Novels

In this world, who holds the pieces, and who is merely a pawn? A brush writes of loyalty, yet a turn of the head brands it treason. While the dancing never ceases in the Golden Throne Hall, half the empire has already withered away. While some are crowned kings and appointed ministers, others are forced to trade their children for food. A court filled with high officials speaks of the state’s welfare, yet not one will heed the cries of the common people.

Take a bowl, fill it with dirt, and count to five. Plant a toad and watch it grow into a train; plant a soybean and see it turn into a tiger. Cultivate a craft, and you’ll reap a lifetime of comfort. In a world of three hundred and sixty professions, who truly commands the path? Observe the carpenter: with a flick of his ink line, he divides Yin and Yang, his interlocking joints anchoring the very corners of the world. Look to the blacksmith: his forge echoes through the heavens, his thousand hammer-strikes splitting the dawn from the dusk. Consider the ambitious tailor: shearing the tapestry of existence with a wisp of wind, her needle fixing the balance of the universe. And the ruthless cook: his stove burns with hellfire to stew the mortal realm, his blade rising with wind and thunder as he feeds the fire with bone. In Wansheng Prefecture, there are a thousand faces and infinite transformations. Amidst the bustling crowd, Zhang Laifu grins with pride: "Come on then! Follow me, and let’s go live the good life!"