Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao, Dugu Sheng, and Hong Yi discussed their martial progress, including Hong Yi’s incomplete Dragon-Capturing Twenty-Eight Forms and the limits of his cultivation. Dugu Sheng began sharing his swordsmanship insights with Huang Xiao while Hong Yi went to treat his injuries.

• Huang Xiao asked Dugu Sheng and Hong Yi about their recent breakthroughs, and they explained how the Broken Sword Scripture and The Beggar Sutra had influenced their martial arts.
• Hong Yi said he had mastered eight of ten new palms, reaching the twenty-sixth form, while the final two remained beyond his current abilities.
• Huang Xiao pointed out that Hong Yi’s increased internal power had likely come from a rare state of inspiration and might be difficult for future Beggar Gang disciples to reproduce.
• Hong Yi said he wanted to improve his cultivation and refine the new palms so more Beggar Gang disciples could use them, then promised to challenge Dugu Sheng after mastering the final forms.
• Dugu Sheng offered to share his self-created swordsmanship insights with Huang Xiao, and Hong Yi stepped aside to tend to his injuries from fighting Dalzha.

Dugu Sheng shared his swordsmanship insights with Huang Xiao, inspiring him to consider creating techniques that could counter every move. After parting from Dugu Sheng and Hong Yi, Huang Xiao reached Cloudmist Peak and learned that Zhao Xin'er had spent five years secluded on Heavenly Mountain; he finally found her meditating at the summit.

• Dugu Sheng explained and demonstrated his swordsmanship to Huang Xiao, who became absorbed in the idea of countering every move under heaven.
• Huang Xiao wondered whether fist, palm, and finger techniques could also counter every move, and Dugu Sheng encouraged him to develop the idea.
• The next day, Huang Xiao parted from Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng and continued alone toward the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.
• At Cloudmist Peak, Dong Yan recognized Huang Xiao and told him that Zhao Xin'er had been in seclusion atop Heavenly Mountain for five years.
• Huang Xiao climbed through the snow and bitter cold until he reached the summit and saw Zhao Xin'er meditating beside a cave.

Huang Xiao reunited with Zhao Xin'er on Tianshan after five years and learned she already knew about his relationship with Zhao Yunhui. Zhao Xin'er accepted that he must take responsibility for Zhao Yunhui and You Lian'er, while Huang Xiao remained determined not to give up any of them despite the political and sect pressures involved.

• Zhao Xin'er mistook Huang Xiao's arrival for an illusion until he embraced her, and they fell into a nearby hot spring.
• Zhao Xin'er explained that Ran Chou had told her about Huang Xiao's position in the Heavenly Demon Sect, and she scolded him for disappearing after the battle at Shaolin.
• Zhao Xin'er told Huang Xiao that Zhao Yunhui had revealed their relationship, then accused him of avoiding responsibility for what had happened on the deserted island.
• Zhao Xin'er forgave Huang Xiao and said he should accept his role as Zhao Yunhui's prince consort as well as her own partner.
• Zhao Xin'er acknowledged Huang Xiao's relationship with You Lian'er and explained that the You Family marriage alliance supported his cultivation and position in the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Huang Xiao recognized that Ran Chou and the sect's power structure would resist abandoning the alliance with You Lian'er, while he remained unwilling to give up Zhao Xin'er or Zhao Yunhui.

Huang Xiao told Zhao Xin'er about the Seven-Spirit Disc and the scattered Seven Spirit Blades, then gained a new insight into the Coiling Snake Hand while watching a plum tree sway in the wind. He demonstrated the refined palm technique and agreed to teach Zhao Xin'er.

• Zhao Xin'er asked about Huang Xiao's injuries, and he explained that he had killed Jin Yi of the Taixuan Sect and lost the Seven-Spirit Disc to Gui Jiu.
• Huang Xiao listed the known holders of the Seven Spirit Blades and said he planned to avenge his eldest senior brother and Zhao Xin'er by killing the imprisoned Du Tianchou.
• Huang Xiao noticed the plum tree's branches shielding its blossoms and imagined Dugu Sheng's swordsmanship from the Broken Sword Scripture.
• Huang Xiao used a refined Coiling Snake Hand to break a branch without harming the other branches or blossoms, then placed its flowers in Zhao Xin'er's hair.
• Zhao Xin'er asked Huang Xiao to teach her the palm technique he had just developed.

Huang Xiao explained his plan to develop the Coiling Snake Hand into a martial art capable of countering every move under heaven and agreed to teach Zhao Xin'er. He also offered her the Blazing Yang Palm, hoping she could combine it with the Profound Yin Palm, and prepared to teach her his rough new sequences.

• Zhao Xin'er asked Huang Xiao to teach her the Coiling Snake Hand, and he warned that he had not perfected the moves.
• Huang Xiao described his ambition to counter every martial art under heaven, inspired by Dugu Sheng, and explained how the Coiling Snake Hand had evolved alongside his other techniques.
• Zhao Xin'er questioned why he chose the Coiling Snake Hand over the Blazing Yang Palm, and Huang Xiao offered to teach her the Blazing Yang Palm as well.
• Huang Xiao told Zhao Xin'er that he had found only a few Poison God Valley disciples while searching for the missing Valley Master and others, and said he wanted to preserve the valley’s martial arts.
• Huang Xiao explained how the Coiling Snake Hand’s flexibility and grappling principles suited his goal, then agreed to teach Zhao Xin'er his rough grappling and palm sequences.

Huang Xiao and Zhao Xin'er named their new martial art Plum-Searching-in-the-Snow Palm, and Huang Xiao taught her that technique and Blazing Yang Palm. As they planned to visit Zhongnan Mountain, Zhao Xin'er's mother arrived and told her that her father was gravely ill in Kaifeng.

• Huang Xiao and Zhao Xin'er struggled to name the new martial art before settling on Plum-Searching-in-the-Snow Palm.
• Huang Xiao demonstrated Plum-Searching-in-the-Snow Palm and Blazing Yang Palm, and Zhao Xin'er memorized the moves and formulas.
• Huang Xiao asked Zhao Xin'er to accompany him to Zhongnan Mountain the next day, and she agreed.
• Zhao Xin'er's mother arrived, attacked Huang Xiao, and stopped when Zhao Xin'er called out to her.
• Zhao Xin'er's mother told her that her father’s old injuries had worsened and urged her to go to Kaifeng, saying he might not live much longer.

Huang Xiao learned that Zhao Guangyi had only three months to live and promised to try treating him with the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art. He traveled to Zhongnan Mountain to search the ancient tomb for his Eldest Senior Brother, but received no answer after calling out.

• The Pavilion Master told Zhao Xin'er that Zhao Guangyi's injuries were incurable and that he had three months at most to live.
• Huang Xiao revealed that he knew the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art and promised to go to Kaifeng after searching the tomb at Zhongnan Mountain.
• The Pavilion Master explained that she accepted Huang Xiao's relationships with Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui partly because Great Song would need his support if Zhao Guangyi died.
• Zhao Xin'er left for Kaifeng with the Pavilion Master while Huang Xiao traveled to Zhongnan Mountain.
• Huang Xiao found an underwater passage from a pool into the ancient tomb and searched its chambers for his Eldest Senior Brother.
• Huang Xiao shouted for his Eldest Senior Brother, but no one answered.

Huang Xiao found Qingfeng alive in the ancient tomb, and the two senior brothers shared news of their years apart. Qingfeng learned that Huang Xiao had avenged their master and discovered his own cultivation had grown formidable, though he knew little about the Jianghu.

• After Huang Xiao lost hope of finding Qingfeng, his palm strike shook a stone door and Qingfeng opened it from inside.
• Huang Xiao entered the chamber, reunited with Qingfeng, and the two recounted their experiences over four hours.
• Huang Xiao told Qingfeng that he had avenged him against Du Tianchou and his master and had killed Bai Tianqi to avenge their master, Xuanzhenzi.
• Qingfeng asked about Qingyun and Qinghe, and Huang Xiao said he did not know their fate but believed they might still be alive.
• Huang Xiao sensed Qingfeng's formidable cultivation, and Qingfeng explained that years of studying Daoist scriptures and practicing the Xiantian Wuji Skill had strengthened him.
• When Qingfeng asked who Hong Yi was, Huang Xiao explained that he was the current Beggar Gang Leader.

Huang Xiao sought Qingfeng’s counsel about leading the Heavenly Demon Sect and managing the effects of his demonic cultivation. Qingfeng gave him the Nameless Scripture and offered to teach him the Xiantian Wuji Skill, while Huang Xiao’s Northern Darkness Absorption Method sparked an idea about recommending scriptures to his senior brother.

• Qingfeng told Huang Xiao that a person’s conduct, not their affiliation with the Righteous or Demonic Path, determined whether they were good or evil, and warned him not to let hatred control him.
• Qingfeng explained that Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon Skill still carried hidden dangers and gave him the Nameless Scripture to study.
• Qingfeng offered to teach Huang Xiao the Xiantian Wuji Skill so he might develop a cultivation method of his own.
• Huang Xiao described his Northern Darkness Absorption Method, and Qingfeng praised it while warning him about the dangers of absorbing others’ internal power.
• Huang Xiao suddenly offered to recommend scriptures to Qingfeng, who asked whether he meant Daoist scriptures.

Huang Xiao told Qingfeng that the three essays known as the Scripture of Great Peace were among the works listed in the Scripture of Southern Florescence, which he had found hidden in the Green Ox Gate’s Scripture Room. He explained that the essays’ secrets had been confirmed by the Third Princess, and Qingfeng began considering the other writings as potential sources of insight before Huang Xiao mentioned more renowned scriptures.

• Huang Xiao revealed that the Scripture of Great Peace consisted of Zhuangzi’s essays Heaven and Earth, The Revolution of Heaven, and The Way of Heaven.
• Huang Xiao recounted finding the Scripture of Southern Florescence inside a broken bookshelf on the second floor of the Scripture Room.
• Huang Xiao explained that the Scripture of Southern Florescence was a general outline of the Daoist Canon and listed the three essays as part of it.
• Huang Xiao said the Third Princess had discovered the secrets in the essays, confirming their identity as the Scripture of Great Peace.
• Qingfeng decided to study Zhuangzi’s works carefully, and Huang Xiao began to mention other scriptures of comparable renown.

Qingfeng realized that the Nameless Scripture was likely the Upper Clarity Scripture, which might help Huang Xiao oppose the Taixuan Sect. He suggested Huang Xiao study it for a way to counter the Taixuan Mystical Art.

• Huang Xiao recited the Scripture of Southern Florescence's outline of the Three Classics and Four Supplements, prompting Qingfeng to reflect on the phrase Upper Clarity.
• Qingfeng told Huang Xiao to read the scripture's first page, and they recognized its opening phrase as evidence that the Nameless Scripture was the Upper Clarity Scripture.
• Qingfeng said the scripture could help Huang Xiao prepare for the Taixuan Sect's eventual challenge to the unified Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Qingfeng proposed that Huang Xiao might derive a cultivation method or techniques from the Upper Clarity Scripture to counter the Taixuan Mystical Art.

Huang Xiao agreed to learn Qingfeng's Xiantian Wuji Skill, discussed the fate of the Green Ox Gate, and prepared to travel to Kaifeng to see Zhao Guangyi. Qingfeng decided to accompany him and hinted that the skill might help Zhao Guangyi even before they arrived.

• Huang Xiao agreed to learn Qingfeng's Xiantian Wuji Skill to gain insight into the Upper Clarity Scripture and the Taixuan Sect.
• Huang Xiao offered Qingfeng the Green Ox Gate leadership, but Qingfeng said the burned sect's people mattered more than its name and declined to found a new sect for now.
• Huang Xiao said he wanted to leave for Kaifeng to see his gravely ill father-in-law, Zhao Guangyi.
• Qingfeng agreed to travel with Huang Xiao, saying Zhao Guangyi's recovery could benefit the people of Great Song.
• Qingfeng hinted that the Xiantian Wuji Skill might help Zhao Guangyi, prompting Huang Xiao to ask whether it could heal injuries.

Qingfeng explained that his Xiantian Wuji Skill might help restore Zhao Guangyi’s essence, qi, and spirit alongside Huang Xiao’s healing art, and the two hurried to Kaifeng. After finding the city tense with extra guards, Huang Xiao chose to seek Princess Yunya’s help entering the palace, and he woke her by identifying himself.

• Qingfeng told Huang Xiao that the Xiantian Wuji Skill could complement his Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art in treating Zhao Guangyi’s long-standing injuries.
• Qingfeng and Huang Xiao left the ancient tomb, traveled through the night, and learned the Xiantian Wuji Skill’s energy-circulation method along the way.
• Huang Xiao and Qingfeng reached Kaifeng before dawn, vaulted over the city wall, and noticed that its guards had greatly increased.
• Qingfeng warned Huang Xiao that Kaifeng’s court was caught in political turmoil, and Huang Xiao said he would not be deterred from treating Zhao Guangyi.
• Huang Xiao and Qingfeng entered Zhao Yunya’s residence without permission, and Huang Xiao subdued a maidservant to learn where she slept.
• Zhao Yunya woke and reached for a flying dagger, but Huang Xiao identified himself before she threw it.

Zhao Yunya agreed to take Huang Xiao and Qingfeng into the palace so they could try to treat Zhao Guangyi’s injuries. After passing several guards, they reached the imperial study, where Wang Jin said the emperor could not receive them and asked who the two men were.

• Zhao Yunya woke to find Huang Xiao and Qingfeng in her bedchamber, then dressed and accepted Huang Xiao’s apology.
• Huang Xiao introduced Qingfeng and asked Zhao Yunya to bring them into the palace to see whether they could help heal Zhao Guangyi.
• Zhao Yunya agreed and disguised Huang Xiao before claiming to the palace guards that the emperor had summoned the Daoist and his alchemy assistant.
• Zhao Yunya and the two men passed several guards as hidden experts watched them move through the palace.
• At the imperial study, Wang Jin told Zhao Yunya that Zhao Guangyi could not see her and asked who the two men were.

Huang Xiao and Qingfeng arrived at the palace with Zhao Yunya, and Huang Xiao asked Wang Jin to let him see Zhao Guangyi, saying he might be able to ease the emperor’s troubles. Before Wang Jin could return with an answer, Li Jilong tried to seize the two men, and Zhao Yunya confronted him.

• Zhao Yunya signaled Huang Xiao to reveal his face, startling Wang Jin with Huang Xiao’s and Qingfeng’s unfathomable cultivation.
• Huang Xiao introduced Qingfeng as his Eldest Senior Brother from Green Ox Gate and asked Wang Jin for an audience with Zhao Guangyi.
• Huang Xiao said he might be able to relieve Zhao Guangyi’s troubles, and Wang Jin went to report the request.
• Zhao Yunya spotted Li Jilong approaching with palace guards, and Huang Xiao disguised himself again.
• Li Jilong ordered his guards to arrest Huang Xiao and Qingfeng, claiming their origins needed to be investigated.
• Zhao Yunya challenged Li Jilong and stopped the guards, but Li Jilong ordered them to proceed and said he would bear the consequences.

Huang Xiao and Qingfeng entered the Imperial Study after Wang Jin stopped Li Jilong from taking them away. Li Jilong then met with Eunuch Wang and discussed their conspiracy, their plans for the Empress, and the threat posed by Wang Jin.

• Huang Xiao offered to accompany Li Jilong, but Wang Jin intervened and ordered Li Jilong to let Huang Xiao and Qingfeng answer Zhao Guangyi’s summons.
• Li Jilong left the guards and met Eunuch Wang, who told him they would continue according to plan.
• Li Jilong warned Eunuch Wang that Wang Jin might oppose them, and Eunuch Wang declared he would kill anyone who stood in their way.
• Eunuch Wang asked Li Jilong to secure the Empress’s support, and Li Jilong agreed that his younger sister would listen to him.
• Li Jilong cautioned Eunuch Wang about the distance of his army and the risk of being detained, but Eunuch Wang said he had his officers under control and Dali would support him.
• Li Jilong said he would go see the Empress, and he and Eunuch Wang parted ways.

Huang Xiao and Qingfeng examined Zhao Guangyi’s severe injuries and found that they could not cure him, but working together they could extend his life by at least three years. Huang Xiao began treatment in the Imperial Study as Qingfeng prepared to assist.

• Huang Xiao entered the Imperial Study with Qingfeng and learned that Zhao Yunya’s mother, the Pavilion Master, was with Zhao Guangyi.
• Zhao Guangyi sent Zhao Yunya to join Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin’er, then asked Wang Jin to guard the entrance.
• Huang Xiao examined Zhao Guangyi and found that his meridians were ruined and his essence, qi, and spirit were severely depleted.
• Qingfeng said he and Huang Xiao could alleviate Zhao Guangyi’s injuries and extend his life by three years, possibly longer with further help.
• Huang Xiao sat behind Zhao Guangyi and began restoring his meridians while Qingfeng watched for the moment to add his true qi.

Huang Xiao and Qingfeng restored Zhao Guangyi’s meridians, giving him hope and extending the time he had to live. Zhao Guangyi accepted Huang Xiao as the husband of Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui, then explained that his risky plan to expose hidden threats at court might now need to change.

• Huang Xiao forced open Zhao Guangyi’s blocked meridians, and Qingfeng helped him circulate healing true qi through them.
• Zhao Guangyi resumed circulating his true qi and learned he would need treatment once a day for seven days.
• Zhao Guangyi entrusted Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui to Huang Xiao and called him family.
• Huang Xiao asked about Li Jilong, and Zhao Guangyi explained that he had placed him in a powerful position to draw hidden enemies out.
• Zhao Guangyi said his improved prospects gave him time to reconsider the risky plans he had made to secure the realm and Yuan Kan’s succession.

Huang Xiao helped Zhao Guangyi recover while agreeing to secretly protect Crown Prince Zhao Yuankan, and Qingfeng declined to join the coming conflict. On the eighth morning, Qingfeng disappeared, and Huang Xiao found a dagger pinning a letter in his room.

• Zhao Guangyi asked Huang Xiao to secretly protect Zhao Yuankan and said he hoped a mysterious enemy who had once wounded him and Zhao Kuangyin would appear.
• Qingfeng refused to take part in the coming fight, and Zhao Guangyi told Huang Xiao to keep his identity hidden in the palace.
• Huang Xiao and Qingfeng treated Zhao Guangyi for seven days, restoring most of his meridians while Zhao Guangyi concealed his recovery.
• Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui thanked Huang Xiao and Qingfeng, and Qingfeng encouraged Huang Xiao to cherish the two princesses.
• Huang Xiao found Qingfeng missing on the eighth morning, entered his room with Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui, and saw a dagger pinning a letter to the table.

Huang Xiao read Eldest Senior Brother’s farewell letter and resolved to find his missing senior brothers while his elder brother fulfilled Master Xuanzhenzi’s wish to roam the world. He planned to leave the palace but remain in Kaifeng, staying at Zhao Yunhui’s Willow Shade Villa under the name Qingxiao.

• Huang Xiao learned from Eldest Senior Brother’s letter that he had left to roam the world and fulfill Master Xuanzhenzi’s last wish.
• Huang Xiao vowed to find Senior Brothers Qingfeng and Qinghe, and Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui promised to help him.
• Huang Xiao examined the Demon Slayer dagger and discussed how Gui Jiu might seek the Seven Spirit Blades using the Seven-Spirit Disc.
• Huang Xiao said he would leave the palace but stay in Kaifeng to meet Dugu Sheng, Hong Yi, and Zhao Yuankan.
• Zhao Yunhui offered Huang Xiao a place at Willow Shade Villa, and he chose to use Master’s Daoist name, Qingxiao, while disguised.