Sheng Wen & Sheng Wu

Shadow Play Act 1 Father: "We were blessed with twin sons, but fate is cruel! The elder is weak and sickly, the younger is mute. Both have flaws. After much deliberation, we have to abandon the elder." Younger Son: (enters stage) "Where are Mother, Father, and Brother going? Let me follow and see." Shadow Play Act 2 (Narrator): The three journey up the mountain, with the youngest following. Mother: "My heart is cut by knives! Tears fall as I leave my child. If not for poverty, why must we come to this?" Elder Son: "My parents abandoned me in the mountains. Curse this weak body! Now I fear for my life." Younger Son: "How heartless my parents are! We are twins. How can I live alone?" Shadow Play Act 3 (Narrator): "There were once twin brothers. Their parents abandoned the elder one in the mountains, not knowing that the younger one followed. When the parents returned home, both sons were gone. The twin brothers supported each other and emerged from the mountains. Though their lives were full of hardships, they became famous after overcoming trials. They bravely resisted the Khitan invaders and became heroes for their country and people!"

Around the campfire sat eight people. Just days ago, they had been strangers. But to protect this land and its people from the Khitan's iron cavalry, they had chosen to stay, planning, preparing, fighting. For days, they had rebuilt tunnels, evacuated civilians, and were barely sleeping. Now, with everything in place, they finally had a moment to rest by the fire and share their stories. Among them were twin brothers—Sheng Wen, a refined scholar, and Sheng Wu, who lived up to his name with a warrior's build. But Sheng Wen explained that his brother was mute. After a few drinks, the group grew talkative, and Sheng Wen began recounting how the two had once been shadow play artisans, only to be driven out because his brother could not speak. Drunk on anger and liquor, Sheng Wen took another swig. "I refuse to accept this fate. When we reach Yannan, we'll make our names known. Let those who scorned us choke on their regret!" Sheng Wu mimicked his brother and took a few gulps too. "And what if you don't make it and end up dead by accident?" asked an old man with white hair and whiskers, smiling. Sheng Wen, now thoroughly drunk, barely registered the question. What did it matter? "Then we'll walk east, walk west, go even farther... just keep going until we can't go anymore..." Before he finished, Sheng Wen had fallen into a deep sleep.