Chapter Summaries

Du Pozhen feared that Lin Shiyang and Fu Boshi planned to eliminate him, but learned that Xie Minghe had summoned him to lead reinforcements to Bai Yousi. After the forces reached Zhijiang, Bai Yousi went alone to challenge Wei Shengji across the river, leaving the battle about to begin.

• Du Pozhen suspected that Lin Shiyang's arrival in Baling concealed a plot against him, so he slipped into the city and inspected its defenses.
• Fu Boshi confronted Du Pozhen, and Du explained that he would accept joining either side depending on how they treated the Huaiyou Alliance.
• Xie Minghe told Du Pozhen that Zhang Xing had become a Great Grandmaster and introduced Feng Fou and eleven Southern Ranges experts who had come to reinforce Bai Yousi.
• Du Pozhen and Fu Boshi mobilized the Huaiyou Alliance forces, and Du escorted Xie Minghe and the reinforcements upriver toward Zhijiang.
• At Zhijiang, Bai Yousi thanked the arriving reinforcements and said she would first try to defeat Wei Shengji herself.
• Bai Yousi crossed the river under the Twin Moons and challenged Wei Shengji, who emerged from Songzi amid a rising yellow cloud.

Bai Yousi challenged Wei Shengji to a three-strike duel on the river, using the twin moons and their reflections to gain an advantage. She defeated and killed him, then urged the gathered leaders to advance west into Bashu.

• Bai Yousi and Wei Shengji traded attacks across the river until she revealed that her reflections could wield swords using the twin moons and the river.
• Bai Yousi used the river and moonlight to counter Wei Shengji’s attacks, while he expanded his yellow clouds to screen the river and block her method.
• Bai Yousi admitted she had provoked Wei Shengji into testing his limits, and he chose to risk the contest despite recognizing her scheme.
• Bai Yousi broke through Wei Shengji’s yellow cloud curtain with her second strike, then descended between the twin moons with her third strike and exposed his weakness.
• Bai Yousi’s reflected swords scattered Wei Shengji’s clouds, and she slew him before returning wounded to the sandbar.
• Bai Yousi thanked the assembled leaders and called for them to advance west into Bashu to settle the realm.

Bai Liben exposed Wei Shengji’s disappearance, prompting the Western Pass Army to retreat and Bai Yousi’s forces to seize the initiative before advancing west. As the Exorcising the Dragon Army launched a four-pronged attack in Hebei, Chen Bin urged its commanders to ensure Zhang inherited the Mandate of Heaven if the campaign reached Chang’an.

• Bai Liben arrived in Songzi, discovered Wei Shengji was missing, and persuaded the Western Pass Army’s officers that Wei had been recalled before ordering a retreat to White Emperor City.
• Bai Yousi attacked the withdrawing forces, and the Exorcising the Dragon Army routed Great Ying’s land and naval forces, though many enemy troops escaped into Qingjiang Commandery.
• Bai Yousi and her allies debated whether to pursue Bai Liben or continue into Bashu, then agreed that Du Pozhen and Lin Shiyang would return to Jiangdong while Xie Minghe accompanied the westward advance.
• The allied army marched toward White Emperor City as the Exorcising the Dragon Army began simultaneous attacks on four fronts in the Jin Region, leaving Yu Jieluo unsure which crisis to answer.
• Chen Bin told Xu Shiying, Xiong Bonan, and Xu Shiren that they must urge Zhang to claim the supreme position and establish the Mandate of Heaven if the army achieved a swift victory.

As the Exorcising the Dragon Army advanced against the Western Pass, Sima Zheng and the Eastern Capital’s officials recognized that Great Wei’s prospects were collapsing, while Bai Hengqiu scrambled to organize a defense. The chapter ends with Great Ying issuing emergency orders as Li Ding remained inactive in the Central Wu Clan.

• Su Wei and Duan Wei discussed Great Wei’s decline and Sima Zheng’s resolve, while Sima Zheng explained that Zhang Xing still needed him alive.
• Sima Zheng rejected Minister Li Shu’s proposals to attack, and Li Shu worried that the Eastern Capital’s scattered forces would abandon them.
• Wang Daiji learned that Gu Yi had taken his own life after writing that Great Wei had lost its chance to resist; Gu Yi’s wife also died by suicide.
• Bai Hengqiu convened a military council and ordered the emperor to remain at Chang’an or Lantian, commanders to reinforce key fronts, and troops and supplies to be reorganized.
• Great Ying issued emergency edicts to mobilize Guanzhong, while Li Ding made no move despite having triggered the chain of events.

Li Ding delayed his advance until news of Western Pass withdrawals and victories elsewhere prompted him to march two hundred thousand people toward the Poison Desert, where Yu Jieluo prepared the defenses. As the fronts shifted, Bai Hengqiu secured Daoist Chonghe’s help for three months, while Xu Shiying received books from Wang Huaiji and learned that Zhang Xing had missed the places he was meant to visit.

• Zhang Shizhao questioned Li Ding’s delay, and Li Ding explained that he wanted to draw Wu Clan forces toward the Witchlands and win a major battle.
• News arrived that Yu Jieluo would defend the Poison Desert and that Zhou Xingfan planned to threaten White Road Pass, so Li Ding ordered the Expeditionary Army and surrendered Wu Clan tribes to march south.
• Yu Jieluo established fixed and mobile defenses, while Bai Hengqiu learned that Hua Tong had withdrawn only a limited force from the Jin Region and sent Han Changmei to Hedong.
• Zhang Xing harassed Wuguan as Bai Yousi advanced toward Ba Commandery, and Bai Hengqiu traveled to Mount Taibai to persuade Chonghe to defend Guanzhong for three months.
• Wang Huaiji intercepted Xu Shiying, gave him two books, and said Zhang Xing had strayed from the places he was supposed to visit.

After Taiyuan fell, Xu Shiying persuaded Wang Shuyong to divide the Exorcising the Dragon Army’s forces and send him west toward Yulin while the others advanced south. The southern force became trapped in a dangerous position when Han Changmei marched against it, and Wang Shuyong realized Bai Hengqiu might be coming to spring a trap.

• The Exorcising the Dragon Army captured Taiyuan, and Xu Shiying argued with Wang Shuyong over whether to advance south or west.
• Xu Shiying convinced Wang Shuyong to support a divided strategy: Xu Shiying would head west, while Wang Shuyong and Xu Shiren joined Xiong Bonan in the south.
• Wang Shuyong, Xu Shiren, and Xiong Bonan took Wenxi after the Jin troops fled, then halted their pursuit when Western Pass forces appeared near Anyì.
• The commanders planned a feint toward Pujin while six battalions watched Anyì, but Han Changmei marched north with his army instead of waiting for Bai Hengqiu.
• Xu Shiren warned Wang Shuyong that Han Changmei could be luring them into a trap, and Wang ordered a withdrawal while cursing Xu Shiying for leaving him in danger.

Bai Hengqiu left Chang'an to reinforce the northern defenses, but Wang Huaitong warned that his absence could trigger defections while Zhang Xing exploited the opening. After returning to Hedong, Bai Hengqiu discovered that Han Changmei had just received Zhang Xing’s surrender letter.

• Han Changmei reported the Western Pass Army’s rout, and Bai Hengqiu reassured him before discussing his suspicions with Wang Huaitong.
• Wang Huaitong warned Bai Hengqiu that leaving Chang'an could prompt officials and generals to surrender to Zhang Xing, but Bai Hengqiu set out for the north anyway.
• Zhang Xing confronted Daoist Chonghe, then ordered his forces to send surrender offers into Guanzhong and dispatch Yan Qing to persuade Han Changmei.
• Cheng Zhili led a cavalry detachment to Lantian, confirming that Bai Hengqiu was absent from the Western Pass, while Li Ding remained motionless north of the Poison Desert.
• Bai Hengqiu learned that Li Ding had not attacked and hurried back toward Chang'an as Yu Jieluo shifted forces toward White Road Pass.
• Bai Hengqiu visited Han Changmei in Anyì and learned that Zhang Xing’s surrender letter had reached him that evening.

The White Emperor returned to Lantian, settled the dispute over Zhang Shijing and the surrender letters, then resumed fighting Zhang Xing. As Li Ding’s Expeditionary Army reached the Great River, he rejected an immediate crossing and ordered Tuli and Dusuwu to fight across the Jinshui River while he prepared to strike Yu Jieluo’s force mid-crossing.

• Zhang Shijing begged the White Emperor’s forgiveness, while Bai Hengjin demanded that he be punished for abandoning his mission to negotiate with Li Ding.
• The White Emperor admitted responsibility, cut off his hair in place of his head, and ordered officials to burn their surrender letters at Three-One Abbey.
• Hong Changya joined Zhou Xingfan, prompting Yu Jieluo to move east, while Li Ding ordered his army toward Yuguan and Xu Shiying seized Liangu before Western Pass Army reinforcements arrived.
• Li Ding reached the Great River and refused Wang Chen'e’s request to send troops across to attack Yuguan, choosing instead to confront Yu Jieluo beside the river.
• Li Ding ordered Tuli and Dusuwu to cross the Jinshui River and fight with their backs to it while he held back troops to strike Yu Jieluo’s army as it crossed.

Yu Jieluo studied Li Ding’s strange deployment and waited for more information before committing Great Ying’s northern army. After Chen Ling raised suspicions about Dou Ru, Yu Jieluo finally ordered an advance, and Li Ding responded by halting the river crossings and sending Tuli and Dusuwu into the fight.

• Lingwu Prefectural Soldiers struck Lü Daobin’s Military Law Battalion after it crossed the Jinshui River, and Su Mu’s battalion helped it hold until more troops arrived.
• Yin Tianqi taunted three Poison Desert Walkers, accusing them of serving the Sin Dragon while the Demon-Suppressing Guard joined the Exorcising the Dragon Gang’s cause.
• Yu Jieluo ordered his forces to gather and scout instead of immediately attacking, while Li Ding ferried troops across the river under Fan Lihua’s command.
• Dou Shang visited Dou Ru at Yuguan, learned that Yu Jieluo saw little chance of victory, and left him a note reporting Xu Shiying’s banner near Liangu.
• Zhang Xing agreed to accept Zhang Qianda’s surrender only if he attacked Tong Pass, while Xu Shiying prepared to counter Wang Chenkuo’s unexpected advance toward Yuguan.
• Chen Ling warned Yu Jieluo that Dou Ru might be suspicious, but Yu Jieluo chose to seize the battlefield opportunity and ordered the entire army forward; Li Ding halted the crossings and ordered Tuli and Dusuwu to fight with all their strength.

Yu Jieluo routed Tuli’s Wu Clan army, but Li Ding’s plan turned the Ying pursuit into a trap by drawing disorganized troops across the Golden River. As both armies surged into a decisive counterattack, Li Ding reached a breakthrough, while Dou Ru learned that Chang Fu was an Exorcising the Dragon Gang spy.

• Yu Jieluo used small-unit tactics to gain the advantage against Tuli and Dusuwu’s Wu Clan forces, then broke their army by advancing with his poison-sand manifestation.
• Wang Chenkuo arrived before Xu Shiying and offered to bring eight thousand troops over, explaining that Bai Hengqiu had ignored and slighted him.
• Xu Shiying persuaded Wang Chenkuo to lead a surprise attack against Han Changmei’s forces in exchange for a chance to win fame and military merit.
• As Wu Clan troops fled across the Golden River and Ying pursuers followed, Li Ding’s forces trapped Yu Jieluo’s disorganized army on the east bank.
• Yu Jieluo ordered his army to advance, while Li Ding commanded a counterattack and told Tuli to rally the fleeing Wu Clan troops north.
• Dou Ru asked Chang Fu whether he was an Exorcising the Dragon Gang spy, and Chang Fu admitted he was before urging Dou Ru to go to Yulin City with him.

Li Ding won a devastating victory at the Golden River, accepted Yu Jieluo’s surrender, and prepared to advance into Guanzhong. Meanwhile, Xu Shiying’s forces reached Shang County as Wang Chenkuo’s revolt against the Western Pass Army erupted into a night battle, ending with Han Changmei swallowed by a flood dragon and Wang Huaitong fleeing.

• Su Jingfang asked Li Ding to stop the slaughter and accept surrenders, so Li Ding ordered Yu Jieluo to submit or bear responsibility for further deaths.
• Yu Jieluo surrendered, but the killing continued until sunset, and Li Ding announced that his army would cross the river and advance toward Guanzhong.
• Xu Shiying led six thousand troops across the Sheyan River to join Wang Chenkuo, who secretly moved his forces south while pretending to cooperate with Wang Huaitong.
• Wang Chenkuo wounded Wang Huaitong with a sword after condemning his decision to let soldiers leave, then sent him away as the Exorcising the Dragon Army attacked Shang County.
• Han Changmei went to confront the attackers, but an enormous azure flood dragon swallowed him, while Wang Chenkuo’s troops ambushed the Western Pass Army’s rear and Wang Huaitong escaped across the river.

Bai Hengqiu faced escalating defeats and prepared to lead Great Ying’s forces into a decisive battle on Wuguan Road. After learning that Xu Shiying had captured Shang County and received Yu Jieluo’s marshal’s seal, he marched east, while Zhang Xing judged the news a ploy and ordered the Exorcising the Dragon Army to withdraw.

• Daoist Chonghe cast a divination that foretold Great Ying’s conquest, while Bai Hengqiu continued fighting Zhang Xing as his defenses weakened.
• Bai Hengqiu rode to Tong Pass, where he killed Zhang Qianda after Zhang Qianda attacked the pass.
• Zhang Shijing told Bai Hengqiu that Wang Chenkuo had defected, destroyed the force at Shang County, and that Han Changmei had died; Bai Hengqiu ordered his forces concentrated for a counterattack.
• Bai Hengqiu arranged for Xue Ren to take his twelve-year-old son to Hedong, asking him to protect the boy if the emperor fell.
• After Xu Shiying sent Yu Jieluo’s marshal’s seal, Bai Hengqiu marched his assembled army toward Wuguan Road to fight a decisive battle.
• Si Qinghe brought Zhang Xing secret intelligence, and Zhang Xing ordered the Exorcising the Dragon Army to withdraw rather than accept Bai Hengqiu’s challenge.

Zhang Xing’s army fought Bai Hengqiu’s forces at Wuguan Road, where Zhang Xing and Chonghe clashed before Chonghe withdrew and the Western Pass Army retreated. After the Exorcising the Dragon Gang’s forces entered Guanzhong and joined at Bashang, Li Ding urged Zhang Xing to become emperor, and Zhang Xing began setting conditions for accepting the throne.

• Zhang Xing held his army’s formation against the Western Pass Army, while Cheng Zhili led troops across the Dan River and exploited the route through Wuguan to reach A City and gather defectors.
• Chonghe fought Zhang Xing, then withdrew after his attacks failed to break Zhang Xing’s array; Wu Jingfeng attained the position of Grandmaster in Hu County.
• The northern and southern armies joined at Bashang with two hundred thousand troops, and Zhang Xing praised the commanders and chiefs for their campaign achievements.
• Li Ding presented Zhang Xing with a dragon robe and asked him to ascend the imperial throne; Zhang Xing kicked Li Ding over and declared that he would accept only if the assembled leaders agreed to his conditions.
• The assembled leaders approved Zhang Xing’s proposals to preserve government by assemblies, limit court ceremony, prohibit slavery, distribute land fairly, reserve corvée for public purposes, and provide education.

Zhang Xing’s forces captured Chang’an after Bai Hengqiu’s supporters fled, and Zhang Xing killed the White Emperor as rain fell over the city. Zhang Xing then turned to securing the Eastern Capital through surrender negotiations, while his armies advanced and Cao Ming returned there to plead with Su Wei.

• Zhang Xing issued a surrender edict, and after the encirclement of Chang’an was completed, officials and soldiers fled the city in large numbers.
• A defending general opened Yanxing Gate and surrendered with three thousand men; Sun Shunde was killed while trying to close the gates, and Li Ding sent troops into Chang’an.
• Zhang Xing and five Grandmasters cornered Bai Hengqiu at Black Tortoise Gate, where Zhang Xing killed him with the Golden Awl; rain fell across the region soon afterward.
• Bai Yousi arrived in Chang’an, reported on the wider campaign, and accompanied Zhang Xing to pay respects at her father’s grave.
• Zhang Xing proposed peeling away factions in the Eastern Capital and pursuing surrender while preparing for an assault; Wang Shuyong was appointed to command the campaign.
• The Central Route Army captured Peach Grove, Xiao Pass, and Mianchi, while Cao Ming returned to the Eastern Capital and wept as he presented the Grand Empress Dowager’s letter to Su Wei.

Cao Ming’s return and Wang Daiji’s counsel exposed the Eastern Capital’s weakening resolve, but Sima Zheng still refused to surrender. Sima Jinda and several loyalists died to free Sima Zheng from his obligation to defend the city, and Zhang Xing’s army entered the Eastern Capital without resistance.

• Cao Ming wept with Su Wei in the Eastern Capital, and Wang Daiji warned Sima Jinda that the people were ready to surrender and proposed removing those whose loyalty kept Sima Zheng fighting.
• Cao Ming and his companions urged Sima Zheng to live, but Sima Zheng remained determined to defend the Eastern Capital for the people entrusted to him and for Zhang Xing’s cultivation.
• Sima Jinda gathered loyal officials and revealed his fear that their resolve would keep Sima Zheng fighting; he poisoned himself, Li Shu, and Luo Fang, while Xue Liang also accepted death.
• Sima Jinda told Sima Zheng that he had acted to free him from his burdens, urged him to reject the Mandate of Heaven, and died in his nephew’s arms.
• The Eastern Capital’s defenders surrendered as the Exorcising the Dragon Army advanced, and Zhang Xing entered the city after appointing regents and establishing the Southern Office.

After the Exorcising the Dragon Gang took the Eastern Capital, Zhang Xing used informal meals at his old courtyard to settle political appointments and hear out former opponents. He left for the Western Park after arranging Dou Lide’s and Sima Zheng’s new posts, as May Rain began in the city.

• Zhang Xing restored his rented courtyard and invited Tuli, Feng Fou, and senior officials to meals before issuing appointments for the Wu Clan, Southern Ranges, and Southern Office.
• Zhang Xing appointed Yin Tianqi Intendant of the Censorate, prompting debate over the Northern Lands’ influence and Dou Lide’s unrecognized service.
• Zhang Xing met Sima Zheng and Dou Lide, explained that the Censorate and a new command in Dengzhou needed leaders, and discussed Wang Daiji’s posting.
• Bai Yousi brought Wang Zhen to the courtyard, where Zhang Xing recognized an elderly firewood seller as the man who had once sold him paintings and offered to help him reopen his shop.
• Zhang Xing inscribed the Seven Steeds Painting with a lyric that moved Sima Zheng to tears and stirred Bai Yousi and Qin Bao.
• Zhang Xing appointed Dou Lide Junior Assistant of the Censorate and named Sima Zheng Dragonhead and commander of the new Expeditionary Eastern Traveling Office in Dengzhou; May Rain arrived that night.

As the Exorcising the Dragon Gang prepared to attack Dongyi, Chen Bin asked Zhang Xing to let him retire and they discussed succession, including Bai Yousi’s future role. At the assembly of chiefs, Zhang Xing secured their renewed pledge to unify the realm and announced that they would discuss personnel and send out the troops.

• Chen Bin told Zhang Xing he was exhausted and wanted to resign as first chancellor, and Zhang Xing agreed on the conditions that he remain until the Dongyi campaign ended and help choose successors.
• Chen Bin proposed Xie Minghe for a role in the Southern Office, while he and Zhang Xing discussed Bai Yousi serving as deputy chief and governing if Zhang Xing died during the campaign.
• Zhang Xing told Xu Shiying to protect his children from causing disorder, outlined the Dongyi campaign’s command structure, and said Li Ding would lead the army.
• Bai Yousi agreed with Zhang Xing’s succession plans and suggested Dou Lide as Chen Bin’s successor as first chancellor.
• The chiefs gathered in Xuanren Palace after Li Ziqi’s death was formally announced, and Zhang Xing led them in renewing their pledge before announcing troop deployments and personnel arrangements.

Zhang Xing led the Great Ming expedition into Fallen Dragon Shoal, where he uncovered the origins of three True Dragons and helped them settle their ancient conflict, then ascended to the Red Moon and returned to his own world. Back in Mengcheng, he confronted the fake Daoist who had sold him the Compass and discovered that he could now travel freely between the two worlds.

• The Exorcising the Dragon Gang approved a massive campaign to conquer Dongyi and Demon Island, conscript cultivators, and appoint Bai Yousi deputy chief before mobilizing its forces east.
• After Dongyi sought to delay surrender until after the harvest, Li Ding rejected its terms, and Zhang Xing's party entered Fallen Dragon Shoal to search the northern mountains.
• Zhang Xing used the Dragon-Awakening Sword and the Compass to locate the Mountain-Splitting Lord, and the White-Stepping Cavalry's manifestation fought him until the Sea-Averting Lord arrived to rescue him.
• Zhang Xing summoned the hidden Golden Dragon, identified as Brother Zhao, and helped him defeat the Mountain-Splitting Lord and Sea-Averting Lord; he absorbed their true qi and rode the Golden Dragon to the Red Moon.
• At the Red Moon, Zhang Xing met the four Supreme Ones, jumped into the well, and returned to his original world, where he confronted the fake Daoist about the Compass and the two worlds.
• On Zhuangzi Bridge, Zhang Xing was drawn into a Yin-Yang space again and realized that he had opened a passage between the worlds; he returned to the bridge able to travel freely and threw the Compass into the river.

Water-Fearing Grenade reflected on the troubled creation and publication of Exorcising the Dragon, including health problems and readers’ expectations. He thanked the readers who stayed with the book, said he would return to historical fiction after recuperating, and left open the possibility of writing a Western-fantasy version someday.

• Water-Fearing Grenade explained that Exorcising the Dragon began as a compromise between his wish to write Western fantasy and his editor’s preference for historical fiction.
• Water-Fearing Grenade described how the book’s stalled momentum, his child’s birth, and recurring hypokalemia contributed to his collapse and disrupted updates.
• Water-Fearing Grenade said the book’s approaching conclusion and the continued support of nearly eleven thousand readers helped him recover and reconnect with the story.
• Water-Fearing Grenade shared the book’s subscription figures and acknowledged that he had fallen short of readers’ expectations for high-powered martial arts fantasy.
• Water-Fearing Grenade said he would rest and read before returning with a historical-fiction novel, while hoping one day to write the Western-fantasy version of Exorcising the Dragon.