Tianzun's smile didn't seem so bright today. It wasn't a good day... No it was a horrible day. He was being summoned by the Emperor's consort, Daji.
However his pride and his former clown roles wouldn't let the smile break. If there was one thing that kept his humanity intact the most, it would be pettiness. He was beyond petty.
Tianzun sighed as he made his way to the consort's living room where the story telling would begin.
Daji sat laying seductively on the sofa as she spoke gently, "Storyteller... Please do entertain me today."
Tianzun simply bowed before asking, "What type of story would you like?" His internal emotions were seethed in disgust. This was the ultimate pain for him. Someone on the complete opposite spectrum, sure he schemed and was an asshole. But this woman in front of him was the type of break the board.
While not too much of an issue, it affected his plans and his plays.
"I shall tell you the story of the twelve olympians..."
~~~~
Daji sat there looking bored as Tianzun droned on and on before she snapped. Her fan pointed at him, "Storyteller, you bore me. Are you deliberately droning on in this monotone voice out of contempt?"
Tianzun grinned "No I assure you not Consort Daji. It's just most historical stories are just like this. Most are the same repetitive steps. Just different players in the game."
Daji snorted before she pointed at him, "You have a way with words, but still repetitive is repetitive. You have a good voice, it'd be a shame to lose it's uniqueness from speaking too much."
Tianzun's eyes narrowed as he veiled a hint of warning, "You not need to worry about that consort Daji... I only speak to deaf ears and blind eyes."
Daji's eyes flared with anger for a moment before she chuckled, "Very well. Hide behind that mask of snark. But careful storyteller, you never know when you become part of someone else's tale."
Tianzun chuckled as he soon left, "Haha! No way Miss Daji... I always write my own endings."
With that he left with his robe of black and yellow.
In that moment Daji followed him out and observed the strange man that always seemed so elusive and strange. From the strange robes of black and yellow, to the star studded rod and the strange eye wear.
This was a new toy she wanted to break.
Forget about destroying the dynasty, she would destroy him personally and toy with him until she was satisfied.
She gazed out the palace window as she asked the servants to have the story teller followed and make note of who he interacts with.
A wicked smile bloomed on the beauty's face, marring her elegance.
She turned around and halted before asking another servant to burn down the books. She'd make sure that storytellers would never be able to bloom here.
News soon came back to her as the servants listed off Tianzun's work places and his usual social routine.
~~~~
"Big brother!" Tianzun turned to see the little girl he had been raising as an apprentice for story telling. Once a beggar girl on the streets, he had felt bored and yet strangely he was now attached to this little one.
It was almost the same feeling as if one had orchestrated an entire scheme and it paid off. Perhaps it was like nurturing a plant and watching it grow.
He hummed before motioning her to continue. The girl brightened up before asking, "Big Brother! Is it alright if Xiao Xing takes over tonight's story telling?" Tianzun thought about it before nodding.
It'd be her first time and it wouldn't be that bad of an experience. He pulled a script out of Sefirah Castle as he handed it to her. "Here's a script that I translated from the ruins. You should be able to memorise and improvise from here."
Xiao Xing instantly snatched up the script before running all the way back to her home in order to prepare for the tea house in the evening.
Tianzun chuckled as he felt a warmth of humanity he had never even imagined he had. He did not know if it was her belief in him or if it was even just because he acted like a human.
At this point he didn't even want to know.
His hand moved to adjust his monocle as the smell of delicious food wafted down the night market. The sun had slowly started to set as he made his way to the scent of food.
"Hello boss! One plate of dumplings, one bowl of beef noodles and a bottle of your best alcohol please." The manager looked ecstatic as he yelled into the kitchen before helping Tianzun find a seat.
Truly money was the best, Tianzun gazed into the Sefirah Castle only to find a pile of gold, money and various treasures hidden in the corner of the castle itself.
He sighed before realising that he had fallen in love with money.
The manager soon returned with a bottle of wine and a cup as he bowed while receiving two silver coins.
He soon returned to the counter as the dishes were soon served. Truly this was what life should be. Tianzun took a sip of wine, it was refreshing and had a distinct taste of fruit. The plate of dumplings in front of him looked mouth watering.
Soon enough he had demolished the entire plate and was still waiting on the noodles to be served.
The beef noodles soon came out piping hot as he took a sniff with a genuine smile. In that instant he brought the noodles to his mouth, a horrifying scream rang throughout the street.
Something wasn't right... In that instant he felt as if he had lost something. It wasn't much but he did notice something with his state wasn't quite right...
He rushed out as he sent the bowl of noodles up into Sefirah Castle before homing onto the source of the noise.
In that moment he saw a woman he clearly recognised, Xiao Xing's mother.
Her face was marred with tears and sorrow. His spirit vision showed nothing but anguish, hatred and sorrow. Not a single positive emotion.
He soon walked closer carrying nothing but his smile. His narrow eyes gazed at the surrounding scenery before piecing bits of the story together. On the stage was not Xiao Xing who was telling a story, but Daji.
The mother was crying over a bowl of noodles, impossible. Just before he could look into the historical void, a voice rang out clear and melodic.
"Oh, it seems you were late to my storytelling session. I thought I'd give it a try seeing how you seemed to enjoy it with others. I must say I enjoyed it as well."
The fog of history revealed itself as he stilled. It made sense, Xiao Xing did earn quite a bit from her salary given by him, it was enough for them not to starve. Yet her mother was crying over a spilt bowl of noodles?
Bullshit.
Daji sat back down as the mother sobbed dearly. She opened her fan and pointed to Tianzun.
"Storyteller, let me tell you about the story I have made. I saw nature, I saw beasts. I saw many things in life. Yet the cruel nature of humanity and like always intrigued me."
She paused and scanned the silent crowd before smirking and continuing.
"But the most humorous thing I've seen lately was in the farmland. The hens would eat their own children. At first I though this was a one off thing, I suppose I looked for new animals to see if this was common. I saw rabbits eat their own children as well."
Tianzun had long seen what had happened in the historical void but even he would not interrupt a story.
"So with two cases in front of me I was curious. And you know what they say... Third times the charm."
"And my answer has been found... Yes humans eat their own children too."
At that moment Xiao Xing's mother puked again until she had nothing left.
Tianzun remained silent as his smile was eerily the same. Daji seemed a bit annoyed as she stared at the never changing smile.
She frowned before asking him, "So, how do you find my story? My play?..." She stilled for a moment as she grinned, "Apologies, I never even payed attention to your name."
Tianzun returned the same smile, Daji felt a shiver run down her spine as she soon noticed a hint of fog that flickered in and out and the people in the tea house with the exact same smile looking at her.
She soon stared at the source of it all. With his black and yellow robes, his star studded rod and a crystal monocle donned on his right eye.
He introduced himself once again, not as Zhang Qinian.
"Let us be reacquainted Miss Daji."
"You can call me the Scholar of Yore."
//Next Chapter: The Horror Within//