Recaps

Song Hu suspected Chen Qing of killing Song Tie and planned to hire Old Constable Liu to investigate, but Chen Qing ambushed him and his two subordinates. Chen Qing killed all three, took a leather scroll from Song Hu, and disappeared into the alley.

• Song Hu connected Chen Qing's rise in martial arts to the murder of Song Tie and decided to lie low before hiring Old Constable Liu to investigate.
• Chen Qing ambushed Song Hu and his two subordinates in a secluded alley, killing the first two men before Song Hu could respond.
• Song Hu fought back, but Chen Qing overwhelmed him with Hidden Strength and killed him with a blow to the chest.
• Chen Qing searched the three corpses, took a leather scroll from Song Hu, mangled the bodies, and vanished into the shadows.

Chen Qing moved with Madam Han into a spacious home and acquired the internal-strengthening technique Toad Catching Strength. At Zhou Academy, he learned Qin Lie's severed major tendons were healing, though he suspected something was amiss.

• Chen Qing and Madam Han packed their belongings and moved into a house near the academy.
• Chen Qing examined Song Hu's Toad Catching Strength scroll, learned its three realms, and saw that he had reached beginner progress in it.
• Chen Qing swallowed a Blood Vitality Pill and practiced Tongbei at Zhou Academy, gaining progress three times faster than usual.
• Song Yufeng told Chen Qing that Mr. Sima of Qing Nang Hall had prescribed a remedy that was healing Qin Lie's major tendons.
• Chen Qing confirmed the news with Sun Shun, noticed Zheng Ziqiao watching the backyard, and wondered whether Qin Lie's tendons had truly healed.

After the Martial Arts Examination, Ke Yunqi offered Chen Qing a dangerous full-time post, but Chen Qing declined and accepted a better-paid part-time appointment instead. On his way home, he considered ways to earn money and dismissed a stall owner’s claims about a battered booklet.

• Ke Yunqi summoned Chen Qing and offered him a formal River Bureau Inspector post, including responsibility for the dangerous Blackstone Shoal.
• Chen Qing declined the inspector position by claiming he lacked the skill for its responsibilities, so Ke Yunqi appointed him a part-time River Commissioner with triple the monthly salary.
• Cheng Ming told Chen Qing that his subsidy might be delayed because the clan was struggling with business and expenses.
• Chen Qing walked through the busy streets, observed martial academies, medicine halls, and Blade Hunters, and considered how to make money.
• A stall owner tried to convince Chen Qing that a battered booklet might hold a hidden secret, but Chen Qing left without buying it.

Chen Qing continued his demanding cultivation as Zhou Academy’s prestige waned, while Liu Ze proposed marriage to Zhou Yu and she refused until Liu Nianbo achieved his third breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Cheng Family learned the Wu Family had killed two of their retainers and demanded a final contest for Niangniang Temple Wharf, leaving them to rely on the recovering Jiang Yang.

• Chen Qing trained relentlessly for over two months, steadily advancing his Tongbei Stance Practice and other skills despite his limited aptitude.
• Liu Ze visited Zhou Academy with Liu Nianbo to propose marriage to Zhou Yu, who declined until Liu Nianbo succeeded in his third breakthrough.
• Chen Qing suspected Liu Ze had chosen this moment to propose because Zhou Liang’s Closed-Door Disciple had been crippled.
• Cheng Huan and Cheng Ming identified the bodies of Jiang Han and Pang Shuhua and learned Tian Yaozong had killed them.
• The Wu Family gave the Cheng Family half a month to abandon Niangniang Temple Wharf or settle ownership through a fist duel.
• With the Cheng Family’s remaining fighters weak and the Xue Family unwilling to help, Cheng Huan and Cheng Ming decided to ask the still-recovering Jiang Yang to fight.

After Jiang Yang refused to fight Tian Yaozong, Chen Qing volunteered to represent the Cheng Family in a life-and-death fist duel over Niangniang Temple Wharf. The duel began with Chen Qing and Tian Yaozong facing off on the platform.

• Cheng Ming told Jiang Yang that the Wu Family had demanded a fist duel, but Jiang Yang cited his lingering injuries and refused to fight Tian Yaozong.
• Cheng Ming explained Jiang Yang's refusal to Chen Qing and warned that the Cheng Family might have to reduce its support, so Chen Qing volunteered for the duel.
• Cheng Ming shared what he knew about Tian Yaozong's Mountain Breaker Hand, and Chen Qing studied a combat manual of its basic moves for two days.
• Chen Qing arrived at Niangniang Temple Wharf, where Wu Manqing and Tian Yaozong waited beneath the Wu Family's awning.
• After the life-and-death contract was confirmed, Tian Yaozong and Chen Qing took their places on the platform, and the fist duel began.

Chen Qing and Tian Yaozong fought a deadly, evenly matched battle on the shattered arena platform. Chen Qing seized an opening, broke Tian Yaozong’s arm, and clamped his throat, leaving Tian Yaozong’s fate in his hands.

• Tian Yaozong opened with the Wind-breaking Hand, but Chen Qing countered his strikes and evaded his killing moves.
• Chen Qing and Tian Yaozong exchanged dozens of blows, leaving the arena platform shattered as spectators watched in alarm.
• Tian Yaozong unleashed a relentless assault that drove Chen Qing backward and seemed to leave him with nowhere to retreat.
• Chen Qing narrowly slipped beneath Tian Yaozong’s elbow and shifted aside as Tian Yaozong’s punch struck his shoulder.
• Chen Qing seized Tian Yaozong’s right elbow, twisted his arm until its tendon snapped and bone pierced through, then clamped his throat with White Ape Severs Throat.

Chen Qing defeated Tian Yaozong in the fist match, securing victory for the Cheng Family while leaving Tian near death. After the Wu Family departed, Cheng Ming identified Zhu Lian'er as a Songfeng Martial Arts School disciple who had tried to provoke Chen Qing while he was weakened, and Chen Qing prepared to face her.

• Chen Qing shattered Tian Yaozong's throat with a killing move, and Wu Manqing ordered her guards to rush Tian to a clinic.
• The Cheng Family celebrated as the judges declared them winners, while the Wu Family accepted its defeat and left with Tian Yaozong.
• Zhu Lian'er confronted Chen Qing and accused him of fighting viciously, but Wu Manqing stopped her and apologized to Chen Qing.
• Cheng Ming warned Chen Qing that Zhu Lian'er was a disciple of Songfeng Martial Arts School and had likely hoped to exploit his injuries to make a name for herself.
• Chen Qing connected Zhu Lian'er's challenge to the feud between Songfeng Martial Arts School and Zhou Academy and resolved not to underestimate her.

After Chen Qing defeated Tian Yaozong and saved the Cheng Family, the family rewarded him while Jiang Yang planned to repair his reputation by befriending him. The next morning, Chen Qing practiced Toad Catching Strength and considered how to advance his martial arts before the Martial Arts Examination.

• Cheng Huan arranged for Chen Qing to return home and ordered three hundred taels of silver, twenty top-grade Blood Vitality Pills, and triple his monthly stipend sent to him.
• Jiang Yang learned that Chen Qing had killed Tian Yaozong and decided to send Chen Qing a generous gift to preserve his standing with the Cheng Family and avoid making an enemy.
• Chen Qing practiced Toad Breath, the foundation of Toad Catching Strength, and felt its Internal Force temper his organs.
• Chen Qing sensed that Toad Catching Strength held deeper mysteries and resolved to improve his techniques in preparation for the Martial Arts Examination.

Chen Qing received rewards for defending the Cheng Family and learned the Zhu Clan had visited his master, then continued training until his Toad Catching Strength reached the second realm. When Gao Sheng failed his first attempt to break through to Transformation Force, Zhou Academy’s disciples felt temporary relief but worried about their own prospects.

• Chen Qing received three hundred taels and twenty Blood Vitality Pills from the Cheng Family, along with three pills from Jiang Yang.
• Song Yufeng told Chen Qing that the Zhu Clan had visited their master, then said he planned to attempt a breakthrough soon.
• Over three months, Chen Qing trained daily and advanced his Toad Catching Strength to the second realm as Zhou Academy lost several disciples, including Qi Wenhan.
• A disciple announced that Gao Sheng of Songfeng Martial Arts School was attempting to break through to Transformation Force, alarming Zhou Academy.
• Luo Qian sent a disciple to investigate, and he returned with news that Gao Sheng’s breakthrough attempt had failed.
• Sun Shun and the other Hidden Strength disciples worried that they might never reach Transformation Force.

Liu Ze demonstrated Transformation Force to Liu Nianbo and explained what Liu Nianbo needed to improve to reach it. At Zhou Liang’s academy, Chen Qing and Sun Shun learned that Qin Lie was unlikely to recover, while Qin Lie’s humiliation and resentment deepened after Luo Qian rejected him and Zhou Yu kept her distance.

• Liu Nianbo asked Liu Ze about his chances of reaching Transformation Force, and Liu Ze urged him to improve enough to enter the Martial Arts Examination’s A List.
• Liu Ze let Liu Nianbo strike his chest and explained how Transformation Force redirected an opponent’s force without blocking head-on.
• Zhou Liang tested Chen Qing and Sun Shun, noting that Chen Qing still had two acupoints to open and that Sun Shun needed years to recover from his failed attempt to knock at the gate.
• Zhou Liang told Chen Qing and Sun Shun that Qin Lie’s injury had stopped improving and that he might recover only to the state of an ordinary person.
• Qin Lie brooded over Luo Qian’s rejection and loss of financial support, then accused Zhou Yu of becoming distant before she pulled away from him.

Qin Lie confronted Zhou Yu and Zhou Liang over his crippled condition, the failed secret prescription, and their treatment of him. Zhou Liang expelled Qin Lie from his discipleship and struck him down, then ordered Sun Shun to send him home.

• Qin Lie accused Zhou Yu of pitying him as a cripple and confessed his feelings, but Zhou Yu pushed him away and said she had only ever regarded him as a junior brother.
• Zhou Liang, Sun Shun, and Chen Qing entered after hearing the commotion, and Qin Lie accused Zhou Liang of deceiving him with a useless prescription and using him as a shield.
• Qin Lie blamed Zhou Liang for his injuries and demanded that he avenge him against Gao Sheng, while Zhou Liang rejected his accusations and expelled him from the sect.
• Qin Lie called Zhou Liang a hypocrite, and Zhou Liang struck him in the chest, sending him crashing into the wall and collapsing.
• Zhou Liang ordered Sun Shun to send Qin Lie home and left, while Chen Qing noticed his master's stooped back.

Chen Qing refused an unfamiliar, heavily promoted Blood Gathering Pill and let his mother investigate a potential match, then learned that Qin Lie had returned to Zhou Academy raving mad. Qin Lie’s sister arrived to take him away, weeping over the brother who had been her family’s only hope.

• Chen Qing bought Blood Vitality Pills at Renhe Hall but declined the shopkeeper’s offer of the unfamiliar Blood Gathering Pill.
• Madam Han told Chen Qing that Auntie Zhang wanted to introduce him to Qiaolan, and he asked his mother to look into the match first.
• Song Yufeng told Chen Qing that Qin Lie had gone mad, and Chen Qing found him ranting and acting out scenes of battle at Zhou Academy.
• Qin Lie begged Chen Qing for mercy, struck his forehead against the ground, and continued laughing and crying until Zhou Liang ordered Sun Shun to fetch his sister.
• Qin Lie’s elder sister arrived and wept at the sight of him, while the academy disciples watched in sorrow.

After Qin Lie was taken away from Zhou Academy, Chen Qing resolved to build his strength carefully and encouraged Song Yufeng to persevere. Zhou Liang learned that illicit Blood Gathering Pills were circulating in Gaolin County and that the Green Scale Gathering would begin in a month, with rumors that someone planned to make a rising star famous by defeating established schools.

• Qin Lie's sister, helped by disciples, dragged the furious Qin Lie out of Zhou Academy, while Zhou Liang pressed a purse into Qin Yue's hand.
• Chen Qing recalled Qin Lie's rise and fall, vowed to strengthen himself cautiously, and urged Song Yufeng to give his training everything.
• Shen Zhenzhong and Liu Ze warned Zhou Liang about cheap Blood Gathering Pills that appeared to be illicit medicine, and Zhou Liang told them to caution their disciples against buying it.
• Liu Ze told Zhou Liang that the Green Scale Gathering would begin in one month and that the five schools were building their strength.
• Shen Zhenzhong warned Zhou Liang that someone intended to establish their authority at the gathering, and Liu Ze urged him not to let Zhou Academy become a stepping stone.

Chen Qing accepted Wu Manqing’s invitation to dine and discuss peace after their fight at Niangniang Temple Wharf. Wu Manqing offered the Wu Family’s full support for his bid to become Martial Champion, and Chen Qing left to consider her proposal.

• Chen Qing received Wu Manqing’s invitation and went to Linfu Restaurant in the Inner City.
• Wu Manqing welcomed Chen Qing, put their past fight behind them, and served him a rare three-year-old Silver Shuttle Spirit Fish.
• Wu Manqing explained that the Silver Shuttle cost five hundred taels and that the Wu Family specialized in selling Spirit Fish.
• Wu Manqing asked Chen Qing to lend the Wu Family a hand and promised its full support for his bid to become Martial Champion.
• Chen Qing said he needed time to consider and left, while Wu Manqing told Wu Zhong she valued his loyalty and sense of responsibility.

Chen Qing declined to pursue a marriage match with Liu Qiaolan after Madam Han learned that Qiaolan had once loved a poor scholar. As Zhou Academy weakened and Zhou Liang sought a refuge for his disciples, Chen Qing reached the consummate realm of Tongbei Fist and broke through to Transformation Force.

• Chen Qing returned from Linfu Restaurant and decided not to tie himself to the Wu Family, then agreed with Madam Han that they should not rush into a marriage with Liu Qiaolan.
• Over the next half month, Song Yufeng left Zhou Academy after failing to reach Bright Strength, while Luo Qian and Zheng Ziqiao grew increasingly absent.
• Zhou Yu gave Sun Shun and Chen Qing Lark Herbs from Qin Lie's allotment to help them prepare for the Green Scale Gathering.
• Zhou Liang wrote to Zhang Shitong of the Sihai Escort Agency, hoping to secure places there for his disciples as Shi Wenshan threatened Zhou Academy.
• Chen Qing completed his Tongbei Stance training in the courtyard and broke through to Transformation Force.

Chen Qing reached Transformation Force and continued cultivating before returning to Zhou Academy for a sparring match between its disciples and Liu Academy's. Liu Nianbo defeated Sun Shun decisively, leaving the academy gathered to witness the result.

• Chen Qing reached Transformation Force, then stayed home to study it and train Tongbei Stance and Toad Catching Strength.
• Bai Rui told Chen Qing that Zhou Academy's disciples would spar with Master Liu's disciples, and Chen Qing went to the academy that afternoon.
• Chen Qing arrived to find Zhou Liang and Liu Ze presiding while Sun Shun and Liu Nianbo prepared to spar.
• Liu Nianbo used Mantis Fist to exploit Sun Shun's opening and struck near his Zhangmen acupoint, pulling back his force to signal victory.
• Sun Shun acknowledged his defeat and praised Liu Nianbo's skill.

Chen Qing revealed extraordinary defensive and striking abilities when Liu Ze unexpectedly tested him and then attacked in earnest. Liu Ze acknowledged Chen Qing’s strength and congratulated Zhou Liang on Zhou Academy’s promising successors.

• Liu Nianbo defeated Sun Shun and challenged the Zhou Academy disciples, but Chen Qing declined to spar with him.
• Liu Ze sensed something unusual about Chen Qing and launched a probing strike at his throat.
• Chen Qing diverted Liu Ze’s attack with an invisible force field, even holding a drifting leaf suspended above his shoulder.
• Liu Ze attacked again with Mantis Fist, and Chen Qing met him with Tongbei Fist’s Mountain Collapse Style.
• The clash drove both men backward, and Liu Ze praised Chen Qing and congratulated Zhou Liang on Zhou Academy’s worthy successors.

Chen Qing revealed that he had broken through to Transformation Force, stunning the Zhou Academy and restoring Zhou Liang’s confidence in the academy’s future. After the disciples congratulated him and the crowd dispersed, Zhou Yu gave him two boxes of Three Yang Grass medicine and advised him on using it safely.

• Chen Qing explained that hard training, precious medicine, and a fortunate coincidence had helped him break through to Transformation Force, and Zhou Liang praised his solid foundation.
• Chen Qing declined a public ceremony and promised to focus on consolidating his new strength; Zhou Liang then left with Liu Ze to tell Shen Zhenzhong the news.
• Liu Xiaolou, Qi Wenhan, Zheng Ziqiao, and Sun Shun congratulated Chen Qing, while Luo Qian regretted not befriending him earlier and Liu Nianbo left with the Liu Academy disciples.
• After the academy’s disciples resumed training and later dispersed, Zhou Yu asked Chen Qing to follow her to the backyard.
• Zhou Yu gave Chen Qing two boxes of three-year-old Three Yang Grass on Zhou Liang’s behalf and explained how to prepare and take the medicine.

After Chen Qing broke through to Transformation Force, local families and officials sent gifts to curry favor with him, while he focused on cultivating Toad Catching Strength. Meanwhile, Pang Qinghai used his feigned grave injury to investigate corruption across Gaolin County and ordered his men to gather irrefutable evidence as his net began to tighten.

• Zhao Yousan and other local stewards, prominent families, and associates visited Chen Qing with gifts after news of his breakthrough spread.
• The Cheng Family steward brought Chen Qing a one-hundred-tael banknote, and Madam Han marveled at how their fortunes had changed.
• Chen Qing brewed and drank the Three Yang Grass medicine, which greatly accelerated his Toad Catching Strength cultivation.
• Pang Jiu reported that Renhe Pharmacy, the Huang Family, Zhu Mansion, the Blood River Gang, Songfeng Martial Arts School, and Canal Transport Office were implicated in illicit trade and corruption.
• Pang Qinghai ordered Pang Jiu to keep investigating and collect complete evidence while preserving the illusion of his grave injury.

During a heavy snowfall, Chen Qing visited Yang Huiniang at Wang's Cloth Shop, congratulated her on becoming a steward, and gave her more than fifty taels in gratitude for her past support. On his way home, he encountered the fallen Liang Badou and gave him silver for winter necessities before continuing through the snow.

• Chen Qing left the Wang Residence after giving Wang Zhi an unspoken warning to look after Yang Huiniang.
• Chen Qing visited Yang Huiniang at Wang's Cloth Shop, praised her for earning her steward position, and reminisced with her about their childhood.
• Chen Qing insisted that Yang Huiniang accept a pouch of more than fifty taels, repaying her for the dowry savings she had once given him to practice martial arts.
• Chen Qing left the shop, bought meat, and encountered Liang Badou peddling goods in the snow after Liang Badou's family lost its property and status.
• Chen Qing gave Liang Badou several pieces of silver for warm clothes and firewood, then continued home.

Chen Qing attended the Green Scale Gathering with Zhou Liang and met Gaolin County’s leading martial artists. The arrival of Songfeng Martial Arts School and Gao Sheng stirred dread among the Zhou Academy disciples, who remembered how he had crippled Qin Lie.

• Chen Qing entered the Green Scale Gathering with Zhou Liang and was welcomed by Wu Peng and Cao Tieshan after Zhou Liang introduced him as a newly advanced Transformation Force disciple.
• Zhou Liang introduced Chen Qing to Zhang Shicheng and other prominent martial artists, including Zhao Kaishan, Liu Suifeng, Lin Hongyu, and Deng Feihu.
• Liu Ze and Shen Zhenzhong arrived with their disciples and greeted Zhou Liang.
• Shi Wenshan arrived with Songfeng Martial Arts School, warmly congratulated Zhou Liang, and concealed a chilling hostility beneath his smile.
• The Zhou Academy disciples recognized Gao Sheng behind Shi Wenshan and recalled how he had crippled Qin Lie at the Martial Arts Examination.

At the Green Scale Gathering, Gao Sheng challenged Zhou Academy and overwhelmed its disciples with his vicious Mountain Breaker Hand. After Sun Shun and Liu Nianbo were badly injured, Gao Sheng singled out Chen Qing and demanded that he fight.

• Shi Wenshan traded barbs with Zhou Liang before the Green Scale Gathering officially began.
• Jiang Bei defeated Wang Zhiyuan and two more of Zhang Yuan's disciples in succession.
• Gao Sheng challenged Zhou Academy, and Sun Shun stepped forward but was badly wounded in fewer than ten moves.
• Liu Nianbo fought Gao Sheng next, but Gao Sheng broke his arm and sent him crashing beside Sun Shun.
• Gao Sheng taunted Zhou Academy and pointed at Chen Qing, demanding that he come fight.

Chen Qing accepted Gao Sheng’s cross-realm challenge and defeated him with a single exchange before crippling his spine with a deliberate follow-up strike. The match left Gao Sheng paralyzed, while Chen Qing confronted Wu Peng and invoked the rule that sparring leaves life and death to fate.

• Shi Wenshan assured Qu Yaohui that Gao Sheng could use Chen Qing as a whetstone and that Wu Peng would protect him from a fatal blow.
• Chen Qing calmly accepted Gao Sheng’s challenge and stepped onto the arena.
• Gao Sheng attacked with Mountain Breaker Hand’s Myriad Ravines Hear Thunder, but Chen Qing countered with Spirit Monkey Asks for the Way and sent him flying.
• Chen Qing followed with White Ape Holds Seal, shattering Gao Sheng’s vertebrae and severing the central great tendons in his spine.
• Wu Peng rushed to stop Chen Qing but arrived too late, and Chen Qing told him that life and death in a sparring match were left to fate.

After Chen Qing crippled Gao Sheng, Qu Yaohui entered the arena to defend Songfeng Martial Arts School’s honor. Chen Qing and the seasoned Transformation Force expert exchanged their first attacks, each wounding the other as the contest continued.

• Gao Sheng was carried off to the infirmary after Chen Qing shattered his spine, leaving Zhou Academy jubilant and Songfeng Martial Arts School stunned.
• Shi Wenshan sent his chief disciple Qu Yaohui to challenge Chen Qing, and the crowd braced for a clash between Transformation Force experts.
• Chen Qing steadied his Qi and Blood and took the opening stance of Tongbei Fist as Qu Yaohui approached.
• Qu Yaohui launched a silent, penetrating palm strike at Chen Qing’s chest, and Chen Qing countered by targeting Qu Yaohui’s wrist.
• Qu Yaohui diverted most of Chen Qing’s force, but Chen Qing took a glancing hit while his fingertips left a small wound on Qu Yaohui’s wrist.

Chen Qing defeated Qu Yaohui in a fierce arena clash, overcoming Qu’s killing moves with Tongbei Fist and Toad Catching Strength. Qu was knocked unconscious, and Shi Wenshan called for Doctor Sima as the stunned crowd watched.

• Qu Yaohui attacked Chen Qing with Mountain Breaker Hand, but Chen dodged and countered with Tongbei Fist, wounding Qu’s arm and shoulder.
• Qu launched a faster, life-threatening combination, and Chen met it head-on with Tongbei Fist’s Mountain Collapse Style.
• The two fighters were driven backward by the collision, but Qu suffered internal injuries and his arms went numb.
• Chen seized the opening and struck Qu in the chest with Reverse Arm Whip Hand, sending him off the arena unconscious.
• Shi Wenshan examined Qu and ordered his disciples to fetch Doctor Sima from Qing Nang Hall.