The desert stretched endlessly before Lin Feng, an ocean of golden sand shifting beneath the scorching sun. It was as though the very ground beneath his feet was alive, rippling with the heat, twisting in an eternal dance. Every step he took felt both familiar and alien, the vast emptiness of the desert pressing in on him from all sides.
For the first time since he had entered the Realm of Choices, Lin Feng felt a pang of doubt. The choice to walk the path of wisdom had seemed so clear in the moment, but now, in the middle of this harsh, unforgiving desert, he began to wonder if he had made the right decision. The sun was oppressive, its heat searing through his clothes, and the endless stretch of sand seemed to mock him, reminding him that there was no clear end, no promise of safety.
What if I've made a mistake? the thought flickered in his mind. What if this path leads me nowhere?
But even as the doubt crept in, Lin Feng shook his head, forcing the thought to the back of his mind. No. I chose this path for a reason. I can't turn back now.
He looked around, searching for any sign of direction. But all he saw was the same unyielding sea of sand. The wind swept the dunes into strange, shifting patterns, as though the desert itself was a living, breathing entity that refused to give him any answers. The world felt strangely quiet, as if even nature itself held its breath, waiting for him to make the next move.
Focus, Lin Feng told himself. I need to rely on my instincts. I need to trust what I've learned so far.
He continued walking, his pace steady but cautious. As he moved, the desert seemed to change. The heat became more intense, the sun blinding, and the sand began to shift underfoot, as though it were pulling him deeper into the earth. The air itself felt heavy, thick with the weight of expectation. And then, just when Lin Feng thought he might collapse under the oppressive atmosphere, something strange happened.
A figure appeared in the distance. At first, it was nothing more than a mirage—a shimmering shape on the horizon, flickering and wavering like an illusion. But as Lin Feng walked closer, the figure began to take shape, becoming more defined, more real.
It was a woman. Her long, flowing robes seemed to ripple with the wind, but she moved with an otherworldly grace, her presence calming the oppressive heat of the desert. Her face was serene, her eyes warm but distant, as if she had seen all the trials the world could offer and was unbothered by them.
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. Who is this?
As he approached, the woman stopped, turning to face him. Her eyes locked onto his, and for a brief moment, Lin Feng felt as if she could see right through him, into the very core of his being.
"You are lost," she said softly, her voice like the breeze itself. "But not in the way you think."
Lin Feng frowned. "What do you mean? I'm not lost. I'm just trying to find my way."
The woman's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Finding your way requires more than simply walking forward. You must understand the nature of the path you walk."
Lin Feng shook his head. "I don't understand. What do you want from me?"
The woman stepped closer, her figure flickering slightly as if she were not entirely real. "What do you want, Lin Feng? What do you seek?"
He hesitated. What did he seek? The question felt like a trap, a challenge to everything he had ever worked toward. Power, control, understanding—the path of wisdom had seemed so certain, but now, in this strange desert, his desires felt muddled, unclear.
"I… I don't know," he said honestly, his voice betraying his uncertainty. "I thought I knew. But now, I'm not so sure."
The woman's smile deepened, her eyes softening. "Wisdom comes not from certainty, but from the willingness to embrace uncertainty. It is not the absence of doubt, but the ability to walk through it."
Lin Feng stared at her, trying to grasp the meaning of her words. But before he could respond, the woman raised a hand, and with a soft whisper, the desert around them began to shift.
The sand parted like the opening of a door, and in its place, a vision appeared—an image of Lin Feng, standing at the foot of a towering mountain, staring up at its peak. But this was not just any mountain—it was the mountain of his past, the symbol of his ambition, his desire to rise above everyone else. The mountain loomed over him, its jagged peaks sharp and unforgiving, and yet Lin Feng could feel the pull of it, urging him to climb.
The woman's voice rang out once more, this time echoing in Lin Feng's mind. "This is your past, Lin Feng. Your desire for power. It is what brought you here, but it is also what may hold you back. The mountain is not the path to wisdom."
Lin Feng's heart clenched. The mountain? Was it a symbol of his old self, his past ambitions? He had always believed that power was the key to everything, that climbing the mountain would lead him to a place where he could control his own fate. But now, seeing the mountain before him, it felt distant—alien. Something about it didn't resonate with him anymore.
"What do you want me to do?" Lin Feng asked, his voice strained. "How do I move forward?"
The woman's gaze softened. "You must let go of the past. The mountain represents your old desires, your need for control, your hunger for power. But wisdom cannot be attained through force. It must be embraced through understanding, patience, and acceptance."
Lin Feng stared at the mountain, feeling the weight of its presence. He had always believed that power was the answer, but now, it felt hollow, like a distant dream he no longer wished to chase. The mountain was no longer something to conquer—it was something to be left behind.
With a deep breath, Lin Feng turned away from the mountain, the vision dissolving as he did. He looked back at the woman, who nodded in approval. "You have taken the first step. Now, you must continue on the path."
The desert around them shifted again, the sand calming and the heat fading. The sun became more bearable, and for the first time, Lin Feng felt the weight of the journey lighten. He knew that the path ahead would not be easy, but for the first time since entering this realm, he felt a sense of peace.
"Thank you," Lin Feng whispered, his voice filled with newfound clarity. "I understand now. I can't continue chasing what I thought I wanted. I need to find my own way."
The woman smiled once more, and as she began to fade into the mist, she spoke her final words. "Wisdom is not a destination, Lin Feng. It is a journey. And now, your true path begins."
With those words, the mirage vanished, and the desert stretched out before Lin Feng once again. But this time, he was not lost. He was not searching for power, nor was he looking for a way to escape. He was simply walking forward, step by step, toward whatever lay ahead.