In the lush, misty forest surrounding the village of Changming, resides Xiao Yusheng, a traveler burdened by misfortune from another realm, inhabiting a youthful body of mysterious origins.
Accepting his fate, Yusheng left the room and ventured outside towards the garden, where he encountered an elderly woman—the first soul he met upon awakening in that unfamiliar room, who kindly invited him to lunch.
"Your benevolence has saved this humble one's life," Yusheng bowed respectfully to the old lady, his gratitude sincere.
Feeling the weight of his mysterious circumstances, Yusheng accepted the intertwining of his fate with the enigmatic body he inhabited, a journey fraught with uncertainty.
"There is no need for thanks, young traveler. Assisting those in need is the essence of our existence," the old lady's smile radiated wisdom, comforting Yusheng's wavering sense of duty.
As relief washed over him, Yusheng redirected the conversation, seeking answers to his forgotten past.
"Might I inquire as to where you discovered me? My memories are but whispers in the wind," Yusheng's voice held a note of urgency, hoping the old lady held the key to unlocking his identity.
"The path to truth is fraught with burdens, young Yusheng," the old lady's gaze wandered to the distant horizon, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
"Meaning?" Yusheng pressed, sensing there were truths yet to be unveiled.
With a gentle shake of her head, the old lady's laughter echoed softly. "Forgive this old soul's wandering thoughts. The weight of years often clouds clarity."
"Ah, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself," she chuckled once more. "I am Dong Ya, a dweller of these lands and a confidant of the hermit who found you."
"The hermit will share more upon his return from the sacred mountain," Elder Dong added, her words carrying a sense of anticipation.
Despite the reassurances, Yusheng couldn't shake the feeling that beneath the surface lay secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Since the old hermit held the knowledge, it would be prudent to spare the old lady from further questioning, as it would be impolite.
Observing Yusheng's momentary resolution of curiosity, Elder Dong felt a sense of relief and gently shifted the conversation.
"Yusheng'er, try to recall some memories. Perhaps it will trigger something while we await the hermit's return," Elder Dong suggested.
"Very well..." Yusheng closed his eyes, attempting to summon recollections.
Despite inhabiting this body, he struggled to access the previous owner's memories.
Frustrated, Yusheng abandoned the effort, relying instead on his own childhood memories from Earth to engage Elder Dong.
"I remember snippets of my childhood," Yusheng smiled, offering a glimpse into his past.
Elder Dong was surprised by Yusheng's revelation, prompting him to share some of his traumatic encounters.
"That's all I can recall," Yusheng concluded, choosing not to delve further into his true origins.
Sharing his past seemed to alleviate some of Yusheng's pain, despite the weight of his history.
As Yusheng opened his eyes, he was taken aback by Elder Dong's tearful reaction.
"Don't concern yourself. I've grown accustomed to it. And I'm grateful to remember some of my origins," Yusheng reassured her with a smile.
Moved by Yusheng's story, Elder Dong embraced him tightly, unable to contain her emotions.
"This life has been unkind to you," she sobbed.
"Fear not, for I, Dong Ya, hereby accept Yusheng'er as my son, regardless of his misfortunes," she declared.
Yusheng felt a surge of gratitude, touched by Elder Dong's acceptance.
Overwhelmed by emotion, he finally allowed himself to release the tears he had held back for so long, while Elder Dong remained by his side, offering comfort.
"Hahaha, in all my years as a hermit, I have never seen one emerge unscathed from such a dire omen, let alone tell a tale of it with tears," the old hermit chuckled, his eyes twinkling with the wisdom of the mountains.
"Old friend, do not jest so lightly, lest you invoke the wrath of an elder," Elder Dong warned, her gaze sharp enough to cut through stone.
"Hahaha, fear not, my dear Dong. I speak only in jest," the old hermit reassured, his laughter like the gentle rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind.
Seating himself at the table, the hermit suddenly found a plate of food hurtling towards his face, leaving Elder Dong in astonishment at Yusheng's seemingly cursed luck.
"As I said, misfortune follows this lad like a shadow," Yusheng remarked, barely suppressing his laughter as the sadness of moments before melted away.
"Here, cleanse your face with this basin. It seems the heavens have deemed it necessary to wash away your sins," Elder Dong said with a hint of amusement, offering the basin to the hermit.
The hermit dismissed the incident as mere chance, washing his face with a wry smile.
Observing Yusheng's composure, the hermit offered a pearl of wisdom drawn from the depths of his mountain retreat.
"Listen well, young one. Fate may weave its tapestry around you, but it is your choices and determination that shape the fabric of your destiny," the hermit spoke with the authority of one who has communed with the spirits of nature.
"Do you understand, my son?" he asked.
"Yes, Master. I understand," Yusheng replied with a solemn nod.
"Very well," the hermit nodded, placing a weathered sack upon the table.
"What is this, Master?" Yusheng inquired, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious object.
With a knowing smile, the hermit revealed, "This, my dear boy, contains the essence of your origins."
Yusheng's curiosity burned brighter than ever as he eagerly awaited to uncover the secrets held within the sack.