Meng Po Hears Stories

Meng Po listens to stories on the clock every day. She loves hearing people tell the story of a lifetime in just a few words.

She doesn't know why, but the protagonists of every story she loves always end up without a happy ending.

Until one day, she suddenly realizes that she, too, is one of the countless people unable to let go of their obsessions.

And she, too, has no happy ending in the eyes of others.

1. A collection of interconnected stories. The main and side stories are all tragedies, with every character meeting a bad end.

2. The main thread follows Meng Po as she listens to stories. Each story has its own protagonist, but they are all connected.

3. This is an attempt at a style I haven't written before, and it isn't quite like the usual anthology format.

Please check out my upcoming novel, Can the Hehuan Sect Not Practice the Unfeeling Dao?

I'm no longer using this pen name, so the new novel will be posted under the account [Pen name: Yanyu].

My name is Ning Yue, and I'm a disciple of the Hehuan Sect.

When I was little, my master took one look at me in my village and decided I was the perfect fit for the aloof senior sister archetype.

My sect is a little strange. Because of the cultivation techniques we practice, we have to learn XX arts and OO with other people.

But you know how it is: if two disciples happen to fall for the same person, and you and your fellow senior and junior brothers and sisters all have the same kind of unattainable dream-lover personality, things can get really awkward.

So my sect has an unwritten rule: we absolutely mustn't share an archetype.

But to everyone's surprise, when I turned sixteen, I stopped growing at a height of one and a half meters.

Worse still, my figure was the least suited to practicing our sect's secret arts.

I'm flat-chested.

“Our sect doesn't have anyone playing the innocent junior sister. How about, ”

I stared at my master expressionlessly, and the rest of his sentence caught in his throat.

He patted my shoulder and burst into tears. “It's my fault. I shouldn't have taught you as a child that girls should be quiet and speak less. Now that you're grown, you can't get a single word out.”

My master didn't know that I'm actually a chatterbox.

Just a one-of-a-kind chatterbox who doesn't like talking.

Yes, that's right. I have a very active inner monologue.

But nobody understands how lively and adorable I am, except for my chatterbox childhood friend.

Anyway, after I insisted, my master allowed me one last attempt to turn things around.

At his introduction, I went on a one-of-a-kind blind date with the Sword Sect's senior brother.

Him: …

Me: …

He struggled to speak. “Have you eaten?”

I looked at the tableful of exquisite dishes in front of me and fell silent. Seriously, was the Sword Sect's senior brother blind?

Him: …

Me: …

Our masters watched the whole thing from the side, then hugged each other and wept.

“I shouldn't have taught him from childhood that silence is golden in the Sword Sect.”

“I shouldn't have taught her from childhood that the Hehuan Sect needs someone aloof.”

My master reflected on his mistakes and immediately decided I should give up on practicing our sect's secret arts.

He pulled out a dusty manual and cried, “Yueyue, from now on, practice the Unfeeling Dao instead.”

I didn't have any objections, but my chatterbox childhood friend did.

He sobbed, “Yueyue, why don't you try seducing me?”

Me: …

He burst into tears. “Waaah, I don't want to live anymore!”

Me: …

I'm absolutely not going to seduce him. Men are such a hassle. They're either mute or chatterboxes. So annoying.

Without hesitation, I clenched the manual in my hand.

I'm going to practice the Unfeeling Dao in the Hehuan Sect!

1. Silly and sweet.

Theme: Obsession isn't always a good thing. Learn to let go of the past.