A Bi Jian

These books tell the story of He Wu-sheng, who bears the burden of being a bastard son. He witnesses the death of his biological father Yu Jing at the hands of Shi Fei-hong, who employs the A Bi (or Avici) technique of sword fighting. Wanting to avenge his father’s death, He Wu-sheng himself studies this method of sword fighting but consequently suffers every day when the flow of his qi and blood goes into reverse. Later, He sees the ninth emissary of the Avici Hell reborn in a fire. As he begins to experience representations of greed, stupidity, foolish attachment and anger in the realm of martial arts, he comes to the profound conclusion that the Avici Hell—that last and deepest of the eight hot hells— might in fact be the world of men….

(Source: Apple Books)