Recaps

Li Qinwu returned to the Emperor's Palace and planned to investigate the Tenshukaku while Genpei led his army to Peach Blossom Mountain. Meanwhile, an old noble explained to Genpei that his fury on behalf of the people had driven away his fear and allowed him to wound a Giant Monster.

• Two warriors escorted Li Qinwu to Genpei's residence and told him Genpei would lead three thousand warriors against the Giant Monsters the next morning.
• Li Qinwu decided to sneak into the Tenshukaku while the palace focused on Genpei's campaign, then asked Taro to keep his return secret.
• After Taro left, Li Qinwu climbed out a window and crept toward the Emperor's sleeping quarters to hide until morning.
• At a noble's home, the old noble told Genpei that a Giant Monster fed on fear and that his courage had enabled him to wound one.
• Genpei remembered that rage at the Giant Monster's attacks on families had overcome his fear, and the old noble called drawing one's sword in fury for the common people courage.

The Great General persuaded the Emperor that Genpei posed a threat and won permission to lead the expedition against the Giant Monster himself. The Emperor then had Jade Wine delivered to Genpei, who drank it on the eve of the campaign.

• The Great General warned the Emperor that Genpei was gaining the soldiers' loyalty and might threaten the state.
• The Great General offered to lead the warriors against the Giant Monster, and the Emperor ordered him to take the troops and weapons up Peach Blossom Mountain at dawn.
• The Emperor ordered someone to give Genpei Jade Wine.
• Genpei returned home through heavy snow and found an elderly eunuch waiting with the Emperor's wine.
• Genpei drank a cup of Jade Wine, and the eunuch left with the empty flask.

Li Qinwu escaped the heavily guarded Emperor's Palace but found Genpei poisoned by Jade Wine sent by the emperor. Genpei, devastated by his ruler's betrayal, drank the rest of the wine and accepted his death.

• Li Qinwu hid as a snowman in the palace garden, spotted strange fluctuations inside the Tenshukaku, and chose not to investigate while the palace was heavily guarded.
• Li Qinwu distracted the princesses with a tale of the Snow Man, then escaped the palace and headed to Genpei House.
• Li Qinwu found Genpei gravely ill, and Taro explained that the emperor had sent Genpei poisoned Jade Wine the night before.
• Li Qinwu realized the emperor had likely poisoned Genpei out of fear of his growing prestige, while Genpei lamented that he could not sever the bonds between ruler and subject.
• Genpei toasted the emperor and drank the remaining Jade Wine.

After the Emperor’s great general returned mutilated and reported that the Giant Monster had recovered, the Emperor sent poisoned Genpei to rescue the trapped samurai. Genpei took the antidote and set out for Peach Blossom Mountain, leaving his family behind as he upheld his loyalty to the realm.

• Genpei told Li Qinwu that he had accepted the Emperor’s poisoned wine and asked him to protect his wife and child.
• The great general reported that the Giant Monster had recovered by eating people and that the Demon Horde had trapped and slaughtered the Emperor’s three thousand samurai.
• The Emperor learned that Genpei had been poisoned, then sent an antidote and ordered him to rescue the trapped samurai and kill the Giant Monster.
• Genpei accepted the pill and explained to Taro and Li Qinwu that his loyalty to the Emperor was meant to preserve the realm and its people from civil war.
• Genpei drank the antidote, donned his armor with Taro’s help, and marched toward Peach Blossom Mountain as his wife and son prayed for his safe return.

The black-armored warrior climbed Peach Blossom Mountain, where he found the remains of three thousand warriors and over two hundred Big Monsters. He confronted the transformed Giant Monster and identified him as a creature that grew stronger by feeding on fear, then drew his blade to fight.

• The black-armored warrior left Kyoto and climbed Peach Blossom Mountain past the slaughtered warriors and Big Monsters.
• The black-armored warrior reached the ruins of Peach Blossom Pavilion, where peach trees bloomed in the snow.
• The Giant Monster appeared in a transformed nine-meter body and taunted the black-armored warrior.
• The black-armored warrior explained that Horror fed on fear and accused the Giant Monster of killing his own Demon Horde to gain power.
• The Giant Monster admitted he had killed his followers and threatened to slaughter Kyoto after killing the black-armored warrior.
• The black-armored warrior drew his blade, and both prepared to fight.

The black-armored warrior fought the Giant Monster on Peach Blossom Mountain, proving that the creature’s supposedly invulnerable body could be wounded and using its growing fear against it. After evading the monster’s crushing hands, the warrior descended with his sword aimed at its neck and chest.

• The black-armored warrior dodged the Giant Monster’s stomp and revealed that he had cut the monster’s sole.
• The warrior wounded the monster’s wrist, then cut the heel of its rear leg and slowed its movements.
• The Giant Monster hurled a boulder, but the warrior dodged it and blinded the monster’s left eye with a stone.
• The warrior circled the monster and taunted it for feeling fear, while the monster grew too frightened to attack.
• The Giant Monster clapped its hands to crush the warrior, but the warrior leaped above them and brought his sword down toward its neck and chest.

The black-armored warrior grievously wounded the Giant Monster, whose strength depended on the fear he inspired. Fleeing toward Kyoto to frighten its people and heal himself, the Giant Monster was pursued by the warrior, who vowed to kill him.

• The black-armored warrior slashed a deep wound from the Giant Monster’s neck to his abdomen, causing him to lose a great deal of blood.
• The Giant Monster recalled that fear empowered his body and defense, and that he had regained his strength by killing the three thousand warriors and the other Big Monsters.
• The black-armored warrior charged again, and the terrified Giant Monster fled down the mountain, rolling to its base after his heel was cut.
• The Giant Monster headed toward Kyoto, hoping to kill residents and absorb their fear to recover, while the black-armored warrior pursued him and vowed to cut off his head.

Genpei attacked the Giant Monster in Kyoto, crippling him with a series of sword strikes until he collapsed before the gathered crowd. Genpei announced his name and sword style, then raised his blade to sever the monster’s head.

• The Giant Monster entered Kyoto, roared to spread fear, and followed it to a noble’s residence, where he tore open the building and exposed the people hiding inside.
• Genpei appeared above the Giant Monster and plunged his sword into his eye, blinding him before cutting his heel and abdomen.
• Genpei wounded the Giant Monster’s arm and repeatedly hacked into the muscles at the back of his neck until the monster collapsed from blood loss.
• Kyoto’s residents and nobles gathered to watch as Genpei stood on the Giant Monster’s back with his bloodied sword.
• Genpei introduced himself and his sword techniques, then raised his blade to strike the Giant Monster’s exposed spine.

After Genpei slew the Giant Monster, the Emperor and his ministers celebrated before remembering that the Emperor had tried to poison him. As they discussed how to eliminate Genpei, he returned to the throne hall covered in blood.

• A samurai announced that Genpei had slain the Giant Monster, and the Emperor celebrated the realm’s safety.
• The Emperor offered Genpei lavish rewards, but a minister reminded him that he had previously given Genpei poisoned wine.
• The Emperor worried that Genpei would hold a grudge, while the ministers discussed killing him with axemen or more poisoned wine.
• An eunuch announced that Genpei had returned victorious and requested an audience with the Emperor.
• The Emperor refused to see Genpei, but Genpei strode into the throne hall in bloodied black armor.

Li Qinwu disguised himself as Genpei and entered the palace, where the Emperor tried to poison him and hide behind his authority. Li Qinwu revealed he was not Genpei and killed the Emperor, leaving the officials in shock.

• The Emperor nervously welcomed the bloodied, masked warrior he believed was Genpei and ordered wine brought to him.
• The old eunuch repeatedly dropped the wine, and a civil official took the tray and urged the warrior to drink the poisoned cup.
• The masked warrior forced the civil official to drink the wine, killing him, then cut down six generals who attacked.
• The warrior killed the guards who rushed into the hall and advanced on the terrified Emperor as the officials hid.
• The warrior removed his mask, revealed himself as Li Qinwu, and stabbed the Emperor with the treasured sword.
• Li Qinwu declared that he was not Genpei and called the Emperor a dog.

The author announced the end of the Big Cut arc and explained how Tomato Novel’s recommendation system affected the lifespan of long-running novels, including Goblin and Warhammer. The author planned to continue Warhammer and later return to Search-Fight-Extract gameplay, then joked about how readers could join the Penguin Lair.

• The author said the Big Cut arc had ended and described how it had been inspired by Big Cut's story and the song "I Gave My Heart to the Bright Moon."
• The author explained that novels usually received their final Tomato recommendation at one million words, making continued writing difficult for full-time authors.
• The author said Goblin was nearing three million words and was exhausting to write, while Warhammer had passed 1.2 million words but still had a long way to go.
• The author said Warhammer would continue before the story returned to Search-Fight-Extract gameplay, and previewed Hideout upgrades involving a warship factory and specialist Tech-Priests.
• The author jokingly described two ways to join the Penguin Lair: fulfill an elaborate list of demands or read the author's profile.

Genpei urged Li Qinwu to slay the Giant Monster despite the danger that their world would be reclaimed by the Imperium, and Li Qinwu agreed. After killing the Son of Heaven, Li Qinwu claimed responsibility and went to explore the Tenshukaku, while the old eunuch said the tale would credit Genpei with slaying the monster.

• Genpei, poisoned and unable to fight, explained that the Giant Monster fed on fear and asked Li Qinwu to kill it.
• Li Qinwu warned Genpei that killing the monster could return their world to the Imperium and expose it to brutal taxes and war.
• Genpei chose freedom over being raised as livestock by the Chaos Gods, and Li Qinwu set out to slay the Giant Monster.
• Li Qinwu killed the Son of Heaven, announced himself as Inquisitor Li Qinwu, and told the ministers that the Imperium would collect taxes again.
• Li Qinwu asked the old eunuch to take him to the Tenshukaku, then clarified that Genpei should receive credit for killing the Giant Monster.
• The old eunuch agreed, saying the story of Lord Genpei slaying the Giant Monster would spread throughout the land.

Li Qinwu entered the Tenshukaku, where a black-clad ninja trapped him in the Blue Horror’s Myriad Mirrors Domain. Li Qinwu found the Horror’s true body with Warp Vision and forced it to end the illusion, returning them to the library.

• Li Qinwu found books showing that the planet’s ruling family had concealed the Imperium’s existence and recognized a Tzeentchian Warp fluctuation in the Tenshukaku.
• A black-clad ninja attacked Li Qinwu, then used a smoke bomb to transport him into a psychic space filled with mirrors.
• A Blue Horror appeared in the Myriad Mirrors Domain and taunted Li Qinwu, challenging him to find its true body.
• Li Qinwu activated Warp Vision, located the Blue Horror, and snapped one of its arms despite its denials.
• Li Qinwu summoned a golden sword of Psychic Lightning, and the frightened Blue Horror ended the illusion, returning them to the Tenshukaku library.

Li Qinwu learned that the Warp fog hid a library world where Tzeentch's servants had stored the Book of Truth and its 9,999 spells. After the Blue Horror died trying to remove the book, Li Qinwu prepared to take it himself, leaving the planet's fate uncertain.

• Li Qinwu interrogated the Blue Horror and learned that it guarded the Book of Truth for Tzeentch's scribes.
• The Blue Horror explained that the hidden planet was a library world, and that removing the Book of Truth would clear the Warp fog.
• The Blue Horror touched the book and shattered under the force of its Warp energy.
• Li Qinwu tried several ways to move the Book of Truth, but none worked.
• Li Qinwu filled himself with golden Psychic Power and reached for the book, ready to face Tzeentch's schemes.

Tzeentch tried to use the Book of Truth to turn Li Qinwu into his plaything, but the God-Emperor possessed Li Qinwu and purified the book. As the God-Emperor began to leave, Li Qinwu peppered him with questions and received a psychic slap for his trouble.

• Tzeentch watched Li Qinwu reach for the Book of Truth, expecting its stored power to corrupt him.
• The God-Emperor appeared behind Li Qinwu and poured golden power through him, purifying the Book of Truth and forcing Tzeentch to abandon it.
• Tzeentch lamented losing the book’s 9,999 spells while the God-Emperor’s power faded from Li Qinwu.
• Li Qinwu asked whether the God-Emperor had been the Roman She-Wolf, but the God-Emperor began leaving without answering.
• Li Qinwu shouted more questions about genderbent pictures and marine arthropods, and the God-Emperor’s final wisp of power smacked him with a Psychic Bitch Slap.

Li Qinwu received the God-Emperor’s blessing and discovered that the purified Book of Truth contained 9,999 safe Psychic Power spells. After deciding to contact Inquisitor Thraxol and prepare for his departure, he began laying the groundwork for a commercial empire by arranging to acquire tea seeds.

• Li Qinwu checked his new stigmata and found that the Book of Truth had been purified, leaving its 9,999 Psychic Power spells safe to use.
• Li Qinwu tested Psychic Shapeshifting, transforming first into a muscular feminine version of himself and then into a Gloriana-class Battleship.
• Li Qinwu brought Genpei’s wife and son Taro to join Yamashita Maru, then agreed to let the monk and his followers travel with him.
• Li Qinwu planned to visit Snow Flower Mountain and ask the Three-Eyed Wizards’ Astropaths to contact Inquisitor Thraxol’s fleet.
• Li Qinwu told Yamashita Maru to distribute the temple’s wealth and buy high-quality tea seeds for his future trading business.

Li Qinwu contacted Inquisitor Thraxol and learned that ten years had passed in the outside world while he was away. He returned to Agricultural World 496B and reunited with Nightingale and their two sons.

• Li Qinwu asked the Three-Eyed Wizard’s Astropaths to contact Inquisitor Thraxol and tell him that Feudal World 481’s Warp Mist had dispersed.
• Inquisitor Thraxol confirmed that he had found the planet and revealed that ten years had passed since Li Qinwu left his warship.
• Li Qinwu realized that the Warp had distorted time and worried about what had happened to his forces, Nightingale, and their children.
• Li Qinwu leaped from Snow Flower Mountain and returned to his abandoned Hideout on Agricultural World 496B.
• Li Qinwu found Nightingale and their two grown sons in a spotless white room, and Nightingale welcomed him back and invited him to eat.

After a month reconnecting with his family, Li Qinwu returned to work and learned how his planet had prospered during his absence. The planet had paid off its taxes, developed a laser-weapons industry, and repaired his Scimitar-class Frigate, which now orbited above the world.

• Li Qinwu told Li Dadan and Li Zhongdan to build their psychic power to 2,000 before attempting the Knight Mech Ascension Ritual.
• Li Qinwu comforted Li Zhongdan about his name and hairstyle, then spent the night with Nightingale.
• Li Qinwu visited Governor Zeppelin and Zeppelin to learn about the planet's condition after his ten-year absence.
• Governor Zeppelin explained that the captain's rocket trade fleet had grown to 300 ships and paid off the planet's taxes.
• Governor Zeppelin reported that the planet had become a light Industrial World with a complete laser-weapons manufacturing chain.
• Governor Zeppelin told Li Qinwu that his Scimitar-class Frigate had been repaired and was parked in low orbit.

Li Qinwu bound the repaired Scimitar-class Frigate as his mobile Hideout, named it Golden Road, and prepared to leave Agricultural World 496B to trade across the stars. Before departure, he loaded the ship with production lines and supplies, leaving him ready to begin his merchant venture.

• Li Qinwu bound the Scimitar-class Frigate as his flagship and named it Golden Road, unlocking its mobile Hideout functions.
• The captain welcomed Li Qinwu aboard and explained that Angel had arranged repairs and staffed the ship, while Norn had been promoted to captain of his company.
• After inspecting the frigate and its crew, Li Qinwu decided to set sail and returned to Agricultural World 496B to gather cargo.
• Governor Zeppelin showed Li Qinwu the planet’s laser-weapons industry, and Li Qinwu arranged to move two compact production lines aboard the Golden Road.
• Li Qinwu spent about a month installing the production lines, then filled part of the ship’s storage with lasgun raw materials and the rest with Guga Meat Cans.

Li Qinwu prepared to leave the planet after loading his Scimitar-class Frigate, promising Nightingale and their children he would return regularly and build a Knight House for their family. He also discussed plans with Governor Zeppelin to improve the planet’s cargo infrastructure, then departed with hopes of helping the world prosper.

• Li Qinwu comforted Nightingale as he watched cargo being loaded onto his frigate, promised to return once a week, and left her supplies and the children consecrated pendants.
• Li Qinwu promised Li Dadan and Li Zhongdan Knight Mechs when their psychic power could withstand 2,000 Cogitator Engines, and planned to build a Thousand-Machine Knight House loyal to him.
• Li Qinwu said goodbye to his family and visited Governor Zeppelin, complaining that the planet’s transport capacity had made loading his ship take over a month.
• Governor Zeppelin described plans for a space elevator, cargo space station, and magnetic rail launcher, funded partly through trade with the Industrial World.
• Li Qinwu urged Governor Zeppelin to develop the planet’s basic industry and said he would look for ways to make it a tax-exempt world.

Li Qinwu tested the warship’s Shipboard Factory and used its customization system to turn a standard Lasrifle into a powerful arm-mounted heavy laser weapon. He ordered two modified guns produced as his warship traveled toward the Mandeville Point.

• Li Qinwu stayed with Inquisitor Thraxol’s fleet because an Inquisitor’s name made it easier to sell goods across human factions.
• Li Qinwu watched the Shipboard Factory conduct its first manufacturing trial and learned that assigning technicians affected production output and mastercrafted rates.
• Li Qinwu used the factory’s system to replace the Lasrifle’s components with heavy parts, a Laser Cannon crystal, a superheavy barrel, an energy conduit, and a helmet-linked sensor.
• Li Qinwu added a cooling canister and configured the weapon as an arm-mounted gun for his Heavy Power Armor.
• Li Qinwu ordered two of the modified heavy laser weapons, and the factory produced them in less than half an hour.

Li Qinwu’s warship encountered a fast, unidentified vessel in the Asteroid Belt, which he and the captain identified as a pirate ship planning to seize the newly built Scimitar-class Frigate. Li Qinwu ordered the crew to prepare for a boarding battle and planned to launch himself onto the enemy ship, leaving the confrontation poised to begin.

• Li Qinwu fitted his modified guns to his Power Armor before an alarm announced first-level combat readiness.
• The captain reported that an unidentified vessel had appeared beside the warship in the Asteroid Belt and showed Li Qinwu its heavily modified hull.
• The captain judged the vessel to be a pirate ship that might exploit the warship’s small crew complement to board and capture it.
• Li Qinwu suspected the attackers were merchants who had long coveted the Frigate and ordered the crew to hold fire with its main weapons while preparing for boarding pods.
• Li Qinwu promised the crew extra pay and benefits, then ordered the captain to defend the warship while launching him in a Boarding Torpedo to attack the pirates’ ship.

Pirates launched a massive boarding assault on the Scimitar-class Frigate, where the Anti-Boarding Squad fought to defend the ship. As the battle escalated, Li Qinwu boarded a torpedo to attack the pirate vessel and disrupt the pirates’ assault at its source.

• The pirate ship launched more than a hundred Boarding Torpedoes at the Scimitar-class Frigate, and many punched through its Void Shields and hull.
• The Anti-Boarding Squad used its superior armor and low-gravity training to repel the pirates, but the attackers adapted and nearly a thousand boarded within three minutes.
• The captain deployed troops to protect the frigate’s vital facilities and asked Li Qinwu whether he was certain about boarding the enemy ship.
• Li Qinwu, wearing Heavy Power Armor, insisted on capturing the pirate ship to make its crew panic, and the captain launched his Boarding Torpedo.
• The pirate captain urged his crew to fight for rewards, and pirates crowded into the torpedo launch compartments, even killing one another for places.

Pirate captain Greyhide tried to seize a Scimitar-class Frigate, but the frigate launched a single Boarding Torpedo at his ship. Li Qinwu emerged in Heavy Power Armor and slaughtered the pirates on the artillery deck, leaving Greyhide stunned by the apparent Astartes.

• Greyhide watched his pirates board the Scimitar-class Frigate and hoped to claim it for his fleet.
• Greyhide learned that the frigate had fired a Boarding Torpedo, laughed at the threat, and ordered his crew to kill whoever came aboard.
• Li Qinwu exited the torpedo in Heavy Power Armor and entered the pirate ship's Macro Cannon deck, where the pirates mistook him for an Angel.
• Li Qinwu used his arm-mounted Lasguns and Logging Gun to kill several hundred pirates on the deck.
• Greyhide watched the slaughter through the cameras and cried out in shock that an Astartes was aboard.

Li Qinwu fought his way through the pirate landing ship toward its bridge, using his weapons and psychic abilities to defeat the pirates guarding the route. He broke into the Bridgehead and unleashed his full firepower against the defenders.

• Li Qinwu advanced through the ship’s passage and killed hundreds of pirates attacking from both directions.
• Li Qinwu detected a pirate with a Melta Bomb, used Gravity Control to push him away, and let the bomb blast open the wall to the Bridgehead.
• Li Qinwu blocked a Fixed-Position Laser Cannon’s fire with his Adamantium Shield and destroyed the cannon with Bolt Rifle rounds.
• Li Qinwu used a Gravity Tentacle to turn a pirate’s rocket launcher downward, causing it to explode at the gunner’s feet.
• Li Qinwu charged into the Bridgehead and used a Psychic Blast and his weapons to overwhelm the pirate defenders.