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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter Summary

(Chapter Summary)

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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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