Chapter Summaries

Zeng Mu and Cobert waited through a storm for another attack on Cobert’s shop, but giant rats invaded instead. Zeng Mu subdued eight of them, only for another rat to attack Cobert as more apprentices screamed next door.

• Zeng Mu warned Cobert that whoever had targeted his shop might strike again that night, and Cobert agreed to keep watch with him.
• As a heavy storm set in, Cobert’s apprentices fell asleep, while Zeng Mu insisted the rain made it easier for an attacker to act.
• After midnight, a scream from the apprentices’ room brought Zeng Mu and Cobert running to investigate.
• The youngest apprentice fled from a pack of eight pumpkin-sized, red-eyed rats, and Zeng Mu used metal magic to knock them down.
• Two more apprentices screamed about rats, and Cobert saw a giant rat climbing his ankle toward his neck.

Zeng Mu saved Cobert and his apprentices from giant rats, and Cobert discovered the rats had been enlarged by black mamba grass. The next morning, Hardy arrived with an herb order costing 63,927 livres, leaving Cobert unable to pay.

• Zeng Mu killed the Red-Eyed Giant Rats that had invaded Cobert’s home and searched the building for more.
• Cobert identified the scent of black mamba grass in a rat’s heart and concluded that someone had deliberately fed the rats herbs to make them grow.
• Zeng Mu warned Cobert to check for missing valuables, but the apprentices found the shop’s records and money intact, and Cobert confirmed his hidden treasures were safe.
• The men cleaned the house and rested, while Zeng Mu cultivated through the night.
• Hardy arrived the next morning with a hundred pounds of herbs and an order Cobert said he did not remember placing.
• Cobert saw the order’s total of 63,927 and angrily protested that he could not afford it.

Cobert discovered that someone had forged an order for medicinal ingredients using his missing seal, leaving him liable for the cost. Zeng Mu paid for half the shipment, and he and Cobert planned to explain the situation to Bruce at the Black Market that evening.

• Hardy showed Cobert a written order bearing Cobert’s seal, prompting Cobert to search the house for the missing seal.
• Cobert and Hardy realized someone had forged the order, but Hardy warned that his boss Bruce would hold Cobert responsible for the ingredients.
• Cobert explained that Bruce, known as the Golden Sword, controlled Temple Capital’s Black Market and was a powerful, ruthless businessman with principles.
• Zeng Mu offered more than thirty thousand Livre to pay for half the ingredients, and Hardy accepted the arrangement and took the remaining half away.
• Cobert and Zeng Mu agreed to visit Bruce at the Black Market that evening to explain what had happened.

Cobert took Zeng Mu to the Temple Capital’s underground Black Market, where they found Bruce playing cards. After Bruce greeted Zeng Mu and recognized him as an Elementalist, Cobert began using their connections to open a business discussion.

• Cobert and Zeng Mu left the shop late at night, with Cobert’s three apprentices staying behind to guard it.
• Cobert led Zeng Mu through the streets to a hidden Black Market entrance, where Zeng Mu’s High-Rank Knight Medal secured their entry.
• They descended into an underground marketplace filled with rare goods, strange contraband, and dangerous creatures.
• Cobert spotted Bruce at a card table and introduced Zeng Mu, whom Bruce and the other players regarded with respect because he was an Elementalist.
• Bruce shook Zeng Mu’s hand, and Cobert described Zeng Mu as half his apprentice through the Healer who had received Cobert’s medical books.

Zeng Mu agreed to kill Black Diamond in exchange for Bruce’s help and a gift, then entered the Underground Fighting Arena as its midnight deathmatches began. After watching the crowd and learning about the first fighters, he became interested in how arena combat compared with battlefield Knights.

• Bruce asked Zeng Mu to kill Black Diamond, who had killed Bruce’s cousin and six of his men, and promised a gift and help with Cobert’s search in return.
• Zeng Mu accepted and left with Cobert, who explained the underground arena and its deadly matches.
• Cobert became anxious outside the arena and stayed behind as Zeng Mu entered when it opened at midnight.
• The arena filled with wealthy spectators, and the host announced the first match between Stone Fist and Twin Hammers.
• A young spectator told Zeng Mu about the fighters’ records and dangerous techniques, and Zeng Mu listened with interest.

Zeng Mu watched Stone Fist knock out Twin Hammers with his deadly left hook, then bet his remaining five thousand Livre on Flying Cicada against the undefeated Nightmare. Nightmare quickly took Flying Cicada’s back and began wearing him down against the cage, leaving the match unresolved.

• Stone Fist checked Twin Hammers’ low kick and knocked him out with a left hook just before the first round ended.
• Zeng Mu learned about Nightmare and Flying Cicada, then wagered five thousand Livre on Flying Cicada.
• Nightmare stunned Flying Cicada with a left straight, then ducked in and secured control of his back.
• Nightmare pinned Flying Cicada against the cage, threatened a rear naked choke, and began striking his abdomen with punches and elbows.

Nightmare dominated Flying Cicada for nearly five rounds with toe stomps and jabs, but Flying Cicada caught him with a surprise high kick and won. Zeng Mu profited from his bet, then watched the next match begin as his friend asked him to predict its winner.

• Nightmare used Toe Stomp to injure Flying Cicada’s feet, then controlled the fight with his Lightning Jab and wrestling through most of the match.
• With seconds left, Flying Cicada feinted with his left fist and landed a powerful high kick that knocked Nightmare unconscious.
• Zeng Mu won ten thousand Livre before taxes, while his shocked friend borrowed money and followed his picks in the remaining matches.
• Leg King and Wind Boy entered the cage for the third match, and Zeng Mu’s friend asked him who would win.

Zeng Mu watched Leg King defeat Wind Boy with a spectacular midair spinning kick, then stayed for the main event between Black Diamond and Red King Kong. Black Diamond knocked Red King Kong unconscious with a knee and secured a flying armbar, leaving the match’s outcome unresolved.

• Zeng Mu bet all his money, including the two thousand Livre he had borrowed, on Wind Boy.
• Leg King controlled the early rounds and took the lead after striking Wind Boy in the liver.
• Leg King caught Wind Boy’s ankle in the fourth round, spun in midair, and knocked him out with a heel kick to the chin.
• Zeng Mu collected his winnings and asked about Black Diamond before the main event began.
• Red King Kong struck Black Diamond with a punch, but Black Diamond countered with a knee to the head and locked in a flying armbar.

Zeng Mu entered the arena’s closing spectator event and chose a life-or-death fight against Black Diamond. As the two prepared to begin, Black Diamond faced him with the same fierce focus he had shown in the ring.

• After the evening’s fights, a mysterious spectator thanked Zeng Mu and left the Temple Capital.
• The host announced that spectators could pay to interact with Black Diamond, and Zeng Mu rushed to register.
• Zeng Mu learned the card’s fourth option meant a fight to the death and selected it.
• Black Diamond took on the first nine participants, remaining relaxed even after the burly ninth participant was knocked unconscious.
• When Zeng Mu stepped forward, Black Diamond asked whether he understood the danger, and Zeng Mu confirmed that he did.

Zeng Mu defeated Black Diamond in the deathmatch and received a purple card from Bruce, who promised to investigate the attack on Cobert’s apothecary. Back at the Black Market, Zeng Mu bought two fragments he identified as Elemental Artifacts.

• Zeng Mu overpowered Black Diamond’s rear naked choke, then beat him unconscious and killed him with a final punch to the neck.
• Zeng Mu woke Cobert and confirmed to Bruce that he had won; Bruce gave him a purple card and promised to have his men investigate the attack on Cobert’s apothecary.
• Cobert explained that Bruce slept excessively because of a rare somnolence disorder caused by eating a medicinal herb.
• Zeng Mu returned to the Black Market with Cobert and used Bruce’s card to take two broken stones from a stallholder.
• Zeng Mu told Cobert that the two stones were Elemental Artifact fragments.

Zeng Mu and Cobert searched a casino for Bodesai, whom they suspected of targeting Cobert. Cobert was caught cheating while trying to win access to the upper floors, and Zeng Mu used his rank and title to arrange his release; Cobert’s scream came from behind the torture-room door.

• Hardy told Cobert that Bodesai, a rival herbal medicine shop owner who had sold his shop, was the likely mastermind behind the trouble.
• Zeng Mu and Cobert entered the casino and tried to win enough chips to reach its upper floors, despite the military rules against Zeng Mu gambling there.
• Cobert cheated at cards, won back their losses, and was caught by a casino watcher, who had him dragged into a private room.
• Zeng Mu secretly made gold with elemental power, exchanged it for twenty thousand Livre, and asked the casino staff how to secure Cobert’s release.
• Zeng Mu showed the employee his High-Rank Knight’s Medal and Viscount’s Medal, gaining permission to follow her to Cobert’s room.
• The employee flirted with Zeng Mu, who declined her advances and turned toward the door after hearing Cobert scream inside.

Zeng Mu and Cobert tracked down Bodesai, who admitted that his revenge was aimed at Gegoka rather than Cobert. At Bodesai's shack, they found the remains of his rat-raising operation and a cupboard whose contents seemed to reveal something about his motive.

• Viana freed Cobert after Zeng Mu agreed to a condition, then arranged for the two men to go to the casino's third floor.
• Zeng Mu and Cobert spotted Bodesai at a gaming table, but Bodesai fled through a window and Zeng Mu caught him after a chase.
• Bodesai explained that Gegoka, Cobert's apprentice, had been his real target and invited them to hear the whole story at his shack.
• At the shack, Cobert found an enclosure containing rat droppings, urine, and herb roots, confirming that Bodesai had raised the Red-Eyed Giant Rats there.
• Bodesai pointed to a cupboard, and Cobert opened it and appeared to understand something from what was inside.

Zeng Mu and Cobert learned how Bodesai’s injury began and how it led him to seek revenge, leaving Cobert to confront his apprentice Gegoka. After parting from Cobert, Zeng Mu visited a luxurious flower house, where he was captivated by its flowers and fragrances.

• Bodesai told Zeng Mu and Cobert that Gegoka had sold him the wrong herb, poisoning his medicine and leaving him impotent.
• Bodesai explained that he had raised Red-Eyed Giant Rats to get revenge, then poured out his regrets about his ruined life.
• Cobert returned to his shop, struck Gegoka, and drove him out of Temple Capital after their confrontation.
• Zeng Mu reflected on how little he understood right and wrong, then slept for seven hours on a street bench.
• Zeng Mu found the flower house and entered, immersing himself in its colorful flowers and rich fragrances.

Zeng Mu met Lady Viana at the Starry Night Flower House, where they toured the rooms and spoke under assumed names. In a room of purple balloon flowers, Viana revealed that accompanying her there was only the beginning of her true request.

• Zeng Mu arrived early at the Starry Night Flower House and confirmed that Lady Viana had reserved a room.
• Lady Viana arrived disguised, asked Zeng Mu not to use her name, and called him Witte for the evening.
• Zeng Mu and Viana walked through the flower house, held hands, and shared stories from Viana’s past.
• On the sixth floor, Viana explained that purple balloon flowers symbolized eternal and hopeless love, and said she was like them.
• Viana removed her veil and told Zeng Mu that her true request was to hear the rest of her story, but he questioned whether she had another engagement in mind.

Viana told Zeng Mu about her marriage to Bruce, her longing for a child, and her plan to conceive one with him before trying to seduce him. Yenaier interrupted them and hurried Zeng Mu to an elevated grassy area in Central Park, where she was about to show him something.

• Viana explained that Bruce’s rare herb-induced illness had left him unable to father children and that he had agreed to her secretly meeting other men.
• Viana revealed that she had chosen Zeng Mu as the father of her child and asked him to help her conceive.
• Zeng Mu and Viana began kissing, but Yenaier’s urgent arrival interrupted them before they could go further.
• Yenaier took Zeng Mu away from the flower hall, leaving Viana alone in the room.
• Yenaier led Zeng Mu through the Temple Capital to an elevated stretch of grass in Central Park, saying they would miss something if they did not hurry.

Zeng Mu and Yenaier watched a meteor shower, shared news about their recent troubles and plans, and sparred beneath the night sky. They agreed to travel together with Kiddon the next morning and fell asleep on the grass.

• Yenaier brought Zeng Mu to a hilltop, where they watched a White Dragon Constellation Meteor Shower and made wishes.
• Zeng Mu told Yenaier about his recent experiences, including Viana and Lingya's departure with Duke Jerry on the Temple Master's orders.
• Zeng Mu said he would leave the Temple Capital with Kiddon to study Elemental Artifact Mastery, and Yenaier revealed that she planned to leave the next morning too.
• Yenaier challenged Zeng Mu to a sword-and-dagger spar, and they traded blows beneath the stars before resting on the grass.
• Yenaier asked to travel with Zeng Mu using one of Kiddon's Wind Elemental Artifacts, and the two agreed to leave together the next morning.
• Zeng Mu and Yenaier continued chatting until they grew drowsy and fell asleep side by side beneath the stars.

After Zeng Mu, Qidunston, and Yenaier left the Temple Capital, Ma Linya learned that the Temple Tomb had confirmed she shared Malena’s bloodline. As Malena received the news that Ma Linya was the daughter she had sought for years, Ma Linya waited alone, shaken by memories of her childhood and the destruction of her family.

• Zeng Mu, Qidunston, and Yenaier departed the Temple Capital and discussed Ma Linya’s resemblance to Malena and the mystery of Malena’s adopted daughter, Madea.
• Duke Jerry told Ma Linya that the Temple Tomb had verified her bloodline and that she belonged to Malena’s lineage.
• Alone, Ma Linya recalled growing up with her adoptive family, her brother’s gambling debts, and the attack that destroyed Beteho Town.
• Duke Jerry reported the bloodline result to Malena, who was flustered when he confirmed that Ma Linya was the daughter she had sought for years.

Malena recalled how she fell in love with Ya Qiwen, fled the Holy Temple with him, and gave birth to Ma Linya. Years later, as Ma Sheng'ai's pursuers approached their home, Malena sensed danger while Ya Qiwen was still missing.

• Malena remembered meeting Ya Qiwen at the Flower Festival and falling in love with him when she was eighteen.
• After Ma Sheng'ai caught them together and imprisoned Ya Qiwen, Malena freed him, and they eloped from the Temple Capital.
• Malena and Ya Qiwen spent six months fleeing their pursuers before settling at a nameless mountain, where they lived happily and raised their daughter, Ma Linya.
• Ma Sheng'ai ordered two Manifestation Realm Elementalists to kill Ya Qiwen and bring Malena back unharmed.
• When Ma Linya was two months old, she developed a fever, and Ya Qiwen and Malena cared for her before preparing their evening meal.
• Malena sensed two hostile presences approaching after Ya Qiwen failed to return from fetching firewood.

Ya Qiwen and Malena fought Ma Sheng'ai’s two men as their home burned, but Ya Qiwen died protecting Malena and their infant daughter, Ma Linya. Ma Sheng'ai took the baby and later told Malena she was dead, leaving Malena overwhelmed by grief.

• Ya Qiwen revealed his earth-element abilities and fought the two men sent by Ma Sheng'ai while Malena joined the battle.
• When Malena realized their infant, Ma Linya, was trapped inside the burning house, Ya Qiwen dismantled his elemental mark to hold off the attackers.
• Malena rescued Ma Linya from the flames, but emerged to find Ya Qiwen mortally wounded by an iron sword.
• Ma Sheng'ai took Ma Linya from Malena, knocked her unconscious, and later claimed he had disposed of the child.
• Malena escaped the palace and rode toward the hidden mountains, but Ma Sheng'ai caught her and told her Ma Linya was dead.

Malena rose from grief to become the Holy Temple’s monarch, defeated its invaders, and spent twenty years seeking her lost daughter while raising Madea. Later, Zeng Mu and Yenaier discussed the hidden construction of Xia Bojin’s Ceramic Plate, and Zeng Mu promised to reveal more that night at their way station.

• Malena adopted the baby girl she found drifting in a basket and named her Madea.
• After Ma Sheng'ai died in battle, Malena became monarch, defeated the Viking Legion and Seven Kingdoms Coalition, and killed the Elementalist who had murdered her husband.
• An attendant told Malena that her daughter Lingya was still alive, and Malena devoted herself to finding her while raising Madea.
• Yenaier asked Zeng Mu about Xia Bojin’s Ceramic Plate, and Qidunston identified Zeng Mu’s Red-and-White Fragments as pieces of two Elemental Artifacts.
• Zeng Mu explained that the Ceramic Plate concealed a tough alloy core beneath its clay coating and said they would discuss it further that night.
• Zeng Mu, Yenaier, and Qidunston stopped at a way station after nightfall.