𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧 !

:: ⁰⁰¹ ::

The raw flesh on your knees burnt and stung as you continued to crawl, forced to move like a dog as the man above you laughs in mockery.

you've long gotten used to his heartlessness, eyes dull and void of life.

"bark."

he commands and you follow. forcing out a noise that scratches your dried throat.

this was how you'd live the rest of your life. to obey your owner's command and be be a slave-no. be a dog. even a slave would be treated more like a human being.

but you were forced to be living doll for them. to break your own bones if they said so, to starve yourself if they said so, and to kill yourself if they felt like they wanted to see blood shed.

your lips have turned purple, dried to a point where it bleeds even if the skin has not been peeled off.

your skin is no longer a humane color, but instead a paled purple. deprived of sunlight and the vitamins it provides.

you wonder how you're still alive, after being starved for months on end, being whipped and beaten for years, and being thrown around like a rag doll.

"head to ilyang prefecture and fetch some fruits."

you bow your head, neck straining, "yes, master."

the rain pours as you head out, carrying a basket in one hand while the other holds a few gold plates, more than enough to buy the whole store itself.

you wear a coat around your shoulders, the hood resting on your head as you grab a mask to hide your face.

"sister black mantis, are you heading out?" one of the twelve heavenly generals approach you, her face covered with a monkey mask.

"yes, sister." to avoid anymore damage to your throat, you point at the woven basket to tell her you'd be going out to buy fruit for the rakshasa.

she nods, "be safe on your trip, sister"

patting your shoulder, she watches as your smaller frame disappears the further you walk, curses of restriction implanted on your body.

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'brother white rat enjoys mangos, so I should stop by another fruit stall. the one just now had rotting mangos.'

the basket begins to grow heavy, about 5 kilograms of fruit weighing down the straw-weaved item.

"that bastard is already tired! Let's attack him all together!"

loud shouts garner your attention, the source coming from a group of men cornering another man.

they're cornering him in a small alleyway, with dead bodies already littering the bath behind them, the blood scattering with the tears of rain, draining down on the cracks of the concrete ground.

you still in your place, wondering if you should help.

then, another man appears, dressed in white pajamas with his dark hair tied high. he says something you cant hear then the man being cornered begs him for help.

"save me, please!!"

there's an odd silence in the air.

the rain continues to pour, soaking you further as the clothes you wear grow heavy and stick to your skin.

"WHAT ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE FOR!? SAVE ME ALREADY!"

the injured man begs again, this time more infuriated.

then, the group launches at the white robed man all at once, but it's futile for within mere moments they are all killed and slammed onto the ground.

you watch, bewildered at the raw power of this man.

'will master like him?'

perhaps so. he was a man who craved for power, greed higher than the mountain peaks of the blessed provinces.

"you fucking sons of bitches. YOU DARE STAB CHA SUNG TAE IN THE BACK?!" the man screams again, voice booming with distress.

'so his name was cha sung tae.'

they converse but you're too far to hear nor understand what they're saying.

'how odd.'

turning your heels, you continue on your merry way to the nearest fruit stall, humming a quiet song in your mind.

just as you're about to turn a corner, someone grabs your wrists to turn you around.

instinctively, you let your qi pulse out, sending the man who grabbed your wrist staggering a few steps back.

you gaze turns cold, but intimidation is no use when a mask covers your face.

you do not bother speaking, knowing your throat would be dealt with more damage if you utter another word.

"you dropped your fruit." he puts a single piece of peach in your baskets.

you bow gratefully before turning again and heading towards the fruit stall.

the store owner greets you, telling you of their discount and offering the different fruits at similar prices depending on how many kilograms you'd want.

taking out a paper, you write the words, "one kilogram of mangos please. " on it, your brush strokes messy and unprecise.

"of course, right away."

it doesn't take long before the stall owner hands you the bag of mangos, telling you the price.

"here, keep the change."

the same man that had grabbed your wrist earlier hands the owner some money before you could.

you crane your neck to look up at him and raise at eyebrow, wondering he followed you until here.

'is he one of master's enemies?'

you ignore the stare he gives you and swivel past him, picking up your pace and jumping up a few buildings to lose him.

looking behind you, there's no one. nothing but empty space so you sigh out in relief before continuing on your way back with a normal pace.