"The martial hero who once cleansed the world of demons returns once more… to atone for the karma he himself created.
Akin, a contemporary Chinese brush artist, dies in an accident and awakens in the body of Ling Shan, a legendary Tang Dynasty martial hero who once wielded a sword to judge good and evil, never stopping to ask whether demons truly deserved to die.
Yet in this life, he chooses the brush over the sword, mercy over slaughter, and chooses to walk side by side with Bai Jing, a kind-hearted, fragile fox demon girl, in a martial world that refuses to accept the coexistence of humans and demons.
When past love still binds the heart, when old vows collide with a new path,when the world's idea of righteousness stands against the mercy within one's soul…
How will Ling Shan write his own destiny, with the edge of a sword… or the tip of a brush? And in a world where love itself is a sin, Will choosing to love again become a crime paid for with one's life?"
The Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE) is regarded as China's Golden Age, a period of extraordinary prosperity in culture, art, and literature (exemplified by poets such as Li Bai). It also serves as a classic backdrop for wuxia fiction, as peace and wealth created space for the rise of independent martial heroes…..jianghu wanderers who travelled the land, relied on themselves, and aided others.
(Though historical upheavals such as the An Lushan Rebellion later weakened this stability.)
A "Different" Chinese Fantasy Jianghu. This story is not a power-scaling or cultivation-focused wuxia. Instead, it is a philosophical Chinese fantasy that questions the morality of killing and the true meaning of compassion. It is a Buddhist-influenced Chinese fantasy that explores redemption through art and forbidden love, distinguished by its reincarnation-driven plot, layered characters.....
The Integration of Taoism and Buddhism. Buddhist concepts are woven into the narrative through themes of confession, karma, and consequence, particularly reflected in Ling Shan's journey of atonement. Taoism, meanwhile, appears as the philosophy of living in harmony with nature. Demons and supernatural beings are not portrayed as inherently evil, but as part of the world's balance… good and evil, light and dark. This reflects Taoist ideas of non-attachment, acceptance, and letting go.
Conflict Between Buddhism, Taoism, and Humanity. The jianghu in this story is not a world with a single absolute truth. Each faction clings to a different belief system:
The imperial court exploits religion as a tool of power.
Certain sects misuse Buddhist doctrine as justification for slaughter.
Some Taoist paths distort the concept of "balance" to excuse the existence of evil.
These conflicts mirror how faith is often used as a human pretext. Ling Shan stands at the intersection of Buddhism and Taoism between compassion and detachment.
Literary Value - At its core, the novel seeks to pose ethical questions rather than provide definitive answers, opening a space for readers to interpret meaning on their own… where morality, faith, and love remain unresolved, human, and painfully real.
This novel does not intend to promote, persuade, or advocate any particular belief, religion, or ideology.The spiritual, religious, and philosophical elements presented are used solely as narrative devices within a fantasy context, reflecting the characters' perspectives, inner conflicts, and the cultural atmosphere of different historical eras.
All characters, events, and details in this story are entirely fictional and are not meant to represent historical facts, religious doctrines, or real-world beliefs.Readers are encouraged to approach the work as a piece of imaginative literature and interpret it with personal discretion.