Chapter Summaries

Chu Qing uncovered the horrors at Autumn Food Villa, captured Wang Kuan, and slaughtered the villa’s inhabitants before freeing its imprisoned captives. He discovered that Wang Kuan’s Heart Transformation Demonic Art shared a lineage with the Hate Heart Demonic Art and began torturing Wang Kuan for information about its origins.

• After learning that Autumn Food Villa’s masters ate people, Chu Qing and Wu Qianhuan fought through the guards while Fish Sixteen led them toward Wang Kuan.
• Chu Qing crushed Xu Zhen’s bones and seized Wang Kuan, while Wen Rou found a copy of the Heart Transformation Demonic Art in the secret passage.
• Chu Qing killed nearly everyone at Autumn Food Villa and freed the captives from their cages.
• Chu Qing read Wang Kuan’s manual and recognized its connection to the Hate Heart Demonic Art, but found that it contained only the first three levels.
• When Wang Kuan refused to reveal where he had obtained the manual, Chu Qing used the Mysterious Heaven Black Gold Palm to torture him.

Chu Qing uncovered how Wang Kuan and Little Blade King Li Shengxing used the Heart Transformation Demonic Art on slaves and learned that Li Shengxing was an expert on the Mirror of Sin’s Seventy-Two Evil Execution List. After killing Wang Kuan, Chu Qing prepared to settle the rescued slaves in Tongyao City, while Fish Sixteen tried to secure a place at his side.

• Wang Kuan told Chu Qing that Li Shengxing had taught him the Heart Transformation Demonic Art and explained how Autumn Food Villa concealed their abuse of slaves.
• Wang Kuan revealed that Li Shengxing was listed among the Mirror of Sin’s Seventy-Two Evil Execution List, and Chu Qing killed Wang Kuan by flaying him alive.
• Chu Qing questioned Fish Sixteen, then offered to settle the rescued slaves in Tongyao City; they all stayed and went to find clothes.
• Fish Sixteen begged Chu Qing to kill Li Shengxing, claiming she wanted to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
• Chu Qing pressed Fish Sixteen to speak honestly, and she admitted that only three parts of her motive were sincere; she mainly hoped to serve him and learn martial arts so she could change her fate.

Chu Qing accepted Fish Sixteen's commission to kill Li Shengxing and took her under his protection, teaching her the Chaos God Technique and Dragon Claw Hand during their journey. While Fish Sixteen practiced alone, a mysterious woman in azure robes appeared and offered to make her a disciple.

• Chu Qing accepted Fish Sixteen's request to kill Li Shengxing without merging it with the Nameless on the List quest.
• Chu Qing arranged a residence for the children in Tongyao City, and Bird Thirteen chose to stay with them while Chu Qing, Fish Sixteen, and the others resumed their journey.
• Chu Qing asked Fish Sixteen what martial arts she wanted to learn, then taught her the Chaos God Technique and Dragon Claw Hand.
• Fish Sixteen diligently practiced both arts as Chu Qing taught her along the way.
• A mysterious woman in azure robes appeared while Fish Sixteen practiced alone and offered to take her as a disciple.

Su Ningzhen tried to trick Fish Sixteen into revealing Chu Qing’s Dragon Claw Hand, then seized her when Fish Sixteen refused. Chu Qing rescued Fish Sixteen and subdued Su Ningzhen, but Liu Qingyan of the Liu family of Heavenly Sound Manor intervened just as he was about to cripple her hand.

• Su Ningzhen offered to take Fish Sixteen as her disciple, criticized her martial art, and demanded that she demonstrate the Dragon Claw Hand.
• Fish Sixteen realized Su Ningzhen wanted to learn the technique and refused to attack, but Su Ningzhen sealed her acupoints and tried to abduct her.
• A zither-playing woman confronted Su Ningzhen, and the two fought while Chu Qing, Wu Qianhuan, and Wen Rou watched from a nearby tree.
• Chu Qing freed Fish Sixteen and revealed himself after Su Ningzhen noticed that Fish Sixteen had vanished.
• Su Ningzhen dismissed Chu Qing, but his laughter overwhelmed her, and he seized her hand to punish her for trying to force Fish Sixteen to reveal the technique.
• The zither-playing woman identified herself as Liu Qingyan of the Liu family of Heavenly Sound Manor and pleaded with Chu Qing to show mercy.

Chu Qing spared Su Ningzhen after Liu Qingyan pleaded for her, then learned about the tragedy that had driven the former friends apart and Su Ningzhen’s search into Xiang Mountain Sea’s destruction. He discovered Liu Qingyan was his cousin, while she struggled to believe that he was not yet twenty and noticed that Wu Qianhuan and Wen Rou were women.

• Liu Qingyan asked Chu Qing to spare Su Ningzhen, and Chu Qing struck and scolded Su Ningzhen before letting her leave.
• Liu Qingyan told Chu Qing and the others how He Qiangu’s betrayal and Xiang Mountain Sea’s destruction shattered her friendship with Su Ningzhen.
• Liu Qingyan explained that she had come because Su Ningzhen’s investigation into Xiang Mountain Sea’s destruction had made progress, and she feared for her safety.
• Chu Qing learned Liu Qingyan was Liu Zhaonian’s daughter and realized she was his cousin.
• Liu Qingyan reacted with disbelief when Chu Qing said he had just turned twenty, then realized Wu Qianhuan and Wen Rou were women.

Chu Qing reached Little Cold Valley with Liu Qingyan and his companions after parting from the caravan, but the valley’s gates were closed because of an undisclosed incident. Su Ningzhen revealed that a valley expert had been assassinated by the Mirror of Sin, leaving Chu Qing to wonder whether Li Shengxing was involved.

• Liu Qingyan offered Chu Qing a secret Heavenly Sound Manor inheritance as compensation, and Chu Qing instead asked her to help treat Wu Qianhuan’s injuries.
• Liu Qingyan joined Chu Qing’s group on the way to Little Cold Valley, hoping to investigate Han Yiren’s affair with them.
• Chu Qing promised Shopkeeper Zhou help through Heavenly Sound Manor and gave Old Man Sun a cultivation manual for his grandson to study.
• Chu Qing’s group presented You Zong’s Invitation Card at Little Cold Valley, but the disciples turned them away until the gates opened three days later.
• Su Ningzhen arrived and said that the Mirror of Sin had assassinated a Little Cold Valley expert, whose bones were shattered before he died in agony.

Chu Qing agreed to help Su Ningzhen avenge Xiang Mountain Sea by capturing Han Qiuyuan of Star Splitting Manor, in exchange for the Golden Goblet taken from her home. At midnight, Chu Qing set out to infiltrate Little Cold Valley with Wen Rou and Su Ningzhen, while Wu Qianhuan stayed behind to support them and protect Fish Sixteen.

• Chu Qing suspected that Chu Tian had used Bone Melting Palm to kill an elder of Little Cold Valley and resolved to find his missing brother.
• Su Ningzhen told Chu Qing she had come to avenge the slaughter of Xiang Mountain Sea and offered herself as payment for his help.
• Su Ningzhen revealed that the attackers had sought a Golden Goblet and named Han Qiuyuan of Star Splitting Manor as her target.
• Chu Qing agreed to help capture Han Qiuyuan and claimed the Golden Goblet as his reward.
• At midnight, Chu Qing entered Little Cold Valley with Wen Rou and Su Ningzhen, leaving Wu Qianhuan and the others outside to provide support.

Chu Qing brought Su Ningzhen and Wen Rou into Little Cold Valley, where they traced Chu Tian’s scent to a woman who had sheltered him. The woman revealed a secret passage and suggested Chu Tian had left, but her brother arrived before Chu Qing could learn more.

• Chu Qing carried Su Ningzhen and Wen Rou past Little Cold Valley’s guarded entrance and questioned a servant, who pointed them toward Cloud Viewing Pavilion and Han Yiren’s residence.
• Chu Qing chose not to confront Han Yiren and led the group into his compound to look for someone who could provide information.
• Wen Rou detected Chu Tian’s scent and guided Chu Qing to a courtyard, where he found a woman painting Chu Tian’s portrait.
• Chu Qing seized the woman and demanded to know her connection to Chu Tian; she said he had entered her room as an injured assassin and left after recovering.
• Wen Rou found a secret passage beneath a rug, and the woman confirmed it led outside the valley; Chu Qing burned the portrait.
• The woman realized Chu Qing might be Chu Tian’s friend, but she warned that her brother had arrived, and Chu Qing, Su Ningzhen, and Wen Rou disappeared.

Chu Qing overheard Han Tingting being sent away from Little Cold Valley and suspected her departure was connected to the danger surrounding the gathering. After learning that Han Qiuyuan was staying at Sea Viewing Pavilion, Chu Qing and his companions confronted him, and Chu Qing moved to capture him.

• Eldest Young Master Han told Han Tingting that their father had agreed to let her travel the martial world and gave her a sealed letter for Yuan Benshan.
• Eldest Young Master Han advised Han Tingting to leave Little Cold Valley through a secret passage, while Chu Qing watched from above and noticed his worried expression.
• Chu Qing learned from Han Tingting that Han Qiuyuan was staying at Sea Viewing Pavilion and led Wen Rou and Su Ningzhen there.
• Chu Qing entered Han Qiuyuan's room, identified himself as Han San, and announced that he had come to take Han Qiuyuan.
• Han Qiuyuan attacked Chu Qing with an iron brush, but Chu Qing slapped the brush hand aside.

Chu Qing captured Han Qiuyuan from Little Cold Valley and let Su Ningzhen question him about Xiang Mountain Sea’s destruction. Han Qiuyuan revealed the Jade Terrace Sect’s complicity and said the stolen item was with Han Qiujun at Star Splitting Manor, before Chu Qing asked when the Han Family began colluding with the Heavenly Evil Cult.

• Chu Qing easily defeated Han Qiuyuan, carried him and Su Ningzhen out of Little Cold Valley, and brought them back to Wu Qianhuan, Liu Qingyan, Fish Sixteen, and Wen Rou.
• Chu Qing tied Han Qiuyuan to a tree and let Su Ningzhen question him about the destruction of Xiang Mountain Sea.
• Han Qiuyuan admitted that he had tortured Su Ningzhen’s master, Sang Qingchen, and killed Xiang Mountain Sea’s disciples while seeking an unknown item.
• Su Ningzhen stopped herself from killing Han Qiuyuan and asked whether the Jade Terrace Sect knew of Star Splitting Manor’s actions.
• Han Qiuyuan said He Qiangu knew about the massacre, then revealed that the stolen item was with Han Qiujun at Star Splitting Manor.
• Chu Qing asked Han Qiuyuan when the Han Family of Star Splitting Manor began colluding with the Heavenly Evil Cult.

Chu Qing uncovered Star Splitting Manor’s collusion with the Heavenly Evil Cult and realized Han Qiuyuan intended to lure them into a trap, forcing him to change his plans. After killing Han Qiuyuan, Chu Qing brought Wen Rou to Azure Cloud Pavilion to discuss the new situation with a man there.

• Chu Qing read Han Qiuyuan’s reactions and concluded that Star Splitting Manor had coerced Han Yiren and was colluding with the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• Chu Qing deduced that Han Qiujun possessed Xiang Mountain Sea’s Golden Goblet as bait for a trap, then killed Han Qiuyuan and claimed a system reward.
• Chu Qing told Su Ningzhen and Liu Qingyan that the group’s plan had to change, while Su Ningzhen began burying Han Qiuyuan.
• Wen Rou revealed that the Three Carefree Immortals was inside Cloud Viewing Pavilion, and Chu Qing took her there after telling Wu Qianhuan to wait.
• Chu Qing and Wen Rou entered Azure Cloud Pavilion, where Chu Qing told a man that the plan had changed and he needed to discuss something with him.

Chu Qing and You Zong discussed Little Cold Valley’s hidden purpose and devised plans to investigate Han Yiren and the Earth Character Scroll secret manual. After finding Han Yiren’s letter to Yuan Benshan, Chu Qing and Wen Rou prepared to use it to approach Han Tingting, while Wen Rou asked Chu Qing how she could tell whether she liked someone.

• Chu Qing told You Zong that Little Cold Valley and Han Yiren were tied to Star Splitting Manor and the Heavenly Evil Cult, and said he had killed Han Qiuyuan.
• Chu Qing and You Zong planned to question Han Yiren, with You Zong posing as Han Qiuyuan, while You Zong agreed to search for the Earth Character Scroll secret manual.
• Chu Qing and Wen Rou entered Han Tingting’s room, found Han Yiren’s letter to Yuan Benshan, and read his request that Yuan protect his daughter.
• Chu Qing asked Wen Rou to imitate Han Yiren’s handwriting, but she refused, and he had her dress the sleeping Han Tingting instead.
• Wen Rou questioned Chu Qing about boundaries between men and women and asked how she could know whether she liked someone.

Chu Qing arranged for Su Ningzhen to hide Han Tingting, then discussed his concealed identity and mission with Liu Qingyan before opening a treasure chest and learning the Cloud Dispelling Palm. After two quiet days in Little Cold Valley, Han Yiren entered his residence and found a masked man waiting at his desk.

• Chu Qing asked Su Ningzhen to hide Han Tingting until the gathering at Little Cold Valley was over and promised to teach her a martial art.
• Liu Qingyan questioned Chu Qing about his name, his identity, and his reasons for visiting Little Cold Valley; he said he would explain his identity at Heavenly Sound Manor and that he was a friend to it.
• Chu Qing opened a Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest and obtained the Cloud Dispelling Palm, then considered how to combine his martial arts.
• Chu Qing and the others spent two quiet days while You Zong, disguised as Han Qiuyuan, passed him information about events in Little Cold Valley.
• Han Yiren entered his residence and discovered a masked man sitting at his desk.

Chu Qing confronted Han Yiren while impersonating a Heavenly Evil Cult Venerable Emissary, exposing how the cult and Star Splitting Manor had coerced him into arranging the Jianghu Gathering. After revealing that Han Tingting was alive, Chu Qing offered to protect Han Yiren and Little Cold Valley; Han Yiren agreed to join him as they waited to learn what the cult planned for the gathering.

• Chu Qing told Han Yiren that Han Tingting was dead and accused him of causing her death by following Han Qiuyuan’s orders.
• Han Yiren revealed that Star Splitting Manor had forced him to cooperate with the Heavenly Evil Cult, which had used threats against his family to make him organize the Jianghu Gathering.
• Chu Qing exposed Han Yiren’s attempt to keep attendees out of Little Cold Valley and threatened him with his martial pressure.
• Chu Qing revealed that Han Tingting was alive and said he wanted to save Han Yiren from the Heavenly Evil Cult and Star Splitting Manor.
• Han Yiren explained that different Venerable Emissaries had delivered the cult’s orders, and Chu Qing decided they should wait for the cult’s next move at the gathering.
• Han Yiren agreed to follow Chu Qing, believing his protection offered Little Cold Valley its only chance to survive.

Chu Qing discovered that the Heavenly Evil Cult had used Han Yiren to gather martial artists at Little Cold Valley as part of a scheme to frame Heavenly Sound Manor. The gathering turned against Liu Qingyan after a dying messenger accused Heavenly Sound Manor of colluding with the cult and slaughtering the Duan Family.

• Han Yiren showed Chu Qing records revealing that an item from Little Cold Valley had been sent toward Heavenly Buddha Temple, a rumored hidden Buddhist realm.
• Chu Qing disguised himself as one of Han Yiren's guards as Han opened Little Cold Valley to the gathered martial artists and explained that he suspected the Heavenly Evil Cult was behind recent massacres.
• The martial artists argued over how to respond to the Heavenly Evil Cult, while Chu Qing wondered why the cult had not yet intervened.
• A wounded messenger delivered a blood letter accusing Heavenly Sound Manor of colluding with the Heavenly Evil Cult and killing the Duan Family, then died after a black projectile struck him.
• Chu Qing realized the gathering had been staged to frame Heavenly Sound Manor, and the crowd turned to stare at Liu Qingyan.

Chu Qing and his allies responded to the accusation against Heavenly Sound Manor by uncovering the Han Family’s role and preparing to act before the manor could be attacked. Chu Qing gathered Su Ningzhen and the unconscious Han Tingting, then set out with Liu Qingyan for Star Splitting Manor.

• A disguised You Zong, posing as Han Qiuyuan, took Liu Qingyan into custody to shield her, while Han Yiren rallied the martial artists to question Heavenly Sound Manor.
• Chu Qing burned a note ordering Han Yiren to hold Heavenly Sound Manor accountable, took the body of the Heavenly Evil Cult’s Venerable Emissary, and left Little Cold Valley with Wu Qianhuan and Wen Rou.
• Chu Qing asked You Zong to investigate the Duan Family and locate Heavenly Buddha Temple, while deciding to visit Star Splitting Manor and confront the Han Family.
• You Zong hurried ahead toward Heavenly Sound Manor, and Liu Qingyan agreed to accompany Chu Qing to Star Splitting Manor.
• Chu Qing and his companions found Su Ningzhen, who was still guarding the unconscious Han Tingting, and brought them along to Star Splitting Manor.

News of Heavenly Sound Manor’s alleged alliance with the Heavenly Evil Cult spread through the jianghu as Chu Qing’s group hurried toward Star Splitting Manor. Near Two Realms City, they rescued an old man and a child from slave traders, then watched the pair leave in a different direction.

• Rumors about Heavenly Sound Manor spread, and Han Yiren’s group set out to hold the manor accountable; Chu Qing left Fish Sixteen behind before continuing with his companions.
• Liu Qingyan suggested they stop in Two Realms City for its famous roast goose as the group approached the city at dusk.
• Wu Qianhuan cut a slave trader’s whip when she saw him beating an old man who was shielding a child.
• Chu Qing incapacitated the slave trader’s armed men and forced the trader to release the child without charging the old man.
• The old man took the child away, thanked Chu Qing, and walked off in a direction other than Two Realms City, leaving Chu Qing watching with a furrowed brow.

Chu Qing and his companions reached Star Splitting City, where its residents’ contempt for outsiders and the Han Family’s discriminatory rule provoked him. After learning of the Han Family’s influence over the city, Chu Qing led his group straight into its manor by force, leaving them inside Star Splitting Manor.

• In Two Realms City, Chu Qing threw out a powerful man who had backed the slave trader, then left without realizing that he had secretly punished the city’s slave traders and whipped its two city lords that night.
• After seven days of travel, Chu Qing and his companions arrived in Star Splitting City amid rumors that the Han Family and Ouyang Family planned to confront Heavenly Sound Manor.
• When a man insulted Chu Qing from a restaurant window, Chu Qing struck him with a stone, devastating his body and breaking the limbs of his companions.
• Liu Qingyan explained that Star Splitting Manor’s rule encouraged locals to look down on outsiders and charged outsiders double for better inn rooms.
• Chu Qing decided his group would stay at the Han Family’s compound instead of an inn and led them toward Star Splitting Manor.
• When the guards attacked, Chu Qing’s Golden Astral Qi flung them back and shattered the gate, allowing him and his companions to enter the manor.

Chu Qing forced his way into Star Splitting Manor, defeating its disciples and demonstrating his control over the Star Shattering Darts. The manor’s defenders tested his protective aura with Iron Head, but Chu Qing killed him effortlessly, leaving the two rooftop observers stunned.

• Chu Qing charged through Star Splitting Manor’s defenses while Liu Qingyan explained that the Star Shattering Darts contained gunpowder.
• Chu Qing studied a Star Shattering Dart and used the Sword Control Technique to guide it through the disciples before letting it explode.
• Two men on a rooftop discussed Chu Qing’s strength and waited for Iron Head to arrive as a test.
• Iron Head hurled disciples at Chu Qing and then charged him, believing his protective aura had weakened.
• Chu Qing’s aura suddenly hardened, and he crushed Iron Head’s body into a mist of blood with a palm strike.

Chu Qing led Wu Qianhuan, Su Ningzhen, and Liu Qingyan into Star Splitting Manor to seek the Golden Goblet and pursue justice for Xiang Mountain Sea. After the Western White Tiger Seven Constellations confronted him and Han Qiuze appeared, Chu Qing rushed toward Han Qiuze as the others began forming their killing array.

• Chu Qing defeated the Star Splitting Manor disciples blocking the way and advanced with Wu Qianhuan and the others into the manor.
• The Western White Tiger Seven Constellations arrived, and Chu Qing identified them by name and revealed that he had come for the Golden Goblet.
• Chu Qing explained that he sought the goblet because Star Splitting Manor had robbed Xiang Mountain Sea, and he threatened to destroy the manor if they refused to hand it over.
• Han Qiuze emerged from Star Gazing Hall and identified himself, prompting Chu Qing to attack while Zhang Ye ordered the Seven Constellations to form their array.
• Chu Qing vanished from in front of the Seven Constellations and appeared before Han Qiuze, who enlarged his body and thrust a finger toward Chu Qing's brow.