Arc 10The Shushui Street Secret

Ding Songyan protected Wu Zheng from Prince Shen’s agents, drew closer to Twelfth Madam Luo, and enlisted her help against Ji Hanyi. Their investigation of Ji Hanyi’s activities uncovered a failed Shamanic Religion ritual, while Ji already knew Twelfth Madam Luo’s identity.

  • Ding Songyan uncovered that the Yellow Heaven Path had obtained mission information through a guard and suspected the Sage-Slaying Path was involved.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo disguised Wu Zheng as Ding Songyan and then as Lin Chong, sending him to Phoenix Terrace Studio to tell the Five Saints Sect about He Jin.
  • Ding Songyan and Jiang Lanting discovered the Ghost-Wyrm Path’s plot against Jiang, but found its informant He Jianyun murdered before they could question him.
  • Ding Songyan experienced a transformation after entering Hu Chaohui’s dream and resolved to develop martial arts that could replace his reliance on the Heavenly Heart Imprint.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan rescued Wu Zheng, learned Prince Shen had ordered He Jin to seize his family’s inheritance, and kept Wu Zheng hidden from the prince’s agents.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo shared stories about their past relationships, and she revealed that she was a Celestial Person.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo drove Ji Hanyi away when Ji investigated the wine shop, and Feng Yining’s spear attack forced Ji to retreat.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo investigated a vacant house on Shushui Street, uncovered a grotesque corpse from a failed God-Inviting Secret Art, and left witnesses to discover it without revealing Luo’s involvement.
Chapters 227–251 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 227Spirit Walking Through the Netherworld

Ding Songyan used Spirit Walking Through the Netherworld to question a dead guard and uncovered signs that the Yellow Heaven Path and Sage-Slaying Path were cooperating. He realized Han Shun had summoned him partly to make the ghost disappear, and left the Prince's Residence aware that its secret mission involved deeper intrigue.

  • Peng Jushan led Ding Songyan to Commander Han Shun, who asked him to question a dead guard and keep the matter secret.
  • Ding Songyan learned that the guard had leaked mission information to the Yellow Heaven Path after they gained leverage over him.
  • Ding Songyan discovered that a silent woman wearing a Black Gauze Veil Hat had appeared during both the leak and the guard's earlier mistake, suggesting the Sage-Slaying Path was involved.
  • The ghost dissipated during questioning, and Han Shun said he would report the apparent cooperation between the two paths to Prince Kang.
  • As Ding Songyan left, he concluded that Han Shun had wanted him to destroy the Yin Soul and decided to wait before confronting him.

Ch. 228Hearts in tune

Ding Songyan received and read a heartfelt letter from Zheng Zhuxi, while she learned of the masked fighters in the Flame Capital and grew worried that he might be entangled with Ji Hanyi. Zheng Zhuxi asked her father to let Ding Songyan study the Book of Utmost Sincerity, and Zheng Ziming asked whether Ding had killed Sun Feiyang.

  • A Director from the Martial Prohibition Bureau delivered Zheng Zhuxi’s letter to Ding Songyan, and Li Baima, Wu Mo, and Fan Chunlin realized his senior sister was Miss Zheng of the Xiaoming Sect.
  • Ding Songyan went to Twelfth Madam Luo’s East Wing Room, read Zheng Zhuxi’s letter, and planned to send his reply through the Xie Family and the banks owned by those surnamed Fang.
  • Zheng Ziming told Zheng Zhuxi about the masked fighters in the Flame Capital, and she suspected that the male Jade Maiden who attacked Hu Chaohui was Ding Songyan and that the Jade Maiden who killed Huo Minglou might be Ji Hanyi.
  • Zheng Zhuxi decided not to alert others about her suspicions and asked Zheng Ziming to keep Ding Songyan’s secrets while explaining his martial arts path.
  • Zheng Zhuxi asked her father to let Ding Songyan read the Book of Utmost Sincerity, excluding its methods for opening orifices and organ dressing, and Zheng Ziming asked if Ding had killed Sun Feiyang.

Ch. 229A Skill Beyond Belief

Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo disguised Wu Zheng as Ding Songyan, then as the invented Hero Lin, to get him safely to the Phoenix Bookshop and alert the Five Saints Sect about He Jin. Their pursuers followed them, while Ding Songyan’s explanation for inventing Lin Chong’s detailed identity was that he was a Storyteller.

  • Ding Songyan encountered his younger sister Ji Hanyi in the marketplace, allowed her to speak into his sea of consciousness, and wondered why she had appeared on Shushui Street.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo disguised Wu Zheng as Ding Songyan, using the Heavenly Mind Formula and their answers to make the likeness convincing for two hours.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo left the Cheap Wine Shop with Wu Zheng while martial artists watched, divided up, and reported to He Jin.
  • At a restaurant, Ding Songyan joined Wu Zheng and Twelfth Madam Luo in a private room, where they ate before changing Wu Zheng’s disguise.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo transformed Wu Zheng into the older Hero Lin, and Ding Songyan instructed him to go to the Phoenix Bookshop after they left and tell the Five Saints Sect about He Jin.
  • Ding Songyan confirmed that their pursuers had followed them from the restaurant, then told Twelfth Madam Luo he had invented Lin Chong because he was a Storyteller.

Ch. 230Not seeing

Wu Zheng reached Phoenix Terrace Studio safely and sought Yu Chongyuan’s protection, revealing his family’s connection to Fire Virtue True Lord Wu Hui and the attack that drove him into hiding. Twelfth Madam Luo returned to the Cheap Wine Shop after nearly encountering someone from her past, and she and Ding Songyan spoke of the difficulty of forgetting someone.

  • Wu Zheng followed Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo’s instructions, reached Phoenix Terrace Studio without drawing attention, and broke down in tears upon entering.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan watched from nearby, then discussed Ding Songyan’s writing and the Legend of the White Snake before Luo abruptly led him away from the market.
  • Yu Chongyuan met Wu Zheng in a quiet room, heard the account of his parents’ deaths and He Jin’s involvement, and agreed to shelter him while investigating.
  • Zhang Yingbo confirmed Wu Zheng’s martial arts came from Fire Virtue True Lord Wu Hui, and Yu Chongyuan wondered whether the mysterious disguise was connected to Emperor Terrace.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo returned to the Cheap Wine Shop and told Ding Songyan she had nearly encountered someone she did not want to see.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo asked whether Ding Songyan had ever wanted both to forget someone and draw close to them, and he admitted that he had.

Ch. 231Young Master Mingxi

Ding Songyan met Jiang Lanting and Bai Qilin at Xiumei Mountain, where Jiang challenged him to a swordsmanship exchange. Ding exposed the weakness in Jiang’s Great Thousand Myriad Forms Art, and the encounter ended with Jiang declaring that the defeated “Young Master Jiang” was now “Miss Jiang.”

  • Xie Fengchao brought Ding Songyan to Xiumei Mountain and introduced him to Jiang Lanting and Bai Qilin.
  • Bai Qilin asked whether Ding had beaten Xie, and Ding explained that Xie’s overconfidence had cost him the match.
  • Jiang Lanting revealed that he had worn both a Jade Maiden Mask and a Golden Boy costume in recent days.
  • Jiang challenged Ding to exchange Cosmic Star-Dipper Swordsmanship through incense smoke, and Ding repeatedly broke his attacks with a single move.
  • Jiang stopped the spar after realizing Ding was exploiting the manifested swordsmanship’s reduced power, then announced that the defeated Jiang was now Miss Jiang.
  • Xie Fengchao told Ding that Jiang was born with both female and male aspects, suited to the Yin-Yang Religion’s arts.

Ch. 232A sudden attack

Ding Songyan learned more about Jiang Lanting and the Yin-Yang Religion before killing a Ghost-Wyrm Path assassin who suddenly attacked Jiang. He used Spirit Walking Through the Netherworld to question the assassin’s Yin Soul about the employer and informant.

  • Xie Fengchao told Ding Songyan about Jiang Lanting’s struggles with his dual nature and asked him to keep the Yin-Yang Religion’s secrets private.
  • Jiang Lanting explained aspects of the Religion’s transformations and arts, then discussed martial arts with Ding Songyan, whose Swordsmanship insights impressed him.
  • As the group left to eat, a masked Ghost-Wyrm Path assassin attacked Jiang Lanting, but Ding Songyan killed him with Cold Shadow.
  • Jiang Lanting wondered who had ordered the attack, and Ding Songyan questioned the assassin’s Yin Soul about the assignment and who had gathered information on Jiang.

Ch. 233Pursuit

Ding Songyan, Jiang Lanting, and their companions traced a failed assassination attempt to the Secluded Perfume Shop and searched for He Jianyun. They learned He had gone to Huaiyuan Street, where they found a flayed face matching his description nailed beside an alley.

  • The assassin's Yin Soul revealed that Black Sanlang had ordered the attack on Jiang Lanting and that He Jianyun had helped the assassin hide and gather information.
  • The assassin said the Ghost-Wyrm Path would make another attempt and explained that Surveillance Watchers observed assassinations, prompting Jiang Lanting and his companions to hurry to the Secluded Perfume Shop.
  • Xie Fengchao admitted he did not know the shop's location, so Ding Songyan questioned the assassin and learned it was on Sandbridge Street.
  • At the shop, the group learned from Niao Mingwei that He Jianyun had left for Huaiyuan Street and learned his appearance and distinguishing features.
  • The group reached Huaiyuan Street and found a flayed face with a black mole between its eyebrows nailed to a wall, as Constables approached.

Ch. 234The Death of the "Accountant"

Ding Songyan and his companions discovered that He Jianyun, a Ghost-Wyrm Path Accountant, had been killed and dismembered, and helped Heaven-Bearing Prefecture locate his remains. Jiang Lanting left for the Yin and Yang Abbey, while Ding Songyan learned that the Heavenly Fool Scripture could conceal thoughts and memories.

  • Ding Songyan recognized He Jianyun's peeled face, and the group realized the Ghost-Wyrm Path Accountant had been assassinated and dismembered.
  • Ding Songyan, Jiang Lanting, and Bai Qilin used tracking arts to help Head Constable Hong locate the scattered remains, which Heaven-Bearing Prefecture handed over to the Martial Prohibition Bureau.
  • Jiang Lanting decided not to pursue He Jianyun's yin soul and asked Ding Songyan to question it about the Dark Passage Book and the Seven Sand-Spitting Methods if they found the body at Xiumei Mountain.
  • Jiang Lanting discovered the body had already been taken to the Martial Prohibition Bureau, then left for the Yin and Yang Abbey while Ding Songyan, Xie Fengchao, and Bai Qilin descended the mountain.
  • Ding Songyan asked Bai Qilin whether the Heavenly Fool Scripture could conceal thoughts and memories, and Bai Qilin confirmed that it could.

Ch. 235Good deeds bring good rewards

Ding Songyan warned Liu Cheng away from the Silver Hook Gambling House and learned that Hu Chaohui would be staying at Liu’s residence that night. After returning to write a letter, Ding Songyan secretly entered the Liu Family compound and began using Three Thousand Years of Great Dreaming near Hu Chaohui.

  • Ding Songyan searched Huaiyuan, East Town, and Shuning Streets for the Ghost-Wyrm Path traitor but found no trace, then met Twelfth Madam Luo selling handmade goods on South-Pacifying Street.
  • Ding Songyan told Twelfth Madam Luo that his warning to Hu Chaohui about the Silver Hook Gambling House had gone unheeded, and she expressed resolute killing intent.
  • Ding Songyan warned Liu Cheng to stop visiting the Silver Hook Gambling House, and Liu Cheng agreed before leaving without entering it.
  • Liu Cheng told Ding Songyan that Hu Chaohui was mentally shaken and had been hiding at Liu’s residence, where he was expected again that night.
  • Ding Songyan returned with Twelfth Madam Luo to Tiger Tail Alley, wrote a letter, and later sneaked into the Liu Family compound to locate Hu Chaohui and manifest Three Thousand Years of Great Dreaming.

Ch. 236The Gaze

Ding Songyan entered Hu Chaohui’s dream and witnessed the cave murals connect the Glazed Sea-Holding Art to Emperor Xuanyuan, whose gaze then reached across the world and shook the Flame Capital. After escaping notice, Ding Songyan discovered that his Yin Eye and several acupoints had changed, and he began planning to develop a way to sense Heaven’s will without relying on the Heavenly Heart Imprint.

  • Ding Songyan studied the murals in Hu Chaohui’s dream and triggered a vision of Emperor Xuanyuan, whose gaze pierced the dream and turned toward him.
  • Ding Songyan’s mind returned to his body as the aura of heaven and earth changed, and his Hundun abnormalities and Yin Eye manifested.
  • Ji Hanyi, a man at Phoenix Terrace Studio, and Twelfth Madam Luo each sensed the disturbance in the Flame Capital, with Twelfth Madam Luo wondering whether it was related to the Celestial Emperor.
  • Ding Songyan concealed his abnormalities and traces, escaped the Liu Family estate, and returned to the Side Courtyard of the Prince’s Residence.
  • Ding Songyan found that he could sense his remaining external acupoints and activate his Yin Eye and Spirit Walking Through the Netherworld without the Heavenly Heart Imprint.
  • Ding Songyan decided to use the Essentials of the Heavenly Mandate as a basis for developing martial arts that could replace his reliance on the Heavenly Heart Imprint.

Ch. 237A friend would soon come from afar

Hu Chaohui’s frightening dream led him to entrust the Treading the Sea Gang to Liu Cheng while he went into seclusion, and Su Qingli persuaded her father to take the family to the Flame Capital for the consort selection. In the Flame Capital, Jiang Lanting visited Ding Songyan and said he had brought him something good.

  • Hu Chaohui told Liu Cheng that he had dreamed again of the person wearing the Jade Maiden Mask and decided to enter secluded cultivation, leaving the Treading the Sea Gang in Liu Cheng’s care.
  • Liu Cheng urged Hu Chaohui to focus on respectable businesses, but Hu Chaohui said the gang’s uncertain situation meant he could only trust Liu Cheng with it.
  • Su Qingli received a letter from Second Brother Ding and persuaded Su Changzhou to take her and her mother to the Flame Capital for Emperor Jianwu’s consort selection.
  • Su Qingli asked Su Changzhou whether Luo Mingyin might be her aunt, and he said he would need to judge her temperament before deciding.
  • Ding Songyan continued writing and practicing martial arts, while he and his friends postponed their planned outing because of Li Baima’s family loss.
  • Jiang Lanting arrived at Ding Songyan’s courtyard, and after Ding introduced him as Young Master Mingxi, Jiang said he had brought Ding something good.

Ch. 238A Gift

Jiang Lanting visited Ding Songyan to repay his help, gave him a Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill, and read one of Ding’s stories. Two days later, Ding sought martial arts guidance from Twelfth Madam Luo, but their discussion was interrupted when someone collapsed in the alley with serious hidden injuries.

  • Ding Songyan refused Jiang Lanting’s offer of a reward but accepted the Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill after learning he could owe Jiang a favor.
  • Jiang Lanting read Ding Songyan’s story, became tearful over its romance, and left after promising not to visit for seven days.
  • Ding Songyan swallowed the pill, then spent two days avoiding pretty women while its effects took hold.
  • Ding Songyan visited Twelfth Madam Luo and asked her about the flow of heaven and earth’s Qi.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan noticed someone collapse in the alley behind the Main Room with grave hidden injuries.

Ch. 239Myriad Flames Origin Flow Art (Thanks to Su Xiao's Wife-Mrs. Moretti for Supporting Lord of Mysteries with a Silver Alliance)

Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo rescued the badly injured Wu Zheng, who revealed that his family had been attacked over its Myriad Flames Origin Flow Art and that Zhurong’s inheritors were among the attackers. After Ding Songyan gave him a Life-Prolonging Pill, Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding to care for Wu Zheng in the East Wing Room and teased him about the rumors this would create.

  • Twelfth Madam Luo carried an unconscious young man from behind the Main Room to the Cheap Wine Shop, and Ding Songyan erased the traces of their rescue.
  • Ding Songyan questioned the recovering man, who identified himself as Wu Zheng and said his parents had been killed for his family’s Myriad Flames Origin Flow Art, a legacy of Fire Virtue True Lord Wu Hui.
  • Wu Zheng explained that inheritors of Zhurong were among his attackers, so he feared reporting them to the authorities; Ding Songyan judged his account truthful and gave him a Life-Prolonging Pill.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding Songyan that sage Master Zuo had cultivated Wu Hui’s legacy through the Astral Phenomena and Heavenly Secrets Scripture.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo ordered Ding Songyan to stay in the East Wing Room and care for Wu Zheng, then joked that any resulting scandal would damage Ding’s reputation more than hers.

Ch. 240Frightened off

Ding Songyan moved into Twelfth Madam Luo’s courtyard to protect Wu Zheng and drove off a Martial Grandmaster who tried to search it. The intruder reported back that the courtyard’s owner had unfathomable strength, while his companion questioned that conclusion.

  • Ding Songyan agreed to stay with Twelfth Madam Luo, then told Li Baima and the others that he was hunting the person harassing her and used the Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill as proof of his restraint.
  • Wu Zheng thanked Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo for saving him, and Twelfth Madam Luo persuaded him to remain hidden while he recovered.
  • Ding Songyan spotted a black-robed old man lurking outside the courtyard and used a broom to frighten him into fleeing without drawing the Watchtower’s attention.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo asked Ding Songyan why he had not pursued the old man, and he explained that the situation seemed dangerous and he was wary of encountering a Great Grandmaster.
  • The old man reported to a horned man that he had failed to search one courtyard because its owner detected him, and the horned man challenged his claim that the owner’s strength was unfathomable.

Ch. 241Escape arts

He Jin infiltrated the Cheap Wine Shop’s courtyard using the Five Elements Escape Art but was effortlessly knocked unconscious by Twelfth Madam Luo. Ding Songyan learned that Prince Shen, Hong Yuanqing, had ordered the search for the Myriad Flames Origin Flow Art, while He Jin woke in an alley and remained unsure whether the wine shop manager had rescued Wu Zheng.

  • He Jin used the Five Elements Escape Art to enter the Cheap Wine Shop’s courtyard, where Twelfth Madam Luo struck him unconscious with a broom.
  • Ding Songyan entered He Jin’s dream and learned that Prince Shen, Hong Yuanqing, had ordered the group to seize the Myriad Flames Origin Flow Art.
  • He Jin reported to Prince Shen’s Residence, was sent away to reflect, and returned to studying the Five Elements Escape Art.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding Songyan to send Wu Zheng to Phoenix Terrace Studio after he recovered and warned him to keep the Xiaoming Sect out of serious trouble.
  • He Jin woke at an alley entrance, unharmed, and guessed that Twelfth Madam Luo had shown goodwill while protecting the secrets of her courtyard.

Ch. 242Morning in the little courtyard

After He Jin was defeated by Twelfth Madam Luo, he and Hou Yang investigated the Cheap Wine Shop and decided to watch it while awaiting the prince’s orders. In the courtyard, Ding Songyan mastered the Five Elements Escape Art, helped care for Wu Zheng, and spent a quiet morning with Twelfth Madam Luo as Wu Zheng mourned his lost family.

  • He Jin told Hou Yang that Twelfth Madam Luo had knocked him unconscious with one move, and the two concluded she was likely a Great Grandmaster.
  • Their gathered information identified Ding Songyan as a Xiaoming Sect disciple, while He Jin suspected Twelfth Madam Luo was the true power behind the wine shop and ordered surveillance as they awaited the prince’s decision.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo used Spirit-Calming Incense to ease Wu Zheng’s damaged divine soul, while Ding Songyan reviewed and mastered the Five Elements Escape Art at the cost of six years of lifespan.
  • Ding Songyan practiced swordsmanship the next morning, and Twelfth Madam Luo explained how he might adapt the essence of the Betrayal-Trust Sword to his own techniques.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan prepared breakfast and discussed keeping Wu Zheng hidden; watching them reminded Wu Zheng of his family, and grief overwhelmed him.

Ch. 243Name and Reality

Wu Zheng recovered enough to witness Ding Songyan’s baffling swordsmanship, while Ding Songyan planned to get him safely to Phoenix Terrace Studio using a disguise built on the Dao of Name and Reality. On a walk to map He Jin’s surveillance, Ding Songyan was struck by a falling bamboo pole and recognized the woman at the window as someone who had read his story.

  • Wu Zheng watched Ding Songyan practice swordsmanship and realized he could not defend against its seemingly clumsy moves, while Twelfth Madam Luo warned that the technique could mislead an inexperienced martial artist.
  • Ding Songyan asked Twelfth Madam Luo about using the Dao of Name and Reality to disguise someone as him, then arranged for her to look after Wu Zheng while he investigated the hidden lookouts.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo read Ding Songyan’s story and questioned him about a plot in which a falling bamboo pole brought two characters together.
  • Ding Songyan walked through the streets toward Golden Pool Lake, changing his route to draw out and assess He Jin’s pursuer.
  • A bamboo pole fell beside Ding Songyan, and he looked up to see a beautiful woman in a veiled hat watching him from an open window.

Ch. 244A miraculous feat

Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo disguised Wu Zheng so he could reach Phoenix Terrace Studio without being recognized by He Jin’s watchers. The plan left Wu Zheng hidden in a restaurant as Lin Chong, while Ding Songyan and Luo drew their pursuers away.

  • Ding Songyan encountered Ji Hanyi on Shushui Street, let her enter his Sea of Consciousness, and wondered whether she wanted him to investigate the street.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo used their answers to transform Wu Zheng’s appearance into a convincing likeness of Ding Songyan for two hours.
  • Wu Zheng left the Cheap Wine Shop with Luo, prompting He Jin’s watchers to split up and follow them or report back.
  • At a restaurant, Ding Songyan hid while Wu Zheng passed as him, then Luo changed Wu Zheng’s disguise into that of Lin Chong, a supposed hero.
  • Ding Songyan and Luo left Wu Zheng hidden in the private room and led their pursuers away before Wu Zheng was to go to Phoenix Terrace Studio and inform the Five Saints Sect about He Jin.

Ch. 245Nowhere to Be Seen

Ding Songyan arranged false clues to mislead He Jin’s search for Wu Zheng while caring for the wounded man and continuing his martial arts practice and writing. He Jin heard that a disguised, sickly man had sought a calming prescription and suspected Wu Zheng, but Luo Mingyin’s identity remained unknown.

  • Ding Songyan asked Twelfth Madam Luo to help create false trails in South City and questioned Wu Zheng about the signs and techniques of his family’s inherited art.
  • Ding Songyan paid Shi Wuyan to send three disguised young men on separate errands designed to suggest Wu Zheng’s presence.
  • Ding Songyan practiced the Essentials of the Heavenly Mandate, then adapted his sword routine to imitate the rhythm of Twelfth Madam Luo’s fist practice.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo read Ding Songyan’s story and teased him about its romantic characters and possible ending.
  • Hou Yang told He Jin that a disguised, sickly man had sought a prescription on Jade Distant Street, and He Jin suspected Wu Zheng.
  • He Jin learned that the Prince’s Residence had not identified Luo Mingyin.

Ch. 246Tea and stories

Ding Songyan told Twelfth Madam Luo how jealousy and insecurity had ruined his first love, and how a later bond helped him open his heart again. He resolved to pursue a future with the girl he cared for despite the danger posed by his powerful enemy, then invited Twelfth Madam Luo to share her own story.

  • Ding Songyan recounted how his insecurity led to repeated jealous arguments and eventually ended his relationship with the girl he had married.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo explained that his jealousy had become a Heart Demon rooted in human desire, while Ding Songyan accepted responsibility for his mistakes.
  • Ding Songyan described meeting another girl who helped him untie the knot in his heart and become willing to welcome a new future.
  • Ding Songyan said he would tell the girl he loved the truth and pursue her despite the threat from his enemy.
  • Ding Songyan invited Twelfth Madam Luo to tell her own story, and she began by saying it was very simple.

Ch. 247The Past

Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding Songyan how she left her sect after her senior brother rejected her, and the two shared stories that eased her troubled mood. The next morning, she revealed she was a Celestial Person and agreed to help Ding Songyan scare off Ji Hanyi, the Nine-Evil Witch.

  • Twelfth Madam Luo recalled loving her senior brother, who refused to marry her when she fled an arranged match, so she left the sect and began tempering her heart in the mortal world.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo explained that she had not returned to the sect or spoken with her father, though she sometimes secretly visited him, and she had nearly encountered her senior brother earlier.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo shared tea and stories, then spent the evening at the Cheap Wine Shop, where she read his writing and appeared more at ease the next morning.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding Songyan she was a Celestial Person after he asked about her cultivation.
  • Ding Songyan asked Twelfth Madam Luo to scare away Ji Hanyi, the Nine-Evil Witch, and she agreed.

Ch. 248Late at Night

Ding Songyan warned Wang Zhou about the dangerous struggle surrounding the Hundun Remains and arranged for rumors about his Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill to clear his name. That night, Ji Hanyi approached the Cheap Wine Shop and was driven back by a mysterious woman, whom she identified as Feng Yining.

  • Twelfth Madam Luo agreed to help Ding Songyan deal with Demoness Ji, and he warned her that Ji had reached the Celestial Person realm through the Hundun Method.
  • Ding Songyan told Wang Zhou about the Fire-Stealing Sect leader’s death, Prince Shen’s pursuit of True Lord of Fire Virtue’s inheritance, and the danger of getting involved.
  • Ding Songyan explained how the Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill and his colleagues could help restore his reputation, and Wang Zhou agreed to defend Twelfth Madam Luo’s concealed identity.
  • Ding Songyan returned to the Wine Shop’s Rear Courtyard, practiced, ate with Twelfth Madam Luo, and settled in for the night.
  • Ji Hanyi went to investigate Twelfth Madam Luo but was struck by a spear attack from an unseen woman and forced to retreat.
  • Ji Hanyi recognized her unseen attacker as Feng Yining.

Ch. 249His Feelings

Ding Songyan returned to the Prince's Residence after Twelfth Madam Luo drove off Demoness Ji, while secretly planning to keep visiting the Cheap Wine Shop for her guidance. In a letter to Zheng Zhuxi, he hinted at his role in recent killings and confessed how often he thought of her, leaving her flushed and moved.

  • Twelfth Madam Luo told Ding Songyan she had scared Demoness Ji off, and he thanked her before returning to bed.
  • Twelfth Madam Luo avoided asking about Ding Songyan's feud with Demoness Ji, and Ding Songyan moved back to the Prince's Residence while saying he would still visit the Cheap Wine Shop.
  • Ding Songyan told his colleagues he would protect Twelfth Madam Luo from harassment, then decided to limit his movements while Demoness Ji might seek revenge.
  • Zheng Zhuxi received Ding Songyan's letter and inferred that he had worn the Golden Boy Mask to kill Sun Feiyang and had disguised himself as Jade Maiden to warn her about Demoness Ji.
  • Zheng Zhuxi read Ding Songyan's confession that he thought of her often, then went to answer her master's summons with flushed cheeks.

Ch. 250Friends

Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo shared a meal, discussed martial arts and the Xiaoming Sect’s lost Celestial Person methods, then went together to investigate a place where Demoness Ji had appeared. Meanwhile, Yu Chongyuan connected Wu Zheng’s case to Prince Shen and received Emperor Jianwu’s order to find He Jin and help Wu Zheng obtain justice.

  • Ding Songyan visited Twelfth Madam Luo, admitted he had fought Li Linquan in disguise, and accepted her offer to accompany him to help Li Linquan.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo ate together, and she explained that the Xiaoming Sect had several possible Celestial Person Methods.
  • Zhang Yingbo told Yu Chongyuan that He Jin had been an Attendant at Prince Shen’s Residence, and Yu Chongyuan went to report Wu Zheng’s case to Emperor Jianwu.
  • Emperor Jianwu told Yu Chongyuan to find He Jin and help Wu Zheng obtain justice, then asked whether there had been any word from her.
  • Ding Songyan brought Twelfth Madam Luo to Shushui Street to investigate Demoness Ji’s possible secret, and she angrily called him shameless.

Ch. 251That Was All?

Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam Luo investigated the house where Ji Hanyi had appeared and discovered a failed Shamanic Religion ritual and a buried corpse. They left the scene to draw attention from the authorities, while Twelfth Madam confirmed that Ji Hanyi knew her identity.

  • Ding Songyan explained how Ji Hanyi had lured him to Shushui Street, and Twelfth Madam Luo teased him about a possible romantic connection.
  • Ding Songyan and Twelfth Madam searched the vacant house and spotted a divine residence in the alley behind it.
  • They entered the divine residence, found bloodstains and ritual objects, and dug up a grotesque corpse that Twelfth Madam identified as the result of a failed God-Inviting Secret Art tied to the Shamanic Religion.
  • Twelfth Madam told Ding Songyan to report the discovery without mentioning her, so he set a small fire and shouted to attract witnesses before they slipped away.
  • Ding Songyan asked whether Ji Hanyi had recognized Twelfth Madam, and Twelfth Madam confirmed that Ji Hanyi knew her identity but would not reveal it while pursuing her plans.
Arc 10 of 11
Arc 10 of 11