Recaps

Chen Qing continued training at Zhou Academy while Qin Lie and other disciples signed up for the Commandant’s bandit suppression at Bailang Bay. At the Chen family home, Chen Heng pushed his grandfather to seek money from relatives for Blood Vitality Pills, and the old master reluctantly agreed.

• Chen Qing trained until his Tongbei Stance reached Minor Accomplishment (951/1000) and thought he would soon break through the barrier again.
• Sun Shun announced the bandit suppression at Bailang Bay and described the rewards and the forces backing the operation.
• Qin Lie volunteered to join the suppression for combat experience, while Chen Qing declined because he considered it too dangerous.
• Chen Heng told Old Master Chen that he needed Blood Vitality Pills to break through to Hidden Strength and that two pills would cost six taels of silver.
• Second Aunt urged Old Master Chen to ask relatives for money, and Chen Heng pressured him by promising the family would benefit from his future success.
• Old Master Chen agreed to let Second Aunt and Chen Heng visit Eldest Aunt for money and said he would approach Eldest Brother’s household himself.

Madam Han refused Old Master Chen’s request to borrow money for Chen Xiao Heng’s Blood Vitality Pills, laying bare the hardship she and Chen Qing had endured. Cheng Ming then sought more support for Chen Qing’s breakthrough, and Cheng Huan reluctantly agreed to provide a few liang of silver.

• Old Master Chen visited Madam Han to ask for money for Chen Xiao Heng’s Blood Vitality Pills, but Madam Han confronted him with the family’s poverty and sent him away without lending anything.
• Chen Qing returned to find Madam Han with red eyes, and she explained that she had cried poverty to stop Old Master Chen from borrowing money.
• At the River Bureau, Cheng Ming asked Chen Qing about his progress toward Hidden Strength and offered to seek more Blood Vitality Powder for him.
• Cheng Huan objected to spending more of the Cheng Family’s limited funds on Chen Qing, doubting his potential and the value of the investment.
• Cheng Huan changed her mind and authorized Cheng Ming to give Chen Qing a few liang of silver, warning that there would be no next time.

Chen Qing received two additional Blood Vitality Pills each month and secretly broke through to Hidden Strength after relentless training. He returned home and learned that the Yang Family hoped to raise capital to open a small shop in Baihua Lane.

• Cheng Ming told Chen Qing that his eldest sister had agreed to provide him with two extra Blood Vitality Pills every month.
• Chen Qing trained alone at Zhou Academy and endured the painful process of catalyzing Hidden Strength.
• Chen Qing reached Hidden Strength and saw his Tongbei Stance Practice advance to Mastery (1/2000).
• Chen Qing decided to tell Zhou Liang about his breakthrough and ask about further cultivation and resources.
• Chen Qing returned home late and heard from Madam Han that the Yang Family wanted to open a shop in Baihua Lane, though she worried about the cost and risk.

Chen Qing continued training and guiding Song Yufeng before Zhou Liang discovered that Chen Qing had reached Hidden Strength. Zhou Liang gave him advice and Blood Condensing Pills, leaving Chen Qing with a new source of support as he began consolidating his breakthrough.

• Chen Qing corrected Song Yufeng's Tongbei Fist and continued practicing toward Major Mastery.
• Qin Lie returned from the campaign against the bandits, and Zhou Liang welcomed him into the backyard while the disciples discussed the expedition.
• Zhou Liang found Chen Qing training late at night and recognized that he had reached Hidden Strength the previous day.
• Chen Qing told Zhou Liang he had entered the academy the previous November, and Zhou Liang advised him to consolidate his Qi and Blood and temper his Hidden Strength.
• Zhou Liang gave Chen Qing three Blood Condensing Pills and promised to provide him with three more on the fifth day of each month.

Chen Qing was ambushed by three coordinated attackers and used Tongbei Fist techniques to counter their assault. He broke the lanky man's leg and, as the short, burly man attacked his lower back, Chen Qing spun to strike at his wrist.

• Chen Qing dodged the short, burly man's grappling attack and struck him with a collision.
• The short, burly man called in two accomplices, who attacked Chen Qing from both sides with a blade and a heavy punch.
• Chen Qing evaded the coordinated attack, nearly struck the sturdy man in the groin, and escaped the short, burly man's attempt to seize his ankle.
• Chen Qing struck the lanky man’s wrist, swept his supporting leg, and broke his shin.
• The short, burly man attacked Chen Qing’s knee and lower back, but Chen Qing spun and drove his elbow toward the attacker’s wrist.

Chen Qing killed three men who ambushed him on his way home, disposed of their bodies, and returned safely to Madam Han. The next day, news spread that Qin Lie had attended Lord Commandant Pang Qinghai’s banquet, and the chapter ended with Zhou Liang summoning Qin Lie to the backyard.

• Chen Qing defeated and killed the three attackers, then searched them for money and Blood Vitality Pills.
• Chen Qing sank the bodies in a tributary of the South River and told Madam Han that his master had kept him late.
• Chen Qing examined his spoils and decided he would not travel at night again.
• At Zhou Academy, disciples discussed Qin Lie attending Lord Commandant Pang Qinghai’s banquet with prominent young fighters from Gaolin County.
• Chen Qing warned Song Yufeng not to neglect training, and Zhou Liang summoned the returning Qin Lie to the backyard.

The Cheng Family faced losing control of Niangniang Temple Wharf to the Wu Family, whose champion Tian Yaozong seemed too formidable to challenge. At Zhou Academy, Chen Qing learned how the approaching Martial Arts Examination worked and resolved to strengthen himself, before a commotion interrupted the afternoon.

• Cheng Huan learned that merchants had shifted to the Ning Family's ships and that the Wu Family was using its Canal Transport Office connections to contest Niangniang Temple Wharf.
• Cheng Huan and Cheng Ming judged that the injured Jiang Yang could not face the Wu Family's likely champion, Tian Yaozong, and decided to yield half the wharf rather than risk a ruinous fight.
• Cheng Ming told Chen Qing that the Cheng Family sponsorship would be delayed, and Chen Qing went to Zhou Academy to train for the Martial Arts Examination.
• Sun Shun explained that the examination tested strength and vitality as well as skill and courage, with only the top fifty candidates earning the title of Martial Scholar.
• Chen Qing considered the competition and the need to improve his strength, then Sun Shun hurried toward a commotion elsewhere in the academy.

Qin Lie publicly broke with Zheng Ziqiao, while Chen Qing advanced his Tongbei Fist and continued training at Zhou Academy. Returning to Yazi Bay, Chen Qing learned of Xiao Chun’s ruinous debt and saw how hardship had changed Er Ya.

• Qin Lie rejected Zheng Ziqiao’s attempt to smooth things over, and Luo Qian left the courtyard in anger as rumors spread among the disciples.
• Chen Qing reached Mastery in Tongbei Fist and focused on learning how to temper Hidden Strength.
• Zheng Ziqiao tried to repair his relationship with Qin Lie, while Luo Qian stayed away and Qin Lie grew busy with visitors and extra lessons from Zhou Liang.
• Chen Qing found that loan sharks had ransacked Da Chun’s home over Xiao Chun’s unpaid debt after Xiao Chun borrowed money for a Chuan Shu.
• Er Ya told Chen Qing that Liang Badou was thriving at the County Yamen and that Li Hu had disappeared, then hurried back to her employer’s household.
• Chen Qing noticed that Er Ya had become timid and submissive after serving in a wealthy household.

On the River God Festival, Chen Qing heard that Gaolin County’s major forces were recruiting martial artists and then learned that Commandant Pang Qinghai had been assassinated during the sacrificial ceremony. As panic spread, Old Li summoned Chen Qing to come with him.

• Chen Qing met Sun Shun, Zhou Yu, and Li Rongrong at a teahouse while patrolling South River Wharf.
• Sun Shun and Li Rongrong described the rising salaries and benefits offered by Gaolin County’s forces to recruit martial artists, and Zhou Yu encouraged Chen Qing to consider a part-time appointment.
• Gao Sheng of Songfeng Martial Arts School entered the teahouse with several men, prompting Sun Shun to warn Chen Qing about the long-running feud between the school and Zhou Academy.
• A panicked man announced that Commandant Pang Qinghai had been assassinated at the River God Festival sacrificial ceremony, shocking the teahouse patrons.
• Old Li from the River Bureau called out to Chen Qing and urged him to come with him immediately.

After river bandits attacked the river ceremony and gravely wounded Commandant Pang Qinghai, Chen Qing helped keep order and learned that three assassins had escaped. At Zhou Academy, Zhou Liang summoned Chen Qing with six elite disciples, and Chen Qing revealed that he had broken through the barrier twice, surprising his fellow students.

• Chen Qing and Old Man Li evacuated panicked civilians after masked assassins attacked the ceremony, killing and wounding officials.
• Cheng Ming told Chen Qing and Old Man Li that Pang Qinghai was unconscious, five of the eight assassins had died, and three had escaped; several dead attackers were identified as river bandits.
• Chen Qing returned home through a city under martial lockdown and hoped the turmoil would not interfere with his boxing practice.
• At Zhou Academy, Zhou Liang called Chen Qing and six elite disciples to stay behind that evening.
• Sun Shun asked whether Chen Qing had broken through, and Chen Qing admitted that he had; Zhou Yu and the other disciples congratulated him while Luo Qian remained distant.

Zhou Liang warned the disciples not to take sides over Commander Pang’s ambush and explained the upcoming Martial Arts Examination. Afterward, Qin Lie tried to recruit Chen Qing as a follower, then attacked him when Chen refused, leaving their conflict concealed from Zhou Yu.

• Zhou Liang cautioned the disciples against rashly choosing sides while Commander Pang’s fate remained unknown, then outlined the Martial Arts Examination and its rewards.
• Zhou Liang judged Qin Lie a strong candidate to pass with distinction and thought Chen Qing was too newly advanced in Hidden Strength to succeed this time.
• Qin Lie praised Chen Qing’s perseverance and urged him to follow, but Chen Qing refused and started to leave.
• Qin Lie attacked Chen Qing’s shoulder, and Chen Qing countered with a Tongbei Fist strike, forcing both men back a step.
• Zhou Yu interrupted them, and Qin Lie claimed they had only been exchanging pointers before leaving with a cold look.
• Chen Qing reassured Zhou Yu that he was unharmed and then left the courtyard.

After Chen Qing reached Hidden Strength, Cheng Ming increased his support and gave him a Golden Horn Treasure Fish to aid his training for the approaching Martial Arts Examination. At home, Chen Qing prepared the fish, cared for Madam Han, and added Qin Lie’s name to a blackened booklet.

• Chen Qing told Cheng Ming he had reached Hidden Strength, and Cheng Ming raised his monthly allowance and promised him a one-year Golden Horn Treasure Fish each month.
• Cheng Ming gave Chen Qing a one-and-a-half-year Golden Horn Treasure Fish and excused him from patrol duty so he could focus on martial training.
• Chen Qing returned home, comforted Madam Han, and promised they would eventually move off the boat.
• Chen Qing stewed the Treasure Fish and found that a sip of its broth made his Qi and Blood surge more strongly than Blood Vitality Pills.
• Chen Qing opened a blackened booklet beneath his bed and wrote Qin Lie’s name above the crossed-out names of Qian Biao and Song Tie.

Two days before the Martial Arts Examination, Chen Heng's family sacrificed what little they had to support his hopes, while Chen Qing refused an offer to join the Li Family and stayed with the River Bureau. At Zhou Academy, Zhou Liang judged Qin Lie the disciple most likely to pass the examination.

• Chen Jinhua brought eggs for Chen Heng, and Old Master Chen urged him to win honor for the family; Chen Heng promised to give the examination his all while suggesting its outcome rested with Heaven.
• Liu Xiaolou offered Chen Qing a place with the Li Family alongside Wu Lin and Zhang Cang, but Chen Qing declined and chose to remain at the River Bureau.
• Chen Qing returned his attention to training, determined not to waste the remaining effects of the Treasure Fish soup.
• Zhou Yu asked Zhou Liang to assess the academy's candidates, and he judged Sun Shun's chances low and dismissed Zheng Ziqiao and Qi Wenhan for lacking resolve.
• Zhou Liang concluded that Qin Lie's talent and perseverance made him Zhou Academy's best hope of passing the Martial Arts Examination.

The Martial Arts Examination began in Gaolin County, and Chen Qing assessed the candidates’ strength as he prepared for the first round. The results left him waiting to compete while Sun Shun and Luo Qian earned lower Yi grades.

• Xu Fang spotted Chen Qing among the candidates, while Xu Xiuhua dismissed his chances because he came from Yazi Bay.
• The chief examiner declared the examination open and warned that cheating would be punished under military law.
• Chen Qing watched the candidates draw bows and resolved to secure a strong result in the strength-and-vitality round.
• Sun Shun drew a seven-stone bow five times for a middle Yi grade, while Luo Qian drew one three times for a lower Yi grade.
• Most of Zhou Academy’s ordinary disciples failed to draw more than three- or four-stone bows and were eliminated.

Zhou Yu earned a middle Grade B, and Qin Lie impressed the crowd by drawing the Nine Stone Bow five times for a lower Grade A. Chen Qing then shocked everyone by attempting the Ten Stone Bow, which began to tremble under his strength.

• Zhou Yu drew the Eight Stone Bow once and received a middle Grade B.
• Qin Lie drew the Nine Stone Bow five times and received a lower Grade A, delighting Zhou Academy.
• Chen Heng drew a Four Stone Bow and received a middle Grade C.
• Chen Qing ignored the lighter bows and walked straight to the Ten Stone Bow.
• Chen Qing’s Internal Force surged as he drew the Ten Stone Bow, and its string began to tremble as the crowd reacted in shock.

Chen Qing stunned the Martial Arts Examination crowd by drawing the Ten Stone Bow, earning a Grade A Mid result and attracting offers from powerful local families. After he politely declined their recruitment attempts, Xu Fang brought him to meet her aunt, Xu Xiuhua.

• Chen Qing drew the Ten Stone Bow, and the clerk awarded him Grade A Mid as onlookers and academy leaders reacted with shock.
• Xu Xiuhua considered recruiting Chen Qing and asked Xu Fang whether she knew him.
• The first round ended, and the Zhu Family's Second Steward and other local forces offered Chen Qing money, pills, housing, and other incentives to serve them.
• Chen Qing declined the offers, unwilling to become bound to any faction by accepting its resources.
• Xu Fang found Chen Qing and brought him to meet her aunt, Xu Xiuhua.

Chen Qing refused Xu Xiuhua’s offer to become a Guard Captain, prompting her to order Lin Sheng to knock him out of the Martial Arts Examination. Chen Qing won his first combat duel against Yuan Tong, then watched the other arenas as startled cries erupted nearby.

• Xu Xiuhua offered Chen Qing a Guard Captain position in the Huang Family, but he declined and left.
• Xu Xiuhua scorned Chen Qing after he departed, while Xu Fang stayed behind.
• Chen Qing crossed paths with Qin Lie, who told companions that Chen Qing was withdrawn and suggested the combat round would test him.
• Xu Xiuhua instructed Lin Sheng to knock Chen Qing off the arena if he got the chance, and Lin Sheng agreed.
• Chen Qing defeated Yuan Tong in more than thirty exchanges, then stayed to observe the other matches.
• Startled cries erupted from a distant arena, and Chen Qing turned toward the noise.

After Qin Lie was carried away crippled, Chen Qing watched the Martial Arts Examination and concealed his lot number from Lin Sheng, who was trying to arrange a favorable match. The deception left Lin Sheng facing Mo Ziyu instead, just as Mo attacked him on the platform.

• Zhou Liang and Sun Shun carried the badly crippled Qin Lie away as the crowd watched.
• Chen Qing observed the bouts, learned that Lin Sheng served the Huang Family, and won three more matches by narrow margins.
• Lin Sheng asked Chen Qing for his lot number, and Chen Qing falsely told him A-6.
• Lin Sheng took the stage expecting to fight Chen Qing and taunted his supposed opponent.
• Mo Ziyu stepped onto the platform as Lin Sheng’s actual opponent, and Lin Sheng realized Chen Qing had tricked him.
• Mo Ziyu lunged at Lin Sheng with an iron fist.

Mo Ziyu crippled Lin Sheng after defeating him in the arena, and Chen Qing faced Han Rou in the next match. Chen Qing faked an injury after recoiling from Han Rou’s body odor, leaving Han Rou with an undeserved victory and the crowd praising her skills.

• Mo Ziyu broke both of Lin Sheng’s arms, pierced his waist, and won their match as the Huang Family carried Lin Sheng away.
• Chen Qing noticed Han Rou’s openings and began their arena match by exchanging attacks.
• Han Rou moved in close, but Chen Qing gagged at the odor beneath her arms and pretended her light strike had badly injured him.
• Chen Qing admitted defeat and left the arena, earning Han Rou the win and a Grade B+ result.
• The crowd praised Han Rou’s Bagua Palm while she burned with shame and resentment over the dishonorable victory.

After Qin Lie was badly injured by Gao Sheng in the Martial Arts Examination, Zhou Academy fell into a tense gloom while Chen Qing suspected the match had been politically arranged and resolved to grow stronger. As Qin Lie recovered in silence and Zheng Ziqiao mocked him, Chen Qing’s outstanding examination performance earned him the academy’s respect.

• Qi Wenhan told the returning disciples that Gao Sheng had beaten Qin Lie so severely that he remained unconscious, and Sun Shun suspected Songfeng Martial Arts School had targeted Zhou Academy.
• Chen Qing wondered whether Gao Sheng had been meant to target him and resolved to hide his trump cards and advance toward Transformation Force.
• Zheng Ziqiao mocked Qin Lie’s defeat, and Zhou Liang returned to the backyard before arguing with Master's Wife about caring for Qin Lie.
• After Qin Lie awakened, he remained gloomy and resentful, Luo Qian disappeared for several days, and Zheng Ziqiao continued ridiculing him.
• Chen Qing kept training, while the disciples increasingly treated him with respect because his Martial Arts Examination performance made becoming a Martial Scholar seem certain.

Chen Qing learned that Qin Lie’s injuries were severe, then discovered he had placed thirty-ninth in the Martial Arts Examination and passed as a Martial Scholar. News of the result spread to Firewood Fish Market, where neighbors mistakenly celebrated Chen Heng as the successful grandson and rushed to the Old Chen Family.

• Sun Shun told Chen Qing that Qin Lie’s tendons were severed and that healing him would require a rare Spirit Fish of Great Medicine.
• A messenger announced that Chen Qing had placed thirty-ninth and passed the Martial Arts Examination, prompting Zhou Academy’s disciples to congratulate him.
• Chen Qing followed Zhou Yu to meet Zhou Liang while keeping his thoughts on Qin Lie’s injuries and his own future plans.
• At the county yamen, Xiao Hai found Chen Qing’s name on the results list and ran to Firewood Fish Market with the news.
• Xiao Hai told Sister-in-law Lin and the neighbors that Old Master Chen’s grandson had passed, and the crowd mistakenly assumed Chen Heng was the Martial Scholar.

The Old Chen Family mistook the news of a Martial Scholar’s success for Chen Heng’s, only to learn that Chen Qing had passed the examination. Official Messengers announced Chen Qing’s achievement in Yazi Bay, where Madam Han and the neighbors celebrated as the family received tax and labor exemptions.

• Old He and the Firewood Fish Market neighbors rushed to congratulate Old Master Chen, believing Chen Heng had passed as a Martial Scholar.
• Second Aunt boasted about Chen Heng and offered Xiao Hai copper coins, but Xiao Hai announced that Chen Qing had passed instead.
• Xiao Hai confirmed that the examination list named Chen Qing of Yazi Bay, leaving Old Master Chen and Second Aunt stunned as the neighbors dispersed.
• An official clerk and two Official Messengers arrived at Yazi Bay and announced that Chen Qing had ranked seventh on the Rank C list.
• Madam Han welcomed the officials, while the neighbors congratulated her and knelt in celebration.
• The Official Messengers declared that Chen Qing’s household would be exempt from poll tax and corvée labor for two years and pay reduced taxes afterward, then departed with Madam Han’s gift.

Chen Qing learned about Transformation Force and received Zhou Liang’s Tongbei Fist Internal Force Fundamentals Diagram, then heard of upheaval among Gaolin County’s forces. Meanwhile, Zhou Liang promised to do everything he could to help Qin Lie recover from his severe injuries.

• Zhou Liang praised Chen Qing’s progress, explained the stages of Tongbei Fist, and demonstrated Transformation Force by shattering the inside of a wooden post from a distance.
• Zhou Liang gave Chen Qing the Tongbei Fist Internal Force Fundamentals Diagram and explained that Martial Champions could enter sects to learn Internal Cultivation.
• Chen Qing left the academy and heard from Old Li that Ning Shi had died and Wangyuan Escort Agency had suffered a devastating robbery after the Commandant was wounded.
• Mr. Sima prescribed medicine for Qin Lie, and Zhou Liang assured the desperate Qin Lie that he would do everything possible to help him recover.

After passing the Martial Arts Examination with high honors, Chen Qing visited the Chen Family Old Residence and made clear he would not be responsible for his relatives. At Wang's Cloth Shop, Wang Zhi removed Old Madam Wang and appointed Yang Huiniang as internal affairs steward, asking her to pass his regards to Brother Chen.

• Chen Qing told Madam Han he wanted to look for a house near the Zhou Family Martial Academy and decided to visit the Chen Family Old Residence.
• Chen Qing visited his grandfather and Second Uncle, but left without accepting their hospitality or taking back the rice flour and salted fish.
• Old Master Chen recognized that Chen Qing was drawing a line and warned his family not to trouble him for help.
• Old Madam Wang pressured Yang Huiniang to marry her foolish grandson and threatened to keep her working in the dyeing workshop.
• Wang Zhi ordered guards to remove Old Madam Wang, dismissed her from the cloth shop, and appointed Yang Huiniang internal affairs steward.
• Wang Zhi asked Yang Huiniang to convey his regards to Brother Chen, prompting the workers to wonder whether he meant her martial-arts cousin.

Chen Qing chose and bought a courtyard house near Zhou Academy, arranging to pay most of its price later. After learning the Tiger Gang had been wiped out, he met the newly arrived Fish Market overseer Song Hu and recognized a possible connection between him and the gang’s destruction, then pursued him.

• Chen Qing viewed a courtyard on Changping Street and agreed to buy it for three hundred taels, paying one hundred up front and owing the rest until next spring.
• Chen Qing returned to Yazi Bay, where Madam Han told him the Tiger Gang had been slaughtered and its boats and shacks destroyed.
• Chen Qing signed the house contract and decided to move with Madam Han that afternoon.
• Song Hu offered Chen Qing five taels and questioned him about the Tiger Gang’s massacre.
• Chen Qing recalled that Song Tie had mentioned the name A'hu and suspected Song Hu was testing him, so he hurried after him.