The Wild Blade of Strangers (陌路狂刀)

The capital is in need of charcoal due to freezing weather.

Officials have ordered to increase production.

The government shall acquire a third of all yields.

Water and fire are incompatible.

Yin and Yang are not in their natural place.

That is to say,

the coiled dragon is trapped in the abyss.

But one day it shall rise,

and soar into the sky.

Half a foot of silk.

Never enough food.

We can sell this cart of charcoal

For a good price.

In the seventh year of the Taixing Era,

when the former Emperor passed away,

Prince Qi falsified the imperial edict for succession,

declaring that Prince Yang Dong shall ascend the throne.

Crown Prince Yang Tan laid siege to Prince Qi in Liang City.

Prince Qi gave an order to kill all of the city's inhabitants.

Yang Tan was defeated in battle.

Yang Dong.

Do you recognize

this man?

He is my older brother.

The Crown Prince of Eastern Palace.

That's him.

He tried to kill you.

You think

victory makes you king,

and I'll be lost to history?

I have no problem telling you this.

Prince Qi.

You cannot kill all my heirs.

There are multiple copies of the imperial edict for succession.

Prince Qi.

How is everything

in the Eastern Palace?

The matter has been dealt with.

I am inquiring about the remaining traitors.

Your Highness,

the traitor had a son with a dancer.

The mother and son are nowhere to be found

at the moment.

What are you waiting for then?

I have ordered for a citywide manhunt in secret.

But as all nine city gates are open,

if the rebels are colluding with outside forces,

I'm afraid…

Issue a decree.

All guards at the nine city gates

are under Zhang Xuqing's command,

as evidenced by my own talisman.

Yes, Your Highness.

Where is the imperial edict for succession?

We are still searching for it.

The Coronation Ceremony is near.

Proceed with caution.

Yes.

Xuanyi Pavilion.

My son joined the army here years ago.

Longxi Mo Sword Army.

They guarded the borders

and made countless achievements.

Look after the charcoal.

Four baskets.

But Sir…

300 kg of charcoal. The government takes a third, that is 100 kg.

Sir.

We have nine kilns back home.

Each kiln produces 25 kg of charcoal.

This whole cartload

is less than 250 kg.

Please weigh it if you don't believe me.

Weigh it?

My eyes are the scale.

But Sir…

How dare you question me?

You ought to be grateful that I'm letting you sell charcoal in the city.

That's enough, old man.

Hya!

Have you heard?

Two hundred people in the Eastern Palace…

Even the pets were killed.

I heard it was bandits.

What bandits?

I bet it's...

The deposed Crown Prince rose in rebellion.

Prince Qi led the army to quash the rebellion.

The rebel army laid siege to Liang City.

Thousands in Liang City were martyred.

This act of supreme loyalty inspired our soldiers

to defeat the treasonous rebels.

I implore Your Highness Prince Qi

and Your Majesty

to build a Martyrs' Shrine in Liang City

to console our country.

Shrines shall be built in all states and counties across the country.

Also, a Memorial Arch of Loyalty

is to be built before Jianyang Gate.

I shall inscribe the placard myself

with the words "Eternal Loyalty."

Eternal Loyalty?

What loyalty?

How is it eternal?

I have

observed the stars.

The Seventh Malefic Star is above us.

Traitors have taken power.

But the Alkaid has entered its orbit.

A man of justice shall complete the righteous deed

and rid our country of you!

How dare you!

Lyu Zhong!

How dare you insult Prince Qi?

Prince Qi

falsified the imperial edict for succession,

and accused the Crown Prince of rebellion.

He ordered the assassination of more than 200 people in Eastern Palace.

Are you all blind?

Bo Yong, you viper.

You have held the Crown hostage against Heaven's will.

In the Coronation Ceremony in five days' time,

blood will be spilled.

Blood will be spilled!

He is a traitor!

Imperial Counsellor Lyu Zhong

is a remaining member of the deposed Crown Prince's rebellious ilk.

He used his authority to help Yang Tan seize the throne.

He served as Yang Tan's inside man in court

And leaked military secrets to him,

leading to the fall of Liang City

and thousands of deaths.

If peace isn't restored...

With Lyu Zhong's crimes...

My son would never return.

In accordance with the law,

he shall be beheaded in front of the masses.

Let's go, old man.

Official seals are required to exit the city before the coronation.

Those who disobey the order shall be killed.

How much is your charcoal?

Others sell it for one coin,

but you sell it for two coins.

Do you know how to run a business?

The fortune slip is in Limping.

The lower trigram is Bound, and the upper trigram is Gorge.

Lives will be saved.

Fireworks.

I saw it again.

Tomorrow, take me to the Persian man.

I want to ask him a favor

to help inquire about my son's whereabouts

when he passes by border towns.

Didn't you have his fortune read?

Yes.

It says he will be back by the end of the year.

But…

I tried three times.

Save…

Save my son.

Save…

Save…

Save my son.

Save my son.

Come.

Let's go to the dyehouse.

Hurry up!

Hold on.

Steel sword? Cifei army.

Bo Si Mi Qie Er.

Hong Ba La.

Zhe Gui Nu Tu.

Your Highness, Zhang Xuqing wants to see you.

Your Highness.

Tonight at the dyehouse,

one of our guys faked his death

and heard the opponent utter a spell before drawing his sword.

Rumor has it that in Longxi Mo Sword Army,

only warriors who have killed a thousand people

can master this spell.

What's the meaning of the spell?

Those who stand in the way must die.

The blade carries the souls of the departed.

Is it that powerful?

Rumor has it

that in Longxi Mo Sword Army,

each Mo Sword can kill three thousand people,

and the God of Death is no match to its blade.

Ridiculous.

Go on.

The man lit a charcoal fire

and dodged arrows behind the flickering light and shadows.

Then, he used firearms to disrupt the attackers.

He wielded a steel sword, yet displayed Mo Sword techniques.

Your Highness.

After the Liang City incident,

are there any surviving Mo Sword Army members?

Weren't they all martyred?

I'm worried

about their instructor.