Chapter Summaries

Su Ziyang and Mr. Mengfei began preparing herbal beauty treatments in Daoist Jin’s courtyard, with the process set to continue the next day. When Su Ziyang returned home, he found Fairy Li cooking soup inside his apartment.

• Su Ziyang ate porridge with Fairy Li, who explained that she had left Daoism after thirty years and wanted to try a different way of life.
• Mr. Mengfei advised Su Ziyang to give Fairy Li a gift and proposed making her a Chinese-herb beauty treatment, then wrote two prescriptions.
• Su Ziyang collected the herbs, and Fairy Li asked to watch him prepare them, but he told her it was taboo for outsiders to see.
• Mr. Mengfei taught Su Ziyang to process the herbs and prepare the first stages of the treatments, leaving them to soak overnight and telling him to bring chaff the next day.
• Su Ziyang rushed into his apartment expecting a thief and found Fairy Li tending a soup pot instead.

Su Ziyang spent three days and two nights tending the fire for Mr. Mengfei’s medicine, then recovered at home while Fairy Li cared for him. At the clinic, he examined Li Weiwei, whose constipation and bleeding had improved, and prescribed medicine to regulate her lochia.

• Fairy Li brought Su Ziyang bone soup and stayed overnight at his home.
• Mr. Mengfei showed Su Ziyang how to prepare the medicine, then left him to tend the burning husks for three days and two nights.
• After the fire went out, Mr. Mengfei told Su Ziyang to leave the medicine buried for three more days and rest.
• Su Ziyang returned home and found Fairy Li had been staying there and preparing food for him.
• Su Ziyang meditated overnight, recovering his depleted essence, Qi, and spirit.
• Li Weiwei told Su Ziyang her constipation had eased and her bleeding had decreased, so he prescribed medicine to regulate her lochia and warned her not to reuse the constipation medicine on her own.

Su Ziyang prescribed Shenghua Decoction for Li Weiwei’s persistent postpartum lochia, then asked Daoist Jin about a child’s severe recurring nosebleeds. After hearing two folk remedies, Su Ziyang and Fairy Li left the temple and encountered Yang Tianzheng.

• Su Ziyang explained the origin and use of Shenghua Decoction, prescribed seven doses for Li Weiwei, and warned her that the lochia might increase temporarily.
• Liu Yanzhen called Su Ziyang about a child whose severe nosebleeds continued despite tests and laser cauterization, and asked him to come consult at noon.
• Su Ziyang asked Daoist Jin for advice, and Daoist Jin suggested drinking a decoction of charred pumpkin seeds and described an untested earthworm powder remedy.
• Su Ziyang questioned the earthworm remedy’s practicality and left the temple with Fairy Li, thinking over the two methods.
• Yang Tianzheng stopped Su Ziyang and Fairy Li and teased Su Ziyang about becoming overly formal.

Su Ziyang learned a nosebleed remedy from Yang Tianzheng and went with Liu Yanzhen and Fairy Li to examine a boy whose persistent bleeding had resisted treatment. The chapter ended as Liu Yanzhen prepared to pack the terrified boy’s nose again, while Su Ziyang watched the painful scene.

• Yang Tianzheng told Su Ziyang to apply mashed garlic to the center of the foot to stop a nosebleed and reminded him to keep studying humbly.
• Fairy Li comforted Su Ziyang, then introduced herself to Liu Yanzhen as Su Ziyang’s girlfriend when they met at the parking lot.
• Liu Yanzhen showed Su Ziyang the records of Xiong Guichen, a ten-year-old boy whose recurring nosebleeds had not improved with herbal formulas.
• Xiong Guichen’s mother called Liu Yanzhen when the boy’s nose began bleeding again, and Su Ziyang followed them to the ward.
• Xiong Guichen panicked and begged his mother to stop the painful treatment as Liu Yanzhen prepared to pack his nose with gauze.

Su Ziyang stopped Xiong Guichen’s nosebleed, diagnosed a hollow pulse and signs of heart fire, and prescribed a combination of two decoctions. After confessing to Fairy Li and giving her a herbal cosmetic in an antique box, he learned Daoist Jin knew about the box and had officially gifted it to her.

• Su Ziyang applied crushed garlic to Xiong Guichen’s right foot, stopping the boy’s nosebleed, then examined his pulse and tongue.
• Su Ziyang prescribed a combination of the Decoction to Drain the Heart and the Fluid-Increasing Decoction, and Liu Yanzhen arranged for Xiong Guichen to take it.
• Fairy Li discussed the name Nan Chen and its supposed connection to blood diseases, then teased Su Ziyang when he asked her to explain further.
• Mr. Mengfei delivered a ceramic bottle in an antique box, and Su Ziyang wrote Fairy Li a note asking her to be his girlfriend before giving her the gift.
• Fairy Li accepted Su Ziyang’s confession, tried the herbal cosmetic, and told him she would be away for two or three days.
• Daoist Jin chased Mr. Mengfei over missing wine and a boxwood box, then reassured Su Ziyang and Fairy Li that the antique box and bottle were his gifts to her.

Su Ziyang endured intense training from Daoist Jin, then received bedroom arts books from Mr. Mengfei and discovered a tale linking moxibustion to extraordinary vitality. He ended the chapter resolving that he wanted moxibustion.

• Daoist Jin punished Su Ziyang with three hours of training, and after three days Su Ziyang's kung fu and movement technique improved considerably.
• Fairy Li left a suitcase in Su Ziyang's room, and Su Ziyang opened it to inspect the occult objects inside before she caught him.
• Mr. Mengfei teased Su Ziyang about holding hands with Fairy Li and gave him three ancient books on bedroom arts, warning him not to become addicted.
• Su Ziyang read the books and found a story claiming an old bandit gained remarkable vitality through repeated moxibustion at his Guanyuan acupoint.
• Su Ziyang decided that he wanted moxibustion.

Su Ziyang discovered that Li Weiwei’s recurring bleeding and internal heat were caused by her daily moxibustion, which was unsuitable for her condition. He advised her to stop and drink pear water, while Fairy Li left after finding his embarrassing books.

• Fairy Li found Su Ziyang’s books and story papers about sexual techniques, teased him, then left when Li Weiwei arrived.
• Li Weiwei told Su Ziyang that her bleeding had returned, and he found her pulse rapid and her tongue red.
• Su Ziyang used Qi-observing to spot intense fiery Qi and learned Li Weiwei had been doing daily moxibustion at several points.
• Li Weiwei confirmed she had resumed moxibustion after running out of Su Ziyang’s medicine, and that her stools had become dry and difficult to pass.
• Su Ziyang told Li Weiwei to stop moxibustion and drink pear water with rock sugar, and she left agreeing to follow his advice.

Su Ziyang wore the jade-dial watch Han Xixi had given him, prompting Fairy Li to tease and bite him before they spent the evening together. The next day, Yu Xiushui brought her nephew to Su Ziyang, who diagnosed his gallstones by taking his pulse, leaving the young man doubtful and Yu Xiushui worried about surgery.

• Su Ziyang put on the watch Han Xixi had given him, and Fairy Li recognized its valuable Hetian jade dial and accused him of accepting a beautiful woman's gift.
• Fairy Li playfully bit Su Ziyang over his joke about keeping a mistress, then stayed overnight after making him noodles.
• Yu Xiushui told Su Ziyang that his Moments post had revealed his new relationship with Fairy Li, and he asked her to explain it to Liu Jinyu.
• Yu Xiushui brought her nephew to Su Ziyang for a consultation, and Su Ziyang found signs of gallstones by feeling his pulse.
• Yu Xiushui's nephew questioned whether Su Ziyang had learned about the gallstones from his pulse, while Yu Xiushui insisted he should avoid having his gallbladder removed.

Su Ziyang treated Yu Xiushui’s nephew, Wang Jinghao, for gallstone pain with umbilical acupuncture, which quickly relieved his symptoms. He prescribed Major Bupleurum Decoction with Chinese brake fern and sent Wang Jinghao and Yu Xiushui to pay for the prepared medicine.

• Yu Xiushui objected to Wang Jinghao’s plan to have his gallbladder removed, and Su Ziyang persuaded him to try acupuncture and herbal medicine.
• Su Ziyang used the Wind and Thunder Clash technique of umbilical acupuncture on Wang Jinghao, who fell asleep during the treatment.
• Wang Jinghao woke feeling refreshed and found that his pain had disappeared, so he apologized and agreed to take Chinese medicine.
• Su Ziyang prescribed seven doses of Major Bupleurum Decoction with Chinese brake fern and arranged for the herbs to be prepared in ready-to-drink bags.
• Wang Jinghao thanked Su Ziyang and left with Yu Xiushui to pay.

Su Ziyang and Yang Tianzheng investigated a secret remedy for mouth ulcers, and Daoist Jin revealed his own formula to Su Ziyang. The chapter ended with the formula identified as Borneol and Borax Powder.

• Er Biao called Su Ziyang and arranged to visit on Saturday and Sunday to learn bonesetting.
• Yang Tianzheng invited Su Ziyang to investigate a practitioner who treated mouth ulcers with a pale green powder.
• Daoist Jin said he had his own secret formula for mouth ulcers, but teased Yang Tianzheng and Su Ziyang instead of revealing it at first.
• Yang Tianzheng pretended to leave but secretly stayed to listen, then left for real after Daoist Jin exposed his trick.
• Daoist Jin told Su Ziyang that his formula was Borneol and Borax Powder.

Daoist Jin gave Su Ziyang a powder formula and a safety talisman before entering seclusion, leaving Su worried about what his masters had been doing. Su then examined a woman with persistent eczema and began assessing her symptoms through traditional Chinese medicine.

• Daoist Jin gave Su Ziyang a powder formula he said could treat skin problems and a safety talisman before leaving for seclusion.
• Su Ziyang asked Fairy Li what his masters had been doing, but she said she did not know and suggested Daoist Jin had gained insight in cultivation.
• A woman with eczema across her face, neck, and hands came to Su Ziyang after several hospitals had diagnosed her with the condition.
• Su Ziyang examined the woman's rash, checked her pulse, and inspected her tongue, whose pale, moist coating suggested dampness.

Su Ziyang prescribed an oral formula and a little clubmoss wash for a woman’s eczema, then joined Liu Yanzhen and Bao Mingya for dinner with Li Zijun. After discussing his treatments, Liu Yanzhen quietly asked Su Ziyang for help improving his sexual ability, leaving Su Ziyang skeptical.

• Su Ziyang prescribed the woman an oral herbal formula and a daily wash made with little clubmoss for her eczema.
• Er Biao told Su Ziyang he might arrive Saturday evening, and Su Ziyang agreed.
• Liu Yanzhen drove Su Ziyang and Li Zijun to dinner, where Bao Mingya said her parents had returned to their hometown after her father improved.
• Li Zijun and Bao Mingya went to the bedroom to chat while Su Ziyang explained his treatment of a hospital patient whose nosebleeds had stopped.
• Liu Yanzhen asked Su Ziyang whether he could improve a man's sexual ability, and Su Ziyang questioned whether Liu Yanzhen was having trouble.

Su Ziyang gave Liu Yanzhen advice about bedroom techniques while they drank, and Liu accidentally sent his notes to Bao Mingya, embarrassing her in front of Fairy Li. After the couples went home, Liu fell asleep in the bathtub, while Su Ziyang sobered up by circulating his True Qi under the shower and joined Fairy Li for tea.

• Liu Yanzhen complained to Su Ziyang that his wife’s demands left him exhausted, so Su shared bedroom advice he had read about.
• Fairy Li and Bao Mingya arrived as Liu Yanzhen accidentally sent his notes to Bao Mingya, who read them with Fairy Li and blushed.
• Fairy Li pinched Su Ziyang for his advice, then drove him home while scolding him about what men thought about.
• Bao Mingya found Liu Yanzhen asleep in the bathtub before he had turned on the water.
• Su Ziyang circulated his True Qi under the shower to sweat out the alcohol, then drank the sobering tea Fairy Li had prepared.

Su Ziyang and Fairy Li grew closer as they shared a bedroom, affectionate morning, and grocery trip. At lunch, Mr. Mengfei showed off his cooking and encouraged Fairy Li to have Su Ziyang learn to cook for her.

• Fairy Li persuaded Su Ziyang to sleep beside her, and they joked about her wish to have a bigger figure before she fell asleep.
• Su Ziyang used embryonic breathing to sleep beside Fairy Li, then woke to find her teasing him and climbed into an affectionate morning routine with her.
• Su Ziyang and Fairy Li washed up, ate breakfast, and bought groceries together before inviting Mr. Mengfei and Yang Tianzheng to lunch.
• Mr. Mengfei teased the couple, then cooked red-braised pork and fish-fragrant shredded pork that impressed everyone.
• Fairy Li asked Mr. Mengfei to teach her to cook, but he suggested Su Ziyang learn to cook for her, prompting laughter from Mr. Mengfei and Yang Tianzheng.

Su Ziyang picked up Er Biao at the bus station and brought him home, where Er Biao sought advice on bone setting and introduced him to a technique called reshaping by hand. The chapter ended with Er Biao teaching Su Ziyang a detailed acupoint routine for breast enlargement.

• Su Ziyang and Fairy Li shared a meal with Mr. Mengfei and Yang Tianzheng before the two masters left.
• Su Ziyang borrowed Li Zijun’s car and drove to the bus station to pick up Er Biao.
• Er Biao met Li Zijun, then asked Su Ziyang to explain bone-setting techniques and the lump-catching technique again.
• After discussing bone setting, Er Biao told Su Ziyang about reshaping by hand and its claimed cosmetic effects.
• Er Biao taught Su Ziyang a detailed breast-enlargement routine based on acupoint pressing and massage.

Su Ziyang learned massage techniques from Er Biao and used one on Fairy Li, struggling to keep his composure around her. The next day, Fairy Li finished a feng shui design and took Su Ziyang to visit Daoist Master Xiao Yang, where she was asked to advise two junior brothers on their training.

• Er Biao taught Su Ziyang a nose-bridge technique and promised to send him a private technique later, then left after dinner to stay elsewhere.
• Fairy Li agreed to let Su Ziyang try a massage technique, and he completed the treatment before fleeing the bedroom to calm himself with the Ice Heart Art.
• The next morning, Su Ziyang woke Fairy Li, and they went out for wontons before returning home.
• Fairy Li finished a feng shui design based on a patron's birth characters and astrology chart, then suggested they visit Daoist Master Xiao Yang's temple for lunch.
• Fairy Li played the qin for Su Ziyang at the temple, then Daoist Master Xiao Yang asked her to advise two junior brothers practicing Fuwa Gong.
• Fairy Li picked up a horsetail whisk and snapped it through the air, showing Su Ziyang why her earlier fist had made him feel a breeze.

Su Ziyang and Fairy Li accompanied Mr. Mengfei and Yang Tianzheng to meet Master Luo, a reclusive teacher in a Jiangnan mountain town. During their visit, Master Luo stopped a badly bleeding villager’s wound with ridged paper and a shouted command, leaving the visitors stunned.

• Fairy Li demonstrated that her horsetail whisk could split a brick, and Su Ziyang followed her in awe.
• Mr. Mengfei invited Su Ziyang and Fairy Li to travel with him to study under Master Luo, reminding Su Ziyang to stay quiet during the visit.
• At Master Luo’s mountain home, Mr. Mengfei introduced Su Ziyang and Fairy Li, and Master Luo remarked on their natural aptitude.
• Two villagers brought in their injured brother with a deep wound at his temple, and Master Luo pressed ridged paper to it and shouted for the bleeding to stop.
• Master Luo’s command stopped the bleeding, and he sent the brothers home with the injured man to recover.

Mr. Mengfei left Su Ziyang with Master Luo to learn a craft, while Fairy Li warned Su Ziyang to answer yes if Master Luo asked whether anyone was behind him on the fifth day of the fifth month. Su Ziyang settled into Master Luo’s home, cooked lunch, and watched the elderly master rest.

• Mr. Mengfei arranged for Su Ziyang to stay with Master Luo, and Master Luo agreed to take him in.
• Fairy Li told Su Ziyang to keep her warning secret and say yes if Master Luo asked whether anyone was behind him on the fifth day of the fifth month.
• Su Ziyang returned to Master Luo’s courtyard, introduced himself, and was asked to help with cooking instead of bamboo weaving.
• A grateful man brought Master Luo cured pork as thanks for saving his younger brother, and Su Ziyang hung it with the other meat in the cooking shed.
• Su Ziyang prepared cured pork with bamboo shoots, tomatoes and eggs, and noodles for lunch.
• Master Luo ate three bowls of noodles, told Su Ziyang to wash the dishes, and went to rest in the east room.

Su Ziyang spent two quiet, rainy days with Master Luo before villagers came asking for help after Xiaosheng was accidentally shot while hunting a wild boar. Master Luo investigated and warned them away from the mountain, then left with Su Ziyang.

• Su Ziyang chatted with Master Luo as he wove bamboo baskets, then turned off his phone to save its battery.
• Su Ziyang and Master Luo spent two days indoors in silence while the rain continued.
• Two soaked villagers arrived and asked Master Luo to help Xiaosheng, who had been shot in the shoulder with an arrow.
• Master Luo examined the hunting party's account, asked for an arrow used to shoot a bird, and drew a stick figure on a black locust tree with its point.
• Master Luo warned the villagers not to hunt on the mountain behind the village or search for the wild boar king, then departed with Su Ziyang.

After returning home, Master Luo told Su Ziyang that the strange force he had seen was a psychological effect rather than a ritual or superstition. Master Luo revealed that he was ninety-five, then sent Su Ziyang to cook with extra chili.

• Su Ziyang asked Master Luo how he had controlled the strange force, and Master Luo said it came from a psychological effect.
• Master Luo explained how sound could influence people's emotions and behavior, though he told Su Ziyang he would understand the deeper explanation later.
• Su Ziyang asked Master Luo's age and learned he was ninety-five.
• Master Luo told Su Ziyang to cook the meal with more chili, despite Su Ziyang's inability to eat it.