Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian’s party settled in Fire Tree City as Baheer watched them and struggled with his wife Ganuo’s hatred over his past crimes. While strolling with Long Xiyue and Xiao Ou, Hu Xiaotian noticed that Xiao Ou’s bird tattoo matched carvings at the Red Yi Tribal Temple, leaving him with a possible clue to her origins.

• Hu Xiaotian assigned Liang Yinghao and Xia Changming to secure the Butterfly Garden and sent Zhan Peng to investigate the surrounding watchtowers, while Qiao Fangzheng resolved to attend the Red Sea Assembly alone.
• Baheer learned that Hu Xiaotian’s party had arrived and rejected Jiang Shaoyang’s suggestion to attack them during Fast Day.
• Baheer confronted Ganuo, who accused him of killing his elder brother and their daughter Jiaou, then returned to praying at the divine statue.
• Hu Xiaotian, Long Xiyue, and Xiao Ou met Hong Yingtai on Jiangnan Street and joined him for a meal at Xiushui House.
• Hu Xiaotian saw that the bird carvings on the Red Yi Tribal Temple’s pillars matched Xiao Ou’s tattoo, and Hong Yingtai explained that outsiders could not enter the guarded temple.

Hu Xiaotian learned that Xiao Ou might be the Red Yi Tribe’s lost Spirit Maiden and decided to investigate the temple. He infiltrated its Inner Court at night and hid when two white-clad women arrived with a young woman.

• Hong Yingtai told Hu Xiaotian that Bage had been killed, his daughter had died, and Baheer had taken control of Fire Tree City.
• Hong Yingtai explained that Xiao Ou’s Wisdom Bird tattoo was reserved for the Red Yi Tribe’s Spirit Maiden, and that Bage and Ganuo’s daughter had been chosen as the next one before she was killed.
• Hu Xiaotian told Long Xiyue he suspected Xiao Ou was the lost Spirit Maiden and said he would visit the temple to find out; Long Xiyue asked him to help Xiao Ou if she did not want the role.
• Hu Xiaotian left the Butterfly Garden after nightfall, evaded surveillance, and slipped into the temple’s Inner Court.
• Hu Xiaotian hid behind a wall when two white-clad women carrying lanterns entered through a side gate with a slender young woman.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with Yan Nujiao at the Temple and persuaded her to help him secretly reach High Priestess Tongyun. As they approached Tongyun’s room, another intruder slipped into the courtyard, leaving Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao hidden and watchful.

• Hu Xiaotian recognized Yan Nujiao at the Temple and secretly met her in her room.
• Yan Nujiao told Hu Xiaotian that High Priestess Tongyun was her Senior Sister and could not meet anyone during the Fast Days.
• Hu Xiaotian coaxed Yan Nujiao into guiding him through the Temple’s Inner Court to see Tongyun.
• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao hid among the osmanthus bushes after Tongyun cautiously checked outside her room.
• As Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao moved toward Tongyun’s room, another figure silently entered the courtyard from the eastern wall.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao discovered High Priest Tongyun secretly meeting Shangguan Yunchong, who planned to use a new Spirit Maiden to gain control of Fire Tree City. After sharing what he had overheard, Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao grew closer, and he invited her to return with him to Eastern Liang Commandery.

• Hu Xiaotian overheard Shangguan Yunchong and High Priest Tongyun reunite and learned that Shangguan wanted Tongyun to choose a new Spirit Maiden as part of a plan to control Fire Tree City.
• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao left the Temple separately and met at the bell tower, where he told her what he had heard and identified the masked man as Shangguan Yunchong.
• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao became intimate atop the bell tower, and afterward Yan Nujiao worried that Tongyun was being used.
• Hu Xiaotian explained that the Beggar Gang might seek a base in Redwood River because the Fragrant Kingdom was expelling beggars, and he advised Yan Nujiao not to warn Tongyun yet.
• Hu Xiaotian invited Yan Nujiao to return with him to Eastern Liang Commandery and offered to speak to her father, but she warned that her father would likely dislike him.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao arranged for Princess Yingyue to meet Ganuo, and Ganuo recognized Xiao Ou as her long-lost daughter. Hu Xiaotian warned Ganuo that someone might be preparing a false Spirit Maiden, while Qiao Fangzheng’s anger left Long Xiyue trying to comfort him.

• Yan Nujiao told Hu Xiaotian she had come to deliver offerings for her master and asked him not to hurt Tongyun; Hu Xiaotian promised to spare Tongyun but said he would stop her from helping the Beggar Gang.
• Yan Nujiao arranged for Ganuo to meet Princess Yingyue at the Butterfly Garden, where Long Xiyue asked Ganuo to keep their meeting secret.
• Long Xiyue and Hu Xiaotian showed Xiao Ou to Ganuo, who identified her by her tattoo and birthmarks and reunited with her daughter.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Ganuo whether Xiao Ou was the Spirit Maiden and warned her that Tongyun might present a replacement; Ganuo agreed to conceal Xiao Ou’s return for her safety.
• Xia Changming brought Qiao Fangzheng a dog, but Qiao Fangzheng angrily threatened him; Long Xiyue approached Qiao Fangzheng after he asked to be left alone.

Long Xiyue persuaded Qiao Fangzheng to protect Xiao Ou after warning him that Shangguan Yunchong and High Priestess Tongyun planned to control Fire Tree City through a new Spirit Maiden. As Ganuo tried to convince Baheer that Jiaou was alive, Shangguan Yunfeng learned of her return and ordered Jiang Shaoyang to confirm her identity; Hu Xiaotian then prepared for trouble from the Beggar Gang.

• Long Xiyue told Qiao Fangzheng about the plot against Xiao Ou, and he promised to protect her.
• Ganuo warned Baheer that Jiaou was alive and that the newly chosen Spirit Maiden was false, but Baheer doubted her and ordered Jiang Shaoyang to investigate the little girl.
• Jiang Shaoyang told Shangguan Yunfeng that Ganuo believed her daughter had returned, and Shangguan Yunfeng ordered him to report that the girl was Jiaou.
• Xia Changming warned Hu Xiaotian that warriors had taken positions around them, and Hu Xiaotian suspected the Beggar Gang might exploit the Spirit Maiden dispute.

Hu Xiaotian planned to use Xiao Ou’s Spirit Maiden identity to win control of the Red Yi Tribe, then set out with Xia Changming to seize High Priest Tongyun. At the temple, Granny Shadow’s arrival disrupted his plan, so Hu Xiaotian disguised himself in a veiled woman’s red robe and prepared a new approach.

• Hu Xiaotian told his companions that Baheer might attack and argued they needed Xiao Ou recognized as the Spirit Maiden to gain the Red Yi Tribe’s support.
• Hu Xiaotian assigned Qiao Fangzheng to defend the Butterfly Garden and left with Xia Changming to bring High Priest Tongyun back.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming knocked out two Red Yi pursuers, took their clothes, and headed toward the temple in disguise.
• Hu Xiaotian discovered that Granny Shadow was guarding Yan Nujiao and Tongyun, leaving him without his expected inside help.
• Hu Xiaotian incapacitated a woman in red at Yan Nujiao’s courtyard, took her robe, and began devising a new plan.

Hu Xiaotian disguised himself among High Priest Tongyun’s attendants as her procession traveled toward Stillheart Pool, while Red Yi fighters surrounded Butterfly Garden and demanded the return of Ganuo’s daughter. Baheer killed Ganuo during a struggle and, blaming Hu Xiaotian and his companions, vowed to slaughter them all.

• Hu Xiaotian used Tendon and Bone Alteration and makeup to disguise himself as a Temple attendant, then joined High Priest Tongyun’s procession toward Stillheart Pool.
• Jiang Shaoyang told Long Xiyue that Red Yi fighters had surrounded Butterfly Garden to retrieve Ganuo’s daughter, and she demanded that Baheer withdraw them within an hour.
• Zhan Peng struck Jiang Shaoyang for insulting Long Xiyue, and Liang Yinghao kicked him before he left Butterfly Garden.
• Baheer told Ganuo he would kill her daughter, and she stabbed at him with a hidden dagger; he disarmed and struck her, fatally injuring her.
• Baheer grieved over Ganuo’s death, blamed Hu Xiaotian and his companions, and vowed to kill them all.

Hu Xiaotian abducted High Priest Tongyun during the Spirit Maiden ceremony and escaped with Xia Changming’s help, drawing the pursuers toward the Butterfly Garden. There, Baheer ordered Huangzha to massacre everyone inside, including Princess Yingyue and her Prince Consort.

• Hu Xiaotian disguised himself as a Red-Robed Maid and waited for a chance to seize High Priest Tongyun during the ceremony.
• After Tongyun’s metal finger guards killed two maids, Hu Xiaotian captured her and escaped on the white elephant while Yan Nujiao blocked Granny Shadow.
• Xia Changming arrived with a huge flock of birds, took Tongyun from Hu Xiaotian, and flew toward the Butterfly Garden as the pursuers split between them.
• Baheer ordered Huangzha to raze the Butterfly Garden and kill everyone inside, despite Huangzha warning that Princess Yingyue and her Prince Consort were there.
• Baheer drew his scimitar and demanded that Huangzha obey his order.

Hu Xiaotian’s allies rescued High Priest Tongyun and forced Baheer’s troops to halt their attack on the Butterfly Garden. As the Red Yi Tribe worshippers gathered outside, Granny Shadow arrived to negotiate with Hu Xiaotian and discover the truth behind the conflict.

• Qiao Fangzheng attacked the Red Yi Tribe warriors outside the Butterfly Garden while Zhan Peng shot Baheer’s horse to disrupt the enemy formation.
• Xia Changming returned with the captured High Priest Tongyun, and Zhan Peng signaled Qiao Fangzheng to retreat inside.
• Hu Xiaotian rode a rampaging white elephant into the Butterfly Garden as nearly a hundred thousand worshippers gathered outside demanding Tongyun’s release.
• Hu Xiaotian warned the crowd that Tongyun was in his hands, preventing Baheer from ordering an assault.
• Granny Shadow cautioned Baheer against attacking, then sent Yan Nujiao to request a meeting with Hu Xiaotian before deciding to go herself.

Hu Xiaotian confronted Granny Shadow and tried to convince her that High Priest Tongyun was plotting to control Redwood River by replacing the missing Spirit Maiden. After Granny Shadow saw Xiao Ou's Wisdom Bird tattoo, Hu Xiaotian brought Tongyun in to question her, with Granny Shadow and Qiao Fangzheng secretly listening.

• Granny Shadow entered the Butterfly Garden and threatened Hu Xiaotian, who warned her that Tongyun was in his custody.
• Hu Xiaotian accused Tongyun of conspiring with the Beggar Gang's Young Chief to choose a false Spirit Maiden and control Redwood River.
• Hu Xiaotian showed Granny Shadow Xiao Ou's Wisdom Bird tattoo, and she agreed to hear Tongyun's account.
• Hu Xiaotian hid Granny Shadow and Qiao Fangzheng behind a screen, then brought Tongyun before Xiao Ou and released her muting acupoint.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Tongyun whether she recognized Xiao Ou.

Hu Xiaotian exposed High Priest Tongyun’s deception about the Spirit Maiden and forced her to acknowledge Jiaou as the true Spirit Maiden. Granny Shadow agreed to announce Jiaou’s return and withdraw Baheer’s troops, while Hu Xiaotian kept Tongyun in custody until the army left.

• Hu Xiaotian confronted Tongyun over declaring Jiaou dead and threatened to reveal her illicit relationship with Shangguan Yunchong.
• Granny Shadow emerged, struck Tongyun, and tried to kill her, but Hu Xiaotian intervened and persuaded her that Tongyun was needed to resolve the crisis.
• Tongyun admitted Jiaou was the true Spirit Maiden and agreed to tell the Red Yi tribespeople, after Granny Shadow promised not to pursue Shangguan Yunchong.
• Hu Xiaotian revealed that Jiaou was also Bage and Ganuo’s daughter and said he would investigate Bage’s death in Coconut Breeze City.
• Granny Shadow agreed to make Baheer withdraw his troops, while Hu Xiaotian insisted Tongyun remain with him until the troops left.

Hu Xiaotian’s apparent advantage collapsed when a Masked Man in Black killed Baheer and triggered a devastating arrow attack on the Butterfly Garden. The fighting stopped after Xia Changming summoned birds to attack the archers, but Zhan Peng confronted the fleeing assassin with his hidden-in-an-arrow killing shot.

• Hu Xiaotian exposed Tongyun’s Wisdom Bird tattoo, and Tongyun admitted she was sick with shame over betraying her people.
• Granny Shadow ordered Yan Nujiao to fetch Ganuo, while Baheer denied that Xiao Ou was the Spirit Maiden and signaled Huangzha to attack the Butterfly Garden.
• A Masked Man in Black shot Baheer through the throat, and Huangzha lowered the flag to unleash a rain of arrows on the garden.
• Hu Xiaotian and the others protected Xiao Ou, Long Xiyue, Tongyun, and the wounded as Xia Changming played his Jade Flute and summoned birds to assault the watchtowers.
• Granny Shadow forced Huangzha to stop the attack, while the Masked Man in Black fled and knocked aside Zhan Peng’s arrows with his Greensteel Sword.
• Zhan Peng fired his killing arrow, which split in two as the Masked Man in Black swung his sword at it.

Hu Xiaotian and the others exposed Baheer and Jiang Shaoyang’s crimes, reunited Ganuo with Jiaou, and affirmed Jiaou as the Red Yi Tribe’s Spirit Maiden. After Zhan Peng was found gravely wounded by Formless Sword Energy, Hu Xiaotian began preparing to save him with Yan Nujiao and Granny Shadow’s help.

• The swordsman severed Zhan Peng’s right arm and left him badly wounded, but spared his life to deliver a threat to Hu Xiaotian.
• Hu Xiaotian caught Jiang Shaoyang trying to flee, and Jiang Shaoyang blamed the City Lord and revealed that the City Lord had killed his wife.
• Yan Nujiao brought the injured Ganuo to the Butterfly Garden, where Ganuo accused Baheer of his crimes and reunited with Jiaou.
• Tongyun publicly declared Jiaou the Red Yi Tribe’s Spirit Maiden and future mistress of the Temple.
• Xia Changming found Zhan Peng alive and brought him back, and Hu Xiaotian prepared to reconnect his severed limbs and tendons.
• Granny Shadow and Yan Nujiao joined Hu Xiaotian’s effort to treat Zhan Peng, while Ganuo supplied a hundred warriors as potential blood donors.

Hu Xiaotian completed the surgery that saved Zhan Peng, while Long Xiyue accepted Qiao Fangzheng as her secret disciple. Afterward, Hu Xiaotian manipulated Granny Shadow into suspecting Meng Zizai had taken the Heavenly Man Myriad Images Diagram and the Heart Sutra.

• Xiao Ou visited Long Xiyue outside the operating room, and Qiao Fangzheng privately warned her that Hu Xiaotian might retaliate against the Beggar Gang for Zhan Peng's injuries.
• Long Xiyue promised to counsel Hu Xiaotian, and Qiao Fangzheng secretly accepted her as his disciple.
• Hu Xiaotian finished reattaching Zhan Peng's arm and treating his wounds, and Granny Shadow offered him medicine and tea.
• Granny Shadow questioned Hu Xiaotian about Ghost Physician Fu Wan, and Hu Xiaotian claimed he had learned medical skills from a copy of the Heavenly Man Myriad Images Diagram.
• Hu Xiaotian falsely implicated Meng Zizai in the disappearance of the diagram and the Heart Sutra, and Granny Shadow grew suspicious.

Zhan Peng woke after surviving his injuries as Granny Shadow confronted Yan Nujiao and Tongyun about their choices. Ganuo and Granny Shadow agreed that Redwood River should submit to Hu Xiaotian and Princess Yingyue, while Hu Xiaotian found Yan Nujiao still kneeling and was rebuked by Granny Shadow.

• Zhan Peng woke and apologized to Hu Xiaotian, who reassured him and reminded him that Fang Fang was waiting at home.
• Granny Shadow confronted Yan Nujiao about her relationship with Hu Xiaotian and offered to kill Princess Yingyue, but Yan Nujiao rejected the idea of possessing him exclusively.
• Granny Shadow challenged Tongyun’s hunger strike and showed her that Shangguan Yunchong had used her, while urging her to help stabilize the Red Yi Tribe.
• Ganuo told Tongyun that Baheer had ordered the attack on her husband and presented Bage’s letter supporting submission to the Fragrant Kingdom.
• Ganuo, Tongyun, and Granny Shadow agreed that Hu Xiaotian and Princess Yingyue could protect Redwood River and bring peace to the Red Yi people.
• Hu Xiaotian found Yan Nujiao kneeling outside, and Granny Shadow caught him with his arm around her shoulders and accused him of taking liberties.

Long Xiyue defused Granny Shadow’s confrontation over Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao, while Ganuo agreed to pledge the Red Yi Tribe’s allegiance to Hu Xiaotian on the condition that they retain their freedom. Hu Xiaotian learned that Shangguan Yunchong had plotted against him and forced Jiang Shaoyang to help him infiltrate the Beggar Gang’s upcoming Red Sea Assembly.

• Granny Shadow accused Hu Xiaotian of seducing Yan Nujiao, but Long Xiyue reassured her and took Yan Nujiao aside to talk.
• Ganuo agreed to lead the Red Yi Tribe in pledging allegiance to Hu Xiaotian, provided he treated them as equals and respected their freedom.
• Hu Xiaotian threatened Jiang Shaoyang with death until Jiang revealed that Shangguan Yunchong had arranged the plot against Baheer and Hu Xiaotian.
• Jiang Shaoyang explained that Shangguan Yunchong’s twin brother, Shangguan Yunfeng, had come to Fire Tree City as part of the Beggar Gang’s plan to seize Redwood River.
• Hu Xiaotian forced Jiang Shaoyang to swallow the Myriad Insects Bone-Eroding Pill and ordered him to take Hu Xiaotian to the Beggar Gang’s Red Sea Assembly.

Long Xiyue told Hu Xiaotian that Qiao Fangzheng had made her his disciple and taught her the complete Dog-Beating Staff Technique before disappearing. Hu Xiaotian decided to attend the Red Sea Assembly, and Long Xiyue insisted on accompanying him to rescue her master.

• Long Xiyue reassured Yan Nujiao that she did not mind her relationship with Hu Xiaotian, and Yan Nujiao admitted that she had little hope of being with him.
• Long Xiyue told Hu Xiaotian that Qiao Fangzheng had vanished after teaching her the Thirty-Six Roads of the Dog-Beating Staff Technique and entrusting her with the Iron Rice Bowl.
• Hu Xiaotian realized Qiao Fangzheng had likely gone alone to the Red Sea Assembly, while Long Xiyue understood that her master had prepared to die and wanted her to preserve the technique and treasure.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Zhan Peng was recovering from his wounds and decided to attend the assembly despite Zhan Peng's warning about Shangguan Yunchong.
• Hu Xiaotian set out in disguise with Xia Changming and Jiang Shaoyang, but Long Xiyue intercepted them and insisted on coming to save Qiao Fangzheng.
• Hu Xiaotian agreed to take Long Xiyue after disguising and protecting her for the dangerous journey.

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue infiltrated the Beggar Gang assembly on Storm Island to rescue Qiao Fangzheng and learn what the gang would do. Zhao Shenxiong accused Hu Xiaotian of harming Tong Tiejin and framing the Beggar Gang, while the assembly turned against him.

• Jiang Shaoyang brought Hu Xiaotian, Long Xiyue, and Xia Changming to Storm Island, then agreed to wait at the dock with a boat for their escape.
• Xia Changming blended into the beggars, while Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue joined the crowd heading to Storm Terrace.
• Qiao Fangzheng arrived in chains as a prisoner, followed by the one-armed Shangguan Yunfeng.
• Zhao Shenxiong opened the assembly in place of the absent chief and presented the injured Tong Tiejin.
• Tong Tiejin blamed Hu Xiaotian for his injuries, and the beggars shouted for revenge as Hu Xiaotian pretended to join their calls.
• Zhao Shenxiong accused Hu Xiaotian of kidnapping the King of the Fragrant Kingdom and framing the Young Chief, causing the kingdom to expel Beggar Gang disciples.

At a Beggar Gang gathering, Shangguan Yunfeng accused Xie Tianqiong and Zhu Ba of betraying the gang and blamed them for the King of the Fragrant Kingdom’s abduction. Zhu Ba confessed despite Hu Xiaotian knowing he was innocent, while Shangguan Yunfeng began tracing the alleged conspiracy to the former chief’s murder.

• The Beggar Gang disciples cursed Hu Xiaotian, while Long Xiyue took his hand and he reassured her through Secret Voice Transmission.
• Shangguan Yunfeng addressed the Beggar Gang and accused an insider of helping Hu Xiaotian abduct the King of the Fragrant Kingdom.
• Shangguan Yunfeng presented Xie Tianqiong and Zhu Ba, accusing Xie Tianqiong of betraying Tong Tiejin and Zhu Ba of aiding Hu Xiaotian and leaking Elder Xu Sansheng’s whereabouts.
• After Shangguan Yunfeng released Zhu Ba’s mute acupoint, Zhu Ba admitted to hiding the king and claimed he had been tempted by wealth and power, though Hu Xiaotian knew the confession was false.
• Shangguan Yunfeng said Zhu Ba had acted under a mastermind and began recounting how Daoist Kongkong had poisoned the former chief and stolen the Green Bamboo Staff.