Chapter Summaries

Fang Yuan rejected a shopkeeper’s attempt to force him to sell wild boar meat for a pittance, then sold it fairly to Hu Lao San for two taels of silver. After learning that a fifty-year-old ginseng cost eighty taels, he realized his Snow Ginseng was extremely valuable and decided to keep it.

• A fat shopkeeper offered Fang Yuan only one hundred and ten copper coins for his meat and leaf lard, then threatened him when Fang Yuan objected.
• Fang Yuan knocked down an attendant, took back his sack, and left the dishonest shop without selling his goods.
• Hu Lao San inspected Fang Yuan’s wild boar meat and offered two taels of silver, which Fang Yuan accepted.
• Fang Yuan asked Hu Lao San about a fifty-year-old Old Mountain Ginseng priced at eighty taels of silver.
• Fang Yuan judged that his Snow Ginseng was even more valuable and resolved to keep it rather than sell it.

Fang Yuan sold wild boar meat and bought supplies at Hu Lao San’s shop, where he learned about the power and training of Martial Artists. He then explored the increasingly busy night market and realized it functioned as a Black Market, where he could seek goods that were difficult to obtain openly.

• Fang Yuan bought fine salt, chilies, and white rice with the money from his wild boar meat.
• Fang Yuan asked Hu Lao San about Martial Artists, and Hu Lao San explained blood-and-vitality power, the First-grade threshold, and the need for training and fighting techniques.
• Fang Yuan left Hu Lao San’s shop with his supplies and a stronger sense of urgency about the Martial Dao.
• Fang Yuan noticed the market growing busier after dark, with traders selling mountain goods, pelts, ironware, and suspicious items.
• Fang Yuan realized the rural market also served as a Black Market and continued through it, hoping to find hard-to-obtain goods.

Fang Yuan bought two bolts of cloth at the Black Market and headed home, while Heizi learned that a stranger had sold a large wild boar and suspected he had taken the animal Heizi’s group had wounded. Heizi searched the market exit but failed to find the man, left wondering who had claimed their spoils.

• Fang Yuan bought two bolts of cloth from a shrewd woman’s stall and continued through the Black Market.
• Fang Yuan passed injured hunters carrying a man with a badly broken leg toward a herbal-medicine tent.
• Wang Laowu complained that a strong young stranger had refused his offer for half a fine wild boar.
• Heizi questioned Wang Laowu and realized the stranger might have taken the boar his group had wounded.
• Heizi searched the departing crowd and roads but could not find Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan escaped the market after learning that Heizi was searching for the person who sold the wild boar. Heizi found no clues, while Hu Lao San refused to identify Fang Yuan and mocked Heizi for losing the prey; Liu Zi remained badly injured.

• Fang Yuan overheard Heizi questioning Wang Laowu, avoided the market’s busy stalls, and hurried toward Fang Family Village through the snow.
• Heizi searched the market for a strong young man selling wild boar meat, but the vendors gave him no useful information.
• Heizi asked Hu Lao San about Fang Yuan, and Hu Lao San denied seeing him or buying his meat.
• After Heizi left, Hu Lao San privately mocked the hunting team for claiming prey they had failed to secure.
• Old Sun Tou set Liu Zi’s broken leg while Heizi and his men grew more certain that someone else had taken their prey.

Heizi blamed an unidentified strong newcomer for taking the wild boar and ordered his team to search nearby villages for him. Fang Yuan returned to Fang Family Village with a heavy basket and goods, where Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout welcomed him.

• Heizi decided that a lone newcomer had taken the wild boar and ordered Scarface to investigate nearby villages while the rest of the team watched for strangers in the mountains.
• Fang Yuan arrived at Fang Family Village and saw villagers returning from the snowy mountains, along with an unfamiliar man carried in on a stretcher after being caught in a hunter's trap.
• Fang Yuan noted that the large village's many residents made it less likely that anyone would identify him quickly, then hurried home with silver and supplies for Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout.
• Liu Wanwan opened the door after waiting for Fang Yuan, and Little Bean Sprout spotted the colorful bolt of cloth he had brought.
• Fang Yuan set down his heavy basket and Liu Wanwan urged him to warm himself by the fire.

Fang Yuan gave Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout new clothes, rice, salt, and chilies bought with the money from the wild boar, bringing them joy and hope. He prepared the remaining meat and cleared the courtyard and path of snow, while Liu Wanwan reflected on how much steadier and kinder he had become since waking from his faint.

• Fang Yuan gave Liu Wanwan three bolts of cloth and showed Little Bean Sprout that one would be used to make her new clothes.
• Fang Yuan explained that he had traded the money from selling wild boar for rice, fine salt, and chilies, and Liu Wanwan happily went to cook dinner.
• Little Bean Sprout followed Liu Wanwan into the kitchen, excited about new clothes and meat to eat.
• Fang Yuan divided the remaining wild boar meat and swept away traces of it from the courtyard.
• Fang Yuan cleared a path through the snow outside the gate, and Liu Wanwan watched as she thought about how his character had changed.

Fang Yuan disposed of the butchering remnants and returned to share a rare feast of wild boar with Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout. After the meal, he fell asleep from exhaustion while Liu Wanwan prepared to use the new cloth.

• Fang Yuan wrapped the bloody snow and meat scraps and dumped them in a remote ravine beyond the village.
• Fang Yuan returned home, assured Liu Wanwan that everything was cleaned up, and washed his hands as the wild boar stew finished cooking.
• At dawn, Fang Yuan invited Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout to eat the family's lavish meal of wild boar, white rice, and pickled vegetables.
• After the meal, Liu Wanwan cleared the dishes and gathered sewing supplies from the chest.
• Fang Yuan fell asleep fully clothed on the kang, and Liu Wanwan approached him with a measuring tape.

Fang Yuan recovered his strength, used Snow Ginseng to accelerate his martial training, and planned how to pay the Substitute service silver. He left the day determined to build his strength while absorbing the ginseng’s medicinal power.

• Liu Wanwan measured Fang Yuan for clothes while he slept, then spent the day sewing as Little Bean Sprout kept him company.
• After waking and eating, Fang Yuan practiced his Basic Saber Technique and realized that his saber training and footwork tempered his blood and vitality in complementary ways.
• When exhaustion stopped his training, Fang Yuan ate a small piece of Snow Ginseng, recovered quickly, and continued until his proficiency increased.
• Fang Yuan calculated that he had one tael of silver and one hundred and ten copper coins left, which he expected would cover the Substitute service silver.
• Fang Yuan jogged around the yard to absorb the Snow Ginseng’s medicinal power and strengthen his endurance.

Fang Yuan’s strength approached five hundred jin as the Snow Ginseng and his training improved his body. After villagers traced the scent of meat to his family, he and Liu Wanwan gave Old Madam Chen a piece of wild boar to quiet her probing, but Fang Yuan worried that more dangerous people might come looking for him.

• Fang Yuan sensed that his strength was nearing five hundred jin and felt his qi, blood, speed, and endurance had improved.
• Women at the village entrance linked the recurring smell of stewed meat to Fang Yuan’s family after recalling his heavy basket.
• Old Madam Chen visited Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan, claiming to warn them about village gossip while probing their sudden prosperity.
• Liu Wanwan gave Old Madam Chen three jin of wild boar meat in exchange for her promised help watching for gossip.
• After Old Madam Chen left, Fang Yuan reassured Liu Wanwan and worried that the meat’s scent could attract hunters searching for him.

Liu Wanwan feared that Fang Yuan’s wild boar might bring trouble, while Fang Yuan stayed alert and reassured his family. Zhang Biao returned to the village and questioned Hou San’s death, leaving Fang Yuan under his scrutiny.

• Liu Wanwan worried that the hunters whose boar Fang Yuan had taken might retaliate, but Fang Yuan told her not to be afraid.
• Fang Yuan stayed awake, practiced with his chopping knife, and split firewood in the moonlit courtyard.
• Liu Wanwan told Fang Yuan that Zhang Biao had returned and was recruiting workers while Hou San’s former followers gathered around him.
• Fang Yuan went to Hou San’s courtyard, where Zhang Biao knocked two hooligans into the snow with a swift shove.
• Zhang Biao demanded to know how Hou San died, and the hooligans insisted he had fallen and struck his head while drunk.
• Zhang Biao noticed Fang Yuan in the crowd and scrutinized him, while Fang Yuan calmly looked away.

Zhang Biao settled the dispute over Hou San’s death by forcing the street thugs to contribute money for the funeral, then recruited workers for Master Wang’s residence. He offered Fang Yuan a guard position in the city, but Fang Yuan declined and stayed committed to his family and plans.

• Zhang Biao accused Hou San’s drinking companions of failing to stop him and demanded two taels of silver for the funeral or a trip to the County yamen.
• The thugs pooled their belongings and gave Zhang Biao about one tael, after which he let them go with a warning.
• Zhang Biao announced that he was recruiting village men to work at Master Wang’s residence and offered five hundred copper coins a month for moving goods and guarding storerooms.
• Zhang Biao noticed Fang Yuan and offered to recommend him for a guard position in the city paying two taels of silver a month.
• Fang Yuan politely refused, citing his family and fields, while the villagers and Zhang Biao reacted with surprise.

Fang Yuan refused Zhang Biao’s offer to work in the city, then faced Scarface’s probing about his sudden wealth. Scarface reported back to Heizi, who blamed Fang Yuan for taking his lost wild boar and decided to confront him the next day.

• Fang Yuan declined Zhang Biao’s offer to seek work with the Wang Family in the eastern city and returned home.
• Scarface followed Fang Yuan and questioned him about making money in the mountains, but Fang Yuan claimed he had caught only a few rabbits.
• Scarface warned Fang Yuan to report any unusual tracks or news to Heizi, and Fang Yuan agreed while resolving to grow stronger.
• Scarface told Heizi that Fang Yuan’s family had come into money and that Fang Yuan seemed unusually composed.
• Heizi dismissed Scarface’s concerns, accused Fang Yuan of taking his lost wild boar, and announced he would go to Fang Family Village the next day.

Fang Yuan refused villagers who came begging for food, fearing that sharing the household’s hard-won meat would endanger his family. He then faced Heizi and his men, who suspected Fang Yuan had taken the wild boar, while Fang Yuan denied it and concealed his ability.

• Liu Wanwan prepared the wild boar meat when Madam Zhao arrived with her hungry child to ask for food, but Fang Yuan turned them away.
• Fang Yuan refused several more villagers who came seeking food, keeping them outside the gate despite some cursing him for his refusal.
• Heizi arrived with five or six men, including Scarface, and inspected Fang Yuan’s meat, training equipment, and chopping knife.
• Heizi questioned Fang Yuan about his mountain haul and claimed his own group had lost a wild boar, while Fang Yuan calmly said he had only found rabbits.
• Heizi suspected Fang Yuan had killed the boar, especially after noticing the skill in Fang Yuan’s blade practice.

Heizi tried to recruit Fang Yuan into his hunting team, hoping to seize the Cultivation Method he believed explained Fang Yuan’s sudden strength, but Fang Yuan refused and drew Heizi’s threats. After Heizi left, Old Madam Chen warned Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan that his team controlled local trade and could make people who crossed them disappear.

• Heizi praised Fang Yuan’s blade skills and invited him to join the hunting team, while his men surrounded Fang Yuan.
• Fang Yuan firmly declined, and Heizi threatened him before leading his team away.
• Villagers privately felt relieved that Fang Yuan had refused, expecting Heizi to retaliate against him.
• Old Madam Chen warned Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan that Heizi’s men were ruthless and had likely caused a hunter to disappear.
• Old Madam Chen explained that Heizi colluded with merchants to control mountain-goods sales, and Fang Yuan suspected the fat shopkeeper was one of them.
• Old Madam Chen urged Fang Yuan to avoid the market, warning that Heizi might have people watching it.

After Old Madam Chen warned Fang Yuan that Heizi’s men were targeting him, Fang Yuan continued training and resolved to leave the village for the city. The chapter ended when someone urgently knocked on the courtyard gate as Fang Yuan, Liu Wanwan, and Little Bean Sprout were about to eat.

• Old Madam Chen warned Fang Yuan that Heizi and his men were dangerous, and Fang Yuan told her he knew what to do.
• Heizi ordered Scarface and two men to watch Fang Yuan, believing he possessed a valuable Cultivation Method, and promised his gang a share of Liu Wanwan.
• Fang Yuan trained through exhaustion, using Snow Ginseng rootlet to replenish his blood and qi, and resolved to move to the city when he had enough money.
• Liu Wanwan served Fang Yuan and Little Bean Sprout rice and fried cured meat, but urgent knocking sounded at their courtyard gate.

San Zhuang visited Fang Yuan to check on him after Heizi's threat and invited him to join a village hunting party. Fang Yuan refused, leaving the old bond between their families strained as he chose to rely on his own strength.

• Fang Yuan prepared to defend his home, but opened the gate when he recognized San Zhuang and learned he had come with two hunters to check on him.
• San Zhuang explained that Heizi's gang had driven independent hunters from the best grounds and invited Fang Yuan to join a group for mutual protection.
• Fang Yuan declined because he wanted to train freely and keep his family and plans apart from the hunting party.
• San Zhuang accepted the refusal with frustration, warned Fang Yuan about Heizi, and left with his companions.
• Fang Yuan barred the door again and calmly told Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout to continue eating.

Fang Yuan reassured Liu Wanwan that he had refused to join Sanzhuang’s hunting party, then rejected the village elders’ demand that his family move away to avoid Heizi. He stayed firm in his home and resumed training, leaving the gathered villagers shaken and silent.

• Fang Yuan told Liu Wanwan that he had refused Sanzhuang’s offer to join the hunting party because he preferred to rely on himself.
• The next morning, villagers gathered outside Fang Yuan’s courtyard and watched his family with fear and suspicion.
• Village Chief Li and two elders accused Fang Yuan of endangering the village and demanded that he move away.
• Fang Yuan refused to leave, telling the elders to inform Heizi that he was waiting for him.
• Fang Yuan struck the training post with his chopping knife, silencing the onlookers, then continued his practice.

Fang Yuan defied Village Chief Li and the elders, prompting them to ostracize his family. When Liu Wanwan was driven from the communal well and harassed at an abandoned well, Fang Yuan rushed to confront the men tormenting her.

• Village Chief Li and the elders threatened Fang Yuan after he rejected their warning and left in anger.
• Liu Wanwan feared the village elders would use their authority to make life difficult for the Fang Family.
• Women at the communal well insulted Liu Wanwan, shoved her, and sent her to draw water at the abandoned well.
• Fang Yuan learned that Liu Wanwan had been driven away and hurried toward the village's edge.
• Two loafers harassed Liu Wanwan and spilled her water, and Fang Yuan arrived and threatened them.

Fang Yuan beat two loafers who had harassed Liu Wanwan while she tried to fetch water, then comforted her and took her home. He resolved to protect his wife and severed his last attachment to Fang Family Village.

• Fang Yuan kicked one loafer unconscious and broke the other loafer's leg when they tried to flee.
• The injured loafer blamed Li Mazi for urging them to teach Fang Yuan's family a lesson.
• Fang Yuan took the water bucket and Liu Wanwan's hand as the frightened villagers scattered.
• Liu Wanwan broke down in tears, and Fang Yuan comforted her and promised to fetch water himself.
• Fang Yuan decided Fang Family Village was no longer home and focused on protecting the family he shared with Liu Wanwan.

After Little Bean Sprout was beaten and robbed of her bracelet by Er Gouzi and other children, Fang Yuan learned Er Gouzi belonged to Village Chief Li and took his family to confront them. Village Chief Li's family remained at home, insisting the bracelet belonged to them, as Fang Yuan approached with villagers following.

• Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan found Little Bean Sprout injured and gathering firewood in the snow.
• Little Bean Sprout told them Er Gouzi and other children had pelted her with stones and mud-filled snowballs, then taken her gold bracelet.
• Little Bean Sprout identified Er Gouzi as Village Chief Li's grandson, and Fang Yuan decided to retrieve the bracelet.
• Fang Yuan carried Little Bean Sprout toward Village Chief Li's home while Liu Wanwan and a crowd of villagers followed.
• Village Chief Li's wife admired the bracelet on Er Gouzi's wrist and claimed it belonged to their family, while Village Chief Li worried Fang Yuan might come to confront them.