Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu rescued two girls from West Cui Mountain bandits and used their Great Forest Temple identities to cow the remaining brigands. After Zhang Xiaohua displayed his strength, he ordered the bandits to give up their money so the brothers could feast.

• Zhang Xiaohua leapt over the bandits and knocked out the two men attacking the girls.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua confronted the four remaining bandits, and Zhang Xiaohu claimed they were lay disciples of Great Forest Temple.
• Zhang Xiaohu framed their intervention as a meritorious deed, and the bandits agreed to let Zhang Xiaohua help them.
• Zhang Xiaohua lifted the carriage horse with one hand, frightening the bandits into harnessing it for him.
• Zhang Xiaohua demanded that the bandits put all their silver and silver notes on the carriage.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu rescued two girls from the West Cui Mountain bandits and escorted them toward Lu Town. After learning the carriage was headed to Four Trees, Zhang Xiaohua suspected the younger girl was related to Li Jinfeng, and the chapter left the brothers facing a group of riders and officials coming from Lu Town.

• Zhang Xiaohua collected the bandits’ money, sent the carriage fleeing, and rode away with Zhang Xiaohu.
• The bandits celebrated their survival, then learned one of them had secretly marked the carriage with Thousand Mile Fragrance so they could pursue the girls later.
• Zhang Xiaohua hired a driver at a tea stall and heard the girls were bound for Four Trees.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu noticed the younger girl resembled Li Jinfeng and wondered if she was his relative.
• As the group approached Lu Town, Zhang Xiaohua saw riders and government officials coming toward them and wondered whether they had come for the girls.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu left the rescued women to reunite with their fathers and hurried home to Guo Village. As Zhang Xiaohua’s excitement and homesickness surged on the familiar road, his true qi began to rush beyond his control, bringing on his first cultivation crisis.

• The rescued women reunited with their fathers while the chief constable searched for their rescuers and took the carriage driver to the yamen as a witness.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu avoided the officials and rode toward Lu Town, then turned onto the road to Guo Village.
• The brothers rode home in silence, savoring their return and thinking about their family and home.
• Zhang Xiaohua’s thoughts of home stirred his true qi into a rapid, uncontrolled surge as his state of mind outpaced his cultivation.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu returned to Guo Village, where they reunited with their mother after two years apart. Zhang Xiaohua’s uncontrolled true qi settled when he saw Guo Sufi, and the chapter ended with her bringing both sons home and worrying that he had grown too thin.

• Zhang Xiaohua suffered qi deviation on horseback as he and Zhang Xiaohu neared Guo Village, leaving him unable to move.
• Zhang Xiaohua saw his mother, Guo Sufi, waiting at the village entrance, and a cool sensation calmed his true qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua called out to Guo Sufi, then stopped his horse and rushed toward her when Zhang Xiaohu told him to pull the reins.
• Zhang Xiaohua caught Guo Sufi when she stumbled, and mother and son embraced in tears.
• Guo Sufi welcomed Zhang Xiaohu and stroked his head before leading both sons home.
• Guo Sufi lifted Zhang Xiaohua as she had when he was young and lamented that he had grown too thin.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua returned to Guo Village and reunited with their parents, Zhang Xiaolong, and Liu Qian. At home, Zhang Xiaohua discovered that the tea carried Primordial Qi and realized it explained the strange feeling he had sensed around his parents.

• Guo Sufi led Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua into Guo Village, where the villagers welcomed them and admired their fine horses and clothes.
• Zhang Cai found his returning sons, and the family happily walked home together.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu reunited with Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian, while their mother and sister-in-law prepared a welcome dinner.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaolong went to tend to the horses as Zhang Cai shared tea with Zhang Xiaohua.
• Zhang Xiaohua drank the tea, sensed its Primordial Qi entering his middle dantian, and realized why his parents had felt different to him.

Zhang Xiaohua returned home with Zhang Xiaohu and discovered that the spring water had changed his family’s appearance and health. As Zhang Xiaohu recounted their adventures and his entry into the Misty Sect, he revealed that Zhang Xiaohua was the reason he had been accepted, and Zhang Xiaohua began to explain.

• Zhang Xiaohua noticed that his parents and Mr. Liu had black hair and seemed healthier, and Zhang Cai said they had kept the spring water secret.
• Zhang Xiaohua confirmed that tea brewed with the spring water contained Primordial Qi, but Zhang Xiaohu showed no reaction when he drank it.
• Zhang Xiaohua reunited with Zhang Xiaolong, Liu Qian, Guo Sufi, and Mr. Liu, then shared a family dinner before Zhang Xiaohu told them about their years away from home.
• Zhang Xiaohu described his time at the Lotus Escort Agency, his encounter with Zhang Xiaohua, the escort chief’s humiliation, and his acceptance into the Misty Sect as Wen Wenhai’s disciple.
• Mr. Liu questioned how Zhang Xiaohu had gained entry to the Misty Sect, and Zhang Xiaohu revealed that Zhang Xiaohua had made it possible.
• Zhang Xiaohua began telling the family how he had helped Zhang Xiaohu enter the Misty Sect.

Zhang Xiaohua recounted his life at Huanxi Mountain Villa and his reunion with Zhang Xiaohu to his family, leaving out many dangerous details. After he fell asleep at midnight, the family discovered how unusually light he was, and Zhang Xiaohu gave their parents the brothers’ savings.

• Zhang Xiaohua told his family how Li Jinfeng had taught him to read with the Shuowen Jiezi, and Mr. Liu explained that the book was not meant for basic instruction.
• Zhang Xiaohua described saving Ou Yan and yielding his chance to enter the Misty Sect to Zhang Xiaohu, moving Guo Sufi with his willingness to risk himself for others.
• Zhang Xiaohua entertained the family with stories until midnight, when he suddenly fell asleep in Guo Sufi’s arms.
• Guo Sufi said Zhang Xiaohua was extremely light, and Zhang Xiaohu suspected that his martial arts were responsible.
• Zhang Xiaolong carried Zhang Xiaohua to the small room, and Zhang Xiaohu gave Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi the brothers’ savings, including a hundred-tael note from Huanxi Mountain Villa’s manor lord.

Zhang Xiaohua returned to his family’s village and discovered that a huge stone in his field was a Yuan Stone. Absorbing its qi, he broke through to the second level of the Carefree Heart Sutra.

• Zhang Xiaohua visited his grandmother’s grave and told Zhang Cai he would act according to his conscience and avoid regrets.
• After breakfast, Zhang Xiaohua went to his fields and sensed extraordinarily dense Primordial Qi rising from the well.
• While cultivating in the field, Zhang Xiaohua felt a powerful pull from the large stone beneath him and realized it might be a Yuan Stone.
• Zhang Xiaohua used the Carefree Heart Sutra’s Yuan Stone absorption method and drew an overwhelming flow of qi into his meridians.
• Zhang Xiaohua broke through the barrier to the second level of the Carefree Heart Sutra and began refining his true qi through the new meridians.

After absorbing Primordial Qi during nine days of cultivation, Zhang Xiaohua gained divine sense and advanced his Carefree Heart Sutra to the second level. He returned home safely, reassured his worried family, and finally realized how hungry he was.

• Zhang Xiaohua discovered that his senses had become divine sense, which let him perceive everything within about five zhang, and recognized that his Carefree Heart Sutra had reached the second level.
• Zhang Xiaohua emerged from a grass shelter and learned from Zhang Xiaohu that he had been meditating for nine days and nights while his family searched for him and worried over him.
• Zhang Xiaohua asked Zhang Xiaohu not to seek guidance from Great Hero Wen about his cultivation, and Zhang Xiaohu explained how the family had found him and built the shelter around him.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu returned to the village, where Zhang Xiaohu told curious villagers that Zhang Xiaohua had gone to Lu Town.
• Zhang Xiaohua reassured Guo Sufi and Zhang Cai that he was fine and promised to tell them before practicing again, then admitted he was hungry when Liu Qian asked.

After waking, Zhang Xiaohua discovered that his divine sense could detect vitality and shared 3,000 taels in rewards from the Misty Sect and Huanxi Mountain Villa with his family. The money eased the family’s worries, but talk of marriage left Zhang Xiaohu resisting his mother’s plans and Liu Qian quietly affected.

• Zhang Xiaohua ate a little, then used his divine sense while resting and discovered he could sense vitality in tea and well water.
• Zhang Xiaohua brought out a bundle of banknotes and explained that the Misty Sect and Huanxi Mountain Villa had honestly rewarded him with 3,000 taels.
• Zhang Xiaohua recounted the Martial Arts Tournament, and Zhang Xiaohu blushed when he heard Changge mentioned.
• Guo Sufi returned to the room with the money and gave Liu Qian 200 taels for herself, which Liu Qian accepted after Zhang Cai urged her to.
• Guo Sufi asked Zhang Xiaohu to consider marriage, but he objected, while Liu Qian lowered her head and Zhang Xiaolong looked at her tenderly.

Zhang Xiaohua discovered that Liu Qian was pregnant and gave her a piece of primordial stone to nourish the child. He also gave Zhang Xiaolong the Big Dipper Divine Fist manual as the unborn child’s first gift, leaving the family to protect and prepare for the baby.

• Zhang Xiaohua used his divine sense to discover a tiny life force inside Liu Qian and realized she was pregnant.
• Zhang Xiaohua reassured his family and confirmed Liu Qian’s pregnancy after pretending to examine her pulse.
• Zhang Xiaohua chipped a thumbnail-sized piece from the primordial stone on South Slope and placed it in Liu Qian’s silk sachet.
• Zhang Xiaohua confirmed that the primordial stone’s vital energy was reaching the fetus and told Liu Qian to keep the sachet close to her body.
• Zhang Xiaohua gave Zhang Xiaolong the Big Dipper Divine Fist manual as a gift for the unborn child, and Liu Qian carefully put it away.

Zhang Xiaohua discovered that several objects from the cave pouch contained primordial qi and used his divine sense to uncover ancient texts and techniques. He then realized the money pouch itself held a hidden space, though its purpose remained unknown.

• Guo Sufi urged pregnant Liu Qian to rest and suggested Zhang Xiaohua write down her child-rearing advice, prompting the family to find excuses to leave.
• Zhang Xiaohua went behind the house to investigate the primordial qi he had sensed from the money pouch.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that the small stone contained an ancient text titled Beginner Alchemy, which mentioned herbs.
• Zhang Xiaohua discovered that the damaged jade pendant held a fragmentary diagram and an incantation called the Method of Earth Evasion.
• Zhang Xiaohua sensed primordial qi from the empty money pouch, examined it with his divine sense, and found a hidden space about half the size of his room.

Zhang Xiaohua discovered that his money pouch contained a hidden space he could access with divine sense, and he learned to store and retrieve objects inside it. He realized the pouch might let him transport the enormous Wo Niu Stone, though he had yet to learn whether it would fit or make the pouch too heavy.

• Zhang Xiaohua used his divine sense to explore the pouch’s hidden space and discovered that he could move objects in and out by directing his thoughts.
• Zhang Xiaohua stored the small stone, broken jade pendant, and pearl flower in the hidden space, then confirmed that he had to hold the pouch to access it.
• Zhang Xiaohua examined the space’s jade bottles and found a sealed bottle labeled "Qi Boosting Pill," but put it back after inspecting its contents.
• Zhang Xiaohua remembered the enormous Wo Niu Stone and realized the pouch’s hidden space might provide a way to carry it away.
• Zhang Xiaohua wondered whether the Wo Niu Stone would fit inside the pouch or make it too heavy to carry in his clothes.

Zhang Xiaohua hurried to the field to secure the Qi Stone and stored it in his money pouch after chipping off pieces for future use. He discovered that the family well contained vital energy from tiny Qi Stones, then met Zhang Xiaohu as he came to fetch water.

• Zhang Xiaohua ran past Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian, who discussed his unusual speed, prolonged practice, and possible ability to see their unborn child.
• Zhang Xiaohua used qinggong to reach the field and confirmed with his divine sense that the Qi Stone was still there.
• Zhang Xiaohua chipped several pieces from the Qi Stone, then used his divine sense to put the massive stone into his money pouch, suffering a headache in the process.
• Zhang Xiaohua sensed tiny Qi Stones in the well and realized they had enriched the spring water, so he decided not to remove them because his family drank from it.
• Zhang Xiaohu arrived carrying water buckets and asked Zhang Xiaohua whether his urgent business had anything to do with the well.

Zhang Xiaohua returned home after his seclusion and celebrated with his family, while keeping the truth about his cultivation private from Zhang Xiaohu. That night, he discovered that even tiny Qi Stones supplied abundant spiritual qi, leaving him eager to cultivate with his much larger stone.

• Zhang Xiaohua teased Zhang Xiaohu with a false message about Changge, then explained that he had avoided helping Zhang Xiaolong carry things.
• Zhang Xiaohua confirmed that his nine days of uninterrupted cultivation were real and asked Zhang Xiaohu to keep the matter secret; Zhang Xiaohu promised not to tell anyone.
• Zhang Xiaohua explained that Liu Qian's unusual pregnancy was already stable, so Guo Sufi let her help prepare the family's celebratory meal.
• After the family shared a joyful dinner, Zhang Xiaohu began practicing the Misty Divine Art while Zhang Xiaohua sensed that he could not detect spiritual qi around him.
• Zhang Xiaohua used two small Qi Stones to cultivate and found that they released abundant spiritual qi without being depleted.

Zhang Xiaohua’s family worried about Liu Qian’s unusually long pregnancy and agreed to keep it secret. During the night, Zhang Xiaohua absorbed starlight through his cultivation, while Zhang Xiaohu also drew in some of that energy and tried to cultivate with it; by morning, he found no apparent change in his internal energy or meridians.

• Guo Sufi and Zhang Cai discussed Zhang Xiaohua’s prediction that Liu Qian’s child would take several years to be born, and decided to keep the pregnancy secret from the villagers.
• Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian stayed awake talking about her pregnancy and the silver the family had received.
• At midnight, Zhang Xiaohua absorbed vast amounts of starlight through the spiritual platform atop his head, while some of the energy filled the room.
• Zhang Xiaohu felt cool energy enter his meridians as he practiced the Misty Divine Art, stopped at first, then resumed cultivation and tried to control the energy.
• When the energy stopped after Zhang Xiaohua rose, Zhang Xiaohu checked his body and found no increase in his dantian’s true qi or visible change in his meridians.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua visited Lu Town, where they watched a street performer demonstrate boxing and sell medicinal plasters. They recognized a notorious fat man from their past, and the chapter ended as he challenged the performer to prove the plasters worked while demanding compensation if they did not.

• Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaolong went to the fields, while Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua decided to visit Lu Town and the Li family.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua arrived in Lu Town, tied up their horses, and climbed a tree to watch a monkey show.
• The performer demonstrated his family boxing and began selling plasters, while Zhang Xiaohua noticed a short, fat man pushing through the crowd.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua recognized the fat man and decided to watch before confronting him because he had several attendants and a capable-looking bodyguard.
• The fat man offered to buy all the plasters if they proved effective, then asked how the performer would compensate him if they failed.

Zhang Xiaohua watched Zhao bully a medicine seller and try to seize his monkey and inherited plaster formula, but Zhang Xiaohu stopped him from intervening because their family could face retaliation. Zhang Xiaohu then suggested concealing their identities, and Zhang Xiaohua went back to try to help the seller.

• Zhao accused the medicine seller of selling fake plaster and forced him into a wager that demanded his belongings and formula if the plaster failed a test.
• Zhao proposed breaking the seller’s leg to test the plaster, then had an attendant take the seller’s monkey when he refused.
• Zhang Xiaohua prepared to confront Zhao, but Zhang Xiaohu pulled him away and warned that their family in Guo Village could suffer revenge.
• Zhang Xiaohua declared he would destroy Zhao’s clan if they harmed his family, then agreed to follow Zhang Xiaohu’s plan to avoid trouble.
• Zhang Xiaohu covered his face with a handkerchief and let Zhang Xiaohua return to the crowd to help the seller.

The medicine seller attacked Fatty Zhao, but Sun Yiding intervened and nearly killed him before a masked young man seized Fatty Zhao and stopped the fight. The young man returned the medicine seller’s bundle and monkey, then carried him away, while Zhang Xiaohu quietly left with two horses.

• The medicine seller drew a dagger and attacked Fatty Zhao, but Sun Yiding dragged him out of danger and fought the attacker.
• Fatty Zhao urged Sun Yiding to kill the medicine seller, offering money and favor with Hall Master Zhao.
• A masked young man grabbed Fatty Zhao, slapped him, took his belongings, and kicked him toward Sun Yiding.
• The young man retrieved the monkey and bundle, returned them to the medicine seller, and carried him away over the rooftops.
• Zhang Xiaohu quietly left the square with two jujube-red horses.

Master Zhao sought the Fierce Tiger Gang’s help after his son was beaten, while Hall Master Zhao quietly avoided provoking the masked attacker. Sun Yiding earned Hall Master Zhao’s trust and a new position, but the gang still wanted to identify the attacker’s sect.

• Sun Yiding brought the injured fat man back to Zhao Manor, where Master Zhao summoned Hall Master Zhao and a physician.
• Hall Master Zhao questioned Sun Yiding, promised to investigate the attacker, and pretended he would punish Sun Yiding for failing as a bodyguard.
• The first physician refused to treat the fat man’s fractured thigh, then charged Master Zhao for the visit and ointment.
• Hall Master Zhao examined the fat man and judged that the attacker had spared him from a worse injury; the fat man woke and demanded revenge.
• The fat man confessed that the attacker had taken the jade rings he had stolen from Master Zhao’s study.
• Hall Master Zhao praised Sun Yiding for not provoking the attacker, offered him a proper position in the gang, and asked which sect the attacker belonged to.