Twin Blades of the Storm Dragon Chapter 1 completed
Contents
The complete first chapter of Twin Blades of the Storm Dragon is now available! I shared a sneak peek of the chapter in our Discord channel in October 2025.
Chapter 1 is divided into five parts:
All parts include:
- Comprehensive footnotes with Chinese characters, pinyin, and cultural explanations
- Quick Reference sections listing characters, locations, items, and concepts
A tragedy begins
The opening chapter introduces us to Chen Boyu the Iron Palm, a middle-aged martial artist returning home with one of two legendary swords, and Zhang San the Precious Blade, an armed escort captain fallen on hard times. Their chance meeting on a rain-soaked road will set in motion events that span years and touch multiple generations.
This is wuxia tragedy in the tradition of Wang Dulu’s earlier works—where a single moment shapes destinies and creates consequences that cannot be undone.
Wang Dulu’s influence
Wang Dulu (1909–1977) was one of the most important writers in wuxia fiction’s history, bridging the gap between early martial arts fiction and the modern wuxia novel. His Crane-Iron Pentalogy, which includes Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, established many conventions that later writers like Jin Yong would build upon.
Twin Blades of the Storm Dragon is the fourth novel in the pentalogy, set sixteen years after the events of Precious Sword, Golden Hairpin. While it can be read independently, it deepens themes Wang Dulu explored throughout the series: the cycle of revenge, the weight of the past, and the collision between personal honour and family loyalty.
Start reading
If you’re new to Wang Dulu’s work, Chapter 1 provides an accessible entry point. This opening needs no prior knowledge of earlier novels, though long-time readers will appreciate connections to the broader pentalogy.
Dive into the novel to meet Chen Boyu and Zhang San on the rain-soaked road where their fates intertwine.
What’s next?
Translation work continues on the remaining chapters. Each part receives the same careful attention to cultural context and annotations that help readers appreciate the nuances of Wang Dulu’s writing.
As always, if you find our translations valuable, please consider supporting . Your support helps keep WuxiaSociety running and allows us to continue bringing these foundational wuxia works to English readers.
Happy reading!