Lord of the Starving Dead

Reworking the outline...

Welcome, young heroes who died in the prime of life, and all you old-timers (no offense intended; humans who can become piao after the age of twenty-five are extremely rare, and the staff member was so startled that they chose an impolite turn of phrase). Piao society may be the best place to realize your ambitions as a piao and find meaning as an individual. Please read the following notices carefully. (smile)

A Guide to Piao Government Service

1. Piao society uses a direct-hire system for top positions. New piao should prepare a resume and list their strengths. If a domain lord is interested, they will meet you in person. If fortune smiles on you, the piao lord may hire you directly.

2. Piao society offers social benefits. If all you want is a peaceful, carefree life, and you don't care about fine food and drink, stay away from the conflict-ridden center and head to the edge of the Void Soil. The piao lord has set up a free soup kitchen there. Souls will endlessly rise from the soup for everyone to enjoy. Don't expect to eat your fill.

3. Piao society has only one piao lord, a powerful female piao who lives in Guihai City. When you meet her, address her respectfully as City Lord. If you find anyone else resembling the piao lord anywhere in the Void Soil, report them immediately. The piao lord will reward you with an official position.

4. Guihai City is strictly managed. If you live in the twenty-seven domains of the royal city, follow the laws set by the piao lord. Don't eat too many meals, and keep a moderate amount of food in reserve. If you're caught, your own kind may eat you. Keep your appetite in check as well. Eat twice a day. If you find yourself craving one of your own kind, report it immediately.

5. If you are highly capable and miss life among humans, report to the piao lord. The lord will find you a suitable position, a new home in the human world, or a suitable lunchbox.

6. Piao society offers many paths to promotion, broadly divided between civil governance and military service. If you're a court historian or a scholar of history, report immediately and the piao lord will meet with you. If you're an ordinary unlucky young person who accidentally became a piao and wants to advance in piao society, joining the army is the best path. Military merit is your ticket to promotion, and the piao lord has plenty of battles lined up for the brave piao men and women to fight. (Sometimes, finding a good master or joining a good sect can make things twice as easy.)

7. Piao society encourages marriage and joint rule between spouses. So if your career hits a ceiling, why not find yourself a good marriage connection and then arrange a little accident (crossed out). The piao lord cares deeply for her people. Since piao have difficulty reproducing, all piao are permitted to pursue romance, and wives are especially encouraged to support their husbands' careers. Please remember that the ruler's authority outranks the husband's. If you believe your husband's decisions are pointless or even contrary to the piao lord's policies, you may take his position and serve the piao lord yourself.

8. If you think you've accidentally offended someone powerful, try finding out who their political enemies are and ask them for help. If you've offended Great Shaman Physician Xuan, you could seek shelter with Young Master Bainian. If you've offended Young Master Bainian, you could seek shelter with Commandery Princess Shang. If you've offended all of them, try the City Lord's new favorite, Young Master Qian. If you've offended Young Master Qian or the Lord, perhaps seeking shelter with the City Lord will help?

9. Love and support the City Lord wholeheartedly, and always be ready to fight for her. The City Lord will return your love in equal measure, whether you are her subjects or her food.

Reader's Guide

1. The female lead has slept with men before, while the male lead has not (though I'm not sure why this matters, I thought I'd emphasize it anyway). The female lead is in a position of power throughout the story, and her household has a capable husband and beautiful concubines. The male lead is a demon lord who rises to prominence later (he's lucky he showed up when he did).

2. Chapters 1-12 cover her upbringing in Duan City. If you find them boring, you can skip straight to chapter 12, but you might not understand the setting. I'll write a special bonus chapter to explain it later.

3. The whole story is being lightly revised. The characters suddenly grew flesh and blood of their own accord, and even ten oxen couldn't drag the author's typing hand away. All I can do is revise the logic of the earlier chapters with tears in my eyes.

4. There is a main pairing, but the author thinks the female lead can love everyone else too. In theory, the male lead could also develop feelings for someone else, but he's supposed to have narrow tastes and only have room for the female lead in his heart.

[Mad dog-like male lead x decisive female lead]

Even if the whole world were against you, I would be your one and only believer.

Theme: Though the body is riddled with wounds, the original heart can remain intact