Recaps

Li Ping'an defeated the Yikun Sect after it attacked him over the field mice, then left after compensating Daoist Yunfeng for the table he had broken. A month later, several notorious demons in Yong Province were wiped out, while Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and the little girl mourned the mice.

• The Yikun Sect leader pleaded for the sect's survival as Li Ping'an killed Zhang Yuan and left the sect's leaders and elders badly injured.
• Li Ping'an gave Daoist Yunfeng medicinal ingredients, pills, Spirit Stones, talismans, and other belongings to settle the debt for the broken table.
• True Person Yuyang assessed the Yikun Sect's losses and worried that its weakened state would leave Yong Province vulnerable to demons.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and the little girl burned offerings for the field mice, and the little girl said she hated parting.
• A month later, several great demons that had long plagued Yong Province were wiped out one after another.

A little girl among the children offered to the Tiger Demon secretly used a Talisman to locate the demon’s cave, then revealed herself by trying to attack it with a tiny ball of flame. The Tiger Demon laughed at her weak spell and prepared to choose a child to eat.

• The authorities sent more than fifty children to Walin Mountain as tribute to the great demon, and a Changgui led them into the woods.
• The little girl asked the Changgui about his nature and explained that Big Ping'an had told her what a Changgui was.
• As the children entered the cave, the little girl made them cry, used the distraction to activate a Talisman, and located the demon's cave with a streak of rainbow light.
• The Tiger Demon absorbed the Changgui, revealed its tiger form, and chose the calm little girl as its first intended meal.
• The little girl recited an incantation and spat a tiny ball of flame at the Tiger Demon, which laughed at her attack.

The little girl rescued children from a Tiger Demon with help from Li Ping'an’s Drizzle Sword, then spread the claim that eating mice gave her strength. As Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Cat Immortal left Jingxuan Town, Li Ping'an recalled that his wager with the master of the Shicha Sea was nearing its conclusion.

• The little girl summoned a Wooden Armor Puppet to fight the Tiger Demon, but the Drizzle Sword killed the demon before it could attack her.
• The little girl led the rescued children down the mountain and told them she had become strong by eating mice, inspiring them to demand mice at home.
• Two cultivators in Jingxuan Town recognized Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Cat Immortal from exaggerated rumors but were too afraid to approach them.
• The children's parents tried to stop their mouse-eating demands, and the little girl asked Li Ping'an what Cat Immortal had told them.
• Two days later, Li Ping'an said they had done enough to curb the great demons and told Old Ox he had sensed that his wager with the master of the Shicha Sea was nearly due.

Yan Shisan faced tribulation lightning while attempting to break through to the eighth realm, and Li Ping'an secretly gave him the power to endure it. Yan Shisan stood firm against the continuing thunder and challenged it to strike him down.

• A disciple worried that Yan Shisan had remained in seclusion, but the Octopus Swordsman told him not to disturb Yan Shisan during his breakthrough.
• Tribulation lightning struck Yan Shisan repeatedly, leaving him badly injured as he tried to remain standing.
• Li Ping'an sensed Yan Shisan's tribulation from Yong Province and used his divine arts to send power across the distance.
• Yan Shisan recognized Li Ping'an's presence and received the strength to withstand the lightning.
• Yan Shisan's aura changed as he planted his feet, pointed his arm at the sky, and challenged the thunder.

Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Kitten faced a coalition of demons in Yong Province, while Li Ping'an fought the greater demons and Kitten battled a wolf demon. After the group left the battlefield laden with spoils, Li Ping'an prepared to travel with Old Ox and Kitten to Shicha Sea.

• Li Ping'an told Kitten that greater demons were coming because his demon slaying had forced them to band together.
• As dark clouds and demonic energy gathered, Li Ping'an flew off to confront the greater demons and left Kitten with Old Ox.
• Kitten and her wooden-armored figure fought a wolf demon, and Kitten defeated it with fire and an earth-and-stone figure.
• Kitten gathered treasures from the fallen demons until Li Ping'an returned and gave her a Storage Ring.
• Cultivators found the battlefield covered in demon corpses and celebrated the end of the monsters' havoc across Yong Province.
• Li Ping'an set out with Old Ox and Kitten for Shicha Sea.

Li Ping'an arrived at Shicha Sea with Old Ox and Kitten to honor his old agreement with its master. After Gu Xizhou reunited with him, Li Ping'an told Heavenly Baleful Star that Yan Shisan would face Shicha Sea in a contest of fists, leaving the Mountain Lord wondering whether Yan Shisan had truly reached the Upper Third Realm.

• Li Ping'an landed near Shicha Sea with Old Ox and Kitten and waited for Gu Xizhou, bringing food for their reunion.
• Gu Xizhou arrived with a dead eagle, greeted Li Ping'an and Old Ox, and playfully rubbed Kitten's head.
• Heavenly Baleful Star recognized Li Ping'an and asked why he had come to Shicha Sea.
• Li Ping'an said he had come to honor the wager with Shicha Sea's master and clarified that Yan Shisan, not he, would challenge them to a contest of fists.
• Heavenly Baleful Star reported the news to the Mountain Lord, who recalled the agreement and wondered whether Yan Shisan had entered the Upper Third Realm.

Yan Shisan arrived at the Shicha Sea and fought his way through its defenses to challenge True Person Yunshan, while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou watched. The chapter ended with Yan Shisan facing two Attendants as the Octopus Swordsman battled elsewhere on the mountain.

• Heavenly Baleful Star reported that Li Ping'an had brought Gu Xizhou, and True Person Yunshan recognized Gu Xizhou as the Martial Warrior.
• Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou shared a meal as Yan Shisan announced his challenge to the Shicha Sea.
• Yan Shisan broke through the Grand Array and defeated the disciples and Sword Cultivators blocking his way uphill.
• The Octopus Swordsman arrived at Sea-Viewing Peak and attacked the Shicha Sea's Sword Formation and its defenders.
• Yan Shisan struck the Main Peak, endured a counterattack from two Attendants, and faced them in a boxing stance while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou watched.

Yan Shisan fought his way toward Shicha Sea’s Ancestral Hall, defeating Heavenly Baleful Star before confronting True Person Yunshan. As True Person Yunshan’s Dharma Body Golden Form began to shatter under a mysterious azure strike, the battle’s outcome remained unresolved.

• Yan Shisan advanced toward Shicha Sea’s main hall, crushing the surrounding defenses with his Fist Gang.
• Heavenly Baleful Star attacked Yan Shisan with the Milky Way Sword Formation, but Yan Shisan defeated him with a single punch.
• True Person Yunshan hesitated to intervene until Li Ping'an assured him that he and Gu Xizhou would honor their promise not to interfere.
• True Person Yunshan manifested his Dharma Body Golden Form and attacked Yan Shisan with an enormous golden sword.
• Yan Shisan endured the sword’s strike and shattered it with a punch, destroying the Ancestral Hall and forcing True Person Yunshan to realize Yan Shisan had come for revenge.
• A tiny azure streak struck True Person Yunshan’s Dharma Body Golden Form, cracking and breaking it apart.

Yan Shisan defeated and killed True Person Yunshan, settling their grudge, while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou parted ways with their companions. Li Ping'an returned to Great Sui, where a border officer recognized the imperial jade seal on his travel document and let him pass.

• Yan Shisan overwhelmed True Person Yunshan in battle and killed him after declaring that Yunshan had survived the promised punch.
• Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou shared wine, discussed their plans, and parted without arranging when to meet again.
• Li Ping'an left with Old Ox and Kitten, then traveled to Great Sui and descended before its border pass.
• A deputy rejected Li Ping'an's expired travel document, but the commanding officer saw the imperial jade seal and let him enter.
• The deputy asked why his godfather had made an exception, and the commanding officer explained that Li Ping'an's status was extraordinary.

Li Ping'an returned to the capital and reunited with Jing Yu, who had become a prominent official and a father. When Jing Yu summoned his son Jingyun home to meet the honored guest, the Great Confucian Master Zhong recognized Li Ping'an's name and went with him.

• Li Ping'an arrived in the capital with Old Ox and Kitten and went to Jing Yu's residence.
• Jing Yu rushed out to embrace Li Ping'an and Old Ox, then revealed that he had married and had a ten-year-old son.
• At the Imperial Academy, Jingyun secretly read an illustrated story about Li Ping'an instead of following Master Zhong's lesson.
• A guard told Jingyun that Jing Yu had summoned him home to meet Li Ping'an.
• Master Zhong heard Li Ping'an's name, put down his book, and decided to accompany Jingyun.

Jingyun learned that Li Ping'an had come to visit his father and hurried home to meet the legendary guest. Li Ping'an, Old Ox, Kitten, and Jing Yu stayed together through the winter, while Kitten and Jingyun became friends and Kitten revealed her peculiar idea of a place to eat.

• Jingyun encountered Liu Yun on his way home and told her that Li Ping'an had arrived at the Jing Residence, startling her despite her controlled expression.
• Jingyun returned home, met Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Kitten, and joined them as they talked about old friends and shared a meal.
• Li Ping'an, Jing Yu, and Old Ox spent the night drinking and reminiscing, while Jingyun and Kitten got acquainted.
• Li Ping'an stayed at the Jing Residence with Old Ox and Kitten, and Kitten and Jingyun played in the snow with help from a Wooden Armor Puppet.
• When Jingyun grew cold, Kitten gave him a talisman and then asked whether there was a pleasure house nearby because she wanted to eat there.

Li Ping'an enjoyed the snowfall with Old Ox while Jingyun accidentally knocked out Cat Immortal’s tooth during a test of his strength. Zhao Ling'er and Aliya arrived and healed Cat Immortal, then waited for Li Ping'an, who returned with Old Ox.

• Li Ping'an and Old Ox shared wine and food at a restaurant as snow fell over the Capital City.
• Jingyun punched Cat Immortal, knocking her down and making her bleed and lose a tooth.
• Zhao Ling'er and Aliya arrived, found Jingyun panicking, and went with him to check on Cat Immortal.
• Zhao Ling'er healed Cat Immortal’s tooth, and Cat Immortal insisted she was not a child.
• Aliya and Zhao Ling'er decided to wait for Li Ping'an, who arrived at the Jing Residence with Old Ox.

Li Ping'an reunited with Aliya and Zhao Ling'er in Capital City, where Zhao Ling'er voiced concern about Great Sui’s rapid expansion and unrest. The next day, Aliya took Jingyun and the little girl out, while a new visitor arrived to see Li Ping'an.

• Aliya and Zhao Ling'er visited Li Ping'an and Old Ox, and the group shared tea and roasted potatoes while catching up.
• Zhao Ling'er told Li Ping'an that Great Sui’s wars and peasant uprisings were creating hidden troubles, despite her memorials to the Female Emperor.
• The following morning, Zhao Ling'er left for court, and Aliya took Jingyun and the little girl out to buy candied hawthorn skewers.
• The little girl asked to visit a pleasure house because she had heard Big Ping'an and Jing Yu liked going there.
• The Flood Dragon asked Li Ping'an about their location, and Li Ping'an promised to bring it a history of Great Sui and local specialties.
• A visitor called out to Li Ping'an from outside as he tried to return to sleep.

Li Ping'an hosted Liu Yong, who confided his frustration at being recalled from the frontier and stripped of military authority. After Liu Yong left, Jingyun recognized him and realized the old stories linking him to Li Ping'an were true.

• Liu Yong visited Li Ping'an in the snow and brought him gifts, food, and wine.
• Liu Yong told Li Ping'an that the emperor had recalled him to the capital and left him with an idle post, and that he was reluctant to give up his power or abandon the people who depended on him.
• Liu Yong left when Aliya, Cat Immortal, and Jingyun returned from shopping.
• Jingyun recognized Liu Yong and connected his visit to the folk tales about his relationship with Li Ping'an.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Jingyun ate Cat Immortal's untouched candied hawthorns while Aliya went to make hangover soup.

Zhao Ling'er met with Empress Liu Yun to discuss affairs of state and raised concerns on Li Ping'an's behalf, but the Empress postponed meeting him. Back at Jing Yu's residence, Cat Immortal worried about money and hurried out to earn some as a palace carriage arrived to announce a visit from Second Miss Liu.

• Empress Liu Yun praised Zhao Ling'er for her work in Nantong, and they discussed national policies and people's livelihoods.
• Zhao Ling'er told the Empress that Li Ping'an had returned, but the Empress postponed summoning him and secretly swallowed a pill after Zhao Ling'er left.
• Li Ping'an braided Cat Immortal's hair, and she worried that staying at Jing Yu's residence for free meant they needed to pay their way.
• Cat Immortal refused Jing Yun's invitation to play and ran off, determined to earn money.
• A palace maid arrived at Jing Yu's residence and asked to announce a visit from Second Miss Liu.

Liu Yun visited Jing Yu’s residence with Prince Heng and Princess Hewan, while Li Ping'an’s presence drew the attention of the two possible heirs. The chapter ended with Prince Heng and Princess Hewan privately displeased that Li Ping'an had greeted them only with a seated nod.

• Jing Yu welcomed Liu Yun, Prince Heng, and Princess Hewan to his home during the Emperor’s private visit.
• Prince Heng praised the tea, and Jing Yu revealed that Li Ping'an had returned and was staying at the residence.
• Jing Yu sent Prince Heng and Princess Hewan to tour the residence with Jingyun while he spoke privately with Liu Yun.
• Jingyun showed Prince Heng and Princess Hewan calligraphy by Mr. Li before introducing them to Li Ping'an in the rear courtyard.
• Li Ping'an greeted Prince Heng and Princess Hewan with a nod, leaving both displeased by his lack of deference.

Li Ping'an reunited with Liu Yun at Lord Jing's residence after playing Go with Prince Heng and Princess Hewan. He cautioned Liu Yun against rushing her reforms, then the two parted, leaving Kitten to wait for Li Ping'an to wake.

• Li Ping'an played Go with Prince Heng and defeated him, then beat Princess Hewan after praising her careful strategy.
• Li Ping'an asked Prince Heng and Princess Hewan whether they had considered becoming emperor, alarming them before Liu Yun arrived.
• Liu Yun dismissed the three youngsters and caught up with Li Ping'an over roasted potatoes and eggs.
• Li Ping'an warned Liu Yun that hasty changes could unsettle the country and praised what she had already accomplished.
• Li Ping'an and Liu Yun ended their reunion, and the imperial procession returned to the palace.
• Kitten came back to the residence, found Li Ping'an asleep in the kitchen, and waited to tell him about the day.

As the New Year approached, Li Ping'an and his companions enjoyed a peaceful winter at the Jing Residence while Cat Immortal earned money catching mice to support the family. Jingyun later met Prince Heng, who asked who Li Ping'an was, and Jingyun began explaining.

• Cat Immortal told Old Ox about earning money, then proudly showed Jingyun the ten copper coins she had made and said she needed to support Li Ping'an and Niu Niu.
• Jing Yu told Jingyun that Cat Immortal had cultivated for about a dozen years and had the intelligence of a human child.
• At the Jing Residence, Li Ping'an, Jing Yu, Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, and Old Ox played Nine Provinces Monopoly while Cat Immortal left to catch mice for a customer.
• Jingyun went to the Imperial Academy and met Prince Heng, who asked him who Li Ping'an was.
• Jingyun began telling Prince Heng about Li Ping'an.

Li Ping'an and his companions celebrated the New Year together while Liu Yun marked the turn of the year in the palace. After the festivities, Li Ping'an and Old Ox left Capital City to visit old acquaintances, carrying the sleeping Cat Immortal with them.

• Jingyun told Prince Heng the rumors about Li Ping'an and Liu Yun, and Prince Heng found them more believable after recalling the Empress's behavior.
• Prince Heng and Princess Hewan sent Li Ping'an costly gifts, but he returned both sets unopened.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, the Cat Immortal, and Jingyun exchanged New Year's money, with the Cat Immortal giving Jingyun a live rat.
• Li Ping'an celebrated the New Year with Jing Yu, Old Ox, Aliya, and Zhao Ling'er, while Liu Yun prepared for the year's court ceremonies.
• After the Cat Immortal fell asleep, Li Ping'an and Old Ox left Capital City to visit old acquaintances.

The Confucian Scholar rushed back to the capital hoping to meet Li Ping'an, only to learn that he had already left. Li Ping'an, Black Ox, and Kitten traveled toward Floating Jade Mountain, where Song Ziyun joined them on a shortcut to the sect.

• The Confucian Scholar returned to the Jing Residence, learned from Jingyun that Li Ping'an had left, and collapsed in despair.
• Li Ping'an, Black Ox, and Kitten traveled toward the Floating Jade Mountain Sect, which was recruiting disciples after Yan Shisan's victory over Shicha Sea.
• At a roadside tea stall, Li Ping'an met Song Ziyun, who planned to join the sect despite his father's objections.
• Song Ziyun asked Li Ping'an to help him enter the sect through the back door, but Li Ping'an refused.
• Li Ping'an took a mountain path he said was shorter, and Song Ziyun followed him with his father and mounted party.

Li Ping'an and Kitten traveled toward Floating Jade Gate with Song Ziyun and a group of young cultivators, while Kitten's antics left Song Ziyun convinced he had seen a ghost. Two days from their destination, a cultivator sent Song Ziyun flying into a tree, startling Kitten as she gathered mushrooms.

• Song Ziyun spotted a little girl in the bushes at night, but she turned back into a cat after he ran away.
• The next morning, Song Ziyun told Li Ping'an he thought he had encountered a ghost, and Li Ping'an glanced at Kitten without explaining.
• Song Ziyun's group met Guan Li and several young cultivators heading to Floating Jade Gate, and the groups traveled together.
• Guan Li's companions recognized Kitten as a cat demon, while Guan Li learned Li Ping'an was visiting a friend rather than seeking a master.
• Two days from Floating Jade Gate, Song Ziyun was flung into a tree and nearly struck Kitten as she gathered mushrooms.

Lin Xiao beat Song Ziyun during a dispute, and Li Ping'an treated the injured before confronting Lin Xiao over his violence. Li Ping'an's casual strike sent Lin Xiao flying and overwhelmed Guan Li and the other cultivators, leaving them scrambling as it bore down on Lin Xiao.

• Lin Xiao injured Song Ziyun in a sparring match, then defeated the servants and escorts Father Song sent against him.
• Li Ping'an treated Song Ziyun and the others, while Guan Li apologized and offered money as compensation.
• Lin Xiao snapped at Li Ping'an for criticizing him, and Li Ping'an decided to teach him a lesson.
• Li Ping'an struck with a branch, sending a column of air toward Lin Xiao that shattered his golden shield.
• Guan Li and the other cultivators tried to stop the attack, but it broke their defenses and forced them to scatter as Lin Xiao watched it approach.

After teaching Lin Xiao and his companions a lesson, Li Ping'an arrived at Floating Jade Mountain with Cat Immortal to find sect leader Yan Shisan. The disciples recognized him as their Grandmaster Ancestor and rushed to announce his arrival, while Cat Immortal worried that they would be expected to give red envelopes.

• Li Ping'an stopped his air strike before it hit Lin Xiao, and Guan Li apologized and led the shaken group away.
• Lin Xiao complained about seeking revenge, but Guan Li warned him that Li Ping'an could easily kill them.
• Three days later, Guan Li's group reached Floating Jade Mountain and explored the sect, where they learned an octopus was the Deputy Sect Leader.
• At the Ancestral Shrine, Guan Li's group recognized the statue of Li Ping'an and realized Lin Xiao had offended their Grandmaster Ancestor.
• Li Ping'an and Cat Immortal arrived at the sect entrance to find Yan Shisan, and the disciples recognized Li Ping'an and knelt.
• Li Ping'an and Cat Immortal filled out forms, and Cat Immortal asked the disciple if they could skip the red envelopes because they were short on money.

Li Ping'an returned to Floating Jade Gate with Old Ox and Kitten, reuniting with Yan Shisan and sharing stories of his travels over a meal. He ended the night by sending Kitten to rinse her mouth while Old Ox gave up his own nuts in protest.

• Yan Shisan learned that the patriarch had arrived and hurried to greet Li Ping'an, who confirmed he had come to visit after traveling across other continents.
• Yan Shisan and Octopus Swordsman welcomed Li Ping'an, and Kitten hid behind his feet when she saw Octopus Swordsman.
• Li Ping'an told Yan Shisan that he had watched his challenge at Shicha Sea, then joined him and Octopus Swordsman for a fish dinner.
• Li Ping'an recounted his travels and adventures, and Floating Jade Gate disciples gathered outside to hear about their patriarch.
• Kitten argued that she could keep eating nuts because she had brushed her teeth in human form, but Li Ping'an sent her to rinse her mouth.
• Old Ox slapped down his nuts and went to sleep after Li Ping'an told Kitten not to learn his bad habits.

Li Ping'an explored the Floating Jade Mountain Gate with the little girl and met the frog-spirit twins Bi Qing and Bi An in the spirit medicine fields. After the children jokingly begged one another for money, Bi Qing and Bi An asked Li Ping'an to teach them how to get rid of pests.

• The disciples brought Li Ping'an and the little girl an enormous breakfast, and he had most of it distributed among the sect disciples and apprenticeship seekers.
• After eating a whole roast ox, Old Ox stayed behind while Li Ping'an and the little girl toured the Floating Jade Mountain Gate with Yan Shisan and the Octopus Swordsman.
• Li Ping'an visited the spirit medicine fields and met the twins Bi Qing and Bi An, who tended the garden and greeted him as their patriarch.
• Bi Qing and Bi An begged Li Ping'an for Spirit Stones, and the little girl joined them in a comic exchange of kowtows.
• Bi Qing and Bi An asked Li Ping'an to help with pests, so he examined the soil and crops and asked them to explain their pest-control methods.