Chapter Summaries

Chu Fan became a Hidden Force master and Huo Shan named him his final disciple, while Zhao Feng stayed focused on training. As the Black Tiger Gang investigated Chen Bao’s murder and missing ledger, Feng Dahu learned Zhao Feng’s name was connected to the case.

• Zhou Xue announced that Chu Fan had succeeded in his second gate breakthrough, and Huo Shan declared him his final disciple and successor.
• Chu Fan accepted Huo Shan as his master, while Zhao Feng continued practicing and an older Bright Strength disciple despaired over his own stalled progress.
• Chu Fan’s fame grew as the Black Tiger Gang and Three Harmonies Gang fought over territory, and Zhao Feng remained withdrawn from the attention around him.
• Lü Tong told Feng Dahu that Chen Bao’s fatal injury had come from a martial artist’s blow and that Chen Bao had once targeted a girl connected to a Martial Arts School disciple.
• Lü Tong identified the disciple as Zhao Feng and reminded Feng Dahu that Zhao Feng had appeared on a list sent by Li the Landowner.

Zhao Feng joined a Wei Family escort and learned about the bandit threat and the weak government. He sparred with Xu Song, whose Surging Waves Palm pushed him hard, but Zhao Feng seized an opening and launched a relentless close-range counterattack.

• Feng Dahu dismissed the investigation into Huang Biao's death, but agreed that a discreet inquiry into Zhao Feng was warranted.
• At the Wei Family's Cargo Yard, Wei Yuan told Zhao Feng that refugees and bandits had made escort work more dangerous and that powerful clans and sects now governed much of the region.
• Zhao Feng accepted Xu Song's invitation to spar and opened with Eight Extremes Fist techniques that impressed Wei Yuan and surprised Xu Song.
• Xu Song used Surging Waves Palm to deflect Zhao Feng's attacks and batter him, but Zhao Feng charged through its coiling force and countered with Braced Hammer Mountain-Crushing.
• Zhao Feng struck Xu Song's arm numb, then pressed forward with a rapid series of close-range attacks.

Zhao Feng impressed Wei Yuan with his Eight Extremes Fist, then escorted cargo to Three Yang County through increasingly dangerous roads. He returned safely to Big Stone County with extra payment, worried about the worsening unrest and his family’s safety.

• Zhao Feng defeated Xu Song in sparring and then practiced against two other martial masters, earning Wei Yuan’s admiration for his combat skills.
• Zhao Feng joined Wei Yuan’s convoy to Three Yang County and reflected on his need for money to support his training and move his family to the county seat.
• The convoy fought off two bands of robbers on the road, and Zhao Feng grew concerned that the unrest could produce powerful bandit groups.
• Zhao Feng and the convoy hurried to Three Yang County, delivered the goods, and returned to Big Stone County at nightfall.
• The Wei Family’s steward paid Zhao Feng twelve taels of silver and an extra Treasure Fish for the escort work.
• Zhao Feng returned to his riverside row house and sensed something was wrong before opening the door.

After discovering that someone had secretly searched his home, Zhao Feng suspected the Black Tiger Gang and resolved to grow stronger before confronting them. He continued training, watched Chu Fan receive Huo Shan’s attention, and brought food to Little Aunt and Qiao'er, whom he hoped to send to school.

• Zhao Feng found footprints and signs of a concealed search in his home, suspected the Black Tiger Gang was investigating Chen Bao’s death, and decided he needed to break through to hidden force.
• Zhao Feng intensified his martial arts and archery training to improve his strength.
• Chu Fan returned to the Martial Arts School hungover, and Huo Shan reprimanded him before taking him to the rear courtyard for a lesson.
• Zhao Feng brought flatbreads and braised meat to Little Aunt and Qiao'er at the Treasure Brocade Workshop.
• Zhao Feng checked Qiao'er's writing and planned to send her to a private school when he could afford it.

Zhao Feng improved his archery and fist technique while the Black Tiger Gang came under attack from the Three Harmonies Gang. Feng Dahu learned that Black Cloud Stronghold was likely backing the attack, and Lü Tong urged him to flee Big Stone County.

• Zhao Feng trained relentlessly until his archery reached great accomplishment, giving him greater confidence against the Black Tiger Gang.
• The Three Harmonies Gang won a series of bloody clashes, while Zhao Feng produced a Crashing Ring during practice at the Martial Arts School.
• Feng Dahu mourned Ma Liu and learned that the Black Tiger Gang had lost its headquarters and several territories.
• Lü Tong told Feng Dahu that Black Cloud Stronghold was likely supporting the Three Harmonies Gang and might be working with the County Magistrate.
• Lü Tong advised Feng Dahu to withdraw the Black Tiger Gang from Big Stone County.

Zhao Feng tracked Feng Dahu as the defeated Black Tiger Gang prepared to flee, then pursued him through the night. He killed Feng Dahu with an arrow before the gang leader could reach him.

• Feng Dahu agreed with Lü Tong to abandon the city and ordered the Black Tiger Gang members to leave separately.
• Zhao Feng watched the gang bury a corpse and scatter into the night, realizing Feng Dahu was escaping.
• Zhao Feng followed Feng Dahu through the Outer City and prepared to shoot before he reached the north gate.
• Zhao Feng shot Feng Dahu in the knee, then waited as his wounds left him bleeding behind a heap of rubble.
• Feng Dahu charged at Zhao Feng with his saber, but Zhao Feng shot him through the throat and killed him.

After killing Feng Dahu, Zhao Feng uncovered a stash of banknotes, Vitality Pills, and a martial arts manual, then decided to find a private place to train. Once the rumors surrounding the death died down, he ended his tenancy and inspected a secluded courtyard near Five-Peace Ward.

• Zhao Feng retrieved Feng Dahu's belongings, disposed of his disguises in the river, and carefully returned to his row house.
• Zhao Feng found nearly four hundred taels in banknotes, loose silver, eight Vitality Pills, and the Cloak Saber Technique in Feng Dahu's bundle.
• News of Feng Dahu's death spread through the Outer City, where people blamed the Three Harmonies Gang and the county officers ruled it an accidental violent death.
• Zhao Feng burned Feng Dahu's remaining belongings, decided he needed a private courtyard, and ended his row-house tenancy.
• Zhao Feng visited a new broker, who showed him a secluded courtyard in Willow Tree Alley near Five-Peace Ward and quoted rent of six hundred copper coins a month.

Zhao Feng rented and prepared a courtyard in Willow Tree Alley, then began learning the Cloak Saber Technique as he planned to advance toward hidden force. Meanwhile, the Three Harmonies Gang took advantage of Feng Dahu’s murder to expand its influence, and Zhao Feng considered how to handle agile opponents.

• Zhao Feng negotiated the rent for a furnished courtyard in Willow Tree Alley, moved in, and secured his money and pills beneath his bed.
• Wei Yuan told Zhao Feng that the Black Tiger Gang had been wiped out and that people blamed the Three Harmonies Gang for Feng Dahu’s death.
• Bald Zhang and Wang Kui agreed to exploit the gang’s reputation after Feng Dahu’s death, while Wang Kui was tasked with investigating it in case Feng Second Tiger sought revenge.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Cloak Saber Technique in his courtyard until he reached beginner level.
• Zhao Feng thought about how to counter agile opponents who could keep him at a distance and decided to ask his master for advice.

Zhao Feng spent heavily on nourishment as he advanced to the peak of bright strength, while Wei Yuan tried to arrange a marriage for him with Xue Xiangling. As Zhao Feng continued training, Huo Shan admired his perseverance but believed his fifth-grade root bone would limit his future.

• Zhao Feng bought large quantities of ferocious beast meat and treasure fish to support his training.
• Wei Yuan offered to arrange a meeting between Zhao Feng and his distant cousin Xue Xiangling, but Zhao Feng said he had not considered marriage.
• After two months of intensive training and nourishment, Zhao Feng reached the peak of bright strength and neared a breakthrough to hidden force.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Eight Extremes Fist late into the evening, steadily increasing his skill.
• Huo Shan watched Zhao Feng train and admired his diligence, but lamented that Zhao Feng's fifth-grade root bone would limit his achievements.

Huo Shan taught Zhao Feng how to blend yielding and sinking force and discussed ways to compensate for Eight Extremes Fist’s weakness in movement. Meanwhile, Xue Xiangling rejected a proposed meeting with Zhao Feng, and Wei Yuan arrived to face his displeased sister, Wei Ping.

• Huo Shan demonstrated how yielding and sinking force could neutralize attacks and create openings, then taught Zhao Feng to build momentum for offense as well as defense.
• Zhao Feng asked about countering nimble opponents, and Huo Shan explained that the Eight Extremes Lineage had a complementary movement technique while outside techniques could also be adapted.
• Xue Xiangling reviewed the Xue Family Trading House’s losses and ordered her maid to refuse Wei Yuan’s proposed introduction to Zhao Feng.
• Wei Yuan hurried to see Wei Ping, who confronted him angrily about what he had done.

Wei Yuan’s attempt to match Zhao Feng with Xue Xiangling angered Wei Ping, who planned to dismiss Zhao Feng. At the martial arts school, Huo Shan announced a county patrol squad, and the disciples debated whether Zhao Feng should join.

• Wei Ping scolded Wei Yuan for introducing Zhao Feng to Xue Xiangling and resolved to find an excuse to dismiss Zhao Feng.
• Wei Yuan told Zhao Feng that Xue Xiangling had refused the introduction, and Zhao Feng asked him to stop arranging matches so he could focus on martial arts.
• Huo Shan announced that the County Magistrate was forming a civilian Patrol Squad to patrol the County Seat and arrest bandits.
• Shi Mao said five Hidden Force disciples would join and called for three Bright Strength disciples to be selected; he and Zhou Xue recommended Liu Jinjie and Zhang Hao.
• Wei Yuan recommended Zhao Feng, but Wang Yu and Zhou Xue opposed him, and Chu Fan argued the place should go to a disciple with better root bone and greater potential.

Zhao Feng declined a chance to join the County Patrol Squad and focused on training, while Chu Fan earned acclaim on patrol and Wei Yuan questioned his support for Zhao Feng. At the Three Harmonies Gang headquarters, Feng Second Tiger confronted Bald Zhang over his brother’s death and discovered that Smiling Tiger Cao Yuan was present.

• Zhao Feng refused Wei Yuan’s recommendation for the Patrol Squad, and Chu Fan and the others selected another disciple.
• After the patrol team left, Zhao Feng intensified his stance training as he approached a breakthrough, while the squad earned rewards and Chu Fan gained fame as a young hidden force expert.
• Chu Fan and Wei Yuan watched Zhao Feng train, each reflecting on his decision, while Wei Yuan also considered whether to reduce the support he gave him.
• At the Three Harmonies Gang headquarters, Cao Yuan drove Feng Second Tiger back with a palm strike, and Feng recognized him as Black Cloud Stronghold’s third chief.
• Feng Second Tiger accused Bald Zhang of killing his elder brother, but Bald Zhang denied it and claimed the gang members had been at a brothel that night.

Feng Second Tiger left Black Cloud Stronghold after realizing the gang might not have killed his brother, while Chu Fan returned to acclaim for killing Flying Centipede. Zhao Feng ignored the celebration and pushed through a painful breakthrough attempt, ending as his qi and blood began connecting through his body to form hidden force.

• Feng Second Tiger fled Black Cloud Stronghold and decided to ask Military Strategist Lü Tong who else might have killed Feng Dahu.
• Xue Xiangling confirmed Zhao Feng was not on the Patrol Squad roster, while Huo Yao returned from Prefecture City and saw him training.
• A disciple announced that Chu Fan had killed the wanted criminal Flying Centipede, and the County Magistrate awarded him silver and public praise.
• Chu Fan returned to Huo Family Martial Arts School in a celebratory procession, and Huo Shan welcomed him and displayed his award plaque.
• Zhao Feng continued training alone through the night until his qi and blood surged through his limbs and began forming the pathways needed for hidden force.

Zhao Feng broke through to hidden force on his first attempt, surprising Huo Shan and the inner disciples. Huo Shan promoted him to his sixth inner disciple, while Chu Fan resented Zhao Feng for taking attention from him.

• Zhao Feng felt his body open up as he trained on the Plum Blossom Stakes and broke through to hidden force.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Eight Extremes Fist with hidden force and reached major mastery in the technique.
• Huo Yao brought Zhao Feng to the rear courtyard, where he told Huo Shan and the gathered disciples about his breakthrough.
• Huo Shan tested Zhao Feng’s hidden force with a punch that dented the parasol tree’s bark, then praised him for succeeding on his first attempt.
• Huo Shan named Zhao Feng his sixth inner disciple, and Chu Fan resented him for stealing the banquet’s limelight.

Huo Shan taught Zhao Feng the Hidden Force techniques of Eight Extremes Fist and Eight Extremes Stake Skill, then gave him Solid Foundation Pills and advised him to prepare for the Martial Examination. On his way home, Zhao Feng was ambushed in Arch Bridge Alley by Feng Second Tiger, who attacked with Hidden Force.

• Huo Shan demonstrated how to use Hidden Force in Eight Extremes Fist, and Zhao Feng quickly understood the techniques as his master corrected his movements.
• Huo Shan taught Zhao Feng the Hidden Force stance and six harmonies force, praised his composure, and gave him two Solid Foundation Pills.
• Huo Shan told Zhao Feng that Xu Commandant had arrived from the Prefecture City and might oversee the County Trial for the Martial Examination.
• After the family banquet, Wei Yuan raised Zhao Feng's monthly allowance to thirty taels of silver, two Treasure Fish, and fifteen jin of ferocious beast meat.
• While walking home through Arch Bridge Alley, Zhao Feng met Feng Second Tiger, who identified himself as Feng Dahu's younger brother and attacked with the Tendon-Severing Bone-Dislocating Hand.

Zhao Feng fought off Feng Second Tiger, who had come seeking revenge for Feng Dahu, and realized that suspicion alone could make him a target in the lawless martial world. After Feng Second Tiger escaped, Zhao Feng decided to hunt him down before he could threaten Zhao Feng's family.

• Zhao Feng used his newly mastered hidden force and Eight Extremes Fist to overpower Feng Second Tiger in an alley.
• Feng Second Tiger injured his leg but escaped, while Zhao Feng recognized his opponent's leg technique as resembling Feng Dahu's.
• Back in Willow Tree Alley, Zhao Feng concluded that suspicion alone was enough to provoke attacks and that personal strength was his surest protection.
• Zhao Feng realized Feng Second Tiger remained a threat to his family and resolved to take the initiative and eliminate him.
• Zhao Feng considered where to find Feng Second Tiger and began forming a plan.

Zhao Feng's breakthrough to hidden force earned him greater respect and improved compensation, while his standing at the Huo Family Martial Arts School grew. That night, he announced his school affiliation as he confronted the Three Harmonies Gang.

• Wei Yuan told Wei Ping that Zhao Feng had advanced to hidden force and that he had raised Zhao Feng's stipend and provisions.
• Wei Ping accepted the increased compensation and told Wei Yuan to cut expenses by dismissing unnecessary retainers.
• Zhao Feng trained with the front-courtyard disciples and gave Sun Qing pointers, while Chu Fan arrived at the school surrounded by his entourage.
• Zhao Feng reviewed his martial skills and prepared to take action that night.
• Zhao Feng broke into the Three Harmonies Gang's residence, defeated the men guarding its entrance, and identified himself to Bald Zhang and Wang Kui as a member of the Huo Family Martial Arts School.

Zhao Feng forced the Three Harmonies Gang to cooperate in finding Feng Second Tiger, then impressed Wei Yuan with his improved fighting technique. The two went to Hongxing Tower to celebrate, where Wei Yuan encountered his cousin Xue Xiangling.

• Zhao Feng defeated Bald Zhang with Coiling Dragon Hand, and Wang Kui acknowledged his hidden force and stopped the gang members from intervening.
• Zhao Feng asked Bald Zhang and Wang Kui about Feng Second Tiger, then proposed that the gang find his hiding place while Zhao Feng dealt with him.
• Bald Zhang and Wang Kui agreed to help Zhao Feng eliminate Feng Second Tiger.
• Zhao Feng used Embracing the Moon and inch force to counter Wei Yuan during their sparring match, impressing him with his technique.
• Wei Yuan invited Zhao Feng to Hongxing Tower, where he pointed out the Inner City's wealthy district and explained the restaurant's reputation.
• Wei Yuan recognized his cousin Xue Xiangling as she came downstairs carrying a food carrier.

Zhao Feng met Wei Yuan’s cousin Xue Xiangling, who left without speaking with him, then learned about the Martial Examination over dinner. The chapter ended with Zhao Feng watching the disgraced Zhao Sheng get beaten by disciples of the Zheng Clan Martial Hall before denying that he knew him.

• Xue Xiangling interrupted Wei Yuan’s introduction and left with her maid after spotting Zhao Feng.
• Wei Yuan treated Zhao Feng to Eight Treasures Wine and offered to arrange another marriage meeting, but Zhao Feng postponed it until after the Martial Examination.
• Wei Yuan explained the examination stages, their privileges, and the County Trial’s archery, horsemanship, and arena combat tests.
• Zheng Clan Martial Hall disciples confronted Zhao Sheng over keeping his training uniform and beat him after he pleaded to keep it.
• Zhao Feng watched Zhao Sheng’s beating from the window and told Wei Yuan that he did not know him.

Zhao Feng killed Feng Second Tiger in the Inner City and ended his conflict with the Black Tiger Gang. He returned home with a new martial arts manual, the Wind God Leg Technique, which he suspected complemented the Cloak Saber Technique.

• Zhao Feng burned a message from the Three Harmonies Gang and went to East Archway Alley to find Feng Second Tiger.
• Zhao Feng shot Feng Second Tiger in the calf, pursued him into the house, and killed him after a close-range fight.
• Zhao Feng burned Feng Second Tiger's body and destroyed his disguise before returning to Willow Tree Alley.
• Zhao Feng counted the silver he had taken and discovered the Wind God Leg Technique in Feng Second Tiger's belongings.
• Zhao Feng recognized that the Wind God Leg Technique might pair with the Cloak Saber Technique, recalling Feng Dahu's defensive fighting style.