Danmei Recap

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.

Volume 2

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.

Volume 3

(Short Summary)

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Danmei Recap

Danmei Novels Recap
by @queenslovebooks

Don't You Like Me

Volume 1

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.

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Danmei Recap

Danmei Novels Recap
by @queenslovebooks

Nan Chan

Volume 1

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.

Volume 2

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.

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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Volume 2

Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / How to Survive as a Villain

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 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.

Volume 1

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Volume 3

How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 3

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(Chapter Summary)

Volume 2

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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Don't You Like Me?

Don't You Like Me

Chapter 1

Lin Feiran practices piano for the upcoming school arts festival but struggles due to lack of recent practice.
He is distracted by Gu Kaifeng, his "rival" and the male emcee for the festival, rehearsing with Wang Yao.
Gu Kaifeng is tall, handsome, and popular—everything Lin Feiran feels he is not.
Lin Feiran transferred to the boarding school a month ago after his father’s job transfer to Europe and now shares a dorm with Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran dislikes living in Gu Kaifeng’s shadow, as Gu Kaifeng outshines him in academics, sports, and popularity.
Lin Feiran still resents a Sports Day event where Gu Kaifeng redeemed their relay team after Lin Feiran fell.
A girl once gave Lin Feiran a love letter to deliver to Gu Kaifeng, which crushed Lin Feiran’s brief hope she liked him.
Gu Kaifeng was indifferent to the letter and refused to read it, which Lin Feiran found odd.
During rehearsal, Wang Yao brings up a ghost story about someone dying in the music room; Gu Kaifeng scoffs at it.
Gu Kaifeng leaves rehearsal suddenly; Lin Feiran, unnerved by the ghost story, bolts soon after.
Lin Feiran was raised by his grandfather who loved telling ghost stories, causing Lin Feiran to develop a fear of ghosts.
Later in class, Gu Kaifeng hands out marked essays. He smirks at Lin Feiran’s poor grade and “Off-Topic” comment.
Gu Kaifeng’s own essay is posted as an example on the whiteboard, embarrassing Lin Feiran further.
In a passive-aggressive move, Lin Feiran bumps Gu Kaifeng on his way out. Gu Kaifeng teases him in response, reciting a weather report mockingly.
Lin Feiran gets even more annoyed when Gu Kaifeng smugly shows off his perfect essay.
In the dorm, Lin Feiran’s jealousy spikes after seeing Gu Kaifeng’s massive sneaker collection, including the rare pair Lin Feiran had hoped to impress him with.
Lin Feiran hides his own sneakers under the bed, feeling completely outclassed.
Despite his annoyance, Lin Feiran starts studying essays, determined to improve and not fall behind Gu Kaifeng.
They head back to the dorm in a weird speed-walking race. Lin Feiran tries to win but ends up feeling silly and embarrassed.
Gu Kaifeng, amused, tells Wang Zhuo that his roommate is a “little silly goose,” a nickname based on Lin Feiran’s height and antics.
Lin Feiran tries to act cool when Gu Kaifeng arrives back at the dorm, but he’s visibly upset.
Gu Kaifeng jokes about their "race," but Lin Feiran is too upset to laugh and snaps at him.
Just then, Lin Feiran gets a call from his father, Lin Chengyu, saying that Lin Feiran’s grandfather is very ill and may be dying.
Lin Feiran becomes emotional remembering his close bond with his grandfather, who raised him and shared many childhood adventures.
He cries himself to sleep that night under the covers.
The next morning, Lin Feiran wakes up feeling terrible, with swollen eyes from crying.
Gu Kaifeng notices and is confused, thinking Lin Feiran cried over being teased.
Lin Feiran gets called out of class by the teacher and leaves school with his father to visit his dying grandfather.

Chapter 2

Lin Chengyu drives Lin Feiran to the countryside to visit Lin Feiran’s dying grandfather.
Lin Feiran’s old dog greets him joyfully as they arrive at his childhood home.
Lin Feiran finds his grandfather frail but peaceful in bed and holds his cold hand.
Lin Chengyu stands silently, maintaining a distant and emotionless demeanor.
Lin Feiran reflects on Lin Chengyu's strained relationship with his father due to opposing views—Lin Chengyu rejected family traditions to pursue academics and escape village life.
Lin Feiran only had vague awareness of the rift between his father and grandfather.
Lin Feiran's grandfather wakes and cryptically tells him that “that thing” will pass to Lin Feiran, not to Lin Chengyu.
Lin Feiran is confused by his grandfather’s words, assuming it might refer to an inheritance.
The grandfather warns him not to be afraid of ghosts, stating the dead were once the same as the living.
The grandfather weakens and dies while trying to explain more.
A strange cold sensation passes from the grandfather's hand into Lin Feiran’s body, unsettling him.
Lin Feiran and Lin Chengyu head back to school the same day; Lin Feiran feels persistently cold despite the car’s heater.
Lin Feiran returns to the dorm with a fever, dizzy and freezing.
Gu Kaifeng walks in and finds Lin Feiran flushed and bundled in a blanket, checking his temperature.
Lin Feiran has a fever of 39°C but brushes off Gu Kaifeng's concern out of pride.
Lin Feiran realizes he’s out of cold medicine but refuses to ask Gu Kaifeng for help.
Gu Kaifeng silently leaves and later returns with porridge, water, and medicine, pretending it came from “Santa Claus.”
Lin Feiran reluctantly thanks Gu Kaifeng and takes the medicine.
Lin Feiran sleeps and wakes up feeling better physically but emotionally overwhelmed by grief and fear.
Lin Feiran hears strange voices in the room despite it being just him and Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran looks down from the top bunk and sees a room full of ghostly figures, including a terrifying female ghost.
Lin Feiran panics and jumps from his bunk onto Gu Kaifeng, clinging to him in terror.
As soon as he touches Gu Kaifeng, the ghosts vanish.
Lin Feiran tries to explain what happened but finds himself unable to speak the word “ghost.”
Gu Kaifeng assumes Lin Feiran had a nightmare and comforts him.
Lin Feiran is too afraid to return to his bunk and tries to write about the ghosts, but his hand freezes every time he tries to write anything supernatural.
He tests the limits and realizes he can only talk about the ghosts if he phrases it as a “dream.”
Lin Feiran confirms that physical contact with Gu Kaifeng dispels the ghosts.
Lin Feiran suspects he inherited the "Yin-yang Eye" from his grandfather, which allows him to see spirits.
Lin Feiran decides not to sleep alone and subtly stays on Gu Kaifeng’s lower bunk.
Lin Feiran later needs to use the toilet but is too scared to go alone.
Embarrassed, Lin Feiran asks Gu Kaifeng to accompany him to the bathroom.
Gu Kaifeng agrees and recites “Ode to the Red Cliffs” to soothe Lin Feiran while he pees.
On the way back, Lin Feiran again feels the chill that precedes a ghost encounter.
The corridor fills with terrifying ghosts reading books; they complain about the noise from Room 508.
Lin Feiran grabs Gu Kaifeng’s hand and all the ghosts disappear again.
Lin Feiran brushes off the incident with a weak excuse about “grabbing the wrong hand.”
Back in the dorm, Lin Feiran pieces together that he really did inherit a power from his grandfather—the ability to see ghosts.
Lin Feiran suspects that only physical contact with Gu Kaifeng can suppress the power.
He subtly crawls back into Gu Kaifeng’s bed, pretending to just not be tired.
Gu Kaifeng knowingly tells Lin Feiran to get comfortable and shares the blanket.
Lin Feiran quietly cuddles closer for protection, while Gu Kaifeng appears asleep but might not be.
After several attempts to maintain physical contact, Lin Feiran finally wraps around Gu Kaifeng like a koala.
Feeling safe and warm, Lin Feiran falls asleep in Gu Kaifeng’s bed.

Chapter 3

Lin Feiran wakes up at 6:10 a.m., lying in bed next to Gu Kaifeng, and briefly wonders if the previous night’s ghost events were a dream.
Lin Feiran is embarrassed to find he and Gu Kaifeng are still in each other's arms, with their bodies pressed together in an intimate position.
Lin Feiran awkwardly pulls away and nudges Gu Kaifeng awake, who greets him with bright eyes and asks if he slept against the wall all night.
Lin Feiran lies that he did and says he’s fully recovered from his cold.
They both get ready and head to the crowded wash station.
Lin Feiran, still anxious about seeing ghosts, keeps glancing at Gu Kaifeng for comfort through the mirror.
Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran looking and playfully winks at him, startling Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran drops his cup, and a familiar chill sets in as the water in the sink turns to blood and a bloated water ghost appears.
Lin Feiran watches the ghost lazily roll over and scratch itself while groaning, terrified but managing not to scream.
Ghost girls appear, surrounding Gu Kaifeng and swooning over him, one even stroking his abs.
Lin Feiran is jealous that even ghosts find Gu Kaifeng more attractive than him.
Lin Feiran tries to deactivate his Yin-yang Eye by touching classmates, greeting several boys with no effect.
Desperate, Lin Feiran realizes only Gu Kaifeng’s touch can suppress the ghost visions.
Gu Kaifeng approaches and grabs Lin Feiran’s hands, immediately making the ghosts disappear.
Gu Kaifeng asks what’s going on, and Lin Feiran lies, saying he was just saying good morning to everyone.
Gu Kaifeng rinses Lin Feiran’s haunted cup and hands it back, prompting more internal panic in Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran notices Gu Kaifeng’s aura is golden, in contrast to the dark, smoky aura he sees around himself.
Lin Feiran also notices that ghosts' hands melt when they touch Gu Kaifeng but continue to act like nothing’s wrong.
Lin Feiran concludes Gu Kaifeng has powerful yang energy that repels ghosts, unlike his own weak aura.
Lin Feiran finishes his morning routine and finds Gu Kaifeng waiting for him to go to breakfast.
Gu Kaifeng turns down Wang Zhuo’s request to wait, ruffles Lin Feiran’s hair, and leaves with him, confusing Wang Zhuo.
During breakfast and the walk to class, Lin Feiran keeps “accidentally” brushing against Gu Kaifeng to stay ghost-free.
In the classroom, Lin Feiran is seated too far from Gu Kaifeng to maintain contact, causing him anxiety.
Lin Feiran keeps glancing back at Gu Kaifeng, who always meets his gaze with a smile.
While doing math, the ghost visions return and Lin Feiran spots a ghostly version of the school’s founder, Old Principal, who has only half a head.
Old Principal floats around observing students and gives a thumbs-up to the top student.
When Lin Feiran pretends to sleep, Old Principal grows angry and shouts at him, thinking he’s slacking off.
Old Principal pushes his ghostly arm through Lin Feiran’s chest, causing intense cold and physical weakness.
Lin Feiran forces himself to open his eyes and resume studying while the ghost looms over him.
Ms Zheng arrives to start English class, and Old Principal shifts his focus back to the top student.
Lin Feiran asks permission to stand at the back and moves next to Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran discreetly touches Gu Kaifeng for comfort multiple times during the lesson, trying not to be noticed.
Gu Kaifeng grabs Lin Feiran after class and asks why he touched him eight times, revealing he kept count.
Lin Feiran is shocked and embarrassed. Gu Kaifeng jokingly accuses him of teasing.
Lin Feiran denies it and awkwardly says he’ll stop, but then quickly adds that he might not be able to resist next class.
Gu Kaifeng is amused by Lin Feiran’s reaction. Lin Feiran flees back to his seat, his ears burning.
During the afternoon, Lin Feiran tries to manage without touching Gu Kaifeng, sitting still and shutting his eyes.
He realizes Old Principal hasn’t returned, making the atmosphere slightly less terrifying.
Other ghosts are still present: one hangs from the projector, one peeks through the door, and one lounges in the aisle.
The top-student ghost is particularly disturbing with a swollen face, bulging eyes, and a long tongue.
The top-student ghost harasses Zhang Xu, Lin Feiran’s deskmate who ranked last in class, mimicking a strict parent.
Lin Feiran watches as the ghost berates Zhang Xu and slaps his head while giving him mock tutoring.
Lin Feiran initially feels sympathy for the ghost but is quickly overwhelmed by fear again when its grotesque face gets too close.

Chapter 4

Lin Feiran struggles to focus during class, fearing he’ll fall to the bottom of the rankings and become the top-student ghost’s next target.
Lin Feiran wishes he could sit next to Gu Kaifeng to avoid seeing ghosts, as Gu Kaifeng’s strong yang energy repels most spirits.
Lin Feiran wonders if his grandfather could see ghosts and possibly continued talking with Lin Feiran’s grandmother after her death.
Lin Feiran fantasizes about seeing his grandfather again but worries about encountering more ghosts on the way.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s mood and teases him gently, amused by Lin Feiran smiling to himself.
Lin Feiran debates whether to tell Gu Kaifeng or his parents about the ghosts but concludes neither would believe him.
As night falls, Lin Feiran clings to Gu Kaifeng and rushes to finish bedtime routines quickly.
Lin Feiran swaps their desk lamps and sets up Gu Kaifeng’s bed as if it’s his own, bringing his pillow and pretending to read in bed.
Gu Kaifeng returns and silently processes the situation but says nothing, lying down beside Lin Feiran without complaint.
Lin Feiran subtly touches Gu Kaifeng for warmth and protection, thinking his plan is working.
Gu Kaifeng notices and watches Lin Feiran quietly, intrigued by the small gestures and growing fond of him.
The next morning, Lin Feiran looks refreshed, while Gu Kaifeng has dark circles from lack of sleep.
Lin Feiran asks if he disturbed Gu Kaifeng’s sleep, and Gu Kaifeng lies that he just stayed up too late on his phone.
Lin Feiran decides he needs to sit next to Gu Kaifeng in class permanently.
Lin Feiran approaches Ms Zheng and requests a seat switch, giving the excuse of needing Language Arts help from Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng unexpectedly backs up Lin Feiran’s story in front of Ms Zheng, despite them never having discussed it.
Ms Zheng agrees to consider the change.
Lin Feiran suddenly sees a ghost of a little girl clinging to Ms Zheng’s leg under the desk, pale and bleeding.
Gu Kaifeng touches Lin Feiran, and the ghost vanishes instantly.
Lin Feiran, Gu Kaifeng, and Wang Zhuo joke on the way back to class, with Gu Kaifeng teasing Lin Feiran by calling him “my new beloved.”
Ms Zheng announces the new seating arrangement during fourth period: Lin Feiran will now sit next to Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran rushes to help move desks but struggles with the weight.
Gu Kaifeng steps in, flexing his muscles while helping Lin Feiran, which Lin Feiran can't help but notice.
Wang Zhuo jokes about Gu Kaifeng acting like he’s getting married, while Gu Kaifeng plays along.
Lin Feiran gets embarrassed by their teasing but goes along with it.
Lin Feiran gives parting advice to Zhang Xu, worried about the ghost haunting him, and tells him to take studies more seriously.
Gu Kaifeng secretly watches this with a smile.
Lin Feiran feels happy in his new seat and shows visible joy during lunch, which Gu Kaifeng and Wang Zhuo both notice.
Wang Zhuo teases Gu Kaifeng about Lin Feiran’s beauty, calling him delicate like a girl, which irritates Gu Kaifeng.
Back in class, Lin Feiran subtly touches Gu Kaifeng’s shoe to draw yang energy, feeling empowered and ghost-free.
Gu Kaifeng adjusts the tall student’s seat height so Lin Feiran can see the blackboard better.
Lin Feiran enjoys a productive school day, finally able to focus thanks to Gu Kaifeng’s presence.
That evening, Lin Feiran insists on joining Gu Kaifeng for a shower to avoid ghosts, admitting he hasn’t properly washed in days.
In the locker room, Lin Feiran hesitates to undress completely and gets embarrassed seeing Gu Kaifeng naked.
Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran staring at his genitals but doesn’t tease him; he just tells him to hurry up.
They find two adjacent shower stalls. Lin Feiran, terrified of water ghosts, grabs Gu Kaifeng’s wrist for safety.
Gu Kaifeng jokingly suggests sharing a stall, but Lin Feiran panics and declines.
They each take a stall. During the shower, Gu Kaifeng peeks over the partition and jokes about Lin Feiran not touching him yet.
Lin Feiran awkwardly touches Gu Kaifeng’s nose, which makes Gu Kaifeng laugh and flick his nose in return.
Back in the dorm, Lin Feiran climbs into Gu Kaifeng’s bed and studies for a surprise Language Arts recitation.
Gu Kaifeng joins him, correcting his memorization and offering real help for the first time.
Gu Kaifeng advises Lin Feiran to focus on understanding the text rather than rote memorization.
Gu Kaifeng smells Lin Feiran’s “milk and honey” body wash and jokes that he smells like milk and is tempting to bite.
Lin Feiran hides under his blanket, embarrassed but secretly pleased.
Lin Feiran continues to study under the covers, touching Gu Kaifeng’s foot now and then.
Lin Feiran eventually falls asleep mid-recitation, still holding his textbook.
Gu Kaifeng gently tries to take the book, but Lin Feiran reflexively holds onto it in his sleep.
During this, Gu Kaifeng’s hand brushes Lin Feiran’s lips, triggering a strong emotional response.
Gu Kaifeng reflects on his sexuality and how he has always been openly gay due to a supportive family.
Gu Kaifeng admits to himself that he has been attracted to Lin Feiran since his transfer.
Gu Kaifeng is now fully aware of his growing feelings for Lin Feiran and cherishes the shift in their relationship.
Gu Kaifeng chooses to let things progress naturally, savoring the closeness and budding romance between them.

Chapter 5

Gu Kaifeng, after a night of teasing and closeness, sneaks out of bed to masturbate in the toilet, overwhelmed by desire for Lin Feiran.
Gu Kaifeng imagines Lin Feiran’s features while doing so, climaxing the moment Lin Feiran unexpectedly calls out his name.
Lin Feiran enters the bathroom holding Gu Kaifeng’s pillow, having followed out of fear after waking to find the bed empty.
Lin Feiran pretends he just needed to pee and asks Gu Kaifeng to hold his pillow.
Gu Kaifeng is amused by Lin Feiran’s weak excuse and his sleepy appearance.
After using the toilet, Lin Feiran soaks in Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and gains confidence, casually dismissing Gu Kaifeng from waiting.
Gu Kaifeng sleeps soundly that night after relieving himself, even with Lin Feiran clinging to him like an octopus.
Lin Feiran remembers the upcoming school arts festival and panics about his unfinished piano solo.
Lin Feiran is afraid to practice alone in the haunted music room but doesn’t want to cancel his performance.
Lin Feiran subtly asks Gu Kaifeng if he’ll be rehearsing in the music room too, trying to gauge if he can tag along.
Gu Kaifeng offers to go with him if he’s scared, and Lin Feiran shyly agrees.
At the music room, Lin Feiran sets up the piano and insists Gu Kaifeng sit beside him under the excuse of helping hold the score.
Lin Feiran plays the piano beautifully with passion and skill, brushing his leg against Gu Kaifeng’s to stay ghost-free.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s nervous body language but says nothing, simply moving closer.
Lin Feiran performs flawlessly and fishes for compliments; Gu Kaifeng gives him exaggerated applause and praise.
Lin Feiran offers to sing and play a pop song, charming Gu Kaifeng with his natural, emotional voice.
Gu Kaifeng joins in the singing unexpectedly, causing Lin Feiran to mock his off-key voice.
Lin Feiran feels triumphant and giddy from winning that exchange.
They head to the canteen after practice; Lin Feiran admits Gu Kaifeng is quite handsome, and Gu Kaifeng returns the compliment.
Lin Feiran boasts playfully about being good-looking and adorable, which secretly thrills Gu Kaifeng.
On Saturday, Lin Feiran pulls Gu Kaifeng to practice again, mostly to stay close before Gu Kaifeng goes home for the weekend.
Lin Feiran is too afraid of ghosts to go home alone and doesn’t want to stay in the dorm without Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran considers asking to stay over at Gu Kaifeng’s house but feels awkward about asking directly.
Lin Feiran clumsily tries to find out if Gu Kaifeng will be alone at home and how big his villa is.
Gu Kaifeng teases him, pretending not to get the hint, while enjoying Lin Feiran’s increasingly obvious attempt to get invited.
Lin Feiran finally asks Gu Kaifeng what his plans are for the night, and Gu Kaifeng cancels his plans with Wang Zhuo to hang out with Lin Feiran instead.
Gu Kaifeng jokes over the phone about spending the night with his “hubby,” referring to Lin Feiran, embarrassing him.
They pick up their homework and change into casual clothes to leave school together.
Gu Kaifeng takes Lin Feiran to a popular BBQ restaurant; Lin Feiran eats like a meat-stuffed rice cake.
They explore the mall after eating. Lin Feiran, curious about ghosts outside school, walks away from Gu Kaifeng to activate his Yin-yang Eye.
At the cinema level, Lin Feiran sees over a hundred ghosts gathering to watch a movie, ranging from peaceful old couples to grotesque figures.
An elderly ghost couple catches Lin Feiran’s attention, their tender care for each other standing out amid the gruesome crowd.
The old man stumbles and Lin Feiran instinctively tries to catch him, being overwhelmed by the icy cold of ghost contact.
Lin Feiran rushes to touch Gu Kaifeng, instantly ending the chill and ghost visions.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran looks pale and cold, holds his fingers, and gently checks on him.
Gu Kaifeng suggests watching a horror movie, teasing Lin Feiran, but Lin Feiran declines, worried about the ghosts in the theater.
They decide to browse shops instead, and Lin Feiran tries to find a gift for Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran chooses a fancy glass dip pen with pink “cherry blossom street” ink as a gift for Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng jokingly uses the pen to write a love letter: “To little sticky rice cake Lin Feiran, From your dearest desk mate, Gu Kaifeng.”
Lin Feiran blushes but keeps the note, secretly delighted.
Gu Kaifeng insists on paying for the gift, saying Lin Feiran hasn’t given him anything yet.
Gu Kaifeng whispers reminders of Lin Feiran’s “dream” involving ghosts and eyeballs, teasing him again.
Lin Feiran asks if Gu Kaifeng’s parents are home; Gu Kaifeng says no, confirming he’ll be alone.
Lin Feiran tries to hint at wanting to stay over, asking how many bedrooms the villa has and how big Gu Kaifeng’s bed is.
Gu Kaifeng finally invites Lin Feiran over, and Lin Feiran accepts, barely hiding his joy.
They stop by the arcade first and play multiple games, with Lin Feiran finally winning at a rhythm game.
Gu Kaifeng watches Lin Feiran proudly, feeling more drawn to him with each moment.
After the games, they call a car and head to Gu Kaifeng’s house on Nanshan Street together.

Chapter 6

Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng arrive at Gu Kaifeng’s house, which is empty because his parents are away.
Gu Kaifeng’s affectionate Yorkie named Xiaxia greets them excitedly; Gu Kaifeng refers to Xiaxia as his “little brother.”
Gu Kaifeng jokes that Lin Feiran is now Xiaxia’s “brother-in-law,” causing Lin Feiran to blush and avoid eye contact.
Gu Kaifeng reveals he and Xiaxia share the same birthday, July 16.
Gu Kaifeng brings up zodiac signs, revealing he’s a Cancer and claims Cancers are family-oriented and caring.
Lin Feiran, flustered, admits his birthday is November 9, making him a Scorpio.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran about the traits of Scorpios—jealous, sensitive, vengeful—but follows up with praise: intelligent, intuitive, artistic, and sexually intense.
Lin Feiran defensively denies having strong desires or being interested in sex, insisting he lives a pure life.
Gu Kaifeng smiles knowingly, unconvinced, but doesn’t press further.
Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran a tour of the house and shows him a family heirloom sword, supposedly gifted by an emperor.
Lin Feiran touches Gu Kaifeng to check for ghostly energy but senses nothing near the sword.
Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran spare pyjamas and underwear to wear for the night.
Lin Feiran quickly showers in under five minutes, touching Gu Kaifeng beforehand to protect himself from ghosts.
Gu Kaifeng offers to shower together, which Lin Feiran quickly rejects in embarrassment.
After the shower, Gu Kaifeng dries Lin Feiran’s hair with a towel, scolding him gently for not doing it himself.
Lin Feiran, overwhelmed by the tenderness, quietly enjoys the attention while pretending to protest.
Gu Kaifeng heads to shower. Lin Feiran waits anxiously outside the door, worried about ghosts in the house.
As Lin Feiran starts to feel a chilling yin energy, he hears ghostly voices—Gu Kaifeng’s ancestral spirits gossiping about him.
Embarrassed and scared, Lin Feiran barges into the bathroom and pokes Gu Kaifeng’s chest while pretending to check if he's done.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran, flexing his muscles and flirting, causing Lin Feiran to retreat blushing.
Lin Feiran stays just outside the bathroom, still terrified of the ghosts he knows are nearby.
The Gu ancestors approach Lin Feiran’s face for a closer look, terrifying him into fleeing down the hallway.
Lin Feiran spots Xiaxia the Yorkie, whose yang energy rivals Gu Kaifeng’s.
Lin Feiran grabs Xiaxia for protection; the dog’s presence immediately dispels the spirits.
Lin Feiran calms Xiaxia down, apologizes, and fixes the dog’s bowtie, realizing animals can act as ghost shields.
Gu Kaifeng exits the bathroom and finds Lin Feiran joyfully spinning with Xiaxia in his arms.
Gu Kaifeng kisses Xiaxia on the same spot Lin Feiran did, creating an unintentional indirect kiss, which flusters Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran insists they begin their homework immediately to avoid looking improper in front of ghostly ancestors.
Gu Kaifeng leads Lin Feiran to his study, where they begin homework side by side at a large desk.
Lin Feiran challenges Gu Kaifeng to a race to finish their math homework; Gu Kaifeng agrees.
Thanks to Xiaxia’s presence, Lin Feiran doesn’t need to touch Gu Kaifeng for ghost protection.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s lack of physical contact and jokingly complains, pulling their chairs closer together.
Lin Feiran tries to scoot away but Gu Kaifeng keeps dragging him back, eventually threatening to put him on his lap.
Lin Feiran blushes deeply but keeps working; Gu Kaifeng teases him about his usual clinginess.
Gu Kaifeng finishes his homework first and fetches fruit; he peels grapes and feeds them to Lin Feiran, touching his lips each time.
Lin Feiran nibbles Gu Kaifeng’s finger in retaliation, leading to a flirty exchange.
Lin Feiran struggles with the last math problem but refuses Gu Kaifeng’s offer to help.
Gu Kaifeng suggests calling it a night, but Lin Feiran insists on finishing his work.
Gu Kaifeng scoops Lin Feiran up bridal-style and carries him to bed, insisting he needs rest.
Lin Feiran pretends to resist but allows it; Gu Kaifeng tucks him in and turns off the light.
Lin Feiran requests to sleep in the guest room with Xiaxia, but Gu Kaifeng says no, claiming the room is dusty.
Lin Feiran then asks to sleep with Xiaxia in Gu Kaifeng’s bed; Gu Kaifeng refuses, saying dogs aren’t allowed in his bed.
Gu Kaifeng tickles Lin Feiran’s waist, teasing him about acting weird.
Lin Feiran is flustered and distracted—his erection from earlier contact with Gu Kaifeng resurfaces.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran touching himself under the covers and teases him about it.
Lin Feiran denies it and gets defensive; Gu Kaifeng offers to show him explicit videos.
Lin Feiran declines, explaining he doesn’t enjoy adult videos and finds them uninteresting.
Gu Kaifeng hints that the videos he watches are not the straight kind, implying his interest in men.
Lin Feiran becomes more flustered and tries to push Gu Kaifeng away, asking for personal space.
Gu Kaifeng respects the distance but teases Lin Feiran about his stiffness and unease.
Lin Feiran’s arousal fades and he turns toward Gu Kaifeng in the dark, wanting comfort.
Lin Feiran gradually cuddles closer, starting with a gentle leg touch, and finally falls asleep next to Gu Kaifeng.

Chapter 7

Lin Feiran wakes up early on Sunday, determined to solve the final part of the math problem that stumped him.
Gu Kaifeng brings breakfast to the study, prepared by the housekeeper Ms Zhang.
Gu Kaifeng cuts the food into bite-sized pieces and spoon-feeds Lin Feiran while he works.
Lin Feiran solves the last part of the problem correctly and beams with pride.
Gu Kaifeng praises Lin Feiran, calling him a true genius.
They move on to physics and compete again, turning their study session into a fun academic showdown.
Lin Feiran continues to avoid touching Gu Kaifeng, instead lavishing affection on Xiaxia the Yorkie, who stays in his lap.
Xiaxia soaks up the attention and ignores Gu Kaifeng, making Gu Kaifeng jealous.
Gu Kaifeng repeatedly finds excuses to touch Lin Feiran—brushing knees, bumping elbows, and ruffling his hair.
Lin Feiran wonders why Gu Kaifeng keeps initiating contact, since he only touches Gu Kaifeng to avoid ghosts.
After dinner, Lin Feiran bows respectfully to the Gu family's ancestral sword and says goodbye to the ancestors before leaving.
Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran doing this and teases him, but Lin Feiran brushes it off.
They return to school and continue their close daily routine: studying, showering, sleeping together.
On Thursday, the school arts festival takes place and the auditorium is packed.
Gu Kaifeng looks handsome in a fitted dark suit while preparing to emcee the event.
Lin Feiran appears in a stunning black formal suit with a white high-collared shirt and bow tie, looking elegant and mysterious.
Gu Kaifeng is mesmerized by Lin Feiran’s appearance and compliments him sincerely.
Lin Feiran lights up and returns the compliment, fishing for more praise, which Gu Kaifeng provides generously.
Gu Kaifeng flirts by saying Lin Feiran has both artistic sensibility and good looks, which makes Lin Feiran blush.
Wang Yao, the female emcee, notices Gu Kaifeng's intense focus on Lin Feiran and realizes they are likely a couple.
Lin Feiran has his hair styled by Xue Jieling but becomes terrified when a theatrical female ghost appears in the mirror and mimics him mockingly.
The ghost teases Lin Feiran, making him panic and run off to find Gu Kaifeng for protection.
Lin Feiran pretends to be calm as he approaches Gu Kaifeng, but Gu Kaifeng realizes he’s jealous and frightened.
Gu Kaifeng ends the rehearsal with Wang Yao and sits with Lin Feiran, comforting him with gentle touches and quiet words.
Lin Feiran practices piano on his lap and asks Gu Kaifeng to stay close during his performance.
Gu Kaifeng promises to be there and reassures Lin Feiran with warmth and support.
Lin Feiran is introduced on stage as the ninth act. Gu Kaifeng pats his butt as encouragement before he walks out.
Lin Feiran plays the piano beautifully, but near the end, his Yin-yang Eye activates and he sees blood pouring from the keys.
A male ghost is revealed inside the piano, with deformed hands merging into the instrument and dark tendrils oozing blood.
Lin Feiran powers through the fear and finishes the piece, pretending his closed eyes are from emotional immersion.
He bows quickly, sees the ghost one last time, and exits the stage where Gu Kaifeng is waiting.
Gu Kaifeng spins Lin Feiran in the air and praises his performance, making Lin Feiran blush and feel special.
Lin Feiran starts to feel sympathy for the piano ghost, realizing the ghost might have loved music so much that he never moved on after death.
Lin Feiran chooses to stay backstage with Gu Kaifeng instead of rejoining the class, using his "clingy tactics."
After the festival ends, they return to school, and during evening study, Wang Zhuo tells Lin Feiran a girl from Class 3 asked for his number.
Gu Kaifeng instantly cuts off the conversation and drags Wang Zhuo out of the classroom in annoyance.
Lin Feiran is surprised and asks why Gu Kaifeng overreacted.
Gu Kaifeng claims he’s just enforcing the school’s “no intimacy with the opposite sex” rule, though it doesn’t apply to boys.
Lin Feiran ruffles Gu Kaifeng’s hair and jokes about needing haircuts; Gu Kaifeng makes a suggestive comment about wanting to “press him down” at the podium but rephrases it as “shave.”
They agree to go for haircuts and dinner together on Saturday.
On Saturday, after their haircut, they go to the arcade. Lin Feiran wins multiple rounds of basketball thanks to his aim.
Gu Kaifeng hugs Lin Feiran and sniffs his hair, saying his height is perfect for hugging.
Lin Feiran feels flustered and suggests one last game before heading home, slyly planning to stay over.
Gu Kaifeng mentions that his parents are home and says Lin Feiran can meet them.
Gu Kaifeng’s parents greet Lin Feiran warmly and are charmed by his manners and politeness.
Mrs Gu offers the south-facing guest room to Lin Feiran, contradicting Gu Kaifeng’s earlier excuse that it was dusty.
Gu Kaifeng leads Lin Feiran upstairs and admits he lied about the guest room being unusable.
Lin Feiran dodges the awkward moment by giving Xiaxia a gift—a rhinestone bone-shaped bow tie.
Xiaxia adores the gift and shifts more of his affection toward Lin Feiran.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran do homework together until late, and Mrs Gu brings them snacks.
Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran under the table by playing footsie, making Lin Feiran blush.
Gu Kaifeng expresses jealousy toward Xiaxia and jokes that he’s the “best boyfriend.”
Lin Feiran gets sleepy and decides to shower and go to bed.
Gu Kaifeng gives Lin Feiran new pajamas and pats his butt again, teasing him about staying in the guest room.
Lin Feiran showers quickly and settles into the guest room with Xiaxia, who sleeps beside him.
Gu Kaifeng finds himself lonely without Lin Feiran and sneaks over to his room late at night.
The door is locked, and Lin Feiran is sound asleep inside, unaware of Gu Kaifeng whispering at the door.
Gu Kaifeng walks away disappointed as the ancestral ghosts of the Gu family watch silently, worried about their heir's emotional entanglement.

Chapter 8

Lin Feiran wakes early at 6:30 a.m., refreshed and eager to begin the day.
Lin Feiran quietly freshens up and takes Xiaxia to the study to work on homework before anyone else wakes.
By 8:30 a.m., Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng are downstairs eating breakfast.
After breakfast, Lin Feiran privately asks Gu Kaifeng if he can borrow Xiaxia for the day.
Gu Kaifeng is surprised Lin Feiran wants to go alone and questions if he’s going on a date.
Lin Feiran denies it emphatically and feels confused about why he felt the need to justify himself.
Gu Kaifeng almost confesses his feelings but is interrupted by his mother.
Lin Feiran leaves with Xiaxia, saying goodbye warmly to Mrs. Gu.
Lin Feiran takes a taxi to his family’s ancestral home in the countryside, arriving two hours later.
Lin Feiran is greeted by the old family dog Dahuang, who happily recognizes him.
Lin Feiran comforts a scared Xiaxia and examines the house, seeing signs someone has been feeding Dahuang.
Lin Feiran enters his grandfather’s old bedroom, secures Xiaxia to a bedpost, and waits.
After five minutes, he senses cold and sees the ghosts of his grandparents appear on the bed.
Lin Feiran is overwhelmed with emotion and tearfully greets them, calling them “Gramps” and “Gram.”
Lin Feiran tries to hug his grandfather but is warned not to, due to the yin energy.
Lin Feiran cries and tells his grandparents how difficult life has been since gaining the Yin-yang Eye.
Lin Feiran explains how he clings to a classmate with strong yang energy to avoid ghosts.
Lin Feiran’s grandfather confirms Xiaxia also has strong yang energy and comments on the inherited nature of Lin Feiran’s gift.
Lin Feiran learns the Yin-yang Eye has been passed through the Lin family for generations, skipping those who reject it.
Lin Feiran’s grandfather explains types of ghosts: wanderers, bound spirits, and vengeful ghosts stuck in death-state appearances.
Lin Feiran’s grandfather and grandmother fall into the second category, staying due to mutual attachment and love.
Lin Feiran’s grandfather shares that Lin Feiran’s grandmother has stayed with him since her death, always by his side.
Lin Feiran is directed to find a notebook hidden under the bed containing ghost-repelling rituals and spells.
The notebook contains traditional Taoist and folk magic practices, but Lin Feiran is told he doesn’t need to memorize them.
Lin Feiran confirms he can’t talk or write about the Yin-yang Eye, and his grandfather explains this is part of the curse.
Lin Feiran admits he hates relying on Gu Kaifeng and Xiaxia to function normally.
Lin Feiran is advised he might use Gu Kaifeng’s belongings temporarily, as they carry yang energy, but not to rely on it forever.
Lin Feiran asks about using a pet, but his grandfather says that’s impractical for daily life.
Lin Feiran’s grandfather encourages him to grow stronger and promises it gets easier.
They spend hours talking, with Lin Feiran learning more about his grandfather’s experience and philosophy.
Before leaving, Lin Feiran prepares a lavish offering of roast meats and liquor for his grandfather’s grave.
Lin Feiran performs a ritual as instructed, honoring his grandfather’s preferences in food.
Lin Feiran returns to Gu Kaifeng’s house, and Mrs. Gu drives them both back to school, giving them snacks and fruit.
Back in the dorm, Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran wash fruit together, sharing soft touches and playful banter.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran and calls him a “little goose,” making Lin Feiran flustered but happy.
Lin Feiran resolves to try ghost-facing training by himself and hides under his blanket to test it for five minutes.
Lin Feiran sees peaceful sleeping ghosts in the room, hears snoring and soft sounds, and manages to last thirty seconds.
Gu Kaifeng interrupts, showing him a school forum post with a photo of them from the arts festival.
The photo shows Gu Kaifeng looking at Lin Feiran with deep affection, shocking Lin Feiran with its intensity.
Gu Kaifeng reads online speculation that they are a couple and teases Lin Feiran by saying people think he’s the bottom.
Lin Feiran denies it and insists he’s straight; Gu Kaifeng counters with increasing flirtation.
Gu Kaifeng corners Lin Feiran on the bed, calls him “Ranran,” and asks if he likes him.
Gu Kaifeng confesses his feelings and kisses Lin Feiran passionately, catching him off guard.
Lin Feiran doesn’t resist, becoming dazed and emotionally overwhelmed, unsure if he’s reciprocating.
After the kiss, Gu Kaifeng asks again if Lin Feiran likes him, but Lin Feiran denies it.
Lin Feiran confirms he’s not gay, and Gu Kaifeng is disappointed and confused.
Gu Kaifeng demands an explanation for Lin Feiran’s past behavior, accusing him of giving mixed signals.
Lin Feiran struggles to answer without revealing his secret about seeing ghosts.
Lin Feiran blurts out random excuses to deflect, including “I’m just stupid” and “I was messing with you.”
Gu Kaifeng half-jokes that he wants to have sex with Lin Feiran to release his frustration.
Lin Feiran panics and demands space, but Gu Kaifeng refuses to leave and guards the door.
Lin Feiran, too shy to ask for space, tries to calm himself and hide his thoughts under the blanket.
He realizes his Yin-yang Eye hasn’t returned, and suspects Gu Kaifeng’s kiss or items left yang energy behind.
Lin Feiran becomes convinced the kiss might be the reason the ghosts stayed away, which horrifies and embarrasses him.
Gu Kaifeng blocks the door and teases Lin Feiran for stealing his uniform from the laundry for yang energy.
Lin Feiran tries to lie about the stolen clothes, but Gu Kaifeng catches on and teases him mercilessly.
Gu Kaifeng presses him to admit what he was doing and flirts even more aggressively, hinting at mutual masturbation.
Lin Feiran denies it repeatedly and gives absurd excuses, like wanting to steal Gu Kaifeng’s Language Arts homework.
Gu Kaifeng doesn’t push too far and instead pulls Lin Feiran close under the blanket.
Lin Feiran feels Gu Kaifeng’s erection against him, panics, and tries to escape.
Gu Kaifeng suggests “helping each other,” and Lin Feiran angrily yells at him.
Lin Feiran gives Gu Kaifeng the silent treatment, retreating into his blanket and denying him warmth.
Gu Kaifeng apologizes, says he got carried away, and tries to make peace.
Gu Kaifeng throws the stolen clothes out of the bed and asks to share the blanket again.
Lin Feiran tries to calm his own unexpected arousal and silently accepts Gu Kaifeng’s embrace.
Gu Kaifeng whispers goodnight to Lin Feiran, content just holding him.
The next morning, Lin Feiran wakes to a cold day and tries to change discreetly.
Gu Kaifeng watches him from the upper bunk and flirts again, pinching his cheek before heading out.
Lin Feiran returns Gu Kaifeng’s stolen items and keeps only one pen.
Lin Feiran discovers the pen retains enough yang energy to suppress ghost visions for about twenty minutes.
He starts secretly borrowing and returning Gu Kaifeng’s belongings to manage his Yin-yang Eye.
Lin Feiran avoids touching Gu Kaifeng all day, though Gu Kaifeng still touches him casually.
In class, Lin Feiran spots a ghost cat—white, fluffy, with blue eyes and bloodstains on its fur.
The cat seems unaware it’s a ghost, trying to engage students with meows and playful behavior.
Lin Feiran, seeing an animal ghost for the first time, is less afraid and even speaks to it quietly.

Chapter 9

The ghost cat realizes Lin Feiran can see it and urgently tries to get his attention by biting his pant leg and meowing repeatedly.
Lin Feiran decides to follow the ghost cat, ignoring nearby ghosts and staying focused on its desperate plea.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran acting strangely and follows him out of concern, though Lin Feiran tries to maintain distance to avoid drawing on Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and losing sight of the ghost.
The ghost cat leads Lin Feiran behind the academic building during a light rain.
Wang Zhuo appears, loaded with snacks and holding a pink umbrella. Gu Kaifeng takes the umbrella from him.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran walk together under the pink umbrella, teasing and bantering with flirtatious tension.
Gu Kaifeng calls Lin Feiran “hubby” and makes Lin Feiran blush; Lin Feiran denies his feelings but is clearly affected.
The ghost cat leads them to a bush behind the school where a dead mother cat lies with four newborn kittens huddled against her body.
Lin Feiran is heartbroken by the sight, realizing the ghost cat is the spirit of the dead mother.
Gu Kaifeng quickly acts, removing his jacket to wrap up the kittens and tells Lin Feiran to head to class while he takes care of them.
Lin Feiran wants to stay and care for the kittens, but Gu Kaifeng insists he’ll handle it and that Lin Feiran should just tell the teacher he has a stomachache.
Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and gives Gu Kaifeng the umbrella.
Gu Kaifeng, about to leave, surprises Lin Feiran with a quick kiss on the cheek before running off toward the dorm.
Stunned and emotional, Lin Feiran kneels by the dead mother cat, comforts her spirit, and promises to return at noon to bury her.
Even with his Yin-yang Eye temporarily inactive, Lin Feiran senses the cat’s presence and sees a faint outline as it moves on to reincarnation.
Lin Feiran hurries to Language Arts class, gives the excuse for Gu Kaifeng’s absence, and barely avoids punishment due to Gu Kaifeng’s strong reputation.
During class, Gu Kaifeng texts Lin Feiran updates and sends a photo of the kittens warm and safe in a box with a hand warmer and a sports vest.
Lin Feiran asks how he got the supplies and learns Gu Kaifeng convinced the dorm supervisor to let him keep the kittens temporarily.
Gu Kaifeng brags that he overwhelmed the supervisor with information and guilted him into allowing the kittens to stay.
Gu Kaifeng adds that the dorm lost a point—not for the kittens, but for Lin Feiran’s dirty underwear and socks lying around.
Lin Feiran is embarrassed and promises to clean up. Gu Kaifeng then jokingly claims he washed the underwear, shocking Lin Feiran.
Old Principal’s ghost suddenly appears, dripping eerie liquid onto Lin Feiran’s phone and arm, causing him to panic.
Lin Feiran disables the Yin-yang Eye by tapping Gu Kaifeng’s chair and is then scolded publicly by Ms. Li for being distracted.
Lin Feiran plans a dramatic verbal scolding for Gu Kaifeng but sees more of Gu Kaifeng’s playful, apologetic messages.
Gu Kaifeng admits he was joking and didn’t actually wash Lin Feiran’s underwear or cause them to lose any dorm points.
Lin Feiran softens and responds gently, but Gu Kaifeng keeps teasing, asking if he’s forgiven and offering to write an 800-word apology essay.
Lin Feiran sends an angry voice message, only to realize Gu Kaifeng is right behind him and has been following him the whole time.
Gu Kaifeng lifts Lin Feiran into his arms and reveals he went to the infirmary to get syringes and milk for the kittens.
Lin Feiran checks the supplies and accepts Gu Kaifeng’s explanation.
Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran to admit he’s dependable; Lin Feiran denies it but can’t hide his affection.
That afternoon, Lin Feiran borrows a shovel and returns with Gu Kaifeng to bury the mother cat properly behind the school.
Gu Kaifeng digs the grave, and Lin Feiran lays the cat to rest. Together, they complete the burial, bringing Lin Feiran peace.
Back in the dorm, the kittens are warm and fed. Lin Feiran coos over how cute they are, and Gu Kaifeng agrees while preparing milk.
Gu Kaifeng names the kittens: Mung Bean Cake, Yun Pian Cake, Glutinous Rice Cake, and Egg Cake.
Gu Kaifeng calls Lin Feiran his “little sticky rice cake,” wiping food from his mouth tenderly, which makes Lin Feiran blush.
Lin Feiran mockingly names Gu Kaifeng “Wotou,” to which Gu Kaifeng playfully responds that wotou is hard, hinting at innuendo.
Lin Feiran scolds Gu Kaifeng for naming the kittens, knowing it’ll make parting with them harder.
Gu Kaifeng suggests they get a cat together after high school and live together at university.
Lin Feiran, flustered, pretends to dismiss the idea but doesn’t truly oppose it.
Gu Kaifeng points out that their grades are close, so he might just copy Lin Feiran’s university applications.
Lin Feiran tries to protest but keeps getting teased. Gu Kaifeng hands him a tea drink to calm down.
Gu Kaifeng asks again how Lin Feiran found the kittens. Lin Feiran lies, saying he was just feeding cats there.
Gu Kaifeng is touched by Lin Feiran’s kindness and gets even more attached to him, mentally fantasizing about intimacy.
After dinner and kitten care, Lin Feiran posts a picture and adoption notice online, tagging pet bloggers to help rehome the kittens.
Lin Feiran uses the names Gu Kaifeng gave the kittens, secretly hoping the names stick and wishing he could keep them.

Chapter 10

Gu Kaifeng falls ill after walking in the rain without a jacket while carrying the rescued kittens.
Gu Kaifeng is excused from classes by Ms. Zheng to rest in the dormitory, missing the afternoon and evening sessions.
Lin Feiran, now separated from Gu Kaifeng for several hours, begins to run out of residual yang energy from Gu Kaifeng’s belongings.
Lin Feiran texts Gu Kaifeng to check on his condition. Gu Kaifeng sends a flirtatious voice message saying he can’t recover without seeing Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran gets flustered and ignores the teasing, asking for Gu Kaifeng’s meal order.
Gu Kaifeng jokes about wanting sticky rice cakes, clearly implying Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran, irritated, still buys beef rice, milk tea, and red bean rice cakes, complaining internally about Gu Kaifeng’s fussiness.
Lin Feiran rushes back to the dorm before his yang energy protection runs out and brings Gu Kaifeng the food.
Gu Kaifeng is touched by Lin Feiran’s concern and begins teasing him again, calling the rice cake “delectable” while suggestively eating it.
Lin Feiran gets embarrassed and tries to remain stoic, but Gu Kaifeng’s teasing escalates until Lin Feiran snaps and attacks him.
They tumble onto the bed, and Gu Kaifeng cradles Lin Feiran’s head. Instead of kissing him, he gently presses their foreheads together.
Gu Kaifeng jokingly asks Lin Feiran to feel his fever, and Lin Feiran shifts the mood by asking if he’s taken his medicine.
Gu Kaifeng says he was “waiting for Lin Feiran,” and continues to flirt while sick.
Gu Kaifeng admits he would’ve kissed Lin Feiran breathless if he wasn’t worried about infecting him.
Lin Feiran gets up to fetch medicine, and Gu Kaifeng stares longingly at Lin Feiran’s butt as he bends over.
Lin Feiran catches Gu Kaifeng staring, gets flustered, and threatens him.
Gu Kaifeng keeps joking, calling it “lighting his fire” and asking to be taken care of.
Lin Feiran prepares warm water and hands Gu Kaifeng pills. Gu Kaifeng touches Lin Feiran’s palm with his lips, making Lin Feiran tremble.
Lin Feiran, annoyed, calls him a pervert, but Gu Kaifeng just laughs and gulps the medicine.
Lin Feiran feeds the kittens while insulting Gu Kaifeng to them. Gu Kaifeng claims he only acts like that with Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran’s post about the kittens draws attention from pet bloggers, and adoptions are lined up for Monday.
Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran to study in the dorm instead of going to evening study, saying Ms. Zheng will approve if he asks.
Lin Feiran agrees, collects their homework, and sets up a study area by the bed while Gu Kaifeng rests.
Gu Kaifeng repeatedly interrupts Lin Feiran’s studying with flirtation and physical affection.
Gu Kaifeng lays his head in Lin Feiran’s lap and requests a head massage in a whiny voice.
Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and begins massaging him, eventually growing focused on doing it well.
Gu Kaifeng grabs Lin Feiran’s hand, praises its beauty, and kisses his fingertips.
Lin Feiran tries to pull away, but Gu Kaifeng slips his hand under his shirt, guiding Lin Feiran’s hand to his chest.
Lin Feiran accidentally touches something erect and panics, yanking his hand back and accusing Gu Kaifeng of tricking him.
Gu Kaifeng jokes it’s Lin Feiran’s turn and tries to touch under Lin Feiran’s shirt. They scuffle until Lin Feiran bites Gu Kaifeng’s shoulder.
Gu Kaifeng retreats, laughing, while Lin Feiran burrows into the quilt, calling him a freak.
Lin Feiran demands Gu Kaifeng keep his hands to himself, warning he’ll retaliate if touched again.
Gu Kaifeng mocks Lin Feiran’s claim of being a fighter, prompting Lin Feiran to invent a rebellious backstory as a former delinquent.
Gu Kaifeng, who actually had a troubled past, humors him and promises not to touch him without reason.
Gu Kaifeng and Lin Feiran do homework together until 10 p.m. before Lin Feiran stops to rest.
Gu Kaifeng, still behind due to his illness, starts copying Lin Feiran’s chemistry answers.
Gu Kaifeng mocks Lin Feiran’s messy handwriting despite his beautiful hands, then kisses his notebook.
Gu Kaifeng suggests a future where he teaches Lin Feiran handwriting and Lin Feiran teaches him singing—"hand in hand, lip to lip.”
Lin Feiran, overwhelmed, pinches Gu Kaifeng and flees to wash his hands and face.
The next morning, Gu Kaifeng has recovered completely, and Lin Feiran wakes up to find Gu Kaifeng pressed up against him.
Lin Feiran threatens to snap off Gu Kaifeng’s erection if it pokes him again. Gu Kaifeng jokingly demonstrates how to grab it.
Lin Feiran runs off in embarrassment, and they feed the kittens together before heading to breakfast.
With midterms approaching, Lin Feiran focuses on reviewing weak subjects and study plans.
Gu Kaifeng notices Lin Feiran’s seriousness and tones down his teasing to give him space.
They prepare to send the kittens to their new homes on Sunday and decide to bring them to Lin Feiran’s apartment on Saturday.
Gu Kaifeng offers to help clean and avoid bringing them to his own house to dodge scolding from his parents.
They arrive at Lin Feiran’s riverside condo. The apartment is clean but dusty, so they open windows and air it out.
Lin Feiran shows Gu Kaifeng the river view, and Gu Kaifeng hugs him from behind, whispering into his ear.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran with a quick bite on the neck and a lick on the palm, making Lin Feiran flee indoors.
Gu Kaifeng helps clean the bedroom while Lin Feiran plays piano. Gu Kaifeng clips Lin Feiran’s nails, pretending it’s a romantic gesture.
Lin Feiran gets flustered and internally compares the moment to a proposal.
Gu Kaifeng confesses Lin Feiran’s hands give him an erection, then makes more suggestive comments about future sex.
Lin Feiran threatens him again and protects his feet as Gu Kaifeng pretends to go for his toes.
On Sunday, all four kittens are successfully adopted into loving homes.
Lin Feiran, watching the last kitten leave, becomes reflective and emotional.
Gu Kaifeng comforts him and jokes about adopting their own kitten after graduation.
Lin Feiran considers how far he’s come, growing more accepting of his ghost-seeing ability.
Lin Feiran feels proud he was able to save the kittens and begins to see his Yin-yang Eye as more of a gift than a curse.

Chapter 11

Midterm exams arrive, spanning two days with four subjects: Language Arts, mathematics, English, and comprehensive science.
Due to student ID seating, Gu Kaifeng is placed near the front and Lin Feiran near the back, in different exam halls, preventing contact and shared items.
Lin Feiran realizes he can’t borrow Gu Kaifeng’s supplies discreetly and instead steals Gu Kaifeng’s worn school uniform to use its yang energy.
Lin Feiran divides the uniform into four parts for each exam, confident the lingering yang energy will last two hours each.
As Lin Feiran changes, Gu Kaifeng catches him red-handed wearing his oversized shirt.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran and almost kisses him but redirects the kiss to the corner of Lin Feiran’s mouth to avoid ruining his exam focus.
Flustered, Lin Feiran forgets most of a classical article he memorized, regretting the encounter.
Despite distractions, the yang energy in the uniform protects Lin Feiran from ghosts during exams, though Gu Kaifeng’s scent makes him blush during tests.
Invigilators become suspicious of Lin Feiran due to his strange reactions in the exam hall.
After the final exam, Lin Feiran rushes to return the jacket but is caught again by Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng notices the jacket is XL and confirms it’s his, confronting Lin Feiran.
Gu Kaifeng pulls Lin Feiran into a men’s bathroom stall, kisses him deeply, and begins touching him.
Lin Feiran is overwhelmed and initially gives in, but stops Gu Kaifeng when his hand ventures below the waist.
Gu Kaifeng flirts and begs, but Lin Feiran scolds him for being shameless and refuses further intimacy in public.
Gu Kaifeng apologizes and promises to slow down, then suggests becoming official boyfriends if Lin Feiran loses a grade bet.
Lin Feiran declines and tries to distract Gu Kaifeng, but their physical closeness continues.
Gu Kaifeng joins Wang Zhuo and others for basketball while Lin Feiran watches from the sidelines.
Lin Feiran notices a decline in Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy and wonders if he drained it or if it’s due to Gu Kaifeng’s recent illness.
Lin Feiran sees the ghost of a little girl from earlier, who longs to join the boys playing but backs away when Gu Kaifeng retrieves the basketball.
Lin Feiran tries to talk to the little ghost girl discreetly, comforting her and guessing correctly that she is Ms Zheng’s daughter who died from illness.
The ghost girl is frightened but slowly opens up, eventually confirming her identity and cause of death through gestures.
Lin Feiran offers help, but the ghost girl declines and vanishes through a wall.
Feeling sympathetic, Lin Feiran decides he wants to help her play basketball in some way.
Lin Feiran gives Gu Kaifeng water and uses the touch to clear ghost visions.
After the evening study session, Lin Feiran examines his grandfather’s old notebook for rituals to help ghosts.
Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran, holds his hand, and tries to get him to become his official boyfriend.
Lin Feiran offers the notebook to Gu Kaifeng as a hint to his secret, but Gu Kaifeng sees only blank pages.
Lin Feiran realizes the curse prevents others from seeing or understanding the notebook’s content.
Gu Kaifeng senses Lin Feiran’s sadness and offers emotional support, jokingly playing the role of husband and comforter.
Gu Kaifeng offers to hold Lin Feiran’s hand forever and rearranges their desks to work back-to-back while still holding hands.
Gu Kaifeng warns Lin Feiran not to tempt him or he might act on his desire.
Lin Feiran reads about a ritual called “Sharing Yin,” which would allow Gu Kaifeng to temporarily see ghosts by linking their souls.
The spell allows toggling the Yin-yang Eye but is a once-in-a-lifetime ritual that cannot be undone.
Lin Feiran is stunned and hesitates, deeply conflicted over whether to use such a permanent spell on Gu Kaifeng.

Chapter 12

Lin Feiran follows Gu Kaifeng home for the weekend and buys cute hair accessories for Xiaxia to win more affection from the little dog.
Gu Kaifeng’s father drives them back to school on Sunday and agrees to a stop at the wholesale market for Lin Feiran to shop.
In the car, Gu Kaifeng flirts with Lin Feiran by sneaking a hand under his shirt and squeezing his waist, pretending innocence when caught by his father.
Lin Feiran uses a bottle of water as a discreet way to absorb Gu Kaifeng’s yang energy by having him drink from it, turning it into a kind of emergency “holy water.”
Gu Kaifeng has grown suspicious of Lin Feiran stealing his things for yang energy and confronts him, but Lin Feiran denies it with feigned innocence.
Gu Kaifeng becomes hyper-aware of all his belongings, making it nearly impossible for Lin Feiran to “borrow” anything unnoticed.
As a result, Lin Feiran increasingly relies on Xiaxia or indirect methods like saliva-infused items.
At the market, Lin Feiran refuses Gu Kaifeng’s offer to accompany him and insists on going alone, using the water bottle to maintain ghost protection.
Once alone, Lin Feiran shamefully licks the mouth of the bottle to absorb the remaining yang energy, blushing in embarrassment.
Lin Feiran shops for items to offer the little ghost girl: a toy ball, bunny, doll, snacks, hair accessories, talisman paper, incense, and a burner.
On his way back to school in a taxi, Lin Feiran senses the yang energy running out and desperately licks the bottle again, but it’s depleted.
A female ghost suddenly appears in the passenger seat. She is the taxi driver’s deceased wife, elegant and kind, wearing a wedding ring.
Lin Feiran realizes she is watching over her husband and gently relays her messages: warnings about his smoking, health concerns, and messages of love.
The ghost asks Lin Feiran to tell her husband she loves him. Lin Feiran delivers her messages and bolts from the taxi, overwhelmed by emotions and ghost activity.
Lin Feiran becomes surrounded by ghosts and overwhelmed by the chilling effect of his Yin-yang Eye activating at night.
Desperate, he calls Gu Kaifeng and asks him to come to the school gate.
Gu Kaifeng sprints out, joking and teasing Lin Feiran on the phone, but arrives quickly and touches Lin Feiran’s neck to restore yang warmth.
Lin Feiran emotionally calls Gu Kaifeng “hubby” in desperation, and Gu Kaifeng responds warmly and smugly in person.
Gu Kaifeng kisses Lin Feiran’s cheek and then his lips, twice, flustering Lin Feiran in public.
Gu Kaifeng helps carry Lin Feiran’s shopping bags and teases him about their contents, including the bunny toy.
Lin Feiran lies, saying the items are for the Qingming Festival or younger relatives, to avoid revealing the truth about the offering ritual.
Back at the dorm, Lin Feiran hides the items and sneaks off to the storeroom to conduct the ritual for the little ghost girl.
He performs the offering ritual with incense and prayers, imagining the girl as he dedicates the gifts to her spirit.
As he cleans up, Lin Feiran reflects on how surprisingly comfortable he feels with the nickname “hubby” and the kisses.
Lin Feiran returns to the dorm and is horrified to see his socks and underwear hanging after being washed by Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng casually confesses to washing Lin Feiran’s socks, teasing him further and ignoring Lin Feiran’s embarrassment.
Lin Feiran vows never to let dirty laundry accumulate again and pledges to wash everything immediately from now on.
Gu Kaifeng invites Lin Feiran to do homework together, but Lin Feiran insists on working alone out of pride.
Lin Feiran outperforms Gu Kaifeng in physics and gloats, trying to get back at him for all the teasing.
They go to the wash station, where Lin Feiran splashes Gu Kaifeng with water as petty revenge, but Gu Kaifeng lets it slide.
That night, Lin Feiran demands to share Gu Kaifeng’s bed but is forced to call him “hubby” politely to be allowed in.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran relentlessly, pushing for physical affection and claiming he’d sleep anywhere for him.
Gu Kaifeng initiates a sensual moment, guiding Lin Feiran’s hand over his torso and teasing him with kisses and touches.
Lin Feiran gets overwhelmed, denies enjoying it, but clearly reacts to the intimacy.
Gu Kaifeng flirts heavily, licks Lin Feiran’s earlobe, and asks provocatively if Lin Feiran wants to top him.
Lin Feiran, completely flustered, admits he doesn’t want to and surrenders emotionally to the moment.
Gu Kaifeng kisses and gropes Lin Feiran passionately but stops before things go too far, respecting Lin Feiran’s limit.
Lin Feiran shyly asks if Gu Kaifeng really likes him, and Gu Kaifeng confesses with poetic sincerity, listing all of Lin Feiran’s traits he loves.
Gu Kaifeng declares his love isn’t just about looks—he’s completely in love with everything about Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran, overwhelmed, feels emotionally saturated and deeply moved.
Gu Kaifeng asks Lin Feiran what made him fall for him, and Lin Feiran deflects, saying it’s because Gu Kaifeng is a rogue.
The next morning, midterm results are posted. Gu Kaifeng ranks sixth, and Lin Feiran ranks seventh, only four points apart.
Lin Feiran swears to beat Gu Kaifeng next time and is slightly embarrassed by their shared moment the night before.
Gu Kaifeng draws a heart around their names on the report card.
Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and finds the little ghost girl playing with a spectral ball in the hallway.
He confirms she received his offerings when she thanks him sweetly and returns to Ms Zheng’s side.
Lin Feiran peeks into the office and sees her playing quietly at Ms Zheng’s desk, arranging toys and snacks around her mother’s workspace.
The ghost girl gently thanks her mother and enjoys a jelly, showing joy and peace.
Ms Li catches Lin Feiran and lectures him about his Language Arts score.
The little ghost girl secretly helps Lin Feiran answer all of Ms Li’s questions correctly, whispering the answers and helping him save face.
Lin Feiran silently thanks the ghost girl, who quietly returns to Ms Zheng’s side without acknowledgment.
Lin Feiran flirts with Gu Kaifeng in class, tapping his cheek to absorb yang energy.
Gu Kaifeng promises that after the college entrance exams, he’ll kiss Lin Feiran on the podium and sports field.
Lin Feiran teases back with the principal’s office idea, which Gu Kaifeng immediately adds to his mental list.
Lin Feiran, embarrassed, tries to change the subject and refocus on chemistry class, while Gu Kaifeng keeps smiling to himself.

Chapter 13

Lin Feiran attends physical education class, where the teacher surprisingly shows up and announces free play.
Lin Feiran initially plans to join Gu Kaifeng and Wang Zhuo for a basketball game but sees the little ghost girl near the court and chooses to sit out.
While watching, Lin Feiran quietly approaches the little ghost girl, who is trying unsuccessfully to shoot her ball into the hoop.
Lin Feiran gently invites her to join him and offers to teach her basketball.
The little ghost girl greets Lin Feiran politely and becomes more trusting.
Lin Feiran teases her with a lighthearted lie, saying her pants will catch fire if she lies, to ensure honesty.
The little ghost girl shares her deepest wish: to ease her mother’s sorrow over her death.
The little ghost girl reveals she died from illness despite her parents’ efforts, and her mother still cries over her photos.
Lin Feiran promises to tell her mother that the painkillers worked, she didn’t suffer, and she’s now happy and has no regrets.
The little ghost girl also wishes her mother knew she wanted to go to the aquarium and amusement park together.
Lin Feiran is overcome with emotion, cries, and promises to relay the message.
The little ghost girl tries to comfort Lin Feiran, telling him he won’t look handsome if he cries.
She expresses acceptance of her death and says she’s content, having had loving parents and a cute little brother.
Lin Feiran offers to teach her basketball and helps her correct her form and posture with kind coaching.
Gu Kaifeng approaches, wraps his arm around Lin Feiran’s waist, and asks who he’s been watching.
Lin Feiran lies that he’s watching no one, and Gu Kaifeng questions why Lin Feiran’s eyes are red.
Lin Feiran deflects by saying he just yawned and wasn’t crying.
Gu Kaifeng demands Lin Feiran’s full attention and threatens to collect kisses in the dorm if he zones out again.
Gu Kaifeng returns to the court while Lin Feiran continues coaching the ghost girl.
Gu Kaifeng catches Lin Feiran whispering coaching tips and makes a teasing gesture indicating Lin Feiran owes him a kiss.
Wang Zhuo and He Hao see Lin Feiran’s middle finger in response and playfully interpret it as “I love you” in sign language.
Lin Feiran teaches the little ghost girl until she becomes confident enough to shoot alone.
Lin Feiran turns to watch Gu Kaifeng play, admiring his skill and attractiveness, and admits to himself he might be going gay.
After class, Gu Kaifeng lures Lin Feiran behind a tree and demands a kiss as payment for watching his game.
Lin Feiran is flustered and tries to resist, but Gu Kaifeng kisses him on the ear and neck.
Lin Feiran is mortified when he realizes the little ghost girl is watching them with innocent curiosity.
Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran, claiming he likes being chased and enjoys resistance.
Lin Feiran angrily denies everything, but his arousal betrays him, confirming his feelings to Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng continues kissing Lin Feiran until there are only a few minutes left before class, and they run back together.
Lin Feiran touches his swollen lips in class and silently fumes at Gu Kaifeng while secretly enjoying the moment.
Lin Feiran considers how to deliver the little ghost girl’s message to Ms Zheng and decides on an anonymous letter.
Lin Feiran attempts to handwrite it but fears Ms Zheng will recognize his poor handwriting, so he types and prints it instead.
Lin Feiran climbs over the school wall during lunch to access a print shop and prepares the envelope for Ms Zheng.
Lin Feiran discreetly slips the letter under the second-year office door.
That evening, Ms Zheng is absent, and Lin Feiran notices the ghost girl is also gone, guessing they’re spending time together.
Lin Feiran feels anxious about Ms Zheng’s reaction but hopes his letter brought comfort.
The next day is Lin Feiran’s birthday, but he keeps it quiet, planning to celebrate privately with Gu Kaifeng on the weekend.
Ms Zheng returns to class with slightly swollen eyes, indicating she read the letter and was moved.
Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and sees the little ghost girl sitting at the podium, clean and smiling, her ghostly features now soft and peaceful.
Lin Feiran realizes Ms Zheng must have said something to ease the ghost girl’s regrets, helping her partially let go.
During break, the little ghost girl tells Lin Feiran her mother talked to her and is taking her to the aquarium.
The little ghost girl requests one last treat: an ice cream before she moves on.
Lin Feiran promises to get it for her, and they laugh together.
Lin Feiran is in high spirits after helping the little ghost girl and turns off his Yin-yang Eye to focus on class.
After dinner, Gu Kaifeng surprises Lin Feiran behind the school with a birthday greeting and plans for a gift and cake.
Gu Kaifeng demands a birthday kiss through the fence; Lin Feiran reluctantly agrees and kisses him on the lips through the bars.
Lin Feiran lies to the study supervisor that Gu Kaifeng is sick so he can skip study hall for the surprise.
Lin Feiran runs excitedly to the dorm and finds Gu Kaifeng waiting with a romantic setup: cake, gifts, lilies, and a heartfelt letter.
Gu Kaifeng gifts Lin Feiran limited-edition basketball sneakers he had long admired, and Lin Feiran is deeply moved.
They both wear matching shoes and laugh together, enjoying the moment.
Gu Kaifeng reads Lin Feiran a terrible rendition of the birthday song, which makes Lin Feiran burst into laughter.
Lin Feiran kisses Gu Kaifeng to thank him, initiating it for the first time, which leads to a passionate embrace and deeper kissing.
Lin Feiran reflects on how Gu Kaifeng is his first everything and asks him to take responsibility for “turning him gay.”
Gu Kaifeng promises lifelong devotion and jokes about chasing Lin Feiran if he ever runs away.
Lin Feiran finally admits Gu Kaifeng is officially his boyfriend.
Lin Feiran tricks Gu Kaifeng with whipped cream on his face, leading to a playful bed scene with teasing and semi-erotic touches.
Lin Feiran stops Gu Kaifeng before it goes too far, and they decide to share the cake with Wang Zhuo and He Hao.
Wang Zhuo playfully calls Lin Feiran “saozi,” and both he and He Hao wish Lin Feiran a happy birthday.
Back in their dorm, Lin Feiran wonders if Wang Zhuo had figured out Gu Kaifeng’s feelings all along.
Lin Feiran begins homework and marvels at how real it feels to finally be boyfriends with Gu Kaifeng.
Lin Feiran tells Gu Kaifeng he made a birthday wish for both of them to attend the University of Songzhou and study engineering together.
Gu Kaifeng is touched and excitedly agrees to study hard with him to make that dream come true.

Chapter 14

Lin Feiran wakes up the morning after his birthday still overwhelmed with happiness, thinking nonstop about how Gu Kaifeng is now officially his boyfriend.
Lin Feiran is exhausted but energized by love; even Gu Kaifeng, equally sleep-deprived, is glowing from their new relationship.
On the way to class, Lin Feiran openly flirts with Gu Kaifeng, calling him handsome and admitting he was admiring his boyfriend.
Gu Kaifeng is delighted and teases Lin Feiran, tugging on his earlobe and initiating a playful chase toward the classroom.
Their playful energy draws attention, and students joke about their obvious “bromance.”
After multiple classes, Lin Feiran is tired from note-taking, and Gu Kaifeng massages his neck and hand using excuses about acupressure points.
Gu Kaifeng’s massage turns flirtatious, his hand slipping under Lin Feiran’s clothes and into his pants, prompting Lin Feiran to stop him.
Gu Kaifeng admits he just wants to touch Lin Feiran, who calls him out on the fake massage excuse.
Lin Feiran pretends to refocus on schoolwork, though his mind spirals into anxiety about gay sex and giving up spicy food.
Gu Kaifeng keeps teasing him and touches his butt, making Lin Feiran move his chair loudly to escape.
Casual touching becomes more natural now that they’re dating, but Lin Feiran is unaware he’s pushing Gu Kaifeng’s self-control to its limit.
Lin Feiran becomes more comfortable with ghosts and recalls his grandfather’s advice to become self-reliant with his Yin-yang Eye.
Inspired by helping the little ghost girl, Lin Feiran decides to stop fearing ghosts and start helping them.
Lin Feiran suspects the little ghost girl is about to reincarnate, as she appears increasingly faint and transparent.
On Saturday afternoon, Lin Feiran pulls Gu Kaifeng into a sports equipment storeroom under the pretense of needing yang energy for a quiz.
Lin Feiran wants to kiss Gu Kaifeng and mentally debates between focus and desire.
Gu Kaifeng initiates a kiss, undoes Lin Feiran’s shirt, and leaves hickeys on his collarbone, claiming them as “just for me to see.”
Lin Feiran gently pushes him back, saying they have a math quiz, and Gu Kaifeng helps fix his tie before they return to class.
They ace the quiz and leave school excited for the weekend, planning hotpot and a movie.
At the school gate, Gu Kaifeng realizes he forgot his phone and runs back to retrieve it, leaving Lin Feiran waiting.
While alone, Lin Feiran sees the ghost of Jiang Duruo, the old principal, looking whole and humanlike for the first time.
Lin Feiran watches in awe as Jiang Duruo acts out a moment from the past, yelling in a foreign language and shielding imaginary students.
Jiang Duruo appears to reenact his death, resisting an unseen enemy before his head falls off again and he walks away like nothing happened.
Lin Feiran realizes this is the first time he’s activated his Yin-yang Eye at the school gate and believes Jiang Duruo may be stuck in a loop of his final moments.
Lin Feiran tries to communicate with Jiang Duruo and asks if he has last wishes, but Jiang Duruo only scolds him like a living principal.
A loud car horn triggers Jiang Duruo to yell about an air raid and order students to the bomb shelter, further confirming his ghost is trapped in war-time memories.
Gu Kaifeng returns with his phone and finds Lin Feiran crying alone at the gate.
Gu Kaifeng panics, hugs Lin Feiran, and asks who upset him, but Lin Feiran gives vague excuses, unable to talk about ghosts.
Gu Kaifeng isn’t convinced but lets it go and playfully teases Lin Feiran for being clingy.
They head to their date as planned, starting with hotpot and then watching a sci-fi movie.
During the movie, Gu Kaifeng feeds Lin Feiran popcorn by hand, enjoying every brush of Lin Feiran’s lips on his fingers.
Neither of them pays attention to the film, too distracted by each other.
On the taxi ride home, Gu Kaifeng asks if Lin Feiran was thinking of him during the movie, and Lin Feiran admits “partly,” pretending he was reviewing a poem.
Back at Gu Kaifeng’s house, Lin Feiran finds a drawer filled with his favorite hygiene products, showing how much thought Gu Kaifeng has put into making him feel at home.
Lin Feiran tries to research Jiang Duruo online while Gu Kaifeng showers and discovers search history filled with birthday planning ideas, making him emotional.
Lin Feiran learns Jiang Duruo was the school’s founder and died saving a female student during a raid.
That student went on to become a prominent scientist, and many of Jiang Duruo’s students led meaningful lives.
Lin Feiran believes if Jiang Duruo knew the students he saved survived and thrived, it might help him move on.
Lin Feiran realizes the challenge: Jiang Duruo is trapped in a confused state and can’t process information logically.
Gu Kaifeng returns from his shower, joking about porn labeled “study materials,” which Lin Feiran finds and scolds him for.
Lin Feiran gets jealous and accuses Gu Kaifeng of hypocrisy for watching other men.
Gu Kaifeng immediately deletes the folder and flatters Lin Feiran, saying even his finger is better than any porn actor.
Gu Kaifeng starts sucking Lin Feiran’s finger seductively, turning the mood intimate again.
Gu Kaifeng asks if Lin Feiran wants to try “the real deal,” and Lin Feiran shyly says he doesn’t know how.
Gu Kaifeng offers to show him, but their moment is interrupted by Xiaxia, the Yorkie, trying to jump on the bed.
Gu Kaifeng removes Xiaxia and Lin Feiran respectfully prays to the Gu ancestors for privacy.
When Gu Kaifeng returns, Lin Feiran pretends to be reading but is quickly caught and pinned down.
They engage in heavy foreplay, with Gu Kaifeng eventually giving Lin Feiran his first oral sex experience, leading to Lin Feiran climaxing.
Lin Feiran shyly offers tissues, but Gu Kaifeng swallows and teases him about flavor and consistency.
Gu Kaifeng asks for a handjob in return, and Lin Feiran shyly agrees, wanting Gu Kaifeng to feel the same pleasure.
Lin Feiran is shocked to discover Gu Kaifeng is bigger than him and nervously begins stimulating him.
Gu Kaifeng fondles Lin Feiran and asks him to repeat, “You’re my man,” multiple times while being brought to climax.
Gu Kaifeng ejaculates on Lin Feiran’s face, and they both regain clarity afterward.
Lin Feiran insists they start on homework to make a good impression on Gu Kaifeng’s ancestors, who he imagines watching from the afterlife.
Gu Kaifeng laughs and agrees, setting aside plans to game for now.
The next day, Lin Feiran uses Gu Kaifeng’s laptop to search for surviving alumni from Jiang Duruo’s era.
He finds that some are still alive, including the girl Jiang Duruo saved, now a renowned scholar.
Lin Feiran records their names but worries about how to reach them, feeling powerless as a student.
Lost in thought, Lin Feiran rolls around on the bed with Gu Kaifeng’s scent lingering in the sheets, giddy from memories of the previous night.
Gu Kaifeng walks in with Hawaiian fruit ice cream, mistaking it as Lin Feiran’s favorite due to his earlier offerings to the ghost girl.
Touched by the gesture, Lin Feiran accepts and eats the ice cream, enjoying the quiet moment with Gu Kaifeng and Xiaxia.
Gu Kaifeng invites Lin Feiran to try golf next weekend at a friend’s course, and Lin Feiran agrees.
Lin Feiran asks if Gu Kaifeng’s father knows the school principal and requests help inviting certain alumni to the upcoming 95th anniversary celebration.
Gu Kaifeng is surprised but supportive, agrees to talk to his dad, and teases Lin Feiran for being so noble and proper even when asking for a favor.
They joke about a future where sex is exchanged for memorizing political doctrine, and Lin Feiran blushes in embarrassment.
Gu Kaifeng steals a kiss and reassures Lin Feiran that he’ll handle everything.
Gu Kaifeng teases that now Lin Feiran has given him permission, he’ll do as he pleases, but in the end, he just cuddles and covers Lin Feiran with kisses and caresses.

Chapter 15

Lin Feiran successfully gets the school to invite the alumni Gu Kaifeng helped him identify for the 95th anniversary.
Lin Feiran watches Mr Jiang Duruo’s ghost re-enact his death at the school gate several times, unable to break the loop or talk meaningfully to him.
On December 12, the school hosts the anniversary celebration in the auditorium, and all five distinguished alumni arrive, including Li Jingshu.
Lin Feiran and Gu Kaifeng secretly switch seats to sit together, prompting teasing from Wang Zhuo.
Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye to observe the ghosts attending: the long-tongued “top student” ghost, the fading little ghost girl, the drama ghost, and Mr Jiang Duruo.
Mr Jiang Duruo shows up, sternly judging students and visibly shocked as the alumni walk onstage.
Mr Jiang Duruo clearly recognizes all five alumni by name and whispers them aloud: Li Jingshu, Zhang Shunying, Wang Youqing, Liu Guangzhi, and Xu Chengyong.
Mr Jiang Duruo rushes toward the stage, visibly overwhelmed, and stares at each former student with awe.
Li Jingshu speaks on behalf of the alumni, sharing stories of hardship and Mr Jiang Duruo’s sacrifice during the war.
As she speaks, Mr Jiang Duruo is moved to tears and gently pats her grey hair, reversing their age roles.
Li Jingshu shares emotional memories, like Mr Jiang Duruo dividing a single egg among students, prompting laughter from the alumni and even Mr Jiang Duruo.
Students don’t initially understand the significance until Lin Feiran laughs first, then Gu Kaifeng, then others, breaking the awkwardness.
When Li Jingshu recalls Mr Jiang Duruo’s death, Mr Jiang Duruo is confused, finally realizing he is dead.
Mr Jiang Duruo sees his hand pass through the table and touches the place where the rest of his head is missing, finally confronting his ghostly state.
Li Jingshu praises how students have honored Mr Jiang Duruo’s legacy, giving him peace and closure.
She and the other alumni bow deeply to Mr Jiang Duruo’s unseen spirit, prompting him to cry and whisper, “That’s enough.”
Magical lights swirl around Mr Jiang Duruo’s head wound, restoring his appearance and clarity.
Fully healed, Mr Jiang Duruo finally accepts his death and looks at his grown students with pride, asking if wars are truly over.
Lin Feiran tears up at the sight, prompting Gu Kaifeng to gently comfort him and joke about his tears.
Gu Kaifeng holds onto Lin Feiran’s used tissue, teasingly calling him a “little crybaby.”
Lin Feiran counters with mild embarrassment, and they play footsie under the table until Lin Feiran worries about his precious sneakers getting scuffed.
Gu Kaifeng reassures Lin Feiran he’ll replace the sneakers if needed, but Lin Feiran insists on preserving them to cherish forever.
Lin Feiran says he wants to remember this first gift even when they’re old, deeply touching Gu Kaifeng.
Gu Kaifeng memorizes the moment like it’s a love confession.
Days later, Lin Feiran updates Mr Jiang Duruo on national achievements like the Olympic Games, aircraft carriers, and space launches.
Mr Jiang Duruo is thrilled by the news and decides to stay as a guardian spirit of the school instead of reincarnating.
Lin Feiran requests a personal favor: for Mr Jiang Duruo to help evict the sixteen ghosts haunting dorm 508.
Mr Jiang Duruo agrees solemnly, and shortly after, the dorm becomes completely ghost-free.
Lin Feiran inspects every corner and confirms his privacy is restored at last.
That night, Lin Feiran is thrilled by the new peaceful atmosphere and steals glances at Gu Kaifeng studying in bed.
Gu Kaifeng catches him looking, calls him into bed, and they cuddle under the covers, enjoying their rare ghost-free time.
Gu Kaifeng warms Lin Feiran’s cold feet with his stomach and then jokingly uses his erection as a foot-warmer.
Lin Feiran pretends to be reluctant but ends up stroking Gu Kaifeng with his foot, which quickly turns intimate.
Gu Kaifeng kisses and teases Lin Feiran, gradually escalating to full mutual stimulation and naked contact under the covers.
Lin Feiran becomes bolder, initiating kisses and touching Gu Kaifeng’s butt, which he finds addictively firm.
Gu Kaifeng guides Lin Feiran’s hands as they explore each other, culminating in a passionate, physical moment together.
After cleanup, they lie in bed, warm and satisfied, and do homework together like a normal couple.
On Christmas Eve, the school schedules an extended study session to discourage partying.
As it begins to snow, Ms Zheng notices Lin Feiran’s poor handwriting and critiques his English essay.
Lin Feiran activates his Yin-yang Eye and sees the little ghost girl fully restored in clarity, announcing she’s about to reincarnate.
The little ghost girl thanks Lin Feiran and wishes him and Gu Kaifeng eternal happiness.
She leaves behind her toy bunny and doll for Ms Zheng and says goodbye with a smile before walking out into the snowy night.
Lin Feiran asks to go to the restroom and follows her but cannot catch up. He watches her barefoot figure disappear into the snow under the glow of “Silent Night.”
He contemplates whether spirits nearing reincarnation briefly regain physical presence to say goodbye.
As he stares at her fading footprints, Gu Kaifeng comes outside, wraps him in an embrace, and gently teases him.
Lin Feiran tells Gu Kaifeng he was just watching the snow and doesn’t mention the ghost girl.
Gu Kaifeng tells Lin Feiran that Ms Zheng sent him to check on him and jokes about Lin Feiran getting “lost.”
Lin Feiran decides to write a second anonymous letter to Ms Zheng confirming her daughter reincarnated peacefully.
Back inside, Wang Zhuo invites them to a karaoke party. Lin Feiran suggests going to an amusement park instead, but agrees to karaoke.
The group includes Wang Zhuo, He Hao, three other boys, and three girlfriends, totaling ten people.
They all joke about pairings and Wang Zhuo being “Tiantian,” He Hao’s fake wife for the night.
At karaoke, Lin Feiran shines with his singing talent, winning applause while Gu Kaifeng cheers him on loudly.
After singing, Gu Kaifeng cuddles up to Lin Feiran in front of everyone, rubbing his face on Lin Feiran’s abdomen and claiming he smells good.
Lin Feiran is flustered, and a classmate brings more drinks, but Gu Kaifeng avoids them by acting drunk.
Lin Feiran drinks the beers for Gu Kaifeng, showing off his high tolerance.
They leave together, and Gu Kaifeng clings to Lin Feiran like a human rice cake, looking adorably drunk.
Outside in the cold, Gu Kaifeng suddenly sobers up and confesses with heartfelt clarity that he really, really likes Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran returns the confession sincerely, and Gu Kaifeng asks to be called “hubby.”
Lin Feiran playfully whispers it and says he’ll help Gu Kaifeng “with that” when they get home.
Emboldened by Gu Kaifeng’s “drunk” state, Lin Feiran confesses his own sexual desires and frustration that Gu Kaifeng never initiates twice a day.
Gu Kaifeng stuns Lin Feiran by suddenly replying seriously, “Remember what you said, babe,” revealing he wasn’t fully drunk.
Lin Feiran panics, realizing Gu Kaifeng was more sober than he thought.
In the taxi, Gu Kaifeng teases Lin Feiran about silencing him, causing more flustered reactions.
Lin Feiran whispers that he’s a young man full of energy and passion, trying to justify his desires.
The chapter ends with Lin Feiran entering a blissful phase of “twice-a-day” intimacy with Gu Kaifeng, his romantic and physical needs now fully fulfilled.

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Nan Chan, Vol. 1

Jinglin arrives at the celestial stairway soaked in blood, dragging his sword, determined to kill.
The True Buddha urges Jinglin to turn back for salvation, but Jinglin ignores him, intent on his mission.
Celestial Warriors, including Commander Lirong, try to dissuade Jinglin, lamenting his isolation and self-destruction.
Jinglin approaches a golden coffin containing the Supreme Father, chained and sealed.
Despite pleas from the Buddha, Jinglin decapitates the Supreme Father, unleashing a torrent of blood and cosmic chaos.
Jinglin is ultimately annihilated by the combined forces of the celestial realm; Lord Linsong ceases to exist.
A gold and red carp in a porcelain jar watches over a slumbering Jinglin, developing an attachment and obsession with him.
The carp becomes jealous when a snowflake touches Jinglin and throws a tantrum.
Jinglin awakens, immobilizes the carp with a gesture, and later feeds it, showing minimal but necessary care.
A-Yi, a bird spirit from the Canli Tree, appears, kidnaps the carp, and tries to lure Jinglin down the mountain for amusement.
The carp is eventually rescued by a small stone figure and returns to Jinglin, who places it in his sleeve's interspatial dimension.
The carp becomes increasingly possessive of Jinglin, obsessed with his spiritual energy and the idea of devouring him for strength.
A-Yi returns at night, kidnaps the carp again, and flies it to a perilous pool inhabited by a sealed sea serpent.
A-Yi taunts the carp and kicks it into the pool as bait for the starving sea serpent.
The carp is nearly eaten but narrowly escapes the serpent's jaws multiple times.
At the last moment, Jinglin arrives and saves the carp, confronting the sea serpent.
Jinglin returns injured, and the carp evolves into human form out of fright and spiritual energy overload.
The carp, now a young boy, clings to Jinglin, expressing childlike dependence and learning to speak and move as a human.
The stone figure and the carp bond, with the carp exploring his new form and interacting clumsily with his surroundings.
A-Yi’s sister Fuli arrives, submitting A-Yi to Jinglin for punishment and calling Jinglin “Jiu-ge”, a name from the past.
Jinglin vehemently rejects his former identity, reveals he killed his father out of personal hatred, not righteousness, and banishes Fuli and A-Yi.
After their departure, Jinglin collapses from coughing up blood, and the carp pretends to be asleep beside him.
Jinglin confronts the carp's slow progress in devouring him, acknowledging its intent with cold indifference.
The carp is terrified by Jinglin’s imposing aura and dominance but continues to cling to him.
Despite appearing emotionally detached, Jinglin wipes the carp’s tears and remains physically close.
The next morning, Jinglin descends the mountain with the carp and Stoney in tow.
At the foot of the mountain, Jinglin tells the carp goodbye and starts to leave.
The carp begs Jinglin not to abandon him, claiming deep emotional attachment and dependence.
Jinglin replies that he cannot abandon what was never his and walks away despite the carp’s desperate cries.

The carp believes that devouring Jinglin would ensure eternal companionship and refuses to leave him, even if it means suffering.
Jinglin pulls away, and the carp throws himself down the stairs, injuring himself and bleeding as he cries for Jinglin not to leave.
Despite his pitiful state and wailing, Jinglin walks away into the snow without turning back.
A boar spirit tries to persuade the carp to give up on Jinglin, calling him cold-hearted, but the carp insists on continuing, even stripping his cloak to show resolve.
As the carp trudges through the snow, a snow spirit appears and taunts him, claiming that Jinglin has had many fish before and is cruel and heartless.
The snow spirit reveals Jinglin’s past, including the Massacre in the Court of Immortality, and tempts the carp to betray him using a poisoned herb.
The snow spirit binds the carp into a magical pact, threatening to trap him in ice if he doesn’t comply.
The snow spirit helps lead the carp back to Cicada Haven, where the carp tricks the spirit into swallowing the herb meant for Jinglin.
The carp traps the spirit in a spiritual barrier and throws himself into Jinglin’s arms, sobbing and frightened.
Jinglin awakens and casts the snow spirit out; the carp tearfully begs him not to die.
Jinglin names the carp “Cangji” and tells him that his destiny lies beyond this place.
After Jinglin falls asleep, Cangji warns Stoney to keep quiet about the snow spirit and claims his new name proudly.
Cangji and Stoney bond through mischief and wrestling, and Cangji expresses his hunger.
Meanwhile, A-Yi, trapped in bird form, behaves selfishly and violently while scavenging in the forest.
Cangji spots A-Yi, ambushes him, and captures him with Stoney’s help.
Cangji interrogates A-Yi, threatening to pluck all his feathers unless he reveals Jinglin’s past.
A-Yi reveals that Jinglin is actually Lord Linsong, who killed the Supreme Father and led the Massacre in the Court of Immortality.
Cangji is unaffected by Jinglin’s notorious history and remains loyal and possessive.
Cangji returns to Cicada Haven and crawls into bed beside the sleeping Jinglin, still wanting to bite him.
Cangji wonders if he truly is a fish, disturbed by his ravenous instincts and desire to eat Jinglin.
Fuli, A-Yi’s sister, arrives urgently and warns Cangji of an approaching threat: Zongyin, the boundary keeper.
Fuli transforms and faces off against Zongyin, who suspects that someone powerful is hiding in the residence.
Zongyin flips the mountain in search of the mysterious presence, and Cangji shields the unconscious Jinglin.
In desperation, Cangji bites Jinglin’s finger and drinks his blood, gaining a massive boost in spiritual energy and rapidly growing in strength and size.
The spiritual barrier breaks, exposing the residence; Stoney reverts to rocks; Zongyin enters and confronts the now grown Cangji.
Zongyin is suspicious of Cangji’s inverted scale and believes he may be a true dragon rather than a carp.
Fuli defends Cangji and fabricates that Jinglin is just a sculpture she made for the carp.
Zongyin eventually agrees to let them leave but demands Jinglin remain behind.
Cangji refuses, claiming Jinglin belongs to him, and hides Jinglin’s face until Fuli says it’s just a stone figure.
Zongyin remains suspicious but departs, warning Cangji to behave or risk bloodshed in the future.
After Zongyin leaves, Jinglin regains consciousness and coughs up blood; Cangji clutches him tightly.
Cangji hides the bite wound from Fuli, and Jinglin acknowledges Cangji has grown stronger during his sleep.
Fuli realizes Cangji consumed Jinglin’s blood and scolds him; Cangji claims it was necessary for survival.
Cangji refuses to give Jinglin to Fuli and declares his devotion, calling Jinglin his own.
Jinglin instructs Cangji to retrieve the missing bell, claiming what Cangji truly seeks lies within it.
Cangji agrees but wants Fuli to keep her distance so he can be alone with Jinglin.
Asserting control, Cangji revels in the power shift, now able to carry and protect Jinglin.
Jinglin tells Cangji to be led the right way, but Cangji slyly suggests Jinglin lead him by the hand.

A-Yi, humiliated by laughter from nearby spirits due to his plucked appearance, grows enraged and storms off to punish Cangji.
Before he can reach Cicada Haven, an earthquake begins as the flood dragon Zongyin arrives.
A fleeing boar warns A-Yi that Zongyin is turning the mountain upside down; A-Yi is skeptical and brags about his sister Fuli’s power.
A-Yi encounters a disfigured snow spirit named Snowling who has Jinglin’s copper bell and demands it back.
A-Yi taunts and beats Snowling, who cries desperately for the bell and hints at a mysterious past with Jinglin.
As spirits flee, A-Yi is caught by a human treasure hunter and stuffed into a sack.
Snowling tries to intervene, but the human escapes with A-Yi and the bell.
Jinglin, sensing the bell's distance increasing, dismisses Fuli and is left alone with Cangji.
Cangji fondles Jinglin under the pretense of curiosity, but Jinglin is unamused and commands him to stop.
Cangji warns Jinglin not to let anyone else touch him, threatening violence if Jinglin tries to leave or be with another.
Jinglin teases Cangji’s obsessive behavior and mocks his childish jealousy, but Cangji is fully consumed by his possessiveness.
Stoney reappears, playfully punches Cangji, and is tossed into Jinglin’s arms.
In a bustling town in the west, the man who captured A-Yi sells him at a market and disappears.
Cangji and Jinglin search for the bell in the crowded town, but Cangji becomes frustrated and bored by mortals.
Cangji jokes about eating a female spirit, but refrains for Jinglin’s sake.
They stay at an inn where Cangji presses Jinglin for information about his past, questioning whether he was once mortal.
Jinglin brushes off the questioning, prompting Cangji to bite his neck and taste his blood again.
Jinglin collapses unconscious from blood loss; Cangji panics, realizing the addictive power of Jinglin’s spiritual energy.
A rakshasa, a birdlike spirit born of corpses, flies over the city, pursued by ghostly Nether Guards.
Cangji hides as Jinglin protects them from detection; Jinglin explains the rakshasa’s nature.
Later, they follow the trail of blood to a slaughtered household and encounter the rakshasa feeding on the bodies.
Cangji materializes and attacks the rakshasa, but it proves too strong due to having swallowed the bell.
Cangji and Jinglin battle the rakshasa together, but Jinglin is weakened from being bitten twice.
Cangji fights desperately, feeding Nether Guards to the rakshasa to weaken it before killing it and retrieving the fake bell from its corpse.
Back in the woods, Cangji bathes to rid the stench, questions Jinglin about the bell, and realizes it was a fake.
They deduce someone lured them into a trap using the bell, but the real bell has vanished without a trace.
Cangji grows upset when Jinglin says he may wish to die, frustrated that Jinglin seems indifferent to living.
The next morning, Cangji hears gossip in the inn that five people, not four, died in the murder case.
Cangji confronts Jinglin while he's bathing, marvels at his scarred back, and pesters him about who caused the scars.
Jinglin downplays them, saying his skin just broke apart; Cangji is affected by Jinglin’s sensual appearance and confused feelings.
They discuss the missing girl from the murdered family and suspect the bell thief’s involvement.
Cangji binds Jinglin with a luminous thread to prevent him from leaving without cooperation.
Jinglin finally begs Cangji with a reluctant “pretty please” for the information.
Suddenly, Monk Zuishan from Soulhold attacks, demanding answers about interference with the Underworld.
Zuishan, a powerful and eccentric deity, identifies Cangji’s original form and attacks both with overwhelming spiritual force.
Jinglin duels Zuishan, revealing impressive combat prowess and technique despite his weakened state.
Cangji observes Jinglin’s transformation and suspects his true identity is neither human nor spirit.
Zuishan grows serious and unleashes a devastating blow, only for Jinglin to block it and counterattack with a sword formed from snow.
The clash ends with Zuishan demanding to know Jinglin’s identity, recognizing his immense power.
Jinglin and Cangji flee together through the town as Zuishan hurls Demonbane, his divine staff.
Demonbane strikes Jinglin in the back during their escape, causing him to bleed profusely into Cangji’s arms.

Cangji, wounded and trembling, cradles the unconscious Jinglin in the snow, enraged at Monk Zuishan for nearly killing Jinglin.
Zuishan confronts Cangji and blames Jinglin for corrupting him, offering Cangji a chance to live if he steps aside.
Cangji refuses and attacks Zuishan in a ferocious fight, landing blows and resisting despite being overpowered.
Zuishan summons his weapon, Demonbane, but Cangji overpowers him and begins draining his spiritual energy.
As Zuishan begins to lose control, he summons a massive spiritual attack, but a blindfolded man named Hui’an intervenes and stops the destruction.
Hui’an scolds Zuishan for endangering civilians and tells him to stop; Zuishan recognizes him and despairs over his mistake.
Cangji escapes with Jinglin into a residence, but Zuishan's spiritual energy wreaks havoc inside his body.
Cangji licks Jinglin’s blood to calm the energy, unaware that his spiritual fish form is changing into something else.
Seeking shelter, Cangji breaks into a woman’s house, lays Jinglin in bed, and is confronted by the homeowner, Huadi.
Cangji pleads with Huadi to let them stay, impersonating a scared teenager; Huadi reluctantly agrees after sensing his desperation.
Huadi discovers Jinglin’s bleeding and calls a doctor, though the doctor can only tend to physical wounds.
Cangji, tormented by Zuishan’s energy and watching over Jinglin, nearly kills him out of curiosity but refrains.
Huadi returns home with a colorful chicken, which is revealed to be A-Yi, who has been sold off by a merchant.
Cangji threatens A-Yi with a knife and forces him to summon his sister Fuli, revealing he needs help for Jinglin’s condition.
Fuli arrives and feeds Jinglin a fruit from the Canli Tree, saving him; she also helps Cangji by giving him one to aid with spiritual assimilation.
Jinglin wakes up, speaks with Fuli, and confirms that Lord Chengtian sent Zuishan due to rising evil in the mortal world.
Fuli warns that Jinglin’s identity may be exposed, but Jinglin refuses to leave, stating he still has unfinished business.
After Fuli and A-Yi depart, Cangji asks Jinglin why he took the blow from Demonbane meant for him, and Jinglin replies it was on impulse.
Cangji declares his dominance over Jinglin’s life and death, and Jinglin accepts, saying his fate now lies in Cangji’s hands.
Jinglin transforms into a wealthy man, shrinks Cangji to a tiny size, and prepares to investigate the murder scene.
Inside Jinglin’s sleeve, Cangji finds and scolds Stoney for hiding, expressing jealousy and frustration.
Jinglin visits the Chens’ home and questions the waiter, learning about the family's background and Chen Ren’s gambling debt.
The waiter reveals that Dong Lin, a bandit and martial artist, may have been involved and was seen near the Chens’ house.
Cangji recognizes Dong Lin’s scent from Huadi’s house and suspects he stole the bell and murdered the Chens.
Gu Shen, a sharp and watchful constable, questions the waiter and Jinglin while probing for clues and potential suspects.
Gu Shen visits Qian Weishi, a local tutor and neighbor, and senses inconsistencies and hidden guilt in his testimony.
Disguised as Gu Shen, Jinglin also questions Qian Weishi and notes the suspicious behavior and emotional manipulation.
Gu Shen privately confirms Qian Weishi’s suspicious demeanor and checks his background, learning he is from Xitu and has a close bond with Chen Caoyu.
Gu Shen and his subordinate review files, uncovering that Qian Weishi was particularly kind to Chen Caoyu, which raises red flags.
Jinglin talks to the old widow, who shares the Chens’ background and emphasizes their affection for Caoyu.
A-Hong, the old widow’s grandson, offers to share a secret in exchange for sweets and toys, drawing out Cangji’s jealousy.
After tantrums and bribery, A-Hong confesses that Qian Weishi killed the Chens and had a disturbing relationship with Chen Caoyu.
A-Hong describes how he saw Qian Weishi and Caoyu together, mentioning inappropriate acts that infuriate Jinglin.
Gu Shen later reflects on the case, puzzled why the girl wasn’t killed; his subordinate reveals Dong Lin’s daughter was trafficked, making it unlikely he’d kidnap another.
They discover an overlooked witness statement suggesting Qian Weishi regularly took Chen Caoyu out and may have abused her.
Gu Shen becomes enraged upon realizing the extent of Qian Weishi’s depravity and declares him the prime suspect.

Gu Shen resumes the investigation by interrogating the waiter, who tries to distance himself from Qian Weishi but inadvertently reveals that Qian Weishi was unusually close to Chen Caoyu.
The old widow becomes defensive and combative, trying to shield A-Hong from further questioning.
A-Hong, under questioning from Gu Shen and lured by sweets, testifies that Qian Weishi often brought Chen Caoyu to his home, read poems to her, sat her on his lap, and even touched her inappropriately.
A-Hong's testimony includes details of witnessing physical abuse and inappropriate conduct, culminating in him stating that Qian Weishi murdered the Chens.
Gu Shen and his subordinates are shocked by the account, which provides gruesome descriptions of the crime scene and Qian Weishi’s possible motivations.
Gu Shen remains skeptical, questioning how Qian Weishi, a frail man, could have overpowered and dismembered four adults, especially without assistance.
A-Hong then offers to reveal the location of the murder weapon in exchange for money, leading to the discovery of a butcher’s cleaver between the Chens’ shed and the old widow’s home.
A search of Qian Weishi’s home uncovers girls’ clothes, shoes, and toys, reinforcing suspicions of child abuse and perversion.
Qian Weishi is brutally beaten by officers during his arrest and brought before Gu Shen, where he confesses to drugging the family and murdering them out of rage after being humiliated by Chen Ren.
Just as Gu Shen seems to have closed the case, Dong Lin, a known bandit, turns himself in and claims responsibility for murdering the entire Chen family, sparing only Chen Caoyu.
Gu Shen and Dong Lin share a moment of recognition and drink together as Dong Lin begins to recount his story.
Dong Lin confesses to confronting Chen Ren over a gambling debt and murdering the entire family during a heated altercation, then dismembering the bodies out of hatred.
Dong Lin insists that Qian Weishi had nothing to do with the murders, stating he doesn't even know him and rejects any notion of shared guilt.
Gu Shen is torn, suspecting both men’s stories contain partial truths and trying to determine who the real killer is, as time for the case resolution runs out.
Dong Lin vividly recounts how he committed the murders in detail, including stabbing, bludgeoning, and dismembering each family member.
Qian Weishi tries to hold onto his false confession but is visibly shaken and fails to match Dong Lin’s precise narrative.
Dong Lin criticizes the witnesses and questions their credibility, especially the old woman and A-Hong, who had conflicting testimonies.
Gu Shen interrogates the waiter again, discovering that the man had borrowed money from Qian Weishi but falsely testified out of fear and selfish motives.
Gu Shen denounces the waiter’s betrayal, and the man breaks down, offering to repay the money but is dismissed in disgust.
Dong Lin is officially convicted and sentenced to execution; Qian Weishi is released, although deeply affected by the ordeal.
Gu Shen, suspecting deeper truths, meets with Qian Weishi again and asks why he had fixated on Chen Caoyu.
Qian Weishi hints that he did not abuse Chen Caoyu but was trying to protect her, and suggests that the abuse came from within her own family.
Jinglin and Cangji observe silently; Jinglin feels a connection to Chen Caoyu and realizes he saw her in a dream playing with the stolen bell.
Through visions and memories, Jinglin and Cangji relive Dong Lin’s past, including a flashback to the rainy night he saved Chen Caoyu from drowning.
Chen Caoyu forms a bond with Dong Lin, bringing him food, following him, and eventually begging him not to send her back to her abusive home.
Dong Lin discovers signs of repeated abuse on her body and begins caring for her, growing emotionally attached.
Dong Lin confronts Chen Ren and threatens him for harming Chen Caoyu, promising to keep an eye on him.
Dong Lin watches over both Chen Caoyu and Huadi from a distance, silently protecting them without interfering directly.
As the bond between Dong Lin and Chen Caoyu grows, she begins to view him as a father figure, asking if she can become his daughter.
Dong Lin is overwhelmed but cannot bring himself to take her with him; he promises to protect her if she ever calls for help.
They release a lantern together on the new year; Chen Caoyu wishes to leave with Dong Lin, but he gently declines, knowing he cannot replace her father.
Dong Lin decides to leave after the festival, still seeking his lost daughter, and parts with Chen Caoyu with a promise to always come if she calls him.

Dong Lin finds Huadi’s redemption account and decides to make one last journey, giving up stealing and heading for the coast.
Before leaving, Dong Lin warns Chen Ren again to behave and threatens him and Zhou if they step out of line.
Zhou and Chen Ren argue violently about money, blaming each other and considering selling Chen Caoyu to pay debts.
Zhou suggests selling Chen Caoyu outright, which leads to a confrontation where she is beaten by Chen Ren.
The family confines Chen Caoyu, feeding her scraps and berating her for supposedly betraying them.
Old Man Chen abuses and threatens Chen Caoyu, blaming her for attracting attention and contemplating selling her.
Chen Ren enters the shed to rape Chen Caoyu, who screams for Dong Lin in desperation.
Qian Weishi arrives, saves Chen Caoyu, and attempts to fight off Chen Ren but is overpowered and nearly drowned.
The Chen family plans to frame Qian Weishi for the incident if he reports them, using his connection to Chen Caoyu against him.
Zhou drags Chen Caoyu inside, beats and humiliates her, while the girl hides scissors for protection.
Dong Lin returns unexpectedly, terrifying Chen Ren and the household.
Dong Lin violently punishes Chen Ren, kills Old Man Chen, and slaughters Zhou despite her pleas and use of Chen Caoyu as a shield.
Qian Weishi kills Chen Ren when the latter begs for help after surviving Dong Lin’s attack.
Dong Lin entrusts Chen Caoyu to Qian Weishi, refusing to leave with her and saying goodbye tenderly.
Dong Lin admits he is not a hero and cannot stay; he reveals he has been searching for his dead daughter, who froze to death years ago.
Dong Lin's farewell with Chen Caoyu is emotional; he encourages her to live a good life and disappears into the night.
At Dong Lin’s public execution, Huadi fights her way through the crowd to reach him and declares herself his wife.
Dong Lin confesses publicly to murdering the Chen family in graphic detail, horrifying the crowd and protecting Huadi.
Huadi tries to stop the execution, expressing love and heartbreak, but is dragged away as Dong Lin is beheaded.
As Dong Lin’s soul is taken by the Nether Guards, Jinglin and Cangji arrive to intercept.
Jinglin, weakened and hiding his identity, and Cangji, now immensely powerful, face off against Monk Zuishan and Hui’an.
A battle erupts between the spiritual factions; Cangji and Jinglin fight with strength and wit, holding their own against divine forces.
Zuishan and Hui’an suspect Jinglin’s identity, wondering if he is Lord Linsong or Lord Shage in disguise.
Cangji and Jinglin escape, leaving the divine beings confused and seeking answers.
Dong Lin’s soul vanishes; Jinglin suspects he chose not to reincarnate, vanishing instead.
Cangji confirms he followed Dong Lin’s soul and witnessed him surrender, but Dong Lin ignored Chen Caoyu entirely.
Back in spring, Jinglin is physically weak and emotionally distant, clearly affected by Dong Lin’s death and memories of the past.
Cangji and Jinglin live in a comfortable residence; Cangji tries to cheer Jinglin up, but Jinglin remains melancholy.
Jinglin drunkenly reveals that Chen Caoyu reminds him of his little sister, and he reminisces about his brothers, including Yunsheng, Lirong, and Lanhai.
Cangji comforts Jinglin, teasing and holding him gently, trying to understand his sadness and form a deeper bond.
Jinglin expresses conflicted emotions about Cangji, admitting he doesn’t hate him but can’t handle his aggressive affection.
The chapter ends with Cangji teasing Jinglin about his appearance and desire, hinting at deepening emotional and romantic tension between them.

Jinglin drunkenly collapses into Cangji’s arms during a rainstorm and falls asleep, prompting Cangji to carry him and Stoney to bed.
Stoney performs a spontaneous martial art-inspired dance with a branch, channeling wind and raindrops before collapsing from exhaustion.
Jinglin wakes the next morning with a hangover, and Cangji teases him while bringing him tea.
Jinglin mentions Dongjun, a powerful boundary keeper, is coming soon and they should leave before being discovered.
Jinglin reveals the missing bell has gone to find Gu Shen.
Gu Shen, having left town and the yamen, begins a journey to find his childhood home and parents.
At an extravagant inn, Gu Shen unexpectedly reunites with Jinglin and Cangji, who are masquerading as wealthy travelers.
Jinglin lies that Cangji is his younger brother and evades further questioning.
Cangji grows suspicious of Gu Shen, who seems to see through their disguises, and Jinglin affirms Gu Shen’s perceptiveness despite being mortal.
Jinglin and Cangji argue playfully over the origins of the bell, and Cangji suspects it was a gift from Lirong, Jinglin’s brother.
Cangji probes deeper, learning about Jinglin’s history as Lord Linsong and the fallout with his divine brothers after the Great Bloodshed.
Jinglin deflects emotionally, mocking the betrayal and war that led to his downfall and the destruction of his divine family.
Cangji grows increasingly obsessed, telling Jinglin that only he is loyal, trustworthy, and hungry enough to devour him completely.
Jinglin warns Cangji that in the end, one of them may consume the other, but Cangji doesn’t care as long as they stay together.
That night, Jinglin dreams of a child named Chuanzi bringing a sugar cake to his dying father during a rainy evening, evoking unknown emotions.
Cangji wakes Jinglin after feeding on him lightly, noting Jinglin cried out for “mother” in his sleep.
Jinglin admits the bell shared Gu Shen’s dream with him, showing Gu Shen’s past and hinting that the bell has its own agenda.
Gu Shen wanders into a hidden spirit city disguised as a human one, where he unknowingly enters an inn run by spirits.
He meets a barefooted child named Fanshu, who has a ghost clinging to him and believes all “mothers” are the same person.
Fanshu and a group of child ghosts latch onto Gu Shen, believing he can help them find their mother.
Gu Shen offers protection, feeds Fanshu, and learns the children were trafficked and abused, possibly killed, then ignored by corrupt local officials.
Zhu, a pig spirit running the inn, plans to butcher and serve Gu Shen to the patrons.
Cangji and Jinglin infiltrate the inn under the guise of customers, while Zhu realizes they are powerful and panics.
Cangji begins to show signs of transformation—his golden-red carp scales darkening and feeling less like fish and more like something unknown.
Jinglin suspects something deeper about Cangji’s spiritual form and is troubled but doesn’t say it aloud.
The city layout follows strict human hierarchy despite being populated only by spirits, which Jinglin finds highly unusual.
Gu Shen and Fanshu are ambushed by the spirits in the inn, who reveal their true forms and plan to eat them publicly.
Fanshu, though also a spirit, tries to save Gu Shen, leading a chaotic escape attempt with the help of the little ghosts.
Monk Zuishan arrives with his divine staff Demonbane, unleashing golden light and terrifying the spirits into fleeing.
Zuishan scolds the crowd for running, revealing his power despite having lost half his spiritual energy.
Cangji comments that Zuishan is still stronger than him even now, and Jinglin explains Zuishan could have become a deity lord if not for his madness.
Zuishan confronts Cangji, offering redemption and even mentorship under a righteous master, except for Lord Chengtian or Lord Shage.
Cangji declines and cheekily says the only one he admires is Lord Linsong—Jinglin himself.

Monk Zuishan battles Cangji with fierce golden spiritual energy, destroying the inn as Demonbane clashes with Jinglin’s fan.
Cangji imitates Stoney’s drunken swordplay, using the fan against Monk Zuishan, though awkwardly, and the fan begins to break.
Jinglin steps in, guiding Cangji’s hands and spiritual energy, stabilizing his movements and transforming the wind into an elegant defense.
Cangji, now empowered and in sync with Jinglin, redirects Monk Zuishan’s attack and uses the opportunity to slam Monk Zuishan to the ground.
Monk Zuishan recognizes that Cangji absorbed part of his spiritual energy and accuses Jinglin of raising a destructive spirit.
Jinglin argues that fate cannot be judged in advance and scolds Monk Zuishan for his obsession with love despite denying it.
Cangji mocks Monk Zuishan for his hypocrisy, enjoying his mental unraveling but refraining from pushing further due to Jinglin’s presence.
Cangji and Jinglin leave the ruined city together; Cangji clings to Jinglin, using injury as an excuse to remain physically close.
Cangji and Jinglin take shelter in an abandoned rabbit spirit's house where Cangji pins Jinglin to the wall, confronting his fear and affection.
Cangji accuses Jinglin of leading him on and hiding truths, especially regarding the bell and Cangji’s origins.
Jinglin confirms that he doesn't remember when or how Cangji entered his life, only that he was already in the jar when he awoke in Cicada Haven.
Cangji reflects on how emotions complicate things after transforming into human form and blames Jinglin for making him feel deeply.
Cangji dreams of a child named Chuanzi living with his sick father and hardworking mother, revealing a memory or illusion triggered by the bell.
The dream becomes a nightmare when a false priest kidnaps the child after beating the father and stealing the family’s savings.
The mother chases the priest but falls behind, leaving the child sobbing as he’s carried away, haunted by the last cry of his mother.
Cangji wakes up to see Gu Shen shaking the bell and confronting him and Jinglin, demanding to know their intentions.
Jinglin explains that Gu Shen has been manipulated and chosen by the bell as a symbol of "separation", connected to Dong Lin’s death as "death".
Gu Shen interrogates Zhu, the pig spirit, who reveals the city was originally human but was wiped out after a mountain deity arrived.
Zhu explains that the humans died mysteriously, and the mountain deity buried ten thousand bodies, forbidding spirits from consuming them.
Zhu also reveals the city was eerie, filled with silent women and rapid population growth without proper worship, leading to evil overgrowth.
Jinglin and Cangji suspect the mountain deity is not a true deity and may have forged documents to pose as one, hiding deeper truths.
Dongjun finds Monk Zuishan sleeping and mocks him for losing the fight. Their banter reveals that Dongjun recognizes Jinglin’s fan technique.
Dongjun deduces that Jinglin is Lord Linsong and suspects a grand conspiracy involving the Court of Immortality and hidden identities.
Cangji, Jinglin, and Gu Shen investigate the mountain, discovering strange roots and a stench. Fanshu confirms it smells like corpses.
Gu Shen finds a finger bone with unnatural marks, suggesting a sinister method of death not matching a beast or common spirit.
Fanshu says the mountain deity monitors all movement and enforces strict control through fear, preventing anyone from leaving the city.
Jinglin deduces the mountain deity hides in plain sight—likely as a tree—and spiritual energy of the place has been manipulated.
Dongjun and Monk Zuishan discuss the city's karmic imbalance and the lack of boundary keepers, revealing the Demarcation Bureau ignored it.
Dongjun implies only Jinglin or Lirong had the capacity to slay demons involved in such massive karmic debts.
They learn the city had no worship of the heavens but bowed to demonic forces, leading to spiritual corruption and catastrophe.
The mountain deity, a massive tree-like creature, appears and embraces the ghost children, who call him “mama” and cling to him joyfully.
Fanshu cries, recognizing the deity as his “mama,” and joins the other children who are comforted and carried off by the creature.
Gu Shen breaks down, thinking the deity recognized him, but he is left behind while the deity continues searching and wandering the mountains.
Stoney fails to retrieve the bell from Gu Shen, who is now closely tied to it, and Cangji comforts the tiny guardian.
Jinglin declares the mountain deity is not a spirit or demon but something older, with no spiritual expanse, only primal chaos, and suggests Gu Shen can never return home.
They conclude the city was a penal colony for criminals, especially those trafficking girls, and the reason for the children's ghostly survival is due to premature deaths.
The city was sealed off from the world and filled with evil, and Jinglin suspects all the girls who froze to death in Dong Lin’s case were brought from here.
Cangji asks the final haunting question: Why were only the girls sent here?

The narrative opens with the revelation that girls were trafficked into the ghost city because they sustained the city’s population and ensured prosperity, regardless of their age.
Once the girls entered the city, their fates became worse than death, reduced to livestock and stripped of humanity, trafficked across the Middle Realm in sealed carriages.
Gu Shen, formerly named Chuanzi, was one such child. He was kidnapped by a false Daoist priest and sold while emaciated and voiceless from crying.
Chuanzi was weighed and judged as unsuitable for selling due to his frail health, but the priest insisted he was merely hungry, not sick.
The buyer expressed regret at not having Chuanzi’s mother too, as they urgently needed more “breeding women” after many girls died from abuse.
Chuanzi was locked in a cell with over ten other children, some already dead, crammed so tightly that movement caused skin abrasions.
Chuanzi forced himself to eat a steamed bun despite nausea and overwhelming stench, only to discover the child beneath him was dead.
Overcome by fear and helplessness, Chuanzi whispered "Mama" as the only comfort he could muster.
The next day, the children were stuffed into sacks and hidden in a dung cart; Chuanzi was suffocating and managed to gnaw a hole to escape.
After biting and fighting off a guard, Chuanzi fled into the mountains, enduring thorns, rocks, and branches until he collapsed from fever and exhaustion.
He was found by a woman and taken in by her and her husband, Gu Zhi, who ran a river escort business; they nursed Chuanzi back to health.
Unable to remember his real name or hometown, Chuanzi was renamed Gu Shen and raised as Gu Zhi’s disciple, later becoming a constable still searching for his origins.
Gu Shen’s search led him back to the mountain deity, now a hulking plant-monster burdened with ghost children calling him “Mama”.
Jinglin and Cangji observe the mountain deity’s nurturing of the ghost children; Jinglin confirms the deity is formed from the spirits of grieving mothers, especially Gu Shen’s.
Cangji expresses disbelief that a mother wouldn’t recognize her own son, but Jinglin explains it has been over thirty years.
Cangji grapples with the suffering he’s witnessed, questioning the worth of being human when life is full of such relentless sorrow.
Monk Zuishan interrupts, demanding the mountain deity follow him to Soulhold and submit to celestial judgment despite having destroyed the evil Scarvils.
Cangji confronts Monk Zuishan and declares that celestial law means nothing to him, claiming he was born in porcelain, not Heaven.
Monk Zuishan attacks the mountain deity, injuring the children and enraging Cangji, who leaps in to defend them and fights Zuishan.
Cangji’s rapid cultivation growth surprises Monk Zuishan, but Cangji is eventually overwhelmed and realizes Jinglin is missing.
Jinglin has been trapped in an illusion by Dongjun, who tries to coax him into revealing his identity.
Jinglin and Dongjun share a tense dialogue where Dongjun hints at knowing Jinglin’s past as Lord Linsong, including the legendary origin of his sword form.
Dongjun teases and prods, recounting how the Supreme Father favored Jinglin for his unmatched true form—a sword.
Despite the probing, Jinglin remains evasive, sarcastically calling Dongjun “gege” to mock him.
Dongjun attacks, sending illusions and water dragons after Jinglin, but Cangji shatters the illusion and crashes in to rescue him.
Dongjun physically overpowers Cangji using only his fan, proving the vast gulf between a deity lord and a newly emerged spiritual being.
Underwater, Jinglin kisses Cangji to transfer power and calm him, but Cangji’s dark instincts surge, tempted to devour Jinglin completely.
Dongjun and Monk Zuishan discuss the danger posed by Cangji’s potential dragon form, noting his power resembles that of the extinct black dragon.
Dongjun eventually lets the pair escape, tricking Monk Zuishan with wordplay while hiding the extent of his injuries.
As Cangji digests the power he consumed and reverts to carp form, Jinglin cradles him while trapped within the mountain deity’s protective cocoon.
Cangji enters a memory of Jinglin’s youth, witnessing the young Lord Linsong’s cold return home, his reception by brothers Yunsheng and Lirong, and his little sister Qingyao.
Although welcomed and praised by the Supreme Father, the atmosphere among the brothers is strained, formal, and distant.
Cangji notices how Jinglin barely engages with his siblings, showing emotional detachment despite the warm reception.
In private, young Jinglin discusses diplomatic matters with Lirong and Yunsheng, displaying maturity and strategy, while also enduring old and fresh wounds from past battles.
Cangji is deeply affected by seeing Jinglin's vulnerability and the wounds on his back, experiencing intense desire and possessiveness.
As Jinglin bathes, Cangji reflects on the longing and hunger his human form has taught him, whispering that this overwhelming need is the desire Jinglin himself awakened in him.

Cangji is pulled out of an illusion by the urgent ringing of the bell, snapping him back to his spiritual expanse, where his carp form has changed significantly—growing larger, darker, and looking less like a carp.
Cangji transforms into his human form, now taller, stronger, and more mature, with Jinglin unconscious in his arms inside the mountain deity’s cocoon.
Cangji breaks free from the mud, stepping into a rejuvenated landscape filled with flowers and spirits, where Fanshu tells him they’ve been asleep since spring and it's now summer.
Fanshu explains that the two immortals left, and the mountain deity will now live peacefully under Bureau regulation, unable to kill without cause.
Gu Shen has also left but stayed nearby, having cried when he claimed to have found his mother.
Cangji wakes Jinglin, who confirms he cannot sense the bell anymore. Cangji jokes that he's grown larger after eating his fill, and Jinglin critiques his unrefined use of spiritual energy.
Cangji carries Jinglin to Gu Shen’s modest dwelling at the foot of the mountain, where Gu Shen hosts them and shares his revelations.
Gu Shen explains that the mountain deity is the collective spirit of grieving mothers and that his own mother likely merged into it, having lost herself after searching endlessly for her son Chuanzi.
Despite knowing his mother won’t recognize him anymore, Gu Shen has chosen to remain near the mountain deity for the rest of his life.
Cangji expresses confusion at human attachment, and Gu Shen explains the “eight sufferings” of life and why he accepts them, though he still questions Heaven’s cruelty and mourns separation from loved ones.
After a heartfelt farewell, Jinglin and Cangji depart, with Gu Shen wondering aloud why ordinary people suffer such painful separations despite committing no great sins.
As they walk away, Cangji teases Jinglin over his blushing ear and notes how Jinglin has become smaller, concluding that Jinglin’s current size feels most natural to him.
Stoney falls out of Jinglin’s sleeve, and Cangji accuses it of cowardice and attempts to throw it away until both Stoney and Jinglin yell for him to stop.
Cangji realizes Stoney sounds like Jinglin and begins to suspect it might be Jinglin’s double, especially after Stoney refuses to speak and Jinglin cryptically confirms the possibility.
Cangji grows increasingly confused about Stoney’s true nature and Jinglin’s intentions, realizing he may never be able to tell when Jinglin is being honest.
They travel westward and board a boat, but Cangji becomes seasick while Jinglin visits the famed Garden of Elegance pleasure boat.
Cangji suspects Jinglin is off enjoying himself and becomes jealous, demanding to know what kind of woman could attract him.
Jinglin, aboard the pleasure boat, takes interest not in the courtesans but in Chu Lun, a top scholar and the new member of the Hanlin Academy.
Jinglin identifies the bell’s presence with Chu Lun and approaches him under the guise of polite conversation, but Chu Lun becomes terrified and tries to flee.
Chu Lun recognizes Jinglin as Lord Linsong and panics, stumbling over himself and eventually trying to jump off the boat to escape.
Cangji crashes the party by tackling Jinglin just as he is about to act, and the two of them fall into the river together.
In a secluded area beneath a willow, Cangji confronts Jinglin for trying to elope with another man and ties the luminous thread around Jinglin’s wrist to stop him from fleeing again.
Jinglin deflects, stating that the bell is nearby and they should have pursued it, but Cangji insists Jinglin cannot escape him.
They argue, and Cangji becomes physically aggressive, cornering Jinglin and declaring him a “caged bird” whose heart flies too high.
Jinglin eventually softens, and they reflect on how little they truly know about each other, despite their intimacy and shared desires.
Cangji realizes that desiring Jinglin and devouring him are not the same thing; emotional connection and understanding remain elusive to him.
Jinglin walks away quietly, and Cangji watches, understanding that physical closeness will not guarantee unity or permanence.
Cangji accepts that he does not yet understand the depth of what he feels and that the fault does not lie in desiring Jinglin—it’s simply part of who he is.

Jinglin dreams of Cangji growing from a fish into a man and becoming increasingly possessive, kissing his fingers and asking to devour him.
Jinglin wakes flustered and uncertain if the dream was real; Cangji is watching him calmly.
Cangji reveals Chu Lun left for the capital, sensing he was a minor spirit and not human.
Jinglin identifies Chu Lun as a brush spirit and notes others described him as having a dual personality.
Cangji relays Chu Lun’s background: born poor with a disability, brilliant in poetry, and changed in temperament after his third visit to the capital.
They arrive in the capital, passing many Demarcation Bureaus, and settle at a spirit-run inn owned by Huashang, a nine-tailed fox spirit.
Huashang notes Cangji resembles the legendary Dragon Emperor of the North, and offers them free accommodations.
Cangji learns from Xiyan, Huashang’s assistant, about the Dragon Emperor's history—his refusal to bow to Lord Jiutian, his war with Lord Shage, and his death at the hands of Lirong.
Cangji and Jinglin debate the implications of deities enforcing titles and legacies.
Xiyan shares that Lord Linsong preserved the Dragon Emperor’s title by killing imposters but had no known relationship with him.
Meanwhile, Dongjun convinces Monk Zuishan to take him to the Sea of Blood, claiming he misses Lirong.
At Soulhold, they discuss Lirong’s defeat at Jinglin’s hands with the sword Weeping Spring and speculate about Jinglin’s motivations for betrayal.
Dongjun suggests Jinglin might not have been possessed but changed deliberately, raising doubts about official narratives.
Lirong is revealed to be in mortal tribulation, reborn somewhere in the Middle Realm to rediscover his true self.
Back in the capital, Cangji and Jinglin learn from Huashang that Jinglin’s leaking spiritual energy may soon attract dangerous attention.
They visit the crowded night market, where a serpent spirit flirts with Jinglin, who coldly rebuffs her.
At Chonghua Street, they visit Chu Lun’s room but find it empty. Cangji smells a lingering, non-human scent that Jinglin identifies as a brush spirit.
Chu Lun returns and pretends not to recognize Jinglin, who plays along and fabricates a story about a debt to lure him into signing a document.
As they leave, another identical Chu Lun appears and flees in terror, revealing the deception.
Cangji and Jinglin chase the fleeing brush spirit, who reverts to a panicked young man and begs for his life.
A massive wolf spirit appears, threatening to eat them for violating capital rules, but is swiftly defeated by Cangji in a stunning show of strength.
The brush spirit sobs and begs Jinglin, invoking Lord Linsong’s former reputation as a righteous spirit slayer.
Jinglin coldly replies that the path he once walked is gone, unsettling the brush spirit and signaling a shift in his morality.
Cangji eats the wolf spirit, terrifying the brush, who is then interrogated about his identity.
The brush spirit reveals he belonged to Sage Yining, who discarded him after Dongjun used him to write on Buddha’s altar and caused a scandal.
The brush describes being terrified in the mortal realm, constantly hunted due to his fragrant spiritual aura.
Jinglin accuses the brush of altering the Register of Fate to save Chu Lun, which has endangered the lives of two men.
The brush spirit breaks down, defending Chu Lun’s worthiness and insisting he never cheated.
Jinglin demands a full account of the brush’s relationship with Chu Lun.
The brush recounts Chu Lun’s tragic life: poverty, repeated failures, deteriorating health, and eventual collapse from illness.
One night, the brush, moved by pity, begins secretly writing for Chu Lun while he sleeps, aiding his studies and survival.
Eventually, Chu Lun catches the brush in the act. They meet face to face, and Chu Lun is seriously injured in the ensuing chaos.
The brush transfers his spirit aura to Chu Lun to save him, then passes out and reverts to brush form.
Chu Lun, believing he has gone insane, gently cares for the brush, covering it with a blanket and speaking to it respectfully.
The brush timidly asks for small favors and begins cohabitating with Chu Lun in secret, hiding under blankets and helping him write.
The chapter ends with the brush recalling this humble yet deeply emotional relationship, mourning his own perceived madness and the deep bond formed between human and spirit.

Chu Lun publicly talks to his brush spirit Leyan while working, causing people to think he’s insane, but his literary work gains popularity because of his unique demeanor.
Despite Chu Lun’s newfound success and improved health, the Underworld’s Register of Fate still decrees that he will die alone from illness and be discarded in a mass grave.
Leyan, who has grown emotionally attached to Chu Lun, becomes increasingly distressed watching him prepare to leave for the capital to take the imperial exam.
Chu Lun insists on going despite Leyan’s pleas, driven by his lifelong dream to serve the country, even if it means dying in the process.
Leyan, desperate, reveals his true name and pleads to be taken along; Chu Lun declines, knowing his death is near and not wanting Leyan to suffer.
Determined to change Chu Lun’s fate, Leyan sneaks into the Underworld using the name-plate of his former master Sage Yining and alters the Register of Fate.
Leyan erases Chu Lun’s death and replaces it with a life of fulfilled ambitions, while also deleting Zuo Qingzhou’s title as top scholar, believing it won’t cost him his life.
Cangji hears Leyan’s confession and doubts the consequences are that simple, warning that someone else must pay for such a change in fate.
At that moment, a white fox spirit named Qianyu appears, severely injured, carrying the disfigured corpse of Zuo Qingzhou and sobbing uncontrollably.
Huashang confirms that Zuo Qingzhou is dead, breaking Qianyu’s heart; the bell splits and begins ringing, signaling a new suffering has emerged.
Jinglin collapses from the bell draining his spiritual energy and awakens transformed into a snow-white fox, wearing the bell and trapped in another illusion.
Jinglin, in fox form, is drawn to a grand library and finds himself reenacting Qianyu’s past with Zuo Qingzhou, trapped in a loop of affectionate interactions.
Cangji also awakens within the illusion, now inhabiting Zuo Qingzhou’s role, and the two repeat their interactions, including intimate and seductive moments.
Jinglin, powerless to stop his body, endures being affectionately stroked, kissed, and seduced by Cangji while struggling to retain control of his own will.
As the scene escalates physically, Jinglin forcibly regains control by crying out Zuo Qingzhou’s name and the truth behind his death, dispelling the bell’s influence.
Jinglin and Cangji regain their senses, realizing the bell used Qianyu’s intense love and grief to force them into understanding the emotional weight of the suffering.
They investigate Zuo Qingzhou’s library and discover a secret box of letters, revealing Zuo Qingzhou and Chu Lun were not only friends but co-investigators into human trafficking.
Chu Lun had written to warn Zuo Qingzhou about the danger they were both in and advised patience, but Zuo Qingzhou had already begun taking risks.
The trafficking case spans multiple provinces and implicates powerful figures in the imperial court, which Zuo Qingzhou sought to expose through his scholarship and future position.
Cangji and Jinglin deduce that Leyan’s alteration of fate stripped Zuo Qingzhou of his top scholar title, thus his protection, leading to his murder.
The mastermind behind the trafficking likely killed Zuo Qingzhou during the imperial examination when all scholars were gathered, and their connection became obvious.
The death was pinned on Qianyu the fox spirit, who was romantically involved with Zuo Qingzhou, but Jinglin is certain Qianyu would never harm the man he loved.
Jinglin and Cangji realize Chu Lun’s original fate may also have included a violent death, not illness, which Leyan tried to prevent by altering destiny.
They connect all threads: Dong Lin, Gu Shen, Chu Lun, Zuo Qingzhou—all investigating the same trafficking case rooted in corruption involving both mortals and spirits.
As the bell traps them in the loop again, Jinglin and Cangji repeat the previous sequence, but Jinglin now consciously searches for clues.
During an intimate moment repeating again, Jinglin experiences a breakthrough, realizing Zuo Qingzhou had already uncovered the mastermind and died for it.
They are interrupted by an attendant summoning Zuo Qingzhou for a meeting, ending the illusion before anything escalates further.
As Cangji leaves, he kisses Jinglin’s ear and softly says, “This is from me,” blurring the line between illusion and reality.
Jinglin, overwhelmed and emotionally shaken, covers his face, realizing he can no longer distinguish whether he is himself or Qianyu.

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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.

Volume 1

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Volume 3

Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Nan Chan

Nan Chan, Vol. 3

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Danmei Recap Home / Rosmei Menu / Kaleidoscope of Death

Kaleidoscope of Death

Chapter 1

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie suddenly find themselves in a remote, snow-covered mountain village after opening mysterious black metal doors in their respective homes.
They realize neither of them knows where they are, and both ended up there through similarly strange circumstances.
A burly man named Xiong Qi finds them and leads them to the village, warning that questions will be answered later.
Xiong Qi brings them to a building where a group of other people are already gathered; the atmosphere is tense and unsettling.
Xiao Ke, a teenage girl, gives a vague explanation: they must solve “some problems” in the village to leave.
Lin Qiushi observes that no one welcomes them warmly; most people are silent, dazed, or playing phone games despite no signal.
The group consists of thirteen people total, including Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie.
When Ruan Baijie asks for a room to rest, Xiong Qi instructs her and Lin Qiushi to share one—hinting that modesty doesn't matter when survival is at stake.
Xiao Ke warns Lin Qiushi quietly not to trust people too easily.
In their shared room, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie try to sleep. During the night, Lin Qiushi wakes up and sees a ghostly woman at the head of the bed.
The woman speaks with Ruan Baijie's voice and mentions a well outside the house, then eerily tries to get Lin Qiushi to follow her.
Lin Qiushi realizes Ruan Baijie is still sleeping beside him—meaning the woman is not her. The ghost’s face is grotesque, and its neck stretches unnaturally.
Terrified, Lin Qiushi wakes Ruan Baijie, and the two flee downstairs in a panic.
They notice no one else in the house reacts to their loud escape. Ruan Baijie cries and then jokes about feng shui after seeing the well placed unnaturally in the front garden.
Ruan Baijie reveals she's a fortune teller and predicts someone will die due to the full moon.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie investigate the well but retreat quickly due to the cold.
That night, Lin Qiushi struggles to sleep, disturbed by the ghost and the room’s ominous open window.
In the morning, Lin Qiushi hears a woman wailing upstairs. On investigating, he discovers two other members of the group have been brutally murdered.
The scene is horrifying—bodies unrecognizable, soaked in congealed blood. Lin Qiushi vomits from the sight.
Xiao Ke remarks that the survival rate for new entrants is one in five, praising Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie’s strong nerves.
Ruan Baijie finds congealed blood in Lin Qiushi’s hair, implying it dripped from the ceiling.
They go back upstairs and discover unsettling blood trails and dried bloody prints on the ceiling, suggesting something was crawling above.
Ruan Baijie examines the scene with odd calm, and even when Lin Qiushi points out the horror, she jokes or shrugs it off.
Downstairs, they rejoin the others for breakfast. A village chief enters, requests help building a coffin, and leaves without answering questions.
Xiong Qi explains that building the coffin is likely a “key”—a task that must be solved to unlock the exit from this world.
Xiong Qi, Xiao Ke, Lin Qiushi, and Ruan Baijie go to visit the village carpenter.
The carpenter cryptically tells them to pray at a temple before building the coffin, hinting at ominous consequences without proper ritual.
Ruan Baijie pressures the carpenter aggressively, getting him to reveal that after praying, they must “fill in a well” to complete the task.
Her boldness unsettles the group but proves effective. She downplays the fear, arguing it’s foolish to fear both ghosts and people.
As they leave, Xiong Qi starts seeing Ruan Baijie in a new light, realizing she’s not the weak damsel she pretends to be.
On the walk back, Lin Qiushi shields Ruan Baijie from the wind, leading to flirtatious banter between them.

Chapter 2

Lin Qiushi, Ruan Baijie, Xiong Qi, and Xiao Ke return to the lodge without incident, but find a grim atmosphere inside.
The rest of the group is terrified: the corpses from the previous night have vanished.
Xiong Qi downplays the shock but checks upstairs, where they discover shredded remains—fragments of meat and bone suggest something devoured the bodies.
Blood splatters are found on the first floor, indicating the violence spread.
Survivors recount hearing grotesque chewing noises upstairs while everyone was accounted for downstairs.
Xiong Qi decides everyone should sleep on the first floor and instructs Xiao Ke to investigate further.
In private, Xiong Qi confides in Lin Qiushi that not all members may be human—monsters have impersonated teammates in previous instances.
Lin Qiushi cooks noodles for Ruan Baijie, impressing her and Xiong Qi with his cooking skills.
Ruan Baijie devours two bowls of noodles, her appetite hinting at either strong nerves or something stranger.
Xiong Qi shares partial information from the carpenter about building the coffin but conceals the part about filling the well.
Zhang Zishuang theorizes that the coffin itself might be the key to escape.
Xiong Qi suggests starting woodcutting at dawn; everyone agrees despite dangerous conditions.
Lin Qiushi learns that group sleep triggers automatic sleep, part of the world’s “rules,” which may leave them vulnerable.
Xiong Qi explains some monsters require specific conditions to kill, such as victims wearing shoes, but each world differs.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie prepare to sleep on the first floor. She flirts with him but he brushes her off, worried about surviving another night.
During the night, Lin Qiushi hears dragging sounds above the ceiling—wet and heavy, unlike the previous knocking.
He tries to get up but is stopped by Ruan Baijie, who cuddles him to sleep despite the ominous noise above.
Lin Qiushi wakes in her arms, and she teases him with suggestive banter, confusing him with her behavior.
At breakfast, Ruan Baijie publicly flirts, implying intimacy with Lin Qiushi the night before, embarrassing him in front of others.
The group sets out to chop wood for the coffin. Only one tree is felled after a full day, led by a man claiming woodworking experience.
Lin Qiushi attempts to carry Ruan Baijie down the snowy slope after she fakes a twisted ankle.
As Lin Qiushi walks through the storm, he realizes something is off—Ruan Baijie feels too light to be real.
The voice on his back mimics Ruan Baijie, trying to seduce and lure him. He drops the impostor and flees.
Behind him, the creature stretches its neck unnaturally long, pursuing him and using Ruan Baijie’s voice to torment him.
Lin Qiushi trips and is saved by Xiong Qi and the real Ruan Baijie. The encounter confirms a shape-shifting monster imitated her.
As they regroup, they hear a scream ahead. Two men carrying the log are crushed in half by it but remain conscious and die in agony.
A third man panics and flees into the snowstorm, screaming about a ghost.
The carpenter shows no reaction to the bloodied log and reminds them they need two more.
Lin Qiushi is emotionally drained, questioning why he ended up in this world. Ruan Baijie suggests it might be the start of a new life.
The group theorizes the deaths may be caused by certain conditions—possibly carrying the log triggered it.
They decide not to carry logs directly again but to create a tool for transport.
Discussion turns to the missing man; no one volunteers to look for him, confirming survival is prioritized over altruism.
The group agrees to rest and resume the task the next day.
Overnight, nothing supernatural occurs—possibly because the deaths earlier “satisfied” the rules.
The chapter ends with the world still snowing heavily, but the group prepares silently for another dangerous trek, with only Ruan Baijie in a cheerful mood.

Chapter 3

The group treks through deep snow to the logging site; Lin Qiushi looks after Ruan Baijie during the trip.
Xiao Ke sarcastically comments on their closeness; Ruan Baijie plays the helpless damsel to Lin Qiushi, further irritating Xiao Ke.
The group chops down two thinner trees by sunset and avoids carrying logs by tying ropes and dragging them instead.
Lin Qiushi and another man help pull one log. Though it’s harder than carrying, it’s considered safer.
They deliver the logs to the carpenter, who instructs them to visit the temple at night and enter one by one to pray.
Ruan Baijie reacts subtly to the instructions but says nothing initially.
Lin Qiushi questions the villagers' trustworthiness. Xiong Qi replies that major NPCs usually do not lie, or survival would be impossible.
After returning to the lodge, Ruan Baijie excuses herself but goes missing. Lin Qiushi finds her near the well, immobilized.
Black hair from the well is coiled around her leg, preventing her from moving. She warns Lin Qiushi not to come closer.
Lin Qiushi gathers firewood, lights a torch, and returns to save her by throwing fire into the well.
The ghost—resembling the one who imitated Ruan Baijie earlier—screams as her hair burns. Lin Qiushi rescues Ruan Baijie, and they escape.
Ruan Baijie’s ankle is injured from the hair. Lin Qiushi cleans and bandages it carefully, despite her flirty remarks about being flat-chested.
Everyone in the lodge is disturbed when they hear about the well. Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke recall the last task: fill in the well.
Xiong Qi decides the group will visit the temple that night. Ruan Baijie asks Lin Qiushi to carry her there due to her injury.
Xiao Ke expresses disbelief at Ruan Baijie’s helplessness. Ruan Baijie subtly hints at a secret relationship between Xiao Ke and Xiong Qi, making them visibly uncomfortable.
At the temple, the group arrives in eerie silence. The building is old but exquisitely crafted, with reliefs showing the eighteen levels of hell.
The carpenter instructed everyone to enter the temple alone, but Ruan Baijie insists on going in with Lin Qiushi. He reluctantly agrees.
Inside the temple, they find a Buddha statue with a peaceful expression. They each pray and nothing happens.
The rest of the group hesitates, debating whether to follow the carpenter’s rule. Some enter alone, some in pairs.
A man who entered alone emerges disturbed. He claims he saw a female statue holding an axe, not a Buddha.
Lin Qiushi realizes the statue changes based on how one enters—alone or in pairs. Those who went in pairs saw the Buddha. Those alone saw the eerie axe woman.
As the group argues over what is correct, the reliefs on the temple pillar begin to move, and a massive pale female monster with an axe emerges from the pillar.
Ruan Baijie yells at everyone to run. Chaos ensues as the group flees through the snow.
Lin Qiushi looks back and sees the terrifying woman chasing them, her body huge, limbs twisted, and an axe glistening with blood.
Xiao Ke trips and cries for help. To everyone's surprise, Xiong Qi returns and helps her. As the monster attacks, a golden light blocks the axe—they are spared.
Xiong Qi believes the Buddha they prayed to protected them. They realize those who saw the axe woman likely won't survive.
Ruan Baijie protects Lin Qiushi in a hug as the axe swings at them, but they too are saved by a golden light.
A nearby man who saw the axe woman isn’t so lucky—he’s sliced in half by the monster, still confused in his final moments.
Lin Qiushi realizes that praying in pairs to the Buddha statue was the only safe method.
Everyone regroups at the lodge. As feared, all those who entered the temple alone have died.
One witness claims the axe woman laughed and took the bodies back to the temple.
Xiao Ke questions whether the carpenter lied. Xiong Qi says the instructions were probably a trap to eliminate half the group.
Ruan Baijie notes the woman might return to kill one person a day regardless, which doesn't make it any better.
The group prepares for the final stage—building the coffin and filling the well—knowing it won’t be simple.
That night, Lin Qiushi thanks Ruan Baijie for saving him. She jokes about his stamina and asks if he thinks they’ll survive.
Lin Qiushi dreams of getting married once he escapes. Ruan Baijie says she’ll “buy him a girlfriend” if they make it out.

Chapter 4

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie enjoy a rare peaceful morning, lounging in bed and talking until Ruan Baijie sends him to get food.
Lin Qiushi finds the others preparing to visit the carpenter again to ask how to fill the well and why it's necessary.
The carpenter tells them to pick a night, toss something dead into the well, and cover it with dirt—then he can begin building the coffin.
When asked what counts as “dead,” the carpenter says any dead thing will do, like “fowl or dog.”
Ruan Baijie points out that there are no animals in the village, only mysteriously replenishing food in their kitchen.
Lin Qiushi realizes the eggs they’ve been eating might not come from real chickens.
Tension rises as Xiong Qi accuses the carpenter of misleading them and getting people killed.
The carpenter coldly states that coffins are for the dead, implying death is necessary.
He reveals that “that woman” is a malevolent goddess worshipped by the villagers who must be fed flesh and bone during winter.
With no livestock left, the villagers count on outsiders to be sacrifices.
Ruan Baijie threatens the carpenter with a knife, extracting all the information she can.
The carpenter explains that if the goddess isn’t fed, she will hunt those trying to build the coffin themselves.
Ruan Baijie leaves abruptly and warns Lin Qiushi to “be careful tonight,” hinting that humans are scarier than monsters.
She later explains that the party members are waiting for someone to die so they can use the body to fill the well.
Lin Qiushi is disturbed by this mindset but begins to understand it.
That night, Lin Qiushi can’t sleep. At 2 a.m., a woman’s screams echo through the lodge as she begs for help, claiming someone is trying to kill her.
The woman, Wang Xiaoyi, bangs on doors, but no one helps her until she reaches Lin Qiushi’s room.
Lin Qiushi hesitates but opens the door. Wang Xiaoyi is covered in blood, claiming Cheng Wen tried to kill her.
Lin Qiushi lets her in. Moments later, Cheng Wen arrives and demands Wang Xiaoyi be handed over, claiming she’s a monster.
A standoff ensues at the door. Lin Qiushi refuses to comply and defends Wang Xiaoyi.
Cheng Wen tries to justify murder by saying they only need one body to fill the well and escape.
Lin Qiushi stands firm. Cheng Wen eventually backs down and leaves.
Wang Xiaoyi stays the night in Lin Qiushi’s room. Lin Qiushi tends to her injuries while Ruan Baijie watches the well outside, musing that she may end up in it.
Lin Qiushi declares he would rather be the one sacrificed than see Ruan Baijie die. She finds his sentiment interesting.
The next morning, Cheng Wen brazenly appears at breakfast like nothing happened. Lin Qiushi confronts him.
Cheng Wen shows no remorse, and others are either disturbed or indifferent.
Ruan Baijie predicts the monster won’t act for three days, giving humans a chance to sacrifice one of their own.
Lin Qiushi visits the carpenter again and learns that if the well isn't filled, they’ll have to restart everything—logging, praying, etc.
Tension mounts in the group. An argument erupts between Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke over food, showing the group is fracturing.
Ruan Baijie reminds everyone that there are already corpses they can use: the men crushed by the log during woodcutting.
The group agrees to dig up those bodies, realizing it's better than committing murder.
All the men grab shovels and head into the snowy forest. Cheng Wen is visibly unstable and glares at Wang Xiaoyi and Lin Qiushi.
As they dig, Ruan Baijie lounges, snacking on sunflower seeds, unfazed by the grim task.
Xiao Ke confronts her, accusing her of being unafraid of death. Ruan Baijie replies that everyone deals with fear differently, and she prefers snacking.
Lin Qiushi keeps working while noticing something strange—three figures stand nearby when only two should be present.
He calls Ruan Baijie over and confirms that two people near her are holding hands unnaturally, and one is unaccounted for.
Before discussing this, Lin Qiushi hits something hard—a frozen corpse, one of the crushed men.
As he announces his discovery, he sees the two figures reduce to one. The remaining figure steps forward—it is Wang Xiaoyi.
She thanks Lin Qiushi warmly, but Lin Qiushi is suspicious. He grabs Ruan Baijie’s wrist and traces “Wang” on her palm.
Ruan Baijie understands and keeps her composure. Together, they agree to bring the body back to the village.

Chapter 5

Lin Qiushi, Xiong Qi, Xiao Ke, and Ruan Baijie successfully recover a frozen corpse to fill the well, believing it to be a safer solution than killing someone.
Lin Qiushi remains suspicious of Wang Xiaoyi, especially after seeing two figures earlier; he tests her wrist but feels nothing unusual.
Ruan Baijie advises caution, suggesting Wang Xiaoyi might be human but possibly harboring something unnatural.
On the way back, Wang Xiaoyi suffers a coughing fit, then violently vomits strands of black hair, shocking the group.
Cheng Wen, already unstable, goes into a frenzy and kills Wang Xiaoyi with a shovel, claiming she is a monster.
Her body lies still, and the black hair disappears, leaving the others stunned and horrified by Cheng Wen’s actions.
Strange noises begin approaching from the forest, forcing the group to flee toward the lodge while dragging the corpse and unconscious Cheng Wen.
At the lodge, Cheng Wen sees something inside and panics, revealing a woman’s shadow intertwined with his own before being knocked unconscious by Lin Qiushi.
A monster knocks at the gate, speaking in a woman’s voice, begging for food.
The monster peers over the two-meter-high fence, displaying non-human behavior and voice.
Lin Qiushi, Ruan Baijie, and Xiong Qi toss the corpse into the well; they hear crunching as the monster devours the body, eventually falling silent.
At dawn, the monster is gone, and the group heads to retrieve the coffin from the carpenter, who wordlessly directs them to it.
The coffin is blood-soaked and eerily light, but they carry it back to the lodge.
Inside the coffin, they find a bronze key covered in what they believe is human blood—Xiao Ke breaks down in relief.
Ruan Baijie mistrusts Xiao Ke with the key and convinces the group to let Lin Qiushi keep it despite his inexperience.
Ruan Baijie secretly tells Lin Qiushi that she has found the exit door.
Ruan Baijie pierces Lin Qiushi’s ear with a red gem earring, claiming it’s a gift symbolizing destiny and connection.
Later, Cheng Wen anxiously asks if Wang Xiaoyi was really a monster, haunted by guilt and doubt, eventually storming out when challenged.
Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke explain that anything killed in this world can become a vengeful ghost, discouraging murder as a survival tactic.
After failing to locate the door that day, the group prepares to rest, but Cheng Wen’s screams erupt during the night.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Baijie recognize the crying voice as Wang Xiaoyi’s, and Cheng Wen is soon silenced amid gruesome sounds.
Ruan Baijie decides they cannot wait any longer and leads Lin Qiushi outside.
At the well, Ruan Baijie unexpectedly pushes Lin Qiushi in after whispering “go,” catching him completely off guard.
Lin Qiushi lands unharmed on a writhing mass of black hair inside the well and finds a hidden tunnel lined with hair strands.
He follows the path to a massive iron door sealed with a bronze lock—the same kind seen in his apartment.
He uses the key, unlocks the door, and finds a mysterious note reading “Fitchers Vogel,” which he pockets without understanding.
The door opens to a warm, serene light; the black hair reacts angrily, and Lin Qiushi steps into the light.
Lin Qiushi’s last thought is a hope that Ruan Baijie will survive too.

Chapter 6

Lin Qiushi exits the light and finds himself back in the corridor of his apartment building, everything appearing normal again.
He checks the time on his phone and realizes only fifteen minutes have passed in the real world since he entered the door.
Lin Qiushi confirms his journey wasn’t a dream when he finds the earring and note in his pocket.
He receives a call from Wu Qi, who is waiting to go out for food. Lin Qiushi joins him, unsettled but trying to act normal.
At dinner, Wu Qi notices Lin Qiushi’s distracted state and teases him about his new ear piercing, unaware of the truth behind it.
They witness a nearby car accident, and Lin Qiushi recognizes the deceased driver’s clothes as those worn by Zhang Zishuang in the door world.
Disturbed, Lin Qiushi realizes that people who die inside the door worlds also die in the real world.
Back home, Lin Qiushi’s cat Chestnut acts unusually distant, a stark contrast to its normal affectionate behavior.
After researching the phrase “Fitchers Vogel” from the note, Lin Qiushi learns it’s a Grimm fairy tale involving a murderous wizard and three sisters.
The disturbing nature of the fairy tale and its connection to his door experience leaves Lin Qiushi unsettled.
That night, Lin Qiushi senses a presence in his room and is confronted by a mysterious, handsome man.
The stranger reveals himself as Ruan Nanzhu and welcomes Lin Qiushi to “the world beyond the door.”
Lin Qiushi is forced to accompany Ruan Nanzhu to a secluded villa outside the city.
They are picked up by Cheng Qianli, a teenage driver who is actually underage and without a license, causing a brief police scare.
At the villa, Lin Qiushi is introduced to several members of Ruan Nanzhu’s team, including Lu Yanxue, Chen Fei, Yi Manman, and Cheng Qianli.
The team confirms that deaths inside the door worlds manifest as real-world deaths, often covered up as suicides or accidents.
Lin Qiushi recites the words on his note, “Fitchers Vogel,” which prompts immediate attention and concern from the group.
They explain that each note contains a clue for surviving the next door.
Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi that he is now marked by the door and must survive all twelve door worlds to free himself.
Cheng Qianli advises him not to get too attached to others, as newcomers often die quickly.
Lin Qiushi learns that Ruan Baijie is actually Ruan Nanzhu in disguise, cross-dressing for strategic advantages in the door world.
Lin Qiushi is shocked but comes to accept this, recognizing hints he missed before.
Ruan Nanzhu gives Lin Qiushi the hint from the previous door: “One does not enter the temple. Two do not observe the well. Three do not hold the tree. Never lean on the fence alone.”
This explains how Ruan Nanzhu had always known what to avoid.
Lin Qiushi later meets Cheng Qianli’s twin brother, Cheng Yixie, who has a much colder demeanor.
Lin Qiushi searches the internet and finds a video of a woman dressed like Wang Xiaoyi committing suicide but with a different face.
He realizes that people may appear different in the door world, raising questions about identity and reality.
Lin Qiushi begins to suspect that not everything the villa residents told him is the full truth.
The next morning, Lin Qiushi meets Ruan Nanzhu again, who confirms he will accompany Lin Qiushi into the next door.
They discuss that each door is linked, and the next one will be themed around “Fitchers Vogel.”
Lin Qiushi learns that several other veteran players, like Xiong Qi and Xiao Ke, also belong to different groups who use the doors.
As breakfast ends, Cheng Qianli mentions Lin Qiushi will have to enter the next door in a week but assures him that with Ruan Nanzhu by his side, he’ll be fine.

Chapter 7

Lin Qiushi returns home after breakfast with Ruan Nanzhu, who promises to return on Friday to enter the next door.
Lin Qiushi resigns from his job, rejecting a promotion and raise, choosing to enjoy what may be his final days.
He spends time researching “Fitchers Vogel,” but finds only the original grim fairy tale, nothing useful for survival.
On Friday night, Ruan Nanzhu arrives dressed as Ruan Baijie in full makeup, stunning Lin Qiushi with his appearance.
Ruan Nanzhu advises Lin Qiushi to wear unfamiliar clothes to avoid recognition in the real world by people from the door.
They open the door to a new world; Lin Qiushi enters alone into a high-rise building surrounded by fog.
He finds a group of six others—some panicking, some indifferent—and realizes this is their first time beyond the door.
A wealthy man refuses to accept the reality and storms off into the fog but returns moments later drenched in blood and horror-stricken.
Lin Qiushi recognizes Ruan Nanzhu disguised as a mature, elegant woman claiming to be Zhu Meng.
The group consists of three newcomers—Xu Xiaocheng, Zeng Ruguo, and Zhong Chengjian—and four others, including Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi (as Yu Linlin), Tang Yaoyao, and Zhang Xinghuo.
Ruan Nanzhu assumes the role of group leader and guides them to explore the thirteenth floor of the building.
They find a welcoming middle-aged woman and her identical triplet daughters; she says their birthday is in seven days.
The group deduces that surviving seven days and attending the birthday is the goal of this world.
Ruan Nanzhu receives four room keys; the group splits up, with Lin Qiushi assigned to stay with him, which stirs envy among others.
Each room is tiny and coffin-like, with barely enough space for a bed.
Zeng Ruguo is traumatized and still covered in blood. He later tries to shower but finds blood flowing from the showerhead.
Lin Qiushi discovers a baby-like bloody corpse hanging above Zeng Ruguo, realizing the blood won’t wash off.
Lin Qiushi and Zeng Ruguo flee the shower; Ruan Nanzhu mocks Lin Qiushi for the situation, teasing him about his "interesting hobbies."
That night passes peacefully, and in the morning the triplets’ mother provides food, which Ruan Nanzhu eats first to prove it’s safe.
The triplets—Xiaoyi, Xiaoyin, and Xiaoying—appear identical and emotionless. They tell the group to remember their names.
Ruan Nanzhu confidently identifies each one, earning a chilling but playful reward: “You get to play with us a little longer.”
The group explores lower floors of the building and finds two other occupied units: a fearful young man on the third floor and a deaf old woman on the ground floor.
The young man warns them to leave, calling the building cursed and claiming the family on the top floor are ghosts.
They discover dried blood in front of both occupied doors, suspecting it may be some kind of protective ward.
Tang Yaoyao suggests spreading blood at their own doors, but no one dares to try it.
The group debates what to do next, growing more uneasy. Xu Xiaocheng questions if the triplets are even human.
The triplets reappear and demand the group identify them by name. Ruan Nanzhu succeeds again, diffusing the threat.
Everyone is unnerved by the triplets’ behavior, especially their sharp teeth and inhuman expressions.
The group decides to wait out the remaining days, with Ruan Nanzhu and Tang Yaoyao suspecting something will happen soon.
Lin Qiushi identifies the two quiet male members as veteran Zhang Xinghuo and newbie Zhong Chengjian.
After two quiet days, the peace ends with the sudden death of one of the party members.

Chapter 8

Lin Qiushi and others are alerted by Xu Xiaocheng’s scream after she finds a hacked-up corpse on the stairs.
Expecting a teammate to be the victim, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu are shocked to discover it is one of the triplet girls, identifiable by her clothing despite the brutal dismemberment.
Zeng Ruguo vomits at the sight; Lin Qiushi remains calm and locates the girl’s severed head, confirming it was one of the triplets.
Their mother arrives, sees the body, and wails over her daughter, claiming an outsider must have done it and accusing Tang Yaoyao, bruising her arm while grabbing her.
Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi not to approach the mother and points out blood on the soles of her shoes, implying she may be the killer.
The two surviving sisters appear in the doorway emotionless, watching without helping or mourning, then silently vanish again.
The mother collects the body parts into a sack, mops the floor calmly, and shows no visible signs of horror or grief beyond her theatrical wailing.
Ruan Nanzhu, unbothered, takes Lin Qiushi to eat bread; they note the mother’s behavior is disturbingly practiced, hinting she has done this before.
Xu Xiaocheng joins them, still shaken, and Ruan Nanzhu comforts her while claiming Lin Qiushi is his boyfriend to establish trust.
Lin Qiushi checks his reflection and sees his door-world appearance—a non-threatening, average but gentle-looking young man.
Ruan Nanzhu reveals he marked the triplets with glitter: glitter on shoulder is Xiaoyin, on hair is Xiaoying, and none is Xiaoyi (the deceased).
They decide not to share this identification trick with the others yet due to trust concerns.
Ruan Nanzhu explains “charge” means someone paying for his protection—Xu Xiaocheng is a famous actress and a returning participant.
Tension rises in the group, especially after discussing the fog, which Zeng Ruguo says is filled with moving corpses.
The mother returns later with a pot of meatball soup, urging everyone to eat. It’s the first meat dish they’ve seen here, and everyone is suspicious.
She eats the meatballs herself, smiling disturbingly and cracking bones between her teeth, horrifying the group and making Xu Xiaocheng vomit.
No one touches the soup, assuming the worst about the ingredients. The surviving sisters silently observe their mother’s feast.
At dinner, the mother brings bone broth, again eating it herself while the others abstain. Hunger makes it difficult, but no one dares eat.
They suspect the girl’s body was used for the meat, but Ruan Nanzhu leads a search of the apartment to confirm.
They find the black sack with the girl’s dismembered body stuffed in the refrigerator. Despite being disturbed, they confirm no parts were missing.
Ruan Nanzhu remains calm and analytical, wondering why the mother would kill her own child. Tang Yaoyao suggests insanity.
That night, Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi sleep together. Ruan Nanzhu jokes flirtatiously, but then seriously warns that someone might die due to a “bloodstained egg.”
At 3 a.m., Lin Qiushi hears drilling sounds through the wall and wakes Ruan Nanzhu. They discover a sharp awl piercing their wall right where Lin Qiushi’s head would have been.
Lin Qiushi looks through the hole and sees a bloodshot, mad eye staring back. The attacker vanishes once spotted.
They hear the same drilling sound move down the hallway. Stepping outside, they encounter one of the triplets with no glitter—implying the deceased Xiaoyi.
She emotionlessly says she couldn’t sleep and walks away. They realize something unnatural is happening—possibly resurrection or ghostly imitation.
The next morning, the group reconvenes, wary and exhausted. Tang Yaoyao reveals the body in the fridge has disappeared.
Lin Qiushi inspects the two surviving triplets and sees both still have glitter, meaning neither is the one they saw last night.
This confirms a terrifying truth: they saw the dead Xiaoyi walking around the previous night, raising the possibility of her return or duplication.
Ruan Nanzhu wryly comments on the taste of bread improving, calling it the “last meal before death,” hinting danger is still imminent.

Chapter 9

Lin Qiushi and the others become tense as the third day ends and they realize four more remain until the birthday party.
Zeng Ruguo becomes increasingly nervous and asks Lin Qiushi to accompany him to the bathroom.
Lin Qiushi waits outside, but after a few minutes, he smells blood and hears strange cracking noises.
Inside the bathroom, Lin Qiushi finds Zeng Ruguo dead, his skull smashed and brain completely missing.
The blood appears to move toward Lin Qiushi, forcing him to flee and warn Ruan Nanzhu and Xu Xiaocheng.
Ruan Nanzhu, unfazed, investigates the scene and confirms Zeng Ruguo’s death, noting the missing brain may be significant.
They leave the body in place, but it mysteriously vanishes by the time the others return. Ruan Nanzhu finds human tissue and hair in the toilet drain.
Tang Yaoyao’s attempt to question the other building residents fails, as the man on the third floor refuses to talk and the elderly woman repeats nonsense.
The group becomes discouraged at the lack of progress. Zhang Xinghuo warns Zeng Ruguo’s death is likely just the beginning.
At dinner, the triplets’ mother cooks again and acts cheerfully. No one eats except her.
Zhong Chengjian has a violent reaction when one of the triplets asks if he knows who she is. He curses and shoves her aside.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu worry that Zhong Chengjian has marked himself for death.
That night, they expect something to happen, but surprisingly, Zhong Chengjian survives until morning.
During breakfast, Zhong Chengjian finds a blood-stained needle in his food and accuses the mother of trying to kill him.
In a fit of rage, Zhong Chengjian grabs a cleaver and brutally murders the mother in front of the group, chopping her into pieces.
Ruan Nanzhu notes that NPCs in the door world are destined to die anyway, and the way they die just changes depending on player action.
The group is horrified but lets Zhong Chengjian be. He alternates between panic and denial, asserting he won’t be punished for murder since it’s not the real world.
That night, Lin Qiushi hears strange noises again and is about to wake Ruan Nanzhu when a scream rings out.
Zhang Xinghuo finds Zhong Chengjian dead in bed—his body reduced to an empty sheet of skin with all flesh and bone scraped away.
The group is horrified. Lin Qiushi and Zhang Xinghuo recall hearing the same eerie noise, which Lin Qiushi likens to the sound of a spoon scraping.
The group gathers in the living room, traumatized. Ruan Nanzhu sleeps on Lin Qiushi’s shoulder without concern.
Morning comes and the kitchen, previously covered in gore, is spotless. Breakfast is laid out, including eggs—an obvious reference to the Fitchers Vogel fairy tale.
Everyone eats except Xu Xiaocheng, who vomits after realizing who made the meal.
The triplets’ mother, previously hacked to death, reappears unharmed and asks if they enjoyed the food.
The group is horrified to see her alive, and she happily offers to cook more, hinting there's still meat in the fridge.
Tang Yaoyao questions whether the mother is human or something else. Ruan Nanzhu theorizes she may be an essential respawning NPC without memory of death.
The chapter ends with Ruan Nanzhu casually teasing Tang Yaoyao and pointing out everyone still ate the food despite knowing it was suspicious.

Chapter 10

The day after the triplet mother respawns, Xu Xiaocheng discovers the second triplet, Xiaoyin, brutally dismembered in the bathroom.
Lin Qiushi and the group remain emotionally numb but deeply unnerved as the mother silently cleans up the body again.
Tang Yaoyao starts showing signs of instability and goes to rest early, despite Lin Qiushi's warning to be careful.
That night, Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi he believes he has found the exit door hidden on the rooftop.
Lin Qiushi insists on accompanying Ruan Nanzhu. Together, they unlock the rooftop door and find it covered in black sacks identical to those used to store dismembered bodies.
Ruan Nanzhu finds something he was looking for, but someone approaches, so Lin Qiushi pretends they are kissing to avoid suspicion.
No one is found, but there are blood drag marks nearby. Ruan Nanzhu confirms the door is on the rooftop under the sacks; the key will likely appear during the birthday party.
The next morning, the three remaining players—Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Xu Xiaocheng—investigate again.
They discover the man on the third floor has been killed, his eyes gouged out and face frozen in terror. Blood splatter on the windows suggests something attacked from outside.
Ruan Nanzhu deduces that blood splashes may be a death marker and suspects the man died in place of Tang Yaoyao, who had been blood-splattered earlier.
They proceed to the ground floor and question the old woman, who says, “I've eaten the cake already” and refuses to attend the party, indicating the birthday is linked to prior mass disappearances.
Back upstairs, Tang Yaoyao behaves erratically and eventually reveals a red rash that spreads uncontrollably over her body.
Tang Yaoyao collapses and dies with her entire body turning blood-red. Her death appears different from previous victims—she simply breaks down physically in front of them.
The mother reappears with a cheerful attitude, saying the party is near and offering food again, further unsettling the group.
Ruan Nanzhu predicts no one else will die before the party, and this proves true—the four survivors wait out the final days.
The night before the party, Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi find gruesome items on the rooftop: human brains, flesh, and eyeballs stored in jars and bowls—remnants of all previous victims.
On the party day, everything is unusually dark, with the sun completely blocked by clouds.
The flat is decorated with ribbons, toys, and a large cake. The last triplet, Xiaoying, sits quietly and asks the group if they’ve seen her sisters.
Ruan Nanzhu truthfully tells her they’re dead. The mother rolls out a three-layer cake topped with candles and demands they eat it.
Lin Qiushi, Zhang Xinghuo, and Xu Xiaocheng are given slices, but Ruan Nanzhu refuses to eat.
After multiple refusals, Ruan Nanzhu flips the table, exposing the cake’s true contents: brains, meat, eyeballs, and bones.
He suddenly stabs and dismembers the mother in a shocking attack. Xiaoying claps and laughs, cheering that her mother is dead.
Lin Qiushi realizes the key to escape was hidden inside the mother’s body, and Ruan Nanzhu had to kill her to retrieve it.
As they try to escape, the mother’s corpse regenerates and chases them, now a grotesque, reanimated monster.
Ruan Nanzhu leads the group to the rooftop where the escape door is hidden. As he unlocks it, Lin Qiushi fends off the monster using his phone and a kick.
They open the door just in time, fleeing into the light. Lin Qiushi is slashed in the arm but pulled through by Ruan Nanzhu.
On the other side of the door, they find themselves back in their apartment corridor, safe and returning to reality.
Lin Qiushi faints from exhaustion and blood loss. Ruan Nanzhu carries him into the flat and puts him to bed.
The chapter ends with Lin Qiushi slipping into deep sleep, finally safe after surviving the terrifying birthday door world.

Chapter 11

Lin Qiushi wakes up in a hospital after escaping from the door world, greeted by Cheng Qianli.
Lin Qiushi is informed he had a high fever likely caused by the wound he received on the other side.
Cheng Qianli reassures him his cat, Chestnut, is fine and that Ruan Nanzhu had something to handle.
Ruan Nanzhu visits later, gently reassuring Lin Qiushi that they made it out safely, causing Lin Qiushi to fall into peaceful sleep.
Lin Qiushi recovers over a few days in the hospital, deeply appreciating normal life again.
Upon discharge, Cheng Qianli drives him home where Lin Qiushi finds Ruan Nanzhu already there with Chestnut being unusually affectionate toward him.
Lin Qiushi becomes jealous that Chestnut prefers Ruan Nanzhu over him.
Lin Qiushi asks Ruan Nanzhu why he killed the mother in the previous door, and Ruan Nanzhu explains he deduced from the fairy tale that the “wizard” had to die to revive the girls and reveal the key.
Ruan Nanzhu mentions the door hint system and explains how door ownership works—whoever opens a door gets the hint, and others can benefit from joining.
Cheng Qianli explains that skipping too many doors can be dangerous even if technically allowed.
Lin Qiushi learns that Ruan Nanzhu originally mistook him for another person meant to be saved and only brought him out by accident.
Lin Qiushi is advised to move into the villa for his safety, as other real-world players can be dangerous.
On the way back, Ruan Nanzhu points out that Xu Xiaocheng is a popular actress in the real world, contrasting her crybaby personality in the door world.
That night, Lin Qiushi hears a commotion outside and witnesses a man murdering a woman.
He later discovers the victim was possibly Tang Yaoyao, who failed to exit the door and thus died in real life.
Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi that people who enter the door are already on the brink of death from accidents or illness.
Lin Qiushi retrieves a medical report and learns he has Stage I liver cancer, leaving him devastated.
Ruan Nanzhu reacts coldly, reminding Lin Qiushi that the door was his second chance and death was inevitable otherwise.
Ruan Nanzhu insists Lin Qiushi move to the villa the next day, suggesting it may even help restore his bond with Chestnut.
Ruan Nanzhu spends the night at Lin Qiushi’s, and they end up sharing the bed; Lin Qiushi awkwardly wakes up cuddling Ruan Nanzhu, both men experiencing mutual physical reactions.
Lin Qiushi cooks breakfast and is visited by former coworker Cao Ying, who gets the wrong impression after seeing Ruan Nanzhu half-dressed in Qiushi's pajamas.
Ruan Nanzhu flirts provocatively, causing Cao Ying to choke and Lin Qiushi to blush.
After breakfast, Lin Qiushi agrees to move. Chestnut still clings to Ruan Nanzhu over him, making Lin Qiushi jealous.
At the villa, Lin Qiushi is welcomed by Cheng Yixie, Cheng Qianli’s serious and aloof twin brother.
Lin Qiushi is given a room across from Ruan Nanzhu and is finally allowed to pet Chestnut, who now accepts his affection thanks to Ruan Nanzhu's help.
Yi Manman catches Lin Qiushi in an embarrassing position kneeling between Ruan Nanzhu’s legs while sniffing Chestnut, mistaking it for something lewd.
Cheng Qianli takes a photo and teases Lin Qiushi, who forces him to delete it.
Lin Qiushi meets other villa residents at dinner: Yi Manman, Chen Fei, and Lu Yanxue. He learns others are out on business.
He’s warned about their dog Toast who likes sniffing cat butts, but it’s assumed Chestnut and Toast will get along.
Late that night, Lin Qiushi sees Ruan Nanzhu and Chen Fei discussing the next door outside and accidentally overhears them.
Ruan Nanzhu shows Lin Qiushi a secret forum for door participants and warns him never to log in from a different device.
Ruan Nanzhu reveals doors are a "reward" for people about to die, and that door privileges can be stolen through murder inside the realm.
Lin Qiushi realizes how lucky he is to have met Ruan Nanzhu and browses the forum, learning how active and mysterious the door community is.
Lin Qiushi observes Cheng Qianli being dramatic over spicy congee, arguing with his indifferent twin brother Cheng Yixie.
Lin Qiushi goes with Cheng Qianli to pick up their dog Toast and learns Ruan Nanzhu may be entering a new door soon, though it’s unclear with whom.
Days pass and Lin Qiushi bonds with the others. One night, he sees Ruan Nanzhu return to the villa looking extremely sick and helps him to bed.
Ruan Nanzhu collapses from exhaustion and is taken to the hospital.
At the hospital, Chen Fei returns with grim news that Ruan Nanzhu’s companion in the last door committed suicide by jumping off a building.
Lin Qiushi is shaken but relieved that Ruan Nanzhu survived.

Chapter 12

Ruan Nanzhu regains consciousness in the hospital the next day after collapsing from his tenth door.
Lin Qiushi stays by Ruan Nanzhu’s side the entire time, worried for his condition.
Ruan Nanzhu confirms that Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli will enter Cheng Qianli's fifth door in five days, and he may join them.
Lin Qiushi later learns Ruan Nanzhu survived the tenth door while his companion died; only Ruan Nanzhu and an unknown woman made it out.
Cheng Qianli receives the hint for the next door, written as “Sister Drum,” referencing a haunting song about a girl searching for her sister.
Lin Qiushi investigates and discovers “Sister Drum” is connected to an old custom of skinning virgins alive to make drums believed to connect life and death.
Cheng Yixie offers to go in Cheng Qianli's place, but Ruan Nanzhu refuses, hinting that Lin Qiushi’s safety is the main reason.
A celebration dinner is held at the villa. Lin Qiushi helps Lu Yanxue cook and learns about her past as a private chef.
Lin Qiushi finds Ruan Nanzhu waiting on his bed after the party. Ruan Nanzhu says, “I need you,” telling Lin Qiushi he cannot die and might be someone “born for the doors.”
Cheng Qianli watches horror movies with Lin Qiushi to prepare, but is revealed to be terribly afraid of ghosts, causing chaos in the villa.
The night before entering the door, Cheng Yixie questions Ruan Nanzhu’s decision to enter despite his poor condition. Ruan Nanzhu admits he’s concerned for Lin Qiushi.
On the tenth day, Cheng Qianli opens the fifth door. Lin Qiushi, Cheng Qianli, and Ruan Nanzhu enter together, but are separated.
Lin Qiushi finds himself in a jungle with no signal and meets a crying girl named Xu Jin, who recently entered the door realm.
They follow a gravel path and arrive at a village with stilt houses. An unnerving woman greets them, never stops smiling, and gives no real answers.
Inside a wooden building, Lin Qiushi meets a loud, threatening punk who brandishes a knife. The punk is silenced by a calm and intimidating man named Meng Yu.
Lin Qiushi also locates Ruan Nanzhu and Cheng Qianli, disguised as Zhu Meng and a teenager respectively.
Meng Yu proposes they stay in bamboo houses and warns it’s unsafe for everyone to sleep in one place.
Ruan Nanzhu requests to room with Lin Qiushi, playing a sickly, frail girl. Xu Jin also insists on staying with them.
During the night, Lin Qiushi hears eerie singing from the jungle and sees figures approaching in the fog that seem to float without moving their legs.
Ruan Nanzhu tells Lin Qiushi not to look and collapses into his arms, cold and weak, prompting Lin Qiushi to hold him for warmth.
The next morning, Xu Jin finds them in the same bed and is shocked. Ruan Nanzhu plays innocent, saying he was cold.
At breakfast, Lin Qiushi finds the food unpalatable. He ventures into the kitchen and is offered a strange white powder “flour” by a woman grinding it with a millstone, which he declines.
The tour guide reappears, announcing a trip to a temple. On the walk, she explains the villagers believe in resurrection and follow unusual customs.
Lin Qiushi suspects the flags on the path are made from human skin, based on the connection to the “Sister Drum” story.
The group arrives at an ancient, vine-covered stone temple. The guide warns them not to wander off.
Inside the dim temple, they hear eerie music that seems to come from above.
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu realize the music isn’t from an upstairs room—it’s coming from the ceiling. Something is hiding above them in the darkness.

Chapter 13

Ruan Nanzhu stops Lin Qiushi from further investigating the temple ceiling and suggests finding Cheng Qianli.
Lin Qiushi, Ruan Nanzhu, and Xu Jin explore deeper into the temple and find Cheng Qianli examining wall murals.
The murals depict twin newborns, one symbolizing the moon (who plays drums) and the other the sun (who is hidden), raising concerns about a symbolic or sacrificial narrative.
Ruan Nanzhu flirts with Xu Jin in his "Zhu Meng" disguise, while Lin Qiushi remains focused on the murals’ meaning.
Cheng Qianli hears music from above but there's no visible upstairs, adding to the mystery.
The group of four explores the temple until they reach a wooden platform; Lin Qiushi and Cheng Qianli decide to climb it.
At the top, Lin Qiushi finds freshly mutilated human remains and warns Cheng Qianli not to come up.
Lin Qiushi is pushed from behind by invisible hands, nearly falling off the platform. Cheng Qianli saves him.
Ruan Nanzhu confirms two bloody handprints on Lin Qiushi's back, described as child-sized with exposed muscle and no skin.
Xu Jin saw the hands too and is shaken by the supernatural encounter.
Lin Qiushi carries an exhausted Ruan Nanzhu back to the main hall, where they find the group distressed by another disappearance.
A man vanished after discussing what might be on the ceiling, leading to speculation that merely thinking or speaking about it causes death.
Meng Yu inspects the ceiling and suggests using a phone light; Lin Qiushi has one because Ruan Nanzhu advised it could be discarded if needed.
It starts raining silently—later revealed by Ruan Nanzhu to be raining knives, not water.
A panicked man rushes outside and is skinned alive by the knife rain, confirming the fatal nature of the weather.
Skinless humanoid monsters cheer and devour the corpse in a grotesque scene, then vanish, leaving survivors paralyzed in horror.
Meng Yu tries to calm the group, insisting they must follow the same behavior to survive, but Ruan Nanzhu warns Lin Qiushi that Meng Yu might be manipulating them, as the monsters only need one survivor to justify a massacre.
The guide calls for everyone to regroup; Lin Qiushi cautiously carries Ruan Nanzhu outside and nothing happens, confirming it's safe again.
The group returns to their bamboo lodgings under the guide's chipper attitude, though tension remains high.
The guide announces the next tour will be at 8 a.m. and warns not to go out at night due to strong winds.
Ruan Nanzhu continues to look unwell and weak but tries to eat dinner. Xu Jin mocks her (his female disguise), not knowing Ruan Nanzhu is faking it.
Cheng Qianli overeats, joking that he wants to die full if he must die at all.
That night, Xu Jin tries to seduce Lin Qiushi, who rejects her awkward advances with humor and blunt excuses.
In the morning, Ruan Nanzhu teasingly asks if anything happened between Lin Qiushi and Xu Jin. Lin Qiushi denies it and reveals he never had a girlfriend.
Ruan Nanzhu cryptically says “that’s good” with an unreadable expression.
At breakfast, Meng Yu advises everyone to stick together as numbers are thinning—they’ve lost two people already.
The tour guide appears and leads the group on a mountain hike, saying they must arrive at the next destination before noon or risk descending in darkness.
Lin Qiushi ends up carrying Ruan Nanzhu partway. They reach a site filled with towering structures, which Ruan Nanzhu suspects is a graveyard.
They open a locked tower and find a decaying corpse inside, confirming the site is a cemetery, not for offerings.
A particularly tall central tower draws their attention; it has a decorative stone disc and cloud carvings on top.
Lin Qiushi hears distant drums and warns Ruan Nanzhu. Remembering that the last time drums played it led to deadly rain, they decide to take shelter in the tall tower.
Inside the tower, the four climb to the seventh floor and discover a beautiful red drum, likely the one from the song.
Xu Jin becomes entranced by the drum and touches it despite warnings. A clear sound rings out, triggering hallucinations.
Lin Qiushi sees the stone walls transform into living, pulsing flesh and hears a blood-covered, skinless girl singing the Sister Drum song.
The girl walks toward Lin Qiushi, drums, and passes through him. He convulses and returns to reality, hand resting on the drum.
Cheng Qianli and Ruan Nanzhu find Lin Qiushi touching the drum, confirming the hallucination was real and dangerous.
Lin Qiushi realizes the drumhead is made of human skin, fulfilling the horror legend’s core theme.

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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.

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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

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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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Danmei Recap

The Defectives

Danmei Recap

Lorem Ipsum

How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 1

How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 2

How to Survive as a Villain, Vol. 3

Don't You Like Me

Nan Chan, Vol. 1

Nan Chan, Vol. 2

Nan Chan, Vol. 3

Chapter

Kaleidoscope of Death

Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)

You're Too OP! (You Boys Play Games Very Well)

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

Everyone Loves the Cannon Fodder

Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire

Global Examination

The Defectives

Lorem Ipsum

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