Prologue
“Execute him!”
“Torture him!”
“Make him suffer!”
Roared the crowd below as they cheered for the suffering of their former tyrant Emperor, Ju-long. Ju-long was once the proud tyrant Emperor of the Zhao Dynasty but his greed for absolute power and perfection drove him to insanity. Eventually, the hero of the kingdom, a young warrior with a scar that went from the top of his right eye to the corner of his lips brought the tyrant down and gave the people the justice they so longed for.
Tortured for long days and nights, Ju-long was sentenced to death by boiling for the various heinous crimes he alone committed. The men and women who continued to serve under him before, during, and after were sentenced to be tortured and executed alongside. The children of the men and women were spared.
While Ju-long’s loyal subjects were tied up and blindfolded and merely thrown into the boiling cauldron as if they were nothing but tattered dolls children throw away, Ju-long’s execution was more torturous.
Arms outstretched and tied on a wooden beam with his legs dangling below, the former Emperor hung up in the air soaking wet and overheated.
Gui Qiang, the scarred warrior and hero of the kingdom watched expressionless from his throne above as twelve men, six on either side of Ju-long, held onto two thick long ropes that held the former Emperor up. The twelve men dunked the former Emperor into the cauldron as the crowd cheered before raising him up.
As the men were about to lower the tyrant back down, Ju-long could feel his spirit leaving his body. It was time. This last dunk is what will end him. Gui Qiang seemed to notice and raise his left hand up, ordering the men to halt.
The atmosphere grew silent for the new Emperor as he stood up from his throne. With a booming voice that could shake the heavens, Gui Qiang questioned.
“Ju-long, former Emperor of the now fallen Zhao Dynasty, with this last dunk you will officially be dead. Do you have any last words?”
Waiting patiently, Gui Qiang watches as Ju-long struggles to raise his head up with whatever dignity he had left. Unable to say anything due to having his tongue cut off, Ju-long smiles warmly.
