I got a new wuxia novel today: Immortal Bird《不死鳥》by Taiwan author Xerxes 薛西斯. This is actually a new revised edition of a novel that was originally published in 2014 under the same (but with different cover and from a different publisher). I remember seeing Immortal Bird in bookstores back around when it first came out years ago but never bought it. Recently I went searching online for it hoping to find a used copy (most of the wuxia novels from the original publisher, Tomor 明日工作室, are out of print now), but instead I discovered it had just been reprinted only a couple weeks ago.

There are three illustrations by artist VIVI Compound VIVI化合物, who also illustrated the gorgeous cover. Also included is a small square of paper meant to be folded to make a corner bookmark (see gallery below). The edition I ordered a signed paperback, but there is an ebook version available as well at the Google Play Store (in Chinese).

I just got this today, so I haven’t read it yet, but I translated the back cover copy:

“I’m Changsheng, the Changsheng that means long life without end.”
“I’m Cheng’an, the Cheng’an in ‘peace and happiness.'”
But talking won’t make one immortal or happy.
A young man and a young woman must find a way to be happy……

The Severed Finger Swordsman Lu Changsheng wandered about aimlessly and one day happened upon a coffin. Inside was a young woman, still alive. The young woman was dressed in bloodred robes and had a tear mole below her eye who called herself Cheng’an. When asked where she was from, she said she wasn’t sure, only that the Cinnabar Sun Sect wanted to kill her. The young woman seemed to explain in earnest, but she contradicted herself, such as why didn’t they just kill her directly instead of shutting her up in a coffin so that she could escape? However, Cheng’an had an innocent and pure disposition and treated everything with the naivety of a child. Changsheng had been separated from his family for years and had always felt sorry for himself, but now he seemed to have found a new little sister.

They ignored the affairs of the world and traveled around, but the world was on the verge of upheaval. Now the Cinnabar Sun Sect was in turmoil since its sect head suddenly passed away and the Cheng’an had dissappeared from the coffin she had been buried in. The newly appopinted sect head flew into a rage and ordered people to find her. Yet, aside from the new sect head, no one really knew who “Cheng’an” was. If she was so important, why was she buried? At the Tri-Winter Gathering held every twenty years, the hosts, the Dawn-Cloud Roost Sect went on a slaughtering rampage and wanted to select a date to hold the gathering again. An even more mysterious assassin commited a string of thirteen murders, setting the jianghu on edge, jumping at the slightest move.

Cheng’an claimed the Cinnabar Sun Sect wanted to kill her, so then why did the newly appointed sect head want to find her and bring her back? What was behind the Dawn-Cloud Roost Sect being at odds with everyone? What did a string of assassins appearing mean for the future of the jianghu? Fong of Cheng’an and wanting to protect her, Changsheng gave her a firework. It’s flame illuminating the dark night symbolized their meager happiness.But the sparks are short-lived. Before casting off misfortune, a brutal, bloody rain will fall on them……

The girl’s innocent expression concealed the deepest darkness. Diverging fates were about to converge on her.

What’s wrong with wanting a peaceful life? But it was a very grave mistake……

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