The Sea Emperor's Bodyguards
"I want you to stop bothering everyone that travels through this pass."
"Make us," Far-seer grinned. "You'll have to fight for it."
"Fine, by next week, we'll duel at sun-up. What is the catch?"
"If we win, you have to be our consort," Far-seer said, licking his chops. Far-hearing nudged him. "Bet you'll put those ruby lips to good use," Far-hearing added.
Moniang looked at the brothers in disgust. "I can't be consort to two men at once!"
"We'll find a way. If one man can have two women, why not the other way around?"
"Well... If I win, you'll have to be my bodyguards."
Summary
When Mazu was still a human adventurer and had just left her job at the lighthouse, she traveled to the mainland. She then heard about a pair of demon brothers mugging travelers and demanding something undignified from them. Wanting to stop this, she went to the mountain hideout of the brothers Far-seer and Far-hearing.
The brothers in question saw her first, and liked the look of her enough not to mug her immediately. Instead, they made her promise to duel them, and to offer her body to them should she fall. Not to be outdone, Mazu made them promise to be her bodyguards if she could defeat them.
Despite her youth, Mazu managed to outwit the brothers and bind them into her bodyguard contract. They accepted the embarrassing defeat as it was a better prospect than being banished to hell.
The brothers in question saw her first, and liked the look of her enough not to mug her immediately. Instead, they made her promise to duel them, and to offer her body to them should she fall. Not to be outdone, Mazu made them promise to be her bodyguards if she could defeat them.
Despite her youth, Mazu managed to outwit the brothers and bind them into her bodyguard contract. They accepted the embarrassing defeat as it was a better prospect than being banished to hell.
Historical Basis
Since Moniang's actual death, her statues have always been flanked by a pair of ugly demons said to be her brothers in arms. This story attempts to explain their existence.
Spread
It's considered one of Mazu's early adventures during her first life.
Variations & Mutation
The demon brothers in some versions were twin human generals from the Shang dynasty who already had their far-senses, then fell in battle when another wizard managed to cancel out their power.
In the Victorian version, the demon brothers' motivation for mugging Mazu is often omitted or bowdlerized. In the latter case, the most common reason is that she has to become their housemaid.
In the Victorian version, the demon brothers' motivation for mugging Mazu is often omitted or bowdlerized. In the latter case, the most common reason is that she has to become their housemaid.
In Art
Every statue of Mazu is accompanied by her bodyguards due to this story. Far-hearing always has one hand up to his ear, while Far-seeing has a hand to his eyes.
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