Go to the Mountains & Sea (Shen Zhou Qi Xia) - English Translation | Prologue

 The Hero of Shenzhou, also known as Go To the Mountains and Sea, The Heroes Of China Saga, or Shen Zhou Qi Xia, is a wuxia novel written by Wen Rui'an. The novel was initially published by Guangzhou Huacheng Publishing House in January 1995, with a new edition released by Writer's Publishing House in 2025. Set during the Southern Song dynasty, the story follows the journey of Xiao Qiushui, a disciple of the Huanhua Sword Sect. After his sect is destroyed by the "Quanli Bang" (the gang of power) and "Zhu Da Tian Wang", Xiao Qiushui embarks on a series of adventures. He acquires the "Wàngqíng Tiānshū" manual, takes control of the "Heroes of the World Order" medallion, and forms the "Shenzhou Brotherhood" to fight against hostile martial arts factions. He also joins forces with Yue Fei to fight against common enemies, while navigating a complex romantic relationship with Tang Fang from the Tang Clan.

The main saga comprises eight volumes, including Sword Qi in the Yangtze River and Heroes of Guangdong and Guangxi. The spin-off, The Blood River Vehicle, consists of four parts, including The Grand Master. Jin Yong once praised The Blood River Vehicle, calling it "one of the better works written in the past decade." Wen Rui'an himself has stated that the series is a masterpiece he finds difficult to surpass. The series has since been adapted into a television drama, The Journey of Legend, which began filming in 2024, as well as a mobile game.

PROLOGUE

 In the western suburbs of Chengdu, from Baihua Pond going upstream, reaching the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, the scenery along the way is lushly green and winding, surrounding Chengdu’s Jinjiang River. This section is called Huanhua Creek.

For hundreds and thousands of years, Jinjiang’s Huanhua Creek, with its beautiful scenery, has attracted many poets to rest and to compose. The famous female poet of the Tang dynasty, Xue Tao, once lived at Baihua Pond, and with the pure waters of Huanhua Creek, she made poem papers of various beautiful colors, called “Xue Tao Papers.” To this day, on the right bank of Jinjiang, there still remain Xue Tao’s former residence, Chongli Pavilion, and the Poem Chanting Tower, which have already become famous scenic spots of Chengdu. In addition, in the southern suburbs, the Shrine of Zhuge Wuhou and the tomb of Liu Bei are also places where travelers go to pay respect. Du Fu once composed a poem in praise of the Shrine of Zhuge Wuhou, saying:

*“Where can the Chancellor’s temple be sought?
Outside the city of Jinguan, cypresses stand thick.
Shining on the steps, green grass takes on spring’s color,
Across the leaves, orioles sing in vain with fine sound.

Three visits frequently troubled him with the affairs of the realm,
Across two dynasties he gave aid, with the heart of an old minister.
Before the army set forth he met death,
Forever causing heroes to weep with tears soaking their lapels.”*

This poem, Du Fu composed while boating on Huanhua Creek. Before Zhuge Liang came out of Longzhong, he once built a “thatched cottage” to live in seclusion at Wolong Hill, twenty li west of Xiangyang city. People of later generations, in order to honor him, therefore hung high in Longzhong Lane two lines from Du Fu’s poem: “Three visits frequently troubled him with the affairs of the realm; across two dynasties he gave aid, with the heart of an old minister.”

Others perhaps would not feel anything, but Xiao Qiushui, the third son of Xiao Xilou, the head of the Huanhua Sword Sect in Sichuan’s Chengdu, because of these two lines of poetry—written by Jinjiang, carved at Longzhong—especially brought three good friends, traveling from Sichuan to Hubei, just to have a look, at the poem of that great, admired poet, and at the famed residence of Zhuge Wuhou!

The head of the Huanhua Sword Sect, Xiao Xilou, had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Xiao Yiren, was renowned across the martial world; among the young generation, perhaps there was none with more intelligence and strategy than Xiao Yiren. The second son, Xiao Kaiyan, steady and experienced, was praised as the Guardian God of the Huanhua Sword Sect. The third son, Xiao Qiushui, in the rivers and lakes had not yet made a name, in the martial world had no power; yet, to gallop hundreds of li only to look at two lines of poetry—within the Xiao family, he alone was such a person.

Unexpectedly, from Xiao Qiushui’s one look, was seen a heroic and tragic story that stirred the winds and clouds, and shook the martial world.

Those who love to act chivalrously and uphold righteousness regret that they themselves cannot, like those great heroes, freely act on their grudges and affections; they love that vast world, they love its chivalry, its heroic deeds, and its feelings of loyalty and righteousness!

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