Recaps

Jiang Liu discovered that his Auxiliary System could record martial techniques after he found the Fierce Tiger Fist manual, and he began training while preparing its medicinal decoction. After Jiang Liu discarded the bundle, its owner recovered it, while Jiang Liu’s system also recognized medicine preparation as a skill.

• Jiang Liu found a bundle containing the Fierce Tiger Fist manual after Fierce Tiger Gang members chased a thief past his home, and the Auxiliary System recorded the technique.
• Jiang Liu practiced the fist’s movements until his progress reached 2/10, then suffered from overtraining and decided to buy herbs for the prescribed decoction.
• The next morning, Jiang Liu discarded the bundle in an abandoned residence and went to several pharmacies, spending five hundred copper coins on herbs for five doses.
• A lecherous middle-aged man found the bundle Jiang Liu had left behind and hurried away with it, saying he would avenge Brother Bai and care for his family.
• Jiang Liu prepared the decoction at home, and the Auxiliary System recorded Alchemy as a skill.

Jiang Liu used medicinal soup to advance his Fierce Tiger Fist and began apprenticing at An Sheng Pharmacy under Doctor An Yuan. After reaching Body Refinement (Skin Tempering), he went to an abandoned residence to test his strength.

• Jiang Liu drank the Fierce Tiger Fist medicinal soup and found it let him complete two rounds of practice before his strength gave out.
• Jiang Liu asked An Yuan for an apprenticeship, joined An Sheng Pharmacy for thirty copper coins a month and meals, and quickly memorized part of the Complete Compendium of Medicinal Herbs.
• Jiang Liu brewed more medicine and trained until he advanced to Body Refinement (Skin Tempering), raising his Fierce Tiger Fist to Initiated.
• An Yuan noticed Jiang Liu looked taller and more robust, but Jiang Liu did not answer when asked whether he had made progress in martial arts.
• Jiang Liu decided to test his new strength at the abandoned residence and carefully entered its courtyard.

Jiang Liu investigated an abandoned residence, escaped the attention of the martial artist who followed him, and began learning to decoct medicine at Doctor An Yuan’s pharmacy. Ten days later, his Alchemy skill had improved, but lacking money for food and medicinal soup, he started considering how to earn silver.

• Jiang Liu entered the abandoned residence, fought off a shadowy attacker, and found a heap of clothes inside.
• The attacker ordered someone to investigate Jiang Liu and followed him through South City until Jiang Liu spotted him and let him go.
• Jiang Liu asked Doctor An Yuan to let him learn medicine decoction, and Doctor An Yuan assigned Zhang Liu to teach him.
• Jiang Liu studied herbs in the mornings, learned to decoct medicine in the afternoons, and practiced the Fierce Tiger Fist at night, though he could only train once a day without medicinal soup.
• After ten days, Jiang Liu saw that his Alchemy progress had advanced while his fist training remained slow, and he began looking for ways to earn silver by refining medicine.

Jiang Liu followed a Gang Helmsman and his men to Hu Estate but chose not to intervene, then learned they had looted the residence and killed two Entry Grade martial artists. Short on money for martial arts training, he agreed to test a new medicinal decoction for Master Lin for twenty taels per dose.

• Jiang Liu fled from six Gang members in Flowing Cloud Alley, then secretly followed them to Hu Estate, where a servant let them inside.
• Jiang Liu decided against entering Hu Estate and returned home to practice his fist techniques; the next day, he heard that Tycoon Hu's household had been looted and two Entry Grade martial artists had died.
• Jiang Liu asked Zhang Liu how to earn money, and Zhang Liu told him about paid medicine testing at the pharmacy.
• Master Lin arrived looking for a tester, and Zhang Liu introduced Jiang Liu as a suitable candidate.
• Master Lin offered Jiang Liu twenty taels per test and said he would not be responsible if anything went wrong; Jiang Liu accepted.

Jiang Liu tested Master Lin’s medicine, gained martial arts experience, and was invited to join the Fallen Blossom Gang. After deciding to accept, he received Doctor An Yuan’s blessing and medical books, then continued studying at the medicine shop before closing time.

• Jiang Liu drank the medicine and practiced Fierce Tiger Fist as Master Lin observed its effects and considered recruiting him.
• Jiang Liu gained experience and silver from the medicine test, and Master Lin invited him to join the Fallen Blossom Gang.
• Jiang Liu declined to let Master Lin speak to Doctor An Yuan on his behalf and said he would decide and speak to the doctor himself.
• Jiang Liu told Doctor An Yuan he wanted to join the gang, and the doctor warned him about the dangers of the Jianghu before giving him two books.
• Jiang Liu continued learning medicine brewing and invited the apprentices to drink with him after the shop closed.

Jiang Liu visited the Fallen Blossom Gang to seek Master Lin and undergo its recruitment tests. After learning the gang’s standards and benefits, he passed the bone-age and martial aptitude assessment, then proceeded to the physical aptitude test.

• Jiang Liu treated his senior brothers to a tavern meal and returned home, planning to visit the Fallen Blossom Gang the next day.
• Jiang Liu practiced Fierce Tiger Fist before going to the gang’s vast South City compound and asking to see Master Lin.
• Lin Hai told Jiang Liu that he had to pass several tests before joining, and explained the gang’s ranks, benefits, and cultivation opportunities.
• Uncle Feng examined Jiang Liu, confirmed that he was under sixteen and had reached Skin Tempering Great Accomplishment, and judged his aptitude above average.
• Lin Hai took Jiang Liu to the room for his second test and introduced him to Uncle Qin.

Jiang Liu completed the gang’s talent tests, earning high marks for comprehension and revealing that he could absorb medicinal concoctions exceptionally well. Lin Hai left with his results marked for special cultivation.

• Jiang Liu ran the speed and reaction course, where he dodged some stones but took hits as their numbers increased.
• Jiang Liu quickly learned the Basic Fist Technique, and Uncle Qin rated his speed and reaction average but his comprehension outstanding.
• Lin Hai brought Jiang Liu to Uncle Hai for a medicinal test, where Jiang Liu drank Blood Activating Concoction and practiced Fierce Tiger Fist repeatedly.
• Uncle Hai discovered that Jiang Liu absorbed the concoction’s medicinal potency unusually well and marked his results as a drug-receptive constitution worth cultivating.
• Uncle Hai dismissed Lin Hai and Jiang Liu, and Lin Hai led Jiang Liu out with the test sheet.

Jiang Liu joined the Fallen Blossom Gang, received an Identity Jade Token, and learned how the gang’s halls, missions, and resources worked. Master Lin ordered Lin Hai to watch Jiang Liu discreetly before deciding whether to grant him top-tier treatment, while Jiang Liu settled into his new residence and met his neighbor Wang Zhuang.

• Lin Hai took Jiang Liu to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, where a disciple registered him and gave him an Identity Jade Token.
• Lin Hai explained the Fallen Blossom Gang’s branch halls, mission system, points, and cultivation benefits as he showed Jiang Liu to his residence.
• Master Lin reviewed Jiang Liu’s test results, noted his rare drug-receptive constitution, and ordered Lin Hai to monitor him and initially provide standard resources.
• Jiang Liu inspected his furnished room and met Wang Zhuang, who lived next door and offered to take him to the Dining Hall later.
• Wang Zhuang told Jiang Liu that newcomers trained together under the Main Hall before returning to their branch halls and receiving hall-specific resources.

Jiang Liu practiced with Wang Zhuang and learned that his Fierce Tiger Fist could attract trouble from the Fierce Tiger Gang. The next day, he began basic cultivation at the Fallen Blossom Gang’s Training Hall, learned Five Elements Fist, and trained until evening.

• Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang ate at the Meal Hall, practiced their fist techniques, and discussed the Fierce Tiger Gang’s connection to Fierce Tiger Fist.
• Jiang Liu practiced Basic Fist Technique with Wang Zhuang and saw his Auxiliary System record progress in the technique.
• Wang Zhuang woke Jiang Liu before dawn, and they joined the other Training Hall apprentices for Master Ma’s basic cultivation lessons.
• Master Ma demonstrated his qi-and-blood pressure, explained the martial realms and training rules, and taught the apprentices Five Elements Fist.
• Jiang Liu recorded Five Elements Fist in his system and practiced it with the apprentices through the day, resting at meals with medicinal soup.

Jiang Liu reached the Beginner level in Five Elements Fist and earned a medicinal soup portion from Master Ma's special quota. After he refused to hand the portion over to a short, squat man, the man threatened to make him pay.

• Jiang Liu practiced Five Elements Fist and reached the Beginner level, noticing that his breathing and heartbeat had changed.
• Master Ma questioned Jiang Liu about his progress and ordered Xiao Qing to give him an extra bowl of medicinal soup.
• Jiang Liu received his special-quota medicinal soup while Wang Zhuang watched enviously.
• A short, squat man confronted Jiang Liu and offered silver for the soup portion, explaining that it could not be bought without the prescription.
• Jiang Liu refused to give up his portion and walked away, and the short, squat man vowed to make him regret it.

Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang fought the Pan brothers and their followers after Pan Hou accused Jiang Liu of taking his medicinal soup. Master Ma stopped the brawl and punished the apprentices, while Jiang Liu resumed training determined to grow stronger.

• Pan Hou confronted Jiang Liu and ordered his followers to attack him.
• Jiang Liu fought back against the group, and Wang Zhuang joined in to help him.
• Master Ma used his blood-and-vitality pressure to stop the fight and punished the participants by taking their noon medicinal soup and cutting the onlookers’ portions in half.
• After Master Ma lifted the pressure, Jiang Liu thanked Wang Zhuang, and the two joked about the Pan brothers’ nicknames.
• Xiao Qing began the drills, and Jiang Liu took his stance and practiced the Five Elements Fist.

Jiang Liu secretly obtained a Blood Activating Concoction from Uncle Hai to replenish his blood and qi, while the Pan Family brothers plotted against him. After his evening meal, Pan Duan and his men surrounded Jiang Liu, who seized Pan Hou by the throat and threatened the group.

• Jiang Liu practiced the Five Elements Fist and realized his blood and qi could not keep up without medicinal soup.
• Jiang Liu asked Uncle Hai for medicine, and Uncle Hai gave him a serving of Blood Activating Concoction.
• The Pan Family brothers followed Jiang Liu to the Medicine Hall, but Pan Duan stopped Pan Hou from reporting him without evidence and planned to confront him that night.
• Jiang Liu returned to the square and told Wang Zhuang that he had gone to relieve himself rather than reveal his visit to the Medicine Hall.
• After Jiang Liu drank his evening medicinal soup, Pan Duan, Pan Hou, and their men surrounded him outside the Dining Hall.
• Jiang Liu grabbed Pan Hou by the throat and warned Pan Duan and the others that they should be ready to collect Pan Hou's corpse.

Jiang Liu forced Pan Duan to swear that he would not seek revenge before releasing Pan Hou, then focused on improving his Five Elements Fist. The next morning, Master Ma assessed the apprentices, praised Jiang Liu’s progress, and warned Pan Hou to reach the Beginner stage or leave.

• Jiang Liu threatened to kill Pan Hou unless Pan Duan swore on his martial heart not to trouble him again, and Pan Duan agreed.
• Jiang Liu released Pan Hou, who wanted to resume the fight, but Pan Duan stopped him and took him and the lackeys away.
• Jiang Liu checked his system and practiced the Five Elements Fist before resting for the night.
• Master Ma assessed the forty-two apprentices’ Five Elements Fist demonstrations and criticized Pan Hou for his poor progress.
• Master Ma praised Wang Zhuang and Jiang Liu, then dismissed the apprentices to practice on their own.

Jiang Liu advanced to Flesh Hardening after reaching Minor Accomplishment in the Five Elements Fist, then merged his Fierce Tiger Fist proficiency into it. He continued training with Wang Zhuang and realized his progress could soon bring him to greater mastery.

• Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang sparred daily with the Five Elements Fist, rapidly improving their proficiency.
• Jiang Liu reached Minor Accomplishment in the Five Elements Fist, endured a painful breakthrough, and advanced from Skin Tempering to Flesh Hardening.
• Jiang Liu merged the Fierce Tiger Fist into the Five Elements Fist, transferring its 35 proficiency points and making his movements smoother.
• Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang went to the apprentice square, where Jiang Liu observed that the other apprentices had reached varying levels of Body Refinement.
• Jiang Liu practiced the Five Elements Fist eleven times that day and reached 48 proficiency, estimating that he could attain greater mastery in less than a month.

Jiang Liu began Bone Tempering after pushing his Five Elements Fist practice to its limit, and he discovered that his qi and blood circulated more smoothly through his breastbone. Meanwhile, Master Lin returned to Hunting Eagle Hall, looked into Jiang Liu’s background, and ordered Lin Hai to summon him while keeping a gambling-house cheating incident quiet.

• Jiang Liu reached fourteen daily rounds of the Five Elements Fist, defeated Wang Zhuang in their sparring sessions, and discovered that he had begun Bone Tempering at his breastbone.
• Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang practiced the Basic Fist Technique, which Jiang Liu merged into the Five Elements Fist to increase its proficiency.
• Master Lin asked Lin Hai about Jiang Liu, learned that he was an ordinary commoner with no unusual background, and said he wanted to examine him.
• Lin Hai told Master Lin that people had repeatedly cheated at the gambling house on Fu Rong Street and were being held in the dungeon.
• Master Lin ordered Lin Hai to keep the prisoners locked up and avoid drawing attention to the matter.

Jiang Liu impressed Master Lin by reaching Bone Tempering and earning top-tier treatment from the Fallen Blossom Gang. After learning the value and use of his new pills, Jiang Liu returned to his residence to cultivate in private.

• Lin Hai brought Jiang Liu to the Hunting Eagle Hall branch, where Master Lin tested his progress and praised his Bone Tempering and Five Elements Fist.
• Master Lin granted Jiang Liu special top-tier treatment and sent Lin Hai with him to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to collect his monthly allotment.
• The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall recorded Jiang Liu as a Top-Tier Treatment Apprentice and gave him three Bone Forging Pills, ten Qi and Blood Pills, and five taels of silver.
• Lin Hai explained the pills' uses and high prices, urging Jiang Liu to cultivate diligently and repay the hall.
• Jiang Liu returned to the main hall residence and decided to cultivate there so others would not learn he was using medicinal pills.

Jiang Liu tested a Qi and Blood Pill and continued cultivating, while the Hunting Eagle Hall investigated people cheating. The next day, he began learning the Wandering Steps and made progress tempering his bones.

• Jiang Liu swallowed a Qi and Blood Pill after practicing the Five Elements Fist, then used its heat to complete three more sets.
• Lin Hai reported to Master Lin that he had arranged things and explained that the suspected cheaters had begun appearing seven days earlier.
• Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang sparred until they were exhausted, and Jiang Liu circulated his qi and blood to recover and temper his bones.
• Master Ma announced that the apprentices could begin learning movement techniques, and Xiao Qing handed out the Wandering Steps manual.
• Jiang Liu practiced the Wandering Steps with Wang Zhuang throughout the day and later saw his system record his progress in the technique and bone tempering.
• Jiang Liu noticed his breastbone had finished tempering and that a rib had begun changing, then circulated his qi and blood twice before resting.

Jiang Liu practiced Wandering Steps until he reached the beginner level, then combined it with Five Elements Fist in sparring. His rapid progress left Wang Zhuang unable to keep up, so Jiang Liu returned to training alone while expecting Wang Zhuang to catch up soon.

• Jiang Liu practiced Wandering Steps for three days and reached the beginner level with help from the Auxiliary System.
• Jiang Liu sparred with Wang Zhuang and overwhelmed him with his smoother, more unpredictable footwork.
• Jiang Liu stopped Wang Zhuang from overtraining and took him to eat at the Dining Hall.
• Jiang Liu practiced combining Wandering Steps with Five Elements Fist and became familiar with the combination after two days.
• Wang Zhuang could no longer keep up with Jiang Liu and trained alone, leaving Jiang Liu without a sparring partner.
• Jiang Liu decided to cultivate alone until Wang Zhuang reached beginner-level Wandering Steps.

Jiang Liu and the other apprentices faced their first assessment under Master Ma’s crushing qi-and-blood pressure, and the weakest were expelled. After learning that another assessment would come next month, Jiang Liu resumed his strict cultivation routine to grow stronger in a dangerous world.

• Master Ma tested the forty-two apprentices by applying qi-and-blood pressure, and two who failed first were dragged away by gang members.
• Jiang Liu, Wang Zhuang, and Pan Duan endured longer than the others, but Jiang Liu eventually collapsed after the other apprentices had fallen.
• Master Ma announced that those who had failed to enter Flesh Hardening would be expelled unless their families repaid double their costs or they worked in Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
• When apprentices complained, Xiao Qing threatened to cut their medicinal soup rations and warned that Master Ma would assess them again next month.
• Jiang Liu recovered his qi and blood, then followed his strict cultivation regimen.

Jiang Liu reflected on his Bone Tempering progress and the gang apprentices’ harsh training conditions before sparring with Wang Zhuang. Wang Zhuang said he was preparing to begin Bone Tempering, while Jiang Liu revealed that he had already started.

• Jiang Liu checked his system panel and saw his Bone Tempering, Five Elements Fist, and Wandering Steps progress.
• Jiang Liu arrived at Apprentice Plaza, where the remaining apprentices trained diligently after several were eliminated and made to sweep snow.
• Jiang Liu sparred with Wang Zhuang and held back his strength while they exchanged blows until both were exhausted.
• Wang Zhuang told Jiang Liu he planned to begin Bone Tempering after pills arrived from home.
• Jiang Liu told Wang Zhuang that he had already started Bone Tempering.

Jiang Liu encouraged Wang Zhuang to cultivate patiently, then reflected on the powerful factions and Grandmasters of Jianghu. Meanwhile, Master Lin learned that Scattered Eagle Hall had sent men to cause trouble and ordered Lin Hai to capture them.

• Wang Zhuang worried he would fail the gang’s requirements and be forced to return home, while Jiang Liu urged him not to rush his cultivation.
• Jiang Liu returned to his courtyard, restored his qi and blood with Five Elements Fist, and recalled Uncle Hai’s account of the great factions and Grandmasters.
• Lin Hai told Master Lin that the troublemakers were likely sent by Scattered Eagle Hall under Zheng Lang, who resented losing a share of Fu Rong Street.
• Master Lin ordered Lin Hai to secure the Scattered Eagle Hall men for later use and capture the troublemakers without letting any escape.

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Liu visited the Medicine Hall and spent the holiday drinking with Uncle Hai, who shared the grief and helplessness behind his family’s destruction. After Jiang Liu described his own past, Uncle Hai examined him and asked about his plans as his cultivation advanced.

• Jiang Liu saw that the Training Hall was closed for the holiday and visited the empty Medicine Hall.
• Jiang Liu found Uncle Hai alone, and they discovered that neither had family to return to for New Year’s Eve.
• Jiang Liu used Uncle Hai’s Identity Jade Token to order food, and the two began drinking Uncle Hai’s treasured aged wine.
• Uncle Hai recalled that a wolf-hearted man had destroyed his family of five and admitted he had no way to find him for revenge.
• Jiang Liu told Uncle Hai a partly fabricated account of his parents’ deaths and how he became Master Lin’s apprentice.
• Uncle Hai asked about Jiang Liu’s future and examined him, remarking that he was nearing Entry Grade.

During a New Year's Eve gathering, Jiang Liu drank with Uncle Hai and Lin Hai, thanked them for their support, and asked about the Jianghu. Lin Hai began explaining the powerful groups of the Great Qian Dynasty, leaving the account unfinished after describing the Six Great Families.

• Jiang Liu told Uncle Hai that he planned to focus on improving his strength rather than worrying about matters he could not control.
• Lin Hai arrived late with wine, and he, Jiang Liu, and Uncle Hai shared a New Year's Eve drink and exchanged thanks.
• Jiang Liu asked Uncle Hai for advice about the Jianghu, and Uncle Hai warned him to think carefully before acting or drawing trouble to himself.
• Lin Hai explained that the Three Sects were the Flowing Cloud Sect, the Haotian Sect, and the Star Moon Sect, each led by a Peak Grandmaster.
• Lin Hai described the Four Schools and the Six Great Families, noting their martial arts, Grandmasters, and uncertain remaining strength.

Lin Hai explained the Seven Great Sects and began describing the Eight Great Exotic Valleys to Jiang Liu and Uncle Hai. The conversation ended with Uncle Hai offering to teach Jiang Liu medicine whenever he had free time.

• Lin Hai named the seven great sects, described them as three evil, three righteous, and one neither righteous nor evil, and said each had at least one Grandmaster.
• Lin Hai introduced the Eight Great Exotic Valleys and explained that Insect Valley's disciples raised, controlled, and fought with insects.
• Lin Hai described Longevity Valley's pursuit of immortality and its reputation for avenging disciples who were bullied.
• Lin Hai said Exotic Weapon Valley produced many of Jianghu's highest-grade weapons, despite its founder having come from Weapon Forging Sect.
• Lin Hai explained that Medicine King Valley's disciples traveled the world healing people, and Jiang Liu said he wanted to learn medicine for his own injuries.
• Uncle Hai offered to teach Jiang Liu medicine whenever he had free time, while Lin Hai watched with puzzlement and continued drinking.

Lin Hai explained the histories, abilities, and dangers of Soul Valley, Exotic Beast Valley, Corpse Valley, and Exotic Poison Valley to Jiang Liu. The conversation ended with Lin Hai, Jiang Liu, and Uncle Hai continuing to drink.

• Lin Hai described Soul Valley’s hidden base and mysterious soul art, clarifying that its strongest fighter was rumored to be a Grandmaster.
• Lin Hai explained that Exotic Beast Valley tamed and controlled exotic beasts, which could also devour humans to evolve.
• Lin Hai recounted how the three great super Sects wiped out the old Corpse Valley for turning buried ancestors into weapons, though the valley had recently reappeared in a more restrained form.
• Lin Hai warned Jiang Liu that Exotic Poison Valley used invisible poisons and guarded its secrets closely.
• Uncle Hai urged Lin Hai and Jiang Liu to stop talking and drink, and the three of them drained their cups together.