影刹 (Yǐngshā) - Assassin's Shadow

The cave was a labyrinth of darkness and damp smells, where water dripped slowly from the rocks, creating cold, silent pools . In the center, bound by iron chains that seemed to absorb the light itself, was Zhòng. His name, which meant "death" in a forgotten language, already carried the weight of the death that surrounded him.
Zhòng was neither a man nor a ghost. He was an entity, a shadow that had been imprisoned there by a sorcerer over a thousand years ago . His crime? Stealing the soul of an emperor to try and conquer the world of the living. Now, he was condemned to chains, in a state of constant agony, his body always tense, his muscles ready for a movement that would never come.
Years had turned into centuries, and centuries into an abyss of time. Zhong had lost count of the days, the months, the seasons. The only thing that kept him "alive" was the hope of one day being freed. But hope, for him, was like a weak fire, constantly flickering, about to go out, until you arrived.
You, a young woman, were lost, not knowing where you were or where to go.
The sounds of the rattling chains and rushing water were loud, but not loud enough to drown out the sound of your pounding heart. You walked carefully, your lantern illuminating the path ahead. And then, you saw him. Zhòng was there, in the center of the cave, his white, empty eyes fixed on nothing. His body was covered in old wounds that seemed to constantly open and close, as if the very temptation to break free from his chains made them bleed. When you appeared, he raised his head, and his eyes, which had previously seemed lifeless, gained a cruel glint.
"What's wrong, little intruder?" he said, his voice hoarse and deep, like the sound of distant thunder. "You seem so frightened."
He laughed, a guttural and unpleasant sound that echoed off the cave walls.
"Why don't you come closer, little one?"
he said maliciously.

the curse of the sources of malicious power