Chapter Summaries

Li Chenzhou and Lu Qingyuan plotted to use Yan Boguang to draw Yan Tianlu into a trap, while Hu Xiaotian met Yan Tianlu and proposed a hostage exchange to rescue Boguang. The allies planned to seize Xue Lingjun or a member of the Bohai Royal House and to prevent the Ministry of Justice from closing its case.

• Li Chenzhou and Lu Qingyuan identified Yan Tianlu and Hu Dafu as likely allies of Xue Lingjun and decided to use Yan Boguang's threatened execution to lure Yan Tianlu into a trap.
• Hu Xiaotian secretly traveled to the harbor and met Yan Tianlu aboard a merchant ship.
• Yan Tianlu told Hu Xiaotian that Yan Boguang would be publicly executed in three days and admitted he intended to attempt a rescue despite expecting a trap.
• Hu Xiaotian proposed capturing a royal family member—or pretending to capture Xue Lingjun—to exchange for Yan Boguang.
• Yan Tianlu agreed to the plan and hoped to free Ling Sanniang and the others as well, while Hu Xiaotian called for Kou Zisheng to be killed before the Ministry of Justice could close the case.

Hu Xiaotian investigated the political conspiracy behind Li Changxing’s murder while Zou Yong learned that Kou Zisheng had been assassinated and Yan Dongqing was abducted by Yan Tianlu. Li Mingju suspected the Yuan Tianzhao Case was a plot to implicate Xue Shengjing, and Hu Xiaotian heard his account without confirming it.

• Hu Xiaotian asked Xia Changming to sketch the Heavenly Star Court and explained that staying in the open helped protect him through his connection to Xue Lingjun.
• Zou Yong waited for Xue Lingjun and Yan Dongqing, then abandoned the meeting after learning that Kou Zisheng had been assassinated.
• Yan Tianlu revealed himself to his niece Yan Dongqing and held her captive to ensure Boguang’s safety.
• Hu Xiaotian visited Li Changxing’s funeral, where Li Mingju asked whether he knew about the attacks on him and his father.
• Hu Xiaotian said Li Changxing’s assassin belonged to the same faction as the attacker who targeted Li Mingju and linked the murders to a political conspiracy.
• Li Mingju claimed that the Great Yong Emperor was using the Yuan Tianzhao Case to implicate Xue Shengjing and that the King of Bohai had agreed to cooperate in exchange for help destroying Python Jiao Island.

Hu Xiaotian learned that Li Mingju intended to help him oppose the plot involving Yuan Tianzhao, then prepared for trouble in Sea-Viewing City and went to Mirrorwater Estate to find the missing Eldest Princess. He broke through the estate’s gates and confronted Zou Yong’s warriors, who had drawn their weapons.

• Li Mingju vowed to endure and use his knowledge of the law and the Ministry of Justice to help Hu Xiaotian, who promised to seek him out after he buried his father.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Yan Dongqing and Xue Lingjun had not returned and told his men to prepare for a confrontation that night.
• Hu Xiaotian showed Hu Zhongyang the Nine Heavens Phoenix Dance Token and ordered him to secretly arrange an escape route without telling the people from Python Jiao Island.
• After learning Yan Dongqing had gone to meet Zou Yong and neither had returned, Hu Xiaotian led the Golden Scale Guards to Mirrorwater Estate.
• When Zou Yong’s men refused to let him enter, Hu Xiaotian hurled a bronze lion through the gates and ordered them to hand over the Eldest Princess.
• Hu Xiaotian severed two warriors’ sabers and struck them across the face with his blade.

Hu Xiaotian stormed Mirrorwater Estate and accused Zou Yong of abducting Xue Lingjun, then attacked him when Zou denied knowing where she was. Zou’s throwing knives failed to stop Hu, and the chapter ended with Zou drawing the Greenwood Bow and aiming its arrow at Hu’s descending saber.

• Zou Yong arrived at Mirrorwater Estate and ordered the fighting to stop, but Hu Xiaotian kicked a warrior into him and accused him of hiding Xue Lingjun.
• Zou denied seeing Xue Lingjun and said she had never come to their planned meeting, while Hu called him a hypocrite and demanded that he reveal her whereabouts.
• Hu attacked Zou with Wind-Slayer, and Zou retreated while hurling six throwing knives that Hu deflected.
• Zou leapt onto the roof, but Hu’s next saber strike split the roof ridge and forced Zou to flee.
• As Hu plunged toward him again, Zou drew the Greenwood Bow and aimed its arrow at Hu.

Tang Jiucheng intervened to save Zou Yong from Hu Xiaotian, and their confrontation ended with Hu Xiaotian withdrawing after warning that he would hold Zou Yong responsible if anything happened to the Eldest Princess. Zou Yong then revealed that he was Tang Jiucheng’s eldest son, Tang Jingtian, and learned that Hu Xiaotian had used sword techniques.

• As Zou Yong prepared a desperate arrow and Hu Xiaotian unleashed his blade energy, Tang Jiucheng appeared and shattered the attack with a shot from his Blackwood Bow.
• Hu Xiaotian recognized Tang Jiucheng as the lord of the Falling Cherry Palace, and Tang Jiucheng said he had intervened because he owed Zou Yong a favor.
• Hu Xiaotian threatened Zou Yong over the missing Eldest Princess and warned Tang Jiucheng that he would use overwhelming force against the Falling Cherry Palace if they became enemies.
• Tang Jiucheng demonstrated his control of a fletchless arrow, then challenged Hu Xiaotian’s threats; Hu Xiaotian left with his men after demanding a life for the guard Tang Jiucheng had killed.
• After Hu Xiaotian departed, Zou Yong returned to Lock Spring Tower and revealed himself to be Tang Jiucheng’s eldest son, Tang Jingtian.
• Tang Jiucheng told Tang Jingtian that Hu Xiaotian had used sword techniques, and Tang Jingtian wondered whether Hu Xiaotian was the swordsman they had heard about.

Zou Yong and Tang Jiucheng discussed Hu Dafu’s schemes before learning that Great Yong’s Eldest Princess had vanished as well. As Hu Dafu demanded an audience with Yan Dongsheng using Empress Dowager Jiang’s token, Zou Yong sought help from the Queen Mother.

• Tang Jiucheng warned Zou Yong not to make Hu Dafu an enemy and urged him to pass the lead to Old Monster Beize.
• Eunuch Liu told Zou Yong that Yan Dongqing had disappeared, while Hu Dafu led Golden Scale Guards to the royal citadel demanding justice for Xue Lingjun.
• Pang Zhishan learned that Yan Dongqing was also missing and sent word to Fu Yanshou, who informed Yan Dongsheng of the crisis.
• Yan Dongsheng agreed to meet Hu Dafu after he presented Empress Dowager Jiang’s Nine Heavens Phoenix Dance token, and ordered Fu Yanshou to inform Li Chenzhou and summon Zou Yong.
• Zou Yong went to Western Mountain and begged the Queen Mother to save him.

Zou Yong persuaded the Empress Dowager that the Eldest Princess’s disappearance was part of a conspiracy, while Li Chenzhou declined the King’s summons. Hu Xiaotian then presented himself to Yan Dongsheng as Empress Dowager Jiang’s envoy and accused Zou Yong of abducting Xue Lingjun, leaving the King facing a grave charge and a request for a private audience.

• Zou Yong denied desiring Xue Lingjun and warned the Empress Dowager that enemies were plotting against him, then suggested rebels had taken the Eldest Princess to rescue Yan Boguang.
• Li Chenzhou concluded Xue Lingjun’s disappearance was staged and refused Fu Yanshou’s late-night summons to the palace.
• Hu Xiaotian entered Grace Palace under Imperial Guard escort and showed Yan Dongsheng the Nine Heavens Phoenix Dance Token, identifying himself as Empress Dowager Jiang’s secret envoy.
• Hu Xiaotian presented a blood-written scrap accusing Zou Yong of abducting Xue Lingjun and described the attack at Mirrorwater Estate.
• Yan Dongsheng questioned the scrap’s authenticity, and Hu Xiaotian asked to speak with him in private.

Hu Xiaotian warned Yan Dongsheng that Empress Dowager Jiang would retaliate if the Bohai Kingdom harmed her children, and he urged the king to keep outsiders out of the Xue family's affairs. After Hu Xiaotian left, Yan Dongsheng learned that Great Yong’s new ruler was trying to use him to eliminate the Prince of Yan and the Eldest Princess.

• Hu Xiaotian let the Imperial Guards bind him before delivering his invented warning from Empress Dowager Jiang to Yan Dongsheng in private.
• Hu Xiaotian suggested Zou Yong was Tang Jiucheng’s illegitimate son and might be plotting to exploit Yan Dongsheng, throwing the king into confusion.
• Hu Xiaotian broke free of his shackles to prove Yan Dongsheng’s guards could not stop him, then warned that Zou Yong and Tang Jiucheng could threaten the king’s life.
• Hu Xiaotian urged Yan Dongsheng to handle his kingdom’s family disputes without relying on outside powers, then left after the king questioned whether he was truly Empress Dowager Jiang’s envoy.
• Fu Yanshou told Yan Dongsheng that Li Chenzhou would not confront Hu Xiaotian and that Great Yong’s new ruler wanted to use the Bohai king against the Prince of Yan and the Eldest Princess.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu planned to trade the two Eldest Princesses for Yan Boguang while avoiding a trap by attacking the Mottled Sect’s base. As Yan Boguang’s execution neared, their plan set them against Li Chenzhou, Tang Jiucheng, and Old Monster Beize.

• Yan Dongsheng struggled to choose his next move in Yuan Tianzhao’s case, while Fu Yanshou warned him against inviting a wolf into his house.
• Tang Jingyu told Li Chenzhou that Hu Dafu was Hu Xiaotian and that Xue Lingjun’s disappearance had been staged to exchange Yan Dongqing for Yan Boguang.
• Li Chenzhou dismissed the threat from Yan Dongsheng and decided that Yan Boguang and Yan Dongqing should both die, while noting that Old Monster Beize might pursue Hu Xiaotian.
• Xue Lingjun and Yan Nujiao discussed Hu Xiaotian, and Xue Lingjun hoped he would rescue Yan Boguang before his execution.
• Hu Xiaotian told Yan Tianlu to propose exchanging the two Eldest Princesses for Yan Boguang, send Xue Lingjun to the meeting, and attack the Heavenly Star Court while their enemies were occupied.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu planned to rescue Yan Boguang while striking at Old Monster Beize’s Heavenly Star Court. As Yan Dongsheng prepared a hostage exchange at Huanghua Harbor, Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu launched their attack, leaving them poised to burn the court to the ground.

• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu agreed to work with Xue Lingjun, despite learning that Yan Nujiao wanted to join their rescue plan.
• Yan Dongsheng realized that Great Yong’s political turmoil could endanger the Bohai Kingdom, and Zou Yong warned him that Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun, and Yan Tianlu might be working together.
• Fu Yanshou delivered Yan Tianlu’s demand to exchange Xue Lingjun and Yan Dongqing for Yan Boguang, and Yan Dongsheng ordered Zou Yong to arrange a counterattack during the exchange.
• Yan Tianlu kept changing the exchange location until he settled on Huanghua Harbor for that night, while Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu set out to attack Heavenly Star Court.
• Xia Changming guided Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu to the court, where Hu Xiaotian ordered them to burn it down and Yan Tianlu vowed to kill anyone who stood in their way.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu infiltrated Heavenly Star Court, with Yan Tianlu drawing the guards away while Hu Xiaotian fought toward Old Monster Beize’s poison den. Hu Xiaotian broke through Lu Qingyuan’s defenses, only to discover that the man Lu Qingyuan hurled at him was filled with black insects.

• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu landed inside Heavenly Star Court, and Yan Tianlu went to attack the guards while Hu Xiaotian disguised himself and headed for Entwined Cave.
• Hu Xiaotian killed the two guards at the cave entrance and cut down Mottled Sect disciples inside, deflecting their poisoned crossbow bolts and destroying the attacking wasps.
• Hu Xiaotian recognized Lu Qingyuan, who launched poisonous smoke and then raised a ring of green fire to block his path.
• Hu Xiaotian spun through the flames and deflected Lu Qingyuan’s crossbow bolts as he charged toward him.
• Lu Qingyuan hurled one of his men at Hu Xiaotian, who cut the man in half and saw black insects spill from the body.

Hu Xiaotian pursued Lu Qingyuan through a tunnel, but Lu Qingyuan trapped him in a pit with a giant spider. As Lu Qingyuan tried to shoot the helpless Hu Xiaotian, the spider caught him too and dragged him into the chamber.

• Hu Xiaotian fought through swarms of Black Beetles and continued chasing Lu Qingyuan, killing two Mottled Sect disciples who blocked his path.
• Lu Qingyuan lured Hu Xiaotian to a tunnel dead end, then pulled an iron chain that opened a pit beneath him.
• A giant spider caught Hu Xiaotian in its web, and Lu Qingyuan taunted him before dumping poisonous insects onto him as bait.
• Lu Qingyuan repeatedly shot Hu Xiaotian with a crossbow, but his armor stopped the bolts; he then aimed at Hu Xiaotian's unprotected head.
• The giant spider shot a web at Lu Qingyuan and dragged him into the pit as well.

Hu Xiaotian escaped the giant spider’s web using Wind-Slayer, but the spider pursued him into the pit and trapped him above a poisonous mist. He focused his inner breath to unleash blade energy and cut through its silk as his only chance to escape.

• Lu Qingyuan fell onto the web beside Hu Xiaotian, and the two men tried to negotiate while the giant spider watched.
• When the spider approached, Lu Qingyuan grabbed Hu Xiaotian’s hand and was caught by the Void Art, which drained his internal power.
• The spider pierced Lu Qingyuan and wrapped his body in a cocoon as Hu Xiaotian pulled Wind-Slayer close and used blade energy to cut open the web.
• Hu Xiaotian fell through the opening, cut the silk around his feet, and struck the spider with Wind-Slayer, knocking it away without injuring it.
• The spider wove a web beneath Hu Xiaotian and released pale blue poisonous mist while he gathered his inner breath for another blade-energy strike.

Hu Xiaotian escaped the pit by killing the Giant Spider with Yan Tianlu’s help and claimed its poisonous inner core. Meanwhile, Zou Yong’s planned hostage exchange failed when Xue Lingjun returned alone with a message demanding Yan Boguang’s release within three days or Yan Dongqing would be killed.

• Hu Xiaotian fought off the Giant Spider and its offspring, then escaped the burning pit with Yan Tianlu’s help.
• Hu Xiaotian killed the Giant Spider, collected its inner core, and considered staying to face Old Monster Beize.
• Zou Yong and Old Monster Beize waited at Huanghua Harbor for the hostage exchange, while Tang Jiucheng remained in ambush nearby.
• Xue Lingjun arrived alone and told Zou Yong that the deal was off because he had set an ambush, giving him three days to release Yan Boguang or Yan Dongqing would die.
• Zou Yong let the boatman go and accepted Xue Lingjun’s message, while Old Monster Beize departed after realizing they had been outmaneuvered.

Yan Tianlu and Hu Xiaotian ambushed Old Monster Beize in Heavenly Star Court after burning the court and killing his Five-Colored Spider King. Their fight continued amid swarms of poisonous insects, and Old Monster Beize summoned golden insects after Hu Xiaotian revealed that Lu Qingyuan had died.

• Old Monster Beize rushed into the burning Heavenly Star Court and killed a disciple who could not explain why he had failed to stop the attack.
• Old Monster Beize found the Five-Colored Spider King dead in the Entwined Cave, where Hu Xiaotian sprang from its body and slashed him before Yan Tianlu struck him from behind.
• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu joined forces against Old Monster Beize, who stopped his bleeding and summoned swarms of poisonous insects.
• Yan Tianlu urged Hu Xiaotian to retreat, but Hu Xiaotian stayed when he realized the Spider King's inner core kept the spiders away from him.
• Old Monster Beize covered himself in insect armor and attacked Hu Xiaotian, who shielded himself with Wind-Slayer as the armor burst into a swarm of spiders.
• Hu Xiaotian told Old Monster Beize that Lu Qingyuan had died, prompting Old Monster Beize to release golden insects throughout the chamber.

Hu Xiaotian fought Old Monster Beize in a dark, poison-filled cavern, relying on the Five-Colored Spider King's inner core to keep the insects at bay. After losing his saber and being driven onto the defensive, Hu Xiaotian began retreating toward the exit, but Old Monster Beize sent his Iron Thread Diamond Insects to block the way.

• Old Monster Beize covered himself in Iron Thread Diamond Insects and attacked Hu Xiaotian with enlarged fists and spider silk.
• As black poisonous mist darkened the cavern, Old Monster Beize used his sense of smell to find Hu Xiaotian and approached him silently along a strand of silk.
• Hu Xiaotian dodged a shower of insects and struck Old Monster Beize, but his saber became stuck in the insect armor, forcing him to fight barehanded.
• Old Monster Beize changed the springiness of his insect armor and whipped Hu Xiaotian into the cavern wall.
• Yan Tianlu called out that he would use Phosphorus Fire Bombs, giving Hu Xiaotian a way to locate the exit as he began retreating.
• Old Monster Beize sensed Hu Xiaotian's escape attempt and sent insects swarming along the spider silk to block his retreat.

Hu Xiaotian swallowed the Five-Colored Spider King's inner core, drove off the Iron Thread Diamond Insects, and struck Old Monster Beize, who disappeared into the pit. Meanwhile, Zou Yong and Li Chenzhou faced the aftermath of the raid that destroyed Heavenly Star Court, and Li Chenzhou decided to meet the safe Eldest Princess as the enemy alliance prepared to act openly.

• Hu Xiaotian swallowed the Five-Colored Spider King's inner core, causing the Iron Thread Diamond Insects to flee, then punched Old Monster Beize through his insect armor.
• Old Monster Beize fled into the pit and vanished, while Hu Xiaotian returned to Yan Tianlu and admitted he had swallowed the inner core.
• Yan Tianlu signaled for them to leave, as news arrived that Heavenly Star Court had been burned, Lu Qingyuan was dead, and Old Monster Beize was missing.
• Zou Yong accepted responsibility for the defeat and told Tang Jingyu to report the events to his father without acting rashly.
• Li Chenzhou concluded that Hu Xiaotian, Yan Tianlu, and Xue Lingjun had joined forces, then said he would meet the safe Eldest Princess.

Li Chenzhou pressured the King of Bohai to act on Yuan Tianzhao’s case and investigate Yanxi Hall, while Xue Lingjun returned and confronted him. The chapter ended with Xue Lingjun arriving to call Yan Dongsheng to account.

• Zou Yong warned Li Chenzhou that Xue Lingjun might target him next and revealed his suspicion that Yanxi Hall backed the Treasure-Gathering Studio, though he had no concrete evidence.
• Yan Dongsheng learned that Xue Lingjun had been rescued and agreed to receive Li Chenzhou, despite his irritation with the envoy.
• Li Chenzhou urged Yan Dongsheng to advance Yuan Tianzhao’s case and investigate Yanxi Hall, then implied Great Yong might send troops against Python Jiao Island.
• Li Chenzhou met Xue Lingjun outside the palace, and she coldly rejected his offers of help before leaving.
• Xue Lingjun met Yan Dongsheng, who personally came down from his throne to welcome her.

Xue Lingjun warned Yan Dongsheng that the Treasure-Gathering Studio affair could endanger Bohai and revealed that Great Yong’s new sovereign was behind the plot against her. As she and Hu Xiaotian left the Royal City, assassins attacked their carriage, forcing Hu Xiaotian to leap out with her.

• Xue Lingjun urged Yan Dongsheng to rescue Yan Dongqing and suggested that Zou Yong was suspicious because he had arranged their outing.
• Xue Lingjun questioned Yan Dongsheng about Li Chenzhou’s mission, the pirates of Python Jiao Island, and the evidence against Yuan Tianzhao.
• Xue Lingjun warned Yan Dongsheng that the attack on her was part of a plot by Great Yong’s new sovereign and urged him to reconsider sealing the Treasure-Gathering Studio.
• Xue Lingjun told Hu Xiaotian that she had sent a secret report to her mother, who would pressure Xue Daohong to stop Li Chenzhou.
• An arrow killed the carriage driver, and more arrows killed the escorting Golden Scale Guards before Hu Xiaotian carried Xue Lingjun out through the carriage roof.

After Tang Jingyu’s assassination attempt on Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian confronted Zou Yong at the Mirrorwater Estate and warned him against threatening his interests. Zou Yong realized Hu Xiaotian had leverage over him, while Hu Xiaotian dismissed the help Zou Yong expected from Li Chenzhou and Yan Dongsheng.

• Hu Xiaotian rescued Xue Lingjun from Tang Jingyu’s attack, but three Golden Scale Guards were killed.
• Tang Jingyu defended his attack to Zou Yong and urged him to ask their father to eliminate Hu Xiaotian, but Zou Yong warned him not to act rashly.
• Zou Yong met Hu Xiaotian, who laid out the bloodstained arrows and demanded an accounting for the attack and the deaths of the Golden Scale Guards.
• Hu Xiaotian showed Zou Yong a letter from Yan Dongqing describing their affair, and Zou Yong tore it up after realizing its contents could ruin him.
• Hu Xiaotian accepted Zou Yong’s offer of tea and said Li Chenzhou could not help him and Yan Dongsheng would not dare oppose the Prince of Yan.