Chen Xiao as Jin/Zhu Zhan Ye
(Pic courtesy of Baidu)
Bo Hai, Isle of the 8 Immortals
This chapter sees a lot of moving parts ready to converge and collide. Jin is still a mystery but he’s definitely revealing more and more in the next few chapters. I’ve always wondered if he and Zhu Zhan Ye would get along if I put them in the same room.
(Liu Shi Shi as Yu Zhu) (Chen Xiao as Zhu Zhan Ye)
*All photos courtesy of Baidu
Hi hi! Thanks for your patience guys! I’ve been fighting jet lag and work’s been a bit busy. That being said, I meant to publish this chapter last week but then just kept writing, so it kind of became 2 chapters in one. Thank you guys for being such amazing readers!
Liu Yi Fei as Chang’e.
Thanks for your patience. Let me know what you think!
(Photo courtesy of Baidu, Hu Ge as Xu Long Hui, Liu Shi Shi as Yu Zhu)
So this chapter took me a month and a year to write. Massive apologies to my readers and again, thanks for your patience, hope you like it!
Lady Chang’e, Goddess of the Moon
(Photos Courtesy of Sina Weibo)
Yu Zhu opened her eyes to the bright glare of starlights on a vast plain of moving grass. The rustles were echoes of whispers and howls, of screams and supplications, of laughter and horror.
Tied around her hands was a glowing, gold rope, she was shuffling in a long line of people, led by two figures. One white. One black. both wore long flowing robes and their long pink, fleshy tongues swayed with every step they took. Strangely, as Yu Zhu looked at them, they were shadowless. These were the legendary guardsmen of the underworld, Hei Bai Wu Chang. She had seen status of them in during the Ghost Festivals.
“I don;t think you should come. Princess” Zhu Zhan Ye said as they rode out of the city, the moon already high above the skies.
“Bao Lu was a friend and Li Sun saved my life.” Hua Er said determinedly, “Whoever had done this, I will make them pay. No one get’s to toy with my friends and live.”
At midnight Yu Zhu and Lin Yu arrived, hiding silently in the shadows as they watched Hua Er, Zhu Zhan Ye, and Zhuo Hao walk into view.
“Do you have the ledger.” A voice boom and the three looked around. Lin Yu and Yu Zhu too, scanned the area.
Zhuo Hao held the books up, “Show me Doctor Li.”
A boat slide out of the reeds and Doctor Li Sun was tied to the mast.
Yu Zhu (photo courtesy of Sina Weibo)
Icy water hit him in the face over and over again until Zhu Zhan Ye climbed out of the hazy, alcoholic fog.
“What.” He gasped and blinked.
Hua Er stood above him, another bucket of water in her hands, “Get up. Now.”
The bucket tipped and the water him face like glass shards. Zhu Zhan Ye shivered and got up. He blinked the water from his eyes.
Shan Ying Lang
(Photo Courtesy of Sina Weibo)
Ning City, Yue Kingdom
When Zhu Zhan Ye returned to the inn that morning, his eyes were dull and he walked as if he didn’t care who was in his way. Bao Lu tried to bring food to his master, but the young man shook his head. He spoke to no one, but sat there, staring at his hands. At sun set, he suddenly stood up and strode out, Bao Lu made to follow but Zhu Zhan Ye shook his head.
He seemed to wander aimlessly in the rushing crowd of people. He sat down at a small stall and barked at the server to get him a jug of their finest wine. One cup after another, fiery liquid splashed down his tongue until he tasted nothing.
(Zhuo Hao)
Photo courtesy of Sina Weibo
The cloudy night was perfect as the dark grey clothed men and Yu Zhu’s black clothes blended into every shadow. The Midnight Thief and her companions ran silently through the dark city as they headed to the Merchant’s giant compound. The fire lanterns of the city slowly burned down to flicker and die as the night watchmen called the hour.
The thieves were as silent as falling leaves, landing in the Merchant’s garden with no more sound than a drop of water falling into a pond. Yu Zhu motioned for them to hide as the first round of guards patrolling the area came though.
Yu Zhu
(Photo courtesy of QQ and Hidari94)
“Hello.” Zhu Zhan Ye poked his head in front of Yu Zhu’s store. His eyes seemed to twinkle as he
Yu Zhu raised her head, “You’re not allowed here.”
Zhu Zhan Ye smiled crookedly, “Didn’t you get my gifts? I sent some really expensive fruits you can only get in the southern part of the empire.
“She sold them.” Lu Xi smiled shyly, “Hello, Zhan Ye Ge Ge.”
Yu ZHu
Photo Courtesy of Sina Wei Bo
Yu Zhu sat up shaking. No, she was vibrating so hard the frames of the bed shook. She gritted her teeth as she felt needles of pain shoot down her arms and legs. Waves of agony rolled over her body. Anger, bitterness, hatred rushed over her, overwhelming all of her senses. Then relief, joy, ecstasy flooded her mind, her eyes rolled back in her head. She felt so much one moment and the was nothing the next, the pain pounded her like roaring waves, then ebbing away as if being sucked back into the sea, each time taking a tiny bit of her with it. She grabbed her pillow and bit down. Her muffle screamed woke Lin Yu who came running in.
(Huang Wu)
(Photo courtesy of Sina Weibo)
“She’s more beautiful than a painting.” A wealthy young son said as he lazily waved his silk fan in the crispy morning air, the picture of a wealthy young student, “If only she wasn’t a lowly embroidery girl, I would marry her”. He sat on the second floor of the Red Tea House, sipping on tea brought by girl servants, “She’s probably even more beautiful than the Princess of Dian.”
“And how would you know that?” asked another boy, “The Princess of Dian lives in the capital, deep in the heart of the palace. Like a shining Jewel.” One of his schoolmates smacked his head, “You have a long way to go before you become a poet. Don’t try so hard”
Zhu Zhan Ye Huang Wu
(Photos Courtesy of Sina Weibo)
Ning City
“You’re leaving food for her again?” Lin Yu asked as Yu Zhu placed a tray in front of Lu Xi’s door. Lin Yu sighed, “It’s been ten days and still she hasn’t come out. I don’t get why she’s so scared of us”
Yu Zhu shook her head as she added tea to a cup and placed it on the tiled floor “She’s not afraid. She’s hurting.”
Lin Yu’s only experience with human emotions was mainly with Yu Zhu, she was confused, “I don’t understand.”
(Zhuo Hao) (Wei Yun)
(Pictures courtesy of Sina Weibo and SecretChina)
“Please. Be a good son. Just kill me. Please? Please?” The quivering figure in ruined silk lying on the cold granite looked up at him, one eye visible from the mass of sticky, bloody hair. Stray strands with scalp still attached lay all over the floor, she had pulled them out on her own.
(Zhu Zhan Ye) (Zhuo Hao)
(Photos courtesy of Sina and SecretChina)
Yue Kingdom – Ning City
Yu Zhu tried to muffle her scream, biting on a damp cloth as Zhuo Hao sewed the skin on her shoulder back together in the dim candle light. His grey clothes were soaked with blood and his mask lay forgotten in a corner of the room. There were still a few hours before dawn, if she screamed now, the neighbors would wake.
“He hit bone ” Zhuo Hao cursed, “This will take a while to heal.”
The door opened and Lin Yu rushed in, the smile on her face dropping as she saw the bloody rags piled around Yu Zhu. “Move” She said brusquely, her eyes began to glow as green fire sprouted from her hands. Zhuo Hao didn’t need to be told twice and backed away. This wasn’t like the normal powers of well practiced martial artists. This was something he had never seen before.
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