Lin Feng's feet sank softly into the sand as he walked. The desert, once an oppressive and unrelenting force, now seemed more like a companion. The heat no longer felt like a burden; instead, it was a reminder of the trials ahead, each one more demanding than the last. The vision of the woman and the mountain had shifted something within him. He felt a strange peace, a quiet confidence that he hadn't known before.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the sand, but there was no real sense of time in this place. The world around him felt suspended, caught between the realm of dreams and reality, where every step felt both familiar and foreign. As he moved forward, the landscape began to change again. The rolling dunes of sand started to flatten, giving way to jagged rocks and deep ravines that stretched far into the distance.
Lin Feng paused at the edge of a large crevice. The chasm was vast, the walls of stone towering on either side like ancient sentinels guarding a forgotten path. He peered down into the darkness below, the drop far too deep to see the bottom. There was no way around it—if he was to continue his journey, he would have to cross.
But something strange happened as he stood there, contemplating the gap. The wind picked up, carrying with it a strange sound—voices, whispering from the depths of the chasm. The whispers swirled around him, their words indistinct but compelling, each one tugging at his thoughts. They spoke of doubts, of fear, of the trials he had yet to face. Their voices were like shadows in his mind, trying to cloud his judgment.
Why are you here? one voice asked, cold and distant. What do you seek? Is this path truly yours to walk?
Lin Feng clenched his fists, shaking his head to clear the noise from his thoughts. The whispers were nothing more than distractions—echoes of his past fears and insecurities. He had learned to recognize them, to push past them, but they had a way of resurfacing when he least expected.
I chose this path, he thought firmly, squaring his shoulders. I chose wisdom, and I will walk it, no matter what stands in my way.
He turned back to the chasm. On the other side, barely visible in the dimming light, he could make out another figure—someone standing at the edge, waiting for him. The figure was cloaked in shadow, but there was no mistaking the presence of another person. Lin Feng's heart quickened. Was this another trial? Another guide? Or was it something else?
Without hesitation, Lin Feng began to walk toward the chasm. The ground beneath him seemed to shift with each step, the sound of his feet crunching against the rocks reverberating in the air. He reached the edge and took a deep breath. There was no bridge, no apparent way to cross. But then, something strange occurred—the rocks beneath his feet began to glow faintly, the stones shifting as if they were responding to his will.
What is this? Lin Feng thought, a mix of wonder and trepidation in his chest. His heart pounded as the glowing rocks shifted into a precarious path, stepping stones that led across the chasm. The glowing stones flickered like stars, creating a bridge of light across the dark void.
But as Lin Feng stepped forward, a voice rang out from the darkness below.
You cannot escape yourself.
The words hung in the air, an echo of the whispers from before. Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. This voice was different. It felt personal—like a deep truth he had been avoiding. He looked down into the chasm, feeling a cold shiver run down his spine.
The voice spoke again, louder this time.
You cannot walk away from your past. You will always be drawn back to it.
Lin Feng swallowed hard. The voice was right. His past had always followed him, clinging to him like a shadow. His desire for power, his drive for control, his need to prove himself—these were the things that had shaped him. And now, as he stood on the edge of the chasm, those very things seemed to rise up from the darkness, threatening to pull him back into the abyss.
He took another step forward, the glowing stones beneath his feet solidifying with each movement. His thoughts raced. Could he truly leave behind the person he had been? Was it even possible to sever the ties that bound him to his past?
He paused, his foot hovering over the next stone. The whispers were louder now, drowning out all other sounds. They were no longer just words—they were doubts, fears, regrets. They tried to bind him, to stop him from moving forward.
Lin Feng clenched his fists. I will not be controlled by my past any longer.
With a burst of determination, he stepped forward onto the next stone. As his foot landed, the whispers faltered, the pressure in his chest easing. The stones continued to glow, each one lighting his way across the chasm. The deeper he went, the more the darkness below seemed to retreat, fading into the light of his resolve.
The figure on the other side of the chasm began to step forward as well. Lin Feng couldn't make out their features, but he could sense their presence, their calm. They seemed to be waiting for him, but it wasn't a challenge or a threat. It was a reminder.
Wisdom cannot be attained by running from the past, the figure's voice spoke, soft and steady, though it carried an undeniable weight. It is only through understanding and accepting what you were that you can move forward into what you are meant to become.
Lin Feng's breath caught. This was not an enemy. It was not a test of strength or skill. It was a test of acceptance.
The chasm was not a barrier—it was a reflection of the internal struggle he had been fighting since the moment he stepped into this world. The past was not something he could escape. It was something he had to confront and make peace with. He had spent so long running from the mistakes, the regrets, the ambitions that had once defined him. But now, he understood.
He was not defined by what he had been. He was defined by what he chose to become.
With that realization, Lin Feng took the final step across the glowing path. The moment his foot touched the last stone, the chasm below him seemed to vanish, the darkness retreating like a bad dream. The desert stretched out before him, now calm and serene, and the figure before him began to take shape.
It was a man, not much older than Lin Feng, but with an air of quiet strength. He was dressed in simple robes, his eyes warm yet knowing. There was no judgment in them—only a recognition of what Lin Feng had just accomplished.
"You have crossed the chasm," the man said, his voice calm and clear. "You have faced your doubts and fears, and in doing so, you have taken another step toward your true path."
Lin Feng stood tall, feeling the weight of the moment settle within him. The past was no longer a burden—it was a part of him, but it did not control him. He had made the choice to move forward, and in that choice, he had found his strength.
"I understand now," Lin Feng said, his voice steady. "I can't run from my past. But I can choose what comes next."
The man nodded. "Indeed. Wisdom is not the absence of the past, but the ability to learn from it and grow."
Lin Feng looked ahead, the path stretching before him once again. He could feel the weight of his choices, but it was no longer a heavy burden. It was a guide, a force that would push him toward the future he was meant to create.
With one last glance at the man, Lin Feng turned and began walking forward once again. This time, he knew his path was not uncertain. It was simply waiting for him to take the next step.
And he was ready.