Winds Rise at the Heavenly Gate: Blade in the Snow

In the twenty-ninth year of Yongning, a secret edict left the imperial city. The Blood-Clad Marquis rose from the dead and returned to court, stirring the realm into turmoil.

That year, on the snowy plains of the northern frontier, a young man set out north with a blade in hand, followed by a storyteller.

That year, amid the misty rains of Jiangnan, a noble scion broke his sword and burned his zither, all to trade them for a bowl of hangover soup.

That year, within the imperial palace in the capital, a princess strode into court in armor and smashed the phoenix seal against the golden steps.

That year, rumors spread through the martial world that someone had carved a line of words into a sheer cliff in western Shu:

“When I return, I’ll claim my blade from the snow.”

Everyone thought it was the ravings of a madman.

Until three years later, that figure truly appeared beneath the gates of Tianqi City.

Snow and wind clung to his shoulders. His blade gleamed no more.

Behind him stood the whole world.