Chapter Summaries

Tang Qi killed the Loaches and Fleshbug after they attacked him in the tavern, then promoted his upcoming Twilight Forest guide to the stunned patrons. When the City Guard arrived, he revealed that he had called them himself.

• Tang Qi used Silver Tongue and his saber skills to defeat the Loaches, killing several and crippling one.
• Tang Qi killed the last fleeing Loach and then killed Fleshbug, who tried to invoke Dragon Gold City's laws.
• Tang Qi asked an adventurer to carry the bodies outside and offered the tavern patrons another glass of Star Plum Wine.
• Tang Qi announced his upcoming Twilight Forest guide and surprised the adventurers by revealing he was a poet.
• An adventurer announced that the City Guard had arrived, and Tang Qi said Golden Oak was safe because he had called them.

Tang Qi killed Red Scarf Gang thugs who threatened Catherine, then used his friendship with the Guard Captain to avoid a fine and establish the Golden Oak’s connections. The tavern’s customers left believing the gang would think twice before challenging it.

• Tang Qi told the City Guard that he had killed the Red Scarf Gang thugs after they threatened Catherine.
• The Guard Captain recognized Tang Qi as his friend and questioned the tavern’s customers about what had happened.
• After hearing the witnesses, the Guard Captain treated the deaths as having occurred in a dungeon and waived any fine.
• Tang Qi invited the Guard Captain and his men to drink Star Plum Wine, while the customers realized the Golden Oak had the City Guard’s backing.

After the Red Scarf Gang’s attack, Tang Qi received a defensive sword skill and identified two magic items among their loot. He set out with Anbi to publish the Twilight Forest Guide, while noticing that her beastkin symptoms were worsening.

• Tang Qi received the Defensive Sword Dance skill as a reward for defeating the five Red Scarf Gang members alone.
• Tang Qi identified a Secret-Seeking Wand and a Mind Shield Ring among the gang’s stolen loot, then attuned to the ring and learned to hide it.
• Tang Qi packed his manuscripts and called Anbi to leave with him.
• Tang Qi saw that Anbi’s fur had grown thicker beneath her heavy clothes and realized her beastkin symptoms were worsening.
• Anbi told Tang Qi they were going to buy things and publish the Twilight Forest Guide.

Tang Qi took Anbi into Dragon Gold City to look for a publisher for his Twilight Forest Guide and help lift her spirits. After showing her the city’s sights, he encountered the city captain struggling with a debtor who refused to leave him alone, and the captain called Tang Qi over for help.

• Tang Qi and Anbi headed into the city to try another publisher and enjoy the sights, since Catherine wanted Anbi to have a chance to relax.
• At the city gate, Tang Qi spoke with a guard and learned that a painter who had violated Martial Law had spent a month in the Wall Prison.
• Tang Qi showed Anbi Dragon Gold City’s Dragon Bone and explained how Dragon Avenue connected the city gate to the Upper City.
• Near the carriages, Tang Qi saw the captain arguing with the grimy painter, who demanded an escort home and clung to the captain’s leg.
• The captain spotted Tang Qi and called him over for help.

Tang Qi and Anbi encountered a painter clinging to the guard captain, desperate for protection from the Red Scarf Gang over a 10,000-gold-coin debt. Tang Qi put the painter to sleep and tied him up, then learned he had to keep him out of prison and decide what to do with him.

• Tang Qi asked why the painter was clinging to the guard captain and learned the man wanted the City Guard's protection from the Red Scarf Gang, which was blocking his home over a debt.
• The painter explained that his debt had grown from 3,000 to 10,000 gold coins after he borrowed from the gang to repay a noble, and that he had been stranded in Dragon Gold City instead of reaching Star Plum Town to work as an artist.
• Tang Qi told the painter that Explosive Wolf and Hus were dead, while Melard was alive but under house arrest, and Anbi pointed out that the painter had never completed any work to earn his promised payment.
• Tang Qi used a Sleep Spell on the painter and bound him, while the guard captain explained that the Red Scarf Gang wanted its debt collected and asked Tang Qi to keep the man out of prison.
• The guard captain left, and Tang Qi was left wondering what to do with the bound painter.

Tang Qi escorted the painter to his home while the man tried to bargain, then learned the painter believed Tang Qi’s manuscript was promising but needed illustrations and a reputable recommendation. The painter offered to help Tang Qi get the book published.

• Tang Qi brought the bound painter into a carriage and refused his offers of money and brothel companionship.
• The painter noticed Tang Qi’s manuscript, The Twilight Forest Guide, and praised its humor and writing.
• The painter complained about Mary Sue’s bestselling novel, The Ghost Bride of Dragon Gold City, and said Tang Qi’s manuscript deserved publication.
• The painter suggested illustrations and a famous recommendation could help Tang Qi’s manuscript find a publisher, then offered himself as a connection.

Tang Qi hired the indebted painter Merlin to illustrate his city guide and arranged for Merlin to evade the Red Scarf Gang when he returned home. The gang chased a frizzy-haired man through the alleys, only for their target to vanish at a crossroads.

• Merlin explained that he had spent the 3,000-gold deposit for Ms. Sophia’s portrait and borrowed money to repay Carlo after he could not paint it.
• Merlin offered to find Tang Qi a publisher and illustrate his guide, and Tang Qi accepted the illustration work after seeing a sample of his line art.
• Tang Qi refused to protect Merlin directly but told him to get out of the carriage as instructed, then let the carriage leave Merlin at home.
• The Red Scarf Gang surrounded the house, but the frizzy-haired man dodged them and sprinted away at surprising speed.
• The gang boss followed the chase into an alley and found that his men had lost the target at a crossroads.

Tang Qi escaped the Red Scarf Gang using a real spore Clone and negotiated with Merlin over illustrating The Guide in exchange for a share of its sales. Merlin promised to find a publisher, but the publishing house rejected the book, leaving Tang Qi to tease him about eating the manuscript.

• Tang Qi explained how his spore Clone fooled the Red Scarf Gang and restrained Merlin in the carriage to keep him from escaping.
• Merlin proposed a long-term partnership, and after bargaining with Tang Qi, he asked for ten percent of sales in exchange for illustrating future books.
• Tang Qi postponed settling the exact terms and told Merlin to use his connections to find a reliable publisher.
• Merlin promised to secure a publisher and distribution for The Guide, but the publishing house rejected the book.
• Tang Qi held the manuscript up to Merlin and asked whether he would eat it himself or be fed.

Tang Qi and Merlin failed to find a Dragon Gold City publisher or restaurant willing to overlook Merlin’s blacklist, so Tang Qi suggested seeking publishers elsewhere. Meanwhile, Gravel hid from Tang Qi at a restaurant with Wendy Silver Shield, who recognized the person he was describing as a former teammate of the one who left the forest with her.

• Merlin learned that Lame Pigeon had refused to publish their book because Star Plum Tycoon had paid him to suppress anything about the Twilight Forest.
• Lame Pigeon revealed that Merlin was blacklisted for unpaid debts and warned he would not risk angering a noble; Tang Qi dragged Merlin away before he could argue further.
• Tang Qi proposed sending the book to publishers outside Dragon Gold City and suggested they eat, but Merlin’s chosen restaurant turned them away because he was blacklisted.
• Anbi smelled beer near the restaurant, and Tang Qi guessed Gravel was hiding from them before leading her away.
• Gravel emerged from beneath a table and told Wendy Silver Shield that he had hidden from someone annoying; Wendy realized he meant the former teammate of the person who had left the forest with her.

Wendy tried to keep her adventuring party quiet at an upscale restaurant, where Rumi’s nonstop questions about elves finally got him knocked unconscious. She then asked Gravel about Tang Qi Weinberg’s account of crossing the Twilight Forest and learned the title of his forthcoming book.

• Rumi loudly questioned Gravel about elves and their cuisine until Wendy apologized to the restaurant owner with a platinum coin.
• Wendy urged Gravel and Rumi to mind their manners, but Gravel complained about the meal while Rumi continued asking about Shalti.
• Miss Xingchen tried to silence Rumi with a Suggestion Spell, but Gravel knocked him face-first into his plate when the spell failed.
• Wendy thanked the sleeping Miss Xingchen and told Gravel that she wanted experienced adventurers to help her grow.
• Wendy asked Gravel about Tang Qi Weinberg’s Twilight Forest story, and Gravel recalled the book’s title, Tang Qi’s Twilight Forest Guide.
• Wendy decided to look for the book and asked Gravel not to reveal the story’s details.

Lame Pigeon found a way to revive Harbor Pigeon's publishing prospects when Wendy agreed to guarantee and promote Tang Qi's unpublished guide. As Wendy and her companions headed to the Golden Oak to find Tang Qi, Mel Barry arrived there intending to confront him.

• Lame Pigeon lamented Harbor Pigeon's declining fortunes and recalled rejecting Tang Qi's Twilight Forest Guide because of pressure from the Star Plum Tycoon.
• Wendy asked Lame Pigeon about the guide, which Tang Qi had told her to look forward to, and learned that Harbor Pigeon had refused to publish it.
• Lame Pigeon persuaded Wendy to act as the book's guarantor and promote it, giving him confidence to approach Tang Qi about a contract.
• Gravel offered to lead Wendy and her companions to the Golden Oak, where Tang Qi was staying.
• Mel Barry arrived at the Golden Oak, pleased that he believed he had cut off Tang Qi's publishing options and eager to confront him.

Lord Mel went to the Golden Oak intending to make Tang Qi beg for mercy, but discovered farmers planting star plums and ordered his mercenaries to destroy their field. As a mercenary prepared to strike Old David, Melard intervened.

• Lord Mel recalled whipping Melard for opposing his plan to block Tang Qi's books, then decided to visit the Golden Oak and demand that Tang Qi change his book's protagonist.
• Lord Mel and Melard arrived at the closed tavern, where Holtz recognized Lord Mel and sent for guards and the owner.
• Lord Mel spotted the star plum field, had his mercenaries break through the fence, and ordered them to destroy the crops and confiscate the seeds.
• Old David and the farmers stood up to Lord Mel, and Old David raised his iron rake to protect the field despite fearing the mercenaries' swords.
• A mercenary raised his sword to strike Old David, but Melard charged into the field and knocked the mercenary away.

Mel tried to seize the farmers’ star plum seeds by force, but the City Guard and Catherine stopped him by enforcing Dragon Gold City’s laws. After learning Catherine had secured a ten-year land lease, Mel paid compensation and looked to use Tang Qi’s publishing channel as leverage, just as a carriage from the Silver Shield family arrived.

• Mel ordered his mercenaries to restrain Melard and continue attacking the orchard, but Hogg’s call brought City Guards who halted them.
• Catherine showed the guards proof that the farmers paid Dragon Gold City residency taxes, so Mel could not claim authority over them or prove the star plum seeds were his.
• Mel threatened to take Catherine’s land when her lease expired, but she revealed it would not need renewal for ten years.
• Catherine cited the city’s laws and demanded compensation from Mel for threatening her employees and damaging property; Mel paid with coins and jewelry.
• Mel decided he could use Tang Qi’s publishing channel to pressure Catherine and the farmers, then recognized the arriving carriage as belonging to the Silver Shield family.

Tang Qi rejected Mel’s offer and agreed to pursue self-publishing The Guide with Melard and Lame Pigeon, while preparing for the Dragon Hoard dungeon. In the cellar, Anbi sensed that someone was still there, and Tang Qi’s Alertness triggered.

• Tang Qi turned down Mel’s offer to buy the star plum land and seeds, then sharply rebuked him until Mel collapsed unconscious.
• Melard proposed funding a self-published edition of The Guide and using his family’s promotional channels, and Tang Qi agreed to proceed with Lame Pigeon and Catherine handling the contract.
• Tang Qi met Wendy’s adventuring party, gave her the manuscript, and learned that Gravel planned to enter the Dragon Hoard dungeon with them.
• Tang Qi went to the cellar to charge the Spore Replicator and planned to train Yiwu for the dungeon expedition.
• Anbi smelled an unfamiliar presence in the cellar and warned Tang Qi that someone had not left, triggering his Alertness.

Tang Qi and Anbi fought Night Wind, a Drow Elf assassin who attacked them from the shadows. Night Wind escaped with Traceless Powder, but Tang Qi cast a sleep spell across the cellar stairs to block his only exit.

• Tang Qi used Guardian Sword Dance to deflect six magical throwing knives, then used Silver Tongue to trace Night Wind’s attacks and expose him with light.
• Tang Qi wounded Night Wind, who revealed himself as a Drow Elf and attacked again with two knives.
• Anbi tackled Night Wind, bit his wrist, and clawed his chest, revealing herself as Beastkin and inflicting a curse.
• Night Wind tried to escape, but Tang Qi nearly pinned his cloak with his blade before Night Wind used Traceless Powder to vanish.
• Tang Qi used his last spell slot to cast a sleep spell on the cellar stairs, covering Night Wind’s only way out with flowers.

Tang Qi protected Anbi and Yiwu from a vanished intruder, then decided they needed to hide and postpone Yiwu’s training. In the Dragon Political Hall, Leon learned Night Wind had attacked Tang Qi and discussed the True Dragon, Stella’s deception, and his own plans, while a shadowy figure concluded that Night Wind was no longer needed and Tang Qi might be useful.

• Tang Qi found that the intruder had escaped, checked that Anbi and Yiwu were safe, and decided to hide them and suspend Yiwu’s Dragon Breath training.
• Leon healed Night Wind’s wounds and questioned him about his month of watching Tang Qi and the dragon.
• Night Wind told Leon that Stella Starlight had used Suggestion Spell on the Red Scarf Gang members to test Tang Qi and conceal the dragon’s hatching.
• Leon blamed Night Wind’s rash attack for ruining his chance to negotiate with Tang Qi and insisted that force was a last resort in Dragon Gold City.
• Night Wind left to rest, while Leon dreamed of pledging loyalty to Eve Edel and killing her; an unseen speaker then said Night Wind was no longer needed and Tang Qi could still be useful.

After an assassin threatened him, Tang Qi decided to investigate the Red Scarf Gang in Deepwell and prepared to leave after dawn. Before setting out, he learned the assassin’s cloak could let him breathe underwater and discovered Kuru had learned Fog Spell and Illusionary Manuscript.

• Tang Qi woke from a nightmare and told Catherine he would enter the dungeon to investigate who had sent the assassin, planning to return by the Double Moon Feast.
• Catherine used her copying ability to create a second Catherine, and the two kept Tang Qi occupied until morning.
• Tang Qi identified the assassin’s cloak as an uncommon Manta Ray Cloak that granted faster swimming and underwater breathing.
• Dawn returned to the group after telling Jasmine the truth about the mercenary’s death and secretly helping her during the month he stayed away.
• Tang Qi learned that Kuru had acquired Fog Spell and Illusionary Manuscript, then questioned why it had chosen a spell for forging documents.

Tang Qi prepared to enter the Deepwell dungeon with Kuru and Dawn, while Anbi stayed behind to protect Yiwu. After reaching Dragon Gold City's Deep Well District, Tang Qi hired a Tiefling guide and began the Adventurer's Guild registration process.

• Tang Qi learned that Kuru had deciphered and mastered two illusion spells, then praised Kuru and Dawn before assigning Dawn to the Deepwell expedition.
• Tang Qi packed supplies and potions, while Anbi asked to join him; he left her behind to protect Yiwu.
• Tang Qi and his party traveled through Dragon Gold City's districts toward Deep Well, where he observed the adventurer trade and the dungeon's lawless surroundings.
• Tang Qi negotiated with a Tiefling guide and agreed to pay five gold coins for help registering at the Adventurer's Guild.

Hope guided Tang Qi and his companions through the Adventurer’s Guild, where Tang Qi registered their party and chose the name [A Group of Adventurers]. The name stunned the guild as people recognized it as the group rumored to have crossed the Twilight Forest and defeated a fourth-circle necromancer.

• Hope explained the guild’s facilities and led Tang Qi through the lobby, describing its quest boards, Octagon cage, Deepwell entrance, and Trading Corridor.
• Tang Qi registered his party at the counter and considered several names while Dawn and Kuru argued for names that included them.
• A Minotaur named Bovine learned that his quest had been canceled because the employer had died, then heard adventurers discuss the group that had survived the Twilight Forest and defeated a fourth-circle necromancer.
• Tang Qi named the party [A Group of Adventurers], and Hope recognized the reference as the guild fell silent and turned its attention to him.

Tang Qi registered his party with the Adventurer's Guild, hired Hope to guide them into Deepwell, and accepted a quest to collect intact Giant Snail shells. After buying a large supply of salt, Tang Qi and his companions entered the Dungeon, where he prepared to record material for his guidebook.

• Tang Qi learned that Guild membership cost 10 gold per person each month and declined Hope's offer to find them a quest until she proposed guiding them for a share of the earnings.
• Tang Qi chose the Giant Snail shell-collection quest and negotiated Hope's fee at 70 gold, payable after the quest was finished.
• Tang Qi and Hope accepted the quest and signed a contract, then Tang Qi had Hope buy all the salt at a nearby stall for 30 gold.
• Hope led Tang Qi to the Deep Well Elevator and explained the Dragon Rider Corps guarded the Dungeon entrances.
• Hope paid the three gold entrance fee, and Tang Qi entered Deepwell with his journal ready to gather material for his guide.