• Key plot points: Shen Ying stays with Duan Yun and the Murong Brothers because she is starving after being trapped in a lake-bound box for 89 days while attempting the Nine-Death Silkworm Art. She eats all their remaining food. Since everyone is penniless, she leaves to hunt and repay them. Meanwhile, Duan Yun trains intensively, now wielding a blade in his left hand and a sword in his right, combining the Spring Rain blade art with sword qi. He gradually gets better at dual-wielding, despite early clumsiness.
• Character developments: Shen Ying reveals she was never a real Daoist nun—she just liked the robe. She is pragmatic, blunt, and willing to repay kindness. Duan Yun claims he invited her to stay because he feels responsible for interrupting her cultivation and wants to learn the Nine-Death Silkworm Art; he insists he is not romantically cursed. The Murong Brothers show their traumatized, pessimistic side: they are scarred by their own “Twelvefold Spring Rain” tragedy, which made them fall for a woman who turned out to be their sister, and they half-seriously suggest Duan Yun undergo gender transformation to avoid love. Duan Yun’s fighting skill noticeably advances, and he begins experimenting with simultaneous blade and sword techniques.
• Significant themes: Romance as a “curse” versus devotion to martial arts; absurdist humor about poverty, transformation, and destiny; the tension between ambition and fate; the Murong Brothers’ belief that love is both the “number one thing under heaven” and a guaranteed path to pain.
• Character interactions: The Murong Brothers tease Duan Yun about being “beyond saving” and sinking into a doomed romance, warning him with their own painful past. Duan Yun brushes them off, argues that cultivation arts matter more than women, and returns to training. Shen Ying interrupts the group’s destitution by solving the immediate problem of food through hunting, showing her active, independent nature. Their exchanges are laced with banter about empty money pouches, empty rice sacks, and the absurd idea of becoming the “Murong Sisters.”

Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun tests his newfound Blade Storm skill, destroying two rooms in excitement and feeling energized but lightheaded.
• Shen Ying returns with pheasants, wild rabbits, and fish; the two clean and roast them together at Jade Pearl Manor.
• Rain interrupts the barbecue, forcing them to move into Murong Brothers’ room.
• Four tiny, masked eunuchs appear—practitioners of an incomplete Mara Method that shrank them instead of making them grow taller.
• The eunuchs begin betting on whether they will tear their victims into odd or even numbers of fragments.
• Duan Yun confidently announces, “Three against four. I’ll pick two; you choose the rest first,” setting up the coming fight.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Gains more control over his blade/sword combination; his confidence grows, and he continues to show a playful, unimpressed attitude toward weird martial-world figures.
• Shen Ying: Remains practical, skilled, and relatively “normal” compared to the other women Duan Yun has met; her bond with Duan Yun strengthens through banter and cooperation.
• Murong Brothers: Shown as a drunken, trauma-scarred wreck; resistant to remarks about his appearance, but still engaged enough to curse and react when provoked.

Significant Themes

• Incomplete martial arts: The Mara Method’s flawed version grotesquely stunts its practitioners, contrasting with the “original” Mara King’s power.
• Camaraderie through hardship: Shared cooking, teasing, and defending each other builds a makeshift family among the group.
• Gambling and absurdity: Enemies treat murder as a betting game, highlighting the chaotic, darkly comic tone of the martial world.
• Normalcy amid the bizarre: Duan Yun and Shen Ying’s mundane interactions stand in contrast to the monstrous eunuchs.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun and Shen Ying exchange affectionate insults (“flat as a washboard” / “the idiot who dragged boxes around”), but clearly enjoy each other’s company.
• They deliberately tease Murong Brothers to provoke him out of his depression; Murong Brothers responds with crude curses.
• Murong Brothers argues with the eunuchs about the Mara Method, while the eunuchs sneer and insult him.
• Duan Yun issues a direct challenge to the four dwarves, ending the chapter on the brink of battle.

Summary: “Eight Extremes Collapse!”

Key Plot Points / Events

• Four masked dwarf eunuchs — silver, bronze, iron, and gold — confront the group with overbearing arrogance.
• Duan Yun and Shen Ying let Murong Brothers choose an opponent first; Murong reluctantly picks the iron-masked eunuch, assuming he is weakest.
• The iron eunuch displays monstrous strength, ripping bricks from walls and hurling them; he chases Murong into the rainy night.
• Shen Ying chooses the gold-masked eunuch; Duan Yun takes on the silver- and bronze-masked eunuchs simultaneously.
• Duan Yun’s Jade Sword Finger and Grasp Sparrow’s Tail damage the silver eunuch’s "Vajra Body" defense; his Fourfold Spring Rain wounds the agile bronze eunuch.
• Shen Ying deflects the gold eunuch’s poisonous fist, then overwhelms him in close combat.
• The chapter ends with Shen Ying using the devastating move Eight Extremes Collapse — repeatedly lifting and slamming the gold eunuch into the ground.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Shows battle experience and adaptability; his Jade Sword Finger pierces a defense that was said to swallow sword qi — an unusual and surprising result.
• Shen Ying: Subverts her elegant daoist appearance; reveals fierce, brutal physical combat skills and proficiency in close-range techniques.
• Murong Brothers: Portrayed as cowardly and comic; tries to avoid fighting and complains when he feels unprepared.
• The eunuchs: Each represents a different “incomplete” path of Mara Divine Art — strength, hardness, agility, and poison — making them varied, dangerous opponents.

Significant Themes

• Deceptive appearances: The “monster-like” dwarfs are physically small but possess emperor-like arrogance and terrifying power.
• Incomplete power = varied threat: The eunuchs’ flawed cultivation produces distinct, specialized abilities rather than uniform strength.
• Combat adaptation & teamwork: Duan Yun and Shen Ying divide opponents according to strengths; Murong’s cowardice contrasts with their decisive action.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun and Shen Ying silently coordinate to let Murong choose first, showing trust/tacit understanding.
• Murong complains he wasn’t warned about the eunuchs’ abilities; Shen Ying dryly replies, “I thought you understood everything.”
• The eunuchs show brotherhood: the silver eunuch calls for “Third Brother” to help him against Duan Yun.
• Shen Ying’s finishing move is described as devastatingly one-sided, crushing the gold eunuch until he can barely retaliate.

Summary

Key Plot Points / Events

• At a ruined manor, four assassins—the Gold-, Silver-, Iron-, and another eunuch—attack the group.
• Shen Ying brutally beats the Gold-Faced Eunuch with Eight Extremes Collapse, eventually killing him (he literally dies of rage after being helplessly pummeled).
• Duan Yun fights two eunuchs with saber and sword, while the unarmed Murong Brothers (having lent his saber) is chased by the Iron-Faced Eunuch.
• At Duan Yun’s command, Murong lures the eunuch through a hole; Duan Yun unleashes a combined Sixth Spring Rain and sword-qi storm, aided by the White/Black Silk Jade Sword Immortal dharma aspect.
• The devastating area attack shreds the wall, roof, and the remaining three eunuchs, leaving them barely human-shaped.
• After the fight, they relocate to Duan Yun’s room and continue eating barbecue.
• Duan Yun searches the corpses and only finds broken silver; Shen Ying finds a golden mask from her victim.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Shows his strength and adaptability with a large-scale attack; pragmatic and money-conscious, but good-humored.
• Shen Ying: Revealed to be a fierce, powerful fighter whose delicate appearance is deceiving; playful and direct.
• Murong Brothers: Comic relief; panics without his weapon, but respects Duan Yun’s and Shen Ying’s power.

Significant Themes

• Violent action undercut by absurd humor.
• Friendship and solidarity formed through shared combat.
• The mundane collides with the martial—turning a serious scene into a joke about stockings.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun praises Shen Ying’s fist technique and offers to exchange martial arts; she politely refuses.
• Then Shen Ying “seriously” asks where Duan Yun bought the stockings worn by his female Sword Immortal dharma aspect, revealing she is also a skin collector—i.e., someone with an eye for aesthetic/fetish details.
• Murong chokes on water in amused disbelief.

Summary of the Chapter

Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun tries to obtain Shen Ying's Nine-Death Silkworm Art by offering to make her silk stockings like the Jade Sword Immortal's, but she refuses.
• He then offers to teach her his swordsmanship for free; Shen Ying declines, citing her mother’s warning that “things asking for nothing in return are the most expensive.”
• Duan Yun promises to make her two pairs of socks anyway.
• To celebrate the defeat of the eunuchs, the three drink buried Peach Blossom Brew. Murong Brothers digs it up because he was the weakest.
• During drinking, Duan Yun shows off his ability to “shoot wine” from fingers, elbows, and toes, causing comic chaos.
• The chapter ends with the group preparing for the next challenge: Murong Brothers’ sisters arriving, with Duan Yun suggesting repairing the cellar to imprison them.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Persistent in seeking cultivation arts, but generous in offering his own; shows playful, mischievous side; practical in planning ahead.
• Shen Ying: Cautious and distrustful of free gifts; loyal and quick to banter; values family rules but warms to Duan Yun.
• Murong Brothers: Comic relief; lazy and evades responsibility, but provides wine and is pulled into the group’s plans; accepts his role as the weakest.

Significant Themes

• Hidden costs of “priceless” things: Gifts that seem free may carry heavy obligations.
• Exchange and manipulation: Duan Yun attempts to trade favors for martial arts, but sincerity eventually wins trust.
• Camaraderie through conflict: Shared danger and drinking foster a bond among the three.
• Foreshadowing: The upcoming confrontation with the Murong sisters suggests further trouble and moral questions about imprisonment/reform.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun and Shen Ying engage in witty, suspicious banter, mocking each other’s motives (brother vs. master vs. trickery).
• Murong Brothers is teased and berated by both; he digs up wine reluctantly but joins the celebration.
• The trio works together casually, showing growing comfort and playful disrespect—a sign of strengthening friendship.

Summary of Chapter

1. Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun suggests imprisoning and beating the Murong Brothers' crazed sisters to "cure" them; Murong Brothers refuses, unable to harm them.
• Duan Yun reveals his plan to preemptively kill his enemies before they can target him.
• The next day, Duan Yun intends to go kill, but Shen Ying convinces him to first repair the manor, as their rooms were destroyed in the previous night's fight.
• They rebuild two rooms as bamboo houses using wood and bamboo from Grave Mountain.
• Duan Yun goes to Grave Mountain to chop bamboo and dispose of the eunuch corpses. There, he senses a dark, corrosive "Death Qi" around the dead bodies.
• After a flash of insight (World-Shaking Wisdom), Duan Yun fuses Body-Breaking Sword Qi with Death Qi — and it succeeds, giving him a new power.

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Shows ruthless pragmatism — willing to use violence against women (the sisters) and advocates killing enemies preemptively. Gains a new ability by merging Death Qi with his sword qi, indicating rapid cultivation growth outside traditional yin/yang essences.
• Murong Brothers: Displays his "simp" nature and soft-heartedness, refusing to imprison or hurt his own sisters despite their attacks. Feels guilty and conflicted.
• Shen Ying: Demonstrates practical, cooperative side — insists on rebuilding the manor, helps with construction, and catches bamboo thrown down the mountain. She also expresses solidarity with Duan Yun over being attacked by "lunatics" (the eunuchs).

3. Significant Themes

• Violence as pragmatic solution vs. sentimentality: Duan Yun's blunt solution (beating/imprisoning the sisters) contrasts with Murong Brothers' emotional resistance.
• Cultivation through unconventional means: Death Qi, normally dangerous, is successfully absorbed and fused with sword qi — hinting at a path beyond solar/lunar essences.
• The inhospitable martial world: Grave Mountain's eerie, corpse-laden atmosphere reinforces the dangers and moral grayness of jianghu life.

4. Character Interactions

• Duan Yun ⇄ Murong Brothers: Argument over dealing with the sisters; Duan Yun offers to do the dirty work, Murong Brothers declines.
• Duan Yun ⇄ Shen Ying: Cooperative banter about enemies; she stops his impulsive plan to go kill, and they work together on repairs.
• Group dynamic: The three share labor (Murong Brothers patches walls, Shen Ying repairs windows, Duan Yun chops bamboo) — showing a functional, if tense, partnership.

Chapter Summary: "The Strength of a Genius"

Key Plot Points & Events

• Duan Yun discovers Death Qi: While disposing of corpses and chopping bamboo at Grave Mountain, Duan Yun senses Death Qi and discovers it merges perfectly with his thin, pliable Body-Breaking Sword Qi.
• A new technique is born: The merged "black Sword Qi" becomes exceptionally powerful—able to shatter black bamboo and riddle gravestones with holes. It makes Duan Yun effectively invincible while inside Grave Mountain, transforming him into a "cutting machine."
• Limitation revealed: The enhancement only works where Death Qi exists, but Duan Yun realises this is fine—every enemy he kills produces Death Qi, so he grows stronger with each victory.
• House repairs: The group spends the afternoon roofing the two new rooms with shaved bamboo, successfully patching them up. The Murong Brothers take the innermost room; Duan Yun and Shen Ying take the outer one.
• Peacock's search stalls: In Springwatch City, Peacock and the twin sisters Hua Wen and Hua Wu are still hunting Duan Yun. The sisters' ability to track him via the "Great Medicine Attractor" has nearly vanished because Duan Yun's Jade Sword True Canon has undergone a transformation, breaking free of its original framework.
• Peacock tortures the sisters: Because the search is failing, Peacock subjects Hua Wen and Hua Wu to brutal punishments, leaving them "worse off than dead."
• Foreshadowing: The chapter notes this was only the first transformation of the Jade Sword True Canon—there may be a second and third, with unknown power.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Gains a significant combat upgrade (Death-Qi-enhanced Sword Qi). He celebrates his own genius, believing himself a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy. His confidence is at an all-time high, and he's re-energised for the coming purge of his enemies.
• Murong Brothers & Shen Ying: Accomplish something constructive (building/repairing houses) and feel genuine satisfaction, contrasting with their earlier destructive work of killing eunuchs. This shows their growth from pure violence to creative effort.
• Hua Wen & Hua Wu: Are now completely broken by Peacock's torture. Despite being former heroines, they are reduced to helpless victims. They can no longer function as effective trackers.

Significant Themes

• Genius and serendipity: Duan Yun turns a mundane chore (chopping bamboo) into a martial breakthrough, emphasising his almost absurd natural talent.
• Transformation and evolution: The Jade Sword True Canon is breaking away from its corrupt origins, becoming something purer—and this evolution has a direct cost for its former users (the Medicine Planters can no longer track him).
• Destruction vs. construction: The group's satisfaction from building houses contrasts with their history of killing, highlighting the value of creation.
• Power from death: Duan Yun's new technique literally draws strength from death, reinforcing his identity as a "old devil" who benefits from his enemies' demise.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun with the Murong Brothers and Shen Ying: He returns grinning ear-to-ear; they are suspicious and incredulous when he calls his breakthrough "a tiny bit" of improvement, based on past experience. There's playful banter about gaining insight from corpse disposal.
• Peacock with Hua Wen and Hua Wu: Peacock is dominant and cruel, using the sisters as tools; they respond with terror and trembling. Their relationship is abusive and purely utilitarian.

Chapter Summary: “Young Hero, Time to Get to Work!”

Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun leaves Jade Town alone, claiming he needs to buy supplies, but his real aim is to gather intelligence and begin building his “career” — hunting down and killing his enemies.
• He heads toward Springwatch City, also hoping to buy Jade Silkworm Silk to make stockings he promised Shen Ying.
• On the way, he sees Red Tower fairies flying like kites. Near the city, more of them hover outside the gates, terrorizing the area.
• A beggar approaches one fairy and is horrifically killed — his flesh stripped to a bloody skeleton. The guards do nothing. Duan Yun watches coldly, vowing to wipe out the Red Tower fairies in the coming days.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun is now confident in his growing power (Jade Sword True Canon, Twelvefold Spring Rain, and an evolved Body-Breaking Sword Qi). He is ruthless, determined, and protective of Shen Ying — keeping her out of danger and intending to keep his promise about the stockings.
• Shen Ying is characterized as someone who loves beautiful clothes, gossip, and wandering the streets. She is also just now learning the monstrous reputation of “Duan Old Devil” — who is actually Duan Yun.
• The Murong Brothers are wry and observant, teasing Shen Ying about Duan Yun possibly finding a “new little sister,” and filling her in on his recent infamous deeds.
• The Red Tower fairies are introduced as monstrous, predatory figures — beautiful but cruel, killing anyone they deem “desecrating” them.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and self-made power: Duan Yun wants to build his own path and deal with the corrupt and vicious forces of the martial world.
• Hypocrisy and cruelty of the “fairies”: They rape handsome men and murder ugly ones for merely looking at them — beauty used as an excuse for savagery.
• Body horror and gender transformation (referenced through Duan Yun’s past deeds) continue to define his legend.
• The corruption of the world: Even Springwatch City has fallen under the shadow of these killers.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun lies half-heartedly to Shen Ying about why he must go out alone; Shen Ying senses something but lets him go.
• Shen Ying and the Murong Brothers discuss Duan Yun’s secret identity as “Duan Old Devil,” prompting her to go out for gossip herself.
• Duan Yun’s encounter with the Red Tower fairy is not verbal but visceral — he witnesses her killing the beggar and becomes resolved to destroy her kind.

Summary of Chapter: "Duan Old Devil Makes His Move!"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Duan Yun enters Springwatch City, which is heavily populated by "Red Tower Fairies" (women who rape and kill men) and other factions hunting him.
• He learns the Ink Sect tolerates the Fairies' presence because their provocative behavior boosts the city's sex trade and birth rates.
• Duan Yun tries to buy Jade Silkworm Silk but cannot afford it after failing an asset verification process, enraging him.
• He decides to vent his anger on his enemies and begins attacking Red Tower members in the city.
• In a public display of violence, he kills several Red Tower Fairies with his "Fourfold Spring Rain" saber technique.
• The Leng sisters (Divine Constables) detect his scent nearby, signaling the start of a confrontation.

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun (Duan Old Devil): Shows extreme confidence, cruelty, and an "equal opportunity" killing style. He is frustrated by financial barriers but channel that anger into brutal action, revealing his impulsive, vengeful nature.
• The Ink Sect Elder: Pragmatic and morally lax, prioritizing economic gain over justice. He even fantasizes about being "turned into a woman" by Duan Yun, hinting at hidden desires.
• Leng Yimeng & Leng Yixue: Fearful but determined "Divine Constables" tracking Duan Yun. Yimeng's extraordinary sense of smell is a key tool in their hunt.

3. Significant Themes

• Hypocrisy and Corruption: The Ink Sect's "order" is superficial; they enable the very crimes they supposedly police for profit.
• Boldness vs. Recklessness: Duan Yun stands alone against multiple major factions, showing both courage and a lack of self-preservation.
• Predatory Chaos: The "Outer Dao" factions represent unchecked violence and sexual deviance, creating a lawless atmosphere.
• Money and Power: Duan Yun's inability to afford goods highlights how wealth, not just martial arts, is a form of power.

4. Character Interactions

• Duan Yun & City Folks: He moves discreetly but is drawn by the bounty portrait of himself, which is inaccurate.
• Duan Yun & Red Tower Fairies: He ambushes and kills them brutally in public, ending his period of hiding.
• Ink Sect Elder & Confidant: Discuss the Fairies' economic benefits and plans for "research," showing their exploitative mindset.
• Leng Sisters: They react to the sudden violence and identify Duan Yun's presence through smell, setting up a direct conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points

1. City Killings — Duan Yun kills two Red Tower Fairies in the streets of Springwatch City, then escapes by blending into the panicked crowd while pretending to be a frightened bystander.
2. Second Ambush — Two more sect disciples (Thunder Duke and Old Mother Sect) attempt to detect him with iron flutes; Duan Yun kills them both with Jade Sword Finger Qi and Spring Rain Blade Qi, then flees again amid the chaos.
3. Baiting the Red Tower — Duan Yun deliberately exits the city, luring four Red Tower Women who covet him as a "handsome man" to chase him into a small forest.
4. The Forest Massacre — He kills all four women in brutal fashion: pinning the first down and destroying her from within with Body-Breaking Sword Qi, then butchering the second with his blade; the remaining two die panicking when their kite-threads tangle them.
5. Final Image — The four madwomen are reduced to fourteen scattered pieces of flesh, and Duan Yun begins writing something in their blood.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun — Portrayed as a calculating, ruthless killer who treats murder as a "career." He feigns weakness to lure prey, shows no hesitation, and appears to take satisfaction in slaughtering his enemies. His techniques (Body-Breaking Sword Qi, Fourfold Spring Rain) are shown to be highly effective and lethal.
• The Red Tower Women — Depicted as predatory and cruel toward men, arguing over who gets to "claim" Duan Yun first. Their confidence becomes their undoing.
• Leng Yimeng & Leng Yixue — Witness the massacre through a long-distance viewer from the grass; they are utterly terrified and call Duan Yun "Duan Old Devil."

Significant Themes

• Killing as a profession — Duan Yun's internal monologue frames violence as a legitimate craft.
• Predatory desire turned against the predators — The Red Tower Women hunt men sexually; Duan Yun flips the dynamic and hunts them.
• Appearance vs. reality — The "handsome young hero" is in fact a cold-blooded killer; the "frail lamb" is the wolf.
• Cultivation-world brutality — Bodies are casually dismembered; life is cheap; fear and gore are normal spectacle for the masses.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun vs. Red Tower Fairies — He lures them with his appearance, then kills them one by one; their internal squabbling over him highlights their arrogance and lust.
• The Red Tower Women among themselves — Argue over priority rights to Duan Yun, exposing their savage, competitive nature.
• Duan Yun and the fleeing crowd — He blends in and mimics their screams, showing his ability to manipulate public perception.
• The Leng sisters — Observe from afar in horror, establishing their fear-based view of Duan Yun.

Chapter Summary: "One Who Acts on Heaven's Behalf!"

Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun (a.k.a. "Duan Old Devil") kills four Red Tower women in Springwatch City, leaving their corpses riddled with tiny holes.
• He searches the bodies, finds a golden ring and a silver leg ring.
• He writes a message in blood: "One who acts on Heaven's behalf, the young hero Murong Fu!" — adopting a pseudonym because his real name has been tainted by rumors.
• Two goddess-catcher sisters, Leng Yimeng and Leng Yixue, secretly observe the aftermath through a Long-Distance Viewer. They are paralyzed with fear, realizing Duan Yun is far more powerful than they hoped.
• After Duan Yun leaves, Red Tower elder's daughter Red Jade and Thunder Duke elder Iron Flute Sheng arrive, discovering the carnage.
• Duan Yun suddenly reappears, identifies himself as "Murong Fu," but the two sects' leaders recognize him as "Duan Old Devil."
• Enraged at being slandered again, Duan Yun attacks them.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Shows theatrical vanity and obsession with his reputation. He believes himself a "righteous hero" despite his brutal methods, using fake names to salvage his image. His rage is easily triggered by the label "Duan Old Devil."
• Leng Yimeng & Leng Yixue: Their fear of Duan Yun intensifies to the point of paranoia; their initial confidence is shattered.
• Red Jade & Iron Flute Sheng: New antagonists introduced; they represent the Red Tower and Thunder Duke sects, both seeking revenge against Duan Yun.

Significant Themes

• The power of reputation and slander in the martial world; the contrast between self-image and public perception.
• Brutality masked by self-righteousness; Duan Yun rationalizes mass murder as "acting on Heaven's behalf."
• Fear and intimidation as tools of dominance.

Character Interactions

• The Leng sisters observe but do not interact directly with Duan Yun, deepening their dread.
• Red Jade and Iron Flute Sheng form a silent alliance upon meeting.
• Duan Yun confronts the two sect leaders, immediately escalating to violence after being called "Duan Old Devil."

Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun fakes a departure after killing eight enemies, then hides in the shadows, planning to ambush the stronger reinforcements that arrive to investigate.
• Two Netherworld Realm experts arrive to hunt him: Iron Flute Sheng and Red Jade.
• Duan Yun attacks immediately with his ultimate techniques. Iron Flute Sheng barely blocks five of the six spins of Sixth Spring Rain and is seriously wounded by the sixth.
• Red Jade tries a sneak attack but is countered by Duan Yun’s Jade Sword Immortal Dharma Aspect; she uses Star Shift to redirect the sword qi, but Duan Yun pierces her thigh with elbow sword qi.
• Duan Yun kills Iron Flute Sheng with Body-Breaking Sword Qi fused with Death Qi, riddling and rotting away his head.
• Red Jade’s sneaky Immortal Soaring Finger attack fails; she sacrifices her fingernails as projectiles and tries to flee.
• Duan Yun severs both of Red Jade’s legs using Fourfold Spring Rain. She still escapes on her hands, screaming, “Duan Old Devil is killing someone!”
• Furious at being called “Old Devil” instead of “Young Hero,” Duan Yun chases her even harder.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun is bold, ruthless, and opportunistic: he deliberately waits to ambush stronger enemies to build his “young hero” reputation.
• He is intensely obsessed with being recognized as a chivalrous hero, and becomes murderously enraged when his enemies call him “Duan Old Devil.”
• Iron Flute Sheng is tough and experienced, but outclassed; he dies after his thunder mace is shattered.
• Red Jade is cunning and desperate: she uses misdirection, stealth, and even self-mutilation to survive, but is horrifically maimed and reduced to fleeing on her hands.

Significant Themes

• Reputation vs. identity: Duan Yun wants to be seen as a righteous hero, but his brutal methods earn him the label “Old Devil.”
• Violence and escalation: Every kill invites stronger enemies, and Duan Yun embraces this cycle as a path to fame.
• Mercy is absent: The fight is merciless, with no quarter given; dismemberment and death are treated as ordinary business.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun vs. Iron Flute Sheng: A direct clash of overpowering blade qi versus thunder arts; Sheng is overwhelmed and killed.
• Duan Yun vs. Red Jade: A chaotic exchange of sneak attacks, redirected sword qi, and desperate escapes; Red Jade loses both legs.
• The two hunters initially treat Duan Yun as prey but quickly realize he is a monstrous threat; even in defeat, Red Jade uses his hated nickname as a fatal provocation.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points

• Duan Yun relentlessly pursues Red Jade, a Red Tower fairy, despite her having lost both legs. He fires multiple Jade Sword Fingers at her as they approach Springwatch City.
• Red Jade reaches the city wall, but the gate guards close the gates in fear. She climbs the wall with her hands, getting shot several more times, until she flips over the wall and falls into the city.
• Upon landing, she continues crawling in terror despite Duan Yun not yet entering the city, her mind utterly broken by fear.
• She dies in the arms of her mother, Red Shadow, a Red Tower elder, after stammering about "the Young Hero" coming.
• Meanwhile, Hua Wen, Hua Wu, and Peacock investigate the bodies of two Thunder Duke and Old Mother Sect disciples killed earlier. A Fourth Elder from that sect arrives, surveys the bodies, the women, and leaves.
• The sisters witness Red Jade's horrifying death. Peacock expresses a twisted desire to "make Duan Old Devil fall into femininity" and fuck him.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Showcases his signature style; confident, relentless, and ruthless. Calling himself "Young Hero" while being known as "Duan Old Devil." His Jade Sword Fingers are devastatingly effective, but even he is stunned by Red Jade's tenacity.
• Red Jade: Displays extraordinary resilience, surviving a dozen fatal wounds and crawling for miles in terror. Her death showcases the psychological devastation Duan Yun inflicts; she dies not just from wounds but from pure fear.
• Hua Wen: Grows increasingly desperate and trapped between two terrors; physically present fear of Peacock and the mysterious, unpredictable threat of Duan Yun.
• Hua Wu: Her mental state continues to deteriorate, stripping off clothes at the slightest provocation, showing signs of madness.
• Peacock: Becomes openly fascinated and perversely excited by Duan Yun's cruelty, viewing him as a potential sexual conquest/target.

Key Themes

• Terror through brutality: Duan Yun's trademark is extreme physical mutilation combined with relentless mental torture, leaving victims like Red Jade begging for help and dying in panic.
• Reputation and fear: The mere traces of Duan Yun's work terrify soldiers and cultivators alike. The "Young Hero/Old Devil" contrast highlights the dark irony of his self-image vs. his methods.
• Broken psyches: The chapter emphasizes how prolonged exposure to fear and violence destroys the mind (Red Jade's collapse, Hua Wu's madness, Hua Wen's despair).
• Indirect storytelling: The scene with the sisters and Peacock builds Duan Yun's legend through witnesses and their reactions, rather than direct confrontation.

Notable Interactions

• Duan Yun vs. Red Jade: A one-sided chase; he fires at her while she screams for help and crawls desperately, ending with her dying of fear and wounds at her mother's hands.
• Peacock & the sisters: Peacock corrects Hua Wen's reading of the crime scene (identifying Finger Sword Qi), mocking his cultivation. The sisters' dialogue shows their terror is equally split between Peacock's visible cruelty and Duan Yun's unknown cruelty.
• The Fourth Elder: Arrives, registers the massacre, eyes the three women with lethal intent, but wisely restrains himself after assessing Peacock as dangerous, then departs.

Summary of the Author's Note (Not a Story Chapter)

This is an author's note from Duan Old Devil, not a story chapter. Here's what it contains:

Key Announcement

• The book "Shocking! A Must-Read!" will become a paid (premium) title at 12 noon tomorrow
• The author requests readers to subscribe to support the book

Author's Reflections

• Writing on Qidian at middle age is mentally challenging
• Big-data recommendations are difficult to understand and often unpredictable
• Books that don't attract traffic tend to be abandoned by the platform (the "cold palace")
• The author acknowledges being poor at naming books, which limited traffic

Publishing Context

• The book had modest bookmark numbers (barely 20,000 in the broad fantasy category, helped by Sanjiang recommendation)
• However, reader follow-through and support were strong

Call to Action

• Tomorrow's subscription numbers are critical for the book's future performance
• The author warmly invites readers to join him in the "jianghu" (martial world)

Tone

Grateful, anxious, and earnest—the author expresses heartfelt appreciation for reader support while being transparent about the challenges of the platform.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Duan Yun battles a Red Tower woman and Thunder Duke/Old Mother Sect experts outside Springwatch City. He brutally wounds the Red Tower woman—chopping off her legs and blasting holes through her—but she escapes by vaulting over the city wall with her hands. He lets her go, deciding to strike harder next time.
• He searches the corpses he left behind. From the strongest Thunder Crazy, he finds an iron flute and, more importantly, pieces of skin covered in mysterious "Tadpole Script" runes similar to those on Mother's Divine Iron. He cuts the skin off the corpse to copy and study later, despite finding it disgusting.
• The two female divine constables, Leng Yixue and Leng Yimeng, watched the fight from hiding and are terrified. They realize they nearly walked into Duan Yun's ambush earlier and give up any hope of profiting from investigating him.
• Duan Yun travels to peaceful Little Spring Town, where news of the massacre hasn't arrived yet. He buys paper, brushes, ink, food, and supplies for Jade Pearl Manor, exchanging spoils like a golden mask for silver.
• He meets Shen Ying at a teahouse. She tells him about a storyteller spinning funny, exaggerated tales about "Duan Old Devil"—including a story about Duan Yun using Aphrodisiac Art on pigs to mount a village chief's wives, and corrupting a female Sword Immortal into becoming a prostitute. Duan Yun asks if the storyteller has a lame leg; Shen Ying confirms.
• In a final scene, the lame storyteller Lao Guo is relieved after a successful storytelling session, but as he leaves the latrine, a sack is thrown over his head and his only remaining good leg is snapped.

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Portrays himself as kind and righteous but is ruthless and vindictive toward enemies. He is pragmatic—avoiding a risky ambush, looting corpses, and studying mysterious runes to improve himself. He is also building up Jade Pearl Manor as an enterprise. He punishes those who spread slander about him, including the storyteller.
• Leng Yixue & Leng Yimeng: Their confidence shatters after witnessing Duan Yun's brutality. They realize their mission is suicidal and abandon any thought of exploiting the situation.
• Shen Ying: Cheerful and carefree, she enjoys the exaggerated Duan Old Devil stories without realizing the man beside her is the devil himself.
• Lao Guo: The storyteller profits from sensationalized rumors about Duan Yun, but pays a violent price for it.

3. Significant Themes

• Rumor vs. Reality: The gap between the absurd, monstrous legend of "Duan Old Devil" and the actual (still brutal) man, Duan Yun.
• Irony and Dark Humor: The contrast between Duan Yun's self-image as a "young hero" and his grotesque actions; violence is treated casually and often comically.
• Violence and Mundanity: Horrific acts (mutilation, skinning corpses) are juxtaposed with everyday errands like buying rice and listening to teahouse stories.
• Consequences of Slander: Spreading false tales has real-world consequences, delivered swiftly by Duan Yun.

4. Character Interactions

• Duan Yun vs. Red Tower woman: One-sided brutal combat; she escapes, and he grudgingly respects her will to survive.
• Duan Yun & Shen Ying: Friendly, lighthearted interaction; she laughs at the Duan Old Devil stories while he calmly hides his identity.
• Leng sisters: Passive observers, paralyzed by fear, reflecting on the danger Duan Yun poses.
• Duan Yun & Lao Guo: Offscreen vengeance—Duan Yun attacks the storyteller for slandering his name, breaking his remaining leg.

Summary of "Old Devil and the Scapegoat"

1. Key Plot Points

• Duan Yun (secretly Duan Old Devil) breaks Lao Guo's leg again as a routine act, stuffing his mouth to muffle the scream.
• He meets Shen Ying, who complains that a storyteller was beaten (by Duan Yun) before finishing the second half of his tale about Duan Old Devil.
• Duan Yun buys a cheap iron sword after selling a smashed gold mask; he recalls his superior blade Tenderness and less-liquid spoils like an anklet.
• On the walk back, he and Shen Ying discuss Duan Old Devil's reputation. Shen Ying jokingly suspects Duan Yun might be the devil, but rejects the idea because Duan Yun was with her when Duan Old Devil supposedly impregnated Fairy Ling.
• Shen Ying argues that some crimes blamed on Duan Old Devil are scapegoat charges, using the Gao Family Village incident as an example (it happened a thousand li away, likely the village master's own doing).
• The conversation is cut short when the Murong Brothers call out, "I know this one!"

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun / Duan Old Devil: His secret identity is strongly implied. He is shown to be pragmatic about money, resentful of false rumors about him (e.g., he was not responsible for Gao Family Village), and increasingly aware of how public perception distorts his deeds. He also loses physical composure in the fight with Shen Ying, showing a more goofy side.
• Shen Ying: Revealed to be sharp-witted, observant, and a skilled fighter (she can flip Duan Yun). She teases Duan Yun but also inadvertently gives him a solid alibi by citing the Fairy Ling incident. Her theory about scapegoating shows a deeper understanding of the world.
• Their relationship feels more relaxed and topsy-turvy after the physical tussle, neither holding lasting anger.

3. Significant Themes

• Scapegoating & False Blame: People blame Duan Old Devil for crimes he didn't commit (pigs riding a wife, a sword immortal turned prostitute), and the chapter critiques how a reputation can be hijacked by others.
• Rumor vs. Truth: The storyteller's tale is interrupted, and Shen Ying's analysis reveals that rumors are often a mix of fact, exaggeration, and outright fabrication.
• Identity & Disguise: Duan Yun lives under a mask (both literally and metaphorically), and the constant question—"Is Duan Yun Duan Old Devil?"—keeps the theme alive.
• Comic Violence: Leg-breaking and physical fights are presented as absurd, almost slapstick (e.g., passersby calling them both madmen).

4. Character Interactions

• Duan Yun & Shen Ying: Their dynamic is a blend of banter, mutual suspicion, and physical comedy. They wrestle awkwardly after Shen Ying gets offended by Duan Yun's comment about her chest, then awkwardly separate and walk back in silence. Yet they quickly return to normal conversation.
• Duan Yun & Lao Guo / Storyteller: Off-screen villainous acts that establish his secret identity and fuel the plot.
• Interruption by the Murong Brothers: Cliffhanger ending, suggesting the next plot point involves them responding to the ongoing discussion about Duan Old Devil.

Summary: "The First Beauty Under Heaven's Hobby"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with Murong Brothers revealing he eavesdropped on Duan Yun and Shen Ying's conversation about the Jade Spirit Sect's female Sword Immortal who became a prostitute (blaming "Duan Old Devil" — which is Duan Yun himself).
• Murong Brothers explains the real story: The Jade Spirit Sect's sect-protecting technique, the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, was corrupted over generations of inheritance, transforming into a "Lustful Maiden Heart Sutra" that intensified practitioners' desires instead of suppressing them.
• The sect master once tried to seduce Murong Brothers's father, causing his parents to fight and the families to cut ties. The female cultivators had long been secretly seducing distinguished men; Duan Old Devil's blamed reputation now gives them an excuse to do so openly.
• Duan Yun pities the Sword Immortal, but Murong Brothers dismisses this, suggesting she may simply enjoy what she does.
• Murong Brothers then has Shen Ying tell Duan Yun the story of

Lin Yuxin, the most beautiful woman in the martial world

• Orphaned at seven, raised by a nun, grew into a stunning beauty.
• Nangong Nantian, head of Cloud Prefecture's greatest martial arts family, fell for her at first sight, avenged her family, and wanted to divorce his wife to marry her — but she refused, claiming she loved another.
• Later, Nangong finds her working in a cheap brothel, sleeping even with old beggars. She confesses she has an addiction to sex with men, grows bored with each type (the wealthy, the handsome, the ugly/lowly), and reveals she likes being forced — lamenting that Nangong never forced her.
• Shen Ying gets angry when Duan Yun shows interest in Lin Yuxin's whereabouts, storms off, and refuses to cook ("Eat shit!").
• Murong Brothers teases Duan Yun about the sibling-like relationship between him and Shen Ying and asks for wine. Duan Yun curses him and drinks alone; Murong Brothers slithers after him.

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun — Remains kind and naïve, repeatedly shocked by the martial world's depravity ("this world is utterly mad"). He tries to find pity and justification for the Sword Immortal and expresses curiosity about Lin Yuxin, showing his inexperience with the world's darker realities.
• Murong Brothers — Portrayed as lazy and cynical but deeply knowledgeable about martial world secrets. He functions as the chapter's expositor, offering blunt, pragmatic (even callous) interpretations of human nature and sect politics.
• Shen Ying — Reveals jealousy/possessiveness toward Duan Yun, storming off when he shows interest in another woman. Her fiery, sharp-tongued personality contrasts with her underlying concern for him.

3. Significant Themes

• The hypocrisy and moral decay of the martial world — Sects like the Jade Spirit Sect maintain noble reputations while engaging in degenerate acts, using scapegoats (Duan Old Devil) to preserve face.
• Survival vs. morality — The Jade Spirit Sect must continue cultivating a destructive technique because abandoning it would doom the sect in a violent world. Institutions prioritize survival over virtue.
• Appearances vs. reality — Noble Sword Immortals are lustful; the "greatest beauty" is a degraded prostitute who enjoys her degradation. People are rarely what they seem.
• Scapegoating and reputation — A blamed reputation (Duan Old Devil) actually liberates others to act without shame, inverting conventional morality.
• Human eccentricity and addiction — Lin Yuxin's bizarre sexual tastes serve as a comedic/absurdist critique of romantic ideals.

4. Character Interactions

• Duan Yun ↔ Shen Ying: Playful bickering gives way to genuine tension; Shen Ying's anger reveals her feelings for Duan Yun, while Duan Yun remains oblivious (asks for her to continue cooking even after offending her).
• Duan Yun ↔ Murong Brothers: Duan Yun seeks explanation and understanding; Murong Brothers delivers gossip and worldly wisdom in a lazy, teasing tone, then jokes at Duan Yun's expense.
• Murong Brothers ↔ Shen Ying: An easy, bantering dynamic — Murong teases her about caring for Duan Yun, and she responds with insults.
• The overall tone mixes dark revelations about the martial world with lighthearted comedic banter between the three characters.

Chapter Summary

• Key Plot Points: After returning, Shen Ying admits her earlier anger was due to her monthly cycle and hearing only half the daytime story; Duan Yun and the Murong Brothers comfort her instead of holding a grudge, and Duan tells her to drink hot water. Duan Yun reflects on his two contented months at Jade Pearl Manor, feeling he has found true friends. That night, he copies the bizarre Tadpole Script cultivation technique from a human skin he peeled off a Thunder Duke sect member, grows sleepy, and finishes sloppily before burying the skin under an old tree. Meanwhile, Red Shadow, an elder of Red Tower, drains and kills men in her search for Duan and orders her subordinate to monitor the Thunder Duke and Old Mother Sect. Jin Ladi, a Fourth Elder covered in Tadpole Script, nearly executes his disciples until one realizes they overlooked Grave Mountain; they now turn their search there. Elsewhere, Peacock, with Hua Wen and Hua Wu chained, watches the sect members leave and thinks Duan Yun’s earlier violent act has loosened his bottleneck—Duan will become his “nourishment” to advance.
• Character Developments: Duan Yun feels peace, value in friendship, and motivation to keep cultivating, while also showing a grimmer, methodical side. Shen Ying shows she can admit fault—rare for her. Red Shadow is ruthless and vengeful, using sexual cultivation to sharpen her mind. Jin Ladi is cruel and willing to kill subordinates. Peacock is opportunistic, viewing Duan Yun as a stepping stone.
• Significant Themes: Found family and companionship among outsiders; the grotesque horror of cultivation (human skin, demonic arts); using others as “nourishment” for power; the tension between ordinary life and violent martial-world brutality.
• Character Interactions: Duan Yun and Shen Ying/Murong Brothers share banter and mutual care after the misunderstanding. Red Shadow intimidates her subordinate for news. Jin Ladi threatens his disciples. Peacock schemes while keeping captives chained.

Summary of "Duan Old Devil Must Be Here for Laughs"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Duan Yun wakes up late and learns that Shen Ying has gone into town to listen to a storyteller.
• Shen Ying returns and recounts the latest story circulating in town: Duan Old Devil has killed ten people, including a young girl from the Red Tower faction, in a particularly brutal manner.
• The killer left a bloody message signing as "Murong Fu" and calling himself a "young hero" carrying out justice on Heaven's behalf—which everyone finds absurdly funny.
• The storytelling community has capitalized on the case; the same storyteller with broken legs is telling it again, and other storytellers have tied red ribbons around their heads as a "Bloodthirsty Storytellers" oath to keep telling stories regardless of danger.
• Shen Ying also mentions that a pair of twin sister divine constables from the Clear Qi Bureau have arrived in the area, and the storyteller speculates that they may become Duan Old Devil's next targets.
• The chapter ends with Duan Yun (the actual Duan Old Devil) being forced to laugh along with his companions, even though he finds the situation unfunny.

2. Character Developments

• Duan Yun: Shows his pragmatic, career-oriented mindset—he thinks of his murder spree as "work" and worries about maintaining a sustainable output. He also demonstrates his commitment to his disguise, suppressing his real feelings and laughing to avoid seeming out of place.
• Murong Brothers: Reinforces his obsession with becoming a woman to escape a curse. He is willing to accept violating consequences if it means achieving that goal. He also finds great amusement in the idea of Duan Old Devil acting like a chivalrous hero.
• Shen Ying: Acts as the town's "newscaster," eagerly consuming and relaying gossip. She is lively, easily entertained, and adds to the comic atmosphere by laughing loudly at the story.

3. Significant Themes

• Identity and Disguise: Duan Yun's dual identity as "Young Hero Duan" and "Duan Old Devil" creates dramatic irony. He listens to people mock his own alias while actively maintaining the mask.
• Reputation as Spectacle: The chapter satirizes how violence and villainy are turned into entertainment. The storytellers transform a brutal murder case into a money-making show, and the public treats it as a joke.
• Absurdity of the Martial World: The idea that Duan Old Devil "must be here for laughs"—a villain posing as a hero—highlights the chaotic, ironic nature of power and fame in this setting.
• Body and Gender Transformation: Murong Brothers' fixation on becoming a woman, plus Duan Old Devil's trademark crime of "Feminine Descent," remains a running motif, mixing dark comedy with body horror.

4. Character Interactions

• The core interaction is a three-way conversation between Duan Yun, Shen Ying, and Murong Brothers in the courtyard.
• Shen Ying provides the information; Murong Brothers reacts with humor and personal commentary; Duan Yun listens internally with irritation but outwardly joins in the laughter.
• The dynamic is casual and familiar, revealing a comfortable living arrangement. Duan Yun's inner thoughts, however, show his isolation—he shares nothing of his secret, even as his companions unknowingly mock him.

Summary of the Chapter

Key Plot Points / Events

• Duan Yun is now infamous as the “Duan Old Devil” in local storytelling, a reputation that has persisted for nearly two months.
• Twin female divine constables from the Clear Qi Bureau arrive, and Duan Yun recognizes them as acquaintances (one from an awkward past incident involving her crotch). He hopes they can clear his name.
• He briefly considers imprisoning the twins in a cellar to force their cooperation, feeling guilty but still tempted.
• Shen Ying spots a beautiful woman flying in the sky and rushes off to watch the excitement. More “Red Tower fairy maidens” appear floating over Jade Town, signaling danger/chaos.
• Murong Brothers warns Duan Yun to check on his “younger sister,” but Duan Yun refuses, saying he is afraid of being raped.
• Alone, Duan Yun studies the copied Tadpole Script and the Divine Iron taken from Thunder Crazies, struggling to comprehend the runes.
• He falls asleep and dreams of tadpoles searching for their “mother.” Looking down in the dream, he sees a vortex with a palm, an arm, and his own face reflected at the bottom—realizing the “tadpoles” are true qi being drawn out of someone’s head.
• He wakes with sudden enlightenment: he has comprehended a palm technique. He calls it “Star-Absorbing Art,” then corrects himself: “This is clearly the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.”
• The chapter ends with Duan Yun wanting to test the technique on someone.

Character Developments

• Duan Yun remains torn between his desire to be seen as a heroic young man and his willingness to use villainous methods (e.g., imprisoning the twin constables).
• He shows growing paranoia and self-awareness about his dangerous surroundings, though he still jokes about being assaulted.
• His self-image as a “cultivation prodigy one in ten thousand” is reinforced by his dream comprehension of a new martial art, despite initially doubting the Thunder Duke and Old Mother Sect’s mysteries.

Significant Themes

• Reputation vs. reality: the gap between Duan Yun’s actual actions and the rumors spread about him.
• Cultivation through unconventional means: dreams, mysterious runes, and absorbing true qi—hinting at morally questionable techniques.
• Comedy mixed with martial-arts world danger: humorous internal monologue amid deadly “fairy maidens” and lurking enemies.

Character Interactions

• Duan Yun and Shen Ying: She abandons their meal to chase excitement; he privately notes she has the “Bloodthirsty Audience” gene.
• Duan Yun and Murong Brothers: Murong Brothers offers advice/concern; Duan Yun deflects with a joke about being afraid of being violated.
• Duan Yun and the twin constables (off-screen): He recalls the younger sister’s crotch and hopes they can vouch for him, while also plotting against them.
• Duan Yun with himself: His dream-vision confrontation with his own reflected face symbolizes self-discovery and the ambiguous nature of his new power.