Reverend Half Insanity

One night, he finds himself in a nightmare beyond comprehension. He is swimming through a river that feels alive, its currents thrashing like the claws of a beast trying to tear him apart. He has no control over his body—it's as if he's a prisoner inside it, forced to feel every agonizing sensation. The water is icy, each splash like a hammer against his skin, and the roar of the current is deafening, a relentless howl that drowns out all thought. His mind teeters on the edge of collapse, each wave threatening to drag him into unconsciousness. The weight of the water presses against his chest, suffocating him, as if the river itself is trying to crush his will.

And yet, amidst the chaos, there is a flicker of something—something that burns brighter than the darkness. It is not hope, for hope has long since been extinguished. It is determination, raw and unyielding, a fire that refuses to be quenched. The man controlling his body is a force of nature, his movements precise, his focus unbreakable. He does not falter, does not waver, even as the river seeks to crush him, to strip him of his will. Fang Zheng, trapped within his own mind, can only watch in awe and terror as the man fights against the impossible.

Then, out of nowhere, he hears a loud, angry shout from behind him. The voice is full of hate, like someone wants to kill him with all their heart. It's terrifying. "You can't run! We've got you surrounded!" they yell, their words sharp and mean. Fang Zheng wants to turn around, to see who's threatening him, but he can't. The man controlling his body doesn't look back. He doesn't stop. He just keeps moving forward, strong and determined, cutting through the chaos like a knife.

Out of nowhere, icy, clawed hands shoot out from behind him. They snatch at him, yanking him down, their voices a chaotic storm of rage and hate. "You're trapped!" they shriek. "No escape! You'll die here, no matter what!" Fang Zheng's fear explodes as he sees their faces—twisted, monstrous, burning with a hatred so deep it turns his stomach. But the man in control of the body doesn't falter. He fights like a wild beast, tearing through the swarm with impossible strength, still pushing forward against the current. His movements are lightning-fast, sharp, and unstoppable.

Fang Zheng is frozen, his fear crushing him, pulling him down like an anchor. He stares as death grazes them over and over, each second a heartbeat away from doom. Yet, the man always escapes, always pushes forward. The river fights them too, its currents tearing at their control, trying to drown them. But the man doesn't break. He keeps swimming, his willpower unshakable, a mountain standing tall against the river's fury. It's as if he's laughing in the face of nature itself, daring it to try harder.

Fang Zheng realizes then that this is no ordinary river. It is a living, breathing entity, a world unto itself where the rules of reality do not apply. To attack it, one must enter from downstream. Now, they are swimming upstream, against a current that seems to grow stronger with every stroke. The stakes are impossibly high. If they slow even slightly, the river will drag them back to where their enemies wait, eager to tear them apart. If they stop to rest, the pursuers will catch up. And yet, the man swims as if he could do this forever. Fang Zheng feels exhaustion creeping into his own mind, but the man shows no sign of fatigue. His body is a mere vessel, his determination the only thing that matters.

Time loses all meaning. Minutes feel like hours, hours like an eternity. Fang Zheng is overwhelmed by the hopelessness of the situation. He feels a flicker of relief when he sees the edge of the river, but it is short-lived. The enemies who have been chasing them are gone, swept away by the current, but the river itself is relentless. It clings to them, refusing to let go. The man begins to walk along the riverbank, but the water drags at his feet, pulling him back. Fang Zheng's hope is crushed by the shouts from outside. "It doesn't matter if you've reached the end!" someone yells. "This is the Reverse Flow River—it has no end! No matter how determined you are, you're destined to fail!"

The taunts grow louder, more vicious. "Come out now, and I'll give you a quick death!" one sneers. "You're just delaying the inevitable!" Fang Zheng feels a deep, paralyzing fear, but the man controlling the body does not react. He does not even glance in their direction. He walks on, step by step, toward what seems like the edge of the riverbank. But every time he nears it, the river stretches endlessly, the banks receding like a cruel mirage. The edge is always visible, always just out of reach. Fang Zheng feels the fatigue, the hopelessness, the suffocating weight of the situation. Yet, the man remains indifferent, his determination unyielding.

The enemies outside the river grow restless, their shock turning to unease. How can this lone figure endure such torment? How can he persevere in the face of certain doom? Fang Zheng wonders the same. He feels every ounce of pain, every step that drains the body's strength. He feels the numbness creeping in, the body's vitality slipping away. Each step takes more than the last, and yet the man does not stop. There is no option to give up, no moment of rest. He walks on, taking what feels like the last step for an eternity, as if he does not care about hope, knowing he is only making himself suffer before his destined death.

But then, something shifts. Amidst the despair, a song begins to echo—not from outside, but from within. It rises from the depths of the soul, a haunting melody that carries the weight of that man's journey. The words are raw, unfiltered, a testament to an unbroken spirit:

```

I had once screamed, gradually, I lost my voice.

I had once cried, gradually, I lost my tears.

I had once grieved, gradually, I became able to withstand everything.

I had once rejoiced, gradually, I became unmoved by the world. And now!

All I have left is an expressionless face, my gaze is as tough as a monolith, and only perseverance remains in my heart.

This is my own, an insignificant character, Fang Yuan's — Perseverance!

```

The song is not a declaration of victory. It is an acknowledgment of truth. He has lost everything—his voice, his tears, his joy, his grief. All that remains is his perseverance, a force as unyielding as the river itself. It is not hope that drives him, but the refusal to be broken. And in that moment, Fang Zheng understands. This is not just a battle against the river or their enemies. It is a battle against despair itself. And the man controlling the body is winning.

The enemies outside the river grow silent, their taunts fading into nothingness. They watch in awe and fear as the man continues to walk, step after step, his expression blank, his eyes like steel. The river stretches endlessly, but he does not stop. He cannot stop. Fang Zheng feels a strange sense of pride, even as his own spirit falters. He realizes that this man, this unyielding force, is not just fighting for survival. He is fighting to prove that even in the face of absolute hopelessness, determination can prevail.

And so, they walk. Step by step. The river stretches, the enemies watch, and the song echoes in the depths of their soul. There is no end in sight, but the man does not need one. He walks because he must. Even though he knows that he can't rest and has to walk endlessly just to suffer more before his death, he continues to walk because he can. And in that endless, hopeless journey, he finds a strange, unbreakable strength.

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Author's Note:

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