Zui Long: Origins
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:59 pm
Part I
Face is a very important concept in Shou culture. Ideas such as saving face and losing face carry much greater weight than they do in lands farther west. Many of the region’s stories and dramas often involve people from backgrounds, both big and small, going to great lengths to keep up appearances. To many in the land, to appear good and just was to be good and just.
One such man, whether he knew it or not, was a highborn known as Xu Hailong. His father, Xu Dalong was the magistrate of a large town, He’An, in Southern Shou Lung. The Xu’s of He’An were a well-regarded family who would often entertain members of the Emperor’s court, and even the Emperor himself at one time. As Xu Dalong was growing old, he left more and more of his work to Hailong and his younger brother Xu Zhenlong.
Hailong and his brother were very busy as of late as the crown prince would be stopping in He’An later that week during a royal tour. Their father rarely spoke too directly, but he had sat up in bed and grabbed both young men by the hands and explicitly said to them, everything must be perfect. Thus, everything had to be. Everyone’ house had to be in order, all the towns people had been ordered to wear their finest clothes in the week leading up to the visit. It was as of yet unspoken, but well known: No one was to embarrass the Xu Family of He’An, or there would be consequences for all. Some women were even seen brushing dirt off of their chickens’ feathers.
The two brothers had stolen a few moments to practice their pugilism that morning when all the trouble began. The two had just finished a friendly spar when they had noticed a crowd gathering on the main road through town. As they pushed through the masses, they quickly realized why everyone was so panicked. A beggar had wandered into town, filthy and reeking of alcohol and feces, the man shamelessly asked all those gathered around him for spare coin.
“Please...spare a coin for an old timer!" He would implore as he held his cup up for any to donate. Most had the good sense to say nothing, but a few started to reach into their pockets.
“Wait.” Hailong commanded, walking up to the beggar. “Old man, you cannot be here…we are expecting dignified company in the coming days.”
“Eh?” The beggar looked to him. Hailong could tell that man was not of sound mind.
“I said...” He began, louder and slower this time. “You need to move on- “
Hailong didn’t get a chance to finish as the transient leaped forward and grabbed his clothing tightly. The man’s weathered, pock-marked face. Hailong’s lips curled in disgust and hatred. How could this man be so shameless? How could he carry on living as such a disgusting lout?
"Please my lord! Have mercy on me! A bed! A bit of coin to survive is all I ask!" The man's spittle flew everywhere as he yelled.
“Unhand me! I am of the Magistrate’s house!” Hailong pushed at the man, but to no avail, perhaps it was his desperation, perhaps it was his madness, but the beggar’s grip was like iron. Hailong sank low in his stance and pushed forward and out, like he had been trained. The beggar howled as he went flying, some shrieks emerged from the crowd as well, as he slammed onto the ground, there was a cracking sound when he hit and blood pooled quickly under his head.
Hailong, his brother, and the crowd all were silent. A familiar face pushed through the crowd. Lao Shan, as he was called, who had been a sturdy warrior in his youth, had been the primary servant and tutor to the two brothers for most of their lives. His large, bearded face scowled as he inspected the beggar.
“He is gone, milords.” He said solemnly.
It was improper for a gentleman to show too much emotion, but Hailong’s eyes widened a moment in terror as everyone turned to look at him.
“Brother, you killed that man!” Zhenlong rasped quietly.
“The prince will be here tomorrow…” Was all that Hailong could muster. “Lao Shan, I need you to deal with this.”
The older veteran bowed. “As you wish.” He knelt down and picked up the deceased beggar, the blood staining his clothes deeply as he carried him off.
Hailong stood in silence for a moment, before looking to the crowd. “Everyone get back to your business! Say nothing! Everything needs to be perfect for tomorrow!” The crowd, lowering their gazes, obliged, a heaviness in their steps that was not there before.
“Brother…I…” Zhenlong began, his voice quivering.
“Nothing!” Hailong, still panicked, snarled to his younger brother. He turned and began walking back to their family home. “Everything needs to be perfect for tomorrow.”
Face is a very important concept in Shou culture. Ideas such as saving face and losing face carry much greater weight than they do in lands farther west. Many of the region’s stories and dramas often involve people from backgrounds, both big and small, going to great lengths to keep up appearances. To many in the land, to appear good and just was to be good and just.
One such man, whether he knew it or not, was a highborn known as Xu Hailong. His father, Xu Dalong was the magistrate of a large town, He’An, in Southern Shou Lung. The Xu’s of He’An were a well-regarded family who would often entertain members of the Emperor’s court, and even the Emperor himself at one time. As Xu Dalong was growing old, he left more and more of his work to Hailong and his younger brother Xu Zhenlong.
Hailong and his brother were very busy as of late as the crown prince would be stopping in He’An later that week during a royal tour. Their father rarely spoke too directly, but he had sat up in bed and grabbed both young men by the hands and explicitly said to them, everything must be perfect. Thus, everything had to be. Everyone’ house had to be in order, all the towns people had been ordered to wear their finest clothes in the week leading up to the visit. It was as of yet unspoken, but well known: No one was to embarrass the Xu Family of He’An, or there would be consequences for all. Some women were even seen brushing dirt off of their chickens’ feathers.
The two brothers had stolen a few moments to practice their pugilism that morning when all the trouble began. The two had just finished a friendly spar when they had noticed a crowd gathering on the main road through town. As they pushed through the masses, they quickly realized why everyone was so panicked. A beggar had wandered into town, filthy and reeking of alcohol and feces, the man shamelessly asked all those gathered around him for spare coin.
“Please...spare a coin for an old timer!" He would implore as he held his cup up for any to donate. Most had the good sense to say nothing, but a few started to reach into their pockets.
“Wait.” Hailong commanded, walking up to the beggar. “Old man, you cannot be here…we are expecting dignified company in the coming days.”
“Eh?” The beggar looked to him. Hailong could tell that man was not of sound mind.
“I said...” He began, louder and slower this time. “You need to move on- “
Hailong didn’t get a chance to finish as the transient leaped forward and grabbed his clothing tightly. The man’s weathered, pock-marked face. Hailong’s lips curled in disgust and hatred. How could this man be so shameless? How could he carry on living as such a disgusting lout?
"Please my lord! Have mercy on me! A bed! A bit of coin to survive is all I ask!" The man's spittle flew everywhere as he yelled.
“Unhand me! I am of the Magistrate’s house!” Hailong pushed at the man, but to no avail, perhaps it was his desperation, perhaps it was his madness, but the beggar’s grip was like iron. Hailong sank low in his stance and pushed forward and out, like he had been trained. The beggar howled as he went flying, some shrieks emerged from the crowd as well, as he slammed onto the ground, there was a cracking sound when he hit and blood pooled quickly under his head.
Hailong, his brother, and the crowd all were silent. A familiar face pushed through the crowd. Lao Shan, as he was called, who had been a sturdy warrior in his youth, had been the primary servant and tutor to the two brothers for most of their lives. His large, bearded face scowled as he inspected the beggar.
“He is gone, milords.” He said solemnly.
It was improper for a gentleman to show too much emotion, but Hailong’s eyes widened a moment in terror as everyone turned to look at him.
“Brother, you killed that man!” Zhenlong rasped quietly.
“The prince will be here tomorrow…” Was all that Hailong could muster. “Lao Shan, I need you to deal with this.”
The older veteran bowed. “As you wish.” He knelt down and picked up the deceased beggar, the blood staining his clothes deeply as he carried him off.
Hailong stood in silence for a moment, before looking to the crowd. “Everyone get back to your business! Say nothing! Everything needs to be perfect for tomorrow!” The crowd, lowering their gazes, obliged, a heaviness in their steps that was not there before.
“Brother…I…” Zhenlong began, his voice quivering.
“Nothing!” Hailong, still panicked, snarled to his younger brother. He turned and began walking back to their family home. “Everything needs to be perfect for tomorrow.”