Recaps

After Corax returned to Terra, he went to meet the Emperor, following Han Mingxuan’s strange advice. Perturabo and several Primarchs rushed to the Throne Room to watch, arriving just as Corax kicked the Emperor.

• Han Mingxuan told Corax to kick anyone who tried to stop him, and Renato demonstrated by kicking Corax three times.
• Han Mingxuan sent Perturabo word to begin construction on Lycaeus with help from Nostramo’s planetary construction team, and approved Mortarion joining to grow wild chrysanthemums.
• Han Mingxuan told Perturabo to gather others and follow Corax to Terra for some entertainment.
• Corax returned to Terra, visited Roboute at the Administratum, and relayed Han Mingxuan’s plans for Nobilia and Renato.
• Perturabo gathered Roboute, Curze, Corax, Sanguinius, Lion El’Jonson, and Russ to follow Corax to the Throne Room, where they saw him kicking the Emperor.

Corax delivered Han Mingxuan’s message to the Emperor by kicking him three times, as Han had once been kicked. The Emperor declared the incident a secret between father and son, and the others left laughing while trying to keep it from Horus.

• Corax met the Emperor in the Throne Room and told Malcador that Han Mingxuan had sent a message.
• Corax kicked the Emperor once, then warned Valdor not to intervene because Han had threatened to make him dig out his ears.
• Corax delivered two more kicks, including a flying kick, as the Primarchs entered and witnessed the final blow.
• The Emperor said the kicks were a secret between father and son, while Curze teased the others and Russ tried to hide his laughter.
• The Emperor kicked Russ across the room when Russ burst out laughing, and Malcador led the others away.
• Guilliman warned everyone not to let Horus find out, and Sanguinius agreed to keep the incident secret.

After the Primarchs carried Russ to his chambers, Curze sent Corax with Perturabo to help build up Lycaeus. Corax witnessed the Iron Warriors’ extraordinary construction speed and discovered how Han Mingxuan had transformed them into builders.

• The Primarchs took Russ to his chambers, where they noticed how much Curze and Corax resembled each other.
• Curze suggested Corax work with concrete to get more sun, then assigned him to help Perturabo build up Lycaeus.
• Perturabo accepted Corax’s help and checked the letter Han Mingxuan had sent for him before they returned to Lycaeus.
• The IV Legion began construction, and Corax saw its members become animated and competitive as they worked at astonishing speed.
• Perturabo ordered the Iron Warriors to slow construction so Corax could rest, but even their reduced pace was remarkably fast.
• Perturabo told Corax that before meeting Han Mingxuan, the Iron Warriors had not even qualified as wrenches, but had since become his craftsmen.

Perturabo’s IV Legion continued building at incredible speed, leaving Rogal Dorn jealous of their purpose and success. Dorn decided to bring Defensio back from the Seventh Legion to the Eighth, and Defensio eagerly prepared to go home.

• Perturabo’s arguments convinced the Lord of Ravens that Dorn’s frontline forces were conquering worlds too slowly, and the IV Legion resumed construction after a brief pause.
• Rogal Dorn envied Perturabo and the Iron Warriors for finding their calling as builders under Uncle’s guidance.
• Dorn asked Defensio what path the Seventh Legion should take, and Defensio said its future seemed obvious to him.
• Dorn asked whether Defensio wanted to go home, and Defensio said he longed to return every moment.
• Defensio removed the Seventh Legion’s medals, put on his Eighth Legion honors, and hurried to the flagship’s landing pad to return to Uncle.

Defensio returned to Nostramo after three years away and reunited with Han Mingxuan, Trazyn, and Dorn. After eating his fill, he told Han Mingxuan that his improved Material Reinforcement ability could upgrade Nostramo’s defenses.

• Defensio returned to Nostramo with Dorn and rushed to Han Mingxuan’s home to greet his uncle.
• Han Mingxuan introduced Defensio and Dorn to Szarekh, who withdrew his killing intent and apologized.
• Defensio asked for food, and Trazyn gave him a bag of food from Food Street, which he devoured.
• Defensio told Han Mingxuan that three years of practice had greatly improved his abilities and that he could now upgrade Nostramo’s defenses.

Dorn admitted that Perturabo’s success had made him uneasy, and Han Mingxuan helped him see how the Imperial Fists could grow beyond their reputation for defense. Dorn left understanding that the Seventh Legion needed to strike as well as hold, then asked Han Mingxuan to teach him how to make red-braised beef brisket.

• Defensio went to Nostramo’s central control room to work on its defense system while Dorn stayed with Han Mingxuan.
• Dorn confessed that Perturabo’s achievements had made him uncomfortable, and Han Mingxuan explained that Perturabo’s past problems had stemmed from his role, ideals, and the Emperor’s treatment of him.
• Dorn described how the IV Legion had excelled in campaigns and begun building fortresses as well as taking them, outpacing the Imperial Fists.
• Han Mingxuan compared understanding architecture to understanding ingredients and told Dorn that the Imperial Fists needed to study how to dismantle structures, not just build and defend them.
• Han Mingxuan advised Dorn that the Seventh Legion had to attack as well as defend, and Dorn realized the Imperial Fists needed to act as the Imperium’s fist.
• Dorn thanked Han Mingxuan and asked him to teach him how to make red-braised beef brisket.

Han Mingxuan explained to Dorn that the Imperium’s anti-corruption campaign was awaiting Corax’s final stage, which he expected to finish within three months. After showing Dorn the grim history of Nostramo’s purges, he left him with a new understanding of his uncle’s ruthless nature.

• Dorn asked Han Mingxuan to teach him cooking and urged him to return to Terra, but Han Mingxuan said he would wait until the final stage of the anti-corruption campaign was complete.
• Han Mingxuan showed Dorn his original anti-corruption list and revealed that only one percent of the Imperium’s nobles would remain when the campaign ended, with Corax and his legion central to the final stage.
• Han Mingxuan said Slazov was still holding back despite having led many purges, and predicted the campaign would be finished within three months.
• Han Mingxuan took Dorn to his study and showed him the revised Evernight Epic, whose account of Nostramo’s brutal rise made Dorn reconsider the scale of Slazov’s actions.
• Dorn concluded that Han Mingxuan was a gentle and fair man at heart but also an iron-blooded hawk, then followed him back to check on the beef brisket.

Curze enlisted Corax and the XIX Legion to help the Eighth and Twentieth Legions finish the Imperium’s anti-corruption campaign, then went to the Emperor and Malcador to seek pardons for members of the Gusalto Family. He revealed that he was drafting a sweeping military reform plan and intended to lead it once his father returned.

• After Defensio announced that their uncle would return when the anti-corruption campaign ended, Curze recalled the Council of the Long Night and proposed bringing Corax and the XIX Legion into the effort.
• Curze persuaded Roboute to arrange for the XIX Legion to serve temporarily under the Department of Justice after Roboute took eight days of leave.
• Corax joined the campaign, and Curze ordered the Eighth, XIX, and Twentieth Legions to form enforcement teams of Evernight Judges, Astartes, and Dreadnoughts for the final Scouring.
• Curze directed Slazov to carry out the operation according to the Nine Laws of the Night Bat, then went to see the Emperor and Malcador.
• Curze asked the Emperor to pardon members of the Gusalto Family, claiming the pardons were needed for military reform.
• Curze told the Emperor and Malcador that he was drafting the Imperium of Man Military Reform and would lead it, while his father would handle the rest.

The Emperor backed Han Mingxuan’s military reforms as the XIX Legion’s anti-corruption campaign drove Terra’s nobles to seek help from the Gusalto family. At the Gusalto house, old Gusalto learned that Nobilia and Renato were set to take posts in the Department of General Affairs and the Military Department.

• Malcador and the Emperor discussed Han Mingxuan leading military reforms, which the Emperor hoped would balance Astartes and mortal interests and advance the Webway Project.
• The Raven Guard and Alpha gathered evidence against noble families, and the Department of Justice arrested and executed those who violated the Nine Laws of the Night Bat.
• Terrified by the XIX Legion’s investigations, nobles abandoned their armour and flocked to the Gusalto house, hoping the Father of Night would help them.
• Old Gusalto praised Nobilia and Renato, but Renato credited their education under the Father of Night rather than the Emperor.
• Renato told old Gusalto that he would join the Military Department and Nobilia the Department of General Affairs after the Chancellor’s office completed their appointments.

Nobilia and Renato brought the Longevity Tablets carved by Old Han to the Emperor and delivered his irreverent warning. The Emperor decided he could use technology to extend Old Han’s life, while Malcador gave the siblings an amnesty decree for the Gusalto Family.

• Old Gusalto hurried Nobilia and Renato to the Throne Room after learning Old Han had given them Longevity Tablets.
• Nobilia explained that each tablet was part of a pair, with the other tablets kept in the City of Truth and by the Evernight Legion.
• Renato relayed Old Han’s message to Malcador and warned the Emperor not to act rashly before the node was reached, or Old Han would blow up the Throne Room.
• Old Gusalto fainted, and the Emperor decided he could use Dark Age of Technology technology to keep Old Han alive for thousands of years.
• Malcador gave the siblings an Amnesty Decree for the Gusalto Family and told them to keep their Longevity Tablets with them.
• Nobilia and Renato carried their father home through a crowd of alarmed nobles.

Old Gusalto sent Renato and Nobilia to lead Terra’s disgraced nobles to Nostramo and seek the Father of Night’s mercy. The nobles were detained under Nostramo’s laws, while the siblings reached Han Mingxuan and prepared to explain their visit.

• Old Gusalto showed Renato and Nobilia the Amnesty List, announced that he would turn himself in, and urged them to help guide the family’s future.
• Old Gusalto introduced his children as Han Mingxuan’s mortal students and persuaded the nobles to let the siblings lead them to their teacher.
• Renato and Nobilia organized the nobles’ information and set out with a group of up to 130 people for Nostramo.
• After two and a half months, the group reached Nostramo, where the Enforcement Squad arrested the nobles for unlawful religious assembly.
• Renato and Nobilia went to Han Mingxuan’s home, and Renato awkwardly explained that they had not caused the trouble.

Han Mingxuan heard the arrested Terran nobles’ pleas and, at the Will of Earth’s urging, pardoned them and their families. After arranging their return to Terra, he spoke with Angrak about how the Will of Earth had secretly influenced events across the planets.

• Han Mingxuan told his former students that he would speak with the nobles after they were released, then asked Magos Angrak to accompany him to Terra.
• After thirteen days in custody, the nobles legally gathered outside Han Mingxuan’s home and begged him to return to Terra and save their families.
• Han Mingxuan refused to judge the 130 nobles, but they asked to remain on Nostramo; the Will of Earth urged him to let them stay.
• Han Mingxuan pardoned the nobles and their families in the name of his mother, whom he told them to praise as a goddess.
• Han Mingxuan ordered Urtana to keep the pardon secret and discussed with Angrak how the Will of Earth had influenced Lorgar, Mortarion, and New Nostramo.

After the Will of Earth completed Han Mingxuan’s Compass and promised to protect him for a hundred years, Han returned to Terra with Urtana and the Silent King. He concluded the anti-corruption campaign, reunited with Curze, and welcomed the Primarchs as they gathered at his residence.

• The Will of Earth restored the Compass and told Han Mingxuan it would guide him after his hundred years of protection ended.
• Herbert returned to Nostramo and warned Sage Angrak that he might need to confront the Adeptus Mechanicus if Han moved against them.
• Han returned to Terra with Urtana and the Silent King, then ordered Urtana to sentence lawbreaking nobles under the Evernight Code and conclude the anti-corruption campaign.
• Curze visited Han at home, and the two reunited after three years apart.
• Perturabo and Russ arrived to see Han, and Russ joked about being kicked by the Emperor.

Han Mingxuan returned to the Emperor’s secret chamber and angrily confronted him after learning that Erda had come to see him. Erda thanked Han Mingxuan and offered information about the Human Mystery Cult, but he revealed that he already had a complete list of its members on Nostramo.

• Endymion arrived at Han Mingxuan’s home, and Han Mingxuan reassured him that he was not to blame for wearing a black robe.
• Endymion led Han Mingxuan to the Emperor’s Webway chamber, where Han Mingxuan repeatedly kicked the Emperor in anger.
• The Emperor told Han Mingxuan that Erda had asked to see him, and admitted that Tzeentch had manipulated her.
• Erda appeared and thanked Han Mingxuan for teaching her children, but he rejected her thanks and told her to leave.
• Erda offered information about the Human Mystery Cult on Nostramo, and Han Mingxuan showed her a list of all its members that they had given him themselves.

Han Mingxuan confronted Erda over abandoning her sons and revealed how her choices had helped set them on paths toward ruin. After Tzeentch showed Sanguinius visions of a disastrous future, Han Mingxuan dispelled them, and Curze and Han Mingxuan urged Sanguinius to believe humanity could defy fate.

• Han Mingxuan accused Erda of abandoning her sons and called her a self-righteous fool for claiming she loved the Emperor.
• Han Mingxuan summoned the Primarchs, including Curze, and told them their parents had failed them and that Erda's actions had exposed several brothers to corruption.
• Sanguinius saw visions of his brothers' grim fates, including Angron as a creature of slaughter, Mortarion corrupted, Magnus submitting to a daemon, and Horus dead.
• Han Mingxuan placed a golden character on Sanguinius's forehead and ended the visions, then warned Erda not to approach his student again.
• Sanguinius asked whether the visions were true, and Han Mingxuan said they could come to pass if events followed their predetermined course.
• Curze comforted Sanguinius by teaching him that humanity could conquer heaven, and Han Mingxuan agreed.

Curze used the power he inherited from Han Mingxuan to write the Purity character on Sanguinius, removing the Red Thirst and awakening Sanguinius's Warp Essence. After the celebration, Erda bound herself to the Emperor in a contract to atone for her sins by defending the Webway until her soul faded.

• Curze's dormant third heart awakened, and he gave Sanguinius a golden rune that brought him clarity.
• Using Han Mingxuan's brush and guidance, Curze completed the Purity character on Sanguinius's forehead, erasing the Red Thirst from his genes.
• Sanguinius's Warp Essence awakened, granting him the power of Order and transforming his wings, armor, and clothing.
• The Emperor congratulated Sanguinius, who credited Han Mingxuan and his brothers for helping him awaken.
• Erda chose to remain with the Emperor and signed a soul contract to serve as the Webway's first and last line of defense until her soul wore away.

Tzeentch raged over his doubts and the changes to his fate while Han Mingxuan returned to Terra’s Department of Justice to inspect the legions. He chose the Dark Angels as his first stop, but Loken’s plea led him to send the Luna Wolves back to the front instead.

• Tzeentch argued with the voice of doubt in his mind, shattered part of the Maze of Tzeentch, and dismissed Kairos’s conflicting remarks about his fate.
• Han Mingxuan reunited with the Council of the Long Night and announced he would visit the legions to inspect their progress.
• Han Mingxuan teased Aequus about lying, then discussed Aequus’s use of Gang methods and told him to prioritize pragmatism against Xenos.
• Loken told Han Mingxuan that he and his teacher were overwhelmed by Administratum work, so Han Mingxuan offered to make the Luna Wolves his first inspection stop.
• Han Mingxuan arranged for Loken and his teacher to return to the front lines, sent Abaddon to replace them, and gave the pair jade pendants.

Han Mingxuan headed to the XVI Legion’s marching zone while the Emperor confronted Erda and Tzeentch in the Webway. Tzeentch sought a stake in the Emperor’s plan, and Erda was taken to a remote planet to be confined by Oll Persson, Klein, and the other Perpetuals.

• Han Mingxuan headed to the front to meet the Space Marine legions, worried about Erda’s appearance and Tzeentch’s open scheme.
• The Emperor confronted Erda in the Webway and demanded that Tzeentch appear, threatening to kill her if he refused.
• Tzeentch appeared and asked to join the Emperor’s plan, arguing that neither of them could control Han Mingxuan’s fate; the Emperor agreed to hear him out.
• Orikan and the Stormlord took Erda away under the Silent King’s orders to prioritize Han Mingxuan’s safety.
• Oll Persson, Klein, and the other Perpetuals confined Erda on a desolate planet, telling her that her presence had disturbed the Lake of Fate and had to disappear.

The Emperor and Tzeentch agreed to cooperate, accepting that failure would plunge humanity into 100,000 years of despair while success could bring it a bright future. Han Mingxuan reunited with Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit and helped the Luna Wolves secure opportunities for training in the Imperium’s systems.

• The Perpetuals sealed the mother of the Primarchs away until her fated death.
• Tzeentch warned the Emperor that he could use the Well of Eternity to erase hope and miracles from the Warp for 100,000 years, and the Emperor agreed to cooperate with him.
• Tzeentch promised to accompany Han Mingxuan and guarantee his safety when the time came, and he arranged to meet the Emperor again in forty years.
• A golden woman drifting in the Well of Eternity noticed Han Mingxuan’s hidden soul and praised an Aeldari girl before resuming her journey.
• Han Mingxuan arrived aboard the Vengeful Spirit and reunited with Horus, Sejanus, and Loken.
• Horus assigned Abaddon and Aximand to pursue further training through the Luna Wolves’ slots in the Imperium’s systems.

Han Mingxuan visited Horus and learned how Impetus had earned the Luna Wolves’ highest honor through both his individual assault skill and his ability to lead a squad. Horus concluded that the Evernight Legion’s warriors bridged the combat gap between Space Marines and Primarchs.

• Horus showed Han Mingxuan a room of honors and revealed that Impetus alone had earned the Perfect Wolf medal, the highest honor in the Luna Wolves.
• Horus showed Han Mingxuan a custom suit of Terminator Armour made for Impetus, who refused to wear it because his loyalty lay with the Evernight Legion.
• Horus explained that Impetus’s Warp ability sharpened his blade through concentration, making him the Luna Wolves’ strongest individual assailant.
• Horus recounted testing Impetus in battle, where Impetus deployed the Evernight Network and led four squadmates to conquer a planet in three hours.
• Horus described the Evernight Legion’s combat strength and said its warriors filled the gap between Space Marines and Primarchs.

Horus persuaded Han Mingxuan to let him recruit 13% of the candidates rejected by the Inquisition, then Han visited Angron and gave him a drum and a battle piece to play. Angron’s drumming drew the World Eaters’ officers, and Khârn emerged as a promising drummer.

• Horus showed Han Mingxuan the Inquisition’s selection rules and requested permission to recruit 13% of the rejected candidates; Han agreed, leaving recruitment success to Horus.
• After Han left, Horus told Sanguinius that his plan had worked, while Han continued on to the World Eaters’ marching zone.
• Han gave Angron the drum from Nuceria, named it the Demon-Slaying Drum, and taught him the Qin King Breaking the Battle Formation Music.
• Angron played the piece for the gathered World Eaters’ officers, whose reactions revealed the music’s force and emotion.
• Angron asked who had shouted “Bravo,” and Khârn stepped forward as a possible drummer.

Han Mingxuan encouraged Khârn to study culture by giving him an annotated copy of the Lunyu, which unexpectedly fired his enthusiasm. He then inscribed “Virtue” and “Reason” on Khârn’s Power Axes and gave him a task.

• Han Mingxuan reassured Khârn that he welcomed troublemakers and asked why he had been shouting.
• Khârn said he preferred fighting to studying, and Han Mingxuan argued that learning could help defeat enemies.
• Han Mingxuan gave Khârn an annotated copy of the Lunyu, and Khârn became eager to study it after hearing the Thousand Sons and Blood Angels were reading it.
• Angron read the annotations and questioned whether they were correct, but Han Mingxuan insisted they were.
• Han Mingxuan wrote “Virtue” and “Reason” on Khârn’s Power Axes, and Khârn praised him as Han Mingxuan assigned him a task.

Han Mingxuan gave Khârn the role of the Rite of War and presented Angron with a teddy bear before visiting Vulkan and discussing the Salamanders’ request for recruits from Nostramo. The brothers’ recruitment plan was revealed, and Han Mingxuan agreed to hear them out after finishing his research.

• Han Mingxuan taught Khârn a battle tune, gave him drumsticks, and appointed him the Rite of War for times when Angron could not command.
• Han Mingxuan gave Angron a heated red plush teddy bear, which Angron accepted while asking him to keep the gift private from his brothers.
• Han Mingxuan traveled with Angron to the Salamanders fleet and told Vulkan he had come to research warriors’ concerns.
• Vulkan explained that Talos was visiting Salamanders warriors’ families and asked Han Mingxuan for permission to recruit people rejected by the Inquisition.
• Han Mingxuan learned that all the brothers had coordinated to seek Nostraman recruits and agreed to meet them there after completing his research.

Han Mingxuan chose Vulkan as the successor to his magic brush, entrusting him with a safeguard against future dangers. After leaving Vulkan, Han Mingxuan traveled to Lycaeus to check on its people and construction, where he spotted someone selling comic books.

• Han Mingxuan settled the Legion recruitment arrangement with Vulkan and reassured him that Nostramo's recruits would not diminish Nocturne's strengths.
• Han Mingxuan gave Vulkan his brush, explained its powers, and instructed him to use water as ink except in special circumstances.
• Vulkan accepted the brush and promised to protect it and live up to Han Mingxuan's hopes.
• Han Mingxuan left Vulkan and headed to Lycaeus to inspect conditions there and speak with the Legions working on its construction.
• Han Mingxuan arrived in Lycaeus and noticed a vendor calling out the latest comic books.

Han Mingxuan discovered that the unauthorized Evernight Epic was being sold across Lycaeus and summoned Curze and Kamon. As the Council of the Long Night rushed to Lycaeus to face him, Lorgar was called in to help, while Han Mingxuan met Corax’s sister, Eurydice.

• Han Mingxuan found the Evernight Epic at a market stall and told Corax that its publication violated the Evernight Code.
• Corax secretly signaled his aide to contact Curze, who realized the scheme had been exposed and planned to gather the council brothers to plead with Han Mingxuan.
• Curze ordered Sevatar to contact everyone, and the council members serving with other legions received an urgent message to rendezvous at Lycaeus.
• Animus told the Wolf King about the Evernight Epic, and the Wolf King arranged for Lorgar to help Curze handle the situation.
• Han Mingxuan went to Corax’s home and met Eurydice, who welcomed him as the Father of Night.