In the Prefecture of Xian Quan (Spring Fountain), Lord Kung Aoshi has fallen ill. He sleeps a dreamless sleep from which none can wake him. His two sons (Gunlang and Huigong) and his men prepare for a quest to retrieve his soul, or at least see it safely to the afterworld.
Meanwhile, those loyal to Aoshi's sons, the buddhist temple, merchant guilds, and the neighboring fiefs are all looking to profit from the situation or shift it in their favor. Should Lord Aoshi pass on, many are angling to see that his heir is favorable to them.