Chapter Summaries

Slaying Demons for Merit: I Seek Immortality Through Virtue
67 summaries

Ch. 1Transmigration

Chapter Summary: “Transmigration”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei awakens outside Yueyang County in the Great Wu Kingdom after dying in a traffic accident on his original world, Blue Star. He discovers that he has transmigrated into the body of a severely emaciated man.
  • Around him are the corpses of constables, scattered bones, and numerous graves. He attempts to walk home based on the original owner’s memories, but repeatedly returns to the same place, suggesting he is trapped in a ghostly maze.
  • A mysterious small ghost taunts him and circles him at high speed. Gao Fei tries to scare it away by threatening to become a ghost and eat it after death.
  • When he turns around, the ghost suddenly possesses him. However, the ghost is destroyed by his unusually powerful “Four-Pillar Pure-Yang Body.”
  • A system appears, announcing that the wandering spirit has been eliminated and awarding Gao Fei Merit Points. His initial lifespan is only three days, but the system grants him access to cultivation abilities.
  • Gao Fei discovers that he possesses:
    • A damaged Four-Pillar Pure-Yang Body
    • Initial-stage Blood-Qi cultivation
    • The Blood-Congealing Art
    • Six Harmonies Spear
    • Eight Blades of Breaking Edge
  • He spends all ten Merit Points to improve the Blood-Congealing Art. In his consciousness, he experiences what feels like ten years of martial training, though almost no time passes in the outside world.
  • After reaching the Middle Qi-Blood Realm and greatly improving his body, Gao Fei’s lifespan rises from three days to thirty days. His body partially recovers, but his intense cultivation leaves him desperately hungry.
  • He travels to Yueyang County, where his frightening appearance causes everyone to avoid him. The townspeople repeatedly yield their places, allowing him to reach the front of the city-entry line without paying.
  • Inside the city, Gao Fei takes two baskets of steamed buns from a shop because of his overwhelming hunger. The customers flee in terror, while the shopkeeper obediently packages the food and refuses payment.
  • The chapter ends with the shopkeeper claiming to know Gao Fei and making a strange hand signal by tapping two separated fingers on the table three times. Gao Fei asks what it means, creating a mystery about his new identity and reputation.

Character Development

  • Gao Fei begins confused, physically ruined, and too exhausted to feel much fear. His frustration and irreverent humor remain intact despite his terrifying circumstances.
  • His encounter with the ghost reveals that his body is naturally hostile to supernatural entities because of its Pure-Yang constitution.
  • After gaining the system, Gao Fei becomes more focused and pragmatic. He quickly recognizes the value of Merit Points and uses them to strengthen himself.
  • His brief but intense cultivation experience greatly increases his martial knowledge and mental maturity. He also learns that improving his abilities consumes energy and leaves him dangerously hungry.
  • Gao Fei’s frightening appearance unintentionally gives him power over ordinary people, who mistake him for a terrifying or important figure.

Significant Themes

  • Transmigration and second chances: Gao Fei receives a new life after dying, though he begins with a nearly dead body and only a few days of lifespan.
  • Survival through cultivation: The system offers him a way to extend his life and repair his body, but advancement requires resources, especially food and energy.
  • The supernatural world: Ghosts, corpses, graves, and mysterious powers establish a world where spiritual threats are common and supernatural physiques have practical importance.
  • Appearance and reputation: Gao Fei’s skeletal appearance terrifies everyone around him, allowing him to receive preferential treatment despite having no understanding of why people fear him.
  • Humor amid danger: His sarcastic threats, casual attitude toward ghosts, and confusion over the townspeople’s reactions create comic tension in an otherwise ominous setting.
  • Mystery and hidden identity: The shopkeeper’s claim that he knows Gao Fei suggests the original body belonged to someone with an established reputation or a troubling past.

Important Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and the wandering spirit: The ghost attempts to frighten and possess him, but its attack backfires when his Pure-Yang body destroys it.
  • Gao Fei and the townspeople: His appearance causes civilians to panic and willingly give up their positions, belongings, and food rather than confront him.
  • Gao Fei and the city guards: The guards behave respectfully and allow him into Yueyang County without collecting the usual entrance fee.
  • Gao Fei and the steamed-bun shopkeeper: Gao Fei takes food without paying, while the shopkeeper responds with extreme deference and claims to recognize him. The shopkeeper’s cryptic hand signal leaves Gao Fei—and the reader—uncertain about his identity and status.
Read chapter

Ch. 2Debt

Chapter Summary: “Debt”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei discovers that he has developed a habit of owing money, apparently inherited from his previous life. Penniless, he leaves the restaurant and heads west.
  • He gives two buns to a starving little girl. When the system awards him one Merit Point, he impulsively gives her nearly an entire basket of buns, but receives no additional reward.
  • Gao Fei begins questioning how the system calculates merit. He suspects it may require sincere selfless action rather than deliberate good deeds performed for rewards. If merit proves impossible to obtain, he considers resorting to violent methods such as destroying shrines and killing supernatural beings.
  • He returns to the home of his second uncle, Gao Linyue. The family treats him with concern, though Gao Linyue criticizes his past behavior: despite possessing a rare Pure Yang Constitution, Gao Fei abandoned proper conduct, lost his virginity soon after beginning martial training, and abused his position as a constable.
  • After resting, Gao Fei is summoned by Lu Xiaoliu to attend the martial hall and receive Qi-Blood Soup.
  • On the way, Lu Xiaoliu explains the world’s history and cultivation system. Immortal cultivation declined as spiritual energy thinned, allowing demons, devils, and ghosts to flourish. The Great Gan Imperial House later spread martial cultivation, which relies on physical tempering before spiritual energy can be absorbed.
  • At the martial hall, students receive medicinal Qi-Blood Soup to strengthen their blood and qi. Gao Fei drinks his own bowl, then consumes the remaining contents of the entire barrel.
  • His body absorbs the medicine with abnormal ease. Gao Fei estimates that he still needs roughly ten more portions to advance his cultivation.
  • The chapter ends with a young man accusing Instructor Gao of wasting the martial hall’s resources on “a cripple,” setting up a confrontation.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: He demonstrates generosity by helping the hungry girl, but his primary motivation remains survival and rapidly increasing his strength. He is revealed to have only one month left to live, making him willing to risk conflict to obtain cultivation resources. His unusual ability to absorb the Qi-Blood Soup suggests that his body or cultivation has changed significantly.
  • Gao Linyue: Gao Fei’s second uncle is both strict and protective. He previously secured Gao Fei a constable’s position and appears deeply disappointed by Gao Fei’s former misconduct, but he still allows him access to the martial hall’s resources.
  • Gao Fei’s second aunt: She is compassionate and attempts to soften Gao Linyue’s criticism, encouraging the family to be patient with Gao Fei.
  • Lu Xiaoliu: He serves as Gao Fei’s guide and source of information about the world, cultivation, and the martial hall. Gao Fei also begins correcting his overly formal manner of speaking.
  • Gao Yan: Gao Linyue’s sixteen-year-old son is introduced as a younger student beginning blood-and-qi training. His presence highlights the family’s concern that he should not imitate Gao Fei’s earlier behavior.
  • The unnamed young man: He appears hostile and contemptuous toward Gao Fei, openly challenging Gao Linyue’s decision to let him consume the martial hall’s medicine.

Significant Themes

  • Merit and intention: The system’s reward raises the question of whether true virtue depends on sincere motives rather than outward actions. Gao Fei’s uncertainty reflects the tension between morality and exploiting supernatural rules.
  • Debt and obligation: The title connects Gao Fei’s financial debts with broader obligations—to his family, to the martial hall, and perhaps to the system itself. His past has left others responsible for him, while his limited lifespan drives him to take whatever resources he can.
  • Survival versus morality: Gao Fei wants to act kindly, but his impending death makes cultivation his priority. The chapter presents generosity, manipulation, and violence as possible means of survival.
  • Decline of immortality and rise of martial cultivation: The world has shifted from an age of powerful immortals to one where humanity must rely on bodily strength to resist supernatural threats.
  • Talent and social inequality: Martial advancement requires expensive medicines, reinforcing the divide between the wealthy and ordinary people. Exceptional talent or service in the Martial Suppression Guard offers the only realistic path for the poor.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei interacts briefly with a waiter, revealing his unfamiliar debt-related habit.
  • He shows compassion toward the starving girl, though his expectations of receiving Merit Points complicate the sincerity of the act.
  • His reunion with his uncle and aunt combines family concern, disappointment, and attempts at guidance.
  • He directs Lu Xiaoliu during their journey, displaying a more confident and demanding personality than his predecessor.
  • At the martial hall, Gao Fei’s consumption of the entire barrel of Qi-Blood Soup shocks the instructors and creates tension with other students.
  • The final accusation against Gao Linyue and Gao Fei turns the chapter toward an impending dispute over resources, status, and Gao Fei’s legitimacy within the martial hall.
Read chapter

Ch. 3Martial Arts Hall

Chapter Summary: Martial Arts Hall

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei is confronted at the martial arts hall by Lin Shaoxiong, the arrogant second young master of the Lin Family and a recent disciple of the hall’s master.
  • Lin Shaoxiong insults Gao Fei, calling him his brother’s “dog,” and deliberately challenges him to strike. Gao Fei responds immediately, delivering a powerful slap that knocks him unconscious and leaves him bleeding.
  • When the other disciples gather, Gao Fei calmly claims that Lin Shaoxiong told him to hit him, and several witnesses support his version because they already resent the Lin brothers’ arrogance.
  • The hall’s other disciples emerge. Shi Ya refuses to attend the banquet with Lin Shaoxiong after seeing his behavior, and the eldest Lin brother leaves with her and another woman.
  • Lin Shaokun, Lin Shaoxiong’s older brother, slaps him for mishandling the situation, then warns Gao Fei not to forget that Lin Shaoxiong is a Lin family member. Gao Fei denies knowing him, provoking further hostility.
  • Lin Shaokun attempts to taunt Gao Fei by mentioning Qiu Mei and implying she will soon be taken as a concubine. Gao Fei ignores the provocation, focusing instead on obtaining Qi-Blood Soup, earning money, and improving his martial strength.
  • Gao Fei tells Xiao Liu that he no longer cares about Qiu Mei and wants only money and martial arts. He resumes training and discovers that the medicinal soup is still strengthening his body.
  • At the chapter’s end, a constable arrives and informs Gao Fei that a murder has occurred in Tao Hua Village. The chief constable has ordered Gao Fei and the constable to investigate.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei demonstrates a dramatic change from his former timid and submissive personality. He acts decisively, openly strikes Lin Shaoxiong, and refuses to be intimidated by the Lin family’s status.
  • His new attitude is direct and pragmatic: rather than engaging in social maneuvering or revenge schemes, he prioritizes survival, money, cultivation, and physical strength.
  • Lin Shaoxiong is established as arrogant, vindictive, and accustomed to bullying others. His humiliation intensifies his hatred of Gao Fei.
  • Lin Shaokun appears more composed and socially dominant than his younger brother, but he is also arrogant and threatening. He attempts to restore the Lin family’s prestige after Lin Shaoxiong’s defeat.
  • Gao Linyue, Gao Fei’s second uncle, is surprised by his nephew’s boldness and largely leaves him to handle the consequences of his own actions.
  • Xiao Liu reveals that Qiu Mei was important to Gao Fei’s former identity, but Gao Fei makes clear that his priorities have changed.
  • Shi Ya shows independence by refusing to attend the banquet after witnessing Lin Shaoxiong’s conduct.

Significant Themes

  • Transformation and rebirth: Gao Fei’s behavior sharply contrasts with the original owner’s weak, dependent personality, emphasizing his psychological transformation.
  • Power and respect: The confrontation shows that strength, rather than reputation or family background alone, determines how others treat people.
  • Pragmatism over emotion: Gao Fei rejects romantic attachments, grudges, and social games in favor of cultivation and financial security.
  • Defiance of hierarchy: By striking a member of the powerful Lin family and denying any relationship with him, Gao Fei challenges established social expectations.
  • Public reputation and collective resentment: The martial arts students support Gao Fei partly because they dislike the Lin brothers, showing how arrogance eventually creates enemies.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Lin Shaoxiong: Their hostile exchange escalates into physical violence, establishing an ongoing feud.
  • Gao Fei and Lin Shaokun: Lin Shaokun threatens and taunts Gao Fei, while Gao Fei responds with indifference, frustrating him more than open defiance would.
  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue: Gao Linyue silently expects Gao Fei to deal with the trouble himself and is shocked by his sudden boldness.
  • Gao Fei and Xiao Liu: Xiao Liu raises the subject of Qiu Mei, prompting Gao Fei to declare his new priorities.
  • Gao Fei and the constable: Their new investigative assignment introduces the chapter’s next major conflict: a murder case in Tao Hua Village.
Read chapter

Ch. 4Six Harmonies Spear—Proficient

Chapter Summary: “Six Harmonies Spear—Proficient”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei is ordered to leave the city with a middle-aged constable to investigate an incident in Tao Hua Village.
  • Before departing, he asks his uncle, Gao Linyue, for weapons and money. Gao Linyue reluctantly gives him more than twenty copper coins, criticizing Gao Fei for repeatedly borrowing money without repaying it.
  • Gao Fei selects a three-edged spear and a Tang-style saber from the martial arts hall.
  • While passing through Blossom Street, Gao Fei is recognized as a former regular by the courtesans. Embarrassed and uninterested, he insists he is on official business and hurries after the constable.
  • Outside the city gate, Gao Fei gives copper coins to ten beggars. The system grants him only two Merit Points, apparently because only two beggars are genuinely close to starvation.
  • He uses the Merit Points to upgrade the Six Harmonies Spear technique. In the system’s accelerated training simulation, he practices for three years and reaches the Proficient realm, though the process takes less than a second in reality.
  • Gao Fei and the constable arrive at Tao Hua Village, which is surrounded by mountains and protected by a barricade. The villagers refuse to open the gate and attempt to bribe the officials.
  • The constable demands more money or threatens to draw lots for young women, revealing the corrupt and predatory nature of the authorities. He encourages Gao Fei to choose a young wife to exploit.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei becomes more practical and survival-oriented. Although embarrassed by the original owner’s debts and reputation, he prioritizes obtaining weapons, money, and martial ability.
  • He shows signs of moral awareness by helping the beggars, though his motivation is partly to obtain Merit Points.
  • His successful spear upgrade gives him a new source of confidence and defensive power, despite his concern that reaching Proficient required three simulated years.
  • Gao Linyue is shown to be stern but caring. He complains about supporting Gao Fei yet still lends him money and weapons, suggesting genuine concern for his nephew.
  • The middle-aged constable is revealed to be calm, corrupt, and abusive. His casual demands for bribes and women demonstrate that he views official authority as a means of exploitation.
  • The original Gao Fei’s reputation continues to affect the protagonist. His debts, visits to Blossom Street, and selfish behavior have damaged his family’s standing and left him vulnerable.

Significant Themes

  • Survival versus morality: Gao Fei wants to remain alive and grow stronger, but he is constantly surrounded by corruption and exploitation.
  • Power and vulnerability: Weapons and martial proficiency are essential for Gao Fei’s protection, especially because his past has created enemies and debts.
  • Corrupt authority: The constable’s behavior shows that law enforcement in this setting preys on ordinary people rather than protecting them.
  • Consequences of the past: Gao Fei must live with the original owner’s debts, reputation, and irresponsible choices.
  • The limits of merit: The system rewards helping only those truly in desperate need, suggesting that genuine merit depends on the impact of an action rather than its appearance.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue argue over money, with Gao Linyue reluctantly helping while warning him not to corrupt Gao Yan.
  • Gao Fei briefly considers taking his cousin Gao Yan out for entertainment, provoking Gao Linyue’s fierce protective reaction.
  • Courtesans on Blossom Street attempt to lure Gao Fei inside, while ignoring the constable.
  • Gao Fei gives money to beggars and observes the system’s selective response.
  • At Tao Hua Village, the constable intimidates the villagers, accepts their attempted bribe, and pressures Gao Fei to participate in exploiting the village women.
Read chapter

Ch. 5Yueyang in Peril

Chapter Summary: Yueyang in Peril

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei travels with a middle-aged constable toward Tao Hua Village, though he suffers from memory loss and does not know the constable’s identity or the full purpose of the journey.
  • The constable reminds him that they are supposed to travel to Northern Mountain with five people, apparently as part of an operation involving the surrounding demons.
  • The village chief welcomes them and arranges lodging, food, and rice wine. Gao Fei becomes suspicious of the villagers’ hospitality.
  • The constable forces an elderly woman to taste every dish and drink the wine first, revealing that the food is poisoned. The woman soon becomes weak and attempts to leave.
  • When the constable pursues her with his saber, Gao Fei follows, uncertain whether the constable is acting justly or is involved in the villagers’ scheme.
  • Gao Fei and the constable question each other while confronting the poisoned woman. Their exchange reveals that Gao Fei had previously survived a dangerous encounter involving possession and a fox spirit.
  • The constable explains that more than fifty constables were sent out the previous day, but fewer than ten survived. Another member of Gao Fei’s former group is still missing.
  • He reveals the larger crisis in Yueyang County: most Martial Suppression Guards were redeployed to the northern war, leaving only the county magistrate as a powerful defender.
  • Three major demons surround the county: the Southern Mountain Fox Demon, Northern Mountain’s Yellow Great Immortal, and the Western Mountain Cat Demon. Their followers also include powerful spirit cultivators.
  • The demons have begun abducting villagers and forcing local officials to provide regular “blood food.” Villages near demon territory are disappearing, while county constables have been reduced to transporting human offerings.
  • Gao Fei learns that the practice is widely known among people with influence, though demons avoid taking victims directly from the county seat because of its complicated political connections.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei remains cautious and secretive. His memory loss forces him to gather information indirectly while concealing his transmigration, supernatural abilities, and suspicions.
  • He becomes increasingly alert to betrayal, recognizing that the villagers have good reason to resent him and that the constable may be testing him.
  • Gao Fei shows signs of moral conflict. Although he knows the elderly woman may be an enemy, he is disturbed by the constable’s intention to kill her slowly and intervenes verbally.
  • The middle-aged constable is revealed to be experienced, suspicious, and ruthless. He immediately detects the poisoned food and uses the old woman as a test subject.
  • Despite his brutality, he appears to oppose the villagers’ demonic dealings rather than work with them. His willingness to share information suggests that he sees Gao Fei as a potential ally—or at least as someone in the same dangerous situation.
  • The village chief and elderly women present themselves as hospitable villagers, but their behavior strongly implies complicity in an ambush. The old woman’s attempted escape confirms that the meal was deliberately poisoned.

Significant Themes

  • Corruption and moral collapse: Officials who once protected civilians now participate in delivering villagers to demons as blood sacrifices.
  • Survival under oppression: Both humans and demons operate according to fear, compromise, and self-preservation.
  • Mistrust and hidden identities: Gao Fei cannot trust the people around him, while the constable also suspects that Gao Fei may have been possessed or changed.
  • The failure of authority: With the empire’s forces withdrawn, local institutions can no longer protect ordinary people, allowing demons and corrupt officials to fill the power vacuum.
  • Moral ambiguity: The constable’s violence may be directed against demon collaborators, but his methods are cruel; Gao Fei must determine whether justice still exists in such circumstances.
  • Escalating danger: The demons’ actions have shifted from isolated disappearances to organized, recurring human sacrifice, suggesting that Yueyang County is nearing a broader catastrophe.

Character Interactions

  • The constable repeatedly challenges Gao Fei, testing his memory, behavior, and possible connection to possession.
  • Gao Fei responds cautiously, pretending that his confusion is caused by brain injury while secretly evaluating whether the constable is trustworthy.
  • The constable’s command that the old woman eat first establishes his authority and practical ruthlessness.
  • Gao Fei’s decision to follow when the constable draws his saber creates tension between them, implying that Gao Fei may oppose unnecessary cruelty even while investigating the villagers.
  • Their conversation ultimately shifts from suspicion to cooperation as the constable explains the demon hierarchy, the missing constables, and the blood-food arrangement threatening Yueyang County.
Read chapter

Ch. 6Dog Demon Attack

Chapter Summary: “Dog Demon Attack”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The middle-aged constable reveals that a Fox Demon is systematically silencing witnesses and suggests that he and Gao Fei betray humanity by capturing villagers for the demon in exchange for survival.
  • Gao Fei rejects the offer and attacks. Although initially underestimated as an early Blood-Qi Realm fighter, he has secretly advanced to the middle stage.
  • Gao Fei seriously wounds the constable with his spear, then finishes him with the constable’s own saber. His attack is rough and improvised, but his strength and caution allow him to win.
  • The system awards Gao Fei 12 Merit Points, confirming that the constable was considered a legitimate enemy. Gao Fei searches the body and finds only a small amount of silver.
  • Outside, the village chief and more than twenty villagers confront Gao Fei, apparently fearing that he will punish them for their involvement in the old woman’s actions. The chief attempts to explain that the woman acted out of personal revenge.
  • Before the confrontation escalates, gongs announce the arrival of Dog Demons. Gao Fei chooses to fight the demons rather than deal with the villagers.
  • Two humanoid Dog Demons and eight large dog-like monsters appear outside the village’s wooden barricade. The village chief explains that they have repeatedly harassed the settlement and demanded human sacrifices.
  • Gao Fei agrees to help defend the village, asking the villagers to restrain the demons while he handles them individually. The village opens its gate, and Gao Fei positions himself strategically so he cannot easily be trapped outside.
  • The chapter ends as Gao Fei prepares to use the system to improve his equipment or abilities, only to realize that he has misunderstood how to activate it.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Demonstrates rapid growth from the early to the middle Blood-Qi Realm, strong combat instincts, and a willingness to kill enemies who betray humanity. Though inexperienced, he compensates with caution, decisive attacks, and practical battlefield positioning. He also shows growing confidence in confronting supernatural threats.
  • Middle-aged constable: Revealed to be morally corrupt and motivated purely by survival. He plans to collaborate with the Fox Demon but badly underestimates Gao Fei, leading to his death.
  • Village chief: Initially helps organize resistance against Gao Fei but quickly shifts to pleading for mercy. Once the Dog Demons arrive, he becomes cooperative and relies on Gao Fei’s strength.
  • Villagers: Fearful and poorly trained, they are prepared to defend themselves but are uncertain whether to attack Gao Fei. Their survival depends heavily on the barricade, their spears, and Gao Fei’s intervention.

Significant Themes

  • Survival versus morality: The constable chooses betrayal to stay alive, while Gao Fei refuses to sacrifice humans for his own safety.
  • Power and underestimation: The constable assumes Gao Fei remains weak, but Gao Fei’s breakthrough allows him to reverse the power dynamic.
  • Improvised heroism: Gao Fei is inexperienced and even bases his sword technique on television, yet he acts decisively when others are unable to defend themselves.
  • Human vulnerability in a supernatural world: The villagers’ crude weapons and defensive wall offer only limited protection against demons, emphasizing the gap between ordinary people and supernatural forces.
  • Merit and judgment: The system’s Merit Points appear to reward Gao Fei for killing genuine threats, suggesting an objective moral or supernatural evaluation of his actions.

Character Interactions

  • The constable attempts to recruit Gao Fei into serving the Fox Demon, but Gao Fei responds with violence rather than debate.
  • Gao Fei and the village chief maintain a tense relationship: the chief fears Gao Fei’s judgment but later asks for his help against the demons.
  • The villagers distrust Gao Fei after discovering the deaths inside the courtyard, while Gao Fei remains ready to fight them if necessary.
  • Gao Fei cooperates with the village defenders against the Dog Demons, creating a temporary alliance based on mutual survival.
Read chapter

Ch. 7Missing the Pressure Cooker

Chapter Summary: “Missing the Pressure Cooker”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei completes twelve years of accelerated cultivation in the simulated realm, perfecting the Eight Blades of Breaking Edge and reaching its Ultimate Realm. He learns to abandon fixed forms and strike freely without sacrificing power.
  • Returning to the present after only a moment has passed, Gao Fei joins the villagers’ battle against invading Dog Demons.
  • He confronts two Middle Qi-Blood Realm Dog Demons, one of which is pregnant. Using powerful spear techniques, he seriously injures one before switching to his Tang Saber and killing the other in a single clean slash. He then finishes the wounded demon.
  • Gao Fei kills several lesser Dog Demons alongside the villagers. The villagers suffer only minor injuries, while several demons are slain.
  • He earns Merit Points for the kills:
    • Awakened Intelligence Dog Demons: 14 and 10 points.
    • Unawakened Intelligence Dog Demons: 1 point each.
  • Gao Fei orders the demon corpses transported to Yueyang County and sold. He allows the village to keep half the proceeds and instructs the village chief to report all casualties as caused by the demons.
  • Gao Fei suspects the village chief knew the attack was coming and may have deliberately used him and the constable to deal with the threat. He decides that the local people are intelligent and politically manipulative rather than simple “NPCs.”
  • In Yueyang, Gao Fei discovers that giving alms to beggars no longer earns Merit Points, ending his plan to farm points through charity.
  • The demon corpses are sold to Four Seas Residence. Gao Fei keeps one leg for his family, while the villagers use the money to buy supplies.
  • Back home, Gao Fei’s family prepares the demon meat. He jokes that it is too tough and wishes they had a pressure cooker.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei becomes dramatically stronger, moving from mastery to an independently modified Ultimate Realm of blade art. He now understands not only the techniques but also the intentions and battlefield purpose behind them.
  • His fighting style becomes more flexible and practical. He recognizes the weaknesses of overly forceful attacks and adapts quickly when his spear techniques fail.
  • Gao Fei grows more cautious and politically aware. He realizes that the village chief may have manipulated events and resolves to be more careful around the local population.
  • Despite claiming to support humanity only for Merit Points, Gao Fei demonstrates practical loyalty to the villagers by protecting them, arranging fair compensation, and sharing the profits.
  • The village chief appears increasingly calculating. His nervous denial suggests he may have known about the Dog Demon attack in advance.
  • Gao Fei’s family remains ordinary and domestic, providing comic contrast to his supernatural combat and demon-hunting life.

Significant Themes

  • Power through understanding: Gao Fei’s greatest advancement comes from grasping the creator’s mindset and correcting the blade art’s flaws, rather than merely practicing its forms.
  • Survival and moral ambiguity: Humans eat demons, demons eat humans, and both act for survival and prosperity. Gao Fei acknowledges that the conflict is not morally simple, though he still chooses humanity’s side.
  • Manipulation and trust: The villagers may have engineered circumstances to make Gao Fei handle the demon threat, showing that danger comes from human schemes as well as demons.
  • Merit and motivation: Gao Fei repeatedly questions whether his good deeds are genuinely altruistic or motivated by Merit Points. The failed beggar strategy also reveals the limits of treating morality as a mechanical reward system.
  • Contrast between the extraordinary and the mundane: Gao Fei performs highly advanced martial feats, then returns home to worry about cooking tough meat and the lack of a pressure cooker.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei fights alongside the villagers, using their archers and spearmen to help defeat the Dog Demons.
  • He negotiates with the village chief over the sale of the corpses and quietly confronts him about his possible foreknowledge of the attack.
  • At Four Seas Residence, the shopkeeper eagerly purchases the two valuable awakened Dog Demon corpses and offers Gao Fei a reasonable price.
  • Gao Fei gives the villagers most of the proceeds while retaining one leg of demon meat for his family.
  • At home, he interacts with his aunt and relatives in a relaxed, humorous setting, emphasizing the sharp divide between his dangerous public life and his ordinary family life.
Read chapter

Ch. 8Late Blood-Qi Realm

Chapter Summary: “Late Blood-Qi Realm”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei eats demon beast meat at his relatives’ home and realizes that, although nourishing, it is far less effective than Qi-Blood Soup.
  • He gives his remaining silver to Second Uncle Gao Linyue and asks him to purchase as much Qi-Blood Soup as possible.
  • Gao Fei drinks the soup throughout the night and successfully breaks through to the Late Blood-Qi Realm, increasing his lifespan to sixty days. His physical strength also rises dramatically, allowing him to lift a three-hundred-jin boulder and reach roughly a thousand jin of punching force.
  • The following morning, Xiao Liu arrives and freely eats at the household. Gao Fei stops him from continuing to freeload and decides to begin paying him regularly.
  • Gao Fei and Xiao Liu travel to the county yamen. Gao Fei uses his supposed memory loss to learn more about Xiao Liu and the local officials.
  • At the yamen, a young white-clad runner arrogantly confronts Gao Fei about his brother. Gao Fei kicks him away, revealing his newly improved strength.
  • Constables Liu and Zhang confront Gao Fei. Both are in the Late Blood-Qi Realm, while the injured runner is in the Middle Blood-Qi Realm.
  • Constable Liu accuses Gao Fei of being scum and claims that justice is finally catching up with him. Gao Fei counters by accusing Liu and the other officials of hypocrisy for avoiding dangerous demon-slaying work while judging others.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Makes rapid progress in cultivation, reaching the Late Blood-Qi Realm and extending his lifespan. He becomes more confident, physically powerful, and willing to confront people directly. He also begins behaving more responsibly by recognizing Xiao Liu’s financial difficulties and paying him.
  • Gao Linyue: Continues to act as a knowledgeable martial artist and family authority. He understands Gao Fei’s qi-blood deficiency and helps him obtain Qi-Blood Soup.
  • Xiao Liu: Revealed to be an unpaid white-clad runner whose livelihood depends on Gao Fei. Though shamelessly opportunistic about food, he is cooperative and provides Gao Fei with useful information about the yamen.
  • Constable Liu and Constable Zhang: Represent the county yamen’s established officials. They are powerful but appear defensive and morally self-righteous, especially when Gao Fei criticizes their reluctance to fight demons.
  • Gao Yan and the household: Their limited cultivation and cautious behavior around demon beast meat emphasize the difference between ordinary family members and martial artists.

Significant Themes

  • Cultivation and survival: Gao Fei’s progress is directly tied to extending his dangerously limited lifespan, making strength a matter of life and death.
  • Transformation and identity: Gao Fei struggles to act naturally after becoming a different person, considering how to explain his changed personality as having “turned over a new leaf.”
  • Power and social status: His breakthrough allows him to challenge people who previously looked down on him, exposing how much authority depends on cultivation strength.
  • Hypocrisy and moral judgment: Gao Fei condemns officials who preach morality while avoiding the dangers facing ordinary people and villages.
  • Responsibility and generosity: By paying Xiao Liu, Gao Fei begins separating himself from his former stingy and irresponsible reputation.
  • Inequality within martial society: Demon beast meat and Qi-Blood Soup benefit cultivators, but those with weaker bodies cannot safely consume much, highlighting differences in cultivation and resources.

Important Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue discuss the poor preparation of the demon beast meat and the need for Qi-Blood Soup.
  • Gao Fei entrusts his money to Gao Linyue, showing growing trust and urgency regarding his cultivation.
  • Gao Fei reprimands Xiao Liu for overeating but then pays him and promises regular wages, improving their working relationship.
  • At the yamen, Gao Fei physically humiliates an arrogant runner and challenges the authority of Constables Liu and Zhang.
  • His argument with Constable Liu shifts from a personal confrontation to a broader accusation: the yamen officials condemn outsiders while failing to protect villages from demons.
Read chapter

Ch. 9Changing Targets

Chapter Summary: “Changing Targets”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei, Lu Xiaoliu, and three constables confront the growing demonic crisis in Yueyang County. Most officials have abandoned their duties, leaving only a few constables and “white runners” to maintain order.
  • Constable Zhang explains that fleeing will not guarantee safety: the imperial court will eventually punish the county’s leaders and possibly silence witnesses. Since everyone is trapped in the demons’ territory, he proposes hunting weaker demons and publicly displaying their corpses to build authority and improve their chances of survival.
  • Constable Liu initially mocks Gao Fei’s claim that he intends to kill demons, but Zhang recognizes that action is necessary. The constables decide to target only newly awakened Minor Monsters.
  • A fearful young man is sent out of the county, while Zhang studies village reports for demon activity. Gao Fei orders Lu Xiaoliu to accompany him on a demon hunt, despite the boy’s reluctance and lack of weapons.
  • Gao Fei and Lu Xiaoliu travel east toward the Dog Demon’s territory, taking weapons and food. Gao Fei also attempts to repay a long-standing steamed-bun debt, but pays only ten of the 132 copper coins owed.
  • Outside the city, they encounter several Lin Family servants escorting teenagers who are being delivered as “blood food.” Recognizing this as a likely source of demons, Gao Fei changes course and follows them.
  • Ten Rat Demons ambush the group. They severely maim one servant, stripping the flesh from his legs, and demand that the humans abandon him in exchange for their own safety.
  • The leading servant claims protection through the Lin Family, but the Rat Demons reveal that another county has already become a demon-controlled blood-food farm and that Yueyang County will soon suffer the same fate.
  • Despite their shared upbringing with the injured man, the remaining servants ultimately leave him behind. Gao Fei observes from hiding and prepares an ambush, intending to cut off the Rat Demons and rescue the teenagers.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei demonstrates increasing determination and moral courage. Rather than flee or merely survive, he actively chooses to hunt demons. He also shows practical judgment by studying reports, gathering supplies, and planning an ambush rather than attacking recklessly.
  • Lu Xiaoliu remains inexperienced, confused, and afraid, but continues following Gao Fei. His reluctance highlights the danger of the mission and his dependence on Gao Fei’s leadership.
  • Constable Zhang emerges as pragmatic, perceptive, and willing to act. He understands the political consequences of the crisis and proposes a dangerous but realistic strategy for survival.
  • Constable Liu begins as cynical and mocking, especially toward Gao Fei, but gradually accepts that resistance is preferable to helplessness.
  • The Lin Family servants reveal the moral collapse caused by fear. Although they initially appear united, they abandon their injured companion when confronted by the Rat Demons.
  • The Rat Demons are shown as organized, cruel, and confident. They treat humans as livestock and openly describe the expansion of demon-controlled territory.

Significant Themes

  • Moral responsibility versus self-preservation: Characters must choose between protecting others and saving themselves. The Lin servants’ abandonment of their companion contrasts with Gao Fei’s decision to intervene.
  • The collapse of authority: Officials evade responsibility, while ordinary constables are left to manage a crisis far beyond their resources.
  • Fear and helplessness: The demons’ power and the government’s absence make escape nearly impossible, forcing people to decide whether resistance is worth the risk.
  • Dehumanization and exploitation: Humans are raised and transported as “blood food,” revealing the demons’ systematic treatment of people as resources.
  • Courage through action: Gao Fei’s willingness to fight, even with limited strength and time, challenges the widespread belief that survival requires submission.
  • Changing targets: The chapter shifts the focus from internal human conflict and political blame to the immediate demon threat, while also showing how the threat corrupts human relationships.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei criticizes hypocritical people who benefit from others’ labor while condemning them, while Lu Xiaoliu only partially understands his point.
  • Constable Zhang and Constable Liu argue over whether staying, fleeing, or hunting demons offers the best chance of survival. Their disagreement reveals different responses to the crisis, though both ultimately recognize that inaction is dangerous.
  • Gao Fei takes command of Lu Xiaoliu, dismissing his excuses and forcing him to participate in the hunt.
  • The Lin servants debate whether to resist the Rat Demons, but fear overcomes loyalty. Their leader sacrifices the injured man, exposing the fragility of their bonds.
  • Gao Fei watches this betrayal from concealment and prepares to intervene, positioning himself as a protector of the abandoned victims.
Read chapter

Ch. 10Rat Demon

Chapter Summary: “Rat Demon”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei overhears a group of Rat Demons discussing their failure to capture humans. He ambushes them while they are transporting five unconscious youths.
  • His first spear thrust sends the tallest Rat Demon flying, but the creature survives. The other Rat Demons attack, prompting Gao Fei to fight with both his Armor-Piercing Spear and Tang Saber.
  • Using his superior size, strength, weapon reach, and perfected saber technique, Gao Fei rapidly kills or disables most of the Blood-Qi Realm Rat Demons. He uses techniques such as Mount Tai Crashes Down, Mount Hua-Splitting Strike, and the Eight Peak-Breaking Blades.
  • The tallest Rat Demon is revealed to be in the Skin Tempering Realm. Despite being badly injured by Gao Fei’s ambushes and Lu Xiaoliu’s spears, it remains extremely durable and forces Gao Fei to fight cautiously.
  • Gao Fei spends Merit Points to improve his Six Harmonies Spear, advancing it to the Ultimate Realm and gaining the ability to use a point to pierce a surface. He also invests in practical combat experience.
  • In the final exchange, Gao Fei repeatedly targets the Rat Demon’s vulnerable areas, knocks it down, and finishes it by driving his spear deep into its body. The system rewards him with 21 Merit Points.
  • Lu Xiaoliu returns after killing three wounded Rat Demons. Together, they untie the five captives and transport the demon corpses back to Four Seas Residence.
  • The shopkeeper purchases nine Blood-Qi Realm Rat Demons for 150 taels of silver and the damaged Skin Tempering Realm demon for 100 taels. He recognizes Gao Fei as an important customer or official.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Demonstrates growing confidence and combat skill, but the battle teaches him not to underestimate higher-realm opponents. He realizes that perfected techniques alone cannot easily overcome the Skin Tempering Realm and begins relying more strategically on weapon reach, strength, and targeted attacks. His spear ability improves significantly through the system.
  • Lu Xiaoliu: Provides support by throwing spears and killing several wounded Rat Demons. Although he initially appears proud, he quickly becomes modest when Gao Fei questions the Merit Point rewards. His loyalty and usefulness as a subordinate are reinforced.
  • The Rat Demon leader: Shows the enormous defensive advantage of the Skin Tempering Realm. Even after suffering multiple powerful attacks, it remains capable of fighting and threatening Gao Fei, making it a far more dangerous opponent than the lesser demons.

Significant Themes

  • The gap between cultivation realms: The battle emphasizes how dramatically stronger defense becomes when advancing from the Late Qi-Blood Realm to the Skin Tempering Realm.
  • Experience over overconfidence: Gao Fei begins the fight believing his perfected saber skills will make victory easy, but the leader’s resilience forces him to reassess his assumptions.
  • Strategic use of strengths: Gao Fei wins by exploiting his larger body, greater strength, longer weapons, and improved spear technique rather than relying solely on speed or technical perfection.
  • Practical growth through combat: The system’s Merit Points allow Gao Fei to convert battle rewards into long-term training and combat experience, accelerating his development.
  • Pragmatism and survival: After rescuing the captives, Gao Fei and Lu Xiaoliu leave their fate uncertain, showing that their priority is eliminating the demons and collecting the reward rather than taking responsibility for strangers.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei catches the Rat Demons off guard and engages them directly, while they attempt to overwhelm him through speed and numbers.
  • Lu Xiaoliu assists Gao Fei by attacking the Skin Tempering Realm leader from behind with two spears, creating the opening for Gao Fei’s strongest strike.
  • Gao Fei later teases Lu Xiaoliu about killing the remaining demons, but Lu Xiaoliu insists he merely finished off wounded enemies.
  • Gao Fei and Lu Xiaoliu cooperate in freeing the five captives and transporting the corpses.
  • At Four Seas Residence, the shopkeeper’s deferential reaction shows Gao Fei’s rising status and reputation.
Read chapter

Ch. 11Bracelet

Chapter Summary: “Bracelet”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei and Lu Xiaoliu sell the three Rat Demons they killed, receiving 250 taels of silver. Gao Fei gives Lu Xiaoliu 50 taels as his rightful share, despite having taken the actual kills.
  • Gao Fei calculates that he needs another 300 taels to afford enough Qi-Blood Soup to complete his blood-and-qi tempering. He has only two months left to live, so he is focused on obtaining money and improving his martial strength.
  • While passing through Blossom Street, Gao Fei rejects a maid’s invitation to visit Qiu Mei, a courtesan he is connected to through the original owner’s memories. He dismisses romance and the original owner’s old entanglements as irrelevant to his current goals.
  • At home, Gao Fei encounters Qiu Mei and her maid visiting his Second Aunt. Qiu Mei explains that she needs to be redeemed from her courtesan status and offers Gao Fei money in exchange for temporary protection and being registered under his name.
  • Qiu Mei offers 500 taels as compensation, but reveals that redeeming herself and her maid will cost approximately 2,500 taels. She possesses three 1,000-tael banknotes but does not immediately hand them over.
  • When Gao Fei touches Qiu Mei’s wooden bracelet, which contains a white gemstone, he senses a powerful flow of heat and blood-and-qi energy. Realizing the bracelet may be valuable or useful to his cultivation, he agrees to help her on the condition that she also give him the bracelet.
  • Qiu Mei immediately accepts, eager to escape before circumstances change. The three leave together to complete the redemption.
  • As they travel, onlookers gossip that Gao Fei may have visited a brothel without paying. To make their relationship appear genuine, Qiu Mei links arms with him, while her maid publicly announces that Gao Fei and Qiu Mei are already committed and are going to redeem her.
  • Gao Fei reassures Qiu Mei that he will keep his promise. He touches her bracelet again and confirms that her blood and qi are unusually vigorous despite her lack of cultivation.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Becomes increasingly practical and focused on survival. He refuses emotional distractions and rejects Qiu Mei’s money out of pride and suspicion, but changes his mind when he discovers the bracelet’s mysterious energy. He remains blunt and emotionally detached, yet he honors his agreements and protects those who have earned his trust.
  • Qiu Mei: Shows vulnerability, desperation, and determination. Facing the threat of being forced to receive clients, she makes a final attempt to secure her freedom by seeking Gao Fei’s protection. Although Gao Fei’s sudden change in attitude hurts her, she quickly adapts and seizes the opportunity to escape.
  • Lu Xiaoliu: Demonstrates loyalty and receives a fair share of the demon bounty from Gao Fei.
  • Qiu Mei’s maid: Acts as both her supporter and public advocate, spreading the claim that Qiu Mei and Gao Fei are effectively a married couple.

Significant Themes

  • Survival over romance: Gao Fei’s limited lifespan makes him reject affection and social entanglements in favor of cultivation, money, and strength.
  • Transactional relationships and freedom: Qiu Mei’s redemption is presented as a financial transaction, reflecting the limited choices available to women in her position.
  • Trust and obligation: Gao Fei distinguishes between debts and grudges, pays Lu Xiaoliu fairly, and agrees to protect Qiu Mei once a deal is made.
  • Hidden power and opportunity: The bracelet introduces a mysterious source of energy and shows how seemingly ordinary objects or people may conceal valuable power.
  • Reputation and public perception: Gossip and social status heavily influence the characters’ actions, forcing Qiu Mei and Gao Fei to perform the appearance of lovers in public.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei fairly compensates Lu Xiaoliu after their demon hunt.
  • He dismisses the Blossom Street maid’s attempt to lure him back into romantic affairs.
  • Qiu Mei offers Gao Fei money and protection arrangements, while Gao Fei negotiates for her bracelet instead.
  • Their physical contact reveals the bracelet’s energy, creating a new practical bond between them.
  • Qiu Mei publicly clings to Gao Fei to strengthen their false romantic image, while Gao Fei reassures her that he will honor their agreement.
Read chapter

Ch. 12Spirit Stone

Chapter Summary — Spirit Stone

Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei visits Spring Revival Pavilion to redeem Qiu Mei, offering the madam 1,000 taels.
  • The madam refuses to settle privately and announces a public auction for Qiu Mei, hoping to drive up the price. Gao Fei warns her that the county is dangerous and invokes the influence of his second uncle, but she reveals that powerful people have already instructed her and that she cannot afford to offend either side.
  • Qiu Mei accepts the situation calmly and takes Gao Fei to a private room. She estimates that 2,500 taels may be enough to win the auction, though she worries that people from the two major factions may compete.
  • To raise his strength, Gao Fei asks for Qiu Mei’s bracelet. He discovers that one of its beads is a Low-Grade Spirit Stone. He cuts off and absorbs the largest bead while returning the remaining beads to Qiu Mei so she can preserve her parents’ keepsake.
  • Using the Spirit Stone and Merit Points, Gao Fei advances the Blood-Congealing Art to the Return to Truth stage of the Blood-Qi Realm. His Four-Pillar Pure-Yang Body is partially repaired, his lifespan rises to 117 days, and his physical strength more than doubles.
  • Gao Fei realizes the Spirit Stone will not be enough to reach the Skin Tempering Realm and hurries home to obtain a suitable cultivation method before returning for the auction.
  • He asks Second Uncle Gao Linyue for Skin Tempering methods, martial skills, and movement techniques. Gao Linyue explains that movement techniques require spiritual power and are unavailable before the Spirit-Absorption Realm, while martial skills would provide little benefit at Gao Fei’s current level.
  • Gao Linyue gives him the Iron Shirt cultivation manual, explaining that Skin Tempering can begin even before the Blood-Qi Realm is complete but is expensive and far more difficult. Gao Fei uses the Spirit Stone to initiate the Iron Shirt technique through his system.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei becomes more decisive and assertive. He is willing to spend heavily, threaten indirectly through his family’s influence, or even forcibly seize Qiu Mei if necessary.
  • His cultivation improves dramatically: he reaches the Blood-Qi Realm’s Return to Truth stage, gains considerable strength, and extends his lifespan.
  • Gao Fei demonstrates increasing caution and strategic thinking. He recognizes the danger of revealing his true cultivation and restrains his qi and blood to appear weaker than he is.
  • Qiu Mei remains composed despite the public humiliation and crude remarks surrounding her auction. She shows practical judgment, willingly offers her bracelet to help Gao Fei, but makes clear that the remaining beads are precious family keepsakes.
  • Second Uncle Gao Linyue continues to underestimate Gao Fei, treating him as a hopeless weakling. Nevertheless, he provides useful information and gives him the Iron Shirt manual.
  • The Gao household appears harmonious, with Gao Linyue teaching his son, Gao Fei’s second aunt cooking, and the younger cousin practicing martial basics.

Significant Themes

  • Power and social status: Wealth and reputation determine whether Gao Fei can redeem Qiu Mei, while even his family’s influence may not be enough against stronger factions.
  • Exploitation and commodification: Qiu Mei is treated as property and auctioned publicly, highlighting the harsh social system and the vulnerability of women in the setting.
  • Hidden strength: Gao Fei’s restrained aura allows him to conceal his breakthrough, emphasizing the importance of deception and strategic secrecy.
  • Sacrifice and preservation: Qiu Mei is willing to sacrifice part of her family heirloom to aid Gao Fei, while he returns the remaining beads to preserve her memories.
  • Cultivation and opportunity: A single Spirit Stone enables a major breakthrough, but it is limited in quantity, forcing Gao Fei to seek efficient methods and better resources.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and the madam: Their negotiation becomes a contest of money, influence, and threats. The madam refuses to yield because she has backing from powerful parties.
  • Gao Fei and Qiu Mei: They cooperate closely despite the auction. Qiu Mei trusts him enough to surrender her bracelet, while Gao Fei respects the emotional value of her keepsake and preserves most of it.
  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue: Gao Fei urgently seeks guidance, but his uncle remains unaware of his true abilities. Their exchange gives Gao Fei crucial knowledge about the limits and costs of Skin Tempering.
  • Gao Linyue and the younger cousin: Their peaceful training scene contrasts with the danger and urgency surrounding Gao Fei’s plans.
Read chapter

Ch. 13Mid Skin Tempering Realm

Chapter Summary: Mid Skin Tempering Realm

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After nineteen years of cultivation, Gao Fei’s Iron Shirt technique reaches minor success, advancing him to the mid Skin Tempering Realm. His physical defense rises dramatically, his muscles strengthen, and his power more than doubles.
  • Despite consuming a Spirit Stone, his lifespan remains unchanged at 117 days, leaving him confused. He postpones investigating the issue.
  • Gao Fei asks his second uncle, Gao Linyue, whether he knows a technique capable of quickly killing late Skin Tempering or Tendon-Bone Realm opponents. Linyue explains that techniques capable of directly damaging internal organs only appear after reaching the Spirit-Absorption Realm.
  • Linyue teaches Gao Fei Beast Fist, a martial art developed by soldiers based on the movements and force application of demons. The system allows Gao Fei to learn it after merely watching a demonstration.
  • Using Merit Points, Gao Fei perfects Beast Fist, identifies its flaws for human practitioners, and reconstructs Form-Intention Fist by combining it with Six Harmonies Spear and memories from his former life. However, his current tendons and bones cannot yet withstand Form-Intention Fist’s power.
  • Gao Fei conceals how much he has learned, pretending that Beast Fist is incomplete and continuing to emphasize saber practice.
  • After exhausting his Spirit Stones, Gao Fei returns to using Qi-Blood Soup, though its effect is now weak. He considers whether a thousand portions will be enough to sustain his cultivation.
  • Gao Linyue notices Gao Fei’s darker skin and unusual physical development. Gao Fei explains it away as sun exposure, then asks about Spirit Stones. Linyue confirms that they are legendary cultivation resources used by powerful martial artists.
  • Linyue recalls that Gao Fei’s family disappeared after he was injured during a military campaign, leaving Gao Fei as a beggar whom Linyue took in.
  • Gao Fei invites Linyue to Spring Revival Pavilion for Qiu Mei’s redemption event. Although Linyue initially refuses, Gao Fei realizes he intends to follow later, giving Gao Fei the elder’s support he wanted.
  • On the way, Lin Shaoxiong and a burly subordinate ambush Gao Fei, hoping to take revenge and compete for Qiu Mei.
  • The subordinate’s defense is easily pierced by Gao Fei’s Tang Saber, revealing the weapon’s exceptional quality and Gao Fei’s increased strength.
  • Gao Fei grabs and slaps Lin Shaoxiong, demands his banknotes, and holds a saber to his throat while claiming official authority. The confrontation draws spectators, but no one intervenes.

Character Development

  • Gao Fei: Becomes substantially stronger and more physically imposing after reaching the mid Skin Tempering Realm. He grows more confident, calculating, and aggressive, using both his official position and superior combat ability to control situations. He continues hiding his true cultivation and the extent of his system-assisted progress.
  • Gao Linyue: Acts as Gao Fei’s martial instructor and surrogate family member. His recollections reveal a deeper history with Gao Fei and suggest that Gao Fei’s family disappearance may be significant. He remains proud of his military-developed techniques but is unaware of how far Gao Fei has surpassed them.
  • Lin Shaoxiong: Remains arrogant and vengeful, relying on his subordinate rather than fighting personally. His confidence collapses when Gao Fei seizes him and threatens him with a blade.
  • The burly subordinate: Initially confident in his physical defense, he is shocked when Gao Fei’s saber wounds him immediately. He becomes cautious once he realizes Gao Fei’s weapon and authority make the confrontation dangerous.

Significant Themes

  • Strength versus technique: Gao Fei’s raw physical power has increased, but he recognizes the limitations of brute force and seeks techniques capable of killing stronger opponents efficiently.
  • Adaptation and innovation: Gao Fei improves existing martial arts by combining knowledge from his former life, system-assisted deduction, and techniques developed for different bodies or species.
  • Concealed power: He deliberately hides his true abilities, preserving the reputation of his former self as a useless scoundrel while quietly advancing.
  • The cost of cultivation: Spirit Stones provide rapid progress but do not solve Gao Fei’s lifespan problem, while ordinary Qi-Blood Soup becomes increasingly inefficient.
  • Family, memory, and mystery: Linyue’s account of Gao Fei’s vanished family introduces unresolved questions about his past.
  • Authority and intimidation: Gao Fei uses his position as a constable, his saber, and public pressure to dominate Lin Shaoxiong without needing a prolonged fight.

Important Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue: Their exchange combines martial instruction, family history, and mutual familiarity. Gao Fei manipulates Linyue into accompanying him indirectly, valuing the protection and prestige his presence provides.
  • Gao Fei and Lin Shaoxiong: Their rivalry escalates from verbal provocation to public humiliation and an armed standoff. Gao Fei decisively reverses their previous power dynamic.
  • Gao Fei and the subordinate: The subordinate attempts to confront Gao Fei physically but is immediately injured by the Tang Saber and loses the initiative.
  • Gao Fei and the bystanders: The spectators recognize both men but avoid involvement, reflecting the dangerous social environment and Gao Fei’s growing ability to command fear and respect.
Read chapter

Ch. 14Redeeming Someone from the Pleasure House

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shaoxiong attempts to force Gao Fei to surrender the three thousand taels he spent trying to redeem Qiu Mei. Gao Fei initially releases him after considering the safety of his relatives living in Yueyang County.
  • Lin Shaoxiong immediately threatens revenge and develops murderous intent toward Gao Fei. Gao Fei realizes he must eliminate him before Lin can act.
  • Gao Fei follows Lin Shaoxiong and discovers him assaulting a woman in a poor neighborhood while his burly guard stands nearby. Disguising his face with a stolen tablecloth, Gao Fei enters the courtyard and kills Lin by twisting his neck.
  • The system rewards Gao Fei with ten Merit Points, confirming Lin’s status as a genuine villain.
  • Gao Fei returns to Spring Revival Pavilion and deliberately positions himself where many witnesses can see him, creating an apparent alibi for the murder.
  • Gao Linyue arrives at the brothel with his son Gao Yan. He claims he brought the inexperienced boy to “broaden his horizons,” while Gao Fei observes the awkward and inappropriate situation.
  • Qiu Mei performs a dance before the redemption auction begins. Xiaocui bids on Gao Fei’s behalf, but a rival bidder deliberately drives the price higher.
  • When the rival bids 3,300 taels, Xiaocui loses hope. Gao Fei raises the bid to 4,000 taels, recognizing that Qiu Mei is being targeted by a scheme and that failing to redeem her could ruin her future.
  • Gao Fei offers to pay Xiaocui’s redemption fee as well. She reveals that only three hundred taels are needed.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Becomes more decisive and pragmatic. He kills Lin Shaoxiong to prevent future danger, carefully constructs an alibi afterward, and demonstrates compassion by paying far more than necessary to protect Qiu Mei’s future.
  • Lin Shaoxiong: Reveals himself as vindictive and dangerous. Even after being humiliated and forced to pay, he immediately resumes threatening Gao Fei and attempts to retaliate.
  • Qiu Mei: Shows awareness of the danger surrounding her auction. Her smile disappears when the bidding appears manipulated, and she looks sharply at the madam, suggesting distrust and anxiety.
  • Xiaocui: Acts loyally on Gao Fei’s behalf during the auction. She becomes overwhelmed when she cannot match the rival bid but regains her spirits when Gao Fei intervenes.
  • Gao Yan: Is portrayed as inexperienced and uncomfortable in the brothel. His curiosity about the neighboring room highlights his youth and innocence.
  • Gao Linyue: Appears outwardly respectable but brings his son to the pleasure house under the excuse of educating him about women, creating comic hypocrisy.
  • The madam: Treats the redemption auction as business, but her calculations show that she is also concerned about avoiding a situation that would damage Qiu Mei’s value and reputation.

Significant Themes

  • Justice and moral ambiguity: Gao Fei commits murder, yet the system rewards him because his victim is exploiting and harming others. The chapter questions whether violence can be justified when used to prevent greater harm.
  • Reputation and appearances: Gao Fei’s public return to the pavilion is carefully planned to establish an alibi, emphasizing the importance of social perception and evidence.
  • Human dignity versus commodification: Qiu Mei is technically being auctioned, but Gao Fei insists on treating her as a person whose future matters rather than as property.
  • Money and power: Wealth determines freedom, safety, and social standing. Gao Fei’s willingness to spend heavily gives him control over the auction and protects the women involved.
  • Hypocrisy and social propriety: The brothel’s respectable outward behavior contrasts with exploitation, sexual misconduct, and Gao Linyue’s dubious attempt to justify bringing his son there.
  • Protection and responsibility: Gao Fei accepts financial and personal risks to protect Qiu Mei and Xiaocui, even though doing so consumes resources intended for cultivation.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Lin Shaoxiong’s confrontation establishes their hostility: Lin relies on threats and family influence, while Gao Fei responds with calculated restraint before ultimately killing him.
  • Gao Fei’s interaction with the assaulted woman is brief and distant; he rescues her indirectly by killing Lin but leaves without seeking praise or explanation.
  • Gao Fei and Gao Yan share a teasing, older-brother relationship. Gao Fei notices his cousin’s embarrassment but refuses to explain the adult behavior occurring nearby.
  • Gao Linyue and Gao Yan’s presence provides comic tension, as the father presents the brothel visit as moral instruction.
  • Gao Fei, Xiaocui, and Qiu Mei are linked by the auction: Xiaocui openly supports Qiu Mei, while Gao Fei takes responsibility for ensuring Qiu Mei is redeemed.
  • Gao Fei and the madam engage in a financial power struggle. His unexpectedly high bid prevents the madam and the rival bidder from using the auction to damage Qiu Mei’s future.
Read chapter

Ch. 15Chief Constable Liu of Yueyang County

Chapter Summary: “Liu Chief Constable of Yueyang County”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue leave the upper floor of Spring Revival Pavilion with Qiu Mei and Xiaocui and meet the madam to complete Qiu Mei’s redemption.
  • Gao Fei pays four banknotes for Qiu Mei’s contract of sale. He then spends another five hundred taels to redeem Xiaocui as well, since Qiu Mei is accustomed to her assistance.
  • After the transaction, Gao Fei gives both contracts to Qiu Mei, effectively freeing her and Xiaocui.
  • When Gao Linyue asks where Gao Fei obtained so much money, Gao Fei admits that he robbed Lin Shaoxiong. He conceals the supernatural method he used to kill him.
  • Gao Linyue warns that the Lin Family possesses powerful Spirit-Absorption Realm experts and insists that Gao Fei return the money if they come looking for him. Gao Fei privately refuses, intending to use the wealth for cultivation.
  • Gao Fei asks about medicinal baths and announces his intention to begin Skin Tempering immediately. He hopes to strengthen his body and improve his chances of surviving the worsening crisis in Yueyang County.
  • Gao Linyue explains that Gao Fei’s physical cultivation must remain balanced with his qi-blood cultivation. Advancing his body too far without a sufficient Blood-Qi foundation could drain his qi-blood and damage his foundation.
  • Gao Fei resolves to remain inconspicuous, quietly increase his strength, and avoid drawing the attention of demons or powerful factions until he is strong enough to defend himself.
  • As they leave, Qiu Mei asks Gao Fei to continue protecting her and Xiaocui.
  • Their departure attracts gossip, with onlookers teasing Gao Fei about whether Qiu Mei will become his wife or concubine.
  • Chief Constable Liu arrives at Spring Revival Pavilion with another large official and a group of runners. One of the runners is the man Gao Fei previously kicked.
  • Liu announces that Gao Fei is wanted for killing Lin Shaoxiong and orders him to come in for questioning.
  • Gao Linyue immediately defends Gao Fei, pointing out that Gao Fei had been at the pavilion the entire time and that the crowd can confirm it. He also dismisses the accusation that Gao Fei robbed Lin Shaoxiong, claiming the money was merely a loan.
  • Liu recognizes that Gao Fei’s alibi is supported by the witnesses and leaves to investigate the scene of Lin Shaoxiong’s death.
  • Before Liu departs, Gao Linyue asks him to approve Gao Fei’s upcoming leave, implying that Gao Fei needs time to enter the martial academy and begin Skin Tempering.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei becomes more decisive and resourceful. He spends a large sum to free Qiu Mei and Xiaocui, accepts the risks of opposing the Lin Family, and prioritizes cultivation as a means of survival.
  • He also demonstrates caution by concealing the true method of Lin Shaoxiong’s death and planning to keep a low profile despite his rapidly increasing strength.
  • Gao Linyue acts as both mentor and protector. Though alarmed by Gao Fei’s actions, he covers for him with bold, shameless arguments and tries to secure time and safety for his cultivation.
  • Qiu Mei is freed from her contract and becomes openly dependent on Gao Fei’s protection. Her gratitude and loyalty deepen, while her bond with Xiaocui remains important.
  • Xiaocui is redeemed alongside Qiu Mei, ensuring that Qiu Mei will not be separated from someone familiar and trustworthy.
  • Chief Constable Liu appears to be a compromised or negligent official. Despite the county’s disappearances and danger, he had been “ill” and absent from duty, but now becomes active because of the Lin Family’s complaint.

Significant Themes

  • Survival in a collapsing society: The disappearances, demon threat, and public resignation to living recklessly suggest that Yueyang County is approaching disaster.
  • Power and protection: Gao Fei uses money and cultivation to protect vulnerable people, while Gao Linyue uses his status and verbal skill to shield Gao Fei from official and aristocratic pressure.
  • The danger of rapid advancement: Gao Fei’s extraordinary cultivation speed gives him an advantage but also creates risks, since an unbalanced foundation could destroy him.
  • Corruption and unequal justice: Chief Constable Liu acts only after the Lin Family becomes involved, showing how law enforcement favors powerful families.
  • Maintaining a low profile: Gao Fei understands that exceptional strength attracts enemies, especially demons and influential factions, so he intends to grow quietly rather than openly display his abilities.
  • Freedom and dignity: Redeeming Qiu Mei and Xiaocui represents Gao Fei’s rejection of their status as property and begins a relationship based more on protection and personal loyalty.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue argue over the robbery and the danger of provoking the Lin Family, but their exchange reveals mutual trust and concern.
  • Gao Fei reassures Qiu Mei through action rather than words by handing her both contracts and continuing to protect her.
  • Qiu Mei formally expresses gratitude and asks Gao Fei to safeguard her and Xiaocui.
  • The crowd’s teasing about marriage and concubinage highlights the public’s fascination with Gao Fei’s actions and the social assumptions surrounding Qiu Mei.
  • Gao Linyue confronts Chief Constable Liu directly, using the witnesses at the pavilion to challenge the murder accusation and protect his nephew.
  • Liu and Gao Linyue represent opposing forms of authority: Liu relies on official power and the Lin Family’s accusation, while Gao Linyue counters with witnesses, intimidation, and clever legalistic excuses.
Read chapter

Ch. 16Different from the Storybooks

Chapter Summary: “Different from the Storybooks”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei and the others return past the site of the recent murder, where Lin Family guards are still stationed.
  • Second Aunt privately brings Gao Yan and the other woman into a room, locking the door to protect them from Gao Fei’s suspected advances. Gao Fei and Second Aunt’s husband openly agree that he is untrustworthy in such matters, while Gao Yan innocently asks what they mean.
  • Gao Fei examines his condition and realizes that his lifespan is only 116 days. He recalls that only the Organ Tempering stage can extend lifespan, but the Fox Demon’s attack likely damaged his organs.
  • The next morning, Second Uncle begins treating Gao Fei with a medicinal bath and Qi-Blood Soup. Gao Fei’s body absorbs the medicine unnaturally quickly, draining the bath almost immediately.
  • Surprised by the rapid absorption, Second Uncle tests Gao Fei’s skin with a knife. The first test leaves no mark, leading him to believe Gao Fei has reached the Mid Skin Tempering Realm and has secretly hidden his cultivation.
  • Gao Fei plays along with Second Uncle’s assumption, claiming he deliberately pretended to be a wastrel. Second Uncle compares him to the hidden geniuses found in storybooks, though he remains suspicious that Gao Fei may be concealing even greater strength.
  • A second knife test cuts Gao Fei, proving that he is not an invincible hidden master; however, his qi and blood are unusually strong for his apparent cultivation.
  • Concerned that Gao Fei’s body has been deprived of nourishment for too long, Second Uncle agrees to buy a large quantity of medicinal materials. Gao Fei insists on accompanying him to prevent Second Uncle from mishandling or profiting from the money.
  • At the pharmacy, Second Uncle bypasses the front counter and summons the owner. They meet Li Qingyao, the shopkeeper’s niece, after learning that the shopkeeper is away gathering herbs.
  • Gao Fei purchases one hundred portions of Skin Tempering medicinal solution for one thousand taels.
  • Second Uncle tries to send Gao Fei home so he can secretly collect a commission from the purchase, but Gao Fei sees through him. Their argument reveals both Second Uncle’s opportunism and his genuine concern for the family.
  • Second Uncle again warns Gao Fei to avoid Qiu Mei and preserve his Pure Yang Constitution, believing Gao Fei could become the family’s hope.
  • Their conversation is interrupted by a powerful tremor and explosion. Second Uncle identifies the disturbance as a battle between experts at the peak Spirit-Absorption Realm outside the city.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Becomes more determined to strengthen himself quickly because of his short lifespan and damaged organs. His body’s abnormal ability to absorb medicinal energy is revealed, suggesting hidden potential tied to his Pure-Yang Constitution. He also demonstrates increasing cleverness by monitoring Second Uncle’s finances and preventing him from taking advantage of the pharmacy transaction.
  • Gao Linyue (Second Uncle): Shows both exploitative habits and sincere affection. He is willing to profit from purchases, but he also works hard to gather medicine and protect Gao Fei’s future. His knowledge of martial cultivation allows him to recognize Gao Fei’s unusual condition.
  • Li Qingyao: Introduced as a calm, elegant, and businesslike pharmacy representative. She is polite but emotionally distant, leaving a strong first impression without directly engaging Gao Fei.
  • Second Aunt and Gao Yan: Their interaction with Gao Fei remains comedic, emphasizing the family’s suspicion of his romantic behavior and Gao Yan’s innocence.

Significant Themes

  • Appearance versus reality: Gao Fei appears to be a weak wastrel, but his physical constitution and hidden progress reveal that appearances are misleading.
  • Subversion of cultivation-story clichés: Second Uncle expects Gao Fei to be the typical concealed genius who eventually reveals overwhelming power. Instead, Gao Fei’s body has promising potential but remains physically vulnerable, as shown when the knife cuts him.
  • Family affection mixed with self-interest: Second Uncle’s attempts to earn commissions coexist with genuine sacrifices and concern for Gao Fei’s survival.
  • Urgency and survival: Gao Fei’s limited lifespan and organ damage make cultivation a necessity rather than a leisurely pursuit.
  • Medicine as both treatment and cultivation: The medicinal bath and Qi-Blood Soup highlight the importance of restoring Gao Fei’s depleted qi and blood while advancing his martial realm.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and the older family members exchange teasing accusations about romance and propriety.
  • Gao Fei and Second Uncle clash over the medicinal purchase, with Gao Fei distrusting Second Uncle’s financial motives while still recognizing his kindness.
  • Second Uncle and Li Qingyao conduct a large transaction, with Second Uncle behaving familiarly and aggressively while Li Qingyao remains composed and formal.
  • Gao Fei’s final conversation with Second Uncle about cultivation and marriage is cut short by the sudden battle outside the city, shifting the chapter toward a new external threat.
Read chapter

Ch. 17Dao Body

Chapter Summary: “Dao Body”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • County Magistrate Xue of Yueyang County flees through the hills after battling three powerful mountain demons: a Fox Immortal, a Cat Demon, and a Yellow Weasel.
  • Xue mocks the Fox Immortal for serving as a tracker for other demons, while she insists she only observed the battle and never personally attacked him.
  • The demons stop pursuing Xue because their battle has severely drained them. Instead, they head to a hidden mountain hollow to obtain “blood food” and recover.
  • The demons discuss the Dao Body, a humanoid form that allows creatures to cultivate more efficiently. The weasel and fox have adopted this form, while the cat remains skeptical of its usefulness.
  • At the mountain camp, twenty Rat Demons greet the weasel but panic upon seeing the Cat Demon, their natural predator. The weasel suppresses the rats’ resistance, kills one who fails to provide the promised supplies, and orders the rest away.
  • The demons decide to recover independently rather than continue relying on blood food, acknowledging that excessive use of Blood Baleful Force harms their bodies.
  • Xue eventually stops fleeing and meditates to restore his true qi. As Yueyang’s county magistrate, he can draw upon local human incense and fortune, allowing rapid cultivation but limiting his advancement unless he receives a promotion.
  • Xue has already killed two Spirit-Absorption Realm demons and is relying on the stronger forces of the Great Wu Kingdom to deter the remaining demons from attacking the county seat.
  • The wider military situation is dire: the allied army has suffered a devastating defeat, and 100,000 Martial Suppression Guards are surrounded. Great Wu has recalled powerful cultivators and soldiers to rescue them.
  • Xue’s authority and strength are geographically tied to Yueyang County; outside it, his cultivation would fall significantly, explaining why he has not joined the rescue effort.
  • After waiting, Xue senses the three demons returning and realizes their supply problems may create an opportunity.
  • Back in Yueyang County, Gao Linyue again brings silver to his second uncle. After returning home, he places two portions into a frying pan, which are absorbed quickly. The process then slows, prompting Gao Fei to spend twenty Merit Points.

Character Developments

  • County Magistrate Xue is shown as capable, resilient, and experienced. Despite being outnumbered and injured, he maintains a significant speed advantage, kills two demons, and survives through tactical retreat rather than reckless confrontation.
  • Xue also emerges as a politically constrained defender. His strength depends on his jurisdiction, and his role prevents him from personally assisting the larger war.
  • The Fox Demon appears intelligent and somewhat proud, adopting the Dao Body and understanding its cultivation advantages. She avoids taking direct responsibility for the attack on Xue.
  • The Yellow Weasel acts as the group’s leader. He is ruthless and decisive, killing a Rat Demon for failing to deliver supplies, but he also shows awareness of the dangers of overusing Blood Baleful Force.
  • The Cat Demon remains aggressive, gluttonous, and contemptuous of the Dao Body. His instinctive hostility toward the Rat Demons emphasizes his predatory nature.
  • The Rat Demons are weak and fearful, especially around the Cat Demon, whose presence triggers their natural terror.
  • Gao Fei and Gao Linyue continue their mysterious experiment involving silver, absorption, and Merit Points. Gao Fei’s decision to spend twenty points suggests increasing investment in the process.

Significant Themes

  • Cultivation and transformation: The Dao Body represents a superior form for cultivation, while the demons’ differing reactions reveal their varying levels of understanding and advancement.
  • The limits of power: Xue’s strength is formidable but tied to his county, showing that cultivation ability can depend on political position and territory.
  • Resource dependence and physical cost: The demons require blood food to recover, yet excessive reliance on Blood Baleful Force damages their bodies.
  • Predator and prey relationships: The Cat Demon’s presence terrifies the Rat Demons, illustrating that instinctive hierarchy persists even after monsters gain intelligence.
  • War and political instability: The defeat of the allied army and the surrounding of 100,000 guards expand the conflict beyond Yueyang, placing the county’s local struggle within a national crisis.
  • Strategic survival: Both Xue and the demons avoid unnecessary direct confrontation, choosing retreat, recovery, and exploitation of logistical weaknesses.

Character Interactions

  • Xue and the Fox Demon exchange sarcastic accusations while he escapes, revealing their familiarity and antagonistic relationship.
  • The Fox and Cat Demons debate the value of the Dao Body, with the cat criticizing its apparent slowness and the fox silently judging his ignorance.
  • The Weasel and Cat Demon display mutual hostility rooted in the natural conflict between rats and cats.
  • The Weasel dominates the Rat Demons through intimidation and violence, while the Rat Demons instinctively turn against the Cat Demon.
  • Gao Linyue’s repeated interactions with his second uncle remain centered on silver, suggesting unresolved tension or secrecy, while Gao Fei quietly advances the associated experiment using Merit Points.
Read chapter

Ch. 18House-Guardian "Immortal"

Chapter Summary: “House-Guardian ‘Immortal’”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qiu Mei feels hurt after Gao Fei fails to recognize that she and Xiaocui have been helping with household matters. She suppresses her explanation, worrying that Gao Fei’s feelings toward her may have changed.
  • Second Aunt defends the two women, explaining that their help has greatly reduced her burden. Gao Fei realizes he has misunderstood them and becomes embarrassed.
  • Xiao Liu arrives to announce that Liu Chief Constable has summoned Gao Fei for an assignment. Gao Fei leaves money with Second Aunt for household expenses before departing.
  • The family warns Gao Fei and Xiao Liu to be cautious because the mission may involve leaving the city and fighting monsters. Gao Fei is also reminded that the martial hall competition is the following day.
  • At the yamen, Liu Chief Constable assigns Gao Fei, Xiao Liu, Zhang Constable, and three white-runners to inspect four locations outside the city. Their route passes through Dog Demon territory and ends near the border with the Yellow Great Immortal territory.
  • The group arms itself with spears and Tang sabers before leaving. Gao Fei retains his official position because it gives him access to monster reports and information that would be difficult to obtain alone.
  • Their first destination is Leaning Mountain Village, which has reported supernatural disturbances near a mass graveyard. The villagers are hiding indoors and basking in sunlight to dispel yin energy.
  • The village head claims that recent deaths were natural and denies that the village is haunted. However, Gao Fei senses an unusual chill, confirming that something is wrong.
  • After inspecting the affected homes, the constables discover clay figurines placed beside the spirit tablets of the dead. Liu Chief Constable identifies them as “House-Guardian Immortals”—the spirits of deceased relatives kept in figurines and sustained through incense offerings.
  • Xiao Liu explains that these spirits become wandering souls within roughly ten days. Though weak and vulnerable to martial artists with strong qi and blood, they can create illusions and disturb human and monster senses.
  • The village head admits that the villagers created the spirits to protect themselves from rampaging Rat Demons. One newly formed spirit escaped and accidentally killed the person who reported the incident.
  • Gao Fei recognizes the escaped spirit as likely connected to the ghostly wall he encountered after transmigrating. When he correctly guesses that it escaped several days earlier, the village head confirms it.
  • The village head claims the spirit may have died after being exposed to sunlight, but Liu Chief Constable distrusts him. Irritated when Gao Fei interrupts, he orders Gao Fei to handle the matter.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei shows increasing awareness of his relationships and surroundings. He recognizes that he has unfairly judged Qiu Mei and Xiaocui, though he remains awkward about expressing it.
  • He continues to think pragmatically, valuing his constable position because it provides access to information about monsters. His willingness to carry extra weapons shows that survival matters more to him than following conventional advice.
  • Qiu Mei becomes more emotionally vulnerable. Although she no longer fears immediate survival, she begins worrying about her future and whether Gao Fei’s attitude toward her has changed.
  • Xiaocui remains eager to help Qiu Mei but avoids defending herself once she senses that Gao Fei may resent their presence.
  • Second Aunt grows increasingly fond of Qiu Mei and Xiaocui and openly supports them.
  • Xiao Liu acts as Gao Fei’s practical companion, explaining supernatural matters and remaining calm despite the danger.
  • Liu Chief Constable is shown to be experienced and perceptive. He quickly sees through the village’s story and recognizes the nature of the clay figurines, but he is impatient and easily annoyed.
  • The village head shifts from denial to pleading once the evidence is exposed, portraying the villagers as frightened people who have resorted to dangerous methods for protection.

Significant Themes

  • Fear and survival: The villagers create supernatural guardians because official protection has failed against monsters, highlighting the desperate choices ordinary people make in a dangerous world.
  • The limits of good intentions: The House-Guardian Immortals were created to defend the village, yet one escaped and caused a death, showing how protective actions can produce new dangers.
  • Trust and misunderstanding: Gao Fei’s failure to notice Qiu Mei and Xiaocui’s help reflects the fragile nature of relationships and the harm caused by unspoken feelings.
  • Official duty versus personal survival: Gao Fei dislikes danger but remains a constable because the position gives him valuable intelligence. His role is both a burden and a strategic advantage.
  • Life, death, and attachment: The villagers refuse to let their relatives fully pass on, preserving them as spirits through clay figurines and incense. This turns grief and familial devotion into a supernatural threat.
  • Preparedness: Gao Fei’s insistence on carrying extra weapons contrasts with Zhang Constable’s advice to focus on mastering one weapon, emphasizing practical survival over idealized martial discipline.

Important Character Interactions

  • Second Aunt defends Qiu Mei and Xiaocui after Gao Fei dismisses their contributions, prompting Gao Fei to realize his mistake.
  • The family warns Gao Fei and Xiao Liu not to take unnecessary risks, while Gao Fei interprets the warning as permission to flee if necessary.
  • Gao Fei and Xiao Liu prepare weapons together, with Xiao Liu later explaining the nature of wandering souls.
  • Liu Chief Constable and Zhang Constable discuss the mission route and the dangers of the territories outside the city.
  • Liu Chief Constable interrogates the village head, forcing him to admit the truth about the House-Guardian Immortals.
  • Gao Fei connects the village’s escaped spirit to his own earlier encounter with a ghostly wall, causing Liu Chief Constable to place him in charge of resolving the incident.
Read chapter

Ch. 19This Man Was Born to Counter Me—He Cannot Be Allowed to Live

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei openly defies Liu Chief Constable’s sarcastic order to investigate another village, frustrating Liu and earning Zhang Constable’s quiet approval.
  • At the next village, five missing villagers have already returned. Liu extorts one thousand copper coins from each family before leaving.
  • In Tao Hua Village, Liu confronts the villagers over the death of a constable who supposedly died fighting monsters. He clearly suspects Gao Fei, especially because Gao Fei had previously returned from nearby villages with Rat Demon and Dog Demon corpses.
  • Liu accuses the villagers of rebellion and destroys part of their fence to force entry. The villagers surround the constables with spears and bows, creating a tense standoff.
  • Gao Fei realizes Liu has been connected to several suspicious events, including the ghost incident and the Lin Family’s destruction. He concludes that Liu is a dangerous enemy who must eventually die, though he remains uncertain about Liu’s cultivation.
  • Liu attempts to manipulate the village chief into revealing who killed the “traitorous” constable. Gao Fei interrupts and claims that he alone deserves credit, preventing the villagers from exposing the truth. The village chief quickly cooperates and orders everyone to repeat Liu’s name instead.
  • On the journey to the final village, Gao Fei kills three unawakened Dog Demons and confirms that each is worth one Faction Merit Point.
  • The final village is abandoned. Liu reveals that the previous stops were a distraction and summons more than twenty Rat Demons, including five unusually powerful leaders, intending to use the constables as “blood food.”
  • Liu reveals himself as a traitor to humanity. He claims he is cooperating with the demons to preserve Yueyang County, believing humans might be protected within demon-controlled territory.
  • Two yamen runners immediately surrender or declare support for Liu. Gao Fei attacks one of them, choosing to eliminate the traitors first.
  • Liu intercepts Gao Fei’s spear, but Gao Fei uses the Returning Horse Spear technique and strikes Liu in the chest. The chapter ends with Liu wounded but apparently still alive.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei becomes increasingly suspicious, decisive, and openly hostile toward Liu Chief Constable. He recognizes that Liu has been manipulating events and resolves to kill him when the opportunity arises.
  • Gao Fei also displays greater tactical awareness. Rather than recklessly attacking Liu, he studies his strength, waits for an advantageous moment, and prioritizes eliminating weaker enemies and potential traitors.
  • Liu Chief Constable is revealed as calculating, corrupt, and deeply dangerous. He extorts villagers, manipulates investigations, conceals his true intentions, and ultimately betrays humanity by allying with demons.
  • Zhang Constable quietly supports Gao Fei’s resistance to Liu, though he avoids direct confrontation.
  • The village chief proves highly deceptive and politically clever. He immediately understands Gao Fei’s attempt to control the story and helps preserve the villagers’ secret.
  • The two yamen runners reveal their lack of loyalty when faced with overwhelming danger, abandoning humanity and submitting to Liu.

Significant Themes

  • Corruption and abuse of authority: Liu uses his official position to extort villagers, intimidate communities, and manipulate the truth for personal advantage.
  • Betrayal versus loyalty: The constables and villagers must decide whether to protect one another, obey Liu, or cooperate with the demons. The runners’ surrender contrasts with Gao Fei’s refusal to compromise.
  • Pragmatism versus principle: Liu justifies treason as a practical attempt to save Yueyang County, while Gao Fei rejects the idea that demons can genuinely coexist with or protect humans.
  • Deception and control of information: Both Liu and Gao Fei attempt to shape the villagers’ testimony. Survival depends as much on managing the narrative as on physical strength.
  • Caution and preparation: Gao Fei’s experiences teach him not to underestimate hidden enemies. His hesitation before attacking Liu reflects growing awareness that a single mistake could be fatal.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei repeatedly taunts and challenges Liu, creating an increasingly hostile rivalry.
  • Zhang Constable silently encourages Gao Fei after his confrontation with Liu.
  • Gao Fei and the village chief cooperate to prevent the villagers from revealing their involvement in the constable’s death.
  • Liu tries to use the village chief and villagers to expose Gao Fei, but Gao Fei reverses the manipulation.
  • Liu attempts to recruit or intimidate the yamen runners, successfully gaining the loyalty of two of them.
  • Gao Fei responds by attacking the surrendered runner and then launching a surprise strike against Liu, transforming the standoff into open combat.
Read chapter

Ch. 20A Man's Achilles' Heel

Chapter Summary: “A Man’s Achilles’ Heel”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Fei, now more than twice as strong as when he killed the Rat Demon, attacks Constable Liu with his spear. Although the strike fails to penetrate deeply, it badly shocks Liu’s internal organs.
  • Constable Liu realizes that Gao Fei has unexpectedly reached the Bone Tempering Realm. Gao Fei likewise recognizes that Liu is a dangerous opponent of comparable strength.
  • The two fight fiercely. Gao Fei uses tactical spear techniques and targets vulnerable areas, including Liu’s lower abdomen and head. After stunning Liu with a powerful blow, Gao Fei exploits his disorientation and cripples him with a brutal strike to the groin.
  • As the Rat Demons approach, Gao Fei kills the two white-clad men who had surrendered to the demons. He receives Merit Points for one of the deaths but not the other, confirming that at least one of the men was considered morally corrupt or beyond redemption.
  • The Rat Demons surround Gao Fei, Constable Zhang, Lu Xiaoliu, and the injured Constable Liu. They intend to use the humans as blood food and are waiting for a more powerful demon to arrive.
  • Zhang explains that escape is possible only before the larger demon appears. Lu Xiaoliu refuses to abandon the others despite Gao Fei’s attempts to send him away.
  • Gao Fei notices Liu restoring his vital energy with a mysterious blood-red bead. To interrupt him, Gao Fei throws his spear into Liu’s abdomen, then switches to his saber for fighting the surrounding Rat Demons.
  • Gao Fei deliberately appears slow before suddenly accelerating and striking a powerful Rat Demon. His upward slash sends it flying, humiliating it and opening a possible path for escape.
  • Zhang Constable reassesses Gao Fei, realizing that Gao is acting selflessly while Liu is the true villain. Lu Xiaoliu remains focused on whether they can actually escape.

Character Developments

  • Gao Fei: Demonstrates rapid advancement, combat intelligence, ruthlessness, and tactical adaptability. Although he initially considers withdrawing after completing his mission, he ultimately risks himself to protect or save the others. His actions reveal a stronger moral instinct than he admits.
  • Constable Liu: Revealed as a cruel and corrupt figure who has allied himself with the demons. He is physically formidable and possesses a blood-red bead capable of restoring his vital energy, but Gao Fei’s tactics leave him severely wounded and vulnerable.
  • Constable Zhang: Moves from suspicion and passivity to active resistance against the demons. He rejects the idea of humans being treated as livestock and recognizes Gao Fei’s genuine character.
  • Lu Xiaoliu: Shows loyalty and courage by refusing to flee alone, even when Gao Fei tells him he will only be a burden.
  • The Rat Demons: Display arrogance and cruelty, treating the humans as livestock. Their confidence is shaken when Gao Fei unexpectedly defeats one of their fighters.

Significant Themes

  • Moral judgment and corruption: The Merit Point system distinguishes between different kinds of death, suggesting that surrendering to evil carries moral consequences.
  • Courage versus survival: Gao Fei initially prioritizes self-preservation but chooses to fight when others are threatened. Zhang and Lu Xiaoliu likewise confront the question of whether to flee or stand together.
  • Appearance versus reality: Gao Fei appears selfish and ruthless, yet behaves more honorably than Liu. Liu, meanwhile, hides his corruption behind official authority.
  • Tactical intelligence and exploiting weakness: Gao Fei wins not through overwhelming strength alone, but by targeting vulnerable areas, disrupting Liu’s recovery, changing weapons, and deceiving the Rat Demons.
  • Oppression and resistance: Zhang’s refusal to become “blood food” frames the conflict as a struggle against a system in which humans are treated as livestock.

Important Character Interactions

  • Gao Fei and Liu engage in a brutal, evenly matched duel, with Gao Fei repeatedly exploiting Liu’s momentary weaknesses.
  • Gao Fei orders Lu Xiaoliu to flee, but Lu insists on remaining with the group, emphasizing their growing bond.
  • Gao Fei asks Zhang to interpret the Rat Demons’ behavior, beginning to rely on his experience.
  • Zhang ultimately acknowledges that he misjudged Gao Fei and sees him as the good man in contrast to Liu.
  • Gao Fei confronts the Rat Demons alone, using deception and a sudden attack to create an opening for the group’s escape.
Read chapter
Show
Page 1 of 4