Chapter Summaries

Shi Chun arranged for Cen Futong to finance Xiang Lan'er’s redemption, while making sure Cen would take responsibility if the scheme went wrong. Cen told Cao Puqing about the plan and the debt behind it, and Cao learned that Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were recently released prisoners with ties to Wangbo Tower.

• Shi Chun warned Cen Futong to keep their plan secret and let others believe Cen had arranged Xiang Lan'er’s redemption.
• Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, Old Dong, and Big Stone celebrated in Skyward City after Cen left.
• Cao Puqing’s informant reported that Cen had privately met the men who redeemed Xiang Lan'er, so Cao summoned him.
• Cen admitted arranging the redemption and explained Shi Chun’s scheme for transferring Xiang Lan'er to the Manor Lord while recovering his debts.
• Cao ordered Cen to stop meddling, but Cen revealed he had borrowed four hundred and fifty thousand gold and pledged Xiang Lan'er’s indenture as collateral.
• Cen identified Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang as former prisoners from the Land of Exile and explained their connection to Wangbo Tower.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang tried Long Transformation Pills, but the pills did not improve Shi Chun’s stalled cultivation, deepening his worry about his cultivation method. Meanwhile, Xiang Lan’er and Feng Chi planned to eliminate Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang after they left the city, and the chapter ended at dawn with Shi Chun still searching for an explanation.

• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang returned from a lavish meal and swallowed Long Transformation Pills to improve their cultivation.
• Che Si told Miao Yilan that Cen Futong had privately met with Cao Puqing, and Miao Yilan ordered him to continue watching them.
• Xiang Lan’er told Feng Chi that Shi Chun might be targeting Mount Wukang and ordered her to arrange for Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang to be eliminated after their departure.
• Shi Chun discovered that three Long Transformation Pills had no effect on his cultivation, while Wu Jinliang’s single pill was still working.
• Shi Chun considered seeking an expert to examine his cultivation method but remained reluctant to abandon it as dawn arrived.

Shi Chun and his companions left Skyward City while Miao Yilan learned that he planned to sell Xiang Lan'er to Lü Taizhen at a discount. Miao Yilan was upset by the scheme, and Lan Qiaoyan arrived at Wangbo Tower to find her daughter troubled.

• Shi Chun met Cen Futong, confirmed that their plan was ready, and then departed with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er through the mountain forest.
• Che Si told Miao Yilan that Shi Chun had left Skyward City, prompting her to summon Old Dong and Big Stone for an explanation.
• Old Dong revealed that Shi Chun had arranged to sell Xiang Lan'er to Lü Taizhen for two hundred thousand gold, less than the five hundred thousand Lü Taizhen would pay Liyun Tower.
• Miao Yilan realized Shi Chun had misled her about his intentions and dismissed Old Dong, Big Stone, and Che Si.
• Lan Qiaoyan arrived and found Miao Yilan lost in thought, so Miao Yilan told her about Shi Chun's scheme to sell Liyun Tower's star courtesan.

After Shi Chun left Skyward City, he and Wu Jinliang traveled through the Primeval Forest with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er, intending to seize her with Cen Futong’s help. Xiang Lan’er turned out to be part of a trap, but Cen Futong’s men unexpectedly captured her first, leaving Shi Chun to take her hostage.

• Lan Qiaoyan reassured Miao Yilan that Shi Chun could have raised the money without her loan and that his choices were his own.
• Old Dong told Big Stone that he had kept quiet about Xiang Lan'er's Deed of Sale, which Shi Chun had left with them to secure repayment.
• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang spotted Cen Futong’s signal while traveling through the Primeval Forest with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er.
• Bian Weikang went into the forest to find fruit, and Xiang Lan'er revealed a cold, superior demeanor as four Brocade-Masked Men appeared.
• The four masked men unexpectedly subdued Xiang Lan'er, and Cen Futong revealed himself and said his men had captured her.
• When one masked man made lewd remarks about Xiang Lan'er, Shi Chun seized her and held his saber to her neck.

Shi Chun took Xiang Lan'er hostage after sensing danger, but Feng Chi appeared and revealed overwhelming strength by killing a masked man and crippling Cen Futong. Feng Chi confronted Shi Chun while Xiang Lan'er remained trapped in his grip.

• Shi Chun warned his companions that Xiang Lan'er might have backup and held her hostage as masked men searched the area.
• A hidden attacker killed one masked man by piercing him with branches, and Cen Futong realized the enemy was a powerful Advanced Martial cultivator.
• Feng Chi emerged carrying the unconscious Bian Weikang and revealed herself as the madam of Liyun Tower.
• Cen Futong threatened Feng Chi, who snapped both his lower legs with a whipping root or vine.
• Shi Chun tightened his hold on Xiang Lan'er and cut her beneath the arm to deter Feng Chi from attacking.
• Feng Chi explained that she had knocked out Bian Weikang and then ordered someone else to come out.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang faced Feng Chi after Skinny Monkey identified them and Cen Futong revealed their attempted sale of Xiang Lan'er. Shi Chun claimed Xiang Lan'er's indenture had been destroyed and threatened to expose her plans for Mount Wukang if they were killed, leaving Feng Chi uncertain whether his claim was true.

• Skinny Monkey arrived after being released from the Prison of Life and identified Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang for Feng Chi.
• Feng Chi questioned Skinny Monkey about the pair and seized Cen Futong, who confessed that he had planned to buy Xiang Lan'er from Shi Chun.
• Shi Chun realized Xiang Lan'er was trying to enter Mount Wukang and argued that revealing her indenture would ruin her plans if he and Wu Jinliang died.
• Shi Chun claimed he had destroyed the indenture, while Wu Jinliang described the shop where he had obtained the materials to copy it.
• Feng Chi asked Xiang Lan'er whether the indenture had really been destroyed, but Xiang Lan'er could not give a clear answer.

Feng Chi questioned Cen Futong about how Xiang Lan'er had been captured, then attacked the men and vanished into the forest, leaving Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang surrounded by black fog. When Feng Chi's demonic sound technique incapacitated Wu Jinliang, Shi Chun threatened Xiang Lan'er, prompting Feng Chi to stop and ask whether he belonged to the Demonic Path.

• Feng Chi learned from Cen Futong that Shi Chun had seized Xiang Lan'er from the three men who first captured her, apparently sensing her accomplice nearby.
• Feng Chi hurled Cen Futong into Skinny Monkey, killing them both, then disappeared into the forest and left Bian Weikang unconscious on the ground.
• Black fog spread around Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, while Shi Chun's right eye revealed flame-shaped masses inside Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er.
• Feng Chi cast a technique that filled the forest with murmuring and a piercing scream, knocking Wu Jinliang unconscious while Shi Chun remained standing.
• Shi Chun drove the broken blade farther into Xiang Lan'er and threatened to fight to the death, so Feng Chi stopped and asked if he practiced demonic arts and which lineage he belonged to.

Shi Chun discovered that the black mist he instinctively absorbed was Demonic Qi, and Feng Chi took his reaction as proof that he belonged to the Demonic Path. He realized that Eighth Uncle’s cultivation art was a demonic art, leaving him to wonder what Wu Jinliang would think if he found out.

• Feng Chi identified Shi Chun as a possible member of the Demonic Path, while Shi Chun stopped stabbing Xiang Lan'er and tried to understand how to survive.
• Shi Chun asked whether Feng Chi belonged to the Heavenly Change lineage, and she demanded that he pull the knife from Xiang Lan'er and stop her bleeding.
• After Shi Chun treated Xiang Lan'er's wound, he insisted he was born in the Land of Exile and had just left the Prison of Life.
• Feng Chi challenged Shi Chun to breathe the Demonic Qi around him, and he eagerly inhaled it as his stagnant cultivation began to stir.
• Feng Chi concluded that Shi Chun belonged to the Demonic Path, and he recognized that the Demon-Bathing Art taught by Eighth Uncle was a demonic cultivation art.
• Shi Chun wondered whether the unconscious Wu Jinliang would look down on him if he learned that Shi Chun was a demon.

Shi Chun tried to bargain with Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er for passage into Mount Wukang, but their standoff was interrupted by a Shabby Old Man who revealed himself as a powerful enemy of the Demonic Path. The old man blasted Feng Chi away and turned his attention to Shi Chun and Xiang Lan'er.

• Shi Chun refused to release Xiang Lan'er unless Feng Chi agreed to take him into Mount Wukang, where he wanted to find someone.
• Shi Chun unsealed Xiang Lan'er's mute acupoint, but she ordered Feng Chi to kill him and refused to agree to his terms.
• Shi Chun threatened to strip Xiang Lan'er, then stopped after she dared him to continue.
• Feng Chi spotted a Shabby Old Man emerging from the Demonic Qi, and he attacked her with a single finger, shattering her shield and blasting her into the forest.
• The Shabby Old Man turned toward Shi Chun and Xiang Lan'er, leaving Shi Chun horrified by the old man's immense power.

Shi Chun escaped through the mountain woods with Wu Jinliang, Xiang Lan'er, and the unconscious Bian Weikang after the Shabby Old Man chased Feng Chi. After splitting the bank drafts with Wu Jinliang, Shi Chun kept Xiang Lan'er restrained, and she offered to guide them into Mount Wukang if he released her.

• The Shabby Old Man mistook Shi Chun for an upright opponent of the Demonic Path, then left to chase Feng Chi after she escaped.
• Shi Chun woke Wu Jinliang, collected the bank drafts, and fled with Xiang Lan'er and Bian Weikang before the Shabby Old Man returned.
• After they stopped to rest, Shi Chun divided the four drafts among himself, Wu Jinliang, Miss Miao, and Old Dong and the others.
• Xiang Lan'er asked Shi Chun to remove her Restriction, but he refused to release her.
• Shi Chun told Wu Jinliang that the women from Liyun Tower belonged to the Demonic Path, and Xiang Lan'er offered to lead them into Mount Wukang if he freed her.

Shi Chun secured Xiang Lan’er’s promise of safe passage to Mount Wukang, released her, and continued traveling with her and Bian Weikang. Meanwhile, Miao Yilan and Lan Qiaoyan investigated the deaths linked to Shi Chun’s trade just as Cao Puqing arrived seeking Old Dong and Big Stone.

• Shi Chun persuaded Xiang Lan’er to promise not to harm him and to take him safely into Mount Wukang, then sent Wu Jinliang away with a hundred thousand gold to arrange a safeguard.
• After Wu Jinliang had time to get far away, Shi Chun woke Bian Weikang and secretly removed Xiang Lan’er’s Restriction; Xiang Lan’er treated her wounds and kept her promise not to attack Shi Chun.
• Shi Chun, Xiang Lan’er, and Bian Weikang abandoned the search for Wu Jinliang and continued toward Mount Wukang.
• Lan Qiaoyan told Miao Yilan that Cen Futong and Skinny Monkey had been found dead, an expert appeared to have intervened, and Feng Chi had fled after selling Liyun Tower.
• Miao Yilan prepared to question Old Dong and Big Stone, but the manager announced that Cao Puqing had arrived to see them.

After Cao Puqing learned that Shi Chun had directed him to Mount Wukang to find his nephew’s killer, Lü Taizhen ordered him to abandon the matter. Shi Chun reached Linkang City with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan’er, while Xiang Lan’er secretly reunited with the injured Feng Chi, who told her that the powerful old man who attacked them remained unidentified.

• Old Dong and Big Stone admitted that Wu Jinliang had brought them a bank draft and relayed Shi Chun’s message directing Cao Puqing to Mount Wukang.
• Lan Qiaoyan defended Shi Chun’s conduct to Miao Yilan, while Lü Taizhen warned Cao Puqing that Mount Wukang would not yield to him and ordered him to let the matter go.
• Bian Weikang led Shi Chun and Xiang Lan’er into Linkang City, where they lodged at the Peaceful Joy Inn.
• Bian Weikang went up the mountain to speak with his family, and Xiang Lan’er secretly marked her door to signal her room.
• Feng Chi arrived with a companion, told Xiang Lan’er that his injuries were severe, and explained that the old man who had attacked them could not be identified.

Xiang Lan'er told Feng Chi and the Masked Man that Shi Chun was not working with the old man and ordered them to find a way to bring him into Mount Wukang. Shi Chun ran into the Shabby Old Man, treated him to a meal, and learned he might be a powerful ally; back at the inn, Feng Chi reported their meeting to Xiang Lan'er.

• Xiang Lan'er assured Feng Chi and the Masked Man that Shi Chun and the old man were not working together, then insisted they find a way to bring Shi Chun into Mount Wukang.
• The Masked Man proposed an approach that would require Shi Chun's cooperation, and Xiang Lan'er told him to explain.
• Shi Chun left markers for Wu Jinliang, then tried to avoid the Shabby Old Man when he spotted him outside a restaurant.
• The Shabby Old Man recognized Shi Chun, dragged him into the restaurant, and made him pay for a meal and wine.
• The Shabby Old Man told Shi Chun that Feng Chi had escaped and offered to help him in Linkang City in exchange for meals.
• Feng Chi reported to Xiang Lan'er that Shi Chun had left markers toward the city gate and was drinking with the Shabby Old Man.

Shi Chun met Bian Weiying while exploring Linkang City, bought pearl powder to whiten his skin, and returned to the inn to apply it. Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi came to see him, and he warned them that the Shabby Old Man had followed him to the city.

• Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi learned that Shi Chun had encountered the Shabby Old Man, then left their hiding place after hearing he seemed to be getting along with him.
• Bian Weiying followed Shi Chun, introduced herself as Linkang City's overseer, and questioned him about helping ransom Liyun Tower's leading courtesan and his reason for coming.
• Shi Chun bought two catties of pearl powder from a shop advertising skin whitening, then returned to the inn after Bian Weiying excused herself.
• Shi Chun mixed the pearl powder with water and covered his face and ears with the paste while reading Shanhai Lantern.
• Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi entered Shi Chun's room, stared at his white face, and heard him warn them that the Shabby Old Man had followed him to the city.

Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er persuaded Shi Chun to pretend to pursue Xiang Lan'er so Bian Jixiong would let them into Mount Wukang and use the ruse to spur Bian Weikang. Shi Chun agreed, and later Wu Jinliang joined him at the inn, where they discussed their separate affairs while trying not to shed their face powder.

• Shi Chun told Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er that Bian Weiying had questioned him, but they could not make sense of her intentions.
• Feng Chi explained that Shi Chun should pretend to pursue Xiang Lan'er so Bian Jixiong would let them into Mount Wukang and provoke Bian Weikang to improve himself.
• Shi Chun worried about offending Bian Weikang, but Feng Chi said they would keep the plan from him, and Shi Chun agreed to follow their arrangements.
• Xiang Lan'er called Shi Chun hideous as she left, and he returned to inspecting his powdered face in the mirror.
• Wu Jinliang arrived, applied face powder himself, and told Shi Chun he was suspicious that the old man's repeated encounters with him were coincidences.
• Shi Chun advised Wu Jinliang to accept the old man's benefits while staying alert, and they tried to speak without disturbing their powder.

Bian Weikang knelt through a violent storm outside Mount Wukang while his parents debated whether to let him return, and Xiang Lan'er went to join him. Meanwhile, Bian Weiying learned that someone was helping Bian Weikang and ordered the people who had come to the Peaceful Joy Inn eliminated.

• Bian Weikang continued kneeling outside Mount Wukang as Yin Huixin watched from inside and Bian Jixiong told her the senior members had agreed to give their son another chance.
• Bian Jixiong ordered Bian Weikang to kneel for another night, while Yin Huixin left without responding.
• Shi Chun told Wu Jinliang that he belonged to the Demonic Path, and Wu Jinliang chose to stay with him.
• Xiang Lan'er left the Peaceful Joy Inn to find Bian Weikang, while Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang watched her go.
• A blue-robed man entered Linkang City and looked toward the sleeping scruffy old man, who briefly woke but saw no one.
• Bian Weiying read a message and ordered the people who had come to the Peaceful Joy Inn eliminated.

Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er knelt together in the rain, while Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were ambushed outside the Peaceful Joy Inn. The brothers survived the Immobilizing Talismans and fought back against the assassin, who was badly wounded but still dangerous.

• Xiang Lan'er joined Bian Weikang in kneeling before his parents’ mountain entrance, and Bian Weikang sobbed an apology to them.
• A carriage passed the Peaceful Joy Inn as a hidden attacker flung Immobilizing Talismans at Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
• An assassin approached the immobilized men and raised a dagger to kill Shi Chun.
• Shi Chun broke free enough to stab the assassin in the chest, while Wu Jinliang tore off his talisman and struck the man with his great saber.
• The wounded assassin hurled his dagger at Wu Jinliang, and Shi Chun charged as both brothers pressed their attack.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang survived an assassination attempt and suspected the Qi Household had ordered it. Bian Weiying learned that the attack had failed and ordered her men to arrest and kill them openly before Mount Wukang could intervene.

• Shi Chun killed the wounded assassin with a rising saber slash while Wu Jinliang watched from the eaves.
• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang fled into the inn, discovered Feng Chi was missing, and hid beneath its roof.
• The two men suspected the Qi Household was behind the attack and planned to turn the Demonic Path against it.
• The assassin's accomplice abandoned the scene and reported the failed attack to Bian Weiying.
• Bian Weiying ordered her men to seize Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang and kill them before Mount Wukang could intervene.

Shi Chun realized that Bian Weiying might have arranged the attack and planned to arrest him and Wu Jinliang after they killed the assassin. He stopped Wu Jinliang from going with the wardens and said they needed to find a way out.

• Bian Weiying arrived with Mount Wukang disciples, took charge of the murder scene, and ordered Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang brought in for questioning.
• Feng Chi chose not to intervene, expecting people from Mount Wukang to arrive and secure their release.
• As the corpse was carried away, Shi Chun recognized a scar on Wei Bian’s hand from the earlier Immobilizing Talisman attack.
• Shi Chun concluded that Bian Weiying might have sent the assassin and warned Wu Jinliang that going downstairs would be suicide.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang hid in the inn while Bian Weiying’s disciples searched for them, suspecting they had killed in self-defense. They evaded discovery by killing a searcher and disguising Shi Chun in his uniform, but Bian Weiying ordered another search after the first failed.

• Wu Jinliang questioned Shi Chun about Bian Weiying’s motives, and Shi Chun said he recognized the ambusher’s scar on Wei Bian’s hand.
• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang decided to hide and wait for Feng Chi, while the clerk claimed they were nowhere in the inn.
• As Mount Wukang disciples searched the inn, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang slipped into a guest room and killed a disciple who entered.
• Shi Chun put on the dead disciple’s uniform and convinced the search leader that the room was empty while Wu Jinliang hid with the body beneath the bed.
• Shi Chun returned to the ceiling hiding place and watched the searchers report that they had found no one.
• Bian Weiying called the inn haunted, and Wei Bian offered to search it again.