____In Liánhuā District, a cheerful night dinner gathering was underway in the District Magistrate's office—a lavish display of wealth that masked the rot festering within. Here, the web of corruption had gathered to feast.
At the head of the table sat Magistrate Lǐ Wěi, a man in his fifties whose silken robes and jade rings could not hide the greed in his eyes or the cruelty in his heart. This was a man who had not earned his status through merit, but through calculated betrayal and a thirst for power that never ceased.
To his right lingered Dǔ Guǐ, the owner of the largest gambling den in the district, "Yù Shé Kū" (The Jade Serpent's Den). Pale and thin as a shadow, he was a man governed by superstition and spite, known to all as the "Gambling Ghost."
Across from him, face already flushed and laughter too loud, sat Jiǔ Tù—the "Alcohol Rabbit." He was the undisputed monopoly of alcohol distribution, a cunning man who supplied the district with a specially brewed, super-addictive alcohol that slowly eroded the drinker's will and 扭曲 (niǔ qū - twisted) their behavior. He and the magistrate drank only fine, safe imports, while the people of Liánhuā drowned in his poisonous concoction.
Also present was Dr. Kaelen, a foreigner with cold, clinical eyes—the only doctor in the district. He was known to exploit the vulnerable, offering "treatments" to the trafficked women that were little more than experiments, lining his pockets while preying on those with no other choice.
And standing near the window, observing the depravity with a mask of stoic duty, was Captain Zhào. As the head of the district guard, he was the silent, watchful wolf in a den of snakes. But his loyalty was a lie. He was there to avenge his big sister's family, and every moment among these men was a quiet torture, a performance in a long game of revolution he planned with the mysterious Scribe Wén (Captain Zhào's father). His every breath was a promise of vengeance yet to come.
While everyone was drinking and laughing, a message arrived in the dinner hall. "My Lord, there have been signs of revolution in the district for the past week. Many of the bars and gambling dens were closed and burnt down to ashes while you were away."
Hearing this, Dǔ Guǐ and Jiǔ Tù’s faces filled with anger and confusion. "Damn those people! Who in this useless district has the guts to do that?" shouted Jiǔ Tù. Dǔ Guǐ snarled, "What the fuck were those soldiers doing when this mess happened?"
Magistrate Lǐ Wěi, revealing his sly fox nature, tried to calm the two down. "Wait, let him tell us everything first," he said smoothly.
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The messenger continued, "There is talk of a man people call 'The Crimson General.' He rides a white horse and wields a blade that radiates the smell and aura of hell. The soldiers who confronted him either died or fled. They also say he is the mountain devil from Devil's Mountain."
Listening to the entire message, the magistrate began to plot. "The Crimson General? The mountain devil? Who would believe that?" scoffed Jiǔ Tù.
Dǔ Guǐ declared, "I will go and teach that fool who he messed with and make him pay for what he did!" He left the hall in anger and slammed the door.
The air filled with tension and curiosity about who this Crimson General might be and how to kill him.
Dr. Kaelen interjected coldly, "My Lord, the due date is next month. We have to export the goods. Do not forget that you have already been paid."
Magistrate Lǐ Wěi replied, "I know. Don’t worry about this; it is just a new event after a long time to spice up our boring lives. I will solve it. Just go and rest. Also, send word to your country to bring some soldiers from there. We have to weed out this nuisance here." Dr. Kaelen nodded and left.
Jiǔ Tù asked the magistrate, "My Lord, we need to make him pay for our losses. But who do you think could have sent him here? Could it be your big brother?"
Hearing that word, the magistrate slammed his cup on the table. "Shut up! Don’t call that bastard my brother. I will make him pay for nosing in my business by sending this weed’s head to his house!" They continued drinking.
Outside the hall, Captain Zhào, who had been listening to the entire conversation, began to wonder about the Crimson General and planned to meet him before these snakes could. He went to meet Scribe Wén, a man in his late sixties who had been plotting the revolution with his son, Captain Zhào, for the last five years—gathering allies and tolerating evil deeds all the while.
Captain Zhào said, "Father, I think we have found the last piece to solve the puzzle we have been working on. We can avenge big sister’s family and the other people in the district. There is a new man in town making noise. While all eyes are focused on him, we can save those women being held captive in the shipyard."
Scribe Wén replied, "You are right. I was thinking the same. First, we must save those women. Then we will meet and see what kind of man this Crimson General really is." He added, "Speaking of the mountain devil, I also wonder what he looks like. I will gather information on him. You and your men should focus on saving the women."
Captain Zhào nodded and went to talk to his men.
Alone at his desk, Scribe Wén looked at a family picture of himself with his daughter and son. "Lin Wei," he whispered, "I shouldn’t have let you go to another village. I should have protected you. I will find who burnt your house and make them pay." As he spoke to his late daughter’s image, his eyes filled with tears.
In the meantime, both Dǔ Guǐ and Captain Zhào began to make their moves—one to kill a man considered a myth, the other to save the lives of innocent women. Whose plan will work?...___
If you are wondering how the Crimson General would look like. Feel free to check out our reddit page. There, I will be posting the characters portraits born in my imagination.
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