>>5688939The expedition travels to the figurative X on the map. Along the way, the elders decided to reminisce about their delinquent past like it was truly meaningful, and moreover, special. In their words, these life defining experiences formed them into the people they are now, and on its own, it was the reward for their efforts; but now all the blood spilled, the head traumas, and violence are about to have a tangible reward, and their past isn’t enough to fulfill them.
There’s a reverence to these seemingly traumatic happenings that crosses the line to a quasi-religious fanaticism. A longing for a past of purposeless violence that, somehow, in their minds, created a twisted deeper bond than that of regular friendship now that the before rivals are working together to find the ultimate reward they always wanted with all their tears, sweat, and blood. This desire still drives them to this day as in a moment of honesty they revealed that they kept themselves in the school environment to see if someone would rise to the challenge and see it through in the same way they fought. They couldn’t tarnish it by stealing the clues themselves. If the map was forgotten, they wanted the kids to find the truth. If the challenge is harder for the younger generations, so be it. The battles are sacred. The game is everything.
You can’t help but to think that these losers truly peaked in high school… Except Mr. Zhi, he has come to the harrowing realization that he’s with a bunch of freaks. He’s far younger than them, and fought during a time where the treasure myth was forgotten. Without being particularly skillful, he enjoyed his time as a bonding method with his fellow classmates. During his time as principal, he learned about the legend and thought it was cool, and that he would like to see the treasure, nothing more.
One thing you want to make clear is that none of you are enjoying hearing the ramblings of these old coots. The passion they exhibit is too obsessive to connect to, too personal to share with strangers, and too contrived to make sense…
