Chapter Summaries

Qian Zhen’s master promised him the Five Qi realm if he killed a hundred people, prompting Qian Zhen to continue his attacks on those around the Zhou Family. After the violence drew the county authorities’ attention, the deputy magistrate arranged a banquet to settle the dispute, and Zhou Muzhi prepared to attend.

• Qian Zhen visited Zhao Chenfeng, who offered to help him reach the Five Qi realm if he killed a hundred people.
• Qian Zhen left Zhao Chenfeng’s residence and headed to the gambling house, planning to kill enough people to complete his count.
• Over the following days, Qian Zhen’s forces suffered repeated losses, and the Hall of Outstanding Heroes reported the deaths to the authorities.
• The deputy magistrate arranged a banquet for Qian Zhen’s subordinates and the Zhou Family to resolve the crisis.
• Zhou Muzhi told Zhou Buren that he had only offered limited help and asked his brother to tell him when it was time to attend the banquet.

As the Zhou Family prepared for a banquet with the Qian Family and Zhong Family, Zhou Muzhi took precautions and promised Li Jingfei he would seek help if needed. The Zhou brothers arrived at Juwu Pavilion as a representative of the Hall of Outstanding Heroes began criticizing their absence.

• Zhou Muzhi warned Zhou Buren that the banquet might involve an underhanded attack, and Zhou Buren agreed to call him when it was time.
• At the Li Residence, Li Jingfei gave Zhou Muzhi the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap manual, praised Listening Rain, and warned him not to underestimate the Qian Family.
• Zhou Muzhi returned to the Zhou Residence and joined Zhou Buren, who had dressed formally for the banquet; Zhou Muzhi chose to wear his usual black shirt.
• The Zhou brothers traveled to Juwu Pavilion with Lao Xu and the Zhou Family's guards, while the Hall of Outstanding Heroes, the Zhong Family, and the deputy magistrate arrived there.
• A representative of the Hall of Outstanding Heroes criticized the Zhou Family for arriving late, but the Zhou brothers entered before he could finish.

At Cao Shuang’s banquet, the Zhou Family and the Hall of Outstanding Heroes disputed responsibility for the recent killings and losses. Cao Shuang ruled that the Hall must compensate the Zhou Family while the killer would be pursued, but Zhong Shao challenged the judgment and declared the Zhong Family’s support for the Zhou Family.

• Zhou Buren presented Cao Shuang with a gift, and the Zhou and Zhong families took their seats beside the Hall of Outstanding Heroes.
• Wang Hu stared at Zhong Shao until her maid rebuked him, and the Zhong Family elder insulted the Hall of Outstanding Heroes.
• Cao Shuang called on the Zhong Family to witness the settlement, while Zhou Buren demanded compensation and the Hall demanded that the Zhou Family hand over the killer.
• Cao Shuang ruled that the Hall of Outstanding Heroes must compensate the Zhou Family and ordered specialists from the Arresting Bureau to find and punish the killer.
• Zhong Shao questioned Cao Shuang’s judgment, announced that the Zhong Family stood with the Zhou Family, and confronted the Zhong Family elder.

At the banquet, Zhou Muzhi openly challenged the County Deputy and the Hall of Outstanding Heroes, then captured seven of its eight men. He used them and other victims to summon a vengeful spirit, and prepared to subdue it with Ghost-Controlling Incense as it attacked him.

• Zhou Muzhi revealed his connection to Grandmaster Li Jingfei and threatened the eight men from the Hall of Outstanding Heroes, then left the banquet with Zhou Buren.
• After the Zhou Family and Zhong Family departed, Cao Shuang demanded Master Qian's presence and ordered the eight men to deliver the silver by the next afternoon.
• Zhou Muzhi pursued the eight men, killed their guards, and captured seven, while the eighth escaped and went to seek Qian Zhen.
• Zhou Muzhi arranged the seven captives, Shu Gong, and four hired thugs in his courtyard, then lit the Soul-Guiding Incense to summon the vengeful spirit.
• The vengeful spirit drained the people in the courtyard and took on its complete form, then attacked Zhou Muzhi as he lit the Ghost-Controlling Incense.

Zhou Muzhi fought the vengeful spirit with specially made incense and his scorching fire true intent, then tried to persuade her to become his strength. He tore apart her red-ribbon sphere, but the weakened spirit still floated toward him.

• Zhou Muzhi tested the vengeful spirit’s speed and strength as her red ribbons attacked him across the courtyard.
• Zhou Muzhi unleashed his full power and charged through the house, smashing its doors, pillars, and walls while the incense trapped the spirit inside.
• The vengeful spirit wrapped Zhou Muzhi in a sphere of red ribbons and strangled him as the gray mist around him thinned.
• Zhou Muzhi called the vengeful spirit Sister Yuan and urged her to become his strength, causing her attack to falter.
• Zhou Muzhi pried apart the red-ribbon sphere with his scorching fire true intent, and the ribbons dissipated.
• The weakened vengeful spirit shrieked and floated toward Zhou Muzhi.

Zhou Muzhi weakened and subdued the vengeful spirit with Ghost-Controlling Incense, then entered seclusion to cultivate his second qi, Steady Mountain. He emerged with the spirit under his control as A-Xiang and left the hut.

• Zhou Muzhi let the vengeful spirit attack his Scorching Fire True Intent until it weakened, then struck it into red mist.
• Ghost-Controlling Incense suppressed the vengeful spirit and left dark red markings on Zhou Muzhi's skin.
• Zhou Muzhi cleaned up traces of his presence and went to a remote hut to cultivate his second qi.
• Zhou Muzhi completed Steady Mountain, gaining defensive qi that could erode attackers with ghostly cold.
• Zhou Muzhi summoned the vengeful spirit, named her A-Xiang, and commanded her to return to his arm.

After killing seven of the eight men who had threatened him, Zhou Muzhi returned home and learned that the authorities were already seeking him over a case. He evaded them by going to Li Jingfei’s residence, where his master recognized that he had gathered One Qi.

• Zhou Muzhi returned to the Zhou Residence after a night of fighting, and A'Zi told him nothing unusual had happened at home.
• Zhou Muzhi told Zhou Buren that he had hunted down the eight men but that one had escaped, and Zhou Buren warned that the authorities would investigate.
• Uncle Chen reported that officers had come looking for Zhou Muzhi, so Zhou Buren agreed to say that he had gone to study martial arts at Master Li's home.
• Zhou Muzhi slipped out through the rear courtyard and hurried to the Li Residence, where Li Jingfei asked whether he had gathered One Qi.
• Zhou Muzhi admitted that he had just succeeded and said he had wanted to surprise Li Jingfei.

Zhou Muzhi asked Li Jingfei to oversee his planned fight with Qian Zhen, while Li Jingfei protected him from the county authorities’ investigation. After learning his forces had been destroyed, Qian Zhen arranged for protection and planned to crush the Zhou Family himself.

• Zhou Muzhi told Li Jingfei that he had fought Qian Zhen’s men and asked his master to oversee their final confrontation.
• Li Jingfei agreed to oversee the fight and told Zhou Muzhi to stay quietly at the residence afterward.
• A head constable came to arrest Zhou Muzhi, but Li Jingfei demanded official documents bearing the county seal, so the constable left without him.
• Qian Zhen emerged from seclusion having gathered Light Body, learned that most of his Hall of Outstanding Heroes and other forces were gone, and suspected someone was targeting him.
• Qian Zhen arranged for his master to protect him, planned to inform his father, and resolved to destroy the Zhou Family himself.

Zhou Muzhi learned that Qian Zhen’s men had begun targeting the Zhou Family and prepared to confront him, but first searched for information. After capturing three men who were hunting Zhou Family associates, he learned they knew nothing about Qian Zhen’s location and decided to pursue their superiors and check on Half-Immortal Xu.

• Zhou Muzhi read a letter describing Qian Zhen’s campaign against the Zhou Family, then arranged with Li Jingfei to act that night and bring his sword.
• Zhou Muzhi went to Third Master to ask where Qian Zhen usually stayed, but three men searching for Zhou Family associates arrived and recognized him.
• Zhou Muzhi disabled the three men and had Third Master interrogate them while the children stayed inside.
• The men revealed they had been ordered by county underworld bosses to find Zhou Family associates, but they did not know where Qian Zhen was.
• Zhou Muzhi decided to seek out the men’s superiors and visit Youhe Street to check on Half-Immortal Xu, then told Third Master to bury the bodies beneath the sapling.

Zhou Muzhi demonstrated A-Xiang’s Ghost Control to Half-Immortal Xu by sending her through Qian Zhen’s men, killing several of them. He brought Half-Immortal Xu back to the Zhou Family and prepared to find Qian Zhen’s headquarters and exact location.

• At a tea pavilion on Youhe Street, Zhou Muzhi revealed the concealed A-Xiang to Half-Immortal Xu, who used Incense Ash to see her.
• Zhou Muzhi ordered A-Xiang to pass through the searching men, and several collapsed dead.
• Half-Immortal Xu asked whether Ghost Control harmed Zhou Muzhi, who said he had noticed only a faint chill in his arm.
• Zhou Muzhi escorted Half-Immortal Xu back to the Zhou Family, while Half-Immortal Xu warned him to retreat if the situation became impossible.
• Zhou Muzhi set out to locate Qian Zhen’s headquarters, learn his whereabouts through A-Xiang, and kill him under cover of darkness.

Zhou Muzhi tracked down Qian Zhen and confronted him at the Qian residence, where he gained the upper hand in their duel. The fight ended with Zhao Chenfeng emerging from the residence to face him.

• Zhou Muzhi used A-Xiang’s ghostly power to question the leader of a gang and learn where Qian Zhen could be found.
• Zhou Muzhi arrived at the Qian residence after sunset, where Qian Zhen was waiting for him.
• Qian Zhen and Zhou Muzhi fought with their sabers and swords, and Zhou Muzhi’s speed and strength overwhelmed Qian Zhen.
• Zhou Muzhi injured Qian Zhen and broke most of his saber.
• Zhao Chenfeng emerged from the residence with a broad-backed heavy saber and addressed Zhou Muzhi.

Zhou Muzhi unleashed his power and defeated Qian Zhen, while Li Jingfei fought Zhao Chenfeng nearby. After killing Qian Zhen, Zhou Muzhi taunted Zhao Chenfeng and challenged him to come after him.

• Zhao Chenfeng arrived and revealed that Qian Zhen was his disciple, while Li Jingfei appeared to protect Zhou Muzhi and borrowed his sword to fight Zhao Chenfeng.
• Zhou Muzhi unleashed Light Body qi, Steady Mountain qi, and A-Xiang’s power, startling Qian Zhen with his strength.
• Zhou Muzhi overwhelmed Qian Zhen in a fistfight, and Qian Zhen pleaded to reveal an important secret.
• Zhou Muzhi killed Qian Zhen by crushing his neck and removing his head, despite Zhao Chenfeng’s warning.
• Zhou Muzhi taunted Zhao Chenfeng and challenged him as Zhao Chenfeng continued fighting Li Jingfei.

After A-Xiang transformed, Zhou Muzhi joined Li Jingfei in fighting Zhao Chenfeng, using the deadly battle to sharpen his movement techniques. Li Jingfei activated his Five Qi strength and vowed to kill Zhao Chenfeng before the power ran out, while Zhou Muzhi held back A-Xiang as a hidden trump card and rejoined the fight.

• A-Xiang transformed after passing through Qian Zhen's corpse, and Zhou Muzhi sensed the chill in his arm intensify.
• Zhou Muzhi joined Li Jingfei's fight with Zhao Chenfeng, attacking with his Light Body qi and harassing Zhao from the side.
• Zhou Muzhi adapted to Zhao Chenfeng's attacks and improved his Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Technique as he dodged the older martial artist's strikes.
• Zhao Chenfeng drove Li Jingfei back and charged Zhou Muzhi, but Li Jingfei intercepted him and unleashed his Five Qi strength.
• Zhao Chenfeng revealed that Li Jingfei's Five Qi power would leave him helpless when it ran out, but Li Jingfei vowed to kill him first.
• Zhou Muzhi held back A-Xiang, judging that she could not yet withstand Zhao Chenfeng, then returned to the fight as the battle wrecked nearby homes.

Zhou Muzhi helped Li Jingfei turn the battle against Zhao Chenfeng, who escaped after sacrificing a hand. Afterward, Zhou Muzhi gained Deduction Points from Zhao Chenfeng’s saber and realized A-Xiang could grow stronger by absorbing the severed hand.

• Zhou Muzhi charged at Zhao Chenfeng and drew his attention, allowing A-Xiang to trap him with the Red Silk Sash.
• Li Jingfei attacked Zhao Chenfeng while he was trapped, forcing him to sacrifice a hand and flee.
• Li Jingfei returned Zhou Muzhi’s longsword and said Zhao Chenfeng’s injuries made their next encounter more even.
• Zhou Muzhi picked up Zhao Chenfeng’s saber and began gaining Deduction Points from it.
• A-Xiang passed his Red Silk Sash through Zhao Chenfeng’s severed hand, strengthening the chill in Zhou Muzhi’s right arm, and Zhou Muzhi and Li Jingfei left.

After defeating Qian Zhen, Zhou Muzhi used the killing intent in Zhao Chenfeng’s saber to reach the third qi, Heavy Bone, and discussed the weakened Qian Family with Li Jingfei. The chapter left Zhou facing the possibility of Qian Lucai’s return and learning that an Yingju Hall survivor could explain Qian Zhen’s kidnappings.

• Zhou Muzhi absorbed the saber’s killing intent and broke through to the third qi, Heavy Bone, strengthening his attacks and bones.
• Zhou Muzhi discovered his new qi could suppress the chill in his right arm and produce a faint purple light around his palm.
• Li Jingfei told Zhou Muzhi that Qian Lucai was away and might return after his son’s death.
• Li Jingfei reported that a survivor of Yingju Hall claimed to know why Qian Zhen had been gathering women and children and asked Zhou Muzhi for protection.

Zhou Muzhi learned that the Qian Family had built its fortune through trafficking women and children, and that a hidden power stood behind the family. Back at the Zhou residence, he used deduction on the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Technique and chose between two possible results.

• Zhou Muzhi went with Lao Xu to meet a mutilated former subordinate of the Hall of Outstanding Heroes in a rubbish-filled alley.
• The man revealed that the Qian Family had trafficked women abroad and stolen children to sell, under an operation linked to people with Great Yong accents.
• The man warned Zhou Muzhi that the power behind the Qian Family would hunt him, and Lao Xu killed him at Zhou Muzhi's command.
• Zhou Muzhi returned home and used deduction on the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Technique, weighing a perfected technique against the Thunderflash enhancement before selecting one.

Zhou Muzhi perfected the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Technique and considered how his new strength might compare with his master. Meanwhile, the Qian Family elders debated their crisis and pinned their hopes on Lucai’s return and his teacher’s intervention.

• Zhou Muzhi spent a Deduction Point to perfect the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Technique, gaining immediate fighting strength and a more powerful physique.
• Zhou Muzhi weighed his strengths and lack of defense, wondered if he could now fight his master, and resolved to keep advancing in martial arts.
• Qian Rushou asked the Qian Family elders how the Lineage could survive after Zhao Chenfeng’s defeat, but no one had a confident answer.
• Qian Family members argued over appealing to the authorities, apologizing, or splitting up the Lineage, while the elders condemned their weakness.
• The elder on the right said Zhen’er’s younger brother would return for the funeral and that his teacher would help secure justice for the Qian Family.

After learning that Zhou Muzhi killed his son and crippled Zhao Chenfeng, Qian Lucai arranged to recruit a prime Five Qi Martial Artist and began plotting against him. Three days later, Zhou Muzhi set out for the Zhong Family, ostensibly to discuss business and attend an antiques appraisal.

• Qian Lucai learned from Zhao Chenfeng that Zhou Muzhi had killed Qian Lucai's son, cut off Zhao Chenfeng's hand, and possessed a ghost.
• Qian Lucai agreed to pay half the cost of hiring a Five Qi Martial Artist from the Holy Hall and decided the Zhou Family would serve as a scapegoat after Zhou Muzhi was killed.
• Qian Lucai sent two letters by carrier pigeon and devised a method he believed could kill Zhou Muzhi.
• Over the next three days, the Zhou Family gained influence, while Zhou Muzhi received gifts that increased his Deduction Points by three.
• Zhou Buren sent Zhou Muzhi to meet the Zhong Family, and Zhou Muzhi boarded the carriage because he hoped to attend its antiques appraisal.

Zhong Li hosted Zhou Muzhi at the Zhong Family estate, hoping to strengthen ties with the Zhou Family through a marriage alliance with Zhong Shao. He revealed that the Qian Family wanted to make peace and offered a thousand taels of silver and three rice shops as compensation, leaving Zhou Muzhi smiling silently.

• Zhong Li prepared the Zhong Family estate for Zhou Muzhi’s visit and brought Zhong Shao, his unmarried daughter, intending to arrange an alliance.
• Zhong Shao recalled Zhou Muzhi’s dismissive behavior at a previous banquet and considered how to refuse a match with him.
• Zhou Muzhi arrived at the banquet, took his seat, and exchanged polite greetings with Zhong Li.
• Zhong Li told Zhou Muzhi that the Qian Family had asked him to broker peace and offered a thousand taels of fine silver and three rice shops in compensation.
• Zhou Muzhi looked at Zhong Li and slowly opened his mouth in a soundless smile.

Zhou Muzhi rejected Zhong Li’s marriage proposal and focused instead on the antiquities in the Zhong Family’s treasure room. He left the banquet with Zhong Li to inspect the collection, hoping to gain Deduction Points.

• Zhou Muzhi and Zhong Li discussed the Zhou Family entering the rice, moneylending, oil, and salt trades, and Zhong Li proposed that their families split the profits equally.
• Zhong Li offered Zhong Shao’s hand in marriage, but Zhou Muzhi refused, saying he needed to pursue the martial path first.
• Zhong Shao fled the banquet in tears, and Zhong Li sent her maid after her.
• Zhong Li told Zhou Muzhi about the generous dowry he had prepared, but Zhou Muzhi remained unmoved.
• Zhong Li invited Zhou Muzhi to view his antiquities, and Zhou Muzhi eagerly followed him into the Zhong Family’s treasure room.