Qing stood by the door in the library room, clenching his fists as he listened to Tariq beating up Rendal on the other side. But the princess hadn’t been mentioned, so maybe she wasn’t there. If Tariq would let Rendal go with a beating, then Qing would heal him afterwards, and their cover wouldn’t be blown. Morgana held Qing’s arms firmly, eyes imploring.
“It sounds like a small man,” she said. “Someone who has to assert themselves by pushing other people down.” Qi...
2024-04-01 09:28:53 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing stared as Rendal slapped his hand on a brick and stared up at a metal grate, proudly saying, “This is it.”
Knut, arching his neck to stare up, said, “That’s barely a vent for air.”
“I thought you had a secret entrance, like hidden behind a bookcase, a trapdoor hidden in the floor or something like that,” Morgana said, hand on hip.
“Rendal, you know I won’t be able to fit in there,” Ghida said, “My hips, they—”
“Of course,” Renda...
2024-03-29 16:10:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
Ghida knocked on the side door of the library as Qing put down the crates he’d picked up in the city. They had got them through the front gates, and the trip through the city had gone smoothly. Knut and Morgana’s uniforms had people scrambling away, and Ghida’s confidence shone through the fabric wrapped around her, and people rightly assumed her to be nobility.
From a distance, the Grand Library looked like a Mediterranean fortress topped with spires that reached for the heavens ...
2024-03-28 13:38:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
As soldiers chased them through the sewers, Morgana led the way, following markers carver into the walls, keeping a high tempo. Knut brought up the rear, loosing arrows now and then, while Qing and Ghida kept the middle. He kept an eye on his map, looking for any red dots that would signal enemies in front or to the side.
“Now!” Knut said, and Qing turned, casting the Firebolt he had prepared. It hit an archer straight on and the man’s chest imploded, blood gushing from his mouth....
2024-03-27 10:33:35 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing’s shoulder slammed onto the floor, and he slid to a halt. His light pushed back the darkness, joining orbs of light that illuminated shelves lined with curiosities that glinted and shimmered, and crates. Each shelf was meticulously labeled with a name, a date, and a number. While the dates made no sense to Qing, the numbers looked to be the value of the item.
It’s an underground stash. A mix of a vault, a warehouse, and…a smuggler’s den?
If the kirathaa...
2024-03-26 13:13:14 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing shook his head at Princess Ghida’s question, feeling Knut, Morgana, and Jorik’s eyes on him.
“No. Mana isn’t currently my bottleneck.”
Her sculpted eyebrows shot up. “Is your regen so high?”
“No. What stops me is the cooldown of my spells. That, and Wazir…his power. It was overwhelming. The combat didn’t last long enough for me to use my spells multiple times. But, what do you know of magic?” Qing asked her.
“I am an ...
2024-03-25 13:42:15 +0000 UTC
View Post
The sun baked down upon the four of them as they stood on a roof, in front of the portal’s blue glare. Qing’s fists tightened, and his skin hurt, as if his skin was too dry, and he glared at Morgana.
“How can you joke at a moment like this? We gained nothing!” Qing shook with anger. “And Taj is dead!”
Morgana met his gaze, not backing down for a moment. “We gained a princess,” she said, flicking her head at Ghida. “A hostage to exchange for Cleo?”
...
2024-03-22 08:28:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
Darkness enveloped Qing as he hung in the familiarly endless void.
About bloody time I got another meeting.
He looked around for GG, but everything was dark.
Where is that bastard?
He tried turning, but no matter how frantically he waved his arms and legs, he couldn’t turn. He just hung there, weightless.
“Where are you?” he said, shouting into the blackness, but no answer came. Could GG simply have vanished? Maybe he hadn’t arrived here...
2024-03-20 14:20:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing felt the energy building inside the surrounding corpses, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. No way to counter all five. They would blow and splatter him against the walls. He’d come so close to the exit. A sadness welled up as he thought of the screen in the sky at home. His family would have to watch him get blown apart. It would break meimei’s heart, and Cleo would be sacrificed, and…
Qing dove towards the doorway. He’d never make it out, but maybe he didn’t....
2024-03-19 10:21:43 +0000 UTC
View Post
The door splintered as Qing’s foot kicked it inwards, slamming into the wall with a bang. It revealed an opulent room, like those found in a five-star hotel, and shaped an ‘L’ with the door at the top. In the far corner, two sofas faced each other over a delicate wooden table laden with tea and fruits. A silk screen separated the little alcove from the main room, but Qing could just see the end of a bed covered in a red blanket. A wooden desk with a bookcase filled out the room.
B...
2024-03-18 14:55:49 +0000 UTC
View Post
Morgana ran her hands along the wall that blocked the stairs. Qing looked behind to where monstrous noisy filled the stairwell.
“Didn’t Taj say anything about how we got into the actual palace?” Morgana asked.
“No!” Both Knut and Qing shook their heads.
“Push on every brick,” Qing said, and they started. The wall was a whitewashed wall made from thick bricks.
Morgana and Knut leapt to it, pushing and pulling, while Qing looked at the walls. They were just...
2024-03-15 13:29:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
Heya all!
Hope you are having a wonderful day.
Here in Shanghai it is sunny and warm, with what feels like the first taste of spring.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, I'd like to send you a e-book version of the edited and improved Qing's Quest book one.
You should be able to open this both in your kindle, or apple books (if you are on iOS).
Let me know if you have any challenges, and happy reading!
I'll delete this link tomorr...
2024-03-15 08:31:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
15th March is the day Qing's Quest book 1 goes live on Amazon!
This is the edited and updated version with A LOT of changes.
As mentioned in the videos I've recorded to you, I'd like to offer you the book for free as a thank you for your support here on Patreon.
Tomorrow (15th) I'll put the book as a file on dropbox and then send you an invite to download the book.
I will delete it on the 16th March, so you'll have a day to downl...
2024-03-14 15:55:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
The metal door shook in its foundation as something heavy slammed into it.
“We’re trapped,” Taj said, rifling through the two guards’ pockets again. “Yet again!”
The elite growled and slammed on the sewer door.
“That door won’t hold for long,” Knut said.
How many more monsters were out there?
Qing stared through the metal bars at the dead guard by the stairs.
The key should be on him. All we have to do is catch the body…
M...
2024-03-13 08:49:51 +0000 UTC
View Post
The guards were in a fighting retreat towards the door, monsters throwing themselves at them. More creatures flooded the room, spreading out. As they did, they threatened to surround Qing and catch up to Knut, who picked himself up off the floor. Morgana engaged the two defenders, holding her off, whip cracking furiously through the air.
Fortunately, the door was still opening.
This is my chance.
Qing struck a mud golem, removing its head and left shoulder. But the ...
2024-03-11 15:28:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing sprinted down the canal, hopping across the sewer, side to side, keeping his movements as random as he could. Missiles of mud and bone flew past him. A hiss cut through the air, and he dove into a roll, tucking his head. As he came out, he kicked off the wall, throwing himself across the sewer. The sewer serpent slapped into the stones where he’d been, fangs snapping at empty air. Its green and slick scales gliding along the sewer’s bank. He scrambled on all fours.
Keep mov...
2024-03-08 16:09:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
“Next time, consult me before you set something on fire, alright?” Qing said as he rubbed his singed face. He’d carved through the two remaining golems, but the biggest challenge had been the fact that they were on fire, throwing flaming missiles of crap at him.
“They went down fast enough, didn’t they?” Morgana said, tone defensive.
“Yeah, because we’d figured out how to kill them,” Qing said. “It would have been easier if they weren’t on fire.”
“W...
2024-03-06 15:16:26 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing dove left, missiles of mud slapping the wall behind him.
“There are five!” he said, yelling for the others.
Taj turned and sprinted back the way they came.
“Fuck,” Qing said, scrambling across the slippery stones, gaining distance to the tunnel’s opening, waving for Morgana and Knut to back up.
He counted the seconds in his head.
Three, two, one.
He turned, but there was no monster.
Are they not pursuing?
Then, w...
2024-03-04 09:57:59 +0000 UTC
View Post
As the sound of marching came closer, Qing grabbed Taj by the shoulder and spun him around.
“Where to?”
The man’s eyes flickered around the street.
Was this just bad timing? Has Taj sold us out? These soldiers must be looking for us.
“Just…keep your eyes down and mouth shut,” Taj said, brushing down his city guard uniform. “Follow my lead.”
Qing, Knut, and Morgana huddled close in front of him as Taj drew himself to his full height and st...
2024-03-01 08:44:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
Here's the amazon cover for Qing's Quest book 1!
Artist is Linggar: https://www.artstation.com/linggarbramanty
Typography is done by Inorai: https://typobyino.crd.co/
If you have read the first version of the book, I think you should be able to recognise the scene :)
But, please don't comment about it, becau...
2024-02-29 14:45:49 +0000 UTC
View Post
It had come from deep within a belt that looked to be woven.
Is that made of horsehair? Some sort of local plant?
Qing squinted, moved closer.
“Good day, my brother,” the merchant said. “How may I help you?”
“The belt,” Qing said, pointing. “Tell me about it.”
“Oh, this one,” the man said, lifting it up. “Many years it made me a happy man. My wife’s favorite. I could have sworn it kept her healthy, but…” The man’s voice crac...
2024-02-28 05:51:47 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing snapped the dagger out of the air, pinched between thumb and index finger.
Item: [Venom’s Whisper, Level 13, Rare]
Crafted from the toxins of a South Sea Serpent, this dagger glimmers a lethal green hue. Etched with ancient runes, it promises agony and demise. When stuck, it secrets a poison that courses through its victims, breaking their flesh from the inside. The handle, made from serpent bone, provides a steady grip.
Attack Power: ...
2024-02-26 11:10:38 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing followed Morgana to the tables along the wall. He hadn’t seen her smile so for a long time.
“You enjoy shopping that much?” he asked.
“Shopping? It’s fine, I guess,” she said, shrugging. Then turned with a grin and grabbed his arm. “But shopping at Jorik’s?” She shook her head, as if in disbelief. “I’d never thought I’d get to experience it. They say some of the items moving through here are…legendary.”
“Legendary?” Qing asked. “As in o...
2024-02-23 10:19:12 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing squirmed under Jorik’s intense gaze.
How the fuck should I know what the king said? This guy is crazier than a panda on cocaine.
So he just shrugged.
“Well? Guess!” Jorik asked, tone sharp.
“After seeing the king’s current court, maybe something about jobs and hands?” Qing said with a shrug.
Jorik’s hand rose towards his eyepatch, but Knut leaned forward and grasped it with a smile. “Oh, please do tell him, Jorik. It’s such a revel...
2024-02-21 07:01:19 +0000 UTC
View Post
A man lay spread-eagle on a cold stone table. His screams echoed through the room as blood flowed from shallow cuts on his torso. The blood floated through the air to gather in a ball in front of Rufus. He stood within a circle of glowing glyphs, magic staff held across his chest. A bead of sweat ran down his face.
With a visible strain, Rufus separated his hands, and the blood changed. Dark red particles settled on the floor, and the remains changed to a white substance. Rufus leaned f...
2024-02-19 04:01:45 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing’s entire body shook in anger and he smashed the piece of wall onto the floor, splattering like chalk.
Damn it all to hell! How am I supposed to find Rufus? He can be anywhere. And without finding Rufus...we can’t get to Cleo. And without getting to Cleo... I have to save Cleo. For her sake, Kaela, and without saving her, I’ll never see my family again. Maybe another champion will complete their quest and save Earth, but what would that mean for me? Would I be stuck here f...
2024-02-16 16:50:12 +0000 UTC
View Post
The air roared around Qing’s ears as he soared into the night, pushed by his powerful legs.
“Oh shit!” he said, calling into the night as he stared at the marble floor, so far below it would turn him to paste. He seemed to soar forever, like a steroid-pumped long-distance jumper. Taj screamed, hand scratching at Qing’s face. The tall palace fence passed beneath them, two guards staring up, mouths agape. Several feet still separated them from the water, and the ground rushed towa...
2024-02-14 15:31:46 +0000 UTC
View Post
As Qing turned towards Jenny’s scream, Taj, the old guard who had led them through the city, flashed by him. He nearly struck the man, but held back as the man was unarmed, sprinting by and headed to the right.
“Follow me,” he said. “I know the way out.” Next came Knut, who skidded to a halt next to Qing. And finally, Morgana, cursing as she took off down the corridor, following Taj. “Move,” she yelled.
But Qing stepped towards Jenny.
Pandemonium reigned in the...
2024-02-12 14:30:38 +0000 UTC
View Post
I don’t want a drawn-out fight. Overwhelming him will best display my power, and it can help sway the court to our side.
He slid a sandaled foot along the stone, testing the grip. Not the best, but it would do for his plan.
With three quick steps, he closed the distance and swung at his enemy with a roar. Raul’cad dashed to the side, avoiding the axe by a hair’s breadth, and let Qing flow past, gliding on the stone. The vampire struck at Qing’s neck, but as expect...
2024-02-09 08:51:46 +0000 UTC
View Post
Qing equipped his axe as the guards slowly converged towards them, feet slapping rhythmically on the marble, spears lowered and shields raised.
“Do something,” Morgana said, voice raising.
“Any suggestions?” Qing asked, but before Morgana could reply, he added, “Aside from killing everybody, because I am not going full murder hobo.”
The court had gone silent, filled only with the sound of marching. The low light glimmered off polished spearheads, and goosebumps t...
2024-02-07 14:34:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
