Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian and his companions settled in Red Valley County, where he planned to assassinate Yang Daoyuan to break the siege of Heavenly Wolf Mountain. After the black-beaked sparrow flew off to summon the snow eagles and flying owl, Hu Xiaotian told Long Xiyue about his plan and asked her to wait somewhere safe.

• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming learned that Yang Daoyuan was leading the campaign from Red Valley County and rented a secluded inn courtyard.
• The black-beaked sparrow returned to Xia Changming, and he sent it to find the snow eagles and Hu Xiaotian's flying owl.
• Xia Changming deduced that Hu Xiaotian intended to help Nujiao by lifting the siege of Heavenly Wolf Mountain.
• Hu Xiaotian revealed that he planned to assassinate Yang Daoyuan himself while Xia Changming protected Long Xiyue.
• Long Xiyue questioned how Hu Xiaotian could escape the large army, and he trusted the flying owl to help him.

Hu Xiaotian used Long Xiyue’s Beggar Gang authority to recruit local help and gather intelligence for his plan to stop the attack on Heavenly Wolf Mountain. He learned who commanded the enemy forces and waited for the Beggar Gang and his other allies to provide the information needed for an assassination attempt.

• Long Xiyue gave Hu Xiaotian a Star Bamboo Token, and he promised to wait and give her the unforgettable wedding she wanted.
• Hu Xiaotian presented the token at the Beggar Gang branch in Red Valley County and met Meng Guangxiong, the Xiezhou Branch master.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Meng Guangxiong to investigate the commanders, lodging, troop deployment, attack timing, and vanguard leaders of the force targeting Heavenly Wolf Mountain.
• Meng Guangxiong identified Yang Daoyuan and Zhang Ziqian as the enemy commanders and promised to deliver further intelligence the next day.
• Hu Xiaotian planned to assassinate Yang Daoyuan and Zhang Ziqian after the Beggar Gang gathered intelligence and the Flying Owls and Snow Eagles arrived.

Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming learned from Meng Guangxiong that Western Sichuan’s army planned to cross Black Cool Mountain and seize Redwood River, rather than attack Heavenly Wolf Mountain. They began planning to disrupt the army’s advance by striking its supply camp.

• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming watched the heavily guarded county headquarters and met Meng Guangxiong at a Beggar Gang courtyard.
• Meng Guangxiong showed them maps revealing that Zhang Ziqian stayed with the main camp while Yang Daoyuan commanded from town, and explained that Zhang’s adopted son Yan Hucheng had joined the campaign.
• Meng Guangxiong deduced that Western Sichuan was using its threat against Black Cool Mountain to clear a route toward Redwood River, its real target.
• Hu Xiaotian agreed that the army had to be stopped before it crossed Black Cool Mountain, and Meng Guangxiong proposed burning its supply camp near the White Dragon River.
• Meng Guangxiong revealed that more than twenty Beggar Gang brothers were hidden in the Western Sichuan army and had helped him map its defenses.

Hu Xiaotian and Meng Guangxiong finalized their attack on the Traveling Palace, while Hu Xiaotian worried that the Flying Owl would not arrive in time. The Flying Owl and the Snow Eagles finally returned, and Hu Xiaotian took Long Xiyue for a playful flight before the chapter ended with an author’s note.

• Meng Guangxiong outlined how the Beggar Gang would burn the Provisions Camp and escape by the White Dragon River while Hu Xiaotian planned to kill Yang Daoyuan.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming waited anxiously for the Flying Owl and discussed how Hu Xiaotian would attack if it failed to arrive.
• The Flying Owl, two Snow Eagles, and the Black-beaked Sparrow reached the courtyard, and Hu Xiaotian reunited with the Flying Owl.
• Hu Xiaotian introduced Long Xiyue to the Flying Owl, while Xia Changming flew away with the Snow Eagles and Black-beaked Sparrow.
• Hu Xiaotian took Long Xiyue on a flight beneath the stars, and the Flying Owl teased them with sudden dives and climbs.

Zhang Ziqian and Yan Hucheng discussed suspicions that Yang Daoyuan might betray them and the urgent campaign to seize Redwood River. Zhang Ziqian explained why Li Tianheng had chosen to attack, defended his loyalty despite growing doubts about Western Sichuan’s future, and pressed Yan Hucheng about what he had been considering.

• Yan Hucheng warned Zhang Ziqian that Yang Daoyuan had allegedly made an agreement with the Shajia People to attack Southern Yue during the march on Redwood River.
• Zhang Ziqian rejected acting on unproven claims, said they should hurry before Hu Xiaotian saw through their feint, and told Yan Hucheng that Yang Daoyuan should be eliminated after they captured Fire Tree City.
• Zhang Ziqian explained that Hu Xiaotian’s control of Redwood River and Princess Yingyue’s leadership of the Beggar Gang threatened Western Sichuan’s southern gateway, while other routes were constrained by rival powers.
• Yan Hucheng criticized Li Tianheng’s hesitation and Zhang Ziqian recalled how missed chances had left the Redwood River campaign unavoidable.
• Yan Hucheng asked why Zhang Ziqian tolerated Li Honghan’s insults, and Zhang Ziqian said he served the Commander-in-Chief rather than the young commander.
• After Yan Hucheng said he could no longer see any hope, Zhang Ziqian gripped his shoulders and asked whether he had been considering something.

Hu Xiaotian prepared to assassinate Zhang Ziqian and Yan Hucheng while Yang Daoyuan, fearing they would strike first, ordered Feng Xianlin to kill them that very night. The chapter ended with Feng Xianlin receiving the order to lead the Seven Assassins against the two men.

• Yan Hucheng tried to persuade Zhang Ziqian to change sides, but Zhang slapped him and refused to abandon his convictions.
• Zhu Jingyao warned Yan Hucheng that the Commander-in-Chief suspected Zhang Ziqian and that Western Sichuan might soon fall.
• Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue surveyed the Western Sichuan camp, and Hu planned to act the following night while Xia Changming escorted Long away and summoned the Horse Bandits to distract the enemy.
• Yang Daoyuan told Feng Xianlin that Li Honghan was undermining him and feared Zhang Ziqian would discover his intentions at Redwood River.
• Yang Daoyuan ordered Feng Xianlin to take the Seven Assassins and eliminate Zhang Ziqian and Yan Hucheng that night.

Hu Xiaotian and the Beggar Gang set fire to the Western Sichuan army’s provisions depot, while Hu Xiaotian attacked Yang Daoyuan at the Traveling Palace. With Flying Owl’s help, Hu Xiaotian overcame Yang Daoyuan’s defenses and killed him, leaving the battle’s wider outcome unresolved.

• Long Xiyue spotted the wind, and Xia Changming used his Jade Flute to drive birds into the burning Provisions Camp.
• Hu Xiaotian rode Flying Owl to the Traveling Palace and attacked Yang Daoyuan, who escaped the first blow thanks to his Gold-Thread Dragon-Winding Armor.
• Hu Xiaotian cut down four swordsmen and fought Yang Daoyuan, who attacked with Formless Sword Energy and summoned bats to hinder him.
• Yang Daoyuan fled as warriors shot arrows at Hu Xiaotian, but Flying Owl scattered the bats and broke through the warriors’ ranks.
• Hu Xiaotian pursued Yang Daoyuan from Flying Owl’s back and beheaded him with a descending saber strike.

Hu Xiaotian killed Yang Daoyuan, then rescued Yan Hucheng and Zhang Ziqian from a Sword Palace assassination, but Zhang died after asking for Hu Xiaotian to be killed. Hu Xiaotian reunited with Long Xiyue and Xia Changming, while Yan Hucheng prepared to report the camp’s disasters to Li Tianheng.

• Hu Xiaotian escaped with Yang Daoyuan’s Golden Armor and head, then flew toward Zhang Ziqian’s camp as the Beggar Gang’s fire spread through the Provisions Camp.
• Hu Xiaotian found Feng Xianlin and seven Sword Palace assassins attacking Zhang Ziqian and Yan Hucheng, and killed Feng Xianlin and two of the swordsmen.
• Yan Hucheng helped Hu Xiaotian drive off the remaining assassins, but Zhang Ziqian died after telling Hu Xiaotian to kill Hu Xiaotian.
• Hu Xiaotian told Yan Hucheng that Zhang Ziqian had urged him to choose a new lord, then revealed his identity and flew away; Yan Hucheng learned the Provisions Camp had burned and Azure Cloud County’s camp had been attacked by horse bandits.
• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Long Xiyue and Xia Changming, and Long Xiyue embraced him while Xia Changming thought of Zeng Xiaorou.

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue revisited Azure Cloud, where Hu mourned Zhang Ziqian and encountered the ruined Wan Boping. After learning the Wan Residence had become the Hu Residence, Hu questioned Wan Boping, whose terror of a female ghost left the mystery unresolved.

• Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue crossed Azure Cloud Bridge, and Hu recalled his past with Zhang Ziqian and regretted the strategist’s death.
• Hu learned that rumors blamed Yang Daoyuan for Zhang Ziqian’s assassination while Yan Hucheng concealed Hu’s involvement, and he reflected on the failed deterrent he had hoped to create.
• Hu and Long Xiyue visited their old haunts and saw Wan Boping, now a deranged beggar, harass Long before a waiter drove him away.
• Hu learned that the Wan Residence had become the Hu Residence, then gave Wan Boping gold and asked whether he remembered his home.
• Wan Boping fled in terror, claiming a female ghost inside the residence wanted to kill him, leaving Hu puzzled.

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue visited the Wan Residence under the pretense of kinship, where Madam Hu recognized Hu Xiaotian from a portrait. The chapter left Hu Xiaotian wondering who Madam Hu really was and whether she might be someone from his past.

• Hu Xiaotian persuaded Long Xiyue to visit the Wan Residence, bought gifts, and claimed they were relatives of the household.
• Hu Xiaotian brushed past the gatekeeper and insisted that Madam Hu was his cousin’s widow, until a young woman invited him and Long Xiyue to the Flower Hall.
• Madam Hu questioned Hu Xiaotian about his supposed kinship and revealed that her husband had died twenty-three years earlier, undermining his story.
• Madam Hu said she had found some items in the residence and showed Hu Xiaotian a portrait that depicted him.
• Hu Xiaotian became wary and wondered whether Madam Hu was in disguise or someone he knew from Western Sichuan.

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue were trapped beneath the Wan Residence, where Sumeru Heaven poisoned Long Xiyue and forced Hu Xiaotian to seek her help. The chapter ended with Sumeru Heaven kissing Hu Xiaotian, while an author’s note celebrated the supporters’ effort to hold first place.

• Madam Hu revealed that the portrait at the Wan Residence showed Hu Xiaotian’s older cousin, then trapped Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue in an underground passage.
• Hu Xiaotian freed himself and Long Xiyue from the trap and led her through the iron passage toward an exit.
• Sumeru Heaven appeared among the Bloodshadow Golden Beetles and revealed that she had poisoned Long Xiyue.
• Sumeru Heaven led Hu Xiaotian to an underground hot spring, where he tried to persuade her to save Long Xiyue.
• Sumeru Heaven invited Hu Xiaotian into the hot spring, and then kissed him.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with Sumeru Heaven, who entrusted him with half a jade pendant and instructions to visit Broken Cloud Mountain if she did not return within three years. He left with Long Xiyue, who awoke safely beside the Tongji River, while he wondered what danger Sumeru Heaven faced.

• Sumeru Heaven told Hu Xiaotian that she had fled a formidable demon and asked him to visit Idle Cloud Pavilion on Broken Cloud Mountain on the sixteenth day of the ninth month if she had not returned within three years.
• Sumeru Heaven gave Hu Xiaotian half a jade pendant and a box of antidote pills, warned him to keep the pendant safe, and said Long Xiyue would recover without treatment.
• Hu Xiaotian left with the unconscious Long Xiyue and worried about Sumeru Heaven's plans and the danger she might face.
• Long Xiyue awoke in Hu Xiaotian's arms beside the Tongji River, and Xia Changming arrived as Hu Xiaotian helped her up and said they would go home.

Hu Xiaotian returned to Eastern Liang Commandery with Long Xiyue, reunited with Huo Shengnan, and welcomed his subordinates. As his generals briefed him on the Northern Frontier and their growing naval forces, news of Great Yong’s defeats and the Black Hu People’s capture of Yonglan Pass weighed on Huo Shengnan.

• Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue reached Eastern Liang Commandery with Xia Changming and the giant birds, and Xia Changming conceded the Flying Owl was faster and more enduring than the Snow Eagles.
• Huo Shengnan welcomed Hu Xiaotian at the city gate, and he embraced her before the assembled Women's Army while Long Xiyue greeted Little Gray.
• Hu Xiaotian returned home, where Visa teased him in the bath, then joined Yu Tianxing, Chang Fanqi, and Li Mingcheng in the main hall.
• Long Xiyue greeted Hu Xiaotian’s subordinates graciously before leaving with Visa, while Huo Shengnan stayed to discuss military affairs.
• Yu Tianxing reported that Great Yong had lost two Northern Frontier battles and the Black Hu People had breached Yonglan Pass, while Great Kang reinforced the Ying River and Wang Boxi completed the enlarged naval stronghold at Jadeheart Mountain.

Hu Xiaotian weighed the threats facing his forces and discussed Great Kang’s hidden secrets and Li Tianheng’s likely next move with Zhuge Guanqi. The chapter ended with Zhuge predicting that Li Tianheng would soon make a major move, possibly toward Yunyang.

• Hu Xiaotian rejected plans to attack Cloud Marsh immediately and said removing Su Yuchi from Yunyang was their most urgent military priority.
• Hu Xiaotian visited Zhuge Guanqi, arranged extra help for his pregnant wife Hong Lingxue, and discussed the Cinnabar Cauldron Chapter and the two Blue Skulls.
• Hu Xiaotian told Zhuge Guanqi how he had killed Yang Daoyuan and helped burn the Provisions Camp at Redwood River.
• Zhuge Guanqi reasoned that Li Tianheng might ally with Guo Guangbi and attack Su Yuchi at Yunyang, then predicted that a major event would happen soon.

Hu Xiaotian and Zhuge Guanqi discussed how technology and military alliances might shape the balance of power, and Hu Xiaotian asked Zhuge Guanqi to establish an academy of sciences. After Long Xiyue reunited with Tang Qingxuan, Hu Xiaotian went to Tong Ren Tang, where he discovered that Beggar Gang disciples had gathered around an injured Elder Xue.

• Zhuge Guanqi predicted that Li Tianheng would seek Xingzhou’s help to seize Yunyang, and Hu Xiaotian said he would wait for the conflict to weaken both sides before acting.
• Hu Xiaotian voiced concern about Great Kang’s unknown weapons and asked Zhuge Guanqi to lead an academy of sciences, while planning to enlist Wang Boxi’s help with weapon design.
• Tang Qingxuan reunited with Long Xiyue and wept with her before the sisters left together.
• Hu Xiaotian went to Tong Ren Tang with Visa and showed the Beggar Gang disciples his Star Bamboo Token when they blocked his way.
• The disciples told Hu Xiaotian that Elder Xue was injured, and he hurried inside to see him.

Hu Xiaotian helped Fang Fang save Xue Zhenhai, a Beggar Gang elder who had been ambushed, while Long Xiyue promised to investigate the attack. Xue Zhenhai later identified the Sword Palace as his attacker, and Long Xiyue kept the revelation from the Beggar Gang disciples to prevent retaliation.

• Fang Fang struggled to stop Xue Zhenhai’s bleeding until Hu Xiaotian arrived, clamped the artery, and guided her through the operation.
• Lu Sanfan told Hu Xiaotian that Xue Zhenhai had been stabbed in an ambush at Sandhorn Town by an attacker the Beggar Gang could not identify.
• Long Xiyue met the Beggar Gang disciples and promised to investigate the attack and find the culprit.
• Hu Xiaotian told Fang Fang that Zhan Peng was recovering from serious injuries at Redwood River and offered to send her there to care for him.
• Long Xiyue and Hu Xiaotian visited Xue Zhenhai after he woke, and he identified the Sword Palace as the attacker.
• Long Xiyue urged Xue Zhenhai not to discuss the Sword Palace, fearing the Beggar Gang would retaliate and cause unnecessary casualties.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with officers from Wuxing Commandery and learned that ruthless river pirates had been attacking vessels on the Springview River. He ordered Zhao Wusheng to contact Su Yuchi about a meeting, then spoke with Governor Yan Xuanming.

• Hu Xiaotian spent the night with Visa and joined Long Xiyue and Huo Shengnan for breakfast, where Long Xiyue said she and Tang Qingxuan planned to visit the Tang Family's horse ranch.
• Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue visited Chang Fanqi's home, where he treated the Old Madam like family and introduced Long Xiyue as his wife.
• Officers from Wuxing Commandery arrived, and Zhao Wusheng reported eight recent attacks by river pirates on the Springview River.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Zhao Wusheng to contact Yunyang and arrange a meeting with Su Yuchi that month.
• Hu Xiaotian greeted Yan Xuanming and told him that he had seen Yan Xuanming's uncle at Heavenly Wolf Mountain.

Yan Xuanming proposed expanding Wuxing Commandery’s port, while Hu Xiaotian and Li Yongfu discussed river pirates, Su Yuchi, and military preparations. Xie Jian arrived from Xingzhou to discuss diplomacy with Hu Xiaotian, including a proposed alliance against Yunyang, but Hu left his response unstated.

• Yan Xuanming proposed expanding the docks at Haiyan Town, and Hu Xiaotian authorized him to begin the project with full support.
• Li Yongfu warned that Guo Guangbi’s forces in Xingzhou were likely behind the river piracy, while Hu Xiaotian said he would meet with Su Yuchi to discuss it.
• Li Yongfu reported that the Cloud Marsh Navy’s training and the reconstruction of the Jadeheart Mountain Water Fortress were progressing smoothly.
• Huo Shengnan told Hu Xiaotian that Xie Jian had arrived from Xingzhou, and Hu agreed to receive Guo Guangbi’s strategist.
• Xie Jian congratulated Hu Xiaotian on his betrothal to Princess Yingyue and his alliance with the Red Yi Tribe, then reported that Li Tianheng had proposed a joint attack on Yunyang.
• Hu Xiaotian said he preferred peace and observed that there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

Xie Jian tried to recruit Hu Xiaotian into an alliance against Yunyang, but Hu refused and planned to wait until the fighting weakened both sides. Liang Dazhuang returned from the Kang Capital with news that Old Madam Xu had been tending Hu Xiaotian’s mother’s grave.

• Xie Jian told Hu Xiaotian that Li Tianheng had proposed an alliance with Xingzhou to attack Yunyang and offered Hu grain and a five-year truce in exchange for help.
• Hu Xiaotian rejected the proposal, saying he would stay out of the war unless it reached his territory, and privately planned to intervene only when the rival forces were weakened.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan discussed the likely Xingzhou and Western Sichuan alliance and whether to warn Su Yuchi in Yunyang.
• Liang Dazhuang returned from the Kang Capital and told Hu Xiaotian that he had seen Old Madam Xu tending the grave of Hu Xiaotian’s mother.

Hu Xiaotian questioned Liang Dazhuang about Old Madam Xu and learned that Princess Yongyang may have met her. He then traveled with Huo Shengnan to White Wolf Mound to meet Su Yuchi, who prepared a sand table for their discussion.

• Hu Xiaotian questioned Liang Dazhuang about his last visit with Old Madam Xu and learned that Princess Yongyang had visited Madam's grave around the same time.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Liang Dazhuang to rest briefly and then deliver a letter to the Xu family in Jinling.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan traveled to White Wolf Mound to meet Su Yuchi, whose forces faced pressure from Li Tianheng and Guo Guangbi.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan arrived at the dock, where Su Yuchi and Yuan Qingshan welcomed them.
• Su Yuchi brought a large sand table before Hu Xiaotian and invited him to examine it.