Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Royal Capital Adventurer’s Guild

Key Plot Points and Events

• Holmes agrees to meet the king at Wisdom Shield’s request. Although Holmes does not yet envision limiting royal authority or creating a system of shared governance, Chen Cheng recognizes him as the best potential ally for future reform because he combines political ambition with loyalty to the royal family.
• Wisdom Shield’s scholarly aides begin their lessons. They are highly educated figures selected from throughout the Kingdom of Moss and will eventually return with him to Hui Dun City, where they will study the “new scholarship” under Simov and the other scholars.
• Chen Cheng spends time with the Little Maidservant after realizing that his recent injury has caused her to be blamed and marginalized by the other servants. He takes her shopping, encourages her to smile, and tries to restore her confidence.
• Chen Cheng notices that people are watching them closely and decides that he must accelerate his plans. After allowing the Little Maidservant to finish shopping, he brings her to the Royal Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild.
• The Royal Capital Guild is vastly larger and more sophisticated than the one in Hui Dun City, functioning almost like a city of its own, with adventurers, healers, priests, shops, inns, and restaurants.
• Chen Cheng rents a private room for the Little Maidservant so she can rest while he handles his business. He is impressed that even the Guild attendant is a Platinum-ranked adventurer.
• The chapter ends when a rough stranger approaches Chen Cheng, places a hand on his shoulder, and makes a lewdly familiar remark about the Little Maidservant’s appearance, setting up a likely confrontation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Continues cultivating political allies and planning reforms indirectly rather than trying to change the kingdom through the monarch alone. He also shows a protective and considerate side toward the Little Maidservant, deliberately helping her recover from social humiliation. His awareness of suspicious onlookers suggests that he is becoming increasingly cautious and urgent.
• Holmes: Demonstrates obedience to Wisdom Shield and willingness to participate in political affairs. His combination of ambition and respect for royal authority makes him valuable to Chen Cheng’s reform strategy, even though he does not yet understand the broader constitutional ideas Chen Cheng envisions.
• Wisdom Shield: Remains focused on reforming the royal inheritance system and recognizes that lasting change requires capable ministers and institutions, not merely a benevolent ruler. He begins his formal education under the newly appointed aides.
• The Little Maidservant: Initially remains insecure and eager to return home because of the hostility she has faced from other servants. Chen Cheng’s attention gradually draws out her shy, playful side, though she is still easily embarrassed and lacks confidence in public.
• The Royal Scholars/Aides: They are established as accomplished traditional scholars who will become both teachers of Wisdom Shield and students of the new intellectual movement in Hui Dun City.

Significant Themes

• Political reform and institutional power: Lasting reform depends on systems and supporting officials rather than the ruler’s personal intentions alone.
• Human nature and the surrender of authority: Chen Cheng understands that rulers are unlikely to voluntarily give up power, making the cultivation of reform-minded ministers essential.
• Education and intellectual transformation: Even the kingdom’s greatest traditional scholars must become students when confronted with Chen Cheng’s new scholarship.
• Social hierarchy and reputation: The Little Maidservant’s reduced standing shows how servants are judged according to their perceived usefulness and their effect on their master.
• Protection, affection, and dependence: Chen Cheng’s relationship with the Little Maidservant combines genuine care, playful intimacy, and the unequal power dynamic between master and servant.
• The scale of the capital: The Royal Capital’s Guild reflects the kingdom’s wealth, organization, and concentration of talent compared with Hui Dun City.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Holmes: Their relationship is indirect but politically significant; Chen Cheng evaluates Holmes as a future partner in reform, while Holmes accepts Wisdom Shield’s instructions.
• Wisdom Shield and Holmes: Wisdom Shield entrusts Holmes with the sensitive task of approaching the king, showing his confidence in Holmes’s political usefulness.
• Chen Cheng and the Little Maidservant: Their outing is affectionate and teasing. Chen Cheng reassures her, encourages her to smile, and gives her a chance to enjoy herself before bringing her to the Guild.
• Chen Cheng and the Guild attendant: Chen Cheng rents a private room through the attendant and notes the superior standards of the Royal Capital Guild.
• Chen Cheng and the unknown adventurer: Their first interaction is intrusive and disrespectful, as the stranger comments on the Little Maidservant and physically touches Chen Cheng, creating immediate tension.

Chapter Summary: The Guild’s Local Strongman

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng is approached in the Adventurer’s Guild by a heavily intoxicated Platinum Rank adventurer who drapes an arm over his shoulder and claims to be a “local strongman.”
• The drunkard deliberately provokes Chen Cheng, but Chen Cheng cannot force the man’s hand away because of the man’s superior cultivation.
• She Li intervenes. Her overwhelming presence and strength immediately frighten the drunkard, who realizes he has provoked someone far beyond his level.
• Chen Cheng tells She Li to let the matter go and warns the Platinum Rank adventurer to be more careful in the future.
• The man apologizes and explains that he had not intended genuine harm. He had hoped to accept Chen Cheng as a disciple after recognizing his extraordinary innate potential through a secret technique.
• Although Chen Cheng initially dismisses him, he accepts the man’s offer to provide information about missions and conditions in the Royal Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild.
• Chen Cheng begins registering as an adventurer. The Royal Capital’s Guild handles missions from across the Kingdom of Moss, including dangerous assignments that local branches cannot resolve.
• When the clerk sees Chen Cheng’s recommendation letter from Aunt Mei, she realizes that it carries authority beyond her own and summons the Guild Master.
• The Guild Master orders Chen Cheng’s partially completed registration form destroyed, then brings him to his office for a private conversation.
• He asks Chen Cheng about the letter’s origin and what assistance he expects the Guild to provide.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates his growing strength and confidence by refusing to be intimidated by a Platinum Rank adventurer. He remains restrained, practical, and cautious, choosing not to retaliate despite having the power to kill the man. His decision to register as an adventurer shows his willingness to use new identities and institutions to advance his plans.
• She Li: Displays overwhelming power and an intimidating presence. Her silent intervention is enough to dispel the drunkard’s arrogance, reinforcing her role as Chen Cheng’s formidable protector.
• The Platinum Rank adventurer: Initially appears to be a troublesome drunk, but is revealed to be a veteran adventurer who recognized Chen Cheng’s exceptional potential and hoped to make him a disciple. His embarrassment and apology show that his intentions were not malicious.
• The Guild Master: Treats Chen Cheng’s recommendation letter with great seriousness, suggesting that it represents a powerful connection or an important promise within the Adventurer’s Guild.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identities: The drunkard looks weak and pathetic but is secretly a Platinum Rank expert, while Chen Cheng appears to be a mere young adventurer despite possessing extraordinary strength and status.
• Power and restraint: Chen Cheng’s ability to forgive and warn rather than punish the drunkard highlights his self-control and confidence.
• Networks and influence: The recommendation letter demonstrates how personal connections and institutional authority can provide protection and open doors.
• The dangers of the jianghu: The chapter emphasizes that the Guild is filled with experienced, unpredictable people, and that even apparently minor encounters can involve hidden risks.
• Information as power: Chen Cheng values the knowledge held by long-established Guild figures, recognizing that mission descriptions may conceal important details.

Character Interactions

• The drunkard tries to impose himself on Chen Cheng and test his strength, but Chen Cheng rejects his behavior.
• She Li silently confronts the drunkard and overwhelms him without violence.
• Chen Cheng warns and forgives the adventurer, leading the man to apologize and offer future assistance.
• The Guild clerk initially begins Chen Cheng’s registration but defers to the Guild Master after seeing the recommendation letter.
• The Guild Master privately questions Chen Cheng about the letter’s origin and intended use, setting up a potentially significant discussion about the Guild’s obligations toward him.

Chapter Summary: A Guild Master Who Looked Down His Nose at Everyone

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Adventurer’s Guild Master interrogates Chen Cheng about the recommendation letter from Mei Luo, implying that Chen Cheng may be exploiting her status.
• Offended by the Guild Master’s condescending attitude, Chen Cheng refuses to answer further questions, returns the letter in spirit, and declares that he will treat Mei Luo only as his aunt outside their Guild identities.
• Chen Cheng angrily leaves the Adventurer’s Guild, determined to prove that he did not rely on Mei Luo’s influence to gain respect.
• Outside, he encounters Dou Mu, who offers intelligence assistance as an apology for an earlier offense. Chen Cheng instead hires him to escort Little Maidservant back to the Crown Prince’s manor.
• Chen Cheng offers Dou Mu one hundred gold, but Dou Mu asks for the amount to be deducted from his future wages. His reaction reveals that he recognizes Chen Cheng’s connection to the Crown Prince and the powerful figures surrounding him.
• Chen Cheng sends Little Maidservant back so she can inform the Crown Prince that he was mistreated by the Guild.
• Afterward, Chen Cheng enters a nearby dojo. The Guild Master watches this from above and dismisses Chen Cheng as an insignificant “country bumpkin” and a fallen genius.
• Inside the dojo, Chen Cheng presents an identity token created by Little Fatty. The dojo supervisor immediately recognizes him as his superior and respectfully calls him “Boss.”
• Chen Cheng begins asserting authority, criticizing the dojo’s poor-quality teacups and ordering the supervisor to purchase fine porcelain from the Stowe Merchant Association.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Displays a fiery temper but also strategic judgment. Rather than react recklessly, he sends Little Maidservant away to seek the Crown Prince’s support and prepares to use his wider influence against the Guild Master. His authority within the dojo is also revealed.
• Adventurer’s Guild Master: Shows arrogance, elitism, and prejudice. He underestimates Chen Cheng because of his current Silver Rank and lack of visible magical power, assuming he is a fallen genius with no real backing.
• Dou Mu: Initially appears to be a poor, disheveled intelligence provider, but his instincts as a former Platinum Rank expert remain sharp. He recognizes Chen Cheng’s political connections and accepts employment under him.
• Little Maidservant: Becomes concerned by Chen Cheng’s anger and obediently agrees to return to the manor so she can report the Guild’s treatment of him.
• Dojo Supervisor: His immediate bow and use of “Boss” reveal Chen Cheng’s hidden status and influence within the dojo.

Significant Themes

• Pride and dignity: Chen Cheng refuses to tolerate being treated as inferior or as someone merely dependent on Mei Luo’s recommendation.
• Underestimation: The Guild Master judges Chen Cheng solely by his current rank and visible abilities, failing to recognize his resources and potential.
• Hidden power and influence: Chen Cheng’s connections to the Crown Prince, the dojo, and figures such as Little Fatty give him much greater influence than the Guild Master realizes.
• Strategic retaliation: Chen Cheng combines personal anger with calculated action, mobilizing allies rather than confronting the Guild Master blindly.
• Social hierarchy and prejudice: The Guild Master’s contempt for Chen Cheng reflects the rigid class and status assumptions within the Guild.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the Guild Master: Their conversation shifts from polite questioning to open hostility when the Guild Master implies Chen Cheng is abusing Mei Luo’s position.
• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu: Chen Cheng turns Dou Mu’s offer of assistance into a paid escort job, while Dou Mu demonstrates his awareness of Chen Cheng’s royal connections.
• Chen Cheng and Little Maidservant: Chen Cheng reassures her and sends her to the Crown Prince’s manor to seek support, showing both trust and strategic concern for her safety.
• Guild Master observing Chen Cheng: The Guild Master watches Chen Cheng hire Dou Mu and enter the dojo, interpreting these actions mockingly and continuing to underestimate him.
• Chen Cheng and the dojo supervisor: Their brief interaction exposes Chen Cheng’s authority over the dojo and marks the beginning of his effort to mobilize his own resources.

Chapter Summary: “Communication Conch”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng informs the Dojo’s supervisor that the Guild’s discount for future cooperation is being canceled because the Royal Capital’s main Adventurer’s Guild president insulted and discriminated against him.
• He orders the supervisor to publicly explain the decision by claiming that the president caused him emotional trauma and distorted the relationship between Chen Cheng and Elder Mei Luo.
• The supervisor is shocked, knowing that the Adventurer’s Guild has been essential to the Dojo’s success. The Dojo has helped thousands of Warrior’s Path cultivators advance, many of them Guild members, greatly strengthening the Guild’s position in the Kingdom of Moss.
• Chen Cheng reveals that he intends to remove the problematic Guild president, believing the man’s arrogance and poor judgment could eventually endanger Mei Luo.
• After the supervisor leaves, Chen Cheng uses an expensive, limited-use Communication Conch to contact Little Fatty, who is traveling far away.
• Chen Cheng explains that he was looked down upon by the Guild president and cut off the Guild’s preferential cooperation terms.
• Little Fatty immediately offers to spend whatever is necessary to help Chen Cheng retaliate, demonstrating his deep loyalty and willingness to support his friend.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes more decisive and authoritative in his leadership role. He recognizes that, as someone in power, he must make firm decisions rather than hesitate or defer to subordinates. He also shows a protective attitude toward Mei Luo and a strong unwillingness to tolerate insults or injustice.
• Little Fatty/Akasto: His loyalty to Chen Cheng is emphasized. He reacts with immediate anger and promises to support him at any cost, even before knowing the details. His extensive knowledge of the Guild’s internal situation also shows his importance in managing the Dojo’s broader interests.
• The supervisor: Displays caution and concern about damaging the Dojo’s relationship with the Guild, but his hesitation makes Chen Cheng realize how difficult command can be. He ultimately accepts Chen Cheng’s orders.
• The Guild president: Though absent from the chapter, he is characterized as arrogant, prejudiced, and dangerously presumptuous. His treatment of Chen Cheng has provoked a serious political and economic backlash.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and brotherhood: Little Fatty’s immediate willingness to defend Chen Cheng highlights the strength of their friendship.
• Power and leadership: Chen Cheng begins to understand the pressures of authority and the need to make difficult decisions independently.
• Political influence and retaliation: Economic cooperation becomes a weapon in the conflict, as Chen Cheng uses the Dojo’s value to pressure the Adventurer’s Guild.
• Protecting allies: Chen Cheng’s actions are motivated not only by personal offense but also by his desire to protect Mei Luo from an incompetent or potentially treacherous subordinate.
• The consequences of arrogance: The Guild president’s dismissive behavior threatens the Guild’s already weakened position and may cost it an important alliance.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the supervisor: Chen Cheng gives the supervisor explicit instructions about ending Guild discounts and publicizing the reason. The supervisor questions the wisdom of damaging ties with Mei Luo, but Chen Cheng insists the matter is not his to decide.
• Chen Cheng and Little Fatty: Their Communication Conch conversation reveals mutual trust and affection. Chen Cheng seeks Little Fatty’s support, while Little Fatty reacts passionately and promises to help him take revenge.
• Chen Cheng and the Guild president: They do not interact directly in the chapter, but the president’s earlier insult drives the entire conflict and prompts Chen Cheng to challenge the Guild’s leadership.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, offended by Guild Master Num, decides to retaliate.
• Chen Cheng reveals his true identity and status to Little Fatty, who agrees to help but advises against killing.
• The dojo cancels discounts for guild members due to Num's offense against Chen Cheng.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows his determination to protect Aunt Mei's interests and his growing influence.
• Little Fatty: Demonstrates his loyalty and shrewdness in business matters.
• Num (Guild Master): Shows his disrespect towards Aunt Mei and his underestimation of Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and alliances.
• The importance of reputation and status in the cultivation world.
• The exploitation of cultivators by powerful factions.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Little Fatty: Their conversation reveals their close relationship and shared goals.
• Chen Cheng and Num: Their conflict highlights the power imbalance between them.
• The adventurers and the dojo: The adventurers' reaction to the discount cancellation shows their loyalty to Chen Cheng and the dojo.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Adventurer's Guild Hall in the Royal Capital erupts in chaos due to the Dojo canceling adventurer discounts and priority usage rights.
• The Guild's preferential treatment with the Dojo is revoked due to an insult by the Guild Master to the Dojo's big boss.
• A Guild-registered adventurer has recently broken through to Platinum Rank using the Dojo, highlighting its value to warriors.

Character Developments

• Guild Master Hills is unaware of the situation and its severity until informed by a receptionist.
• Hills realizes the Dojo's immense value and the potential consequences of the Guild's actions.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between warriors and mages, with the Dojo's emergence increasing the chances of warrior promotions.
• The tangible interests and power dynamics between the Guild, Academy Alliance, and Church.
• The importance of the Dojo to the Guild's future and the potential consequences of Hills' actions.

Character Interactions

• Hills is criticized by Guild members for his actions.
• Hills considers seeking help from Chen Cheng, who has a close relationship with Hui Dun and Aunt Mei, to resolve the issue.
• The receptionist informs Hills about the situation and expresses concern about the potential repercussions.

Chapter Summary: “Warning from Headquarters”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hills realizes too late that the young man who previously brought Aunt Mei’s letter of recommendation was Chen Cheng, the person he had dismissed and pressured.
• The branch’s communication device rings, and Supreme Elder Klim furiously reprimands Hills. Hills’s actions caused Chen Cheng and Little Fatty to cut off cooperation between the Dojo and the Guild, jeopardizing Klim’s faction’s plans.
• The Guild’s Warrior’s Path faction had been relying on the Dojo’s techniques to improve cultivation efficiency and strengthen the Guild’s foundations. The Dojo’s refusal to cooperate threatens both the Guild’s future development and the faction’s position during the annual resource-allocation meeting.
• A Supreme Elder from the Guild’s magic faction then contacts Hills. Instead of protecting him, the elder also blames him for the Guild’s losses and cancels his expected reward, ordering him to restore the Dojo’s trust or return to headquarters.
• Hills initially misunderstands the situation as merely an internal factional struggle. He eventually realizes that both factions value the Dojo’s techniques more than their rivalry and that the Guild cannot afford to alienate the Dojo.
• Recognizing that Chen Cheng’s goodwill is now extremely important, Hills decides to apologize personally. He orders the receptionist to gather his stored Magic Gemstones as a gift.
• The chapter ends by revealing that Hills’s apology gift consists of dozens of exceptionally valuable Magic Gemstones, representing his entire lifetime of savings as branch president.

Character Developments

• Hills: His arrogance and shortsightedness collapse under pressure. He recognizes that his status and superior strength are insignificant compared with Chen Cheng’s value to the Guild. He becomes fearful, humbled, and desperate to repair the damage he caused.
• Chen Cheng: Although he does not appear directly, his influence is shown to be enormous. A single decision or statement from him has disrupted months of Guild planning and forced senior Guild figures to intervene.
• Little Fatty: His decision to suspend cooperation with the Guild demonstrates his loyalty to Chen Cheng and the Dojo, as well as his ability to exert significant influence over the Guild’s development.
• Supreme Elders Klim and the magic faction elder: Both represent opposing Guild factions, but their shared anger reveals that the Dojo’s techniques are important enough to override internal political divisions.
• The receptionist: She provides a more balanced judgment of Hills, acknowledging that he was generally competent but made a serious mistake by abusing his authority and mishandling Chen Cheng’s recommendation.

Significant Themes

• The danger of arrogance and shortsightedness: Hills values formal authority and material resources over the significance of Chen Cheng’s connections, only realizing his mistake after causing major damage.
• Political power and practical necessity: Despite its lack of deep foundations or top-level combatants, the Dojo holds crucial leverage because the Guild desperately needs its cultivation techniques.
• The limits of institutional power: The Guild is one of the world’s three great powers, yet it cannot simply force the Dojo into submission without harming its own future.
• Consequences and accountability: Hills must personally bear responsibility for violating Guild rules and mishandling Chen Cheng, even though his mistake affects the entire organization.
• The value of trust: The Guild’s relationship with the Dojo depends not only on resources or authority but also on maintaining Chen Cheng’s goodwill.

Character Interactions

• Hills’s earlier treatment of Chen Cheng contrasts sharply with his later desperation to apologize to him.
• Klim condemns Hills for damaging his faction’s plans and threatens him with severe punishment.
• The magic faction’s Supreme Elder also rebukes Hills, proving that the entire Guild—not merely Klim’s faction—has suffered from his actions.
• Hills and the receptionist interact during the preparation of the Magic Gemstones, with her silent reaction reflecting the seriousness of his mistake.
• Though Chen Cheng is absent, nearly every interaction in the chapter centers on his influence and the Guild’s urgent need to regain his trust.

Chapter Summary: “An Apology Gift”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hills decides to apologize to Chen Cheng by offering his entire fortune, originally intended to help him break through to a higher realm.
• The receptionist packs twenty-three Magic Gemstones—ranging from egg-sized to fist-sized—into a gift box.
• Hills leaves the Adventurer’s Guild and is confronted by angry adventurers whose opportunities at the Dojo were ruined because of his actions. He uses his domain to push through the crowd without retaliating.
• At the Dojo, Hills is escorted to Chen Cheng’s office. The Guild manager stationed there, who was beaten by angry adventurers, is dismissed by Chen Cheng and given paid leave and medical compensation.
• Hills offers Chen Cheng the gemstones and says that, if his apology is rejected, he can only offer his life.
• Chen Cheng explains that Hills still misunderstands the issue. The problem is not merely the damage caused by his actions or the value of his compensation, but his failure to fulfill the responsibility attached to his position.
• Chen Cheng reminds Hills that he became branch Guild Master because the Guild Master trusted him to look after Mei Luo, not because he was uniquely powerful.
• Hills recalls the Guild Master’s instructions to protect Mei Luo in the Kingdom of Moss and realizes that he had treated her presence as a nuisance rather than accepting responsibility for her safety and well-being.

Character Developments

• Hills: His arrogance and confidence collapse as he experiences the consequences of his actions. Although he remains dignified before the angry adventurers, he becomes increasingly humbled. His apology initially focuses on material compensation, but Chen Cheng forces him to recognize his deeper failure: neglecting his duty to Mei Luo and abusing the privileges of his position.
• Chen Cheng: He demonstrates authority, composure, and sharp insight. While he is tempted by the valuable Magic Gemstones, he refuses to let Hills reduce the matter to a financial transaction. He also shows fairness by treating the injured Guild manager’s wounds as work-related and arranging compensation.
• The Guild receptionist: She silently disapproves of Hills’s situation but continues to assist him, reflecting both loyalty and restrained criticism.
• The Guild manager: His injuries reveal that Hills’s actions caused trouble not only for himself but also for uninvolved people working under the Guild.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus status: Holding a prestigious title means accepting its accompanying obligations. Hills cannot enjoy the authority of branch Guild Master while avoiding the responsibility of protecting Mei Luo.
• The limits of material compensation: Wealth and rare treasures cannot repair failures caused by negligence or insincerity.
• Fall from grace: Hills moves abruptly from receiving praise and respect to enduring public hatred and humiliation.
• Authority and accountability: Chen Cheng uses Dou Mu and the confrontation to establish that even powerful figures such as Hills must answer for their actions.
• Misunderstanding duty: Hills interpreted his assignment as keeping Mei Luo quiet and out of trouble, while the Guild Master intended him to actively look after her.

Character Interactions

• Hills and the adventurers clash indirectly: they curse and condemn him, while he maintains control and forces his way through without violence.
• Chen Cheng and Hills engage in a tense exchange in which Chen Cheng imitates Hills’s former condescending manner, making Hills confront his own hypocrisy.
• Chen Cheng treats the injured Guild manager compassionately, contrasting with Hills’s earlier indifference toward problems involving Mei Luo.
• The confrontation ultimately becomes less about the gift and more about forcing Hills to understand his neglected relationship with Mei Luo and the true meaning of his appointment.

Chapter Summary: “Face Reality”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng confronts Hills over his failure to properly support Aunt Mei, despite benefiting from Guildmaster Lokasky’s patronage and faction.
• He explains that Hills’s success as branch president came not only from his own ability but also from the stage and opportunities provided by the Guildmaster. Therefore, Hills owes gratitude and should have treated Aunt Mei’s affairs with the same seriousness as the Guildmaster’s orders.
• Chen Cheng clarifies that he does not personally resent Hills. He chose Hills as an example to warn him—and others—not to misuse factional support while attempting to distance themselves from its responsibilities.
• Chen Cheng admits that Hills is talented and not fundamentally treacherous, which is why he is trying to correct rather than destroy him. He could have severed the Dojo’s cooperation with the Guild but deliberately chooses a less destructive approach.
• After Hills leaves, the supervisor informs Chen Cheng that Crown Prince Wisdom Shield has surrounded the Guild’s entire street with the City Guard and Wisdom Shield forces.
• Chen Cheng remembers that he had previously sent Little Maidservant to summon the Crown Prince for protection, fearing Hills might retaliate. Since Hills has now apologized and abandoned that course, the reinforcements are no longer necessary, but they have already arrived.
• Wisdom Shield prepares his forces to suppress any serious disturbance and is visibly relieved when Chen Cheng emerges safely. He scolds Chen Cheng for taking such risks and admits he would have destroyed the Guild—even at the cost of offending the Church—if Chen Cheng had been killed.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates increased political and social awareness. He recognizes that power in this world depends not only on strength but also on factional ties, patronage, loyalty, and reputation. He acts firmly but pragmatically, choosing to reform Hills rather than ruin him.
• Hills: Forced to confront his ingratitude and self-righteousness. Though bitter and humiliated, he appears to understand Chen Cheng’s criticism and leaves in a defeated, reflective state.
• Wisdom Shield: Shows deep concern and loyalty toward Chen Cheng. His adoption of Chen Cheng’s language—calling the City Guard “brothers”—also reveals his growing ability to inspire personal devotion among his subordinates.
• City Guard General: Becomes emotionally moved and more loyal after Wisdom Shield refers to the guards as “brothers,” illustrating the power of small gestures from a ruler.
• Aunt Mei: Though absent, she remains central to the conflict as both Lokasky’s biological daughter and someone whose interests Hills neglected.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and loyalty: Advancement gained through another person’s support creates obligations, and rejecting those obligations while still enjoying their benefits is portrayed as hypocrisy.
• Factional power and political dependence: Even highly capable figures may be mere pieces within larger power structures. Talent alone does not guarantee independence.
• Reputation versus responsibility: Hills prioritizes his personal dignity and public image over loyalty to those who enabled his position.
• Pragmatism over revenge: Chen Cheng uses confrontation as a corrective measure rather than pursuing unnecessary destruction.
• Leadership and personal loyalty: Wisdom Shield’s concern for Chen Cheng and his warm treatment of soldiers show how personal goodwill can inspire loyalty in a hierarchical society.
• Power and vulnerability: Despite the existence of Transcendent beings, social relationships and political alliances remain decisive forces.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Hills: Their exchange is blunt and confrontational. Chen Cheng acknowledges Hills’s achievements while accusing him of being an ungrateful beneficiary of the Guildmaster’s faction. Hills responds with bitterness but is ultimately unable to refute the argument.
• Chen Cheng and Aunt Mei: Although Aunt Mei is not present, Chen Cheng defends her and insists Hills should repent to her directly.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield: Their relationship is affectionate and mutually protective. Wisdom Shield is angry because Chen Cheng endangered himself, while Chen Cheng’s earlier actions show that he trusted the Crown Prince enough to call for his aid.
• Wisdom Shield and the City Guard: By calling the soldiers “brothers,” Wisdom Shield strengthens their loyalty and morale, demonstrating his growing resemblance to the leadership style Chen Cheng has modeled.

Chapter Summary: Clearing Out Criminals Hiding in the Guild

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng remains confident that Wisdom Shield’s presence will protect him, but Wisdom Shield argues that the Guild may be powerful enough to disregard even a future king.
• Wisdom Shield orders the City Guard to advance into the Guild’s privately reserved grounds. His goal is not merely to protect the Dojo, but to demonstrate that the Kingdom will not tolerate the Guild acting above the law.
• Adventurers who benefited from the Dojo welcome the City Guard’s intervention, believing stronger royal support will help the Dojo survive and continue offering them opportunities.
• The Guild’s registered adventurers become increasingly anxious because many have used the Guild as protection from punishment for crimes committed during missions.
• Guild Master Hills confronts Wisdom Shield and attempts to de-escalate the situation by emphasizing that the Guild remains under the Kingdom of Moss and that the army’s intimidating presence is excessive.
• Wisdom Shield counters that the Guild contains criminals and argues that even a few corrupt individuals can taint the entire organization. He demands that Hills step aside or risk being charged with obstructing official duties.
• Hills ultimately allows the City Guard to proceed. He recognizes that Wisdom Shield is targeting criminals rather than the Guild itself and believes defending corrupt adventurers would damage the Guild’s reputation further.
• The chapter concludes by reflecting on the Guild’s decline: once a respected institution, it has gradually become a refuge for lawless adventurers.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield demonstrates political authority, determination, and a strong commitment to law and order. He carefully distinguishes between ordinary Guild members and criminals hiding within the organization, making it difficult for Hills to oppose him publicly.
• Hills is portrayed as a principled but limited Guild Master. Although he cannot reform the entire Guild, he dislikes corrupt adventurers and tries to improve the organization indirectly by supporting reputable teams such as Moni’s.
• Chen Cheng remains somewhat carefree and reliant on Wisdom Shield’s protection, while Wisdom Shield’s response reveals the limits of royal power against large institutions.
• The registered adventurers are exposed as fearful and dependent on the Guild’s protection, revealing their lack of accountability.
• Moni’s team is presented as an exception among adventurers because they have retained their integrity, partly through Hills’s support and influence.
• Aunt Mei’s distrust of the Guild is retrospectively validated, as the Guild is shown to shelter criminals and prioritize mission success over moral character.

Significant Themes

• Rule of law versus institutional power: The chapter examines whether powerful organizations can place themselves above national authority.
• Corruption and collective reputation: The wrongdoing of a minority threatens to stain the entire Guild, reinforcing the idea that institutions must take responsibility for those they protect.
• Justice versus loyalty: Hills must choose between defending the Guild’s dignity and allowing criminals to face punishment; he ultimately prioritizes justice and the Guild’s long-term reputation.
• Moral decline: The Guild has shifted from a respected organization into a shelter for criminals, showing how institutions can deteriorate when efficiency and results replace ethics.
• Influence through example: Hills’s efforts to promote honorable adventurers suggest that meaningful reform may begin by supporting individuals who preserve their principles.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield: Chen Cheng expresses confidence in royal protection, while Wisdom Shield challenges his assumptions about the Guild’s power.
• Wisdom Shield and Hills: Their confrontation forms the chapter’s central conflict. Hills uses diplomacy and appeals to royal benevolence, but Wisdom Shield responds with direct accusations and legal authority.
• Hills and the registered adventurers: The adventurers expect Hills to protect them, but his decision to yield shows that he will not sacrifice his principles to shield criminals.
• Hills and Moni’s team: Hills’s support for Moni’s group reflects his attempt to preserve honorable adventurers and influence the Guild’s future despite its broader corruption.

Chapter Summary: A Ruler Who Cannot Keep Secrets Loses His Ministers

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wisdom Shield uses Chen Cheng’s complaint against the Adventurers’ Guild as an opportunity to assert royal authority over the Guild’s territory.
• The City Guard enters the Guild district, arrests several wanted adventurers, and receives unexpected assistance from rival adventuring parties who restrain the criminals for bounty rewards.
• Wisdom Shield announces that the Guild will retain control of its territory but must now share responsibility for law enforcement with the Kingdom. The City Guard will patrol the area, while the Guild may apprehend criminals and receive royal support and rewards.
• Guildmaster Hills accepts the arrangement uneasily but begins to view it as potentially beneficial. He also resolves to apologize personally to Mei Luo for prioritizing his reputation over fairness.
• Afterward, Wisdom Shield apologizes to Chen Cheng for exploiting the situation without consulting him. Chen Cheng reassures him that the action was politically appropriate and warns that rulers and ministers must preserve some secrets from one another.
• Wisdom Shield becomes suspicious of Chen Cheng’s unusually advanced political insight, joking that he may be a foreign prince.
• Chen Cheng realizes that his former identity as a slave can no longer conceal his mysterious background. He decides he must create a new identity and eventually leave the area before anyone investigates him.
• Back at the Crown Prince’s Manor, Chen Cheng reunites with Little Maidservant and discovers that Dou Mu stayed behind to protect her.
• Chen Cheng hires Dou Mu as captain of the Royal Capital Dojo’s guard unit for fifty gold per month, only to reveal that Dou Mu is currently the unit’s sole member and must recruit the rest himself.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield demonstrates growing political maturity. He manipulates a favorable moment to weaken the Guild’s independence while presenting the arrangement as cooperation rather than domination.
• Chen Cheng acts as a political adviser and reveals sophisticated knowledge about rulers, secrecy, and power. However, his own insight makes him aware that his origins may eventually be exposed.
• Guildmaster Hills shifts from defending the Guild’s old reputation to accepting practical cooperation with the Kingdom. His intention to apologize to Mei Luo shows increasing humility and self-awareness.
• Dou Mu proves observant and opportunistic, cleverly using his assignment to secure a comfortable and prestigious position.
• Little Maidservant remains deeply concerned for Chen Cheng’s safety and greets him with loyalty and affection.

Significant Themes

• The expansion of royal authority: The Kingdom gains practical control over Guild territory without abolishing the Guild’s autonomy.
• Political compromise and mutual benefit: Wisdom Shield’s policy succeeds because it offers the Guild cooperation and rewards instead of relying solely on coercion.
• Secrecy in leadership: Chen Cheng emphasizes that rulers and ministers cannot reveal every thought or action, since complete transparency can undermine trust and political survival.
• Identity and concealment: Chen Cheng’s unusual knowledge threatens to expose his true origins, forcing him to consider reinventing himself.
• Reputation versus responsibility: Hills recognizes that protecting appearances led him to act unfairly, prompting his desire to make amends.
• Humor amid political maneuvering: Dou Mu’s “guard unit” consisting of only himself provides a comic conclusion to the chapter.

Important Character Interactions

• Wisdom Shield and Hills: Wisdom Shield formally establishes the new balance of power, making the Guild responsible for maintaining order while placing it under greater royal oversight.
• Wisdom Shield and Chen Cheng: Their conversation strengthens their political partnership. Chen Cheng accepts Wisdom Shield’s maneuver and gives him advice about secrecy and rulership.
• Hills and Mei Luo: Though they do not meet in the chapter, Hills’s decision to apologize marks an important shift in their relationship.
• Chen Cheng and Little Maidservant: Their reunion highlights mutual loyalty and her concern for his wellbeing.
• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu: Their playful exchange leads to Dou Mu’s promotion, while also showing Chen Cheng’s tendency to reward useful loyalty and initiative.

Chapter Summary: “Farewell in Advance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng assigns Dou Mu the task of building a new guard team for the Dojo. Dou Mu is authorized to recruit:
  • One deputy captain earning thirty-five gold monthly.
  • Up to fifteen members earning twenty gold monthly.
  • All members will receive insurance, housing benefits, performance bonuses, and year-end bonuses.
• Chen Cheng emphasizes recruiting capable people with good character. Though Dou Mu initially feels overwhelmed, Chen Cheng’s encouragement motivates him to accept the responsibility and rebuild his life after the destruction of his former squad.
• Chen Cheng views the guard force as an experiment to determine whether the Dojo can establish its own security organization under the Guild’s supervision. He also sees it as compensation for Little Fatty, who will eventually manage the Dojo’s affairs.
• Wisdom Shield prepares to leave the Royal Capital and return to Hui Dun City, where he has a stronger base of power and greater safety as Moss XIII prepares to confront the old political powers.
• Wisdom Shield receives an invitation from Prince Xiaosuo to attend the opening of a cement factory outside the capital. He accepts, recognizing the factory as an important step in the spread of Hui Dun City’s industrial development.
• Wisdom Shield decides to visit Chen Cheng personally before leaving. Chen Cheng declines to attend the factory opening, suggesting that Wisdom Shield instead bring Vivienne so their appearance together will strengthen the event’s political impact.
• During their conversation, Wisdom Shield realizes that Chen Cheng intends to leave his side. The two friends share an emotional farewell, though Chen Cheng repeatedly uses humor to prevent the moment from becoming overly sentimental.
• Chen Cheng asks Wisdom Shield to protect the Little Maidservant after his departure. Wisdom Shield promises to preserve Chen Cheng’s courtyard and allow her to remain there, while also agreeing not to prevent her from leaving if she finds someone she loves.
• After Wisdom Shield leaves, Chen Cheng feels relieved, believing that he has finally said goodbye in advance and settled the matter weighing on his heart.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates growing responsibility and strategic thinking by establishing an independent guard force for the Dojo. He also shows concern for the futures and freedom of those dependent on him, especially the Little Maidservant.
• Dou Mu begins recovering from the trauma and discouragement caused by losing his former squad. Although he doubts his ability to start over, Chen Cheng’s trust and the financial opportunity inspire him to take on the challenge.
• Wisdom Shield continues to mature as a political leader. He recognizes the importance of industry, understands the danger posed by the old powers, and prepares to strengthen his position in Hui Dun City. At the same time, he remains deeply loyal to Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield’s relationship is reaffirmed as one of genuine brotherhood. Both acknowledge how much they owe each other, while accepting that their paths are about to temporarily diverge.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield’s bond remains strong despite Chen Cheng’s impending departure. Their promises to support one another show that separation will not end their partnership.
• Responsibility and rebuilding: Dou Mu’s recruitment task symbolizes the effort to rebuild after loss, while the new guard force represents the Dojo’s growing independence.
• Political and social transformation: The cement factory reflects the spread of science, technology, and industrial development beyond Hui Dun City, challenging the established order.
• Freedom and compassion: Chen Cheng’s concern for the Little Maidservant highlights his rejection of lifelong servitude and his desire for her to choose her own future.
• Farewell and emotional restraint: The chapter centers on parting, but humor allows Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield to express affection without becoming overwhelmed by grief.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu: Chen Cheng entrusts Dou Mu with leadership of the new guard force, encouraging him to regain his confidence.
• Wisdom Shield and his butler: The butler delivers Prince Xiaosuo’s invitation, revealing the Crown Prince’s support for the cement factory’s opening.
• Wisdom Shield and Chen Cheng: They discuss the invitation, Vivienne, Chen Cheng’s departure, and their continued mutual support. Their farewell combines sincere gratitude with teasing and humor.
• Chen Cheng and the Little Maidservant: Though she does not appear directly, Chen Cheng’s concern for her future shapes his final request to Wisdom Shield.

Plot points and events

• Chen Cheng discovers Little Maidservant knows he plans to leave. He comforts her and explains that she will have her own courtyard, and eventually the freedom to choose her future.
• Since she cannot travel with him, Chen Cheng arranges for her to go to Hui Dun City with Wisdom Shield and Vivienne. He promises to return there after his travels, giving her somewhere to wait for him.
• The next morning, Wisdom Shield and Vivienne set out for Prince Xiaosuo’s cement factory opening. Their attendance also represents the Crown Prince’s Manor placing the factory’s first order.
• Xiaosuo’s advisers encouraged the grand opening as a way to advertise cement, attract customers and investors, and help repay the factory’s bridge loans.
• Xiaosuo’s Princess Consort, angry and suspicious that he has been staying at the factory, decides to attend the ceremony herself. A steward discreetly sends word to Xiaosuo.
• Xiaosuo welcomes visiting officials, then eagerly greets Wisdom Shield. Wisdom Shield arrives with Vivienne, making a strong public show of support for Xiaosuo.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Cheng’s affection for Little Maidservant is protective and familial: he reassures her, wipes away her tears, and plans for her independence and happiness.
• Little Maidservant is deeply attached to Chen Cheng and initially begs him not to leave. His promise that they will meet again in Hui Dun City helps her accept the separation.
• Xiaosuo shows growing business acumen by embracing the advisers’ plan to use the ceremony for publicity and fundraising.
• The Princess Consort interprets Xiaosuo’s absence as possible political distancing and takes control of the situation by deciding to appear.
• Wisdom Shield’s warm, prominent support—and Vivienne’s presence—reassures observers that Xiaosuo retains the Crown Prince’s favor.

Significant themes

• Attachment and independence: Chen Cheng cares for Little Maidservant while reminding her that she belongs to herself and should shape her own future.
• Business and public image: The ceremony is both marketing and a means of attracting investment.
• Political signaling: Who attends the opening—and alongside whom—communicates influence and status.
• Power within relationships: The strained dynamic between Xiaosuo and his Princess Consort contrasts with Chen Cheng’s gentle, supportive bond with Little Maidservant.

Chapter Summary: “Touring the Factory”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Public opinion toward Prince Xiao Suo shifts after he successfully enters the cement industry. People who once mocked him for personally engaging in commerce now treat him with respect, following the changing attitudes of powerful figures.
• Chancellor Holmis receives permission from Moss XIII and Wisdom Shield to investigate the embezzlement of disaster-relief supplies in Duke Griffin’s territory. This causes former supporters of the Duke’s Mansion to distance themselves, unaware that the investigation is part of a larger plan to bring down one of the kingdom’s two dukes.
• Wisdom Shield and Vivienne attend the opening of Xiao Suo’s cement factory. Xiao Suo warmly welcomes them and signals his loyalty to Wisdom Shield, promising to operate the factory diligently and support Hui Dun City’s expansion into external industries.
• Xiao Suo subtly declares that he has no intention of becoming involved in political conflict on behalf of his father-in-law, Duke Griffin. Wisdom Shield recognizes this as a wise and politically significant stance, increasing his admiration for his uncle.
• When Xiao Suo learns that the Princess Consort is coming, he becomes anxious that she will cause trouble and publicly embarrass him during the opening ceremony. He orders a subordinate to intercept her, though the servant doubts he can actually restrain her.
• The factory’s opening ceremony begins with a formal ribbon-cutting, an unfamiliar but increasingly adopted custom introduced through Hui Dun City’s commercial practices. Xiao Suo, Wisdom Shield, Vivienne, and respected nobles participate.
• Xiao Suo leads the guests through the large, integrated cement plant, explaining its processes of material selection, calcination, production, and quality inspection. Wisdom Shield listens attentively and asks practical questions because the factory represents the first major expansion of Hui Dun City’s manufacturing sector.
• At the testing grounds, the nobles witness cement mixed with sand and stone hardening into extremely durable construction material. Seeing cement structures resembling stone houses and walls convinces them of its practical value.
• An old noble praises cement’s potential to simplify the construction of houses and city walls. The Princess Consort then arrives and sarcastically remarks that a prince would naturally ensure his products were not defective, immediately introducing tension.

Character Developments

• Xiao Suo is revealed to be politically astute, commercially capable, and cautious. He uses the factory to support Wisdom Shield while carefully distancing himself from Duke Griffin’s political troubles. His fear of the Princess Consort shows his awareness of her disruptive influence.
• Wisdom Shield gains deeper respect for Xiao Suo, recognizing that his uncle is neither incompetent nor politically naïve. He also demonstrates genuine interest in industrial development by carefully studying the factory.
• Vivienne is formally acknowledged by Xiao Suo as Wisdom Shield’s wife, strengthening their familial relationship. She accompanies Wisdom Shield and participates in the ceremony.
• The Princess Consort is established as proud, intimidating, and potentially hostile. Her jealous, sarcastic entrance suggests she intends to undermine Xiao Suo’s success or provoke him publicly.
• The nobles begin shifting their opinions based on political signals and are impressed by cement’s practical potential, even if they do not understand its production.

Significant Themes

• Political influence and social imitation: The attitudes of the elite change according to the perceived favor or disfavor of the kingdom’s highest authorities.
• Commerce as political strategy: Xiao Suo’s factory is not merely a business venture; it becomes a declaration of allegiance to Wisdom Shield and a way to strengthen Hui Dun City.
• Industrial modernization: Cement represents a transformative technology capable of changing construction, infrastructure, and the kingdom’s economic development.
• Pragmatism and survival: Xiao Suo carefully balances family ties, political danger, and economic opportunity rather than blindly defending Duke Griffin.
• Public image and power: The opening ceremony demonstrates how business success, royal approval, and social reputation reinforce one another.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Suo warmly welcomes Wisdom Shield and Vivienne, while Wisdom Shield responds with growing admiration for his uncle.
• Xiao Suo communicates his political loyalty indirectly, and Wisdom Shield correctly understands the message.
• Wisdom Shield explains the ribbon-cutting ceremony to Vivienne, showing his familiarity with Hui Dun City’s innovations.
• Xiao Suo personally guides the nobles through the factory, while Wisdom Shield engages seriously with the technical explanations.
• The nobles react with amazement to the cement structures, but the Princess Consort interrupts their praise with a mocking comment, setting up a likely confrontation with Xiao Suo.

Chapter Summary: “A Slap”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Princess Consort arrives during Xiao Suo’s tour and notices that one of his servants has been slapped. Though furious, she maintains an outwardly graceful demeanor.
• Xiao Suo dismisses the guests to prevent them from witnessing the conflict between him and his wife.
• The Princess Consort makes provocative remarks about Vivienne and Melinda, implying that Melinda failed to secure a powerful marriage and insulting Wisdom Shield’s former status.
• Vivienne retaliates by pointing out the Princess Consort’s childlessness, exposing one of her deepest vulnerabilities.
• The confrontation forces Xiao Suo to remember Melinda’s mother, Ling’er, an Elf whom he loved but whose life was destroyed by his marriage, indecision, and the Princess Consort’s persecution.
• When the Princess Consort continues attacking Vivienne, Xiao Suo orders her to stop and unexpectedly slaps her. She leaves in fury and humiliation.
• Xiao Suo breaks down in tears, confessing his guilt over betraying both Ling’er and his political marriage.
• After recovering, Xiao Suo tells Wisdom Shield that he intends to formally divorce the Princess Consort through heli.
• He reveals that the Princess Consort was manipulated by members of her family into persecuting Ling’er, though he accepts responsibility for deceiving Ling’er and betraying his marriage. He promises to punish those who incited the past crimes while asking Wisdom Shield to spare the Princess Consort after the divorce.

Character Developments

• Xiao Suo finally breaks decades of silence and emotional restraint. His slap marks a dramatic rejection of the passive role he has played in his unhappy marriage. His grief and self-condemnation show that he remains haunted by Ling’er’s death and Melinda’s suffering.
• The Princess Consort is revealed as proud, insecure, and cruel, particularly concerning her inability to bear children. Her composure collapses after Xiao Suo openly rejects her.
• Vivienne demonstrates her boldness and loyalty to Wisdom Shield by directly defending him and refusing to tolerate the Princess Consort’s insults.
• Wisdom Shield responds with sympathy rather than contempt toward Xiao Suo. Witnessing the damage caused by political marriage strengthens his determination to pursue reform.
• Melinda and Ling’er, though absent, become central to the chapter through Xiao Suo’s memories and remorse.

Significant Themes

• The destructive effects of political marriage: Xiao Suo’s loveless marriage harms everyone involved and prevents genuine happiness.
• Guilt and responsibility: Xiao Suo recognizes that both the Princess Consort and himself contributed to Ling’er’s death, but he considers his own betrayal the original cause.
• The oppression of women and the importance of heirs: The Princess Consort’s childlessness is treated as a major social failing, contributing to Xiao Suo’s affair and her insecurity.
• Reform and future generations: Wisdom Shield resolves to change the system so future royal marriages are based on love and personal happiness rather than political convenience.
• Justice versus mercy: Xiao Suo wants Wisdom Shield to investigate and punish the Princess Consort’s family, but asks that she herself be protected after the divorce because of his lingering sense of responsibility.

Character Interactions

• The Princess Consort uses veiled insults against Wisdom Shield and Vivienne, prompting Vivienne’s sharp counterattack.
• Xiao Suo initially attempts to maintain peace but ultimately sides against the Princess Consort when she continues her provocation.
• After the confrontation, Wisdom Shield comforts Xiao Suo and helps him stand, showing familial compassion.
• Xiao Suo entrusts Wisdom Shield with the truth about the past and asks him to pursue justice while sparing the Princess Consort from the harshest consequences.

Chapter Summary

• Political meaning of Heli: The chapter explains that Heli is not an ordinary divorce but a formal political severance. It ends a royal marriage while absolving the wife of crimes connected to her family, though she loses her noble status, kinship ties, and former duties, becoming a commoner. Xiao Suo proposes this solution to protect the Princess Consort from political consequences while completely cutting ties with her.
• Xiao Suo’s emotional release: Wisdom Shield recognizes that Xiao Suo has finally let go of the burden caused by his failed marriage. After agreeing to the arrangement, he leaves, while Xiao Suo remains behind, breaking down in tears before regaining his composure and returning to the city.
• Wisdom Shield and Vivienne: On the journey home, Vivienne worries about marriage after witnessing Xiao Suo’s unhappy relationship. Wisdom Shield reassures her that he will create a better future and ensure their children do not repeat the mistakes of the previous generation. Vivienne asks to accompany him to Hui Dun City, even declaring that she will leave home if necessary because she has chosen him for life. Wisdom Shield responds with an equally sincere promise to marry no one but her. Their affectionate exchange deepens their commitment and highlights the contrast between their relationship and Xiao Suo’s marriage.
• The Princess Consort’s distress: Back at the prince’s residence, the Princess Consort becomes distraught over being slapped by Xiao Suo. Her wet nurse angrily defends her and blames Xiao Suo, but accidentally touches upon the Princess Consort’s deepest pain by referring to her inability to bear children. The Princess Consort slaps the wet nurse and collapses in tears, revealing her insecurity, grief, and resentment over being unable to give Xiao Suo heirs. Although spoiled and proud, she had genuinely hoped to preserve her marriage and cannot accept sharing her husband with other women.
• The wet nurse seeks retaliation: The wet nurse keeps the incident secret from the household servants, then goes to the Duke’s Mansion to ask the Princess Consort’s powerful family to intervene. The gatekeeper admits her because the Duke and his sons fiercely protect the family’s only daughter. The wet nurse reports the incident to the Eldest Young Master’s wife, emphasizing Xiao Suo’s alleged neglect, lack of ambition, and violence toward the Princess Consort.
• The Duke’s family reacts: Although the Eldest Young Master’s wife understands that the Princess Consort has often mocked and mistreated Xiao Suo, she is enraged by the slap and feels that it has insulted the entire Duke’s Mansion. She orders the Duke to be summoned and declares that the family will not let the matter go. The changing political relationship between the royal family and the Duke’s household makes the conflict especially dangerous.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xiao Suo moves from emotional dependence and marital suffering toward decisive separation, though his tears show that he still feels profound grief.
• Wisdom Shield becomes more confident and protective, openly promising Vivienne a stable marriage and future.
• Vivienne shifts from fear of marriage to determined commitment, asserting her independence and loyalty.
• The Princess Consort is shown as both privileged and deeply wounded: her pride, infertility, jealousy, and attachment to Xiao Suo fuel her misery.
• The wet nurse acts as the Princess Consort’s fierce protector, but her careless words worsen her mistress’s pain.
• The Eldest Young Master’s wife balances personal sympathy with family loyalty, choosing to defend the Princess Consort despite recognizing her faults.

Significant Themes

• Marriage as a political institution rather than merely a personal bond
• The emotional and social cost of infertility and royal expectations
• The contrast between healthy mutual love and a marriage damaged by power, resentment, and obligation

Family honor and political retaliation

• The possibility of breaking away from inherited patterns and building a better future

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng arrives at the Dojo to oversee the guard recruitment process, fearing Dou Mu's lack of seriousness.
• Despite initial skepticism, many adventurers show interest in joining the Dojo's guard team due to the previous day's events.
• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu conduct interviews, with Chen Cheng deciding to offer resources and Dojo facilities to recruits who sign an apprentice contract.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Realizes the potential of nurturing his own people and decides to implement an apprentice system, showing growth in his business acumen.
• Dou Mu: Regains his fighting spirit, takes initiative in gathering applicants, and demonstrates understanding of the Dojo's future development.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity and Ambition: The Dojo's recruitment process offers an opportunity for humble geniuses to improve their lives, reflecting the theme of ambition and seizing opportunities.
• Power Dynamics: The Dojo's growing influence challenges the Guild's authority, highlighting the shifting power dynamics in the Royal Capital.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu: Their partnership grows as they work together to recruit and interview applicants, with Dou Mu showing initiative and Chen Cheng making crucial decisions.
• Chen Cheng and Applicants: Chen Cheng interacts with various applicants, demonstrating fairness and respect, even when rejecting candidates.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng recruits six geniuses with considerable strength and potential.
• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu discuss the difficulty of advancing to Platinum Rank on the Warrior's Path.
• Chen Cheng understands the resource gap between the three major powers and other cultivators, likening it to educational disparities in his previous life.
• Dou Mu reassures Chen Cheng about the Dojo's importance and its potential to help geniuses advance to Platinum Rank.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Realizes the vast resource gap between the three major powers and other cultivators, understands the Dojo's importance, and becomes less anxious about recruitment.
• Dou Mu: Provides insights into the Warrior's Path and the Dojo's potential, reassuring Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Resource disparity and its impact on cultivation progress.
• The importance of the Dojo in helping cultivators advance to Platinum Rank.
• The difficulty of advancing to Platinum Rank on the Warrior's Path.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu discuss cultivation theories and the Dojo's potential, with Dou Mu providing reassurance and guidance to Chen Cheng.

Chapter Summary: “Red Skull”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The afternoon interviews attract more applicants than the morning session, including higher-quality candidates.
• A heavily covered man is asked to remove his hood so the interviewers can see him clearly. He reveals a bald, red-skinned, skull-like face.
• Chen Cheng is startled by his resemblance to Marvel’s Red Skull, briefly confusing him with the fictional character before realizing he is an entirely different person.
• The man introduces himself as Wilson, though he is commonly known as Red Skull. He explains that his appearance resulted from forcibly breaking through during a dangerous mission against a Flying Flame Vine Snake.
• Wilson is thirty-two years old, at the early Platinum realm, follows the Warrior’s Path, and specializes in short swords.
• Dou Mu accepts him, noting that Wilson’s honesty and trusting nature are well known. Chen Cheng officially welcomes him to the Dojo.
• Wilson leaves with an acceptance form and is told to report the next day. He declines temporary lodging because he still has a paid room at his inn.
• After the interview session ends, applicants are given ten-percent-off coupons as compensation for the Dojo’s recently revoked Guild discounts.
• Chen Cheng assigns Dou Mu responsibility for recruiting, organizing, and training the new apprentices. He appoints Wilson as vice-captain and instructs Dou Mu to coordinate with Akasto and Little Fatty.
• Dou Mu is caught off guard by Chen Cheng’s decision to make him responsible for the entire group, while Chen Cheng immediately turns his attention to Guild President Hills.

Character Developments

• Wilson/Red Skull is introduced as an honest, formidable, and somewhat trusting warrior. His willingness to reveal his weakness and even trust his sword’s judgment suggests strong intuition and personal integrity.
• Chen Cheng continues shifting into a managerial role while deliberately avoiding day-to-day administration. He embraces the idea of profiting from the Dojo’s operations, jokingly comparing himself to a capitalist.
• Dou Mu is unexpectedly promoted into a leadership and training position. Although he has not formally agreed to become an apprentice, Chen Cheng treats him as the person best suited to manage the new recruits.
• Little Fatty/Akasto remain responsible for external and logistical affairs, allowing Chen Cheng to focus on broader plans rather than routine management.

Significant Themes

• Trust and judgment: Wilson openly exposes his identity and abilities, believing his sword confirms that Chen Cheng and Dou Mu can be trusted. The interview challenges the idea that appearances or disabilities should affect acceptance.
• Appearance versus character: Wilson’s frightening face initially causes surprise, but the Dojo emphasizes that it does not discriminate against physical disfigurement.
• Leadership and delegation: Chen Cheng demonstrates confidence in assigning responsibilities, placing Dou Mu in charge of developing the Dojo’s next generation.
• Business and power: The Dojo’s conflict with the Guild continues through revoked discounts and compensatory coupons, showing Chen Cheng balancing recruitment, reputation, and commercial interests.
• Reluctant responsibility: Dou Mu’s sudden appointment highlights how leaders may be pushed into roles before they have consciously chosen them.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Wilson: Their awkward first exchange centers on Wilson’s concealed appearance, but it develops into mutual acceptance. Their brief handshake reveals that Wilson’s body is unnaturally cold and may contain a hidden secret.
• Dou Mu and Wilson: Dou Mu conducts the interview respectfully and accepts Wilson despite his appearance, while also recognizing his reputation and unusual honesty.
• Chen Cheng and Dou Mu: Chen Cheng gives Dou Mu extensive responsibilities without waiting for his agreement, establishing a dynamic in which Chen Cheng issues broad orders and Dou Mu is left to manage the consequences.
• Chen Cheng and Hills: The chapter ends as Chen Cheng turns to meet Guild President Hills, suggesting that the Dojo’s broader political and Guild-related conflicts will continue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hills, the guild leader, visits the dojo with a letter from Elder Mei Luo.
• Chen Cheng recruits guards for the dojo, with the guild and other factions infiltrating.
• Hills offers the guild's promotion of the dojo as compensation for the recent events.
• Chen Cheng reads Mei Luo's letter, revealing the guild's assets and encouraging him to demand compensation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng shows assertiveness and strategic thinking in dealing with Hills and the guild.
• Hills demonstrates his speed and power by traveling quickly to deliver the letter.
• Mei Luo, through her letter, shows support for Chen Cheng and the dojo, revealing the guild's assets.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and negotiation between the dojo and the guild.
• The importance of strategic alliances and compensation in maintaining relationships.
• The potential consequences of double-dealing and betrayal.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Hills engage in a tense negotiation, with Chen Cheng issuing warnings and demands.
• Chen Cheng consults with Little Fatty about the guild's compensation and the dojo's future.