Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

• Chen Mo tests Xie An’s saber: Chen Mo, a highly accomplished Manifest Force martial artist with fifteen years of training, casually touches Xie An’s saber and is immediately attacked by the blade’s corruptive power, Withered Abyss. Her Inner Force cannot eliminate it, only suppress and dilute its effects. Alarmed, she realizes that Xie An’s supposedly weak second-stage cultivation conceals a terrifying unorthodox ability capable of threatening even stronger martial artists.
• Xie An assesses Withered Abyss: Xie An confirms that Withered Abyss can harm Manifest Force experts, though its current power is insufficient to kill them outright. He expects that, with further cultivation, it could become strong enough to kill them. This also makes him reflect fearfully on the far more powerful Monster Strain youth from whom the technique originated, especially because the creature escaped after ominously asking whether Xie An had paid his “Grave Tax.”
• Chen Mo becomes part of the household: Xie An ends the sparring session and orders Chen Mo to remain at the residence and train with him. He conceals the true nature of Withered Abyss by dismissing it as an “unorthodox trick.” Although Chen Mo initially dislikes being reduced to a sparring partner, her shock at Xie An’s talent and curiosity about his hidden techniques make her more willing to stay.
• A Shan survives: A physician treats A Shan’s severed-arm injury and reports that he is out of danger. Xie An orders everyone to rest, assigns Chen Mo quarters in the west wing, and confines the household to the residence for safety.
• Xie An studies the Red Sun Saber Technique: Reflecting on his earlier battle with A Shan, Xie An recognizes his vulnerability when fighting without a proper weapon. He studies the second move of the Red Sun Saber Technique, Sinking Pressure Stance, which focuses on concentrating force downward and repeatedly tempering the body’s muscles, tendons, bones, qi, blood, and Inner Force. Since he is near the Bone Tempering stage, the technique is especially useful to him.
• Rapid cultivation: Using the Ten Thousand Questions system, Xie An learns that implanting the technique requires only 1.8 units of qi and blood. He immediately implants it and masters the move overnight.
• Morning sparring and renewed respect: The next morning, Xie An spars with Chen Mo using Li Dao’s saber. Chen Mo instantly recognizes the Sinking Pressure Stance and is astonished that he mastered the Red Sun Saber Technique’s second move in a single night. After a hundred exchanges, Xie An feels the technique strengthening and loosening his entire body. Training with a Manifest Force martial artist allows him to practice at full power without fear of seriously injuring her.
• Ending: A visitor arrives, and Xie An reacts with delight, addressing her as “Elder Sister” and asking whether she has come to teach him martial arts for dealing with ghosts and wraiths.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xie An grows more cautious after considering the Monster Strain’s threat, while simultaneously demonstrating extraordinary cultivation speed and increasingly dangerous abilities. He also begins treating Chen Mo as a valuable long-term ally and training partner.
• Chen Mo shifts from confidence and skepticism to shock, fear, and curiosity regarding Xie An. Her respect for him increases despite her initial annoyance at being ordered to remain as a sparring partner.
• Li Dao and Qiu Lan continue serving important practical roles in the household, caring for the injured and assisting with Xie An’s training arrangements.
• The Monster Strain, though absent, remains a major psychological threat through Xie An’s memories of its escape and ominous warning.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power beneath apparent weakness: Xie An’s low cultivation level conceals abilities capable of injuring much stronger opponents.
• Fear and psychological warfare: The Monster Strain’s indirect threat creates more anxiety than an immediate confrontation would have.
• Rapid growth through unusual means: Xie An’s system-assisted cultivation allows him to master advanced techniques at an abnormal speed.
• Preparation and self-preservation: After recognizing his deficiencies in battle, Xie An focuses on acquiring stronger techniques, better weapons, and reliable allies.
• Trust and reluctant cooperation: Chen Mo’s relationship with Xie An develops from professional resistance into wary respect and potential loyalty.

Key plot points and events

• Xie An asks Xie Yu to teach him martial arts effective against Specters, driven by the recent attacks on Li Family Village and the Zhao Residence.
• Xie Yu explains that such techniques require reaching the Manifest Force stage, when a fighter can project Inner Force and its yang energy beyond the body.
• Even a Dark Force master cannot kill a Specter while trapped in its Six-Sense Cocoon Chamber. To fight it, one must first break its Cocoon Force and escape the distorted perception it creates.
• Xie Yu introduces the Spirit Preservation Method, the foundation of the Daoist Illuminating Spirit Scripture. According to its origin story, the Withered Mulberry Adept discovered that turning the six senses inward and observing oneself with the spirit can shatter a Specter’s hold.
• The scripture is controlled by the Inner City’s Big Three. Practitioners must join one of them and behold the divine presence enshrined in its ancestral hall; simply copying the method is not enough.
• Xie An realizes that the method resembles visualization: preserving an image of a divine being in the mind to resist Specters and then attack them with yang Inner Force.
• He then voices a disturbing possibility: the revered beings in the ancestral halls may themselves be powerful evil spirits, meaning people may be using stronger Specters to defeat weaker ones.

Character developments

• Xie An shows growing resolve to protect himself and others, but his curiosity turns to suspicion when he considers the source of the scripture’s power.
• Xie Yu acts as a knowledgeable mentor, patiently explaining the limits of martial arts and the history and practice of Spirit Preservation.
• Li Dao, Qiu Lan, and Chen Mo defer respectfully to Xie Yu because of the regard Xie Zhengtang and Uncle Shui show her.

Significant themes

• Knowledge and preparation: Fighting Specters requires understanding how their power works, not merely greater physical strength.
• Inner awareness versus distorted perception: Turning inward offers a way to resist supernatural manipulation of the senses.
• Faith and power: The method depends on reverence for a divine presence, raising questions about whether spiritual protection is truly benevolent.
• Moral ambiguity: Xie An’s suspicion challenges the distinction between gods and Specters—and whether humanity’s defenses rely on a dangerous bargain.

Character interactions

• Xie An respectfully asks Xie Yu for instruction, and she answers with practical guidance and a historical account.
• Their teacher-student exchange shifts when Xie An questions why the scripture is restricted and whether its enshrined beings are evil spirits.
• The chapter ends with that unsettling question unanswered, leaving Xie Yu’s response—and the true nature of the Big Three’s power—in suspense.

Key plot points

• Xie An confirms his suspicion that some beings worshipped as gods are actually evil specters. Xie Yu explains that Qingwu County’s Inner City is controlled by three powerful groups: the Demon Suppression Bureau, Returning Dragon Abbey, and the Red Flower Society, each with its own deity.
• The groups choose apprentices privately, and money cannot buy entry. Xie Yu reveals that the Xie family has a separate route: Xie An’s father has already made arrangements, but accepting them means inheriting a dangerous family secret and responsibility for the household’s future.
• Determined to learn the Spirit Preservation Method so he can defend himself, Xie An accepts. Xie Yu takes him to the Xie Clan White Shrine in Qingping Lane.
• Inside, Xie An finds his father praying before a red-shrouded statue. Blood and bones surround it, and incense smoke flows beneath the cloth. When Xie An uses Spirit Sight and Qi-Gazing, he sees an abyss and a pair of scarlet eyes looking back.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie An moves from suspicion to certainty about the nature of the county’s “gods.” Though alarmed by the prospect of worshipping an evil being, he prioritizes gaining power and willingly accepts the Xie family’s burden.
• Xie Yu acts as his guide and confidante. She explains the county’s power structure, cautions him about the danger, and ultimately leads him to the family shrine.
• Xie An’s father is revealed as a devoted participant in the shrine’s secret rites, apparently preparing his son to inherit the family’s hidden legacy.
• Xie An and Xie Yu’s exchange is marked by trust: he presses for a way to learn the method, while she tests his resolve before revealing the family’s connection.

Significant themes

• The corruption of religion: Specters can gain power and legitimacy by becoming objects of worship.
• Power and survival: Xie An is willing to accept disturbing risks because he needs the means to protect himself.
• Inheritance and responsibility: Joining the family’s path means taking on its secrets, fortunes, and failures.
• Appearance versus reality: A compassionate, faceless statue stands outside, while the hidden presence inside the shrine is horrifying and predatory.

Key events

• Xie An visits the Xie Household’s shrine and encounters the White Jade Goddess, whose powerful gaze briefly immobilizes him. After he offers incense, the Goddess seems to absorb it and releases him.
• His father explains that the shrine’s secret must not be shared with outsiders. He praises Xie An’s handling of events at the Zhou Residence and promises that he and Xie Yu will support him.
• Xie Yu begins teaching Xie An the Spirit Preservation Method, a demanding practice based on reciting an incantation and visualizing the Goddess. After a full day, he makes no progress.
• That night, Xie An consults Ten Thousand Questions. It estimates that transplanting the method requires 1.8 mental units; since his mental stat is also 1.9, he orders the transplant.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie An is unnerved by the Goddess’s force and suspects she may be an Evil God, but he follows his family’s instructions and tries to cultivate sincerely. His father’s confidence moves him, and he feels newly recognized as an adult. Frustrated by his lack of progress, he turns to his unusual ability for help.
• Xie Zhengtang shifts from scolding his son to openly trusting and supporting his choices, while entrusting Xie Yu with the shrine’s care.
• Xie Yu acts as Xie An’s strict instructor, warning him against asking questions about the shrine’s secrets. She explains the method and patiently guides his practice.
• Daoist Master Yusu worships alongside the family and watches Xie An with a gentle, protective air.

Significant themes

• Faith and fear: Xie An is expected to revere the Goddess despite sensing her frightening, potentially dangerous power.
• Secrecy and family duty: The shrine’s true nature is concealed, and Xie An is told not to reveal its secret.
• Growing maturity and support: His father’s trust marks a change in their relationship.
• Effort versus supernatural shortcuts: The Spirit Preservation Method is described as rare and extraordinarily difficult, setting up Xie An’s attempt to bypass its usual years of practice through transplantation.

Key plot points and events

• Xie An tries the Spirit Preservation Method, a mental martial art, and lets his mental energy fall almost to zero. The strain leaves him disoriented, unable to control his body, and vomiting blood.
• After sleeping, he wakes with his mental energy only partly recovered. He realizes mental energy replenishes slowly and that future attempts must be carefully managed.
• He tests his newly learned technique and discovers he can clearly visualize the red-veiled statue in the ancestral hall. Its strange, rippling power gives him a sense of mental clarity and may protect him from the Specter influence he encountered at Li Family Village.
• Outside his room, Xie An hears Daoist Master Yusu regret allowing him to practice the method so early. His father and Yusu decide he should stop until his martial arts realm is higher.
• Determined to keep learning, Xie An insists that he has mastered the Spirit Preservation Method. Yusu examines him and confirms it, declaring him a once-in-a-century prodigy.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie An learns that mental techniques carry risks unlike physical training, but remains ambitious and eager to gain protection against Specters. He chooses to reveal his achievement rather than let his father and mentor end his training.
• Xie Zhengtang responds to his son’s collapse with concern and sternly prioritizes his health, while reassuring Yusu that she should not blame herself.
• Daoist Master Yusu feels responsible for pushing Xie An too soon and initially wants him to stop. After testing him, she is astonished by his rapid mastery.
• Xie Yu, addressed by Xie An as Elder Sister, checks his condition and confirms his extraordinary progress.

Significant themes

• Ambition versus safety: Xie An accepts painful risks to gain skills he believes he will need.
• The mind and body: A strong body cannot compensate when the mind is overwhelmed; mental energy is slower and more difficult to restore than vitality.
• Trust and mentorship: Xie An’s confidence in his father and Yusu helps him disclose his achievement, while their concern reflects the responsibilities of family and teacher.
• Prodigious talent: Xie An’s rapid mastery challenges expectations about what his age and martial arts level should allow.

Chapter Summary: Erasing Cocoon Force (Begging for Continued Reading)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Zhengtang and Xie Yu are stunned to learn that Xie An mastered the Spirit Preservation Method in only one day, a feat normally requiring even prodigies several years.
• Xie Yu confirms that although Xie An’s spirit is temporarily weakened, its foundation is unusually deep and stable, suggesting he has perfected Spirit Preservation. She believes he may possess a rare “Awakening Enlightenment” talent.
• Xie Zhengtang decides that Xie An’s abilities must remain secret to avoid attracting danger.
• After his father and Xie Yu leave, Xie An collapses from exhaustion. He had pretended to be fine so that his father would not interfere with his martial development.
• Xie An asks Chen Mo about medicines and ingredients that might restore or awaken the spirit. He avoids revealing the true cause of his weakness and decides that Chen Mo could become a trusted personal subordinate.
• Learning that Chen Mo lacks the expensive Treasure Fish and Rune-veined Ginseng needed to advance as a Manifest Force Martial Master, Xie An offers to pay for all her supplies.
• In exchange, Xie An demands that Chen Mo become loyal to him personally, not merely to the Xie Household. Chen Mo accepts because of the valuable resources and opportunities.
• Xie An orders Chen Mo to secretly obtain medicine that can awaken the spirit, purchasing it outside the Xie Clan Pharmacy so his father will not discover his condition. Li Dao accompanies her.
• Alone, Xie An prepares to use the Spirit Preservation Method to determine whether it can remove the lingering “sinking qi” or damaging force affecting him.

Character Developments

• Xie An: Reveals remarkable spiritual talent, mastering Spirit Preservation almost instantly. Despite severe internal discomfort, he becomes more calculating and independent, hiding his weakness and actively building his own network of loyal followers.
• Xie Zhengtang: Moves from admiration to shock, then pride and concern. He sees Xie An as the future of the household but agrees that his talent must be concealed.
• Xie Yu: Recognizes the depth of Xie An’s spiritual foundation and becomes convinced that he possesses extraordinary natural talent. Her attitude is protective and approving.
• Chen Mo: Initially cautious around Xie An, she becomes eager when offered access to rare martial resources. By accepting his terms, she begins shifting her allegiance from the broader Xie Household toward Xie An personally.
• Qiu Lan: Shows concern for Xie An but obeys his order to conceal his condition from Xie Zhengtang.
• Li Dao: Continues serving as a reliable assistant and is assigned to help Chen Mo obtain the medicine.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and secrecy: Xie An’s miraculous talent must be concealed because extraordinary ability can bring political danger and unwanted attention.
• The cost of advancement: Martial progress depends not only on talent but also on access to rare and expensive resources.
• Power through loyalty and patronage: Xie An begins forming a personal faction by exchanging material support for exclusive allegiance.
• Appearance versus reality: Xie An appears calm and unharmed before his family while privately suffering severe spiritual exhaustion.
• Family loyalty versus personal ambition: Although Xie An cares about his father, he increasingly pursues his own path and keeps important matters independent of family control.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Zhengtang and Xie Yu discuss Xie An’s unprecedented Spirit Preservation achievement and agree to protect the secret.
• Xie An and Qiu Lan establish a confidential understanding when he orders her not to reveal his weakness.
• Xie An questions Chen Mo about spiritual medicine and martial cultivation, gradually testing her reliability.
• Xie An offers Chen Mo expensive cultivation resources in return for personal loyalty, creating a new mentor-subordinate relationship.
• Xie An dispatches Chen Mo and Li Dao to secretly obtain medicine, then turns inward to test the Spirit Preservation Method against the mysterious sinking qi.

Chapter Summary: “Spirit-Restoring Dew”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An discovers that the Spirit Preservation Method can gradually eliminate the Cocoon Force—an evil, sinking qi he acquired in Li Family Village.
• After circulating the method for about fifteen minutes, the Cocoon Force visibly shrinks. However, the technique consumes enormous mental energy, reducing his mental stat to 0.1 and forcing him to stop.
• Xie An sleeps while waiting for Chen Mo to prepare medicine. The ordinary mind-awakening medicinal soup restores only a small amount of his mental energy, raising it from 0.1 to 0.3 despite several bowls.
• Realizing that ordinary medicine is insufficient, Xie An tells Chen Mo that a Yin Cloth Doll attack nearly drained his spirit and asks whether she knows of a stronger treatment.
• Chen Mo explains that supernatural attacks weaken the three souls and seven spirits, requiring medicine specifically designed to nourish the soul. She introduces Spirit-Restoring Dew, an expensive prescription requiring:
  • Soul-Nourishing Flower
  • Rootless Water
  • Black Jade Reishi
• One dose costs roughly one thousand taels of silver. Xie An immediately provides the money and orders Chen Mo to prepare it.
• Chen Mo warns that the medicine cannot be used more than once every seven days and may cause long-term dependence. Xie An accepts the risks, intending to use it only after transplanting mental martial arts.
• That evening, Chen Mo delivers the completed medicine. After testing a drop on herself, she gives it to Xie An.
• A single drop rapidly restores Xie An’s mental stat from 0.3 to 1.9, effectively returning it to full strength.
• Xie An immediately returns to cultivating the Spirit Preservation Method, determined to erase the remaining Cocoon Force.

Character Developments

• Xie An: Becomes more confident in managing his unusual condition and recognizes the importance of restoring his mental energy. His cautious, calculating nature is evident when he makes Chen Mo test every medicine before taking it himself. He also demonstrates his willingness to spend lavishly when his health and cultivation are at stake.
• Chen Mo: Gains greater importance as a trusted medical assistant and confidante. She proves knowledgeable, competent, and reliable, drawing on her father’s experience to identify a powerful soul-nourishing prescription.
• Qiu Lan: Continues to serve Xie An faithfully, carrying out his financial and household instructions without question.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism and investment: Xie An treats wealth as a tool, readily spending a thousand taels to obtain a medicine that can advance his cultivation and future plans.
• Caution and trust: Xie An’s insistence that Chen Mo test the medicine reflects his distrust, while his decision to reveal the truth about his condition shows that he is gradually placing greater trust in her.
• The cost of power: Both the Spirit Preservation Method and Spirit-Restoring Dew have serious costs—the former drains mental energy, while the latter is expensive and potentially addictive.
• Healing and cultivation: The chapter emphasizes that progress depends not only on eliminating harmful forces but also on maintaining the mental and spiritual energy needed to cultivate.
• Strategic planning: Xie An views the medicine as a long-term resource that could allow him to transplant mental martial arts repeatedly.

Character Interactions

• Xie An instructs Qiu Lan to wake him when Chen Mo’s medicine is ready.
• He cautiously tests Chen Mo’s loyalty and the safety of her medicine by making her drink it first.
• Xie An questions Chen Mo about his spiritual weakness, eventually revealing the Yin Cloth Doll attack.
• Chen Mo explains the nature of soul damage and recommends Spirit-Restoring Dew, strengthening her role as Xie An’s medical adviser.
• Xie An entrusts Chen Mo with a large sum of money and the task of preparing the rare medicine, signaling increased confidence in her.
• After consuming the Spirit-Restoring Dew, Xie An resumes cultivation, setting up the next stage of his attempt to remove the Cocoon Force.

Chapter Summary: “Xu the Registrar Comes Calling”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An completes the recovery of his spirit using the Spirit Preservation Method and the remaining Spirit-Restoring Dew. The qi in the mirror disappears, confirming that he has returned to a normal state.
• He checks his progress with the Red Sun Saber Technique and successfully transplants the final two forms—the Pushing Mountain Form and the Red Sun Form—at relatively little cost because of the technique’s simple, forceful movements.
• The next morning, Xie An tests the newly mastered forms against Chen Mo. His strength, especially through his 485 great tendons, gives the Pushing Mountain Form overwhelming force, while the Red Sun Form nearly forces Chen Mo backward.
• Chen Mo is astonished that Xie An has mastered Yongsheng Martial Arts Hall’s strongest saber technique in only a few days, surpassing even established geniuses such as Chen Bin.
• Xie An orders Chen Mo to remain at the estate and arranges spiritual ginseng and treasure fish to help her recover and train.
• Li Dao delivers the heavy saber Xie An requested. Because it is too cumbersome to wear, Xie An has Li Dao carry it as they travel through the estate.
• Xie An intends to speak with his father about resuming training under Daoist Master Yusu, but he discovers that Registrar Xu Zhengyang and Canal Gang leader Mai Wenshan are visiting the family.
• His younger sister, Xie Xiaoyu, reveals that Mai Qiuyun has been criticizing Xie An, claiming he is unworthy of her. Xie An comforts Xiaoyu and sends her off with Li Dao to buy candied hawthorn.
• Xie An enters the pavilion and meets Xu Zhengyang, Mai Wenshan, and Mai Qiuyun. Xu Zhengyang carefully questions him about Zhou Yun’s death and asks whether Xie An knows where his adopted daughter, A Shan, has gone.

Character Developments

• Xie An: His spiritual recovery is complete, and his martial ability has advanced dramatically. He now possesses the full Red Sun Saber Technique and demonstrates confidence, composure, and practical awareness by obtaining a weapon after realizing the danger of fighting unarmed.
• Chen Mo: Her view of Xie An changes from treating him as a relatively inexperienced young master to recognizing him as an extraordinary martial talent. She is impressed and somewhat shaken by the force of his new techniques.
• Xie Xiaoyu: She displays strong affection and loyalty toward Xie An, defending him and reporting Mai Qiuyun’s insults. Their playful interaction highlights her trust in him.
• Xu Zhengyang: Though outwardly courteous and regretful about Zhou Yun, he is clearly investigating A Shan’s disappearance and may be testing Xie An’s honesty.
• Mai Qiuyun: Her contempt toward Xie An signals tension in their former betrothal-like relationship and suggests that she no longer considers him worthy of her.
• Mai Wenshan: He remains outwardly warm toward Xie An, but his family’s economic importance to the Xie Household gives the meeting serious political and commercial weight.

Significant Themes

• Rapid growth and hidden potential: Xie An’s swift mastery of the saber technique reinforces his unusual talent and growing power.
• Recovery and transformation: His restored spirit marks a turning point, allowing him to resume cultivation and become more capable of protecting himself.
• Power and influence: The relationship between the Xie family, the Canal Gang, and the county government shows how commerce, official authority, and criminal or semi-legal power overlap in unstable times.
• Family loyalty: Xie Xiaoyu’s affection contrasts with Mai Qiuyun’s disdain and emphasizes the support Xie An receives from those close to him.
• Suspicion and political tension: Xu Zhengyang’s polite questions conceal an investigation into A Shan’s disappearance, creating a threatening atmosphere beneath the cordial visit.
• Practical preparation: Xie An’s decision to carry a saber reflects his increasing awareness that personal strength must be matched with caution and readiness.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie An and Chen Mo: A training spar reveals the overwhelming power of Xie An’s newly mastered forms and earns Chen Mo’s admiration and astonishment.
• Xie An and Li Dao: Xie An relies on Li Dao to obtain and carry his heavy saber, showing their practical master-servant relationship.
• Xie An and Xie Xiaoyu: Their affectionate exchange demonstrates sibling closeness; Xie An indulges her while she openly supports him.
• Xie An and Mai Wenshan: Their greeting is friendly, but the Canal Gang leader’s control over salt transportation makes the relationship strategically important.
• Xie An and Xu Zhengyang: Xu presents himself as concerned and apologetic, but his questions about Zhou Yun and A Shan place Xie An under subtle pressure.
• Xie An and Mai Qiuyun: Their interaction is not yet direct, but her disparaging remarks reveal a sharp break from their former childhood relationship.
• The chapter ends with Xu Zhengyang asking whether Xie An has seen A Shan, leaving the truth of her whereabouts—and Xie An’s response—as the immediate unresolved conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Zhengyang visits the Xie Residence under the pretense of investigating Zhou Yun’s death, but his true goal is to discover the whereabouts of his adopted daughter, A Shan, who is being held in the Xie family’s West Courtyard.
• Xie An deliberately pretends to panic when discussing A Shan, allowing Xu Zhengyang to realize that the Xie family knows more than they admit. Xie An believes Xu has taken the bait and plans to use this to uncover the person behind A Shan.
• Mai Wenshan discusses transporting the Xie family’s coarse salt by water. He raises the freight price by three percent, exploiting the Xie family’s recent troubles.
• Xie An learns that the Canal Gang controls the waterways, forcing the Xie family to surrender a significant portion of its salt profits and making the family vulnerable to Mai Wenshan.
• Mai Qiuyun tries to dissuade Xie An from attending Su Hongxiu’s poetry gathering because of Hongxiu’s status as a courtesan. Xie An responds sarcastically, openly embracing his reputation as a brothel patron, and invites Qiuyun to attend with him. Disgusted, she leaves.
• Xie An discusses marriage with his father, Xie Zhengtang. Though he says he would accept the marriage to Mai Qiuyun for the sake of the family business, his father tells him not to force himself into a match he dislikes.
• Xie An asks about Daoist Master Yusu’s relationship with his father. Xie Zhengtang refuses to explain but assures him that Yusu is completely trustworthy.
• At the end of the chapter, Xie An orders Li Dao to move A Shan secretly to Cloudwater Residence, near Red Sleeve House, where she will be imprisoned and guarded.

Character Developments

• Xie An demonstrates increasing strategic intelligence and maturity. He manipulates Xu Zhengyang by pretending to be nervous, recognizes the danger of depending on the Canal Gang, and begins taking responsibility for the family’s political and commercial problems.
• Xie An’s attitude toward Mai Qiuyun hardens. He sees her as controlling, judgmental, and overly concerned with directing his private life, making him increasingly unwilling to marry her.
• Xie Zhengtang becomes more impressed with his son. He notices that Xie An has moved beyond his former frivolity and is now willing to consider family interests and long-term ambitions.
• Mai Qiuyun reveals her strong disapproval of Xie An’s association with courtesans and her self-important, critical personality.
• Xu Zhengyang appears outwardly righteous but is shown to be probing the Xie family for information about A Shan.
• Mai Wenshan uses his control over the waterways to pressure the Xie family economically while also pursuing a marriage alliance between Mai Qiuyun and Xie An.

Significant Themes

• Strategic deception and political maneuvering: Xie An uses controlled displays of fear and misinformation to manipulate Xu Zhengyang.
• Family duty versus personal preference: Xie An is willing to consider marrying someone he dislikes if it benefits the Xie family, though his father ultimately prioritizes his happiness and ambitions.
• Economic dependence and vulnerability: The Xie family’s reliance on the Canal Gang exposes the danger of allowing another power to control a vital business route.
• Maturity and changing identity: Xie An’s transition from a reckless young man to a calculating, responsible heir is emphasized throughout the chapter.
• Power and control in relationships: Mai Qiuyun’s attempt to regulate Xie An’s behavior clashes with his independence, while the proposed marriage is revealed to be as much a commercial alliance as a personal relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie An and Xu Zhengyang: Xie An intentionally acts frightened, prompting Xu to suspect that the family is concealing A Shan’s location.
• Xie An and Mai Qiuyun: Their exchange exposes their incompatibility. Qiuyun condemns his lifestyle, while Xie An mocks her judgmental attitude.
• Xie An and Xie Zhengtang: Father and son discuss the Canal Gang, the proposed marriage, Xie An’s personal feelings, and the investigation into A Shan. Their relationship grows more trusting and respectful.
• Xie Zhengtang and Mai Wenshan: Mai’s business proposal highlights his leverage over the Xie family and his attempt to strengthen that leverage through marriage.
• Xie An and Li Dao: Xie An gives Li Dao a covert order to relocate and guard A Shan, showing that he is actively taking control of the investigation.

Chapter Summary: “Bone Tempering”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mai Wenshan and his daughter, Mai Qiuyun, leave the Xie Residence in a heavily guarded carriage after discussing the Xie family’s wealth, influence, and salt license.
• Mai Wenshan reminds Qiuyun that the Canal Gang’s rise depended heavily on loans from the Xie Money House. He warns her not to disrespect the Xie family publicly, even though she now believes the Canal Gang may soon surpass them.
• Mai Qiuyun openly dismisses Xie Mingxi as a wastrel with superficial martial strength, comparing him unfavorably to Li Wenyu, who has recommended her for admission to Returning Dragon Abbey.
• Mai Wenshan suggests that their marriage arrangement with Mingxi need not be broken directly. Instead, they can wait for the Xie family to weaken through the dispute involving Xu Zhengyang.
• Xu Zhengyang’s adopted daughter, A Shan, was apparently imprisoned by Xie Mingxi after Zhou Yun attempted to harm him with a Yin Cloth Doll. Xu, a powerful and well-connected chief clerk, is expected to retaliate.
• After leaving the Xie Residence, Xu Zhengyang secretly observes the estate from Auspicious Cloud Tea House and orders his men to monitor Xie An and his trusted subordinates.
• Two days later, Xie An rises before dawn to practice martial arts. He combines the Taishan Fist, Five Animal True Form Diagram, and Red Sun Saber Technique, displaying strength far beyond Zhou Ji’s level.
• After seven days of medicinal baths and intensive training, Xie An finally breaks through the Bone Tempering stage when his tendons and bones resonate together.

Character Developments

• Mai Qiuyun has grown arrogant and ambitious after entering the Manifest Force realm and gaining a chance to attend Returning Dragon Abbey. She now views Xie Mingxi as beneath her and favors the more powerful Li Wenyu.
• Mai Wenshan remains politically cautious. He understands the importance of loyalty, reputation, and repaying favors, but is willing to exploit the Xie family’s legal troubles to escape the marriage alliance without openly betraying them.
• Xu Zhengyang shifts from investigating the incident to actively plotting against Xie Mingxi, using surveillance to seek evidence or an opportunity to retaliate.
• Xie An demonstrates rapidly increasing martial prowess and determination. His training culminates in his breakthrough into the third stage, Bone Tempering.
• Zhou Ji realizes how dramatically Xie An has surpassed him, emphasizing Xie An’s rapid growth.

Significant Themes

• Power, loyalty, and reputation: Mai Wenshan stresses that personal and political relationships depend not only on money but also on loyalty and face.
• Ambition and social advancement: Mai Qiuyun’s potential admission to Returning Dragon Abbey fuels her confidence and causes her to reconsider her ties to the Xie family.
• Political maneuvering: The Mai family and Xu Zhengyang both seek to exploit the conflict surrounding Xie Mingxi for their own advantage.
• Martial cultivation and perseverance: Xie An’s breakthrough shows that inherited techniques and medicinal support are not enough; sustained physical training is necessary to advance one’s martial realm.
• The fragility of power: Despite the Xie family’s wealth and imposing residence, rivals believe its position can be undermined through official pressure and internal disputes.

Character Interactions

• Mai Wenshan repeatedly counsels Mai Qiuyun to maintain outward respect toward the Xie family, while Qiuyun argues that her growing status makes the marriage unnecessary.
• Their conversation reveals the tension between practical loyalty and personal ambition.
• Xu Zhengyang’s men obey his orders to watch the Xie Residence, showing that he is quietly preparing action against Xie Mingxi.
• Xie An’s martial practice is observed by Qiu Lan and Zhou Ji, whose shock highlights the gulf between his former reputation and his current strength.
• The chapter ends with Xie An achieving tendon-and-bone resonance, officially breaking through into the Bone Tempering stage.

Chapter Summary: “Please Step Into the Urn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An completes his first Bone Opening after previously tempering all 485 great tendons.
• Fifty of his bones open and resonate, immediately placing him at the level of an ordinary martial artist who has reached Perfected Bone Tempering.
• He discovers that Bone Opening dramatically increases his strength. By channeling the power of his tendons and bones into his fist, he produces explosive attacks and estimates that he could now kill Li Dao.
• His Qi and Blood and Spirit values rise from 1.9 to 2.3, apparently because of his breakthrough into Bone Tempering. However, he worries that these attributes are increasing too slowly and limiting the martial arts he can analyze and develop.
• After bathing and dressing, Xie An leaves his residence with Zhou Ji. He also takes A Shan’s soft sword, intending to use it as a message to Xu Wenjie.
• At Cloudwater Residence, Xie An meets Chen Mo and Daoist Master Yusu. They confirm that suspicious people have been watching the compound.
• Xie An reveals his plan: attend a poetry gathering at Red Sleeve House and sell A Shan’s soft sword to Xu Wenjie. Recognizing the weapon, Xu Wenjie should realize that A Shan is being held at Cloudwater Residence and attempt a rescue.
• Xie An assigns Xie Yu to secretly follow Xu Wenjie and investigate the truth behind the situation, while Chen Mo, Li Dao, and Zhou Ji accompany him to Red Sleeve House.

Character Developments

• Xie An advances into Bone Tempering and opens fifty bones in his first attempt, greatly increasing his combat power.
• His confidence grows, and he begins considering the possibility of opening all 206 bones—something regarded as nearly impossible by ordinary martial artists—but he remains cautious and reminds himself to progress step by step.
• Xie An demonstrates increasing strategic ability. Rather than confronting Xu Wenjie directly, he constructs a trap designed to reveal Xu Wenjie’s motives and expose the larger situation surrounding A Shan.
• Xie Yu is entrusted with a covert investigative mission, showing Xie An’s confidence in her abilities.
• Chen Mo, Li Dao, and Zhou Ji continue serving as Xie An’s capable companions and protectors.
• Daoist Master Yusu has arrived to help oversee Cloudwater Residence, indicating that Xie An’s plans now involve outside allies and more organized preparations.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus martial rank: Xie An’s enormous tendon and bone strength allows him to challenge opponents in higher realms, emphasizing that combat ability depends on technique, experience, and physical power—not realm alone.
• Human potential and exceptional talent: Opening fifty bones is already an achievement equivalent to Perfected Bone Tempering, yet Xie An dares to aim for opening every bone in his body.
• Caution amid ambition: Although Xie An is extraordinarily gifted, he avoids overconfidence and recognizes that each further breakthrough may become more difficult.
• Power and limitations: The rise in Qi and Blood and Spirit illustrates both the benefits of advancement and the restrictions placed on Xie An’s ability to deconstruct and develop martial arts.
• Strategy and deception: The soft sword serves as bait in a carefully planned maneuver, showing that Xie An relies on manipulation and information gathering as much as force.

Character Interactions

• Xie An and Qiu Lan: Qiu Lan helps dress and groom him after his breakthrough, praising his energetic appearance. Xie An instructs her to watch over Osmanthus.
• Xie An and Zhou Ji: Xie An orders Zhou Ji to bring his saber and drive him to Cloudwater Residence, reinforcing their master-servant relationship.
• Xie An and Li Dao: Li Dao reports on the situation at Cloudwater Residence and confirms that Chen Mo and Daoist Master Yusu are inside.
• Xie An and Chen Mo: Xie An asks Chen Mo about surveillance and assigns her to accompany him to Red Sleeve House.
• Xie An and Daoist Master Yusu: Xie An greets Yusu and relies on her presence to help oversee the safehouse.
• Xie An and Xie Yu: He explains the plan involving A Shan’s soft sword and entrusts Xie Yu with following Xu Wenjie and uncovering the truth.
• Xie An and Xu Wenjie: Although they do not meet directly in the chapter, Xie An deliberately prepares an encounter designed to provoke Xu Wenjie into revealing his connection to A Shan.

Chapter Summary: “Xu Zhengyang Made His Move”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An arrives at Red Sleeve House with Chen Mo, leaving Li Dao and Zhou Ji outside.
• He visits Su Hongxiu, the renowned “flower queen,” who had previously received enormous sums from the original Xie An.
• Su Hongxiu gives Xie An lavish personal attention, provoking jealousy among the gathered scholars and talented young men.
• Xie An deliberately displays A Shan’s sword and claims it was taken from a female bandit who tried to kill him.
• Su Hongxiu praises the sword and subtly emphasizes its rarity and collectible value, prompting Xu Wenjie to become interested in purchasing it.
• Xie An manipulates Xu Wenjie into raising his offer from one hundred to three hundred taels, then demands a written agreement and personal seal before handing over the sword.
• Xu Wenjie returns home to obtain the agreement. His uncle, Xu Zhengyang, sees the sword and recognizes it as A Shan’s weapon.
• By connecting the sword with Xie An’s earlier suspicious behavior, the transfer of guards, and the prisoner at Cloudwater Residence, Xu Zhengyang deduces that A Shan is being held there.
• Believing Xie An has taken all the guards away and that the Xie Household is vulnerable, Xu Zhengyang disguises himself and sets out to rescue A Shan.

Character Developments

• Xie An: Demonstrates increasing cleverness and confidence. He maintains the original owner’s crude, extravagant persona while secretly using Su Hongxiu’s assistance to bait Xu Wenjie and reveal information about A Shan.
• Su Hongxiu: Shows herself to be perceptive and highly skilled at reading men. She recognizes Xie An’s intention to draw attention to the sword and cooperates by praising its quality and rarity.
• Xu Wenjie: Remains easily influenced by vanity and desire. His attraction to the sword causes him to overlook the possibility that its appearance could expose sensitive information.
• Xu Zhengyang: Proves observant and strategically minded. He pieces together several clues and decides to act once he confirms A Shan’s location.
• A Shan: Although absent from the chapter, her sword serves as the crucial evidence revealing that she is imprisoned at Cloudwater Residence.

Significant Themes

• Deception and strategic disguise: Xie An hides his intelligence behind the image of a spendthrift playboy, while Xu Zhengyang disguises himself to infiltrate the Xie Household’s territory.
• Manipulation through desire: Xie An exploits Xu Wenjie’s greed and collector’s pride, while Su Hongxiu uses charm and praise to guide the conversation.
• Appearance versus reality: The scene presents Xie An as vulgar and frivolous, but his actions reveal careful planning. Likewise, a seemingly casual social gathering becomes part of a larger contest of schemes.
• Risk and unintended consequences: Xie An’s attempt to use the sword as bait succeeds in influencing Xu Wenjie, but it also unintentionally gives Xu Zhengyang the information needed to locate A Shan.
• Power and vulnerability: The Xie Household appears powerful, yet its security is weakened when key guards leave, giving Xu Zhengyang an opportunity to act.

Character Interactions

• Xie An and Su Hongxiu engage in flirtatious banter, with Su Hongxiu publicly favoring him over the other guests.
• Su Hongxiu supports Xie An’s scheme by praising his sword and encouraging Xu Wenjie’s interest.
• Xie An and Xu Wenjie bargain over the sword, with Xie An deliberately driving up the price and imposing conditions that force Xu Wenjie to return home.
• Xu Wenjie unintentionally reveals to Xu Zhengyang that Xie An brought his guards away from Cloudwater Residence.
• Xu Zhengyang uses the information from Xu Wenjie, combined with his own observations, to launch a covert rescue attempt.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At Red Sleeve House, Su Hongxiu focuses entirely on Xie An, causing the other talented young men to feel ignored and resentful.
• Zhang Yunfan watches Xie An with hatred because he blames him for the death of his elder brother, Zhang Yunhe, who was beaten to death by a servant of the Xie Household.
• Chen Mo reprimands her younger brother Chen Bin for visiting a brothel and for underestimating Xie An. Chen Bin, jealous and contemptuous, accuses her of becoming Xie An’s lackey before storming away.
• Chen Mo realizes that Xie An’s visit is part of a larger trap: he intends to give A Shan’s sword to Xu Wenjie, use it to attract Xu Zhengyang’s attention, and lure Xu Zhengyang toward A Shan at Cloudwater Residence, where Daoist Master Yusu is waiting. She recognizes that Xie An is deliberately hunting a ninth-rank registrar.
• Su Hongxiu asks Xie An to redeem her from the brothel, claiming that bizarre incidents have been occurring there. Several courtesans have apparently gone mad and bitten or eaten their male guests, and one even attacked guards and other courtyards.
• Xie An suspects something is wrong with Hongxiu’s story, especially because she offers to pay for her own redemption rather than asking him for money.
• Xu Wenjie returns with the receipt and banknotes connected to Xie An’s plan. He confirms that his third uncle found A Shan’s sword valuable, meaning Xie An’s immediate objective has succeeded.
• When Xie An tells Xu Wenjie about the deaths at Red Sleeve House, Xu dismisses the story and insists he has visited frequently without seeing anything unusual. The contradiction between Xu and Su reminds Xie An of similarly conflicting accounts he encountered in Li Family Village.
• Using Qi-Gazing, Xie An confirms that Xu Wenjie’s Vital Breath is rising, suggesting that Xu himself is alive. However, he then sees that the young poets outside possess only motionless death qi.
• Su Hongxiu returns with maids and servants, but Xie An discovers that they also possess death qi, while Hongxiu’s qi is sinking. He realizes that the entire scene may be populated by dead or nonhuman beings.

2. Character Developments

• Xie An: Demonstrates increasing suspicion and strategic intelligence. He successfully advances his plan involving A Shan’s sword, but his supernatural perception reveals a far more dangerous situation at Red Sleeve House.
• Chen Mo: Shows loyalty and growing admiration for Xie An. She understands the depth of his schemes and worries that her brother is too arrogant to recognize Xie An’s true abilities.
• Chen Bin: Becomes increasingly resentful and dismissive of Xie An, believing him to be a spoiled playboy. His arrogance contrasts sharply with Chen Mo’s fear and respect.
• Su Hongxiu: Appears affectionate and vulnerable while asking Xie An for rescue, but her inconsistent story and ominous qi make her motives—and possibly her identity—deeply suspicious.
• Xu Wenjie: Remains carefree and excited about the successful sword transaction. His apparent ignorance of the brothel’s horrors creates a disturbing contrast with Su Hongxiu’s account.
• Zhang Yunfan: His grief over his brother’s death hardens into open hatred toward Xie An, setting up a potential future conflict.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: The contradictory stories about Red Sleeve House suggest that appearances cannot be trusted.
• Human versus inhuman: The discovery of death qi among the guests, servants, and possibly Hongxiu introduces the chapter’s central horror: the people in the brothel may not be human.
• Strategic manipulation: Xie An’s carefully connected plans show his ability to use people and events to trap a powerful enemy.
• Arrogance versus insight: Chen Bin’s contempt for Xie An contrasts with Chen Mo’s recognition of his terrifying intelligence and potential.
• Grief and revenge: Zhang Yunfan’s hatred is fueled by his brother’s death and may drive him to oppose Xie An.
• Corruption beneath beauty and pleasure: Red Sleeve House, outwardly a refined venue for poetry and entertainment, hides violence, death, and supernatural danger.

4. Character Interactions

• The poets complain about Hongxiu’s favoritism toward Xie An, while Zhang Yunfan silently glares at him.
• Chen Mo argues with Chen Bin over his visit to the brothel and his misunderstanding of Xie An.
• Su Hongxiu flirts with and pleads to Xie An, asking him to redeem her and take her away.
• Xu Wenjie interrupts with the sword transaction, then urges Xie An to stay for lunch.
• Xie An privately warns Xu Wenjie about the strange deaths, but Xu rejects the claim as an attempt by Hongxiu to manipulate Xie An.
• The chapter ends with Xie An silently recognizing that the apparently lively Red Sleeve House is filled with death qi, placing him in immediate supernatural danger.

Chapter Summary: “Ghostly Grounds (Monthly Ticket Request)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An attends the poetry gathering at Red Sleeve House with Xu Wenjie, Zhang Yunfan, Chen Bin, and Chen Mo. Because the day seems ordinary and Qi-Gazing consumes significant energy, he initially does not inspect the surroundings.
• While speaking with the courtesan Su Hongxiu, Xie An realizes that she is an evil spirit whose Cocoon Force has likely influenced him. He immediately uses the Spirit Preservation Method, mentally summoning the red-cloth statue to dispel the influence and restore his clarity.
• Xie An suspects that Xu Wenjie, a frequent visitor to Red Sleeve House, may also have been affected—or perhaps deliberately spared—by Su Hongxiu’s power. He urgently takes Xu Wenjie and Chen Mo toward the exit, ordering everyone not to speak.
• At the main gate, Xie discovers that the two gate guards are already dead, their bodies filled only with Dead Breath. Zhou Ji and Li Dao, however, still appear to be alive.
• Su Hongxiu suddenly appears outside the gate, despite having previously been inside. To prevent Xu Wenjie from addressing her and possibly triggering danger, Xie kicks him and pretends that he is merely eager to spend more time with her.
• Su Hongxiu repeatedly invites Xie to remain for lunch, offering lotus-seed and lily soups. Realizing she will not simply let him leave, Xie invents an excuse: he asks her to buy Peach Blossom Brew and beef brisket from shops some distance away.
• Su Hongxiu accepts the errand but warns Xie to wait for her return. Once she disappears, Xie leads everyone toward the rear gate in a desperate attempt to escape.
• As they pass through the brothel, Xie sees numerous courtyards filled with apparently living guests and courtesans reciting poetry and conversing. Qi-Gazing reveals that every person inside possesses Dead Breath: the entire establishment is populated by the dead, just as in the earlier tragedy at Li Family Village.
• At the locked rear gate, Madam Jin appears and casually tells Xie that Su Hongxiu has gone to buy wine. This is impossible, since Su Hongxiu went in the opposite direction. Xie uses Qi-Gazing on Madam Jin, and the chapter ends with him horrified by what he sees.

Character Developments

• Xie An demonstrates increased experience and composure when confronting supernatural threats. Rather than panic openly, he suppresses fear, uses the Spirit Preservation Method, deceives Su Hongxiu, and carefully manages the others’ behavior.
• His limited cultivation remains important: although he possesses Qi-Gazing and Withered Abyss, he is only at the Bone-Tempering stage and does not dare attack an unknown evil spirit directly.
• Xu Wenjie remains oblivious to the danger and interprets Su Hongxiu’s behavior romantically and socially. His confusion contrasts sharply with Xie An’s awareness.
• Chen Mo, despite being a Manifest Force Martial Master, recognizes Xie An’s authority and obeys his orders without argument. She gradually senses that the situation is abnormal.
• Su Hongxiu is revealed as an intelligent and potentially controlling supernatural entity. She maintains a charming, hospitable appearance while attempting to keep Xie An inside.
• Madam Jin’s appearance at the rear gate suggests that she may be part of the same supernatural phenomenon, or may possess knowledge and abilities beyond those of an ordinary brothel madam.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Red Sleeve House appears lively and welcoming, but its occupants are dead and animated by Dead Breath.
• The danger of speech and social rituals: Answering a ghost’s questions or engaging normally with it can expose a person to supernatural influence. Ordinary acts—conversation, hospitality, poetry, and dining—become traps.
• Knowledge as survival: Xie An’s Qi-Gazing and prior experience at Li Family Village allow him to recognize the horror hidden beneath the brothel’s pleasant façade.
• Fear restrained by strategy: The chapter emphasizes that survival depends less on brute strength than on remaining calm, concealing one’s suspicions, and creating an opportunity to escape.
• The repetition of supernatural disasters: The situation mirrors Li Family Village, implying that these incidents may be connected or part of a broader pattern of undead communities and evil spirits.

Character Interactions

• Xie An orders Xu Wenjie, Chen Mo, Zhou Ji, and Li Dao to remain silent and stay close, prioritizing control and survival over explanation.
• Xu Wenjie repeatedly defends Su Hongxiu and criticizes Xie An for trying to leave, creating tension between his ignorance and Xie An’s concealed alarm.
• Xie An verbally placates Su Hongxiu, pretending to want wine and food while secretly using the request to send her away.
• Su Hongxiu responds flirtatiously and insistently, making clear that she wants Xie An to remain at Red Sleeve House.
• Madam Jin’s contradictory knowledge of Su Hongxiu’s movements intensifies the group’s fear and suggests that the entire brothel operates under unnatural, possibly shared rules.

Chapter Summary: “Redeeming Sister Hongxiu’s Freedom”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie An realizes that Madam Jin is not merely dead but possessed by evil qi. Her partially “sinking” qi indicates that she has become an enforcer for Su Hongxiu, much as the Grain-Collecting Ghost once used supernatural power—but apparently on a more terrifying scale.
• Xie An infers that Su Hongxiu’s transformation into an evil entity may be connected to his supposed obligation to “redeem her freedom.” This phrase has been repeated by Madam Jin, Hongxiu, and others, despite never being mentioned when Xu Wenjie originally invited him.
• Fearing what will happen if Su Hongxiu returns, Xie An attempts to leave before she comes back. Madam Jin blocks him, claiming that Hongxiu ordered her to watch him.
• Realizing he cannot delay, Xie An suddenly attacks Madam Jin with the Withered Abyss, crushing her head and killing her instantly. He orders Zhou Ji to open the gate.
• Xu Wenjie is horrified by Xie An’s actions and protests that Madam Jin was an important employee of the Xu Household. He plans to tell his father that bandits killed her and insists that such violence cannot happen again.
• When the gate opens, everyone discovers an identical Madam Jin sitting outside, calmly eating sunflower seeds and inviting them to remain for dinner. Xu Wenjie collapses in terror, while the others compare the duplicate with Madam Jin’s corpse and realize the supernatural nature of the brothel.
• Using Qi-Gazing, Xie An confirms that the Madam Jin outside possesses the same deathly aura and partially sinking qi. He concludes that everyone in Red Sleeve House has already been killed by Su Hongxiu and is being animated by Awakening Power. Madam Jin appears to be a stronger enforcer who can use some of an evil entity’s abilities.
• Before Xie An can draw his broadsword, the doors of the surrounding courtyards open. More than a hundred courtesans, servants, guests, and attendants emerge and form a procession.
• Dongju leads the crowd and repeats the demand that Xie An stay for dinner and redeem Su Hongxiu’s freedom. The entire gathering joins in chanting the same phrase, turning the brothel into a collective supernatural trap.

Character Developments

• Xie An: Demonstrates both courage and ruthless decisiveness. Though frightened by the duplicate Madam Jin and the growing crowd, he maintains control through the Spirit Preservation Method and analyzes the situation rationally. His willingness to kill Madam Jin shows that he understands hesitation could be fatal.
• Su Hongxiu: Becomes increasingly threatening despite being absent. Her influence controls the entire brothel, and her transformation into an evil entity appears connected to Xie An and the redemption of her freedom.
• Madam Jin: Revealed as an undead or possessed enforcer rather than an ordinary procuress. Even after Xie An destroys one version of her, an identical duplicate appears outside, suggesting that Su Hongxiu’s power can recreate or control the dead.
• Xu Wenjie: Initially treats the situation as a business dispute and assumes Xie An has merely murdered an employee. His confidence collapses when he sees the second Madam Jin, revealing his vulnerability and inability to understand the supernatural danger.
• Zhou Ji: Though briefly paralyzed by fear, he responds to Xie An’s orders and assists him by opening the gate and handing over his blade.
• Dongju and the other residents: Lose their individuality as they become part of a synchronized, controlled crowd serving Su Hongxiu’s will.

Significant Themes

• The danger of supernatural entrapment: Red Sleeve House is revealed to be a sealed domain in which escape is nearly impossible and every resident may already be dead.
• Loss of identity and agency: The inhabitants act as extensions of Su Hongxiu, repeating the same demand in unison rather than speaking as independent people.
• Death and false life: The duplicate Madam Jin and the animated residents blur the boundary between the living and the dead.
• Fear versus self-control: Xie An’s ability to suppress panic and rely on spiritual discipline contrasts with the terror and paralysis experienced by Xu Wenjie and the others.
• Debt, freedom, and responsibility: The repeated demand that Xie An redeem Hongxiu’s freedom suggests a hidden moral or supernatural obligation and raises questions about whether his past actions contributed to her corruption.

Character Interactions

• Madam Jin physically restrains Xie An and pressures him emotionally by invoking Hongxiu’s affection.
• Xie An deceives Madam Jin into relaxing her guard, then attacks her without warning.
• Xu Wenjie confronts Xie An over Madam Jin’s “death,” but his worldly concerns become meaningless when he sees her supernatural duplicate.
• Xie An relies on Zhou Ji for practical assistance, ordering him to open the gate and provide his weapon.
• Dongju and the assembled residents collectively address Xie An, transforming a personal request from Hongxiu into a terrifying, unified command: “Redeem Sister Hongxiu’s freedom.”

Plot and key events

• Xie An and his companions find Red Sleeve House transformed into a supernatural trap. Its residents move like corpses, repeating Dongju’s demand: “Buy Sister Hongxiu’s freedom!”
• Recognizing similarities to the haunting at Li Family Village, Xie An orders everyone to flee. He kills Madam Jin as she blocks the exit, but her headless body pursues them until they escape the alley—where the ordinary, sunlit street returns and the apparition disappears.
• Xie An concludes that Red Sleeve House is haunted, with Su Hongxiu likely the source. He warns Xu Wenjie that the Specter may follow the connection from the brothel to the Xu Household and tells him to alert his family, investigate recent strange events, and send word to the Xie Residence.
• Chen Mo worries about Abin, who had visited Su Hongxiu’s courtyard. Xie An agrees to examine him if needed. He plans to return to Cloudwater Residence and consult Daoist Master Yusu.
• As they leave, Xie An realizes Su Hongxiu’s repeated pleas for him to buy her freedom may mean that he, too, could be targeted.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie An stays decisive under pressure, leads the escape, and prioritizes his companions’ safety. Though troubled by the possibility of another haunting, he resolves to help Xu Wenjie because they are friends, despite past hostility between their families.
• Xu Wenjie shifts from terror during the escape to panic about the danger reaching his household. Xie An steadies him and gives him practical instructions.
• Chen Mo shows concern for Abin and relies on Xie An’s judgment, while Xie An responds with trust and support.
• Zhou Ji and Li Dao recognize the danger and express relief and gratitude toward Xie An. Li Dao questions why Xie An would help the Xu family, prompting Xie An to distinguish Xu Wenjie from his enemies.

Significant themes

• Haunting and contagion: Specters can pursue connections between places, victims, and their owners, making the danger difficult to contain.
• Loyalty and compassion: Xie An chooses to help a friend even when doing so may expose him to further risk.
• Fear and uncertainty: Escaping the immediate threat brings little comfort; the haunting’s reach and rules remain unclear.
• Ordinary life beside the supernatural: The sharp contrast between the freezing, desolate alley and the bustling street underscores how easily hidden horrors can intrude on everyday life.

Xu Zhengyang finds Cloudwater Residence deserted except for A Shan, whom Xie An’s men have left badly abused: her legs are bound and both arms are gone. He rescues her and carries her to Returning Dragon Abbey, hoping she can shelter in his wife Chen Tieniang’s meditation chamber while she is away.
A Shan worries that she has endangered her adoptive parents and asks why Xu Zhengyang was forced to target the Xie Household’s young master. At the abbey, they encounter Xu’s former master, a white-bearded Daoist in red robes. Xu kneels and begs him to spare A Shan. The Daoist agrees—then kills her with his broom handle. He reveals that A Shan’s actions at the Zhou Residence exposed their scheme, and that Xu’s rescue has now drawn him directly into events.
The Daoist orders Xu to fetch his elder brother and claim he came to request mediation between the Xu and Xie households. He plans to bring A Shan’s corpse to Cloudwater Residence and frame her death as Xu killing her in anger. To protect the Xu family and Chen Tieniang, Xu must die as part of the cover story. Xu submits, and the Daoist declares their master-disciple relationship ended.
Character developments and relationships: Xu’s fierce devotion to A Shan drives him to risk defying the powerful Xie Household, but he remains terrified and obedient before his former master. A Shan, despite her suffering, tries to protect her parents and accept responsibility; her loyalty and affection make her death especially cruel. The Daoist’s gentle demeanor masks ruthless control. Xu and Chen Tieniang’s childlessness explains their deep attachment to their adopted daughter, while A Shan’s concern for them underscores their family bond.
Themes: The chapter explores parental love and sacrifice, loyalty, coercion, and the danger of challenging powerful forces. Its central irony is that Xu’s attempt to save A Shan only gives the mastermind an opportunity to kill her and manipulate the consequences.

Xie An learned that Xu Zhengyang had taken A Shan to Returning Dragon Abbey, then joined a mediation with the Xu Household and abbey master Hua Qianxiong. The meeting ended when Xu Zhengyang slit his own throat in front of Xie An, while Hua Qianxiong remained calm.

• Xie Yu told Xie An that Xu Zhengyang had taken A Shan to Ten Directions Hall at Returning Dragon Abbey, where Chen Tieniang cultivated in seclusion.
• Xie Yu revealed that Hua Qianxiong had come to Cloudwater Residence to mediate between the Xie and Xu households.
• Hua Qianxiong introduced himself to Xie An and ordered Xu Zhengyang to apologize.
• Xu Zhengyang knelt and claimed he had used A Shan to plant a Yin Cloth Doll in Xie An's home to damage the Xie Household's fortune.
• As Xie An tried to help Xu Zhengyang up, Xu Zhengyang drew a dagger and slit his own throat, shocking everyone except Hua Qianxiong.

Chapter Summary: “The Xu Household Massacre”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Cloudwater Residence, Daoist Master Hua Qianxiong mediates the conflict between the Xu and Xie households. Xu Zhengyang is found guilty of poisoning and harming Xie Mingxi, then abruptly kills himself, claiming responsibility for the trouble.
• Hua warns both families not to seek further revenge and promises to restrain Xu Zhengyang’s wife, Chen Tieniang. Xu Zhengtai takes his brother’s body away, while Xie Zhengtang accepts the settlement despite suspecting the matter is not so simple.
• Xie An learns that A Shan’s corpse was found outside and that Xu Zhengyang supposedly killed her in a fit of rage. He suspects Xu Zhengyang sacrificed himself to conceal the true culprit.
• A Shan is revealed to have been the adopted daughter of the Zhao family’s third son, a former constable who died fighting southern raiders. This connects her to the Zhao family and potentially to the wider series of supernatural killings.
• Xie An tells Xie Yu about his encounter with Su Hongxiu at Red Sleeve House. Because he used the Spirit Preservation Method and avoided answering Su Hongxiu, he escaped the fate suffered by the victims of Li Family Village.
• Xie Yu confirms Xie An’s suspicion: Hua Qianxiong was present at Ten Directions Hall when Xu Zhengyang took A Shan there, proving that Hua was involved in the conspiracy and likely manipulated Xu Zhengyang into taking the blame.
• Xie An realizes that Hua—the man responsible for Zhao Hu’s family, Li Family Village’s massacre, and the attack on him—is now targeting the Xie Household.
• Seeking a way to defend himself against Specters, Xie An asks whether an external martial art can produce the overflowing yang energy needed to harm them. Xie Yu explains that normally only Inner Force Martial Masters can do so, leaving Xie An discouraged.
• Xie An resolves to search Yongsheng Martial Arts Hall for a suitable technique or use his Ten Thousand Questions ability to create one. He worries about Xu Wenjie’s survival after the Red Sleeve House incident.
• The next morning, Qiu Lan reports that every one of the Xu Household’s seventy-six members has been killed.

Character Developments

• Xie An becomes increasingly perceptive and determined. He correctly identifies that Xu Zhengyang’s confession was a cover-up and recognizes Hua Qianxiong as the true enemy. However, he is also forced to confront how powerless he remains against Specters and stronger martial artists.
• Xie Zhengtang suspects the official explanation but cannot openly pursue the matter because Hua’s authority and influence make resistance dangerous. His hurried departure suggests the Xie Household is under serious pressure.
• Xie Yu acknowledges Xie An’s growth, praising his judgment and mastery of the Spirit Preservation Method. She also reveals the crucial evidence implicating Hua.
• Hua Qianxiong presents himself as a fair mediator while secretly orchestrating events and eliminating witnesses or scapegoats. His calm authority masks his role as the chapter’s main antagonist.
• Xu Zhengyang dies decisively, apparently sacrificing himself to protect Hua. His death does not end the conspiracy and may have been part of Hua’s plan.
• Su Hongxiu remains a looming supernatural threat after nearly ensnaring Xie An at Red Sleeve House.

Significant Themes

• Truth concealed by sacrifice: Xu Zhengyang’s public confession appears to settle the dispute, but his death hides the identity of the real culprit.
• Power and helplessness: Social status, religious authority, martial strength, and supernatural power determine who can act openly. Xie An’s insight exceeds his current ability to fight back.
• Hidden threats within respectable institutions: Hua Qianxiong’s revered status allows him to conceal his crimes behind the appearance of justice and mediation.
• Growing supernatural danger: The threats surrounding the Xie Household are expanding, linking Specters, massacres, and powerful human conspirators.
• Family protection and escalating vengeance: The conflict moves beyond individual wrongdoing toward attacks on entire households, making the danger collective rather than personal.

Important Character Interactions

• Hua Qianxiong confronts and controls both households while presenting himself as a neutral mediator.
• Xie An and Xie Zhengtang discuss Xu Zhengyang’s suspicious death and A Shan’s murder, revealing their shared doubts.
• Xie An confides in Xie Yu about Red Sleeve House; she reassures him while explaining the limits of his current abilities.
• Xie An and Xie Yu explicitly identify Hua Qianxiong as the mastermind behind Xu Zhengyang’s actions.
• Qiu Lan’s morning announcement transforms the family’s political crisis into a full-scale massacre, leaving the Xie Household facing an even greater threat.

Plot points and events

• Xie An learns that the entire Xu Household has been massacred. At the residence, he finds the family and servants hanging upside down from a tree, their abdomens torn open and organs missing. Even Xu Zhengtai, a powerful Dark Force Martial Master, appears to have been killed without resistance.
• Searching Xu Wenjie’s room, Xie An finds a letter revealing that Su Hongxiu had asked Granny Gu, a matchmaker on a flower boat, to arrange a marriage with him.
• Xie An returns home and learns that the county office is focused on finding the Xu family’s missing fortune rather than investigating the murders.
• Xie Yu reveals that the Xu Household was deliberately targeted using a Yin Cloth Doll. Its Cocoon Force matches the one found at Red Sleeve House, suggesting someone used it to lure Su Hongxiu there. The massacre was a human-planned act, not simply a Specter’s attack.
• Xie An suspects Hua Qianxiong is behind the deaths and fears the Xie Household may be next.
• Xie Yu proposes a public ceremony at Li Family Village on the twenty-third of the month. She intends to use the Xie Household’s goddess to destroy the sources of the Specters haunting Li Family Village and Red Sleeve House. She expects Hua Qianxiong to try to stop her and vows to kill him if he comes to Wuqiao Town.
• Xie Zhengtang approves the plan and orders preparations, including setting up porridge kitchens for refugees. The ceremony will be made conspicuous to draw out their enemies.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie An is shaken by the death of a martial expert who could not defend himself. His confidence in reaching Dark Force as protection against Specters falters, and he becomes more convinced that the Xie family is in danger. He also reacts with bewilderment to Su Hongxiu’s marriage proposal.
• Xie Yu takes a decisive role, identifying the doll’s purpose and proposing a direct confrontation rather than continued hiding. Her cold resolve shows she is willing to risk a public clash with Hua Qianxiong.
• Xie Zhengtang and Uncle Shui consult with Xie Yu and support her plan, committing the household to action.
• Chen Mo asks Xie An to examine his unharmed younger brother, showing continued concern about the danger surrounding their families.

Significant themes

• Fear and vulnerability: The Xu massacre demonstrates that even a powerful martial expert may be helpless against the forces at work.
• Human evil behind supernatural horrors: The Yin Cloth Doll suggests that Specters are being manipulated as tools in a deliberate conspiracy.
• Escalation and resistance: The Xie family shifts from trying to stay safe to confronting the threat openly.
• Public spectacle as strategy: The ceremony is designed both to destroy the Specter sources and to draw Hua Qianxiong into the open.