A Long Song of Laughter Amid a Turbulent World

Amid the turmoil of a fallen age, court intrigues and the turbulence of the martial world intertwine, as six people navigate the streets, the court, and a world of flashing blades. Driven by a family vendetta, Yu Jiuzhe ventures into the martial world with his friends, where he meets Shen Jingshu, a young woman from a powerful minister’s household. By chance, the two join the ranks of martial-world strategists led by Bai Sanqiu and Chu Huali. Together with Ying Xiaofu and Zhang Yugong, they form a temporary alliance, trading barbs, poking fun at one another, and fighting side by side in a vortex of power.

The story weaves together the absurdity of everyday life, satire of the imperial court, and strange tales from the martial world. Against the backdrop of a chaotic age that is both ridiculous and real, the characters face shaken beliefs, life-and-death choices, and trials of friendship and self-redemption. They grow through helping one another, resist cruelty with humor, and dance with the fickle fortunes of the age. The three volumes focus, respectively, on the rise and fall of the martial world, undercurrents at court, and the final chapter of revenge and redemption. Tightly structured and rich in intersecting storylines, the volumes shape and influence one another. The ending confronts fate directly, leaving no regrets.