Under the New World

A hundred years ago, the world fell under the iron heel of the Northern Barbarians. The government collapsed, the people were displaced, and no one in the temple dared to fight. It was Jianghu who made the first move. One hundred and eight martial arts sects from the north and the south formed a bloody alliance and fought bloody battles for twenty years before finally driving the barbarians out of the pass. But after the war was over, the country did not fall into the hands of any one family. No one would give in. No one obeys anyone. Final agreement: Wulin rules the world, and the emperor sits in the hall. Until the last emperor died seventy-two years ago. There is no emperor, no state and county magistrates, and no royal law. The only order in the world is called Wu Gang. The only power in the world is called sect. The rivers and lakes are not the corners of the court. The rivers and lakes are the world itself. If the common people do not pay the royal grain, they pay the military protection tax: instead of suing the officials, they sue the martial arts branch: Don't kneel to the emperor, kneel to the martial artist. This is not a chivalrous and tender world, but a cold empire ruled by force. This is not a prosperous era of peace and prosperity for the country and the people, but a chaotic era of ownerless mountains and rivers. The mighty martial arts cannot cover up the bloody storm; the numerous sects cannot hide the cunning intrigues. There is no dynasty in the world, only military rule. And the story begins quietly in this ownerless mountain and river.