Cactus Eve‘s Needle

Li Yong adalah bocah yang bernasib malang. Sejak dilahirkan, dia tidak pernah mengetahui siapakah kedua orang tuanya. Dia dibuang begitu saja. Entah karena apa alasannya. Sebab hingga sekarang, dia sendiri belum mengetahui secara pasti. Saat itu usianya masih kecil. Untunglah langit mengulurkan tangannya. Pada detik-detik penentuan antara hidup dan mati, tiba-tiba ada sebuah tangan yang terjulur kepadanya. Tangan itu sudah keriput, bahkan kotor oleh debu-debu yang menyesakkan nafas. Ternyata tangan itu milik seorang kakek tua. Li Yong tidak tahu siapa kakek tua itu. Yang dia tahu hanyalah bahwa kakek tua itulah yang kemudian merawatnya seperti kepada cucu sendiri. Bahkan dia juga yang memberikan nama Li Yong kepadanya. Nama itu diambil dari marga Li milik kakek tua yang diketahui bernama Li Beng tersebut. Semenjak saat itu, Li Yong terus tinggal bersama Kakek Li Beng. Keduanya benar-benar akrab, seperti akrabnya hubungan keluarga. Siapa pun pasti tidak akan ada yang menyangka bahwa mereka sebenarnya tidak ada ikatan darah sama sekali. Namun sayang sekali. Semua itu tiba-tiba berubah ketika musibah menghampiri mereka berdua. Kakek Li Beng dibunuh secara sadis oleh perampok-perampok yang tidak punya hati nurani. Untunglah pada saat itu, Li Yong berhasil menyelamatkan dirinya. Kematian Kakek Li Beng telah membuat Li Yong terpukul. Dia tersiksa lahir batin. Hingga pada akhirnya, bocah itu memutuskan untuk pergi ke tempat yang sangat jauh. Namun sepuluh tahun kemudian, di jalan dan di desa yang sama, tiba-tiba muncul seorang pemuda misterius. Wajahnya angkuh dan dingin, kedua bola matanya kelabu. Siapa pun bakal mengetahui kalau dia adalah orang yang menderita penyakit batin dan selalu merasa kesepian. Pemuda yang dimaksud itu bukan lain adalah Li Yong. Ya, memamg dia. Namun Li Yong yang sekarang, telah berbeda jauh dari Li Yong sepuluh tahun silam. Sekarang dia telah menjelma menjadi seorang pemuda yang gagah perkasa. Ilmu silatnya sangat tinggi. Tiada seorang pun yang mengetahui sampai di mana taraf kesempurnaan ilmunya. Kematangan dari penguasaan setiap jurusnya juga tidak perlu diragukan lagi. Kemunculannya ke dalam dunia ramai membawa sebuah tekad. Li Yong ingin mencari pelaku yang sudah membunuh Kakek Li Beng sekaligus mencari jati dirinya sendiri. Dia pun ingin menjadi seorang pendekar yang membasmi kejahatan.

The Wasp's Golden Needle is a novel that intricately combines the practice of traditional Chinese medicine with mystical techniques. It tells the story of Shen Xingkong, a protagonist born into poverty. Despite his relentless efforts, which secured him a place at a medical university, his life remains filled with hardships and scorn from those around him. However, an unexpected encounter dramatically alters his fate. During a seemingly mundane confrontation with a mutated wasp, Shen Xingkong, though appearing to lose, gains a magical golden needle from the wasp's stinger. This needle not only grants him immense power but also opens the doors to higher realms, setting him on a path of extraordinary transformation. Beginning of the Novel The novel begins with Chapter 1, "The Buzz of the Bee," depicting Shen Xingkong's accidental encounter with the mutated wasp. This opening scene sets a tone of tension and mystery, symbolizing the impending changes and challenges. Time and Setting Set in a modern urban environment that merges ancient Chinese medicine with contemporary medical practices, the story takes place in a fictional city. Shen Xingkong attends a medical university that combines both traditional and modern medical disciplines, giving the story a realistic yet timeless backdrop. Plot Details 1、Shen Xingkong's Struggles: Shen Xingkong is born into a poor family. Despite his hard work, he faces significant financial and social challenges at the medical university. 2、Accidental Encounter: In a fateful encounter, Shen Xingkong faces a mutated wasp. Although he appears to lose, he unexpectedly gains the wasp’s golden needle. 3、Awakening of Power: With the golden needle, Shen Xingkong discovers dramatic changes in his body and abilities, leading to significant academic and personal achievements. 4、Academic and Practical Application: During his traditional Chinese medicine classes, Shen Xingkong uses the needle to demonstrate extraordinary medical skills, gradually gaining respect from his peers and teachers. 5、New Challenges: As his powers grow, Shen Xingkong faces more challenges, including academic competition and various life trials. 6、Xi Feng's Challenge: In Chapter 158, the arrival of Xi Feng introduces a new twist. His challenge pushes Shen Xingkong to further develop his abilities, creating intense and gripping moments. Climax and Conclusion The climax occurs between Chapters 155 and 158, where Shen Xingkong faces significant challenges and the pressure of postgraduate exams. Balancing his academic life and personal growth, he ultimately overcomes Xi Feng's challenge, showcasing his full potential granted by the golden needle. Major Conflict The major conflict revolves around Shen Xingkong’s struggle against external adversities and his internal battle with self-doubt and fear. His encounter with Xi Feng serves as a crucial turning point, helping him conquer both external and internal challenges. Ending The novel concludes in Chapter 767 with a dual ending, offering two possible futures for Shen Xingkong. In one, he continues his medical career, becoming a renowned physician. In the other, he retreats from the limelight, living a peaceful and fulfilling life in seclusion. These endings highlight his sense of duty as a healer and his understanding of self-worth.

Synopsis The Needle in this fiction embodies Martial Law. The skull mangled exemplifies the Filipino people specifically human rights victims from all persuasions – enforced Desaparecidos to combatants, students to academicians, civilians to soldiers, peasants to landlords, laymen to religious, ordinary taxpayers to oligarchs, voters to politicians, officials to professionals, – all victims of militarization offered as sacrificial lambs in the altar of Dictatorship. The crucifix and holy rosary, guns, and bullets symbolize the protagonists – heroes and villains - and the causes and institutions they represent. The red roses, a love affair that blooms and blossoms among the main characters. The timeline was September 21, 1972, covering fourteen long years of dictatorship when Martial Law was declared until February 24, 1986, during the restoration of democracy ushered in by People’s Power at Epifanio de Los Santos or EDSA. Post EDSA events from Fidel V. Ramos to Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III or PNoy to Duterte’s presidency and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. are briefly treated in an Epilogue. The choice of fiction was deliberate because of its timelessness and very important lesson drawn from that historic event–the restoration of democracy no less by President Cory Aquino. Whether it succeeded or not thereafter doesn’t matter. Filipinos are that unpredictable. Their memory is way too short and the hardest to please. But what is important is we have thrown away the tyrant, award-winning Investigate Journalist Shiela Coronel emphasized restoring fourteen long-lost hostage democracy in 1986. Add to that is the consequent didactic message to all Filipinos especially the Post Martial Law babies: “Beware and never again Martial Law!” In format, the author uses four of Irving Wallace's criteria in writing fiction from his “The Writing of One Novel” with some innovation on grounding characters using flashbacks and other tools characterizing bestsellers like Dan Brown, Grisham highlighting the author’s premium on the relevance of the said historical event and its political ramifications surrounding the subject throughout the story. First, no loose ends in the plot. This one is a tough act to follow. The subplot should be tied together as much as possible to the end. Second, narrative excitement rings the bell for readers. Third, is the use of research to disabuse and mitigate elements of violence and sex. Treating this work as social commentary on different implacable social issues of the day was deliberately utilized by the writer given his Philosophy, Theology, and Sociology background. Note that pictorials used in the work unless indicated in the caption are meant to highlight the theme of each respective chapter. Lastly, the most unlikely ending squeezing creative juices of the imaginative mind. Breaking the rules of writing known to man is also a challenge here. Ergo, treating the subject as fiction against the social commentary backdrop to make the narrative captivating journey instead just plain Martial Law account which is surely dry and monotonous story. How these criteria are treated and addressed by the writer especially the first, third, and fourth is left to readers and critics. Copy editing of the first draft has been done by the author using Grammarly, relevant creative writing tips culled from the internet from the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Jeff Goins, Catherine Reid, Cynthia Jones-Shoeman, Joe Bunting of NaNoWriMo, Billy Wilder, and Pruelpo, an FB friend and OFW dabbling as free-lance writer and guru. The third is actual editing from Ricardo S. Maulion Jr., my son, doing the proofreading. I have yet to accept any copy editors to do the favor for me packaging this project into a cohesive whole work. Ricardo F. Maulion For book order: Email ad: ricardomauliond1205@gmail.com

A few years ago, Music of Tomorrow Entertainment hired Doctor Melody Marchesa as a mental health support assistant for the K-pop group known as BHY (Beating Hearts of Youth). On their latest world tour, the members have a massive falling-out, causing a rift to grow between them. Despite Melody's best attempts to resolve the issue, the members conclude that they want to disband. They agree only to work together until the tour ends; then, they want to disband officially. Can Melody mend their broken bond before it is too late?

Faith, fear, and fury. The strongest, most inalienable things that make us human. While the people of the world learn and grow, they shed feeling and emotion as time passes. Much like how matter cannot truly be destroyed, the energies of these sentiments never dissipates. Instead, it feeds beings born of all types of things, from ancient cultural followings to widespread societal discourse. In turn, these beings give back to the world--for better or worse. After the traumatic incident of his father's death, young DeMain is thrust into a world of turmoil and a hidden people right under the world's nose. As he harnesses a rare and unique ability gifted to him in exchange for his suffering, his view of the world unravels as he converges with others given the gift of Witchblood, an ability to see and interact with spirits. This book will take on its narrative based on the first-person views of three separate protagonists. I will remind those reading that 'protagonist' does not equate to 'hero' in all cases. A forewarning: This story includes many heavy themes and I felt the need to write them with the reality of how they happen. As such, be cautious. This book contains mentions of sexual assault, murder, violence, substance abuse, and overall conflict. There are also quite a varied amount of scenes with some 'gross' aspects to them. Though I imagine this would only affect those with vivid imaginations, you deserve to be warned regardless. Updates will done be once weekly if not more. (Things are subject to edits and changes!)

Have you ever wondered what happens when the sun goes down and the human world is asleep? Well, most of the 'people' are really a part of a supernatural community that gathers into an abandoned part of an underground city. This city is run by werewolves, but vampires, witches, and other supernaturals come to hang out in secret. And one werewolf tattoo artist has a shop there called, 'The Silver Needle.' This shop is the main attraction, because she was actually a born witch before her werewolf boyfriend bit her by mistake. So this made her a hybrid. With the best intentions, a human walks into the underground city, only to find the hybrid, named Serenity, turn before his very eyes. This creates a serious problem as new dangers arise as their community may indeed be exposed. When Serenity finds out about his new intentions, will the supernaturals ever find a new home, or will they be forever exiled out of existence by hunters?

In the world of fashion, a successful designer, Rosalind, crosses paths with Mark, a charismatic model with a hidden agenda. Unbeknownst to Rosalind, Mark is a skilled villain using his good looks to manipulate the fashion elite. Rosalind discovers Mark's true identity as their professional collaboration evolves into a passionate romance. Now torn between love and justice, Rosalind must decide whether to expose Mark's deceit and risk her own heart.

Alert. Run. Needle and thread have come. In a small town a woman captures and makes a dolly. After being accused for murder she somehow gets loose. Running with three children that are not her own. She will torture them make then her perfect Dolly's. Make them the perfect children she never had. Abby, Dewy and Wish. { Updates are a little slow. } Let me apologize early on for grammar and spelling mistakes.

A person dies and reincarnates, the story has been told many times. The main character dies and reincarnates into a world of fantasy and magic. What's the difference in this you say. The person has partial memory loss from their previous life and has no cheat like skill. They have to use their common sense, wits, and knowledge to survive in this world of fantasy, full of mythical beasts and legendary warriors. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention they are born into this world as a cactus.

Alam mo ba ang queen of the night Cactus? Isang uri ng cactus na namumulaklak lang tuwing gabi. Sabi nila kapag humiling ka habang namumukadkad ang bulaklak na yon Matutupad daw ang kahilingan mo. Pero di ako sure, kasi hindi kasi ako naniniwala sa ganun. Ang masasabi ko lang, nalulungkot ako sa cactus na iyon, kasi naappreciate lang siya kasi sa bulaklak na lumalabas lang tuwing gabi"