Chapter Summaries

Mo Yun completed his promotion to First-Class Guard and received a mysterious Jade-Congealing Pill as compensation from the Village Master. Recognizing that it matched a pill that had once helped him condense a black point, he went to the Spirit Herb Garden to ask Liu Niang about its effects.

• Mo Yun trained at the foot of North Mountain and saw that his Black-and-White Seal was nearly ready to condense another black point.
• Steward Wang appeared, brought Mo Yun to the Manor Guard Administration, and completed his First-Class Guard paperwork.
• Steward Wang gave Mo Yun new guard gear and a porcelain bottle containing a Jade-Congealing Pill, sent as compensation from the Village Master.
• Mo Yun recognized the pill as the same kind he had taken after looting the female undercover agent from the Hundred Blossoms Palace, which had condensed a black point.
• Mo Yun headed to the Spirit Herb Garden to ask Liu Niang about the pill before using it.

Mo Yun visited the Spirit Herb Garden, where he revealed his promotion to First-Class Guard and encouraged his friends as they discussed their progress. After collecting ten more sets of Marrow-Washing Pill ingredients from Liu Niang, he showed her a Jade-Congealing Pill, and her reaction left its origin in question.

• Mo Yun reflected on his failed attempts to refine Marrow-Washing Pills and went to the Spirit Herb Garden for more ingredients.
• Xiao Liu learned that Mo Yun had broken through to Dark Force and become a First-Class Guard, while Mo Yun gave Zhang Qiang pointers on the Tiger-Crouching Stance.
• Mo Yun told Xiao Liu to look for anything unusual about his parents when he went home for the New Year, and Tang Yin announced he had found ten-year solitary bamboo.
• Liu Niang gave Mo Yun the remaining ten sets of Marrow-Washing Pill ingredients.
• Mo Yun showed Liu Niang a Jade-Congealing Pill, and she asked where he had gotten it.

Mo Yun learned that the Jade-Congealing Pill was a rare lifesaving medicine and chose to keep it for emergencies instead of using it to gain a Black Point. After training on North Mountain and earning another Black Point, he headed to the Logistics Office to buy pills.

• Liu Niang explained that the Jade-Congealing Pill could save someone near death and was an extremely precious Hundred Blossoms Palace medicine.
• Mo Yun revealed that he had reached Dark Force after just over four months of training, astonishing Liu Niang.
• Mo Yun decided to keep the Jade-Congealing Pill for emergencies rather than consume it for a Black Point.
• Mo Yun stored his new guard outfit and Marrow-Washing Pill ingredients, then went to North Mountain to train.
• Mo Yun completed his morning training, gained another Black Point, and headed to the Logistics Office to buy pills.

Mo Yun visited the Logistics Office to buy pills and surprised Uncle Qin by revealing he had become a First-Class Guard after reaching dark force. He bought several kinds of pills despite their steep cost and decided he would need to make some himself to save money.

• Mo Yun arrived at the Logistics Office, where Uncle Qin noticed in the register that Mo Yun had been promoted to First-Class Guard and reached dark force.
• Uncle Qin told Mo Yun that Spirit-Nurturing Pills cost one hundred taels per bottle and that Mo Yun could buy two bottles each month.
• Mo Yun bought two portions each of Qi-Blood Pills, Dragon-Tiger Pills, Marrow-Washing Pills, and Spirit-Nurturing Pills, along with his free monthly portion of Qi-Blood Pills.
• Uncle Qin explained that a bottle of Spirit-Nurturing Pills could last an ordinary early dark force martial artist three months, while Mo Yun paid 285 taels for his order.
• Mo Yun left with the pills, resolved to refine some varieties himself to cut costs, and returned to his courtyard to test them.

Mo Yun tested his new pills and dark-force abilities before returning to Yellow Maple Town for his days off. He discovered that a gang from Clearwind Town had brought bloody violence to the town and hurried home to check on his sister, finding that guards still watched over her residence.

• Mo Yun practiced after taking four kinds of pills and found his body could digest them without strain, though the Spirit-Nurturing Pill filled the Black Seal more slowly than he had expected.
• Mo Yun packed his belongings and set out on foot for Yellow Maple Town, using his improved speed and endurance to reach it in less than two hours.
• Mo Yun saw carts carrying corpses through town and learned from a passerby that a gang from Clearwind Town had clashed with local gangs.
• Mo Yun suspected the fighting might have affected the Sky Wolf Gang and the men guarding his sister's home.
• Mo Yun sensed that guards were still watching his sister's residence, then knocked on the door and called to Mo Yiyi.

Mo Yun visited Black Wolf to learn how Clearwind Town's fleeing factions were destabilizing Yellow Maple Town. After refusing Black Wolf's offer of silver, Mo Yun asked him to borrow money from Mo Feng on his behalf.

• Mo Yun secretly went to the Sky Wolf Gang headquarters after training and met Black Wolf, who welcomed him warmly.
• Black Wolf explained that demons had driven factions out of Clearwind Town and other parts of Ping'an County, causing clashes over territory in Yellow Maple Town.
• Black Wolf said the local gangs, including the Sky Wolf Gang and Giant Whale Gang, had reached a ceasefire and planned to negotiate over territory soon.
• Mo Yun reflected on the danger facing ordinary people and resolved to grow stronger to protect his sister and others he cared about.
• When Mo Yun hinted that he was short on money, Black Wolf offered him silver, but Mo Yun clarified that he wanted Black Wolf to borrow money from Mo Feng for him.

Mo Yun asked Black Wolf to collect money from his second uncle, Mo Feng, and learned that Mo Feng had also stolen the Chaos Blade Sect disciple slot Mo Yun’s father had secured for him. Mo Yun was left furious after discovering that his cousin Mo Fan was using the opportunity meant to save and strengthen him.

• Mo Yun asked Black Wolf to collect protection money from Mo Feng, who had seized the family’s shops, farmland, and several hundred taels of silver.
• Mo Yun spent the next morning training and checking that Mo Yiyi’s business remained safe amid the town’s unrest.
• Black Wolf arrived at Mo Yun’s courtyard in a rage after learning that Mo Feng had stolen a precious Chaos Blade Sect core disciple slot intended for Mo Yun.
• Black Wolf revealed that Mo Fan was studying at the Chaos Blade Sect using the slot Mo Yun’s father had secured for his son.
• Mo Yun laughed in fury and condemned Mo Feng for stealing his future and leaving him to die.

Mo Yun directed Black Wolf to ruin Mo Feng and Mo Huaishan through gambling, then revealed that he had reached the dark force level. As Black Wolf set out to carry out the plan, Mo Feng and Mo Huaishan wondered whether Mo Fan had angered the Sky Wolf Gang.

• Black Wolf gave Mo Yun 120 taels and explained that Mo Huaishan had contributed most of the money.
• Mo Yun told Black Wolf to lure Mo Feng into gambling and make him lose his property, ideally dragging Mo Huaishan into the scheme as well.
• Mo Yun revealed his dark force cultivation, easing Black Wolf’s fear of retaliation from the Chaos Blade Sect.
• Black Wolf left to arrange the gambling scheme, while Mo Yun returned to practicing his fist techniques.
• At Mo Family Village, Mo Feng complained about the Sky Wolf Gang’s repeated attacks, and Mo Huaishan wondered whether Mo Fan had offended them.

Mo Huaishan and Mo Feng planned to ask Mo Yun for help against the Sky Wolf Gang, but Mo Yun ordered the gang to rob and beat Mo Huaishan instead. After Mo Feng and Mo Huaishan lost their property at the gambling house, Black Wolf told Mo Yun that Mo Fan had returned to town with a powerful expert.

• Mo Feng and Mo Huaishan blamed the Sky Wolf Gang for their troubles and decided to seek Mo Yun's help, with Mo Huaishan planning to bring him gifts.
• Mo Yun ordered a Sky Wolf Gang leader to rob and beat Mo Huaishan, and warned the gang to drive away anyone who came looking for Mo Yiyi.
• Black Wolf told Mo Yun that Mo Feng had lost his home, fields, and Mo Huaishan's property at the gambling house, and that both men had their legs broken.
• Black Wolf reported that Mo Fan had returned to town accompanied by an unfathomably powerful expert.

Mo Yun learned that Mo Fan had returned to town and went to Smoke Willow Alley, then secretly entered the room next to his to investigate. The chapter left Mo Yun using his perception to sense what was happening in Mo Fan’s room.

• Black Wolf told Mo Yun that Mo Fan was a dark force expert and that he and his companion had gone to Smoke Willow Alley.
• Mo Yun decided to investigate before seeking reinforcements, and Black Wolf gave him banknotes taken from Mo Feng and Mo Huaishan.
• Mo Yun kept four hundred and twenty taels, disguised himself, and went to the Emerald Willow Pavilion.
• Mo Yun learned that Mo Fan was in Heaven Room Two, rented Heaven Room Three, and asked the madam to send a girl, wine, and food.
• After dismissing the servant, Mo Yun sat down and extended his perception through the wall into Mo Fan’s room.

Mo Yun overheard Mo Fan and Senior Brother Lu plotting to reclaim gambling debts, then gained two black points and decided to spend a precious pill to strengthen himself. He prepared to use his five points to upgrade the Demon-Subduing Scripture and break through to Middle Dark Force.

• Mo Yun knocked the scantily clad woman unconscious with his tiger's roar in the mountains intent and listened through the wall to the adjoining room.
• Mo Yun recognized Mo Fan, who complained about delivering pills with Senior Brother Lu and admitted he planned to visit Miss Ruyan before seeing his parents.
• Mo Fan dismissed news that his father and grandfather had been injured over gambling debts and conspired with Senior Brother Lu to raid the gambling house.
• Mo Yun practiced in his room, then gained one black point when the Black Seal filled and discharged its energy.
• Mo Yun swallowed his Jade-Congealing Pill, gained another black point, and reached five available points.
• Mo Yun focused on the plus sign beside the Demon-Subduing Scripture, ready to spend his points on an upgrade.

Mo Yun spent five black points to advance the Demon-Subduing Scripture to minor accomplishment and break through to Middle Dark Force. He then spent a white point to raise his life value to five, leaving him with sharper perception and improved comprehension.

• Mo Yun used five black points to cultivate the Demon-Subduing Scripture, reaching minor accomplishment and advancing to Middle Dark Force.
• Mo Yun examined his breakthrough and sensed dark force resonating with his meridians, boosting his strength, defense, and perception.
• Mo Yun saw that the scripture breakthrough had filled a white point and restored the White Mark to thirty-five percent.
• Mo Yun spent the white point to raise his life value from four to five, clearing his thoughts and improving his Bone Root, comprehension, and perception of mystic energy.
• Mo Yun practiced the Nameless Fist Technique and found that his movements had become smoother and more instinctive.

Mo Yun overheard Mo Fan and Senior Brother Lu plotting to seize his family’s property and kill him and his sister. He burst into their room and attacked them with Tiger's Roar in the Mountains.

• Mo Yun used mystic energy particles to silently sense Mo Fan, Senior Brother Lu, and Ruyan in the neighboring room.
• Mo Fan asked Senior Brother Lu to help reclaim his family’s property, and they agreed to split the proceeds.
• Senior Brother Lu and Mo Fan decided to lure Mo Yun out of the Crouching Tiger Manor and kill both cousins.
• Mo Yun burst into the room and launched a barrage of fists at them, shouting, “Die, you bastards!”

Mo Yun killed Mo Fan and Senior Brother Lu in Smoke Willow Alley, then discovered a mysterious box that made the Black-and-White Seal react intensely. Back in his room, he opened it to reveal a dim blue bead with a demonic stench.

• Mo Yun defeated Senior Brother Lu with three punches and killed him, then confronted the terrified Mo Fan.
• Mo Fan pleaded for his life and threatened Mo Yun with the Chaos Blade Sect, but Mo Yun cut his throat and revealed that he was Mo Fan’s cousin.
• Mo Yun searched the bodies, found silver and a wooden box, and altered Senior Brother Lu’s wounds before preparing to leave.
• Ruyan attacked Mo Yun with a wooden stick, and he killed her with a burst of dark force before escaping through the window.
• Mo Yun returned to his room in Wutong Alley and opened the box, finding a blue bead that gave off a foul demonic smell.

Mo Yun gained three black points from a demon core prototype, planned to improve his martial arts, and prepared to return to Crouching Tiger Manor. After arriving, he learned that the young lady had summoned him to the Main Court.

• Mo Yun absorbed a demon core prototype, gained three black points, and decided to save points to advance his Tiger-Crouching Fist.
• Mo Yun failed to refine a Marrow-Washing Pill, then visited Black Wolf and told him he had dealt with the Chaos Blade Sect people.
• Mo Yun left Yellow Maple Town after reminding Mo Yiyi to take Blood-Nourishing Pills and keep the money he had returned to her.
• Commander Li met Mo Yun at Crouching Tiger Manor and told him the young lady wanted to see him in the Main Court.

Mo Yun worried that Lin Yanshan’s daughter wanted to force him into marriage, but learned that Lin Qingxue was only twenty and had repeatedly asked for him. He waited in the Inner Court garden to meet her, still unsure why she wanted to see him.

• Commander Li asked Mo Yun about his dark force breakthrough, and Mo Yun said he had reached dark force after mastering Tiger-Crouching Force.
• Mo Yun thanked Commander Li for agreeing to teach him saber techniques, and they grew closer as Mo Yun began calling him Big Brother Li.
• Commander Li escorted Mo Yun into the Inner Court garden, where Mo Yun learned that the young lady had repeatedly asked whether he had returned.
• Commander Li told Mo Yun that the young lady was Lin Qingxue, only twenty years old, and warned him not to call her Auntie.

Mo Yun met Lin Qingxue, who explained that she would only marry someone she loved, and he agreed that marriage should not be forced. After he left, Lin Qingxue found him unexpectedly different, while Mo Yun told Commander Li they had discussed their marriage.

• Commander Li warned Mo Yun not to upset Lin Qingxue and hurried outside as she approached.
• Lin Qingxue told Mo Yun she would never marry just because her parents wanted her to, and Mo Yun agreed with her.
• Mo Yun remembered Lin Ruoshui with sadness, leaving Lin Qingxue puzzled by his sigh.
• Lin Qingxue dismissed Mo Yun, and he left the Main Court to find Commander Li.
• Mo Yun told Commander Li that he and Lin Qingxue had discussed their marriage, leaving Commander Li stunned.

Mo Yun learned about the duties and dangers of being a First-Class Guard at Crouching Tiger Manor. After discovering that killing demons could help him improve, he asked Commander Li to assign him a mission with weak demons.

• Commander Li learned that Mo Yun had refused the Village Master's matchmaking proposal because he initially thought the young lady was old, though she and Mo had both decided they were unsuited to each other.
• Mo Yun asked Commander Li about First-Class Guard duties, and Commander Li explained their emergency response, garrison, and demon extermination assignments.
• Commander Li said Crouching Tiger Manor had ten First-Class Guards, six of whom had reached dark force, and described the Manor's martial training resources.
• Mo Yun asked for a mission where he could encounter weak demons, explaining that fighting them would help him improve.
• Commander Li recalled that such a mission existed, and Mo Yun eagerly asked to be assigned to it.

Mo Yun learned the Tiger-Crouching Saber Technique from Commander Li and rapidly advanced it through practice with help from his Virtual Panel. After hitting a bottleneck, he checked his White Mark and prepared to see how many White Points it had produced.

• Mo Yun asked Commander Li to arrange for him to join a mission where he might encounter Demons, and Commander Li promised to check whether they needed people.
• Commander Li taught Mo Yun the Tiger-Crouching Saber Technique, demonstrated its forms, and warned him not to rely too heavily on saber techniques.
• Mo Yun returned to his courtyard, practiced the saber technique, and watched the Virtual Panel record it and advance it from first glimpse of the way to mastery.
• Mo Yun hit a bottleneck because the Tiger-Crouching Saber Technique could not advance further until his Tiger-Crouching Fist improved.
• Mo Yun saw that his White Mark had reached ten percent after previously standing at thirty-five percent, indicating it had filled at least once, and prepared to check his total White Points.

Mo Yun spent a white point to increase his Life Value, which improved his perception and accelerated his martial arts and alchemy progress. He successfully refined eighteen Marrow-Washing Pills and planned to have Liu Niang assess them the next day.

• Mo Yun used a white point to raise his Life Value to 6, sharpening his senses and strengthening his body.
• Mo Yun practiced the Nameless Fist Technique and estimated he could reach its next breakthrough within three months.
• Mo Yun began refining Marrow-Washing Pills and failed with his first six sets of ingredients.
• Mo Yun successfully made six Marrow-Washing Pills from the seventh set, then used the last two sets to produce twelve more.
• Mo Yun put away the eighteen pills, planned to ask Liu Niang to check their quality, and went to bed after realizing it was already Chou Hour.