The scholar knew his efforts for finding the medicine is reaching its end.
The conclusion won't be finding it, it never really was.
Was the journey a solace to someone whom he had lost?
He stopped his tracks and looked around him.
Snow white with footsteeps carved behind him.
No light at the end, and no light to come back.
If he goes straight to the left, he will see his footsteps on the snow at his left.
If he goes straight to the right, he will see his footsteps on the snow at his right.
But if he continues straight from where he is heading, he won't be able to see the carved footsteps behind his back.
He only knows that when he walks, he goes up.
He chuckles as if he's going to heaven.