"I'm sorry, I forgot to mention my name," said the old man with a soft laugh, his voice like wind passing through dry leaves. "My name is Lao Weng. You can call me that."
The young man beside him gave a faint smile, then added, "I'm Rei Jie. We've been walking together for quite a while, since the western regions. I didn't expect to meet someone like you on a path this deserted."
Li Yuan gave a slight nod. "Li Yuan."
Evening began to descend. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wild grass, and the sound of crickets slowly began to rise. The three of them sat beneath the great tree. A small campfire had begun to burn, its flames kindled between stones neatly arranged by Lao Weng. The golden-red glow lit their faces, partially veiled by the night's shadows.
"Are you out of provisions?" Lao Weng asked, noticing that Li Yuan carried no supplies, not even drinking water.
Li Yuan gazed at the fire. "I can live without food." His voice was calm, yet filled with depth. Not because his body was extraordinary, but because his understanding of breath and bodily balance had surpassed basic needs. He lived in the rhythm of the world, and his body responded to that awareness.
But Lao Weng shook his head gently, pulled a piece of dry bread from his pouch, and tossed it toward Li Yuan. "Even if you can live without food, it doesn't mean you always should. Sometimes, accepting a little from the world is also a form of gratitude."
Li Yuan looked at the bread, then gave a faint smile. He lifted it with both hands as though it were sacred, and bit into it slowly.
Rei Jie opened another bundle, taking out some wild fruit and a bit of rock salt. "We don't carry much. But a night like this doesn't feel complete without sharing something."
Silence followed. But not the awkward kind. It was a silence that became one with the night. Amid that stillness, Li Yuan felt the breath of the night world resonate with his soul. A wordless conversation unfolded between him and the universe. He realized something: sometimes a journey isn't only about moving forward—but also about stopping, and sharing.
Lao Weng stared into the fire, then spoke softly, "I've walked many roads. Met assassins, hermits, kings, and common folk. But someone who can live without food like you… I've never seen."
"The world is not silent," replied Li Yuan, "But not everyone hears it."
Rei Jie looked at Li Yuan. He felt something he couldn't quite understand about this young man. His face was handsome, his eyes gray like mist clinging to high mountains. His gaze did not judge, did not evaluate, but revealed—as if he could see through the layers others tried to hide.
That night passed in peace. With few words. Just presence.
And in the stillness of the night, a simple meeting became the beginning of something that would test, shape, and perhaps... touch a new meaning of living through understanding.
"Sometimes it's not the food that keeps you alive, but the moment you share it." – Lao Weng
Dawn broke gently, painting the sky with soft streaks of orange. Dew still clung to the leaves, and the scent of wet earth filled the air. Three figures stood at the edge of the forest, preparing to continue their journey.
Lao Weng calmly tied his pouch once more. "The road ahead will part our ways," he said. "Rei Jie and I are heading northeast, but it seems your path lies elsewhere."
Rei Jie looked at Li Yuan for a moment, curiosity still lingering. "Li Yuan… where are you truly headed?"
Li Yuan gazed down the dirt path stretching before him—not clearly formed, yet his steps bore no hesitation.
"There's no fixed place," he replied. "I walk not to arrive. I walk to understand."
The answer made Lao Weng chuckle softly. "That's the way of true wanderers… Not every road needs a map."
Rei Jie looked like he wanted to say something more, but held it back. He simply nodded, then extended his hand. "May we meet again."
Li Yuan clasped it briefly, then released it. "If the wind carries me that way."
And with that, they parted.
Li Yuan walked alone, passing through small woods, grasslands, and quiet stony paths. His steps were steady, his breath calm, and his eyes never left the world around him. Not out of fear, but because he was listening to the world.
The passing wind whispered old stories. Low-flying birds signaled a change in season. Trees leaning to one side marked the wind's direction from the north.
All were signs. All were lessons.
By late afternoon, he reached the edge of a vast lake. Its waters were still, mirroring the sky like a perfect glass. There, he sat, closed his eyes, and began to breathe slowly.
No incantation was needed. No grand gesture.
Just sitting.
Just breathing.
Within him, the silent world began to echo again. A world not empty, but full. Full of meaning. Full of calm.
A realization surfaced:
"To continue walking does not mean leaving the past behind—but reaching for the meaning that has yet to be born."
Li Yuan opened his eyes. The sky had changed color. Night was approaching.
And the journey… had only just begun again.