Chapter Summaries

Li Ping'an caught a powerful fish monster in the Yongding River with his bamboo fishing rod while Li Suowei watched, hoping to steal his valuables. Liu Manzi and his companion learned of Li Suowei's scheme and beat him, while Li Ping'an and Old Ox cooked the fish nearby.

• Li Ping'an went fishing at the Yongding River with Old Ox as Li Suowei followed under a Stealth Talisman, planning to rob him after a monster attack.
• A huge fish monster surfaced, and Li Ping'an skewered it with his bamboo rod, revealing that he had sensed it all along.
• Liu Manzi and a short companion learned that Li Ping'an had gone to the river and realized Li Suowei had tried to use the monster to kill him.
• Liu Manzi and the short man found Li Suowei and beat him after he panicked and tried to escape.
• Li Ping'an cooked the fish with Old Ox and joked that Old Ox could solve his sore backside by not pooping.

After catching a Fish Monster, Li Ping'an gave some of its unpleasant meat to Liu Manzi and returned home to cultivate. That night, an orange cat confronted him for taking a rat, and Li Ping'an invited the cat inside for tea and pastries.

• Li Ping'an met Liu Manzi and Shorty on his way back and gave them some of the Fish Monster meat he had caught.
• Liu Manzi cooked the fish, found it inedible, and gave the meat to his dog, which trembled in its kennel.
• Li Ping'an cultivated at home while Old Ox ate dinner, and Jiaze returned after killing a Big Rat Demon at the Mass Burial Ground.
• An orange cat climbed to Li Ping'an's window and accused him of stealing its rat.
• Li Ping'an welcomed the orange cat inside and offered it tea and pastries as it explained that Jiaze had taken the rat it was fighting.

Li Ping'an treated the injured Cat Immortal to pastries and a meal after she mistook his erhu music for a sign of a miserable life. The orange cat revealed that she often went hungry since her mother left, and Li Ping'an invited her to come back for food.

• Li Ping'an apologized to the orange cat for his friend's actions and gave her pastries and Healing Pills, which put her to sleep.
• The orange cat woke in human form, turned back into a cat, and left with the pastries, falling and scattering them before gathering them up again.
• After hearing Li Ping'an play the erhu at the market, the orange cat tearfully offered him her last pastry, and he invited her back for a meal.
• Li Ping'an asked the orange cat about her home and name as they returned to his eatery, where she admitted she had neither.
• Li Ping'an taught the orange cat to use chopsticks, and she ate until she was full before revealing that she often went hungry since her mother left.
• Li Ping'an invited the orange cat to visit for meals, and she accepted before leaving through the window.

Li Ping'an invited Orange Cat to move in with him and Old Ox after he rented a new house, and she happily agreed to help carry their belongings. Orange Cat settled into her basket for the night, but Old Ox's loud snoring startled her awake.

• Orange Cat brought Li Ping'an two rats as a meal offering, but he told her they were moving and invited her to join them at their new home.
• Orange Cat agreed to help with the move, and Liu Manzi helped Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Jiaze settle into a rented house.
• At dinner, Liu Manzi boasted about the battle of Tengchong City and the Demon Slayers, while Li Ping'an quietly corrected him and revealed to Orange Cat that he was Li Ping'an.
• Li Ping'an prepared a comfortable basket for Orange Cat, who drank tea and fell asleep peacefully inside it.
• Old Ox's rumbling snores woke Orange Cat and made her fur stand on end.

Orange Cat, Jiaze, Li Ping'an, and Old Ox walked through Enan, where Li Ping'an encountered Liu Manzi in trouble at a gambling house. Li Ping'an offered to repay Liu Manzi’s debt in exchange for a promise, but had not yet revealed what he wanted.

• Orange Cat admitted she had slept soundly, then drank breakfast porridge in human form while Jiaze reflected on his conduct.
• Jiaze went to visit the local school, while Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Orange Cat set out for a stroll through Enan.
• Liu Manzi and Shorty were caught cheating at a gambling house and beaten, and Zhang Er threatened to take Liu Manzi’s hand unless he paid ten times his winnings.
• Liu Manzi called out to Li Ping'an, who offered to cover the debt; Zhang Er failed to recognize Li Ping'an after his memory of him blurred.
• Li Ping'an agreed to repay Liu Manzi on the condition that Liu Manzi promise him something, and Liu Manzi eagerly agreed before hearing the request.

Li Ping'an and his companions set out to earn money, with Orange Cat unsuccessfully trying to sell mice before they took a job searching for Fire Ganoderma. Their leisurely search was interrupted when they spotted two groups confronting each other beneath gathering storm clouds.

• Li Ping'an lent Liu Manzi money to save his arm, and Zhang Er agreed to let him repay the debt later.
• Jiaze accepted an invitation to teach at the local Academy after Li Ping'an encouraged him.
• Orange Cat tried to sell five dead mice at pawnshops but found no buyers.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Orange Cat took a job seeking Fire Ganoderma for a thousand gold pieces and left the city.
• As they searched outside the city, Li Ping'an and his companions saw two groups facing off in the distance.

Li Ping'an paused his search for Fire Ganoderma to watch two groups fight while sharing roast rabbit with Orange Cat and Zhang Er. As the battle neared its end, Zhang Er remained unconscious from Li Ping'an's powerful wine, and the winning side chose to keep fighting until Li Ping'an intervened.

• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Orange Cat settled beside the battlefield to prepare roast rabbit and watch the two groups face off.
• One-Armed Zhang Er retrieved his saber from between the groups, then joined Li Ping'an for rabbit and wine.
• Zhang Er drank from Li Ping'an's Wine Gourd and collapsed after the strong liquor overwhelmed him.
• After the battle left Cultivators dead and injured, the winning side decided to keep fighting because Zhang Er had not appeared to stop them.
• Li Ping'an called out, "Ahem, everyone, know when to stop."

Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Orange Cat treated injured cultivators after a fight, and Zhang Er woke from a seven-day sleep before Old Master Zhang tasked him with investigating a Cat Demon’s offspring and a Secret Treasure. The old Enan affair returned to the forefront as Zhang Er accepted the mission.

• Li Ping'an revealed that Zhang Er was unconscious and mediated the dispute, then treated the wounded cultivators with help from Old Ox and Orange Cat.
• After earning money, Li Ping'an restored the damaged hillside and considered opening a clinic in the city.
• Old Ox carried Zhang Er home, and Zhang Er woke seven days later with his belongings intact.
• Zhang Er visited the Zhang Family in Enan and learned that he had slept for seven days.
• Old Master Zhang ordered Zhang Er to quietly investigate the Cat Demon’s offspring for clues to the Secret Treasure from ten years earlier.

During a hot July, Li Ping'an used a written charm to cool the room while Orange Cat enjoyed peaceful days with him and Old Ox. At a teahouse, a woman from the Enan Wang Family tried to buy Orange Cat, and her interest in the cat demon rumored to have carried a Secret Treasure suggested trouble ahead.

• Li Ping'an wrote in the room's Xun direction, and Orange Cat soon felt the room grow cool.
• Orange Cat helped Old Ox hang laundry, and Li Ping'an bought her and his companions sugar figurines on the way home from treating a patient.
• At a teahouse, a man offered Li Ping'an first five hundred taels and then up to one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones for Orange Cat, but Li Ping'an refused because she was not his to sell.
• The man identified his young lady as the eldest daughter of the Enan Wang Family, while Li Ping'an introduced himself by his surname and left the teahouse.
• The woman said she suspected Orange Cat might be the offspring of a Cat Demon who carried a Secret Treasure, and told the man to act gently while pursuing the cat.

Li Ping'an drove off a Wang Family disciple who tried to force him to sell Orange Cat, then learned the Wang Family suspected her of being descended from a cat demon that stole their secret treasure. Sun Wu pressed to take Orange Cat away for an investigation, but Li Ping'an saw through his lie and told him to leave.

• A Wang Family man demanded that Li Ping'an sell Orange Cat, attacked him when refused, and was trapped in Li Ping'an's formation after being defeated.
• Li Ping'an returned home with Orange Cat, and she placated Old Ox by giving him the sugar figurine before later swallowing it to ease the burn from eating garlic.
• Two days later, Li Ping'an braided Orange Cat's hair while Old Ox watched her, then received a visit from Sun Wu and the disciple who had attacked him.
• Sun Wu apologized for his disciple and explained that the Wang Family was searching for a cat demon's descendant after their secret treasure was stolen.
• Li Ping'an refused to let Sun Wu take Orange Cat, recognized that he was lying, and told him to leave after finishing his tea.

The Wang Family's second young master surrounded Li Ping'an's home and questioned Liu Manzi about Cat Immortal, believing the cat was a demon tied to a secret treasure. Li Ping'an confronted the swordsman, rejected his demand to surrender the cat, and warned him not to return with more men.

• The Wang Family's men surrounded Li Ping'an's courtyard, and the second young master questioned Liu Manzi about his friendship with Li Ping'an and the cat he kept.
• Liu Manzi told the swordsman that Li Ping'an had taken in Cat Immortal by chance, then suspected the cat might be the demon linked to a secret treasure from ten years earlier.
• Li Ping'an appeared as his presence sent several Wang Family subordinates flying, including the family steward.
• Li Ping'an said he did not want trouble and asked the Wang Family to stop disturbing him, but the second young master demanded that he hand over the cat.
• Li Ping'an warned the swordsman that he would show no mercy if the Wang Family returned with more men.

After Li Ping'an drove off the Wang Family's second young master, rumors spread that Orange Cat was the Cat Demon's offspring and held a secret treasure, drawing trouble to Willow Tree Alley. Jiaze fought off a crowd without killing anyone, and Li Ping'an decided it was time to leave with Orange Cat.

• The Wang Family's second young master left a jade pendant to pay for his noodles and led his men out of Willow Tree Alley.
• Liu Manzi ate with Li Ping'an in a nervous daze, while Orange Cat and Old Ox discussed how to handle future visitors.
• Rumors about Orange Cat's supposed secret treasure spread through Enan, and a formation kept curious cultivators from finding Li Ping'an's home.
• The private-school scholar dismissed Jiaze, and more than a hundred people waiting outside demanded that Jiaze hand over the Cat Demon.
• Jiaze defeated the crowd without taking lives, then told Li Ping'an what had happened.
• Li Ping'an decided it was time to leave and asked Orange Cat to come with them; she agreed after learning there would be mice elsewhere.

Li Ping'an left his rented courtyard during Major Heat after the Wang Family failed to navigate its formation and the Zhang Family waited to ambush them. He departed Enan with Old Ox, Orange Cat, and Jiaze as powerful figures followed them out of the city.

• Wang Futang led the Wang Family into the formation to meet the Blue Robes Man, but they spent a night lost and emerged with their gifts untouched.
• The Zhang Family prepared fighters to ambush Wang Futang's party if they returned with the secret treasure, then laughed when the party came out empty-handed.
• Li Ping'an left half a month's rent, tidied the courtyard, and drank Enan herbal tea with Old Ox, Orange Cat, and Jiaze.
• The cultivators discovered that Li Ping'an's Illusion Formation had vanished and searched the empty courtyard.
• Li Ping'an and his companions left the teahouse and headed for Enan's outskirts while powerful figures followed them.

Li Ping'an met Enan City's leaders and a vast crowd demanding the Secret Treasure, then revealed his identity and asked them to do him a small favor. The gathering recognized him as the famed Li Ping'an of Tengchong City, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Li Ping'an calmly sat with Enan City's leaders as hidden crossbowmen and cultivators prepared to threaten him, but he briefly drew and sheathed his Staff-Sword without attacking.
• The Jiedushi and other leaders assembled Enan City's factions and cultivators, including the Flying Tiger Hall Leader, to demand the Secret Treasure.
• The Jiedushi argued that Enan City's fighters had sacrificed themselves against the Demon Race and insisted they were determined to obtain the Secret Treasure.
• Li Ping'an acknowledged the crowd's motives and the sacrifices some had made, introduced himself, Old Ox, and Jiaze, and asked the people of Enan City to do him a small favor.
• Wang Futang recognized Li Ping'an as the man associated with the Battle of Tengchong City, and the leaders stared at him in disbelief.

Li Ping'an revealed himself to Enan's powerful figures and left the pavilion with Old Ox and Orange Cat. As he departed, he stopped the rain with a snap of his fingers, and the story spread throughout Enan City.

• Wang Futang and the other leaders learned that the Blue Robes Man was Li Ping'an, confirmed by Zhang Er, who recognized him from Tengchong City.
• Li Ping'an declined to discuss the Secret Treasure, accepted the leaders' apologies, and walked away through the crowd with Old Ox and Orange Cat.
• After Li Ping'an snapped his fingers, the storm clouds parted and the rain stopped.
• The five leaders left the pavilion, and news of Li Ping'an's feat spread across Enan City.
• Liu Manzi stopped swaggering and boasting about Li Ping'an and began teaching at a local private school.

Li Ping'an, Old Ox, Jiaze, and Orange Cat traveled south through Qi Province, where Orange Cat checked on the treasure her mother had left her. They reached Wangjiao and enjoyed the sea, while Li Ping'an reflected on how glad he was to have Old Ox with him.

• After leaving Enan, Li Ping'an mapped the region and promised to take Orange Cat to see snow if she learned to read.
• Orange Cat led the group through a mountain formation to her cave, checked that her mother's treasure was safe, and explained why she kept it unused.
• The group reached Wangjiao, where the fishermen called the dangerous, fog-shrouded waters the Sea of Death.
• Orange Cat collected shells and crabs to sell, while Li Ping'an and Old Ox watched the sunset and Li Ping'an thought, “Luckily, I had you along.”

During Wangjiao’s Sea God Festival, Li Ping'an discovered that the town was crowded with Wandering Souls and learned that no City God or Underworld governed them. A woman warned him that Wangjiao’s Wandering Ghosts would soon target him for being a Cultivator.

• Li Ping'an joined the Sea God Festival with Orange Cat, who took human form, and Old Ox, while Jiaze stayed behind to study.
• Orange Cat bargained for dried squid, accidentally kowtowed to the vendor, and returned with three squid and Li Ping'an’s money.
• Li Ping'an noticed an unusually large number of Wandering Souls and followed a boy’s soul to a hidden gathering of ghostly women.
• Li Ping'an asked the women why Wangjiao had so many Wandering Souls, and the woman in purple explained that ghosts ruled the night there.
• Li Ping'an learned that Wangjiao had no City God, and the woman in purple warned that its Wandering Ghosts would hunt Cultivators.

Li Ping'an learned that Wangjiao had no known Underworld and questioned a purple-clad ghost about its dangers. After Jiaze defeated the Red Rakshasas outside, the woman offered to take Li Ping'an to a Wandering Ghost who might know about the Underworld.

• The purple-clad woman urged Li Ping'an to escape when the Red Rakshasas approached, but he stayed to ask about Wangjiao.
• Jiaze went outside and burned the attacking Red Rakshasas without damaging the surrounding buildings.
• Li Ping'an explained reincarnation and the Underworld to the purple-clad woman and the other ghosts.
• Li Ping'an prepared to leave with the little girl, but the purple-clad woman said she knew a Wandering Ghost who might know about the Underworld.
• Li Ping'an sent Old Ox and the Cat Immortal back to continue building the boat while he stayed to investigate Wangjiao.

Li Ping'an learned from an elderly woman that the Underworld in Wangjiao had vanished five hundred years earlier, and that a Daoist from Dragon-Tiger Mountain had prophesied a demon would change the city. As he and Jiaze returned through crowds of wandering ghosts, Li Ping'an told Jiaze to consider establishing the Underworld there, setting them on a path toward parting.

• The woman in purple brought Li Ping'an and Jiaze to meet her elderly aunt, who explained that Wangjiao's Underworld vanished in a great calamity five hundred years earlier.
• The elderly woman recalled a wandering Daoist from Dragon-Tiger Mountain who had predicted that a demon would come and change Wangjiao.
• Li Ping'an told the woman in purple he would stay for a while and help, then left with Jiaze as wandering ghosts filled the streets.
• Jiaze charged into the ghosts, and lightning rang through the air as the woman in purple hurried back inside.
• Li Ping'an suggested that Jiaze establish the Underworld in Wangjiao and promised to ask Liu Yun for advice on how to do it.
• Li Ping'an warned Jiaze not to commit evil and acknowledged him as half his disciple; Jiaze eagerly vowed to meet his expectations.

Li Ping'an let Jiaze fight the Wandering Ghost factions in Wangjiao while he worked on the boat, then confronted three great ghosts who came to attack them. He spared the ghosts and told Jiaze to keep protecting the people, explaining that their faith would form a golden body for him.

• Li Ping'an sent a paper crane message while Jiaze visited the Wandering Ghost factions and fought them over the next few days.
• Three great ghosts from South City brought their forces to the beach, where Li Ping'an was cooking crabs, and asked him about Jiaze.
• Li Ping'an revealed that he was Jiaze's teacher and restrained the three great ghosts with his pressure.
• Two great ghosts begged for mercy, and Li Ping'an released all three and warned them to keep the others away.
• Jiaze recognized that Li Ping'an had spared the ghosts for him, and Li Ping'an urged him to keep killing evil ghosts so Wangjiao's people would remember him and form his golden body.