Danmei Recap
Danmei Novels Recap
by @queenslovebooks
Last Update: 2025.10.29
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Danmei Novels Recap
by @queenslovebooks
How to Survive as a Villain
Xiao Yu'an, a failed domineering CEO who died tragically in his original world, is transmigrated into the body of the Northern Empire's young emperor from the trash novel The History of the Four Empires. Knowing he is destined to die at the hands of the story’s male lead, Yan Heqing, Xiao Yu'an desperately tries to alter the novel’s tragic course. He saves Yan Heqing from brutal imprisonment, treats him kindly, and gradually earns his reluctant trust, even while the rest of the court, especially the manipulative Eunuch Zhao, remains a deadly threat. Xiao Yu'an’s genuine reforms stabilize the crumbling Northern Empire, but his meddling also leads to unintended heartbreaks, including the near-deaths and ultimate escape of Yang Liu'an and Xiao Fengyue, and the tragic sacrifice of his fiercely loyal maid, Hongxiu.Despite his growing emotional attachment to Yan Heqing, Xiao Yu'an is forced to make painful decisions when he discovers Yan Heqing's secret ties to Southern Yan. In a devastating move to save Yan Heqing from execution, Xiao Yu'an orchestrates his secret escape under the pretense of condemning him to death, shattering their bond. As Southern Yan launches an early invasion led by Yan Heqing himself, Xiao Yu'an struggles to defend the empire, leading to the heartbreaking deaths of heroes like Li Wuding and the fall of the Northern Empire. The betrayal of Prince Wuning, the devastating famine, and the sacrifices of loyalists like Eunuch Zhao culminate in Xiao Yu'an's surrender — where he is humiliated, dragged through the streets, and eventually collapses into Yan Heqing's arms after stabbing himself to protect his people.Yan Heqing defies Southern Yan’s orders, rushing to save the bloodied and broken Xiao Yu'an, revealing his undying, conflicted love. However, their reunion is drenched in sorrow, guilt, and irreversible tragedy. Xiao Yu'an, who tried so hard to rewrite fate, ultimately sacrifices everything to ensure peace for his people and safety for those he loves, while Yan Heqing is left devastated, realizing too late the depth of Xiao Yu'an’s devotion. Their intertwined fates—full of love, betrayal, and sacrifice—end in a heart-wrenching, bittersweet collapse of the world they once knew.
Xiao Yu’an, the transmigrated former emperor, survives brutal political persecution, attempted castration, and near death after being ousted by his former love interest Yan Heqing. Rescued by loyal subordinates and taken to a remote temple, he reunites with Princess Yongning—now in a romantic relationship with Xiao Pingyang—completely deviating from the original novel’s plot. As Xiao Yu’an disguises himself to escape the palace, General Xue Yan manipulates events to push him away from Yan Heqing. After fleeing the empire, Xiao Yu’an helps mentally shattered war survivor Xie Chungui and quietly builds a peaceful life in Taoyuan Village, treating soldiers regardless of allegiance while grappling with his fading role in the story he once knew.The story intensifies when Xiao Yu’an accidentally intercepts Yan Heqing—blind and injured—and impersonates the novel’s future heroine, Lin Shenling, to keep the timeline intact. This deception snowballs into a slow-burn romance where Xiao Yu’an, still in disguise, falls in love with Yan Heqing for real. After a storm, a landslide, and life-threatening injuries, Yan Heqing confesses his love without realizing the truth. When his sight returns and he sees through the disguise, he believes Xiao Yu’an is married and leaves heartbroken. Their emotions boil over in a final confrontation where Yan Heqing confesses again, and Xiao Yu’an realizes the love is genuine. Just as peace settles, war calls them back—Xiao Yu’an joins the front as a medic, and they share a passionate farewell before Yan Heqing returns to battle.Tragedy strikes when Yan Heqing is presumed dead and Xiao Yu’an is exposed as the deposed emperor, brutally tortured, and buried alive. He survives thanks to past kindness repaid by Eastern Wu soldiers and reunites with Yan Heqing in a painfully emotional scene where they promise to be together forever. After physical and emotional healing, they finally consummate their relationship and prepare to face the world side by side. Xiao Yu’an encourages Yan Heqing to return to rule and pledges to stand beside him despite public scorn. As they prepare to journey back to rebuild the empire, Xiao Yu’an takes along Xie Chungui, honoring a broken soldier's last wish—to see the land he once died for.
(Short Summary)
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Don't You Like Me
Lin Feiran, a sensitive and artistic high school student, inherits the Yin-yang Eye—the ability to see ghosts—after his grandfather’s death. Initially paralyzed by fear, Lin Feiran learns that physical contact with his roommate, the confident and popular Gu Kaifeng, suppresses the terrifying visions. Desperate to feel safe, Lin Feiran invents excuses to stay close to Gu Kaifeng, leading to awkward yet intimate moments. Gu Kaifeng, who is openly gay and already harboring a crush on Lin Feiran, becomes both his protector and emotional anchor. As Lin Feiran navigates grief, fear, and school life, the line between dependency and affection blurs.Their relationship intensifies through shared experiences: saving a litter of kittens, studying together, and gradually opening up to each other. Gu Kaifeng flirts constantly, increasingly pushing the physical and emotional boundaries between them. Lin Feiran, embarrassed and confused, tries to maintain distance but can’t resist Gu Kaifeng’s warmth—both literal and emotional. Romantic tension peaks when Gu Kaifeng kisses Lin Feiran and confesses his love, but Lin Feiran, still unsure of his own feelings and identity, denies reciprocation. Despite the rejection, Gu Kaifeng remains caring and persistent, sensing Lin Feiran’s internal conflict and unresolved emotions.Eventually, Lin Feiran begins to embrace his ghost-seeing ability not as a curse, but a calling. After helping the spirit of a young girl find peace, he feels pride rather than fear. His relationship with Gu Kaifeng matures from anxious clinging to a budding romance marked by mutual support and emotional vulnerability. As midterms pass and they plan for the future, including possibly attending the same university, Lin Feiran grows more secure in both his abilities and his place beside Gu Kaifeng. What started as a supernatural survival tactic evolves into a slow-burning, heartfelt love story.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng’s relationship evolves from flirtatious tension to a deeply emotional and physical bond. After promising each other a reward trip if they pass finals, they study hard and both make the top thirty, earning a getaway to Haixi. Before that, Lin Feiran performs the "Sharing Yin" ritual, where he transfers his ghost-seeing ability to Gu Kaifeng through a mix of symbolic markings and sexual intimacy, culminating in blood exchange and spiritual equilibrium. Gu Kaifeng immediately sees a terrifying headless ghost and reacts with protective aggression, attacking it with a phone and slipper. Lin Feiran explains the hereditary nature of the Yin-yang Eye and confesses that he originally approached Gu Kaifeng to absorb his strong yang energy. Though embarrassed, Gu Kaifeng chooses not to end the relationship, instead demanding Lin Feiran make it up to him—physically and emotionally.Their trip to Haixi introduces new layers to the story. At a sacred mountain temple, they meet Master Chengguan, a monk ghost who has tended to lost spirits for centuries under a reincarnated Bodhi tree—the woman he once loved. Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng help him by retrieving her favorite flowers and speaking to her through the tree, earning Chengguan’s gratitude and a powerful spiritual gift: the ability to touch ghosts. Their own bond is affirmed when Chengguan blesses them and reveals they’ve shared past-life hardships together. Meanwhile, Wang Zhuo and He Hao’s possibly romantic tension surfaces when a ghost baby possesses Wang Zhuo, making him act like a literal infant. He Hao lovingly cares for him despite the absurdity, and their emotional closeness grows, though neither fully admits their feelings.Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng prepares for university while continuing to face supernatural cases and enjoy their maturing relationship. They reunite tragic ghost lovers He Jingyun and Ji Xuan through a symbolic wedding in their dorm, deal with a sentient opera costume named Drama Queen, and guide the spirit of a heroic guide dog to reincarnation. Despite all this, their romance remains central—marked by passionate encounters on pianos, in classrooms, and snowy fields. Lin Feiran overcomes feelings of inferiority, and Gu Kaifeng continually expresses how deeply in love he is. Whether they're lighting fireworks, teasing over calligraphy, or rescuing ghosts, their love proves resilient and unwavering, with plans for marriage after college and a future fully shared.
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Nan Chan
Jinglin, once the revered Lord Linsong, begins the novel by storming the celestial realm and decapitating the Supreme Father, causing cosmic upheaval before being obliterated. He mysteriously survives in a mortal form, attracting the obsessive attention of a golden-red carp spirit. This carp, later named Cangji, evolves into a human boy who becomes deeply possessive of Jinglin, desiring to consume him spiritually and emotionally. Their bond deepens as they fend off threats like A-Yi, a mischievous bird spirit, and Zongyin, a boundary keeper who suspects Cangji is more than a carp—perhaps a dragon. Despite Cangji's growing power, Jinglin remains aloof, haunted by his past and the divine blood on his hands.As their journey leads them into mortal realms, they become entangled in a gruesome murder case involving the Chen family. Dong Lin, a bandit with a tragic past, eventually confesses to the murders to protect Chen Caoyu, a girl he had saved from abuse. However, the truth is murky—Qian Weishi, a local tutor, also confesses due to his guilt over his inability to protect her. The case exposes layers of abuse,
corruption, and false confessions. Ultimately, Dong Lin is executed, his soul disappearing rather than reincarnating, and Jinglin, deeply moved, grows increasingly introspective and emotionally vulnerable. The bell, a mystical object central to multiple plotlines, weaves through various timelines, revealing connections among victims of child trafficking and systemic spiritual abuse.The climax unfolds with Chu Lun, a scholar whose fate was altered by his loyal brush spirit Leyan. Leyan's attempt to save Chu Lun by changing his destiny inadvertently causes the death of another scholar, Zuo Qingzhou, who was investigating a vast trafficking network tied to the empire and divine forces. Jinglin and Cangji are dragged into a layered illusion crafted by the bell, forcing them to relive Qianyu the fox spirit’s romantic tragedy with Zuo Qingzhou. These visions strip both characters emotionally bare, exposing the weight of loss, love, and destiny manipulation. In the end, the threads connecting Gu Shen, Dong Lin, Chu Lun, and Zuo Qingzhou form a tapestry of systemic injustice and spiritual decay, while Cangji and Jinglin’s tumultuous, possessive relationship becomes the emotional anchor amid rising divine conspiracies.
Zuo Qingzhou’s tragic fate is relived through Cangji and Jinglin’s shared illusions, revealing the depth of his love for Qianyu and the betrayal that led to his death. Liu Chengde manipulated Zuo Qingzhou into confronting imperial corruption, only to abandon him when political tides turned. Under torture, Zuo Qingzhou falsely confesses to crimes to protect Qianyu, dying as a scapegoat. Qianyu’s grief becomes the driving force behind his actions, and the bell’s illusions force Cangji and Jinglin to feel every ounce of this suffering, confirming that divine forces altered fate itself to eliminate Zuo Qingzhou before he could expose systemic corruption.Qianyu seeks revenge by approaching Liu Chengde in disguise, only to be captured and offered as tribute to a demon masquerading as the emperor’s spiritual advisor. This demon, Taozhi, was once Jinglin’s corrupted disciple who now seeks vengeance for being killed. Taozhi stages a grand charade of power and beauty, only to be defeated by Jinglin and Cangji after a brutal confrontation. As Taozhi flees and the demonic palace collapses, Qianyu blames Chu Lun for manipulating the Register of Fate with a divine brush, sealing Zuo Qingzhou’s death. This revelation implicates even higher beings and immortal court officials in a conspiracy to control mortal destinies for political preservation.The deeper Cangji and Jinglin investigate, the more they uncover about the divine brush, Leyan’s self-serving interference in fate, and the Court of Immortality’s hidden manipulations. Battles with immortal enforcers like Hui’an, confrontations with sect elders, and Chu Lun’s confession of being guided by a painting spirit—possibly Dongjun—all point to a tangled web of divine conspiracy. Jinglin’s own spiritual wounds begin to heal through Cangji’s presence, revealing their fates may be bound by design. As war breaks out, corrupted spirits rise, and the Sea of Blood consumes cities, Cangji ascends as the Dragon Emperor, while Jinglin, betrayed and poisoned by his sect, finds strength in love and rebellion. Their bond becomes both weapon and salvation against a crumbling world governed by corrupted immortals.
(Short Story)
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Kaleidoscope of Death
Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Cheng Qianli find themselves in a sinister jungle village for Cheng Qianli’s fifth door trial. The village is populated by eerily smiling locals and bound by bizarre customs linked to the legend of the Sister Drum. The group soon discovers clues pointing toward gruesome rituals involving skinning young girls alive to create human-skin drums. Inside the village’s vine-choked temple, they hear unsettling music from an unseen source. Lin Qiushi nearly falls from a high platform after invisible child-sized hands push him, and bloody handprints confirm the attack. A man vanishes after discussing the temple ceiling, reinforcing a chilling rule that even acknowledging certain truths invites death. Later, a rain of knives kills a fleeing man, exposing monsters that devour his corpse—proving death is not only constant but often theatrical.Meng Yu attempts to stabilize the shaken group by urging adherence to unspoken rules, but Ruan Nanzhu grows suspicious of him, believing he might be manipulating them to ensure a massacre while preserving plausible survival for a chosen few. Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu return to their lodgings, but the guide’s cheerfulness and the eerie calm only increase the group’s anxiety. Xu Jin flirts awkwardly with Lin Qiushi, who rejects her, then confides in Ruan Nanzhu the next morning. During a hike led by the ever-chipper guide, they reach a towering graveyard full of vertical stone towers. Inside one, they find a red drum made of human skin. When Xu Jin touches it, Lin Qiushi is drawn into a vivid hallucination involving a skinned, singing girl—confirming that the Sister Drum legend is terrifyingly real and directly tied to the cursed rules of this door.As the group processes these escalating horrors, their hope of survival hinges on decoding the significance of the red drum and the deadly music it emits. Lin Qiushi’s vision strongly implies the drum is central to the exit, but also a fatal trap if misused. The tower’s sinister interior, filled with symbols of death and ritual, reinforces their fear that they are part of a cycle—visitors brought to reenact bloody traditions under the guise of a cultural exchange. With dwindling numbers and increasing supernatural interference, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu brace for the next move, knowing that even a single mistake—like naming the wrong truth—could get them killed.
(Short Symmary)Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Cheng Qianli enter a nightmarish tower-world where noise summons monsters and the truth is buried under layers of human skin. They discover the story of twin sisters—one skinned alive for a ritual and turned monstrous, the other jealous and twisted—haunting a drum-shaped temple. Xu Jin, a flirtatious woman traveling with them, is revealed to be the monster in disguise, donning her sister’s stolen skin. The real horror surfaces when she transforms under moonlight, searching for her “sister,” only to be dragged back by summoned creatures and flayed alive. Her skin is reclaimed, and the surviving twin—still a monster—uses it to regain her beauty, mockingly “forgiving” her sister before opening the door for the group in exchange for the bone flute.Back in the real world, Lin Qiushi recovers while Ruan Nanzhu deals with rival group Ivory, led by Li Dongyuan, who had been masquerading as the cross-dressing Zhu Meng’s lovestruck admirer—unaware Zhu Meng is Ruan Nanzhu in disguise. Their ruse leads to a major rivalry, especially after they fool Li Dongyuan with fake clues. Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu later accept a commission tied to the cursed painting “The Rain Woman.” In a gothic manor where paintings absorb victims, traitors plant cursed frames, and the hostess silently stalks the guests, they survive through deduction and subterfuge. Ruan Nanzhu traps the betrayer Yang Meishu, who tried to kill him, using her own tactics. They destroy the final cursed painting and escape with the real key, barely outrunning the Rain Woman’s wrath.In their next door, they investigate a vengeful ghost named Lu Sachan, a girl erased from class records after being bullied and left to die. Classmates who mocked her through a cursed song are hunted down one by one as Sachan steals their legs. Lin Qiushi and the team uncover that the class photo updates with each death and realize that denial and lack of remorse prolong her grudge. Jiang Xinhong, one of the bullies, eventually dies too, allowing Sachan to complete her class photo and leave behind the key. Afterward, Ruan Nanzhu forces Lin Qiushi to cross-dress for the next door, which is based on the “Crows in the Scarecrow” legend. Cheng Qianli survives a battlefield door and Lin Qiushi steps into his sixth, unsure of what’s next, but now knowing each world demands a higher price.
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Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)
Cheng Qian, originally Cheng Er-lang, is sold by his impoverished family to the eccentric Taoist Muchun, who claims the boy has a great destiny. Renamed Cheng Qian, he joins the Fuyao Sect alongside the unruly Han Yuan. Though Cheng Qian is skeptical and emotionally withdrawn, he finds purpose in disciplined cultivation, contrasting Han Yuan’s laziness and Yan Zhengming’s arrogant seniority. Over time, Cheng Qian witnesses Yan Zhengming’s hidden depth and skill, slowly shifting from contempt to reluctant admiration. The three disciples, along with the reserved Li Yun, form a chaotic yet growing brotherhood under Muchun’s strange but caring guidance.During a harrowing mission, they rescue a powerful half-Yao infant named Han Tan (nicknamed Shuikeng), who is prophesied to bring calamity. They face deadly monsters, spiritual confrontations, and a collapsing cave—events that test and bond them. After Muchun sacrifices himself to save the group from Zipeng, Cheng Qian assumes reluctant guardianship of Han Tan while concealing her true origins. Stranded and near death, Cheng Qian protects her until they’re rescued. He then appoints Yan Zhengming as sect leader, honoring Muchun’s legacy. Yan Zhengming initially resists but, moved by Cheng Qian’s resolve, accepts the responsibility to preserve the sect.In the aftermath, the Fuyao Sect stabilizes under Yan Zhengming’s public leadership, while Cheng Qian quietly becomes its spiritual core. He mourns Muchun, but channels his grief into preserving and refining the Fuyao Wooden Swordplay. At the Sect Assembly, Yan Zhengming presents a composed front, earning recognition for the sect. Cheng Qian dreams of Muchun’s farewell and awakens with renewed clarity. He begins writing his own interpretations of their teachings, signaling his evolution from abandoned child to a future master. The disciples, once scattered by fate, are now unified by shared hardship, secret burdens, and an unspoken devotion to each other and their sect’s survival.
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You're Too OP! (You Boys Play Games Very Well)
Ling Meng, a sharp-tongued Galaxy Legends player known as “Lemon Daddy,” becomes infamous for his chaotic quips more than his skill. While hovering between the God and Diamond tiers, his path crosses with Mangosteen, a top-tier live streamer revered for both skill and voice. After a humiliating defeat during a live-streamed match—punctuated by Ling Meng’s parting message “you’re too OP uwu”—Ling Meng goes viral. Determined to redeem himself, he obsessively studies Mangosteen’s gameplay, eventually organizing a campus tournament to uncover Mangosteen’s real identity. His suspicion is confirmed when he defeats Man Guoding (Mangosteen’s real-life identity) in the finals, only to learn Man Guoding lost on purpose—just to win the “cuter” second prize.Their relationship grows more entangled as Mangosteen—now confirmed to be Man Guoding—continues to tease and flirt with Ling Meng both in and out of game. They team up in matches, co-moderate streams, and spiral into increasingly public affection and online “ship” culture. Mangosteen gifts Ling Meng lavish items like cat-yards, battles rival Guava (a mysterious pro player), and even orchestrates “PG” chaos during streams to rile up their massive viewer base. Ling Meng’s fans explode with memes, his popularity skyrockets, and he resigns himself to being everyone's favorite joke—reluctantly enjoying the fame and attention that come with it.The narrative culminates in a showdown with Team Fruit, the reigning Galaxy Legends champions. Ling Meng, Guava, and a disguised Man Guoding—under the ID “Apple”—pull off a series of brilliant plays, using Ling Meng as bait and overwhelming the pros with coordination, sneak attacks, and bluffing. In parallel, their off-screen dynamic softens. Ling Meng, once determined to stay PG and distant, gradually warms up to Man Guoding’s relentless attention, cheeky gifts, and daily breakfasts. With memes, mayhem, and mounting affection, “You’re Too OP!” ends as a comedic but heartfelt celebration of rivalry-turned-romance—blurring the line between game and reality, and leaving Lemon Daddy cornered, adored, and utterly unable to escape his own chaos.
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Everyone Loves the Cannon Fodder
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Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire
Sheng Xiao, Emperor Wu of Great Qi, begins the story by taking his nephew—the Crown Prince and future ruler—to the Crimson Abyss. After abdicating and setting events in motion for his death and rebirth, he throws himself into the infernal flames, where his body is annihilated but his consciousness lingers. Centuries later, his soul is resurrected as a Demonic Revenant named Sheng Lingyuan through a forbidden ritual known as Dark Descent. His return destabilizes the supernatural world, especially as he crosses paths with Xuan Ji, a fire-element metahuman who unknowingly carries Sheng Lingyuan’s corpse-turned-lifebound sword and whose mysterious origins connect him to the Crimson Abyss.Xuan Ji, recruited into the Anomaly Regulation Bureau (ARB) as the reluctant Acting Director of Disaster Response, discovers that the sixth hiker rescued from a supernatural incident is Sheng Lingyuan in human guise. Their combative relationship intensifies when Sheng Lingyuan's puppet body is revealed to be a decoy for his real self, preserved in sword form. As they investigate a surge in supernatural corruption, including a string of ritualistic murders tied to parasitic Mirage Butterflies, Xuan Ji’s team uncovers a conspiracy that implicates his own department and ends in a massive ritual gone wrong. Bi Chunsheng, a trusted agent, is exposed as the summoner driven mad by grief and betrayal. She sacrifices herself to complete the ritual, forcing Sheng Lingyuan into a full revenant awakening, only for him to destroy her and himself in a brutal rooftop battle.The fallout draws Xuan Ji back to the Crimson Abyss, where he reclaims his buried identity as a powerful non-human entity labeled the "Keeper of the Austral Flames." Meanwhile, Sheng Lingyuan’s spirit survives within Xuan Ji’s sword, revealing their fates are tightly intertwined. Through a shared psychic bond and escalating danger, they revisit Sheng Lingyuan’s tragic past—including his rise to emperor, his relationship with Arjin (the last shaman chieftain), and the betrayal orchestrated by his mentor, Dan Li. Arjin, resurrected as a Demonic Revenant, is defeated after a harrowing journey through memory and bloodshed. Xuan Ji emerges more determined, deeply altered by the revelations of political manipulation, genocide, and the buried history of shamans, while Sheng Lingyuan is left broken but bound again to the mortal world—and to Xuan Ji.
Volume 2
Wang Ze, Zhang Zhao, and Gu Yuexi arrive undercover in Dongchuan to investigate a Mirage Butterfly outbreak tied to Master Yuede, a scam artist using shaman illusions. Their mission leads them into an ancient tomb, where Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan become trapped inside a shamanic altar teeming with cursed remains and magical threats. Sheng Lingyuan performs a sealing ritual using blood and paper dolls to contain the butterflies, but the resulting explosion collapses the mountain. To protect Sheng Lingyuan’s identity, Xuan Ji pretends he’s a Sword Spirit. Sheng Lingyuan silently plays along, and despite Gu Yuexi’s suspicions, the team accepts the cover story—unaware they’re standing beside a legendary emperor.Sheng Lingyuan's growing discomfort with the modern world contrasts with his rising suspicion that someone is using forbidden shamanic techniques to awaken Demonic Revenants. Meanwhile, Yan Qiushan, long thought dead, reemerges under the alias Mr Nian, gathering ancient relics and preparing a Dark Descent ritual. His target: a tomb beneath the sea containing the body of Wei Yun, a highlander prince. While Sheng Lingyuan spies on them remotely, Xuan Ji begins having intense visions and hallucinations revealing his true origin as a Fateforged Sword Spirit—one of thirty-six divine weapons Sheng Lingyuan once created. When Yan Qiushan initiates the ritual, Xuan Ji arrives just in time to stop it, but not before unleashing a wave of spiritual resonance that cracks open the tomb and nearly kills them all.The real Revenant turns out to be the Highland King, Wei Yu, not the prince. Hundreds of drowned child corpses rise from the sea, possessed and chanting, forming a grotesque army. At the same time, Xuan Ji recovers memories of being forged as a weapon, shattered during a coup by Dan Li, and torn from Sheng Lingyuan’s side. The trauma from their shared past resurfaces as they face the returning Revenant, and their connection—once weapon and wielder—is tested again under fire. With corrupted officials exposed, internal betrayal within the ARB, and an extremist cult reviving ancient blood magic, Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan are left bracing for a coming war tied to the Crimson Abyss and a power that was never meant to rise again.
Volume 3
(Short Summary)
Volume 4
(Short Summary)
Volume 5
(Short Summary)
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Global Examination
A supernatural death game traps a group of strangers—examinees—inside a snowbound cabin under the jurisdiction of a mysterious "Exam System." You Huo, Old Yu, Yu Wen, and others must survive a series of cryptic, deadly subject-based tests, each hosted by disturbing figures like the invigilators and monsters such as Hunter Alpha. The Physics test kicks off with bizarre questions and punishment for rule violations. You Huo, wrongly blamed and detained, discovers key mechanics of the exam while outwitting invigilators like Qin Jiu (001). Despite manipulations and threats, You Huo’s brilliance earns the group their first points, but not without casualties and punishments that reveal the system’s brutality. The invigilators themselves are former examinees, suggesting a twisted hierarchy in which survival and obedience are rewarded with power.The second test—Foreign Language—forces the team into a cursed Romani-speaking village haunted by Dark Widow and her monstrous dolls. You Huo and allies resist the test’s manipulation, uncovering a grotesque truth: villagers are former failed examinees who became reanimated NPCs. Shu Xue, posing as Yu Yao, is revealed to be an undead examinee from a past session, reborn with the help of voodoo. Her presence accidentally shifts system punishments onto You Huo. He is buried alive in a coffin, but escapes by using the same undead limbs the test tries to weaponize. In retaliation, he leads the group to cremate the undead and break the site’s control—ending the session prematurely and earning the system's wrath. Qin Jiu, defying his invigilator duties, burns the forest to help You Huo and is punished by being forcibly turned back into an examinee.The third test, History, set during a 16th-century Dutch Arctic expedition, ramps up tension as examinees are forced to maintain fire, feed starving NPCs, and avoid supernatural attacks while being graded harshly. Qin Jiu and You Huo break major rules by dismantling a system-owned ship for firewood, triggering more penalties. They are tossed into a monster's belly, escape using ingenuity, and return to save their team. System violations skyrocket as they roast a talking hare and destroy part of the ship. In their punishment, Invigilator 021 reveals You Huo’s forgotten past: he was once the Chief Invigilator and tried to dismantle the corrupt system before it consumed him. Qin Jiu’s role in that failure is ambiguous—either ally or saboteur. Despite the chaos, the group survives—but now You Huo must recover his memories and dismantle the system from within before more are consumed.
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The Defectives
General Lin Jingheng is branded a traitor and forced to disarm his Silver Fortress garrison, but after his supposed death in a pirate ambush, public backlash reframes him as a hero. In truth, he survives in secret as the Federation begins to collapse under internal sabotage and interstellar pirate attacks. Meanwhile, Lu Bixing, an eccentric principal in the neglected Eighth Galaxy, tries to start a school to uplift his chaotic world. His students—including the sharp-tongued Huang Jingshu—accidentally trigger a chain of events that thrusts them into open conflict with criminal factions like Poison Hive, who are using Eden-like mind-altering tech. Lin Jingheng and Lu Bixing’s paths converge as both become targets in a widening conspiracy, and the group is forced into hiding and survival mode in deep space.With cities annihilated and the Federation’s military systems crumbling, the group navigates pirate-infested smuggler routes and derelict bases while trying to hold onto their humanity. Ares Feng, the genocidal “prince” of Cayley, launches missile strikes on entire planets, including the total destruction of Beijing ß. As Eden’s influence vanishes and communication between galaxies breaks down, Lu Bixing steps up to lead the remaining students and refugees. Lin Jingheng, haunted by past betrayals and failures, gradually begins to trust Lu Bixing and offers him real power and responsibility. Their uneasy partnership grows stronger as they work to stabilize one of the last surviving strongholds of civilian life.In a hidden underground city, tensions explode when civilians nearly riot. Lin Jingheng almost fires on the crowd, but Lu Bixing deploys an illusion of Beijing ß’s destruction to force them into surrender. Though he lies to the public about its authenticity, the illusion reflects his deep-rooted grief. He takes charge of rebuilding the base’s infrastructure with the help of reluctant volunteers, rallying a desperate and traumatized population into action. Lin Jingheng remains emotionally reserved but quietly supportive, occasionally stepping in with brutal efficiency when needed. As the base lights up for the first time in years, Lu Bixing becomes a symbol of hope—messy, impulsive, and stubborn, but impossible to ignore.
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In a city plagued by artistic serial killers, Albarino Bacchus—chief forensic pathologist by day, the Sunday Gardener by night—finds himself in a deadly rivalry with the Westland Pianist, a meticulous killer of violent blond men. The Sunday Gardener kills with symbolic flower arrangements and poetic themes, while the Pianist strangles with piano wire and stages baroque displays of punishment. When Richard Norman, a gang leader Albarino had stalked for months, is killed first by the Pianist, Albarino becomes enraged. He retaliates by murdering Richard’s brother, Thomas Norman, in an equally theatrical style, initiating a grotesque artistic dialogue between two murderers. Their increasingly elaborate killings reflect biblical, literary, and mythological motifs, each aimed at taunting or answering the other. Their mutual obsession zeroes in on Herstal Armalight, a cynical mob lawyer and the possible true identity of the Pianist.Herstal Armalight and Albarino Bacchus begin circling each other with deadly fascination, masking suspicion and attraction beneath legal banter, erotic tension, and psychological warfare. When Albarino is framed for the murder of his lover Sarah Aardman with planted fingerprints, he correctly suspects Herstal but can’t prove it. Herstal, in turn, is stalked and kidnapped by Elliot Evans—“Johnny the Killer”—a deranged loner who murders attractive men post-rainstorm in twisted declarations of love. Herstal manipulates Elliot to survive, but when Albarino finds Herstal imprisoned, he leaves him locked up out of vengeance. The rivalry between Albarino and Herstal erupts into physical violence, sexual domination, and philosophical musings on beauty, monstrosity, and power—each man trying to prove he’s the more perfect killer.Albarino is publicly exonerated after Herstal anonymously leads police to Bob Langdon’s mutilated body, revealing Langdon as the real killer of Sarah Aardman. Yet, this act doubles as a performance—Langdon’s chest is filled with mint, echoing earlier clues, and signaling that the Pianist is still composing his final masterpiece. Olga Moroz, a profiler caught between them, realizes these killings aren’t isolated crimes but a dangerous duet. With Herstal vowing revenge and Albarino refusing to back down, the volume closes as a prelude to war between two monsters who might love or destroy each other—or both.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu
Danmei Recap
Danmei Novels Recap
by @queenslovebooks
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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / How to Survive as a Villain
How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 1
Chapter 01
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.
Chapter 02
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.
Chapter 03
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.
Chapter 04
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.
Chapter 05
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.
Chapter 06
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.
Chapter 07
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.
Chapter 08
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.
Chapter 09
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.
Chapter 10
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.
Chapter 11
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
Chapter 12
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.
Chapter 13
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.
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How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 2
Chapter 14Two Southern Yan soldiers sneak into the Northern Empire’s Imperial Palace to loot.
The scrawnier soldier is hesitant, but follows the stockier one who’s determined to steal.
They find treasures quickly and decide to raid one last, luxurious-looking palace.
They break into the sleeping quarters, only to find Princess Yongning inside.
Both soldiers are stunned by her beauty; Scrawny suggests raping and killing her.
Stocky slaps him for suggesting it, saying they should just take valuables and leave.
Scrawny suddenly slashes Stocky's neck and kills him.
Scrawny then tries to rape Princess Yongning.
Princess Yongning fiercely resists, even trying to kill herself by running into a pillar.
She stops short, remembering her promise to her brother to survive.
Scrawny closes in again, but Xiao Pingyang arrives just in time and kills him.
Xiao Pingyang comforts a weeping, traumatized Princess Yongning.
Xiao Pingyang reveals she infiltrated the palace with her own squad, avoiding Western Shu’s political involvement.
As they try to leave, Yan Heqing appears, observes everything, and calmly lets them go.
Princess Yongning anxiously asks about her “Emperor-gege”; Yan Heqing says nothing and walks away.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu'an wakes up feverish and injured in his own bedchamber.
A burly man enters and violently assaults Xiao Yu'an, beating and stepping on his wounded arm.
The man attempts to castrate Xiao Yu'an under orders from Prince Yan Heqing.
Just before he can do it, General Xue Yan arrives and stops him.
Xue Yan confirms the man was following orders from Yan Heqing and dismisses him.
Xiao Yu'an is broken, humiliated, and sinks into hopelessness and bitter reflection.
Yan Heqing later visits. Xiao Yu'an confronts him emotionally and tells him to just kill him.
Yan Heqing tries to get him to live and stay by his side, but Xiao Yu'an refuses.
Yan Heqing informs him Eunuch Zhao is dead and Princess Yongning is safe.
Xiao Yu'an finally drinks water but tastes salt—he’s crying.
That night, two intruders break in—one is Yang Liu'an, the loyal guard come to rescue him.
Xiao Yu'an collects a box of keepsakes before agreeing to escape.
They sneak out of the palace and arrive at a deserted temple outside the city.
Princess Yongning runs out and hugs Xiao Yu'an in relief—she's safe and emotional.
Xiao Yu'an is stunned to see her and confused by the plot deviation.
The second intruder is revealed to be Xiao Pingyang, who declares her romantic relationship with Princess Yongning.
Xiao Yu'an is further baffled, realizing the female lead and second female lead are now a couple.
He questions if he has transmigrated into a fake novel or alternate universe.
Xiao Yu'an reflects in utter disbelief, noting how far the story has deviated from the original plot.
Chapter 15Xiao Yuan awakens in a dilapidated temple, treated for injuries and surrounded by Xiao Pingyang's female subordinates.
Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue cook porridge, while Princess Yongning and Xiao Pingyang sleep nestled together.
Xiao Yuan learns Xiao Pingyang and her team came to rescue Princess Yongning, fearing for her safety after the war began.
He reflects on how the transmigrated plot has completely deviated from the original novel, especially the dynamics between Xiao Pingyang, Princess Yongning, and Yan Heqing.
He observes the intimacy between Xiao Pingyang and Princess Yongning, noting the original story never hinted at this bond.
Despite confusion, Xiao Yuan finds peace in Princess Yongning’s wellbeing.
Princess Yongning misinterprets Xiao Yuan's silence about Yan Heqing, assuming romantic heartbreak, and tries to console him.
Xiao Yuan's denial goes unheard amid the group's preparations to escape the imperial city.
To avoid recognition, Xiao Yuan disguises himself in a woman’s tattered dress. His beauty stuns the others.
Disguised as a mute woman, Xiao Yuan escapes with Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue, while Xiao Pingyangleaves with Princess Yongning.
At the city gate, guards question them but let them pass after a brief inspection.
Just as they are about to leave, a guard stops Xiao Yuan and insists he comes for questioning along with his "brothers".
Outside the city, Xiao Yuan is intercepted by Xue Yan, who lets him go after extracting an oath never to return.
Xue Yan reveals his manipulation: staging an attack to make Xiao Yuan believe Yan Heqing ordered it, knowing Yan Heqing wouldn't harm Xiao Yuan but might let him go if he left on his own terms.
Yan Heqing hears of the escape and gives chase alone.
At a relay station 100 miles away, the group reunites and prepares to depart quickly.
As they leave, Yang Liu’an spots Yan Heqing trailing behind them silently.
Xiao Yuan stops the carriage to confront Yan Heqing, seeking a final closure.
Xiao Yuan delivers a poetic farewell toast, wishing Yan Heqing victory, trustworthy companions, health, and peace.
Yan Heqing, overcome with emotion, refuses to move on or let go, despite allowing Xiao Yuan to leave.
He reveals his real reason for following: to return the jade hairpin that Xiao Yuan left behind.
Xiao Yuan refuses to take it back, prompting Yan Heqing to smash the hairpin in heartbreak and ride away without another word.
Princess Yongning later gives the broken hairpin pieces back to Xiao Yuan, who finally stores them away silently.
The group reaches the border town near Western Shu.
Princess Yongning declares she will go to Western Shu with Xiao Pingyang, indicating a romantic relationship.
Xiao Yuan approves and jokes about Xiao Pingyang offering to matchmake Princess Yongning with her own brother.
They part ways on a joyful note, despite the sadness beneath.
En route to Taoyuan Village, Xiao Yuan visits the battlefield where the Northern Empire fell.
He finds a broken identity tablet of a fallen soldier and buries remains out of respect, offering prayers.
They see someone digging through corpses—it is Xie Chungui, driven insane, still trying to deliver rations and defend the fallen empire.
Xiao Yuan tells him Li Wuding is dead, finally breaking Xie Chungui's spirit.
Xie Chungui screams in denial, spiraling into madness and despair, as the devastation of war takes its toll.
Chapter 16Spring arrives in Taoyuan Village, bringing beauty and peace.
Zhang Changsong, the elderly physician, rests at his clinic when two merchants gossip about Southern Yan’s aggressive military expansion.
The village is unique: untouched by war, self-sustaining, and peaceful despite being on the borders of three kingdoms.
Two mysterious young men settled in the village two years ago—one became a salt merchant, the other managed their business. They earned the locals’ trust quickly.
A year later, they left suddenly but returned with two more people: one delirious man (Xie Chungui) and an ethereally beautiful man (Xiao Yuan).
Zhang Changsong initially assumed Xiao Yuan was a delicate aristocrat; he later realized he had severely underestimated him.
Xiao Yuan brings an Eastern Wu soldier to the clinic, gravely wounded. Zhang Changsong complains but treats him.
Zhang Baizhu, Zhang Changsong’s adopted son, and Xiao Yuan assist in the surgery with humor and irreverence.
It is revealed Zhang Baizhu was adopted and raised as a son by Zhang Changsong.
Half a year ago, Xiao Yuan asked Zhang Changsong to take him as a disciple to help cure Xie Chungui, who was mentally ill.
They save the soldier, who turns out to be from Eastern Wu.
Xiao Yuan routinely saves soldiers from both Southern Yan and Eastern Wu despite the war, believing they’ll all be part of one empire eventually.
Zhang Changsong asks Xiao Yuan about Xie Chungui’s condition—he hasn’t improved.
Xiao Yuan returns home, a modest manor shared with Xiao Fengyue, Yang Liu'an, and Xie Chungui, overseen by housekeeper Madam Sanyi.
Xiao Yuan interacts with Xiao Fengyue, who is working on accounts; they discuss Yang Liu'an returning from business and a letter from Western Shu.
Yang Liu'an and Xiao Fengyue share a romantic moment before hearing a crash from Xie Chungui’s room but decide not to intervene.
Xie Chungui is shown obsessively writing names of Northern Empire soldiers, revealing PTSD and madness.
Xiao Yuan gently brings Xie Chungui to dinner, showcasing his childlike state.
During dinner, Yang Liu'an gives Xiao Yuan the letter from Western Shu: Yongning and Xiao Pingyang are getting married.
Shocked, Xiao Yuan reflects that the novel’s original female lead and second female lead have ended up together—shocking!
Zhang Baizhu jokes about matchmaking with Western Shu women; Xiao Yuan teases him but admits he’s attending a wedding.
The soldier Bao Yinxin, whom they saved, wakes up and recognizes Xiao Yuan as a famous figure known for helping wounded soldiers.
Despite everyone’s attempts to make him rest, Bao Yinxin insists on returning to the frontlines.
Xiao Yuan gives him medicine and sees him off, hiding his mixed feelings about the war.
Zhang Changsong gives Xiao Yuan a medicinal pouch to ward off insects in Western Shu and shyly asks if he can help matchmake Zhang Baizhu.
In Western Shu, the city is bustling with the wedding of Princess Pingyang and Yongning.
Surprisingly, there’s no prince consort; instead, there are two bridal carriages.
Xiao Yuan stands in as Yongning’s elder brother during the ceremony.
He marvels at how both women went through hardship but found happiness together.
At the banquet, Xiao Yuan observes the many female guests and recognizes several as former love interests of Yan Heqing, the original novel's male protagonist.
After drinking, Xiao Yuan stumbles and bumps into a prince who looks exactly like himself in his past life—same face, voice, even name: Xiao Yu’an.
Stunned, Xiao Yuan tries to make sense of this encounter and asks Xiao Pingyang about the prince.
Xiao Pingyang reveals that this man is her imperial brother, also named Xiao Yu’an, and seems puzzled by Xiao Yuan’s intense reaction.
She offers to introduce them, but Xiao Yuan declines, feeling too unnerved by the uncanny resemblance to his past life.
Yongning arrives and invites Xiao Yuan to stay longer, but he declines.
Xiao Yuan bids farewell and leaves Western Shu, glad for Yongning and Xiao Pingyang, who chose a secluded and peaceful life.
Chapter 17Xiao Yu’an stops in a small town near Taoyuan Village, takes a break in a teahouse, then prepares to leave.
A distressed woman, Lin Shenling, stumbles in front of him while being chased by thugs.
Lin Shenling begs for help; Xiao Yu’an pays 30 taels of silver to stop her pursuers.
Lin Shenling thanks him tearfully and insists on repaying his kindness.
Xiao Yu’an panics internally upon realizing she is Yan Heqing’s future third wife from the novel he transmigrated into.
Lin Shenling's backstory is tragic: sold to a brothel by her stepfather, escaped several times, eventually ends up in Taoyuan Village.
Xiao Yu’an reluctantly brings her to his manor; Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue accept her, Madam Sanyi nags briefly.
Lin Shenling proves to be extremely diligent, improving the manor’s cleanliness and food, and adapting to everyone’s habits quickly.
Xiao Yu’an urges Lin Shenling to start wandering the mountains so she can "coincidentally" meet and rescue Yan Heqing per the original plot.
Lin Shenling finds an injured person—but it's Zhang Changsong, not Yan Heqing. She brings him to the medical hall.
Xiao Yu’an eats a mysterious red fruit Zhang Baizhu found, which temporarily changes his voice to sound like a woman’s.
Xiao Yu’an unintentionally impersonates Lin Shenling when speaking to Lin Shenling and Zhang Baizhu due to the fruit’s effect.
Zhang Changsong later tells Xiao Yu’an about a rare turmeric root that could help Xie Chungui’s condition; Xiao Yu’an sets out to retrieve it.
Xiao Yu’an climbs a cliff to harvest the root, struggles, and falls after the vine snaps but survives with injuries.
He accidentally trips over an unconscious Yan Heqing, realizing he found him instead of Lin Shenling.
Fearing the disruption of the plot, Xiao Yu’an decides to continue pretending to be Lin Shenling by using the red fruit’s voice-altering effects.
Yan Heqing, temporarily blinded, awakes in a forest hut. Xiao Yu’an (disguised as Lin Shenling) tends to him.
Yan Heqing is polite but distant, showing no signs of romantic interest, contrary to the novel’s events.
Xiao Yu’an attempts to spark flirtation and recreate scenes from the novel, but Yan Heqing remains aloof and curt.
Xiao Yu’an is dismayed at how different Yan Heqing’s behavior is compared to the original story.
He begins preparing medicinal meals and herbs to treat Yan Heqing, especially for internal injuries and eye healing.
Xiao Yu’an fails miserably at cooking porridge; both he and Yan Heqing nearly choke.
Despite caring for Yan Heqing, Xiao Yu’an is confused by his own motivations and growing emotional attachment.
Yan Heqing coughs blood one morning, revealing how grave his injuries are.
Xiao Yu’an picks sicklepods in the mountains and uses them to treat Yan Heqing’s vision.
Yan Heqing eventually starts walking again despite not fully recovering.
Xiao Yu’an realizes he’s forming complex feelings for Yan Heqing, though he can’t pinpoint if it's affection or lingering admiration.
Yan Heqing, still believing Xiao Yu’an to be Lin Shenling, calmly asks to be escorted down the mountain and directed to the Southern Yan military.
Xiao Yu’an agrees, disheartened that the original romantic plot between Yan Heqing and Lin Shenling has effectively collapsed.
The chapter ends with Xiao Yu’an brewing Yan Heqing’s medicine one last time, reflecting on their absurd and fleeting encounter.
Chapter 18Xiao Yuan prepares medicine for Yan Heqing, who is partially blind.
Yan Heqing briefly regains sight and makes eye contact with Xiao Yuan, startling him, but then his vision fades again.
Xiao Yuan assumes Yan Heqing is still blind, and Yan Heqing pretends to be.
Xiao Yuan plans to send Yan Heqing down the mountain the next day.
Yan Heqing, not wanting to leave, fakes concern about dangers on the mountain to buy time.
Xiao Yuan agrees to delay his departure.
Yan Heqing asks Xiao Yuan for help changing clothes, which surprises Xiao Yuan.
While Xiao Yuan applies salve to Yan Heqing’s wounds, Yan Heqing asks why he was saved.
Xiao Yuan says he couldn’t leave him to die.
Yan Heqing asks about Xiao Yuan’s home and life; Xiao Yuan says he’s temporarily staying in Taoyuan Village and reflects philosophically on life.
That night, while sleeping, Xiao Yuan rolls into Yan Heqing’s arms; Yan Heqing is overwhelmed but does not wake him.
The next morning, Yan Heqing follows Xiao Yuan despite his impaired vision and asks to hold his hand.
Xiao Yuan helps Yan Heqing to the creek; the journey takes twice as long due to Yan Heqing’s condition.
While Xiao Yuan washes herbs, Yan Heqing watches him intensely despite being “blind.”
Yan Heqing suddenly coughs, and Xiao Yuan rushes to check on him.
After returning, Xiao Yuan applies more medicine, comments on how well Yan Heqing is recovering, and says they can leave soon.
That night, while Xiao Yuan sleeps, Yan Heqing rips his own healing wounds open to delay their departure.
Xiao Yuan is baffled by the sudden wound reopening but doesn't suspect sabotage.
Xiao Yuan decides to follow the novel’s plot more closely and plays the role of Lin Shenling to ensure stability.
Xiao Yuan awkwardly tries to seduce Yan Heqing by saying he's cold and asking to be held.
Yan Heqing panics and falls off the bed, but ultimately hugs Xiao Yuan and tells him to sleep well.
Xiao Yuan reflects on his traumatic past and finds comfort in the embrace.
In the following days, Xiao Yuan stumbles through recreating the novel’s lines, often botching them.
Yan Heqing never questions him, maintaining affection and patience.
As Yan Heqing’s wounds heal again, Xiao Yuan fears the complications of future intimate scenes and his true identity being discovered.
Zhang Baizhu unexpectedly shows up and almost blows Xiao Yuan’s cover.
Xiao Yuan subdues him and tells him to inform Liu An and Feng Yue he’s safe.
Zhang Baizhu reveals that Xiao Yuan’s younger brother Xie Chungui was taken to see a famous doctor.
Zhang Baizhu teases Xiao Yuan for falling for Yan Heqing, which Xiao Yuan denies.
Zhang Baizhu warns of incoming storms and leaves.
Xiao Yuan returns to find Yan Heqing standing in the rain, having thought Xiao Yuan had left for good.
Yan Heqing reveals he overheard a male voice (Zhang Baizhu’s) and got jealous.
Xiao Yuan explains and downplays the encounter.
Yan Heqing is visibly heartbroken but tries to hide it.
An accidental bump leads to a kiss on Yan Heqing’s cheek, which escalates into a passionate kiss initiated by Yan Heqing.
Xiao Yuan panics, but doesn’t resist, recalling the plot and not wanting to deviate.
The kiss deepens; Xiao Yuan fears Yan Heqing might discover his gender but gets overwhelmed by the kiss instead.
Xiao Yuan tries to backtrack with a fabricated reason, but Yan Heqing pulls him close and confesses, "I’m devoted to you."
Xiao Yuan tries to follow the novel script and tests Yan Heqing's sincerity by questioning his feelings post-sight recovery.
Yan Heqing replies, "I'll still love you."
Yan Heqing kisses Xiao Yuan again, this time gently.
He asks Xiao Yuan how he feels in return.
Cornered, Xiao Yuan recites Lin Shenling’s line from the novel: "H-Husband!"
Yan Heqing is stunned but then smiles and calls Xiao Yuan "Wife."
Xiao Yuan is utterly flustered, internally begging for divine intervention.
A lightning strike coincidentally hits near the hut after Xiao Yuan’s dramatic plea to the heavens.
Chapter 18Xiao Yuan prepares medicine for Yan Heqing, who is partially blind.
Yan Heqing briefly regains sight and makes eye contact with Xiao Yuan, startling him, but then his vision fades again.
Xiao Yuan assumes Yan Heqing is still blind, and Yan Heqing pretends to be.
Xiao Yuan plans to send Yan Heqing down the mountain the next day.
Yan Heqing, not wanting to leave, fakes concern about dangers on the mountain to buy time.
Xiao Yuan agrees to delay his departure.
Yan Heqing asks Xiao Yuan for help changing clothes, which surprises Xiao Yuan.
While Xiao Yuan applies salve to Yan Heqing’s wounds, Yan Heqing asks why he was saved.
Xiao Yuan says he couldn’t leave him to die.
Yan Heqing asks about Xiao Yuan’s home and life; Xiao Yuan says he’s temporarily staying in Taoyuan Village and reflects philosophically on life.
That night, while sleeping, Xiao Yuan rolls into Yan Heqing’s arms; Yan Heqing is overwhelmed but does not wake him.
The next morning, Yan Heqing follows Xiao Yuan despite his impaired vision and asks to hold his hand.
Xiao Yuan helps Yan Heqing to the creek; the journey takes twice as long due to Yan Heqing’s condition.
While Xiao Yuan washes herbs, Yan Heqing watches him intensely despite being “blind.”
Yan Heqing suddenly coughs, and Xiao Yuan rushes to check on him.
After returning, Xiao Yuan applies more medicine, comments on how well Yan Heqing is recovering, and says they can leave soon.
That night, while Xiao Yuan sleeps, Yan Heqing rips his own healing wounds open to delay their departure.
Xiao Yuan is baffled by the sudden wound reopening but doesn't suspect sabotage.
Xiao Yuan decides to follow the novel’s plot more closely and plays the role of Lin Shenling to ensure stability.
Xiao Yuan awkwardly tries to seduce Yan Heqing by saying he's cold and asking to be held.
Yan Heqing panics and falls off the bed, but ultimately hugs Xiao Yuan and tells him to sleep well.
Xiao Yuan reflects on his traumatic past and finds comfort in the embrace.
In the following days, Xiao Yuan stumbles through recreating the novel’s lines, often botching them.
Yan Heqing never questions him, maintaining affection and patience.
As Yan Heqing’s wounds heal again, Xiao Yuan fears the complications of future intimate scenes and his true identity being discovered.
Zhang Baizhu unexpectedly shows up and almost blows Xiao Yuan’s cover.
Xiao Yuan subdues him and tells him to inform Liu An and Feng Yue he’s safe.
Zhang Baizhu reveals that Xiao Yuan’s younger brother Xie Chungui was taken to see a famous doctor.
Zhang Baizhu teases Xiao Yuan for falling for Yan Heqing, which Xiao Yuan denies.
Zhang Baizhu warns of incoming storms and leaves.
Xiao Yuan returns to find Yan Heqing standing in the rain, having thought Xiao Yuan had left for good.
Yan Heqing reveals he overheard a male voice (Zhang Baizhu’s) and got jealous.
Xiao Yuan explains and downplays the encounter.
Yan Heqing is visibly heartbroken but tries to hide it.
An accidental bump leads to a kiss on Yan Heqing’s cheek, which escalates into a passionate kiss initiated by Yan Heqing.
Xiao Yuan panics, but doesn’t resist, recalling the plot and not wanting to deviate.
The kiss deepens; Xiao Yuan fears Yan Heqing might discover his gender but gets overwhelmed by the kiss instead.
Xiao Yuan tries to backtrack with a fabricated reason, but Yan Heqing pulls him close and confesses, "I’m devoted to you."
Xiao Yuan tries to follow the novel script and tests Yan Heqing's sincerity by questioning his feelings post-sight recovery.
Yan Heqing replies, "I'll still love you."
Yan Heqing kisses Xiao Yuan again, this time gently.
He asks Xiao Yuan how he feels in return.
Cornered, Xiao Yuan recites Lin Shenling’s line from the novel: "H-Husband!"
Yan Heqing is stunned but then smiles and calls Xiao Yuan "Wife."
Xiao Yuan is utterly flustered, internally begging for divine intervention.
A lightning strike coincidentally hits near the hut after Xiao Yuan’s dramatic plea to the heavens.
Chapter 19
A violent storm begins, trapping Xiao Yuan and Yan Heqing inside the hut.
Xiao Yuan attempts to cook porridge again but fails; it tastes terrible.
Yan Heqing insists on eating it anyway and claims it tastes fine, likely out of affection.
A loud noise signals a potential landslide; Xiao Yuan goes outside to investigate despite Yan Heqing’s warnings.
Xiao Yuan sees a landslide and rushes back, warning Yan Heqing to flee.
Xiao Yuan remembers he left crucial items in the hut that would reveal his identity and rushes back despite the danger.
A falling branch nearly hits Xiao Yuan, but Yan Heqing protects him, taking the full blow and suffering a serious injury.
Despite the pain and cold, Yan Heqing tries to follow Xiao Yuan’s voice but collapses, coughing blood and losing consciousness.
Yan Heqing wakes later in a mountain cave tended by Xiao Yuan, who saved him and treated his wounds.
Xiao Yuan has another identity crisis moment when Yan Heqing kisses his wrist, causing him to panic internally.
Yan Heqing teases Xiao Yuan about being shy; Xiao Yuan denies it but stutters comically.
Yan Heqing pulls Xiao Yuan into an embrace under the pretense of being cold, leading to more internal fluster from Xiao Yuan.
The storm passes. They eat sweet potatoes. Xiao Yuan proposes returning to his Shifu for help with Yan Heqing’s eyes.
Yan Heqing asks if Xiao Yuan would truly take him along, questioning if Xiao Yuan hates him.
Yan Heqing expresses fear of being given false hope and asks Xiao Yuan to reject him outright if he does not care.
Xiao Yuan is stunned into silence; Yan Heqing interprets it as agreement to keep going with him.
Xiao Yuan leads Yan Heqing down the mountain back home.
They arrive secretly; Xiao Yuan tries to hand Yan Heqing off to Lin Shenling to continue the deception.
Yan Heqing suddenly regains his sight and locks eyes with Xiao Yuan, realizing he’s been deceived.
Xiao Yuan panics and silently urges Lin Shenling to call Yan Heqing “Husband” to pacify him.
Lin Shenling complies, deepening the misunderstanding and shocking Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing mistakenly believes Xiao Yuan and Lin Shenling are married, becomes emotionally devastated, and leaves.
As he walks away, Yan Heqing collapses from his injuries and emotional strain, coughing blood again.
Xiao Yuan carries him home unconscious; Zhang Changsong diagnoses him with internal injuries worsened by emotional stress.
Xiao Yuan runs errands to get medicine, encountering Lin Shenling at the medical hall.
Lin Shenling reveals her intention to stay and care for the elderly Zhang Changsong.
She also apologizes for the “husband” misunderstanding, which Xiao Yuan downplays.
Madam Sanyi gives Xiao Yuan a letter about Xie Chungui’s recovery and the honeymoon of Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue.
Xiao Yuan checks if Yan Heqing is awake but learns he’s still unconscious.
Yan Heqing eventually wakes up, drinks medicine given by Madam Sanyi, and asks if the manor’s master is truly married.
Madam Sanyi assumes the question is about Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue and says yes, breaking Yan Heqing's last hope.
Yan Heqing decides he must leave to avoid hurting Xiao Yuan further due to his unresolved feelings.
Xiao Yuan, unable to sleep, goes for a night walk and accidentally overhears a proposal between Zhang Baizhu and Lin Shenling.
Zhang Baizhu wants to marry Lin Shenling; she is hesitant but clearly moved.
Xiao Yuan awkwardly agrees to their marriage, pushing them to make it official.
Lin Shenling feels emotional, grateful to finally have a family after being sold to a brothel and saved by Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan encourages her and sends her off, choosing to moongaze alone.
Yan Heqing suddenly appears, grabs Xiao Yuan and pushes him against a wall, demanding to know if he lied about being married.
Xiao Yuan is stunned and says nothing, realizing the confrontation he feared has arrived.
Chapter 20Yan Heqing pins Xiao Yu’an to the wall in a heated confrontation, demanding to know if he is married.
Xiao Yu’an admits he is not, which clearly pleases Yan Heqing.
Xiao Yu’an tries to clarify that Lin Shenling is already in love with someone else and not with him.
Yan Heqing reveals that he knows Xiao Yu’an was disguised as the young lady earlier, sarcastically calling him “Wife.”
Xiao Yu’an realizes Yan Heqing knows he was deceived and panics, thinking punishment is imminent.
Yan Heqing surprises Xiao Yu’an by denying that he ever hated him.
Xiao Yu’an is shocked, accusing Yan Heqing of trying to castrate him.
Yan Heqing is confused and deeply shaken upon hearing this, clearly unaware of the incident.
Xiao Yu’an suspects Xue Yan may have orchestrated the castration attempt to create distrust.
Upon hearing the full story, Yan Heqing becomes enraged and coughs up blood due to his internal injuries.
Xiao Yu’an tends to Yan Heqing and confronts him directly about his feelings and past actions.
Yan Heqing insists again that he never hated Xiao Yu’an and never wanted to hurt him.
Xiao Yu’an jokingly suggests they remain “brothers,” and Yan Heqing agrees, though clearly harboring deeper feelings.
Xiao Yu’an repeatedly asks Yan Heqing to confirm he bears no ill will; Yan Heqing patiently affirms every time.
Eventually, Yan Heqing physically restrains Xiao Yu’an and admits with raw desire that he wants to “devour” him.
They are caught in a compromising position by Lin Shenling and then by Madam Sanyi, who misinterpret the scene.
Xiao Yu’an tries desperately to clarify but is foiled by their assumptions and the closed door.
Later, Zhang Baizhu delivers betrothal gifts intended for Xiao Yu’an, who immediately redirects them to Lin Shenling as her dowry.
Zhang Baizhu is baffled but unable to argue with Xiao Yu’an’s logic.
Xiao Yu’an and Yan Heqing are checked by Zhang Changsong, who confirms Yan Heqing is recovering well.
Zhang Baizhu confronts Xiao Yu’an about helping an “enemy,” but Xiao Yu’an explains they’re now friends.
Xiao Yu’an takes Yan Heqing for a walk to the medical hall, chatting and teasing along the way.
Madam Ma spots them and starts matchmaking Yan Heqing with random girls, prompting Xiao Yu’an to intervene.
Madam Ma accuses Xiao Yu’an of being jealous and reveals she thinks Yan Heqing is already his lover.
Xiao Yu’an is mortified but unable to convincingly deny it; Yan Heqing plays along silently.
At the jade shop, the owner’s wife recognizes Yan Heqing’s name from a hairpin that Xiao Yu’an once tried desperately to repair.
Yan Heqing learns Xiao Yu’an treasured the broken hairpin he discarded long ago.
Yan Heqing reveals he kept the jade flute Xiao Yu’an gave him and offers to play it someday.
Lin Shenling’s wedding day arrives; she dons wedding robes for the first time.
Xiao Yu’an remembers the original novel's tragic fate for Lin Shenling and gets angry, punching Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing admits he has no consorts, no palace harem, and has never been intimate with anyone.
Xiao Yu’an is stunned that the supposedly “stallion” male protagonist is entirely celibate and untouched.
During the wedding banquet, Zhang Baizhu gets Xiao Yu’an drunk.
Yan Heqing carries a drunken Xiao Yu’an home on his back.
Xiao Yu’an drunkenly muses about love, asking what it means to truly care for someone.
Yan Heqing answers seriously, confirming he knows what love feels like.
Xiao Yu’an falls asleep on Yan Heqing’s back.
Meanwhile, six mysterious men dressed in black arrive at an inn.
Their leader presents a portrait of Yan Heqing to the innkeeper and asks if he has seen him, hinting at future trouble.
Chapter 21News spreads in Taoyuan Village about masked men searching for someone with a portrait.
Zhang Baizhu rushes to Xiao Yu'an's manor to warn him and Yan Heqing.
Madam Sanyi informs Zhang Baizhu that Xiao Yu'an and Yan Heqing went to buy rice.
Zhang Baizhu plans to find them but is interrupted when one of the masked men knocks on the manor's door.
Madam Sanyi denies knowing the man in the portrait, but Xiao Yu'an arrives, blurts out that it's Yan Heqing, unintentionally revealing him.
The masked man kneels, crying and addressing Yan Heqing as “Your Majesty,” revealing himself to be Chen Ge, a deputy general.
Chen Ge begs Yan Heqing to return to the frontlines due to low morale and continuous defeats.
Yan Heqing tells Chen Ge to return to the inn and find him the next day.
At the medical hall, Zhang Baizhu finds Zhang Changsong with another man in black, revealed to be Zhang Baizhu's maternal uncle from Southern Yan.
Zhang Baizhu learns Zhang Changsong is being asked to serve as a military physician due to high casualties.
Zhang Baizhu refuses to let Zhang Changsong go, arguing about his age and health.
Zhang Changsong shares his love story with his wife, daughter of a Southern Yan general, and how her younger brother (the uncle) helped them escape.
Zhang Baizhu insists on going in Zhang Changsong’s place but is rejected due to his recent marriage.
Xiao Yu'an offers to go in Zhang Changsong’s place instead, citing his year of free medical education and desire to repay the debt.
Zhang Changsong and Zhang Baizhu reluctantly accept Xiao Yu'an’s decision.
Xiao Yu'an returns to his room late at night and finds Yan Heqing still waiting with candlelight.
Yan Heqing confesses his feelings, revealing he knew it was Xiao Yu'an (not Lin Shenling) back in the mountain hut and loved him genuinely.
Xiao Yu'an reacts in shock, disbelief, and confusion, demanding clarification on what type of "like" Yan Heqing means.
Yan Heqing clarifies his love is intensely romantic and sexual, detailing it in vivid, dominating terms.
Xiao Yu'an tries to deflect but is physically pinned by Yan Heqing and forced to acknowledge the true nature of Yan Heqing's feelings.
Yan Heqing warns Xiao Yu'an not to give him false hope and promises to return after conquering Eastern Wu.
Xiao Yu'an begins processing the implications of Yan Heqing’s confession and reflects on signs he had missed earlier.
Xiao Yu'an almost confesses he’s leaving for the military but hesitates after Yan Heqing’s declaration.
The next morning, Madam Sanyi gives Xiao Yu'an a letter from Liu'an and Fengyue, announcing Chungui's recovery and upcoming return.
Xiao Yu'an asks Madam Sanyi to tell them he went on an adventure instead of joining the military.
Madam Sanyi tearfully packs food and clothing for Xiao Yu'an’s departure.
Xiao Yu'an jokingly asks for braised pork belly and other dishes upon his return, making Madam Sanyi smile.
Xiao Yu'an bids farewell to Zhang Baizhu and Zhang Changsong at the medical hall.
Zhang Changsong warns him to return to Taoyuan Village if anything happens so he can be saved.
Xiao Yu'an teasingly tells Zhang Baizhu he wants to be the honorary father of Zhang Baizhu’s future child, making Zhang Baizhu blush furiously.
Xiao Yu'an leaves amidst laughter and calls from Zhang Baizhu.
Chapter 22Xiao Yu'an arrives at the inn where Yan Heqing's soldiers are waiting.
Xiao Yu'an asks where Yan Heqing is; soldiers say he went to grab something.
Xiao Yu'an jokes he can’t ride a horse and offers to be tied up and transported.
Chen Ge offers to take him on his horse, but Xiao Yu'an refuses.
Xiao Yu'an calls out to Yan Heqing, who rides over and pulls him onto his horse.
They ride off together, and Yan Heqing gives Xiao Yu'an a mask to hide his identity.
Yan Heqing jokes he’d kiss Xiao Yu'an if he turned to look at him.
Xiao Yu'an sings while riding, but later feels nauseous from the journey.
Upon arriving at camp, both men go to work—Yan Heqing on morale, Xiao Yu'an in the medical tent.
Chen Ge visits Xiao Yu'an, who’s treating soldiers nonstop.
Xiao Yu'an reveals he knows Bai Zhi won’t come, implying personal reasons involving Yan Heqing.
Chen Ge invites Xiao Yu'an to see Yan Heqing, and he obliges.
In Yan Heqing's tent, Xiao Yu'an is exhausted and massages are exchanged.
Yan Heqing tells Xiao Yu'an to sleep in his tent; Xiao Yu'an agrees and sets up separate bedding.
Xiao Yu'an mumbles in his sleep about Yan Heqing being a CEO type and nags him to not strain his eyes.
The next day, Yan Heqing is gone—he’s left for the battlefield despite his injury.
Xiao Yu'an is upset but hides it, and tends to increasingly wounded soldiers.
Chen Ge is brought in severely wounded; Xiao Yu'an treats him, knocking him out twice due to pain and noise.
When Chen Ge wakes, he tells Xiao Yu'an they’re close to victory.
Chen Ge comments on how much Yan Heqing has changed for Xiao Yu'an’s sake.
Chen Ge expresses hatred for the Northern Empire emperor, not knowing Xiao Yu'an is that person.
When Chen Ge praises Xiao Yu'an, he gets knocked out again humorously.
The army celebrates victory and Xiao Yu'an rushes to find Yan Heqing after hearing of his injury.
Xiao Yu'an tends to Yan Heqing’s wound, and Yan Heqing flirts with him again, asking for a kiss as pain relief.
Xiao Yu'an kisses the wound, and their intimacy escalates until a soldier barges in with a report.
After the interruption, Yan Heqing kisses Xiao Yu'an quickly before letting him leave.
General Huang Yue meets Yan Heqing and is suspicious of Xiao Yu'an, recognizing him vaguely.
Xiao Yu'an recalls from the original novel that Huang Yue will become a traitor later.
Huang Yue discusses battle plans and expresses disdain for Yan Heqing’s cautiousness.
Huang Yue's deputy spies on Xiao Yu'an, believes he’s the deposed emperor, and secretly sends a blood-written message under a tree saying he has a scapegoat.
Chen Ge jokes about Xiao Yu'an staying with Yan Heqing at night, leading to more humorous injury-slapping.
They discuss Xiao Yu'an’s hesitance in confessing to Yan Heqing, with Chen Ge urging him to be honest.
Xiao Yu'an jokes that he’ll "rock Yan Heqing’s world", leading to more slapstick comedy.
Xiao Yu'an tries to find Yan Heqing, but the latter is busy with urgent strategy meetings.
While Xiao Yu'an returns, Huang Yue's deputy follows him suspiciously.
Later, Xiao Yu'an heads out to wash up at a stream, but a monkey steals his clothes.
Yan Heqing finds him naked and gives him his outer robe.
Yan Heqing carries Xiao Yu'an bridal style back to camp, shocking soldiers.
Xiao Yu'an tries to rationalize the situation to embarrassed soldiers, adding more comedy.
Yan Heqing insists Xiao Yu'an sleep in his tent again and gives him clean clothes.
Yan Heqing takes out a flute Xiao Yu'an gave him long ago; he plays a melody for him.
Their interaction becomes increasingly intimate and tender, leading to a near-confession.
Yan Heqing kisses Xiao Yu'an with increasing passion, asking for an answer to his feelings.
Xiao Yu'an avoids a verbal reply and instead offers intimacy.
As they escalate, Yan Heqing stops, realizing he’ll be too distracted before battle.
Xiao Yu'an comforts him, promises to give him a proper answer when he returns from battle.
They share one last kiss, and Yan Heqing goes to take a cold bath to calm himself down.
Meanwhile, Huang Yue and his deputy discuss Xiao Yu'an and suspect him more.
Huang Yue wants to wait until after the next battle before dealing with Xiao Yu'an.
That night, Huang Yue’s deputy sends another secret blood-written message: "No need for concern. I've got a scapegoat."
Chapter 23Xiao Yu'an woke early hoping to see Yan Heqing off to battle, but missed him as the troops had already left.
Xiao Yu'an continued treating injured soldiers while feeling emotionally burdened.
Chen Ge noticed Xiao Yu'an’s distraction and tried to reassure him about Yan Heqing’s safety.
News arrived that Yan Heqing’s cavalry was ambushed and he reportedly fell off a cliff and perished.
Chen Ge and other generals were shocked; suspicions arose about spies in the camp.
Huang Yue accused Xiao Yu'an of being the Northern Empire’s deposed emperor and a potential spy.
Huang Yue confronted Xiao Yu'an, physically assaulted him, and exposed his identity.
Xiao Yu'an defended Yan Heqing’s honor, revealing his deep emotional connection to him.
Huang Yue beat Xiao Yu'an severely and imprisoned him, stringing him up in the military jail.
Chen Ge visited Xiao Yu'an in prison, conflicted about his identity and innocence.
Xiao Yu'an refused to defend himself verbally but showed a clear conscience through actions.
Ultimately, Chen Ge believed in Xiao Yu'an’s sincerity and released him secretly.
Xiao Yu'an insisted on finding Yan Heqing, convinced he was still alive despite the reports.
Chen Ge, moved by Xiao Yu'an’s resolve, showed him a map where Yan Heqing fell.
They went to the location together, hoping to find Yan Heqing before the enemy did.
Eastern Wu general Yang Liye and soldiers were actively searching for Yan Heqing to confirm his death.
Xiao Yu'an and Chen Ge found a hidden message on a soldier’s tablet: “at the back, top of the cave, save His Majesty”.
Following the clue, Xiao Yu'an climbed into a hidden vertical cave tunnel and discovered Yan Heqing severely wounded but alive.
Xiao Yu'an and Chen Ge treated Yan Heqing’s wounds and planned to bring him back to camp.
Enemy soldiers approached, forcing them to hide inside the cave.
Chen Ge offered to draw the enemies away, but Xiao Yu'an insisted on going instead.
Xiao Yu'an made Chen Ge promise to lie to Yan Heqing that he left for selfish reasons, in case he died, to protect Yan Heqing emotionally.
As Xiao Yu'an prepared to leave, he changed his mind and ran back to tell Chen Ge to deliver a message of love to Yan Heqing if he survived.
Xiao Yu'an sacrificed himself by misleading Eastern Wu soldiers and getting captured to protect Yan Heqing and Chen Ge’s escape.
Yang Liye tortured Xiao Yu'an brutally, stabbing him, pinning his hands to the ground with daggers, and stomping on him.
Xiao Yu'an deliberately misled Yang Liye toward a dead end, pointing in the wrong direction to protect Yan Heqing’s location.
As Yang Liye prepared to kill Xiao Yu'an, he was summoned elsewhere.
Yang Liye ordered his men to bury Xiao Yu'an alive while he was still breathing.
Near death, Xiao Yu'an reached for the morning star in the sky and whispered “Yan-ge…” before passing out into unconsciousness or death.
Chapter 24Xiao Yu'an regains consciousness while being carried by Bao Yinxin, who is running toward Taoyuan Village.
Bao Yinxin reminds Xiao Yu'an that he once saved Eastern Wu soldiers, and they’re repaying the debt by rescuing him.
Xiao Yu'an falls unconscious again due to severe injuries and blood loss.
When Xiao Yu'an wakes again, he is in a bed surrounded by familiar faces: Xie Chungui, Yang Liu'an, Xiao Fengyue, Madam Sanyi, Lin Shenling, and Zhang Baizhu.
Xie Chungui is still mentally childlike despite his age, which is explained as a choice to preserve his peace of mind.
Zhang Changsong explains Xiao Yu'an is temporarily mute due to internal injuries, and treatment was prescribed to aid his recovery.
Xiao Yu'an attempts to communicate but everyone misinterprets his efforts until Zhang Baizhu jokingly suggests he needs to relieve himself.
Xiao Yu'an desperately wants to send a letter to Yan Heqing, leading Yang Liu'an to find a merchant, Fu Rende, who agrees to try delivering the message.
Xiao Yu'an writes to Yan Heqing using a hairpin engraved with his surname as a token of trust to help ensure it reaches him.
Fu Rende warns that Yan Heqing has become extremely ruthless after conquering Eastern Wu, with disturbing rumors about his vengeance.
Despite uncertainty, Fu Rende promises to deliver the hairpin to Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing unexpectedly slips away from the imperial victory banquet and travels thousands of miles alone.
Back in Taoyuan Village, Xiao Yu'an pushes himself to recover faster so he can reunite with Yan Heqing.
One day, a horse arrives at the village, and Yan Heqing appears—exhausted and desperate—to reunite with Xiao Yu'an.
The reunion is emotional and romantic; Xiao Yu'an confesses he misses Yan Heqing deeply and promises to give him his entire life and the next.
Yan Heqing responds emotionally, and they kiss passionately, finally back together after months of suffering.
That night, they share tender and flirtatious moments in bed. Xiao Yu'an teases Yan Heqing, trying to seduce him.
Zhang Changsong interrupts just in time with warnings about overexertion and the kidneys’ “vital essence.”
Zhang Changsong confirms Xiao Yu'an is recovering well but warns that permanent damage may remain in his legs.
Zhang Changsong also warns Yan Heqing that Xiao Yu'an is too weak for intimacy due to internal injuries.
Yan Heqing agrees and promises to take care of Xiao Yu'an.
Xiao Yu'an attempts to use charm on Yan Heqing again, but Yan Heqing resists, leaving Xiao Yu'an puzzled and defeated.
Xie Chungui, oblivious to everything, meets Yan Heqing and innocently questions his identity.
Madam Sanyi refers to Yan Heqing as “Yan-gege,” but Yan Heqing rejects the name, stating it would dishonor him—hinting at guilt or unworthiness regarding Xie Chungui.
Chapter 25Xiao Yuan is restless at night while Yan Heqing sleeps peacefully.
Xiao Yuan suspects Yan Heqing is planning a secret night mission but ends up falling asleep himself.
On the second night, Xiao Yuan is frustrated and confronts Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing explains they can’t be intimate because Xiao Yuan’s body isn’t fully recovered.
Xiao Yuan playfully protests, but eventually, Yan Heqing agrees to sleep beside him.
Xiao Yuan asks Yan Heqing if he thought he was dead; Yan Heqing says he never believed it because he couldn’t find Xiao Yuan’s body.
The next morning, an intimate scene unfolds when Xiao Yuan has a physiological reaction and Yan Heqing helps him "deal with it."
A detailed and sensual encounter takes place between them, marking their physical consummation.
After two weeks of recovery, Xiao Yuan is allowed out of bed and meets Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue, who had visited a nearby temple.
Xiao Yuan decides to take Yan Heqing on a “date” to the temple, referencing customs from his past life.
At the temple, they meet a little monk, whom Xiao Yuan teases by changing the words to a chant.
They pray before a golden Buddha, and Xiao Yuan jokes about his inner wishes.
On the return trip, Yan Heqing carries Xiao Yuan on his back.
Xiao Yuan teases and kisses Yan Heqing, reflecting on how their relationship has grown.
They sit under the stars and talk about traditions from Xiao Yuan's past life.
Yan Heqing confesses he wants to marry Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan responds with affection and whimsical requests (diamond ring, fish pond, etc.), eventually saying the most important requirement for marriage is to stay together forever.
Xiao Yuan teaches Yan Heqing how to say “I love you” in French and composes heartfelt, poetic confessions.
They return to the manor where Madam Ma sees them, assumes they were being intimate, and loudly teases them.
Yan Heqing receives a letter from Xue Yan, but chooses not to read it, knowing it's likely about returning to rule.
Xiao Yuan urges Yan Heqing not to abandon his duty to the empire for a peaceful life in seclusion.
Despite the stigma Xiao Yuan would face, he says he wants to stand beside Yan Heqing as he builds a great empire.
Yan Heqing is deeply moved and agrees to return with Xiao Yuan at his side.
Yang Liu’an expresses concern about public opinion, but ultimately supports Xiao Yuan’s decision.
Xiao Yuan reassures Yang Liu’an and Xiao Fengyue, declaring they will always be confidants.
Preparations begin for the journey back. Yan Heqing confirms with Zhang Changsong that Xiao Yuan is fit to travel.
Zhang Baizhu says farewell and is amused by Xiao Yuan’s suggestion to name a future child Zhang Zhongjing.
Xiao Yuan learns that Bao Yinxin and the other soldiers who rescued him have escaped and settled nearby.
Yan Heqing informs Xiao Yuan that Southern Yan’s palace is built where the Northern Empire’s once stood.
Xiao Yuan assures Yan Heqing that sad memories can be replaced with kisses.
As they prepare to kiss, Xie Chungui interrupts them and asks to speak with Xiao Yuan alone.
Xie Chungui reveals a desire to return north to see the land of the Northern Empire once more.
Xiao Yuan reflects on Xie Chungui’s past heroism and agrees to take him along.
How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 3
(Chapter)
(Chapter Summary)
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Don't You Like Me?
Don't You Like Me
Chapter 1Lin 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.
Chapter 2Lin 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.
Chapter 3Lin 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.
Chapter 4Lin 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.
Chapter 5Gu 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.
Chapter 6Lin 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.
Chapter 7Lin 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.
Chapter 8Lin 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.
Chapter 9The 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.
Chapter 10Gu 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.
Chapter 11Midterm 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.
Chapter 12Lin 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.
Chapter 13Lin 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.
Chapter 14Lin 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.
Chapter 15Lin 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.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Don't You Like Me?
Don't You Like Me
Chapter 16Gu Kaifeng’s parents promise him an all-expenses-paid trip if he ranks in the top thirty of his year
Gu Kaifeng shares this with Lin Feiran and proposes they travel together during winter break
Lin Feiran agrees, planning to ask his parents and worried whether Gu Kaifeng’s parents would mind
Gu Kaifeng reassures him, saying his parents like Lin Feiran and would prefer him not to travel alone
They consider destinations, debating between northern snow activities and southern beaches
Lin Feiran secretly chooses the beach, partly because he wants to see Gu Kaifeng in swimwear
Gu Kaifeng teases him about swimming, offering to “teach” him freestyle
Their flirting leads to playful wrestling and intimacy in the dorm
Both study diligently for finals, motivated by the reward of a trip together
Lin Feiran jokes about cheating with the help of ghosts but quickly dismisses the thought
Lin Feiran borrows Gu Kaifeng’s clothes for “good luck,” claiming they are blessed with yang energy
Gu Kaifeng gets aroused and teases Lin Feiran about seducing him to outperform him in exams
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng joke about exchanging underwear for test luck
Lin Feiran performs well, improving his scores and ranking 24th; Gu Kaifeng ranks 29th, just making the cut
Wang Zhuo and He Hao also qualify to go south, while other friends must attend supplementary classes
The four plan a five-day trip before returning home for Spring Festival
Lin Feiran prepares for the “Sharing Yin” ritual, gathering materials from traditional shops
He books a hotel near Gu Kaifeng’s house to perform the ritual privately
Lin Feiran nervously asks Gu Kaifeng if he fears ghosts; Gu Kaifeng insists he wouldn’t be afraid if they aren’t dangerous
They check into a sensual hotel room with a mirrored ceiling, making Lin Feiran embarrassed
They engage in increasingly intimate acts, exchanging bodily fluids as part of the ritual requirements
Lin Feiran pricks his finger for blood and convinces Gu Kaifeng to do the same
He draws mystical symbols on both their chests, completing the “Sharing Yin” spell
Lin Feiran feels cold yin energy leaving him, replaced by Gu Kaifeng’s yang warmth, reaching equilibrium
Gu Kaifeng gains the Yin-yang Eye and immediately sees a headless ghost in the hotel room
Terrified but protective, Gu Kaifeng shields Lin Feiran and even attacks the ghost with a phone and slipper
The ghost flees in fear, leaving Lin Feiran proud that a ghost was scared of his boyfriend
Lin Feiran explains the hereditary nature of the Yin-yang Eye, revealing his grandfather passed it to him when he died
He admits he could never speak of it before, as the secret was bound by supernatural restrictions
Lin Feiran confesses he initially approached Gu Kaifeng to absorb his strong yang energy and suppress ghost visions
Gu Kaifeng is embarrassed and upset but reassures Lin Feiran he won’t break up with him
Their conversation deepens their relationship, but Gu Kaifeng demands Lin Feiran “make it up” to him for the deception
They engage in further intimacy, with Lin Feiran shyly submitting and Gu Kaifeng teasing him
Lin Feiran worries ghosts might watch them during sex, asking Gu Kaifeng to close his eyes to sever the Yin connection temporarily
They continue their physical relationship, with Gu Kaifeng teasing, touching, and pleasuring Lin Feiran while Lin Feiran grows increasingly eager to please
The chapter closes with their intimacy deepening and Gu Kaifeng feeling grateful even for earlier moments of embarrassment, satisfied with Lin Feiran’s love and devotion
Chapter 17Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran freshen up after an intimate morning and decide to head home for lunch.
Gu Kaifeng casually links arms with Lin Feiran while walking, claiming the road is slippery.
Gu Kaifeng asks if his house is haunted like the school and hotel; Lin Feiran reveals there are many ghosts—mostly Gu Kaifeng's ancestors.
Lin Feiran says there might be about ten generations of Gu ancestors lingering in the house, including Gu Kaifeng's grandfather.
Gu Kaifeng is horrified to learn his ancestors have been watching everything, especially their intimate moments.
Lin Feiran explains Gu ancestors blame him for the family line ending and avoid using his Yin-yang Eye at their house.
Gu Kaifeng decides he wants to confront the ancestors and understand why they haven’t reincarnated.
Lin Feiran shows Gu Kaifeng how to activate his Yin-yang Eye using his grandfather’s notebook and the "Sharing Yin" ritual.
Gu Kaifeng activates his Yin-yang Eye and is immediately confronted by ten generations of angry male Gu ancestors.
The ancestors scold and try to “punish” Gu Kaifeng for being gay and not continuing the family line.
Gu Kaifeng tries to explain that he was born this way and plans to marry Lin Feiran abroad.
The ancestors ignore his pleas, chase him around the house while trying to hit him with ghost hands.
Gu Kaifeng eventually deactivates his Yin-yang Eye to escape and warms himself by snuggling with Lin Feiran.
Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran behind the curtains despite just being haunted, showing strong emotional resilience.
Ms Zhang announces lunch and leaves the house, seemingly aware of their intimacy.
At lunch, Gu Kaifeng claims he wasn’t scared, just startled, and complains his ancestors won’t listen to reason.
He notices all ancestor ghosts are male and wonders why no female ancestors appeared.
Lin Feiran shares his experiences helping ghosts, which touches Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng pieces together all Lin Feiran's strange past actions and realizes how kind and selfless he is.
Gu Kaifeng praises Lin Feiran and says he’s in love even more than before; they reaffirm their love for each other.
The next day, the group shops for their trip to Haixi; Lin Feiran mischievously books two couple’s suites instead of a standard room.
Wang Zhuo and He Hao are revealed to have a suspiciously couple-like dynamic.
In Haixi, Lin Feiran confirms the hotel is ghost-free using his Yin-yang Eye and relaxes with Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng plans a hike and beach day; they set out early while Wang Zhuo oversleeps.
Lin Feiran reads a tragic legend from a guidebook about a woman who loved a monk and became a Bodhi tree.
Gu Kaifeng is more interested in the glass skywalk and insists he’s not scared of heights.
At the skywalk, Gu Kaifeng tries to act tough but clearly panics and clings to the rock wall, revealing he is terrified of heights.
Lin Feiran offers to guide him, joking about "heatstroke" to save his pride.
Lin Feiran challenges Gu Kaifeng to activate his Yin-yang Eye to see if ghosts are there.
They both activate their powers and are stunned by the overwhelming number of ghosts heading to the temple.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran deactivate their Yin-yang Eyes quickly, realizing the ghosts aren’t dangerous but are everywhere.
Gu Kaifeng clings to Lin Feiran, and with his help, nervously completes the skywalk.
Afterward, Gu Kaifeng regains his swagger and flirts shamelessly, pretending he wasn’t scared.
Lin Feiran helps several other frozen tourists cross the skywalk, becoming a "Skywalk Knight."
Gu Kaifeng receives a funny WeChat post from Wang Zhuo being spoon-fed by He Hao, reinforcing the couple suspicion.
They reach the mountain temple, where Lin Feiran prays sincerely and wishes for world peace.
Gu Kaifeng jokingly wishes only for Lin Feiran, saying Buddha can handle just that.
In the serene backyard, they visit the ancient Bodhi tree surrounded by glowing spiritual energy.
Lin Feiran suggests checking if the ghosts made it up the mountain and wants to see how temples transcend spirits.
Gu Kaifeng agrees, and they both activate their Yin-yang Eyes again.
The entire temple glows with divine warmth, and even violent-looking ghosts become peaceful in its light.
They spot a beautiful monk ghost sitting under the Bodhi tree, seemingly the same Master Chengguan from the legend.
Chapter 18Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng encounter the ghost of a monk who appears lifelike and elegant, unlike any ghost Lin Feiran has seen before.
Gu Kaifeng squeezes Lin Feiran’s hand to stop him from getting too dazzled by the monk’s appearance.
The ghost monk, Master Chengguan, is helping spirits move on with remarkable efficiency, almost one per minute.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng are amazed watching the monk's spiritual rites.
Master Chengguan notices them and silently acknowledges their presence.
Lin Feiran respectfully greets him and introduces himself as someone with the Yin-yang Eye.
Master Chengguan responds that he possesses the Eye of Wisdom and already knows about Lin Feiran's past spiritual deeds.
Lin Feiran identifies him as Master Chengguan, a legendary figure mentioned in guidebooks.
Chengguan confirms he is indeed that monk and hasn’t spoken to a living person in over a hundred years.
Chengguan shows the Bodhi tree and reveals it’s the reincarnation of a woman he loved who died because of him.
Chengguan asks Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng to retrieve Chinese hibiscus flowers from the western slope, her favorite.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng go to fetch the flowers, sharing playful and affectionate moments along the way.
They dig up two hibiscus plants instead of picking them to replant them beside the Bodhi tree.
Upon returning, they discreetly plant the flowers under the tree while Chengguan continues performing rites.
Chengguan thanks them and makes another request—to speak to the tree and convey his feelings to her, since she cannot see his spirit.
Chengguan reveals he’s been performing rites under the tree for three centuries.
Lin Feiran solemnly tells the tree that Chengguan has stayed with her since her reincarnation.
As a gesture of affection, Lin Feiran cheekily adds that Chengguan silently admitted he cares for her.
A breeze stirs the leaves, and one brushes against Chengguan’s cheek, symbolizing her acknowledgment.
Chengguan is moved and thanks them again, vowing to remain at the temple until all ghosts transcend.
Chengguan blesses Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng’s relationship, revealing their bond was forged through hardships in past lives.
Chengguan grants Lin Feiran a golden mark on his right hand that allows him to physically touch spirits.
Chengguan predicts they will encounter a young beggar in blue who truly needs help.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng later find the young beggar and offer him food and supplies, believing he may be important.
The story transitions to the beach, where Gu Kaifeng teaches Lin Feiran how to swim freestyle.
Their swimming lesson turns flirtatious, with teasing and underwater kisses.
Wang Zhuo and He Hao have a humorous moment where Wang Zhuo accuses He Hao of pinching his butt during a swimming lesson.
Lin Feiran returns home for the Spring Festival, collects many red envelopes, and misses Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran a bag of worn clothes to help him absorb yang energy and teases him about other sources of yang.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng exchange playful and embarrassing banter about using each other's clothes.
Lin Feiran’s parents announce a surprise visit to Gu Kaifeng’s home to thank him.
Lin Feiran panics, dresses up, and texts Gu Kaifeng to prepare.
Gu Kaifeng’s parents may have guessed the nature of their relationship, showing subtle support.
The two boys sneak into Gu Kaifeng’s room, share an intimate moment, and later go to the study.
Gu Kaifeng shows Lin Feiran their family heirloom sword, which emits purple-black energy visible through the Yin-yang Eye.
Gu Kaifeng reveals the sword is cursed with dark energy from generations of use in battle and is protected by their ancestors’ spirits.
The ancestors refuse to reincarnate because of the sword’s curse.
Gu Kaifeng jokes that once their family line ends (since he and Lin Feiran won’t have children), the ancestors will have no choice but to reincarnate.
During the Lantern Festival, Gu Kaifeng takes Lin Feiran out to set off fireworks in a snowy field.
They light fireworks, hug, and have a heartfelt conversation about their early relationship tension.
Lin Feiran confesses he was envious of Gu Kaifeng and felt inferior, which made him act cold and combative.
Gu Kaifeng reassures him and shares that love makes him see Lin Feiran as the best at everything.
They kiss under the snowy sky as fireworks light up around them, reaffirming their bond and commitment.
Lin Feiran thinks about how far they’ve come and looks forward to their shared future.
Extra: Drama QueenWang Zhuo, sleep-deprived from gaming, leans on He Hao during the school's opening ceremony.
Lin Feiran ogles Gu Kaifeng in uniform, overwhelmed by his appearance after a long break apart.
Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran staring and teases him, leading girls to notice their chemistry.
Lin Feiran encounters the female ghost from the arts festival backstage; she's playful and dramatic, no longer scary.
Gu Kaifeng enters and joins Lin Feiran in teasing the ghost, who mimics both of them exaggeratedly.
Lin Feiran discovers the ghost isn't a human spirit but an awakened opera costume once worn by Shen Fengsheng, a famous Beijing Opera performer.
Lin Feiran nicknames her Drama Queen due to her personality.
Drama Queen reveals she gained consciousness from Shen Fengsheng’s spiritual energy and was eventually discarded, ending up in the school's storeroom.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng agree to retrieve, clean, and care for Drama Queen’s physical form.
They retrieve her moldy costume from the prop room and bring it to the dorm, refusing her request to be carried like a princess.
Lin Feiran insists on washing her by hand rather than letting Gu Kaifeng do it, revealing his jealousy even toward a sentient piece of clothing.
Drama Queen proves extremely high-maintenance during the cleaning, giving detailed instructions and being emotionally dramatic.
Lin Feiran hangs the costume in the dorm; Drama Queen enjoys the attention and becomes a temporary resident.
Her presence results in the dorm supervisor being frightened and deducting points due to the creepy appearance of the costume and opera music playing.
Lin Feiran blames Gu Kaifeng, who shamelessly takes responsibility, flirting all the while.
They kiss and flirt excessively; Drama Queen is overwhelmed and sarcastically complains.
Drama Queen requests one final favor: to be returned to Shen Fengsheng’s former residence in Anxi.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng agree and plan a trip over the Labor Day break, pretending it’s for sightseeing.
On the train, Drama Queen performs Murder on the Orient Express by herself while Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng ignore her.
They arrive in Anxi and visit Shen Fengsheng’s residence after checking in at the hotel.
Drama Queen becomes nervous at the entrance, acting shy and emotional, but eventually enters with them.
Shen Fengsheng’s presence is revealed in the backyard, singing under Phoenix trees.
Drama Queen runs to him; as she approaches, her ghostly body disappears and transforms back into the costume.
The costume gently falls onto Shen Fengsheng, who rejuvenates into his youthful self and begins to sing.
Shen Fengsheng is lost in his performance, not acknowledging Lin Feiran or Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng sit under a Phoenix tree and quietly watch, sharing a peaceful, intimate moment.
They donate the costume to the museum as originally planned, ensuring Drama Queen remains with her master.
They enjoy their trip with food, sightseeing, shopping, and playful studying.
A week later, they receive an honorary donation certificate from the museum.
Gu Kaifeng jokes that it looks like a marriage certificate, which makes Lin Feiran subtly emotional.
Gu Kaifeng comforts Lin Feiran and promises they’ll marry abroad after college.
Lin Feiran shyly reveals he’s already looked at tuxedo designs, and Gu Kaifeng carries him to his room for more “discussion.”
Meanwhile, back at the residence, Shen Fengsheng continues singing under blooming Phoenix trees, reunited at last with his beloved costume.
Extra: The Piano’s SecretLin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng enjoy a romantic moment on the school rooftop as summer begins.
Lin Feiran suggests visiting the auditorium storeroom to investigate the ghost haunting the piano.
Gu Kaifeng has the storeroom key and agrees to go after study hall.
Lin Feiran recalls seeing the ghost during the arts festival; he was too frightened to approach back then.
The ghost is described as half-submerged in the piano, with mutilated hands and blood dripping onto the keys.
Lin Feiran approaches and tries to speak to the ghost; it responds only by repeating the name “Ji Xuan.”
Gu Kaifeng recalls the Ji Family Mansion, an old haunted house linked to the Ji family name.
Mention of the mansion triggers a violent reaction from the ghost, confirming a connection.
They decide to investigate the mansion that weekend.
Flashback reveals the ghost’s tragic death: he was a pianist named He Jingyun, falsely accused of seducing Ji Xuan.
He Jingyun was beaten, had his hands crushed, received a wedding invitation from Ji Xuan’s family, and ultimately hanged himself at the piano in despair.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran explore the Ji Family Mansion, encountering various wandering, resentful ghosts.
They discover a ghost in the basement playing the piano poorly—this turns out to be Ji Xuan.
Ji Xuan is revealed to be a powerful malicious ghost who died in red at an auspicious time, making him stronger than average.
Lin Feiran identifies the piece Ji Xuan is trying to play: "A Poem for Ji Xuan," likely written by He Jingyun.
Lin Feiran offers to play the piece and does so repeatedly, slowly restoring Ji Xuan’s sanity and memories.
Ji Xuan becomes emotional and regains full awareness, recognizing Lin Feiran is not He Jingyun.
Ji Xuan agrees to follow them back to the school to reunite with He Jingyun.
On the way out, Ji Xuan kills and revives one of the ghosts in an endless loop, revealing his past actions as a vengeful ghost.
Ji Xuan admits to killing the mansion’s staff in revenge but not his parents, who died from depression.
They bring Ji Xuan to the auditorium storeroom, where he sees He Jingyun’s grotesque ghostly form.
Ji Xuan breaks down in grief, reassures He Jingyun he never betrayed him, and explains he was imprisoned by his father.
Ji Xuan reveals he slit his own throat the night before the forced wedding, still wearing his wedding clothes to die.
He Jingyun slowly regains clarity and returns to his original appearance as Ji Xuan kisses each of his fingers back to normal.
Both ghosts are fully restored in appearance, finally reconciled.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng give the couple privacy to reunite.
Outside, the boys share a tender moment, reflecting on their own love and the past lives they might have shared.
Ji Xuan and He Jingyun thank them and express intent not to reincarnate, but to stay together in the mortal world.
Lin Feiran suggests a wedding ceremony; both ghosts are visibly excited.
Over the week, Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng prepare a wedding chamber in their dorm room with decorations and offerings.
Lin Feiran performs a ritual to deliver the groom’s outfit to He Jingyun’s ghost.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran playfully during preparations; they exchange romantic and suggestive banter.
He Jingyun receives the outfit and dresses up for the wedding; Ji Xuan remains in his original wedding robes.
The ghosts hold a traditional Chinese wedding in the dorm room, starting with “First bow to Heaven and Earth.”
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng leave them in privacy, with Ji Xuan planning to take He Jingyun on a world tour as ghostly spouses.
Extra: Wang TiantianWang Zhuo lounges shirtless in the dorm, flirting unknowingly with He Hao, who is secretly attracted to him.
He Hao scolds Wang Zhuo for stripping and pushes him to focus on homework.
Wang Zhuo coaxes He Hao into getting him ice cream by promising a massage.
He Hao relents and fetches three ice creams despite warning about stomach issues.
They share a teasing moment where He Hao brushes ice cream on Wang Zhuo’s lips flirtatiously.
Wang Zhuo finishes homework and gives He Hao a massage, while getting curious about the horror novel He Hao is reading.
The novel inspires them to try the “Spirit of the Pen” summoning game.
As they play, the pen starts moving on its own, seemingly answering questions.
Wang Zhuo jokingly asks if He Hao has a crush, and the pen spells “Wang” before getting interrupted.
Lin Feiran walks in, sees them playing, and hears the spirit spell “Wang”.
He Hao jokingly admits he likes Wang Zhuo, but plays it off when questioned.
The next morning, Wang Zhuo has a fever and a stomach ache from too much ice cream.
He Hao cares for him tenderly, bringing food and medicine, and allows him to nap in his lower bunk.
Wang Zhuo reads the horror novel, but soon feels unnaturally cold and hears a baby crying.
He experiences an intense supernatural event: unable to move, hears ghostly laughter, and the word "Dada" whispered.
He passes out from fear and sickness.
Lin Feiran sees Wang Zhuo’s spirit in class, assuming he’s died.
Lin Feiran drags Wang Zhuo's soul back to his body in the dorm using spiritual abilities.
When Wang Zhuo wakes, he behaves like a literal baby, crying, calling He Hao "Dada", and acting childlike.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran realize a baby ghost has possessed Wang Zhuo due to a perfect storm of factors.
He Hao comforts and nurtures “Baby Wang Zhuo,” buying milk and cradling him despite emotional chaos.
The possession leads to absurd and awkward scenes: Wang Zhuo tearing books, crying for milk, and misbehaving like a toddler.
He Hao handles everything patiently, showing deeper affection and care.
Wang Zhuo wakes up briefly, horrified to learn it wasn’t a dream and realizes he acted like a baby.
The ghost disappears temporarily, but the group warns it might return if its desires aren’t met.
To ensure the spirit is satisfied, Wang Zhuo and He Hao go to Mount Lingyun Temple for help, but no monks believe them.
Assuming the ghost may just want to “experience life,” Wang Zhuo mock-offers spicy food to the ghost.
They think the ghost has left—until Wang Zhuo sees a child with a balloon and cotton candy and gets emotional again.
He Hao indulges him, buying him the balloon, candy, and taking him to the Ferris wheel.
The ghost possesses Wang Zhuo again; he acts like a baby, holding He Hao’s hand, drooling, and giggling.
He Hao relishes the intimate moments but realizes Wang Zhuo might actually be back in control during the ride.
When the ride ends, Wang Zhuo pulls away and panics, embarrassed by the public baby act.
He tries to pretend he was possessed the whole time, suggesting they do something else.
He Hao isn’t convinced and suspects Wang Zhuo was partly aware, especially because of how red his face was.
The story ends with tension and uncertainty about who was in control and what either of them really feels.
Extra: National College Entrance ExamLin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng prepare for the National College Entrance Exam after a year of intense study, aiming to attend the same university.
They visit the test center during their pre-exam break and meet a ghost.
Lin Feiran strikes a deal with the ghost to help them during the exam in exchange for fulfilling the ghost's simple wishes.
Gu Kaifeng confidently tells the ghost they are top students and only want to keep their scores close, not cheat unfairly.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng reflect on past decisions to not cheat and how they ultimately chose to study honestly.
Lin Feiran fulfills the ghost’s requests, including fried chicken and Detective Conan manga.
During the Language Arts exam, Gu Kaifeng instructs the ghost to pass his essay outline to Lin Feiran, while the ghost also whispers answers to multiple-choice questions.
The exams pass successfully, and Lin Feiran is confident they both made it into the same university.
After the exam, Lin Feiran runs into Gu Kaifeng's open arms and they hug emotionally, unnoticed by the crowd.
The school prepares for graduation; chaos and celebration erupt among students.
Lin Feiran packs up calmly, cherishing his memories and taking photos of the classroom and Gu Kaifeng's final bulletin on the board.
Gu Kaifeng fulfills a past promise by kissing Lin Feiran on the classroom podium.
The two meet up with friends Wang Zhuo and He Hao and agree to play basketball.
Wang Zhuo had worked his way up academically, largely thanks to He Hao's strict support.
After basketball, the boys buy beers and sneak them onto the dormitory rooftop to celebrate.
They drink, joke, play music, and sing under the stars; tears and laughter mingle as emotions run high.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran cuddle while talking about their future and promises to stay together.
As dawn breaks, they return for graduation.
The graduation ceremony is filled with joy, goodbyes, confessions, and photo sessions.
Gu Kaifeng openly embraces Lin Feiran, displaying their closeness now that school is over.
Students gradually leave; Lin Feiran rides home in Gu Kaifeng’s family car.
Lin Feiran waves at Principal Jiang, who nods approvingly until Gu Kaifeng leans on Lin Feiran, causing Jiang’s expression to darken.
Three days later, Lin Feiran visits Gu Kaifeng’s luxurious basement, filled with games and memorabilia.
While gaming, Gu Kaifeng dominates the matches, frustrating Lin Feiran who sneakily kisses him to distract and win.
Their playful moment turns intimate and leads to their first sexual experience together.
Despite nervousness and inexperience, they express their love through a clumsy but affectionate encounter.
Lin Feiran reassures Gu Kaifeng that he wants more and consents fully, asking to continue.
Gu Kaifeng suggests Lin Feiran take the lead to avoid pain, but Lin Feiran insists he prefers Gu Kaifeng dominant.
Overcome by desire, Gu Kaifeng gives in and they make love again.
Extra: The Later ChaptersLin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng both get into the University of Songzhou with only ten points apart in their scores.
They choose the same major to continue studying and living together like in high school.
University of Songzhou is prestigious and only two hours away from their hometown.
Lin Feiran is thrilled by their shared future, while Gu Kaifeng teases him affectionately, calling him "little sticky rice cake."
Wang Zhuo and He Hao also get into the same university but deliberately choose different majors due to Wang Zhuo’s need to escape He Hao’s overbearing tutoring.
During the summer before university, Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng spend their time traveling and being intimate with each other.
Upon arrival at university, they’re placed in different classes and dorms but rent an off-campus flat together.
They endure harsh military training in the mountains, with poor living conditions, extreme heat, mutant mosquitoes, and freezing cold water for showers.
Lin Feiran gives Gu Kaifeng a fan, shares chocolate during training, and tricks him with sweet but innocent gestures that drive Gu Kaifeng mad with longing.
They suffer together through military drills and fights over food in the canteen, where Gu Kaifeng ensures Lin Feiran gets meat by snatching it for him.
Lin Feiran warms up water in bottles by leaving them in the sun so they can bathe more comfortably.
After a late-night emergency drill, Gu Kaifeng pulls Lin Feiran into an empty dorm for a hidden make-out session.
The military training ends, and despite the misery, many students become emotional saying goodbye to the instructors.
Gu Kaifeng quickly rents a flat across the campus, unwilling to let Lin Feiran continue sharing a dorm with other guys.
Lin Feiran practices calligraphy at their new home and has specially practiced writing Gu Kaifeng’s name neatly.
Gu Kaifeng interrupts his study, turning “brush calligraphy” into a sensual act by tracing characters on Lin Feiran’s skin with a wet brush.
Their two kittens, Green Bean Cake and Yun Pian Cake, curiously watch the steamy scene.
They adopted the kittens after moving in, and Lin Feiran showers them with love and toys.
Their cat tree arrives, and while Lin Feiran fetches food, Gu Kaifeng sets it up and reminisces about a high school promise to raise cats together.
Gu Kaifeng texts Lin Feiran, saying he misses him, prompting Lin Feiran to run home, kiss him at the door, and excitedly unpack their food.
Extra: Little Sticky Rice Cake (Rosmei Exclusive)Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran walk through a night market after Lin Feiran finishes studying.
A recent car crash involving a malicious driver had occurred there days before; no one died, but there were injuries.
Lin Feiran spots a ghostly, injured guide dog in the middle of the road, clearly the spirit of a dog that died in the crash.
The guide dog is confused and trapped, reliving the moment of its death, showing signs of being an earthbound spirit.
Lin Feiran, using spiritual powers inherited from his grandfather, grabs the dog's ghostly leash and guides it to safety.
Gu Kaifeng finds news footage showing the dog heroically saving its blind owner from the car, dying in the process.
Lin Feiran comforts the dog and uses a spell called Instant Offering to give it a spiritually edible lamb kebab.
They decide to find the dog's owner, who turns out to be a blind woman named Lin Jing, now recovering in the hospital.
They visit Lin Jing with the guide dog, who is overjoyed to see her and lays beside her, confused why she won’t respond.
Lin Feiran realizes that emotional attachment between the dog and its owner is preventing the dog's soul from moving on.
Gu Kaifeng suggests dream visitation, allowing spirits to meet living people in dreams for proper farewells.
Lin Feiran casts a spell using cigarettes as incense to create a path for the guide dog to reach Lin Jing in her dream.
The dog follows the smoke trail and vanishes, presumably to enter Lin Jing’s dream.
The next day, Lin Feiran sees no trace of the dog, hoping it has moved on.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng return to campus and study late for finals.
That night, Lin Feiran dreams vividly of Lin Jing joyfully reunited with her guide dog in a field where she can see it clearly.
Lin Jing and the dog play joyfully in the dream until the dog leaves toward a warm light, symbolizing its reincarnation.
Lin Feiran wakes up with a tear-soaked pillow.
Gu Kaifeng jokes that Lin Feiran drooled; Lin Feiran angrily corrects him and launches a pillow fight.
The story ends on a warm, humorous note as Gu Kaifeng and the "little sticky rice cake" (Lin Feiran) mess around.
Extra: AlwaysLin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng rush back to the dorms after skipping the inspection and joke with each other along the way.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran about exhausting him the previous night and makes Lin Feiran blush with indirect sexual remarks.
They separate before entering their dorm buildings to avoid being caught, and Lin Feiran returns to his original dorm temporarily.
When Lin Feiran enters, he sees a female ghost with severe injuries on her body floating silently in the room.
Lin Feiran’s roommates Jiang Chen and the others return without noticing the ghost, who floats behind Jiang Chen and observes him lovingly.
Lin Feiran hides behind the wardrobe while changing clothes, embarrassed about undressing in front of a female ghost.
He analyzes the ghost and determines she is not hostile, instead feeling warm and loving emotions toward Jiang Chen.
Lin Feiran concludes the ghost is Jiang Chen’s mother, and that she has been quietly watching over her son.
Gu Kaifeng sneaks into Lin Feiran’s dorm room later that night to give him a hand warmer and to check on him sweetly.
Lin Feiran’s roommates joke and tease him after seeing the clear affection between Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng.
Late at night, the ghost notices Lin Feiran can see her and finally speaks to him.
She confirms she is Jiang Chen’s mother and shares how she died in a car accident when Jiang Chen was nine years old.
She explains she once miraculously saved Jiang Chen’s father from suicide by temporarily becoming visible and physically strong due to love.
Lin Feiran warns her that using too much strength as a ghost can lead to corruption and eventual madness.
Jiang Chen’s mother asks Lin Feiran to pass on a message to Jiang Chen without revealing her identity.
The next day, Lin Feiran speaks to Jiang Chen and gives him advice in the same way his mother would, which weirds Jiang Chen out.
Lin Feiran passes on all the messages, and Jiang Chen feels unsettled but comforted.
Jiang Chen’s mother is satisfied and slowly disappears, knowing her son is well and no longer needing to stay.
Extra: The Piano TeacherLin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng are dating, and their families have accepted the relationship, but the Gu family’s ancestral ghosts disapprove due to their traditional desire for descendants.
During a visit to Gu Kaifeng’s house, Lin Feiran accidentally activates his Yin-yang Eye and is interrogated by the ancestral ghosts about not bearing children, leading to an embarrassing moment.
To avoid further awkward encounters, Lin Feiran begins avoiding visits to Gu Kaifeng’s home, and Gu Kaifeng adapts by staying over at Lin Feiran’s place instead.
During summer break, Lin Feiran’s father leaves on a three-day trip, giving Gu Kaifeng the opportunity to spend time alone with Lin Feiran.
A heatwave prevents outdoor activities, so Lin Feiran suggests playing piano, where his elegant posture and demeanour captivate Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng pretends to want piano lessons but is clearly more interested in Lin Feiran than the music.
While teaching him, Lin Feiran notices Gu Kaifeng’s real intentions, but plays along until Gu Kaifeng kisses his hand and flirts more boldly.
What begins as a playful lesson turns into an erotic roleplay, where Gu Kaifeng pretends to be a student seducing his “piano teacher.”
The encounter escalates as Gu Kaifeng undresses Lin Feiran and performs oral sex on him, teasing him with dirty talk and roleplay.
Gu Kaifeng continues to stimulate Lin Feiran, leading to intense foreplay involving licking and teasing his entrance, pushing Lin Feiran to admit he's enjoying it.
Lin Feiran is deeply embarrassed but aroused, and Gu Kaifeng eventually penetrates him on the piano, starting an intense sex scene full of moaning, piano key clashes, and physical domination.
Gu Kaifeng’s relentless thrusting leaves Lin Feiran overwhelmed, leading to an orgasm that leaves both of them breathless.
After the climax, Gu Kaifeng pulls out, and fluids spill onto the old, sentimental piano, causing Lin Feiran to feel guilty and suggest moving to the bedroom.
In the bedroom, Lin Feiran reveals he intentionally used bright red sheets, recalling an offhand comment Gu Kaifeng once made about testing his fair skin.
Touched by the gesture, Gu Kaifeng praises Lin Feiran, then proceeds to make love to him again, this time more gently and tenderly.
The second round focuses on emotional intimacy, mutual satisfaction, and the deep bond between the two, ending with both reaching climax in a slow, passionate embrace.
Extra: Back to High SchoolGu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran return to their old high school at midnight to help a ghost pass on.
The ghost is a former top student who had died by hanging and now thanks Lin Feiran before peacefully moving on.
Lin Feiran had been unable to help the ghost during high school but now returns occasionally from university to assist lingering spirits.
After completing their mission, Lin Feiran invites Gu Kaifeng to go home and take a bath together, teasing him flirtatiously.
Gu Kaifeng responds with heavy innuendo, implying he wants something more physical immediately.
Lin Feiran is embarrassed but reacts with playful resistance, although clearly aroused.
Gu Kaifeng escalates the teasing and seduction, pressing Lin Feiran’s hand against his erection and continuing to flirt shamelessly.
Despite being in a classroom, the two give in to temptation and begin kissing and touching each other.
The scene becomes increasingly intimate, with Gu Kaifeng stripping Lin Feiran and stimulating him.
Lin Feiran returns the favor, stroking Gu Kaifeng’s arousal as they continue their passionate encounter.
Gu Kaifeng expresses his desire to have sex right there, overwhelmed by nostalgia and long-held fantasies.
Lin Feiran is hesitant due to the setting but ultimately gives in, blaming Gu Kaifeng for the situation.
Gu Kaifeng fingers Lin Feiran using saliva as lubrication and then gradually penetrates him.
They have intense, passionate sex on the classroom desks, both fully immersed in the moment.
Gu Kaifeng controls the rhythm and thrusts deeply, hitting all of Lin Feiran’s sensitive spots.
Lin Feiran tries to maintain some modesty and protect their sneakers, but Gu Kaifeng is more focused on the sex.
Lin Feiran climaxes first, releasing semen that splatters on the classroom blackboard.
Gu Kaifeng continues thrusting and positions Lin Feiran bent over a desk, shielding his feet from the cold with his own shoes.
Lin Feiran, concerned about the sneakers, steps off them and continues to take the pounding over his fallen trousers.
Gu Kaifeng confesses he used to fantasize about doing this in class every day back in high school.
They climax together in a chaotic, intense finish, both physically and emotionally satisfied.
Afterwards, Gu Kaifeng carefully cleans Lin Feiran and redresses him, treating him with tenderness.
Gu Kaifeng wipes the semen from the blackboard and redraws the smudged characters in his handwriting.
The experience is described as a symbolic and unforgettable return to their shared past.
Chapter
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Nan Chan
Nan Chan, Vol. 1
01
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.
02
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.
03
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.
04
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.
05
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.
06
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.
07
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.
08
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?
09
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
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Nan Chan, Vol. 2
Chapter 13Cangji temporarily loses control of his body to Zuo Qingzhou while meeting a man called His Excellency Liu, whom he suspects to be Liu Chengde, a figure Chu Lun mentioned in letters.
Meanwhile, Jinglin, inhabiting Qianyu's body, observes the fox’s affection for Zuo Qingzhou, reflecting on how deeply Qianyu loved him.
Jinglin worries what Qianyu will become after Zuo Qingzhou’s death — love turning into vengeance.
As Qianyu and Zuo Qingzhou (still inhabited by Cangji) lie together, Cangji struggles against Zuo Qingzhou’s overpowering influence.
Cangji eventually blurts out a revelation: Liu Chengde killed Zuo Qingzhou.
The illusion begins to collapse, and Cangji and Jinglin try to make sense of the bell’s intent — realizing it forces them to actively participate, not just observe.
A new illusion starts: Cangji awakens as Zuo Qingzhou, chained in a torture chamber with a missing leg.
Zuo Qingzhou is being tortured for allegedly bribing and murdering the chief invigilator — the interrogators mention Liu Chengde has abandoned him.
Jinglin, still as Qianyu, is revealed bound in a cage, whipped, and gravely injured — accused of carrying out the murder under Zuo Qingzhou’s command.
Cangji, seeing Jinglin tortured, fights back against the illusion; his spiritual energy surges, breaking the illusionary realm.
In a heartbreaking moment, Zuo Qingzhou falsely confesses to the crimes to stop Qianyu from being whipped, whispering “I plead guilty” until death.
Qianyu, devastated, vows never to leave Zuo Qingzhou — promising to follow him into death and eternity.
As the illusion ends, Cangji and Jinglin emerge back in the capital, suspecting that the bell is leading them somewhere.
They return to Huashang’s inn seeking information about Qianyu and the white fox — Huashang reveals Qianyu has vanished.
Huashang confirms Qianyu is still in the capital, hiding from Wuying, who has orders to capture him. The Demarcation Bureau has blocked exits.
She reveals the strange politics: Qianyu is suspected of causing Zuo Qingzhou’s death; Wuying is being used by higher powers, and Qianyu’s fate is manipulated.
Jinglin and Cangji suspect a deity is behind everything, not just corrupt officials.
They reflect: Zuo Qingzhou was set up to die because his fate in the Register of Fate showed he'd expose corruption. Thus, the Register was tampered with.
Qianyu had the power to escape, but couldn’t — his spiritual energy was suppressed, possibly by divine manipulation.
The bell forced them to live through Zuo Qingzhou’s death to reveal he, not Qianyu, was the true subject of suffering.
Later, Xiyan tells them that Qianyu took Zuo Qingzhou’s writings and disappeared. Qianyu's tail is broken, and he doesn’t have long to live.
Huashang considers giving up one of her tails to help Qianyu forget Zuo Qingzhou, thinking it's the only way to help him move on.
Cangji vehemently disagrees, insisting that forgetting Zuo Qingzhou would be worse than death for Qianyu — a betrayal of his love.
Jinglin and Cangji argue about whether forgetting painful love is mercy or cruelty. Cangji believes love engraved in the heart can’t just be erased.
They encounter a dog spirit who confirms Qianyu might be nearby, and Cangji obtains info by making Jinglin promise not to erase Qianyu's memories.
Cangji pushes Jinglin to promise never to make Qianyu forget Zuo Qingzhou. Jinglin hesitates, understanding the emotional weight of the promise.
The chapter ends with tension, uncertainty, and a sense that larger divine forces are manipulating events in the mortal world.
Chapter 14Jinglin and Cangji argue about whether to interfere with Qianyu’s actions, eventually deciding to follow him.
Cangji guesses that Qianyu is at a brothel where he sensed books; Jinglin realizes Qianyu is likely trying to approach Liu Chengde.
They discuss Zuo Qingzhou, Chu Lun, and Liu Chengde’s history, suspecting Liu Chengde gained trust by leaking intel and that Chu Lun might not be trustworthy.
Jinglin reveals he investigated a similar case five hundred years ago that involved many immortals and deities.
Cangji suspects the case might involve Jinglin’s Supreme Father and reminisces on Jinglin’s youth.
They head to the brothel and blend in with courtesans and patrons, looking for Qianyu or Liu Chengde.
Inside the brothel, Cangji flirts and jokes with the courtesans, trying to get Jinglin’s attention, but Jinglin remains composed and aloof.
A performance begins, which is actually a virgin auction; Jinglin and Cangji continue searching amid the noise.
Cangji discovers scrolls with erotic artwork, embarrassing Jinglin and teasing him about his lack of sexual experience.
Qianyu is identified to be upstairs; they split up with Jinglin going up and Cangji staying on the ground floor.
Jinglin is mistaken for a courtesan and led into a room where Qianyu is disguised as a woman.
Jinglin confronts Qianyu about Zuo Qingzhou’s death and urges him to stop his revenge.
Qianyu refuses, overcome with grief and fury at Liu Chengde.
Liu Chengde enters; Jinglin hides the unconscious Qianyu and pretends to be the courtesan.
Liu Chengde orders Jinglin (in disguise) to be taken away; chaos erupts downstairs as Cangji battles a door guardian.
The brothel begins to collapse under spiritual combat; Jinglin is caught falling and saved by Cangji.
Liu Chengde escapes with Qianyu; Cangji consumes the hostile spirits and questions how Liu Chengde can control them.
Jinglin and Qianyu are delivered to a secret palace, where the emperor offers them as tributes to an unnamed demonic master.
The demon influences the emperor through manipulation and twisted flattery, urging him to collect and sacrifice beautiful men and women for power and youth.
Jinglin pretends to be unconscious, observing the gruesome reality: people are trafficked and treated as livestock.
The demon turns out to be someone imitating Jinglin’s past self, calling himself Jinglin and wielding Weeping Spring.
Jinglin faces an emotional and mental breakdown as illusions show him his past sins and betrayals—killing family, failing disciples, causing trauma.
The demon is revealed to be Taozhi, a former disciple Jinglin once killed for becoming corrupted and murderous.
Taozhi blames Jinglin for abandoning him and attempts to take his place by wielding a copy of Weeping Spring.
A vicious battle ensues; Jinglin is initially overpowered but manages to summon a fragment of his true sword through willpower and spiritual resonance.
Jinglin defeats Taozhi and shatters his fake sword.
Cangji finds Jinglin, tastes his blood, and embraces him, savoring the victory and emotional bond.
Taozhi, though weakened, escapes by turning into smoke after realizing Cangji’s true monstrous form hidden beneath his human body.
The emperor retreats in terror; the demonic influence in the palace begins to fade.
Jinglin and Cangji reunite, exhausted; Cangji jokes about eating Wuying, whom he defeated earlier.
Jinglin insists on finding Qianyu, who was left behind; they find him trapped and disguised as a woman due to Taozhi’s preferences.
Qianyu is revived and blames Chu Lun for Zuo Qingzhou’s death, claiming Chu Lun intentionally manipulated the Register of Fate.
The chapter ends as Qianyu begins to reveal the events that happened three years ago.
Chapter 15In the ninth year of Tianjia, Chu Lun failed the imperial exams again and met Liu Chengde during his travels, beginning a critical relationship.
Liu Chengde gained Zuo Qingzhou’s trust through Chu Lun and persuaded Zuo Qingzhou that the trafficking case’s core issue was the imperial court, not the traffickers.
Zuo Qingzhou formally became Liu Chengde's student, believing in his integrity, and communication between Zuo Qingzhou and Chu Lun was mediated through Liu Chengde from then on.
In the tenth year of Tianjia, Zuo Qingzhou’s family accused the Imperial Censor of negligence, resulting in their denunciation. Liu Chengde secretly supported them.
Liu Chengde later gave Chu Lun a special brush that could alter the Register of Fate, changing mortal destinies—originally belonging to Yining the Great Sage.
This act led to Zuo Qingzhou being framed and imprisoned, where he died under severe torture, deviating from his destined future of great political achievement and justice.
Qianyu realized too late that the brush was divine and held the power to tamper with fate; he blamed himself and vowed revenge on anyone involved.
Jinglin confronted Qianyu, delivering Zuo Qingzhou’s final message: “Can’t let go,” and told Qianyu to bury the body and wait at the Lijin Crossing for Zuo Qingzhou’s soul.
Jinglin admitted he tricked Qianyu with the message to stop him from self-destructing in his obsession with revenge.
Jinglin and Cangji deduced that Liu Chengde used the divine art of infusion—drawing objects with spiritual energy, and few in the Court of Immortality possessed such skill.
Suspicion grows that Liu Chengde was not acting alone and that someone in the Court of Immortality is behind the conspiracy.
Back at Chu Lun’s residence, Chu Lun was sick and cared for by Leyan, a brush spirit who changed Chu Lun’s fate out of love, which resulted in Zuo Qingzhou’s death.
Jinglin and Cangji confronted Leyan and Chu Lun, accusing them of being selfish and withholding truths, especially about how Chu Lun learned his fate.
Chu Lun revealed he was destined to die after offending the emperor at a banquet, but his fate was altered by Leyan, causing someone else to die in his place.
Jinglin pressed Chu Lun about who told him his fate, suspecting it wasn’t Liu Chengde but someone even more mysterious.
Just as Chu Lun was about to reveal the truth, Hui’an, a boundary keeper from the Court of Immortality, launched a surprise attack using the powerful Icebolt bow.
Cangji fought Hui’an in a fierce battle while trying to protect Jinglin, who used powerful talismans to counter the icy assault.
Hui’an accused Cangji of devouring Wuying, a god-to-be, and committing deicide, giving the Court a reason to hunt him.
Leyan shielded Chu Lun from the cold by turning into a brush, while Jinglin summoned powerful magic to block Hui’an’s arrows.
When Hui’an fired a second, homing arrow, it was intercepted midair by Huashang, a powerful nine-tailed fox, who arrived with Xiyan.
Huashang’s appearance forced Hui’an to back down. He implied this confrontation was part of a larger, more orchestrated plan and hinted at bigger forces involved.
Chapter 16Chu Lun checks on the brush spirit Leyan but receives no response, panics, and begs Jinglin to help.
Chu Lun confesses that he learned of the Register of Fate not from a deity but from a painting spirit.
Chu Lun describes an encounter with a painting of a man (presumed Dongjun) who prophesied his death and guided him to Liu Chengde, suggesting the brush would be the key to altering fate.
Cangji criticizes Chu Lun’s logic, questioning if it would have been okay to sacrifice another life for his own.
Cangji expresses cynicism over celestial laws and karma, arguing that lives are treated as disposable.
Jinglin subtly acknowledges that Cangji is developing compassion.
The duo discusses the possibility that Dongjun is being impersonated and used as a scapegoat due to his notorious, powerful, and aloof nature.
Suspicion arises over Hui'an’s true motives; Cangji believes Hui'an’s actions were staged, not meant to capture anyone.
Jinglin agrees that Hui'an’s presence without authorization suggests deeper plotting.
Cangji jokes about Jinglin being the true target of Hui'an.
Jinglin proposes to use Chu Lun and Leyan as bait to lure out the mastermind behind these events.
In a peaceful interlude, Cangji plays with grass sprites and banters with Stoney and Jinglin.
Cangji reflects on his obsession with Jinglin, suggesting a magical or emotional compulsion.
A nighttime attack interrupts their rest as an intruder (later revealed as A-Yi) attempts to capture the brush spirit.
Chaos ensues, and during the struggle, Cangji and Jinglin accidentally share a passionate kiss while trapped under aggressive weeds.
Cangji defeats the intruder and discovers it is A-Yi.
A-Yi admits he wanted the brush spirit to alter the decree against his sister Fuli, who’s been unfairly reassigned by Lord Chengtian due to accusations from Sage Yining.
Jinglin and Cangji warn A-Yi about the danger and futility of tampering with divine orders.
A-Yi admits the brush had gone to the Underworld to tamper with the Register of Fate and that many across realms knew of it.
A-Yi reveals a startling fact: Taozhi, Jinglin’s brother, has returned from the Sea of Blood, confirming the resurrection of once-defeated evil beings.
This prompts Cangji and Jinglin to suspect that Jinglin was being manipulated all along, and that someone saved him from death secretly.
A-Yi confirms that Jinglin did not attain the Great Accomplishment Stage, meaning he should not have survived—raising the question of who restored him.
Jinglin and Cangji realize his spiritual expanse has healed without his knowledge, and there are hints their spiritual energies are unusually compatible.
Cangji jokes and flirts with Jinglin throughout, confused whether their bond is familial or romantic.
A-Yi wildly speculates on their relationship, suggesting father-son, then incestuous lovers, which Cangji angrily refutes.
Jinglin confirms he no longer needs sleep or meditation to recover, suggesting continued mysterious regeneration.
Leyan and Chu Lun’s relationship is shown to be built on a morally gray sacrifice—Leyan traded another’s life to save Chu Lun.
A-Yi cruelly mocks Leyan for his decision and calls him a scourge, making Leyan break down emotionally.
Cangji and Jinglin conclude that Leyan’s condition is mental and incurable by normal means.
Jinglin finally reveals the bell (which ties the cases together) was forged from Lirong’s weapon but created by Lanhai, a pre-deity craftsman.
The bell originally belonged to Qingyao (a child) and is the only thing that survived her death.
Cangji declares the bell is the key to solving the mystery, and they must obtain it.
Meanwhile, the Emperor prays desperately to the “Great One” (a god) who used to protect him and aid his pursuit of immortality.
Taozhi returns in fog form, responds to the emperor’s pleas, and promptly kills him by draining his life.
Taozhi then impersonates the emperor and takes over the palace.
Chapter 17A massive storm devastates the capital, leading to rumors of divine wrath, but the emperor remains indifferent.
Xiyan finds Ji Jinglin and Li Cangji at a dilapidated residence; Xiyan brings a message from Huashang, reassuring them Hui'an will not trouble them further.
Hui'an abandoned his pursuit because half of Lady Shengyue's body was devoured by a demon, which required his urgent report to the Court of Immortality.
Huashang offers help to Ji Jinglin and Li Cangji for their assistance in finding Qianyu.
Xiyan warns they should flee the city since they’ll be implicated when the matter is reported.
Li Cangji refuses to leave without retrieving the bell.
A-Yi offers to help find the demon in exchange for immunity for his sister; Ji Jinglin and Li Cangji agree.
A-Yi senses an abnormal, deity-demon-like force in the city and suspects the demon is hiding in the palace.
Chu Lun returns to the Hanlin Academy appearing fully recovered; Li Cangji and A-Yi hide in his sleeve.
Liu Chengde arrives and pretends concern for Chu Lun (Ji Jinglin in disguise), but Li Cangji and A-Yi suspect deceit.
Ji Jinglin feigns politeness while Liu Chengde reminisces about Zuo Qingzhou (Xijing) and their supposed bond.
Liu Chengde invites Ji Jinglin to his home to discuss sensitive matters.
At Liu Chengde’s residence, Ji Jinglin accuses him of betrayal, revealing himself as Zuo Qingzhou.
Liu Chengde panics, confesses his fear of the emperor’s "immortal deity", and is beheaded by Ji Jinglin.
A-Yi deduces Liu Chengde had coastal spirits from the East Sea guarding him, suggesting Zongyin's involvement.
Ji Jinglin impersonates Liu Chengde to enter the palace.
Ji Jinglin is summoned to the emperor’s palace (actually the demon Taozhi in disguise) to present a new "tribute".
A-Yi, disguised as a woman, is presented to Taozhi and successfully deceives him with his beauty.
Taozhi attempts to assault A-Yi, who retaliates with Buddhist magic, searing Taozhi with golden sigils.
Taozhi sheds his false body, revealing his demonic form; A-Yi fights him off with seals.
Outside, the eunuch guarding the chamber is killed by Li Cangji, who fights through Taozhi's minions.
Ji Jinglin and Li Cangji engage Taozhi directly as storm clouds gather and Weeping Spring (the sword) manifests.
Taozhi tries to manipulate Li Cangji by showing visions of Ji Jinglin's past, including the killing of Taozhi centuries ago.
Ji Jinglin had killed Taozhi for tyrannical rule and crimes against humanity, defying his sect and adoptive father Jiutian.
Jiutian and others condemn Ji Jinglin’s unilateral execution of Taozhi and fear his growing power and independence.
Taozhi claims Ji Jinglin and Lirong used Cangji in a greater conspiracy; Li Cangji refuses to believe him.
Taozhi shows Cangji the vision of Ji Jinglin murdering him in a past life.
Despite this, Li Cangji asserts his unwavering trust in Ji Jinglin.
In battle, Ji Jinglin stabs Li Cangji by mistake while targeting Taozhi.
Taozhi takes advantage, injures Li Cangji, and mocks their relationship.
Ji Jinglin presses on to kill Taozhi despite the injury to Li Cangji, believing the timing is crucial.
After an intense confrontation, with A-Yi binding Taozhi and Li Cangji returning to the fight, Taozhi is immobilized and finally slain by Ji Jinglin with Weeping Spring.
Li Cangji considers that if Ji Jinglin ever betrays him again, he will consume him.
Injured, Li Cangji clings to Ji Jinglin, complaining of pain and demanding affection.
Ji Jinglin tends to Li Cangji’s wounds, removing lingering demonic energy.
The scene turns intimate; Ji Jinglin tries to care for him seriously, while Li Cangji flirts and complains exaggeratedly.
Li Cangji eventually climbs atop Ji Jinglin, demanding a deeper form of comfort, and the two become physically intimate.
Chapter 18Li Jinglin dreams of his past journey to the northern lands, where he encounters a majestic dragon that coils around his boat, tightening a red thread around his wrist.
The dream ends with Li Jinglin waking up in bed with Cangji, sweat-drenched and recalling their intimate night.
Cangji presses Li Jinglin for details about the dream and their relationship, expressing a strong desire to continue their physical intimacy.
They argue and flirt about love, pleasure, and marriage, with Cangji insisting they are no different from couples like Zuo Qingzhou and Qianyu.
Cangji declares possessiveness over Li Jinglin, making it clear he doesn’t want anyone else to have him.
A-Yi, annoyed by their dynamic and seeing Li Jinglin’s bite marks, declares he’s leaving for good.
Li Jinglin, Cangji, and A-Yi discuss the political state after the emperor’s death, and Li Jinglin decides to head to the Underworld to retrieve evidence held by Qianyu.
They travel into the Underworld, disguised as Nether Guards and a shackled soul, marveling at its haunting, foggy landscape and oppressive system.
They learn that the current King of Hell, Feiluo, is a former ravenous spirit who devoured the previous king and now rules reluctantly.
Cangji and Li Jinglin discover from a fellow Nether Guard that Feiluo is forcing Qianyu into marriage, enthralled by his beauty.
They resolve to intercept the wedding, believing Qianyu still loves Zuo Qingzhou and must be saved.
Qianyu is being held prisoner in a red wedding sedan, visibly heartbroken and weakened from grief and exposure to the Underworld’s harsh energies.
King Feiluo announces the wedding and boasts about Qianyu’s beauty, even comparing him to Dongjun and Lord Linsong (Li Jinglin’s celestial title).
Cangji, enraged by Feiluo’s desire for Li Jinglin and disrespect for Qianyu’s love, initiates a plan to disrupt the wedding.
That night, during the celebratory banquet, Cangji disguises himself and distracts the drunken King Feiluo while Li Jinglin sneaks off to rescue Qianyu.
Feiluo, intoxicated, confesses admiration for Dongjun and Lord Linsong, expressing a twisted, poetic appreciation for beauty and lamenting how love ruins it.
As Qianyu loses hope and attempts to leap into the River of Forgetfulness, Cangji saves him but falls into the river himself.
The river saps Cangji’s strength and memory as he sinks, haunted by the voices of lost souls and unable to shift into his true form.
Li Jinglin dives in to save him, interlocks their fingers, and gives Cangji air through a kiss.
As they both sink, Cangji hears a familiar copper bell, and his fading memories revolve around the image of Li Jinglin with his sword.
The chapter ends with the pair vanishing into the depths of the River of Forgetfulness, as the bell echoes through the dark water.
Chapter 19Cangji wakes up in a gambling house with Huashang, unsure how he got there.
Huashang and Linlang discuss Sect of Immortality members, especially Jinglin, whom Linlang describes as a promising but arrogant swordsman.
A grand tournament begins at Wardrum Arena to elect a leader to combat the Sea of Blood; Lord Jiutian’s sons participate.
Jinglin appears last, arrogantly declaring he will be the final victor, stirring resentment among cultivators.
Cangji scoffs at Jinglin’s pride but is intrigued by him.
Jinglin wins the tournament after several days, isolating himself further from his adoptive brothers.
Lirong warns Jinglin to watch his back due to the attention he's drawn.
Jinglin goes into town and is publicly accused of violating a nine-tailed fox under the guise of eradicating evil.
Jinglin beats up the slanderers without drawing his sword but spares them; he is then ambushed and escapes using agility and tactics.
At a food stall, Jinglin is tricked into accepting a drink laced with aphrodisiac by a seemingly apologetic monk.
Struggling under the drug's effects, Jinglin tries to leave but collapses and is caught by an unknown man—Cangji in disguise.
Cangji leads Jinglin to a secluded bathhouse, seduces him while he is delirious, and sexually assaults him.
Jinglin awakens in bed, confused with gaps in memory and a sore waist, unaware of what really happened.
Lirong finds him and reminds him not to act recklessly and that Lord Jiutian plans to head the alliance.
Lord Jiutian assigns Taozhi to the north and sends Jinglin south again, rewarding him with rare elixir pills.
Cangji reflects on Jinglin’s sword-like nature: pure, rigid, and incorruptible—vulnerable only through emotional or mental manipulation.
Jinglin begins a southbound journey dressed modestly to avoid attention.
Lirong and Yunsheng give him elixirs made by Lord Jiutian, which Jinglin partially accepts and redistributes.
At a noodle stall, a dirty fortune-teller (actually Cangji) harasses Jinglin; Jinglin outwits him.
That night, a mortal woman falsely accuses Jinglin of seduction and theft in public, causing a scene.
Cangji (still in disguise) intervenes, pays the woman off, and scares her away.
Jinglin, grateful, offers to share his room with Cangji since the inn is full.
They lodge together; Jinglin cultivates quietly while Cangji watches him with fascination and lust.
Cangji reminisces about seeing Jinglin for the first time when Jinglin executed a general-turned-traitor under Cangji’s command.
Cangji remembers meeting Buddha and being warned that Jinglin may be the cause of his eventual downfall.
The flashback ends with Cangji hiding his identity, playing the part of an ordinary herb trader named Cao Cang.
Jinglin accepts this and even uses the affectionate term “Cang-gege” for him, showing signs of trust.
Cangji decides to travel south with Jinglin under the guise of aiding towns struck by demons.
Jinglin offers Cangji a rare tofu-scented elixir as thanks for helping him.
Cangji notices the scent of blood in the elixir but says nothing.
Cangji expresses faux vulnerability and loneliness to gain Jinglin’s sympathy.
He requests to call Jinglin by the intimate nickname “Jiu-lang,” deepening his manipulative approach.
Chapter 20Jinglin is surprised when Cangji calls him "Jiu-lang," a nickname only known to his siblings.
Cangji explains he heard a woman use it, guessing Jinglin was the ninth sibling; Jinglin corrects him — he’s the seventh.
Cangji tells a fabricated tale of fleeing from the flooded north due to the Dragon Emperor's refusal to ally with the Sect of Immortality.
Jinglin clarifies that although the dragon is controversial and uncooperative, his construction efforts are to channel the Sea of Blood, not to rule — he's building canals, not fortresses.
Jinglin suspects the dragon may be the only being capable of eliminating the Sea of Blood.
Despite this, political tension escalates; the dragon's refusal to join the alliance is interpreted as rebellion, and he's blamed for worsening refugee crises.
They reach a chasm near Huaishu, finding a demon-infested wasteland. Jinglin confirms the city might have fallen.
A massive bane (a type of powerful demon) emerges from the Sea of Blood. Jinglin trades horses with Cangji and rides to confront it.
Using the sword Weeping Spring, Jinglin spectacularly slays the bane in combat.
Meanwhile, Taozhi, Jinglin's brother, is revealed to have drugged someone with a toxic aphrodisiac. When the victim disappears, Taozhi plans to identify a corpse to frame him.
A young man confronts the monk who assisted Taozhi and beats him brutally, watched by Linlang, who expresses interest in the boy’s talent.
Jinglin and Cangji arrive at Huaishu, where Jinglin is addressed as Lord Linsong.
They find only one surviving disciple, Hui’an, among hundreds. Hui’an is blind and devastated.
Jinglin sends Hui’an to request reinforcements from Xitu, entrusting him with Weeping Spring for legitimacy.
Cangji suggests creating a massive infused ox to transport the entire city of Huaishu westward, including its granary.
They successfully animate the ox using infusion and elixir pills, evacuating the city while demons swarm.
Just before the ox collapses from exhaustion, Dongjun, Jinglin's brother, arrives, dispersing the Sea of Blood with his fan.
Tension flares between Dongjun and Yining, another sect member, revealing deep-seated rivalry.
Jinglin and Cangji inspect the city, discovering that children were not mauled like adults but were surgically drained of blood — not typical demon behavior.
Cangji raises doubts about the timing and efficiency of the demons’ coordinated attacks; Jinglin becomes suspicious something deeper is at play.
Hui’an recounts a strange timeline: the Sea of Blood passed Huaishu without attacking for three days, then suddenly returned with an organized assault.
Hui’an also confirms that both Huaishu and Qixing were attacked simultaneously — unprecedented for blights and banes.
Jinglin and Cangji suspect foul play involving human actions or secret plans.
Cangji learns from Yining that Lord Jiutian (Jinglin’s father) is forming a new academy, possibly to recruit companions for his sickly daughter.
Cangji discovers that Jinglin has kept a prayer bead he left at Nanchan Temple, now infused with Jinglin’s scent.
Cangji is visited by Huashang, a fox spirit, who warns him of growing tensions at Linlang's side and requests to keep a new human disciple.
A stone spirit attacks Huashang. Cangji pretends to be unconscious to avoid exposure, but the spirit mistakenly leaves him a spiritual energy infusion, nearly triggering his true form as the greatest spirit in the world.
Jinglin’s spiritual energy briefly merges with Cangji’s, causing him both pain and comfort.
Cangji stores it in a crystal orb inside his spiritual core.
Dongjun warns Jinglin that their father has deemed the south a lost cause and intends to abandon it to focus on stronger regions.
Jinglin passionately defends the Dragon Emperor, believing he is the only one who can save the world by consuming the Sea of Blood.
Dongjun argues that helping the dragon would rob the sect of its glory and may lead to future threats from the dragon himself.
Jinglin refuses to abandon the south and declares that he will aid the Dragon Emperor, even if it means defying their father.
Back with Cangji, Jinglin misinterprets his fever as a result of malicious spirits seducing him.
Cangji pretends to be sick to avoid suspicion and remains close to Jinglin, even suggesting they travel together.
Jinglin, flustered and concerned, agrees and asks Cangji to accompany him.
Cangji slyly questions him about the stone spirit, and Jinglin lies, claiming never to have seen one. Cangji catches the lie from his body language.
The chapter ends with their relationship growing more emotionally complicated, as Cangji is now physically bonded to Jinglin’s spiritual energy, while their destinies begin to intertwine.
Chapter 21Cangji recovers from illness and prepares to travel south with Jinglin, who insists on defending the southern front.
Yining warns Jinglin about the critical situation: 13 cities left, with Xuanyang housing the sealed spirit Shuran, who must be killed before the Sea of Blood breaches the city.
Jinglin remains optimistic due to defensive lines, but Yining stresses the worsening external and internal threats (famine and the sea), expressing disillusionment with Lord Jiutian's decisions and fears of sacrificing loyal disciples.
Cangji is seen playing with a stone figure, a childlike puppet-spirit he has affection for, and he humorously dresses it in a handkerchief.
Jinglin and Cangji depart toward Qingpu but get delayed due to a storm and mudslide, taking shelter in a cave.
In the cave, Cangji strips to dry off, revealing his muscular body to Jinglin. They discuss various cultivation paths, including Dongjun and Lirong, and share deep personal conversations.
Cangji asks about Jinglin's past, discovering he was a monk at a young age before joining the Sect of Immortality under Lord Jiutian.
The two experience strong emotional and possibly romantic tension. Cangji swears devotion, saying, “I shall hence be the fish to your lotus.”
Their spiritual auras resonate, revealing shared energies and a deep, mystical connection. Cangji subtly implies past abuse through the scars on his back.
Jinglin enters a deep meditative state, discovering that Cangji’s aura had healed his spiritual damage without his knowledge, making transcendence possible.
They arrive in Xuanyang, a heavily fortified but near-deserted city. The great spirit Shuran remains sealed in the Sky Tower, for now.
Cangji questions the origins of Lord Jiutian, learning he’s a former swordsman from the South Sea who founded the sect to resist the Sea of Blood.
The pair discuss the politics surrounding the dragon, with Jinglin expressing support and Cangji warning that such loyalty may isolate him.
They reach an inn, and Cangji flirts heavily, calling Jinglin “a fatal sight.” Jinglin’s modesty and obliviousness contrast Cangji’s open affection.
Jinglin begins inspecting the city walls, reinforcing talismans. He finds blights impersonating guards, slays them, and races to the Sky Tower, which begins to collapse.
Shuran breaks loose and attacks. Jinglin attempts to stop him but is overwhelmed just as he reaches transcendence, freezing mid-battle.
Cangji arrives and defeats Shuran violently, showcasing his strength as the Dragon Emperor. Shuran begs for mercy.
Jinglin undergoes a spiritual transformation, reliving his life stages, ending with enlightenment and breakthrough to the Pinnacle Stage.
Meanwhile, a massive new creature from the Sea of Blood attacks the city. Shuran fails to stop it. The gates are breached.
Cangji defends the unconscious Jinglin, declares him his beloved, and charges into battle. He transforms into a dragon, ripping through the monstrous blight.
After an intense battle that spans regions, Cangji devours the creature and chases the remnants south.
Jinglin awakens, fully enlightened, cleansing Xuanyang with a wave of spiritual energy. He follows Cangji's trail south.
In Qixing, Jinglin finds Cangji buried but alive, recovering from his overindulgence of demon flesh.
The two share another intimate moment. Cangji confesses indirectly and is about to reveal a secret but gets interrupted.
Jinglin senses Cangji is hiding something but chooses not to confront him directly. Cangji lies, claiming the prayer bead saved him.
The chapter ends with Cangji overwhelmed by indigestion from eating too many demons, and Jinglin trying to help, hilariously unaware of the true cause.
Chapter 22Jinglin attempts to soothe Cangji's supposed discomfort with a gentle touch, which unexpectedly stirs desire in Cangji.
Cangji feigns indigestion but is emotionally and physically affected by Jinglin’s touch.
Jinglin offers to carry Cangji but is persuaded to lead him by the hand instead.
Cangji admires Jinglin’s spiritual breakthrough and beauty, confessing attraction under the guise of banter.
Jinglin is flustered by Cangji’s poetic flirtation but does not reject his company.
Cangji hints at hiding deeper intentions and affections toward Jinglin.
The two debate the mysterious nature of the sea and propose it might be a sentient man, not merely a body of cursed water.
Cangji suggests the sea’s demons act with intelligence and military strategy, implying a human mastermind behind it.
Cangji warns Jinglin about the potentially harmful effects of his sect's elixirs, which unnaturally accelerate cultivation at the cost of physical damage and eventual death.
Jinglin is horrified to learn the elixir given by his father Jiutian might be dangerous.
Cangji advises Jinglin to be cautious of internal sect politics and jealousy from fellow cultivators.
Cangji acknowledges his own moral flaws and confesses to violating Jinglin under the influence of Taozhi’s drug, accepting responsibility.
Cangji warns Jinglin that he may abuse only him, labeling himself as depraved.
Jinglin insists they are like brothers, but Cangji challenges this and confesses his romantic and carnal intentions.
As Jinglin begins to understand Cangji’s feelings are serious, he reacts with confusion and discomfort.
Cangji tricks Jinglin into a kiss by pretending to be in pain, shocking Jinglin.
Jinglin feels betrayed and violated, calling Cangji a liar and feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
Cangji states he doesn't view Jinglin as a mere plaything but as someone he wants as a partner.
Jinglin yells that Cangji is “not a man,” meaning he’s inhuman, which Cangji confirms literally as a monster.
Cangji jokes that he is starving for Jinglin and can only be sated by kissing him.
Cangji kisses Jinglin repeatedly, overwhelming him emotionally and spiritually.
Jinglin’s spiritual expanse destabilizes, and he faints into Cangji’s arms.
A flashback shows Jinglin as a boy receiving the sect’s commandment to purge emotions and desire due to his sword nature.
Despite being told he has no heart, Jinglin internally insists he does possess one, even if it’s restrained.
Jinglin wakes up after six hours, now beside Cangji, who reveals he discovered no children’s corpses in Qixing.
Cangji speculates the demons may have spared children or taken them elsewhere, linking it possibly to sect activities.
Cangji suspects foul play or secrets involving the children and Jinglin’s sect.
Cangji provocatively asks Jinglin if he has ever known a woman, teasing him for fainting.
Jinglin tries to resist Cangji’s advances but is clearly physically affected and emotionally distressed.
Cangji continues to provoke, corner, and tease Jinglin, toying with his reactions.
Jinglin becomes nauseous and spiritually destabilized, nearly vomiting.
Cangji helps him recover, gently transferring energy to stabilize Jinglin’s spiritual state.
Jinglin’s body is cold, his spiritual expanse nearly collapsing.
Cangji becomes enraged at the harm done to Jinglin and silently vows to kill Jiutian in revenge.
Chapter 23Cao Cang comforts a weakened Jiutian Jinglin, who is sweating, dizzy, and breathless, revealing a mysterious affliction.
Cao Cang transfers his draconic energy to stabilize Jiutian Jinglin.
Jiutian Jinglin confesses that he’s never felt such symptoms—pain in vital organs, no response from his spiritual energy.
Cao Cang suspects long-term poisoning, subtly administered by someone close to Jiutian Jinglin.
Jiutian Jinglin reflects on his emotionless upbringing, emotional suppression ordered by his adoptive father Lord Jiutian, and his abuse by jealous siblings.
Cao Cang insists on examining Jiutian Jinglin, who is reluctant to undress in front of anyone, but eventually complies partially.
During the physical exam, Cao Cang finds strange, dark magical patterns on Jiutian Jinglin’s body that only appear under emotional duress.
Cao Cang teases and seduces Jiutian Jinglin, partly to test how the curse reacts to emotions.
Cao Cang becomes increasingly erotic and graphic, explaining sexual acts to a flustered and inexperienced Jiutian Jinglin.
Despite the intimacy and stimulation, the curse's pattern does not change, confusing Cao Cang.
Jiutian Jinglin admits his innocence and his lack of understanding about pleasure and desire.
Cao Cang brings Jiutian Jinglin to climax using his hands but refrains from going further, treating it as an educational moment.
Cao Cang asks Jiutian Jinglin to come live with him as something more than friends or brothers.
The next day, the town is eerily quiet—corpses and signs of death have vanished.
Jiutian Jinglin and Cao Cang deduce that the enemy is feeding to prepare for transcendence.
They suspect the enemy is hidden within the Sect of Immortality, based on how well he knows internal operations.
They hear a faint cry for help and chase a ghostly child who is revealed to be a resentful soul.
The ghost boy explains he was killed in a ritual sacrifice and that his soul lingered due to being unregistered in the Register of Fate.
Jiutian Jinglin and Cao Cang deduce that the sacrifices are part of a blood ritual.
The ghost boy remembers a fan and the scent of sandalwood—linking to a mysterious perpetrator.
Suddenly, Shuran, a giant possessed by blights, attacks them. Cao Cang and Jiutian Jinglin subdue him in an intense battle.
After the fight, Cao Cang saves Jiutian Jinglin from the lingering curse with a kiss, proving affection can counteract its effects.
The two share more romantic and intimate moments in a lake, showing increasing emotional closeness.
Cao Cang requests to keep Shuran for interrogation and future use, suggesting it as Jiutian Jinglin's "dowry."
The two discuss internal corruption in the Sect of Immortality, suspecting even Lord Jiutian could be connected to the Sea of Blood and the curse.
Jiutian Jinglin defends his adoptive father but begins to waver under Cao Cang’s pressing questions and mounting evidence.
Cao Cang repeatedly demands trust from Jiutian Jinglin, forcing him to admit "Cang-gege" is the only one he trusts.
Jiutian Jinglin’s emotional and mental barriers begin to collapse under the weight of betrayal, doubt, and intimacy.
Cao Cang vows to come for Jiutian Jinglin in a fortnight, leaving him with a longing and conflicted heart.
Moments later, Jiutian Lirong appears and scolds Jiutian Jinglin for disappearing.
Jiutian Jinglin is shocked to learn that a fortnight has passed.
In a devastating twist, Jiutian Lirong reveals that Jiutian Lanhai has died, leaving Jiutian Jinglin emotionally shattered.
Chapter 24The Sect of Immortality mourns Lan Hai’s sudden death and holds a quiet, mist-shrouded funeral.
Ji Jinglin and Ji Lirong arrive late and are told by Ji Yunsheng that Lan Hai was already buried due to a strange illness, now spreading among disciples.
Over half the non-cultivating members, including Ji Qingyao, fall ill; no medicine seems to work, causing suspicion and panic.
Ji Yunsheng suspects Ji Jinglin’s sudden reappearance relates to the outbreak and death of Lan Hai, prompting an argument.
Ji Jinglin visits their father, Ji Jiutian, who reprimands the brothers for quarreling during mourning.
Ji Taozhi subtly accuses Ji Jinglin of suspicious transcendence methods; Ji Jinglin retorts that he purified his heart and desires.
Ji Jiutian defends Ji Jinglin’s cultivation path and redirects the discussion, mentioning the confinement of children due to vulnerability.
Ji Jinglin privately questions Ji Jiutian about the missing children and is met with vague reassurances.
Ji Qingyao, sick and childlike despite her age, cries over Lan Hai’s death; Ji Jinglin comforts her and interrogates Ji Dongjun about the disease.
A snow spirit appears, intensifying suspicion; Ji Jinglin’s anger erupts, and he fights with Ji Dongjun to get answers.
Ji Jinglin storms to the Octagonal Hollow to exhume Lan Hai’s body, violating sacred rules.
A fierce battle ensues between Ji Jinglin and the ghostly guardian of the burial grounds.
Ji Dongjun tries persuading the guardian to let Ji Jinglin pass; he refuses, resulting in a duel.
Ji Jinglin defeats the guardian and attempts to unearth Lan Hai’s coffin.
Ji Taozhi intervenes, trying to stop him; Ji Lirong arrives and fights Ji Jinglin in a violent duel over the sanctity of the grave.
Ji Dongjun and Ji Taozhi hesitate to intervene; Ji Yunsheng arrives and demands they stop as Ji Jiutian approaches.
Ji Jiutian is enraged by the destruction of sacred grounds and demands answers.
Ji Jinglin breaks open the coffin, revealing it is empty—Lan Hai’s body is missing.
Everyone is shocked; Ji Jiutian nearly collapses, demanding to know where Lan Hai is.
Ji Lirong later admits he sealed the coffin personally, indicating the body was stolen stealthily.
Ji Jinglin deduces the culprit must be someone within the sect.
Ji Yunsheng orders both to reflect on their actions; Ji Jinglin remains in solitude.
Ji Jinglin waits for his secret appointment in the rain, hoping for someone’s arrival.
Cang Ji arrives dramatically, kissing Ji Jinglin passionately and revealing he overcame obstacles to reach him.
The two share an emotional, intimate reunion under the rain, culminating in heavy make-out scenes and deep confessions of love.
Ji Jinglin tells Cang Ji about the empty coffin and his suspicions about the internal traitor.
Cang Ji concludes that Lan Hai was murdered for discovering a secret—possibly related to poison in pills and cultivation corruption.
Lan Hai wrote Ji Jinglin’s name on everyone’s palm before dying, indicating he wanted to warn him specifically.
Ji Jinglin and Cang Ji realize multiple traitors exist within the sect.
Cang Ji assures Ji Jinglin to stay true to his path and swears to protect him no matter what.
The chapter ends with them sharing more sensual intimacy, a vow of protection, and lingering dread of what’s to come.
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Nan Chan, Vol. 3
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Kaleidoscope of Death. Vol. 1
Chapter 1Lin 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.
Chapter 2Lin 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.
Chapter 3The 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.
Chapter 4Lin 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.
Chapter 5Lin 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.
Chapter 6Lin 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.
Chapter 7Lin 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.
Chapter 8Lin 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.
Chapter 9Lin 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.
Chapter 10The 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.
Chapter 11Lin 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.
Chapter 12Ruan 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.
Chapter 13Ruan 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.
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Kaleidoscope of Death. Vol. 2
Chapter 14Lin Qiushi hallucinates a flayed girl and taps a mysterious drum, though he believes Xu Jin did it.
Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi, and Cheng Qianli investigate the tower and find a hollow wall.
Behind the wall, they discover a red box containing a disturbing diary repeating “She’s gone” and a torn-out page.
Lin Qiushi’s acute hearing reveals scratching sounds leading to the discovery.
A woman named Xiao You screams about seeing a ghost, causing panic among the group.
Xiao You is dragged into a wall by bloody hands and vanishes without a trace.
The group suspects loud noise triggers supernatural attacks based on the tour guide's warnings.
Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi, and Cheng Qianli withhold the diary discovery from others.
That night, Cheng Qianli accuses Lin Qiushi of getting up repeatedly, which he denies.
In the morning, they find bloody handprints under the bed, implying an unknown visitor.
The guide appears and repeats the same exact script from the first day, creating unease.
They return to the temple but investigate the surrounding jungle instead of reentering.
Ruan Nanzhu theorizes the temple is shaped like a drum and that its roof is the key.
Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli climb a sky burial platform to access the roof.
The roof is elastic like human skin and emits drum-like sounds with each step.
They encounter a skinless, legless girl who repeats “Where are you?” and “It hurts.”
Lin Qiushi tells her that her sister searched for her until her death, soothing her.
The girl asks them to bring her sister to her before vanishing.
Cheng Qianli steals a bone flute made from human bone, likely hers, suggesting her consent.
Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli descend and recount the experience to Ruan Nanzhu.
They believe the girl’s sister’s remains must be found to reunite them and obtain the key.
Xu Jin is jealous of Lin Qiushi sharing a bed with Cheng Qianli, thinking of past rejection.
In the jungle, they find Meng Yu speaking intimately with a woman, prompting suspicion.
Ruan Nanzhu flirts with Lin Qiushi to provoke Xu Jin and confuse Meng Yu.
Meng Yu notices Lin Qiushi’s bloody clothes but accepts the excuse of an “animal encounter.”
Ruan Nanzhu suspects he’s seen Meng Yu before but can’t remember where.
The trio decides to continue focusing on finding the girl’s sister to unlock the mystery.
Chapter 15Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli return to the temple and learn the monsters reappeared, wielding blades, likely due to their rooftop drum incident.
The guide repeats her previous speech but adds that all twelve people must appear the next morning, alarming the group because there are thirteen of them.
The group panics, assuming one person will die overnight, though Meng Yu and Ruan Nanzhu remain calm.
Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi sleep together again, while Cheng Qianli takes another bed; Xu Jin is abnormally quiet and quickly falls asleep.
The next morning, all thirteen people are still alive, but Ruan Nanzhu deduces that this means one of them is not human.
Meng Yu and Ruan Nanzhu step outside to talk; Lin Qiushi downplays the moment to Cheng Qianli and Xu Jin.
Ruan Nanzhu flirts with Lin Qiushi and tricks him into a kiss to avoid sharing the conversation he had with Meng Yu.
The guide reappears and again claims there are twelve people, confirming suspicions that one person is inhuman.
The group’s paranoia heightens, and people avoid pairing up in twos to avoid being alone with the unknown entity.
Xu Jin nervously eyes Ruan Nanzhu, who teases her about being a ghost, making her visibly frightened.
The group arrives at the tower complex and begins searching for clues instead of seeking shelter.
Ruan Nanzhu pries open part of the tower wall after recalling Lin Qiushi’s mention of scratching sounds; they find human skeletons inside.
Xu Jin asks Lin Qiushi to accompany her and suggests Ruan Nanzhu is not human, saying no normal girl could be that fearless.
Lin Qiushi defends Ruan Nanzhu but notes Xu Jin is not easily convinced.
The wall yields bones of possibly thousands, raising questions about finding the little sister’s remains.
Ruan Nanzhu uses the bone flute made from a femur and plays “Sister Drum,” triggering supernatural events.
A tower collapses and re-forms from skeletons; chanting is heard alongside the sound of drums.
Xu Jin refuses to enter the new bone tower and runs off crying.
Cheng Qianli finds her abandoned bag, which is empty despite being packed earlier; Ruan Nanzhu finds a drawing inside of twin girls who look identical to Xu Jin.
The group realizes Xu Jin may not be human and might have retrieved the drawing when she was alone during the earlier tower visit.
Meng Yu—revealed to be Li Dongyuan—greets the group at the bone tower and enters alone.
Li Dongyuan later emerges with the bronze key and hands it to Ruan Nanzhu, indicating cooperation between them.
Xu Jin rejoins the group and pretends nothing happened; she expresses concern about the sister’s bones.
During dinner, Xu Jin keeps staring at Ruan Nanzhu’s pocket, seemingly interested in the bone flute.
Ruan Nanzhu privately warns Lin Qiushi to stay alert during the night.
Lin Qiushi tries to sleep lightly; later, he hears Xu Jin leave the room.
Lin Qiushi follows her and witnesses her stripping, then peeling off her skin, revealing a grotesque monster.
The monster spots him and begins searching while calling for her “sister.”
Lin Qiushi runs back, tries to wake the others, but they won’t wake up.
The monster slams on the door and peeks through, then enters through the window and begins groping under the bed.
Lin Qiushi stays on the bed, realizing the monster can’t stand up, explaining the bloody handprints under the bed.
The monster eventually leaves, and Xu Jin returns wearing her skin again.
Chapter 16Ruan Nanzhu wakes up and notices Lin Qiushi looking uneasy.
Lin Qiushi tells Ruan Nanzhu everything that happened the previous night with the young woman, Xu Jin.
They deduce that Xu Jin is the girl searching for her sister, and bringing her to her sister should open the door.
Ruan Nanzhu wonders if Xu Jin only transforms under specific conditions. Lin Qiushi remembers it was a full moon last night.
At breakfast, Cheng Qianli mentions seeing new bloody handprints. Xu Jin acts scared and innocent.
Ruan Nanzhu decides they will go back to the temple again.
The group notices the temple is silent because the bone flute’s music has stopped—it’s now in their backpack.
Lin Qiushi suggests bringing Xu Jin to the rooftop. Xu Jin refuses in terror, saying she’ll die if she goes. Ruan Nanzhu agrees to let her stay.
Ruan Nanzhu believes her refusal means there’s a deeper reason behind it.
Cheng Qianli later reports that one of the locked rooms with statues in the temple is now open.
Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi check the room and find a covered statue with a strange mural behind it.
The mural looks like meaningless scribbles.
Lin Qiushi notices the statue moving slightly beneath the red cloth and insists they leave.
As soon as they exit, the statue starts shaking violently and transforms into a skinless monster.
They realize all the locks in the corridor have been destroyed, and multiple statues are now uncovered—revealing monsters with long blades.
The group runs away as the monsters start pursuing them.
Two people hesitate to leave and are caught and skinned alive by the monsters outside.
A girl’s voice from the roof cries for her sister and rejects the skins as “not mine.”
The group realizes the flayed flesh on the wooden platforms comes from these victims.
The monsters stop at the temple’s entrance and can’t leave unless it’s raining.
Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi realize they forgot to bring the drum, which might be made from the sister’s skin.
The group waits outside in fear. Xu Jin sits silently and unresponsive, acting disturbingly blank.
The guide arrives and leads them back as usual. Li Dongyuan later speaks privately with Ruan Nanzhu, making him calmer.
Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi to rest and hopes he doesn’t wake up that night.
They realize the days keep repeating in a loop inside the door’s world.
The next morning, there are no bloody handprints. Lin Qiushi realizes Xu Jin only sheds her skin when they visit the towers.
They decide to retrieve the drum from the tower.
At the towers, Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi leave Xu Jin with Li Dongyuan for safety.
They climb the tower and find Xu Jin already there, sitting on the red drum.
Ruan Nanzhu calls out that her sister is looking for her and wants her skin back.
Xu Jin turns around—it’s not her, but her skin shaped like a person.
Ruan Nanzhu plays the bone flute; the skin screams, and Lin Qiushi faints.
When Lin Qiushi wakes up, Ruan Nanzhu and Li Dongyuan are arguing. Ruan Nanzhu pretends dramatically that Li Dongyuan bullied him.
Ruan Nanzhu explains the truth: after Lin Qiushi fainted, the skin lunged at them, and Ruan Nanzhu threatened to smash the drum with the flute, making the creature vanish.
When they got downstairs, Xu Jin was gone. Li Dongyuan claimed she ran away while he was smoking.
Ruan Nanzhu is furious at Li Dongyuan and mocks his organization, Ivory, for incompetence.
They decide to bring the drum to the temple the next day.
That night, Ruan Nanzhu reveals his suspicion that Xu Jin and her sister didn’t have a good relationship.
Lin Qiushi wakes up in the middle of the night and sees Xu Jin’s bloody figure crawling on the ceiling, smiling grotesquely.
The monster tries to flay him, but Lin Qiushi grabs the drum and beats it.
The creature flees, and a bronze key falls out of a hole he accidentally made in the drumhead.
Lin Qiushi realizes Li Dongyuan gave them a fake key earlier and that this is the real one.
The next morning, Ruan Nanzhu accuses Cheng Qianli of breaking the drum. Lin Qiushi admits he did it.
Lin Qiushi shows the key to Ruan Nanzhu, who realizes Li Dongyuan deceived them.
Ruan Nanzhu decides to bring the drum to the temple to finish things.
At the temple, they climb to the rooftop again and lay the drum down, saying they brought it for the sister.
The fog appears, and a girl’s voice screams, asking for her sister and her skin.
The girl crawls from the fog, presses against the drum, and realizes it’s not hers.
She rips the drum apart and starts pounding it, summoning the blade monsters, who rush into the jungle.
Ruan Nanzhu concludes the sisters’ relationship was full of hatred.
Lin Qiushi asks if the world will end now. Ruan Nanzhu replies that perhaps it will.
Chapter 17The creatures return dragging Xu Jin, confirming Ruan Nanzhu's suspicion that she had followed them.
Lin Qiushi hesitates to help Xu Jin due to remembering her grotesque transformation.
Xu Jin begs for help but is overpowered and brought before the bloody girl.
The girl demands her skin back from Xu Jin, violently rips it off her body, and Xu Jin becomes monstrous.
The girl treats the skin like a prized possession and reveals her obsession with her missing sister.
It’s revealed that the girl and Xu Jin are twin sisters, though now unrecognizable due to transformations.
The girl puts on Xu Jin’s skin, merging with it and transforming into her original beautiful form.
She forces Xu Jin to kneel and mockingly forgives her, showcasing the stitched skin drum made from victims.
Xu Jin is forced to thank the other sacrifices; her refusal leads to more pain and humiliation.
Ruan Nanzhu asks for the door’s location, and the girl demands the bone flute in return.
Xu Jin reveals her bones were stolen; the girl promises to lend hers and reclaim them through violence.
The girl opens a hidden metal door in the drum using the flute and allows the group to pass.
As Lin Qiushi enters, the girl slaps his back and cryptically says she dislikes him because "she" likes him.
After exiting the door, Lin Qiushi collapses and is later diagnosed with acute pneumonia.
He wakes up to Ruan Nanzhu scolding someone on the phone and learns how severe his condition was.
Ruan Nanzhu shows him the journal from the tower, which he managed to bring out with him.
The journal tells the tragic backstory of the twin sisters and their role in the sacrificial ritual.
The younger sister was skinned for the ritual but survived and turned into a skinless monster.
She deceived her older sister into coming to the temple, stole her skin and legs, and wore them.
The elder sister also became a monster and made a bone flute to control sacrifices, trapped in the temple.
Lin Qiushi is shocked by the journal and its possible human-skin texture.
Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi to rest for six months before the level 6 door appears.
Cheng Qianli jokes about Lin Qiushi’s bad luck but gets scolded by Ruan Nanzhu for forgetting most people die.
Wu Qi, Lin Qiushi’s friend, visits after suspecting Lin Qiushi joined a pyramid scheme.
Lin Qiushi tries to explain, and Ruan Nanzhu warns not to tell the whole truth or risk being institutionalized.
Yi Manman had previously been locked in a psychiatric hospital by her family for trying to explain the doors.
Lin Qiushi agrees not to fully explain and reflects on his lack of strong family ties.
Wu Qi arrives, suspicious and carrying self-defense tools, but eventually relaxes.
Cheng Qianli messes around pretending to recruit Wu Qi into an MLM and gets dragged away by his brother.
Wu Qi meets everyone in the villa and is confused by “training” talk.
Ruan Nanzhu returns with a cute newcomer named Zhang Mian, whom he introduces to everyone.
Lin Qiushi notices Ruan Nanzhu is spending a lot of time with Zhang Mian, causing Cheng Qianli to complain.
Ruan Nanzhu continues to go through doors with Zhang Mian rapidly, making Lin Qiushi uneasy.
Zhang Mian begins asking Lin Qiushi odd questions about the organization’s members.
Lin Qiushi notices everyone in the house smiling at Zhang Mian oddly except Cheng Qianli and Cheng Yixie.
Cheng Qianli suspects Zhang Mian is stealing the boss's attention and tries to get Lin Qiushi to agree.
Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi to wait just a little longer and hints at something cryptic.
Zhang Mian is injured in a door and hospitalized, visited by everyone including Lin Qiushi and Chen Fei.
Chen Fei hints that Lin Qiushi’s role is different and that he should just wait one more week.
Zhang Mian suddenly disappears six days after being discharged from the hospital.
Chen Fei casually reveals Zhang Mian “ran away” after being overworked and exploited.
Ruan Nanzhu confirms Zhang Mian was actually Li Dongyuan from rival group Ivory, in disguise.
Li Dongyuan infiltrated them to find Zhu Meng but got used as free labor and duped with fake clues.
Everyone except Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli was in on the act; Cheng Qianli was excluded for being dumb.
Ruan Nanzhu claims he didn’t tell Lin Qiushi because he had “no time,” which Lin Qiushi doesn’t buy.
Li Dongyuan is furious after discovering the clues he stole were fake and tries to curse Ruan Nanzhu.
Ruan Nanzhu trolls him by pretending Zhu Meng is present, causing Li Dongyuan to immediately flirt.
Lin Qiushi is horrified watching Li Dongyuan flirt with a man in drag, unknowingly.
Ruan Nanzhu asks Lin Qiushi whether he prefers him or Zhu Meng; Lin Qiushi tries to avoid answering.
Li Dongyuan's fake clues nearly cause a fatal door incident, making him call to yell at Ruan Nanzhu daily.
Ruan Nanzhu finally threatens to have Zhu Meng block Li Dongyuan, shutting him up.
Chen Fei finally explains that each world beyond the door typically only gives one clue.
Rare exceptions allow multiple people in, but clue difficulty must match door level for safety.
Ruan Nanzhu often takes on jobs using low-level doors to help clients safely pass.
Due to the deception, Ivory and Obsidian are now rivals, but Zhu Meng’s presence prevents conflict.
Li Dongyuan agrees to collaborate again only if Zhu Meng is present, showing how smitten he is.
Lin Qiushi pities Li Dongyuan for being so thoroughly scammed by Ruan Nanzhu’s alter ego.
CLUE 4
The Rain Woman
Chapter 18Lin Qiushi had recovered after three months and was looking for a job when Ruan Nanzhu unexpectedly transferred 500,000 yuan to his account.
Ruan Nanzhu revealed the money was payment to accompany a client through a new door, emphasizing it as an opportunity for Lin Qiushi to gain experience.
They met the client, who turned out to be Tan Zaozao, formerly known as Xu Xiaocheng from a previous door. In reality, she was a famous actress.
Tan Zaozao was flirtatious and seemed interested in Lin Qiushi, which annoyed Ruan Nanzhu during their meal together.
After leaving the restaurant abruptly, Ruan Nanzhu dragged Lin Qiushi to another one to eat properly, indicating jealousy.
Ruan Nanzhu explained how clients are normally handled remotely using enchanted bangles from beyond the door, revealing a structured business around door-crossing services.
Lin Qiushi was uncomfortable with the high payment until Ruan Nanzhu clarified it was insurance for risking their lives in each door.
Tan Zaozao’s third door clue was revealed: “The Rain Woman,” connected to a cursed painting known for disturbing effects on viewers.
Ruan Nanzhu explained the painting’s ominous history and instructed Lin Qiushi to wear the bangle until they entered, then remove it due to its cursed nature.
Lin Qiushi learned the earring Ruan Nanzhu gave him was also cursed but mainly used for tracking.
Lin Qiushi investigated “The Rain Woman” painting, which had been banned and whose artist suffered mental breakdowns.
Tan Zaozao remained calm, claiming her acting skills helped, and teased Ruan Nanzhu about not cross-dressing for this door.
One night, Lin Qiushi woke up to find himself surrounded by twelve doors—he had entered the next door-world.
He removed the cursed bangle per Ruan Nanzhu’s instructions and approached a large old manor.
Inside, a hysterical newcomer girl was crying, rejected by others who had already accepted the reality of the door-world.
Lin Qiushi spotted Ruan Nanzhu in male appearance, drawing attention with his striking beauty.
Other members of the group joined, including Tan Zaozao who pretended to cry but was upstaged by the true crier.
Ten people total were gathered, and a bell rang, signaling the arrival of a black-clad butler.
The butler led them to the mistress of the manor, a pale woman in black closely resembling the painting subject, who silently hosted a dinner.
Tan Zaozao became entranced by the lady until Lin Qiushi snapped her out of it.
Ruan Nanzhu casually enjoyed the delicious food while others were disturbed.
After dinner, the mistress led them upstairs to her art studio where a covered painting stood, supposedly to be completed in a few days.
The group was told to explore the manor and wait for the final painting, which would be important to their escape.
Everyone received keys to individual rooms; Lin Qiushi was across from Ruan Nanzhu, while Tan Zaozao was isolated.
Lin Qiushi found a painting in his room depicting the manor in the rain and hid it, suspecting it to be cursed.
Despite trying to sleep, he noticed a water stain growing on the ceiling, forming the shape of a woman in the dark.
Looking outside, Lin Qiushi saw a shadowy figure in the garden wearing a black hat and raincoat, but it vanished into the trees.
He slept with the lights on and used thoughts of Ruan Nanzhu to feel secure and fall asleep.
The next morning, Lin Qiushi visited Ruan Nanzhu’s room and found Tan Zaozao, who was angry after sleeping on the floor.
Ruan Nanzhu casually dismissed her complaints and suggested he’d sleep with Lin Qiushi instead, making Tan Zaozao jealous and speechless.
Lin Qiushi realized he had shared beds with Ruan Nanzhu multiple times, making the exception both surprising and intimate.
Chapter 19Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and others eat breakfast in the manor's eerie dining room served by emotionless, puppet-like servants.
The lady of the manor, dressed in black with a peculiar hat, appears but doesn’t speak and eats slowly with large, pale hands.
The butler warns them to avoid the studio and the fifth-floor storeroom of unfinished paintings; they are free to explore elsewhere but shouldn’t touch the paintings.
One newbie woman tries to team up with Ruan Nanzhu using a scared act, but Ruan Nanzhu refuses, and Tan Zaozao helps shut her down.
Ruan Nanzhu suspects the girl is pretending and not a real newbie, citing her confidence in approaching him.
Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Tan Zaozao explore the manor, noticing paintings cover every wall and emit an ominous aura.
Ruan Nanzhu clarifies the butler’s words—while the lady dislikes others touching her paintings, it’s not outright forbidden.
They discover many locked rooms, most open ones filled with distorted paintings of figures and landscapes.
A scream is heard in the manor, and the group gathers to investigate but finds no one.
A woman named Xiao Su disappears after leaving her partner Liu Yi to use the toilet on the top floor.
Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi, and Tan Zaozao go to the attic and find freshly painted artworks; one painting resembles a distorted woman fleeing up stairs—possibly Xiao Su.
Liu Yi confirms the woman in the painting is Xiao Su based on her current clothes, which she had only changed into that day.
A flashback shows Xiao Su discovering a painting in the fifth-floor toilet of the rain-drenched lady in black; she touches it and the figure disappears.
Xiao Su is pursued by the woman in black up endless stairs, ultimately caught and smashed into a painting with a frame.
The group investigates the toilet where Xiao Su vanished and notices the unusual absence of any paintings in that room, contrary to the rest of the manor.
During lunch, Ruan Nanzhu enjoys his steak while others are too disturbed to eat. He jokes it might be their last meal.
Lin Qiushi notices the lady of the manor appears after lunch with a strange look of satisfaction on her face.
Ruan Nanzhu refuses Tan Zaozao a spot in bed; she ends up sleeping on the floor while Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu share the bed.
That night, Lin Qiushi sees the lady of the manor standing silently in the rain outside his window, facing away from him.
A new painting appears in Lin Qiushi’s room: the same woman in black, “The Rain Woman.”
Black stains spread from the painting, and Lin Qiushi flees the room to seek help.
“Tan Zaozao” answers Ruan Nanzhu’s room, but the door opens the wrong way and she gives the wrong name, revealing she’s an impostor.
The impostor calls through the door using a warped version of Tan Zaozao’s voice, trying to lure Lin Qiushi out.
Fingernails begin to reach under the door, and the figure outside weeps and screams.
The window slams open, revealing the lady of the manor now staring straight at Lin Qiushi.
Lin Qiushi survives the night by barricading the door and refusing to respond.
In the morning, the real Tan Zaozao wakes him; Lin Qiushi explains everything that happened.
Ruan Nanzhu confirms Lin Qiushi must have avoided triggering a death condition and was targeted through the painting.
Ruan Nanzhu theorizes the reversed door opened into the world inside the painting.
They examine Xiao Su’s painting again for clues but find nothing new.
They approach Zhang Tao’s team, who found something in the bushes, but are reluctant to share info.
Ruan Nanzhu proposes a note exchange. Zhang Tao agrees. Both sides hand over vague, possibly false clues.
Zhang Tao’s note mentions a black frame found in the shrubbery.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu investigate and find the frame; from one angle, it perfectly frames Lin Qiushi’s window.
They deduce the frame might have marked Lin Qiushi as part of a painting, attracting the Rain Woman’s attention.
Lin Qiushi buries the frame in a spot he can find later.
The rain returns. Lin Qiushi feels increasingly uneasy and wonders if he’ll be targeted again that night.
Ruan Nanzhu offers to share a room again, and Lin Qiushi agrees after encouragement from Tan Zaozao.
Lin Qiushi shares his full story with the rest of the group. Everyone is horrified and admires his survival.
Ruan Nanzhu asks if anyone visited the studio or storeroom of unfinished paintings, but no one had.
Ruan Nanzhu criticizes the other players for blindly following the butler’s warning instead of investigating further.
Ruan Nanzhu decides they must risk entering forbidden areas like the studio because the NPCs are not trustworthy and likely want them dead.
Chapter 20Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi, and Tan Zaozao investigate the lady’s studio on the sixth floor where Xiao Su was last seen.
Ruan Nanzhu picks the lock and enters the studio with Lin Qiushi while Tan Zaozao keeps watch.
Inside, they find a creepy, unfinished painting resembling The Last Supper, featuring the door-crossers instead of disciples.
All figures are faceless except Xiao Su, whose face shows paralyzing fear.
They deduce that Xiao Su has been absorbed into the painting.
The group then explores the fifth floor and enters the room the butler warned them against, filled with unfinished paintings.
They find a painting depicting Lin Qiushi’s room with a blank section near the door, clearly meant for Lin Qiushi.
Ruan Nanzhu remarks that had Lin Qiushi failed to spot the imposter that night, he would’ve appeared in the painting.
They realize many parts of the manor are captured in paintings, and escape may be impossible.
They attend dinner but notice one person, Yang Jie, is missing.
After checking his room, they confirm Yang Jie is gone and his painting is missing.
The next day, Lin Qiushi finds a buried frame containing Yang Jie now embedded into a painting of twisted bushes.
Yang Jie’s partner breaks down in grief, triggering a wave of panic and tears among others.
Tan Zaozao scolds the others for crying and being useless in a crisis.
Ruan Nanzhu reveals he suspects a traitor among the door-crossers deliberately setting frames to kill them.
Ruan Nanzhu found extra footprints near the buried frame with a small shoe size, pointing to one of the remaining women.
He suspects Yang Meishu, the first-timer who cried frequently and had tried to team up with him.
That night, Lin Qiushi sleeps in the same room with Ruan Nanzhu and Tan Zaozao. Ruan Nanzhu goes missing the next morning.
Lin Qiushi and Tan Zaozao panic and search the entire building for Ruan Nanzhu.
They return to their room and find Ruan Nanzhu sleeping casually in bed.
Ruan Nanzhu explains he entered a frame to investigate and found that frames don’t disappear after use.
He reveals the presence of a new frame and that the woman in black tried to warn him away from it.
Ruan Nanzhu figured out the woman wanted to lead him toward the front door and waited there all night.
He shows Lin Qiushi and Tan Zaozao a new poem clue he received from Yang Meishu.
Ruan Nanzhu confirms his suspicion of Yang Meishu being the traitor and says she doesn’t know yet that he’s on to her.
That night, Yang Meishu reflects proudly on how her plan to kill Ruan Nanzhu seems successful.
Yang Meishu hears dripping water and sees a black-dressed woman watching her from the window.
She finds the protective note missing and realizes her plan is falling apart.
The black figure attacks her with a frame, causing real physical injuries.
She desperately tries to escape but is ultimately defeated, screaming and bleeding as she’s consumed.
The next morning, Yang Meishu is missing at breakfast, and her room shows clear signs of struggle.
The painting on the wall has been slashed, the room is drenched, and the window is open.
The group confirms Yang Meishu’s fate and searches for her painting.
Lin Qiushi asks Ruan Nanzhu if he was behind it; Ruan Nanzhu admits to placing the frame under Yang Meishu’s bed.
Tan Zaozao is shocked that it worked. The resulting painting is chaotic and bloody.
They deduce that Yang Meishu triggered a condition by attacking the painting of the Rain Woman.
Ruan Nanzhu finds humans more dangerous than monsters and calls it all entertaining.
The group reflects somberly that three people are now dead—Xiao Su, Yang Jie, and Yang Meishu—and they still haven’t found the key to escape.
Chapter 21Ruan Nanzhu reflects on a poetic note from Yang Meishu and suspects she left her previous world through a unique method.
Despite understanding how death works in the manor, danger strikes again when Lin Qiushi is pulled into a supernatural corridor.
Lin Qiushi is attacked by painting frames, grabbed by the Rain Woman, and dragged toward certain death.
He's nearly taken into a painting but is saved by Tan Zaozao and Ruan Nanzhu shattering a mirror frame that trapped him.
Ruan Nanzhu reveals mirrors may all have hidden frames, proving the manor is more dangerous than assumed.
Hidden frames are discovered all over the room, explaining the true threat came from the lady herself, not Yang Meishu.
Another person becomes a painting, revealing more hidden frames as the group continues to be hunted.
The lady of the manor stares at Ruan Nanzhu with hatred, but he remains unaffected.
The group decides to find the key to escape, suspecting it’s connected to the unfinished painting “The Last Supper.”
Ruan Nanzhu hypothesizes that the painting will never be completed because the lady can't kill everyone due to door rules.
They follow the butler to a room where the newest painting is stored and discover numerous works now showing the Rain Woman.
After thorough searching, Lin Qiushi finds a painting depicting a hidden door in the manor.
Behind a landscape painting on the first floor, they find a mechanism that opens the real black door.
The group agrees to destroy the painting to retrieve the key, fully aware of the danger.
Ruan Nanzhu burns the painting, and they hear a scream as a key drops from the canvas remains.
The lady becomes enraged and attacks as they flee.
Lin Qiushi distracts her while Ruan Nanzhu opens the door.
Lin Qiushi is nearly framed again, but blood suddenly pours from his pocket, forcing the woman back.
He escapes through the door’s tunnel of light and wakes up in the real world.
Lin Qiushi confirms with Ruan Nanzhu that he was saved by something unknown in his pocket.
At dinner with Tan Zaozao, Lin Qiushi sees her casual side and learns about her expensive “carry” contract with Ruan Nanzhu.
Lin Qiushi receives part of the payment despite feeling conflicted.
Lin Qiushi asks Ruan Nanzhu if he placed something in his pocket. Ruan Nanzhu admits to hiding Yang Meishu’s poem note there.
The note acted as a charm to block one attack. Such notes are rare and dangerous if misused.
Ruan Nanzhu explains some people kill others to farm these notes and gain advantages.
Lin Qiushi is warned not to reveal this secret as it could destroy cooperation among door-crossers.
Ruan Nanzhu mentions some who walked this path, including one who reached door level 8 but died painfully.
Lin Qiushi promises to keep the secret and is teased affectionately by Ruan Nanzhu.
Ruan Nanzhu encourages Lin Qiushi to build up his body to survive better.
Days later, Lin Qiushi goes for a health check-up and finds out his liver condition has mysteriously stabilized.
He declines medical investigation, knowing the cause was supernatural.
Other villa residents return to doors for work while Lin Qiushi relaxes.
On TV, Lin Qiushi sees Tan Zaozao being interviewed, presenting a graceful image in contrast to her real self, and changes the channel in disbelief.
CLUE 5
Satchan
Chapter 22The Cheng twins return to the villa exhausted from a failed commission where the client died.
Cheng Qianli shows Lin Qiushi the website for commission jobs, noting that high-level ones are mostly taken via private channels now.
Lin Qiushi is praised for his relaxed attitude towards the impending level 6 door.
A new member, Qin Budai, joins the group. He is nervous and mentally fragile.
The team interviews Qin Budai with three allowed questions, and he squanders them asking philosophical ones about the doors.
Cheng Qianli warns Lin Qiushi not to get attached to newbies as they often die quickly.
Li Dongyuan reappears, having struck a deal with Ruan Nanzhu to cooperate in exchange for joining doors with Zhu Meng monthly.
Li Dongyuan continues pursuing Zhu Meng, unaware she is Ruan Nanzhu, and keeps calling the villa to speak with “her”.
Ruan Nanzhu tasks Lin Qiushi with bearing Li Dongyuan's harassment for a while until he intervenes and shuts it down.
Li Dongyuan enjoys being yelled at by Zhu Meng and becomes even more infatuated.
Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli discuss how nobody would guess Zhu Meng is Ruan Nanzhu due to his dramatic transformation.
Ruan Nanzhu prepares to enter a new door with Li Dongyuan under the identity of Zhu Meng.
Li Dongyuan gives Zhu Meng choices of doors to pick from, trying to impress her, but Ruan Nanzhu remains unimpressed.
Cheng Qianli accidentally insults Ruan Nanzhu by pointing out he’s also single.
Ruan Nanzhu teases Lin Qiushi for never having had a girlfriend and implies he’s destined to be forever alone.
Lin Qiushi cuddles a cat to console himself, thinking at least he has a pet.
Li Dongyuan sneezes and assumes Zhu Meng is thinking about him.
Despite Li Dongyuan’s puppy love persona, Lin Qiushi notes he’s highly dangerous and cunning, having nearly sabotaged them in the past.
The group prepares to enter the next door, based on the clue “Satchan”, a ghost folklore about a girl who lost her legs and wants to steal others’.
Lin Qiushi enters the door world and meets Li Dongyuan, who looks drastically different: taller and intimidating.
They identify each other using a secret code involving cantaloupe-flavoured gum and a sore tooth.
They meet the other players in the door world, including Ruan Nanzhu disguised as Zhu Meng.
Two first-timers panic and one tries to leave but returns soon after, shaken by what he saw.
They are told by a school staff NPC that they are hired to renovate a building after the students’ exams.
The dormitory they’re given is old, moldy, and creepy, but they have to make do.
Talisman papers are found hidden under beds and inside cabinets, giving off a sense of foreboding.
Ruan Nanzhu and Li Dongyuan agree not to remove the talismans, suspecting they suppress spirits.
Wu Xuelin, another team member, rips the talismans out of fear, prompting others to argue about whether to keep or discard them.
Xia Rubei expresses fear, and Ruan Nanzhu mockingly imitates her, further manipulating Li Dongyuan’s affections.
Ruan Nanzhu continues to act like a delicate girl to spite Xia Rubei and toy with Li Dongyuan.
Lin Qiushi comforts Ruan Nanzhu’s act, which enrages Li Dongyuan silently.
Xia Rubei realizes Ruan Nanzhu is her romantic rival and the two silently exchange hostile glares.
During lunch, they attempt to question students about recent events but most deny knowing anything.
A Year 3 student tries to avoid them but eventually reveals they should check newspapers in the school library.
Ruan Nanzhu notes the student’s badge to identify him later, humiliating Xia Rubei for missing the detail.
Ruan Nanzhu rubs in Xia Rubei’s failure, making her even more furious and upset.
Chapter 23Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu (disguised as Zhu Meng), Li Dongyuan, and Xia Rubei explore the campus which includes an old building.
They encounter another group of three door-crossers: Liu Zhuangxiang, Yu Linlin, and an unnamed member.
Liu Zhuangxiang is noticeably captivated by Ruan Nanzhu’s beauty, unaware he is disguised.
The old school building, though marked off-limits, is unlocked using a key from the admin.
The building is only around six or seven years old, not ancient as expected.
The two parties split up to search: Lin Qiushi’s group starts from the first floor, the other group from the top.
Thumping noises come from the upper floors, initially thought to be the trio above them.
Ruan Nanzhu warns it’s a trick and reveals the other trio is actually outside below.
The group hears the thumps mimicking someone hopping on one leg, suspected to be the entity mentioned in the clue, “Satchan.”
Ruan Nanzhu lightens the mood with flirtatious antics, annoying Xia Rubei.
He suggests they go to the library to investigate rather than explore blindly.
At the library, they find old newspapers detailing recent student deaths in Year 3 Class 2 — all had a leg severed and were found dead in their classroom.
A link is suspected between the current supernatural events and the student deaths.
Ruan Nanzhu learns from the librarian that a first-year girl died in a car accident three years ago.
He theorizes the dead girl was a member of Year 3 Class 2, who enrolled three years prior.
They plan to obtain the class roster from the school archives to identify the girl.
That night, Wu Xuelin, another door-crosser, tears down talismans from his room, believing they attract ghosts.
He reads a disturbing nursery rhyme-like note about “Lu Sachan,” also called “Satchan,” who “lost her legs” and wants others to give her theirs.
A girl’s voice (posing as Xiao Qin) from the upper bunk asks him to read the final line of the note.
Wu Xuelin finds Xiao Qin dead on the floor, leg severed. The entity mimics her voice and chants the rhyme.
Wu Xuelin is attacked and also loses his leg as the spirit of Satchan takes it.
The next morning, Lin Qiushi and team wake peacefully, only to hear a scream from another room.
They rush out and find Wu Xuelin and Xiao Qin dead, both missing their left legs.
The group blames Wu Xuelin for removing the talismans, assuming they warded off Satchan.
Ruan Nanzhu finds the creepy Satchan poem among the remains.
Lin Qiushi’s party heads to the archives to find the class roster for Year 3 Class 2 from three years ago.
The archives building is dusty and eerie; Xia Rubei waits outside, citing allergies.
Ruan Nanzhu finds a class photo labeled Year 1 Class 2 with 33 students, though records say 34 should exist.
One page of the student file is torn, suggesting a student has been erased from records—likely Satchan.
Ruan Nanzhu identifies one boy in the photo they had met earlier as possibly the only survivor.
Lin Qiushi hears one-legged thumping footsteps and urges the group to leave.
A filing cabinet falls, nearly hitting them, confirming Satchan was near.
Ruan Nanzhu notes a bloody handprint behind the fallen cabinet.
Xia Rubei says a limping girl entered the archive room claiming to be a student—likely Satchan in disguise.
They tease Xia Rubei for encountering the “boss” ghost and surviving.
The group visits the bathrooms. Lin Qiushi is nearly tricked into reading writing on the wall by Satchan mimicking Li Dongyuan’s voice.
They return to the stall to find the writing now covered by crimson handprints and blood.
Xia Rubei confirms the archive girl had a limp—further confirming it was Satchan.
They reiterate not to read the Satchan lines aloud under any circumstance.
Outside, Ruan Nanzhu pulls out the stolen class photo to continue their investigation.
Lin Qiushi suspects Ruan Nanzhu’s sleight-of-hand skills and past.
Ruan Nanzhu mentions seeing fog on the students’ faces in the photo, but Lin Qiushi can’t see it.
Li Dongyuan silently reacts to this, hinting at his own hidden perception or awareness.
Chapter 24Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, Li Dongyuan, and Xia Rubei eat lunch while jokingly competing over who can eat the most chicken drumsticks, lightening the mood after intense events.
After lunch, the group heads to the third-year classroom building to find the student from the photo, Jiang Xinhong.
They wait for class to end and then confront Jiang Xinhong, who reacts with fear upon seeing the photo.
Jiang Xinhong reluctantly reveals the name of the girl missing from the photo: Lu Sachan, claiming she was never in their class, then flees.
The group decides to return the next day for another attempt, as Jiang Xinhong refuses to speak further.
That night, a first-timer named Luo Xiaoyu reports her teammate Nie Chenghe went missing in the old school building.
The group postpones the search until morning, knowing disappearances often lead to death in their world.
The next morning, they accompany Luo Xiaoyu to the old school building, specifically to Year 1 Class 2, where she last saw Nie Chenghe.
The classroom appears empty, but suddenly a corpse falls from the ceiling—Nie Chenghe’s body, missing a leg.
The scene contains books covered in red ink curses and Lu Sachan’s name, confirming her involvement.
Flashback reveals Nie Chenghe heard eerie whispers and saw ghostly students singing a disturbing song about Lu Sachan in Class 2.
The cursed song causes him to unknowingly recite the final line, triggering his death as Lu Sachan appears.
The group plans to ambush Jiang Xinhong at the school gate in the evening but fails to find him.
Ruan Nanzhu and Xia Rubei stay behind while Li Dongyuan and Lin Qiushi check classrooms, discovering Jiang Xinhong arguing with another surviving classmate.
They confront Jiang Xinhong, who initially resists, but Li Dongyuan intimidates him into cooperating.
Jiang Xinhong explains Lu Sachan was heavily bullied and erased from existence by her classmates, even excluded from the class photo.
After she died, classmates made a mocking song about her, which turned out to be cursed and led to their deaths.
Jiang Xinhong and the other boy survived because they never sang the song.
Li Dongyuan and Lin Qiushi don’t believe Jiang Xinhong is telling the full truth.
They suspect Jiang Xinhong’s claim that Lu Sachan “was never in our class” reflects continued denial and lack of remorse.
Ruan Nanzhu later comforts Lin Qiushi after a fake argument with Xia Rubei about ghost stories.
Lin Qiushi updates Ruan Nanzhu, who agrees that Jiang Xinhong is suspicious but still lacks full evidence.
That night, Lin Qiushi smokes on the balcony when Li Dongyuan appears and hypnotically tries to extract information about Ruan Nanzhu’s identity as Zhu Meng.
Lin Qiushi nearly spills the truth but is saved when Ruan Nanzhu interrupts.
Ruan Nanzhu angrily pulls Lin Qiushi away, brushing off where Li Dongyuan touched him.
Li Dongyuan remains unbothered, revealing his manipulative and cunning nature beneath a charming facade.
Chapter 25Lin Qiushi struggles to fall asleep and hears eerie creaking sounds above him.
A disturbing song about Lu Sachan starts playing from above in a child's voice.
The singing voice approaches Lin Qiushi while describing Lu Sachan’s tragic life.
A ghostly figure—a one-legged girl in a school uniform—appears beside his bed.
The ghost, Lu Sachan, asks if Lin Qiushi can hear "the crying."
Outside the window, Lin Qiushi hears crying and voices of Jiang Xinhong and Mu Kai abandoning a dying girl.
Lin Qiushi realizes they left Lu Sachan to die after an accident.
Lu Sachan tries to touch Lin Qiushi but is stopped by talismans which suddenly catch fire.
A class photo showing Lu Sachan smiling is left behind by the ghost.
Ruan Nanzhu comforts Lin Qiushi, and they sleep together while discussing the event.
In the morning, Xia Rubei looks exhausted; Ruan Nanzhu teases her about Li Dongyuan.
The group compares two class photos and notices discrepancies: Lu Sachan is missing in one, while Jiang Xinhong and Mu Kai are missing in another.
They deduce Lu Sachan was bullied and left to die, and the class photo updates with each death.
The group finds Mu Kai and pressures him into confessing the truth with hypnosis by Li Dongyuan.
Mu Kai admits he and Jiang Xinhong bullied Lu Sachan, causing her accident and then abandoning her.
Mu Kai is hypnotized into singing the mocking song; Lu Sachan appears and rips off his leg.
Mu Kai dies and is pulled underground; the class photo updates with his image next to Lu Sachan.
They realize only Jiang Xinhong remains.
They search for Jiang Xinhong and eventually find him hiding in a school toilet.
Jiang Xinhong attacks Lin Qiushi but falls from a window during the confrontation and dies.
Lu Sachan appears beside Jiang Xinhong’s body looking disappointed but adds him to the photo.
The complete class photo burns up and leaves behind a key.
They find the metal door in the old classroom and use the key to open it.
Xia Rubei, Li Dongyuan, Ruan Nanzhu, and Lin Qiushi exit the door back into the real world.
Lin Qiushi returns to the villa and speaks briefly with Cheng Qianli.
He goes to see Ruan Nanzhu and walks in on him changing.
Lin Qiushi gets flustered, but Ruan Nanzhu brushes it off since they're both men.
Ruan Nanzhu teases Lin Qiushi and asks if he prefers Zhu Meng or Ruan Nanzhu.
Lin Qiushi awkwardly chooses Ruan Nanzhu to avoid conflict.
CLUE 6
Crows in the Scarecrow
Chapter 26Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli relax on the rooftop, overhearing a heated, ambiguous conversation between Ruan Nanzhu and Cheng Yixie involving a secret decision, presumably about Cheng Qianli.
Ruan Nanzhu unexpectedly takes Lin Qiushi to meet someone important, revealing that it’s celebrity Zhang Yiqing, who has been chosen by the door but doesn’t believe in the supernatural.
Zhang Yiqing shows little interest in Ruan Nanzhu’s help and instead chooses to work with a rival group, Ivory, upsetting Tan Zaozao who had arranged the meeting.
Ruan Nanzhu reveals to Lin Qiushi that he leaked the information about Zhang Yiqing to Ivory on purpose, suggesting he didn’t want to work with the arrogant actor.
Qin Budai, a new member, returns from his second door and falls into depression, described as a common phase between the second and third door.
Chen Fei says Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli were unusual for not experiencing this depression, joking that Cheng Qianli’s lack of fear might come from low intelligence.
Ruan Nanzhu is confirmed to have gone through depression earlier in his journey, and the veteran who witnessed it died in a level 9 door with him.
Lin Qiushi, Cheng Qianli, and others prepare for hotpot. Wu Qi is invited over and becomes infatuated with Ruan Nanzhu in drag, not realizing at first that he’s a man.
After Ruan Nanzhu removes his wig, Wu Qi is embarrassed but still attracted to him. Lin Qiushi drives him home to prevent distracted driving.
Back at the villa, Lin Qiushi asks Ruan Nanzhu why he enjoys cross-dressing, prompting Ruan Nanzhu to jokingly suggest Lin Qiushi try it himself.
Ruan Nanzhu later insists that Lin Qiushi dress in women’s clothing for their next door, despite Lin Qiushi’s horror and resistance.
Ruan Nanzhu transforms Lin Qiushi with makeup and a wig, creating a convincing female persona. Lin Qiushi is reluctantly impressed by the result.
Lin Qiushi chooses to go into the door as a mute girl rather than a cross-dressing man, trying to preserve some dignity.
The housemates tease him mercilessly, particularly Cheng Qianli, who boasts he’d be a ten as a girl.
Ruan Nanzhu checks on Cheng Qianli and Cheng Yixie’s preparations, expressing confidence in the brothers’ abilities.
Cheng Qianli receives his clue for the door but keeps it secret per his brother’s instructions, showing his loyalty.
Lin Qiushi later receives his clue, “Crows in the Scarecrow,” which refers to a Western urban legend where a scarecrow haunted and killed children.
Ruan Nanzhu gives him a detailed file on the legend and takes him shopping for women’s clothes to wear in the door.
Lin Qiushi’s transformation continues, and Ruan Nanzhu reassures him that he’ll be well taken care of beyond the door.
Ruan Nanzhu gives Lin Qiushi the option to play either a mute girl or a cross-dressing man. Lin Qiushi chooses the former.
Days later, Cheng Qianli disappears through the door and returns visibly shaken, immediately rushing to his brother, terrified he might not have returned.
Cheng Yixie comforts him silently, showing their deep bond.
After Cheng Qianli calms down, he reveals that the door world was a historical battlefield and speaks about their genetic illness that had left them terminal before the doors appeared.
He admits he no longer fears the door, as it gave him a chance to live beyond his previous prognosis.
Cheng Qianli goes to rest, and Lin Qiushi reflects on how everyone in the villa is living on borrowed time.
That night, Lin Qiushi’s sixth door appears, signaling the beginning of his next journey.
TextDanmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Coins of Destiny
Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)
Chapter 1
To Sever All Secular Ties
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.
Chapter 2
The Fuyao Sect
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.
Chapter 3
Cultivation
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.
Chapter 4
The Secret Realm
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.
Chapter 5
The Calamity Begins
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.
Chapter 6
Crossing Treshold
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.
Chapter 7
Leaving Mount Fuyao
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.
Chapter 8
Lord Beiming
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.
Chapter 9
The Token
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.
Chapter 10
Azure Dragon Island
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.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / You're Too OP! (You Boys Play Games Very Well)
You're Too OP! (You Boys Play Games Very Well)
Chapter 01Ling Meng (IGN: Lemon) is a sarcastic and sharp-tongued player in the popular game Galaxy Legends, known more for his insults than his skills.
Despite being skilled, Ling Meng is stuck between the Diamond and God tiers, earning both fans and haters with his infamous "Lemon Daddy’s Sendoff."
His roommate Pi Daya supports and teases him regularly, even joining his anti-fan group for entertainment.
During one of his daily matches, Ling Meng is unexpectedly matched against Mangosteen (a.k.a. Mangod), a top-tier streamer known for elite gameplay and a sultry voice.
Mangosteen crushes Ling Meng easily. Ling Meng sends a flirty, joking message: “you’re too OP uwu” — not realizing the match was live-streamed.
That comment goes viral, becoming a meme. Ling Meng is relentlessly spammed with “you’re too OP uwu” everywhere, both online and on campus.
Ling Meng, mortified but determined, starts obsessively watching Mangosteen’s streams to improve his skills and eventually defeat him.
Through subtle clues (canteen bun flavor, ambient noises), Ling Meng deduces that Mangosteen may be a student at Yanshan University.
After intense studying, Ling Meng reaches God tier and his sarcastic send-offs reappear at higher-level play, surprising the community.
They get matched again. This time, Ling Meng challenges Mangosteen to a wager: loser must post a photo buying embarrassing items from the campus pharmacy.
Mangosteen wins by nuking Ling Meng’s base through a risky but calculated blind guess, surprising everyone.
Ling Meng, honoring the bet, attempts to buy condoms at the campus pharmacy, only to find out they aren’t sold there. Mangosteen cheekily reminds him that location wasn’t specified.
Humiliated further by roommate Pi Daya, Ling Meng completes the dare by buying condoms off-campus and posting a picture holding them.
Fans focus more on Ling Meng’s “pretty hands” than the condoms, spamming flirty comments and gifts.
Fueled by his obsession, Ling Meng organizes an on-campus Galaxy Legends tournament with the secret goal of identifying Mangosteen’s real identity.
Prizes include his meal card, a childhood nude photo (used as a gag), and condoms. He blasts through the rounds effortlessly.
In the finals, he faces Man Guoding, a senior student, whose gameplay eerily mirrors Mangosteen's.
Suspicious, Ling Meng watches closely and confirms Man Guoding is not Mangosteen when he makes a rookie mistake in the final move.
Ling Meng wins the tournament but feels empty. Later, Man Guoding visits his dorm to collect his prize — the embarrassing childhood photo.
Ling Meng instantly recognizes Man Guoding’s voice — it’s Mangosteen. He had thrown the match to win the funnier prize.
Man Guoding reveals that Ling Meng was the reason he became serious about the game after being snarkily insulted by him in an early match.
They finally become friends in-game; Man Guoding adds Ling Meng to his friends list.
Pi Daya embarrasses Ling Meng repeatedly by calling him “Mengmeng” and sharing his obsession with Mangosteen.
During a 3V3 team match with random player GuestC, Ling Meng and Man Guoding work flawlessly together, using clever distractions, sneak attacks, and kamikaze units to defeat the enemy.
Their in-game banter is filled with innuendos and flirting, which drives fans wild and spams Man Guoding’sstream with gifts and suggestive danmu.
Man Guoding encourages Ling Meng to start his own stream. After teasing, Ling Meng agrees and posts a public announcement to stream the next day at 8 p.m.
Chapter 02Ling Meng wakes up at noon and rushes to class, exhausted from staying up playing Galaxy Legends the night before.
Pi Daya teases Ling Meng about his streaming debut scheduled for that evening, calling him “Mengmeng” and treating him like a celebrity.
Ling Meng insists on using voice-changing software for his stream to maintain privacy, worried about real-life fans recognizing him.
Pi Daya mocks his “tsundere” energy and flirts that Ling Meng’s whole act is just a cover to get closer to Man Guoding.
Man Guoding messages Ling Meng privately with tips and encouragement for the upcoming stream, showing growing camaraderie.
Ling Meng’s heart flutters at Man Guoding’s warm, straightforward praise, and he tries to downplay how flustered he is.
Man Guoding offers to join Ling Meng’s stream to support him, which Ling Meng pretends to be reluctant about but secretly loves.
During the stream, Ling Meng uses voice-masking software and introduces himself with his usual snarky, cool attitude.
Viewers flood in, many fans from Man Guoding’s stream, excited to see “Lemon Daddy” finally in action.
Pi Daya trolls the chat as “Mengmeng’sMom” and gifts big amounts of money, causing embarrassment and chaos.
Man Guoding joins the match in Ling Meng’s stream under the name Mangosteen, and they queue together.
Viewers are captivated by their incredible teamwork and constant flirtatious banter, interpreting their exchanges as deeply romantic.
A high-profile opponent enters the match, a notorious troll named BananaBoat, who is known for stream-sniping and trash talk.
Ling Meng and Man Guoding beat BananaBoat’s team effortlessly using clever, humiliating tactics.
BananaBoat rage quits and accuses them of being a couple, which only fuels fans’ excitement and shipping.
Ling Meng accidentally reveals hints about being a Yanshan University student during the stream, and viewers start digging.
A fan figures out his identity by cross-referencing voice, schedule, and habits, and comments “Yanshan Ling Meng” in the chat.
Ling Meng panics, shuts down the stream abruptly, and deletes the playback to prevent more people from confirming his identity.
Man Guoding reassures him calmly and affectionately, telling Ling Meng he’ll handle any fallout and not to worry.
Ling Meng is overwhelmed by Man Guoding’s concern and finds himself falling deeper for him, despite pretending otherwise.
Later that night, Ling Meng can’t sleep and replays the compliments and warm gestures from Man Guoding in his head.
Ling Meng writes a sarcastic social media post blaming “Mangosteen” for destroying his peaceful campus life, though he secretly enjoys the attention.
Pi Daya reads the post and taunts Ling Meng, calling him out for being a lovestruck drama queen and “officially whipped.”
Ling Meng refuses to admit his feelings out loud, but his every action betrays his deepening obsession with Man Guoding.
Chapter 03Ling Meng finds out his identity has been leaked after his stream; his followers skyrocketed but so did campus whispers.
Ling Meng blames Man Guoding for tempting him into streaming and indirectly causing his exposure.
Pi Daya teases Ling Meng relentlessly for being “outed” as Lemon and secretly loving the attention from Man Guoding.
Ling Meng sulks in bed and refuses to go outside, overwhelmed by the embarrassment and sudden fame.
Man Guoding messages Ling Meng, expressing concern and asking him to come out for dinner to talk things through.
Ling Meng tries to act cold and uninterested, but ultimately agrees to meet Man Guoding in the cafeteria.
At the cafeteria, Man Guoding buys dinner for Ling Meng and casually mentions how popular Ling Meng’s hands are online.
Ling Meng is flustered by the compliment and gets even more embarrassed when Man Guoding implies fans think he’s hot.
Man Guoding brings up the growing rumors that they are a couple, teasing Ling Meng but also carefully gauging his reaction.
Ling Meng refuses to respond seriously and instead insults Man Guoding’s fashion sense to deflect his feelings.
Man Guoding shifts the conversation to upcoming duo matches and invites Ling Meng to team up more frequently.
Ling Meng agrees but complains that Man Guoding’s stream fans are too intense and emotionally taxing.
Pi Daya appears suddenly and interrupts their meal, dramatically calling Ling Meng “Mengmeng” and hyping the couple rumors.
Ling Meng chokes on his drink while Man Guoding just smiles calmly and doesn’t deny the implied relationship.
Man Guoding and Pi Daya discuss Ling Meng’s personality openly in front of him, embarrassing him further.
Pi Daya suggests they take a “family photo,” implying the trio are now a household, which makes Ling Meng furious.
Back at the dorm, Ling Meng reflects on how much closer he has grown to Man Guoding and how his teasing no longer feels annoying.
Ling Meng tries to convince himself he only cares about in-game cooperation, but can’t stop thinking about Man Guoding’s smile.
That night, Ling Meng dreams of Man Guoding but refuses to admit he enjoyed it when he wakes up.
In Galaxy Legends, Ling Meng and Man Guoding continue to play as a duo and begin to experiment with playful, coordinated strategies.
Fans notice the chemistry between them intensifying and start tagging them with a ship name, flooding streams with fan art and jokes.
Ling Meng tries to maintain a cold front on stream, but viewers point out how soft he becomes whenever Man Guoding speaks.
A female streamer named Jellyfish challenges Man Guoding to a duo match with her instead, suggesting she can play better than Lemon.
Man Guoding politely declines but suggests a 2v2 to test their skills, pairing up with Ling Meng against Jellyfish and her friend.
During the match, Ling Meng feels threatened and becomes hyper-focused on defeating Jellyfish, treating it as a personal battle.
Man Guoding notices Ling Meng’s competitiveness and subtly boosts him with in-game compliments, which fluster Ling Meng mid-match.
Ling Meng and Man Guoding win the 2v2 convincingly, using a surprise trap strategy that humiliates Jellyfish’s team.
Jellyfish surrenders with poor grace, and fans mock her attempt to come between the “Lemon x Mangosteen” duo.
After the match, Ling Meng receives several private messages from random viewers flirting with him or asking about his relationship status.
Ling Meng, overwhelmed, turns off private messaging and accuses Man Guoding of turning him into a “scandal magnet.”
Man Guoding jokes that it’s only fair since Ling Meng was the one who flirted first with the “you’re too OP uwu” message.
Ling Meng denies everything but can’t stop blushing and mentally curses his past self for ever typing that line.
Ling Meng finds himself checking his phone constantly, waiting for Man Guoding to message him again.
The chapter ends with Ling Meng complaining to Pi Daya about being distracted, while Pi Daya laughs and calls him “helplessly in love.”
Chapter 04Ling Meng becomes increasingly frustrated by the constant speculation online about his relationship with Man Guoding.
Pi Daya reads out loud the danmu and fan posts shipping “Lemon x Mangosteen,” making Ling Meng even more annoyed.
Ling Meng accuses Man Guoding of doing nothing to stop the rumors and claims he wants to avoid more misunderstandings.
Man Guoding calmly responds that he never said anything because he didn’t mind being linked with Ling Meng.
Ling Meng is thrown off by the direct statement and tells Man Guoding to make things clear to the fans to stop the gossip.
Man Guoding says he doesn’t want to, implying he enjoys the fan speculation or the idea of being associated with Ling Meng.
Ling Meng is flustered and confused, unsure if Man Guoding is joking, serious, or flirting deliberately.
Man Guoding changes the subject and reminds Ling Meng about their ranked match, causing Ling Meng to quickly regain his focus.
During their ranked duo game, they face a strong enemy team with a player named Cuttlefish, known for being sneaky and strategic.
Man Guoding and Ling Meng win after a long, intense match, using clever bait-and-switch tactics and synchronized play.
After the match, Man Guoding makes a subtle comment about how perfectly they worked together, hinting at compatibility beyond the game.
Ling Meng shrugs off the compliment but replays the match in his head later, wondering if it was meant to have a deeper meaning.
Pi Daya surprises Ling Meng with a printed copy of a fanfic about “Lemon x Mangosteen” that has gone viral online.
The fanfic includes steamy content and alternate universe scenes, which horrifies Ling Meng and makes Pi Daya laugh uncontrollably.
Pi Daya offers to help Ling Meng “proofread” the fanfic, and Ling Meng furiously threatens to destroy his computer.
Ling Meng visits the game forums and sees fan art, shipping tags, memes, and videos all centered around him and Man Guoding.
One post features a side-by-side analysis of their voice tones and reactions, concluding they are a couple based on audio chemistry.
Ling Meng angrily posts a vague rant on his alt account denying any romantic involvement and saying “the internet is delusional.”
Man Guoding sends him a message after reading it, teasing, “Why not just clarify you’re already taken?”
Ling Meng replies with a string of angry emojis and tells him to shut up, but his heart races while typing.
In a private match later that night, Man Guoding uses affectionate in-game pet names for Ling Meng, making him completely lose focus.
Ling Meng tries to retaliate by calling Man Guoding “Mangosteen Darling” sarcastically, which only makes the fans more insane.
Ling Meng sees that someone edited a video of him saying “Mangosteen Darling” on loop and set it to romantic music.
Man Guoding sends the video to Ling Meng privately with the caption “I downloaded this for safekeeping.”
Ling Meng nearly breaks his phone and promises revenge but secretly saves the video too.
During another stream, a new viewer joins and asks directly in the chat whether Ling Meng and Man Guoding are dating.
Ling Meng tries to avoid the question but accidentally stutters, and Man Guoding smoothly replies, “Does it matter as long as we’re happy?”
Fans explode with reactions and donations, flooding the stream with couple emojis and declarations of “canon confirmed.”
After the stream, Ling Meng scolds Man Guoding for stirring things up, but Man Guoding just laughs and says he’s “just being honest.”
Ling Meng complains to Pi Daya that Man Guoding is “impossible to shut up” and “unbelievably smug,” but can’t stop smiling.
The chapter ends with Ling Meng staring at his phone, re-reading Man Guoding’s message over and over again until he falls asleep with it still on screen.
Chapter 05Ling Meng wakes up to see his phone flooded with comments, likes, and messages after last night’s ambiguous stream with Man Guoding.
Pi Daya reads out the most exaggerated ship posts, including one claiming Ling Meng’s stutter was a “public confession.”
Ling Meng denies everything and insists it was all due to lag, but Pi Daya doesn’t believe him and keeps teasing.
Ling Meng finds himself constantly checking if Man Guoding has messaged him, even though he claims he wants peace.
Man Guoding casually texts Ling Meng “Good morning,” causing Ling Meng to panic over how to reply without seeming eager.
They queue up for a match, and during loading Man Guoding says he had a dream about Ling Meng—without elaborating.
Ling Meng demands details, but Man Guoding only says it was “a good dream” and refuses to give specifics, making Ling Meng overthink.
In the game, Man Guoding takes every opportunity to protect and boost Ling Meng, making their cooperation nearly flawless.
Danmu and chat start calling Man Guoding “Lemon’s Knight” and “the ultimate boyfriend,” overwhelming Ling Meng.
After the stream, Ling Meng tries to act normal, but Man Guoding texts him again to ask if he wants to meet up for lunch.
Ling Meng initially says no, but changes his mind quickly and awkwardly agrees, pretending it’s “no big deal.”
They meet at a quiet corner of the cafeteria where Man Guoding has already saved a seat and brought Ling Meng’s favorite drink.
Ling Meng pretends to be annoyed but secretly memorizes every detail of the moment.
Man Guoding suddenly asks if Ling Meng has ever been in a relationship, catching Ling Meng off guard.
Ling Meng denies it and claims he’s too busy with school and gaming to date, then awkwardly asks if Man Guoding has.
Man Guoding says he hasn’t either and that if he did, he’d want someone who could keep up with him in both games and life.
Ling Meng blushes and nearly chokes on his drink, accusing Man Guoding of flirting again.
Man Guoding smiles and says it’s only fair payback for “you’re too OP uwu,” which still haunts Ling Meng.
After lunch, Man Guoding walks Ling Meng back to the dorm and offers to carry his backpack for no reason, acting like a boyfriend.
Pi Daya sees them and loudly announces that “the couple has returned,” causing Ling Meng to chase him down the hall in rage.
Pi Daya later tells Ling Meng that the fanbase now calls him “the tsundere bottom of Yanshan” and wants to know when the wedding is.
Ling Meng threatens to uninstall the game and live in the mountains, but Pi Daya notes he’s smiling while saying it.
Ling Meng watches Man Guoding’s stream that night and feels jealous when he sees new female fans flirting in chat.
One bold female player joins Man Guoding’s squad and tries to flirt aggressively, calling him “sweetheart” and offering to carry.
Ling Meng instantly sends a game request and queues up to force himself into Man Guoding’s team.
During the match, Ling Meng outplays the girl in every move and steals all her kills, making her rage quit by mid-match.
Man Guoding privately messages Ling Meng with “Jealous?” and Ling Meng denies it with “I don’t care,” followed by three angry emojis.
Man Guoding replies with a sticker of a smug cat holding a heart, and Ling Meng can’t stop laughing at how ridiculous it is.
That night, Ling Meng lies awake in bed, replaying everything Man Guoding said at lunch, especially the dream mention.
The chapter ends with Ling Meng whispering to himself that he needs to focus on school—but instead checks his phone again for messages from Man Guoding.
Chapter 06Ling Meng wakes up to find his bed filled with snacks, a prank gift from Pi Daya meant to “celebrate” his relationship progress with Man Guoding.
Pi Daya insists that Ling Meng is “in love denial mode” and claims it’s obvious to everyone except Ling Meng himself.
Ling Meng furiously denies having any feelings for Man Guoding but secretly checks his phone to see if Man Guoding has texted him.
Man Guoding sends a calm message inviting Ling Meng to join his practice team for a campus e-sports competition.
Ling Meng tries to act indifferent but instantly replies “Okay,” before deleting and rewriting the message three times to sound casual.
At the team practice, Ling Meng meets the other members, who all seem curious and amused by how close he and Man Guoding are.
One player nicknamed White Radish jokes that Ling Meng looks like Man Guoding’s “emotional support animal,” embarrassing him.
Man Guoding ignores the teasing and focuses on serious gameplay, assigning Ling Meng as his main partner for map scouting.
Their cooperation is flawless, and even skeptical teammates admit the two of them work on the same wavelength.
During a break, a teammate asks how Ling Meng and Man Guoding met, and Man Guoding replies with a teasing “he seduced me in battle.”
Ling Meng immediately chokes on his drink and threatens to uninstall the game if Man Guoding keeps spreading lies.
Man Guoding leans in and says, “Well, you did say I was too OP uwu,” making everyone laugh and Ling Meng want to disappear.
Ling Meng realizes that no matter how much he tries to deny it, he enjoys being around Man Guoding and looks forward to their interactions.
That night, Ling Meng finds a new anonymous account commenting sweet things on his stream, always appearing when Man Guoding is offline.
Suspicious, Ling Meng tests it by casually asking the commenter what Man Guoding is doing, and the account responds too specifically.
Ling Meng calls Man Guoding out on it mid-game, demanding to know if he’s the secret commenter using a side account.
Man Guoding shamelessly admits it, saying he wanted to praise Ling Meng without making him feel embarrassed publicly.
Ling Meng is so caught off guard that he loses a match and blames Man Guoding’s confession for ruining his concentration.
Fans clip the moment and flood the stream with comments calling it a “soft confession arc,” pushing the ship further.
Ling Meng pretends to be angry but saves a screenshot of the anonymous comment thread before deleting the conversation history.
During their next match, Man Guoding whispers through the mic, “You looked cute when you got mad,” and Ling Meng nearly rage-quits.
Pi Daya bursts into the room and announces that Ling Meng has become the new “campus sweetheart,” now recognized even by unrelated departments.
Ling Meng screams into a pillow as Pi Daya reads aloud a campus gossip post speculating whether Man Guoding and Ling Meng are secretly dating.
The chapter ends with Ling Meng threatening to burn the internet while secretly smiling at his phone, rereading Man Guoding’s message that says “Let’s win the tournament together—and maybe win something else too.”
Chapter 07Ling Meng is still frustrated by the growing number of campus posts speculating about his relationship with Man Guoding.
Pi Daya prints one of the posts and tapes it to their dorm door as a prank, prompting Ling Meng to launch a pillow at him.
Ling Meng pretends to be angry but secretly reads the comments multiple times and saves a screenshot of one that says “they’re endgame.”
Man Guoding invites Ling Meng to meet the rest of the e-sports club team and help strategize for the upcoming campus tournament.
Ling Meng reluctantly agrees but warns Man Guoding not to do anything weird in front of others.
At the club room, Ling Meng is introduced formally to the rest of the players, who all clearly know about the Lemon x Mangosteen ship.
One player sarcastically asks if they should start calling Ling Meng “sister-in-law,” causing Ling Meng to threaten violence.
Man Guoding just smiles and tells the others to behave, which only makes them tease harder and call it “a protective husband moment.”
During team strategy discussions, Ling Meng suggests a risk-heavy rotation plan that catches everyone by surprise.
Man Guoding immediately supports Ling Meng’s idea, calling it “bold but smart,” which boosts Ling Meng’s confidence.
The team agrees to test it in practice matches, and the plan proves extremely effective, earning Ling Meng unexpected respect.
Man Guoding praises Ling Meng in front of everyone, saying “See? Told you my Lemon is amazing,” making Ling Meng blush.
After practice, Ling Meng tries to walk home alone, but Man Guoding catches up and insists on walking him back to the dorm.
On the way, Man Guoding casually asks if Ling Meng has ever kissed anyone, which causes Ling Meng to trip over the sidewalk.
Ling Meng demands to know why Man Guoding would ask such a thing, and Man Guoding says he’s “just curious, no reason.”
Ling Meng says no and accuses Man Guoding of trying to mess with his head before the tournament.
Man Guoding responds with a soft “Got it. Then I’ll make sure your first kiss is memorable,” leaving Ling Meng speechless.
Ling Meng angrily tells Man Guoding to shut up and walks faster, but his ears are bright red.
That night, Ling Meng tells Pi Daya what happened, and Pi Daya screams into a blanket, calling it a “live-action dating sim.”
Pi Daya tells Ling Meng to “just kiss him already” and stop wasting everyone’s time, but Ling Meng insists “nothing is happening.”
During the next stream, Ling Meng and Man Guoding use custom skins and play in perfect sync, leaving fans screaming in the danmu.
One fan asks if they’re dating yet, and Man Guoding replies, “Ask Lemon,” which throws Ling Meng into panic.
Ling Meng says “no comment,” but fans take it as confirmation and begin flooding the chat with heart emojis and marriage proposals.
After the stream, Ling Meng complains that Man Guoding is being too reckless with his teasing.
Man Guoding asks Ling Meng if it’s really teasing—or if he’s actually serious but waiting for Ling Meng to catch up.
Ling Meng is stunned into silence and spends the night scrolling through old messages trying to decode everything Man Guoding ever said.
The chapter ends with Ling Meng lying in bed, covering his face with his pillow, and whispering to himself that he’s “so screwed.”
Chapter 08Ling Meng wakes up to find that a fan-made compilation video titled “The Rise of Lemon x Mangosteen” has gone viral online.
Pi Daya forces Ling Meng to watch it, and it includes every flirtatious moment between Ling Meng and Man Guoding with romantic music.
Ling Meng is mortified, especially when it ends with a slow-motion replay of him blushing after Man Guoding called him “my Lemon.”
Ling Meng threatens to report the video for emotional damage, but he watches it again later alone and saves it to a hidden folder.
Man Guoding messages Ling Meng saying, “You looked cute in the video,” which makes Ling Meng drop his phone in shock.
Ling Meng accuses Man Guoding of spreading chaos online, but Man Guoding replies that “truth spreads on its own.”
At their next practice match, the team continues to tease Ling Meng and Man Guoding for being the “power couple of Yanshan e-sports.”
One teammate jokes that their couple synergy gives them a +10 buff, and another suggests making matching jerseys.
Man Guoding calmly agrees and asks Ling Meng, “What name do you want on the back of yours? Mine’s gonna say ‘Lemon’s Guoding.’”
Ling Meng turns red and yells that he will burn the jersey if anyone actually prints that.
The team begins promoting the upcoming campus tournament, and the Lemon x Mangosteen hype spreads across the university.
Students from other departments begin betting on whether Ling Meng and Man Guoding will go public during the tournament.
Pi Daya opens a poll titled “When will Lemon confess?” and shows Ling Meng the results, where 80% vote “before finals.”
Ling Meng nearly strangles Pi Daya but also secretly checks to see what Man Guoding voted.
During a stream, a viewer asks if Man Guoding has ever had a crush before, and he answers, “Yes. Currently ongoing.”
Ling Meng chokes mid-game, and the danmu immediately explodes with “IS IT LEMON? IT’S LEMON, RIGHT???”
Man Guoding doesn’t confirm or deny but looks at the camera with a knowing smile and says, “He knows.”
Ling Meng goes offline early and claims he’s too tired to play, but actually spends an hour rereading old chat logs with Man Guoding.
Later that night, Man Guoding sends Ling Meng a photo of a lemon-shaped cake with the caption, “I saw this and thought of you.”
Ling Meng doesn’t respond immediately, then replies with “Is your brain made of fruit?”
Man Guoding answers, “Only the sweetest parts,” and Ling Meng has to bury his face in a blanket to stop from screaming.
At campus the next day, Ling Meng hears strangers whispering about him in the hallway, and someone calls him “Yanshan’s tsundere prince.”
Ling Meng vents to Pi Daya, who tells him to just give up and let Man Guoding take him on a date already.
That evening, Man Guoding invites Ling Meng out “to test team chemistry” and takes him to a quiet rooftop overlooking the campus lights.
Man Guoding casually offers him a drink and says, “You know this isn’t about the game, right?”
Ling Meng nervously sips and asks what he means, and Man Guoding replies, “You. Us. I wasn’t joking about any of it.”
Ling Meng’s heart races and he tries to deflect, but Man Guoding gently tells him he can take his time to figure it out.
As they sit side by side, Man Guoding softly says, “But I’ll wait. Just don’t keep me waiting forever, Lemon.”
Ling Meng doesn’t respond out loud, but quietly leans his head against Man Guoding’s shoulder as the chapter ends.
Extra 01Team Fruits becomes the champion of the first International Galaxy Legends Tournament, triggering a wave of national pride and online celebrations in China.
To support Team Fruits, the entire gaming community participates in campaigns, including wild stunts like crossdressing and livestreaming in swimsuits.
Man Guoding, as one of the tournament's commentators, records a music video with fellow commentators, becoming the center of attention due to his good looks.
Ling Meng refuses to participate in the campaign and faces criticism in his channel for not showing support.
Ling Meng jokes about how good Man Guoding looks in the music video and casually flirts with fans by calling himself just as fine.
Man Guoding appears on Ling Meng’s stream to give him herbal tea for his sore throat, and the viewers tease them for being so domestic.
Ling Meng rejects all fan demands to crossdress or wear swim trunks, instead declaring he’ll run a marathon to support Team Fruits.
Most fans mock the idea, thinking Ling Meng is bluffing or will give up early, especially since he’s known as a gaming nerd.
It’s revealed that Ling Meng has been secretly training for two months, running long distances every morning with Man Guoding cycling beside him.
Ling Meng’s motivation is to show support for esports athletes and to challenge himself, not just for show or popularity.
Man Guoding worries that all the training might be wasted if Team Fruits loses, but Ling Meng says the effort is meaningful regardless.
On the day of the run, fans gather at the venue, betting on how soon Ling Meng will give up, still not taking him seriously.
Ling Meng wears a Team Fruits jersey and makes a heartfelt declaration before starting, pointing to the sky to signify “Team Fruits for the win.”
As Ling Meng starts running, the crowd unexpectedly joins in chanting and cheering, turning the run into a massive movement.
Online fans flood Kat-Fu to watch the marathon live, expressing regret they can’t be there in person.
While Ling Meng runs, Team Fruits is training intensely at their hotel, fully focused and unaware of the run’s emotional impact.
As Ling Meng pushes through the distance, viewers are stunned he surpasses 5 km, proving his dedication and shocking those who doubted him.
Strangers on the street stop to watch, and passersby start cheering too after learning it’s a campaign supporting the Chinese national esports team.
An OB van follows Ling Meng to livestream the run, with Man Guoding riding inside, spraying him with water to cool him down.
Pi Daya interviews Man Guoding about his feelings, and Man Guoding answers calmly that he can’t run the marathon with Ling Meng, but he will always be waiting at the finish line.
Team Fruits’ training is paused, and the players see Ling Meng’s run being livestreamed. They realize the entire city is rallying behind them.
Ling Meng continues running despite the heat and exhaustion, powered by cheers and belief.
At the final stretch, Man Guoding jumps out and gives Ling Meng a Team Fruits flag to carry across the finish line.
Ling Meng collapses into Man Guoding’s arms as he crosses the finish line, completely exhausted but triumphant.
Fans go wild, cheering and praising Ling Meng, calling him their “Daddy” and pledging to be loud supporters during the finals.
Team Fruits finishes their last training match and emerges from the hotel to a crowd of cheering fans and national pride.
The five players bow in silent promise to win the finals, a privilege only granted to the winners of the tournament.
On match day, Ling Meng is spotted in the audience holding the autographed Team Fruits flag and shouting louder than anyone else.
Commentators tease that Ling Meng, despite running a marathon the day before, is still full of energy.
Man Guoding, now back at the commentator’s desk, simply smiles when asked if Ling Meng’s stamina ever causes trouble.
The finals begin as Ling Meng’s run becomes symbolic of unity, perseverance, and the spirit of esports athletes.
Extra 02Ling Meng is livestreaming outside the First Tournament Stadium for the finals of the 2024 Galaxy Legends Tournament between Team Fruits and Team Veggies.
Ling Meng now appears more mature and professional but still retains his signature trollish tone, referring to himself as “daddy” on stream.
Fans react fondly to his familiar antics, posting nostalgic and chaotic comments in the chat.
Ling Meng pretends to randomly pick someone in the crowd for an interview but clearly targets Man Guoding, who plays along as a “random stranger.”
Ling Meng introduces Man Guoding as “Mr Man, the kind Samaritan,” while viewers flood the chat with jokes about their obvious flirting.
Ling Meng begins a mock-serious interview, asking Man Guoding if he plays Galaxy Legends and watches streamers.
Man Guoding pretends not to know Ling Meng personally and claims he’s a fan of a “family-friendly streamer” who’s not the best, prompting mock outrage from Ling Meng.
Man Guoding quickly corrects himself and compliments Ling Meng, calling him the cutest and most interesting streamer with the sweetest smile.
Ling Meng can’t hide his smug grin, and viewers tease them for being so obvious and romantic on stream.
Man Guoding proudly reveals he’s holding a fan sign with “Lemon” written on it alongside a doodle of a lemon with bared teeth.
Ling Meng says that’s why he picked Man Guoding from the crowd, reinforcing the fake “randomness” of the interview.
Ling Meng asks which team Man Guoding supports, and Man Guoding answers diplomatically, saying he has family on both sides and respects both teams.
Ling Meng probes further, asking Man Guoding to comment on Yam from Team Veggies and Mandarin from Team Fruits.
Man Guoding praises Yam for growing stronger through perseverance and highlights that esports is about both talent and hard work.
On Mandarin, Man Guoding says he’s not “the next Banana” or anyone’s shadow, but his own player, representing new energy in the game.
Man Guoding reflects on the emotional weight of the match: Mandarin is just beginning his career, while this may be Yam’s last match.
He emphasizes that esports is fair—there will always be winners and losers, and that’s what gives it meaning.
Viewers are unexpectedly moved by Man Guoding’s insightful commentary, even joking that it feels like a post-match speech rehearsal.
Ling Meng plays along but “notices” that the guest commentator for the match is someone named Mangosteen, sarcastically acting surprised.
Man Guoding excuses himself, saying the producer is calling him, but Ling Meng stops him with one last question.
Ling Meng jokes about how Man Guoding will display his Lemon sign while commentating, and fans joke he’ll get kicked out of the commentator booth.
Man Guoding says he has a seat reserved in the second-floor stands to hang the sign, promising Lemon’s name will be right in the center between Team Fruits and Team Veggies.
Ling Meng pretends to be satisfied only after confirming the sign won’t be placed in a corner “like he has no fans.”
Man Guoding agrees, saying it will be the most prominent sign at the venue.
Fans declare that Lemon Daddy has stolen the spotlight even before the match begins.
As Man Guoding exits, the stadium fills with cheers from excited fans, and the energy becomes electric.
Ling Meng closes the stream by asking who will win the finals and encouraging everyone to watch together, embodying the spirit of esports.
Annex 01Annex 01 is presented as the theme song of Ling Meng’s streaming persona “Lemon Daddy,” sung humorously to the melody of a known tune.
The lyrics reflect the chaotic, affectionate, and trollish energy that defines Ling Meng’s online identity and how his fans perceive him.
The first stanza introduces a nostalgic, poetic image of a ginger cat under a mandarin tree and links it to Ling Meng’s stickers and GIFs being saved in fans’ phones.
It transitions into more emotional lines, portraying Ling Meng as a constant and comforting figure—like lemonade in summer or a harbor in a storm—symbolizing stability and warmth.
The next section shifts to praise and comedic adoration, depicting Ling Meng as an over-the-top hero whose cheerleaders receive hugs and kisses while his enemies quake in fear.
Fans are encouraged to support him not only emotionally but materially—by gifting kibbles, catnip, canned food, cat trees, and even a “cat-yard.”
The song also plays into inside jokes and stream culture references, including Ling Meng’s soft smile, adorable dimples, and his signature brand of queer-coded trolling (“queerbaiting on stream for fortune and fame”).
It humorously commands listeners to “have his babies” to prove their love, showcasing how absurdly devoted his fanbase is.
The final section mixes genuine affection with chaotic stream humor, encouraging rebellion (“let me go rogue”) and suggesting fans “take his hand” and cause mischief together.
There’s a meta-reference to Ling Meng’s long-term streaming career, hinting that despite all the flamboyant and comedic antics, there are still hidden layers to his character.
The song ends on an explosive punchline with Ling Meng declaring “Daddy ain’t no bottom,” a callback to ongoing stream jokes and fanfiction tropes regarding his dynamic with Man Guoding.
Annex 02Names:Let's Learn Their Names!Ling Meng / Lemon
Man Guoding / Mangosteen
Ba Nana / Banana
Pi Daya / Pitaya
Du Lian / Durian
Su Beili / Strawberry
Che Rui / Cherry
Lai Qi / Lychee
Pan Apo / Pineapple
Fu Kaduo / Avocado
Lan Budan / Rambutan
Yan Mu / Yam
Man Daren / Mandarin
Long An / Longan
Annex 03The annex presents a word problem involving lemons, playfully tying into the “Lemon” theme of Ling Meng’s nickname.
The riddle involves a barrel of lemons shared among three fictional people: Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Tom takes one-fifth of the lemons plus five more.
Dick takes one-fourth of the remaining lemons plus seven more.
Harry takes half of what remains after that.
Finally, one-eighth of the original lemons are left in the barrel.
The answer is revealed as 40 lemons total, based on the equation 5 × 4 × 2 = 40.
The math reinforces the humorously educational and pun-filled theme of the series, using “lemons” as a recurring motif.
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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire
Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, Vol. 1
Prologue
The Crimson AbyssSheng Xiao, Emperor Wu of Great Qi, takes his adopted nephew and heir, the Crown Prince, to the Crimson Abyss, a deadly, forbidden place where legends speak of vengeful souls and infernal heat.
The Boundary Stele at the entrance to the Abyss warns that any living being crossing it will die; nevertheless, Sheng Xiao stands calmly on the other side, calling for his nephew to join him.
The Crown Prince respects and reveres Sheng Xiao deeply, calling him "Uncle" in private though he refers to him as "Imperial Father" in public due to the emperor having no children of his own.
Sheng Xiao reflects on the silence and heat of the Abyss, debunking the old legends of constant howling winds and tortured spirits.
After walking a mile into the Abyss, Sheng Xiao halts and plants the prince’s sword into the scorched ground, stating that with time the sword will suppress the Abyss’s flames and that one day the land will be reclaimed.
Sheng Xiao unexpectedly abdicates the throne, declaring the Crown Prince as the new ruler of Great Qi.
The Crown Prince is shocked, overwhelmed, and reluctant, but Sheng Xiao has already prepared the empire for the transition by withdrawing from affairs and grooming him.
Sheng Xiao gives final instructions: to trust key advisors, release the wrongfully imprisoned Zhao Kuan, blame Yang Dong for past misdeeds if needed, and take over ruling with wisdom and strength.
The prince tearfully departs, leaving Sheng Xiao alone at the Abyss. He bids farewell with deep sorrow but knows he must return to rule.
That night, Sheng Xiao is joined by a disguised bodyguard who turns out to be a small palm-sized chick—actually a magical firebird called a bifang—hidden in disguise.
Sheng Xiao shatters the spell binding the bifang to him, releasing it from its servitude.
He removes his imperial accessories, including a jade pendant shaped like a man, and tosses them away, symbolizing his complete renunciation of worldly ties.
The bifang desperately tries to follow Sheng Xiao as he walks deeper into the Crimson Abyss, but collapses in burning pain before reaching the edge.
Sheng Xiao stands at the cliff’s edge, smiles with mad ecstasy, and throws himself into the sea of flames, enduring an excruciating, prolonged death as his body is burned layer by layer.
Despite complete physical annihilation, Sheng Xiao does not immediately die, experiencing every moment of agony before his consciousness begins to dissolve into the fire.
His maniacal laughter echoes through the Abyss before his remnants vanish into stillness.
A short historical summary reveals Sheng Xiao had become emperor after avenging his father, ruled with both greatness and tyranny for twenty-one years, and ultimately ended his life in the Abyss. A decade later, peace returned, and a mausoleum was erected in his name.
Centuries pass. The Crimson Abyss becomes a forest and a national tourist site.
Deep underground, a ritual awakens a dormant consciousness—the essence of Sheng Xiao—who is furious at being disturbed but halts upon sensing a faint, familiar presence.
He wakes in a ruined coffin, lying in the remnants of a dried-up firebird feather, which disintegrates in his hand.
Confused but moved by emotion, Sheng Xiao realizes he has returned to life in the mortal world.
Part I
The Madman
After every raging fire, ants remain.
Chapter 1Xuan Ji is introduced hiking up a mountain to follow Xiao Zheng to a secret location.
Xiao Zheng leads Xuan Ji through a hidden tunnel inside a temple to the Anomaly Regulation Bureau (ARB), a secret government agency that manages supernatural events and metahumans.
Xuan Ji is revealed to be a metahuman with a strange innate ability called The Yao Compendium, an invisible "book" that identifies things he sees.
The ARB is extremely high-tech and secretive, housing staff from different metahuman classifications like Metal, Plant, Water, etc.
Xuan Ji has a history with the ARB: he once saved Xiao Zheng from vampire bats by flamboyantly cooking them with his fire powers, earning him a place on ARB’s watchlist.
Xuan Ji originally turned down working for ARB, dreaming of a wealthy free life, but after financial ruin, he reconsidered.
Xiao Zheng conveniently recommends Xuan Ji apply to the Disaster Response Department, claiming it has the least competition.
Xuan Ji lands the job with little effort and arrives at ARB HQ on his first day.
Xuan Ji is shocked to discover he's not just hired but is the Acting Director of the entire Disaster Response Department (DRD).
The previous DRD director suddenly took medical leave, and Xuan Ji is placed in charge without proper onboarding.
The building has mystical elements, including a massive “Foundation Tree” that existed before the HQ was built.
Before he can settle in, Xuan Ji receives an urgent text: emergency mission, come to the 35th floor now.
He is swept away by Xiao Zheng onto a private ARB jet with his new DRD team.
The mission: mutated trees have started attacking in the Crimson Canyon, a high-risk anomaly zone monitored by the ARB.
A group of thrill-seeking hikers snuck into the canyon to live-stream and got attacked by the mutant trees.
Park rangers rescued all five known hikers, but surprisingly brought back six people, though none of the survivors noticed the anomaly.
Surveillance footage reveals a horrifying tree root absorbing another tree’s life force and growing.
One of the six rescued people is blurry in every camera frame and only speaks using cobbled-together phrases stolen from the others.
Audio analysis shows the mysterious man perfectly mimics their voices using clips from their dialogue, creating entirely new sentences.
The DRD agents under Xuan Ji are quirky and eccentric: Bi Chunsheng, a no-nonsense older woman; Ping Qianru, a nervous tech girl; and an unnamed slick man with a barcode-like hairline.
Their job is not combat—it’s PR: damage control, compensation, erasure of evidence, and calming down affected civilians.
Xiao Zheng assigns the team to investigate the Crimson Canyon and discover more about the sixth person.
The only thing known about the mystery man is his name—he calls himself Sheng Lingyuan.
Chapter 2Xuan Ji flies to Crimson Canyon on a private ARB jet, trying to blend in and learn about his new colleagues.
Bi Chunsheng knits on the plane, Luo Cuicui grooms himself, and Ping Qianru snacks endlessly.
Xuan Ji builds rapport with Bi Chunsheng by playing up his homesickness, accidentally almost earning a hand-knit hat.
He learns about the "Fifteen-Strike Rule": any civilian deaths during missions result in point deductions for agents; losing all points ends their career.
Bi Chunsheng hints at corruption behind the previous director Gong’s sudden “retirement.”
Luo Cuicui explains their department monitors supernatural forums for public sentiment and anomaly reports.
Xuan Ji checks out one of the forum posts—someone's son changed drastically after being a delinquent, sparking suspicion of possession. The post is quickly deleted.
Xuan Ji falls asleep and dreams of the mysterious man in black robes again; this time the man begins to turn around, something that has never happened before.
Xuan Ji is woken up by Luo Cuicui as the plane lands near Chiyuan.
At the hospital, Ping Qianru smells incense and blood in the air, which Xuan Ji momentarily sees as a dark aura over the canyon.
The team is taken to interview five hikers who trespassed into the canyon and encountered a mysterious snake-like creature.
Bi Chunsheng uses psychic persuasion to implant false memories into the hikers, making them believe the creature was just a vine.
Luo Cuicui reveals Bi Chunsheng is a metahuman with psychic abilities, and he himself has a plant-based power, though it’s practically useless.
They are informed of a sixth hiker: Sheng Lingyuan, who claims to have lost his phone and has suspiciously long hair.
Xuan Ji’s mysterious jade ring materializes on its own—an ominous sign.
Sheng Lingyuan’s ID disintegrates into a leaf and burns when touched, triggering suspicion.
When confronted, Sheng Lingyuan attacks, aiming at Xuan Ji’s throat. Xuan Ji barely deflects using a coin imbued with magic.
Sheng Lingyuan has an unnaturally calm and elegant demeanor. His attack cracks Xuan Ji’s indestructible ring, which begins to bleed cold.
Xuan Ji retaliates with fire magic, but Sheng Lingyuan calmly subdues the flames with eerie control. His clothes disintegrate into leaves and vines, then reform.
Sheng Lingyuan uses outdated and broken language, eventually confirming he speaks an ancient dialect from over three thousand years ago.
The Compendium identifies Sheng Lingyuan as a “Heartlace Puppet,” a magical creation controlled remotely.
Sheng Lingyuan claims to have awakened in a decayed coffin, confused and poor, and that he disguised himself with illusions to help the hikers escape tree yao.
He learned modern speech from watching television, reading subtitles, and mimicking others.
Xuan Ji doubts his story, sensing inconsistencies in how calm and aimless Sheng Lingyuan is.
When questioned about his real body or identity, Sheng Lingyuan gives cryptic answers, saying he was summoned amidst chaos and speaking with someone delirious.
Xuan Ji decides to break the Heartlace Puppet spell using a magical coin and incantation learned from the Compendium.
The spell doesn’t immobilize Sheng Lingyuan as expected. His disguise is burned away, revealing a white robe marked with a bloody, incomplete symbol.
His flesh appears stone-like, his hair falls loose, and his smile becomes eerie.
The Compendium erases the “Heartlace Puppet” entry and replaces it with two words: Demonic Revenant.
Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan engage in an intense magical and physical battle, ending with Xuan Ji trapping him in chains of fire mid-fight.
Chapter 3Shen Lingyuan awakens from a sealed coffin, speaking in an ancient tongue, leading Xuan Ji to suspect he is not a corpse but a sealed evil.
Xuan Ji realizes the awakening may have been caused by a forbidden summoning ritual, possibly a Dark Descent.
To prevent interference, Xuan Ji seals the waiting room with a fire talisman and refuses to let other agents enter.
Bureau agents outside are confused and shocked by Xuan Ji’s unexpected power, as he is supposed to be a support staff member.
The waiting room becomes increasingly cold and damp despite the flames, and writing forms on the walls in an unknown language.
The Compendium reluctantly identifies the writing as “Dark Descent,” then offers no further help, frustrating Xuan Ji.
Xuan Ji orders the area evacuated and tries to alert Xiao Zheng through Luo Cuicui, warning about a potential demonic ritual.
Sheng Lingyuan, calmly chained in flames, speaks to Xuan Ji, mocking him and revealing that he recognizes Xuan Ji as a yao.
As tension builds, Sheng Lingyuan begins to break free, causing massive destruction as yin energy bursts from the waiting room.
Luo Cuicui receives a video call from Xiao Zheng, accidentally broadcasting the chaos to Bureau HQ.
Xiao Zheng orders everyone to follow Xuan Ji’s lead and begins mobilizing emergency resources.
Sheng Lingyuan breaks free from the chains and begins freezing agents with demonic mist; Xuan Ji fights back using fire powers.
Agents are stunned to learn that Xuan Ji is a rare lightning-fire user, usually assigned only to elite task forces.
Xuan Ji and the agents attempt to restrain Sheng Lingyuan again using enchanted coins that form chains.
Dr Wang, the immortal head of Historical Restoration, is contacted and explains the nature of Dark Descent as a deadly sacrificial ritual.
Dark Descent requires a medium, inscription, principal (a sealed demonic entity), and offering—usually a thousand lives.
Xiao Zheng and his team deduce that Sheng Lingyuan is a Demonic Revenant—a physical vessel for destructive energy.
Xuan Ji nearly falls for Sheng Lingyuan's manipulation, who tries to seduce him with flattery.
The Compendium warns Xuan Ji that demons manipulate desire, snapping him out of it.
Sheng Lingyuan reveals that the ritual needs one final life to complete and hints that the summoner is still nearby.
Xuan Ji contacts Xiao Zheng and deciphers the ritual details: one thousand unnatural deaths must occur in one lunar month, starting and ending on a new moon.
Xiao Zheng realizes it's the last night of the lunar month; time is running out.
The Bureau scrambles to track all unnatural deaths, but due to how spread out and masked they are, they find no useful leads.
Xiao Zheng and Xuan Ji suspect that the Bureau itself is the summoner’s target.
At HQ, Xiao Zheng is stonewalled by politics and red tape; he is isolated by other departments.
Unexpectedly, Team Tornado, an elite mobile force, throws its support behind Xiao Zheng, restoring some authority.
Back at the hospital, Xuan Ji distracts Sheng Lingyuan with conversation to buy time for evacuation.
Sheng Lingyuan implies he was awakened because of a past connection with the summoner, whose blood reached the coffin.
Luo Cuicui returns with a phone for Xuan Ji; Sheng Lingyuan ominously mentions fulfilling the summoner’s wish.
Sheng Lingyuan confirms he’s bound by the ritual to grant the summoner’s wish, making him dangerous even if not hostile.
Xiao Zheng tells Xuan Ji to photograph the ritual inscriptions to help identify the summoner’s offerings.
Xuan Ji deduces that the summoner must be desperate and possibly acting alone, targeting the Bureau due to lack of support.
Agents begin scouring surveillance records and hotel data around the Crimson Canyon to find the summoner.
At 9:15 p.m., Xuan Ji’s connection to HQ cuts off again as Luo Cuicui’s phone dies.
Ping Qianru arrives and reads a deleted forum post about a mother concerned over her son’s strange behavior and blood-written symbols.
Sheng Lingyuan reads the boy’s ritual symbols and confirms they’re a cry for help.
Xuan Ji relays this to HQ, and Xiao Zheng orders the boy located and taken into custody immediately.
Xiao Zheng and researchers deduce the summoner used parasitism to control victims and orchestrate deaths without detection.
Psychic or poison-based control is ruled out due to limitations, leaving parasitism as the likely method.
They begin compiling all known dark arts related to human parasitic control.
The Bureau finally locates the account owner of the deleted forum post—implying a breakthrough in identifying the summoner.
Chapter 4At 9:35 p.m., the Bureau identifies the IP and location of the person who posted a suspicious message—an overbearing single mother living in Dongchuan with her teenage son.
Field agents are deployed to her residence, suspecting the presence of a parasitic entity.
Ping Qianru identifies the entity as the Mirage Butterfly—a parasite that takes over human hosts invisibly, rendering the host conscious but immobile, while the butterfly mimics human behavior.
The infected appear completely normal to others, making detection nearly impossible. Victims are essentially trapped within their own bodies.
The mother suspects her son is no longer himself, though everyone else thinks he’s improved.
Agents arrive posing as maintenance workers. As they breach the apartment, the son leaps from the seventh-floor window and reveals massive butterfly wings.
A vortex intercepts him mid-air and agents capture him using a large net.
At 10:15 p.m., the boy is in custody, confirmed to be infected with a Mirage Butterfly.
Xiao Zheng is informed that a jar of Mirage Butterfly eggs is missing from the storage center, despite the security formation and no signs of breach.
He orders immediate isolation and investigation of all personnel from the storage level.
Sheng Lingyuan, upon seeing the butterfly's image, identifies it as the Human-Faced Butterfly, which self-destructs when threatened but becomes dormant in cold temperatures.
Xuan Ji is told to use low temperature to isolate it, but Xiao Zheng says cryo-surgery would take too long.
Sheng Lingyuan suggests killing the boy early to ruin the summoner’s timing, noting that the ritual must conclude at the turning of the day.
Xuan Ji realises that in ancient Chinese timekeeping, a new day starts at 11 p.m., not midnight.
HQ reviews surveillance footage and identifies the moustached man from the hiker rescue as the summoner.
Ping Qianru panics as Bi Chunsheng is among the hikers now transferred to the county hospital.
Xuan Ji tries to send Ping Qianru away subtly, but she misses the cue.
In the minibus, Li Xishi escorts the hikers to the hospital. The moustached man wakes up and glares at him.
The sergeant calls Li Xishi to confirm the suspect’s presence and instructs him to remain calm.
Bi Chunsheng notices something is wrong and tries to play along while discreetly warning Li Xishi.
She gives everyone wet wipes laced with a sleeping agent and alerts HQ by discreet hand signals.
At 10:52 p.m., they reach the hospital and agents prepare to ambush.
The moustached man grabs Bi Chunsheng as a hostage, ritual glyphs spreading on his skin. A stand-off ensues.
Snipers hesitate due to the risk to Bi Chunsheng, who is also a metahuman.
At HQ, Xiao Zheng is pressured into ordering the suspect’s execution to stop the ritual.
At 10:59:20, the hikers collapse due to the sleeping agent. Bi Chunsheng signals the trap has worked.
At the hospital, physical class agents shake the bus. Bi Chunsheng breaks free.
A knitting needle, thrown by Li Xishi using his weak telekinesis, pierces the suspect’s wrist.
At exactly 11:00 p.m., a mithril bullet hits the moustached man’s head, killing him and stopping the sacrifice.
The Dark Descent is halted, and the infected boy survives. He is prepared for cryo-surgery.
At the First Municipal Hospital, Sheng Lingyuan tries to escape but is trapped in a space-folding formation set by Team Tornado.
Gu Yuexi leads the special task force in containing Sheng Lingyuan.
Mithril bullets and space-altering projectiles temporarily disable Sheng Lingyuan.
Sheng Lingyuan and Xuan Ji converse about the Bureau of Peace, ancient history, and deity beliefs.
Sheng Lingyuan claims he is just a delusion, not mortal, yao, or deity.
Suddenly, the formation begins to collapse and Sheng Lingyuan prepares to unleash his true power.
Xuan Ji realises the danger as the space tears open and black fog devours the environment.
Ping Qianru arrives with news of the summoner’s death, but Xuan Ji is alarmed she stayed behind.
Gu Yuexi yells for everyone to retreat as Sheng Lingyuan transforms, covered in glyphs, invoking a black vortex.
Nature recoils as streetlights flicker and birds flee—the Demonic Revenant is now fully awakened.
Sheng Lingyuan accuses Xuan Ji of overstepping and unleashes his power, turning the rooftop into a scene of apocalyptic destruction.
The chapter ends with devastation and the ominous rise of the Demonic Revenant, leaving the elite forces and protagonists scrambling to respond.
Chapter 5Intense lightning storms strike Yong’an’s Xishan and ARB headquarters, despite protective formations.
Strange blood glyphs begin forming on walls, recognized as the Dark Descent inscription.
Dr Wang confirms the Dark Descent succeeded; a thousand sacrifices were offered and a Demonic Revenant summoned.
Xiao Zheng realizes the revenant’s target is likely Xuan Ji.
At First Municipal Hospital, Gu Yuexi is nearly killed by black mist, but Xuan Ji emerges transformed, wielding a flaming greatsword.
Xuan Ji slashes through the deathly domain and duels the Demonic Revenant, revealed to be Sheng Lingyuan.
The cracked gemstone ring on Xuan Ji’s finger explodes mid-battle, injuring both him and Sheng Lingyuan mysteriously.
A strange, unexplainable bond is sensed between Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan before Sheng Lingyuan retreats.
Xuan Ji suspects Bi Chunsheng as the true summoner, realizing the moustached man was only a decoy.
Luo Cuicui helps Xuan Ji track Bi Chunsheng’s location via phone navigation.
Xuan Ji uses fire-based flight magic to speed to the county hospital and finds Bi Chunsheng missing.
Xuan Ji orders her arrest after confirming her suspicious behavior and disappearance.
Xiao Zheng is infuriated when he hears this accusation but becomes gradually unsettled.
Xiao Zheng recalls the former chief director’s warning that “the DRD’s waters run too deep.”
Investigation reveals Bi Chunsheng’s pristine ARB record, but Xiao Zheng starts suspecting it might be fabricated.
Field reports show Mirage Butterfly eggs were lost thirty years ago, and the records were erased under Gong Chenggong’s authority.
Xuan Ji finds Bi Chunsheng on the hospital rooftop covered in ritual glyphs—she confesses to being the summoner.
Bi Chunsheng activates Dark Descent again, and Sheng Lingyuan materializes from mist.
Xuan Ji realizes Bi Chunsheng is dissolving into mist, partially emitting it herself.
Bi Chunsheng claims betrayal by the Bureau after discovering her family were puppets controlled by Mirage Butterflies.
She describes how her paranoia grew after her partner covered up civilian deaths using butterfly infection.
Bi Chunsheng’s breakdown began after opening her father’s skull and confirming her worst fear: he was not human.
She declares vengeance and swears to destroy all involved in the conspiracy.
Sheng Lingyuan refers to her as a “human candle,” a medium for Dark Descent who sacrifices all human ties to become demonic.
Xiao Zheng orders a search of Bi Chunsheng’s home; they find three bodies with their skulls opened.
Autopsy reveals only her husband was infected with Mirage Butterfly—her mother and son were normal humans.
Xuan Ji realizes Bi Chunsheng murdered two innocent family members due to her paranoia.
Bi Chunsheng, now fully inhuman, demands vengeance and clings to Sheng Lingyuan.
Sheng Lingyuan shows a rare glimpse of compassion as the mist thickens and chaos looms.
Chapter 6Strings of black mist inscriptions attack and bind Sheng Lingyuan as a storm erupts atop the hospital.
Bi Chunsheng’s face melts, her body reduced to a corpse-like state.
Sheng Lingyuan asks if she wants revenge, offering to kill those who wronged her.
Bi Chunsheng demands justice, truth, and vengeance amplified a thousandfold.
Sheng Lingyuan solemnly listens as glyphs begin etching into his body with each of her demands.
Bi Chunsheng demands the return of the “Crimson Abyss,” causing Sheng Lingyuan to freeze in reaction.
Xuan Ji leaps onto the rooftop to protect trapped agents and drives back the glyphs with his sword.
As Bi Chunsheng finishes her plea, glyphs pierce Sheng Lingyuan’s spine, triggering a violent windstorm.
Xuan Ji tries to save Sheng Lingyuan but is flung away, barely anchoring himself with his sword.
Sheng Lingyuan suddenly drives his fingers into Bi Chunsheng’s skull, killing her and halting the ritual.
The glyphs retaliate violently, flaying Sheng Lingyuan’s body as he defiantly resists the ritual.
Even while being mutilated, Sheng Lingyuan maintains a twisted smile and declares his hatred for being bound.
He tells Bi Chunsheng he loathes constraints and mocks her fear of destruction.
Sheng Lingyuan welcomes death as a blessing; the rooftop explodes, killing him and Bi Chunsheng in a thunderous inferno.
Xuan Ji rescues a field agent and is struck by lightning in the chaos.
A massive blackout hits the Chiyuan region; 81 lightning bolts strike simultaneously, setting the land ablaze.
Rain eventually extinguishes the flames, but the hospital is in ruins with no survivors visible except Xuan Ji.
Xuan Ji is found alive with fiery wings that dissipate before he collapses.
He wakes in the hospital, feeling “empty” and realizing his lifebound sword didn’t return to his spine.
Xiao Zheng visits him, revealing the Bureau recovered his sword and no one else noticed it missing.
They discuss casualties—six injured, no deaths—and Xuan Ji confirms he saved a child during the collapse.
Xiao Zheng reveals Ji Qingchen was a civilian infected by a Mirage Butterfly, and they unintentionally killed him.
Bi Chunsheng had been manipulating civilians she once saved by sending them food laced with butterfly eggs.
Her voice messages implanted suggestions, infecting them more easily.
Once fully infected, she revealed the truth to provoke immense resentment for the Dark Descent ritual.
Bi Chunsheng’s psychic abilities could control both humans and butterflies, making her extremely dangerous.
Her home was filled with blood glyphs and the corpses of her family, hidden by magical means.
Only her husband was infected; her son and mother were normal, revealing her delusions.
The psychological torment of discovering this broke her completely.
Xuan Ji guesses that her superior at the DRD had been using the Mirage Butterfly years ago.
Xiao Zheng confirms it, hinting at deep corruption and Xiao Zheng’s own record being compromised.
Xuan Ji accuses Xiao Zheng of dragging him into this mess knowingly as a pawn.
They argue over trust, duty, and systemic injustice in the ARB’s treatment of metahumans.
Xuan Ji sarcastically compares the ARB to a nature reserve where metahumans are caged like wild animals.
Xuan Ji refuses to quit but announces he’s taking leave to investigate his past.
After the storm, the Crimson Canyon decays and the mutated trees wither.
Xuan Ji flies over the canyon with enormous fiery wings and reflects on his true nature.
He is not human; he was born fully grown, with no childhood, no aging, and no identity.
The Compendium in his eye identifies everything—except himself, labeled only “Keeper of the Austral Flames.”
His origin dates back to ten years ago when he saved a man from a car crash and took on the identity of the man’s dead son.
He assumed the son’s name, Xuan Ji, and blended into human society using illusions.
Xuan Ji returns to his birthplace—the Crimson Abyss, a forbidden city hidden in the canyon.
The city is ancient, ghostly, and filled with spirits of dead soldiers and Armament Spirits (weapon-bound souls).
The spirits kneel before Xuan Ji, calling him their Patriarch and submitting to him.
Two Armament Spirits, Axe Seven and Sword Twelve, ask for release.
Xuan Ji performs the liberation ritual, destroying their weapon bodies and setting their souls free.
He watches them regain their original forms—a poor scholar and a young girl—before fading.
Xuan Ji reflects on the burden of watching these spirits persist through endless suffering.
As he sits in solitude on the altar, a loud crack suddenly splits one of the ancestral steles.
Chapter 7Sheng Lingyuan regains consciousness after being summoned again, feeling numb and still in agony from the Dark Descent, wondering why he's been awakened this time.
He hears noise and feels someone cleaning him; realizes he’s in the hands of Xuan Ji and not in a human body but likely bound to an object.
Sheng Lingyuan opens his "eyes" and sees Xuan Ji’s face up close; he recognizes the young man as a powerful but strange fire-element yao with luxurious clothes.
Xuan Ji is scrubbing blood off a sword and asks a device how to clean it, revealing Sheng Lingyuan has been trapped in Xuan Ji’s lifebound greatsword.
Sheng Lingyuan notices Xuan Ji’s extraordinary power but lack of cultivation and knowledge, wondering about his origins and nature.
Xuan Ji casually chats, plays music, and treats the sword (Sheng Lingyuan) with irreverence; Sheng Lingyuan tries to assess his surroundings.
Xiao Zheng arrives and complains about Xuan Ji’s loud music; Sheng Lingyuan observes their conversation and sees Xiao Zheng has faint Leize beast blood.
Xiao Zheng updates Xuan Ji on Bi Chunsheng’s investigation: she’d been tailing Gong Chenggong, discovered corruption, and obtained butterfly eggs from his hidden property.
Bi Chunsheng learned Dark Descent after opening her father’s skull and seeing evidence of the butterflies.
The Bureau suspects she didn’t file the anonymous tip and that the butterfly eggs she used were stolen from Gong Chenggong’s jar.
Xuan Ji reflects on Bi Chunsheng summoning a Demonic Revenant, which helped her until she mentioned the Crimson Abyss, provoking it to turn on her.
Xiao Zheng says the Bureau is launching an internal investigation into DRD agents who covered up deaths using Mirage Butterflies.
Xuan Ji realizes he’s been assigned to lead the investigation, shocking him, as he thought he was just an outside observer.
They debate whether uncovering the entire truth is even wise if it risks widespread panic and implications for innocent people.
Xiao Zheng reluctantly agrees with Xuan Ji’s cynical reasoning and becomes unsettled by the ethical murk.
After Xiao Zheng leaves, Xuan Ji cooks, then researches ancient bamboo slips from the Crimson Abyss related to Demonic Revenants and lifebound swords.
He recalls that during his Crimson Abyss visit, a stone stele shattered and triggered an instinctive terror, forcing him to leave hastily.
Sleep-deprived, Xuan Ji dozes off while studying and dreams of a massive iron door covered in handprints and body imprints.
He’s drawn to the door despite terrifying noises from behind it; before touching it, he’s awakened by a phone call from Xiao Zheng.
Xiao Zheng informs him the Mirage Butterfly extracted from the Dongchuan boy is contagious, contradicting prior beliefs.
Xuan Ji goes to ARB’s isolation zone carrying the sword unknowingly containing Sheng Lingyuan, passing through multiple security checks.
The butterfly extracted from the boy behaves abnormally: turns invisible without a host, reacts emotionally to Xuan Ji.
Xiao Zheng shows differences between the butterfly from Bi Chunsheng’s husband and the one from the boy—this new one lacks sterilization marks.
They theorize ancient metahumans sterilized the butterflies before sealing them; this new strain is capable of reproduction and infection.
They speculate Ji Qingchen, the final sacrifice and streamer, might have been involved or infected others before death.
Xuan Ji warns about potential wide-scale undetected infections and suggests Mirage Butterflies may be artificially created sterile hybrids, like mules.
A researcher confirms Bi Chunsheng’s jar of eggs are sterile; the infection from the Dongchuan boy is from another source.
They consider Ji Qingchen’s suspicious videos and encounters with "possessed" victims and his potential butterfly involvement.
Xuan Ji demands a jet trip to Dongchuan to investigate Ji Qingchen further, joining him are Luo Cuicui, Ping Qianru, and Yang Chao.
Yang Chao, though sickly and with rhinitis, has encyclopedic knowledge and is included to meet the four-person travel requirement.
Sheng Lingyuan, observing from within the sword, senses Yang Chao’s diluted yet sharp bloodline and feels amusement.
During takeoff, the unsecured sword topples, and Xuan Ji instinctively catches it with his hand, cutting himself and bleeding onto the blade.
Sheng Lingyuan senses the blood and experiences a strange, unfamiliar craving—he hungers for Xuan Ji’s blood specifically.
He begins to suspect that something is deeply wrong with the sword, which comforts and nourishes him unnaturally, and questions whether he has truly been captured or is being subtly hunted.
Chapter 8Sheng Lingyuan accidentally stabbed Xuan Ji in the hand with his own lifebound sword during a scuffle aboard a plane.
Xuan Ji’s blood was absorbed by the sword, activating Sheng Lingyuan’s consciousness within it.
Luo Cuicui panicked at the sight of blood, while Ping Qianru got tangled in her seatbelt and Yang Chao nearly sneezed on the wound.
Xuan Ji burned the sword to sever the connection temporarily and hide the incident from the passengers.
Sheng Lingyuan drank deeply from Xuan Ji’s life essence, gaining awareness of his surroundings and reviving some power.
Xuan Ji confronted the sword, calling it “Your Majesty,” implying suspicion that Sheng Lingyuan’s spirit was inside.
He recalled ancient texts about “Demonic Revenants,” beings who return to life through obsession and demonic energy, capable of possessing objects.
Xuan Ji speculated that Sheng Lingyuan may be a Demonic Revenant who had latched onto his sword.
Signs from the Mirage Butterfly and the lifebound weapon’s strange behavior supported his theory.
Xuan Ji suspected Sheng Lingyuan was a former emperor based on his use of the royal pronoun “zhen” and knowledge of history.
Sheng Lingyuan and Xuan Ji realized they could hear each other’s thoughts due to their psychic link through the sword.
Both immediately tried to block their thoughts using counting and chanting to avoid giving away secrets.
Sheng Lingyuan confirmed that Bi Chunsheng was just a puppet and someone else was behind the Dark Descent.
Xuan Ji mocked Sheng Lingyuan’s split personality by calling him “schizo.”
Xuan Ji’s wound healed rapidly due to his powers, shocking Ping Qianru, but she accepted it.
Despite trying to resist, Xuan Ji relapsed into his “sword addiction” and touched the blade again.
Sheng Lingyuan warned that he would eventually control the sword and could kill Xuan Ji in his sleep.
Xuan Ji admitted he couldn’t destroy the sword, physically or emotionally.
Both characters realized they were stuck with each other and began sharing knowledge, though still distrustful.
Xuan Ji proposed peaceful coexistence and negotiated “knocking before entering” each other’s thoughts.
Sheng Lingyuan created a mental door with stone knockers as a signal for communication.
Xuan Ji admired the door’s aesthetics and speculated that Sheng Lingyuan came from a minority culture.
Ping Qianru brought up Ji Qingchen, a con artist and the last Dark Descent sacrifice, who scammed people using fake spirituality and online videos.
Luo Cuicui explained typical tactics used by con artists, including free readings and staged “spiritual” events to manipulate victims.
They suspected Ji Qingchen or his associates might be using Mirage Butterflies in their scams.
Symptoms of the infected victims were inconsistent with standard Human-Faced Butterfly behavior, implying a mutated version.
Xuan Ji mentally shouted a question at Sheng Lingyuan, who was forced out of meditation and flooded Xuan Ji with disturbing memories of corpses.
Xuan Ji tried a test by mentally asking if Sheng Lingyuan liked green peppers, which successfully disrupted his meditation again.
They agreed on a protocol for mutual privacy: Sheng Lingyuan would “knock” before reconnecting, and Xuan Ji wouldn’t interrupt his meditation.
Sheng Lingyuan demonstrated the mental door knock signal with a soft “ding” sound.
Xuan Ji became fascinated by Sheng Lingyuan’s refined aesthetic and wondered more about his true identity.
The DRD team set a trap by commenting on Ji Qingchen’s video and lured out a suspected accomplice through private messages.
The team posed as desperate relatives, with Yang Chao playing the “possessed” victim and Luo Cuicui pretending to be family.
The suspect proposed a meeting in a deserted park to “help” the possessed relative.
Sheng Lingyuan detected a strong murderous aura coming from the man, though he hadn’t killed anyone himself.
The suspect refused to look at the “possessed” Yang Chao, suggesting he saw through the trap.
Xuan Ji ordered the team to seize him, but before they could, skeletal claws emerged from a dimensional rift and seized the suspect.
Xuan Ji fought back with his sword, which absorbed the bloody aura but began turning black with corruption.
Both Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan realized the situation was dangerous and simultaneously plotted each other’s deaths.
Xuan Ji thrust the sword into the enemy, but the blade clung to him and channeled corruption into his body.
The fragile alliance between Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan shattered completely under pressure.
Chapter 9Xuan Ji struggles with the cursed sword stuck to his hand while skeletal claws and black flames close in.
He quickly changes tactics, begging Sheng Lingyuan to cooperate, and they temporarily agree despite both still trying to sabotage each other.
A powerful gravitational pull drags Xuan Ji, Sheng Lingyuan, and Goatee into a spatial tear, leaving behind only Xuan Ji’s broken watch.
Luo Cuicui mistakes Xuan Ji’s disappearance as an act of heroic sacrifice and reverently takes his watch.
Inside darkness, Xuan Ji sprouts fiery wings, saving unconscious Goatee as they fall, shocking Sheng Lingyuan with the sight.
The sword burns Xuan Ji’s hand and drags him down like a star, causing him to crash into a sea of bones.
Xuan Ji survives with broken clothes and pain but notices he is finally free from the sword’s grip.
The place is revealed as a massive burial ground filled with countless skeletons.
Sheng Lingyuan sounds distant; the telepathic link between them is broken. He warns Xuan Ji not to spill blood on him, hinting the link was blood-related.
They strike a temporary truce again, acknowledging their mutual backstabbing tendencies.
Sheng Lingyuan identifies the place as the shamans’ burial mound, and Goatee is shown to be controlled by animated bones.
Xuan Ji awkwardly repeats a phrase in the shaman language at Sheng Lingyuan’s instruction, which gains the skeleton’s acknowledgment.
They follow the skeleton deeper, and Sheng Lingyuan reveals the Human-Faced Butterfly originated here as a shaman funeral spell.
Sheng Lingyuan explains shamans once aided humanity against yao during the Great Upheaval, but later were betrayed by humans despite being allies.
He reveals the shamans were human-like but treated as outsiders, and their memory was erased from history.
Sheng Lingyuan casually admits he personally killed 41,636 shamans.
Xuan Ji grows suspicious that Sheng Lingyuan may be tied to Emperor Wu of Great Qi, the legendary figure from the Great Upheaval.
Sheng Lingyuan describes Dongchuan as fertile, spiritual land, coveted by others, and shamanic magic as vast, with the butterfly being just a minor spell.
Xuan Ji asks why shamans vanished if they helped humanity, and Sheng Lingyuan reveals they were betrayed, not destroyed by war.
Goatee wakes and panics when he realizes bones are inside his clothes, urinating in fear, which agitates the skeletons.
Countless Mirage Butterflies emerge from the skulls, glowing eerily and swarming towards Xuan Ji.
Xuan Ji fends them off with fire and grabs Goatee, spotting a cavern the butterflies avoid.
Sheng Lingyuan urgently warns Xuan Ji not to enter, his voice trembling for the first time, but Xuan Ji presses forward.
Sheng Lingyuan attempts to manipulate Xuan Ji with a seductive, persuasive voice, almost hypnotizing him into retreating.
Xuan Ji briefly falters but breaks free of the influence, mocking Sheng Lingyuan for lying, and presses deeper into the cavern.
The butterflies cluster at the cavern’s mouth but will not enter.
Inside, Xuan Ji finds a strange glowing chamber with vines and white buds that bloom with light when he enters.
When he sets down the sword, the flowers turn crimson, wither, and dissolve into blood-like liquid that flows toward the blade.
Chapter 10Xuan Ji encounters bizarre, blood-spewing flowers and barely avoids contaminating his lifebound sword with them while carrying an unconscious man nicknamed Goatee.
The flower's "menstrual blood" proves toxic, burning Goatee's skin and forming an acidic mist that causes even more damage, prompting Xuan Ji to shield them both with his wings.
His sword falls into a blood-red pool and lands inside an open bronze coffin that suddenly drains the pool as if absorbing the liquid, leaving the coffin exposed but now containing a mutilated, regenerating corpse.
The corpse violently rebuilds itself with fresh flesh and bone, revealing a figure Xuan Ji recognizes as Sheng Lingyuan—the same Demonic Revenant previously destroyed by lightning.
Xuan Ji is overwhelmed by inexplicable emotions upon seeing Sheng Lingyuan alive and naked, instinctively trying to cover him despite their history.
Sheng Lingyuan conjures a robe from nearby vines but is too weak to stand, murmuring ominously, "Who opened his coffin?"
Meanwhile, Goatee tries to escape but is caught and nearly killed by Sheng Lingyuan, who demands to know who disturbed the tomb.
Xuan Ji restrains Sheng Lingyuan and answers a call from his superior, Xiao Zheng, trying to explain the bizarre situation while protecting Goatee.
Goatee confesses to being involved in a scam with Ji Qingchen (aka Lang), using "black jars" that contained a curse and its antidote to fake possessions and sell cures for profit.
These jars were originally dug up from the ground, and Lang got greedy, leading him to the tomb in search of more.
Lang and hired grave robbers opened the bronze coffin, finding a pristine body nailed inside. Chaos erupted when they pulled out the spikes, and the tomb flooded with blood and madness.
Lang secretly stole a jade box from the corpse containing black seeds identical to the curse substance but without any antidote, causing a boy they used it on to become uncontrollable.
The current events are linked to those seeds—mutated Mirage Butterfly eggs—and the rise of dangerous revenants.
Sheng Lingyuan remains unresponsive until a childlike voice calls his name, and a beautiful, masked youth named Arjin emerges, holding a glowing white flower.
Xuan Ji suspects Arjin is the original owner of the coffin due to his forehead wound matching the nailed corpse Goatee described.
Sheng Lingyuan identifies Arjin as the last chieftain of the shamans, summoned by the Dark Descent and now a Demonic Revenant.
Arjin and Sheng Lingyuan share a bittersweet, emotional reunion. Arjin appears innocent and confused, but his envy of the modern world’s joy turns into hatred.
Arjin attacks with vines; Sheng Lingyuan counters by violently pinning him to the wall using ancient black spikes.
Despite the violence, Sheng Lingyuan's expression remains heartbreakingly tender, whispering comforting words to Arjin as he subdues him.
Arjin calls Sheng Lingyuan "Sovereign of the Humans," revealing his true identity—he was once the emperor or a powerful ruler in ancient times.
Xuan Ji is shocked by this revelation, questioning Sheng Lingyuan’s true nature.
The cavern begins to collapse, and though Arjin is pinned, his disembodied voice echoes with laughter, suggesting he is not entirely defeated.
Chapter 11Yang Chao attempts to locate Xuan Ji using his weak metahuman psychic abilities by tracking the emotional imprint on Xuan Ji’s lost watch.
Luo Cuicui and Ping Qianru grow impatient, especially when Yang Chao admits his abilities have suddenly stopped working, suggesting they may have passed Xuan Ji already.
Yang Chao receives a call from Xiao, who informs them that Tornado is being dispatched and needs their location.
At the Penglai Conference, Master Yuede receives news that Tornado has arrived at Dongchuan Airport and is heading toward their secret site—the “mine,” which is actually an ancient tomb.
Master Yuede becomes alarmed because the tomb contains forbidden, dangerous secrets, including ancient texts and deadly but reversible curses.
The tomb has allowed Master Yuede’s sect to prosper by exploiting curses and their reversals as a money-making scheme.
Master Yuede is shaken by the news of a nearby earthquake and learns that the epicenter was at the “mine.”
Xuan Ji, at the epicenter, falls through a collapsing tunnel and ends up in what appears to be a different world or time period.
Xuan Ji encounters someone speaking an unintelligible language who passes through him like a ghost.
Sheng Lingyuan appears beside Xuan Ji, bloodied and cryptic, and explains they are trapped in a curse called Retrograde.
Retrograde is one of the Seven Grand Curses, designed to trap someone in endless loops of unresolved memories.
Sheng Lingyuan realizes he was tricked—the corpse he pinned was a decoy, and the curse was hidden in its blood.
Xuan Ji is overwhelmed by being dragged into the affairs of powerful undead beings and discovers his lifebound sword is actually Sheng Lingyuan’s corpse.
Sheng Lingyuan explains that Xuan Ji’s ancestors preserved his body using a technique called Life Essence Corpse Nurturing, causing the body to take sword form.
Sheng Lingyuan confirms that the Heartlace Puppet Xuan Ji fought in the hospital was his spirit-possessed proxy.
When struck by lightning during the ritual backlash, Sheng Lingyuan's soul returned to his real body thanks to proximity with Xuan Ji and the preserved corpse.
Sheng Lingyuan identifies himself as the historical Emperor Wu, also known as Sheng Xiao, Sovereign of the Humans.
Xuan Ji struggles to reconcile the coquettish Sheng Lingyuan with the fierce warrior king from history books.
Sheng Lingyuan reveals that his soul was scattered, but his body endured the fires of the Crimson Abyss, and his remains were later preserved.
The two watch a memory of Sheng Lingyuan as a dying child being carried by a tribal chieftain, and young Arjin as a mischievous boy.
Sheng Lingyuan recounts his origin: his father died in war, and he became a hunted child tied to a fabricated prophecy of defeating the yao.
At ten years old, he fled the yao and was saved by the shaman tribe of Dongchuan, where he hid for six years.
The shamans are revealed to be peaceful, cultured, literate, and spiritually advanced people, not the stereotypical witch doctors.
Arjin is fascinated by Sheng Lingyuan but refuses to be humble or friendly, pestering him constantly.
Sheng Lingyuan is portrayed as a pragmatic and resilient child prodigy who quickly adapts to his environment and learns languages.
The shamans’ language and writing are complex and elegant, with deep cultural significance.
Xuan Ji is impressed by the openness and sophistication of the ancient shaman society.
Sheng Lingyuan explains that the name “Lingyuan” was his childhood name, not a fabricated alias.
One night, Arjin is punished for planting a Soul Shock charm under Sheng Lingyuan’s pillow and runs away from home.
Arjin is immediately captured by yao and is forced to witness horrific cannibalistic rituals, including a girl being eaten alive.
Sheng Lingyuan sneaks into the yao camp, kills the guard, frees Arjin, and mercifully ends the girl’s suffering.
Arjin’s trauma fuels his hatred and becomes the catalyst for his later life path.
Sheng Lingyuan whispers a vow to Arjin, promising to bury every wronged soul and settle every unburied bone.
The shamans’ rule to never leave Dongchuan begins to fracture in Arjin’s heart that night.
Despite their skill in curse-making, the shamans were peaceful and created spells with perfect reversals, likely for self-defense.
Sheng Lingyuan and Arjin survive using only minor prank-level spells, highlighting their helplessness.
Xuan Ji questions the plausibility of their escape, suggesting it was too convenient.
Sheng Lingyuan confirms Xuan Ji’s suspicion, revealing that his teacher Dan Li was likely secretly protecting them all along.
Sheng Lingyuan reveals his teacher, Dan Li, raised him and later became the Imperial Preceptor, but was executed by Sheng Lingyuan.
Dan Li’s legacy was so revered that shrines were built to worship him, which Sheng Lingyuan banned under penalty of death.
Sheng Lingyuan reflects that the entire Dongchuan refuge and their escape from the yao were part of Dan Li’s calculated plan.
Xuan Ji realizes that history is not just coincidence, but full of schemes and manipulations.
A summary forms in Xuan Ji’s mind about how humanity used Sheng Lingyuan as a symbol of hope and manipulated the shamans into joining the war.
The final revelation is that Dan Li used Sheng Lingyuan’s child self as bait to win over the shamans to the human cause, making every event part of a grand political scheme.
The chapter ends with Sheng Lingyuan and Xuan Ji falling into deeper layers of memory, hinting at even darker truths hidden in the past.
Chapter 12Arjin chooses to follow Sheng Lingyuan, inspiring the younger shamans to rebel and leave Dongchuan in pursuit of a new dream.
After six years of fighting, humans rescue Sheng Lingyuan and return him home, where he ascends the throne at sixteen.
Sheng Lingyuan is visibly changed by hardship; though young and exhausted, his unwavering eyes attract loyal followers.
Arjin, just fourteen, follows Sheng Lingyuan passionately. Xuan Ji observes their early bond forming.
Arjin’s letter home is intercepted and used to deceive the shamans; his father is killed, leading Arjin to become chieftain.
The betrayal breaks Arjin, and he grieves deeply, blaming himself for the consequences.
Sheng Lingyuan reveals the letter was intercepted by a human-skin puppet planted by Dan Li, his trusted Imperial Preceptor.
Dan Li had manipulated events to win shaman allegiance to the human side, claiming it was necessary to save humanity.
Arjin, naive and trusting, bonded with Dan Li, unaware of the betrayal.
The shamans support Sheng Lingyuan, causing many other tribes to align with him, marking a turning point in history.
As peace grows, tension brews—Arjin becomes emotionally unstable under pressure, withdrawn and increasingly erratic.
Human officials grow resentful of Arjin’s behavior, accusing him of disrespect, immorality, and abuse of power.
Sheng Lingyuan defends Arjin repeatedly, even punishing his own officials to protect him.
Arjin defies orders and slaughters surrendered yao; Sheng Lingyuan covers for him again.
Sheng Lingyuan secretly shelters half-yao defectors, but the information leaks and enrages Arjin.
Arjin confronts Sheng Lingyuan publicly, breaking royal protocol and demanding answers.
Sheng Lingyuan imprisons Arjin to maintain authority, planning to reconcile later.
Dan Li uses this moment to reveal he orchestrated the old chieftain’s death.
Arjin escapes, recalls his betrayal, and deserts the battlefield. He pulls the shamans from war, opening a gap for yao to strike back.
Two cities and many villages fall. Civilians, protected by shamans, are massacred in retaliation.
Sheng Lingyuan finds shamans and humans had begun coexisting in harmony; their slaughter is devastating.
The survivors flee to the shamans’ sacred altar, a forbidden cavern protected by ancient curses.
Arjin leads the rear guard, wounded in battle. All 40,000 shamans retreat underground.
Inside the altar, Arjin collapses and reminisces while holding the mask gifted by Sheng Lingyuan.
A human-skin puppet, disguised as Arjin’s trusted guard, sets the altar aflame and opens forbidden seals.
The puppet sacrifices itself to unleash sealed demonic curses—spells that resurrect the dead into undying torment.
Arjin is caught in the curse, torn apart and rebuilt endlessly, trapped in a living nightmare.
Blood from Arjin gives birth to Human-Faced Butterflies—cursed insects immune to yao fire.
The altar is engulfed by white yao fire that burns for seven days and nights.
Sheng Lingyuan arrives one day too late and finds the burnt corpses still moving and laughing.
Arjin, mutilated and wearing a mask, confronts him, questioning his father’s death.
Dan Li appears masked, claiming Arjin is now a danger to humanity.
Arjin accuses Dan Li of murder and betrayal; the puppets mimic his rage.
Sheng Lingyuan realises Arjin is beyond salvation and kills him with a dagger once gifted to Arjin himself.
Arjin dies screaming, betrayed by everyone he trusted.
In the present, Sheng Lingyuan uses Xuan Ji as bait to lure out Arjin’s revenant by planting Dan Li’s face—Xuan Ji’s face—into the memory.
Retrograde spell reveals memories not just of Sheng Lingyuan but also of Arjin and Dan Li.
Xuan Ji deduces that Sheng Lingyuan deliberately manipulated Arjin’s trauma to draw him out.
Arjin escapes the spell and attacks, but Sheng Lingyuan traps him again, driving spikes through his body.
Sheng Lingyuan puts Arjin to rest, sealing his corpse back in the altar and breaking the spell.
Xuan Ji, furious at being used, confronts Sheng Lingyuan.
Sheng Lingyuan confirms he never saw Dan Li’s true face and used Xuan Ji’s face as a mask.
Arjin’s final words are in shaman tongue, repeated from the moment before his death.
Sheng Lingyuan ends Arjin’s revenant existence with a final spike through the brow.
The Demonic Revenant is sealed once again, and the spell ends with Sheng Lingyuan bleeding—possibly from emotional or physical strain.
Xuan Ji mocks his theatrics, but notices Sheng Lingyuan is weakening, hinting at deeper consequences from these events.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire
Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, Vol. 2
Chapter 13A private jet lands at Dongchuan Airport with Wang Ze, Zhang Zhao, and Gu Yuexi from Team Tornado arriving undercover.
Wang Ze is the captain of Tornado, Zhang Zhao is First Squad’s sergeant, and Gu Yuexi is Second Squad’s sergeant.
The team is investigating a Mirage Butterfly outbreak tied to Master Yuede, who’s been running a scam using the butterflies to fake possessions.
Master Yuede’s disciples are suspected of using Mirage Butterfly eggs from an ancient tomb located in the Dongbi mountain range.
The Disaster Response Department (DRD) had already found the tomb because Xuan Ji was accidentally dragged in during a pursuit.
DRD member Yang Chao is found crying uncontrollably at the tomb site; Gu Yuexi senses an anomaly in the area.
The mountain appears to have artificial trees made of paper, revealing a funeral-related illusion created by Yuede’s clan.
The ARB (Anomalous Response Bureau) team, led by Wang Ze, finds huts and a suspicious well in the paper forest.
Yang Chao accidentally drops Xuan Ji’s watch into the well, falls in after it, and is rescued by Wang Ze using his water abilities.
They discover something buried beneath the well, linked to Sheng Lingyuan and Xuan Ji's location inside the ancient altar.
Sheng Lingyuan is weak and injured, coughing up blood, and Xuan Ji feels inexplicably drawn to help him despite past hostility.
Ping Qianru manages to contact Xuan Ji by phone, but the call is overtaken by eerie static and crying voices.
At the same time, Master Yuede’s disciples arrive with mystic cannons and launch an attack, destroying the well and altar entrance.
Yang Chao gets swept into the well again; Xuan Ji, Sheng Lingyuan, and Yang Chao are pulled into the ancient tomb via the water.
Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan share thoughts and sensations due to their mental link when Sheng Lingyuan's blood merges with the water.
They are submerged in an ancient shaman altar with Mirage Butterflies and cursed bones; the altar begins to rise.
As the tomb resurfaces, Xuan Ji and Sheng Lingyuan discuss preventing the butterfly outbreak; Sheng Lingyuan demands a drop of Xuan Ji’s blood to activate a ritual.
Sheng Lingyuan creates paper dolls using life essence from the others to trap the butterflies based on a Fuxi Bagua formation.
The butterflies are lured and sealed into the dolls using a shaman chant that all members—including Wang Ze—are forced to repeat.
As the ritual nears completion, another mithril cannon barrage is launched by Yuede’s disciples to eliminate witnesses.
The paper dolls ignite, incinerating the butterflies, but the resulting chaos and explosion cause the mountain to collapse.
Zhang Zhao uses his time-stop ability for one second to help the team escape as Xuan Ji flies everyone out on his flaming wings.
Sheng Lingyuan and Xuan Ji crash-land with the team, his hair tangled in Xuan Ji’s wings, and awkward hilarity ensues.
The mithril cannon explosion destroys the altar, scattering ancient bones and illusions, ending the curse and sealing the mountain.
As everyone recovers, Yang Chao continues to cry uncontrollably without knowing why.
Wang Ze mistakes Sheng Lingyuan for the suspect due to his appearance; Xuan Ji fabricates a cover story, calling him a Sword Spirit.
Gu Yuexi uses Unveiling Sight but can’t clearly identify Sheng Lingyuan’s true nature; she confirms he matches the sword aura.
Sheng Lingyuan silently agrees to the lie and plays along; Xuan Ji wants to prevent panic or Sheng Lingyuan being imprisoned.
Wang Ze introduces himself to Xuan Ji, expressing friendly admiration, contrasting with Xiao Zheng’s strict leadership.
Zhang Zhao remarks on how the local Yuede faction has been too powerful to control, expressing shock at their use of mithril cannons.
Xuan Ji justifies their actions by suggesting the sect’s reputation and income are on the line, hence their desperation.
Sheng Lingyuan remains stoic while Xuan Ji internally muses over how he’s letting the truth remain hidden.
Wang Ze confirms the “suspect” isn’t Sheng Lingyuan, but rather someone who died during the operation underground.
Sheng Lingyuan stands regal and composed, looking like a sovereign despite wearing only patched leaves and vines.
Xuan Ji recalls Sheng Lingyuan’s past defiance and independence, seeing him as someone who will not be tamed by anyone.
The group accepts the Sword Spirit explanation, and Sheng Lingyuan continues counting internally, blocking out thoughts.
In the aftermath, the group prepares to report back to HQ; Xuan Ji’s phone is destroyed again, prompting jokes and complaints.
Luo Cuicui reveals support staff only get one expensive reimbursement a year, which infuriates Xuan Ji.
Fueled by anger at the unfair treatment of staff, Xuan Ji decides to “deal with” Yuede’s faction head-on, rallying Wang Ze to join him.
Chapter 14Mithril and otherworldly fire clash, causing a massive explosion that levels the mountain and sends ARB agents diving off a cliff.
The elder in the Tang suit flees the scene before the explosion and senses ominous energy on the wind.
A group of humanoid figures made from branches and grass appear on the road, moving in disturbing, jerky bursts with glowing eyes and creepy laughter.
The elder’s driver panics and crashes into other cars as the figures approach, causing chaos.
The disciples prepare to use mithril cannons, but Xuan Ji and his allies play a prank using vines and horror movie sounds to simulate a ghost attack, causing panic and a cannon misfire.
Zhang Zhao freezes the disciples with his ability, and Wang Ze and Xuan Ji attempt to disarm them, but their efforts cancel each other out.
The elder recovers and activates a spell using a cloth scrap, turning the ground under the agents into a swamp.
Sheng Lingyuan uses a shamanic spell to reverse the swamp back toward the attackers, causing the elder to misfire and trigger a rockslide.
Sheng Lingyuan shows unexpected power and influence over the environment, which protects Ping Qianru and causes her to float gently to safety.
Xuan Ji suspects the elder used shamanic magic, hinting that Yuede’s group may have deciphered shamanic scripts.
Sheng Lingyuan remembers translating shamanic texts himself during the Great Qi era and punishing a child named Arjin for ruining his work.
The elder is overpowered when Sheng Lingyuan binds him with vines and breaks his wrist; the disciples surrender their weapons.
ARB arrests Yuede’s senior disciples and gathers evidence of their crimes; authorities take swift action.
Xiao Zheng mobilizes elite squads to arrest Master Yuede and protect Huang Zhiheng.
Xuan Ji and the team are taken to a hotel in Dongchuan, exhausted and disheveled.
A bronze coffin tumbles down the mountain into a pool, revealing Arjin’s corpse with a steel spike in his brow.
Sheng Lingyuan meditates in the car and senses a familiar presence, realizing Xuan Ji is dreaming.
Sheng Lingyuan invades Xuan Ji’s dream and discovers a wall of divine fire—Austral Flames—guarding his consciousness.
Sheng Lingyuan is shocked that Xuan Ji speaks the ancient language of the Great Qi court in his sleep.
Xuan Ji dreams of the Great Upheaval era, experiencing brutal wars, betrayal, and unbearable loss.
Sheng Lingyuan becomes curious about Xuan Ji’s origin and real identity.
The two share a late-night conversation at the hotel where Sheng Lingyuan marvels at modern life and misunderstandings abound.
Xuan Ji introduces Sheng Lingyuan to showers, cola, fried chicken, and hotel rooms, which baffles the ancient emperor.
Sheng Lingyuan tries to probe Xuan Ji’s mind again, using black mist to extract memories.
Xuan Ji subconsciously resists with the Vermilion Bird’s divine fire and breaks free, creating a destructive clash of light and dark.
Both place a protective seal on the room, and when the battle ends, the hotel room is magically restored by Sheng Lingyuan.
Sheng Lingyuan reflects on the secrets of the Crimson Abyss and the Vermilion Bird clan’s tragic extinction.
It’s revealed Xuan Ji is a spirit born from a divine bone token used to seal the Crimson Abyss—one of thirty-six created by Sheng Lingyuan.
These tokens gained sentience and became sacrificial guardians, explaining Xuan Ji’s origin and powers.
Sheng Lingyuan finally understands Xuan Ji’s past but senses a foreign pain lodged in his chest, which he can’t identify.
Xuan Ji, deeply shaken, smokes outside and has a hallucination where he unsheathes his soul-bound sword and prepares to die.
He mentions it’s been 232 years, linking him to an ancestor whose lifespan matched exactly.
Xuan Ji breaks down, apologizing and admitting defeat, suggesting an unbearable burden from a long cycle of reincarnation or resurrection.
He snaps out of the hallucination when an ARB officer delivers an urgent phone call from Xiao Zheng, jolting him back to reality.
Chapter 15The ARB bombards the shamans’ burial mound with mithril cannon fire, revealing ancient relics and water flooding the area.
Xiao Zheng leads elite water class operatives from Team Tempest in search of the bronze coffin and to contain potential threats.
The bronze coffin is missing; Xuan Ji provides vague input while recovering from injuries.
A searchlight detects a red-hot anomalous imprint where the coffin once was, raising suspicions.
Mist forms into a ghostly scene revealing a ritual—mist shapes into the coffin and a humanoid chanting figure performing Dark Descent to awaken Arjin.
Arjin is resurrected as a Demonic Revenant; he sits up in his coffin and it vanishes completely.
Arjin takes flight toward the city, escaping containment.
The mist forms into the figure who revived Arjin, who then possesses one of the ARB agents undetected.
Xiao Zheng realizes someone on their team is now possessed by the mastermind behind the Dark Descent.
Dr Wang identifies the event as an ancient technique called “Imaging,” which recorded what happened using magic.
At the hotel, Xuan Ji realizes Sheng Lingyuan set everything up to bait the Dark Descent's mastermind, using Arjin's body as a trap.
Xuan Ji confronts Arjin, who perches ominously above the city on a bone butterfly mount.
Arjin identifies Xuan Ji as the “Keeper of the Austral Flames” and prepares to kill him.
Xuan Ji attempts to convince Arjin he’s not Dan Li and is being used just like Arjin was.
Arjin momentarily pauses but then renews his attack, saying the Keeper must die for the Crimson Abyss to be reborn.
Arjin’s assault damages buildings; Xuan Ji desperately tries to lure him away from civilians.
Team Tornado arrives in pajamas to help. Wang Ze gives chaotic but determined instructions.
Arjin chases Xuan Ji through the city, riding his butterfly mount, causing destruction.
During the pursuit, Arjin reveals the Crimson Abyss once empowered all supernatural races but was sealed away by betrayal, leading to the decline of magic.
Arjin is determined to reignite the Abyss to restore the world and his people.
A massive wind vortex traps Xuan Ji, placing him in mortal danger.
Sheng Lingyuan, disoriented in a modern hotel, finally bursts out to help after getting lost and scaring a security guard in the parking garage.
Sheng Lingyuan is mistaken for a suspect and arrested by police.
The DRD team panics as they can’t explain who or what he is.
Sheng Lingyuan uses “Sound Transmission” to ask Ping Qianru how to wipe memories.
With no amplifier available, Sheng Lingyuan uses his own psychic power to amplify the Echo Tone and override the entire area’s memories.
He crafts an illusion and alters the memories of police and civilians to cover up the supernatural events.
The mental strain nearly collapses him, but he finishes the job and leaves without further trouble.
At the mountain, the Imaging mist transforms into a sword imbued with divine lightning aimed at rooting out the possessed agent.
The sword targets ARB agents one by one, sparking chaos as they’re uncertain who’s possessed.
Xiao Zheng tries to contain the lightning, is struck, and collapses in agony while eliminating the invisible intruder.
Luo Cuicui accidentally calls Xiao Zheng during the strike, unknowingly worsening the situation.
Back at the city, the DRD uses vines and illusions to fake police returning to the station, clean up the scene, and plant a cover story.
Sheng Lingyuan confirms Xuan Ji is the final fire-sealing token of the Crimson Abyss.
Realizing the mastermind remains hidden, Sheng Lingyuan joins the chase to prevent further catastrophe.
Chapter 16Xuan Ji is ambushed by Arjin, who goes berserk and unleashes deadly wind blades.
Xuan Ji activates his metal form to block the attack but loses flight and crashes.
Zhang Zhao freezes time, allowing Xuan Ji to escape the attack and reorient midair.
Wang Ze’s terrible navigation leads the team to a dangerous forest, disadvantageous for fire users like Xuan Ji.
Arjin senses Xuan Ji can’t use fire here and attacks with bone fragments made from human bones.
Xuan Ji narrowly escapes a series of deadly attacks, assisted by the van driven by Zhang Zhao and the team.
They are attacked mid-escape; Arjin lands beside the van and continues his assault.
Wang Ze shoots Arjin with mithril bullets; they’re absorbed with no effect.
Arjin is immune to fire due to being forged in the Austral Flames, making Xuan Ji’s powers nearly useless.
Xuan Ji requests bullets be wrapped in water to prevent forest fire. Wang Ze struggles but complies.
Xuan Ji begins shooting “misses” around Arjin. Each bullet is wrapped in water to suppress fire.
Gu Yuexi supplies more water using bottled water, then dismantles the van to use its radiator.
Xuan Ji fires seven shots total, surrounding Arjin in a fiery net.
When the seventh shot connects, it activates a formation that pins Arjin to the ground using his own energy points.
The trap is successful; Arjin is restrained, screaming in agony, unable to break free.
Wang Ze notices the fire totem glowing on Xuan Ji’s brow and is instinctively terrified.
Xuan Ji jokes about Wang Ze being nature’s delivery man and complains about the van’s radiator being empty.
They decide to leave Arjin trapped and report back to HQ.
Just as they prepare to contact HQ, Zhang Zhao receives a mysterious call from HQ’s code, but it’s only static.
The phone erupts into black flames and chants a ritual incantation, triggering a Dark Descent glyph.
The glyph disrupts Xuan Ji’s formation; Arjin breaks free and attacks again with doubled fury.
Just before Xuan Ji is hit, Sheng Lingyuan suddenly appears and shields him.
Arjin freezes in terror upon seeing Sheng Lingyuan, who rips out the fiery threads embedded in himself.
Sheng Lingyuan exudes immense demonic power, summoning an oppressive darkness.
Divine lightning strikes him, but he endures it and counters Arjin’s attack by channeling his blood through the fiery threads.
Xuan Ji saves Sheng Lingyuan from the second lightning bolt by pushing him aside, redirecting it into Arjin.
Arjin speaks to Sheng Lingyuan in shaman tongue, mocking him about his past and how he couldn’t save someone.
Arjin disintegrates into ash after delivering cryptic words about fate, obsession, and becoming a demon.
Sheng Lingyuan collapses from the damage, and Xuan Ji catches him, carrying him into the seafood van.
Gu Yuexi discovers that Sheng Lingyuan’s organs and bones are healing rapidly, despite being scorched.
Her Unveiling Sight reveals his energy is densely black and composed of unreadable glyphs, far beyond demonic energy.
She attempts to peer deeper but is blinded and silenced by a powerful backlash, indicating secrecy protection.
Gu Yuexi lies, claiming eye fatigue, and they begin repairing the van.
Back on the road, Wang Ze reports Xiao Zheng was also struck by lightning. He survived, but is hospitalized.
Xuan Ji deduces Sheng Lingyuan left a lightning talisman on Arjin’s corpse as bait for the mastermind.
They realize the attacker used a decoy, and the real enemy is still at large.
Arjin’s final words mentioned reigniting the Crimson Abyss and terms like “yao,” “shadow people,” and “highlanders.”
Xuan Ji suspects the situation is only beginning, with bigger threats yet to come.
The chapter ends with Sheng Lingyuan unconscious in the van, recalling memories of his and Arjin’s youth in their tribe.
Flashback reveals Arjin’s obsession with immortality, stealing butterflies, and making dried pears in secret.
Sheng Lingyuan recalls Arjin’s desire to live forever and his own philosophical rejection of it.
The memory fades, symbolizing lost youth and tragedy.
Gu Yuexi confirms Sheng Lingyuan’s healing is nearly complete, but her vision into his energy is now blocked.
The group drives away, unknowingly watched by mysteries still unresolved.
Chapter 17Morning in Dongchuan begins as Xuan Ji and Team Tornado return to the hotel, pretending ignorance about the mall floor collapse caused by their mission
Xuan Ji carries Sheng Lingyuan back to their room and notices his fever is gone
Xuan Ji reflects on Sheng Lingyuan’s mysterious nature—neither human nor god, neither living nor dead
Unable to sleep, Xuan Ji reads Records of Emperor Wu of Great Qi and discovers that Emperor Wu, Sheng Xiao, shares Sheng Lingyuan’s name and traits
The book discusses Sheng Xiao’s controversial life, strict personal habits, and possible matricide, sparking Xuan Ji’s curiosity and discomfort
Feeling indebted after Sheng Lingyuan shielded him, Xuan Ji tries to wipe him down with a wet towel while he’s asleep
Sheng Lingyuan wakes up mid-gesture and grabs Xuan Ji’s wrist, embarrassing him
Sheng Lingyuan brushes him off coldly and orders him to have the sheets changed, irritating Xuan Ji
While Sheng Lingyuan bathes, he removes his enchanted grass robe which disintegrates, revealing his body corroded by fiery threads that continuously burn and heal him
He painfully rips the threads from his chest while sealing the bathroom door with ice
Xuan Ji grows suspicious of the silence, breaks the icy barrier, and finds Sheng Lingyuan bleeding heavily
Xuan Ji experiences a vivid flashback of molten lava and the feeling of trying to protect someone who fell into it
Sheng Lingyuan warns Xuan Ji not to touch his blood, saying it will harm them both
Xuan Ji helps clean the blood with modern plumbing while Sheng Lingyuan marvels at the “convenience” of showers
Amused and recovering, Sheng Lingyuan teases Xuan Ji by calling him “little yao” and ordering him to assist with his bath
Xuan Ji reluctantly agrees to wash his hair only, trying not to think inappropriate thoughts while handling Sheng Lingyuan’s long hair
They discuss sexual orientation, with Sheng Lingyuan referencing “the passion of Lord Longyang” and asking about Xuan Ji’s preferences
Xuan Ji awkwardly admits his “broad-spectrum” orientation while complaining about social equality and Sheng Lingyuan’s feudal mindset
Sheng Lingyuan counters that servants are compensated with food and opportunity
Despite their bickering, Xuan Ji ends up washing his hair, frustrated by how thick and hard to clean it is
Sheng Lingyuan casually asks Xuan Ji’s name at the end, nearly driving him mad with irritation
Later that afternoon, Xuan Ji and Wang Ze visit Xiao Zheng, who was struck by lightning during the previous incident
They discuss suspicious timing of a mysterious call from Central Dispatch during the mission and possible infiltration
Wang Ze explains Bureau regulations on registering Armament Spirits and warns Xuan Ji about the responsibility involved
Xuan Ji learns that “Full Responsibility Agreement” makes him liable for all of the Sword Spirit’s actions
The alternative—sending Sheng Lingyuan for six months of isolation and testing—is even worse
Wang Ze shares the story of another Sword Spirit, Zhichun, who went berserk after being corroded by sea venom while saving his master Yan Qiushan
Xiao Zheng appears bald and furious after being electrocuted, confronting Xuan Ji for endangering him
Xuan Ji tries to explain that the lightning and contamination weren’t planned and that the mastermind is likely an insider
After calming down, Xiao Zheng privately asks if Xuan Ji has suspects; Xuan Ji theorizes that someone is deliberately creating chaos to divide metahumans and ordinary humans
He presents Xiao Zheng with a test spell that reveals anyone connected to the Human-Faced Butterfly, confirming Xiao Zheng is clean
Meanwhile, Sheng Lingyuan dines with Ping Qianru, who shyly serves him food while he listens calmly and introduces himself as “Xiao”
Ping Qianru recounts the tragic story of Zhichun and Yan Qiushan, explaining that Zhichun’s fragments are sealed in HQ’s isolation zone
Sheng Lingyuan quietly decides not to linger in this world any longer
After the meal, Ping Qianru notices his distant, sorrowful eyes before he thanks her and leaves
Sitting by a fountain eating ice cream, Sheng Lingyuan easily attracts admirers and charms strangers with his looks
Xuan Ji, watching from above, debates whether to register him or let him go
Realizing Sheng Lingyuan can manage on his own, Xuan Ji decides not to sign the liability agreement and to pretend he “lost his sword”
Sheng Lingyuan telepathically thanks him and says they should part ways, warning him to act quickly against the Human-Faced Butterfly threat
Xuan Ji watches him disappear into the crowd, torn between relief and frustration
Moments later, Xiao Zheng messages Xuan Ji asking about his Sword Spirit, and Xuan Ji lies that it “ran away,” grumbling that he’s already lost his clothes, phones, and now even his sword
Chapter 18Xuan Ji arrives at the ARB Dongchuan branch with Wang Ze to interrogate Master Yuede’s last disciple, who is actually a rich, non-metahuman smuggler-turned-funder of the sect.
Ji Qingchen had seduced this disciple to learn the location of the shamans' tomb and gain access to Mirage Butterfly eggs.
During the psychic interrogation, the disciple is caught lying; his memories reveal that Ji Qingchen and a woman set a honey trap.
The woman is identified as “Flower Fox,” a seductive psychic-class metahuman wanted by authorities and affiliated with the Church of Verity.
The Church of Verity is an extremist metahuman supremacist cult responsible for past atrocities, including the “Human Leather Coat” case.
Xuan Ji and Wang Ze suspect that the Church is involved in orchestrating the Dark Descent ritual and the distribution of Mirage Butterfly eggs.
A massive storm brews as Sheng Lingyuan tests the limits of his power atop a skyscraper and discovers the heavens restrict his abilities.
He tracks residual spells to Dongchuan Wet Market, which hides a secret underground black market filled with illegal supernatural goods.
Sheng Lingyuan follows Mr Nian, a rough man with cultivation aura, and Flower Fox into the market, remaining hidden with a concealment spell.
Mr Nian uses a geomantic compass to try to detect Sheng Lingyuan, but the compass spins erratically, terrified.
Flower Fox and Mr Nian enter a secret cult room via a trapped manhole disguised as trash access. Sheng Lingyuan silently follows them, undetected.
Inside, cultists worship a grotesque beast statue modeled after the dead King of the Yao, Jiu Xun, using corrupted yao language and forbidden techniques.
Flower Fox reports their failed Dark Descent ritual and weak Revenant summon. Cultists plan another, better ritual with stronger offerings.
Mr Nian is revealed to be a cold, dangerous man with bladed weapons that move on command. He intimidates the cultists into handing over unknown goods.
Sheng Lingyuan watches and confirms that many inside had contact with the Human-Faced Butterfly.
Tornado agents, led by Xuan Ji and Wang Ze, storm the market based on the disciple’s info. They destroy the exits and raid the hidden base.
Gu Yuexi’s aerial surveillance identifies the cult’s hideout and Flower Fox’s location, but warns the door is trapped with powerful formations.
Xuan Ji identifies the trap as Blister Bane, a deadly ancient formation guarded by toxic spiders.
Flower Fox taunts the agents, stalling for time to activate an escape gateway spell.
Xuan Ji abruptly ignites the trap door with deadly spiritual fire before the countdown ends, burning through the room and suspects inside.
Flower Fox escapes but is badly burned and begs for help. Xuan Ji snaps his fingers and extinguishes the flames precisely.
Wang Ze grows suspicious of Xuan Ji's rapidly improving and now extremely precise powers.
Flower Fox and other suspects are arrested, but Xuan Ji notices Flower Fox bleeding unnaturally from her forehead.
The suspects suddenly explode, their bodies turning into corrosive gore, killing themselves and destroying evidence.
Xuan Ji detects no further threats nearby but notices an agent carrying the cult’s dragon-headed god statue, which seems to grin at him ominously.
He realizes someone is observing or controlling events from the shadows, echoing a mysterious call he received earlier.
The chapter ends with Xuan Ji questioning whether Team Tornado is truly free from corruption, as suspected by Xiao Zheng.
Chapter 19Xuan Ji and Wang Ze arrive at ARB’s Dongchuan branch where Team Tornado is interrogating Master Yuede’s disciples.
Gu Yuexi shows them Master Yuede’s final disciple, a flashy middle-aged man dripping with wealth, known internally as “Mr. Cash Cow.”
Ji Qingchen reportedly seduced this man to get the burial mound’s location after becoming obsessed with Mirage Butterfly eggs.
The disciple claims ignorance, but psychic agents reveal through mind-reading that he knew of the forbidden zone and bragged about it while drunk.
He confirms recognizing Ji Qingchen and mentions a seductive woman who accompanied him—later identified as “Flower Fox,” a psychic-class metahuman from the Church of Verity.
Wang Ze explains the Church of Verity’s supremacist beliefs and history of violent crimes, including the infamous “Human Leather Coat” case.
Xuan Ji questions who’s truly behind the Dark Descent ritual, who sold Ji Qingchen the eggs, and what role the Church plays.
They decide to investigate Dongchuan’s black market for answers.
Meanwhile, Sheng Lingyuan stands on Dongchuan’s tallest building and attempts to release his power using shamanic spells, but heavenly lightning strikes him, proving his power is still restricted by heavenly laws.
Sheng Lingyuan sends spells across the city, tracking the Human-Faced Butterfly aura to two places: the Bureau of Peace and Dongchuan Wet Market.
He visits the market and senses potent demonic activity masked by the overwhelming stench.
He notices a man, later called “Mr Nian,” carrying a compass with a familiar aura and being trailed by Flower Fox.
Mr Nian uses a disguised dumpster entrance to access a hidden black market beneath the wet market.
The market is filled with illegal and horrific items, including blood for sale and grave goods.
Mr Nian and Flower Fox visit a back room guarded by shamanic traps and worshippers of a beast resembling King of the Yao, Jiu Xun.
Sheng Lingyuan infiltrates the room unnoticed and identifies Blister Bane guarding the door.
The cult members discuss the failure of the Dark Descent ritual, admitting the offering (Ji Qingchen) wasn’t a true match for the Revenant Arjin, hence his weakness.
Mr Nian demands goods and receives them after threatening a cultist with weaponized daggers.
Sheng Lingyuan recognizes that the cult is clumsily imitating ancient yao practices and finds it disturbing.
Flower Fox becomes suspicious when the Blister Bane defenses seem to vanish without explanation.
Tornado agents, tipped off by Master Yuede’s disciples, begin raiding the black market.
Xuan Ji and Wang Ze arrive, with Xuan Ji seemingly more withdrawn and smoking more than usual, suggesting personal strain.
Gu Yuexi maps the underground market using her Unveiling Sight from a helicopter.
Team Tornado plants explosives on all exits and seals the market without public awareness.
Mr Nian camouflages himself as a statue and evades arrest while Sheng Lingyuan continues tracking him.
Mr Nian escapes using a gateway formation just before Sheng Lingyuan’s spell reaches him.
Sheng Lingyuan reflects on his weakened state and considers retrieving Vermilion Bird bone fragments from the Crimson Abyss to regain strength.
In the market raid, Flower Fox and her companions barricade themselves inside a sealed room protected by Blister Bane.
Xuan Ji recognizes the formation and tries negotiating with Flower Fox but then uses a mysterious white flame to incinerate the door and suspects inside.
The precise flame burns only the room and its occupants, leaving others unharmed.
Flower Fox crawls out burning and begs for help before Xuan Ji extinguishes the fire with a snap.
Wang Ze becomes increasingly suspicious of Xuan Ji’s sudden spike in power and control.
As agents begin packing up, Flower Fox and the suspects suddenly explode, killing themselves and destroying the surroundings.
Xuan Ji’s quick reaction shields the agents, but the event confirms someone is monitoring and eliminating loose ends.
The beast god statue confiscated from the cult seems to grin at Xuan Ji, suggesting the mastermind is still watching.
Xuan Ji suspects an internal mole and questions whether Team Tornado is truly clean.
Chapter 20Gu Yuexi sees a familiar compass and remembers it once saved her life
Gu Yuexi was born with Unveiling Sight and abandoned because doctors misdiagnosed her as blind
Gu Yuexi was taken by a gang of thieves who used her ability to see through walls and objects
Gu Yuexi helped the gang steal and cheat until they grew too powerful and attracted attention
The gang was wiped out by an international metahuman crime syndicate
Gu Yuexi was captured and trapped in a psychic illusion prison for ten years
Yan Qiushan led an ARB rescue mission and entered the psychic realm with an Echo Tone
Yan Qiushan gave Gu Yuexi a geomantic compass to guide her back to reality
Gu Yuexi woke up holding the compass and Yan Qiushan never asked for it back
Gu Yuexi struggled at the Metahuman Youth Training Institute because she couldn’t read or fit in
Gu Yuexi was shunned, failed internships, and nearly expelled from the field agent system
Yan Qiushan and Zhichun would sometimes visit her and show her warmth
Gu Yuexi planned to take her own life and left the compass for Yan Qiushan
Yan Qiushan returned to headquarters, saw the compass, and realized she was in danger
Yan Qiushan organized a search and found Gu Yuexi attempting suicide
Zhichun cut the rope in time and saved her life, crying from the shock
Team Tornado later joked about the story, not knowing the real meaning
Yan Qiushan reviewed Gu Yuexi’s files and convinced the department to let her join Team Tornado
Wang Ze teased Gu Yuexi about Yan Qiushan’s favoritism, provoking her to overwork herself
Gu Yuexi pushed her body to the limit and passed the evaluation despite serious injuries
Gu Yuexi learned the compass was an expensive heirloom, but Yan Qiushan let her keep it
Gu Yuexi began to feel like she belonged and found family in Team Tornado
Every New Year, Yan Qiushan would scold her for injuries while Zhichun gave her dumplings
Zhichun once stuffed a custard dumpling in Yan Qiushan’s mouth to shut him up
Gu Yuexi later became a mentor figure as younger recruits joined the team
Three years later, Gu Yuexi mourns the death of Zhichun and disappearance of Yan Qiushan
Gu Yuexi sees the compass in a surveillance photo and suspects Yan Qiushan may be alive
Mr Nian visits Madam Jade and shows her the compass
Madam Jade is an ancient metahuman attended by lifelike puppet maids
Mr Nian shows a token from the sect Heavenly Fire and proposes reawakening the Crimson Abyss
Mr Nian argues that metahumans are not humans and deserve to restore their lost power
Mr Nian tells the story of the highlanders, ancient weapon forgers betrayed by humans
The highlander prince was turned into a Demonic Revenant to protect forbidden weapons
Mr Nian reveals he plans to summon the Revenant through the Dark Descent ritual
Madam Jade realizes Mr Nian is the necessary sacrifice for the ritual
Mr Nian admits he will sacrifice himself to repair a broken sword
Madam Jade agrees to help but won’t affiliate her name with the sect
Madam Jade addresses Mr Nian by his true name: Yan Qiushan
Xiao Zheng interrogates suspects and learns Mirage Butterflies were used to hide failed missions
Xuan Ji reveals agents were manipulated to sacrifice themselves unknowingly
Psychic interrogation confirms the former chief director sanctioned use of Mirage Butterflies
Xiao Zheng finds a list of corrupted officials including Mr Song and himself
Xiao Zheng decides to pursue justice even if it implicates him
ARB hall of fame is purged within an hour as arrested officials are removed
Xuan Ji reflects on how weapon spirits like Zhichun were used and discarded by the system
Xuan Ji dreams of being shattered repeatedly, hinting at internal trauma
In Yuyang, a man becomes famous online for playing the xun and attracting birds
The man carves wooden butterflies and works at a café in exchange for shelter
The man refuses to carve portraits or birds and has no memory of who he is
The man is actually Zhichun, living with amnesia
Yan Qiushan arrives nearby with Silvereye, Snakeskin, and Madam Jade’s puppet maid
They bring Yin Treasures and baby blood to begin a forbidden forging ritual
Snakeskin accidentally opens a jar of merfolk mordant and is burned
Yan Qiushan uses fire to expel the mordant and save Snakeskin’s hand
The puppet explains the highlanders used merfolk oil and blood to forge living weapons
Merfolk could not be farmed because they died if they realized they were betrayed
One merfolk willingly gave its life because it loved its master, making its blood useless
Yan Qiushan ignores the tragedy and focuses on preparing the forging ritual
Yan Qiushan instructs his team to seal the location and begin the Demonic Revenant summoning
Chapter 21Xuan Ji sees Sheng Lingyuan in Yuyang and immediately suspects something serious.
Gu Yuexi discovers a lead on Yan Qiushan via a fake identity “Nian Fu” near Dongchuan, a name only Yan Qiushan would use due to its connection with his Sword Spirit Zhichun.
Gu Yuexi tracks a car using that alias heading toward Yuyang and decides to follow the lead, submitting leave from work.
Xuan Ji, plagued by separation anxiety and dreams about Sheng Lingyuan, also impulsively takes leave and heads to Yuyang.
As he departs, Xuan Ji realizes his senses have sharpened to unnatural levels, and he senses something wrong at HQ from kilometers away.
Back at HQ, a mysterious blackout disables the power system, triggering alarms in basement level 59—where dangerous items are stored.
Xiao Zheng leads a security check and discovers a breach in Zone W, the waste storage area.
The missing item is revealed to be the container holding fragments of the Sword Spirit Zhichun.
Yan Qiushan is revealed to be alive and staying in Yuyang under the alias “Mr Nian”, carrying a shard of Zhichun and haunted by memories.
Sheng Lingyuan, now undercover in Yuyang, invades Yan Qiushan’s dreams using a spell to extract his memories.
He learns Zhichun was a legendary sword possibly forged by Wei Yun, the last highland master craftsman.
Sheng Lingyuan is intrigued by Zhichun’s origins but finds Yan Qiushan emotionally weak and overly sentimental.
Meanwhile, Xuan Ji and Gu Yuexi coincidentally meet at the airport heading to Yuyang and realize they are both investigating the same issue.
Back at HQ, Xiao Zheng suspects Yan Qiushan may have stolen the fragments but is conflicted.
Wang Ze, loyal to Yan Qiushan, defends him but is clearly shaken by recent events.
HQ issues a covert order to locate Yan Qiushan under the guise of witness protection.
Wang Ze rushes to join Gu Yuexi and Xuan Ji in Yuyang with a specially chosen Tornado team.
Yan Qiushan, along with fugitives Silvereye and Snakeskin, and a puppet maid, prepares to dive into the South Sea in search of the highlander prince’s tomb.
The team uses a powerful Diving Bead made from Kun fish gills to submerge their fishing boat like a submarine.
Sheng Lingyuan spies on them using a sparrow puppet and muses on the group’s weaknesses, mocking their plan to enter a tomb he himself had sealed.
The group cautiously navigates the tomb’s deadly entrance using a map from Madam Jade.
As they enter, they are attacked by an illusion of a giant blade, but Yan Qiushan remains calm and unharmed.
Sheng Lingyuan carves a bamboo flute and plays it, triggering a violent reaction from the sea and alerting the others above ground.
Team Tornado arrives at the coast and is shocked by the sudden ocean disturbance caused by the events below.
Xuan Ji, overwhelmed by a spiritual connection to Sheng Lingyuan, begins experiencing uncontrollable symptoms and intense spiritual resonance.
The team realizes the situation is spiraling, but can’t locate Yan Qiushan and the group who have already descended into the tomb.
Chapter 22Xuan Ji experiences a vivid vision where he inhabits the body of a small child suffering excruciating pain, accompanied by an older boy who tries to soothe him by telling a legend about merfolk.
The boys speak in the ancient court language of Great Qi, and Xuan Ji surprisingly understands them.
In the real world, Xuan Ji is burning with a mysterious fever; Gu Yuexi and Wang Ze try to cool him down.
Xuan Ji suddenly wakes up muttering about the merfolk tongue’s ability to find people underwater.
Yan Qiushan's team enters a tomb lit with merfolk lanterns and finds the walls are crystal, filled with human and non-human corpses frozen in time.
The tomb is revealed to be a trap; Sheng Lingyuan had designed it to lure in and capture tomb raiders with illusions and soul-shattering traps.
Xuan Ji, still feeling weak, insists on using the merfolk tongue to locate Yan Qiushan, requesting his photo and using seawater to trace ancient characters.
His chanting creates resonance in the water, drawing a response from the sea, breaking through the illusion around the tomb and reaching Yan Qiushan.
The call disrupts the illusion, revealing the tomb’s true form and saving Yan Qiushan’s team from being completely consumed.
Sheng Lingyuan, observing remotely through a puppet fish, is startled by Xuan Ji’s unexpected mastery of the merfolk tongue and Puppeteering Technique.
Xuan Ji leads Team Tornado underwater with Wang Ze’s water bubbles to follow the resonance path toward the tomb.
Xuan Ji instinctively recognizes the tomb as belonging to the highlander prince Wei Yun, though he doesn't know how.
Gu Yuexi, using Unveiling Sight, reveals the entire tomb passage is filled with countless corpses, shocking even her.
As the tomb starts to close, Xuan Ji defies ARB protocols, launching coins embedded with spells into the tomb’s entrance to hold it open.
He argues they must act because lives are at risk and a potential Demonic Revenant could be awakened.
Sheng Lingyuan is baffled by Xuan Ji’s ability to dismantle his powerful formation and suspects hidden depths to Xuan Ji’s power.
Inside the tomb, Yan Qiushan’s group struggles against the shifting crystal walls that try to trap them like before.
Yan Qiushan ventures deeper and discovers corpses of highlander children buried alive, identified by tattoos and traditional attire.
The puppet explains this was a burial tradition to “warm the house” of the dead, and that Wei Yun’s tomb was prepared before his death.
Snakeskin assumes the Sovereign of the Humans killed the children, but Sheng Lingyuan recalls Wei Yun wasn’t killed by him but died by suicide.
Snakeskin and Silvereye explain the history of the Crimson Abyss, the oppression of non-human races, and the sealing of spiritual energy by Vermilion Birds.
They assert that Demonic Revenants are finite, one per race, and that the seal on the Crimson Abyss is failing, with only one Vermilion Bird bone remaining.
Yan Qiushan finds the preserved corpse of Wei Yun, still bound in ancient robes and mournful even in death.
Silvereye gives Yan Qiushan the last Yin Engraving Blade to carve the Dark Descent inscription needed to awaken the Revenant.
The knife resonates powerfully with Yan Qiushan’s bloodline, confirming his unique metal affinity.
As Yan Qiushan begins the inscription, Team Tornado arrives too late to stop the first stroke of the spell.
Wang Ze pleads with Yan Qiushan to stop, mentioning Zhichun, but Yan Qiushan calmly reveals his real plan.
He explains Demonic Revenants are finite and can only exist one per race; the only way to prevent another is to destroy the vessel before awakening.
Yan Qiushan smashes a box of bloodrot mordant onto the crystal wall, which soaks into the tomb’s flesh and would ignite with a detonation spell.
Instead of completing the Dark Descent, he begins carving a metal-class explosion spell meant to ignite the mordant and destroy the tomb.
Wang Ze realizes Yan Qiushan’s true goal is to sacrifice himself and prevent the resurrection of the Revenant permanently.
The tomb quakes violently as the spell activates; every corpse in the passage opens its eyes, signifying the start of the detonation.
Chapter 23Xuan Ji experiences another vision where he inhabits a child's body who is being burned alive; he hears another older boy calling himself “Lingyuan-gege” telling a story to soothe him.
Xuan Ji realizes the boys are speaking in the ancient Great Qi court language, and he understands it fluently, despite never learning it.
In reality, Xuan Ji is burning up with a mysterious fever. Wang Ze and Gu Yuexi panic, but as Wang Ze tries to cool him down with ice, Xuan Ji wakes up, burns vanished.
Xuan Ji murmurs that the "merfolk tongue" can be used to locate people underwater, clearly influenced by his vision.
Yan Qiushan’s party navigates an underwater tomb using a map and sees bodies of various people encased in crystal walls, likely former tomb raiders.
Sheng Lingyuan had designed the tomb with traps and illusions to protect against thieves, making the map they are using a trap itself.
The tomb is actually consuming their boat unnoticed due to illusions. The crew thinks they’re making progress, but they’re being swallowed by the tomb.
Xuan Ji, on a separate mission, hears the same flute music from earlier and asks for a photo of Yan Qiushan.
Using seawater and the merfolk tongue from his vision, Xuan Ji performs a ritual with the photo, successfully calling out to Yan Qiushan across the sea.
The sea responds, breaking the illusionary formation consuming the boat. Yan Qiushan hears his name, and the illusion starts to shatter.
Xuan Ji leads the Team Tornado into the sea using bubble capsules and an underwater passage created with the merfolk tongue.
Sheng Lingyuan senses someone is using the merfolk tongue and realizes it’s Xuan Ji. They briefly connect through a puppet fish, and Sheng Lingyuan is shocked at Xuan Ji’s growth.
Xuan Ji instinctively identifies the tomb as belonging to the highlander Wei Yun, though he doesn’t know how he knows this.
Gu Yuexi sees through the illusions and reveals the passage is packed with corpses.
Xuan Ji stops the tomb from closing using ancient coins, overriding the formation. He says the tomb could contain a dangerous Demonic Revenant.
Yan Qiushan’s group continues inside and discovers corpses of highlander children buried alive as “house warmers,” part of their burial custom.
Sheng Lingyuan, observing remotely, is disturbed when they mention awakening Wei Yun. He recalls Wei Yun’s tragic life and confirms he is not the Revenant sealed in the tomb.
Silvereye and Snakeskin discuss the Crimson Abyss and the history of anomalous energy suppression by humans and Vermilion Birds.
They explain that the Crimson Abyss was sealed using thirty-six Vermilion Bird bones, and recent metahuman activity suggests only one seal remains.
The group reaches a chamber with Wei Yun’s perfectly preserved body encased in crystal.
Silvereye hands Yan Qiushan a rare "Yin Engraving Blade" and urges him to inscribe the Dark Descent ritual to awaken the Revenant.
The blade reacts violently to Yan Qiushan’s touch, proving his compatibility as a metal class metahuman.
As Yan Qiushan starts the ritual, Team Tornado arrives too late. He completes the first stroke and is enveloped with the corpse in a magical bubble.
Wang Ze begs Yan Qiushan to stop, invoking Zhichun’s name, but Yan Qiushan smiles and explains a theory: only one Demonic Revenant per race can exist, and once destroyed, they cannot be reborn.
Yan Qiushan decides to destroy the Revenant instead of awakening it. He smashes a ceramic box containing merfolk bloodrot mordant on the crystal wall, contaminating the corpse.
He uses the engraving knife to begin a spell designed to detonate the mordant, causing a massive explosion that will obliterate the Revenant’s body.
This would make it impossible for anyone to ever summon the highlander Revenant again, sacrificing himself in the process.
Wang Ze instantly realizes Yan Qiushan’s plan and watches in horror as the bloodrot ignites, knowing that the explosion will destroy the tomb and its contents permanently.
Chapter 24Yan Qiushan researches Drifting Blights and sea venom after Zhichun is contaminated and becomes suspicious when finding inconsistencies in how Drifting Blights should behave.
Yan Qiushan doubts anyone would target him due to his unremarkable background and diluted bloodline but becomes troubled when people begin scheming over his broken sword Zhichun.
He accepts that his life has been full and is prepared to sacrifice himself to stop the Demonic Revenant’s resurrection.
Yan Qiushan begins carving a spell into the highlander prince’s tomb wall while remembering his past, ignoring Wang Ze and Gu Yuexi’s protests.
Xuan Ji intervenes at the last second with his snow-white flame, causing the Dark Descent barrier to bleed and shatter as time is briefly stopped.
The engraving knife snaps and an explosion collapses the tomb passage, hurling everyone out with massive force.
Xuan Ji nearly drowns and experiences a vivid memory of his past: he was once a hatchling fused with a boy to become a Fateforged Sword.
Xuan Ji witnesses a ceremony where a sword is forged in a cauldron with his own body, revealing he is the Fateforged Sword Spirit.
Sheng Lingyuan rescues Xuan Ji from the seabed and gives him a breath of air through mouth-to-mouth; they escape the collapsing tomb.
Xuan Ji clings to Sheng Lingyuan, deeply affected by the memories and unsure of who he truly is.
Wang Ze panics trying to rescue Yan Qiushan, who is seriously wounded with broken bones and internal bleeding.
Gu Yuexi and Wang Ze manage to retrieve Yan Qiushan to the speedboat, confirming he is alive but barely hanging on.
Sheng Lingyuan reflects on the situation and deduces that Yan Qiushan had been used as bait in the ritual and never intended to complete the Dark Descent.
Sheng Lingyuan suspects the real Revenant was someone else and begins searching the undercurrents for answers.
As the boat travels through a sea of corpses, Xuan Ji uses an ancient Soul-Guiding Lamp spell to part the bodies, surprising even Sheng Lingyuan.
The spell draws the corpses like pilgrims, and Yan Qiushan appears entranced by the light, indicating he is close to death.
Sheng Lingyuan questions the ARB agents’ assumption that Wei Yun is the Revenant and reveals the truth: Wei Yun was a manipulated tool, not a villain.
Wei Yun had been a highlander forging genius adopted by the Highland King and used as a diplomatic pawn. He died by suicide after being betrayed and used as leverage.
Sheng Lingyuan reveals there was no seal on Wei Yun’s corpse, proving he was not the Revenant.
These revelations cause Yan Qiushan to regain partial consciousness and resist death briefly.
At exactly eleven o’clock, Dark Descent glyphs begin emerging from the sea, overpowering the Soul-Guiding Lamp.
Silvereye wakes up and gleefully declares Yan Qiushan was used as bait to lure the ARB into a trap; the real enemy is still hidden.
Sheng Lingyuan deduces the true Revenant is the Highland King, Wei Yu, and not Wei Yun.
Dark magic activates as hundreds of child corpses surface, possessed and smiling grotesquely.
The child corpses chant and begin attacking the boat, forming a horrifying army.
Xuan Ji begins understanding ancient language fluently, revealing the revenant’s message to Sheng Lingyuan in disguise.
Sheng Lingyuan casually insults the Revenant’s appearance, prompting all the corpses to open their eyes and laugh menacingly.
The corpses declare the blood of the Fateforged Demon is powerful but claim Sheng Lingyuan’s sword is broken and challenge him to fight all 108 corpses.
The phrase “Your mighty Fateforged Sword is already broken” triggers a flood of memories in Xuan Ji.
Xuan Ji recalls the palace and a moment when Sheng Lingyuan trembled holding him—he was the sword and the one being held.
Xuan Ji remembers that the sword (himself) was broken during a coup led by the Highland King and orchestrated with Sheng Lingyuan’s teacher, Dan Li.
Dan Li drugged Sheng Lingyuan during a banquet with Millennium, allowing the sword to be destroyed while Sheng Lingyuan remained conscious and helpless.
The Sword Spirit (Xuan Ji) deliberately severed their connection for the first time to spare Sheng Lingyuan the pain as he was shattered.
The Sword Spirit expressed desires to be free, travel the world, and taste things with his own tongue before dying.
Sheng Lingyuan witnessed the Sword Spirit’s final form—adolescent with wings—disintegrate into ash.
Sheng Lingyuan clawed through the Millennium haze, trying to reach the remnants of his Sword Spirit but was too late.
The last shard of the Fateforged Sword bore the name “Tong,” meaning “red,” an unassuming name for such a powerful weapon.
Sheng Lingyuan permanently lost vision in one eye, the only mark he could retain from the Sword Spirit.
The trauma from the sword’s destruction haunted both of them and is now resurfacing as the Revenant rises.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire
Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, Vol. 3
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Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, Vol. 4
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Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, Vol. 5
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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Global Examination
Global Examination
Chapter 1A group of Chinese individuals and one foreigner are stranded in a snowy mountain cabin during a severe snowstorm.
An old radio in the room starts broadcasting eerie messages announcing an "exam" starting soon—naming the place “Exam Site 003712.”
One man tries to escape after hearing the broadcast—but dies mysteriously, falling from the roof; no one dares touch the radio after that.
Among the group is Old Yu, his son Yu Wen, and nephew You Huo, who arrived together after drunkenly wandering into a supernatural portal.
Old Yu shares how they ended up here during You Huo’s farewell trip—he vomited on You Huo, and has avoided him out of guilt.
The group is trapped—every path they try outside loops them back to the same cabin.
The radio declares all examinees present and announces the rules—a 48-hour physics exam, with answer cards to be submitted every six hours.
A cryptic problem appears on the wall: “A group of travellers came to a snowy mountain…” with no clear instructions.
You Huo silently tests the exam boundary by extending his hand out the window—drawing blood, and tossing a tin can that disintegrates in the snow.
The exam has fatal consequences if no points are earned within six hours—someone will be removed from the site.
Inksleeves, a tattooed thug, interacts roughly with Yu Wen, probing him for ideas due to his recent exam experience.
Yu Wen dismisses the idea that this is a literal exam and suggests it's metaphorical—typical of horror scenarios.
As six o'clock strikes, the question is revealed officially, and pressure mounts to find a solution.
Yu Yao, the pregnant woman, tries to write on the wall using ink from a mysterious bottle—but it gets absorbed without a trace.
A bald man insists on trying too, but when the ink doesn’t work, he nearly pours the entire bottle—You Huo stops him and ties him up with rope.
A warning appears on the wall: “Unauthorised stationery used. Invigilators notified.”
A rooster hung on the door turns its neck toward the entrance—signaling the arrival of the invigilators.
Three mysterious figures arrive: Invigilators 001, 154, and 922. 001 locks eyes with You Huo, who seems to vaguely recognize him but doesn’t remember.
The invigilators demand the rule-breakers: the bald man and "a girl." Qin Jiu (001) unexpectedly singles out You Huo instead of Yu Yao.
You Huo is taken away despite protest—he’s chosen in place of Yu Yao, who was actually guilty.
Yu Wen later reveals that You Huo told him to find a knife before leaving—implying a clue.
Yu Wen realizes You Huo was trying to identify the authorised “stationery”—a knife—based on scratch marks made earlier on the wall.
The ink didn't work, but the knife left marks—confirming it was the correct tool.
Yu Wen warns his father not to tell others yet because You Huo said someone is hiding the knife.
Meanwhile, You Huo is taken through the snow to a strange cottage filled with statues and murals.
Baldie is dragged away to be punished; You Huo remains unphased and challenges the invigilators.
Invigilator 154 becomes nervous, hinting You Huo is unusually unshaken—even when the room fills with blood from Baldie’s torture.
You Huo is placed in a “time-out” room where people are forced to relive their worst memory—but instead of reacting in fear, he naps calmly.
Qin Jiu (001) watches You Huo’s screen from the attic where the invigilators monitor all examinees—You Huo's screen remains clean and undisturbed.
Invigilator 154 returns to find You Huo sleeping peacefully and is stunned by his composure.
After being released, You Huo waits to be escorted back—avoiding the fatal snowstorm.
Baldie is barely conscious after his punishment, and 922 prepares to return both examinees to the cabin.
Qin Jiu observes them leave and reflects, then walks to a locked time-out room.
Inside, he finds 154 tied up, gagged with paper saying “Who the fuck are you calling a girl?”—You Huo had subdued him during his penalty.
Qin Jiu finds it amusing; 154 is humiliated and complains bitterly, but Qin Jiu teases him.
It’s revealed that invigilators are all former top-ranked examinees—with lower numbers like 001 denoting high status.
154 and Qin Jiu discuss how You Huo showed no fear in the time-out room—a phenomenon 154 has never seen before in his three-year invigilator career.
They speculate that You Huo might be extremely lucky, or simply different—but the real test is only just beginning.
The first six-hour deadline is approaching—and someone among the examinees is destined to die.
Chapter 2Invigilator 922 escorted You Huo and Yu Wen back to the cabin and announced they couldn’t participate in the current round due to time-out penalties.
The first submission deadline arrived, marked by the rooster crowing; panic erupted among the examinees.
Yu Wen wrestled a hidden knife from Inksleeves just as chaos peaked.
You Huo ignored the invigilator’s warning and scratched “solution” onto the answer wall as the rooster crowed for the ninth time.
The panic ceased; the answer was unexpectedly accepted, earning +2 points.
Everyone was shocked, and Invigilator 922 hurried to report the outcome.
Yu Wen revealed Inksleeves had hidden the knife and nearly jeopardized everyone’s safety.
Inksleeves was tied to a chair for interrogation.
A new question appeared involving cursed tableware, limited food, and optics, along with a warning that the previous answer was submitted by an unauthorized examinee.
You Huo was summoned to Invigilator 001 (Qin Jiu)'s office and received a second punishment.
Qin Jiu debated what to do but ultimately assigned You Huo a “cleanup” punishment in a time-out room.
While cleaning, You Huo discovered human remains, including a tattooed piece of skin.
He filled a bucket with blood and left it with a sarcastic note for Qin Jiu.
Invigilator 154 explained some invigilators were once examinees and hinted at the exam being a dangerous selection process.
Invigilator rules include no assisting examinees or forming relationships; violations are harshly punished.
You Huo cleaned with minimal effort and returned to the cabin.
Yu Wen questioned him about the punishment; You Huo gave sarcastic responses.
You Huo criticized Yu Wen’s attempt to answer the optics question by writing random physics notes and drawing diagrams on the wall.
They had searched the cabin for hours but found no food or tableware; only two locked rooms remained unchecked.
You Huo noticed two empty nails on the wall where hunting gear once hung, suggesting missing items.
Old Yu confirmed the nails were already empty before they entered.
You Huo ordered Inksleeves to rehang the hunting gear, noticing the missing items might be significant.
Yu Yao apologized for causing You Huo’s punishment, but he coldly dismissed her.
At 4:00 a.m., the rooster crowed, and a dragging noise outside heralded the arrival of Hunter Alpha.
Hunter Alpha entered with a rope and a heavy sack, greeted the group unnervingly, and declared it was time for breakfast.
He confirmed there were 13 guests but only food for 12 and hinted at someone dying.
He entered the hen-marked room, revealed to be a blood-smeared kitchen with chained cupboards.
His monologue disturbed the group, and they speculated he was a cannibal who might have unearthed food from buried corpses.
Hunter Alpha chose Baldie to help him carry plates, threatening anyone who tried to interfere.
Baldie complied under duress, setting 13 plates on the table before fainting in fear.
The examinees realized that the “fated to die” guest might be identified by the plate they touch.
Hunter Alpha then asked for another volunteer to fetch glasses, eyeing Yu Wen.
You Huo interrupted and volunteered instead.
Hunter Alpha hesitated but accepted, clearly displeased.
You Huo explained to Yu Wen that the requirement not to damage tableware was suspiciously emphasized.
He followed Hunter Alpha into the kitchen, leaving the group in tense uncertainty.
Chapter 3You Huo enters the kitchen and observes Hunter Alpha handling wine glasses with extreme care, which raises his suspicion.
You Huo mocks and irritates Hunter Alpha, eventually getting kicked out of the kitchen.
Hunter Alpha later brings out the glasses and begins a grotesque meal by eating raw meat whole, causing two elderly women to faint.
He claims one portion is missing and implies someone must die, blaming You Huo for upsetting him.
You Huo calls out that killing a guest breaks the rules, then kicks Hunter Alpha in the face, causing him to fall and break a wine glass.
This triggers a system alert: “Warning: Exam requirements violated. Invigilators notified.”
Invigilators 001 (Qin Jiu), 154, and 922 arrive on-site to investigate.
Hunter Alpha is declared dead. His death is ruled as self-inflicted due to the glass-breaking rule he enforced.
You Huo sarcastically denies responsibility, claiming his legs were numb and he “stumbled.”
Yu Wen and Yu Yao attempt to defend You Huo, but the system still issues a violation warning.
This is You Huo’s third rule violation. As punishment, he is put under direct invigilation and loses the right to choose the next exam subject.
Qin Jiu ties up You Huo and brings him to the attic for close supervision.
Despite You Huo’s sarcasm and hostility, Qin Jiu remains unfazed and even playful.
Downstairs, the examinees struggle to answer the optics-themed question. Yu Wen and Yu Yao contribute useful information.
The system rewards them with points for surviving and one correct answer, but later deducts points for messy handwriting.
A new question appears: Find the cursed set of tableware hidden “beneath the light.”
Chairs at the table begin to scratch numbers into their wood, hinting at assigned seating.
Baldie is the first to sit and becomes stuck, triggering panic.
Everyone realizes the secret is in the wine glasses, not the cutlery or plates.
You Huo examines glass shards and identifies the broken glass as separate from the 12 counted sets, making it safe to break further.
Despite protest, You Huo breaks the glass base again, revealing a hidden object inside.
The system doesn’t issue a new violation, confirming You Huo’s reasoning.
The object is a tiny disc with the name “Simon le Zélote,” hidden in the glass stem.
Maximilian reads the name; others fail to understand the reference.
Zhou Jin, nicknamed Bamboo Man, identifies it as related to “The Last Supper.”
Chapter 4Zhou Jin references The Last Supper painting to deduce a clue related to the meal setup and twelve guests.
Yu Wen and Yu Yao mention “Judas,” which excites the group, but they realize the answer is not a name but a corresponding number.
Inksleeves tries to read hidden names on wine glasses but fails due to light refraction.
Yu Wen remembers a similar refraction problem but cannot explain it clearly.
You Huo takes charge, searches the kitchen, and finds a bottle of rum in a locked room.
The rum reveals hidden names on the wine glasses when poured, confirming disciples' names.
When the name “Judas” appears on Glass 11, Baldie in Chair 12 feels relieved.
Zhou Jin is about to write “11” on the wall, but You Huo corrects him—it should be “12,” since Jesus was the one crucified, not Judas.
You Huo submits the correct answer “12,” triggering the end of the test.
They finish the session 35 hours early and review the four questions, discovering two were missed due to Hunter Alpha’s early death.
Their total score is 19 points with deductions for “neatness.”
You Huo earns two reward draws from the invigilators.
Qin Jiu presents a deck of reward cards, including rare ones like “Graduation.”
You Huo draws a worthless encouragement card and another card granting “Assistance from an invigilator” for the next session.
A punishment is announced: Baldie, who sat in the cursed seat, becomes the new Hunter Alpha.
Baldie transforms grotesquely and attacks, but the scene shifts suddenly.
The group finds themselves outside in a snowstorm near a mountain forest.
They reach a sign saying “Mt Cock-a-Doodle, 100 m ahead,” realizing another challenge might be close.
They discover a small inn labeled “Lodging, Heating, Dining” and meet receptionist Xiaohu and manager Chu Yue.
Chu Yue identifies their status as examinees and forcibly checks them in for a mandatory one-week stay.
Inksleeves refuses to stay and leaves in anger.
They settle in and warm up. Chu Yue’s food comforts them.
Chu Yue explains that only a few people usually survive each session.
They visit a three-storey corner shop owned by Zhao Dianzhang.
Yu Wen discovers there are no prices, and Zhao Dianzhang explains everything must be purchased with points earned from exams.
Panic sets in as the group realizes how expensive items are. You Huo calmly buys only essentials with three points.
Zhao Dianzhang mocks their inexperience, explaining people rarely buy more than two items.
The group spends the remaining days in recovery at the service centre.
On the seventh day at exactly 3:12 p.m., they are ejected from the inn.
At a crossroads, they find four signs labeled with exam subjects: “Language Arts,” “Foreign Language,” “Mathematics,” and “History.”
They meet a bloodied and injured Inksleeves, who was lost for two days and couldn’t find his way back.
A loudspeaker announces the rules: five total sessions, and the group must choose the next subject.
You Huo reveals all four signs say “Foreign Language” to him and sees invigilators waiting on each path.
The group agrees to follow You Huo.
As the timer counts down, they choose “Foreign Language” and step into the fog.
The countdown expires and the group vanishes into the unknown next session.
Chapter 5Qin Jiu waits for You Huo in the snow under an umbrella, teasingly calling him “Mr Snort”.
Qin Jiu explains that as punishment for rule violations, You Huo can’t choose his exam subjects anymore; Qin Jiu will assign them.
You Huo is furious but remains silent. Qin Jiu smugly says he was assigned to Foreign Language this time.
Yu Wen, Old Yu, Yu Yao, and Maximilian arrive; Yu Wen is terrified of Qin Jiu.
They wait for Zhou Jin and others, but instead two unfamiliar examinees—Chen Bin and Liang Yuanhao—show up.
Qin Jiu says groups aren’t fixed even if they pick the same subject. Fewer examinees mean fewer invigilators.
Chen Bin introduces himself and explains he barely passed the previous exams. He reveals the passing score for five sessions is 60 out of 100.
Liang Yuanhao has done three sessions with low scores and is visibly nervous.
Yu Wen brags that Maximilian will help them pass Foreign Language; Chen Bin worries because he doesn’t understand them.
You Huo is mentioned as another backup because of his foreign language skills.
They wait at a bus stop marked "Intercity Coach". A filthy, 90s-looking minibus appears.
Despite its appearance, the interior is decent. You Huo takes the back seat and pretends to sleep. Qin Jiu sits beside him.
They argue subtly. Qin Jiu says the Foreign Language subject was randomly assigned, not chosen.
The exam system announces through the bus speakers: the exam is 10 days long, subject is Foreign Language, language is Romani.
The entire group is horrified by the unexpected difficulty.
Qin Jiu annoys You Huo by talking and moving his bag, forcing them to sit side-by-side.
The bus drives recklessly through dangerous mountain roads, despite warnings of rockslides and poor conditions.
Eventually, it stops in a remote village. The driver says nothing and runs into the woods.
The group sees a stone marker reading “KALI PHUV” in strange letters.
The driver returns with a village chief, who warns them not to go into the woods and that the area is cursed by the presence of "Dark Widow".
The village is eerily silent. People stay indoors and only move around in daylight due to fear of Dark Widow.
The chief warns that they must not go outside at night or open doors for any reason.
The villagers spy on them through windows but never come out.
The group lodges near Dark Widow’s home. Qin Jiu is forced to stay in the same cramped houses due to full-time invigilation duty over You Huo.
The exam system forbids “inappropriate relations” between examinee and invigilator, mocking the group by repeating this in multiple languages.
Qin Jiu and You Huo agree to share a house, but Qin Jiu will sleep on the couch. The crow-like speaker finally accepts this setup.
All houses have crow speakers. Everyone is wary of them except You Huo and Qin Jiu.
At 7:30 a.m., Dark Widow wakes up. The chief says they must draw cards before seeing her.
Old Yu draws a card that looks like the Death tarot. Scratching sounds reveal the exam question carved on the door.
Listening comprehension exam: three questions about Dark Widow’s name, her family, and the number of people in her house. Daily failure means random coffining.
Dark Widow starts speaking in unintelligible Romani. You Huo stuffs a cloth in her mouth to pause the session.
He uses his phone to record the audio. The rest of the group copies his idea.
Dark Widow stares at You Huo, then drags him into her house, followed by the rest.
Inside, the decor is reminiscent of Roma culture with incense, trinkets, and voodoo dolls.
Dark Widow distributes unfinished dolls and expects them to finish sewing them before the hourglass runs out.
She leaves and locks the door behind them.
Chen Bin panics; windows are locked. Yu Wen suggests the task is to complete the dolls before time runs out.
Everyone reluctantly starts sewing.
You Huo stands by the window and watches Dark Widow disappear into the dark forest.
Chapter 6You Huo finds a creepy, mismatched doll with a tattoo-like pattern on its leg resembling bellflowers, which he thinks he’s seen before.
He asks invigilator Qin Jiu if he remembers the same pattern from a prank bucket You Huo left outside his door.
Qin Jiu refuses to seriously answer, claiming it would count as extra assistance.
The group is assigned to stitch dolls by “Dark Widow,” but You Huo notices discrepancies in the fabric scraps versus the finished dolls and warns against stitching them.
Despite pressure and uncertainty, most of the group follow You Huo’s intuition and refuse to stitch, except for Chen Bin and Liang Yuanhao.
The hunchbacked Dark Widow returns, notices the half-finished dolls, shows mild disapproval but doesn’t punish anyone. Instead, she smiles and dismisses them.
The crow announces the end of “listening comprehension” and the beginning of the next test at 7:30 a.m.
Back at the house, the group fails to translate the Romani recording Dark Widow had played; no translation apps work.
Yu Wen’s app doesn’t support Romani, leading to despair. Maximilian recognizes a few words—“grave,” “flower,” “needle,” “sun”—claiming the Romani speech is mixed with Farsi and Russian.
The group tries to piece meaning together but fails to connect the words with the exam questions: Dark Widow’s name, her family, and how many people live in her house.
Yu Yao spots villagers across the river, prompting the group to go investigate for potential clues.
Villagers admit visitors come often but never seem to leave.
A villager recognizes You Huo and Qin Jiu but is dismissed by others as mentally unstable. He repeatedly insists he’s seen them before and grabs several examinees.
The villagers refuse to host the group or offer help, citing “outsiders” and dark superstitions.
You Huo questions them about Romani, learning Dark Widow used to have a Russian husband and children, but they all mysteriously disappeared.
A female villager points out that the forest surrounding the village is a graveyard, then rushes away at sunset, warning about evil spirits that attack at night.
Undeterred, You Huo heads into the forest alone. Others, including Old Yu, Yu Wen, Yu Yao, and Maximilian, follow after him with a glowstick.
Qin Jiu tags along and annoys You Huo with sarcastic remarks, but also warns about conserving points.
In the woods, You Huo finds gravestones with carvings matching the stone at the village entrance, likely done by Dark Widow.
He tells Yu Wen to take photos of the gravestones and copy them onto Dark Widow’s door, believing they contain her name and family info.
The group experiences unexplained physical contact—someone stepping on their feet or kicking them—though no one nearby confesses to it.
Strange sounds and faint ghostly figures appear, heading toward the village.
Back at their house, Chen Bin and Liang Yuanhao decide not to join the group, rationalizing that hanging back keeps their options open.
At night, ominous knocking echoes through the village, eventually reaching their house and under their beds.
A chilling voice asks if they stitched dolls. Liang Yuanhao hastily admits they did and even claims to have done more than Chen Bin.
The voice expresses delight, and then dismembers Liang Yuanhao’s legs with a cleaver, eerily mirroring the villager’s earlier ice-chopping motion.
Chapter 7You Huo’s group spent the entire night in the woods but saw no monsters and left at dawn.
Old Yu dismissed the forest warnings, but Yu Wen remained shaken.
They suspected the monsters avoided them because other victims were targeted.
The village appeared abandoned with dark homes and spiderwebs on doors.
You Huo stopped at the madman’s house, suspecting he might know Qin Jiu.
No one answered the door after persistent knocking, so the group moved on.
At Dark Widow’s door, Yu Wen used a bone pen to copy gravestone script as the answer to a question.
You Huo stopped him from answering the second question to save it for the next day.
Chen Bin and Liang Yuanhao were missing at the submission deadline.
Old Yu found their house covered in blood with trails leading out the door.
Chen Bin was found alive, screaming, but Liang Yuanhao was missing.
Chen Bin revealed a woman had entered their house, asked about doll stitching, then dismembered Liang Yuanhao.
The woman called them "well-behaved visitors" and promised to return the next day.
A new reading comprehension problem appeared involving delivering voodoo dolls based on a prayer.
At the next exam phase, Yu Yao drew the Judgement card, suggesting good luck.
Dark Widow was upset by the card and gave everyone yarn to stitch dolls.
Chen Bin revealed the killer only attacked those who stitched dolls.
The group debated whether to stitch or hide in the woods again.
You Huo refused to go with them and chose to sleep in his house instead.
Qin Jiu insisted he would stay too, being the invigilator.
While resting, Qin Jiu recounted the story of a former invigilator “A” who was erased from the system after a catastrophic failure.
Qin Jiu was nearly killed and left with only fragmented memories of “A.”
At 3 a.m., knocking began, then scuttling noises entered the house.
A severed arm wielding a cleaver tried to attack You Huo but failed to wake him.
The arm turned to attack Qin Jiu, who stopped it and tied it up with a rope.
Qin Jiu handed the arm to You Huo, who decided to let it lead them somewhere.
You Huo brought the arm to the group in the woods, shocking everyone.
The arm was terrified of going to the village and eventually escaped by severing the rope and burying itself.
The group couldn’t find it again due to a strong tranquilising scent that knocked everyone out.
The group barely made it back in time to submit the second exam answer.
Qin Jiu reminded them they were answering in the wrong language.
Maximilian was rushed in to translate “grave” into Romani just in time.
Despite efforts, the answer was marked wrong by the system.
The system declared someone would be randomly coffined that night.
You Huo almost used the assistance card but held back.
Dark Widow appeared and forced them to stitch more dolls.
You Huo stitched nine dolls in a rapid, careless manner to prepare for something.
Dark Widow was stunned by his work but accepted the dolls.
The group spoke to a villager who confirmed that coffins are buried in specific parts of the woods, but refused to give more useful information.
They returned to You Huo’s house to plan their next move.
Suddenly, You Huo vanished mid-conversation.
Qin Jiu’s presence confirmed this was a system punishment, as the invigilator only separates from the examinee when the system intervenes.
The group panicked, realising they had lost their most capable member and protector right before the punishment would be carried out.
Chapter 8Mr Coattail, revealed to be You Huo, is randomly “coffined” and buried underground with limited oxygen.
You Huo had prepared for this possibility by stitching 16 dolls to lure the severed limbs—undead monsters from the forest—to excavate his coffin.
Ghostly limbs emerge chanting “Have you stitched a doll today?” They head toward You Huo’s burial site and begin digging violently.
Old Yu, Yu Wen, Chen Bin, Yu Yao, and Maximilian rally to help You Huo despite the danger.
The group ropes and restrains the limbs while You Huo breaks free from the coffin and secures them.
Everyone sustains injuries; You Huo has a bleeding arm but dismisses it as minor.
Invigilator Qin Jiu offers a scarf for bandaging, which You Huo refuses. Their interaction is tense, with mutual probing.
The team follows the limbs deeper into the forest and discovers gravestones of former examinees, including Zhao Wentu and Chu Xiaonan.
They realize the villagers are actually failed examinees who were transformed after death.
Yu Yao finds Zhao Wentu’s buried diary, revealing horrific details of the past exam sessions and the doll-stitching punishment system.
The diary describes how examinees slowly lose limbs and identities, becoming villagers like Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.
Zhao Wentu’s final entries show his descent into madness as he tries to remember his name before being erased and becoming Villager Delta.
You Huo decides they will deliver all the dolls tonight, aiming to end the exam prematurely.
The dolls are retrieved, and burn marks on one lead Yu Yao to identify its match as Zhao Wentu.
The team discusses how to match the dolls to the correct villagers, despite limited identifying features.
You Huo announces a radical plan: to kidnap all the villagers and deliver the dolls en masse.
They rope, bind, and round up all 19 villagers in 30 minutes, dragging them to the riverside.
Dolls are dumped in front of them, technically fulfilling the delivery task.
The villagers go berserk, break free, and attack.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming wave of severed limbs floods in—this time, from the entire exam history.
You Huo deduces the real method of “release” isn’t burial but cremation.
He tries to burn the limbs but realizes he’s lost his lighter.
Right as he’s about to be overwhelmed, a massive fire ignites—001 (Qin Jiu) had preemptively doused limbs in petrol and set them ablaze.
Qin Jiu hands You Huo his lost lighter and teases him about needing help.
You Huo argues that he never wrote “001” to activate the assistance card, but the card burns up anyway—confirming it was used.
Qin Jiu had acted independently, pouring petrol while the others were distracted.
Zhao Wentu emerges from the fire, briefly regaining his identity. He recognizes Qin Jiu and reminisces about past sessions.
He gives Qin Jiu his diary and phone, asking him to preserve proof of his existence.
Zhao Wentu states his name one last time and walks into the flames to finally be released.
Qin Jiu watches him vanish and keeps the items, honoring his memory.
Chapter 9Qin Jiu, You Huo, and the other examinees survive thanks to the fire Qin Jiu set.
The system announces the exam is terminated due to site damage.
The exam had two parts: Listening comprehension (3 questions, 15 pts) and Reading comprehension (2 questions, 12 pts).
The group scored 17 points but received a 5-point penalty for damaging the site, ending with 12 points.
You Huo earns the highest score and receives a random draw reward: a sarcastic “Model Student” affirmation card.
Qin Jiu deals the card draw without caring about his punishment.
The site burns down completely after the crows explode into flame.
The group finds a path and prepares to leave, including Yu Yao who had been injured but is recovering.
They reach a familiar road and are picked up by the same minibus driver as before.
The driver is shocked they returned alive, explaining most never do.
He reveals he is a former invigilator punished for a mistake, just like the hotel manager and shop owner.
The group realizes invigilators can become NPCs when punished.
You Huo asks if the driver is being monitored like invigilators, triggering the reveal that he was an invigilator.
The driver mentions rules are supreme in exams and dodges more questions.
The bus reaches a new Service Centre (number 5) that resembles a run-down, deserted city street.
The group learns there are five rotating service centres across the country.
The driver hints that exams happen internationally.
The group undergoes a security scan. An alarm triggers when You Huo enters.
The receptionist suspects he brought something out of the exam.
You Huo reveals a doll from Dark Widow’s house, the same one he took casually.
The receptionist warns it might be dangerous but allows him to keep it.
The group receives hotel cards showing their current scores and completed subjects.
You Huo has 27 points from two exams. Yu Wen notes the points aren't evenly distributed.
A discrepancy is discovered—there were 20 dolls, but only 19 villagers, meaning one doll doesn’t belong.
The doll’s tattoo matches one on Yu Yao’s ankle.
Yu Yao is revealed to not be a normal examinee. Her real name is Shu Xue.
Shu Xue confesses she was originally an examinee in Zhao Wentu’s group years ago.
She died after being sacrificed by another examinee during the Romani session.
Shu Xue found a “Retake once” card before dying, allowing her partial resurrection.
Dark Widow found her body and revived her using voodoo, placing her dead daughter’s soul inside her.
Shu Xue became part of the exam site, hovering between NPC and examinee.
She wandered out of the woods and rejoined the exam system as a bug-like presence.
Shu Xue reveals she helped the team subtly, avoiding limbs and protecting others with her presence.
The ghastly limbs target examinees who stitched dolls. Shu Xue's presence confused their targeting.
Shu Xue had joined the Physics session with Baldie (who killed her) and the Foreign Language session with You Huo and Yu Wen (who helped her).
She explains that the system missed her existence, and You Huo took the penalty meant for her.
You Huo forgives her, showing understanding and offering her the doll again, which may bring her release.
Shu Xue doesn’t accept it immediately but promises to hold onto it for now.
The group spends the next five days resting and preparing.
On the final morning, they go shopping at the department store.
You Huo sees Qin Jiu shopping excessively and learns he has been punished by the system to become an examinee.
Qin Jiu must now take five subjects as punishment for over-assisting You Huo.
Qin Jiu and You Huo draw discounts for each other; both get terrible results (5% and full price).
Qin Jiu reveals the system gave him 20 points to allow him to join You Huo’s exam group.
He explains that exams have different difficulty levels based on examinee experience.
Qin Jiu’s ID ends in "Gi", indicating a simulated ID for a punished invigilator (should’ve been "Gin").
Qin Jiu spends all his points at once and casually tells You Huo “See you tonight,” now joining as a fellow examinee.
Chapter 10The exam system checks the examinees out of the hotel and leads them to a T-junction with three subject options: Language Arts, Mathematics, and History.
Qin Jiu arrives from the fog, late and casual as usual, with his suitcase.
The system announces a surprise reform: scores are now graded A-D based on global percentiles, with D resulting in elimination and C requiring retakes.
The new grading system reveals surprising results: You Huo is graded B despite previous high performance, and Qin Jiu gets a D for having zero points.
You Huo challenges the logic behind Shu Xue’s grade of C despite her scoring 12 points in a single subject.
The system admits it halved Shu Xue’s points due to data anomalies, which pushed her to a C.
Qin Jiu mocks the system’s punishment rules, pointing out that Shu Xue’s exam site was destroyed and he himself should just leave as a D-graded examinee.
The system panics and suspends penalties for this session, instead deducting 5 points from C and D examinees.
Qin Jiu starts the next session with -5 points, Shu Xue with 1.
Examinees are allowed to choose their subject. They choose History as the least threatening option.
You Huo and Qin Jiu are assigned together and end up alone, boarding a rickety ship captained by a grumpy sailor.
They irritate the sailor, force open the trapdoor with teamwork, and descend into the ship's cabin to wait for the exam.
The subject is announced: World History – Global Maritime Trade in the 16th Century.
The ship enters turbulent waters. You Huo and Qin Jiu fall asleep and awaken on a frozen coastal island near Novaya Zemlya, Russia.
The system announces the rules: 36 examinees divided into 18 pairs; their performance and behavior will determine final grades.
Each pair’s score is combined; C must retake, D is eliminated. No traditional exam answers – only participation and decisions matter.
You Huo and Qin Jiu are in second-to-last place due to Qin Jiu’s -5 points.
Shu Xue is ranked 12th with her partner Wu Li, a neurologist.
The session’s scenario is based on a real 1596 Dutch expedition where merchant ships got stuck in Arctic ice.
Eight seamen are already dead; if more die, the lowest-ranking pair will be blamed each night.
The examinees meet the other 17 pairs in a cave with the surviving crew, who are gaunt and weakened.
Dr Wu Li examines the crew and confirms they’re badly wounded and need fire, food, and especially medicine.
Di Li, a top-scoring examinee, recalls the historical expedition and suggests that medicine might be stored in the merchant ships.
The Dutch sailors strictly forbid using the cargo, even if it's medicine, due to rules and honor.
Qin Jiu pulls out a box of medicine from his suitcase, revealing he stocked up thanks to invigilator 922.
Wu Li uses the medicine to treat injured sailors while You Huo and Qin Jiu restrain or knock out the panicking crew members.
The sailors describe a terrifying incident where something unseen attacked them in the dark, leaving bruises and dragging one of them out of the cave.
Fire is their only protection, but firewood is nearly gone. They’ve started burning parts of their ships.
Wu Li insists the fire can’t be allowed to go out or the medicine will be wasted.
Di Li suggests splitting into teams to search for fuel: some to scavenge the island, others to search the ships.
You Huo and Qin Jiu secretly decide to scavenge system ships instead, which are off-limits.
Both independently end up aboard one of the system’s ships and begin dismantling it for firewood.
They work in sync, break open planks, collect furniture, and ignore the rule-breaking consequences.
Qin Jiu refers to himself as an accomplice rather than an invigilator, showing his full support of You Huo.
The other examinees return empty-handed and are shocked to find a giant pile of dry wood outside the cave.
A system warning blares: You Huo and Qin Jiu broke the rules by dismantling the system’s ship; invigilators 021, 078, 154, and 922 are en route.
Instead of apologizing, You Huo and Qin Jiu continue dismantling the ship and toss everything overboard: wood, ropes, furniture, and even the ship's wheel.
The other examinees are stunned speechless by their boldness and disregard for consequences.
Qin Jiu waves cheerfully at the arriving invigilators, fully aware of the punishment coming.
Di Li asks the group’s lawyer, Li Shu, if there’s any way to defend them, but Li Shu admits even he can’t help in this situation.
Chapter 11Invigilators 922 and 154 fake seasickness to avoid confrontation; Invigilator 078 is new and confident; Invigilator 021 remains unreadable behind sunglasses.
Invigilators 922, 154, 078, and 021 board the examinee ship to punish You Huo and Qin Jiu for dismantling a system transport ship.
Qin Jiu explains the hierarchy of invigilators, revealing there are ten lead invigilators (001 to 010); he leads Unit 1, and 009 leads another.
Qin Jiu notes that Invigilator 021 might resent him due to past reassignments and rumors.
Invigilators 154 and 922 silently suffer the irony of disciplining their old boss; 078 reads out their punishment: three hours of time-out.
You Huo and Qin Jiu are escorted to the invigilators' ship, which follows the style of the exam site and has three levels.
They are locked in separate time-out rooms in the lowest level of the ship.
Qin Jiu's time-out room transforms into a realistic illusion of a ruined battlefield from his memories; he reflects on his past and Invigilator A.
Qin Jiu uses the privacy of the time-out room to read Zhao Wentu’s diary, which contains vivid recollections of Qin Jiu’s past exams and interactions with Invigilator A.
The diary details Qin Jiu’s leadership, recklessness, and key events like burning a monster, saving a girl, and getting punished repeatedly.
Qin Jiu remembers a moment involving a black car and a person inside who ignored him, triggering a hazy, emotional memory.
Meanwhile, You Huo falls asleep in his time-out room and wakes up in pitch darkness, realizing it simulates blindness—likely referencing a past trauma.
Invigilator 021 and 078 observe the two from the surveillance room; one is calmly reading, the other is sleeping, both defying the room’s intended psychological impact.
021 “accidentally” breaks the monitors, cutting off surveillance, possibly to protect privacy or hide something.
078 finds 021 standing outside You Huo’s room early; she enters and emotionally wakes You Huo with pokes, referring to him as “Chief Invigilator.”
You Huo shows no sign of remembering the conversation, making 021 unsure whether he heard her.
Qin Jiu nonchalantly reads Zhao Wentu’s diary and fiddles with a phone belonging to Zhao Wentu, which 078 refuses to help fix.
Back on the ship’s deck, You Huo and Qin Jiu interact casually with 922 and eat stolen oranges.
922 contemplates feeding them lamb chops to avoid conflict; there are no rules against examinees eating in the invigilation area.
You Huo tries to ask for takeout to bring food back to the cave but gets denied due to system constraints and warnings.
You Huo and Qin Jiu return to the cave by walking around the island, where You Huo learns the invigilators’ ship can melt ice without equipment—a privilege of the system.
They discuss the time-out room, and Qin Jiu hints it is a system-protected, sensitive zone that cannot be freely discussed.
Qin Jiu shares that Zhao Wentu’s diary triggered memories of Invigilator A; You Huo accuses him of defending the system, revealing unconscious trust in Qin Jiu.
Back in the cave, the crew and examinees have built fire pits and split firewood from the dismantled ship; everyone rests by the fires.
Wu Li questions whether You Huo and Qin Jiu might have neurological issues based on their behavior, but Shu Xue dismisses it.
At midnight, the dead hare announces the score recalculation.
Points are awarded for fuel and medical help; Qin Jiu and You Huo jump to first place briefly.
Then, 10 points are deducted from them for destroying a system ship, dropping them to last place.
Chen Fei and Huang Rui, previously bottom-ranked and facing punishment, are saved by this penalty.
You Huo and Qin Jiu discuss how the system punishes violations of its authority more severely than interference with exam problems.
Qin Jiu explains that killing Hunter Alpha cost no points, but damaging the ship did because it challenged the system itself.
You Huo questions Qin Jiu’s loyalty to the system; Qin Jiu teases him about not saying thank you for sharing a previous penalty.
The dead hare announces no additional punishments—yet—but everyone is tense.
Qin Jiu and You Huo agree to discuss the system and time-out room more in the future, likely in the next punishment session.
Chapter 12You Huo and Qin Jiu, facing potential punishment, remain calm and even joke, confusing other examinees like Di Li and Li Shu.
A strange briny wind blows into the cave, extinguishing fire pits and causing panic among the examinees and ship crew.
A monstrous creature appears on the cave ceiling, dripping fluids and terrifying the group; the cave plunges into chaos and darkness.
Amid the panic, You Huo and Qin Jiu mysteriously vanish, and the system announces they’ve been taken by a hungry native creature angry over being denied a meal.
You Huo and Qin Jiu wake up inside the monster’s body, restrained and face-to-face with its mouth.
Using cigarettes and lighter smoke, they force the monster to vomit them out.
They find themselves inside a wrecked ship full of bones and rusted remnants of past examinees.
You Huo experiences déjà vu and believes he’s been in that cabin before; he finds an old cigarette butt triggering a mysterious voice in his head.
You Huo and Qin Jiu lure the monster into destroying the ship’s cabin by baiting it with objects, eventually tying its tentacles into “pigtails.”
The monster escapes by cutting off its limbs and disappearing through a hole, leaving You Huo and Qin Jiu victorious.
The two men gather supplies from the ruined ship and return to the cave, shocking the others who believed them dead.
Di Li and Li Shu recount a terrifying encounter in the icy stone forest, mistaking a buried corpse’s hand for You Huo’s.
The buried hand is revealed to be one of the hidden corpses from the ship crew, which the first mate had concealed earlier.
Among the salvaged items are a compass, a storm lantern, and a mysterious box, possibly useful for future tasks.
Qin Jiu roasts the monster’s tentacles over a fire, drawing horrified reactions from the crew and examinees before hunger overrides fear.
The system, impressed by the crew’s satisfaction, rewards the group with an early thaw, moving the deadline up from 14 days to 2 and awarding You Huo and Qin Jiu 6 bonus points.
Their sudden score jump pushes Chen Fei and Huang Rui into last place, inciting widespread panic.
You Huo isolates himself outside the cave to avoid the smell and reflect on the system's mechanisms while others indulge in the "calamari."
Qin Jiu jokingly offers to roast the dead hare announcer, and You Huo jokingly considers it; they go through with it and earn another violation.
On the invigilator ship, officers discuss how troublesome You Huo and Qin Jiu are, shocked by their pace of violations and the absurdity of roasting a system component.
You Huo and Qin Jiu are picked up again for time-out punishment; Invigilator 021 is revealed to have a deeper connection to You Huo.
In the time-out room, Invigilator 021 reveals You Huo’s past as a high-ranking invigilator and the original plan to dismantle the corrupted system.
She explains the system's origins, its spiral into instability, and her secret mission to bring You Huo back and help him recover his memories.
You Huo thanks her but admits he hasn’t remembered anything yet.
Before leaving, Invigilator 021 reveals that Qin Jiu was a disruptive force in You Huo’s past, possibly responsible for the failure of his original plan.
Despite this, You Huo requests to have his next time-out session moved next to Qin Jiu’s, shocking Invigilator 021.
Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Global Examination
Global Examination, Vol. 2
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Global Examination, Vol. 3
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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / The Defectives
The Defectives
Prologue : Era of DecadenceA group of nine-year-old children visit the Eden Museum as their final class after completing their basic education through Eden’s direct knowledge transmission system.
The AI docent, who appears humanlike, explains how Eden transformed society by replacing traditional education and resolving mental health issues through neurological intervention.
Eden allowed children to skip traditional schooling and directly absorb knowledge monthly for forty sessions.
The docent also shows the children a projection of a bleak pre-Eden world, emphasizing its filth, dysfunction, and emotional turmoil.
Eden is framed as the savior of humanity, whereas those outside its coverage (like the Eighth Galaxy) are portrayed as still living in poverty and disconnection.
A boy at the end of the tour privately asks the docent about why the Space Corps blocks Eden and brings up the Silver Fortress and General Lin.
The docent explains the need for soldiers to adapt without Eden and subtly discourages rebellion, framing Eden as the ultimate shield and General Lin as mere armor.
The boy declares his dream of joining the Silver Fortress, inspired by his father.
The narrative shifts sharply to 6 March 270 NSA: the Federation summons General Lin Jingheng to the capital, Votto, on charges including disobedience and smuggling.
Lin Jingheng refuses the order. Media brands him as a rebel.
On 26 March, the Silver Fortress is surrounded by five hundred mechas. A standoff begins.
Lin Jingheng receives a call from the marshal urging him to compromise.
Secretary-General Gordon makes a public plea declaring Lin Jingheng’s loyalty and calls him family, alongside Lin Jingheng’s sister, Lin Jingshu, now married to Gordon.
Lin Jingheng sarcastically mocks the speech and reflects on how strange it sounds, implying intimate closeness with Gordon.
Rhodes, his subordinate, offers full support from the Silver Ten, but Lin Jingheng responds with disillusionment, asking if they’d really turn their weapons on their own families.
He reveals the deeper political web in the Silver Fortress: 10% are loyal Silver Ten members, the rest are politically placed young soldiers with ties to Votto’s elite.
Lin Jingheng decides to “strategically compromise” and orders his forces to disarm. He prepares to travel to Votto the next day.
On 1 April 270 NSA, his ship, the Jingyuan, is ambushed by interstellar pirates near the Roseheart, and he is declared dead.
His death triggers chaos: the Silver Ten rebel, the Silver Fortress falls into disarray, the marshal resigns in outrage.
The pirates launch a massive attack on civilian routes in the Sixth Galaxy, which becomes a tragedy due to the Military Commission’s slow response.
This sequence of disasters is later known as the “Silver Crisis.”
Public backlash forces the Federation to reverse its stance. Lin Jingheng is now hailed as a hero instead of a traitor.
A grand funeral is held in Votto, his absence represented by a suit. Tickets to the event sell at record-breaking prices.
Lin Jingshu, now Madame Gordon, appears elegant and composed, playing the grieving sister.
She clings to Gordon, playing the perfect public wife while secretly vowing revenge: “I’ll make you pay with your life.”
The chapter ends ominously, hinting that the peace of the New Star Age has begun to fracture.
Chapter 01: The Distant WastesPlanet Beijing ß in the Eighth Galaxy is introduced as a poverty-stricken backwater dubbed “The Wastes” by the rest of the Federation.
The Eighth Galaxy had a long history as a base for anti-government resistance and interstellar pirates, leading to its neglect by the Federation.
Due to frequent infighting, the Eighth Galaxy’s leadership is unstable and considered a joke in Federation politics.
A decaying bus called "Milk a port" drives through the cold, three-year-long winter of Beijing ß, full of vagrants and poor citizens.
A tattooed, drunk girl with a skull tattoo on her waist rides the bus, annoyed by what she thinks is a crying child.
After disembarking in a dark, dangerous area, she sees a man dragging what flickers between an old man and a child.
The girl follows him into an alley and confronts him; when she attacks him, he transforms into a large, inhuman figure and calls her a “Empty Brain Syndrome cripple.”
High-speed hovercycle riders interrupt the fight, forcing the man to flee using a subspace field.
The girl and child are taken into a hidden bar called the Junk Bar, run by a mysterious, intimidating man with gray eyes and an old scar.
The bar owner scans the girl’s ID, revealing her name is Huang Jingshu and she is only sixteen years old.
She falsely claims to be a member of the powerful gang “Black Hole,” which controls Beijing ß. This entertains the hovercycle riders.
The bar owner contacts someone named Lu Bixing, who confirms that Huang Jingshu is one of his students.
Meanwhile, an old man in Venus Port grieves over a dead child, but is interrupted by a stiff, machine-like man named Zhanlu who disables a garbage bot trying to dispose of the body.
Zhanlu tells the man where he can bury the child and identifies himself as having an encrypted identity.
Zhanlu later ambushes the shape-shifting child abductor, named Spider, who tried to flee Beijing ß via hidden mecha in Venus Port.
Zhanlu kills Spider, extracts a biochip from his chest, and discovers it creates collective hallucinations, similar to Eden technology.
Zhanlu turns out to be an AI under the control of Mr Four, the leader of Black Hole.
Zhanlu fuses into Mr Four’s car and they return to the Junk Bar, suspecting Spider is part of Poison Hive, a bizarre cult that worships venomous insects and has partnered with interstellar pirates.
Mr Four expresses concern that time is running out and seems to have lost hope in a past search for someone or something.
They discuss how Spider had used the biochip to disguise himself and the abducted child, and only Huang Jingshu broke free from the illusion due to Empty Brain Syndrome.
The scene ends with Mr Four and Zhanlu returning to the Junk Bar, where Lu Bixing, the so-called “Principal Lu,” is already waiting and casually greets them upon seeing Spider’s unconscious body.
Chapter 02: EdenLu Bixing is introduced as the eccentric principal of Xinghai Academy, a school he founded using funds from his father, One-Eyed Hawk, a notorious arms dealer in the Eighth Galaxy.
Despite his origins, Lu Bixing dreams of starting a technological revolution through education and builds the school from scratch, driven by idealism.
Mr Four brings captured human trafficker Spider to the Junk Bar where Lu Bixing is waiting, and they confirm Spider is responsible for abducting children.
Lu Bixing confirms that his student Huang Jingshu is safe and had not been compromised by Spider's organization.
Lu Bixing suspects Spider had access to technology similar to Eden and stays to investigate further, intrigued by a biochip Zhanlu extracted from Spider.
Lu Bixing explains Eden as a vast human-AI network that integrates with the human brain, enabling immersive experiences, emotional regulation, and reality augmentation.
Lu Bixing describes how Eden can manipulate perceptions and emotions to create a tailored, utopian experience, but warns it can also be used for control.
Lu Bixing believes the biochip used by Spider mimics Eden’s ability to influence both humans and AIs and that it could be a dangerous dual-use technology.
Lu Bixing accepts a research partnership with Mr Four and receives funding for his under-equipped school in exchange for investigating the biochip.
Lu Bixing invites Mr Four to Xinghai Academy’s opening ceremony as a VIP; Mr Four declines, though Zhanlu hints Mr Four might secretly want to go.
Meanwhile, Lin Jingshu, her husband Secretary-General Gordon, and Marshal Wolff visit the Silver Fortress in the First Galaxy.
They attempt to reactivate the dormant mecha Zhanlu, but it rejects all connection attempts; the mecha was previously linked to the late General Lin Jingheng.
Marshal Wolff criticizes General Li for trying to awaken Zhanlu without proper credentials and denies Lin Jingshu’s attempt, citing her health and lack of training.
Lin Jingshu, despite appearing frail and cooperative, seems to hold a secret interest in Zhanlu, hinting at hidden motives.
Back in Beijing ß, Mr Four prepares for the day while Zhanlu reminds him of Spider’s interrogation results.
Mr Four reveals that Poison Hive was contacted by a mysterious group with advanced weapons and was tasked with abducting children for unknown experiments.
These people supplied weapons nearly for free and demanded young children in exchange, suggesting testing of the biochip's capabilities.
Mr Four concludes the group is likely interstellar pirates and warns that Poison Hive is only the beginning.
Lu Bixing prepares for the school’s opening ceremony but is faced with complaints from deans about extremely poor student performance and rampant dropouts.
The deans report dismal grades, students with fake primary education certificates, and rumors that students only enrolled to meet Mr Four.
Lu Bixing defends his vision, arguing that the Eighth Galaxy’s education system is fundamentally disadvantaged compared to galaxies with Eden, and urges patience and reform.
He motivates his staff with a salary increase and a speech about perseverance, then prepares himself for the ceremony.
Lu Bixing reflects on how he met Mr Four, originally discovering him unconscious inside a mysterious lifepod drifting in space.
Despite the danger, Lu Bixing disabled the lifepod’s deadly encryption and revived Mr Four, accidentally triggering his painful awakening without proper serum.
Their bond began during this period, establishing a unique, if rocky, friendship forged in secrecy and space-bound isolation.
Chapter 03: Lofty AspirationsLu Bixing prepares to give an opening ceremony speech at Xinghai Academy, but the auditorium descends into chaos as students fight, shout obscenities, and fire homemade weapons.
A boy hacks into the sound system to yell “Fuck you, John Wu,” and disrupts the ceremony multiple times with a megaphone.
Lu Bixing, unfazed, uses tech to temporarily stun the audience into silence and proceeds with his speech.
Lu Bixing announces that Black Hole has become the school’s biggest shareholder, causing dismay among faculty.
Lu Bixing engages the students by entertaining questions about love, money, and crime, sarcastically confirming they’ll learn how to avoid scumbags and how to make money.
Lu Bixing shuts down the disruptive student White’s device, then uses a spotlight system to force random audience members to speak.
One girl criticizes the school’s focus on money. Lu Bixing argues that poverty is more dangerous than stupidity.
Another student asks why Mr Four hasn’t been seen despite being the school’s backer.
Mr Four suddenly arrives at the auditorium with a dramatic entourage including Penny, silencing the crowd with his presence.
Lu Bixing is caught off-guard by Mr Four’s entrance and ends up reading a backup speech prepared by a teacher.
The speech contains inspirational but idealistic lines, claiming people live 300 years and change comes every five years—Penny mocks the speech as out-of-touch with the Eighth Galaxy’s poverty and suffering.
Penny asks Mr Four if he has room for a woman at his side. Mr Four gives no clear answer and changes the topic.
Lu Bixing finishes the speech, invoking a cringeworthy line about the “starry sky above us,” prompting laughter from the students.
After the ceremony, all three deans and sixteen teachers resign in protest, citing moral conflict with the school's new direction.
Lu Bixing becomes principal in name only and scrambles to do damage control but fails to convince the teachers to stay.
Alone in the empty office, Lu Bixing eats a depressing compressed nutrimeal and tries to stay upbeat.
The school roster shows students rapidly withdrawing. Of the original 90 new students, 40 have already dropped out.
Lu Bixing blasts loud EDM in the empty building and reassigns teaching duties to himself, planning to consolidate classes due to the dropouts.
Lu Bixing starts analyzing the biochip left by Lin, mentally drifting back to Mr Four’s arrival and presence in the auditorium.
Mr Four later donates the mecha left behind by Spider to the school. Penny and her crew deliver it to Xinghai Academy.
Flashbacks explain that Penny rose in the Black Hole through skill, not romance, and helped Lin overthrow the former boss.
Penny asks Mr Four why he’s still helping the school. Mr Four says it’s to indulge Lu Bixing and mentions he owes Lu Bixing’s father a favor.
Penny is surprised to learn Mr Four once interacted with One-Eyed Hawk, Lu Bixing’s presumed father.
Mr Four and Penny overhear Lu Bixing giving a smuggling lecture to his students, who are surprisingly engaged.
Lu Bixing explains the Eighth Galaxy’s illegal economy, including barter-based interstellar smuggling, pirate trafficking, and human trafficking.
A girl named Mint explains that people from the Eighth Galaxy are sometimes sold as lab experiments or labor.
Lu Bixing confirms this grim truth, praises Mint, and segues into a chilling personal story.
Lu Bixing recounts seeing a human-snake chimera girl as a child and choosing to kill her out of mercy, because she could not survive outside captivity.
Mr Four listens in silence, then tells Zhanlu to scan Lu Bixing’s genes again.
Zhanlu confirms for the third time that Lu Bixing is not genetically related to General Lu Xin, despite suspicions due to his surname and technical skill.
Mr Four finally concedes the point but reflects that Lu Bixing managed to unlock his encrypted system, which only one other person besides himself could do.
Zhanlu suggests it could have been luck and skill, but wonders aloud whether Mr Four’s earlier words about giving up were sincere.
Mr Four ignores the question, signaling that some part of him still holds out hope.
Chapter 04: The Beginning of the CollapseLin Jingshu hides in the Forest of Steles during a formal party, avoiding socializing while waiting for Secretary-General Gordon to finish.
Marshal Wolff finds Lin Jingshu and reminisces about Lu Xin, whose contributions were erased after he was branded a traitor.
Wolff reveals the empty stele used to belong to Lu Xin and recalls how Lu Xin mentored Lin Jingheng and entrusted him with the mecha Zhanlu.
Lin Jingshu and Wolff discuss Lin Jingheng, and Wolff says Lin Jingheng listed Lin Jingshu as his emergency contact throughout his military career.
Lin Jingshu maintains her elegant facade but struggles internally, almost breaking down before regaining composure and leaving.
At 22:00 on Votto, someone sabotages the Silver Fortress by inserting a chip into Zhanlu’s mecha form, disabling its defense systems.
The fortress is plunged into chaos as backup energy fails and over a thousand hyperspace heavy mechas breach the atmosphere.
General Li is caught off guard, and explosions destroy the base.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General Gordon and Lin Jingshu are ambushed in their hovercar by unknown attackers.
The car’s subspace escape field is compromised, and a laser trap slices Gordon in half, killing him instantly.
Lin Jingshu calmly tastes his blood and then emits a perfectly timed scream.
Fifty hours later, Zhanlu, now in human form, loses connection to his mecha body, and Mr Four realizes the Silver Fortress has been destroyed.
Lin Jingheng (Mr Four) deduces the attack came from someone within the Federation, likely General Ares Li or General Yulief at Hummingbird Fortress.
Lin Jingheng orders Zhanlu to warn their allies and avoid hostile regions.
Penny informs Zhanlu that a visitor from ungoverned space has come offering a biochip deal, suspiciously timed with the sabotage.
At Xinghai Academy, Lu Bixing works alone in the lab while Zhanlu is absent, missing Lin Jingheng without realizing it.
Lu Bixing impulsively implants the biochip into himself, testing its effects firsthand.
Upon activation, Lu Bixing experiences a power surge and enhanced awareness. He breaks lab equipment by accident due to newfound strength.
Lu Bixing discovers students White, Mint, Huang Jingshu, and Vitas (aka Cocky) breaking into the mecha storage room.
The students accidentally activate the mecha, launch into space, and lose control.
Trapped in the lab due to a security malfunction, Lu Bixing disguises himself as a child using the chip and cries until law enforcement unlocks the lab.
Meanwhile, Lin Jingheng and Zhanlu arrive at a Poison Hive base at the edge of the Eighth Galaxy in response to the biochip offer.
Poison Hive members wear live poisonous insects as jewelry. Lin Jingheng is introduced to Lai, servant of the Voodoo Mystic.
Lin Jingheng meets 001, a representative of the mysterious force behind the biochips, who also identifies as an interstellar pirate.
001 reveals that all major Eighth Galaxy factions have been gathered, not just Black Hole.
Lin Jingheng unexpectedly sees One-Eyed Hawk at the meeting, and the two share a tense moment hinting at hidden history.
The group witnesses a demonstration of two men enhanced with advanced biochips. They exhibit superhuman strength but die gruesomely after five minutes.
001 calls the project the “God-Making Plan,” claiming future versions will be longer-lasting and capable of transforming humans into perfect mecha pilots.
001 reveals that the Silver Fortress was destroyed, Secretary-General Gordon assassinated, and Votto invaded seventy-two hours earlier.
Lin Jingheng, shaken, realizes the Federation’s collapse is beginning.
001 urges the gathered factions to join the alliance and rise against the Federation, declaring the time has come for the Eighth Galaxy to take the lead.
Chapter 05: PanicWhite, Mint, Huang Jingshu, and Vitas (Cocky) regain consciousness inside a mecha that unknowingly landed inside the Poison Hive base.
They realize they are not on Beijing ß but trapped in a heavily armed hangar full of mechas and weapons.
Huang Jingshu spots guards transporting unconscious children and recognizes the guard as the man who attacked her before.
The guards mention the pirates now control Votto and have trapped notable people from the Eighth Galaxy.
Mint deduces the mecha they’re in returned to its original owner’s base, which is the Poison Hive hideout, due to an auto-recovery setting.
The group decides to look for captured allies, hoping to escape with them.
Lu Bixing, after being denied a mecha by Penny, disguises himself as Lin Jingheng using the chip and tricks Penny into giving him one.
He flies to the Poison Hive base, tracking the educational monitoring signal from the students' mecha.
The Poison Hive base, meanwhile, is shown to be more lavish in VIP areas but secretly conducting horrific experiments using children with biochips.
Lin Jingheng receives news that Lin Jingshu is pregnant and has been taken under the Eden Oversight Committee’s protection after Gordon’s assassination.
One-Eyed Hawk confronts Lin Jingheng and accuses him of clinging to the past and not letting go of Lu Xin’s dead child.
Lin Jingheng and One-Eyed Hawk sneak through the Poison Hive base to gather intel, arguing bitterly over their past and Lu Xin’s legacy.
Lu Bixing, disguised as Lin Jingheng, sneaks into the base but is discovered by Poison Hive members due to his appearance.
This triggers a base-wide alarm. 001 storms into Lin Jingheng’s (real) room only to find him missing, and accidentally catches One-Eyed Hawk on the wall.
One-Eyed Hawk triggers a massive electromagnetic pulse bomb, shutting down the station’s power and creating chaos.
Lin Jingheng blends in with fleeing guests. Lu Bixing is captured and violently interrogated until he activates his biochip, turning the tables with enhanced strength.
Lu Bixing hacks the station’s communications and locates the students. He rescues them from a lab full of horrifying child experiments in incubators.
The lab contains children augmented with cybernetics and biochips for combat use. Some are still alive, others are dead.
Mint is horrified. Huang Jingshu uses a stimulant to revive Vitas so they can escape together.
Just as they are cornered, One-Eyed Hawk crashes in with a mecha car to save Lu Bixing. Lu Bixing kneels and calls him “Dad,” which shocks One-Eyed Hawk.
Lin Jingheng also arrives at the lab, sees Lu Bixing kneeling while disguised as him, and pieces together what happened.
The confrontation spirals as 001 commands the pirates to kill them all, but One-Eyed Hawk tosses another electromagnetic bomb, plunging the lab into darkness again.
The incubator children begin to suffocate and bang on glass. Lu Bixing stops Mint from trying to help, stating these are living weapons, not innocent kids.
One-Eyed Hawk rallies the other faction leaders, denounces the pirates, and triggers a full-blown mutiny.
Amid the chaos, experimental humanoid weapons are released and attack everyone indiscriminately, forcing both sides to flee.
001 tries to escape and is pursued by Lin Jingheng.
Lu Bixing hacks into the mecha launch controls and prepares an escape path for the students. He is almost killed by a rogue mecha but is saved at the last second.
Lin Jingheng appears in person and protects Lu Bixing, sarcastically chiding him for using his face and pulling reckless stunts.
001, the pilot of the rogue mecha, is ejected after Zhanlu hacks it mid-combat. Lin Jingheng drags him out of the cockpit.
One-Eyed Hawk confronts Lin Jingheng, gun raised, furious that Lin Jingheng has gotten close to his son Lu Bixing.
As tensions rise, monstrous test subjects burst into the area, but they all start dying suddenly due to a failsafe.
Lin Jingheng immediately pushes the students into the mecha, anticipating something worse.
The entire base shakes—001 had planned to destroy the station after using the test subjects as a distraction.
Chapter ends on the brink of the Poison Hive space station's destruction.
Chapter 06: Desperate FlightLin Jingheng forces One-Eyed Hawk into the mecha along with the students and escapes the Poison Hive base moments before it explodes.
He pilots the mecha through collapsing tracks, ejects the backup energy unit, and uses the explosion’s shockwave to escape into space.
Inside the mecha, Lin Jingheng secures the students in the med bay and ties 001 to an electric chair while joking about anti-vomiting medication.
Lin Jingheng and Lu Bixing argue about alcohol and interior decor; Lu Bixing mockingly calls him “General.”
Lin Jingheng insists that Lu Bixing remove the illegal chip. Lu Bixing resists emotionally, but One-Eyed Hawk physically shoves him into the medical bay to comply.
Lin Jingheng reflects on the chip’s addictive nature and its parallels to Eden’s system, worrying how many across the Federation may already be implanted.
Zhanlu remains offline and drained from prior energy expenditure; Lin Jingheng decides not to wake him yet.
While monitoring the others via psynet, Lin Jingheng sees Lu Bixing undergo painful chip extraction, rapidly stabilized by the medical system.
The students gradually recover. Mint shares she supports a group of orphans and hoped to earn money through school. Vitas is lighthearted. Huang Jingshu stays distant.
Seeing Huang Jingshu reminds Lin Jingheng of his sister Lin Jingshu due to the shared given name. He reflects on how Lin Jingshu has always kept her distance and wonders if she hated him, respected him, or simply never cared.
Zhanlu offers emotional support by talking too much; Lin Jingheng threatens to reprogram him mute out of irritation.
Lin Jingheng recalls how he smuggled Zhanlu’s mecha core to Lu Xin during Lu Xin’s arrest, getting injured in the process and later imprisoned.
Zhanlu scans Lu Bixing’s brain and detects a mismatch between neural data and body DNA. The brain data matches Lu Xin—confirming Lu Bixing is Lu Xin’s biological son.
Lin Jingheng is overwhelmed by the discovery but keeps it to himself, silently observing Lu Bixing with growing emotional conflict.
The mecha is attacked by interstellar pirates using outdated bait-and-ambush tactics. Lin Jingheng makes two emergency jumps to escape.
One-Eyed Hawk tries to assist but is violently rejected from the psynet by Lin Jingheng.
Lu Bixing explains emergency jump procedures and pirate tactics to the students. Lin Jingheng allows him to pilot the mecha and grants him psynet access without resistance, showing deep trust.
Lin Jingheng suspects Lu Bixing may be quietly observing him in return via psynet.
They head toward a derelict smuggler’s depot to restock. Lin Jingheng surprisingly shows warmth and care toward the students.
Zhanlu confirms again that Lu Bixing is Lu Xin’s son. Lin Jingheng chooses not to reveal it and orders all genetic records encrypted at the highest level.
Lin Jingheng admits to Zhanlu that unlike Lu Xin, he has no ideals to pass down—only the will to survive.
They land using a high-risk maneuver with 7% energy remaining, slicing parachutes with energy blades.
One-Eyed Hawk shares the dark history of Cayley’s fallen prince, Flande Feng, who caused a viral genocide and widespread famine.
Lin Jingheng confirms he once stopped a deadly parade attack in 258 NSA related to the Rainbow Virus.
Lin Jingheng and Lu Bixing have a quiet moment; Lin Jingheng writes the character “Lin” on Lu Bixing’s hand and awkwardly pulls away before showing emotion.
Lu Bixing reactivates the depot systems and finds it structurally intact but completely stripped of weapons.
Sensing something wrong, Lu Bixing hurries to the control hub—just as the communication system activates.
A half-cybernetic man appears on the screen, identifying himself as Ares Feng, self-declared Prince of Cayley, returning for revenge.
Ares Feng live-streams the annihilation of Cayley’s capital planet with missile strikes and announces that Beijing ß is next.
Chapter 07: Path of No ReturnThe temperature on Beijing ß unexpectedly rises to nearly 20°C, marking the first signs of spring after a prolonged winter.
Xinghai Academy enters “dissertation week” with students asked to write about humanity’s future. The prompt is broad and vague.
Rumors circulate at the academy about the disappearance of White and others, including jokes about romantic elopement.
Complaint letters are sent to students’ guardians. Cocky’s mother responds with “just let him die.” Huang Jingshu’s letter never reaches anyone and is returned.
The former dean of Information Technology visits the academy one last time before retiring to Cayley. He sees the students still lively and regrets his life’s choices and failures in education.
Penny cleans the Junk Bar and attempts to contact Lin Jingheng, worrying about being a nuisance. Her lizard hides from the bright sunlight.
Lin Jingheng receives Penny’s call and notices the unnatural brightness of Beijing ß’s sun. Realizing an attack is coming, he yells for her to get away from the window.
It is too late. Missiles rain down and obliterate Beijing ß in a catastrophic nuclear attack. Penny, the dean, the school, and the city are annihilated.
Lin Jingheng loses contact with Penny mid-call and is devastated.
Ares Feng’s broadcast plays a video game–like animation of the attack, mocking the destruction of Beijing ß.
Lin Jingheng orders the students and crew to prepare for half a year of isolated survival in space.
Lu Bixing confirms that the depot has food but no weapons. He begins encrypting communications and organizing provisions.
The students slowly realize their homes are gone. Mint trembles. White breaks down trying to deny reality. Cocky is numb with grief. Huang Jingshu remains silent.
Lu Bixing tells them that survival training starts immediately and that they must prepare to pilot mechas despite their weaknesses.
Lu Bixing gives a crash course in psynet and mecha operation. Huang Jingshu admits she’s an Empty. Cocky confesses he barely has an education. All students panic.
Lu Bixing helps calm them through breathing exercises and teaches them how to align their heart rate with the psynet as step one.
Zhanlu reports that Silver Ninth’s signal has vanished. All communications across the seven galaxies have collapsed.
Lin Jingheng concludes the Federation has been fatally sabotaged and Eden may be gone. He calls the Oversight Committee traitors.
Zhanlu detects another wave of missile energy approaching. Lin Jingheng orders an immediate evacuation.
One-Eyed Hawk protests about the medical kit, but Lin Jingheng insists they must go now. Mint screams that Lu Bixing is still inside.
Zhanlu explains the mecha has a remote-control magnetic field and that Lin Jingheng will retrieve Lu Bixing manually.
Lu Bixing finishes downloading flight path data seconds before the blast. Lin Jingheng appears, drags him out, and they escape in a high-speed rail car.
Lin Jingheng uses the magnetic field to intercept the mecha’s path and lift them aboard. He shields Lu Bixing from an explosion and is gravely wounded.
Inside the mecha, Lin Jingheng suffers massive spinal damage. Lu Bixing supports him and is overwhelmed with emotion.
The students vomit or faint from the emergency jump. No one looks after them this time.
One-Eyed Hawk prepares the emergency pod. Lin Jingheng refuses painkillers or antibiotics to conserve supplies.
Lu Bixing protests but is shut down. One-Eyed Hawk admires Lin Jingheng’s resolve, despite hating him.
Lin Jingheng is stitched up without anesthetics. One-Eyed Hawk makes it painful on purpose.
Lu Bixing paces outside, shaken by the day’s events. He assigns training hours and new schedules for the students, who begin to obey.
Lu Bixing breaks down alone, mourning his destroyed dreams, school, and future. He hides his breakdown from the students.
Lin Jingheng walks to him silently and sits nearby, wanting to ask many personal questions about his past and identity—but says nothing.
Lu Bixing later finds Lin Jingheng asleep and bandaged nearby. He reaches out to touch his face but panics and falls.
The next day, the students pretend to be normal. They begin training and gossip about Lin Jingheng’s past as a general.
Lin Jingheng hears everything via psynet and is mildly amused and exasperated.
One-Eyed Hawk teases Lin Jingheng, who retaliates by using the water dispenser to extinguish his cigarette.
Lin Jingheng shares the smuggling flight path map with One-Eyed Hawk. They debate which of the three paths to take.
Lin Jingheng explains that Eden and Federation communications are likely compromised and that the military system has collapsed.
One-Eyed Hawk is stunned by the scale of betrayal. Lin Jingheng hints that Lu Xin was likely killed first.
Lin Jingheng opens up the training room for the students and reminds them to use the humidifier.
One-Eyed Hawk accuses Lin Jingheng of trying to seduce his son. Lu Bixing flees in embarrassment.
Lin Jingheng and One-Eyed Hawk secretly interrogate 001 in a sealed medical room.
Lin Jingheng uses a banned torture device—"raw monkey brain" style dissection—to force 001 to talk.
001 breaks and reveals he belongs to the Freedom Legion, a pirate faction separate from Cayley's Guards.
001 describes three major pirate forces: Glory League (trying to replace the Federation), Anti-Utopia Association (technophobes), and Freedom Legion (survivalist smugglers).
001 explains Project Opium: an addictive body-enhancing chip that simulates Eden’s functions. It offers strength and survival but causes dependency.
Lin Jingheng confirms that this system is being weaponized to control populations amid the Federation’s collapse.
One-Eyed Hawk executes 001, putting his remains in a waste bag and ejecting it into space.
Lin Jingheng asks how One-Eyed Hawk knew the mind-reading bluff was fake. One-Eyed Hawk doesn’t answer directly but insults him.
Lu Bixing interrupts the two men’s argument, scolding One-Eyed Hawk and being suspiciously soft toward Lin Jingheng.
The students prepare for the next jump into ungoverned space. Lin Jingheng offers practical advice and comfort.
The mecha jumps, disappearing into deep space. The eight galaxies are lost. The false peace of the Federation is shattered.
Chapter 08: The Paradise in the SewersThe crew aboard the small mecha Beijing has been flying along an unofficial smuggler’s route for nearly two months, surviving in isolation and repetitive routine.
Huang Jingshu reflects on how the darkness of space and the loss of their home have made her and her peers feel like useless “defectives.”
None of the students have successfully connected to the mecha’s psynet after months of training due to personal and psychological limitations: White has poor stamina, Vitas is nearly illiterate and hyperactive, Mint has a phobia of darkness, and Huang Jingshu has Empty Brain Syndrome.
Lu Bixing tries to encourage Huang Jingshu with beer and tells her that psynet compatibility is not the sole indicator of a person’s worth. He criticizes the idea of “natural selection” based on mental aptitude and says the future is unpredictable.
Lin Jingheng surprises them by interjecting via speaker, saying not everyone on the Silver Fortress had high psypower, implying there’s hope even for the weak.
Lu Bixing joins Lin Jingheng near the mecha’s flight path map and jokingly flirts with him, asking how many love confessions he got on the Silver Fortress.
Zhanlu responds that Lin Jingheng received thousands of fan letters daily, many of them intense, which Lin Jingheng had no idea about due to filters.
Lin Jingheng is mildly embarrassed. Lu Bixing leaves, internally flustered but secretly delighted that Lin Jingheng didn’t scold him.
Suddenly, the mecha detects a strong communication signal—an artificial network with no external access, suggesting a hidden military base or underground city.
Lin Jingheng activates the defense system immediately, and Huang Jingshu asks if something is wrong. One-Eyed Hawk warns that humans are more dangerous than black holes.
Zhanlu explains that internal-only networks are used during wartime to avoid detection.
A missile strikes, intercepted just in time by Lin Jingheng. They are surrounded by over 60 enemy mechas in a formation that appears more chaotic than professional.
Lin Jingheng and One-Eyed Hawk both assume the other brought enemies, but Lu Bixing diffuses the tension and begins hacking into the enemy’s network to open communications.
A gaudy-looking man named Stinky appears on screen and turns out to be One-Eyed Hawk’s old associate who still owes him money.
Stinky controls the mechas and claims to be neutral, not interested in war or revenge. One-Eyed Hawk urges him to unite against Cayley’s Guards, but Stinky refuses.
Stinky mocks his past sob story about losing family to the Rainbow Virus, revealing he made it up to manipulate One-Eyed Hawk. He cuts off communication and orders his fleet to fire.
Zhanlu overlays his psynet onto the Beijing’s, launches a silent attack, and disables all 60+ enemy mechas by forcibly severing their psynets.
Lu Bixing is told to “curse all he wants.” One-Eyed Hawk grumbles that Lin Jingheng is always dramatic, while Lin Jingheng brushes him off.
Stinky tries to bluff with claims of having 3,000 men ready to fight. Lin Jingheng scoffs that he’d be happy to rack up 3,000 kills.
Lin Jingheng offers the students a rare opportunity to connect with Zhanlu’s psynet for training. They are amazed by the scale and clarity of the experience.
Mint is gently comforted by Zhanlu’s music (though she declines the creepy tune). The students explore psynet perception and how connection reveals data streams and mecha systems.
Lin Jingheng walks them through a live hacking and hijack of an enemy mecha psynet. Lu Bixing uses it as a live teaching demo.
With weak opponents and clear psynet openings, the students successfully hijack enemy mechas, despite their clumsy piloting.
The enemy formation collapses into chaos. Pilots disconnect, mechas crash, and the battle ends in minutes.
Zhanlu consumes nearly all of the Beijing’s energy during the battle. Just as it runs out, Stinky begs for mercy and apologizes over comms.
Stinky invites them to his base. Lin Jingheng and One-Eyed Hawk play the part of powerful, gracious victors. Stinky is fooled into believing they spared him out of goodwill.
They follow him to his underground stronghold, a former supply depot turned settlement housing tens of millions. It is cramped, chaotic, but full of civilian life.
Stinky admits they have enough weapons but lack trained fighters. He begs for help from Lu Bixing, calling him their “heaven-sent hope.”
Stinky formally invites them to join the Eighth Galaxy Self-Defence Force, standing beneath a gaudy neon sign welcoming them to his “underground kingdom.”
Chapter 09: Pests and the Hidden CityThe mecha Beijing docks at the supply station controlled by Spencer, nicknamed Stinky, who leads the Self-Defence Force stationed at a hidden base.
Spencer boasts about the base’s infrastructure, including a fake sky powered by an artificial sun, but his claims are undermined by a brawl among elderly residents below.
Lin Jingheng questions Spencer about how he acquired so many mechas despite claiming to have no combat experience.
Lu Bixing quickly removes the students from the conversation, sensing a conflict and not wanting them involved.
Lin Jingheng and One-Eyed Hawk confront Spencer for lying. Spencer had bought many mechas months before the pirate attacks, suggesting he had advance knowledge.
One-Eyed Hawk physically attacks Spencer, accusing him of profiteering while others died. Spencer defends himself, saying he had to prioritize survival and secrecy.
Lin Jingheng threatens Spencer with the heavy mecha hidden beneath the building, revealing that he has already taken control of it through Zhanlu’s psynet.
Faced with overwhelming power, Spencer is forced to surrender control of the flight paths and space station to Lin Jingheng.
Lin Jingheng imprisons Spencer and his guards in a private underground prison and inspects the mecha hangar containing the ancient heavy triple-core mecha.
Zhanlu confirms the mecha is not in any Federation database, suggesting it was never officially recorded. Lin Jingheng suspects deeper corruption.
Lin Jingheng plans to inventory weapons and relocate supplies to the two hidden supply stations. He wants to use this base as bait for Prince of Cayley’s forces.
One-Eyed Hawk questions what will happen to the civilians. Lin Jingheng coldly says they are not his concern.
One-Eyed Hawk accuses Lin Jingheng of lacking humanity. Lin Jingheng retorts that war requires ruthless choices.
Lu Bixing fixes a long-defunct public screen and plays a movie, bringing joy and nostalgia to the base's residents.
The people cheer, and Lu Bixing uses the moment to deliver a speech promising base improvements, starting with energy reforms and an anti-missile system.
A chaotic fight breaks out between civilians and off-duty Self-Defence Force members after jokes escalate. Lu Bixing calmly plays music over the chaos.
Lu Bixing meets a young soldier named Saturday, an orphan, and learns more about the makeshift nature of the base’s infrastructure.
Saturday tells Lu Bixing that everything—the sky, the earth, even the energy tower—was salvaged and cobbled together by desperate people.
Lu Bixing praises their creativity and compares them to a god of creation. He then gets called away by One-Eyed Hawk.
One-Eyed Hawk accuses Lu Bixing of knowing Spencer's deception all along. Lu Bixing confirms he suspected it since their first meeting.
Lu Bixing had led the students away to protect them emotionally from the confrontation. He and One-Eyed Hawk have a rare father-son moment.
Lu Bixing asks if Spencer still has design diagrams, wanting to improve the base’s energy system. One-Eyed Hawk warns him the base will be sacrificed.
Lin Jingheng plans to expose the base’s coordinates to bait the pirates and give the Silver Ninth a warm-up. He intends to discard the base if necessary.
One-Eyed Hawk accuses Lin Jingheng of playing war like chess, treating civilian lives as expendable.
One-Eyed Hawk reveals that Lin Jingheng’s foster father or mentor, likely General Lu Xin, was falsely accused and killed. Lin Jingheng earned fame by destroying the rebels who once raised him.
One-Eyed Hawk resents Lin Jingheng for attacking people who once cared for him. He names Bart, a former comrade turned victim of Lin Jingheng’s campaign.
Lu Bixing suspects General Lu Xin might be the friend One-Eyed Hawk mentioned. He pretends ignorance but knows from research about Lu Xin’s crimes and the Federation’s cover-up.
Lu Bixing visits Lin Jingheng and proposes an energy-based decoy system using a reflector mechanism and subspace fields to mislead pirate scans.
Lin Jingheng dismisses the plan as clever but impractical, explaining that pirates use sacrificial scout teams that wouldn’t fall for fake coordinates.
Lu Bixing suggests guerrilla tactics and retraining the Self-Defence Force. Lin Jingheng is skeptical but charmed by Lu Bixing’s optimism and persistence.
Zhanlu estimates the Self-Defence Force has only 5% combat effectiveness. Lu Bixing insists software can be upgraded, meaning people can learn.
Lin Jingheng finally agrees to give Lu Bixing three months to prepare the base. He grants administrative control and begins coordinating with the Silver Ninth.
Lu Bixing subtly tests if Lin Jingheng has feelings for him. He’s increasingly convinced Lin Jingheng does, though Lin Jingheng stays stoic.
Lin Jingheng reflects that Lu Bixing is drastically different from Lu Xin—softer, more driven, and quietly persuasive.
Zhanlu asks whether Lin Jingheng truly believes Empty Brain Syndrome isn’t a disadvantage. Lin Jingheng answers ambiguously, implying real value isn’t always quantifiable.
Lin Jingheng considers Lu Bixing’s reflector plan viable for real combat simulations. He asks Zhanlu to compile data on Prince of Cayley’s family for behavior analysis.
Outside, civilians casually insult Spencer, and kids play pirate vs. Self-Defence Force games. A porn film briefly plays on the newly fixed screen.
Lu Bixing cuts off the power to conserve energy and scolds the crowd. He rallies volunteers to help overhaul the energy grid.
He mobilizes the population into teams, using maintenance robots as team leaders. His students are tasked with calculating energy consumption.
The students struggle with the math. Huang Jingshu gives up, White reveals Lu Bixing told him they have only three months before the base may be sacrificed.
The students are stunned into silence, recalling the destruction of Beijing ß and realizing their time is limited.
Pudge, a foul-mouthed restaurant owner, brings them cartoon-shaped buns and scolds them for overworking.
The students search Lu Bixing’s references and realize how little they understand. They finally begin learning by themselves out of desperation.
At dawn, Self-Defence Force pilots return after retrieving the mechas Lin Jingheng had thrown away. They’re traumatized despite being unharmed.
Outside, the people scream for Spencer to come out and face them. Lu Bixing watches from the window, knowing they have only 90 days left.
Chapter 10: How it EndsLin Jingheng painstakingly scans and repairs the heavy triple-core mecha using Zhanlu’s psynet, describing the task as trying to untangle yarn after a tornado of cats.
Lin Jingheng initially planned to assign the repair to Lu Bixing but chose to let him pursue his own ambitions instead.
Zhanlu detects unrest: members of the Self-Defence Force are rebelling—not against Lin Jingheng, but against Spencer for ignoring them and not surrendering sooner.
Lu Bixing, working nearby, hears the angry mob blaming Spencer for nearly getting them killed. They are traumatized after being stranded in space and stripped of psynet access.
Saturday climbs into the workroom to deliver breakfast and warns Lu Bixing not to let the students get involved. Lu Bixing sends the students back to the administrative building.
Saturday explains the tension: Spencer bought mechas despite opposition, fearing pirate invasion. Others wanted to stay hidden and avoid drawing attention.
Lu Bixing learns most residents fear arming themselves, believing it invites disaster. Saturday, however, would rather die piloting a mecha than cower in hiding.
The angry mob storms toward the administrative building. Lu Bixing, fearing they will provoke Lin Jingheng, hacks the surveillance system and activates a metal roadblock to block them.
The barricade proves flimsy and starts to collapse as the crowd becomes more organized and aggressive.
Lin Jingheng emerges and orders the mechas in the dock to rise and aim their particle cannons at the crowd, calling them trash and preparing to fire.
As Lin Jingheng gives the command, Lu Bixing uses his personal terminal to deploy the base’s outdated defense net, creating a shield that absorbs most of the blast.
With the defense net shattered and power systems overtaxed, Lu Bixing implants a biochip without anesthesia to push its disguise and invisibility abilities to the limit.
Lu Bixing uses the biochip to create a horrifying illusion: the mechas now appear to be pirate mechas from Cayley’s Guards, and he plays high-definition footage of Beijing ß’s destruction.
The illusion triggers extreme PTSD in the already-traumatized crowd. People panic, scream, and break down, crashing into invisible walls in a terrified frenzy.
The illusion ends with the video’s white light blast. The power system shuts down completely, plunging the base into silence and leaving the crowd stunned.
Saturday is in awe of Lu Bixing’s display. Lu Bixing reveals the video was real footage from Beijing ß and that he downloaded it from the abandoned depot.
When Saturday asks why he chose that video, Lu Bixing reveals he used to live on Beijing ß and founded Xinghai Academy there.
Saturday is stunned to learn Lu Bixing had deep roots and wasn’t just an interstellar wanderer.
Lu Bixing tells Saturday not to let the truth slip in front of the students and lies to the crowd, claiming the video was accidentally played.
Lu Bixing stops a PTSD-afflicted man from injuring himself, then addresses the crowd, warning them they’re already seen as terrorists and cannot escape notice.
He warns against destroying the mecha hangar, explaining how much energy that would release and how it would attract pirates.
Lu Bixing reminds them that Ares Feng won’t overlook covert flight paths again. When the pirates sweep through, they will be found.
He invites anyone who doesn’t want to die to report to him in uniform the next day at the mecha dock.
The crowd disperses in silence. One man, Vacation, breaks down while clutching a crystal bottle of ashes from his mother’s pet rabbit, who died during a pirate attack.
Lu Bixing empathizes and shares about his own mother, who he never met. She documented her pregnancy in videos before being killed. He was cut out of her womb during an attack.
One-Eyed Hawk screams at Lu Bixing for using the chip again. Lin Jingheng arrives, visibly shaken and enraged.
Lin Jingheng realizes Lu Bixing already knew the truth about his mother’s death. He almost hits him but stops, hand trembling.
Lin Jingheng withdraws silently. Zhanlu sedates Lu Bixing, extracts the chip, and warns him about developing dependency.
Lu Bixing wakes a day later and goes to find Lin Jingheng but learns he has left to map covert flight paths.
Only the four students turn in blank assignments. Lu Bixing is visibly disappointed but continues teaching them.
The students admit they didn’t understand anything. Lu Bixing pushes them to study independently and reminds them there’s no choice if they want to survive.
Huang Jingshu argues it’s unfair to compare them to Eden-trained citizens. Lu Bixing retorts that tools like math are not genius-level concepts—they’re basic survival skills.
He challenges them to read the “mallet user manual” (math textbook). Though initially frustrated, the students begin to study in earnest.
While robots work slowly due to limited numbers, Lu Bixing streamlines the energy plan and continues repairs.
To his surprise, Saturday, Vacation, and others arrive at the dock to volunteer—some were dragged or beaten into it by Saturday in duels.
Thirty-four people join the effort. They are unskilled and rough but eager.
Over the next few days, more residents peek in and slowly begin joining the project.
By day nine, the radiation collection panels are complete. By day ten, defectors return and are reabsorbed (and beaten for good measure).
By day twelve, the thermoelectric cooling tower is activated. The entire base lights up for the first time in years.
Lu Bixing waves at a surveillance camera and forms a heart, pleading for forgiveness from Lin Jingheng.
Lin Jingheng receives the footage just before the crowd mobs the camera and scares it offline, leaving him speechless.
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