Recaps

Huang Xiao discovered that Xiao Yan’s painting contained a deadly rain of sword intent added by an unknown expert, and Xiao Yan explained that her granny had added a few strokes. Yelü Mengdu arrived with another Khitan expert, and Huang Xiao challenged his familiarity with Xiao Yan as tensions rose in the garden.

• Huang Xiao told You Lian'er that he had seen a sky-filling rain of swords in the painting, though he could not comprehend the sword art hidden within it.
• Xiao Yan confirmed that someone had added a few strokes to her painting, and recalled that her granny had transformed its bamboo leaves into a deadly rain of swords.
• Several young men fell injured after viewing the paintings, and Xiao Yan told attendants to take them for treatment.
• Yelü Mengdu entered the garden with another formidable young man, while You Lian'er reacted uneasily at the sight of him.
• Yelü Mengdu called Xiao Yan by her personal name and criticized the injured guests, prompting Huang Xiao to question his right to address her that way.

At Xiao Yan’s Famous Painting Appreciation Gathering, Tuoba Ge recognized You Lian'er and startled her, while Huang Xiao stepped in to protect her. After Tuoba Ge insulted Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu challenged him, Huang Xiao accepted a match to defend Great Song’s reputation.

• Xiao Yan welcomed Yelü Mengdu and his companion Tuoba Ge, who questioned You Lian'er and recognized her as the woman he had been seeking.
• Tuoba Ge strode toward You Lian'er, but Huang Xiao blocked him, and Xiao Yan arranged for You Lian'er to rest in a pavilion.
• Tuoba Ge mocked Huang Xiao’s appointment as the Six Gates' Arrest Sage, and Huang Xiao insulted both Tuoba Ge and Yelü Mengdu in return.
• Yelü Mengdu challenged Huang Xiao to a match, and Huang Xiao accepted to uphold Great Song’s reputation.

Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu agreed to settle their rivalry in a sparring match at the Xiao Residence, with Xiao Yingda overseeing them. The chapter left them facing each other in the arena, ready to begin.

• Yelü Mengdu challenged Huang Xiao, and Huang Xiao accepted despite Xiao Yan's concerns.
• Xiao Yingda arrived, introduced himself as the Imperial Guards Commander, and allowed the match to proceed at the training grounds.
• Zhao Yuankan warned Huang Xiao that Yelü Mengdu's abilities were uncertain and urged him to be careful.
• Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu entered the arena and agreed to fight until one fell out or admitted defeat.
• Xiao Yingda accepted their terms, and the two fighters prepared to begin while Xiao Yan and You Lian'er watched.

Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu began their arena contest, testing each other with powerful palm and fist techniques. After Yelü Mengdu announced he would use the sixth layer of the Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm, Huang Xiao prepared to reveal the Heavenly Demon Skill, and his sudden change in aura shocked Yelü Mengdu.

• Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu exchanged opening palm strikes, and their clash shattered the bluestone arena beneath them.
• Yelü Mengdu revealed that he practiced the Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm and claimed his sixth layer rivaled other practitioners’ seventh.
• Yelü Mengdu used the fifth layer against Huang Xiao, who switched from the Blazing Yang Palm to the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist and advanced to its fourth stage to withstand the blows.
• Yelü Mengdu judged Huang Xiao near his limit and announced he would use the sixth layer, while Xiao Yingda and Xiao Yan watched with concern and You Lian'er remained confident.
• Huang Xiao said he would now go all out, and Yelü Mengdu’s expression changed when Huang Xiao’s aura transformed.

Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu fought on nearly even terms, each suffering injuries as Yelü Mengdu unleashed the sixth layer of the Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm. When Yelü tried to overwhelm Huang Xiao with a relentless final assault, Huang Xiao stopped meeting him head-on and dodged his attack.

• Yelü Mengdu underestimated how Huang Xiao's demonic art strengthened the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist and charged at him with the sixth layer of the Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm.
• Huang Xiao and Yelü Mengdu exchanged blows, then became locked in a contest of internal power until both were forced apart, injured.
• Huang Xiao used his everlasting spring ageless true qi to ease his injuries while Yelü suppressed his own and attacked again.
• Xiao Yingda urged them to stop, but Yelü and Huang Xiao both refused to end the contest.
• Yelü continued trading injuries for a chance to defeat Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao dodged his next palm strike, which smashed a crater into the bluestone.

Huang Xiao defeated Yelü Mengdu by exploiting his worsening injuries, then spared his life to avoid damaging Great Song’s relations with Khitan. After the victory strengthened Great Song’s position ahead of negotiations, Zhao Yuankan, Xiao Yan, and You Lian’er urged Huang Xiao to rest and treat his injuries.

• Huang Xiao evaded Yelü Mengdu’s attacks while his own injuries eased, then agreed to fight him head-on to make his victory more memorable.
• Yelü Mengdu unleashed successive bursts of palm force, but Huang Xiao dissipated them and struck him off the fighting platform with a punch.
• Tuoba Ge caught Yelü Mengdu as his suppressed injuries erupted, and Xiao Yingda began treating him.
• Huang Xiao decided not to kill Yelü Mengdu because doing so could obstruct reconciliation between Great Song and Khitan.
• Zhao Yuankan, Xiao Yan, and You Lian’er congratulated Huang Xiao and urged him to go rest and receive treatment.

After Huang Xiao defeated Yelü Mengdu, Xiao Yan brought him to a quiet chamber to treat his injuries while Zhao Yuankan stayed behind to view the paintings. Xiao Yan gave Huang Xiao a rare Xiao Clan healing pill, and he examined it with surprise at its quality.

• Xiao Yingda escorted the injured Yelü Mengdu away, while Xiao Yan asked Huang Xiao to come with her for treatment.
• Xiao Yan reopened the gathering for the guests to view paintings, and Zhao Yuankan chose to remain while You Lian'er went to notify Yelü Yin.
• As Xiao Yan led Huang Xiao to the quiet chamber, his Heavenly Demon Skill stirred his desires; he suppressed his true qi, and Xiao Yan noticed his embarrassment but did not reproach him.
• Xiao Yan brought Huang Xiao into a chamber filled with sandalwood incense and explained that the Xiao Clan's medicine could heal his injuries in half a day.
• A maid delivered a jade vial, and Xiao Yan offered Huang Xiao a precious healing pill; he accepted it and questioned its value.

Huang Xiao used Xiao Yan’s healing pill to repair his meridians and discovered that its cold energy eased the demonic nature of his Heavenly Demon True Qi. After Xiao Yan suffered cultivation deviation while studying the Heavenly Mirror Skill, Huang Xiao suppressed her rampaging true qi and caught her when she collapsed.

• Huang Xiao trusted Xiao Yan, took her pill, and used its cold energy to rapidly heal his damaged meridians.
• Huang Xiao realized the cold energy had made his Heavenly Demon True Qi gentler and considered whether abundant yin-cold herbs could suppress its demonic nature.
• Xiao Yan studied the second realm of the Heavenly Mirror Skill while Huang Xiao continued healing beside her.
• Xiao Yan’s true qi suddenly ran wild, and Huang Xiao struck her acupoints and channeled his true qi through her meridians to stabilize her.
• Xiao Yan regained consciousness and thanked Huang Xiao, then collapsed when she tried to stand, and he caught her.

Huang Xiao examined the bronze mirrors containing fragments of a mysterious cultivation method at Xiao Yan’s invitation, but could not decipher their secrets. He suggested the mirrors might be linked through formations, and Xiao Yan was astonished that he had noticed the connection.

• After Xiao Yan recovered from her cultivation deviation, she noticed Huang Xiao’s injuries had healed and invited him to examine the bronze mirrors in her meditation chamber.
• Xiao Yan explained that studying the mirrors had caused her cultivation deviation and asked Huang Xiao to share any insights he gained.
• Huang Xiao carefully studied all one hundred and twenty mirrors and pondered their formulas and martial drawings, but could not understand the cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao said the mirrors seemed disordered yet connected, and suggested formations might reveal the links between them.
• Xiao Yan confirmed that Huang Xiao had correctly sensed the mirrors’ connection to formations.

Huang Xiao and Xiao Yan returned to the garden after discussing her cultivation, where they found Zhao Yuankan enjoying a game with Yelü Yin. As the group left, Xiao Yan’s feelings for Huang Xiao came under notice, and Huang Xiao spotted someone catching up with their procession.

• Xiao Yan explained that her cultivation had gone awry because she had been impatient, while Huang Xiao suggested Zhao Yunhui might help her understand the formation-related mystery.
• Huang Xiao and Xiao Yan found Zhao Yuankan playing a board game with Yelü Yin, and they called him away after two hours.
• Zhao Yuankan reluctantly left Yelü Yin, and Xiao Yan, You Lian'er, and Yelü Yin teased him about how engrossed he had been.
• Yelü Yin privately suggested that Xiao Yan had feelings for Huang Xiao, but warned that a marriage between them was unlikely because he was from Song.
• During the carriage ride, Zhao Yuankan wondered who his Khitan marriage-alliance bride would be and wished it were Yelü Yin; Huang Xiao kept her identity secret and noticed someone catching up with the procession.

Huang Xiao rushed to protect Zhao Yuankan when thirteen Masked Men ambushed the procession in Linhuang Prefecture. After defeating the attackers at the carriage, he turned to help You Lian'er, who was holding off the seven men sent to delay him.

• You Lian'er joined Huang Xiao's procession and said she planned to visit him at the Envoy Residence.
• Thirteen Masked Men attacked Zhao Yuankan's carriage with explosive darts, killing several guards and destroying the carriage horses.
• Huang Xiao fought seven Masked Men who tried to delay him while six others attacked the carriage, where Lord Gu defended Zhao Yuankan.
• Lord Gu was badly injured, but Huang Xiao struck down five attackers, wounded the Mid Peerless Masked Man, and stabilized Lord Gu's injuries.
• Huang Xiao found You Lian'er holding off the seven men and sealed the wounded attacker's acupoints before charging toward them.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er defeated the masked assassins who attacked Zhao Yuankan, but the surviving attacker killed himself with poison before they could learn who sent them. The group returned safely to the Envoy Residence, where Huang Xiao suddenly darted ahead after sensing something.

• Huang Xiao returned to help You Lian'er, and together they killed the remaining masked attackers.
• Huang Xiao and You Lian'er removed the assassins' masks but recognized none of them; the wounded survivor bit down on poison and died before he could be questioned.
• You Lian'er warned that future assassins might include Upper Peerless experts, while Huang Xiao questioned why the attackers had seemed to have no follow-up plan.
• Zhao Yuankan, Huang Xiao, You Lian'er, and the injured Lord Gu agreed to return to the Envoy Residence and seek an explanation from the Khitan.
• The group reached the Envoy Residence without further trouble, but Huang Xiao suddenly jolted and darted ahead.

Huang Xiao pursued Bai Tianqi, the man who had killed his master, while Lord Wu used the Dragon Protection Token to send two hidden Dragon Guard experts after him. The chapter ended with Bai Tianqi taunting Huang Xiao as they raced beyond Linhuang Prefecture.

• You Lian'er left her guards and followed Huang Xiao, while one of her guards took a zither and chased after her.
• Zhao Yuankan told Lord Wu about the assassination attempt, and Lord Wu warned that Huang Xiao might also be a target.
• Lord Wu used the Dragon Protection Token to request help, and two hidden Dragon Guard experts said they had already followed Huang Xiao.
• Lord Wu kept Zhao Guangyi's secret order to protect Huang Xiao as carefully as Zhao Yuankan from him.
• Huang Xiao chased Bai Tianqi out of Linhuang Prefecture after recognizing him as the murderer of his master, and Bai Tianqi taunted him as he fled.

Huang Xiao was lured by Bai Tianqi to a lake, where three Fang Family upper peerless masters confronted him. As You Lian'er joined the standoff with her zither, she sent for Xiao Yan's help.

• Huang Xiao pursued Bai Tianqi out of the city and realized Bai Tianqi's sudden increase in strength might be tied to a plan.
• Bai Tianqi stopped at a lake, where three upper peerless masters ambushed Huang Xiao and revealed themselves as members of the Fang Family.
• You Lian'er caught up and recognized the Fang Family men, who discussed capturing her to use against Zhang Pu.
• You Lian'er realized she had forgotten her Netherworld Demon Zither Imitation Zither, but her mid peerless attendant arrived and returned it to her.
• You Lian'er told her attendant to seek help from Sister Yan, knowing the Xiao Clan had masters in Khitan.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er joined forces against three Fang Family experts, using her zither music to disrupt their attacks and let Huang Xiao injure the third brother. The third brother withdrew to heal while Huang Xiao and You Lian'er faced the remaining two.

• You Lian'er sent her subordinate for reinforcements and prepared to support Huang Xiao with the Imitation Zither.
• You Lian'er played a zither note that briefly dazed the Fang Family experts and Bai Tianqi, giving Huang Xiao an opening to attack.
• The eldest and second brothers engaged Huang Xiao while the third brother went after You Lian'er.
• You Lian'er's music disrupted the third brother's true qi as he clashed with Huang Xiao, allowing Huang Xiao to drive him back and damage his meridians.
• The eldest brother recognized the danger of You Lian'er's Sound Art, and the second brother ordered the injured third brother to withdraw and heal.

You Lian'er used subtle zither music to weaken the Fang Family experts while strengthening Huang Xiao, allowing him to kill the second brother. The eldest realized the music had been suppressing their power and demanded to know who Huang Xiao really was.

• You Lian'er began playing the Fifth Tone as the two Fang Family brothers charged at Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao fought both brothers and drove them back while You Lian'er's music secretly weakened them and amplified his strength.
• The second brother charged again, stumbled under the music's influence, and Huang Xiao killed him with two punches to the head.
• Bai Tianqi recognized that You Lian'er's zither music was affecting the fighters, and the eldest understood why they had been unable to use their full strength.
• The eldest questioned Huang Xiao's identity after realizing the zither music had enabled him to defeat the brothers.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er subdued the Fang Family brothers with her sound art, but the Fang Family Grand Elder arrived with four more experts and turned the confrontation against them. The Grand Elder called on the hidden experts to reveal themselves, leaving Huang Xiao and You Lian'er facing uncertain odds.

• You Lian'er's zither music weakened the Fang Family brothers, and Huang Xiao prepared to finish off the eldest brother.
• You Lian'er stopped playing when five Fang Family experts arrived, and the surviving brothers greeted their leader as the Grand Elder.
• The Grand Elder reprimanded the brothers, postponed their punishment, and examined Bai Tianqi before turning his attention to Huang Xiao and You Lian'er.
• You Lian'er recognized the Grand Elder as a Peerless Realm expert and worried that neither she nor Huang Xiao could withstand the Fang Family's forces.
• The Grand Elder acknowledged You Lian'er's sound art and called for the experts hidden nearby to show themselves.

The Fang Family grand elder let Huang Xiao settle his grudge with Bai Tianqi before anyone intervened. Huang Xiao’s attacks failed to overcome Bai Tianqi, who began transforming after his disguise was broken.

• The grand elder found that none of Huang Xiao’s expected protectors had appeared and decided to let Huang Xiao fight Bai Tianqi while the Fang Family stayed out of it.
• Huang Xiao told You Lian'er to escape and asked her to avenge his master by killing Bai Tianqi, but she refused to leave him.
• Huang Xiao attacked Bai Tianqi with Blazing Yang Palm, but Bai Tianqi’s palm strike sent him stumbling back and left blood at the corner of his mouth.
• Huang Xiao used Heavenly Demon Skill and Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, but Bai Tianqi absorbed the force and remained unharmed.
• Bai Tianqi’s body swelled and his gaunt appearance cracked apart, and he said Huang Xiao’s fist had broken his disguise.

Huang Xiao learned that the Bai Tianqi he had pursued was actually He Jing, a Peerless Realm expert working under an agreement with the Ghost Gate, while Fang Rongcheng prepared to kill him. As Huang Xiao’s demonic art surged, He Jing offered to protect him in exchange for the cultivation method, and attacked You Lian’er when she objected.

• Huang Xiao shattered the disguise of the false Bai Tianqi and discovered that the man was He Jing, a Peerless Realm expert.
• He Jing and Fang Rongcheng explained their dealings with the Ghost Gate, and Fang Rongcheng announced that he would kill Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao’s rage triggered his demonic art, and You Lian’er tried to stop him from losing control.
• He Jing became interested in Huang Xiao’s cultivation method and offered to act against Fang Rongcheng’s side if Huang Xiao revealed it.
• You Lian’er objected to He Jing’s offer, and He Jing sent Palm Force toward her.

Huang Xiao taught You Lian'er half of the Heavenly Demon Skill while Fang Rongcheng tried to kill him, and He Jing intervened to protect Huang Xiao before withdrawing. As Fang Rongcheng prepared to strike again, Xiao Yingda arrived in the Khitan lands.

• Huang Xiao blocked He Jing's palm strike for You Lian'er and secretly began teaching her the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Fang Rongcheng attacked Huang Xiao, but You Lian'er tried to shield him, and Huang Xiao countered with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, leaving him badly wounded.
• He Jing attacked Fang Rongcheng with his broken sword, then stopped when Fang Rongcheng warned him about provoking the Fang Family and Ghost Gate.
• Fang Rongcheng prepared to kill Huang Xiao, but Xiao Yingda arrived and challenged him for running wild in the Khitan lands.

Xiao Yingda arrived to protect Huang Xiao from Fang Rongcheng, then the Fang Family’s three other Peerless Realm experts appeared and the Dragon Guard revealed its concealed protectors. The sides prepared to fight while a Dragon Guard expert urged Huang Xiao and You Lian'er to escape.

• Xiao Yingda confronted Fang Rongcheng and warned him to leave Huang Xiao alone, while He Jing said he intended only to watch.
• Fang Rongcheng’s three Fang Family allies arrived, and a family elder revealed that the two concealed Dragon Guard experts had been present all along.
• The Dragon Guard experts joined Huang Xiao, and Xiao Yingda criticized them for failing to act sooner before agreeing to cooperate against the Fang Family.
• He Jing retreated but remained nearby, leaving Huang Xiao’s side wary of his intentions.
• A Dragon Guard expert told Huang Xiao to seize an opening and flee with You Lian'er toward the Envoy Residence.

Xiao Yingda confronted Fang Rongyi while the Dragon Guard masters held off the Fang Family, giving Huang Xiao and You Lian'er a chance to escape. As the battle continued, Fang Rongcheng sent the eldest Upper Peerless brother after them, while he remained tied down by a Dragon Guard.

• Xiao Yingda recognized Fang Rongyi and challenged him, then raised his aura and agreed to fight him while the two Dragon Guard masters faced the other Fang Family members.
• He Jing withdrew from the fight, and Fang Rongyi ordered Fang Rongcheng to pursue Huang Xiao while the others dealt with the Dragon Guards.
• Huang Xiao and You Lian'er fled toward Linhuang Prefecture, and Huang Xiao took her hand to help her keep pace through the snow.
• A Dragon Guard blocked Fang Rongcheng from pursuing Huang Xiao and You Lian'er, while Fang Rongcheng urged the eldest Upper Peerless brother to chase them instead.
• The eldest Upper Peerless brother reluctantly set off after Huang Xiao and You Lian'er, as Fang Rongcheng continued trading blows with the Dragon Guard who blocked him.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er fled toward Linhuang Prefecture but were intercepted by two Ghost Gate experts. Huang Xiao prepared a formation in the snow and quietly planned a desperate counterattack, though one expert stayed outside it.

• A Fang Family expert broke through the Dragon Guards and pursued Huang Xiao while Xiao Yingda remained occupied with Fang Rongyi.
• Huang Xiao and You Lian'er neared Linhuang Prefecture, but Huang Xiao sensed danger, pulled her back, and laid tracks in the snow to form a trap.
• Two Ghost Gate Peerless experts, Elder Lin and Hu Wen, appeared and revealed that they intended to kill Huang Xiao and prevent the Dragon Guards from escaping.
• Elder Lin dismissed Huang Xiao's hastily made formation and chose to attack while Hu Wen stayed outside, despite Huang Xiao's attempt to lure both into it.
• Huang Xiao told You Lian'er his plan, and she agreed to try it despite her uncertainty.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er escaped the Ghost Gate experts by using a snow-filled formation and their combined Sound Arts, but their pursuers quickly broke the formation and continued the chase. Near Linhuang Prefecture, Huang Xiao avoided the direct route and deliberately left footprints as he led You Lian'er west.

• Huang Xiao lured Elder Lin into his Confusion Formation, filled it with snow mist, and escaped with You Lian'er.
• Hu Wen attacked as they emerged, but You Lian'er’s zither music and Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar stunned him long enough for Huang Xiao to knock him back and retreat.
• Fang Rongcheng charged into the formation, then joined Elder Lin in breaking it; Hu Wen told them Huang Xiao and You Lian'er had fled west.
• Elder Lin went to block the route into Linhuang Prefecture while Hu Wen and Fang Rongcheng pursued Huang Xiao, and an Upper Peerless expert searched near the city.
• Huang Xiao led You Lian'er west, then north and west again instead of entering the city, and left footprints in the snow as they ran.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er used misleading footprints to make their pursuers think they were heading toward Linhuang Prefecture, while they secretly traveled north outside the city. Elder Lin saw through the ruse and tracked them by You Lian'er's face-powder scent, leading the pursuers north.

• Huang Xiao told You Lian'er he had deliberately left tracks to mislead their pursuers, then turned northwest and bypassed Linhuang Prefecture instead of entering it.
• Elder Lin searched near the city while Hu Wen and Fang Rongcheng followed the footprints west, then Fang Rongcheng suspected the trail was a decoy.
• Elder Lin rejected the footprints as a trick and persuaded Fang Rongcheng and Hu Wen to continue west with him.
• Elder Lin detected You Lian'er's face-powder scent, concluded the pair had gone north, and led the others in pursuit.