I'm Right Here!

Blurb:

Bian Nan takes on an old, unresolved case: he must guide the spirit of a deposed emperor to the afterlife.

But the spirit was bullied to death, cannot let go of his deep-seated grudges, and hates having been a puppet all his life. In short, he must resolve his lingering regrets before he can move on.

Bian Nan sorts out the situation and realizes all he needs is the right opportunity to help him crush his enemies and fulfill his obsession. Face-slapping and making a comeback are his specialties!

Only after descending into the world does he discover that the hardest part of the mission is himself. A powerful soul needs a vessel to inhabit when descending into a world. Which idiot made him a body that's missing a part?

[On the altar, in front of tens of thousands of people, the deposed emperor uses the blood from his heart as a catalyst to risk his life casting a forbidden spell, and actually summons a Fate Token.]

Bian Nan seizes the chance to descend into the world, only to find himself surrounded by matchstick figures as far as the eye can see.

Damn it, the character models won't load.

Completely unable to tell one person from another, he can only smile in exasperation.

*

On the altar, Song Wen, reborn, risks his life to summon a Fate Token.

The earth trembles, auspicious clouds fill the sky, and a handsome man with an immortal air and an overwhelming presence descends onto the altar. Every gesture carries a crushing power capable of destroying the world. Under the gaze of the crowd, he shows no trace of panic, only the faintest smile of utter disdain for all living beings.

Tens of thousands are pressed to the ground, kneeling. Song Wen is no exception, but his expression is reverent and fervent. This time, he is sure to win!

*

"I'm right here."

"Louder. I can't see you."

Song Wen screams at the top of his lungs, "I'm right here!!!!!!"

Nothing can be perfect, can it? The rare Fate Token he summoned at the cost of nearly his life is powerful, sure, but it's deaf and blind, and doesn't recognize people.

Luckily, he can use incantations to make his presence known. He has no dignity as an emperor whatsoever, but that's a small thing. When he sees the Fate Token, face expressionless, slap the regent down and beat him from the Golden Throne Hall all the way to the gates of the imperial city, taking down every bastard who ever bullied him, all Song Wen can think is: "That was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Now that his life has turned around, Song Wen wears his imperial robes and circles the Fate Token like a dog whose owner has come to its defense, wagging his tail and blinking back tears as he repeats, I'm right here, I'm right here, I'm right here...

[Bonus Scene]

Song Wen clenches his fists, eyes brimming with tears, and howls like a puppy: "Three years! Three years! You still can't recognize me, and you still ignore me! I'm done!"

Bian Nan glances at the matchstick figure trembling miserably over there, then sits right down on the Dragon Throne. All the officials in court kneel in unison and cry out:

"Long live the new emperor! Long live the new emperor! Long, long live the new emperor!!!"

Well, would you look at that. He just ascended the throne on the spot. Song Wen stares in shock: "⊙▽⊙"

[Blurb written on May 15, 2025]

Theme: Stay positive and keep striving