Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xiaohu returned to Shixin Peak with Changge, Chen Chen, and four cartloads of herbs, reuniting with Wen Wenhai and reporting the loss of the other disciples. As Zhao Jian grew anxious about Zhang Xiaohu’s rising standing, he approached Deputy Hall Master Zhong and began suggesting that Zhang’s accomplishments were suspicious.

• Zhang Xiaohu reunited with Wen Wenhai, who rejoiced at his return and learned that his Internal Energy Cultivation had advanced.
• Zhang Xiaohu told Wen Wenhai that only Changge and Chen Chen had returned with him, while the other disciples were likely lost in the wolf pack.
• Zhang Xiaohu mentioned the four cartloads of rare herbs and asked whether any herb could restore Wen Wenhai’s shattered dantian, but Wen dismissed the possibility.
• Zhang Xiaohu left to inform Martial Uncle Xue that Changge and Chen Chen had survived, while Wen resumed working in the fields.
• Zhao Jian, uneasy about Zhang Xiaohu’s new merit and influence, visited Deputy Hall Master Zhong and argued that Zhang’s achievements seemed unbelievable.

Zhao Jian persuaded Deputy Hall Master Xu to suspect Zhang Xiaohu of causing the beast tide, appealing to Xu’s ambition and resentment over lost credit. Xu began to entertain the accusation after Zhao Jian claimed Zhang Xiaohu’s martial arts had changed dramatically, leaving Xu questioning whether the disciple he saw was really the same person.

• Zhao Jian told Deputy Hall Master Xu that Misty Hall disciples had been surrounded by blood wolves and that he had seen a Blood Wolf King, then questioned how Zhang Xiaohu had survived and emerged with Changge and Chen Chen.
• Zhao Jian suggested Zhang Xiaohu was connected to the beast tide and argued that the Misty Sect might have hidden plans and powers.
• Deputy Hall Master Xu recognized that Zhao Jian was jealous of Zhang Xiaohu, but Zhao Jian admitted it and urged Xu to pursue the chance to earn merit before the Cult Master.
• Deputy Hall Master Xu became tempted by the prospect of exposing the beast tide’s mastermind and warned Zhao Jian not to use him as a tool.
• Zhao Jian claimed that Zhang Xiaohu’s movement and martial arts had improved enormously, making Deputy Hall Master Xu ask whether he was certain.

Deputy Hall Master Zhong and Zhao Jian suspected Zhang Xiaohu and his companions were connected to the disaster in You Lan Grand Canyon, so they seized them for questioning. Yang Ruying confronted Zhong Pei at Misty Hall, but he refused to release the prisoners and said he had already reported the matter to the Cult Master.

• Zhao Jian urged Deputy Hall Master Zhong to seize Zhang Xiaohu and the other two before they could speak with Yang Ruying, and Zhong gave him the Cult Master's command token.
• Zhao Jian attacked Zhang Xiaohu without warning, but Zhang Xiaohu's improved martial arts overwhelmed him; Zhao Jian then summoned law enforcement disciples, who captured Zhang Xiaohu, Changge, and Chen Chen.
• Aunt Qin tried to stop Changge and Chen Chen from being taken, but let them go after seeing the command token and hurried to seek Yang Ruying's help.
• Yang Ruying and Aunt Qin confronted Zhong Pei after Zhao Jian brought the prisoners to the dungeon, and Zhong claimed he was investigating their escape from You Lan Grand Canyon.
• Yang Ruying demanded that Zhong release the three and threatened to report him to the Cult Master, but Zhong refused and revealed that he had already sent someone to report the matter.

Zhong Pei questioned Zhang Xiaohu about the beast tide and tried to force him to implicate the Misty Sect. Zhang Xiaohu maintained his cover story and refused to name anyone, even when Zhong threatened him with He Tianshu’s fate.

• Yang Ruying left Zhong Pei to question Zhang Xiaohu, Changge, and Chen Chen, warning him not to torture them.
• Zhong Pei examined Zhang Xiaohu’s internal energy and asked about the Vermillion Fruit and the blood wolves in You Lan Grand Canyon.
• Zhang Xiaohu claimed that a loud cry had driven the blood wolves away and that he and the others had later fainted after eating crimson fruits.
• Zhong Pei pressed Zhang Xiaohu to reveal who had incited him and suggested the Misty Sect had caused the beast tide.
• Zhang Xiaohu denied knowing of any plot and refused to implicate anyone, while Zhao Jian angrily challenged his account.
• Zhong Pei threatened Zhang Xiaohu with the ruined condition of He Tianshu, but Zhang Xiaohu still withheld what he knew.

Deputy Hall Master Zhong tortured Zhang Xiaohu for information about the beast tide, and Senior Brother Zhao later destroyed Zhang Xiaohu’s dantian. In another cell, Yang Ruying questioned Chen Chen and admitted she had little power to stop Zhong Pei, leaving Zhang Xiaohu crippled and still in danger.

• Deputy Hall Master Zhong had Zhang Xiaohu suspended on the torture rack and ordered the law-enforcement disciples to torment him without leaving visible injuries.
• Zhang Xiaohu endured the torture without revealing anything and worried that Changge and Chen Chen were suffering too.
• Senior Brother Zhao urged Zhang Xiaohu to confess, then struck his dantian and destroyed his newly acquired inner force after Zhang Xiaohu rejected his taunts.
• Senior Brother Zhao left Zhang Xiaohu unconscious, saying the loss of his inner force would make him less able to endure further punishment.
• Yang Ruying questioned Chen Chen about the wolves finding the disciples and told her that Changge was safe but Zhang Xiaohu was likely being tortured.
• Yang Ruying explained that Zhong Pei had the Cult Master's command token and was driven to uncover the cause of the beast tide, limiting her ability to intervene.

Zhang Xiaohu endured increasingly brutal torture in Shixin Peak's dungeon after Zhao Jian crippled his inner strength, while Zhang Xiaohua secretly healed from his injuries and worried that his role in Deputy Hall Master Xu's death would be discovered. The chapter left Zhang Xiaohu's resolve hardened and Zhang Xiaohua recovering openly as Tianmu Peak disciples crowded around him with concern.

• Yang Ruying protected Changge and Chen Chen from harsh interrogation while Zhang Xiaohu suffered in the dungeon, unaware that Zhao Jian had destroyed his dantian.
• Zhong Pei took the Cult Master's silence as approval and ordered Zhao Jian and the Law Enforcement Hall disciples to torture Zhang Xiaohu with seventy-two poisoned lashes.
• Zhang Xiaohu recalled Li Jinfeng's words about hardship tempering a person and began enduring the punishment with renewed resolve.
• Zhang Xiaohua kept reopening his own healing injuries to maintain his cover, then stopped when his meridians recovered too quickly and no one came to investigate him.
• Yi Xiang Peak traced Deputy Hall Master Xu's death to other sects and never suspected Zhang Xiaohua, who later declined the disciples' offers of medicine and asked them to leave before Chen Fengxiao arrived.

Zhang Xiaohua returned to Tianmu Peak to recover in seclusion and gained a clearer understanding of the Heavenly Dao during meditation. After unknowingly meditating for two days, he learned that a messenger from Baiyue Peak had arrived with a reward, though Lu Chaoxian hinted that he envied it.

• Zhang Xiaohua refused to take charge of Tianmu Peak's disciples and asked Lu Chaoxian to help him move back to the summit.
• Chen Fengxiao approved the move and sent Lu Chaoxian along, and Zhang Xiaohua returned to his cave and pill chamber.
• Zhang Xiaohua reflected on the deaths in You Lan Mu Lian and entered a meditation that made the Heavenly Dao seem clearer and more familiar.
• Zhang Xiaohua emerged from his meditation and learned from Lu Chaoxian that two days had passed and a messenger from Baiyue Peak had arrived.
• Lu Chaoxian revealed that the messenger had brought Baiyue Peak's reward and joked that he felt jealous.

Zhang Xiaohua learned that his reward for surviving You Lan Mu Lian was a permanent assignment to Shixin Peak, where Misty Hall was based. He accepted after Yang Yao gave him pills and two command plaques, then prepared to leave at once, while Lu Chaoxian worried about his dangerous posting.

• Lu Chaoxian told Zhang Xiaohua that an old acquaintance had arrived with a generous reward, and Zhang Xiaohua realized Yang Yao had come.
• Yang Yao told Zhang Xiaohua that Hall Master had assigned him to Shixin Peak and gave him pills as the rest of his You Lan Mu Lian reward.
• Zhang Xiaohua repeatedly refused the assignment until Yang Yao gave him Pill-Refining Hall's command plaque and a second token for requesting an item from other halls.
• Yang Yao explained the assignment's urgency and urged Zhang Xiaohua to leave immediately, while Wu Zhouxu offered him a horse.
• Zhang Xiaohua went to pack, and Lu Chaoxian accompanied him to the cave while warning him about Shixin Peak.

Zhang Xiaohua left Tianmu Peak with Yang Yao, carrying his belongings but leaving the immovable Prajna Heavy Sword behind. On the secluded route to Shixin Peak, he found Huanhuan again, though the horse was frightened by the two little creatures he carried.

• Zhang Xiaohua emptied the pill chamber, failed to move the Prajna Heavy Sword with divine sense or Object Manipulation, and left it behind.
• Lu Chaoxian, Senior Brother Wang, and others met Zhang Xiaohua, then Yang Yao escorted him away from Tianmu Peak toward Shixin Peak.
• Yang Yao explained that they were taking a secluded shortcut, while Zhang Xiaohua quietly suspected a possible ambush and realized his injuries had healed.
• As dusk approached, Zhang Xiaohua stopped on the trail and whistled, bringing Huanhuan rushing out of the grass and woods.
• Huanhuan approached Zhang Xiaohua affectionately, then sensed the two little creatures in his arms and backed away in fear.

Zhang Xiaohua retrieved the Prajna Heavy Sword and his stored herbs from Tianmu Peak, then continued his journey with Yang Yao. They reached the approach to Shixin Peak, where someone challenged them and demanded to know who they were.

• Zhang Xiaohua reunited with Huanhuan, then flew to Tianmu Peak and discovered his Riding the Wind Technique had improved.
• Zhang Xiaohua took the Prajna Heavy Sword and collected the jade boxes of herbs from the small courtyard.
• Zhang Xiaohua overheard Senior Brother Hu and Junior Brother Qian discuss Lord Qingming's orders to lie low and create confusion by killing ordinary Incense-Passing Cult disciples.
• Zhang Xiaohua realized the group's actions might help conceal his own role in Qiangshi's disappearance, then returned to camp before midnight.
• Zhang Xiaohua traveled with Yang Yao for two more days and learned they were nearing Shixin Peak, where Yang Yao advised him to avoid conflict and learn martial arts.
• A roadside disciple ordered Zhang Xiaohua and Yang Yao to stop and explain who they were.

Ren Xiaoyao arrived at Shixin Peak as the Pill-Refining Hall’s newly appointed duty disciple and discovered that Misty Hall disciples treated newcomers with open hostility. After one of them challenged him, Ren Xiaoyao knocked the disciple’s sword away with the Iron Lotus Seed he had caught, leaving the gathered disciples surrounding him.

• At the foot of Shixin Peak, a guarding disciple warned Ren Xiaoyao that Misty Hall was dangerous, while Yang Yao said farewell and urged him to follow the Hall Master’s orders.
• As Ren Xiaoyao rode up the mountain, a hidden Iron Lotus Seed flew at his shoulder, and he caught it between two fingers.
• Several Misty Hall disciples jumped down from a tree, and their leader insulted Ren Xiaoyao and challenged him to a fight.
• Ren Xiaoyao wagered that he could knock the leader’s sword away within thirty moves, and the leader promised to kowtow if he succeeded.
• Ren Xiaoyao flicked the Iron Lotus Seed into the sword hilt, sending the sword flying into a tree and prompting the other disciples to surround him.

Zhang Xiaohua confronted Misty Hall disciples at Shixin Peak, then learned that Zhang Xiaohu was there in a troubling situation. As inner disciples arrived, a woman in black recognized Zhang Xiaohua, leaving him facing an unexpected encounter.

• Zhang Xiaohua defeated Liu Qiaogang, rebuked the Misty Hall disciples for their conduct, and persuaded Liu to admit his fault to the hall elders instead of kowtowing to him.
• Liu Qiaogang and the other disciples welcomed Zhang Xiaohua, who asked about Zhang Xiaohu and explained that Zhang Xiaohu had rescued him in You Lan Grand Canyon.
• The disciples said Zhang Xiaohu was on Shixin Peak but in a very bad situation, without explaining further.
• After an inner-disciple signal appeared, Senior Brother Ding told Zhang Xiaohua to wait while he and the others went to welcome the arriving inner disciples.
• A woman in black riding past Zhang Xiaohua stared at him in surprise and cried out.

Zhang Xiaohua waited on the mountain road for the Inner Sect Envoy and was recognized by Chen Chen, who invited him to ride with her despite Zhong Pei’s objections. As they headed toward Shixin Peak, Zhang Xiaohua told Chen Chen about his recent adventures, and her disguise slipped when she spoke in her usual voice.

• Aunt Qin passed Zhang Xiaohua without recognizing him, then later wondered whether he resembled Zhang Xiaohu’s younger brother, Zhang Xiaohua.
• Chen Chen recognized Zhang Xiaohua as Ren Xiaoyao and asked Aunt Qin to learn why he had come to Shixin Peak.
• Aunt Qin reported Zhang Xiaohua’s errand, and Chen Chen invited him to join her convoy despite Zhong Pei’s objections.
• Zhang Xiaohua pretended not to recognize Chen Chen and rode beside her as she questioned him about the Pill-Refining Hall.
• Zhang Xiaohua told Chen Chen about his recent experiences, and she slipped back into her normal voice before he pretended to be shocked by her identity.

Chen Chen recognized Zhang Xiaohua and questioned him about the You Lan Mu Lian, while he carefully concealed the truth and praised Zhang Xiaohu’s deeds. As they reached Shixin Peak, Chen Chen told Zhang Xiaohua to watch as she met Hall Master Yang Ruying, who had been anxiously awaiting the envoy.

• Chen Chen revealed that she was pleased with Zhang Xiaohua’s abilities and promised to recommend him to the Cult Master, then discovered that he knew Kong Que and Xia Qing.
• Chen Chen learned that Zhang Xiaohua had participated in the You Lan Mu Lian and asked him to describe how he had escaped the Yellow Wind and met Zhang Xiaohu.
• Zhang Xiaohua recounted a fabricated account of the Yellow Wind attack and Zhang Xiaohu’s rescue, crediting himself with setting an injured inner sect disciple’s bones.
• Chen Chen invited Zhang Xiaohua to accompany her so he could see why she had come to Misty Hall.
• Yang Ruying saw Chen Chen’s party approaching Shixin Peak and wondered whether the envoy’s slow arrival was a display of authority.

Chen Chen arrived at Shixin Peak to investigate the dispute between Yang Ruying and Zhong Pei, then discovered Zhang Xiaohu badly injured and heard Chen Chen’s account of what happened in You Lan Grand Canyon. The investigation remained unresolved as Zhao Jian interrupted the questioning and was silenced by the envoy.

• Chen Chen presented the Cult Master's jade talisman to Yang Ruying and ordered the parties brought to Misty Hall for questioning.
• Zhong Pei admitted that he had used punishments on Zhang Xiaohu, who was carried into the hall covered in blood and gravely injured.
• Changge and Chen Chen grieved over Zhang Xiaohu, and Changge accused Zhao Jian of being the true culprit.
• Chen Chen examined Zhang Xiaohu, judged his life not to be in danger, and gave Changge a Jade Return Pill for him.
• Chen Chen questioned Chen Chen about the events in You Lan Grand Canyon, and Zhao Jian interrupted to accuse her of lying.
• Chen Chen rebuked Zhao Jian for speaking out of turn and ordered him to remain silent.

Veiled Chen Chen questioned Misty Hall’s survivors about the Blood Wolf attack and the events that followed, while Zhong Pei and Zhao Jian made their cases against Zhang Xiaohu. The chapter ended with Zhao Jian beginning his accusation that the survivors were lying.

• Veiled Chen Chen established that Chen Chen, Changge, and Zhang Xiaohu could not confirm whether Zhao Jian and Xia Zihe’s horses had returned to the woods before the Blood Wolves attacked.
• Chen Chen described how a roar from the southern exit drove away the Blood Wolves, after which she and Changge found Vermillion Fruit and later used four elk to haul precious herbs out of the woods.
• Chen Chen and Changge defended Zhang Xiaohu against accusations of involvement in the beast tide, but Zhang Xiaohu was too injured to clearly explain that Zhao Jian had crippled him.
• Zhong Pei recounted his suspicions and portrayed Zhang Xiaohu as the beast tide’s instigator, while Zhang Xiaohua realized Zhong Pei had used his second brother as a pawn in a struggle for favor.
• Veiled Chen Chen invited Zhao Jian to speak and warned that she would report his words to the Cult Master, and Zhao Jian declared that Chen Chen and the others were lying.

Zhao Jian accused Zhang Xiaohu of conspiring with the Blood Wolf Pack, turning most of the Misty Hall disciples against him despite the lack of evidence. Wen Wenhai entered to defend his disciple, and Zhang Xiaohua’s outrage grew as the accusation went unanswered.

• Zhao Jian claimed Zhang Xiaohu could not have survived the wolf attack without a connection to the Blood Wolf Pack, and the disciples began to doubt him.
• Veiled Chen Chen questioned Zhao Jian, Chen Chen, Zhong Pei, Yang Ruying, and Aunt Qin, but none produced evidence that settled the dispute.
• Veiled Chen Chen asked the disciples to choose sides, and only a small fraction stood with Zhang Xiaohu while most stood with Zhao Jian or remained undecided.
• Wen Wenhai entered Misty Hall and declared that he would answer for Zhang Xiaohu, challenging Zhong Pei to explain how a cripple could be involved in the beast tide.
• Wen Wenhai said the disciples could choose whom to believe but condemned those who acted against their conscience for power and reputation, stirring Zhang Xiaohua’s anger toward Yi Xiang Peak.

Veiled Chen Chen revealed that Zhong Pei had been misled and ordered him to return to Yi Xiang Peak to plead guilty, while Zhao Jian admitted his jealousy of Zhang Xiaohu and his role in framing him. The chapter ended with Chen Chen invoking the Cult’s Third Rule against Zhao Jian, who was left horrified.

• Wen Wenhai defended Zhang Xiaohu and challenged the assembly to accuse him instead.
• Veiled Chen Chen proclaimed the Cult Master's Edict, dismissed Zhong Pei's claims about the beast tide, and ordered him to return to Yi Xiang Peak to plead guilty.
• Chen Chen said Zhong Pei would be replaced and told Yang Ruying that the Cult Master would arrange for her to work jointly with another leader.
• Chen Chen questioned Zhao Jian about the horse neighs and his plan against Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhao Jian admitted acting out of jealousy.
• When Yang Ruying hesitated over Zhao Jian's punishment, Chen Chen asked him to name the Cult's Third Rule, and Zhao Jian answered that disciples who slaughtered fellow disciples were to be killed without mercy.

Zhang Xiaohua confirmed that the veiled woman was the disciple rescued in You Lan Grand Canyon, and she revealed herself as Xia Zihe, accusing Zhao Jian of wrongdoing. Aunt Qin and Chen Chen examined Xia Zihe and began verifying her identity, leaving the accusation unresolved.

• Veiled Chen Chen challenged Zhao Jian over the horse whinnies that had drawn blood wolves, but he denied causing them.
• Chen Chen and Zhang Xiaohua identified the injured woman as the inner disciple they had rescued in You Lan Grand Canyon.
• The woman revealed herself as Senior Sister Xia, and Zhao Jian pretended he was glad she had survived while denying he had wronged her.
• Veiled Chen Chen explained that the Cult Master had permitted Xia Zihe to wear a veil and asked Aunt Qin to identify her.
• Aunt Qin lifted Xia Zihe's veil, saw her severely disfigured face, and privately questioned her, after which Chen Chen also spoke with her.
• Veiled Chen Chen asked Aunt Qin whether she had identified Xia Zihe.

Xia Zihe recounted how Zhao Jian had lured blood wolves toward their companions, used her for several days, and tried to kill her before she escaped and was left for dead. After her account, Zhao Jian denied it and accused her of inventing the story, while Xia Zihe angrily challenged him to name a lie.

• Aunt Qin confirmed Xia Zihe’s identity, and veiled Chen Chen asked her to tell everyone what had happened in You Lan Grand Canyon.
• Xia Zihe recounted how Zhao Jian led her away from the others, left their horses to attract the blood wolves, and escaped with her while their companions were endangered.
• Xia Zihe said Zhao Jian sealed her acupoints and tried to kill her as they neared You Lan Great Grassland, so she broke free and fled toward a cliff.
• Zhao Jian struck Xia Zihe and sent her over the cliff; she survived the fall but was gravely injured, crawled onward, and eventually awoke on Yi Xiang Peak.
• Zhao Jian applauded Xia Zihe’s account, then denied her accusations and claimed she had fabricated the story; Xia Zihe demanded that he identify any lie.