Ink Across the Mortal World
He was once a battle-hardened special forces soldier, clad in uniform and defending every inch of his homeland amid a hail of bullets. With extraordinary courage and an iron will, he became the military’s brightest rising star. He was also once a titan of the business world, turning the tides of a treacherous marketplace with sheer daring and remarkable strategy. Still young, he had already amassed a fortune worth billions, and everyone addressed him with respect as Young Master Mo.
At his peak, he was surrounded by admirers, with people eager to serve him. In his darkest days, he was abandoned by everyone: old friends turned against him, and the woman at his side watched coldly. A carefully planned conspiracy dragged him from the heights into the mire, destroying his reputation and leaving him disgraced. At the darkest moment of his life, alone, he broke through the haze and shaved his head before the lamps of an ancient monastery, becoming a monk named Shi Jueyuan.
From then on, he sheathed his edge, using a Zen heart to guide the world and ink to express his soul. He tempered his spirit amid the bustle of ordinary life and helped others through tangled feuds. He had witnessed the deceit and bloodshed of the business world, as well as the fierce loyalties and tender-hearted chivalry of the martial world. He had defended his country’s greater cause, yielding not an inch, and protected the one he loved, standing by her through life and death. The vast mortal world was his place of practice: one thought could make a Buddha, the next a demon.
When old enemies came calling, new dangers arose, and those around him once again found themselves in peril, he had no choice but to return to the martial world. This time, he was no longer the battle-hardened warrior who knew only how to charge into the fray. He was a wanderer through the mortal world, carrying Zen wisdom and compassion. Using his insight to break through crises and compassion to stay true to his heart, he gradually uncovered the truth behind the conspiracy in the treacherous city, clearing his name, avenging his loved ones, and giving the people a future.
