Ten Days of the Fallen City

The late spring rain has been falling continuously for seven days, soaking the cobblestones of Yangzhou into a dark shade. You sit on the second floor of the Fuguang Teahouse, leaning against the railing and watching the panicked crowd on the long street below—carrying bundles, driving ox carts, calling out to their children, all surging toward the South Gate. In the distance, several muffled cannon blasts rumble like a giant beating the heart of the earth.

You look down at the stack of yellowed manuscript paper in your hands. On it is your draft of "Shituo Kingdom"—a story about demons taking human form to rule a city. The ink has dried, but you can still smell the mixed aroma of strong tea and liquor. Ever since Su Lianyan's death, you have had to rely on these two things to get through the endless nights.

"Young Master Fang, not leaving yet?" A clear voice interrupts your thoughts. It is Hong'er, the proprietress of the teahouse. Dressed in red with an apron tied around her waist, she holds half a pot of wine. "The city gates will probably close tomorrow. I've prepared a wooden cart. If you don't mind, you can join us..."

Just as you are about to answer, heavy footsteps echo from the stairs. A man wearing a bamboo hat and a tattered cloak walks up. He is robustly built, around forty years old, with graying hair and a long blade at his waist. His gaze sweeps across the teahouse like a hawk, finally resting on you.

"Are you Fang Zhiyou?" His voice sounds like grinding gravel. "Commander Shi wants to see you."

You are taken aback. "The Commander... wants to see me? I am but a commoner, why would he..."

"Because of your book." He interrupts you, walking over to the table, grabbing the manuscript of "Shituo Kingdom," and flipping through it quickly. "These demons you wrote about... they have now come to life."

A clap of thunder outside drowns out his remaining words. You feel a wave of dizziness, and the scene before you begins to distort—in the shifting light and shadow, the man's face seems to morph into a bird's beak.

The Beast-Vision Syndrome has flared up again.

In the middle of the night, you are awakened by the melodious sound of a flute. Rising to look around, you see everyone in the cellar is fast asleep, yet the flute music seems to pierce through the walls, drifting from somewhere far away.

As if possessed, you push open the wooden door of the cellar and step outside.

The sight of the street makes you gasp. The familiar alleys of the daytime are now completely transformed: houses tilt at odd angles, roof tiles are arranged unevenly like scales, walls are overgrown with moss and vines, and trees twist into bizarre shapes. Green phosphorus fires drift in the air, and a column of black smoke rises from the direction of the distant Bell and Drum Tower, with massive wings faintly flapping within the smoke.

"This is not Yangzhou..." you mutter.

"This is Shituo Kingdom," an elderly voice sounds behind you.

You turn around and see a woman wearing a qionghua hairpin standing in the moonlight. She wears a light purple dress and has a gentle demeanor, but her eyes are filled with sorrow.

"Madame Qionghua..." You recognize her. She is the wife of the salt merchant, Young General Wang. You had met her once in your childhood.

"Fang Zhiyou," she says softly, "your 'Shituo Kingdom' has opened a door. Now, the Demon King knows your name. He will find you, devour your memories, and turn you into a willing, low-ranking demon."

"Then what should I do?" you ask.

Madame Qionghua does not answer, only gazing up at the night sky. You follow her gaze—a blood-red moon is emerging from behind the dark clouds, illuminating the entire city. Within that lunar disc, a massive Golden-Winged Peng spreads its wings and glides past, its eyes gleaming with a cold, purple light.

You hear it speak, its voice like a great bell and rolling thunder, vibrating through every bone in your body:

"Fang Zhiyou—give me your 'reality', and I shall let you live."

Your head begins to throb violently as your Beast-Vision Syndrome flares up once more. The scene before you starts to shatter. You feel something growing inside your consciousness, like tiny rootlets burrowing into your brain.

"Guard your heart," Madame Qionghua's voice grows more and more distant. "Otherwise, you will become one of them."

This is your first night of survival in Shituo Kingdom. There are nine days left.