“You can’t sleep here, sir”

Xiao's heart pounded in his chest as he approached the crater. The old man's robes were tattered, and he looked battered and weary. Xiao felt a surge of confusion. 

This village was supposed to be a place where spirits came to be reincarnated, so what were all these people doing here?

The monks, the disciples, and now this old man—they all seemed real and tangible, not like wandering spirits.

His mind raced with questions. "Why is he here? How did he get injured?" He knew he had to focus on the immediate situation. Cautiously, Xiao climbed down into the crater, his eyes never leaving the old man. 

"Hey, you can't sleep here! Get up!" Xiao called out, soon realizing that the man was seriously hurt.

As he got closer, he could see the man's chest rising and falling—he was alive, but barely. "What kind of place is this?" Xiao thought. "First spirits, now this?"

Xiao knelt beside the old man, his heart pounding. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

The old man groaned and opened his eyes, looking up at Xiao with a pained expression. "Help me," he whispered, his voice weak and raspy.

"I have to get him out of here," Xiao thought, quickly assessing the situation. Glancing around, he saw no one else in sight. "No one to help... it's all on me."

With great effort, Xiao managed to lift the old man, supporting him as they made their way out of the crater. Every step was a struggle, but Xiao's determination kept him going. "I can't abandon him. Not here, not now."

Once they were clear of the crater, Xiao laid the old man down on a patch of grass. "I'll get help," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "Just stay here."

The old man nodded weakly, his eyes closing again. Xiao turned and hurried back towards the monastery, his mind racing with thoughts. "Where is everyone?" He needed to find Epiphany and explain what had happened.

As he moved through the monastery grounds, Xiao realized he had no idea where Epiphany had gone. He wandered through the stone halls, noting their worn beauty. Ancient murals adorned the walls, depicting scenes of enlightenment and battle. 

The floors were polished to a reflective sheen, worn down by centuries of footsteps. The air was filled with the faint scent of incense, a calming contrast to Xiao's growing anxiety.

"This place is so ancient, so full of history. What secrets does it hold?" He passed through several courtyards, each more ornate than the last. In one, a tranquil pond reflected the sky, surrounded by meticulously tended bonsai trees.

In another, monks practiced martial arts, their movements fluid and precise, their faces serene with focus.

"Epiphany!" Xiao called out, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Where are you?"

He continued wandering until he reached an interior section of the monastery. Here, the architecture became more imposing, leading up to a set of huge, heavy metal gates. 

The gates were adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, their eyes seeming to follow Xiao as he approached.

With much effort, Xiao pushed one of the gates open, the metal groaning in protest. "Epiphany!" he shouted again, stepping inside.

The air here was stale, carrying a musty, almost forgotten scent. Xiao's eyes widened as he took in the scene.

This wasn't a throne room as he had expected. Instead, the room was filled with manuscripts, sutras, and other documents stacked in rows upon rows. 

It was a humongous maze of knowledge, the sheer volume of it overwhelming

"Wow," Xiao muttered, a mix of awe and excitement in his voice. "This place is incredible."

"What kind of knowledge is hidden here?" He walked among the towering stacks, his fingers brushing against the spines of ancient books. He picked one up, reading the title aloud. "The Path of the Righteous," he said, feeling a thrill at the idea of holding such wisdom.

Xiao continued to explore, picking up more books and reading their titles. "The Secrets of the Inner Eye," he read, then another, "Mysteries of the Celestial Heavens." Each book seemed to hold the promise of unlocking untold knowledge and power.

As he reached for another book, he noticed its title: "The Rules of the Sect." Curiosity piqued, Xiao opened it, eager to learn more about the sect that had taken him in.

"Xiao!" a voice rang out sharply.

Xiao jumped, nearly dropping the book. He turned to see Epiphany standing at the entrance, his expression stern.

"What are you doing here?" Epiphany asked, striding forward and taking the book from Xiao's hands. "This place is off-limits."

"I... I was looking for you," Xiao stammered. "There's an old man, he needs help. I didn't know where else to go."

Epiphany's expression softened slightly. "Show me," he said, placing the book back on the shelf. "But remember, Xiao, this room is not for you. The knowledge here is dangerous if not handled properly."

Xiao nodded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. "What secrets do those books hold?" He led Epiphany back through the monastery, his mind racing with thoughts. "And why are they so dangerous?"

When they reached the clearing, Xiao pointed to where the old man lay. "He's over there," he said.

"But where?" Epiphany asked, looking around the empty clearing.

Xiao's heart skipped a beat. The old man had disappeared, leaving only the crater behind. "He was right here," Xiao said, his voice rising with panic. "I swear, he was just here!"

Epiphany's eyes narrowed, scanning the area. Then he smiled, looking off to his left. "There he is," he said.

Xiao turned and saw the old man standing a short distance away, looking completely unharmed. "That's him!" Xiao exclaimed. "But how is he...?"

Epiphany walked forward to meet the old man. "Why are you here, old Wang?" he asked, a note of familiarity in his voice.

The old man smiled broadly. "Ah, Epiphany! I forgot this place was a no-flying zone," he chuckled. "I fell off my flying sword."

Xiao stared in disbelief. "But you looked so injured before! How are you fine now?"

The storyteller laughed heartily. "I was just having a bit of fun, lad. I wanted to see if you were kind enough to help a man in need. And you did. Good job."

Epiphany shook his head, a bemused smile on his face. "Always the trickster, aren't you, Wang?"

The old man, now revealed to be the storyteller Epiphany had met at the tea house, winked at Xiao. "A little test never hurt anyone. You've got a good heart, boy. That's a very important merit to have."

Xiao felt a rush of emotions—relief, confusion, and a lingering sense of curiosity. "What other tests lie ahead?" He looked at Epiphany, who seemed entirely at ease with this odd encounter.