★ A brand‑new full‑length historical legend novel by Ma Boyong in 2026!
★ Ma Boyong is the winner of the Galaxy Award (China’s top science fiction award), the People’s Literature Prize, the Zhu Ziqing Prose Award, and the Mao Dun Newcomer Award. Renowned for his historical fiction, he is often called the “Wizard of Words”.
★ A meteorite falls from heaven, inscribed with six characters – not a prophecy, but the trigger that will bring down the Qin dynasty. Some act for ambition, some for justice, some for revenge. They share only one goal: the Second Qin Emperor must die.
★ English samples are available.

In the first year of the Second Qin Emperor’s reign, a meteorite crashes to earth, carved with a six‑character omen. The emperor is enraged.
Everyone who witnessed or spoke of it – must die.

Zhang Cang, an imperial censor who investigates the meteorite rumor but is framed; Zhang Liang, a noble youth forced to hide in prison after a failed assassination attempt against Qin; Xiang Bo of the Western Chu, burdened with the hatred of a destroyed state; Meng Jiangnü, who weeps until the Great Wall of the north collapses… These figures, destined to be remembered by later generations, are now fugitives hunted by the dynasty. Each harbors their own secrets, yet they share a common goal – to assassinate the Second Qin Emperor.

What is Heaven’s Way? What is the heart of man? What is the unstoppable tide of history?

The upheaval and transformation of China’s first dynasty in its final years, and the earth‑shaking assassination that would determine the fate of Chinese civilization for millennia. Following The Great Doctor, Ma Boyong once again explores a legend buried in the dust of history.

Ma Boyong

A well-known contemporary Chinese writer and recipient of China's Science Fiction "Galaxy Award", People's Literature Award, Zhu Ziqing Prose Award and Mao Dun Newcomer Award. He is considered to be following the "literary tradition of historical writing since the 'May Fourth' Movement" and is committed to exploring "historical possibility novels". He is well-known for his historical fiction, and his writing is full of quirks, earning him the nickname "master of words" from readers.
His works often present unique perspectives and meticulous writing, revealing the touching human stories behind historical events and allowing readers to feel the charm of history.
Representative works: “The Great Doctor”, “The Fifteen-Day Miracle”, “The Undercurrent of the Ming Dynasty”, “The Longest Day in Chang’an”, “Mystery of Antiques‌”(1-4), “Secret of the Three Kingdoms”, “Wind from Longxi”, etc.

Prologue / 1
Chapter 1: The Ambition of the Historiographer / 2
Chapter 2: The Modesty of the Law Expert / 14
Chapter 3: The Changing Heart of the Pursuer / 27
Chapter 4: The Benevolence of the High Priest / 40
Chapter 5: The Intent of the Fugitive / 63
Chapter 6: The Serenity of the Noble Youth / 83
Chapter 7: The Divided Minds of the Rebels / 105
Chapter 8: The Devotion of the Old Alchemist / 115
Chapter 9: The Anguish of the Young Usher / 133
Chapter 10: The Fear of the Old Aristocrat / 147
Chapter 11: The Selfishness of the Waihuang Sword / 154
Chapter 12: The Wrath of the Young Wanderer / 172
Chapter 13: The Original Heart of the Old Wanderer / 190
Chapter 14: The Agitation of the Imperial Coachman / 205
Chapter 15: The Ambition of the Moon‑Dominator / 232
Chapter 16: The Love of the Man from Jiangdong / 252
Chapter 17: The Chaotic Heart of the High Priestess / 279
Chapter 18: The Filial Heart of the Homecomer / 302
Chapter 19: The Enigmatic Heart of the Qi Witch / 325
Chapter 20: The Startled Heart of the City Commandant / 351
Chapter 21: The Grieving Heart of the Female Recluse / 382
Chapter 22: The Serene Heart of the New Mysterious Maiden / 410
Chapter 23: The Despair of the Qin Imperial Clan / 439
Chapter 24: The Ruthlessness of the Old Broken Soldier / 463
Chapter 25: The Resolve of the Loser / 482
Chapter 26: The Cunning of the Strategist / 497
Chapter 27: The Loyalty of Chancellor Zhao / 513
Epilogue / 532
Afterword / 534

Prologue (excerpt translation)

A crimson meteor had just streaked across the night sky.
It did not flash and vanish like ordinary meteors; instead, it grew more conspicuous in the heavens, like a torch held aloft by Kua Fu, piercing through the dim stars. Its long, broom‑like silvery tail seemed like a long halberd wielded by Xing Tian, slashing a bright gap in the dark canopy.

An elderly Grand Astrologer stood on the observatory atop Mount Jiu Zong, staring up at the sky in horror. A bamboo slip covered in astronomical records slipped from his fingers and fell off the cliff a thousand feet below the observatory…

But no matter how terrified mortals might be, it had no effect on the meteor’s trajectory. It continued at breakneck speed across the sky, roaring, spinning, burning, hurtling violently toward the earth. The flames around the meteor’s core blazed ever brighter, blazing like a red eye of Heaven itself, looking down arrogantly upon the world.

It was the first month of the first year of the Second Qin Emperor’s reign. No one yet knew where this meteor would finally land, nor what tremendous changes it would bring to the realm.

…