Chapter Summaries

Ji Yuan shared a meal with a family in the capital, learned how ordinary people viewed Yin Zhaoxian, and unknowingly left their son A'bao's birthmark gone. At Yin Manor, Yin Chong practiced martial arts with Yin Qing before they spotted a mysterious Paper Bird on a roof.

• Ji Yuan ate porridge with a family and heard them express concern for Yin Zhaoxian and anger at the officials they blamed for his illness.
• Ji Yuan declined the family's umbrella when the rain stopped and left, while the family later discovered that A'bao's black birthmark had vanished.
• Yin Chong practiced his powerful fist techniques in a courtyard at Yin Manor, and Yin Qing tested his reactions by throwing pebbles at him.
• Yin Chong dodged and smashed the pebbles before spotting a Paper Bird holding a stone on a nearby roof.

Ji Yuan returned to Yin Manor and found Yin Zhaoxian feigning a grave illness to deceive the court physicians and draw his political opponents into the open. Yin Zhaoxian and Yin Qing explained that Great Zhen’s reforms had sharpened tensions with the emperor and other factions, and the chapter left them discussing the danger ahead.

• Yin Qing recognized the paper crane that had thrown pebbles at Yin Chong and sent servants to prepare for Ji Yuan’s arrival.
• Ji Yuan entered Yin Manor and reunited with Yin Qing, Yin Chong, Princess Changping, and Yin Zhaoxian.
• Ji Yuan saw that Yin Zhaoxian wore the Red Fox Mask and pretended to ask the court physician about his condition.
• After the court physician left, Ji Yuan asked Yin Zhaoxian what medicine he was selling in the gourd.
• Yin Zhaoxian and Yin Qing explained that the Yin family’s reforms had created growing conflict, the emperor’s attitude had become delicate, and their opponents had emerged believing Yin Zhaoxian was incurably ill.

Ji Yuan stayed with the Yin Family and met Crown Prince Yang Sheng, who visited his ailing teacher, Yin Zhaoxian. Emperor Yang Hao later confronted Yang Sheng about the visit and explained that a ruler had to preserve the freedom to choose and decide, even while trusting the Yin Family.

• Ji Yuan praised Yin Zhaoxian's mask and discussed Yin Chong's martial arts and military studies with the Yin Family.
• After staying at Yin Manor for half a month, Ji Yuan learned that the Crown Prince had arrived and walked toward the front courtyard with Yin Chi and Yin Dian.
• Crown Prince Yang Sheng passed Ji Yuan without recognizing him, then visited Yin Zhaoxian and asked whether Ji Yuan could help treat his illness.
• Yin Zhaoxian told Yang Sheng not to visit him, dismissed the possibility of help from the returned Celestial Master, and sent the Crown Prince away.
• Emperor Yang Hao confronted Yang Sheng about visiting Yin Zhaoxian and said that a ruler had to retain room to choose and the power to decide.

Yang Hao questioned the Crown Prince about trusting the Yin family, then visited the Directorate of Astronomy and summoned Du Changsheng to assess Yin Qing’s failing health. Du Changsheng warned that Yin Qing’s weakening life force might reflect Heaven’s Will and spoke of “Demonic Growth, Dao Decline,” leaving Yang Hao troubled.

• Yang Hao argued that the Yin family’s loyalty might not endure for generations, while the Crown Prince defended them and noted that Teacher could not live until the Crown Prince’s reign.
• Yang Hao left the Eastern Palace and traveled to the Directorate of Astronomy, where he inspected its Star Instrument and summoned Du Changsheng.
• Du Changsheng demonstrated illusions that filled Ziwei Hall with a vision of sea, stars, moon, and dawn, impressing Yang Hao with his abilities.
• Yang Hao asked Du Changsheng whether Yin Qing could be healed, and Du Changsheng said Yin Qing’s faint life force might be Heaven’s Will.
• Pressed to speak frankly, Du Changsheng described Yin Qing as a worthy minister whose death might warn of “Demonic Growth, Dao Decline,” and Yang Hao repeated the phrase in alarm.

Emperor Hongwu questioned Yan Chang about Du Changsheng’s ominous words and then ordered Du to treat the ailing Yin Zhaoxian, promising him the title of Imperial Advisor if he succeeded. Du accepted the decree despite doubting his ability, while Yang Sheng warned that a dynasty’s survival depended on its ruler and Xiao Du cautioned officials not to act against Yin while he lived.

• Emperor Hongwu dismissed Du Changsheng, questioned Yan Chang about an immortal mooncake, and warned him not to discuss the day’s events.
• Emperor Hongwu grew anxious over Du Changsheng’s words, “Demonic Growth, Dao Decline,” and ordered him to treat Yin Zhaoxian in exchange for the title of Imperial Advisor.
• Du Changsheng accepted the decree and set out for Yin Manor with his eldest disciple, privately fearing he could not cure Yin Zhaoxian.
• Yang Sheng watched Emperor Hongwu’s carriage pass and told his two confidants that a dynasty’s decline would ultimately be the ruler’s fault.
• Xiao Du told visiting officials not to act against Yin Zhaoxian or commit crimes while he remained alive.

Xiao Ling clashed with Xiao Du over another arranged marriage, while Du Changsheng examined Yin Zhaoxian and vowed to attempt to save him. As Du Changsheng left, Yin Manor’s children told him that Mister Ji wanted to see him, leaving him wondering whether it could be the Ji he suspected.

• Xiao Du told Xiao Ling he had arranged a marriage to the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Prefect of Duhong Prefecture, but Xiao Ling refused and warned that she would be left a living widow.
• Xiao Du threatened to throw out Xiao Ling’s first wife if she failed to bear an heir, and the Old Servant suggested asking Celestial Master Du to investigate why none of the Xiao family’s women had conceived.
• Xiao Ling later told the household Old Servant to let Xiao Du proceed with the marriage, then punched an iron dummy hard enough to draw blood from his knuckles.
• Du Changsheng examined Yin Zhaoxian and, seeing his frail condition, promised to return the next day and stake all his cultivation on trying to save him.
• Yin Chi and Yin Dian met Du Changsheng as he left and said Mister Ji had asked them to bring him to the guest courtyard, making Du Changsheng wonder whether this was the Ji he suspected.

Du Changsheng met Ji Yuan at Yin Manor and learned that Ji Yuan would save Yin Zhaoxian, while Ji Yuan sent the Little Paper Crane to summon Wu Chong. Summoned by Emperor Yang Hao, Du Changsheng claimed he would risk a hundred years of cultivation to save Yin Zhaoxian and left to prepare, without knowing the cost.

• A'yuan brought Du Changsheng and Wang Xiao to meet Ji Yuan, who assured Du Changsheng that Yin Zhaoxian would recover and that Du could claim credit for the rescue.
• Ji Yuan assessed Du Changsheng's cultivation, served him extraordinary tea, and dismissed him; afterward, Ji Yuan sent the Little Paper Crane to the Chunmu River with a message for Wu Chong.
• Du Changsheng returned to the Directorate of Astronomy and was summoned to the palace, where he told Emperor Yang Hao that Yin Zhaoxian was near death.
• Du Changsheng told Yang Hao he would stake a hundred years of cultivation to save Yin Zhaoxian, then left to prepare, saying he did not know what price he would pay.

Emperor Hongwu, Yang Hao, ordered full cooperation with Du Changsheng and worried that Yin Zhaoxian’s recovery was vital to Great Zhen’s stability. Meanwhile, Ji Yuan sent the Old Turtle Wu Chong to wait in the Tongtian River, where the River Patrol Yakshas recognized Ji Yuan’s edict and began escorting him.

• Yang Hao reflected on the conflict between the Yin Family and the Old Faction Officials, then ordered his servants to give Du Changsheng whatever support he needed.
• The Little Paper Crane reached the Chunmu River and delivered Ji Yuan’s message and edict to Wu Chong, who agreed to set out for Jingji Prefecture.
• Wu Chong collected jars of Thousand Day Spring and traveled southwest, using Ji Yuan’s edict to pass through waterways and receive help from local gods and spirits.
• Near Chengsu Prefecture, the Night Roaming Deities escorted Wu Chong to the Tongtian River and asked him to convey their greetings to Ji Yuan.
• River Patrol Yakshas stopped Wu Chong, verified Ji Yuan’s edict, and escorted him toward a suitable stretch of the Tongtian River outside the capital.

Du Changsheng performed a powerful ritual to save Yin Zhaoxian, while Ji Yuan quietly lent his aid by transforming the heavens over Jingji Prefecture. The ritual opened Yin Zhaoxian’s bedroom and drew spiritual wind and starlight inside, leaving his fate unresolved.

• A Yaksha Leader from Tongtian River visited Yin Manor and told the guards that Mister Wu had arrived; Ji Yuan received the message while keeping watch over the rear courtyard.
• Du Changsheng began a ritual at Yin Zhaoxian’s home, using spiritual herbs and paper talisman protectors as the Yin Family, Crown Prince Yang Sheng, and officials watched.
• Du Changsheng assigned Yang Sheng, Yin Chong, Li Jingchun, Yin Qing, Yan Chang, his disciples, and the Yin children to hold positions around Yin Zhaoxian’s bedroom.
• Du Changsheng invoked the Immortal Venerable and warned that the ritual could cost both Yin Zhaoxian and himself their lives if it failed.
• Ji Yuan created the illusion of night and aligned the stars over Jingji Prefecture, with the Star of Literature shining brightest.
• Du Changsheng opened Yin Zhaoxian’s bedroom with his spell, and spiritual wind and streams of starlight rushed inside.

Du Changsheng performed a dangerous ritual that transformed day into night and sent a river of stars through Yin Manor to save Yin Zhaoxian. The heavens returned to normal, and an Imperial Physician confirmed that Yin Zhaoxian could be saved while Du Changsheng collapsed from exhaustion.

• Du Changsheng drew down the stars with Ji Yuan's help, turning Jingji Prefecture dark and filling Yin Manor with a river of stars.
• Ji Yuan warned Du Changsheng not to lose focus, and Du Changsheng steadied himself and urged everyone to hold their positions.
• The star river swept Yin Zhaoxian's bed into the sky as Emperor Hongwu Yang Hao witnessed the celestial change from the palace.
• Yin Zhaoxian's bed returned to the ground, Du Changsheng collapsed, and daylight gradually returned.
• An Imperial Physician examined Yin Zhaoxian and declared that his pulse was steady and he could be saved.

Du Changsheng used the borrowed power to save Yin Zhaoxian, leaving himself gravely ill as the imperial physicians treated them both. Emperor Hongwu learned what happened and ordered updates, while Xiao Du heard rumors that Yin Zhaoxian had survived and feared the political consequences.

• The imperial physicians reported that Yin Zhaoxian was stabilizing while Du Changsheng was near death, and Yin Qing and Yan Chang praised Du for risking his life to save the minister.
• Li Jingchun left Yin Manor and glimpsed Mister in Green Robe silently contemplating a chessboard before returning to the palace.
• Li Jingchun told Emperor Hongwu about the celestial change, Yin Zhaoxian's recovery, and Du Changsheng's dangerous condition, and the emperor ordered him to monitor Yin Manor.
• The City God suggested Mister Ji might still be in Jingji Prefecture, leading the gathered gods to suspect he was connected to the celestial disturbance.
• Xiao Du learned that rumors claimed Yin Zhaoxian had been saved and feared what his recovery would mean.

Xiao Du learned that Yin Zhaoxian’s condition had improved after the celestial change and realized the emperor knew more than he did. Meanwhile, Ji Yuan drew a wisp of Wu Chong’s spiritual sense out to travel with him toward Jingji Prefecture and visit the Xiao family’s descendants.

• Xiao Du went to the palace to ask Emperor Hongwu about the sudden change from day to night and the rumored river of stars.
• Emperor Hongwu told Xiao Du that the celestial phenomenon had improved Yin Zhaoxian’s condition and that the Directorate of Astronomy was investigating it.
• Xiao Du concealed his shock, left the Imperial Study, and suspected that the emperor already knew the Yin family had a master helping them.
• Ji Yuan appeared to Wu Chong in the Tongtian River and guided him to cultivate through the sense of Free and Easy Wandering.
• Ji Yuan took a wisp of Wu Chong’s spiritual sense and led him out of the river toward Jingji Prefecture to meet the Xiao family’s descendants.

Xiao Du and Xiao Ling dreamed of Xiao Jing failing to repay Old Turtle for a windfall and being ordered to bring Lights of a Hundred Families. They later watched officials set blood-stained candles from the homes of executed ministers afloat on the river.

• Xiao Ling lay awake considering Yin Zhaoxian’s recovery and the conflict between the Yin Family’s reforms and the Xiao clan’s interests, while Xiao Du also struggled to sleep.
• Xiao Du and Xiao Ling dreamed that Xiao Jing poured wine into a river to summon Old Turtle and admitted he had not gathered the promised Lights of a Hundred Families.
• Old Turtle rebuked Xiao Jing for breaking his word and seeking help to become an official, then told him to gather the lights before they could settle their debt.
• Xiao Du and Xiao Ling watched about twenty official runners arrive at the river with candles taken from the homes of executed ministers.
• The runners lit and released more than three hundred candles, whose flames drifted downriver and appeared stained with blood.

Xiao Du and Xiao Ling shared a nightmare revealing how their ancestor Xiao Jing betrayed the old turtle, and they feared the vision foretold trouble for the Xiao family. Ji Yuan urged the old turtle to settle his resentment in his own way, while Du Changsheng awoke and learned that Minister Yin was recovering.

• Xiao Du and Xiao Ling dreamed of Xiao Jing offering blood-stained flower lanterns to the old turtle, who was struck by heavenly lightning and cursed him.
• Xiao Du and Xiao Ling woke and realized they had shared the same dream; Xiao Du identified Xiao Jing as an ancestor and recalled the family warning to avoid the Chunmu River.
• Ji Yuan told the old turtle that he could resolve his karmic bond with the Xiao family as he saw fit, then left him to decide.
• Du Changsheng woke in Yin Manor and learned from the imperial physician that his efforts had helped Minister Yin recover.

After recovering, Du Changsheng sought Ji Yuan but was summoned by Emperor Hongwu, who appointed him Great Zhen’s first Imperial Advisor. At the Grand Court Assembly, Du Changsheng noticed ominous qi around several ministers, especially an old minister.

• Du Changsheng learned that his three disciples had awakened, checked his own pulse, and left to visit Ji Yuan.
• Du Changsheng waited outside Ji Yuan’s courtyard, then went to the palace after A'yuan delivered Emperor Hongwu’s summons.
• Du Changsheng told Emperor Hongwu that the life-extending art could not be freely used and that he could not summon the Immortal Venerable.
• Emperor Hongwu promised Du Changsheng the Imperial Advisor position and arranged for him to attend the Grand Court Assembly.
• Emperor Hongwu appointed Du Changsheng Great Zhen’s first Imperial Advisor at Subordinate Fifth Rank, and Du Changsheng saw black and blood-red qi around several ministers.

After becoming Imperial Advisor, Du Changsheng investigated Xiao Du’s fear that his family was cursed and discovered that Xiao Ling had suffered divine punishment for offending Lady Ying of the Tongtian River. He agreed to hear the full story before deciding what to do, intending to seek Ji Yuan’s advice.

• After court, Xiao Du visited Du Changsheng at the Directorate of Astronomy and asked him to investigate the evil threatening the Xiao family.
• Du Changsheng used Dharma Eye Observation and saw signs of an old entanglement connected to countless candle flames, so he accompanied Xiao Du to Xiao Manor.
• After searching the manor, Du Changsheng found no evil spirits there and examined Xiao Ling when he arrived.
• Du Changsheng determined that Xiao Ling’s injuries were divine punishment, caused by a god’s technique, and demanded that the family reveal what they had concealed.
• Xiao Ling admitted that he had offended Lady Ying of the Tongtian River, and Du Changsheng asked to hear the full account before deciding whether to help.

Du Changsheng learned from the Xiao family about their ancestral crimes and Xiao Ling’s history with Ying Ruoli, then reported what he had heard to Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan brought him to meet Wu Chong and Ying Ruoli at the Tongtian River, leaving Du Changsheng to decide how to handle their grievances with the Xiao family.

• Xiao Du told Du Changsheng that the Xiao ancestors had cast executed ministers’ candle flames into the Chunmu River, and Xiao Ling recounted how he had angered Ying Ruoli.
• Du Changsheng warned the Xiao family to keep the matter secret, then went to Yin Manor and told Ji Yuan what he had learned.
• Ji Yuan asked Du Changsheng to meet the other parties involved and traveled with him to the Tongtian River.
• Wu Chong emerged from the river, and Ying Ruoli arrived soon afterward to greet Ji Yuan.
• Ying Ruoli admitted that she had left Xiao Ling infertile as a safeguard after sparing him, and Ji Yuan told Du Changsheng to speak with the two parties himself.

Du Changsheng relayed Old Turtle Wu Chong’s demand that Xiao Du and Xiao Ling kowtow three hundred times and accept one condition in exchange for his restraint. He warned them that complying was the Xiao family’s only chance, leaving the father and son to face the choice.

• Ying Ruoli dismissed Du Changsheng’s attempt to intervene, while Old Turtle Wu Chong explained that he would not kill the Xiao family himself but demanded that Xiao Du and Xiao Ling kowtow three hundred times and accept one condition.
• Du Changsheng promised to relay Wu Chong’s demand and hurried to Xiao Manor, while Ji Yuan, Ying Ruoli, and Wu Chong waited by the river.
• Du Changsheng told Xiao Du and Xiao Ling about Wu Chong’s demand and showed them an illusion of the turtle’s terrifying warning.
• Xiao Du questioned whether the demand was a trap, but Du Changsheng insisted that accepting it was the Xiao clan’s only chance and that the capital could not protect them if they refused.

Du Changsheng led the Xiao family to the Tongtian River to appease Old Turtle Wu Chong, while warning them not to mention Xiao Ling’s damaged foundation to the River Goddess. Old Turtle spared the family but demanded they give up official careers and gather a hundred household lights for him, then vanished into the river.

• Du Changsheng warned Xiao Du and Xiao Ling not to mention Xiao Ling’s condition to the River Goddess, and Xiao Ling agreed to prepare offerings for Old Turtle and the River Goddess.
• The Xiao family prepared ritual offerings and departed for the Tongtian River with Du Changsheng and his three disciples, while Li Jingchun watched from nearby.
• Ying Ruoli summoned a violent storm as the Xiao family convoy neared the secluded riverbank where Ji Yuan and the Dragon Daughter waited.
• Old Turtle Wu Chong emerged from a whirlpool and made the Xiao family father, son, and servants kowtow more than three hundred times.
• Old Turtle declared that he would not kill them, but forbade the Xiao family from becoming officials and demanded the Lights of a Hundred Families from kind and virtuous households.
• A huge wave knocked the Xiao family backward, and Old Turtle disappeared from the river.

After Old Turtle vanished, Xiao Du resigned from office to honor the agreement and protect his family, and Emperor Hongwu approved his request. As the Xiao family prepared to leave the capital for Ji Prefecture, Yin Chong set out to escort them secretly and help if they faced danger.

• Xiao Du and Xiao Ling returned from the river, where Xiao Du resolved to gather the Lights of a Hundred Families and withdraw the Xiao clan from official service.
• Du Changsheng spoke with Ji Yuan and the Dragon Daughter after the Xiao family left, and the Dragon Daughter calmed the storm before both departed.
• Despite falling ill, Xiao Du wrote a resignation memorial, and Emperor Hongwu approved it without delay.
• Xiao Du's resignation stirred rumors and political maneuvering in the capital, while Yin Zhaoxian recovered and returned to court.
• Yin Qing explained why the Xiao family planned to leave the capital, and Yin Zhaoxian agreed they had little choice.
• Yin Chong left to follow the Xiao family in secret and protect them on their journey to Ji Prefecture.