Recaps

Pei Ye joined the fishermen aboard a boat under Wild Goose Dock’s scrutiny, then spent the night waiting for news from [Knowing Intent] and speaking with Xiao Qi. At dawn, Dock Master Qiu Qianshui announced that the assembled river gangs had gathered to perform a seven-day rite for the two Water Masters and welcome the Water Lord’s ascension.

• Xiao Qi boarded Pei Ye and Xu San’s boat, and Hall Master Jing inspected the crew for spies before letting them continue their work.
• Wild Goose Dock ordered the boats to extinguish their lights and carry no firearms, while Pei Ye received no reply after asking whether someone was there through [Knowing Intent].
• Xiao Qi caught and released a small fish, guessed that Pei Ye was troubled over a girl, and offered him a sweet reed stalk.
• At dawn, the great ship distributed provisions and lowered four huge, fish-filled spheres into the river.
• Qiu Qianshui addressed the gathered boats, announced the seven-day rite for the two Water Masters and the Water Lord’s ascension, and led the assembled heroes in proclaiming their worship.

Pei Ye and his companions baited their boat for the Water Masters’ feast while Qiu Luo described the river deities and revealed his fear of an authority behind the gathering. As they cast their net in worsening cold and rain, Pei Ye suspected Mirage City was staging the event to help Yong Ji claim the Water Lord’s seat.

• Qiu Qianshui ordered the boats to carry offerings into the river, and Qiu Luo joined Xiao Qi’s boat.
• Third Uncle had Pei Ye and Da Xi drop the bloody bundle into the water as bait.
• Qiu Luo told the crew stories about the Water Masters and said the dock had been told there were two.
• Pei Ye questioned Qiu Luo, inferred that he had encountered an Azure Wind Envoy, and connected the spectacle to Mirage City and Yong Ji.
• Xiao Qi and Pei Ye cast a net, and Xiao Qi suggested that the feast might be an attempt to seize the Water Lord’s position through force and deception.
• The rain grew colder as Zhao Bao helped with the net and remarked that the day’s pay was worthwhile.

Pei Ye and the Wild Goose Dock crew encountered the Water Master in the Mirage Realm, and he jumped into the water to draw it away from their boat. When the Jiaozhu failed to distract the creature, a flowering-quince blossom appeared on Pei Ye’s wrist and the Water Master accepted it, forming a subtle connection with him.

• The Water Master swallowed two distant boats and approached the crew’s boat through the Mirage Realm.
• Xiao Qi cut the bait rope, but the Water Master turned back toward them and fixed its attention on Pei Ye.
• Pei Ye took Qiu Luo’s Jiaozhu and jumped into the water, telling the others to steer away while he drew the creature off.
• The Water Master ignored the Jiaozhu and regarded Pei Ye with hostility as he prepared to defend himself.
• A flowering-quince blossom appeared on Pei Ye’s wrist, and the Water Master took it into its mouth, establishing a faint connection with him.

Pei Ye returned to Qiu Luo’s boat after diverting the Water Master, but the survivors were arrested and taken aboard the great ship. Qiu Luo learned that hundreds of men had vanished while tracking the Water Master, and feared the High Envoy would keep sacrificing Wild Goose Dock’s people to pursue it.

• Pei Ye sent the tiger head away from the Water Master’s feast and later surfaced beside Qiu Luo’s boat, where the others rejoiced to find him alive.
• Qiu Luo’s father, Qiu Qianshui, arrived and ordered the boat’s occupants arrested and locked below deck.
• Qiu Luo concluded that a powerful figure was aboard the ship and that his father had become a puppet following orders.
• Hall Master Jing questioned Qiu Luo and revealed that forty-seven boats and 295 men had vanished after encountering the Water Master.
• Qiu Luo feared the High Envoy would send more Wild Goose Dock members to their deaths, while Pei Ye tried to reassure him that the missing men might still be alive.

Pei Ye and Qiu Luo discussed the Eight Waters’ hopes for a Water Lord and the hunt for a mysterious “great dragon,” while Pei Ye learned Xiao Qi was the only Feather Inspector present. The prisoners were brought before the Wind Envoy, who demanded that Qiu Luo recount his encounter with the Water Master.

• Qiu Luo explained that waterfolk hoped a Water Lord could unite the scattered gangs through their shared reverence for water.
• Pei Ye questioned Qiu Luo about the earlier hunt at Qu Lake, where three docks had surrounded the lake and two Hidden Flower Dock hall masters reportedly died.
• Pei Ye spoke privately with Xiao Qi and discovered she had not opened her meridians and was the only Feather Inspector in the area.
• Hall Master Jing brought the prisoners onto the deck, where Pei Ye saw Qiu Qianshui kneeling before a black-robed Wind Envoy.
• The Wind Envoy fixed his gaze on Qiu Luo and demanded a detailed account of his encounter with the Water Master, while the prisoners trembled under the scrutiny of the assembled heroes.

Qiu Luo recounted how the Water Master had pursued his boat, but the Floodwaters Envoy impaled him when he refused to explain what unexpected event had drawn the creature’s attention. Pei Ye revealed his swordsmanship and used the Great Edict Usurpation to immobilize the envoy, then struck him and prepared another attack as the envoy focused on him.

• Qiu Luo told the gathered river gangs that he had thrown his father’s bead to the Water Master, causing it to stop chasing his boat.
• The Floodwaters Envoy questioned Qiu Luo about what had unexpectedly happened aboard the boat, then hurled a fishing spear through his abdomen when he would not answer.
• Qiu Luo defied the envoy, who turned away from him and began to question someone else.
• Pei Ye rose among the fishermen, freed his hands, and wielded rain and two swords to break into the gathered men’s encirclement.
• Pei Ye used the Great Edict Usurpation to freeze the Floodwaters Envoy, then slashed his neck before the envoy broke the sword and regained movement.
• Pei Ye caught another sword and launched another attack as the Floodwaters Envoy fixed his gaze on him.

Pei Ye killed the Lao Water Wind Envoy aboard the ship and reunited with Xiao Qi, but five Azure Wind Envoys and a sealed Profound Formation trapped them. A mysterious woodcutter killed one attacker and carried Pei Ye away, while another stranger remained to greet Qiu Qianshui.

• Pei Ye announced that he had executed the Lao Water Wind Envoy for plotting to assassinate Her Highness Jinyang.
• Pei Ye reunited with Xiao Qi, who said she had come on a secret Immortal Platform undertaking and asked after Her Highness Jinyang.
• A black-robed Body Recasting cultivator attacked Pei Ye, and he wounded the attacker with Xiao Qi's help before five Azure Wind Envoys surrounded the ship.
• Pei Ye discovered that a Profound Formation had sealed the ship and tried to escape into the lake.
• A woodcutter killed one Azure Wind Envoy, praised Pei Ye, and whisked him away as the remaining four gave chase.
• A gray-haired stranger stayed behind and greeted Qiu Qianshui.

He Changge refused to rebuild Fengshui Dock, while Li Piaoqing and Shi Zanxue persuaded Qiu Qianshui to oppose Mirage City and then sailed away. Pei Ye reunited with Zhu Gaoyang, who revealed that he had called on the Immortal Platform for help and had captured He Changge before befriending him.

• He Changge told Qiu Qianshui he would not rebuild Fengshui Dock and revealed he had reached the Heavenly Gate of Entering the Palace Gate.
• Li Piaoqing asked Qiu Qianshui to share Mirage City's plans and invited him to join their effort to kill Mirage City; Shi Zanxue arrived bearing Heavenly Mountain's greetings.
• Li Piaoqing and Shi Zanxue discussed their plans aboard a departing boat, including meeting Pei Ye in Divine Capital City to ask about the Heart of the Western Court.
• Pei Ye landed in a muddy lake among ducks and reunited with Zhu Gaoyang, who said he had been investigating Mirage City for years.
• Zhu Gaoyang told Pei Ye he had asked the Immortal Platform for an assassin and had captured He Changge during the Southern Golden Wind interception, then become his friend.

On the boat, Zhu Gaoyang explained that his public assault had exposed Mirage City’s Wind Envoys, while warning Pei Ye that the city’s leaders and Yong Ji’s plans remained hidden. Later, Zhu Gaoyang and Pei Ye prepared to evade their pursuers by switching clothes, leaving Pei Ye wary of Zhu Gaoyang’s supposed strategy.

• Zhu Gaoyang told Pei Ye that the assassination had revealed all eight Wind Envoys and explained why he had forced Mirage City to respond openly.
• Pei Ye learned that the Immortal Platform had sent no support and that Zhu Gaoyang had no plan for his mission; Zhu Gaoyang said the remaining Azure Wind Envoys were pursuing them.
• Zhu Gaoyang said Mirage City’s command center had not been exposed and raised the city lord, Yong Ji’s ally, and the meaning of Water Lord Ascension before asking Pei Ye about the Mirage Realm’s origins.
• Pei Ye reflected that exceptional fighters could not be measured by realm or rank, then asked Zhu Gaoyang why they had stopped instead of continuing to flee.
• Zhu Gaoyang proposed disguising their movements by switching clothes, and Pei Ye changed into Zhu Gaoyang’s outfit while teasing him about hiding a pouch.

Zhu Gaoyang and Pei Ye faced Mirage City’s Azure Wind Envoys at Marten Dock, killed the Hao River Envoy, and escaped the others. As they fled, Zhu admitted he was too depleted to use his escape technique immediately.

• Zhu Gaoyang and Pei Ye arrived at Marten Dock in disguised identities and challenged its master, but no one answered.
• The Wei and Feng River Envoys attacked Pei Ye while the Jue and Hao River Envoys pursued the disguised Pei Ye.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang switched tactics, and Pei Ye used the hidden sword technique to behead the Hao River Envoy.
• Zhu Gaoyang blocked the remaining Envoys’ attacks and carried Pei Ye out of their encirclement.
• Zhu Gaoyang told Pei Ye that he could not immediately use his escape technique because he had nearly exhausted his Profound Qi.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang escaped Mirage City's Wind Envoys, but Zhu Gaoyang was badly wounded and infected with a strange growth. After Pei Ye purged the poison, water demons tracked them to the riverbank, leaving them trapped and unsure where to seek refuge.

• Zhu Gaoyang used his art to escape the Wind Envoys with Pei Ye, taking a spear wound as they vanished into a river.
• Pei Ye treated Zhu Gaoyang's wound with Qilin Flame and removed the poison, but discovered strange flesh growths fused into Zhu Gaoyang's body.
• Water demons emerged around them, and Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang realized the creatures were tracking the growth and were controlled by Mirage City.
• Pei Ye suggested finding the Feather Inspectors, but Zhu Gaoyang said they were scattered and might also want them dead.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang fought three Mirage City envoys, including Yang Juhu, whose uncanny shared flesh-and-blood connection disrupted Zhu Gaoyang’s swordplay. Pei Ye and Black Chi were overwhelmed by the Jue River Envoy, while Zhu Gaoyang fell into the water after calling for Pei Ye to endure one last strike.

• Zhu Gaoyang explained that he and Pei Ye were drawing Mirage City’s attention to undermine its authority and disrupt the Feast.
• Yang Juhu revealed his identity and attacked Zhu Gaoyang alongside the Feng River Envoy, while the Jue River Envoy engaged Pei Ye.
• Zhu Gaoyang’s sword attack was disrupted by a strange resonance with Yang Juhu and the Feng River Envoy, who seemed to share one body.
• The Jue River Envoy overwhelmed Pei Ye, and Black Chi took repeated blows while shielding him.
• Pei Ye shouted that Zhu Gaoyang had told him to endure four strikes, and Zhu Gaoyang answered that he needed to hold out for one last strike.
• Zhu Gaoyang fell into the water.

Zhu Gaoyang endured the Wind Envoys’ coordinated assault and released the Dragon Heart’s power by shifting the Five-Organ Barrier, turning the battle around. He and Pei Ye struck together at the Jue River Envoy, leaving the envoy’s fate in the balance as Pei Ye’s sword swept toward his neck.

• Yang Juhu and the Feng River Envoy wounded Zhu Gaoyang and drove him close to defeat beneath the water.
• Zhu Gaoyang recalled Dongting’s Five-Organ Barrier and moved it outward, unleashing the Dragon Heart’s power while containing its spread.
• Zhu Gaoyang broke from the water and charged the Jue River Envoy as Yang Juhu and the Feng River Envoy moved to protect him.
• The three Wind Envoys coordinated their attacks, forcing Zhu Gaoyang to abandon his killing thrust and defend himself.
• Zhu Gaoyang used [National Elegy] · [First Separation] to draw the Jue River Envoy’s attention, giving Pei Ye an opening to slash at the envoy’s neck.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang defeated Yang Juhu and the Feng River Envoy, then rested together while Zhu Gaoyang helped Pei Ye untangle his feelings for Piao Qing and another woman. Pei Ye revealed that the second woman was Li Xizhou, Xu Chuo, Her Highness Jinyang.

• Zhu Gaoyang and Pei Ye fought alongside one another until Zhu Gaoyang killed Yang Juhu and the Feng River Envoy.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang recovered beneath a rock, and Pei Ye worried that he had developed feelings for someone else while apart from Piao Qing.
• Zhu Gaoyang told Pei Ye that affection could fade and return naturally, easing Pei Ye's shame and confusion.
• Pei Ye explained that he had been searching for a woman who had left after hugging him, and asked whether someone who liked him would hide things from him.
• Zhu Gaoyang asked who had caught Pei Ye's eye, and Pei Ye identified her as Li Xizhou, Xu Chuo, Her Highness Jinyang.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang discussed Li Xizhou’s guarded heart and the aftermath of defeating the Azure Wind Envoys, then encountered the Water Master at the river. The Water Master gave Pei Ye a small horn-shaped object before disappearing into the Spirit Realm.

• Zhu Gaoyang explained that Li Xizhou had been hurt by the losses of her family and closest friend, and urged Pei Ye to take more steps toward her instead of expecting her to reveal everything.
• Pei Ye decided to forgive Li Xizhou, though he resolved to act stern when they next met, and he and Zhu Gaoyang examined the three dead assassins.
• Zhu Gaoyang said the Azure Wind Envoys across the Eight Waters had been wiped out and that the Feather Inspectors would investigate Mirage City’s plans and its efforts to obtain [White Water].
• Pei Ye suspected the assassins had been altered by flesh that could possess people and compared the method to those used by Joy-in-Death Tower.
• The Water Master emerged from the river and gave Pei Ye a warm, smooth, finger-length horn-shaped object before withdrawing into the water with the Spirit Realm.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang reached Willow Town on their way to the Divine Capital and caught up on news of the approaching Feather-Scale Trial. Over dinner, they learned that the Eight Waters had closed its waterways for a Water Lord’s ascension, while the Qilin Blood Test made everyone wary of speaking openly.

• Pei Ye teased Zhu Gaoyang by claiming Black Cat disliked him because his hair was too long.
• At an inn in Willow Town, Pei Ye discussed swordsmanship with Little Cloud Mountain’s disciples and explained how Xudao Mountain’s sword differed from Yunlang’s.
• Zhu Gaoyang identified the sects arriving for the Feather-Scale Trial and told Pei Ye about news from the Jianghu.
• Dian Cang travelers said boats had vanished from the Lao River, and a Taihang disciple explained that the Eight Waters were feasting the Water Masters and forbidding boats to sail.
• A Daoist disciple said the feast marked a Water Lord’s ascension, and Zhu Gaoyang mentioned the Qilin Blood Test, ending the conversation.

Pei Ye read the National Gazette’s coverage of the coming Feather-Scale Trial and discussed Crane and Teal List contenders with the heroes gathered at the inn. A black-cloaked woman joined him and Zhu Gaoyang’s table to share the gazette, while the reports revealed major contenders arriving in the Divine Capital.

• Zhu Gaoyang bought the National Gazette after Pei Ye tried to share the cost, and Pei Ye read its announcement that Great Tang would select its successor in April.
• Pei Ye read the Feather-Scale Trial coverage and corrected a Jingming Daoist’s description of Yan Feiqing’s swordsmanship.
• A man and a black-cloaked woman entered the inn, ordered food, and sat at Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang’s table.
• The heroes discussed the pre-trial register as the Gazette reported that Li Zhi had mastered the Heaven-Qilin-Book of Changes and was expected to rank fourth.
• The black-cloaked woman asked Pei Ye to share the Gazette, and the group read predictions that Qun Fei could rise from sixth to fifth on the Teal List.

Pei Ye discovered that the National Gazette ranked him third on the Teal List, prompting astonishment throughout the hall as he quietly questioned the prediction. Meanwhile, Zhu Gaoyang identified the reserved man at their table as He Miao of Xudao Mountain.

• Pei Ye read the Gazette’s entries on Yan Feiqing and explained that Yan’s sword style pursued completeness rather than charging straight ahead.
• The hall fell silent when the Gazette ranked Pei Ye third, citing his past victories and predicting that he could defeat anyone in the Teal List’s top ten.
• Those present recognized Pei Ye as the swordsman who had killed Qiu Tianyu with Yan Feiqing and shattered Li Zhi’s Heaven-Qilin-Book of Changes with one strike.
• Pei Ye and Black Cloak discussed whether his predicted third-place ranking was too high without more victories to prove it.
• Zhu Gaoyang guessed that the quiet man at their table was He Miao of Xudao Mountain, and the man confirmed his identity.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang’s public campaign against the Eight Waters’ Azure Wind Envoys ended with all six Envoys beheaded, and news of their actions spread through the Jianghu. Riding west to learn how the river gangs had responded, they found the docks had burned their bait, but a Sky-Connecting Dock member hinted that something remained unresolved.

• Pei Ye and He Yaoyao discussed the National Gazette before she and He Jiu departed, and Zhu Gaoyang teased Pei Ye about meeting another young lady.
• The Gazette’s report naming Pei Ye as a candidate for third place and associating him with Jinyang stirred rumors in the Divine Capital about his role in the Eight Waters.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang killed the remaining Azure Wind Envoys, bringing the total to six and spreading word that Pei Ye intended to take every Envoy’s head.
• The Immortal Platform’s Feather Inspectors arrived as river gangs burned their bait and the seven-day ban on leaving the water was lifted.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang rode west to question Sky-Connecting Dock members, who said the docks had burned their bait but were still discussing the Water Lord Ascension.

Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang rode to Wei River Fort after learning it was under Mirage City's control and still carrying out its sacrifice. They met Heavenly Mountain and Immortal Platform forces assembled to seal off the fort, while the mist-shrouded boats remained ahead on the river.

• Zhu Gaoyang and Pei Ye discussed why Wei River Fort continued its sacrifice and concluded that the rite might be a means rather than a complete ritual.
• A Soul Bird delivered Zhang Siche's report confirming that Wei River Fort was under Mirage City's control and identifying its Vermilion-Clad Figure as a possible Sky Tower.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang rode upstream and heard that a huge Water Master had supposedly emerged from the river.
• The two inspectors approached the silent ships in the mist and decided to investigate the fort directly.
• Shi Zanxue arrived with Heavenly Mountain disciples, Feather Inspectors, and He Changge, and reported that six hundred men and fifty-three Feather Inspectors were ready to seal off Wei River Fort.

Heavenly Mountain searched the Wei River Fort, but Dou Xiang and four hall masters tried to block the fleet until Nie Shangheng defeated them in a swift, deadly sword attack. After the clash, Pei Ye reflected on Li’s absence as Nie stood before the mist-shrouded ships.

• Shi Zanxue ordered Heavenly Mountain’s disciples to seize the Wei River Fort’s boats and search them, while Pei Ye noticed water demons feeding on the bait.
• Dou Xiang and four hall masters stopped the approaching boats and threatened to resist Heavenly Mountain.
• Nie Shangheng ordered them to move aside, severed the river with one sword stroke, and killed Dou Xiang and the four hall masters.
• Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang discussed Nie’s swordsmanship, and Pei Ye teased Zhu about his standing on the Crane List.
• Shi Zanxue explained that Li had returned to the capital, leaving Pei Ye to wonder whether she had gone to avoid seeing him.
• Nie stood before the five large ships as the boats resumed their advance through the rain and mist.

The Vermilion-Clad Figure killed Nie Shangheng and appeared beside Pei Ye, threatening to cut his throat. Xiao Tuo pulled Pei Ye out of the way and struck the figure with Flying Light, leaving him wounded and visibly aged.

• Nie Shangheng used Heavenly Tides to destroy the Wei River Water Fort’s ships and expose a huge supernatural creature and the Vermilion-Clad Figure.
• The Vermilion-Clad Figure struck Nie Shangheng with the creature’s scaled tail and killed him with a sword stroke.
• The Vermilion-Clad Figure appeared before Pei Ye and held a blade to his throat as time seemed to rewind around them.
• Xiao Tuo pulled Pei Ye back three inches, saving him from the blade at his neck.
• Xiao Tuo struck the Vermilion-Clad Figure with Flying Light, wounding him and turning his hair gray and white.

Zhao Lingjun’s attempt to kill Pei Ye was thwarted by Li He, who joined Nie Shangheng to overpower him. Zhao revealed that the preparations for Water Lord Ascension would continue, then the Water Masters rose toward the sky as their scales began to melt.

• Zhao Lingjun’s Heart Sword failed to kill Pei Ye, and Li He was revealed as the man who had intervened.
• Li He and Nie Shangheng trapped Zhao Lingjun with Intent Swords and the Heavenly Mountain Profound Formation.
• Li He defeated Zhao Lingjun with the Intent Sword he named “False Dragon’s Cry.”
• Zhao Lingjun told Pei Ye that the preparations for Water Lord Ascension would continue, then the crimson Water Master ate him.
• The Tiger Flood Dragon’s remains rose with the two Water Masters as rain poured down and their scales began to melt.

After the rain erased the Water Masters and all evidence of their battle, Pei Ye discovered that everyone else had forgotten they ever existed. He insisted that Zhu Gaoyang had once learned about the Spirit Realm from him, but Zhu Gaoyang no longer remembered even which princess Pei Ye meant.

• The rain washed away the flood dragons, scaled fiends, and signs of battle, while the group found that Zhao Lingjun could no longer be sensed.
• Zhu Gaoyang gathered reports showing that heavy rain had fallen across the Eight Waters and the Capital Region, and Li He suspected [White Water] had used the Mirage Realm's power.
• Pei Ye found that the five ships had been restored and Nie Shangheng had no wounds or memory of fighting the Water Masters.
• Pei Ye told Zhu Gaoyang and the others what had happened, but they remembered no Water Masters and insisted the Spirit Realm had only existed in legends.
• Pei Ye angrily reminded Zhu Gaoyang that he had explained the Spirit Realm's three principles five days earlier and that Her Highness had entered it, but Zhu Gaoyang asked which Highness he meant.

Pei Ye returned to Divine Capital and questioned people about whether Her Highness Jinyang had changed, but everyone remembered her as before. He confronted Jinyang and learned she considered her identity fabricated, then left without a formal farewell.

• Pei Ye rode to Divine Capital after Black Cat confirmed she remembered, then asked Qi Zhaohua whether Xu Chuo had sent any messages.
• Qi Zhaohua said Xu Chuo and Her Highness were the same person, while Pei Ye insisted he meant someone else.
• Pei Ye asked Yuan Zhao and Li Xianfang whether Jinyang had seemed different, but neither recognized any change.
• Pei Ye told Jinyang she was a stand-in and asked who had held her identity seven days earlier.
• Jinyang said she had always assumed the fabricated identity and suggested Pei Ye ask Li Jian for more information.
• Pei Ye left Vermilion Mirror Hall without a parting salute, telling Li Xianfang that his relationship with Jinyang made one unnecessary.