BALLAD OF SWORD AND WINE: QIANG JIN JIU celebrates Pride Month in beauty and style with Vol. 5 cover

St., we bow down to you.

Seven Seas Entertainment has unveiled the cover for Volume 5 of Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu, and it features a new—yet equally captivating—pair. In the illustration, Qi Zhuyin stands in the background with a small gash on her cheek and a mysterious smudge at the corner of her mouth (confirmed by illustrator St. to be a lipstick mark). Her billowing cape forms a canopy over the Third Lady Hua, Hua Xiangyi, who stands serenely below. Around them, a crowd of citizens raises their cups in a joyous toast.

Written by Tang Jiu Qing, Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu debuted in English on June 4, 2024, with a planned total of eight volumes. The series is translated by XiA, Jia, and amixy, with both the cover and interior illustrations created by the incomparable St.

Sins of the Father

As Shen Zechuan attempts to consolidate power in Zhongbo with the aid of Yao Wenyu, his greatest stumbling block continues to be his own name. No matter how great his deeds, so long as he bears the stain of the traitor Shen Wei, he remains foiled in his ambitions. If Shen Zechuan is to expand his hold over the region, he must find a way to overcome his past.

Meanwhile, in the north, Xiao Chiye struggles to find his footing in the Libei Armored Cavalry. Their enemy Amur has sent his most powerful general northward, and the cavalry find themselves pressed back time and again by an adversary who seems to anticipate their every move. Xiao Chiye is hungry to step out of his father and brother’s shadow and become the commander who carries Libei to victory—but can he prove himself before it’s too late?

The story kicks off with a clash between Shen Zechuan, the eighth son of the traitorous Prince of Jianxing, and Xiao Chiye, the youngest son of the Prince of Libei. Their first encounter ends with a kick to the chest—but Shen Zechuan proves maddeningly hard to kill. As political tensions rise, the two sworn enemies become reluctant allies, navigating a brutal world where the line between hatred and something far more complicated begins to blur.

A manhua adaptation was announced without warning on August 14, 2023, with its first chapter launching just a day later, leaving fans scrambling to emotionally prepare. While there’s no official English edition yet, the manhua is currently available on Bilibili, and a two-season audio drama can be streamed on MaoerFM.

Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu Volume 5 hits shelves August 19.

Source: Seven Seas Entertainment