Chapter Summaries

Liang Qu used Marsh Essence to further strengthen Red Mountain after the court’s Grade-Raising Great Pill, and the horse’s unusual scales astonished the Groom Official. The Groom Official revealed that Dragon Blood Horses were bred from stock obtained through an agreement with the Dragon Lord of the Jiang Huai Great Marsh.

• Liang Qu showed off Red Mountain’s new grade at the Fishing Wharf and treated the crowd to tea.
• Liang Qu spent Marsh Essence to complete Red Mountain’s evolution, widening its scales and strengthening their mental link.
• Liang Qu rode Red Mountain back to the stables, where the Groom Official recognized its palm-wide scales as a supreme-grade trait.
• The Groom Official asked Liang Qu for a horse-raising recipe, and Liang Qu sent him to Fan Xinglai to learn about the Treasure Fish fed to the horses.
• The Groom Official explained that Dragon Blood Horses came from breeding stock obtained by Martial Saints through an agreement with the Dragon Lord of the Jiang Huai Great Marsh.

Liang Qu learned about the Dragon Palace’s old trade with humans and received a territory assignment after becoming a Dushui Official. He used Minor Merits to obtain a sharp-bottomed ship blueprint and planned to decide how to spend his Great Merits after meeting Toad again.

• The Groom Official told Liang Qu about the Dragon Palace’s former trade agreement with the Qian Dynasty and how the Dragon Blood Horses had originated.
• Liang Qu learned that he would remain in Ping Yang County and received responsibility for three towns and eight market townships south of Yi Xing Town.
• Liang Qu asked Ran Zhongshi to assign soldiers as river officials under his command while his friends Li LiBo and Chen Jiechang remained too weak for promotion.
• Liang Qu exchanged Minor Merits for the blueprint of an eighteen-meter sharp-bottomed ship.
• Liang Qu declined to spend his Great Merits immediately, deciding to wait until after his next transaction with Toad.

Toad received a Great Anchor from the Old Toad and showed off its power, while the Old Toad mistook Fat Catfish for an assassin when he arrived. Toad convinced the Old Toad that Fat Catfish was a frog scout, and Fat Catfish claimed he was a Legless Frog.

• The Old Toad presented Toad with a Great Anchor, which Toad swung hard enough to stir a violent tide in the Great Marsh.
• The Old Toad declared that the Water Toad Clan would defeat the Flood Dragon and rule the aquatic clans, while Toad ignored his speech.
• Fat Catfish emerged from the Dark Current Passage, and the Old Toad mistook him for an assassin and attacked.
• Toad told the Old Toad that Fat Catfish was an intelligent frog scout sent to travel through the dark current.
• Fat Catfish claimed that a snake had bitten off his limbs when he was young, and the Old Toad accepted him as a Legless Frog.

Liang Qu commissioned another ship model and asked Liu Quanfu to experiment with making future ships detachable for assembly. Old Toad traveled through the Dark Current Passage to see Fat Catfish’s stronghold and discovered a thriving Water Beast courtyard in human territory, where Fat Catfish then asked him to bring supplies.

• Liang Qu paid Liu Quanfu for a Sand Ship model and asked him to try making future ship models in more than twenty detachable parts.
• Liang Qu learned from Fat Catfish that Old Toad wanted to visit and agreed to let him come.
• Old Toad passed through the Dark Current Passage with Fat Catfish, tumbling painfully on arrival.
• Fat Catfish guided Old Toad through the underground river to a pond courtyard where beavers, river otters, and other Water Beasts worked together.
• Old Toad marveled that the frog clan had established a stronghold in human territory and declared he could die without regrets.
• Fat Catfish gestured for Old Toad to bring supplies to support the stronghold.

Fat Catfish persuaded Old Toad to support the frog clan’s foothold on human territory, with Liang Qu coaching it through their Mental Link. Old Toad returned to its home to gather fish and treasures, leaving the promised payment still to be delivered.

• Fat Catfish praised Toad King’s ambitions and asked Old Toad for supplies to help expand the frog clan’s territory.
• Old Toad inspected the warship and the workers, then claimed the frog clan had no spare fish to give.
• Liang Qu coached Fat Catfish to shame Old Toad into paying, and Old Toad finally agreed to give support from its own savings.
• Old Toad swam back to the Deep Water Area with Da Pang and hurried into its cave to choose a Treasure Fish and gather valuables.
• Old Toad collected a small Treasure Fish, stone, gold, silver, broken armor, and a turtle-shell-like object, deciding the offering was enough.

Old Toad brought a Treasure Fish and a Mystic Tortoise Shell to Liang Qu’s stronghold, where he tried to divine the frog clan’s fortune. After the shell’s readings showed minor bad luck, he blamed the Great King’s strength for obscuring fate and asked to meet the human who had negotiated for the stronghold.

• Old Toad left his cave with a Treasure Fish in a yellow sack and ordered Da Pang to take him to the Great King.
• Cannot Move spotted Old Toad approaching and warned Liang Qu, who had Fat Catfish restore the pond to a scene of diligent work.
• Old Toad gave Great Beaver the Treasure Fish, then revealed a Mystic Tortoise Shell and asked for copper coins to perform divination.
• Old Toad’s coin tosses repeatedly showed minor bad luck, so he burned the shell and found cracks that indicated a similar omen.
• Old Toad declared the shell inaccurate because the Great King’s power hid the secrets of heaven, then asked Fat Catfish to introduce him to the human who had negotiated for the stronghold.

Liang Qu persuaded Old Toad to fund an expansion of his pond by framing it as a plan to encircle the Great Marsh from the shore and eventually defeat the Flood Dragon. After discovering Old Toad was a rare Treasure Toad, Liang Qu shared the three Treasure Fish with the pond’s residents and gained a large amount of Marsh Essence.

• Liang Qu flattered Old Toad and proposed seeking allies on land to encircle the Great Marsh and defeat the Flood Dragon.
• Liang Qu convinced Old Toad that expanding the pond required more funds, and Old Toad handed over enough Treasure Fish to bring their total to three.
• Liang Qu questioned Old Giant Clam about the cracked Mystic Tortoise Shell, and Old Giant Clam said Old Toad was a rare Treasure Toad with unusually strong fortune.
• Liang Qu buried the shell to repair it and distributed the Treasure Fish among the beavers, River Otters, and other pond residents.
• Liang Qu ate the remaining fish meat and gained 864, 1064, and 963 Marsh Essence.

Liang Qu cultivated his fifth aperture and gained nearly three thousand Marsh Essence from half a Treasure Fish. At midnight, he brought two ship models to the Reed Marsh and sent Fat Catfish to trade with the Crimson Fire Bird for a golden feather.

• Liang Qu failed to loosen his sixth aperture despite digesting the Treasure Fish, but he remained patient and reflected on the dangers of the martial path.
• Liang Qu discovered that half of the Treasure Fish had yielded 2,891 points of Marsh Essence and praised Treasure Toad’s fortune.
• Great Beaver showed Liang Qu the completed warship model, and Liang Qu agreed to take it for a midnight trade.
• Liang Qu and six otters carried two ship models to the Reed Marsh, where Fat Catfish was waiting.
• Liang Qu reminded Fat Catfish of the Fire Bird and ordered A Fei to trade for a golden feather from the Crimson Fire Bird.

Liang Qu decided to refor ge Fubo with the Crimson Fire Bird’s Nirvana Golden Feather, and Fat Catfish found the feather in Toad’s cave while delivering two new Ship Models. After learning that a human was behind the ships, Toad asked to meet him.

• Liang Qu examined the chips in Fubo and decided its next reinforcement should use the Crimson Fire Bird’s Original Life Golden Feather.
• Fat Catfish carried the two Ship Models to Toad Cave and searched for the golden feather.
• Fat Catfish found the feather near a boulder and tried to blow it toward Toad, but it became lodged in a crack.
• Toad woke from the feather’s heat, then eagerly inspected the delivered Sand Ship and Guang Ship.
• Liang Qu told Fat Catfish to explain the human’s role truthfully, and Toad asked to meet him.

Liang Qu followed Fat Catfish into the Deep Water Area to meet Toad, discovering a strange underwater landscape and a collection of wrecked ships. Toad inspected him and questioned whether he was truly human, leaving Liang Qu unsure why he seemed unusual.

• Liang Qu accepted Toad’s invitation after receiving the Crimson Fire Golden Feather and changed into a blue robe before setting out.
• Fat Catfish guided Liang Qu through the Undercurrent Tunnel, catching him when the vortex flung him into the Deep Water Area.
• Liang Qu noticed that the water pressure was unexpectedly mild and explored the glowing, plant-filled riverbed, where no small fish were present.
• Liang Qu climbed a slope and saw enormous wrecked ships arranged around Toad’s stone grotto.
• Toad examined Liang Qu and asked whether he was human because he did not feel like a person.

Liang Qu met Toad, who recognized a resemblance between him and the Flood Dragon’s current form and suspected he was connected to the Dragon Lord. Toad opposed the Flood Dragon, warned Liang Qu away from the marsh’s north and east, and let him take another item in exchange for the ships.

• Toad studied Liang Qu and said he resembled the Flood Dragon as it was now, then realized Liang Qu might be the person the Flood Dragon was seeking.
• Toad recalled the Dragon Lord and suspected Liang Qu resembled the Dragon Lord rather than the Flood Dragon, possibly because of a blood connection.
• Toad decided to oppose the Flood Dragon until the Dragon Lord’s death was explained and sent Liang Qu and Fat Catfish to the stone grotto.
• Toad warned Liang Qu to avoid the north and east of the Great Marsh’s Deep Water Area because they were unsafe.
• Toad offered Liang Qu one additional item for the ships and went to sleep.

Liang Qu explored Toad Boss’s cave and took a piece of Ink Dragon Gold to strengthen Fubo, leaving a marker and gaining unusually large amounts of Marsh Essence in the Deep Water Area. Back at the pond, he let the Water Beasts enjoy a hot spring heated by the Crimson Fire Golden Feather, then called Lu Gang over to show him the feather.

• Liang Qu searched Toad Boss’s cave, found Ink Dragon Gold, and left a similarly sized stone and a message to show what he had taken.
• Liang Qu passed through the Undercurrent Tunnel and discovered he had gained 2.4 Marsh Essence during his short stay in the Deep Water Area.
• Liang Qu returned to his pond and found the beasts using the Crimson Fire Golden Feather to heat the water for a hot spring.
• Liang Qu let the beasts soak through the night, then sent them to the Great Marsh the next morning.
• Liang Qu called Lu Gang to the courtyard and showed him the nearly boiling pond and the Crimson Fire Golden Feather.

Liang Qu asked Lu Gang to reforge Fubo using a Crimson Fire Golden Feather and Ink Dragon Gold, and Lu Gang agreed to seek help from their master and father. In the Great Marsh, Great River Otter tried to recruit Fat Catfish to help reclaim its den by promising grilled fish.

• Lu Gang recognized Liang Qu’s Crimson Fire Golden Feather and learned that he also had a large piece of Ink Dragon Gold for reforging Fubo.
• Lu Gang worried that he might ruin the rare materials, but Liang Qu accepted responsibility for any failure and Lu Gang agreed to proceed.
• Lu Gang said Master and his father would help, and he planned to refine the fire-aligned materials during the coming rain.
• Great River Otter cooked a grass carp with Fist and brought it to Fat Catfish to win its favor.
• Great River Otter asked Fat Catfish to help its family reclaim their den and promised it one thousand portions of grilled fish.

Liang Qu went with Yang Dongxiong and Xu Zishuai to Lu Residence, where Lu Gang began enhancing the Subduing Waves Spear with the Crimson Fire Golden Feather. Meanwhile, the Great River Otters advanced through the rain with Ironwood Mountain and Ferocious Fang General’s aid, confident they would defend their home.

• Xu Zishuai begged Liang Qu for a mourning feather and a chance to join his profitable work, but Liang Qu explained that the feathers were too weak and asked whether he knew carpentry.
• Xu Zishuai accompanied Liang Qu and Yang Dongxiong to Lu Residence to watch the spear enhancement.
• Lu Gang dismantled the Subduing Waves Spear and placed it in the Furnace with the Crimson Fire Golden Feather during the torrential rain.
• The Great River Otters rode Cannot Move and Fat Catfish through Jiang Huai Great Marsh after securing Ironwood Mountain and Ferocious Fang General’s help, believing victory was assured.

Lu Gang, Lu Zao, and Yang Dongxiong forged the Crimson Fire Golden Feather and Ink Dragon Gold into Liang Qu’s spear, Fubo, while suppressing the Golden Feather’s attempt to take over the weapon. The Golden Feather’s resistance faded after Liang Qu repeatedly poured his blood into the furnace, and Lu Gang began the final hammer-forging.

• Lu Gang hammered the Crimson Fire Golden Feather while Yang Dongxiong struck it with martial intent, weakening its spirituality so it could be woven into Fubo.
• The Ink Dragon Gold softened and merged into Fubo, but the Golden Feather tried to change bodies and be reborn inside the spear.
• At Lu Gang’s command, Liang Qu cut his wrist and repeatedly supplied blood to suppress the Golden Feather’s intelligence.
• After six blood pourings, the Golden Feather’s cry weakened, and Liang Qu collapsed from blood loss as the forging’s danger passed.
• Lu Gang shook out Fubo and began its final hammer-forging after the Ink Dragon Gold displaced the Tungsten Gold.

One-Eyed River Otter’s tribe fought Great River Otter’s group in the Great Marsh, while fishermen recognized Fat Catfish as the rumored Little River God. At the Lu Residence, Fubo’s enhancement succeeded, and Lu Gang made a qi imprint of Liang Qu’s spear.

• One-Eyed River Otter led twelve River Otters into battle against Great River Otter’s group, which included Fat Catfish and Cannot Move.
• The two tribes clashed in the marsh, and One-Eyed River Otter overpowered Great River Otter until Fat Catfish rushed to help.
• Three fishermen watched the fight and suspected that the black-tailed fish was the Little River God rumored to send fish to people who prayed.
• Fubo’s enhancement was completed, and Yang Dongxiong had Lu Gang capture the weapon’s peak qi in an imprint before Liang Qu could test it.
• Lu Gang explained qi imprinting, and Liang Qu compared the imprint to a banner praising a medical clinic, making Lu Zao laugh.

Lu Gang finished reforging Liang Qu’s spear, Fubo, and Liang Qu discovered that it had gained extraordinary power while remaining light in his hands. Lu Gang warned that the Crimson Fire Bird might still have a trace of will within the weapon, though it would eventually be worn away and absorbed.

• Lu Gang completed and preserved an imprint of Fubo before presenting the reforged spear to Liang Qu.
• Liang Qu took hold of Fubo and sensed a powerful bond, then found it light in his grasp despite its Ink Dragon Gold body.
• Liang Qu swung Fubo and split a stone slab without the spear blade touching it, prompting Lu Gang to explain that its aura let Liang Qu release gang qi ahead of his cultivation progress.
• Lu Gang warned Liang Qu that the Crimson Fire Bird might retain a weak trace of will inside Fubo, which could gradually be worn away as the weapon was nurtured.
• Liang Qu could not sense any remaining will and marveled that the Crimson Fire Bird had survived repeated transformations and reforging.

Liang Qu returned home in the rain, learned that the River Otters had won back their former home but chose to remain at his pond, and received ore from them. After having Lu Gang identify the ore, Liang Qu met Li Shoufu, who brought him a roster of River Earls and River Chiefs assigned to him.

• Liang Qu returned home after Fubo's forging was finished and asked Fan Xinglai whether anyone had come to see him.
• Liang Qu watched the Great River Otter and the Fat Catfish argue over their victory against the One-Eyed River Otter, then learned from Old Giant Clam that the River Otters had reclaimed their property but could not safely keep their old home.
• The River Otter family gave Liang Qu two pieces of Gray Steel, and the beaver family prepared to use the remaining ore for a second wooden house.
• Liang Qu practiced his Azure Dragon Spear Technique during the continuing rain, then visited Lu Gang, who identified the Gray Steel as worth about three hundred and sixty taels.
• Li Shoufu visited Liang Qu and delivered Ran Zhongshi's roster of River Earls and River Chiefs assigned to him.

Liang Qu reviewed the officials assigned to his jurisdiction and recognized several familiar names among them. As heavy rain delayed his pond project, River Earl Cha Qing arrived with a parcel, leaving Liang Qu to wonder why he had come.

• Li Shoufu gave Liang Qu a detailed roster of the towns, villages, and river officials under his jurisdiction.
• Liang Qu recognized Yan Qingshan, Yan Chongwen, Zhu Chunqiao, Ji Youdong, and Kou Zhuang, and Li Shoufu explained their backgrounds and appointments.
• Liang Qu spoke with Li Shoufu about local affairs before Li Shoufu left, reflecting on Liang Qu's growing presence and his own stalled career.
• The next day, continued rain delayed Liang Qu's pond expansion, though his recovery and cultivation had improved.
• Cha Qing visited Liang Qu carrying an oiled-paper parcel of local specialties, and Liang Qu asked if a Spirit Monster was causing trouble.

Liang Qu received gifts from Cha Qing, Fan Zixuan, and four returning subordinates as they sought to welcome him and earn his favor. Just as he accepted their gifts, Li LiBo arrived with urgent news that Hua Zhu County had flooded.

• Cha Qing brought Liang Qu Yangxian Snow Bud and flattered him with stories of his family and admiration for Liang Qu.
• Fan Zixuan presented Liang Qu with a costly Hazel Grouse, and Liang Qu accepted it while giving him ten taels of silver.
• Liang Qu sampled the tea and had the Hazel Grouse stewed as more visitors arrived.
• Yan Qingshan, Yan Chongwen, Zhu Chunqiao, and Ji Youdong presented Liang Qu with a thumb ring, which he accepted.
• Li LiBo urgently told Liang Qu that Hua Zhu County had flooded.