Tianshui Valley lies in the Jiangnan beyond the frontier. It can bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones. Its people excel at both medicine and martial arts, and everyone in the martial world knows its name.
"According to the tales of the martial world, the three disciples personally taught by the first leader of Tianshui Valley, Master Shitai Xiyuan, were three siblings of the same surname: two sisters and a brother, all outstanding in grace and beauty, unrivaled in their time.
Yet none met a good end.
The eldest sister, Zhuang Ling, died violently in a brothel, her body mutilated.
The second brother, Zhuang Kun, imprisoned his teacher and seized power.
The youngest sister, Zhuang Jin, was expelled for her murderous ways and vanished without a trace.
Later, Zhuang Jin reappeared, and the killings began again..."
I was reciting the martial world's rumors with an exaggerated bob of my head when my teacher smacked me on it. "Who taught you to talk such nonsense?"
My teacher sighed. "You were just a baby in swaddling clothes when the second leader of Tianshui Valley brought you to me. That's how you survived. Disciple, are you stupid?"
This was the first time my teacher had ever mentioned my past.
And the second leader of Tianshui Valley was none other than Zhuang Jin.
My teacher tossed me a battered book. "The world has got it all wrong. Disciple, you must copy this book out again, then print it and pass it on!"
I caught the thick book. Four bold black characters stood out on its blue cover: "Records of Tianshui."
Reader's guide:
1. The "I" in the blurb represents the reader's point of view. The main story is written in third person.
2. The whole story follows Zhuang Jin, the second leader of Tianshui Valley, throughout her life. It has three volumes, each with a different plot, setting, and main male character.
3. Volume One: martial arts and life in the mountains, episodic stories, everyday life. Volume Two: the martial world and powerful clans, a revenge plot. Volume Three: the imperial court, with a possible romance.
*The heroine is a widow from the very beginning, a real widow.
Theme: Life is but a great dream.
