Ji Chang sat expressionlessly in the dark dungeon. His sideburns were white and his eyes were sluggish. He was in an absolute motionlessnes, even his breathing was in no position to bother this state. Only a blink of eyes can prove that he was still alive. He seemed to be lost in some kind of thought right now. What was he pondering over, however, as it was ture that he couldn't even remember what year it was now. Consequently, the unnatural gesture just didn't last for long. He looked like a venting ball and collapsed there suddenly, as if saying—this was it, and what were the merits to contemplate so much.
At this moment, the door outside was opened, and someone walked in. Although it was not able to be recognized with the help of its face, the sound of the footsteps indicated a familiar occasion, oh, it was jailer—he was coming to deliver the meals lest somebody who have complained thousands times that he was innocent should starved. The doorway was far from the cell and the light there disappeared in no more than five steps, but through the fist-sized skylight high above the cell, it was faint but remained visible that the jailer brought a basket, which was about two feet high.
"Time to eat," the prison officer shouted.
Ji Chang didn't feel very hungry now, after all, there was nothing to do in this dark dungeon after having meals and abundant sleeping, physical output was rare.
Soon the prison officer brought the basket to the door where a cell was specially made for Ji Chang who could have witnessed that his meal was being presented. There was a big bowl inverted on which seemed to be a bronze plate, which was really rare to see in such a place. The prison officer reached out his hands, took it out scrupulously, placed it on the ground.
"Hurry up, it won't taste good when it got cold!" After that, the prison officer picked up the basket again, turned around and walked to the door of the opposite cell where a steamed bun and a bowl of porridge were unloaded. Ji Chang has been giving just one meal every day since he was put into prison. And It was always wild vegetable, steamed buns or something like that. Every time the jailer delivers food, he would put it directly down on the ground, wheather it was carrots or vegetables is visible at a glance. So a big plate on which inverted a bowl made it irresistible to guess, what was it?Could...it be...! Oh no, shit! Thinking of this, his heart was beating faster like a train that gained some accelerated velocity in a sudden. Looking at the jailer walking away, he just swallowed his saliva and said nothing. Survival is human instinct, and eating is a certain way led to survival. Therefore, anyone who wants to wintness the vicissitudes of the world longer than others cannot refuse the temptation of food. Within a few seconds, a bang was heard and thus the door was closed again!
"What's so delicious?" A greedy sound came from the opposite cell. "What makes your special today?" Ji Chang crawled a step forward so that he could smell the meal. Yes, it was incredibly delicious. This was a very familiar taste coming from far to the mouth with thousands wrong guesses and an old-friend-style stranger. Yes! Yes! Yes! this MUST BE meat! At the same time, the inmate opened his mouth in surprise and stuttered "meat ..." His voice almost trembling.
Trying to get the plate of food dedicated to Ji Chang, he reached out his hand frantically and remorselessly, with several slots on the door being tested in a few seconds, but all ended in failure! Like a dog being hungry for a few days, looking for anything can eat, while screaming, losing control over its dribble gushing out from its mouth, it worried the iron cord that bound it. Two sharp forepaws dug everything within their attack! No, he was even more ruthless. What differentiated him from the hungry dog was that he began to plead his inmate to share the delicacy with him!
Finally, Ji Chang no longer hesitated. He knelt forward and climbed a few steps so that he could catch the plate without bothering streching his arms. The large bronze bowl was nothing for him. They were in piles in Xiqi where he ruled, but a little bit excitment remained when such a big bronze bowl was served in such a place. Ji, who has experienced ups and downs in his life, could totally stand himself without spending too much time to treat his eyes, and of course this trick could not blind his eyes. He was just a little worried. Oh, come on, it was just a waste of time. Then he reached out a hand to remove the big bowl buckled on the plate. At that moment, the contents of the plate were utterly uncovered to his eyes—a fist-sized heart—and a bowl of broth—in which there was a jade pendant—wasn't this ... was isn't ... the jade pendant of my elder son, Yi? Ah ..., blood spewed out from his mouth, and Ji Chang passed out instantly.
The jade pendant in the broth was the amulet of Yi, the eldest son of Ji Chang. The appearance of this jade showed that his eldest son had been killed. Emperor Xin dug out his heart and ordered the cook to serve his father.If this can be tolerated, what cannot?!
His inmate also seemed to feel that something was wrong, reaching out to wipe the saliva in the corner of his mouth. He was calm and sober as a judge!
"Old chap ..."
"Old chap ... Are you alright? Don't scare me!"
He saw Ji Chang twitching there, reaching out a hand under his white hair, and slowly pointing at the heart that was still warm.
Ji Chang was now full of his son, Yi, with his face and his smiles keeping lingering in his mind. Suddenly, he spoke, as if Yi was standing in front of him. It was nothing but an illusion caused by extreme pains.
"He's dead!" Ji Chang murmured. His inmate also began to mumble to himself, "He is a good man. He should not be executed like this. Who can come up with such a vicious way to deal with a 70-year-old man? How can God repay such a person?" Just then, he found that Ji Chang grabbed the heart and started to bite. Even he should give in on this occasion. Although he had murdered a few people, engorging flesh and bones of his own children would absolutely drive him crazy. He wanted to dissuade but didn't know what to say, for several times some words came to his lips but were swallowed back before they were uttered. Yep, how do you persuade the old chap not to eat the body of his own son who was killed and cooked for him? Consequently, he just stared blankly at the opposite where the white-hair monster was gobbling.
Creepily, this unwatchable scene didn't stampede the old man but his onlooker, and there was no nausea or sickness from very beginning to end. How remorseless was it to achieve such a heroic undertaking! Maybe only a true mortal feud can drive people to such madness. Now, he was swallowing, not because of the flesh that should have made him gluttonous for a while before he knew the horrible truth, but he was deeply shocked by the flesh, which was a reaction of fear and fright.
In the 70 years, many people have passed away, but he has seen through the world like a bystander. Having eyes without witnessing life and death was also impossible. King of Hell seemed to have long forgotten him. Ji Chang started to fall in a trance again, and soon passed out. This meal, which was supposed to be delicious, has become a poison for him, but even if it was poisonous, he has to swallow it. According to the laws of the Shang Dynasty, if this meal was not consumed,that meant the person who refused the food would never be fed again.That would be choosing a hunger strike, which showed no different from hitting the head on the wall. He had no idea whether he was in a dream or not, were they all illusions? Tens of thousands of pictures flashed over his mind, forming a magnificent scene.
In the darkness, Ji Chang felt that he was floating somewhere high, the wind blew his ears. "Where am I?" Ji Chang was muttering now in his mind, but there was nothing around him except himself. It seemed that something occurred to him all of a sudden, "Oops," said him, "Am I already in the underworld? It is said that underworld is the territory under the control of Yama, Lord of Hell, when people died, they should come to this place and receive his Judgment. By the way, there were ox-head and horse-face goblins, as well as Demon of Impermanence. No, no, no, shouldn't I have to cross the Bridge Over Troubled Water first? How could it be in such a disorder? Or the Bridge Over Troubled Water is just ahead?" He kept muttering, hoping that the road would come to an end as soon as possible, or that someone would talk to him. Not knowing how long this has continued, he saw a light appear in the distance, so he began to rush. Strange enough, as he endeavored to move forward, he felt he was accelerating. That was true. This seemed to be the only thing in his control at present, and it gave anyone in this infinite uncertainty great comfort.
Close, close…and finally it was as clear as a crystal ball. There was bamboo forests, an old man was sitting there, as if he was pondering over something. In a blink of an eye, he came to the old man, but he had no idea how he made it.
"Chang'er, you're finally here." The old man said.
Ji Chang was surprised when he saw the old man... "Isn't this my father?"
"Father ..." He couldn't wait to shout out. The old man, however smiled a little, nodding slightly.
"Chang'er, why are you coming to me?" asked the old man.
"I don't know, father. I just felt the wind under my feet, and it was dark all around. I kept running forward until I saw the light ahead. Then I found you."
"How are you doing there? Who wins?"
"I was put in Zhaoge prison." Once hearing this, the old man sighed, "Providence! God 's providence! Since you are jailed, the Great Uprising would be a joke. Tell me your story!"Are all our children safe?"
"The children are still ..." He paused for a few second, eyes filled with irrepressible anger, finally he burst into tears.
"Emperor Xin, ruler of Shang Dynasty at present killed my son, Yi. It's a long story…I ordered my son to convey gifts for Xin's birthday to Zhaoge. Everything was smooth at first. Unfortunately, however, when the army arrived in Zhengzhou area, the autumn rain caught them. The road was muddy and hourses were trapped there. As a result, they missed Xin's birthday. It must be villain's snare, Xin then summoned me to go to court, I have reached the age of my life, and I can't travel too far away. As soon as I arrived in Zhaoge, I was put into death row by the guards before I could see Xin. That day I was locked up with my son. But the next day, he was taken away and his whereabouts were unknown to me until the jailer delivered a dish, that was my son's heart! …"He began to sob again.
The old man was astonished when he heard these words. "Then you eat my grandson's heart?"
Ji Chang didn't say a word but kept twitching!
"Even a tiger does not eat its babies! Now that you have eaten his heart and soul, it will be part of you. You're integrated now."
"Chang'er, go, your mission has not been completed. I have tried hard to make Zhou stronger, the rule of Shang was afraid that it would be unfavorable to him, that was the reason why they killed me. In order to contain you, he killed my grandson again. Now this is a family feud. Remember, even if the Great Uprising consumed 100 years ahead, it must be done.
After saying this, the old man suddenly spit out blood and his head fell onto the ground. A dead body stood rigidly there. Witnessing such scenes, Ji Chang was so frightened that his legs and feet were trembling. Losing balance, he seemed to fall from clouds high. With great anguish, he woke up in the prison!