Chapter Summaries

Wang Tao traded potions and equipment to the Six Army Corps for modern weapons, vehicles, and missile support, then prepared to join the next day's operation to clear a zombie horde. After the New Year's Eve dinner, he woke to a blizzard worse than the previous day's and questioned how anyone could go out.

• Wang Tao traded Strength Potions, Defense Potions, and Weapon Equipment to the corps commanders for firearms, vehicles, and other supplies, while registering Lan Yulian and others to request missile support.
• Yao Guodong announced that the Six Army Corps would lead an operation to clear the zombie horde, and Cheng Yiyi told Wang Tao that the Prairie Fire Society could follow the Sixth Army Corps without sharing profits.
• Lan Yulian applied for the Prairie Fire Society to participate, and Gu Yun approved the application because many of its members, including Wang Tao, Lan Yulian, and Xiang Hongbin, would join.
• Yao Guodong introduced the Municipal Government's cultivated mutated foods at the New Year's Eve dinner, and Wang Tao agreed with Ding Yuqin to buy some.
• Wang Tao went outside after midnight and noticed the snowfall worsening, then saw the next morning that the wind and snow were even stronger and wondered how the operation could proceed.

A worsening blizzard canceled Long River Base’s zombie-hunting operation and caused houses to collapse, turning the crisis into an urgent rescue effort. Wang Tao and his team saved everyone trapped in one cluster of ruins, then learned that another location needed help.

• Wang Tao learned that the blizzard had canceled the operation and that the Municipal Government warned residents to prepare for freezing conditions and collapsing homes.
• After reports of multiple collapses, Gu Yun asked Wang Tao to check a cluster of civilian houses where communication lines had failed.
• Wang Tao, Lan Yulian, Xiang Hongbin, and Lightning traveled through the snow to the site, where Wang Tao used his Power Armor to search for survivors.
• Wang Tao, Xiang Hongbin, and Lightning cleared the rubble while Lan Yulian healed the survivors, and they rescued everyone alive.
• As Wang Tao prepared to take the survivors to safety, Ding Yuqin contacted him about another place that needed rescue.

Wang Tao and his group rescued survivors from the snow disaster, including dozens trapped beneath a collapsed building, while the snowfall continued. After resting, Wang Tao learned the cold had worsened and prepared to search nearby homes for people who had frozen to death.

• Wang Tao escorted survivors to relief stations and continued rescue work until the Municipal Government ran out of assignments.
• Cheng Yiyi called Wang Tao to help rescue people trapped beneath a collapsed five-story building, and Wang Tao and Han Rui used Iron Beetles to clear the rubble while Lan Yulian healed survivors.
• Wang Tao and the Sixth Army Corps rescued sixty-four people from the ruins, while eighteen had died, and Wang Tao stayed at the relief station to answer further rescue calls through the night.
• Wang Tao returned to the villa at dawn, cleared snow with his group, and told Yao Guodong to fuse his Crystal Core now that his curse had ended.
• After Wang Tao woke at noon, Gu Yun asked him to check nearby homes for survivors who had frozen to death, and Wang Tao found the weather had grown several degrees colder.

Wang Tao helped residents survive the ongoing snow disaster, delivered an Iron Beetle to Gu Yun, and assisted with disaster relief across Long River Base. The chapter ended with Gu Yun reporting that Mayor Yao Guodong had frozen to death.

• Wang Tao checked homes in Autumn Water Pavilion, reassured the residents, and distributed Cockroach Paste to people in need.
• Wang Tao sold Gu Yun a fireproof Iron Beetle for 2.6 million and offered Protein Blocks for disaster relief.
• Yao Guodong told Wang Tao that he had become an Esper and planned to lead relief work himself.
• Wang Tao searched assigned areas, found multiple people frozen to death, and gathered survivors in a sturdy building with supplies.
• Gu Yun called Wang Tao early the next morning and reported that Mayor Yao had frozen to death.

Wang Tao investigated Mayor Yao Guodong’s apparent death by freezing and found that the scene suggested Yao had staggered outside alone while drunk, though the circumstances remained suspicious. After entering the villa, Wang Tao and Han Rui began to suspect Yao’s two wives might hold a clue.

• Gu Yun told Wang Tao that Yao Guodong had been found frozen in the courtyard, and Wang Tao brought Han Rui, He Jijun, Xiang Hongbin, Lan Yulian, and Lightning to investigate.
• Han Rui and He Jijun spotted a faint footprint leading toward the villa, and Gu Yun explained that it belonged to Yao’s wife, Qiu Rong, who had found the body half an hour earlier.
• Wang Tao used Mental Detection to reconstruct Yao’s footprints and found that he had come outside alone, staggered through the snow, and fallen; he found no fatal wounds or other clear evidence of murder.
• Han Rui confirmed that Yao had urinated near the body, and the police moved his corpse into the villa for an autopsy.
• Gu Yun identified the two grieving women as Yao’s wives, Qiu Rong and a younger woman, and Han Rui privately told Wang Tao that their grief seemed fake.
• Wang Tao suggested the women might not have loved Yao, then said his intuition told him they could help uncover something.

Wang Tao discovered signs that Yao Guodong’s death was a murder, despite the inconclusive autopsy and questioning. He suspected a mental attack had trapped Yao Guodong in the snow and realized the killing could have major consequences for who could safely hold positions of authority.

• Wang Tao noticed that Yao Guodong’s two wives had an addictive Poisoned status, but kept his discovery quiet.
• The autopsy and preliminary questioning found no clear cause of death, suspects, or motive, so Gu Yun prepared to report Yao Guodong’s death as an accident for the time being.
• Han Rui sensed something strange near pine trees outside the villa, and Wang Tao found faint footprints there beneath the snow.
• Wang Tao told Han Rui that someone near the trees had watched Yao Guodong die and likely used a mental attack to make him wander in the snow until he froze.
• Wang Tao considered who benefited most from Yao Guodong’s death and worried that weak combatants might no longer be able to hold important posts.

Wang Tao and Jiang Shixue narrowed Yao Guodong’s killer to a likely Tier 1 or Tier 2 Esper, but Gu Yun’s unexpected appointment as Acting Mayor complicated the investigation. After Gu Yun told Wang Tao he had been removed from the case because he was a suspect, Wang Tao received a call saying Yao Guodong’s wife wanted to meet him.

• Wang Tao and Jiang Shixue reasoned that Yao Guodong’s killer was more likely Tier 1 or Tier 2 than a higher-tier Esper.
• Han Rui showed Wang Tao the announcement that Gu Yun had become Acting Mayor, making him the person who benefited most from Yao Guodong’s death.
• Wang Tao realized the three Deputy Mayors were Tier 1 while Gu Yun was Tier 3, and concluded Gu Yun’s greater strength may have influenced the appointment.
• Wang Tao congratulated Gu Yun, who said he had become the biggest suspect and had been removed from the investigation into Yao Guodong’s death.
• After Wang Tao ended the call with Gu Yun, someone told him that Yao Guodong’s wife wanted to meet him.

Wang Tao questioned Yao Guodong’s wives, Qiu Rong and Li Xin, about his death and their request to leave the Municipal Government guest rooms. Their story raised suspicions, but a recording showed Yao Guodong had asked Wang Tao to help his family, and Wang Tao recognized the women as actresses from before the apocalypse.

• Wang Tao met Qiu Rong and Li Xin at the Municipal Government, where they thanked him for helping Yao Guodong become an Esper and asked him to help them move out.
• Wang Tao refused to arrange their release because they were suspects, then asked why they thought he would help them.
• Qiu Rong showed Wang Tao a recording in which Yao Guodong asked him to help his family if anything happened to him.
• Qiu Rong said Yao Guodong drank wine after she and Li Xin tempted him with the prospect of sharing a bed, then went to the bathroom and never returned.
• Wang Tao obtained the women’s profiles from Jiang Hui and recognized Qiu Rong and Li Xin as actresses from before the apocalypse.

Wang Tao questioned Qiu Rong and Li Xin about Yao Guodong’s death but left without getting a confession, then encouraged Jiang Hui to investigate them. Back home, Jiang Shixue said her awakening ability might let her control the two women.

• Wang Tao challenged Qiu Rong and Li Xin about their past as actresses and pressed Qiu Rong to admit which parts of her story were lies, but she denied lying.
• Wang Tao used his ability to stun Qiu Rong and left her with Li Xin, then asked Jiang Hui about the investigation.
• Wang Tao told Jiang Hui that he suspected Qiu Rong and Li Xin and offered support if the investigation faced resistance.
• Jiang Hui decided to apply for an arrest warrant after Wang Tao backed further investigation.
• Wang Tao returned home and told Ding Yuqin and the others about the visit, and Jiang Shixue said her ability might control Qiu Rong and Li Xin.

Wang Tao had Jiang Shixue use her Puppet Master ability to question Qiu Rong about Yao Guodong’s murder, but Qiu Rong revealed no knowledge of the killing. Her final answer about why she kept trying to leave the Municipal Government was that she needed to drink the holy medicine.

• Wang Tao remembered Jiang Shixue could control weaker targets and decided to bring her to the Municipal Government to question Qiu Rong and Li Xin.
• Wang Tao and Jiang Shixue reached the Municipal Government through the deep snow and learned the two women had refused to answer the investigation team’s questions.
• Wang Tao questioned Qiu Rong alone, offering her food in exchange for the truth, but she continued to deny knowing how Yao Guodong died.
• Jiang Shixue controlled Qiu Rong and had her answer Wang Tao’s questions, revealing Qiu Rong had pursued Wang Tao as a potential protector and did not know she had been poisoned.
• When Wang Tao asked why Qiu Rong had kept insisting on leaving the Municipal Government, she said she needed to drink the holy medicine.

Wang Tao questioned Qiu Rong and learned that the Twilight Church had recruited her and Li Xin through a black “holy medicine.” He saved Qiu Rong after Jiang Shixue’s control nearly killed her, then went to question Li Xin, who remained terrified and had revealed nothing about the church.

• Wang Tao learned that Qiu Rong had bought black holy medicine from an unseen deacon of the Twilight Church and had recruited Li Xin as her first believer.
• Qiu Rong explained that the deacon had contacted her in her car the previous day and promised more holy medicine if she left the Municipal Government.
• Jiang Shixue released her control when Qiu Rong’s health fell dangerously low, and Wang Tao treated Qiu Rong with a Medical Kit and Nutrient Solution.
• Wang Tao decided to use Qiu Rong to lure out the deacon and warned himself to watch for poisoned Twilight Church members in Long River Base.
• Wang Tao and Jiang Shixue went to question Li Xin, who screamed in fear and insisted she had already told them everything.

Wang Tao questioned Li Xin about Yao Guodong’s death, then told Jiang Hui that the two women may have been used in the assassination and urged him to investigate the upper ranks. The following afternoon, Wang Tao received three pieces of news: Li Xin wanted to see him, Jiang Hui had uncovered an important clue, and Gu Yun wanted him to take a Municipal Government post.

• Wang Tao helped Li Xin recover enough to leave her cell and arranged for her to wash and rest while remaining in custody.
• Wang Tao questioned Li Xin and concluded that she and Qiu Rong likely had not knowingly participated in Yao Guodong’s assassination.
• Wang Tao told Jiang Hui that someone may have used the women to lure Yao Guodong outside before killing him with a mental-type attack.
• Wang Tao lent Little Black to Jiang Hui, who promised to investigate the clue and the base’s upper ranks.
• The following afternoon, Wang Tao learned that Li Xin wanted to tell him something important, Jiang Hui had found a key clue, and Gu Yun wanted him to accept a Municipal Government post.

Wang Tao received a newly modified tracked vehicle from Qu Shilin and told Jiang Hui to continue investigating Mayor Yao’s murder despite the risks. Li Xin then admitted she had secretly given Yao Guodong Health Medicine and revealed where Qiu Rong planned to buy more, giving Wang Tao a lead to pursue.

• Gu Yun and Jiang Hui contacted Wang Tao, and Qu Shilin told him that his vehicle had been rebuilt as a snow-capable tracked vehicle.
• Wang Tao tested the vehicle and learned it could be adapted with different tracks, a larger cabin, cargo space, and weapons.
• Jiang Hui told Wang Tao that one or more of the three Deputy Mayors likely murdered Yao Guodong, but he lacked conclusive evidence.
• Wang Tao urged Jiang Hui to continue the investigation, and Jiang Hui agreed to identify the murderer within three days.
• Li Xin admitted she had secretly given Yao Guodong Health Medicine that could cause confusion and gave Wang Tao the address where Qiu Rong planned to buy more.

Wang Tao learned that Health Medicine was addictive and promised to help Li Xin escape, then impersonated a Twilight Church Deacon to question Qiu Rong. He planned to investigate the medicine sellers with Jiang Hui that night and infiltrate the Twilight Church if possible.

• Wang Tao told Li Xin that Health Medicine was addictive and offered to save her if she quit; she agreed despite her intense craving, then tried to repay him by undressing, but he stopped her.
• Wang Tao visited Qiu Rong and confirmed that Jiang Shixue's Puppet String left her with no memory of being controlled.
• Wang Tao pretended to be a Twilight Church Deacon, and Qiu Rong believed him and answered his questions about the church and its transactions.
• Wang Tao learned that the sellers concealed their identities and considered infiltrating the Twilight Church to learn more.
• Wang Tao told Jiang Hui about the medicine and the address where it was sold, then agreed to accompany him there that night.

After Mayor Yao’s assassination, Acting Mayor Gu Yun tried to recruit Wang Tao to support a committee-approved reshuffle that would put powerful Awakened people in key government posts. Wang Tao agreed to take a position as principal of the planned Changhe Awakening School, though Gu Yun warned the project might not be approved.

• Gu Yun explained that Mayor Yao’s death had frightened officials, slowed the Municipal Government, and prompted calls to replace key staff with powerful Espers and Awakened people.
• Gu Yun told Wang Tao that the committee had approved the reshuffle by one vote, and Wang Tao inferred that the Six Army Corps’ twelve committee members had supported it.
• Wang Tao recognized that Gu Yun needed Awakened allies to counter resistance from traditional officials and asked what positions were available.
• Gu Yun showed Wang Tao a list of posts and suggested several occupied roles, but Wang Tao chose the vacant principal position at the planned Changhe Awakening School.

Wang Tao accepted the proposed principal position at Changhe Awakening School so he could find people with Hidden Attributes and help them awaken. He investigated Qiu Rong and Li Xin’s worsening condition, then took them toward the Twilight Church’s holy medicine exchange to learn more about the drug and its Deacon.

• Wang Tao chose to tentatively serve as principal of Changhe Awakening School, and Gu Yun agreed to push the school project forward.
• Wang Tao warned Gu Yun that a Deputy Mayor was likely responsible for assassinating Yao Guodong, and Gu Yun said the committee wanted the murderer executed.
• Wang Tao found Qiu Rong shivering from the effects of her poison and learned she believed the holy medicine would let her be reborn and escape the apocalypse.
• Wang Tao found Li Xin displaying similar symptoms and discovered that the drug had altered her perception of her condition.
• Wang Tao agreed to take Qiu Rong to the holy medicine exchange, disguised himself and Jiang Shixue, and left with Jiang Hui and the others for Emerald Bamboo Residential Area.
• Wang Tao arrived at the exchange and sensed many people inside the residential area.

Wang Tao infiltrated a Twilight Church gathering where the so-called holy medicine was being sold, and discovered the church had poisoned attendees and infiltrated the Municipal Government and police station. He found that one woman’s toxin heightened desire and could only be detoxified after thirty days without another dose, leaving him determined to prevent the medicine from reaching the base.

• Jiang Hui brought Wang Tao, Jiang Shixue, Qiu Rong, and a policewoman into Emerald Bamboo Residential Area using a password and registered license plate.
• Wang Tao and the others entered a guarded Twilight Church gathering in Building 8, where attendees waited for the holy medicine and servers offered alcohol and Cockroach Paste.
• Wang Tao detected familiar Municipal Government and police station personnel among the attendees, including officials’ relatives, and realized the church had infiltrated both institutions.
• A curvaceous woman invited Wang Tao for a drink, and he recognized her as the formerly shy wife of a high-ranking official.
• Wang Tao examined the woman’s Poisoned status and learned her toxin increased certain desires and could be detoxified only by avoiding it for thirty days.
• When the woman spilled wine on herself, Wang Tao helped wipe her clothes and saw the toxin’s effects intensify, convincing him the medicine could not be allowed into the base.

Wang Tao used his Deep Exchange ability to question Xia Zhen and learned how the holy medicine had intensified her desires and how the Deacon had been controlling her. The Deacon then arrived upstairs with four others, and Wang Tao recognized all five masked visitors.

• Wang Tao used Deep Exchange on Xia Zhen and found that she answered his questions honestly afterward.
• Xia Zhen explained that the holy medicine had gradually amplified her desire and that the Deacon supplied it while claiming her as his private property.
• Wang Tao learned that Xia Zhen could vaguely sense other people's strength and that the Deacon had been training her to become perfect without ever touching her.
• After Xia Zhen recovered, she begged Wang Tao to use his ability on her again and tried to draw him closer.
• Wang Tao sensed five people approaching, including three Tier 3 Espers and two Tier 1 Espers, and recognized them all as the Deacon and his companions.

Wang Tao uncovered the Twilight Church’s leaders and discovered that Council Member Zhu Fen was its Sacerdotal Sir, while its holy medicine poisoned the congregation. After Zhu Fen ordered an attack, Wang Tao overwhelmed the church members and captured her, two Deputy Mayors, and a Deacon.

• Wang Tao recognized the black holy medicine from the underground parking garage and realized that the church’s leaders were distributing a different medicine to themselves.
• Wang Tao identified Zhu Fen, a Long River Base council member, as the Sacerdotal Sir, and noticed that she drank from a separate bucket before the congregation collapsed.
• Wang Tao exposed the deception, prompting Zhu Fen to order her bodyguard to attack and flee.
• Wang Tao revealed his awakened strength, knocked out the attackers and the people rushing upstairs, and subdued Zhu Fen’s bodyguard and the Tier 3 Deacon.
• Jiang Shixue prevented Zhu Fen from killing herself, and Wang Tao gathered Zhu Fen, the two Deputy Mayors, and the Deacon to remove their masks.

Wang Tao interrogated Zhu Fen and the others about Yao Guodong’s murder and the Twilight Church. He learned why the deputy mayors had arranged the killing and uncovered the church’s hierarchy, but the assassin’s identity remained unknown.

• Wang Tao stopped Zhu Fen and the others from bribing him and promised to consider sparing them if they explained Yao Guodong’s death.
• Zhu Fen and the others separately confessed that the two deputy mayors had arranged Yao Guodong’s assassination because his awakening threatened their chance to become mayor.
• Wang Tao learned that the deputy mayors had used a deacon to lure Yao Guodong out with Sacred Medicine and hired an unknown assassin from the Black Market to kill him.
• Wang Tao pressed Zhu Fen to explain the Sacred Medicine and the Twilight Church while Jiang Shixue and the others questioned the captives in separate rooms.
• Zhu Fen revealed that the church ranked members as ordinary believers, devout believers, deacons, priests, and bishops, and said she knew of no bishop in Long River Base.