Xiao Yu'an was raised by his family to be a stereotypical domineering CEO, but he lacked the necessary traits except for wealth and looks.

Xiao Yu'an preferred being a warm, loyal person, which confused his ambitious family.

His family believed that Xiao Yu'an needed to fall in love with a kind, ordinary woman working for the Xiao family company.

Xiao Yu'an accidentally bumped into such a woman, but her hostility and refusal of his money made him think she was mentally unstable.

The Xiao family organized a party to match Xiao Yu'an with Lin-enchanting-butterfly-ice-crystal-violet-soul-leaving-the-night-phoenix-Ling, a bizarrely named rich girl.

Xiao Yu'an was horrified by her seven-colored hair and eccentricity, immediately rejecting her.

The Xiao family wrongly assumed Xiao Yu'an was gay due to his disinterest in women.

Xiao Yu'an was then introduced to a stereotypical "bottom" man, but he was repulsed by the character's weakness and neediness.

The Xiao family concluded that Xiao Yu'an must himself be a "bottom" instead.

Xiao Yu'an’s car was scratched, and he got into a phone argument with the perpetrator, who turned out to be a notorious gang leader.

Curious, Xiao Yu'an met the gang leader, who tried to forcibly kidnap him into a toxic BDSM relationship.

Xiao Yu'an defended himself and beat the gang leader up, deciding that romance was a lost cause for him.

Xiao Yu'an was diagnosed with a terminal illness and quietly prepared for his death by settling his affairs and checking into a hospice.

He distracted himself by binge-reading web novels, stumbling upon one he despised, "The History of the Four Empires," for its descent from serious historical fiction into a trashy fantasy harem story.

Xiao Yu'an left a thoughtful comment about the novel’s male protagonist's tragic love, which caught the attention of the novel’s author.

At the hospice, Xiao Yu'an was physically assaulted by a young man he was caring for after announcing he was leaving forever.

After transferring all his assets to the young man, Xiao Yu'an jumped from the fifth floor to his death.

Xiao Yu'an awoke to find himself transmigrated into a new body — that of a young emperor in a pseudo-historical setting.

Xiao Yu'an realized he was inside the same novel, "The History of the Four Empires," and that he was now the young emperor destined to be brutally killed by the male protagonist.

Xiao Yu'an immediately recognized his personal maidservant Hongxiu and tried to orient himself to survive.

Xiao Yu'an asked about Yan Heqing, the imprisoned Southern Yan prince and the story’s male lead.

Xiao Yu'an went to the imperial prison, saw the severely abused Yan Heqing, and instinctively decided against killing him despite knowing Yan Heqing could one day destroy him.

Xiao Yu'an ordered Yan Heqing to be treated and released from his chains, hoping to alter his fate.

While inspecting Yan Heqing, Xiao Yu'an was bitten by the weakened man but stayed calm and covered it up.

After leaving the prison, Xiao Yu'an returned to the palace and bathed, realizing that his personal maidservant Hongxiu might be more dangerous than she seemed.

As Xiao Yu'an prepared for bed, still strategizing how to survive in this dangerous novel world, he discovered an unexpected person waiting in his bed.

Xiao Yu'an, following CEO romance instincts, grappled and restrained the person who climbed into his bed instead of embracing them.

The young boy he restrained sobbed and asked Xiao Yu'an to be gentle, revealing he was there to serve him.

Xiao Yu'an realized the young emperor was not only gay but also a sadist with prepared whips and ropes, horrifying him.

Xiao Yu'an refused the boy’s advances, tidied his robes, and called Hongxiu to take the boy away, instructing her to reward him.

Xiao Yu'an struggled with insomnia because he was used to the sound of breathing beside him when he slept.

Unable to sleep, Xiao Yu'an snuck out through a window, scaring the guards who then directed him to a quieter path.

Xiao Yu'an, wandering at night, heard guqin music and, curious, followed it.

Xiao Yu'an accidentally stepped on a branch and made noise, startling a figure nearby.

The person he met was Yang Liu'an, who claimed he was also investigating the music, although he was clearly lying.

Xiao Yu'an recognized Yang Liu'an as a good, loyal character from the novel who died protecting the emperor later.

Xiao Yu'an instructed Yang Liu'an to help check on Yan Heqing’s condition, then returned to the Emperor's Hall.

Xiao Yu'an spent another sleepless night, worrying about his insomnia problem.

In the morning, Xiao Yu'an decided to visit Yan Heqing, the male protagonist, who was being treated in the Imperial Physicians Hall.

At the Imperial Physicians Hall, Yan Heqing was found resting, his face smeared with soot to disguise his appearance, following the novel’s plot.

Xiao Yu'an decided not to clean Yan Heqing's face, respecting his wish for anonymity.

Xiao Yu'an, exhausted, lay beside the sleeping Yan Heqing to finally hear someone breathing and sleep.

Hongxiu wisely covered for Xiao Yu'an’s behavior, ensuring the guards and physician left them alone.

Xiao Yu'an slept peacefully until the afternoon and awoke refreshed.

Yan Heqing, still sleeping, showed signs of fever and distress, prompting Xiao Yu'an to care for him by giving him water.

The physician arrived and confirmed Yan Heqing’s fever was not serious and would soon subside.

Hongxiu suggested transferring Yan Heqing to the pleasure slave quarters, but Xiao Yu'an adamantly refused.

Xiao Yu'an decided to send Yan Heqing to the Imperial Household Department under Eunuch Zhao’s management.

Xiao Yu'an returned to his hall and continued suffering from insomnia despite his efforts.

Xiao Yu'an passed the time talking to Yang Liu'an about life and learned of Yang Liu'an’s lonely background as a palace-born child.

Concerned that too much chatting would risk the young emperor’s rumored attraction to men, Xiao Yu'an ended the conversation.

Hongxiu later brought calming soup for Xiao Yu'an, and upon his request, stood by his bed to help him fall asleep.

With Hongxiu nearby, Xiao Yu'an finally managed to sleep again, deeply moved by her kindness.

Just when Xiao Yu'an thought life might settle down, the main novel plot intruded with the arrival of General Sun.

Yang Liu'an reported that General Sun had arrived at the Main Reception Hall demanding to see the emperor.

Xiao Yu'an panicked, knowing General Sun was the Defender General of Beiping, a powerful and loyal figure, and Princess Yongning’s grandfather.

In the original novel, the young emperor insulted and imprisoned General Sun, leading to massive instability.

Determined to avoid repeating that mistake, Xiao Yu'an immediately knelt before General Sun and humbly agreed with all his criticisms.

General Sun was stunned by Xiao Yu'an’s obedience but eventually recovered and continued rebuking him for an hour.

Xiao Yu'an accepted every reprimand, promised change, and abolished the frequent banquets, committing himself to serious governance.

General Sun was so moved he believed Xiao Yu'an was blessed by the late emperor’s spirit.

Xiao Yu'an’s reforms stabilized the court, improved the treasury, and strengthened the Northern Empire.

Meanwhile, at Jingyang Palace, the neglected pleasure slaves grew resentful, except for Xiao Fengyue, who quietly endured the cold and hardship.

Xiao Fengyue, a former guqin player from Southern Yan, was thankful that Xiao Yu'an never summoned him.

Yang Liu'an, secretly affectionate toward Xiao Fengyue, sneaked into Jingyang Palace to bring him osmanthus cakes and warmth.

Xiao Fengyue worried about being discovered playing the guqin the other night, but Yang Liu'an reassured him that Xiao Yu'an did not pursue the matter.

Yang Liu'an revealed that Xiao Yu'an intended to secretly witness the first meeting between the male and female protagonists, hinting that Xiao Yu'an was meddling directly with the plot.

Xiao Yu'an hid in the Imperial Garden's bushes to witness the first meeting between Yan Heqing and Princess Yongning, excited for the story to unfold.

As snow fell and temperatures dropped, Yan Heqing arrived, wearing only thin linen, injured and starving, and eating snow to survive.

Xiao Yu'an realized Yan Heqing had been sent by Eunuch Zhao to sweep snow and was appalled at his miserable condition.

Yan Heqing stood tall despite his suffering, holding the broom like a sword, radiating dignity.

A servant kicked Yan Heqing’s knees, forcing him to kneel and berated him, eventually ordering him to kneel in the snow all night as punishment.

Xiao Yu'an expected Princess Yongning to appear and save Yan Heqing, but hours passed and she never came.

Xiao Yu'an realized that because he had prevented General Sun from retiring, the chain of events leading Princess Yongning to pass by had been broken.

Panicking, Xiao Yu'an rushed to Yan Heqing, wrapped him in his outer robe, and carried him to the Imperial Physicians Hall.

Xiao Yu'an collapsed from fever after ensuring Yan Heqing was safe and later woke up in the Emperor’s Hall surrounded by worried attendants.

Confirming Yan Heqing was out of danger, Xiao Yu'an was visited by Princess Yongning, who was extremely kind and charming, matching her novel depiction.

During the visit, Hongxiu accidentally spilled hot soup on Princess Yongning, but Princess Yongning forgave her without anger, showing her benevolent nature.

Princess Yongning changed into Xiao Yu'an’s clothes and left to make him another pot of soup, impressing Xiao Yu'an with her independence and kindness.

Xiao Yu'an reflected sadly that Princess Yongning would eventually die in the story, which had devastated the novel’s readers.

Eunuch Zhao, meanwhile, plotted against Yan Heqing, seeing him as a dangerous "wild beast" that needed to be worn down rather than killed.

Days later, Yan Heqing was bullied again in the courtyard by servants under Steward Feng’s orders, enduring snowball attacks and humiliation.

Yan Heqing showed no anger, but Eunuch Zhao recognized the latent fury and resilience in his eyes, deciding that Yan Heqing had to be broken psychologically, not killed.

Steward Feng and two servants stole Yan Heqing’s precious jade hairpin, the last memento from his mother, intending to keep it.

Xiao Yu'an appeared just in time, rescued Yan Heqing, retrieved the hairpin, and reprimanded the bullies by making them memorize an embarrassing chant about not seeking death.

Hongxiu suggested gouging out the servants’ eyes and cutting off their hands, but Xiao Yu'an realized the real mastermind was Eunuch Zhao and restrained himself.

Xiao Yu'an extracted a promise from Hongxiu that she would never harm Yan Heqing.

Inspecting Yan Heqing’s miserable living conditions, Xiao Yu'an saw how awful the room was and had Hongxiu bring hot water and medicine to treat Yan Heqing’s injuries.

Xiao Yu'an coaxed Yan Heqing into washing his face, revealing his stunning, heroic appearance.

Xiao Yu'an returned the jade hairpin to Yan Heqing after teasing him and ensuring he cleaned up first.

Xiao Yu'an proposed moving Yan Heqing to Jingyang Palace for his safety, promising no ulterior motives.

Yan Heqing was suspicious but, after a light-hearted negotiation involving Xiao Yu'an putting on an outer robe to ward off the cold, agreed to move to Jingyang Palace.

Xiao Yu'an instructed Hongxiu to arrange for Yan Heqing’s room near Princess Yongning’s residence, plotting to bring the male and female protagonists closer together.

News reached Eunuch Zhao that Yan Heqing had left the Imperial Household Department, and although Steward Feng panicked, Eunuch Zhao was calm.

Eunuch Zhao decided to manipulate Hongxiu to control Yan Heqing inside Jingyang Palace.

Eunuch Zhao visited Hongxiu, hinting that it was her duty to ensure Yan Heqing became a compliant pleasure slave to protect His Majesty.

Hongxiu, recalling Xiao Yu'an's earlier warnings, was extremely disturbed but could not openly oppose Eunuch Zhao.

Xiao Yu'an noticed Hongxiu was acting strange but decided to visit Yan Heqing in Jingyang Palace anyway, dragging Yang Liu'an along.

Xiao Yu'an knocked on Yan Heqing's door respectfully, startling Yang Liu'an with how cautious he was toward Yan Heqing.

When Yang Liu'an asked why Yan Heqing was so important, Xiao Yu'an dramatically explained the concept of a "male protagonist" being the center of the universe.

Yan Heqing appeared clean and handsome in white robes, looking like a true hero.

Xiao Yu'an sent Yang Liu'an away with pastries and entered the room alone with Yan Heqing, who coldly allowed him inside.

Xiao Yu'an jokingly feared being attacked, and Yan Heqing deadpanned that he had no weapons.

Xiao Yu'an tried to hint at Yan Heqing getting closer to Princess Yongning, but Yan Heqing flatly refused to approach her.

Xiao Yu'an was frustrated but decided to figure out another plan later.

As Xiao Yu'an left, he was ambushed by Qin Yu, the most favored pleasure slave in the novel, who tried to cling to him emotionally.

Xiao Yu'an, remembering Qin Yu's future betrayal, coldly rejected him and fled.

Xiao Yu'an heard a guqin melody and followed it, finding Yang Liu'an, who suspiciously claimed he lost the plate used for pastries.

Back at the Emperor’s Hall, Xiao Yu'an asked about the guqin player and learned that the musician was a pleasure slave named Xiao Fengyue.

Hongxiu remembered Eunuch Zhao’s words about how dangerous Yan Heqing could be and wandered to Jingyang Palace at night.

Hongxiu saw Yan Heqing silently staring at the moon, clutching his jade hairpin, full of sorrow and determination.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Zhao revealed to Steward Feng that Hongxiu was capable of brutal methods, having once maimed an assassin and sent him to His Majesty's bed.

Xiao Yu'an persistently tried to convince Princess Yongning to accept a personal guard, seeing it as a way to match her with Yan Heqing.

After several attempts, Princess Yongning happily found a "guard," a giant, burly woman named Cuier, who terrified Xiao Yu'an with her strength.

Xiao Yu'an was utterly defeated when Princess Yongning insisted on choosing Cuier and ignored all his matchmaking plans.

Desperate, Xiao Yu'an decided to forcibly make Yan Heqing and Princess Yongning meet by summoning Yan Heqing.

Hongxiu misunderstood, believing Xiao Yu'an intended to sleep with Yan Heqing, and drugged and restrained Yan Heqing to deliver him to Xiao Yu'an's bed.

Xiao Yu'an found Yan Heqing tied up, injured, drugged, and unconscious, and panicked trying to undo the fancy knots without success.

Hongxiu arrived to help free Yan Heqing, admitting she drugged him only lightly and explaining the injuries were from a punishment for violating curfew.

Xiao Yu'an clarified fiercely that he had no romantic or lustful interest in Yan Heqing and was only acting for political reasons.

Hongxiu agreed not to force Yan Heqing into anything again, but Xiao Yu'an allowed Yan Heqing to stay the night in his room out of pity.

Xiao Yu'an collapsed mentally from all the chaos, but when he checked Yan Heqing, he found Yan Heqing awake, eyes blood-red, and glaring at him murderously.

In pure terror, Xiao Yu'an tried to deflect by shouting nonsense, but Yan Heqing grabbed him by the throat, pinning him to the bed.

Yan Heqing tried to strangle Xiao Yu'an, believing death was better than surrender, but Xiao Yu'an gasped that he was not truly the emperor of the Northern Empire.

Yan Heqing hesitated but still attacked, resulting in a chaotic struggle where Xiao Yu'an barely managed to survive.

Xiao Yu'an insisted he had no ill intentions, revealing he transmigrated and was not the original emperor, calling himself a "daddy's friend" to Yan Heqing’s confusion.

Yan Heqing did not believe Xiao Yu'an and launched another attack, beating him so severely that Xiao Yu'an almost coughed blood.

Xiao Yu'an was only saved when Yang Liu'an knocked on the door, distracting Yan Heqing long enough for Xiao Yu'an to gasp out a warning to stay outside.

Yan Heqing was stunned by Xiao Yu'an protecting him and began to doubt his own judgment.

Xiao Yu'an swore an oath, promising he would never harm Yan Heqing, and, exhausted, wrapped himself in a blanket and declared he would sleep.

Yan Heqing slowly accepted the sincerity, shared the blanket, and agreed to continue living in Jingyang Palace.

The next morning, Xiao Yu'an was a mess of bruises and injuries, while Yan Heqing looked relatively unharmed.

Xiao Yu'an worried about covering up the bruises and was relieved Yan Heqing did not have major injuries besides bite marks on his hand.

Hongxiu walked in and misunderstood the messy bed scene, assuming Xiao Yu'an had been assaulted by Yan Heqing.

Xiao Yu'an, unwilling to explain the truth, played along and vaguely hinted that "psychological warfare" was the cause.

Hongxiu tearfully offered to get ointment for "that spot," which horrified Xiao Yu'an, who clarified he only needed medicine for his sore throat.

Days later, after healing, Xiao Yu'an visited Jingyang Palace again to check on Yan Heqing, sending Yang Liu'an to dry himself after getting soaked in snow.

Yang Liu'an and Xiao Fengyue shared a tender moment, where Xiao Fengyue gave him a scent pouch and showed concern for him.

Qin Yu secretly spied on them and seemed to plot mischief after witnessing their interaction.

Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing discussed trust; Xiao Yu'an called Yan Heqing his friend, and Yan Heqing tentatively accepted Xiao Yu'an’s sincerity.

Xiao Yu'an shared his real name, Xiao Yu'an, and asked Yan Heqing to call him by it in private.

Back at Jingyang Palace, gossip about Yan Heqing spread, fueled by jealousy and manipulation from Qin Yu and others.

Yan Heqing was falsely accused of practicing swordplay, a crime for pleasure slaves, and faced harsh punishment.

Hongxiu was pressured to act, but Xiao Yu'an arrived just in time to intervene.

Instead of punishing Yan Heqing, Xiao Yu'an ordered that he be given a bigger courtyard to practice safely, citing environmental protection humorously.

Qin Yu warned the tattling pleasure slaves to stop pushing the matter after seeing Xiao Yu'an's unexpected protection of Yan Heqing.

News spread that Yan Heqing was favored, causing unrest, but Eunuch Zhao decided Yan Heqing was no longer a threat since he believed Yan Heqing was broken in spirit.

Hongxiu worried that allowing Yan Heqing to train might lead to assassination, but Xiao Yu'an reassured her that he had control.

Xiao Yu'an personally visited Yan Heqing the next morning, taking him on a stroll without guards, leading to the Imperial Kitchen by accident.

Xiao Yu'an planned to steal food to share with Yan Heqing, treating it like a sneaky adventure, much to Yan Heqing’s helplessness.

They raided the kitchen, but a servant spotted them, prompting Yan Heqing to heroically throw Xiao Yu'an out a window to save him.

They escaped with sweet potatoes, and Xiao Yu'an humorously suggested better communication next time.

After eating, they realized they were outside the Imperial Palace, and Xiao Yu'an asked for directions to the Temple of Heaven.

Despite the guard’s offer of a carriage, Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing decided to continue their journey on foot through snow and freezing winds.

After a long, arduous trek, the two finally reached the Temple of Heaven by nightfall.

Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing reached the Temple of Heaven, a sacred ancestral site of the Northern Empire.

Xiao Yu'an entered the temple alone, aware it held the sword once belonging to Yan Heqing’s father, which had been taken as a war trophy.

Xiao Yu'an retrieved the sword and gifted it to Yan Heqing, returning it to its rightful owner.

Yan Heqing, deeply moved, knelt to honor his homeland before the sword and showed no signs of hatred toward Xiao Yu'an.

On their way back, Xiao Yu'an twisted his ankle after being startled by a snake and falling down a path.

Yan Heqing left briefly, returning with materials to make a splint and carried Xiao Yu'an on his back.

Xiao Yu'an felt awkward but was reminded that he once carried Yan Heqing in the snow as well.

They shared a lighthearted moment, with Xiao Yu'an singing about friendship, further deepening their bond.

Upon returning, they were found by panicked guards; Xiao Yu'an covered for Yan Heqing by calling it an "evening excursion."

Rumors spread through the palace about Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing spending the night together.

Qin Yu, jealous and scheming, plotted to destroy Yan Heqing and approached Xiao Fengyue, threatening to expose his relationship with Yang Liu'an.

Qin Yu demanded that Xiao Fengyue drug Yan Heqing and fake a scandalous scene, providing sedatives to stage the incident.

Xiao Fengyue, haunted by his past and love for Yang Liu'an, reluctantly accepted to protect Yang Liu'an’s life.

Xiao Yu'an injured his foot but was visited by Princess Yongning, who brought him snow pear and lily porridge.

Xiao Yu'an panicked because that porridge was supposed to be a key bonding moment between Yan Heqing and Princess Yongning in the original novel.

Xiao Yu'an rushed the porridge to Yan Heqing and forced him to eat it, but Yan Heqing criticized it as too sweet and too thick, failing to spark any romantic reaction.

Determined, Xiao Yu'an planned to dress Yan Heqing as a guard and introduce him to Princess Yongning to fulfill the original plot.

Xiao Yu'an and his entourage went to Jingyang Palace, but upon entering Yan Heqing’s room, they found him naked in bed with Xiao Fengyue.

Yang Liu'an was visibly devastated, hinting at deeper feelings for Xiao Fengyue, while Xiao Yu'an was stunned and tried to de-escalate the situation.

Xiao Fengyue confessed falsely that he and Yan Heqing were in love and begged the emperor to bless their relationship.

Hongxiu beat Xiao Fengyue until Xiao Yu'an intervened and sent him away, suspicious but unwilling to punish either man severely.

Xiao Yu'an confirmed with Yan Heqing that he had been drugged with porridge Xiao Fengyue claimed was from Xiao Yu'an.

Yan Heqing was furious at the betrayal but grateful Xiao Yu'an trusted him and protected him from punishment.

Realizing the deeper connection, Xiao Yu'an allowed Yang Liu'an to come along to confront Xiao Fengyue.

Xiao Yu'an connected the dots, realizing the original novel hinted at Yang Liu'an and Xiao Fengyue's hidden love story.

Yang Liu'an broke down and begged to see Xiao Fengyue one last time, willing to be executed afterward.

Xiao Yu'an allowed it, understanding the depth of their relationship.

When they arrived at Xiao Fengyue’s room, they found him dead, having hanged himself, fulfilling the novel’s foreshadowing.

Yang Liu'an panicked and brought Xiao Fengyue down after finding him hanging; Xiao Fengyue showed no pulse or breath.

Xiao Yu'an performed CPR, successfully reviving Xiao Fengyue after three rounds of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth.

Xiao Yu'an was relieved his first aid training paid off and credited his serious CEO-era CPR lessons.

Xiao Fengyue cried when he saw Yang Liu'an, and Yang Liu'an asked why he tried to kill himself.

Xiao Yu'an pushed Yang Liu'an into Xiao Fengyue's arms, encouraging the two to embrace.

Xiao Yu'an questioned Xiao Fengyue with yes/no questions; Xiao Fengyue confirmed he was blackmailed to harm Yan Heqing to protect Yang Liu'an.

Yang Liu'an begged to take full responsibility, but Xiao Yu'an mockingly said both would be punished.

Xiao Yu'an declared they were both “fired” and kicked out of the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Yu'an instructed Yang Liu'an to collect medicine and valuables, then leave that night with Xiao Fengyue to a safe village to start a new life.

Xiao Yu'an gave them a carriage, money, and a peaceful destination, asking only that Yang Liu'an return once next year to check for a message.

As they departed, Yang Liu'an cried and pledged eternal gratitude, but Xiao Yu'an said they had already repaid him in a past life.

Xiao Yu'an returned alone, telling the guards he exchanged the carriage "for two genuine hearts."

Yan Heqing waited in the snow for Xiao Yu'an; they walked together, and Xiao Yu'an expressed concern that the mastermind behind the frame-up might strike again.

Xiao Yu'an proposed dismissing all pleasure slaves to cut off political threats and protect Yan Heqing.

Xiao Yu'an planned to declare a mourning period and claim abstinence to remove political justification for keeping pleasure slaves.

The next day, Xiao Yu'an shocked the court by announcing a three-year mourning period for the late emperor and a vow of celibacy.

Court officials were confused because the late emperor died nearly a year ago, and Xiao Yu'an had previously refused mourning.

Xiao Yu'an gave each pleasure slave 100 taels of gold and the option for former officials to reclaim their ranks.

Qin Yu silently accepted the gold and left without a word; Xiao Yu'an was reminded of Qin Yu's future betrayal in the original novel.

Five pleasure slaves remained; four were spies for Prince Wuning and eventually left after pressure.

One man remained, refusing the gold and asking to become a soldier instead; he introduced himself as Xie Chungui.

Xiao Yu'an panicked internally, recognizing Xie Chungui as a future legendary general in the novel who once held back Yan Heqing's forces for two weeks.

Xiao Yu'an realized that Xie Chungui was accidentally placed in Jingyang Palace due to the young emperor’s incompetence.

In the original novel, General Sun later discovered Xie Chungui’s misplacement, nearly died of rage, and personally transferred him to the military camp.

Xiao Yu'an promised to take Xie Chungui to meet General Sun himself and internally rejoiced at saving the Northern Empire's future.

Xiao Yu'an told Yan Heqing he might be reassigned back to the Imperial Household Department.

Yan Heqing asked why Xiao Yu'an cared so much; Xiao Yu'an offered no direct answer but reflected that Yan Heqing had become real to him—no longer just a character in a novel.

Xiao Yu'an asked Yan Heqing to become his personal guard to protect him from danger.

Yan Heqing had flashbacks of his mother’s suicide, the fall of Southern Yan, and his suffering in captivity but accepted Xiao Yu'an’s offer.

Snow continued falling as they agreed to the arrangement, and Yan Heqing smiled slightly.

General Sun, meanwhile, was home being scolded by his wife for overworking while sick.

A servant reported General Li Wuding’s visit; General Sun received him warmly but scolded him with affection.

When Xiao Yu'an arrived at the manor, Li Wuding tried to avoid him but accidentally bumped into him.

Xiao Yu'an was stunned to meet Li Wuding, realizing he was the novel’s second male lead—brilliant in strategy but doomed to constant betrayal and being overshadowed by Yan Heqing.

Xiao Yu'an tried to compose himself while internally laughing at the unfairness of Li Wuding’s fate.

Xiao Yu'an confirmed to General Sun that he came to recommend Xie Chungui for military service.

Before the conversation could continue, a servant burst in to report that Li Wuding and one of the emperor’s guards had gotten into a huge fight outside.

General Sun panicked when he heard about the fight between Xie Chungui and Li Wuding and rushed to the courtyard with Xiao Yu'an following eagerly.

Xie Chungui and Li Wuding were fighting; Li Wuding easily subdued Xie Chungui and tried to end it, but Xie Chungui refused to give up.

General Sun scolded Li Wuding for inappropriate behavior in front of the emperor, and both men knelt to apologize, with Xie Chungui admitting he started the fight.

Flashback revealed that Xie Chungui admired Li Wuding since childhood and challenged him impulsively after meeting him again.

Xiao Yu'an realized in the original novel Xie Chungui despised Li Wuding after Li Wuding’s betrayal, making the current admiration tragic.

Li Wuding requested that Xie Chungui become his deputy general, and Xiao Yu'an approved it with mixed emotions.

Xiao Yu'an returned to the palace and noticed Yan Heqing dressed in his new guard uniform, looking exceptionally handsome, worrying Xiao Yu'an about future trouble.

Xiao Yu'an subtly helped smooth Yan Heqing’s sleeve and missed seeing Yan Heqing smile faintly afterward.

Hongxiu seemed distracted; she confessed she wished to leave the palace to visit her ill sister, a serious request since palace maids were forbidden to leave.

Xiao Yu'an immediately approved Hongxiu's request and arranged a doctor to accompany her, moving Hongxiu to tears.

Without Hongxiu by his side at night, Xiao Yu'an struggled with insomnia and sneaked out of his room to find someone to talk to.

Xiao Yu'an startled a young palace guard, joked about poetry, and eventually sought out Yan Heqing.

Xiao Yu'an found Yan Heqing returning from night patrol; Yan Heqing pulled Xiao Yu'an inside, concerned for his thin clothing and cold.

Xiao Yu'an confessed he could not sleep without the sound of breathing beside him, revealing his trauma from his childhood.

Xiao Yu'an shared that his mother committed suicide when he was young and his brother grew up mentally ill and resentful.

Yan Heqing comforted Xiao Yu'an by patting him gently on the back, and Xiao Yu'an finally slept peacefully.

In the morning, Xiao Yu'an woke up smiling at Yan Heqing and shared a peaceful moment listening to birdsong together.

With spring's arrival, Xiao Yu'an prepared to handle two major events: his upcoming birthday and the diplomatic mission from Western Shu.

Unlike the original novel, Xiao Yu'an welcomed the Western Shu delegation respectfully to avoid future war.

Xiao Yu'an realized Western Shu’s delegation leader was Xiao Pingyang, the second female lead of the novel and future empress.

Xiao Yu'an panicked internally, realizing how powerful and unique Xiao Pingyang's future role was, and worried about plot derailments.

During a tour of the palace, Xiao Pingyang and Princess Yongning met at Jade Splendour House and quickly bonded as friends.

Xiao Pingyang was impressed by Princess Yongning's kindness and innocence, and they promised to visit each other in the future.

Xiao Yu'an found lychee fruit among the Western Shu tributes, a favorite treat of Yan Heqing according to the novel.

Yan Heqing, wary of poison, ate the lychee first after Xiao Yu'an insisted, causing Xiao Yu'an to laugh.

Xiao Yu'an gifted a vermilion hairpin to Hongxiu as thanks, deeply moving her.

Xiao Yu'an worried about Princess Yongning's birthday dance, recalling she was supposed to fall into the pond according to the novel.

At the birthday banquet, Princess Yongning performed her dance flawlessly without falling into the pond, surprising Xiao Yu'an.

Xiao Pingyang and Princess Yongning admired each other’s grace, suggesting Xiao Pingyang might be affected by Princess Yongning’s charm.

After Princess Yongning’s dance, she pulled Xiao Yu'an onto the stage, and they danced together amid a shower of butterflies released by the Western Shu delegation.

Just as Xiao Yu'an relaxed, while stepping off the stage, he accidentally missed a step and began to fall.

Princess Yongning tried to pull Xiao Yu'an from falling but ended up falling into the icy pond with him.

Xiao Yu'an struggled underwater, intending to save Princess Yongning, but Yan Heqing dove in first and rescued her.

Xiao Pingyang grabbed Princess Yongning on the surface, while Yan Heqing ended up saving Xiao Yu'an instead.

Xiao Yu'an felt frustrated that Yan Heqing failed to save his supposed "future wife" Princess Yongning first.

Xiao Yu'an and Princess Yongning were rushed to the Imperial Physicians Hall after the chaotic incident.

Xiao Yu'an was wrapped in thick blankets and suffocated by the physician’s overzealous care despite feeling fine.

Xiao Yu'an requested to see Yan Heqing; when Yan Heqing arrived, Xiao Yu'an begged him to save him from the blankets.

Yan Heqing stuffed Xiao Yu'an’s hand back into the blankets instead, insisting he rest.

Xiao Yu'an rebelled, showed he was healthy by making Yan Heqing check his pulse, and then insisted on sneaking out to the night market.

Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing wandered the bustling night market together, enjoying the crowds and festive atmosphere.

Xiao Yu'an found a white jade flute in a shop and insisted on buying it after hearing Yan Heqing play beautifully.

Xiao Yu'an realized he had no money, so he decided to "borrow" money from Prince Wuning.

Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing visited Prince Wuning's manor; Xiao Yu'an bluntly asked to borrow one hundred taels of gold.

Prince Wuning, misinterpreting Xiao Yu'an’s visit, thought he came to discreetly satisfy forbidden desires and prepared two beauties in red robes.

Xiao Yu'an rejected the "gift," shocking Prince Wuning, who interpreted it as proof the emperor was impotent.

Meanwhile, Prince Wuning secretly passed a scroll to Yan Heqing, addressing him as "Prince Yan" and hinting at secret plans tied to Southern Yan.

Xiao Yu'an, pretending to know nothing, left with Yan Heqing and successfully bought the flute.

Xiao Yu'an gifted the flute to Yan Heqing under the moonlit riverbank, saying he simply wanted him to have it.

Yan Heqing, deeply moved, offered Xiao Yu'an the jade hairpin belonging to his mother, which was originally meant for Princess Yongning in the novel.

Xiao Yu'an panicked internally but accepted the hairpin while promising to return it if needed.

While wandering the streets, Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing bumped into Princess Yongning and Xiao Pingyang.

Xiao Yu'an tried to create space for Yan Heqing and Princess Yongning to bond, but Yan Heqing showed subtle hostility.

Xiao Yu'an instructed Yan Heqing to escort Princess Yongning to the river and protect her.

Xiao Pingyang unexpectedly stayed with Xiao Yu'an and spoke about fate, making Xiao Yu'an reflect on Princess Yongning’s future tragic death in the novel.

At the river, Princess Yongning and Xiao Pingyang released flower lanterns together, while Yan Heqing acted cold and detached.

Xiao Yu'an sensed Yan Heqing's unhappiness but was unable to pinpoint the cause.

Yan Heqing unexpectedly asked if Xiao Yu'an liked Princess Yongning or Xiao Pingyang, showing jealousy.

Xiao Yu'an awkwardly explained he now preferred men, even joking about liking a male opera performer.

They visited a liquor store and then the Jade Splendour House to drink together, enjoying the night and bonding.

Xiao Yu'an drunkenly sang a ridiculous "love song" and rambled about wanting a peaceful future as a commoner.

Yan Heqing asked if he was included in Xiao Yu'an’s dream, but Xiao Yu'an, too drunk, could not properly answer.

Yan Heqing caught Xiao Yu'an when he nearly fell, and overwhelmed by emotions, Yan Heqing kissed him under the moonlight.

During the kiss, a box fell from Yan Heqing’s robe; inside was the secret scroll detailing plans with Southern Yan.

Yan Heqing picked it up silently, realizing he could not have both Xiao Yu'an and his mission.

The next morning, Xiao Yu'an woke up with a hangover, believing the kiss had been a hallucination from drunkenness.

Hongxiu joked that Yan Heqing had carried him back, and Xiao Yu'an decided to pretend nothing happened.

Spring arrived, and Xiao Yu'an saw the pear blossoms blooming, marking a new season of change and foreshadowing coming goodbyes.

Xiao Pingyang and her delegation from Western Shu prepared to leave, and she mysteriously hinted they would "become family" one day.

Princess Yongning fell sick, and while visiting her, she confessed to Xiao Yu'an that she had fallen in love with someone.

Xiao Yu'an assumed it was Yan Heqing, feeling satisfied that the official novel pairing was proceeding.

Xiao Yu'an wholeheartedly supported Princess Yongning’s feelings, unaware of the brewing deeper complications.

Xiao Yu'an learned that General Sun was critically ill and rushed to visit him.

General Sun tearfully praised Xiao Yu'an for becoming a wise and responsible ruler before lamenting his own helplessness at being unable to protect the kingdom anymore.

Xiao Yu'an emotionally thanked General Sun for his lifetime of service before leaving to let him rest.

Outside, Xiao Yu'an encountered Li Wuding, who warned Xiao Yu'an to beware of betrayal even from those closest to him but could not provide specifics.

Xiao Yu'an attended the Northern Empire’s annual martial contest and teased soldiers by tapping along to their work rhythm, accidentally disrupting them.

Li Wuding suggested moving discussions inside a tent; Xiao Yu'an agreed, noting that he was secretly evaluating whether to appoint Li Wuding as Defender General.

Soldiers gossiped that Xiao Yu'an must be selecting a new general, and many believed it would be Li Wuding.

Outside the tent, a soldier named Nie Er recognized Yan Heqing as a former Southern Yan prince and humiliated him brutally in front of others.

Yan Heqing restrained himself from retaliating against Nie Er, not wanting to cause trouble for Xiao Yu'an.

Xie Chungui and Li Wuding intervened to stop the bullying, and Nie Er was sentenced to ten strokes as punishment.

Xiao Yu'an noticed Yan Heqing’s injuries and deduced what had happened from Li Wuding’s explanation.

Xiao Yu'an realized that Nie Er was the same soldier from the original novel who had tortured Yan Heqing during his captivity.

Xiao Yu'an challenged Nie Er in the arena and easily defeated him, shocking everyone and lifting Yan Heqing’s spirits.

Meanwhile, Xie Chungui competed fiercely against Li Wuding but ultimately lost, gaining Li Wuding’s approval and encouragement for the future.

After much thought, Xiao Yu'an decided to appoint Li Wuding as Defender General despite fears of future betrayal.

Li Wuding tearfully accepted the promotion and later invited his comrades, including Xie Chungui, to a modest celebration at his rundown home.

Xie Chungui, initially embarrassed at overdressing and bringing an extravagant gift, bonded deeply with Li Wuding over simple food and shared ideals.

During drunken conversations, Li Wuding revealed he joined the army merely to survive famine, sharing a tragic past where his family starved to death.

Meanwhile, in Prince Wuning’s manor, anger boiled after hearing about Li Wuding’s promotion, accelerating Prince Wuning’s plans for rebellion.

Prince Wuning and his aides conspired to ambush Xiao Yu'an during an upcoming outing.

General Sun passed away three days later, honored with a grand military funeral organized by Xiao Yu'an.

Xiao Yu'an participated in the funeral procession alongside Li Wuding and Xie Chungui, sensing a sinister atmosphere in the spring snow.

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Yu'an grew uneasy after realizing the date matched the original timeline for Yang Liu'an’s death.

Suddenly, an ambush struck the imperial procession with a hail of arrows.

Yan Heqing shielded Xiao Yu'an while Hongxiu also fought to protect him, sustaining a severe wound.

Prince Wuning personally appeared, revealing his betrayal and intentions to kill Xiao Yu'an and seize the throne.

Yan Heqing was captured and knocked unconscious by Prince Wuning’s forces.

Prince Wuning prepared to execute Xiao Yu'an, gloating about his betrayal and foreign support from Southern Yan.

As Prince Wuning raised his knife to kill Xiao Yu'an, Hongxiu sacrificed herself to shield Xiao Yu'an, receiving a fatal wound across her throat and face.

Hongxiu handed Xiao Yu'an the vermilion hairpin he once gifted her before dying with a pained smile.

Xiao Yu'an was left cradling Hongxiu’s dead body, consumed by guilt, grief, and despair, blaming himself for changing fate and causing her death.

Li Wuding arrived late to reinforce and drive off the attackers, but Xiao Yu'an was broken by Hongxiu’s death, haunted by the bitter cost of his actions.

Prince Wuning’s rebellion shook the court, but Li Wuding’s intervention came too late to prevent its outbreak, though Xiao Yu'an remained unharmed.

Prince Wuning’s supporters and conspirators were imprisoned, awaiting trial.

That night, Yan Heqing visited Xiao Yu'an, who stood silently by the window, gripping the bloodstained vermilion hairpin Hongxiu gave him.

Yan Heqing comforted Xiao Yu'an, who was plagued by guilt, questioning if Hongxiu would regret dying for someone like him.

Xiao Yu'an asked Yan Heqing to stay the night; Yan Heqing promised he would.

While Yan Heqing slept, Xiao Yu'an secretly took the key from Yan Heqing’s robe, sneaked into his quarters, and retrieved the hidden scroll proving Yan Heqing's connection to Southern Yan.

The next morning, Xiao Yu'an remained distant but thanked Yan Heqing for staying with him.

Li Wuding’s men arrested Yan Heqing and searched his quarters, finding the hidden compartment but no evidence because Xiao Yu'an had already taken the scroll.

After failing to find proof, Li Wuding was approached by Eunuch Zhao, who indicated he would handle the situation his way.

Eunuch Zhao planned to eliminate Yan Heqing without needing formal evidence, believing it was for the emperor's protection.

Eunuch Zhao reassigned Yan Heqing to Princess Yongning’s palace under false pretenses to isolate him.

Xiao Yu'an, suspicious after realizing the transfer did not follow proper protocol, rushed to investigate and confirmed Princess Yongning had made no such request.

Xiao Yu'an confronted Eunuch Zhao, who urged him to act swiftly for his own safety, warning that attachments could endanger the emperor.

Meanwhile, Yan Heqing was imprisoned and tortured brutally under Steward Feng’s orders, enduring whipping and interrogation without confessing.

Xiao Yu'an stormed into the torture chamber, rescued Yan Heqing, and rushed him to the Imperial Physicians Hall.

As Yan Heqing recovered, Xiao Yu'an faced the grim truth that despite trying to change the novel’s story, fate seemed to resist all his efforts.

When Yan Heqing awoke, Xiao Yu'an visited but coldly told Yan Heqing to start addressing him formally as "Your Majesty."

Yan Heqing, devastated, realized Xiao Yu'an had completely withdrawn emotionally after Hongxiu’s death.

Xiao Yu'an showed Yan Heqing the retrieved scroll, confirming Yan Heqing’s secret involvement with Southern Yan and Prince Wuning.

Yan Heqing, crushed by guilt and helplessness, saw no point in defending himself and accepted Xiao Yu'an’s condemnation.

Xiao Yu'an handed Yan Heqing a bottle containing poison, demanding he drink it to avoid public execution.

Yan Heqing drank the poison without resistance, but before falling unconscious, he asked why fate had made Xiao Yu'an the emperor of the Northern Empire.

As Yan Heqing collapsed, Xiao Yu'an caught him and whispered that perhaps it was all to meet him.

Xiao Yu'an sorrowfully realized he had fulfilled his promise to protect Yan Heqing one final time, but now their paths had diverged forever.

Under Xiao Yu'an’s secret written order, a carriage carrying Yan Heqing was allowed to leave the Imperial Palace that night, headed west and never returning.

Xiao Yu'an sacrificed their bond to save Yan Heqing’s life in secret, ensuring Yan Heqing would live, though separated forever.

The chapter ended with a storm looming over the Northern Empire, symbolizing the turbulent fate awaiting the

On the day after Yan Heqing disappeared from the Imperial Palace, Li Wuding discovered Prince Wuning’s full betrayal and rushed to report it, only to find Yan Heqing had already escaped.

Li Wuding went to Jade Splendour House to apologize; Xiao Yu'an, drunk and pretending innocence, scolded him theatrically and ordered him to drink three jars as punishment.

Xiao Yu'an and Li Wuding drank heavily, sang badly, shouted nonsense, and ended up vomiting over the railings.

The next morning, Princess Yongning teased Xiao Yu'an about "topping" Li Wuding, much to Xiao Yu'an’s mortification and outrage.

Xiao Yu'an reflected privately that he valued Yan Heqing much more deeply than he had realized, but he forced himself to prioritize protecting the Northern Empire.

Princess Yongning pointed out that when someone chooses knowingly to make a "wrong" decision, it's simply a matter of weighing their heart’s heavier side.

Xiao Yu'an noticed Princess Yongning was unaffected by Yan Heqing’s disappearance, puzzling him, but he chalked it up to their destined novel bond.

Xiao Yu'an buried his emotions and worked day and night to stabilize the Northern Empire, thinning from overwork.

His governance started to produce results, and the court officials debated why the emperor had changed so drastically.

A severe drought suddenly struck the Northern Empire, devastating crops and causing famine, an event not present in the original novel.

Xiao Yu'an fought against despair, cursed fate, and began allocating aid, only to find corruption rampant and officials embezzling relief funds.

After investigation, Xiao Yu'an and Li Wuding exposed powerful, entrenched officials tied to past dynasties, leading to a major purge.

Xiao Yu'an condemned the officials in court, confronting them about starving civilians, and began personally supervising the disaster relief efforts.

Despite progress, Xiao Yu'an received alarming news that Southern Yan was secretly strengthening its army earlier than expected.

Li Wuding advised launching a "greeting" — a border military show of force — to slow Southern Yan’s momentum without declaring outright war.

Xiao Yu'an agreed but sent Xie Chungui instead of Li Wuding to avoid risks of defection.

Three days before their planned deployment, the northern Hulü tribe unexpectedly invaded the Northern Empire’s borderlands.

Xiao Yu'an realized the Northern Empire could not fight on two fronts and initially decided to surrender one city to focus on Southern Yan.

Xie Chungui refused to accept surrender, begging passionately to defend the border and vowing to fight even if it cost his life.

Moved by Xie Chungui’s patriotism, Xiao Yu'an changed plans and authorized him to defend the north instead of attacking Southern Yan.

Xie Chungui departed with Li Wuding’s blessings, carrying three instructions: protect the kingdom, protect his brothers, and protect himself.

Xie Chungui won a decisive victory, driving the Hulü tribe out and securing a letter of surrender, restoring hope to the empire.

However, almost immediately after, Xiao Yu'an received devastating news: Southern Yan, led by Yan Heqing, had launched a full military expedition against the Northern Empire.

Southern Yan’s forces attacked earlier than in the original novel, catching the Northern Empire off guard with Xie Chungui still far from returning.

Xiao Yu'an hurried to send Xie Chungui back and dispatched Li Wuding to hold the line.

Against all odds, Li Wuding fought Yan Heqing’s forces evenly for a month despite dwindling rations and harsh winter conditions.

Disaster struck when the supply convoy carrying military rations was destroyed in an avalanche, leaving the Northern Empire’s army starving.

Xiao Yu'an desperately sent a second supply convoy, supervised directly by Xie Chungui, praying it would arrive in time.

On the battlefield, Li Wuding proposed a desperate plan: ambush Southern Yan’s supply depot and destroy their rations to delay their assault.

Nie Er volunteered to create a diversion with a small force, fully aware it was a suicide mission.

As Nie Er’s troop provoked Southern Yan, Yan Heqing realized the enemy’s true goal — stealing their rations — and counterattacked personally.

Yan Heqing captured Nie Er, who taunted him about being a dog of the Northern Empire; Yan Heqing executed him coldly.

Nie Er died staring east, hoping to see rescue or a sign of hope, but found only endless snow and silence.

Li Wuding led three thousand elite soldiers into Southern Yan’s camp to steal their military rations but quickly realized it was a trap.

Surrounded by Southern Yan forces, Li Wuding and his men fought bravely but were overwhelmed by superior numbers.

Li Wuding barricaded his remaining troops inside the ration storage, refusing to surrender despite Xue Yan’s persuasion.

Facing despair, a young deputy general lit a fire instead of opening the door, and all the Northern Empire soldiers sang a folk song as they burned alive.

Xie Chungui arrived with the emergency rations only hours too late, realizing with horror that Li Wuding and his troops had perished.

The news of Li Wuding’s death devastated the Northern Empire’s army and sent them into collective mourning.

Xiao Yu'an received the news in the palace, and upon hearing about Li Wuding's death, vomited blood and collapsed from the shock.

After recovering, Xiao Yu'an made Princess Yongning promise to survive no matter what happened.

Xiao Yu'an requested a ritual at the Temple of Heaven with only three joss sticks, offering no prayers to heaven but begging forgiveness from the spirits.

Xiao Yu'an knelt in the snow, apologizing to the fallen soldiers, overwhelmed by guilt and despair.

In the second month, Xie Chungui led a desperate defense but ultimately the Northern Empire fell after two months of resistance.

Southern Yan’s army approached the Northern Empire’s imperial city while the palace was abandoned by officials and servants.

Xiao Yu'an found Princess Yongning calm and dressed beautifully, expressing her only regret was never confessing her feelings to someone she loved.

Xiao Yu'an promised Princess Yongning that she would see that person again and encouraged her to live.

Xiao Yu'an prepared to surrender, but Eunuch Zhao remained loyal, dressing Xiao Yu'an one last time before offering himself as a sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven.

Eunuch Zhao died, and Xiao Yu'an, carrying the imperial seal and map, walked alone to surrender to Southern Yan.

Xiao Yu'an handed over the seal and map, begging for the lives of the commoners, but was humiliated and tied behind a horse.

Yan Heqing was stopped by Xue Yan when he tried to rush out to see Xiao Yu'an but was warned about his duty to Southern Yan.

Despite warnings, Yan Heqing insisted on protecting Xiao Yu'an even if it cost him everything.

Xiao Yu'an endured brutal treatment and was dragged through the city toward the Emperor’s Hall, realizing Yan Heqing was coming toward him.

Xiao Yu'an tried to hide but was dragged out into the open and faced Yan Heqing again.

Yan Heqing cut Xiao Yu'an’s restraints but hesitated to touch him, aware of the deep hatred and pain between them.

Xiao Yu'an, believing his death was inevitable, stabbed his own arm to beg Yan Heqing to spare Eunuch Zhao, Princess Yongning, and the people.

Yan Heqing was horrified by Xiao Yu'an’s self-inflicted injuries, rushed forward to catch him, and tried to stop the bleeding.

Xiao Yu'an coughed blood and collapsed in Yan Heqing’s arms, losing consciousness as Yan Heqing called out to him in panic.

Chapter Summary

(Chapter Summary)

Lin Feiran practices piano for the upcoming school arts festival but struggles due to lack of recent practice.

He is distracted by Gu Kaifeng, his "rival" and the male emcee for the festival, rehearsing with Wang Yao.

Gu Kaifeng is tall, handsome, and popular—everything Lin Feiran feels he is not.

Lin Feiran transferred to the boarding school a month ago after his father’s job transfer to Europe and now shares a dorm with Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran dislikes living in Gu Kaifeng’s shadow, as Gu Kaifeng outshines him in academics, sports, and popularity.

Lin Feiran still resents a Sports Day event where Gu Kaifeng redeemed their relay team after Lin Feiran fell.

A girl once gave Lin Feiran a love letter to deliver to Gu Kaifeng, which crushed Lin Feiran’s brief hope she liked him.

Gu Kaifeng was indifferent to the letter and refused to read it, which Lin Feiran found odd.

During rehearsal, Wang Yao brings up a ghost story about someone dying in the music room; Gu Kaifeng scoffs at it.

Gu Kaifeng leaves rehearsal suddenly; Lin Feiran, unnerved by the ghost story, bolts soon after.

Lin Feiran was raised by his grandfather who loved telling ghost stories, causing Lin Feiran to develop a fear of ghosts.

Later in class, Gu Kaifeng hands out marked essays. He smirks at Lin Feiran’s poor grade and “Off-Topic” comment.

Gu Kaifeng’s own essay is posted as an example on the whiteboard, embarrassing Lin Feiran further.

In a passive-aggressive move, Lin Feiran bumps Gu Kaifeng on his way out. Gu Kaifeng teases him in response, reciting a weather report mockingly.

Lin Feiran gets even more annoyed when Gu Kaifeng smugly shows off his perfect essay.

In the dorm, Lin Feiran’s jealousy spikes after seeing Gu Kaifeng’s massive sneaker collection, including the rare pair Lin Feiran had hoped to impress him with.

Lin Feiran hides his own sneakers under the bed, feeling completely outclassed.

Despite his annoyance, Lin Feiran starts studying essays, determined to improve and not fall behind Gu Kaifeng.

They head back to the dorm in a weird speed-walking race. Lin Feiran tries to win but ends up feeling silly and embarrassed.

Gu Kaifeng, amused, tells Wang Zhuo that his roommate is a “little silly goose,” a nickname based on Lin Feiran’s height and antics.

Lin Feiran tries to act cool when Gu Kaifeng arrives back at the dorm, but he’s visibly upset.

Gu Kaifeng jokes about their "race," but Lin Feiran is too upset to laugh and snaps at him.

Just then, Lin Feiran gets a call from his father, Lin Chengyu, saying that Lin Feiran’s grandfather is very ill and may be dying.

Lin Feiran becomes emotional remembering his close bond with his grandfather, who raised him and shared many childhood adventures.

He cries himself to sleep that night under the covers.

The next morning, Lin Feiran wakes up feeling terrible, with swollen eyes from crying.

Gu Kaifeng notices and is confused, thinking Lin Feiran cried over being teased.

Lin Feiran gets called out of class by the teacher and leaves school with his father to visit his dying grandfather.

Lin Chengyu drives Lin Feiran to the countryside to visit Lin Feiran’s dying grandfather.

Lin Feiran’s old dog greets him joyfully as they arrive at his childhood home.

Lin Feiran finds his grandfather frail but peaceful in bed and holds his cold hand.

Lin Chengyu stands silently, maintaining a distant and emotionless demeanor.

Lin Feiran reflects on Lin Chengyu's strained relationship with his father due to opposing views—Lin Chengyu rejected family traditions to pursue academics and escape village life.

Lin Feiran only had vague awareness of the rift between his father and grandfather.

Lin Feiran's grandfather wakes and cryptically tells him that “that thing” will pass to Lin Feiran, not to Lin Chengyu.

Lin Feiran is confused by his grandfather’s words, assuming it might refer to an inheritance.

The grandfather warns him not to be afraid of ghosts, stating the dead were once the same as the living.

The grandfather weakens and dies while trying to explain more.

A strange cold sensation passes from the grandfather's hand into Lin Feiran’s body, unsettling him.

Lin Feiran and Lin Chengyu head back to school the same day; Lin Feiran feels persistently cold despite the car’s heater.

Lin Feiran returns to the dorm with a fever, dizzy and freezing.

Gu Kaifeng walks in and finds Lin Feiran flushed and bundled in a blanket, checking his temperature.

Lin Feiran has a fever of 39°C but brushes off Gu Kaifeng's concern out of pride.

Lin Feiran realizes he’s out of cold medicine but refuses to ask Gu Kaifeng for help.

Gu Kaifeng silently leaves and later returns with porridge, water, and medicine, pretending it came from “Santa Claus.”

Lin Feiran reluctantly thanks Gu Kaifeng and takes the medicine.

Lin Feiran sleeps and wakes up feeling better physically but emotionally overwhelmed by grief and fear.

Lin Feiran hears strange voices in the room despite it being just him and Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran looks down from the top bunk and sees a room full of ghostly figures, including a terrifying female ghost.

Lin Feiran panics and jumps from his bunk onto Gu Kaifeng, clinging to him in terror.

As soon as he touches Gu Kaifeng, the ghosts vanish.

Lin Feiran tries to explain what happened but finds himself unable to speak the word “ghost.”

Gu Kaifeng assumes Lin Feiran had a nightmare and comforts him.

Lin Feiran is too afraid to return to his bunk and tries to write about the ghosts, but his hand freezes every time he tries to write anything supernatural.

He tests the limits and realizes he can only talk about the ghosts if he phrases it as a “dream.”

Lin Feiran confirms that physical contact with Gu Kaifeng dispels the ghosts.

Lin Feiran suspects he inherited the "Yin-yang Eye" from his grandfather, which allows him to see spirits.

Lin Feiran decides not to sleep alone and subtly stays on Gu Kaifeng’s lower bunk.

Lin Feiran later needs to use the toilet but is too scared to go alone.

Embarrassed, Lin Feiran asks Gu Kaifeng to accompany him to the bathroom.

Gu Kaifeng agrees and recites “Ode to the Red Cliffs” to soothe Lin Feiran while he pees.

On the way back, Lin Feiran again feels the chill that precedes a ghost encounter.

The corridor fills with terrifying ghosts reading books; they complain about the noise from Room 508.

Lin Feiran grabs Gu Kaifeng’s hand and all the ghosts disappear again.

Lin Feiran brushes off the incident with a weak excuse about “grabbing the wrong hand.”

Back in the dorm, Lin Feiran pieces together that he really did inherit a power from his grandfather—the ability to see ghosts.

Lin Feiran suspects that only physical contact with Gu Kaifeng can suppress the power.

He subtly crawls back into Gu Kaifeng’s bed, pretending to just not be tired.

Gu Kaifeng knowingly tells Lin Feiran to get comfortable and shares the blanket.

Lin Feiran quietly cuddles closer for protection, while Gu Kaifeng appears asleep but might not be.

After several attempts to maintain physical contact, Lin Feiran finally wraps around Gu Kaifeng like a koala.

Feeling safe and warm, Lin Feiran falls asleep in Gu Kaifeng’s bed.

Lin Feiran wakes up at 6:10 a.m., lying in bed next to Gu Kaifeng, and briefly wonders if the previous night’s ghost events were a dream.

Lin Feiran is embarrassed to find he and Gu Kaifeng are still in each other's arms, with their bodies pressed together in an intimate position.

Lin Feiran awkwardly pulls away and nudges Gu Kaifeng awake, who greets him with bright eyes and asks if he slept against the wall all night.

Lin Feiran lies that he did and says he’s fully recovered from his cold.

They both get ready and head to the crowded wash station.

Lin Feiran, still anxious about seeing ghosts, keeps glancing at Gu Kaifeng for comfort through the mirror.

Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran looking and playfully winks at him, startling Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran drops his cup, and a familiar chill sets in as the water in the sink turns to blood and a bloated water ghost appears.

Lin Feiran watches the ghost lazily roll over and scratch itself while groaning, terrified but managing not to scream.

Ghost girls appear, surrounding Gu Kaifeng and swooning over him, one even stroking his abs.

Lin Feiran is jealous that even ghosts find Gu Kaifeng more attractive than him.

Lin Feiran tries to deactivate his Yin-yang Eye by touching classmates, greeting several boys with no effect.

Desperate, Lin Feiran realizes only Gu Kaifeng’s touch can suppress the ghost visions.

Gu Kaifeng approaches and grabs Lin Feiran’s hands, immediately making the ghosts disappear.

Gu Kaifeng asks what’s going on, and Lin Feiran lies, saying he was just saying good morning to everyone.

Gu Kaifeng rinses Lin Feiran’s haunted cup and hands it back, prompting more internal panic in Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran notices Gu Kaifeng’s aura is golden, in contrast to the dark, smoky aura he sees around himself.

Lin Feiran also notices that ghosts' hands melt when they touch Gu Kaifeng but continue to act like nothing’s wrong.

Lin Feiran concludes Gu Kaifeng has powerful yang energy that repels ghosts, unlike his own weak aura.

Lin Feiran finishes his morning routine and finds Gu Kaifeng waiting for him to go to breakfast.

Gu Kaifeng turns down Wang Zhuo’s request to wait, ruffles Lin Feiran’s hair, and leaves with him, confusing Wang Zhuo.

During breakfast and the walk to class, Lin Feiran keeps “accidentally” brushing against Gu Kaifeng to stay ghost-free.

In the classroom, Lin Feiran is seated too far from Gu Kaifeng to maintain contact, causing him anxiety.

Lin Feiran keeps glancing back at Gu Kaifeng, who always meets his gaze with a smile.

While doing math, the ghost visions return and Lin Feiran spots a ghostly version of the school’s founder, Old Principal, who has only half a head.

Old Principal floats around observing students and gives a thumbs-up to the top student.

When Lin Feiran pretends to sleep, Old Principal grows angry and shouts at him, thinking he’s slacking off.

Old Principal pushes his ghostly arm through Lin Feiran’s chest, causing intense cold and physical weakness.

Lin Feiran forces himself to open his eyes and resume studying while the ghost looms over him.

Ms Zheng arrives to start English class, and Old Principal shifts his focus back to the top student.

Lin Feiran asks permission to stand at the back and moves next to Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran discreetly touches Gu Kaifeng for comfort multiple times during the lesson, trying not to be noticed.

Gu Kaifeng grabs Lin Feiran after class and asks why he touched him eight times, revealing he kept count.

Lin Feiran is shocked and embarrassed. Gu Kaifeng jokingly accuses him of teasing.

Lin Feiran denies it and awkwardly says he’ll stop, but then quickly adds that he might not be able to resist next class.

Gu Kaifeng is amused by Lin Feiran’s reaction. Lin Feiran flees back to his seat, his ears burning.

During the afternoon, Lin Feiran tries to manage without touching Gu Kaifeng, sitting still and shutting his eyes.

He realizes Old Principal hasn’t returned, making the atmosphere slightly less terrifying.

Other ghosts are still present: one hangs from the projector, one peeks through the door, and one lounges in the aisle.

The top-student ghost is particularly disturbing with a swollen face, bulging eyes, and a long tongue.

The top-student ghost harasses Zhang Xu, Lin Feiran’s deskmate who ranked last in class, mimicking a strict parent.

Lin Feiran watches as the ghost berates Zhang Xu and slaps his head while giving him mock tutoring.

Lin Feiran initially feels sympathy for the ghost but is quickly overwhelmed by fear again when its grotesque face gets too close.

Lin Feiran struggles to focus during class, fearing he’ll fall to the bottom of the rankings and become the top-student ghost’s next target.

Lin Feiran wishes he could sit next to Gu Kaifeng to avoid seeing ghosts, as Gu Kaifeng’s strong yang energy repels most spirits.

Lin Feiran wonders if his grandfather could see ghosts and possibly continued talking with Lin Feiran’s grandmother after her death.

Lin Feiran fantasizes about seeing his grandfather again but worries about encountering more ghosts on the way.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s mood and teases him gently, amused by Lin Feiran smiling to himself.

Lin Feiran debates whether to tell Gu Kaifeng or his parents about the ghosts but concludes neither would believe him.

As night falls, Lin Feiran clings to Gu Kaifeng and rushes to finish bedtime routines quickly.

Lin Feiran swaps their desk lamps and sets up Gu Kaifeng’s bed as if it’s his own, bringing his pillow and pretending to read in bed.

Gu Kaifeng returns and silently processes the situation but says nothing, lying down beside Lin Feiran without complaint.

Lin Feiran subtly touches Gu Kaifeng for warmth and protection, thinking his plan is working.

Gu Kaifeng notices and watches Lin Feiran quietly, intrigued by the small gestures and growing fond of him.

The next morning, Lin Feiran looks refreshed, while Gu Kaifeng has dark circles from lack of sleep.

Lin Feiran asks if he disturbed Gu Kaifeng’s sleep, and Gu Kaifeng lies that he just stayed up too late on his phone.

Lin Feiran decides he needs to sit next to Gu Kaifeng in class permanently.

Lin Feiran approaches Ms Zheng and requests a seat switch, giving the excuse of needing Language Arts help from Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng unexpectedly backs up Lin Feiran’s story in front of Ms Zheng, despite them never having discussed it.

Ms Zheng agrees to consider the change.

Lin Feiran suddenly sees a ghost of a little girl clinging to Ms Zheng’s leg under the desk, pale and bleeding.

Gu Kaifeng touches Lin Feiran, and the ghost vanishes instantly.

Lin Feiran, Gu Kaifeng, and Wang Zhuo joke on the way back to class, with Gu Kaifeng teasing Lin Feiran by calling him “my new beloved.”

Ms Zheng announces the new seating arrangement during fourth period: Lin Feiran will now sit next to Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran rushes to help move desks but struggles with the weight.

Gu Kaifeng steps in, flexing his muscles while helping Lin Feiran, which Lin Feiran can't help but notice.

Wang Zhuo jokes about Gu Kaifeng acting like he’s getting married, while Gu Kaifeng plays along.

Lin Feiran gets embarrassed by their teasing but goes along with it.

Lin Feiran gives parting advice to Zhang Xu, worried about the ghost haunting him, and tells him to take studies more seriously.

Gu Kaifeng secretly watches this with a smile.

Lin Feiran feels happy in his new seat and shows visible joy during lunch, which Gu Kaifeng and Wang Zhuo both notice.

Wang Zhuo teases Gu Kaifeng about Lin Feiran’s beauty, calling him delicate like a girl, which irritates Gu Kaifeng.

Back in class, Lin Feiran subtly touches Gu Kaifeng’s shoe to draw yang energy, feeling empowered and ghost-free.

Gu Kaifeng adjusts the tall student’s seat height so Lin Feiran can see the blackboard better.

Lin Feiran enjoys a productive school day, finally able to focus thanks to Gu Kaifeng’s presence.

That evening, Lin Feiran insists on joining Gu Kaifeng for a shower to avoid ghosts, admitting he hasn’t properly washed in days.

In the locker room, Lin Feiran hesitates to undress completely and gets embarrassed seeing Gu Kaifeng naked.

Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran staring at his genitals but doesn’t tease him; he just tells him to hurry up.

They find two adjacent shower stalls. Lin Feiran, terrified of water ghosts, grabs Gu Kaifeng’s wrist for safety.

Gu Kaifeng jokingly suggests sharing a stall, but Lin Feiran panics and declines.

They each take a stall. During the shower, Gu Kaifeng peeks over the partition and jokes about Lin Feiran not touching him yet.

Lin Feiran awkwardly touches Gu Kaifeng’s nose, which makes Gu Kaifeng laugh and flick his nose in return.

Back in the dorm, Lin Feiran climbs into Gu Kaifeng’s bed and studies for a surprise Language Arts recitation.

Gu Kaifeng joins him, correcting his memorization and offering real help for the first time.

Gu Kaifeng advises Lin Feiran to focus on understanding the text rather than rote memorization.

Gu Kaifeng smells Lin Feiran’s “milk and honey” body wash and jokes that he smells like milk and is tempting to bite.

Lin Feiran hides under his blanket, embarrassed but secretly pleased.

Lin Feiran continues to study under the covers, touching Gu Kaifeng’s foot now and then.

Lin Feiran eventually falls asleep mid-recitation, still holding his textbook.

Gu Kaifeng gently tries to take the book, but Lin Feiran reflexively holds onto it in his sleep.

During this, Gu Kaifeng’s hand brushes Lin Feiran’s lips, triggering a strong emotional response.

Gu Kaifeng reflects on his sexuality and how he has always been openly gay due to a supportive family.

Gu Kaifeng admits to himself that he has been attracted to Lin Feiran since his transfer.

Gu Kaifeng is now fully aware of his growing feelings for Lin Feiran and cherishes the shift in their relationship.

Gu Kaifeng chooses to let things progress naturally, savoring the closeness and budding romance between them.

Gu Kaifeng, after a night of teasing and closeness, sneaks out of bed to masturbate in the toilet, overwhelmed by desire for Lin Feiran.

Gu Kaifeng imagines Lin Feiran’s features while doing so, climaxing the moment Lin Feiran unexpectedly calls out his name.

Lin Feiran enters the bathroom holding Gu Kaifeng’s pillow, having followed out of fear after waking to find the bed empty.

Lin Feiran pretends he just needed to pee and asks Gu Kaifeng to hold his pillow.

Gu Kaifeng is amused by Lin Feiran’s weak excuse and his sleepy appearance.

After using the toilet, Lin Feiran soaks in Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and gains confidence, casually dismissing Gu Kaifeng from waiting.

Gu Kaifeng sleeps soundly that night after relieving himself, even with Lin Feiran clinging to him like an octopus.

Lin Feiran remembers the upcoming school arts festival and panics about his unfinished piano solo.

Lin Feiran is afraid to practice alone in the haunted music room but doesn’t want to cancel his performance.

Lin Feiran subtly asks Gu Kaifeng if he’ll be rehearsing in the music room too, trying to gauge if he can tag along.

Gu Kaifeng offers to go with him if he’s scared, and Lin Feiran shyly agrees.

At the music room, Lin Feiran sets up the piano and insists Gu Kaifeng sit beside him under the excuse of helping hold the score.

Lin Feiran plays the piano beautifully with passion and skill, brushing his leg against Gu Kaifeng’s to stay ghost-free.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s nervous body language but says nothing, simply moving closer.

Lin Feiran performs flawlessly and fishes for compliments; Gu Kaifeng gives him exaggerated applause and praise.

Lin Feiran offers to sing and play a pop song, charming Gu Kaifeng with his natural, emotional voice.

Gu Kaifeng joins in the singing unexpectedly, causing Lin Feiran to mock his off-key voice.

Lin Feiran feels triumphant and giddy from winning that exchange.

They head to the canteen after practice; Lin Feiran admits Gu Kaifeng is quite handsome, and Gu Kaifeng returns the compliment.

Lin Feiran boasts playfully about being good-looking and adorable, which secretly thrills Gu Kaifeng.

On Saturday, Lin Feiran pulls Gu Kaifeng to practice again, mostly to stay close before Gu Kaifeng goes home for the weekend.

Lin Feiran is too afraid of ghosts to go home alone and doesn’t want to stay in the dorm without Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran considers asking to stay over at Gu Kaifeng’s house but feels awkward about asking directly.

Lin Feiran clumsily tries to find out if Gu Kaifeng will be alone at home and how big his villa is.

Gu Kaifeng teases him, pretending not to get the hint, while enjoying Lin Feiran’s increasingly obvious attempt to get invited.

Lin Feiran finally asks Gu Kaifeng what his plans are for the night, and Gu Kaifeng cancels his plans with Wang Zhuo to hang out with Lin Feiran instead.

Gu Kaifeng jokes over the phone about spending the night with his “hubby,” referring to Lin Feiran, embarrassing him.

They pick up their homework and change into casual clothes to leave school together.

Gu Kaifeng takes Lin Feiran to a popular BBQ restaurant; Lin Feiran eats like a meat-stuffed rice cake.

They explore the mall after eating. Lin Feiran, curious about ghosts outside school, walks away from Gu Kaifeng to activate his Yin-yang Eye.

At the cinema level, Lin Feiran sees over a hundred ghosts gathering to watch a movie, ranging from peaceful old couples to grotesque figures.

An elderly ghost couple catches Lin Feiran’s attention, their tender care for each other standing out amid the gruesome crowd.

The old man stumbles and Lin Feiran instinctively tries to catch him, being overwhelmed by the icy cold of ghost contact.

Lin Feiran rushes to touch Gu Kaifeng, instantly ending the chill and ghost visions.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran looks pale and cold, holds his fingers, and gently checks on him.

Gu Kaifeng suggests watching a horror movie, teasing Lin Feiran, but Lin Feiran declines, worried about the ghosts in the theater.

They decide to browse shops instead, and Lin Feiran tries to find a gift for Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran chooses a fancy glass dip pen with pink “cherry blossom street” ink as a gift for Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng jokingly uses the pen to write a love letter: “To little sticky rice cake Lin Feiran, From your dearest desk mate, Gu Kaifeng.”

Lin Feiran blushes but keeps the note, secretly delighted.

Gu Kaifeng insists on paying for the gift, saying Lin Feiran hasn’t given him anything yet.

Gu Kaifeng whispers reminders of Lin Feiran’s “dream” involving ghosts and eyeballs, teasing him again.

Lin Feiran asks if Gu Kaifeng’s parents are home; Gu Kaifeng says no, confirming he’ll be alone.

Lin Feiran tries to hint at wanting to stay over, asking how many bedrooms the villa has and how big Gu Kaifeng’s bed is.

Gu Kaifeng finally invites Lin Feiran over, and Lin Feiran accepts, barely hiding his joy.

They stop by the arcade first and play multiple games, with Lin Feiran finally winning at a rhythm game.

Gu Kaifeng watches Lin Feiran proudly, feeling more drawn to him with each moment.

After the games, they call a car and head to Gu Kaifeng’s house on Nanshan Street together.

Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng arrive at Gu Kaifeng’s house, which is empty because his parents are away.

Gu Kaifeng’s affectionate Yorkie named Xiaxia greets them excitedly; Gu Kaifeng refers to Xiaxia as his “little brother.”

Gu Kaifeng jokes that Lin Feiran is now Xiaxia’s “brother-in-law,” causing Lin Feiran to blush and avoid eye contact.

Gu Kaifeng reveals he and Xiaxia share the same birthday, July 16.

Gu Kaifeng brings up zodiac signs, revealing he’s a Cancer and claims Cancers are family-oriented and caring.

Lin Feiran, flustered, admits his birthday is November 9, making him a Scorpio.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran about the traits of Scorpios—jealous, sensitive, vengeful—but follows up with praise: intelligent, intuitive, artistic, and sexually intense.

Lin Feiran defensively denies having strong desires or being interested in sex, insisting he lives a pure life.

Gu Kaifeng smiles knowingly, unconvinced, but doesn’t press further.

Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran a tour of the house and shows him a family heirloom sword, supposedly gifted by an emperor.

Lin Feiran touches Gu Kaifeng to check for ghostly energy but senses nothing near the sword.

Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran spare pyjamas and underwear to wear for the night.

Lin Feiran quickly showers in under five minutes, touching Gu Kaifeng beforehand to protect himself from ghosts.

Gu Kaifeng offers to shower together, which Lin Feiran quickly rejects in embarrassment.

After the shower, Gu Kaifeng dries Lin Feiran’s hair with a towel, scolding him gently for not doing it himself.

Lin Feiran, overwhelmed by the tenderness, quietly enjoys the attention while pretending to protest.

Gu Kaifeng heads to shower. Lin Feiran waits anxiously outside the door, worried about ghosts in the house.

As Lin Feiran starts to feel a chilling yin energy, he hears ghostly voices—Gu Kaifeng’s ancestral spirits gossiping about him.

Embarrassed and scared, Lin Feiran barges into the bathroom and pokes Gu Kaifeng’s chest while pretending to check if he's done.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran, flexing his muscles and flirting, causing Lin Feiran to retreat blushing.

Lin Feiran stays just outside the bathroom, still terrified of the ghosts he knows are nearby.

The Gu ancestors approach Lin Feiran’s face for a closer look, terrifying him into fleeing down the hallway.

Lin Feiran spots Xiaxia the Yorkie, whose yang energy rivals Gu Kaifeng’s.

Lin Feiran grabs Xiaxia for protection; the dog’s presence immediately dispels the spirits.

Lin Feiran calms Xiaxia down, apologizes, and fixes the dog’s bowtie, realizing animals can act as ghost shields.

Gu Kaifeng exits the bathroom and finds Lin Feiran joyfully spinning with Xiaxia in his arms.

Gu Kaifeng kisses Xiaxia on the same spot Lin Feiran did, creating an unintentional indirect kiss, which flusters Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran insists they begin their homework immediately to avoid looking improper in front of ghostly ancestors.

Gu Kaifeng leads Lin Feiran to his study, where they begin homework side by side at a large desk.

Lin Feiran challenges Gu Kaifeng to a race to finish their math homework; Gu Kaifeng agrees.

Thanks to Xiaxia’s presence, Lin Feiran doesn’t need to touch Gu Kaifeng for ghost protection.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s lack of physical contact and jokingly complains, pulling their chairs closer together.

Lin Feiran tries to scoot away but Gu Kaifeng keeps dragging him back, eventually threatening to put him on his lap.

Lin Feiran blushes deeply but keeps working; Gu Kaifeng teases him about his usual clinginess.

Gu Kaifeng finishes his homework first and fetches fruit; he peels grapes and feeds them to Lin Feiran, touching his lips each time.

Lin Feiran nibbles Gu Kaifeng’s finger in retaliation, leading to a flirty exchange.

Lin Feiran struggles with the last math problem but refuses Gu Kaifeng’s offer to help.

Gu Kaifeng suggests calling it a night, but Lin Feiran insists on finishing his work.

Gu Kaifeng scoops Lin Feiran up bridal-style and carries him to bed, insisting he needs rest.

Lin Feiran pretends to resist but allows it; Gu Kaifeng tucks him in and turns off the light.

Lin Feiran requests to sleep in the guest room with Xiaxia, but Gu Kaifeng says no, claiming the room is dusty.

Lin Feiran then asks to sleep with Xiaxia in Gu Kaifeng’s bed; Gu Kaifeng refuses, saying dogs aren’t allowed in his bed.

Gu Kaifeng tickles Lin Feiran’s waist, teasing him about acting weird.

Lin Feiran is flustered and distracted—his erection from earlier contact with Gu Kaifeng resurfaces.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran touching himself under the covers and teases him about it.

Lin Feiran denies it and gets defensive; Gu Kaifeng offers to show him explicit videos.

Lin Feiran declines, explaining he doesn’t enjoy adult videos and finds them uninteresting.

Gu Kaifeng hints that the videos he watches are not the straight kind, implying his interest in men.

Lin Feiran becomes more flustered and tries to push Gu Kaifeng away, asking for personal space.

Gu Kaifeng respects the distance but teases Lin Feiran about his stiffness and unease.

Lin Feiran’s arousal fades and he turns toward Gu Kaifeng in the dark, wanting comfort.

Lin Feiran gradually cuddles closer, starting with a gentle leg touch, and finally falls asleep next to Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran wakes up early on Sunday, determined to solve the final part of the math problem that stumped him.

Gu Kaifeng brings breakfast to the study, prepared by the housekeeper Ms Zhang.

Gu Kaifeng cuts the food into bite-sized pieces and spoon-feeds Lin Feiran while he works.

Lin Feiran solves the last part of the problem correctly and beams with pride.

Gu Kaifeng praises Lin Feiran, calling him a true genius.

They move on to physics and compete again, turning their study session into a fun academic showdown.

Lin Feiran continues to avoid touching Gu Kaifeng, instead lavishing affection on Xiaxia the Yorkie, who stays in his lap.

Xiaxia soaks up the attention and ignores Gu Kaifeng, making Gu Kaifeng jealous.

Gu Kaifeng repeatedly finds excuses to touch Lin Feiran—brushing knees, bumping elbows, and ruffling his hair.

Lin Feiran wonders why Gu Kaifeng keeps initiating contact, since he only touches Gu Kaifeng to avoid ghosts.

After dinner, Lin Feiran bows respectfully to the Gu family's ancestral sword and says goodbye to the ancestors before leaving.

Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran doing this and teases him, but Lin Feiran brushes it off.

They return to school and continue their close daily routine: studying, showering, sleeping together.

On Thursday, the school arts festival takes place and the auditorium is packed.

Gu Kaifeng looks handsome in a fitted dark suit while preparing to emcee the event.

Lin Feiran appears in a stunning black formal suit with a white high-collared shirt and bow tie, looking elegant and mysterious.

Gu Kaifeng is mesmerized by Lin Feiran’s appearance and compliments him sincerely.

Lin Feiran lights up and returns the compliment, fishing for more praise, which Gu Kaifeng provides generously.

Gu Kaifeng flirts by saying Lin Feiran has both artistic sensibility and good looks, which makes Lin Feiran blush.

Wang Yao, the female emcee, notices Gu Kaifeng's intense focus on Lin Feiran and realizes they are likely a couple.

Lin Feiran has his hair styled by Xue Jieling but becomes terrified when a theatrical female ghost appears in the mirror and mimics him mockingly.

The ghost teases Lin Feiran, making him panic and run off to find Gu Kaifeng for protection.

Lin Feiran pretends to be calm as he approaches Gu Kaifeng, but Gu Kaifeng realizes he’s jealous and frightened.

Gu Kaifeng ends the rehearsal with Wang Yao and sits with Lin Feiran, comforting him with gentle touches and quiet words.

Lin Feiran practices piano on his lap and asks Gu Kaifeng to stay close during his performance.

Gu Kaifeng promises to be there and reassures Lin Feiran with warmth and support.

Lin Feiran is introduced on stage as the ninth act. Gu Kaifeng pats his butt as encouragement before he walks out.

Lin Feiran plays the piano beautifully, but near the end, his Yin-yang Eye activates and he sees blood pouring from the keys.

A male ghost is revealed inside the piano, with deformed hands merging into the instrument and dark tendrils oozing blood.

Lin Feiran powers through the fear and finishes the piece, pretending his closed eyes are from emotional immersion.

He bows quickly, sees the ghost one last time, and exits the stage where Gu Kaifeng is waiting.

Gu Kaifeng spins Lin Feiran in the air and praises his performance, making Lin Feiran blush and feel special.

Lin Feiran starts to feel sympathy for the piano ghost, realizing the ghost might have loved music so much that he never moved on after death.

Lin Feiran chooses to stay backstage with Gu Kaifeng instead of rejoining the class, using his "clingy tactics."

After the festival ends, they return to school, and during evening study, Wang Zhuo tells Lin Feiran a girl from Class 3 asked for his number.

Gu Kaifeng instantly cuts off the conversation and drags Wang Zhuo out of the classroom in annoyance.

Lin Feiran is surprised and asks why Gu Kaifeng overreacted.

Gu Kaifeng claims he’s just enforcing the school’s “no intimacy with the opposite sex” rule, though it doesn’t apply to boys.

Lin Feiran ruffles Gu Kaifeng’s hair and jokes about needing haircuts; Gu Kaifeng makes a suggestive comment about wanting to “press him down” at the podium but rephrases it as “shave.”

They agree to go for haircuts and dinner together on Saturday.

On Saturday, after their haircut, they go to the arcade. Lin Feiran wins multiple rounds of basketball thanks to his aim.

Gu Kaifeng hugs Lin Feiran and sniffs his hair, saying his height is perfect for hugging.

Lin Feiran feels flustered and suggests one last game before heading home, slyly planning to stay over.

Gu Kaifeng mentions that his parents are home and says Lin Feiran can meet them.

Gu Kaifeng’s parents greet Lin Feiran warmly and are charmed by his manners and politeness.

Mrs Gu offers the south-facing guest room to Lin Feiran, contradicting Gu Kaifeng’s earlier excuse that it was dusty.

Gu Kaifeng leads Lin Feiran upstairs and admits he lied about the guest room being unusable.

Lin Feiran dodges the awkward moment by giving Xiaxia a gift—a rhinestone bone-shaped bow tie.

Xiaxia adores the gift and shifts more of his affection toward Lin Feiran.

Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran do homework together until late, and Mrs Gu brings them snacks.

Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran under the table by playing footsie, making Lin Feiran blush.

Gu Kaifeng expresses jealousy toward Xiaxia and jokes that he’s the “best boyfriend.”

Lin Feiran gets sleepy and decides to shower and go to bed.

Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran new pajamas and pats his butt again, teasing him about staying in the guest room.

Lin Feiran showers quickly and settles into the guest room with Xiaxia, who sleeps beside him.

Gu Kaifeng finds himself lonely without Lin Feiran and sneaks over to his room late at night.

The door is locked, and Lin Feiran is sound asleep inside, unaware of Gu Kaifeng whispering at the door.

Gu Kaifeng walks away disappointed as the ancestral ghosts of the Gu family watch silently, worried about their heir's emotional entanglement.

Lin Feiran wakes early at 6:30 a.m., refreshed and eager to begin the day.

Lin Feiran quietly freshens up and takes Xiaxia to the study to work on homework before anyone else wakes.

By 8:30 a.m., Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng are downstairs eating breakfast.

After breakfast, Lin Feiran privately asks Gu Kaifeng if he can borrow Xiaxia for the day.

Gu Kaifeng is surprised Lin Feiran wants to go alone and questions if he’s going on a date.

Lin Feiran denies it emphatically and feels confused about why he felt the need to justify himself.

Gu Kaifeng almost confesses his feelings but is interrupted by his mother.

Lin Feiran leaves with Xiaxia, saying goodbye warmly to Mrs. Gu.

Lin Feiran takes a taxi to his family’s ancestral home in the countryside, arriving two hours later.

Lin Feiran is greeted by the old family dog Dahuang, who happily recognizes him.

Lin Feiran comforts a scared Xiaxia and examines the house, seeing signs someone has been feeding Dahuang.

Lin Feiran enters his grandfather’s old bedroom, secures Xiaxia to a bedpost, and waits.

After five minutes, he senses cold and sees the ghosts of his grandparents appear on the bed.

Lin Feiran is overwhelmed with emotion and tearfully greets them, calling them “Gramps” and “Gram.”

Lin Feiran tries to hug his grandfather but is warned not to, due to the yin energy.

Lin Feiran cries and tells his grandparents how difficult life has been since gaining the Yin-yang Eye.

Lin Feiran explains how he clings to a classmate with strong yang energy to avoid ghosts.

Lin Feiran’s grandfather confirms Xiaxia also has strong yang energy and comments on the inherited nature of Lin Feiran’s gift.

Lin Feiran learns the Yin-yang Eye has been passed through the Lin family for generations, skipping those who reject it.

Lin Feiran’s grandfather explains types of ghosts: wanderers, bound spirits, and vengeful ghosts stuck in death-state appearances.

Lin Feiran’s grandfather and grandmother fall into the second category, staying due to mutual attachment and love.

Lin Feiran’s grandfather shares that Lin Feiran’s grandmother has stayed with him since her death, always by his side.

Lin Feiran is directed to find a notebook hidden under the bed containing ghost-repelling rituals and spells.

The notebook contains traditional Taoist and folk magic practices, but Lin Feiran is told he doesn’t need to memorize them.

Lin Feiran confirms he can’t talk or write about the Yin-yang Eye, and his grandfather explains this is part of the curse.

Lin Feiran admits he hates relying on Gu Kaifeng and Xiaxia to function normally.

Lin Feiran is advised he might use Gu Kaifeng’s belongings temporarily, as they carry yang energy, but not to rely on it forever.

Lin Feiran asks about using a pet, but his grandfather says that’s impractical for daily life.

Lin Feiran’s grandfather encourages him to grow stronger and promises it gets easier.

They spend hours talking, with Lin Feiran learning more about his grandfather’s experience and philosophy.

Before leaving, Lin Feiran prepares a lavish offering of roast meats and liquor for his grandfather’s grave.

Lin Feiran performs a ritual as instructed, honoring his grandfather’s preferences in food.

Lin Feiran returns to Gu Kaifeng’s house, and Mrs. Gu drives them both back to school, giving them snacks and fruit.

Back in the dorm, Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran wash fruit together, sharing soft touches and playful banter.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran and calls him a “little goose,” making Lin Feiran flustered but happy.

Lin Feiran resolves to try ghost-facing training by himself and hides under his blanket to test it for five minutes.

Lin Feiran sees peaceful sleeping ghosts in the room, hears snoring and soft sounds, and manages to last thirty seconds.

Gu Kaifeng interrupts, showing him a school forum post with a photo of them from the arts festival.

The photo shows Gu Kaifeng looking at Lin Feiran with deep affection, shocking Lin Feiran with its intensity.

Gu Kaifeng reads online speculation that they are a couple and teases Lin Feiran by saying people think he’s the bottom.

Lin Feiran denies it and insists he’s straight; Gu Kaifeng counters with increasing flirtation.

Gu Kaifeng corners Lin Feiran on the bed, calls him “Ranran,” and asks if he likes him.

Gu Kaifeng confesses his feelings and kisses Lin Feiran passionately, catching him off guard.

Lin Feiran doesn’t resist, becoming dazed and emotionally overwhelmed, unsure if he’s reciprocating.

After the kiss, Gu Kaifeng asks again if Lin Feiran likes him, but Lin Feiran denies it.

Lin Feiran confirms he’s not gay, and Gu Kaifeng is disappointed and confused.

Gu Kaifeng demands an explanation for Lin Feiran’s past behavior, accusing him of giving mixed signals.

Lin Feiran struggles to answer without revealing his secret about seeing ghosts.

Lin Feiran blurts out random excuses to deflect, including “I’m just stupid” and “I was messing with you.”

Gu Kaifeng half-jokes that he wants to have sex with Lin Feiran to release his frustration.

Lin Feiran panics and demands space, but Gu Kaifeng refuses to leave and guards the door.

Lin Feiran, too shy to ask for space, tries to calm himself and hide his thoughts under the blanket.

He realizes his Yin-yang Eye hasn’t returned, and suspects Gu Kaifeng’s kiss or items left yang energy behind.

Lin Feiran becomes convinced the kiss might be the reason the ghosts stayed away, which horrifies and embarrasses him.

Gu Kaifeng blocks the door and teases Lin Feiran for stealing his uniform from the laundry for yang energy.

Lin Feiran tries to lie about the stolen clothes, but Gu Kaifeng catches on and teases him mercilessly.

Gu Kaifeng presses him to admit what he was doing and flirts even more aggressively, hinting at mutual masturbation.

Lin Feiran denies it repeatedly and gives absurd excuses, like wanting to steal Gu Kaifeng’s Language Arts homework.

Gu Kaifeng doesn’t push too far and instead pulls Lin Feiran close under the blanket.

Lin Feiran feels Gu Kaifeng’s erection against him, panics, and tries to escape.

Gu Kaifeng suggests “helping each other,” and Lin Feiran angrily yells at him.

Lin Feiran gives Gu Kaifeng the silent treatment, retreating into his blanket and denying him warmth.

Gu Kaifeng apologizes, says he got carried away, and tries to make peace.

Gu Kaifeng throws the stolen clothes out of the bed and asks to share the blanket again.

Lin Feiran tries to calm his own unexpected arousal and silently accepts Gu Kaifeng’s embrace.

Gu Kaifeng whispers goodnight to Lin Feiran, content just holding him.

The next morning, Lin Feiran wakes to a cold day and tries to change discreetly.

Gu Kaifeng watches him from the upper bunk and flirts again, pinching his cheek before heading out.

Lin Feiran returns Gu Kaifeng’s stolen items and keeps only one pen.

Lin Feiran discovers the pen retains enough yang energy to suppress ghost visions for about twenty minutes.

He starts secretly borrowing and returning Gu Kaifeng’s belongings to manage his Yin-yang Eye.

Lin Feiran avoids touching Gu Kaifeng all day, though Gu Kaifeng still touches him casually.

In class, Lin Feiran spots a ghost cat—white, fluffy, with blue eyes and bloodstains on its fur.

The cat seems unaware it’s a ghost, trying to engage students with meows and playful behavior.

Lin Feiran, seeing an animal ghost for the first time, is less afraid and even speaks to it quietly.

The ghost cat realizes Lin Feiran can see it and urgently tries to get his attention by biting his pant leg and meowing repeatedly.

Lin Feiran decides to follow the ghost cat, ignoring nearby ghosts and staying focused on its desperate plea.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran acting strangely and follows him out of concern, though Lin Feiran tries to maintain distance to avoid drawing on Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and losing sight of the ghost.

The ghost cat leads Lin Feiran behind the academic building during a light rain.

Wang Zhuo appears, loaded with snacks and holding a pink umbrella. Gu Kaifeng takes the umbrella from him.

Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran walk together under the pink umbrella, teasing and bantering with flirtatious tension.

Gu Kaifeng calls Lin Feiran “hubby” and makes Lin Feiran blush; Lin Feiran denies his feelings but is clearly affected.

The ghost cat leads them to a bush behind the school where a dead mother cat lies with four newborn kittens huddled against her body.

Lin Feiran is heartbroken by the sight, realizing the ghost cat is the spirit of the dead mother.

Gu Kaifeng quickly acts, removing his jacket to wrap up the kittens and tells Lin Feiran to head to class while he takes care of them.

Lin Feiran wants to stay and care for the kittens, but Gu Kaifeng insists he’ll handle it and that Lin Feiran should just tell the teacher he has a stomachache.

Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and gives Gu Kaifeng the umbrella.

Gu Kaifeng, about to leave, surprises Lin Feiran with a quick kiss on the cheek before running off toward the dorm.

Stunned and emotional, Lin Feiran kneels by the dead mother cat, comforts her spirit, and promises to return at noon to bury her.

Even with his Yin-yang Eye temporarily inactive, Lin Feiran senses the cat’s presence and sees a faint outline as it moves on to reincarnation.

Lin Feiran hurries to Language Arts class, gives the excuse for Gu Kaifeng’s absence, and barely avoids punishment due to Gu Kaifeng’s strong reputation.

During class, Gu Kaifeng texts Lin Feiran updates and sends a photo of the kittens warm and safe in a box with a hand warmer and a sports vest.

Lin Feiran asks how he got the supplies and learns Gu Kaifeng convinced the dorm supervisor to let him keep the kittens temporarily.

Gu Kaifeng brags that he overwhelmed the supervisor with information and guilted him into allowing the kittens to stay.

Gu Kaifeng adds that the dorm lost a point—not for the kittens, but for Lin Feiran’s dirty underwear and socks lying around.

Lin Feiran is embarrassed and promises to clean up. Gu Kaifeng then jokingly claims he washed the underwear, shocking Lin Feiran.

Old Principal’s ghost suddenly appears, dripping eerie liquid onto Lin Feiran’s phone and arm, causing him to panic.

Lin Feiran disables the Yin-yang Eye by tapping Gu Kaifeng’s chair and is then scolded publicly by Ms. Li for being distracted.

Lin Feiran plans a dramatic verbal scolding for Gu Kaifeng but sees more of Gu Kaifeng’s playful, apologetic messages.

Gu Kaifeng admits he was joking and didn’t actually wash Lin Feiran’s underwear or cause them to lose any dorm points.

Lin Feiran softens and responds gently, but Gu Kaifeng keeps teasing, asking if he’s forgiven and offering to write an 800-word apology essay.

Lin Feiran sends an angry voice message, only to realize Gu Kaifeng is right behind him and has been following him the whole time.

Gu Kaifeng lifts Lin Feiran into his arms and reveals he went to the infirmary to get syringes and milk for the kittens.

Lin Feiran checks the supplies and accepts Gu Kaifeng’s explanation.

Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran to admit he’s dependable; Lin Feiran denies it but can’t hide his affection.

That afternoon, Lin Feiran borrows a shovel and returns with Gu Kaifeng to bury the mother cat properly behind the school.

Gu Kaifeng digs the grave, and Lin Feiran lays the cat to rest. Together, they complete the burial, bringing Lin Feiran peace.

Back in the dorm, the kittens are warm and fed. Lin Feiran coos over how cute they are, and Gu Kaifeng agrees while preparing milk.

Gu Kaifeng names the kittens: Mung Bean Cake, Yun Pian Cake, Glutinous Rice Cake, and Egg Cake.

Gu Kaifeng calls Lin Feiran his “little sticky rice cake,” wiping food from his mouth tenderly, which makes Lin Feiran blush.

Lin Feiran mockingly names Gu Kaifeng “Wotou,” to which Gu Kaifeng playfully responds that wotou is hard, hinting at innuendo.

Lin Feiran scolds Gu Kaifeng for naming the kittens, knowing it’ll make parting with them harder.

Gu Kaifeng suggests they get a cat together after high school and live together at university.

Lin Feiran, flustered, pretends to dismiss the idea but doesn’t truly oppose it.

Gu Kaifeng points out that their grades are close, so he might just copy Lin Feiran’s university applications.

Lin Feiran tries to protest but keeps getting teased. Gu Kaifeng hands him a tea drink to calm down.

Gu Kaifeng asks again how Lin Feiran found the kittens. Lin Feiran lies, saying he was just feeding cats there.

Gu Kaifeng is touched by Lin Feiran’s kindness and gets even more attached to him, mentally fantasizing about intimacy.

After dinner and kitten care, Lin Feiran posts a picture and adoption notice online, tagging pet bloggers to help rehome the kittens.

Lin Feiran uses the names Gu Kaifeng gave the kittens, secretly hoping the names stick and wishing he could keep them.

Gu Kaifeng falls ill after walking in the rain without a jacket while carrying the rescued kittens.

Gu Kaifeng is excused from classes by Ms. Zheng to rest in the dormitory, missing the afternoon and evening sessions.

Lin Feiran, now separated from Gu Kaifeng for several hours, begins to run out of residual yang energy from Gu Kaifeng’s belongings.

Lin Feiran texts Gu Kaifeng to check on his condition. Gu Kaifeng sends a flirtatious voice message saying he can’t recover without seeing Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran gets flustered and ignores the teasing, asking for Gu Kaifeng’s meal order.

Gu Kaifeng jokes about wanting sticky rice cakes, clearly implying Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran, irritated, still buys beef rice, milk tea, and red bean rice cakes, complaining internally about Gu Kaifeng’s fussiness.

Lin Feiran rushes back to the dorm before his yang energy protection runs out and brings Gu Kaifeng the food.

Gu Kaifeng is touched by Lin Feiran’s concern and begins teasing him again, calling the rice cake “delectable” while suggestively eating it.

Lin Feiran gets embarrassed and tries to remain stoic, but Gu Kaifeng’s teasing escalates until Lin Feiran snaps and attacks him.

They tumble onto the bed, and Gu Kaifeng cradles Lin Feiran’s head. Instead of kissing him, he gently presses their foreheads together.

Gu Kaifeng jokingly asks Lin Feiran to feel his fever, and Lin Feiran shifts the mood by asking if he’s taken his medicine.

Gu Kaifeng says he was “waiting for Lin Feiran,” and continues to flirt while sick.

Gu Kaifeng admits he would’ve kissed Lin Feiran breathless if he wasn’t worried about infecting him.

Lin Feiran gets up to fetch medicine, and Gu Kaifeng stares longingly at Lin Feiran’s butt as he bends over.

Lin Feiran catches Gu Kaifeng staring, gets flustered, and threatens him.

Gu Kaifeng keeps joking, calling it “lighting his fire” and asking to be taken care of.

Lin Feiran prepares warm water and hands Gu Kaifeng pills. Gu Kaifeng touches Lin Feiran’s palm with his lips, making Lin Feiran tremble.

Lin Feiran, annoyed, calls him a pervert, but Gu Kaifeng just laughs and gulps the medicine.

Lin Feiran feeds the kittens while insulting Gu Kaifeng to them. Gu Kaifeng claims he only acts like that with Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran’s post about the kittens draws attention from pet bloggers, and adoptions are lined up for Monday.

Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran to study in the dorm instead of going to evening study, saying Ms. Zheng will approve if he asks.

Lin Feiran agrees, collects their homework, and sets up a study area by the bed while Gu Kaifeng rests.

Gu Kaifeng repeatedly interrupts Lin Feiran’s studying with flirtation and physical affection.

Gu Kaifeng lays his head in Lin Feiran’s lap and requests a head massage in a whiny voice.

Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and begins massaging him, eventually growing focused on doing it well.

Gu Kaifeng grabs Lin Feiran’s hand, praises its beauty, and kisses his fingertips.

Lin Feiran tries to pull away, but Gu Kaifeng slips his hand under his shirt, guiding Lin Feiran’s hand to his chest.

Lin Feiran accidentally touches something erect and panics, yanking his hand back and accusing Gu Kaifeng of tricking him.

Gu Kaifeng jokes it’s Lin Feiran’s turn and tries to touch under Lin Feiran’s shirt. They scuffle until Lin Feiran bites Gu Kaifeng’s shoulder.

Gu Kaifeng retreats, laughing, while Lin Feiran burrows into the quilt, calling him a freak.

Lin Feiran demands Gu Kaifeng keep his hands to himself, warning he’ll retaliate if touched again.

Gu Kaifeng mocks Lin Feiran’s claim of being a fighter, prompting Lin Feiran to invent a rebellious backstory as a former delinquent.

Gu Kaifeng, who actually had a troubled past, humors him and promises not to touch him without reason.

Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran do homework together until 10 p.m. before Lin Feiran stops to rest.

Gu Kaifeng, still behind due to his illness, starts copying Lin Feiran’s chemistry answers.

Gu Kaifeng mocks Lin Feiran’s messy handwriting despite his beautiful hands, then kisses his notebook.

Gu Kaifeng suggests a future where he teaches Lin Feiran handwriting and Lin Feiran teaches him singing—"hand in hand, lip to lip.”

Lin Feiran, overwhelmed, pinches Gu Kaifeng and flees to wash his hands and face.

The next morning, Gu Kaifeng has recovered completely, and Lin Feiran wakes up to find Gu Kaifeng pressed up against him.

Lin Feiran threatens to snap off Gu Kaifeng’s erection if it pokes him again. Gu Kaifeng jokingly demonstrates how to grab it.

Lin Feiran runs off in embarrassment, and they feed the kittens together before heading to breakfast.

With midterms approaching, Lin Feiran focuses on reviewing weak subjects and study plans.

Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s seriousness and tones down his teasing to give him space.

They prepare to send the kittens to their new homes on Sunday and decide to bring them to Lin Feiran’s apartment on Saturday.

Gu Kaifeng offers to help clean and avoid bringing them to his own house to dodge scolding from his parents.

They arrive at Lin Feiran’s riverside condo. The apartment is clean but dusty, so they open windows and air it out.

Lin Feiran shows Gu Kaifeng the river view, and Gu Kaifeng hugs him from behind, whispering into his ear.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran with a quick bite on the neck and a lick on the palm, making Lin Feiran flee indoors.

Gu Kaifeng helps clean the bedroom while Lin Feiran plays piano. Gu Kaifeng clips Lin Feiran’s nails, pretending it’s a romantic gesture.

Lin Feiran gets flustered and internally compares the moment to a proposal.

Gu Kaifeng confesses Lin Feiran’s hands give him an erection, then makes more suggestive comments about future sex.

Lin Feiran threatens him again and protects his feet as Gu Kaifeng pretends to go for his toes.

On Sunday, all four kittens are successfully adopted into loving homes.

Lin Feiran, watching the last kitten leave, becomes reflective and emotional.

Gu Kaifeng comforts him and jokes about adopting their own kitten after graduation.

Lin Feiran considers how far he’s come, growing more accepting of his ghost-seeing ability.

Lin Feiran feels proud he was able to save the kittens and begins to see his Yin-yang Eye as more of a gift than a curse.

Midterm exams arrive, spanning two days with four subjects: Language Arts, mathematics, English, and comprehensive science.

Due to student ID seating, Gu Kaifeng is placed near the front and Lin Feiran near the back, in different exam halls, preventing contact and shared items.

Lin Feiran realizes he can’t borrow Gu Kaifeng’s supplies discreetly and instead steals Gu Kaifeng’s worn school uniform to use its yang energy.

Lin Feiran divides the uniform into four parts for each exam, confident the lingering yang energy will last two hours each.

As Lin Feiran changes, Gu Kaifeng catches him red-handed wearing his oversized shirt.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran and almost kisses him but redirects the kiss to the corner of Lin Feiran’s mouth to avoid ruining his exam focus.

Flustered, Lin Feiran forgets most of a classical article he memorized, regretting the encounter.

Despite distractions, the yang energy in the uniform protects Lin Feiran from ghosts during exams, though Gu Kaifeng’s scent makes him blush during tests.

Invigilators become suspicious of Lin Feiran due to his strange reactions in the exam hall.

After the final exam, Lin Feiran rushes to return the jacket but is caught again by Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng notices the jacket is XL and confirms it’s his, confronting Lin Feiran.

Gu Kaifeng pulls Lin Feiran into a men’s bathroom stall, kisses him deeply, and begins touching him.

Lin Feiran is overwhelmed and initially gives in, but stops Gu Kaifeng when his hand ventures below the waist.

Gu Kaifeng flirts and begs, but Lin Feiran scolds him for being shameless and refuses further intimacy in public.

Gu Kaifeng apologizes and promises to slow down, then suggests becoming official boyfriends if Lin Feiran loses a grade bet.

Lin Feiran declines and tries to distract Gu Kaifeng, but their physical closeness continues.

Gu Kaifeng joins Wang Zhuo and others for basketball while Lin Feiran watches from the sidelines.

Lin Feiran notices a decline in Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and wonders if he drained it or if it’s due to Gu Kaifeng’s recent illness.

Lin Feiran sees the ghost of a little girl from earlier, who longs to join the boys playing but backs away when Gu Kaifeng retrieves the basketball.

Lin Feiran tries to talk to the little ghost girl discreetly, comforting her and guessing correctly that she is Ms Zheng’s daughter who died from illness.

The ghost girl is frightened but slowly opens up, eventually confirming her identity and cause of death through gestures.

Lin Feiran offers help, but the ghost girl declines and vanishes through a wall.

Feeling sympathetic, Lin Feiran decides he wants to help her play basketball in some way.

Lin Feiran gives Gu Kaifeng water and uses the touch to clear ghost visions.

After the evening study session, Lin Feiran examines his grandfather’s old notebook for rituals to help ghosts.

Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran, holds his hand, and tries to get him to become his official boyfriend.

Lin Feiran offers the notebook to Gu Kaifeng as a hint to his secret, but Gu Kaifeng sees only blank pages.

Lin Feiran realizes the curse prevents others from seeing or understanding the notebook’s content.

Gu Kaifeng senses Lin Feiran’s sadness and offers emotional support, jokingly playing the role of husband and comforter.

Gu Kaifeng offers to hold Lin Feiran’s hand forever and rearranges their desks to work back-to-back while still holding hands.

Gu Kaifeng warns Lin Feiran not to tempt him or he might act on his desire.

Lin Feiran reads about a ritual called “Sharing Yin,” which would allow Gu Kaifeng to temporarily see ghosts by linking their souls.

The spell allows toggling the Yin-yang Eye but is a once-in-a-lifetime ritual that cannot be undone.

Lin Feiran is stunned and hesitates, deeply conflicted over whether to use such a permanent spell on Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran follows Gu Kaifeng home for the weekend and buys cute hair accessories for Xiaxia to win more affection from the little dog.

Gu Kaifeng’s father drives them back to school on Sunday and agrees to a stop at the wholesale market for Lin Feiran to shop.

In the car, Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran by sneaking a hand under his shirt and squeezing his waist, pretending innocence when caught by his father.

Lin Feiran uses a bottle of water as a discreet way to absorb Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy by having him drink from it, turning it into a kind of emergency “holy water.”

Gu Kaifeng has grown suspicious of Lin Feiran stealing his things for yang energy and confronts him, but Lin Feiran denies it with feigned innocence.

Gu Kaifeng becomes hyper-aware of all his belongings, making it nearly impossible for Lin Feiran to “borrow” anything unnoticed.

As a result, Lin Feiran increasingly relies on Xiaxia or indirect methods like saliva-infused items.

At the market, Lin Feiran refuses Gu Kaifeng’s offer to accompany him and insists on going alone, using the water bottle to maintain ghost protection.

Once alone, Lin Feiran shamefully licks the mouth of the bottle to absorb the remaining yang energy, blushing in embarrassment.

Lin Feiran shops for items to offer the little ghost girl: a toy ball, bunny, doll, snacks, hair accessories, talisman paper, incense, and a burner.

On his way back to school in a taxi, Lin Feiran senses the yang energy running out and desperately licks the bottle again, but it’s depleted.

A female ghost suddenly appears in the passenger seat. She is the taxi driver’s deceased wife, elegant and kind, wearing a wedding ring.

Lin Feiran realizes she is watching over her husband and gently relays her messages: warnings about his smoking, health concerns, and messages of love.

The ghost asks Lin Feiran to tell her husband she loves him. Lin Feiran delivers her messages and bolts from the taxi, overwhelmed by emotions and ghost activity.

Lin Feiran becomes surrounded by ghosts and overwhelmed by the chilling effect of his Yin-yang Eye activating at night.

Desperate, he calls Gu Kaifeng and asks him to come to the school gate.

Gu Kaifeng sprints out, joking and teasing Lin Feiran on the phone, but arrives quickly and touches Lin Feiran’s neck to restore yang warmth.

Lin Feiran emotionally calls Gu Kaifeng “hubby” in desperation, and Gu Kaifeng responds warmly and smugly in person.

Gu Kaifeng kisses Lin Feiran’s cheek and then his lips, twice, flustering Lin Feiran in public.

Gu Kaifeng helps carry Lin Feiran’s shopping bags and teases him about their contents, including the bunny toy.

Lin Feiran lies, saying the items are for the Qingming Festival or younger relatives, to avoid revealing the truth about the offering ritual.

Back at the dorm, Lin Feiran hides the items and sneaks off to the storeroom to conduct the ritual for the little ghost girl.

He performs the offering ritual with incense and prayers, imagining the girl as he dedicates the gifts to her spirit.

As he cleans up, Lin Feiran reflects on how surprisingly comfortable he feels with the nickname “hubby” and the kisses.

Lin Feiran returns to the dorm and is horrified to see his socks and underwear hanging after being washed by Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng casually confesses to washing Lin Feiran’s socks, teasing him further and ignoring Lin Feiran’s embarrassment.

Lin Feiran vows never to let dirty laundry accumulate again and pledges to wash everything immediately from now on.

Gu Kaifeng invites Lin Feiran to do homework together, but Lin Feiran insists on working alone out of pride.

Lin Feiran outperforms Gu Kaifeng in physics and gloats, trying to get back at him for all the teasing.

They go to the wash station, where Lin Feiran splashes Gu Kaifeng with water as petty revenge, but Gu Kaifeng lets it slide.

That night, Lin Feiran demands to share Gu Kaifeng’s bed but is forced to call him “hubby” politely to be allowed in.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran relentlessly, pushing for physical affection and claiming he’d sleep anywhere for him.

Gu Kaifeng initiates a sensual moment, guiding Lin Feiran’s hand over his torso and teasing him with kisses and touches.

Lin Feiran gets overwhelmed, denies enjoying it, but clearly reacts to the intimacy.

Gu Kaifeng flirts heavily, licks Lin Feiran’s earlobe, and asks provocatively if Lin Feiran wants to top him.

Lin Feiran, completely flustered, admits he doesn’t want to and surrenders emotionally to the moment.

Gu Kaifeng kisses and gropes Lin Feiran passionately but stops before things go too far, respecting Lin Feiran’s limit.

Lin Feiran shyly asks if Gu Kaifeng really likes him, and Gu Kaifeng confesses with poetic sincerity, listing all of Lin Feiran’s traits he loves.

Gu Kaifeng declares his love isn’t just about looks—he’s completely in love with everything about Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran, overwhelmed, feels emotionally saturated and deeply moved.

Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran what made him fall for him, and Lin Feiran deflects, saying it’s because Gu Kaifeng is a rogue.

The next morning, midterm results are posted. Gu Kaifeng ranks sixth, and Lin Feiran ranks seventh, only four points apart.

Lin Feiran swears to beat Gu Kaifeng next time and is slightly embarrassed by their shared moment the night before.

Gu Kaifeng draws a heart around their names on the report card.

Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and finds the little ghost girl playing with a spectral ball in the hallway.

He confirms she received his offerings when she thanks him sweetly and returns to Ms Zheng’s side.

Lin Feiran peeks into the office and sees her playing quietly at Ms Zheng’s desk, arranging toys and snacks around her mother’s workspace.

The ghost girl gently thanks her mother and enjoys a jelly, showing joy and peace.

Ms Li catches Lin Feiran and lectures him about his Language Arts score.

The little ghost girl secretly helps Lin Feiran answer all of Ms Li’s questions correctly, whispering the answers and helping him save face.

Lin Feiran silently thanks the ghost girl, who quietly returns to Ms Zheng’s side without acknowledgment.

Lin Feiran flirts with Gu Kaifeng in class, tapping his cheek to absorb yang energy.

Gu Kaifeng promises that after the college entrance exams, he’ll kiss Lin Feiran on the podium and sports field.

Lin Feiran teases back with the principal’s office idea, which Gu Kaifeng immediately adds to his mental list.

Lin Feiran, embarrassed, tries to change the subject and refocus on chemistry class, while Gu Kaifeng keeps smiling to himself.

Lin Feiran attends physical education class, where the teacher surprisingly shows up and announces free play.

Lin Feiran initially plans to join Gu Kaifeng and Wang Zhuo for a basketball game but sees the little ghost girl near the court and chooses to sit out.

While watching, Lin Feiran quietly approaches the little ghost girl, who is trying unsuccessfully to shoot her ball into the hoop.

Lin Feiran gently invites her to join him and offers to teach her basketball.

The little ghost girl greets Lin Feiran politely and becomes more trusting.

Lin Feiran teases her with a lighthearted lie, saying her pants will catch fire if she lies, to ensure honesty.

The little ghost girl shares her deepest wish: to ease her mother’s sorrow over her death.

The little ghost girl reveals she died from illness despite her parents’ efforts, and her mother still cries over her photos.

Lin Feiran promises to tell her mother that the painkillers worked, she didn’t suffer, and she’s now happy and has no regrets.

The little ghost girl also wishes her mother knew she wanted to go to the aquarium and amusement park together.

Lin Feiran is overcome with emotion, cries, and promises to relay the message.

The little ghost girl tries to comfort Lin Feiran, telling him he won’t look handsome if he cries.

She expresses acceptance of her death and says she’s content, having had loving parents and a cute little brother.

Lin Feiran offers to teach her basketball and helps her correct her form and posture with kind coaching.

Gu Kaifeng approaches, wraps his arm around Lin Feiran’s waist, and asks who he’s been watching.

Lin Feiran lies that he’s watching no one, and Gu Kaifeng questions why Lin Feiran’s eyes are red.

Lin Feiran deflects by saying he just yawned and wasn’t crying.

Gu Kaifeng demands Lin Feiran’s full attention and threatens to collect kisses in the dorm if he zones out again.

Gu Kaifeng returns to the court while Lin Feiran continues coaching the ghost girl.

Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran whispering coaching tips and makes a teasing gesture indicating Lin Feiran owes him a kiss.

Wang Zhuo and He Hao see Lin Feiran’s middle finger in response and playfully interpret it as “I love you” in sign language.

Lin Feiran teaches the little ghost girl until she becomes confident enough to shoot alone.

Lin Feiran turns to watch Gu Kaifeng play, admiring his skill and attractiveness, and admits to himself he might be going gay.

After class, Gu Kaifeng lures Lin Feiran behind a tree and demands a kiss as payment for watching his game.

Lin Feiran is flustered and tries to resist, but Gu Kaifeng kisses him on the ear and neck.

Lin Feiran is mortified when he realizes the little ghost girl is watching them with innocent curiosity.

Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran, claiming he likes being chased and enjoys resistance.

Lin Feiran angrily denies everything, but his arousal betrays him, confirming his feelings to Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng continues kissing Lin Feiran until there are only a few minutes left before class, and they run back together.

Lin Feiran touches his swollen lips in class and silently fumes at Gu Kaifeng while secretly enjoying the moment.

Lin Feiran considers how to deliver the little ghost girl’s message to Ms Zheng and decides on an anonymous letter.

Lin Feiran attempts to handwrite it but fears Ms Zheng will recognize his poor handwriting, so he types and prints it instead.

Lin Feiran climbs over the school wall during lunch to access a print shop and prepares the envelope for Ms Zheng.

Lin Feiran discreetly slips the letter under the second-year office door.

That evening, Ms Zheng is absent, and Lin Feiran notices the ghost girl is also gone, guessing they’re spending time together.

Lin Feiran feels anxious about Ms Zheng’s reaction but hopes his letter brought comfort.

The next day is Lin Feiran’s birthday, but he keeps it quiet, planning to celebrate privately with Gu Kaifeng on the weekend.

Ms Zheng returns to class with slightly swollen eyes, indicating she read the letter and was moved.

Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and sees the little ghost girl sitting at the podium, clean and smiling, her ghostly features now soft and peaceful.

Lin Feiran realizes Ms Zheng must have said something to ease the ghost girl’s regrets, helping her partially let go.

During break, the little ghost girl tells Lin Feiran her mother talked to her and is taking her to the aquarium.

The little ghost girl requests one last treat: an ice cream before she moves on.

Lin Feiran promises to get it for her, and they laugh together.

Lin Feiran is in high spirits after helping the little ghost girl and turns off his Yin-yang Eye to focus on class.

After dinner, Gu Kaifeng surprises Lin Feiran behind the school with a birthday greeting and plans for a gift and cake.

Gu Kaifeng demands a birthday kiss through the fence; Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and kisses him on the lips through the bars.

Lin Feiran lies to the study supervisor that Gu Kaifeng is sick so he can skip study hall for the surprise.

Lin Feiran runs excitedly to the dorm and finds Gu Kaifeng waiting with a romantic setup: cake, gifts, lilies, and a heartfelt letter.

Gu Kaifeng gifts Lin Feiran limited-edition basketball sneakers he had long admired, and Lin Feiran is deeply moved.

They both wear matching shoes and laugh together, enjoying the moment.

Gu Kaifeng reads Lin Feiran a terrible rendition of the birthday song, which makes Lin Feiran burst into laughter.

Lin Feiran kisses Gu Kaifeng to thank him, initiating it for the first time, which leads to a passionate embrace and deeper kissing.

Lin Feiran reflects on how Gu Kaifeng is his first everything and asks him to take responsibility for “turning him gay.”

Gu Kaifeng promises lifelong devotion and jokes about chasing Lin Feiran if he ever runs away.

Lin Feiran finally admits Gu Kaifeng is officially his boyfriend.

Lin Feiran tricks Gu Kaifeng with whipped cream on his face, leading to a playful bed scene with teasing and semi-erotic touches.

Lin Feiran stops Gu Kaifeng before it goes too far, and they decide to share the cake with Wang Zhuo and He Hao.

Wang Zhuo playfully calls Lin Feiran “saozi,” and both he and He Hao wish Lin Feiran a happy birthday.

Back in their dorm, Lin Feiran wonders if Wang Zhuo had figured out Gu Kaifeng’s feelings all along.

Lin Feiran begins homework and marvels at how real it feels to finally be boyfriends with Gu Kaifeng.

Lin Feiran tells Gu Kaifeng he made a birthday wish for both of them to attend the University of Songzhou and study engineering together.

Gu Kaifeng is touched and excitedly agrees to study hard with him to make that dream come true.

Lin Feiran wakes up the morning after his birthday still overwhelmed with happiness, thinking nonstop about how Gu Kaifeng is now officially his boyfriend.

Lin Feiran is exhausted but energized by love; even Gu Kaifeng, equally sleep-deprived, is glowing from their new relationship.

On the way to class, Lin Feiran openly flirts with Gu Kaifeng, calling him handsome and admitting he was admiring his boyfriend.

Gu Kaifeng is delighted and teases Lin Feiran, tugging on his earlobe and initiating a playful chase toward the classroom.

Their playful energy draws attention, and students joke about their obvious “bromance.”

After multiple classes, Lin Feiran is tired from note-taking, and Gu Kaifeng massages his neck and hand using excuses about acupressure points.

Gu Kaifeng’s massage turns flirtatious, his hand slipping under Lin Feiran’s clothes and into his pants, prompting Lin Feiran to stop him.

Gu Kaifeng admits he just wants to touch Lin Feiran, who calls him out on the fake massage excuse.

Lin Feiran pretends to refocus on schoolwork, though his mind spirals into anxiety about gay sex and giving up spicy food.

Gu Kaifeng keeps teasing him and touches his butt, making Lin Feiran move his chair loudly to escape.

Casual touching becomes more natural now that they’re dating, but Lin Feiran is unaware he’s pushing Gu Kaifeng’s self-control to its limit.

Lin Feiran becomes more comfortable with ghosts and recalls his grandfather’s advice to become self-reliant with his Yin-yang Eye.

Inspired by helping the little ghost girl, Lin Feiran decides to stop fearing ghosts and start helping them.

Lin Feiran suspects the little ghost girl is about to reincarnate, as she appears increasingly faint and transparent.

On Saturday afternoon, Lin Feiran pulls Gu Kaifeng into a sports equipment storeroom under the pretense of needing yang energy for a quiz.

Lin Feiran wants to kiss Gu Kaifeng and mentally debates between focus and desire.

Gu Kaifeng initiates a kiss, undoes Lin Feiran’s shirt, and leaves hickeys on his collarbone, claiming them as “just for me to see.”

Lin Feiran gently pushes him back, saying they have a math quiz, and Gu Kaifeng helps fix his tie before they return to class.

They ace the quiz and leave school excited for the weekend, planning hotpot and a movie.

At the school gate, Gu Kaifeng realizes he forgot his phone and runs back to retrieve it, leaving Lin Feiran waiting.

While alone, Lin Feiran sees the ghost of Jiang Duruo, the old principal, looking whole and humanlike for the first time.

Lin Feiran watches in awe as Jiang Duruo acts out a moment from the past, yelling in a foreign language and shielding imaginary students.

Jiang Duruo appears to reenact his death, resisting an unseen enemy before his head falls off again and he walks away like nothing happened.

Lin Feiran realizes this is the first time he’s activated his Yin-yang Eye at the school gate and believes Jiang Duruo may be stuck in a loop of his final moments.

Lin Feiran tries to communicate with Jiang Duruo and asks if he has last wishes, but Jiang Duruo only scolds him like a living principal.

A loud car horn triggers Jiang Duruo to yell about an air raid and order students to the bomb shelter, further confirming his ghost is trapped in war-time memories.

Gu Kaifeng returns with his phone and finds Lin Feiran crying alone at the gate.

Gu Kaifeng panics, hugs Lin Feiran, and asks who upset him, but Lin Feiran gives vague excuses, unable to talk about ghosts.

Gu Kaifeng isn’t convinced but lets it go and playfully teases Lin Feiran for being clingy.

They head to their date as planned, starting with hotpot and then watching a sci-fi movie.

During the movie, Gu Kaifeng feeds Lin Feiran popcorn by hand, enjoying every brush of Lin Feiran’s lips on his fingers.

Neither of them pays attention to the film, too distracted by each other.

On the taxi ride home, Gu Kaifeng asks if Lin Feiran was thinking of him during the movie, and Lin Feiran admits “partly,” pretending he was reviewing a poem.

Back at Gu Kaifeng’s house, Lin Feiran finds a drawer filled with his favorite hygiene products, showing how much thought Gu Kaifeng has put into making him feel at home.

Lin Feiran tries to research Jiang Duruo online while Gu Kaifeng showers and discovers search history filled with birthday planning ideas, making him emotional.

Lin Feiran learns Jiang Duruo was the school’s founder and died saving a female student during a raid.

That student went on to become a prominent scientist, and many of Jiang Duruo’s students led meaningful lives.

Lin Feiran believes if Jiang Duruo knew the students he saved survived and thrived, it might help him move on.

Lin Feiran realizes the challenge: Jiang Duruo is trapped in a confused state and can’t process information logically.

Gu Kaifeng returns from his shower, joking about porn labeled “study materials,” which Lin Feiran finds and scolds him for.

Lin Feiran gets jealous and accuses Gu Kaifeng of hypocrisy for watching other men.

Gu Kaifeng immediately deletes the folder and flatters Lin Feiran, saying even his finger is better than any porn actor.

Gu Kaifeng starts sucking Lin Feiran’s finger seductively, turning the mood intimate again.

Gu Kaifeng asks if Lin Feiran wants to try “the real deal,” and Lin Feiran shyly says he doesn’t know how.

Gu Kaifeng offers to show him, but their moment is interrupted by Xiaxia, the Yorkie, trying to jump on the bed.

Gu Kaifeng removes Xiaxia and Lin Feiran respectfully prays to the Gu ancestors for privacy.

When Gu Kaifeng returns, Lin Feiran pretends to be reading but is quickly caught and pinned down.

They engage in heavy foreplay, with Gu Kaifeng eventually giving Lin Feiran his first oral sex experience, leading to Lin Feiran climaxing.

Lin Feiran shyly offers tissues, but Gu Kaifeng swallows and teases him about flavor and consistency.

Gu Kaifeng asks for a handjob in return, and Lin Feiran shyly agrees, wanting Gu Kaifeng to feel the same pleasure.

Lin Feiran is shocked to discover Gu Kaifeng is bigger than him and nervously begins stimulating him.

Gu Kaifeng fondles Lin Feiran and asks him to repeat, “You’re my man,” multiple times while being brought to climax.

Gu Kaifeng ejaculates on Lin Feiran’s face, and they both regain clarity afterward.

Lin Feiran insists they start on homework to make a good impression on Gu Kaifeng’s ancestors, who he imagines watching from the afterlife.

Gu Kaifeng laughs and agrees, setting aside plans to game for now.

The next day, Lin Feiran uses Gu Kaifeng’s laptop to search for surviving alumni from Jiang Duruo’s era.

He finds that some are still alive, including the girl Jiang Duruo saved, now a renowned scholar.

Lin Feiran records their names but worries about how to reach them, feeling powerless as a student.

Lost in thought, Lin Feiran rolls around on the bed with Gu Kaifeng’s scent lingering in the sheets, giddy from memories of the previous night.

Gu Kaifeng walks in with Hawaiian fruit ice cream, mistaking it as Lin Feiran’s favorite due to his earlier offerings to the ghost girl.

Touched by the gesture, Lin Feiran accepts and eats the ice cream, enjoying the quiet moment with Gu Kaifeng and Xiaxia.

Gu Kaifeng invites Lin Feiran to try golf next weekend at a friend’s course, and Lin Feiran agrees.

Lin Feiran asks if Gu Kaifeng’s father knows the school principal and requests help inviting certain alumni to the upcoming 95th anniversary celebration.

Gu Kaifeng is surprised but supportive, agrees to talk to his dad, and teases Lin Feiran for being so noble and proper even when asking for a favor.

They joke about a future where sex is exchanged for memorizing political doctrine, and Lin Feiran blushes in embarrassment.

Gu Kaifeng steals a kiss and reassures Lin Feiran that he’ll handle everything.

Gu Kaifeng teases that now Lin Feiran has given him permission, he’ll do as he pleases, but in the end, he just cuddles and covers Lin Feiran with kisses and caresses.

Lin Feiran successfully gets the school to invite the alumni Gu Kaifeng helped him identify for the 95th anniversary.

Lin Feiran watches Mr Jiang Duruo’s ghost re-enact his death at the school gate several times, unable to break the loop or talk meaningfully to him.

On December 12, the school hosts the anniversary celebration in the auditorium, and all five distinguished alumni arrive, including Li Jingshu.

Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng secretly switch seats to sit together, prompting teasing from Wang Zhuo.

Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye to observe the ghosts attending: the long-tongued “top student” ghost, the fading little ghost girl, the drama ghost, and Mr Jiang Duruo.

Mr Jiang Duruo shows up, sternly judging students and visibly shocked as the alumni walk onstage.

Mr Jiang Duruo clearly recognizes all five alumni by name and whispers them aloud: Li Jingshu, Zhang Shunying, Wang Youqing, Liu Guangzhi, and Xu Chengyong.

Mr Jiang Duruo rushes toward the stage, visibly overwhelmed, and stares at each former student with awe.

Li Jingshu speaks on behalf of the alumni, sharing stories of hardship and Mr Jiang Duruo’s sacrifice during the war.

As she speaks, Mr Jiang Duruo is moved to tears and gently pats her grey hair, reversing their age roles.

Li Jingshu shares emotional memories, like Mr Jiang Duruo dividing a single egg among students, prompting laughter from the alumni and even Mr Jiang Duruo.

Students don’t initially understand the significance until Lin Feiran laughs first, then Gu Kaifeng, then others, breaking the awkwardness.

When Li Jingshu recalls Mr Jiang Duruo’s death, Mr Jiang Duruo is confused, finally realizing he is dead.

Mr Jiang Duruo sees his hand pass through the table and touches the place where the rest of his head is missing, finally confronting his ghostly state.

Li Jingshu praises how students have honored Mr Jiang Duruo’s legacy, giving him peace and closure.

She and the other alumni bow deeply to Mr Jiang Duruo’s unseen spirit, prompting him to cry and whisper, “That’s enough.”

Magical lights swirl around Mr Jiang Duruo’s head wound, restoring his appearance and clarity.

Fully healed, Mr Jiang Duruo finally accepts his death and looks at his grown students with pride, asking if wars are truly over.

Lin Feiran tears up at the sight, prompting Gu Kaifeng to gently comfort him and joke about his tears.

Gu Kaifeng holds onto Lin Feiran’s used tissue, teasingly calling him a “little crybaby.”

Lin Feiran counters with mild embarrassment, and they play footsie under the table until Lin Feiran worries about his precious sneakers getting scuffed.

Gu Kaifeng reassures Lin Feiran he’ll replace the sneakers if needed, but Lin Feiran insists on preserving them to cherish forever.

Lin Feiran says he wants to remember this first gift even when they’re old, deeply touching Gu Kaifeng.

Gu Kaifeng memorizes the moment like it’s a love confession.

Days later, Lin Feiran updates Mr Jiang Duruo on national achievements like the Olympic Games, aircraft carriers, and space launches.

Mr Jiang Duruo is thrilled by the news and decides to stay as a guardian spirit of the school instead of reincarnating.

Lin Feiran requests a personal favor: for Mr Jiang Duruo to help evict the sixteen ghosts haunting dorm 508.

Mr Jiang Duruo agrees solemnly, and shortly after, the dorm becomes completely ghost-free.

Lin Feiran inspects every corner and confirms his privacy is restored at last.

That night, Lin Feiran is thrilled by the new peaceful atmosphere and steals glances at Gu Kaifeng studying in bed.

Gu Kaifeng catches him looking, calls him into bed, and they cuddle under the covers, enjoying their rare ghost-free time.

Gu Kaifeng warms Lin Feiran’s cold feet with his stomach and then jokingly uses his erection as a foot-warmer.

Lin Feiran pretends to be reluctant but ends up stroking Gu Kaifeng with his foot, which quickly turns intimate.

Gu Kaifeng kisses and teases Lin Feiran, gradually escalating to full mutual stimulation and naked contact under the covers.

Lin Feiran becomes bolder, initiating kisses and touching Gu Kaifeng’s butt, which he finds addictively firm.

Gu Kaifeng guides Lin Feiran’s hands as they explore each other, culminating in a passionate, physical moment together.

After cleanup, they lie in bed, warm and satisfied, and do homework together like a normal couple.

On Christmas Eve, the school schedules an extended study session to discourage partying.

As it begins to snow, Ms Zheng notices Lin Feiran’s poor handwriting and critiques his English essay.

Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and sees the little ghost girl fully restored in clarity, announcing she’s about to reincarnate.

The little ghost girl thanks Lin Feiran and wishes him and Gu Kaifeng eternal happiness.

She leaves behind her toy bunny and doll for Ms Zheng and says goodbye with a smile before walking out into the snowy night.

Lin Feiran asks to go to the restroom and follows her but cannot catch up. He watches her barefoot figure disappear into the snow under the glow of “Silent Night.”

He contemplates whether spirits nearing reincarnation briefly regain physical presence to say goodbye.

As he stares at her fading footprints, Gu Kaifeng comes outside, wraps him in an embrace, and gently teases him.

Lin Feiran tells Gu Kaifeng he was just watching the snow and doesn’t mention the ghost girl.

Gu Kaifeng tells Lin Feiran that Ms Zheng sent him to check on him and jokes about Lin Feiran getting “lost.”

Lin Feiran decides to write a second anonymous letter to Ms Zheng confirming her daughter reincarnated peacefully.

Back inside, Wang Zhuo invites them to a karaoke party. Lin Feiran suggests going to an amusement park instead, but agrees to karaoke.

The group includes Wang Zhuo, He Hao, three other boys, and three girlfriends, totaling ten people.

They all joke about pairings and Wang Zhuo being “Tiantian,” He Hao’s fake wife for the night.

At karaoke, Lin Feiran shines with his singing talent, winning applause while Gu Kaifeng cheers him on loudly.

After singing, Gu Kaifeng cuddles up to Lin Feiran in front of everyone, rubbing his face on Lin Feiran’s abdomen and claiming he smells good.

Lin Feiran is flustered, and a classmate brings more drinks, but Gu Kaifeng avoids them by acting drunk.

Lin Feiran drinks the beers for Gu Kaifeng, showing off his high tolerance.

They leave together, and Gu Kaifeng clings to Lin Feiran like a human rice cake, looking adorably drunk.

Outside in the cold, Gu Kaifeng suddenly sobers up and confesses with heartfelt clarity that he really, really likes Lin Feiran.

Lin Feiran returns the confession sincerely, and Gu Kaifeng asks to be called “hubby.”

Lin Feiran playfully whispers it and says he’ll help Gu Kaifeng “with that” when they get home.

Emboldened by Gu Kaifeng’s “drunk” state, Lin Feiran confesses his own sexual desires and frustration that Gu Kaifeng never initiates twice a day.

Gu Kaifeng stuns Lin Feiran by suddenly replying seriously, “Remember what you said, babe,” revealing he wasn’t fully drunk.

Lin Feiran panics, realizing Gu Kaifeng was more sober than he thought.

In the taxi, Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran about silencing him, causing more flustered reactions.

Lin Feiran whispers that he’s a young man full of energy and passion, trying to justify his desires.

The chapter ends with Lin Feiran entering a blissful phase of “twice-a-day” intimacy with Gu Kaifeng, his romantic and physical needs now fully fulfilled.

Jinglin arrives at the celestial stairway soaked in blood, dragging his sword, determined to kill.

The True Buddha urges Jinglin to turn back for salvation, but Jinglin ignores him, intent on his mission.

Celestial Warriors, including Commander Lirong, try to dissuade Jinglin, lamenting his isolation and self-destruction.

Jinglin approaches a golden coffin containing the Supreme Father, chained and sealed.

Despite pleas from the Buddha, Jinglin decapitates the Supreme Father, unleashing a torrent of blood and cosmic chaos.

Jinglin is ultimately annihilated by the combined forces of the celestial realm; Lord Linsong ceases to exist.

A gold and red carp in a porcelain jar watches over a slumbering Jinglin, developing an attachment and obsession with him.

The carp becomes jealous when a snowflake touches Jinglin and throws a tantrum.

Jinglin awakens, immobilizes the carp with a gesture, and later feeds it, showing minimal but necessary care.

A-Yi, a bird spirit from the Canli Tree, appears, kidnaps the carp, and tries to lure Jinglin down the mountain for amusement.

The carp is eventually rescued by a small stone figure and returns to Jinglin, who places it in his sleeve's interspatial dimension.

The carp becomes increasingly possessive of Jinglin, obsessed with his spiritual energy and the idea of devouring him for strength.

A-Yi returns at night, kidnaps the carp again, and flies it to a perilous pool inhabited by a sealed sea serpent.

A-Yi taunts the carp and kicks it into the pool as bait for the starving sea serpent.

The carp is nearly eaten but narrowly escapes the serpent's jaws multiple times.

At the last moment, Jinglin arrives and saves the carp, confronting the sea serpent.

Jinglin returns injured, and the carp evolves into human form out of fright and spiritual energy overload.

The carp, now a young boy, clings to Jinglin, expressing childlike dependence and learning to speak and move as a human.

The stone figure and the carp bond, with the carp exploring his new form and interacting clumsily with his surroundings.

A-Yi’s sister Fuli arrives, submitting A-Yi to Jinglin for punishment and calling Jinglin “Jiu-ge”, a name from the past.

Jinglin vehemently rejects his former identity, reveals he killed his father out of personal hatred, not righteousness, and banishes Fuli and A-Yi.

After their departure, Jinglin collapses from coughing up blood, and the carp pretends to be asleep beside him.

Jinglin confronts the carp's slow progress in devouring him, acknowledging its intent with cold indifference.

The carp is terrified by Jinglin’s imposing aura and dominance but continues to cling to him.

Despite appearing emotionally detached, Jinglin wipes the carp’s tears and remains physically close.

The next morning, Jinglin descends the mountain with the carp and Stoney in tow.

At the foot of the mountain, Jinglin tells the carp goodbye and starts to leave.

The carp begs Jinglin not to abandon him, claiming deep emotional attachment and dependence.

Jinglin replies that he cannot abandon what was never his and walks away despite the carp’s desperate cries.

The carp believes that devouring Jinglin would ensure eternal companionship and refuses to leave him, even if it means suffering.

Jinglin pulls away, and the carp throws himself down the stairs, injuring himself and bleeding as he cries for Jinglin not to leave.

Despite his pitiful state and wailing, Jinglin walks away into the snow without turning back.

A boar spirit tries to persuade the carp to give up on Jinglin, calling him cold-hearted, but the carp insists on continuing, even stripping his cloak to show resolve.

As the carp trudges through the snow, a snow spirit appears and taunts him, claiming that Jinglin has had many fish before and is cruel and heartless.

The snow spirit reveals Jinglin’s past, including the Massacre in the Court of Immortality, and tempts the carp to betray him using a poisoned herb.

The snow spirit binds the carp into a magical pact, threatening to trap him in ice if he doesn’t comply.

The snow spirit helps lead the carp back to Cicada Haven, where the carp tricks the spirit into swallowing the herb meant for Jinglin.

The carp traps the spirit in a spiritual barrier and throws himself into Jinglin’s arms, sobbing and frightened.

Jinglin awakens and casts the snow spirit out; the carp tearfully begs him not to die.

Jinglin names the carp “Cangji” and tells him that his destiny lies beyond this place.

After Jinglin falls asleep, Cangji warns Stoney to keep quiet about the snow spirit and claims his new name proudly.

Cangji and Stoney bond through mischief and wrestling, and Cangji expresses his hunger.

Meanwhile, A-Yi, trapped in bird form, behaves selfishly and violently while scavenging in the forest.

Cangji spots A-Yi, ambushes him, and captures him with Stoney’s help.

Cangji interrogates A-Yi, threatening to pluck all his feathers unless he reveals Jinglin’s past.

A-Yi reveals that Jinglin is actually Lord Linsong, who killed the Supreme Father and led the Massacre in the Court of Immortality.

Cangji is unaffected by Jinglin’s notorious history and remains loyal and possessive.

Cangji returns to Cicada Haven and crawls into bed beside the sleeping Jinglin, still wanting to bite him.

Cangji wonders if he truly is a fish, disturbed by his ravenous instincts and desire to eat Jinglin.

Fuli, A-Yi’s sister, arrives urgently and warns Cangji of an approaching threat: Zongyin, the boundary keeper.

Fuli transforms and faces off against Zongyin, who suspects that someone powerful is hiding in the residence.

Zongyin flips the mountain in search of the mysterious presence, and Cangji shields the unconscious Jinglin.

In desperation, Cangji bites Jinglin’s finger and drinks his blood, gaining a massive boost in spiritual energy and rapidly growing in strength and size.

The spiritual barrier breaks, exposing the residence; Stoney reverts to rocks; Zongyin enters and confronts the now grown Cangji.

Zongyin is suspicious of Cangji’s inverted scale and believes he may be a true dragon rather than a carp.

Fuli defends Cangji and fabricates that Jinglin is just a sculpture she made for the carp.

Zongyin eventually agrees to let them leave but demands Jinglin remain behind.

Cangji refuses, claiming Jinglin belongs to him, and hides Jinglin’s face until Fuli says it’s just a stone figure.

Zongyin remains suspicious but departs, warning Cangji to behave or risk bloodshed in the future.

After Zongyin leaves, Jinglin regains consciousness and coughs up blood; Cangji clutches him tightly.

Cangji hides the bite wound from Fuli, and Jinglin acknowledges Cangji has grown stronger during his sleep.

Fuli realizes Cangji consumed Jinglin’s blood and scolds him; Cangji claims it was necessary for survival.

Cangji refuses to give Jinglin to Fuli and declares his devotion, calling Jinglin his own.

Jinglin instructs Cangji to retrieve the missing bell, claiming what Cangji truly seeks lies within it.

Cangji agrees but wants Fuli to keep her distance so he can be alone with Jinglin.

Asserting control, Cangji revels in the power shift, now able to carry and protect Jinglin.

Jinglin tells Cangji to be led the right way, but Cangji slyly suggests Jinglin lead him by the hand.

A-Yi, humiliated by laughter from nearby spirits due to his plucked appearance, grows enraged and storms off to punish Cangji.

Before he can reach Cicada Haven, an earthquake begins as the flood dragon Zongyin arrives.

A fleeing boar warns A-Yi that Zongyin is turning the mountain upside down; A-Yi is skeptical and brags about his sister Fuli’s power.

A-Yi encounters a disfigured snow spirit named Snowling who has Jinglin’s copper bell and demands it back.

A-Yi taunts and beats Snowling, who cries desperately for the bell and hints at a mysterious past with Jinglin.

As spirits flee, A-Yi is caught by a human treasure hunter and stuffed into a sack.

Snowling tries to intervene, but the human escapes with A-Yi and the bell.

Jinglin, sensing the bell's distance increasing, dismisses Fuli and is left alone with Cangji.

Cangji fondles Jinglin under the pretense of curiosity, but Jinglin is unamused and commands him to stop.

Cangji warns Jinglin not to let anyone else touch him, threatening violence if Jinglin tries to leave or be with another.

Jinglin teases Cangji’s obsessive behavior and mocks his childish jealousy, but Cangji is fully consumed by his possessiveness.

Stoney reappears, playfully punches Cangji, and is tossed into Jinglin’s arms.

In a bustling town in the west, the man who captured A-Yi sells him at a market and disappears.

Cangji and Jinglin search for the bell in the crowded town, but Cangji becomes frustrated and bored by mortals.

Cangji jokes about eating a female spirit, but refrains for Jinglin’s sake.

They stay at an inn where Cangji presses Jinglin for information about his past, questioning whether he was once mortal.

Jinglin brushes off the questioning, prompting Cangji to bite his neck and taste his blood again.

Jinglin collapses unconscious from blood loss; Cangji panics, realizing the addictive power of Jinglin’s spiritual energy.

A rakshasa, a birdlike spirit born of corpses, flies over the city, pursued by ghostly Nether Guards.

Cangji hides as Jinglin protects them from detection; Jinglin explains the rakshasa’s nature.

Later, they follow the trail of blood to a slaughtered household and encounter the rakshasa feeding on the bodies.

Cangji materializes and attacks the rakshasa, but it proves too strong due to having swallowed the bell.

Cangji and Jinglin battle the rakshasa together, but Jinglin is weakened from being bitten twice.

Cangji fights desperately, feeding Nether Guards to the rakshasa to weaken it before killing it and retrieving the fake bell from its corpse.

Back in the woods, Cangji bathes to rid the stench, questions Jinglin about the bell, and realizes it was a fake.

They deduce someone lured them into a trap using the bell, but the real bell has vanished without a trace.

Cangji grows upset when Jinglin says he may wish to die, frustrated that Jinglin seems indifferent to living.

The next morning, Cangji hears gossip in the inn that five people, not four, died in the murder case.

Cangji confronts Jinglin while he's bathing, marvels at his scarred back, and pesters him about who caused the scars.

Jinglin downplays them, saying his skin just broke apart; Cangji is affected by Jinglin’s sensual appearance and confused feelings.

They discuss the missing girl from the murdered family and suspect the bell thief’s involvement.

Cangji binds Jinglin with a luminous thread to prevent him from leaving without cooperation.

Jinglin finally begs Cangji with a reluctant “pretty please” for the information.

Suddenly, Monk Zuishan from Soulhold attacks, demanding answers about interference with the Underworld.

Zuishan, a powerful and eccentric deity, identifies Cangji’s original form and attacks both with overwhelming spiritual force.

Jinglin duels Zuishan, revealing impressive combat prowess and technique despite his weakened state.

Cangji observes Jinglin’s transformation and suspects his true identity is neither human nor spirit.

Zuishan grows serious and unleashes a devastating blow, only for Jinglin to block it and counterattack with a sword formed from snow.

The clash ends with Zuishan demanding to know Jinglin’s identity, recognizing his immense power.

Jinglin and Cangji flee together through the town as Zuishan hurls Demonbane, his divine staff.

Demonbane strikes Jinglin in the back during their escape, causing him to bleed profusely into Cangji’s arms.

Cangji, wounded and trembling, cradles the unconscious Jinglin in the snow, enraged at Monk Zuishan for nearly killing Jinglin.

Zuishan confronts Cangji and blames Jinglin for corrupting him, offering Cangji a chance to live if he steps aside.

Cangji refuses and attacks Zuishan in a ferocious fight, landing blows and resisting despite being overpowered.

Zuishan summons his weapon, Demonbane, but Cangji overpowers him and begins draining his spiritual energy.

As Zuishan begins to lose control, he summons a massive spiritual attack, but a blindfolded man named Hui’an intervenes and stops the destruction.

Hui’an scolds Zuishan for endangering civilians and tells him to stop; Zuishan recognizes him and despairs over his mistake.

Cangji escapes with Jinglin into a residence, but Zuishan's spiritual energy wreaks havoc inside his body.

Cangji licks Jinglin’s blood to calm the energy, unaware that his spiritual fish form is changing into something else.

Seeking shelter, Cangji breaks into a woman’s house, lays Jinglin in bed, and is confronted by the homeowner, Huadi.

Cangji pleads with Huadi to let them stay, impersonating a scared teenager; Huadi reluctantly agrees after sensing his desperation.

Huadi discovers Jinglin’s bleeding and calls a doctor, though the doctor can only tend to physical wounds.

Cangji, tormented by Zuishan’s energy and watching over Jinglin, nearly kills him out of curiosity but refrains.

Huadi returns home with a colorful chicken, which is revealed to be A-Yi, who has been sold off by a merchant.

Cangji threatens A-Yi with a knife and forces him to summon his sister Fuli, revealing he needs help for Jinglin’s condition.

Fuli arrives and feeds Jinglin a fruit from the Canli Tree, saving him; she also helps Cangji by giving him one to aid with spiritual assimilation.

Jinglin wakes up, speaks with Fuli, and confirms that Lord Chengtian sent Zuishan due to rising evil in the mortal world.

Fuli warns that Jinglin’s identity may be exposed, but Jinglin refuses to leave, stating he still has unfinished business.

After Fuli and A-Yi depart, Cangji asks Jinglin why he took the blow from Demonbane meant for him, and Jinglin replies it was on impulse.

Cangji declares his dominance over Jinglin’s life and death, and Jinglin accepts, saying his fate now lies in Cangji’s hands.

Jinglin transforms into a wealthy man, shrinks Cangji to a tiny size, and prepares to investigate the murder scene.

Inside Jinglin’s sleeve, Cangji finds and scolds Stoney for hiding, expressing jealousy and frustration.

Jinglin visits the Chens’ home and questions the waiter, learning about the family's background and Chen Ren’s gambling debt.

The waiter reveals that Dong Lin, a bandit and martial artist, may have been involved and was seen near the Chens’ house.

Cangji recognizes Dong Lin’s scent from Huadi’s house and suspects he stole the bell and murdered the Chens.

Gu Shen, a sharp and watchful constable, questions the waiter and Jinglin while probing for clues and potential suspects.

Gu Shen visits Qian Weishi, a local tutor and neighbor, and senses inconsistencies and hidden guilt in his testimony.

Disguised as Gu Shen, Jinglin also questions Qian Weishi and notes the suspicious behavior and emotional manipulation.

Gu Shen privately confirms Qian Weishi’s suspicious demeanor and checks his background, learning he is from Xitu and has a close bond with Chen Caoyu.

Gu Shen and his subordinate review files, uncovering that Qian Weishi was particularly kind to Chen Caoyu, which raises red flags.

Jinglin talks to the old widow, who shares the Chens’ background and emphasizes their affection for Caoyu.

A-Hong, the old widow’s grandson, offers to share a secret in exchange for sweets and toys, drawing out Cangji’s jealousy.

After tantrums and bribery, A-Hong confesses that Qian Weishi killed the Chens and had a disturbing relationship with Chen Caoyu.

A-Hong describes how he saw Qian Weishi and Caoyu together, mentioning inappropriate acts that infuriate Jinglin.

Gu Shen later reflects on the case, puzzled why the girl wasn’t killed; his subordinate reveals Dong Lin’s daughter was trafficked, making it unlikely he’d kidnap another.

They discover an overlooked witness statement suggesting Qian Weishi regularly took Chen Caoyu out and may have abused her.

Gu Shen becomes enraged upon realizing the extent of Qian Weishi’s depravity and declares him the prime suspect.

Gu Shen resumes the investigation by interrogating the waiter, who tries to distance himself from Qian Weishi but inadvertently reveals that Qian Weishi was unusually close to Chen Caoyu.

The old widow becomes defensive and combative, trying to shield A-Hong from further questioning.

A-Hong, under questioning from Gu Shen and lured by sweets, testifies that Qian Weishi often brought Chen Caoyu to his home, read poems to her, sat her on his lap, and even touched her inappropriately.

A-Hong's testimony includes details of witnessing physical abuse and inappropriate conduct, culminating in him stating that Qian Weishi murdered the Chens.

Gu Shen and his subordinates are shocked by the account, which provides gruesome descriptions of the crime scene and Qian Weishi’s possible motivations.

Gu Shen remains skeptical, questioning how Qian Weishi, a frail man, could have overpowered and dismembered four adults, especially without assistance.

A-Hong then offers to reveal the location of the murder weapon in exchange for money, leading to the discovery of a butcher’s cleaver between the Chens’ shed and the old widow’s home.

A search of Qian Weishi’s home uncovers girls’ clothes, shoes, and toys, reinforcing suspicions of child abuse and perversion.

Qian Weishi is brutally beaten by officers during his arrest and brought before Gu Shen, where he confesses to drugging the family and murdering them out of rage after being humiliated by Chen Ren.

Just as Gu Shen seems to have closed the case, Dong Lin, a known bandit, turns himself in and claims responsibility for murdering the entire Chen family, sparing only Chen Caoyu.

Gu Shen and Dong Lin share a moment of recognition and drink together as Dong Lin begins to recount his story.

Dong Lin confesses to confronting Chen Ren over a gambling debt and murdering the entire family during a heated altercation, then dismembering the bodies out of hatred.

Dong Lin insists that Qian Weishi had nothing to do with the murders, stating he doesn't even know him and rejects any notion of shared guilt.

Gu Shen is torn, suspecting both men’s stories contain partial truths and trying to determine who the real killer is, as time for the case resolution runs out.

Dong Lin vividly recounts how he committed the murders in detail, including stabbing, bludgeoning, and dismembering each family member.

Qian Weishi tries to hold onto his false confession but is visibly shaken and fails to match Dong Lin’s precise narrative.

Dong Lin criticizes the witnesses and questions their credibility, especially the old woman and A-Hong, who had conflicting testimonies.

Gu Shen interrogates the waiter again, discovering that the man had borrowed money from Qian Weishi but falsely testified out of fear and selfish motives.

Gu Shen denounces the waiter’s betrayal, and the man breaks down, offering to repay the money but is dismissed in disgust.

Dong Lin is officially convicted and sentenced to execution; Qian Weishi is released, although deeply affected by the ordeal.

Gu Shen, suspecting deeper truths, meets with Qian Weishi again and asks why he had fixated on Chen Caoyu.

Qian Weishi hints that he did not abuse Chen Caoyu but was trying to protect her, and suggests that the abuse came from within her own family.

Jinglin and Cangji observe silently; Jinglin feels a connection to Chen Caoyu and realizes he saw her in a dream playing with the stolen bell.

Through visions and memories, Jinglin and Cangji relive Dong Lin’s past, including a flashback to the rainy night he saved Chen Caoyu from drowning.

Chen Caoyu forms a bond with Dong Lin, bringing him food, following him, and eventually begging him not to send her back to her abusive home.

Dong Lin discovers signs of repeated abuse on her body and begins caring for her, growing emotionally attached.

Dong Lin confronts Chen Ren and threatens him for harming Chen Caoyu, promising to keep an eye on him.

Dong Lin watches over both Chen Caoyu and Huadi from a distance, silently protecting them without interfering directly.

As the bond between Dong Lin and Chen Caoyu grows, she begins to view him as a father figure, asking if she can become his daughter.

Dong Lin is overwhelmed but cannot bring himself to take her with him; he promises to protect her if she ever calls for help.

They release a lantern together on the new year; Chen Caoyu wishes to leave with Dong Lin, but he gently declines, knowing he cannot replace her father.

Dong Lin decides to leave after the festival, still seeking his lost daughter, and parts with Chen Caoyu with a promise to always come if she calls him.

Dong Lin finds Huadi’s redemption account and decides to make one last journey, giving up stealing and heading for the coast.

Before leaving, Dong Lin warns Chen Ren again to behave and threatens him and Zhou if they step out of line.

Zhou and Chen Ren argue violently about money, blaming each other and considering selling Chen Caoyu to pay debts.

Zhou suggests selling Chen Caoyu outright, which leads to a confrontation where she is beaten by Chen Ren.

The family confines Chen Caoyu, feeding her scraps and berating her for supposedly betraying them.

Old Man Chen abuses and threatens Chen Caoyu, blaming her for attracting attention and contemplating selling her.

Chen Ren enters the shed to rape Chen Caoyu, who screams for Dong Lin in desperation.

Qian Weishi arrives, saves Chen Caoyu, and attempts to fight off Chen Ren but is overpowered and nearly drowned.

The Chen family plans to frame Qian Weishi for the incident if he reports them, using his connection to Chen Caoyu against him.

Zhou drags Chen Caoyu inside, beats and humiliates her, while the girl hides scissors for protection.

Dong Lin returns unexpectedly, terrifying Chen Ren and the household.

Dong Lin violently punishes Chen Ren, kills Old Man Chen, and slaughters Zhou despite her pleas and use of Chen Caoyu as a shield.

Qian Weishi kills Chen Ren when the latter begs for help after surviving Dong Lin’s attack.

Dong Lin entrusts Chen Caoyu to Qian Weishi, refusing to leave with her and saying goodbye tenderly.

Dong Lin admits he is not a hero and cannot stay; he reveals he has been searching for his dead daughter, who froze to death years ago.

Dong Lin's farewell with Chen Caoyu is emotional; he encourages her to live a good life and disappears into the night.

At Dong Lin’s public execution, Huadi fights her way through the crowd to reach him and declares herself his wife.

Dong Lin confesses publicly to murdering the Chen family in graphic detail, horrifying the crowd and protecting Huadi.

Huadi tries to stop the execution, expressing love and heartbreak, but is dragged away as Dong Lin is beheaded.

As Dong Lin’s soul is taken by the Nether Guards, Jinglin and Cangji arrive to intercept.

Jinglin, weakened and hiding his identity, and Cangji, now immensely powerful, face off against Monk Zuishan and Hui’an.

A battle erupts between the spiritual factions; Cangji and Jinglin fight with strength and wit, holding their own against divine forces.

Zuishan and Hui’an suspect Jinglin’s identity, wondering if he is Lord Linsong or Lord Shage in disguise.

Cangji and Jinglin escape, leaving the divine beings confused and seeking answers.

Dong Lin’s soul vanishes; Jinglin suspects he chose not to reincarnate, vanishing instead.

Cangji confirms he followed Dong Lin’s soul and witnessed him surrender, but Dong Lin ignored Chen Caoyu entirely.

Back in spring, Jinglin is physically weak and emotionally distant, clearly affected by Dong Lin’s death and memories of the past.

Cangji and Jinglin live in a comfortable residence; Cangji tries to cheer Jinglin up, but Jinglin remains melancholy.

Jinglin drunkenly reveals that Chen Caoyu reminds him of his little sister, and he reminisces about his brothers, including Yunsheng, Lirong, and Lanhai.

Cangji comforts Jinglin, teasing and holding him gently, trying to understand his sadness and form a deeper bond.

Jinglin expresses conflicted emotions about Cangji, admitting he doesn’t hate him but can’t handle his aggressive affection.

The chapter ends with Cangji teasing Jinglin about his appearance and desire, hinting at deepening emotional and romantic tension between them.

Jinglin drunkenly collapses into Cangji’s arms during a rainstorm and falls asleep, prompting Cangji to carry him and Stoney to bed.

Stoney performs a spontaneous martial art-inspired dance with a branch, channeling wind and raindrops before collapsing from exhaustion.

Jinglin wakes the next morning with a hangover, and Cangji teases him while bringing him tea.

Jinglin mentions Dongjun, a powerful boundary keeper, is coming soon and they should leave before being discovered.

Jinglin reveals the missing bell has gone to find Gu Shen.

Gu Shen, having left town and the yamen, begins a journey to find his childhood home and parents.

At an extravagant inn, Gu Shen unexpectedly reunites with Jinglin and Cangji, who are masquerading as wealthy travelers.

Jinglin lies that Cangji is his younger brother and evades further questioning.

Cangji grows suspicious of Gu Shen, who seems to see through their disguises, and Jinglin affirms Gu Shen’s perceptiveness despite being mortal.

Jinglin and Cangji argue playfully over the origins of the bell, and Cangji suspects it was a gift from Lirong, Jinglin’s brother.

Cangji probes deeper, learning about Jinglin’s history as Lord Linsong and the fallout with his divine brothers after the Great Bloodshed.

Jinglin deflects emotionally, mocking the betrayal and war that led to his downfall and the destruction of his divine family.

Cangji grows increasingly obsessed, telling Jinglin that only he is loyal, trustworthy, and hungry enough to devour him completely.

Jinglin warns Cangji that in the end, one of them may consume the other, but Cangji doesn’t care as long as they stay together.

That night, Jinglin dreams of a child named Chuanzi bringing a sugar cake to his dying father during a rainy evening, evoking unknown emotions.

Cangji wakes Jinglin after feeding on him lightly, noting Jinglin cried out for “mother” in his sleep.

Jinglin admits the bell shared Gu Shen’s dream with him, showing Gu Shen’s past and hinting that the bell has its own agenda.

Gu Shen wanders into a hidden spirit city disguised as a human one, where he unknowingly enters an inn run by spirits.

He meets a barefooted child named Fanshu, who has a ghost clinging to him and believes all “mothers” are the same person.

Fanshu and a group of child ghosts latch onto Gu Shen, believing he can help them find their mother.

Gu Shen offers protection, feeds Fanshu, and learns the children were trafficked and abused, possibly killed, then ignored by corrupt local officials.

Zhu, a pig spirit running the inn, plans to butcher and serve Gu Shen to the patrons.

Cangji and Jinglin infiltrate the inn under the guise of customers, while Zhu realizes they are powerful and panics.

Cangji begins to show signs of transformation—his golden-red carp scales darkening and feeling less like fish and more like something unknown.

Jinglin suspects something deeper about Cangji’s spiritual form and is troubled but doesn’t say it aloud.

The city layout follows strict human hierarchy despite being populated only by spirits, which Jinglin finds highly unusual.

Gu Shen and Fanshu are ambushed by the spirits in the inn, who reveal their true forms and plan to eat them publicly.

Fanshu, though also a spirit, tries to save Gu Shen, leading a chaotic escape attempt with the help of the little ghosts.

Monk Zuishan arrives with his divine staff Demonbane, unleashing golden light and terrifying the spirits into fleeing.

Zuishan scolds the crowd for running, revealing his power despite having lost half his spiritual energy.

Cangji comments that Zuishan is still stronger than him even now, and Jinglin explains Zuishan could have become a deity lord if not for his madness.

Zuishan confronts Cangji, offering redemption and even mentorship under a righteous master, except for Lord Chengtian or Lord Shage.

Cangji declines and cheekily says the only one he admires is Lord Linsong—Jinglin himself.

Monk Zuishan battles Cangji with fierce golden spiritual energy, destroying the inn as Demonbane clashes with Jinglin’s fan.

Cangji imitates Stoney’s drunken swordplay, using the fan against Monk Zuishan, though awkwardly, and the fan begins to break.

Jinglin steps in, guiding Cangji’s hands and spiritual energy, stabilizing his movements and transforming the wind into an elegant defense.

Cangji, now empowered and in sync with Jinglin, redirects Monk Zuishan’s attack and uses the opportunity to slam Monk Zuishan to the ground.

Monk Zuishan recognizes that Cangji absorbed part of his spiritual energy and accuses Jinglin of raising a destructive spirit.

Jinglin argues that fate cannot be judged in advance and scolds Monk Zuishan for his obsession with love despite denying it.

Cangji mocks Monk Zuishan for his hypocrisy, enjoying his mental unraveling but refraining from pushing further due to Jinglin’s presence.

Cangji and Jinglin leave the ruined city together; Cangji clings to Jinglin, using injury as an excuse to remain physically close.

Cangji and Jinglin take shelter in an abandoned rabbit spirit's house where Cangji pins Jinglin to the wall, confronting his fear and affection.

Cangji accuses Jinglin of leading him on and hiding truths, especially regarding the bell and Cangji’s origins.

Jinglin confirms that he doesn't remember when or how Cangji entered his life, only that he was already in the jar when he awoke in Cicada Haven.

Cangji reflects on how emotions complicate things after transforming into human form and blames Jinglin for making him feel deeply.

Cangji dreams of a child named Chuanzi living with his sick father and hardworking mother, revealing a memory or illusion triggered by the bell.

The dream becomes a nightmare when a false priest kidnaps the child after beating the father and stealing the family’s savings.

The mother chases the priest but falls behind, leaving the child sobbing as he’s carried away, haunted by the last cry of his mother.

Cangji wakes up to see Gu Shen shaking the bell and confronting him and Jinglin, demanding to know their intentions.

Jinglin explains that Gu Shen has been manipulated and chosen by the bell as a symbol of "separation", connected to Dong Lin’s death as "death".

Gu Shen interrogates Zhu, the pig spirit, who reveals the city was originally human but was wiped out after a mountain deity arrived.

Zhu explains that the humans died mysteriously, and the mountain deity buried ten thousand bodies, forbidding spirits from consuming them.

Zhu also reveals the city was eerie, filled with silent women and rapid population growth without proper worship, leading to evil overgrowth.

Jinglin and Cangji suspect the mountain deity is not a true deity and may have forged documents to pose as one, hiding deeper truths.

Dongjun finds Monk Zuishan sleeping and mocks him for losing the fight. Their banter reveals that Dongjun recognizes Jinglin’s fan technique.

Dongjun deduces that Jinglin is Lord Linsong and suspects a grand conspiracy involving the Court of Immortality and hidden identities.

Cangji, Jinglin, and Gu Shen investigate the mountain, discovering strange roots and a stench. Fanshu confirms it smells like corpses.

Gu Shen finds a finger bone with unnatural marks, suggesting a sinister method of death not matching a beast or common spirit.

Fanshu says the mountain deity monitors all movement and enforces strict control through fear, preventing anyone from leaving the city.

Jinglin deduces the mountain deity hides in plain sight—likely as a tree—and spiritual energy of the place has been manipulated.

Dongjun and Monk Zuishan discuss the city's karmic imbalance and the lack of boundary keepers, revealing the Demarcation Bureau ignored it.

Dongjun implies only Jinglin or Lirong had the capacity to slay demons involved in such massive karmic debts.

They learn the city had no worship of the heavens but bowed to demonic forces, leading to spiritual corruption and catastrophe.

The mountain deity, a massive tree-like creature, appears and embraces the ghost children, who call him “mama” and cling to him joyfully.

Fanshu cries, recognizing the deity as his “mama,” and joins the other children who are comforted and carried off by the creature.

Gu Shen breaks down, thinking the deity recognized him, but he is left behind while the deity continues searching and wandering the mountains.

Stoney fails to retrieve the bell from Gu Shen, who is now closely tied to it, and Cangji comforts the tiny guardian.

Jinglin declares the mountain deity is not a spirit or demon but something older, with no spiritual expanse, only primal chaos, and suggests Gu Shen can never return home.

They conclude the city was a penal colony for criminals, especially those trafficking girls, and the reason for the children's ghostly survival is due to premature deaths.

The city was sealed off from the world and filled with evil, and Jinglin suspects all the girls who froze to death in Dong Lin’s case were brought from here.

Cangji asks the final haunting question: Why were only the girls sent here?

The narrative opens with the revelation that girls were trafficked into the ghost city because they sustained the city’s population and ensured prosperity, regardless of their age.

Once the girls entered the city, their fates became worse than death, reduced to livestock and stripped of humanity, trafficked across the Middle Realm in sealed carriages.

Gu Shen, formerly named Chuanzi, was one such child. He was kidnapped by a false Daoist priest and sold while emaciated and voiceless from crying.

Chuanzi was weighed and judged as unsuitable for selling due to his frail health, but the priest insisted he was merely hungry, not sick.

The buyer expressed regret at not having Chuanzi’s mother too, as they urgently needed more “breeding women” after many girls died from abuse.

Chuanzi was locked in a cell with over ten other children, some already dead, crammed so tightly that movement caused skin abrasions.

Chuanzi forced himself to eat a steamed bun despite nausea and overwhelming stench, only to discover the child beneath him was dead.

Overcome by fear and helplessness, Chuanzi whispered "Mama" as the only comfort he could muster.

The next day, the children were stuffed into sacks and hidden in a dung cart; Chuanzi was suffocating and managed to gnaw a hole to escape.

After biting and fighting off a guard, Chuanzi fled into the mountains, enduring thorns, rocks, and branches until he collapsed from fever and exhaustion.

He was found by a woman and taken in by her and her husband, Gu Zhi, who ran a river escort business; they nursed Chuanzi back to health.

Unable to remember his real name or hometown, Chuanzi was renamed Gu Shen and raised as Gu Zhi’s disciple, later becoming a constable still searching for his origins.

Gu Shen’s search led him back to the mountain deity, now a hulking plant-monster burdened with ghost children calling him “Mama”.

Jinglin and Cangji observe the mountain deity’s nurturing of the ghost children; Jinglin confirms the deity is formed from the spirits of grieving mothers, especially Gu Shen’s.

Cangji expresses disbelief that a mother wouldn’t recognize her own son, but Jinglin explains it has been over thirty years.

Cangji grapples with the suffering he’s witnessed, questioning the worth of being human when life is full of such relentless sorrow.

Monk Zuishan interrupts, demanding the mountain deity follow him to Soulhold and submit to celestial judgment despite having destroyed the evil Scarvils.

Cangji confronts Monk Zuishan and declares that celestial law means nothing to him, claiming he was born in porcelain, not Heaven.

Monk Zuishan attacks the mountain deity, injuring the children and enraging Cangji, who leaps in to defend them and fights Zuishan.

Cangji’s rapid cultivation growth surprises Monk Zuishan, but Cangji is eventually overwhelmed and realizes Jinglin is missing.

Jinglin has been trapped in an illusion by Dongjun, who tries to coax him into revealing his identity.

Jinglin and Dongjun share a tense dialogue where Dongjun hints at knowing Jinglin’s past as Lord Linsong, including the legendary origin of his sword form.

Dongjun teases and prods, recounting how the Supreme Father favored Jinglin for his unmatched true form—a sword.

Despite the probing, Jinglin remains evasive, sarcastically calling Dongjun “gege” to mock him.

Dongjun attacks, sending illusions and water dragons after Jinglin, but Cangji shatters the illusion and crashes in to rescue him.

Dongjun physically overpowers Cangji using only his fan, proving the vast gulf between a deity lord and a newly emerged spiritual being.

Underwater, Jinglin kisses Cangji to transfer power and calm him, but Cangji’s dark instincts surge, tempted to devour Jinglin completely.

Dongjun and Monk Zuishan discuss the danger posed by Cangji’s potential dragon form, noting his power resembles that of the extinct black dragon.

Dongjun eventually lets the pair escape, tricking Monk Zuishan with wordplay while hiding the extent of his injuries.

As Cangji digests the power he consumed and reverts to carp form, Jinglin cradles him while trapped within the mountain deity’s protective cocoon.

Cangji enters a memory of Jinglin’s youth, witnessing the young Lord Linsong’s cold return home, his reception by brothers Yunsheng and Lirong, and his little sister Qingyao.

Although welcomed and praised by the Supreme Father, the atmosphere among the brothers is strained, formal, and distant.

Cangji notices how Jinglin barely engages with his siblings, showing emotional detachment despite the warm reception.

In private, young Jinglin discusses diplomatic matters with Lirong and Yunsheng, displaying maturity and strategy, while also enduring old and fresh wounds from past battles.

Cangji is deeply affected by seeing Jinglin's vulnerability and the wounds on his back, experiencing intense desire and possessiveness.

As Jinglin bathes, Cangji reflects on the longing and hunger his human form has taught him, whispering that this overwhelming need is the desire Jinglin himself awakened in him.

Cangji is pulled out of an illusion by the urgent ringing of the bell, snapping him back to his spiritual expanse, where his carp form has changed significantly—growing larger, darker, and looking less like a carp.

Cangji transforms into his human form, now taller, stronger, and more mature, with Jinglin unconscious in his arms inside the mountain deity’s cocoon.

Cangji breaks free from the mud, stepping into a rejuvenated landscape filled with flowers and spirits, where Fanshu tells him they’ve been asleep since spring and it's now summer.

Fanshu explains that the two immortals left, and the mountain deity will now live peacefully under Bureau regulation, unable to kill without cause.

Gu Shen has also left but stayed nearby, having cried when he claimed to have found his mother.

Cangji wakes Jinglin, who confirms he cannot sense the bell anymore. Cangji jokes that he's grown larger after eating his fill, and Jinglin critiques his unrefined use of spiritual energy.

Cangji carries Jinglin to Gu Shen’s modest dwelling at the foot of the mountain, where Gu Shen hosts them and shares his revelations.

Gu Shen explains that the mountain deity is the collective spirit of grieving mothers and that his own mother likely merged into it, having lost herself after searching endlessly for her son Chuanzi.

Despite knowing his mother won’t recognize him anymore, Gu Shen has chosen to remain near the mountain deity for the rest of his life.

Cangji expresses confusion at human attachment, and Gu Shen explains the “eight sufferings” of life and why he accepts them, though he still questions Heaven’s cruelty and mourns separation from loved ones.

After a heartfelt farewell, Jinglin and Cangji depart, with Gu Shen wondering aloud why ordinary people suffer such painful separations despite committing no great sins.

As they walk away, Cangji teases Jinglin over his blushing ear and notes how Jinglin has become smaller, concluding that Jinglin’s current size feels most natural to him.

Stoney falls out of Jinglin’s sleeve, and Cangji accuses it of cowardice and attempts to throw it away until both Stoney and Jinglin yell for him to stop.

Cangji realizes Stoney sounds like Jinglin and begins to suspect it might be Jinglin’s double, especially after Stoney refuses to speak and Jinglin cryptically confirms the possibility.

Cangji grows increasingly confused about Stoney’s true nature and Jinglin’s intentions, realizing he may never be able to tell when Jinglin is being honest.

They travel westward and board a boat, but Cangji becomes seasick while Jinglin visits the famed Garden of Elegance pleasure boat.

Cangji suspects Jinglin is off enjoying himself and becomes jealous, demanding to know what kind of woman could attract him.

Jinglin, aboard the pleasure boat, takes interest not in the courtesans but in Chu Lun, a top scholar and the new member of the Hanlin Academy.

Jinglin identifies the bell’s presence with Chu Lun and approaches him under the guise of polite conversation, but Chu Lun becomes terrified and tries to flee.

Chu Lun recognizes Jinglin as Lord Linsong and panics, stumbling over himself and eventually trying to jump off the boat to escape.

Cangji crashes the party by tackling Jinglin just as he is about to act, and the two of them fall into the river together.

In a secluded area beneath a willow, Cangji confronts Jinglin for trying to elope with another man and ties the luminous thread around Jinglin’s wrist to stop him from fleeing again.

Jinglin deflects, stating that the bell is nearby and they should have pursued it, but Cangji insists Jinglin cannot escape him.

They argue, and Cangji becomes physically aggressive, cornering Jinglin and declaring him a “caged bird” whose heart flies too high.

Jinglin eventually softens, and they reflect on how little they truly know about each other, despite their intimacy and shared desires.

Cangji realizes that desiring Jinglin and devouring him are not the same thing; emotional connection and understanding remain elusive to him.

Jinglin walks away quietly, and Cangji watches, understanding that physical closeness will not guarantee unity or permanence.

Cangji accepts that he does not yet understand the depth of what he feels and that the fault does not lie in desiring Jinglin—it’s simply part of who he is.

Jinglin dreams of Cangji growing from a fish into a man and becoming increasingly possessive, kissing his fingers and asking to devour him.

Jinglin wakes flustered and uncertain if the dream was real; Cangji is watching him calmly.

Cangji reveals Chu Lun left for the capital, sensing he was a minor spirit and not human.

Jinglin identifies Chu Lun as a brush spirit and notes others described him as having a dual personality.

Cangji relays Chu Lun’s background: born poor with a disability, brilliant in poetry, and changed in temperament after his third visit to the capital.

They arrive in the capital, passing many Demarcation Bureaus, and settle at a spirit-run inn owned by Huashang, a nine-tailed fox spirit.

Huashang notes Cangji resembles the legendary Dragon Emperor of the North, and offers them free accommodations.

Cangji learns from Xiyan, Huashang’s assistant, about the Dragon Emperor's history—his refusal to bow to Lord Jiutian, his war with Lord Shage, and his death at the hands of Lirong.

Cangji and Jinglin debate the implications of deities enforcing titles and legacies.

Xiyan shares that Lord Linsong preserved the Dragon Emperor’s title by killing imposters but had no known relationship with him.

Meanwhile, Dongjun convinces Monk Zuishan to take him to the Sea of Blood, claiming he misses Lirong.

At Soulhold, they discuss Lirong’s defeat at Jinglin’s hands with the sword Weeping Spring and speculate about Jinglin’s motivations for betrayal.

Dongjun suggests Jinglin might not have been possessed but changed deliberately, raising doubts about official narratives.

Lirong is revealed to be in mortal tribulation, reborn somewhere in the Middle Realm to rediscover his true self.

Back in the capital, Cangji and Jinglin learn from Huashang that Jinglin’s leaking spiritual energy may soon attract dangerous attention.

They visit the crowded night market, where a serpent spirit flirts with Jinglin, who coldly rebuffs her.

At Chonghua Street, they visit Chu Lun’s room but find it empty. Cangji smells a lingering, non-human scent that Jinglin identifies as a brush spirit.

Chu Lun returns and pretends not to recognize Jinglin, who plays along and fabricates a story about a debt to lure him into signing a document.

As they leave, another identical Chu Lun appears and flees in terror, revealing the deception.

Cangji and Jinglin chase the fleeing brush spirit, who reverts to a panicked young man and begs for his life.

A massive wolf spirit appears, threatening to eat them for violating capital rules, but is swiftly defeated by Cangji in a stunning show of strength.

The brush spirit sobs and begs Jinglin, invoking Lord Linsong’s former reputation as a righteous spirit slayer.

Jinglin coldly replies that the path he once walked is gone, unsettling the brush spirit and signaling a shift in his morality.

Cangji eats the wolf spirit, terrifying the brush, who is then interrogated about his identity.

The brush spirit reveals he belonged to Sage Yining, who discarded him after Dongjun used him to write on Buddha’s altar and caused a scandal.

The brush describes being terrified in the mortal realm, constantly hunted due to his fragrant spiritual aura.

Jinglin accuses the brush of altering the Register of Fate to save Chu Lun, which has endangered the lives of two men.

The brush spirit breaks down, defending Chu Lun’s worthiness and insisting he never cheated.

Jinglin demands a full account of the brush’s relationship with Chu Lun.

The brush recounts Chu Lun’s tragic life: poverty, repeated failures, deteriorating health, and eventual collapse from illness.

One night, the brush, moved by pity, begins secretly writing for Chu Lun while he sleeps, aiding his studies and survival.

Eventually, Chu Lun catches the brush in the act. They meet face to face, and Chu Lun is seriously injured in the ensuing chaos.

The brush transfers his spirit aura to Chu Lun to save him, then passes out and reverts to brush form.

Chu Lun, believing he has gone insane, gently cares for the brush, covering it with a blanket and speaking to it respectfully.

The brush timidly asks for small favors and begins cohabitating with Chu Lun in secret, hiding under blankets and helping him write.

The chapter ends with the brush recalling this humble yet deeply emotional relationship, mourning his own perceived madness and the deep bond formed between human and spirit.

Chu Lun publicly talks to his brush spirit Leyan while working, causing people to think he’s insane, but his literary work gains popularity because of his unique demeanor.

Despite Chu Lun’s newfound success and improved health, the Underworld’s Register of Fate still decrees that he will die alone from illness and be discarded in a mass grave.

Leyan, who has grown emotionally attached to Chu Lun, becomes increasingly distressed watching him prepare to leave for the capital to take the imperial exam.

Chu Lun insists on going despite Leyan’s pleas, driven by his lifelong dream to serve the country, even if it means dying in the process.

Leyan, desperate, reveals his true name and pleads to be taken along; Chu Lun declines, knowing his death is near and not wanting Leyan to suffer.

Determined to change Chu Lun’s fate, Leyan sneaks into the Underworld using the name-plate of his former master Sage Yining and alters the Register of Fate.

Leyan erases Chu Lun’s death and replaces it with a life of fulfilled ambitions, while also deleting Zuo Qingzhou’s title as top scholar, believing it won’t cost him his life.

Cangji hears Leyan’s confession and doubts the consequences are that simple, warning that someone else must pay for such a change in fate.

At that moment, a white fox spirit named Qianyu appears, severely injured, carrying the disfigured corpse of Zuo Qingzhou and sobbing uncontrollably.

Huashang confirms that Zuo Qingzhou is dead, breaking Qianyu’s heart; the bell splits and begins ringing, signaling a new suffering has emerged.

Jinglin collapses from the bell draining his spiritual energy and awakens transformed into a snow-white fox, wearing the bell and trapped in another illusion.

Jinglin, in fox form, is drawn to a grand library and finds himself reenacting Qianyu’s past with Zuo Qingzhou, trapped in a loop of affectionate interactions.

Cangji also awakens within the illusion, now inhabiting Zuo Qingzhou’s role, and the two repeat their interactions, including intimate and seductive moments.

Jinglin, powerless to stop his body, endures being affectionately stroked, kissed, and seduced by Cangji while struggling to retain control of his own will.

As the scene escalates physically, Jinglin forcibly regains control by crying out Zuo Qingzhou’s name and the truth behind his death, dispelling the bell’s influence.

Jinglin and Cangji regain their senses, realizing the bell used Qianyu’s intense love and grief to force them into understanding the emotional weight of the suffering.

They investigate Zuo Qingzhou’s library and discover a secret box of letters, revealing Zuo Qingzhou and Chu Lun were not only friends but co-investigators into human trafficking.

Chu Lun had written to warn Zuo Qingzhou about the danger they were both in and advised patience, but Zuo Qingzhou had already begun taking risks.

The trafficking case spans multiple provinces and implicates powerful figures in the imperial court, which Zuo Qingzhou sought to expose through his scholarship and future position.

Cangji and Jinglin deduce that Leyan’s alteration of fate stripped Zuo Qingzhou of his top scholar title, thus his protection, leading to his murder.

The mastermind behind the trafficking likely killed Zuo Qingzhou during the imperial examination when all scholars were gathered, and their connection became obvious.

The death was pinned on Qianyu the fox spirit, who was romantically involved with Zuo Qingzhou, but Jinglin is certain Qianyu would never harm the man he loved.

Jinglin and Cangji realize Chu Lun’s original fate may also have included a violent death, not illness, which Leyan tried to prevent by altering destiny.

They connect all threads: Dong Lin, Gu Shen, Chu Lun, Zuo Qingzhou—all investigating the same trafficking case rooted in corruption involving both mortals and spirits.

As the bell traps them in the loop again, Jinglin and Cangji repeat the previous sequence, but Jinglin now consciously searches for clues.

During an intimate moment repeating again, Jinglin experiences a breakthrough, realizing Zuo Qingzhou had already uncovered the mastermind and died for it.

They are interrupted by an attendant summoning Zuo Qingzhou for a meeting, ending the illusion before anything escalates further.

As Cangji leaves, he kisses Jinglin’s ear and softly says, “This is from me,” blurring the line between illusion and reality.

Jinglin, overwhelmed and emotionally shaken, covers his face, realizing he can no longer distinguish whether he is himself or Qianyu.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie suddenly find themselves in a remote, snow-covered mountain village after opening mysterious black metal doors in their respective homes.

They realize neither of them knows where they are, and both ended up there through similarly strange circumstances.

A burly man named Xiong Qi finds them and leads them to the village, warning that questions will be answered later.

Xiong Qi brings them to a building where a group of other people are already gathered; the atmosphere is tense and unsettling.

Xiao Ke, a teenage girl, gives a vague explanation: they must solve “some problems” in the village to leave.

Lin Qiushi observes that no one welcomes them warmly; most people are silent, dazed, or playing phone games despite no signal.

The group consists of thirteen people total, including Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie.

When Ruan Baijie asks for a room to rest, Xiong Qi instructs her and Lin Qiushi to share one—hinting that modesty doesn't matter when survival is at stake.

Xiao Ke warns Lin Qiushi quietly not to trust people too easily.

In their shared room, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie try to sleep. During the night, Lin Qiushi wakes up and sees a ghostly woman at the head of the bed.

The woman speaks with Ruan Baijie's voice and mentions a well outside the house, then eerily tries to get Lin Qiushi to follow her.

Lin Qiushi realizes Ruan Baijie is still sleeping beside him—meaning the woman is not her. The ghost’s face is grotesque, and its neck stretches unnaturally.

Terrified, Lin Qiushi wakes Ruan Baijie, and the two flee downstairs in a panic.

They notice no one else in the house reacts to their loud escape. Ruan Baijie cries and then jokes about feng shui after seeing the well placed unnaturally in the front garden.

Ruan Baijie reveals she's a fortune teller and predicts someone will die due to the full moon.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie investigate the well but retreat quickly due to the cold.

That night, Lin Qiushi struggles to sleep, disturbed by the ghost and the room’s ominous open window.

In the morning, Lin Qiushi hears a woman wailing upstairs. On investigating, he discovers two other members of the group have been brutally murdered.

The scene is horrifying—bodies unrecognizable, soaked in congealed blood. Lin Qiushi vomits from the sight.

Xiao Ke remarks that the survival rate for new entrants is one in five, praising Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie’s strong nerves.

Ruan Baijie finds congealed blood in Lin Qiushi’s hair, implying it dripped from the ceiling.

They go back upstairs and discover unsettling blood trails and dried bloody prints on the ceiling, suggesting something was crawling above.

Ruan Baijie examines the scene with odd calm, and even when Lin Qiushi points out the horror, she jokes or shrugs it off.

Downstairs, they rejoin the others for breakfast. A village chief enters, requests help building a coffin, and leaves without answering questions.

Xiong Qi explains that building the coffin is likely a “key”—a task that must be solved to unlock the exit from this world.

Xiong Qi, Xiao Ke, Lin Qiushi, and Ruan Baijie go to visit the village carpenter.

The carpenter cryptically tells them to pray at a temple before building the coffin, hinting at ominous consequences without proper ritual.

Ruan Baijie pressures the carpenter aggressively, getting him to reveal that after praying, they must “fill in a well” to complete the task.

Her boldness unsettles the group but proves effective. She downplays the fear, arguing it’s foolish to fear both ghosts and people.

As they leave, Xiong Qi starts seeing Ruan Baijie in a new light, realizing she’s not the weak damsel she pretends to be.

On the walk back, Lin Qiushi shields Ruan Baijie from the wind, leading to flirtatious banter between them.

Lin Qiushi, Ruan Baijie, Xiong Qi, and Xiao Ke return to the lodge without incident, but find a grim atmosphere inside.

The rest of the group is terrified: the corpses from the previous night have vanished.

Xiong Qi downplays the shock but checks upstairs, where they discover shredded remains—fragments of meat and bone suggest something devoured the bodies.

Blood splatters are found on the first floor, indicating the violence spread.

Survivors recount hearing grotesque chewing noises upstairs while everyone was accounted for downstairs.

Xiong Qi decides everyone should sleep on the first floor and instructs Xiao Ke to investigate further.

In private, Xiong Qi confides in Lin Qiushi that not all members may be human—monsters have impersonated teammates in previous instances.

Lin Qiushi cooks noodles for Ruan Baijie, impressing her and Xiong Qi with his cooking skills.

Ruan Baijie devours two bowls of noodles, her appetite hinting at either strong nerves or something stranger.

Xiong Qi shares partial information from the carpenter about building the coffin but conceals the part about filling the well.

Zhang Zishuang theorizes that the coffin itself might be the key to escape.

Xiong Qi suggests starting woodcutting at dawn; everyone agrees despite dangerous conditions.

Lin Qiushi learns that group sleep triggers automatic sleep, part of the world’s “rules,” which may leave them vulnerable.

Xiong Qi explains some monsters require specific conditions to kill, such as victims wearing shoes, but each world differs.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie prepare to sleep on the first floor. She flirts with him but he brushes her off, worried about surviving another night.

During the night, Lin Qiushi hears dragging sounds above the ceiling—wet and heavy, unlike the previous knocking.

He tries to get up but is stopped by Ruan Baijie, who cuddles him to sleep despite the ominous noise above.

Lin Qiushi wakes in her arms, and she teases him with suggestive banter, confusing him with her behavior.

At breakfast, Ruan Baijie publicly flirts, implying intimacy with Lin Qiushi the night before, embarrassing him in front of others.

The group sets out to chop wood for the coffin. Only one tree is felled after a full day, led by a man claiming woodworking experience.

Lin Qiushi attempts to carry Ruan Baijie down the snowy slope after she fakes a twisted ankle.

As Lin Qiushi walks through the storm, he realizes something is off—Ruan Baijie feels too light to be real.

The voice on his back mimics Ruan Baijie, trying to seduce and lure him. He drops the impostor and flees.

Behind him, the creature stretches its neck unnaturally long, pursuing him and using Ruan Baijie’s voice to torment him.

Lin Qiushi trips and is saved by Xiong Qi and the real Ruan Baijie. The encounter confirms a shape-shifting monster imitated her.

As they regroup, they hear a scream ahead. Two men carrying the log are crushed in half by it but remain conscious and die in agony.

A third man panics and flees into the snowstorm, screaming about a ghost.

The carpenter shows no reaction to the bloodied log and reminds them they need two more.

Lin Qiushi is emotionally drained, questioning why he ended up in this world. Ruan Baijie suggests it might be the start of a new life.

The group theorizes the deaths may be caused by certain conditions—possibly carrying the log triggered it.

They decide not to carry logs directly again but to create a tool for transport.

Discussion turns to the missing man; no one volunteers to look for him, confirming survival is prioritized over altruism.

The group agrees to rest and resume the task the next day.

Overnight, nothing supernatural occurs—possibly because the deaths earlier “satisfied” the rules.

The chapter ends with the world still snowing heavily, but the group prepares silently for another dangerous trek, with only Ruan Baijie in a cheerful mood.

The group treks through deep snow to the logging site; Lin Qiushi looks after Ruan Baijie during the trip.

Xiao Ke sarcastically comments on their closeness; Ruan Baijie plays the helpless damsel to Lin Qiushi, further irritating Xiao Ke.

The group chops down two thinner trees by sunset and avoids carrying logs by tying ropes and dragging them instead.

Lin Qiushi and another man help pull one log. Though it’s harder than carrying, it’s considered safer.

They deliver the logs to the carpenter, who instructs them to visit the temple at night and enter one by one to pray.

Ruan Baijie reacts subtly to the instructions but says nothing initially.

Lin Qiushi questions the villagers' trustworthiness. Xiong Qi replies that major NPCs usually do not lie, or survival would be impossible.

After returning to the lodge, Ruan Baijie excuses herself but goes missing. Lin Qiushi finds her near the well, immobilized.

Black hair from the well is coiled around her leg, preventing her from moving. She warns Lin Qiushi not to come closer.

Lin Qiushi gathers firewood, lights a torch, and returns to save her by throwing fire into the well.

The ghost—resembling the one who imitated Ruan Baijie earlier—screams as her hair burns. Lin Qiushi rescues Ruan Baijie, and they escape.

Ruan Baijie’s ankle is injured from the hair. Lin Qiushi cleans and bandages it carefully, despite her flirty remarks about being flat-chested.

Everyone in the lodge is disturbed when they hear about the well. Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke recall the last task: fill in the well.

Xiong Qi decides the group will visit the temple that night. Ruan Baijie asks Lin Qiushi to carry her there due to her injury.

Xiao Ke expresses disbelief at Ruan Baijie’s helplessness. Ruan Baijie subtly hints at a secret relationship between Xiao Ke and Xiong Qi, making them visibly uncomfortable.

At the temple, the group arrives in eerie silence. The building is old but exquisitely crafted, with reliefs showing the eighteen levels of hell.

The carpenter instructed everyone to enter the temple alone, but Ruan Baijie insists on going in with Lin Qiushi. He reluctantly agrees.

Inside the temple, they find a Buddha statue with a peaceful expression. They each pray and nothing happens.

The rest of the group hesitates, debating whether to follow the carpenter’s rule. Some enter alone, some in pairs.

A man who entered alone emerges disturbed. He claims he saw a female statue holding an axe, not a Buddha.

Lin Qiushi realizes the statue changes based on how one enters—alone or in pairs. Those who went in pairs saw the Buddha. Those alone saw the eerie axe woman.

As the group argues over what is correct, the reliefs on the temple pillar begin to move, and a massive pale female monster with an axe emerges from the pillar.

Ruan Baijie yells at everyone to run. Chaos ensues as the group flees through the snow.

Lin Qiushi looks back and sees the terrifying woman chasing them, her body huge, limbs twisted, and an axe glistening with blood.

Xiao Ke trips and cries for help. To everyone's surprise, Xiong Qi returns and helps her. As the monster attacks, a golden light blocks the axe—they are spared.

Xiong Qi believes the Buddha they prayed to protected them. They realize those who saw the axe woman likely won't survive.

Ruan Baijie protects Lin Qiushi in a hug as the axe swings at them, but they too are saved by a golden light.

A nearby man who saw the axe woman isn’t so lucky—he’s sliced in half by the monster, still confused in his final moments.

Lin Qiushi realizes that praying in pairs to the Buddha statue was the only safe method.

Everyone regroups at the lodge. As feared, all those who entered the temple alone have died.

One witness claims the axe woman laughed and took the bodies back to the temple.

Xiao Ke questions whether the carpenter lied. Xiong Qi says the instructions were probably a trap to eliminate half the group.

Ruan Baijie notes the woman might return to kill one person a day regardless, which doesn't make it any better.

The group prepares for the final stage—building the coffin and filling the well—knowing it won’t be simple.

That night, Lin Qiushi thanks Ruan Baijie for saving him. She jokes about his stamina and asks if he thinks they’ll survive.

Lin Qiushi dreams of getting married once he escapes. Ruan Baijie says she’ll “buy him a girlfriend” if they make it out.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie enjoy a rare peaceful morning, lounging in bed and talking until Ruan Baijie sends him to get food.

Lin Qiushi finds the others preparing to visit the carpenter again to ask how to fill the well and why it's necessary.

The carpenter tells them to pick a night, toss something dead into the well, and cover it with dirt—then he can begin building the coffin.

When asked what counts as “dead,” the carpenter says any dead thing will do, like “fowl or dog.”

Ruan Baijie points out that there are no animals in the village, only mysteriously replenishing food in their kitchen.

Lin Qiushi realizes the eggs they’ve been eating might not come from real chickens.

Tension rises as Xiong Qi accuses the carpenter of misleading them and getting people killed.

The carpenter coldly states that coffins are for the dead, implying death is necessary.

He reveals that “that woman” is a malevolent goddess worshipped by the villagers who must be fed flesh and bone during winter.

With no livestock left, the villagers count on outsiders to be sacrifices.

Ruan Baijie threatens the carpenter with a knife, extracting all the information she can.

The carpenter explains that if the goddess isn’t fed, she will hunt those trying to build the coffin themselves.

Ruan Baijie leaves abruptly and warns Lin Qiushi to “be careful tonight,” hinting that humans are scarier than monsters.

She later explains that the party members are waiting for someone to die so they can use the body to fill the well.

Lin Qiushi is disturbed by this mindset but begins to understand it.

That night, Lin Qiushi can’t sleep. At 2 a.m., a woman’s screams echo through the lodge as she begs for help, claiming someone is trying to kill her.

The woman, Wang Xiaoyi, bangs on doors, but no one helps her until she reaches Lin Qiushi’s room.

Lin Qiushi hesitates but opens the door. Wang Xiaoyi is covered in blood, claiming Cheng Wen tried to kill her.

Lin Qiushi lets her in. Moments later, Cheng Wen arrives and demands Wang Xiaoyi be handed over, claiming she’s a monster.

A standoff ensues at the door. Lin Qiushi refuses to comply and defends Wang Xiaoyi.

Cheng Wen tries to justify murder by saying they only need one body to fill the well and escape.

Lin Qiushi stands firm. Cheng Wen eventually backs down and leaves.

Wang Xiaoyi stays the night in Lin Qiushi’s room. Lin Qiushi tends to her injuries while Ruan Baijie watches the well outside, musing that she may end up in it.

Lin Qiushi declares he would rather be the one sacrificed than see Ruan Baijie die. She finds his sentiment interesting.

The next morning, Cheng Wen brazenly appears at breakfast like nothing happened. Lin Qiushi confronts him.

Cheng Wen shows no remorse, and others are either disturbed or indifferent.

Ruan Baijie predicts the monster won’t act for three days, giving humans a chance to sacrifice one of their own.

Lin Qiushi visits the carpenter again and learns that if the well isn't filled, they’ll have to restart everything—logging, praying, etc.

Tension mounts in the group. An argument erupts between Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke over food, showing the group is fracturing.

Ruan Baijie reminds everyone that there are already corpses they can use: the men crushed by the log during woodcutting.

The group agrees to dig up those bodies, realizing it's better than committing murder.

All the men grab shovels and head into the snowy forest. Cheng Wen is visibly unstable and glares at Wang Xiaoyi and Lin Qiushi.

As they dig, Ruan Baijie lounges, snacking on sunflower seeds, unfazed by the grim task.

Xiao Ke confronts her, accusing her of being unafraid of death. Ruan Baijie replies that everyone deals with fear differently, and she prefers snacking.

Lin Qiushi keeps working while noticing something strange—three figures stand nearby when only two should be present.

He calls Ruan Baijie over and confirms that two people near her are holding hands unnaturally, and one is unaccounted for.

Before discussing this, Lin Qiushi hits something hard—a frozen corpse, one of the crushed men.

As he announces his discovery, he sees the two figures reduce to one. The remaining figure steps forward—it is Wang Xiaoyi.

She thanks Lin Qiushi warmly, but Lin Qiushi is suspicious. He grabs Ruan Baijie’s wrist and traces “Wang” on her palm.

Ruan Baijie understands and keeps her composure. Together, they agree to bring the body back to the village.

Lin Qiushi, Xiong Qi, Xiao Ke, and Ruan Baijie successfully recover a frozen corpse to fill the well, believing it to be a safer solution than killing someone.

Lin Qiushi remains suspicious of Wang Xiaoyi, especially after seeing two figures earlier; he tests her wrist but feels nothing unusual.

Ruan Baijie advises caution, suggesting Wang Xiaoyi might be human but possibly harboring something unnatural.

On the way back, Wang Xiaoyi suffers a coughing fit, then violently vomits strands of black hair, shocking the group.

Cheng Wen, already unstable, goes into a frenzy and kills Wang Xiaoyi with a shovel, claiming she is a monster.

Her body lies still, and the black hair disappears, leaving the others stunned and horrified by Cheng Wen’s actions.

Strange noises begin approaching from the forest, forcing the group to flee toward the lodge while dragging the corpse and unconscious Cheng Wen.

At the lodge, Cheng Wen sees something inside and panics, revealing a woman’s shadow intertwined with his own before being knocked unconscious by Lin Qiushi.

A monster knocks at the gate, speaking in a woman’s voice, begging for food.

The monster peers over the two-meter-high fence, displaying non-human behavior and voice.

Lin Qiushi, Ruan Baijie, and Xiong Qi toss the corpse into the well; they hear crunching as the monster devours the body, eventually falling silent.

At dawn, the monster is gone, and the group heads to retrieve the coffin from the carpenter, who wordlessly directs them to it.

The coffin is blood-soaked and eerily light, but they carry it back to the lodge.

Inside the coffin, they find a bronze key covered in what they believe is human blood—Xiao Ke breaks down in relief.

Ruan Baijie mistrusts Xiao Ke with the key and convinces the group to let Lin Qiushi keep it despite his inexperience.

Ruan Baijie secretly tells Lin Qiushi that she has found the exit door.

Ruan Baijie pierces Lin Qiushi’s ear with a red gem earring, claiming it’s a gift symbolizing destiny and connection.

Later, Cheng Wen anxiously asks if Wang Xiaoyi was really a monster, haunted by guilt and doubt, eventually storming out when challenged.

Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke explain that anything killed in this world can become a vengeful ghost, discouraging murder as a survival tactic.

After failing to locate the door that day, the group prepares to rest, but Cheng Wen’s screams erupt during the night.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie recognize the crying voice as Wang Xiaoyi’s, and Cheng Wen is soon silenced amid gruesome sounds.

Ruan Baijie decides they cannot wait any longer and leads Lin Qiushi outside.

At the well, Ruan Baijie unexpectedly pushes Lin Qiushi in after whispering “go,” catching him completely off guard.

Lin Qiushi lands unharmed on a writhing mass of black hair inside the well and finds a hidden tunnel lined with hair strands.

He follows the path to a massive iron door sealed with a bronze lock—the same kind seen in his apartment.

He uses the key, unlocks the door, and finds a mysterious note reading “Fitchers Vogel,” which he pockets without understanding.

The door opens to a warm, serene light; the black hair reacts angrily, and Lin Qiushi steps into the light.

Lin Qiushi’s last thought is a hope that Ruan Baijie will survive too.

Lin Qiushi exits the light and finds himself back in the corridor of his apartment building, everything appearing normal again.

He checks the time on his phone and realizes only fifteen minutes have passed in the real world since he entered the door.

Lin Qiushi confirms his journey wasn’t a dream when he finds the earring and note in his pocket.

He receives a call from Wu Qi, who is waiting to go out for food. Lin Qiushi joins him, unsettled but trying to act normal.

At dinner, Wu Qi notices Lin Qiushi’s distracted state and teases him about his new ear piercing, unaware of the truth behind it.

They witness a nearby car accident, and Lin Qiushi recognizes the deceased driver’s clothes as those worn by Zhang Zishuang in the door world.

Disturbed, Lin Qiushi realizes that people who die inside the door worlds also die in the real world.

Back home, Lin Qiushi’s cat Chestnut acts unusually distant, a stark contrast to its normal affectionate behavior.

After researching the phrase “Fitchers Vogel” from the note, Lin Qiushi learns it’s a Grimm fairy tale involving a murderous wizard and three sisters.

The disturbing nature of the fairy tale and its connection to his door experience leaves Lin Qiushi unsettled.

That night, Lin Qiushi senses a presence in his room and is confronted by a mysterious, handsome man.

The stranger reveals himself as Ruan Nanzhu and welcomes Lin Qiushi to “the world beyond the door.”

Lin Qiushi is forced to accompany Ruan Nanzhu to a secluded villa outside the city.

They are picked up by Cheng Qianli, a teenage driver who is actually underage and without a license, causing a brief police scare.

At the villa, Lin Qiushi is introduced to several members of Ruan Nanzhu’s team, including Lu Yanxue, Chen Fei, Yi Manman, and Cheng Qianli.

The team confirms that deaths inside the door worlds manifest as real-world deaths, often covered up as suicides or accidents.

Lin Qiushi recites the words on his note, “Fitchers Vogel,” which prompts immediate attention and concern from the group.

They explain that each note contains a clue for surviving the next door.

Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi that he is now marked by the door and must survive all twelve door worlds to free himself.

Cheng Qianli advises him not to get too attached to others, as newcomers often die quickly.

Lin Qiushi learns that Ruan Baijie is actually Ruan Nanzhu in disguise, cross-dressing for strategic advantages in the door world.

Lin Qiushi is shocked but comes to accept this, recognizing hints he missed before.

Ruan Nanzhu gives Lin Qiushi the hint from the previous door: “One does not enter the temple. Two do not observe the well. Three do not hold the tree. Never lean on the fence alone.”

This explains how Ruan Nanzhu had always known what to avoid.

Lin Qiushi later meets Cheng Qianli’s twin brother, Cheng Yixie, who has a much colder demeanor.

Lin Qiushi searches the internet and finds a video of a woman dressed like Wang Xiaoyi committing suicide but with a different face.

He realizes that people may appear different in the door world, raising questions about identity and reality.

Lin Qiushi begins to suspect that not everything the villa residents told him is the full truth.

The next morning, Lin Qiushi meets Ruan Nanzhu again, who confirms he will accompany Lin Qiushi into the next door.

They discuss that each door is linked, and the next one will be themed around “Fitchers Vogel.”

Lin Qiushi learns that several other veteran players, like Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke, also belong to different groups who use the doors.

As breakfast ends, Cheng Qianli mentions Lin Qiushi will have to enter the next door in a week but assures him that with Ruan Nanzhu by his side, he’ll be fine.

Lin Qiushi returns home after breakfast with Ruan Nanzhu, who promises to return on Friday to enter the next door.

Lin Qiushi resigns from his job, rejecting a promotion and raise, choosing to enjoy what may be his final days.

He spends time researching “Fitchers Vogel,” but finds only the original grim fairy tale, nothing useful for survival.

On Friday night, Ruan Nanzhu arrives dressed as Ruan Baijie in full makeup, stunning Lin Qiushi with his appearance.

Ruan Nanzhu advises Lin Qiushi to wear unfamiliar clothes to avoid recognition in the real world by people from the door.

They open the door to a new world; Lin Qiushi enters alone into a high-rise building surrounded by fog.

He finds a group of six others—some panicking, some indifferent—and realizes this is their first time beyond the door.

A wealthy man refuses to accept the reality and storms off into the fog but returns moments later drenched in blood and horror-stricken.

Lin Qiushi recognizes Ruan Nanzhu disguised as a mature, elegant woman claiming to be Zhu Meng.

The group consists of three newcomers—Xu Xiaocheng, Zeng Ruguo, and Zhong Chengjian—and four others, including Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi (as Yu Linlin), Tang Yaoyao, and Zhang Xinghuo.

Ruan Nanzhu assumes the role of group leader and guides them to explore the thirteenth floor of the building.

They find a welcoming middle-aged woman and her identical triplet daughters; she says their birthday is in seven days.

The group deduces that surviving seven days and attending the birthday is the goal of this world.

Ruan Nanzhu receives four room keys; the group splits up, with Lin Qiushi assigned to stay with him, which stirs envy among others.

Each room is tiny and coffin-like, with barely enough space for a bed.

Zeng Ruguo is traumatized and still covered in blood. He later tries to shower but finds blood flowing from the showerhead.

Lin Qiushi discovers a baby-like bloody corpse hanging above Zeng Ruguo, realizing the blood won’t wash off.

Lin Qiushi and Zeng Ruguo flee the shower; Ruan Nanzhu mocks Lin Qiushi for the situation, teasing him about his "interesting hobbies."

That night passes peacefully, and in the morning the triplets’ mother provides food, which Ruan Nanzhu eats first to prove it’s safe.

The triplets—Xiaoyi, Xiaoyin, and Xiaoying—appear identical and emotionless. They tell the group to remember their names.

Ruan Nanzhu confidently identifies each one, earning a chilling but playful reward: “You get to play with us a little longer.”

The group explores lower floors of the building and finds two other occupied units: a fearful young man on the third floor and a deaf old woman on the ground floor.

The young man warns them to leave, calling the building cursed and claiming the family on the top floor are ghosts.

They discover dried blood in front of both occupied doors, suspecting it may be some kind of protective ward.

Tang Yaoyao suggests spreading blood at their own doors, but no one dares to try it.

The group debates what to do next, growing more uneasy. Xu Xiaocheng questions if the triplets are even human.

The triplets reappear and demand the group identify them by name. Ruan Nanzhu succeeds again, diffusing the threat.

Everyone is unnerved by the triplets’ behavior, especially their sharp teeth and inhuman expressions.

The group decides to wait out the remaining days, with Ruan Nanzhu and Tang Yaoyao suspecting something will happen soon.

Lin Qiushi identifies the two quiet male members as veteran Zhang Xinghuo and newbie Zhong Chengjian.

After two quiet days, the peace ends with the sudden death of one of the party members.

Lin Qiushi and others are alerted by Xu Xiaocheng’s scream after she finds a hacked-up corpse on the stairs.

Expecting a teammate to be the victim, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu are shocked to discover it is one of the triplet girls, identifiable by her clothing despite the brutal dismemberment.

Zeng Ruguo vomits at the sight; Lin Qiushi remains calm and locates the girl’s severed head, confirming it was one of the triplets.

Their mother arrives, sees the body, and wails over her daughter, claiming an outsider must have done it and accusing Tang Yaoyao, bruising her arm while grabbing her.

Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi not to approach the mother and points out blood on the soles of her shoes, implying she may be the killer.

The two surviving sisters appear in the doorway emotionless, watching without helping or mourning, then silently vanish again.

The mother collects the body parts into a sack, mops the floor calmly, and shows no visible signs of horror or grief beyond her theatrical wailing.

Ruan Nanzhu, unbothered, takes Lin Qiushi to eat bread; they note the mother’s behavior is disturbingly practiced, hinting she has done this before.

Xu Xiaocheng joins them, still shaken, and Ruan Nanzhu comforts her while claiming Lin Qiushi is his boyfriend to establish trust.

Lin Qiushi checks his reflection and sees his door-world appearance—a non-threatening, average but gentle-looking young man.

Ruan Nanzhu reveals he marked the triplets with glitter: glitter on shoulder is Xiaoyin, on hair is Xiaoying, and none is Xiaoyi (the deceased).

They decide not to share this identification trick with the others yet due to trust concerns.

Ruan Nanzhu explains “charge” means someone paying for his protection—Xu Xiaocheng is a famous actress and a returning participant.

Tension rises in the group, especially after discussing the fog, which Zeng Ruguo says is filled with moving corpses.

The mother returns later with a pot of meatball soup, urging everyone to eat. It’s the first meat dish they’ve seen here, and everyone is suspicious.

She eats the meatballs herself, smiling disturbingly and cracking bones between her teeth, horrifying the group and making Xu Xiaocheng vomit.

No one touches the soup, assuming the worst about the ingredients. The surviving sisters silently observe their mother’s feast.

At dinner, the mother brings bone broth, again eating it herself while the others abstain. Hunger makes it difficult, but no one dares eat.

They suspect the girl’s body was used for the meat, but Ruan Nanzhu leads a search of the apartment to confirm.

They find the black sack with the girl’s dismembered body stuffed in the refrigerator. Despite being disturbed, they confirm no parts were missing.

Ruan Nanzhu remains calm and analytical, wondering why the mother would kill her own child. Tang Yaoyao suggests insanity.

That night, Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi sleep together. Ruan Nanzhu jokes flirtatiously, but then seriously warns that someone might die due to a “bloodstained egg.”

At 3 a.m., Lin Qiushi hears drilling sounds through the wall and wakes Ruan Nanzhu. They discover a sharp awl piercing their wall right where Lin Qiushi’s head would have been.

Lin Qiushi looks through the hole and sees a bloodshot, mad eye staring back. The attacker vanishes once spotted.

They hear the same drilling sound move down the hallway. Stepping outside, they encounter one of the triplets with no glitter—implying the deceased Xiaoyi.

She emotionlessly says she couldn’t sleep and walks away. They realize something unnatural is happening—possibly resurrection or ghostly imitation.

The next morning, the group reconvenes, wary and exhausted. Tang Yaoyao reveals the body in the fridge has disappeared.

Lin Qiushi inspects the two surviving triplets and sees both still have glitter, meaning neither is the one they saw last night.

This confirms a terrifying truth: they saw the dead Xiaoyi walking around the previous night, raising the possibility of her return or duplication.

Ruan Nanzhu wryly comments on the taste of bread improving, calling it the “last meal before death,” hinting danger is still imminent.

Lin Qiushi and the others become tense as the third day ends and they realize four more remain until the birthday party.

Zeng Ruguo becomes increasingly nervous and asks Lin Qiushi to accompany him to the bathroom.

Lin Qiushi waits outside, but after a few minutes, he smells blood and hears strange cracking noises.

Inside the bathroom, Lin Qiushi finds Zeng Ruguo dead, his skull smashed and brain completely missing.

The blood appears to move toward Lin Qiushi, forcing him to flee and warn Ruan Nanzhu and Xu Xiaocheng.

Ruan Nanzhu, unfazed, investigates the scene and confirms Zeng Ruguo’s death, noting the missing brain may be significant.

They leave the body in place, but it mysteriously vanishes by the time the others return. Ruan Nanzhu finds human tissue and hair in the toilet drain.

Tang Yaoyao’s attempt to question the other building residents fails, as the man on the third floor refuses to talk and the elderly woman repeats nonsense.

The group becomes discouraged at the lack of progress. Zhang Xinghuo warns Zeng Ruguo’s death is likely just the beginning.

At dinner, the triplets’ mother cooks again and acts cheerfully. No one eats except her.

Zhong Chengjian has a violent reaction when one of the triplets asks if he knows who she is. He curses and shoves her aside.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu worry that Zhong Chengjian has marked himself for death.

That night, they expect something to happen, but surprisingly, Zhong Chengjian survives until morning.

During breakfast, Zhong Chengjian finds a blood-stained needle in his food and accuses the mother of trying to kill him.

In a fit of rage, Zhong Chengjian grabs a cleaver and brutally murders the mother in front of the group, chopping her into pieces.

Ruan Nanzhu notes that NPCs in the door world are destined to die anyway, and the way they die just changes depending on player action.

The group is horrified but lets Zhong Chengjian be. He alternates between panic and denial, asserting he won’t be punished for murder since it’s not the real world.

That night, Lin Qiushi hears strange noises again and is about to wake Ruan Nanzhu when a scream rings out.

Zhang Xinghuo finds Zhong Chengjian dead in bed—his body reduced to an empty sheet of skin with all flesh and bone scraped away.

The group is horrified. Lin Qiushi and Zhang Xinghuo recall hearing the same eerie noise, which Lin Qiushi likens to the sound of a spoon scraping.

The group gathers in the living room, traumatized. Ruan Nanzhu sleeps on Lin Qiushi’s shoulder without concern.

Morning comes and the kitchen, previously covered in gore, is spotless. Breakfast is laid out, including eggs—an obvious reference to the Fitchers Vogel fairy tale.

Everyone eats except Xu Xiaocheng, who vomits after realizing who made the meal.

The triplets’ mother, previously hacked to death, reappears unharmed and asks if they enjoyed the food.

The group is horrified to see her alive, and she happily offers to cook more, hinting there's still meat in the fridge.

Tang Yaoyao questions whether the mother is human or something else. Ruan Nanzhu theorizes she may be an essential respawning NPC without memory of death.

The chapter ends with Ruan Nanzhu casually teasing Tang Yaoyao and pointing out everyone still ate the food despite knowing it was suspicious.

The day after the triplet mother respawns, Xu Xiaocheng discovers the second triplet, Xiaoyin, brutally dismembered in the bathroom.

Lin Qiushi and the group remain emotionally numb but deeply unnerved as the mother silently cleans up the body again.

Tang Yaoyao starts showing signs of instability and goes to rest early, despite Lin Qiushi's warning to be careful.

That night, Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi he believes he has found the exit door hidden on the rooftop.

Lin Qiushi insists on accompanying Ruan Nanzhu. Together, they unlock the rooftop door and find it covered in black sacks identical to those used to store dismembered bodies.

Ruan Nanzhu finds something he was looking for, but someone approaches, so Lin Qiushi pretends they are kissing to avoid suspicion.

No one is found, but there are blood drag marks nearby. Ruan Nanzhu confirms the door is on the rooftop under the sacks; the key will likely appear during the birthday party.

The next morning, the three remaining players—Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Xu Xiaocheng—investigate again.

They discover the man on the third floor has been killed, his eyes gouged out and face frozen in terror. Blood splatter on the windows suggests something attacked from outside.

Ruan Nanzhu deduces that blood splashes may be a death marker and suspects the man died in place of Tang Yaoyao, who had been blood-splattered earlier.

They proceed to the ground floor and question the old woman, who says, “I've eaten the cake already” and refuses to attend the party, indicating the birthday is linked to prior mass disappearances.

Back upstairs, Tang Yaoyao behaves erratically and eventually reveals a red rash that spreads uncontrollably over her body.

Tang Yaoyao collapses and dies with her entire body turning blood-red. Her death appears different from previous victims—she simply breaks down physically in front of them.

The mother reappears with a cheerful attitude, saying the party is near and offering food again, further unsettling the group.

Ruan Nanzhu predicts no one else will die before the party, and this proves true—the four survivors wait out the final days.

The night before the party, Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi find gruesome items on the rooftop: human brains, flesh, and eyeballs stored in jars and bowls—remnants of all previous victims.

On the party day, everything is unusually dark, with the sun completely blocked by clouds.

The flat is decorated with ribbons, toys, and a large cake. The last triplet, Xiaoying, sits quietly and asks the group if they’ve seen her sisters.

Ruan Nanzhu truthfully tells her they’re dead. The mother rolls out a three-layer cake topped with candles and demands they eat it.

Lin Qiushi, Zhang Xinghuo, and Xu Xiaocheng are given slices, but Ruan Nanzhu refuses to eat.

After multiple refusals, Ruan Nanzhu flips the table, exposing the cake’s true contents: brains, meat, eyeballs, and bones.

He suddenly stabs and dismembers the mother in a shocking attack. Xiaoying claps and laughs, cheering that her mother is dead.

Lin Qiushi realizes the key to escape was hidden inside the mother’s body, and Ruan Nanzhu had to kill her to retrieve it.

As they try to escape, the mother’s corpse regenerates and chases them, now a grotesque, reanimated monster.

Ruan Nanzhu leads the group to the rooftop where the escape door is hidden. As he unlocks it, Lin Qiushi fends off the monster using his phone and a kick.

They open the door just in time, fleeing into the light. Lin Qiushi is slashed in the arm but pulled through by Ruan Nanzhu.

On the other side of the door, they find themselves back in their apartment corridor, safe and returning to reality.

Lin Qiushi faints from exhaustion and blood loss. Ruan Nanzhu carries him into the flat and puts him to bed.

The chapter ends with Lin Qiushi slipping into deep sleep, finally safe after surviving the terrifying birthday door world.

Lin Qiushi wakes up in a hospital after escaping from the door world, greeted by Cheng Qianli.

Lin Qiushi is informed he had a high fever likely caused by the wound he received on the other side.

Cheng Qianli reassures him his cat, Chestnut, is fine and that Ruan Nanzhu had something to handle.

Ruan Nanzhu visits later, gently reassuring Lin Qiushi that they made it out safely, causing Lin Qiushi to fall into peaceful sleep.

Lin Qiushi recovers over a few days in the hospital, deeply appreciating normal life again.

Upon discharge, Cheng Qianli drives him home where Lin Qiushi finds Ruan Nanzhu already there with Chestnut being unusually affectionate toward him.

Lin Qiushi becomes jealous that Chestnut prefers Ruan Nanzhu over him.

Lin Qiushi asks Ruan Nanzhu why he killed the mother in the previous door, and Ruan Nanzhu explains he deduced from the fairy tale that the “wizard” had to die to revive the girls and reveal the key.

Ruan Nanzhu mentions the door hint system and explains how door ownership works—whoever opens a door gets the hint, and others can benefit from joining.

Cheng Qianli explains that skipping too many doors can be dangerous even if technically allowed.

Lin Qiushi learns that Ruan Nanzhu originally mistook him for another person meant to be saved and only brought him out by accident.

Lin Qiushi is advised to move into the villa for his safety, as other real-world players can be dangerous.

On the way back, Ruan Nanzhu points out that Xu Xiaocheng is a popular actress in the real world, contrasting her crybaby personality in the door world.

That night, Lin Qiushi hears a commotion outside and witnesses a man murdering a woman.

He later discovers the victim was possibly Tang Yaoyao, who failed to exit the door and thus died in real life.

Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi that people who enter the door are already on the brink of death from accidents or illness.

Lin Qiushi retrieves a medical report and learns he has Stage I liver cancer, leaving him devastated.

Ruan Nanzhu reacts coldly, reminding Lin Qiushi that the door was his second chance and death was inevitable otherwise.

Ruan Nanzhu insists Lin Qiushi move to the villa the next day, suggesting it may even help restore his bond with Chestnut.

Ruan Nanzhu spends the night at Lin Qiushi’s, and they end up sharing the bed; Lin Qiushi awkwardly wakes up cuddling Ruan Nanzhu, both men experiencing mutual physical reactions.

Lin Qiushi cooks breakfast and is visited by former coworker Cao Ying, who gets the wrong impression after seeing Ruan Nanzhu half-dressed in Qiushi's pajamas.

Ruan Nanzhu flirts provocatively, causing Cao Ying to choke and Lin Qiushi to blush.

After breakfast, Lin Qiushi agrees to move. Chestnut still clings to Ruan Nanzhu over him, making Lin Qiushi jealous.

At the villa, Lin Qiushi is welcomed by Cheng Yixie, Cheng Qianli’s serious and aloof twin brother.

Lin Qiushi is given a room across from Ruan Nanzhu and is finally allowed to pet Chestnut, who now accepts his affection thanks to Ruan Nanzhu's help.

Yi Manman catches Lin Qiushi in an embarrassing position kneeling between Ruan Nanzhu’s legs while sniffing Chestnut, mistaking it for something lewd.

Cheng Qianli takes a photo and teases Lin Qiushi, who forces him to delete it.

Lin Qiushi meets other villa residents at dinner: Yi Manman, Chen Fei, and Lu Yanxue. He learns others are out on business.

He’s warned about their dog Toast who likes sniffing cat butts, but it’s assumed Chestnut and Toast will get along.

Late that night, Lin Qiushi sees Ruan Nanzhu and Chen Fei discussing the next door outside and accidentally overhears them.

Ruan Nanzhu shows Lin Qiushi a secret forum for door participants and warns him never to log in from a different device.

Ruan Nanzhu reveals doors are a "reward" for people about to die, and that door privileges can be stolen through murder inside the realm.

Lin Qiushi realizes how lucky he is to have met Ruan Nanzhu and browses the forum, learning how active and mysterious the door community is.

Lin Qiushi observes Cheng Qianli being dramatic over spicy congee, arguing with his indifferent twin brother Cheng Yixie.

Lin Qiushi goes with Cheng Qianli to pick up their dog Toast and learns Ruan Nanzhu may be entering a new door soon, though it’s unclear with whom.

Days pass and Lin Qiushi bonds with the others. One night, he sees Ruan Nanzhu return to the villa looking extremely sick and helps him to bed.

Ruan Nanzhu collapses from exhaustion and is taken to the hospital.

At the hospital, Chen Fei returns with grim news that Ruan Nanzhu’s companion in the last door committed suicide by jumping off a building.

Lin Qiushi is shaken but relieved that Ruan Nanzhu survived.

Ruan Nanzhu regains consciousness in the hospital the next day after collapsing from his tenth door.

Lin Qiushi stays by Ruan Nanzhu’s side the entire time, worried for his condition.

Ruan Nanzhu confirms that Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli will enter Cheng Qianli's fifth door in five days, and he may join them.

Lin Qiushi later learns Ruan Nanzhu survived the tenth door while his companion died; only Ruan Nanzhu and an unknown woman made it out.

Cheng Qianli receives the hint for the next door, written as “Sister Drum,” referencing a haunting song about a girl searching for her sister.

Lin Qiushi investigates and discovers “Sister Drum” is connected to an old custom of skinning virgins alive to make drums believed to connect life and death.

Cheng Yixie offers to go in Cheng Qianli's place, but Ruan Nanzhu refuses, hinting that Lin Qiushi’s safety is the main reason.

A celebration dinner is held at the villa. Lin Qiushi helps Lu Yanxue cook and learns about her past as a private chef.

Lin Qiushi finds Ruan Nanzhu waiting on his bed after the party. Ruan Nanzhu says, “I need you,” telling Lin Qiushi he cannot die and might be someone “born for the doors.”

Cheng Qianli watches horror movies with Lin Qiushi to prepare, but is revealed to be terribly afraid of ghosts, causing chaos in the villa.

The night before entering the door, Cheng Yixie questions Ruan Nanzhu’s decision to enter despite his poor condition. Ruan Nanzhu admits he’s concerned for Lin Qiushi.

On the tenth day, Cheng Qianli opens the fifth door. Lin Qiushi, Cheng Qianli, and Ruan Nanzhu enter together, but are separated.

Lin Qiushi finds himself in a jungle with no signal and meets a crying girl named Xu Jin, who recently entered the door realm.

They follow a gravel path and arrive at a village with stilt houses. An unnerving woman greets them, never stops smiling, and gives no real answers.

Inside a wooden building, Lin Qiushi meets a loud, threatening punk who brandishes a knife. The punk is silenced by a calm and intimidating man named Meng Yu.

Lin Qiushi also locates Ruan Nanzhu and Cheng Qianli, disguised as Zhu Meng and a teenager respectively.

Meng Yu proposes they stay in bamboo houses and warns it’s unsafe for everyone to sleep in one place.

Ruan Nanzhu requests to room with Lin Qiushi, playing a sickly, frail girl. Xu Jin also insists on staying with them.

During the night, Lin Qiushi hears eerie singing from the jungle and sees figures approaching in the fog that seem to float without moving their legs.

Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi not to look and collapses into his arms, cold and weak, prompting Lin Qiushi to hold him for warmth.

The next morning, Xu Jin finds them in the same bed and is shocked. Ruan Nanzhu plays innocent, saying he was cold.

At breakfast, Lin Qiushi finds the food unpalatable. He ventures into the kitchen and is offered a strange white powder “flour” by a woman grinding it with a millstone, which he declines.

The tour guide reappears, announcing a trip to a temple. On the walk, she explains the villagers believe in resurrection and follow unusual customs.

Lin Qiushi suspects the flags on the path are made from human skin, based on the connection to the “Sister Drum” story.

The group arrives at an ancient, vine-covered stone temple. The guide warns them not to wander off.

Inside the dim temple, they hear eerie music that seems to come from above.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu realize the music isn’t from an upstairs room—it’s coming from the ceiling. Something is hiding above them in the darkness.

Ruan Nanzhu stops Lin Qiushi from further investigating the temple ceiling and suggests finding Cheng Qianli.

Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Xu Jin explore deeper into the temple and find Cheng Qianli examining wall murals.

The murals depict twin newborns, one symbolizing the moon (who plays drums) and the other the sun (who is hidden), raising concerns about a symbolic or sacrificial narrative.

Ruan Nanzhu flirts with Xu Jin in his "Zhu Meng" disguise, while Lin Qiushi remains focused on the murals’ meaning.

Cheng Qianli hears music from above but there's no visible upstairs, adding to the mystery.

The group of four explores the temple until they reach a wooden platform; Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli decide to climb it.

At the top, Lin Qiushi finds freshly mutilated human remains and warns Cheng Qianli not to come up.

Lin Qiushi is pushed from behind by invisible hands, nearly falling off the platform. Cheng Qianli saves him.

Ruan Nanzhu confirms two bloody handprints on Lin Qiushi's back, described as child-sized with exposed muscle and no skin.

Xu Jin saw the hands too and is shaken by the supernatural encounter.

Lin Qiushi carries an exhausted Ruan Nanzhu back to the main hall, where they find the group distressed by another disappearance.

A man vanished after discussing what might be on the ceiling, leading to speculation that merely thinking or speaking about it causes death.

Meng Yu inspects the ceiling and suggests using a phone light; Lin Qiushi has one because Ruan Nanzhu advised it could be discarded if needed.

It starts raining silently—later revealed by Ruan Nanzhu to be raining knives, not water.

A panicked man rushes outside and is skinned alive by the knife rain, confirming the fatal nature of the weather.

Skinless humanoid monsters cheer and devour the corpse in a grotesque scene, then vanish, leaving survivors paralyzed in horror.

Meng Yu tries to calm the group, insisting they must follow the same behavior to survive, but Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi that Meng Yu might be manipulating them, as the monsters only need one survivor to justify a massacre.

The guide calls for everyone to regroup; Lin Qiushi cautiously carries Ruan Nanzhu outside and nothing happens, confirming it's safe again.

The group returns to their bamboo lodgings under the guide's chipper attitude, though tension remains high.

The guide announces the next tour will be at 8 a.m. and warns not to go out at night due to strong winds.

Ruan Nanzhu continues to look unwell and weak but tries to eat dinner. Xu Jin mocks her (his female disguise), not knowing Ruan Nanzhu is faking it.

Cheng Qianli overeats, joking that he wants to die full if he must die at all.

That night, Xu Jin tries to seduce Lin Qiushi, who rejects her awkward advances with humor and blunt excuses.

In the morning, Ruan Nanzhu teasingly asks if anything happened between Lin Qiushi and Xu Jin. Lin Qiushi denies it and reveals he never had a girlfriend.

Ruan Nanzhu cryptically says “that’s good” with an unreadable expression.

At breakfast, Meng Yu advises everyone to stick together as numbers are thinning—they’ve lost two people already.

The tour guide appears and leads the group on a mountain hike, saying they must arrive at the next destination before noon or risk descending in darkness.

Lin Qiushi ends up carrying Ruan Nanzhu partway. They reach a site filled with towering structures, which Ruan Nanzhu suspects is a graveyard.

They open a locked tower and find a decaying corpse inside, confirming the site is a cemetery, not for offerings.

A particularly tall central tower draws their attention; it has a decorative stone disc and cloud carvings on top.

Lin Qiushi hears distant drums and warns Ruan Nanzhu. Remembering that the last time drums played it led to deadly rain, they decide to take shelter in the tall tower.

Inside the tower, the four climb to the seventh floor and discover a beautiful red drum, likely the one from the song.

Xu Jin becomes entranced by the drum and touches it despite warnings. A clear sound rings out, triggering hallucinations.

Lin Qiushi sees the stone walls transform into living, pulsing flesh and hears a blood-covered, skinless girl singing the Sister Drum song.

The girl walks toward Lin Qiushi, drums, and passes through him. He convulses and returns to reality, hand resting on the drum.

Cheng Qianli and Ruan Nanzhu find Lin Qiushi touching the drum, confirming the hallucination was real and dangerous.

Lin Qiushi realizes the drumhead is made of human skin, fulfilling the horror legend’s core theme.

Cheng Er-lang, a ten-year-old boy, struggles with chores alone while his father entertains a visitor.

Cheng Da-lang, his elder brother, comes home from work, momentarily relieves Cheng Er-lang, but emotions stay unspoken between them.

The visitor is a suspicious Taoist priest named Muchun, who claims to be a zhenren (enlightened one) but appears unremarkable and swindler-like.

Muchun meets Cheng Er-lang and immediately claims the child has "great destiny" and extraordinary aptitude.

The Cheng family, suffering from poverty and famine, sees an opportunity to relieve their burdens.

Cheng Er-lang’s mother is sick and bedridden, the youngest son is still an infant, and the family cannot support all three sons.

The father quickly agrees to sell Cheng Er-lang to Muchun for two taels of silver, under the pretense of sending him for cultivation and potential immortality.

Cheng Da-lang is quietly horrified and torn but too powerless to stop the transaction.

Cheng Er-lang understands what's happening; he's used to being the overlooked middle child, never truly treated like a son.

Despite being just a boy, Cheng Er-lang accepts the situation with disturbing maturity and internal detachment.

Before he leaves, his mother tries to show some affection and gives him food and altered hand-me-down clothes, but his father silences her when she tries to give him coins.

She shows him the Immortals’ Lamp of Eternal Flame, a family heirloom, and asks him to make one for her when he becomes an immortal.

Cheng Er-lang silently promises never to return—dead or alive—and emotionally detaches himself from his family.

He leaves with Muchun, who drags him along like a travelling performer would a recruited orphan.

Despite his skepticism, Cheng Er-lang begins to feel genuine safety when Muchun shields him from a sudden storm, earning his first-ever sense of care from an adult.

During the journey, Muchun performs a dramatic wind-and-lightning trick to awe Cheng Er-lang, and explains the name of his sect: Fuyao, from Zhuangzi’s tale of a great bird rising with a storm.

Muchun renames Cheng Er-lang as Cheng Qian, claiming he has the destiny to soar.

They encounter a dilapidated Taoist temple and a beggar boy roasting a stolen chicken.

Muchun swindles the boy with a grand story of immortality, adopts him as a disciple, and names him Han Yuan(which also puns as "suffering injustice").

Despite being older, Han Yuan becomes Cheng Qian’s junior in the sect due to arriving later.

Cheng Qian, now the senior disciple (shixiong), finds Han Yuan irritating, greedy, talkative, and dishonest.

Despite his annoyance, Cheng Qian puts on a mature, responsible front, repressing his feelings due to his strict self-discipline and internalized Confucian values.

He begins to take on the duties of a senior disciple, always letting Muchun and Han Yuan eat first and quietly working harder than anyone.

Cheng Qian struggles with his own resentment toward his family and maintains his composure as a form of self-defense.

Han Yuan proves to be lazy and cowardly, pretending to be brave and spinning tales to impress Muchun.

He lies about catching fish after being scared off by a small dog; Cheng Qian investigates and realizes the dog was tiny and Han Yuan is a liar.

Cheng Qian considers hurting him out of anger but ultimately controls himself.

Han Yuan falsely takes credit for bravery upon returning, and Cheng Qian watches his lies with amused disgust.

After over ten days of travel, Cheng Qian, Han Yuan, and Muchun finally arrive at the Fuyao Sect, which exceeds Cheng Qian’s expectations.

Cheng Qian grows more composed after traveling with his eccentric shifu and shidi, especially in the face of bizarre events.

He arrives at the Fuyao Sect, expecting a run-down, fake Taoist temple but is instead stunned by its serene and majestic beauty.

The Fuyao Sect is built on a mountain with streams, bamboo forests, and elegant pavilions, creating a peaceful and dignified environment.

Muchun prepares to introduce his two new disciples to the eldest disciple, not the sect founder, which surprises Cheng Qian and Han Yuan.

Before the visit, they are bathed, powdered, and dressed formally, as if meeting a revered noble rather than a fellow disciple.

They are greeted by elegant attendants, all young and celestial-looking, causing both Cheng Qian and Han Yuanto feel self-conscious.

Muchun assigns Han Yuan to the southern courtyard and Cheng Qian to a special secluded area called the border pavilion.

The border pavilion, despite its humble name, is a tranquil, almost sacred place called the Sanctuary of Peace, containing a mysterious Heart Purification Stone.

Cheng Qian is fascinated by the magical features of the stone and the craftsmanship, which far surpass anything he has ever seen.

The attendant Xueqing, quiet and gentle, guides Cheng Qian, sensing the boy’s efforts to model himself as a Confucian gentleman despite his poor background.

Cheng Qian pretends to understand more than he does but cleverly fishes for information about the mysterious eldest disciple.

He learns that Yan Zhengming, the eldest disciple, is a spoiled scion of a wealthy family who ran away from home at age seven and was lured into the sect by Muchun.

Yan Zhengming’s family, unable to persuade him to return, decided to sponsor the sect financially, elevating the Fuyao Sect to a well-funded "poultry sect."

Yan Zhengming holds real authority in the sect due to his wealth, and even Muchun treats him with deference.

When Muchun brings Cheng Qian and Han Yuan to meet Yan Zhengming, the latter is getting his hair combed by beautiful maidens—his usual indulgence.

Yan Zhengming, dressed in luxurious robes, behaves with theatrical arrogance and effeminacy, lazily mocking the newcomers.

He derisively remarks that Han Yuan "lives up to his name" as someone suffering injustice due to his unattractive appearance.

He then beckons Cheng Qian like a dog, which deeply offends Cheng Qian, who stiffens and coldly returns a formal salute instead of submitting.

Cheng Qian sneezes from the heavy incense Yan Zhengming wears, exposing the ridiculous vanity of the eldest disciple.

Yan Zhengming tells Cheng Qian he’s "acceptable" and just shouldn't "grow up ugly."

Before dismissing them, Yan Zhengming instructs a maid to give them pine nut sweets as if rewarding lowly servants.

Outside, Cheng Qian immediately gives the sweets to Han Yuan, pretending it’s an act of generosity, though he’s really rejecting any favor from Yan Zhengming.

Han Yuan, touched by the gesture, mistakenly believes Cheng Qian is a kind and magnanimous person.

Muchun, however, sees through it and realizes Cheng Qian is prideful and contemptuous, showing no gratitude for the sweets.

Muchun reflects that Cheng Qian’s emotional hardness will either lead him to greatness—or to destruction.

Cheng Qian and Han Yuan are formally introduced to sect life, waking up to Muchun’s rooster-like call and beginning their daily training.

On their first day, Muchun instructs them to clean the main hall as their initiation task, emphasizing humility and routine over flashy cultivation methods.

Cheng Qian works diligently and silently, observing everything with a skeptical but intelligent mind.

Han Yuan whines, slacks off, and tries to avoid hard work by lying, which amuses Cheng Qian but also frustrates him.

Muchun insists that before pursuing magical techniques or martial skills, the disciples must first develop solid habits and a humble mindset.

Yan Zhengming, despite being the senior disciple, sleeps in and shirks responsibility, further mystifying Cheng Qian, who cannot reconcile his vanity with his supposed seniority.

Cheng Qian begins to realize that Yan Zhengming might be spoiled and haughty, but he still has real authority and knowledge within the sect.

During training, Muchun teaches the basics of breathing techniques and posture alignment but mocks popular tales of flying swords and pill refinement, calling them unrealistic at their current stage.

Cheng Qian starts to grasp the idea that cultivation is a long, disciplined path rather than a magical shortcut, and this resonates with his strict personal values.

Han Yuan, however, grows impatient and demands a quick method to grow stronger and cooler, craving flashy powers.

Muchun becomes frustrated with Han Yuan’s attitude but hides his irritation behind sarcasm and humor, eventually dismissing them for the day.

After training, Cheng Qian secretly continues to practice the breathing method on his own, determined to improve and gain control over his body and mind.

One evening, while returning from training, Cheng Qian passes Yan Zhengming’s residence and hears the eldest disciple playing the zither with astonishing skill and melancholy.

Cheng Qian is mesmerized and realizes that Yan Zhengming, despite his outward arrogance and laziness, carries deep emotions and talent.

Intrigued by this hidden side, Cheng Qian begins to develop a grudging curiosity about his eldest shixiong and reconsiders his initial judgments.

In the border pavilion, Cheng Qian begins to meditate in earnest, struggling to enter the desired calm state but persisting due to his innate pride and need to prove himself.

One night, Cheng Qian dreams of an enormous bird and a storm—symbols Muchun previously used in describing the Fuyao Sect’s philosophy.

The dream leaves Cheng Qian feeling awakened and subtly moved, deepening his connection to the sect and its teachings.

At the chapter’s end, Cheng Qian decides to take cultivation seriously and commits to the difficult, disciplined path, not for fame or power, but for his own self-worth.

Cheng Qian continues adjusting to life in the Fuyao Sect and diligently practices breathing and cultivation techniques with growing determination.

Han Yuan becomes increasingly restless and bored, constantly pestering Muchun to teach him martial arts or flashy spells.

Muchun finally gives in and attempts to teach them both a simple movement technique using internal force to jump onto a tree.

Cheng Qian focuses intensely and tries to understand the essence of the technique, while Han Yuan simply imitates and flails around.

After several tries, Cheng Qian makes a small breakthrough by sensing his inner force aligning with his movement, though he does not succeed completely.

Han Yuan fails spectacularly and injures himself, leading to complaints and groaning.

Muchun explains that real cultivation is not about shortcuts but consistent effort and understanding one’s qi and body.

That night, Cheng Qian secretly practices again and has a moment of clarity, finally managing to use the technique successfully by focusing on the balance between his breath and movement.

His achievement is unnoticed by others, but Cheng Qian quietly feels pride and motivation from his personal progress.

Muchun prepares the disciples to go on their first mission outside the sect—a journey to retrieve books and offerings from a donor family.

The group, including Yan Zhengming, Muchun, Cheng Qian, and Han Yuan, travel together, giving Cheng Qianmore time to observe Yan Zhengming.

Cheng Qian notices that although Yan Zhengming remains arrogant and lazy in appearance, he is well-versed in etiquette, recognizes calligraphy, and manages all the arrangements with skill.

Yan Zhengming plays the role of a young master perfectly, charming the host family and reciting poetry with grace, which deeply impresses Cheng Qian.

Han Yuan, in contrast, eats too much, talks too much, and behaves like a fool, embarrassing himself constantly.

During the journey back, they are ambushed by a small group of bandits who think they are easy prey.

Muchun lets Yan Zhengming handle it to give the younger disciples an example.

Yan Zhengming, despite his pampered demeanor, swiftly defeats the bandits using a graceful and elegant sword technique that stuns both Cheng Qian and Han Yuan.

Cheng Qian begins to admire Yan Zhengming and understands that his eldest shixiong’s beauty and extravagance hide formidable talent and power.

Han Yuan becomes even more eager to learn flashy techniques, but Muchun rebukes him again for lacking foundation.

Back at the sect, Cheng Qian rededicates himself to training in earnest, no longer driven by resentment or pride, but by a sincere desire to become strong and honorable.

Muchun, watching silently, notes that Cheng Qian’s quiet resolve is sharpening and worries slightly about his extreme self-control and emotional suppression.

Cheng Qian defeats a rat Yao with a fang and becomes eerily calm afterward, showing early signs of ruthlessness and an iron will.

Li Yun fends off a rat with a feather from Zipeng, a powerful Yao, and barely maintains composure as the rat tests him.

The remaining rats flee after realizing Cheng Qian is dangerous; Li Yun collapses from exhaustion.

A lynx Yao suddenly appears and attacks Yan Zhengming, who deflects with a sword technique but is quickly pinned down.

In panic, Li Yun throws a bottle of Golden Toad Divine Water, accidentally transforming the lynx into a giant toad.

Disgusted and enraged, Yan Zhengming kills the toad Yao in a wild frenzy, abandoning formality.

Cheng Qian, Li Yun, and Yan Zhengming find Han Yuan alive but filthy and naked; Cheng Qian sarcastically confirms he hadn’t bathed.

Yan Zhengming threatens to discipline Han Yuan, who begs Cheng Qian for help but gets mocked instead.

Li Yun reminds the group to proceed to the Terrace of Immortality, where a dark fog and bloodstained battlefield await.

A shadowy figure emerges from Li Yun’s wooden plaque—Lord Beiming, whom Cheng Qian had dreamed of before.

Cheng Qian questions the shadow, who cryptically denies being worthy of the title "Lord Beiming" but essentially confirms his identity.

The group realizes the plaque was a talisman connected to a powerful soul; Lord Beiming departs with a final "Return post-haste."

A sudden explosion of light and fire destroys the valley, and the group finds a giant egg rolling toward them afterward.

Han Yuan eyes the egg hungrily, but Yan Zhengming stops him from touching it, then reconsiders and suggests using it to fool Zipeng.

The egg follows them persistently; Yan Zhengming, moved by pity, orders Han Yuan to carry it.

Back at Zipeng’s lair, cracks form on the egg, and a human-looking infant girl hatches from it, astonishing the group.

The infant’s wail shakes the cavern, and Zipeng, in human form, explains she is the half-human child of the deceased Yao queen and a mortal.

The queen placed the child on the Terrace of Immortality, where Yao cannot go, to save her from being killed due to prophecy.

The child is prophesied to be the greatest calamity of the Yao, hence feared and unwanted by all.

Zipeng demands the child, but Yan Zhengming refuses, suspecting she will harm the baby to protect the king’s honor.

Zipeng raises her voice, which scares the child into wailing again, causing the cave to begin collapsing.

Cheng Qian and Han Yuan rescue the child in the chaos; Muchun appears dramatically and saves them from Zipeng’s final attack.

Muchun commands the boys to leave while he faces Zipeng alone.

The group escapes, exiting through the pond to the surface by nightfall, exhausted and battered.

They sit silently around the pond, bonding through banter and recounting their harrowing experience.

Yan Zhengming criticizes Han Yuan, who initially wants to argue but humbles himself in gratitude.

Li Yun confesses he encouraged the cave exploration and takes responsibility, revealing his own fear and guilt.

Cheng Qian, Li Yun, and Yan Zhengming mock each other to ease the tension, and Han Yuan laughs at a crude joke.

They debate what to do with the infant; Yan Zhengming proposes naming her Han Tan, combining the sect surname and a word for “pool.”

Han Yuan jokes her nickname should be Shuikeng (puddle), referencing her origin.

As the group rests, Muchun returns, clearly drained, and laments how quickly his quiet life has turned chaotic.

Muchun accepts the child without protest, silently resigning to raising another odd disciple.

Muchun returns with a gloomy mood after fighting Zipeng, clearly exhausted and disgruntled about gaining another disciple.

Cheng Qian, Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, Han Yuan, and the baby Han Tan return to the Fuyao Sect and are met with mixed reactions.

Muchun arranges for Han Tan to be raised in the sect, appointing Li Yun to be her primary caretaker due to his responsible nature.

Li Yun accepts reluctantly, understanding that his calm demeanor makes him most suited to the task.

Cheng Qian reflects on the absurdity of their adventure and silently vows to grow stronger to protect his shixiong and shidi.

Han Yuan resumes his antics, trying to shirk responsibilities, but shows occasional growth and sincerity.

Yan Zhengming maintains a cold demeanor but discreetly ensures the group is taken care of, subtly watching over Han Tan.

Han Tan quickly proves to be a difficult infant—crying loudly, frequently hungry, and destructive with strange powers that suggest her Yao heritage.

Her crying causes minor tremors and emotional instability in those around her, forcing the sect to make special arrangements to isolate her nursery.

Cheng Qian helps soothe Han Tan on several occasions, though he remains emotionally distant, unsure how to relate to a child.

Muchun becomes more reclusive, often avoiding the baby and leaving most duties to his disciples.

Despite the challenges, the disciples slowly adapt to life with Han Tan, forming an unusual family bond centered around their shared chaos.

One day, a wandering Taoist arrives at the sect claiming to be a messenger from the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, bearing an invitation to the Sect Assembly.

Muchun initially wants to ignore the invitation, citing the Fuyao Sect’s "unorthodox" status and its distance from the central Taoist order.

Yan Zhengming, however, insists they attend, arguing that they can no longer remain hidden with such a dangerous disciple like Han Tan.

Muchun reluctantly agrees and begins preparing the disciples for travel and presentation, emphasizing they must maintain the sect’s dignity.

As the sect readies for the assembly, Cheng Qian feels both anxious and determined, viewing the journey as a chance to prove himself and protect his found family.

The chapter ends with the Fuyao Sect preparing to step into the wider cultivation world, uncertain what challenges lie ahead but united in purpose.

Muchun and his disciples leave Mount Fuyao for the Sect Assembly, traveling with a large caravan mostly arranged by Yan Zhengming.

Yan Zhengming rides in a lavish carriage filled with personal belongings, while others, like Cheng Qian, choose to endure the journey for cultivation reasons.

Cheng Qian refuses comfort, using the journey as a mental trial to refine his will on the path of the heart.

They arrive in Fulong, a bustling coastal town packed with cultivators and shops, but cannot find suitable lodging due to the crowd.

Muchun leads them to a dilapidated and foul-smelling inn called The Lousy Inn, run by an intimidating man named Wen Ya.

Wen Ya, despite his appearance, is an old friend of Muchun, and they share a cryptic conversation overheard by a stealthy Yan Zhengming.

Wen Ya and Muchun discuss the arrival of a prophesied Yao and a mysterious heretical cultivator with power akin to Lord Beiming, who may be connected to Fuyao Sect.

Muchun expresses concern over protecting his disciples from an old acquaintance, hinting at a dangerous past.

Yan Zhengming, visibly shaken, gathers Cheng Qian and Li Yun to recount what he overheard and reveals his traumatic childhood experience of being kidnapped by a heretical cultivator who used children to fuel a soul-eating lamp.

Yan Zhengming suspects that the powerful heretical cultivator is a former shixiong of Muchun, and possibly their former shibo, exiled for practicing the ghost path.

The trio creates a rudimentary tracking talisman to plant on Han Tan (Shuikeng) in case Muchun attempts to act alone again.

Late at night, Han Yuan wakes Cheng Qian to show him something strange, leading them to a riverside where they encounter a ghost.

The ghost is Tang Zhen, a nascent soul from Mount Mulan who was refined in a soul-eating lamp but escaped before complete destruction.

Cheng Qian manages to carve his first talisman on a leaf in a panic, which unexpectedly restores part of Tang Zhen’s consciousness.

Tang Zhen explains the difference between soul types and confirms he was trapped by a heretical cultivator named Jiang Peng, who has ties to Fuyao Sect.

Tang Zhen thanks Cheng Qian and Han Yuan, asks them to warn Muchun, and vanishes peacefully.

Cheng Qian, utterly drained, collapses from overexertion and demands Han Yuan carry him back, threatening to report everything to Muchun.

Cheng Qian wakes up sore from overexertion after helping Tang Zhen’s ghost and reflects on how cultivation is filled with setbacks and pain.

Han Yuan exaggerates his role in the ghost event and brags, annoying Cheng Qian, who snaps at him for being clueless.

Yan Zhengming and Li Yun scold Cheng Qian and Han Yuan for sneaking out alone, reinforcing the need for caution in the unknown sect assembly environment.

The group visits the bustling city streets, where Cheng Qian becomes interested in various talisman-crafting techniques being sold, while Han Yuan is distracted by food.

A mysterious stranger gives Han Yuan an elixir for free, which alarms Cheng Qian, and they debate whether it’s poisoned or cursed.

Yan Zhengming and Li Yun dismiss it after inspection, but Muchun later confiscates it for safety and mentions that he once knew someone who would do such things for attention.

On the way back, the group encounters a street performer using a puppet to portray the ancient story of Lord Beiming, catching Cheng Qian’s full attention.

The puppet play narrates how Lord Beiming sacrificed everything to destroy a ghost cultivator named Jiang Peng, who once was from the Fuyao Sect and fell into darkness.

The performance ends with Lord Beiming sealing his own soul and vanishing, but rumors persist that he will return when the world faces another calamity.

Cheng Qian becomes deeply affected by the tale and realizes the spiritual and emotional burden that true cultivators carry.

That night, Cheng Qian dreams again of Lord Beiming, who warns him cryptically to avoid the wrong path and tells him, “The path is long; walk it with care.”

Meanwhile, Muchun visits an old Taoist who subtly warns him that the Fuyao Sect is already under scrutiny by major sects due to Han Tan and their past connection to Jiang Peng.

Muchun learns that the Sect Assembly will include a formal investigation into Fuyao Sect’s history, and he realizes he cannot protect the children forever.

As the chapter ends, the Fuyao Sect disciples prepare for the opening day of the assembly, unaware of the political dangers about to unfold.

Cheng Qian mourns Muchun’s death, feeling lost and purposeless, likening himself to a fledgling returning to a destroyed nest.

Muchun anticipated Cheng Qian’s emotional spiral and left no one to hate, removing fuel for vengeance and forcing him to grow independently.

Shuikeng cries nonstop for Muchun, but Cheng Qian, still in shock, neglects her until she starts gnawing the wooden sword.

Cheng Qian regains composure and forces Shuikeng to rinse her mouth and obey him strictly, beginning his reluctant caretaker role.

He unsuccessfully attempts to fish, revealing his helplessness despite years of cultivation training.

At nightfall, a pack of wolves surrounds them. Cheng Qian uses the Fuyao Wooden Swordplay to fight them off, seriously injuring one with a broken wooden sword.

As they are nearly overwhelmed, Shuikeng unexpectedly unleashes her wings and lifts them into the air, narrowly escaping.

They crash just outside the valley, and Cheng Qian, injured and exhausted, binds his wounds and begins seeking shelter and food again.

Meanwhile, on Azure Dragon Island, Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, and Han Yuan frantically search for Cheng Qianand Shuikeng, fearing the tracking talisman was a failure.

Tang Wanqiu arrives with orders from Gu Yanxue, the sect master of Azure Dragon Island and one of the Four Luminaries, to escort the Fuyao Sect disciples.

Gu Yanxue, surprisingly kind, offers full support in the search for Muchun and the missing disciples, personally aiding their accommodations and efforts.

Cheng Qian and Shuikeng are found three days later, alive but in a miserable state. Cheng Qian lies about their ordeal, claiming they simply got lost.

Cheng Qian secretly warns Shuikeng not to reveal her wings, using food as leverage, and deceives the rescuers about her origins.

When asked, Cheng Qian gives a fabricated backstory about Shuikeng being an abandoned mortal child adopted by Muchun.

Yan Zhengming arrives alone, relieved but horrified at Cheng Qian’s condition. Cheng Qian gives him the sect token, revealing Muchun is dead and appointing him the new sect leader.

Yan Zhengming panics, denies Muchun’s death, and tries to reject the token until Cheng Qian collapses.

The realization overwhelms Yan Zhengming, who considers disbanding the sect and returning home to a life of luxury.

As Cheng Qian recovers, he insists on continuing Muchun’s legacy and preserving the Fuyao Wooden Swordplay, asking for his sword manuals.

Yan Zhengming, moved by his resolve, abandons the idea of quitting and embraces Cheng Qian, reaffirming his role as sect leader.

The chapter ends with a renewed sense of unity and purpose between Yan Zhengming and Cheng Qian, now the torchbearers of the Fuyao Sect.

Cheng Qian regains consciousness in a well-furnished room on Azure Dragon Island, where he is being cared for after collapsing.

Yan Zhengming anxiously checks on Cheng Qian and displays rare vulnerability, revealing how deeply he was affected by Muchun’s death.

Cheng Qian wakes fully and learns that Shuikeng (Han Tan) has been safely taken in by Li Yun, who has taken full responsibility for her.

Li Yun now appears aged and weathered, a visible sign of emotional burden and exhaustion since Muchun’spassing.

Han Yuan has also changed—more subdued, awkwardly caring for Cheng Qian and trying to play the clown to lighten the mood.

Gu Yanxue, leader of Azure Dragon Island, visits Cheng Qian, speaking kindly and respectfully, and offers sincere condolences for Muchun’s death.

Gu Yanxue explains that he plans to announce Yan Zhengming as the new Fuyao Sect leader at the upcoming Sect Assembly to maintain order and legitimacy.

Yan Zhengming, overwhelmed by expectations, hesitates to accept the position, privately admitting his fear of failing Muchun’s legacy.

Cheng Qian insists that they must uphold the Fuyao Sect's values and responsibilities now more than ever, pushing Yan Zhengming to step up.

Yan Zhengming formally accepts the sect token and leadership in front of the Azure Dragon Island leadership and various guests.

At the Sect Assembly, Yan Zhengming delivers a surprisingly composed and dignified speech as the new sect leader of Fuyao, honoring Muchun.

Cheng Qian watches proudly but also feels a deep sadness, still mourning Muchun, and begins meditating on how to advance the Fuyao Wooden Swordplay.

That night, Cheng Qian dreams of Muchun, who gives no words but simply offers a gesture of farewell and approval before vanishing.

Cheng Qian wakes up with renewed purpose and begins writing his own commentary on the Fuyao Swordplay manual, hoping to improve and preserve the teachings.

The chapter ends with the Fuyao Sect officially recognized, its disciples united, and Cheng Qian quietly assuming the role of spiritual pillar for the sect’s future.

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