without having to brute force the way most cultivators do, but is choosing to stick around because of that same enlightenment.
Caoimhín
Well, the descriptions in the sceneries (things like "ravines deeper than the deepest ocean, caves that could swallow cities, plains that stretched from horizon to horizon") are not directly tied to myths, they are intended to display the fantastical realm that Chunky's soul was traveling through. There are only 2 things in this chapter that can be tied to Eastern Culture: Mount Tai and Nirvana. Arguably, the concept of a mountain towards the heavens is not exclusive to Mount Tai, and you could simply take it to be a representation of the journey towards heaven that all cultivators embark on. Now, the concept of Nirvana is tied to the concept of Enlightenment and letting go of your worldly tetters, but even without having a previous understanding of the concept outside of the story, this has been explored in a previous chapter, when Shen Yu met Chunky for the first time. Quote from Vol 3 Chapter 47: "In his travels he had once met a group of tribal monks; powerful cultivators in their own right, they strived for the heavens in their own way. They sought something they called nirvana. A state of utter peace and contentment. A concept that Shen Yu had thought was of dubious use at the time. He had been told men strived for lifetimes to achieve it. If those strange monks could witness the creature before him, they surely would have spat blood. Never before had Shen Yu seen a being at such peace with the world and with itself. All he could do was stare as the boar approached him—a towering titan and a speck of dust at the same time." So really, understanding of those things is not needed to enjoy the chapter, and it's simply that those concepts have influence on how the readers who are familiar with those themes perceive the chapter's events.
kenod
That makes me wonder, is Chunky actually a cultivator, in the technical sense? His abilities feel less like techniques and qi use, and more like natural outgrowths of his enlightenment. That would also explain why he needed permission to change. As shown by Tigu, the shape change goes against the heavens. Tigu did so early with outside help, and thus experienced tribulation. Bi De's situation implies that it's also possible if you simply have enough power, since cultivation is going against the heavens. Chunky, however, doesn't really seem to be a cultivator, and might not have enough power. Or I guess that, since he's in harmony with the universe and the heavens, can't simply brute force himself against the will of the heavens. So he needs to acquire permission from them instead. But once the heavens allow it he should be able to change as naturally as he does everything else.
Net
Lol
Net
Chun Ke :)
kenod
I'd argue that his brain isn't necessarily damaged, and wasn't before this either, but operating on a somewhat different level. My guess is that his behaviour is less about him being brain-damaged, and more his mind not being fully present, but instead wandering, or comprehending different things. It's heavily implied, both here and before this, that Chunky has achieved Buddhism-style enlightenment, and is capable of accessing knowledge from other worlds, though it's not clear if he's doing so consciously. I'd say that his mind just isn't quite there, generally, since it's busy comprehending other things, and wandering around. When something is important and does need his focus he can still pull his mind back completely, though it seems like it takes effort.
kenod
I think he's technically a Bodhisattva? Someone who has reached enlightenment and is able to ascend/leave the cycle, but who for some reason decided not to do so yet.
Caoimhín
Hm, I think you were actually kind of right. Chunky had to go ascend Mount Tai to ask assistance from Heaven in transforming into human. He might have been able to achieve it, but didn't want to force it. I expected him to do like Bi De and achieve it as if it were nothing.
Steven.Riske
I’m still a little confused about why she turned human. Maybe we haven’t gotten to that part yet.
Caoimhín
Veritas? Awesome manhwa.
Caoimhín
And it's interesting that this is not tied to his strength in combat, as Chunky was shown to not be as strong as the invaders and was wounded by the poison. It's just that his soul is so enlightened that it's ready for ascension.
dicloniuslord
I was thinking andre the giant from princess bride but a lot more wild and bit more fat
Gwyn
What a fantastic chapter. 10/10 Every time we get a human transformation it's so awesome. Oh man, I hope we get a human-form Vajra at some point, she comes across as so human in her POV chapters already. I fully expect her to turn human out of sheer jealousy of the other women on the farm with their partners. First Rizu and now Pipa. Watch the hive turns with her and a bunch of hunky drones pop out of nowhere.
John DeLuca
"don't believe in yourself, believe in us because we believe in you" GURREN LAGANN REFERENCE?????
Gwyn
I'm sure Tsuu is cooking something awesome as we discuss.
Gwyn
Chun Ke is confirmed to be the guy on the cover of all the romance novels my grandmother read.
Mikah Burdette
I’m imagining Chun Ke as the ML from Just another fantasy romance, but with red hair
Mikah Burdette
Loving your wife enough to become human ❤️
Cranky Otter
Wonder if human Chunky maintains the ability to shift size to be the perfect size for every situation or if he will stay gargantuan in his human form, perhaps gauging that this size is perfect. I guess his lounge seat *is* already a bean bag that fits a moose. And they share house with Gou in biggish boar mode so presumably he’ll fit on the bed. (I’m only kind of tall and think most beds are too short.)
Maria Klein
Chunky is a special boy.
Lenny_has_arived
Chunky loves his wife and that’s fantastic
Maria Klein
Im adult enough to admit im totally crying
Prometheus
Paranirvana is the term used in buddhism for his state
Emily Gurnavage
He's a whole head and shoulders taller than Jin, lol. Isn't Jin already a veritable giant of a man? Chun-Ke sounds like hes Andre the Giant sized. I look forward to the eventual artwork =p
Laura Hemly
I find myself wondering if Pi Pa will have litter-sized groups of babies. Quintuplets, octuplets, you name it ~~ I see them populating the entire area with happy babies!
Laura Hemly
Then let's hope that their reactions as pigs transfer over to their human forms!
Timothy Dana
Maybe Chunky can donate his organs like his heart valve to give to sick children. Then he resurrects again to donate his organ again the next day
Cranky Otter
If Mintiao can actually move his tail past the break, I picture him rolling glass pipe with his tail and using the tools with his mouth. The bigger problem for me is that glass needs to be annealed to cool slowly between working temperature and glass transition temperature or it will shatter so I’m assuming they have an annealing oven in the glass works.
James Faulkner
This is a hilarious image haha
Krulla_Chief
He truly is friend shaped.
Isak Mark
The gong was the heavens accepting his request of a second form since all second forms are granted by heaven. Wa Shi climbed the waterfall, Tigu tribulation by lightning and Yin captured the sun. Chunky's tribulation was walking the mountain and asking nicely.
Isak Mark
Because he has reached nirvana infinite time is no time to him. His soul walked for infinity but because he is at peace it he didn't notice it at all. The mountain is mount tai where heaven and earth meet. Then he chose not to reach the heavens instead returning back to earth to help it. Those who have done that are called Buddha.
TheFallingWhale
He was laying on his back?
Geese
Chunke looks like Thor from GoW Ragnarok in my mind. Giant height, strongman physique, and a mane of red hair. Probably more handsome but still, that’s the base template I’m picturing.
Isak Mark
He willingly gave up Nirvana and went back to the earth to help it that makes him a buddah.
Emily Gurnavage
Yea, id compare it to being a Budda now I suppose. He ascended Mount Tai and gained the approval of the Heavens. If he was a cultivator, he would have ascended then and there if I understand things correctly. As it is, he is at the least fully enlightened. I want to say he has the right to Ascend to Godhood, but chose not to.
Emily Gurnavage
Well, Wa-Shi swam up a waterfall when he became a dragon. Pretty sure real carp can't do that, or there wouldn't be a legend about that turnin em into a dragon. And omg, don't get me started on Miantaioaitia9aitiaoaio or however you spell the snake's name. Hes a snake. He got no arms, legs, nothin. Hes a snake. How does he do glasswork and blacksmithing!?!?!? Just gotta suspend your disbelief on some aspects, lol. I sort of "forget" the snake exists half the time on purpose though because he does make it annoying to try and picture in my head how the scene is goin down and then the scene says a snake is making glass or somethin lol. All the other animals are **significantly** easier to suspend my disbelief with.
Bob of Doom
I think it shows that Chunky is in lines with the heavens, unlike cultivators.
Emily Gurnavage
Agreed, I had to pause twice to blink the tears away before things got too out of hand to keep reading lol.
SuperiorFreak
Chunke needs to put in effort NOT to ascend, meanwhile the rest of the world is murdering eachother to get the opportunity. Truly, Chunke is the bestest boi.
SuperiorFreak
A lot of Qi.
SuperiorFreak
As someone told me a long time ago, “Cultivators are bullshit”
Isak Mark
LMAO, the implication that Chunky is truly the wisest because he remembered to bring clothes instead of emerging naked like the others.
Axavia
This chapter may be unedited, but the emotions trapped within are so raw that they brought me to tears!
Cory C.
That line is coming from Pi Pa's view point so it would likely be reflecting her opinion on the matter. Also a lot of strongmen in our world do have some fat on them so it may just be to give us a better idea of his build.
leopard eye
Sad thing is Pig's enjoy doing the the deed a lot more than people do. As in for them the height of the experience can last as long as 30 minutes on average. Sometimes up to an hour.
James Faulkner
I’m not referring to a mannerism that could be prescribed to an animal, I’m talking about mechanically lol. Their snouts are too long and they have no neck mobility
Aki_Iokua18
The same way a rooster can smile or a snake can raise an eyebrow?
GryphonKnight
>The world became like a dream as his body and his soul kept walking in different paths. He trod along golden roads, cracked and splintered. He checked in on Big Little Sister, fast asleep—and smiled. >Then, he turned his gaze. Far, far away was a mountain. His destination. He started walking. So apparently he can walk the physical world at the same time as walking the spirit world This explains why he knows so much about
Arturs Audris
I think a lot of the story theme that it is fine to be the way you are and not every path has to be forced. Fear and anger are emotions while control is an action. Chun Ke being the glorious pig he is, has shown that if you replace fear and anger with love and acceptance there is no need for control. Instead of going against the heavens you can ask heavens for help. Instead of ascending to heavens you can create heaven where you are.
Isak Mark
He has already met heavens mandate, he can already ascend towards them and essentially become a deity.
Havencross3093
"He was enormous. Taller than their Master by his head and shoulders. A bushy mane of rust red adorned his head, a wild crown down to his mid back. His face was rough and wild and intimidating, with three massive scars that dragged from his forehead, down across his eyes, and to the opposite cheek—but his eyes. His eyes were the colour of the warm earth, and brimming with an inner peace that softened all his edges. His body was as thick as a tree trunk, with a thick layer of fat all truly strong men had. Another brutal scar adorned his side, just under his ribs, where bandages had loosened, but something else caught all of their eyes." I get a very strong Spirt Walker Udry vides from the desciption.
James Faulkner
This is a beautiful chapter but I just have one small gripe. How the fuck is a boar supposed to press its forehead to the ground? 😂
RBAWintrow
How does a rooster smell like the moon? How is "the moon" a smell? Cultivators are wierd.
SpaceingMouse 17
Chun Ke already reached the heavens, found them boring without his friends and "Pretty Wife", and decided to come back down. This isn't even a joke, cus it seems like this is actually what happened.
daniel koval
Maybe? Now admittedly I am in the same boat as you understanding wise, but I think it was more he saw the ability to ascend via enlightenment and turned it down to stay mortal and with his wife. He submitted to judgement not for ascension but for the ability to become human. At least that’s my read on it. I could be completely wrong.
Palmer Evans
Basically as close to Nirvana that any mortal can reach without ascending
BargleNawdleZouss
Tears x 2
Akki
I was thinking more along the lines of Pehlwani wrestlers like The Great Gama who incidentally was also a strongman.
Akki
Yeah! When Chun Ke was being described it reminded me of The Great Gama, who was a Pehlwani wrestler and strongman.
Javier Hernandez
Chun Ke IS enlightened. So, of all Fa Ram, he is already beyond Shen Yu on the "Reaching the Heavens" yardstick. It reminds me of a manwha that had lots of martial arts and ki usage, and there were two schools of thought: 1) gather as much ki and as many techniques as you can, or 2) PURIFY your ki at the highest quality no matter if little in amount and master a few techniques to perfection. In the Quantity vs Quality competition, Chun Ke is firmly in the Quality camp.
matthew gilley
Babies!!!!!!!! Chuckie and pepa can now have babies!!!!!
Silvris
As mentioned before, I am going to be that a lot of traditional cultivators are going to have ulcers or be spitting blood at what Chun Ke just did. Here they are, working their asses and humanity off to become powerful enough to essentially brute force the process, and this boar, weaker than many of them just casually strolls past all of them and right up Mount Tai as if it was nothing, and then comes back down a human.
WarStrider72
And Chunky becomes the brawny man on the paper towel rolls! Kinda amazing that he had already met heavens mandate but chose to stay on Earth with his friends! Guess we need a space suit for our newest human spiritual beast!
Silvris
I suspect many of them would bluescreen at the idea of qualifying for ascension not despite, but because of not defying the heavens and reaching the nirvana of a content life instead. I would not be surprised if those following the Path of Shennong proper actually all ascend in the end, once they lived out their life. As a gift from the heavens for doing them and the world a service. People just don't see it because it is post mortem.
Torbjørn Nilsen
Ok, so I'm not the best at understanding this stuff, as I grew up in Western culture, but the best pig to ever pig has achieved the state of Buddhahood, right? Or is my ignorance of culture/history tripping me up here? Either way, it was a great chapter.
Randall Norman Pick
Even as I was reading it, I somehow wasn't surprised.
Luke H
Chun Ke is best boi! Stop making me cry, man. His love for everyone (especially Pi Pa) is so beautiful!
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. As mentioned by a number of others, looking forward to the art. I am also looking forward to the reaction of the SMS members sounding of the gong. They surely are going to be "shitting gold nickles" (as we used to say) over a pig able to ascend but choosing to "stay on earth". While this was a lovely chapter, what was the score or Chun Ke and Pi Pa going to get in on the game now?
Alex Ingraham
RUH ROH!
Alex Ingraham
I think Chun Ke is already blessed...
Purple Floof
I imagine he kind of looks like the red-head guy from Alfabusa's Hunter: The Parenting
Purple Floof
I'd argue the *greatest* benefit is seeing the art for the characters lol
Alex Ingraham
"It just knows better." - Mr. Popo
Old Dog
For me it was waking up to make the day start off great.
Alex Ingraham
Damn... that would be hilarious. CF, THIS! PLEASE! Shen Yu's utter stupefaction would be great lol
Alex Ingraham
🤣
Alex Ingraham
Aye!
Logrus
The fact that Chunky has clearly attained enlightenment already is... perfect.
Old Dog
I believe Chun Ke to be like the first man described in "Contemplations of the Flamebud" and Jin's analysis of that first man (Chapter 5, Book 1).
Shawn Banks
Just dropping in a little request for a holiday card from the Farm Fam, please.
Shawn Banks
Maybe we can talk em into a holiday card from the farm?
Arlano
Brian Shaw but with hair but with semi long hair like Hagrid.
Old Dog
Seconded. All in favor say "Aye!"
Katharine Gould
I sm so glad I didn't get to this comment until the second read of the chapter.
StarBat
Chunks is now human. Is his brain now healed? Enlightenment is further away.
Chioke Nelson
So we get art next week right?
Dirk Gent Lee
This is the chapter I needed in my life last Tuesday
D J Meigs
I don’t think I could see a smile in a real chicken’s eyes, mostly I’m picturing him in a slightly cartoonish way. But if I have to imagine a real life rooster emoting I’m picturing subtle changes in the way he fluffs his feathers. I’m sure after 4 years of practice fighting I would be able to tell the difference.
Bryan Yeip
My mind went to Hafþór (The Mountain) with long hair and Pi Pa as his tiny wife xD
Gwyn
Among Heaven and Earth, Chunky alone is the Honored One. Absolute Chad.
Gwyn
About time, Pi PA does so much for the farm, she's a pillar of the community. She deserves to get her back blown out by her soulmate and start a family.
Alex Reed
Smiling is in the eyes. Also, familiarity with animals makes subtle things a little more obvious, like how a bird might twist it's head a certain way when it is feeling mischievous.
Deadpan29
So, all these other cultivators out there are challenging the heavens to ascend, and Chunky is so enlightened that he has to anchor himself to remain mortal.
Jeff Gault
I had really truly hoped that Chun Ke would accidentally end up as a Golden Retriever.
Jesper
I was thinking Brian Shaw with a bit more fat around the gut.
Jessica Emerson
I was thinking more Tormund Giantsbane from GoT, but bigger and softer lol
ItWasIDIO!!
I don't really count them like that will be nice when it happens but the original team was what I think everyone wast waiting for the others is just icing
MasterKronus
It sounds like Chun Ke has an ACTUAL strongman physic. And he considered something else, to ensure his wife's happiness, lol. I have to question one thing though... How does a chicken smile?
Sol
Would love some art in the style of cheesey family photos for Fa Ram. Like stuff you'd see at old department stores, and sitcoms.
dragonslaver
Like hand holding, or drinking tea together.
Big I
Jin's Gramps mentioned in a previous chapter that Chunky had achieved Nirvana. His power comes from enlightenment.
Antony Claughton
A really touching chapter. Very sweet. And so so Chunky.
mag28
Idk why but I thought it was gonna be hard for chunky to get human form. And I'm glad I was wrong because that was beautiful. Also makes perfect sense chunky is chunky the form doesn't matter.
Red Viking
HAPPY. =)
Truedragon5374
How old and which school? Ancient greek wrestlers developed much different physique from Japanese sump wrestlers.
Mark Greenberg
Here's Chun Ke standing next to Jin: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617344933085691&id=100044305680121&set=a.250634253090096&locale=ko_KR
Truedragon5374
I think his experience with Tianlan has given him the ability to Astral project himself into the spirit realm or something while he dreams.
Kasinki
Human Chun Ke!!! Does this mean whenever he's not himself he gets back to boar form for awhile, or he's fully himself now? Thanks for the chapter CF!
Truedragon5374
Our boy just took the stairway to heaven up to shangri-la. That pig's serenity is powerful.
Mark Greenberg
Here's Chun Ke standing head and shoulders taller than Jin (except this guy's smaller than Jin so Chun Ke is bigger than Hafþór). https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617344933085691&id=100044305680121&set=a.250634253090096&locale=ko_KR
Truedragon5374
Does anyone else think human Chunky looks like a red haired Hagrid?
BenjiVoid
Ox
Truedragon5374
I know Jin's thing is to kind of cultivate without cultivating. But he needs to spend some time training Pi Pa. Fear and anger are the opposite of control, and she will never know peace in bad times if she can't control her own power. I don't know if the Void has a mind of its own or is driven by her ID. Maybe they should ask Gramps.
Kris Piskorski
I really hope they start a happy family, more little kids in the farm would be even better!
Mark Greenberg
The latter. She wants kids and wants them to have the spark and so wants to have them as humans.
Idan tal
Ohhh, now he is more Chun Ke Shen than Chunky
Jaishel
Peppa was void. Perhaps Chunky was space. Ya know, before the accident with the danger mice
mag28
If I'munderstangding you right there are still a few that need human forms too. Babe varja(the bee might have spelled it wrong) and Noodle(the snake)
mag28
Mud pit jumping is the start of courtship. And a ritual of the farm, but no necessarily a wedding cermony. Im not arguing that they need one because they are obviously married life goals, but have one would be great. Maybe gou ren and his girl make it official make it a double wedding.
Supernova Wizard
Most likely. And I bet he still chuffs happily.
Supernova Wizard
D:
Supernova Wizard
I was kinda hoping the art post was going to have this. Kinda shirt notice though...
Supernova Wizard
Except that each of them has been able to adjust how they appear as a human. I can totally see Chunky keeping some fat, simply because he's bayou with who he is and he's always been a Chunky boy!
Supernova Wizard
Best true disciple following the way of Jin. Happy with where he is. Not interested in opposing the heavens and doing what he can to make those around him happy.
BelligerentGnu
Patrick Rothfuss.
Supernova Wizard
Honestly. Choosing a favorite is so difficult, but Chunky boy has always had a special place with me since he knew how to pronounce everyone names correctly. He even made his name into a pun! Chunky Mountain.
BelligerentGnu
That was beautiful. Truly.
Supernova Wizard
It has been implied in other chapters
John Pratt
No, he turned away from Nirvana to help the world, so the Buddha.
leopard eye
I get the impression that Chunky here just strode through some of the most significant forces in the world of cultivation without faltering. Not through sheer power and struggle but because those forces couldn't get a grip on him. His conviction was so immovable the thought of faltering never even occurred to him
Fluffy druid
Actually my tears were for Chun Ke. He was simply too perfect. And I missed those references too. They did not matter to me though. This chapter stood on its own, as far as I was concerned. Still now I must scoure the comments for that sweet sweet information.
Akki
Second this. I know some of the mythology so I had an idea of what was going on but I understand your frustration. A footnotes section explaining the mythology behind some of the scenes would be really nice, especially when it's eventually later published in novel form.
John Brady Anderson
I thought of the Greatjon from Game of Thrones myself, but neither of them look wild enough maybe?
IG884HIRE
Anyone else imagining Thor from the new God of War games as Chunky's new form?
WannaBeATree
I think the tears might have more to do with Pi Pa, than Chun Ke. Stemming from a release of tention. More in the vein of other people making a genuin effort of putting her inner demons to rest and the one to succeed being the person who was most at risk and while doing so showing qualities that makes them quite literally too good for this world. So in some sense she is being forgiven and rewarded by powers objectively better than her, thus absolving her of her guilt.
Arlano
"at the corners of ehr eyes." ->her "Sister…he void is fearsome. " -> the void
KnightRider007
Given that human children have the spark -the potential for true intelligence- by default...
Hieu Le
@Author, please include some footnotes about the Cultural/Mythological references you're making in this chapter for readers unfamiliar with Eastern mythology. While everyone was was moved to tears, I was confused at what was happening. It really spoiled the chapter for me when I got into the comments and saw that my ignorance prevented me from understanding the story.
Cindermoth
Well it might become a tad more than a file if that unknown root has any relation to the emperor like I believe it has
Cindermoth
Yuuuuuup, and I believe gramps is going to be mighty interested about that. Chun Ke reached that place through sheer personal understanding and inner peace, instead of through simple power like the cultivators appear to try to do. Probably why those monks gramps talked about were trying to reach Nirvana. There are more paths to immortality than just cultivation.
Drakenclaw
I think there are multiple ways to ascend. One of them is "insight" for example. Another one might be "nirvana". Shen Yu talked about cultivating monks that strive for attaining perfect contentment. And that Chunky was basically already there. The goal of all cultivation paths is to ascend, so maybe just reaching the state of nirvana is enough to skip all the tedious climbing and challenging you have to do? Edit: Apparently it's that he literally climbed Mount Tai and moved to where Heaven and Earth are connected. Because that is something that he can apparently just do. XD
James Paparella
OK, obviously we need a pic of human Chun Ke as soon as humanly possible, if not sooner. Thanks for the chapter.
Laura Hemly
Something that made me think -- this passage: "If he jumped, he could fly away off the top of the mountain, and into the stars above. He had been there many times before, flying free while he dreamed, before the earth had graciously given him a tether." Chun Ke has consistently known things that he could only learn from traveling the heavens and visiting other worlds. Remember how he listed off multiple words for the veranda, from several cultures? Does this passage describe how he's done it, since he's as welcome in the heavens as on the earth?
Harish
Chunky Boy is the Chad we should all aspire to be. A genuine appreciation for both his family and the world. The wisdom to recognise right from wrong. The will to stave off annihilation to protect those he loves. This, this is what we all need. CF did a damned good job. Take that you, Imperial Realm bastards. This is the essence of Cultivation, the power to walk one's own path free of the prejudice of other.
Beggar of Freedom
Divines bless your kind heart!
Seijax
Sure, Jin and Meiling are cute. True, Rizzo is cute in everything she does. But the cutest couple of Fa Ram remains Pippa&Chunky
WannaBeATree
Did I understand it correctly that Chunky stood at the junction between heaven and earth - this realm and the next (the one common sense says only people past the imperial realm can enter) - and making an honest plea without intentions of crossing over? Or is heavens not the same as the next realm? The gong seems to me like a verdict beeing announced but noone in the current realms seems to be able to judge those in below realms. Are there people controling/judging junctions between realms? Stuff like what happened to Ti Gu? It would imply a that Chunky was close-ish to death, no? I can't realy understand the spirit realm, but it seems to be where the true power/understand lies. Stumbling in the dark/following direction vs actually seeing where you are going.
Pierre laplant
Chad
Akki
So Chun Ke has an old school wrestler build!
Stark Trist
Thanks for the chapter
Pope Yoda I
And then they had consensual marital relations!
Ryan Kaiser
Im so happy to see all the other people who love Chun Ke like me. Far and away my favorite.
Hound
The wisest deciple...he took along pants.
Jake Lewis
Man what the hell 😭😭😭
Aki_Iokua18
On Spacebattles CF has shared that Vajra’s human form would be along the lines of a MILF villainess out of an 80s anime. Also, since mental imaging and how one sees oneself is so important in the transformation, I highly doubt someone as prideful as Vajra would ever consider being fairy-sized. As for the rest of her swarm, aside from some standouts and/or potential awakenings, I feel like they’d function more like Xiaolan’s swords: tools that are affected and enhanced by her cultivation and growing in strength.
Katharine Gould
Has Chun Ke achieved Nirvana?
John Pratt
Miantiao plays old because he's wounded and has had some hard times, but that bandit wasn't burning stuff down for generations before Jin got there, he was a recent problem. When Miantiao met Bi Di he could have been as young as 5 years old, I can't imagine he's older then 20. Also WoG is that spirit snakes get absurd longevity. He's not past his prime, he's sad and injured. He also lives in the Homely Home with an apprentice demi-god of healing, so I doubt those conditions will endure. I could see him adopting a human form to be a better babysitter.
Katharine Gould
This is exactly how I saw it.
frankie doerr
Might be wrong but the mountain is mount tian and the gong is sounded when someone is welcomed to heaven
Nicholas Tran
Sure it could be about the spark but it's also about Chun Ke taking a form he doesn't care for to be with his wife. She has a human form and in order to be more acceptable he becomes human to be with her. It is a gesture of his love. She is afraid that he would be scared of her but his response was essentially "nothing will keep us apart"
Angela Roberts
Wonderful chapter! Chun Ke keeps his promise and may they have many kids.
frankie doerr
So let me ruin your night so imagine chunky walking out the forest and all of a sudden that one song from Madagascar comes on “I like them thicc”
Artman
Yeah I ran into the video of him doing the record lift. He is a big man and reading this made me think of him from the description.
Kairo of Sweden
I would look at Wa Shi as already being capable of changing shape.
Timothy Dana
Sex and bacon the true path to immortality
CUI13
Chunky is best boy and must be protected at all costs
TempestK
Safest way to ensure their children had the Spark.
El Squidd
CHUN KE BEST BOY!
TempestK
Chun Ke basically appealed to the Celestial Court to be allowed to take human form. The gong was the Celestial bureaucratic or auditor that was handling his case rendering their decision. Unlikely to have been the Jade Emperor himself but still probably a fairly high-placed entity.
Patanahi
Thanks for the chapter CF ! Loved this one !!!!
frankie doerr
Nah the heavens did not wish to defy chunky
Patanahi
A whole truck of them too 😤
John Pratt
As it says "His soul and his body kept walking in different paths" we can tell that this is a spiritual journey. Spiritual journeys are metaphors, so let's look at this metaphorically. He's in a ravine, he's in a cave, on a plains, crossing rivers, in a forest, then finally crossing a sea to come to a mountain. All of these places are superlative, over and over we are reminded that world is so much bigger than Chunky, he starts in deep and dark places( ravines deeper than and ocean, giant dark cave) into more typical natural spaces that each demand endurance until he gets to where he's going. This is a metaphorical summary of Chunky's life up to this point. Chunky started his life on the worst day he would ever have, his spark awakening on the day Chow Ji gravely injured his body and spirit both. As a result Chunky has had a harder time, he's had to spend more effort than other people to achieve the same results. Within the metaphor the distance he's had to travel to get where he's gotten is further, and so he's had to cultivate his endurance. The mountain in the vision is a trial of his worth, because climbing a mountain is a thing you do just to demonstrate that you can do it. When he completes that trail he faces the heavens, and realizes that he has what it takes to become an immortal. Rather than abandon his ties to the earth to challenge and join the heavens he instead bows to them and begs for their favor. They grant it because he'd already completed the trail, the vision suggesting that his entire life up to this point had been something like a tribulation from the heavens.
Ender419
Thank you for this wonderful chapter!! I hope that Pi Pa and Chun Ke have little ones as they will be cute in either swine or human form.
Patanahi
Me too 😭
Bruno Vieira
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQoJIgSDZJYl31kVRn6zSy-kruQ64Pq73kqkw&usqp=CAU
Patanahi
Hahahahahah freaking epic is what he is our chunky boiiii
Patanahi
Omg I definitely cried , it’s so very beautiful…
Bruno Vieira
At first i was thinking of https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSNFl2GNbY9dG8acPODMBRhjwljO9g6zswQxJYj5SlJykDHFwO2bEK3zBU&s=10 Gao from Eyeshield21
Insertnamehereokokipressedokok
Shen Yu: oh ho? Not bad, Chun Ke! How did you do it, boy? Defeat a great enemy? Some special technique? Chun Ke: I ask. Heavens very nice.
Steven.Riske
Did she want her and Chun ke to be human, or was it that that’s the safest way to have spark filled children? Genuinely asking.
Mark Greenberg
I don't see Bei Be getting a human form any time soon. As with Chun Ke and Bi De, he's content with how he is. Bi De changed because he needed a disguise, and although his human form has its uses (intimacy with Ri Zu, playing Ha Qi, etc.) he's still more comfortable as a rooster. Chun Ke only changed to make his wife happy (she has a human form and wants human kids). I don't see a similar draw for Bei Be. Wa Shi is the most likely to desire a human form, probably for the trip south. A boat is too small for a dragon and a carp stuck in a vase or even a trough is fairly limiting, not to mention the spilliage that would occur during rough seas. Miantiao is old and settled, not to mention the weakest of the main cast. I see him lacking both desire and power to change. Huo Ten is a monkey which is already a mostly human form. Heck, Gou Ren is a human who acquired a monkey form when his bloodline activated! Vajra is an interesting question. For one thing, how would being human (or pixie) affect the hive-mind she shares with the other bees? For another, she has a very unique world view which might get lost if she spends time interacting with the world in a larger body and communicating more directly with everyone else. Not sure about her.
Almer Reyhan
So, Chun Ke human form is Eddie Hall? Amazing wholesome chapter Author. I NEED MOREEE
Z H
Bah! The Heavens are cruel and uncaring as always. Chunky is too good for them. They only acquiesced so quickly so he wouldn't come up their and stomp them into compliance.
Almer Reyhan
Oh that's what the texts about. Thanks for explaining.
Z H
Heh, Chunky might have tried asking nicely to start with but the Heavens were fully aware that any answer other than "Yes" was going to end with them being torn down and burned.
Eli Pomerantz
Might the imperial Herald need to analyze Shen Yu’s family to report it back to the emperor? Even though they are not at the imperial realm, after what happened with shen yu’s son, I imagine they might start a file of Jin, his “grandson”, & Bi De, his disciple
stargibilet Scott
This is fantastic. That the heavens found chunky worthy of his plea. That is wonderful. 10/10 would cry again.
AntaeusTheGiant
Are you referring to Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson? On his facebook page there are pictures of him with his wife. But, most people would probably recognize him better from his acting career....
Daniel Jungbluth
Chun Ke doesn’t need to defy the Heavens, they just know better than to upset him.
Deathlokke
For some reason my first thought was Akuma, but obviously without the severe anger issues.
D J Meigs
And love counters the void. Chun Ke sure knows how to do all things that need doing perfectly. It’s hard to pick favorites in This story. But if had to, TLM and Chunky boy would be at the top.
Cyrus McEnnis
I would gently suggest that Pi Pa and Chun Ke have jumped into a mud puddle many, many times before now. And as such may not see the need for a ceremony to show their love. Not saying I wouldn't love one personally, but they've been the married couple on Fa Ram for a long time as far as the story goes.
RJKY
Chunky just asked politely for a human form.
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
Cyrus McEnnis
If you ever doubt your skill as a story teller, remember this chapter and how it moved so many of us to tears - not of sadness, but of the realization that #relationshipgoals is to look at someone else the way a pair of fictional pigs look at each other.
Duke of Coffee
Chunky/Chun Ke follows to make his wife happy, making his own slice of paradise on his own terms. I bet it is going to be a wild night for both of them. 😜
Hieu Le
Can someone please explain the references about the mountain and gong? I am unfamiliar with eastern mythology.
Timothy Dana
The boar is not the great sage under heaven that is Hue ten. Chen ke is clearly a “pig (reincarnated) who is aware of ability" or "pig who rises to power".
Bruno Vieira
But an Forest ranger Chunkyboyyy https://image.cdn2.seaart.me/temp-convert-webp/highwebp/2024-10-18/cs95555e878c73da1t5g/57b02cf634f99e485f475a6c34498063_low.webp
Nicholas Tran
Chun ke does not desire a human form. All he desires is a happy wife. If this means having a human form then she will have it. He would give her the world if she desired it.
Reinhold Wuerzner
Chun Ke is best disciple. Fite me.
Trish Brown
Amazing chapter ✨️ ❤️
Caoimhín
Chunky casually showing he has achieved Nirvana and could ascend if he wanted, but stays because he's content and wants to stay with those he loves. Best Boi straight up climbs Mount Tai and personally asks Heaven to do him a solid, and Heaven agrees because he's worthy. Awesome.
Nick
Tftc
Artman
Go look up the world record dead lift holder, even a red head. His wife is also a tiny thing next to him.
Victor Segura
I think this was wonderful. Chun ke once again show the ultimate truth of Shen Yu philosophy and how a true wiseman he is. One with the world, with heaven, with himself. But were does the line fo fat for strong men comes? I mean, its true for our world, but such a thing is not how Xianxia land works, how Jin looks and we are seeing it through native eyes. It just sounds incongruent with the setting
Caoimhín
Physically, Chunky didn't go far, but his soul moved. His soul journeyed through the astral plane that's revealed in dreams, the plane of existence where spirits such as Tianlan exist. He ascended Mount Tai and asked Heaven itself to help him transform into human form. Heaven accepted and transformed him as he asked. PS: I actually expected Chunky to transform easily like Bi De did, since he's utterly at peace with himself. But it seems that the acceptance and contentment of his form might have played against him in the transformation, so he had to ask for help, unlike Bi De who did not care one way or another and so did it without issue.
Mitchell Calhoun
Why am I crying
Chi Kit Wong
Great chapter.
Idan tal
Contemplating “farmer” you mean
Laura Hemly
Thanks for a remarkable chapter, CF. You brought tears of happiness to my eyes ~~ now I *know* Pi Pa will heal! And I already love human Chun Ke -- so completely *content* with his life, whether human or boar, as long as he's with Pi Pa!
Steven.Riske
I’ve already read this a couple of times, thanks for the wholesome story! Some say that stories were originally created to pass on wisdom. That people’s lives would be better with the telling and the quality of the story. I guess for me it just helps me feel that good things are possible in this world.
Cranky Otter
Appreciate that Bi De and the other disciples took it upon themselves to comfort Pi Pa enough that they discussed how best to do it and that it couldn’t come from Chun Ke this time. I was a little worried Chun Ke had gone off to erase the scars of battle in an Uno Reverse move on the picnic spot, which would have made it weird, so i’m glad/relieved we saw the damage from his POV as the good, the bad, and what is, before he did his epic, yet zen, quest.
Voror
I wonder what some of those Elders would think of how Chun Ke achieved this
Laura Hemly
So am I! That was just beautiful...
geogio13
My goodness, I am excited about this development. I love Chun Ke the most out of anyone on the farm and now we get to see him and his beloved wife together in human form? Sensational. Now we need a wedding chapter for the two of them.
Timothy Dana
See b plot reposted from below: I want Chen Ke to meet Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr and get the lusty old goats to give the secret of resurrection after being eaten so that he might survive been consumed by his wife’s Void and feed it with boundless love .(death by snu snu) Maybe with a Horn/Tusk transplant. The whole Fa Ram gang can all have the “morning after” bacon. (Sæhrímnir or Dagda bacon of immortality)
PaulRovinsky
I'm almost crying. That was so friggin sweet and just amazing. Fantastic chapter.
Timothy Dana
But only if Tan and Tan nickname was TNT
H
While cultivators are struggling and grasping for power Chun ke is more like a bhuddist who could grasp enlightenment and ascend whenever he so chooses
geogio13
Tan and Tan: "On the one hand, that would normally require oaths and services to a specific god. On the other, that is a very compelling argument to teach you."
Max E Malekzadeh
Not gonna lie i laughed at Chunky just being granted human form. Like it's so obvious the dude deserves whatever he wants that even the Heavens are just like "yeup, you do you buddy"
James Faulkner
Incredible chapter, Tftc!!
Aki_Iokua18
Every man should be like Chunky, every woman deserves a Chunky. I love how filled with love Fa Ram is, and looking back to the beginning, how much everyone’s grown. Can’t wait to see the two of them, Pi pa and Chun Ke, together. Now the big question: Will they try to time it with Zhuye’s eventual sibling/s or will they have theirs ASAP?
WonderBread459
It only seemed easy because he is Chunky. It’s only because of the peace he has with himself that that eternity passed in a moment, that infinite mountain was but a step or two. While it was a tribulation to climb that mountain, chunky has found inner peace.
Sean Ulrich
She’s sleeping. Why would Chunky wake her up? That’s rude.
Timothy Dana
Why not granted by the earth? They in tight with a earth spirit. They got an in
Fluffy druid
I am actually sniffling. That was beautiful. Chun Ke is such a wonderful person.
Sean Ulrich
The world is divided into the heavens and earth. I think the mountain he climbed is the connection between heaven and earth. Normally cultivation fights against heaven, and ascend past it. Jin and Chunky don’t really want to fight, so unlike Tigu who transformed by surviving that lightning, and Washi climbing the waterfall, Chunky simply asks heaven if he can transform. And of course Chunky is the goodest boi.
Anime Problem
Chunke has never needed to do anything more than ask he could fight the heavens for power and defy all things yet he has never needed to for his deeds have earned his place among them.
Calamity
LET’S GO!
Nitrous_Hail
I love it. I also can't wait for the artwork!
ItWasIDIO!!
Well Wa Shi the ball is in your court now fat man
Andrew Denton
You go, Pepper. Fill the endless void with boundless love. ♥️
Loah
Chun Ke bowed, his forehead pressed against the ground, bowing to the heavens. “Please.” he said simply. Bless this man. Bless his pure heart.
Cam
So beautifully done CF. THANK YOU!
Zero Wrath
Also thanks for the chapter! Loved it!
Zero Wrath
Ooo can’t wait for an art of Chun Ke from Tsuu (hopefully).
E Brown
Every spirit beast has to petition the heavens for a second form and endure a tribulation. Tigu’s was lightning, Yin was forging the sun, Washy was climbing a waterfall and Chunky’s was apparently climbing the mountain. All of their forms were granted by the heavens, Chunky just seems to be the one to know/acknowledge it. That’s my take, at least.
Homeless One
Oh Snap!
Neil H
I feel like Pi Pa would get along well with Void the Roomba/god from "All the Dust that Falls"
Justin
Please! I want to understand as well!
Bruno Vieira
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d0/0b/a3/d00ba374d54262d779399a4dbf32cf3b.jpg Chunkyboy lets gooooo. Should look more like a lumberjack with the flanel then a monk imo...
Austin Thomas
Ahhh in crying way to much.
Sean M.
I needed this, best boy Chunky
ENK
Great chapter. That made me happy.
litalmexy
Bit of a feel good tear jerker this one.
Insertnamehereokokipressedokok
Herald is with the away team, huh? Too bad he's wearing red...
Cj
Strongman giant shanks
Brian Thompson
Chun Ke and pi pa the greatest of love stories
Kirivina
Glorious! I can go to bed happy now. And I just finished rereading chapters so this was great timing.
Lanter
CHUNKEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Vivek Mhatre
Can someone explain the significance of the journey Chun Ke took? I didn't understand that part. Where did he bow? Whom did he bow too? What was the journey all about?
Sean Ulrich
Also how poetic is Chunky’s climb? An eternity and a moment. Great line right there
Timothy Dana
I want Chen Ke to meet Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr and get the lusty old goats to give the secret of resurrection after being eaten so that he might survive been consumed by his wife’s Void.(death by snu snu) Maybe with a Horn/Tusk transplant. The whole Fa Ram gang can all have the “morning after” bacon. (Sæhrímnir or Dagda bacon of immortality)
Ham
Thanks for such a heartwarming chapter!
The GrandMage
"That the Great Sage Under Heaven is a boar is not surprising. The fact he looks like the sort of thug that would command warbands is, solely for the fact he has never lived such a life."
Gray Code
The fact that, unlike everyone else, Chun Ke had the foresight to go get clothing first.
Michael Beard
I am crying so hard right now... Holy crap CF.... Great chapter!
Lochlan Yone
I can't wait for tsu's art of him
Marian Ch
The Chonk has rejoined chat.
Zeromaru2
YEAHHHHHH!
Timothy Dana
“had loosened, but something else caught all of their eye” I wonder what?
Ibuks5
Chun Ke has such depth to him!
Adam Boshcoff
Need pics!!!
Joshua Morris
Stupid ninjas cutting onions.
CringeWorthyStudios
So what, this only leaves Vajra, Miantiao, Bi Be, Wa Shi and Hua Ten without human forms? Or pixie form in Vajra’s case because damn it if I don’t want to see Vajra as a really grumpy regal version of tinkerbell… Just under half left, and I’m pretty sure Wa Shi and Hua Ten can already do it if they want… Thanks for the chapter!
Bluebag
That's very sweet of him!
Golden monkey
Chun Ke My Goat!!!
Teo
HUMAN CHUN KE
Andrew Denton
"He spotted the foxes, yipping happily at all the new den sites from the fallen trees," Some poetry there, considering everything that's happened in the story.
Sean McClain
Now that we have the wise strong man monk, we just need the bull to get a human form and be the contemplating swordsman. We need all the tropes fulfilled!
Drebrew
First thank you for the chapter
Sean Ulrich
I love how he remembers to take clothes. The real question is… is Chunky still the best pillow? I think so.
Seth
(I cried)
Null_is_Void
:O!
Objective_Campaign82
The greatest benefit of patreon discord privileges has to be getting notifications when the chapters up. Never need to check periodically again.
Justin
Thanks for the chapter! Very well done and awesome to see both of them in human form now! But who will hitch to the sleigh, who will be the wide perch in the river, who will.... Chunky gonna be the shitttt no matter what!
Jazer Andrew Sotomayor
Thank you!!
