Chapter Summaries

Li Ping'an traveled toward Guangling Prefecture while a snake demon secretly followed his boat. After confronting it at Tortoise-Carried City, he learned it had once seen him at the Academy and was seeking his guidance.

• A human-faced snake demon appeared aboard the grain boat, knocked Xiaodong and his companion unconscious, and escaped into the water.
• Li Ping'an sensed the demon continued following the boat, while Grasshopper befriended him and promised to keep him safe.
• The boat’s passengers discussed the Zhang Family killings and gradually recognized Li Ping'an as the suspected killer, but Grasshopper claimed his name was Jing Yu.
• After the boat docked at Tortoise-Carried City, Li Ping'an waited on the bank and summoned the snake demon from the river.
• The snake demon said it had seen Li Ping'an at the Academy and explained that it ate evildoers under an agreement with the Academy.

Li Ping'an traveled toward Guangling Prefecture with the Academy snake demon Zi Fang, who could see people's good and evil karmic fruit. They stopped in Tortoise-Carried City, where Li Ping'an learned about the powerful Divine Turtle Sect and settled in to eat hot pot.

• Zi Fang introduced himself and persuaded Li Ping'an to let him accompany the group to Guangling Prefecture.
• Zi Fang explained that he could see karmic fruit and found neither good nor evil karmic fruit on Li Ping'an.
• Li Ping'an, Zi Fang, and Grasshopper arrived in Tortoise-Carried City and learned that the Divine Turtle Sect held great local power under the Tortoise God's protection.
• Grasshopper led the group to an inn for hot pot, and Zi Fang paid for the meal after Li Ping'an wrote him an IOU.
• The waiter brought a separate hot pot to Old Ox and muttered about feeding hot pot to an ox.

Li Ping'an and his companions learned that Tortoise-Carried City's unrecognized Turtle God demanded worship and punished those who refused. After Li Ping'an offered incense and sensed energy leave his body, the chapter revealed the Turtle God, Ning Yan, feasting beneath the Ning River as a catfish brought him a severed head and bragged about killing a man and abusing the man's companion.

• Zi Fang explained that Great Sui's weakened government had allowed unrecognized gods to flourish, while Li Ping'an and Grasshopper ate most of the hot pot.
• The innkeeper warned Li Ping'an, Zi Fang, and Grasshopper that everyone in Tortoise-Carried City had to worship the Turtle God or risk mysterious misfortune.
• Li Ping'an offered incense at the shrine and sensed a faint wisp of energy drift away from his body.
• Beneath the Ning River, Ning Yan hosted a banquet with his son Ning Tiezhu and other guests, while his gifted daughter Ning Ninglong lived apart from him.
• A fat catfish arrived late, presented a severed head to Ning Yan, and claimed that he had killed the man and thrown the man's companion and him into the river.

Li Ping'an’s recitation of the Nirvana Sutra caused Ning Yan to suffer mysterious injuries, while Li Ping'an learned about martial warriors and their short lifespans. Ning Tiezhu misread his father’s warning and ordered the Turtle God’s incense offerings increased to three times a day, setting up another bout of harm for Ning Yan.

• Ning Yan collapsed after the words “Safe and sound” rang in his ears and violently shook his qi and meridians.
• Li Ping'an finished visualizing and asked Zi Fang whether martial warriors could attain the Dao, learning that they trained their bodies and had short lives.
• Li Ping'an and Zi Fang walked around Tortoise-Carried City, declined to visit the Turtle God Temple, and returned to the hot pot restaurant.
• Ning Tiezhu suspected a curse had injured Ning Yan, ordered the underwater residence sealed, and raised the city’s incense offerings to twice a day.
• Li Ping'an accepted the increased incense offerings, and Ning Yan woke after a day and night unconscious.
• Ning Yan tried to forbid incense offerings, but Ning Tiezhu misunderstood and ordered them increased to three times a day.

Li Ping'an and his companions met Ning Ninglong, a turtle spirit seeking revenge on the Turtle God Ning Yan, who had murdered her mother and oppressed Tortoise-Carried City. Li Ping'an said Ning Yan would not live much longer, but he did not reveal what he intended to do; at Guangling Prefecture, he and Grasshopper parted ways with Zi Fang and Ning Ninglong.

• Li Ping'an and his companions left Tortoise-Carried City and took a free ride across the river with Ning Ninglong, a turtle spirit.
• Ning Ninglong told them that Ning Yan, the Turtle God, had abducted women, colluded with local officials, and murdered her mother.
• Ning Ninglong asked Li Ping'an to save the people of Tortoise-Carried City, but he said he lacked the strength to defeat Ning Yan.
• Li Ping'an assured Ning Ninglong that Ning Yan probably would not live much longer, while Zi Fang suspected he had a plan.
• At Guangling Prefecture, Li Ping'an and Grasshopper headed into the city while Zi Fang returned to Tortoise-Carried City with Ning Ninglong.

After the old turtle died, Ning Ninglong gained followers amid a struggle over control of Tortoise-Carried City. Meanwhile, Li Ping'an failed to get hired as an assassin, but the successful candidate gave him money and asked him to name his newborn child.

• A lesser demon told Ning Ninglong and Zi Fang that the old turtle had died, and Ning Ninglong realized Li Ping'an had caused it.
• Ning Ninglong bowed in gratitude to Li Ping'an, while factions led by Ning Tiezhu and Fat Catfish fought over the dead turtle's position.
• Li Ping'an applied to Flowing Prosperity Hall to kill the Old Dragon Gang's leader, hoping the gang would help him enter Guangling Prefecture.
• The hall master, Ma Yu, chose Li Ping'an's rival, who offered to complete the mission for half the payment and asked only for access to the inner city.
• The rival, whose surname was Tie, gave Li Ping'an a tael of silver and asked him to suggest names for his newborn child; Li Ping'an proposed Tie Liangqian and Tie Mengshen.

Li Ping'an returned to Flowing Prosperity Hall after killing Cao Guangshan, the target of an assassination, and gave back the payment. He asked the white paper fan to deliver the money to the family of the man who had died in the previous attempt.

• Li Ping'an woke beneath a bridge, ate noodles at a vegetable market, and learned from the white paper fan that the previous assassination had failed and its target had died.
• Li Ping'an ordered pig's trotters after remembering the dead man and the silver he had used for wine.
• Cao Guangshan walked by his lotus pond when Li Ping'an approached and killed him with a single palm strike.
• Flowing Prosperity Hall took Li Ping'an by boat into Guangling Prefecture's inner city while the white paper fan talked about the city and its martial world.
• Li Ping'an returned the two hundred taels to the white paper fan and told him to give the money to the dead target's wife.

Li Ping'an arrived in Guangling Prefecture with Old Ox and earned money by playing the erhu, drawing Yan Shisan into the music with its sorrowful melody. Afterward, Li Ping'an noticed several cultivation improvements and planned to return the Fusang Tree seed to the Duke of Southern State's Residence the next day.

• Li Ping'an and Old Ox walked through Guangling Prefecture, where Old Ox described the bustling streets and the women’s clothing.
• Li Ping'an played the erhu at a tea stall, and a crowd gathered to listen and toss him money.
• Yan Shisan heard Li Ping'an’s music, was moved by its sorrow, and gave him half a mace of silver meant for new shoes.
• Li Ping'an declined an offer to work as a household musician and continued playing until late at night.
• Li Ping'an collected the money, saw improvements in his techniques, and told Old Ox they would visit the Duke of Southern State's Residence the next day to return the Fusang Tree seed.

Li Ping'an went to the Duke of Southern State's Residence to deliver a message from Yan Xun and offer a Fusang Tree seed for the old ancestor's birthday. The servants did not recognize Yan Xun and sent Li Ping'an to the awning for guests seeking free food.

• Li Ping'an caught gold beads fired at him by Yan Jingyang and the other young gentlemen at Moonflower Pavilion, then continued on his way.
• Li Ping'an arrived at the Duke of Southern State's Residence and learned that the household was celebrating its old ancestor's birthday.
• Li Ping'an decided to offer the Fusang Tree seed as a birthday gift and told a servant that Yan Xun had asked him to bring a message.
• The servant could not find anyone named Yan Xun in the household, and a minor steward dismissed Li Ping'an as a guest seeking a free meal.
• The servant led Li Ping'an to the awning and politely invited him to eat.

Li Ping'an attended a lavish public feast, met Yan Jingyang again, and was rebuffed when he tried to speak with him. Meanwhile, Yan Shisan and Lan Yue arrived at the gathering, where Yan Shisan looked for a seat.

• Li Ping'an sat down at the feast and met Liu Qiao, who offered him a paid job playing the erhu at a funeral.
• Yan Jingyang and Su Xinlan arrived at the residence, and Li Ping'an recognized Yan Jingyang as the young man who had thrown gold beads at Moonflower Pavilion.
• Yan Jingyang denied knowing Li Ping'an and had a servant stop him from approaching, then went inside with Su Xinlan.
• Liu Qiao warned Li Ping'an that nobles like Yan Jingyang could be dangerous, but Li Ping'an did not press him for more details.
• Yan Shisan and Lan Yue left their side courtyard for the main residence, where Yan Shisan searched for a seat among the guests.

Yan Shisan met Li Ping'an at the banquet and learned that he had been entrusted by Yan Xun to return a Fusang Tree seed to the Yan Clan. Yan Shisan went to report the news, but before he could explain it, the old matriarch arrived.

• The Second Madam sent Yan Shisan outside to receive guests, so he and Lan Yue left the residence and looked for food.
• Yan Shisan recognized Li Ping'an, who told him that Yan Xun had entrusted him with returning the Fusang Tree's seed to the Yan Clan.
• Yan Shisan hurried to the banquet hall to report Yan Xun's message, while Liu Qiao asked Li Ping'an whether he would still take a funeral job.
• Yan Jingyang publicly mocked Yan Shisan about his engagement, but Yan Shisan stayed calm and said he had another important matter to report.
• A maid announced the old madam's arrival before Yan Shisan could explain the matter.

Li Ping'an was summoned to Old Madam Yan’s birthday banquet and confirmed that Yan Xun had died, then returned the Yan Clan’s sacred Fusang Tree seed. The Yan Clan welcomed him as a benefactor and offered him the seat of honor, while Yan Shisan’s gamble paid off and Yan Jingyang glared at him.

• Yan Jingyang urged Yan Shisan to report that a blind erhu player claimed Yan Xun had entrusted him with the Fusang Tree seed.
• Old Madam Yan ordered the steward to invite Li Ping'an into the residence.
• Li Ping'an left Liu Qiao, who had offered him leftover food and asked whether he would attend a funeral, and followed the steward to the banquet hall.
• Li Ping'an offered his condolences when Old Madam Yan asked about Yan Xun.
• Li Ping'an presented the Fusang Tree seed, and the Yan Clan elders confirmed it was genuine.
• Old Madam Yan bowed to Li Ping'an and gave him the seat of honor, while Yan Shisan felt relieved and Yan Jingyang glared at him.

At the Yan Clan birthday banquet, Li Ping'an was honored for returning the Fusang Tree seed and agreed to stay at the Duke of Southern State's Residence. Yan Shisan received recognition for helping him enter, and the chapter ended with Shisan asking whether Li Ping'an could write.

• The old matriarch celebrated her birthday and praised Yan Shisan while asking Yan Qi to provide him with money for new clothes.
• Li Ping'an credited Yan Shisan for bringing him into the residence, prompting the old matriarch to reward Shisan and invite Li Ping'an to stay.
• Li Ping'an settled into a lakeside courtyard and shared soy-braised beef with Old Ox.
• Second Madam told Yan Jingyang to bring gifts to Li Ping'an and discussed the Lin Family's plans to revisit Yan Shisan's marriage agreement.
• Yan Jingyang forgot to visit Li Ping'an, while Yan Shisan and Lan Yue visited him the next morning and shared osmanthus pastries.
• Yan Shisan noticed a brush at Li Ping'an's waist and asked whether he could write.

Li Ping'an used poetry and the Knight-Errant Brush to help Yan Shisan break the knot in his heart and advance his cultivation. A few days later, Madam Xie visited the Duke of Southern State's Residence and proposed dissolving Yan Shisan's engagement.

• Yan Shisan told Li Ping'an that Great Sui law had registered him among the lowborn because he was a live-in son-in-law, leaving him convinced he could never earn scholarly honors.
• Li Ping'an encouraged Yan Shisan to ignore prejudice, recited a poem that resonated with him, and wrote the words "Heart-Questioning" with the Knight-Errant Brush.
• Yan Shisan confronted memories of his mother and the Yan Clan, rejected the idea that fate had doomed him, and broke the knot in his heart, allowing his cultivation to advance to the Second Grade Realm.
• A few days later, Madam Xie met with the old madam and other members of the Duke of Southern State's Residence, then proposed dissolving Yan Shisan's engagement to avoid holding either young person back.

Yan Shisan stunned the Yan Clan by revealing that he had advanced to the Third Rank Realm after Li Ping'an helped him overcome a mental obstacle. Madam Xie postponed the engagement dispute, while the Second Madam and Yan Jingyang hurried to visit Li Ping'an with gifts.

• Madam Xie came to discuss breaking Yan Shisan's engagement, and the Old Madam summoned him to hear the matter.
• Yan Qi discovered that Yan Shisan had advanced to the Third Rank Realm, shocking everyone in the hall.
• Yan Shisan explained that Li Ping'an had tested him and helped him untie the knot in his heart.
• Madam Xie refrained from raising the broken engagement and said she would rest at the Duke of Southern State's Residence for a few days.
• The Second Madam scolded Yan Jingyang for forgetting to visit Li Ping'an, then took him to the Lakeside Courtyard with gifts.

Li Ping'an demonstrated a mysterious way to warm wine while enjoying crab, then found Grasshopper drunk in an alley and helped his children bring him home. At Grasshopper’s house, Li Ping'an sensed two strange human figures inside and was stunned by what he perceived.

• Second Madam and Yan Jingyang waited for Li Ping'an at his empty courtyard while Old Ox watched Yan Jingyang.
• Li Ping'an ate crabs and used his Knight-Errant Brush to heat his wine cup, leaving the waiter astonished after he departed.
• Li Ping'an encountered a drunken Grasshopper in an alley with his two children and agreed to help them get home.
• The children led Li Ping'an to their home by the water, where he sensed two strange human figures inside and froze.

Li Ping'an discovered Grasshopper's wife had been mutilated by traffickers and ended her suffering before offering to hunt down the culprits. The next morning, Yan Shisan set out to thank Li Ping'an for helping him reach the Third Rank Realm, but Second Madam and Yan Jingyang crossed his path.

• Li Ping'an saw Grasshopper's wife trapped in a wine jar and learned traffickers had abducted and mutilated her.
• Li Ping'an sent Grasshopper's children outside and ended their mother's suffering at Grasshopper's request.
• Grasshopper gave Li Ping'an his last copper coin, and Li Ping'an offered to capture the traffickers alive for two copper coins.
• Li Ping'an returned to the lakeside courtyard without the crabs he had promised Old Ox and explained why he had given them to the children.
• Yan Shisan and Lan Yue met Second Madam and Yan Jingyang on their way to visit Li Ping'an, and Yan Shisan said Li Ping'an's guidance had helped him enter the Third Rank Realm.

Li Ping'an declined Second Madam’s request to help Yan Jingyang break through, while Yan Shisan thanked him for helping him reach the third rank. After Second Madam and her party left, White Paper Fan reported that a gang in Guangling Prefecture was trafficking women but not selling them to brothels or taking them out of the city.

• Second Madam brought Yan Jingyang to thank Li Ping'an and asked him to guide her son, but Li Ping'an refused, saying he could not see a heart demon troubling Yan Jingyang.
• Yan Shisan thanked Li Ping'an for helping him untie his inner knot and reach the third rank, then refused Second Madam’s attempt to take him home with her.
• Second Madam left with Yan Jingyang, who regretted his earlier dismissals of Li Ping'an and asked Uncle Wu about Li Ping'an’s cultivation; Uncle Wu said he could not see through him.
• White Paper Fan arrived after the Yan family left and told Li Ping'an that a gang in Guangling Prefecture was trafficking women without selling them to brothels or sending them out of the city.
• Li Ping'an paid White Paper Fan with two gold beads, insisting that payment for the investigation was separate from any other matter.

Li Ping'an interrupted Monk Biqing’s ritual of killing women and using their heads to cultivate immortality, then defeated him and questioned him. Biqing revealed that the abbot of Gan'ye Temple was behind the killings.

• Monk Biqing ordered the bearded man to kill an abducted woman and dispel the resentment of the dead, but a flying sword stopped the execution.
• Li Ping'an played Go in the alley while controlling the flying sword, which killed some of the gang and overwhelmed Monk Biqing’s golden barrier.
• Li Ping'an ended his game by scattering the stones and left the old man behind.
• Li Ping'an entered the courtyard, disabled the gang members, and found Monk Biqing wounded in the hall beside the wine jars containing human heads.
• Li Ping'an questioned Monk Biqing, who said the abbot of Gan'ye Temple had ordered the killings in pursuit of immortality.

Li Ping'an helped Grasshopper avenge his child, then killed the Gan'ye Temple abbot and gained new insight from the Knight-Errant Brush. The chapter ended with Li Ping'an writing ten characters and the Academy Head sensing the unexpected change from far away.

• Grasshopper killed and tortured Bi Qing while Li Ping'an ate noodles, then Li Ping'an gave Grasshopper the monk’s money and told him to leave with his child.
• Jing Yu wondered why he had gained the Confucian power of edification and speculated that his actions at the Jiaofang Bureau might have caused it.
• Old Ox prepared an elaborate battle plan for Li Ping'an, who later admitted he had used it before wiping blood from his Staff-Sword.
• Li Ping'an killed the Gan'ye Temple abbot, who had entered the demonic path while seeking longevity.
• Li Ping'an noticed the Knight-Errant Brush had changed, wrote ten characters with it, and felt his strength run out as the Academy Head sensed the same unexpected surprise from afar.