THE RULER OF MAP

The morning sun was barely a sliver in the sky when Zhang Xin and Mingyue left the temple behind. The path ahead stretched out in front of them, a winding road that seemed to lead deeper into the heart of the mountains. There was no clear destination, no signpost to guide them, only the faint whisper of the wind and the weight of the book in Zhang Xin's hands.

The Book of Shadows had revealed its first trial, forcing him to confront his deepest fears and regrets. But that was only the beginning. Mingyue had told him that there was more to uncover, more darkness to face. Zhang Xin couldn't shake the feeling that this was just a glimpse of what lay ahead, and the thought made his stomach twist in anxiety.

He glanced at Mingyue, who walked ahead with a steady pace. His expression was unreadable, but Zhang Xin could sense that Mingyue was deep in thought. There was more to him than met the eye, and Zhang Xin had learned that Mingyue's calm demeanor often masked a storm of emotions. He still didn't fully understand the dragon-man's intentions, nor the true weight of the burden he carried. But for now, they shared a common goal.

"How far are we going?" Zhang Xin asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Mingyue turned his head slightly, just enough to meet his eyes. "The next trial awaits. We must travel to the Obsidian Caves. The truth you seek lies there."

Zhang Xin nodded, though the name sent a shiver down his spine. The Obsidian Caves were notorious in legends. Rumors spoke of a place where the very walls were imbued with magic, a place where time and reality twisted. It was said that those who ventured too far inside often lost themselves, their minds unraveling in the darkness.

"Are you sure we can handle it?" Zhang Xin asked, his tone laced with concern. The previous trial had been challenging enough. He wasn't sure he was ready to face something worse.

Mingyue's eyes softened, though his expression remained unreadable. "You have already proven yourself, Zhang Xin. The hardest part is accepting the truth. The Obsidian Caves will challenge your mind, your will, but you will face it with clarity now."

Zhang Xin took a deep breath. He didn't feel as confident as Mingyue seemed to believe, but he trusted him—more than he could explain. If Mingyue believed he was ready, maybe he was.

As they walked, the landscape around them began to change. The lush greenery of the valley gave way to jagged cliffs and rocky outcrops. The air grew thinner, cooler, and a subtle hum of energy began to pulse from the earth beneath them.

It wasn't long before they reached the entrance to the Obsidian Caves. The cavern loomed before them, its mouth wide and dark, as if swallowing the very light around it. The ground leading inside was slick with moisture, reflecting the eerie glow of the surrounding mountains.

Zhang Xin hesitated at the threshold, his heart pounding. The cave seemed to beckon him, its darkness promising to unveil answers—yet also threatening to consume him.

"You must enter, Zhang Xin. The truth will not come to you unless you seek it," Mingyue's voice was soft, yet firm, as he stepped beside him.

Zhang Xin swallowed hard, nodding. There was no turning back now.

As they entered the cave, the temperature dropped, and the darkness seemed to press in from all sides. The walls of the cavern were polished black stone, reflecting strange, shifting patterns of light—nothing natural, yet not entirely unnatural either. Every step they took was echoed back to them, the sound reverberating in the silence, creating an oppressive sense of being watched.

The air felt thick, almost alive, as if the cave itself had a presence. Zhang Xin could feel the weight of it pressing down on his chest. This place was ancient—older than anything he had ever known.

"Stay close," Mingyue instructed, his voice low.

Zhang Xin didn't need to be told twice. The deeper they ventured, the more the path seemed to twist and bend unnaturally. The walls, now covered in faint etchings and strange symbols, began to pulse with an eerie glow. It was as if the cave itself was alive, its very essence intertwined with the magic that hung in the air.

After what felt like hours, they reached a chamber deep within the cave. It was vast, stretching out in all directions, and at the center stood an ancient stone altar. A faint greenish light flickered from the altar's surface, casting long shadows across the room.

"The trial is here," Mingyue said, his tone solemn.

Zhang Xin approached the altar with caution, but his instincts urged him forward. The moment he stepped close, the symbols on the walls began to shift, the cave vibrating with an otherworldly energy. The air thickened, and suddenly, an image appeared before him—a vision.

He was back in the battlefield, but this time, the scene was different. The figures of his family were gone, replaced by a man—tall, imposing, with sharp features and eyes that glowed like embers. It was the man who had taken everything from him.

The vision flickered and shifted again, revealing another image—this time, a scene from his childhood. He saw himself, a young boy, standing alone in a burning village, his hands trembling as he clutched a sword that was far too heavy for him.

"You were never meant to fight," a voice echoed in his mind. "But you chose this path. You chose vengeance."

Zhang Xin recoiled, the weight of those words crushing him. He had always blamed the man for everything, always believed that revenge would bring him peace. But the truth was more complicated than that. He wasn't a child anymore. He wasn't powerless.

The vision shifted again, this time revealing Mingyue, standing in front of him, his eyes filled with sorrow. "You were never meant to carry this burden alone."

The image of Mingyue faded, leaving Zhang Xin standing in the chamber, breathing heavily. The room was silent once again, the air heavy with the unspoken truth.

"I see," Zhang Xin whispered, his voice filled with realization. "It's not just about revenge. It's about healing—letting go of the past."

Mingyue's presence beside him was a comfort, as though he had been waiting for Zhang Xin to come to this understanding.

"Only when you let go of the past," Mingyue said softly, "can you truly move forward. The Obsidian Caves do not show us what we want to see, but what we need to understand."

Zhang Xin stood silently, the weight of the cave, the truth, and his own heart pressing down on him. The vision had been a gift—a painful reminder that to seek the future, he must first forgive himself. The man who had taken so much from him would never be forgotten, but revenge was not the answer. Peace, true peace, came only through release.

With that, the glow of the altar faded, the trial complete. Zhang Xin was ready to face whatever came next, knowing that healing, not vengeance, would guide his way forward.

And the next trial, he knew, awaited them both.