CRIMES OF PASSION

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, the group fears their enemies’ goals go far beyond murder: They may have their sights set on the emperor himself. Hongjun and Li Jinglong’s growing bond is tested as the fate of the empire—and their very lives—are put on the line in the hunt for the mastermind lurking in the city’s shadows.

Series Overview: 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. Together, they and their enigmatic companions must face the dark forces threatening the city. But as a bond begins to bloom between Hongjun and Li Jinglong, Hongjun wonders: Can he trust Li Jinglong with the truth of who—and what—he is?