A brief critique of "The Missing Moon and the Phoenix Tree"

In the battle of Huayin City, the appearance of the young leader Huo Wuhen was truly remarkable. Despite numerous prior descriptions, particularly the comments from Murong Qiushui, his display of indifference to worldly affairs still left others in this group of martial heroes feeling ashamed. Thus, the defeat in this battle was almost predictable. The life-and-death struggle between Wang Tianyi and Yue Zhongdian, along with the reappearance of Zuo Fei, were the two highlights of this chapter. After the defeat, Wang Tianyi, under the orders of Elder Yi, took the blame for the loss on behalf of Huo Wuhen and was demoted to a doorman at a brothel in Jiankang. This sudden turn of events was indeed quite harsh. The life-and-death struggle between Wang Tianyi and Yue Zhongdian, along with the reappearance of Zuo Fei, were the two highlights of this chapter. After the defeat, Wang Tianyi, under the orders of Elder Yi, took the blame for the loss on behalf of Huo Wuhen and was demoted to a doorman at a brothel in Jiankang. This sudden turn of events was indeed quite harsh.

Zhang Gaochan's performance during the Jiankang Conference was truly full of surprises. He was captivated by the beauty of Cui Xiu, yet shamed by the scolding from his wife Ruo Ruo's maid, Cui Xiu. He could not refuse the honor presented to him by Ding Yuzhan and was forced to sign the agreement, but due to the pressure from Qianli Hong, he ended up breaking the contract and committing murder. In the duel and assassination orchestrated by Wang Tianyi, his martial arts seemed almost celestial, yet his actions in the realm of martial arts were increasingly naive and weak. Among all the martial arts novels I have read, there is no character who can so severely separate martial prowess from intellect, being so innocent and shameless. Therefore, his fate of defeat was almost predetermined.

With the appearance of Zhang Gaochan, whose importance in the text is comparable to that of nuclear weapons, the stunning beauty Cui Xiu and the young scholar Qi An began to actively engage. Young Master Murong, while commenting on Murong Qiushui's resistance to Cui Xiu's beauty, initially revealed his keen observational skills. However, I believe that Murong Qiushui's use of Cui Xiu is somewhat wasteful; possessing such a valuable asset, he should elevate her status as much as possible, allowing her to become an unattainable beauty in the eyes of the masters, one whose favor requires immense effort to win, rather than a character that even Wang Tianyi can refer to as a "house concubine." In fact, Cui Xiu's charm only exerts a certain influence on characters with relatively weak personalities, such as Zhang Gaochan and Huo Wuhen, while those who actually hold power in the martial world are almost entirely aware of the role she plays, thus harboring deep-seated caution. Ding San became her guest of honor, yet it was evident that he had no lingering thoughts afterward. Tang Bo was clearly somewhat moved by her (Ding San's behavior after sleeping with Cui Xiu was noticeably abnormal), yet he deliberately distanced himself even more.

I am quite perplexed that since Ding San has already heard that Wang Tianyi is Yi Lao's person, he later remained silent about this matter upon awakening. Moreover, with Tao Dawei's Night Shadow, there are indeed quite a few who know Wang Tianyi's identity as Nightingale. Therefore, it is truly hard to imagine that Chief Huo is unaware of this situation. I believe Chief Huo is aware that after the chaos, the power of the Chang Le Gang has weakened and he needs to rely on Wang Tianyi's influence and abilities to support the gang's dominance. Thus, he pretends to be ignorant. This lays the groundwork for countless possible developments in the plot, and it is indeed a pity that it has come to a halt. I believe Chief Huo is aware that after the chaos, the power of the Chang Le Gang has weakened and he needs to rely on Wang Tianyi's influence and abilities to support the gang's dominance. Thus, he pretends to be ignorant. This lays the groundwork for countless possible developments in the plot, and it is indeed a pity that it has come to a halt.

The Jiankang Conference commenced as Wang Tianyi gradually gained prominence, and the Jinpao Team was established, leading to a series of captivating performances. The special training process of the Jinpao Team easily evokes memories of "Soldier Assault." The characters Liu Dingqiang, Qin Dun, and Zhao Juexi each possess unique qualities. Liu Dingqiang's pride and innocence are vividly portrayed in this section, culminating in a heart-wrenching and tragic demise that rivals the fates of the prominent figures maneuvering through complex political landscapes, particularly for Tai Dun and Zhao Jueyi. The special training process of the Jinpao Team easily evokes memories of "Soldier Assault." The characters Liu Dingqiang, Qin Dun, and Zhao Juexi each possess unique qualities. Liu Dingqiang's pride and innocence are vividly portrayed in this section, culminating in a heart-wrenching and tragic demise that rivals the fates of the prominent figures maneuvering through complex political landscapes, particularly for Tai Dun and Zhao Jueyi. These two characters initially held great promise, but unfortunately, the author hastily concluded the narrative, essentially neglecting this aspect, which is quite regrettable

In fact, based on the author's concluding remarks, I personally feel that he is somewhat overly concerned. Borrowing from Yang Kun and Ding San's analysis of the hero, I also believe that there are four types of novels: one type is where neither the author nor the readers believe there is any significance; everyone is just writing and reading for fun; another type is where the author passionately believes he is writing a monumental work that exhausts human nature, while the readers remain indifferent; a third type is where both the author and the readers seriously believe this is a work of profound meaning; and the fourth type—which I consider the best scenario—is when the author writes without contemplating the presence of profound meaning, yet the readers are able to derive much from it.

In the chapter of "The Dirty Hand Heroism," Wang Tianyi, in order to eliminate future troubles for Ding Yuzhan, killed the orphan of the treacherous merchant Hong family, who had been exterminated by Ding Yuzhan. At that time, Ding Yuzhan had already made his own choice to spare the life of the Hong family's son, and given Ding's family background and status, he could still bear the consequences of this matter. After Wang Tianyi silenced the orphan on his behalf, he often brought up this incident, which seemed somewhat petty and inconsistent with Wang's own character. Perhaps this can be understood as Wang Tianyi's attempt to internally eliminate and counteract Ding Yuzhan's influence.

In this sense, I believe the author does not need to be preoccupied with whether the third volume has a soul or not. As long as he can maintain the storytelling quality of the second volume in the third volume and properly revise the hasty parts at the end of the second volume, it will be one of the rare excellent works in the martial arts genre in recent years. Queyue Wutong has the remarkable ability to craft an engaging and captivating story without introducing any novel concepts. This is particularly rare in online literature, where many authors gain popularity by exploring new themes, yet themes inevitably become outdated. Queyue Wutong has the remarkable ability to craft an engaging and captivating story without introducing any novel concepts. This is particularly rare in online literature, where many authors gain popularity by exploring new themes, yet themes inevitably become outdated.

At the Jiankang Conference, turmoil erupted as Wang Tianyi and the fierce monk Hu Buzhan collaborated to probe into Zhang Gaochan's intricate schemes. This was followed by the amusing scene of the young leader Huo Shao painting and Liu Sanyuan performing swordplay. After the meticulously arranged assassination attempt on Zhang Gaochan, an unexpected turn of events occurred when Wang Tianyi accidentally suffered an attack, resulting in a mysterious head injury. The various twists and turns of the plot are utterly unpredictable, and the author handles such developments with great skill, making it truly enjoyable. The iron-blooded battles are written smoothly, and the occasional humorous moments are naturally interspersed, such as when Wang Tianyi, on the night of his head injury, learns of Tang Bo's visit and, in a state of shock, causes his wound to bleed again, instructing his attendant to inform Tang Bo that he has fainted and cannot awaken. Despite the protagonist's extreme misfortunes, it remains entertaining. However, there are also shortcomings, such as the segment where Murong Cheng buys fishing bait; the author's attempt at humor feels quite forced.

In the section concerning Yangzhou, the initial cause of the Qingcheng killing plot is laid down through the concept of emptiness, and the acquaintance with Zuo Fei is also a common trope. The lesson on "Social History" that the three heroes of the Jianghu imparted to Ni Qingguan is the part that is most difficult to read; this kind of common knowledge, written with such elaborate detail, carries a heavy didactic tone, rendering it quite uninteresting for modern readers. Murong Qiushui's temperament and intellect are too overt in this section, lacking the essential mystery that a top-tier expert must possess. Fortunately, after this part, the first true climax begins (after such a long time of peeling away the skin, it is indeed not easy to finally see the filling). In Tianji Town, the meeting with the servants of the Shen family occurs, where Gu Riyang and others from the Changle Gang are tasked with protecting the young lady of the Shen family, and Wang Tianyi and Zuo Fei are inadvertently drawn into the fray. The segment where they compete with Yue Zhongdian of Mount Hua for a birthday gift leaves Wang Tianyi with a scar on his face that later becomes iconic; it is also the first instance where his reckless nature escapes from the gentle and honest exterior. From that point on, this character trait becomes an unquenchable spark, ready to burst into flames whenever the wind rises.

After finishing it, I suddenly feel that this is the most thought-provoking novel I have read this year, as it is quite captivating—yet it also has several notable weaknesses. I read through it relatively quickly and superficially, but in its current version, this novel does not withstand close scrutiny. Let me briefly discuss a few points.

I still sincerely hope that the author will write the third volume, believing that there is significant potential for breakthroughs in it. Of course, as someone who reads pirated content, I have no grounds to complain about whether the author writes or how much he writes. However, considering the author's pace of updating once a week or even biweekly, I believe he is more suited to writing novels for magazines than to writing VIP content on Qidian. Therefore, I have recommended him to a few editors of martial arts magazines that I am familiar with. Since it is a recommendation, it should be sincere, which is why I have written this somewhat disorganized rough review. However, I believe that given the author's updating frequency, he is more suited to writing novels for magazines than to writing VIP content on Qidian. Therefore, I have recommended him to a few editors of martial arts magazines that I am familiar with. Since it is a recommendation, it should be sincere, which is why I have written this somewhat disorganized rough review.

Therefore, it must be said that the hasty conclusion of the second volume is quite regrettable. The charismatic Hu Buzhan vanished without a trace after his confrontation with Zhang Gaochan, and the conspiracy of Yang Kun and Ling Hangou came to an abrupt and swift end. I am perplexed as to why Ling Hangou would believe that Wang Tianyi would assist him and Yang Kun in seeking revenge; he should be well aware that Wang Tianyi is solely loyal to Elder Yi's mission and is also a friend of Ding San. Moreover, the previous conversation between Yang Kun and Ding San was overly warm, making the subsequent shift feel rather abrupt. Of course, instances of awkwardness can be found throughout these chapters, with Wang Tianyi's rejoining of the Changle Gang being the most significant example.

However, apart from the use of Cui Xiu, Murong Qiushui's performance in the second part is significantly stronger than in the first part. This is likely because there are fewer direct descriptions of him in this installment, allowing for ample space to evoke a profound and enigmatic demeanor that borders on the supernatural. This is especially evident when contrasted with Murong Cheng's competitive spirit: the more proactive Murong Cheng is, the more Murong Qiushui appears to handle matters with ease. Murong Cheng, in a public setting, engages in barehanded combat with several impoverished martial artists to hone his fighting spirit, which is truly incongruous with his circumstances. I always feel that those witnessing this scene would find it difficult to hold him in high regard. His performance during the wine-drinking contest and the subsequent duel is relatively appropriate. Overall, Murong Cheng's performance in this chapter is commendable, elevating Murong Qiushui's standing. If Murong Cheng were written as a character akin to Young Master Huo, it would be challenging to achieve such an effect.

This part is surprisingly not yet finished here, or rather, Elder Yi feels that Wang Tianyi has not yet reached a sufficiently desperate path. Until in the chapter of filial piety and murder, he killed the Zhen family's parents, who had been kind to him, but decided to murder them for the sake of his son, consciously crossing the moral line to hang himself, Elder Yi finally intervened to save him, naturally bringing him into the dark organization. However, as I mentioned earlier, I do not believe that this moral interrogation is more perilous than the one with the boatman; after all, the Zhen family's parents intended to kill him, and he was acting in self-defense. This hanging, I would prefer to understand as a sense of despair accumulated from a series of previous provocations.

One always feels that the main highlights and subtle intricacies of Volume Two are intricately tied to the conflicts between the Zhang family of Gaochan and the Murong family, as well as the struggles involving Wang Tianyi and the Changle Gang, which seem somewhat inferior in comparison. This is also a consequence of the author's positioning, as in this section, Wang Tianyi has not yet entered the decision-making circle, and his various performances are limited by how others perceive him, making his shortcomings inevitable

However, there is a considerable dilemma here. If he fully embraces the principles of thick black and succeeds, it is far from the conclusion the author truly wishes to write. If he fails, the moralistic undertone becomes overly pronounced. If he succeeds by adhering to a modicum of conscience, it seems too idealistic, perhaps even insufficient to persuade the author himself. Conversely, if he fails due to his adherence to a modicum of conscience—this may be the easiest conclusion to write, yet contemporary Chinese society lacks recognition of success that transcends utilitarian considerations. The notion of soul redemption is difficult to convince readers, especially online readers, that it holds genuine value for Wang Tianyi. If he succeeds by adhering to a modicum of conscience, it seems too idealistic, perhaps even insufficient to persuade the author himself. If he fails due to his adherence to a modicum of conscience—this may be the easiest conclusion to write, yet contemporary Chinese society lacks recognition of success that transcends utilitarian considerations. The notion of soul redemption is difficult to convince readers, especially online readers, that it holds genuine value for Wang Tianyi. Perhaps this is the reason the author hesitates to proceed.

In the opening of the second part, Wang Tianyi's performance is rather conventional. It is only after the appearance of Ding Yuzhan that his character transformation becomes increasingly pronounced in contrast to Ding Yuzhan. With his strong ideals, Ding Yuzhan is more easily swayed by those with ulterior motives. In contrast, Wang Tianyi, who has experienced more complex life circumstances, appears more decisive and confident. However, he is still curiously restrained by Ding Yuzhan.

***

The character Cui Huan makes a fierce and bold entrance, making it difficult for people to feel any fondness for her. In the scene where she insults Zhang Gaochan, her audacity is astonishing. When the author unexpectedly brings her together with Wang Tianyi, it is likely that readers rolled their eyes. There are many gaps in this relationship, but upon reflection, it seems quite natural. At this stage, Wang Tianyi prides himself on being a loyal person, so when Cui Huan expresses her intention to stand up for Miss Ruoruo, it is only natural that he feels some admiration. Of course, the most important factor is that Cui Huan develops feelings for Wang Tianyi, actively expressing her affection and persistently pursuing him. Wang Tianyi, on the other hand, is quite passive in matters of love and finds it difficult to refuse others' goodwill. This is particularly evident in his first crush; he initially had no feelings for Miss Shen Ningzhu, but after she sewed up his clothes and bandaged his wound, he immediately became smitten. Throughout his life, anyone who shows him care, as long as they do not seriously harm him, is likely to remain in his thoughts. Therefore, the development of this romance is indeed quite logical. However, it is precisely because of Cui Huan's pure loyalty that she ultimately chooses to warn Zhang Gaochan with her death before marriage.

Entering Jinan, one feels a sense of tradition and a certain YY. The acquaintance with Ding San and Bo Liu led to Wang Tianyi forming what appeared to be a rather close friendship with the three young masters among the Seven Heroes of the Martial World in the blink of an eye. The turmoil in the Jinan underworld caused by the search for invitations initially showcased the author's style and skill in depicting gang conflicts, serving as a rehearsal for the more complex and bloody battles in the second part. However, overall, it remains rather unremarkable, as Wang himself is not the central figure in these upheavals, resulting in a somewhat superficial engagement and insufficient tension. The turmoil in the Jinan underworld caused by the search for invitations initially showcased the author's style and skill in depicting gang conflicts, serving as a rehearsal for the more complex and bloody battles in the second part. However, overall, it remains rather unremarkable, as Wang himself is not the central figure in these upheavals, resulting in a somewhat superficial engagement and insufficient tension.

Qian Li Hong used his love for his wife and children to persuade him to kill Qin Mingyue, thereby regaining possession of this unparalleled weapon; however, in the end, he could only watch helplessly as he died trying to save his wife and children. I believe that Wang Tianyi's act of threatening Zhang Gaochan with the lives of Ruo Ruo and her mother is not without justification, and after their deaths, telling Ding Yuzhan that he would kill Ruo Ruo and her mother no matter what is also understandable. In his current view, only those who have shown him kindness are worthy of his gratitude, while Zhang Gaochan clearly has no such obligation to him; their relationship is merely based on some very practical reasons. Although Gao Liu Ruo appears to be an innocent person, if she were not the daughter of Zhang Gaochan's wife, Gao Mingyue, she might have died long ago from a serious illness. Therefore, there is no doubt that she is also part of the martial arts world; her life and death, as well as her honor and disgrace, are inevitably tied to the successes and failures of her husband and father. She is not innocent, and her death is not unjust. In the demise of Zhang Gaochan's family, Qi An played a significant and dishonorable role; however, it was Wang Tianyi who opened Pandora's box in his transformation from an arrogant son to a greedy traitor.

In comparison to the brilliance and fluidity of this part, the plot upon returning to Qingcheng, although filled with ups and downs and extreme dangers, feels somewhat contrived to me, with an overemphasis on conceptual elements. This is particularly true for a typical character like Zhen Rencai (the character Zhen easily reminds one of Chengcai from "Soldier Assault"; given that I am an extremely rare fan of Chengcai, it is only natural that I would not find it too pleasing, cough cough). Throughout the Qingcheng sect, there seems to be no normal person; it feels as if it has suddenly transformed from a television drama into a skit, with all characters' words and actions exaggerated. Even the kindness of Zhang Chuanxiu and Zhao Qianjie carries an unusual and eerie shadow. Wang Tianyi's constant switching between rage and defense appears to be a sign of mental strain. In this state, the appearance of the fierce monk Hu Buzhan and the outsider Ding Yuzhan provides a breath of fresh air. The oppressive and bizarre atmosphere persists until Wang Tianyi and Hu Buzhan join forces to break out of Qingcheng, finally achieving a refreshing breakthrough. The author's skill in writing fight scenes reaches new heights during the massacre of Qingcheng pursuers in Shiran Town, particularly when Wang Tianyi, after killing Wei Quanying, asks Fan Deyuan, "What are you doing here?" This line encapsulates the desolation of a good person at the end of their road and the last flicker of warmth.

Wang Tianyi, along with Zhang Chuanxiu and Zhao Qianjie, embarked on their journey through the martial world, where they encountered a more traditional struggle against local bullies at their first stop. Soon after, one of the major figures in the martial world, Murong Qiushui, made an appearance. Murong's entrance was not particularly impressive; appearing as the most formidable character in the entire book at the very first stop seemed somewhat hasty. Moreover, his excessive attention towards Wang Tianyi was a bit disproportionate. At this point, Wang was merely a naive young lad, still in the nascent stages of both martial skills and mental maturity, while Murong had already established a significant reputation and experience in the martial world. This almost 'love at first sight' type of assessment and support felt somewhat abrupt. Especially since later, Murong did not make any substantial efforts to recruit Wang Tianyi, at least not as calculated as Elder Yi's intentions, and even less so than Tang Bo, who had at least explicitly expressed a desire for Wang to join the Tang family. However, the confrontation between Murong and Wang against the bandits in Dianshi Village was noteworthy, particularly the scene where he threw his sword to save someone, inciting a riot among the villagers. This scene, of course, generated a strong sense of deception, leading most readers to believe that the author was of a benevolent disposition.

The opening is quite traditional; some say it resembles "The Old Tales of the Martial World," while others suggest that both "The Old Tales of the Martial World" and "The Missing Moon and the Phoenix Tree" were influenced by Wen Ruian's "The Young Hero." However, I actually don't quite remember how the beginning of "The Old Tales of the Martial World" was written (my apologies), but I feel that Wang Tianyi's initial character is indeed very similar to that of "The Young Hero." I am not surprised that many people claim they cannot get through the beginning; I am quite astonished that I managed to read it, which probably just indicates that I have been too idle lately. Regarding the Qingcheng Sect's focus on flashy yet impractical forms as the main content of teaching and examination, while it may be a bit exaggerated, I truly have no fondness for current martial arts competitions. Even branches of Chinese martial arts, like Taekwondo, have competitive matches, yet martial arts have fallen to the point of determining victory through scoring, which is truly a disgrace. I sincerely hope it will be abolished soon—this is a digression. In short, the opening is rather ordinary, but within this ordinary beginning, the impoverished lives of a group of underachievers from third-rate universities lay a sufficiently stable foundation for the ensuing bloodshed and turmoil.

In the clues related to Zhang Gaochan, the concepts of causality, retribution, success and failure are seamlessly intertwined, making it impossible for Wang Tianyi to swallow this extremely bitter outcome. This indicates that the author undertook careful consideration and planning before penning these lines

In this chapter, Murong Qiushui finally demonstrates an impressive performance. During the segment where he coerces Uncle Shu to kill Lü Zhen, he does not utter a single harsh word or display a fierce demeanor; instead, his authority looms like a mountain, truly embodying the demeanor of a distinguished individual

However, nothing astonished me as much as the ending of this volume. In fact, not long after the beginning, I guessed that the little maid was the true Miss Shen, while the stunningly beautiful maid, Cui Xiu, was merely a façade. This is a typical scenario where I figured out the beginning but failed to predict the ending. This innocent and delightful girl, who always loved to talk to Wang Tianyi and was quite gentle with him, and who shared a life-and-death experience with him, was indeed the Miss Shen. However, my mind, which had been thoroughly immersed in countless romantic and harem narratives, completely failed to consider that she could not even remember Wang Tianyi's name! This innocent and delightful girl, who always loved to talk to Wang Tianyi and was quite gentle with him, and who shared a life-and-death experience with him, was indeed the Miss Shen. However, my mind, which had been thoroughly immersed in countless romantic and harem narratives, completely failed to consider that she could not even remember Wang Tianyi's name! Moreover, although this outcome was absolutely unexpected, it was not abrupt; various foreshadowing had hinted at it. It seems that most people are still not accustomed to this kind of story development. For instance, I once thought there would be some romantic relationship between the two, even though their statuses were worlds apart compared to Shen Ningzhu and Wang Tianyi in the *Illustrated* book. When I read this part, I felt as if I had hit a solid iron plate for the first time; it turned out that the author had no intention of introducing any romantic elements into the character relationships. For instance, I once thought there would be some romantic relationship between the two, even though their statuses were worlds apart compared to Shen Ningzhu and Wang Tianyi in the *Illustrated* book. When I read this part, I felt as if I had hit a solid iron plate for the first time; it turned out that the author had no intention of introducing any romantic elements into the character relationships.

Over the years, I have occasionally seen people mention this novel. Recently, I heard that it has been completed, and since I happen to have some free time, I decided to take a look. Of course, I am someone who reads pirated posts...

Author: San Chao San Mu

Wang Tianyi, upon hearing Tan Jiantao say that Zhang Chuanxiu was seriously ill, tore off his clothes and ran frantically to see him, offering money for his treatment. His inherently generous and benevolent nature had evidently not diminished much. In light of his previous actions of killing Fan Decheng and deceiving Zhao Qianjie, it is clear that he had not abandoned his former ways; he had merely established a new set of moral standards for himself.

Compared to the uneven quality of the first part, the overall standard of the second part is significantly higher. However, as the author approached the conclusion of the second part, they decided not to write a third part, hastily abandoning and concluding many plot threads, ultimately rendering this installment to feel like a case of a promising start but a disappointing finish

According to the author, the first volume buried righteousness, and the second volume concluded loyalty and filial piety, thus leaving the third volume's soul without a home and its strength without a successor. However, I believe that loyalty and filial piety were not truly challenged in the second volume; the downfall of Elder Yi had nothing to do with Wang Tianyi, who hardly harmed those who had shown him kindness. The moral baseline remains distant and untouched. Personally, I think that if the author had written a story about Wang Tianyi becoming a crime lord as he originally planned, it would have deepened the cut he made with the sword he held against the neck of the boatman back then. I still feel that loyalty and filial piety were not genuinely challenged in the second volume; the downfall of Elder Yi was unrelated to Wang Tianyi, who almost never truly harmed those who had been kind to him. The moral baseline is still far off and has not been reached. I personally believe that if the author had followed through with his original plan to write a story about Wang Tianyi becoming a crime lord, it would have actually deepened the cut he made with that sword against the boatman's neck back then. Would he sacrifice true innocents for power and fame, abandoning or betraying those who had genuinely shown him kindness without causing harm?

The beginning of Xu Yuncheng continues the tradition and YY, as Wang Tianyi easily bestows favors upon the newly emerged top martial artist, the Kunlun Sect leader, the Martial God Zhang Gaochan. At this moment, Zhang Gaochan's character resembles that of a classic protagonist in a martial arts novel: possessing unparalleled martial skills, being magnanimous and reserved towards outsiders, and tender and gentle towards his beloved. It is truly hard to imagine the path the author lays out for him later in the text. In order to investigate the Jinan City incident, Shaolin orders the Xu family to capture Wang Tianyi. The Qin Sword Sect, a family characterized by filial piety and harmonious brotherhood, finds itself caught between the two major forces of the Tang Sect and Shaolin, facing a dilemma. Due to Li Xiaoxian's loyalty to Wang Tianyi, he suffers the tragedy of his family being exterminated; Bo Liu's care for Wang Tianyi ultimately leads to a tragedy that severely harms Wang Tianyi in an effort to maintain the Tang family's prestige. The oppressive atmosphere successfully created by the end of this volume becomes the tone for the entire novel in the subsequent text. Here, it is merely a small test of skill. Of course, there is also the surviving little servant Qi An of Li Xiaoxian, a minor character who plays an unexpectedly crucial role later in the text.

The Battle in the Rainy Night Village marks a significant leap in the author's writing skills, with this section being vividly and dynamically written, truly a pleasant surprise. If the author could rewrite the first two volumes with this level of proficiency, it would undoubtedly enhance the readers' experience. Particularly striking are the slaps that awaken Zuo Fei, who is encountering a bloody battle for the first time, and the repeated phrase "it's too late now," which conveys a depth of pain and friendship far greater than earlier passages. The struggle at the bow of the ship against the fierce monk Hu Buzhan, and the moment when Wang Tianyi places his sword against the neck of the boatman, marks the first true moral test he faces. I even feel this is the most perilous moral challenge he encounters throughout the text; thus, although he later kills countless people, they are mostly individuals entangled in the interests of the martial world or those who pose a threat to Wang Tianyi. In contrast, this boatman is a true innocent. If the fierce monk refuses to be threatened, would he be able to thrust his sword? I even feel this is the most perilous moral challenge he encounters throughout the text; thus, although he later kills countless people, they are mostly individuals entangled in the interests of the martial world or those who pose a threat to Wang Tianyi. In contrast, this boatman is a true innocent. If the fierce monk refuses to be threatened, would he be able to thrust his sword? Of course, for the current Wang Tianyi, facing such a test is still somewhat premature.