The Golden Crown

As a new class of students is admitted at the Golden Crown Monastery- 25 new promising students begin their long and arduous training in preparation for the spring tournament.

As spring approaches, the yearly competition to determine the strongest fighters around the world is being organized again. The Golden Crown school will the host once more, as the school which wins is the host for the next contest. A new batch of students manage to pass the entrance exam as they begin on the path of Qi mastery under the tutelage of Deng Ru and the other masters. These 25 students will not only have to push themselves but compete with both their fellow peers and outsiders for the seal of approval from both the Grandmaster and an important member of the Triad.

Having both of those seals would mean they've graduated and their trial here has ended. Not obtaining any of those would mean great shame and they would be sent to other training centers in order to finish their training. Only the best of the best manage to pass, usually obtaining positions of great honor amongst the Triad.

Starting on the 11th of April 1977 - students from Japan as well as the rest of the world arrive at the Golden Crown. Tensions are high, as people's performance during the tournament is going to be the major factor for earning their graduation.

As the tournament kicks off, the first round goes as expected as all the star pupils of the Golden Crown win. But as the second round finishes Seoyeon loses against the star contestant of Rising Sun Dojo, Nakamura Ryū. Towards the end of the fights Liên manages to defeat Tai after a great display of her skills, cementing her top status at the monastery.

As the 3rd round begins, Kenji faces against Ryū in one of the shortest fights, but the swordsman surprised people by showing respect to his opponent for once. Chloe faces a much more deadly opponent in Layla, one of the foreigners from the Middle-East - ending with her loss, as both fighters left the arena with more respect for one another. Both Seoyeon and Liên win their respective fights, as Ryōken loses against his Vietnamese opponent.

As both Wen Shi and Min Seiko talked with their pupils, offering an experimental way on boosting their combat prowess. A series of mystical experiments meant to allow their user to gain even more control over Qi.

Min Seoyeon crippled Nakamura Ryū using her newly found powers as she empowered herself. Gaining her Seal of Approval from the Triad, as they were both pleased with her choice of victims and her decision to undergo the trial run.

Due to Liên and Lili's involvement things became more heated as they helped connect the dots for others, including Lien's conversations with both Kenji and Hai warning them about the process. Kenji in return talked with the Nakamura siblings as Yuko was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and figure out this demon nonsense. Ryōken also told them about Chloe as they interrogated her as well, although she was much more hesitant to get involved.

The events reached a tipping point when Kenji and Liên talked to the Grandmaster about it, as he informed that he can't fix the situation, but can delay the process.

As Liên realized she was seeing a glimpse of the future, Ryōken revealed to her a lot more details about beings similar to this so called Jiangshi, as certain incidents occurred in the Black Sun and Shields of New York events. She began to quickly mobilize with both Kenji and Ryū as they're preparing to deal with the Triad. Meanwhile the next ritual was interrupted by none other than Seoyeon who killed all the people at the sight, both students and Triad members.

The night of the killings, Lili and Yuko were caught by Quan as they were trying to gather more information. Spooked, he kept them to the side while the massacre happened too scared to intervene. He alluded to his time encountering a Rift in 1957, south Kazakhstan and the horrors of it. Losing his entire team and him managing to get away, only for the Soviet Union to bomb the area.

The following day, they gathered all the people who were in the know and discussed a plan of action. Liên gave Quan the file from Ryōken, containing information from the New York cases. After some talks, Chloe went back and warned her Shi about their plans, as he made a call to the Triad leadership to ensure his and her safety went the clean up crews arrive.

Lili grabbed Ryū and, against his desires, talked him into running away with her, Quan and his sister. Tai managed to talk some of the foreigners to stay and fight, brining in Maverick and preparing to hunt the demon.

As things escalated, the remaining students railed around Liên, Tai and Ryū. Meanwhile Seoyeon took out the remaining Triad members, killing Mai Yên and Tai's half-sister in the process. Shi and Chloe managed to escape, as did Seoyeon.

Tai manipulated the situation, got Seoyeon out of the way, used the students to ambush the Triad in the village at the base of the mountains and recovered to files from Quan which led to her meeting with Alaric. She made a deal with another being in exchange for the ritual that was used to bind the Jiangshi to the cave, it would help her achieve all of this.

Chloe, after making a deal with the Jianshi managed to survive to the next village, saving her shifu's life in the process - although she would also suffer severe nerve damage. At the end, her and Shi rejoined the Triad as they proved their loyalty to Zhou Shu Ying.

Lili and Quan deserted and joined with the Yakuza, as Yuko and Ryū vouched for them.

Liên and Kenji joined the anti-demon task force under the guidance of Alaric, who also handed Seoyeon to Faith for experimentation.

Tai helped them capture the Jiangshi, as Adam bound her to himself. After some conversations between her and Alaric she agreed to back his plans in the region in exchange for his support. She would lead the splinter faction within the Triad to try and supplant her mother.

Tai, Liên and Lili kept some semblance of a relationship - as much as any of them could manage.