Ballad of the Ancient Cypress, Volume 2

Name: Ballad of the Ancient Cypress, Volume 2
ISBN: 9786263757240

摩云生Taiwan Martial Arts Legend Co., Ltd. · Taiwan, ChinaOct 2024

2.6

Word count: 105K words
Chapters: 16
ISBN: 9786263757240

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Summary

On the fifteenth day, every martial artist and every member of the unorthodox factions awaited this day. Ten years earlier, a deep feud between the Southern Heaven Sword Sect and the Crimson Brow Sect, through a strange twist of fate, led to Lei Yun—a scion of an orthodox noble house not yet twenty—being solemnly elevated by the five schools of the Three Absolutes and Two Lords, men weighed down with crimes, to the seat of leader of the greenwood alliance. The Crimson Brow Divine Lord painted the five masters' supreme arts on human skin. Why did Lei Yun, for five pages of the Human Skin Secret Manual, incur his master's misunderstanding and turn against Ouyang Zi, Lord of the Central Peak, breaking their bond of master and disciple? Now he is the common enemy of the martial world and leader of the realm's greenwood alliance. How will he cope…

Editor's review

The Ancient Cypress Ballad (Volume Two) continues the series by Taiwanese wuxia author Mo Yunsheng, displaying a distinctive narrative character within the genealogy of martial arts fiction. The book extends the jianghu framework of Volume One, unfolding deeper martial entanglements and explorations of human nature around the central image of the “ancient cypress.” Unlike mainstream wuxia’s emphasis on exchanges of moves, Mo Yunsheng’s brush leans toward the tradition of classical literati wuxia, stressing the creation of atmosphere and the portrayal of characters’ inner states; jianghu strife is often interwoven with natural imagery and historical metaphor, forming a somber, vigorous aesthetic.

In terms of reading value, the book suits readers with a deep aesthetic need for traditional wuxia. The author does not pursue the bizarre in martial design but binds techniques closely to character and fate, making combat scenes an externalization of inner life. The book’s explorations of jianghu morality and personal destiny carry a strong classical tragic coloring, especially suited to readers who appreciate the literati wuxia aesthetic of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Note that the narrative pace is relatively slow, with plot advancement relying on extensive atmospheric groundwork and detailed description—markedly different from today’s fast-paced web wuxia.

Within the lineage of Taiwanese wuxia creation, Mo Yunsheng’s work continues the pursuit of “philosophizing martial arts” by predecessors such as Sima Ling and Zhuge Qingyun, while incorporating more local mountain-and-forest imagery and humanistic reflection. Volume Two, while maintaining the series’ unified style, further expands the historical depth behind sect conflicts, examining personal grudges within a broader sweep of historical change and enhancing the work’s weight.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who favor the classical literati wuxia style and emphasis on atmosphere
Researchers or enthusiasts interested in the lineage of Taiwanese wuxia literature
Readers who prefer a somber, vigorous narrative style and can accept a slow pace
Readers who wish to explore human depth and philosophical metaphor in wuxia works

Not a good fit for

Wuxia readers seeking fast-paced combat and dense plot twists
Readers expecting a modern web-fiction-style light, brisk reading experience

Reading tips

Reading Volume One first is recommended to understand character relationships and worldview
Readers may slow their pace in tandem with the book’s natural scenery descriptions to savor the atmosphere
Pay attention to the symbolic links between martial technique names and characters’ fates

About the publisher

Taiwan Martial Arts Legend Co., Ltd. Taiwan, China · Founded in 2021

Taiwan Martial Arts Legend Co., Ltd. focuses on collating and republishing out-of-print Taiwanese martial arts novels. It currently has 85 titles in its catalogue, issued as e-books on library platforms in various regions, with publishing centered on two categories: martial arts fiction and premium fiction. Representative series include Lang Honghuan's Mo Chou Er Nü and the separate volumes of Jian Qi Chong Xiao Lu, as well as the first volume of Qi Zheng Shi San Jian; its author resources cover Taiwanese martial arts writers such as Lang Honghuan, Bai Hong and Jiangnan Liu. The company emphasizes editorial collation and digital presentation, allowing early works to reappear and reach public reading channels. Public information on its fuller catalogue plans and selection criteria is limited, but the existing titles reflect a publishing identity centered on classic Taiwanese martial arts works.

版权信息
十三
十四
十五
十六
十七
十八
十九
二十
二十一
二十二
二十三
二十四
二十五
二十六
二十七

FAQ

Can I read Volume Two without having read Volume One?

Although Volume Two has an independent storyline, character relationships and some background grudges carry over from Volume One; reading in order is recommended for full understanding.

How does this book differ from the wuxia style of Jin Yong and Gu Long?

Mo Yunsheng’s wuxia is closer to the classical literati tradition, weakening dramatic plot in favor of atmosphere and philosophical reflection, with a slower, more measured narrative pace.

Does the book have a clear historical background?

The book adopts a vague historical setting, emphasizing the jianghu’s own logic of time and space, though details such as implements and martial lineages hint at period features.

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About the author

摩云生 Author

Mo Yunsheng is a Chinese author known for wuxia (martial arts) fiction. Public information about him is limited, and no clear records of his life, nationality, or dates of birth and death are available. The library currently holds eleven of his works, with the representative titles Gubai Xing (The Song of the Ancient Cypress) and Jianguang Wanzhang (Sword Light Ten Thousand Zhang), each presented complete in three volumes, suggesting a preference for longer, structurally complete narratives. Judging from common classifications, Mo Yunsheng's writing centers on wuxia themes, and his titles draw imagery from classical poetry and the aura of swords and weapons, reflecting an aesthetic rooted in traditional martial arts fiction. The serial, multi-volume publication of his works indicates continuous storylines in which characters and plots develop across volumes, suiting readers who enjoy long wuxia narratives. Lacking the author's own statements or external reviews, the specific features of his style are difficult to discuss in detail; based on the available titles, however, he has built a modest body of work in the wuxia genre, and his naming and volume structure show an awareness of the traditional serialized long-form novel.