Chapter Summaries

Zeng Anmin chose Slow Enlightenment and impressed the Imperial Academy by bringing musical theory to the Dao, then was summoned home just as the court learned that Huang Yuangao had been assassinated under the name of the Black Cat Martial Artist. The chapter left Zeng Shilin fearing that Li Zhen’s question would expose Zeng Anmin to a dangerous crisis.

• Zeng Anmin chose Slow Enlightenment and reflected that he could use it to bring all Six Arts of the Gentleman to the Dao.
• Li Lianting praised Zeng Anmin for bringing musical theory to the Dao, while Qin Wanyue realized that Zeng Anmin had already reached Sixth Grade.
• Liu Xian invited Zeng Anmin to eat at a marketplace, but Dachun arrived and ordered him home at his father’s command.
• A messenger reported to Emperor Jianhong that Huang Yuangao had been assassinated in the Xuanjing Division, and the case file named the Black Cat Martial Artist as the culprit.
• Li Zhen questioned whether Commander Bai, rather than the Black Cat Martial Artist, had stopped the attack on Jishui Weir, making Zeng Shilin fear that his son was in danger.

Emperor Jianhong questioned Bai Ziqing after a case file credited the Black Cat Martial Artist with killing the Eastern Cult spies, and Zeng Shilin helped Bai explain the discrepancy. The court appointed Bai as imperial envoy to investigate in Two Rivers Prefecture, while Zeng Shilin warned Zeng Anmin that their family’s plans were entangled in the case and gave him fifteen days to uncover the truth.

• Emperor Jianhong summoned Bai Ziqing and threatened to execute him for claiming he had killed the Eastern Cult spies.
• Zeng Shilin argued that Bai had fought the spies while the Black Cat Martial Artist arrived afterward, and Bai accepted that explanation.
• Wu Changfeng called for an Imperial Envoy to investigate Two Rivers Prefecture, and court factions tried to appoint Zeng Shilin.
• Yang Qi objected to sending Zeng Shilin, prompting him to volunteer boastfully before Emperor Jianhong rejected his offer.
• Liu Chengqian proposed Bai Ziqing as Imperial Envoy, and Emperor Jianhong ordered him to investigate the case within fifteen days.
• Zeng Shilin told Zeng Anmin that the case threatened their family and their plan against Ren Weizhi, and instructed him to keep their involvement hidden while uncovering the truth.

Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing raced south to Two Rivers Prefecture to investigate Huang Yuangao’s suspicious death. After an attacker ambushed them with the Eastern Cult’s Dream into Diagrams, they reached Liangjiang Prefecture City and prepared to begin their investigation.

• Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing rode south for four days, then stopped to rest before continuing toward Two Rivers Prefecture.
• An unknown attacker approached their tent while Bai Ziqing was trapped in a dream, but Zeng Anmin struck at the intruder, who escaped at great speed.
• Zeng Anmin used Vast Righteous Qi to dispel the black qi around Bai Ziqing’s temples and wake him; Bai Ziqing identified the attack as the Eastern Cult’s Dream into Diagrams.
• Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing discussed the ambush and hurried on, reaching Liangjiang Prefecture City by morning.
• The two entered the city ahead of the Imperial City Department’s investigators and set out to investigate Huang Yuangao’s case.

Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing returned to Two Rivers Prefecture to investigate Huang Yuangao’s assassination, gathering what Shen Jun knew before examining the Xuanjing Division. At the burned governor’s office, Zeng Anmin learned someone had died in the fire and began to suspect that separate groups may have been involved in the arson and the murder.

• Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing visited Wangxianju, where Shen Jun recognized Zeng Anmin and revealed that the restaurant belonged to him.
• Zeng Anmin questioned Shen Jun, who said Huang Yuangao had kept a low profile, caused no known disputes, and attracted no complaints at the restaurant.
• Zeng Anmin concluded that Huang Yuangao’s murder seemed deliberate and that its motive remained unknown, then went with Bai Ziqing to the Xuanjing Division.
• Bai Ziqing presented the Imperial Decree and his Imperial City Department token, and Liu Ji led the two inside to inspect the fire scene.
• Zeng Anmin saw that the burned building had been the Governor of Fengqi Road’s office and asked Liu Xiu whether anyone had died in the fire.
• Liu Xiu confirmed that someone had died, prompting Zeng Anmin to consider whether the arson and Huang Yuangao’s murder had been carried out by separate groups.

Zeng Anmin investigated the fire that killed six clerks in the Xuanjing Division and the murder of Huang Yuangao, finding clues that suggested the blaze involved an insider and that the deaths had been staged. After noticing an inconsistency among the bodies of Huang Yuangao’s servants, he declared that something was wrong, leaving the investigation poised for a breakthrough.

• Zeng Anmin examined the burned building and the six charred corpses, questioning why the victims had been found in their offices instead of fleeing the fire.
• Zeng Anmin questioned Wang Wu, who said the building burst into flames just after he began his patrol shift, suggesting the fire had spread too quickly to be ordinary.
• Liu Ji admitted smelling something unusual after the fire, but said his investigation found no irregular purchases of fire oil, leading Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing to suspect an insider.
• Zeng Anmin inspected the North Courtyard where Huang Yuangao had been found, then went to the Corpse Repository to examine the bodies of four servants and four maidservants.
• Zeng Anmin asked what Huang Yuangao had been wearing when he died, compared the answer with the servants’ bodies, and said something was wrong.

Zeng Anmin investigated Huang Yuangao’s death and discovered that the Dragon Survey Map in the Map Repository had been replaced. He concluded that the Demon Race had carried out the arson and turned his attention to how Huang Yuangao died.

• Zeng Anmin questioned Liu Ji about Huang Yuangao’s schedule and ordered the fire-oil procurement records brought to him.
• Zeng Anmin used Heart Inquiry on Wang Wu, who confirmed he had smelled something unusual during the fire, then examined the records with Bai Ziqing and found no suspicious purchases.
• Zeng Anmin noticed irregular lines on the Dragon Survey Map in the Map Repository and realized it had been swapped.
• Zeng Anmin had Bai Ziqing bring Liu Ji to him and accused him of concealing that the Demon Race had taken part in the arson.
• Zeng Anmin reasoned that Liu Ji’s Seventh Rank cultivation meant he could sense the demons, then said they should investigate Huang Yuangao’s death.

Zeng Anmin reconstructed how an Eastern Cult spy and a Demon Race member murdered Huang Yuangao and stole the Dragon Survey Map, while exposing Liu Ji’s attempt to shift blame. He suspected the alliance had a deeper purpose and learned that Assistant Minister of Works Liu Chengqian, who sent Bai Ziqing to the case, was close to the Li Faction.

• Bai Ziqing proposed that the Eastern Cult and the Demon Race had worked together to kill Huang Yuangao, but Zeng Anmin rejected his timeline and reasoning.
• Zeng Anmin explained that an Eastern Cult cultivator had assassinated Huang Yuangao first, allowing a Demon Race member to set the South Courtyard on fire and use the chaos to steal the Dragon Survey Map.
• Zeng Anmin said the alliance had also framed the Black Cat Martial Artist and that Liu Ji had concealed evidence of the Demon Race to lessen his own blame.
• Bai Ziqing abandoned his attempt to pursue the thieves, while Zeng Anmin ordered Liu Ji to submit a truthful case file and later found that the Eastern Cult spy’s corpse had been sent to a mass grave.
• Zeng Anmin asked who had sent Bai Ziqing from the capital, and Bai Ziqing named Assistant Minister of Works Liu Chengqian, who was said to be close to Li Zhen and the Li Faction.

Zeng Anmin pieced together that the Eastern Cult’s search in Two Rivers Prefecture had targeted the White Bone Necklace, then returned to the capital and used Slow Enlightenment to advance to fifth-rank Confucian Path and condense a Dharma Aspect. The chapter ended with him discovering that each bead on the necklace seemed to contain a divine Martial Arts Technique.

• Zeng Anmin concluded that Liu Chengqian had secretly acted for Duke Ning’s manor to help the Eastern Cult find the White Bone Necklace, which he had taken from the spies.
• A Demon Race man emerged from the water with the Dragon Survey Map, while Master Xu and Old Father sensed events from afar.
• Zeng Anmin praised Shen Jun’s growing business and promised to connect him with the Good Friend Trading Company before leaving Two Rivers Prefecture with Bai Ziqing.
• Back in the capital, Zeng Anmin used Slow Enlightenment to master the paths of Rites, Numbers, and Governance, condensing a Confucian Dharma Aspect and reaching fifth-rank Confucian Path.
• Zeng Anmin examined the White Bone Necklace and realized that its beads appeared to contain divine Martial Arts Techniques.

Zeng Anmin finished reflecting on the mysterious beads and reported his conclusions about Huang Yuangao's murder to the Princess, while Emperor Jianhong summoned officials and warned Zeng Shilin that war might soon begin. The Princess was left listening as Zeng Anmin interpreted her poem as a rebuke of political traitors.

• Zeng Anmin experienced a fleeting enlightenment from the beads, stored the necklace, and examined the Golden Vast Righteous Qi at his fingertips.
• Bai Ziqing reported that the Eastern Cult and Demon Race had stolen the Dragon Survey Map, and Emperor Jianhong asked whether Zeng Anmin had solved the case before summoning Li Zhen, Zeng Shilin, and Duke Wei.
• Zeng Shilin met Zeng Anmin outside the palace, heard his account of the case, and warned him that war seemed likely to begin soon.
• Zeng Anmin visited the Princess to thank her, then explained how the Eastern Cult, Demon Race, and Jiang Kingdom rebels had plotted to undermine relations between the Great Sage Dynasty and Jiang State.
• Zeng Anmin claimed the Princess had awakened him from the Eastern Cult's Dream Entry art by reciting a poem, then interpreted its Ode to Willow as a condemnation of political traitors.

Zeng Anmin entertained Sai Chuxue with pastries and watched her enchant Huzi’s wooden sword before she replenished his Strength and Speed Array Imprints. After Zeng Shilin asked what he had learned from his trip to Two Rivers Prefecture, Zeng Anmin revealed that he had comprehended all Six Arts of the Gentleman and manifested a Confucian Dharma Aspect, leaving his father stunned.

• The Princess blushed after Zeng Anmin left, then reflected on the poem he had recited to her.
• Zeng Anmin returned home and found Sai Chuxue waiting to replenish his Array Imprint; he shared pastries with her and Huzi.
• Sai Chuxue inscribed Huzi’s wooden sword with a formation that let him unleash gusts of wind, then drew new Array Imprints on Zeng Anmin.
• Zeng Shilin arrived and asked Zeng Anmin about his insights from Two Rivers Prefecture and the court’s discussion of the Jiang Kingdom and the Demon Race.
• Zeng Anmin said he had comprehended all Six Arts of the Gentleman and manifested a golden Confucian Dharma Aspect, shocking Zeng Shilin.

Zeng Anmin revealed his pale-gold Confucian Sage Dharma Aspect, then discussed with Father the political schemes behind Huang Yuangao’s death and a possible campaign against Prince Nan. Qin Shouchang arrived with Qin Wanyue to boast of her advancement to Sixth Grade, unaware of the full extent of Zeng Anmin’s abilities.

• Father recognized Zeng Anmin’s Dharma Aspect as a Confucian Sage Dharma Aspect and warned him to conceal it and the Six Artifacts.
• Father explained that the Great Sage Dynasty might go to war with Jiang Kingdom over Huang Yuangao’s death, and suspected the Empress intended to redirect the campaign toward Prince Nan’s territory.
• Zeng Anmin reasoned that the Empress might offer Prince Nan’s fief to the Great Sage Dynasty, and suggested Tian Ji command the campaign with Qin Shouchang as its Confucian cultivator.
• Qin Shouchang arrived at the Minister’s Residence with Qin Wanyue, whose shy reaction made Zeng Anmin suspect she had feelings for him.
• Qin Shouchang announced that Qin Wanyue had comprehended Confucian Sayings and advanced to Sixth Grade, then teased Zeng Anmin about being unable to reach Fifth Grade.

Zeng Anmin revealed that he had reached Fifth Grade, shocking Qin Shouchang, then told Qin Wanyue how memories of her had helped him resist an Eastern Cult spy's dream attack. Their closeness was interrupted when Qin Shouchang and Zeng Shilin emerged from their discussion and caught Qin Wanyue touching Zeng Anmin.

• Zeng Anmin revealed his Golden Dharma Aspect and Fifth Grade breakthrough, leaving Qin Shouchang stunned and prompting the old man to bray like a donkey.
• Zeng Anmin told Qin Wanyue that memories of her helped him survive an Eastern Cult spy's Dream Entry attack in Jiangnan.
• Huzi mentioned that Sai Chuxue had visited, but Qin Wanyue focused on Zeng Anmin's story and worried over his safety.
• Qin Wanyue checked Zeng Anmin's back for injuries, and Qin Shouchang and Zeng Shilin emerged to find her touching him.
• Qin Shouchang scolded the pair with a cold snort, while Zeng Shilin looked at Qin Wanyue as a possible match for his son.

After returning to the Imperial Academy, Zeng Anmin learned that Liu Xian had entered the Confucian Path and was worried about Wangxianju threatening the Liu family’s Good Friend Trading Company. Liu Xian pledged his loyalty and revealed the Princess had eyes and ears inside the company, while Zeng Anmin began considering building an intelligence network of his own; Qin Shouchang’s absence hinted that the Great Sage Dynasty was preparing for war.

• Zeng Anmin warned Huzi not to repeat his boasts about dreaming of Qin Wanyue and Sai Chuxue, then promised to take him to Fa'an Temple to see Yingchen.
• Liu Xian welcomed Zeng Anmin back to the Imperial Academy and said he had entered the Path through the way of books.
• Liu Xian explained that Wangxianju, led by Shen Jun under Jin Taiping, planned to expand north and could threaten the Good Friend Trading Company’s restaurants.
• Zeng Anmin offered to arrange a meeting between Shen Jun and Liu Xian’s father, and Liu Xian revealed that some Good Friend Trading Company businesses served as the Princess’s eyes and ears.
• Liu Xian declared that he would follow Zeng Anmin, prompting Zeng Anmin to consider building his own intelligence network and possibly sending Liu Xian to the Ministry of Rites.
• Zeng Anmin heard students demand war against the Jiang Kingdom and the Demon Race, and noticed Qin Shouchang had been absent from the Imperial Academy for two days.

Zeng Anmin discovered that an Eastern Cult spy had identified his dual cultivation and lured him to the western outskirts. He defeated the spy’s Puppet Art, exposed his Confucian Dharma Aspect, and killed the fleeing enemy with an arrow.

• Liu Xian took Zeng Anmin to listen to music aboard a merchant ship, and Zeng Anmin sensed someone watching him.
• A dart carrying an invitation to discuss the Martial Path led Zeng Anmin to suspect an Eastern Cult spy and summon Bai Ziqing for help.
• At the forest meeting, the hidden spy revealed that he knew Zeng Anmin’s secret and demanded something belonging to Bai Ziqing.
• The spy trapped Zeng Anmin in black mist and sent a serpent made of the Eastern Cult’s Puppet Art to attack him.
• Zeng Anmin used his Golden Dharma Aspect to seize the serpent and locate the spy, then shot the fleeing figure through the back of the head.

Zeng Anmin concealed his killing of an Eastern Cult spy and showed his father the spy’s flute to explain his nighttime outing. His father recognized the flute and concluded that the cult had more allies in the capital than Ren Weizhi.

• Zeng Anmin burned the Eastern Cult spy’s corpse, hid the evidence, and told Bai Ziqing that the trail had gone cold so they could investigate secretly.
• Back at the manor, Zeng Anmin examined the bone-white necklace and wondered what he had understood from it before falling asleep.
• The next morning, Zeng Shilin confronted Zeng Anmin about visiting Lou Yingqi’s pleasure boat, and Zeng Anmin claimed he had gone on important business.
• Zeng Anmin showed Zeng Shilin the short flute he had taken from the spy, and his father identified it as the Soul-Reaping Flute of the Eastern Cult.
• Zeng Shilin realized the cult likely had other collaborators in the capital, while Zeng Anmin recalled suspected links to Consort Xi and Duke Ning’s manor.

Zeng Anmin told his father that the Fourth Prince was likely Consort Xi’s child, then asked to learn the Confucian Qi Manipulation Method. His father explained the Confucian Path’s history and the cultivation choices and arts behind its techniques, leaving Zeng Anmin watching him form a jade-green ceremonial tablet.

• Zeng Anmin told his father about his suspicions, including that the Fourth Prince was likely the child Consort Xi had carried, and said Bai Ziqing was the only other person who knew.
• Zeng Anmin asked his father to teach him the Confucian Qi Manipulation Method, so his father manifested his Third-rank power to let him feel its pressure.
• Zeng Anmin’s father explained that the Confucian Sage shaped the Confucian Path to restrain demons and evil spirits, and that he had chosen to focus on restraining the Demon Race.
• Zeng Anmin’s father warned him to choose the Way of Balance at the Greater Heart Scrutiny because his own choice had been too tiring.
• Zeng Anmin’s father explained how Fifth-rank cultivators used the Six Arts of the Gentleman to attack and demonstrated his Ritual art by forming a jade-green ceremonial tablet.

Zeng Anmin learned the Confucian Sage’s attack method for the path of control and used it to devastate his courtyard, prompting him to confront Zeng Shilin about his past and his dangerous choices. The chapter then shifted north, where a human squad used an unusual formation and weapons to defeat a Demon Race squad.

• Zeng Shilin taught Zeng Anmin how to communicate with his Golden Tablet and use the Qi Manipulation Method of the path of control.
• Zeng Anmin’s first attack sent golden waves through the courtyard, cutting down flowers and splitting a peach tree while Zeng Shilin shielded himself.
• Zeng Anmin realized Zeng Shilin and Dean Qin Shouchang had tested him at the Xuanjing Division, then pressed Zeng Shilin about their extreme Confucian paths and made him promise to put his own life first.
• At North Vast Mountain, a human squad confronted a similarly sized Demon Race squad in the snow.
• The human soldiers held their formation and used Wolf Spears and other weapons to kill the demons, leaving the captain stunned by their victory.

The Yuanyang Army’s mountain exercise produced an overwhelming victory, prompting Emperor Jianhong and Duke Wei Tian Ji to consider using Zeng Anmin’s formation against Prince Nan of Jiang State. As the court discussed rewarding Zeng Anmin, Prime Minister Li Zhen urged the emperor not to rush, leaving the reason unclear.

• The Yuanyang Army counted its exercise results and found all forty soldiers present after defeating its opponents.
• Ji Qing reported that eleven newly trained Yuanyang Army units had killed 470 enemies while suffering 16 dead and 47 wounded, and Dean Shi ordered the results sent to the emperor as a glorious victory.
• Emperor Jianhong argued with his ministers over a campaign against Prince Nan of Jiang State, while Tian Ji explained that the army would need either 300,000 soldiers on the plains or 10,000 Wei Lin Army soldiers to hold Mount Bai for half a month.
• An urgent memorial arrived from Ji Qing, and Emperor Jianhong and Tian Ji celebrated the Yuanyang Army’s results, with Tian Ji asking for 5,000 soldiers trained in the formation.
• Emperor Jianhong revealed that Zeng Anmin had devised the formation and ordered substantial rewards for him, then asked Zeng’s father how he should be granted office.
• After reading the battle report, Li Zhen congratulated Zeng’s father but urged Emperor Jianhong not to rush Zeng Anmin’s rewards.

Li Zhen backed Emperor Jianhong’s plan to delay rewards until after the campaign, while Zeng Shilin signaled his loyalty to the emperor and rejected a proposed match for Zeng Anmin. Zeng Anmin received imperial rewards, lost the maids to his father’s orders, and was summoned by Duke Wei just as he tried to go out.

• Li Zhen advised Emperor Jianhong to postpone Zeng Anmin’s appointment and rewards until Duke Wei returned from the campaign, and Emperor Jianhong secured Zeng Shilin and Tian Ji’s agreement to begin training the army.
• Zeng Shilin named Qin the Libationer’s daughter as his preferred match for Zeng Anmin, while Emperor Jianhong later concluded that Zeng Shilin was showing loyalty to him.
• Si Zhongxiao told Emperor Jianhong that Li Zhen’s offer had been a test, and Emperor Jianhong said Zeng Shilin was showing loyalty to him rather than wariness of Li Zhen.
• A palace attendant delivered silver, gifts, and maids to Zeng Anmin as rewards, but Zeng Shilin redirected most of the wealth and all the maids away from his son.
• Zeng Anmin complained about losing the maids, then decided to go out with Dachun, but Xu Yunzhi arrived and summoned him to Duke Wei.

Empress Gu Xiangnan learned from a secret report that Zeng Anmin’s Mandarin Duck Army Formation had achieved extraordinary results and resolved to obtain his help. Meanwhile, Zeng Anmin agreed to train troops for Duke Wei Tian Ji, only to discover his recruits were a ragged group of about two hundred soldiers.

• Princess Wencheng noticed the smell of medicine and blood on Gu Xiangnan and pressed her about being injured, but the Empress dismissed her concern.
• Gu Xiangnan read a report about Zeng Anmin, the Mandarin Duck Army Formation, and its success against the Demon Race, then hurried back to the palace to contact Bei.
• Tian Ji asked Zeng Anmin to train troops and promised to petition for a noble title if their campaign succeeded.
• Zeng Anmin expected to command nearly ten thousand soldiers, but Tian Ji explained that Gu Xiangnan wanted a cost-effective force of five thousand and assigned him roughly two hundred ill-equipped recruits to start with.
• Zeng Anmin told the recruits that troop training meant turning waste into treasure and announced that his first lesson would teach them how to stand at attention.