Chapter Summaries

Qing Mo defeated Li Mochou and Hong Lingbo with his bamboo twig, then gave Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl rare snake gallbladders to strengthen them. Li Mochou remained furious and humiliated, but she also found herself drawn to the strange feeling the encounter had stirred in her.

• Li Mochou attacked Qing Mo, but he evaded her blows and struck her with his bamboo twig.
• When Hong Lingbo tried to help her master, Qing Mo disarmed and whipped her until she retreated to the wall.
• Li Mochou fired Ice Soul Silver Needles at Qing Mo, but he caught and crushed them before beating her until she admitted defeat.
• Little Dragon Girl helped Li Mochou up, while Li Mochou found her anger mingling with an increasingly compelling new feeling toward Qing Mo.
• Qing Mo gave Yang Guo two exotic snake gallbladders; Yang Guo swallowed one and gave the other to Little Dragon Girl.
• At Qing Mo's instruction, Yang Guo strained to lift the Darksteel Heavy Sword.

Qing Mo arranged Yang Guo’s training, took Li Mochou as his maid, and revealed that he knew the Nine Yin Manual. After Li Mochou attacked the women at Qing Mo’s cabin, he tied her to a tree, where she remained the next morning as Yang Guo arrived to begin his sword training.

• Qing Mo told Yang Guo to carry the Darksteel Heavy Sword and promised to teach him the Nine Swords of Dugu, then later the Nine Yin Manual.
• Qing Mo made Li Mochou serve as his maid, while Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl were left to care for Hong Lingbo and seek the Ancient Tomb’s explanation of the paired sword arts.
• Qing Mo recited the opening of the Nine Yin Manual, then stopped when Li Mochou demanded more and struck her with his switch.
• Li Mochou saw Liu Yurou and Xiao Die at Qing Mo’s cabin and threatened to kill them, so Qing Mo subdued and tied her to a tree.
• Yang Guo brought Hong Lingbo to the cabin the next morning, where Qing Mo explained that he had left Li Mochou tied up overnight after she cursed him.

Qing Mo freed Li Mochou and offered Hong Lingbo a chance to learn the Nine Swords of Dugu, starting her on Yang Guo’s grueling sword-drawing training. After Qing Mo sang that night, Li Mochou mocked him and was punished with the bamboo switch, leaving their charged relationship unresolved.

• Qing Mo ordered Hong Lingbo to untie Li Mochou and help her back to the cabin, then told Yang Guo he would not yet reveal the truth about Yang Kang.
• Qing Mo offered to teach Hong Lingbo the Nine Swords of Dugu and sent her with Yang Guo to build her foundation by drawing and sheathing her sword a thousand times.
• Yang Guo carried the exhausted Hong Lingbo back after nightfall, while Li Mochou helped Xiao Die prepare dinner and wash dishes.
• Qing Mo played the zither and sang beneath the stars, and Li Mochou criticized his singing.
• Qing Mo threatened Li Mochou with the bamboo switch, and she went to the tree and endured his blows while showing excitement beneath her defiant manner.

After years of training on Zhongnan Mountain, Qing Mo led Yang Guo, Little Dragon Girl, Li Mochou, Hong Lingbo, Liu Yurou, and Xiao Die south, where Yang Guo and Hong Lingbo gained reputations for fighting bandits. A Mongol force of more than a thousand riders blocked their path, and Qing Mo ended the battle by sending a sword-qi-infused leaf through the cavalry.

• Yang Guo trained with nearly a thousand jin of weights while Hong Lingbo learned the Nine Swords of Dugu, and the group prepared to leave Zhongnan Mountain.
• Qing Mo made Yang Guo walk behind the mounted party, and the group traveled south as Yang Guo and Hong Lingbo defeated bandits and earned the names Giant Sword Hero and Swift Sword Fairy.
• A scar-faced Mongol leader recognized Qing Mo and Yang Guo from portraits and ordered his riders to attack the group.
• Yang Guo, Hong Lingbo, and Li Mochou fought the Mongol cavalry, and Li Mochou was wounded by an arrow before Little Dragon Girl pulled her from danger.
• Qing Mo flicked a sword-qi-charged leaf into the Mongol ranks, killing the remaining riders and shocking the group.

Qing Mo explained Yang Kang’s death to Yang Guo, who learned that his father had betrayed his country and died after Huang Rong’s armor caused his own poisoned palm to strike him. The chapter ended with Qing Mo warning that Guo Jing’s family would oppose Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl’s mutual love.

• Qing Mo reassured Yang Guo that killing the Mongolian cavalrymen could save civilians, then treated Li Mochou’s arrow wound and warned her not to attack him.
• Yang Guo could not find a horse strong enough to carry him, and Qing Mo’s group stopped at an inn for a meal.
• Qing Mo told Yang Guo that Huang Rong had indirectly contributed to Yang Kang’s death at the Iron Spear Temple.
• Yang Guo grieved as Qing Mo explained Yang Kang’s betrayal and reassured him that his father’s actions were not his responsibility.
• Qing Mo revealed that Guo Jing had intended for Yang Guo to marry Guo Fu, but Yang Guo said he loved Little Dragon Girl.
• Qing Mo confirmed that Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl loved each other, then said Guo Jing’s family would not allow them to be together.

Qing Mo and his companions reached a valley where Hong Lingbo rescued her junior sister Lu Wushuang from five attackers. After Qing Mo offered to heal Lu Wushuang and protect her and her cousin from Li Mochou, Lu returned the stolen Five Poisons Manual and agreed to lead them to Cheng Ying.

• Qing Mo explained that Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl's master-disciple relationship would draw disapproval, while Yang Guo insisted he would not marry Guo Fu.
• Qing Mo led the group southwest as his wolf-headed troops harried the Mongolian army and made its soldiers struggle to catch them.
• Lu Wushuang fought five Complete Truth Sect and Beggars' Sect members in a valley, but they injured her and threw her into a pool.
• Hong Lingbo killed the four Beggars' Sect and Complete Truth Sect attackers and pursued Shen Zhifan, killing him as he tried to flee.
• Qing Mo asked Lu Wushuang to take the group to Cheng Ying, offering to heal her leg and protect her from Li Mochou.
• Lu Wushuang returned Li Mochou's stolen Five Poisons Manual, apologized, and agreed to lead Qing Mo and the others to her cousin.

Lu Wushuang led Qing Mo’s group to Cheng Ying, where Qing Mo treated Wushuang’s injured leg and waited for Huang Yaoshi. Yang Guo and Cheng Ying recognized each other from childhood, while Qing Mo suggested Cheng Ying play her jade flute to summon her master.

• Li Mochou obeyed Qing Mo’s order not to harm Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying, and Wushuang led the group toward Cheng Ying’s home.
• Wushuang reached Cheng Ying’s cottage and explained that Qing Mo wanted Huang Yaoshi’s jade flute and Song of the Blue Sea Tides.
• Qing Mo gave Cheng Ying Black Jade Intermittent Ointment, then shattered Wushuang’s lame leg bones so the medicine could heal them.
• Cheng Ying served rice dumplings, and she and Yang Guo realized they had met as children when he helped her and Wushuang escape Li Mochou.
• Li Mochou withheld a rice dumpling from Wushuang, while Qing Mo shared flower tea with Cheng Ying and Wushuang.
• Qing Mo asked Cheng Ying to play her jade flute in hopes that Huang Yaoshi would hear it and come sooner.

Qing Mo taught Yang Guo and Hong Lingbo a qinggong technique that required no inner strength, while Lu Wushuang's injured leg healed completely. Cheng Ying's flute drew her master Huang Yaoshi to the cabin, where Qing Mo challenged him for his jade flute and the Song of the Blue Sea Tides, then effortlessly defeated his opening attack.

• Qing Mo named the qinggong he would teach Yang Guo and Hong Lingbo the Cloud-Riding Wind-Stepping Step, and took them away to practice it.
• Li Mochou decided to secretly learn Cheng Ying's rice-dumpling craft after Qing Mo asked Cheng Ying to make more.
• After three days of using the Black Jade Intermittent Ointment, Lu Wushuang removed her bandages and found that her leg had fully healed.
• Qing Mo sensed Huang Yaoshi approaching while Cheng Ying played her flute, and Huang Yaoshi arrived at the cabin.
• Qing Mo told Huang Yaoshi he wanted his jade flute and the Song of the Blue Sea Tides, then nullified Huang Yaoshi's Divine Flicking Finger and appeared beside him with a hand on his shoulder.
• Huang Yaoshi accepted Qing Mo's offer to hear what he would exchange, while the others realized Qing Mo had the advantage over the master of Peach Blossom Island.

Qing Mo offered Huang Yaoshi two bottles of Meng Po Soup in exchange for his jade flute and the score of the Song of the Blue Sea Tides, proving the soup’s power by letting Yang Guo and Huang Yaoshi dream of their deceased loved ones. After learning the impossible ingredients needed to brew it, Huang Yaoshi accepted the exchange and kept the bottles.

• Qing Mo told Huang Yaoshi that Li Mochou was his maid and that he would protect her, and Huang Yaoshi decided against fighting him.
• Qing Mo had Yang Guo bring two bottles of Meng Po Soup and explained that the drink let the living meet the dead in their dreams.
• Yang Guo drank less than half a cup, fell asleep, and wept as he dreamed of his mother.
• Huang Yaoshi drank the soup and dreamed of his late wife, Feng Heng, then woke convinced of its miraculous effect.
• Qing Mo named the extraordinary tears required to brew Meng Po Soup, and Huang Yaoshi gave him his jade flute and promised to write out the Song of the Blue Sea Tides score.

Yang Guo thanked Qing Mo for helping him meet his mother in a dream, then traveled with Qing Mo’s group toward the Heroes’ Gathering at Great Victory Pass. The group reached the city, where their fame as heroes earned them respectful treatment and directions to Lu Family Manor.

• Yang Guo thanked Qing Mo for the dream reunion with his mother, and Qing Mo had him clean Huang Yaoshi’s jade flute.
• Qing Mo set out for Xiangyang with Yang Guo, Lu Wushuang, Li Mochou, Little Dragon Girl, Hong Lingbo, and two guardians, while Cheng Ying stayed behind with Huang Yaoshi.
• Li Mochou worried that her enemies would attack her at the Heroes’ Gathering, but Qing Mo promised to protect her and insisted she come along.
• Yang Guo told Qing Mo that he wanted to avenge Granny Sun by killing Hao Datong, and Qing Mo suggested luring Hao Datong somewhere secluded to avoid Guo Jing’s interference.
• Lü Wende welcomed Qing Mo’s group in Xiangyang after learning they had killed a thousand Mongol cavalrymen, but they declined his banquet and continued toward Great Victory Pass.
• At Great Victory Pass, reception staff recognized Yang Guo and Hong Lingbo as the Giant Sword Hero and Swift Sword Fairy and directed the group to Lu Family Manor and their lodgings.

Yang Guo reunited with Guo Jing at Lu Family Manor, where his hostility toward the Complete Truth Sect raised questions about his past. As Qing Mo and the others arrived, Huang Rong recognized her father’s jade flute in Qing Mo’s hand, leaving her alarmed.

• Yang Guo reached Lu Family Manor ahead of Qing Mo’s party and reunited warmly with Guo Jing while greeting Huang Rong coldly.
• Guo Jing urged Yang Guo to pay respects to the Complete Truth Sect, but Yang Guo said he had left the sect and shared a deep hatred with its Taoists.
• Hong Lingbo arrived and introduced herself to Guo Jing and Huang Rong as Yang Guo’s senior sister, the Swift Sword Fairy.
• Yang Guo refused to kowtow to Zhao Zhijing and the other Taoists, prompting Guo Jing to demand an explanation.
• Lu Wushuang called to Yang Guo as Qing Mo’s group arrived, and Huang Rong recognized Huang Yaoshi’s jade flute in Qing Mo’s hand.
• Zhao Zhijing shrank behind Qiu Chuji, while Guo Jing and Huang Rong followed Yang Guo toward Qing Mo’s group.

Qing Mo explained how Zhao Zhijing had abused Yang Guo at Chongyang Palace, prompting Guo Jing to confront the Complete Truth Sect over Yang Guo’s past. Huang Rong then recognized her father’s jade flute in Qing Mo’s possession and refused to return it, leaving Qing Mo demanding it back.

• Yang Guo reunited with Qing Mo, Little Dragon Girl, Liu Yurou, and Xiao Die at Lu Family Manor, and Qing Mo challenged Zhao Zhijing’s claim that Yang Guo was still his disciple.
• Qing Mo recounted how Zhao Zhijing had mistreated Yang Guo, forced him into a martial arts competition without teaching him, and caused Granny Sun’s death before Yang Guo joined Qing Mo and Little Dragon Girl.
• Guo Jing learned that Yang Guo’s suffering had begun because Zhao Zhijing resented him, while Qing Mo warned Zhao Zhijing not to claim Yang Guo as his disciple again.
• Qing Mo called out Zhen Zhibing for staring at Liu Yurou, Xiao Die, and Little Dragon Girl, and Yang Guo stepped in to shield them.
• Huang Rong recognized her father’s jade flute and learned Qing Mo had traded for it along with the Song of the Blue Sea Tides, but she refused to return the flute until she could confirm the exchange with Huang Yaoshi.
• Qing Mo demanded that Huang Rong return the jade flute, and she dodged Guo Jing’s attempt to take it from her.

Qing Mo stopped Huang Rong from questioning his exchange with Huang Yaoshi, and Yang Guo explained that Meng Po Soup had been traded for the jade flute and the Song of the Blue Sea Tides. After Qing Mo protected Li Mochou from the heroes seeking revenge, he told Guo Jing that his group had come to train its juniors and fight the Mongol invasion.

• Qing Mo released killing intent when Huang Rong refused to return the jade flute, but Yang Guo calmed him and explained the trade with Huang Yaoshi.
• Huang Rong returned the jade flute after Yang Guo described how Meng Po Soup let drinkers dream of the departed, including Huang Yaoshi dreaming of Ah Heng.
• Martial heroes recognized Li Mochou, and Qing Mo confirmed she was his maid and warned them that anyone seeking revenge must risk being killed.
• Guo Jing asked Qing Mo why he had come to the Heroes' Banquet, and Qing Mo said his group had come to train its juniors and fight the Mongol invaders.
• Guo Jing praised Qing Mo's resolve, while Qing Mo privately planned a much harsher fate for the invaders and the ruling classes.

Yang Guo refused Guo Jing’s appeal to forgive the Complete Truth Sect, but reassured Guo Jing and Huang Rong that he held no grudge against them over his father’s death. Qing Mo then gave Guo Jing a booklet describing bombs to help defend Xiangyang from the Mongols.

• Guo Jing urged Yang Guo to abandon his revenge against Hao Datong, but Yang Guo insisted that Granny Sun’s death could not be forgotten.
• Qing Mo challenged Guo Jing’s double standard, and Hao Datong offered to let Yang Guo avenge Granny Sun before leaving in anger.
• Yang Guo told Guo Jing and Huang Rong that he knew the truth about Yang Kang’s treachery and death, and would not blame them or seek revenge for his father.
• Yang Guo explained that Qing Mo had helped him separate his own life from his father’s actions, easing Guo Jing and Huang Rong’s fears.
• Qing Mo gave Guo Jing a booklet explaining how to make bombs, and Huang Rong recognized their potential to aid Xiangyang’s defense.
• Qing Mo explained that the bombs’ shrapnel could cripple Mongolian soldiers, burden their army, and damage its morale.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong tested Qing Mo's ceramic explosives and prepared for the Heroes' Banquet, where Huang Rong handed the Beggars' Sect leadership to Lu Youjiao. Yang Guo's growing attention from Guo Fu and Lu Wushuang stirred jealousy, while the chapter ended with the new chief's revolting initiation ritual.

• Qing Mo guided Guo Jing and Huang Rong as they successfully tested ceramic explosives, and Guo Jing and Huang Rong began making more to defend Xiangyang.
• Guo Fu, Lu Wushuang, and the Wu brothers walked with Yang Guo, where the Wu brothers mocked his training and Lu Wushuang defended his swordsmanship.
• Lu Wushuang asked Yang Guo to seek Qing Mo's permission to teach her a skill, and Yang Guo told her she could learn Cloud-Riding Wind-Stepping Step; Guo Fu grew jealous.
• Guo Jing and Huang Rong hosted the Heroes' Banquet, and Huang Rong passed the Dog-Beating Staff and Beggars' Sect leadership to Lu Youjiao.
• Beggars' Sect disciples welcomed Lu Youjiao by spitting on him, horrifying Qing Mo's companions and prompting Qing Mo to light a cigarette.

Lu Youjiao lost his first match against Huo Du, and Zhu Ziliu was defeated by Huo Du’s concealed needles in the contest to choose a martial alliance leader. After Huo Du dirtied Yang Guo’s clothes, Yang Guo announced that his master would also compete for the position.

• Lu Guanying proposed choosing a martial alliance leader, and Huo Du arrived with the Golden Wheel Dharma King to challenge the assembled heroes.
• Lu Youjiao fought Huo Du, who defeated him, took the Dog Beating Staff, and was challenged by Huang Rong to a three-bout contest.
• Zhu Ziliu fought Huo Du and gained the upper hand, but Huo Du struck him with hidden needles and kicked him from the platform.
• Yang Guo objected when Zhu Ziliu’s brush splattered ink on his clothes, and he told Huo Du that his master would also compete for the alliance leader position.

Yang Guo challenged Huo Du to win the martial arts alliance leader position for Qing Mo, who warned him about the burdens of the title but allowed him to fight. Yang Guo overwhelmed Huo Du with the Nine Swords of Dugu, leaving Huo Du wounded and asking what sword technique he had used.

• Qing Mo questioned Yang Guo about why he wanted to fight for the alliance leader position, and Yang Guo revealed he hoped to win the honor for his master.
• Qing Mo explained that the position brought unwanted responsibilities but let Yang Guo decide whether to fight Huo Du.
• Yang Guo borrowed Hong Lingbo's sword and cut off Huo Du's sleeve with a swift sword draw while still wearing his weights.
• Yang Guo used the Nine Swords of Dugu to keep Huo Du on the defensive as the gathered martial artists watched.
• Yang Guo struck Huo Du in the chest and knocked him to one knee, then named his sword technique when Huo Du asked what it was.

Yang Guo defeated Huo Du with Dugu’s Nine Swords, then revealed he had fought while carrying a thousand jin of weights. He removed them to test his strength against Darba, and the chapter ended with Yang Guo forcing Darba backward in their contest.

• Yang Guo deflected Huo Du’s concealed poisoned needles, defeated him with a single exchange, and kicked him off the platform while sparing his life.
• Qing Mo revealed that Yang Guo had been carrying a thousand jin, including a six-hundred-jin greatsword, and told him to remove the weights before facing Darba.
• Yang Guo tossed aside his greatsword after Darba’s vajra pestle bent his sword, then dodged Darba’s attacks and struck him barehanded.
• Yang Guo and Darba grappled in a contest of strength that broke the platform and continued on the ground.
• Yang Guo planted his foot against the stone and forced Darba backward three steps, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Yang Guo and Darba fought to a draw in a contest of strength, after which Qing Mo faced the Golden Wheel Dharma King and wagered that the loser would grant the winner’s terms. Their duel began with Qing Mo quickly countering the Dharma King’s opening attack, but neither had yet gained the upper hand.

• Yang Guo and Darba pushed against each other until their masters called the contest a draw, and both collapsed from exhaustion.
• Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo helped Yang Guo up, while he resolved to train harder and defeat Darba next time.
• Qing Mo announced that he would personally fight the Golden Wheel Dharma King, then offered to grant one request if he lost.
• Qing Mo and the Golden Wheel Dharma King agreed that the winner would claim the martial alliance leadership, while Qing Mo would receive the Dharma King’s Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill if he won.
• The Golden Wheel Dharma King charged and attacked Qing Mo, who struck his wrist, caught his kicking ankle, and swung him around.
• The Golden Wheel Dharma King kicked back midair and used the force of Qing Mo’s counterstrike to retreat and land steadily.

Qing Mo fought the Golden Wheel Dharma King, then revealed that he could control nearly a hundred swords at once. He refused the crowd’s pleas to become his disciples and prepared to attack the terrified Dharma King.

• The Golden Wheel Dharma King used five golden wheels to attack Qing Mo, but Qing Mo disrupted his assault and closed in to fight him at close range.
• The Golden Wheel Dharma King changed tactics, and Yang Guo and Lu Wushuang protested that he had an unfair advantage with his weapons.
• When the gathered swordsmen offered Qing Mo their swords, he made nearly a hundred blades rise and circle above the crowd.
• Qing Mo promised to teach Yang Guo the sword-controlling move, while martial artists begged him to accept them as disciples.
• Qing Mo declined the would-be disciples and told the sweating Golden Wheel Dharma King that it was his turn to attack.