Marching in Golden Armor on a Snowy Night

In the bitter winter of 1726, Nian Gengyao entrusts his five-year-old son and an imperial gift, a gold armor adorned with dragon designs, to his tutor, Yue Zhongju, while in prison.

As they flee through the snowy night, Yue Zhongju discovers in horror that their pursuers are the capital’s elite Blood Drippers.

To evade inspection, he hides the armor against the five-year-old’s body and disguises himself as a traveling merchant crossing the Yellow River.

They have barely left the shore when a cloud of dust rises on the bank, carrying the stench of blood. The Blood Drippers have arrived.