Thrown in prison and awaiting death for a crime he didn’t commit, Fan Kuzhu must now find a way to escape and find out who framed him. But when he gets out he learns that losing everything is just the beginning of his heartache.

Heartbroken Arrow《傷情箭》by Liu Canyang 柳殘陽 was serialized in The China Times from January 10 – March 17, 1971. A short novel, only seven chapters, yet its somber tone and lively writing make it a quick, satisfying read. It also has all the main characteristics of Liu Canyang’s unique “iron and blood” writing style: Lots of dialogue with characters trading barbs, a focus on the seamy side of the jianghu, gangs rather than lofty martial arts sects (you will rarely see Wudang or Shaolin in a Liu Canyang novel), graphic violence, and a hard-edged protagonist who never yields. Heartbroken Arrow is a good introduction to Liu Canyang’s work, and is his first work to be translated into English.

Note: There’s a bit of homophobia in the last chapter. Nothing graphic or anything, but kinda came out of left field, so just mentioning it. It was 1971 after all.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Trap
Chapter 2: Ambush
Chapter 3: Demonic Affliction
Chapter 4: Samsara
Chapter 5: Reincarnation
Chapter 6: Fighting Fate
Chapter 7: Karma (End)