Chapter Summaries

Li Ping'an revealed that Liu E and her family were Tiger Spirits, then arranged for Liu E to forget the truth so the Biao could complete its revenge without killing them. The next morning, Liu E visited Li Ping'an with breakfast, unaware of what she had learned, and met the Biao he was now training.

• Li Ping'an told Liu E that she was a Tiger Spirit and explained how he had helped her mother protect her and her younger sister while allowing the Biao to complete its revenge.
• Liu E asked why Li Ping'an had helped her, and he said he was returning the favor for the food and lodging help she had given him.
• The next morning, Liu E brought breakfast to Li Ping'an's house and found a tiger attacking her on the stairs.
• Old Ox kicked the tiger aside and made it stand obediently while Li Ping'an explained that it was a savage Biao he was keeping because he owed a friend a few meals.
• Liu E delivered His Highness's message that he would visit Li Ping'an in a few days, then left as Old Ox continued scolding the Biao.

Li Ping'an earned an egg by driving a wronged spirit from an old woman, while the young gentleman from the palace lost interest in visiting him. As winter snow covered Capital City, Liu E set out to visit Li Ping'an after more than two months apart.

• Li Ping'an helped an old woman recover from a spirit haunting and accepted an egg as payment.
• The finely dressed young gentleman visited Li Ping'an, then later told Princess Huailin that he had grown tired of him.
• Winter arrived, and snow and ice covered Capital City.
• Liu E returned home to see her family, picked up pastries, and prepared to visit Li Ping'an.

Gu Xizhou stormed the imperial palace and demanded to speak with Great Xia’s emperor, forcing the court’s strongest figures to prepare for a confrontation. As Lin Xiao returned to his quarters, Li Ping'an appeared before him uninvited.

• Liu E visited Li Ping'an, told him her young master had bought the house for him, and left after refusing to take his rent money.
• Gu Xizhou arrived at the imperial palace and defeated its guards, then smashed through the palace gates and demanded that the emperor come out.
• Commander Ling confronted Gu Xizhou but was swiftly hurled into a wall, while Lin Xiao watched until Princess Huailin escorted him away.
• The emperor and powerful figures in the palace prepared for Gu Xizhou as Flying Swords appeared overhead and a great Talisman enveloped the capital.
• Li Ping'an suddenly appeared in Lin Xiao's quarters, startling the prince.

Li Ping'an visited Lin Xiao in the imperial palace to return his rent money as a lone martial warrior attacked the palace. As Li Ping'an departed to meet an old friend, Great Xia’s experts joined forces against Gu Xizhou and activated the capital’s arrays to restrain him.

• Li Ping'an told Lin Xiao he had recognized his identity when they first met and explained that he had come to return the rent money.
• Gu Xizhou’s assault shook and damaged the palace, prompting Princess Huailin to lead Lin Xiao and the others toward a secret passage.
• Li Ping'an returned Lin Xiao’s rent money and vanished, saying he had spotted an old friend.
• Gu Xizhou overwhelmed Great Xia’s Chief Attendant with repeated punches.
• Several experts attacked Gu Xizhou together as the capital’s talismans and arrays locked onto his aura and limited his power.

Gu Xizhou broke through to the Ninth Realm and confronted the emperor of Great Xia, with both sides nearing a battle that could destroy the Capital City. Li Ping'an intervened, and Gu Xizhou agreed to continue the negotiations inside.

• Gu Xizhou unleashed his Ninth Realm cultivation and fought off the attackers in the Imperial Palace.
• The emperor of Great Xia learned that stopping Gu Xizhou could cost the entire Capital City, then went to confront him.
• Gu Xizhou refused to discuss terms privately and challenged the emperor to risk the Capital City in a fight.
• Lin Xiao and Princess Huailin watched from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau’s observation tower as Li Ping'an arrived at the battlefield.
• Li Ping'an greeted Gu Xizhou and persuaded him to resume the talks inside, then accepted the emperor’s invitation to join them.

Gu Xizhou confronted Great Xia’s emperor over the Prince of Ning’s crimes and the state’s honoring of him, while Li Ping'an’s presence helped prevent further fighting. The Prince of Ning was stripped of his title and his temples were demolished, and Biao seized an opportunity to escape Old Ox’s courtyard.

• Gu Xizhou demanded justice for the Prince of Ning’s crimes and explained how the emperor’s inaction and honors for the prince had led him to kill the prince himself.
• Princess Huailin and Lin Xiao worried that Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou might join forces against Great Xia while the two men met with the emperor.
• Gu Xizhou and Li Ping'an left the imperial study peacefully, and Great Xia’s officials ended the standoff.
• A Censor impeached the Prince of Ning, who was stripped of his title; his temples were demolished, and the dead Ning Province Administration Commissioner received a temple and statue while his son was promoted.
• Biao sneaked out of the courtyard while Old Ox slept, then prepared to attack a visitor carrying food, wine, and meat.

Li Ping'an reunited with Gu Xizhou, who learned of Yan Shisan’s troubles and planned to confront the master of Shicha Sea when the time came. After Gu Xizhou left, Lin Xiao invited Li Ping'an to the palace for the New Year on the emperor’s orders, and Li Ping'an reluctantly agreed.

• Biao nervously shared a meal with Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou, then retreated to study while the two men caught up.
• Li Ping'an told Gu Xizhou about collecting two Great Dao Rune fragments and recounted Yan Shisan’s conflict with the master of Shicha Sea.
• Gu Xizhou decided to confront the master of Shicha Sea when Yan Shisan fulfilled their agreement, and Li Ping'an promised to notify him.
• Gu Xizhou left to seek another fight, easing the concerns of Great Xia’s powers.
• Li Ping'an prepared yuanxiao for New Year's Eve, and Lin Xiao arrived to invite him to the palace on the emperor’s orders.
• Li Ping'an accepted the invitation for the second day of the New Year and wondered what gift to bring.

Li Ping'an attended a Lunar New Year banquet in the Imperial Palace with Old Ox and Biao, where the Great Xia Emperor and officials treated him as the gathering’s central guest. As the feast began, Lin Xiao explained Li Ping'an’s presence to the visiting princes, including the puzzled Prince of Yan.

• Li Ping'an secured his home and went to the Imperial Palace with Old Ox and Biao after a guard sent by the emperor escorted them inside.
• The Great Xia Emperor welcomed Li Ping'an and seated him beside himself at a banquet attended by civil and military officials and other important figures.
• Biao trembled under the power protecting the palace, while Old Ox and Biao admired the banquet dishes and Old Ox asked whether he could take food home.
• The emperor toasted Li Ping'an, and Lin Xiao later toasted the princes, elders, and ministers as the banquet’s music and dancing began.
• The Prince of Yan asked Lin Xiao who Li Ping'an was, and Lin Xiao explained his identity before continuing to answer the other princes’ questions.

Li Ping'an attended the Great Xia palace banquet mainly to eat, then gave Lin Xiao a Sword Intent Copybook and Princess Huailin a Slimming Pill as New Year gifts. Days later, Lin Xiao’s tutor found the copybook among his books and urged him to study it, while Lin Xiao admitted he could not understand it.

• Li Ping'an ate his fill at the banquet while the emperor, officials, and princes watched him.
• Lin Xiao greeted Li Ping'an and explained that many imperial descendants were absent from the gathering.
• Li Ping'an gave Lin Xiao a Sword Intent Copybook and gave Princess Huailin a Slimming Pill, which delighted her.
• Li Ping'an declined the emperor’s invitation to stay longer and left the palace after the banquet.
• Several days later, Lin Xiao tried to avoid his studies, but his tutor spotted the Sword Intent Copybook and praised his reading choice.
• Lin Xiao asked his tutor to help him study the copybook, admitting he could not understand it.

The Eastern Palace tutor, Wushan, discovered that Li Ping'an’s Sword Intent Manuscript was a priceless treasure and took it to study, promising to teach Lin Xiao once he understood it. Several days later, Lin Xiao remained frustrated that Wushan had not returned it, while Princess Huailin suspected her tutor was still studying it.

• Wushan read Li Ping'an’s Sword Intent Manuscript and experienced a profound sword-intent enlightenment before Lin Xiao interrupted him.
• After hearing that a gentleman from Central Province had given Lin Xiao the manuscript, Wushan called it a priceless treasure and took it away to study.
• Lin Xiao asked Wushan for the manuscript back, but Wushan said he would teach him after comprehending it and hurried off with the scroll.
• Several days later, Lin Xiao complained outside Wushan’s room, then ran into Princess Huailin on his way back to the palace.
• Lin Xiao told Princess Huailin that Wushan had taken his manuscript, and she suggested Wushan was still studying it before walking away in a good mood.

Princess Huailin took Li Ping'an’s Slimming Pill and suffered its powerful laxative effects, while Li Ping'an named Biao Jiaze. Later, Lin Xiao visited Li Ping'an with wine and asked for advice about his father involving him in state affairs and the vassal princes.

• Princess Huailin took one of Li Ping'an’s Slimming Pills and spent three hours in the privy as its effects took hold.
• Li Ping'an named Biao Jiaze, explaining that he hoped Biao would become kind and benevolent.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Jiaze bought sugar figurines and later ate hot pot together as snow fell over the Capital City.
• Lin Xiao brought flower wine to Li Ping'an and said the emperor had begun involving him in state affairs and military matters.
• Lin Xiao told Li Ping'an that his father had asked for his opinion on the vassal princes.

During a snowy evening, Li Ping'an showed Lin Xiao how the imperial clan’s costs could grow without end by asking for rice that doubled on every square of a chessboard. Lin Xiao grasped the burden of supporting the enfeoffed princes and asked Li Ping'an how to address it.

• Li Ping'an argued that Great Xia needed to curb the power of the enfeoffed princes, but Lin Xiao objected to harming his relatives.
• Li Ping'an explained how the princes’ descendants would multiply and asked Lin Xiao to provide rice doubled across the sixty-four squares of a chessboard.
• Lin Xiao ordered the palace to prepare the rice, then discovered that the amount was already overwhelming before the twentieth square.
• Lin Xiao recognized that the imperial clan would keep multiplying like the rice and understood the cost of supporting its members.
• Lin Xiao brought rice to Li Ping'an and asked him for measures to address the burden of the imperial clan.

Li Ping'an advised Lin Xiao on reducing the costs of supporting Great Xia’s imperial clan, and Lin Xiao later used the advice to answer the emperor. The emperor was stunned by his son’s unexpected confidence and response.

• Li Ping'an told Lin Xiao to limit princes’ marriages, audit their spending, reduce hereditary ranks and benefits, and make their land taxable.
• Li Ping'an explained why Great Xia’s imperial clan required different measures from the powerful princes of Great Sui, and told Lin Xiao to keep his advice secret.
• Several days later, Lin Xiao attended a military council where the Great Xia Emperor and officials discussed the princes.
• After the officials left, the emperor asked Lin Xiao for his thoughts, and Lin Xiao proposed addressing the problem by increasing revenue and cutting costs.

Lin Xiao outlined his proposals for Great Xia’s economic development, and the emperor credited Master Wushan for guiding him. When Wushan emerged from underground, he announced that he had grasped the Sword Intent Copybook, leaving Lin Xiao eager to study it.

• Lin Xiao explained his plans for economic laws, overseas trade, and long-term reform to the Great Xia Emperor.
• After Lin Xiao left, the emperor suspected Master Wushan had helped him and ordered his words recorded.
• The Great Xia Emperor visited Master Wushan with a painting and found him bursting out of the ground, covered in wounds and delighted that he had grasped the Sword Intent Copybook.
• Lin Xiao hurried to Wushan and asked to study the copybook, but Wushan insisted he needed several more days to digest it.
• The Great Xia Emperor presented Wushan with the painting, thanking him for pointing the way through the maze, while Wushan wondered what he had pointed out.

The Great Xia Emperor mistook Master Wushan’s advice for strategies from Mr. Li, then explained to Lin Xiao that Mr. Li was testing him as a potential future ruler. Lin Xiao visited Li Ping’an to declare his determination, leaving Li Ping’an and Old Ox worried that he had suffered qi deviation.

• Master Wushan gave the Great Xia Emperor and Lin Xiao advice about supporting the imperial clan, but they were confused because his suggestions differed from Mr. Li’s earlier strategies.
• After learning the misunderstanding, Master Wushan asked where Mr. Li lived, while the Great Xia Emperor told Lin Xiao that Mr. Li had chosen him to help shape Great Xia’s future.
• Lin Xiao concluded that Mr. Li’s past actions were part of a deliberate plan and solemnly promised the Great Xia Emperor that he understood his responsibility.
• At Li Ping’an’s courtyard, Jiaze misinterpreted a passage about preparation until Li Ping’an corrected him, while Liu E felt an unexplained familiarity with Jiaze.
• Lin Xiao visited Li Ping’an with Liu E and declared that he would fulfill Mr. Li’s expectations and make Great Xia endure for generations.
• After Lin Xiao left, Li Ping’an wondered whether the Sword Intent Copybook had caused him qi deviation and decided he would have to examine him.

Li Ping'an reflected on his slow cultivation and his peaceful, unhurried life as he walked through the Capital City. He recognized a fortune-telling Daoist from an earlier encounter and watched him give several accurate-sounding readings before the Daoist ended his work for the day.

• Li Ping'an checked his cultivation and realized his progress had slowed, with no improvement in five years.
• Li Ping'an considered how his lack of enemies and urgent goals had made him content with a leisurely life.
• Old Ox waited at home for Li Ping'an to return with beef jerky while sharpening a knife for dinner.
• Li Ping'an recognized the fortune-telling Daoist he and Lin Xiao had met while viewing peach blossoms.
• Li Ping'an watched the Daoist warn Master Liu against greed, then saw the Daoist pack up as the waiting crowd urged him to stay.

Li Ping'an met True Person Miaoshan again and invited him to dinner, where he offered a sixth-rank Spirit Pill in exchange for learning the Divination Technique. After arranging to meet again, Li Ping'an returned home to placate Old Ox and spent the evening playing the Erhu.

• Li Ping'an recognized True Person Miaoshan, who recalled being frightened by the danger he sensed during their previous encounter.
• Li Ping'an treated Miaoshan to a lavish meal and learned that he had once cultivated at Chaolong Temple, where Li Ping'an's disciple Pang Jun was now studying.
• Li Ping'an asked Miaoshan to teach him the Divination Technique and offered him a sixth-rank Spirit Pill as payment.
• Miaoshan accepted the Spirit Pill, and Li Ping'an told him where to find him for their next meeting.
• Li Ping'an returned home late, gave the hungry Old Ox two packets of beef jerky, and played the Erhu while admiring the moonlight.

Lin Xiao brought True Person Wushan to visit Li Ping'an, who accepted the Sword Intent Copybook meant for Young Master Lin. True Person Wushan found the pavilion entirely ordinary and watched Li Ping'an learn divination from True Person Miaoshan.

• Lin Xiao led True Person Wushan to Li Ping'an's home after they bought beef jerky for Old Ox and pastries from Liu's Pastry Shop.
• Li Ping'an welcomed True Person Wushan and accepted the Sword Intent Copybook, saying Young Master Lin was not ready for it.
• Li Ping'an left True Person Miaoshan to teach him divination while Old Ox accompanied True Person Wushan and Lin Xiao around the pavilion.
• True Person Wushan examined the pavilion's ordinary household objects, mistaking them for possible treasures before realizing they were mundane.
• True Person Wushan stopped Lin Xiao from interrupting Li Ping'an's divination, then heard Li Ping'an correctly predict which kind of buns the South City Street shop had more of that day.

Li Ping'an hosted True Person Wushan and Lin Xiao, then continued studying divination and used it to help Old Zhang recover so the bun shop might open. After missing out on buns, he tried to divine what Run Tu was doing and the story shifted to Run Tu facing trouble at Heaven-Reaching Peak.

• True Person Wushan praised Li Ping'an's simple way of life as a path to the Dao, and he and Lin Xiao returned to the palace after dinner.
• Li Ping'an studied divination and learned that its cost in origin qi increased with the complexity of a question and the cultivation of the person involved.
• Li Ping'an discovered that Old Zhang was ill and used an icicle droplet to help him recover, hoping the bun shop would open.
• Old Zhang and Little Zhang decided not to sell buns that day, so Li Ping'an and Old Ox ate hot-and-sour soup instead.
• Run Tu, now a senior disciple at Heaven-Reaching Peak, learned that the people sent to negotiate had been beaten after they mentioned him and angrily demanded an explanation.

Run Tu expanded Heaven-Reaching Peak’s businesses and set out with disciples to confront powers that had beaten its negotiators. Meanwhile, the Octopus Swordsman and Yan Shisan settled in Renqiu City, where an urgent knock interrupted their day.

• Run Tu prepared to visit the powers that had beaten its disciples, insisting the group would reason with them rather than fight.
• Run Tu took several Heaven-Reaching Peak disciples aboard a magically enlarged leaf and headed for Renqiu City in Great Sui.
• The Octopus Swordsman and Yan Shisan stayed in Renqiu City to avoid pursuit by enemies from the Shicha Sea.
• The Octopus Swordsman refused to drink and returned to its room, while Yan Shisan continued practicing punches in the courtyard.
• Someone urgently knocked at the door and called for the Octopus Swordsman and Yan Shisan.