Chapter Summaries

Ji Boying memorized and mastered Hong Qigong’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, impressing him and inspiring a month of martial arts training with Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Hong Qigong, grateful for his own improvement and convinced of Guo Jing’s character, asked Guo Jing to become his disciple.

• Ji Boying performed the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms perfectly after seeing Hong Qigong demonstrate them once, then proved he still remembered every move after sparring with him.
• Hong Qigong praised Ji Boying’s talent but decided never to demonstrate the Dog Beating Staff Technique in front of him.
• Hong Qigong openly taught Guo Jing all eighteen palms, while Guo Jing trained diligently and Ji Boying continued to deepen his mastery.
• Over the next month, Ji Boying, Hong Qigong, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong made progress through training and discussions of martial arts.
• Hong Qigong called Guo Jing over and asked him to become his disciple, making Guo Jing and Huang Rong overjoyed.

Ji Boying persuaded Hong Qigong to prepare the Beggar Gang and other martial forces to resist the Mongols, proposing Guo Jing as commander and Huang Rong as his adviser. The plan depended on Huang Rong studying Wumu's Testament, and Hong Qigong agreed that the alliance had strong prospects.

• Hong Qigong told Ji Boying, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong to go out into the martial world and attend the Beggar Gang assembly on the fifteenth of the eighth month.
• Ji Boying warned Hong Qigong that Temüjin and the rising Mongol power threatened the Song, and Hong Qigong recognized the danger of repeating the alliance that had preceded the Jingkang Incident.
• Ji Boying revealed that the Quanzhen Sect would train in his battlefield sword techniques and urged the Beggar Gang to join preparations against the Mongols.
• Hong Qigong said the Beggar Gang could provide hundreds of thousands of fighters and scouts, but warned that its members lacked the training needed to conduct a war.
• Ji Boying proposed Guo Jing as general and Huang Rong as adviser, and said Wumu's Testament would teach her military strategy and tactics.
• Hong Qigong accepted the plan's promise, while Ji Boying named Huang Yaoshi, Yang Tiexin, and the Quanzhen Sect among Guo Jing's prospective supporters.

Ji Boying and Hong Qigong’s group were attacked by thousands of venomous snakes, and Ji captured three snake handlers who revealed that Ouyang Feng and Wanyan Honglie had taken another route. Ji suspected they were heading to Lin’an to seize Wumu’s Testament, but assured Guo Jing that it was not in the imperial palace and proposed using the captured handlers to teach the Beggar Gang how to control snakes.

• Ji Boying warned the others about an ambush and, with Hong Qigong, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong, faced a flood of venomous snakes.
• Ji Boying traced the snake handlers and captured three men before they could use the snakes to defend themselves.
• The captured men said Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke had taken another route with Wanyan Honglie, while their snake-herding squads had come separately.
• Ji Boying surmised that Ouyang Feng and Wanyan Honglie were heading to Lin'an to seize Wumu’s Testament, then told Guo Jing it was not in the imperial palace.
• Ji Boying asked Hong Qigong to have trusted Beggar Gang members learn the snake-herding methods so the snakes would not endanger civilians and might be useful in battle.

Ji Boying, Huang Rong, and Guo Jing set out for Iron Palm Mountain to take Wumu's Testament before Wanyan Honglie and Ouyang Feng could find it. On the journey, Ji Boying pressed Guo Jing to consider whether becoming emperor would be a burden he accepted only to repay a debt of gratitude.

• Hong Qigong warned Ji Boying, Huang Rong, and Guo Jing about Qiu Qianren and sent them toward the Iron Palm Gang, while he planned to arrange antidotes for people threatened by Ouyang Feng's snakes.
• Guo Jing questioned Hong Qigong about the danger to Lin'an's people and emperor, then traveled with Ji Boying and Huang Rong toward Iron Palm Mountain.
• Ji Boying noticed Guo Jing's troubled thoughts and sent Huang Rong to find an inn so he could speak with Guo Jing privately.
• Guo Jing told Ji Boying he could not understand why Ji Boying insisted he become emperor.
• Ji Boying argued that the throne would be a shackle to Guo Jing, who had no desire for power, and asked whether he would accept it as repayment for Ji Boying's kindness.
• Guo Jing said he would accept the burden if necessary, but worried that doing so made him seem ungrateful despite having benefited from Ji Boying's help.

Ji Boying persuaded Guo Jing to accept the throne, arguing that his rule could prevent a devastating war between the Central Plains and Mongolia. Guo Jing remained troubled by the responsibility, while Huang Rong had listened from the grass.

• Guo Jing confessed that the imperial throne felt too great a responsibility for him to bear.
• Ji Boying reassured Guo Jing that his character and Huang Rong and Huang Yaoshi's abilities would help him rule well.
• Guo Jing grew anxious when Ji Boying reminded him that he was Temüjin's Golden Blade Consort and insisted that he loved only Huang Rong.
• Ji Boying argued that Guo Jing's ties to both the Central Plains and Mongolia could reduce conflict and save lives if he became emperor.
• Ji Boying suggested making Huazheng a princess, and Guo Jing agreed because he cared for her as a younger sister.
• Ji Boying urged Guo Jing to shoulder responsibility for the people, then left him with Huang Rong, who had been eavesdropping in the grass.

Ji Boying maneuvered Guo Jing into accepting responsibility for resisting the Mongols and potentially ruling the realm, while Huang Rong chose to stand by him. The three later reached a dark marsh while searching for Monkey Claw Mountain.

• Ji Boying waited to reveal his plans for Guo Jing's future rule until Hong Qigong had gathered the Beggar Gang and arrived at Quanzhen Sect.
• Huang Rong offered to flee with Guo Jing, but he explained that loyalty to the people and fear of Mongol bloodshed made him unable to run.
• Guo Jing decided to shoulder the burden Ji Boying had laid before him, and Huang Rong promised to go with him.
• Ji Boying overheard Guo Jing's resolve and considered more than half of his plan complete.
• After another day searching for Monkey Claw Mountain, Ji Boying, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong reached the edge of a Black Marsh.

Ji Boying, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong crossed the formation-filled forest to reach the hidden wooden hut, while Ji explained that Zhou Botong’s imprisonment was a Quanzhen family disgrace. Huang Rong described how Peach Blossom Island’s formation could be improved to counter Ji, and the chapter ended with him setting her down in the forest.

• Ji Boying explained that the person in the forest was connected to an old Quanzhen family disgrace, then told Guo Jing and Huang Rong Zhou Botong’s story.
• Huang Rong said her father had imprisoned Zhou Botong in a cave, and Guo Jing asked her to help clear up the misunderstanding and secure his release.
• Ji Boying teased Guo Jing about winning Huang Yaoshi’s favor, and Huang Rong blushed before running into the forest.
• Ji Boying used his lightness skill to carry Guo Jing and Huang Rong over the forest’s formation and toward a wooden hut.
• Huang Rong explained how Peach Blossom Island’s formation might hinder Ji Boying and proposed adding weapons and traps, prompting him to complain that she was plotting against him.

Ji Boying and his companions found Ying Gu and told her that Zhou Botong was trapped on Peach Blossom Island. After defeating Ying Gu and promising to teach her better internal cultivation and movement techniques, Ji Boying left her eager to learn so she could catch Zhou Botong.

• Ji Boying called for Ying Gu, and she rushed from a hut to attack him after hearing Zhou Botong’s name.
• Guo Jing blocked Ying Gu with the Southern Mountain Palm Technique, but she slipped past him until Ji Boying seized and subdued her.
• Ji Boying told Ying Gu that Zhou Botong was his Quanzhen Sect uncle-master and was trapped on Peach Blossom Island.
• Ying Gu challenged Ji Boying to rescue Zhou Botong, and he offered to teach her Daoist Internal Cultivation and an improved Golden Wild Goose Technique.
• Ji Boying explained that Ying Gu could use the techniques to catch Zhou Botong if she calmed herself, and she eagerly listened.

Ji Boying challenged Ying Gu’s belief that Duan Zhixing killed her son, explaining that the attack had likely been meant to force Duan Zhixing to spend his inner strength. Huang Rong reasoned that Ouyang Feng was the most likely culprit, leaving Ying Gu anxious to learn whether he was responsible.

• Ji Boying refused to help Ying Gu find Zhou Botong immediately and offered to teach her martial arts and identify her son’s true killer.
• Ji Boying told Ying Gu that Duan Zhixing had considered saving her son but left after she provoked him by displaying the token she had shared with Zhou Botong.
• Ji Boying pointed out that the attacker had been powerful enough to kill the infant but had only injured him, suggesting the attack was meant to drain Duan Zhixing’s inner strength.
• Huang Rong explained that the attacker likely wanted to prevent Duan Zhixing from competing in the Mount Hua Sword Conference and ruled out Wang Chongyang, Hong Qigong, and Huang Yaoshi.
• Huang Rong suggested that Ouyang Feng was the likeliest suspect, and Ying Gu asked who had killed her son.

Ji Boying revealed that Qiu Qianren of the Iron Palm Gang had sabotaged Duan Zhixing to weaken him, leading Ying Gu to seek Ji Boying’s help and offer herself as his disciple. Ji Boying refused to teach her formally but agreed to make her his Registered Disciple and help her.

• Huang Rong questioned Ji Boying about who had weakened Duan Zhixing, and he identified someone from the Iron Palm Gang rather than Ouyang Feng.
• Ji Boying explained that Qiu Qianren had schemed to damage Duan Zhixing’s internal energy because he feared Duan Zhixing would grow too powerful.
• Ying Gu learned that Qiu Qianren was responsible for her son’s death and tried to rush off to the Iron Palm Gang, but Ji Boying stopped her.
• Ji Boying told Ying Gu to control her emotions and promised to help her win Zhou Botong if she followed his instructions.
• Ying Gu knelt and offered to become Ji Boying’s disciple, while Huang Rong delighted in the awkward martial hierarchy.
• Ji Boying declined to take Ying Gu as a formal disciple and instead accepted her as his Registered Disciple.

Ji Boying led Ying Gu, Huang Rong, and Guo Jing into the Iron Palm Gang’s forbidden cavern, where they recovered Yue Fei’s writings and military text. With their main objective complete, Ying Gu urged Ji Boying to help her find Qiu Qianren.

• Ji Boying took Ying Gu and the others up Iron Palm Mountain, where he silently dispatched two guards blocking their path.
• The group found Qiu Qianren’s Iron Sand Palm furnace cold and unused, suggesting he had been away for several days.
• Ying Gu led them into the Iron Palm Gang’s forbidden cavern, where Ji Boying found a box beside a skeleton containing Yue Fei’s writings and military text.
• Guo Jing and Huang Rong read Yue Fei’s words, and Ji Boying gave Huang Rong the military text to study and use to help Guo Jing.
• After they secured the books, Ying Gu asked Ji Boying to find Qiu Qianren so she could pursue her revenge.

Ji Boying and his companions found the Iron Palm Gang headquarters, where Ying Gu recognized Qiu Qianren and charged at him. Ji Boying’s hidden weapon killed the seated man, but he revealed that the dead man was Qiu Qianren’s twin brother, Qiu Qianzhang.

• Ji Boying’s group left the cave without disturbing the burial objects and searched the mountain for the Iron Palm Gang headquarters.
• Ying Gu recognized the laughing man in the grand chair as Qiu Qianren and attacked, killing several disciples as she fought toward him.
• Guo Jing and Huang Rong joined the battle, while Ji Boying flew toward the seated man and launched a Bone-Penetrating Nail.
• The nail killed the man in the chair, and the Iron Palm Gang disciples panicked and began to flee.
• Ji Boying identified the dead man as Qiu Qianzhang, Qiu Qianren’s twin brother, and explained the brothers’ story to the others.

Ji Boying deduced that Wanyan Honglie had summoned Qiu Qianren to help seize Wumu's Testament, while Ying Gu demanded a chance to kill her enemy. He led the group toward Taihu Lake, planning to enlist Guiyun Manor's resources and naval forces to support Guo Jing.

• Ji Boying questioned an Iron Palm Gang disciple, who said a visitor had recently brought gifts, and Ying Gu killed him as he tried to leave.
• Ji Boying and Huang Rong reasoned that Wanyan Honglie had likely taken Qiu Qianren to Lin'an to help break into the imperial palace and seize Wumu's Testament.
• Ying Gu recognized Qiu Qianzhang's imitation of his brother's laugh and vowed to kill Qiu Qianren for her child's death.
• Ji Boying said the group would go to Taihu Lake and ask Huang Rong to help secure support from Guiyun Manor.
• Ji Boying explained that Guiyun Manor's wealth and Taihu Lake bandits could provide supplies and a naval force for Guo Jing's campaign.

Ji Boying searched Qiu Qianren’s residence and uncovered the Iron Palm Technique and Water Strider manuals hidden in a stone wall. The group sailed east toward Taihu Lake, where Ji Boying continued refining his martial arts and Ying Gu began studying the skills he gave her.

• Ji Boying and his companions searched Qiu Qianren’s quarters and learned that his sister Qiu Qianchi had left the gang to travel the martial world.
• Ji Boying explained to Huang Rong why studying the Iron Palm Technique could help strengthen his martial arts foundations, then led the group to search Qiu Qianren’s stone house.
• Ji Boying smashed apart the stone house and found the Iron Palm Technique and Water Strider manuals hidden inside a piece of bluestone.
• Ji Boying read the manuals and gave them to Guo Jing and Huang Rong to study before the group left the mountain with Little Red Horse.
• The four rented a boat and sailed east toward Taihu Lake as Huang Rong studied Wumu’s Testament, Ying Gu practiced the skills Ji Boying passed to her, and Ji Boying refined his martial arts.

Ji Boying, Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and Yinggu arrived at Guiyun Manor and found Lu Chengfeng receiving his former master, Huang Yaoshi. Huang Rong recognized her father, but Huang Yaoshi’s joy turned to fury when he saw Guo Jing holding her hand, and she blurted out in alarm about his face.

• Ji Boying and his companions reached Guiyun Manor, where Lu Guanying welcomed them and led them inside.
• Lu Chengfeng rebuked Lu Guanying for bringing guests in, then addressed the blue-robed scholar as his honored master.
• Huang Rong and the others entered the rear hall, and Huang Yaoshi recognized his daughter’s voice and welcomed her as a heroine.
• Huang Yaoshi saw Guo Jing holding Huang Rong’s hand and angrily ordered him to let go.
• Huang Rong snapped out of her daze and exclaimed about her father’s face.

Huang Yaoshi reunited with Huang Rong, then challenged Guo Jing and Ji Boying after learning who they were and what they had done. Ji Boying fought Huang Yaoshi in the hall, and their exchange was still underway at the chapter’s end.

• Huang Rong embraced Huang Yaoshi after he removed his mask, and he scolded Guo Jing for holding her hand.
• Huang Rong introduced Guo Jing and Ji Boying, but Huang Yaoshi attacked Guo Jing with an Empty Palm Strike, which Guo Jing countered with Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets.
• Huang Rong defended Guo Jing and explained that Ji Boying had joined the Quanzhen Sect, while Huang Yaoshi insulted the sect’s disciples.
• Ji Boying confirmed that he had killed Peng Lianhu, Liang Ziwen, Sha Tongtian, and Mei Chaofeng, prompting Huang Yaoshi to challenge him.
• Ji Boying countered Huang Yaoshi’s Empty Palm Strike and Bone-Penetrating Nail, then exchanged three palm strikes with him in the hall.

Ji Boying and Huang Yaoshi exchanged three palms and proved evenly matched, prompting Huang Rong to intervene before their contest escalated. Huang Yaoshi praised Ji Boying’s martial arts and began explaining their difference in inner power, leaving Ji Boying’s question unresolved.

• Ji Boying and Huang Yaoshi collided palm techniques, and neither gained an advantage.
• Huang Rong stepped between the two men and insisted they stop fighting.
• Huang Yaoshi recognized the mix of martial arts in Ji Boying’s developing palm technique and praised its potential to surpass Hong Qigong’s.
• Ji Boying said he had recently trained with Hong Qigong, making Huang Yaoshi suspect that Hong Qigong’s inner power had improved.
• Huang Yaoshi told Ji Boying he was strong enough to have joined the Mount Hua Sword Conference and asked whether he wondered about their difference in inner power.

Ji Boying asked Huang Yaoshi why opening six of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians had not let him match the Five Greats, and Huang explained how opening the Ren and Du Meridians enabled the innate realm. Huang Yaoshi learned that Ji Boying had created the internal art Huang Rong practiced and praised its power, leaving him grateful to Ji Boying.

• Ji Boying told Huang Yaoshi that despite opening six meridians and combining several palm techniques, he had failed to gain an advantage in their exchange.
• Huang Yaoshi explained that the four great masters had opened seven meridians, and that opening the Ren and Du Meridians connected the bridge between heaven and earth and transformed acquired energy into innate true qi.
• Ji Boying thanked Huang Yaoshi for explaining the meridians and accepted that the masters' greater inner power accounted for the gap.
• Huang Yaoshi asked whether Ji Boying had taught Huang Rong her internal art, and Ji Boying explained how he created the Azure Capital Purple Star Divine Skill and combined it with Quanzhen Internal Energy.
• Huang Yaoshi examined Huang Rong's pulse, praised the Quanzhen Chapter of the Azure Capital Purple Star Divine Skill, and said Peach Blossom Island owed Ji Boying a debt of gratitude.

Huang Yaoshi rewarded Ji Boying for his internal cultivation and reconciled with Lu Chengfeng, allowing him to teach Peach Blossom Island martial arts to his son. The gathering ended in grief when Ji Boying revealed that Qu Lingfeng had died after being caught stealing from the imperial palace.

• Huang Yaoshi offered Ji Boying two Peach Blossom Island martial arts in exchange for the internal cultivation he had taught.
• Huang Yaoshi tested Lu Guanying, learned he was a disciple of the Xianxia Sect, and permitted Lu Chengfeng to teach him Peach Blossom Island martial arts.
• Huang Yaoshi gave Lu Chengfeng the Whirlwind Sweep Leg Technique, explaining that practicing it might eventually let him walk again, and asked him to pass it to his martial brothers.
• Lu Chengfeng told Huang Yaoshi that Mianfeng had died, and Ji Boying revealed that Qu Lingfeng had lived as Qu San in Niujia Village before being caught stealing from the imperial palace.

Ji Boying told Huang Yaoshi that Qu Lingfeng had left a daughter and revealed where Qu’s remains and collection were hidden, prompting Huang Yaoshi to plan revenge on the Song Court. Lu Guanying described the Jin people’s raid on the imperial palace, and Ji Boying revealed that Wumu’s Testament was already in their hands.

• Ji Boying told Huang Yaoshi that Qu Lingfeng’s daughter, Silly Girl, lived in Niujia Village and that Qu’s remains and antiques were hidden in a secret chamber.
• Huang Yaoshi thanked Ji Boying, accepted him as a nephew, and vowed to settle accounts with the imperial palace after arranging Qu Lingfeng’s funeral.
• Ji Boying urged Huang Yaoshi to overthrow the Song Court, and Huang Yaoshi praised his lawless temperament but said the task would take too much effort.
• Lu Guanying recounted how he had followed reports of venomous snakes to Lin'an City and learned that Ouyang Feng had caused havoc in the palace.
• Huang Rong identified Wanyan Honglie, Ouyang Feng, and Qiu Qianren as the attackers who had sought Wumu’s Testament.
• Ji Boying stopped Lu Guanying from rushing to investigate and told him that Wumu’s Testament was already in their hands.