Chapter Summaries

Bai Yang and the others rescued their scattered companions from the river, a rooftop, and the garden before finding Qin Rang trapped in a crystal coffin. They learned they had to hold a funeral to free him, but they lacked the supplies and instruments they considered for the ceremony.

• Luo Jiayu rescued Tao Yuan from a stone-filled sack at the bottom of the river.
• Bai Yang sent his cats to cut Tang Pin free from the Castle roof, and she told them An Ying and Bai Ao were buried in the garden.
• The group dug An Ying and Bai Ao out of the dirt, then followed Tao Yuan's Weird Object to find Wang Ding and Mi Chuchu.
• Wang Ding and Mi Chuchu showed the group Qin Rang lying inside a suspended crystal coffin and explained that a funeral was required to move it.
• An Ying asked whether anyone had joss paper, and the group considered other funeral supplies after learning no one had any.

The group discovered that Sheng Qingqiao could not cry because he was bound by a Weird Rule, revealing that he was a Humanoid Weird Entity. His teammates learned that the authorities had known his identity and accepted that he had fought alongside them.

• After their attempts to open Qin Rang’s coffin failed, Bai Yang suggested they try crying to meet its conditions.
• When Sheng Qingqiao hesitated, Bai Yang revealed that he could not cry, and Tao Yuan realized his inability to feel sadness was a Weird Rule.
• The group understood that Sheng Qingqiao was a Weird, and Wang Ding explained that the authorities knew about him and worked with Humanoid Weird Entities who sided with humanity.
• Luo Jiayu said Sheng Qingqiao was still Sheng Qingqiao and praised him, leaving him astonished by her acceptance.

Wang used his control ability and the Writer’s Rules to force Qin Rang to put on the Evil Ghost Mask, which took over Qin Rang and brought the group back to the Castle. Qin Rang attacked his friends, and they discovered that they needed to use two Rules at once to overcome the mask’s immunity.

• Qin Rang realized Wang had been controlling him and tried to resist putting on the Evil Ghost Mask, but Wang strengthened his control with the Writer’s note.
• Qin Rang put on the mask, burst out of the coffin, and the group returned to the Castle’s main hall.
• Qin Rang attacked the group, while Bai Yang, An Ying, and the others tried to evade or block him.
• Bai Ao learned that the mask could nullify one Rule from each person and that two Rules had to be used against it for one to work.
• Mi Chuchu used her armor to block Qin Rang’s attack, then grabbed his shoulder and kicked him.

Qin Rang, controlled by the Evil Ghost Mask, fought his teammates, who tried to restrain him without killing him. Tao Yuan died when Qin Rang broke free of their restraints and crushed her heart.

• An Ying, Mi Chuchu, Tao Yuan, and the others attacked Qin Rang but hesitated to kill him because they feared the Evil Ghost Mask's destruction would kill him too.
• Tang Pin struck the Evil Ghost Mask with her Long Staff, making it shriek and giving the others a chance to attack.
• Bai Yang said Qin Rang was immune to Rules and could not be turned into a Puppet without sacrificing his humanity.
• Qin Rang crushed Tao Yuan's shoulder, but Sheng Qingqiao bound him with the Red Thread while Luo Jiayu and Mi Chuchu helped restrain him.
• Tao Yuan tried to activate the Stasis Pod, but gray eyes disrupted her energy, and Qin Rang broke free of the Red Thread and Hair Tie.
• Qin Rang struck Tao Yuan through the chest, pulverizing her heart and killing her.

Tao Yuan and the others captured Qin Rang with the Stasis Pod, but Sheng Qingqiao was fatally wounded by Qin Rang’s attack. As Sheng Qingqiao faded away, Tao Yuan begged Wang to start a Seventh Round so she could save him.

• Wang revealed that the banquet had only six rounds, and Tao Yuan’s Dessert Chef cookie rewound her death three seconds after Qin Rang killed her.
• Tao Yuan activated the Stasis Pod and captured Qin Rang, though his dark blue energy wounded the group and tore apart Sheng Qingqiao’s upper body.
• Sheng Qingqiao explained that the rewind cookie could not save him because he was still alive when its three-second death rule passed.
• An Ying, Wang Ding, Tang Pin, Mi Chuchu, and Tao Yuan tried to keep Sheng Qingqiao alive, but his life force continued to drain away.
• Sheng Qingqiao asked his friends not to blame Qin Rang or let the captain watch the livestream replay before he began to dissipate.
• Tao Yuan begged Wang to start a Seventh Round and offered to bring him Weird Objects so he could advance and rewind time.

Wang refused to give the group another chance to clear the Instance, but Ji Fengbai recruited him into the Judgment Office and prolonged Sheng Qingqiao’s life briefly. The Instance ended without Sheng Qingqiao returning with the others, leaving Tao Yuan’s group with a Sunny Doll as Lin Nieran arrived at the Ancient Castle.

• Wang said the group had already cleared the Instance and refused to change its ending, but Bai Yang reminded everyone that the Writer could change the Rules.
• Ji Fengbai arrived and offered Wang membership in the Judgment Office in exchange for the ability to live freely outside an Instance; Wang accepted.
• Wang said he could do nothing to save Sheng Qingqiao, who had not been killed by the Instance’s Rules, and the Instance expelled the group without him.
• Tao Yuan and the others emerged from Cloud City with a Sunny Doll in place of Sheng Qingqiao, and Tao Yuan decided they should return while Qin Rang remained under the Evil Ghost Mask’s control.
• Lin Nieran entered the refreshed Ancient Castle, where Wang called out to him as his father, but Moonlit Night shoved Wang back.

Lin Nieran learned that Sheng Qingqiao had died earlier than expected, but recognized that the tragedy would lead the Protagonist Group toward Luohai City and the Ocean Instance, both crucial to his plan to understand and save the world. Back in the Boundless Land, he considered the placement of the cleared Weird domain and let Wang stay close to him.

• 007 Little Ball told Lin Nieran that a member of the Protagonist Group had died, and Lin Nieran confirmed that Sheng Qingqiao had died after Qin Rang attacked him while the Red Candle’s backlash took effect.
• 007 Little Ball feared the Protagonist Group would fall apart, while Lin Nieran explained that Sheng Qingqiao’s death would lead the others to seek a way to revive him in Luohai City and eventually enter the Ocean Instance.
• Lin Nieran returned his alternate identities to the Boundless Land, where Moonlit Night and Wu Liang were present, and learned that Wu Liang’s hospital had become popular.
• Wang asked where to move the territory of the cleared Weird domain, and Lin Nieran left the decision to Butler while advising Wang not to change locations too often.
• Wang invited Lin Nieran to visit the Castle and admitted he preferred staying in Lin Nieran’s room, while Moonlit Night interrupted their closeness by bringing Lin Nieran tea.

Lin Nieran let Wang take charge of making Qin Rang’s team’s future experiences more interesting, then drew an A-Rank Fortune Manipulator and an SS-Rank Saintess card. He planned to keep the luck-manipulating card close for card draws but thought the authorities would be interested in it.

• Lin Nieran told Wang he could handle Qin Rang’s team as long as he stayed within bounds, and the Butler declined to accompany him.
• Lin Nieran watched the snow with Lin Yi and promised to give him a body after he had lived enough, prompting Lin Yi to accuse him of messing with him.
• After gaining nearly 500,000 Fame, Lin Nieran drew an A-Rank Fortune Manipulator card that could exchange good and bad luck.
• Lin Nieran activated the Fortune Manipulator card and drew an SS-Rank Saintess card, whose description identified him as male.

After the Ancient Castle Instance, Tao Yuan and the others waited anxiously for news about Sheng Qingqiao and Qin Rang, while An Ying struggled with his feelings about the organization and Wang. He sought out Boss Lin to repair his damaged umbrella, and Boss Lin asked him about the livestream.

• Lin Nieran wondered why the Persona System's male character was called a holy maiden and considered using the SS Card as a representative for the Peaceful Faction.
• In Jiang City, Sheng Qingqiao was taken by the Containment Department and Qin Rang was rushed for treatment as Tao Yuan and the others awaited news.
• Tao Yuan feared that a revived Sheng Qingqiao might no longer be the same person, and Tao Yun could not reassure her.
• An Ying recalled how Wang had manipulated people in the Ancient Castle Instance and wrestled with his anger and distrust of the organization.
• An Ying visited Lin Nieran's shop to have his damaged Bamboo Umbrella repaired, and Lin Nieran asked whether the livestream had left him distracted.

An Ying told Lin Nieran how Sunny Doll became Sheng Qingqiao and admitted he had trusted him as a teammate, while Lin Nieran listened and repaired An Ying’s umbrella. In Yangcheng, Modian’s presence and Wen Keke’s attempt to seize River Garden District brought the Cui Family’s forces into conflict, and Modian’s group encountered her during a sneak attack.

• An Ying told Lin Nieran that Sunny Doll had taken human form after the team brought him out of an Instance, and explained how he became Sheng Qingqiao.
• An Ying said he did not know whether Captain Qin was doing well, then asked why Lin Nieran had stopped killing Weirds; Lin Nieran said he had always fought alone.
• An Ying left with the repaired Bamboo Umbrella without paying, and Lin Nieran and Lin Yi argued about whether to chase him for the fee.
• Modian cleared high-level Instances in Yangcheng, while the Cui Family invited his Fanatical Believers to River Garden District and welcomed him there.
• Wen Keke targeted River Garden District as a base for her growing forces and led a sneak attack on the Cui Family’s troops.
• Modian and his believers came across Wen Keke’s team, including Cat Boy, after most of the Cui Family troops had been killed or had defected.

Wen Keke’s group and Modian’s fanatics fought until Serlandin, a Saintess of the Judgment Office, arrived and healed everyone. Later, Tao Yuan asked Director Chen to seek the organization’s help for Qin Rang, but he explained that Qin Rang’s condition could not be treated as an ordinary injury.

• Wen Keke’s group encountered Modian and his fanatics, and Cat Boy’s hostility sparked a fight.
• Cat Boy and Modian battled while both groups suffered casualties, and officials watched from a distance.
• Serlandin arrived, calmed the crowd, and healed the wounded on both sides.
• Tao Yuan told Director Chen that Bai Ao had confirmed Serlandin belonged to the organization and asked for help with Qin Rang.
• Director Chen explained that Qin Rang’s condition came from a Weird force invading his body, making it different from something healing could fix.

The team weighed ways to revive Sheng Qingqiao while waiting for approval, and An Ying planned to seek help using the organization’s Request Card. As New Year approached, Lin Nieran heard that the Chocolate Orphanage was expanding and considered gathering everyone for a reunion dinner.

• An Ying, Tao Yuan, and the others learned that Sheng Qingqiao’s revival required approval from above, while Wang Ding suggested seeking help through Tang Pin, Bai Ao, and Luo Jiayu’s connections.
• Mi Chuchu knocked Tao Yuan unconscious to make her rest, then took her home while An Ying and Wang Ding planned to use the organization’s remaining Request Card the next day.
• Lin Nieran learned from a group of Purgers that New Year was only days away and gave them candy for a safe return from their mission.
• Lin Nieran heard an emergency broadcast that the Chocolate Orphanage Instance was expanding, then shut off the radio when Lin Yi asked whether he knew the place.
• Lin Nieran asked the system for old Blue Star food so he could call everyone back for a New Year reunion dinner.

Lin Nieran sent Night Moon to meet Wang Ding and his companions, who asked whether the organization could save Qin Rang and Sheng Qingqiao. Night Moon explained the history and dangers of humanoid Weird Entities, then warned that reviving Sheng Qingqiao through his Weird Object could make things worse as he hinted at another solution.

• Lin Nieran teleported Night Moon to Wang Ding and the others, and Tao Yuan realized he was not Moonlit Night.
• Wang Ding and his companions asked Night Moon to help save Qin Rang and Sheng Qingqiao, and he agreed because the authorities had paid for the card.
• Wang Ding explained that humanoid Weird Entities had once imitated humans, and that some later took on human emotions and sided with humanity.
• Wang Ding and An Ying worried that humanoid Weird Entities who lacked human emotions could become dangerous, but Moonlit Night said the organization had its own methods.
• Moonlit Night warned that Sheng Qingqiao was effectively dead and that feeding energy into his Weird Object could revive someone who was no longer the original Sheng Qingqiao.

Moonlit Night explained ways to save Sheng Qingqiao and Qin Rang, giving the group a path to pursue despite the dangers and uncertainties. After Moonlit Night left, Tao Yuan and Wang Ding began planning how to seek out a rewind-type Weird Entity and investigate the energy needed for resurrection.

• Moonlit Night told An Ying and the others that Sheng Qingqiao could be saved by reversing time, asking his Master to resurrect him, or finding and restoring the energy that dispersed after his death.
• Moonlit Night said the Fate Seer alone knew where Sheng Qingqiao’s energy had gone, but advised the group to head toward the sea while the Fate Seer was absent.
• Moonlit Night explained that Qin Rang’s Evil Ghost Mask invasion could not be driven out, and that Writer’s Rule was only delaying the invasion until its energy ran out.
• Moonlit Night revealed that his organization’s Saintess could suppress the invasion in Qin Rang, and advised the group to win the Saintess’s help by playing for sympathy.
• Moonlit Night left, and Tao Yuan said he would have the Peach Family search for rumors about a rewind-type Time Weird Entity while the group pursued other options.

After losing Sheng Qingqiao and Qin Rang, Tao Yuan and her companions planned to search for the Saintess and investigate a way to save them. Lin Nieran prepared to travel to the coast, while Tao Yuan and Wang Ding discussed humanity’s decline before encountering Lai’er.

• An Ying, Mi Chuchu, Tao Yuan, and Wang Ding divided up their plans to gather information and search for the Saintess.
• An Ying showed concern for Tao Yuan, and Wang Ding reassured her as they headed out into the snow.
• Lin Nieran told 007 and Lin Yi he wanted underwater-related Weird Objects because he planned to visit the coast himself.
• Wang Ding brought Tao Yuan hot cocoa, and they reflected on the dwindling human population and the mysterious organization.
• Tao Yuan suggested visiting the organization after they saved Qin Rang and Sheng Qingqiao, and Wang Ding hesitated to voice his thoughts.
• Tao Yuan and Wang Ding greeted Lai’er when he approached them through the snow.

Bai Yang helped Tao Yuan and Wang Ding devise a plan to lure the Saintess by staging a fight, then explained why the organization had recruited Wang. The fake brawl turned unexpectedly real as Tao Yuan and Wang Ding waited to see whether their target would appear.

• Lai'er declined Wang Ding's invitation but said the Saintess might pass through the area, then left to return to his Master.
• The Dessert Chef walked past Tao Yuan and Wang Ding, and Bai Yang arrived soon after and asked about Qin Rang and Sheng Qingqiao.
• Bai Yang suggested paying two men to stage a fight to attract the compassionate Saintess, and Tao Yuan and Wang Ding hired them.
• The two actors began fighting in earnest, and Tao Yuan, Wang Ding, and Bai Yang watched from their hiding place.
• Tao Yuan asked why Wang had joined the organization, and Bai Yang said Master had ordered his recruitment and that Wang had not violated the organization's rules while guarding the Instance.

Tao Yuan and Wang Ding learned that Moonlit Night had a younger brother, Night Moon, before they met Serlandin, the leader of the Peaceful Faction. Serlandin agreed to help their endangered companion Qin Rang, and Wang Ding prepared to take him to the injured man.

• Bai Yang explained that Moonlit Night and Night Moon shared a body and recounted how Moonlit Night had buried his younger brother before joining the organization.
• Tao Yuan, Wang Ding, and Bai Yang hid as Serlandin approached and healed two injured men with a warm breeze.
• Bai Yang introduced Tao Yuan and Wang Ding to Serlandin, revealing that he was Bai Yang's direct superior and the leader of the Peaceful Faction.
• Wang Ding asked Serlandin to help Qin Rang, who had been invaded by something weird, and Serlandin immediately agreed.

Tao Yuan and the others brought Serlandin to the Discipline Office to seek help for Sunny Doll and Qin Rang. Serlandin could not restore Sunny Doll, but he began treating Qin Rang, whose response offered a brief sign of hope.

• Tao Yuan and Bai Yang discussed Serlandin’s generosity and how people in their organization trusted him.
• Wang Ding explained that Qin Rang was being held in the Discipline Office under heavy security, and the group met An Ying and Mi Chuchu there.
• Serlandin examined Sunny Doll and said he could not save him because he had become an object rather than a living being.
• Serlandin entered Qin Rang’s cell and used golden light to suppress the Evil Ghost Mask, briefly revealing Qin Rang’s black eyes.
• Serlandin continued sending energy into Qin Rang as the others waited, while An Ying noticed something different about the Saintess.

Serlandin stabilized Qin Rang but said saving him required finding his missing energy and part of his soul. Tao Yuan and the others found Qin Rang’s records and prepared to search for where his lost soul might be, despite the danger.

• After hours of treating Qin Rang, Serlandin said he could be saved if the group found his lost energy and missing soul.
• Serlandin and Bai Yang suggested looking in places that mattered most to Qin Rang, but Tao Yuan and the others could not think of any.
• Wang Ding recalled that Qin Rang had been abandoned as a child, so the group went to the Information Office to look up his records.
• Wang Ding used special clearance to read Qin Rang’s file, then joined the others as they walked through the snowy streets.
• Tao Yuan said they would leave soon to save their teammates, even if the journey put them in danger.

Wang Ding identified Chocolate Orphanage in Minchuan District as the likeliest place to find Qin Rang’s soul, prompting the team to plan an expedition into the dangerous area. With Qin Rang and Sheng Qingqiao absent, Tao Yuan became acting captain and decided the team needed to recruit new members before going.

• Wang Ding listed several possible places tied to Qin Rang’s past, including the battle against Worship God, the Authorities’ former base, and Chocolate Orphanage.
• An Ying and Wang Ding recalled that Chocolate Orphanage was an unresolved Weird Instance in Minchuan District that had recently begun expanding.
• Bai Yang revealed that Chocolate Orphanage was in Minchuan District, where two SS-Rank Weird Instances were known to exist.
• Wang Ding warned that the weakened team could not safely enter Minchuan District without recruiting more members.
• Tao Yuan appointed herself acting captain and named An Ying vice captain, while Mi Chuchu reluctantly agreed to the plan.
• Bai Yang noticed that Wang had taken control of his puppy Doll and tossed it aside after its eyes changed color.