Chapter Summaries

Chen Fan received medicine from Li Rong'er and escorted Zheng Xun to reunite with his mother, then helped her clear the courtyard weeds. Meanwhile, Su Xin learned that Lin Shou had executed Black Wind Baleful Intent and concluded the bandit chief had revealed information about her disguise.

• Chen Fan learned that Li Rong'er had sent him top-grade white jade ointment and used it to treat his wounds.
• A steward eunuch summoned Lin Shou to escort Zheng Xun to see Li Rong'er, and the young prince reunited with his mother.
• Zheng Xun thanked Lin Shou for helping his mother eat before leaving, and Li Rong'er asked Lin Shou to clear the weeds in her courtyard.
• Li Rong'er spoke to Lin Shou about her isolation and her belief that the prince's heart had long been dead, while he silently continued working.
• Su Xin heard that Lin Shou had executed Black Wind Baleful Intent and realized the bandit chief had likely exposed her disguise to him.

Su Xin learned that Lin Shou had exposed her identity and ordered an assassin to kill him, while Chen Fan sensed that someone was watching him. When Li Rong'er decided to leave the residence for a walk, Chen Fan prepared to accompany her despite the danger.

• Su Xin realized the bandit chief had revealed her secret and sent a black-robed assassin to kill Lin Shou.
• Zheng Xun praised Chen Fan for caring for Li Rong'er, and the prince's steward promoted him to her personal guard with a doubled allowance.
• Chen Fan sensed a skilled assassin watching him and suspected Su Xin was behind it, but kept up his ordinary routine while staying alert.
• Li Rong'er ordered Chen Fan to prepare a carriage and horses so she could go for a walk, and he obeyed despite worrying that the outing would expose them to danger.

Chen Fan accompanied Li Rong'er on an outing through the capital while staying alert for an assassin. At the Treasure Pavilion, he won the Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix hairpin for Li Rong'er by reciting two lines of poetry, leaving her and the onlookers astonished.

• Chen Fan drove Li Rong'er and two maids through the crowded streets, watching for signs of an assassin.
• Li Rong'er entered the Treasure Pavilion and asked to buy a phoenix hairpin, but the pavilion master said it would go to whoever composed a poem that met his approval.
• Several scholars offered poems, but the pavilion master rejected them, and the gathered customers mocked his demanding test.
• Chen Fan stepped forward and recited two lines that stunned the crowd and delighted the pavilion master.
• The pavilion master declared the two lines sufficient and gave Chen Fan the phoenix hairpin, while Li Rong'er wondered how her guard Lin Shou could compose such poetry.

Chen Fan won the Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix hairpin for Li Rong'er with a poem, then recited its final lines to her on their carriage ride. Their growing intimacy was interrupted when an Eighth Rank assassin attacked Li Rong'er, leaving Chen Fan to face a foe far stronger than himself.

• Chen Fan accepted the Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix hairpin and presented it to Li Rong'er, who took it while hiding her emotional reaction.
• On the carriage ride, Li Rong'er asked Chen Fan for the rest of his poem, and he recited lines that left her deeply flustered and pleased to know the poem was hers alone.
• A black-clad assassin smashed into the carriage and lunged at Li Rong'er.
• Chen Fan abandoned the reins and blocked the assassin's dagger with his saber, but the clash revealed the attacker was an Eighth Rank martial artist.
• The assassin circled Chen Fan's blade and stabbed toward Li Rong'er again.

Chen Fan took a dagger meant for Li Rong'er and fought the assassin despite his grave injuries. Just as the assassin moved to kill him, Captain Li Zhong appeared behind the attacker.

• Chen Fan shoved Li Rong'er out of the dagger's path and was badly wounded across the back.
• Chen Fan fought the assassin with the Gale Saber Technique, but his saber broke and he was thrown through the carriage wall.
• The assassin advanced on Li Rong'er, but Chen Fan staggered up and blocked his path again.
• Chen Fan shouted for Captain Li to appear, making the assassin pause and turn toward the fleeing crowd.
• Captain Li Zhong appeared behind the assassin in the prince's residence's heavy armor.

Chen Fan died after taking a fatal blow for Li Rong'er, then the Substitute Death Reincarnation System possessed the White Lotus Sect assassin Chen Jinzhong. He awoke in Chen Jinzhong's Eighth Rank body as Li Zhong's saber came for his throat.

• Li Zhong confronted the black-clad assassin for the Record of the Grand Progenitor's Ascension to Immortality, but the assassin summoned a White Lotus Sect counter-ambush led by Su Xin.
• Li Zhong revealed that he had hidden armed reinforcements nearby, and both sides launched into battle as he charged at Su Xin.
• Li Rong'er realized that Chen Fan had been caught up in a scheme centered on her, while Chen Fan reassured her before dying from his wounds.
• The Substitute Death Reincarnation System identified Chen Jinzhong as Chen Fan's killer and possessed his body.
• Chen Fan regained consciousness in Chen Jinzhong's Eighth Rank body as Li Zhong's saber slashed toward his throat.

Chen Fan, inhabiting Chen Jinzhong’s body, escaped a failed White Lotus Sect operation after Su Xin poisoned Li Zhong. He regrouped with the surviving followers and learned that Li Zhong had died from the poison.

• Chen Fan recalled that Chen Jinzhong was assigned to keep Li Zhong occupied while the White Lotus Sect attacked the prince’s residence.
• Su Xin wounded Li Zhong with a poisoned strike and ordered the surviving followers to retreat.
• Chen Fan used his movement techniques and the battle’s confusion to escape Li Zhong and reach an abandoned warehouse.
• Chen Fan met Su Xin and the wounded survivors, concealed his identity, and accepted medicine from her.
• A follower reported that Li Zhong had died from the poison and the Prince of Xiushan’s Residence had raised white mourning banners.

After Li Zhong’s death, Su Xin warned the White Lotus Sect followers about the powerful enemies still standing in their way and ordered them to infiltrate the Prince of Xiushan’s Residence. She assigned Chen Fan to gather intelligence, then reminded him that the sect held his life in its hands.

• The White Lotus Sect followers celebrated Li Zhong’s death until Su Xin silenced them and warned them about the residence’s Fifth Grade Attendant and Regional Commander Zhou Zhenxiong, a Fourth Rank expert.
• Su Xin said the sect had experts who would handle Zhou Zhenxiong and would send another Fifth Grade expert, then ordered the followers to undermine the prince’s residence from within.
• Su Xin tasked Chen Fan with gathering intelligence about the residence’s defenses, its next captain, and personnel changes.
• Chen Fan accepted the assignment and headed out of the warehouse, hiding his reluctance behind a display of loyalty.
• Su Xin stopped Chen Fan and warned him that the sect had given him his life.

Chen Fan watched the prince's residence from hiding and learned that the prince had confined the princess consort after a bitter quarrel. Zhang Cheng's drunken account left Chen Fan thinking of the woman he had once protected.

• Chen Fan changed clothes, surveyed the heavily guarded prince's residence, and decided not to risk sneaking inside for Su Xin's mission.
• Chen Fan rented a room at the Welcome Inn and spent two days studying Chen Jinzhong's martial arts memories while listening for news.
• Zhang Cheng arrived drunk and told the inn's patrons that the prince had beaten servants to death for upsetting him.
• Zhang Cheng revealed that the prince and princess consort had quarreled, after which the prince confined her to Moon-Gathering Pavilion.
• Chen Fan remembered the princess consort and drained his cold wine.

Chen Fan realized Prince Zheng Xian might be using the White Lotus Sect to kill Li Rong'er, then attended a meeting where the sect learned that the Righteous Dao Alliance had arrived in Xiushan Province. The old woman pressed Chen Fan about infiltrating the prince's residence and revealed she knew the Dragon Traversing Sect belonged to the Alliance.

• Chen Fan left the inn, suspecting Prince Zheng Xian had arranged for Li Rong'er to be killed by a White Lotus Sect assassin, but decided not to tell Su Xin.
• Chen Fan passed minor intelligence to the White Lotus Sect for several days before attending another meeting at the abandoned dock warehouse.
• An old woman revealed that the Righteous Dao Alliance had sent Fifth Grade martial artist Song Yuanxing and thirty elite disciples to hunt the sect.
• Su Xin said Chen Jinzhong had found that tight security and panic at the prince's residence created an opportunity to infiltrate it.
• The old woman challenged Chen Fan about needing more time, then pointed out that the Dragon Traversing Sect was part of the Righteous Dao Alliance.