Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an received Zhong Kui’s reply, arranged for Qingxia Island to search for someone, and secured water-replenishing pills from Liu Chongrun in exchange for trying to relocate Pearl Hairpin Island to Longquan County. He began studying the political forces shaping Book Scroll Lake while, elsewhere, an old Confucian scholar remained on Sui Mountain and argued with its Mountain God.

• Chen Ping'an received Zhong Kui’s letter from Taiping Mountain, learned that Zhong Kui could not leave Tongye Continent, and worried about his safety.
• Liu Zhimao ordered Tian Hujun to quietly carry out Chen Ping'an’s request and rewarded the Sword Room staff for covering the messenger sword’s cost.
• Chen Ping'an visited Liu Chongrun, learned of the danger posed by a powerful Zhu Ying Dynasty Earth Immortal, and agreed to seek Great Li’s help relocating Pearl Hairpin Island to Longquan County.
• Liu Chongrun gave Chen Ping'an pills from the Water Palace Secret Treasure, and he took one before asking her to recount her former country’s history.
• Chen Ping'an returned to Qingxia Island and began writing notes on three political threads: Gu Can’s circle, the father and daughter in Cloud Tower City, and the histories of Liu Chongrun’s country and the Zhu Ying Dynasty.
• On Sui Mountain, an old Confucian scholar argued with the golden armored Mountain God about his divinations, his disciples, and whether he would leave the mountain.

Chen Ping'an brought Zeng Ye from Maoyue Island to Qingxia Island and patiently taught him a Ghost Dao secret technique while arranging shelter for the lake’s lingering spirits. The chapter ended with Chen Ping'an exposing and seizing Zhao Shi after the spirit demanded to prey on the women again.

• Zhang Ye brought Zeng Ye to meet Chen Ping'an, who accepted him as a suitable host for a Yin creature and agreed to pay Qingxia Island fifteen Valley Rain Coins.
• Zeng Ye settled beside Chen Ping'an, met Gu Can, and began studying a Ghost Dao secret technique under Chen Ping'an’s guidance.
• Chen Ping'an collected spirits in the King of Hell's Hall, negotiated with Ma Yuanzhi and other cultivators, and quietly helped Hong Su adjust to her new position.
• After Zeng Ye injured himself while cultivating, Chen Ping'an treated him and told him to distinguish reckless haste from the effort needed to overcome a difficult hurdle.
• Chen Ping'an summoned nine spirits and offered to fulfill their wishes, while Bai Licai condemned him for his connection to Gu Can and others asked for release, relief, or help visiting family graves.
• Zhao Shi asked to remain with the women and abuse them; Chen Ping'an revealed Zhao Shi’s past crime and seized him by the neck.

On Winter Solstice, Chen Ping'an confronted Tan Xue about her and Gu Can’s killings and explained how Book Scroll Lake’s customs shaped their choices. After a long exchange, he revealed he had prepared to ambush her and pinned her to the door with the Sword Immortal, leaving her at his mercy.

• Little Loach went to Chen Ping'an’s room to invite him to Spring Court Mansion for dumplings, but he refused and began questioning her about her plans for Gu Can and Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an criticized Tan Xue’s violence and explained his views on right and wrong, social customs, and his efforts to help Gu Can and observe Zeng Ye.
• Tan Xue admitted she had concealed her fear of Chen Ping'an and argued that killing him would harm Gu Can, while Chen Ping'an said he would consider speaking with Gu Can after the snow.
• Chen Ping'an gave Tan Xue the jade plaque, then used the Monster Binding Rope and a Half-Immortal Weapon to pin her through the heart to the door.
• Chen Ping'an revealed he had anticipated Tan Xue’s visit, replenished his Spiritual Energy, and used the Sword Immortal to restrain her while asking whether she thought he wanted to hear her case.

Chen Ping'an killed Tan Xue after trapping her with the Sword Immortal and Lock-Severing Talismans, while negotiating with Liu Zhimao over Book Scroll Lake and Great Li. After Tan Xue died, Gu Can arrived in tears, leaving his relationship with Chen Ping'an at a breaking point.

• Chen Ping'an revealed that Tan Xue’s blood had completed the Lock-Severing Talisman on the door, then summoned Liu Zhimao inside while Tan Xue remained pinned.
• Liu Zhimao told Chen Ping'an that Tan Yuanyi had failed to reach an agreement with Old Man Liu Cheng, and Chen Ping'an demanded that Liu remove the restriction on Gu Can’s mother and relinquish control of Hong Su.
• Liu Zhimao accepted Chen Ping'an’s demands, and Chen Ping'an said Tan Xue’s remains could serve as a bargaining chip with the Great Li National Teacher.
• Chen Ping'an returned to Spring Court Mansion with Liu Zhimao, then later went back to his room and rejected Tan Xue’s plea for her life.
• Gu Can came to Chen Ping'an’s door and knelt in the snow, and Chen Ping'an cut Tan Xue in two before opening the door to face him.

Chen Ping'an killed Tan Xue and began negotiating an alliance with Liu Zhimao and Tan Yuanyi amid Great Li’s growing pressure on Book Scroll Lake. He then set out alone by boat for Gongliu Island, where he was headed by dawn.

• Chen Ping'an let Gu Can grieve over Tan Xue, then sent him back to Spring Court Mansion without accepting his accusation that Chen Ping'an was the worst person.
• Gu Can told his mother that Chen Ping'an had killed Tan Xue, and she cursed Chen Ping'an before pulling her son into her arms.
• Liu Zhimao showed Zhang Ye the image of Gu Can at Qingxia Island’s gate, discussed Chen Ping'an’s careful separation from Gu Can’s mother, and urged Zhang Ye to leave Book Scroll Lake for his own safety.
• Chen Ping'an met Liu Zhimao and Tan Yuanyi in a sealed chamber at Hengbo Mansion, questioned Tan Yuanyi about Great Li’s military and political pressures, and proposed that they work together.
• After leaving Hengbo Mansion, Chen Ping'an returned to his room, changed clothes, took the Sword Immortal, and sailed alone toward Gongliu Island through the snowy night.

The old scholar discussed the crisis facing the Confucian school with the Sui Mountain Great God, while Cui Chan stopped Cui Dongshan from killing Fan Yan and sent him away from Book Scroll Lake. Chen Ping'an confronted Old Man Liu Cheng over Hong Su’s fate and secured his agreement to return to Qingxia Island, where the story left Chen Ping'an reflecting on his fist intent.

• The old scholar told the Sui Mountain Great God that the Savage World’s rising prodigies and the Confucian school’s failures threatened the human world, then defended the importance of ordinary people’s lives and choices.
• Cui Dongshan threatened to kill Fan Yan, but Cui Chan stopped him and warned him not to let his feelings for Chen Ping'an cloud his judgment; Cui Dongshan left Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an asked Old Man Liu Cheng whether he would kill Hong Su, and Liu Cheng admitted that he had killed her before and would kill her again if she threatened his path to the Immortal Realm.
• Chen Ping'an used the jade token to threaten Book Scroll Lake’s spiritual energy and negotiated for Liu Cheng to accompany him back to Qingxia Island to see Hong Su.
• As they crossed the lake, Chen Ping'an explained that he had come to protect Hong Su and learn about Liu Cheng’s principles, then sat down and began examining the foundations of his fist intent.

Chen Ping'an strengthened his precarious alliance with Liu Zhimao while managing the island lords and facing Gu Can’s mother, then prepared to leave Book Scroll Lake with Zeng Ye. The chapter ended with them staying at Lingguan Temple on their journey north.

• Chen Ping'an and Old Man Liu Cheng fished and cooked winter crucian carp together before Chen Ping'an sent Flying Sword Fifteen to tell Liu Zhimao to activate Qingxia Island’s Mountain Water Formation.
• Chen Ping'an returned to Qingxia Island with Old Man Liu Cheng, then told Liu Zhimao that Old Man Liu Cheng seemed to have no connection with Su Gaoshan and reaffirmed his commitment to their alliance.
• Yu Gui sold Chen Ping'an a small Glazed Pavilion on credit, and island lords visited Qingxia Island as rumors about Chen Ping'an spread across Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an spoke with Gu Can’s mother about Little Loach and urged her to remain at Spring Court Mansion and help Gu Can build a safer future.
• Liu Chongrun staged a quarrel with Chen Ping'an in front of Ma Yuanzhi, who believed she was trying to make him jealous and left delighted.
• Chen Ping'an departed Book Scroll Lake with Zeng Ye, crossed Shihao Country’s southern border, and spent the night at Lingguan Temple.

Chen Ping'an and Zeng Ye traveled through war-torn Shihao Country, where Chen helped a band of fallen soldiers and escorted Su Xinzha back to Huangli Mountain. Su Xinzha fulfilled her last wishes and chose to let her soul disperse, while Chen urged the grieving Zeng Ye to cultivate hard and search for her in another life.

• Chen Ping'an and Zeng Ye sheltered in an abandoned Lingguan Temple, where Chen persuaded the Yin creatures to stay out of the shrine and met the soldiers' leader, General Wei.
• Chen Ping'an recorded the names and hometowns of more than six hundred fallen soldiers, promised to seek a place for them in a future Great Heavenly Ritual and Water and Land Dharma Assembly, and offered General Wei a way to reach Qingxia Island.
• Chen Ping'an and Zeng Ye continued north with Su Xinzha, and Chen escorted her to Huangli Mountain so she could offer incense at its Patriarch Hall and her master's grave.
• Su Xinzha declined to remain in the Fox Skin Beauty talisman and let her soul disperse after bidding farewell to Chen Ping'an and Zeng Ye.
• Chen Ping'an comforted the heartbroken Zeng Ye by urging him to cultivate diligently and search for Su Xinzha again in another life.

Chen Ping'an and his companions encountered Prince Han Jingxin’s cavalry, and Chen Ping'an fought Hu Han and Xu Mao before killing Han Jingxin. The mysterious Zeng swordsman escaped, while Xu Mao defected to Great Li and Chen Ping'an rode onward badly injured.

• Han Jingxin recognized Ma Duyi as a fox-skin charming ghost and ordered Hu Han to attack Chen Ping'an and his companions.
• Chen Ping'an fought Hu Han, then avoided Xu Mao’s spear and knocked the mounted officer from his horse.
• Zeng’s sword flew into the air, but Zeng vanished with his weapon, leaving an empty sheath behind.
• Chen Ping'an used the sheath to kill Han Jingxin, then chased Hu Han and returned with his head.
• Xu Mao killed Han Jingxin’s remaining riders, declared he would join Great Li, and rode away after Chen Ping'an spared him.
• Chen Ping'an concealed his severe injuries beneath his magic robe and continued north with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye.

Chen Ping'an continued north through war-torn Shihao Country, establishing relief kitchens and medicine shops while helping Yin creatures confront the past. On Lunar New Year's Eve, he honored Zhou Guonian's request at his sister and brother-in-law's grave and kept watch alone until dawn.

• Chen Ping'an arranged a porridge kitchen and medicine shop with the prefecture governor, then recruited Zeng Ye to handle similar work in future cities and recovered the Snowflake Coins he had taken from two Rogue Cultivators.
• After seeing the relief kitchen in operation, Chen Ping'an accepted that officials would keep part of the funds and encouraged Ma Duyi to teach Zeng Ye how to manage such arrangements.
• Chen Ping'an received a message from Qingxia Island about Old Man Liu Cheng and rode north, reflecting on his plans for Book Scroll Lake and grieving the Yin creatures who had left the mortal world.
• Chen Ping'an defeated a Great Demon and his human Strategist at the Zhuo Qin Cave Abode, left the Ghost General in charge there, and later helped Zhou Guonian face the history of his sister and brother-in-law's deaths without visiting their grave himself.
• On Lunar New Year's Eve, Chen Ping'an offered incense and wine at the grave of Zhou Guonian's sister and brother-in-law, then kept watch alone at the inn until dawn.

Chen Ping'an received news of Great Li’s advance and agreed to buy abandoned mountain peaks, then continued north through Shihao Country with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye. In a dog-meat shop, he stopped a spirit boy from killing its owners and customers and persuaded him to seek another way to protect dogs.

• Liu Zhimao delivered a message from Piyun Mountain, shared news of the war and Chen Ping'an’s killings, and discussed their complicated alliance over wine.
• Chen Ping'an learned that Great Li offered him abandoned peaks in Longquan County and sent back his acceptance.
• Chen Ping'an traveled north with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, who ran charity stalls and searched pawnshops for valuable antiques.
• At a dog-meat shop, Chen Ping'an confronted a spirit boy who planned to kill the shop’s owners and customers, and urged him to protect dogs by other means.
• The boy decided to buy the shop at a high price so the family could prosper, then return to the mountains to cultivate; Chen Ping'an told him his name and walked away.

Chen Ping'an let a little demon leave rather than pursue its origins, then parted warmly from Guan Yiran, who revealed his hidden ties to the Yizhou Guan clan to Yu Shanfang. Elsewhere, the old scholar chose to keep waiting for Bai Ze and the disappointed scholar, while a woman and an old Taoist priest met in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land and the old man watched a drop of water fall across vast lotus leaves.

• Chen Ping'an told Guan Yiran he had let the little demon go out of kindness, and Guan Yiran explained that he had persuaded two fellow Military Cultivators to give up hunting it.
• Guan Yiran's companions Qi Qi and Yu Shanfang discussed Chen Ping'an's conduct and the young cultivator's apparent generosity.
• Guan Yiran revealed to Yu Shanfang that he was a legitimate descendant of the Yizhou Guan clan, and Yu Shanfang urged him not to die on the battlefield.
• The old scholar recounted the qualities of his disciples and argued that scholarship had to benefit ordinary people before deciding to wait longer for Bai Ze and the disappointed scholar.
• A woman entered the Lotus Flower Blessed Land through her Oiled Paper Umbrella, met an old Taoist priest, and returned to her own world after seeing the land he had prepared.
• The old Taoist priest addressed the Sky Curtain, while an elderly man watched a drop of water fall across enormous lotus leaves as the River of Time flowed around him.

Chen Ping'an continued north through Shihao Country with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, helping starving soldiers and reaching Gull Fall Mountain. There, Zhang Ye arrived with news that Liu Zhimao had been captured and Su Gaoshan had threatened Book Scroll Lake’s rogue cultivators, leaving Chen Ping'an to face a crisis he had expected but could scarcely change.

• Chen Ping'an stopped a clash between Shihao soldiers and townspeople, then gave the remnants of an old cavalry unit gold and advice to help them survive.
• Chen Ping'an, Ma Duyi, and Zeng Ye reached Gull Fall Mountain, where refugees and cultivators were building a settlement and a minor sect guarded the eastern gate.
• The three crossed a bridge near Gull Fall Mountain’s village, where Chen Ping'an noticed his tracking artifacts had grown hot.
• Zhang Ye arrived from Qingxia Island and begged Chen Ping'an to save Liu Zhimao, whom an unknown cultivator had defeated and imprisoned on Gongliu Island.
• Zhang Ye reported that Su Gaoshan had arrived at Cloud Tower City and threatened to kill Book Scroll Lake’s rogue cultivators within ten days if they refused to submit.

Chen Ping'an returned alone to Book Scroll Lake after learning that Liu Zhimao had been captured and Qingxia Island was in danger, while an unexplained warning from Old Man Liu Cheng suggested a hidden threat. He reunited with Gu Can, offered him a chance to leave, and accepted his decision to stay with his mother.

• Zhang Ye told Chen Ping'an how Old Man Liu Cheng and a group of powerful cultivators had seized Liu Zhimao and devastated Hengbo Mansion, and Chen Ping'an urged Zhang Ye to wait on Gull Fall Mountain instead of returning to Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an continued south with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, followed news of the war and mountain world, then received a warning sent through Liu Zhimao's flying sword and sent his companions ahead while he rode back alone.
• Chen Ping'an reached Qingxia Island and learned that its remaining leaders and worshipers were making their own plans while Gu Can's mother waited for him at Spring Court Mansion.
• Chen Ping'an walked with Gu Can to the ruins of Hengbo Mansion, advised him not to act hastily, and explained that he could leave Book Scroll Lake with him.
• Gu Can refused to leave because he could not abandon his mother, and Chen Ping'an accepted his choice without scolding him.

Chen Ping'an traveled through Meiyou Country with Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi, helping ghosts and encountering strange people as war threatened the neighboring states. After learning of Great Li’s consolidation of power at Book Scroll Lake and pondering Liu Zhimao’s fate, Chen Ping'an rested at an inn, where his peaceful nap startled a distant Water God.

• Chen Ping'an met Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi at Stay Pass, told them he had failed to meet Su Gaoshan, and warned them to avoid Great Li Military Cultivators.
• Chen Ping'an encountered a suicidal Daoist and a band of horse bandits, then discussed the Daoist’s despair and Buddhist teachings with his companions.
• Chen Ping'an refused to let Ma Duyi take an ancient sword that suppressed baleful Yin energy, and later bought a drunken County Lieutenant’s Wild Cursive Script with fine wine.
• Chen Ping'an and his companions saw an Eminent monk subduing his manifested Inner Demon, while news reported Shihao Country’s new emperor and Great Li’s growing control over Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an considered Liu Zhimao’s uncertain fate and the motives of the outsiders on Gongliu Island, then let Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi visit the Water God Temple while he stayed behind to rest.
• Chen Ping'an dozed at the inn, and the distant Water God sensed his presence, panicked, and bowed in every direction.

Chen Ping'an reflected on war, conscience, and the choices people made as he traveled through Meiyou Country with Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi. In Jingzhou, he rescued a snow-white fox from a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator and sent her away with medicine, then walked back beneath the bright moon.

• Chen Ping'an read that Su Gaoshan had launched a full-scale attack on Meiyou Country and discussed the costs of war and the duties of scholars with Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi.
• Chen Ping'an and his companions met a disillusioned Meiyou Country Top Scholar, whom Chen Ping'an listened to and accompanied on a long detour before the scholar returned to the capital.
• Chen Ping'an stayed in Jingzhou while Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi cultivated, then witnessed Immortal Masters pursue a snow-white fox that had injured a cruel official's son.
• Chen Ping'an followed the Dragon Gate Realm old cultivator into the mountains and forced him to release the fox in exchange for a Valley Rain Coin.
• Chen Ping'an gave the wounded fox medicine and warned her to avoid people before walking back toward Jingzhou under the bright moon.

Chen Ping'an struck a cautious bargain with Li Fuqu, sought counsel from a young monk, and returned to Book Scroll Lake to help Gu Can send his mother back to Longquan County. After Gu Can left with her, Chen Ping'an stayed behind as Book Scroll Lake’s troubles continued.

• Chen Ping'an met Li Fuqu at a border pass and staged a fight with her to conceal their alliance from the cultivators watching Book Scroll Lake.
• Chen Ping'an visited a young monk in a cliffside cave, asked about Buddhist teachings and his own doubts, and left feeling that his questions had been resolved.
• Chen Ping'an returned to Qingxia Island and urged Gu Can to reconsider his choices; Gu Can agreed to leave Book Scroll Lake with his mother while Chen Ping'an arranged her return to Longquan County.
• Chen Ping'an met Guan Yiran in Pond Water City, and Guan Yiran reported that Su Gaoshan had approved the journey in exchange for Chen Ping'an surrendering his Great Li Peace Talisman and official registration.
• Gu Can accompanied his mother aboard an Immortal Family Ferry, and Chen Ping'an watched them depart before drinking with Guan Yiran and hearing his story about a defiant old scholar.

Chen Ping'an met a grasping old scholar on the road north, then dreamed through a probing conversation before waking near a river. Meanwhile, Great Li advanced through Zhu Ying, Gu Can handled Chen Ping'an’s affairs on Book Scroll Lake, and Jiang Shangzhen recruited Liu Zhimao as Jade Guizong’s branch sect took shape.

• Chen Ping'an let an old scholar examine his Bamboo Slips, then reluctantly allowed him to take some before the scholar led him through a dreamlike Heart Questioning Game.
• Song Changjing’s flying fleet crossed Zhu Ying, where he defeated the Southern Mountain’s defenders and offered the sword cultivators a chance to surrender.
• Gu Can gave Guan Yiran Chen Ping'an’s wine, discussed his plans for Book Scroll Lake, and warned Tian Hujun not to cross lines in her struggle for power.
• Gu Can returned to Qingxia Island and spoke with Liu Chongrun, while Ma Yuanzhi misread her rebuke as a sign of affection.
• Zhou Fenglu failed to make Liu Zhimao submit, and Jiang Shangzhen arrived to appoint Liu Zhimao an honored elder of Jade Guizong’s lower sect and promise support for his advancement.

Chen Ping'an returned toward Longquan County, dealt with Qingfeng City cultivators who had endangered Quhuang, and visited Fu Yin Cave before crossing into Great Li. He reached his ancestral home in Mud Bottle Alley and sat alone by lamplight while Pei Qian and the others waited for him.

• Chen Ping'an stopped Qingfeng City cultivators from harming Quhuang, questioned their young master about the Xu family's affairs, and left the ferry hand to face the young master's anger.
• Chen Ping'an visited Fu Yin Cave, exchanged gifts with the Fu Yin Cave Master, and heard the old cultivator advise his disciple Wan Jun about cultivation and forming connections.
• Chen Ping'an crossed the Great Li border, entered the old town, and added soil to his parents' graves before returning to his Mud Bottle Alley home.
• Chen Ping'an lit a lamp in his ancestral home and lingered there instead of immediately going to Luopo Mountain.
• Pei Qian and two companions watched from a roof in Red Candle Town while the Barefoot Elder, Zhu Lian, Shi Rou, Wei Bo, and the Old Flood Dragon waited or looked toward the light in Mud Bottle Alley.

Chen Ping'an returned to Luopo Mountain after traveling through the mountains and reunited with Wei Bo, while Pei Qian and the others hurried back from Red Candle Town. In the Bamboo Building, Elder Cui confronted Chen Ping'an about his fear of death and divided martial and sword ambitions, then discovered Fire Dragon True Person had secretly strengthened Chen Ping'an’s body before beating him unconscious.

• Chen Ping'an visited the Yang Family Shop, where Old Man Yang's disciples refused to arrange treatment, and learned that Zheng Dafeng rarely came there.
• Chen Ping'an rode from Zhenzhu Mountain through the western mountains and reached Luopo Mountain after a day and two nights of travel.
• Wei Bo greeted Chen Ping'an, explained that the mountain purchase could proceed, and sent word to Pei Qian and the others in Red Candle Town.
• Pei Qian, the green-robed young boy, and the pink-skirted girl rode the Luopo Mountain Black Snake toward the mountain after hearing Chen Ping'an had returned.
• Elder Cui challenged Chen Ping'an's reasoning about martial purity and exposed his fear of death and uncertainty between practicing martial arts and the sword.
• Elder Cui identified Fire Dragon True Person as the source of the pure true qi strengthening Chen Ping'an's body, then kicked Chen Ping'an unconscious.