paltry-offerings
I am a Furnace

I am a Furnace

1,495 168 16

When its master is gone, can a human furnace live as a person?I am a pure yin constitution furnace, solely for the demonic sect master to use. But then shizun killed the sect master and took me home, and he said, "From now on, you are not a furnace. You are my disciple."A short story about found family, recovery, and new beginnings. (The romance lines are teacher x rogue cultivator, disciple x disciple)Context for readers: this story breaks down a common trope in cultivation stories found in Chinese fantasy, namely, the idea of a "human cauldron" or human furnace. In these stories, engaging in 'dual cultivation' (that is, intercourse) with someone of opposite traits from yourself can increase your strength of cultivation. Human furnaces are people with whom dual cultivating is especially beneficial. They often suffer tragic fates. The protagonist in this story is someone who has been raised as a human furnace, without understanding of his own worth as a human being. The novel explores his healing and growth as he learns to live freely with the support of his teacher and friends. While this is a slice-of-life story that focuses on daily living and emotion, it touches on darker concepts within the protagonist's psychology and memories. Please take care while reading.…

To the Start of a New World

To the Start of a New World

213,001 11,164 44

It wasn't the apocalypse that broke him - he was strong enough to survive that. It was seeing his childhood friend die to protect him that made Lu Hao realize his mistakes. But now he had a chance to do it all over again.(An expanded retelling of the oneshot "At the End of the World", as told through the perspective of the love interest, Lu Hao.)…

At the End of the World

At the End of the World

116,157 6,491 5

Zombie apocalypse setting. Hong Sheng is a cannon fodder who died to protect his secret love, a protagonist-like man surrounded by beautiful women. When he wakes up 3 months before the apocalypse he expects things to go the same way, but somehow, something has changed.…

I Shouldn't Have Pretended to be the Female Lead

I Shouldn't Have Pretended to be the Female Lead

6,011 632 1

Some dude falls into another world and decides he'd rather live as the Heroine than go out and fight to death as the Hero. He might have changed his mind if he'd read the terms and conditions, though.(crossposted to NUF and RRL)…