Recaps

Fang Yunhua learned a powerful internal cultivation method from the White Jade Beauty and kept its existence secret with Jin Lingzhi. As they stayed in the Capital City, rumors spread about Fang Yunhua becoming Mount Hua’s heir and suspicions surrounding Ren Ci’s death began to gather around Nangong Ling.

• Fang Yunhua converted his cultivation to the Mingyu Skill, memorized its nine levels, and realized his energy had reached only its fourth level.
• The White Jade Beauty shattered, and Jin Lingzhi warned Fang Yunhua to conceal the method and the treasure’s secret; he agreed and packed away the fragments.
• Fang Yunhua spent the next day familiarizing himself with the new method while Jin Lingzhi stayed by his side.
• Rumors in the Capital City reported that Fang Yunhua had become Mount Hua’s heir, a development that drew little surprise.
• Rumors raised questions about Ren Ci’s death, the lack of witnesses to his body and funeral, and Nangong Ling’s care for Ren Ci’s secluded widow.
• Fang Yunhua noticed that gossip about Ren Ci and Nangong Ling was overtaking stories of his encounter with Chu Liuxiang.

Fang Yunhua visited Second Master Jin with Jin Lingzhi and won a warmer reception by presenting Madam Jin with Red Coral Jade. In private, he defended his sincere feelings for Jin Lingzhi and argued that the imperial court was deliberately drawing the martial world closer to its authority.

• Fang Yunhua brought Red Coral Jade to Madam Jin, and Second Master Jin signaled that she could accept the rare gift.
• Madam Jin eased the tension at the family meal, while Jin Lingzhi kept her feelings reserved to avoid angering her relatives.
• Second Master Jin warned Fang Yunhua to keep Jin Lingzhi happy until she tired of him, but Fang Yunhua asked what would happen if she never did.
• Fang Yunhua told Second Master Jin that he had been honest with Jin Lingzhi about seeking help through her connections and insisted he would not harm her or her family.
• Fang Yunhua argued that the court was changing its approach to the martial world and had made the Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden a model for closer ties between them.

Fang Yunhua persuaded Second Master Jin to connect Mount Hua with the An Prince as part of the court’s effort to bring the martial world under its influence. Second Master Jin agreed and decided to conceal the full extent of Fang Yunhua’s insight in his report to the emperor, leaving Fang Yunhua to pursue the alliance with the An Prince.

• Second Master Jin recognized Fang Yunhua’s strategic insight and agreed to build a bridge between Mount Hua and the An Prince, while reporting some details to the emperor.
• Second Master Jin warned Fang Yunhua that the An Prince would assess Mount Hua’s worth and that the alliance would involve negotiations over influence and cooperation.
• Fang Yunhua left the Jin Mansion with Jin Lingzhi after discussing the plan and receiving Second Master Jin’s advice.
• Madam Jin praised Fang Yunhua’s looks and noted that Jin Lingzhi liked him, while Second Master Jin remarked that people who judged him by his appearance would underestimate him.
• Second Master Jin wrote a memorial that played down Fang Yunhua’s leading role and exceptional insight to protect him from unwanted attention.

Chu Liuxiang uncovered strong evidence that Wuhua was behind the murders, then pursued a new lead from Black Pearl. A fight with One Red Dot destroyed the letter that might have proved the case, but Chu Liuxiang comforted his devoted fan instead.

• Chu Liuxiang found a dying nun at the abandoned Black Robe Nunnery, and her final word confirmed his suspicion that Wuhua was the killer.
• Chu Liuxiang decided to seek out Fang Yunhua but encountered Black Pearl, who gave him a letter received by the Desert King, Zhamuhe, before his death.
• One Red Dot seized the letter and fought Chu Liuxiang, hoping to challenge his idol.
• Chu Liuxiang defeated One Red Dot, but their clash tore the letter apart and scattered its scraps in the wind.
• Chu Liuxiang apologized for breaking One Red Dot's sword and reassured him, leaving the fan deeply moved.

Chu Liuxiang teamed up with Black Pearl and traced Qiu Lingsu to the Beggar Gang, where he began to suspect his friends Nangong Ling and Wuhua were conspiring behind the murders. Nangong Ling offered him a chance to find Qiu Lingsu and prove she was safe, leaving Chu Liuxiang unsure whether his friend was telling the truth.

• One Red Dot vowed never to fight Chu Liuxiang again as he began to recover.
• Black Pearl joined Chu Liuxiang's investigation, identified Qiu Lingsu as Ren Ci's wife, and translated her plea for help.
• Chu Liuxiang learned from White Jade Demon Beggar that only Nangong Ling knew where Qiu Lingsu was.
• Chu Liuxiang visited Nangong Ling and found him hosting Wuhua, leading him to suspect the two friends were accomplices in the murders.
• Nangong Ling said rumors accused him of murdering Madam Ren and having an affair with her, then asked Chu Liuxiang to verify that she was safe and living in seclusion.

Chu Liuxiang accepted Nangong Ling’s proposal to visit Qiu Lingsu, while suspecting that Wuhua planned to kill him during the journey. As the men discussed rumors and Fang Yunhua’s influence, Wuhua revealed that Mount Hua had recently begun making frequent moves.

• Chu Liuxiang agreed to visit Qiu Lingsu, despite suspecting that Nangong Ling’s proposal could lead him into an ambush.
• Wuhua declined to accompany Chu Liuxiang and said he would join Nangong Ling in clearing his name after Qiu Lingsu’s safety was confirmed.
• Chu Liuxiang concluded that Nangong Ling wanted to use his reputation to counter the rumors and was not yet willing to make an enemy of him.
• Wuhua traced the rumors about Nangong Ling from the northwest to the Capital City and said the Amorous Young Master had caused a stir there.
• Wuhua said the White Jade Beauty had returned to Jin Ban Hua after Chu Liuxiang sold it to Fang Yunhua.
• Wuhua told Chu Liuxiang that Mount Hua had recently begun making frequent moves.

Wuhua suggested that Fang Yunhua might be using Chu Liuxiang’s investigation and rumors against Nangong Ling to weaken the Beggar Gang and establish his authority at Mount Hua. Nangong Ling prepared to monitor Mount Hua, while Wuhua privately judged him doomed and recognized that Chu Liuxiang was unknowingly advancing Fang Yunhua’s plan.

• Wuhua connected Mount Hua’s growing influence and Fang Yunhua’s appointment to the rumors targeting Nangong Ling, warning Chu Liuxiang not to become someone else’s weapon.
• Chu Liuxiang cautioned Nangong Ling against treating Wuhua’s theory as proven and kept his attention on Wuhua’s ongoing murders.
• Nangong Ling recalled his own schemes against Mount Hua and decided to send the White Jade Demon Beggar to watch the sect and respond to its moves.
• Wuhua privately concluded that Nangong Ling was trapped by his determination to keep the Beggar Gang leadership and saw Chu Liuxiang as an unwitting tool in Fang Yunhua’s plan.
• Chu Liuxiang arranged with Nangong Ling to visit Qiu Lingsu, then ended the dinner and hurried away.

Fang Yunhua let Jin Lingzhi leave to help with his campaign against the Beggar Gang, then met representatives of the An Prince's Mansion to discuss collaboration with Mount Hua. The meeting introduced Chief Instructor Shangguan Cangxing, whose Dragon-Phoenix Mother-and-Son Rings caught Fang Yunhua's attention.

• Fang Yunhua reflected that the White Jade Demon Beggar would make an ideal first target for Mount Hua's campaign against the Beggar Gang.
• Jin Lingzhi decided to return home for her aunt's fortieth birthday and offered to help Fang Yunhua undermine the Beggar Gang on the way.
• Fang Yunhua received an invitation from the An Prince's Mansion and went to a private tea house in the Capital City.
• Lin Yi introduced himself as the mansion's Outer Mansion Steward and its representative for collaboration with Mount Hua.
• Lin Yi introduced Chief Instructor Shangguan Cangxing, and Fang Yunhua recognized the Dragon-Phoenix Mother-and-Son Rings beside him.

Fang Yunhua offered the An Prince’s Mansion a share of the Beggar Gang’s territories as part of Mount Hua’s plan to bring down Nangong Ling. He explained how the plan would be justified as a campaign against corruption and arranged to work with Dai Duxing, leaving the Beggar Gang a chance to recover.

• Lin Yi asked Fang Yunhua how Mount Hua and the An Prince’s Mansion should balance their cooperation, and Fang offered his plan concerning the Beggar Gang as a greeting gift.
• Fang told Lin Yi that Nangong Ling was near his end and proposed dividing Beggar Gang branches outside Shaanxi, Henan, and Shanxi among those willing to seize them.
• Fang explained that Mount Hua would target only corrupt Beggar Gang members, using Nangong Ling’s feud with Mount Hua and the gang’s unchecked abuses to justify its actions.
• Mount Hua secretly contacted Dai Duxing, who agreed to help purge the Beggar Gang and blame its corruption on Nangong Ling and Tianfeng Shisilang’s conspiracy.
• Dai Duxing began gathering Beggar Gang members who still upheld its rules, while Mount Hua agreed to leave the gang a path to survive.

Fang Yunhua secured the An Prince's Mansion's support for Mount Hua's plan and discussed its political benefits with Lin Yi and Shangguan Cangxing. He then explained his strategy to deal with Nangong Ling and Wuhua, while leaving further precautions to discuss with Steward Lin.

• Lin Yi agreed to make arrangements and recognized that Fang Yunhua's plan could benefit the imperial court by weakening the Beggar Gang.
• Shangguan Cangxing revealed that he had originally come to the Capital City to challenge Fang Yunhua and described the imperial court's martial experts.
• Fang Yunhua declined to fight Shangguan Cangxing and asked for his help handling several matters.
• Fang Yunhua said Nangong Ling's elder brother had to be dealt with and explained that he did not trust Chu Liuxiang to handle it alone.
• Shangguan Cangxing recognized Wuhua's ambitions and condemned Ren Ci and Tianfeng for allowing themselves to be exploited.
• Fang Yunhua predicted that Chu Liuxiang would drive Nangong Ling to his death and pressure Wuhua, then said he would discuss additional precautions with Steward Lin.

Fang Yunhua secured the An Prince's Mansion's support for Mount Hua's campaign against the Beggar Gang, while Chu Liuxiang uncovered Wuhua's role in the crimes surrounding Ren Ci's death. After learning the truth from Qiu Lingsu, Chu Liuxiang prepared to confront Nangong Ling before seeking the final clues from Master Tianfeng.

• Fang Yunhua and Lin Yi agreed that Fang would negotiate with Southern Shaolin, while the An Prince's Mansion would leave the Beggar Gang's Henan properties alone and hire thirty Mount Hua disciples as guards.
• Fang Yunhua drank with Jin Ban Hua and left the capital with Shangguan Cangxing accompanying him.
• Chu Liuxiang met Su Rongrong, who confirmed that Wuhua had visited the Divine Water Palace and was tied to the stolen Heavenly One Divine Water and a pregnant disciple.
• At the Wind and Rain Pavilion, Wuhua considered poisoning Chu Liuxiang and Nangong Ling, but Chu Liuxiang's poison-based passive ability made the plan too risky.
• Chu Liuxiang visited Qiu Lingsu in the Beggar Gang Forbidden Grounds, where she explained Nangong Ling's crimes and the mysterious man's influence over him.
• Chu Liuxiang identified Wuhua as the mastermind and concluded that Master Tianfeng held the remaining clues, but he first resolved to settle matters with Nangong Ling for Qiu Lingsu's sake.

Chu Liuxiang learned that Fang Yunhua had orchestrated Mount Hua’s campaign against Nangong Ling and the Beggar Gang, then confronted Nangong Ling at the incense hall. Nangong Ling blamed Fang Yunhua for Qiu Lingsu’s death and named him as the mastermind.

• One Red Dot reported that Mount Hua had exposed the Beggar Gang’s crimes and begun purging Nangong Ling’s followers with support from major martial-world forces.
• Chu Liuxiang realized that Fang Yunhua had likely arranged the campaign and that Senior Dai was waiting for him to expose Nangong Ling’s origins.
• Chu Liuxiang went to the Beggar Gang’s incense hall and found Nangong Ling alone, exhausted, and surrounded by intelligence reports.
• Nangong Ling asked whether Qiu Lingsu was alive, and Chu Liuxiang told him she had died.
• Nangong Ling accused an unnamed man of manipulating events around Qiu Lingsu and Chu Liuxiang, then identified him as Fang Yunhua.

Chu Liuxiang confronted Nangong Ling about the conspiracy that had ruined him, then followed him onto a pleasure boat on Daming Lake to meet the hidden mastermind. As Nangong Ling suddenly succumbed to Heavenly One Divine Water, the mastermind had yet to appear.

• Chu Liuxiang asked Nangong Ling who had secretly driven his actions, and the two exchanged seven palm strikes that revealed Chu Liuxiang's superior strength.
• Nangong Ling invited Chu Liuxiang to follow him, promising that he would learn the hidden man's identity.
• Nangong Ling rowed Chu Liuxiang across Daming Lake to a candlelit pleasure boat and said the hidden man would deal with them both.
• Nangong Ling drank from both cups of wine, then abruptly convulsed as Chu Liuxiang recognized the effects of Heavenly One Divine Water.

After Nangong Ling died from Wuhua’s Heavenly One Divine Water, Chu Liuxiang resolved to pursue the remaining clues to Putian Shaolin Temple and then Mount Hua. There, Constable Ying asked him to reveal Nangong Ling’s crimes, and Chu realized the authorities wanted to use his testimony to clear the Beggar Gang and direct blame toward Japan.

• Chu Liuxiang told Nangong Ling that Wuhua had poisoned him, but Nangong Ling continued to trust his brother and died cursing Chu.
• Shaken by Nangong Ling’s death and Fang Yunhua’s apparent foresight, Chu Liuxiang decided to investigate Master Tianfeng at Putian Shaolin Temple before going to Mount Hua.
• Chu Liuxiang borrowed Black Pearl’s horse and rode to the city near Putian Shaolin Temple.
• Constable Ying Wanli approached Chu Liuxiang at a teahouse and asked him to explain Nangong Ling’s crimes, Chief Ren’s death, and Nangong Ling’s origins.
• Chu Liuxiang realized that Ying Wanli’s inquiry would help the authorities clear the Beggar Gang and frame Japan as the source of the conspiracy.

Chu Liuxiang recounted the case to Ying Wanli and entered Putian Shaolin Temple, where he found Wuhua with Master Tianfeng. Wuhua revealed that his master had arranged Chu Liuxiang’s visit as his only chance to survive, then led him away without explaining further.

• Chu Liuxiang told Ying Wanli what he knew about Nangong Ling while withholding his suspicions about Fang Yunhua.
• Ying Wanli asked Chu Liuxiang to meet him at the Lin Family Garden over the next few days.
• Chu Liuxiang entered Putian Shaolin Temple and passed through its heavily guarded defenses to a secluded courtyard.
• Chu Liuxiang found Wuhua serving tea to Master Tianfeng and warned the abbot not to drink it, but Tianfeng drank it and assured him it contained no Heavenly One Divine Water.
• Wuhua said Chu Liuxiang was his only hope of survival and the sole chance Master Tianfeng had secured for him, then led Chu Liuxiang away.

Chu Liuxiang confronted Wuhua about his crimes and defeated him, but Wuhua tried to fake his death and escape. Chu Liuxiang exposed the ruse, revealing that Fang Yunhua had warned him earlier, leaving Wuhua stunned.

• Wuhua confessed that he had killed Nangong Ling to conceal his schemes and explained that Fang Yunhua had helped keep Southern Shaolin from dealing with him.
• Chu Liuxiang and Wuhua fought, and Wuhua lost.
• Wuhua condemned Chu Liuxiang and attempted to feign death, expecting Chu Liuxiang to grant him a dignified end.
• Chu Liuxiang exposed Wuhua's escape plan and challenged him about calling himself noble.
• Wuhua deduced that Fang Yunhua had warned Chu Liuxiang during the earlier Mount Hua incident, and Chu Liuxiang confirmed he was right.

Wuhua escaped Chu Liuxiang using a smoke bomb, but Fang Yunhua intercepted him beside the stream and taunted him. Chu Liuxiang arrived and entrusted the next pursuit to Fang Yunhua, confident Wuhua would not get away.

• Chu Liuxiang reasoned that Fang Yunhua had engineered Wuhua’s predicament as revenge, leaving Wuhua furious and helpless.
• Wuhua blinded Chu Liuxiang with an irritant-filled smoke bomb and fled along the stream toward Crossroads.
• Fang Yunhua stopped Wuhua with a pebble, revealed himself, and applauded the performance before Wuhua ran again.
• Fang Yunhua declined to chase Wuhua, and Chu Liuxiang emerged from the woods and said he trusted Fang Yunhua not to let Wuhua escape.

Fang Yunhua reunited with Chu Liuxiang, admitted he had watched Chu expose Wuhua’s fake death, and gave him Wuhua’s incriminating diary. Chu agreed to destroy it after settling their disagreement, but Wuhua returned just as Chu prepared to burn it.

• Chu Liuxiang reproached Fang Yunhua for manipulating him, and Fang gave him a Thousand-Mile Mirror that revealed he had watched Chu’s fight with Wuhua.
• Chu asked whether Wuhua had to die, and Fang said he did before handing him Wuhua’s diary, which Situ Liuxing had stolen from a wooden fish in Nangong Ling’s home.
• Chu read the diary and discovered Wuhua’s affairs, including his relationship with Situ Jing and encounters with women from prominent families.
• Chu insisted the diary should be destroyed, and Fang agreed after Chu promised their dispute was water under the bridge.
• Chu took out Fire Tinder to burn the diary, but Wuhua stumbled back before he could do so.

Fang Yunhua prepared to test his strength against the badly wounded Wuhua, while Chu Liuxiang learned that Master Tiannan and Dai Duxing had helped defeat him. The chapter ended with Wuhua taking up a saber and Fang Yunhua drawing the Skyward Sword for their fight.

• Chu Liuxiang examined Wuhua's injuries and recognized that three powerful attackers had defeated him.
• Master Tiannan and Dai Duxing arrived, and Chu Liuxiang identified their techniques among Wuhua's injuries.
• Shangguan Cangxing joined Fang Yunhua, who told Wuhua he would kill him to assess his strength and ensure he could not escape.
• Wuhua grew furious at being called a tool, then briefly suppressed his injuries and set his broken arm before accepting a saber.
• Fang Yunhua drew the Skyward Sword and faced Wuhua, saying he needed to measure his strength before confronting a more troublesome enemy.

Fang Yunhua defeated and killed Wuhua in a fierce sword duel, while revealing that Stone Guanyin was the next threat he intended to face. Wuhua died after Fang Yunhua exposed his plan to unite factions in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan against Mount Hua.

• Fang Yunhua identified Wuhua and Nangong Ling's mother as Stone Guanyin and warned that she was a formidable enemy.
• Wuhua attacked Fang Yunhua with One Slash Against the Wind, but Fang Yunhua blocked the strike and reached a breakthrough in controlling sword intent.
• Fang Yunhua overwhelmed Wuhua with the Thirteen Forms of the Clear Wind and used his Mingyu Skill to freeze and weaken him.
• Fang Yunhua ran Wuhua through the throat, then revealed that he knew about Wuhua's plan to unite factions in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan against Mount Hua.
• Wuhua died after Fang Yunhua told him to die with his regrets.

After Wuhua died, Chu Liuxiang learned how Fang Yunhua had used the notebook to secure Southern Shaolin’s promises and medicines. As they headed for Putian City, Chu questioned Fang about Wuhua’s plans, but Fang left him wondering how he had protected Mount Hua from afar.

• Master Tiannan took Wuhua’s body to Southern Shaolin after Fang Yunhua reminded him of their promise.
• Master Tiannan spoke privately with Chu Liuxiang, who accepted Southern Shaolin’s promises of favors, assistance, and lasting friendship.
• Fang Yunhua revealed that he had obtained three bottles of Lesser Restoration Pills and one Greater Restoration Pill from Southern Shaolin.
• Chu Liuxiang apologized to Fang Yunhua for blaming him too much, while Dai Duxing remained troubled by the Beggar Gang’s losses.
• Chu Liuxiang asked why Nangong Ling had provoked Ximen Qian, Zuo Youzheng, Spirit Vulture, and Zhamuhe without getting money, and Fang Yunhua withheld the full answer.
• Fang Yunhua explained that Wuhua had targeted either him or Mount Hua, then left Chu Liuxiang guessing how he had handled the threat before they reached the city outskirts.

Fang Yunhua planned to recruit powerful allies for a future confrontation with Stone Guanyin while Mount Hua navigated the resistance alliance Wuhua had tried to form. As the factions’ march on Mount Hua was delayed, Yuan Suiyun arrived to support the sect.

• Fang Yunhua agreed to arrange for Shangguan Cangxing to join the effort against Stone Guanyin and continued weighing other potential teammates.
• Hua Zhenzhen represented Fang Yunhua at Mount Hua while Master Kumei worked on the Western Peak Sword Emerges, Myriad Mountains Turn Cold plan.
• The Imperial Court’s investigations into the factions’ ties to the Beggar Gang forced them to postpone their planned visit to Mount Hua.
• Mount Hua offered the factions a face-saving delay by promising an explanation when its young sect leader returned.
• Yuan Suiyun arrived at Mount Hua to lend support, provoking Wuhua’s jealousy.

Yuan Suiyun visited Mount Hua after rumors cast Fang Yunhua as a scheming rival, but Hua Zhenzhen thwarted his attempts to learn the sect’s secrets. Meanwhile, Chu Liuxiang and Ying Wanli settled the Beggar Gang affair publicly, and Fang Yunhua returned to Mount Hua as the gang began striking back at its remaining enemies.

• Yuan Suiyun became interested in Fang Yunhua after hearing rumors that the Amorous Young Master had orchestrated Mount Hua’s conflict with the Beggar Gang, and he traveled to Mount Hua to meet him.
• Hua Zhenzhen received Yuan Suiyun and, after he probed her for information about Fang Yunhua, alerted Mount Hua’s senior members.
• Yuan Suiyun questioned Mount Hua disciples and elders but failed to uncover details about the sect’s recent plans.
• Chu Liuxiang and Ying Wanli announced that Wuhua and Nangong Ling had been involved in Tianfeng Jushiro’s conspiracy, while Master Tianfeng resigned and Master Tiannan took over Southern Shaolin.
• Dai Duxing became the Beggar Gang’s acting chief as major factions withdrew from the conflict and the gang retaliated against smaller factions that continued to oppose it.
• Fang Yunhua returned to Mount Hua.

Fang Yunhua returned to Mount Hua, reunited with Hua Zhenzhen, and noticed Yuan Suiyun among the visitors. Hua Zhenzhen fled in embarrassment after Gao Yanan dispersed the onlookers, leaving Fang Yunhua to wonder whether he should improve his lightness skill.

• Shangguan Cangxing returned to the An Prince's Mansion, eager to discuss their next move against Stone Guanyin with Steward Lin.
• Fang Yunhua returned to Mount Hua and greeted the disciples before Hua Zhenzhen rushed over and embraced him.
• Fang Yunhua spotted Yuan Suiyun, the young master of Wuzheng Manor, and Yuan Suiyun turned toward him and Hua Zhenzhen with a faint smile.
• Hua Zhenzhen grew embarrassed when Fang Yunhua told her that the elders and disciples were watching them.
• Gao Yanan dispersed the spectators, and Hua Zhenzhen used the Soaring Swan Step to vanish from the crowd.
• Fang Yunhua considered training his lightness skill further as Gao Yanan spoke beside his ear.

Fang Yunhua received Gao Yanan’s report on Mount Hua’s expansion and asked her to have Master Kumei inspect pills from Southern Shaolin. After Gao Yanan left, he considered the sect’s internal struggles and Yuan Suiyun’s motives before Hua Zhenzhen visited him.

• Gao Yanan told Fang Yunhua that Mount Hua’s elders and branch disciples were cooperating with the sect’s expansion plans.
• Fang Yunhua asked Gao Yanan to tell Master Kumei to intensify patrols and remain away from Mount Hua, and gave her Lesser Restoration Pills and a Greater Restoration Pill to have inspected.
• Gao Yanan agreed to try to return before other factions arrived at Mount Hua, then left the mountain.
• Fang Yunhua recalled how Gao Yanan had helped him expose and eliminate threats within Mount Hua, and suspected Yuan Suiyun had prompted Wuzheng Manor’s response to the sect’s expansion.
• Hua Zhenzhen slipped into Fang Yunhua’s residence, and he offered to show her his newly created Fivefold Light Smoke Palm.