Chapter Summaries

Chen Yi stopped a suspicious procession from presenting Ma Liangcai with a divine physician plaque, then promised to investigate who was behind it. He rejoined Xiao Wan'er and the others for a meal, while two people in a lavish carriage watched them and one called the failed scheme a small meeting gift for his wife.

• A procession arrived at Jishi Pharmacy claiming Ma Liangcai had saved their young master near Wumeng Mountain and brought him a divine physician plaque.
• Chen Yi rejected the plaque, sent the visitors away, and privately told Ma Liangcai to keep a low profile while he investigated.
• Chen Yi reassured the Medicine Hall staff and arranged for Liu Quan to advance them silver coins before leaving.
• Chen Yi joined Xiao Wan'er and the others at a restaurant, unaware that two people in a lavish carriage had watched them.
• One person in the carriage said his plan had been a small meeting gift for his wife and proposed going to greet them.

Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er’s party ate at a restaurant, where Liu Wen and Liu Zhaoxue arrived and Liu Wen provoked Xiao Wan'er over a marriage proposal. Chen Yi soothed Xiao Wan'er after they left, while Liu Wen learned more about Chen Yi and resolved to compete with him.

• Liu Wen and Liu Zhaoxue arrived in Shuzhou, and Liu Wen spoke of proposing marriage to Xiao Wan'er.
• Chen Yi’s group recalled Xiao Wan'er’s childhood visit to the restaurant as they waited for their food.
• Liu Wen approached Xiao Wan'er, hinted at a marriage between them, and was ordered to leave by Xiao Wan'er.
• Liu Zhaoxue pulled Liu Wen away after warning him that Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang were powerful Tianshan Sect disciples.
• Chen Yi encouraged Xiao Wan'er to stay for lunch and patted her hand, lifting her spirits.
• Liu Zhaoxue reminded Liu Wen of his rivalry with Chen Yi, and Liu Wen decided to compete with him if he got the chance.

Xiao Wan'er feared the Liu Family of Jingzhou would arrange a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family, and she openly rejected the proposal when Liu Yu suggested Liu Wen as her match. Old Master postponed his decision until he could consult the Liu Family’s main branch, leaving Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Wuge to speak with him afterward.

• Disturbed by Liu Wen's earlier mention of a marriage proposal, Xiao Wan'er returned to the Marquis's mansion in low spirits while Chen Yi went to West Market.
• Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Wuge waited outside Qingjing Residence as Old Master spoke with Liu Yu of the Liu Family of Jingzhou.
• Liu Yu asked Old Master to consider a marriage alliance and proposed Liu Wen as a match for Xiao Wan'er.
• Xiao Wan'er said she did not agree, and Old Master temporarily declined the proposal pending correspondence with the Liu Family's main branch.
• After Liu Yu left, Xiao Wuge told Old Master he also opposed the proposal and began explaining what Chen Yi had said about the Xiao Family attracting attention.

Elder Master Xiao reassured Xiao Wan'er about the Liu Family and learned that Chen Yi had recognized the Xiao Family’s weakness and treated her illness. Meanwhile, Chen Yi prepared to investigate the Liu Family’s plans through Liu Lang and decided to accompany him to meet the mission’s participants.

• Elder Master Xiao questioned Xiao Wuge about Chen Yi’s insight into the Xiao Family’s position and realized Chen Yi might be more perceptive than he appeared.
• Xiao Wan'er worried about marriage, but Elder Master Xiao assured her the Xiao Family would not marry her to Liu Wen and said he would handle the Liu Family.
• Xiao Wuge told Elder Master Xiao that Chen Yi had cured Xiao Wan'er and praised Chen Yi’s medical skills and talents.
• Elder Master Xiao ordered the Shadow Guard to watch the Liu Family, then decided against having Chen Yi followed.
• Chen Yi reasoned that Liu Hong and Liu Zhen were central to the Liu Family’s plans, while Liu Lang reported Black Tooth’s movements and the deaths of suspected Xiao Family guards.
• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to take him along that night to meet the mission’s participants.

Chen Yi decided to accompany Liu Lang to Black Tooth’s gathering by posing as a gold master who wanted the Three Towns’ summer grain burned, though he withheld his proposed justification. After gathering information about Black Tooth and Bright Moon Tower, Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family and found Xiao Wuge being lectured by Sun Fu.

• Liu Lang warned Chen Yi that Black Tooth required participants to carry an Identity Token and that the gathering could be dangerous.
• Liu Lang suggested Chen Yi could attend as a gold master without a token if he gave Black Tooth a convincing reason to fund the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain.
• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to prepare to meet him before the hour of the Boar, but refused to reveal his reason in advance.
• Chen Yi asked Liu Lang about Black Tooth, Bright Moon Tower, and martial-world figures in Shuzhou, then left after their conversation.
• Chen Yi removed his disguise, walked through West Market, bought candied hawthorn skewers, and returned to the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi found Xiao Wuge in Chunhe Garden as Sun Fu lectured him, and Xiao Wuge silently pleaded for help.

Chen Yi’s calligraphy reached perfection as he wrote Sun Fu a poem that revealed a vivid painting of Sun Fu in Jinling. After Sun Fu departed, Chen Yi reaffirmed his loyalty to the Xiao Family and prepared to meet Black Tooth and the others with Liu Lang.

• Sun Fu told Chen Yi that he and his family would leave for Jinling, and Chen Yi promised him the calligraphy copybooks.
• Chen Yi wrote Farewell to Duke Changming in Shu Prefecture, whose characters revealed a painting of Sun Fu and advanced Chen Yi’s Way of Calligraphy to perfection.
• Sun Fu treasured the poem and copybook, praised Chen Yi’s calligraphy, and asked about his plans; Chen Yi said he stood with the Xiao Family as its live-in son-in-law.
• Chen Yi learned that Old Master had refused Liu Yu of the Liu Family, then scolded Xiao Wuge for revealing his secrets and threatened to add more subjects to his lessons.
• After reflecting on the forces surrounding the Xiao Family, Chen Yi dressed in black, gathered his weapons and medical supplies, and prepared to follow Liu Lang to meet Black Tooth and the others.

Chen Yi disguised himself and went with Liu Lang to meet Black Tooth, using the Liu Family of Jingzhou as his cover. At Chunyu Tower, he discovered that the masked woman accompanying Black Tooth was the Hidden Guard known as Female Tiger.

• Chen Yi slipped through West Market in the rain, avoiding Fang Hongxiu and her Judicial Officers as they patrolled for him.
• Chen Yi had Zhang Dabao disguise him as a gloomy, sinister man, then told Liu Lang he would pose as someone from the Liu Family of Jingzhou.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang passed a secret checkpoint and followed a guide to Chunyu Tower, where Black Tooth was hiding.
• Black Tooth entered the room with a petite masked woman, who questioned whether Liu Lang had followed Black Tooth's rules by bringing Chen Yi.
• Chen Yi recognized the woman as Female Tiger, the Hidden Guard.

Chen Yi posed as Liu Wu, a member of the Liu Family of Jingzhou, to negotiate with Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue about Bright Moon Tower's transaction. After proving his claimed ties to Liu Wen and his medical skill, he declared that his business was finished and prepared to question them about theirs.

• Chen Yi claimed to be Liu Wu of the Liu Family of Jingzhou and confronted Black Tooth over the failed transaction and Liu Jing's death.
• Chen Yi laid out ten thousand taels in Silver Notes and claimed to serve Liu Wen, whose purpose in Shuzhou included seeking a marriage alliance with the Eldest Miss Xiao.
• Chen Yi told Black Tooth that the transaction was Liu Wen's betrothal gift and that it had to succeed, so Black Tooth accepted the Silver Notes and agreed their aims aligned.
• Lou Yuxue questioned how Liu Lang had joined Liu Wu, and Chen Yi claimed he had cured Liu Lang's injuries.
• Chen Yi demonstrated his medical skill by controlling a Silver Needle with True Essence, convincing Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue of his identity.
• Chen Yi said his business was finished and turned the conversation toward Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue's business.

Chen Yi and Liu Lang attended a gathering for the summer-grain burning deal, where Chen Yi revealed his Great Accomplishment Fist Dao and impressed the gathered Unorthodox Path members. After they donned masks and entered the meeting room, Chen Yi recognized an old acquaintance among the participants.

• Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue left Chen Yi and Liu Lang to wait while the remaining participants gathered, and Chen Yi considered the Hidden Guards’ plans and the unidentified Gold Master.
• Old Demon Fang tried to intimidate the room with his Fist Intent, but Liu Lang’s Blade Intent and Chen Yi’s Great Accomplishment Fist Dao suppressed his pressure.
• Black Tooth stopped Old Demon Fang and told the group that Chen Yi was both a Medical Saint Hand and essential to the deal, prompting the others to praise him.
• A black-clad attendant delivered masks, and Liu Lang explained Bright Moon Tower’s rule that only the deal’s initiator knew everyone’s identity beforehand.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang put on masks and entered a hidden meeting room, where Chen Yi recognized an old acquaintance among the masked participants.

Chen Yi and Liu Lang attended Bright Moon Tower’s meeting about an operation targeting the Three Towns, where they learned that the Unorthodox Path practitioners would serve as a diversion while inside agents handled the main attack. After leaving, they were followed through the storm, and Old Demon Fang confronted them in an alley, declaring that anyone who offended him had to die.

• Chen Yi recognized Ge Laosan and identified the other martial artists gathered at Bright Moon Tower before receiving intelligence about their meeting.
• Black Tooth explained that Bright Moon Tower would take thirty percent of the reward and proposed dividing the rest equally, prompting Old Demon Fang and Elder Demon Jia to argue over shares.
• Chen Yi challenged the group’s chances of success, and Lou Yuxue revealed that they would draw the Xiao Family’s attention while inside agents in the Three Towns carried out the main operation.
• After Chen Yi and Liu Lang left, Black Tooth and Lou Yuxue discussed whether the pair might disrupt the plan and agreed to verify the Liu Family’s purpose for coming.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang walked through the storm and discovered Old Demon Fang following them; he confronted them in an alley and threatened to kill anyone who offended him.

Chen Yi and Liu Lang survived Old Demon Fang’s attack while Chen Yi’s drug incapacitated the conspirators, earning him a reward that raised Collapsing Mountain Fist to Earth Rank. Back at their residence, Chen Yi planned their next moves and sent Xiao Jinghong a warning about Bright Moon Tower’s scheme to burn the Three Towns’ summer grain.

• Liu Lang’s Blade Intent forced Old Demon Fang back, but Chen Yi called for Black Tooth, who stopped the fight and sent Old Demon Fang away.
• Old Demon Fang collapsed after Chen Yi’s knockout drug took effect, and Black Tooth found more than a dozen incapacitated conspirators, including Lou Yuxue, along the street.
• Black Tooth killed Old Demon Fang for bringing disgrace on Bright Moon Tower, then ordered Lou Yuxue to clean up the scene.
• Chen Yi received a Fortune reward that raised Collapsing Mountain Fist to Earth Rank and returned with Liu Lang to their temporary residence.
• Chen Yi told Liu Lang to locate the Liu Family of Jingzhou’s Second Young Master and wrote a warning to Xiao Jinghong about the plot to burn the Three Towns’ summer grain and a possible inside agent among the soldiers.

Chen Yi arranged for Pei Guanli to secretly deliver his warning letter to Xiao Jinghong while keeping his own involvement hidden. Sun Fu showed Marquis Xiao a calligraphy work by Chen Yi that revealed his extraordinary talent, leaving Marquis Xiao both pleased and worried about what it might mean for the Xiao Family.

• Chen Yi decided that Pei Guanli should carry his letter to Xiao Jinghong under the cover of visiting her clan, and instructed her to conceal how she obtained it.
• Zhang Dabao explained the Thieves' Sect's disguise techniques to Chen Yi, who then told him to arrange new residences in East Market and North City.
• Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden and gave Pei Guanli detailed instructions for delivering the letter without arousing Xiao Jinghong's suspicion.
• Sun Fu visited Marquis Xiao before leaving for Jinling and revealed Chen Yi's calligraphy, which displayed an impressive illusory scene and bore Chen Yi's name.
• Marquis Xiao worried that Chen Yi's growing talent could bring trouble for the Xiao Family, but Sun Fu reassured him that Chen Yi had no designs on them.

Chen Yi taught his students to develop calligraphy that reflected their own nature, then learned that the Xiao and Liu Families’ dispute over the Three Towns’ Summer Grain had escalated again. He went to meet Xiao Wan’er in disguise to discuss expanding Hundred Herbs Hall, but she unexpectedly ordered him to enter alone.

• Chen Yi saw Sun Fu off and admitted that he had written the parting verse for him, then wrote Xiao Jinghong a letter and sent Pei Guanli back to her tribe with gifts.
• At the academy, Chen Yi taught Tang Ye to let his natural temperament shape his calligraphy and gave the students homework to write in a style true to themselves.
• Mr. Yue Ming asked Chen Yi to allow a student to enter the study hall through a family’s favor; Chen Yi agreed only if another student was removed.
• Chen Yi read Li Huaigu’s letter reporting that the Provincial Administration had raised the grain-tax rate on the Three Towns’ Summer Grain from one in twenty to one in ten, and told Mr. Yue Ming to follow their existing plan and delay Li Huaigu’s journey.
• Chen Yi met Wang Ji in disguise and instructed him to explain the plan to expand Hundred Herbs Hall to Xiao Wan’er, but her attendant said Chen Yi should enter alone.

Chen Yi met Xiao Wan'er at the Marquis Dingyuan Estate disguised as Chen Yu and presented Hundred Herbs Hall's plan to expand across the Great Wei Dynasty. He left after she agreed to consult her grandfather, while Xiao Wan'er remained unsettled by how much Chen Yu reminded her of her brother-in-law.

• Chen Yi entered the Wooden Tower with Shen Huatang and greeted Xiao Wan'er as Chen Yu, but she froze because his bearing and appearance seemed familiar.
• Xiao Wan'er gave Chen Yi a zither and a saber, and they discussed Hundred Herbs Hall's cooperation with the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.
• Chen Yi presented a plan to expand Hundred Herbs Hall through profit-sharing with the Xiao Family and local Aristocratic Families, and he explained how to address unsuitable prescriptions and dishonest partners.
• Xiao Wan'er said she needed her grandfather's approval and accepted Chen Yi's warning to keep the plan from the Liu Family.
• Chen Yi left the estate with Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao, while Xiao Wan'er asked Shen Huatang and Xie Tingyun whether Chen Yu looked like her brother-in-law; they denied it, and she asked them to invite him to dinner when he returned.

Xiao Wan'er presented Chen Yu's Hundred Herbs Hall expansion plan to the old master, who agreed the Xiao Family could cooperate after investigating Chen Yu and the business. The old master then ordered the Shadow Guard to watch the Liu Family and uncover what Bright Moon Tower was planning in the Black Market.

• Xiao Wan'er brought the expansion plan to the old master and explained that Chen Yu wanted to cooperate with the Xiao Family.
• The old master judged that the plan could benefit both sides, but warned that expanding through Shuzhou would require managing local clans and their interests.
• The old master agreed to the venture in principle, but said the Xiao Family must first investigate Chen Yu and Hundred Herbs Hall.
• After Xiao Wan'er left, the old master ordered a subordinate to investigate Chen Yu and keep watch on the Liu Family of Jingzhou.
• A Shadow Guard reported that Old Demon Fang had died at Black Tooth's hands and that Evil Demons had gathered at Chunyu Tower, prompting the old master to order an investigation into Bright Moon Tower's plans.

Chen Yi raised his Chess Dao and Blade Dao, arranged a meeting with Liu Wen in Black Tooth’s name, and gave Liu Lang a new saber. After returning to the Xiao Family, he was summoned by Xiao Wan'er to dinner.

• Chen Yi raised his Chess Dao to Great Accomplishment, practiced the Spring Embroidered Saber Art, and advanced his Blade Dao to Minor Accomplishment.
• Liu Lang reported that Liu Wen and Liu Zhaoxue were staying apart from Liu Yu, who remained at Liu Hong’s home.
• Chen Yi ordered Liu Lang to invite Liu Wen to meet Black Tooth the night after tomorrow, then gave Liu Lang a new saber.
• Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family after buying food and qin scores, and Shen Huatang told him that Xiao Wan'er had invited him to dinner.

Chen Yi attended Xiao Wan'er’s banquet and learned that Elder Master Xiao was delaying approval of the Hundred Herbs Hall expansion until he investigated Boss Chen’s background. Meanwhile, Liu Lang infiltrated the Liu residence and overheard Liu Zhaoxue’s secret contact with the Five Poisons Sect before learning the Liu family planned to send the siblings to the Xiao family.

• Xiao Wan'er told Chen Yi that Elder Master Xiao praised the Hundred Herbs Hall Expansion Plan but wanted to verify Boss Chen’s background before proceeding.
• Xiao Wan'er rejected the idea of demanding a larger share of the profits from Hundred Herbs Hall, and Chen Yi realized he needed to patch holes in Boss Chen’s identity.
• Chen Yi accidentally caught Xiao Wan'er’s forehead with his hand when she nearly struck the table, leaving her embarrassed and flustered.
• Liu Lang infiltrated the residence where Liu Wen and Liu Zhaoxue were staying and overheard a black-clad Five Poisons Sect member offer to help Liu Zhaoxue.
• Liu Wen told Liu Zhaoxue that their father had ordered them to take a letter to Old Marquis Xiao and visit the Xiao family the next day.

Chen Yi learned that the Liu Family of Jingzhou would visit the Xiao Family and prepared to meet with Old Master Xiao, while Liu Lang delivered Black Tooth’s message to Liu Wen. The chapter ended with Chen Yi turning down several visitors at Jiaxing Garden before continuing to Qingjing Residence.

• Liu Wen arranged to visit Xiao Manor with Liu Zhaoxue and assigned Yu Zhen to serve her, while Liu Lang followed him back to his residence.
• Liu Lang delivered Black Tooth’s message that he would visit Liu Wen at the Xu Hour, and Liu Wen killed a servant who had overheard their exchange.
• Chen Yi received intelligence that the Liu Family would visit Old Master Xiao at noon and decided to go to Qingjing Residence.
• Chen Yi wrote Old Master Xiao a calligraphy copybook reading “Tranquility yields far-reaching goals” and reflected on the power of the perfected Way of Calligraphy.
• Xiao Wuge took Chen Yi on a detour to Jiaxing Garden, where Xiao Wan'er told him several visitors had come looking for him, and Chen Yi refused to meet them.

Xiao Wan'er sought a solution to the flood of callers hoping to secure Chen Yi as a calligraphy teacher, while Chen Yi focused on the looming conflict over the Three Towns' summer grain tax. After Chen Yunfan warned him to stay at Guiyun Academy, Liu Yu arrived at the Xiao estate.

• Xiao Wan'er accepted all the callers' visit cards and arranged their appointments while waiting for Chen Yi to find a lasting solution.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge went to Qingjing Residence and learned that Yang Ye and Chen Yunfan were meeting with Old Master over the Three Towns' summer grain tax.
• Chen Yi spoke privately with Chen Yunfan, who advised him to stay at Guiyun Academy because the Liu Family of Jingzhou was pressing the grain-tax issue against the Xiao Family.
• Liu Yu, the second young master of the Jingzhou Liu Family, entered the inner courtyard, surprising Chen Yunfan.

Chen Yi witnessed Liu Wen’s failed attempt to secure an alliance with the Xiao Family and presented the Old Marquis with a calligraphy piece that eased his displeasure. The Old Marquis then asked Chen Yi for his thoughts on Shuzhou’s situation, leaving the conversation poised to begin.

• Chen Yunfan humiliated Liu Wen when they met, while Liu Zhaoxue tried to smooth things over and later followed her angry brother toward Qingjing Residence.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge waited outside the closed main hall, where Liu Wen overheard them calling him a bad person.
• Liu Wen urged the Old Marquis to join forces with the Liu Family against a possible Southern Barbarian invasion, but the Old Marquis dismissed him and told him to ask Liu Hong whether his office served Shuzhou or Jingzhou.
• Liu Wen left Qingjing Residence after exchanging a hostile look with Chen Yi, who received four Fortune points.
• Chen Yi gave the Old Marquis a calligraphy copybook titled “Tranquility, reaching afar,” whose artistic conception soothed him.
• The Old Marquis asked Chen Yi what he thought of Shuzhou’s current situation.