Chapter Summaries

Lei Hu and his Green Bamboo Gang subordinates came to Li Feng’s home to collect protection money, and Li Feng surrendered two taels of silver after Lei Hu demonstrated his strength. After they left, Li Feng vowed to make the gang return every coin within half a year.

• Lei Hu, Ma San, and Xiao Liu entered Li Feng’s home and demanded two hundred copper coins in protection money.
• Li Feng asked Lei Hu to make an exception because he served at the City Guard Office, but Xiao Liu and Ma San dismissed him as a temporary White Runner.
• Lei Hu struck the table and left a deep palm print, showing Li Feng that he was a powerful qi-blood second-level fighter.
• Li Feng agreed to pay, but Ma San seized all his silver—two taels—and claimed the excess would cover future protection money.
• Lei Hu led Ma San and Xiao Liu away, while Li Feng closed the gate and vowed to make the Green Bamboo Gang return the money within half a year.

Li Feng visited Lin Yanqiu as she recovered from injuries that had damaged her Martial Dao foundation, and she advised him about his duties, the gangs, and his cultivation. The chapter ended with Lin Yanqiu asking him to help remove her clothes so he could wipe her down, and Li Feng began undoing her toggles.

• Li Feng visited Lin Yanqiu, who said her external wounds were healing but her internal injuries had damaged her Martial Dao foundation.
• Lin Yanqiu advised Li Feng to consult her about City Guard Office matters, read her notebook, and stay cautious around Chief Constable Jiang Yue and the Green Bamboo Gang.
• Li Feng told Lin Yanqiu that Zhang Qiang had been jailed for harassing Jiang Yue and that Green Bamboo Gang members had taken his silver as protection money.
• Lin Yanqiu told Li Feng to collect twenty taels owed by Butcher Hu for her past protection of his family.
• Lin Yanqiu asked Li Feng to fetch hot water and help wipe her body, then asked him to undress her when she could not manage the toggles with one hand.
• Li Feng began carefully undoing Lin Yanqiu's clothes.

Li Feng collected the twenty-tael debt Butcher Hu owed his sister-in-law after intimidating the family with his martial strength. He then demanded two taels of interest, leaving Butcher Hu to face the extra charge.

• Li Feng visited Butcher Hu's home to collect the promised twenty-tael reward for his sister-in-law's help.
• Butcher Hu and Aunt Hu denied that they owed the money and insulted Li Feng.
• Li Feng struck the table with enough force to leave a deep palm-shaped dent, making Butcher Hu fear his power and position at the City Guard Office.
• Butcher Hu hurriedly brought out twenty taels, but Li Feng said the debt was still two taels short because of interest.

Li Feng recovered the Hu family’s overdue reward with two taels of interest, then visited Lin Yanqiu and brought her spiced beef. After training with his saber, he saw his Water-Cutting Saber Art debt progress reach 26% and planned to study an internal training method once it was repaid.

• Li Feng pressured Butcher Hu and Aunt Hu into returning the twenty taels they owed, plus two taels of interest.
• Butcher Hu argued with Aunt Hu, then decided to send their reluctant son to study martial arts at a Southside martial arts hall.
• Li Feng bought spiced beef and visited Lin Yanqiu, who asked whether he had recovered the silver and cautioned him about his bailiff duties.
• Li Feng and Lin Yanqiu shared the beef before he left the Spring Renewal Hall and returned home.
• Li Feng practiced the Water-Cutting Saber Art, raising its debt repayment progress to 26%, and resolved to keep training before pursuing an internal method.

Li Feng paid off the debt for the Water-Cutting Saber Art and visited the Wang Family Pawnshop to look for training methods, but found even the cheapest skin-polishing method cost more than he could afford. After Lin Yanqiu offered him her bereavement pension, he silently vowed to save five hundred taels for Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste to heal her right hand.

• Li Feng completed the Water-Cutting Saber Art and discovered that the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel could not advance it beyond Consummation.
• Li Feng visited the Wang Family Pawnshop, where the shopkeeper explained the kinds of internal training methods and quoted 130 taels for the cheapest skin-polishing method.
• Li Feng considered buying several saber manuals to test whether the panel could fuse them, but decided to save his silver instead.
• Li Feng returned home and found Lin Yanqiu staring at the sunset clouds in the courtyard.
• Lin Yanqiu offered Li Feng her fifty-tael bereavement pension, and he accepted it as a loan while promising to find a way to heal her hand.
• Li Feng vowed to save five hundred taels to buy Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste for Lin Yanqiu.

Li Feng learned that Sun Yan had advanced to the Qi-Blood Second Level and might inherit Zhao Quan’s chief constable position when Zhao Quan retired due to his injuries. After a quiet patrol and a filling dinner, Li Feng slept deeply now that he had paid off his debt for the Water-Cutting Saber Art.

• Li Feng noticed that Sun Yan had begun practicing an internal training method and reflected on his own plans to acquire one.
• Chief Constable Jiang Yue announced a large bounty for the wanted criminal Liu Wu, but Li Feng decided the danger was not worth pursuing.
• Chen Song and Zhang San said Zhao Quan would have to step down because his injuries were worsening, and predicted Sun Yan might take his position.
• Li Feng realized Sun Yan had reached the Qi-Blood Second Level and become a regular constable, but trusted that he could surpass him with his own cheat once he saved enough silver.
• Li Feng completed a peaceful patrol, bought meat and vegetables, ate dinner at home, and fell asleep exhausted after paying off his debt.

Jiang Yue wounded Liu Wu while pursuing him, but he escaped after using a potent aphrodisiac that forced her to pause and suppress its effects. Weak from his injuries, Liu Wu sought shelter in an Outer City home, where someone ambushed him with burning powder.

• Jiang Yue pursued Liu Wu through South City and wounded him with her sword while explaining that a powerful lord wanted him captured alive for assaulting his concubine.
• Liu Wu threw a potent aphrodisiac at Jiang Yue, then fled while she sat down to suppress the drug’s effects.
• After a quarter of an hour, Jiang Yue recovered enough to follow Liu Wu’s blood trail, aided by Qi-Dissolving Powder on her sword.
• Liu Wu entered a poor household’s courtyard to hide and tend his wounds, then approached an unlocked side room.
• Someone inside the side room splashed gray-white powder into Liu Wu’s face, and a speck entered his eye, causing sharp, burning pain.

Li Feng and Lin Yanqiu fought off the blinded intruder Liu Wu, and Jiang Yue arrived to claim him and the credit. Afterward, Li Feng and Lin Yanqiu discovered that they had both used quicklime against Liu Wu and awkwardly returned to their rooms.

• Lin Yanqiu threw quicklime at Liu Wu when he entered the courtyard, and Li Feng rushed outside with his blade.
• Li Feng fought Liu Wu to a standstill with Blade Force while Liu Wu struggled through his injuries and blindness.
• Li Feng threw another handful of quicklime at Liu Wu, then knocked him unconscious and tied him up.
• Jiang Yue arrived, recognized Li Feng's Blade Force, claimed Liu Wu and the credit, and told Li Feng to visit her office the next morning.
• Li Feng learned that Lin Yanqiu had blinded Liu Wu first, and Lin Yanqiu learned that Li Feng had also used quicklime before they both retreated to their rooms.

Li Feng watched Sun Yan curry favor with Zhao Quan and earn personal instruction, then Jiang Yue unexpectedly summoned Li Feng to her Administrative Office. The chapter ended with the other constables wondering why she had called him alone.

• Li Feng arrived at the City Guard Office and noticed Sun Yan waiting for Zhao Quan.
• Sun Yan presented Zhao Quan with superior blood ginseng and told him he had reached entry-level skin grinding and minor mastery in his blade technique.
• Zhao Quan praised Sun Yan and invited him to spar at the Drill Yard so he could assess his technique.
• The constables envied Sun Yan's family-backed opportunities while Li Feng remained calm.
• Jiang Yue entered the courtyard, called Li Feng to her Administrative Office, and left before he could answer.

Li Feng learned that the intruder he fought was the wanted criminal Liu Wu and heard Jiang Yue’s assessment of his martial abilities and the value of body tempering. Jiang Yue offered him a choice between the four-hundred-tael bounty and her family’s Skin-Grinding Method, but Li Feng asked to make a different request instead.

• Jiang Yue told Li Feng that the escaped felon Liu Wu had broken into his courtyard and explained how she had deduced his martial background.
• Jiang Yue assessed Li Feng’s blade force and explained how body tempering would strengthen his martial abilities.
• Jiang Yue said Li Feng deserved the four-hundred-tael bounty but offered him a choice between waiting for the silver and receiving her family-inherited Skin-Grinding Method.
• Li Feng decided the method would better serve his future, then declined both offered choices and asked Jiang Yue to grant him another request.

Li Feng refused Jiang Yue’s silver and top-tier Skin-Grinding Method, asking instead for Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste to heal Lin Yanqiu’s hand. Jiang Yue agreed to obtain the medicine and gave him the City Guard Office’s Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, while Li Feng pledged loyalty and secured mercy for his nephew Zhang Qiang.

• Li Feng offered his savings and the reward for capturing Liu Wu in exchange for Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste for Lin Yanqiu’s right hand.
• Jiang Yue agreed to bring the medicine within three days and gave Li Feng the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, revealing she could now ignore the office’s restrictions because she expected promotion to Deputy Constable Director.
• Li Feng pledged to follow Jiang Yue and accepted her promise to help him become a formal constable after he mastered the method.
• Li Feng asked Jiang Yue to spare his nephew Zhang Qiang, and she agreed to have him serve another month in prison before release.
• After Li Feng left, Jiang Yue considered his talent and decided that his loyalty made him a useful subordinate despite his limited prospects for advancement.

Li Feng celebrated receiving the Skin-Grinding Method and securing Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste for Lin Yanqiu by preparing an extravagant meal. Lin Yanqiu was moved by his sacrifice and urged him to save his remaining money and begin thinking about marriage.

• Li Feng teased Zhang San and Chen Song by claiming Constable Jiang had docked a month's salary, then joined them on patrol.
• Li Feng bought fine pastries and ingredients, returned home, and let Lin Yanqiu wash his uniform despite her injured hand.
• Li Feng fed Lin Yanqiu a pastry by hand, then prepared a lavish dinner and promised to share good news.
• Li Feng told Lin Yanqiu that Constable Jiang had given him the Skin-Grinding Method and agreed to obtain Black Jade Bone-Molding Paste for her in exchange for his reward and savings.
• Lin Yanqiu realized Li Feng had given up a four-hundred-tael reward and a valuable method for her, then advised him to save his money and consider settling down.

Li Feng began cultivating the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, but his first attempt left his skin badly swollen and painful before he could reach initial mastery. After Lin Yanqiu told him where to find affordable cultivation medicine, he decided to visit Hundred Herbs Hall on his rest day.

• After dinner, Li Feng studied the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method and learned that it required painful friction and medicinal treatment to protect the skin.
• Li Feng practiced without medicine for half an hour, damaging and reddening his skin, but the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel did not record the method because he had not reached initial mastery.
• Lin Yanqiu brought Li Feng water and decided to buy more meat to nourish him, then insisted that she would shop for vegetables despite her injured hand.
• The next morning, Lin Yanqiu told Li Feng that Hundred Herbs Hall in Changle Ward sold basic cultivation medicine and that regular constables bought from its proprietor, Sun.
• Li Feng memorized the shop's name and decided to visit Hundred Herbs Hall during his rest day.

Li Feng bought skin-grinding herbs at the Hundred Herbs Hall, despite Sun Yan mocking his ability to afford them. Sun Yan suspected Lin Yanqiu had secretly taught Li Feng the City Guard Office’s cultivation method and resolved to wait for proof before acting against them.

• Li Feng asked Shopkeeper Sun about herbs for the Skin-Grinding Method and learned that medicinal baths cost more than ointments.
• Sun Yan mocked Li Feng and offered to lend him money, while privately worrying that his family could no longer afford expensive Inner City herbs.
• Li Feng spent thirty-four taels on four medicinal baths and twenty-six doses of ointment, then taunted Sun Yan about having to buy herbs in the Outer City.
• Sun Yan suspected Li Feng had used Lin Yanqiu’s severance pay to buy the herbs and wondered whether she had secretly taught him the Skin-Grinding Method.
• Sun Yan decided not to accuse them without evidence and planned to deal with Li Feng after becoming chief constable.

Li Feng encountered Ma San while carrying medicinal materials home and used Constable Zhao’s name to deter him from stealing them. Ma San left after a Green Bamboo Gang lackey summoned him, and Li Feng continued home, resolved to settle the score when he was stronger.

• Li Feng met the drunken Ma San in a secluded alley while carrying thirty packs of medicinal materials from the Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Ma San suspected Li Feng had stolen the herbs and tried to grab the package, hoping to sell it for money.
• Li Feng avoided drawing his saber and claimed he had bought the herbs for Constable Zhao, warning that he would be blamed if Ma San damaged them.
• Ma San questioned Li Feng’s story but backed down rather than risk angering a City Guard Office constable.
• A Green Bamboo Gang lackey summoned Ma San to deal with Black Tiger Gang remnants on North Street, and Ma San hurried away.
• Li Feng relaxed his grip on his saber and continued home, thinking he would recover his losses with interest in the future.

Li Feng used medicinal ointment to practice the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method and felt his skin grow tougher, though he had not yet reached the method’s threshold. After Lin Yanqiu returned with groceries, they shared a close, affectionate meal, leaving Li Feng newly aware of her youthful, feminine side.

• Li Feng prepared medicinal ointment and rubbed his skin according to the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, using the medicine to ease the pain and nourish his skin.
• Li Feng checked the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel and resolved to keep practicing daily until he reached the method’s threshold.
• Lin Yanqiu returned with groceries and flatbreads, and Li Feng carried the basket and helped her prepare lunch.
• Li Feng and Lin Yanqiu brushed hands in the cramped kitchen, making them both shy and the atmosphere delicate.
• At lunch, Lin Yanqiu urged Li Feng to eat meat while worrying she would gain weight, and Li Feng teased her by calling her the most beautiful woman in the outer city.

After three months of training, Li Feng perfected the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method with the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel, enduring intense pain as his body was transformed. He awakened with greatly strengthened Qi-Blood and defense, reaching Qi-Blood Second Level Perfection and gaining a firmer foothold in the outer city.

• Li Feng completed three months of practicing the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, and the panel showed that it was ready to advance.
• After bathing and recovering his strength, Li Feng used the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel to perfect the method and passed out from the agony of his body's rapid transformation.
• Li Feng woke with greatly increased Qi-Blood and skin toughness, then tested his strength by practicing the Water-Cutting Saber Art.
• The panel showed Li Feng had reached Qi-Blood Second Level Perfection and had no available advances remaining.
• Li Feng tested his defense against a broken stone and concluded that his increased endurance and toughness had repaired his main combat weakness.

After perfecting the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method, Li Feng discovered that rubbing himself with coarse burlap made no progress, so he planned to seek Jiang Yue’s advice. He left for the City Guard Office after a tender moment with Lin Yanqiu, where someone stopped him before he reached Jiang Yue’s office.

• Li Feng celebrated perfecting his skin-grinding method and tried to practice more, but his progress remained at zero after half an hour of rubbing with coarse burlap.
• Li Feng told Lin Yanqiu about his achievement, and she praised him while privately believing he had mistaken basic mastery for perfection.
• Lin Yanqiu suggested that Li Feng ask Jiang Yue how to cultivate the method, then tidied his clothes before he left for duty.
• Li Feng hurried into the City Guard Office and passed Zhang San and Chen Song, who speculated about why he was rushing to see Jiang Yue.
• As Li Feng approached Jiang Yue’s administrative office, an unidentified person stepped out of another office and asked coldly what he was doing there.

Li Feng confronted Sun Yan and Chief Constable Zhao at the City Guard Office before Constable Chen helped him reach Jiang Yue. After learning that sand and gravel could speed up skin-grinding at the cost of severe bodily harm, Li Feng left intending to use it anyway.

• Sun Yan blocked Li Feng from entering Jiang Yue’s office and Zhao Quan backed him, but Constable Chen intervened and let Li Feng pass.
• Li Feng told Jiang Yue that coarse hemp cloth no longer advanced his Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method after he reached entry level.
• Jiang Yue explained that sand and gravel were used after minor accomplishment and could speed training, but using them early risked lasting injuries.
• Jiang Yue warned Li Feng not to rush his cultivation and said she would promote him to Regular Constable later.
• Li Feng thanked Jiang Yue and decided to get a cart of sand and gravel to grind his skin.

Li Feng told Zhang San and Chen Song that Constable Jiang would promote him to a regular constable, then learned from Lin Yanqiu where he might find sand and gravel for his training. After reconsidering his anger toward Sun Yan and Zhao Quan, Li Feng decided to bide his time and grow stronger before taking revenge.

• Li Feng told Zhang San and Chen Song that he had reached the Qi-Blood Second Level and Constable Jiang planned to promote him, and they celebrated his news.
• Li Feng promised to treat Zhang San and Chen Song to a drink at an ordinary tavern after his promotion.
• At dinner, Lin Yanqiu suggested Li Feng ask Elder Li for leftover sand and gravel to continue refining his skin and membranes.
• Lin Yanqiu warned Li Feng not to let grievances at the City Guard Office put his safety or future at risk, and he reassured her.
• Li Feng decided to endure Sun Yan and Zhao Quan's provocations until he became strong enough to take revenge, then slept well after dreaming of Lin Yanqiu.