Chapter Summaries

Li Xing spent the day building stone steps, teaching Little Jerry to fish, and noticing masked strangers near town. He left Little Jerry with Lucy and began helping Angie Turner at the blacksmith's shop while the suspicious men moved elsewhere.

• Li Xing built stone steps between his cabin and the high ground, then took Little Jerry fishing at the stone bridge.
• Little Jerry caught nearly ten fish, and Li Xing gave him advice about being content before sending him toward town with the fish.
• Li Xing spotted masked strongmen skulking in the woods across the river, exchanged gestures with them, and watched them move away.
• Li Xing had Little Jerry deliver fish to Lucy, who let the boy into her house after seeing Li Xing ask her for help.
• Li Xing began working as a helper at Angie Turner's blacksmith shop.

Li Xing helped Angie Turner at the blacksmith's shop, where Angie discovered a charcoal drawing that excited him. Later, Li Xing arranged for Lucy to watch Jerry and agreed to cook dinner for thirty-six people, while Lucy's questions about his background exposed their different perceptions of women's work.

• Li Xing worked the bellows and prepared charcoal while Angie Turner forged a sword, then left after the midday meal.
• Angie Turner drank Li Xing's fish soup and found a wooden board with charcoal drawings; one drawing caught his attention and left him excited.
• Li Xing visited Lucy to check on Jerry and asked her to watch him while he helped at the blacksmith's shop.
• Lucy agreed to care for Jerry in exchange for Li Xing cooking dinner for thirty-six people, estimating that food for twenty-five would suffice.
• Lucy teased Li Xing about seeming like a noble, and he realized his assumptions about women's work differed from life in Hunter Town.
• Li Xing dodged Lucy's questions about his past by leaving to prepare dinner, while Lucy wondered whether he truly wanted to keep his homeland secret.

Li Xing asked Yilaikesi where to hunt wild boars and warned him about masked strangers he had spotted near the river. After reporting the suspected bandits to Angie Turner, Li Xing set out toward the western stone bridge to hunt and scout, equipped with weapons and a signal firework.

• Li Xing asked Yilaikesi where to find wild boars, and Yilaikesi recommended the roads west of town while warning him about wolves and advising him to get a bow.
• Li Xing told Yilaikesi about the masked strangers he had seen across the river, and Yilaikesi suspected they were roving bandits.
• Li Xing persuaded Yilaikesi to inform the other hunters while he reported the sighting to Angie Turner himself.
• Yilaikesi returned to the tavern, where the hunters teased him about Li Xing and provoked him into starting a fight.
• Li Xing told Angie Turner he planned to hunt west of the bridge and scout for the suspicious group, and Angie gave him bracers, five arrows, and a signal firework.
• Li Xing left the smithy armed with a longsword and hunting bow and headed for the stone bridge.

Li Xing hunted a wild boar, survived and defeated a wolf pack, then encountered a necromancer searching for an energy mass near Elwynn Forest. He returned to town with his game and went to Lucy’s house to cook for the children, unaware that the hunters believed he was pursuing Lucy romantically.

• Li Xing killed a wild boar with an arrow, but the blood attracted a pack of sixteen wolves as he prepared to butcher it.
• Li Xing killed two wolves, identified and shot the alpha with an arcing arrow, then drove off the remaining pack with his sword.
• Li Xing built a handcart with Void Creation and began loading the boar and wolf carcasses, but skeleton warriors rose from a wolf’s shadow.
• A necromancer questioned Li Xing about an energy mass near Elwynn Forest, and Li Xing warned him about masked men searching near town; the necromancer then withdrew.
• Li Xing returned to town with Yilaikesi, Alex, and the other hunters, shared the wolf carcasses, and asked Yilaikesi to report to Uncle Turner.
• The hunters encouraged Li Xing as though he were courting Lucy, and Li Xing pulled the cart to Lucy’s house to cook for the children.

Li Xing returned from hunting, reassured Lucy that he was unharmed, and helped turn the wild boar into dinner for the children. Over their meal, he learned more about Lucy’s devotion to the children and praised her, then left for the smithy, where someone greeted him.

• Lucy saw blood on Li Xing, and he explained that it was wolf blood before eating bread and water to regain his strength.
• Li Xing butchered the wild boar, but Lucy persuaded him to save most of the meat and make potato, pork rib, and vegetable soup instead.
• Lucy thanked Li Xing and admitted that the children had become her family; she explained that she fed them first and borrowed food when supplies ran short.
• Li Xing told Lucy that her choices made her precious, wonderful, and beautiful, and Lucy laughed while pretending to doubt his praise.
• Li Xing finished dinner, left Lucy’s home, and went to the smithy, where a voice called out to him.

Li Xing explained his encounter with a wild mage who commanded undead, and Old Turner confirmed the evidence before the hunters discussed how dangerous mages could be. Angie Turner organized new safety measures for the town, then stopped Li Xing as he was leaving and showed him something familiar.

• Li Xing recounted his confrontation with the undead wizard, and the hunters debated whether the wizard’s claims about a mass of energy and light were trustworthy.
• Old Turner returned in the silver-white armor from the smithy and confirmed that he had found nonhuman bone fragments and a broken bone blade at the site of Li Xing’s confrontation.
• Li Xing claimed he had learned about undead wizards from two wild mages on an island, and Old Turner explained that ordinary mages could be killed, especially without warriors protecting them.
• Angie Turner ordered hunters to travel in parties of at least four and remain on standby, then asked them to notify their teams and households about the rules and a residents’ meeting.
• Angie Turner told Li Xing to bring Little Jerry back from Lucy’s with Old Turner and showed him a familiar object.

Li Xing discussed building an academy on the high ground with Angie Turner and proposed that town elders teach their skills there. After leaving the smithy with Little Jerry, Li Xing went to Lucy’s house, where a misunderstanding led her to call him her friend.

• Li Xing confirmed to Angie Turner that he wanted to build an academy on the high ground and share knowledge with the town.
• Angie Turner told Li Xing about his past efforts to learn a craft and offered to teach him his skills after the traveling merchants’ visit.
• Li Xing proposed that townspeople help build the academy and that elders teach there, but Angie Turner and Old Turner laughed at the idea before agreeing that Little Jerry would follow Li Xing.
• Old Turner invited Li Xing to a residents’ meeting, then suspected he was going to Lucy’s house and hurried to tell Angie Turner.
• Li Xing arrived at Lucy’s door to take Little Jerry, and Lucy, believing he had indulged her request out of loneliness, declared him her friend.

Li Xing watched Lucy's children while she attended a residents' meeting, and he promised Little Jerry he would cook for them again. When townspeople mistook Li Xing and Lucy for lovers, Li Xing clarified that they had only become friends that day, but Lucy became angry after learning he had promised Jerry more meals.

• Lucy asked Li Xing to watch the children while she attended the residents' meeting, and he agreed.
• Little Jerry praised Li Xing's cooking and asked him to return the next day, so Li Xing promised to cook for the children again.
• Old Turner arrived with Lucy, the Turner brothers, and other townspeople, who questioned Li Xing about his relationship with Lucy.
• Li Xing explained that he and Lucy had only become friends that day, and Little Jerry confirmed what they had done together.
• Lucy asked Little Jerry what else Li Xing had promised to cook, then glared at Li Xing and slammed the door without telling him what happened at the meeting.

After dreaming that he played as a Blademaster, Li Xing woke with new swordsmanship and discovered he could use the hero’s abilities. He tested Mirror Image to build a house, then learned that his doubles’ exertion and hunger were shared with him.

• On the way home, Old Turner explained that the townspeople had speculated Li Xing and Lucy were romantically involved because they cared about her marriage prospects.
• Li Xing slept and dreamed he became a Blademaster, fighting the Lich instead of advancing the battle.
• After waking, Li Xing noticed his swordsmanship had improved and discovered through meditation that he could create two doubles.
• Li Xing realized he had mastered Critical Strike, had limited skill in Wind Walk and Mirror Image, and had not learned Blade Storm.
• Li Xing used his doubles to help build a house, but they vanished when the frame was complete, leaving him overwhelmed by their hunger and fatigue.
• Li Xing rushed back to his cabin, ate bread and drank water, then considered whether his new abilities had come from the dream.

Li Xing tested his newly comprehended Gale Leap in the river and agreed to teach Old Turner and Little Jerry after the townspeople helped build an academy. He used his abilities to travel to the smithy, where his shoes broke, and realized he had forgotten Little Jerry.

• Li Xing jumped from the bridge into the river, tested his strengthened body, and used Gale Leap to spring back beside Old Turner.
• Li Xing told Old Turner he would teach him and Little Jerry after the town helped build an academy, then raced across the highlands to his cabin.
• Li Xing used Wind Walk to reach the smithy, where his casual shoes came apart from the strain.
• Li Xing made wooden clogs with his tools, and Uncle Turner suggested he take a suitable pair of boots from Aniekra's.
• Li Xing hurried to get boots, then remembered he had forgotten Little Jerry.

Li Xing demonstrated his Miracle forging skill at Angie Turner's smithy, impressing the older blacksmith and finishing armor orders to his satisfaction. After reflecting on Angie Turner's thoughts about fairness, Li Xing went to Aniekra's house to have shoes made and found Lucy there; Aniekra suggested he escort them out of town.

• Li Xing used his knowledge of forging and his farmer-class skill to demonstrate his Miracle to Angie Turner.
• Angie Turner gave Li Xing some armor orders, and the finished armor exceeded his standards.
• Angie Turner told Li Xing that although Miracles seemed unfair, forging had become part of his life and he could still appreciate its beauty.
• Lucy explained that the town's alert rules required Aniekra to be accompanied by at least four people when going out.
• Li Xing arrived at Aniekra's house and found Lucy and Aniekra playing together, then learned Little Jerry was at Lucy's house.
• Aniekra suggested that Li Xing take her and Lucy out of town.

Lucy and Aniekra arranged for Li Xing to escort them to bathe at the river, with Little Jerry accompanying them for safety. Li Xing went to fetch Little Jerry and borrow a horse, leaving Lucy and Aniekra to prepare.

• Aniekra persuaded Lucy to let Li Xing guard them at the river with Little Jerry present, and Lucy explained the plan to Li Xing.
• Li Xing admitted he felt tempted, and Lucy said his honesty and visible feelings made him a reliable choice for guard duty.
• Aniekra emerged in a cloak, then said she had packed their things in a carriage and wanted to take it to the river.
• Li Xing offered to fetch Little Jerry from Lucy's house and borrow a horse near the lumber mill, and Aniekra promised to make his custom shoes for free.
• Lucy prepared to give Li Xing five gold coins, but he entered Gale State and left before she could hand them over.
• Aniekra teased Lucy about Li Xing refusing her help, and Lucy hugged her and playfully scolded her.

Li Xing visited Lucy's house, promised the children a meal, and left with Little Jerry, Lucy, and Aniekra to wash up outside town. After admitting he could not ride a horse, he rode in the carriage while Lucy drove, and the group arrived at their destination with Li Xing still guarded.

• Little Jerry entertained the children at Lucy's house with tales of Li Xing's promised food, then tested Li Xing at the door before letting him in.
• Li Xing reassured the children that he would cook for them later and left with Little Jerry to collect horses from the lumberyard.
• Li Xing and Little Jerry admitted neither could ride, so they led the horses on foot to Aniekra's house, where Lucy and Aniekra harnessed them to a carriage.
• Lucy drove the group out of town and asked Li Xing to promise that he would explain his identity to her and Aniekra.
• After the hunters checked their carriage at the west checkpoint, Lucy drove across a stone bridge, stopped, and told Li Xing to follow them.

Li Xing stood guard while Lucy and Aniekra bathed in the river, then learned from Little Jerry that bathing outside summer was difficult because heating water consumed too much firewood. Inspired by Jerry’s enthusiasm, Li Xing considered building a bathhouse, and Jerry said it would make him the most respected person in Hunter Town.

• Lucy told Li Xing to stay outside the thicket until she or Aniekra called him, and he swore he would obey.
• Lucy asked Little Jerry to watch Li Xing, so the two waited outside while the women bathed.
• Little Jerry asked Li Xing for a stick, and Li Xing made him a wooden sword from a branch.
• Little Jerry explained that he and his father rarely bathed in cool weather because baths used too much firewood.
• Li Xing considered building a bathhouse, and Little Jerry enthusiastically said it would make Li Xing the most respected person in Hunter Town.

Li Xing rushed to Lucy and Aniekra after hearing Lucy cry out while they washed in the river, but Lucy mistook his concern for peeping and drove him away. Meanwhile, a bandit group searching the forest for something unusual complained that their mage lord kept the women they had captured for himself.

• Lucy cried out while washing, and Aniekra hurried to check on her.
• Li Xing rushed out of the bushes to ask what had happened, but Lucy splashed him and accused him of peeping.
• Little Jerry told Li Xing that Lucy had not called for him, and Aniekra persuaded Lucy that he had only come because he was worried.
• Lucy agreed to apologize to Li Xing after she and Aniekra finished washing.
• A group of masked bandits continued searching the forest for something unusual on their master's orders.
• The bandits complained to their burly Big Brother that their mage lord kept the captured merchant women for himself.

Li Xing, Lucy, Aniekra, and Little Jerry finished bathing by the river and made peace after Lucy apologized for startling and splashing Li Xing. Bandits nearby planned to attack them, and the chapter left the group unaware of the danger.

• A bandit leader and his men decided to seek victims near Hunter Town despite warnings not to provoke its hunters.
• The bandits spotted Lucy and Aniekra bathing with Li Xing and Little Jerry, then planned to assault them after they finished.
• Lucy apologized to Li Xing for screaming and splashing him, and Aniekra urged him to accept their apologies.
• Li Xing accepted the apologies and told Aniekra to put on her outer clothes after she sneezed.
• Lucy teased Li Xing about washing, and Little Jerry said Li Xing had already washed that morning because Dad had told him.

Li Xing and Lucy shared an unspoken understanding after a tense encounter, but bandits soon attacked while Aniekra was alone by the carriage. Li Xing promised to protect Aniekra, sent Lucy and Little Jerry across the river, and rushed to her rescue as his clones held off the bandits.

• Lucy teased Li Xing about his arousal, and he offered to provide Little Jerry's meals the next day as thanks for her help.
• Aniekra found several black-clad bandits by the carriage, and their leader advanced on her as she cried for Lucy.
• Li Xing and Lucy heard Aniekra's cries, then discovered they were surrounded by armed bandits at the riverbank.
• Li Xing told Lucy to take Little Jerry across the river and promised to keep Aniekra safe; Lucy trusted him and swam away with Jerry.
• Li Xing created two clones, entered Gale State, and rushed toward Aniekra while his clones fought the bandits.

Li Xing rescued Aniekra from the bandit leader and signaled Hunter Town for help. With the bandits closing in and his clone killed by an arrow, he warned them that anyone who approached would die.

• The bandit leader bound Aniekra to the carriage and tried to rape her, but Li Xing arrived, freed her, and kicked him away, killing him.
• Li Xing comforted Aniekra and fired the signal firework from Lucy's bag.
• Lucy saw the signal and led Jerry toward town to bring the hunter patrols to Li Xing and Aniekra's aid.
• Hunter Town's alarm bell rang, and Yilaikesi and Alex led their squads toward the western bridge after learning Li Xing's group had not returned.
• Li Xing told Aniekra to stay behind him and warned the bandits not to approach, then realized an arrow had killed his clone and repeated the warning.

Li Xing bluffed the bandits into retreating by claiming Hunter Town’s alarm meant reinforcements were near, then escaped with Aniekra in the carriage. The bandits realized they had been tricked and turned back, while Yilaikesi’s party encountered Lucy and Jerry outside Hunter Town.

• Three more bandits arrived, recognized Li Xing as a Miracle Controller, and warned the others about his swordsmanship.
• Li Xing claimed Hunter Town’s alarm had sounded and challenged the bandits to fight, inspiring Aniekra to take a knife and prepare to help him.
• The bandits feared Hunter Town’s reinforcements and fled, leaving Li Xing to free the horses and put Aniekra in charge of the carriage.
• Li Xing told Aniekra that he had been bluffing to protect her, and she drove the carriage away.
• The bandits realized Li Xing and the carriage were gone, understood they had been tricked, and hurried back.
• Yilaikesi’s party and Alex’s party rode west from Hunter Town, where the hunters ahead encountered Lucy and Jerry.

Lucy and the Hunter Town riders rescued Li Xing and Aniekra from the bandits, and Li Xing hid his use of clones while recounting the battle. On the journey back, Lucy realized Aniekra had fallen for Li Xing.

• Lucy gave Jerry to a hunter, then led Yilaikesi and Alex’s riders toward Li Xing’s carriage and identified the men in black as bandits.
• Yilaikesi and Alex led the hunters in attacking the bandits while Aniekra stopped the carriage and reunited tearfully with Lucy.
• Lucy checked that Aniekra was safe, thanked Li Xing for keeping his promise, and noticed Aniekra’s affection for him.
• Li Xing described the battle to the hunters, claiming he had used Gale Swordsmanship to defeat the enemies by himself and concealing his clone skill.
• Alex offered Li Xing a deputy captain’s position, while Yilaikesi argued that Li Xing was too strong for the role.
• As the group returned to Hunter Town, Lucy confirmed that Aniekra had fallen for Li Xing.