Chapter Summaries

Huang Shaojie reported evidence that Cao Renqi was colluding with Japanese pirates and learned that the Fountain Pavilion might be a Japanese intelligence outpost. Niu Ren ordered him to keep Cao under surveillance and investigate the brothel, so Huang Shaojie went there disguised as a wealthy young man and met Ningxiang.

• Eight Lord told Huang Shaojie that Cao Renqi had secretly met a Japanese chairman in a hidden chamber at the Fountain Pavilion, and Huang Shaojie sent Eight Lord back to watch Cao.
• Huang Shaojie reported the suspected Japanese collaboration to Niu Ren, who ordered him to continue watching Cao and investigate the Fountain Pavilion.
• Huang Shaojie disguised himself as a rich young man and visited the Fountain Pavilion with two Imperial Guard officers posing as servants.
• Madam Hua told Huang Shaojie that Ningxiang refused to sell herself, and he paid to have her drink and sing with him.
• Madam Hua brought Huang Shaojie to Ningxiang's room, where Ningxiang greeted him.

Huang Shaojie investigated Fountain Pavilion and learned that Cao Renqi had arranged for soldiers to escort goods from the coast to the Dongsheng Merchant Association. Eight Lord then reported that attackers had struck the Prefectural Governor's residence, leaving Huang Shaojie suspicious that Cao Renqi and the Japanese pirates were involved.

• Huang Shaojie visited Fountain Pavilion with Leng Ningxiang, sensed her powerful cultivation, and surveyed the grounds and its armed Xiantian Realm guards.
• Huang Shaojie learned that Fountain Pavilion's owner was supposedly a high-ranking official in the Capital City, though Leng Ningxiang did not know who it was.
• Eight Lord reported that Cao Renqi had sent a deputy general and a thousand soldiers to escort goods from Yancheng's coast to the Dongsheng Merchant Association warehouse.
• Eight Lord told Huang Shaojie that attackers struck the Prefectural Governor's residence at the fourth watch, but Cao Renqi arrived after the residence had repelled them and left guards to protect Prefectural Governor Luo.
• Huang Shaojie suspected the attack and Cao Renqi's escort order were connected to the Japanese pirates and feared Prefectural Governor Luo remained in danger.

Huang Shaojie warned Niu Ren that Cao Renqi was colluding with Japanese pirates and might be plotting against Prefectural Governor Luo. Niu Ren ordered coordinated raids across Suzhou to arrest Cao Renqi, his allies, and suspected Japanese spies.

• Huang Shaojie told Niu Ren that Cao Renqi had left guards at Prefectural Governor Luo's residence while returning home with little protection, suggesting he knew his own manor was safe.
• Huang Shaojie reported Cao Renqi's secret meeting with Japanese pirate spies and his deputy's mission to escort goods from the coast, leading Niu Ren to suspect a plot against Luo and illegal trade.
• Niu Ren summoned his senior commanders and announced that Cao Renqi had colluded with Japanese pirates to control Luo and seize command of Suzhou's troops.
• Niu Ren ordered Commander Zhao to arrest Cao Renqi and his confidants, Commander Li to raid the Dongsheng Merchant Association, and Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue to raid Fountain Pavilion.
• Niu Ren sent two commanders to assist Luo in arresting Cao Renqi's guards and ordered He Lu to arrest everyone at Cao Manor and search the estate.

Commander Zhao accused Cao Renqi of colluding with Japanese pirates and attempted to arrest him at the Commandant's Manor. Cao Renqi failed to rally his troops to rebellion, and Commander Zhao captured him after a brief fight.

• Commander Zhao arrived with Imperial Guard officers and accused Cao Renqi of colluding with Japanese pirates and plotting rebellion.
• Cao Renqi ordered his ten thousand soldiers to kill the Imperial Guards, but the Commanders of a Thousand withdrew their troops and refused to obey.
• Cao Renqi called on the soldiers to rebel and promised them rewards, but they turned against him.
• Commander Zhao attacked Cao Renqi, who fled on horseback while the three Banner Chiefs captured the two Brigade Generals.
• Commander Zhao caught Cao Renqi, struck him down, sealed his acupoints, and carried him away as a prisoner.

Commander Li's Imperial Guards raided the Dongsheng Merchant Association, but Watanabe and its leaders escaped through a hidden passage. At the Prefectural Governor's Residence, the guards exposed infiltrators among Cao Renqi's men, and four attackers struck at Prefectural Governor Luo.

• Commander Li surrounded the Dongsheng Merchant Association, where Watanabe ordered the core members to flee through a secret passage in a well.
• Commander Li's forces killed or captured the disguised Eastern Ocean Samurai and searched the association, but found no sign of its leaders.
• Battalion Commanders Gao and He told Prefectural Governor Luo that Cao Renqi had colluded with Japanese pirates and might have planted spies among his guards.
• Prefectural Governor Luo ordered Cao Renqi's guards to step forward, and more than thirty did so.
• Four infiltrators, two Eastern Ocean Samurai and two ninja, attacked Prefectural Governor Luo, while Battalion Commanders Gao and He moved to intercept them.

Huang Shaojie led the Imperial Guards in a raid on Fountain Pavilion, where he killed several Eastern Ocean fighters and Xiao Qiuyue intercepted the escaping spies. Leng Ningxiang recognized Huang Shaojie and tried to flee, but Xiao Qiuyue engaged her in a sword fight.

• Prefectural Governor Luo's guards and the Imperial Guards subdued the Eastern Ocean Samurai, while Cao Renqi's guards were taken for interrogation.
• Huang Shaojie sent Xiao Qiuyue to seal Fountain Pavilion's rear entrance, then led the Imperial Guards through its main doors to arrest everyone inside.
• Huang Shaojie killed five Eastern Ocean Samurai with the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms and Wind God Leg as the Imperial Guards fought the remaining occupants.
• Xiao Qiuyue and the Imperial Guards intercepted several armed women fleeing from Fountain Pavilion's rear entrance.
• Leng Ningxiang killed four Imperial Guard captains, recognized Huang Shaojie, and fled toward the rear entrance.
• Xiao Qiuyue intercepted Leng Ningxiang, and the two women exchanged more than a dozen sword moves before continuing their fight on the ground.

Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue raided Fountain Pavilion, captured its Japanese spies, and drove off its Grandmaster-level defenders, but Leng Ningxiang escaped after poisoning Xiao Qiuyue. They reported the failed capture to Niu Ren, with Xiao Qiuyue explaining that Huang Shaojie had stopped to save her.

• Xiao Qiuyue and Leng Ningxiang fought evenly with their swords while Huang Shaojie defeated the Eastern Ocean Samurai and confronted Madam Hua.
• Madam Hua's poisoned steel whip could not pierce Huang Shaojie's hand, but she drew a dagger and forced him to evade before he used Violent Storm to defeat and capture her.
• Leng Ningxiang released poisonous black mist, escaped, and left Xiao Qiuyue poisoned; Huang Shaojie expelled the poison from her body.
• Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue escorted the captured Japanese spies to the Imperial Guard headquarters and reported to Niu Ren that Leng Ningxiang had escaped.
• Xiao Qiuyue told Niu Ren that Huang Shaojie had stayed to save her, so his failure to pursue Leng Ningxiang was not his fault.

After Commander Li captured dozens of Japanese spies but failed to find the Dongsheng Merchant Association's core members, Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue went with him to search for a hidden passage. Huang Shaojie received the Full Moon Scimitar and Divine Blade Slash as a reward, then suspected the association's well concealed the escape route and jumped in to investigate.

• Niu Ren learned that Commander Li had captured thirty-six Japanese spies but had failed to capture any core members of the Dongsheng Merchant Association, and he suspected they had escaped through a secret passage.
• Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue volunteered to search the association for the passage, and Niu Ren ordered Commander Li to take them there.
• The system rewarded Huang Shaojie with the Full Moon Scimitar and Divine Blade Slash for exposing Cao Renqi's collusion and helping destroy two Japanese intelligence strongholds.
• Huang Shaojie examined the suspicious footprints around the association's well and decided to search it despite Commander Li saying a squad leader had already checked below.
• Huang Shaojie removed his outer robe and jumped into the well with the Full Moon Scimitar.

Huang Shaojie found and opened a hidden passage beneath the well, then led Xiao Qiuyue and Commander Li through a series of underwater tunnels to another well. When they emerged into a guarded residence, Huang Shaojie killed five Eastern Ocean Samurai with one Divine Blade Slash.

• Huang Shaojie used the Insight Technique to find a cracked brick at the bottom of the well and opened the hidden passage.
• Huang Shaojie, Xiao Qiuyue, and Commander Li swam through the passage and entered a large pool connected to a dark tunnel.
• The three followed the twisting tunnel to another pool, where Huang Shaojie found and opened a second mechanism leading into a well.
• Huang Shaojie, Xiao Qiuyue, and Commander Li climbed out into a courtyard, alerting the residence's guards.
• Commander Li identified them as Imperial Guards and ordered the Japanese pirates to surrender, but the guards attacked.
• Huang Shaojie killed five Eastern Ocean Samurai with a single Divine Blade Slash.

Huang Shaojie and his companions raided a residence connected to the Dongsheng Merchant Association’s secret passage, killing several Japanese warriors but letting an Earth Ninja escape. Back at the Imperial Guard office, Niu Ren learned that the Japanese had sent formidable assassins to Suzhou, just as the Provincial Governor arrived.

• Huang Shaojie killed five Japanese warriors with the Demonic Blade and split a Grandmaster-stage swordsman in two while Commander Li and Xiao Qiuyue fought other attackers.
• Huang Shaojie detected an Earth Ninja beneath the ground and severed one of his arms, but the ninja escaped using Earth Evasion.
• Xiao Qiuyue and Commander Li defeated their opponents, and the group searched the residence before leaving a Banner Officer and guards to watch it.
• Commander Li reported to Niu Ren that Huang Shaojie had found a passage linking two wells and that they had killed several Japanese experts.
• Huang Shaojie warned Niu Ren about the escaped Earth Ninja, and Niu Ren remarked that Japan had sent many experts to Suzhou.
• An Imperial Guard officer announced the Provincial Governor’s arrival, and Niu Ren ordered that he be invited in.

Prefectural Governor Luo thanked Niu Ren for exposing Cao Renqi’s collusion with Japan, while Niu Ren kept the Imperial Guard out of factional politics. After Cao Renqi’s treason was confirmed, Niu Ren ordered Wu Zhen released without charge and offered him a post in the Imperial Guard.

• Prefectural Governor Luo thanked Niu Ren and urged an investigation into Cao Renqi’s possible accomplices, but Niu Ren insisted the Imperial Guard would act impartially.
• Prefectural Governor Luo gave the Imperial Guard one thousand taels of gold, and Niu Ren distributed rewards to Huang Shaojie and the other officers and constables.
• Niu Ren warned Prefectural Governor Luo that Cao Renqi’s deputy general was escorting a million jin of sea salt, so Luo promised to send troops to retrieve it.
• Huang Shaojie asked Niu Ren to free Wu Zhen, and Niu Ren ruled that Wu Zhen had committed no crime by trying to kill a traitor colluding with Japan.
• Huang Shaojie went to the dungeon, announced Wu Zhen’s release without charge, and had the guards remove his shackles.

Huang Shaojie secured Wu Zhen’s release after exposing Cao Renqi’s collusion with Japanese pirates, then brought Wu Zhen to Huang Manor as its Manor Guard Captain. Wu Zhen pledged to protect the household, and Huang Shaojie’s parents welcomed him into the family’s dinner.

• Huang Shaojie freed Wu Zhen after explaining that Cao Renqi had been arrested for colluding with Japanese pirates and Wu Zhen had been cleared of his charges.
• Wu Zhen declined an offer to serve as an Imperial Guard and vowed to repay Huang Shaojie by following him.
• Huang Shaojie invited Wu Zhen to become Huang Manor’s Manor Guard Captain, and Wu Zhen swore to defend the household.
• Huang Shaojie introduced Wu Zhen to Xiao He and his parents as the manor’s new guard captain.
• Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang welcomed Wu Zhen and invited him to dine with the family.

Huang Shaojie appointed Wu Zhen as Huang Manor's guard captain, gave him a True Essence Pill that raised him to the Second Rank Grandmaster realm, and began teaching him the Wind God Leg. Wu Zhen accepted Huang Shaojie's instruction and prepared to learn the skill's internal cultivation method and three forms.

• Huang Shaojie introduced Wu Zhen as Huang Manor's new guard captain and Wu Zhen offered to teach the servants martial arts.
• After receiving a system reward for destroying another Japanese pirate stronghold, Huang Shaojie gave its mid-grade True Essence Pill to Wu Zhen.
• Wu Zhen absorbed the pill and broke through to the Second Rank Grandmaster realm.
• Huang Shaojie gave Eight Lord a low-grade Qi Refining Elixir, which the bird swallowed before flying off to refine.
• Huang Shaojie demonstrated the first three forms of the Wind God Leg to Wu Zhen and said he would teach its internal cultivation method first.

Huang Shaojie taught Wu Zhen the Wind God Leg’s inner cultivation method, while Ling Xiaotian reported Cao Renqi’s treason to Emperor Xuande. After ordering an investigation and summoning Prince Han and Gao Feng, An Fu approached Princess Pingyang with news.

• Huang Shaojie taught Wu Zhen the Wind God Leg’s inner cultivation method, and Wu Zhen grasped its basics after an hour.
• Ling Xiaotian received news that Cao Renqi had colluded with Japanese pirates and went to report the treason to Emperor Xuande.
• Emperor Xuande ordered Niu Ren to eliminate the Japanese pirates in Suzhou and investigate Cao Renqi’s accomplices.
• Ling Xiaotian revealed that Cao Renqi was connected to Minister of War Gao Feng, who was close to Prince Han, so Emperor Xuande summoned them both.
• An Fu approached Princess Pingyang in the imperial garden, and she dismissed her maids and asked what news he had brought.

Princess Pingyang learned of Cao Renqi’s treason and worried that her father’s declining health and the princes’ rivalry could plunge the capital into chaos. In Suzhou, Japanese agents planned a New Year’s Eve attack on the Imperial Guard, while Huang Shaojie invited Xiao Qiuyue to spend the holiday with his family.

• An Fu told Princess Pingyang that Cao Renqi had been arrested for colluding with the Japanese and that Emperor Chu had rebuked Prince Han and Gao Feng.
• Princess Pingyang reasoned that Emperor Chu would not let Prince Qi’s faction control both the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, then learned that the emperor was taking more pills and growing weaker.
• Watanabe Tarō reported that fifty-six Dongsheng Merchant Association members had died, and Lord Dazai blamed him after Cao Renqi’s arrest exposed their network.
• Yagyu Naiko told Lord Dazai that she had escaped the Imperial Guard, and he ordered the Japanese agents to attack Imperial Guard commanders on New Year’s Eve.
• Huang Shaojie invited Xiao Qiuyue to celebrate the New Year at his home, and she accepted.

Huang Shaojie brought Xiao Qiuyue to Huang Manor to spend New Year’s Eve with his family, where they welcomed her warmly. As they watched fireworks, Xiao Qiuyue revealed that Prince Pacifying the West had raised her after her parents died.

• Huang Shaojie brought Xiao Qiuyue to Huang Manor and introduced her to Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang.
• Xiao Qiuyue gave Madam Huang a jade bracelet, and Madam Huang returned the gift with a sapphire-blue hairpin.
• Huang Baiwan joked that Xiao Qiuyue was family, embarrassing her and prompting Huang Shaojie to tease his father.
• Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue watched fireworks outside Huang Manor and discussed her lonely New Year celebrations.
• Xiao Qiuyue told Huang Shaojie that her father died saving Prince Pacifying the West from Western Shu assassins, her mother later died, and the prince adopted and raised her.

Huang Shaojie learned that Xiao Qiuyue was the adopted daughter of Prince Pacifying the West, then spent New Year's Eve with her and his household. After midnight, Dongsheng Merchant Association assassins attacked Li Residence, killing Li Dahai and massacring his family.

• Xiao Qiuyue told Huang Shaojie that Prince Ning had adopted and raised her after her father died serving him.
• Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue joined his family for New Year's Eve dumplings and watched the servants celebrate.
• After the city fell asleep, black-clad assassins from the Dongsheng Merchant Association broke into Li Residence and killed its guards.
• Li Dahai fought Watanabe and another attacker, but they overwhelmed him as the assassins slaughtered his family.
• An expert from the Dongsheng Merchant Association stabbed Li Dahai through the chest, and he collapsed amid his family's screams.

On New Year’s Day, Squad Leader Zhang informed Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue that Commander Li and his entire family had been massacred. Huang Shaojie secured protection for his family and set out with Xiao Qiuyue to investigate the scene.

• Huang Shaojie watched Xiao Qiuyue practice the Thunderbolt Meteor Sword Technique, and they discussed her foster father’s possible Great Grandmaster cultivation.
• Squad Leader Zhang reported that Commander Li’s entire family had been massacred on New Year’s Eve and summoned Huang Shaojie to Li Residence.
• Huang Shaojie warned Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang to stay inside the manor and instructed Wu Zhen to protect them.
• Huang Shaojie told Eight Lord to remain in the manor and raise the alarm if villains appeared.
• Huang Shaojie took the Full Moon Scimitar and rode with Xiao Qiuyue and Squad Leader Zhang toward Commander Li’s residence.

After the Li family was massacred, Niu Ren ordered a citywide search for the Dongsheng Merchant Association, but the Imperial Guards found no leads. Huang Shaojie returned to Huang Manor for the New Year feast and prepared his household for a possible attack by the Japanese Pirates.

• Huang Shaojie told Niu Ren that the Dongsheng Merchant Association's Eastern Ocean Samurai likely killed Commander Li's family, and Commander Zhao identified a Japanese sword wound.
• Niu Ren ordered the Imperial Guards to search Suzhou and offered a reward, while local officials and soldiers joined the hunt.
• Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue returned to Huang Manor, where Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang welcomed them to the New Year's feast.
• After dinner, Huang Shaojie warned that Japanese Pirates might target Huang Manor and told the servants to protect his parents rather than fight.
• Wu Zhen promised to guard Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang, while Huang Shaojie and Xiao Qiuyue would face any attackers.

Tojo Takeyuki, the Japanese commander hiding as Mount Putuo Temple’s abbot, ordered Watanabe to assassinate Banner Captain Huang Shaojie after learning he had defeated Japanese fighters. Watanabe and three accomplices set out for Huang Manor, while Naiko refused to join them.

• Tojo Takeyuki praised Watanabe and Naiko for killing Imperial Guard Commander Li, but Naiko condemned Watanabe and his men for torturing Li’s daughter.
• Naiko slapped Watanabe after he insulted her, and Tojo Takeyuki stopped their argument.
• Watanabe announced that he planned to kill Banner Captain Huang Shaojie and his family that night.
• Naiko warned that Huang Shaojie had defeated Madam Hua and killed the fighters at Fountain Pavilion, but Watanabe dismissed the danger.
• Tojo Takeyuki told Watanabe to bring more experts and keep poison pills ready in case they were captured.
• Watanabe, Earth Ninja Koizumi, and two other experts left Mount Putuo Temple in night clothes and headed for Huang Manor.