Recaps

Le Yu struggled to decide whether to meet Ming Shuiyun, fearing his feelings for her were distorted by the Holy Sword Imprint. Qing Lan helped him look back on his motives, and he left the Eightfold Blood Prison to act, though he admitted he had made no progress.

• Qing Lan explained that White Night and Le Yu’s sisters had helped her enter the Eightfold Blood Prison so Le Yu could suppress the rebels without Ming Shuiyun wielding Holy Sword Huiyao.
• Le Yu and Qing Lan joked about their relationship, marriage, and a future search for the Well of Gods and Devils before Qing Lan challenged him to say he would not seek Ming Shuiyun.
• Le Yu told Qing Lan that the Holy Sword Imprint made him feel close to Ming Shuiyun, leaving him unable to tell whether his feelings were truly his own.
• Qing Lan asked whether Le Yu would still have rebelled against Silverblood if he had foreseen the Fire at Black Candle, and Le Yu said he would have acted the same to stop people being treated as worthless.
• Le Yu realized he could not stand by while Ming Shuiyun trusted and depended on him, then left his cell with Qing Lan while admitting he had made no progress.

Li Ying, Lin Xue, Qin Yueshi, and Kui Nianruo waited in the Blood Prison warden’s office as Le Yu emerged with Qian Yuya and Qing Lan. The group prepared to leave and free the other White Night prisoners, while Le Yu said he would repay White Night’s help and discipline those who had risked their futures to rescue him.

• Li Ying realized the group faced a seven-red wanted rating, while Lin Xue explained that attacking a Pure-Blue Agent carried a five-red rating.
• Qin Yueshi searched the warden’s accounts, Kui Nianruo embraced the thrill of breaking the law, and Li Ying found and ate the warden’s pancakes.
• Nai Nishang arrived to ask whether White Night should send more people to search for Qin Leyin, but Lin Xue spotted Le Yu, Qian Yuya, and Qing Lan leaving the passage.
• Lin Xue and the others greeted Le Yu and noticed that he and Qing Lan were holding hands.
• Le Yu told the group to leave after helping free the White Night prisoners, and promised to repay White Night for its assistance.
• Le Yu warned that he would discipline the rescuers for risking their futures and said he would settle accounts with Shuiyun too.

Le Yu and the students discussed the rebels’ fear of the Holy Sword Huiyao and the danger facing Flame Capital as dawn approached. After Nilü engaged a Martial Pillar, Le Yu split from the students, shared a meal and parting words with them, and entered an alley alone.

• Qing Lan explained that the rebels were attacking through the night to keep their soldiers from losing morale before Shuiyun Palace wielded Radiance at dawn.
• The group learned that Nilü would hold off a Martial Pillar near the Ministry of Justice, while White Night would offer no further help.
• Le Yu told the students to separate and asked what each would do; they planned to gather their belongings, contact White Night, or flee with the Qin family if needed.
• Qing Lan shared pancakes among the group, and they ate together for the first time as Le Yu offered each student personal advice and thanks.
• Le Yu walked into a dim alley alone, and Qian Yuya watched him go, feeling something inside her melt.

Xianchan Chenchen led the Statistics Department to intercept Qin Leyin, who had escaped the Blood Prison and was racing to disrupt Shuiyun Palace’s enthronement ceremony. After learning the Patrol and Punishment Department was also pursuing him, Chenchen chose to clear Qin’s path by attacking their convoy, leaving the pursuit in chaos.

• The Cabinet issued a four-minister Oath of Stone and Gold ordering the Statistics Department not to injure Qin Leyin and to capture, intercept, or delay him.
• Zhaoye Bai drove Xianchan Chenchen and the Statistics Department agents toward the Blood Prison while Chenchen complained about the orders and his earlier treatment by the Commander.
• Scouts signaled Qin Leyin’s location, and the Statistics Department encountered the Patrol and Punishment Department’s larger convoy pursuing him.
• Xianchan Chenchen ordered Zhaoye Bai to ram the Patrol and Punishment Department’s lead vehicle, triggering a chain collision.
• Xianchan Chenchen ordered the Statistics Department agents to beat the Patrol and Punishment Department agents, clearing the way for Qin Leyin.

Le Yu fled toward the imperial court with Nieruo and Qin Yueyang, fighting through the Judges sent to capture him. Qin Yueyang helped Le Yu escape and accepted that he had changed, while he and Nieruo stayed behind to hold off the pursuers.

• Le Yu met Nieruo in an alley, and Nieruo revealed that Ming Shuangli had sent him to help Le Yu reach Shuiyun Palace.
• Nieruo admitted that Skyline assassins had attacked Le Yu before the Sword Quest for Succession and promised to repay the debt after one of them killed an elder who cared for Le Yu.
• The Judges trapped Le Yu and Nieruo behind a Prairie Fire spear formation, but Qin Yueyang smashed through it with a flaming boulder and gave Le Yu Swift Blade Boots components.
• Qin Yueyang helped Le Yu attach the components, and Le Yu asked whether Qin Yueyang had long known he had changed; Qin Yueyang affirmed it and showed him a notebook imagining their family as heroic Emperors.
• Qin Yueyang accepted that Le Yu had simply become a good person, called him his hero, and burned the notebook before he and Nieruo prepared to hold off the pursuing Judges.

Le Yu crossed Front Gate Street and the Imperial Court to reach Ming Shuiyun at the summit of the Ascension Platform, while Cha Huan chose to join the battle at the front. As dawn broke, Le Yu knelt before Ming Shuiyun and answered her call as her scabbard.

• Le Yu was surrounded by Golden Crow Guards on Front Gate Street, but Ning Xinyuan and Yan Yi used a sniper rifle to protect his passage.
• Cha Huan passed Le Yu without stopping him and flew toward the front line, urging him to follow his own will.
• Le Yu entered the Imperial Court and climbed the Ascension Platform as Ling Jiangli and the Empress Dowager allowed him to proceed.
• At sunrise, Le Yu reached Ming Shuiyun, took her hand, and knelt as she called him her scabbard.

Lan Yan fought Yu Ke, Xie Chenyuan, and Cha Huan on Chongsheng Gate while the battle for Yanjing continued. On the Ascension Platform, Le Yu questioned Cha Shiyin about the Holy Sword and learned that the four brothers of Huiyao Emperor Gaozu had all been adopted orphans.

• Lan Yan sent Yu Ke and Xie Chenyuan flying, then ordered Yin Guyue to lead the vanguard team against the Radiant Stone Concentrated Cannon.
• Cha Huan arrived on Chongsheng Gate, joined Yu Ke and Xie Chenyuan, and faced Lan Yan and Yin Guyue in battle.
• Le Yu asked Cha Shiyin whether the Undying Heart’s effects could be removed and why Cha Shiyin had never wielded the Holy Sword.
• Cha Shiyin said that many descendants of Gaozu could wield the Holy Sword, but he could not, and explained that he and his three brothers had been adopted orphans.

Cha Shiyin revealed the origins of the Twenty-Four Divine Weapons and explained that the Holy Sword Huiyao drew its power from the people’s Mental Power. As Ming Shuiyun gained the Holy Sword, Le Yu used his third wish to make her sovereign command him to die—and impaled himself on the blade.

• Cha Shiyin recalled how Ming Huiyao raised the brothers and brought home a meteorite that could provide food and power.
• After their mother died and their father was injured, Cha Shiyin and his brothers secretly entered the meteorite’s Sacrifice trials and gained divine weapons; Ming Huiyao later smashed the meteorite, whose fragments became the Twenty-Four Divine Weapons.
• Cha Shiyin explained that heroes could not rule forever and revealed that the Holy Sword Huiyao drew Mental Power from the people, whose recognition determined its succession and strength.
• Cha Shiyin offered his life to cancel the Holy Sword’s vacancy, transferring its power to Ming Shuiyun and warning that his body and spirit would eventually reform through light.
• Ming Shuiyun summoned the Holy Sword Huiyao and told Le Yu she knew he had tried to replicate it with the Saint’s Relic.
• Le Yu invoked his third wish, declaring that a subject ordered to die had no choice, and deliberately drove his throat onto the Holy Sword Huiyao.

Le Yu and Ming Shuiyun switched bodies during their confrontation, and Le Yu revealed that he had planned to replace her as emperor before deciding to protect her. After Shuiyun stabbed him to reclaim her body, Le Yu used the Saint's Relic to seize control of the Holy Sword Radiance and prepared to destroy the rebels.

• Cha Shiyin realized that Le Yu and Ming Shuiyun had exchanged souls, then vanished from the Ascension Platform.
• Le Yu treated Shuiyun's wound and confessed that he had planned to use Rebirth Through Death to replace her after she became emperor.
• Shuiyun stabbed Le Yu with the Holy Sword Radiance, and their souls switched back to their original bodies.
• Le Yu used the Saint's Relic to keep the Holy Sword Radiance from answering Shuiyun, then explained that he would not sacrifice her future for his ambition.
• Le Yu raised the Holy Sword Radiance as a pillar of light appeared over Radiance, while the city's leaders and Le Yu's allies watched.
• Le Yu declared that all rebellious subjects must die, and the Holy Sword descended.

Ting Ri explained why the story split into a happy Loyal Minister IF Route and a darker true-ending route, then summarized the volume and previewed Volume Four: War God. The chapter ended with a warning that the next volume would explore the curse’s intent to make life worse than death.

• Ting Ri said the Loyal Minister arc split into an IF Route where Le Yu lived happily and a true-ending route continuing into the next volume.
• Ting Ri explained that the upcoming fourth volume would unleash the illness he had suppressed while writing the first three volumes.
• Ting Ri summarized how Le Yu’s power grew quickly and the story’s plot threads converged on Flame Capital.
• Ting Ri thanked readers and named the alliance leaders whose tips supported him.
• Ting Ri warned readers that the next volume would be hell and announced its title as War God.

Jing Zhengtang and Feiwei arrived in Flame Capital to attend Qin Leyin's funeral, but Jing suspected Qin Leyin's death was part of a conspiracy. He planned to meet Gao Jin before getting involved, while fearing Qin Leyin might take his enemies down with him.

• Jing Zhengtang and Feiwei arrived in Flame Capital, passed the identity check, and paid an agent for guidance before leaving Chongsheng Station.
• The couple avoided the farewell-invitation registration desk and took Bus 11 toward Sheyang Street.
• Jing met Liu Yueyan on the bus and learned that his half-brother Jing Zhengfeng would marry next month.
• Jing and Feiwei registered at an inn, where Feiwei asked why they had ignored the people waiting to receive them.
• Jing explained that he suspected Qin Leyin was not dead and that the funeral might conceal a conspiracy, then planned to ask Gao Jin about the situation.

Cha Huan discussed Radiance’s reforms and Qin Leyin’s legacy with Faceless, who argued that White Night needed control of the Holy Sword Huiyao to protect the people from resurgent old powers. Faceless left urging Cha Huan to watch for a possible message at Qin Leyin’s funeral, while Cha Huan remained doubtful and mourned his friend.

• Wei Weiwei cursed the old bastard he believed was obstructing the National College Entrance Examination, and Cha Huan clarified the misunderstanding with Chen Liegu.
• Faceless visited Cha Huan and discussed the Immortal Seed Project, Radiance’s cooperation with the demon race, and Cha Huan’s decision to include Skyline people in the Imperial Academy’s administration.
• Faceless warned that old powers were returning and White Night was vulnerable to corruption, then argued that the Holy Sword Huiyao must be available to suppress those who exploited the people.
• Cha Huan rejected Faceless’s idea that Qin Leyin had left him a way to wield the holy sword, but Faceless asked him to watch for a clue at the funeral.
• Faceless left for Qin Leyin’s funeral, and Cha Huan stared at a photograph of himself with Qin Leyin before remarking that the wrong person had died.

Shi Wen and Dan Chixia guarded Qin Leyin’s funeral as powerful officials, old allies, and former rebels gathered at the Qin residence. Just as Cha Huan began the farewell speech, loud crashes erupted from inside Qin Leyin’s coffin.

• Dan Chixia warned Shi Wen that important guests might need special treatment, but Shi Wen insisted he would enforce the rules impartially.
• Dan Chixia urged Shi Wen to build connections now that Qin Leyin was dead, but Shi Wen dismissed his advice and stayed at the gate.
• Ling Jiangli and Cha Huan arrived together, and Cha Huan escorted the Grand Secretary inside while speaking familiarly with him.
• Xie Chenyuan and Admiral Lan Yan arrived at the funeral, prompting Shi Wen and Dan Chixia to wonder why Qin Leyin had invited so many powerful figures.
• The Empress asked Cha Huan to preside over the ceremony, and he began a speech honoring Qin Leyin.
• Crashes sounded from inside the coffin, and the lid jolted nearly off as the guests watched in terror.

At Qin Leyin’s funeral, a recording from his coffin reassured Radiance’s leaders that his reforms would endure and then invited them to burn away their ties to him. After the funeral, Le Yu revealed that he had survived in his original body and left with Qing Lan to seek the Well of Gods and Devils, ending with a photograph of them together.

• Qin Leyin’s recording exposed Ling Jiangli’s role in the Shuiyun Reform, warned about his siblings, and assured Lan Yan, Xie Chenyuan, and Faceless that they would remain loyal to Radiance.
• The recording revealed that Qin Leyin had hidden the means to create a second-generation Sword Master, leaving its identity and location unknown.
• Qin Leyin’s friends and allies threw torches onto his coffin, and Ming Shuiyun cast the final torch as the recording played its farewell.
• On a train, Le Yu told Qing Lan that he had used the system to create Unit 0 and had died in place of Qin Leyin, then discussed leaving to search for the Well of Gods and Devils.
• Le Yu comforted Qing Lan about aging and death, and they used his old phone to take a color photograph together.

The author reconsidered the planned bleak ending for Le Yu, decided he had not earned such a tragic fate, and ended the book while leaving the IF route as the start of Le Yu’s journey. A brief draft then showed Le Yu and Lu Lingyin facing a surrounding army as he reunited with Qing Lan in the rain.

• The author described feeling compassion for Le Yu and regretting the tragic future planned for him.
• The author concluded that Le Yu had no reason to accept such torment and chose to end the book with the final sentence from its first volume.
• The author presented a draft scene in which Le Yu and Lu Lingyin raced through rain while Yin Minghong, Shi Wen, Mu Qingmei, Faceless, and others surrounded them.
• Lin Xue pointed out Lan Yan to Qing Lan, and Le Yu and Qing Lan met eyes after ten years apart.
• Le Yu called Lu Lingyin his lawful wife, the mother of his daughter, and his only wife as Qing Lan watched in silence.