Chapter Summaries

Meng Zhao and Zhu'er traveled in disguise with the caravan, where Big Beard treated them to cooked food. Their meal was interrupted by a band of mountain bandits, including a scholar-like man Zhu'er recognized, though he failed to identify Meng Zhao.

• Meng Zhao bought flatbread and water for himself and Zhu'er, but Zhu'er refused to eat until Big Beard brought them beef and roast chicken.
• Zhu'er and Meng Zhao shared the cooked food while Meng Zhao secretly fed pills to the young flood dragon.
• A band of armed mountain bandits arrived, and Zhu'er trembled when she saw their scholar-like second-ranking figure.
• Meng Zhao noticed Zhu'er's fear, guessed the scholar had been sent by Qian Jiao, and pretended to be terrified with her.
• The scholar-like bandit searched the crowd but dismissed Meng Zhao as harmless, then led the bandits into the tavern.

Meng Zhao learned that Lu Haochun, a disciple of Qian Jiao, had arrived with a band of suspicious men, likely seeking Zhu'er. Lu Haochun began searching the tavern while the bandit leader weighed the dangers of making trouble there.

• Meng Zhao secretly freed Zhu'er's voice and asked her about Lu Haochun, learning that he was Qian Jiao's vicious disciple known as the Poison Heart Scholar.
• Zhu'er explained Lu Haochun's martial art and said she did not know whether he had come to capture Meng Zhao.
• Lu Haochun entered the tavern with several fierce-looking men and told the Tavern Proprietress that he only wanted to find someone.
• The Tavern Proprietress allowed Lu Haochun to search the hall but said he could not seize anyone until they left her establishment.
• One of the men urged the Bearded Man to rob the caravan and abduct the proprietress, but the Bearded Man warned him that the tavern held dangerous fighters.

Lu Haochun confronted the tavern proprietress while searching for Meng Zhao, but Big Beard recognized the man in the portrait before a fight could break out. Lu Haochun turned to question Big Beard about Meng Zhao’s whereabouts.

• Lu Haochun showed the proprietress Meng Zhao’s portrait and offered her a valuable jade ring for information.
• The proprietress recognized Meng Zhao but refused to answer directly, telling Lu Haochun to ask the tavern’s patrons.
• Lu Haochun threatened the proprietress and demonstrated his palm strength by leaving a deep, precise print in the counter.
• As the tavern’s patrons prepared for a fight, Big Beard suddenly remembered the man in the portrait and announced it.
• Lu Haochun approached Big Beard and asked whether he knew where Meng Zhao was.

Lu Haochun tried to make Big Beard reveal the whereabouts of the person in his portrait, but Big Beard recognized Meng Zhao and refused to betray him. Their confrontation turned violent, leaving Meng Zhao and Zhu'er outside the tavern as the situation spiraled into chaos.

• Lu Haochun offered Big Beard fifty taels for information, but Big Beard recognized the portrait as Meng Zhao and refused to reveal where he was.
• Lu Haochun insulted Big Beard, who unleashed a Sound Wave Skill that shook the tavern and shattered cups and bowls.
• Big Beard hurled a wine table at Lu Haochun, and the Bearded Fierce Man split it apart with his Thick-backed Golden Ring Great Saber.
• The Bearded Fierce Man's bandits locked the tavern doors as guests tried to escape the brewing fight.
• Outside the tavern, Zhu'er urged Meng Zhao to flee, while Meng Zhao wondered whether the conflict had anything to do with him.

Meng Zhao brought Zhu'er to the tavern, intending to capture Lu Haochun and learn about Qian Jiao’s forces. The tavern’s patrons discovered their internal strength had been poisoned away, and the proprietress accused Lu Haochun of using the Demon Venerable Hall’s Solitary Night Fragrance.

• Meng Zhao restored Zhu'er's internal strength and warned her that a battle might break out before pulling her toward the tavern.
• Big Beard prepared to fight using the Myriad Purple Thousand Red Body Refining Technique, confident that its strength would let him escape if needed.
• Big Beard and most others who had circulated their internal strength found it rapidly draining away, and the patrons accused the tavern of poisoning them.
• The proprietress ignored the customers' curses and confronted Lu Haochun, identifying the poison as Solitary Night Fragrance smeared on his scented fan.
• The proprietress accused Lu Haochun of belonging to the Demon Venerable Hall and cited the poison's role in the death of the Innate swordmaster Chu Xiangchuan.

Lu Haochun’s Demon Venerable Hall forces attacked the tavern after he recognized the proprietress’s knowledge of Solitary Night Fragrance. Big Beard fought the Bearded Man despite losing his inner strength, but was defeated, leaving the proprietress concerned that he might reveal Meng Zhao’s whereabouts.

• Lu Haochun questioned the Tavern Proprietress about her knowledge of Solitary Night Fragrance, and she remained silent.
• Big Beard rallied the tavern patrons and charged the Bearded Man, while Lu Haochun watched the ensuing slaughter.
• The Bearded Man gained the advantage over Big Beard, who could no longer use his inner strength.
• Lu Haochun suspected the Tavern Proprietress was connected to the Meng Family and decided she should die.
• The Bearded Man used the golden rings on his saber to disorient Big Beard, then knocked him to the floor and made him spit blood.

The Tavern Proprietress tried to kill Big Beard, prompting Lu Haochun to suspect she was tied to the Meng Family, while Meng Zhao watched from outside. The proprietress warned Lu Haochun not to pursue Meng Zhao, but after he tore up Meng Zhao’s portrait, her servant attacked him.

• The Bearded Man defeated Big Beard, and the Tavern Proprietress suddenly fired three silver needles at him before the Bearded Man blocked them.
• Lu Haochun shielded Big Beard and accused the Tavern Proprietress of being from the Meng Family, while Meng Zhao watched from outside the tavern.
• The Tavern Proprietress warned Lu Haochun that Meng Zhao was beyond the Demon Venerable Hall’s reach, and Lu Haochun questioned whether she meant the same Meng Zhao he sought.
• Lu Haochun tore up Meng Zhao’s portrait to provoke the proprietress, who angrily ordered her servant to attack him with a short sword.

A Tavern servant boy revealed himself as a formidable assassin and nearly killed Lu Haochun with a surprise sword attack. After Lu Haochun barely stopped the strike, the servant boy launched a desperate second attack, ending the chapter in a burst of crimson sword light.

• The Tavern servant boy attacked Lu Haochun with a sword, and Lu Haochun deflected the servant boy’s first strike with his Sandalwood Fan.
• Meng Zhao, Lu Haochun, Big Beard, and the Bearded Man recognized that the servant boy was an assassin rather than a conventional martial artist.
• Lu Haochun used his movement technique to evade the servant boy’s sword and caught the blade between his bare palms, suffering wounds to his hands.
• Meng Zhao considered the servant boy’s resemblance to Yang Jiu and wondered whether he belonged to Dark Sun, Lone Wolf, or another assassin organization.
• The servant boy refused to retreat after his first strike failed and launched a second, self-sacrificing attack at Lu Haochun.
• The servant boy’s sword light erupted in a bleak crimson radiance as he swore to kill Lu Haochun.

The Tavern servant boy unleashed a devastating sword strike that severed Lu Haochun’s hands and left him badly wounded. The Bearded Man accepted the Tavern Proprietress’s offer to leave, while Lu Haochun was left crippled and abandoned.

• The Tavern servant boy drew on his potential and life force to strike Lu Haochun, cutting off both his hands and stabbing him in the abdomen.
• The Bearded Man realized he could not withstand the Tavern servant boy or the Tavern Proprietress and hesitated over whether to retreat.
• The Tavern Proprietress offered to let the Bearded Man and his men leave if they abandoned Lu Haochun.
• Lu Haochun tried to threaten the Bearded Man, but one of his underlings urged their leader to withdraw instead of risking the gang’s lives.
• The Bearded Man withdrew his saber, thanked the Tavern Proprietress, and agreed to leave at once.

The Tavern Proprietress stopped Bearded Man from taking Big Beard and questioned him about the person in a portrait. Big Beard revealed that the disguised man was traveling with his merchant caravan under the name Jiang Ergouzi, leaving the Tavern Proprietress with a lead on the person pursued by the Demon Venerable Hall.

• Bearded Man tried to abduct Big Beard, but the Tavern Proprietress ordered him to leave Big Beard behind and let the bandits take the other captives and the caravan.
• After the bandits departed, the tavern cook complained to Qing Niang about her meddling, while she insisted they could not ignore the matter involving Lu Haochun.
• Big Beard challenged the Tavern Proprietress and the cook, then accepted her offer to spare him and take him on as a subordinate in exchange for answering questions.
• The Tavern Proprietress asked whether Big Beard knew the person in a portrait, and he confirmed that the man he knew had been disguised.
• Big Beard said the man was traveling with his merchant caravan as Jiang Ergouzi, had paid extra to join midway, and was accompanied by a fat, ugly woman he called his wife.

The Tavern Proprietress questioned the crippled Lu Haochun about the Demon Venerable Hall’s search for a man, while Meng Zhao secretly listened outside. Their conversation led Lu Haochun, Big Beard, and Meng Zhao to suspect that the man and Meng Zhao were connected by an uncanny resemblance or hidden identity, leaving Meng Zhao determined to act.

• The Tavern Proprietress threatened Lu Haochun and offered to spare him if he revealed why the Demon Venerable Hall was searching for the man and how many people remained.
• Lu Haochun asked whether the sought-after person was Meng Zhao of the Meng Family, and the proprietress reacted with confusion before wondering if Meng Zhao was the man’s true identity.
• Lu Haochun realized that the man and Meng Zhao might be different people who looked alike, or that Meng Zhao might be one of the man’s identities, and he cursed Qian Jiao for sending him into danger.
• Big Beard wondered whether Jiang Ergou had been Meng Zhao in disguise and regretted thinking he could make him a disciple.
• Listening outside, Meng Zhao feared that the man might look exactly like him and reasoned that the Tavern Proprietress could help uncover the secret.
• Meng Zhao concluded that he had another reason he had to act.

Meng Zhao rescued Lu Haochun from the Tavern servant boy and entered the tavern in disguise, intending to question him about Qian Jiao and investigate the person who might resemble him. Big Beard recognized Meng Zhao despite his disguise and took his arrival as a sign that he might be saved.

• The Tavern Proprietress decided to have the tavern’s witnesses killed rather than risk learning more about Meng Zhao’s identity.
• The Tavern servant boy rushed to kill Lu Haochun, but Meng Zhao hurled a pebble that struck the wall with enough force to make him dodge.
• Meng Zhao entered the tavern with Zhu'er, masked and dressed in shabby clothes, while his powerful presence drew everyone’s attention.
• Big Beard recognized Meng Zhao from his clothes and Zhu'er, marveling at how different he seemed from Jiang Ergou and feeling relieved that Meng Zhao had arrived.

Meng Zhao persuaded the Tavern Proprietress to let him take Lu Haochun, then demanded Big Beard as well. The proprietress weighed resisting him against Xiao Nan’s fragile condition and had not yet answered.

• The Tavern Proprietress asked Meng Zhao whether he belonged to the Demon Venerable Hall, and he denied it, saying he wanted Lu Haochun for questioning.
• The cook urged the Tavern Proprietress to hand Lu Haochun over, and she agreed.
• Meng Zhao had Zhu'er treat Lu Haochun and move him to the tavern entrance.
• Meng Zhao asked to take Big Beard too, and the cook argued that Big Beard was useless to the tavern.
• The Tavern Proprietress considered objecting but worried that Xiao Nan was too exhausted to survive another fight.

Meng Zhao forced the Tavern Proprietress to surrender Lu Haochun and Big Beard, then demanded details about the person behind their dispute. After Meng Zhao crushed Xiao Nan’s ranged attack, Xu Duo attacked him with his kitchen knife, leaving the fight unresolved.

• The Tavern Proprietress agreed to hand over Big Beard, who sprang up and took refuge behind Meng Zhao.
• Meng Zhao demanded to hear the details of the person who had caused the dispute, further enraging the tavern’s occupants.
• Xiao Nan launched pieces of broken furniture and porcelain at Meng Zhao, who destroyed them with a punch that demonstrated his powerful inner force.
• The Tavern Proprietress ordered Xu Duo to kill Meng Zhao, and Xu Duo reluctantly prepared to fight.
• Xu Duo charged at Meng Zhao with a fierce saber technique, sending a chilling slash toward his throat.

Meng Zhao faced cook Xu Duo and survived his extraordinary kitchen-knife strike by using the Iron Refining Hand and shattering the blade. He recognized Xu Duo’s skill as the Butcher’s Knife Technique, while Xu Duo lamented that he was not yet the butcher.

• Xu Duo attacked Meng Zhao with a kitchen knife, and Meng Zhao used Thousand Needle Rain to blunt the strike before retreating and flicking the blade three times.
• The kitchen knife broke apart, and Meng Zhao asked Xu Duo the name of his technique.
• Xu Duo said he had developed the nameless knife skills while learning to cook from his master and called them the Vegetable-Cutting Knife Technique.
• Meng Zhao recognized the technique’s deeper saber intent and renamed it the Butcher’s Knife Technique.
• Xu Duo accepted the name but said the blade had failed to harm Meng Zhao and that he was not the butcher.

Meng Zhao fought Xiao Nan, who used the Self-Sacrificing Art to protect Qing Niang, and killed him without being injured. The Tavern Proprietress mourned Xiao Nan as Xu Duo wondered how Meng Zhao could be so powerful while still seeming to be an acquired-realm martial artist.

• Xiao Nan activated the Self-Sacrificing Art and charged Meng Zhao to keep him from reaching the Tavern Proprietress.
• Meng Zhao met Xiao Nan's attack head-on and fought him with overwhelming force.
• Meng Zhao blasted Xiao Nan from the fight, and the Self-Sacrificing Art's effects left Xiao Nan dead.
• The Tavern Proprietress grieved over Xiao Nan's body while Xu Duo watched Meng Zhao in disbelief.

Meng Zhao defeated Xu Duo and revealed his identity after the Tavern Proprietress recognized him. When she expected to die rather than surrender, Meng Zhao secretly restrained her with Dragon Binding Finger, leaving her unable to move.

• Xu Duo attacked Meng Zhao with a crane-like finger technique, but Meng Zhao crippled his hand and struck him three times, sealing his inner force, burning his meridians, and breaking his breastbone.
• Big Beard and Zhu'er watched in shock as Meng Zhao swiftly overpowered Xu Duo.
• The Tavern Proprietress recognized Meng Zhao, and he removed his face covering and admitted that his disguises had given him away.
• The Tavern Proprietress declared that she would rather die than be captured, but Meng Zhao secretly used Dragon Binding Finger to immobilize her.
• The Tavern Proprietress called Meng Zhao despicable for launching a sneak attack, while Big Beard and Zhu'er stared in disbelief.

Meng Zhao used intimidation to subdue the innkeeper, then questioned the wounded Lu Haochun about the Demon Venerable Hall’s pursuit of him. Lu Haochun began revealing Qian Jiao’s plans, including that Qian Jiao was hiding in Datong Town.

• Meng Zhao admitted that he had used a dishonorable method to restrain the innkeeper and tightened his grip on her neck until she nearly suffocated.
• Meng Zhao left the innkeeper under the pressure of uncertainty and went to question the wounded Lu Haochun.
• Lu Haochun tried to win Meng Zhao’s favor by claiming he had only followed orders and had no intention of harming him.
• Meng Zhao accused Lu Haochun of serving Qian Jiao and pressed him for details about the operation, Qian Jiao’s forces, their locations, and their communications.
• Lu Haochun agreed to reveal everything and said Qian Jiao was hiding in Datong Town.

Meng Zhao learned from Lu Haochun that Qian Jiao's hidden injuries had left him desperate for Flood Dragon Blood, giving Meng Zhao a possible way to control him. After considering how to exploit the secret, Meng Zhao killed Lu Haochun without pain.

• Lu Haochun told Meng Zhao that Qian Jiao had brought seventeen men, including the Innate master Mu Ge and the poison expert Peng Chuan.
• Lu Haochun revealed that Qian Jiao's shortcut in cultivation had damaged his foundation and left him dependent on Flood Dragon Blood to heal his worsening injuries.
• Meng Zhao realized Qian Jiao might want only Flood Dragon Blood and could be seeking to use Tang Ling'er—or Meng Zhao—as leverage to obtain it.
• Meng Zhao considered using the treatment Qian Jiao needed to bring the injured elder under his control, while recognizing that Qian Jiao was cunning and dangerous.
• After Lu Haochun finished answering, Meng Zhao thanked him for his cooperation and killed him with a palm strike.

Meng Zhao killed Lu Haochun and took the innkeeper’s wife and Xu Duo to the tavern’s back kitchen to interrogate them alone. He began torturing the woman with boiling water, leaving her screaming in agony as he pressed for answers.

• Meng Zhao killed the crippled Lu Haochun to prevent Qian Jiao and his followers from learning where he was.
• Meng Zhao ordered Big Beard and Zhu'er to keep watch while he took the innkeeper’s wife and Xu Duo into the back kitchen.
• Big Beard and Zhu'er discussed whether Meng Zhao would kill the captives, and Big Beard decided to wait and thank him before leaving.
• Meng Zhao demanded that the innkeeper’s wife explain the identity of the person she had mentioned and her relationship with him.
• When the woman refused to answer, Meng Zhao poured boiling water onto her thigh, causing her to break down in pain.