(Mouse and Cat) In the Prime of Youth

What strapping youths we were, in our prime, scorning the lords who commanded ten thousand households.

A youth knows nothing of sorrow, yet climbs alone to a high tower and pretends to grieve.

The evening air turns autumnal, but all he sees is a vast, cloudless sky; he draws a mighty bow to shoot the geese flying south.

They say that after this flower blooms, all the others will wither. But the youth says:

Let the world wait until it is wrapped in silver, with wintersweet flowers in scarlet.

How wild and spirited he is.

P.S. Those of you who read the beginning of this story, please proceed with caution.

This story is tagged as serious drama, though the opening is lighthearted. By the principle of averages, you can probably guess what kind of ending will be needed to make this story balance out as a serious drama.

The ending was written not long after I first came up with the story, and I don’t plan to make major changes. Readers, please proceed with caution. The main story has a tragic ending; the afterword set in the afterlife can bring things back around to a happy ending. If that’s not for you, click X and leave.

With thanks, Ya.

Also:

The cat in this version is mainly based on Jiao’s portrayal. Shi from the third Young Justice Bao series also has a touch of the heroic spirit.

The mouse is mainly based on Sun’s portrayal. If you’re not keen on his looks, imagine him with the more wickedly handsome appearance of Jiao’s or Qixue’s version.

Feel free to imagine the other characters however you like, but Jiangning Granny, the eldest sister-in-law, and the Four Rats of Xian Kong generally follow the 1994 version of Seven Heroes and Five Gallants.

That’s all. Thanks for playing along, meow~

I originally wrote this opening years ago, but writer’s block kept it trapped on my hard drive. I’m finally posting it now because the song “Swords Sweep Across the Eight Directions” from Kaifeng Tales is simply incredible! Especially the spoken-word version! It’s just overflowing with youthful energy! Then I went and read the comic and saw that cat who hates traps! That reminded me of this story gathering dust on my hard drive! This one also has a cat who hates traps, hahaha.

I’m planning to end the contract, so I probably won’t continue this story. Maybe it’ll provide inspiration for a new story someday. Proceed with caution: huge unfinished pit.

Theme: