Chapter Summaries

Li Ping'an sensed a danger approaching and persuaded Zhang Long to move the group away from their camp. They escaped a gigantic, black-haired creature as it crashed through the forest, and Li Ping'an brushed leaves from Old Ox afterward.

• Li Ping'an warned Zhang Long that something was approaching and urged him to move the group.
• Zhang Long ordered everyone to pack up and head south, despite the others' doubts.
• After an hour of travel, the group heard a thunderous roar and saw trees collapsing behind them.
• The group spotted a mountain-sized creature with a hideous, black-haired head and watched it disappear into the darkness.
• Zhang Long searched for Li Ping'an, while Li Ping'an calmly brushed fallen leaves off Old Ox.

Li Ping'an collected tea leaves and wild greens while traveling with Ge Erdan and the Revitalization Mercenary Corps through Sunset Forest. After Zhang Long and Master Cai thanked him for his warning, the group continued onward, and Li Ping'an and Ge Erdan shared their different hopes for the future.

• Li Ping'an picked tea leaves for himself, while Ge Erdan teased him for collecting something the locals did not value.
• Zhang Long and Master Cai thanked Li Ping'an for warning them and invited him for a drink, but he stayed to pick tea leaves.
• Master Cai advised Zhang Long not to pry into Li Ping'an's identity and to treat him well.
• At breakfast, the food server gave Li Ping'an a bowl of lean meat, and he shared it with Old Ox while Ge Erdan ate his own meal.
• Li Ping'an and Ge Erdan traveled deeper into Sunset Forest, where Li Ping'an gathered wild greens and told Ge Erdan he wanted to see the world.
• Ge Erdan said he hoped to earn money, improve his life, marry, and have many children.

As Li Ping'an and the mercenaries prepared to leave Sunset Forest after a profitable, unusually smooth journey, an enormous boulder suddenly flew toward their camp. Li Ping'an cut it to dust and told Zhang Long to get everyone to safety, then disappeared amid the chaos as more boulders fell.

• Li Ping'an and the mercenaries enjoyed their final sunset in Sunset Forest and began the journey back with their gathered goods.
• Ge Erdan urged Li Ping'an to sell his goods through him in the city, and Li Ping'an brewed tea for Ge Erdan and Old Ox at camp.
• A huge boulder hurtled toward the camp, and Zhang Long ordered the mercenaries to scatter.
• Li Ping'an sliced the boulder into dust and told Zhang Long to lead the others away.
• More boulders flew into the forest as the mercenaries fled, and Ge Erdan realized Li Ping'an was no longer beside him.

Li Ping'an protected the fleeing mercenaries from a giant ape’s rampage, then continued traveling with Old Ox and came upon a monster market in Night Forest. He tried to buy honey, but the stallholder warned him that the market’s master was hostile toward humans.

• Li Ping'an used an edict to create a silent domain that shielded the fleeing mercenaries from flying debris as a giant ape fought a black iron seal.
• Ge Erdan saw Li Ping'an for the last time, later left mercenary work, and spent his long life telling stories about meeting an Immortal.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox counted their gains from Sunset Forest and continued their journey.
• Half a month later, Li Ping'an and Old Ox entered a lantern-lit residence in Night Forest and discovered a market run by monsters.
• Li Ping'an asked a black bear stallholder to sell him honey, and the bear warned that the market’s master was irritable after being injured by humans in Sunset Forest.

Li Ping'an and Old Ox traded heather herb for honey at a monster market, then explored its stalls and entered a restaurant. As dishes arrived, mist began pouring into the restaurant.

• Li Ping'an traded precious heather herb to Black Bear for four jars of honey, and Black Bear explained how the honey was made.
• Black Bear warned Li Ping'an that the monsters around him might be dangerous, but Li Ping'an left with Old Ox and continued exploring the market.
• Li Ping'an traded some honey for wild fruit and saw monsters selling goods and services along the road.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox entered a restaurant run by rats, and several little rats brought them dishes.
• Mist poured into the restaurant as Li Ping'an and Old Ox looked over their food.

Li Ping'an and Old Ox visited the mountain lord Yuan San after scattering the Mist Ghosts at a restaurant. Yuan San mistook Li Ping'an for a relative of the Duke of Southern State because he carried the Fusang Saber, but after hearing its history, he and Li Ping'an became drinking companions; their gathering was interrupted by an unwelcome visitor.

• Li Ping'an drove off the Mist Ghosts with Five-Colored Fire Smoke and accepted an invitation from a pale-faced scholar to visit his master.
• Li Ping'an met Yuan San at an enormous temple and joined him for a meal after Yuan San apologized for the lesser demon's offense.
• Yuan San asked after the Duke of Southern State and assumed Li Ping'an belonged to the duke's family because he carried the Fusang Saber.
• Li Ping'an explained how he had received the saber from Yan Xun to return the Fusang Tree seed, clearing up Yuan San's mistake.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Yuan San drank together and began calling each other brothers.
• A pale-faced fox rushed in to warn Yuan San that someone had come to pay respects at his gate again.

Li Ping'an reunited with his former student Wang Yi and stopped him from fighting Yuan San, then learned Wang Yi needed Yuan San's credential to enter the City of a Hundred Ghosts and rescue a captured little Daoist.

• Yuan San grew furious over Wang Yi's earlier behavior, and Li Ping'an joined him in confronting the young man outside the temple.
• Wang Yi and Yuan San clashed until Li Ping'an intervened, recognized Wang Yi as his former student, and persuaded them to put aside their grudge.
• Wang Yi apologized to Yuan San, and the group shared wine while catching up on old acquaintances.
• Wang Yi explained that members of the City of a Hundred Ghosts had taken the little Daoist he had befriended, and he needed Yuan San's credential to enter and save him.

Li Ping'an, Wang Yi, Yuan San, and Old Ox traveled to the City of a Hundred Ghosts to search for Wang Yi’s captured companion. After waiting for nightfall, they entered the city, where Wang Yi’s swords reacted to the immense evil aura.

• Yuan San explained that the City of a Hundred Ghosts was ruled by the Mangshan Ghost King, who had invited him to a wedding.
• Li Ping'an agreed to help Wang Yi, and Yuan San joined them as they set out for Mang Mountain.
• The group reached the hidden city and waited for nightfall while sharing a meal and recalling Wang Yi’s days as Li Ping'an’s student.
• When dark clouds covered the moon, the City of a Hundred Ghosts appeared, and the group entered through its open gates.
• Wang Yi sensed the city’s immense evil aura, and the flying swords in his Sword Case began to tremble.

Li Ping'an searched the City of a Hundred Ghosts for a captured young Daoist and met a timid little ghost who had secretly helped the prisoners. The little ghost led Li Ping'an to the jail, where the young Daoist was about to be eaten.

• Li Ping'an and Yuan San entered the City of a Hundred Ghosts to seek the Mangshan Ghost King and rescue a captive.
• The little ghost secretly gave food to the prisoners, including a young Daoist and a traveling scholar.
• The little ghost was bullied by three evil ghosts, who stole the Apricot Blossom Brew he had bought for his ancestor.
• Li Ping'an returned the stolen wine to the little ghost and asked about his missing young Daoist friend.
• The little ghost told Li Ping'an that the young Daoist was imprisoned and about to be eaten, then led him to the jail.

Li Ping'an entered the prison and rescued Wang Yi's teacher and the other captives after Yuan San's attempt to secure their release did not happen in time. At the Mangshan Ghost King's wedding banquet, Wang Yi saw that the feast's meat consisted of dismembered children and struggled to contain his fury.

• Li Ping'an waited outside the prison with Old Ox, then went inside after night fell and found Prison Ghosts dragging out Wang Yi's teacher and a scholar.
• Li Ping'an knocked out the Ghost Prison Guards with Forget Worry Powder, identified himself as Wang Yi's teacher, and freed the captives.
• Wang Yi sat disguised as a ghost at the Mangshan Ghost King's banquet beside Yuan San, who asked the Ghost King to release his captured friend.
• The Mangshan Ghost King ordered servants to serve dismembered young children as meat, and Wang Yi became furious as Yuan San warned him not to cause trouble.

Wang Yi attacked the Mangshan Ghost King's banquet to stop the ghosts from eating pregnant women, but he was overwhelmed by the Ghost King's power. Li Ping'an arrived with Little Daoist and the White-Faced Scholar and prepared to confront the Mangshan Ghost King.

• The Mangshan Ghost King presented thirty-two pregnant women as food at his banquet, and Wang Yi struck down a ghost that lunged at them.
• Yuan San disavowed Wang Yi and refused to join his fight, while Wang Yi defeated several ghosts before the Mangshan Ghost King sent him flying.
• As ghosts swarmed toward the fallen Wang Yi, Li Ping'an burst into the hall carrying Little Daoist and the White-Faced Scholar.
• Li Ping'an rebuked Wang Yi for acting rashly, then asked which of the gathered ghosts was the Mangshan Ghost King.

Li Ping'an confronted the Mangshan Ghost King over his brutal treatment of people and ghosts, using the Drizzle Sword to force the ruler of the City of a Hundred Ghosts to submit. He left the Ghost King alive after ordering him to free the captives and care for the dead children, then noticed the little ghost protecting a pregnant woman.

• Li Ping'an introduced himself as Wang Yi's teacher and questioned the Mangshan Ghost King about his rule and the captives in his hall.
• Li Ping'an summoned the Drizzle Sword and pressured the Ghost King and the assembled ghosts while he considered whether to kill them.
• Yuan San appealed to Li Ping'an to spare the Ghost King, arguing that he had kept the region safe.
• The Mangshan Ghost King promised to reform and ordered his subordinates to release the pregnant women and prisoners and care for the dead children's souls.
• Li Ping'an noticed the little ghost had used Forget Worry Powder to spare a captured pregnant woman from fear, then raised his hand and commanded, "Descend!!"

Li Ping'an destroyed the City of a Hundred Ghosts and left the little ghost to rebuild it as its first ghost, then continued traveling with Old Ox and his companions. The group parted ways with Wang Yi, while the White-Faced Scholar pressed Li Ping'an for more stories.

• Li Ping'an's sword strike erased the City of a Hundred Ghosts and killed the Mangshan Ghost King and the other ghosts.
• Li Ping'an named the little ghost the first ghost of Mangshan and gave him cultivation and Confucian books to help rebuild the city.
• Li Ping'an asked Yuan San to escort the living women home, and Yuan San agreed.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, Wang Yi, the Little Daoist, and the White-Faced Scholar ate fish soup together aboard a boat as the scholar asked Li Ping'an to continue his story.
• Wang Yi chose to visit Pang Jun at Chaolong Temple, and three days later he parted from Li Ping'an and Old Ox.
• The White-Faced Scholar hurried after Li Ping'an, asking whether he had really saved the Eldest Princess.

After traveling with Li Ping'an and Old Ox, the White-Faced Scholar was left behind at an inn, then brought his manuscript, Strange Tales of Travel, to a bookshop in Great Sui's Capital City. Zhang Qiming discovered the draft and became eager to find its author, but the attendant had forgotten to record the address.

• The White-Faced Scholar enjoyed a rare night in an inn, then learned that Li Ping'an had left him a message and paid their bill.
• Four months later, the White-Faced Scholar submitted his draft, Strange Tales of Travel, to Yangming Bookshop and left an address with the attendant.
• Zhang Qiming found the manuscript after closing and was captivated by its fresh opening and stories of a man and an ox roaming the Jianghu.
• Zhang Qiming asked the attendant for the author's address, but the attendant admitted he had forgotten to write it down.

The White-Faced Scholar’s novel Strange Tales of Travel became a major success, bringing Zhao Ling'er to seek its author after she recognized Li Ping'an and Old Ox in its stories. After meeting the scholar and learning that Li Ping'an had reunited with Wang Yi, Zhao Ling'er left, and the scholar was later seized by intruders in the night.

• Zhang Qiming visited the White-Faced Scholar, praised his manuscript, and arranged payment and publication for Strange Tales of Travel.
• Two months later, the novel became a bestseller, and Zhao Ling'er noticed her teacher reading it at the Imperial Academy.
• Zhao Ling'er bought the book and recognized its characters and Anbei Four Garrisons stories as accounts of Li Ping'an and Old Ox.
• Zhao Ling'er met the White-Faced Scholar, heard about Li Ping'an’s recent circumstances and Wang Yi’s reunion with him, then vanished after saying farewell.
• Intruders broke into the White-Faced Scholar’s home at night and pinned him down.

The Imperial City Bureau arrested the White-Faced Scholar over a story it believed contained veiled allusions to the Empress. After recognizing the people in his book, Liu Yun decided he had acted unintentionally and permitted the book to circulate.

• The Imperial City Bureau seized the White-Faced Scholar, interrogated him about his story, and locked him in a cell.
• Liu Yun followed her demanding daily routine of court, meals, reading, and reviewing reports.
• Liu Yun read the secret report about the White-Faced Scholar and examined his book, Strange Tales of Travel.
• Liu Yun recognized the people in the story and reflected that the White-Faced Scholar seemed to be living the carefree life he wanted.
• Liu Yun wrote that the mistake was unintentional, ordered no further investigation, and permitted the book to circulate.

Li Ping'an and Old Ox traded with a caravan of merchants from Great Sui, then traveled east to a town where residents were holding a ceremony for a god. After joining the feast and staying with an elderly townsman, Li Ping'an asked where he could get new clothes made.

• Li Ping'an and Old Ox met a caravan at a mountain spring and traded for sugar, silk, cloth, tea, and a porcelain vessel, receiving some goods as gifts.
• The merchants told Li Ping'an that a small town lay a hundred li to the east, and he and Old Ox set off there after the caravan departed.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox reached the town and watched its people dance during a ceremony honoring a god.
• An elderly townsman invited Li Ping'an to join the feast, and Li Ping'an helped move things before eating with Old Ox.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox stayed at the elderly townsman's home, where Li Ping'an asked about having a new outfit made.

Li Ping'an wrote blessing couplets for an old man before leaving town with Old Ox, and the old man later posted another pair on the town entrance pillars. That night, a gigantic centipede charged toward the town, leaving the old man and his grandson in its path.

• Li Ping'an wrote a set of blessing couplets for the old man, who praised his calligraphy and asked him for another pair for the town entrance pillars.
• Li Ping'an went to the market with Old Ox, bought a gown and other goods, then left town after the old man gave him food.
• The old man posted Li Ping'an's couplet on the entrance pillars, and his grandson admired the writing.
• The City God sensed an evil creature approaching and fled with his subordinates to seek help.
• A gigantic centipede tore through the earth toward the town, and the old man shielded his grandson as it bore down on them.

Li Ping'an and Old Ox spent months enjoying the South Sea coast and building a boat to cross it. They finally set out across the sea, leaving their destination unknown.

• A giant centipede begged for mercy as golden light from a pillar and its couplets struck it down, and an old man kowtowed before the pillar.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox stayed by the South Sea, eating seafood, soaking in hot springs, and hearing local stories from fishermen.
• Li Ping'an decided to cross the South Sea, and he and Old Ox spent nearly two months gathering materials and building a small boat.
• A father and son watched in astonishment as Li Ping'an carried the finished boat to shore on his shoulder.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox loaded their supplies, boarded the boat, and set off across the South Sea.

Li Ping'an survived a terrible storm at sea and traded with a ship whose captain mistook him for a sea monster. As Li Ping'an and Old Ox continued their voyage, a huge commotion erupted nearby.

• A storm threatened the ship for three days until Li Ping'an's magic dispersed the tempest.
• Li Ping'an boarded the ship and introduced himself as a traveler, but the captain suspected he was a sea monster.
• Li Ping'an traded homemade sauce for supplies, and the captain tossed him boxes of fish paste as an apology.
• The captain realized Li Ping'an's boat was propelled by Old Ox swimming beneath it and concluded he really was a sea monster.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox cooked rice aboard their boat after months of eating fish, but a sudden boom shook Old Ox overboard.