Chapter Summaries

Chen Yi recognized Lin Zhong’s interest in Hundred Herbs Hall and discussed Shuzhou’s incoming officials with Chen Yunfan, while Liu Lang and Zhang Dabao broke Li Sanyuan out of the Xiao Family’s Inner Prison by swapping disguises. The real Li Sanyuan escaped, but a disguised Xiao Xuanshuo then abducted Zhang Dabao, who realized the man might be his master, One Finger.

• Lin Zhong hinted that people coveted Hundred Herbs Hall, and Chen Yi suspected the Chen Family wanted a share of its business.
• Chen Yunfan told Chen Yi that the new Right Envoy had ordered him and Li Huaigu to investigate Ma Shuhan’s case during the welcoming banquet.
• Liu Lang and Zhang Dabao disguised themselves as Disciplinary Hall guards, knocked out Li Sanyuan, and exchanged clothes with him so Liu Lang could carry him out.
• A disguised Xiao Xuanshuo entered the Inner Prison, opened Zhang Dabao’s cell lock with ease, and knocked him unconscious.
• Zhang Dabao recognized a mark from his thieves’ lineage and suspected that the disguised Xiao Xuanshuo was his master, One Finger; the man wheeled him away as Shui Hetong left the garden.

Chen Yi used a painting and poem to conceal his role in the rescue operation while Chen Yunfan learned that someone had freed Li Sanyuan from the Xiao Family's Disciplinary Hall. One Finger delivered Li Sanyuan to Liu Zhaoxue, then joined Pei Yonglin aboard her boat as she ordered her people to question Li about the Poshushuo Kingdom's agents in the Prefectural City.

• Chen Yi painted a peaceful rural scene and inscribed a poem about beans born from the same root, prompting Chen Yunfan, Lin Zhong, and Chunying to connect it to the Chen Family.
• Chen Yunfan told Chen Yi that their father had set out south and should reach Shuzhou within a month or two.
• Chen Yunfan and Lin Zhong learned that someone had rescued Li Sanyuan from the Xiao Family's Disciplinary Hall, and Chen Yi pretended not to know who was responsible.
• One Finger delivered the captive Li Sanyuan to Liu Zhaoxue at Quchi and revealed that he had acted for Pei Yonglin's sake.
• Pei Yonglin invited One Finger aboard the pleasure boat, while Liu Zhaoxue ordered her guards to question Li Sanyuan about the Poshushuo Kingdom's people hiding in the Prefectural City.

Zhang Dabao was captured while impersonating Li Sanyuan, and Liu Zhaoxue interrogated him about a hidden envoy from the Poshushuo Kingdom. One Finger and Pei Yonglin’s confrontation exposed Pei’s ties to the Jizhou Trading Company, and the chapter ended as Shui Hetong arrived to face the company’s people.

• Liu Zhaoxue questioned the captive Zhang Dabao, mistaking him for Li Sanyuan, and he gave her the envoy’s supposed location near Yanhuaxiang by the South City Gate.
• One Finger confronted Pei Yonglin about his crimes and his ties to the Mountain Tribe, and Pei admitted that he and Lingyin had become Clear Wind Envoys of Pingzheng Hall.
• Pei Yonglin poisoned One Finger with a gu worm and warned him to keep his secret, but Zhang Dabao recognized his master and tried to warn him that the authorities were coming.
• One Finger scattered white powder to help Zhang Dabao escape, and Pei Yonglin ordered Liu Zhaoxue’s people to kill them.
• Zhang Dabao ran into Shui Hetong, who was disguised as Chen Yu and greeted the Jizhou Trading Company’s people as old friends.

Shui Hetong, disguised as Chen Yu, confronted Pei Yonglin over One Finger and agreed to exchange Li Sanyuan for the captive at midnight. While Pei Yonglin and Liu Zhaoxue considered the fallout, Chen Yi arrived at the Xiao Family banquet, where Elder Master Xiao asked where Chen Yu was.

• Pei Yonglin held One Finger captive, and Shui Hetong revealed himself as Chen Yu, the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall, while keeping his true identity hidden.
• Pei Yonglin demanded Li Sanyuan in exchange for One Finger, and Shui Hetong agreed to meet him five hundred li east of the city at midnight.
• Shui Hetong took Zhang Dabao to alert Chen Yi, while Pei Yonglin questioned Liu Zhaoxue about Hundred Herbs Hall and threatened to make Chen Yu pay for opposing Jizhou Trading Company.
• One Finger warned Pei Yonglin that his actions endangered the Mountain Tribe, and Pei Yonglin left the painted boat as Liu Zhaoxue went to inform Song Jin Jian.
• Chen Yi arrived at the Xiao Family banquet with Chen Yunfan and the others, and Elder Master Xiao asked where Chen Yu was.

At the Xiao Family banquet, Elder Master Xiao tried to determine whether Chen Yi and Chen Yu were the same person, while Shui Hetong explained Hundred Herbs Hall’s growing ties with the Wind and Rain Tower. Chen Yi learned that Pei Yonglin, Tiger Girl’s biological father, was behind Li Sanyuan’s abduction, and the chapter ended as Elder Master Xiao prepared to address the guests.

• Elder Master Xiao asked after Chen Yu, but Chen Yi and Bao Tong said Chen Yu had already left the Marquis’s mansion and returned to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Duke of Gan and Tang Zixin discussed Chen Yi’s military strategy and scholarship, while Elder Master Xiao voiced his wish to march against the Barbarian Tribe.
• Shui Hetong arrived late and told Elder Master Xiao that the Wind and Rain Tower planned to contract with Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Shui Hetong secretly informed Chen Yi that Pei Yonglin had arranged Li Sanyuan’s abduction, was Granny Shan’s son, and had learned Chen Yu’s identity.
• Chen Yi decided to keep Pei Yonglin’s identity from Tiger Girl and considered the risks surrounding Li Sanyuan and the captive One Finger.
• Elder Master Xiao rose to speak to the assembled guests about several matters.

Elder Master Xiao explained the Xiao Family’s recent actions, promoted the Wushan Mutual Market and Hundred Herbs Hall, and used Shui Hetong’s diagnosis of Duke of Gan to test Chen Yi’s medical abilities. The banquet ended with Chen Yi’s suspicions temporarily eased, while Song Jin Jian revealed that Xiao Jinghong’s parents were alive and held by the Barbarian Tribe.

• Elder Master Xiao recounted the events involving Liu Hong, Zhu Hao, and the threats to Shuzhou, then declared that his conscience was clear.
• Elder Master Xiao announced the completed Wushan Mutual Market and promoted the Mountain Tribe’s escort services and Hundred Herbs Hall.
• When Elder Master Xiao praised Shui Hetong’s medical skills, Chen Yi gave him information that helped him diagnose Duke of Gan’s ailments and mineral poisoning.
• Elder Master Xiao urged the guests to help defend Shuzhou, and Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden after the banquet while Shui Hetong went back to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Song Jin Jian watched Mengshui Pass and considered how Xiao Jinghong would react to learning that his parents were alive and imprisoned by the Barbarian Tribe.

Song Jin Jian learned that the Demon Cloud Brothers had reached Mengshui Pass and continued to maneuver against Xiao Jinghong and the Xiao Family. After the brothers delivered Fu Wanqing’s sachet and jade thumb ring, Xiao Jinghong learned that her mother might still be alive and confronted the hidden Song Jin Jian.

• Song Jin Jian received word that Pei Yonglin planned to trade One Finger for Li Sanyuan and decided the Xiao Family remained central to his plans.
• Ma Kui brought the Demon Cloud Brothers to Xiao Jinghong, who dismissed the guards and questioned them in private.
• Meng Wen gave Xiao Jinghong Fu Wanqing’s sachet and a jade thumb ring, then relayed that Left King Muhage said Fu Wanqing was still alive and could be found at the Black Bear Tribe.
• A Barbarian Tribe totem mark killed Meng Wen and Meng Wu before they could reveal who had sent them.
• Xiao Jinghong followed a thread of Sword Intent to the valley and drew her sword on the hidden Uncontested... Song Jin Jian.

Xiao Jinghong confronted Song Jin Jian, who revealed the Cui Family’s plan to enlist the Xiao Family in pressing the Emperor to campaign against the Barbarian Tribe. She refused to risk Shuzhou for their scheme, fought Song Jin Jian until reinforcements arrived, and returned to Mengshui Pass determined to strengthen her swordsmanship.

• Xiao Jinghong recognized Song Jin Jian as a Cui Family retainer and questioned him about the family’s role in her parents’ capture.
• Song Jin Jian told Xiao Jinghong that Xiao Fengchun remained unconscious and Fu Wanqing had taught the Barbarian Tribe’s heirs to keep him alive.
• Song Jin Jian proposed that the Xiao Family join the Cui Family in persuading the Emperor to launch a Southern Campaign instead of a Northern Expedition.
• Xiao Jinghong refused to endanger Shuzhou for the Cui Family’s plan and clashed with Song Jin Jian in a fierce sword fight.
• Ma Kui and the others arrived, and Song Jin Jian withdrew after urging Xiao Jinghong to reconsider.
• Xiao Jinghong returned toward Mengshui Pass with a hidden injury and resolved that her sword was still not strong enough.

Xiao Jinghong rejected the Qinghe Cui Family’s offer to rescue her parents through a military campaign and decided to seek a Sword Dao breakthrough so she could infiltrate the Black Bear Tribe herself. Meanwhile, Chen Yi questioned Li Sanyuan about the Poshushuo Kingdom’s envoy, but Li died before giving an answer, so Chen Yi prepared to send Zhang Dabao in his place to meet Pei Yonglin.

• Xiao Jinghong resolved to rescue Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing without involving the Xiao Family in a southern campaign, and decided she needed to advance her Sword Dao first.
• Xiao Jinghong told Su Zhenyue she would leave Mengshui Pass for up to a month, assigned her several duties, and asked her to send a letter home.
• Xiao Jinghong began cultivating Azure Cloud Technique and decided to attend the sparring match at the upper reaches of the Chishui River to seek a breakthrough.
• Chen Yi met Shui Hetong, Liu Lang, Zhang Dabao, and the others, then heard Zhang Dabao recount how he and Liu Lang had freed Li Sanyuan and how One Finger had taken Pei Yonglin to a painted boat.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang questioned Li Sanyuan about the Poshushuo Kingdom’s envoy, but Li died before revealing the envoy’s location.
• Chen Yi decided Zhang Dabao would stand in for Li Sanyuan, then asked Shui Hetong to help him deal with Pei Yonglin.

Chen Yi and his companions headed east to confront Pei Yonglin, but Shui Hetong first wiped out an ambush by Bright Moon Tower’s Unorthodox Path members. Liu Zhaoxue ran to warn Pei Yonglin, who used the Mountain Tribe’s Yansheng Technique on One Finger and prepared for Shui Hetong’s arrival.

• Chen Yi gave Shui Hetong, Liu Lang, and Zhang Dabao medicine that could prolong their lives if gu poison struck, then led them out of Shu Prefecture City toward Pei Yonglin.
• Shui Hetong said he would spare Pei Yonglin if possible, while Chen Yi weighed his ties to the Mountain Tribe and the Xiao Family and considered whether to attend Shui Hetong’s upcoming sparring match.
• Chen Yi’s intelligence revealed that Pei Yonglin had joined forces with Bright Moon Tower’s Unorthodox Path members to ambush them, and Shui Hetong charged southeast and defeated the hidden Phantom Sound Sect fighters.
• Liu Zhaoxue watched Chen Yi and Shui Hetong depart, feared Pei Yonglin could not withstand them without Song Jin Jian, and ran to Pei Yonglin’s location.
• Pei Yonglin used One Finger’s hair, nails, and blood to create a paper effigy and control One Finger’s body through the Yansheng Technique, then recognized Shui Hetong as the man approaching from the west.

Pei Yonglin learned that the Xiao Family had allied with the Wind and Rain Tower and warned Liu Zhaoxue to keep Song Jin Jian from acting while White Immortal was in Shuzhou. Chen Yi freed One Finger from Pei Yonglin’s mountain-spirit witchcraft and then confronted Pei at his hut, where Pei unleashed his Witch Tomb.

• Pei Yonglin sent a Ghost Face Butterfly to Liu Zhaoxue with instructions to warn Song Jin Jian not to act against White Immortal yet.
• Chen Yi and his companions encountered One Finger, whom Pei Yonglin had controlled with witchcraft and a mountain spirit.
• Chen Yi used his perfected Chess Dao to suppress the Wumeng Mountain apparition and free One Finger.
• One Finger warned Chen Yi that Pei Yonglin had prepared the Yansheng Technique and many Gu worms around himself.
• Chen Yi flew to Pei Yonglin’s hut, dispersed the surrounding Gu with a pungent poison, and challenged him with the Five-Fold Spear.
• Pei Yonglin dismissed Chen Yi’s Chess Dao and unleashed the Witch Tomb, filling the air above the hut with a swarm of black shapes.

Chen Yi defeated Pei Yonglin’s witchcraft and exposed his identity as Dragon Tiger Liu Wu, then fought him in the wooden hut. Before Chen Yi could decide Pei Yonglin’s fate, Song Jin Jian’s sword pierced Pei Yonglin’s chest, leaving Chen Yi facing the swordsman from afar.

• Pei Yonglin revealed the Witch Tomb and summoned its ancestor and four bronze guardians, but Chen Yi’s Chess Dao crushed them and overwhelmed his witchcraft.
• Pei Yonglin recognized Chen Yi as Dragon Tiger Liu Wu, and Chen Yi broke the chessboard illusion and confronted him in the wooden hut.
• Chen Yi defeated Pei Yonglin in combat, sealed his True Essence and mind with silver needles, and left him unable to fight back.
• Song Jin Jian’s distant Sword Intent slipped past Chen Yi and pierced Pei Yonglin’s chest, killing him.
• Chen Yi turned toward Song Jin Jian, who watched him from the distant horizon.

Chen Yi saved Pei Yonglin after Song Jin Jian attacked him, while Shui Hetong fought Song and forced him to retreat. Pei Yonglin was captured, and Chen Yi suspected the Qinghe Cui Family was conspiring with the Barbarian Tribe; Song Jin Jian later decided Chen Yi had to be eliminated but left Shuzhou to avoid Wind and Rain Tower.

• Song Jin Jian arrived and accused Chen Yi and Pei Yonglin of associating with the Mountain Tribe, while Shui Hetong challenged him over the deaths of Hua Huiyang and Ma Shuhan.
• Chen Yi used his Medical Dao to regrow Pei Yonglin's damaged organs as Shui Hetong fought Song Jin Jian, who revealed his Great Accomplishment Dao of Steps and then escaped.
• Chen Yi suspected Song Jin Jian had gone to Mengshui Pass to confront Xiao Jinghong and warned that the Qinghe Cui Family might be involved with the Barbarian Tribe; Shui Hetong agreed to consult his master.
• Pei Yonglin woke and accepted responsibility for his actions, but Chen Yi arranged for Shui Hetong to guard him until the Mountain Tribe and Wudang Mountain could question him.
• Chen Yi received a reward that advanced Meteor Butterfly Steps to Heaven Rank and led the group back toward Shu Prefecture City, determined to find out what Xiao Jinghong knew about Fu Wanqing.
• Song Jin Jian and Liu Zhaoxue watched the group depart; Song identified Chen Yi as the man who had sabotaged the Liu Family's plans, decided he could not yet attack him, and left Shuzhou with Liu Zhaoxue.

Chen Yi uncovered Song Jin Jian’s connection to the plot against the Xiao Family and began preparing countermeasures, while keeping Pei Guanli unaware of her parents’ situation. He left the chapter writing letters to Xiao Jinghong, Elder Master Xiao, and the White Tiger Guard as the dangers facing Shuzhou gathered into a clearer scheme.

• Chen Yi deduced that Song Jin Jian had come to Shuzhou for the same purpose as Liu Hong and learned that Pei Yonglin had served as the Jizhou Trading Company’s Clear Wind Envoy.
• Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family, watched Pei Guanli train, and decided not to tell her the truth about Pei Yonglin and Qi Lingyin yet.
• Chen Yi assessed the risks posed by the Mountain Tribe, Fu Wanqing’s presence among the Barbarian Tribe, and the Qinghe Cui Family’s possible scheme against the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi wrote letters to Xiao Jinghong and Elder Master Xiao, then prepared a message naming Song Jin Jian and Pei Yonglin’s role in the killings for the White Tiger Guard.
• Chen Yi joined Xiao Wuge and Pei Guanli for breakfast, gave calligraphy copybooks and paintings to visiting ladies, and told Xiao Wan'er he was writing to Xiao Jinghong.

Chen Yi visited Guiyun Academy and Jishi Pharmacy as Shuzhou’s officials and the Medical Dao Academy plans took shape. He met Ye Guxian in West Market, where the Snow Sword Lord said he had returned to see whether the younger generation could catch his eye.

• Xiao Wan'er said she would send a letter to Mengshui Pass, while Duke of Gan Zhang Xuan stayed in Shuzhou hoping to recruit martial experts for a mission to Japan.
• Chen Yi agreed to ask Ma Liangcai to accompany Xiao Wan'er and then visited Guiyun Academy, where Mr. Yue Ming and other scholars discussed Shuzhou’s officials and the incoming Zhao Wenjing.
• Chen Yi learned that Fan Yuanzhou had ordered investigations and relief efforts, and that Zhao Wenjing was the grandson of the scholar Zhao Zeshan.
• At Jishi Pharmacy, Chen Yi checked Yuan Liu'er’s condition and discussed the Medical Dao Academy and plans to compile a Medical Canon.
• Chen Yi instructed Wang Ji to deliver a letter to Elder Master Xiao and ordered Yan Hai to establish a third Hundred Herbs Hall in Guang'an.
• Ye Guxian invited Chen Yi to drink at Yunqing Tower and said he had returned to see whether any juniors could catch his eye.

Chen Yi drank with Ye Guxian, learned about the coming Hidden Immortal Competition, and agreed to meet him for sword instruction. He also persuaded Ye Guxian to deliver a letter to General Star, whose discovery that the Snow Sword Lord carried Liu Wu’s message led him to report their suspected connection.

• Chen Yi listened to Jianghu rumors with Ye Guxian, who explained the Barbarian Tribe’s Great Asa and the threat he posed in the Hidden Immortal Competition.
• Ye Guxian challenged Chen Yi to meet him at the Chishui River at the hour of the Pig for two nights and promised to teach him a sword technique.
• Chen Yi asked Ye Guxian to deliver a letter to the Tailor Shop for Liu Wu, and Ye Guxian agreed before returning to Xiao Manor.
• Ye Guxian appeared in General Star’s quiet room, delivered Liu Wu’s letter, and vanished before General Star could question him.
• General Star read the letter about the Jizhou Trading Company, the Mountain Tribe, and the Qinghe Cui Family, then reported that Ye Guxian and Liu Wu were suspected to be master and disciple.

General Star reviewed intelligence on the Dingyuan Army, the Vermilion Bird Guard, and the Cui Family’s possible schemes while Chen Yi worried about Xiao Jinghong. The chapter ended with Ye Guxian attempting to teach Chen Yi his Shadowless sword form, only for Chen Yi to gain no insight after three demonstrations.

• General Star recalled the White Tiger Guard’s records on Land Immortals, sent a secret letter north, and questioned Ge Laosan about his investigations.
• Ge Laosan reported on the Dingyuan Army’s movements and a Vermilion Bird Guard spy’s ties to Li Changqing, prompting General Star to order further surveillance and investigate Tea Horse Road merchants.
• Chen Yi returned to Qinghe Garden, shared dinner with Xiao Die, Xiao Wuge, and Pei Guanli, and worried about Xiao Jinghong after revealing what he had told Xiao Yuan.
• Xiao Yuan learned that Xiao Jinghong had been lightly injured at Mengshui Pass and that a Wei woman was being guarded within the Black Bear Tribe, then ordered Xiao Jinghong to return home.
• Chen Yi met Ye Guxian beside the Chishui River, endured demonstrations of the Shadowless sword form, and failed to gain any insight after attempting it himself.

Chen Yi learned the initial essence of Ye Guxian’s Heaven Rank Shadowless Sword, while Ye Guxian and Gongye Bai discussed the looming Hidden Immortal Competition and the people who might shape the future. Two days later, as Shuzhou filled with Jianghu visitors ahead of the Wushan Mutual Market, a diviner again challenged Ma Liangcai over Yuan Liu’er’s apprenticeship.

• Chen Yi used Qi Gazing Technique to perceive Ye Guxian’s sword intent, gained an Initial Glimpse of the Shadowless Sword, and endured a brutal spar.
• Ye Guxian asked Gongye Bai to divine how many years a woman had left to live, but Gongye Bai refused; Ye Guxian then headed north.
• Gongye Bai and Ye Guxian discussed the Hidden Immortal Competition and potential candidates, including Chen Yi, Xiao Jinghong, and Cui Meng.
• Two days later, Shuzhou grew crowded with merchants and Jianghu People, prompting the authorities to impose a curfew amid frequent clashes.
• At Jishi Pharmacy, Yuan Liu’er treated patients under Ma Liangcai’s guidance, while a cheerful elderly diviner insisted that she was wasting her talent as Ma Liangcai’s disciple.

The White Immortal met Yuan Liu'er at Jishi Pharmacy and urged her to develop her talent, while inviting her to watch the coming martial contest in Shuzhou. Later, Wind and Rain Tower disciples arrived to guard the Xiao Family, and Chen Yi noticed them at Chunhe Garden as a woman called for Qin Xiuce to wait.

• Ma Liangcai refused the White Immortal’s request to teach Yuan Liu'er divination, and the White Immortal made Ma Liangcai trip and bloody his nose before fleeing.
• The White Immortal advised Yuan Liu'er not to imitate Chen Yi’s laziness and invited her to see the upcoming contest in Shuzhou, but she said she would go only with Chen Yi’s approval.
• The White Immortal met Qin Xiuce and other Wind and Rain Tower disciples, ordered them to guard the Xiao Family, and warned them against attending the night’s match.
• Chen Yi reflected on Song Jin Jian’s disappearance and his repeated defeats while sparring with Ye Guxian, then prepared to cultivate the Four Symbols Technique.
• Chen Yi noticed the Wind and Rain Tower visitors arriving at Chunhe Garden, and a female voice called out to Qin Xiuce.

Tang Wansha and Wind and Rain Tower arrived at Xiao Manor, while Chen Yi prepared to avoid scrutiny and planned to use Cui Qingwu to draw out Song Jin Jian. After meeting Tang Wansha at dinner, Chen Yi resumed cultivating and learned that Gongye Bai and Ye Guxian would discuss the Dao at the Chishui River, where great Fortune awaited.

• Tang Wansha arrived at Xiao Manor and was welcomed by Xiao Wan'er, who invited her and the Wind and Rain Tower disciples to stay.
• Chen Yi painted three lifelike versions of himself to use as decoys and decided that Cui Qingwu might be the only person who could lure Song Jin Jian out.
• Pei Guanli told Chen Yi that her brother had arrived and wanted her to meet Liu Wu at the former encampment the next day.
• Xiao Wan'er introduced Chen Yi to Tang Wansha at dinner, where Tang praised his poetry and scolded her disciples for disparaging him.
• Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden and cultivated the Four Symbols Technique, then received intelligence that Gongye Bai and Ye Guxian would discuss the Dao at the upper reaches of the Chishui River.