Chapter Summaries

Lin Lang left Bailing County to hunt Tian Boguang and encountered the rapist threatening Yilin. He challenged Tian Boguang to a duel, and the chapter ended as their weapons clashed.

• Thousand-household Liu ordered the Bailing County Hundred-household Office watched and issued a warrant for Tian Boguang.
• Lin Lang gave Wang Wu and Jia Liu the Eight-Gate Golden-Lock Saber and left them in charge of the office while he departed to hunt Tian Boguang.
• On the road south, Lin Lang heard a woman calling for help and rushed to find Tian Boguang threatening Yilin.
• Lin Lang recognized Tian Boguang and challenged him, provoking him to release Yilin and attack with his saber.
• Yilin shut her eyes as weapons clashed rapidly, unsure whether Lin Lang had survived Tian Boguang's strike.

Lin Lang killed Tian Boguang, rescued Yilin, and had Linghu Chong take the corpse to the authorities, though Yilin left with Linghu because of her sect’s distrust of the imperial court. Later, Liu Zhengfeng was angered by a loud funeral-like suona outside his mansion and went out with his sword to confront whoever was playing it.

• Lin Lang defeated Tian Boguang by catching his saber barehanded and striking him with his sword, then took the money from his body.
• Lin Lang introduced himself to Yilin and tried to release her sealed acupoints, but she said she could break the seals herself in two hours.
• Linghu Chong arrived, learned Lin Lang had killed Tian Boguang, and agreed to take the corpse and saber to the Hundred-household Office in Bailing County.
• Yilin left with Linghu Chong, while Lin Lang reflected on her distrust of the imperial court and prepared for his journey to Hengshan City.
• At the Liu Mansion, Liu Zhengfeng heard a loud suona interrupt his flute practice and went over the courtyard wall with his sword.

Lin Lang warned Liu Zhengfeng that Zuo Lengchan planned to destroy his family over his friendship with Qu Yang, then persuaded him to seek Jinyiwei protection. Three days later, martial artists gathered for Liu Zhengfeng’s retirement ceremony as the Mount Song Thirteen Guardians arrived to take him away.

• Lin Lang confronted Liu Zhengfeng with a suona and revealed that Zuo Lengchan knew of his musical friendship with Qu Yang and planned to wipe out his family.
• Liu Zhengfeng fought Lin Lang but could not gain the advantage, then asked how Lin Lang knew about the danger.
• Lin Lang presented seeking imperial protection as Liu Zhengfeng’s only way out and persuaded him to join the Jinyiwei as a Small Banner.
• Liu Zhengfeng agreed to let Lin Lang stay and promised to provide golden basins for the ceremony.
• Three days later, martial artists from across the Five Mountains Sword Alliance gathered in Hengshan City for Liu Zhengfeng’s retirement ceremony.
• The Mount Song Thirteen Guardians arrived at the Liu residence under Zuo Lengchan’s orders to take Liu Zhengfeng back to Mount Song.

At Liu Zhengfeng’s Golden Basin Handwashing Ceremony, Lin Lang used his Jinyiwei authority to force the Mount Song Sect to leave after Fei Bin threatened Liu Zhengfeng and his family. Fei Bin and the other Mount Song guardians planned to attack once Lin Lang or Liu Zhengfeng was gone, while Lin Lang welcomed Liu Zhengfeng into the Jinyiwei.

• Liu Zhengfeng began his Golden Basin Handwashing Ceremony and announced his retirement from the martial world.
• Lin Lang pushed Liu Zhengfeng’s hands into the basin before Fei Bin could stop the ceremony, and Fei Bin accused Liu Zhengfeng of colluding with Qu Yang.
• Fei Bin threatened Liu Zhengfeng’s family and revealed that Mount Song disciples held them captive, while Dingyi alone objected.
• Lin Lang accused Zuo Lengchan and the Mount Song Sect of rebellion, displayed his Jinyiwei token, and forced Fei Bin’s group to withdraw.
• Fei Bin told Lu Bai that the Mount Song guardians would attack Liu Zhengfeng and his family after Lin Lang or Liu Zhengfeng left.
• Lin Lang told Liu Zhengfeng that the Jinyiwei would protect him and asked whether he wanted to vent his anger before taking up his post.

Lin Lang and Liu Zhengfeng were ambushed by six Mount Song Guardians, but Lin Lang killed five and reached Martial Arts Master Peak. He then confronted Ren Yingying, who had been waiting to arrange a rescue for her father, Ren Woxing.

• Fei Bin led five Mount Song Guardians to ambush Lin Lang and Liu Zhengfeng outside Hengshan City.
• Lin Lang killed Fei Bin and Lu Bai, then fought alongside Liu Zhengfeng until all six Guardians were dead.
• Lin Lang's Reverse Evil-Warding Sword Technique reached major mastery, raising his realm to Martial Arts Master Peak.
• Liu Zhengfeng searched the bodies, then left to settle his family affairs and report to Lin Lang in Bailing County.
• Lin Lang found Ren Yingying hiding behind a tree and explained that he had sought her while helping Liu Zhengfeng.
• Ren Yingying said she had contacted Uncle Xiang to help rescue her father, and Lin Lang asked what preparations she had made.

Lin Lang laid out a broader plan with Ren Yingying to rescue Ren Woxing and restore his leadership without exposing their intentions to Dongfang Bubai. Meanwhile, the Mount Song Sect learned its disciples had been ambushed by the Sun Moon Demon Cult, and Zuo Lengchan ordered retaliation.

• Lin Lang urged Ren Yingying to win Qu Yang’s cooperation, prepare poison, recruit Ren Woxing’s supporters, and use the Mount Song Sect’s losses to divert Dongfang Bubai’s attention.
• Lin Lang revealed that he served the imperial court and explained his supposed debt to Ren Woxing; Ren Yingying agreed to persuade Qu Yang and begin the preparations.
• Dingyi learned that Lin Lang had rescued Yilin and told her to address him as Lord Lin, while Yilin hoped to see him again.
• Yue Buqun learned Lin Lang had killed Tian Boguang and considered how the news might affect the Mount Song Sect and his plans for the Huashan Sect.
• Zuo Lengchan learned Fei Bin and five Mount Song disciples had died in an ambush by the Sun Moon Demon Cult, then ordered the Five Mountains Sword Alliance to strike back.

Lin Lang reported recruiting Liu Zhengfeng and described how he had provoked conflict between the Mount Song School and the Sun Moon Demon Cult. He proposed using the Jinyiwei and Eastern Depot to manipulate martial sects into fighting and submit them to government control, leaving Thousand-household Liu to take him to the capital to present the plan to Cao Zhengchun.

• Thousand-household Liu learned that Lin Lang had returned and summoned him to report.
• Lin Lang told Thousand-household Liu that he had recruited Liu Zhengfeng, a Hengshan School elder, as a Small Banner, and exaggerated the dangers he had overcome.
• Lin Lang revealed that he and Liu Zhengfeng had killed six Mount Song School Martial Arts Masters and framed the Sun Moon Demon Cult, provoking conflict between the two sects.
• Lin Lang proposed placing agents in the Sun Moon Demon Cult and Five Mountains Sword Alliance, then backing one sect to subdue the martial world.
• Thousand-household Liu told Lin Lang to accompany him to the capital and present the plan to Cao Zhengchun for a decision.

Lin Lang persuaded Cao Zhengchun to use spies and sect rivalries to weaken the martial world, beginning with the feud between the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and the Sun Moon Demon Cult. Cao Zhengchun put Lin Lang in charge and promoted him to Deputy Thousand-household, while Liu Xiong became a Pacification Commissioner.

• Liu Xiong brought Lin Lang to meet Cao Zhengchun, who recognized Lin Lang from his earlier intelligence report and agreed to hear his plan.
• Lin Lang proposed weakening the martial sects by supporting rivals and secretly stirring up conflict, and Cao Zhengchun sent Iron Claw Flying Eagle away before hearing the details.
• Lin Lang explained that he had recruited Liu Zhengfeng and used him to frame the Sun Moon Demon Cult for the deaths of six Mount Song guardians, prompting the Mount Song Sect to attack the cult's branch altars.
• Lin Lang proposed planting spies and exploiting Zuo Lengchan's ambition to drive the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and the Sun Moon Demon Cult into a destructive war.
• Cao Zhengchun appointed Lin Lang a Deputy Thousand-household and put him in charge of the plan, while promoting Liu Xiong to Pacification Commissioner.

The Iron-Gallant Divine Marquis learned that Lin Lang had helped Cao Zhengchun devise a plan to control the martial world and resolved to watch him. Lin Lang joined Ren Yingying, Xiang Wentian, and Lan Fenghuang to plan Ren Woxing’s rescue from West Lake Plum Manor, rejecting Xiang Wentian’s approach and insisting they use his own plan.

• The Iron-Gallant Divine Marquis burned a secret letter about Lin Lang’s promotions and decided Shangguan Haitang should watch him and recruit him if possible.
• Lin Lang met Ren Yingying on the road and told her to have Qu Yang flee toward Great Song while Ren Woxing remained hidden there.
• Ren Yingying explained how her attacks on the Mount Song Sect had kept Dongfang Bubai distracted, then returned to travel with Lin Lang.
• Lin Lang and Ren Yingying met Xiang Wentian and Lan Fenghuang, and Lin Lang revealed that Ren Woxing was imprisoned at West Lake Plum Manor.
• Xiang Wentian proposed posing as disciples of a major sect to reach Ren Woxing, but Lin Lang pointed out the risks and said they should follow his plan.

Lin Lang and his companions infiltrated Plum Manor and forced the Four Friends of Plum Manor to lead them to Ren Woxing’s dungeon. They found Ren Woxing alive in an iron cage and called out to rescue him.

• Hei Baizi tried to arrange to take food to Ren Woxing alone, but Huang Zhonggong insisted that two people follow the rules and go together.
• After the Four Friends of Plum Manor were incapacitated by a laxative, Lin Lang, Xiang Wentian, Ren Yingying, and Lan Fenghuang confronted them and revealed they knew Ren Woxing was imprisoned beneath the manor.
• Lin Lang offered the Four Friends of Plum Manor Three Corpse Brain Spirit Pills; when Huang Zhonggong refused, Lin Lang killed him, and Hei Baizi, Tu Biweng, and Dan Qingsheng took the pills and antidote.
• Hei Baizi, Tu Biweng, and Dan Qingsheng led Lin Lang and Xiang Wentian into the dungeon, where they found Ren Woxing chained inside an iron cage.
• Lin Lang called out to Ren Woxing and announced that they had come to rescue him.

Ren Woxing was freed from Plum Manor and learned that Lin Lang had planned the rescue, then considered how to reward him. Ren Woxing decided to pass the Star-Sucking Great Skill to Lin Lang, whether he wanted it or not, and sent him and Ren Yingying to retrieve the instructions from the dungeon.

• Xiang Wentian unlocked Ren Woxing’s cage, and Ren Woxing reunited with Ren Yingying.
• Ren Yingying told Ren Woxing that Lin Lang had found him and devised the rescue plan.
• Xiang Wentian explained that Ren Woxing could recover at Plum Manor while they gathered followers and prepared to overthrow Dongfang Bubai.
• Ren Woxing offered Lin Lang rewards, but Lin Lang said he wanted nothing and noted that his true qi was weak.
• Ren Woxing decided to give Lin Lang the Star-Sucking Great Skill and told him and Ren Yingying to read what he had left on the cage.

Lin Lang learned and reversed the Star-Sucking Great Skill at Plum Manor, then left to return to Great Ming while Ren Yingying and Ren Woxing each expected him to join the Sun Moon Holy Cult. On the road, Lin Lang planned to test his new martial art on another martial artist.

• Ren Yingying persuaded Lin Lang to learn the Star-Sucking Great Skill from the writing Ren Woxing had left in the dungeon, and Lin Lang erased it after memorizing it.
• Lin Lang reversed the Star-Sucking Great Skill’s flaw, making absorbed qi easier to refine and beneficial to his meridians and dantian.
• Ren Woxing offered to guide Lin Lang at Plum Manor, but Lin Lang declined and promised to help keep Dongfang Bubai occupied while Ren Woxing recovered.
• Lin Lang said farewell to Ren Yingying and rode away from Plum Manor toward Great Ming.
• Lin Lang decided to train the Star-Sucking Great Skill and looked for a martial artist on whom to test it.

Lin Lang ambushed Yu Canghai at Pine Wind Temple, drained most of his qi with the Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill, and killed him as punishment for slaughtering the Lin family. After taking Yu Canghai’s sword manual and valuables, Lin Lang considered how to improve his skill and came up with a new idea.

• Yu Canghai practiced the fake Evil-Warding Sword Technique and wondered how to capture Lin Pingzhi to obtain the real manual.
• Lin Lang appeared and demonstrated the real Evil-Warding Sword Technique’s movement against Yu Canghai, who failed to land a hit.
• Yu Canghai attacked Lin Lang with his palm, but Lin Lang used the Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill to drain most of his qi.
• Yu Canghai questioned Lin Lang’s right as a Jinyiwei officer from Great Ming to interfere in Great Song, and Lin Lang killed him with a sword strike.
• Lin Lang searched Yu Canghai’s room, took the Pine Wind Sword Technique manual and valuables, and reflected on how to strengthen the Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill.
• Lin Lang turned back as he was leaving the mountain after a brilliant idea came to him.

Lin Lang killed Yu Canghai and other jianghu villains, leaving Duan Yu's name behind so the crimes made him famous. Duan Yu accepted the mistaken credit, while Lin Lang returned to Pingyang Prefecture stronger and met Wang Wu at the city gate.

• Lin Lang used Yu Canghai's blood to frame Duan Yu for Yu Canghai's murder, and the Qingcheng Sect soon collapsed amid ridicule and attacks.
• A tavern storyteller credited Duan Yu with killing Yu Canghai and Mu Gaofeng, and Duan Yu chose to enjoy the praise rather than deny it.
• Lin Lang revealed that he had killed several notorious villains, raised his Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill to minor attainment, and accumulated fifty years' worth of qi.
• Lin Lang headed back to Pingyang Prefecture to reunite with Wang Wu, Jia Liu, Liu Zhengfeng, and Xiao He.
• Lin Lang arrived in Pingyang and found Wang Wu waiting alone at the city gate, where Wang Wu exclaimed that Lin Lang had finally returned.

Lin Lang confronted Thousand-household Zhao after learning Zhao had taken credit and reward money for killing Tian Boguang and sent Lin Lang’s men to guard the city gates. Lin Lang defeated Zhao in a brief fight, demanded his stolen reward back, and left Zhao injured while ordering a physician for him.

• Wang Wu, Jia Liu, and Liu Zhengfeng told Lin Lang that Thousand-household Zhao had taken credit for Tian Boguang’s death and punished them by assigning them to guard the city gates.
• Lin Lang took the three men to confront Zhao at the Thousand-household’s residence and challenged him to a sparring match before the gathered Jinyiwei.
• Thousand-household Zhao attacked with his movement technique, but Lin Lang struck him twice and sent him crashing across the courtyard.
• Lin Lang demanded that Zhao return what he had taken and warned him that his authority could not stop Lin Lang’s fists.
• Lin Lang ordered the men to carry Zhao to his room and sent for the city’s best physician, offering to pay the medical expenses.

Lin Lang injured Thousand-Household Zhao and took temporary charge of the Pingyang Prefecture Thousand-household Office, ordering its men to investigate the martial world. Cao Zhengchun approved of Lin Lang’s audacity, while Iron Claw Flying Eagle decided to warn the Divine Marquis to take Lin Lang more seriously.

• Lin Lang ordered the Thousand-household Office to assemble and announced that Zhao would be bedridden for three to five months after their sparring match.
• Lin Lang declared that he would temporarily oversee the office and sent its men to gather intelligence and evidence against martial sects and their members.
• Wang Wu and Jia Liu supported Lin Lang, and Sun Xing agreed after Lin Lang asked whether he objected.
• Lin Lang assigned Liu Zhengfeng to capture wanted criminals and returned home, where he hinted to Xiao He that he was aroused.
• Iron Claw Flying Eagle reported Lin Lang’s actions to Cao Zhengchun, who laughed and refused to punish him.
• Iron Claw Flying Eagle resolved to tell the Divine Marquis that Lin Lang posed a greater concern than previously thought.

Lin Lang opened his Ren and Du Meridians and advanced to the early Martial Arts Grandmaster stage, then ordered Wang Wu to spread provocative rumors about Dongfang Bubai and Zuo Lengchan. The rumors provoked both sides into escalating their attacks, while Lin Lang prepared to practice his swordsmanship and eventually kill Dongfang Bubai.

• Lin Lang opened the Ren and Du Meridians, became an early Martial Arts Grandmaster, and found that his true qi had become innate and more powerful.
• Lin Lang practiced the Reverse Evil-Warding Sword Technique and ordered the seamstress to make Xiao He several unusual outfits.
• Lin Lang told Wang Wu to spread rumors that Dongfang Bubai would destroy the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and that Zuo Lengchan planned to destroy the Sun Moon Holy Cult's Branch Altars.
• After hearing the rumor, Zuo Lengchan ordered every sect in the Five Mountains Sword Alliance to destroy one Sun Moon Demon Cult Branch Altar that month.
• Yang Lianting heard that Zuo Lengchan had threatened him and ordered the Sun Moon Holy Cult to kill anyone from the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, regardless of age or sex.

Lin Lang ordered Wang Wu to spread rumors that stirred suspicion and ambition among the martial factions while the Sun Moon Demon Cult and Five Mountains Sword Alliance fought. The rumors prompted leaders at Northern Shaolin, the Golden Coin Gang, and Mount Song to prepare to exploit the conflict, leaving the martial world on the brink of wider strife.

• Lin Lang reviewed Wang Wu's intelligence and ordered him to keep watch on the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, the Sun Moon Demon Cult, and Northern Shaolin while spreading more rumors.
• Wang Wu and an accomplice planted tavern gossip claiming Shangguan Jinhong wanted to unite the martial world and that Zuo Lengchan sought to lead it.
• Fang Zheng heard the rumors and considered using the Sun Moon Demon Cult to make the Mount Song Sect and Five Mountains Sword Alliance fight to the death.
• Shangguan Jinhong told Jing Wuming to recruit more experts and wait for the other factions to weaken before making his move.
• Zuo Lengchan suspected a Mount Song disciple had leaked his plans and ordered an investigation, commanding his men to kill anyone who resisted.

Ren Woxing planned to return to Great Ming and seek Lin Lang’s help against Dongfang Bubai, while Lin Lang improved the Fragrant Pavilion and expanded his intelligence network. After Liu Zhengfeng brought two wanted criminals to the Thousand-household Office, Lin Lang took a special interest in the female thief and decided to interrogate her himself.

• Ren Woxing learned that Dongfang Bubai had left the Sun Moon Holy Cult exposed to attacks and planned to return to Great Ming next month to consult Lin Lang.
• Xiang Wentian told Ren Woxing that Lin Lang had been frequenting the Fragrant Pavilion, prompting Ren Woxing to wonder what Lin Lang was doing there.
• Lin Lang coached the Fragrant Pavilion’s women to attract more customers and planned to recruit some of them to gather intelligence.
• Wang Wu told Lin Lang that Liu Zhengfeng had returned with two wanted criminals.
• Liu Zhengfeng reported that he had captured Sun Yu, a second-rate martial artist, and a late-stage Martial Arts Master who was a female thief.
• Lin Lang ordered Liu Zhengfeng to handle Sun Yu and took the female thief to his office for a personal interrogation.

Lin Lang drained a captured Great Song Demon Cult thief of her true qi, forced her to reveal her martial arts, and killed her before ordering her remains sent away. Three days later, he learned that wanted murderer Li Fei had appeared and set out to capture him.

• Lin Lang threatened the bound female thief and used Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill to drain her true qi.
• The female thief revealed her martial arts inheritance, and Lin Lang killed her and gave two manuals to Liu Zhengfeng.
• Lin Lang ordered his men to pursue wanted martial-world criminals and told Jia Liu to recover Sun Yu's stolen money.
• Lin Lang went to the Fragrant Pavilion, and three days later Wang Wu reported that Li Fei had appeared near the Thousand-household Office.
• Lin Lang vowed to capture Li Fei, who had slaughtered all twenty-eight members of the Sun family.