"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others"
(The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18 – 6th century BC)
Shinsenkyō—Horai, The Grand Castle
The interiors of the Grand Castle had changed since the assassins were last here, barely a day and a half ago. It was unsurprising, since the building was constantly renovated to maintain harmony and balance with the surrounding environment and the ever-evolving *. Nonetheless, the oppressive, unsettling atmosphere that always cloaked the building remained. They could not help but feel that it was a living, breathing entity that was watching every person, every move, everything with invisible eyes, waiting for a simple misstep, a wrong breath, to provide it with the perfect excuse to pounce and devour.
Needless to say, that feeling gave even these hardened men of blood and death the jeepers and the creepers.
And now, as they stood before the massive doors of the new Grand Chamber, the jeepers and the creepers intensified. Their leader swallowed nervously, cast a cursory glance around to ensure that the winding corridors were empty, and raised a shaky hand to the bronze knocker.
The doors swung open before the knocker landed.
The men looked at one another, then at their leader. One of them gave the latter a hard jostle. He earned a furious glare for his valiant effort, and reciprocated with a sheepish shrug. In the end, it was the youngest of them—the androgynously pretty youth who stepped past the glaring leader and everyone else to enter the dark chamber.
The layout of the new Grand Chamber was similar to the old one. Massive, shaped in the Bagua* (八卦) formation, smothered with the overwhelming smoke of incense that choked and blinded.
Nonetheless, a subtle stench still permeated the air, a stench that no amount of redolent incense could veil.
The stench of wine, blood, flesh. And more, the sounds of depravity that echoed through the chamber.
The assassins bowed low, careful to keep their gazes averted from what was happening right before them. Yet, they could still hear what was happening, and the sounds painted the picture eloquently—muffled moans, soft suckling, the Grand Master's guttural groans.
"Grand Master," The leader began, his voice flat, stripped of all warmth. "Our mission is completed. The target and his family are no more."
He signalled to the man on his left, who immediately opened the lid of the ebony box that he was carrying and, with his head still bowed, lifted it high, allowing everyone to see the grisly contents.
Three severed heads—a young male and an elderly couple. Their eyes were wide, forever frozen in the shock of violent death. Rings of crimson circled their neck like ruby chokers, still gleaming wet and shiny in the flickering candlelight.
They were no ordinary folks. They were the former General of the Celestial Imperial Military and his parents.
Yang Jian and his parents.
When the minutes ticked by without any acknowledgement, the men lifted their gazes cautiously and struggled not to flinch at what they saw.
Zheng-Yu lounged lazily upon the wide dais like a leopard. His robes were in disarray, his long black hair dishevelled. Between his obscenely spread muscular legs knelt a youth with hair the vivid colour of spring bloomed chrysanthemum spilling down his slender back, his slim shoulders quivering rhythmically.
Ju Fa. The strikingly lovely boy whom the assassins had a brief glimpse of the other day. The leader studied him from beneath his lashes, then gave a quick side glance to the long-haired youth on his right.
YOU ARE READING
A Love Beyond Time
Fanfiction"Sagiri." Shion turned to the young lady beside him, a soft smile of quiet bliss and wonderment adorning his handsome face. "Have you ever, ever imagined that things would turn out this way when we embarked on that assignment to Shinsekyo those year...
