Arc 3Chapters 51–75
No recap yet.
No recap yet.
Ye Xingge and Hongyu escaped the hunters around Forgetful River Mouth by hiding beneath a ship and then clinging to a government grain vessel bound down the Cang River. In Yong Capital, Luo Xuanqing heard the forbidden bell and rushed to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, where Mei Wuchang had also arrived.
Wu Yi learned that Ye Xingge had killed Gold-Chasing Gentleman and was trapped amid a gathering of martial factions, so Luo Xuanqing and the other commanders rode to Forgetful River Mouth to restore order and recover the Fate-Robbing Saber. Meanwhile, Ye Xingge and Hongyu escaped aboard a transport vessel, where he discovered the saber had acknowledged him and tested its ability to change shape.
Ye Xingge learned how the Fate-Robbing Saber could accelerate his cultivation and examined the Gold-Chasing Gentleman's famed weapons with Hongyu. As they rested aboard a grain boat, a Great Yan fleet passed them heading toward Black Dragon Island.
The Heaven-Observing Pavilion’s commanders confronted Jiang Jinjiang over the missing Ye Xingge and the Fate-Robbing Saber, but Chu Hannu secured Black Dragon Island one night to investigate. Meanwhile, Ye Xingge woke aboard a grain transport boat with Hongyu and prepared to leave for Yong Capital.
Ye Xingge returned to Yong Capital ahead of schedule and found the Heaven-Observing Pavilion apparently deserted. Inside, he surprised Zhang Zhiqing, Wu Yi, An Yurou, and Shen Yueyao, who had believed he was lost or captured, by revealing that he had escaped with the Dust-Returning Robe and the Fate-Robbing Saber.
Ye Xingge returned to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion with the Fate-Robbing Saber and explained how he had joined forces with the Return to Origin Cult to kill the Gold-Chasing Gentleman. As Zhang Zhiqing sent word to stop the rescuers from attacking Black Dragon Island, An Yurou took Ye Xingge to get his wounds treated, and the No-Strategy Bow fired across the rainy sky.
After a night of fruitless searching for Ye Xingge, a thunderous arrow from Duke Zhang revealed that Ye had returned the Fate-Robbing Saber and that the Return to Origin Cult—not Black Dragon Island—had caused the disturbance. As the officials withdrew, Jiang Jinjiang ordered an anonymous bounty on Ye Xingge to preserve Black Dragon Island’s reputation.
Ye Xingge recovered at An Yurou’s residence while Sun Wang discovered his meridians had changed because of the Fate-Robbing Saber’s divine effect. In the basement, An Yurou’s aides discussed ways to recruit him and settled on winning him over with Chen Dahai’s cooking.
Ye Xingge settled into a residence in Peach Blossom Lane after the Lady of Anyang welcomed him and Shen Yueyao lent him a strange mechanical tassel. He then rode to Azure Dragon Ward to see his family, whose anxious wait ended when they heard his horse approaching.
Ye Xingge returned to the capital with the Fate-Robbing Saber and other spoils, then reunited with his family and warned them to stay safe. Meanwhile, He Lin arrived outside the capital seeking revenge, but Duan Lianshan warned him not to confront Ye Xingge alone.
Ye Xingge received news of a bounty on his life and a local murder case, while Luo Xuanqing learned he had returned unharmed and the court discussed how to develop him. The chapter ended with Eunuch Fan asking whether the Heaven-Observing Pavilion could help Ye Xingge advance before the year-end grand examination.
The court debated whether Ye Xingge could reach First Rank in six months and earn greater support to challenge Wu Chenglie, while Ye prepared for the coming assassins. He then took up a complaint against a Cao Clan retainer whose murder of a waiter had been covered up, and learned that evidence could expose the witnesses’ bribes.
Ye Xingge stormed into the Jade Immortal House and attacked Dong Baoquan with his scarlet saber, while Chen Xiaobao mistook him for a threat and tried to blame Ruan Jinyu. Ye Xingge impaled Dong Baoquan through the chest and pinned him to the hall’s wall, leaving the house silent.
Ye Xingge executed Dong Baoquan under the Heaven-Observing Pavilion’s imperial authorization and left Chen Xiaobao to investigate the case. Across the street, Hongyu spotted a suspicious man resembling He Lin of the Mysterious Armament Pavilion and warned Ye Xingge that trouble was brewing.
Ye Xingge followed He Lin through the capital while He Lin mistook him for an ordinary passerby, and the two men repeatedly tried to conceal their movements from each other. He Lin headed to Pu'an Temple, where Duan Lianshan prepared to ambush Ye Xingge, leaving the confrontation about to begin.
Ye Xingge pursued He Lin to Pu'an Temple, where Duan Lianshan ambushed him with a spear. Ye Xingge exposed his hidden Filth-Severing Whip and drove off He Lin, then prepared to finish Duan Lianshan as his saber transformed under Blood Courses Through the Eight Meridians.
Ye Xingge fought Duan Lianshan with his crescent blade and then bare hands, overpowering the armored sect master despite his Six Harmonies Spear. After hurling Duan through the Buddhist hall and into the square, Ye Xingge stood over him and challenged his excuses.
Ye Xingge killed Duan Lianshan with Mantanghong’s help and gained power from the divine weapon. At the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, Yan Tong proposed manipulating the Gold List to convince powerful families to fund Ye Xingge’s rapid rise, but Zhang Zhiqing sensed something in the sky before he could respond.
Zhang Zhiqing saw signs that Ye Xingge had reached the Third Rank and killed Duan Lianshan, while officials at the Jade Immortal House received orders to find him. Ye Xingge continued through the capital, reflecting on his gains and inspecting the renowned weapons he had acquired.
Ye Xingge examined a mask whose special effect could conceal the power of renowned weapons but had little practical use for him, then returned home and cooked hot pot with Hongyu. Just as they were about to eat, Hongyu sensed someone approaching and fled to the neighboring courtyard, leaving Ye Xingge to greet a beautiful woman in green.
Ye Xingge reunited with Luo Xuanqing over a lavish meal and discussed his recent killing of General Cao’s retainer and his prospects for advancement. Luo Xuanqing explained that reaching the First Rank quickly could earn him court resources, and Ye Xingge proposed a bet.
Ye Xingge wagered with Luo Xuanqing that he could reach the Gold List within two days, while Hongyu fumed as they shared a meal and flirted. At the Lady of Anyang's residence, An Yurou's circle discussed how Ye Xingge's clash with the Cao Clan could help them recruit him, and An Yurou decided to investigate his affairs before visiting him.
Ye Xingge gave Luo Xuanqing a hairpin and pretended to fall asleep, then secretly got up and made Hongyu another hotpot after discovering she had been left with no food. The chapter left Ye Xingge and Hongyu eating and drinking together in the kitchen, with Hongyu enjoying his cooking and looking after him while he was drunk.
Hongyu decided Ye Xingge had passed her matchmaking test and accepted him as her match, then cared for him through the night. The next morning, Ye Xingge reported to the Judicial Review Bureau, where he was promoted to Night-Walking Lieutenant and given a gold token.
Ye Xingge toured Luo Xuanqing’s office, where he learned about a missing prince from an old case and flirted with Luo as she read his fortune. Chen Xuance then announced that Ye Xingge had made the Gold List, leaving Luo anxious about a wager she had made with him.