Wei smiled.

"The first door is Why. Without purpose, you walk in circles.

The second is What. Without clarity, your hands grasp at fog.

The third is Who. Without people, your path has no companions and no witnesses.

The fourth is How. Without method, effort becomes waste.

The fifth is Where. Without place, even the right action is misplaced.

The sixth is When. Without timing, even wisdom arrives too late."

Di looked again at the grain of rice.

"Master… this is all?"

Wei nodded. "A single grain becomes a field only when all six doors are opened. Most people try to plant without knowing the soil, the season, or the reason."

Di closed the box gently. "I understand. Success is not a mystery – it is a map."

Wei laughed softly. "And now you hold it."

* * *

 "The gate opens when the seeker no longer asks where or when – only why and how to walk."
~ Zen-style KoRe proverb