China’s early medieval period, from the fifth through the early seventh century, from the Northern and Southern Dynasties through the unified Sui, was a time of political fragmentation, military strife, and ethnic conflict. It also witnessed brilliant artistic creations as well as a full flowering of court culture, with poetry at its heart. How did poetry come to be regarded as the most potent form of cultural capital, a privileged literary genre, and a foundational skill for members of th...

Freed at last from the Dragon-Quelling Tower, Hongjun and Li Jinglong race to intercept An Lushan's advancing rebel army. With every city his horde of humans and yao devours, An Lushan's demonic power swells. If he is allowed to march unchecked to Chang'an, the exorcists fear he will truly become the heavenly demon Mara and raze the mortal world.Now more than ever, the exorcists are relying on Li Jinglong--both his foolproof plans and the divine power of his heart lamp, their sole weapon a...

In the mystical Taihang Mountains, where magic flows and powerful yao roam, Hongjun has grown up sheltered from the human world. A half-yao himself, he's never had reason to leave--until the mountain's ruler sends him on a dangerous mission: hide his true nature and join the Great Tang Department of Demonic Exorcism in Chang'an.Upon arriving in the bustling capital, Hongjun meets Li Jinglong, a luckless soldier with no spiritual power tasked with leading a team of extraordinary exorcists. ...

Multimillionaire director Zhang Yuwen has it all--fame, fortune, and a successful career. But what he really craves is to create a novel he can call true art. Fueled by this passion, he abandons the film industry to pursue writing full-time, only to hit an unexpected roadblock: his characters feel flat and inauthentic. The problem? Zhang Yuwen has spent most of his life as a loner with little real-world interactions.As a single gay man with a luxurious yet empty villa, Zhang Yuwen comes up...

This book examines how Chinese women are represented in Chinese Australian writing at the intersection between China, the Chinese diaspora, and Australia. It analyses how concepts of femininity and feminism are embodied by Chinese women and how their images change over time depending on different contexts, perspectives and discourses. The research questions include: what does it mean to be feminine, and what does it mean to be feminist? In what context and by whom have the terms been recei...

For as long as he can remember, Duan Ling has been an unwanted child. Raised by his deceased mother's neglectful family, he's grown up battered and mistreated. But his life takes a fateful turn when a stranger named Lang Junxia arrives at the Duan estate, claiming to be sent by the father Duan Ling never knew he had.Whisked away to the capital of the Liao Empire, Duan Ling is thrust into a treacherous world of political intrigue and power struggles far beyond his comprehension. But Lang Ju...

On another visit to her local yarn shop, Asante Jones seeks the comfort and solace of the familiar haven and the perfect yarn for her latest project. In addition to more yarn for her stash, a hidden treasure awaits her in the form of a mysterious antique patterns book, 'The Magic of Knitting Patterns.' Asante begins a new journey as she follows the patterns, seemingly unleashing the book's power.In her quest for answers, Asante teams up with local historian LaShawn Davie to navigat...

He has slain demons for ninety-nine years. Ninety-nine years. Ninety-nine demons. Never failed, never hesitated, never made an exception.Gu Du is the sharpest blade the Ninth Heaven has ever known. He stands at the center of the Demon-Slaying Platform, paved with bluestone, marked with the dark brown stains of ninety-eight demons whose blood has seeped into the rock. Around him stand four Demon-Sealing Pillars, their golden runes dim, like the eyes of the dying. Beneath the platfor...

Although the Department of Exorcism has successfully thwarted the fox yao's attempts to infiltrate the imperial examinations, Hongjun, Li Jinglong, and their companions are no closer to uncovering the identity of the yao king of Chang'an. Investigations stall until the group stumbles across a series of bloody murders in the capital.What appears to be a gruesome coincidence soon points to a larger plot as Hongjun and Li Jinglong discover evidence of yao involvement. Yet as the clues pile up...

In the digital era, various personal lending products emerge every day, from different banks, credit unions, and fintech companies. How can these lenders extend billions of dollars in loans without asking for any collateral? How do credit risk professionals manage the risk of an unsecured lending portfolio effectively?Unsecured Lending Risk Management provides a comprehensive introduction that will help readers quickly establish a holistic view of the risk management pract...

Turmoil rocks the Han dynasty. After a peasant rebellion tears Zhou Yu's family apart, fate reunites the distraught young man with his childhood friend Sun Ce, heir to a powerful commander. In Sun Ce's unshakable resolve, Zhou Yu finds not only solace, but a vision of the future: a leader who can rise above the chaos and reshape their fractured land. Determined to help his friend achieve greatness, Zhou Yu pledges himself to Sun Ce.Through the unforgiving gauntlet of war, Zhou Yu helps Sun...

Once, ancient China was brimming with magic...but three hundred years ago, the Spiritual Qi of the Heavens and Earth dried up in the Silence of All Magic. Hundreds of years with no spiritual qi have allowed resentment to build unchecked, and it's only a matter of time before calamity descends and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction. Once-powerful exorcists have done their best to preserve their legacy in the centuries since, but now only one remains: Chen Xing, now tasked with ...