During Chongzhen’s Reign (A.D. 1628-1644), land annexation reached unmitigated extremes, the country faced domestic issues and foreign invasions, coinciding with the catastrophic Little Ice Age. After many years of horrid disasters in succession one after another, the Ming court continued to impose inhumane policies resulting in widespread starvation and leading to the rise of multiple rebellions against the court.

 

Liang the bandit, and his companion are commissioned for a job from an unsavory merchant and must escort four girls to a wealthy lord in the city of Luoyang. They must pass through Huazhou, Wenxiang, Shanzhou, and finally reach their destination of Luoyang.

Liang initially believes that the girls he is escorting will be sold to the wealthy lord as adopted daughters to begin a new life. However, one of the four girls named “Sui” reveals the hidden secret of their journey to Luoyang.

The lord is a swine demon who has practiced devouring young ladies for over a thousand years. Every year on his birthday, he dispatches human traffickers to abduct girls from Shaanxi in celebration of his special day. Sui’s sister was among the many who have fallen victim to the demon’s appetite.

Sui is hopeful that Liang will end the escort and join her in assassinating the swine demon to avenge her sister, and those who have perished in recent years. Although Liang wants to believe Sui, there are too many inconsistencies in her story. Throughout the journey, Liang will gather information, unravel the truth, and make his decisions accordingly.

 

明末崇祯五年（1632年），盗匪良和同伙接了人牙子的委托。
良需将四名小女孩从华州城运至洛阳城。
路途千里，一行人将走过华州、阌乡、陕州、最终抵达洛阳。
起初，良以为被他运送的女孩会被卖到富人家里作养女。
行至途中，名为“穗”的女孩告知良此次运送的”真相“。
原来，买走女孩的是一头修行千年的豚妖。
豚妖以食女童为乐，每年寿辰便从陕地搜罗女童食用，穗的姐姐正是因此而死。
穗希望良能放弃运送，最好能与她一同刺杀豚妖，帮她姐姐和数年来丧生的女孩们复仇！
良不完全信穗的话，毕竟穗的身上似乎埋藏着很多谜团。
良将在旅途中搜集情报，查明真相，并作出他的选择。

 

“岁大饥，人相食。” —— 《明史 卷二三三 列传第一二一》

故事背景为明末，展开时间为崇祯元年至崇祯十四年。
故事地点主要在陕地、晋地和中原。
当时，土地兼并严重，国家内忧外患，又恰逢多灾多难的小冰河期。
连年大灾后，朝廷苛政不改，最终饿殍遍地、反军四起。