CHAPTER 1- PERISH

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, living in a prosperous city of Lisha, the northern side country of Meca- a one big continent that is divided by four. As the rulers of each land establish a country in which people have the right to live their life to fullest, dancing, singing and free to care while maintaining the glory of its peaceful name. The crowded city, the bustling market, the busy day were thanks to their magnificent king- King Yang.

On the other side country, due to the rumors that spread throughout his country, the emperor of the West lost his ground to defend his sovereignty as his subjects had been suffered yet again. It has been over 10 years but nothing change. Being starved to death upon claiming that their ruler is a descendant of a demon. The drought caused the land to be depleted and the green scenery had been replace with dry and cracked soil. Even the refugees that the imperial palace distributed are not far enough to cover the amount of mouth to feed. Therefore, in order to bring back the lively scene the emperor once witness in his coronation day, wishing that everything was just a dreadful nightmare, he seek for help from the North country side- the kingdom of Lisha. But instead of aid he received humiliation. He became a laughingstock, a fool and source of mockery, a shame to his land. His name has been stain- tainted. Thus, the emperor- without a choice came back in his country. Traveling a thousand Li that it took several days to reach. Upon arriving, everything is a complete hell. The land of promise, the oath he take has been washed away with blood. His people has been slaughtered. None remains. The lives he hardly tried to saved even the cost of almost his life has been gone. His palace is burning and the roaring fire sucking away his home. The emperor could only whip watching his hard earning effort burn down before his eyes.

Everything seems to be just like a blink of an eye. So suddenly. On the spur of the moment the world seems to fall apart- he was unprepared. He remembered when his imperial mother said to him that 'to love a country is the same as to love once life. The fall of the ground is the fall of our pride'. The emperor slowly walk in the palace, without much care of the fire burning his skin. His mind is blank- only the pain lingers deep in his heart gives him the courage to walk pass the fire. He never once thought that the loved country before would collapse in his reign. Perhaps all those rumors are true. Perhaps, he is indeed a descendant of a demon. If not why is this all happened? The wail of his people, the cries of the children- too innocent, too young, too late to regret. They are yet to bloom. But why does his people have pay the price of all this event? He asked the heaven "They didn't do anything for them to die mercilessly. They didn't break the law of the heaven for them to be taken their lives painstakingly"

The emperor went straight to their ancestral hall. Opening the door, lies all his ancestors praying stomp. Most of them had been burn down by the fire yet the emperor didn't mind nor didn't walk in, instead he stood outside for a minute before bowing down on his knees three times- begging, asking for forgiveness for failing to protect his people. For failing to save his country. For being a useless ruler. He blame himself for everything.

The first bow is for the heaven and earth. He in fact did everything he could in his might but still it's not enough. Still lacking of reason, lacking of strength. The fear devoured him without even noticing. Now, he asked the heavens to guide the soul of his people in a better place. A place where there's no more hunger, pain, sickness, sorrow, death and lies.

The second bow is for his parents for failing as a child. For being weak and coward. He asked them to forgive his actions that causes the lives of his subjects to lose. In order to sustain their needs, he tried to asked for help but no avail. Even the treasures passed down by his past linage had been emptied. Nothing left behind. And now his only home had also been taken away.

The third bow is for his people. He hopes that if there's a chance of reincarnation, they will reincarnate with a good life away from all of the pain. He hope that they will not blame him for being incompetent. He hopes that in the next life, they will never meet again. He is ashamed by all his name.

Looking by the future, it seems there's no more than a piece of tragic history that will be engraved in the book. The name of the ruler whom left his country in exchange of luck but without result.

Before the emperor could stand on his feet, a block of wood fall out from the ceiling. It landed straight in his back causes him to fall back again. Blood flow from his head. His vision started to blurry and his burning body had been half consumed. Before everything ends, the emperor made a wish for himself. If this is not the life meant for him, he wish that in the next life, it will never be as heavy as this lifetime. He wish that it will never be this hurtful. He wish that he will live a simple and worry-free life and will never encounter such devastating and heartbreaking end.

The emperor slowly closed his eyes, ready to accept his dying fate. If this is the end, who is he to defy it. He, who has been forsaken by the heavens doesn't have the right to question the destiny. As his lashes fluttered before fully closing his eyes, a droplet of liquid runs down quickly. For the first time of his life long living years of 22, a drop of tears constantly flows down in his rosy cheeks. It has never happened before. No matter how hard he tried in the past to cry, no water came out from his eyes. His crimson eyeball that is born different from his parents never shed tears. Never felt remorse. Never showed a sign of sadness. Never been able to cry. That's what he hated the most as part of himself.

Realizing the strangest thing occurred- the very last thing he wish to see, the emperor let out a fiddling laugh. The sarcasm in his smile is enough to covet his dissatisfaction. "why now? Why not earlier? Why does it has to be this late? Too late to bring them back alive. Why does it have to be me?"

A sudden loud cry echoed the hall. Like a child being abandoned by their parents. The moans of desperation rang for ten minutes, repeating the same words over and over again.

"I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you"

As his tears continuously streaming and the holy water that purifies the domain touch the ground, a new life was form. It appears to be more lively than any living things- gleaming to it's expense. But sadly, the emperor didn't witness it all. Before the flower could unfold it's full bloom and beauty, the eyes has been fully shut down- the emperor already pass away.

Perhaps he never realize it but he is the most blessed emperor of the dynasty despite what happened to his country. Only the former emperor and the empress knows the truth behind the birth of the current emperor.

This legend has been passed down the from each generation. Of how the West side county whom vanished from the mop as being the subject of contempt and criticism in just a single night.