Chapter Summaries

Lin Shuang returned home exhausted after the battle with Phantylia, and Acheron gave her an increasingly improper massage. As Acheron teased Lin Shuang about Stelle calling her “wifey,” she carried Lin Shuang off the couch, leaving Lin Shuang startled about what she planned to do next.

• After Sparkle sent Lin Shuang a cryptic message and deleted her account, Acheron decided to keep a closer eye on Lin Shuang before they reached Penacony.
• Back home, Lin Shuang collapsed on the couch, and Acheron began massaging her sore body while taking liberties with her.
• Lin Shuang told Acheron she had become livelier and more openly affectionate since they first met.
• Acheron questioned Lin Shuang about Stelle nearly calling her “wifey,” and Lin Shuang explained that Stelle had picked up the nickname after an incident in the Simulated Universe.
• Acheron lifted Lin Shuang into a bridal carry, startling her as she wondered what Acheron intended to do.

After recovering from a long night with Acheron, Lin Shuang rested on the Xianzhou, drew a new debuff skill, and read about the aftermath of the crisis. Tingyun visited with breakfast, while Qingque complained that Fu Xuan had refused to let her take time off.

• After Acheron left Lin Shuang behind, Lin Shuang slept for a day, then replied to messages from March 7th, Tingyun, Huohuo, and Qingque.
• Lin Shuang used her Purple Draw from Danshu and obtained Ruomu Thorn, a skill that inflicted Weathering when attacking.
• Lin Shuang browsed the Luofu forums and read discussion about Jianmu, the damaged Crafting Division, Danshu's death, and possible Memorial Rites.
• Tingyun visited Lin Shuang with breakfast and said Yukong had approved her visit.
• Qingque messaged Lin Shuang that Fu Xuan had refused to let her take time off, so Lin Shuang sent her a photo of Tingyun.

Lin Shuang received an invitation from Kafka to meet at the Divination Department and agreed to bring Stelle along. As Stelle sought permission from the Express, Lin Shuang changed into practical clothes, expecting they might encounter Yanqing and fight.

• Lin Shuang invited Tingyun to visit her in Penacony, though Tingyun doubted she could take time away from work.
• Stelle visited Lin Shuang after March 7th went to play Emperor's Jade without waking her.
• Kafka messaged Lin Shuang, explained that Blade was recovering from his scythe of annihilation flaring up, and sent her the Divination Department's location.
• Lin Shuang showed Kafka's messages to Stelle, who agreed to come along and contacted Welt and Himeko for permission.
• Lin Shuang changed into practical clothes and prepared for the possibility of encountering Yanqing.

Lin Shuang met Kafka at the Divination Department with Stelle, who was shocked to learn that Lin Shuang was legally married to both Kafka and Silver Wolf. Kafka then asked Lin Shuang whether she believed in fate.

• Lin Shuang bought Kafka an expensive Xianzhou-style coat as a return gift and considered buying treats for Firefly and Silver Wolf.
• Lin Shuang and Stelle found Kafka and Blade resting in a secluded part of the Divination Department.
• Kafka greeted Lin Shuang as her darling, and Stelle questioned why she called her that.
• Kafka revealed that she and Lin Shuang were legally married, showing their matching necklaces.
• Kafka further revealed that Lin Shuang was also legally married to Silver Wolf, leaving Stelle stunned.
• Kafka asked Lin Shuang whether she believed in fate.

Kafka explained that Lin Shuang had become an unpredictable variable disrupting Elio’s view of destiny, then asked her and Stelle to help suppress Blade’s Scythe of Annihilation. After Kafka warned Lin Shuang that Firefly would have to pay a price to enter Penacony’s dreamscape, the events of her script concluded, and Blade chose to remain on the Xianzhou to see someone.

• Kafka told Lin Shuang that her arrival had made Elio’s predictions unreliable and changed the Stellaron Hunters’ possible futures.
• Kafka asked Lin Shuang to use her power of Abundance to help suppress Blade’s Scythe of Annihilation while Stelle kept watch.
• Lin Shuang gave Kafka a coat and asked her to pass gifts to Firefly and Silver Wolf; Kafka kissed the corner of Lin Shuang’s mouth in thanks.
• Kafka warned Lin Shuang that Firefly could not dream and would have to pay a price comparable to death to enter Penacony’s dreamscape.
• Stelle returned, and after she and Kafka dealt with Yanqing, Blade regained his senses and decided to stay on the Xianzhou to see someone.

Lin Shuang learned that Silver Wolf was busy rebuilding her game accounts after Herta had sacrificed many of them, and planned to check on her. Stelle decided to return to the Astral Express to share what Kafka had told her, while Lin Shuang planned to go home before heading to Penacony.

• Kafka said Silver Wolf had arranged an aircraft for her departure, then left after saying goodbye to Lin Shuang.
• Stelle told Lin Shuang that she thought she had come to join Lin Shuang and Kafka, and claimed they had registered their marriage in the Simulated Universe.
• Stelle explained that Herta had pulled her into testing the Simulated Universe, where Silver Wolf invaded the Space Station and encountered Screwllum.
• Lin Shuang realized Silver Wolf was likely spending hours rebuilding her game accounts after Herta had sacrificed many of them, and decided to check on her in the game.
• Lin Shuang and Stelle boarded a starskiff to Starskiff Haven; Stelle planned to tell the Express crew what Kafka had revealed, while Lin Shuang planned to go home and then head to Penacony.

Lin Shuang joined Silver Wolf in grinding a new game account after Silver Wolf lost her data in a clash with Herta and Screwllum. Silver Wolf explained Punklorde’s Game Cartridges, then wondered whether Lin Shuang had come to comfort her, only for Lin Shuang to tease her and lose all her screenshots to Silver Wolf’s edits.

• Lin Shuang found Silver Wolf grinding a new account and offered to help, while Silver Wolf accused her of coming to laugh at her.
• Silver Wolf complained that Herta and Screwllum had outmaneuvered her and that her attempt to restore her data had failed.
• Lin Shuang asked whether Silver Wolf’s Aether Game Cartridge could let others use Punklorde’s reality-editing tricks, and Silver Wolf explained that each Hacker’s abilities came from themself.
• Silver Wolf refused to teach Lin Shuang how to edit reality, then hesitantly asked whether Lin Shuang had come to comfort her.
• Lin Shuang secretly took screenshots of Silver Wolf’s embarrassed expression, and Silver Wolf turned every saved image into a mosaic.

Lin Shuang and Silver Wolf traded pranks after gaming, with Silver Wolf decorating Lin Shuang with week-long pixel-art doodles. Lin Shuang caught Silver Wolf with vermilion threads and realized she had grabbed Silver Wolf's real body.

• Lin Shuang teased Silver Wolf while they played, and Silver Wolf forced her out of the game before pinning her down in the room.
• Silver Wolf stayed in Lin Shuang's arms as she slept, then drew pixel-art labels on her face and body as a prank.
• After Lin Shuang woke, Silver Wolf claimed the doodles would remain for a week, and Lin Shuang discovered them in the bathroom mirror.
• Lin Shuang chased Silver Wolf and used vermilion threads to bind her, then realized the Silver Wolf before her was not a hologram.

Lin Shuang recalled her mischief with Silver Wolf and returned to Penacony, where Firefly shared her growing suspicions about Gallagher. Lin Shuang warned Firefly to avoid being alone with him as the Charmony Festival preparations continued.

• Lin Shuang bound and weakened Silver Wolf, then teased her until she was reduced to tears and later tried to hide her embarrassment about the encounter.
• Firefly asked Lin Shuang what had happened to Silver Wolf, and Lin Shuang claimed they had fought while keeping the details secret.
• After resting for two days, Lin Shuang returned to The Reverie and met Firefly in a theater.
• Firefly told Lin Shuang that Gallagher had been seen speaking to someone unseen and that his identity and appointment remained difficult to trace.
• Lin Shuang warned Firefly to be cautious and avoid being alone with Gallagher, and Firefly said Sunday had also expressed concern.

Lin Shuang planned to meet Gallagher while a crow secretly watched her, then accepted Sunday’s invitation to the Morning Dew Mansion. Sunday was alarmed that she had broken through a layer of the dreamscape and intended to probe her.

• Lin Shuang reassured Firefly that she could handle approaching Gallagher, and they agreed to check in with each other regularly before parting ways.
• Lin Shuang noticed a crow watching her and suspected Sunday was behind the surveillance, but she continued with her plan to find Gallagher in Golden Hour.
• An Oak Family member invited Lin Shuang to meet Sunday privately, and Lin Shuang agreed to go to the Morning Dew Mansion.
• Lin Shuang saw another crow in the mansion and realized Sunday was watching her there too.
• Sunday ordered Lin Shuang brought to the mansion after she broke through a layer of the dreamscape, and he prepared to question her intentions.

Sunday and the Dream Master grew wary of Lin Shuang after she exposed that she could break through the dream, and they debated how to handle her as their plan neared its final stage. They prepared to meet her, while treating expulsion from Penacony as a last resort that could jeopardize Firefly’s cooperation.

• Sunday questioned what Lin Shuang wanted and concluded that her warning showed she had detected the dream’s watchers.
• Sunday viewed Lin Shuang’s abilities, suspicious past, and apparent intelligence network as evidence that she was a dangerous variable.
• The Dream Master told Sunday that Lin Shuang had grown stronger and warned that he might expel her from Penacony if necessary.
• Sunday cautioned that expelling Lin Shuang could make Firefly refuse to sing for Order, and the Dream Master agreed it should remain a last resort.
• Sunday and the Dream Master became more convinced that Lin Shuang’s apparent lack of guile was an act and resolved to treat her with vigilance.

Lin Shuang met Sunday at the Morning Dew Mansion, where he admitted to having her and Firefly watched and claimed he was protecting his sister. His vague promise to explain everything to Firefly later made Lin Shuang suspect that Sunday was pursuing a hidden plan, and the meeting ended with her wondering whether he was the mole.

• Lin Shuang followed a Family member to Sunday's room and noticed the crow watching from the shadows.
• Sunday dismissed the Family member, admitted he had kept Lin Shuang and Firefly under surveillance, and said he was concerned about Firefly's safety.
• Lin Shuang objected that Sunday should speak to Firefly directly rather than summon her alone.
• Sunday said he would explain everything to Firefly once it was all over, leading Lin Shuang to suspect he was concealing a plan beyond the Charmony Festival.
• Lin Shuang wondered whether Sunday was trying to keep Firefly from uncovering the truth or win her over, and questioned whether he was the mole.

Lin Shuang questioned Sunday about Gallagher and concluded that Sunday was likely a mole within the Family, while Sunday and Mikhail Gopherwood discussed keeping Firefly central to their plan. After leaving Morning Dew Mansion, Lin Shuang encountered Sparkle disguised as Gallagher and exposed her.

• Lin Shuang asked Sunday whether Gallagher was one of his people, and Sunday said he was investigating Gallagher and offered to share any findings with Firefly.
• Lin Shuang rejected Sunday's offer to work together, then left Morning Dew Mansion suspecting that Sunday was a mole in the Family.
• Sunday told Mikhail Gopherwood that he wanted to keep Lin Shuang in Penacony and that Firefly remained central to the Charmony Festival plan.
• Lin Shuang considered the risk of being watched and decided to keep searching for Gallagher, potentially taking Firefly away from Penacony.
• Sparkle approached Lin Shuang disguised as Gallagher, but Lin Shuang saw through the disguise and attacked, forcing Sparkle to reveal herself.

Lin Shuang questioned Sparkle about her schemes on the Luofu while searching Penacony for Gallagher. Sparkle vanished after handing Lin Shuang her mask, and Gallagher recognized it as they began speaking.

• Lin Shuang asked Sparkle how she had learned about events on the Luofu, but Sparkle teased her and refused to explain.
• Sparkle continued pestering Lin Shuang as they walked, and Lin Shuang criticized her arrangements on the Luofu.
• Lin Shuang spotted Gallagher speaking with Hound Family members, and Sparkle placed her mask on Lin Shuang before disappearing.
• Lin Shuang considered whether Sparkle's mask held power, then set the question aside when Gallagher approached.
• Gallagher introduced himself to Lin Shuang, asked where Sparkle had gone, and recognized the mask she was holding.

Lin Shuang questioned Gallagher about his position as Penacony's Security Officer and suspected he might be connected to a menacing creature she glimpsed in his shadow. After leaving Sparkle's mask on a bench, she found it had mysteriously reappeared at her feet.

• Lin Shuang told Gallagher that Sparkle was the other guest and questioned who had appointed him Security Officer.
• Gallagher claimed the Hound Family had recruited him because they were short-staffed, then asked why Lin Shuang had come to Penacony.
• Lin Shuang considered whether Gallagher might be secretly involved in the hidden invitations and the Watchmaker's plans.
• Lin Shuang glimpsed a monstrous silhouette in Gallagher's shadow and wondered if it resembled the creature that killed Firefly in the game's story.
• Lin Shuang discarded Sparkle's mask on a roadside bench, but it fell out of thin air in front of her as she walked away.

Lin Shuang escaped Sparkle’s trap into the Memory Zone, where she encountered Black Swan. Black Swan began leading her through the deserted space and explained that the Garden of Recollection had come to record the Family’s gathering while she investigated Penacony’s true dreamscape.

• Sparkle used a mask to send Lin Shuang from her dream into the Memory Zone, then stayed behind in reality to tease her sleeping body.
• Lin Shuang recovered in the Dream Pool, confirmed that her Mystic Seal of True Sight could help her return, and explored the empty corridors.
• Lin Shuang met Black Swan, who recognized that Sparkle had sent her into the strange place.
• Black Swan offered to guide Lin Shuang back to reality, and Lin Shuang walked with her while asking what had brought her there.
• Black Swan said the Garden of Recollection had come to record the Family’s historic gathering and that she wanted to investigate Penacony’s true dreamscape.

Lin Shuang and Black Swan fought their way through Memory Zone Memes in Penacony, with Black Swan guiding them through the disordered space. They reached a door that would return them to The Reverie.

• Black Swan asked Lin Shuang how she knew Penacony's secrets, but Lin Shuang kept her source private.
• Lin Shuang summoned her Greatsword and played a recording of her singing to boost her combat performance, prompting Black Swan to question her unusual fighting style.
• Lin Shuang entered a dim hall and fought a dragon-shaped Memory Zone Meme, while Black Swan's strange hands pinned it down for Lin Shuang to destroy.
• Black Swan praised Lin Shuang's fighting and remarked that she wished she had secretly followed her earlier, while Lin Shuang asked her not to stalk her.
• Lin Shuang and Black Swan navigated past more Memory Zone Memes and stopped at a door Black Swan said would lead back to The Reverie.

After leaving the Memory Zone, Lin Shuang learned from Asta that Topaz of the IPC’s Strategic Investment Department was looking for her and warned Acheron in case trouble arose. A few quiet days passed in Penacony, until an unfamiliar number called Lin Shuang as she was about to visit Firefly in the dreamscape.

• Lin Shuang thanked Black Swan for helping her leave and accepted her invitation to dance sometime.
• Back at The Reverie, Lin Shuang found a red-and-white mask in her hand, then received a call from Asta about Topaz seeking her contact information.
• Lin Shuang messaged Acheron about the IPC’s interest, and Acheron told her to call if trouble came up.
• Lin Shuang spent a few days practicing singing with Firefly while Penacony’s preparations for the Charmony Festival continued.
• An unfamiliar number called Lin Shuang as she was about to go find Firefly in the dreamscape.

Topaz told Lin Shuang that galactic convention made her the last survivor and potential owner of Sephalia, then proposed that she rebuild the planet. As Lin Shuang considered the offer, a hidden monster attacked her from the shadows, and she noticed it only as it emerged.

• Topaz contacted Lin Shuang and identified Sephalia as the planet connected to her arrival in the galaxy.
• Topaz explained that the extinct civilization’s debts would not pass to Lin Shuang, but convention classified her as Sephalia’s last survivor and heir.
• Topaz offered to help Lin Shuang take ownership of Sephalia and finance its reconstruction.
• A monster silently approached Lin Shuang while she spoke with Topaz, escaping both women’s notice.
• The monster thrust its claws at Lin Shuang, who sensed no danger until it emerged from the shadows.

Lin Shuang was stabbed by a Memory Zone Meme and swept through the sea of Memoria into a desolate, unfamiliar part of Penacony. She followed a cleared passage through the bleak area and found an old-fashioned elevator, with an upside-down city visible in the sky above.

• A Memory Zone Meme stabbed Lin Shuang during her call with Topaz, and Lin Shuang dissolved into a puddle as the call ended.
• Topaz saved the recording and contacted Jade, suggesting the evidence about Penacony would interest Diamond and the IPC.
• Lin Shuang realized the attack had not triggered her danger sense and let the blade pierce her, then was pulled through the sea of Memoria.
• Lin Shuang emerged in a dilapidated alley, put on her Valkyrie armor, and questioned dispirited people who offered no useful information.
• Lin Shuang spotted what seemed to be the reflection of the Twelve Hours overhead and reached an old-fashioned elevator that opened as she approached.