A New-Style Historical Mystery in an Ancient Setting

This boxed set contains eight books: the three-volume series The Tang Dynasty’s Exorcism Bureau, the Lanting Xu Murder Mystery series, The Flower-Rain Spear, and Brocade-Clad Guards: Blade in Hand, Roaming by Night. The Tang Dynasty’s Exorcism Bureau, Volume 1: A heavily guarded prisoner vanishes without a trace, leaving behind only a rope suspended in midair. Figures from a hellish mural in an ancient temple come to life and kill indiscriminately. A potted plant in an attic spits out webbing that wraps around people and strangles them. Even the flowers, plants, people, and livestock in the prime minister’s residence turn into deadly weapons. Strange cases erupt across Chang’an, and danger lurks everywhere. Yuan Sheng, a genius investigator, is summoned to handle the crisis. He follows every clue and turns the tide. The Tang Dynasty’s Exorcism Bureau, Volume 2: A powerful warrior runs in circles on the spot until he is scared to death. Palace maids, imperial physicians, and even the empress go mad after encountering mysterious talismans. An alchemy furnace in an abandoned palace leads to the mystery surrounding Emperor Taizong’s death. A gigantic Seven-Star formation that appears out of nowhere seems to point to a struggle for the throne. Evil spirits run rampant through Chang’an, while killings continue in the inner palace. The Exorcism Bureau’s finest throw everything they have into solving the bizarre cases and saving the empire from disaster. Little do they know... They can unravel the tangled clues behind the strange cases, but they cannot escape the inescapable web of fate. The bloodbath that will engulf Chang’an is inevitable, and the Exorcism Bureau’s finest are trapped in an even stranger mystery... The Tang Dynasty’s Exorcism Bureau, Volume 3: The cat demon, whose return could change the fate of the Tang Dynasty for a century, has appeared again. Empress Wei and Princess Anle have both fallen victim to it! As the court’s two factions sharpen their blades for a final battle, Yuan Sheng and Lu Chong become fugitives hunted by all! A secret sect from the martial world rises in the shadows, using the cat demon to create puppets. The rightful emperor is replaced and reduced to a life on the streets! Chang’an is full of traps, saving the emperor is urgent, and the fate of the Tang Dynasty hangs in the balance... Driven into a corner, how will the Exorcism Bureau’s finest fight back and win their final battle? The Lanting Xu Murder Mystery, Volume 1: On the fourth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of the Wude era, the Xuanwu Gate Incident erupted. As he lay dying, Lü Shiheng, a mid-ranking officer of the imperial guards, left behind four cryptic words in blood that baffled Li Shimin. Sixteen years later, Xiao Junmo, a commander in the Black Armor Guards, is ordered to investigate the original Lanting Xu calligraphy. He is unexpectedly drawn into an unparalleled conspiracy. The shocking secret of the Lanting Xu comes to light, stirring up turmoil in both the martial world and the imperial court. The struggle for the throne intensifies, and the flourishing Tang Dynasty faces ruin... Can Xiao Junmo break through the deadly traps and save the empire? The Lanting Xu Murder Mystery, Volume 2: Xiao Junmo flees a thousand miles with Bian Cai and his daughter, losing everything overnight! The Black Armor Guards pursue them relentlessly, while Mingzang waits for a chance to spring an ambush. The various branches of the Heavenly Punishment Alliance are riddled with uncertainty: no one can tell friend from foe, or loyalty from betrayal! Xiao Junmo and his enemies test their wits against each other. Several times, he comes close to death, only to escape at the last moment! The mystery of the Lanting Xu gradually unfolds, but what secret lies behind “Three Cups to Unlock Heavenly Punishment”? When the original Lanting Xu reappears in the world, who can uncover its ultimate secret? And what fate awaits Xiao Junmo and Chu Lisang at the end of their flight? The Lanting Xu Murder Mystery, Volume 3: Xiao Junmo, once a fugitive on the run, returns to Chang’an as a hero who helped put down a rebellion. Yet he feels no joy at coming home in triumph. He knows that waiting ahead are conspiracies, conflicts, and bloodshed more terrifying than any he has faced before. Though Chang’an looks prosperous and peaceful, under the surface it seethes with hidden currents and deadly danger. Before long, it will become a blood-soaked battlefield for the ultimate showdown between rival powers. Can Xiao Junmo turn this tide?