Chapter Summaries

Ye Jingtang learned that Cao Aning had been imprisoned in Yanjing and that the Northern Liang court might be using him as bait, then traveled toward the capital while investigating the Death Prison and the Spear Sage Qi Qingfeng. The chapter ended with Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli preparing to continue their journey, still unsure what hidden force Northern Liang might have prepared.

• After a night with Ye Jingtang and Hua Qingzhi, Xue Baijin blamed her drunkenness for what happened and insisted she would still escort him back to the Western Sea.
• Fan Qinghe and Perfected Person Xuanji watched the Death Prison and saw Hua Junchen arrive to visit Cao Aning, while Li Yiliang secretly observed Hua Junchen from the prison wall.
• Ye Jingtang gathered Azure Dragon Society intelligence and learned that Cao Aning was held in the Death Prison and that the Northern Liang court might be trying to lure him into a trap.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli reached the town beneath the Drum-Beating Platform and heard that Qi Qingfeng had been staying at the Right Xian King's residence.
• An Azure Dragon Society contact told Ye Jingtang that the court's sudden arrest of Cao Aning suggested someone had supplied intelligence and that the prison might be bait for him.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli discussed the court's possible hidden advantage, then decided to move on and go drinking.

Hua Qingzhi pressured Xue Baijin into continuing to help Ye Jingtang train, while Ye Jingtang spent the evening drinking with Zhe Yunli and carrying her back to the inn. Xue Baijin then put Hua Qingzhi to sleep and left with Ye Jingtang to train in the next room.

• Hua Qingzhi confronted Xue Baijin about her intimacy with Ye Jingtang and threatened to expose the secret unless Xue Baijin continued helping him train.
• Xue Baijin agreed to train Ye Jingtang a little longer, provided Hua Qingzhi kept silent about what had happened.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli drank together, and Yunli drunkenly teased him about women and his attraction to them before falling asleep on his back.
• Ye Jingtang brought Yunli to Xue Baijin, then visited Hua Qingzhi, who offered him peeled oranges while waiting for him.
• Xue Baijin entered Hua Qingzhi's room, tapped her chest to make her drowsy, and carried her to bed.
• Xue Baijin shared an orange with Ye Jingtang, then left with him for the adjoining room to resume training.

Ye Jingtang returned to Yanjing with Hua Qingzhi, Zhe Yunli, and Xue Baijin to plan a prison break and rescue Cao Aning. After gathering intelligence, he sensed powerful figures guarding the prison and began swimming toward the island, while Niao Niao spotted two familiar people watching from a distant hill.

• Ye Jingtang reached Yanjing with the three women and sent Zhe Yunli with him to gather information from the Azure Dragon Society.
• Hua Qingzhi confronted Xue Baijin about their earlier quarrel, but Xue Baijin carried her upstairs and threatened to keep her from seeing Ye Jingtang.
• Liu gave Ye Jingtang a map of the Capital Outskirts Death Prison, guard schedules, and news that Zhongsun Jin was in the Imperial City and Xiang Hanshi was at the Imperial Preceptor's Office.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli surveyed the prison at night, and Xue Baijin, Hua Qingzhi, and Niao Niao waited nearby as he went ahead alone.
• Ye Jingtang sensed powerful figures in the Imperial Preceptor's Office and the prison's Corner Tower, then concealed himself and swam toward the prison island.
• Niao Niao spotted two familiar figures hiding in the grass on a distant hill while keeping watch over Ye Jingtang.

Ye Jingtang broke Cao Aning out of Death Prison and escaped Northern Liang’s pursuit, but Xiang Hanshi revealed a new trap: Hua Junchen would be used as bait on Heavenly Avenue the next day. Realizing Ye Jingtang would come to rescue his father-in-law, Hua Junchen tried to kill himself, but someone stopped him.

• Hua Junchen visited Cao Aning in Death Prison and told him the investigation had found no conclusive evidence.
• Ye Jingtang infiltrated the prison, freed Cao Aning, and knocked out the guards before escaping with him.
• Li Yiliang and Xiang Hanshi pursued Ye Jingtang, but they stopped after failing to catch him and let him leave with Cao Aning.
• Xiang Hanshi told Hua Junchen that Ye Jingtang would be expected on Heavenly Avenue the next day, where the Imperial Court planned to ambush him.
• Hua Junchen realized Ye Jingtang would risk everything to save him and tried to cut his throat, but his sword was knocked away.

After rescuing Cao Aning, Ye Jingtang reunited with Xue Baijin, Hua Qingzhi, Zhe Yunli, Perfected Person Xuanji, and Fan Qinghe near Yanmen Town. Fan Qinghe discovered that Xue Baijin was pregnant with Ye Jingtang’s child, leaving Xue Baijin shaken and desperate to return to Southern Skies Mountain, while Ye Jingtang remained unaware.

• Xue Baijin, Zhe Yunli, and Hua Qingzhi met Perfected Person Xuanji and Fan Qinghe after Niao Niao led them through the woods.
• Fan Qinghe examined Xue Baijin’s pulse and realized she was pregnant with Ye Jingtang’s child; Xue Baijin panicked and tried to conceal the news.
• Ye Jingtang waited in Yanmen Town with the rescued Cao Aning and offered to put him in charge of the Black Bureau when they returned to Great Wei.
• Ye Jingtang reunited with the women outside town, where Xue Baijin tried to leave for Southern Skies Mountain without explaining why.
• Perfected Person Xuanji told Ye Jingtang that the Imperial Court planned to send troops through the Northern Wasteland and later flirted with him as they headed into town.

After Xue Baijin discovered she was pregnant with Ye Jingtang’s child, she struggled with how to face Ning'er and Yunli, while Ye Jingtang promised to take responsibility and the others discussed her care. Their reunion turned urgent when a Northern Liang notice announced Hua Junchen’s execution, prompting Ye Jingtang to set out to rescue him.

• Fan Qinghe confirmed Xue Baijin’s pregnancy, and Xue Baijin panicked over betraying Ning'er and her disciple Yunli.
• Ye Jingtang promised to marry Xue Baijin and take responsibility, but she insisted on returning to Southern Skies Mountain after giving birth.
• Fan Qinghe told Ye Jingtang that gentle intimacy could be safe during pregnancy, while Perfected Person Xuanji teased Fan Qinghe and Hua Qingzhi.
• Cao Aning found a notice announcing that Hua Junchen would be executed at noon the next day, and Ye Jingtang immediately sent Niao Niao to find Yu Hu.
• Ye Jingtang left to rescue Hua Junchen, telling Perfected Person Xuanji to keep Xue Baijin from acting rashly and assuring Fan Qinghe and Hua Qingzhi he would return.

Ye Jingtang entered Yanjing alone to rescue Hua Junchen and Xu Tianying, then fought Xiang Hanshi and Li Yiliang inside the Imperial Court’s trap. After revealing his mastery of Nine-Nine Return to One and destroying the Imperial City’s defenses, he freed the prisoners and urged the soldiers to stand down.

• Xiang Hanshi and Li Yiliang prepared to kill Ye Jingtang in Yanjing, while Hua Junchen, Xu Tianying, and the Azure Dragon Society feared he would walk into the trap.
• Ye Jingtang arrived alone and entered the Urn City formed by thousands of Imperial Guards and shield carts.
• Xiang Hanshi and Li Yiliang attacked Ye Jingtang, and Li Yiliang forcibly entered Nine-Nine Return to One to pin him down while Xiang Hanshi battered him.
• Ye Jingtang revealed that he had endured their attacks deliberately, then entered Nine-Nine Return to One and overwhelmed Xiang Hanshi with a storm of weapons that tore through the city wall.
• Ye Jingtang cut open Hua Junchen and Xu Tianying’s cage and told the soldiers he would spare them if they went home.

Ye Jingtang overwhelmed Yanjing with a single devastating attack, rescued Hua Junchen and Xu Tianying, and collapsed from his injuries as his allies carried him south. While Northern Liang’s people and court reeled from the defeat, a mysterious cloaked man entered the sealed chamber and offered the Liang Emperor his help.

• Xue Baijin and the others witnessed Ye Jingtang’s attack devastate Yanjing, then caught him as he collapsed after escaping with Hua Junchen and Xu Tianying.
• Fan Qinghe treated Ye Jingtang, and Xue Baijin carried him south while Hua Qingzhi and the others gathered around him.
• Wang Jiwen urged the Third Imperial Prince to seek a deal with Ye Jingtang, while Lü Taiqing and the Empress arrived in Yanjing and then pursued Ye Jingtang south.
• The Empress and Lü Taiqing caught up with Ye Jingtang’s group, and they continued toward Heaven's Gate Gorge with him gravely wounded.
• The Liang Emperor and Zhongsun Jin confronted the collapse of Northern Liang’s morale, then watched a mysterious cloaked man open the sealed chamber and offer to help the emperor.

After nearly half a month unconscious, Ye Jingtang woke at home and recovered enough to visit his family and master. He left with Zhe Yunli for Twin Osmanthus Alley, while the city’s growing admiration for him and a crude story about his youth followed him along the way.

• Ye Jingtang woke in Plum Blossom Courtyard, learned that the Empress and his household were safe, and found Zhe Yunli keeping watch beside him.
• Ye Jingtang tried to teach Zhe Yunli the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Art, and she fled after they playfully settled an awkward misunderstanding.
• Ye Jingtang visited Hua Qingzhi and Fan Qinghe, who welcomed him back, checked on his health, and told him about their painting and medicine preparations.
• Ye Jingtang ate, then prepared to visit his master at Twin Osmanthus Alley and invited Zhe Yunli to accompany him.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli rode through Skywater Bridge as passersby praised his exploits, and he explained how Fengguancheng had helped shape the martial world.
• At the Pei Family Escort Agency, Ye Jingtang overheard Yang Chao crediting his youthful promise to his anatomy, then continued toward Twin Osmanthus Alley with Zhe Yunli.

Ye Jingtang returned to Yun'an and reunited with Xue Baijin and Yunli while Xue Baijin wrestled with where to raise their unborn child. News of Ye Jingtang's recovery reached the Empress, and the chapter ended with Xue Baijin continuing to learn a cultivation art as she worried about her child and Yunli's future.

• Xue Baijin bought a tiger-head hat for her unborn child while shopping with Ping'er, then returned to Twin Osmanthus Alley with Yunli and Ye Jingtang.
• Ye Jingtang told Xue Baijin he would accompany her to Southern Heaven, and he began teaching her the Nine-Nine Return to One art.
• After leaving the alley, Yunli asked Ping'er about Xue Baijin's feelings for Ye Jingtang and wondered whether she and Ye Jingtang were a suitable match.
• The Empress learned that Prince Lang had awakened and ordered Perfected Person Xuanji to visit him after the court finished discussing the war.
• Perfected Person Xuanji found Ye Jingtang teaching Xue Baijin at Twin Osmanthus Alley, then left to go shopping with Yunli.
• Xue Baijin worried that returning to Southern Skies Mountain would separate her from her child and leave Yunli with a difficult childhood, while Ye Jingtang promised to handle the matter.

Ye Jingtang reunited with Perfected Person Xuanji and visited the Empress, where their playful reunion turned into a drinking game with Hua Qingzhi and Fan Qinghe. Meanwhile, Cao Gonggong and Zhang Henggu uncovered a possible lead in the long-unsolved murder of Zhang Henggu’s eldest disciple, and the chapter ended with the drinking game underway in the palace Bathing Room.

• Zhe Yunli drank with Ping'er and Perfected Person Xuanji, then left with Niao Niao when Ye Jingtang arrived to visit the palace.
• Ye Jingtang and Perfected Person Xuanji passed the Black Bureau and continued to the Imperial City, while Ye Jingtang left the Two Princes of Yanzhou imprisoned.
• Cao Gonggong met Zhang Henggu on Southern Skies Mountain, and Zhang revealed that his eldest disciple and the disciple’s wife had been killed with Soul-Severing Needles.
• Cao Gonggong linked the needles to Zhao Hongnu, an Imperial Guard commander who had supposedly died in a fire after attempting to silence the princesses.
• At Cheng'an Hall, the Empress and Perfected Person Xuanji welcomed Ye Jingtang and began a drinking game, then invited Hua Qingzhi and Fan Qinghe to join them.
• The group drew lots in the Bathing Room, and Ye Jingtang chose Perfected Person Xuanji when his lot required him to hold someone until the next draw.

Ye Jingtang reunited with Pei Xiangjun, Luo Ning, Dongfang Liren, and Qin Huaiyan after returning to the Capital City, where Dongfang Liren gave him her illustrated paintings of Tears of the Chivalrous Woman. He revealed that Xue Baijin was pregnant, leaving Dongfang Liren worried about her standing in the household and determined to have a child herself.

• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli visited Yang Guan's Twin Blades Sect before Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning returned and reunited with him.
• Ye Jingtang met the convoy, greeted Xiuhe, Hongyu, and Green Pearl, and joined Dongfang Liren and Qin Huaiyan in the Imperial Carriage.
• Dongfang Liren showed Ye Jingtang her paintings and gave him ten drawings after he teased her and demonstrated how he could loosen her belt with a finger.
• At Prince Jing's Manor, Ye Jingtang told Qin Huaiyan that Xue Baijin was pregnant and asked her to keep it secret.
• Dongfang Liren learned of Xue Baijin's pregnancy, worried that her position as principal wife was threatened, and demanded that Ye Jingtang help her conceive.

Ye Jingtang reunited with Pei Xiangjun and paid respects to the Pei ancestors before returning to Twin Osmanthus Alley, where Luo Ning learned that Xue Baijin was pregnant with his child. Baijin planned to leave for Southern Skies Mountain, while Luo Ning proposed sounding out Zhe Yunli before deciding what to do.

• Hongyu summoned Ye Jingtang to the palace, interrupting his intimate time with Dongfang Liren and Qin Huaiyan.
• Pei Xiangjun returned to Pei Family Alley with Xiuhe, and Ye Jingtang later visited her and discussed household expenses and allowances.
• Ye Jingtang and Pei Xiangjun descended to the underground branch hall and paid respects before the Pei ancestors' spirit tablets.
• Luo Ning found a baby tiger-head cap and learned from Xue Baijin that she was pregnant with Ye Jingtang's child.
• Luo Ning initially drew her sword to confront Ye Jingtang, then accepted Baijin's explanation and discussed how to tell Zhe Yunli.
• Xue Baijin proposed returning to Southern Skies Mountain to have the baby, while Luo Ning suggested indirectly sounding out Zhe Yunli first.

Zhe Yunli visited the Pei Family to invite Ye Jingtang to dinner and caught him being intimate with Pei Xiangjun, then teased him about his feelings for her and his relationships with other women. At the New Residence, the group joked and posed for Hua Qingzhi’s painting as evening approached.

• Zhe Yunli overheard Ye Jingtang and Pei Xiangjun in the bedchamber, then waited in the back alley for Ye Jingtang to emerge.
• Zhe Yunli invited Ye Jingtang to dinner and questioned him about whether he liked her and whether his feelings were tied to her Master's Wife.
• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli entered the New Residence, where Zhe Yunli watched Perfected Person Xuanji spar with Fan Qinghe.
• Ye Jingtang showed Hua Qingzhi a painting by Prince Jing, and the group discussed its skill and subject.
• Hua Qingzhi began a new painting with Fan Qinghe, Ye Jingtang, and Zhe Yunli posing under Perfected Person Xuanji’s directions.

Luo Ning went to the Pei Family to discuss Xue Baijin’s pregnancy and how to tell Zhe Yunli, but Ye Jingtang revealed that Yunli already knew about Luo Ning and him, as well as Shui’er. Luo Ning remained uncertain how Yunli felt about Baijin, yet she returned home with Ye Jingtang and agreed to wait while he tried to clarify matters.

• Luo Ning visited Pei Xiangjun and worried that pregnant Xue Baijin wanted to return to Southern Skies Mountain before they had explained the situation to Zhe Yunli.
• Pei Xiangjun suggested telling Yunli the truth, but Luo Ning decided to use Shui’er’s situation to gauge Yunli’s reaction.
• Ye Jingtang told Luo Ning that Yunli already knew about their relationship and Shui’er, but he had not told her about Baijin’s pregnancy.
• Luo Ning panicked and considered leaving with Baijin, while Ye Jingtang asked her to wait as he handled the conversation with Yunli.
• Yunli appeared at the back door, accepted spending money from Luo Ning, and invited her out for drinks; Luo Ning declined and went home with Ye Jingtang.

Ye Jingtang reunited with Luo Ning and Xue Baijin in Twin Osmanthus Alley, persuaded Baijin to postpone returning to Southern Skies Mountain, and helped Ning'er learn the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Art. The chapter ended with the Empress assigning Xu Tianying and Hua Junchen to pursue Zhao Hongnu, then deciding to consult Ye Jingtang about the mission.

• Luo Ning told Xue Baijin that Ye Jingtang had said Yunli did not hate her, and they agreed to discuss Baijin's departure with him.
• Ye Jingtang prepared dinner for Luo Ning and Xue Baijin, then convinced Baijin to stay a few days before deciding whether to return to Southern Skies Mountain.
• Ye Jingtang began teaching Luo Ning the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Art, while Xue Baijin supervised and joined in as the lesson turned intimate.
• Meng Jiao delivered news about Zhao Hongnu to the Empress, who chose Xu Tianying and Hua Junchen to handle the case.
• The Empress decided to summon Ye Jingtang to discuss the assignment before the two Martial Chiefs departed.

Ye Jingtang spoke with Yu Hu about a Southern Heaven case connected to Yunli’s parents and decided to travel there, while Yu Hu joined the household’s late-night gathering. The chapter ended with Xue Baijin staying with Yunli as the rest of the household celebrated together.

• Ye Jingtang listened as Luo Ning and Xue Baijin recalled how he had first moved into the courtyard, until Yu Hu arrived outside to speak with him.
• Yu Hu showed Ye Jingtang a letter about Zhao Hongnu and the murders of Yunli’s parents, and he chose to visit Southern Heaven and seek Fengguancheng’s guidance.
• Ye Jingtang and Yu Hu went to Plum Blossom Courtyard, where they joined Hua Qingzhi, Perfected Person Xuanji, Pei Xiangjun, and the others for music, wine, and dancing.
• Pei Xiangjun brought Luo Ning to the gathering, and Dongfang Liren brought the Empress Dowager; the household’s celebration continued into the night.
• Zhe Yunli secretly watched the courtyard with her Thousand-Li Mirror until Xue Baijin found her and stayed to meditate with her.

Ye Jingtang traveled south by ship with his family, while he and Zhe Yunli left the vessel to explore the mountains near Southern Skies Mountain. Xue Baijin, Luo Ning, and Fan Qinghe secretly followed behind them, hoping to witness Ye Jingtang’s pilgrimage to Guancheng.

• Ye Jingtang admired the river scenery as his family traveled toward Southern Heaven aboard an Imperial Court ship.
• Dongfang Liren, Hua Qingzhi, and Huaiyan painted landscapes, and Ye Jingtang praised Huaiyan’s painting before kissing his wives.
• Ye Jingtang spoke with Yu Hu and Shui'er, then found Zhe Yunli fishing and agreed to follow her shortcut into the mountains.
• Ye Jingtang gave Zhe Yunli’s fish to Xiuhe for Niao Niao and leaped off the ship with Yunli to explore.
• Xue Baijin, Luo Ning, and Fan Qinghe secretly traveled through the mountains, and Baijin decided to go around after seeing Yunli lead Ye Jingtang uphill.

Ye Jingtang visited Southern Skies Mountain with Zhe Yunli and questioned Zhang Henggu about the sixteen-year-old murder of Zhang’s disciple, identifying a likely sequence of attacks and deciding to inspect the Cangsha River crime scene. He set off downstream with Yunli and Dongfang Liren, who joined after he found her practicing remote object control with Niao Niao.

• Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli traveled through the mountains, reminisced about childhood, and arrived at Southern Skies Mountain, where Zhang Henggu greeted them.
• Ye Jingtang questioned Zhang Henggu about his eldest disciple’s death and reconstructed how Zhao Hongnu may have attacked the two men before killing Zhang’s disciple with Swallow Turns Its Head.
• Ye Jingtang decided to inspect the preserved inn at Cangsha River Town immediately, while Zhang Henggu went to fetch the weapons from the case.
• Ye Jingtang found Zhe Yunli searching Master’s Wife’s room and read the hidden divorce agreement she had discovered, then asked Yunli to accompany him to investigate.
• Ye Jingtang caught Dongfang Liren practicing remote object control with Niao Niao and invited her to join the investigation; she changed into her Heroine attire, and they headed downstream with Yunli.

Ye Jingtang investigated the murder of Zhe Yunli’s parents at an old inn in Cangsha River Town and used the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Art to reconstruct the attack. His deductions pointed to Zhao Hongnu, and Song Chi and Zhang Henggu began searching for a likely suspect among Southern Heaven’s Grandmasters.

• Song Chi and Three-Perfection Immortal Elder Guang Hanlin judged the young martial artists competing outside White Tiger Tower as crowds gathered in Cangsha River Town.
• Ye Jingtang, Dongfang Liren, Zhe Yunli, and Zhang Henggu visited the preserved room where Zhe Yunli’s parents had been killed years earlier.
• Ye Jingtang examined the traces and deduced that the killer had been an acquaintance who arrived unexpectedly and attacked the couple by surprise.
• Ye Jingtang used the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Art to recreate the fight with dust figures, astonishing Dongfang Liren, Song Chi, and Zhang Henggu.
• Ye Jingtang reasoned that the killer was probably Zhao Hongnu living under a new identity, and Song Chi and Zhang Henggu left to compile a list of possible Grandmasters.