The Ox's Golden Reward

In the ancient kingdom of Jin, there was a tale told of a city shrouded in mystery and legend, known as the City of Gold. It was said that the city lay hidden, guarded by riddles and trials, and its treasure was beyond compare. The ox, known as the Iron Ox, had lived for decades on the farm of Master Li, a kind-hearted farmer who cherished the animal's unwavering loyalty and strength. One day, the Iron Ox discovered a strange map buried in the barn, which led to the City of Gold. Intrigued and driven by the promise of wealth, the ox embarked on a journey that would test its will and determination.

The journey was long and fraught with challenges. The map, it turned out, was riddled with riddles, each more difficult than the last. The first riddle read, "What has a head and a tail but no body, and can neither run nor fly?" The Iron Ox pondered this for days, eventually realizing the answer was a "tail," which was both a head and a tail but nothing more. With the riddle solved, the ox continued on its path, its determination unwavering.

Next, the Iron Ox encountered a wise sage named Master Feng. "You must choose," Master Feng declared, "between wealth and wisdom. What will you take?" The Iron Ox, having already proven its wisdom in solving the first riddle, chose wisdom. Master Feng, pleased with the choice, offered a piece of advice: "The road to the City of Gold is not one of gold, but of the heart and mind."

As the Iron Ox traveled further, it faced a myriad of trials, from crossing treacherous rivers to climbing sheer cliffs. At one point, it encountered a thief who threatened to steal its precious map. "That map is no good to me!" the thief sneered. "It's a fraud!" The Iron Ox, however, did not falter. It remembered Master Feng's words and the importance of its own journey, not the thief's. The ox used its brute strength to fight off the thief, securing its map once more.

As the Iron Ox neared the final trial, it found itself in a vast forest where the trees whispered secrets and the winds sang tales of old. The final riddle was a daunting one: "The river flows, but never wets the ground. The tree grows, but never bears fruit. What am I?" The Iron Ox, now wise beyond its years, solved the riddle with ease. It was the sky, a constant presence that neither touched the ground nor bore fruit but was essential to life.

With all riddles solved, the Iron Ox stood before the entrance to the City of Gold. But as it gazed upon the shimmering gates, it realized that the true wealth was not the gold within but the wisdom and perseverance it had gained. The ox turned on its heel and retraced its steps, returning to Master Li's farm.

Upon his return, the Iron Ox presented Master Li with the map, which Master Li kept as a symbol of the journey they had shared. Master Li, touched by the ox's tale, decided to follow in its footsteps, embarking on a quest to learn the wisdom that the Iron Ox had gained.

Years passed, and Master Li's farm flourished. The local villagers, inspired by the Iron Ox's story, began to embrace the values of wisdom and perseverance. The Iron Ox became a legend, and its journey a tale of timeless wisdom. And though the City of Gold remained hidden, the true treasure of the Iron Ox's journey was the legacy of wisdom that it left behind.