"LiangLin, the room upstairs needs cleaning!"
"Yes, 34th sister, I'll be right there-"
"Lin'er, honey? My room stinks, can you do something about it?"
"Yes, eldest sister, I'll just-"
"I need new bedsheets! The customer wrecked the room!"
"Just wait a moment, 49th sister, I-"
"Liang'er, I need more wine!"
"31st sister, It's right there at the next table!"
"LiangLin-"
"Wait!!"
"LinLin, baby, -"
"Just a minute-!"
"Little brother - "
"Not now!"
"Number 51, I need help with this guy!"
"..." LiangLin stopped on his tracks, flushed from all the running since morning. His hair had become undone, long strands were slicked and clued over his face and body. A pile of dirty laundry and dishes were stacked on his arms, nearly towering over his head. Turning to the 25th sister, who had just called out for him, he said, "I have a name you know!"
"So do we, but you aren't using them." She said as she pulled the hem of her robe from under the passed out patron. The man was snoring loudly, drooling over their wooden board floor. He was lying in the middle of the hall. Other patrons stepped over him without even a second glance.
That was hardly a valid point! Thought LiangLin. He was the youngest, if he so dared to even whisper one of his elder sisters' names, a broom or even worse, a shoe would fly right smack in his face.
His mother seemed to have grown ears everywhere to hear every single word he ever muttered within this huge brothel. It was chilling how the matriarch of the family could sense everything at all times. Especially when it concerned LiangLin in any way. Not to mention, his mother had bought new shoes too. These had wooden soles - he would be done for if that thing came anywhere near his face.
"Just help me out, She LiangLin." His 25th sister pleaded, kicking the guy on the floor with her shoe. "He weighs like a pig."
And looks like one too, thought LiangLin. He said, "My hands are full, can you wait a minute? I need to stop by the kitchen."
"Fine, I'll just leave him here for you. Can you tell dad to bring up more wine from the cellar? We are almost out." The 25th sister called before stepping over the patron and gliding over to the top of the stairs on the east side of the hall to greet the new customers.
LiangLin grumbled as he turned and made his way across the west hall, dodging the customers that went in and out of the private rooms of the second floor. He balanced the dishes and bedsheets in his hands masterfully as he made his way downstairs, through the side of the main hall and over to the back rooms. Using his feet, he kicked the door to the kitchen open, and a gust of smoke and the smell of something burning greeted him.
"Dad, did you burn the pork again?" LiangLin sighed as he dumped the laundry in the corner and threw the dishes in the water bucket next to the door. He ran over to the window and flung them open. The smoke cleared out and master She came to view, with sud smeared across his face and clothes. The ends of his hair were scorched and sizzling.
"No, my robe just caught on fire." Master She said cheerily as he stirred the pot over the fire. His face was blotchy red and sweating bullets. "I really need to sow it shorter, it keeps catching on the flames."
"No need, you already burned it short."
"Oh, I guess I did! How handy!" Master She mused aloud as he poured the soup into bowls and handed the tray to LiangLin. "Take them to your 34th... or was it 35th.."
"33rd sister, third floor, fifth room on the left. A bald old geezer." LiangLi recited with minor disgust in his tone.
Master She chuckled. "Yes, that old fart. Old, but a great amount of life-force! Could feed us until next spring, that one. "
"If you say so," LiangLin muttered, turning around to leave. Before he stepped out, he retracted and reminded his father to bring the wines, when he comes upstairs. Master She nodded, but LiangLin was sure he would forget. LiangLin would have to remember to come back down to retrieve them himself.
Taking the tray up the third floor, he handed them to his 33rd sister, threw a disgusted look at the fat and ugly - but undoubtedly rich - sack of wrinkly meat on the bed before he hurried down the second floor to carry the drunken pig out the door. Digging around the man's pockets LiangLin retrieved a pouch filled with money and smiled to himself. Not an entirely useless pig.
Safely putting the money pouch inside his robes, he hauled the man over his shoulders. For someone who was a runt of his family at birth, the smallest and weakest of the litter, LiangLin had an exceptional physique now that he was all grown up. He could carry a bull if he so wished and this pig of a patron was no struggle for him to heave and throw out on the streets. He might look tall and slender like his siblings, but he was pure muscle and strength.
Stepping back inside the brothel, LiangLin found himself in a much brighter mood. The pouch of money pulled at the inside of his robe and reminded him that he now had extra money to spend however he wanted to. The problem was - when would he have the time to spend it?
Looking around the main hall, chaos was an understatement. Wine bottles laid broken on the floor, tables were littered with unfinished dishes. Handkerchiefs his sisters used to wave at the customers laid forgotten across the floor, the stairs and the railings. Then there were the rooms. 50 rooms to clean and air out. The smell of sex and alcohol would be unbearable. LiangLin's face fell at the thought.
It would have been easier if he was born a woman. At least he could wine and dine to his heart content and exploit the customers to their very last breath. Or more like second to last breath, since killing their patrons was only going to cause problems for them in the long run.
"LiangLin! My room, I need it clean!"
"Number 51, did you forget the wines?"
"LinLin-"
LiangLin groaned as he weaved between the patrons, making his way for the stairs. He was memorising every call and order his sisters were throwing out as he suddenly stopped on his tracks. Something had smooth over the back of his thighs, then the touch stopped at his behind and bony fingers squeezed his ass cheek painfully. LiangLin flinched in surprise, and jumping around he was looking down at a drunken bastard who was looking at him from under heavy lids. The eyes were bloodshot and weary.
"Ho-hick-how much?" The man slurred, blinking unevenly. His breath reeked of alcohol. His robes were dishevelled and the bun over his head was now slouching to the side.
It took all LiangLin's might not to punch the man into oblivion - with his strength, the man's head would fly off.
"Ho-hur much?" The man repeated, now clawing at LiangLin's robe demandingly. LiangLin stepped back to leave the drunk be, but the man stood up, sending the chair falling. LiangLin clenched his teeth as the man advanced on him. Lianglin's fists were drawn tight, his stance threatening and ready to throw a punch when his 50th sister stepped over, well aware of what might happen soon.
"He is but a servant, my lord. Why waste time and money on him." She cooed, her voice sweet as syrup as she pulled him away. She whispered sweet nothings at the patron's ear, and soon, he settled back down at the table. She turned back to LiangLin and shoved him forward, out of the main hall to the side.
"Don't get mad for nothing, Lin'er. This is our livelihood." The 50th sister said, dusting his robes and straightening his hair. "We all get squeezed once in a while."
"I know. But I'm a man!" LiangLin said as the 50th sister tied his hair neatly out of the way in a half ponytail. She had to stand on her tiptoes to do it. "You better suck his life-force dry and leave his corpse rotting on the back alley, 50th sister!"
"Maybe I will. He doesn't seem to be very rich, or even be missed if he happened to disappear." She smiled as she plotted LiangLin's face with her sleeve. "Now, don't you look all presentable again. Why not take a stroll at the market and have a short break?"
"No strolls. The place is a mess." Their mother had now appeared behind them, her slanted, bright eyes squinting at the two. "Chun'er, go back to attending the customers."
The 50th sister shot LiangLin an encouraging smile before she slipped back into the main hall.
LiangLin's posture shrank in front of his mother's presence. She was looking around with scrutiny and clicked her tongue, visibly displeased at the state of her brothel.
"The tables must be cleaned and wiped, the floor brushed and washed. You need to air out Ying'er's room and clean Bai'er's room. Restock the wine behind the counter. Air out the kitchen too before your father suffocates himself."
"Yes, mother," LiangLin said, furiously memorising her every word and reorganising them in an order that was the most effective for him to do.
"Then you may go out."
LiangLin's head perked at the words. His mother was letting him have a break?
"We need to restock on the rouge and powder for your sisters. Look for pretty hairpins and handkerchiefs while you're there."
LiangLin's posture drooped like an overwatered flower. Of course, even when going out it was to run an errand for the brothel, not out of his free will.
"You can have the rest of the day off if you are fast at the cleaning. I'm not that heartless - I am your mother after all. You can buy the rouge and powder on your way back home later."
She didn't have to say it twice as LiangLin shot out and up the stairs like a madman. He was getting the rest of the day off!
Since this is promp writing, I'm just writing what ever comes to my mind at this point. And my mind has pretty much gone out the window since morning...
Its raining here where I live, its depressing and gloomy. I personally love the rain, but its summer so I want the sun to shine again. But then I can't stand the heat. I'm spoiled, sue me... ;_;
Am I rambling? Yes? Ok, I'm rambling now, so I hope you enjoyed the quick read. Peace! :)
Hei'ang was a city that all had heard of, most wished to visit it at least once, but only a few could really afford to go. The city was built within a cluster of mountains. Hidden within these steep green hills, one had to travel across a lake to reach Hei'ang. The Wind Pier of Hei'ang was the port to what mortals described as paradise on earth.
The streets were abounding with beautiful women, food and wine were of the finest calibre. Gambling, sex, drinking, gluttony - one could experience it all in this city. The word was, once in Hei'ang, even your deepest desires came to fruition. That was why, once you had visited Hei'ang, one yearned to come back and relive the fleeting fantasy once more.
A large boat was currently docking into the port of Wind Pier. It had stood silently over the still lake, waiting its time as the boats before it had docked, released its customers and moved away. This boat was the biggest one today to dock, yet it carried only two men with it to everyone's surprise. As the two stepped out of the boat and walked along the pier to the city, murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Must be rich."
"Show-off! Renting the entire boat to themselves."
"They don't look very wealthy to me."
"Looks like an outlaw, that one with the eyepatch."
"How pitiful, such a handsome face, but disabled."
The two men paid no attention to the words that carried over to their ear. They were busy studying a small, iron table on the palm of the man wearing the eyepatch. The table had 12 zodiacs around it and a black needle in the middle was twirling around the table uncontrollably. The needle had been sitting still the entirety of the boat ride, yet now that they were on dry land, it made no signs of stopping its movement.
"XueYa, this place must be filled with shapeshifters." The elder man said, as the two passed the white city gates and stepped into the main-street of Hei'ang. XueYa's stoic face broke into a grin as he turned his eye to the other man.
"Uncle WeiJie, if you call me by that name all the time, I will have to have your tongue cut out. And we both know how messy that is."
"You are starting to sound like your father." Uncle WeiJie said but refrained from saying his name again. XueYa never kids around, not on these matters at least.
"You seem to think that is a bad thing."
"Because it is."
"Then I'll gladly accept it. Like father like son. Bastards till the bitter end." XueYa put the zodiac table away in his pocket before he dusted his black coat with his left hand. There were only three fingers left on it, the pinkie and the ring finger had been cleanly sliced off long ago. XueYa had wrapped his hand in a black cloth, creating a glove-like cover. The missing fingers were no big deal. XueYa didn't use his left hand much for anything. Even if the entire left arm was cut off it would barely make a difference.
"You are not alone in this world. You will always have me."
XueYa laughed at his uncle's words. It sounded cold and uncaring, sending unsettling shivers down WeiJie's spine.
"You are here because you need me." XueYa finally said.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes, but that is beside the point." XueYa offered. "You are here only because I allow you to be."
WeiJie looked at his nephew with silent disgruntlement. He sometimes wondered, which one this nephew of his resembled more, his sister or his brother-in-law. Neither of the options seemed comforting to him.
"I'm not like my mother. I'm still here, aren't I?" XueYa said coldly. He had sensed his uncle's thoughts.
WeiJie shook his head but said nothing. This child was going to be the cause of his untimely death, WeiJie could already see it coming. He just hoped it came soon enough before this nephew of his turned him mad of anger or made him pop a few important arteries.
"How can we find what you are looking for when there are so many zodiac gods present in one area?" WeiJie asked in a hushed tone, changing the topic as they walked pass many small street-shops.
The street was filled with people, but the majority seemed to be male of all ages and backgrounds. Women could be seen among the crowd, but most of them seemed to be either merchants or brothel workers. The scents of stirred pork and steamed buns mixed and matched, creating a mouth-watering aroma.
"I have my ways," XueYa said as he stopped and stepped back, approaching the shop they had just passed by.
The street-shop table was filled with golden and silver hairpins, presumably all fake and low quality. But that wasn't what caused XueYa to stop. He hovered his hand over the hairpins, then making up his mind, picked up one of silver and white jade. The jade snake curled its body around the silver pin, with its head slightly protruding outwards. A blue gemstone was embedded over its eyes.
Without a word, XueYa put the item in his pocket and handed the shop owner some coins before he stepped away.
"Why did you buy it?" Uncle WeiJie asked as he trailed after XueYa, passing many other shops that sold hairpins, but XueYa didn't spare even a glance their way.
"We must be in the right place. The snake is the one we are looking for."
"The blue crown snake?"
"The blue belly snake, to be exact." XueYa corrected but he didn't elaborate on it any further. They had now reached the main attraction of Hei'ang, Xiangqi, the largest brothel in a hundred miles' radius. The heady fragrance of roses hung over the street, the beautiful faces and delicate bodies were leaning over the railings of all three floors of the building, handkerchiefs of every colour swayed in the light wind. Red lanterns with golden stripes littered the outside of the brothel, giving it an inviting reddish hue.
Uncle WeiJie looked at the scene with his lips slightly parted. He took a hasty step forward but was pulled back by XueYa. WeiJie struggled against XueYa's firm hold, determined to step inside the brothel. XueYa dug out the pin he just bought and stabbed it in his uncle's shoulder. The man yelped in surprise and his eyes widened, all the colour escaping his face. He turned to XueYa, rubbing his shoulder in pain.
"What just happened?"
"Enchantment," XueYa said as he pulled out the zodiac table and took a look at it. The needle was now vibrating in place, pointing at the snake zodiac. A cruel smile quivered on his lips as XueYa raised his eye to look at the brothel once more. He found them, the snake gods.
"Under all those harsh and cruel words, you still care for this old man," WeiJie said, smiling gently at his nephew.
"What made you think that?" XueYa raised his brow as he walked away from the brothel. They would stop by the brothel later, now was not the right moment. XueYa had found the snake gods nest, but it didn't tell him of the snake he was looking for.
"You didn't allow them to enchant me." WeiJie pointed out, glad that his nephew was not an incurable asshole after all.
"You really are too naive for your age, old man. If you were enchanted, you would have blabbered about my plans for everyone to hear. I couldn't let such a thing happen. If I ended up killing you to shut you up, it would only cause me more trouble in the long run."
"If you have so little trust in me, just cut my tongue out then!" WeiJie said, anger fuelling his every word. His nephew clearly didn't want him to have any good memories of their time together. He had to remind WeiJie at all times that XueYa indeed was a piece of shit, just like his father had been!
An amused laugh erupted from XueYa's lips. "You know I would never cut it out myself, uncle WeiJie. If anything, you would be cutting it out willingly."
"You are deranged, my son. Just like your father." WeiJie said, looking at his nephew with concern.
"Far from it, dear uncle. Say, if I was to send a letter to the emperor, telling him about the whereabouts of auntie, while you send a letter to your family's new hiding place, which one would arrive at its destination first?"
"She is your aunt!" WeiJie snapped, horrified that his nephew so little as insinuated of getting his family killed. At this rate, XueYa would soon be overriding his father in the asshole department.
"I never really liked her and I could tell the feeling was mutual." XueYan shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's a matter of principle!"
"Which I know nothing of."
"Just hand me the knife, I'll cut my throat while we're at it!" WeiJie snarled. This kid was going to be the death of him, no doubt about it! WeiJie just had to go and swear at his sister's deathbed that he would watch over XueYa. Now see where it had led him. Across the world and back again while being reminded of his piece of shit brother–in–law every time he so little as looked at XueYa's way! Truly Heaven was cruel enough to grant XueYa the exact handsome looks of his father with the same rotten nature too.
Whew, it took its time with this. I had to finish a chapter for another WPC before jumping into this one. But here we are! :D
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed! :)
P.S. sorry if there are grammatical errors, I wrote this in a hurry. Will do spell checks etc. later. ;_;
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