Chapter Summaries

Mathilda’s father admitted stealing from Stanfield, and Ding Ling lent him one million, but Stanfield then tried to recruit him into a new deal while plotting to seize Ding Ling’s fortune. The next morning, Mathilda resolved to ask Ding Ling to dismiss her father, but her father arrived and angrily confronted her.

• Mathilda’s father confessed that greed had led him to steal from Stanfield, and Ding Ling gave Mathilda one million to lend him.
• Stanfield collected the money, mocked Mathilda’s father, and tried to use Mathilda to meet Ding Ling; when she refused, he offered her father a twenty-percent commission to broker a deal.
• Stanfield investigated Ding Ling, discovered his immense wealth, and began arranging an asset grab with powerful allies while contacting assassins and underground organizations.
• Mathilda brought breakfast to Ding Ling’s home and told Leon that she planned to apologize to Ding Ling and ask him to dismiss her father.
• Mathilda’s father arrived late, overheard her plan, and flew into a rage.

Mathilda confronted her father over his plan to betray Ding Ling, and she urged Ding Ling to replace the family as bodyguards. Ding Ling let her parents keep their jobs but ordered Leon to recruit additional guards, while Mathilda grew more attached to him.

• Mathilda accused her father of repaying Ding Ling’s kindness while secretly considering Stanfield’s offer, and he angrily demanded respect.
• After breakfast, Mathilda proposed replacing the bodyguards, but her parents pleaded with Ding Ling to keep them employed.
• Ding Ling reassured Mathilda’s parents and kept them on, while Mathilda’s father continued to resent her.
• Mathilda told Ding Ling that her parents might cooperate with Stanfield, and they denied her accusation.
• Ding Ling asked Leon to recruit one or two more bodyguards, then let Mathilda’s parents continue working for him.
• Mathilda stayed with Ding Ling as he read, while her father guarded the door and Leon went to find bodyguards.

Mathilda’s family imprisoned her while betraying Ding Ling and helping Stanfield draw him into a deal, leaving her unable to warn him. After they celebrated Ding Ling’s supposed bankruptcy and their promised twenty-percent commission, Stanfield’s man Smith Brown arrived with less than two hundred thousand dollars, far below what they expected.

• Mathilda’s parents, stepmother, and older sister decided to cooperate with Stanfield against Ding Ling, and Mathilda refused to help them.
• Mathilda’s family grounded her, changed the locks, cut the telephone line, and watched her as their cooperation with Stanfield advanced.
• Her family claimed Ding Ling had gone bankrupt and that their twenty-percent commission would be worth at least ten billion dollars.
• Smith Brown arrived with a case containing less than two hundred thousand dollars, and Mathilda’s stepmother protested that they had agreed to a twenty-percent commission.

Stanfield forced Mathilda’s family to help him exploit Ding Ling, while her family begged Mathilda to regain Ding Ling’s trust and save them. Mathilda felt trapped and uncertain as they made her their pawn again.

• Smith Brown threatened Mathilda’s family with a gun after Mathilda’s father considered seeking help to claim more of Ding Ling’s money.
• Stanfield shot Mathilda’s father in the foot and ordered the family to travel to a neighboring country and gain Ding Ling’s trust so they could take his assets.
• Stanfield’s guards kept Mathilda’s family under constant surveillance, and her relatives regretted betraying Ding Ling.
• Mathilda’s family begged her to ask Ding Ling for help, invoking her little brother and kneeling before her.
• Mathilda recognized that her family had made her a pawn again, but she felt she had no choice.

Matilda met Ding Ling and revealed Stanfield’s plan to capture him, but Ding Ling refused to flee and prepared to confront Stanfield’s men. The chapter ended as Smith Brown and a group of armed men surrounded them in the outskirts.

• Stanfield threatened Matilda with harm to her younger brother and pressured her to help target Ding Ling.
• Matilda went to meet Ding Ling, broke down crying, and fell asleep in his arms.
• After waking, Matilda told Ding Ling about Stanfield’s plans and urged him to escape, but Ding Ling assured her he could handle the threat.
• Ding Ling took Matilda and Leon to the outskirts, where Smith Brown and fifteen or sixteen armed men confronted them.

Ding Ling killed Smith Brown, Stanfield, and their allies, then rescued Mathilda’s family and won the Sovereign Light. He left the country with Mathilda, Leon, and Mathilda’s younger brother, while Mathilda’s parents received two million dollars.

• Ding Ling used his curving bullets to kill Smith Brown’s men, then forced Smith Brown to reveal Stanfield’s plans and shot him dead.
• Ding Ling, Leon, and Mathilda infiltrated the Morrow Hotel and killed Stanfield and the people gathered with him.
• Mathilda thanked Ding Ling, reached maximum approval and intimacy, and released the Sovereign Light, which Ding Ling captured.
• Mathilda asked to follow Ding Ling, and he agreed.
• Ding Ling and Leon rescued Mathilda’s parents and relatives, then left the country with Mathilda and her younger brother after giving her parents two million dollars.

Ding Ling entered the Kung Fu Hustle world, identified Fanger as the bearer of the Sovereign Light, and began courting her while a group of Players arrived on a dangerous mission. The chapter left Ouyang Qi discouraged as he watched Ding Ling win Fanger’s attention with his looks and Sign Language.

• Ding Ling spared Mathilda’s parents but planned to curse them with Bad Luck Talismans, while Mathilda grew into an accomplished adult devoted to him and invited him to a candlelit dinner.
• Ding Ling discovered that mute ice-cream seller Fanger carried the Sovereign Light and resolved to win her over before she reconnected with Ah Xing.
• Ding Ling acquired a fortune and estate in the concession by bewitching several greedy foreigners, then went to Blossom Street to meet Fanger.
• Five Players arrived with a mission to kill Fire Cloud Cthulhu and drive out the Japanese pirates, and Ouyang Qi proposed pursuing Fanger to gain the protagonist’s support.
• Ding Ling spoke with Fanger in Sign Language, making her laugh, while Ouyang Qi bought ice cream and struggled to compete for her attention.
• Zhang Pei and the other Players mocked Ouyang Qi’s chances as he watched Fanger cheerfully continue signing with Ding Ling.

Ding Ling accepted Tuoba Ling and the other Players as attendants after they demonstrated their abilities, while their team hoped to use him to complete their main quest. He invited Fanger to dinner, and his attention made her trust him a little more as her heartbeat quickened.

• Zhang Pei persuaded the Players that she could seduce Ding Ling and volunteered to win him over.
• Tuoba Ling introduced himself to Ding Ling and demonstrated his speed, earning a place among Ding Ling's attendants.
• Tuoba Ling brought the other Players to Ding Ling, and they showed off their diverse skills as Fanger watched in amazement.
• Ding Ling invited Fanger to dinner, and she blushed while wondering whether she was truly the first girl he had invited.
• At Hanting Restaurant, Ding Ling served Fanger food as Zhang Pei watched enviously.

Ding Ling brought Fanger and the Players to his lavish estate, impressing them with his immense wealth and capability. As the Players resolved to ally themselves closely with him, they offered manipulative schemes to help him win Fanger’s affection, while Zhang Pei realized she had fallen for Ding Ling herself.

• Fanger was dazzled by Ding Ling’s estate, and the Players discovered that its antiques included an authentic Lanting Collection Preface.
• The Players learned that Ding Ling owned numerous estates and factories, commanded thousands of employees and guards, and had no relatives.
• When Ouyang Qi asked why Ding Ling pursued Fanger despite his wealth and popularity, Ding Ling asked what methods they could suggest.
• The Players proposed schemes to make Fanger suffer and then have Ding Ling rescue her, while Zhang Pei privately recognized her growing devotion to him.
• Tuoba Ling offered to handle the plan so Fanger would not notice any flaws.

Ding Ling agreed to help Tuoba Ling and the Players bring Fanger closer to him, while their scheme to inflame the Axe Gang and Crocodile Gang plunged the city into violence. After Fanger was repeatedly endangered, Ding Ling rescued her, hired her to care for his estate, and welcomed her into his household and team.

• Ding Ling approved Tuoba Ling and the Players' plan to create opportunities with Fanger, on the condition that they kept her safe and unaware of their interference.
• Tuoba Ling joined the Axe Gang and Ouyang Qi joined the Crocodile Gang, then the Players provoked a deadly clash that escalated into a gang war.
• Fanger's stall became unsafe amid the fighting, and after Ding Ling rescued her from danger, robbers later stole her belongings as she tried to get home.
• Fanger called Ding Ling for help when she was followed again, and Ding Ling brought her back and offered her a job caring for his flowers and plants.
• Fanger accepted the position and moved into Ding Ling's estate, where he held a welcome banquet and reassured her as she grew increasingly close to him.

Ding Ling made Fanger his female butler, and months of sharing a comfortable life brought her intimacy with him to 97. On their way to the cinema, Fanger recognized Xingzai, the boy who had once saved her, and watched her childhood image of him shatter; as Ding Ling’s bodyguards captured Xingzai and Fei Zai Cong, she began gesturing to Ding Ling to spare him.

• Ding Ling publicly introduced Fanger as his female butler and asked everyone at the estate to cooperate with her.
• Fanger grew accustomed to her new life and daily meals and walks with Ding Ling, bringing her intimacy with him to 97.
• Ding Ling took Fanger to the cinema, where they saw Xingzai and Fei Zai Cong robbing and threatening a girl while pretending to be Axe Gang members.
• Fanger recognized Xingzai as the boy who had saved her in childhood and felt deeply disappointed by what he had become.
• Xingzai threatened Ding Ling and Fanger, and Ding Ling’s bodyguards captured him and Fei Zai Cong after they tried to flee.
• Fanger recalled that Xingzai had once helped her and gestured to Ding Ling as the two men were made to face him.

Ding Ling won Fanger’s affection completely and recruited Xingzai and Fei Zai Cong into his Guard Corps. As Fanger began learning martial arts and the Guard Corps continued to grow, Xingzai looked forward to serving Ding Ling.

• Fanger pleaded with Ding Ling to spare Xingzai, and Ding Ling agreed, completing his mission and receiving the Sovereign Light.
• Ding Ling offered Xingzai and Fei Zai Cong Guard Corps positions with pay, food, lodging, and martial arts training, and both eagerly joined.
• Chen Biao began training Xingzai and Fei Zai Cong in their duties, and Xingzai learned about Ding Ling’s wealth and influence.
• Fanger watched a movie with Ding Ling, grew emotional in his arms, and accepted his offer to teach her martial arts.
• Ding Ling’s Guard Corps continued expanding with martial artists and support from the Players, while the Crocodile Gang leader joined its ranks.

The Guard Corps destroyed the Axe Gang, absorbed the Crocodile Gang, and prepared to face Fire Cloud Cthulhu. Ding Ling trained Fanger until she became a Grandmaster, then sent her to duel Fire Cloud Cthulhu as the chapter ended with him being led to the arena.

• The Players grew more devoted to Ding Ling after learning how powerful he was, and their knowledge helped the Guard Corps expand across neighboring cities.
• After Fanger won Xingzai's heart, the Guard Corps wiped out the Axe Gang, while the Crocodile Gang's leader surrendered and kept managing his gang under the Corps.
• The Players asked Ding Ling for help with their main quest, and he agreed while planning to use Fire Cloud Cthulhu as a test for Fanger.
• Ding Ling taught Fanger the Northern Darkness Divine Art, Six Meridian Divine Sword, Lingbo Microstep, and ventriloquism, bringing her to Grandmaster level in a month.
• Ding Ling promised to teach Fanger three body-refining manuals and heal her throat if she defeated Fire Cloud Cthulhu, and she embraced him gratefully.
• The Guard Corps arranged Fire Cloud Cthulhu's release and took him to the duel site after the Players revealed that Fanger would challenge him.

Fanger defeated and killed Fire Cloud Cthulhu in a life-and-death battle, impressing the Guard Corps and the Players with the strength Ding Ling had taught her. Afterward, Ding Ling gave the Players several martial arts manuals and told them to ask Fanger for help with their training.

• Ouyang Qi and the Players brought Fire Cloud Cthulhu to meet Fanger at an empty field outside the city, where the crowd was astonished by Fanger's transformed appearance.
• Fire Cloud Cthulhu attacked Fanger, but she struck him with one punch and then wounded him with the Six Meridian Divine Sword after dodging his Toad Stance Skill.
• Fire Cloud Cthulhu feigned surrender and fired a poisoned arrow at Fanger, but she turned it back and killed him.
• The Guard Corps and the Players marveled at Fanger's victory and grew more eager to learn from Ding Ling.
• The Players asked Ding Ling to take them as disciples, but he gave them manuals for the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the Nine Yin Manual, the Nine Yang Divine Art, and the Nine Swords of Dugu, and told them to consult Fanger.

The Players trained Xingzai, Coolie Strong, and other fighters, then led the Ding Family Guard in a devastating campaign against the Japanese pirates. In a new King of Comedy world, Ding Ling established a theatrical troupe near Yin Tianchou’s neighborhood and took over the performance venue, leaving Yin Tianchou unsure how he would work with him.

• The Players taught martial arts manuals to Xingzai, Coolie Strong, and others, while Fanger learned divine arts and regained her voice.
• After two years of training, Landlord, Landlady, and other experts joined the Ding Family Guard, which drove back the Japanese pirates and defeated attempts to attack Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling entered the King of Comedy world, learned that Liu Piaopiao held the Sovereign Light, and traveled to Yin Tianchou’s neighborhood to establish a theatrical troupe.
• The neighborhood residents welcomed Ding Ling and offered him help and lodging, while Yin Tianchou returned from another unsuccessful day as an extra and felt inferior beside him.
• Aunt Zhang told Yin Tianchou that Ding Ling would use the Welfare Association’s performance venue, though Yin Tianchou could keep his room.

Yin Tianchou joined Ding Ling’s theatrical troupe and signed a lifetime contract after their first performance won over the neighbors. As the troupe’s shows quickly grew popular and profitable, Ding Ling began using the earnings to buy equipment.

• Yin Tianchou approached Ding Ling and was offered a role in the troupe’s performance the following night.
• Yin Tianchou studied the script, impressed by Ding Ling’s original play and song, and earned Ding Ling’s approval during rehearsal.
• Yin Tianchou insisted on signing a lifetime contract with Ding Ling after being awed by his singing and acting.
• Ding Ling and Yin Tianchou performed to loud applause, and Yin Tianchou decided he had chosen the right troupe leader.
• The troupe began charging for its next performance and collected three hundred yuan in ticket sales.
• Word spread about the troupe, its shows filled up and ticket prices rose, and Ding Ling used the growing earnings to buy equipment.

Ding Ling continued teaching acting at the opera troupe while searching for a female lead, and he selected Liu Piaopiao for private instruction. As he learned about her and answered her questions, Liu Piaopiao was increasingly moved by his apparent sincerity, and the chapter ended with her asking whether his views on relationships were genuine.

• Yin Tianchou urged Ding Ling to find a female lead because the opera troupe relied on temporary workers and could not perform many of its plays without one.
• Liu Piaopiao arrived at the acting class, heard the trainees praise Ding Ling, and was stunned by his appearance when he entered.
• Ding Ling taught the class and invited students who wanted to join the opera troupe to seek private instruction; Liu Piaopiao raised her hand, and Ding Ling chose her.
• Ding Ling led Liu Piaopiao away from the crowd, and she told him about herself while asking why he had selected her.
• Liu Piaopiao asked whether Ding Ling had ever had a girlfriend, and he said he had not dated in this world because he lacked the means to support one.
• Ding Ling said he would consider dating only after he had money, a house, and a car, and Liu Piaopiao asked whether he truly meant it.

Ding Ling gave Liu Piaopiao a private lesson, and repeated close-contact demonstrations left her infatuated with him. The next day, she returned to the Welfare Association and secured another lesson by claiming she still had not learned, while the other girls grew jealous.

• Ding Ling brought Liu Piaopiao to his rented home and asked what she wanted to learn.
• Liu Piaopiao chose to learn how to become a pure and lovable schoolgirl, but repeatedly lost focus during Ding Ling's demonstrations and asked him to try again.
• After the lesson, Liu Piaopiao went home dreaming about Ding Ling and returned to the Welfare Association the next day.
• Liu Piaopiao discovered that none of the other girls had hugged Ding Ling and kept her lesson subject secret when they offered gifts and money for the details.
• Ding Ling returned to the Welfare Association with Yin Tianchou and chose Liu Piaopiao again, explaining that she had not learned the previous day's lesson.
• Liu Piaopiao agreed that she was slow-witted and needed another lesson, prompting the other girls to realize they had missed the chance to use the same excuse.

Liu Piaopiao left her nightclub job to join Ding Ling’s opera troupe and worked her way up to becoming its leading actress. After kissing Ding Ling onstage, her intimacy reached 99, and she stayed by his side, hopeful that he would accept her love.

• Liu Piaopiao asked Ding Ling for a job at his opera troupe, and he hired her as a logistics worker with a salary.
• Liu Piaopiao trained diligently while working at the troupe, eventually earning small acting roles and Ding Ling’s praise.
• After more than a year of effort, Liu Piaopiao played Zhu Yingtai opposite Ding Ling’s Liang Shanbo and kissed him onstage, raising her intimacy to 99.
• Liu Piaopiao clung to Ding Ling after the performance and joked with Yin Tianchou about marrying him and finding Yin Tianchou a partner.
• Liu Piaopiao and Ding Ling remained inseparable in the days afterward, with Liu Piaopiao constantly caring for him and showing her affection.

Liu Piaopiao’s ex-boyfriend Zhan Shiyuan threatened to expose her past unless she paid him, but she refused and tried to stab him. After Ding Ling reassured her that he would not abandon her, she remained anxious about Zhan Shiyuan’s next move, and Ding Ling said he would take her somewhere.

• Zhan Shiyuan stopped Liu Piaopiao after her performance and demanded one hundred thousand yuan, threatening to tell Ding Ling about their past.
• Liu Piaopiao hid the encounter from Ding Ling, but her distress distracted her while cooking; Ding Ling comforted her and promised to stand by her.
• Three days later, Liu Piaopiao met Zhan Shiyuan at San Zhong Old Campus and refused to pay him, then drew a knife and tried to stab him.
• Zhan Shiyuan disarmed Liu Piaopiao and threatened to return in ten days, while she collapsed in distress after he left.
• Ding Ling found Liu Piaopiao crying, promised that his feelings would not change, and comforted her through the night.
• Several days later, Ding Ling found Liu Piaopiao staring blankly backstage and told her he would take her somewhere.