Legend has it that after Pangu created heaven and earth, "his breath became wind and clouds, his voice became thunder, his left eye became the sun, his right eye became the moon, his limbs and body became the four poles and five great mountains, his blood became rivers, his veins became the earth, his flesh became fields, his hair and beard became stars, his skin and hair became plants, his teeth and bones became metal and stone, his essence and marrow became pearls and jade, his sweat became rain, and the insects on his body, touched by the wind, transformed into humankind." In truth, all things under heaven are no more than four aspects. The first is rivers, mountains, and streams, such as the Huai River and rocky peaks. The second is willows, trees, flowers, and grasses, such as forests and woodlands. The third is humans, beasts, and intelligent creatures, such as all kinds of animals, insects, and ants. We common folk belong to this group. The fourth is the sun, moon, and stars, such as the five planets and the twenty-eight lunar mansions. Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning are all products of these four aspects giving rise to and overcoming one another. Looking down upon China, the four aspects all stem from a single source. All living things are insubstantial, and yet they are equal. People have always understood this principle, yet there are always those who overestimate themselves and dare to challenge the heavens.
This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.
