Chapter Summaries

Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji stopped at a tavern in Yellow Springs Town on their way to Junshan Terrace, where Qiu Tianhe was expected to contend for Blade Overlord. Ye Jingtang impressed the retired saber expert Xuanyuan Tiangang with his insight and received Tiangang’s unusual long saber before continuing toward the lake crossing.

• Xuanyuan Tiangang and A Lan discussed the martial world as Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji arrived in Yellow Springs Town.
• At the Yellow Springs Blade Mound tavern, Ye Jingtang learned that its late proprietor had been a martial-world expert and asked whether Qiu Tianhe’s challenge had begun.
• Ye Jingtang analyzed the long saber hanging in the tavern and explained how its balanced design could counter the Dragon-Slaying Order and the Eight-Step Mad Blade.
• Xuanyuan Tiangang gave Ye Jingtang the saber, and Ye Jingtang introduced himself as Qiu Tianhe’s disciple before returning to the table.
• After eating and drinking, Ye Jingtang and the drunken Perfected Person Xuanji borrowed a boat and departed for Junshan Terrace with Niao Niao.
• A Lan asked Xuanyuan Tiangang about Ye Jingtang, and he guessed that Ye Jingtang was Zheng Feng’s disciple and praised his astonishing talent.

Ye Jingtang watched Perfected Person Xuanji demonstrate overwhelming mastery with a saber, then practiced through the night and began seeking a deeper change in his own technique. At Junshan Terrace, Qiu Tianhe heard that Ye Jingtang had killed Xuanyuan Hongzhi and chose to face the arriving Junshan Divine Marquis rather than flee.

• Perfected Person Xuanji demonstrated a seemingly plain saber slash that sent a towering wave crashing across the lake, then fell into the water while drunk and pretended she had meant to take a bath.
• Ye Jingtang retrieved Perfected Person Xuanji's saber and pondered how to transform his own technique as he practiced through the rainy night.
• Ye Jingtang sat meditating with the Chi Dragon Blade, and Niao Niao later noticed heat rising from him as he appeared nearly cooked again.
• Qiu Tianhe arrived by boat at Junshan Terrace and overheard that Xuanyuan Hongzhi and others had been killed by a young saber-wielder, whom he suspected was Ye Jingtang.
• Qiu Tianhe tried to turn his boat away, but the Junshan Divine Marquis arrived, and Qiu Tianhe stepped forward to face him.

Ye Jingtang interrupted Xuanyuan Chao’s attempt to kill Qiu Tianhe and confronted the Blade Overlord over their families’ long-standing grudge. As the two prepared to fight, Ye Jingtang declared that his saber could surpass Mad Fangzi’s speed.

• Xuanyuan Chao defeated Qiu Tianhe with a relentless series of heavy saber strikes and blocked his escape.
• Ye Jingtang arrived carrying the Chi Dragon Blade and identified himself as Zheng Feng’s son, then refused Xuanyuan Chao’s offer to settle their families’ grievances.
• Xuanyuan Chao and Ye Jingtang agreed to avenge their grudges, while Qiu Tianhe stood beside Ye Jingtang and a veiled attendant brought several weapons.
• Xuanyuan Chao recognized the Muqing Blade and questioned whether Ye Jingtang would use it against him.
• Ye Jingtang explained that mastering saber arts mattered more than relying on a specially designed weapon, and claimed his saber could move faster than Mad Fangzi’s.

Ye Jingtang defeated Xuanyuan Chao in a duel on Junshan Terrace, breaking the Dragon-Slaying Order and claiming the title of Blade Overlord. He spared Xuanyuan Chao, then left the terrace with Perfected Person Xuanji as his injuries caught up with him.

• Ye Jingtang and Xuanyuan Chao began their duel at the center of Junshan Terrace, where Ye Jingtang used a new version of the Eight-Step Mad Blade to wound Xuanyuan Chao and suppress the Dragon-Slaying Order.
• Xuanyuan Chao revealed a concealed light saber and challenged Ye Jingtang to a second contest, with each man using the other's saber art.
• Ye Jingtang wielded the Mount Jun Saber and defeated Xuanyuan Chao with an improved Dragon-Slaying Order, then stopped his blade instead of killing him and confronted him over the harm he had caused.
• Ye Jingtang accepted the martial world's cheers as the new Blade Overlord, while Qiu Tianhe and Perfected Person Xuanji joined him on the terrace.
• Ye Jingtang began coughing and could barely stand, so Perfected Person Xuanji supported him as they left Junshan Terrace by boat.

After defeating Xuanyuan Chao and becoming the new Blade Overlord, Ye Jingtang recovered aboard a rain-lashed boat while Perfected Person Xuanji treated his injuries. Their awkward encounter led Xuanji to ask him to find two Dragon-Mingling Diagrams, and Ye Jingtang agreed to consider it in return for her promise of a favor.

• The Sky-Pacifying Sect Master watched Ye Jingtang leave with Perfected Person Xuanji and ordered a letter sent to Capital City demanding that Ning'er return if she could not infiltrate the palace.
• Perfected Person Xuanji applied Jade Dragon Balm to Ye Jingtang while he slept, and he woke embarrassed after realizing where her hand had been.
• Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji discussed his new saber technique before Hero Qiu arrived to explain that Zezhou's sects wanted to sound him out about establishing a sect there.
• Perfected Person Xuanji noticed Ye Jingtang's involuntary reaction, drew her sword, and demanded that he make amends for offending her.
• Perfected Person Xuanji asked Ye Jingtang to find the Golden Scale and Dragon-Elephant diagrams, promising to help him secure custody rights and grant him a wish; Ye Jingtang agreed to discuss the favor if he found them.

After news reached Prince Wu's Manor that Ye Jingtang had defeated Xuanyuan Chao, Dongfang Liren ordered preparations to return to the capital and worried over Ye's injuries. Once he recovered enough to travel, Ye left Dreamcloud Marsh with Perfected Person Xuanji, heading home to report their victory and safety to Dongfang Liren.

• The Empress Dowager set off fireworks while Dongfang Liren endured officials' reports at Prince Wu's Manor.
• A Black Bureau Chief Constable told Dongfang Liren that Ye Jingtang had defeated Xuanyuan Chao at Junshan Terrace, and she ordered the Imperial Guards to prepare to return to the capital.
• The next morning, Ye Jingtang awoke aboard the boat, found Perfected Person Xuanji painting, and saw her risqué picture of the two of them.
• Qiu Tianhe met Ye Jingtang on the lake, explained the history of the Muqing Blade, and headed for Yellow Springs Town.
• Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji set off for home in Qiu Tianhe's sail-less boat, with Ye rowing and Niao Niao trying to help as a sail.

Cao Aning and a companion investigated Chief Lu’s death, then planned to lure Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji away from the capital. Ye Jingtang reunited with Dongfang Liren and his companions aboard the Imperial fleet, where he began recovering from his injuries as the ships continued toward Capital City.

• Cao Aning concluded that Chief Lu had likely died by suicide, and he and the man in brocade decided to head to Northern Liang and send word of a plan to lure Ye Jingtang away.
• Perfected Person Xuanji warned Ye Jingtang that his ties to the Imperial Court could make the martial world despise him, while the Empress Dowager spotted him beside Xuanji from a nearby ship and grew suspicious.
• Ye Jingtang joined the treasure ship, reassured Dongfang Liren that his injuries were manageable, and accepted her offer to draw him an album.
• Perfected Person Xuanji denied the Empress Dowager’s suspicion that she had seduced Ye Jingtang, while the Empress Dowager wondered whether Ye Jingtang had feelings for her.
• Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning welcomed Ye Jingtang, checked his injuries, and urged him to rest instead of overexerting himself.
• Imperial ships carrying Dongfang Liren and her party entered Wu-West River Mouth and continued toward Capital City.

Zhe Yunli encountered Ping'er, who had come from Southern Skies Mountain to check on her and urge her and Luo Ning to return. As Ye Jingtang’s fleet reached the Capital City, he learned that Dongfang Liren had been drawing an illustrated album of him and was told to rest while she handled the prisoners’ transfer.

• Zhe Yunli worried about turning sixteen and her future before wandering through the Capital City to check on Luo Ning’s courtyard.
• Zhe Yunli found Ping'er outside the courtyard, and Ping'er explained that the Cult Leader had sent her to check on them and report on Luo Ning’s progress.
• Zhe Yunli agreed to let Ping'er stay, then learned that Ping'er would inspect her copied books and could send her back to Southern Skies Mountain if she misbehaved.
• Ye Jingtang’s fleet neared the Capital City, and he heard Ning'er and Third Madam discuss how they would care for him after he had recovered.
• Ye Jingtang entered Dongfang Liren’s study and discovered her drawing erotic illustrations based on Tears of the Chivalrous Woman.
• Dongfang Liren told Ye Jingtang to rest while she transferred Prince Wu and the other prisoners to the Ministry of Justice, and promised to give him the completed album once it was bound.

Dongfang Shuoyue discussed the threat posed by Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji as Prince Yan’s heir weighed his precarious position in the capital. Back home, Ye Jingtang reunited with the Pei family, honored his adoptive father, and grew closer to Pei Xiangjun, while Perfected Person Xuanji reported to the Empress about the Dragon-Mingling Diagram and Ye Jingtang.

• Dongfang Shuoyue decided to test Ye Jingtang for weaknesses before devising a way to eliminate him or Perfected Person Xuanji.
• Ye Jingtang returned to Skywater Bridge with Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning, and Yang Chao told them the area had become safe and Zhe Yunli had been helping at the shops.
• Madam Zhang celebrated Ye Jingtang’s rise as the Blade Overlord, and he promised to restore the Red Flower House’s reputation and avenge Pei Yuanming.
• Ye Jingtang and Pei Xiangjun paid respects at the Spirit Altar, then returned to her bedchamber and became intimate.
• Perfected Person Xuanji told the Empress that Ye Jingtang had agreed to help search for the Dragon-Mingling Diagram, while Dongfang Liren remained distant from him.

Luo Ning learned that Xue Baijin had sent Ping'er to supervise her in the capital, so she and Ye Jingtang agreed to investigate the secret chamber beneath Cheng'an Hall to give her a real task. The next day, Ye Jingtang entered the palace and studied the rockery that concealed the chamber, but he had not yet found a way to open it unnoticed.

• Luo Ning returned to Twin Osmanthus Alley and found Ping'er there, sent by Xue Baijin to keep watch and report on her progress.
• Luo Ning told Ping'er that Ye Jingtang had joined the Sky-Pacifying Sect and claimed he shared its cause, then agreed to let Ping'er stay with Yunli.
• Luo Ning told Ye Jingtang and Pei Xiangjun that she needed to make genuine progress on entering the palace, and Ye Jingtang agreed to investigate the object hidden beneath Cheng'an Hall.
• Ye Jingtang entered the palace under the pretext of practicing at Dragon-Mingling Pool and examined the rockery concealing the secret chamber.
• Ye Jingtang found no discreet way to open the chamber before footsteps approached the lakeside, so he closed his eyes and pretended to practice.

Ye Jingtang received praise for his service and discussed his reward with the Empress of Great Wei before helping her treat an old injury. He then joined the Empress Dowager and Perfected Person Xuanji on an outing, which turned into an investigation of two murders near the Imperial Fist Academy.

• The Empress of Great Wei told Ye Jingtang that the court was considering a title for him, and he asked instead for an honorary Marquis of Yun title and a favor from her.
• The Empress of Great Wei suffered a flare-up of an old injury, so Ye Jingtang carried her to the bathing room and treated her with Snow Lake Powder.
• The Empress of Great Wei offered the Snow Lake Powder formula to the Red Flower House, provided it paid taxes, compensated those harmed during its development, and maintained fair prices and quality.
• Ye Jingtang encountered the Empress Dowager and agreed to accompany her and Perfected Person Xuanji on an outing through a tunnel beneath the palace.
• Shang Jianli asked Ye Jingtang to investigate the murders of two boxing masters near the Imperial Fist Academy, and Perfected Person Xuanji and the Empress Dowager joined him.

Ye Jingtang investigated the murders of Imperial Fist Academy instructor Zhang Lie and a student, reconstructing the killer’s techniques from the erased crime scene. The investigation pointed toward a highly skilled flexible-weapon expert, while the killers discussed in an inn continued searching for Liu Qiansheng and the Heavenly Lang Pearl.

• Ye Jingtang, Perfected Person Xuanji, and the Empress Dowager visited the Imperial Fist Academy murder scene, where Yuwen Chengde described the killings and their missing clues.
• Ye Jingtang reenacted the attack with Perfected Person Xuanji and deduced that the killer used a chain hammer before switching to a fierce close-range strike.
• Ye Jingtang concluded that the killer was a versatile expert skilled in both internal and external martial arts, though the erased tracks made identification difficult.
• The Empress Dowager complained that Ye Jingtang had made her play the victim, and Perfected Person Xuanji defended her after the reenactment.
• At an inn, a middle-aged merchant and his secretary discussed their murder of Zhang Lie, worried about Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji, and planned to find Liu Qiansheng and a Northern Liang Medicine Master connected to the Heavenly Lang Pearl.

Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun shopped around the Capital City, while Ye Jingtang spent the evening drinking with the Empress Dowager and Perfected Person Xuanji. Dongfang Liren arrived after both women passed out and ordered them taken back to Jade Resonance Tower.

• Luo Ning took Ping'er and Zhe Yunli shopping with Pei Xiangjun, then visited Madam Wang to return restricted medicines and heard her advice about married life.
• Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning discussed a Northern Liang Thousand-Li Mirror and the young nobles gathered around its traveling merchant.
• Ye Jingtang drank fruit wine with the Empress Dowager and Perfected Person Xuanji, and the Empress Dowager told him how Xuanji got her childhood names.
• The Empress Dowager and Perfected Person Xuanji both fell asleep drunk at the restaurant, so Ye Jingtang sent word to Prince Jing's Manor.
• Dongfang Liren arrived, questioned Ye Jingtang about the drinking, and ordered her maids to take the Empress Dowager and her master back to Jade Resonance Tower.

After Ye Jingtang received the honorary title Marquis of Martial Peace, Dongfang Liren toured his new residence and discovered its conspicuously oversized bed. A lead identified Zheng Kun as the likely killer of Instructor Zhang, and Ye Jingtang and Dongfang Liren rushed to protect Liu Qiansheng while Ye planned to lure Zheng Kun out.

• Dongfang Liren told Ye Jingtang that the court had named him Marquis of Martial Peace and agreed to inspect his new residence.
• Dongfang Shuoyue learned that Zheng Kun and Shi Yanfeng had gone to Yunzhou and ordered Zhongsun Yan to watch for a chance to attack Ye Jingtang.
• Dongfang Liren toured Ye Jingtang's new home and questioned him about the oversized bed and its suggestive furnishings.
• A Six Fan Gate constable reported that Zheng Kun matched the description of Instructor Zhang's killer and likely sought to silence Liu Qiansheng.
• Ye Jingtang and Dongfang Liren hurried to Longxi Alley to protect Liu Qiansheng, while Ye planned to wait for Zheng Kun and draw him out.

Liu Qiansheng told She Xiaohu about the violence and hardship that shaped his life in Liangzhou, then faced an attack by Shi Yanfeng and Zheng Kun. As the two prepared to kill him, approaching footsteps suggested someone had arrived at the courtyard.

• Liu Qiansheng taught She Xiaohu about his past as a Liangzhou bandit and urged him to prevent the Imperial Court’s inaction from creating another man like him.
• Zheng Kun and Shi Yanfeng confirmed Liu Qiansheng’s location and entered Longxi Alley to kill him.
• Shi Yanfeng confronted Liu Qiansheng, who stayed seated and challenged him to demonstrate the Fu Family Storm Staff.
• Zheng Kun joined Shi Yanfeng in attacking Liu Qiansheng with clods of dirt, while Liu revealed he had been struck by a Soul-Severing Needle.
• Liu Qiansheng picked up his sanxian and began playing Ballad of Liangzhou as steady footsteps approached the courtyard.

Ye Jingtang and Dongfang Liren tracked Liu Qiansheng to Longxi Alley, where they confronted Zheng Kun and Shi Yanfeng. Ye Jingtang defeated Zheng Kun and discovered that Shi Yanfeng had mastered the Golden Scale Diagram, then pursued him as he fled.

• Ye Jingtang rode to Longxi Alley with Dongfang Liren and sent Niao Niao ahead to scout for danger.
• Ye Jingtang spotted an unusually alert peddler and concealed himself with Dongfang Liren, pretending they were lovers until the peddler met a steward near the alley.
• Ye Jingtang entered the courtyard and identified himself as an officer while confronting Zheng Kun and Shi Yanfeng beside Liu Qiansheng.
• Shi Yanfeng feinted toward a neighboring courtyard as Zheng Kun attacked with a rope dart, but Ye Jingtang dodged the attack and struck Zheng Kun with a devastating punch.
• Ye Jingtang pursued Shi Yanfeng and found his saber thrust blocked by the Golden Scale Diagram, then watched him flee and chased after him with Dongfang Liren.

Ye Jingtang pursued Shi Yanfeng through Yun'an with Dongfang Liren in his arms, but a hidden trapmaster's explosives, needles, and poison disrupted the chase. As the city responded to the attack, Dongfang Shuoyue met Zhongsun Yan and began considering ways to draw Ye Jingtang or Perfected Person Xuanji away from the Capital City.

• Ye Jingtang wounded Shi Yanfeng during their rooftop chase, but Shi Yanfeng triggered a hidden explosive trap that blasted them into a field of ruins.
• A hidden attacker released needle-filled spheres and poisonous smoke, and Ye Jingtang used Shi Yanfeng as a shield while protecting Dongfang Liren.
• Ye Jingtang ordered the Black Bureau Chief Constables to secure the area and send for reinforcements, then suspected someone had targeted him rather than Liu Qiansheng.
• Ye Jingtang and Dongfang Liren concluded that the ambush surrounding Shi Yanfeng and Zheng Kun was suspicious, and Ye Jingtang left Shi Yanfeng for interrogation.
• Zhongsun Yan reported to Dongfang Shuoyue that Ye Jingtang had survived the attack, and they discussed ways to draw him or Perfected Person Xuanji away from the Capital City.

After the ambush in Longxi Alley, Ye Jingtang arranged the investigation and treated his injuries at the Brilliant Sun Pool, where his teasing with Dongfang Liren led to a kiss and a struggle. He then spoke with the Empress about the Golden Scale Diagram and received a finely made replacement scabbard before she left.

• Ye Jingtang ordered the Black Bureau and Imperial Guards to search for escape routes, secure the prisoners, and interrogate Zheng Kun.
• Dongfang Liren insisted that Ye Jingtang be examined, and he tended to the scrapes on her legs while they argued about his earlier kiss.
• Dongfang Liren teased Ye Jingtang into kissing her, then tried to draw the Chi Dragon Blade and punish him before a palace maid summoned her to Cheng'an Hall.
• Ye Jingtang discovered the Empress bathing and, while blindfolded, reported the ambush and Shi Yanfeng's Golden Scale Diagram to her.
• The Empress said the Hongshan Gang would require careful planning to eliminate, then gave Ye Jingtang a scabbard crafted to match the one Mad Fangzi had carried.

Tang Yudan and Cao Aning tried to recruit the Sky-Pacifying Sect into Prince Yan’s plan to seize the throne, but the Sky-Pacifying Sect Master refused and chose to stay out of the conflict. In the Capital City, Ye Jingtang shared an awkward carriage ride with Dongfang Liren before returning to the Black Bureau to investigate the Eastern District attack.

• Tang Yudan and Cao Aning told the Sky-Pacifying Sect Master that Prince Yan planned to seize the throne and offered her territory in the south in exchange for her help.
• The Sky-Pacifying Sect Master rejected Prince Yan’s proposal, and she and Zhang Henggu decided to remain neutral while she considered the information about the Empress’s health.
• The Sky-Pacifying Sect Master decided to write to Luo Ning and urge her to return, while Zhang Henggu withdrew without voicing his suspicions about Ping'er’s absence.
• Dongfang Liren came to Brilliant Sun Pool at dawn and found Ye Jingtang waiting; they rode together, and he caught her sketching a scene of them kissing.
• Ye Jingtang went to the Black Bureau, where She Long thanked him for protecting Liu Qiansheng and reported that Shi Yanfeng had died while Zheng Kun had refused to talk.

Ye Jingtang interrogated Zheng Kun about the Hongshan Gang’s smuggling, Jiang Zhawu, and the Heavenly Lang Pearl, while Perfected Person Xuanji accidentally carved an intimate ornament for Luo Ning and gave it to Ye Jingtang. Ye Jingtang reunited with Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun, then prepared to take them into the palace to practice the Jade Bone Diagram and investigate Cheng'an Hall.

• Ye Jingtang learned that Wang Er and his brother had been framed by the Cloud-Cutting Palace, then ordered She Long to investigate the allegation.
• Ye Jingtang stopped Shang Jianli’s torture of Zheng Kun and questioned him about the Hongshan Gang’s illicit iron trade, Jiang Zhawu’s Golden Scale Diagram, and the Heavenly Lang Pearl’s formula.
• Perfected Person Xuanji visited Luo Ning, mistook her secret carving for an ornament, and used the Acacia Sword to finish carving it.
• Ye Jingtang arrived with Niao Niao, discovered Perfected Person Xuanji wearing furry ears and holding the intimate jade carving, and agreed to take people to Jade Pool Manor before the Emperor’s visit.
• Ye Jingtang reassured Luo Ning and accepted her explanation, then reunited with Pei Xiangjun and said they would enter the palace to practice the Jade Bone Diagram and proceed carefully with Cheng'an Hall.