Recaps

After learning about Dam Market’s rival gangs and the Wu Family Martial Arts School, Lin Hao decided his group should enroll there for protection. He arranged for all four travelers to take room and board, surprising Wu Xin with their decision.

• Yi Feng told Lin Hao about the Vegetable Gang, the Fishermen’s Gang, and the powerful Grain Transport Gang helmsman Yin Saide.
• Lin Hao chose the Wu Family Martial Arts School and decided the whole group would enroll without delay.
• Lin Hao and his companions approached the school and told Wu Xin they were refugees seeking to learn self-defense.
• Wu Xin explained that late-starting apprentices might achieve little and quoted the school’s tuition and room-and-board fees.
• Lin Hao said all four would enroll for a month, and Wu Xin was surprised that even the apparent servant and maid would study martial arts.

Lin Hao and his companions arrived at the Wu Family Martial Arts School, where Wu Xin explained the importance of conditioning and introduced the school's techniques. Lin Hao found Wish Power equipment carrying Crouching Tiger Staff skills and bought several pieces, eager to strengthen his body and unlock more replacement slots.

• Wu Xin showed Lin Hao, Zhao Xiaowen, Nie Yi, and Yi Feng their lodgings and advised them to choose their month of training carefully.
• Wu Xin explained the school's conditioning routines and combat techniques, then demonstrated her Twin-Dagger Force for Zhao Xiaowen and Nie Yi.
• Lin Hao inspected the training ground's equipment and found a blue Crouching Tiger Staff with a Mastery skill and two training-bonus affixes.
• Lin Hao bought the blue staff, two green staffs, and two green stone locks from Wu Xin for five taels of silver.
• Lin Hao carried away the equipment and resolved to strengthen his body quickly so he could unlock more replacement slots.

Lin Hao learned from Wu Xin and Qian Tao how martial artists developed their bodies and why advancing beyond bright force carried increasing risks. He concluded that his proficiency-level Crouching Tiger Staff might let him progress faster than ordinary disciples, though the path to the highest realms remained uncertain.

• Wu Xin introduced Lin Hao and the other newcomers to the apprentices and warned them not to harass the two female disciples.
• Liu Tong teased Qian Tao for flirting and told him to focus on consolidating his newly attained bright force.
• Lin Hao asked Wu Xin about Qian Tao's physique, and she explained how martial artists developed and controlled their muscles.
• Qian Tao described the dangers of tendon and organ training, while Wu Xin explained the Crouching Tiger Fist lineage's knowledge and its limitations.
• Lin Hao realized his proficiency-level Crouching Tiger Staff could help him advance through body training faster than ordinary practice.

Lin Hao and his companions settled into life at the Martial Arts School, sharing a lavish dinner before returning to their rooms. Lin Hao discovered that his equipment slots could stack staff skills beyond the weapon’s normal limit, and he planned to use the advantage to improve quickly while considering how to earn more silver.

• Qian Tao befriended Lin Hao and told him about the instructors and personal disciples at the school.
• Master Wu and Madam Wu joined Lin Hao and his companions for dinner, and Master Wu advised them to eat well and arrange extra meals if needed.
• Wu Xin urged Lin Hao and his companions to rest and decide what they wanted to learn before starting their training.
• Lin Hao told Yi Feng they would take turns using the blue Crouching Tiger Staff and warned him not to train recklessly.
• Lin Hao discovered that equipping green Crouching Tiger Staffs in both equipment slots enhanced the blue staff beyond its [Expert] skill level.
• Lin Hao resolved to use his remaining silver to improve quickly and began considering ways to earn more money.

Lin Hao and his friends began training at Wu Deshui’s martial arts school after learning that the Yanhuang Trade Association had already established many profitable modern-inspired businesses. Wu Deshui personally forced Lin Hao through the Crouching Tiger Fist’s foundational stances, leaving Lin Hao eager to train again before Wu Deshui turned to Yi Feng.

• At breakfast, Lin Hao and Yi Feng learned that the Yanhuang Trade Association already sold goods such as soap, cosmetics, printed books, and glazed glass, prompting Lin Hao to focus on improving his martial skills.
• Wu Deshui personally began teaching Lin Hao, Yi Feng, Nie Yi, and Qin Sicheng the seven Still Stances and thirty-six Moving Stances of the Crouching Tiger Fist, promising to guide them for five days.
• Wu Deshui manipulated Lin Hao through all the stances, causing intense pain but also revealing Lin Hao’s strong physical foundation and potential to qualify for the martial exams.
• Wu Deshui told Lin Hao to rest and take a medicinal bath before another afternoon session, and Lin Hao gladly accepted the chance to train again.
• Wu Deshui grabbed the frightened Yi Feng and began putting him through the same initiation.

Over half a month, Lin Hao and his companions advanced their martial arts training, while Lin developed a way to combine his personal skill with his equipment. The chapter left him testing a heavier two-handed staff setup and wondering how his full strength would fare in a fight.

• Yi Feng praised Lin Hao’s staff work, and Lin Hao urged him to train harder while acknowledging his skill at gathering information.
• Lin Hao applied Crouching Tiger Balm and reflected on how his Great Achievement-level staff practice was rapidly improving his body and sinews.
• Lin Hao practiced Stance Training with his hands free and confirmed that his personal Proficiency-level staff skill combined with his equipped staffs to recreate a Great Achievement-level effect.
• Lin Hao used his new equipment point to unlock a two-handed Replacement Slot and equip two stone locks weighing about twenty kilograms each.
• Lin Hao tested the blue staff with the added weight and judged that his full-strength strikes could overwhelm an ordinary Bright Force expert.

Lin Hao trained at the Martial Arts Ground while learning that his master and Eldest Senior Brother had left to deal with River Pirates, Mountain Bandits, and suspected Outworld Demons. As Lin Hao spent time with Zhao Xiaowen, three apprentices plotted to target him and his companions, viewing them as wealthy outsiders without clan protection.

• Qin Sicheng told Lin Hao that County Commandant Wu had summoned their master and Eldest Senior Brother to help fight River Pirates and Mountain Bandits suspected of working with Outworld Demons.
• Lin Hao practiced Crouching Tiger Staff with a Gray Staff, and Qin Sicheng nearly got hurt when he tried to catch it before Lin Hao switched equipment and controlled his strength.
• Zhao Xiaowen brought Lin Hao candied fruit and offered to apply ointment in his room later.
• Luo Jing and Luo Wei complained about Lin Hao's wealth and Zhao Xiaowen, while Luo Hong proposed targeting the group during their master's absence.
• Luo Hong said he would test Lin Hao first, and the three apprentices agreed to look for an opportunity to take advantage of the newcomers.

Lin Hao sparred with Luo Jing after hearing that Nie Yi was rapidly advancing in martial arts. When Luo Jing’s anger drove him to unleash a powerful strike, Lin Hao redirected the momentum and knocked him down with an Antelope Hanging Its Horns counter.

• Zhao Xiaowen told Lin Hao that Nie Yi was talented, focused, and might unify her force within a month, and Lin Hao urged Zhao Xiaowen to keep training and avoid risks.
• Luo Jing challenged Lin Hao to spar with wooden staffs, and Qin Sicheng agreed to supervise them.
• Lin Hao used equipment bonuses to raise his staff technique to Great Achievement, while Luo Jing attacked first despite having only beginner-level staff technique.
• Stung by the apprentices’ praise of Lin Hao, Luo Jing unleashed a powerful strike and pressed his attack, intending to injure Lin Hao.
• Lin Hao used Luo Jing’s momentum to counter with Antelope Hanging Its Horns, striking Luo Jing in the face and knocking him to the ground.

After Luo Jing injured himself attacking Lin Hao, the Martial Arts School blamed him, and Zhao Xiaowen’s remarks made the Luo brothers’ motives look suspicious. Qin Sicheng sent Luo Jing and Luo Wei away from the school and advised Lin Hao and Zhao Xiaowen to stay there while the brothers might pose a threat.

• Luo Jing realized Qin Sicheng blamed him for pursuing Lin Hao and taking the full force of Lin Hao’s accidental counterstrike, and the apprentices agreed that he had brought the injury on himself.
• Luo Hong persuaded Luo Jing to apologize, and Lin Hao gave him copper coins for his recovery, earning the apprentices’ approval.
• Zhao Xiaowen suggested that the Luo brothers had approached Lin Hao and her with ulterior motives, prompting the apprentices and Qin Sicheng to view them with suspicion.
• Qin Sicheng told Luo Jing and Luo Wei to leave the Martial Arts School, and Luo Jing departed with Luo Wei after failing to persuade Qin Sicheng to let him wait for the Master’s return.
• Qin Sicheng warned Lin Hao and Zhao Xiaowen to avoid going out alone while the Master and Eldest Senior Brother were away, then praised Lin Hao’s adaptable staff technique.

Lin Hao reached Bright Force and discussed Hidden Force training and the upcoming County Examination with Yi Feng. As Lin Hao tested his equipment’s boosts, he resolved to keep practicing toward Perfection while Master and the others remained away.

• Lin Hao completed his training and concluded that he had entered Bright Force, drawing praise from Yi Feng.
• Lin Hao considered the limits of his current training and planned to seek advice on Hidden Force before training his organs.
• Yi Feng told Lin Hao that the Regular Evacuation point would open in two days, and they decided to visit the county town and take the County Examination.
• Yi Feng left to get news from Senior Brother Qian while Lin Hao tested his staff equipment and confirmed that it improved his technique.
• Lin Hao reflected on how difficult Perfection was to achieve and resolved to pursue it through continued practice.

Lin Hao reached Bright Force and learned about Hidden Force from Qin Sicheng, but the day ended with Yi Feng abducted and badly injured by the Beggar Gang. The school rescued Yi Feng and secured compensation, yet Lin Hao remained determined to seek justice.

• Lin Hao showed Qin Sicheng that he had reached Bright Force, and Qin warned him about his lack of combat experience before teaching him about Hidden Force.
• Qian Tao revealed that Yi Feng had disappeared after someone tricked him into leaving, so Qin Sicheng led apprentices to the pleasure boat while Lin Hao alerted Zhao Xiaowen and Wu Xin.
• Qin Sicheng's group returned with Yi Feng, whose leg had been broken after the Beggar Gang tried to force him to lure Lin Hao out.
• Qin Sicheng gave Lin Hao ten taels of compensation and explained that the school had also broken the leg of Yi Feng's attacker, while Qian Tao had fought a formal bout.
• Lin Hao accepted the silver but, seeing Yi Feng's injuries, thought that he could not make peace with what had happened.

After Yi Feng chose to recover naturally rather than use wish power, Lin Hao armed himself and slipped out at night to confront the Beggar Gang. At Longle Gambling House, the gang’s leaders plotted to retaliate against the martial arts school’s outsiders, just as a fire broke out in the front courtyard.

• Wu Xin examined Yi Feng’s broken leg and said it should heal without affecting his martial arts, while Yi Feng declined Lin Hao’s offer to take him to the evacuation point.
• Lin Hao armed himself with a staff, protective gear, magazines, and bottles of alcohol, then climbed over the wall and headed into the night.
• At Longle Gambling House, the Beggar Gang leaders forced Luo Jing, Luo Wei, and Luo Hong to accept corvée labor after they had brought trouble to the gang.
• Liu Da, Liu Ping, and Lu Wu discussed finding a way to retaliate against the Wu Family Martial Arts School’s outsiders and reclaim their losses.
• Flames erupted from the gambling hall’s front courtyard, and shouts of “Fire!” turned into screams.

Lin Hao attacked the Beggar Gang headquarters, setting the gambling house ablaze and collapsing it before confronting the gang’s leaders. He killed Liu Da, Liu Ping, and Lu Wu with overwhelming strength, leaving the Beggar Gang’s core members destroyed.

• A fire rapidly engulfed the Beggar Gang’s gambling house, and the building collapsed with its elite members trapped beneath the wreckage.
• Lin Hao emerged through the flames, and Greenhide recognized him as the Martial Arts School student who had crossed their path before.
• The remaining gang members attacked Lin Hao with quicklime and weapons, but he defeated them with his staff, killing Greenhide among them.
• Liu Da, Liu Ping, and Lu Wu coordinated an assault against Lin Hao, but he brought down a forty-kilogram strike that killed all three.

Lin Hao killed the Three Luo Brothers and the Beggar Gang members, looted their equipment and silver, then escaped the burning residence and returned to the Martial Arts School. Wu Xin mistook him for a thief and attacked before recognizing him, leaving both surprised by each other’s strength and techniques.

• Lin Hao killed the Three Luo Brothers, searched the bodies, and burned the corpses as people gathered outside.
• Lin Hao collected the gang leaders’ weapons, boots, and silver, then made a quick search of the rear residence before fleeing over the wall.
• Lin Hao returned to the Martial Arts School by climbing over its outer wall and made noise as he landed inside.
• Wu Xin attacked Lin Hao, and he blocked her with his staff before calling out and identifying himself.
• Wu Xin recognized Lin Hao and put away her Emei Daggers, while both reflected on the danger of their near-fight.
• Wu Xin asked Lin Hao where he had been and what he had done outside.

Lin Hao told Wu Xin that he had burned down the Longle Gambling House and killed the Beggar Gang's three leaders, and she warned him to keep his role secret. The next morning, he learned that the Beggar Gang's fall had thrown Dam Market into chaos.

• Wu Xin praised Lin Hao for burning down the Longle Gambling House, promised the Martial Arts School would protect him, and urged him to keep his involvement secret.
• Lin Hao revealed that he had killed the Beggar Gang's three leaders, and Wu Xin insisted he tell nobody else, not even Master.
• Lin Hao carried Zhao Xiaowen into their room, leaving Nie Yi outside to wash his clothes.
• The next morning, Lin Hao heard apprentices discuss the Beggar Gang's collapse and the fighting over its abandoned territory.
• Lin Hao realized that the gang's fall had destabilized Dam Market, where new factions could rise amid the disorder.

Yin Saide investigated the Longle Gambling House massacre, recognized the Crouching Tiger Staff Technique, and left the matter to the Grain Transport Gang. Lin Hao continued training and successfully unleashed hidden force for the first time before Wu Deshui and Liu Tong returned to Dam Market with other martial arts leaders.

• Yin Saide reconstructed how one powerful staff strike had killed three Beggar Gang members and told the others to leave the case alone.
• Incense Master Liu worried that Yin Saide's order to establish rules for a new gang might threaten him, while Liu Chengcai blamed the Wu Family Martial Arts School for his lost income and vowed to take revenge.
• Lin Hao trained with the Ground-rolling Saber, Twelve Routes Springing Leg, and Eight Gates Staff, and used an equipment point to store a weapon.
• Lin Hao successfully sent hidden force through a block of tofu, impressing Qin Sicheng with how quickly he had advanced.
• Wu Deshui and Liu Tong returned from the county town with the heads of other martial arts schools and several renowned Dam Market fighters.

Wu Deshui returned from suppressing bandits with Liu Tong and accepted Lin Hao as his Personal Disciple. While waiting in the Left Courtyard, Lin Hao discovered valuable equipment, including a purple General's Meteoric Iron Spear.

• Liu Tong described how the Outworld Demons and their Lizardmen fought during the bandit suppression, while Wu Deshui warned that they might have been covering an escape with an important item.
• Wu Deshui praised Lin Hao's completed force integration and offered to make him a Personal Disciple, and Lin Hao accepted.
• Wu Deshui brought Lin Hao to the Left Courtyard and asked Wu Xin to explain the school's rules while he and Liu Tong freshened up.
• Wu Xin explained the rules against oppressing the poor and aiding tyrants, while Lin Hao noticed the weapons and armor in the Martial Arts Hall.
• Lin Hao inspected the Veteran's Infantry Armor and discovered the purple General's Meteoric Iron Spear, which had the Crouching Tiger Spear-Great Achievement skill.

Lin Hao asked Wu Deshui for the Infantry Armor and Meteoric Iron Spear, and Wu Deshui gave him the spear after questioning him about the Yanhuang Trade Association and the Outworld Demons. Wu Deshui then tested Lin Hao’s strength, was startled by his powerful punch, and prepared to give him pointers.

• Wu Xin caught Lin Hao distracted by the Infantry Armor and Meteoric Iron Spear, and he asked her how he could obtain them.
• Wu Deshui questioned Lin Hao about the Yanhuang Trade Association and whether he was connected to the Outworld Demons; Lin Hao denied any ties to them.
• Wu Deshui gave Lin Hao the Meteoric Iron Spear, saying he hoped Lin Hao would carry on its legacy.
• Wu Deshui asked Lin Hao to demonstrate his strength, and Lin Hao struck him with Tiger Bursting from the Cage.
• Wu Deshui absorbed the punch but was forced backward and nearly lost his footing, then announced that he would give Lin Hao a few pointers.

After Wu Deshui’s sparring lesson helped Lin Hao understand hidden force’s conditioning effects, his master gave him Infantry Armor and a Two-Picul Strong Bow. Lin Hao equipped the armor and weapons, discovered how well his gear complemented his staff techniques, and headed to the pharmacy to buy tonics for further training.

• Wu Deshui ended the sparring session, praised Lin Hao’s progress, and explained how hidden force conditioned the body.
• Lin Hao asked about hidden force, and Wu Deshui explained that its effects could keep improving through lifelong practice.
• Wu Deshui gave Lin Hao the Infantry Armor and a Two-Picul Strong Bow, while warning him about their limits against hidden force experts.
• Lin Hao equipped the Infantry Armor and Meteoric Iron Spear, then found that their weight penalties worked well with his staff techniques.
• Lin Hao trained with his staff and spear before heading to the pharmacy for ointment and tonics.

Lin Hao and five fellow disciples left Dam Market for the County Examination, with Lin Hao also intending to investigate supplies for an evacuation. At the docks, they met Hou Lecheng and Yang Xing of the Evergreen Martial Arts School before boarding the merchant ship.

• Wu Deshui sent six disciples to the County Examination and told Qian Tao to lead them and look after the others.
• Lin Hao said goodbye to Zhao Xiaowen and Nie Yi, reminded them to train and use their medicine, and left with the group.
• Qian Tao led the disciples through Dam Market to a merchant ship owned by Senior Brother Qin's family.
• At the dock, Qian Tao met Hou Lecheng, who was accompanying his junior brother Yang Xing to the examination.
• Lin Hao greeted Hou Lecheng and Yang Xing, disciples of the Evergreen Martial Arts School, before the groups prepared to travel together.

Lin Hao and the Evergreen Martial Arts School apprentices sailed toward Wei'an County, discussing martial combat and local rivalries before several expert River Pirates emerged near Sandwater Weir. The pirates accelerated toward their boat, leaving Lin Hao to suspect the attack was no ordinary robbery.

• Lin Hao and the other apprentices discussed recent deaths in a bandit raid, the dangers of fighting Demonkin, and Yang Xing’s progress in hidden force.
• Lin Hao admitted Zhao Xiaowen was his woman, and Qian Tao told the group about an embrace-the-elixir expert who went mad and was killed by a female hidden force hero.
• Hou Lecheng warned the apprentices not to provoke martial artists from Wei'an County, while Yang Xing argued that they should not fear confrontation.
• The sandboat approached Sandwater Weir, where a crewman warned that River Pirates might still be hiding among the reeds.
• Several black-canopied boats emerged and sped toward them, and Lin Hao recognized the men poling them as powerful martial artists.

Liu Chengcai arranged for veteran River Pirates to attack a Qin Family merchant ship, intending to profit from the cargo and eliminate martial arts rivals. As the pirates’ arrows struck the ship, the crew and martial arts apprentices prepared to resist.

• Liu Chengcai ordered the River Pirates to keep their raids limited and targeted the Qin Family ship because Yang Xing and Wu Family disciples were aboard.
• Captain Qin rallied the guards, crew, and martial arts disciples to defend the merchant ship and keep the pirates from boarding.
• The River Pirates fired an unexpected volley that killed and wounded several defenders, frightening the inexperienced apprentices, including Yang Xing.
• Captain Qin distributed weapons and asked Hou Lecheng, Yang Xing, Qian Tao, and Lin Hao to help hold off the veteran attackers.

River Pirates ambushed Captain Qin’s ship, and Lin Hao turned the battle around by killing their fighters with his enchanted staff. After blocking a powerful hidden arrow, he charged toward the masked hidden force Martial Master who had fired it.

• Captain Qin recognized the River-Turning Flood Dragon and One-Eyed Eagle among the attackers, but the River Pirates boarded from three directions and overwhelmed the crew and Martial Arts School disciples.
• One-Eyed Eagle attacked Yang Xing, while other River Pirates occupied Captain Qin and Hou Lecheng and began cutting down the defenders.
• Lin Hao used his staff to kill River Pirates attacking the crew and then defeated five men who rushed him together.
• Lin Hao blocked a powerful arrow fired by a masked bandit at the stern, realized the shooter was a hidden force Martial Master, and charged toward him.

Lin Hao fought Liu Chengcai aboard the boat, using his enchanted strength and staff technique to break through the deck and force the fight into the hold. When Liu Chengcai exploited Lin Hao’s slower speed and closed in, Lin Hao pierced his palm and landed a kick to his vital spot.

• Liu Chengcai fired arrows at Lin Hao, but Lin Hao knocked them aside with his staff and charged him.
• Lin Hao’s thrust drove Liu Chengcai backward, and a follow-up staff strike smashed through the deck and sent him into the hold.
• Lin Hao pursued Liu Chengcai through the hold with rapid spear thrusts, while Liu Chengcai evaded them with his greater speed.
• Liu Chengcai discarded his saber and closed in, prompting Lin Hao to abandon his staff and attack with his hands.
• Lin Hao punched through Liu Chengcai’s palm, knocked aside his other hand, and kicked him in the vital spot.

Lin Hao defeated Incense Master Liu and returned to the deck, where he turned the battle against the River Pirates. He captured their remaining leaders and drove most of the pirates off the ship, while Yang Xing collapsed from his injuries.

• Lin Hao killed Incense Master Liu, recognized him as a member of the Grain Transport Gang, and hid his face before taking his Ghost-Head Saber.
• Lin Hao emerged from below deck and struck down the River-Turning Flood Dragon, ending his fight with Captain Qin.
• Lin Hao charged the One-Eyed Eagle as the River Pirates began to lose morale, while Yang Xing fought to hold him off.
• The One-Eyed Eagle severed Yang Xing's arm with a kick and tried to escape, but Lin Hao swept him back onto the deck with his Long Staff.
• Lin Hao killed the fleeing River Pirates, though a few escaped into the water, and Yang Xing passed out after watching the fight end.