A mountain peak of unknown height.
Beyond the Sea of Karma, standing tall above the tides of time.
At the summit, there was only a single ancient, withered pine tree, long dead through untold eras. Beneath the pine, a middle-aged man in a white robe had been waiting for a long time.
"The scenery here is truly beautiful."
Li Fan ascended to the peak, smiled faintly, and said, "I had never been here before. I never imagined such a wondrous place existed."
As his words fell, the white-robed man seated beneath the pine tree spoke softly:
"The scenery is excellent, but being alone for too long is rather lonely."
Li Fan turned to him, smiled, and approached, saying:
"Mountains and rivers to accompany you, breezes as your friends—how could one feel lonely?"
He sat facing the middle-aged man in the white robe and said:
"Li Fan."
"How should I address you?"
A gentle smile spread across the white-robed man's face, as if Li Fan's question had stumped him. He pondered and replied:
