[Full manuscript complete]
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Nonhuman, wealthy old-money daddy-type top x frosty, energetic bottom
*
On the day Wudao Yue was chosen by his family to become a sacrificial offering, no one at home cried. They sent him to Jingtan Palace as if sending off a bride, trading him for the "guardian deity" to remain with the family, and for tangible benefits.
He'd thought he'd be eaten or killed as soon as he arrived, but nothing like what he'd imagined happened.
He settled in at Jingtan Palace, the place of legend from which no one ever returned, where no one survived.
*
Life at Jingtan Palace was so uneventful it was unnerving. There were no pilgrims or tourists, no kitchen, only the daily, regular tolling of a bell.
Lianfo Qiantang wasn't cruel or cold-hearted. He even let Wudao Yue test the boundaries, little by little:
How close could he get?
How far could he go?
It seemed he could do anything.
*
During a typhoon, he chased a frog and accidentally wandered beneath the biggest banyan tree in the back hills of Jingtan Palace.
A young corpse lay on the ground, its body stretched out.
The sky was dark. He slowly lifted his head and saw Lianfo Qiantang. Unable to make out his face, he watched Lianfo Qiantang approach and crouch in front of him. He wiped the mud and rain from his face, took his hands, and said:
"It's no good squeezing the frog so hard. Let go. I'll catch you another one to make up for it someday."
The frog in his hands had already been crushed to death. Its feet stuck out through his fingers, and frog's blood pumped out.
His thoughts were in a jumble. "It's not even dark yet, and the rain's getting heavier."
Lianfo Qiantang still didn't kill him. At least, not then. He only said:
"Go back. The rain's getting heavier. You can go check on your fish."
*
This world seemed completely different from the one he'd imagined, and the one he'd heard about.
*
A sacrificial offering, a living sacrifice.
Offered to gods, mountains, and water.
Offered to every unspeakable being.
Those chosen were discarded children, servants, and prisoners of war.
People no one wanted.
Forewarning:
1. This story contains melodrama, unconventional elements, a domineering and pampered relationship, horror and suspense, nonhuman characters, religious culture, deprivation of human rights, intersex characters, anxiety about childbirth, Japanese urban legends, and depictions and misconceptions of Japanese culture. Readers with low tolerance should not read.
2. The author does not accept any guidance or suggestions, including but not limited to paragraphing, characterization, or plot structure. Please allow the author to pursue their own literary goals. None of the author's works use the common Jinjiang "one sentence per paragraph" format. Paragraphs follow the author's personal habits and literary choices. The author is fully aware of the risks and does not need any kind of "suggestion" from anyone.
3. By continuing to read, you acknowledge the warnings above. Enjoy!
Theme: Fate is a matter of personal will
