Chapter Summaries

Huangfu Ying avoided a fight with the prefectural youths at the Drunken Moon Restaurant and withdrew upstairs, troubled by how different he felt among them. He reflected on his defeat by Fang Yuan and remained convinced that Fang Yuan had controlled their entire battle.

• Huangfu Ying sheathed his sword, greeted his cousin Huangfu Song, and left the confrontation downstairs without a fight.
• Huangfu Song warned that the Huangfu Family would not let its people be trampled, and Zhou Zhan offered to cripple Fang Yuan if he encountered him.
• Steward Fu found Huangfu Ying upstairs and encouraged him to gain recognition at the Qinghe Arena.
• Huangfu Ying realized he no longer fit in with the prefectural youths and wondered if he had once been as arrogant as they were.
• Huangfu Ying recalled how easily Fang Yuan had defeated him and feared that their fight had been a performance controlled from beginning to end.

Huangfu Ying decided to seek another spar with Fang Yuan, but Huangfu Song stopped him to introduce Manager Li of Myriad Treasures Pavilion, who was organizing a betting pool for the Qinghe Arena. Huangfu Ying described the county’s martial artists while the visiting noblemen dismissed them, leaving the betting pool’s participants confident they would claim the championship.

• Huangfu Ying resolved to find Fang Yuan and spar with him, but Huangfu Song called him over to meet Manager Li.
• Manager Li announced that Myriad Treasures Pavilion would add prize money to the Qinghe Arena and join the noblemen in setting up a betting pool.
• Zhou Zhan and the other visiting noblemen confidently backed their own chances and scorned Qinghe County’s martial artists.
• Manager Li invited Huangfu Ying to introduce local martial artists and hinted that he might receive a recommendation to join Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
• Huangfu Ying mentioned the Shunfeng Escort Agency’s second young master, who was attempting to break through to Third Rank, but could name few other local contenders.

Huangfu Ying warned the others that Fang Yuan was strong, but they dismissed him while planning a betting pool around the upcoming competition. Huangfu Ying later challenged Fang Yuan again at Zhengyang Martial Arts School and lost his sword in one move, leaving with his confidence shaken.

• Huangfu Ying told Manager Li and the Noble Family descendants that Fang Yuan was a second-ranker whose strength should not be underestimated, but they laughed off his warning.
• Manager Li and Huangfu Ce agreed to proceed with a betting pool, while Huangfu Song stopped Zhou Zhan from pressing Manager Li about dividing the winnings.
• Huangfu Ying visited Fang Yuan alone and asked to fight again after gaining insights from his previous defeat.
• Fang Yuan used the Entangling Silk Saber Technique to trap Huangfu Ying's Falling Water Sword Technique and knock his sword away in one exchange.
• Huangfu Ying accepted his defeat and left after Fang Yuan said he had only been practicing for fun.

Huangfu Ying warned Fang Yuan to avoid the Qinghe Arena betting pools, which Manager Li of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was organizing. Fang Yuan decided to lie low around Manager Li but planned to bet on himself and use the arena to test his Entangling Silk Saber Technique.

• Huangfu Ying warned Fang Yuan that prefectural-city scions were running betting pools and urged him not to get involved.
• Huangfu Ying identified Manager Li of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion as the likely organizer and explained that he had extensive information and resources.
• Fang Yuan connected Manager Li’s arrival to the outpost he had destroyed and considered killing him, but decided the risk was too great.
• Fang Yuan resolved to wait for the betting pool to open and wager all his savings on himself.
• Fang Yuan planned to use the Entangling Silk Saber Technique at the Qinghe Arena instead of revealing his familiar Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique.

At Drunken Moon Restaurant, Manager Li negotiated with Zhou Zhan and Huangfu Song, agreeing to a seventy-thirty split in exchange for spreading news that he had come to Qinghe County alone. At the North City Gate, a mass of approaching shadows sparked panic among the porridge recipients, and a steward slapped the man who called them the Rebel Army.

• Zhou Zhan proposed that Manager Li take seventy percent of the profits and the Noble Family scions share thirty percent.
• Manager Li accepted the split but asked Zhou Zhan and Huangfu Song to spread word that he had come to Qinghe County alone.
• Manager Li promised that handling the rumor well might earn them additional slots from Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and Huangfu Song agreed to spread it by morning.
• Zhou Zhan offered to pay the restaurant bill, while the scions praised his generosity.
• At the North City Gate, people saw black shadows approaching along the official road and began to panic, fearing the Rebel Army was attacking.
• A steward slapped the man who raised the alarm and called him blind as a bat.

Stone Camp entered Qinghe County under Captain Wang, raising fears that the soldiers would burden the city and its residents. At Zhengyang Martial Arts School, Fang Yuan demonstrated a newly refined slash with the Entangling Silk Saber Technique before Wang Fugui warned him that the troops had arrived and planned to station inside the city.

• The crowd at Qinghe County's gate saw Stone Camp approaching and worried about what the troops' arrival would cost the city.
• Captain Wang led more than a hundred soldiers into the city, hoping to improve his own position and enjoy its comforts.
• Fang Yuan split a wooden target into four pieces with one slash and wondered whether the Entangling Silk Saber Technique could develop unusual effects.
• Wang Fugui told Fang Yuan that Stone Camp had entered the city and planned to station there, leaving the martial arts school at risk of a soldiers' visit.

Fang Yuan learned that Captain Wang and Stone Camp’s arrival could bring new demands and danger to Qinghe County, while the County Magistrate invited the city’s powerful groups to discuss public security. As the soldiers assembled at the County yamen, Foolish Egg sensed that Stone Camp’s presence this time was different.

• Wang Fugui warned Fang Yuan that Captain Wang had a history of extortion and that Stone Camp’s arrival could burden the city’s wealthy households.
• Wang Fugui showed Fang Yuan an invitation from County Magistrate Liu Wenhe, and Fang Yuan declined to attend the meeting, leaving Wang Fugui to represent Zhengyang Martial Arts School.
• Fang Yuan considered Captain Wang’s ambitions and continued training with his Ghost Head Saber as Stone Camp’s soldiers moved through the city.
• Liu Wenhe reviewed a list of wealthy households and planned to make them pay for Stone Camp’s provisions and their outstanding obligations before they left Qinghe County.
• Foolish Egg worried that Stone Camp’s return meant more than suppressing bandits, but Third Brother told him to focus on his duties.

Fang Yuan shared a peaceful dinner with Liu Wanwan, Chen Yin, and Little Bean Sprout while worrying about the dangers gathering in Qinghe County. At the county yamen, Foolish Egg stood guard and hoped the banquet meant the soldiers would get meat.

• Fang Yuan watched the brightly lit county yamen and hoped Wang Fugui's presence would keep trouble from breaking out.
• Fang Yuan considered sending Little Bean Sprout to an academy but decided to wait until they reached the prefectural city, given the dangers in Qinghe County.
• Fang Yuan reflected on Chen Zhengyang's disappearance, the rumors about missing gang leaders, and the expected return of Zhao Tie and Zhou Chen.
• Fang Yuan joined Liu Wanwan, Chen Yin, Little Bean Sprout, and Little Purple Sable for dinner and resolved to protect their peaceful home.
• Foolish Egg stood among the soldiers in the county yamen courtyard, smelled the banquet food, and hoped the feast would include meat for the troops.

Foolish Egg and the soldiers waited hungrily as Qinghe County’s wealthy merchants arrived for the county magistrate’s banquet. Wang Fugui watched them put on a show of cordiality and followed Wang Shouye into the yamen, where the guards’ attention remained fixed on the back kitchen.

• Foolish Egg agreed to take the first half of the night’s guard shift so Third Brother could seek leftovers from the back kitchen.
• Wang Fugui and Wang Shouye arrived at the county yamen in a lavish carriage and saw that merchants from Qinghe County and the prefectural city had gathered.
• Wang Shouye greeted Li Maocai, who had earlier vowed not to attend the banquet, and the two exchanged warm pleasantries.
• Wang Fugui realized the merchants knew the banquet’s costs would ultimately fall on them, yet they had come dressed finely and smiling to preserve appearances.
• Wang Shouye led Wang Fugui into the yamen, where Wang Fugui noticed soldiers stealing glances toward the back kitchen.

Wang Fugui attended a meeting where Magistrate Liu Wenhe called on Qinghe County’s merchants to fund public order, then threatened those who did not show enough sincerity. The chapter ended with Liu declaring that anyone who obstructed his efforts would become his enemy.

• Foolish Egg watched the yamen gate official take hidden payments from arriving merchants and realized they were bribes.
• Wang Fugui entered the rear courtyard with his father and saw Magistrate Liu Wenhe and Captain Wang seated among Qinghe County’s business owners.
• Liu Wenhe said Stone Camp had been brought into the city to maintain public order and invited the merchants to contribute money.
• Shopkeeper Li offered one thousand taels, and Liu said the contributions were voluntary.
• Liu warned that anyone whose contribution failed to show sincerity would be obstructing public order and become his enemy.

Liu Wenhe pressured Qinghe County’s business owners to support the county’s defense, then kept Wang Fugui and his father behind to question them about Zhengyang Martial Arts School. The chapter ended with Liu Wenhe asking about the young man who had recently taken up residence there.

• Captain Wang overturned the meal in anger, and Liu Wenhe gave the gathered business owners three days to decide whether to prove their loyalty.
• The business owners made excuses and left, but Liu Wenhe told Wang Fugui to stay behind with Wang Shouye.
• Liu Wenhe and Captain Wang questioned Wang Fugui about Master Chen’s absence, and Wang Fugui claimed Chen Zhengyang had gone to the prefectural city to discuss a medicinal herb deal.
• Wang Shouye told Liu Wenhe that the martial arts school was temporarily closed and that Wang Fugui and his Senior Brothers were managing it.
• Liu Wenhe asked Wang Fugui about the young man who had recently taken up residence at Zhengyang Martial Arts School.

Wang Fugui and Wang Shouye faced Liu Wenhe’s pressure at the County yamen, where Captain Wang demanded the Zhengyang Martial Arts School’s Fundamental Diagram. After the father and son left, Liu Wenhe ordered Captain Wang to intensify his scheme to make the school hand over money.

• Wang Shouye claimed Chen Zhengyang’s disciple Fang preferred quiet and explained his absence from the gathering.
• Captain Wang demanded that Wang Fugui deliver the Fundamental Diagram to the County yamen within three days, and Liu Wenhe dismissed Wang Fugui and Wang Shouye.
• In the carriage, Wang Shouye told Wang Fugui that Liu Wenhe had used the demand to test the Martial Arts School’s reaction to Chen Zhengyang’s long absence.
• Liu Wenhe told Captain Wang that the Wang Family would not willingly hand over money and whispered a plan to pressure them.
• Captain Wang asked Liu Wenhe how he could still demand the Fundamental Diagram after they collected the silver.

Liu Wenhe tested Wang Fugui and Wang Shouye, concluded that Chen Zhengyang had likely met with trouble, and resolved to secure money so he could escape Qinghe County. The next morning, Fang Yuan gained Health Preservation Method proficiency and worried that people were continuing to disappear while the county authorities did nothing.

• Liu Wenhe told Captain Wang that he wanted the Wang Family's money but left him to decide whether to pursue Chen Zhengyang's Fundamental Diagram.
• Liu Wenhe reasoned that Wang Shouye's overly smooth explanation for Fang Yuan's absence suggested the family was hiding Chen Zhengyang's troubles.
• Liu Wenhe feared Qinghe County would become a disaster and decided to obtain money quickly so he could rise in the prefectural city or flee.
• Fang Yuan woke to a notification that his Basic Health Preservation Method proficiency had increased by ten, then saw Liu Wanwan sleeping beside him.
• Fang Yuan recalled the continuing disappearances and the County yamen's lack of action, and felt helpless to change anything.

Fang Yuan learned from Huining that the Lesser Nourishing Origin Method came from Shouyi Temple, deepening his suspicions about Qin Wan’s background. Huining then raised the hidden danger in the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method, beginning to explain why he had come.

• Fang Yuan ate breakfast and sensed that his cultivation of the Lesser Nourishing Origin Method had made the qi in his five viscera flow more smoothly.
• Huining arrived at Fang Yuan’s residence, and Fang Yuan sensed that the monk was a fifth-rank expert.
• Huining recognized that Fang Yuan had cultivated a daoist Health Cultivation Method, and Fang Yuan told him about the Lesser Nourishing Origin Method.
• Huining revealed that the Lesser Nourishing Origin Method belonged to the orthodox daoist lineage and came from Shouyi Temple.
• Fang Yuan reconsidered Qin Wan’s status and suspected that her background was more significant than he had thought.
• Huining reminded Fang Yuan of the hidden danger in the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method.

Huining warned Fang Yuan that the White Lotus Sect’s Guardian had arrived in Qinghe County, and Fang Yuan weighed his options for gaining power while avoiding exposure. Wang Fugui then arrived with news of trouble at Shopkeeper Li’s home.

• Huining told Fang Yuan that the White Lotus Sect’s Guardian had come to Qinghe County and urged him to stay cautious.
• Huining offered to help Fang Yuan if anything changed, and Fang Yuan suspected that accepting his protection might eventually mean becoming a monk.
• Fang Yuan considered asking Qin Wan for help or joining the Five Tiger Sect as possible routes toward the Imperial City Security Department.
• Wang Fugui rushed into Fang Yuan’s courtyard and said something had happened at Shopkeeper Li’s home.

After Shopkeeper Li’s home was robbed and several guards were killed, Fang Yuan suspected the County yamen was behind the attack. He refused to surrender the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique’s Fundamental Diagram and began considering what the county magistrate was really pursuing.

• Wang Fugui told Fang Yuan that Shopkeeper Li’s household had been robbed, losing more than half its fortune, and several martial artist guards had died.
• Fang Yuan questioned the timing of the robbery and asked Wang Fugui to recount the previous night’s banquet at the County yamen.
• Wang Fugui explained that Captain Wang had demanded the Fundamental Diagram and given them three days to comply.
• Fang Yuan refused to hand over the Fundamental Diagram, rejecting Wang Fugui’s plan to pay Captain Wang to suppress the matter.
• Fang Yuan suspected Shopkeeper Li had been targeted as a warning after being the first to pledge a donation, and wondered what the county magistrate was amassing wealth to accomplish.

Fang Yuan told Wang Fugui to invite Captain Wang to discuss handing over the Fundamental Diagram, while secretly forming a plan to make sure Captain Wang could not keep it. Captain Wang accepted the Wang Family’s invitation, believing they had already yielded, and prepared to go with only his personal guard.

• Fang Yuan ordered Wang Fugui to tell Captain Wang that the Martial Arts School was willing to hand over the Fundamental Diagram.
• Wang Fugui left to arrange the meeting, while Fang Yuan watched him go and decided that giving Captain Wang the diagram did not mean he could hold on to it.
• At the County yamen, Captain Wang ate a lavish breakfast as Third Brother told Foolish Egg that Captain Wang had recently shaken down someone for money.
• Captain Wang’s personal guard reported that the Wang Family had invited him over to discuss something.
• Captain Wang assumed the Wang Family had caved in and dismissed his guard’s suggestion to bring more soldiers.

Foolish Egg and Third Brother were ordered to accompany Captain Wang to confront the Wang Family, while Wang Shouye and Wang Fugui discussed Fang Yuan’s offer to hand over the Fundamental Diagram. The Wangs realized that Shopkeeper Li’s robbery was likely a warning to wealthy households, and Captain Wang’s arrival threatened to escalate the situation.

• Captain Wang returned to the courtyard and ordered Foolish Egg and Third Brother to come with him despite his personal guard’s warning to bring more men.
• Foolish Egg and Third Brother followed Captain Wang and his personal guard out of the county yamen, with Foolish Egg sensing that something was wrong.
• Wang Fugui told Wang Shouye that Fang Yuan had offered to hand over the Fundamental Diagram and had said he had the situation under control.
• Wang Shouye and Wang Fugui connected the robbery of Shopkeeper Li’s family to Liu Wenhe’s three-day deadline and recognized it as a warning to wealthy households.

Wang Shouye and Wang Fugui realized the Wang Family was in danger as Captain Wang came to extort them and demand Fang Yuan’s map. After Captain Wang left, Wang Fugui suggested fleeing to the prefectural city, but Wang Shouye did not answer.

• Wang Fugui and Wang Shouye feared that the Wang Family had been targeted after Shopkeeper Li was killed.
• Captain Wang arrived at the teahouse with soldiers and demanded that Fang Yuan appear before him.
• Wang Shouye offered Captain Wang five thousand taels, but Captain Wang rejected it and demanded the map and that Fang Yuan kneel outside the yamen for half a shichen.
• Wang Fugui restrained himself from confronting Captain Wang, who left with his men.
• Wang Fugui suggested that the Wang Family flee to the prefectural city, and Wang Shouye responded with bitter silence.

Wang Shouye and Wang Fugui realized that Liu Wenhe’s people had left the Wang Family trapped in Qinghe County, and they could only hope Fang Yuan would intervene. Meanwhile, Wang Yushuang’s companion urged her to return to the capital, while Captain Wang explained that he had refused the Wang Family’s money because the county magistrate intended to seize their assets.

• Wang Shouye warned Wang Fugui that the Wang Family could not safely leave the city and that their Third-Rank Martial Artist would be a last resort against Stone Camp’s soldiers.
• Wang Fugui said he believed Junior Brother Fang would help, and Wang Shouye agreed that they could only wait to see whether Fang Yuan acted.
• A woman in white offered to resolve the Wang Family’s troubles if Wang Yushuang returned to the capital, but Wang Yushuang continued watching Zhengyang Martial Arts School and wondered whether Fang Yuan would make a move.
• Captain Wang told his personal guard that he had refused the Wang Family’s silver because the county magistrate had set his sights on their assets.