“Over the years you’ve been gone, the house has remained untouched. I’ve come by occasionally to clean it up, so it’s still tidy, though a bit old.” The elderly woman hunched over, walking ahead with one hand behind her back, her voice carrying a nostalgic tone. “When we erected the tombstones for them, your body was the only one we…
A few days later, a pair of weary young travelers arrived in a small town in the southwest of Jingzhou. As the New Year’s Eve was approaching, the eaves of the houses along the street were decorated with festive red lanterns. The streets were bustling with people. Lan Wu looked around curiously for a moment before turning to the woman…
At the end of the month, every household in the western part of the town had pasted bright red spring festival couplets on their doors. Farmers pushed carts laden with New Year goods back and forth through the market. Occasionally, Lan Wu could hear the crackling of firecrackers from the other end of the street. Ji Lingyue looked out the…
In the quiet of the night, the woman lying in bed slowly opened her eyes. She turned over, gazing at the contours of Lan Wu’s face in the dim light. After a long moment, she carefully climbed out of bed, put on a thin robe, and went outside. Pushing open the courtyard gate, she was greeted by the shimmering surface…
After the piercing cry of the sword faded, the sky that had briefly been lit with red light dimmed once more. Several bodies collapsed heavily to the ground. Lan Wu collapsed beside Ji Lingyue, cradling her limp body and brushing away the tangled hair sticking to her face. “Ah Yue, Ah Yue…” Ji Lingyue whimpered faintly as blood gushed from…