In this world, the greatest and longest river is known simply as the Long River.

Even the sections familiar to man already span tens of thousands of miles.

The Long River is said to originate from the extreme west, with another tale placing its source within Jade Capital Mountain, one of the sacred sites of the Daoist faith.

Neither account has ever been definitively proven.

What can be ascertained is that this colossal waterway, at the very least, begins even further west than the myriad nations of the Western Regions, flowing all the way through the Central Domain and continuously winding its path to the State of Xia in the Southern Domain.

The Long River and its connected tributaries form a vast water system, covering a significant portion of the human territories, nurturing countless beings along its banks. Due to its enigmatic, ancient, and immense grandeur, it is also known by names such as the “Vast Sea of the Land,” the “Mother River,” the “Ancestor River,” and the “Inner River’s Source Flow.”

To the northwest of the State of Zhuang lies a state named Luo.

The northern reaches of this state are precisely where the Long River flows through.

Within the borders of Luo, the water network is dense, a crisscrossing tapestry of rivers and canals. The people of Luo often travel by boat, using it as their primary mode of transport, each vessel possessing its own distinct style. Thus, Luo is also called the “State Above Water.”

Logically, a state so intertwined with waterways should maintain harmonious relations with the Water Tribe. However, the reality is the complete opposite; the conflicts between Luo and the Water Tribe are the most severe, reaching a point where cohabitation is nigh impossible.

The ancient agreement of peaceful coexistence between humans and the Water Tribe is, in Luo, a mere scrap of paper.

This place is also the largest market for Water Tribe slaves. While other human states openly prohibit the Water Tribe slave trade, in Luo, it stands as one of the pillars of their economy.

Though the people of Luo travel by boat within their own borders, when journeying to other places, they never take the water routes.

Any person from Luo killed by a member of the Water Tribe is tacitly permitted; usually, no one will seek justice for such an act.

Due to the existence of the Clear River Water Manor, the diplomatic relations between Zhuang and Luo have always been strained.

Yet, each harbored its own reservations, and large-scale conflicts have never erupted between them throughout history.

Furthermore, purely from a geographical perspective, the northern face of Zhuang is closer to the State of Yong, and the southwest is nearer to the State of Mo. In the northwest, there exists a tripartite buffer zone, a lawless land shared between Luo, Yong, and Zhuang.

There is truly no space for mutual conquest.

The relationship between Zhuang and Yong requires no elaboration; they are already world-enemies, with no room for ease.

And the relationship between Yong and Luo is also far from amicable. Similar to the situation between Zhuang and Luo, Yong possesses the Azure River Water Manor within its borders, a significant force within the state.

Luo, this slave-trading nation, possesses no irreplaceable industries besides its Water Tribe slaves. Its own military strength is not top-tier, yet it has managed to steadily develop to this day despite the hostility (at least on the surface) of its eastern neighbors.

The reasons behind this are not easily discernible to outsiders.

As mentioned before, between the states of Zhuang, Luo, and Yong, lies a three-way buffer zone where no state’s laws hold sway. This place, naturally, is a realm of chaos.

It is unclear how or when it began, but a city was built here, named “Bu Shu.”

There are two prevailing tales regarding its name.

One says that the people within this city are those whose sins are so grievous that ten thousand deaths could not atone for them, their iniquities forever indelible.

Another tale states that the wicked people within this city are absolutely unrepentant, forever unwilling to seek redemption for their sins.

Those who believe either saying are numerous. From ancient times to the present, there has never been a definitive voice. Both narratives, like the city’s own filth, remain perpetually intertwined.

Bu Shu City is chaos, or perhaps it is more accurate to say that chaos is the greatest rule of Bu Shu City.

But any place where people gather necessarily possesses a certain order. Even evil-doers who live by the blade cannot endure a life of constant trepidation.

Every person who enters Bu Shu City must pay “Life Gold” for the value of their own life.

This value can be tens of thousands of Yuan Stones, or a single Qi Blade Coin, or a Qin Ring Coin, or even a mere piece of cloth.

The price of “Life Gold” is determined by how much you are willing to pay for your own life. Bu Shu City imposes no compulsion.

As long as you pay the “Life Gold,” you can reside within this city.

Anyone who wishes to kill you within this city must pay a fee ten thousand times greater than your “Life Gold” before they can make their move.

This is called “Redemption Gold.”

Otherwise, they are deemed to be an enemy of Bu Shu City.

There is a widely circulated saying: Since the residents of Bu Shu City are wicked-doers whose sins are impossible to redeem even with ten thousand deaths, then when these people enter Bu Shu City, to kill them, one must possess the determination of ten thousand deaths, and must pay a price ten thousand times greater than that of killing them.

The person who maintains this order, or perhaps the master of Bu Shu City—though she has never admitted to being the master of Bu Shu City, claiming only to be the greatest sinner within its walls—is known as the Sin Monarch, Huang Jin Mo.

Even the most base person yearns for kindness.

Even the darkest person longs for the warmth of sunlight.

Today, the brilliant sun shone high, a truly fine day.

From the East Gate of Bu Shu City, a figure emerged, seemingly stepping forth bathed in sunlight.

His eyebrows were sharp, his pupils bright with pride.

Even every strand of his ink-colored hair danced uncovered, his sharp edge fully exposed.

So potent was his aura that the drowsy Sin Guards at the city gate edge only noticed the long spear slung across his back when he drew near.

The spear appeared ancient and plain, seemingly a mismatch for the man’s sharp demeanor, yet together, they exuded a sense of perfect harmony.

“Understand the rules?” the Sin Guard, seated languidly by the city gate, asked.

If it were a newcomer, he would explain the “Life Gold” rules once more.

Bu Shu City does not require stringent guarding; a single person sitting at the city gate to collect money suffices. Even an ordinary old person could handle the task.

No matter how ferocious the evil-doer, it is impossible to enter Bu Shu City without showing face to the Sin Guard.

The approaching figure understood the rules.

Beneath the sunlight, a Blade Coin flipped in the air, tracing a beautiful arc before falling into the hand of the Sin Guard.

Had this person offered ten thousand taels of gold, he would not have been surprised.

Sometimes, the more ruthless a person, the more they cherish life. The more wicked the doer, the more wealth they possess. Such individuals are often willing to invest immense riches for their own lives.

He had seen those who paid hundreds or even thousands of Dao Yuan Stones as Life Gold.

But this single Blade Coin in his hand piqued the Sin Guard’s interest instead.

It was merely a single Blade Coin, and a not particularly valuable Zhuang Blade Coin at that.

This meant that almost anyone within this city could afford the “Redemption Gold” to kill him.

In other words, he walked into a city teeming with evil-doers without any guarantee of safety, and every single person within this city could kill him.

No matter where he came from, or what his background might be, the evil-doers of Bu Shu City would not concern themselves with such matters.

The laws of any state could not reach Bu Shu City.

Those who entered Bu Shu City had originally committed heinous sins outside its walls, making life there unbearable.

This young man, carrying a spear, threw out this single Zhuang State Blade Coin. It seemed to be an announcement to the entire city of sin: Do you wish to kill me? Then come.

The Sin Guard received the Zhuang Blade Coin, took the entry slip, and quickly scribbled an entry.

He asked again, “Name?”

Without the slightest hesitation, the figure carrying the long spear strode with large steps into Bu Shu City.

Only a voice, as sharp as the man himself, remained, like a long spear plunged into the ground, piercing the air at the city gate.

“Zhu Wei Wo.”