Chapter Summaries

Fang Yue traveled toward the Prefecture City and stopped for the night in a ruined village, where a black-market merchant’s men attacked other travelers and revealed that they had kidnapped children. Fang Yue intervened, and Yang Yan recognized him as the man who had bought a cultivation manual from him in Xiahe County.

• Fang Yue left his family for the Prefecture City and continued through harsh weather, trading barbed remarks with a blue-robed spear-wielding youth and a rich young master.
• Fang Yue found shelter in a deserted village, where the blue-robed youth and the rich young master disputed the only intact courtyard.
• Yang Yan led a suspicious caravan into the village and sent his men to attack the people in the brick-walled courtyard.
• Yang Yan’s men defeated the travelers and exposed a group of kidnapped children, prompting Fang Yue to decide he could not leave.
• Fang Yue killed a black-clothed man, sent his horse running to draw pursuers away, and then entered the courtyard to attack the kidnappers.
• Yang Yan confronted Fang Yue and recognized him from the black market in Xiahe County.

Fang Yue defeated Yang Yan’s men, uncovered the Blood Dragon Platform’s role in child abductions, and took valuables from the people he rescued. He reached Shanyang Prefecture ahead of the examination and settled into an inn, where he examined the items he had collected.

• Fang Yue knocked Yang Yan’s Bone Marrow Cleansing Great Accomplishment guard through a wall with one punch.
• Yang Yan tried to poison Fang Yue with banknotes, but Fang Yue was immune; he captured Yang Yan and defeated another attacker.
• Fang Yue learned that Yang Yan’s group belonged to the Blood Dragon Platform and had abducted children, but Yang Yan mysteriously died before Fang Yue could question him further.
• Fang Yue demanded valuables from the rescued blue-robed young man and wealthy young man, then left them money and told them to take the children to a nearby County Town.
• Five days later, Fang Yue arrived in Shanyang Prefecture and encountered the blue-robed young man again before finding a room at an inn near Fireworks Riverside.
• After washing and changing, Fang Yue inspected the money, booklets, jade token, and pills he had collected.

Fang Yue studied a talisman manual, practiced in Shanyang Prefecture City, and registered for the Prefectural Examination. Liu Chuanzhi recognized him and arranged to have Fang Yue promoted as a seeded candidate, while Widow Yu grew wary after discovering that someone had moved a massive artificial mountain near her home.

• Fang Yue read the Mountain Shaking Fist manual and A Brief Explanation of Talismans, then set aside the talismans while he prepared for the Prefectural Examination.
• Fang Yue practiced Fu Qi Yang Sheng Gong beside the river and lifted an artificial mountain weighing more than ten thousand jin; Lian'er briefly mistook him for someone she knew.
• Anu noticed that the artificial mountain had moved, and Widow Yu and the elderly man who guarded her suspected a powerful martial artist might be nearby.
• Fang Yue found examination candidates with clean records, exchanged guarantees with them, and registered at the prefectural yamen.
• Liu Chuanzhi recognized Fang Yue at the yamen and asked Official Zhang to give him greater prominence and list him among the examination's seeded candidates.

Fang Yue began the prefectural examination, earning Grade A in Stone Lifting and A+ in Archery while drawing attention from gamblers and Wen Lan. After Wen Lan warned him to stay away from Widow Yu, Liu Chuanzhi plotted to provoke Xue Bing, while Steward Wang schemed to pressure Fang Yue over the Tea Guild.

• Merchants discussed the examination’s betting odds, and Fang Yue wagered ten thousand taels on himself to win.
• Fang Yue earned Grade A in Stone Lifting, while Liu Chuanzhi and Wen Lan watched and judged him.
• Anu recognized Fang Yue, and Wen Lan persuaded her not to tell her mother that he was at the examination.
• Fang Yue pierced all twenty archery targets and earned A+ before the day’s tests ended.
• Wen Lan warned Fang Yue to stay away from her Third Aunt and mentioned that her father was the Martial Strategy examiner.
• Liu Chuanzhi decided to stir up Xue Bing against Fang Yue, while Steward Wang planned to use the tea supply dispute to force Fang Yue to accept lower profits.

Zhu Quan ordered the Prefectural Examination to include a final test suppressing Blood Dragon’s stronghold, while Fang Yue’s results improved and his rivals schemed against him. The hundred selected candidates set out from the military camp, where Fang Yue quickly secured a horse as the others fought over the few remaining mounts.

• Zhu Quan told Zhu Will that the Guard Army would not move and ordered Blood Dragon’s stronghold made the Prefectural Examination’s final assessment.
• Wei Ru refused to interfere in Fang Yue’s Tea Guild partnership and decided to meet him personally in a few days.
• Fang Yue placed around sixtieth after horsemanship and weaponry, while Liu Chuanzhi and Xue Bing planned to have him killed during the examination.
• The Examiner announced an added test for the top hundred candidates, and Xue Bing welcomed the change as another chance to kill Fang Yue.
• Fang Yue earned a top first-class grade in Martial Strategy and finished around thirtieth after keeping a low profile in the Demonstration Match.
• The candidates learned they had to destroy a mountain stronghold, and Fang Yue took a bow, arrows, a saber, and a horse before the others began fighting over the remaining mounts.

Fang Yue reached Sanshui County, gathered information about the powerful Tenglong Stockade, and went alone to scout it in disguise. As rival Imperial Martial Candidates attacked the stronghold, a black-clad fighter defeated Wang Mangzi and sent him fleeing, leaving the stockade’s strength on display.

• Fang Yue entered Sanshui County and learned that Great King Feng had united the region’s bandit groups under Tenglong Stockade, which reportedly had more than ten thousand bandits.
• Xiong Da proposed that he and Fang Yue cooperate, but Fang Yue refused and chose to act alone.
• Fang Yue disguised himself and scouted Boundary Mountain while Chen Hu gathered Imperial Martial Candidates and waited for another group to test the stronghold’s defenses.
• A group of Imperial Martial Candidates attacked Tenglong Stockade, and Wang Mangzi led the charge through the bandits on its walls.
• A black figure appeared from inside the stronghold, struck Wang Mangzi several times, and sent him tumbling away; Wang Mangzi got up and fled down the mountain.

Fang Yue used a bow from the darkness to cripple Niu Jin after the Fifth Chief had nearly captured the unconscious Wang Mangzi. As bandits drew near, Niu Jin hoped to survive long enough for his allies to reach him.

• Niu Jin drove Wang Mangzi from the stockade and pursued him through Boundary Mountain, then fought him until Wang Mangzi lost consciousness.
• Fang Yue shot Niu Jin twice from the darkness, crippling one of his arms and wounding him with further arrows.
• Niu Jin challenged the hidden attacker to fight openly, but Fang Yue answered with another arrow that Niu Jin dodged.
• Bandits approached through the forest, and Niu Jin recognized a familiar voice and hoped they would save him.

Fang Yue killed Niu Jin and discovered a Blood Dragon Platform token among his belongings, then decided to escape Boundary Mountain rather than risk getting caught up in the bandits’ larger scheme. At dawn, he joined Wang Mangzi and Xiong Da near a newly fortified checkpoint, and the three prepared to find a way out together.

• Niu Jin threatened Fang Yue’s family, so Fang Yue turned back and killed him with a single punch before fleeing the arriving bandits.
• Fang Yue hid in a mountain hollow, examined Wang Mangzi’s Wave Fist manual and Niu Jin’s belongings, and found a token associated with the Blood Dragon Platform.
• Fang Yue suspected Tenglong Stockade was tied to the Blood Dragon Platform and resolved to leave Boundary Mountain after dark.
• Fang Yue slipped past several checkpoints but found the mountain path blocked by a newly built wooden wall, where he spotted Wang Mangzi and Xiong Da.
• Fang Yue joined Wang Mangzi and Xiong Da in a temporary alliance, and they discussed the strength of the bandits’ Qi Sensing Martial Masters while planning their escape.

Fang Yue joined Wang Teng and other Imperial Martial Candidates in a desperate breakout from Tenglong Stockade, then escaped their attack when Wang Teng tried to rob him on the road. Fang Yue returned to Sanshui County in disguise to claim Wang Teng’s hidden spoils, where he found Lin San wavering over whether to steal them.

• Fang Yue, Wang Mangzi, and Xiong Da joined Wang Teng’s group, which used flaming arrows to attack the bandit checkpoint and fight its defenders.
• When bandit reinforcements arrived, some candidates fled, the group’s formation collapsed, and Fang Yue escaped toward Sanshui County with only a little more than half the candidates surviving.
• Three masked candidates, including Wang Teng, blocked Fang Yue at a crossroads and demanded his bundle, but Wang Teng fled after Fang Yue overpowered the other two attackers.
• Fang Yue pursued Wang Teng and his companions, killed them, then returned to Sanshui County disguised to search for Wang Teng’s hidden wealth and bandit heads.
• Lin San considered taking the valuables and heads Wang Teng had left in his rented courtyard, but froze when someone entered and he mistook the visitor for Young Master Wang.

Fang Yue profited from Wang Teng’s death, submitted the bandit chieftains he had slain, and dealt with Steward Wang’s attempt to seize his tea business. After the Guard Army destroyed Tenglong Stockade and the Prefectural Examination ended, Fang Yue discovered a new option to condense the talent Beginner Qi Sense.

• Fang Yue searched Wang Teng’s residence, found five bandit heads and valuables, and left the heads outside the returning candidates’ lodgings to divert suspicion from Wang Teng’s death.
• Imperial Martial Candidates gathered in Sanshui County to mourn their losses, while powerful families pressured Zhu Quan to send troops against Tenglong Stockade; Zhu Quan delayed, wary of Blood Dragon Platform’s backing.
• Steward Wang confronted Fang Yue and demanded that he change the tea-house contract, but Bai Xingqiu’s mother ordered Bai Qi and Bai Jiu to slap him and assured Fang Yue that the White Family would rein him in.
• Fang Yue submitted his bandit chieftains’ heads to the Prefecture Yamen, received documents for them, and returned to practicing martial arts.
• Fang Yue mastered Fu Qi Yang Sheng Gong and saw that he could spend 200 aptitude points to condense the talent Beginner Qi Sense.
• Zhu Quan sent the Guard Army under General Zhu Will to destroy Tenglong Stockade, and the Prefectural Examination ended.

Fang Yue discovered that his new Qi Sense talent greatly accelerated his cultivation, then learned that he had placed fifth in the Prefectural Examination. His surprising result stunned the crowd and led Wang Mangzi to suspect Fang Yue was connected to the person who had saved his life.

• Fang Yue tested his Beginner Qi Sense talent and found that it increased his cultivation efficiency tenfold, making progress in the Wutu True Art much faster.
• Miss Lian'er spotted Fang Yue across the river, but he disappeared before Li Xiangjun could see him.
• Liu Chuanzhi mocked Fang Yue for supposedly failing the examination and bragged that he had bet three thousand taels against him.
• The Prefectural Examination list was posted, naming Fang Yue of Daliushu Village fifth and shocking the gamblers, Wen Lan, Wang Mangzi, and Xiong Da.
• Wang Mangzi reasoned that Fang Yue might have received credit for killing the fifth-ranked Qi Sensing Martial Master of Tenglong Stockade, then left to find him and seek his benefactor.

After passing the Prefectural Examination, Fang Yue began sensing vital energy and attended the Zan Hua Banquet, where Hui Hengli judged that Fang Yue had taken the wrong cultivation path. Zhu Quan then withdrew his plan to appoint Fang Yue as a county Guard Army commander, and rumors about Fang Yue spread through Shanyang Prefecture.

• Zhao Wende sent Fang Yue three thousand taels and Liu Chuanzhi fifty taels, but Liu Chuanzhi mistakenly expected winnings and collapsed after learning Fang Yue had placed fifth.
• Widow Yu saw Fang Yue's name on the Red List, while Wang Shifu angrily ordered his steward to investigate the disappearance of his son Teng'er.
• Fang Yue sensed vital energy for the first time, declined Qinghe Gambling House's invitation, and collected the silver owed to him.
• At the Zan Hua Banquet, Fang Yue recognized Hui Hengli, who told Zhu Quan that Fang Yue had taken the wrong path and might struggle to sense qi.
• Zhu Quan changed his mind about granting Fang Yue a county Guard Army command, and rumors about Fang Yue began spreading after other candidates received posts.

Liu Chuanzhi went mad after losing money over Fang Yue’s examination success, while Fang Yue’s prospects collapsed after rumors claimed he could never reach Qi Sensing, earning him only a minor post. As Fang Yue prepared to return home, Widow Yu came to see him, but Wen Lan interrupted them at the city gate.

• Liu Chuanzhi returned home bound and raving, and Master Liu blamed Fang Yue before secretly drugging Chen Ru’s tea and approaching her.
• The Zhou Family and Liang Family withdrew their marriage offers after hearing that Fang Yue had suffered a cultivation mishap and could never sense qi.
• Fang Yue received an appointment as a Subordinate Seventh Rank Training Instructor in Wenxi County, while the gambling house manager and Wang Shifu discussed his diminished prospects and Wang Shifu focused on other suspects.
• Fang Yue packed to return to Xiahe County, and Widow Yu offered to see him off and asked after his well-being.
• Wen Lan interrupted Fang Yue and Widow Yu, saying Anu had fallen and was crying for her.

Fang Yue left Shanyang Prefecture City after Wen Lan warned him that he was not suited to her aunt, while Xue Bing began plotting against him through powerful families. Back in Xiahe County, Liu Zheng moved to seize the Fang Family's Tea Gardens, but Fang Cheng refused to agree and ordered Wang Gui out.

• Wen Lan told Fang Yue that his low cultivation and poor family made a future with her aunt impossible, and Fang Yue calmly left for Xiahe County Town.
• Xue Bing saw Wen Lan with Fang Yue and decided to enlist the Wang Family and Wei Family to make trouble for him.
• At the Fang Family residence, Chen Shi waited anxiously for Fang Yue to return while Fang Cheng tried to persuade her to eat.
• Liu Zheng learned that Fang Yue and the White Family had fallen out and ordered Wang Zhong to visit the Fang Family, intending to take its profitable Tea Gardens.
• Wang Gui arrived with yamen runners and presented Fang Cheng with a document meant to transfer control of the Tea Gardens to Liu Zheng.
• Fang Cheng refused to decide before Fang Yue returned and ordered Wang Gui to leave despite his threats.

Fang Yue was celebrated for placing fifth in the Prefectural Examination, reached Marrow Refining Great Accomplishment with the help of Widow Yu’s Blood Ginseng, and prepared to take office in Wenxi County. As he left home, Liu Zheng and Wei He conspired to target him through a joint militia drill.

• Wang Gui threatened Fang Cheng with an investigation and ordered his runners to beat him, but Liu Zheng arrived, slapped Wang Gui, and apologized to Fang Cheng.
• Yamen runners announced that Fang Yue had placed fifth in the Prefectural Examination, drawing a crowd and a flood of marriage proposals to the Fang Family.
• Fang Yue reached Marrow Refining Great Accomplishment after taking the five-hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng Widow Yu had given him.
• Wei He told Liu Zheng that Fang Yue’s examination success came from completing a mission, then persuaded Liu Zheng to arrange a joint militia drill to deal with him.
• Fang Yue departed for his post in Wenxi County after Chen Shi packed his luggage and urged him to take care of himself.

Fang Yue visited his uncle’s family in Chen Family Village, discovered his cousin Chen Liang had gambled himself into debt again, and pointed the debt collectors toward him before continuing to Wenxi County. He accepted a ride with a suspicious trio and uncovered their black inn scheme, then waited to see what would happen when the innkeepers attacked his fellow travelers.

• Fang Yue visited Chen Family Village, where villagers mistook him for a suitor before he found his uncle Chen Kang arguing with creditors over Chen Liang’s gambling debts.
• After hearing Chen Liang dismiss the family’s troubles and suggest asking Fang Yue’s aunt for money, Fang Yue left without confronting them and told the debt collectors where to find him.
• The debt collectors caught Chen Liang and broke his legs, while their leader explained that Fang Yue had seemed like a martial artist above Bone Forging.
• On the road into Wenxi County, Fang Yue accepted a ride in a carriage with an old driver and two nervous young travelers, then stayed with them at a crude inn.
• Fang Yue overheard the innkeeper and two accomplices planning to rob the travelers after drugging their food, and recognized the establishment as a black inn.
• The two accomplices entered the young travelers’ room, where a brief fight broke out and then abruptly fell silent.

Fang Yue uncovered the scheme behind the delay in his appointment, secured his post through Madam Wang, and settled into life as Wenxi County’s Training Instructor. Three months later, Liu Zheng challenged Wenxi County’s Training Corps to a contest over three disputed villages, leaving Fang Yue suspicious that the challenge targeted him.

• The old driver went to investigate the guest room and was dragged inside by someone waiting behind the door.
• Fang Yue traveled with Chen Qing and Lin Yue'e to Wenxi County, where County Magistrate Wang delayed his appointment letter until Fang Yue learned someone in the Prefecture City had ordered him obstructed.
• Fang Yue gave a gift to Madam Wang, received his appointment letter, rented a residence, and later took up his post as Training Instructor.
• Fang Yue learned that Wenxi County’s understrength Training Corps drew pay for many absent soldiers, and he accepted the lax arrangement rather than challenge it.
• Three months later, County Magistrate Wang gave Fang Yue Liu Zheng’s proposal for a Training Corps contest to decide jurisdiction over three border villages.
• Fang Yue suspected Liu Zheng had arranged the contest to target him, but suppressed his urge to kill the county magistrate and decided he needed to plan carefully.

Fang Yue watched Chen Qing and Lin Yue'e ambush the Wang siblings, then rescued the poisoned Lin Yue'e from the river and hid her while she recovered. When she woke, Lin Yue'e asked him to help her escape Wenxi County and offered to help him reach Qi Sensing by revealing her knowledge of the Blood Dragon Platform.

• Fang Yue met Wang Hao and Wang Yun through Fu Wenlong, then noticed Chen Qing and Lin Yue'e following their carriage.
• Chen Qing and Lin Yue'e ambushed the Wang siblings; Wang Hao fled while Wang Yun was pursued and captured.
• Fang Yue found the injured Lin Yue'e in the river and secretly brought her to a room, where he treated her poisoned wound.
• Lin Yue'e awoke after two days and asked Fang Yue to help her leave the city, promising to help him advance into Qi Sensing.
• Lin Yue'e told Fang Yue that she knew where the Blood Dragon Platform brewed Secret Medicine in Wenxi County.

Fang Yue led Wenxi County’s troops to attack Feiyun Stockade, unaware that the contest had been arranged as a trap to kill him. As his soldiers neared victory, he offered Deputy Officer Wang the credit for taking the main building.

• Fang Yue refused to pursue Lin Yue'e or the Blood Dragon Platform’s Secret Medicine, and Lin Yue'e eventually left after he failed to return.
• County Magistrate Wang and Wei He revealed that they had joined Xue Bing’s plan to use the contest and the Blood Dragon Platform to kill Fang Yue.
• Fang Yue led Wenxi County’s Training Instructor soldiers toward Feiyun Stockade and shot down the bandits guarding its walls.
• Wenxi County’s soldiers breached the stronghold and pushed the bandits back with little resistance while Xiahe County’s troops remained inactive.
• After a report that bandits were still defending the main building and had killed more than a dozen soldiers, Fang Yue offered Deputy Officer Wang the chance to take it and claim the merit.

Fang Yue foiled an attack by Blood Dragon Platform assassins and uncovered Wang Zili and Wei He's role in plotting against him. He killed the conspirators, returned with the militia, and left the larger scheme—and Liu Zheng's whereabouts—unresolved.

• Fang Yue ordered Wang Zili to lead the militia's assault on Feiyun Stockade, where masked men burst out and attacked him.
• Fang Yue drew the Blood Dragon Platform assassins into the forest, killed their Qi Sensing leader and the other attackers, and found a letter and a Command Token on them.
• Fang Yue overheard Wei He and Wang Zili discussing their conspiracy with Blood Dragon Platform, then killed them both while disguised in black clothing.
• Fang Yue searched the Xiahe County militia camp for Liu Zheng but found that Liu Zheng was absent, then returned to Feiyun Stockade and saw two people searching for Wang Zili with Chen Qing.
• Fang Yue led the militia back to its garrison, where Liu Zheng welcomed him, while Fang Yue concealed his suspicions about County Magistrate Wang and resolved to investigate the conspiracy later.