Chapter Summaries

Fang Yuan secured permission for his family to follow the Chen Family convoy to the county seat, though Chen Zhiyuan could not guarantee they would be allowed into the city. As he prepared for the journey, Fang Yuan considered selling one of his Crimson Sun Fruits to help his family gain a foothold there.

• Chen Zhiyuan announced that the Chen Family would depart within three to five days and offered five hundred copper coins to those who joined, causing most of the crowd to withdraw because of the conscription deadline.
• Fang Yuan asked Chen Zhiyuan to let his family follow the convoy without wages, carrying their own belongings and seeking protection on the road.
• Chen Zhiyuan agreed but warned that he could not guarantee Fang Yuan's family would pass the county seat's strict inspections and settle inside the city.
• Fang Yuan accepted the limits of Chen Zhiyuan's help, and Chen Zhiyuan promised to send word before the convoy departed.
• Fang Yuan touched the three Crimson Sun Fruits he carried and decided he might sell one to help his family enter the county seat and establish themselves.

Fang Yuan investigated the vanished corpse of San Zhuang and found his home unnaturally clean, then returned home convinced he had to leave the village quickly. That night, San Zhuang returned as a corpse-like creature, killed a couple, and muttered Fang Yuan’s name and “conscription” before disappearing.

• Fang Yuan ate a Crimson Sun Fruit and practiced his saber, then slipped into San Zhuang’s house to investigate the missing corpse.
• Fang Yuan found no corpse or traces of a struggle, smelled incense ash, and fled after sensing something nearby.
• Back in his courtyard, Fang Yuan resolved to leave the village as soon as possible to protect Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout.
• San Zhuang appeared at a couple’s window in the western end of the village, holding up his own head, then broke inside.
• San Zhuang killed the woman and fatally struck the man, muttered “Conscription” and “Fang Yuan,” and vanished into the night.

Fang Yuan suspected that the chill haunting him was connected to San Zhuang’s disappearance and the deaths of Li Laowu’s family. When a spirit medium blamed the killings on the Mountain God and demanded sacrifices, Fang Yuan saw through her fraud and remained convinced the village was in danger.

• Fang Yuan tried to suppress the bone-deep chill with spicy food, hot broth, and vigorous blade practice, but it persisted.
• Old Madam Chen told Fang Yuan that Li Laowu’s family had been found dead and warned that their neighbors had seen lights at the house the night before.
• Fang Yuan suspected the deaths were connected to San Zhuang’s disappearance and decided he needed to leave with the Chen Family as soon as possible.
• Villagers gathered as the spirit medium arrived, and she claimed the Mountain God had killed Li Laowu’s family to punish the village for hunting.
• Fang Yuan recognized the medium’s scattered powder as ordinary incense ash, saw through her performance, and left without believing she could help.

Fang Yuan learned that the villagers feared lighting lamps would attract the Mountain God, and he prepared to leave Fang Family Village with Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout. After the family put out their lamp, a strange figure lost track of its target and wandered away through the dark village.

• The villagers spread the belief that lighting a lamp would draw the Mountain God, while Fang Yuan dismissed the explanation as nonsense.
• Fang Yuan told Liu Wanwan that they would follow Third Young Master Chen’s caravan to the county town within three to five days and instructed her to pack their food and essentials.
• Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan extinguished their lamp and kept quiet to avoid attracting attention.
• A tall, eerie figure stopped when the light vanished, searched unsuccessfully for its target, and wandered away.
• Liu Wanwan lay awake worrying about the dangers of moving to the county town, then resolved to trust Fang Yuan and began planning what to pack.

A head-carrying figure approached Zhao Laonian’s lamplit home, and Zhao died after seeing a dark eye at his door. As villagers blamed the lamp and feared an eight-chi shadow, Fang Yuan suspected the entity was searching for him, and Chen Zhiyuan moved their departure to before dawn the next day.

• A tall figure carrying its own head followed the light from Zhao Laonian’s house toward the village’s edge.
• Zhao Laonian heard clacking outside, saw a dark eye peering through his door, and cried out that a ghost had come.
• Old Madam Chen told Fang Yuan that Zhao had been found dead like Li Laowu’s family, and villagers reported seeing an eight-chi shadow near his home.
• Fang Yuan doubted that lamplight alone caused the deaths and suspected the entity was searching for him, using lights to locate its target.
• A servant informed Fang Yuan that Chen Zhiyuan had moved their departure to before dawn the next day and ordered him to keep it secret.

Fang Yuan prepared to flee the village with Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout amid rumors of deadly attacks by the Mountain God. Before dawn, they locked their home and set out with their supplies and the Purple Sable, leaving their future uncertain.

• Fang Yuan told Liu Wanwan to prepare food and pack their belongings so they could leave before dawn.
• Fang Yuan packed their provisions and silver while Liu Wanwan gave him and Little Bean Sprout warm padded coats.
• Fang Yuan asked the Purple Sable to travel with them, and it chose to stay with Little Bean Sprout.
• Fang Yuan, Liu Wanwan, and Little Bean Sprout left the village before daylight with a heavily loaded basket.
• Fang Yuan warned Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout not to speak of the Mountain God as they locked their home and departed.

Fang Yuan traveled with Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout as part of the Chen Family's convoy, which set out from Fang Family Village toward the county town amid fear of Unclean Things and other dangers. The convoy struggled along the frozen mountain road, with Fang Yuan's family at the rear.

• Chen Zhiyuan discovered that only five of the ten recruited guards had arrived because the villagers were terrified after another death.
• Fang Yuan entered the compound carrying a huge basket, impressing Chen Zhiyuan, who placed his family at the rear of the convoy.
• The Chen Family convoy departed before dawn, leaving Fang Family Village behind as it headed toward the county town a hundred li away.
• The carts struggled through mud and snow, and an old servant lifted Little Bean Sprout onto a cart and wrapped her in a blanket.

Fang Yuan’s convoy struggled along the mountain road toward the county seat as he helped Liu Wanwan and trained his footwork while carrying his supplies. Their brief respite ended when desperate refugees blocked the road and demanded half the Chen Family’s grain and valuables.

• An old servant told Fang Yuan that he was following the Chen Family because he depended on their household for survival.
• Fang Yuan arranged for the exhausted Liu Wanwan to ride on a cart, then returned to the rear carrying his heavy basket and continued improving his footwork.
• Two Chen Family girls teased Liu Wanwan about Fang Yuan’s strength and how well he might treat her at night, leaving her embarrassed and flustered.
• A commotion stopped the convoy, and Fang Yuan told Liu Wanwan to stay on the cart with Little Bean Sprout while he went to investigate.
• Fang Yuan found twenty or thirty desperate, armed men blocking the road, led by a scarred strongman who demanded half the Chen Family’s grain and valuables.

Fang Yuan faced refugees who demanded the convoy’s goods and Liu Wanwan, then killed their leader and several aggressive men with his Chopping knife. He stood before the stunned survivors and asked whether they still wanted what they had demanded.

• The steward negotiated with the refugee leader and agreed to give him four sacks of grain for safe passage.
• A refugee urged the leader to take the convoy’s large basket and Liu Wanwan, so the leader changed his demand and threatened the convoy.
• The Chen Family’s hired guards refused to risk their lives for Fang Yuan’s family and drew back toward the convoy.
• Fang Yuan stepped in front of Liu Wanwan, challenged the leader, and killed him and several of his men in a swift attack.
• Fang Yuan faced the remaining refugees with his bloodied Chopping knife and asked whether they still wanted it.

Fang Yuan killed the refugees who threatened the caravan, earning fear and respect from Chen Zhiyuan and the other travelers. As worsening weather delayed their journey, the caravan headed for a Chen Family farmstead to spend the night.

• Fang Yuan killed the refugee leader and his men, causing the remaining refugees to flee and the caravan to fear him.
• Fang Yuan told Chen Zhiyuan that the road was clear, and Chen Zhiyuan apologized for failing to support him earlier.
• Chen Zhiyuan recognized Fang Yuan as a source of protection, while the Chen Family girls warned Liu Wanwan that other women might take an interest in her husband.
• The caravan struggled through mud and snow for most of the day, with Fang Yuan carrying his basket without resting.
• Chen Zhiyuan proposed spending the night at a nearby Chen Family farmstead, and Fang Yuan agreed as the caravan turned toward the village.

Fang Yuan’s family spent the night in a snowbound hamlet after joining Chen Zhiyuan’s convoy, while the convoy’s men gathered around a fire and listened to an old guard recount a strange experience. The story ended as the old guard described hearing indistinct voices outside a ruined temple during a snowy night.

• Chen Zhiyuan led Fang Yuan’s family to a small, sheltered room in the Chen Family courtyard.
• Fang Yuan settled his family into the room and told Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout to eat and rest.
• Villagers in Fang Family Village discovered the next day that Steward Chen’s family and several hunters and laborers had left.
• Chen Zhiyuan arranged extra night-watch shifts while the convoy’s men gathered in the hamlet’s Main Hall.
• An old guard began recounting how he had heard strange voices outside a ruined temple during a snowy night.

Uncle Zhang told a group gathered around a bonfire how something had apparently infiltrated an escort convoy during a snowy night at a ruined temple. The story left the listeners wondering what happened to the impostor that replaced Li Lao San.

• Uncle Zhang recalled hearing a strange voice in the snow repeating what sounded like “Qi Third Brother.”
• Wang and the other escorts discovered three men missing from the barred temple, with a single trail of footprints leading inside and none leading out.
• The escorts searched the woods, found no trace of the missing men, and left after burning spirit money at the temple gate.
• The escort chief ordered another headcount on the road, and the convoy discovered that Li Lao San was missing too.
• Uncle Zhang said Li Lao San had left only one footprint in the snow, suggesting something had taken his place, and the listeners asked what happened to it.

A frightening disturbance at the temple turned out to be Wang the Fool, but the stormy night grew more ominous as a dead San Zhuang entered Fang Yuan’s room. San Zhuang recognized Fang Yuan and whispered that he had found him.

• An old guard recounted how the caravan had searched for the thing that impersonated Li Lao San as strange muttering rose outside.
• Someone pounded on the Main Hall door and sang ominous lines, terrifying the travelers until a servant identified the intruder as Wang the Fool.
• Wang the Fool hummed unsettling words before the servant drove him into the snowy darkness, and Chen Zhiyuan ordered paired night watches.
• After everyone fell asleep, a tall figure entered the Main Hall and pushed open the door to Fang Yuan’s room.
• Fang Yuan woke to see the dead San Zhuang holding his severed head and whispering, “Found you... Fang Yuan...”

Fang Yuan woke from a terrifying dream and mistook a knock at the door for the nightmare coming true. As he prepared to leave at dawn, he realized the lingering chill in his body had vanished and his vitality had returned.

• Fang Yuan dreamed that Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout stared at him with frozen eyes and spoke in a sinister voice, then woke to find them sleeping safely beside him.
• Fang Yuan gripped his chopping knife and feared the dream was a warning when the door creaked, but Chen Zhiyuan knocked to tell him it was nearly dawn and time to set out.
• Fang Yuan woke Liu Wanwan, who began preparing to leave with Little Bean Sprout.
• Fang Yuan noticed that the icy chill that had troubled him for days was completely gone, replaced by warmth and renewed vitality.

Fang Yuan’s convoy left the eerie, deserted Xueluo Village and reached the gates of Qinghe County, where refugees crowded outside the walls. The Chen Family servants tried to negotiate entry, but a gate officer kicked one before he could finish speaking.

• Fang Yuan learned that the village where the convoy had spent the night was called Xueluo Village and left it behind with growing unease.
• After the convoy departed, dense white fog swallowed Xueluo Village, while the Purple Sable became restless and warned of something behind them.
• Fang Yuan watched the convoy closely for signs that San Zhuang or another threat had infiltrated it, but the journey remained unnervingly peaceful.
• The convoy crossed the final mountain ridge and saw Qinghe County, where countless refugees were stranded outside the city walls.
• Chen Zhiyuan’s servants approached the gate guards with the Chen Family’s calling card and money, but an officer kicked one of them before he could finish speaking.

Fang Yuan’s family was barred from entering the city after a strict inspection separated them from the Chen Family convoy. As they remained outside the gates, Wang Laizi, Huoya Li, and another thug cornered Fang Yuan and threatened to rob him and sell Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout.

• Chen Zhiyuan bribed the gate officer and received the documents allowing the Chen Family convoy to enter the city.
• Master Chen met Chen Zhiyuan at the gate, while soldiers began checking identities, indenture contracts, and the convoy’s belongings.
• Chen Zhiyuan apologized to Fang Yuan because the strict inspection prevented him from bringing Fang Yuan’s family into the city.
• The Chen Family entered the gate, leaving Fang Yuan, Liu Wanwan, and Little Bean Sprout outside among the refugees.
• Wang Laizi, Huoya Li, and a third man surrounded Fang Yuan and reached for his basket, threatening to rob him and sell his wife and child.

Fang Yuan stopped Wang Laizi and Huoya Li from bullying his family, then learned that Black Tiger Hall might help him obtain a travel permit to enter the city. He accepted silver from the Chen Family and set out to seek the hall before nightfall.

• Fang Yuan crushed Wang Laizi's wrist and frightened Huoya Li into begging for mercy, then ordered both men to leave.
• Fang Yuan realized the city guards would not help and that his family could not safely spend the night outside the walls.
• Steward Zhao brought Fang Yuan a bundle of silver from Chen Zhiyuan and the Third Young Master.
• Steward Zhao told Fang Yuan that Black Tiger Hall might have a way to obtain a travel permit.
• Fang Yuan hid the silver, resolved to remember the Chen Family's favor, and headed to find Black Tiger Hall.

Fang Yuan bought genuine one-month travel permits for himself, Liu Wanwan, and Little Bean Sprout from the Black Tiger Hall, then headed for Qinghe County’s west gate. The Black Tiger Hall’s scar-faced leader secretly ordered an associate to alert people inside about Fang Yuan.

• An old man warned Fang Yuan that Black Tiger Hall travel permits lasted only one month and that many newcomers were forced to work for the gang to remain in the city.
• Fang Yuan decided to obtain permits despite the warning and approached the Black Tiger Hall men emerging from Qinghe County.
• The scar-faced leader demanded five taels of silver for permits for Fang Yuan and his two companions, and Fang Yuan paid him.
• A Black Tiger Hall clerk issued three genuine permits stamped with the Qinghe County Household Office Seal, allowing the group to stay for thirty days.
• Fang Yuan led Liu Wanwan and Little Bean Sprout toward the western gate, while the scar-faced leader ordered an associate to alert people inside about him.

Fang Yuan and his family were ambushed at the western gate by city guards and Black Tiger Hall, who accused them of using stolen permits and tried to seize Liu Wanwan. Fang Yuan struck back against the thugs and San Laizi, then grabbed Liu Wanwan and fled as Wang Laogun called for Black Tiger Hall's steward.

• Wang Laogun accused Fang Yuan of using travel permits stolen from the Fengyu Grain Store and ordered his soldiers to surround Fang Yuan's family.
• A thug tried to grab Liu Wanwan, and Fang Yuan broke the man's arm with a swift strike.
• San Laizi threatened Fang Yuan and Liu Wanwan, so Fang Yuan dislocated San Laizi's shoulder and struck him in the chest.
• Wang Laogun called for Black Tiger Hall's steward, and Fang Yuan grabbed Liu Wanwan and ordered her to go.

Fang Yuan confronted Black Tiger Hall after its men tried to extort and humiliate his family at Qinghe County’s gates. Chen Zhengyang intervened to protect Fang Yuan and his family, and Fang Yuan left Black Tiger Hall with his money reclaimed and the conflict temporarily settled.

• Heizi confronted Fang Yuan, who defended his family and prepared to fight when Heizi refused to let them go.
• Chen Zhengyang arrived and ordered Heizi to leave, declaring Fang Yuan, Liu Wanwan, and Little Bean Sprout under the protection of Zhengyang Martial Arts School.
• Fang Yuan stopped Heizi from leaving and reclaimed the five-tael silver ingot from San Laizi’s pouch, declaring the debt settled.
• Heizi swallowed his fury and left with his men, while Chen Zhengyang became impressed by Fang Yuan and looked at him with growing expectation.