The Demon's Dilemma: The Quest for the Mountain of Eternity

In the heart of the mythical Shan Hai, there lay a mountain known as the Mountain of Eternity, a place where time stood still and the boundaries between the mortal world and the realm of the gods blurred. It was said that the Mountain of Eternity was guarded by a powerful demon, a being of immense strength and cunning, whose name was Yama.

Yama had been a mortal once, a man of great wisdom and power, who had been transformed into a demon by the gods for his hubris. They believed that his heart, though darkened by his newfound power, still held a spark of goodness. Thus, they presented him with a conundrum, a test of his true nature.

The Demon's Dilemma was a riddle that had baffled countless beings throughout the ages. It was a question that would determine whether Yama would become an eternal guardian of the Mountain of Eternity or succumb to his darker desires and bring chaos upon the world.

The riddle read thus: "In the land of the living, there is a man who has no shadow. He walks in the light of day and yet is unseen. What is he?"

Yama pondered the riddle for eons, but it was his own reflection that finally gave him the answer. He was the man without a shadow, for as a demon, he was no longer bound by the rules of the mortal world. This realization filled him with a profound sense of purpose.

However, the gods had not set the riddle lightly. They knew that Yama's choice would have far-reaching consequences. If he chose to become the guardian of the Mountain of Eternity, he would ensure the balance between the realms, but he would also be stripped of his power to influence the mortal world. If he chose to seek power for himself, he would become a demon of chaos, but he would also be free to shape the world as he saw fit.

As Yama grappled with his decision, the mortal world was thrown into turmoil. The gods, sensing the gravity of the situation, sent their messengers to Yama, entreating him to choose wisely. They spoke of the beauty of the mortal world, of the love and sorrow that defined human existence.

One messenger, a wise old woman named Laozi, approached Yama in the guise of an ancient sage. "Yama," she said, "you have been given a chance to choose your path. Will you become a force for good, or will you succumb to the darkness within you?"

Yama looked into Laozi's eyes and felt a deep connection. "I am torn," he admitted. "I desire power, but I also desire to protect the world from the darkness that seeks to consume it."

Laozi smiled gently. "Then you have already made your choice. The power you seek is not in the strength of your arms or the sharpness of your claws, but in the wisdom of your heart. Choose to be the guardian of the Mountain of Eternity, and you will be the protector of all."

With these words, Yama knew his decision. He chose to become the guardian of the Mountain of Eternity, forsaking his desire for personal power. The gods, in their infinite wisdom, honored his choice and granted him eternal life, but without the power to harm or change the mortal world.

The Mountain of Eternity became a place of sanctuary, a place where the gods could meet in peace and where mortals could find solace. Yama, now a guardian of the realm, watched over the world with a gentle eye, ensuring that the balance between good and evil was maintained.

In the mortal world, the legend of Yama spread. People spoke of the demon who chose to protect them, rather than to consume them. They saw in him a symbol of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the light of goodness could shine through.

Years passed, and the Mountain of Eternity remained a beacon of hope, a place where the world's fate was safeguarded by a demon who had chosen the path of good over power. And so, the story of Yama, the Demon's Dilemma, and the Mountain of Eternity became a Shan Hai Jing conundrum of good and evil, a tale that would be told for generations to come.