Visible Skin, Hidden Bones (Part Seven) The dungeon’s exit sloped upwards, seemingly endless. As Yu’er stepped out, the vacant stares of the other imprisoned women briefly crossed her path before moving away, their spirits either numbed to indifference or perhaps deeming her too insignificant to bother with a plea for help, sparing Yu’er the worry of alerting the guards. Reaching…
Visible Skin, Hidden Bones (Part Six) Yu’er and Yan Li had not been sitting for long when a procession of carriages arrived, coming to a halt a short distance away. A middle-aged man descended from the carriage, his figure portly, dressed in a long robe adorned with cloud patterns, a jade ring on his finger. He walked with large strides,…
Visible Skin, Hidden Bones (Part Five) As Qing Jiu and her companions emerged into the daylight, the sun hung high in the sky, bathing the bustling streets in its warm glow. People brushed shoulders as they walked, adding to the lively atmosphere of the marketplace. Tang Linzhi no longer concealed herself, joining the crowd with a casual ease. Qi Tianzhu,…
Visible Skin, Hidden Bones (Part Four) The woman in the peach-colored silk dress led the four to a private room, which was intricately and elegantly furnished, with a fragrant incense burner emitting a subtle aroma. The flutter of red curtains animated the room, with desks and tables arranged on either side, centered around a circular stage designed for the musicians…
Visible Skin, Hidden Bones (Part Three) In the misty south of the Yangtze River, where rain cloaks the world in a veil of fog at the drop of a hat, the tail end of spring thrives with a vibrancy of life. The lush greenery, veiled by a thin mist, makes this water town seem like a slice of paradise on…