Ao Bing stood by the seashore, the wind tugging gently at his hair as waves lapped against the sand in a steady rhythm. The vast horizon stretched before him; endless, tranquil, and achingly distant. For a while, he thought he was alone, wrapped in the solitude of the sea’s quiet murmur. Then came the soft crunch of approaching footsteps, barely audible over the surf. He turned, eyes narrowing slightly, his voice calm yet curious.

“What brings you here?”