Chapter Summaries

Song Qingshu outwitted Duan Yanqing and the Four Great Evils, freeing himself and obtaining the antidote to the Sorrowful Crisp Breeze. After helping Zhou Zhiruo and Bing Xue'er, he faced a new choice over which woman to cure first.

• Duan Yanqing offered to spare one of the two women, but Song Qingshu refused to choose and asked to retrieve Zhou Zhiruo's antidote himself.
• Song Qingshu took the antidote from Zhou Zhiruo, then revealed that he had already taken the Sorrowful Crisp Breeze antidote and could move freely.
• Song Qingshu knocked Duan Yanqing down and promised to spare the Four Great Evils, while saying he would give them the antidote after saving the women.
• Song Qingshu freed Zhou Zhiruo and Bing Xue'er, searched the Four Great Evils for the antidote, and took their Sorrowful Crisp Breeze for Lingsu to study.
• Song Qingshu realized that both women had been poisoned and hesitated over which one to give the antidote to first.

Song Qingshu freed the Four Great Evils and detoxified the captives, then struggled to manage the tensions between Zhou Zhiruo and Bing Xue'er. Miao Renfeng’s parting accusation wounded Bing Xue'er, while Zhou Zhiruo left in anger, and Song Qingshu stayed to comfort Bing Xue'er.

• Duan Yanqing persuaded Song Qingshu to let the Four Great Evils leave before restoring the others, and Song Qingshu freed and detoxified them.
• Song Qingshu told Ye Erniang that her son had grown up healthy, urged her to stop harming children, and privately discussed a possible alliance with Duan Yanqing.
• After the Four Great Evils departed, Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er detoxified the captives, while Zhou Zhiruo freed her disciples.
• Song Qingshu offered Min Rou a bottle of Sorrowful Crisp Breeze, but Shi Qing rejected it as unchivalrous, so Song Qingshu took it back.
• Miao Renfeng suspected Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er had behaved improperly, then left with Miao Ruolan after making a pointed remark about Hu Yidao.
• Zhou Zhiruo witnessed Bing Xue'er holding Song Qingshu’s hand and left in anger; Song Qingshu stayed as Bing Xue'er broke down sobbing against him.

After comforting Bing Xue'er about Miao Renfeng’s suspicions, Song Qingshu confessed his past wrongdoing toward Zhou Zhiruo and admitted his feelings for Bing Xue'er. Bing Xue'er eventually gave in to his advances, and they became intimate, leaving their future relationship unresolved.

• Song Qingshu condemned Miao Renfeng for doubting Bing Xue'er, who explained why she had kept her distance from him.
• Bing Xue'er teased Song Qingshu about Zhou Zhiruo’s concern for him, and he confessed what he had done to Zhou Zhiruo and his uncertainty about his feelings.
• Song Qingshu asked whether Bing Xue'er would reject him if he showed her his darker side, and she said she was not Zhou Zhiruo.
• Song Qingshu pressed Bing Xue'er to share his bed, admitted he wanted her, and she agreed on the condition that it happen only once.
• After they became intimate, Bing Xue'er worried she might be pregnant, while Song Qingshu said he could marry her openly; she refused to become his concubine.

Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er continued their secret relationship as they traveled into Shandong, where they encountered Zhao Min and Princess Huazheng among a gathering of martial artists. Song Qingshu became wary of the powerful, unfamiliar figures accompanying them.

• Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er discussed keeping their relationship hidden, then spent the night together.
• The next day, Bing Xue'er lamented betraying Hu Fei, and Song Qingshu gave her a mask to conceal her face.
• Song Qingshu wondered whether Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü's story had reached the Dragon Knight incident, then teased Bing Xue'er as they traveled into Shandong.
• Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er entered a crowded restaurant and spotted Zhao Min and Princess Huazheng with their entourage.
• Song Qingshu noticed a formidable monk and an inscrutable man in green among Zhao Min's companions and wondered who they were.

Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er entered a tavern crowded with powerful factions, where Zhao Min tried to recruit Quanzhen disciples while rival masters challenged one another. The tension halted when a beautiful woman arrived, apparently the demoness pursuing Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhijing.

• Song Qingshu recognized Zhao Min's formidable companions and noticed Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren guarding a brocade-robed man in the tavern.
• Song Qingshu sat with Bing Xue'er, while Zhao Min's group and the western party eyed each other and Lu Zhangke secretly lusted after the women nearby.
• Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhijing rushed into the tavern to escape a pursuing woman, and Zhao Min invited them to join her after learning they were from the Quanzhen Sect.
• Ouyang Feng mocked Zhao Min's boast, prompting the Sect Master of Vajra Gate to attack him with a chopstick that Qiu Qianren caught and crushed.
• Hundred Damage Daoist challenged Ouyang Feng over the Mount Hua Sword Competition, and a beautiful woman entered as the tavern fell silent.

Xiaolongnü entered the inn to confront Zhao Zhijing and Yin Zhiping after learning of their plot to drug her, while Song Qingshu recognized her as Bing Xue’er’s junior sister. Her extraordinary two-handed swordplay overwhelmed the experts shielding Zhao Zhijing, and the story left her still fighting several Mongol allies at once.

• Song Qingshu recognized the pale, white-robed woman as Xiaolongnü and realized she was Bing Xue’er’s junior sister.
• The chapter revealed that Zhao Zhijing had drugged Xiaolongnü’s tea and urged Yin Zhiping to take advantage of her, but she overheard their scheme and pursued them.
• Zhao Zhijing begged Golden Wheel Monk to protect him, while Zhao Min and Yin Kexi tried to mediate and shield him from Xiaolongnü.
• Xiaolongnü struck around Yin Kexi to wound Zhao Zhijing twice, leaving the onlookers astonished by her swordsmanship.
• As Zhao Zhijing ran toward Golden Wheel Monk, Xiaolongnü attacked Yin Kexi and Nimoxing while also stabbing Zhao Zhijing in the wrist.

Xiaolongnü fought Xiaoxiangzi, Nimoxing, and Yin Kexi while trying to reach Zhao Zhijing, and Song Qingshu guided her to break their formation. After she turned on Zhao Zhijing, the Sect Master of Vajra Gate snapped her sword and attacked her waist.

• Song Qingshu stopped Xiaoxiangzi's sneak attack with a chopstick while Xiaolongnü confronted the three martial artists.
• Xiaolongnü's rapid sword strikes failed to penetrate the opponents' coordinated defenses, and Nimoxing wounded his shoulder when he tried to attack her.
• Yin Kexi directed Xiaoxiangzi and Nimoxing to advance together, gradually shrinking their defensive circle around Xiaolongnü.
• Song Qingshu advised Xiaolongnü to let Yin Kexi take one sword, and she used the opening to injure his wrist and break the encirclement.
• Xiaolongnü advanced on Zhao Zhijing, but the Sect Master of Vajra Gate snapped her sword and jabbed toward her waist.

Xiaolongnü confronted Zhao Zhijing and Yin Zhiping, but Zhao Min arranged a wager to keep her from leaving and threatening them. Xiaolongnü chose the Golden Wheel Monk as her opponent, agreeing to prove she could withstand one hundred moves.

• The Sect Master of Vajra Gate broke Xiaolongnü’s sword, but she evaded his attack and retreated; the Brocade-Robed Young Master offered her his Wushan Sword.
• Xiaolongnü challenged Zhao Min’s group to let her reach Zhao Zhijing and Yin Zhiping, and Zhao Min asked her to teach her swordplay.
• Xiaolongnü said she would teach Zhao Min if Zhao Min’s group killed the two Daoists, but Zhao Min instead proposed a wager: Xiaolongnü had to withstand one hundred moves against one of three masters or stay and teach her.
• Hundred Damage Daoist, the Sect Master of Vajra Gate, and the Golden Wheel Monk agreed to face Xiaolongnü under the guise of giving her guidance.
• Xiaolongnü chose the Golden Wheel Monk as her opponent.

Xiaolongnü fought Golden Wheel Monk, whose fortunes shifted after Zhao Min advised him to trade injuries instead of matching her speed. Ouyang Feng intervened to save Xiaolongnü, while Song Qingshu pulled her into his arms; Ouyang Feng then mistook Song Qingshu for Northern Qiao Feng.

• Xiaolongnü challenged Golden Wheel Monk and initially gained the advantage with her twin swords, while Song Qingshu predicted that Golden Wheel Monk would lose.
• Zhao Min recognized Golden Wheel Monk’s predicament and indirectly advised him to trade blows rather than defend against every sword strike.
• Golden Wheel Monk changed tactics, shattered Xiaolongnü’s left-hand sword, and wounded her as she retreated.
• Ouyang Feng rushed in when Golden Wheel Monk moved to kill Xiaolongnü and exchanged more than a dozen palm strikes with him, seriously injuring him.
• Song Qingshu used his Dragon Capturing Hand to pull Xiaolongnü into his arms, and Ouyang Feng asked whether he was Northern Qiao Feng.

Song Qingshu protected Xiaolongnü from Zhao Min’s men, killed Zhao Zhijing, and claimed the name Ximen Chuixue. He introduced Bing Xue'er as Xiaolongnü’s senior sister, leaving Xiaolongnü convinced by her Ancient Tomb Sect technique.

• Song Qingshu joked with Zhao Min about hiding his face, and she ordered Lu Zhangke and He Biyuan to attack him.
• Song Qingshu borrowed Xiaolongnü’s sword and drove back the Xuanming Elders with a dazzling strike.
• Song Qingshu killed Zhao Zhijing in an instant and introduced himself as Ximen Chuixue.
• Song Qingshu returned Xiaolongnü’s sword and introduced Bing Xue'er as his wife and her senior sister.
• Bing Xue'er demonstrated the Heavenly Net and Earth Net Stance, and Xiaolongnü accepted her as Senior Sister.

Song Qingshu tried to leave with Bing Xue'er and Xiaolongnü, but Zhao Min challenged him over Xiaolongnü’s wager and her followers blocked their way. After he swiftly defeated Nimoxing, Xiaoxiangzi, and Yin Kexi, powerful fighters from both sides prepared to join battle, until Zhao Min spotted a newly arrived party and became confident of victory.

• Song Qingshu lifted Bing Xue'er into his arms and tried to leave with her and Xiaolongnü, but Zhao Min invoked Xiaolongnü’s wager and ordered her people to block them.
• Nimoxing attacked Song Qingshu, who pinned his crutch beneath his foot and caused Nimoxing to injure himself with it.
• Song Qingshu knocked Xiaoxiangzi senseless with a kicked bench and shattered Yin Kexi’s jeweled whip, leaving both unable to fight.
• Hundred Damage Daoist and the Sect Master of Vajra Gate moved to confront Song Qingshu, while Ouyang Feng offered to fight alongside him.
• Zhao Min assessed the forces on both sides, then noticed a man and woman leading a party into the inn and became confident of victory.

Xiao Feng and Yelü Nanxian arrived at the inn, where Zhao Min claimed Jin Dynasty experts were trying to abduct her and turned Xiao Feng against Wanyan Liang. Xiao Feng attacked the Jin group, and after Ouyang Feng wounded Yelü Nanxian, Xiao Feng brought her back to Zhao Min's side.

• Zhao Min introduced Xiao Feng and Yelü Nanxian to Hua Zheng and explained that Jin Dynasty experts had tried to abduct her.
• Xiao Feng recognized Wanyan Liang and launched a palm strike at him.
• Xiao Feng fought Qiu Qianren and overwhelmed Wanyan Liang's guards.
• Ouyang Feng attacked Xiao Feng from behind, and Yelü Nanxian intercepted him, but he broke her sword and knocked her back.
• Xiao Feng exchanged blows with Ouyang Feng, then seized Yelü Nanxian and returned with her to Zhao Min's side.

Xiao Feng confronted Ouyang Feng, Qiu Qianren, and Wanyan Liang’s allies, while Song Qingshu decided to protect the Jin Dynasty from Mongol influence. Zhao Min proposed a five-round contest to decide Wanyan Liang’s fate, leaving Ouyang Feng’s side struggling to find five top fighters.

• Xiao Feng and Ouyang Feng fought to a standstill, while Yelü Nanxian and Qiu Qianren were left humiliated by the clash.
• Xiao Feng condemned Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren for serving the Jurchen, and Wanyan Liang defended them as honored guests.
• Zhao Min offered to join forces with Xiao Feng to capture Wanyan Liang, but Song Qingshu chose to ally with Wanyan Liang’s side to preserve the Jin Dynasty as a counterweight to the Mongol Empire.
• Song Qingshu asked Bing Xue'er and Xiaolongnü which side he should help, then announced that he would fight alongside Ouyang Feng’s group.
• Zhao Min proposed that each side choose five experts and decide Wanyan Liang’s fate through five bouts, with three victories winning.
• Wanyan Liang rallied his allies by accepting the possibility of defeat, but Ouyang Feng realized their side could not gather five supreme experts.

Song Qingshu arranged to fight three consecutive matches and faced the Sect Master of Vajra Gate first. After his opening sword strike failed to pierce the man’s Indestructible Vajra Body, Song Qingshu prepared to exploit a weakness he had learned from watching Prison Break.

• Ouyang Feng, Qiu Qianren, and Song Qingshu discussed their team’s chances, while Zhao Min and Xiao Feng planned their fighters’ order to prevent either side from manipulating the matchups.
• Both sides exchanged their lists, and Zhao Min discovered that Song Qingshu had entered Ximen Chuixue for the first three matches.
• Song Qingshu chose to fight Xiao Feng later and opened against the Sect Master of Vajra Gate, whose perfected Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill stopped his sword at the throat.
• The Sect Master of Vajra Gate counterattacked with the Great Vajra Finger, but Song Qingshu evaded him and borrowed Xiaolongnü’s sword for the fight.
• Song Qingshu asked whether the Sect Master believed his Indestructible Vajra Body could not be broken, then hinted that structural mechanics, Hooke’s law, and Prison Break had given him an idea.

Song Qingshu, disguised as Ximen Chuixue, defeated the Sect Master of Vajra Gate by exploiting stress concentration points in his Indestructible Vajra Body. He began the second of his promised three consecutive battles against Golden Wheel Monk and quickly disabled most of the monk’s wheels.

• Song Qingshu struck several points on the Sect Master of Vajra Gate’s body before landing a palm strike that broke through his divine skill and made him vomit blood.
• The Sect Master of Vajra Gate caught Song Qingshu’s sword with the Great Vajra Finger, but Song Qingshu spun the blade and forced him to retreat with bloody fingers.
• Zhao Min conceded the first round to protect the Sect Master of Vajra Gate, and Song Qingshu explained that he had used stress concentration points to break the man’s defense.
• Golden Wheel Monk challenged Song Qingshu immediately, reasoning that his strength must have been depleted, while Ouyang Feng and the others criticized the timing.
• Song Qingshu began the second match, dodged Golden Wheel Monk’s attack, and used his sword to make two wheels collide and shatter while knocking down two others.

Song Qingshu defeated Golden Wheel Monk and began his third contest against Xiao Feng. After exchanging rapid moves, the two agreed to fight barehanded and met with their Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Song Qingshu shattered Golden Wheel Monk's four wheels, and Zhao Min conceded the match to prevent the Imperial Preceptor from being killed.
• Xiao Feng offered Song Qingshu time to recover and warned the others not to interfere; Song Qingshu rested briefly before accepting the challenge.
• Song Qingshu and Xiao Feng exchanged several attacks, while Bing Xue'er and Xiaolongnü watched anxiously and Wanyan Liang became captivated by Xiaolongnü.
• Song Qingshu sheathed his sword and agreed to fight barehanded with Xiao Feng, who also set aside his bamboo staff.
• Song Qingshu and Xiao Feng each used Dragon Tide Wave, and their stacked palms collided head-on.

Song Qingshu fought Xiao Feng with the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and discovered the technique’s true essence in the way its force shifted between hardness and softness. After Xiao Feng injured him with a sudden reversal, Song Qingshu grasped the hidden principles and began to gain the upper hand.

• Song Qingshu and Xiao Feng clashed with the Dragon Tide Wave, leaving Xiao Feng bleeding and the Mongol side astonished that he had been disadvantaged.
• Xiao Feng praised Song Qingshu’s mastery, while Ouyang Feng recognized him and Zhao Min realized that the fighter was Song Qingshu.
• Xiao Feng attacked with “Leaping from the Abyss” and switched the real and feinting palms, catching Song Qingshu off guard and injuring him.
• Song Qingshu understood that the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms relied on unpredictable shifts in force, not merely on their forms.
• Song Qingshu applied his insight as he continued exchanging palms with Xiao Feng and gradually gained the upper hand.

Song Qingshu’s martial arts contest with the Mongol party ended without a decisive winner, and Zhao Min withdrew after revealing she knew his identity. After Ouyang Feng recognized Xiaolongnü as Yang Guo’s wife, Song Qingshu left with Bing Xue'er and asked Xiaolongnü whether she would join them.

• Song Qingshu and Xiao Feng stopped fighting after exchanging compliments about each other’s martial arts.
• Ouyang Feng challenged Hundred Damage Daoist, but Zhao Min called off the remaining matches and withdrew with her party.
• Song Qingshu removed his mask, and Xiao Feng recognized him before taking his Khitan followers away.
• Ouyang Feng welcomed Xiaolongnü as his daughter-in-law after she learned he was Yang Guo’s foster father.
• Wanyan Liang asked whether Yang Guo was Prince Kang’s posthumous son, and Ouyang Feng confirmed his parentage while denying Yang Kang had been Prince Zhao’s son.
• Song Qingshu left with Bing Xue'er and asked Xiaolongnü whether she would stay or go with them.

Xiaolongnü left with Bing Xue'er after meeting Wanyan Liang, and the three traveled together while the two women caught up and Song Qingshu admired them. After they stopped for the night, Bing Xue'er shared a room with Xiaolongnü, and Song Qingshu secretly asked her to visit him after Xiaolongnü fell asleep.

• Xiaolongnü returned Wanyan Liang's sword and left with Bing Xue'er and Song Qingshu, while Wanyan Liang privately resolved to pursue her.
• Song Qingshu warned the women about Wanyan Liang's lustful gaze, but Bing Xue'er and Xiaolongnü dismissed his concern.
• Xiaolongnü questioned Bing Xue'er about her relationship with Song Qingshu, and Song Qingshu said he would become her brother-in-law one day.
• Song Qingshu, Bing Xue'er, and Xiaolongnü ate dinner at a quiet tavern and decided to rest before traveling the next morning.
• Bing Xue'er booked a room with Xiaolongnü, so Song Qingshu stayed alone and asked Bing Xue'er to sneak over after Xiaolongnü fell asleep.

Song Qingshu sneaked into Bing Xue'er’s room, where Xiaolongnü was sleeping, and sealed Xiaolongnü’s acupoints so he could be alone with Bing Xue'er. Xiaolongnü secretly freed herself and woke, realizing what the two were doing while keeping her eyes closed.

• Bing Xue'er and Xiaolongnü went to bed in separate places, with Xiaolongnü suspended on a strip of silk.
• Song Qingshu entered through the window, sealed Xiaolongnü’s acupoints, and caught her as she fell.
• Song Qingshu revealed himself to Bing Xue'er and climbed into bed with her despite Xiaolongnü’s presence.
• Bing Xue'er worried that Xiaolongnü might catch cold, so Song Qingshu moved her onto the bed beside them.
• Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er became intimate, and Bing Xue'er warned him not to touch Xiaolongnü.
• Xiaolongnü gradually released her acupoints and woke, recognizing Song Qingshu and Bing Xue'er but keeping her eyes shut.