if len(path) == 0 {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("empty path %s", path)
	}
	if util.IsKVPathElement(path[0]) {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("path %s has an unexpected first element %s", path, path[0])
	}
	length := len(path)
	if util.IsKVPathElement(path[length-1]) {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("path %s has an unexpected last element %s", path, path[length-1])
	}

		return nc, true, nil
	}
	pe := remainPath[0]

	if nc.Node == nil {
		if !createMissing {
			return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("node %s is zero", pe)
		}
		if util.IsNPathElement(pe) || util.IsKVPathElement(pe) {
			nc.Node = []any{}
		} else {
			nc.Node = make(map[string]any)
		}
	}

	v := reflect.ValueOf(nc.Node)
	if v.Kind() == reflect.Ptr || v.Kind() == reflect.Interface {
		v = v.Elem()
	}