Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu decides to stay at the mortuary instead of wandering the martial world.
• Mangzi leaves the mortuary to make a living in the world.
• Bai Yu makes significant progress in his martial arts, entering the Third Rank Skin Tempering Realm.
• Daoist Lin Jiu takes Bai Yu to appease the evil aura of the Black Wolf Gang's Iron Wolf Protector, Qi Yong.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu becomes more content with his life at the mortuary and makes progress in his cultivation.
• Mangzi embarks on his journey, showing his determination and commitment.
• Daoist Lin Jiu demonstrates his skills as a Yin-Yang master, taking on a challenging task.

Significant Themes

• The importance of contentment and finding one's path in life.
• The dangers and challenges of dealing with powerful martial artists, even after their deaths.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Mangzi say goodbye, showing their mutual respect and understanding.
• Bai Yu and Daoist Lin Jiu work together to appease the evil aura of Qi Yong, showcasing their teamwork and mutual respect.
• The beautiful woman, Qi Yong's widow, interacts with Daoist Lin Jiu, highlighting her desperation and vulnerability.

Chapter Summary: “Midnight Horror”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu reflects on the generous rewards associated with the Iron Wolf Protector funeral mission, hoping to gain useful Blood Essence, martial arts experience, and martial skills.
• Daoist Lin Jiu performs a ritual in the mourning hall to raise the temperature and calm the funeral guests. Later, he dismisses everyone except himself and Bai Yu to guard the corpse overnight.
• Lin Jiu gives Bai Yu two Evil-Suppressing Talismans and explains the work of Yin-Yang Practitioners. Their main duty is to suppress the Killing Intent left behind by violent martial artists, which can corrupt a corpse and turn it into a Baleful Corpse.
• Lin Jiu reveals that some of his apparent supernatural feats are tricks: the self-igniting talisman uses white phosphorus, and his impressive sword dance is mostly theatrical. The genuinely effective tools are the Killing-Intent-Suppressing Talismans.
• Bai Yu seals the doors, windows, and coffin with talismans. Lin Jiu warns him that after midnight he must not speak or answer anyone, regardless of what he sees.
• During the night, a talisman becomes damp and its cinnabar markings dissolve. The mourning-hall door opens, cold wind enters, and a series of wet footprints appears despite there being no visible person.
• Lin Jiu fights the unseen force with talismans and a Peach Wood Sword, temporarily dispersing the returning Killing Intent.
• The attack resumes with greater intensity. Lin Jiu exhausts his talismans and his sword breaks, while the cold wind and footprints move toward the coffin. He warns Bai Yu that the Killing Intent must not enter the corpse or it will become a Baleful Corpse.
• Bai Yu uses his Evil-Suppressing Talismans to delay the force, but they only hold it back briefly. With no clear way to fight the invisible enemy, he plays the Soul-Soothing and Baleful-Qi-Dispelling Suona.
• The funeral melody temporarily stops the Yin wind and halts the advancing footprints, though playing it leaves Bai Yu extremely exhausted. The supernatural attack begins again as soon as the song ends.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu begins the chapter confident that the funeral assignment will be relatively easy and initially views Lin Jiu as a possibly fraudulent expert. However, after witnessing the real danger, he becomes anxious and realizes his own lack of knowledge and supernatural methods.
• Bai Yu demonstrates adaptability and initiative by using the suona when conventional talismans fail. His funeral-related ability appears to have genuine power against Yin forces, though it comes at a heavy physical cost.
• Daoist Lin Jiu is shown as both a showman and a competent practitioner. Although he exaggerates his abilities and uses tricks to impress clients, he possesses real knowledge and courageously confronts the returning Killing Intent.
• Lin Jiu’s confidence breaks down as the attack grows stronger: his talismans run out, his sword breaks, and he is forced to rely on Bai Yu to buy time.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Lin Jiu’s theatrical rituals and self-igniting talismans initially seem mystical but partly rely on performance and practical tricks. Nevertheless, his profession still contains genuine supernatural skill.
• The consequences of violence: Killing Intent survives death and can return to harm the living or transform a corpse into a Baleful Corpse, suggesting that violent actions leave spiritual consequences.
• Respect for obscure professions: Though Yin-Yang Practitioners lack the prestige of martial artists or cultivators, their work is portrayed as essential for controlling supernatural dangers.
• Improvisation under pressure: When established methods fail, Bai Yu relies on his unique funeral music, showing the value of unconventional abilities.
• The boundary between life and death: The mourning hall, funeral rituals, corpse, and suona music all emphasize the transition from life to death and the danger of that boundary being disturbed.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jiu treats Bai Yu as a trusted assistant, explaining the principles of his profession and warning him about the dangers of the first night.
• Their relationship shifts from teacher and student to partners under threat. Lin Jiu handles the initial attacks, but eventually depends on Bai Yu to delay the Killing Intent.
• Bai Yu’s questioning exposes Lin Jiu’s theatrical methods, creating a humorous contrast before the situation turns genuinely frightening.
• In the final confrontation, Lin Jiu commands Bai Yu to intervene, while Bai Yu’s suona becomes the only method capable of temporarily stopping the supernatural force.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Lin Jiu and Bai Yu perform a funeral rite for the Iron Wolf Protector. Daoist Lin uses a Blood Talisman to suppress a secondary return of baleful energy.
• Bai Yu discovers that Daoist Lin's lineage, Yin-Yang Masters, is a melting pot of various skills, including Ancient Body Refiners' Blood Talismans.
• After the funeral, Daoist Lin gives Bai Yu ten taels of silver as a reward. Bai Yu receives additional rewards for his participation and the family's satisfaction.
• Bai Yu chooses the Iron Shirt Skill and Saber Technique Experience as his additional rewards.

Character Developments

• Daoist Lin Jiu: Shows his expertise and knowledge as a Yin-Yang Master Grandmaster. He reveals the vastness of his lineage's skills and the decline of Ancient Body Refiners.
• Bai Yu: Gains a deeper understanding of the world's cultivation and martial arts. He improves his skills and receives rewards for his efforts.

Significant Themes

• The decline of ancient cultivation lineages and the loss of powerful techniques.
• The melting pot nature of Yin-Yang Masters' skills, incorporating various techniques from different sources.
• The importance of rewards and recognition for one's efforts in cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Daoist Lin Jiu and Bai Yu: They work together to perform the funeral rite, leading to a deeper understanding and respect for each other's skills and knowledge. Daoist Lin rewards Bai Yu for his assistance.
• Bai Yu and Mangzi: Bai Yu sees a cloaked figure that he believes is Mangzi, but the figure doesn't respond, leaving Bai Yu puzzled.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu practices the Iron Shirt Skill under a waterfall, improving his proficiency by 2 points.
• Back at the Mortuary, Zhu Tong complains about the decreased income due to fewer wealthy funerals.
• Uncle Jiu asks Bai Yu to become his disciple to learn the Zhu You Yin Fu Jing, a collection of Yin-Yang Master skills.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates dedication to his training, improving his Iron Shirt Skill and Skin Tempering cultivation.
• Zhu Tong shows concern for the Mortuary's financial struggles and the employees' livelihood.
• Uncle Jiu exhibits urgency in finding a successor, skipping the usual assessment period for Bai Yu.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for survival and financial stability among the Mortuary's employees.
• The urgency of passing down knowledge and skills, as seen in Uncle Jiu's eagerness to take Bai Yu as a disciple.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Zhu Tong discuss the Mortuary's financial situation, with Zhu Tong expressing his concerns and Bai Yu showing understanding.
• Uncle Jiu offers to take Bai Yu as his disciple, highlighting his eagerness to pass on his knowledge and Bai Yu's eagerness to learn.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu focuses on funeral rites, martial arts, and talisman-making.
• He visits the Black Market to sell Essence Nourishing Powder, finding unusual demand due to gang tensions.
• He discovers a genuine martial arts skill, Swallow's Three Water Skims, among Old Diao's fake antiques.
• Bai Yu encounters a young man possessed by malevolent energy and uses his talismans to help, sparking a demand for his services.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates his knowledge of talismans and their uses, showing growth in his skills.
• Old Diao, the antique seller, is revealed to be more cunning and manipulative than initially thought.
• The young man in white shows naivety and vulnerability, highlighting the dangers of malevolent energy possession.

Significant Themes

• The power of talismans and their role in protecting against malevolent energy.
• The importance of vigilance and preparedness in the face of unknown threats.
• The opportunistic nature of some characters, like Old Diao, who exploit situations for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Old Diao's banter reveals their familiarity and the old man's craftiness.
• Bai Yu's interaction with the young man in white demonstrates his compassion and expertise in dealing with malevolent energy.
• The scene with the young man also highlights the trust and respect Bai Yu earns from those he helps.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu fuses the incomplete 'Swallow's Three Water Skims' with 'Lingxu Step', creating 'Flying Swallow Lingxu Step'.
• He uses Essence Nourishing Powder to rapidly improve his 'Iron Shirt Skill' to Profound Mastery, making his skin steel-like and impervious to blades.
• Bai Yu learns the 'Soul-Soothing Song' and attempts to draw 'Blood Talismans' from the 'Zhu You Yin Fu Jing', successfully creating a 'Gathering Affliction Talisman' after several attempts.
• The Black Wolf Gang doubles the monthly protection fee, leading to violence against Old Zhou, who couldn't pay. Second Master Zuo forces Old Zhou to sign an IOU.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates his ability to quickly learn and adapt, fusing skills and drawing complex talismans.
• Second Master Zuo shows his ruthless nature, using violence and debt to control and exploit people.

Significant Themes

• The struggle of common people against exploitation and violence.
• The power of knowledge and skill in overcoming challenges.
• The consequences of greed and abuse of power.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu helps Little Wang pay the protection fee, showing his kindness and consideration for others.
• Second Master Zuo interacts with Old Zhou and the neighbors, displaying his aggressive and manipulative nature.
• Bai Yu's interactions with the neighbors show his growing connection with the community and his concern for their well-being.

Chapter Summary: Martial Fourth Rank, Meridian Opening Realm!

Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu adds Zuo Er and the Black Wolf Gang to his list of future enemies, but continues prioritizing cultivation and his pursuit of immortality rather than immediate revenge.
• Zhu Tong reveals that the Black Wolf Gang recently lost two underground casinos to the Divine Strength Sect. Preparing for war, the gang doubles its protection fees.
• The resulting gang conflict sends numerous Black Wolf Gang and Divine Strength Sect members—and many martial artists—to the Mortuary for burial. This greatly increases Bai Yu’s funeral business and reward income.
• Uncle Jiu, recognizing Bai Yu’s rapid mastery of the Zhu You Yin Fu Jing, entrusts him with most funeral duties. Bai Yu replaces Uncle Jiu’s soul-saving chants with a soul-pacifying suona melody that reduces the deceased’s killing intent.
• After burying a Martial Fourth Rank corpse, Bai Yu receives a new optional reward: one year of martial cultivation. Choosing it causes his Blood Essence to transform into Inner Power and allows him to open his first meridian, advancing him to the Martial Fourth Rank, Meridian Opening Realm.
• Bai Yu conceals his increased aura with the Mystic Tortoise Breath Concealment Art, maintaining a low profile despite his growing strength.
• At another funeral, Bai Yu receives blade experience and the Vajra Art. Because it has a 92% compatibility with his Iron Shirt Skill, he merges them into the stronger Vajra Iron Shirt Skill, a high-grade Yellow Rank technique.
• Over the next month, Bai Yu opens seven meridians and approaches the peak of the Fourth Rank. He believes that after opening all twelve, he can advance to the Fifth Rank Bone Tempering Realm.
• The Black Wolf Gang and Divine Strength Sect eventually end their conflict after mediation by the Liu, Zhao, Xiao, and An Families. The Black Wolf Gang gives several streets to the Divine Strength Sect, causing Mortuary business to decline.
• Uncle Jiu begins frequently leaving the Mortuary to deal with an increasing number of Baleful Corpses in Jiang City.
• While Uncle Jiu is absent, Bai Yu keeps watch with Old Mo. A sudden wave of cold is followed by Old Mo barking toward the inner courtyard, where a mysterious non-human roar answers.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Advances from the Martial Fifth Rank to the Martial Fourth Rank Meridian Opening Realm, opening seven meridians within a month. He becomes more powerful while remaining cautious, concealing his aura and avoiding unnecessary conflict. He also adopts a practical cultivation strategy, favoring direct increases to martial cultivation, strength, Internal Energy, and technique experience over collecting too many incompatible methods.
• Uncle Jiu: Gives Bai Yu increasing responsibility after recognizing his competence. His repeated absences suggest that he is deeply involved in investigating or suppressing the Baleful Corpses.
• Zhu Tong: Acts as Bai Yu’s source of information about the gang conflict and its causes.
• Old Mo: Continues displaying unusual intelligence and a love of reading, even writing moralistic phrases with its paw. Its response to the strange presence in the inner courtyard shows that it is alert to supernatural danger.
• The Black Wolf Gang and Divine Strength Sect: Shift from open hostility to an uneasy political settlement after suffering losses and outside mediation.

Significant Themes

• Steady cultivation over reckless ambition: Bai Yu chooses to grow stronger through accumulated funeral rewards rather than seeking danger or revenge directly.
• The value of concealment and patience: Despite reaching a level sufficient to establish himself in Jiang City, Bai Yu hides his strength and prefers a quiet life.
• Death as both business and opportunity: The gang war brings corpses, funerals, and rewards, turning violence elsewhere into Bai Yu’s path toward advancement.
• Conflict between worldly power and immortality: Gangs fight over territory and profit, while Bai Yu remains focused on the greater goal of Eternal Life.
• The growing supernatural threat: The rise of Baleful Corpses and the final inhuman roar suggest that more dangerous paranormal events are approaching.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Tong quietly informs Bai Yu about the Black Wolf Gang’s losses and plans, strengthening their friendly relationship.
• Uncle Jiu gradually transfers funeral responsibilities to Bai Yu, reflecting his trust in Bai Yu’s abilities.
• Bai Yu works alongside Old Zhang during funerals, with Bai Yu pacifying souls through music while Old Zhang prepares the bodies.
• Bai Yu jokes and argues affectionately with Old Mo over its reading habits, especially when he prevents it from reading an erotic book.
• The chapter ends with Bai Yu and Old Mo together in the Mortuary, reacting to an ominous supernatural presence from the inner courtyard.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu discovers a Baleful Corpse in the Mortuary's corpse storage room.
• He engages in a battle with the Baleful Corpse, which is impervious to weapons and possesses inexhaustible strength.
• Bai Yu defeats the Baleful Corpse using his physical strength and a Corpse Control Talisman.
• Uncle Jiu returns and helps draw out the baleful energy from the corpse.
• They discover more corpses on the verge of turning into Baleful Corpses and Uncle Jiu intensifies Bai Yu's training.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Proves his strength and skill by defeating a Baleful Corpse, demonstrating his rapid progress in martial arts and his potential in Zhu You techniques.
• Zhu Tong: Shows concern for Bai Yu's safety and spreads news about Bai Yu's feat.

Significant Themes

• The presence of baleful energy in Jiang City, leading to an increase in Baleful Corpses.
• The importance of Zhu You techniques in dealing with baleful energy and Baleful Corpses.
• Bai Yu's potential and rapid progress in martial arts and Zhu You techniques.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and the Baleful Corpse: Bai Yu demonstrates his skill and strength in a fierce battle against the Baleful Corpse.
• Bai Yu and Zhu Tong: Zhu Tong expresses concern for Bai Yu's safety and later spreads news about Bai Yu's feat.
• Uncle Jiu and Bai Yu: Uncle Jiu returns and helps draw out the baleful energy from the corpse, then intensifies Bai Yu's training, showing his trust and confidence in Bai Yu's potential.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu's reputation has grown due to rumors about him sleeping with an evil-afflicted corpse, which also makes people wary of him.
• He decides to prepare more Blood Talismans to deal with the increasing evil energy in Jiang City.
• At the Black Market, Bai Yu sells all his talismans in one go due to high demand. He also encounters Old Diao and a mysterious masked man.
• The masked man offers to buy Gathering Affliction Talismans from Bai Yu for five taels of silver each and invites him to join their group to learn Blood Talismans.
• When Bai Yu refuses, the masked man threatens him, leading to a confrontation.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu remains calm and composed despite the threats and rumors, showing growth in his ability to handle unexpected situations.
• The masked man reveals his true colors, displaying a ruthless and impatient nature.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and Perception: Bai Yu's reputation has been distorted, affecting how people perceive and treat him.
• Greed and Temptation: The high price offered for Gathering Affliction Talismans tempts Bai Yu, but he ultimately resists, showing self-control and moral integrity.
• Confrontation and Resolution: The chapter ends with a potential conflict, setting up a resolution in the next chapter.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and the Crowd: Bai Yu interacts with the crowd at the Black Market, selling his talismans and gaining their trust and respect.
• Bai Yu and the Masked Man: The interaction between Bai Yu and the masked man starts with a business proposal but escalates to a threat, setting the stage for a potential fight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu is attacked by a masked man (Senior Brother Liu) and a bald, burly man (Baldy).
• Senior Brother Liu uses a powerful boxing technique, 42-Road Tiger Subduing Fist, and a Blood Talisman to enhance his strength.
• Bai Yu reveals himself to be a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, killing Senior Brother Liu with a Soul Severing Saber Technique.
• Baldy attempts to escape using a smoke bomb but is caught and interrogated by Bai Yu.
• Bai Yu loots the corpses, finding a large sum of money, an Armor-Piercing Crossbow, and a Yin-Yang Blood Talisman Scripture.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates his combat skills and cunning, revealing his true rank and outsmarting his opponents.
• Senior Brother Liu and Baldy show their ruthlessness and desperation in battle.

Significant Themes

• Deception and True Strength: Bai Yu's initial disguise of his rank and his eventual reveal of his true power.
• Greed and Ambition: Senior Brother Liu's desire for power and resources, leading to his demise.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Baldy's willingness to betray his comrades to save his own life.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu vs. Senior Brother Liu: A fierce battle between two skilled martial artists, ending in Bai Yu's victory.
• Bai Yu vs. Baldy: An interrogation session where Bai Yu extracts information, leading to Baldy's death.
• Senior Brother Liu and Baldy: A partnership based on fear and coercion, ultimately leading to both of their downfalls.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Bai Yu opens the Blood Talisman Scripture, revealing three talisman crafting methods: Divine Strength Talisman, Gathering Affliction Talisman, and Sharp Metal Armor Piercing Talisman.
• Bai Yu successfully creates the Divine Strength Talisman, which increases his strength by one-tenth, and other talismans like Armor Piercing, Corpse Control, and Kindling Fire Talismans.
• He raises his Blood Talisman Art and Archery skills to the level of Practice Makes Perfect.
• Bai Yu learns about grain price hikes due to water bandits and grain merchants' manipulation, causing hardship for common people.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates his dedication and patience in mastering Blood Talisman crafting, showing growth in his skills.
• Zhu Tong shows concern for the common people's welfare, reflecting his kind-hearted nature.

Significant Themes

• Patience and Persistence: Bai Yu's determination in mastering Blood Talisman crafting, despite numerous failures, highlights the importance of patience and persistence in achieving success.
• Wealth Disparity: The grain price hike and the common people's hardship contrast with Bai Yu's and Ninth Uncle's relative prosperity, emphasizing the theme of wealth disparity and its impact on people's lives.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu interacts with Ninth Uncle, seeking his help in obtaining an internal cultivation method, showing respect and trust in their relationship.
• Zhu Tong shares his concerns about the common people's struggles with Bai Yu, reflecting their close bond and mutual understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu learns about the rarity and high cost of internal cultivation methods.
• Uncle Jiu reveals that internal cultivation methods are closely guarded by aristocratic families and martial arts schools.
• The Black Wolf Gang increases its exploitation of common people, demanding double protection money.
• Second Master Zuo, a third-rank martial artist and brother-in-law of a sixth-rank martial artist, targets Bai Yu and his dog, Old Mo.
• Bai Yu decides to deal with Second Master Zuo but keeps his plans secret.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Shows concern for Uncle Jiu's health and offers a family prescription to help. He also demonstrates strategic thinking in handling Second Master Zuo.
• Uncle Jiu: Reveals his appreciation for art (specifically, White Fox Erotic Tales). He also shows concern for Bai Yu's safety by warning him against Second Master Zuo.
• Second Master Zuo: Exhibits his ruthless and greedy nature, targeting Bai Yu and Old Mo. His actions fuel Bai Yu's determination to deal with him.

Significant Themes

• Power Imbalance: The Black Wolf Gang's exploitation of common people highlights the power imbalance in society. Second Master Zuo's actions further emphasize this theme.
• Greed: Second Master Zuo's increasing demands and Bai Yu's realization that bribery won't solve the problem underscore the theme of greed.
• Strategic Thinking: Bai Yu's decision to keep his plans secret and his handling of Second Master Zuo show his growing strategic thinking.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Uncle Jiu: Their interaction reveals their growing bond. Uncle Jiu treats Bai Yu as a closed-door disciple, and Bai Yu shows concern for Uncle Jiu's health.
• Bai Yu and Second Master Zuo: Their interaction highlights the power imbalance and Bai Yu's strategic thinking in handling a more powerful opponent.
• Bai Yu and the Mortuary residents: They advise Bai Yu against confronting Second Master Zuo, showing their concern for his safety.

Chapter Summary: “Without Shame in My Heart, Without Fault in Reason”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Tong worries that Bai Yu may resist sending away the black dog, but Bai Yu’s subdued behavior convinces him that Bai Yu has accepted the necessity of giving it up.
• Secretly, Bai Yu spends nearly two weeks tracking Second Master Zuo and studying his routine. He discovers that Zuo regularly visits his mistress, becomes drunk, and returns home alone.
• Bai Yu strengthens his crossbow skills, disguises himself, and ambushes Zuo in an alley. He shoots Zuo through the throat with a talisman-enhanced crossbow bolt, disables his arm, and kills him with a dagger.
• To conceal the murder, Bai Yu uses three Gathering Affliction Talismans, causing the corpse to rot into black water and leaving behind only clothes and bones.
• After returning to the Mortuary, Bai Yu is confronted by Uncle Nine, who has sensed his use of an Evil-Suppressing Talisman. Bai Yu admits the killing but insists that his conscience is clear and that he was not at fault.
• Uncle Nine accepts Bai Yu’s reasoning and gives him a Clarity Blood Talisman to remove the resentment and baleful influence that might allow Yin-Yang Practitioners to track him.
• The next day, Zuo’s remains are found. The public speculates that he was killed by a monster or an expert, while many secretly celebrate his apparent downfall.
• Zuo’s sister, wife of the Black Wolf Gang leader, hires Daoist Lin Jiu to investigate. At the crime scene, Bai Yu disguises the truth by claiming that Zuo died from a backlash of accumulated Killing Intent, effectively making it appear that he committed suicide.
• Uncle Nine supports this explanation, forcing Zuo’s family to accept it. They then send Zuo’s body to the Mortuary and request a grand funeral, which Uncle Nine assigns Bai Yu to conduct.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu becomes more decisive, calculating, and willing to kill those who threaten him. His actions show that he has moved beyond passive self-defense and now believes violence can be justified when ordinary justice fails.
• He also demonstrates growing mastery of weapons, stealth, talismans, and deception, carefully preparing both the assassination and its cover-up.
• Uncle Nine reveals himself as strict but fair. Rather than condemning Bai Yu automatically, he judges the moral and rational justification behind the killing. His willingness to protect Bai Yu suggests growing trust between them.
• Zhu Tong remains unaware of Bai Yu’s true plans and mistakes his silence for resignation.
• Second Master Zuo is portrayed as greedy, abusive, and exploitative, profiting from high-interest loans, protection fees, and plans to pressure Bai Yu and take the black dog.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus legality: Bai Yu kills Zuo because formal justice cannot restrain him. The chapter argues that when there is no avenue for reason or fairness, personal retribution may become the only form of justice.
• Moral conviction and conscience: The title reflects Bai Yu’s defense that he has “no shame in his heart” and is “without fault in reason.” His morality is based not on obedience to rules, but on whether his actions are justified.
• Concealment and deception: Bai Yu not only commits the murder but carefully erases the evidence and invents a supernatural explanation, showing how survival requires both strength and cunning.
• Retribution for evil: The public’s secret satisfaction at Zuo’s death reinforces the idea that corrupt people may eventually face consequences, even if those consequences come outside the law.
• Mentorship and trust: Uncle Nine’s response establishes a relationship in which Bai Yu can be morally questioned without being immediately condemned or abandoned.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Tong observes Bai Yu’s apparent change and misinterprets his behavior.
• Bai Yu confronts and kills Second Master Zuo, delivering a warning that mercy should be shown in the next life.
• Uncle Nine questions Bai Yu’s morality after sensing his talisman use, then accepts his explanation and helps erase the supernatural traces of the crime.
• Daoist Lin Jiu and Bai Yu cooperate in presenting a false explanation for Zuo’s death, with Uncle Nine reinforcing the deception.
• Uncle Nine ultimately entrusts Bai Yu with conducting the grand funeral for the very man he secretly murdered.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu performs Zuo Er's funeral rites, playing the 'Soul Extinguishing Tune' to prevent any ghostly presence.
• After the successful funeral, Bai Yu receives rewards, including the complete version of the Black Wolf Heart Sutra, a Mysterious Rank cultivation method.
• Bai Yu cultivates the Black Wolf Heart Sutra, converting Blood Essence into internal force, and breaks through to the Fifth Rank Bone Tempering Realm.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu's strength, skills, and cultivation improve significantly after obtaining and cultivating the Black Wolf Heart Sutra.
• Bai Yu remains cautious and humble despite his advancements, adhering to the principles of the Cautious Path.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and self-improvement: Bai Yu's dedication to his cultivation and the rewards he reaps from it.
• Caution and humility: Despite his advancements, Bai Yu remains wary of pride and overconfidence.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu interacts with Old Mo, his spiritual companion, who records the principles of the Cautious Path.
• Bai Yu buys a roast chicken from Widow Sun's shop, engaging with the joyous atmosphere in the city due to the recent suppression of bandits.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu crafts a Soul-Suppressing Banner to prepare for potential threats.
• Mangzi, Bai Yu's former friend, is brought to the Mortuary for burial by his master, Golden Dragon Abbot.
• Bai Yu discovers that Mangzi was murdered a month ago by someone close to him, possibly Golden Dragon Abbot.
• Golden Dragon Abbot and his disciples plan to perform a secret ritual on Mangzi's corpse at night.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu remains calm and composed despite the shock of Mangzi's death and the revelation of his murder.
• Golden Dragon Abbot is revealed to be deceitful and ruthless, hiding his true intentions behind a kind and benevolent facade.

Significant Themes

• Deception and True Intentions: Golden Dragon Abbot's true nature is hidden behind a false facade, highlighting the theme of deception and the importance of uncovering true intentions.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Mangzi's loyalty to his master is ultimately betrayed, leading to his death.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Mangzi: Despite their past friendship, Bai Yu is unable to prevent Mangzi's tragic fate.
• Bai Yu and Golden Dragon Abbot: Bai Yu interacts with Golden Dragon Abbot with caution, suspecting his true intentions but unable to expose them yet.
• Golden Dragon Abbot and his Disciples: The master-disciple relationship is shown to be one of deception and manipulation, with the disciples following Golden Dragon Abbot's orders without question.

Chapter Summary: “Mortuary Crisis, Killing Intent Grand Formation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Golden Dragon Abbot orders his four disciples to carry gourds to different locations and activate a formation. Jueming opens his gourd on a hillside, releasing an enormous amount of Killing Intent and directing it toward the Mortuary with a white-bone artifact.
• Bai Yu, secretly observing the situation, senses the sudden rise in Killing Intent inside the Mortuary. The Soul-Suppressing Banner reacts violently, while a huge vortex of Killing Intent and white mist forms around the building.
• The intense Killing Intent begins affecting the corpses stored inside. Coffins break open as the corpses start transforming into Baleful Corpses.
• Uncle Jiu realizes the Mortuary is no longer safe and orders Bai Yu, Zhu Tong, Old Zhang, and Little Wang to evacuate. He stays behind to deal with the emerging corpses, insisting that it is his duty.
• Bai Yu leads the others out, using the Soul-Suppressing Banner and yellow talismans to disperse the Killing Intent and extinguish ghostly flames.
• The group avoids the heavily contaminated area by heading southeast toward the Mass Burial Grounds, despite the danger there. Bai Yu uses his Blood Essence to protect the group and instructs everyone to stay close and hold their talismans.
• While crossing the burial grounds toward Qinghe Town, a Baleful Corpse ambushes Old Zhang. Bai Yu quickly kills it with his Soul Severing Saber Technique, cutting off its head and limbs.
• Old Zhang survives but suffers a claw wound that begins turning green. Bai Yu places talismans on his leg and warns him to use glutinous rice on the injury once they reach town.
• The chapter ends with the group continuing toward town while Uncle Jiu remains behind at the Mortuary to confront the crisis.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu demonstrates growing leadership and combat ability. He quickly assesses the danger, chooses the safest escape route, protects the group with talismans and Blood Essence, and decisively kills the attacking Baleful Corpse.
• Uncle Jiu reveals his strong sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice. He refuses to abandon the Mortuary because protecting it and dealing with the corpses is his duty. He also entrusts Bai Yu with preserving the Yin Talisman Scripture’s lineage.
• Jueming is shown actively participating in the enemy’s plan by channeling Killing Intent toward the Mortuary, though he remains unaware that he is being observed.
• Old Zhang shifts from skepticism about the danger to becoming a victim of it when he is attacked. Despite his injury, he uses humor and optimism to reassure the others.
• Zhu Tong and Little Wang react with fear and dependence on Bai Yu, emphasizing their lack of supernatural abilities and Bai Yu’s emerging role as their protector.

Significant Themes

• Duty and sacrifice: Uncle Jiu chooses to stay behind despite the danger, placing responsibility above his own safety.
• Inheritance and preservation: Bai Yu is reminded that he is the last inheritor of the Yin Talisman Scripture and must prevent the tradition from disappearing.
• Leadership under pressure: Bai Yu takes command during the evacuation, making difficult decisions and protecting those who rely on him.
• The danger of corrupted death: The Killing Intent transforms corpses into Baleful Corpses, turning the Mortuary from a place of rest into a supernatural threat.
• Preparation versus overwhelming force: Bai Yu’s stored talismans, trained techniques, and equipment allow the group to survive, but the scale of the Killing Intent shows how fragile their defenses are.

Character Interactions

• Uncle Jiu gives Bai Yu direct responsibility for guiding the others and entrusts him with the future of the Yin Talisman Scripture.
• Bai Yu repeatedly reassures and directs Zhu Tong, Old Zhang, and Little Wang, distributing talismans and requiring them to remain close.
• Zhu Tong acknowledges Bai Yu as their “last hope,” showing the group’s dependence on him.
• Old Zhang initially questions Uncle Jiu’s decision to stay but later thanks Bai Yu for saving his life after the Baleful Corpse attack.
• The chapter contrasts Uncle Jiu’s solitary defense of the Mortuary with Bai Yu’s protective leadership during the evacuation.

Chapter Summary: “Uncle Jiu Whose Hair Turned White Overnight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Uncle Jiu works to contain the growing Killing Intent in the Mortuary by placing Evil-Suppressing Talismans on every room holding corpses. He subdues two Baleful Corpses that attack him and returns them to their coffins.
• He realizes the Mortuary is a feng shui node capable of suppressing Killing Intent. If overwhelmed, it will become an ominous Yin location, damage Jiang City’s feng shui, and cause corpses throughout the Mortuary to transform.
• Determined to protect the city, Uncle Jiu draws nine powerful Blood Talismans, sacrificing vital essence in the process. The strain causes his black hair to turn completely white and leaves him extremely weak.
• The Nine Yang Evil-Suppressing Talismans disperse the Killing Intent and temporarily stabilize the Mortuary. Uncle Jiu hopes to endure until sunrise, when the situation may improve.
• Mangzi’s corpse suddenly rises in the ancestral hall. Before Uncle Jiu can fully deal with it, Golden Dragon Abbot ambushes him and knocks him unconscious.
• Golden Dragon Abbot removes the suppression talisman from Mangzi and reveals his plan: use the accumulated Killing Intent to refine Mangzi into a Vigor Copper Armor Corpse, then feed Uncle Jiu’s blood to it.
• The Abbot resumes gathering Killing Intent from the surrounding area, causing Mangzi’s corpse to transform further—his eyes turn blood-red, green fur appears, and his power rapidly increases.
• Meanwhile, Zhu Tong, Old Zhang, and Little Wang escape the Mass Burial Grounds. They realize Bai Yu is missing but decide to continue toward town, trusting that he can protect himself.
• Bai Yu instead turns back to rescue Uncle Jiu, remembering Uncle Jiu’s kindness and guidance. Guided by Old Mo, the black dog he secretly used to track Golden Dragon Abbot’s group, Bai Yu finds Jue Yuan performing a ritual with a gourd of Killing Intent.
• Bai Yu and Old Mo stealthily surround Jue Yuan. Bai Yu launches an attack after Jue Yuan senses someone nearby, ending the chapter with Bai Yu declaring that he has come to take Jue Yuan’s life.

Character Development

• Uncle Jiu demonstrates his sense of duty and self-sacrifice. Rather than flee, he accepts responsibility for protecting Jiang City, even at the cost of his vitality and appearance. His overnight whitening hair symbolizes the severe price of his courage.
• Golden Dragon Abbot is revealed as a calculating antagonist who has carefully planned the corpse-refining ritual. He respects Uncle Jiu’s feng shui ability but dismisses his combat strength, showing his arrogance and confidence.
• Bai Yu proves his loyalty and emotional attachment to Uncle Jiu. He refuses to abandon his teacher, displaying courage, strategic thinking, and growing independence by using Old Mo to gather intelligence.
• Old Mo functions as a highly effective covert companion, tracking the Abbot’s forces and helping Bai Yu locate the ritual.
• Zhu Tong, Old Zhang, and Little Wang show contrasting reactions to Bai Yu’s disappearance: Old Zhang wants to return out of gratitude, while Little Wang and Zhu Tong prioritize escaping and assume Bai Yu can survive.

Significant Themes

• Duty and sacrifice: Uncle Jiu’s willingness to consume his own vital essence emphasizes the responsibility of those who possess supernatural knowledge.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Bai Yu’s decision to return for Uncle Jiu reflects the importance of repaying kindness and honoring teacher-student bonds.
• Good versus evil: Protective talismans and feng shui principles oppose the Abbot’s corpse refinement and manipulation of Killing Intent.
• Power and its cost: Uncle Jiu’s spiritual power saves the Mortuary temporarily but physically ages and weakens him, while the Abbot seeks power through forbidden corpse cultivation.
• Strategy versus brute force: The Abbot relies on preparation and ritual, whereas Bai Yu combines stealth, observation, and coordinated movement with Old Mo.

Important Character Interactions

• Uncle Jiu battles and subdues the Baleful Corpses before using talismans to stabilize the Mortuary.
• Uncle Jiu’s internal resolve centers on protecting Jiang City despite the personal consequences.
• Golden Dragon Abbot ambushes Uncle Jiu, mocks the limitations of his combat ability, and prepares to use him as blood food for the Copper Armor Corpse.
• Zhu Tong, Old Zhang, and Little Wang debate whether to return for Bai Yu, ultimately choosing to escape.
• Bai Yu’s memories of Uncle Jiu’s care motivate him to return, while Old Mo guides him to the Abbot’s ritual site.
• Bai Yu confronts Jue Yuan in a sudden attack, setting up the next conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Bronze Armor Corpse!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu confronts Jue Yuan, a monk using a Golden Bell Shield and a Feng Shui formation to channel Killing Intent toward the Mortuary.
• Jue Yuan attacks with a heavy iron staff, but Bai Yu evades him and counters with a repeating crossbow. The bolts are enhanced with Sharp Metal Armor-Piercing Blood Talismans, allowing them to pierce Jue Yuan’s supposedly indestructible defense.
• Bai Yu kills Jue Yuan, searches his body, seals the Killing Intent gourd, and destroys the nearby talismans, breaking one of the formation’s eyes.
• Guided by Old Mo, Bai Yu locates another monk, Jueming, who is maintaining a second Feng Shui formation.
• Jueming mistakes Bai Yu for Jue Yuan at first, but realizes the deception when he notices Bai Yu has hair. He attacks with golden darts and the powerful Arhat Slayer Monk Blade technique.
• Bai Yu withstands the darts using his Vajra Iron Shirt Skill and overwhelms Jueming with his Soul Severing Saber Technique. Although his ordinary saber breaks against Jueming’s superior monk blade, the final strike still severs Jueming’s head.
• Bai Yu takes Jueming’s high-quality monk blade and destroys the second Feng Shui formation. With two of the five formation eyes broken, the Killing Intent begins to dissipate, though the Mortuary remains heavily shrouded.
• Bai Yu decides to leave the remaining formation eyes for later and rushes to aid Uncle Jiu.
• Inside the Mortuary, Golden Dragon Abbot completes the refinement of Mangzi into a Bronze Armor Corpse. Mangzi grows larger, develops fangs, and gains bronze-colored skin while absorbing the surrounding Killing Intent.
• The Abbot then prepares to sacrifice Uncle Jiu to the newly completed corpse.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Demonstrates a major increase in confidence and combat ability. He realizes that defeating a Third-Rank Martial Artist is now easy for him. His mastery of Vajra Iron Shirt lets him ignore hidden weapons, while his aggressive saber technique allows him to kill the stronger Fourth-Rank Jueming despite using an inferior weapon.
• Jue Yuan: His confidence in the invulnerability of his Golden Bell Shield is shattered when the armor-piercing talismans pierce him effortlessly. He is killed almost immediately.
• Jueming: Revealed as a more experienced and powerful fighter than Jue Yuan. Despite his tactical combination of hidden darts and blade attacks, he underestimates Bai Yu’s physical defense and dies to Bai Yu’s faster saber strike.
• Golden Dragon Abbot: Moves closer to completing his larger scheme. He successfully creates the Bronze Armor Corpse and is now ready to use Uncle Jiu as a sacrifice.
• Mangzi: Transforms from a corpse into a powerful Bronze Armor Corpse, becoming increasingly monstrous and ferocious.

Significant Themes

• Growth through battle: Bai Yu’s victories confirm his rapidly developing strength and combat confidence.
• Traditional martial arts versus talismanic techniques: Bai Yu combines physical skills, weapons, and talismans to overcome opponents who rely on supernatural defenses.
• Preparation and counterstrategy: The destruction of the Feng Shui formation eyes weakens the Abbot’s plan and reduces the Killing Intent supporting the corpse refinement.
• Transformation and corruption: Mangzi’s conversion into a Bronze Armor Corpse illustrates the terrifying consequences of using Killing Intent and corpse-refining rituals.
• Escalating danger: Although Bai Yu defeats two enemies, the Abbot’s ritual reaches its climax, placing Uncle Jiu in immediate peril.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu and Jue Yuan engage in a brief but decisive confrontation, with Bai Yu exploiting modern weaponry and talisman-enhanced bolts against Jue Yuan’s traditional martial defense.
• Bai Yu deceives Jueming by carrying the gourd and approaching as though he were Jue Yuan, then turns the ambush into a direct duel.
• Jueming’s layered attack—hidden darts followed by blade techniques—clashes with Bai Yu’s fearless defensive skill and relentless offense.
• Golden Dragon Abbot interacts with the transformed Mangzi as its creator and master, celebrating the corpse’s completion before turning his attention to Uncle Jiu as the next sacrifice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Golden Dragon Abbot captures Uncle Jiu and is about to drain his blood using the Bronze Armor Corpse.
• Bai Yu arrives during a sandstorm, engaging Golden Dragon Abbot in a battle of wits and martial arts.
• Bai Yu throws a human head (Golden Dragon Abbot's disciple) to distract him, allowing Old Mo to rescue Uncle Jiu.
• Golden Dragon Abbot uses his Corpse Mound Palm and Corpse Mound Claw techniques, which are impervious to weapons and carry corpse poison.
• Bai Yu defends using the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist and Lingxu Step, but Golden Dragon Abbot injures him with the Three Yin Corpse Mound Claw.
• Golden Dragon Abbot throws a string of heavy iron prayer beads, severely injuring Bai Yu, and prepares to finish him off.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Shows exceptional martial arts skills, strategic thinking, and selflessness in saving Uncle Jiu.
• Golden Dragon Abbot: Reveals his ruthless and cunning nature, using heretical martial arts and underestimating his opponents.

Significant Themes

• Martial Arts Power Dynamics: The battle showcases the power and limitations of different martial arts techniques and skill levels.
• Wits vs. Brute Force: Bai Yu's strategic moves initially counter Golden Dragon Abbot's brute strength.
• Sacrifice for Others: Bai Yu risks his life to save Uncle Jiu, demonstrating selflessness.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu vs. Golden Dragon Abbot: Their battle is a clash of skills, strategies, and personalities, with Bai Yu initially outsmarting Golden Dragon Abbot but ultimately being overpowered.
• Bai Yu, Old Mo, and Uncle Jiu: They work together to rescue Uncle Jiu, showcasing teamwork and coordination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Yu escapes from Golden Dragon Abbot using Lingxu Step but is injured by hidden weapons.
• Golden Dragon Abbot pursues Bai Yu, who sets up a trap with a repeating crossbow.
• Golden Dragon Abbot is injured by a poisoned bolt and summons a Bronze Armor Corpse to fight Bai Yu.
• Bai Yu uses Corpse Control Talismans to temporarily suppress the Bronze Armor Corpse.

Character Developments

• Bai Yu: Demonstrates cunning and resourcefulness by setting traps and using Corpse Control Talismans. Shows determination by not fleeing when he has the chance.
• Golden Dragon Abbot: Reveals his swift-movement skill and cautious nature. Shows concern for his own safety over capturing Bai Yu.

Significant Themes

• Cunning vs. Brute Force: Bai Yu's cunning and planning allow him to gain the upper hand against the stronger Golden Dragon Abbot.
• Preparation and Foresight: Bai Yu's preparation of traps and talismans proves crucial in his battle against the Bronze Armor Corpse and Golden Dragon Abbot.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yu vs. Golden Dragon Abbot: The chase and battle between Bai Yu and Golden Dragon Abbot highlight their differing fighting styles and strategies.
• Bai Yu vs. Bronze Armor Corpse: Bai Yu's struggle against the powerful and nearly invulnerable Bronze Armor Corpse showcases his adaptability and resourcefulness.