Listen to your heart. It knows all things.

- Paulo Coelho

Seph found himself atop a mountain, with foggy memories. He didn’t know how he got there, but instinctively he knew he needed to get to the base of the mountain.

Seph found a pouch on his belt, reaching inside with his hand. He found there were herbs inside. He didn’t know what they were for, but his mind told him he needed to deliver them at the bottom of the mountain.

Not knowing what else there was to do, he headed down the mountain. Some places were challenging to get through, but that didn’t dissuade him from continuing down his path.

At one point he reached a plateau, and there was a very rich merchant standing there looking around, all haughty, and cool, like he hadn’t a worry in the world.

“Stranger, am I glad to see you? I have been stuck on this mountain for a while now. There is a monastery on top of the mountain with a pathway to a hidden city that is filled with riches nobody can imagine. I need help to get there with my chest of precious wares, and I’ll pay you one thousand gold coins now, and another thousand gold coins when we reach our destination.”

The rich merchant said and then unfastened a heavy pouch from his belt and shook it in front of Seph.

Seph stopped for a second, feeling very confused. Why was that merchant trusting him so easily? Even if he had a way to guarantee that no one but himself could make use of his valuable chest, 1000 gold coins were still a vast wealth. That could make you a target by any evil doer.

“Hello good sir, I just came down the mountain top, and I didn’t see any monastery. Are you sure of your information?” Seph replied.

“Of course, my friend, the top is a sizable area, and the monastery is well hidden out of sight, but I know the way.”

Seph eyed his gold pouch, and thought, That’s a lot of money, but I feel I need to get to the base of the mountain. My heart tells me it’s paramount I get there. I am really poor, but maybe my goal is more important than the gold this man offers me.

I can’t tell what my goal really is, but can gold replace family? Can gold replace friends? Can gold replace our loved ones?

This merchant is getting impatient and is looking around for another one to help him. I need to decide now.

“I am sorry good sir, I appreciate your trust and the opportunity you put in front of me, but I really need to get to the base of this mountain for something of great importance,” Seph said with a sorry look on his face.

“What could be more important than riches and gold, my friend, or seeing that which is legendary, like this amazing city I am telling you about?” The merchant said with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Many things to recount in the short time I have left before I have to continue on my way. I wish you the greatest of success in your journey, and thank you for the offer.”

“Well then, good luck on your journey, my friend. May Karma watch over you.”

Seph continued down his path, his mind second guessing his decision of leaving this wealth behind, but his resolve was firm. He had no regrets.

After making it down another quarter of the way, there was another plateau, this time with an old cultivator standing there, who seemed to have been looking at where Seph was coming from, even before he became visible.

Seph looked at the cultivator with trepidation. He knew that the person standing there was much more powerful than him. Probably could snuff his life out with a snap of his fingers. He was wary of him, but he knew there was nothing he could do if this old cultivator had ill will towards him.

Seph thought to make nice with him, and humble himself, maybe he could mellow any ill intentions that way, so he said, “Greetings old master, my name is Seph, a newbie cultivator, how may this humble servant serve you this day?” He bowed deeply while saying that.

The old master looked satisfied with the greeting and said, “Greetings, Young Seph. Where might you be headed right now?”

“I am headed down this mountain, master. There is something important that I have to do.”

“I see. What if I told you I had an opportunity for you, and that you can’t go down this mountain? If you take my offer, that is.” The old master said with a glint in his eyes.

“I am afraid I can’t Master. I feel like I really have to get to the base of this mountain. Something strong is pulling me down that path.”

The old Master gave Seph a threatening look before saying, “Come on now, son, you didn’t even hear my offer. You see, I have been looking for a new disciple to pass on my legacy to, and I strongly feel that you will make a great disciple to honor my name long after my passing. We are talking power beyond what you can even imagine.”

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Seph was about to open his mouth when the old master suddenly snapped his fingers, and a tree beside them crumbled into nothing in the blink of an eye.

Seph gulped heavily, even though his mouth was dry from fear. He thought, Is this not why I became a cultivator? To achieve power beyond my imagination?

Now that I think about it, I don’t remember how I became a cultivator. Despite that, this offer is too good to turn down.

If only I knew what I would lose if I didn’t make it to the bottom of this mountain, which my entire being was pushing me towards.

Also, I have to consider the scary power this old master is displaying. Will he take no for an answer?

Or will he decide that me turning him down is too rude, and snuff my life out where I stand like that poor tree?

Oh shit, I need to decide faster now. That monster is eyeing me with impatience already.

Seph said tentatively, “If you have been looking for a disciple for a long time, then surely you could wait for me to get down this mountain, finish my task and then come back to you?”

The old master snorted before saying, “I am looking for a bright disciple Seph, not a bloody moron. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Masters like me are rare, disciples like you are a dozen for a gold coin. Last chance now. The next words coming out of your mouth better be yes or no. I have no more time to waste on you.”

Seph felt weird, like he had heard those same words before.

“I am afraid I can’t accept your generous offer, master. Please forgive me, but I have somewhere I really need to be.”

The old master looked at Seph with disgust, before he rubbed a ring he was wearing. A flying gourd came out of it right under his feet, and he flew away out of sight in an instant.

I am just glad I didn’t get killed. Whatever is waiting for me at the bottom of this mountain better be worth it. It really feels like these people are conspiring to make me not reach the base of this mountain.

Seph continued his way down the mountain, some ways down, where he could already see a village at the bottom, a village that looked very familiar to him. He saw a young man that looked really humble, unlike the last two rich people he met. He was standing with his back leaning on a tree.

Seph breathed a sigh of relief and thought, No way this guy will make me an offer I can’t refuse, I can rest easy, and just say hello while passing him or something.

Before Seph could open his mouth, the guy spoke, “Oy, Seph, where have you been for a while? How could you go away for this long and not tell your best friend?”

Seph felt very confused. He hadn't seen this guy before. Also, his age was close to that of himself.

Just what is happening? This is the weirdest road I have ever gone down on.

“I am very sorry. I don’t know who you are. Do we really know each other?” Seph told the young man with a doubtful face.

The guy had a surprised look on his face, with his upper body leaned back in shock, like he couldn’t believe his ears. “What are you talking about, Seph? I am your friend, Sun. How can you not remember me? We spent our entire lives together. We saw each other daily, before you went and disappeared suddenly.”

Sun, that name does sound familiar. It sounds like the name of a dear friend, but I can’t place his name on that face. It’s less hairy or something.

Seph was lost in thought, as his so-called friend was still standing there in disbelief.

Maybe I should just talk to him, play along, and see what he wants.

“Haha, you should have seen the look on your face. Of course I remember you Sun, how have you been doing? I am sorry I left suddenly.”

The surprise disappeared from Sun’s face in an instant, and he spoke loudly and excitedly, “You totally got me, ever the prankster you are, I am doing pretty good, but I have exciting news for you, that I can’t wait to tell you.”

“What news do you bear?” Seph asked, still wary of this guy, but he couldn’t help but listen.

“Remember, you told me before that you would give anything to know who your father is? While you were away, a man came to your house, and he was speaking loudly to your mother while I was passing by. I thought she might be in danger, so I listened in. You won’t believe what I heard. That man was your father. I kept listening in, and when he came out I hid, and then followed him up this very mountain, and I learned where he was staying. It was a long journey, but I thought you really wanted to learn, so I had to follow him to his destination. If you want, we could go right now over to the city where he is staying, and you can either ask around about him, or you can even talk to him and learn why he abandoned you and your mother.”

Seph was very confused. Somehow his mother had totally slipped his mind. Was that who he needed to get to the base of the mountain to meet?

He also forgot the mystery of his father, but if true, he wanted to know. He needed to learn who that man was.

“That’s great news Sun, I’ll go down to meet my mother, and then we can head on this journey together.” Seph said his heart was full of excitement but also trepidation, of what he might learn.

“I have things to do later tonight, so I was thinking if we make haste now, we could reach your father, and I’d leave you there and return to attend to my work, so what say you? Your mother can wait. This father of yours has been a mystery all your life since he left you both.”

Why is it that everyone I meet wants to stop me from reaching the bottom of this mountain? This feels really suspicious.

Also, how could I forget my mother? I remember vaguely now that she needed medicine, and that’s why I embarked on this journey to begin with. I won’t risk my mother’s life for the sake of learning the identity of a father who abandoned us. No way in hell will I do that.

Seph steeled his resolve and said, “I am sorry, Sun, I can’t go with you. I have to see my mother. We can go on this journey on another day where you are free. Excuse me now, I have to continue my way down.”

“Oh, I am surprised, but of course you want to see your mother first. Goodbye Seph, I’ll see you soon.”

Sun moved towards Seph as if he was about to hug him, but at the last second, he pushed Seph with his entire upper body suddenly off the mountain they stood upon.

Seph couldn’t stop the sudden unexpected attack, and fell backwards off the mountainside, his eyes wide in surprise and fear.

This was the end of his journey, he thought, but what hurt him the most was the realization that he won’t save his sick mother.

He closed his eyes in anticipation of the moment his body would hit the ground…