Recaps

Helian Yuan discovered that Blackwater Ravine and Sunken Bone Slope were parts of an old system for holding and transferring demonic beasts, while he learned to control Tiger Shadow and survived the collapse of the ravine. He reached Sunken Bone Slope, where a collared Blue Rock Panther and the gray-robed recovery order showed that the old cage was still active.

• Helian Yuan killed several beasts, gained strength and heightened perception from Tiger Shadow, and found a numbered chain linking his memories to Blackwater Ravine.
• Helian Yuan tracked the gray-robed outsiders’ interest in tiger remains and numbered objects, then uncovered a maintained facility that registered and transferred demonic beasts.
• Helian Yuan found records showing Number Seven had been moved to Sunken Bone Slope, took the map and transfer evidence, and escaped as Blackwater Ravine collapsed.
• Helian Yuan followed the eastern route to Sunken Bone Slope, mapped the area, and learned that the Gray-Robed Organization had already ordered a recovery authorized by a gray-seal iron plaque.
• Helian Yuan killed an Ironback Mountain Badger and found an iron ring stating that numbers were assigned after retrieval, while a Blue Rock Panther marked his territory.
• Helian Yuan developed Shadow Follows the Spear and prepared to defend his routes as the Blue Rock Panther approached his shelter.
• Helian Yuan rescued a hunter from the Blue Rock Panther, secured the hunter’s help in watching for gray-robed men, and discovered an iron collar beneath the panther’s fur.

Helian Yuan traced the gray-robed retrieval team’s efforts to identify and recover the creature marked number seven, then entered the inner mountains with a wounded tiger cub. After rescuing it with Ailina, Leien, and Kelin, he named it Little Mo and continued with his new companions as the black-armored team pursued them.

• Helian Yuan infiltrated the retrieval team’s search, stole records and a live-cage tag, and uncovered clues linking the blank seventh slot to a beast held for return into the mountains.
• Helian Yuan followed the convoy deeper into the hunting grounds, learned how its whistle and collars controlled captured beasts, and sabotaged the team’s efforts to capture the Blue Rock Panther.
• Helian Yuan freed the old hunter from the northern outpost and learned of the Inner Mountain Entrance, then disrupted the retrieval team’s attempt to net the Blue Rock Panther and stole its route tube.
• Helian Yuan escaped through a stone passage as the team tried to seal the mountain, freed the Blue Rock Panther from its collar, and pressed into the inner mountains with the black-armored men pursuing him.
• Helian Yuan met Ailina, Leien, and Kelin, helped them cross dangerous terrain and hunt a Windclaw Lynx, then showed them the tag and agreed to search for the chained tiger cub.
• Helian Yuan and the others found the injured cub in a misty valley, but when the retrieval team attacked, he chose to rescue it rather than take the ledger that could identify it.
• The group escaped with the cub and fragments of its chain and lock, crossed a concealed ridge, and stopped their pursuers from following over the old rope bridge.
• Helian Yuan named the cub Little Mo at a hot-spring cave, and he and his companions agreed to keep working together while leaving each other free to depart at the next safe place.