Chapter Summaries

Jia Huan borrowed eight hundred taels from Wang Xifeng to buy a rank-and-file post in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. After paying Company Commander Ge, he went to register and collect his badge, beginning his new path in the emperor’s personal force.

• Jia Huan asked Wang Xifeng for eight hundred taels to buy an Embroidered Uniform Guard post, and she questioned his motives.
• Jia Huan explained that he wanted to make something of himself, and Wang Xifeng lent him the money after warning him not to waste it gambling.
• Jia Huan met Company Commander Ge at Taibai Tower and handed over his personal details and the eight hundred taels.
• Company Commander Ge accepted the money and told Jia Huan to register at the office and collect his badge.

Jia Huan joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard and took part in arrests, earning Xingyi Fist after helping capture a rapist. He then knocked a dangerous murderer down with one punch and hurried to deliver him to the Imperial Prison for another reward.

• Hundred-Household Officer Ge assigned Jia Huan to He Liang’s command, and Jia Huan followed He Liang on an arrest despite being told to stay behind.
• He Liang arrested a teahouse attendant who confessed to raping seven women, and Jia Huan beat the prisoner before taking him to the Imperial Prison.
• Jia Huan received Xingyi Fist at consummate mastery and gained experience points based on his small contribution to the arrest.
• He Liang took Jia Huan and two subordinates to arrest a murderer at a courtyard brothel, where Jia Huan stopped the fleeing man with a powerful punch.
• He Liang divided the silver taken from the murderer among the four guards and ordered the prostitute taken to the Imperial Prison for allegedly harboring a criminal.

After gaining inner force and a lightness skill, Jia Huan returned home and clashed with his father over joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He stood firm despite condemnation from Jia Tanchun, who swore she would rather die than ever ask him for help.

• Jia Huan left the Imperial Prison after receiving the Cloud Ladder Vertical Leap Lightness Skill and gaining inner force.
• Jia Zheng ordered Jia Huan to resign from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but Jia Huan refused and challenged his father’s treatment of him.
• Madam Wang defended Jia Huan’s decision and privately welcomed the prospect of his career keeping him away from the household.
• Concubine Zhao worried about the danger of Jia Huan’s new job, and he promised to make her an Imperially Invested Lady when he rose in rank.
• Jia Tanchun scorned Jia Huan for joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he confronted her about their unequal upbringing and her rejection of him.
• Jia Tanchun swore she would rather die than ever ask Jia Huan for anything, and he returned to his room.

Jia Huan captured the fugitive monk Yuan Si, earning a system reward and a promotion to Great Banner in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He returned home with new martial arts and the authority to lead six men on cases.

• Jia Huan pursued the blood-soaked monk Yuan Si through the alleys and defeated him with martial arts before the Embroidered Uniform Guards arrived.
• Jia Huan learned that Yuan Si had murdered a month-old infant and helped capture him before he could escape the Capital.
• Jia Huan received the perfected Earthly Fiend One-Slash Kill technique from the system and tested it by splitting a tree trunk with one strike.
• Two Southern Commandant Office officials promoted Jia Huan to Great Banner and awarded him five taels of silver.
• Concubine Zhao celebrated Jia Huan's promotion and hurried to boast about his achievement in the Grand View Garden.

Concubine Zhao celebrated Jia Huan’s promotion after he captured a dangerous criminal, while Wang Xifeng and the beauties in Grand View Garden reacted to the news. Xue Baochai congratulated Jia Huan and gave him silver for his new duties, which he reluctantly accepted.

• Wang Xifeng confirmed that Jia Huan had been promoted and arranged for Ping'er to bring him fifty taels of silver for work expenses.
• Concubine Zhao and Caiyun told the women in Grand View Garden how Jia Huan had captured the bald donkey alive, and Concubine Zhao showed them his official document.
• Lin Daiyu and Li Wan admired Jia Huan’s bravery, while Jia Baoyu doubted the story and grew jealous of the attention Jia Huan received.
• Xue Baochai visited Jia Huan, congratulated him on his promotion, and pressed him to accept two ingots of silver for maintaining ties with his colleagues.

Jia Huan asserted his authority over his new Embroidered Uniform Guard subordinates and agreed to help Jia Rong deal with a gambling house. He also decided to find a way to steal Jia Rong’s bride-to-be, Qin Keqing.

• Jia Huan collected his Book of Impermanence and resolved to rise to Hundred-Household Commander as quickly as possible.
• Jia Huan beat Fathead Fish and Skinny Monkey after they challenged his authority, and the six Strongmen accepted him as their superior.
• Jia Huan invited his subordinates to a brothel so they could brief him on the office’s affairs.
• Jia Rong asked Jia Huan to punish a gambling house that had refused to pay his winnings, and Jia Huan agreed to send three subordinates.
• Jia Huan learned that Jia Rong was to marry Qin Keqing and resolved to steal her bride-to-be.

Jia Huan fretted over the lack of serious criminals to pursue after exhausting the Imperial Prison’s backlog. On his way home, five monks from the No-Killing Temple ambushed him to avenge Yuan Si, but his first saber strike shattered their leader’s staff and left the monks stunned.

• Jia Huan absorbed experience from the newly imprisoned criminals and advanced to the second level of the Postnatal Realm.
• Jia Huan let Twin Whips and Drunkard go home to rest after their exhausting work.
• Five monks from the No-Killing Temple waited in an incense shop on Zhongling Street and prepared to ambush Jia Huan for Yuan Si’s death.
• The monks surrounded Jia Huan, and he urged them to attack together before the Patrol Office guards arrived.
• The thick-browed monk attacked Jia Huan with his staff, but Jia Huan broke it with one saber stroke and wounded the monk’s hands.

Jia Huan killed all five monks from No-Killing Temple on Zhongling Street, then took their hidden treasure and ordered the Patrol Office guards to bring the bodies to the Imperial Prison. Xue Pan watched the slaughter and resolved to persuade his mother to arrange a marriage between Jia Huan and Baochai.

• Xue Pan recognized Jia Huan and urged a friend to notify the Patrol Office, fearing the monks would kill him.
• Jia Huan used his martial skills to kill three monks, then pursued and killed the hook-nosed monk.
• Jia Huan killed the last monk and searched the incense-and-candle shop, finding gold ingots and valuable jadeite.
• Jia Huan showed his Identification Plaque to the Patrol Office guards and ordered them to take the bodies to the Imperial Prison.
• Xue Pan watched Jia Huan leave and resolved to persuade his mother to arrange his marriage to Baochai.

After Jia Huan killed five wanted monks, the Southern Commandant Office investigated and confirmed their crimes, while Jia Huan gained strength and a growing reputation. He returned to the Rongguo Mansion as word of his victory spread through the Capital.

• Jia Huan told three Embroidered Uniform Guards that he had killed five disciples of Yuan Si after they ambushed him and revealed plans to murder officials.
• Jia Huan received the first form of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and advanced to the fourth level of the Postnatal Realm, though his reward reflected only 85% participation.
• The Southern Commandant Office confirmed the monks came from the No-Killing Temple and had committed numerous crimes across Jiangzhou.
• Jia Huan left the Imperial Prison, where Fathead Fish, Skinny Monkey, Drunkard, and Yan Pu praised his victory and discussed his prospects for promotion and the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking.
• Jia Huan returned toward the Rongguo Mansion as people on Ningrong Street praised him and the gatekeepers greeted him respectfully.

Jia Huan returned home unharmed, gave Concubine Zhao gold and repaid Wang Xifeng’s loan with a precious piece of jadeite. The Southern Commandant Office promoted him to General Banner while limiting his command and pay, leaving him one rank short of the authority he sought.

• Jia Huan reassured Concubine Zhao and gave her a bundle of twenty-eight gold ingots, which she accepted for safekeeping.
• Jia Huan visited Wang Xifeng and insisted she accept a large piece of jadeite in repayment for the eight hundred taels she had lent him.
• Wang Xifeng told Ping'er to lock the jadeite away, then watched Jia Huan leave with unfamiliar feelings.
• An official from the Southern Commandant Office informed Jia Huan that he would be promoted to General Banner but would keep his existing benefits and command only six Strongmen.
• Jia Huan accepted the promotion, knowing he still needed to rise another rank to access the Case File Archive.

Jia Huan accepted Jia Mu’s offer of a maid and chose Qingwen, provoking Jia Baoyu’s fury and displeasing the matriarch. After Qingwen joined his household, Jia Huan defended her blunt nature and left for the office.

• Concubine Zhao celebrated Jia Huan’s promotion while Jia Zheng privately resented his career in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and resolved to steer Baoyu toward the imperial examinations.
• Jia Mu praised Jia Huan and offered him a maid, and he chose Qingwen, whom Baoyu had expected to serve him.
• Jia Huan pointed out that refusing his request would invite ridicule, so Jia Mu handed over Qingwen’s bond of servitude despite her displeasure.
• Qingwen argued with Concubine Zhao, and Jia Huan told her to speak respectfully to his mother before rejecting Baoyu’s offer to restore their brotherly friendship.
• Concubine Zhao assigned Caiyun and Qingwen different duties, but Jia Huan told her not to quarrel with Qingwen and then left for the office.

After being promoted to General Banner, Jia Huan reported to Wang Zhenglun and took command of an office in the Celestial Pivot Office with only six men. As rival General Banners Zhao and Qian competed for Wang’s Hundred-Household Commander post, Jia Huan accepted Zhao’s caseload and looked for a chance to advance.

• Jia Huan met Wang Zhenglun, who praised his abilities but advised him to keep a low profile while serving under him.
• Jia Huan returned to his old office, asked his six subordinates whether they would continue following him, and promised not to let them down.
• Jia Huan and his men found their new office in the Celestial Pivot Office, where General Banner Qian offered drinks and help with cases.
• Scholar told Jia Huan that General Banners Qian and Zhao were competing for Wang Zhenglun’s position, and that Wang wanted to avoid trouble before his transfer to Jinling at the end of October.
• General Banner Zhao gave Jia Huan a dossier and asked him to share his caseload; Jia Huan accepted and resolved to advance amid the rivalry.

Jia Huan arrested a corrupt assistant county magistrate, rewarded his men with martial arts manuals, and learned he had been ranked 199th on the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking. He returned home with gifts for Caiyun and Qingwen, whose prickly relationship with him continued as she helped him change.

• Jia Huan arrested an assistant county magistrate accused of taking bribes and framing innocent people, earning a martial arts reward and experience points.
• Jia Huan gave his six subordinates manuals for Xingyi Fist, Iron Sand Palm, and Life-Taking Chain Kicks, warning them to keep the techniques secret.
• General Banner Qian brought Jia Huan a Command Token and notice that the Misty Rain Tower had ranked him 199th on the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking under the alias Little Butcher.
• General Banner Zhao and Hundred-Household Commander Wang visited to congratulate Jia Huan on his ranking.
• Jia Huan brought pastries and expensive rouge home for Caiyun and Qingwen, then let them help him change out of his uniform.
• Qingwen bristled when Jia Huan pinched her cheek but continued helping him, tugging off his socks and complaining about their smell.

Jia Huan investigated a suspected murder and refused Jia Zhen’s demand to release Master Wu, choosing to pursue the case despite his cousin’s threats. Jia Zhen left furious and ordered Jia Rong to cut ties with Jia Huan.

• A grieving scholar told Jia Huan that he suspected Master Wu had murdered his sister and bribed the coroner to rule her death a suicide.
• Jia Huan sent Twin Whips and other men to have the bodies examined, and the coroner found that the women had died from poison.
• Twin Whips reported that Master Wu was in custody, and Jia Zhen tried to use their family connection and an offered bribe to secure his release.
• Jia Huan refused Jia Zhen’s request and ordered Twin Whips to torture Master Wu before questioning him about the murder.
• Jia Zhen threatened Jia Huan, then slapped Jia Rong twice and ordered him never to call Jia Huan his uncle again.

Jia Huan tortured Master Wu into confessing to murder and collusion with bandits, then led a raid that wiped out the Mang Mountain stronghold and rescued its captives. After executing Master Wu, Jia Huan gained a powerful martial art and reached the sixth level of the Postnatal Realm, while the scholar whose sister had been murdered vowed to repay him.

• Jia Huan tortured Master Wu until he confessed to poisoning Madam Wu Zhang and conspiring with bandits on Mang Mountain, then ordered the confession recorded.
• Jia Huan led six men to Mang Mountain, killed the bandits’ five chiefs, and helped his men defeat the underlings and free dozens of imprisoned women.
• Jia Huan ordered the captured bandits and officials who had sheltered Master Wu sent to the Imperial Prison, then returned and executed Master Wu.
• Jia Huan received the Formless Kalpa Finger and advanced to the sixth level of the Postnatal Realm after Master Wu’s death.
• Jia Huan told the scholar that his sister’s murderer was dead and warned him to seek help from the Embroidered Uniform Guard if Master Wu’s associates threatened him.

Jia Huan defended his actions against Jia Zhen’s accusations by exposing Master Wu’s crimes, then punished Lai Er for challenging him. He left Rongxi Hall defiant, while Jia Zhen vowed that he and Jia Huan could no longer coexist.

• Caiyun warned Jia Huan that Jia Zhen had demanded Jia Zheng punish him for disrespecting his elder, but Jia Huan refused to lie low.
• In Rongxi Hall, Jia Zhen accused Jia Huan of humiliating him, and Jia Huan revealed Master Wu’s crimes and defended arresting him.
• When Lai Er criticized Jia Huan, Jia Huan kicked him down and severed the tendons in both his ankles with his Embroidered Spring Saber.
• Jia Mu arranged for a physician to treat Lai Er but said nothing about punishing Jia Huan, and Jia Zheng offered Jia Zhen a hundred taels for treatment.
• Jia Zhen blamed Jia Rong for failing to intervene and vowed that he and Jia Huan could no longer live under the same sky.
• Back in his courtyard, Jia Huan told Concubine Zhao that he could investigate the servants’ crimes and send them to the Imperial Prison if they challenged him.

Xue Pan tried to connect himself to Jia Huan and gave Xiangling to him after Aunt Xue reluctantly agreed. Jia Huan comforted Xiangling by revealing her origins and promising to search for her family, while Qingwen grew jealous when he praised Xiangling.

• Xue Pan proposed that Baochai marry Jia Huan, but Aunt Xue rejected the idea and insisted Baochai should marry Baoyu.
• Jia Huan refused Xue Pan's gold and offer of sworn brotherhood, but agreed they could be friends if Xue Pan changed his ways.
• Xue Pan threatened suicide until Aunt Xue agreed to let him give Xiangling to Jia Huan.
• Jia Huan told Xiangling that she was the abducted daughter of the Zhen Family and promised to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find her parents and punish the traffickers.
• Xiangling cooked for Jia Huan, who praised her and wiped away her sweat, leaving Qingwen jealous and determined to make him a robe.

After Jia Rong accused Jia Huan of taking bribes, Jia Huan retaliated by sealing the Ningguo Mansion’s businesses and auditing their accounts. Jia Zhen and Jia Rong apologized and recovered most of the shops, but three remained confiscated, and they left vowing to wait for another chance to retaliate.

• Jia Huan learned that Jia Rong had accused him of accepting bribes, and the official warned him to guard against rivals before destroying the accusation.
• Jia Huan took his six subordinates to Ningrong Street and sealed the Ningguo Mansion’s shops to investigate their accounts.
• Jia Rong told Jia Zhen that Jia Huan had sealed the businesses, and Jia Zhen sought help from Jia Mu and Madam Wang, who criticized him for provoking Jia Huan.
• Jia Zhen and Jia Rong went to Jia Huan’s office, where Jia Rong apologized and Jia Zhen asked him to remove the seals.
• Jia Huan ordered the seals removed from all but three shops, which he said had such irregular accounts that they had to be confiscated.
• Jia Zhen warned Jia Rong not to provoke Jia Huan for now and said they would wait for another chance to retaliate.

Jia Huan asked the Misty Rain Tower to reveal where Scarface Fiend and Mother Yaksha were hiding, but its old man refused under the Tower’s rules. Jia Huan challenged the two villains to a fight to the death, leaving the Tower to deliver his message and arrange the duel if they accepted.

• Yan Pu told Jia Huan that Scarface Fiend and Mother Yaksha, wanted for slaughtering three villages, had arrived in the capital and asked him to find them through the Misty Rain Tower.
• Jia Huan visited the Misty Rain Tower, but its old man refused to disclose the villains’ whereabouts without a Thousand-Household Commander’s authority.
• Jia Huan challenged Scarface Fiend and Mother Yaksha in his personal capacity, offering to settle their superiority and lives at a time and place of their choosing.
• The old man warned Jia Huan that the villains were far stronger, but agreed to convey his challenge and arrange the encounter if they accepted.

The Scar-faced Fiend and the She-devil accepted Jia Huan’s public challenge after deciding the Misty Rain Tower would not betray them, while Jia Huan refused repeated pleas to withdraw. Back at Rongguo Mansion, he reassured Qingwen by teasing her into letting him taste her rouge, leaving his duel with the villains ahead.

• The Scar-faced Fiend and the She-devil received Jia Huan’s challenge and decided to fight rather than lose their reputation, while warning that the Embroidered Uniform Guard might be waiting in ambush.
• Jia Huan’s arrests raised his experience and strength, but he gave the martial arts manuals he earned to his subordinates.
• Yan Pu urged Jia Huan to cancel the challenge, but Jia Huan insisted he was confident and would not break his word.
• Jia Huan returned to his office and told his six subordinates not to worry before going back to Rongguo Mansion.
• Qingwen became upset when Jia Huan suggested she learn poetry with Xiangling, and Xue Pan arrived to urge him to abandon the dangerous fight.
• After Qingwen heard Xue Pan predict Jia Huan’s death, Jia Huan promised to withdraw if she let him taste her rouge, and she finally allowed him before fleeing in embarrassment.