Chapter 1 - The Ethereal Assassin and the Ruler of Hell

A lone fortress sat in the middle of the Western desert sands. Walls towering over thirty feet high enveloped the surrounding stronghold. A plaque hanging atop the western gate read 'Beiting Jiedushi' [ 北庭節度使 ]. This was the fortress-state of Tingzhou [ 庭州 ], a desolate wasteland at the northwestern frontiers of the empire.

In stark contrast to its barren surroundings, within the walls of Beiting lay a plenitude of majestic halls and lush gardens. Man-made streams flowed throughout the city and beautiful flowers lined every paved path, creating a seamless rainbow of vivid colors. It was truly an oasis in the desert.

In the largest hall of Beiting, a large congregation of people had gathered, their lively chatter filling the desert night sky. Some went on about their recent accomplishments while others shared old war stories. A figure at the front of the hall stood up slowly from his grand chair and the crowd slowly fell silent, awaiting his words.

Lu Sitian [ 陸四田 ] was a proud and ambitious man. Although lacking a formal education, he taught himself how to read and write. Since his early teens Lu Sitian had fought on the frontier borders. Starting out as a mere foot soldier, he steadily moved up in rank eventually attaining the status of General of Tingzhou [ 庭州大將軍 ]. After successfully fending off an assault from the Tujue, the Royal Court granted him the title of Jiedushi [ 節度使 ], making him the Governor-General of Beiting [ 北庭節度使 ]. For almost fifteen years Lu Sitian had ruled over all of Tingzhou and his fame was widely known throughout the border regions. He had every reason to be proud for all his accomplishments and fortune had been the result of the hard work from his very own two hands.

So when Lu Sitian stood up and prepared to speak, everyone knew to keep quiet. He took three steps forward and the crowd immediately fell into a hush.

"Great heroes! Thank you all for showing this old General the courtesy of honoring my invitation and making the journey here today. You are all brave warriors widely known throughout Tingzhou."

The people in the crowd numbered about fourty. Their appearances were certainly diverse, some looked like seasoned veteran soldiers, others looked like learned scholars, and still others looked like normal peddlers and merchants off of the streets. The only similarity they shared was that it was apparent that each one possessed formidable fighting ability.

Lu Sitian continued, "I have been able to maintain an orderly state all these years thanks in large part to the cooperation of all you friends here from the Wulin [ 武林 ] community. That is why today I would like to give back by appointing the most able person present to an Imperial position within my court."

The hall once again filled with chatter and discussion. A voice from the crowd shouted, "So how are we to determine who is the most able?"

Before Lu Sitian could respond, his question was answered by another voice across the hall, "We are all people of the Wulin community, of course the only way to compete is with martial arts!"

Many people in the crowd showed their agreement with shouts of encouragement. Another voice chimed in mockingly, "Thats right! Lets all fight over the juicy bone of the government like the wild lapdogs we are."

The audience broke into simultaneous laughter and discontent as heated argument and shouting went back and forth. This continued on for quite some time before Lu Sitian raised his hand demanding that the crowd quiet down for him to speak again.

"Friends! There is no need to argue. What is required of the position is what will be used to determine who is most able. And since the position is Captain of the First Brigade, and Imperial Representative of Beiting, this person must of course be a top class fighter."

The crowd immediately fell into a dead silence once again. The army of Tingzhou numbered in the tens of thousands, with the First Brigade commanding the other Eight Brigades. The position of 'Captain of the First Brigade' naturally entailed great power and prestige. They were all ambitious men looking to make a name for themselves, and they all finally saw the door of opportunity open right before them.

Most of the fighters in the room were well acquainted with each other. Even if not, they were all familiar with most of the prominent Wulin figures in the Tingzhou region. As they heard of the lucrative position offered, everyone slowly glanced around the room assessing the competition. A suffocating tension filled the air of the large hall.

Lu Sitian continued, "So what we will do is hold a tournament to decide who is the top fighter in Tingzhou, and that person will be immediately granted the position of Captain of the First Brigade and Imperial Representative of Beiting. We will start tomorrow morning..."

"No need." An eerie voice cut off the venerable Jiedushi. "I will kill every person in this room."

Everyone in the hall felt a slight shock upon hearing those words, but soon they all scanned around the room trying to spot the person who would dare to make such absurd comments.

In a corner stood a boy, no older than sixteen. He had a handsome countenance, almost feminine to an extent. At his side was a longsword, sheathe tied to his belt. There was not a single trace of expression on his face. His eyes gazed downward into seeming nothingness.

He looked more like a gravely ill boy on the verge of death than someone who had just claimed that he would kill every person in that hall.

Three soldiers who were standing near the boy immediately turned at him and one of them shouted, "Impudent little brat! How dare you utter such nonsense in the presence of the venerable Jiedushi! I'm going to smack you like your bitch mother should've!"

The soldier rushed him with his palm outstretched ready to land a giant slap across the boy's face, while his other two fellow soldiers followed closely from behind. The first soldier swung but caught nothing but air! He had put so much force behind the blow that his whole body spun around from the momentum of his swing. The soldier staggered backwards as he struggled to keep his footing. He apparently had the intention of smacking this boy pretty hard.

The soldier had already lost his balance and was hoping to fall back onto his two friends so that he wouldn't have to bear the embarrassment of landing on the floor. What greeted his eyes as he looked up was the sight of his two fellow soldiers' heads rolling off their necks, cleanly sliced off in a single slash. Before the shock could even register, he glanced downward only to see a long cold blade protruding from his throat.

And before anyone else could see, the boy was back in his original place, in front of the first soldier. Almost everyone in the room's eyes dilated and their jaws dropped wide open. The three soldiers laid lifeless on the cold floor of the hall in a messy pool of blood.

Everyone in the crowd was hesitant to do anything. It was a truly frightening sword art that they had just witnessed. It was that frightening because not one of them could claim to have seen the boy launch his attack. With a sword that fast, how would any of them even dream of countering, let alone surviving that attack?

A confident voice broke the silence, "What an incredibly fast sword! Young hero, I praise your skills."

A middle-aged Daoist dressed in white stepped forward. His sword was already drawn, and he had taken a defensive stance with his sword in front of him diagonally, ready to parry any attack that was thrown at him. The Daoist reasoned that even though he probably wouldn't be able to see the boy's lightning fast attack, taking a solid defensive stance would give him a chance to counterattack.

"My name is Daoist Tu [ 土道人 ] and I would like to ..." but before he could even finish, the boy had already disappeared from where he stood. Everyone's eyes glanced around the room frantically, looking for the boy.

The sound of two pieces of metal hit the floor with a loud *CLANG*. The boy's sword had split the Daoist's sword in half, straight down the center. The tip of the boy's sword was firmly implanted into the Daoist's skull. The Daoist's white garments were now colored a bright red.

This horrifying display of mercilessness shook even the bravest warrior in the room. A lot of the people in the crowd started to panic and rushed madly towards the doors. Much to their dismay, the boy appeared in the doorway and blocked their path.

"I said." the boy spoke in his monotone voice, "everyone in this room will die."

The cold blade danced around the room like the random unpredictable movements of a bee. But the eye is able to follow the movements of a bee. If only the eyes of the fighters in the room could follow the movements of this boy's sword. If only the slashes were really random, because each strike was a death-seeking attack. The boy's sword never targeted the same person twice because there was never any need to.

In mere minutes, the grand hall of the Beiting Jiedushi had become a living graveyard, littered with several dozen corpses. The imperial guards at Lu Sitian's side were too awestruck to even act or say anything during the boy's massacre.

After he was finally done, only eight people remained in that room.

Lu Sitian, being a battle-hardened veteran of war, although utterly shocked at the frightening abilities of this boy, still maintained his composure and spoke.

"Young hero, I must be honest that in all my years on the battlefield I have never witnessed an incredible sword art such as yours. If you couldn't be considered a true top-class fighter, then I know of no one who could."

Lu Sitian hesitated a moment before going on.

"But ... your sword lacks mercy. Nonetheless, a gentleman's word cannot be retracted. You are the only competitor left in here, and thus you will be awarded the position."

The boy slowly turned around and gave the same emotionless glance to Lu Sitian.

"I already have a vocation. I have no need for yours." The boy's words, although without tone, sounded much more resolute and determined than his age would show.

"Oh? And what could be more prestigious than to serve as my First Captain? Besides me, you will be the most powerful person in all of Tingzhou!"

Lu Sitian started to panic slightly as he realized that this boy had ill intentions, since he didn't come for the position in his court. Any normal person would beg on their knees for a chance to become Captain of the First Brigade of the Beiting Army of Tingzhou.

This celebrated general, victor of countless battles, had been shaken so deeply by the morbidly indifferent stare of the boy's eyes that the firmness and calm in his voice had slowly started to fade.

"So ... what vocation ... is it ... that you ... currently hold?" Lu Sitian asked, almost trembling now.

"Assassin." The boy coldly replied.

Lu Sitian felt a chilling shock trickle down his spine. His heart beat quickened. The boy slowly walked towards him.

Although Lu Sitian had been close to death many times in the field of battle, the last fifteen years of fortune and luxury had greatly weakened his courage. While he had nothing to lose back then as a general on the battlefield, he was consequently unafraid of death. But now Lu Sitian held the rank of Beiting Jiedushi, a position which made him the sole authority and ruler of Tingzhou. Now, he had everything to lose, and consequently, he was terrified of death.

"Who ... who is ... your target?" Lu Sitian had broken into fright and his words lost all trace of the strength and conviction of a seasoned general, sounding now more like a frail old man.

"To retrieve your head."

Lu Sitian's guards immediately formed a tight formation surrounding the Jiedushi, but in front of their eyes, the boy had already disappeared from sight. The slightest ringing of metal was heard. They all glanced around the room, and when they finally turned, all they saw behind them was a headless Lu Sitian.

The boy heard loud thundering footsteps coming from outside about several li [ 里 ] away and thought to himself that a sentry must have caught sight of what happened and had sounded an alarm. Before long, throngs of soldiers would flood the hall. So he leapt high onto a ceiling beam and quietly pondered about the best route of escape.

Meanwhile, the imperial guards at Lu Sitian's side were still in horror at the sight of the headless Jiedushi. But as their fright subsided, they now feared for their own lives at their ineptitude in protecting Lu Sitian. A few started whispering to each other that it was best if they left the hall as quickly as possible, and they proceeded to walk towards the doors.

Suddenly, a loud boisterous voice filled the room.

"Jiedushi Lu Sitian! Pack your earthly belongings and prepare to be escorted into the underworld! It is your misfortune that today you have run into the the 'Ruler of Hell' [ 閻羅王 ], Wang Xiaoyun [ 王小雲 ]!"

A young man cloaked in blck about seventeen or eighteen years of age bursts into the room. His hair was long and unkempt, flowing behind him as he leapt forward. A sword hung at his waist. He had large eyes and a lively expression, despite his drab appearance and dark clothing.

When Wang Xiaoyun caught sight of the half dozen imperial guards cautiously approaching the exit, and the sea of dead bodies around them, he couldn't help but be utterly surprised and confused.

"What the hell?!? What in the world happened here?" he exclaimed.

As Wang Xiaoyun tried to analyze the situation, he was at a complete lost for words. He stared at the half-frightened-to-death guards, their faces pale with fear.

"I know I'm the 'Ruler of Hell' but you six fools look like you've really seen a ghost." Wang Xiaoyun said jestingly. The floor littered with bodies didn't seem to bother him one bit.

He looked at the guard furthest in front and concluded that he must be the leader of the group. With a light spring Wang Xiaoyun leapt beside the lead guard. With his sword still sheathed, he pointed the tip at the guard's face.

"You! I have come to claim the head of the scoundrel Jiedushi Lu Sitian. Tell me where he is and I shall find it in my heart to spare your pitiful life!"

The guard was just as confused as Wang Xiaoyun at the events that had transpired. He just witnessed an assassin wipe out nearly fifty able fighters and claim the head of the Jiedushi right from under their noses. Now, another strange man barges in and claimed to be after the head of Lu Sitian. Fearing for his life, the guard dared not lie and pointed at the headless body of Lu Sitian behind him.

"Ha! You're trying to play some kind of joke on me?" Wang Xiaoyun chuckled in response. "I have come for the head of Lu Sitian and you point at a headless corpse! Funny guy!"

Wang Xiaoyun looked again at the expression on the guard's face but didn't catch the slightest hint of humor.

"Wait a second, did you six nobodies just wipe out all these other nobodies and claim MY Lu Sitian head? I understand what's going on here now. You six must have conspired to kill the Jiedushi in order to take his place!"

Wang Xiaoyun now brandished his sword and got into an attacking stance, looking as if he was ready to pounce on the six guards. The six didn't know whether to be amused or scared. This raving lunatic just walked in after a bloody massacre and kept running his mouth non-stop. Now he accused Lu Sitian's own imperial guards of killing everyone in the room including the Jiedushi. If it weren't for the graveness of the situation, the six guards would have surely burst into laughter.

All of a sudden, Wang Xiaoyun leapt backwards ever so slightly, but one could tell that his qinggong [ 輕功 ], swiftness skill, was incredible as he landed way back at the door some several meters away.

"You guys must have some fantastic abilities to be able to take down almost fifty fighters even if they are nobodies. What are you fools doing as lowly guards anyway, you should be generals at least with your skills!"

The guards just looked at each other as dumbfounded as ever.

"Since you've claimed my target, I'm taking you six to the depths of Hell instead!" and with a shout, he lunged forward launching six simultaneous attacks at the six guards. If it could be said that the sword art of the boy was of amazing speed, then the sword art of Wang Xiaoyun was one of amazing power.

The boy a top the ceiling beam watched carefully at Wang Xiaoyun's every move. Even though each attack was quite simple and straightforward, the boy couldn't fathom a way that one would block or counter Wang Xiaoyun's incoming thrusts. In a panic, all six imperial guards dropped to the ground and covered their heads like little children.

A voice rang from the ceiling above.

"No need. I am the one who claimed your Lu Sitian head."

At that moment, Wang Xiaoyun felt an extremely deadly sword aura coming down towards him at a blistering speed. But Wang Xiaoyun never retracted his devastating attacks once they've been unleashed. He merely quickened his pace, striking down all six guards in a flash, before changing his sword stance upwards anticipating to clash swords with the other attacker from above.

Sparks flew across the room as their two swords met. The boy flipped backwards and landed in a crouched position after the exchange. Wang Xiaoyun leapt back a couple paces as well, eager to find out who this opponent was.

"Who the hell are you?" shouted Wang Xiaoyun. The boy didn't respond and still bore the same lifeless stare. "No need to answer, your name must be Tianfeng [ 天峰 ]."

The boy looked slightly surprised at the fact that Wang Xiaoyun had correctly guessed his name. But he still didn't feel the need to reply.

"It's etched on your sword's hilt. Your aerial attack was slower than a turtle, I even had time to carefully inspect the words on your sword. Why don't you try again?" Wang Xiaoyun was obviously taunting Tianfeng.

Tianfeng stood motionless. He always assessed his opponent's martial skill meticulously and never attacked unless he knew he had an absolute chance of victory. Tianfeng didn't have that absolute confidence that he could win after exchanging that first blow with Wang Xiaoyun, seeing how Wang Xiaoyun so casually continued his attack on the six guards before changing his stance to counter Tianfeng's aerial attack.

The dead silence lasted for almost a minute.

"So ... if you're not going to attack me, then let us make acquaintance instead." Wang Xiaoyun threw a big smile. "My given name is Xiaoyun, and I am surnamed Wang!"

"You've got a pretty fast sword, it was out of sheer luck that I threw my stance upwards. To be honest, I didn't have confidence that I was going to be able to stop your attack at all." Wang Xiaoyun said in a truly honest tone of voice.

Tianfeng still stood motionless. Wang Xiaoyun felt like he was talking to a statue.

"Tianfeng! I'm talking to you, Tianfeng! I know that's your name. By the way, what's your surname? Don't tell me its Tian. You've got to have some pretty conceited ancestors to name their entire lineage Tian [ 天 ]."

Wang Xiaoyun continued babbling on at Tianfeng as if not even expecting a reply. But when he actually got one, he was even more surprised.

"What assassin announces his own name before attacking?" Tianfeng asked in his usual monotone voice, but his question certainly held a hint of sarcasm.

"Ha! The boy has a sense of humor!" Wang Xiaoyun replied. "Well to answer your question, I'm the Keeper of Hell, meaning anyone who sees me is going straight to Hell anyway, so why would I be afraid of these nobodies hearing my name? But I like you kid, so I'm going to make an exception and permit you to live on with your life."

"Xiaoyun [ 小雲 ], Little [ 小 ] ... Cloud [ 雲 ] ... the Keeper of Hell. What a fearsome name." Tianfeng replied, sarcastically.

"You shut up! It's not my fault that when I was born I was so handsome that my parents mistook me for a girl. So naturally they gave me a girl's name. It's not in my control the name that I was given, okay?" Wang Xiaoyun shouted back indignantly, slightly embarrassed.

But he couldn't help but burst out laughing. Tianfeng retained his blank expression but Wang Xiaoyun knew that he was laughing on the inside as well.

The two felt a shared camaraderie and sheathed their swords.

"Brother Tianfeng, we had the same target, so I believe that we share the same objective. We are not enemies." Wang Xiaoyun now spoke in a very serious tone. The whole time it appeared as if he was a madman, but now he actually sounded more like a young gentleman.

Tianfeng gave a slight nod.

Suddenly, the doors burst open as almost several hundred soldiers blocked the entrance. They all had their bows drawn and aimed at Wang Xiaoyun and Tianfeng. A man clad full armor was in the middle of their ranks and appeared to be the commander in charge of these troops.

"And who is this nobody?" Wang Xiaoyun said casually, not even bothering to turn his head to face the soldiers that had just barged in.

"I am Captain of the Second Brigade of Beiting, Zhang Hua [ 張華 ]. We have the exit completely sealed off. Drop your weapons now or I will order my archers to shoot!"

Wang Xiaoyun and Tianfeng appeared slightly hesitant to attack them but they had no intention of dropping their weapons either. Both knew that they were faster than a single arrow. However, a rain of several hundred arrows would prove quite difficult to dodge and was enough to cause these two highly skilled individuals to think twice before making any rash moves.

Zhang Hua, disgusted that the two disregarded his threats, finally caught glimpse of the beheaded Jiedushi Lu Sitian. He thought to himself, "So it seems these two have killed that old fool Lu. What a wonderful opportunity. I don't care whether they're assassins or heroes, once I get rid of the two of them, I'll be promoted to Jiedushi. I was getting sick of working under that old fool Lu anyway."

However, Zhang Hua also realized that these two must be incredibly high level fighters to have been able to wipe out so many skilled fighters in such a short amount of time. He felt it was best not to provoke the two of them, even with his several hundred archers beside him. The death of the Jiedushi was a wonderful opportunity for Zhang Hua and he didn't want to jeopardize it.

"Just drop your weapons and I guarantee your lives will be spared. Even if you two sprouted wings, it'd be impossible to escape. Surrender now!" Zhang Hua shouted, now becoming increasingly impatient.

Wang Xiaoyun let out a laugh, "Good! You want us to sprout wings and fly? We'll do just that!" and before his voice had even reached Zhang Hua and his troops, Wang Xiaoyun's body darted towards the ceiling. An instant after, Tianfeng's body shot up as well. A large *BOOM* filled the room as the two broke through the roof and dashed off into the desert night sky.

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Translation and End-Chapter Notes

天寶 - Tianbao was the third and final era in the rule of Emperor Xuan Zong of the Tang Dynasty. This period was from 742-756 AD and marked the beginning of the end of the Tang Dynasty, with the Imperial Government slowly deteriorating from internal and external forces. Read the prologue for more historical background of the era.

庭州 - Tingzhou, a northwestern province in Tang Dynasty China with its capital at Beiting.

北庭 - Beiting, the capital seat of Tingzhou.

節度使 - Jiedushi is a military ranking given to rulers of the fangzhen fortress-states in the border regions of the empire.