Chapter Summaries

Ye Jingtang and Luo Ning posed as members of the Sky-Pacifying Sect to approach Moon-Bearing Pavilion and find out where Prince Wu was hiding. Huang Yulong believed their story and sent Xiao Shichen to deliver a message, leaving Ye Jingtang confident their plan had worked.

• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning changed their appearances at an inn in Baisu Town while Niao Niao kept watch.
• Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning bickered as they changed, and Ye Jingtang interrupted them before the group headed for Moon-Bearing Alley.
• Huang Yulong and Xiao Shichen discussed the Imperial Court’s investigation and planned to flee with Prince Wu’s forces.
• Luo Ning presented her Sky-Pacifying Sect token, and Huang Yulong recognized her as Madam Xue and dismissed the surrounding disciples.
• Luo Ning claimed the Sky-Pacifying Sect wanted to help Prince Wu and asked Huang Yulong to pass along a message if he knew where he was.
• Huang Yulong told Xiao Shichen to send a letter, and Ye Jingtang secretly realized Huang Yulong had taken the bait.

Pei Xiangjun watched Prince Wu’s agent meet with Luo Ning and Ye Jingtang, while two mysterious figures tracked one another outside town. Ye Jingtang confirmed that Prince Wu’s Snow Lake Powder could substitute for Snow Lake Flower, but government troops arrived before negotiations could conclude, forcing the factions to flee.

• Pei Xiangjun spotted Bai Siming riding into Baisu Town, then saw a swift shadow follow him and a white-robed woman track that shadow.
• Bai Siming told Luo Ning and Ye Jingtang that Prince Wu had developed Snow Lake Powder and demonstrated its effects on a prisoner with damaged qi meridians.
• Ye Jingtang confirmed the powder could stabilize damaged meridians and offered to help Prince Wu escape in exchange for his cooperation with the Sky-Pacifying Sect.
• Gongs and Niao Niao’s cries warned that a large force was approaching, so Ye Jingtang accused Moon-Bearing Pavilion of betraying the Sky-Pacifying Sect and retreated with Luo Ning.
• Bai Siming sent Huang Yulong and the others to prepare to flee, while Lu Feng watched the town’s people scatter and vanished into the night.

Ye Jingtang and his companions pursued Prince Wu’s followers after government troops raided Baisu Town. In the bamboo grove, Ye Jingtang defeated Xiao Shichen and Huang Yulong, while Bai Siming escaped.

• Ye Jingtang disguised himself and Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning as Black Bureau constables, then told a military officer that Moon-Bearing Pavilion had imprisoned civilians and went after Bai Siming.
• Bai Siming, Huang Yulong, and Xiao Shichen fled through the mountains and decided to seek help at Iron River Manor rather than return to Prince Wu.
• Ye Jingtang and his companions confronted the three men in a bamboo grove, where Ye wounded Xiao Shichen and let Bai Siming escape.
• Ye Jingtang offered Xiao Shichen medicine in exchange for leading him to Prince Wu, but Xiao Shichen attacked instead, and Pei Xiangjun struck him with her spear.
• Ye Jingtang fought Huang Yulong with the Nine-Ring Saber, then killed him with a strike to the neck.

After defeating Huang Yulong, Ye Jingtang and his companions pursued Bai Siming into the mountains, where Niao Niao spotted several people tracking one another. Ye Jingtang found a poisoned White-Clad Woman meditating in the forest and mistook her for a fugitive when she fled, leaving him in pursuit.

• Ye Jingtang killed Huang Yulong, tried to persuade the wounded Xiao Shichen to surrender, and then set out with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning after Bai Siming.
• Pei Xiangjun told Ye Jingtang that a skilled pursuer and a woman in white had appeared in town, while Niao Niao spotted Bai Siming and two figures following him through the mountains.
• The White-Clad Woman pursued the Northern Liang Thief Saint, demanding the Dragon-Mingling Diagram, but he poisoned her with Blood-Congealing Powder and escaped.
• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning followed signs of a fight to a pine forest, where Ye Jingtang found the White-Clad Woman alone and meditating.
• The White-Clad Woman fled when Ye Jingtang demanded her name, and Ye Jingtang pursued her, suspecting she was one of Prince Wu's followers.

Ye Jingtang pursued a mysterious woman in white, only to find her collapsed and learn that she was Perfected Person Xuanji, Luo Ning’s old friend. As they carried the poisoned Xuanji toward town, Luo Ning urged Ye Jingtang to hide her presence and began planning an explanation for their relationship.

• The woman in white outpaced Ye Jingtang, then stumbled and disappeared into the woods, so he went to investigate with Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun.
• Ye Jingtang found the woman unconscious and struck her with a Soul-Severing Needle; she briefly opened her eyes before pretending to remain unresponsive.
• Luo Ning recognized the woman as Shuishui and gave her a White Emperor Pill, while Pei Xiangjun identified her as Perfected Person Xuanji.
• Luo Ning explained that she and Perfected Person Xuanji had once been close, but she had secretly left Jade Void Mountain to join Xue Baijin and the Sky-Pacifying Sect.
• Luo Ning told Ye Jingtang to conceal her presence from Perfected Person Xuanji and suggested claiming he had arrested and confined her; Ye Jingtang agreed to get Xuanji back to town first.

Ye Jingtang guarded the unconscious Perfected Person Xuanji in Baisu Town while Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun treated her, and Bai Siming fled to Perching Phoenix Manor to seek Junshan Terrace’s help against Ye Jingtang. The chapter ended with Niao Niao spotting a familiar dark figure watching the manor.

• Luo Ning removed the poisoned Soul-Severing Needle from Perfected Person Xuanji, whose condition began to recover.
• Ye Jingtang told Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun to rest at a nearby inn while he stayed to guard Perfected Person Xuanji.
• Bai Siming fled for hours to River Source Commandery and identified Ye Jingtang as the Black Bureau’s young chief constable who had killed Xiao Shichen.
• Bai Siming reached Perching Phoenix Manor and planned to urge Junshan Terrace to send someone against Ye Jingtang.
• Niao Niao rested on a ridge near the manor, then noticed a dark figure watching the estate through a long tube.

Ye Jingtang learned that Bai Siming had fled to River Source Commandery, while Perfected Person Xuanji woke, recovered, and departed after an awkward encounter with him. He agreed to rest before pursuing Bai Siming, then settled beside Luo Ning as the group prepared to continue their search.

• Niao Niao returned with news that Bai Siming had traveled more than two hundred li northwest toward River Source Commandery, and Ye Jingtang checked on the unconscious Perfected Person Xuanji.
• Perfected Person Xuanji woke and grabbed Ye Jingtang, but her weakened leap sent her crashing into his arms; she then teased him about using a Golden Needle on her.
• Perfected Person Xuanji claimed she had slain a venomous black snake, asked Ye Jingtang to keep her presence in Wu Prefecture secret, and left through the window, accidentally breaking a nearby roof.
• Ye Jingtang returned to Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun, told them Bai Siming's location, and agreed to sleep before setting out at noon.
• Pei Xiangjun teased Luo Ning about restless sleep and left with Niao Niao; Luo Ning placed Ye Jingtang's hand on her chest, and he turned toward her.

Ye Jingtang, Luo Ning, and Pei Xiangjun continued toward River Source Commandery while Junshan Terrace plotted against Ye and Bai Siming met with Guan Yujia about Prince Wu’s secret medicine. The Northern Liang Thief Saint overheard their plans, but Perfected Person Xuanji resumed pursuing her, while Ye’s group reached the commandery and began investigating Bai Siming’s movements.

• Ye Jingtang startled Luo Ning with a joke involving depilatory cream, then the group ate and rode toward River Source Commandery.
• Xuanyuan Hongzhi learned that Ye Jingtang had grown powerful and was serving as an imperial envoy, and Yao Wenzhong agreed to go after him.
• At Iron River Manor, Bai Siming and Guan Yujia discussed Prince Wu’s Heavenly Lang Pearl and considered testing it on a powerful martial artist.
• The Northern Liang Thief Saint overheard their conversation, but Perfected Person Xuanji spotted her and chased her through the mountains.
• Ye Jingtang, Luo Ning, and Pei Xiangjun discovered that Perched Phoenix Manor’s head had gone to Iron River Manor, and Ye suspected Bai Siming had alerted Junshan Terrace to his whereabouts.

Ye Jingtang disguised himself as Ye Silang and accompanied Guang Hanlin into Iron River Manor to investigate Bai Siming, while Guan Yujia prepared to test a dangerous imitation medicine on the young martial artist. The chapter ended with Ye Jingtang meeting Guan Yujia and drawing the attention of the assembled sect leaders.

• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning hid near Iron River Manor while Niao Niao searched the grounds for Bai Siming but found no trace of him.
• Pei Xiangjun spotted Guang Hanlin and Yang Guan arriving, so Ye Jingtang rode to meet them and asked Guang Hanlin to introduce him to the local martial leaders as Ye Silang of the Red Flower House.
• Guang Hanlin welcomed Ye Jingtang’s help and brought him and Pei Xiangjun up to Iron River Manor, while Luo Ning remained concealed along their escape route.
• A Medicine Master told Guan Yujia that the manor’s tea had been poisoned and explained how to use the imitation Great Liang Pearl, which Guan Yujia hoped would repair his flawed body.
• After hearing that Ye Silang had arrived, Guan Yujia decided he could serve as a test subject for the Great Liang Pearl and went to greet him.
• Ye Jingtang met Guan Yujia at Benevolence Hall, where the assembled leaders of the Twelve Gates recognized him and came forward to greet him.

Ye Jingtang disrupted Guan Yujia’s attempt to recruit the Twelve Gates of Wu Prefecture into helping Prince Wu escape, then revealed his true martial strength when Guan Yujia poisoned the sect leaders and attacked the Three-Perfection Immortal Elder. The chapter ended with Guan Yujia thrown across the hall by Ye Jingtang’s punch.

• Ye Jingtang condemned the Imperial Court’s destruction of the Moon-Bearing Pavilion and challenged Guan Yujia to explain what he planned to do.
• Guan Yujia declared that he would abandon his possessions to help Prince Wu escape Wu Prefecture and demanded the sect leaders join him.
• Ye Jingtang steered the discussion toward compensation, and Guan Yujia offered Snow Lake Powder and promised Prince Wu’s secret medicine to win the sect leaders’ support.
• When the sect leaders hesitated, Guan Yujia revealed that he had poisoned most of them with Dark Fragrance Erodes Bone and threatened them into agreeing.
• Guan Yujia lunged at the poisoned Three-Perfection Immortal Elder, but Ye Jingtang struck him with a Cannon Fist and sent him crashing through a pillar into the wall.

Ye Jingtang fought Guan Yujia at Iron River Manor and was accidentally dosed with the Great Liang Pearl, a medicine that expanded his Qi Meridians and greatly increased his strength. After overpowering Guan Yujia, Ye Jingtang let the injured manor lord flee and sent the other sect leaders after him while he withdrew with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning.

• Ye Jingtang struck Guan Yujia, then the two exchanged heavy blows until a Great Liang Pearl hidden in Guan Yujia's bracer broke and its medicine touched Ye Jingtang.
• Pei Xiangjun helped Ye Jingtang retreat from the manor, but the medicine intensified his Qi Meridians despite his taking a White Emperor Pill.
• Ye Jingtang learned that Guan Yujia had given him the Great Liang Pearl, endured its effects, and attacked Guan Yujia with the Dragon-Mingling Spear.
• Ye Jingtang wounded Guan Yujia with spear strikes and defeated his final punch with a powerful fist, leaving Guan Yujia badly injured.
• As the medicine's effects faded and Ye Jingtang stopped pursuing Guan Yujia, he ordered two sect leaders to chase him and left the woods with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning.

After Ye Jingtang drove off Guan Yujia with three spear strikes, he and Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning retreated to a hidden mountainside shelter to recover and watch Iron River Manor. The chapter leaves Ye Jingtang struggling to control the effects of the Great Liang Pearl while he watches the two women resting beside him.

• Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun questioned Ye Jingtang about his condition, and Pei Xiangjun explained that the Great Liang Pearl had left his blood and qi overactive.
• Ye Jingtang agreed to rest instead of pursuing the wounded Guan Yujia immediately, since he was both agitated and exhausted.
• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning retrieved their supplies and settled into a sheltered crevice overlooking Iron River Manor.
• Luo Ning watched the manor through a telescope while Pei Xiangjun shared provisions and reported that the drugged sect leaders had fled.
• Ye Jingtang noticed the women lying beside him with their lower bodies under the curtain and tried to keep his attention on recovering.

Ye Jingtang, Luo Ning, and Pei Xiangjun waited out the storm in a cramped mountain hideout, where teasing over dried jujubes left Pei Xiangjun flustered. In Wanshui Town, Yao Wenzhong and Xuanyuan Hongzhi learned that Zhang Wenyuan had vanished and set out to find Ye Jingtang; the chapter ended with Pei Xiangjun fleeing to keep watch after discovering Luo Ning’s nighttime mischief.

• Ye Jingtang joined Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun outside the blackout curtain and teased them by offering dried jujubes mouth to mouth.
• Ye Jingtang accidentally kissed Pei Xiangjun, who fled behind the curtain in embarrassment and struck Luo Ning.
• Yao Wenzhong and Xuanyuan Hongzhi encountered Zhang Wenyuan’s son in Wanshui Town and learned that Zhang Wenyuan had fallen victim to Prince Wu’s plot and was missing.
• Yao Wenzhong and Xuanyuan Hongzhi discussed their search for Ye Jingtang and decided to contact Bai Siming to locate Prince Wu’s hiding place.
• Luo Ning secretly drew Pei Xiangjun’s hand toward Ye Jingtang, and Pei Xiangjun caught her, scolded her, and left to keep watch.

Niao Niao found Perfected Person Xuanji negotiating with a black-clad woman over the Dragon-Mingling Diagram and later discovered Ye Jingtang’s camp. After the bird alerted Ye Jingtang that someone needed urgent help nearby, he set out toward the mountain stream, leaving Pei Xiangjun to watch over Luo Ning.

• Guan Yujia fled through the mountains toward Crouching Dragon Cave to obtain a Great Liang Pearl for his injuries.
• Niao Niao found Perfected Person Xuanji holding a black-clad woman captive and learned the woman was searching for a stolen formula to help the Western Sea Tribes.
• The black-clad woman escaped after giving Perfected Person Xuanji the Dragon-Mingling Diagram, and Perfected Person Xuanji remained by the stream.
• Niao Niao stole a roasted fish from Perfected Person Xuanji and flew back to Ye Jingtang and Luo Ning’s hiding place.
• Ye Jingtang spoke with Pei Xiangjun while keeping watch, then Niao Niao returned and urgently called him to someone in danger.
• Ye Jingtang gathered his weapons and medicines and followed Niao Niao southeast, leaving Pei Xiangjun with Luo Ning.

Ye Jingtang found Perfected Person Xuanji under the influence of Lustful Radiance Incense and stayed with her until she slept. Meanwhile, Dongfang Liren and the Empress Dowager traveled by official fleet toward Wu Prefecture, discussing Perfected Person Xuanji and Ye Jingtang.

• Perfected Person Xuanji tried to suppress the effects of Lustful Radiance Incense alone in a mountain hollow.
• Niao Niao led Ye Jingtang to the hollow, where he found Perfected Person Xuanji flushed and disoriented beside the campfire.
• Perfected Person Xuanji mistook Ye Jingtang for a dream, restrained him, and claimed she needed his yang energy to drive out cold poison.
• Perfected Person Xuanji covered Ye Jingtang's face and rubbed against him until the drug's effects subsided, then fell asleep beside him.
• The Empress Dowager complained to Dongfang Liren about the journey and asked whether she would tell Perfected Person Xuanji about her relationship with Ye Jingtang.

Ye Jingtang found Perfected Person Xuanji recovering after being poisoned, then returned to Iron River Manor and waited for Niao Niao to track Guan Yujia. As Ye Jingtang rested with Pei Xiangjun, Guang Hanlin learned that Junshan Terrace had arrived and planned to alert Ye Jingtang to his enemies.

• Ye Jingtang spoke with Perfected Person Xuanji after she woke, and she told him an expert was hunting a Medicine Master under Prince Wu for an elixir formula.
• Ye Jingtang found Guan Yujia near a cave and drove him out by making noise, then sent Niao Niao to follow him and returned to Iron River Manor.
• Ye Jingtang told Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning that Perfected Person Xuanji was safe, then rested behind the curtain while Pei Xiangjun slept in his embrace.
• Guang Hanlin refused Yang Guan's advice to leave, saying he owed Ye Jingtang for saving his life.
• Guang Hanlin recognized two cloaked riders as leaders of Junshan Terrace and told Yang Guan to wait on the road for Ye Jingtang and warn him about Xuanyuan Hongzhi.

Ye Jingtang pursued Prince Wu’s trail while learning that Junshan Terrace had become involved, and Perfected Person Xuanji arrived aboard the Imperial fleet to reunite with the Empress Dowager and Dongfang Liren. At Crouching Dragon Cave, Bai Siming showed Junshan Terrace’s leaders the promise of the two medicines just as Government troops closed in, and Guan Yujia concluded that Ye Jingtang had deliberately led them to the hideout.

• Ye Jingtang met Yang Guan, who warned him that two Junshan Terrace leaders had visited Wuming Mountain and might be working with Prince Wu.
• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning decided to find Prince Wu and bring troops from Baisu Town while watching for Junshan Terrace’s agents.
• Perfected Person Xuanji appeared aboard the Imperial fleet, embraced the Empress Dowager, and spoke with Dongfang Liren about Ye Jingtang.
• Bai Siming led Xuanyuan Hongzhi and Yao Wenzhong through Crouching Dragon Cave, arguing that Snow Lake Powder and the Heavenly Lang Pearl made Junshan Terrace valuable allies to Prince Wu.
• A guard reported that several thousand Government troops were approaching Crouching Dragon Cave, and Guan Yujia inferred that Ye Jingtang had released him to track him back to the hideout.

Ye Jingtang and his companions ambushed Prince Wu’s fleeing party to seize Zhang Jinglin and the Heavenly Lang Pearl formula, but the encounter turned into a standoff around a furnace of rare medicine. Guan Yujia used the Great Liang Pearl to seek a breakthrough and died when his attempt to open his dragon spine ended in a fatal collapse.

• Ye Jingtang, Pei Xiangjun, and Luo Ning followed Prince Wu’s party and planned an ambush as Bai Siming, Guan Yujia, and Junshan Terrace’s experts arrived with the medicine furnace.
• Ye Jingtang and the Northern Liang Thief Saint separately rushed toward Zhang Jinglin, but their sudden appearances made the experts retreat and disrupted the attempted abduction.
• Zhang Jinglin poured half a jin of Snow Lake Flowers into the furnace, revealed that it would produce a Heavenly Lang Pearl, and gave the Northern Liang Thief Saint a formula and Ye Jingtang a medicine manual.
• Bai Siming proposed that the group join forces against Ye Jingtang, but Guan Yujia stepped forward and used a Great Liang Pearl to raise his strength.
• Guan Yujia announced that he would become a Martial Chief, attempted to open his dragon spine, and fell dead as blood and shattered bone sprayed across the woods.

After Guan Yujia died from the medicine, Ye Jingtang seized the Medicine Formula and Heavenly Lang Pearl and fought off Xuanyuan Hongzhi and Yao Wenzhong while escaping with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning. The Northern Liang Thief Saint watched him leave, puzzled that touching the pearl had caused him no apparent harm.

• Guan Yujia died after forcibly circulating his qi during treatment, and Zhang Jinglin claimed his death proved the medicine worked when the Heavenly Lang Pearl formed in the furnace.
• Bai Siming threw the Medicine Formula and Heavenly Lang Pearl to Ye Jingtang before fleeing with Zhang Jinglin, while Xuanyuan Hongzhi and Yao Wenzhong attacked Ye Jingtang for the treasures.
• Ye Jingtang wounded Xuanyuan Hongzhi and escaped into the woods with the Medicine Formula and Heavenly Lang Pearl, but the two Junshan Terrace men turned toward Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun.
• Ye Jingtang intercepted the attackers, disarmed Yao Wenzhong, and used the Mount Jun Sabers to drive both men into retreat.
• Ye Jingtang reunited with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning, gave Luo Ning one of the sabers, and fled with them as the Northern Liang Thief Saint wondered why the pearl had not harmed him.

Ye Jingtang escaped the fight with Yao Wenzhong and Xuanyuan Hongzhi, then used the cracked Heavenly Lang Pearl to heal his injuries. Meanwhile, Dongfang Liren arrived in Jianyang to learn that Ye Jingtang had nearly secured Prince Wu’s capture, and she set out for the Wu Mountains with Perfected Person Xuanji.

• Ye Jingtang rested in a cave while Pei Xiangjun treated the damage to his back from Wind Pool Reverse Blood, and Luo Ning examined the medicine manual with him.
• Ye Jingtang discovered that the cracked Heavenly Lang Pearl released bone-burning paralysis that harmed others but not him, so he carefully absorbed its potency to heal his injuries.
• Yao Wenzhong and Xuanyuan Hongzhi escaped the Wu Mountains and resolved to gather more allies to kill Ye Jingtang before he became a Martial Chief.
• Dongfang Liren arrived outside Jianyang City and learned that Ye Jingtang had helped Hou Yong defeat Prince Wu’s faction and locate Prince Wu.
• Dongfang Liren set out for the Wu Mountains to join the campaign, and Perfected Person Xuanji agreed to accompany her while the Empress Dowager stayed in Jianyang.