Bazhun'an, if you'd truly understood "the self," wouldn't ask such questions as "what is the self."
Now, Xu Xiaoshou didn't answer but kicked the ball back, for he couldn't articulate clearly either.
Rather than speaking ambiguously, better not to speak at all.
After slightly pondering, Bazhun'an decided to tackle the question from another angle, for Xu Xiaoshou as well as himself.
As he's always been one who doesn't require answers from others, mostly discussing to find those who resonate simultaneously will inadvertently provide an "inspiration," or he might understand by discussing:
"I left the village at fourteen, experienced the destruction of family, lost life's meaning, aimlessly wandering, bewildered in the world, seeking rebirth."
"I progressively re-ignited old dreams, rushed to the capital for exams, journeyed through majestic landscapes, finally met Wen Ting and Ning Honghong, binding in sisterhood."
