Chapter Summaries

Yang Longyue revealed to Hu Xiaotian that he had received Hu Buwei’s missing fleet and warned him that the Fragrant Kingdom’s Empress Dowager planned to eliminate him. He proposed an alliance and showed Hu a portrait of Long Xiyue, explaining the Empress Dowager’s marriage scheme, while Hu remained uncertain about Yang Longyue’s true motives.

• Yang Longyue told Hu Xiaotian that he had received Hu Buwei’s fleet at Sea Dragon Beach after it entered the Fragrant Kingdom’s waters.
• Yang Longyue delivered a letter from the Empress Dowager and said that she and Mr. Lan had arranged for him to attend the ceremony.
• Yang Longyue revealed that the Empress Dowager had plotted to kill him, and claimed that Hu Buwei had another son, Yang Longjing.
• Yang Longyue urged Hu Xiaotian to cooperate with him against the threats they faced from their respective courts.
• Yang Longyue showed Hu Xiaotian a portrait of Long Xiyue and explained that the Empress Dowager planned to use her marriage to build an alliance against Great Kang.

Yang Longyue asked Hu Xiaotian to ally against Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao’s plans, but Hu Xiaotian refused to help draw the Fragrant Kingdom into the Central Plains. Huo Shengnan finally reached Eastern Liang Commandery, where Hu Xiaotian welcomed her and told her she no longer needed to hide her identity.

• Yang Longyue appealed to Hu Xiaotian for an alliance to thwart the Fragrant Kingdom’s marriage-contest plans, but Hu Xiaotian gave him no answer.
• Hu Xiaotian discussed Yang Longyue’s proposal with Yu Tianxing, who explained why the Fragrant Kingdom might want to ally with Hu Xiaotian and attack Great Kang.
• Hu Xiaotian rejected the idea of helping the Fragrant Kingdom advance into the Central Plains and decided to focus on his own affairs and the threat from Su Yuchi.
• Huo Shengnan arrived in Eastern Liang Commandery after a difficult journey and threw herself into Hu Xiaotian’s arms.
• Hu Xiaotian reassured Huo Shengnan that she could openly be herself in Eastern Liang Commandery when Visa called from outside.

Worthy Consort Dong visited Dong Bingkun with Xue Daoming and worried that the emperor would move against her son. After learning that Xue Daoming had agreed to travel to the Fragrant Kingdom for Princess Yingyue’s husband selection, Dong Bingkun argued that the journey could benefit him politically, and offered to send Tianjiang with him.

• Worthy Consort Dong met with Dong Bingkun and said she feared Xue Daohong would eventually harm her and Xue Daoming.
• Worthy Consort Dong showed Dong Bingkun a portrait of Princess Yingyue, who resembled Long Xiyue, and told him Xue Daoming had agreed to travel to the Fragrant Kingdom.
• Dong Bingkun explained that the Fragrant Kingdom had grown powerful and might be using the marriage selection to seek an ally against Great Kang.
• Dong Bingkun told Worthy Consort Dong that the journey could benefit Xue Daoming and offered to have Tianjiang accompany him.

After Yang Longyue was stabbed, Hu Xiaotian treated his wound and ordered protection and a search for the attacker. At the river, Hu Xiaotian suspected Yang Longyue had staged the injury to seek his protection, but left open the possibility that a powerful enemy had forced him into it.

• Hu Xiaotian treated Yang Longyue's chest wound after Zhan Peng drove off the masked attacker, and Yang Longyue said he knew who was behind the attack.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Zhan Peng to secure the post station and Xiong Tianba to continue searching the city for the killer.
• Hu Xiaotian, Huo Shengnan, and Visa rode to the Yong River and watched the sunrise together.
• Hu Xiaotian told Huo Shengnan and Visa that Yang Longyue's carefully placed wound might have been a self-injury ruse, perhaps prompted by an enemy too powerful for him to face alone.

Yang Longyue and Hu Xiaotian became sworn brothers and agreed to join forces against Hu Buwei and the Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao. Yang Longyue returned toward the Fragrant Kingdom while Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao went ahead to gather intelligence in Fragrant City.

• Hu Xiaotian visited the recovering Yang Longyue, who said he wanted to return to the Fragrant Kingdom and reclaim his ancestral throne.
• Hu Xiaotian proposed that he and Yang Longyue become sworn brothers, and they sealed their bond with a blood oath.
• Hu Xiaotian told Yang Longyue that Zhou Mo and Xiao Tianmu had betrayed him and abducted Long Xiyue, then warned that no one could harm her.
• Yang Longyue agreed to help Hu Xiaotian, and Hu Xiaotian promised to help him reclaim the throne if Yang Longyue helped him become the Fragrant Kingdom's royal son-in-law.
• Hu Xiaotian required Yang Longyue to promise not to invade the Central Plains, and Yang Longyue agreed.
• Yang Longyue departed for the Fragrant Kingdom by water while Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao went ahead to gather intelligence in Fragrant City.

Hu Xiaotian traveled to Black Sand for peace talks with Su Yuchi and other regional powers, hoping to secure the autumn harvest and eliminate threats to his rear before visiting the Fragrant Kingdom. After a storm delayed the journey, Zhuge Guanqi warned him that the talks carried many uncertainties, especially whether Li Tianheng would attend.

• Hu Xiaotian overruled his generals’ objections and accepted Su Yuchi’s invitation to discuss protecting the autumn harvest at Black Sand.
• Hu Xiaotian traveled upstream with Zhuge Guanqi, Huo Shengnan, Chang Fanqi, and a thousand troops, while Zhao Wusheng waited nearby with ten thousand naval troops.
• Zhuge Guanqi advised Zhao Wusheng to feint against Yunyang if the talks went wrong, and Hu Xiaotian reassured him that they were going to peace talks.
• Hu Xiaotian let Chang Fanqi lead the party into an abandoned earthen town to shelter from a sudden storm, then praised his calm command.
• Hu Xiaotian and Zhuge Guanqi discussed the risks of the talks, and Zhuge Guanqi said Su Yuchi, Guo Guangbi, and Li Tianheng could each cause unforeseen changes.

Hu Xiaotian’s party traveled through relentless rain to Black Sand City for the four-party peace talks, while he and Zhuge Guanqi considered the risks behind the negotiations. The chapter ended with Hu Xiaotian entering the city with Huo Shengnan to attend Su Yuchi’s private welcoming banquet.

• Zhuge Guanqi explained that Su Yuchi wanted to protect the autumn harvest, while the powers of Great Yong and Great Kang remained major uncertainties behind the talks.
• Huo Shengnan reassured Chang Fanqi that Hu Xiaotian trusted him, then confided to Hu Xiaotian her worry for her adoptive father, General Yuchi, who was defending the Northern Frontier.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered his troops to march through the rain and reached Black Sand City, where the Western Sichuan Li Clan had already established its camp.
• Yuan Qingshan invited Hu Xiaotian alone to Su Yuchi’s welcoming banquet, and Xia Changming reported that each party had brought only a thousand troops and that he had found no signs of an ambush nearby.
• After learning that Yang Daoquan represented Li Tianheng and Guo Shaoxiong represented Guo Guangbi, Hu Xiaotian agreed to let Huo Shengnan accompany him to the banquet.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan entered Black Sand City at dusk.

Hu Xiaotian challenged Su Yuchi’s reasons for seeking a temporary truce, arguing that the Imperial Court’s tyranny had caused the rebellion and that loyalty to a corrupt ruler was not righteousness. The two remained divided over whether to obey the emperor, and Hu Xiaotian began to explain why he had become a rebel.

• Su Yuchi welcomed Hu Xiaotian to Guanlan Tower, where they met alone after Huo Shengnan went downstairs.
• Su Yuchi said he had invited the factions to halt the fighting so the people could bring in the autumn harvest, but Hu Xiaotian questioned whether a temporary truce would solve anything.
• Hu Xiaotian blamed the Imperial Court’s oppression, including its treatment of the Imperial Mausoleum laborers, for driving people to rebellion.
• Hu Xiaotian condemned blind loyalty and challenged Su Yuchi over serving Long Xuan'en despite recognizing the emperor’s wrongdoing.
• Su Yuchi admitted he would obey an order to campaign against Hu Xiaotian, while Hu Xiaotian warned that Guo Guangbi might seize the harvest.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Su Yuchi if he knew why he had abandoned his position as an imperial son-in-law to become a rebel, and Su Yuchi listened eagerly.

Hu Xiaotian told Su Yuchi that Emperor Long Xuan'en was dead and tried to persuade him to put the people before the imperial court, though Su Yuchi remained loyal to Great Kang. After leaving Black Sand City, Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan were ambushed by thirteen expert swordsmen using a powerful formation, and the fight left Hu Xiaotian facing a sudden attack from below.

• Hu Xiaotian told Su Yuchi that Long Xuan'en had died and that Princess Yongyang had framed Long Tingzhen to clear her path to the throne.
• Hu Xiaotian offered to cease hostilities during the autumn harvest and argued that protecting the people mattered more than protecting the imperial court, but Su Yuchi vowed to defend Great Kang.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan left Black Sand City after agreeing to sign a harvest truce at the Four-Sided Talks.
• Thirteen black-clad swordsmen ambushed Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan on the road, forming a coordinated sword formation that repelled Hu Xiaotian's first attack and Huo Shengnan's arrow.
• The swordsmen launched a central attacker at Hu Xiaotian, who countered from the air, but the attacker changed course as four more streaks of light rose from below.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan fought Feng Xianlin and twelve Sword Palace swordsmen, whose Heavenly Net Sword Formation turned Hu Xiaotian’s attacks back against him. Hu Xiaotian tried a rapid second strike while Huo Shengnan fired nine arrows, and the thirteen swordsmen’s shield of sword light twisted to meet them.

• The thirteen swordsmen surrounded Hu Xiaotian and demanded that he hand over the Seven Heaven-Slaying Swords, revealing Feng Xianlin as their leader.
• Feng Xianlin directed the Heavenly Net Sword Formation, which absorbed Hu Xiaotian’s first powerful slash and sent its combined force back at him.
• The formation blocked Hu Xiaotian’s escape and knocked down Huo Shengnan’s seven arrows, forcing Hu Xiaotian to evade the returning sword energy.
• Hu Xiaotian faced the re-formed double encirclement and launched a deliberately weakened slash followed by a rapid, stronger second strike.
• Huo Shengnan fired nine arrows as the thirteen swordsmen joined their blades, twisting their shield of sword light to intercept the attacks.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan defeated Feng Xianlin’s swordsmen, then Zhuge Guanqi warned that the swollen Xuanyong River could threaten Black Sand City during the peace talks. As Hu Xiaotian’s force rode toward the meeting, Western Sichuan troops blocked their path, and he asked Huo Shengnan whether their standard-bearer was controlling their pace.

• Hu Xiaotian broke the Heavenly Net Sword Formation with a triple slash, and Huo Shengnan killed two swordsmen through the gap; Feng Xianlin escaped as the survivors fled.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to camp, where Zhuge Guanqi warned that someone could breach the swollen Xuanyong River and flood Black Sand City.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Chang Fanqi to patrol the river with two hundred men and advised Su Yuchi’s side, but Su Yuchi declined to send troops.
• Zhuge Guanqi predicted a heavy downpour at noon, and Hu Xiaotian set out for the peace talks with Huo Shengnan and eight hundred soldiers.
• Western Sichuan’s troops split up, with five hundred blocking Hu Xiaotian’s route, and Hu Xiaotian asked Huo Shengnan whether their standard-bearer was directing their pace.

Hu Xiaotian and the other delegates gathered at Green Grass Garden for Su Yuchi’s four-party talks, but Guo Shaoxiong and Yang Daoyuan challenged Su Yuchi over his private meeting with Hu. The talks were interrupted by a sudden storm, and Hu and Zhuge Guanqi deliberately provoked Guo as the gathering grew tense.

• Huo Shengnan used her Iron-Bodied Slingshot to spook the Western Sichuan standard-bearer’s horse, sending the banner and pursuing soldiers charging ahead.
• Hu Xiaotian, Zhuge Guanqi, and their attendants entered the central tent at Green Grass Garden, where Su Yuchi, Yang Daoyuan, and Guo Shaoxiong represented their parties.
• Su Yuchi began explaining that the coming flood season and the people’s welfare had prompted the talks, but a sudden thunderclap and storm clouds interrupted him.
• Guo Shaoxiong accused Su Yuchi of favoring Hu Xiaotian because they had met privately the previous night, and Yang Daoyuan echoed the complaint.
• Hu Xiaotian and Zhuge Guanqi answered Guo Shaoxiong’s provocations, deliberately stoking his anger while Su Yuchi tried to preserve the talks.

Hu Xiaotian and the others tried to negotiate a ceasefire and grain aid with the Xingzhou and Western Sichuan representatives, but their opponents’ suspicious haste to leave exposed a hidden agenda. When Guo Shaoxiong challenged him, Hu Xiaotian broke his finger and struck him down.

• Zhuge Guanqi explained that Hu Xiaotian’s past grain aid to Su Yuchi had prompted Su to host a private banquet, giving the talks a respectable justification.
• Su Yuchi proposed a ceasefire, while Yang Daoyuan demanded that Xiyang Pass be opened and Guo Shaoxiong demanded a hundred thousand shi of grain for famine-stricken Xingzhou.
• Yang Daoyuan accused Hu Xiaotian of killing six men, and a concealed expert confronted Hu Xiaotian, who replied that the men deserved to die.
• Guo Shaoxiong repeatedly tried to leave even as Hu Xiaotian offered grain, convincing Hu and Su that the Xingzhou party was hiding something.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered the delegates to remain until the agreement was settled, then broke Guo Shaoxiong’s index finger and slapped him, sending him to his knees.

Hu Xiaotian’s confrontation with Guo Shaoxiong ended as the Xuanyong River embankment was breached by masked winged-armored attackers. Chang Fanqi’s men stopped the attackers from catching Xia Changming, then fought them as the flood raced toward Black Sand City and Hu Xiaotian.

• Hu Xiaotian crushed Guo Shaoxiong’s fingers and forced him to call off his men, while Yang Daoyuan abandoned the peace talks and a Sword Palace expert challenged Hu Xiaotian.
• Xia Changming spotted a suspicious fishing boat on the Xuanyong River, where a winged-armored warrior attacked him and a second warrior emerged from the boat.
• Xia Changming fired a signal arrow toward Ox-Head Mountain as the boat exploded against the embankment, unleashing a flood toward the lowlands.
• Chang Fanqi and his soldiers shot down many bats, forcing the winged-armored warriors to abandon their pursuit of Xia Changming.
• One winged-armored warrior killed two soldiers, but Chang Fanqi met his attack with a spear and drove the fight onward.

Chang Fanqi and his soldiers defeated one Winged Armor warrior while another escaped as the flood rose over Ox-Head Mountain. Hu Xiaotian tried to evacuate people and warn the other delegations, but Yang Daoyuan’s troops blocked his route south in a formidable martial formation.

• Chang Fanqi used his soldiers’ shield formation to launch himself at the Winged Armor warriors, killing the one wielding the Horse-Cleaving Saber while the other fled on bats.
• As the flood climbed Ox-Head Mountain, Chang Fanqi reassured his trapped soldiers that Hu Xiaotian and Zhuge Guanqi would be safe.
• Hu Xiaotian abandoned the failed Four-Sided Talks after Huo Shengnan reported that the Xuanyong River dike had been breached, and he ordered Su Yuchi to evacuate Black Sand City.
• Hu Xiaotian’s men warned the departing Xingzhou troops about the flood, but Guo Shaoxiong dismissed the warning and continued north.
• Hu Xiaotian led his force south, where Yang Daoyuan’s troops blocked the road in a formation Zhuge Guanqi identified as Martial Formation Unity.

Hu Xiaotian and Zhuge Guanqi fought through the Western Sichuan army with help from Su Yuchi, while Hu Xiaotian used the Lightsaber to break their formation. After Yang Daoyuan rescued Feng Xianlin, Hu Xiaotian led his troops toward Dragon-Towing Mountain as the flood approached.

• Zhuge Guanqi and Huo Shengnan arranged Crescent Moon and Tortoise Shell formations to defend against the Western Sichuan soldiers’ iron umbrellas and attacks.
• Su Yuchi ordered his troops to join the battle, and Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan launched a counterattack against the Western Sichuan formation.
• Hu Xiaotian used the Lightsaber to cut through the enemy’s defenses and rout their formation, while Su Yuchi’s arrival helped turn the battle in their favor.
• Hu Xiaotian struck at Feng Xianlin with blade energy, but Yang Daoyuan intervened and saved him at the cost of Feng Xianlin’s left arm.
• Yang Daoyuan retreated with the Western Sichuan troops, and Hu Xiaotian ordered his forces to hurry toward Dragon-Towing Mountain as the flood drew near.

Hu Xiaotian and Su Yuchi escaped the Xuanyong River flood, forged a temporary alliance, and later traced the attack to Winged Armor Warriors using an imitation Heavenly Secrets Bureau suit. Hu Xiaotian then sailed toward the Fragrant Kingdom, stopping at South Ferry Island to resupply.

• Hu Xiaotian reached Dragon-Towing Mountain just ahead of the flood, and Huo Shengnan embraced him while Su Yuchi’s force suffered roughly two hundred casualties.
• Hu Xiaotian and Su Yuchi agreed to suspend hostilities and ally against Xingzhou, while Hu Xiaotian suspected Hong Beimo’s Heavenly Secrets Bureau of causing the flood.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Yang Daoyuan and Guo Shaoxiong survived the flood with most of their men lost, and he secretly spread rumors against Su Yuchi in the Kang Capital.
• Chang Fanqi brought back an imitation Winged Armor, prompting Hu Xiaotian to send Xiong Tianba and Gao Yuan to meet Zong Yuan and invite him and his son to Eastern Liang Commandery.
• Hu Xiaotian, Zhao Wusheng, and Xia Changming sailed south toward the Fragrant Kingdom and stopped at South Ferry Island to replenish supplies.

Hu Xiaotian and his companions visited the Gold-Extinguishing Den on South Ferry Island, where extravagant prices and the house’s confidence in their wealth prompted Hu Xiaotian to propose a dice game. The chapter left him preparing to wager his ship against Xiao Rou.

• Zhao Wusheng, Hu Xiaotian, and Xia Changming arrived on South Ferry Island and encountered the Gold-Extinguishing Den.
• Young Master Xu invited them inside, where they passed through the gambling hall and were seated in a secluded pavilion.
• The tea attendants quoted a hundred taels per person for tea and ten thousand taels for one night of company, while recognizing the ship they had moored in the harbor.
• Hu Xiaotian asked to play dice privately and agreed to stake his ship, while Xiao Rou offered to play against him.

Hu Xiaotian used his control of inner breath to win chips from Xiao Rou at the Gold-Extinguishing Den, then met its proprietor, Xu Fengwu. Xu Fengwu demonstrated his own skill before abruptly severing Xiao Rou’s right hand, leaving Hu Xiaotian and his companions to witness the punishment.

• Hu Xiaotian beat Xiao Rou at dice by controlling the dice with inner breath, winning chips worth ten thousand taels and then a further wager that included his ship.
• Hu Xiaotian declined to continue gambling and prepared to leave with Zhao Wusheng and Xia Changming.
• Xu Fengwu, the proprietor of the Gold-Extinguishing Den, came out and introduced himself to Hu Xiaotian.
• Xu Fengwu turned the dice to show his skill and accused Xiao Rou of neglecting an honored guest.
• Xu Fengwu drew a scimitar and cut off Xiao Rou’s right hand at the wrist.

Hu Xiaotian and his companions rescued Xiao Rou from Xu Fengwu, and Hu Xiaotian spent six hours reattaching her severed hand. After deciding to postpone any retaliation and prepare to leave South Ferry Island, Hu Xiaotian learned the Gold-Extinguishing Den’s owner had come to see him.

• Xia Changming bought Xiao Rou’s freedom for fifty thousand taels after Xu Fengwu cut off her hand, and Xu Mubai persuaded Xu Fengwu to let them take her.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming performed limb replantation surgery on Xiao Rou aboard their ship, while Zhao Wusheng prepared a meal.
• Hu Xiaotian decided to leave the Gold-Extinguishing Den alone until their return, and Zhao Wusheng arranged for the ship to depart after provisioning.
• Xia Changming told Hu Xiaotian that Xiao Rou had warned them not to offend the Xu Family, prompting Hu Xiaotian to wonder whether it was the Xu Family of Jinling.
• The next morning, Xu Fengwu arrived at the dock with two young women and asked to see Hu Xiaotian.