Chapter Summaries

Lu Changsheng met Hong Yi outside Green Bamboo Mountain and completed their first talisman transaction. Hong Yi then presented two exotic martial artists, Jiu'er and Shui'er, as a gift, leaving Lu Changsheng surprised and awkward.

• Lu Changsheng brought a box of one hundred talismans to meet Hong Yi and his armed entourage at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain.
• Lu Changsheng sold Hong Yi the talismans for 112 spirit stones, and Hong Yi accepted the goods without inspecting them closely.
• Hong Yi said he had brought Lu Changsheng a gift and signaled for two women to leave the carriage.
• Jiu'er and Shui'er introduced themselves to Lu Changsheng as their master, and he realized Hong Yi had given them to him.
• Lu Changsheng felt awkward despite recognizing the two women’s beauty and martial skill.

Lu Changsheng accepted two women Hong Yi offered him, arranged a regular talisman trade, and asked Hong Yi to investigate Qu Changge’s disappearance. He brought the women back to Green Bamboo Mountain, where the disciples and his household reacted to his growing number of concubines.

• Hong Yi gave Lu Changsheng two women trained by the White Jade Pavilion, and Lu accepted them after confirming they were willing.
• Lu Changsheng and Hong Yi agreed that Lu would provide about thirty talismans every three months, and Hong Yi agreed to search for Qu Changge.
• Lu Changsheng registered the women with Uncle Fu, while Lu Lineage disciples gossiped about his new concubines.
• Lu Changsheng visited Li Feiyu, who identified the women’s cultivation method as the Cauldron Bewitching Art and explained that the White Jade Pavilion likely trained human cauldrons.
• Lu Changsheng took the women home, where his wives and concubines grew jealous and he had to soothe them.

Lu Changsheng revealed to Uncle Lu that he could draw first-tier middle-grade talismans, and proved it by completing a Fire Cloud Talisman. Uncle Lu planned to report the news to Lu Yuanding, while Lu Changsheng decided to seek out the Fifth Elder for spirit wine that could nourish his body.

• After several days of revelry with the two women Hong Yi sent him, Lu Changsheng resolved to stop indulging and drew a Fire Cloud Talisman to demonstrate his new skill.
• Lu Changsheng told Uncle Lu he could draw first-tier middle-grade talismans, and Uncle Lu asked him to make another Fire Cloud Talisman as proof.
• Lu Changsheng deliberately failed four attempts before completing a Fire Cloud Talisman, convincing Uncle Lu of his ability.
• Uncle Lu gave Lu Changsheng Jade Bamboo Wine to ease his fatigue, and Lu Changsheng found that it tasted good and nourished his body.
• Uncle Lu told Lu Changsheng that the Fifth Elder sold Jade Bamboo Wine and other spirit wines, then left to report Lu Changsheng's advancement to Lu Yuanding.

After Lu Changsheng advanced to a First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master, Lu Yuanding convened Lu Lineage elders to discuss how to keep and support him. The elders proposed marrying their descendants to him, and Lu Yuanding suggested his daughter Lu Miaohuan as a match.

• Uncle Lu showed Lu Yuanding the Fire Cloud Talisman Lu Changsheng had drawn, confirming his advancement to First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master.
• Lu Yuanding called a meeting of Lu Lineage elders to decide how to arrange Lu Changsheng’s future and secure his service to the lineage.
• The elders agreed Lu Changsheng’s talent could make him a future Second-Rank Talisman Master, though some questioned how firmly he was attached to the Lu Lineage.
• The Fifth Elder offered his granddaughter Lu Miaoyi as a wife for Lu Changsheng, and other elders and senior members proposed their own descendants.
• Lu Yuanding considered Lu Changsheng a suitable husband for his daughter Lu Miaohuan and told the meeting that she would be a good match.

Lu Miaohuan reluctantly agreed to meet Lu Changsheng after Lu Yuanding persuaded her that his talent as a talisman master made him a suitable match. Lu Changsheng learned the Lu Lineage had arranged a matchmaking meeting with the second young lady, who had a sixth-grade spiritual root.

• Lu Yuanding urged Lu Miaohuan to marry Lu Changsheng, praising his rapid progress as a talisman master and promising she would be his principal wife.
• Lu Miaohuan reconsidered her objections and agreed to meet Lu Changsheng at Bamboo Heart Lodge the following day.
• Lu Changsheng played with his children until Uncle Lu summoned him to the reception room.
• Uncle Lu told Lu Changsheng to prepare for a matchmaking meeting arranged by the lineage head.
• Uncle Lu revealed that Lu Changsheng would meet the second young lady, Lu Miaohuan, whose sixth-grade spiritual root could help their future children inherit spiritual roots.

Lu Changsheng agreed to meet the Lu Lineage head’s daughter, Lu Miaohuan, about marriage after advancing to a first-rank middle-grade talisman master. He arrived at Bamboo Heart Lodge and greeted her as she appeared, leaving their meeting just beginning.

• Uncle Lu told Lu Changsheng that the Lu Lineage wanted him to meet its Second Miss, and Lu Changsheng agreed to attend.
• Lu Changsheng decided that marrying into the Lu Lineage would offer security for him and his family, though he would not accept Lu Miaohuan if her temper made their marriage unbearable.
• Lu Changsheng told his wives and concubines that he had advanced to first-rank middle-grade talisman making, and they celebrated his achievement with him.
• The next morning, Uncle Lu escorted Lu Changsheng to Bamboo Heart Lodge and advised him to coax Lu Miaohuan and go along with what she said.
• Lu Miaohuan arrived dressed for the meeting, and Lu Changsheng stood to greet her politely.

Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaohuan enjoyed a long, flattering conversation that left her willing to marry him, but her conditions conflicted with his plans for a large family. When he asked for time to consider them, Lu Miaohuan left in anger, and Uncle Lu hurried after her.

• Lu Changsheng apologized to Lu Miaohuan for their unpleasant first meeting and charmed her with compliments and conversation.
• Lu Changsheng praised Lu Miaohuan over her elder sister, Lu Miaoge, and shared a poem and its story with her.
• After more than two hours of conversation, Lu Miaohuan said she would marry Lu Changsheng if he made her his principal wife, took no more wives or concubines, and did not force her to have children.
• Lu Changsheng asked to consider her conditions, and Lu Miaohuan grew cold and stormed out of the Bamboo Heart Lodge.
• Uncle Lu saw Lu Miaohuan leave in anger and hurried after her.

Lu Changsheng refused Lu Miaohuan’s marriage proposal, explaining that his wish to take many wives and have many children made them incompatible. He quickly agreed to marry Lu Miaoyun instead, leaving Lu Miaohuan furious and determined to find someone better.

• Lu Changsheng told Uncle Lu he could not marry Lu Miaohuan because their temperaments and expectations differed, and Uncle Lu agreed to report his answer to Lu Yuanding.
• Lu Yuanding accepted Lu Changsheng’s refusal and recognized that he had not considered the young man’s wishes when arranging the match.
• Two days later, Lu Changsheng met Lu Miaoyun, the Fourth Elder’s granddaughter, and they both agreed to marry; the Lu Lineage set their wedding for eighteen days later.
• Lu Miaohuan smashed several ornaments after learning Lu Changsheng had chosen Lu Miaoyun, then vowed to find a man far better than him.

Lu Changsheng married Lu Miaoyun in a grand ceremony that made her his principal wife and brought him into the Lu Lineage's inner circle. After the wedding, he arranged to visit the Fifth Elder to sample and buy spirit wine.

• Lu Changsheng comforted his wives and concubines after they learned he would marry Lu Miaoyun, promising to hold grand weddings for them someday.
• Eighteen days later, Lu Changsheng led a festive procession around Green Bamboo Mountain to bring Lu Miaoyun to his residence.
• Lu Lineage disciples and fellow live-in sons-in-law watched and discussed Lu Changsheng's rise from a recruited son-in-law to a Mid-Grade Talisman Master marrying the Fourth Elder's granddaughter.
• With the lineage's senior figures as witnesses, Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun completed their wedding, and she became his principal wife.
• Lu Changsheng entertained the guests, met the lineage's senior figures, and arranged with the Fifth Elder to visit and purchase Jade Bamboo Wine and other spirit wines.

Lu Changsheng married Lu Miaoyun and spent their wedding night together, with Xiao Qing accompanying the bride as her bedchamber maid. The next morning, the newlyweds prepared to visit the Fourth Elder, while Xiao Qing remained on duty outside their room.

• Xiao Qing welcomed Lu Changsheng at the bridal chamber, where he lifted Lu Miaoyun's veil and drank wedding wine with her.
• Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun drank wine that heightened their desire, then spent their wedding night together.
• The next morning, Lu Changsheng woke beside Lu Miaoyun and urged her to rest, but she reminded him they needed to visit Grandmother.
• Lu Miaoyun put away the handkerchief, and she and Lu Changsheng dressed and left to pay their respects to the Fourth Elder.
• Lu Miaoyun told Xiao Qing she did not need to stand guard, but Xiao Qing said she was not tired.