Using the strange beasts, mountains, and rivers of the Classic of Mountains and Seas as spiritual reflections, this novel strips traditional mythology of its fantasy and redemptive elements. Every beast and every secret realm becomes a tangible projection of the dark side of human nature in the real world. There is no absolute protagonist, no hero coming to the rescue, and no happy ending where good is rewarded and evil punished. Instead, the story focuses solely on the conflicts between people: their schemes, greed, betrayals, obsession, and indifference. It exposes the most genuine malice and struggle hidden in the human heart, driven by desire, and creates a collection of stark, dark parables about human nature.
