Chapter Summaries

Zhuang Jin kept a low profile while the Shen Family’s campaign against the Medicine King Gang proceeded smoothly, using the lull to cultivate and prepare for a breakthrough. At the year-end celebrations, he avoided compromising himself and welcomed the New Year beside Chen Yun, ending the chapter at peace with her beneath the fireworks.

• Zhuang Jin declined to compete with the other Ward Garrison Commanders for military merit and devoted himself to cultivation as the Medicine King Gang was pushed back.
• By the end of the month, Zhuang Jin’s seven-meridian accumulation was nearly complete, and he expected to break through to eight meridians within days.
• Zhuang Jin divided East Bridge Dock’s year-end income among direct distributions, a celebration lottery, and the public treasury, then attended the district celebration hosted by Guo Liangping.
• Liu Licheng brought the supposedly drunken Zhuang Jin home and teased him about the courtesans, while Chen Yun recognized that Zhuang Jin had only pretended to be drunk.
• Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun walked through the lively streets, returned near the hour of the ox, and watched the New Year fireworks together from a stone bridge.

Zhuang Jin accepted an escort assignment for the Fei Family tribute delegation and secretly feared the Medicine King Gang would attack it on the return journey. After reaching Eight Meridians, he tried to prepare the delegation himself when the Shen Family ignored his warning, and he began suggesting an alternative route to Fei Zecheng.

• Zhuang Jin learned that he had to escort a county tribute delegation home and, after consulting Zou Qingfeng, accepted the assignment despite its interruption to his cultivation.
• Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun prepared for his departure, and he cultivated until he broke through to Eight Meridians on the ninth day of the First Lunar Month.
• Fu Honggang and Chou Pan finalized the Medicine King Gang's secret plan to attack the returning tribute delegations, and Dong Pei joined the reassigned fighters.
• Zhuang Jin learned that he would escort the Fei Family delegation from Linji County, submitted a warning that the General Affairs Department ignored, and began making his own preparations.
• Zhuang Jin questioned Fei Zecheng about the delegation's ships, guards, and Azure Origin Liquid, then asked whether they had to travel with the main group, alarming Fei Zecheng.

Zhuang Jin departed with the Linji County tribute convoy, leaving Chen Yun behind as he worried over a possible Medicine King Gang ambush. He and Fei Zecheng secretly left the fleet with the Azure Origin Liquid, while the attackers captured only a decoy convoy and began searching for them.

• Chen Yun saw Zhuang Jin off at the docks, then struggled with her longing after he sailed away.
• Zhuang Jin left the fleet to speak with Fei Zecheng and warned him that the Medicine King Gang might attack the convoy.
• Fei Zecheng agreed to travel separately with Zhuang Jin and the Azure Origin Liquid, using a stand-in to appear with the fleet.
• Three days after departure, Lord Lu ordered an ambush at Yunshui Ravine, but the attackers discovered that Fei Zecheng and Zhuang Jin had already switched to the land route.
• Lord Lu learned that the real targets had escaped with the Azure Origin Liquid and suspected that other attackers might still catch them.

Zhuang Jin and Fei Zecheng took the Azure Origin Liquid overland to avoid a Medicine King Gang ambush, but the gang attacked them in Tangerine Leaf Forest. Zhuang Jin revealed he had reached Eight Meridian, killed three gang leaders, and planned to use his injury and battle merits to secure time to recuperate after returning.

• Zhuang Jin and Fei Zecheng left the fleet with the Azure Origin Liquid and traveled overland toward Baishui Market.
• Medicine King Gang members ambushed their carriage in Tangerine Leaf Forest, where Dong Pei recognized the disguised Zhuang Jin.
• Zhuang Jin revealed his Eight Meridian strength, badly injured Dong Pei, and stopped Zhou and Weng from reaching the Azure Origin Liquid.
• Zhuang Jin killed Zhou and Weng, then beheaded the wounded Dong Pei, while Fei Zecheng defeated the gang's ordinary Martial Artists.
• Zhuang Jin told Fei Zecheng to preserve the three leaders' heads for battle merits and privately planned to keep his minor injury long enough to earn rear-area recuperation.

Zhuang Jin and Fei Zecheng reached Baishui Market after repelling the Medicine King Gang’s ambush, and Zhuang Jin chose to keep the victory quiet while escorting the Azure Origin Liquid to Linji County. Across the Prefecture City, the other county parties’ losses shook the Shen Family, while Zhao Bin and Miao Shao plotted to target Zhuang Jin’s family.

• Fei Zecheng reported that the returning fleet had not arrived and that the Medicine King Gang had ambushed the waterways; Zhuang Jin decided they would continue by water and withhold news of their victory.
• Zhuang Jin reasoned that the Medicine King Gang’s forces were stretched across seven county routes and that publicizing his victory could make him a target, so he focused on delivering the Azure Origin Liquid safely.
• The Medicine King Gang attacked the other county parties, killing their escorting Seven Meridian Martial Artists and stealing their Azure Origin Liquid, while Zou Qingfeng escaped after Zhuang Jin’s warning.
• The Shen Family learned of the attacks as the Medicine King Gang counterattacked North of the City, prompting the Shen Family Patriarch to activate double Merit Points to steady the front lines.
• Zhao Bin and Miao Shao assumed Zhuang Jin had been killed and agreed to use a pawn to target his family.

After Zhuang Jin went missing, Chen Yun faced Min Shang’s theft and false accusation while discovering that Miao Shao and Zhao Bin were behind the pressure on her household. She gathered a smaller group of loyal martial artists to respond, but Liu Licheng refused to help, leaving her to rely on the connections Zhuang Jin had left behind.

• Chen Yun learned that Min Shang had stolen valuables and fled, then collapsed after government constables arrived to investigate a false report from his family.
• Min Shang hid in his family’s cellar while Min’s Mother praised his theft and reassured him that Zhuang Jin was likely dead and that they had a powerful backer.
• After waking, Chen Yun went out to face the martial artists who had gathered and explained that Miao Shao and Zhao Bin were likely using the case against her.
• Most of the martial artists left, but Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, Lin Hong, Bi Kai, Wu Hao, Qian Wende, and others stayed and divided tasks to investigate Min Shang’s family, deal with officials, and protect Chen Yun and her siblings.
• Chen Yun sought help from Liu Licheng, but he avoided meeting her and let her leave without offering support.

Chen Yun and Chen Honggan took refuge at Shen Family Headquarters while Zhao Bin and Miao Shao’s plot was halted by Xing Yan’s warning. Zhuang Jin returned to Prefecture City with proof of victory over the Medicine King Gang, then learned that his family had been harmed and reacted with killing intent.

• Chen Yun declined to seek Shen Xuqing’s help and arranged to stay at Shen Family Headquarters, while Xue Yandao and Duan Tao reported that Zhuang Jin’s head was not among the Medicine King Gang’s trophies.
• Xing Yan sent Xing Jian to deal with the government officials and Xing Li to warn Zhao Bin and Miao Shao against targeting Chen Yun and Chen Honggan.
• Zhao Bin and Miao Shao abandoned their plan after Chen Yun and Chen Honggan remained under protection at the headquarters, though Zhao Bin still vowed to wait for them to leave.
• On the twenty-second day of the first month, Zhuang Jin and Fei Zecheng reached Linji County, obtained the signed receipt for the Azure Origin Liquid, and Zhuang Jin hurried back to Prefecture City.
• On the twenty-seventh day of the first month, Zhuang Jin returned to Shen Family Headquarters with three heads of Seven Meridian Martial Artists from the Medicine King Gang, and Mu Mingxi awarded him twenty-three thousand battle merits.
• Zhuang Jin reunited with Lin Hong, Bi Kai, and the bruised Qian Wende, who told him that his family had been bullied and Chen Yun had coughed up blood; Zhuang Jin’s gaze turned murderous.

After reuniting with Chen Yun, Zhuang Jin began pursuing those responsible for the attack on his family through official channels. The Shen Family’s two department heads ordered Miao Shao and Zhao Bin arrested, and a joint enforcement squad arrived to take them in.

• Zhuang Jin reunited with Chen Yun at the Shen Family Headquarters, comforted her, and promised to handle the people who had targeted her.
• Zhuang Jin recognized his allies and ordered Lin Hong and Bi Kai to deliver gifts, while Qian Wende went to capture Min Shang.
• Zhuang Jin advanced to Two-Pattern Guard and submitted reports about the incident to the Law Enforcement Division and General Affairs Department.
• Mu Mingxi and Li Ping discussed how to punish Miao Shao and Zhao Bin while preserving procedural justice, then ordered their arrest and investigation.
• Miao Shao and Zhao Bin learned that Zhuang Jin had returned and discussed denying their involvement before a joint enforcement squad arrived with an order to take them away.

Zhuang Jin and Qian Wende exposed Min Shang’s parents’ extortion and punished them after Qian Wende killed Min Shang. The next day, Zhuang Jin accepted Shen Xuchen’s settlement over Miao Shao and Zhao Bin, and Shen Xuchen began revealing secrets about the Medicine King Gang, Azure Origin Liquid, and Black Fiend Art.

• Qian Wende paid Min Shang’s parents, had Min Shang brought in, and forced them to admit he was their son after they had accepted compensation for his disappearance.
• Qian Wende killed Min Shang and demanded tenfold compensation from his parents for extortion, while Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun left as screams sounded behind them.
• Shen Xuchen told Zhuang Jin that Miao Shao and Zhao Bin could not be convicted without evidence but would be assigned to the dangerous front near the Medicine King Gang.
• Zhuang Jin accepted a Town Garrison Commander post in East of the City and agreed to let the matter stand for now.
• Shen Xuchen said Zhuang Jin had passed an assessment and offered to explain the Medicine King Gang’s rise, the origin of Azure Origin Liquid, and the secret of the Black Fiend Art.

Shen Xuchen explained the origins of the Azure Origin Pots, the Black Fiend Art, and the three generations of martial cultivation methods, revealing how medicinal cultivation shaped the cost and limits of each path. Zhuang Jin realized that his ability to break through without bottlenecks let him benefit from the Black Fiend Art without suffering its usual drawbacks.

• Shen Xuchen told Zhuang Jin that an immortal had created the Black Fiend Art and refined Azure Origin Pots to cultivate Black Jade Grass for Black Essence Powder.
• Zhuang Jin connected the Medicine King Gang’s herb gathering and the county tributes to the Shen Family’s need for medicinal herbs to produce Azure Origin Liquid.
• Shen Xuchen explained that Azure Origin Liquid contained Heaven and Earth Origin Energy and accelerated Black Jade Grass’s growth more than other herbs.
• Shen Xuchen described the Black Fiend Art, the Five Elements Version Cultivation Method, and the Five Elements Mutation Cultivation Method, along with the increasing costs and benefits of their provisions.
• Zhuang Jin concluded that his rapid breakthroughs let him avoid the Black Fiend Art’s usual bottlenecks, while expensive provisions explained why later cultivation methods and bottleneck pills were difficult to obtain.

Shen Xuchen explained how Azure Origin Pots shaped Great Qian’s power and how the Medicine King Gang’s rise led to the chaos that ruined Zhuang Jin’s family. He also described the nine Mysterious Lands and their connection to an ancient immortal, leaving Zhuang Jin more aware of the world’s scale but determined to proceed cautiously.

• Shen Xuchen explained that the Five Great Clans and other powerful groups controlled Azure Origin Pots, while the Medicine King Gang’s hidden growth sparked a conflict with the Shen Family two years earlier.
• Zhuang Jin realized his rapid breakthrough had caused the Shen Family to suspect he possessed an Azure Origin Pot, and Shen Xuchen confirmed that Mu Mingxi had requested an assessment.
• Zhuang Jin reflected that his innate ability could be mistaken for talent, while a physical treasure would likely have made him a target for the Shen Family and the Medicine King Gang.
• Shen Xuchen told Zhuang Jin that nine regions of concentrated Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, known as the Mysterious Lands, attracted beasts and accelerated the growth of medicinal herbs.
• Shen Xuchen said Pine Ridge was the largest Mysterious Land and lay near the capital, Yong’an; Zhuang Jin wondered about the ancient immortal’s origins but resolved to focus on advancing along the Martial Way.

Zhuang Jin distributed treasury assets to the martial artists who had supported him and announced his transfer to East of the City, taking trusted subordinates with him. As the others faced remaining at East Bridge Dock, Du Shiyuan worried about the dangers ahead and began building an alliance with Wei Xun.

• Zhuang Jin gave most of the assets to those who had stood by him, defending the distribution as within his authority and justified by their service protecting his family.
• Zhuang Jin announced that he would leave East Bridge Dock next month and named the trusted martial artists he would take to East of the City.
• Qu Zhe begged to go with Zhuang Jin, but Zhuang Jin ordered him to remain at East Bridge Dock, prompting laughter from the gathered martial artists.
• Wei Xun regretted leaving Zhuang Jin's side, while Du Shiyuan warned him that the loyalists might have faced retaliation if Zhuang Jin had not returned.
• Du Shiyuan worried that a new commander might discriminate against people of his background and deliberately drew closer to Wei Xun.

After returning safely, Zhuang Jin rejected Liu Licheng’s attempt to restore their former friendship and reflected on trust, human nature, and his reasons for pursuing strength. He reaffirmed that he sought power to protect those he loved, then gave Chen Honggan money toward his upcoming marriage.

• Zhuang Jin refused Liu Licheng’s gifts and dismissed his efforts to preserve their connection after the General Affairs Department’s inspection.
• Liu Licheng admitted the inspection had been official business, then left under Zhuang Jin’s calm scrutiny.
• Chen Honggan revealed that Chen Yun had served him vegetarian meals while fasting and praying for Zhuang Jin’s safe return.
• As he shared lunch with Chen Yun and Chen Honggan, Zhuang Jin realized that he pursued power to protect the people he cared about.
• Zhuang Jin offered Chen Honggan five hundred taels for his marriage, and Chen Honggan accepted after Chen Yun nodded.

Zhuang Jin accepted a transfer to peaceful Qingyuan Township, intending to focus on growing stronger rather than meddling in its profitable, tangled affairs. Meanwhile, Shen Xianhong explained to Shen Xuchen how strength underpinned influence, and Zhuang Jin began investigating the township while ordering Qian Wende not to stir trouble.

• Zhuang Jin received visits and gifts from township commanders who apologized for their past arrogance after his rapid rise.
• Chen Yun and Zhuang Jin chose Song Lan as their second maid, packed their belongings, and left for East of the City.
• Shen Xuchen reported that Zhuang Jin had accepted compensation and a transfer, while Zhao Bin and Miao Shao were being watched and assigned to the front line.
• Shen Xianhong demonstrated his strength by splitting a stone chessboard with a petal and taught Shen Xuchen that personal strength was the foundation of command.
• In Qingyuan Township, Zhuang Jin told Ban Ming, Song Jinghui, and Huang Hua to keep existing arrangements, choosing not to disrupt local interests.
• Zhuang Jin ordered Qian Wende to investigate Qingyuan Township without causing trouble and directed him to seek help from Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, and Lin Hong if needed.

Zhuang Jin resisted Ou Wenzhong’s attempts to recruit and entangle him, buying only the Blood Jade Ginseng for Chen Yun at market price. After Qian Wende exposed the deep corruption and dangerous alliances east of the city, Zhuang Jin decided to avoid getting involved and focus on recuperating.

• Ou Wenzhong visited Zhuang Jin, praised him, proposed sworn brotherhood, and offered armor, Blood Jade Ginseng, and property to win him over.
• Zhuang Jin rejected the gifts and Ou Wenzhong’s demand that he stay out of local affairs, then negotiated to buy only the Blood Jade Ginseng at market price.
• Ou Wenzhong asked Zhuang Jin to look after the Street Guardians Ban Ming, Song Jinghui, and Huang Jun, and Zhuang Jin agreed as long as they caused no trouble.
• Three days later, Qian Wende reported that east of the city was controlled by entrenched networks of corrupt officials and business interests.
• Zhuang Jin told Qian Wende that they would avoid the dangerous local struggle and had come east of the city only to recuperate.

Zhuang Jin enjoyed a quiet life in the east of the city while cultivating and keeping clear of the Shen Family’s battles. After learning that Miao Shao had died, he turned his thoughts to Zhao Bin and prepared to break through to the Ninth Meridian.

• Zhuang Jin cultivated while Chen Yun recovered and made their home more comfortable, and Ou Wenzhong visited with gifts and news.
• Ou Wenzhong told Zhuang Jin that the Shen Family had launched counterattacks against the Medicine King Gang and that the fighting had grown increasingly brutal.
• On March twenty-first, Ou Wenzhong reported that Miao Shao had died in battle in South of the City.
• Zhuang Jin considered using Miao Shao’s family’s fate to pressure Zhao Bin, who remained trapped on the front line under surveillance.
• Zhuang Jin completed his accumulation in the Eighth Meridian Realm after using expensive Flesh Refining Minor Accomplishment Exotic Beast Meat.
• Zhuang Jin focused his Inner Breath on the Foot Greater Yang Meridian to begin breaking through to the Ninth Meridian.

Zhuang Jin reached Nine Meridians and arranged to investigate Miao Shao’s family, but an attempted scheme by Huang Jun forced him to discipline the Qing’an Street commander. He left Huang ordered to transfer out and demanded that Huang’s elder handle any compensation.

• Zhuang Jin broke through to Nine Meridians and planned to conceal his progress while preparing to reach Ten Meridians.
• Zhuang Jin asked Zou Qingfeng to investigate Miao Shao’s family, and they agreed he would collect the information at the end of the month.
• Zhuang Jin discovered that Huang Jun had submitted an overpriced street renovation proposal for his approval, hoping to make him take responsibility for it.
• Zhuang Jin accused Huang Jun of trying to deceive him and ordered him to apply for a transfer out of Qingyuan Township the following month.
• Huang Jun pleaded for leniency, but Zhuang Jin told him to have his elder come to discuss compensation.

Zhuang Jin challenged Huang Tianjun after he tried to dismiss Huang Jun’s offense without a proper apology, then defeated and slapped him. Zhuang Jin rejected Huang Tianjun’s offer of shop deeds and demanded that father and son transfer out of East of the City, prompting Huang Tianjun to invoke his family’s long roots there.

• Huang Tianjun brought Huang Jun to Zhuang Jin and demanded that they forget the matter without offering an apology or compensation.
• Zhuang Jin proposed a spar and overwhelmed Huang Tianjun, landing a slap that left him stunned and disheveled.
• Zhuang Jin mocked Huang Tianjun for his double standards and explained that he had returned the treatment Huang Jun had given him.
• Huang Tianjun admitted his son was at fault and offered the deeds to ten shops, then offered two more when Zhuang Jin refused.
• Zhuang Jin demanded that Huang Tianjun and Huang Jun apply for transfers out of East of the City next month.
• Huang Tianjun rejected the demand and declared that the Huang family had lived in East of the City for three generations.

Zhuang Jin forced Ou Wenzhong’s faction to discipline Huang Tianjun and Huang Jun after their attempt to challenge him, then learned that the faction had killed Miao Shao’s entire household. The chapter left Zhuang Jin wary of the faction’s reach and convinced that he needed greater strength to avoid being controlled or openly threatened.

• Zhuang Jin mocked Huang Tianjun and Huang Jun, then told Ou Wenzhong about their confrontation and warned that he would not tolerate being tested or bullied.
• Huang Tianjun tried to rally his backers against Zhuang Jin, but Ou Wenzhong investigated, exposed his distortions, and turned the faction against him.
• The enormous rat faction decided to transfer Huang Jun to the North of the City frontline and exile Huang Tianjun to the dangerous South of the City frontline.
• Ou Wenzhong offered the Huang family’s estate as compensation, but Zhuang Jin refused and heard that Miao Shao’s family had died in a fire.
• Zhuang Jin suspected the fire was both compensation and a warning from Ou Wenzhong’s faction, and concluded that he needed greater strength.

Zhuang Jin appointed Qian Wende as Qing'an Street's Street Guardian and warned him not to abuse his position or break the law. After learning of the Miao family's deaths, Zhao Bin feared Zhuang Jin's retaliation and tried to survive by repeatedly getting injured on the front lines.

• Zhuang Jin made Qian Wende the Street Guardian of Qing'an Street and told him not to overreach or violate Da Qian Law.
• Zhuang Jin reflected that the Huang father and son's downfall had made Ban Ming and Song Jinghui keep their heads down, leaving him free to focus on cultivation.
• Zhao Bin learned that all thirty-three members of the Miao family had died in a fire and accused Zhuang Jin of arranging revenge.
• The Law Enforcement Division rejected Zhao Bin's report for lack of evidence and ruled the fire a natural accident.
• Fearing he would be punished whether he defected or stayed, Zhao Bin began deliberately getting injured to avoid serving on the front lines.