Chapter Summaries

Gu Shao'an learned that someone resembling Abbess Miejue had appeared in the Great Yuan Kingdom, though the real Abbess Miejue had remained at Emei. Later, he drank with Li Xunhuan beneath the moon and gave his uncompromising view on betrayal and Li Xunhuan’s past choices, leaving Li deeply shaken.

• Fan Sanshan told Gu Shao'an that a sinister-looking woman resembling Abbess Miejue had appeared in the Great Yuan Kingdom, and Gu Shao'an agreed to investigate the likely impostor.
• Li Xunhuan invited Gu Shao'an to share wine on the inn roof and admitted that Gu's earlier words had cut deeply.
• Li Xunhuan asked what he should do about Long Xiaoyun, and Gu Shao'an said a betrayer who plotted against him should be treated as an enemy and eliminated.
• Gu Shao'an told Li Xunhuan that choosing to value affection and forgive others meant accepting the pain and risks that came with that path.
• When Li Xunhuan asked whether he had been right to give up Lin Shiyin more than a decade earlier, Gu Shao'an said true love would make him worry about her well-being and unable to hand her to someone else.
• Li Xunhuan thanked Gu Shao'an for saving his life and promised to repay him when called upon, and the two drank together in silence.

Gu Shao'an visited the Qin Residence, diagnosed Qin Siyuan’s sleeplessness as a poison-related illness, and cured him while securing the Lover’s Resplendent Flower. Just as Qin Wangchuan refused to receive Long Xiaoyun, Lang Fanyun of the Raging Dragon Gang announced himself.

• Gu Shao'an visited Qin Wangchuan at the Qin Residence after Sun Baifa told the family he could help Qin Siyuan.
• Qin Wangchuan explained that Qin Siyuan had suffered from sleeplessness for years and that the Lover’s Resplendent Flower had recently stopped helping him.
• Gu Shao'an examined Qin Siyuan, diagnosed Yin Deficiency with Yang Hyperactivity worsened by the flower’s poison, and removed the poison.
• Gu Shao'an promised Qin Siyuan would recover after taking his prescribed medicine, and Qin Wangchuan thanked him for saving the family’s heir.
• A steward announced Long Xiaoyun’s arrival, and Qin Wangchuan ordered him turned away because he had repeatedly sought the flower.
• Lang Fanyun of the Raging Dragon Gang announced that he wanted to see Qin Wangchuan.

Gu Shao'an claimed the Lover's Resplendent Flower and met Lang Fanyun and Long Xiaoyun at the Qin residence, where Long Xiaoyun recognized him as the man who had crippled his son. After Long Xiaoyun attacked, Gu Shao'an caught him by the throat, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• Gu Shao'an took the Lover's Resplendent Flower from Qin Wangchuan and assured him that the Qin family would not be held responsible for what followed.
• Lang Fanyun, Long Xiaoyun, and Long Xiaoyun arrived to seek the flower, and Qin Wangchuan explained that it was poisonous and had already been given to Gu Shao'an.
• Gu Shao'an confirmed that he had the flower, prompting Long Xiaoyun to recognize the Heavenly Sword and accuse him of crippling his son a year earlier.
• Gu Shao'an criticized Long Xiaoyun for continuing his cruelty and said he had heard that servants from Xingyun Manor were regularly sent to mass graves.
• Long Xiaoyun attacked Gu Shao'an with a fierce palm strike, but Gu Shao'an calmly seized him by the throat.

Gu Shao'an defeated Lang Fanyun, killed Long Xiaoyun and his son, and treated Qin Wangchuan’s grandson. He left Lang Fanyun a pill for his wife and urged him to investigate the Longs’ deeds before seeking an explanation.

• Gu Shao'an restrained Long Xiaoyun and forced Lang Fanyun back with a single punch.
• After Long Xiaoyun admitted his scheme against Li Xunhuan, Gu Shao'an killed him, then killed Long Xiaoyun when he threatened the Emei Sect.
• Gu Shao'an gave Qin Wangchuan instructions for waking his grandson and left a pill for Lang Fanyun’s ailing wife.
• Gu Shao'an told Lang Fanyun to investigate the Longs’ actions in Baoding Prefecture before challenging him, then departed.
• Qin Wangchuan confirmed that the Longs had harmed many families, leaving Lang Fanyun watching their bodies being sent to Xingyun Manor.

After killing Long Xiaoyun, Gu Shao'an prepared to leave Baoding Prefecture, but He Baiyao warned him that the Five Poisons Saint Child, Lan Xie, sought revenge for Great Joy Bodhisattva. On the road, Gu Shao'an encountered Lang Fanyun and Li Xunhuan standing together, leaving the reason for their meeting unclear.

• Gu Shao'an finished processing the Lover's Resplendent Flower and returned to the Windward Inn, where Fan Sanshan told him Xingyun Manor had abandoned plans to avenge Long Xiaoyun after learning who killed him.
• Gu Shao'an set out from Baoding Prefecture with Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei, requiring Cheng Shifei to travel by lightness skill as martial arts training.
• He Baiyao warned Gu Shao'an that Lan Xie, the Five Poisons Saint Child and Great Joy Bodhisattva's adopted son, had stolen poisons and might target him; he also offered Gu Shao'an a poison-detecting gu.
• Gu Shao'an declined He Baiyao's protective bottle, advised him to improve the Five Poisons Sect's reputation through medicine, and warned Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei to stay close.
• Less than ten li from the city, Gu Shao'an's group encountered Lang Fanyun on the road and Li Xunhuan beside him; Li Xunhuan rose and stood shoulder to shoulder with Lang Fanyun.

Gu Shao'an fought Lang Fanyun on the official road, demonstrating the Emei Sword Manual as he countered the Overturning Rain Swordplay. He overwhelmed Lang Fanyun’s domain and ended the exchange by sending him flying, with another strand of sword energy approaching his brow.

• Lang Fanyun challenged Gu Shao'an while Li Xunhuan and the others watched, and Gu Shao'an sharpened Cheng Shifei’s senses so he could observe the fight.
• Lang Fanyun attacked with One Rain Brings Autumn, and Gu Shao'an deflected it with Spring Willow before disrupting Lang Fanyun’s follow-up sword net with Evening Wind.
• Lang Fanyun formed an Overturning Rain Sword Domain, but Gu Shao'an’s stronger domain compressed it from ten zhang to three.
• The two exchanged dozens of moves, with Gu Shao'an remaining in place and passively countering Lang Fanyun as he studied the swordplay.
• Lang Fanyun unleashed a vast, tide-like strike, and Gu Shao'an answered with Singing Willow, dispersing the attack and sending Lang Fanyun flying.
• As Lang Fanyun landed, another strand of Gu Shao'an’s sword energy drifted toward his brow.

Gu Shao'an defeated Lang Fanyun and Li Xunhuan when they joined forces to test him, then learned they had arranged the fight to ask him to treat Lang Fanyun's wife. The chapter ended with Gu Shao'an questioning Li Xunhuan's advice and silently judging the pair's misguided plan.

• Gu Shao'an defeated Lang Fanyun's swordplay and earned his admiration, then Li Xunhuan declined to duel him alone.
• Li Xunhuan and Lang Fanyun joined forces against Gu Shao'an, whose Sword Ten: Dawn dispersed their coordinated attacks before Sword Eight: Startling Wind drove them back.
• Gu Shao'an unleashed a powerful wave of qi to stop his sword from injuring the two men, then asked why they had fought him.
• Lang Fanyun admitted he had investigated Long Xiaoyun and learned of his crimes, and explained that he hoped Gu Shao'an would treat his wife in exchange for the sparring match.
• Li Xunhuan said he had suggested the plan, leaving Gu Shao'an speechless at their choice of advice.

Gu Shao'an urged Li Xunhuan to take responsibility for Long Xiaoyun and his son's abuses in Baoding Prefecture, while offering Lang Fanyun help for his ailing wife. Five days later, Gu Shao'an and his companions stopped at a restaurant in Huangyu Town, where he discovered the Five Poisons Saint Child had poisoned their tea.

• Gu Shao'an offered to treat Lang Fanyun's wife at the Emei Sect, and Lang Fanyun prepared to bring her there.
• Gu Shao'an blamed Li Xunhuan for enabling Long Xiaoyun's abuses and urged him to restore Li Garden and make amends; Li Xunhuan agreed.
• After Gu Shao'an left, Lang Fanyun and Li Xunhuan compared their strength with his and concluded that he vastly surpassed them.
• Gu Shao'an refused Cheng Shifei's request to join the Emei Sect and advised him to continue practicing the Diamond Body Divine Skill.
• Five days later, Gu Shao'an, Cheng Shifei, and Fan Sanshan stopped at a restaurant in Huangyu Town, where Gu Shao'an detected hidden poison in their tea and said the Five Poisons Saint Child had arrived.

Gu Shao'an recognized the Five Poisons Saint Child’s layered poisons and let the group appear vulnerable to lure him out. After reaching a wilderness campsite, Gu Shao'an detected the final ingredient arriving on the wind, and Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei acted as though the poison had overwhelmed them.

• Gu Shao'an drank the drugged tea and explained that he planned to use himself as bait to draw out the Five Poisons Saint Child.
• Gu Shao'an took Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei toward Dongyang Prefecture to have weapons forged, and Fan Sanshan recognized the intended craftsman as Feng Ten Thousand Hammers.
• Gu Shao'an revealed that the Five Poisons Saint Child had secretly exposed them to tracking poison and a substance that could seal their cultivation and weaken their bones.
• Gu Shao'an gave Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei medicine to counter the poisons temporarily and instructed them to stage their collapse after nightfall.
• At the wilderness campsite, Gu Shao'an detected the final ingredient of Boiling Blood Powder in the night wind and signaled Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei to begin their act.
• Cheng Shifei and Fan Sanshan coughed up blood and pretended to collapse, announcing that they had been poisoned.

Gu Shao'an pretended to succumb to poison to lure out the Five Poisons Saint Child, then killed him before his toxins could endanger the group. While disposing of the corpse, Gu Shao'an found a rare Spider King Flower and realized the Saint Child had been carrying a valuable treasure.

• Gu Shao'an and his companions feigned being poisoned until the Five Poisons Saint Child crept out of hiding to finish them off.
• Gu Shao'an sprang his ambush, blasted aside the Saint Child's poisonous needles and mist, and cut him in two with the Heavenly Sword.
• Fan Sanshan warned Cheng Shifei that the Saint Child's blood was lethal, and Gu Shao'an explained why they had needed to kill him quickly.
• Gu Shao'an dissolved the poisonous corpse with Corpse Dissolving Water to prevent the area from becoming poisoned ground.
• Gu Shao'an found a Spider King Flower and a jade fragment among the Saint Child's possessions, recognizing the flower as a rare ingredient for the Bright Jade Pill.

Gu Shao'an visited Feng Ten Thousand Hammers and commissioned six custom weapons using rare ores and gold, with the work due in half a year. Fan Sanshan then invited him and Cheng Shifei to Lu Tengkong’s golden basin ceremony, where an escort job involving the Sky Demon Qin was expected to be announced.

• Fan Sanshan led Gu Shao'an and Cheng Shifei to Ten Thousand Hammers Workshop and explained Feng Ten Thousand Hammers’s reputation, fees, and connections.
• Feng Ten Thousand Hammers examined Gu Shao'an’s gold, Azure Flow Jade Ore, Cold Marrow Fine Gold, and weapon designs, then agreed to forge six weapons for pickup in half a year.
• Gu Shao'an, Fan Sanshan, and Cheng Shifei finalized the weapon details and left the workshop near noon.
• Fan Sanshan told Gu Shao'an that Lu Tengkong of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency was holding a golden basin ceremony that evening and that escort agencies across Dongyang Prefecture would attend.
• Fan Sanshan revealed that someone planned to entrust the Sky Demon Qin to the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, prompting Gu Shao'an to recall its significance.

Gu Shao'an discovered that the jade taken from the Five Poisons Saint Child was a fragment of He Shi Bi, a treasure that could neutralize poison, refine Heaven and Earth Power, and temper Gang Yuan. He reached Dongyang Post Station with Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei, where he noticed an unusual gathering of escort agencies and learned that the factions governing Dongyang included Huang Xuemei's blood enemies.

• Gu Shao'an tested the jade and found that it neutralized poison and refined Heaven and Earth Power when infused with Gang Yuan.
• Gu Shao'an confirmed the jade was a fragment of He Shi Bi and decided it would become a valuable treasure for the Emei Sect and its disciples.
• Gu Shao'an, Fan Sanshan, and Cheng Shifei reached Dongyang Post Station after a month of demanding travel that had greatly improved Cheng Shifei's cultivation.
• Gu Shao'an noticed many unusually well-trained escort groups gathered at the post station and asked Fan Sanshan about them.
• Fan Sanshan explained that the Round Moon Gate controlled Dongyang Prefecture through the Rakshasa Gate, Ghost Palace, and Blazing Fire Palace, the three factions that had destroyed the Heavenly Dragon Gate and become Huang Xuemei's blood enemies.

Gu Shao'an arrived in Dongyang Prefecture with Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei, then used his Achievement Points to obtain cultivation, Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, and another He Shi Bi Fragment. Meanwhile, Yan Jing'an instructed Qin Mengyao to use a powerful drug to ensnare Gu Shao'an, leaving Qin prepared to risk half her cultivation to make him her Love Trial Guardian.

• Fan Sanshan explained why Dongyang Prefecture had attracted many escort agencies, and Gu Shao'an and his companions continued to the city after stopping at Dongyang Outpost.
• Several women wearing bamboo hats watched Gu Shao'an leave the outpost, then sent a carrier pigeon toward Dongyang Prefecture.
• Gu Shao'an, Fan Sanshan, and Cheng Shifei entered Dongyang Prefecture, ate, and checked into Yuelai Residence.
• Gu Shao'an spent Achievement Points and received a Ten Year Cultivation Card, three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, and a He Shi Bi Fragment.
• Yan Jing'an gave Qin Mengyao Colorless Yin-Yang Water and told her it would make Gu Shao'an lose control and transfer half of Qin's cultivation to him if they joined together.
• Qin Mengyao accepted the risk and resolved to pursue Gu Shao'an as her Love Trial Guardian.

Gu Shao'an commissioned Feng Ten Thousand Hammers to forge six custom weapons and learned that the Flying Tiger Escort Agency would receive the Sky Demon Qin that night. The artifact stirred sealed memories in Gu Shao'an as he prepared to attend Lu Tengkong's golden basin hand-washing ceremony.

• Fan Sanshan led Gu Shao'an and Cheng Shifei to Ten Thousand Hammers Workshop and explained Feng Ten Thousand Hammers's reputation, prices, and connection to the Dongyang Prefect.
• Gu Shao'an presented Feng Ten Thousand Hammers with golden leaves, two rare ores, and designs for six weapons, then agreed to collect the finished weapons in half a year.
• Fan Sanshan told Gu Shao'an that Lu Tengkong, leader of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and Dongyang Prefecture's Escort Alliance, was holding a golden basin hand-washing ceremony that night.
• Fan Sanshan revealed that the Flying Tiger Escort Agency would be entrusted with the Sky Demon Qin, and Gu Shao'an felt the artifact stir sealed memories.

Gu Shao'an attended Lu Tengkong’s hand-washing ceremony at the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, where rival escorts demanded he surrender his title and alliance leadership. Lu Lin returned and defied the demand, but the chapter ended as strange horse and carriage sounds came from the gates.

• Gu Shao'an and his companions arrived at the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, where Lu Tengkong recognized the Heavenly Sword and privately welcomed him.
• Gu Shao'an predicted trouble for Lu Tengkong, and Fan Sanshan asked him to help if danger arose.
• With Lu Lin still absent, Lu Tengkong began the hand-washing ceremony and announced that he would retire and pass the agency to his son.
• Luo Lie and other escorts demanded that Lu Tengkong surrender the Number One Escort Under Heaven plaque and the escort alliance leadership, and Lu Tengkong agreed to give them up.
• Lu Lin arrived, caught the falling plaque, and refused to surrender it despite his father's orders and Luo Lie's threats.
• Unusual sounds of horses and a carriage rang through the agency, drawing everyone's attention to the gates.

Gu Shao'an brought Huang Xuemei to a quiet pavilion and revealed that Lu Lin was the younger brother she had been searching for. Huang Xuemei asked Gu Shao'an to help her take revenge on the Round Moon Gate, and he asked when they would set out.

• Lu Tengkong sent Lu Lin to escort Gu Shao'an, Huang Xuemei, Fan Sanshan, and Cheng Shifei to the rear courtyard.
• Fan Sanshan took Cheng Shifei away, and Gu Shao'an warned Lu Lin that his earlier recklessness could have endangered his father and the Flying Tiger Escort Agency.
• Gu Shao'an told Huang Xuemei that Lu Lin was her younger brother, but she agreed to delay revealing their connection while Ren Donghai remained a threat.
• Huang Xuemei revealed that Ren Zhenbei was alive and hiding within the Round Moon Gate, then asked Gu Shao'an to help her deal with Ren Donghai and Ren Zhenbei.
• Gu Shao'an considered the Emei Sect's old grudge against the Round Moon Gate and asked Huang Xuemei when she planned to set out.

Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei agreed to ally the Emei Sect with the Heavenly Dragon Gate and discovered that Lu Lin was Huang Xuemei’s long-lost younger brother. After leaving the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, Gu Shao'an considered the Emei Sect’s growing alliances and the looming conflict involving the Azure Dragon Society, then returned to cultivation.

• Huang Xuemei proposed an alliance between the Heavenly Dragon Gate and the Emei Sect, and Gu Shao'an agreed after learning she had taken full control of her sect.
• While Lu Lin carried Huang Xuemei’s Sky Demon Qin, the case tore his clothes and revealed a birthmark matching her missing younger brother’s.
• Huang Xuemei told Lu Tengkong that Lu Lin was her younger brother, promised not to take him away, and asked him to keep their connection secret until the Round Moon Gate matter was resolved.
• Gu Shao'an reflected that the Emei Sect had favorable ties with several first-rate factions and considered whether to warn Zhu Houzhao about Bai Xiaosheng and the Azure Dragon Society.
• After the night wind calmed his thoughts, Gu Shao'an returned to bed and resumed cultivating.

Ren Donghai learned that Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei had killed three Round Moon Gate allies and consulted the mysterious elder in the rear-mountain cave, who planned to join him after reaching the Heavenly Human Realm. In Dongyang Prefecture, Qin Mengyao sought Gu Shao'an's help for a strange poison and offered him Forgetfulness Grass as payment.

• Ren Donghai read a report about the deaths at the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and learned that Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei were involved.
• Ren Donghai told the hidden elder about the incident, and the elder said he would accompany him to Dongyang Prefecture after entering the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Gu Shao'an, Cheng Shifei, and Fan Sanshan visited Ten Thousand Hammers Workshop and found Qin Mengyao and her Cihang Jingzhai disciples there.
• Qin Mengyao stopped Gu Shao'an from leaving and explained that a strange poison had resisted her sect's treatments.
• Qin Mengyao offered Gu Shao'an a stalk of Forgetfulness Grass in exchange for treating her.

Gu Shao'an cured Qin Mengyao's poison and received the Forgetfulness Grass, while Qin Mengyao's group reconsidered their plan to win his trust. News that Ren Zhenbei was close to entering the Heavenly Human Realm gave Qin Mengyao a reason to meet Gu Shao'an again.

• Gu Shao'an treated Qin Mengyao, expelled the Bicha Poison, and accepted the Forgetfulness Grass as payment.
• Qin Mengyao postponed asking Feng Ten Thousand Hammers to forge a weapon and left the workshop.
• Feng Ten Thousand Hammers praised Gu Shao'an's medical skills and grew more eager to befriend him.
• Back at their courtyard, Qin Mengyao explained that she had avoided using Colorless Yin-Yang Water because Gu Shao'an was cautious and could become suspicious.
• Qin Mengyao learned that Ren Tianyang had revealed Ren Zhenbei was nearing a breakthrough into the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Qin Mengyao decided Ren Zhenbei's impending breakthrough gave her a reason to meet Gu Shao'an again.

Gu Shao'an hosted Qin Mengyao at the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, where she explained Cihang Jingzhai’s schemes and warned him that the Round Moon Gate’s former master, Ren Zhenbei, was close to entering the Heavenly Human Realm. After Qin Mengyao left, Gu Shao'an revealed that Huang Xuemei had been eavesdropping.

• Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei moved into the Flying Tiger Escort Agency to prepare for Ren Donghai’s possible arrival, and Qin Mengyao came to see Gu Shao'an.
• Gu Shao'an warned Fan Sanshan and Cheng Shifei that Cihang Jingzhai used marriage alliances and informants to manipulate the martial world, so the two left to avoid meeting Qin Mengyao.
• Qin Mengyao told Gu Shao'an that Cihang Jingzhai had chosen another Love Trial Guardian and that she had no power to resist her sect’s decisions.
• Qin Mengyao warned Gu Shao'an that Ren Zhenbei was attempting to reach the Heavenly Human Realm and might succeed within half a month.
• After Qin Mengyao departed, Gu Shao'an remarked that Huang Xuemei had been eavesdropping.