Chapter Summaries

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.

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.

• Ye Xingge and Hongyu hid beneath the ship under a concealing cloak, sharing a bamboo breathing tube while a diver searched nearby.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu held onto the ship until it reached the deepwater harbor, then swam toward the lake’s mouth and attached themselves to a departing grain ship.
• As the grain ship sailed toward the Cang River, Ye Xingge squeezed Hongyu while she kept watch over their escape.
• Luo Xuanqing stayed awake in Yong Capital, worrying about Ye Xingge and wondering how to reward him if he succeeded.
• The forbidden bell rang from the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, and Luo Xuanqing hurried there as Mei Wuchang arrived ahead of her.

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.

• Wu Yi told Mei Wuchang, Luo Xuanqing, and the other commanders that Ye Xingge had killed Li Yi and Gold-Chasing Gentleman, and that Forgetful River Mouth was sealed off by thousands of searchers.
• Wu Yi ordered Luo Xuanqing and the other commanders to lead their forces to Forgetful River Mouth to rescue Ye Xingge if possible, quell unrest, and retrieve the Fate-Robbing Saber.
• Luo Xuanqing ordered Chen Xuance to assemble the men, and the four commanders led three thousand Embroidered Robes out of the capital.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu swam to the transport vessel after escaping their pursuers, climbed aboard, and found a quiet place in its cargo hold to rest.
• Ye Xingge realized the Fate-Robbing Saber had made him stronger, reviewed how divine weapons chose and released masters, and tested the saber's shape-changing ability.
• Ye Xingge transformed the Fate-Robbing Saber into a watermelon knife and admired his new weapon.

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.

• Hongyu explained that the Fate-Robbing Saber rewarded Ye Xingge for killing opponents and that he would need to defeat many powerful fighters to surpass Wu Chenglie.
• Hongyu told Ye Xingge that the saber’s killing urge stopped when he used it to escape danger, but not if he gave up after starting a fight.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu examined the Gold-Chasing Gentleman’s famed weapons, including the Dust-Returning Robe, Water-Repelling Pearl, Wind-Traveling Talisman, Gold-Chasing Bell, and Gold-Melting File.
• Hongyu explained how the Heaven-Observing Decree detected divine weapons at different times of day, and Ye Xingge considered ways to conceal his weapons and use his treasures.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu rested in the grain boat’s lower hold as a Great Yan fleet passed them, sailing toward Black Dragon Island with killing intent.

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.

• Mei Wuchang and the other commanders demanded that Jiang Jinjiang reveal what happened to Ye Xingge and the Fate-Robbing Saber, while Jiang insisted he knew nothing.
• Luo Xuanqing ordered the Embroidered Robe Officers to search Forgetful River Mouth and seize Jiang Jinjiang, but Chu Hannu intervened and negotiated until dawn for him to investigate.
• The Heaven-Observing Pavilion’s forces kept watch around the area as Luo Xuanqing worried that Ye Xingge might be unconscious and still hidden nearby.
• The grain transport boat reached a port near the Jingzhou-Yongzhou border, and Ye Xingge woke to find Great Yu'er asleep against him.
• Ye Xingge and Hongyu agreed to make hot pot after returning, then slipped off the boat together and set out 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 reached Yong Capital and found his intended visit to Great Beauty Luo thwarted by a locked door, so he headed to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.
• Ye Xingge found the Pavilion’s gates open and entered, calling out because he saw no one on duty.
• Zhang Zhiqing, Wu Yi, An Yurou, and Shen Yueyao discussed Ye Xingge’s presumed capture or death until they heard him below.
• An Yurou recognized Ye Xingge, and he explained that he had escaped by using the Dust-Returning Robe and Water-Repelling Pearl to ride a grain barge from Lake Mouth Town to Cang River Mouth.
• Ye Xingge showed the Dust-Returning Robe and drew the Fate-Robbing Saber, while Shen Yueyao eagerly examined the weapons.

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.

• Ye Xingge told Wu Yi and the others that the Return to Origin Cult had helped him lure and kill the Gold-Chasing Gentleman, then recounted how he used the Gold-Chasing Bell and Heaven-Obscuring Arm to conceal his plan.
• Shen Yueyao tested the Gold-Chasing Bell and found that it rang eighteen times, while Zhang Zhiqing recognized how the Heaven-Obscuring Arm had hidden Ye Xingge’s true weapons.
• Ye Xingge discovered that the Return to Origin Cult had cut off contact and left a resentful message on the Dragon Tail Talisman.
• Wu Yi realized that Lord Luo and the other rescuers might attack Black Dragon Island, so Zhang Zhiqing sent word to Chu Hannu while Wu Yi took Ye Xingge to have his wounds treated.
• An Yurou offered to escort Ye Xingge, and they heard the No-Strategy Bow fire from the top of the Heaven-Observing Pavilion as they crossed the covered walkway.

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.

• Luo Xuanqing demanded answers from Jiang Jinjiang, and Mei Wuchang ordered the Embroidered Robes to search the docks and town for Ye Xingge.
• A water dragon formed from the storm and crashed into the lake, but Chu Hannu caught the arrow that struck toward him and survived the shockwave.
• Chu Hannu read Duke Zhang’s message and announced that Ye Xingge had returned the Fate-Robbing Saber to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion and that the Return to Origin Cult had caused the trouble.
• The crowd learned more about Ye Xingge’s recent killings, while Mei Wuchang and the other commanders prepared to leave Forgetful River Mouth.
• Jiang Jinjiang ordered Qian Zhong to find a capable deathsworn and place an anonymous five-million-coin bounty on Ye Xingge.

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.

• Sun Wang treated Ye Xingge’s chest wound and recognized him from thirteen years earlier, then noted that his Ren and Chong meridians had become unusually strong.
• Great Beauty explained that the Fate-Robbing Saber’s Blissful Illusory Body had altered Ye Xingge’s physique as his cultivation power grew.
• Shen Yueyao tried on the Dust-Returning Robe and vanished, prompting startled cries from elsewhere in the residence.
• An Yurou asked her aides whether Ye Xingge could reach the First Rank soon and considered how to persuade him to join her side.
• Chen Dahai proposed winning Ye Xingge over with food, and An Yurou sent him to prepare several dishes.

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.

• The Lady of Anyang treated Ye Xingge to a meal, offered him lodging in Peach Blossom Lane, and agreed to try dishes he cooked himself.
• Shen Yueyao revealed that Ye Xingge had not noticed her using the cloak, then lent him a mechanical tassel before leaving.
• Chief Steward Hou showed Ye Xingge to Residence Seven in Peach Blossom Lane and warned him not to mistake Shen Yueyao's rooftop visits for an intruder.
• Ye Xingge collected his belongings and horse and headed to Azure Dragon Ward to reassure his family.
• Ye Yuanshan, Liu Ping'er, and Ye Gucheng worried that Ye Xingge was in danger and debated whether to seek him out.
• Ye Xingge's family heard his horse approaching their inn as they discussed visiting the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.

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 returned to the family inn and reassured Ye Yuanshan, Liu Ping'er, and Ye Gucheng after they worried about his reputation and safety.
• Ye Xingge revealed that the Heaven-Observing Decree had awarded him the Fate-Robbing Saber, and he showed Ye Gucheng and Ye Yuanshan the other items he had obtained.
• Ye Gucheng asked Ye Xingge to seek out the Twelve Stances Art, while Ye Yuanshan also expressed interest in learning it.
• Liu Ping'er encouraged Ye Xingge to pursue the Flower Judge, and Ye Xingge warned his family to be careful while he worked in the capital.
• He Lin reached the outskirts of the capital and contacted Duan Lianshan, who told him to locate Ye Xingge and avoid rushing into a fight.