"Gold that drains the life from you."
"A land beyond the clouds, reaching upward."
"The summit countless people strive to climb."
People across the continent have all sorts of opinions about the golden growth that blocks out the sky.
[The Golden Tree of Glory.]
The Golden Tree of Glory.
Humanity was trapped in a tiny world. Throughout history, only the Golden Tree, born alongside heaven and earth, had broken through the clouds, becoming the sole path by which people could reach the sky.
They could climb upward, but not everyone earned the right to pass through the clouds.
Zhang Jiale had fallen three times, each time just one step from success. Misfortune kept finding him, driving him away from home, from his past, and from himself. On his fourth attempt, a light arrow wrapped in green currents flew past.
"You joke with me about how everyone is rushing up there to die, but the fire in your eyes has never gone out. You can't accept this. You're not afraid of dying. Your past is chasing you, and you've never truly let it go."
"...I..."
"A hero may stand alone. You can take off your clothes and cut your hair, but you can't change your gaze, your memories, or your heartbeat. I won't tell you to die for those things, but as long as you're alive, don't dream of leaving them behind."
By the campfire, two people sat facing each other, their expressions at odds, yet flames burned in both their eyes.
Zhang Jiale stared fixedly at the fire. He had the strange feeling that this scene had happened many times before.
* Zhang Jiale x female reader. A fantasy setting inspired by the West. The original concept for this story dates back to 2019.
Theme: Never give up, never let the fire go out.
