~For just a little hope~

***

Yun Guo lay motionless on his deathbed, his frail body sinking into the stiff mattress. The room was dim, bathed in the cold glow of flickering fluorescent lights. He stared at the cracked ceiling, his cloudy eyes filled with regret. Memories of a harsh, unforgiving life weighed heavily on his mind, each thought a reminder of dreams unfulfilled and mistakes uncorrected.

His breath hitched as he whispered to the silence, "Why… why was it all so hard?"

Poverty, endless toil, the loneliness of outliving the people he cared for—his life had been one relentless battle after another. Now, at the end of it all, there was nothing left but bitterness. If only he had a second chance, he thought. A chance to start again and make things right.

As if in answer, a soft, melodic voice cut through the silence. It was otherworldly, gentle yet carrying a hint of amusement.

"Do you wish to return to the past, Yun Guo?"

His breath faltered. The voice was impossibly close, though no one was in the room. "Who… who's there?" he rasped, his voice trembling.

The voice continued, unfazed. "I can grant you what you desire. A chance to start over. To relive your life. But there is a price."

Yun's heart quickened, hope blooming in his chest despite his frailty. "A price?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What kind of price?"

"Your sight," the voice replied, its tone light and almost playful. "I will take your eyes. In your new life, you will walk in darkness, but you will have the chance to rewrite your fate."

Yun's chest tightened. His vision had always been his window to the world, his connection to its fleeting beauty. But what did it matter now? He was dying, alone and full of regret. A life lived in darkness but with a chance to make things right was better than the hollow existence he had endured.

With a trembling breath, Yun spoke, his voice filled with resolve. "I accept. I don't care if I can't see… I'll live to the fullest this time. I promise."

The voice chuckled softly, as if pleased by his determination. "So be it."

A searing pain shot through Yun's skull, and his world was swallowed by darkness. For a moment, he thought he had made a terrible mistake. But then, warmth flooded his body—a strange, invigorating energy that filled him with a vitality he hadn't felt in decades.

The scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers enveloped him. The chirping of birds reached his ears, vibrant and full of life. Though he could see nothing, he felt alive—young, strong, and brimming with potential.

Yun stood in the darkness of his new world, unseeing yet unburdened. His journey was about to begin, and this time, he vowed, he would make it count.

***

Yun Guo spent the first few days adjusting to his new life. With his sight gone, he relied on touch, sound, and smell to navigate the unfamiliar terrain. The forest was alive with sensations—the rustling leaves, the soft crunch of twigs underfoot, and the scent of fresh pine mingling with the damp earth. Each small success in finding food or avoiding obstacles felt like a triumph, but questions lingered in his mind.

Why had he been brought here? What was he supposed to do with this second chance?

On the fourth day, as Yun sat by the stream washing his face, the voice returned.

"You've done well to survive," it said, the familiar, melodic tone cutting through the silence.

Yun froze, water dripping from his hands. "You again," he said, his voice steady. "What do you want now?"

The voice chuckled softly. "To guide you, of course. You didn't think I'd give you this chance without purpose, did you?"

Yun's jaw tightened. "What purpose?"

"A quest," the voice replied, its tone turning serious. "There is something you must retrieve—an artifact tied to your past and your future. It lies in the ruins of a forgotten temple deep within these lands."

"An artifact?" Yun asked, skepticism creeping into his voice. "And what does this have to do with me?"

The voice grew colder, sharper. "Everything. If you succeed, you will unlock the truth of why you were given this chance. Fail, and your new life will end, just as your old one did—without meaning."

Yun's fists clenched. "You want me to trek through an unknown land, blind, to find some artifact? How do you expect me to do that?"

"You've already taken the first steps," the voice said. "Your survival shows your resilience. Trust your instincts, Yun Guo. Follow the sounds, the scents, the whispers of the world around you. The path will reveal itself."

Before Yun could respond, the voice faded, leaving him alone once more.

For a long moment, he sat by the stream, grappling with frustration and doubt. But beneath the anger, a spark of determination flickered. He hadn't been given this second chance to waste it. If this artifact held answers, he would find it—no matter how impossible the task seemed.