Chapter Summaries

After buying a Body Strengthening Agent, Su Qiao discovered that her younger sister had hired three men to drug and abduct her. She defeated them and tracked her sister to a room behind the temple, leaving all four attackers unconscious in the Dense Forest.

• Su Qiao purchased a beginner-level Body Strengthening Agent and gained physical abilities three times those of an ordinary man.
• Su Qiao asked 444 for palace novels and resolved to outmaneuver people in this world rather than fight.
• Su Qiao noticed someone sending drugging smoke through her window and covered her mouth and nose with a wet cloth.
• 444 told Su Qiao that her younger sister had hired three men to drug and abduct her and ruin her reputation.
• Su Qiao defeated the three men without killing them, then located her younger sister in a side room.
• Su Qiao left the three men and her younger sister unconscious in the Dense Forest behind the temple.

Su Qiao punished the Black Fiend Three Heroes after they tried to break into her room, using them to test her newly devised techniques. She released them, but they were left terrified of her.

• Su Qiao searched the Dense Forest, prepared the area, and woke the three burly men with Embroidery Needles.
• The Black Fiend Three Heroes threatened and pleaded with Su Qiao to let them go.
• Su Qiao used her Bone-Dislocating Muscle-Separating Hand and Reverse Meridian Needle Technique on the scarred man, then experimented on the other two.
• The three men begged for mercy, and Su Qiao released their acupoints and told them they could leave.
• The three men exchanged terrified glances, showing no relief at being set free.

Su Qiao ordered Liu Biao, Hong Daniu, and the Scarred Man to carry Su Yan away and keep her captive until after dawn. The men agreed and, despite considering dumping Su Yan, the second brother insisted they obey Su Qiao’s order exactly.

• Liu Biao, Hong Daniu, and the Scarred Man begged Su Qiao to spare them and offered to work for her.
• Su Qiao told the three men to take Su Yan away and not release her until after dawn, warning them not to let her go early.
• The three men carried Su Yan away and fled from Su Qiao.
• After running four or five li, the Scarred Man and Hong Daniu suggested dumping Su Yan, but the second brother insisted they keep carrying her until dawn.

Su Qiao sent the three brothers running all night, then stopped by a river to roast a wild chicken. When 444 warned her that the unconscious major villain was nearby, she reluctantly went to find him and dragged him back to her camp.

• The second and third brothers joined the eldest in promising to obey Su Qiao, and she ordered them to run farther away.
• The three brothers carried the man onward through the night while Su Qiao left to find food.
• Su Qiao roasted a wild chicken by the river and delayed organizing her memories until after eating.
• 444 warned Su Qiao that the injured, unconscious major villain was nearby.
• Su Qiao found the man by the river and dragged him toward her campfire.

Su Qiao learned that the injured man might be Qin Mohan’s reincarnation and treated his wounds before reviewing the original Su Qiao’s past. Her memories ended as she recalled that Su Yan’s fall into the water had begun the events that led to Su Qiao’s death.

• 444 told Su Qiao that the injured man’s soul resembled the Great Demon King Qin Mohan, though it could not confirm his identity.
• Su Qiao wondered why Qin Mohan might have appeared in this world, and 444 explained that only one task-taker could exist in a plane.
• Su Qiao carefully moved the man beside the fire, cleaned him, and used Wound-healing Powder to stop his bleeding.
• Su Qiao recalled that the original Su Qiao was the beloved daughter of General Su Ruifeng, but a serious illness had left her with the mind of a seven- or eight-year-old.
• Su Qiao remembered that her sister Su Yan had fallen into the water, beginning the events that eventually led to Su Qiao’s death.

After seeing Su Qiao's memories of Su Yan's betrayal and ten years of imprisonment, Su Qiao swore revenge on the person responsible for the avatar's repeated suffering. She remained furious as 444 tried to reassure her.

• Su Qiao learned that Su Yan had arranged her abduction, ruined her reputation, and stolen the tiger seal for Duanmu Yuan.
• Duanmu Yuan and Su Yan married, and he used the tiger seal to defeat his rivals and become emperor, while Su Qiao suffered in a nunnery.
• Su Yan imprisoned Su Qiao in a dark basement for ten years, tormenting her until Su Qiao died by smashing her head against the wall.
• Su Qiao returned to herself, declared that she was fine, and vowed to tear apart the person responsible once she gathered all the Soul Fragments.
• 444 saw Su Qiao's anger and reminded her that things would be different now that she was there.

Su Qiao suppressed the Soul Fragment’s hostility and met Duanmu Han, whose Darkening Value was already near its limit and who seemed to hate her for once refusing to save him. After she explained that she had treated his wounds, Duanmu Han asked whether she was hungry, and Su Qiao warned him not to eat the roasted chicken because of his injuries.

• Su Qiao calmed the Soul Fragment’s resentment and promised to take revenge on those who had bullied its former host.
• 444 warned Su Qiao that Duanmu Han’s Darkening Value had reached 9/10, and she learned he hated her for leaving him to fall into a river.
• Duanmu Han woke and asked Su Qiao whether she had saved him; she said she had scattered medicine on his wounds.
• Su Qiao secretly called Duanmu Han a liar when his Darkening Value did not decrease.
• Duanmu Han asked whether Su Qiao was hungry, and she told him he could not eat her roasted chicken because of his injuries.

Su Qiao tried to coax the injured Duanmu Han with fruit, then gave him the Tiger Seal after mistaking his interest in it for a desire to have it. Duanmu Han was stunned and asked whether she knew what the seal was.

• Su Qiao offered Duanmu Han two peaches, while he eyed the roast chicken she was holding.
• Duanmu Han suspected Su Qiao might be part of a scheme, given her ties to Duanmu Yuan and General Su.
• Su Qiao took out the Tiger Seal and asked Duanmu Han if he wanted it.
• Su Qiao handed Duanmu Han the seal and pouch, saying he could not have her roast chicken too.
• Duanmu Han asked Su Qiao whether she knew what the Tiger Seal was.

Su Qiao gave Duanmu Han an embroidered pouch of valuable medicine and food, insisting she needed no protection and teasing him for being weak. After sharing a meal, she left him with a jade bottle to stop his bleeding, while he watched her go in bewildered silence.

• Su Qiao said she was giving Duanmu Han the pouch because she found him pleasing to look at, and he accepted it while suspecting she was simply foolish.
• Su Qiao finished the roast chicken and told Duanmu Han to return as well, then said she knew him from seeing him bullied twice before.
• Duanmu Han asked whether Su Qiao knew him, and her answer that she had seen him bullied darkened his expression.
• Su Qiao warned Duanmu Han about wolves, tossed him a Small White Jade Bottle to stop his bleeding, and left.
• Duanmu Han watched Su Qiao depart while holding two peaches, the embroidered pouch, and the jade bottle.

After meeting Duanmu Han, Su Qiao left to return to the General's Estate, while he realized he wanted her and ordered Shi Bei to escort her safely. Shi Bei caught up with Su Qiao and offered her a ride back.

• Duanmu Han wondered why he wanted Su Qiao so badly after she had given him something without asking for anything in return.
• Su Qiao decided to leave rather than risk angering Duanmu Han, and told 444 she would demonstrate her acting skills when she returned.
• Shi Bei reported that the attackers had been sent by the First Prince, and Duanmu Han suspected the Second Prince was testing him or had a traitor in his ranks.
• Duanmu Han agreed to investigate Su Qiao and ordered Shi Bei to escort her back to the General's Estate.
• Shi Bei stopped Su Qiao beside the road and told her that Duanmu Han had sent him to escort her home.

Duanmu Han ordered hidden guards to protect Su Qiao after she gave him the Tiger Seal. Su Qiao returned to the General’s Estate disguised as a frightened victim and claimed that her little sister had been kidnapped.

• Su Qiao called Duanmu Han a good person, and Shi Bei relayed her words to him.
• Duanmu Han ordered Shi Bei to send two people to protect Su Qiao, and Shi Bei selected two hidden guards.
• Su Qiao bought assorted items, dirtied herself, and put chili powder in her eyes to make herself look distressed.
• Su Qiao entered the General’s Estate and claimed that armed men had kidnapped her little sister.
• The guards realized that someone might be targeting the General’s Estate.

Su Qiao survived an attack and reunited with Chun Hua, the loyal maid who had protected her since childhood. She resolved to trust Chun Hua again and acted carefree while waiting for news of her younger sister.

• Su Qiao confused the estate guards with her account of the attackers, and they left to search the mountain.
• Chun Hua arrived, checked that Su Qiao was unharmed, and comforted her.
• Su Qiao apologized for having distanced herself from Chun Hua and called her family.
• Su Qiao remembered that Chun Hua had died trying to rescue her in her previous life, then resolved not to let Su Yan harm her again.
• Su Qiao asked for a feast, reasoning that acting like a fool would explain her quick change in mood.

After returning home, Su Qiao ate, then secretly prepared to carve a fake Tiger Seal for Su Yan. While working, she told 444 how she had survived and learned in the mountains, including killing Old Poison Ghost when she feared he would eat her.

• Chun Hua brought Su Qiao home, arranged for her to wash and eat, and worried about the rumors surrounding her and the general’s unknown fate.
• After eating, Su Qiao sent Chun Hua away and gathered street-bought items to make a fake Tiger Seal for Su Yan.
• Su Qiao explained that she had taught herself to read by tracing characters from Old Poison Ghost’s medical texts and listening to him recite them.
• Su Qiao said she had killed Old Poison Ghost because she feared he would eat her.
• When 444 asked whether her flesh and blood really cured all poisons and increased cultivation, Su Qiao reacted with surprise to the claim about increased cultivation.

Su Qiao hid the altered iron plate and began cultivating Internal Energy again despite 444’s concerns. When Second Concubine came demanding answers about Su Yan’s kidnapping, Chun Hua defended Su Qiao and challenged Second Concubine’s authority.

• Su Qiao engraved the iron plate, hid it in a concealed compartment beneath the dressing table, and told 444 she expected Su Yan to find it.
• Su Qiao discovered she could cultivate in her current body and resumed practicing Internal Cultivation despite 444 warning her about Qi Deviation.
• Second Concubine arrived at Su Qiao’s door, wailing about Su Yan’s kidnapping and demanding an explanation.
• Chun Hua refused to let Second Concubine disturb the sleeping Su Qiao and reminded her that Su Qiao was the household’s true master while the General was away.
• Second Concubine called Chun Hua a disrespectful wretch and ordered someone to beat her to death.

Su Qiao defended Chun Hua from Second Aunt and invoked her father’s authority to stop the household from mistreating them. Second Aunt learned that the Second Prince was searching for Yan’er, but Su Qiao’s question about whether Yan’er was playing hide-and-seek with him left Second Aunt’s smugness shattered.

• Su Qiao kicked open the door and threatened Second Aunt’s matrons for trying to hit Chun Hua.
• Chun Hua reminded Su Qiao that she was her personal guard, and Su Qiao cited her father’s orders to assert her authority over the household.
• Two guards arrived, told Second Aunt to stop making things difficult for Su Qiao, and said they had sent people to find Yan’er.
• Second Aunt heard that the Second Prince had sent people to search for Yan’er and reacted with delight.
• Su Qiao asked how Cousin Yuan had found out and wondered if Yan’er was playing hide-and-seek with him, making Second Aunt’s smug expression stiffen.

Su Qiao ordered Second Concubine’s servants punished, while Duanmu Han learned she was pretending to be foolish and decided to protect her. He later sneaked into her room at night, where she confronted him about his visit.

• Su Qiao told Chun Hua to return to her room, then ordered the old women to kneel and apologize to Chun Hua.
• Duanmu Han learned Su Qiao was not stupid and called her a little fox, then ordered Shi Bei to protect her.
• Duanmu Han entered Su Qiao’s room through the window late at night and watched her sleeping.
• Su Qiao opened her eyes and asked Duanmu Han why he had come, and he said he wanted to repay her for saving his life.
• Su Qiao told Duanmu Han that her father had taught her people of the martial world should help each other.

Su Qiao rejected Duanmu Han’s offer to repay her by offering himself and insisted he keep his distance from her. Duanmu Han claimed he had come to protect her from a bullying concubine, but Su Qiao dismissed him as weak and told him to take care of his wound.

• Su Qiao asked Duanmu Han to repay her with more roast chickens, then added roast ducks when he questioned whether that was enough.
• Duanmu Han offered himself as repayment, but Su Qiao refused, calling men who said such things unreliable and pushing him away.
• Duanmu Han pretended his wound hurt, making Su Qiao regret pushing him roughly.
• Duanmu Han said he had come to protect Su Qiao after hearing her residence’s concubine was bullying her.
• Su Qiao denied needing his protection and told him to stay home and recover because he was weak.

Su Qiao learned why Duanmu Han had been neglected and abused in the palace, and her sympathy for him deepened. Duanmu Han used his apparent weakness to draw her into his arms and told her that his father did not like him.

• Su Qiao scolded Duanmu Han for being weak and careless, and he decided that he wanted her for himself.
• Su Qiao suggested that the Emperor assign Duanmu Han more guards, but she learned that the Emperor had disliked him since childhood.
• Su Qiao learned that Consort Liu had forced her poison into Duanmu Han and that he had endured neglect and abuse in the palace.
• Su Qiao looked at Duanmu Han with sympathy and heartache, and he pretended to go limp so he could pull her into his arms.
• Duanmu Han told Su Qiao that his father did not like him.

Su Qiao comforted Duanmu Han when he claimed no one liked or protected him, and promised to keep him alive. Duanmu Han took her words as proof that she liked him and resolved to live.

• Su Qiao offered to help Duanmu Han seize the throne, and he laughed against her shoulder.
• Duanmu Han said his Imperial Concubine Mother hated him and asked Su Qiao whether she liked him.
• When Su Qiao hesitated, Duanmu Han’s Darkening Value rose to 9/10.
• Su Qiao told Duanmu Han she found him pleasing to the eye, and he decided that meant she liked him.
• Duanmu Han asked Su Qiao to protect him, and she promised she would not let him die once she had mastered her martial arts.

Su Qiao tried to send Duanmu Han back to his room, but discovered that he had been poisoned while checking his wrist. She sat him down to examine his pulse, leaving his condition unresolved.

• Duanmu Han clung to Su Qiao and insisted she keep her promise to protect him.
• Su Qiao told Duanmu Han to leave her room, but he argued that he could come in because she was supposed to protect him.
• After the system reminded Su Qiao that Duanmu Han shared Qin Mohan’s soul, she accepted his reasoning and pushed him toward the door.
• Su Qiao sensed something wrong while holding Duanmu Han’s wrist and realized he had been poisoned.
• Duanmu Han tried to hide his condition, but Su Qiao seated him by the window and began examining his pulse.