Shān Hǎi Jīng's Forbidden Fruit: The Enigma of the Pregnant Mountain

In the ancient realm of the Shān Hǎi Jīng, there was a mountain known as the Pregnant Mountain, whose name was whispered with reverence and fear. It was said that the Pregnant Mountain was not like any other; it was a living entity, a goddess in the form of a mountain, and it bore fruit that was said to hold the power to grant immortality.

The gods of the heavens, weary of the mortals' constant yearning for eternal life, had decreed that no fruit should grow on the earth that could bestow such a gift. Yet, the Pregnant Mountain defied this decree, its branches heavy with the forbidden fruit, a testament to its defiance.

One day, a young savior named Ling was born to a family of humble origins. From birth, Ling displayed an unusual connection to the natural world, a gift that was both a blessing and a curse. It was said that Ling could communicate with the creatures of the earth, and it was this gift that would lead them to the Pregnant Mountain.

As Ling grew, so did the tales of the forbidden fruit. The gods, in their wrath, sent a series of calamities upon the earth, floods and droughts, earthquakes and plagues, in an attempt to destroy the Pregnant Mountain and its fruit. But the mountain stood firm, and the fruit remained untouched.

The gods, realizing that they could not destroy the mountain by force, resorted to a plan of deception. They sent a false savior, a cunning and ambitious mortal, to the Pregnant Mountain. The false savior, with the promise of great power, convinced the mountain to reveal its secret.

The mountain, weary of the gods' wrath and the constant battle against the elements, revealed the location of the fruit to the false savior. But as the fruit was plucked, the mountain's power surged, and it became pregnant with a new life, a child that would be born to challenge the gods and restore balance to the world.

Ling, who had been following the events from afar, sensing the impending doom, knew that the time had come for him to act. He set out on a perilous journey to the Pregnant Mountain, determined to save the fruit and prevent the birth of the child that would bring chaos.

As Ling approached the mountain, he encountered the false savior, who was now holding the fruit in his grasp. The false savior, seeing the young savior approach, attempted to flee, but Ling was swift and relentless. A fierce battle ensued, with the false savior wielding a sword forged by the gods themselves.

The battle raged on, and as the false savior grew weary, he revealed the truth of his mission. "The gods have decreed that the fruit must not fall into the wrong hands," he gasped. "But you, Ling, are the chosen one. The gods have chosen you to bear the burden of this responsibility."

Ling, realizing the gravity of the situation, stepped forward and took the fruit from the false savior. With the fruit in his hands, he felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. He knew that he had to make a choice, to either use the fruit's power to save the world or to destroy it.

As Ling stood at the precipice of his decision, the Pregnant Mountain gave birth to a child, a creature of great beauty and power. The child, with a look of wonder and innocence, looked up at Ling, who held the fruit that would determine their fate.

With a heavy heart, Ling decided to destroy the fruit. He raised his hand, and with a mighty force, he shattered the fruit into a thousand pieces. The pieces rained down upon the earth, and with each piece that fell, the world was restored to balance.

The gods, recognizing Ling's bravery and selflessness, granted him a boon. They allowed him to choose a life of peace and tranquility, far from the chaos and strife of the world. Ling, with a sense of relief and gratitude, accepted their offer and vanished from the world, leaving behind a legacy of courage and sacrifice.

The Pregnant Mountain, now barren of its fruit, stood as a testament to the power of self-sacrifice and the eternal struggle between good and evil. And so, the world continued to turn, with the knowledge that sometimes, the greatest acts of heroism come not from the might of gods or creatures, but from the humble hearts of mortals like Ling.