Book excerpt: Determined to get to the bottom of a mysterious pandemic, Keiun leads a top-secret mission into the neighboring Plum Province to investigate rumors of a "mountain curse" that has already claimed many lives. Discovering it was a contagious disease all along, Keiun also uncovers a scheme to conceal the spreading sickness as well as the Stem Sect's hidden movements in the shadows. Left with no choice, Keiun uses the last ace left up his sleeve...