Omnibus edition of "Bridge of Birds", "The Story of the Stone", and "Eight Skilled Gentlemen". Meet Li Kao, an aged scholar with a slight flaw in his character, and his assistant, Number Ten Ox, an orphaned young man notable for his strength and his purity of heart. Together they embark on a series of quests set against ancient China's mythical landscape. They encounter gods, goddesses, demons, vampire-ghouls, puppeteers, poets, and ghosts. To find the truth they steal, scheme, deceive, and generally cause mayhem. Master Li's penchant for plotting elaborate hoaxes is matched only by Ox's determination and loyalty, and in the end Right does defeat Might, Good triumphs over Evil, and the innocent are indeed redeemed - if not quite in the manner that the reader might have expected. A lovely combination of humor, fantasy, adventure, and mystery - highly recommended (Elizabeth).