Chapter Summaries

Shen Tang considered whether to seize Zheng Qiao’s offer of land, and Gu Chi explained why Zheng Qiao was too vulnerable to break his promise easily. She was left facing the prospect of earning land herself on the battlefield, while Gu Ren invited her to the assembly; the author’s note then announced a day off.

• Shen Tang told Gu Chi she needed a stable patch of land to build her strength and settle refugees.
• Gu Chi urged Shen Tang to seize Zheng Qiao’s offer, explaining that Zheng Qiao could not safely send troops against King Zhi because his trusted generals might turn on him.
• Shen Tang realized Zheng Qiao was using outside forces to weaken King Zhi’s Rebel Army while buying time, and Gu Chi encouraged her to earn land through battlefield merit.
• Shen Tang worried that her hundred or so followers were too few to distinguish themselves, so Gu Chi pointed out that she would have to make a name for herself.
• A soldier relayed that Gu Ren had invited Shen Tang to accompany him to the assembly, worried she might get lost or be dismissed.

Shen Tang attended the pre-battle meeting in Xiaocheng, where the factions chose a powerful man surnamed Wu as their alliance leader. After Shen Tang refused the blood-oath wine and drank it under pressure, she instantly passed out, and Qi Shan was recognized by a former colleague.

• Shen Tang, Qi Shan, and Gu Chi attended the crowded meeting, where Gu Chi suspected some factions had come for the missing National Seal.
• The factions argued over leadership and chose Wu, who commanded the forces of half a commandery, as their alliance leader.
• During the blood-oath ceremony, Shen Tang refused the blood wine, but after someone mocked her youth, she drank it and immediately collapsed drunk.
• Qi Shan supported Shen Tang and explained that his lord was drunk, leaving the alliance leader and the others stunned.
• Qin Qing recognized Qi Shan as Qi Yuanliang, and Qi Shan greeted him as a former colleague.

Shen Tang woke from her drunken state and challenged the alliance meeting after its members demanded an explanation for her behavior. She left a man with a blade at his throat, declaring herself more qualified than he was.

• The dark-robed scholar identified Qi Shan as the notorious Evil Strategist, making the new alliance leader wary of him.
• Shen Tang woke and asked whether the alliance had finished discussing how to repel the enemy.
• When a man accused her of making a mockery of the oath ceremony, Qi Shan explained that his lord always looked that way when drunk.
• Shen Tang rejected the man's demand that she prove she was qualified and drew a blade against his throat.
• Shen Tang told the man she was clearly more qualified than he was.

Shen Tang fought off a Martial Gall Warrior who challenged her at the alliance meeting, then warned the assembled leaders that Gongxi Chou was formidable because she had fought him herself. The meeting continued with the alliance counting nearly fifty thousand troops, and Gu Ren’s ninth sworn brother stepped forward to challenge Shen Tang.

• Drunk Shen Tang kicked a Martial Gall Warrior out of the tent and defeated him in a clash of palms, while the new alliance leader and his gray-robed adviser watched.
• The alliance leader calmed the dispute, and Shen Tang returned to the meeting and urged everyone to discuss troop deployment.
• The factions reported their forces, revealing that the alliance had nearly fifty thousand troops, almost twice the Rebel Army’s numbers.
• When a leader questioned Gongxi Chou’s strength, Shen Tang said she had fought him and invited anyone who doubted her to challenge her.
• Gu Ren’s ninth sworn younger brother stepped forward to request a fight, and the alliance leader asked whether he was confident.

Shen Tang revealed that Gongxi Chou had reached the Fifteenth Rank Shao Shang Zao, alarming the alliance and prompting its members to propose using her to wear him down. She agreed to face him but asked to trade the credit for the first victory for something from the alliance leader.

• Shen Tang told the alliance that Gongxi Chou was no match for its fighters and revealed he had advanced from the Fourteenth Rank Right Geng to the Fifteenth Rank Shao Shang Zao.
• Shen Tang explained that she had survived her encounter with Gongxi Chou by fleeing while Yuan Liang and the others used their Word Spirit, Steal the Peach, to protect her.
• Several men proposed having Shen Tang fight Gongxi Chou first to exhaust him, while Chao Lian objected to putting her in danger.
• Shen Tang accepted the proposal but asked who would receive credit for the first victory.
• The alliance leader promised Shen Tang the credit if she defeated Gongxi Chou, and she said she wanted to exchange it for something from him.

Shen Tang asked the new alliance leader to lend her a piece of land in exchange for claiming the greatest credit, then grew desperate to leave the long meeting after drinking too much tea. She rushed into the forest with Gu Chi waiting outside, where an explosion suddenly sounded.

• Shen Tang asked the new alliance leader to rent her a piece of territory if she earned the greatest credit, and explained that she chose him because he had land and resources.
• The new alliance leader appointed Gu Ren to oversee provisions, while the factions argued over troop assignments and kept their forces together under unified command.
• After drinking cup after cup of tea during the meeting, Shen Tang woke with an urgent need to relieve herself and asked Qi Shan to stop her from drinking so much when she got drunk.
• Gu Chi offered to accompany Shen Tang, but waited outside as she hurried into the forest.
• An explosion suddenly sounded from Shen Tang's direction, startling Gu Chi.

Shen Tang stumbled upon Shao Chong attacking the wounded Zhai brothers and fought him off, then learned Chu Yao and Gongshu Wu had fled Xiaocheng with the Rebel Army pursuing them. Certain Chu Yao was alive, she set off to find him, while Gu Chi followed and the Alliance Army arrived to meet the Zhai brothers.

• After getting lost in the forest, Shen Tang heard a fight and found Shao Chong attacking Zhai Le, so she intervened and pulled Zhai Le to safety.
• Shen Tang defeated Shao Chong, while Gu Chi restrained him; Zhai Le explained that he and Zhai Huan had escaped Xiaocheng as Chu Yao and Gongshu Wu led the surviving garrison away from the Rebel Army.
• Shen Tang insisted Chu Yao was alive and asked which way he had gone; Zhai Huan pointed her toward the route, and Shen Tang rushed into the forest to find him.
• Gu Chi followed Shen Tang, while the Zhai brothers met the arriving Alliance Army and Qi Shan learned that Shen Tang had gone to find Chu Yao.

Chu Yao and a mysterious young man discussed the forces converging on Xiaocheng and the qualities of potential lords. Their conversation was interrupted when someone hidden nearby laughed.

• The young man treated the gravely wounded Gongshu Wu, while Chu Yao explained that few of his soldiers had survived the battle at Xiaocheng.
• The young man told Chu Yao that Zheng Qiao had offered titles and land to those who fought King Zhi, and that more than twenty factions were heading for Xiaocheng.
• Chu Yao encouraged the young man to seek a capable lord and suggested Wu Zhaode, but the young man rejected him as easily swayed by his wives.
• Chu Yao suggested Gu Ren, but the young man rejected him for swearing brotherhood with twelve people.
• Someone laughed in the darkness, and the young man immediately demanded to know who was there.

Shen Tang reunited with Chu Yao, who had been rescued by Kang Shi, and met Gu Chi at the cave. As the group waited for daybreak, Kang Shi explained that he was still searching for a lord who suited him and revealed his love of gambling.

• Shen Tang found Chu Yao in a cave and learned that Kang Shi had saved his life.
• Kang Shi asked how Shen Tang had passed his maze formation, and Gu Chi explained that he had broken it.
• Gu Chi asked Kang Shi about potential lords, but Kang Shi rejected Zhang He because he did not like his looks.
• The group stayed in the hills overnight because the wounded could not travel, and Gu Chi took the night watch.
• Kang Shi showed Shen Tang his jade dice and invited her to gamble, explaining that he always lost because of the Way of the Scholar.

Shen Tang played dice with Kang Shi, who unexpectedly won ten rounds in a row and reacted with shock rather than triumph. After questioning Shen Tang about her family and trusted allies, Kang Shi learned she had two capable confidants: Qi Shan and Chu Yao.

• Kang Shi showed off his dice-shaking technique but rolled only four points, while Shen Tang rolled three ones.
• Kang Shi challenged Shen Tang to another round, rolled sixes across all three dice, and continued winning until they had played ten rounds.
• Shen Tang quit in frustration, and Kang Shi stared at her in disbelief, asking whether he had really won all ten rounds.
• Kang Shi asked how many younger sisters-in-law Shen Tang had, then asked how many capable confidants she could rely on.
• Shen Tang said she had two confidants, Qi Shan and Chu Yao, while Gu Chi heard her thoughts.

Kang Shi explained that his gambling-based Way of the Scholar could bring a powerful but dangerous misfortune to his liege lord, so he decided to keep observing Shen Tang before committing to her. After waking, Shen Tang learned that two soldiers had died and prepared to return to the Alliance Army camp, leaving Chu Yao startled by her plan.

• Kang Shi told Shen Tang that losing to him could mean she was a True Dragon, but his completed Way of the Scholar would burden its liege lord with bad luck, so he chose to observe her longer.
• Gu Chi heard Kang Shi's thoughts and suspected that Shen Tang's real danger was Kang Shi, while Shen Tang blamed her repeated sneezing on Qi Shan badmouthing her.
• Shen Tang woke at dawn and learned from Chu Yao that two wounded soldiers had died and been buried, leaving only forty-six survivors.
• Chu Yao said Banbu's injuries had stabilized after Gongxi Chou defeated Gongshu Wu, and Shen Tang resolved that surviving the encounter was a fortunate outcome.
• Shen Tang told Chu Yao to pack so they could return to the Alliance Army camp, and Chu Yao stared at her in surprise.

Shen Tang brought Chu Yao and the others back safely to the Alliance Army camp, where Qi Shan met the unfamiliar Kang Shi. Kang Shi recognized Qi Shan from childhood and asked whether Qi Shan knew who he was.

• Shen Tang told Chu Yao she was working with the Alliance Army to secure a foothold and shared that Lin Feng and Tu Rong had survived, though Tu Rong’s family had died.
• Gu Chi informed Shen Tang that the men were ready to leave, and Kang Shi joined their group for the journey back.
• Shen Tang’s group evaded Rebel Army search parties and reached the Alliance Army camp, where Qi Shan let them in after Shen Tang called for him.
• Qi Shan explained that Zhai Yuewen and the others were recovering, while Gu Ren had not explained Shao Chong’s outburst.
• Kang Shi introduced himself to Qi Shan, then asked whether Qi Shan recognized him from childhood.

Shen Tang watched Qi Shan leave with Kang Shi, worried they might fight, while the two men privately confronted Qi Shan’s stolen identity. Qi Shan revealed that the real Qi Shan had died years ago, leaving Kang Shi reeling.

• Shen Tang tried to ease the tension and stepped between Qi Shan and Kang Shi before Kang Shi invited Qi Shan to talk privately.
• Kang Shi recognized Qi Shan as an impostor and demanded to know who he really was and where Yuan Liang had gone.
• Qi Shan identified himself as Tan Qu, also known as Tan Lezheng, and explained that he had taken the real Qi Shan’s identity.
• Kang Shi pressed Qi Shan for the truth, and Qi Shan admitted that Yuan Liang was dead.
• Qi Shan recounted how the real Qi Shan had died and explained that he had kept the truth from the Qi Clan and Kang family.

Kang Shi confronted Qi Shan about assuming Tan Qu’s identity, but learned Qi Shan intended to honor the life Tan Qu had traded to save him. Their conversation turned to family and adoption before Qi Shan discovered Kang Shi had taken a liking to Shen Tang, leaving him stunned and jealous.

• Kang Shi challenged Qi Shan for using Tan Qu’s identity, and Qi Shan asked him not to expose the truth because Tan Qu had traded his life to save him.
• Qi Shan asked about the Kang family and said he hoped to adopt a child into the family someday, while Kang Shi suggested he marry a Kang relative and have children instead.
• Kang Shi admitted he had come to see whether he liked anyone and said Shen Tang had caught his eye.
• Qi Shan reacted with shock and anger when Kang Shi revealed his interest in Shen Tang.
• Shen Tang privately asked Qi Shan whether he and Kang Shi had fought and who had won, and Qi Shan said they had more or less drawn.

After waking from a two-day recovery, Gongshu Wu recognized the debts he owed Shen Tang’s allies and pledged himself to Shen Tang. His allegiance strengthened Shen Tang’s small force as it joined the campaign against King Zhi’s Rebel Army.

• Shen Tang climbed onto the palisade to scout the Rebel Army’s silent camps, but Qi Shan warned her not to look like a spy.
• Shen Tang learned Gongshu Wu had awakened after sleeping for two days to recover from a difficult breakthrough.
• Gongshu Wu reflected on how Wu Lang, Qi Shan, and Chu Yao had each saved him, and Chu Yao questioned whether he would willingly submit to Shen Tang.
• Shen Tang told Gongshu Wu that she was gathering troops and doing what she could in the Alliance Army’s campaign against King Zhi’s Rebel Army.
• Gongshu Wu knelt before Shen Tang, offered her the Martial Gall Tiger Tally, and pledged to serve her with all his strength.

Shen Tang accepted Gongshu Wu’s allegiance and the National Seal, then faced Captain Yang after he awakened and learned of his losses. As the alliance prepared to attack Xiaocheng, the chapter ended with Gongxi Chou being summoned to a banquet by his adoptive father.

• Shen Tang accepted Gongshu Wu’s Martial Gall Tiger Tally and the National Seal, which flowed into her Dantian.
• Qi Shan and Chu Yao confirmed that Gongshu Wu had explained everything and handed the seal to Shen Tang.
• Shen Tang visited the awakened Captain Yang, admitted she had intercepted the Tax Silver, and learned that he had lost his family as well as his strength.
• Wu Xian ordered the alliance army to attack, and Shen Tang confirmed she would lead the first battle.
• Gongxi Chou ignored the old general’s officials while recovering, then learned that his adoptive father had invited him to a banquet.

Gongxi Chou was ordered by his adoptive father to lead ten thousand elite troops against the Alliance Army, while refusing to take advantage of the woman assigned to him. As the two armies met on the same road, Alliance Lord Wu Xian learned that Gongxi Chou commanded the opposing force.

• Gongxi Chou reluctantly attended a feast, rejected a dancing girl, then agreed to let her stay after his adoptive father ordered him to lead troops against Wu Xian's Alliance Army.
• Gongxi Chou told the woman he would not take her because he practiced the Chastity Cultivation Technique, and she chose to remain under his protection.
• Gongxi Chou warned his adopted elder brother not to interfere with his territory, then led ten thousand elite soldiers out to march against the Alliance Army.
• Both armies mobilized at the same time and took the same road, and Alliance Lord Wu Xian learned that the enemy banner bore Gongxi Chou's name.

Alliance Leader Wu Xian’s army faced Xiaocheng’s forces, and Zhao Feng rode out to fight their first challenger while Gongxi Chou watched from the sidelines. Zhao Feng built up his strength through successive blows, but the duel’s outcome remained unresolved.

• Wu Xian’s assembled forces wavered as both sides prepared to attack, and Zhao Feng volunteered to fight for the Alliance Army.
• Qi Shan told Shen Tang that Zhao Feng was a formidable former elite of one of his past lords, while Shen Tang fretted over her mule Motorcycle and her own lack of a strong mount.
• Wu Xian gave Zhao Feng permission to fight, and Zhao Feng charged out with his bronze club.
• A Xiaocheng general met Zhao Feng in battle as Gongxi Chou watched, confident that the opponent posed little threat to him.
• Zhao Feng exchanged several rounds of blows with his opponent and explained that each strike stored Martial Spirit for a devastating final attack.

Zhao Feng fought the Rebel Army’s bearded general in the opening duel, while Shen Tang and the Alliance Army watched anxiously. Zhao Feng revealed a second bronze mace and began to gain the upper hand, leaving the battle poised for an Alliance victory.

• Zhao Feng struggled to defeat the bearded general, who matched him in speed, strength, and experience.
• Shen Tang realized Zhao Feng was fighting with only one mace, and Gu Chi suggested that he might be holding back.
• Gu Ren quietly arranged for Chao Lian to prepare for the possibility that Zhao Feng might lose.
• Wu Xian and Gongsu remained confident as they watched Zhao Feng warm up against a worthy opponent.
• Zhao Feng produced a second bronze mace and unleashed a stronger attack, gradually turning the duel in his favor.

Zhao Feng nearly defeated the Bearded Man general, but Gongxi Chou intervened and sent him flying, revealing his overwhelming strength. As the Alliance Army reacted to Gongxi Chou’s arrival, Zhao Feng charged him and Gongxi Chou caught his bronze maces with two fingers.

• Zhao Feng blocked the Bearded Man general’s attack and blasted him away with a roar, then moved in to strike him down.
• Gongxi Chou intervened before Zhao Feng could hit the Bearded Man general, sending Zhao Feng and his horse flying and ordering the defeated general back to his formation.
• Wu Xian, Gu Ren, and the Alliance Army were shocked to learn that the imposing newcomer was Gongxi Chou.
• Young General vowed to twist off Gongxi Chou’s head, while Shen Tang declared Gongxi Chou her soulmate and kindred spirit in music.
• Zhao Feng retrieved his injured horse and charged Gongxi Chou, who caught the shafts of his bronze maces between two fingers.