For a thousand years, the rites have crumbled and music fallen into ruin across the Vast and Noble World. The chains of “rules” have rotted, and chaos threatens to devour all. The traditions of the Hundred Schools contend in the open and in secret, evil demons from beyond the heavens flicker into view, and the dormant “Floating World Demon Kingdom” has begun to show its claws. Disaster has come to the mortal realm.
In a plague-ridden borderland, the poor alley-dwelling youth Zhou Cimo owns nothing of value, possessing only half a dust-covered copy of Old Rites Commentary and a broken iron ruler. Amid the bustle of common life and the petty schemes of street folk, he grasps the true essence of “rules”: only by abiding by them can one break them.
With calamity drawing near, the county plans to hold an evil sacrifice. The youth takes up the ruler as his brush and dips it in the fire of his heart for ink, boldly carving “Three Questions” into the shrine's blue bricks. Every character rings like thunder, stirring the long-silent “Noble Qi” deep within the literary tradition. A glimmer tears through the night, catching the attention of those watching from above:
Cheng Zhiyuan, a fallen great scholar who has renounced his honors and kept vigil by desolate graves, claps his hands and praises him as “a promising young man,” yet sighs, “Heaven's principles will eventually bend the spine.”
Yu Xuansu, a stern woman whose sword qi has held a lonely city in check for eight hundred years, lightly points her sword. “If your reasoning is strong enough, come break through my defenses!”
Deep within Bailudong Academy, the figure enthroned atop the Peak of Morality casts a cold, disdainful gaze below.
The lamp in Zhou Cimo's heart never goes out. Though he is as insignificant as an ant, he will still sharpen his edge. With his broken book and crude ruler, he measures the ravaged land step by step: debating the Way in the study, arguing principles with demons, writing on the battlefield, and demanding answers from the gods.
His body is the ruler and ink; his heart is the beacon fire. In this age of broken rules and rampant demons, he will write a blood-and-fire memorial called “Peace” for all the suffering people whose world has fallen into disorder:
Set the heart upon rules, overcome calamity through reason, and carry on peace for all ages with a thousand lamps.
