Chapter Summaries

Cheng Yiran feared losing the guitar that had made him successful, while Zhong Luochen invited him to witness Cheng Yun confronting Li Zifeng over embezzlement and a deceptive agreement. Li Zifeng’s accusations about Cheng Yiran’s relationship with Hong Guan left Cheng Yiran shaken.

• Cheng Yiran tested his fingers in the hospital garden and feared he could no longer perform without the guitar.
• Zhong Luochen asked Cheng Yiran to perform that weekend, but Cheng Yiran claimed his injured fingers could not play for a month.
• Zhong Luochen brought Cheng Yiran to a conference room, where Cheng Yun was beating Li Zifeng.
• Cheng Yun revealed that Li Zifeng had embezzled two million and used a false agreement to exploit Cheng Yiran and Hong Guan.
• Li Zifeng begged Zhong Luochen not to report him, then accused Cheng Yiran of being selfish and said his poor relationship with Hong Guan had made them easy to divide.
• Cheng Yiran turned deathly pale after Li Zifeng called them all the same kind of people.

Cheng Yiran learned that Hong Guan had visited him and could use his guitar, but chose not to see him yet. Meanwhile, Long Xiruo’s group pursued Zhui Feng and considered how to capture Iron Whistle, while Iron Whistle spoke with a mysterious voice; the chapter ended with Cheng Yiran meeting Boss Luo again.

• Zhong Luochen told Cheng Yiran that Hong Guan had visited while he was unconscious and could use his guitar, but Cheng Yiran asked to be left alone.
• Long Xiruo discussed Iron Whistle’s danger and its apparent intelligence with Cheese, Gui Qianyi, and Ghost Infant, then learned that Zhui Feng was hiding on the rooftop of Yunqin.
• Long Xiruo ordered a car and went to confront Zhui Feng, while she sent Gui Qianyi to question Xiangliu.
• Iron Whistle ate a dead man and asked the mysterious voice why the man had felt relieved before the voice said someone had come to find it.
• Cheng Yiran met Boss Luo at the club for the third time.

Cheng Yiran asked Luo Qiu how to awaken the guitar’s abilities, but refused to make another transaction. Luo Qiu then watched Zhui Feng confront Long Xiruo, who apologized for having doubted him, provoking Zhui Feng’s demonic heart to surge.

• Cheng Yiran asked whether Hong Guan could use the guitar and learned that its abilities could be awakened again, but finding out how required a transaction.
• Cheng Yiran said he would think about buying the information, and Luo Qiu sent him away.
• Luo Qiu showed You Ye images of Zhui Feng and asked what Zhui Feng would choose: forgiveness or something else.
• Zhui Feng stood on the rooftop of Yun Qin Building as Long Xiruo arrived with Ghost Infant and two demons; Long Xiruo sent them away to speak with him alone.
• Long Xiruo bowed and apologized for not trusting Zhui Feng, and he roared as his demonic heart swelled.

Long Xiruo confronted Zhui Feng, whose Blood Shadow power and inner demon drove him to lash out at his former companions. Zhui Feng escaped after deceiving the group, while Long Xiruo reflected on the monsters’ resentment and the limits of her diminished power.

• Zhui Feng accused Long Xiruo of being unable to free the controlled monsters and rejected her offer to help dispel his inner demon.
• Cheese and Xiao Jiang arrived, and Xiao Jiang apologized to Zhui Feng for doubting him.
• Zhui Feng made Cheese kneel and crawl before kicking him, then raged about Cheese’s hypocrisy and his companions’ failure to truly accept him as leader.
• Zhui Feng threatened the monsters under his control and tricked Ghost Infant into restraining Xiao Jiang, allowing him to escape.
• Long Xiruo revealed that she had used sound-blocking devices and read Zhui Feng’s lips, then wondered how many monsters secretly resented her.

Gui Qianyi visited the chained Xiangliu and used a brief reprieve from his suffering to question him about Prometheus, the organism that attacked Long Xiruo. He learned that the Society had created it from a cell for human regeneration, then left Xiangliu suffering again after ending the protection.

• Gui Qianyi found Xiangliu enduring Su Zijun’s curse and resisting the spiritual river by sustaining his hatred.
• Gui Qianyi formed three rings of light to shield Xiangliu from the river’s cleansing and suppress the curse’s pain in exchange for answers.
• Xiangliu explained that the Society developed Prometheus from a cell that consumed other cells, reproduced, and evolved by devouring living creatures, including demons.
• Xiangliu said Prometheus had no obvious weakness beyond overwhelming force or destroying its original cell, and he did not know whether the demons it consumed affected its thoughts.
• Gui Qianyi connected the information to his suspicions about Iron Whistle and its connection to Cheese, then shattered the rings and left Xiangliu raging.

Long Xiruo learned more about Iron Whistle and Zhui Feng’s control over the demons, while Zhong Luochen continued investigating Tu Jiaya’s disappearance and ordered Cheng Yun to watch Hong Guan. The chapter left Long Xiruo exhausted and Zhong Luochen reading Les Misérables.

• Gui Qianyi told Long Xiruo that Prometheus sought endless evolution and that Iron Whistle likely contained part of Shu You.
• Ghost Infant reported that the controlled demons had returned to normal, and Long Xiruo and Gui Qianyi suspected Zhui Feng could control only a limited number of people.
• Long Xiruo told Gui Qianyi to keep Cheese from learning Iron Whistle’s origins, then rested her head on her desk.
• Cheng Yun told Zhong Luochen that Li Zifeng had been locked up and that his search for Tu Jiaya had found no trace of her.
• Zhong Luochen put the replacement singer plans on hold and told Cheng Yun to watch Hong Guan without letting Cheng Yiran know.
• After Cheng Yun left, Zhong Luochen read the scene in Les Misérables where Monsieur Madeleine revealed that he was Jean Valjean.

Cheng Yiran found Hong Guan busking and reconciled with him over their estrangement and Li Zifeng’s deception. Unable to perform because of his injured hand, Cheng Yiran arranged for Hong Guan to take his place on Sunday and use the mysterious guitar so they could learn what happens when someone else plays it.

• Cheng Yiran wandered the city, worrying that he might have lost the ability to use the guitar, until he heard a street musician singing nearby.
• Cheng Yiran recognized Hong Guan’s voice and found him busking while selling phone accessories.
• Cheng Yiran told Hong Guan that Li Zifeng had deceived them both about their agreement, and apologized for believing the deception and failing to contact him.
• Hong Guan invited Cheng Yiran to visit his pregnant wife Ziyao, and the two men forgave each other for letting their friendship grow distant.
• Cheng Yiran returned to Zhong Luochen’s villa and asked him to let Hong Guan perform in his place on Sunday with the guitar, so they could test its effects on another player.

Zhong Luochen invited Hong Guan to compete onstage at the sports hall, while Ren Ziling visited Ma Houde and learned about fireworks planned for the next night’s show. Ren Ziling’s reckless driving left Ma Houde apparently unconscious, and Luo Qiu went to check on Iron Whistle.

• Zhong Luochen offered Hong Guan a place in the next night’s competition at Cheng Yiran’s suggestion, and Cheng Yun promised the company would provide whatever Hong Guan needed.
• Ren Ziling found Ma Houde disguised as a brick hauler at Prosperous Lotus Sports Hall, where he had been investigating a murder while obeying orders to keep a low profile.
• Ren Ziling told Ma Houde that several vagrants had recently disappeared and noticed fireworks being delivered for the show, but Ma Houde dismissed her concerns and asked her to drive him away.
• Ren Ziling invited Luo Qiu and You Ye to the show and jokingly suggested a fireworks proposal before Luo Qiu hung up on her.
• Ren Ziling nearly crashed while driving and found Ma Houde motionless against the car window; meanwhile, Luo Qiu told You Ye he was going to check on Iron Whistle’s rapid growth.

Luo Qiu observed Iron Whistle developing a sense of attachment to Cheese, while Hong Guan nervously prepared to rehearse for a major music program. Zhui Feng arranged a sabotage at the sports arena and looked forward to the next day’s special performance.

• Luo Qiu found Iron Whistle resting in Cheese’s family home and asked why it stayed despite being hungry and knowing Cheese was food.
• Iron Whistle realized it did not want Cheese to be the one who destroyed it, then fled after admitting it could not stay.
• Luo Qiu restored the broken bed and noticed the children’s report cards and certificates on the wall.
• Hong Guan told Cheng Yun he was nervous about rehearsing, then went onstage despite his doubts.
• Zhui Feng’s human accomplice told him the arena installation had been switched without anyone noticing, and Zhui Feng anticipated the next day’s performance.

Long Xiruo investigated Zhui Feng’s activities and worried over missing young monsters, then realized she needed to get to a television program at the Stadium. As she rushed there, many other pairs of spectators arrived for the event.

• Ghost Infant told Long Xiruo that freed monsters were recovering and that young monsters had gone missing, while she suspected Zhui Feng was preparing something.
• Long Xiruo worried that Nini had been controlled and was missing, and learned that Cheese had shut himself away since returning.
• Long Xiruo left the pet hospital, wandered through the city, and reflected on her sudden loss of power.
• After seeing an advertisement for a program starting that evening, Long Xiruo realized she had to reach the Stadium, commandeered a taxi, and ordered the driver to hurry.
• Outside the Stadium, Zhuge met a girl carrying tickets, and they entered alongside Ji Ping and many other pairs of spectators.

Long Xiruo struggled to reach the sports stadium and persuaded Ma Houde to drive her there, while Cheng Yiran busked unnoticed and then received a call from Fish Ball Qiang, who had found someone connected to the Northern University of Education.

• Ma Houde let Lin Feng leave work early, then found Long Xiruo at the police station and agreed to take her to the sports stadium.
• Long Xiruo endured Ma Houde’s doting attention before shaking his crooked neck straight and demanding that he drive.
• Cheng Yiran spent the afternoon singing on the street, but passersby ignored him and he gained no insight from the experience.
• Cheng Yiran called Cheng Yun for a ride to see Hong Guan perform, then received a call from Fish Ball Qiang, who said he had run into someone from the Northern University of Education.
• Cheng Yiran urgently asked Fish Ball Qiang where he was.

Taiyinzi persuaded Luo Qiu and You Ye to let him handle the club’s cleaning, then sneaked into the storeroom to retrieve the bass guitar. Meanwhile, Cheng Yiran tracked down the guitar’s buyer, who agreed to sell it only if Cheng could prove how important it was.

• Taiyinzi claimed he wanted to stay with Luo Qiu and learn from him, then offered to do You Ye’s cleaning so she could accompany Luo Qiu outside.
• You Ye gave Taiyinzi the storeroom key before leaving with Luo Qiu, and Taiyinzi later entered the storeroom and took out the bass guitar.
• Cheng Yiran went to Fish Ball Qiang’s stall and asked about the person who had bought his bass guitar.
• Fish Ball Qiang pointed Cheng Yiran to an old man with an explosion hairstyle, who confirmed he had bought the guitar.
• Cheng Yiran offered to buy the guitar back, but the old man demanded that he prove it was truly important to him.

Cheng Yiran followed the Explosion Head Old Man, who threw Hong Guan’s bass into the river, and nearly drowned trying to retrieve it. After the old man saved him, Cheng Yiran let the bass go and learned that the Sports Institute Stadium had been beside the bridge all along, though he had missed Hong Guan’s performance.

• Cheng Yiran insisted on following the Explosion Head Old Man rather than leave to see Hong Guan perform.
• The Explosion Head Old Man threw Hong Guan’s bass into the river and told Cheng Yiran to find it if it mattered so much.
• Cheng Yiran jumped into the river after the bass, but he ran out of strength and began to drown.
• The Explosion Head Old Man rescued Cheng Yiran, who decided the bass could go and felt relieved.
• The Explosion Head Old Man offered to take Cheng Yiran to the Sports Institute Stadium, which Cheng Yiran realized was right beside East Bridge.

Gui Qianyi received a threat from Zhui Feng and set out for Nanyun Town, while Cheese remained shut in, wrestling with his doubts about whether he had imposed his hopes on others. Before Hong Guan’s show, Zhong Luochen delivered Yiran’s guitar and said Yiran was on his way.

• Gui Qianyi received an unsigned letter warning him to reach Nanyun Town before eight or prepare to collect bodies, then left with Ghost Infant and others while instructing the hospital demons to tell Lord Dragon.
• Gui Qianyi reassured the pregnant Shu Xiaoshu about Cheese, and Shu Xiaoshu left fresh food outside Cheese’s room when he did not answer.
• Cheese reflected on Zhui Feng’s accusations, feared blowing his whistle might endanger Iron Whistle or the demons, and found the admission ticket Nini had given him.
• Cheng Yun cleared the waiting room before Zhong Luochen arrived and handed Hong Guan the guitar Yiran had sent.
• Zhong Luochen told Hong Guan that Yiran was on his way and would watch the performance, and Hong Guan asked to speak with Yiran before going onstage.

Cheese headed to the Sports Institute Gym, unaware that a hungry creature was stalking him, while Luo Qiu and You Ye arrived for the event with Ren Ziling and Lizi. Officer Ma brought Long'er to the gym, where she recognized Ren Ziling as an abnormal presence and feared the shopkeeper might be nearby.

• Cheese decided to go to the Sports Institute Gym rather than visit Iron Whistle, while an unseen creature followed him and planned to eat him.
• Ren Ziling gave Luo Qiu and You Ye VIP tickets, then joked with Lizi about arranging an ancestral remedy for them.
• Officer Ma arrived with Long'er, who claimed her grandmother was waiting at the gym, and Ren Ziling picked her up despite Ma's warning.
• Long'er recognized Ren Ziling as an abnormal existence and nervously searched for the shopkeeper.

Long Xiruo escaped Ren Ziling after being mistaken for a little girl who needed the restroom, while Lizi used her demonic powers to reach the gymnasium backstage. Cheese met Nini in a dark storage room, where she stabbed him and revealed that she hated him.

• Ren Ziling took Long'er to the restroom, and Long Xiruo slipped away while Ren Ziling washed her face.
• Ma Houde called the fire brigade to ask whether anyone had been sent to the gymnasium.
• Lizi climbed outside and created ice steps along the wall to reach the backstage area.
• Cheese waited for Nini in a gymnasium storage room and tried to talk to her about Zhui Feng.
• Nini told Cheese she liked him, then stabbed his arm and said she hated him.

Cheese confronted Zhui Feng after Nini stabbed him, and Zhui Feng challenged him to another match at Lotus Arena. As the arena filled with performers and spectators, Cheng Yiran arrived with a borrowed bass guitar while Ma Houde found the responding firefighters unconscious and feared the arena was in danger.

• Nini stabbed Cheese, and Zhui Feng taunted him for hesitating to trust her before inviting him to a rematch.
• Luo Qiu and You Ye watched the crowds and performances from above Lotus Arena as Luo Qiu wondered why people gathered together.
• The Explosion Head Old Man drove Cheng Yiran to the arena, gave him his bass guitar, and told him to return it later.
• Ma Houde found the firefighters unconscious in their stopped fire truck and worried that something might happen at the arena.

As the concert crowd gathered, Zhuge left his seat with a stomachache while Mo Xiaofei learned that Ma Houde was investigating a dangerous situation and followed him. Long Xiruo searched the venue for Long'er, but instead found Iron Whistle devouring a man in a restroom, where the monster spotted her.

• Zhuge left the stands to find a restroom, and Mo Xiaofei pointed him toward one before taking a call from his class monitor.
• Mo Xiaofei saw Ma Houde rushing toward the stadium and followed him after learning he had found a fire engine full of unconscious firefighters.
• Ma Houde told Ren Ziling that he suspected trouble was coming and that Long'er had gone missing; they split up to search and investigate the fireworks.
• Long Xiruo followed screams and the smell of blood to a restroom, where she discovered Iron Whistle eating a human corpse.
• Iron Whistle turned toward Long Xiruo, and the two locked eyes.

Gui Qianyi rescued Long Xiruo from Iron Whistle and appeared to destroy the monster, but Iron Whistle poisoned him and began rebuilding itself. Its newly formed body spoke in Shu You’s voice and demanded to know why it had been killed.

• Iron Whistle trapped Long Xiruo with its tongue and dragged her toward its jaws.
• Gui Qianyi arrived, severed Iron Whistle’s tongue and forelimb, then froze the monster after it liquefied.
• Gui Qianyi explained that he had followed the monsters after Zhui Feng’s controlled creatures seized Shu Xiaoshu’s family and Xiao Jiang.
• Long Xiruo ordered Gui Qianyi to destroy Iron Whistle, and he shattered its frozen body while searching for its core.
• A severed piece of Iron Whistle shot a poisoned needle into Gui Qianyi, while the monster’s remaining cells escaped the ice and reassembled.
• The reformed Iron Whistle took shape and voice as Shu You, demanding to know why Long Xiruo had killed it.

Long Xiruo watched Gui Qianyi collapse after driving off the poisonous creature and believed he had died. She begged Luo Qiu to save him, but learned Gui Qianyi was alive and had entered a temporary hibernation to expel the poison.

• The creature escaped through a restroom drain after Prime Minister Turtle confronted it, and Gui Qianyi collapsed from his wounds and poison.
• Gui Qianyi recalled sending Long Xiruo to inherit the True Dragon's burden and apologized before his body went still.
• Long Xiruo mourned Gui Qianyi and called for Luo Qiu, offering anything to bring him back to life.
• Luo Qiu agreed to help but explained that Gui Qianyi was not dead and had stopped his bodily functions to expel the poison.
• Long Xiruo stomped on Gui Qianyi's head in frustration and admitted she had been worried about him.