Recaps

Lian Youming prepared to face the Eagle Claw Sect, learned more of its techniques from Xie Ruomei, and received help from the old man and his junior martial uncle. Before he could leave for the fight, the old man stopped his attempt to go early and said someone from the Taiji Gate wanted to meet him.

• Lian Youming learned that Xie Ruomei wanted to fight to repay her family’s debt, gave her two thousand yuan, and promised to take on the Eagle Claw Sect himself.
• Xie Ruomei showed Lian Youming her drawings and explanations of Eagle Claw Fist, and he discovered bruises on her neck that he recognized as marks from the style.
• The old man brought his junior martial uncle, a Baji master, who demonstrated Yanqing throws to help Lian Youming prepare for the fight.
• Lian Youming sat in meditation through the heavy snowfall and decided to leave before dawn to eliminate future trouble rather than follow the formal challenge rules.
• The farmer intercepted Lian Youming outside, and the old man arrived, stopped the farmer from giving away more, and told Lian Youming that someone from the Taiji Gate had come to see him.

Lian Youming met an elderly Taiji Gate expert who reassured him that the sect would not take back his martial arts and showed him the power of Taiji Cloud Hands. At daybreak, backed by a crowd from various martial arts schools, he confronted the Eagle Claw Sect and declared that he had come to collect debts for its victims.

• The old man brought Lian Youming and Xie Ruomei to meet an elderly woman from the Taiji Gate, who praised Lian Youming’s grasp of soft force and promised not to take back his martial arts.
• The elderly woman demonstrated Taiji Cloud Hands by shielding a lamp flame from the wind and snow blowing through an open window, then left with Xie Ruomei.
• At daybreak, Lian Youming left with the old man and Uncle Wu, while members of many martial arts schools joined them on the way to the Eagle Claw Sect.
• Lian Youming arrived at the Eagle Claw Sect’s gate, rejected the formal language of settling old scores, and vowed to collect its debts for the people it had killed.

Lian Youming challenged Tan Fei and the Eagle Claw Sect, signed the Life-and-Death Agreement, and began the required three-gate fight. He killed the first two disciples and tore off the third disciple’s arms, then dragged the wounded man toward Tan Fei.

• Lian Youming demanded that the word “grudges” be crossed out of the Life-and-Death Agreement and openly accused Tan Fei and the Eagle Claw Sect of shielding criminals.
• Tan Fei accepted Lian Youming’s challenge but required him to defeat three disciples before he could fight the deputy sect leader.
• Lian Youming and Tan Fei signed the Life-and-Death Agreements, which the Eight Trigrams Sect senior announced before the duel began.
• Lian Youming countered Song Tianxiong’s Flower Fist and killed him with a strike to the spine.
• Lian Youming turned Song Tianxiang’s wrestling strength against him, then killed him with a knee strike to the chest.
• The third disciple attacked Lian Youming, who tore off both of his arms and dragged him toward Tan Fei, leaving a streak of blood on the wall.

Lian Youming killed three Eagle Claw Sect disciples and challenged Tan Fei, who attacked with a cloak that concealed his punches and kicks. Their fight left Lian Youming wounded, and a token falling from his pocket made Tan Fei react to the words “The Sticky Pole Office.”

• Lian Youming killed the last of three Eagle Claw Sect disciples in front of Tan Fei and declared that he would beat him to death.
• Spectators marveled at Lian Youming’s ruthless fighting, while Xie Ruomei watched anxiously in his clothes and hat.
• Tan Fei flung his hat and cloak at Lian Youming, then used the swirling cloak to hide a barrage of attacks and knock him backward.
• Tan Fei pursued Lian Youming through the wind and snow as spectators cleared away the corpses.
• Lian Youming hung from a wall and fought back, but Tan Fei’s eagle claws tore his shirt and wounded him.
• A small token fell from Lian Youming’s pocket, and Tan Fei’s pupils contracted when he saw it: “The Sticky Pole Office?”

Lian Youming fought Tan Fei through a snowstorm, surviving Tan Fei’s cloak trap and crippling him with a final sequence of attacks. After learning Tan Fei had ties to imperial palace experts, Lian Youming hurled him into the Eagle Claw Sect’s gate, ending the battle.

• Tan Fei recognized the gold token Lian Youming had dropped and asked which banner’s nobility he belonged to, but Lian Youming denied knowing anything and ground the token underfoot.
• Tan Fei launched a fierce attack, and Lian Youming used the Golden Bell Cover and Toad-Fishing Skill to endure it before Tan Fei wrapped him in his cloak and threw him toward a stone lion.
• Lian Youming escaped the cloak, clawed out one of Tan Fei’s eyes, and survived the throw by dispersing its impact with the Toad-Fishing Skill.
• Lian Youming used a Gaze Attack to distract Tan Fei, then struck his wrist and heart, leaving him numb, unbalanced, and vomiting blood.
• Lian Youming asked about Tan Fei’s connection to the imperial palace experts, and Tan Fei promised that someone would avenge him.
• Lian Youming hurled Tan Fei into the Eagle Claw Sect’s main gate, shattering its plaque and ending the battle.

After killing Tan Fei, Lian Youming received treatment for the hidden injuries from Wu Jiu and learned that several sects planned to kill him during the Street Challenge. Meanwhile, Xue Hen returned to Cangzhou, took a token and letter from Tan Fei’s boots, and faced down three sect experts who demanded them.

• Lian Youming killed Tan Fei, took his token, and left the arena with the Baji Sect members.
• Wu Jiu treated Lian Youming’s Dark Jin injuries and warned him that five sects might try to kill him during the Street Challenge.
• At the Eagle Claw Sect, Ao and two Yanqing Sect experts agreed to wait for the Street Challenge before acting against Lian Youming.
• Xue Hen entered the Eagle Claw Sect hall, searched Tan Fei’s boots, and took a token and a letter.
• When the three experts demanded the items, Xue Hen turned and threatened them.

Lian Youming taught Xie Ruomei the Hibernating Dragon Skill, then confronted Xue Hen, who had abducted a Baji Sect child and sought Lian Youming’s token. Xue Hen defeated him in a clash of Inner Strength and escaped with the tokens, leaving Lian Youming injured and humbled.

• Lian Youming taught Xie Ruomei the Hibernating Dragon Skill to help strengthen her constitution.
• Lian Youming studied the elderly woman’s circular movements and tried to shield a lamp flame with his palms.
• Xue Hen appeared with an abducted Baji Sect child, and Lian Youming chased him to a department store roof.
• Xue Hen explained that Mount Lu held clues to the Land-Road Immortal realm and demanded Lian Youming’s token.
• Lian Youming and Xue Hen fought, but Xue Hen overpowered him and took both tokens before escaping.
• Lian Youming watched Xue Hen flee and reminded himself to guard against pride and impatience.

After Xue Hen escaped, Lian Youming learned that his Street Challenge would take place in five days and heard the truth about Xie Ruomei’s family. Xu Tian and Wu Jiu explained the realm of Foresight beyond the Three Energies, while Xu Tian promised to accept Ruomei as his true disciple if Lian Youming resolved the feud between the Xie family and the martial sects.

• Wu Jiu said Xue Hen could only be caught by an expert beyond the Three Energies, and Xu Tian reported that the Xingyi Sect had taken action against him.
• Xu Tian told Lian Youming that his Street Challenge was set for five days later, and Wu Jiu explained why the Yanqing Sect wanted to use the fight to build its reputation.
• Xu Tian revealed that Third Brother Xie had joined the White Lotus Sect and killed and wounded people, leading to Ruomei’s family troubles.
• Xu Tian and Wu Jiu explained that Foresight developed a martial artist’s sixth sense, allowing instinctive reactions before conscious thought.
• Xu Tian promised to accept Ruomei as his true disciple if Lian Youming resolved the feud, and Lian Youming left with her, eager to win his coming fight.

On New Year's Day, Lian Youming took Xie Ruomei shopping before discovering that Liu Danaodai had gained a following by teaching Qigong and demonstrating real Internal Elixir Skill. When three martial artists abducted Liu to demand the source of his technique, Lian Youming intervened and revealed his reputation as the Taiji Demon.

• Lian Youming bought Xie Ruomei clothes, household necessities, books, and an expensive watch, and she happily explored the department store with him.
• Lian Youming and Xie Ruomei went to the park, where they found Liu Danaodai's disciples teaching Qigong to a large crowd.
• Liu Danaodai arrived in a Volga, performed Internal Elixir Skill and feats of brick-breaking, and drew the attention of three martial artists.
• The three martial artists followed Liu Danaodai into an alley, seized him, and demanded to know where he had learned Internal Elixir Skill.
• Lian Youming confronted the three and warned them to release Liu Danaodai, identifying himself as the man who had dealt with the Eagle Claw Sect.
• The old man recognized Lian Youming as the Taiji Demon.

Lian Youming rescued Liu Danaodai from three men and brought him back to Xie Ruomei’s home, where Liu revealed that a strange mountain cavern and a rare Fo-Ti root had transformed his health and qigong. The chapter ended with Lian Youming offering to find Liu a martial arts master if he first shut down his Youming Sect.

• Lian Youming intimidated the three men into releasing Liu Danaodai and took the battered man with him.
• Liu Danaodai introduced himself as Liu Wudi and explained how his qigong followers had gathered around him in Tianjin.
• Liu Wudi told Lian Youming and Xie Ruomei that he had found a cavern filled with old bones and strange corpses after falling into a snowy hole while fleeing a wolf.
• Liu Wudi revealed that he had survived for over half a month in the cavern by eating a huge Fo-Ti root, and showed Lian Youming the remaining medicinal slices.
• Lian Youming offered to introduce Liu Wudi to a martial arts master on the condition that he shut down the Youming Sect.

Lian Youming prepared to fight nine bouts in a street challenge to settle the Xie family's grudges, while Liu Danaodai was nearly injured by Wu Jiu and was offered a place in the Baji Sect. As the battle approached, Xu Tian urged Lian Youming to reconsider, but Lian Youming embraced the challenge and declared that he might be heaven's will.

• Lian Youming returned to the Baji Sect with Liu Wudi and learned that the street challenge would pit him against representatives of nine sects.
• Wu Jiu mistook Liu Wudi for a hidden master and challenged him, accidentally smashing a wooden post and terrifying him.
• After hearing Liu Wudi's story, Wu Jiu offered to take him as a disciple, and Liu Wudi eagerly accepted.
• Lian Youming spent five days training while the Baji Sect prepared to host the street challenge amid heavy snow.
• Xu Tian warned Lian Youming that his opponents would be prepared and urged him to withdraw, but Lian Youming insisted on facing the battle and stepped into the snow to train.

As rival sect leaders and their fighters gathered at the Baji Sect, Lian Youming recognized that the gathering was meant to target him, Li Da, and the Baji Sect. Bai Long provoked him to appear, and the chapter ended with Lian Youming facing him as the two sides prepared to fight.

• Several sect leaders and Bai Long arrived at the Baji Sect, and the Female Fist Master warned Wu Jiu that Bai Long was likely brought in to kill Lian Youming.
• Lian Youming reflected that the gathering was a pretext for opponents to target the Baji Sect and Li Da, and he remained grateful to Li Da and Xu Tian for giving him the chance to stand against them.
• Gong Wuer arrived with a Daoist Nun, greeted Wu Jiu, and recognized Liu Danaodai as the village doctor.
• Bai Long complained that Lian Youming had not appeared, and Lian Youming walked into the courtyard and traded insults with him.
• Lian Youming threatened Bai Long, and the gathered fighters divided into opposing sides as the wind and snow intensified.

Lian Youming began the nine-school Street Challenge to settle the Xie family’s grievances, facing the Great Sage Sect’s Zhuang Cheng first. After Zhuang Cheng tried to blind him with sand, Lian Youming revealed he had anticipated the trick and caught his ankle, then prepared to wrestle him as the onlookers reacted in alarm.

• Liu Danaodai tried to stop Xie Ruomei from stepping forward, then rallied the Baji Sect disciples to support Lian Youming.
• Ao Fei warned Xu Tian against intimidating the invited guests, while his killing intent briefly pressed toward Lian Youming before Wu Jiu and other Baji Sect boxers intervened.
• The Hung Fist master read the agreement setting out Lian Youming’s Street Challenge against nine schools and drew lots to determine the order of the fighters.
• Zhuang Cheng drew the first position, signed a Life-and-Death Agreement with Lian Youming, and attacked him with a hidden handful of sand.
• Lian Youming pretended to be blinded, caught Zhuang Cheng by the ankle, and spun him into the air before preparing to catch him with a wrestling move.

Lian Youming defeated and killed Little Ape King Zhuang Cheng in a brutal duel, though he suffered injuries in the process. A tall, thin young man from Yanqing Sect then signed the Life-and-Death Agreement to challenge him next.

• Lian Youming nearly threw Zhuang Cheng, but Zhuang Cheng spat blood into his eyes and launched a frenzied counterattack.
• Lian Youming took a knee strike to his chest, then used Coiling Silk Force and a whipping kick to throw Zhuang Cheng to the ground.
• The fighters exchanged repeated knee strikes until Lian Youming released Zhuang Cheng's wrists and took control.
• Lian Youming broke Zhuang Cheng's bones with a throw and killed him after Zhuang Cheng made one final attempt to fight back.
• Wei Boyuan remained expressionless as a tall, thin young man from Yanqing Sect signed the Life-and-Death Agreement and challenged Lian Youming.
• Lian Youming signed the agreement and quietly told the young man to come forward.

Lian Youming defeated Deng Sanjiang after revealing that he had recovered with Fo-Ti Liu Danaodai and used Taiji Cloud Hands to turn Deng Sanjiang’s strength against him. As the third bout began, a frightened Swallow Sect girl named Li Yinhuan came forward to face him.

• Deng Sanjiang attacked Lian Youming, but their first clash ended roughly evenly despite Lian Youming’s apparent injuries.
• Lian Youming revealed his weakness had been an act and used Taiji Cloud Hands to absorb Deng Sanjiang’s force while studying his techniques.
• Bai Long distracted Lian Youming with a cough and an embroidery needle, letting Deng Sanjiang escape and strike with an Inverted Kick to the Purple Gold Crown.
• Lian Youming recovered in midair, seized Deng Sanjiang, broke his bones, and killed him with a punch to the chest.
• Lian Youming reflected on his ambition to become a formidable fighter, and the old Hung Fist master called the third bout.
• Li Yinhuan of the Swallow Sect nearly signed the Life-and-Death Agreement before her elders’ cough stopped her, and she nervously asked Lian Youming to instruct her.

Lian Youming fought Zuo Yufei of the Pigua Sect in the fourth bout, discovering that his opponent combined powerful grappling techniques with hidden iron rings. The fight left Lian Youming struck back several meters as Zuo Yufei revealed the Hong Family Iron Wire Fist.

• Li Yinhuan exchanged moves with Lian Youming, caught her breath while he recovered, and secretly gave him two blinding beads before leaving the clearing.
• Bai Long mocked the Swallow Sect, and Lian Youming retaliated with insults; Ao Fei backed down when the Eight Trigrams Sect’s hidden hand and Xu Tian watched him.
• Zuo Yufei signed the Life-and-Death Agreement and confronted Lian Youming, pressing forward with heavy fists and attacking his legs with Great Sage Fist and the Seventy-Two Routes of Seizing and Grasping Hands.
• Lian Youming escaped Zuo Yufei’s grip and stunned him with a gaze before hammering a fist toward his head.
• Zuo Yufei tore open his clothes to reveal iron rings around his arms, countered with a blow that sent Lian Youming sliding back, and displayed the Hong Family Iron Wire Fist.

Lian Youming used hua jin and hammer techniques to kill Zuo Yufei, then faced a Flower Fist Sect fighter who entered the arena. With Liu Danaodai’s gong disrupting Bai Long’s attempted interference, Lian Youming crushed the second opponent, leaving the challenge still underway.

• The martial schools condemned Zuo Yufei’s steel rings, but he attacked Lian Youming with a mixture of southern and northern techniques.
• Lian Youming used softness to deflect Zuo Yufei’s blows, numbed his arm with a penetrating strike, and broke off his other arm before killing him.
• A Flower Fist Sect disciple who had drawn bamboo lot Five entered the arena and met Lian Youming in a brutal exchange of punches.
• Bai Long coughed and prepared to use an Embroidery Needle, but Liu Danaodai struck a bronze gong, startling the Flower Fist Sect fighter.
• Lian Youming seized the stunned fighter and crushed his muscles and bones, killing him.

Lian Youming survived the eighth bout and prepared to face Bai Long in the final battle, intending to test what heaven had in store for him. Xu Tian had stopped Ao Fei from attacking, while the Baji Sect’s Xu Zongsheng helped Lian Youming recover before the last fight.

• Lian Youming defeated Zuo Yufei and left him and another Flower Fist Sect disciple dead, while Xu Tian repelled Ao Fei and warned the others not to interfere again.
• A Praying Mantis Sect disciple completed the sixth bout without seriously fighting Lian Youming.
• Gongyang Ming of the Three Sovereigns Sect entered for the seventh bout and watched Lian Youming while eating a leg of lamb.
• Xu Zongsheng of the Baji Sect sparred with Lian Youming in the eighth bout, secretly using the Muscle-Relaxing and Bone-Setting Hand to loosen his tendons.
• Lian Youming and Bai Long signed the Life-and-Death Agreement, then faced each other in the arena for the final battle.

Lian Youming fought Bai Long in a brutal arena match, enduring Eagle Claw attacks and worsening injuries before defeating him with a hidden blinding-smoke trick and a strike to the throat. Bai Long fell dead as Lian Youming remained standing in the snow.

• Bai Long used his Eagle Claw Kung Fu to tear Lian Youming’s sleeve and leave dark, painful marks across his arms.
• Lian Youming chose to fight through the injuries and traded blows with Bai Long, landing a heavy punch that made Bai Long vomit blood.
• Bai Long used an embroidery needle to blind Lian Youming, then struck his head and left him stumbling with blood-covered eyes.
• Lian Youming turned his back to Bai Long, hardened his body, and released blinding smoke from his hand as Bai Long attacked his spine.
• Lian Youming clawed Bai Long’s flank and struck his throat, causing Bai Long to collapse dead.

Lian Youming defeated Bai Long in the Street Challenge, winning recognition for the Xie family before collapsing from his injuries and exhaustion. As Gong Wuer left, she and the Daoist Nun discovered a single faint footprint that suggested an unseen, exceptionally skilled observer had watched the fight.

• Lian Youming stamped on Bai Long after killing him, and the onlookers praised his dangerous strategy and victory.
• The old Hung Fist master declared the Street Challenge complete and recognized the Xie family as fellow members of the martial community.
• Ao Fei left after meeting Gong Wuer’s gaze, while Xu Tian told Wu Jiu to help Lian Youming, who was close to collapsing.
• Xie Ruomei caught Lian Youming and Liu Danaodai carried him inside; Xu Tian arranged treatment and Gong Wuer left him a bottle of medicine.
• Gong Wuer and the Daoist Nun found one nearly invisible left-foot print in the snow and concluded that a powerful, unseen senior had watched the fights.

Lian Youming awakened after three days and nights, learned that his stored vital essence had been spent in battle, and received a damaged martial arts manual from Wu Jiu. As the gathered sect leaders debated revenge, an unseen intruder silently removed their buttons, frightening them into reconsidering their plans.

• Xie Ruomei and Liu Danaodai cared for Lian Youming until he woke, and he asked how long he had been unconscious and what would happen to Ao Fei and the others.
• Wu Jiu explained that Lian Youming's body stored excess vital essence, which had fueled his battle and was now strengthening him as it was used up.
• Wu Jiu gave Lian Youming a partly burned Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt manual and described its relationship to the lost Tiger Roaring Golden Bell Cover.
• The sect leaders argued about taking revenge on Lian Youming, but they were forbidden to leave Cangzhou and considered hiring people from the south instead.
• The room's lamp briefly went out, and the sect leaders discovered that someone had removed five buttons from their collars.
• The Yanqing Sect leader hurried out, saying he could no longer take part in what followed.

While recovering at the Baji Sect, Lian Youming grew closer to Xie Ruomei and taught Liu Danaodai martial arts. On the eve of Xie Ruomei’s discipleship ceremony, Li Da and Xingyi Sect Young Sect Leader Yang Cuo arrived with news of an extraordinary Green Gang succession.

• Xu Tian told Lian Youming that Xie Ruomei’s discipleship ceremony would take place on the sixteenth and invited him to attend.
• Xie Ruomei applied medicine to Lian Youming’s injuries, and her feelings for him showed as she cared for him; he opened his eyes and startled her, leaving one eye red.
• As he recovered, Lian Youming practiced with Baji Sect disciples, taught Xie Ruomei to read, and taught Liu Danaodai the Hibernating Dragon Skill.
• Li Da returned with Yang Cuo, whom Xu Tian introduced as the Xingyi Sect’s Young Sect Leader, and Lian Youming noticed Li Da’s new cheek scar and Yang Cuo’s bare feet.
• Yang Cuo and Li Da explained that a Green Gang branch had opened an Incense Hall and accepted a disciple from the Tong generation under a Da-generation spirit tablet, while Lian Youming’s expression changed strangely.

Lian Youming learned about the Green Gang’s seniority and the mysterious man surnamed Chen who had been called the greatest under heaven sixty years earlier. The Baji Sect opened its gates for Xie Ruomei’s discipleship ceremony, and the chapter ended with the group posing for a photograph.

• Wu Jiu explained that the Green Gang’s Tong generation stood just below Du Xinwu’s generation, and that the White Lotus Sect’s leader ranked lower.
• Wu Jiu revealed that the greatest under heaven sixty years earlier had been surnamed Chen, and Lian Youming remembered the owner of the Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield.
• Li Da warned Lian Youming not to misuse the Mountain-Guarding Old Man’s teachings, while Yang Cuo invited him to visit the Xingyi Sect and watch a demonstration of Five Elements Fist.
• Lian Youming promised to demonstrate the Five Elements Fist to Wu Jiu, Liu Danaodai, and Xie Ruomei after Xie Ruomei’s discipleship ceremony.
• The Baji Sect opened its gates for the ceremony, and Xu Tian brought Lian Youming and the others to take a group photograph.
• Xie Ruomei linked arms with Lian Youming and smiled as the photographer took the picture.

Xie Ruomei and Liu Danaodai completed their apprenticeship rites, after which Li Da took Lian Youming to a secluded Xingyi Sect outpost and explained the dangerous book’s history. There, Yang Cuo demonstrated the Five Elements Fist, and Lian Youming quickly began reproducing its movements.

• Xie Ruomei completed her apprenticeship ceremony, and Liu Danaodai greeted the gathered martial artists as a junior despite his age.
• Li Da told Lian Youming that the book he had given him had driven several readers to ruin and described how his senior martial brother had found it and derived a fist technique from it.
• Li Da brought Lian Youming to Wang Wu the Great Saber’s former residence, an Xingyi Sect outpost, where Yang Cuo was waiting beneath a ginkgo tree.
• Yang Cuo demonstrated the Five Elements Fist and explained how its five forms corresponded to the elements and internal organs.
• Lian Youming watched Yang Cuo’s increasingly rapid demonstrations, then began practicing the movements with striking accuracy, astonishing Li Da and Yang Cuo.

Lian Youming learned the deeper coordination behind Yang Cuo’s Three Talents Posture, then shared the Five Elements Fist with Wu Jiu, Xie Ruomei, and Liu Danaodai before preparing to leave Cangzhou. After an affectionate farewell with Xie Ruomei, he departed in the snow, leaving her a booklet titled “Ventriloquism.”

• Yang Cuo demonstrated the Three Talents Posture, and Lian Youming quickly recognized how its breath and movements worked together; Yang Cuo warned him not to pass it on.
• Lian Youming taught the Five Elements Fist to Wu Jiu, Xie Ruomei, and Liu Danaodai, while Liu Wudi struggled to grasp its subtleties.
• Liu Danaodai promised Lian Youming that he would stay in Cangzhou and look after Xie Ruomei.
• On a snowy day, Xie Ruomei ran through the streets with Lian Youming, then kissed him and wrote “Take care” in the snow after they fell together.
• Lian Youming quietly left that night, and Xie Ruomei found a booklet titled “Ventriloquism” outside the door.