Chapter Summaries

Chen Yi learned about King Landu’s power and the unrest surrounding burned grain stores, then met Chen Yunfan, Cui Qingwu, and Xiao Wan'er at Yunqing Tower. Their meal ended with Chen Yunfan insisting that Chen Yi take the annual examination and beginning to explain why.

• Wang Ji changed his approach and brought Jia Yuzhi back inside to discuss the burned herbs after Chen Yi signaled him to do so.
• Chen Yi learned that grain prices had surged, Lin Huai'an had been murdered, the barbarian slaves were still missing, and King Landu ruled a powerful bandit force in the Poshushuo Kingdom.
• Chen Yi gave Wang Ji a letter addressed to King Landu and asked him to find someone trustworthy to translate it.
• Chen Yi joined Chen Yunfan, Cui Qingwu, and Xiao Wan'er at Yunqing Tower, where they reminisced, ate, and drank together.
• Chen Yunfan told Chen Yi he had to take the annual examination and began to explain that the education minister was involved.

Chen Yi agreed to attend Shuzhou’s annual examination as Ma Shuhan’s new rules threatened scholars’ credentials, while Xiao Wan’er wrote to Xiao Jinghong and Chen Yi sent his wife a letter and poem. That night, Chen Yi learned that a letter from Lin Huai’an to King Landu proposed a major arms transaction, including refined iron, horse armor, and sabers.

• Chen Yunfan warned Chen Yi that Ma Shuhan’s revised assessment rules could strip scholars of their credentials, and Chen Yi decided to attend the annual examination.
• Chen Yunfan suspected that the emperor had sent him and Li Huaigu to Shuzhou for a larger purpose, while a disguised man arranged a midnight meeting with Luanfeng.
• Xiao Wan’er wrote to Xiao Jinghong about family matters and Chen Yi’s Mid-Autumn poem, then went to consult the Old Master about the Medical Dao Academy and his illness.
• Chen Yi wrote Xiao Jinghong a family letter containing an autumn poem, reaffirmed their agreement, and resolved to protect the Xiao Family from those plotting in Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi left the Xiao estate at night and read a translated letter from Lin Huai’an to King Landu proposing a trade in refined iron, horse armor, and sabers.

Chen Yi learned that Liu Hong had arranged Lin Huai'an’s murder and uncovered a scheme by Liu Hong and Ma Shuhan to use Shuzhou’s annual assessment to control or ruin local families and officials. He ordered Liu Lang to keep watching Liu Hong, especially when Ma Shuhan visited, while reconsidering his plans.

• Chen Yi ordered Wang Ji to investigate the Jizhou Trading Company and asked Zhang Dabao to watch for people from the Poshushuo Kingdom in Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi met Liu Lang, who reported overhearing Liu Hong accuse Liu Taofang and Lin Huai'an of plotting to burn grain stores and manipulate grain prices, and said Liu Hong had ordered Lin Huai'an killed.
• Chen Yi learned that Liu Hong knew about the Jizhou Trading Company’s smuggling and suspected someone close to Lin Huai'an had informed him.
• Liu Lang reported that Ma Shuhan had met Liu Hong and discussed students, examinations, Yue Ming, and families including the Tang Family.
• Chen Yi deduced that Liu Hong and Ma Shuhan planned to use the annual assessment to reward allies and damage rivals, while making Yue Ming take the blame.
• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to continue watching Liu Hong, especially when Ma Shuhan came to visit.

Chen Yi arranged a blade spar with Liu Lang, then visited Lou Yuxue at Chunyu Tower to recruit her help in a scheme involving the Jizhou Trading Company’s grain. Lou Yuxue revealed that the company backed Bright Moon Tower, and Chen Yi deduced that her White Tiger Guard mission was to investigate the company.

• Chen Yi agreed to fight Liu Lang at the Chishui River on the eighth of September, and Liu Lang eagerly accepted the date.
• Chen Yi decided to muddy the waters to uncover missing clues and went to Chunyu Tower to find Lou Yuxue.
• Lou Yuxue confronted Chen Yi about finding her, and he asked her to procure at least a hundred thousand shi of grain for a plan against the grain merchants.
• Lou Yuxue warned Chen Yi that the Jizhou Trading Company was dangerous, then learned that it had backed the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain.
• Lou Yuxue revealed that the Jizhou Trading Company operated throughout most of the Nine Provinces and backed Bright Moon Tower.
• Chen Yi inferred that Lou Yuxue's White Tiger Guard mission was to investigate the Jizhou Trading Company, and she angrily called him a bastard.

Chen Yi joined Lou Yuxue’s meeting with King Landu’s men and recognized Lü Jiunan as the sorcerer who had once driven him from his marriage. After provoking the visitors into leaving, Chen Yi gave Lou Yuxue a paper and pursued them, while Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao planned to send the Son of the Left King out of Shuzhou before acting.

• Chen Yi offered to pay Lou Yuxue for grain and asked her to help him target the East Market grain merchants, but she postponed her decision until the next night.
• Chen Yi followed Lou Yuxue to meet Ge Muxiao and Lü Jiunan, who identified themselves as King Landu’s Golden Lion and Peacock Warriors.
• Chen Yi recognized Lü Jiunan as the sorcerer connected to his former marriage and challenged King Landu’s courage during negotiations over a meeting with an unnamed honored guest.
• Lü Jiunan restrained Ge Muxiao when he tried to attack Chen Yi, then left with him after Lou Yuxue refused to reveal the guest’s identity.
• Chen Yi told Lou Yuxue that Lü Jiunan had rescued the Barbarian slaves and handed her a paper before pursuing the two men.
• Lü Jiunan told Ge Muxiao they could not defeat Chen Yi in Chunyu Tower and planned to send the Son of the Left King out of Shuzhou before acting.

Chen Yi followed Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao and discovered that Liu Hong had hired them to rescue the Barbarian slaves, while also learning that the Liu Family had arranged his earlier attempted murder. When the pair’s Kut attacked him, Chen Yi destroyed it with perfected Spear Intent, then demanded compensation as he confronted them at Quchi.

• Chen Yi overheard Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao discussing the Son of the Left King, their plan to seek help from Bright Moon Tower, and their meeting aboard a Liu Family pleasure boat.
• Chen Yi learned from Lü Jiunan, Ge Muxiao, and Liu Taoyao that Liu Hong had requested the rescue of Asutai and the other Barbarian slaves, and that the Liu Family had also arranged an earlier attempt to kill him.
• Lü Jiunan’s Kut sent a wooden figure to attack Chen Yi, but Chen Yi split it apart with perfected Spear Intent and concealed his identity from the men.
• Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao challenged Chen Yi, who pretended to have been resting nearby and berated them for attacking him.
• Liu Taoyao offered Chen Yi silver to settle the dispute, and Chen Yi demanded five thousand taels before agreeing to board the painted boat and collect it.

Chen Yi uncovered evidence that Liu Hong had ties to the Poshushuo Kingdom and the Barbarian slaves, then set plans in motion to expose him. The chapter ended with Liu Lang overhearing Liu Hong order Asutai and the other Barbarian slaves killed and their bodies sent to the Judicial Department.

• Chen Yi disguised himself as Liu Wu, clashed with Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao, and escaped the Painted Boat after Lü Jiunan's Kut failed to hold him.
• Chen Yi told Fang Hongxiu that Lü Jiunan served King Landu, then prepared portraits of Lü Jiunan, Ge Muxiao, and Asutai for Zhang Dabao to find.
• Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family and resolved to use Fang Hongxiu and Elder Master Xiao to corner Liu Hong, while missing a meeting involving Cui Qingwu and General Star.
• Liu Lang overheard Liu Hong reprimand Liu Taoyao and order Lü Jiunan to leave Shuzhou, Asutai replaced by a double, and the Barbarian slaves killed.

Chen Yi learned that Liu Hong planned to dispose of the barbarian slaves and send Lü Jiunan away, so he set out to investigate with Pei Guanli. They reached a residence in Pingyao Alley, where someone pleaded for their life during a staged “civet cat swapped for the crown prince” scheme.

• Pei Guanli visited Chen Yi in new clothes and told him that her brother and the Mountain Tribe’s companions had settled on Kanning Street, bringing support against the Five Poisons Sect.
• Wang Ji delivered Liu Lang’s letter reporting Liu Hong’s plans for the barbarian slaves and Lü Jiunan, and Chen Yi burned the letter after reading it.
• Chen Yi told Wang Ji to find Zhang Dabao and then chose to accompany him, bringing Pei Guanli along to investigate the slave situation.
• Chen Yi met Xiao Wan'er, who said Old Master had approved inviting Medical Saint Hands to Shuzhou to help establish the Medical Dao Academy.
• At a hidden residence, Chen Yi prepared poisons from Pei Guanli’s supplies, then joined her and Zhang Dabao in disguises and bronze masks to travel to Pingyao Alley.
• Chen Yi and Pei Guanli approached a residence in Pingyao Alley and heard someone beg not to be killed in a staged “civet cat swapped for the crown prince” performance.

Chen Yi raided Liu Hong’s residence, rescued Asutai, and captured a fifth-rank martial artist as leverage in his effort to expose Liu Hong’s collusion with the Barbarian Tribe. The Judicial Department found the abandoned residence, and Liu Hong learned that Asutai and Zeng Zhifeng had vanished, prompting him to order a search and vow revenge.

• Chen Yi overheard Asutai being mocked by Liu Hong’s men and concluded that Liu Hong had a longstanding partnership with the Barbarian Tribe.
• Chen Yi incapacitated the guards, entered the residence, and carried off Asutai and a fifth-rank martial artist.
• Chen Yi hid the captives in a residence near East Market, crippled the martial artist, and left Pei Guanli to guard them.
• Chen Yi went to the Judicial Department yamen, while Fang Hongxiu received a letter directing her to the residence in Pingyao Alley and ordered the unconscious guards taken to the Inner Prison.
• Zhao Shichang told Liu Hong that the Judicial Department had found the residence and that Asutai and Zeng Zhifeng were missing.
• Liu Hong ordered Zhao Shichang to have Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao found, alive or dead, and vowed to kill whoever had sabotaged him.

Chen Yi and Liu Lang investigated the Poshushuo Kingdom’s presence in Shuzhou, while General Star watched the city’s movements. Liu Lang’s surveillance was discovered, and he fought Ge Muxiao before confronting Lü Jiunan.

• Chen Yi spotted General Star watching West Market and overheard him ask about Female Tiger and the Fu Family’s support for the Xiao Family.
• Liu Lang watched the residence where Liu Taoyao had entered, keeping his distance because Lü Jiunan’s Kuts could detect intruders.
• A wooden Kut attacked Liu Lang, but he split it apart and avoided the poisonous mist it released.
• Ge Muxiao ambushed Liu Lang, who wounded him and drove him back with his saber.
• Lü Jiunan hurled a dagger at Liu Lang from the residence, and Liu Lang asked whether he was the Poshushuo Kingdom Sorcerer.

Liu Lang fought Lü Jiunan in Black Fish Alley while Chen Yi’s false identity as Liu Lang continued to confuse his enemies. Chen Yi arrived and took over the fight with Lü Jiunan, leaving Liu Lang to face Liu Tianming.

• Lü Jiunan mistook Liu Lang for the mysterious fighter from Chunyu Tower and attacked him alongside Ge Muxiao.
• Liu Lang severed Ge Muxiao’s left hand, but Lü Jiunan’s poisoned threads pierced Ge Muxiao and dissolved his body.
• Lü Jiunan’s attack trapped Liu Lang as onlookers watched, while Liu Taoyao ordered Liu Tianming to clear them away and help Lü Jiunan withdraw.
• Liu Tianming killed the onlookers with Silver Needles, but a black-robed man caught his needles and revealed himself as Chen Yi.
• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to fight Liu Tianming and confronted Lü Jiunan, who demanded to know his identity.

Chen Yi investigated Liu Hong’s movements while Liu Lang kept watch on the Poshushuo Kingdom residence in Blackfish Alley. After Lü Jiunan’s wooden Kut detected him and Ge Muxiao attacked, Liu Lang fought them and confronted Lü Jiunan as the carriage fled the residence.

• Chen Yi spotted General Star at the Tailor Shop and learned that he was a powerful White Tiger Guard officer watching Cui Qingwu and the Xiao Family.
• Liu Lang tracked Liu Taoyao to a residence in Blackfish Alley and watched from a distance because he feared Lü Jiunan’s Kuts could detect him.
• A wooden Kut discovered Liu Lang and attacked with Silver Needles, but he split it apart and avoided the corrosive black mist it released.
• Ge Muxiao ambushed Liu Lang, who wounded him and destroyed his short axe while the carriage sped away from the residence.
• Lü Jiunan threw a dagger at Liu Lang from afar, and Liu Lang asked whether he was the Poshushuo Kingdom Sorcerer behind the wooden Kut.

Chen Yi defeated Lü Jiunan in Blackfish Alley, then secretly used Silver Needles to revive him after escaping with Liu Lang. Meanwhile, the Judicial Department and onlookers investigated the scene, while General Star worried Lü Jiunan’s death would destabilize Shuzhou; the chapter left Chen Yi’s reason for saving Lü Jiunan unfinished.

• Chen Yi killed Lü Jiunan with Falling Dragon Spear · Soaring Dragon Slash after learning he was King Landu’s younger brother, then escaped Blackfish Alley with Liu Lang.
• Liu Taoyao and Zhao Shichang left the alley in a carriage to report Lü Jiunan’s death to Liu Hong, fearing the consequences for Liu Hong’s cooperation with King Landu.
• The Judicial Department and Jianghu guests arrived at Blackfish Alley, where Fang Hongxiu examined the scene and General Star worried that King Landu might disrupt the regional balance.
• Xiao Jing was relieved to learn that the mysterious spearman Liu Wu had reached the Spear Dao Perfection Realm and hoped he would support the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi entered the city from the north with Liu Lang, laid Lü Jiunan in an empty room, and used Silver Needles to save him, saying the killing had been for outsiders to see.

Chen Yi saved Lü Jiunan and crippled him, intending to use his life in a scheme that could change the state of Shuzhou. A White Tiger Guard officer named General Star tracked the trail to Liu Zhaoxue’s residence and began to suspect she was connected to Liu Wu.

• Chen Yi told Liu Lang that his accidental reveal about Chunyu Tower would not disrupt the plan, then ordered him to return to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Chen Yi used acupuncture to revive Lü Jiunan, destroyed his three Qi Seas, and left him unable to practice the Martial Path.
• Lü Jiunan demanded to know why Chen Yi had spared him, and Chen Yi said his life was important enough to change Shuzhou before putting him back to sleep.
• Chen Yi concealed his aura when he sensed an Upper Three Grades expert nearby, while Liu Lang worried about their upcoming duel.
• General Star followed a faint aura trail to Liu Zhaoxue’s residence and wondered whether Liu Wu was one of her people.

Liu Zhaoxue returned to Shuzhou and began organizing Xinglin Zhai while the Five Poisons Sect’s plans remained unclear. Chen Yi kept Lü Jiunan hidden, left for the Xiao Family, and learned that Xiao Wan'er had been worried after hearing of killings in the West Market.

• The General Star suspected Liu Wu had secretly helped Liu Zhaoxue gain power by framing the Xiao Family for Liu Wen’s death, then left after watching her enter the residence.
• Liu Zhaoxue ordered her shopkeepers and accountants to meet, questioned Ling'er about the Five Poisons Sect’s intentions, and learned that its Great Elder and several altar masters had come to Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang listened from the neighboring residence and discussed Liu Zhaoxue’s ambitions and the Five Poisons Sect’s interest in Xinglin Zhai.
• Chen Yi returned with Lü Jiunan to the Chuanxi Street residence, ordered Zhang Dabao to guard the hidden prisoner, and sent Liu Lang ahead to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Chen Yi went to the Xiao Family, where Xiao Die told him that she and Xiao Wan'er had worried after hearing of murders in the West Market.

After the Blackfish Alley killings spread through Shuzhou, Chen Yi returned to the Xiao residence and discussed Xiao Wuge’s training and Xiao Wan’er’s plans for a Medical Dao Academy. Liu Hong’s advisers suspected the mysterious spearman and Liu Lang had killed Lü Jiunan to provoke King Landu, and Liu Hong ordered a search for Asutai and prepared to deploy his hidden forces.

• Rumors about the Blackfish Alley killings made the spearman famous as the “Dragon Spear,” a title Chen Yi mocked on his way back to Chunhe Garden with Xiao Die.
• Chen Yi watched Xiao Wuge practice the Little Yellow Court stake training, then heard that Second Uncle planned to teach him spear techniques.
• At dinner, Xiao Wan'er told Chen Yi that Master Jingci had agreed she could skip recuperation at Wumeng Mountain this year, and she discussed plans for the Medical Dao Academy and the danger in Shuzhou.
• Liu Hong and Zhao Shichang concluded that Liu Wu and Liu Lang might have killed Lü Jiunan to provoke King Landu, possibly in connection with Asutai’s disappearance.
• Liu Hong ordered a citywide search for Asutai and plans to have the authorities apprehend Liu Wu and Liu Lang, then directed Liu Taoyao to send Liu Tianming to Mei Zhuang and put their forces to use.

At Chunyu Tower, General Star investigated Liu Zhaoxue’s connection to Liu Wu and considered whether Liu Hong was tied to the Peacock King Banner, while Chen Yunfan brooded over the gap between his abilities and Chen Yi’s. In the Purple Bamboo Grove, Chen Yi planned to use the Xiao Family to eliminate Liu Hong and the remaining threats.

• General Star told Lou Yuxue that Liu Wu was likely Liu Zhaoxue’s man, then said he would wait for King Landu’s people to investigate Lü Jiunan’s death and seek evidence of Shuzhou officials’ dealings with the Peacock King Banner.
• An Iron Banner Officer reported that Liu Taoyao and Zhao Shichang had met with Liu Hong, prompting General Star to suspect Liu Zhaoxue had used Liu Wu’s killing of Lü Jiunan to warn Liu Hong.
• Chen Yunfan practiced swordsmanship restlessly and lamented that Chen Yi’s martial ability had widened the distance between them.
• Cui Qingwu visited Chen Yunfan and left for Yunqing Tower; afterward, Chunying sent Ning Yu to investigate what had happened near the Provincial Administration Yamen.
• Chen Yi reviewed Liu Hong’s likely next moves and decided to use the Xiao Family to eliminate Liu Hong and the remaining ox demons and snake spirits.

Chen Yi prepared to intensify the turmoil in Shuzhou while cultivating, and the Xiao Family received promised aid from Zhang Xuan. In the capital, Chen Xuanji learned of Chen Yi’s strength and ordered General Star to meet King Landu, leaving his plans in motion.

• Chen Yi reviewed his plan to use the search for Asutai and unrest over grain prices to distract Liu Hong, then cultivated the Four Symbols Technique.
• Xiao Yuan received Zhang Xuan’s promise of grain and silver, while Xiao Jing reported that Lü Jiunan was King Landu’s brother and that Liu Wu had vanished again.
• Xiao Yuan ordered Xiao Jing to investigate Lü Jiunan’s movements in Shuzhou and to keep watch on Liu Wu without alarming him.
• Xiao Yuan read a letter from Chen Xuanji and realized that Chen Xuanji would soon return from the Western Regions to question him.
• Chen Xuanji read Chen Yunfan’s letter and deduced that Chen Yi was Liu Wu, had reached the Middle Three Grades, and had been acting for the Xiao Family.
• Chen Xuanji ordered his White Tiger Guards to tell General Star to meet King Landu as soon as possible, using the Tea Horse Road if necessary.

As grain prices soared and unrest spread through Shuzhou, Chen Yi continued his hidden preparations while appearing unconcerned. He met the captive Asutai and offered him a chance to avenge his people, leaving Asutai to consider Chen Yi’s conditions.

• Shuzhou residents blamed the Xiao Family and grain merchants for rising prices, while Chen Yi told Xiao Die that people might be stirring up anger behind the scenes.
• Chen Yi gave Xiao Die a portrait, then left the manor after learning that new information about Guangyuan might have arrived.
• Chen Yi learned that Liu Hong’s armed men were hiding in Shuzhou and that officials were searching the city for Asutai.
• Chen Yi disguised himself, visited the Chuanxi Street residence, and woke Asutai in the hidden room beneath the bed.
• Asutai recognized Zeng Zhifeng as the man connected to his clansmen’s deaths and beat him until Chen Yi stopped him.
• Chen Yi offered Asutai a chance to take revenge if he agreed to Chen Yi’s conditions.

Chen Yi learned that Asutai’s Wei teacher was likely his mother-in-law, Fu Wanqing, who had been captured by the Barbarian Tribe and was still alive. After arranging to tell the Xiao Family, Chen Yi let Asutai kill Zeng Zhifeng in exchange for future help, then sensed someone approaching the residence.

• Chen Yi questioned Asutai and suspected that Zhu Lingchuan had helped arrange the grain burning and was connected to Liu Hong.
• Asutai told Chen Yi that Fu Wanqing was a Wei woman captured five years earlier and now served as a teacher to the Barbarian Tribe; he recognized Chen Yi’s portrait of her, though he said her hair had turned white.
• Chen Yi decided to tell the Xiao Family about Fu Wanqing, then woke Zeng Zhifeng and tried to question him about Liu Hong.
• Zeng Zhifeng refused to answer, so Chen Yi let Asutai beat him to death in exchange for Asutai’s help with a future dangerous task.
• Chen Yi rendered Asutai and Lü Jiunan unconscious with Immortal’s Draught, returned to the hall, and sensed someone approaching the residence.