Setting

**Spoilers Ahead**
Prologue
--Dramatic Music--

THIS is a story of the five kingdoms.
Of beautiful people....
Of awful things happening to those beautiful people....in the five kingdoms....
And those beautiful people ultimately triumphing over evil....while looking beautiful....in the five kingdoms....

Tianquan Kingdom-Leader of the Taiyuan Kingdom, the Xuanji Kingdom, and the Tiansha Kingdom.  TRAGEDY STRIKES: 1000 years ago, Di Fei Tian ordered the massacred of the five kingdoms
Sacred Land of Qioncang-The Elder, Chang Qing Zi used the Spiritual Elixir to turn the war around.  UNFORTUNATELY this was unable to completely obliterate Di Fei Tian...JUST ONE DROP of his blood coagulated into the aptly named QUINTUPLE-COLORED PEBBLE.  [I assume that you get five by throwing the Sacred Land into this equation].

AND NOW DI FEI TIAN IS BEGINNING TO STIR...AND THE ONE TO AWAKEN HIM WILL BE A YOUNG BEAUTIFUL GIRL....Yang Mi I MEAN FU YAO.

On that same note, a man whose beautiful hair is all we can see, is charged with finding this beautiful young woman....as he is the successor to the Spiritual Elixir of Bad-Assness that smites evil, [I KNOW NONE OF US THINKING THAT MAYBE THIS GUY WILL TURN OUT TO BE OUR MALE LEAD, BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST BE TOO INTERESTING AND VERY SIMILAR TO JOURNEY OF FLOWER].

-Main Story: Setting: Xuanyuan Sect [a pugilist sect]
Female Lead: Fu Yao, A beautiful slave girl who possesses an aptitude for martial arts; unfortunately, being a slave girl means this is forbidden to her.  Her close friendship with the chief's son has perhaps given her a taste for things 'above her station' and a glimpse to the possibilities her future might hold for her--as such it is not surprising that she clashes with this rigid hierarchical system that only allows a select few to prosper instead of the masses who do all of the hard work and are undervalued [think of any service industry job you worked and multiply that by 100 since here, they can actually kill you if they want]

Fu Yao immediately illustrates several respectable characteristics: she knows how to argue and defend herself and manipulate the rules to her advantage; case in point, Senior Pei wishes to see her punished for training in the Secret Chamber of the Five Elements [love the name] since she is a slave and is not allowed to do this.  But Fu Yao shows her litigation skills and defends herself very confidently: you need proof! Pei accuses her of being STUBBORN, perhaps because she refuses to resign herself to her natural role, and Fu Yao shows she is PLAYFUL and something of a prankster as she leaps to her escape, effectively humiliating Senior Pei.

Supporting Character: Senior Pei is seen as someone quick to resolve situations with violence (her weapon of choice, a whip, a weapon that in video games almost always sucks and has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity see the Flame's Daughter.  incidentally, whips are considered a stealthy weapon on the plus side and an underhanded weapon on the negative side.  how do i  know this? i checked on the internets, and the internet never lies).  If you guessed that Senior Pei will emerge as an obsessive sociopath intent on making a male character hers and filled with loathing towards our female lead, you guessed right.  In many ways she is like the female version of the male lead from the King's Woman, only a lot less likable as he was far more cunning and manipulative.

A-Lie: Senior Pei's much abused personal maid servant.

Essentially, the Xuanyuan Sect hopes to regain its former glory of dominating the 5 kingdoms.  Now Fu Yao dreams of one day getting rid of the 'black [slave] robe' and being accepted into the community of pugilists.  This way she be her seniors equal, after all, she appears to hold him in high regard and may be in love with him.  Her only complaint is that he always defends the bad actions of Senior Pei and she doesn't seem bothered by his reminder that she shouldn't be breaking the rules.

Anyways, a sacrificial ritual is about to start and it is sort of like a Harry Potter Goblet of Fire Tournament where you enter your name, in blood, and anyone in the sect [minus slaves of course] can enter.  

Outside the city, the Emperor of the Five Kingdoms, who looks like he is about to die, instructs his son and heir apparent to initiate a plan to counter his powerful prime minister, Qi Zhen. He plans on using the military to eradicate him. Alas, Qi Zhen has eyes and ears everywhere and is listening in on this conversation.  He plans to counter himself and makes it clear: his goal is to be the emperor.

MEANWHILE, back in the Xuuanyuan sect Jing discusses the situation with his father.  This is important for later readers: the chief tells his son that they are a NEUTRAL SECT and are NOT TO BE INVOLVED in politics.  He tells his son that eventually Qi Zhen will topple the family and change things around, and when that happens they should be prepared so Jing must win the tournament to showcase his talents as a respectable warrior [sensing some contradiction here].

Essentially, he tells his son not to get involved.

Back at the capital, Qi Zhen has EVERY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY KILLED EXCEPT THE EMPEROR.  
Oh, he also spares one member of the royal family [the male lead]....

MW, Senior Pei comes on strong to Jing and makes it clear she likes him and he tries to politely reject her but somehow she doesn't seem to hear him.  Jing treats her with little interest but later he shows extreme are towards Fu Yao, telling her to act like a girl, to take care of herself, and becoming cross with her for not taking better care for herself.  Now normally this can be construed as concern for a loved one but because of the overall tone of the show--that of a warrior woman--it comes off as more paternalistic.  This is a poignant conversation because she asks him to treat the other slaves with as much care as he treats her and to liberate them....and he hides behind the rules and dismisses it.  A behavior which I imagine will be consistent of Jing in the future: someone who does not take many risks and whose selfishness can sometimes be mistaken for kindness or compassion.

So....back to the capital.  We learn that this young beauty was spared because he can manipulate water, something only the royal family members can do.  And is necessary for something.....

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