A Fool Cultivates Immortality

When he meditated, there was always an ape squatting deep in the spiritual platform. The ape didn't make any noise, just tilted its head to look at him, his eyes reflecting the unfinished obsessions of his youth, the delusions he dared not speak out as an adult, and the greed that wandered around in the middle of the night. He wanted to raise his hand to kill it, but the ape turned into a wisp of smoke and got into his blood; he wanted to let it go, but the ape bared its teeth and dragged his heart into the abyss.