The fame of the Long-lived King spread far and wide. However, his reputation made the ruler of a neighboring monarchy jealous. This ruler decided to go to war against the Long-lived King and conquer his kingdom.

When the news reached the king's palace, his ministers advised him to prepare well for the war, but the king objected: "War is cruel. No matter which side wins, a lot of people will surely suffer and die. If we fight with our neighbors, our country will be in chaos and there will be no end of hatred. I will renounce my throne in exchange for a peaceful life for my people."

Ignoring the protests of his ministers, the king and his son, the crown prince, went to a remote mountainous area and led a secluded life. The new king took over the country without the least resistance, but he feared that the Long-lived King might come back one day to reclaim his kingdom. To prevent this from happening, he announced that he would generously reward anyone who could capture the Long-lived King.

One day, the Long-lived King met a weary traveler resting under a tree. He asked him, "You look so thin and tired. Where are you from?"

"I come from a far-away country. I'm knee-deep in debt and I don't have any way of supporting my wife and children. I heard that the Long-lived King is very kind-hearted, so I came here to ask for his help."

"I'm the one you're looking for. I'm sorry you are in such a bad situation, but I'm afraid I can no longer help you."

The traveler said in tears, "If I can't pay back my debts, I'll surely be killed when I return home, and my wife and children will starve to death. What will I do?"

Saddened by the man's words, the Long-lived King comforted him. "Don't despair. I hear that the new king has pledged to give a large reward to anyone who can catch me. Just turn me in and you'll be rich."

"I can't do that. You're such a good man."

"I once swore I'd do my best to help anyone in need. Since the new king wants me, let me make good use of what's left of my life and help you clear your debts."

Unwillingly, the traveler tied him up and took him to the palace. When the crown prince heard about this and hurried to the palace, his father was already being taken to the execution ground. The Long-lived King's last words were: "It's our duty to be kind and caring toward others. We mustn't let any difficulties or adversities change our way of dealing with people."

The prince knew these words were directed at him. He also knew that his father did not want him to avenge his death, but his heart was filled with pain. "My father has been killed. How can I possibly live in peace from now on? I must get revenge."

He returned to town, where he lived incognito in a commoner's house. The prince helped his host grow vegetables. He paid a lot of attention to cultivating the vegetables, and they grew luxuriantly. When a minister at the royal court ate some of the vegetables, he praised them profusely and asked the prince to prepare a feast for the new king.

The king enjoyed the feast very much, so he decided to keep the prince at his side. Gradually the young man earned the trust of the king and became his bodyguard.

One day the king and his entourage went hunting in the mountains. He and the prince became separated from the other people and lost their way. After wandering in the mountains for a couple of days, the king was tired and hungry and did not have the strength to go any farther. He entrusted his sword to the prince and fell asleep with his head on the young man's lap.

What a good chance to avenge his father! But the prince hesitated. "When my father was alive, he always taught me to love and show compassion for others. Although the new king was greedy and inhumane, looking at him sleeping soundly on my lap, he looks so much like my father. Besides, he's someone's father too."

The new king woke up with a start. He said he had dreamed that the Long-lived King and the crown prince were trying to kill him.

"Even though he's a king, he still can't sleep well," the prince mused to himself. "He must really be filled with fear." The prince suddenly felt pity for the king. He said to him, "Go back to sleep. I'm here to protect you. You don't need to be afraid."

Soon after, the king woke up again. "I dreamed of the prince again, and he said he would forgive me." He sat up slowly. "Ever since I invaded this kingdom and killed the Long-lived King, I haven't had a day of peace. It's like I'm living in hell, constantly tormented by fear and anguish. How I regret what I did."

The prince could tell that the king was truly remorseful. "Don't be afraid. I'm the crown prince you're afraid of. I must admit I thought of killing you while you were asleep. But I thought of my father and how he always taught me to treat others with kindness. I don't want to dishonor his name. So I've decided to forget the whole thing."

The king was touched by what he said. "Thank you so much for forgiving me. I can't fully express my gratitude to you. But now we're both lost in the woods. If we can’t get out of here soon, we'll surely die."

The prince laughed and said, "We're not lost. I deliberately led you away from the others. Now I'll take you out of the woods."

When the king returned to the palace, he summoned all his ministers. To show his gratitude to the prince, he announced that he would return the kingdom to him. Seeing what a good, kind young man the prince was, the ministers joyfully hailed him king.

There is only a thin line between good and evil. Although the crown prince respected his father and always kept the old man's words in mind, he found it hard to forgive the person who had killed his father. Fortunately, he found strength in the kindness and love that his father had shown, and he was finally able to forgive and forget.

Ordinary people find it hard to keep their minds calm. When bad things happen to them, benevolence and good intentions vanish from their minds. Their behavior becomes erratic and they stray from the right path. Therefore, it is necessary for us to take good care of our minds and get rid of all bad thoughts so that we can return to our pure nature and stay on the right path.