Chapter Summaries

Fang Yuan refused Shopkeeper Li’s offer to buy back the Ghost Head Saber and left Qinghe Forging Shop with the saber and his banknote. He returned home with roast chickens, considering the costs of training and the need to find more income.

• Shopkeeper Li offered Fang Yuan five hundred taels for the Ghost Head Saber, but Fang Yuan declared that his saber was not for sale.
• A burly customer warned Fang Yuan that Qinghe Forging Shop’s backing ran deep, but Fang Yuan insisted he had followed the agreed rules.
• Fang Yuan left Qinghe Forging Shop with the Ghost Head Saber and his one-hundred-tael banknote as onlookers whispered about the shop’s ties to Black Tiger Hall.
• On the way home, Fang Yuan bought two roast chickens for Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout and thought about buying tonic herbs and a lightness Cultivation Method.
• Fang Yuan decided he needed another source of income and returned to his courtyard, calling out to Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout.

Hong Gu learned that Fang Yuan had taken her treasured saber and ordered Shopkeeper Li to lead her to him despite his warnings. Fang Yuan returned home to find congratulatory gifts from his senior brothers and friends, unaware that Hong Gu was approaching his courtyard.

• Hong Gu rejected Shopkeeper Li's suggestion to redeem the saber or make peace with Fang Yuan and insisted on taking it back with interest.
• Shopkeeper Li warned Hong Gu that Fang Yuan seemed dangerous and refused to join her, but she ordered him to lead the way to Fang Yuan's home.
• Fang Yuan returned to his courtyard with the Ghost Head Saber and roast chicken, where Liu Wanwan told him that the Zhou Family, the Baimao Merchant Guild, and Zhao Tie had delivered gifts.
• Fang Yuan opened the boxes and found valuable medicinal herbs, then asked Liu Wanwan to put them away and prepare another dish to celebrate.
• Hong Gu and Shopkeeper Li found Fang Yuan's home and headed toward his courtyard.

After noticing that food prices in Qinghe County had surged, Fang Yuan ordered Liu Wanwan to stock up on provisions and prepared to strengthen himself with training and medicine. A midnight visit from Hong Gu and Shopkeeper Li ended with Hong Gu threatening Fang Yuan’s family over the treasured saber and silver.

• Liu Wanwan told Fang Yuan that meat and grain prices had risen sharply and that grain merchants were limiting sales, so Fang Yuan suspected organized hoarding.
• Fang Yuan gave Liu Wanwan silver and instructed her to buy as much grain and durable food as possible.
• Fang Yuan practiced the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique and used Old Ginseng to strengthen his blood and qi.
• Hong Gu and Shopkeeper Li appeared on Fang Yuan’s courtyard wall, and Hong Gu demanded the saber, one hundred taels of silver, and an apology.
• When Fang Yuan refused, Hong Gu threatened to take his courtyard and harm Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout.

Fang Yuan killed Hong Gu after she attacked him, then confronted Shopkeeper Li, who pleaded that he had tried to prevent the conflict. The chapter left Shopkeeper Li waiting to see whether Fang Yuan believed him.

• Hong Gu pursued Fang Yuan into the alley, where he struck her with the Ghost Head Saber and severed her arm.
• Fang Yuan ignored Hong Gu's pleas and stabbed her through the throat, killing her.
• Shopkeeper Li arrived and froze when he saw Hong Gu dead.
• Shopkeeper Li begged Fang Yuan for mercy, claiming he had urged Hong Gu to make peace and had only led her there because she forced him.
• Fang Yuan questioned Shopkeeper Li's account and silently scrutinized him.

Fang Yuan learned that Hong Gu’s Weapon Forge was backed by a prefectural-city forging master with ties to Black Tiger Hall, and resolved to grow stronger. The next morning, he discovered that his Health Cultivation Method had improved Liu Wanwan’s constitution, just as the family prepared for Little Bean Sprout’s first day at school.

• Fang Yuan questioned Shopkeeper Li, who revealed Hong Gu’s rank and her connection to a forging master in the prefectural city and to Black Tiger Hall.
• Fang Yuan ordered Shopkeeper Li to clean up Hong Gu’s corpse and leave, then assessed the danger posed by the powerful forging master and resolved to strengthen himself.
• Liu Wanwan woke to find gray-black grime covering her skin, and Fang Yuan told her that it was expelled impurities and a sign her constitution had improved.
• Fang Yuan suspected his Health Cultivation Method had caused Liu Wanwan’s transformation and reflected on its remarkable effects.
• Liu Wanwan hurried to prepare for Little Bean Sprout’s school enrollment, while Fang Yuan wondered what other surprises the method might bring.

Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan took Little Bean Sprout to enroll at Qinglin Academy, where Chen Zhiyuan promised to look after her. After settling his sister into school, Fang Yuan headed to the Martial Arts School, mindful of the dangers ahead.

• Fang Yuan shared breakfast with Liu Wanwan and wondered about her mysterious background.
• Chen Zhiyuan arrived to escort Little Bean Sprout to Qinglin Academy, while she reluctantly agreed to go with her parents’ insistence.
• Fang Yuan accompanied Little Bean Sprout to the academy and asked Chen Zhiyuan to keep an eye on her.
• Little Bean Sprout asked to bring Little Sable to school, and Fang Yuan promised she could if she behaved.
• Fang Yuan watched Little Bean Sprout enter the academy, then turned toward the Martial Arts School.

Shopkeeper Li feared the consequences of Hong Gu’s death while Fang Yuan tried to keep his composure when the County Lieutenant visited the Martial Arts School. The County Lieutenant appeared to approve of Fang Yuan, but his young companion stayed behind and insulted the school’s strength.

• Shopkeeper Li regretted his part in Hong Gu’s death and considered fleeing Qinghe County rather than face Black Tiger Hall or the shop owner.
• Fang Yuan gave a fellow disciple pointers at morning practice, then declined Chen Yin’s request to spar until Zhou Chen offered to take her place.
• The County Lieutenant arrived at the Martial Arts School with a stern young official and fixed his attention on Fang Yuan, making Fang Yuan fear his role in Hong Gu’s death had been discovered.
• The County Lieutenant praised the school’s capable disciples to Chen Zhengyang and went with him to the inner courtyard.
• The young official remained on the Training Ground and contemptuously declared that Zhengyang Martial Arts School was not very strong, angering the nearby disciples.

A young martial artist announced that he had reached the second grade, while Chen Zhengyang and the County Lieutenant discussed Chen’s worsening injury and the approaching Qinghe Arena. The County Lieutenant warned that Li Wuhen was attempting to reach the third rank and revealed that his disciple Ji Kun was nearing the second grade.

• A young man dismissed Chen Yin’s challenge, declared himself a Second-grade Martial Artist, and said the achievement had left him unimpressed.
• The County Lieutenant asked Chen Zhengyang about his injury from Luoshui Village, and Chen admitted that its cold energy was steadily consuming his life force.
• Chen Zhengyang told the County Lieutenant that he had made little progress with the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method and feared its hidden dangers.
• The County Lieutenant said the Qinghe Arena had been moved up, gave Chen Zhengyang three Five Tiger Pills, and warned that the Five Tiger Sect might appear.
• The County Lieutenant revealed that twenty-four-year-old Li Wuhen was in seclusion attempting to break through to the third rank.
• The County Lieutenant said his disciple Ji Kun had completed his qi and blood and was close to breaking through to the second grade.

County Lieutenant Wu asked Chen Zhengyang about promising disciples, and Chen regretted that Fang Yuan had not trained long enough to compete at the Qinghe Arena. On the Training Ground, Zhao Tie defeated Ji Kun in a close exchange, while Chen Zhengyang privately hoped Fang Yuan would shine at the next arena.

• County Lieutenant Wu asked Chen Zhengyang whether his martial arts school had any promising young disciples, and Chen thought of Fang Yuan but worried he lacked experience for the Qinghe Arena.
• Ji Kun challenged Zhao Tie to a match, and Zhou Chen told Fang Yuan that Ji Kun was County Lieutenant Wu’s secretly raised Direct Disciple.
• Zhao Tie and Ji Kun traded attacks, with Ji Kun’s fists matching Zhao Tie’s saber until Ji Kun exploited a gap and nearly struck him.
• Zhao Tie countered with Tiger Shears Its Tail, forcing Ji Kun to retreat and concede the match.
• County Lieutenant Wu praised Zhao Tie, and Chen Zhengyang admired his disciples while privately believing Fang Yuan would impress everyone at the next arena.

County Lieutenant announced that the Qinghe Arena selection would begin in half a year, giving young martial artists a chance to be noticed by prefectural city sects. After learning that Li Wuhen was the county’s leading young expert, Fang Yuan resolved to train toward the competition and left with a warning to be careful if they met.

• County Lieutenant announced the upcoming Qinghe Arena selection and described the opportunities available to its strongest young martial artists.
• Ji Kun acknowledged Zhao Tie’s strength, while Zhao Tie warned that competition for the county’s spots would be fierce.
• Ji Kun named Li Wuhen as their greatest rival, and Zhou Chen explained that the Black Tiger Hall heir was a powerful Second-grade Martial Artist nearing the third grade.
• Zhao Tie revealed the scars Li Wuhen had inflicted on him and warned Fang Yuan that Li Wuhen fought viciously and showed no mercy.
• Fang Yuan accepted Zhao Tie’s warning and resolved to reach the second grade or even the third grade before the Qinghe Arena.

Fang Yuan learned that Chen Yin’s regard for Liu Chengfeng had cooled, while choosing not to investigate the hidden threat yet. At Black Tiger Hall, Li Wuhen recovered from a failed breakthrough and vowed to claim the Qinghe Arena, as Li Qingtian revealed his resentment toward Chen Zhengyang and his interest in the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique diagram.

• Fang Yuan asked Chen Yin about Liu Chengfeng, and she said he was still recuperating while showing unexpected detachment toward him.
• Fang Yuan decided to focus on growing stronger and facing the Qinghe Arena and hidden threats rather than expose Liu Chengfeng prematurely.
• Li Wuhen failed to break through from Second Rank to Third Rank despite using a Black Fiend Pill, and he insisted that no rival could take the Arena champion’s seat from him.
• Li Qingtian supported Li Wuhen’s ambition while reflecting on his own failed attempt to reach Fourth Rank and his need for greater resources.
• Li Qingtian complained that Chen Zhengyang had refused to lend him the Fundamental Diagram of the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique.

Black Heart Tiger and Li Wuhen discussed their plans to obtain the Martial Arts School’s Fundamental Diagram and wait for the political struggle to develop, while Li Wuhen vowed to win the Qinghe Arena. Meanwhile, Liu Chengfeng decided to arrange an accident for Fang Yuan before pursuing the diagram.

• Black Heart Tiger warned Li Wuhen that martial strength mattered more than schemes and told him to eliminate the spy if he became a liability.
• Black Heart Tiger told Li Wuhen that his elder sister had gained influence in the prefectural city and advised waiting before choosing between the Wuyou Alliance and the Imperial Court.
• Li Wuhen vowed to win first place at the Qinghe Arena and prove his worth to the prefectural city’s powerful figures.
• Liu Chengfeng grew alarmed by Chen Yin’s estrangement and Fang Yuan’s scrutiny, and decided he could no longer wait to obtain the Fundamental Diagram.
• Liu Chengfeng left his room to arrange an accident for Fang Yuan, whom he considered the greatest threat to his plans.

Fang Yuan ran into his former classmate Chen Wei while heading to pick up Little Bean Sprout, and refused to return to the scholarly path or explain his past. He agreed to share a drink with Chen Wei after collecting his child, leaving Chen Wei stunned by the revelation that Fang Yuan had a child.

• Fang Yuan reflected on his progress in martial arts and headed through the snow to Qinglin Academy to pick up Little Bean Sprout.
• Chen Wei recognized Fang Yuan and recalled how their classmates had tried to defend him after his scholarly title was stripped away.
• Fang Yuan told Chen Wei that the past was over and continued toward the academy, making clear he had chosen the Martial Dao.
• Chen Wei urged Fang Yuan to visit their former teacher and resume studying, but Fang Yuan's martial presence left him shaken.
• Fang Yuan agreed to share a drink with Chen Wei after picking up his child, and Chen Wei was stunned to learn Fang Yuan had a child.

Fang Yuan picked up Little Bean Sprout after her first day at school and took her and Chen Wei to a lively lamb tavern. As they settled in to eat, Chen Wei reflected on how much Fang Yuan had changed from the scholarly classmate he remembered.

• Fang Yuan waited with Chen Wei outside the academy for Little Bean Sprout to finish school.
• Little Bean Sprout ran to Fang Yuan and proudly told him what she had learned that day.
• Fang Yuan invited Chen Wei to Zhang's Lamb Restaurant, and Chen Wei dismissed his driver's concern about the humble establishment.
• Fang Yuan ordered lamb hotpot and wine while Chen Wei sat uneasily in the noisy tavern and noticed how different Fang Yuan had become.

Fang Yuan explained to Chen Wei why he had abandoned the scholarly path and placed his faith in martial strength, leaving Chen Wei to recognize how little help his teacher and fellow students had offered him. As Fang Yuan departed with Little Bean Sprout, Chen Wei learned that his Second Miss had arrived outside the tavern.

• Fang Yuan told Chen Wei that the former Fang Yuan had been driven to his death by the world and that he now trusted only the blade in his hand.
• Chen Wei realized his appeal for Fang Yuan to return to the Imperial Examination path was hypocritical, since he and the others had failed to help Fang Yuan when he was imprisoned.
• Chen Wei acknowledged Fang Yuan's point, apologized for his narrow-mindedness, and accepted that their paths had diverged.
• The driver told Chen Wei that Second Miss had spotted the family carriage and was waiting outside the tavern.
• Fang Yuan thanked Chen Wei for the meal, then left with Little Bean Sprout as snow continued to fall.

Fang Yuan ignored Chen Ling’s insult and remembered his grudge against the County Education Official as he walked home with Little Bean Sprout. They shared a warm joke about hiding their meal from his sister-in-law, leaving Fang Yuan focused on his family rather than his enemies.

• Chen Ling found Chen Wei outside the tavern and insulted Fang Yuan as he passed, but Fang Yuan ignored her completely.
• Chen Wei rebuked Chen Ling and warned her against associating with the County Education Official’s son, while she defended their poetry gathering.
• Fang Yuan overheard the siblings and reflected on the Chen family’s hypocrisy, then recalled his unresolved grudge over the frame-up that cost him his Scholarly title.
• Little Bean Sprout asked whether they would eat again at home, and Fang Yuan promised they would while telling her not to mention their meal outside.
• Fang Yuan and Little Bean Sprout walked through the snow toward home, sharing a quiet, affectionate moment.

Li Wuhen threatened Liu Chengfeng into stealing the Fundamental Diagram, but Liu Chengfeng was killed by Wang Yushuang before he could act. At home, Fang Yuan shared a lighthearted dinner with Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout, whose secret meal outing was quickly exposed.

• Li Wuhen ordered Liu Chengfeng to bring him the Fundamental Diagram of the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique within half a month and threatened him with dire consequences.
• Liu Chengfeng regretted joining Black Tiger Hall, then resolved to commit fully to the scheme because he believed the hall would defeat Chen Zhengyang.
• An unseen attacker stabbed Liu Chengfeng from behind, and he glimpsed Wang Yushuang entering a carriage before he died.
• Wang Yushuang told Uncle Qin to leave, and the carriage departed through the falling snow.
• At dinner, Little Bean Sprout revealed that she and Fang Yuan had already eaten outside, prompting Liu Wanwan to tease her for giving away their secret.

Fang Yuan learned about the rare Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method and its possible connection to breaking through to the Fourth Rank Realm. Chen Zhengyang assessed Fang Yuan’s saber technique and explained how to build a deep Qi-and-blood foundation, leaving Fang Yuan with plans to measure his progress.

• Fang Yuan and Zhao Tie met Chen Zhengyang, who explained internal cultivation and gave them the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method to memorize.
• Chen Zhengyang warned them not to reveal the method, saying the County Lieutenant believed it might contain secrets of reaching the Fourth Rank Realm.
• Fang Yuan demonstrated the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique with his Ghost Head Saber, impressing Chen Zhengyang with his abundant Qi and blood.
• Chen Zhengyang taught Fang Yuan that he should accumulate at least six inches of Qi-and-blood radiance in the Second Rank Realm to pursue the Fourth Rank or higher.
• Chen Zhengyang explained how Fang Yuan could use Blood Manifestation Paste at night to measure his Qi-and-blood radiance and directed Zhao Tie to help him obtain some.

Fang Yuan learned that Chen Zhengyang had been gravely wounded by a Yin Cold force and that Qinghe County had never produced a known Fourth-Rank Martial Artist. After Wang Pangzi found a lead on a lightness Cultivation Method at the Black Market, Fang Yuan agreed to go with him that night.

• Chen Zhengyang coughed up chilling dark red blood, concealed the severity of his injury, and sent Zhao Tie and Fang Yuan away.
• Zhao Tie told Fang Yuan that Chen Zhengyang had been acting strangely since returning from Luoshui Village and urged him to prepare for the Qinghe Arena.
• Zhao Tie revealed that Qinghe County had no recorded Fourth-Rank Martial Artists, leaving Fang Yuan to suspect an unknown restriction or secret.
• Alone in the courtyard, Chen Zhengyang feared that something was about to emerge and come for him, and hoped Zhao Tie and Fang Yuan would have time to shoulder the burden.
• Wang Pangzi told Fang Yuan that a seller at the Black Market had a lightness Cultivation Method said to have come from the prefectural city.
• Fang Yuan agreed to let Wang Pangzi accompany him to the Black Market that night to inspect and possibly buy the method.

Fang Yuan accompanied Wang Pangzi toward the Black Market, disguising himself for the trip while learning why its Cultivation Methods were tolerated. Their carriage was stopped on a bridge by Zhao Xiong, who demanded that Fang Yuan meet his young master.

• Wang Pangzi picked Fang Yuan up by carriage and gave him a mask and plain black clothes to conceal his identity at the Black Market.
• Wang Pangzi explained that Black Market Cultivation Methods were often incomplete, dangerous, or expensive, and that few buyers could use them successfully.
• The carriage stopped at a narrow bridge, where Zhao Xiong blocked its path.
• Uncle Zhang identified Zhao Xiong as the Third Hall Master of Black Tiger Hall and an enforcer for Li Wuhen.
• Zhao Xiong pointed at Fang Yuan and ordered him to come meet his young master.