The night is deep, and all is quiet.
Wei Yuan walked slowly towards the royal palace along the main road. At this moment, heavy snow was falling, and all was silent. On this snowy night, it was as bright as if a round moon hung in the sky.
He walked unhurriedly, leaving clear footprints behind him, then watching them gradually get buried by the snow.
Under the stone archway at the intersection ahead, an old man leaned against it, holding a pipe, inhaling and exhaling clouds of smoke. A faint spark under the snowy night flickered at times.
Wei Yuan followed the street towards the archway, placing his foot down at the instant the spark brightened.
The old man finally lifted his head and said, "This road is blocked; you'd better choose another."
Wei Yuan said plainly, "Originally, there were many roads ahead, not necessarily this one. But now, I have only one path to take."
The old man said, "The world is vast; where can't you go?"
