Chapter Summaries

Le Yu used a pistol to silence Old Master Zhou’s attempt to turn the Statistics Department agents against Prefect Ding, and the agents arrested Zhou and his associates. As the team set off to raid another wealthy merchant’s home, Le Yu received a message from Yin Yinyin warning him to come later for hemorrhoid treatment.

• Old Master Zhou warned the Statistics Department agents that Administrator Lu might defeat Prefect Ding and tried to persuade them to spare him.
• Ai Lili fired at the ground and moved to arrest Old Master Zhou, but he continued pleading with the agents to switch sides.
• Le Yu shot near Old Master Zhou’s ear, silencing him and allowing Ai Lili to handcuff him.
• Chen Fu ordered Ai Lili and Zhou Guangshi to escort the prisoners back while the remaining agents prepared to raid another wealthy merchant.
• A pebble struck Chen Fu, and Le Yu found Yin Yinyin’s message telling him to come later to treat his hemorrhoids.

Le Yu met Yin Yinyin at his clinic and learned that White Night recorded its members’ wrongdoing for possible judgment if it ever established a new order. Yin Yinyin then asked Le Yu to help assassinate the apparently honorable Judicial Department Director Dong Heng, leaving Le Yu to follow him toward a mission he knew would add to his future reckoning.

• Le Yu waited outside Yin Yinyin’s clinic, where passersby mistook him for a patient seeking hemorrhoid treatment.
• Yin Yinyin warned Le Yu to protect confidential information and explained that his clinic gave powerful patients a discreet alternative to the Medical Officer Department.
• Le Yu asked whether Lin Xue'en was a traitor, and Yin Yinyin said there was no evidence and explained White Night’s system of recording mistakes for future accountability.
• Yin Yinyin told Le Yu that White Night planned to assassinate Judicial Department Director Dong Heng and said the act would be blamed on Lu Zhong’s assassin.
• Le Yu learned that Dong Heng seemed upright and had no known misdeeds, but Yin Yinyin urged him to join the assassination, calling it work for people who would die before White Night’s reckoning.

Yin Yinyin explained White Night’s plan to use Dong Heng’s assassination to gain control of Star Engraving Prefecture’s city defenses and prepare a coup against Ding Yi and Lu Zhong. He told Le Yu the operation would begin immediately, then handed him a disguise that left him questioning why it was women’s clothing.

• Yin Yinyin explained that the Coastal Army’s divisions made war between Ding Yi and Lu Zhong unlikely, and that Ding Yi’s two-day lockdown was meant to pressure wealthy interests and purge Lu Zhong’s supporters.
• Yin Yinyin said Dong Heng’s death would force Ding Yi to reorganize the city defenses, giving White Night a chance to control them without being suspected.
• Yin Yinyin revealed White Night planned to assassinate Ding Yi and Lu Zhong, use Star Engraving Prefecture as a base, and launch its coup within ten days.
• Yin Yinyin described White Night’s vision of a just nation and said Star Engraving Prefecture would be its first ship; Le Yu agreed to join the coming action.
• Yin Yinyin said only minutes remained before the assassination and gave Le Yu a formal suit and a blouse with a pink skirt for his disguise.

Le Yu and Yin Yinyin entered Star Engraving Dance Hall in disguise to find Dong Heng, where Le Yu befriended a braided girl named Nian Ruo. He discovered that Nian Ruo was Dong Heng’s daughter and that the dangerous Kui Zhao was with them, leaving the mission in a perilous position.

• Le Yu and Yin Yinyin disguised themselves and entered Star Engraving Dance Hall to search for Dong Heng.
• Le Yu searched the dance hall, then shared Honey Five-Flower Tea and peanuts with a braided girl while advising her about her studies and Combat Arts.
• The girl introduced herself as Nian Ruo and said she was at the dance hall with her father to meet an uncle.
• Nian Ruo’s father called her over, and Le Yu recognized the eyepatched Dong Heng among the two men accompanying her.
• Kui Zhao’s presence overwhelmed Le Yu with a painful display of power, and Le Yu identified him as the Deputy Director of the Statistics Department.

Le Yu and Yin Yinyin abandoned their plan to kill Dong Heng in the dance hall and prepared to ambush him on a quiet road instead. Yin Yinyin warned Le Yu to flee if Kui Zhao accompanied Dong Heng, then handed him a knife as they waited for the target.

• Le Yu met Yin Yinyin outside the dance hall, and they followed Dong Heng, Kui Zhao, and another person before turning away to get ahead of them.
• Yin Yinyin explained that they would ambush Dong Heng on a deserted stretch of road, where Le Yu would break the streetlights to distract him while Yin Yinyin attacked from behind.
• Le Yu considered the danger of facing Kui Zhao alongside Dong Heng and admitted that he was afraid of dying.
• Yin Yinyin told Le Yu to run north and circle home if Kui Zhao appeared, then drew a small knife from beneath his skirt and offered it to Le Yu.

Le Yu and Yin Yinyin's attempt to assassinate Dong Heng was disrupted when Kui Zhao ignited a Light Burst Bomb, turning the ambush into a fight. Yin Yinyin took Kui Nianruo hostage and forced Kui Zhao to choose between releasing Le Yu and risking his daughter's life, but Kui Zhao kicked Le Yu away as she counted to three.

• Yin Yinyin warned Le Yu not to rely on Biting Combat Arts in danger and gave him a short blade before they hid beside the road.
• Le Yu smashed four streetlights as Kui Zhao, Dong Heng, and Kui Nianruo passed, and Yin Yinyin struck Dong Heng with her blade in the darkness.
• Kui Zhao's Light Burst Bomb illuminated the road, letting Dong Heng defend himself with Light Armor while Kui Zhao attacked Yin Yinyin.
• Le Yu drew Kui Zhao away, and Dong Heng charged into the bushes after Yin Yinyin; Kui Zhao caught Le Yu and dragged him toward the main road.
• Yin Yinyin appeared with Kui Nianruo at knifepoint and stabbed her as she counted, while Kui Zhao held Le Yu by the throat.
• Kui Zhao kicked Le Yu into the air as Yin Yinyin reached three.

Yin Yinyin and Le Yu confronted Kui Zhao after capturing Kui Nianruo, but Kui Zhao refused to negotiate and waited for the assassins to retreat. After the Patrol Guards arrived, Kui Zhao treated his daughter’s wounds and learned that Dong Heng had been killed.

• Le Yu recovered from Kui Zhao’s attack and stayed silent to avoid revealing his identity.
• Yin Yinyin told Kui Zhao that the assassins had targeted only Dong Heng and would leave Star Engraving Prefecture without harming Kui Nianruo further.
• Le Yu broke the streetlamps as Kui Zhao retreated into the light, and both sides waited until Patrol Guards arrived.
• Kui Zhao used blood-colored light to take the guards’ lanterns, then ordered them to fetch a tricycle and notify the Judicial Department that Dong Heng had been murdered.
• Kui Zhao examined and treated Kui Nianruo’s wounds, scolded her for failing to master Wolf-Eagle Fist, and called the assassins rats hiding their identities.

After the failed assassination, Yin Yinyin apologized for risking Le Yu’s life, then questioned why Le Yu had returned to save him. Le Yu admitted he feared losing a friend, and the chapter ended with Yin Yinyin preparing to treat Le Yu’s broken ribs.

• Yin Yinyin explained that he had risked Le Yu’s life to escape Kui Zhao and the approaching Patrol Guards, and apologized for the danger.
• Yin Yinyin asked Le Yu to explain why he had disobeyed the plan and turned back, and they argued over whether the decision had been justified.
• Le Yu said he had returned because he feared watching a friend die, while Yin Yinyin questioned whether they were truly friends after meeting only three times.
• Le Yu reflected on Yin Yinyin as his trusted adviser and the first friend he had made for himself in this world.
• Yin Yinyin examined Le Yu’s caved-in chest and began preparing light therapy surgery for his broken ribs.

Le Yu learned that a rare train to Yan Capital could take Qian Yuya to the Royal Academy, while Lan Yan assigned him to inspect the city’s only gate that would reopen after lockdown. He returned home planning to drive Qian Yuya away by making Chen Fu describe his misdeeds, but her sharp retort left the plan in doubt.

• Yin Yinyin told Le Yu that the dwindling train service was part of Lu Zhong and Ding Yi’s effort to isolate Morning Wind District, and offered to help him get Qian Yuya a ticket to Yan Capital.
• Le Yu saw the Yuan Family prisoners brought to the Statistics Department and wondered whether Kui Zhao believed Yin Yinyin’s cover story about the assassins.
• Lan Yan offered Le Yu a train ticket for Qian Yuya and ordered him to inspect every person and shipment passing through the Twilight Gate after lockdown.
• Kui Zhao told Le Yu to send Qian Yuya away and not leave himself too many weaknesses.
• Le Yu brought Chen Fu home and told him to exaggerate their crimes to make Qian Yuya lose faith in her brother, but she insulted Chen Fu and Le Yu immediately defended him.

Le Yu learned that the Lin Family was leaving Star Engraving Prefecture and tried to explain away his notorious reputation to Qian Yuya, who mistook his misdeeds for the burden of being scapegoated. Two days later, he prepared to help White Night smuggle firearms through Twilight Gate by drawing attention to a sacrificial convoy.

• Chen Fu told Le Yu that the Lin Family was selling its property and Lin Xue had left school, and Le Yu took their departure as a sign that Yin Yinyin’s group was protecting them.
• Le Yu denied Chen Fu’s accusations, but Qian Yuya concluded that the Statistics Department had made Le Yu its scapegoat and promised to support him in secret.
• Le Yu visited Yin Yinyin and reported Lan Yan’s demand to inspect all cargo and his own appointment as an inspection officer.
• Yin Yinyin planned to send a firearm convoy through Twilight Gate while a sacrificial convoy caused a commotion to distract the inspectors.
• Yin Yinyin told Le Yu to treat the sacrificial convoy viciously so its members could avoid arrest, and Le Yu realized the plan relied on his ruined reputation.

Ding Yiyu led a convoy into Star Engraving Prefecture and tried to force his way through the city gate, where Statistics Department agent Qian Yuliu challenged him. As the two prepared to clash, a separate transport convoy slipped into the prefecture, and a young man abandoned his planned diversion and rode away.

• Ding Yiyu admitted that he had killed a village watchman and bragged about his combat skills as his convoy approached Star Engraving Prefecture.
• Ding Yiyu ordered the convoy to charge through the crowded city gate, scattering people and knocking down barricades.
• Chen Fu rescued a little boy from the horses, while a Statistics Department agent struck the convoy with Biting Combat Arts—Flood Exhalation.
• Ding Yiyu presented a pass signed by Prefect Ding, but Qian Yuliu tore it up and declared that he would take down Prefect Ding's relative.
• A young man with a plan to blow up a manure cart saw the confrontation and the transport convoy enter the prefecture, then turned around and left.

Qian Yuliu used Ding Yiyu’s claim of being Prefect Ding’s nephew to justify arresting him, then brutally beat him in front of the gathered crowd. Ding Yiyu was left humiliated and pinned beneath Qian Yuliu’s boot.

• Qian Yuliu ordered the lights turned on and called for the arrest of the group as swindlers who had forced their way through the checkpoint.
• Ding Yiyu identified himself as Prefect Ding’s nephew, but Qian Yuliu accused him of impersonating a relative and ordered the officers to target his guards if they moved suspiciously.
• Ding Yiyu charged Qian Yuliu with the Biting Combat Arts, but Qian Yuliu endured his attack and seized his wrist.
• Qian Yuliu launched a counterattack, battered Ding Yiyu with repeated blows, and dragged him across the center chamber.
• Qian Yuliu stomped on Ding Yiyu’s head as the gathered commoners watched, and Ding Yiyu howled in humiliation.

Le Yu’s inspection of the Ding family’s carriage exposed an ice coffin containing a strange golden weapon, prompting Ding Yiyu and Steward Ding Bo to turn against him. Lan Yan intervened before Ding Bo could kill Le Yu and identified the weapon as one of Radiance’s ultimate divine weapons, the Saint’s Relic.

• Le Yu continued the staged inspection, but he and Chen Fu uncovered an ice coffin containing a strange golden object beneath the carriage’s black covering.
• Uncle Bo arrived with prefectural guards, freed Ding Yiyu, and attacked Le Yu after Ding Yiyu demanded revenge.
• Lan Yan arrived and stopped Uncle Bo with a blue-light sword strike, then stood beside Le Yu as the two sides confronted each other.
• Lan Yan examined the ice coffin and identified the golden object as Radiance’s Saint’s Relic.

Le Yu and Lan Yan confronted Ding Bo and Ding Yiyu over the violence at the city gate, where Lan Yan protected Le Yu and secured witnesses to the Ding family's crimes. After Le Yu provoked Ding Yiyu as he left, Lan Yan promised to shield him and Le Yu asked what the Divine Weapon and Saint's Relic were.

• Le Yu received emergency treatment while Lan Yan and Ding Bo argued over the Saint's Relic and the accusations against Qian Yuliu.
• Lan Yan put Ding Yiyu under the Statistics Department's authority, but Ding Bo demanded witnesses and evidence before accepting the charges.
• Lan Yan called on the crowd to speak, and Ai Lili, Chen Fu, and other civilians testified that the Ding family's carriage had crashed into the checkpoint and hurt people.
• Ding Bo took Ding Yiyu away with the Saint's Relic after Lan Yan warned him not to threaten a Statistics Department agent.
• Le Yu taunted Ding Yiyu by asking him to let Le Yu experience what it felt like to be a beast, and Lan Yan stopped Ding Bo from retaliating.
• Lan Yan promised to protect Le Yu from Prefect Ding, and Le Yu asked him to explain the Divine Weapon and the Saint's Relic.

Le Yu learned about divine weapons and the Holy Sword Huiyao, then discovered that the Saint's Relic could be claimed by exposing it to deaths on a large scale. Yin Yinyin assigned Le Yu to investigate the relic, but their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the hideout door.

• Yin Yinyin warned Le Yu that his rapid photonic treatment had cost him future lifespan and explained the three levels of divine weapons.
• Yin Yinyin told Le Yu that the Holy Sword Huiyao could overwhelm enemies across a vast area, but it was locked down after the previous emperor died without an heir or named successor.
• Yin Yinyin explained how divine weapons were forged from Meteorite Luster Stone and said the Saint's Relic would unlock after absorbing Mental Power released by many deaths.
• Le Yu and Yin Yinyin realized the Saint's Relic might be brought into their possession, and Yin Yinyin ordered Le Yu to investigate its location and security.
• Yin Yinyin refused to tell Le Yu the uprising's plan, then claimed he could escape through the basement door before someone knocked on it.

Le Yu met An Qian and the eleven powerful White Night Walkers gathered to plan the coup in Star Engraving Prefecture. As they prepared to seize the Saint's Relic alongside the city offensive, An Qian reassured Le Yu that he no longer had to face his dangerous spy life alone.

• An Qian burst into the basement, embraced Le Yu, and reunited warmly with Yin Yinyin.
• Yin Yinyin introduced An Qian and the eleven White Night Walkers, all of whom had Enemy of a Thousand combat strength.
• An Qian and the others praised Le Yu for enduring years undercover, prompting him to reconsider why people around him seemed unusually driven by powerful emotions.
• Yin Yinyin assigned Le Yu to investigate security around the Saint's Relic and arranged for Wang Zongdao to seize it and use its power to create an army of illusions.
• An Qian told Le Yu not to die and promised that White Night would stand with him, so he no longer needed to fear knocks at the door.

Le Yu tried to persuade Qian Yuya to leave Star Engraving Prefecture for Flame Capital, and she mistook his train tickets for an invitation to start a new life together. He then found himself demoted to work at the Star Engraving Prefecture Designated Slaughterhouse.

• Yin Yinyin gave Le Yu a train ticket, and he realized Lan Yan had also given him one as payment.
• The Enemies of a Thousand urged Le Yu to send Qian Yuya to the Royal Academy in Flame Capital, citing the value of education and the dangers of staying in Star Engraving Prefecture.
• Frustrated by Qian Yuya’s refusal to leave and his own wish to go to Flame Capital, Le Yu stormed to her room and handed her the envelopes.
• Qian Yuya found both tickets and hugged Le Yu, believing they would leave Star Engraving Prefecture together, and Le Yu chose not to correct her.
• Le Yu drank iced Honey Five-Flower Tea at his new post outside the Star Engraving Prefecture Designated Slaughterhouse while Chen Fu tried to comfort him about the demotion.

Qian Yuya told Fang Wenhua she planned to study at the Royal Academy in Flame Capital, while Le Yu uncovered more of Ding Yi’s preparations around the Saint’s Relic and learned White Night planned to seize the city four nights later. Le Yu’s train to Flame Capital was due to leave that same afternoon, but Qian Yuliu’s Tribulation was finally set to end that night.

• Qian Yuya told Fang Wenhua she would apply to the Medical Officer Department in Flame Capital, and Li Ying revealed she hoped to enter the Royal Academy too.
• Fang Wenhua asked Instructor Xie whether he could take the Royal Academy examination, and Instructor Xie encouraged him to try.
• Le Yu deduced that Ding Yi had arranged defenses around the slaughterhouse and suspected its owner was the intended bearer of the Saint’s Relic.
• Le Yu learned White Night planned to seize the city and the divine weapon four nights later, coordinating with an assassination and disruption of the Coastal Army.
• Le Yu checked his train ticket and realized his departure for Flame Capital conflicted with White Night’s plan, while Qian Yuliu’s Tribulation was due to end that night.

Le Yu sent Qian Yuya away from Star Engraving Prefecture before the looming conflict, and she departed for Yan Jing after they promised to meet again. On the train, Qian Yuya met two girls who were also headed to the Yan Jing Royal Academy entrance exam.

• Le Yu and Qian Yuya walked through the settlement outside Star Engraving Prefecture, where he explained his views on poverty and the ways it could be addressed.
• At the station, Qian Yuya questioned whether she should change her major because medical officers could not solve poverty, but Le Yu encouraged her to keep her ideals and board the train.
• Le Yu promised Qian Yuya he would follow her to Yan Jing after his urgent business, and they exchanged a tearful farewell before she boarded.
• Le Yu received rewards for completing Qian Yuliu's Tribulation and the Survive 15 Days task, leaving only the final task in Qian Yuliu's personal story line.
• On the train, Qian Yuya reunited with Li Ying, and they met fellow Yan Jing Royal Academy applicants Kui Nianruo and Lin Xue.

Le Yu watched signs of White Night’s preparations across Star Engraving Prefecture while keeping his cover at the slaughterhouse, where the Saint's Relic might be unsealed that night. He helped Yin Yinyin and Wang Zongdao enter the slaughterhouse, then spotted Chen Fu watching nearby.

• Le Yu mistook Mo Ming and his squad for Lan Yan lookalikes and suspected that the Statistics Department’s newly formed combat squads were being prepared for a rebellion.
• Le Yu returned to the slaughterhouse, learned that nothing had changed inside, and practiced Biting Combat Arts while waiting for nightfall.
• Le Yu pretended to have stomach trouble and sent the covert agent watching the rear of the slaughterhouse away.
• Yin Yinyin and Wang Zongdao met Le Yu and used a grappling claw to enter the slaughterhouse over its wall.
• Le Yu turned to leave and found Chen Fu standing by the corner.