The Labyrinth of Fu Niu: A Supernatural Riddle Unraveled

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the ancient city of Chang'an. The air was thick with the scent of incense, mingling with the distant hum of the bustling market below. Liang Xin, a young and ambitious scholar, found himself wandering the city's backstreets, his mind preoccupied with the mysteries of the past.

As he turned a corner, he stumbled upon an old, weathered signpost, its letters barely legible. The sign pointed towards a dilapidated temple, its roof caving in and its walls covered in vines. Intrigued, Liang Xin decided to follow the path that led to the temple, a place he had never seen before.

The temple, once grand and imposing, now stood in ruins, its stone walls crumbling and its doors long gone. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the faint smell of decay. Liang Xin's flashlight flickered as he moved deeper into the temple, his heart pounding with anticipation and fear.

Suddenly, he heard a low, whispering voice, as if calling his name. The voice grew louder, and Liang Xin realized it was coming from a dark corner of the temple. He approached cautiously, his flashlight cutting through the shadows.

There, in the corner, was a labyrinth of stone, its paths winding and confusing. At the center of the labyrinth stood a statue of Fu Niu, a legendary figure from the past. Liang Xin's breath caught in his throat as he realized the voice had been Fu Niu's.

"Welcome, young scholar," the voice said, its tone both friendly and menacing. "I have been waiting for you."

Liang Xin stepped into the labyrinth, his heart pounding with fear. The paths were confusing, and he felt as if he were being watched at every turn. He knew he had to be careful, for the labyrinth was not just a physical challenge but a test of his wits and courage.

As he moved deeper into the labyrinth, he encountered various riddles left by Fu Niu. Each riddle was a puzzle, a challenge to his intellect. Liang Xin's mind raced as he tried to solve them, his heart pounding with anxiety.

The first riddle was simple: "I am not alive, yet I grow; I do not have lungs, yet I need air; I do not have a mouth, yet I eat. What am I?" Liang Xin pondered the question, and after a moment, he realized the answer was fire.

The next riddle was more complex: "I have no legs, yet I walk; I have no eyes, yet I see; I have no ears, yet I hear. What am I?" Liang Xin's mind raced, and eventually, he guessed the answer was thought.

The riddles continued, each more difficult than the last. Liang Xin's mind was stretched to its limits, and he felt as if he were on the edge of a cliff, teetering between success and failure.

As he neared the center of the labyrinth, he encountered a final riddle: "I am the key to the labyrinth, yet I am not a key. I am not a door, yet I can lock you out. What am I?" Liang Xin's mind raced, and he finally realized the answer was the path itself.

With the riddles solved, Liang Xin approached the statue of Fu Niu. The voice spoke again, its tone now gentle and grateful. "You have done well, young scholar. You have broken the curse that binds us both."

Liang Xin looked at the statue, its eyes now filled with a newfound warmth. He knew that he had not only solved the riddles but also freed Fu Niu from the curse that had haunted him for centuries.

As he left the labyrinth, Liang Xin felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. He had faced his fears and overcome the challenges set before him. The ancient city of Chang'an was still shrouded in mystery, but Liang Xin had uncovered a piece of its past, and in doing so, he had freed a spirit that had been trapped for far too long.

The next morning, Liang Xin returned to the temple, this time to leave a token of his gratitude. He placed a scroll of his own writing at the base of the statue, a testament to his journey and his triumph over the supernatural riddles of Fu Niu.

As he left the temple, he knew that the ancient city of Chang'an held many more secrets waiting to be uncovered. But for now, he had found peace, both for himself and for the spirit of Fu Niu.