During the Qianlong era, the nation seemed strong and its people at peace. Yet in the unseen but very real world of the jianghu, cults sprang up one after another, and evil ran rampant.
The authorities secretly sent people to investigate the many disappearances of innocent young women across the provinces and counties. A number of righteous heroes also infiltrated the newly emerged Su Nv Cult to uncover the truth, but none ever returned.
Many wealthy merchants and quite a few escort agencies were killed without warning, their possessions plundered and their entire families wiped out. Some said the ruthless Guiyi Sect was responsible, but soon the accuser was found with all four limbs severed and his tongue cut out, hanging from the great tree in front of his own home.
After that, no one dared mention the Guiyi Sect again.
But none of this was truly frightening. What terrified people was the sudden appearance of three mysterious figures in the jianghu, who formed a force that was both united and divided, allied yet at odds with itself. Their martial arts were astonishingly powerful. They killed both the wicked and the righteous, leaving both the black and white factions trembling with fear and everyone on edge!
Many suspected they were among the five greatest fighters selected by the Emperor from the heroes of the realm. Their involvement in the jianghu was meant to keep it in check, eliminate powerful factions, and bring peace to the land.
