Minli climbs the rope bridge for what feels like an eternity until she eventually ascends far enough that the sky sits below her like a lake. Finally, she approaches a tall, glowing wall and meets a rabbit, who seems to be an incarnation of the rabbit on her bowl. The rabbit has been expecting Minli and guides her into the courtyard. There, Minli sees a man named Wu Kang chopping down the only tree on Never-Ending Mountain, something he does over and over again each night.

Long ago, Wu Kang was a farmer who lived in the country. He was surrounded by family and known by his neighbors for his good fortune. Wu Kang wasn’t satisfied with his life and, despite his family’s contentment with their lives, he moved them to the town and then to the city, each time downgrading the size and quality of their home as he pursued new careers. Finally, he went to the Old Man of the Moon to learn how to be an Immortal. Even the Old Man of the Moon’s magical lessons were not enough for Wu Kang, and when he demanded more, the Old Man of the Moon tied a red string of destiny between Wu Kang and a tree, telling him he couldn’t leave until he learned "the lessons of contentment and patience” (243) that would allow him to finally chop down the tree.