[The jade-faced, ruthless emperor gong x the optimistic, carefree swordsman shou]
When he was young, the assassin Jing Jiu once received a meal from Crown Prince Rong Heng of Xuan as an act of kindness. To repay him, Jing Jiu braved every danger for Rong Heng over the years, willingly becoming a battered blade in his service.
With war between Xuan and Liang imminent, Rong Heng came to him once more. "A Jiu, I can't stand by and watch Great Xuan fall into peril. Help me assassinate the King of Liang!"
Jing Jiu agreed.
He traveled alone to Liang to carry out the assassination, but the King of Liang was cunning and surrounded by expert guards. All three attempts ended in failure.
Jing Jiu nearly died. He fled back to Xuan, covered in wounds, only to be surrounded by Rong Heng and his soldiers. "A Jiu, the Liang army is at our borders and demands that we hand over the fugitive assassin... For the people of Great Xuan, I'm afraid I have no choice but to ask you to make this sacrifice."
Unable to fight back, Jing Jiu was bound and placed in a prisoner cart by the benefactor of his past, then personally handed over to the King of Liang, who was said to avenge every slight.
In the palace of Liang, the King of Liang walked up to him with a sword and asked, "Any last words?"
Since death was already at hand and Jing Jiu had no attachments, he smiled calmly. "I won't die in vain. After all, of all the people I've tried to assassinate, you're the most beautiful."
The ministers of Liang were terrified, all expecting Jing Jiu to be struck down on the spot.
But with a single swing, the King of Liang only cut the ropes binding Jing Jiu's hands and feet, then tossed him the sword.
"I hear you're good with a sword. Give me a performance.
If you do well, I'll let you admire this beauty to your heart's content."
Blurb screenshotted on 2024.3.11
Theme: Living in the face of death
