Recaps

Zhang Xing advanced east with the Exorcising the Dragon Army, reorganizing civil administration and ordering severe punishment for rebel forces that plundered civilians. After Ying County’s rebels were punished and surrenders spread, Zuo Caixiang knelt before Zhang Xing and revealed their prior connection.

• Zhang Xing appointed civil administrators across the occupied commanderies, issued orders for the eastern campaign, and led troops toward Ying County.
• After seeing the devastation and deserted villages, Zhang Xing ordered executions for plundering rebels, offered surrender terms to Qi Commandery forces, and told Xu Shiying to contain northern Langya.
• Zhang Xing learned from Wang Xiongdan and Xie Minghe that many refugees had fled east to Dongyi, where they would face a harsh social status.
• On July fifth, Zhang Xing had Ying County’s seven rebel leaders beheaded and executed one in fifty of their followers, prompting some rebel forces to flee and others to resist.
• Jia Wugen agreed to surrender to Zhang Xing, while Fan Bao hesitated and the Zuo Clan army unexpectedly requested unconditional surrender.
• Zuo Caixiang knelt before Zhang Xing outside Ying County and said the Zuo Clan had intended to answer his call from the beginning; Zhang Xing recognized him as Third Master Zuo.

Zhang Xing received Jia Wugen and Fan Bao’s surrender, then proposed abandoning the gradual occupation of Qi Commandery to launch a swift joint attack on Dengzhou before the autumn harvest. After the leaders agreed, he questioned Xu Shiying about killing his brother-in-law and began suggesting a new husband for Xu Shiying’s sister, ending with the gathered leaders turning their attention to Xiong Bonan.

• Zhang Xing publicly accepted Jia Wugen and Fan Bao’s surrender and welcomed their forces into the Exorcising the Dragon Gang.
• Cheng Zhili, Xiong Bonan, Bai Yousi, Xu Shiying, Dan Tonghai, and other leaders gathered at Zhang Xing’s fruit feast, where Zhang proposed an immediate attack on Dengzhou with the newly surrendered troops.
• Xu Shiying and the other leaders supported Zhang Xing’s plan to converge beneath Linzi in three days and strike before the autumn harvest.
• After the troop commanders departed, Zhang Xing asked Xu Shiying whether he had killed his brother-in-law and obtained the grain, and Xu confirmed both.
• Zhang Xing offered to help find Xu Shiying’s sister a new husband, suggested Cheng Zhili, Jia Wugen, and Fan Bao, then drew everyone’s attention to Xiong Bonan as another possible match.

Zhang Xing discussed the reasons behind centralization with Bai Yousi before leading the Exorcising the Dragon Army’s full-scale advance into Dengzhou. At Linzi, after its defender demanded a senior chief’s position in exchange for surrender, Zhang Xing ordered his arrest and execution under the law.

• Zhang Xing explained to Bai Yousi that the push for unification and centralization had repeatedly shaped the world, while concentrated power also required safeguards.
• Zhang Xing and Bai Yousi discussed her work arranging adoptions for orphans, then shared a quiet moment together.
• The Exorcising the Dragon Army advanced east with more than forty thousand troops, and many Dengzhou detachments fled or surrendered as Zhang Xing’s forces converged on Linzi.
• Zhang Xing arrived beneath Linzi’s walls and asked Cheng Dalang to offer the city’s defender lenient terms for surrender.
• After the defender demanded a senior chief’s position, Zhang Xing ordered Bai Yousi, Xiong Bonan, Cheng Zhili, and six other Core Condensation experts to seize and execute him.

Zhang Yuanqing woke after a troubling episode and spent the morning at his grandparents’ home, where his grandmother stopped him from accompanying Jiang Yu'er on her blind date. A package from Lei Yibing arrived containing a mysterious black card and a letter saying Zhang Yuanqing might be able to master it.

• Zhang Yuanqing worried that his medication was losing effectiveness, then got up when his grandmother threatened to splash him awake.
• Zhang Yuanqing ate breakfast with Jiang Yu'er and his grandmother, and learned that Jiang Yu'er planned to take him along to disrupt her blind date.
• Zhang Yuanqing tried to leave for the date, but his grandmother ordered him back inside, so he told Jiang Yu'er he could not join her.
• Zhang Yuanqing accepted a parcel addressed from Hangcheng and opened it to find a black card and a letter from Lei Yibing.
• Lei Yibing wrote that he could not master the item and gave it to Zhang Yuanqing, believing his friend could handle it.

Water-Fearing Grenade addressed an accusation that he had sexually harassed someone through an alternate account, denied it, and described his police report and plans to pursue legal action. He ended by asking the accuser to stop spreading claims and apologize, while saying his lawyer would handle further contact.

• Water-Fearing Grenade denied the Zhihu user's claims and called them an attack on his character and reputation.
• He said he had reported the matter to the police, submitted additional evidence, and hired a lawyer to pursue a private legal action.
• He demanded that the accuser stop publishing false or misleading information and issue a public, sincere apology accepted by him and his wife.
• He explained that the accuser's possible deception by a third party was separate from the harm done to him and his family.
• He described the personal and financial cost of pursuing the case and said he had no alternate accounts.
• He thanked supporters and urged readers to be cautious online.

Zhang Yuanqing spent the morning with his grandmother and aunt, then received an unexpected parcel from his friend Lei Yibing. Inside was a mysterious black card and a letter suggesting Zhang Yuanqing might be able to control it.

• Zhang Yuanqing worried that his medication was losing its effectiveness, then got up when his grandmother threatened to splash him awake.
• At breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing teased Jiang Yu'er and learned she was heading out on a blind date arranged by their grandmother.
• Zhang Yuanqing tried to sneak out and accompany Jiang Yu'er, but his grandmother stopped him, so he messaged his aunt that she would have to go alone.
• A courier delivered Zhang Yuanqing a parcel from Hangcheng, and he opened it to find a metal black card and a letter from Lei Yibing.

Zhang Yuanqing spent a spring morning with his family, worrying that his medication was losing its effect while his grandmother tried to keep him from disrupting his aunt’s blind date. A mysterious parcel from Lei Yibing arrived, containing a black card and a letter that described it as something Yuanqing might be able to control.

• Zhang Yuanqing woke after a strange episode and worried that his special medication was losing its effectiveness.
• Zhang Yuanqing ate breakfast with Jiang Yu'er and his grandmother, who was arranging a blind date for Jiang Yu'er.
• Jiang Yu'er left for her blind date, while Zhang Yuanqing’s grandmother stopped him from following her.
• Zhang Yuanqing received a parcel from Hangcheng containing a metal black card and a letter from Lei Yibing.
• Lei Yibing’s letter said the card was an interesting object he could not control and offered it to Zhang Yuanqing as a gift.