“have you heard?” the passing lady loudly whispers to the innkeeper, “the tower has collapsed once more!”
“goodness!” the innkeeper announces, “at this point they will never appease the gods and their tower will never get built.”
“i heard that they plan to do a human wall!”
“goodness!” the innkeeper announces, “at this point they will never appease the gods and their tower will never get built.”
“i heard that they plan to do a human wall!”
wwx frowns under his hood as he waits for the auntie to pack up his purchase.
how desperate can this kingdom be for their little tower to resort to human sacrifices.
“should we start locking our houses? what about the children?!” the innkeeper panics. “the monarchs won’t rest!”
how desperate can this kingdom be for their little tower to resort to human sacrifices.
“should we start locking our houses? what about the children?!” the innkeeper panics. “the monarchs won’t rest!”
“that would probably be a good idea, we can never be too safe!” the lady fans herself, the anxiety dripping out of her by the bucket. “but i heard they won’t be cruel about it.”
“wdym?”
the lady brings her fan close, as if she’s planning to be discreet even tho her voice leaks.
“wdym?”
the lady brings her fan close, as if she’s planning to be discreet even tho her voice leaks.
“i heard they will heavily reward the wish of anyone who steps up. any reward at all!”
the innkeeper gasps. “not even a whole kingdom will make me walk into being buried alive!”
the auntie finally finishes with his purchase. wwx slowly walks, he still wants to hear the story.
the innkeeper gasps. “not even a whole kingdom will make me walk into being buried alive!”
the auntie finally finishes with his purchase. wwx slowly walks, he still wants to hear the story.
“me neither, me neither!” the lady exclaims. “but think about the things you can have… if not you, think about your daughter!”
the innkeeper scoffs, “what about her!”
“maybe you can secure a good future for her. have the emperor matchmake her to one of the noble houses!”
the innkeeper scoffs, “what about her!”
“maybe you can secure a good future for her. have the emperor matchmake her to one of the noble houses!”
greed always has a specific sound, wwx frowns at the very sound of it.
“or better yet, have the emperor marry your daughter!” the innkeeper pushes. “why settle for a noble house when your xiao-mei can be the next empress?”
wwx cringes. an empress, huh?
“or better yet, have the emperor marry your daughter!” the innkeeper pushes. “why settle for a noble house when your xiao-mei can be the next empress?”
wwx cringes. an empress, huh?
he feels more than sees the way the lady flinched at the suggestion.
“oh gods have mercy… you know i think the curse started with the previous empress. the gods may be angry at her for running away. maybe that’s why the emperor is building a tower to appease them?”
“oh gods have mercy… you know i think the curse started with the previous empress. the gods may be angry at her for running away. maybe that’s why the emperor is building a tower to appease them?”
“that’s… that’s a good point actually.” the innkeeper says. “all the bad luck started when she ran away.”
at that point, wwx decides that he has heard enough and makes haste.
he’ll have to get his donkey from someone’s barn and be out of this town before nightfall.
at that point, wwx decides that he has heard enough and makes haste.
he’ll have to get his donkey from someone’s barn and be out of this town before nightfall.
wwx is a traveling apothecary. he ails people and goes to towns where his help is requested.
wwx likes to avoid the empire. they tend to… ask too much of him; questioning his wares as if it’s not medicine he’s concocting.
his job for this town is done and so he needs to leave.
wwx likes to avoid the empire. they tend to… ask too much of him; questioning his wares as if it’s not medicine he’s concocting.
his job for this town is done and so he needs to leave.
*
he has been on the road for the last week; helping those who are on the isolated roads and selling his wares when he can. he forages and he sleeps on a tent when he has no patient to tend.
the rumor about the empire’s most latest plot about their tower long forgotten.
he has been on the road for the last week; helping those who are on the isolated roads and selling his wares when he can. he forages and he sleeps on a tent when he has no patient to tend.
the rumor about the empire’s most latest plot about their tower long forgotten.
wwx likes his life like this; just helping those who need help, healing those who cannot afford the doctors in town, no one to answer to but his own self and his patients.
reason why he tends to avoid the towns and the capital; breeding grounds of drama and chaos that they are.
reason why he tends to avoid the towns and the capital; breeding grounds of drama and chaos that they are.
the empire’s feat catches up to him the moment he steps into a town’s proper; the people in an outrage and he can practically feel the fear amongst the crowd.
“they have taken another!”
“by gods, when will they stop?”
“have you heard? they took two from lanling! savages!”
“they have taken another!”
“by gods, when will they stop?”
“have you heard? they took two from lanling! savages!”
wwx tries to walk around for a bit, just to see if he can find the source of the commotion. but everyone is reacting quite emotionally and no one was talking about what really is happening.
so he enters an inn, just a walk from the angry crowd, and requests for some tea.
so he enters an inn, just a walk from the angry crowd, and requests for some tea.
when the server comes to give him his pot and cup, he asks about the crowd.
“oh, sir.” the young man hesitates. “don’t you know? the emperor has ordered for volunteers to be taken to the capital. they say it’s for work.”
with the way the server explains, wwx fears there’s more.
“oh, sir.” the young man hesitates. “don’t you know? the emperor has ordered for volunteers to be taken to the capital. they say it’s for work.”
with the way the server explains, wwx fears there’s more.
“work?”
“mn! that’s what the officials say, but word has gotten out that they are actually taking people to be sacrificed to the dragon gods.” wwx frowns, dragon gods? “they are still trying to build their tower and they haven’t been very successful. it keeps falling.”
“mn! that’s what the officials say, but word has gotten out that they are actually taking people to be sacrificed to the dragon gods.” wwx frowns, dragon gods? “they are still trying to build their tower and they haven’t been very successful. it keeps falling.”
but how many could they have taken for the people to be this bothered?
wwx asks his thoughts and the server moves closer, “sir, the rumor says it’s been 30 people… or so.”
30? but it has only been a week since the rumor was started! how did the capital manage?
wwx asks his thoughts and the server moves closer, “sir, the rumor says it’s been 30 people… or so.”
30? but it has only been a week since the rumor was started! how did the capital manage?
“30 people.” wwx says out loud. “and for how long…”
“the emperor has been asking people to work for the palace for a month now. at first it was the seamstress’ daughter, and then the winery’s second son… then, the guards came and started to just take anyone.”
“the emperor has been asking people to work for the palace for a month now. at first it was the seamstress’ daughter, and then the winery’s second son… then, the guards came and started to just take anyone.”
for a month… then it’s possible that the town wwx first heard the rumor from was a little late to the news.
“everyone’s on edge as the last person taken was actually the magistrate’s son. the guards are just taking anyone at this point. everyone fears they could be next.”
“everyone’s on edge as the last person taken was actually the magistrate’s son. the guards are just taking anyone at this point. everyone fears they could be next.”
“by gods,” wwx swears, “what kind of tower are they building?”
“i have no idea, sir. no one ever says, but everyone knows it’s to appease the dragon gods after the empress ran away.”
and ofc. the story goes back to the royal.
a bit cruel how everyone else pays for it.
“i have no idea, sir. no one ever says, but everyone knows it’s to appease the dragon gods after the empress ran away.”
and ofc. the story goes back to the royal.
a bit cruel how everyone else pays for it.
“but 30?”
“yes,” the server sighs, fear obvious. “they’re building a tower of corpses at this point.”
a tower of corpses indeed.
wwx thanks the server for his time and starts drinking his tea while watching the crowd outside.
a life wall is not unheard of.
“yes,” the server sighs, fear obvious. “they’re building a tower of corpses at this point.”
a tower of corpses indeed.
wwx thanks the server for his time and starts drinking his tea while watching the crowd outside.
a life wall is not unheard of.
human beings are not the only ones living in these lands after all, and sometimes, in order for a space to be shared, a sacrifice needs to be done.
it can be simple food, a makeshift altar. sometimes when people would like a better foundation, a cattle is killed and offered.
it can be simple food, a makeshift altar. sometimes when people would like a better foundation, a cattle is killed and offered.
human life… is rare.
most of the time it will be excused as an accident. a person falling over something or dying because of an illness.
but no matter how creative the reasoning gets, if the person dies over construction work, then they are the chosen sacrifice.
most of the time it will be excused as an accident. a person falling over something or dying because of an illness.
but no matter how creative the reasoning gets, if the person dies over construction work, then they are the chosen sacrifice.
for this number however… it’s unheard of. it has become a massacre to undo bad luck.
wwx just shakes his head before leaving a few coins and says his farewells to the town.
something is already telling him to make haste. emotions are already running too high for this town.
wwx just shakes his head before leaving a few coins and says his farewells to the town.
something is already telling him to make haste. emotions are already running too high for this town.
in the end, wwx settles near a stream.
it’s a few hours from the town and if his estimate is right, then the next village will be take a day of walking.
he quickly puts up his tent and goes to sleep. he plans to forage for more herbs by morning, so he needs his rest.
it’s a few hours from the town and if his estimate is right, then the next village will be take a day of walking.
he quickly puts up his tent and goes to sleep. he plans to forage for more herbs by morning, so he needs his rest.
it starts with a noise.
someone pleading desperately. the sound echoes easily through the quiet forest and wwx is up as soon as he hears it.
he gets out of his tent and runs towards the girl — he is now sure that the one pleading is a girl.
someone pleading desperately. the sound echoes easily through the quiet forest and wwx is up as soon as he hears it.
he gets out of his tent and runs towards the girl — he is now sure that the one pleading is a girl.
“please!” she says when he’s close enough to make sense of her words. “i have children! i have children!”
she’s being dragged away by the imperial guards. wwx knows because he has seen that cloud emblem before.
he unconsciously fists his hands.
“help!” she screams, “help me!”
she’s being dragged away by the imperial guards. wwx knows because he has seen that cloud emblem before.
he unconsciously fists his hands.
“help!” she screams, “help me!”
“shut up, you wench!” one of the guards slaps her on the face and it throws her to the side. “your emperor demands your obedience!”
“please,” she cries and the sound is painful, “my children… i am the only one they have left. please.”
the guard only looks at her with apathy.
“please,” she cries and the sound is painful, “my children… i am the only one they have left. please.”
the guard only looks at her with apathy.
and what he says next brought chills to wwx’s spine. “then we’ll make sure they will be taken next.”
“no,” the girl says, tears still streaming down her bruised cheeks. “no! please, no!”
wwx could no longer keep himself hidden, “stop!” he steps out of the shadows.
“no,” the girl says, tears still streaming down her bruised cheeks. “no! please, no!”
wwx could no longer keep himself hidden, “stop!” he steps out of the shadows.
he probably looks stupid standing there with his robes barely tied and his unkept hair, but he steps forward still. “stop, whatever it is you’re doing, just stop.”
the girl still keeps crying while the guards glare at him. “you dare go against your emperor?”
wwx scoffs.
the girl still keeps crying while the guards glare at him. “you dare go against your emperor?”
wwx scoffs.
“your emperor forces his people to build his tower to appease the gods.” he says with a glare of his own, “that is no emperor, that’s a murderer.”
“hold your tongue!” one of them charges at wwx and he gladly lets himself punched. “you will not speak of the emperor like that!”
“hold your tongue!” one of them charges at wwx and he gladly lets himself punched. “you will not speak of the emperor like that!”
wwx could only groan over the pain. he did not really think that one out. he just wants the attention away from the girl even for awhile.
“since you like to play hero,” he sees them letting her go, “maybe you can be bricked up instead of her.”
well, shit. everything goes black.
“since you like to play hero,” he sees them letting her go, “maybe you can be bricked up instead of her.”
well, shit. everything goes black.
*
when he wakes, wwx finds himself seated and leaning on a bricked wall. he is gagged and his hands are tied in front him.
it is still dark but he can hear the sound of bricks being piled up and groaning.
so much groaning.
and that sound brings wwx to his senses.
when he wakes, wwx finds himself seated and leaning on a bricked wall. he is gagged and his hands are tied in front him.
it is still dark but he can hear the sound of bricks being piled up and groaning.
so much groaning.
and that sound brings wwx to his senses.
groaning in various states, but all are desperate to be heard. some is shouting for help, others scream for water… wwx can hear pleads for death.
there is crying too and a vague thumping sound. as if someone is throwing themselves on the walls to get out.
oh gods… to get out.
there is crying too and a vague thumping sound. as if someone is throwing themselves on the walls to get out.
oh gods… to get out.
they are actually offering multiple people at once.
he looks around as he tries to fight the panic that’s trying to overwhelm his rational mind.
there’s a wall around him, and on his front, there’s an unfinished cover. only about 3ft of bricks.
it’s a column.
he looks around as he tries to fight the panic that’s trying to overwhelm his rational mind.
there’s a wall around him, and on his front, there’s an unfinished cover. only about 3ft of bricks.
it’s a column.
he will be bricked into a column.
30.
maybe the number makes sense now. and wwx gags at it. how big is this tower? how many are in the outer walls? how many columns more? how many are still alive?
and then, just when he’s about to jump, someone appears in front of him.
30.
maybe the number makes sense now. and wwx gags at it. how big is this tower? how many are in the outer walls? how many columns more? how many are still alive?
and then, just when he’s about to jump, someone appears in front of him.
it’s a taoist monk.
and with horror, wwx watches him go through the rituals of a funeral as if wwx is not alive and pleading his way through the gag, and asking the monk to take him out of the column.
wwx tries to move his limbs, to at least kick the bricks by his feet.
and with horror, wwx watches him go through the rituals of a funeral as if wwx is not alive and pleading his way through the gag, and asking the monk to take him out of the column.
wwx tries to move his limbs, to at least kick the bricks by his feet.
unlike the ones at his back, the bricks by the opening look like they have not hardened in place yet; which means wwx could have easily kicked them away.
except…
except the ties bounding him is connected to a hook and it limits his movements even further.
except…
except the ties bounding him is connected to a hook and it limits his movements even further.
he cant stretch his legs and he cant reach out.
wwx can only scream through his gag and beg the taoist to look at him and help him.
but the monk only goes through the ritual like a puppet obedient to its master and wwx can only watch as joss paper is burned for his living soul.
wwx can only scream through his gag and beg the taoist to look at him and help him.
but the monk only goes through the ritual like a puppet obedient to its master and wwx can only watch as joss paper is burned for his living soul.
when the monk leaves, servants take his place and they continue where they stopped — they pile up the bricks again.
wwx tries to break free; he rubs his wrists together, he tries to move his legs apart… but the ropes never budge and he’s stuck there.
about to be buried alive.
wwx tries to break free; he rubs his wrists together, he tries to move his legs apart… but the ropes never budge and he’s stuck there.
about to be buried alive.
he keeps struggling.
he feels tears on his robes where fabric chafes against his bindings. he feels his wrist rubbed raw as he tries to get the ropes to loosen.
and as he do all of that, the servants never stop. brick per brick they start closing the column.
he feels tears on his robes where fabric chafes against his bindings. he feels his wrist rubbed raw as he tries to get the ropes to loosen.
and as he do all of that, the servants never stop. brick per brick they start closing the column.
tw//claustrophobia
with each piece being stacked, the light around wwx gets fainter and fainter, and he concludes that this is how it feels when one falls down a well.
the heat builds up and he soaks through his robes; with each second of darkness, he feels himself descending.
with each piece being stacked, the light around wwx gets fainter and fainter, and he concludes that this is how it feels when one falls down a well.
the heat builds up and he soaks through his robes; with each second of darkness, he feels himself descending.
tw//claustrophobia
and soon, he tires himself.
all that’s left is to stare at that space where the light and the air still come through. and wwx keeps fighting for each breath he takes; each brick is another second of heavy struggling.
he fights to keep conscious.
and soon, he tires himself.
all that’s left is to stare at that space where the light and the air still come through. and wwx keeps fighting for each breath he takes; each brick is another second of heavy struggling.
he fights to keep conscious.
shadows tease at the edges of his vision but he keeps is eyes locked on that one opening. his last piece of hope.
until… until the last brick slides in and darkness envelopes wwx.
then his limbs become heavy. his body is overheating and everything is as dark as one’s grave.
until… until the last brick slides in and darkness envelopes wwx.
then his limbs become heavy. his body is overheating and everything is as dark as one’s grave.
except graves are supposed to be silent and in there, barely conscious, wwx can still hear the faint cries of others being trapped alive. others like him.
little by little, his lungs give in. his eyes close.
on that final second, wwx realizes that graves probably feel the same.
little by little, his lungs give in. his eyes close.
on that final second, wwx realizes that graves probably feel the same.
*
he wakes to the sound of crumbling and the feel of dust on his cheeks. and for a disorienting second, wwx thought that the gods have descended to give them justice. that they have seen the massacre and decided to handle the things on their own.
have they come for rescue?
he wakes to the sound of crumbling and the feel of dust on his cheeks. and for a disorienting second, wwx thought that the gods have descended to give them justice. that they have seen the massacre and decided to handle the things on their own.
have they come for rescue?
there’s a figure standing before him. overly tall and intimidating, and all that wwx can see is the silhouette.
the light is overwhelming after hours upon hours of being in the dark. his eyes burn and wwx coughs through the clouds of dust as he struggles to make sense of things.
the light is overwhelming after hours upon hours of being in the dark. his eyes burn and wwx coughs through the clouds of dust as he struggles to make sense of things.
there’s a majestic glow to the figure, most especially when they are illuminated like that. the robes look regal despite the shadows, and the headpiece…
it’s… it’s not a god.
a fresh set of tears come streaming down his face.
it’s not a god who has come for him.
it’s… it’s not a god.
a fresh set of tears come streaming down his face.
it’s not a god who has come for him.
the head piece…
the head piece is a mianguan. one that wwx has hoped to never see again.
“when they told me that someone stepped in to help one of the volunteers, i knew it would be wy.” the voice that grips wwx in a chokehold is still the same. “you always try to help, love.”
the head piece is a mianguan. one that wwx has hoped to never see again.
“when they told me that someone stepped in to help one of the volunteers, i knew it would be wy.” the voice that grips wwx in a chokehold is still the same. “you always try to help, love.”
wwx body shakes at his sobs. old and new fear take hold of him as nightmarish memories of his time at the palace flood in as the light finally adjusts to show the beautiful face of the emperor.
and that has never changed. he is still as beautiful as he is cruel.
and that has never changed. he is still as beautiful as he is cruel.
the emperor… and the husband he tried to leave.
“building the tower is the right choice after all.” he leans down as wwx tries to get away from the hand that reaches out for him. that hand has done many things to wwx, “i wished for my empress to come back, and here you are.”
“building the tower is the right choice after all.” he leans down as wwx tries to get away from the hand that reaches out for him. that hand has done many things to wwx, “i wished for my empress to come back, and here you are.”
and his smile is still deranged. still sinister. cruel, always will be cruel.
“let’s make sure you never leave again, hm?”
fin.
#DarkLanZhan
“let’s make sure you never leave again, hm?”
fin.
#DarkLanZhan
i’ll leave you guys to think wtf happened to them and why wwx escaped in the first place.
(yes, that is me washing my hands off this deranged monarch!ji) 🤣
back to top:
(yes, that is me washing my hands off this deranged monarch!ji) 🤣
back to top:
https://twitter.com/3neetee/status/1548653836721864704
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