Chapter Summaries

Chen Yi answered the Xiao Family Old Master's questions about Shuzhou's unrest and left after lunch, wary of attracting suspicion. That evening, Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue discussed the Liu Family's failed marriage proposal and planned to investigate Liu Wen before acting once Liu Wu's identity was confirmed.

• Chen Yi described signs of growing disorder in Shuzhou and said the Old Master could restore peace by killing one person to warn a hundred.
• The Old Master invited Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge to lunch, where his cryptic remarks left Chen Yi unsure of his intentions.
• Black Tooth learned from Lou Yuxue that the Xiao Family had refused the Liu Family's marriage proposal and that Liu Wen had left in anger.
• Lou Yuxue proposed testing Liu Wen that night to verify the Liu Family's connection to the Medical Saint Hand, and Black Tooth agreed to fund her spies.
• Black Tooth said he would begin arranging their move once Liu Wu's identity was confirmed and insisted they would not violate Bright Moon Tower's rules.

Chen Yi disguised himself as Black Tooth to meet Liu Wen and investigate the Liu Family’s involvement in the grain-burning scheme. After hearing Liu Lang’s report and discussing the Five Poisons Sect, Chen Yi reached Liu Wen’s residence, where he sensed someone approaching before they could enter.

• Chen Yi dressed and altered his appearance to impersonate Black Tooth, then had Zhang Dabao refine the disguise and aura.
• Liu Lang arrived and reported that Liu Zhaoxue had met with the Five Poisons Sect and that Liu Wen planned to visit the Old Marquis at the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi concluded that the Liu Family was divided by internal rivalries, including among Liu Wen’s generation.
• Liu Lang explained that Granny Shan had once destroyed the Five Poisons Sect, and Chen Yi and Liu Lang set out to meet Liu Wen.
• Chen Yi surveyed Liu Wen’s residence and stopped Liu Lang when he sensed someone approaching.

Chen Yi approached Liu Wen with a secret plan to burn the Summer Grain of the Three Towns, seeking the Liu Family’s support by appealing to Liu Wen’s desire to marry Xiao Wan'er and undermine the Xiao Family. Liu Wen learned the plan and faced Chen Yi’s argument that joining could help him seize power within his family.

• Chen Yi and Liu Lang overheard guards discussing Liu Wen’s recent violence against servants and went to meet him.
• Chen Yi introduced himself to Liu Wen as Black Tooth and proposed a deal involving the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi demanded ten thousand taels before revealing the plan, and Liu Wen paid him.
• Chen Yi told Liu Wen that the deal was to burn the Summer Grain of the Three Towns and invited him to take part.
• Chen Yi explained that the plan could weaken the Xiao Family and help Liu Wen marry Xiao Wan'er, then suggested Liu Wen’s elder brother was more likely to become the Liu Family head.

Chen Yi persuaded Liu Wen to join the plot to burn the Xiao Family’s summer grain, securing a contribution of three hundred thousand taels. After sending Liu Lang to investigate Liu Zhaoxue’s plans with the Five Poisons Sect, Chen Yi learned that a secret letter would arrive that night and waited to see whether Xiao Jinghong would remain restrained.

• Chen Yi convinced Liu Wen that joining the deal could help him become head of the Liu Family, and Liu Wen agreed to contribute three hundred thousand taels.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang left Liu Wen’s residence, and Liu Lang praised Chen Yi for deceiving both Liu Wen and Black Tooth.
• Chen Yi sent Liu Lang to listen in on Liu Zhaoxue and the Five Poisons Sect member expected to meet her that night.
• Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family and reflected that his plan was more than halfway complete, while hoping Xiao Jinghong would not act rashly against Black Tooth.
• Chen Yi received daily intelligence that the Hidden Guard would collect a secret letter at a West Market tailor shop, then returned to Chunhe Garden to cultivate and wait.

Liu Lang discovered Liu Zhaoxue was conspiring with Yan Fusha of the Five Poisons Sect to kill Liu Wen, while Xiao Jinghong received a letter warning of a hidden threat in the Three Towns army. Xiao Jinghong left to investigate, and Chen Yi prepared to visit Hundred Herbs Hall, unaware Boss Chen was no longer in Shuzhou.

• Liu Lang overheard Liu Zhaoxue and Yan Fusha discuss killing Liu Wen and framing the Xiao Family, then realized Black Tooth was investigating Liu Wu and devised a plan to protect Chen Yi.
• Xiao Jinghong reviewed the Wushan Mutual Market’s progress and the Three Towns army reports, then received Pei Guanli, who delivered a suspicious letter while denying she knew its contents.
• Su Zhenyue read the letter and reacted angrily; Xiao Jinghong suspected Blade Maniac had sent a warning about someone hiding in the Three Towns army and decided to investigate personally.
• Xiao Jinghong ordered Su Zhenyue to impersonate her while she was away, and told Pei Guanli to return to the Mountain Tribe with her elder brother.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er discussed the growing stream of visitors to the estate, and Xiao Wan'er asked Chen Yi to visit Hundred Herbs Hall and invite Boss Chen, believing he was still in Shuzhou.

Chen Yi prepared Hundred Herbs Hall’s expansion, accepted Xie Tingyun’s offer to have the Tianshan Sect guard a new branch, and investigated the schemes surrounding the Liu Family. He learned Liu Zhaoxue and the Five Poisons Sect planned to kill Liu Wen, then headed back to the Xiao Family as Black Tooth’s larger plot drew nearer.

• Xie Tingyun asked Chen Yi to help open a Hundred Herbs Hall branch at Tianshan, offering the Tianshan Sect’s protection in exchange.
• Chen Yi learned Ge Laosan knew about the Xiao Family’s plans to deepen cooperation with Hundred Herbs Hall and suspected Hidden Guard information was circulating.
• Chen Yi and Wang Ji arranged for Yan Hai to survey Shuzhou’s prefectures and counties, and Chen Yi asked Wang Ji to buy properties near a likely Hidden Guard stronghold.
• Liu Lang told Chen Yi that the Five Poisons Sect and Liu Zhaoxue were plotting to kill Liu Wen and that he had reinforced the false identity of Liu Wu for Black Tooth.
• Chen Yi decided to let Liu Zhaoxue and Liu Wen’s factions clash, then told Liu Lang to check Black Tooth’s progress after their visit to the Liu Family.
• Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family and considered that Xiao Jinghong had likely received the letter, while the lack of movement in Shuzhou City reassured him.

Chen Yi collected Liu Wen’s three hundred thousand taels to fund a plan against the Xiao Family, then learned that the Hidden Guards intended to implicate Xiao Dongchen and investigate Chen Yi’s perfected Way of Calligraphy. He followed Lou Yuxue after she left the Tailor Shop, but an unknown person called out to her from a secluded alley.

• Chen Yi disguised himself, met Liu Wen, and accepted three hundred unregistered Silver Notes worth a thousand taels each while promising that someone would return after the plan was complete.
• Liu Wen fantasized about exploiting the chaos to seize power and use Xiao Wan'er to gain influence over the Dingyuan Army, while Chen Yi kept the money for another important use.
• Chen Yi overheard Lou Yuxue and Ge Laosan discuss a Secret Letter ordering them to implicate Gray Wolf, and a second letter requiring them to obtain Chen Yi’s calligraphy copybook and assess his Way of Calligraphy.
• Chen Yi wondered how the Hidden Guards had learned of his calligraphy breakthrough and suspected someone near Old Master or Sun Fu had revealed it.
• Chen Yi followed Lou Yuxue after she left the Tailor Shop, but stopped when a hoarse voice called, “Lou Yuxue, where did you go?”

Chen Yi, posing as Liu Wu, was caught between Lou Yuxue and Elder Black Tooth while both concealed their true intentions about Bright Moon Tower’s deal. He left Chunyu Tower with the deal still pending, as Black Tooth warned Lou Yuxue not to let it fail.

• Black Tooth confronted Lou Yuxue about where she had gone, and she claimed she had visited the Liu Family to verify Liu Wu’s identity.
• Chen Yi revealed himself and claimed he had followed Lou Yuxue, forcing her to play along while Black Tooth watched.
• At Chunyu Tower, Lou Yuxue secretly questioned Chen Yi, who demanded half the deal’s money and later asked for one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver in exchange for answers.
• Chen Yi restrained Lou Yuxue after she splashed tea on him, and Liu Lang interrupted before helping them disguise the encounter as a private tryst.
• Chen Yi asked when Bright Moon Tower’s deal would proceed, and Lou Yuxue said she would arrange it once the weather cleared.
• After Chen Yi and Liu Lang left, Black Tooth questioned Lou Yuxue and warned her that she would die if the deal was affected.

Chen Yi arranged to meet Xiao Dongchen while secretly helping the Xiao Family navigate its enemies, then advanced to the middle stage of the Sixth Rank Realm. The next morning, he prepared to visit Guiyun Academy, where Xiao Wan'er presented him with a plan to expand the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.

• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to deliver Liu Wen's invitation for Xiao Dongchen to meet Liu Wu in East Market the following night, and warned him not to reveal anything else.
• Chen Yi cultivated the Four Symbols Technique and broke through to the middle stage of the Sixth Rank Realm, while Lou Yuxue vowed to make Liu Wu pay and Liu Zhaoxue discussed killing Liu Wen with Yan Fusha.
• Chen Yi told Xiao Die he would visit Guiyun Academy, teased her about marriage, and reassured her when she feared he would send her away.
• Xiao Wan'er showed Chen Yi her Xiao Family Medicine Hall expansion plan, and he judged it acceptable but said it could be expanded further.

Chen Yi advised Xiao Wan'er to establish a Medical Dao Academy rather than expand the Xiao Family's Medicine Halls, giving her a plan to train more physicians. As Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Chen Yi wandered Shu Prefecture City and reflected that trouble surrounding the Xiao Family would likely spoil the festivities, especially for the Second Branch.

• Chen Yi explained why the Xiao Family could not afford to expand its Medicine Halls, then suggested that Xiao Wan'er focus on training physicians through a Medical Dao Academy.
• Xiao Wan'er wrote down Chen Yi's guidance, including the need for a skilled headmaster, organized medical courses, and careful planning.
• Xiao Wan'er told Xiao Wuge she would establish the academy, while Xiao Wuge praised Chen Yi and was sent off to study.
• Xiao Wan'er prepared gifts for Doctor Ma and the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall and began planning for the academy's next steps.
• Chen Yi walked through Shu Prefecture City's Mid-Autumn preparations and anticipated that the Xiao Family's troubles would dampen the festival, particularly for the Second Branch.

Chen Yi proposed new study hall rules and a calligraphy exhibition to manage the flood of visitors, while Yue Ming and Zhuo Ying agreed to help organize it. Back at Chunhe Garden, Chen Yi prepared copybooks and weighed his plans for the coming attack on the Three Towns’ summer grain, unsure whether to join it himself.

• Chen Yi asked Yue Ming about Ma Guan’s place in the study hall, and Yue Ming explained that Ma Guan would assist with teaching for a monthly salary.
• Chen Yi proposed study hall admission and removal rules and a calligraphy exhibition, and Yue Ming, Zhuo Ying, and Ma Guan agreed to contribute writing for it.
• Chen Yi declined Yue Ming’s invitation to the Mid-Autumn poetry gathering and asked Ma Guan to review students’ calligraphy practice books.
• Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden, copied calligraphy for the exhibition, and considered the plans involving Bright Moon Tower, Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Dongchen, and Liu Wen.
• Chen Yi wondered whether to join Bright Moon Tower’s coming move against the Three Towns’ summer grain, then wrote the poem “Feelings After Rain.”

Chen Yi decided to attend Liu Zhaoxue’s meeting with Xiao Wan’er while preparing for the possibility that she planned to harm Liu Wen. That night, he secretly met Xiao Dongchen and offered him three hundred thousand taels of silver to help him become head of the Xiao Family.

• Chen Yi completed a Perfection Calligraphy piece, decided to display it at Guiyun Academy, and discussed plans for the Medical Dao Academy with Xiao Wan’er.
• Xiao Wan’er told Chen Yi that Liu Zhaoxue had invited her to Fengchun Tower, and Chen Yi agreed to accompany her while suspecting Liu Zhaoxue meant to target Liu Wen.
• Chen Yi left the Xiao residence in disguise and questioned Liu Lang about the Five Poisons Sect, then instructed him to warn Granny Shan that the sect had returned to Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi waited near Jishi Pharmacy until Xiao Dongchen arrived in disguise, then asked whether he wanted to remain a pawn or become head of the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi offered Xiao Dongchen a grand gift of three hundred thousand taels of silver, startling both him and Liu Lang.

Chen Yi tricked Xiao Dongchen into signing a confession and taking three hundred thousand taels in exchange for helping arrange Xiao Wan'er’s marriage and the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain. He then followed the Judicial Officers to West Market, where he confronted Fang Hongxiu while she escorted an injured Xiao Family Shadow Guard.

• Chen Yi showed Xiao Dongchen genuine silver notes and won his agreement to cooperate with Liu Wen in exchange for help becoming head of the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Dongchen proposed using the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain to create a crisis, then demanded three hundred thousand additional taels and signed a written confession before accepting the first payment.
• A hidden woman cautioned Xiao Dongchen to honor his promise to transfer merit to Councillor Chen, while she and another observer later questioned the identities of Chen Yi and Liu Lang.
• Chen Yi received Fortune after the pursuit of a Xiao Family Shadow Guard ended, then followed Fang Hongxiu and the Judicial Officers as they carried the injured man toward the Yamen.
• Chen Yi blocked Fang Hongxiu and her group, mocked her by repeating her earlier words, and prompted her to recognize him as a shameless scoundrel.

Chen Yi secured Xiao Dongchen’s signed agreement by offering him three hundred thousand taels to help Liu Wen pursue Xiao Wan'er and exploit a crisis in the Xiao Family. After learning a Xiao Family Shadow Guard was in danger, Chen Yi went to West Market and confronted Fang Hongxiu’s Judicial Officers.

• Chen Yi offered Xiao Dongchen three hundred thousand taels and persuaded him to help Liu Wen marry Xiao Wan'er by taking advantage of turmoil in the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Dongchen proposed using the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain to create that turmoil and requested another three hundred thousand taels; Chen Yi had him sign and seal a written agreement before handing over the money.
• After Xiao Dongchen left, he promised a mysterious ally he would pass a merit to Councillor Chen, while two women investigated the residence and Chen Yi’s associates.
• Chen Yi learned from his daily intelligence that a Xiao Family Shadow Guard was being pursued, then went with Liu Lang toward West Market.
• Chen Yi intercepted Fang Hongxiu and the Judicial Officers as they escorted the injured Shadow Guard, and Fang recognized him as the shameless wretch she had been trying to catch.

Chen Yi rescued and treated a wounded Xiao Family Shadow Guard, then set plans in motion to protect the Xiao Family’s Summer Grain without revealing his role. Meanwhile, Xiao Jinghong reached Canglang Town to investigate a warning about the grain stores and prepared to watch for conspirators.

• Chen Yi and Liu Lang subdued Fang Hongxiu’s group and Old Liu, then brought the wounded Xiao Family Shadow Guard to Chen Yi’s residence.
• Chen Yi treated the Shadow Guard, learned he had been hunted by the Unorthodox Path, and sent Liu Lang to watch Chunyu Tower for signs of Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue.
• Chen Yi arranged to hide the Shadow Guard, relocate people connected to the East Market residence, and keep Old Marquis uninformed while his plan unfolded.
• Xiao Jinghong arrived in disguise at Canglang Town and warned Pang Xuan that someone planned to burn the Three Towns’ Summer Grain.
• Pang Xuan agreed to tighten security outside while keeping the warehouse’s defenses loose within, and Xiao Jinghong settled nearby to watch for hidden conspirators.
• Xiao Jinghong read letters from Xiao Wan'er and Chen Yi, smiled at Chen Yi’s poem, and felt reassured by the reports from the Three Towns.

Xiao Die oversaw the careful mounting of Chen Yi’s calligraphy while Chen Yi prepared to accompany Xiao Wan'er to meet Liu Zhaoxue. At Fengchun Tower, Liu Wen unexpectedly joined them and repeated his interest in Xiao Wan'er, leaving the gathering poised for an uncomfortable conversation.

• Xiao Die hired Dai Nian to mount Chen Yi’s calligraphy, and Dai Nian recognized the final piece as a work at the Perfection Realm of the Way of Calligraphy and vowed to handle it carefully.
• Chen Yi dressed for the outing, sent Xiao Wuge to etiquette lessons, and promised to take him out during Mid-Autumn Festival.
• On the carriage ride to Fengchun Tower, Chen Yi noticed increased security across the city, while Xiao Wan'er grew flustered until he teased her about the gifts she had prepared for Liu Zhaoxue.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er arrived at Fengchun Tower, where Liu Zhaoxue welcomed them and Chen Yi noticed carriages bearing Liu Family emblems.
• Liu Zhaoxue brought Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er upstairs, where they found Liu Wen waiting; after the group sat down, Liu Wen apologized for his earlier rashness and confessed that he had fallen in love with Xiao Wan'er at first sight.

Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er left Liu Zhaoxue's dangerous banquet after Liu Wen attacked them, and Liu Zhaoxue postponed her plan while ordering an investigation into Chen Yi. Back at the Xiao residence, Chen Yi arranged preparations for the night’s gathering at Chunyu Tower and set out to invite an honored guest to Three Towns.

• Liu Wen insulted Chen Yi and attacked him and Xiao Wan'er, but Xie Tingyun intercepted the blow and helped them leave Fengchun Tower.
• Liu Zhaoxue halted her plan to act against Xiao Wan'er and told a middle-aged man to investigate Chen Yi.
• Chen Yi held Xiao Wan'er's hand on the carriage ride home, while Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang speculated about their relationship.
• Chen Yi left the Xiao residence with Wang Ji, who reported that three residences had been purchased near Chuandong Street and that the intermediary had left the city.
• Liu Lang told Chen Yi that Chunyu Tower would gather that night and that unfamiliar, fiendish-looking guards had appeared on the third floor.
• Chen Yi decided to attend Chunyu Tower later that night and said he would first invite an honored guest to accompany him to Three Towns.

Wang Ji delivered a letter to the Xiao Family while Ge Laosan and Lou Yuxue prepared a secret operation for that night. At Chunyu Tower, Liu Wu failed to appear as expected, and Lou Yuxue led the group outside, where his voice announced his arrival.

• Wang Ji delivered Chen Yi's letter to the Xiao Family, while Wang Lixing reprimanded Ge Laosan and Liu Si'er over stolen Medicinal Herbs.
• Ge Laosan revealed his identity as Harrier Eagle to Liu Si'er, told him to watch the Fledgling, and then met Lou Yuxue to arrange the night's operation.
• Lou Yuxue told Ge Laosan that Liu Wu seemed suspicious, but they focused on their plans and the silver coins needed for their people to change identities.
• At Chunyu Tower, Liu Lang waited with Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue as they assigned groups to travel to the Three Towns, but Liu Wu did not arrive.
• Lou Yuxue took the group outside Chunyu Tower and, after noticing something unusual near the southern city gate, heard Liu Wu announce that he had arrived.

Chen Yi, disguised as Black Tooth, led Liu Lang’s unorthodox cultivators and Liu Wen toward Tiebi Town while manipulating Lou Yuxue and bargaining over the money. As they neared the town and Chen Yi received Heaven Grade intelligence, Xiao Jinghong stopped an attempted grain-warehouse fire in Canglang Town and confronted the hidden attackers.

• Chen Yi pressured Lou Yuxue into following him, revealed that he intended to kill Liu Wen, and drugged her when she tried to flee.
• Chen Yi and Lou Yuxue caught up with Liu Lang’s group and Liu Wen’s carriage; Lou Yuxue explained that the White Tiger Guard was a spy organization under the Great Wei Dynasty’s Bureau of Military Affairs.
• Chen Yi received Heaven Grade intelligence that Black Tooth and the White Tiger Guard would join forces to burn the Summer Grain of three Shuzhou border towns, then ordered the group to hurry toward Tiebi Town.
• Chen Yi and Lou Yuxue argued over the money, and Chen Yi agreed to give her ten percent while admitting that Liu Wen had paid him three hundred thousand taels.
• Xiao Jinghong discovered soldiers preparing to burn Canglang Town’s Summer Grain Warehouse, suppressed them with her martial might, and Pang Xuan ordered them captured alive.
• Xiao Jinghong sensed an imposing aura in the forest outside town, confronted the hidden force, and declared that she had come to invite them to their deaths.

Xiao Jinghong revealed the Sword Saint’s ultimate art and killed Black Tooth, but her attempt to protect the Summer Grain failed in Tiebi Town. There, Chen Yi betrayed Liu Wen and began explaining that he had killed Liu Jing, leaving Liu Wen to realize the truth.

• Xiao Jinghong used the Sword Saint’s Clear Breeze to kill Black Tooth and the Evil Demons, then learned that the captured arsonists had died from hidden poison.
• Xiao Jinghong left Pang Xuan to guard Canglang Town’s warehouse and hurried toward Tiebi Town, where Li Changqing failed to stop the Summer Grain from burning.
• Liu Wen celebrated the fire with Chen Yi, while Lou Yuxue realized that “Liu Wu” was not part of the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi poisoned Liu Wen and his driver, silenced Lou Yuxue, and told Liu Wen a story about the scholar who had been threatened by him.
• Chen Yi killed the driver and revealed that Liu Jing had begged for his life before Chen Yi killed him, prompting Liu Wen to ask whether Chen Yi had killed Liu Jing.