Chapter Summaries

Liu Bei persuaded Zhuge Liang to join him, while Yu Se urged Liu Bei not to refuse Jing Zhou and secured Liu Biao’s decree transferring it to Liu Xuan De. Afterward, she found Jingang and sent him away with a small God Statue and instructions to report the others’ whereabouts.

• Liu Bei told Zhuge Liang how he had met Yu Se, and Zhuge Liang agreed to serve him.
• Yu Se met Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang as they left Long Zhong and advised Liu Bei not to abandon Jing Zhou.
• Yu Se visited Liu Biao, froze the door to prevent him from summoning help, and persuaded him to write a decree handing Jing Zhou to Liu Xuan De.
• Yu Se left the Governor’s Office and discovered Jingang waiting nearby after tracking her scent.
• Yu Se moved Jingang outside Xiang Yang City, warned him to keep her location secret, and gave him a small God Statue so he could report the others’ whereabouts.

Verdant Green Maiden watched Liu Bei take control of Jing Zhou, while Heaven warned that the change would lead to Liu Bei’s defeat at Red Cliffs. As the Sun-Liu alliance faced Cao Cao’s army, Verdant Green Maiden questioned Zhuge Liang about how they could win without an east wind.

• Verdant Green Maiden returned to Xiang Yang on Old Yellow Ox and asked him whether he could reach Xin Ye that night and whether he could smell her fragrance.
• Zhuge Liang urged Liu Bei to prepare to take Jing Zhou, and Liu Bei agreed after receiving Liu Biao’s letter.
• Heaven possessed Old Yellow Ox and warned Verdant Green Maiden that Liu Bei’s increased strength would cost him the Battle of Red Cliffs, but Verdant Green Maiden refused to stop and ordered Heaven out of the ox.
• Cao Cao marched south with a vast army, and Zhuge Liang traveled to Wu Commandery to establish the Sun-Liu Alliance.
• At Red Cliffs, Verdant Green Maiden asked Zhuge Liang how the alliance could defeat Cao Cao without an east wind for a fire attack.

Verdant Green Maiden assured Zhuge Liang that the east wind would come, then revealed her Jiao Snake form and changed the wind to the southeast. Zhuge Liang recognized her as the Dragon Woman and bowed to her.

• Verdant Green Maiden told Zhuge Liang that the east wind would come and declined his invitation to stay for a meal.
• Zhou Yu lamented that the successful Bitter Flesh Trick was useless without the east wind, and Zhuge Liang promised to provide it.
• Zhuge Liang erected the Seven Star Platform and performed a ritual, but only the northwest wind blew.
• Verdant Green Maiden joined Zhuge Liang, shared roasted beef with him, and asked how soon he would bring peace after the battle.
• Verdant Green Maiden transformed into a hundred-zhang Mysterious Cyan Jiao Snake and turned the northwest wind into a southeast wind.
• Zhuge Liang recognized Verdant Green Maiden as the Dragon Woman and bowed to her.

Verdant Green Maiden recovered at the Glazed Zen Temple after sending the east wind at Red Cliffs, then decided to travel to help Liu Bei despite Heaven's warnings. She left after creating a Bodhisattva incarnation to protect the temple's worshippers, while Heaven revealed the limits of what fate could still be changed.

• Heaven cared for the weakened Verdant Green Maiden and told her that Cao Cao had retreated after Red Cliffs while Liu Bei held Jing Zhou and moved to attack Yuzhou and Xichuan.
• After learning Cao Cao had sent troops to block Liu Bei from taking Yizhou, Verdant Green Maiden decided to leave the temple, but Heaven tried to stop her.
• A crowd gathered at the temple to celebrate Verdant Green Maiden's birthday, and Heaven reminded her that worshippers needed her protection too.
• Verdant Green Maiden drew on her Divine Position to create a Bodhisattva incarnation that would protect the people at the temple.
• Verdant Green Maiden set out despite Heaven's warning that the Western Jin's future unification and the Southern Migration of the Han could not be changed, then called Heaven a good thief.

Verdant Green Maiden traveled to Xu Du and obtained Liu Xie's abdication edict for Liu Bei, then took the Imperial Jade Seal and the Fu Bao Lang Family as witnesses. As she carried them by river toward Han Zhong, Cao Zhi glimpsed her and believed she was Luo Shen.

• Verdant Green Maiden met the Yong City Qin Clan Head, and several days later the Qin Army rose in Guanzhong under the banner of restoring the Liu Han Dynasty.
• Verdant Green Maiden entered Liu Xie's bedchamber in Xu Du and ordered him to write an edict surrendering the throne to Liu Bei.
• Liu Xie recognized Verdant Green Maiden as the Jade Maiden and wrote the succession edict, which she stamped with the Imperial Jade Seal.
• Verdant Green Maiden took the Fu Bao Lang Family along as witnesses and carried them upstream toward Han Zhong using the Luo River's power.
• Cao Zhi saw Verdant Green Maiden's boat speed upstream without a boatman and wondered if she was the spirit Luo Shen.

Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Zhuge Liang in Chengdu and entrusted him with the Succession Edict, the Fu Bao Lang Family, and the Imperial Seal Ribbon. After Liu Bei conquered Han Zhong, Guanzhong, and Chang'an, he revealed the edict and became emperor, while Ji Han’s Auspicious Fortune settled over Chengdu.

• Zhuge Liang heard Verdant Green Maiden singing about the white snake and welcomed her to his residence, where she gave him the Succession Edict and the Fu Bao Lang Family.
• Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Old Yellow Ox, learned Zhang Yide had once wanted to butcher him, and told Zhuge Liang she had been the white snake slain by Liu Bang.
• Zhuge Liang sent trusted men to Liu Bei with news of the Succession Edict and arranged care for the Fu Bao Lang Family and Imperial Seal Ribbon.
• With support from the Righteous Army in Guanzhong, Liu Bei won the Battle of Hanzhong, took Han Zhong and Guanzhong, and captured Chang'an seven days later.
• Liu Bei held a Sacrifice to Heaven, and Zhuge Liang presented the Succession Edict with its proofs before Liu Bei paid respects at Gaomiao and ascended the throne as emperor.
• Ji Han’s Auspicious Fortune settled over Chengdu, and Verdant Green Maiden concluded that the kingdom would not fall at that time.

Cao Cao accepted Liu Bei’s accession and died after speaking with Verdant Green Maiden, who questioned the permanence of Liu rule. Cao Pi and Sun Quan then proclaimed themselves emperors, leaving Han and Wei divided across the realm as Zhuge Liang explained the situation to Verdant Green Maiden.

• Jian Yong delivered Zhuge Liang’s surrender letter, and Cao Cao sent him back to Chang’an with gifts to congratulate Liu Bei.
• Cao Cao visited Liu Xie, learned that Liu Xie had transferred the throne to Liu Bei, and accepted that Liu Bei should become emperor.
• Verdant Green Maiden briefly eased Cao Cao’s illness and discussed whether the Liu Clan would rule forever before Cao Cao died.
• Cao Pi seized power in Xu Du, proclaimed himself emperor of Wei, and failed to capture Liu Xie, whom Verdant Green Maiden escorted to Chang’an.
• Liu Bei enfeoffed Liu Xie as King of Changsha, while Sun Quan rejected both Han and Wei’s demands and declared himself emperor of Great Wu.
• Han and Wei divided the realm after defeating Eastern Wu, and Zhuge Liang told Verdant Green Maiden that Wei held more people and grain despite Han’s greater territory.

After Liu Bei’s death, Verdant Green Maiden left Chang’an and traveled east, telling Zhuge Liang that Han would eventually fall. Near Luoyang, Left Ci recognized her as the Snake Demoness and demanded the method by which she had transformed into a dragon, confronting her while she was weak.

• Liu Bei died in the winter of Zhangwu Year 3, and twelve-year-old Liu Shan succeeded him with Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong as regents.
• Cao Pi ordered Sima Yi to attack Han after Liu Bei’s death, but Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong repelled Wei’s soldiers while Sima Yi harassed the Han Army at Xingyang.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Zhuge Liang she was leaving and reminded him that Han would eventually fall; Zhuge Liang said he would still serve Han and repay Liu Bei’s kindness.
• Pang Tong came to discuss Guanzhong’s food shortage with Zhuge Liang, while Verdant Green Maiden left Chang’an riding Little Yellow Ox.
• Near Luoyang, Left Ci recognized Verdant Green Maiden as the Snake Demoness and demanded her transformation method, then had his disciples surround her, believing she was too weak to resist.

Verdant Green Maiden summoned the Luo River’s power to defeat Zuo Ci’s forces, then met Cao Zhi and continued toward Xingyang. There, she prepared to confront the armies of Wei and Han and warned Little Yellow Ox to flee back to Chang’an.

• Verdant Green Maiden called on the Luo River Goddess’s power to unleash a flood that killed most of Zuo Ci’s men, then finished off the survivors as the waters receded.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Little Yellow Ox crossed the Luo River and met Cao Zhi, who greeted her as Luo Shen and apologized for his Ode to the Luo River.
• Verdant Green Maiden thanked Cao Zhi for the ode, declined his invitation, and said she was going to Xingyang to end the fighting.
• Cao Zhi let Verdant Green Maiden leave, reflecting that he no longer cared whether Wei survived and deciding to devote himself to poetry.
• At Xingyang, Verdant Green Maiden warned Little Yellow Ox to return to Chang’an, then revealed her Dragon Horns and the Jiao Snake Pearl as she faced the Book of Fate.

Verdant Green Maiden’s intervention let the Han defeat Wei and reunify the realm, but the Book of Fate’s tribulation nearly killed her. Saved by her Woodvine Bracelet, she recovered as a Little Girl and traveled with Damn Heaven toward Crane Call Mountain while the north remained vulnerable to future upheaval.

• Verdant Green Maiden summoned snow that disrupted the Wei Army, allowing the Han Army to cross Hong Gou and defeat Wei as Sima Yi ordered a retreat.
• The Book of Fate struck Verdant Green Maiden with thunder and Karmic Fire, burning her dragon form and sending her crashing to the ground.
• Verdant Green Maiden’s Woodvine Bracelet shattered and helped her survive the tribulation, after which she spent her accumulated merits helping dispel the disasters.
• Damn Heaven told Verdant Green Maiden that the extended Eastern Han had replaced the Two Jin Dynasties, but warned that the north would be left empty when the Han Court moved south.
• Verdant Green Maiden vowed to kill anyone who slaughtered the northern people, then asked Damn Heaven where they were going.
• Damn Heaven led Verdant Green Maiden toward Crane Call Mountain in Shu so she could recover her strength.

Verdant Green Maiden taught young Daoists on Crane Call Mountain and agreed to Zhang Sheng’s plan to move the Daoist sect back to Dragon Tiger Mountain. She promised to find a temple master to maintain Crane Call Mountain while she remained in the Shu Region.

• Verdant Green Maiden scolded a novice for dozing during morning prayers, then explained that Daoist crowns did not change the Dao itself.
• Verdant Green Maiden told the young Daoists she had not yet comprehended the Great Dao and answered their questions about the Three Pure Ones.
• Zhang Sheng arrived and thanked Verdant Green Maiden for teaching the Daoist juniors and for her past connection with his sect.
• Zhang Sheng asked to move the Daoist sect to Dragon Tiger Mountain, and Verdant Green Maiden gave him permission to decide as host.
• Verdant Green Maiden said she would stay in the Shu Region for a while and find a temple master to manage Crane Call Mountain.

After sending the Tai Ping Daoist temple disciples out to make their way in the world, Verdant Green Maiden left Crane Call Mountain and traveled to Dujiangyan. There, she noticed a popular young man directing repairs to the neglected riverworks and learned he was Yang Erlang.

• Zhang Sheng returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain, leaving Verdant Green Maiden in charge of Tai Ping Daoist temple.
• Verdant Green Maiden cut the disciples’ morning lessons in half but continued inspecting their studies and cultivation.
• When the temple ran short of supplies, Verdant Green Maiden ordered everyone to leave for ten years, promising that they must return.
• Verdant Green Maiden saw the disciples off, reminded Li A to come back in ten years, then left the temple herself.
• Verdant Green Maiden reached Dujiangyan, watched a young man oversee river repairs, and learned he called himself Yang Erlang.

In Guan County, Verdant Green Maiden befriended Yang Chan and discovered that her mother, Zhang Yunhua, was Female Immortal Yunhua. Zhang Yunhua explained that her mortal children would age and be reincarnated, leaving Verdant Green Maiden with the truth about Yang Chan’s family and their fate.

• Verdant Green Maiden used her horsetail whisk on Yang Chan and saw Immortal Grace Spiritual Light above her head, then asked Yang Chan to call her Qing Niang.
• Zhang Yunhua returned home and revealed that she was Female Immortal Yunhua, though only as an incarnation.
• Zhang Yunhua said Yang Tianyou and their eldest son had died while leading Guan County residents in flood control after the Min River flooded.
• Zhang Yunhua explained that Verdant Green Maiden’s change to the Book of Fate had brought Prime Minister Zhuge to Shu and led her family to repair Dujiangyan.
• Zhang Yunhua told Verdant Green Maiden that Yang Chan, Yang Jiao, and Yang Jian were mortals who would grow old and enter reincarnation.

Yang Jian and Yang Chan continued rebuilding the Min River embankments with Verdant Green Maiden’s help, while Zhang Yunhua prepared to leave them. After Zhang Yunhua died, Verdant Green Maiden revealed herself as their master and promised to guide the siblings.

• Verdant Green Maiden questioned Zhang Yunhua about leaving her children, and Zhang Yunhua said this was her first mortal descent.
• Yang Jian told Verdant Green Maiden that he would keep working to protect his family and the people of Guan County, despite being unable to get help from the court.
• Verdant Green Maiden watched Yang Jian lead Guan County’s people in rebuilding the Min River embankments and clearing the waterways over several months.
• After the flood-control work was completed, Zhang Yunhua became gravely ill and asked Verdant Green Maiden to care for Yang Jian and Yang Chan.
• Zhang Yunhua died, and after the siblings buried her, Verdant Green Maiden appeared in ceremonial dress and told them to call her Master.

Verdant Green Maiden revealed that she was a Dragon Woman and persuaded Yang Jian and Yang Chan to become her disciples by promising they might see their family again. She brought them to Dragon Tiger Mountain and asked Zhang Sheng to look after them, but learned he was dealing with a demand from Prime Minister Zhuge.

• Verdant Green Maiden declared herself Yu Se Zhenren and revealed her Dragon Woman form to Yang Jian and Yang Chan.
• She told the siblings that cultivating the Dao might let them see their family again, and they accepted her as their master.
• Verdant Green Maiden took Yang Jian and Yang Chan to Dragon Tiger Mountain, where Zhang Sheng welcomed her and gave each sibling a Jade Token.
• She asked Zhang Sheng to let the siblings stay on Dragon Tiger Mountain and offered Dao Scriptures for them to practice.
• Zhang Sheng explained that Prime Minister Zhuge had sent someone to ask him to leave the mountain.

Verdant Green Maiden agreed to answer the Han Court’s summons in Zhang Sheng’s place, leaving Dragon Tiger Mountain for Chang'an with Qin Chuan. There she reunited with the aged Zhuge Liang, who remembered their years in Long Zhong but confused her identity.

• Verdant Green Maiden agreed to handle the Han Court’s request so Zhang Sheng could remain on Dragon Tiger Mountain and take Yang Jian and Yang Chan as disciples.
• Verdant Green Maiden wrote Dao Scriptures for Yang Jian and Yang Chan, taught Yang Chan to cultivate, and offered to teach Zhang Sheng as well.
• Han Envoy Qin Chuan arrived to summon Zhang Sheng, but Verdant Green Maiden announced that she would go to Chang'an instead, and Qin Chuan accepted.
• Before leaving, Verdant Green Maiden told Yang Jian to raise a black slender hound and an eagle if he came across them.
• Verdant Green Maiden traveled to Chang'an with Qin Chuan and stopped him from announcing her arrival to Zhuge Liang.
• Zhuge Liang recognized Verdant Green Maiden as someone from their past in Long Zhong, but mistook her for Brother Ox.

Zhuge Liang explained to Verdant Green Maiden that the Great Han could no longer sustain Chang'an and prepared a Southern Relocation Plan to protect his successor from blame. After Zhuge Liang fell ill, Liu Shan issued the relocation order, and he insisted the proposal had been his own idea.

• Zhuge Liang told Verdant Green Maiden that he expected his successor to move south after his death and was preparing a plan for the relocation.
• Verdant Green Maiden watched Zhuge Liang draft instructions for Liu Shan and submit a memorial taking responsibility for the Southern Relocation Proposal.
• Verdant Green Maiden visited Liu Shan, urged him to protect Zhuge Liang's reputation, and warned that the relocation was Liu Shan's and the ministers' responsibility.
• On New Year's Day, Liu Shan issued the Southern Relocation Order while Zhuge Liang was too ill to attend.
• When Li Miao questioned whether Zhuge Liang had proposed the move, Liu Shan said the idea was his own and ordered officials to prepare for the relocation.

After Zhuge Liang died, Verdant Green Maiden carried earth from his grave back to his former home in Long Zhong, then traveled to Jianye. There she reunited with Chunyu Tiying, who hinted at coming turmoil in Jiangbei Under Heaven, and Verdant Green Maiden settled near Dragon Stored River.

• Zhuge Liang learned Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had died after their old wounds flared up, and he passed away at the end of January.
• Verdant Green Maiden informed Liu Shan about Dujiangyan, prompting him to order Yizhou's officials seized for investigation.
• Verdant Green Maiden carried earth from Zhuge Liang's grave to the Thatched Cottage in Long Zhong and bought an old yellow ox to ride to Jianye.
• Verdant Green Maiden met Chunyu Tiying in Jianye, recounted her past decades, and told her a chance to make a name for herself in Jiangbei Under Heaven would come.
• Verdant Green Maiden parted from Chunyu Tiying and found a garden residence near Dragon Stored River.

Verdant Green Maiden met Cao Zhi in Jianye, where he shared his writings and gave her a garden. After she watched Liu Shan’s grand procession enter the city, Cao Zhi later brought her a white sighthound puppy.

• Verdant Green Maiden discovered that the garden she wanted to buy belonged to Cao Zhi and learned that he had stayed in Han territory after the fall of Cao Wei because Zhuge Liang had treated him kindly.
• Cao Zhi showed Verdant Green Maiden his manuscripts, agreed to have copies made for her to preserve, and wrote several more poems and rhapsodies.
• Cao Zhi gave Verdant Green Maiden the garden, and she shared ancient handwritten texts with him in return.
• When Han soldiers guarded Jianye for Liu Shan’s arrival, Cao Zhi stayed home to care for his family’s dog, while Verdant Green Maiden watched the Son of Heaven’s procession enter the palace.
• Cao Zhi later brought Verdant Green Maiden a white sighthound puppy from a line of black dogs, and it immediately rolled over for her.

Verdant Green Maiden returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain, reunited with Yang Jian and Yang Chan, and gave them Xiao Tian, Cao Zhi’s dog. After advising the siblings in their cultivation, she prepared to leave again, promising Zhang Sheng she would contact him after a new temple master was chosen.

• Cao Zhi gave Verdant Green Maiden a dog, and she named it Xiao Tian before leaving Jianye with Old Yellow Ox.
• Verdant Green Maiden arrived at Dragon Tiger Mountain with Xiao Tian and reunited with Yang Jian and Yang Chan.
• Yang Jian showed Verdant Green Maiden the goshawk he had found, and she gave him Xiao Tian to keep.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Yang Chan she would travel to find her a suitable magical weapon, then offered the siblings guidance on their cultivation.
• Verdant Green Maiden set out again and told Zhang Sheng she would notify him after a new temple master was chosen.