Prologue

An end and a beginning

In the great mountains and plains of the East, there was a mighty kingdom that had twelve territories distributed to the twelve sons, and one daughter of the mighty warlord Dan Baihu.

Not everything was well between these young men. There was much jealousy and hate among them because Dan Baihu was not just a warrior, but a lover who had taken two principal wives and two concubines. It did not help that the principal wives were sisters given in to cunning ploys and jealous games to win Dan Baihu’s affections.

After the death of this mighty warlord and the women in his life, things appeared to be peaceful for a while. However, a dispute arose over who would rule the entire Dan clan. Nine of the brothers followed the eleventh brother, Dan Yìchén who was the favourite son of Dan Baihu. Dan Bolin, the fourth brother, only managed to muster the support of those in his own territory and that of one other brother. His army was still formidable even for the coalition of ten, and he tried to take territories from them one at a time.

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Thus, the days of peace were over, and the days of battle began. One kingdom was split into two. Those under Dan Yìchén occupied much of the northern mountains and the central plains while Dan Bolin’s little territory survived in the lush greenery of the south.

There were frequent disputes over resources and they cost both kingdoms dearly. When word spread that the power of Dan Baihu’s kingdom was crumbling due to the disunity among his children, eager and vulture-like enemies quickly took the opportunity and made war with both kingdoms. The King of Shaanxi took the northern and central territories while the south fell into the hands of the King of Anhui. Some of the brothers were killed, and some went missing, but none were heard from again.

The people were in misery. The old, sickly, and the very young or disabled were left among the ruins of their cities. The women, scholars, and some men of repute were dragged back in chains and fetters as slaves to serve the Kings of Shaanxi and Anhui. The power and beauty of Dan Baihu’s kingdom was shattered and scattered without any hope.

What no one knew was that Dan Baihu was also a sage if one could call him that. He was gifted in strategy and could look into the future as the immortal God allowed.

He had foreseen the regathering of his kingdom. They would unite again and obtain all their former power and beauty, excellence, and fortune. But it would be a very long journey through tumultuous times. And at the heart of it would be the most unlikely of heroes in whose veins Dan Baihu’s blood flowed freely and wildly to shake the gates of hell itself.