The Emperor of Ten Thousand Worlds

No one can say for certain which dynasty this Taoist temple was built in, but legend has it that it was founded by an enlightened master to guard against the evil forces in the forest. Ancient trees tower around the temple, casting a gloomy, eerie shadow, as if ghosts could appear at any moment. The statue inside is said to have been modeled after the master himself, so that he could watch over and manipulate people's hearts. Its face is covered by a red cloth embroidered with complex talismans that glimmer with an eerie light. According to legend, the statue awakens at night, its eyes beneath the cloth flickering like ghost fire as it watches anyone who tries to uncover it. Those driven by curiosity are drawn in by the statue's power as soon as they touch the cloth, as if being sucked into a bottomless black hole. The local villagers revere the temple. They believe the statue can see into the deepest fears of the human heart, and that no one can escape its gaze, whether they are greedy, angry, or jealous. So the villagers do their best to stay away from the temple, lest they anger the statue and bring misfortune upon themselves. Still, some refuse to believe the warnings and try to lift the cloth to see what lies beneath. Some never return from their attempts, leaving only their desperate screams to echo through the night sky. Those lucky enough to escape are driven mad by fear, spending the rest of their lives in terror. As time passes, the temple falls further into ruin, but the statue's power grows ever stronger. Whenever night falls, the animals in the forest grow unnaturally quiet, as if preparing for the horror that is about to come. And those who try to uncover the cloth become part of the temple's legend, a warning to the world not to challenge