Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xiaobai went to the Minister of Rites' Residence to see Chen Jian, only to find Chen Zhanqiu trying to keep him out. Chen Jian escaped his chains and left with Jiang Xiaobai despite his father's protests, while Chen Zhanqiu vowed revenge.

• Jiang Xiaobai, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess found the Minister's Residence gates shut and its entrance deserted.
• Chen Zhanqiu came out and angrily ordered Jiang Xiaobai to leave, accusing him of leading Chen Jian astray.
• A servant reported that Chen Jian had broken free of his iron chains, and Chen Jian appeared on the wall before leaping down.
• Jiang Xiaobai admitted he was investigating Chen Zhanqiu over possible examination fraud, but Chen Jian urged his father to hand over evidence and called Jiang Xiaobai his dearest friend.
• Chen Jian left in the carriage with Jiang Xiaobai and the others, while Chen Zhanqiu chased after them and shouted that he would get revenge.

Jiang Xiaobai invited Chen Jian to Dragon-Tiger Mountain after learning Chen Jian had developed the Star-Absorbing Great Technique from his brief description. The next morning, Chen Jian nearly used it on Jiang Xiaobai’s father, Jiang Jingcheng, before Jiang Xiaobai stopped him and revealed who he was.

• Jiang Xiaobai welcomed Chen Jian to the Duke of the State's Estate and invited him to join the trip to Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
• At a banquet, Chen Jian explained how he had devised a technique that drew opponents and their internal energy toward his palm.
• Tang Ningshuang offered to let Chen Jian test the technique on her, but Jiang Xiaobai refused and said Chen Jian could try it on someone at Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
• The next morning, a servant told Jiang Xiaobai that Chen Jian had fought with Jiang Jingcheng, and Jiang Xiaobai rushed to the courtyard.
• Chen Jian stopped his technique when Jiang Xiaobai called out, and Jiang Xiaobai revealed that Jiang Jingcheng was his father.
• Jiang Jingcheng asked how Jiang Xiaobai knew the Star-Absorbing Great Technique, and Chen Jian said Jiang Xiaobai had given him pointers.

Jiang Xiaobai's martial arts guidance impressed Chen Jian, while Jiang Jingcheng learned that his son had advised Chen Jian and hurriedly left to avoid explaining himself. At the Chancellor's Residence, Jiang Xiaobai met Li Zhiwei's mother, Xu Yuehua, and tried to charm her after learning who she was.

• Chen Jian praised Jiang Xiaobai's martial arts knowledge and warned Jiang Jingcheng not to disrespect him, leaving Jiang Jingcheng stunned.
• Jiang Xiaobai fled the courtyard with Chen Jian, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess after Jiang Jingcheng demanded an explanation.
• Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the Chancellor's Residence to tell Li Zhiwei he planned to leave for Dragon-Tiger Mountain in two days.
• Li Zhixing urged Jiang Xiaobai to leave before he encountered Xu Yuehua, but Jiang Xiaobai stayed and introduced himself.
• Jiang Xiaobai learned Xu Yuehua was Li Zhiwei's mother and called her a fairy maiden and then an older sister, asking whether she would be angry.

Jiang Xiaobai won over Xu Yuehua by flattering her, explaining his past behavior, and presenting her with perfume, easing her doubts about his engagement to Li Zhiwei. Xu Yuehua accepted him as family and asked him to call her Mother-in-Law, leaving Li Zhiwei delighted.

• Jiang Xiaobai praised Xu Yuehua and explained that his engagement to Li Zhiwei had been approved by both families and His Majesty.
• Xu Yuehua recalled her initial anger over Jiang Xiaobai’s reputation but softened after meeting him and hearing his explanation.
• Jiang Xiaobai gave Xu Yuehua three bottles of perfume he had developed, and she praised the fragrance.
• Xu Yuehua asked Jiang Xiaobai not to bully Li Zhiwei, and he promised that any disagreement would be his fault.
• Xu Yuehua told Jiang Xiaobai to call her Mother-in-Law, and he immediately agreed as Li Zhiwei looked on happily.

Jiang Xiaobai won Xu Yuehua’s approval and spent time with Li Zhiwei before announcing his plan to visit Dragon-Tiger Mountain. He left the Chancellor’s Residence with her family discussing their marriage and whether Xu Yuehua should travel with him to Hidden Edge Mountain.

• Xu Yuehua left with Li Zhixing, and Jiang Xiaobai teased Li Zhiwei by calling her his wife.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Li Zhiwei he planned to visit Dragon-Tiger Mountain, and she warned him that many Martial World figures had gathered there because of the Hidden Edge Sect.
• Jiang Xiaobai kissed Li Zhiwei, but Chen Jian interrupted to ask about his surging blood and qi, embarrassing Li Zhiwei, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess.
• Jiang Xiaobai and Li Zhiwei found Li Bingzhang and Xu Yuehua together in the Main Hall, and Xu Yuehua asked when they would marry.
• Jiang Xiaobai said he and Li Zhiwei would marry after he saw off the Two-Nation Envoy Delegation, then invited Xu Yuehua to travel with him to Hidden Edge Mountain.

Jiang Xiaobai finished preparing for the journey to Dragon-Tiger Mountain and set out with Zhongli Chen, Tang Ningshuang, and an armed escort carrying cannons. As the procession left Capital City, he looked ahead to the coming trip with anticipation.

• Jiang Xiaobai spent the day at the Chancellor's Residence, where Xu Yuehua agreed to look after him and Li Zhiwei asked her mother to keep him safe.
• Jiang Xiaobai prepared his personnel, carriages, cannons, and Desert Eagle for the journey to Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
• Jiang Xiaobai, Tang Ningshuang, and Chen Jian joined Zhongli Chen and the Dragon-Tiger Sect members at the Main Hall before departing.
• Jiang Xiaobai reminded Jiang Jingcheng to oversee a perfume delivery, then left the estate with Zhongli Chen, a hundred armored soldiers, and several cannons.
• Jiang Xiaobai watched Capital City recede from the carriage and looked forward to reaching Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

Jiang Xiaobai's party arrived at Dragon-Tiger Sect for the opening of Hidden Edge Mountain, bringing a hundred soldiers and cannons covered in Black Cloth. After entering the sect, Jiang Xiaobai learned that his father, Jing Cheng, had not come and that he would represent him.

• Jiang Xiaobai's party traveled along the imperial highway, and Zhang Xinnian distributed provisions to them.
• The party reached the mountain inns near Dragon-Tiger Sect, where martial artists eyed the soldiers and cannons with contempt.
• At the sect's mountain gate, Zhongli Chen sent Xuan Ce and the soldiers along a back path to haul the cannons uphill.
• The Elder Princess carried Jiang Xiaobai up the mountain with her lightness skill, while Tang Ningshuang and Chen Jian followed.
• Two middle-aged men welcomed Zhongli Chen and asked where Jing Cheng was, and Zhongli Chen introduced Jiang Xiaobai as Jing Cheng's youngest son, come to represent him.

Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the Dragon-Tiger Sect, where Zhongli Chen’s companions warned that the unruly Martial World visitors could endanger him, but Chen Jian promised to protect him. After settling into their guest courtyard, the group discovered a huge toad that terrified the Elder Princess.

• Two middle-aged men warned Jiang Xiaobai that dangerous Martial World figures had gathered at Dragon-Tiger Mountain and urged him to return to the capital, but he refused.
• Chen Jian threatened to kill anyone who harmed Jiang Xiaobai, and the men recognized that Chen Jian was an expert.
• Zhongli Chen asked Hu Yue to escort Jiang Xiaobai and his companions to guest lodgings and arrange rooms for a general’s party when it arrived.
• Hu Yue led Jiang Xiaobai, Chen Jian, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess to a quiet courtyard, where Jiang Xiaobai suggested they each take a room.
• As Jiang Xiaobai headed out of the room, the Elder Princess leaped onto his shoulders and pointed out a huge toad beside the door.

Jiang Xiaobai pretended not to notice when the Elder Princess accidentally spoke while disguised as his deaf-mute maid. After deciding he had known her identity since Guanlan Tower, the Elder Princess abandoned her plan to confront him immediately and vowed to keep pretending until she could deal with him later.

• A toad startled the Elder Princess into speaking, and Jiang Xiaobai pretended he had not heard her.
• The Elder Princess, Tang Ningshuang, and Chen Jian went to their rooms, while Jiang Xiaobai was relieved that he had avoided an awkward conversation.
• The Elder Princess asked Tang Ningshuang whether Jiang Xiaobai knew her identity, and Tang Ningshuang's reactions convinced her that he had figured it out long ago.
• The Elder Princess traced Jiang Xiaobai's suspicions back to Guanlan Tower and grew furious as she recalled making him massages and helping him dress.
• The Elder Princess decided not to confront Jiang Xiaobai yet and vowed to keep up the act until she could deal with him later.

The Elder Princess stewed over Jiang Xiaobai recognizing her identity, then tried to take revenge the next morning. After she tore his robe and admitted she had never been deaf or mute, Jiang Xiaobai pretended not to understand, but reluctantly sat down for the massage she threatened to give him.

• The Elder Princess lay awake, fuming over how Jiang Xiaobai had made her wait on him and vowing revenge.
• The next morning, Jiang Xiaobai watched Chen Jian practice while Tang Ningshuang nervously insisted she knew nothing.
• The Elder Princess reached to straighten Jiang Xiaobai’s clothes, then ripped his robe when she remembered her vow to get back at him.
• The Elder Princess apologized aloud and admitted she had been pretending to be deaf and mute, while Jiang Xiaobai feigned surprise and Tang Ningshuang watched in embarrassment.
• The Elder Princess threatened to massage Jiang Xiaobai’s shoulders, and he reluctantly sat down after claiming they were a little sore.

The Elder Princess retaliated against Jiang Xiaobai by ordering his breakfast covered in salt, but Jiang Xiaobai tricked her into tasting it and fled. Their chase was interrupted when Zhongli Chen arrived with two others.

• The Elder Princess gave Jiang Xiaobai a painful massage until a Dragon-Tiger Sect disciple arrived with breakfast.
• The Elder Princess sent the food back and ordered the kitchen to add a pound of salt, then threatened Jiang Xiaobai when he tried to refuse it.
• Chen Jian and Tang Ningshuang declined to help Jiang Xiaobai, who followed the Elder Princess inside for breakfast.
• The Elder Princess fed Jiang Xiaobai the heavily salted food, but he praised it and got her to taste it herself.
• Jiang Xiaobai laughed and ran from the room as the Elder Princess chased him through the courtyard.
• Zhongli Chen arrived with two others and saw Jiang Xiaobai fleeing from the Elder Princess.

Jiang Xiaobai met Dragon-Tiger Sect Master Lu Yuanshan, who wanted him to return to the capital, but Jiang Xiaobai insisted on staying to take his father's place. Lu Yuanshan allowed him to remain for at most two days as they awaited visitors from the Hidden Edge Sect.

• Zhongli Chen told Jiang Xiaobai that his Household Guards had camped on the mountain's rear slopes and warned him that Lu Yuanshan wanted him to leave.
• Zhongli Chen brought Jiang Xiaobai to the Dragon-Tiger Sect's Main Hall and introduced him to Lu Yuanshan and Chen Songhan.
• Lu Yuanshan ordered Jiang Xiaobai to leave, but Chen Songhan persuaded him to let Jiang Xiaobai stay for two days.
• Jiang Xiaobai declared that he would stay and do better than his father, while Lu Yuanshan instructed Zhongli Chen to escort him down the mountain by the day after tomorrow.
• The Elder Princess stood behind Jiang Xiaobai and resumed massaging his shoulders as he sat waiting for the Hidden Edge Sect's people.

At the Dragon-Tiger Sect’s Main Hall, Jiang Xiaobai endured the Elder Princess’s painful pinching while Lu Yuanshan and Chen Songhan recognized her as Xiao Yunshu and avoided provoking her. When an Upper Sect elder arrived, Xiao Yunshu slapped a young man who challenged Jiang Xiaobai and was recognized by the elder as the Upper Sect’s Deputy Sect Master, though she denied it.

• Lu Yuanshan told the Elder Princess to keep pinching Jiang Xiaobai after recognizing her as Xiao Yunshu, and Chen Songhan agreed rather than risk offending her.
• An Upper Sect elder entered the Main Hall with two young men, and one young man rebuked Jiang Xiaobai for staying seated.
• The Elder Princess released Jiang Xiaobai, approached the young man, and slapped him out of the hall.
• The robed elder recognized the Elder Princess as the Deputy Sect Master, but she denied the identity and returned to pinching Jiang Xiaobai.
• The robed elder told the slapped young man to wait outside, while the other young man silently felt relieved that he had not joined the rebuke.

Jiang Xiaobai used the Elder Princess's intimidating presence to secure permission to stay on Dragon-Tiger Mountain. He then pressed Yu Shangwu to explain the Hidden Edge Sect's plans.

• Yu Shangwu learned that Jiang Jingcheng had become the Duke of the State and that Jiang Xiaobai had come to Dragon-Tiger Mountain in his place.
• Lu Yuanshan and the elders hesitated to say whether Jiang Xiaobai should stay, each passing the question to someone else until it reached Zhongli Chen.
• Jiang Xiaobai declared he would stay and challenged the elders to object to his maid, the Elder Princess.
• After the Elder Princess pinched Jiang Xiaobai, Lu Yuanshan and Chen Songhan said they had no objections, and Jiang Xiaobai declared the matter settled.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Yu Shangwu to reveal the Hidden Edge Sect's other arrangements, saying the Elder Princess wanted to hear them.

Yu Shangwu explained that the Hidden Edge Sect’s opening could lead to clashes over tokens and old grudges, so the sect planned a Dragon-Tiger Contest and wanted Jiang Jingcheng to serve as its Blade-Guarding Envoy. Jiang Xiaobai volunteered to take his father’s place, and after Lu Yuanshan and Chen Songhan objected, Lu agreed to let him try for one day.

• Yu Shangwu warned that factions might fight over Hidden Edge Tokens or settle old grudges when the Hidden Edge Sect opened its gates.
• Yu Shangwu proposed a Dragon-Tiger Contest where factions could settle grudges or compete for tokens, with a Blade-Guarding Envoy enforcing the rules.
• Yu Shangwu asked Jiang Jingcheng to serve as Blade-Guarding Envoy, but Jiang Xiaobai volunteered to take his father’s place.
• Yu Shangwu warned Jiang Xiaobai that the position was dangerous, but Jiang Xiaobai insisted he could handle it and saw potential benefits for his family.
• Lu Yuanshan and Chen Songhan opposed Jiang Xiaobai’s appointment because of the risks, and Jiang Xiaobai asked to try for one day.
• Lu Yuanshan reluctantly agreed to let Jiang Xiaobai serve for a day.

Jiang Xiaobai agreed to try to bring the Martial World factions into line as Blade-Guarding Envoy and learned more about the unusual internal energy within him. After receiving a fist manual, he asked Chen Songhan what treasure or secret at the Hidden Edge Sect had drawn so many Martial World people there.

• Lu Yuanshan agreed to let Jiang Xiaobai try to settle matters, and the Martial World people were told to gather at the back mountain in three days.
• Chen Songhan agreed to accompany Jiang Xiaobai to the Dragon-Tiger Contest and examined his internal energy, finding that he had reached the first rank.
• Chen Songhan recognized Jiang Xiaobai's harmonized internal energies as the work of the Scarlet and Dark Elders' Yin-Yang Limitless Art.
• Jiang Xiaobai suspected the Elder Princess had been secretly transferring energy to him while he slept, and she denied helping him before stomping on his foot.
• Chen Songhan gave Jiang Xiaobai a Dragon-Tiger Sect fist manual and heard that Jiang Xiaobai had a plan for the contest that he would reveal in three days.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Chen Songhan what the Hidden Edge Sect had that attracted so many people from the Martial World.

Jiang Xiaobai learned about the Hidden Edge Sect’s attractions and visited the camp at Rear Mountain. As he prepared to leave, he spotted the Lake Pavilion Expert on Hidden Edge Mountain and exchanged a wave with her.

• Chen Songhan told Jiang Xiaobai about the Blade-Viewing Wall, the World's Number One Blade, the Mysterious Dragon Gate, hidden edge force, the Library Pavilion, and an unknown imperial family relic at the Hidden Edge Sect.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked the Elder Princess about the imperial family relic, but she denied knowing anything about it.
• Jiang Xiaobai, Chen Jian, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess went to Rear Mountain, where Zhang Xinnian explained that his soldiers had camped there.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Zhang Xinnian about the Dragon-Tiger Contest and the Blade-Guarding Envoy, then joined the soldiers for wine and grilled fish.
• Jiang Xiaobai spotted the Lake Pavilion Expert standing atop Hidden Edge Mountain, and she waved back when he greeted her.

Jiang Xiaobai endured three days of punishing fist training from the Elder Princess before joining Zhang Xinnian at the rear mountain, where soldiers and cannons prepared for the Martial World’s arrival. Yu Shangwu appeared with three companions as the chapter ended.

• The White-Dressed Woman defended Jiang Xiaobai against Peng Xiao, who left with resentment after she said Jiang Xiaobai was better than him.
• The Elder Princess repeatedly trained and tormented Jiang Xiaobai for three days, helping him improve his fist techniques.
• A Dragon-Tiger Sect disciple told Jiang Xiaobai that Elder Zhong had gone down the mountain and asked him to head to the rear mountain after breakfast.
• Jiang Xiaobai and the others reached the rear mountain, where Zhang Xinnian reported that the cannons and hundred soldiers were ready.
• Yu Shangwu and three companions arrived from the direction of Hidden Edge Mountain.

Yu Shangwu introduced Jiang Xiaobai to Hidden Edge Sect elder Luo River and Peng Xiao, who insulted Jiang and was kicked into the river by the Elder Princess. When Peng Xiao drew his saber, Jiang Xiaobai ordered Chen Jian to drain most of his internal energy; a newly arrived bald elder then caught Jiang’s attention.

• Yu Shangwu introduced Elder Luo River and Peng Xiao to Jiang Xiaobai, and Peng Xiao mocked Jiang as a useless wastrel.
• The Elder Princess kicked Peng Xiao into the river and then struck him again when he continued insulting her.
• Peng Xiao drew his saber, but Jiang Xiaobai ordered Chen Jian to use the Star-Absorbing Great Technique and drain most of Peng Xiao’s internal energy.
• Yu Shangwu asked Jiang Xiaobai to forgive Peng Xiao, and Jiang warned that he could lose his life if he failed to learn proper rules.
• A nearly bald elder arrived, remarked on the commotion, and Jiang Xiaobai told Chen Jian to drain him too.

At Hidden Edge Mountain, Chen Jian subdued a balding old man with his unusual techniques, while Jiang Xiaobai watched the martial world gather for the Dragon-Tiger Contest. Jiang Xiaobai met familiar rivals and his future mother-in-law, then hinted that he could keep the gathered martial artists in line.

• Chen Jian pierced the balding old man's palm force with One Yang Finger, then repeatedly pulled him forward with the Star-Absorbing Great Technique until Jiang Xiaobai told him to stop.
• The balding old man abandoned his plan to watch the fun and stepped aside after Jiang Xiaobai questioned him.
• Martial artists arrived in growing numbers, including Li Jingxing, He Chang Geng and the First Rank Hall, while He Chang Geng exchanged a greeting with Jiang Xiaobai.
• The Northern Yu Delegation arrived in Great Hua attire, and Helian Zhaoyue angrily rejected Jiang Xiaobai's invitation to chat.
• Xu Yuehua introduced Jiang Xiaobai to a middle-aged woman, who questioned whether his soldiers could control the gathered martial artists; Jiang Xiaobai replied, “Not necessarily.”