On a day of heavy snowfall in the dead of winter, Li Yuan was once again traveling as the White-Robed Blade King. He slaughtered a den of bandits and rescued the women they had abducted. He then divided the bandits’ loot among them so they could return home, keeping not a single coin for himself.  0

Amid their tearful thanks, Li Yuan stood alone in the drifting snow, gazing at bloodstains where crimson mingled with white. He raised his gourd of wine and let out a hearty laugh. “Glorious…simply glorious!”  0

But soon he heard movement behind him. Turning his head, he spotted three men and two women, all dressed like roaming heroes—three carried blades, one a sword, and one a spear, picking their way up the slope.  0

They’d caught wind of these bandits terrorizing the area and had come to clear them out. Young and unaffiliated with any major sect, they were eager to prove themselves....0