A grimdark serialized web novel featuring the Judges of the Ten-Lords Commission as the protagonists and is adapted from urban legends. It's not very popular.

“Become a Novelist”

Not everything that happens here deserves believing — Urban Legend

[Supernova Serial] An Unsuitable Job for a Puppet

Chess Master Fay
Posted on August 10

…

Elixir Research Terrace is where elixirs are researched under the auspices of the Alchemy Commission. A man storms wildly across the pointed rooftop rafters.

Within but a moment, the man is at the edge of the eaves with nothing but air beneath his steps. Suddenly, the man leaps off the roof, catching onto a Heron Express cycrane. The birdlike ingenuity mutters out a few prerecorded warnings before trying to shake him off. Finally, it stabilizes and carries him off safely to a starskiff parked in the distance.

When the Alchemy Commission guards finally reached the rooftop, the man had disappeared — leaving behind only a cricket-like shadow figure.

A guard eyed the diminishing figure, before falling to the ground with tears in his eyes, trembling as he muttered: “It's over, everything's over.”

“Ninsa, it's not our fault.” The officer beside him sighed aloud and then spoke self-deprecatingly, “Notify the Ten-Lords Commission. They can fix this.”

“Fix?” shouted the guard called Ninsa. “Tell me how to fix this, Hede. He fled with a jade abacus that holds the prescriptions from the Theophany Era! Xianzhou has been hiding those secrets for centuries. Once revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable…”

Ninsa paused and, seeing his partner lost for words and his own troops even more petrified, he stood up to continue shouting: “We didn't even get a clear view of his face! Even the Ten-Lords Commission can't help us.”

Before he could finish, a cold female voice rang out behind everyone: “I've already memorized his face. Rest assured.”

Everyone automatically fanned out, and the woman revealed her face — a young girl with short black hair holding a chain and scepter in her hands. There was no emotion on her delicate and lovely face, and it sent chills down the spines of the troops.

“All ingenium creations are prohibited around the Elixir Research Terrace. Of course, not including me.”

The young lady said as she walked to the edge of the roof, her voice chilling to the bones. “All cycranes responsible for deliveries are registered with the Realm-Keeping Commission. If they were modded, they can be detected very soon.”

“How do you explain that particular one? You've seen it, right?” Asked Ninsa.

“It may have been hijacked by some kind of bioelectric signal. That Outworlder's abilities are pretty unique, are you concerned?”

Ninsa seems to be stunned into silence by this visitor, and almost dropped to the ground once more. Like an animal with his instincts, Hede asked cautiously, “May I ask who your Excellency is…”

“Judge of the Ten-Lords Commission.”

And with that, the girl flipped down off the top of the roof, and instantly disappeared out of sight.

Xianzhou Smartie
Posted on August 10

Sir! I've been waiting for your work for a long time. I'll read every single one. Thank you!

MyNameIsMartha!
Posted on August 10

The Ten-Lords Commission? It's good subject matter, but it's far from the Ten Lords of my imagination. This just looks like some rough repackaging of spy novels set outside Xianzhou. I suggest the author check out Social Principles of Love and Restraint. It's far better than this opener here.

Six-Eyed Flying Fish
Posted on August 10

The writer's description of technical details is fantastic! Such veracity, and so shocking. Did the writer really work in the Ten-Lords Commission?

Chess Master Fay
Replied to: Six-Eyed Flying Fish, August 10

You overstate things. I'm just diligent in examining evidence.

Snowy Coat
Posted on August 12

Interesting.

Moon Moon Moon Moon
Posted on August 12

Holy cow, it's Fay's new work! #confetti#applause#hugs~ I've been waiting for this for 827 years! #confetti#applause#hugs~ I hope you read this post. I've liked, commented, and shared every post you've ever done.

Existential Teahouse
Posted on August 12

“Grade A top product.” Master Fay's deductive skills are absolutely the best aboard Xianzhou. From the migration of viewpoints to the reshaping of characters, all of the dramatic tension is built up before being released at the end.

Master Fay runs over the central themes with picturesque words. The penetrating descriptions are shocking, as though they've sprouted their own hands, feet, and senses. Characters are guided under the supervision and observation of the reader.

Judge's Dog
Posted on September 7

I wanna be the judge's dog. I wanna be whipped with the judge's chain!!! O judge, I am your dog! How can I live without you!? My judge!!!

Snowy Coat
Reply to: Judge's Dog, September 7

That's kinda gross.

“Become a Novelist”

Not everything that happens here deserves believing — Urban Legend

[Supernova Serial] An Unsuitable Job for A Puppet

Chess Master Fay
Posted on August 15

Continuing: A prescription of ages past containing the secrets to longevity was stolen. The girl from the Ten-Lords Commission who looks like a porcelain doll gave chase. She had to catch up before the secret was leaked, to apprehend the criminal…

“Madam,” a short foxian female judge calls out cautiously. “Not even the Ten-Lords Commission could identify bioelectric signals without any evidence. This judgment seems a little arbitrary…”

“The point is not the signal itself,” the girl being called Madam interrupts. “A secret prescription from the Theophany Era is hidden in the Elixir Research Terrace, and was stolen by an Outworld thief…”

“You mean…?” Asks the foxian tentatively, afraid of being remonstrated by her leader for not knowing.

“Has all items stored in the Elixir Research Terrace been advertised so widely that even Outworlders know about it? Has it become common knowledge?” Says the girl, pausing to add: “Go and look into things there, including any previous doctors who've been fired or quit.”

“Miss, please stop. This is the men's restroom…”

Before he can finish, the Vidyadhara man guarding the door of the men's room feels a cold object on his neck. Looking down, he sees a scepter in the shape of a spear-tip.

According to his own words, he has been able to safely survive his first 300 years by relying on three words alone: “understand the situation.” So he immediately smiles and says: “It's urgent, right? Then I won't stop you, haha.”

Then, he escapes in a strange pose, turning his head with an apologetic smile as he flees down the dark alleyway.

The dark-haired girl uses her scepter to lift the filthy curtain over the restroom's doorway and walks inside.

Behind the curtain, a strong stench stimulates her olfactory center. A quick analysis is completed within a nanosecond: It isn't the smell of ammonia, but a pungent odor of sodium hypochlorite. Perhaps the vast majority of law-abiding citizens of Xianzhou would never imagine an apothecary hiding out in an abandoned public restroom like this.

In the deepest part of the apothecary, a man who appears to be a physician is lost in thought. Before he can react, a young girl approaches him like a ghost. A chain, as if it had a life of its own, coils around him, binding him tightly, while the sharp tip of a staff presses against his throat.

“Who did you tell about the secret prescriptions kept in the Elixir Research Terrace?” The girl asks, then slightly releases the pressure so that he can speak.

“Prescription… I don't know about any prescription… Ugh…”

He only manages to say a few words before the girl tightens her grip, blocking up the words in his throat.

“Who is he?” She demands, again relaxing her right hand slightly.

“Ahem… I don't know… Ugh…”

“How many of the Ten Lords' interrogation methods have you heard of? I'll ask you one last time: Who is he?” She retracts the spear-like scepter and, in a display of strength disproportionate to her size, easily lifts him up off the ground.

“Ahem… Coventry! Ahem… Albert Coventry! There, I said it! I told you. Please spare me!”

The man suddenly feels all his strength has left his body. Both his legs give way as he collapses to the ground. When he comes back around and tries to see the girl's face, he realizes that the entire nightmarish interrogation process is as though it never existed — only the rustling sound from the alleyway remains.

Xianzhou Smartie
Posted on August 15

Master! I've been waiting for your work for a long time. I'll read every single one. Thank you master!

Snowy Coat
Posted on August 15

This chapter is good.

Six-Eyed Flying Fish
Posted on August 16

Fay really is the Xianzhou King of Hardboiled Fiction. Every chapter weaves back and forth, revealing shocking surprises! It's unbeatable!

Chess Master Fay
Replied to: Six-Eyed Flying Fish, August 16

You overstate things. I don't deserve such praise. In my opinion, there are many hard-boiled novelists who are better than I.

Six-Eyed Flying Fish
Replied to: Chess Master Fay, August 16

No way! You're so humble — you definitely deserve the title of the Xianzhou King of Hardboiled Fiction. There's none better than you out there!

Philosophy Mad One
Posted on September 15

From a psychoanalytic perspective, the author comes off as a big Other, and must learn to restrain the sliding of the signifier with the awakening of the ego.

Chess Master Fay
Replied to: Philosophy Mad One, September 16

What is all this you're talking about?

Judge's Dog
Posted on October 28

Judge, ahhh! Why are you rewarding him, arghhh!!! Don't hit him, hit me instead!!! Hit me! Let me be your dog, ahhhh!

Snowy Coat
Replied to: Judge's Dog, October 28

Where do you live? Let's talk offline.

Judge's Dog
Posted on October 29

I deeply understand and reflect upon my inappropriate words. I will be cautious in word and deed, and be an upstanding pillar of the Xianzhou community. Please stay safe in online book review sites: The long arm of the law can still reach you there.