Soaring on Graceful Bones

Synopsis of "Graceful Bones Soaring Through the Clouds"

In the chaotic years between the fall of the Sui and the rise of the Tang, Qin Qiong, a young boy from a dye shop in Licheng County, gets caught up in political intrigue after helping a blind old man named Su Ding out of a tight spot. County deputy Wang Hu is secretly working with the Turks and wants to seize the "Sui Army Defense Map" in Su Ding's possession. Guided by the hidden hero “Mr. Silent,” Qin Qiong masters the extraordinary skill of identifying attacks by their sounds. Together with county lieutenant Li Mi, he foils Wang Hu's scheme and is drawn into a whirlpool where the martial world and officialdom intertwine.

Qin Qiong later follows Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin, witnessing such historic events as the Taiyuan Uprising, the siege of Chang'an, and the Xuanwu Gate Incident. On the battlefield, he earns distinction with his lance and is appointed commander of the cavalry. In private, he associates with literary figures such as Lu Zhaolin and Wang Han, and sees masterpieces like "Chang'an Reflections" and "Song of Liangzhou" come into being. Hidden heroes such as Lao Zhou the coachman and Lao Feng the coppersmith repeatedly lend him secret aid, helping him resolve crises including Li Chengqian's rebellion and Turkish incursions along the border. They also teach him the way of “the natural cycle of Heaven, and the hidden keeping to what is constant.”

Qin Qiong experiences not only the flashing blades of the martial world, but also the treacherous power struggles of officialdom. He witnesses the contest for the crown between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, helps Wei Zheng speak frankly and offer remonstrance, and takes part in founding the “People's Protection Hall,” where martial arts are taught to protect ordinary people. In his later years, Qin Qiong grows indifferent to fame and fortune and returns to the dye shop in Licheng. Watching children practice “Field Fist,” he looks back on his life: from a boy of the streets to a founding hero, from a wandering knight-errant to a hidden guardian of the ordinary way. Amid the warmth of everyday life, he finally understands the truth: “Every trade has its hardships; keep to your duty, and clarity will follow.” The storms of the Sui-Tang era and the legends of the hidden heroes become a weighty chapter in the river of history as the prosperous Zhenguan era dawns.