Recaps

Master Zhu Xin gave Qin Geng ten silver dollars to help him establish himself, asking him to arrange a proper funeral when the time came, and advised him to build a cart company. After half a month of intense training and work, Qin Geng reached level eight and learned Tianjin’s streets before hearing about a new company challenging Ping'an Cart Company.

• Master Zhu Xin persuaded Qin Geng to accept ten silver dollars in exchange for arranging his funeral and urged him to establish a cart company with trusted men from the shantytown.
• Qin Geng accepted the money and promised to give Master Zhu Xin a dignified funeral.
• Qin Geng bought Bone-Strengthening Powder and spent the following days training by day and night while working at the wharf.
• By November fourteenth, Qin Geng had reached Martial Artist level eight and mapped nearly all of Tianjin, but his medicine was losing its effect and his body needed more meat.
• Li Gou told Qin Geng and Uncle Xu that Hongsheng Cart Company had opened and was competing with Ping'an Cart Company.

Qin Geng and the dockworkers heard that Qi Hongsheng had founded Hongsheng Cart Company with the Dragon King Society’s backing, offering low dues and new carts. The chapter ended with Qi’s men throwing Guan Ershun, Boss Lin, and three other Ping'an Cart Company bosses into the Tianjin River, leaving the dockworkers stunned and afraid.

• Li Gou told Xu Chun, Ma Laifu, Uncle Jin, and Qin Geng that Qi Hongsheng had opened Hongsheng Cart Company and offered drivers lower dues and new carts.
• Xu Chun urged the men to wait before switching companies, warning that Qi might become even more ruthless than Ping'an Cart Company.
• Dragon King Society men arrived at the dock dragging Guan Ershun, Boss Lin, and three other Ping'an Cart Company bosses, all bound and beaten.
• A Dragon King Society leader announced that Master Qi had ordered the five men sunk in the river.
• The Porters threw Guan Ershun and the four other bosses into the Tianjin River, where the current carried them away.

After the Hongsheng Cart Company destroyed its rivals, Qin Geng led the drivers to register under the new rulers. At registration, Abacus Song recognized him as the man who killed Chen Sanpi with one punch.

• The Hongsheng Cart Company announced that the Ping'an Cart Company was finished and ordered all drivers to register or face the same fate as the men thrown into the river.
• Qin Geng urged Xu Chun, Uncle Jin, and the other drivers to stop taking fares and register, and drivers from other parts of town followed.
• At the Hongsheng Cart Company, Qin Geng saw Abacus Song overseeing registrations and learned that the company was reshuffling territories among the drivers.
• When Qin Geng gave his name and said he had worked under Boss Lin at Xu Jin's Shanty, Abacus Song stopped the accountant and asked if he was Brother Qin Wu, who had killed Chen Sanpi with one punch at the docks.

Qin Geng refused Abacus Song’s offer to become boss of South City, recognizing that Qi Hongsheng wanted to use him against the remnants of Ping'an Cart Company. He secured lower dues and new cart tags for his brothers, then explained why they were safer keeping their territory and relying on their own strength.

• Abacus Song offered Qin Geng the South City boss's seat, but Qin Geng firmly refused.
• Abacus Song assigned Qin Geng the South 02 cart tag and reduced the dues for Xu Jin's Shanty and Ma Village Shack to twenty percent.
• Qin Geng led the drivers from both shacks out of Hongsheng Cart Company after they received their new tags.
• Li Gou questioned why Qin Geng had rejected the boss's seat, and Qin Geng explained that Qi Hongsheng wanted him to confront Guan Ershun's remaining loyalists.
• Qin Geng told the brothers that their skills and unity mattered more than a position that Qi Hongsheng could take away.
• After the territory reshuffle, most drivers returned to their familiar areas, while Hongsheng Cart Company focused on collecting dues and asserting its authority.

Qin Geng prepared for a dangerous night in Bell Mountain and arrived at Heaven-Reaching Gate to join Lu Xingmin and the others. He met Daoist Miaoxuan and learned that Third Master Cao and Cao Xiaoliu worked for the Directorate of Astronomy’s Mound-Sealing Bureau, though Cao clarified that he was only the local Earth Official’s Office chief.

• Qin Geng declined Xu Jin’s invitation to wait for a ship and warned him and Uncle Xu to avoid trouble while he was away.
• Qin Geng ate a large meal to build his strength before heading to Bell Mountain for the night’s meeting.
• At Heaven-Reaching Gate, Qin Geng found Lu Xingmin, Daoist Miaoxuan, Third Master Cao, and Cao Xiaoliu preparing for their mission.
• Miaoxuan noticed Qin Geng’s strong blood and vitality and said his martial training would help against filthy things.
• Lu Xingmin introduced Third Master Cao and Cao Xiaoliu as officials of the Mound-Sealing Bureau, and Cao explained his local role guarding against underground threats.

Qin Geng joined Third Master Cao, Cao Xiaoliu, Lu Xingmin, and Daoist Miaoxuan on a night expedition into Bell Mountain to investigate the Foreigners’ activities at a ruined Buddhist Temple. After Qin Geng sensed lethal danger inside, the group withdrew and prepared to capture one of the people leaving the temple.

• Lu Xingmin reminded Qin Geng that his job was to memorize the route and lead everyone out if danger struck.
• Third Master Cao led the group through the dark mountain, where they applied Earth Dragon Balm to ward off snakes and insects.
• After four hours of travel, Qin Geng sensed danger at the ruined Buddhist Temple and warned the group not to enter.
• Lu Xingmin explained that the Foreigners had left something at the temple and proposed capturing one of them outside.
• The group retreated to a nearby clearing, where Third Master Cao built an Earth Dragon Snare and placed sweet-smelling dark-red powder in it.

Qin Geng and the others lured two apparent Zombies into a trap, but the creatures broke free after Master Miao Zhen discovered snakes in their mouths and warned that they were not Zombies. As the group fled, Qin Geng recognized the monsters as Boss Lin and Guan Ershun, men who had drowned in the river only the day before.

• Third Master Cao used Corpse-Luring Powder to draw two stiff figures into the Earth Dragon Snare.
• Master Miao Zhen rushed in under Golden Light and pinned talismans to the figures, apparently immobilizing them.
• Miao Zhen found a snake where one figure's tongue should have been and realized the creatures had no teeth, so the talismans could not hold them.
• The creatures copied Miao Zhen's warning in her voice, broke free, and attacked as Lu Xingmin sent Paper Armor Soldiers to hold them off.
• Third Master Cao, Miao Zhen, and the others fought to escape while Miao Zhen cast a spell to illuminate the forest.
• Qin Geng recognized the two monsters as Boss Lin and Guan Ershun, who had drowned in the Tianjin River the day before.

Qin Geng led the group through the illusions inside Heaven-Reaching Gate and got them to safety beyond its stone gateway. Master Miao Zhen identified the monsters as Human-Speaking Snakes in corpses, and Qin Geng recognized them as men who had been thrown into the river the day before.

• Qin Geng ran from the monsters and trusted his road-reading instincts to guide the group through rocks, cliffs, and other deceptive illusions.
• The group followed Qin Geng through the mountain woods for more than two hours, with Master Miao Zhen using Talismans to keep their golden light burning.
• The group passed through Heaven-Reaching Gate, whose stone gateway suppressed the Baleful Intent, and stopped to recover.
• Master Miao Zhen explained that the monsters were Human-Speaking Snakes living inside corpses and mimicking human voices.
• Qin Geng revealed that he recognized the two monsters as men who had been thrown into the river with weights the previous day.

Qin Geng and the others learned that Boss Lin and Guan Ershun had become Snake Corpses, with Human-Speaking Snakes controlling their bodies and drawing on their former skills. They suspected the Dragon King Society was supplying the foreigners with corpses, and Third Master Cao planned to investigate whether other recently dead masters were missing from their graves.

• Qin Geng identified Boss Lin and Guan Ershun as men the Dragon King Society had drowned the previous day.
• Third Master Cao explained that a skilled person’s body could retain its abilities after death and become a dangerous living corpse.
• Third Master Cao revealed that Guan Ershun and Boss Lin had once been exceptionally skilled cart drivers whose abilities remained in their bodies despite their comfortable lives.
• Miaozhen deduced that Human-Speaking Snakes were entering living corpses, controlling them, and using their former skills to create Snake Corpses.
• Lu Xingmin agreed with Miaozhen’s theory, and Third Master Cao said he would investigate recent deaths and check the graves of skilled people.
• Cao Xiaoliu accused the Dragon King Society of working with foreigners by drowning people and handing over their bodies.

After surviving the Dragon King Society’s corpse-raising scheme, Qin Geng returned to Tianjin with Lu Xingmin and collected the silver dollars he had earned. Lu Xingmin also prepared to honor his promise to guide Qin Geng in cultivation.

• Third Master Cao, Cao Xiaoliu, Shopkeeper Lu, and Master Miao Zhen praised Qin Geng for helping them survive and uncovering a clue about the corpse.
• The group returned to Tianjin and split up; Lu Xingmin told Qin Geng that Master Miao Zhen cared for orphans at a Children's Charity.
• Lu Xingmin explained that Qin Geng’s Old Horse Knows the Way skill had been essential because the Earth Veins made the site a Soul-Confounding Formation.
• Lu Xingmin gave Qin Geng thirty silver dollars and a letter, and Qin Geng verified the coins before putting them away.

Qin Geng received an introduction to a mysterious master from Lu Xingmin, then told Zheng Tonghe about the mountain operation and asked for stronger medicine. Zheng Tonghe discovered Qin Geng was close to reaching Bright Force and explained that powerful medicine could help him break through.

• Lu Xingmin gave Qin Geng a sealed letter introducing him to a master at an address in Jinmen City and warned him to visit without gifts during the day.
• Qin Geng drank Lu Xingmin's medicinal Dragon Well tea and agreed to join another mountain operation after Third Master Cao uncovered more information.
• Qin Geng told Zheng Tonghe about the ruined temple, the Human-Speaking Snake, and Master Miao Zhen's deduction about the enemy's methods.
• Qin Geng said Bone-Strengthening Powder no longer lasted through his training, so Zheng Tonghe offered tiger-bone powder or Dragon-Tiger Decoction and checked his pulse.
• Zheng Tonghe found Qin Geng's pulse showed he was close to Bright Force and said strong medicine could help him break through, prompting Qin Geng to ask what Bright Force was.

Qin Geng spent his silver on medicines and asked Zheng Tonghe to guide his Bright Force training. After learning the Dragon-Tiger forms, he received corrections and was ordered to practice them repeatedly while taking the medicines.

• Zheng Tonghe demonstrated Bright Force and explained how it focused scattered strength into a penetrating strike.
• Qin Geng gave Zheng Tonghe thirty silver dollars for Bone-Strengthening Powder and Dragon-Tiger Decoction, hoping to reach Bright Force and unlock Sickly Tiger Bones.
• Zheng Tonghe explained how to use the medicines safely and offered to supervise Qin Geng's training.
• Zheng Tonghe warned Qin Geng not to attempt the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike and taught him to begin with Coiling Dragon and Clawing Strike.
• Qin Geng performed the two forms, but Zheng Tonghe pointed out flaws in his technique and told him to take the medicine and practice them another hundred times.

Qin Geng advanced his Martial Artist training through a punishing session and a medicinal bath under Zheng Tonghe’s guidance. Later, while pulling fares, he reconsidered how his Carriage Driver experience worked and suspected that traveling on foot might unlock the profession’s next stage.

• Qin Geng drank the prepared medicine, advanced to Martial Artist Level 9, and practiced Coiling Dragon and Clawing Strike under Zheng Tonghe’s instruction.
• After Qin Geng completed one hundred Clawing Strikes, Zheng Tonghe put him in a medicinal bath that helped his body recover and raised his experience.
• Zheng Tonghe told Qin Geng to return for four more days of training, and Qin Geng left Hundred Herb Hall feeling the medicine’s heat.
• Qin Geng spent the afternoon pulling fares around South City and noticed that his Carriage Driver profession remained at Level 33 without revealing a new talent.
• Qin Geng compared his slow experience gain from pulling a rickshaw with the larger gain from running on Bell Mountain and suspected that traveling on foot was key to advancing his profession.

Qin Geng completed his five-day regimen of tiger-bone medicine, martial arts practice, and hard labor, reaching Martial Artist Level 10 and unlocking Sickly Tiger Bones. He discovered his bones had grown thicker and denser, while Xu Chun sensed the intimidating, relaxed bearing of a waking tiger.

• Qin Geng noticed the Dragon-Tiger Decoction’s lingering medicinal power raising his Martial Artist experience and continued his routine at Hundred Herb Hall.
• Qin Geng practiced Coiling Dragon and Clawing Strike under Zheng Tonghe, soaked in Dragon-Tiger Decoction, and hauled his cart around South City as street fights continued.
• Master Zhu Xin returned and explained that his cousins had been visiting, easing Qin Geng’s concern for him.
• Qin Geng woke on the fifth day with his muscles and bones popping, and Xu Chun likened his presence to a drowsy tiger waking from a nap.
• Qin Geng reached Martial Artist Level 10 and unlocked Sickly Tiger Bones, discovering that his bones had grown thicker and denser.

Qin Geng visited Master Ye with Shopkeeper Lu’s sealed letter of recommendation, hoping to enter his martial school. Master Ye accepted him on the condition that he work without pay for a few months, and Qin Geng agreed to begin.

• Qin Geng told Xu Chun he had grown through his training and nourishment, then said he had an important errand to attend to.
• Qin Geng went to Master Ye’s residence in Crouching Ox Alley and presented the sealed letter from Shopkeeper Lu.
• Master Ye checked the seal and read the letter before confirming Qin Geng’s identity and background.
• Master Ye offered Qin Geng unpaid work each morning for a few months, with a meal provided, as a test of his willingness to learn.
• Qin Geng accepted, and Master Ye told Xiao Wei to show him the work.

Qin Geng began his new caretaker job at Master Ye’s residence, where he was assigned to tend Red Charcoal, hunting hounds, and a goshawk. As he worried that his earnings could not cover the cost of martial arts medicine, he considered pursuing a more profitable trade, especially armed escort work, before Master Zhu Xin arrived.

• Xiao Wei showed Qin Geng the rooms and stable, explained how to care for Red Charcoal, the hounds, and the goshawk, and listed his other daily chores.
• Qin Geng calmed Red Charcoal by suppressing his intimidating aura, while the hounds hid and the goshawk remained unfazed.
• Qin Geng accepted the job, and Master Ye watched him leave before remarking that Old Eight had chosen well.
• Qin Geng spent the afternoon pulling his cart through Tianjin, then realized at the Stewed Delight stall that his remaining money could not keep pace with his medicinal expenses.
• Qin Geng weighed possible ways to earn more, including medicine, tomb raiding, dock work, salvaging, and armed escort work.
• Master Zhu Xin arrived at the stall with a birdcage and sat opposite Qin Geng, interrupting his thoughts.

Master Zhu Xin entrusted Qin Geng with his property deeds, will, and a secret cache of antiques after his relatives tried to claim his estate. Qin Geng accepted the responsibility, then carried the ailing old man home and left into the snowy night.

• Master Zhu Xin told Qin Geng that his nephew and niece had visited to take his courtyard and savings, and he showed Qin Geng blood on his handkerchief from his coughing fit.
• Master Zhu Xin gave Qin Geng the deed to Number Twenty-Eight, Tanlong Alley, pawn tickets, and his will, and explained how to reach antiques hidden beneath the courtyard well.
• Master Zhu Xin urged Qin Geng to protect the property and antiques from his relatives and foreigners, and encouraged him to use his abilities to do something meaningful.
• Qin Geng accepted the papers, drank with Master Zhu Xin as he recounted stories from the antique trade, and listened until the old man fell asleep.
• Qin Geng carried Master Zhu Xin to Number Twenty-Eight, settled him into bed, secured the house, and leapt over the courtyard wall into the snow.

Qin Geng worked diligently at Master Ye’s home and received a meal of nourishing Blood Fare, which he recognized as a special gift. He returned to South City and found the carriage drivers gathered at Xu Jin’s Shanty, where they greeted him with respect.

• Qin Geng arrived at Master Ye’s courtyard before dawn and completed the stable chores, while Xiao Wei grew wary that the newcomer might take his job.
• Xiao Wei joined Qin Geng in working around the courtyard, and Qin Geng continued tending to the horse.
• Xiao Wei told Qin Geng that Master Ye had prepared a basin of red meat especially for him, and Qin Geng recognized it as nourishing Blood Fare.
• Qin Geng left after eating and returned to the South City shanties at noon.
• The heads of the South City shanties gathered at Xu Jin’s Shanty, and the carriage drivers welcomed Qin Geng as Fifth Brother.

Qin Geng agreed to speak with Abacus Song about Hongsheng Cart Company's increased cut, while secretly hoping to gather the South City's carriage drivers under his influence. After weeks of training and caring for Master Zhu Xin, he arrived at Zhu Xin's home and found Abacus Song's men dragging the sick man away.

• Xu Chun told Qin Geng that Hongsheng Cart Company was demanding sixty percent from South City's carriage drivers, and the drivers asked Qin Geng for help.
• Qin Geng agreed to speak with Abacus Song but made no promises, then told Jin He to keep the men calm and avoid trouble.
• Qin Geng maintained his routine of training, working for the Ye Family, and caring for Master Zhu Xin as his martial arts and carriage-driving levels advanced.
• On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, Qin Geng arrived at Master Zhu Xin's home and found the new South City Boss and Dragon King Society fighters there.
• Qin Geng saw the fighters dragging Master Zhu Xin from the hall while Abacus Song sat in the main chair.

Qin Geng confronted the Dragon King Society men who were forcing Master Zhu Xin from his courtyard, then crippled Lin Zhihe in a single exchange. The courtyard fell silent as Abacus Song realized Qin Geng had reached Bright Force and possessed formidable skill.

• Qin Geng stopped the men from driving Master Zhu Xin out and helped the injured old man onto his heated bed.
• Master Zhu Xin warned Qin Geng not to risk his life, but Qin Geng reassured him and went outside to face the intruders.
• Abacus Song identified Lin Zhihe and three Red Poles from the Dragon King Society's Azure Dragon Hall, who had come to settle the courtyard dispute for Madam Cui.
• Lin Zhihe proposed testing hands, but Qin Geng attacked after accusing him of using his hands to hold Master Zhu Xin down.
• Qin Geng used Clawing Strike to tear open both of Lin Zhihe's wrists and sever his tendons, leaving Abacus Song stunned by Qin Geng's Bright Force.

Qin Geng fought off Abacus Song’s men when they came to seize Master Xin’s courtyard, killing the new Boss of South City and crippling several gunmen. Abacus Song admitted fault and agreed to clean up the bloodshed, while Madam Cui fled.

• The newly appointed Boss of South City drew his handgun and fired at Qin Geng, who dodged the shot with Coiling Dragon Steps.
• Qin Geng killed the Boss of South City with a punch and broke the wrists of several enforcers as they tried to draw their Short Qingzi pistols.
• Qin Geng silenced Madam Cui with a threat, and she fled the courtyard in panic.
• Abacus Song apologized to Qin Geng and blamed the dead Boss for using a gun without orders.
• Qin Geng told Abacus Song to clean up the courtyard, and Abacus Song agreed.

Qin Geng dealt a devastating blow to the Dragon King Society, and Abacus Song’s men cleaned up the courtyard while bribing the Tianjin police to ignore the deaths. After Abacus Song left, Qin Geng reassured Master Zhu Xin that the Society would not dare seek revenge.

• Abacus Song ordered Dragon King Society members to remove the dead and wounded and scrub the blood from the courtyard.
• Captain Zhao and the Black Dogs arrived to investigate, but Abacus Song bribed them to accept his story that the blood came from slaughtering a pig.
• Abacus Song offered to bring Qin Geng and the old gentleman New Year’s goods, then left with his men after Qin Geng dismissed him.
• Qin Geng returned to Master Zhu Xin and said the trouble was settled.
• Qin Geng reasoned that his ruthless response would deter the Dragon King Society from attacking him again.

Qin Geng learned that the Cui Family was pursuing Master Zhu Xin’s palace artifacts, then received a secret letter from Abacus Song bearing the character “Guan.” He summoned his allies for an urgent meeting while Abacus Song pieced together Qin Geng’s connections to Ye Lanzen and other martial arts figures.

• Master Zhu Xin told Qin Geng that his niece Zhu Cui and the Cui Family wanted his palace artifacts and had ties to foreigners.
• Qin Geng fed Master Zhu Xin, put him to sleep, and returned to his shack in South City.
• Abacus Song’s son delivered Qin Geng a letter marked only with the character “Guan,” and Qin Geng agreed to visit Abacus Song.
• Qin Geng ordered Li Gou to summon Shopkeeper Lu, Third Master Cao, Daoist Miaoxuan, and Shopkeeper Zheng at once.
• Abacus Song reviewed his investigation and concluded that Ye Lanzen was Qin Geng’s master and that Lu Xingmin and Zheng Tonghe were Qin Geng’s senior fellow disciples.

Abacus Song realized the Dragon King Society was doomed and decided to seek protection from Qin Geng and his allies by exposing Jiang Hailong’s dealings. When Qin Geng arrived with Third Master Cao, Lu Xingmin, Zheng Tonghe, and Daoist Miaoxuan, Abacus Song confessed and asked them to spare his life.

• Abacus Song connected Ye Lanzen, Qin Geng, and the court-linked figures, then concluded the authorities had been investigating the Dragon King Society.
• Abacus Song burned his list of names and waited for Qin Geng, deciding to use his information to seek shelter from Cao, Lu, and Zheng.
• Qin Geng arrived at Abacus Song’s gate with Daoist Miaoxuan, Third Master Cao, Lu Xingmin, and Zheng Tonghe.
• Third Master Cao entered Abacus Song’s courtyard, announced they were there on official business, and led the group inside.
• Abacus Song confessed that Jiang Hailong had joined the foreigners to make Snake Corpses inside Bell Mountain and asked the group to spare his life in exchange for his help.

Abacus Song apologized to Qin Geng with money and a lucrative South City territory, then revealed that the foreigners were using the Snake Corpse as a cover for a treasure hunt. Third Master Cao ordered him to remain in the Dragon King Society and report any developments to Qin Geng.

• Lu Xingmin insisted Abacus Song settle his conflict with Qin Geng before discussing the Dragon King Society.
• Abacus Song apologized to Qin Geng and offered him the South City Boss position, twenty rickshaws, and a bank draft, along with a hundred silver dollars for Zhu Xin.
• Third Master Cao accepted the apology and questioned Abacus Song about the Snake Corpse and the foreigners.
• Abacus Song explained that the foreigners used the Snake Corpse as a test subject, enforcer, and scapegoat while pursuing an ancient treasure.
• Third Master Cao ordered Abacus Song to stay in the Dragon King Society and keep Qin Geng informed, then departed with the others.
• Abacus Song asked whether anyone had seen them arrive, and Third Master Cao mocked his fear.