Recaps

Ye Xingge listened as Hongyu outlined a plan to obtain the Fate-Robbing Saber and use Great Yan’s support to advance rapidly, possibly reaching First Rank. He agreed the gamble had potential, while Hongyu promised to guard his path, and they ended their discussion over hotpot.

• Hongyu told Ye Xingge to begin cultivating and described her original timetable for him to reach First Rank within six months.
• Hongyu explained that the Mountains and Rivers Association could find the Gold-Chasing Gentleman and help Ye Xingge obtain the Fate-Robbing Saber, but Ye Xingge worried that wielding it would expose him to the jianghu and the court.
• Hongyu revealed that Great Yan could back Ye Xingge’s cultivation so he could surpass Wu Chenglie and help the empire undermine Later Zhou.
• Ye Xingge realized that carrying both the Heaven-Obscuring Arm and the Fate-Robbing Saber would conceal his rapid growth, and Hongyu said he could return to the Mountains and Rivers Association if the plan failed.
• Hongyu promised to protect Ye Xingge and his family, then continued eating as Ye Xingge offered to pay for more hotpot.

Ye Xingge traveled with Luo Xuanqing to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion to receive a reward for his service and learn about his new post. While waiting for her inside the compound, he wandered into an unmentioned office called the Armaments Bureau and got himself into trouble.

• Luo Xuanqing told Ye Xingge that Mantanghong had been reported at Wangnan Ferry, so they would return to the capital rather than pursue her.
• Ye Xingge agreed to try the post Luo Xuanqing offered him, and she reminded him to address her as “my lord” in public.
• Ye Xingge traveled with Luo Xuanqing and the embroidered-robed officers to Yong Capital, where they entered the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.
• Luo Xuanqing explained the Pavilion's four bureaus and went to request a reward for Ye Xingge's service.
• Ye Xingge wandered into a quiet alley, found a door marked “Armaments Bureau,” and poked his head inside, immediately getting into trouble.

Ye Xingge entered the Heaven-Observing Pavilion and met Shen Yueyao and the Lady of Anyang, An Yurou, who recognized him from the previous night but concealed it. After he left, An Yurou ordered Hou Chou'er to find out what arrangements the Pavilion would make for him.

• Ye Xingge wandered into the Pavilion's main hall and introduced himself to Shen Yueyao and An Yurou.
• Shen Yueyao told Ye Xingge to address her by her official position, then praised his deeds and the Night-Wandering God moniker.
• An Yurou asked about Ye Xingge's injuries and examined the bandage on his arm while hiding that she recognized him as the man from the alley.
• Ye Xingge took his leave, and Shen Yueyao asked An Yurou whether her father had sent him to the Pavilion.
• An Yurou told Hou Chou'er to check Ye Xingge's arrangements and said the court likely had no firm news about the Gold-Chasing Gentleman.

Ye Xingge waited for Luo Xuanqing while the Heaven-Observing Pavilion investigated his background and debated recruiting him. The investigation cleared him, but Ruan Jinyu argued that Ye Xingge must return his earlier rewards if he wanted an immediate promotion, leaving his appointment unresolved.

• Hongyu urged Ye Xingge to win over Eldest Miss An and use her influence in the capital, while Ye Xingge waited for Luo Xuanqing to emerge.
• Zhang Zhiqing and Yan Tong examined Ruan Jinyu's dossier on Ye Xingge and found his background clean despite Ruan's claim that he might be an old monster in another body.
• Luo Xuanqing confronted Ruan Jinyu for trying to cast suspicion on Ye Xingge, but Mei Wuchang confirmed that the investigation had uncovered no evidence against him.
• Wu Yi ruled that Ye Xingge could join the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, and Luo Xuanqing proposed promoting him directly to Night-Walking Lieutenant.
• Ruan Jinyu argued that Ye Xingge had already been rewarded for his earlier service and must return his famed weapon and silver to receive the immediate promotion; Wu Yi agreed with the rule against rewarding one merit twice.

Luo Xuanqing argued that Ye Xingge deserved an exceptional promotion, but the commanders set an assessment requiring him to capture three wanted criminals alone. Ye Xingge unexpectedly committed to completing it in three days and immediately set out, leaving Luo Xuanqing furious as the incense timer began.

• Luo Xuanqing demanded that Ye Xingge be promoted to at least Embroidered-Robe Commandant, while Ruan Jinyu insisted the rules had to be followed.
• Ruan Jinyu proposed that Ye Xingge rise one rank for each wanted criminal he captured alone, and the commanders debated the assessment's deadline.
• Wu Yi asked Ye Xingge how long he needed; after Luo Xuanqing signaled three and Hongyu offered leads, Ye Xingge answered that he could finish in three days.
• Ruan Jinyu accepted Ye Xingge's deadline, lit the timing incense, and ordered him to return before three sticks burned down.
• Ye Xingge said he would leave immediately, and Luo Xuanqing angrily pulled him out of the hall as Ruan Jinyu wished them luck.

Ye Xingge began a three-day assessment to catch wanted criminals alone, while Luo Xuanqing worried that his overconfidence would put him in danger. She equipped him with supplies and a token, and he left to search the rainy city as she stayed behind to watch how the night went.

• Luo Xuanqing scolded Ye Xingge for mistaking her signal and promising to catch criminals in three days, then agreed he could use relay stations to search beyond Yongzhou Prefecture.
• Zhang Zhiqing and Old Master Yan watched Ye Xingge and Luo Xuanqing leave, and Zhang Zhiqing said Ye Xingge still had a chance to turn the situation around.
• At Luo Xuanqing's house, she examined Ye Xingge's healing wound, explained the limits of carrying multiple named weapons, and gave him medicine and a waist token for relay stations and case archives.
• Luo Xuanqing warned Ye Xingge to be careful and teased him about returning with a criminal; he took his saber and umbrella and went out into the rain to investigate.
• Luo Xuanqing considered secretly following Ye Xingge but stayed behind because the assessment rules could invalidate his results if she interfered.

Ye Xingge headed toward Return to Righteousness Ward to draw out the Return to Origin Cult and begin the Heaven-Observing Pavilion examination. At Wujian Inn, his parents worried about his new path and the family’s concealed martial arts, while his father and uncle fretted over the inn’s prospects.

• Ye Xingge saw his family preparing Wujian Inn for its opening but left without visiting to avoid his parents’ questions about his dangerous work for the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.
• Great Beauty told Ye Xingge that Winnowing Basket Water Leopard had arrived in the capital and was at a theater in Return to Righteousness Ward, with leads linking him to Tail Fire Tiger and Gold-Chasing Gentleman.
• Ye Xingge planned to reveal that he carried a valuable weapon to lure out the Return to Origin Cult and headed toward Return to Righteousness Ward.
• Liu Ping'er scolded Ye Yuanshan over Ye Xingge’s risky choices while Ye Gucheng helped prepare the inn.
• Ye Yuanshan explained that he and Ye Gucheng had secretly learned the Dragon Flower Cult’s Twelve Stances Art, and the brothers discussed concealing their skills and the risk that Ye Xingge’s reputation would hurt the inn’s business.

Ye Xingge used the Heaven-Obscuring Arm as bait to trace a pawnshop informant to a gathering of the Return to Origin Cult. After learning that Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and the cult’s wanted Twenty-Eight Stars might be inside, Ye Xingge approached the theater to investigate and consider attacking them for his assessment.

• An Yurou and Hou Chou'er watched Ye Xingge flaunt the Heaven-Obscuring Arm and suspected he was luring thieves into targeting him.
• Ye Xingge offered the arm to a pawnshop owner, who recognized him and tried to buy it cheaply before slipping away to report his presence.
• The pawnshop owner told Winnowing Basket Water Leopard that Ye Xingge was alone, wounded, and carrying the famed weapon, prompting the cultists to consider robbing him.
• Winnowing Basket Water Leopard warned his followers against acting rashly, then offered them a share if he handled the target himself.
• Hongyu and Ye Xingge discussed the suspicious shopkeeper and learned he had gone to the theater to report to Winnowing Basket Water Leopard.
• Ye Xingge followed the shopkeeper to the theater, learned that the cult’s Twenty-Eight Stars were wanted criminals, and climbed the wall to scout inside.

Ye Xingge tracked Winnowing Basket Water Leopard to a theater, where he found more than thirty cultists and fought through them to reach his target. He cornered Winnowing Basket Water Leopard, but a large force from the Inspection Bureau surrounded the theater, threatening to interfere with Ye Xingge’s solo arrest assessment.

• Ye Xingge broke into the theater and discovered more than thirty Return to Origin Cult members hiding in the rear hall with Winnowing Basket Water Leopard.
• The cultists emerged and surrounded Ye Xingge, who warned them to stay out of his way as he pursued their leader.
• When a cultist attacked, Ye Xingge killed him brutally, terrifying the others and causing them to flee.
• Winnowing Basket Water Leopard tried to escape through a window, but Ye Xingge pursued him before noticing armed officers positioned around the grounds.
• A lightning flash revealed more than two hundred Inspection Bureau officers surrounding the theater, and Ye Xingge identified himself and objected that their interference would invalidate his solo assessment.

Ruan Jinyu sealed Ye Xingge inside the opera garden with Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and his followers, forcing him to fight alone if he wanted the achievement. Ye Xingge charged into the burning opera house and cut down many bandits, while Winnowing Basket Water Leopard prepared a powder attack.

• Ruan Jinyu blocked the opera garden and told Ye Xingge that calling for help would cost him the solo achievement.
• An Yurou watched the blockade and sent word for the Judicial Review Bureau to intervene, while deciding Ye Xingge might be recruited later.
• Ye Xingge entered the opera house alone and faced Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and more than thirty followers.
• Ye Xingge killed or crippled many attackers with his saber and close-combat strikes, breaking the followers' fighting spirit.
• Winnowing Basket Water Leopard used two followers as cover and released a cloud of white powder from his sleeve.

Ye Xingge fought Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and his followers inside a burning theater, overcoming a lime attack and defeating the gang leader. He dragged Winnowing Basket Water Leopard outside and searched him for clues to Tail Fire Tiger’s whereabouts as the embroidered-robed officers watched in shock.

• Ye Xingge avoided Winnowing Basket Water Leopard’s lime attack but was struck and forced to retreat into the theater’s inner hall.
• Ye Xingge used a bracer to repel Winnowing Basket Water Leopard’s overhead strike, shattered his mask, and cut down the followers who pursued him.
• Ye Xingge chased Winnowing Basket Water Leopard through the burning theater and demanded to know where Tail Fire Tiger was.
• Winnowing Basket Water Leopard launched a desperate series of attacks, but Ye Xingge endured them, disarmed him, and subdued him with repeated elbows.
• Ye Xingge dragged Winnowing Basket Water Leopard into the rain, took his waist token, and left more than two hundred embroidered-robed officers stunned.
• Chen Xiaobao asked Ruan Jinyu what they should do after Ye Xingge’s display.

Ye Xingge slaughtered Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and the cultists at the opera house, then learned how to use the Dragon Winnowing Basket Tally to lure Tail Fire Tiger into a trap. After sending a message arranging a meeting at Forgetful River Mouth, he headed through the rain toward Yingtian Ward instead of visiting his family.

• Ye Xingge killed Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and the surviving cultists while hundreds of embroidered-robed officers watched.
• Ruan Jinyu praised Ye Xingge's ruthlessness, but Ye Xingge refused treatment and left the opera house.
• Hou Chou'er, Chen Dahai, and An Yurou discussed Ye Xingge's potential and whether the Later Zhou could recruit him.
• Hongyu explained that Ye Xingge could use the Dragon Winnowing Basket Tally to contact Tail Fire Tiger and lure him out.
• Ye Xingge sent a message arranging to meet Tail Fire Tiger at Forgetful River Mouth at the hour of Xu the next day.
• Ye Xingge decided not to visit his family while covered in blood and continued through the rain toward Yingtian Ward.

Ye Xingge returned from an assignment badly injured but having captured Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and defeated more than thirty Return to Origin Cult lackeys. Luo Xuanqing treated him in her bedroom and agreed to confront Ruan Jinyu the next day, while Ye Xingge rested briefly before pursuing the remaining assessment targets.

• Luo Xuanqing woke when Ye Xingge came into the courtyard and found him washing his bloodied face outside.
• Ye Xingge told Luo Xuanqing that he had captured Winnowing Basket Water Leopard and cut down more than thirty Return to Origin Cult lackeys.
• Luo Xuanqing became furious over Ruan Jinyu's actions and tried to take the Black Banner Saber to confront him.
• Ye Xingge stopped Luo Xuanqing by pretending his wound had worsened, and she agreed to treat him before dealing with Ruan Jinyu the next day.
• Luo Xuanqing cleaned Ye Xingge's injuries in her bedroom and warned him not to risk his life, while he said two assessment targets remained.

Ye Xingge recovered from his wound while Luo Xuanqing treated him, but an accidental glimpse of her exposed neckline left her embarrassed and angry. He and Hongyu then contacted the Return to Origin Cult and prepared to travel the next day, though Hongyu’s confidence in her plans did little to reassure him.

• Luo Xuanqing treated Ye Xingge’s eyes and side wound, then caught him staring at her neckline and left in embarrassment after telling him to call her Lord Luo or Aunt Luo.
• Hongyu appeared and questioned Ye Xingge about why Luo Xuanqing had run off, then warned him that they needed to set out soon.
• Ye Xingge used the jade token to contact the Return to Origin Cult, which replied that it had received his message about Mantanghong and the Filth-Severing Whip.
• Hongyu said she would travel with Ye Xingge the next day and help plan despite having not recovered her cultivation.
• Hongyu gave Ye Xingge a heart-disordering pill before turning away, while he tried to calm his nerves about the coming journey.

Luo Xuanqing struggled with her embarrassment after Ye Xingge saw her undressed, then helped equip him for his mission to ambush Tail Fire Tiger. Ye Xingge rode toward Forgetful River Mouth, where Hongyu was waiting, but was stopped by jianghu men as he approached.

• Luo Xuanqing divined that Ye Xingge might bring her baleful romantic misfortune, but decided she could not send away her useful subordinate.
• Ye Xingge woke before dawn, dressed in the clothes Luo Xuanqing had prepared, and told her he planned to ambush Tail Fire Tiger at Forgetful River Mouth.
• Luo Xuanqing cooked noodles with Ye Xingge, warned him not to face Tail Fire Tiger alone, and corrected him when he called her Sister Luo.
• Luo Xuanqing signed for an express horse and equipped Ye Xingge with armor, weapons, and official insignia before he set out.
• Ye Xingge rode toward Jingzhou and contacted Hongyu, who said she had reached Forgetful River Inn and would give him a massage.
• As Ye Xingge neared Forgetful River Mouth, jianghu men stopped him.

Ye Xingge reached Lake Mouth Town with the Divine Arm Crossbow and met Hongyu to plan an ambush for Tail Fire Tiger and the Gold-Chasing Gentleman. After testing the crossbow and recovering from his ride, he let Hongyu give him a rough but effective massage as they prepared for the operation.

• Ye Xingge paid Black Dragon Island's road toll and rode on to Lake Mouth Town, where he heard that news of Yang Tuyan's attempt to kill the emperor had spread.
• Ye Xingge met Hongyu at the Forgetful River Inn, and she assembled the Divine Arm Crossbow while he cleaned up.
• Hongyu explained her plan to lure Tail Fire Tiger to an abandoned shipyard and use him to uncover the Gold-Chasing Gentleman or other Return to Origin Cult members.
• Ye Xingge agreed the plan was sound, and Hongyu assured him she could keep watch while he ambushed their targets.
• Hongyu used dragon-spine grasping to massage Ye Xingge's back, leaving him startled but feeling much better.

Li Yi arranged another stakeout for Gold-Chasing Gentleman while Black Dragon Island’s Jiang Jinjiang considered a political alliance offered by Huang Guan. At an abandoned boatyard, Ye Xingge and Hongyu prepared to ambush the arriving men, but Ye Xingge recognized their conversation as being about Gold-Chasing Gentleman.

• Li Yi prepared resources and summoned his superiors to stake out Gold-Chasing Gentleman while attending Black Dragon Island’s banquet.
• Huang Guan offered Jiang Jinjiang control of the new ferry port at Cang River Bay and asked him to find a deathsworn before revealing his master’s identity.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu hid at an abandoned boatyard near Forgetful River Mouth to ambush five men arriving by ferry.
• Hongyu identified the masked leader as Tail Fire Tiger and said the group should be easy to defeat.
• Ye Xingge heard the men discussing their repeated failure to catch Gold-Chasing Gentleman and lowered his raised Qi.

Ye Xingge and Hongyu ambushed Li Yi and his companions at the lakeshore, killing all five before escaping by boat toward the Dark Goods Wharf. When Qian Zhong discovered that Li Yi had been killed, he ordered Forgetful River Mouth sealed off and searched, while disguising the killers as bandits.

• Li Yi met his subordinates at the abandoned shipyard and planned to watch for Gold-Chasing Gentleman while the goods were moved at the Dark Goods Wharf.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu attacked the group with a smoke bomb and a Divine Arm Crossbow, and Ye Xingge pursued and killed Li Yi despite the Gang-Shaking Ring’s blast.
• Hongyu killed the three remaining cultists with crossbow bolts, and she and Ye Xingge searched the bodies before escaping by boat.
• Qian Zhong arrived at the lakeshore, learned that the dead man was Incense Master Li Yi, and ordered his men to seal off Forgetful River Mouth and search for the killers.
• Qian Zhong told his disciples to report that bandits had killed Li Yi rather than identify the killers as officers of the imperial court.

After Black Dragon Island’s summons disrupted Ye Xingge and Hongyu’s hunt, Ye Xingge used the Return to Origin Cult’s communication token to propose a trap for Gold-Chasing Gentleman. Heart Moon Fox and Duan Lianshan received his message confirming Tail Fire Tiger was dead and offering to cooperate.

• Ye Xingge and Hongyu realized Black Dragon Island had summoned its forces because they had left Tail Fire Tiger’s identifying evidence with his corpse.
• Ye Xingge suggested using the Return to Origin Cult’s token to make Gold-Chasing Gentleman believe the cult had a lead on the Filth-Severing Whip.
• Hongyu agreed to help lure Gold-Chasing Gentleman and took Ye Xingge toward Green Snail Island, where they could prepare an escape route.
• He Lin told Duan Lianshan that the disturbance at Lake Mouth Town would likely keep Gold-Chasing Gentleman away that night.
• He Lin checked his jade talisman and read Ye Xingge’s message saying Huzi was dead and asking whether they wanted to work together to lure Gold-Chasing Gentleman.

Ye Xingge persuaded the Return to Origin Cult’s Duan Lianshan and He Lin to help lure the Gold-Chasing Gentleman to Green Snail Island by pretending to possess the Filth-Severing Whip. He and Hongyu then took positions on the island to wait for the plan to unfold.

• Duan Lianshan and He Lin learned that Ye Xingge had killed Tiger and Leopard, then received his proposal to cooperate against the Gold-Chasing Gentleman.
• Ye Xingge explained how the Return to Origin Cult could plant a false clue that he had the Filth-Severing Whip, using his Heaven-Obscuring Arm to make the Gold-Chasing Gentleman believe it.
• Duan Lianshan and He Lin decided to prepare the clue and scout Green Snail Island, where they planned to ambush the Gold-Chasing Gentleman.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu crossed the dark island and chose a high, concealed position from which to watch the surrounding terrain.
• Hongyu kept lookout with the Divine Arm Crossbow while Ye Xingge concealed the Filth-Severing Whip at his waist and waited, wary that the Gold-Chasing Gentleman might arrive first wearing the Dust-Returning Robe.

Duan Lianshan and He Lin cooperated with Ye Xingge on Green Snail Island to lure the Gold-Chasing Gentleman into a trap, while Hongyu watched from hiding. The Gold-Chasing Gentleman found a burned letter pointing him toward Green Snail Island, learned Incense Master Fox had gone there, and killed a cultist before setting out.

• Duan Lianshan inspected Green Snail Island, then joined He Lin and three followers in cautiously searching its western slope while Ye Xingge posed as bait.
• Hongyu watched the search and warned Ye Xingge that Duan Lianshan and He Lin were both Third Rank fighters.
• At an inn, the Gold-Chasing Gentleman used smoke to incapacitate two Return to Origin Cult followers and searched their belongings and room.
• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman deciphered a burned letter mentioning Ye Xingge, the Filth-Severing Whip, and Incense Master Leopard's death.
• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman forced a cultist to reveal that Incense Master Fox had led a team to Green Snail Island, then broke the cultist's neck.

The Gold-Chasing Gentleman investigated Green Snail Island and found Ye Xingge apparently carrying the Filth-Severing Whip, so he crept toward him to confirm it. Hongyu tracked his approach and warned Ye Xingge, who remained in place as bait while the thief closed in.

• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman searched Green Snail Island and spotted five Return to Origin Cult members combing the woods, along with a figure hiding behind a boulder.
• He used the Gold-Chasing Bell and recognized Ye Xingge by his weapons and equipment, then noticed a whip beneath his robe that might be the Filth-Severing Whip.
• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman decided to approach Ye Xingge and search him, hoping to confirm whether he owned the divine weapon.
• Hongyu spotted the invisible Gold-Chasing Gentleman and quietly told Ye Xingge where he was and how he was advancing.
• Ye Xingge stayed behind the boulder as bait while the Gold-Chasing Gentleman crept within ten meters, preparing a silent attack.

Ye Xingge ambushed and mortally wounded the Gold-Chasing Gentleman, while Hongyu held off the Return to Origin Cult fighters. The Gold-Chasing Gentleman refused to die quietly and drew on the Fate-Robbing Saber’s power for a final attack.

• Hongyu’s countdown prompted Ye Xingge to charge the Gold-Chasing Gentleman, stab him with the Ravine-Leaping Tiger, and slash him with the Black Banner Saber.
• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman recognized the Filth-Severing Whip and Ravine-Leaping Tiger, then wrongly suspected Ye Xingge of being a Western Shu spy.
• Ye Xingge signaled for the others to go and charged the wounded Gold-Chasing Gentleman again as Hongyu fired bolts and threw explosives to keep Duan Lianshan, He Lin, and the other fighters back.
• The Gold-Chasing Gentleman clamped his chest wound shut and activated Blood Courses Through the Eight Meridians, gathering his remaining life force into his crimson saber.

Ye Xingge killed Gold-Chasing Gentleman and took the Fate-Robbing Saber, then fled Green Snail Island underwater with Hongyu. Their escape drew Black Dragon Island’s forces toward Duan Lianshan and his group, who became trapped by the island-wide pursuit.

• Ye Xingge broke Gold-Chasing Gentleman’s arm, crushed his chest, and killed him with the Fate-Robbing Saber.
• The Fate-Robbing Saber’s Devour Ten Thousand Powers strengthened Ye Xingge after the kill, and he searched Gold-Chasing Gentleman’s body for five items.
• Hongyu joined Ye Xingge, used the cloak to conceal them, and fled with him toward the lake as Duan Lianshan and the others reached the ridge.
• Ye Xingge launched an illumination tube before diving into the lake, revealing the pursuers and drawing Jiang Jinjiang’s forces toward Green Snail Island.
• Jiang Jinjiang ordered the gangs to intercept the fleeing group, while Duan Lianshan and his companions realized they were surrounded and tried to contact their superiors.

Ye Xingge and Hongyu escaped Green Snail Island underwater using the Water-Repelling Pearl and the concealing robe, but Black Dragon Island’s search teams spread revealing powder and drag nets across the lake. As the pair tried to evade the search, Ye Xingge hooked them to a fast boat, and its crew began investigating the change in speed.

• Ye Xingge used the Water-Repelling Pearl and a bamboo tube to help Hongyu breathe underwater, then led her away from Green Snail Island beneath the concealing robe.
• Qian Zhong identified Gold-Chasing Gentleman’s corpse and ordered revealing powder and drag nets used to search the surrounding lake.
• Huang Guan recognized the Black Banner Saber and left with his attendant before the Eight Great Sects and Heaven-Observing Pavilion arrived.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu crawled along the lakebed beneath the boats, avoiding the searchers and their poles.
• When revealing powder and drag nets blocked their route, Ye Xingge hooked himself and Hongyu to the bottom of a fast boat with the White Tiger dagger.
• The boat’s crew noticed the change in its speed and prepared to inspect its hull.