Chapter One: The Valor of Youth – Part 1
Song of the martial world – Roaming the Rivers and Lakes
Young and brave, the knight sets forth,Dominating all under heaven, bold in the North.With loyal heart, and furrowed brow,He strides through storm and battle now.Sword flashing bronze in war-torn skies,Justice weighing a thousand lies.At the front, he charges through,Like thunder rolling from the blue,He roars to heaven's dome—Breaking the enemy's sharpened chrome.Alone he stands, facing the height,Howling to chase the wild goose's flight.Flames consume the battle bow,Sword-qi soars, strikes high and low.He treads on wind and icy rain,Unbending will, like a rainbow chain!
(Part II)
I recall my dreams of bloodied sand,Qiang flutes wail across the land.I ask the old man on the border trail:"Where have the gallant heroes sailed?"East of Guanlong, flames arise,Years pass by in empty sighs.The western winds now mourn and moan,A crimson dusk on halberds shone.Leaning on swords, the shadows fade,The song of steel begins to wade.Drums resound, Yuyang wakes,A sorrowful flute the silence breaks.Crushing the border beacons bright,Iron blood breeds a kingly might.The west wind bears the sword's fierce cry—Dragon roars from the sheath on high.In twilight's chill and cloudy dome,A thousand miles, the hero comes home!
Pearl River Wails – A Maiden's Resolve
On both banks of the glistening Pearl River, Guangzhou city bustled with noble clans and literati, merchants in droves, culture and commerce flourishing side by side. Among these prosperous elite was a renowned and wealthy merchant named Wu Gao, father to two sons.
The elder son, Wu Xun, had a scholarly nature. By the age of eighteen, he had passed the imperial examinations with distinction and was appointed an official in Hebei after succeeding in the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation. The younger, Wu Tong, was a man of martial pursuits. He studied under the mysterious White Cloud Hermit of White Cloud Mountain. Though well-versed in the classics, Wu Tong shunned officialdom, preferring to roam the lands in search of martial comrades and justice. Despite his disregard for politics, his father held no complaint—only pride.
The Pearl River shimmered in the sunlight, and merchant ships clustered at the Thirteen Factories dock. On the stone-paved Xiguan Street, Wu Tong strolled with a wine gourd in hand, laughing alongside several carefree sons of noble families.
Suddenly, from up ahead came the sound of weeping.
Wu Tong, fond of strong drink, was often in the company of similarly spirited young men. As always, they were wandering the streets of Guangzhou when a crowd caught their attention. Curious, they approached.
There, a young girl, no older than sixteen or seventeen, knelt by the roadside, her face heavy with sorrow. Behind her hung a crude cloth sign:
"Selling Myself to Bury My Father – 200 Taels."
An older woman approached—the type with heavy makeup, revealing attire, and a provocative sway. She fluttered her fan flirtatiously and exclaimed,
"Well now, such a pretty little thing! What's your name, dear?"
The girl answered softly:
"My surname is Zhao. My given name is Rou."
The woman smirked.
"Interested in joining our house of sisters? There's always work in the brothel."
As it turned out, she was a madam from a brothel—her mannerisms made that plain. Zhao Rou's brows furrowed. She answered, voice low but resolute:
"Thank you, Auntie, but selling myself to bury my father is an act of desperation. I cannot enter a brothel. That I absolutely cannot do."
The girl knelt on the cold stone, clad in plain mourning white. In her hair was a white velvet flower, and behind her, a coarse hemp cloth bore smudged ink:
"Selling Myself to Bury My Father – 200 Taels."
Beside her, a thin, fragile coffin, poorly made, lay partially open, the faint stench of death mingling with incense smoke.
"Such a delicate flower!"The air reeked of powder and perfume as another madam arrived, flicking open a golden peony fan and parting the crowd.This was Madam Cui, a notorious brothel keeper.With lacquered, claw-like fingernails, she lifted the girl's chin."Name?"
Zhao Rou replied, eyes lowered:
"Zhao. Rou."
"Tsk tsk, those almond-shaped eyes could steal a man's soul. Come with Mama to the Rouge Pavilion. Forget 200 taels—I'll dress you finer than any courtesan!"
Zhao Rou trembled, tears dotting the dusty ground.
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam… but I would rather be a maid or servant…"
"Enough with the false modesty!" Madam Cui sneered and let go, her silver bangles clanging."You act like some virtuous lady—just like Yu Xiao years ago. And now look at her…"
She frowned and muttered,
"Little girls like you know nothing of the world. Who's born into the brothel life? No one. Think it over. I'll be back tomorrow."
With that, she left in a huff, deciding the girl needed to suffer more before breaking.
Not long after, a local thug swaggered in with over a dozen henchmen.
"Move aside!"The gang shoved through, toppling incense and candles.
Leading them was a burly man in an embroidered robe, muscles bulging. He was Liu Bao, the tyrant of Xiguan.
With a leering grin, he nudged Zhao Rou's chin with his boot.
"Two hundred taels to bury your father? That's your price?"
Zhao Rou bowed her head.
"Yes, sir. I ask only to serve as a bondmaid for three years. After burying my father, I shall fulfill the contract."
Liu Bao, infamous for extorting local merchants and committing countless atrocities, never intended to pay. His lecherous eyes roved over the girl, and he reached out to touch her face—
But before he could, Zhao Rou suddenly reached up and snapped his wrist with precision.
"OW! You little—!"He screamed, his hand bent at an unnatural angle.
Zhao Rou stood, fingers still holding his pressure point.
"Please mind your conduct, sir. I am mourning my father and do not wish to cause trouble."
Her voice was gentle—but the power in her grip left Liu Bao drenched in cold sweat.
"You dare defy me!?"He barked, stepping back, humiliated."Take her! I don't care if she has three heads or six arms—grab her!"
The thugs surged forward.
Zhao Rou moved swiftly—her mourning robes fluttering like butterfly wings. She struck with elbows and knees, each blow aimed with skill.
One lunged—she blocked and struck.Another came from behind—she dodged and threw him.
But as she fought, someone tossed lime powder into the air. Blinded and coughing, she staggered.
Her arms were seized and wrenched behind her. Outnumbered, she was subdued.
The crowd gasped. A stocky woman, around forty, shouted:
"Liu Bao! Have you no shame? This girl's trying to bury her father! Do you not fear Heaven's wrath!?"
Liu Bao, though furious, noticed the crowd swelling around him.
He snarled:
"Take her! Anyone speaks—I'll teach them a lesson!"
Two thugs tried to drag Zhao Rou away.
Suddenly, a fishmonger woman—Aunt Chen—pushed through the crowd, scales still clinging to her clothes.
She stepped before Liu Bao and cried out:
"Liu Bao the thug is forcing a helpless girl! Everyone, come see!"
People rushed in from all sides, blocking his escape.