Chapter Summaries

Meng Zhao assessed Zhu Guangxi’s Golden Core and arranged to hide him and his companions while Sifang City’s gates remained sealed. After Shopkeeper Chai demonstrated his disguise technique, Meng Zhao told the three men to wait while he prepared new identities for them.

• Meng Zhao examined Zhu Guangxi’s Golden Core, judged it suitable for cultivation, and put it away with the other treasures.
• Meng Zhao warned Zhu Guangxi that the city’s twelve major forces and the Heavenly Punishment Hall had sealed the gates, and said he would find them a safe hiding place and new identities.
• Meng Zhao offered Zhu Guangxi a Human Skin Mask once worn by Shi Jie, but asked how Shopkeeper Qian and Shopkeeper Chai could conceal their distinctive appearances.
• Shopkeeper Chai used a secret technique to transform his body, then explained that speaking made him revert and that he could not leave without a Waist Token or Travel Permit.
• Shopkeeper Qian promised he could disguise himself with time, and Meng Zhao told the three men to wait while he prepared supplies and new identities.

Meng Zhao arranged disguises and a secluded safe house for Zhu Guangxi, Shopkeeper Qian, and Shopkeeper Chai as they fled the search in Nan'an Commandery City. The three agreed to follow his plan, and Meng Zhao left open the possibility of calling on their help in the future.

• Shopkeeper Qian worried that Meng Zhao might betray them, but Zhu Guangxi believed the Golden Core and Lord Zhao Hun’s influence made that unlikely.
• Meng Zhao returned with disguises, forged Waist Tokens, weapons, and other supplies, then helped the three men conceal their identities.
• Meng Zhao laid out rules for hiding at his private residence, assigning Zhu Guangxi the identity of Shi Jie and telling Shopkeeper Chai to pose as a mute.
• Zhu Guangxi apologized for injuring Meng Zhao and promised compensation, but Meng Zhao declined and asked instead to build a connection for possible future aid.
• Zhu Guangxi and Shopkeeper Qian agreed to help Meng Zhao if he ever needed them, while Shopkeeper Chai signaled his agreement.

Meng Zhao and Zhu Guangxi were stopped by Li Ping’s patrol while moving through Nan'an, and Meng Zhao fought back when a guard tried to seize him. He revealed his name to Li Ping, whose confidence collapsed upon recognizing him.

• Li Ping and Qin left a pleasure house and searched the streets for Zhu Guangxi with their patrol.
• Li Ping’s men stopped Meng Zhao and his three companions, suspecting them of being wanted criminals.
• Meng Zhao signaled his companions to stay calm as a guard reached to seize him.
• Meng Zhao struck the guard, broke his hand, and restrained him with inner breath before kicking him back toward Li Ping.
• Li Ping warned Meng Zhao against resisting the joint search force, and Meng Zhao identified himself as Meng Zhao.
• Li Ping turned green when he recognized Meng Zhao’s name.

Meng Zhao tried to leave with Zhu Guangxi and the two shopkeepers after Li Ping verified his identity, but the Seventh Young Master of the Qin Family of Marquis Julu blocked their way. Li Ping identified the two noble scions and tried to prevent a clash, while Meng Zhao recognized the Qin Family’s formidable standing.

• Li Ping doubted Meng Zhao’s claim until a subordinate examined the horse-faced man’s injuries and confirmed the Red Flag Order’s inner force.
• Meng Zhao ordered Li Ping to clear the road and prepared to leave with Zhu Guangxi, Shopkeeper Qian, and Shopkeeper Chai.
• The Seventh Young Master of the Qin Family of Marquis Julu refused to move and demanded that Meng Zhao apologize to Li Ping and identify his companions.
• Li Ping explained that Meng Zhao was a son of the Meng Family and introduced the youth as the Seventh Young Master of the Qin Family of Marquis Julu.
• Meng Zhao recalled the Qin Family’s influence in Ji Prefecture and the fearsome reputation of its three thousand Giant Spirit Divine Soldiers.

Meng Zhao confronted Young Master Qin and his escort, Master Bai, after they blocked his way in Nan'an. Young Master Qin yielded, then learned more about the Meng Family’s power and prepared to visit the Sun Family over his arranged marriage.

• Meng Zhao threatened Young Master Qin and ordered him to move aside, warning that Nan'an was Meng territory.
• Master Bai assessed Meng Zhao and the Innate Master with him as dangerous, then stepped aside; Young Master Qin reluctantly followed.
• After Meng Zhao and his companions left, Master Bai and Li Ping explained the Meng Family’s influence and why fighting them in Nan'an would be risky.
• Young Master Qin asked Master Bai to accompany him to the Sun Family to meet the woman his father had chosen as his principal wife.
• Li Ping warned Young Master Qin that the Sun Family might be trying to use the marquis’s estate against the Meng Family, leaving him uneasy about the visit.

Qin Tao visited the Sun Family to consider marrying its Sixteenth Miss, and her beauty overcame his reluctance despite his concerns about the Meng Family. Before he could agree, shocking news caused Old Master Sun to faint, leaving the marriage unsettled.

• Young Marquis Fang departed quietly from the Marquis of Qingning's Estate while Qin Tao arrived at the Sun Family with Master Bai.
• Old Master Sun introduced his Sixteenth granddaughter, and Qin Tao was captivated by her appearance and figure.
• Qin Tao questioned whether marrying into the Sun Family would make the Marquis of Julu oppose the Meng Family.
• Old Master Sun assured Qin Tao that the Marquis had approved the match and said the decision was his to make.
• A middle-aged Sun Family man whispered urgent news to Old Master Sun, who fainted in shock.
• The Sun Family rushed to tend to Old Master Sun and escorted Qin Tao out without settling the marriage.

Qin Tao learned that the Sun Family’s powerful patron in the capital had died by suicide after a scandal, leaving the family exposed to its enemies. Master Bai confirmed that the Marquis of Julu’s Estate would abandon its planned marriage alliance with the Sun Family, while Li Ping suspected the Meng Family might be involved in the patron’s downfall.

• Li Ping arrived with Master Bai and told Qin Tao that the Sun Family’s patron had died after the Heavenly Punishment Hall uncovered his involvement in human trafficking and connections to the Demonic Path.
• Qin Tao realized the Sun Family had lost its protection and was vulnerable to retaliation from its enemies.
• Qin Tao asked Master Bai whether his father still intended to arrange a marriage with the Sun Family’s daughter.
• Master Bai said the Marquis had pursued the alliance because of the patron’s influence, but that the arrangement was now unnecessary.
• Li Ping warned that the Meng Family might take advantage of the Sun Family’s weakness and noted that the Kong Family, allied with the Meng Family, had led the attacks against the fallen patron.

After military equipment was discovered in Sun Family properties, the prefectural government sealed the family’s assets and confined its clansmen as the Meng Family and its allies moved against them. Meng Zhao practiced calligraphy to temper his inner strength, then received Sun Chuanshan in his study.

• The prefectural guards found military equipment in a Sun Family vault and uncovered further caches capable of arming five thousand men.
• The Sun Family denied hoarding the weapons, but the prefectural government sealed its properties and confined its clansmen while awaiting the provincial government’s response.
• Meng Zhao understood that the Meng Family’s campaign could also bring down the Sun Family’s allies and officials connected to the weapons transactions.
• Sun Chuanshan paid to request a meeting, and Meng Zhao agreed to receive him at his residence in Prosperous Peace Ward.
• Meng Zhao practiced a calligraphy-based cultivation method before Lü Yue brought Sun Chuanshan into the study, where Meng Zhao also asked A'Le to listen.

Sun Chuanshan begged Meng Zhao to save him from the Sun Family’s impending ruin, but Meng Zhao refused and denied that Sun Chuanshan had ever been his man. Sun Chuanshan then offered the Sun Family’s wealth and rare cultivation treasures in exchange for help.

• Sun Chuanshan entered Meng Zhao’s quarters, fell to his knees, and begged him to save him from the Sun Family’s downfall.
• Meng Zhao told Sun Chuanshan that the Sun Family’s treasonous actions made its situation impossible to fix and refused to promise help.
• Sun Chuanshan admitted the Meng Family had largely caused the Sun Family’s disaster and asked Meng Zhao to save him alone.
• Meng Zhao said their dealings had been mutually beneficial and advised Sun Chuanshan to return home and enjoy what time remained.
• Sun Chuanshan recognized that begging would not sway Meng Zhao and offered the Sun Family’s riches, including Flood Dragon Scales, Dragon Blood Grass, and Blood Soul Pills.

Meng Zhao questioned Sun Chuanshan about the Sun Family’s hidden treasures and learned they were stored with a wealthy Sun Family in Li Family Town. Sun Chuanshan warned that his father planned to trade the treasures and secret information to the Marquis of Julu’s Estate, leaving Meng Zhao to decide how quickly to act.

• Meng Zhao pressed Sun Chuanshan for the location of the Flood Dragon Scales, Dragon Blood Grass, and Blood Soul Pills.
• Sun Chuanshan revealed that the treasures and a large amount of wealth were hidden with the Sun Family in Li Family Town, twelve li east of Nan'an Commandery City.
• Lü Yue said the Li Family Sun clan had no known connection to the commandery city Sun Family.
• Sun Chuanshan disclosed that Steward Sun of Li Family Town was his father's illegitimate son.
• Lü Yue pressed Sun Chuanshan, who revealed that his father intended to sell the treasures and secret information to the Marquis of Julu's Estate in exchange for saving Sun Family members.
• Meng Zhao guessed the secret concerned a flood dragon laying eggs in Cloud Mist Mountain and resolved that he could still seize the goods if Qin Tao and Bai Shicheng reached them first.

Meng Zhao had Sun Chuanshan killed to keep the Sun Family’s secrets from reaching the Meng Family, then prepared to secure the hidden treasures before others could claim them. He ordered Lü Yue to dispose of the body and summoned Uncle Zhong for a swift departure.

• Sun Chuanshan promised to keep the Sun Family’s hidden information secret and begged Meng Zhao to spare his life.
• Meng Zhao ignored Sun Chuanshan, and Lü Yue killed him and searched his body.
• Meng Zhao explained that he had killed Sun Chuanshan to silence him and protect his plans from suspicion within the Meng Family.
• Meng Zhao ordered Lü Yue to return the body to the Sun Family with evidence of Sun Chuanshan’s robbery, settle the matter quickly, and keep Eldest Uncle uninformed.
• Meng Zhao told Lü Yue to summon Uncle Zhong so they could move quickly to secure the Sun Family’s hidden treasures.

Steward Sun learned that his son had been kidnapped and was ordered to hand over something, then called off the search and refused extra guards. Outside the estate, Meng Zhao told Lü Zhong he needed items from the Sun Family treasury to survive the dangerous awakening of his Special Physique, even if it meant opposing his uncles.

• Steward Sun whipped two servants to death for failing to watch over the Young Master.
• A guard gave Steward Sun a note and the Young Master's temple talisman, and Steward Sun reacted with shock and fear after reading the note.
• Steward Sun ordered the corpses removed, called back the men searching for the Young Master, and rejected a suggestion to hire more guards.
• Lü Zhong warned Meng Zhao that acting against the Sun Family could anger Meng Jizu and Meng Hongdao and cost them the Tuxiu Treasure's gains.
• Meng Zhao told Lü Zhong that he needed items from the Sun Family treasury to improve his chances of surviving his Special Physique's awakening.

Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong infiltrated the Sun residence to find Steward Sun and seize his treasure, learning that an unknown faction had also threatened him through his kidnapped son. They reached the guarded wine storehouse, where Lü Zhong silently incapacitated the guards, and Meng Zhao asked how he had done it.

• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong slipped into the Sun residence using their lightness skills, and Lü Zhong captured a servant boy to learn about Steward Sun and the Sun Family's Young Master being kidnapped.
• Lü Zhong wondered whether the Meng Family was behind the kidnapping, but Meng Zhao judged that their relatives would have attacked the Sun Family openly instead.
• Meng Zhao decided to find Steward Sun and seize the goods, then learned from the servant that Steward Sun had recently been sleeping in his wine storehouse.
• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong headed to the wine storehouse, where eight trusted martial arts experts guarded the entrance.
• Lü Zhong used Yin Needles formed from Innate Yin Qi to silently knock out the guards, and Meng Zhao asked him to explain the technique.

Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong tried to reach Steward Sun in the wine storehouse, but after Lü Zhong failed to break its reinforced door, they entered through a wall and discovered the room was a trap. Meng Zhao realized Steward Sun had misled everyone and vanished after learning the Sun Family was in danger.

• Lü Zhong struck the reinforced wine-storehouse door with a powerful palm, but only left a shallow print and failed to open it.
• Meng Zhao suggested breaking through the wall instead, and Lü Zhong blasted an opening into the storehouse.
• Meng Zhao stopped Lü Zhong from entering and urged him to check for people inside.
• Lü Zhong sensed no one inside and detected the smell of alcohol and lamp oil, revealing that the storehouse was a trap.
• Meng Zhao concluded that Steward Sun had deceived the Sun Residence and escaped after learning the Sun Family was in danger.

After Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong failed to find the Sun Family’s hidden treasures, they escaped the Sun Residence without harming anyone. Steward Sun inspected the damage, suspected an Innate Master had attacked him, and set out with A Tang to meet the people who had abducted Young Master Sun, while Meng Zhao planned to investigate the family before trying again.

• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong fled the Sun Residence before its guards arrived, leaving the intruders unconscious and the wine cellar damaged.
• Steward Sun asked an old beggar to assess the palm print, and the beggar judged its maker likely to be an Innate Master before accepting payment.
• A Tang, Steward Sun’s favored servant, concealed his killing intent as Steward Sun ordered a carriage and summoned him to go out.
• Steward Sun’s guards suspected he was going to meet the bandits who had abducted Young Master Sun, and that the damage was their warning.
• Back at their farmhouse lodging, Meng Zhao reassured Lü Zhong that the setback had not shaken him and decided they should investigate Steward Sun and the Sun Family.

Disguised as a stranger, Meng Zhao gathered information about the Sun Residence by buying breakfast for several guards. Their stories revealed details about Young Master Sun’s abduction and Steward Sun’s suspicious disappearance, leaving Meng Zhao with a growing list of clues about the Sun Family.

• Lü Zhong and Meng Zhao secretly entered the city in disguise to investigate the Sun Residence, while Lü Zhong went off to gather information.
• Meng Zhao stopped at a breakfast stall near the Sun Residence and overheard Sun Family guards complaining about their work and Steward Sun.
• When the guards rebuffed him, Meng Zhao remained unmoved by their strongest man’s shove, earning their respect and a seat at their table.
• Meng Zhao paid the guards for information, and they explained that Young Master Sun had vanished while out with two Servant Boys, who were later whipped to death after their story was exposed.
• A guard said Steward Sun had entered and locked himself inside the wine storehouse before disappearing, then arrived from outside shortly afterward, prompting suspicions of a tunnel or hidden exit.
• As Meng Zhao bought more food and listened, the guards shared further strange stories about the Sun Family’s past.

Meng Zhao heard rumors about the Sun Family from several servants before Lou Qier, an old beggar, offered him more information for silver. Lou Qier warned him that Steward Sun and the household’s servant boys practiced martial arts, leaving Meng Zhao to consider how that knowledge affected his plans.

• Meng Zhao listened as men speculated about Young Master Sun’s parentage, Steward Sun’s fertility, and his fondness for the servant boy A Tang.
• Lou Qier struck a gossiping man and warned him to stop talking about Steward Sun, sending him and his companions away.
• Lou Qier sat with Meng Zhao, paid for breakfast, and introduced himself as an injured martial artist hiding in Li Family Town while cultivating a Peerless Divine Skill.
• Meng Zhao paid Lou Qier for information about the Sun Family, and Lou Qier warned him that Steward Sun had reached at least Postnatal Great Accomplishment Stage and practiced the sinister Essence Gathering Technique.
• Lou Qier told Meng Zhao that the Sun Family’s servant boys also practiced martial arts, with Internal Martial Arts from the same lineage as Steward Sun’s.
• Meng Zhao suspected that A Tang was the servant boy whose martial arts shared Steward Sun’s lineage.

Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong compared what they had learned about the Sun Family and reconsidered whether Young Master Sun’s kidnappers had taken the family’s hidden treasures. Meng Zhao suspected Steward Sun might be plotting to claim the treasures himself, so they decided to keep their attention on the Sun Residence in Li Family Town.

• Meng Zhao wondered about Steward Sun, Young Master Sun, and Servant Boy A Tang, then realized the Old Beggar had disappeared without his noticing.
• Meng Zhao returned to the farmhouse and shared information with Lü Zhong, who reported that Steward Sun had ransomed Young Master Sun, who was gravely injured.
• Meng Zhao questioned whether ordinary kidnappers would know about the Sun Family’s rare hidden treasures, and Lü Zhong realized he had been making assumptions.
• Meng Zhao argued that Steward Sun might be exploiting the kidnapping to take the treasures for himself, given the Sun Family’s decline and Steward Sun’s possible resentment.
• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong decided to focus on the Sun Residence rather than pursue the unknown kidnappers, accepting that they might find nothing.

Meng Zhao explained how Steward Sun had deceived visitors from Marquis of Julu's Estate and Fire Dragon Cave to protect the Sun Family’s treasures. Suspecting Young Master Sun’s injuries were real and that he was not Steward Sun’s biological son, Meng Zhao planned to investigate the Sun Residence that night.

• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong disguised themselves as farmers and secretly watched the Sun Residence for two days.
• Qin Tao and Bai Shicheng visited the Sun Residence, investigated the Sun Family’s affairs, and left disappointed.
• Zheng Xie visited after them, investigated the story, and also left without finding the treasures.
• Meng Zhao explained that Steward Sun had staged a mysterious band of thieves to redirect suspicion and give himself time to leave with the treasures.
• Meng Zhao suspected Steward Sun had arranged for Young Master Sun to be genuinely injured, possibly because the young man was not his biological son.
• Meng Zhao told Lü Zhong they would explore the Sun Residence again that night, expecting Steward Sun to act after the visitors departed.

A servant boy learned that Steward Sun planned to kill the dying Young Master Sun before the Sun Family’s downfall, then encountered a powerful hidden attacker in the garden. The attacker overwhelmed him and seized him by the throat.

• Steward Sun told the servant boy that the Sun Family was selling its properties and instructed him to flee with his mother, while Young Master Sun would be left to die.
• The servant boy urged Steward Sun to take Young Master Sun along, but Steward Sun called him a disposable tool and warned that his survival could expose their lies.
• The servant boy left the room, revealing that he had spent years disguising himself as an ordinary servant after Steward Sun made him abandon his identity as a young master.
• In the garden, the servant boy sensed a hidden presence and prepared to defend himself with the martial arts Steward Sun had taught him.
• An unseen attacker praised the servant boy’s skill, swept aside his palm strike, and seized his throat with overwhelming force.