Chronicles of the Taihu Ruins

Synopsis of The Taihu Island Melee (292 characters)

The vast waters of Taihu Lake shimmer beneath a boundless haze. On a lonely island in the middle of the lake, the client, Yi Dangbaxiao, summons craftsmen and supervisors and pours his heart and soul into building a splendid palace. Ninety-nine steps of white marble, gleaming gold-glazed tiles, wind chimes on copper eaves tinkling in the breeze, and a magnificent main hall: the palace is ready for its grand inspection ceremony. But suddenly, thick fog rolls across the lake, and a dragon boat cuts through the waves. Three wicked guests come ashore. The leader's sunglasses flash with golden light as he bluntly declares that he will seize the entire island.

The battle erupts at once. Hammers and halberds fly, blades and axes clash, as four construction workers and two supervisors fight back with all their might. After a fierce struggle, the towering palace is reduced to ruins. The golden nanmu beams and pillars lie broken, glazed tiles are shattered across the ground, the two stone statues before the hall crash down, and even the luxurious dragon throne is utterly destroyed. Chaos engulfs the island: the construction crew demands its wages, the island-seizing villains insist on claiming the land, and the supervisors threaten penalties. Yi Dangbaxiao cannot take the shock and faints on the spot.

Just as the dispute reaches a deadlock, the lake's winds and clouds stir once more, and an audit squad arrives, skimming over the waves. All sides gather amid the ruins of the palace. Old grudges remain unresolved, and fresh troubles keep piling up, setting the stage for a ridiculous melee of the martial world.